ink and glitter

9th East and 200-400 West AKA Harvey Milk Blvd.

I explored Harvey Milk blvd. from 200e through 400e. It is a stretch of 900 e. in Salt Lake City, Utah. I feel like it hosts some of SLC culture that I like. It definitely feels queer friendly. Pride flags hang in so many places. "No ICE signs hang in windows. It has random shops, cafes, and restaurants. It stretches east past Liberty Park to the "9th and 9th" district.

I began by peering into that furniture store, Strawberry Mansion. I left immediately because there was nothing there for me. It seemed expensive and too fancy for me. 

I saw the Harvey Milk mural I heard about, it was on the side of the same building, I believe. I realize I do not know much about Harvey Milk.

I passed by a breakfast/brunch place, Skillets. They had a line out the door. Their breakfast burrito was voted the best in 2024, the voted on by whom, I cannot say.

I passed by Loki coffee. It was lousy with people. All sitting in their friend and family clusters outside the cafe with their drinks.

So I got Boba at The Tea Grotto. it is a go-to tea place my friend and I go too. Huge tea selection. my boba milk tea was like 8 bucks. There is an actual "grotto" in the seating area, rather a little concave enclosure.

I took a turn through the store, Crystal Journey… It was pretty, but if you have seen one new-age crystal shop, you have seen them all... and I used to work in one. 

I stumbled upon this bar called Neighbors. It was on my list, but I did not intend to find it. I went in, got a beer, and read my book while I drank my beer. Three guys came in, they looked like clones of each other: snapback hats, long hair, mustaches, similar fashion.

Next I stopped at a really cool vintage store, Annata Collective, with clothes and decor. Like antique shop decor almost. There was a really pretty glass swan dish I wanted, and it was only $30.

I walked by Revive (I believe this is a new location. The old one was a huge space on State Street but so over priced.) It was in a house converted to a store and painted pink. I didn't go in.

I walked by the cat cafe and Enso Piercings.  I have been there before.

I wanted to do a cute 9th and 9th morning and record or see what business there was. I dressed in a cute outfit, but my beanie and cardigan were too hot. I felt anxious and insecure. I walked down 900 s and passed the usual places: Dolcetti, Cahoots, Coffee Garden. There were lots of people, and the ACLU were seeking donations. I wanted a different place to get coffee since I have been to the Coffee Garden too many times. Dolcetti’s was closed… most places were closed until 11 am, and I was there like at 10:15. Vessel Kitchen’s food didn't sound appetizing for breakfast, and it was closed. Publik Kitchen was open…but it was so busy, and I got anxiety about eating there by myself. Then I decided to settle for Coffee Garden, but the line was to the door. So I called it a wash and went to 15th and 15th to check out Tulie’s bakery. It was busy inside and out but not a bad line, but I got so anxious, I went next door to Einstein's and got coffee and the nova lox, never had it before. Einstein was dead and quiet. Well after eating and caffeine, I steeled my courage and courage and went back to Tulie, determined to try a pastry and more coffee. I got a delicious almond croissant.

Then I went to Bonneville Glenn/Miller Bird Refuge. It was a pleasnat jaunt around a stream.

Parking is a nightmare on 900 S aka Harvey Milk Blvd by the 9th and 9th area. So I parked in the neighborhood of cool old houses and pretty trees and tiny streets. I walked up onto a wood porch. It was ran out the back of this clothing store. The wall of the Pie FLight corner painted white with signage. Just a young dude, probably a teen. He was washing something. It took a minute until I ordered and got the pie heated. The sign says three minutes, but it took over 5, but that was ok. I wasn't in a hurry. There was a cool tree sculpture with a tree swing on the side of a building. The weather was nice, lots of people were out. The pie came in a little card board box, the pie was a good size and delicious and only 6 bucks before tax. It made for a nice walk back to my car.

We parked down the block. It was a pleasant, cool walk. I have loved this road and part of Sugar House since friends brought me when I was 18. I grew up in Ogden and had made several trips to Salt Lake by then, but Sugar House was special.

Tea Zaanti was in a house with a cardboard cutout of the queen of England in the window… Elizabeth the second. There was a wall of tea and it had a young crowd according to my friend. The dining area was 2 rooms jammed with tables. The main front room was an ugly green and had scant art, but the art they had was cool. Good tea. They also serve wine and a tempting but pricey charcuterie. Lots of people were working on their laptops. 

(Maybe I should join coffee shop culture and do some reading and writing there)

Surprise at the Soup Kitchen, a delicious restaurant that was on the way to the ramen place. My friend said she loved it, so we went there instead of ramen. It was old. A local man started it, I think, with his wife’s recipes and the son keeps it going with his moms recipes. The walls had cool art done just for them. 

Next, we went to Iconoclad