9.19.11: destination: slc public library

what a fun day!  i'm exhausted...

directions from my place to the library

it was my day off.  my only plans were to chill and clean.  glad i got outdoors cuz it was a gorgeous day! i decided to go for a spin.  since i've lived here, i've only ridden my bike in the residential streets and up the canyon, places that aren't really busy.  man, was driving on the main roads scurry. and drivers are not that nice.  i was trying to cross this busy street and cars would not let me go.  RUUUU! sheesh.  i had to really rush across the street when i finally got the chance.  no fun!!! i guess rush hour was starting cuz it was around 345pm but still...

i believe this is at south 1100 east

some of the ride was in the residential streets, which was nice. reminded me of seattle cuz of the trees.  lotsa greenery.  =) beautiful.

liberty park pond

i was pretty happy with the directions google maps gave me cuz it took me through liberty park, which is a really nice, good-sized park. a bunch of people were enjoying the day, chillin' on the grass, skateboarding, biking, running, playing in the lil creek. apparently, there's a bunch of stuff to do there but i didn't get to do any of them.  i saw a green house, a museum, a fire pit, a youth center and a lil bridge going over a creek that ran through a section of the park.  i probably didn't even see half the park though.  they even have free wi-fi, which i thought about using but didn't. hehehe.  i was on a mission...

monument dedicated to
those who served in the
world wars

liberty park creek

the rest of the way was mainly busy streets.  eek!  i kinda missed a turn and ended up at the salt lake city and county building.  oops.  it's all good though cuz the architecture of the building is amazing.  and the clock on the top reminded of the clock tower in seattle.  =)  plus the whole block was like another lil park, which salt lake city seems to have a lot of...

when i headed out to go down the correct street, i didn't realize the library was right there.  felt kinda stupid cuz i was standing on the street for a minute at the red light when i realized.  haha.  so i rode onto the sidewalk.  luckily i did cuz the bike racks were right there.  and they're really cool.  can you figure out what it says?

quite creative, i must say...

destination reached!  it was about 5pm.  the library is a pretty awesome piece of architecture as well.  i entered from the northwest side.  when i walked in, there were shops to the left and right above them were floors where you could read and use your laptop or computer (if you wanted to lug it around.  hehe.).  to the right was the actual library with spiral stairs you could use to go from floor to floor. i forget how many floors there are.  i only went to two.  =)  it seemed really small compared to the one in seattle.  figures.  smaller city...

view from the coffee shop on the first floor

view from the 2nd floor bridge

spots to hook up to the
internet, read a book
or just chill.

when i walked out the south entrance, it opened up to this pavilion with more shops.  there was also this really cool water fountain and a lil garden area with walkways.  seemed like they didn't really keep up on the gardening.  =/  woulda been really pretty with bright colored flowers or even rose bushes or something.  maybe i should work on my green thumb.  hahaha.  

the pavilion with more shops on the
southside

on the opposite side of the pavilion, there were stairs which led up to the rooftop of the library.  i didn't even realize looking up from the pavilion that there were stairs above the shops.

view from the stairs leading up to the
rooftop of the library

walking up the stairway

view to the west

view to the east

view to the north

view down east 400 south

at the very top of the stairs, there's a lil viewing area on the northwest side.  i didn't get to stand there cuz this couple was hoggin' up the space and wouldn't share.  sheesh!  =P  to the left was the rooftop of the library.  it's a nice, peaceful spot to chill.  more gorgeous views!!!

i was gonna walk down these other stairs to leave the library cuz it was on the same side where i locked my bike but the stairs seemed kinda sketchy and i wasn't sure if i'd be able to exit the stairwell so i scratched that idea.  hehehe.

so i went back down the way i came.  better safe than sorry.  plus if there wasn't an exit, i'd have to walk back up all those stairs.  no thanks!  =)

i walked back towards the library through the pavilion and right before the shops to the right and through the structure, it looked like another lil park.  there were people just hanging out.  i saw one lady with her kiddies.  i saw a few skateboarders doing tricks.  there was another lady who was just sittin' there.  i think it's cool there are all these lil parks everywhere cuz you can just relax and enjoy the day wherever you go.  and you'd have plenty of places to choose from if you wanted to eat outside, go for a stroll or just hang out.  =)  kinda reminds me of corporate.  there's a pond to walk around, a nice lil grassy area and a lil ampitheater section to chill when it's nice out.  i kinda miss it...

i went through the library once again then left.  i was getting hungry.  hehe...

next stop:  cafe zupas.  =)  

directions from cafe zupas to my place 

the library is on a really busy street, east 400 south.  when i left, i decided to take a roundabout way.  and rode on the sidewalk part of the time.  =)  i wasn't tryna risk it.  i'm not too experienced at riding on the roads.  =/  i kinda got lost cuz i forgot what the cross street was.  east 400 south and what?  south 700 east?  wrong guess.  it was south 600 east.  haha.  hey, i made it so it's all good.  =)  cafe zupas is so delish! they have sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts.  i've always been satisfied with everything i've eaten there.  plus they give you bread and a chocolate covered strawberry everytime!  tonight i got the nuts about berries salad and the wild mushroom bisque soup.  i thought i took a pic but i didn't. sorry.  hehe.  i wanted to eat something light cuz i still had to ride back home.  i chilled for a lil after i ate cuz i didn't wanna cramp up.  it was about 7pm when i headed home.  i had to hurry cuz it was starting to get dark and i had lost my tail light.  i only had the tail reflector.  =/

i knew the ride back was gonna be a lil difficult cuz i had to go uphill any which way i went.  no fun! the first 10 minutes were fine cuz it was flat.  =)  but boy, when i started going up the hill on east 800 south, it got really steep, no joke!  i had such a rough time, i had to get off my bike.  haha.  i walked about a block and took some pix at the top of the hill.  i needed to take a breather.  =)

the sign shows a steep grade going down
and trucks are only supposed to go 25mph.

sun setting.  it was getting dark.

getting closer, i see the mountains! =)
i believe this is foothill drive in the residentials.

i strayed away from the directions cuz i didn't wanna go up anymore hills.  hehe.  so i ended up taking foothill drive all the way down until i reached the apartment complex.  it's a really busy street too so i stayed on the sidewalk the whole time.  =)

almost there.  next door in some parking lot.

yay, home!  the view from foothill drive.
i love the sunset!!!

i finally made it home at about 8pm.  =)  it was a great day!!!  i'm probably gonna be sore tomorrow. hahaha....