Andrea Ashbridge

This is Andrea and this is her place.



Who are you? I'm Andrea Ashbridge, Development Coordinator/Office Manager (office girl!) at KCPW Public Radio.

What is your place? Library Square, 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84102--the entire block is my place.

Why is this place special to you? The library plaza is special to me, because it was were I found my first real Full Time Job, and my niche. I lived in, and worked at, the Leonardo building, when The Leonardo and Center hosted the Sebastiao Salgado exhibit, EXODUS, in 2005. I ran the ticket desk, and helped run the gift shop, coordinated the docents and guides, and helped facilitate daily operations and events during the exhibit, October 1st--Dec. 17th 2005. Glorified house management--but literally, it was my house. I was, at that time, living between my parent's home in Farmington, and my grandmother's home in Bountiful--either way, the commute was killing me. So it made sense that , once I got myself to work in the morning, I stayed late. I ended up bringing my mini-pinscher, Reuben, to work with me. I set up a doghouse, food and water, a real Ritz-Carlton affair, in the back room, and docents and volunteers would take him on walks throughout the day.



My family saw me for about 15 minutes per week. I essentially got pink-slipped by my parents, so I started the new year (2006) with a new home in the avenues. I worked at the Leonardo throughout 2006, when the organization moved it's office to the tenant shop on the library plaza. In Feb. 2007, the actual role I was filling at The Leonardo was dissolved, and I was VERY graciously let go, with a big buffer zone, and the full support of the Leonardo staff, writing me letters of recommendation, helping me find my new bliss. My next "home was not far away--just over the 3-form wall of the Leonardo office, in fact. KCPW, just 2 doors down, plugged me in at the front desk, and we went into Spring Pledge Drive 2007. That was a year ago. I have been learning like crazy ever since. The KCPW team is a family, and we are all part of the library plaza and larger SLC community family. I get to do business with my friends here at the plaza. My career and my personal life overlap in a very symbiotic way. I couldn't have one without the other.



What do you enjoy most about Salt Lake City? Almost everything--this is THE BIG CITY, considering my origin. But it is not too big--you know your neighbors. You HAVE tons of neighbors--we recognize each other as friends, even if we can't recall when or where we last met. I think the SLC community is adept at looking for and valuing similarity, while understanding and respecting differences. We are, as far as I can tell, a forgiving society. I feel like there is a human connection, and a basic responsibility for one another...we build who we are as Salt Lakers by BEING Salt Lakers--I think most people want to contribute something positive.

What do you dislike about Salt Lake City? I am tired of being car-dependent. I tried to live without a car at all, the summer of 2006. I couldn't get to doctor's appointments, I was always begging for emergency curbside pickups from friends. You can give up your dependency on your car, but you become dependent on other people and resources.



Do you have any additional comments about living here? I come from a Mormon household. I was raised in the LDS church, and I know the rules well enough to know when I am breaking them. I dropped out when I had the liberty to do so--when I left my parents' house. The first Spring I was living downtown, I went running, and though I would cover some familiar territory--Temple Square. It turns out it was conference weekend, I ran right into the chaos. Everyone smiled and said good morning. No one tried to convert me on the spot. I struggled through the righteous riot, and ran to Cup of Joe. I told my friend Tiff of my recent adventure. The reply from a corner table came "WITHOUT YOUR MACE?"



How do you get around town? I admit, I mostly drive. I'll be on rollerblades, when the avenues are not so soggy and the desert summer swings our way. I have 2 bikes--a mountain and a road bike, relaxing here in the back alley behind the KCPW office. It is in my best interest to ride and walk whenever possible. I have a car that everyone knows and frowns at : The Dis-armer. This hideous little 1984 Toyota Celica is decorated with a red star, and the "Dis-Arm U$" mantra--my friend Sami from AJC architects provided the artwork. The antenna is a piece of baling wire from my Dad's garage. There is a story about the car: back when I had a parking card for the parking lot under the library, one of the security guards found my car there after hours. He didn't know whose it was...what he DID know was that it bore a political slogan, had a jerry-rigged antenna, had dead leaves poking out from under the trunk and the hood, and had a bunch of junk (recycling) in the back seat. Everything about the car screamed "I am a bomb" The security guard has since discovered that I am indeed the proud owner, and not in fact a bomb (although there is probably a leak in the fuel line-- Big O Tires reported this to me, and refused to do the emissions test, so I took it to the mechanic in Farmington, and had the guy I went to junior high with pass it off) This piece cost me $500, and should really NOT be running--when it tanks, I'll get another clunker for a few dollars, and take my chances.