Greater Avenues - Salt Lake City, UT

Believe it or not, the avenues and streets within the neighborhood originally had proper names, most of them referring to the trees in the area. However, by 1885, many of the streets had alphabetical and numerical names like they do now. Though the neighborhood originally became attractive because of its proximity to the city and low costs, the area has increased in price, making it appeal primarily to professionals.

Though no museums have crossed the southern border of the Avenues, the Annual Street Fair in the neighborhood, held between I and N streets on Fourth Avenue, truly embraces the spirit of the locals with live music, food and art from residents.

The Avenues has its fair share of hole-in-the-wall coffee shops and cafes, especially along E and I Street, but none surpass Café on 1st, which provides a wide array of furniture and tables for all looking to take comfort there. Though the café largely serves caffeinated beverages and Italian sodas with hilarious names—make sure you try The Ginsberg—the staple remains the Massaman curry. Though not an Indian restaurant, Café on 1st surprises everyone with the rich, spicy taste of the well-loved curry dish. Many times at night, Café on 1st also hosts live, local artists, so drop on by to check it out.

Also nestled away in the Avenues, Café Shambala, a tiny Tibetan restaurant with exquisite tastes, has claimed the hearts of all who visit. The beef or vegetable mo-mos, somewhat like bready potstickers, have always been the local favorite. If you make it in during lunch, you can try the buffet, which offers a variety of the best food in the café so you can find out what you like for the next time. With inexpensive entrees, Café Shambala remains a student favorite.

If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you might miss The Hatch Family Chocolates. This chocolate shop provides a unique selection of hand-dipped chocolates and tasty ice cream flavors.

Though the dining scene hops with enthusiasm, few bars make their homes in the Avenues. For weekend drinks, the students and professionals in the area head just south to Main Street, which harbors a collection of dive bars and piano clubs. In the Venue, which has live music on a regular basis, also lies fairly close.

Though the nearest I-15 on-ramp lies about 10 minutes away by car, the Avenues themselves remain easy to navigate. Major thoroughfares, such as E Street, South Temple and Second Avenue, can become busy before and after classes.

The 2 and 3 buses present easy opportunities to either go toward the University of Utah or further into downtown for a $2.50 two-hour pass. Both run regularly during the day, though night time service becomes very limited. Trax train stations, though not in the Avenues themselves, sit nearby in downtown Salt Lake City.

Though many stop signs adorn the avenue intersections, the Avenues probably remains one of the safest places for bicycles in the area. The hills make cruising toward downtown even more enjoyable.

You won’t see many cabs patrolling the neighborhood, but the cab companies wait for calls and can arrive at your location quickly. Uber has come to Salt Lake City, so that provides yet another transportation option.

Parking in the Avenues becomes sparse the closer you go to U of U, but street parking abounds in the western and central areas of the district.

Two major parks embellish the neighborhood: Popperton Park and 11th Avenue Park. Though both parks have jogging tracks, soccer fields and picnic tables, 11th Avenue Park is larger and offers volleyball courts, tennis courts and a half basketball court as well. The playgrounds at both parks remain free and open the public. Because 11th Avenue Park sits just a short walk away from many houses in the community, it typically sees more use.

The 11th Avenue Park also frequently stages outdoor concerts during the summer, though the winter months settle down into a quiet calmness as the snow covers the landscape.

Though gas costs the same as it does anywhere else in Salt Lake City, about 7 percent below the national average, the housing in the Avenues costs much more, making it 25 percent more expensive to live in the neighborhood as opposed to elsewhere in Salt Lake City. To illustrate, renting a one-bedroom apartment in the Avenues costs about $900 per month.

Getting a beer at a pub in the area, however, only costs $4 to $5, similar to the rest of Salt Lake City.

Though a small shopping center, complete with a Smith’s for groceries and a state liquor store, resides on E Street, the shopping in the Avenues remains few and far between. However, City Creek Center, just a small jaunt south of the Avenues on Main Street, does offer high-class shopping with chain stores, such as Godiva Chocolates and Tiffany’s.

Wild Rose Mountain Sports does spruce up the shopping in the neighborhood if you’re an outdoor enthusiast. With bike rentals, bike maintenance and equipment for outdoor activities, this store has appealed to the adventurous spirit of the locals for years.

For a low-cost haircut, the Avenues Barber continues to offer new haircuts with old-fashioned standards, perfect for men looking for a date-night trim.