Freezing in Anchorage

This is the coldest January on record. Perhaps you think I’ve dropped this blog – well, I haven’t. You see, last month it was somehow published under my old username, ie. Alaskab4udie … one of the mysteries of blogging I haven’t taken time to figure out. Well, it’s okay because I have nothing to say except, “Br-r-r”.
I will admit, it’s beautiful looking out from my warm condo, but I’ve been running to and from my car, and wherever.

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Unlike most ‘real Alaskans’ I don’t have a remote start, so it takes a mile or so to get warm. The other beautiful part of Alaska is watching the Aurora Borealis, which I’m including on my post for you to enjoy. There are some websites that actually show the movement of the beautiful colors, and there is even a hum – m – m that goes along.

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Activities do not stop altogether, as indoor sports mostly in the schools and 'the Dome' continue. The Dome is a big bubble next to, but separate from, the Crosspoint Church/Fellowship. It's really big, and the schools rent it a lot for the outdoor sports programs. Like I said, it's just too cold to do anything, but then I'm a senior citizen. There were days when I actually liked it cold. But think of all the jobs that require being outdoors.

The concerts, symphony, opera, plays continue, and if you want to endure going downtown, you might find it’s even worth the freezy walk to the Performing Arts Center!

Well, enough said for now – enjoy the pictures!

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Zero in on Anchorage

This is not the best time to visit Anchorage unless you have long underwear and Bunny Boots handy. Speaking of that, we don’t see a lot of the ‘old Alaska’ gear  these days. I refer to Fur Parkas, Bunny boots, and traditions like the Billikin, but I suppose Anchorage is getting to be like any big city in the Lower States. We have most of the Big Box stores now, and franchises, too. The Olive Garden is one of the last holdouts, as one of these restaurants is now being built at the Tihxxxx center. Yeah, they chose a name nobody can spell or pronounce, but as land gets harder to find, the city ventures south or east. You see, there’s water to the north and wet. Don’t waste time reminiscing, as there will never be an Alaska like I knew when I came in 1966. At that time, there were totem poles downtown, the small parking lot at the small airport was free, as was parking everywhere. There was a fashionable dress shop on Fourth Avenue that would have a semi-annual sale, and there would be a long line waiting to get it, as they only allowed a few shoppers at a time.

Guess I’m just an old fogie but that’s okay by me. One ‘tradition’ that remains is the Whale Fat Follies, which is sequestered in the same venue as earlier but owned by different people with a different name. But Mr. Whitekeys has become an institution whereas he spoofs local politicians and celebrities. He’s bringing back his Christmas show, and we’re ready to laugh a whole lot.

Let’s hope the temperature climbs above zero in the near future, because I’m almost out of gas for my car, and I hate to pump it with frostbitten hands.

All of a Sudden – Winter strikes Anchorage

It’s so beautiful this time of year, especially if you’re inside looking out at the snow, but there are horrendous storms on the Western Coast of Alaska.

This doesn’t seem to have slowed down the social life of Anchorage. The Petroleum Club and other watering holes have a big football following, with huge monitors and several games going on at once. It’s hard to sip and socialize at the same time. . . but I try.

The big Thanksgiving event of the year is approaching, as we are hosting our Great Alaska Shootout. This is a 4 day tournament of women’s and men’s basketball teams, with invites to college teams from the lower states. This was originally a great local idea for pre-season, with special dispensation from USAA, but has been copied by so many colleges that it’s hard to get the top teams anymore. But it still goes on with peripheral events that still draw crowds. The local competition is the Nutcracker Ballet, which is a first-class production. We do want to encourage you to come in the winter and enjoy the beautiful Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, in a very black sky. This is an added bonus to your visit!

Hallowe’en Hits Anchorage

This beautiful image came from the daily news, so I can’t give credit, but I really like the setting . . . and it’s almost time for Hallowe’en, and it’s a big deal in Anchorage. I guess dressing up gives us an alter personality for a short period. We’re watching the ‘termination dust’ coming down lower on the mountains, and soon we’ll be covered in white. We still change to studded tires around this time, and take all the plants (that we hope to winter over) indoors.

The Center for Performing Arts has a full schedule, with the Symphony and Opera, but the big performance this week is “Fiddler on the Roof”. It’s a tried and true musical, and we have a fresh look with a new director, Sam something, who gave us a talk about the goings on backstage in preparation. It’s a well-oiled machine that spends over a week in set-up and then they leave after the first performance!

The political scene is also quite active, and there are fund-raisers almost daily. . . and wildlife is still coming to downtown for foraging. So we continue to enjoy life in big A, as the snowbirds leave for the winter.

Back to Alaska

What a pleasure for me to return to Anchorage after a few weeks in Texas. Don’t get me wrong. I do like visiting outside, but a gal from Alaska should definitely NOT go to San Antonio, Texas in the summer. Altho’ I was staying in a pleasant room at the Hilton, one has to go outdoors at times, and the heat was unbelievable. However, you need to carry a jacket for the air-conditioned places you visit, as they are cold! They also have a big drought, and fires start too easily.

But I am glad to see the wildlife in Anchorage that continue to come into the city, and you just don’t know what you might be driving, or walking, within a few feet of mamma moose and her calf, or small black bears foraging for whatever the trash can offers. The is the end of summer, and each day adds a few more minutes of darkness. We will be enjoying the Northern Lights before long, and winter scenes. The many farmer’s markets are ending their most successful season, and the symphony and concert series are back with a great list of programs/artists. The State Fair had record produce with one pumpkin so large, they couldn’t find a scale to weigh it. But that’s over.

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Fishing is on the wane, and the hunters are whetting their chops for what appears to be a good hunting season.

This is just a bit of what’s going on here, but I love this shot I stole from the local newspaper of a fisher’s catch!

Alaska Fairs, Markets, and Festivals

Could it be time for the Alaska State Fair? It seems time goes faster as we get older. So there goes summer of 2011, and it was a good one for Anchorage. We have been spared the hurricanes and tornadoes of the East Coast this year, and the weather has been a spotty pattern of sun and drizzle. That’s good for our crops, and the State Fair will again be showing the results of the 23 1/2 hours of sunlight. Expect to see some BIG cabbages.
Note also that other smaller towns are vying for the attendance at fairs and farmer’s market. One of the newer markets is the one in the parking lot of the famous “Chilkoot Charlies”. They host weekly unique booths, plus the Mobile Mender (a lady who sits at sewing machine and does your repairs!)

Girdwood (that’s Alyeska Resort town) has it’s big Forest Fair in July, followed by Blueberry Fair, and this weekend is the Fungus fair. Along with costumes, you’ll see mushrooms of all varieties (including the beautiful red ones that are poisonous) and taste the local delights.

Talkeetna has the Bachelor Auction and issues permits to climb Denali. It is unique and conveniently located on the railroad between Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Homer had Creative Writing Workshops, many Art Galleries, and the Pier One Theatre, in addition to the expected water activities. The visit to Seldovia is enhanced by viewing all the bird islands on the way to this totally isolated village.

Seward has the big Silver Salmon Derby, and the image above shows an osprey fishing — they are quick! Seward is also the jumping off place for cruise ships. Whittier has been added as a docking site for cruise ships, too, as it’s closer to Anchorage, where you all want to go . . . don’t you?

Fairbanks is the ‘other’ big city in Alaska, and has it’s fairgrounds, and the great one-of-a-kind Ice Museum at Chena Hot Springs (actually 60 miles each). The main campus of the University is there, and the campus equals many of the big guys in the lower states.

Now I don’t know how I got on this quickie travelogue, but maybe it’s because I’m going outside for a few weeks, and will miss all the things here. But just to keep you interested, I’m posting shot of my posies, totally unrelated to my blog script!