People, places, things, and ideas I love in Anchorage, AK
From being named one of Nat. Geo. Travel’s best trips in 2017 and winning $1.5M for innovation to controversial magazine covers and concerns about Alaska Salmon, it was quite a week in Anchorage.
There are plenty of fun events coming up, whether you want to play inside or outside. And make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to discover a delicious new dish that’s the perfect antidote to all things cold and dark.
Get out there and love your city Anchorage!
Guten Tag, wie geht’s?
That’s about the extent of the language I retained from four years of high school German.* Despite forgetting most of the language I learned, I still feel an affinity for Deutshland, mostly because I have a fair amount of German in my ancestry (all mixed up with some Scandinavian, French, English, and who knows what else…) and I’m fascinated by headlines touting Berlin as the #1 startup hub in Europe. Also, Das Sound Machine!
All this to say that when a friend invited me to partake in a beer stein making class with Clay Owen Studios at 49th State Brewing Co., I was totally in: great company, good food, local brews, messing around with clay, “honoring” my Germanic heritage… not a bad way to spend a Friday night!
I’ve pulled together a smattering of stories for you – from a heart wrenching look at the perils of drug use to a sweet story about being pen pals with Garrison Keillor – along with with some upcoming events (SASSAFRAS people!) and a reminder that it’s not too soon to start planning your summer adventures, especially the kind that book up fast.
Stay warm everyone! Unless you’re trying out the Wim Hof method, in which case I wish you many opportunities to play outside in freezing temps and minimal clothing. Photo by Penny Gage.
A couple months ago I read What the world’s best cities will look like in 2030, an article about how cities can prepare for and attract aging populations, and shared it on Facebook with the question, “What can we do to become more age friendly and keep our seniors here?” Most responses cited the cold, dark winters and a few others mentioned the lack of affordable housing and challenging transportation as deterrents to staying. The general consensus seemed to be that once Alaskans hit retirement age, it’s snow bird time: relentlessly sunny skies and outlet malls, here we come!
Continue reading “Graying and staying: Alaska’s growing senior population (UNLEASH Magazine)”
Yesterday, the last day of 2016, I was rushing to get ready for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Quickly blow drying my newly short hair, I swiped on a sparkly eyeshadow and mentally debated the likelihood of running tights passing as evening wear.
Continue reading “The more things change… (Weekly Digest – Issue #1)”
Earlier this week I realized that Christmas snuck up on me again. My gift list is only halfway complete, the tree isn’t up yet, and I’m still figuring out my menu for Christmas dinner. Thank goodness for the twinkle lights keeping us from becoming our buildings official Scrooges! In need of a strong dose of holiday motivation, I headed to the 5th Ave mall to soak in some over-the-top festive spirit and it didn’t disappoint: Christmas music, cheerful window displays, and gorgeous decorations all inspired me to dive in to my own holiday preparations.
I’d like to introduce some of my favorite bloggers – each one offers a regular dose of fun and inspiration while sharing their adventures in AK!
I love Small Business Saturday, not because of the awesome deals that many shops offer, but because it’s like a celebration of the businesses that add a unique feel to our shopping scene. After eschewing all things Black Friday and choosing to #OptInside for a day of reading, movies, leftovers, and napping (it felt SO GOOD to hibernate), I was ready to visit a few of my favorite small businesses (I didn’t make it to all my local loves today, but future visits are on my list!) on the best shopping day of the year:
I always feel like the holidays have begun once my husband hangs our lights. They lend a festive air to dark nights, and I love cozily reading by the fire, dogs on my lap and lights shining through the windows.
Ah, the few days a year when Her Tern slashes the prices on their insanely beautiful, handmade shoes and you (meaning me) can justify purchasing a pair. The sale is today through Sunday, and also includes summer dresses, cozy coats, cool girl tunics, graphic t-shirts and more. I’ve scored some of my favorite pieces at Her Tern sales, always marveling and the deep discounts and my luck in finding just the right thing.
Skinny Raven is also having a sale that’s bound to include some incredible deals.
Go forth and shop!