Library Individual Post

The Salt Lake City Library is a beautiful place.  The architecture is breath-taking and the atmosphere is invigorating.  What stood out the most to me in this area was the giant stair case looking structure that descends from the roof of the building.  The overall shape of the Library is quite unique.  What surprised me the most while visiting was the beehive on the top floor. Who would have thought a Library would have bees? They were outside, but this was definitely the most surprising element.  I did not know that the Library had a coffee shop inside. In fact, something new I discovered about the area was that there are many coffee shops within just one block.  We saw two Salt Lake Roasting Co.'s (the real one and the mini one inside the Library) and a smaller coffee shop down the street by Smith's.

The space was primarily used for studying and reading.  After entering the book section, everything was basically silent. There was very little human interaction-- the only real conversation I saw was between the librarian and someone checking out a book. The lobby that is attached to the main entrance was echo-y and pretty loud-- it definitely encouraged human interaction with all the little shops to visit. So really there were two sections of the Library: one for silent reading and one for social interaction. 

In The Image of the City, Lynch talks about how the shapings or reshapings of architechture should be guided by a "visual plan" for the city: a set of recommendations and controls that would be concerned with visual form on the urban scale.  The object of this visual plan would be to strengthen the public image.  This definitely relates to the Library's unique architecture right in the middle of SLC.  Since it is right next to the City County Building, it is definitely in a location of much traffic and many different people wandering about the area. Perhaps the sloping stair-case shape serves to act as an inviting gesture for people to enter, "climb the stairs" into the Library.  Since it is the Main Library of SLC,  it is important that the structure be inviting as well as capturing.

Individual Post 1: The Library - Kurt Moore

The Salt Lake City Library is a lovely building. It is an immense, crescent-shaped structure which appears both architecturally complex and aesthetically pleasing. It is an extremely modern looking building, especially considering its juxtaposition next to the historic City County building. The different stylistic elements the building possesses are the first things I noticed about the building, and they combine beautifully. The library is right in the heart of what most outsiders like me consider Salt Lake City (East of I-15 and North of 13th South) just a few blocks East of the Gateway and South of the capital. The area, at least to an outsider like me, seems to be the heart of Utah’s fine capital. I was surprised, then, at some of the things I observed in and around the Library. First, and perhaps most surprising, was the woman who took our group photo for us. She was most undeniably a hipster, pit hair and all. I guess I wasn’t really expecting that just blocks away from the financial and LDS districts of the city. Once I entered the building, I found that this woman was not the exception. Inside were many people with their shoes placed neatly next to their chairs as they read, and there were many bikes occupying slots on the bike rack outside. I also observed many people getting off of trax and entering the library. All of these characteristic are mu

ch more typical of liberal political and cultural attitudes then I was used to, coming from a very conservative northern city as I have, and at the time of this walkabout I was a tad taken aback. I had assumed, incorrectly, that Salt Lake must be even more conservative then my hometown, and was quickly corrected by the clientele of the city Library.

The use of the library is fairly obvious: you check out books. The SLC Library, though, seemed to go above and beyond this normal call of duty. Upon entering the space, I was greeted

by a grand entryway. The ceiling seems hundreds of feet above the heads of those entering the library, and in this introductory corridor there were about a dozen cute little shops and an immense wall filled with study rooms. A particular section of interest to me was the children’s section. Here there were not only children’s books, but computers, play areas, artwork. It seemed to be the perfect place for a parent to lose their child for a while. The SLC Library is a multifunctional space, and far beyond checking about books, patrons can get online, shop, and enjoy beautiful architecture and scenery. Thus, human interaction with the space itself was great. Interpersonal interaction was somewhat lacking, though. This is to be expected, however, since the library is not exactly a social place. Culturally speaking, as Americans we seem to label libraries as quiet, isolated spaces (an elderly shushing librarian comes to mind).

There are a few Image of the City ideas that apply to the SLC Library. Most notable is the

library’s place as a landmark. The structure of the building itself is immense, and the design of the building is unmistakable. The combination of these two factors means that the library is a definite reference point for navigation because it is easy to spot and distinguish. Also important is the Library’s place on one of the main paths of SLC. The Library sits just about right in the middle of 4th south. This street cuts right through what outsiders consider SLC, and leads up to one of SLC’s main residents: the University of Utah. I’ll also point out that the combination of the Library and the City County building make for a sort of “public district” of city-owned building.

Temple Square: Personal Blog

I have actually been to Temple Square before, but not as a student. It was interesting to revisit it with the goal of learning instead of sightseeing. Staying true to our goal of learning, my group surveyed several random people at the Square and asked whether or not they were members of the LDS church. Much to my surprise, the first six people interviewed weren't Mormon. Rather, they were visiting the site as tourists. By the end of our survey, only a little more than half of those surveyed were Mormons. What I had thought was an almost exclusively religious site turned out to be a major tourist location as well, which was what most surprised me about the area.

The mood of Temple Square created an interesting contrast with the rest of Salt Lake. Walled off from the rest of the city, the Square is clearly intended as a place of spiritual refuge, a place separate from the fast-paced, consumerist feel of a large city. Buildings feature intricate architecture, carefully kept gardens dot the area, and missionaries dressed in church attire are wander around ready to answer questions. Human-to-human interaction is mostly confined to inter-group conversation or tourist-tourguide discussion. There is, however, a lot of interaction between people and their environment. In fact, that seems the primary purpose of the area. As a place of worship, many passerby are there to try to feel some kind of higher wisdom in their contemplation of the secluded temple in the hidden square.

Visit Salt Lake - Individual

"Visit Salt Lake City" is a commercial site aimed at tourists. The site highlights the more important attractions (such as the ski resorts) and states that it is vacation guide. It has trip planner tools, such as flight and hotel matching, and other way to plan a trip to Salt Lake. It also has special deals on attractions like the zoo, Clark Planetarium, Snowbird, and restaurants, so the site has probably made deals with the businesses.

Because this is an advertisement for the city (well, mostly the city's businesses), it makes sense that it appeals to many audiences. Salt Lake is a very different place to a visitor on a few day trip than it is to a resident. The site portrays Salt Lake as a modern, diverse place and takes time to debunk any drinking law rumors and post pictures of an African American family. The site tries to appeal to a variety of tourists, including families and has options for families with young children, and makes a visit to Salt Lake, under any circumstance and family situation, is easy and worth it.

  

A surprising part of the site was the "About Salt Lake" page. It holds important information for any visitor, domestic or international, about the city, such as the average temperature throughout the year, the geography, transportation options, driving laws, time zones, area codes and important phone numbers and contact information. This seems like a good move by the site creators to provide the visitor with information that can help them feel more prepared and safe, and probably more like to actually visit Salt Lake.

The cite is helpful to tourists by giving examples of districts, landmarks and creating an image of Salt Lake. Many of the "Things To Do" on the site are also landmarks or districts, such as the library and the Gateway district. It also provides information about restaurant and shopping districts and creates a modern profile for Salt Lake. To a person who is not a Salt Lake native, I found it helpful to know what my options were for shopping, food and entertainment once I am finally done with these blog posts and can continue on with my life.

Individual Post Trax

When I used to think about riding Trax all I imagined was getting from one place to another as quickly as possible. That may the the purpose of it, but that's not all it is. It is a place for people to express themselves. We saw someone playing his guitar and having a good time while waiting for the train. That isn't the most common thing though, he was getting some pretty dirty looks from other people waiting for the train.

The train was kept very clean, showing that people respected it, they didn't want to make it dirty for others. We also found that people mostly kept to themselves. Unless there was someone you got on the train with you didn't talk to anyone else. Many people had their headphones in to keep people from talking to them. It was very much a personal place where people didn't want to be disturbed.

We also noticed that almost all of the stations had some piece of art. At the library they had sculptures of stacks of books. On 900 South the benches had art from different ethnicities. At the Trolley Square stop there was a car art piece made out of old bike tires.

Overall I thought that riding Trax for our first walkabout was great. It was a nice way to see a lot of the city in short amount of time. It was really educational and fun!

"Visit Salt Lake City" virtual walkabout -- individual post

“Visit Salt Lake City” is an interactive, user-friendly website. Its purpose is to invite people who don’t live in the valley to visit, thus it is like one massive advertisement. The home screen provides the viewer with a link to just about everything they could be looking for. There is a spot to book a hotel room, plane flight, and activities, much like what appears on Travelocity’s site.

There is also a “My Salt Lake Social Hub” section where people interested in the city can follow upcoming events and recent news on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

In addition, there are calendars, maps, photo albums, and discount coupons all located on the front page. The “interaction” that the site provides to the viewer allows them to explore all of the wonderfulness Salt Lake City has to offer and give them a first impression saying that the city is accessible to everyone.
The main message that the website is trying to convey is that yes, Salt Lake City is different, but in a good way.

Utah in general is somewhat of an exotic mystery to non-residents (I know I experienced quite a culture shock when I first moved here), thus Salt Lake City might not originally be a family’s first choice for a family vacation, especially if they don’t ski. There is a tab at the top of the site dedicated to skiing, but the rest of the site draws the viewer’s attention away from the snow and to the multitude of other activities the city has to offer. It talks a lot about the beautiful views and other gifts nature has to offer. “Visit Salt Lake City” is trying to emphasize the city’s commitment to nature and present options for the entire family.
An interesting part of the website is the photo displaying a black family on the front screen.

This is quite ironic because Utah is one of the least diverse states in the country, but the picture is meant to show that Salt Lake is diverse…in ways…and has things that appeal to everyone, as long as you like the outdoors. The site can reach a diverse audience though, since it is free and open to the public. Coupons, maps, lists of “things to do”, etc. are all available to anyone who can access the internet. (Note: computers with free internet are available to people of all walks of life at a public library.) Having been in Utah for six years now I can see some of the equivocation displayed on the website (yes, there are black families in Salt Lake City; no, they are not representative of the general population), but obviously this is a website to “sell” the city to potential visitors, so the authors want to make it seem as diverse and appealing as possible.
As a resident of the valley, it is interesting to see the city from a different point of view. The website points out certain attractions that either I have never heard of, or didn’t think of ever seeing. Many of the things I see everyday might be more interesting to people who don’t live here; “Visit Salt Lake City” allows me to see the city from their point of view. Also, the site could be helpful for locals to search for a coupon to a restaurant they’ve never been to, or to get a bargain on a hotel room for a close-to-home getaway.
Salt Lake City’s visitors’ website can be very helpful to tourists when it comes to planning their Utah vacation. It entices them to first, come to the city, then provides many lodging, dining, and activity options. The website points out certain aspects of a city the Image of a City discusses, such as specific landmarks that might be interesting to tourists. It also provides information about “restaurant districts” and “shopping districts”, but not a whole lot about nodes or boundaries. Boundaries are confusing in the Salt Lake Valley, as most people (including me when I moved here) probably think of the whole thing as “Salt Lake City”, so the website is just saving itself trouble by not going into detail. My guess would be that the majority of tourists stay in downtown or up by big and little Cottonwood Canyon. Although Salt Lake City might not be quite as exciting or diverse as the website makes it out to be, clicking around the site showed me that there are more opportunities here than I expected and Salt Lake City could make for a very nice vacation spot.

Westminster Heights - Individual Blog

My group visited Westminster Heights this week. This neighborhood consists of North, East, and West sides of Westminster College. One thing we found shocking, because of the neighborhood’s close proximity to Westmini, was the vast number of houses that had Utah flags outside or in the windows. What wasn’t shocking was the observation that many of the houses clearly belonged to college students. This is to be expected, because the location of this neighborhood is extremely convenient should you make the poor decision to attend Westminster and even convenient if you choose the good ol’ U.

The houses in this area varied a lot in style, size, and age, but for the most part they were modest, multi-bedroom homes. We saw many distinct bungalows and ranch-style houses, but most of the others were a mix of styles, including hints of Victorian, period-revival and colonial. It was clear walking around that the houses in this neighborhood were built over time so they changed as the “it” style changed. It was also clear which houses were inhabited by college students versus families due to the gardening and decorating, or lack thereof. The Westminster neighborhood seems like a nice, quiet place that people would enjoy coming home to.

Human interaction wasn’t excessively encouraged in Westminster Heights, similar to any suburban neighborhood. Most houses had a garage or cart-port behind the house (because the lots were quite small), thus people could go straight from their car into the garage without really seeing any neighbors. Many people park on the street here due to the small lot size, and even then they don’t seem excited to engage in conversation with their neighbors, as one lady we saw demonstrated. The small lots and consequently small yards also contribute to the lack of human interaction as we didn’t see many children playing in front of their houses or adults mowing their lawns. This lack of interaction could also be due to the age discrepancy in the people living in the area; they range from families with children to elderly couples to college students.

Westminster College is a distinct landmark in this district, as it is often used as a reference point. 1300 East would be considered a path and a boundary, as it is a prominent road used in the area and also separates the college from the east side of the neighborhood. All around, my group enjoyed this walkabout because it was relaxed and I think reminded us of strolling through our own neighborhoods. Westminster Heights is a basic, well-established and highly desirable place to live.

Walkabout 2 – Federal Heights Neighborhood

It was a brisk fall evening, and our group got out of our cars to take in the grandeur that is Federal Heights. This walkabout was truly an area that needs to be walked about, because you really need to be able to take it in slowly, stop, and look at each amazing home in the area. We had a lot of fun, and it was quite the adventure! Federal Heights is a neighborhood that begins east of the Avenues, across Virginia Street, where it meets First South. While both of these areas are historic, Federal Heights is definitely where the higher – income residents live, and it is very evident that you need to have a lot of money or be part of a prominent family to live in Federal Heights. Many people did not greet us or even get out of their cars until we had moved on further up the street!! There was one woman who we talked to very first, and she was extremely nice and helpful. She told us where the most historic homes were, and which streets to go to. Her house, which was being remodeled, was built in the 20s, and was not really one of the fanciest or historic homes we visited, but she was nice enough to take our picture, and let us take pictures in front of her house.

For this walkabout, we were supposed to focus on architecture, and what styles we saw in our particular neighborhood. These homes, as I said, are very historic, so they had the elaborate architecture and decoration that is seen in homes that were built a long time ago. We saw a lot of colonial, which is a style that I absolutely adore, as well as more contemporary styles, ranch houses, Victorian revivals, and even a house that had some Spanish influence. There was even a house that had a palace-like turret built in, fit for a princess! Historic architecture is always fun to look at, and the more established neighborhoods of cities like ours are the best places to go to find it. One way we knew we were in an established neighborhood was the trees, simply because they were big and beautiful, and it was obvious that they had been growing in front of these houses for years and generations. This neighborhood and the houses can be used as landmarks; this could be especially true for the people who have lived there for years, and know every turn, and which houses are on them. Even for people who don’t live in Federal Heights, it is apparent that the history is important to the people who do. The residents show this by taking good care of their lawns, yards, and houses. They were all decorated for Halloween when our group went, and after going to Rose Park on another walkabout, the contrast is significant. While it was apparent that Rose Park is an established area, as well, there were a lot less decorations, and seemed to be unkempt and just not as nice and…cozy, you could say, as Federal Heights. It is a higher economic echelon, and you can feel that, especially in neighborhoods. It is great to be able to see so many places in the city, especially cool historic districts such as Federal Heights.

Individual Post: Westmoreland Place

Visiting Westmoreland Place was a great way to spend time outside on a perfect fall day. The neighborhood was very calm and peaceful creating a welcoming atmosphere for us to enjoy. The neighborhood was surrounded by nature and the oranges and yellows of the fall leaves scattered everywhere added to the beauty of the neighborhood. As we wandered around I thought it was interesting that there was a lot of variation in the styles of houses, and that it differed from the typical grid system, instead having winding streets that created a maze that we got turned around in multiple times.

As we observed all the different styles of houses such as Bungalows, Ranch Styles, Victorians, and Period Revivals we talked of how the houses were cute, quaint and seemed like they were from a Disney movie. They were definitely humble homes with smaller masses, often having covered porches and large, inviting front windows, yet nobody was really out and about enjoying the beautiful day. They also used their space efficiently, having long skinny driveways to the side of their house which allowed them to have a larger area in their front yard for relaxing and playing outside with friends or family.

I also thought it was a lot of fun to see the Victorian houses with multiple roof planes and pitches next to houses following the bungalow pattern of having a front porch and a public front with the back being more private because in my neighborhood a lot of the houses look the same and even have the same layout inside. The different houses was a refreshing change showing a lot of opportunity to be unique and make your house special.

All in all I thought this neighborhood was relaxing and an enjoyable place to spend part of an afternoon. I know I would feel comfortable moving into a neighborhood like this and felt like if I needed/wanted to I could approach anybody and ask them questions or just have a friendly conversation without it being weird. The man who stopped his bike ride to take our group picture was quite friendly and I got the feel that the whole neighborhood was like he was: smiling, helpful, and relaxed. I loved our time there and was sad to leave after our walkabout.

Walkabout 1, The Farmer’s Market

Our group visited the farmer’s market in Pioneer Park on August 26, 2011, and it really was very memorable, and a wonderful experience. It was bright and early on a Saturday morning, and while it seemed very early to us, many people had been up for hours preparing for the event of the day. Every Saturday in August and into September, farmers from all around Salt Lake City and beyond gather in different locations to sell what they have been working so hard all summer to grow. At the market, people from all walks of life gather to taste and purchase all of the wonderful things to buy, and talk to the vendors about their work. The farmer’s market is something that is looked forward to every year, by farmers and customers alike. It is a great tradition that encourages buying local, healthy produce, community togetherness, and gaining knowledge about other people and their lives.

The farmer’s market is definitely a community event, and it was fun to go with our whole group and experience it together. Other people who go are the farmers, and people who want to get the produce. We noticed that the people who were experienced got there around the time we did, because they knew that the good stuff would be gone if they waited too long. The main message conveyed by the market is that of a welcoming environment, and the idea that all people should have the chance to have access to the wonderful foods and crafts. It means a lot to the farmers and artists who set up shop, because they are able to get their names to the public, and make money after putting in a lot of hard work. This is a very social place. All of the farmers were more than happy to share their knowledge with our group, and I was very impressed at all they had to offer. I definitely learned a lot, especially about tomatoes, and the expertise it takes to be successful in this business. People interact very cheerfully at the market. Perhaps it is the warm sunshine, or the fact that morning people are usually cheerful anyways, but given how busy it was, there has a lot of happiness going on. It didn’t seem to matter who had a lot of money, and who didn’t. Everyone was dressed to walk around outside comfortably, and it didn’t matter where you lived or worked, just that you were at the market to do business. Everyone interacted with each other pleasantly, and although some competition could be seen between vendors, it was all extremely civil and in good fun. A lot of families come to the market to be together, and the children (and college kids) especially enjoyed all the free samples to be had!

The location of a farmer’s market it usually outside, and Pioneer Park does seem to have a reputation for where the homeless people gather, but it was very clean, and seemed to be cleared out for the market. This particular park does not have any sculptures or graffiti, but it is right across the street from the Muslim church, and among many of the older, historic buildings of Salt Lake City. The park, especially during market time, is a landmark location, and is central to the activities of the people around it, especially on Saturday mornings. We noticed that many activists use the market as a place to spread information, because so many people come to the event. Many organizations gave us free stuff, and shared what they stood for, such as a man at a table from an environmentalist group. No one wanted to push their opinions on anyone; they just wanted to get the word out. Overall, we had a great time learning about this culture of the city, which not everyone takes part in, but a lot of people do, and they seem to thoroughly enjoy it.

Individual Post Gilgal Garden

I have lived in Salt Lake my whole life and had never even heard of, let alone been to Gilgal Garden before we were assigned it for our walkabout. It is no surprise I have never heard of it after seeing it. If you don't know exactly where it is and what you're looking for you'll miss it. It was originally the artist's backyard, so it is just in a neighborhood tucked behind other houses. Even knowing where it was supposed to be we originally walked right past it without realizing it was there.

It had a well defined boundary, there was a fence running around the perimeter. The actual garden was a node, because you could go into it. The bridges and sidewalk and rocks were different pathways. All the different pieces of art contained in the garden were landmarks.

From what we saw it seemed like Gilgal Garden wasn't a very popular place. We didn't see a single person while we were there. It seemed like it was a place where LDS people might go for activities.

Overall it was an interesting place, but it had an odd feeling to it.

Group #4: 9th and 9th

An inviting and eclectic public space, the 9th and 9th district revolves mostly around the shopping area within a residential neighborhood. Predominantly local and independent stores, the area prides itself on its unique vibe and eccentric options. With venues like the Coffee Garden, known for being the "gay" coffee shop in Salt Lake, to the Tower Theater, famous for its independent films, 9th and 9th values the different and rare.

The people at 9th and 9th are friendly and as unique as the place itself. Every variety of appearance and style is represented: grunge to Gucci, hippie to hipster. Yet all of the population share certain qualities, acceptance and independence being two of them. An area of individuality, people at 9th and 9th embrace uniqueness and exude a sense of community. While we were there the woman we asked to take our picture went to extreme lengths to get the best shot possible, the baristas were more than willing to answer our questions, and a man came up to Leah to ask about her cake choice. The vibe of acceptance was strong throughout the neighborhood, continuing to the housing district as well.

Filled with every variety of architecture, the moderately sized houses of 9th and 9th were as eclectic as the people that frequent it. Good-sized trees line the streets, showing the firm establishment of the neighborhood, and well tended lawns and cars showed a fairly well-off population - they can afford to spend money on appearances. The streets were wide enough to accommodate bikes, and bike locks were available throughout the district. This is a neighborhood that values fitness and community.

The area is a very public one. Benches line the main street, inviting visitors to relax and spend time there. Public art is found on each corner of the 9th and 9th intersection, making the area feel welcoming and cultured. Around each bench and streetlight posters advertising events from concerts to garage sale to protests cover every inch of space. The population of 9th and 9th is a very active and involved community.

Individual Temple Square Blog

A very different space from the crowded, loud, and dirty city around it, Temple Square is an enigma. When you enter the clean, well lit, topiary-filled square you immediately notice the lack of noise. Calm voices and the trickle of fountains are the only sounds pervading the somber air. Smells of flowers are a refreshing change from the city stench outside the wall. Coordinated flower beds and statues relieve the eye, while decorative pathways direct visitors to the most well planned viewing locations.

The people in Temple Square also differ from those in the city around it. More formally attired, families and couples talk in hushed tones as they meander through the gardens, and large groups of tourists pause every five feet to snap pictures of every window and stepping stone, and missionaries give tours. An aura of awe and respect fill the visitors in a manner not usually found in city dwellers. No profanity or vulgarity is to be heard within the square limits, and smiles are ready on every visitor's face. The religious vibe is influential, even to non-worshiping visitors. People are courteous but introverted when around the temple, not striking up conversations with other visitors. Everyone is here for a purpose (worship, tourism, or work), and is focused on that only.

The international influence is large in the square. Having a large overseas following the LDS Church caters to virtually every language in the visitor centers, and staffs the buildings with missionaries from every corner of the globe. The foreign appeal of the space was clear through all the languages we heard spoken on the tours going on around us. This is a much more culturally varied location than much of the city around it.

The economic differences however were not so great. Based on clothing and cars, it is relatively safe to say that a majority of visitors would be considered middle class, but the foreign visitors must have had enough money to afford a trip here, and thus must be fairly well off. Around the edges of the walls however the population changes. Homeless men and women cluster around the entrances asking for money or help. The walls are a very apparent boundary. The world outside of the square is a separate one, and the church plans to keep it that way. The walls are neither inauspicious nor foreboding, the imposing height in stark contrast with the constantly open gates. Thus while the square is seemingly open to all visitors, it is truly open to only those that the church approves, and is a very isolated space within the city.

When walking through the square, touring the buildings, or even just standing next to the walls, you cans sense the conservative nature of the Temple Square, and in general people adjust their actions according to this feeling. A place of religion, the church's influence is apparent everywhere. The almost too perfect bliss that seems to enshroud the area is very hard worked for. Protesters are kept away from the area, homeless people are kept outside of the walls, and a strict dress code for the staff makes the square a very well organized example of what the church believes society should be. Anyone not complying with these standards will be escorted off the premise. This is an extremely controlled setting, posing as a public space.

Virtual Walk About: visitsaltlake.com (Individual post)

One of the first things that you notice about the Visit Salt Lake website is how commercial it is. There are advertisements in the sidebars for hotels, Sundance Film Festival, ski resorts, airfare and other typical tourist attractions. The way that the website is organized is definitely for non-locals. There are separate tabs for attractions, maps, transportation and history about Salt Lake.

The Visit Salt Lake is a private, non-profit community organization. The organization is made up of over 650 local businesses. In the organization's mission statement it states that the purpose of Visit Salt Lake is "To improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers, and visitors to Salt Lake County." Visit Salt Lake uses it's website exactly in that manner. The site is basically a giant advertisement for Salt Lake City. It caters to tourists by providing information that would be essential for planning a vacation to Salt Lake.

One of the funny tidbits of information that the website provided was a page debunking rumors on drinking laws in Utah. Apparently the Visit Salt Lake Bureau felt that it was necessary to address the drinking laws in Utah in order to appeal to a larger variety of people.

There seems to be a heavy emphasis on family-friendly activities on the site. There is a whole section dedicated to genealogy.

Visit Salt Lake does a good job at identifying certain aspects from Image of a City. Under the attractions tab the website highlights many of Salt Lake City's landmarks, such as The City Library,Kennecott Copper Mine, Abravanel Hall, Energy Solutions Arena and other historic landmarks. The website does not do as well in identifying districts or nodes. It mostly identifies shopping and commercial districts, but does almost nothing to highlight historic neighborhoods of Salt Lake. Areas as a whole aren't really mentioned. Mostly specific places are highlighted. This is probably because of the target demographic of the website. I am assuming that the majority of the people visiting this site are upper-middle-class families that have time and money for vacation and tourism.

Overall the site seems very helpful and informational if you are planning on taking a vacation to Salt Lake City. It might also be helpful for locals who are bored and looking for something fun to do (as long as they don't mind commercial activities). Everything on the site seems very mainstream and accessible.

Individual Post-Rose Park

My group went to Rose Park for our second neighborhood walkabout. Despite the way our presentation made it out to be, I felt safe in the area and enjoyed seeing a different view of Salt Lake. One of the things that stood out to me was the tree-lined streets. I have always liked the look of streets with tall, sturdy trees along them. It gives a sense of establishment and welcoming to a neighborhood, and it was obvious that Rose Park has a lot of history and diversity associated with it.
Although we were unable to talk with any of the residents, Rose Park offered a variety of places for people to communicate and connect. We noticed a library, a few trails to walk on near the river, some very nice elementary schools, and a church. It was interesting to identify these as nodes, landmarks, and paths because it shows that the town wasn't just thrown together overnight; there was thought and careful planning put into making Rose Park comfortable and friendly. Our favorite part about Rose Park was the Riverside Park. It was well kept and a lot of fun. It felt like a place that I would feel comfortable sending my kids to play at if I lived there (and had children, of course).
Honestly, going into this walkabout I WAS under the impression that this was the "shady" part of town, because it was somewhere I'd never been and was not as clean and proper as Federal Heights, the location of our first neighborhood walkabout. However, after learning that Rose Park was established for returning G.I.s from WWII I saw that it was a nice place to call home, and had simply undergone the effects of time, as everything does. By Googling "Rose Park" you can easily see that it's well established and has mostly positive things to be said about it (Rose Park even has its own Wikipedia page!). Overall, it was good to see that Salt Lake isn't all tall buildings and Victorian houses. It's also a place where real, down-to-Earth people can call home.

Erin O. and Katie G.'s Group Blog Glendale and Poplar Grove

For our walkabout we explored the area between 9th West and Redwood Road. This is a residential district consisting of mainly low income, modest housing. This area had a lot of ethnic diversity; mainly of the Hispanic persuasion. It also seemed very family oriented. We saw many families with young children walking around town. The elementary school was very nice and looked fairly new.

We examined the nodes, landmarks, paths, and districts of that area. The main path we saw was the Jordan River Parkway. The Peace Gardens Park was a significant node that we noticed. We saw many other parks scattered throughout the neighborhood. The public library could be considered both a landmark and a node, along with the church, and Salvation Army. These three buildings seemed like safe places to hang out in for the children of the neighborhood.

There were many Mexican restaurants that appeared to be locally owned and operated. Also, pawn and smoke shops were distributed throughout the area. In addition, grocery stores and barber shops we

re also very prevalent in this neighborhood neighborhood. Although this area appeared to be low income, it was fairly well kept. The streets and parking lots had been swept and we saw a few workers raking leaves on the public property.

The houses varied in quality, some were cared for more than others. Nearly every house had a fence surrounding the yard and people seemed to keep to themselves. The front yards were not very welcoming, but that's probably because there were places to hangout besides their yards. The closer we got to Redwood Road, the nicer the houses became. In fact, there was a very distinct difference between the architecture and style of the houses on the south side and the houses of the north side, as well as the difference between the modest residences and the suburban residences. But, as we went east, they seemed to be lower income. On one corner there was a Jeep for sale for only 99 dollars.

The Gateway Individual Post; Group #2

The Gateway is an amazing place to go for fun and possibly do some shopping. The signs and buildings are inviting and the sidewalks are cobble-stoned and quaint looking. I felt like I was walking through a village in a different world from the city surrounding it. The whole area is clean and well-maintained. And although it may seem like a public place, the Gateway is patrolled with its own special cops who keep the peace and keep people from doing things like begging, protesting, and skateboarding. Unlike in the area surrounding it, the Gateway gives a pleasant and welcome feel to Salt Lake City where nothing really annoying is going on that would drive anyone from the place. After all, one of the main purposes of Gateway is to keep people around long enough to buy something. The Gateway’s limits can be seen by the change from pretty, stone sidewalks to normal concrete sidewalks, from fine, tan stone buildings to normal, cheaper buildings, from light streets to darker asphalt streets. Moreover, on the corners of the Gateway district, I saw homeless people begging for money. I felt as soon as I left the Gateway that I had left some dream created so I would enjoy myself and spend some money on different things. In this respect the Gateway is a district because it serves as a shopping district. In the Gateway, the main purpose of the majority of the buildings is to sell things. Moreover, its architecture sets it apart from the rest of the city in its sameness and uniqueness. For example, its style lets me go all over the Gateway on the second level.
As I mentioned before, the only homeless people I saw were on the edges of Gateway, inside Gateway I mainly saw those of the middle and upper classes. On the Monday afternoon that we were there, I met mostly older couples who were on vacation, and the Gateway was their first stop in Salt Lake City. I talked to one couple from Australia who was taking a tour down the Rocky Mountains in a RV from Canada. They had been in Salt Lake City for less than two hours. The first thing they bought was food from Starbucks, which was where I met and talked with them. I met another man who had barely gotten off the plane that day, and he was from Norway. I didn’t learn that much else from him because he couldn’t speak English very well. I also met a couple from Canada who had barely arrived in Salt Lake City as well. Based on these interviews and a couple others, I learned that the Gateway is like an entrance into Salt Lake City. The first place all these tourists had come was the Gateway. Here they were having some downtime from traveling. Indeed, the Gateway is named the Gateway for a reason. The Gateway in this respect serves as a node as well as a district. The Gateway is like these people’s introductions into Salt Lake City, and I think it was a good one. Because of the controlled environment, the Gateway is a comfortable place and enjoyable place to be.
Not only is the Gateway a gateway to Salt Lake City, but it is also an attraction for the residents of Salt Lake as well. Other than the people who worked at the Gateway, I met some others from Provo and Salt Lake who had come to the Gateway to spend some time. Whether they were waiting for a plane to arrive or hanging out, the Gateway was a place where they could enjoy themselves. The environment at the Gateway encourages these kinds of activities because of all the quality shops, places to eat, and places like the Clarke Planetarium. Advertisements sparkle in the windows and smells waft from shops. The smells coming from Starbucks particularly attracted me and my taste buds. The employees were being paid to be friendly and sell things. However, I noticed that if they weren’t being paid to do something, they didn’t do it. They only talked to customers if customers were interested. The lovely music playing in the background warmed my heart and created a mood. I barely even noticed it, except when I was bored. The Gateway is definitely a good place to go to enjoy a lovely and friendly environment. In fact, most of the people I saw were doing just that, enjoying the environment.
However, I found that while the Gateway is a friendly and interactive atmosphere, the tourists responded to it and were approachable and friendly. They seemed to fit in more with what I saw as the atmosphere of Gateway than those who were from Salt Lake City. The people I met from Salt Lake City were rather cold and not talkative. I found this interesting because the magic of Gateway with its welcoming atmosphere seemed to work more for the tourists who wanted to enjoy their experience than for those who came to the Gateway frequently and were enjoying their time in other ways than through the atmosphere. To them the atmosphere was normal, and they had come to Gateway to hang out or shop, not to tour and go sight-seeing.
On this trip to Gateway, I noticed much more about the architecture and the people there. I noticed the atmosphere and appreciated it more. I also realized how amazing it was that I didn’t have to go up and down stairs all the time; I could run around on the second story. I discovered that the reasons why people went to Gateway explain a lot about Gateway itself. If one was a tourist, than Gateway was a good place to enjoy Salt Lake City, but if one wanted to shop, than the Gateway was a mall. This double purpose of Gateway, a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and a shopping district are amazing to me, and I understood this more when I realized that the Gateway could be a node and a district.