The Bar and Chill

The following events are all over town and listed in Calendar order.  If you have any event you would like to add to the list, please contact us!

Raven’s Radio Hour, Sun. - Wed., through Sept. 16, 7 PM, Alaska Native Heritage Center.  This is a fresh take on old tales and a cheeky tribute to tradition and modern life.  The gist of this play involves Raven as a radio man cavorting with mischievous elders while enacting modified Alaska Native stories and real-life experiences via radio drama, comedy and sponsors like Sally’s Seal Oil in a Can.  Tickets are $20, info at:  907-330-8000 or www.alaskanative.net.

Moose Madness, Alaska Zoo, Sept. 13, 12 - 4 pm.  A moose quiz and other educational games, a scavenger hunt and behind-the-scenes tour of the moose pen.  For details, call:  907-346-3242 or email klarson@alaskazoo.org.  Zoo Info:  www.alaskazoo.org

at&t Free Second Sundays at the Anchorage Museum!  We have a new reason to cheer at the Museum - starting this Fall, all museum visitors can enjoy free admission the second Sunday of every month.  Details at:  www.anchoragemuseum.org

Fiesta Familiar! (Family Fiesta)  Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration: Sunday Sept. 14, 1 - 5 pm.  The Anchorage Museum kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with festivities for the entire family.  Enjoy community performances, Hispanic Arts and Crafts Activities and the live music of El Combo Tropical Latino.  This is also a free event!

Radical Reels Film Tour - Extreme Thrills on Film, Sept. 26 at UAA.  Don’t expect a quiet night at the movies when this film tour hits UAA.  Highlights guaranteed to get anyone’s blood flowing include Rock Wings, which captures expert parachutist Loic Jean-Albert and two other land-based parachutists creating formations in the air as they plunge from a mountaintop, and Trial & Air, which features aerial footage of a skier parachuting off the edge of a 300-foot cliff, shot by a paragliding cameraman.  Other films - eight in all - show bouldering in Sweden, high-speed mountain biking, and North American kayak first-descents.  For details, check out radicalreels.com or call 907-786-1219

Hibernation Celebration at the Alaska Zoo, Sat. Oct. 4, 12 - 4 pm.  Learn how black and brown bears survive food shortages during the winter season, the sleeping habits of the zoo bears, and why polar bears stay up all year long.  Educational games, a scavenger hunt and tour of a replica bear den.  For details, call:  907-346-3242 or email klarson@alaskazoo.org.  Zoo Info:  www.alaskazoo.org

Great Alaska Beer Train, Anchorage to Portage, Oct. 4. Take a scenic journey along Turnagain Arm with the world’s best designated driver - the Alaska Railroad. The Microbrew Express travels 80 miles roundtrip from Anchorage to Portage and features an impressive assortment of the finest local microbrews and incredible scenery of Turnagain Arm. The fare includes roundtrip rail, six half pints of the Brewhouse’s best drafts and an array of hors d’oeuvres.  Train departs Anchorage Depot 4PM, returns 8:30PM, $149 per person, Must be 21.  Details at:  800-544-0552, or http://www.alaskarailroad.com/arrc39.html#5

Oktoberfest - Bavarian Merrymaking at the Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, October 10 - 11, 2008 (6:00 pm to Midnight on Friday, 4:00 pm to Midnight on Saturday).  Entry Fee:  $10.00.  Authentic German Food:  Bratworst, Ruotsi, German Potato Salad, Apple and Cherry Strudel and lots more!!  Music by Alaska Blaskapelles.  Hotel Package:  One night’s stay and admission to the Oktoberfest, October 10 or 11.  Starts at $149.00/night for two adults including tax and fees.  Details at: http://www.alyeskaresort.com/page.asp?intNodeID=13280

Native Heritage Month Celebration, Thurs. Oct. 30, 5:30 pm.  Share the Spirit!  The Anchorage Museum kicks off Alaska Native Heritage Month with a reception and music by Pamyua.  This is also a free event!

Anchorage Symphony Orchestra:  Halloween Family Concert, Oct. 31.  Costumed musicians play crowd-pleasers at the Center for the Performing Arts. Contact info:  877-278-7849

So, by now most of you know that Sept. 6 - 7 is the last weekend for the Anchorage Market and Festival.  Not to worry, though, the “Bad Girls of the North” are hosting a few events so you can still make some local purchases (just in time for Christmas)!  The “Anchorage Unique Boutique” will be held at the Sheraton Hotel (downtown between 5th and 6th Sts.) on Fri., Nov. 7 (4 - 9 pm) and Sat., Nov 8 (10 am - 5 pm).  The “Do the Valley” will be held at Evangelo’s Restaurant, Mile 40, Parks Hwy. (south of Wasilla) on Fri., Nov. 14 ( 4 - 8 pm) and Sat., Nov. 15 (10 am - 5 pm).  These shows feature hand created items including silk, jewelry, pottery, leather, stained glass, baskets, original art and much more.  Link:  www.badgirlsofthenorth.com

We tried to find some silvers at Jim Creek last week, but came out empty handed. Not a bad view though:

We took CJ on his first boat ride this weekend. We booked a Prince William Sound glacier tour with 26 Glaciers, and we launched out of Whittier on a rainy afternoon. They tour company gave us a nice discount too because it’s pretty much the end of their season. It’s a nice, easy afternoon trip. The tour comes with lunch and there’s a nice bar onboard. The tour guides do a nice job explaining the Prince William Sound area too.

Several folks asked for a report on our trip to Kodiak.

The Kodiak Archipeligo is absolutely beautiful, extremely green, and rugged.  It’s so green because it rains frequently!

Brenda bought a ticket on Alaska Air for the 0600 flight.  Mark got a ride in the back because an FAA inspector was in the jumpseat and there was space in the back on the 737 Combi.

Picked up the rental car at the airport….which is a one room facility.  There is Budget, Avis, and Rent-a-Heap.  Our Budget car (2000 Dodge Neon with 40K miles) served the purpose, but made us wonder what they have at Rent-a-Heap.  There are only 60 miles of road on the island, but a car is required unless you are flying out to a lodge or staying right in town for fishing.  By the way, not all the roads are paved, and the car rental lady said we were not allowed on the gravel roads……..

We stayed at the Coast Guard Guest House which was quite nice, if you qualify.  Clean and cheap.  There is also a Best Western, Comfort Inn, and a couple of locally owned motel/hotels. There are also lots of B&B’s listed in the book, but not all seem to have the same philosphy about the B&B concept.    If you wish to really get away from it all, there are about 30 wilderness lodges for fishing/wildlife viewing which require an air taxi.

Most of the people in the city of Kodiak are connected to industrial fishing or supporting businesses.  Most of the visitors come to sport fish or see bears or both.

If you have your own float plane, there is a very nice facility for parking on the south side of Near Island called the Trident Basin.

We ate at The Chowder House which serves fresh, local seafood with a nightly special.  Not fancy, no alcohol, but good food.  There’s a McDonald’s for breakfast and a variety of locally owned pubs and restaurants.

We did a bear watching trip. Fantastic.  As an added bonus, we were able to see the entire island and our pilot/guide was very enjoyable and knowledgeable.

We also did a half-day offshore salmon trip on our last day.  Had a great time and came home with 47 pounds of salmon (king and silver).  Humpbacks really close to the boat!Again, a great captain/guide…..also a pilot, so he and Mark had lots in common.

Call us if you have questions or decide to go.  We have business cards for our flightseeing pilot and fishing captain and recommend both.

If you do go, remember why it’s so green and take your Gortex suit……

Brenda Rogers