The Marriott

This picture has nothing to do with the following post.

The Marriott Library, that is.

Damage Done at the Marriott Library:

• Subway sandwich wrapper, napkin, & plastic bag
• Baked Lays wrapper
• 2 Ziploc sandwich baggies
• coffee cup
• 32 oz drink cup from Subway
• Diet Dr. Pepper 20 ouncer
• Raisinet wrapper
• Some comp writing
• Some data analyses
  

Tuesday was a rainy, cloudy and brisk day in the 'tah and so we are blaming crowds at The Marriott (yes, named after that famous hotelier) on this fallishness and midterm time. After driving around the adjacent pay lot (1st 15 minutes free; $2 for first hour & $1 for each additional hour) for over 10 minutes, I gave up and parked elsewhere, cursing my laziness and not taking TRAX. Kristen miraculously lucked out on parking. The parking issue plus the lack of available studying spaces, make us both vote for the library as office space more during the summer months than the school year.

However, we somehow scored a glass cube of a room on the 3rd floor. While we could stare at those outside the cube, there still existed a false security that we could not be seen and heard by those on the outside. So after about 2.5 hours of mind-numbing work, it is rumored that we had an impromptu Spice Girls singing and dancing party.

Don't judge.

Since The Marriott is a university library, free wi-fi, outlets, tables, and carrels abound. So do sleeping students. And since we are part of this university community, we often run into people we know, which is either good or bad. "Good" when we like you and want to visit; "bad" when we don't really like you or we actually feel like working.

The renovation of The Marriott has vastly improved the place--much more light, less stuffiness, and lots of open space. We'd probably frequent the place more often if Kristen and I actually spent time on campus, but then, probably more out of convenience than desire.

J. Willard Marriott Library
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT

Feeling Nostalgic

We've actually visited this coffee shop on a couple of occasions, and Nostalgia has yet to disappoint. Highlights of this little haven close to downtown are the food [try the mulligatwny soup--we get it every time! (well, all two times that we've been there)], table availability, groovy mellow tunes, workable ambient sound level, and outlet access for the laptop. Drawbacks include the fact that parking is metered, which is inconvenient if you plan to be there longer than an hour, and honestly, the pine chairs are a little hard on the tushie. For those of you who are so bored by your graduate work that you have trouble staying awake, Nostalgia may increase drowsiness as there is not much natural light inside. However, that also makes it super cozy on rainy days.

While the clientele may not be quite as um, diverse, as the downtown library, it does include some interesting characters. Today, the fashion police were alerted to address the issue of a 30ish woman wearing a t-shirt, denim cut-offs, a green scarf, and a pink and green tutu. We were hoping an interpretive dance would be spontaneously performed, but no such luck. Maybe next time.

Nostalgia Coffee Shop
248 E 100 S
Salt Lake City, UT
84111

P.S. They serve BEER!

La Biblioteca de SLC

I heard a commotion on the main floor of the Salt Lake City Public Library, so I did what any loyal patron of the library would do. I went to see.

Two security officers were escorting a fellow patron--a disgruntled man--out the library doors. As they were pulling him out by both arms, he made it very LOUD and clear that he did NOT want to leave! Of course, I'm just assuming that he did NOT want to leave! given his indecipherable muttering and yelling and attempted arm thrashing. Some people just really like a good book.

Previously, Kristen had ventured into the library bathroom. Visiting the library bathroom is always a gamble, since some patrons use these bathrooms as their own personal grooming and bathing stations. In this instance, she was greeted by a woman in an open stall with no pants. This woman had obviously made the public restroom her personal dressing room.

As for human interest, the downtown library branch never disappoints. Neither does the building. Lots of natural light. Views of the foothills and the Wasatch. Architectural interest. Fine art. And sometimes the need of an air freshner.

The library rates as one of our favorite work/study locations due to the large tables, reading lamps, ample outlets, free wi-fi, and the fact that you can bring in your own food and drinks. There's no need to feel like you should purchase that cheese danish the size of your face to pay for the convenience of free wi-fi.

Several storefronts provide potential rewards for working/studying and/or gift-buying for your closest friends. I'm personally a fan of the store selling succulents. A decent deli and coffee shop provide additional eats and drinks. And 7-11 is only a block away to fulfill all of your cold caffeine needs.

Some may find lots of diversions and entertainment in the library. Christian not only brought me a Great Harvest cookie on a recent visit, but also decided to find more books on Marie Antoinette, which led to using Google Street View to track sweet Marie's walk to the guillotine.

The major downside to the library is the exorbitant price for underground parking: first 30 minutes free; $1.25 for each additional 30 minutes. Or there's 2-hour metered street parking, which provides the inconvenience of using your laundry money for parking. So we implore you dear Mayor Ralph Becker--these parking prices are ridiculous!

But here's a secret: 2 blocks to the south on 200 East, one can find free street parking. And Trax offers a stop right out front. Or you could just move within walking distance like I did.

Salt Lake City Public Library
210 E 400 S
Salt Lake City, UT