 The eyes and ears of three very different bars tell us about their normal—and not-so-normal—nights on the job.Here in the 49th state’s largest city, there’s a saying that goes, “When you’re in Anchorage you’re just five minutes away from Alaska.”
Plopped in the middle of a vast wilderness, Anchorage—a city of nearly 300,000—isn’t typically described with the same effusive prose bestowed upon the state’s magnificent mountains, bays and tundra. Bland, boxy and weather-worn, its essence is cheekily captured by a mysterious Instagram account, @keepanchoragebeige, which features churches, high-rises, even a Cadillac cloaked in the city’s unofficial colorway. Anchorage is a city that wears its flaws on its chest—if not proudly, then at least with painful self-awareness. It’s said that even during hard economic times, bars don’t suffer, yet in the midst of the state’s years-long recession and following a recent shooting at a downtown bar, some locals have opted rather to stay home. But the recession has also prompted Alaska to invest in tourism, and today the state welcomes more than a million cruise passengers each year. For this installment of PUNCH’s “A Night at the Door,” we spoke with security at three Anchorage bars to find out how they cater to throngs of international visitors and take responsibility for locals’ safety. Adventures in Anchorage: What to Eat, Where to Go, and What to See (For Rachael Ray magazine)6/26/2019
 Alaska’s largest city is the coolest combination of modern culture, rugged wilderness, and—of course—great food.Alyeska Resort
Think a ski resort is fun only in the winter? Think again. Alyeska Resort, 40 miles from central Anchorage, offers summertime fun with hiking trails, downhill mountain biking, stunning panoramic views, and mountaintop fine dining at the Seven Glaciers restaurant (like the scallop bisque with salmon mousse or wagyu beef with Alaskan barley). Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria Coming in at No. 5 on Trip Advisor’s Best Pizza in the Country list, Moose’s Tooth is a must-stop. With signature pies like Thai chicken and Greek gyro, there’s surely something for everyone. (Don’t worry, veggievores, there are meatless options for you, too.) They don’t take reservations, but a pint of Broken Tooth Brewing beer by the fire pit makes the wait more than bearable. Wild Scoops Ice cream in chilly Alaska? Oh yes. Cool local flavors like Foraged Wild Rose and Spruce Tip—along with kid-friendly options like Bubble Gum and Fruity Pebbles— are the reason this artisanal creamery blossomed from a farmers’ market stand to a downtown shop with lines out the door. Snow City Cafe With fresh local ingredients and nearly everything from scratch, this quirky downtown café is popular among locals and world leaders alike. You can make like President Obama, who bought every cinnamon roll in the case during a notable visit in 2015, or you can opt for dishes like snow crab omelets, stuffed French toast, and salmon BLT sammies. Alaska Native Heritage Center A living, breathing cultural hub, the Alaska Native Heritage Center is much more than a museum. Explore the history of Alaska’s indigenous cultures through dance performances, crafts classes, and guided tours of life-size replicas of native dwellings. The center is open daily from mid-May through mid-September. The Alaska Railroad Anchorage’s railroad depot is your ticket out of town without the worry of driving. Nearly 20 different day trips are available, including add-on excursions for glacier cruises, dogsled tours, and hiking paths only accessible by rail. Published in Rachael Ray magazine and on rachaelraymag.com on June 26, 2019. Collaboration is common in Alaska's food network with a hands-across-the-state mentality that makes the system work.
A new partnership between the 49th State Brewing Company and Bambino's Baby Food may seem a little odd on the surface, but owners of both businesses say it couldn't have been a better fit. Resolutions — many have them, fewer keep them.
Online polling firm YouGov reports that reducing stress, working out and losing weight, eating healthier and saving money are the top five goals for Americans in 2019. Ditching various vices is also an oft-popular goal for the new year. Tiffany Hall, executive director of Recover Alaska, said cutting out alcohol is something numerous people resolve to do. “January is a time that a lot of people are thinking about resolutions and changes they can make to their lives and if somebody drinks alcohol, they’ve usually come off of a heavy alcohol-infused holiday season. So it’s sort of a good reset for the year,” she said. Dry January, an international movement promoting a month-long commitment to abstaining from alcohol, has saturated the news in the first few days of 2019. Articles on the health benefits, financial perks, even how it can help you get ahead in the workplace, are swirling around the internet. So how did this popular — and to some already-annoying — self-improvement trend begin? Blame the British. Meet the Homer Artist Whose Name You’ll Want to KnowLook outside. If you’re already outside, take in what’s around you. Are there plants? Trees, soil, rocks?
Look closer. Notice the leaves; how many are on each stem and how many petals are on each flower? Heightened examination like this comes natural to Mandy Bernard, the artist behind the Instagram account @homesteadingroasters. It’s long been assumed that Alaska Native and American Indian communities pay higher costs for food while earning lower-than-average incomes. Now there’s data to back it up.
A food price monitoring report released June 5 with data from the first three months of 2017 illustrates how the combination of these two factors has led to nutritional and financial struggles for many Native American communities.  Whether working with a small space or a large plot, most gardeners like to plant flowers as well as vegetables. The blooms can attract pollinators, some can deter pests and all add beauty to your bounty
When asked to name German foods, most people would say bratwurst, pretzels, schnitzel, and beer. Southern food would elicit responses like fried chicken, grits, collard greens, and barbecue.
But what about Arctic food? As it turns out, there aren’t any easy answers. A group of Arctic chefs and academics is trying to change that. Here’s what travelers can expect from the Alaska Airlines, Virgin America merger (For KTVA)12/14/2016
 SEATTLE – Two U.S. companies have finally sealed the deal — Alaska Airlines and Virgin America will celebrate a merger months in the making.
In a blog post Wednesday, Alaska Air Group Inc. announced it has closed its acquisition of Virgin America, the crescendo of a multibillion-dollar agreement that was announced in April 2016. Do Alaskans’ feelings about the presidential candidates line up with national trends? How do they feel about the candidates who want to represent Alaska in Washington, D.C.? Do their feelings on the issues match the candidates they support?
These were all questions KTVA wanted the answers to, so we asked readers on KTVA.com to fill out a 10-question survey on the issues surrounding the 2016 November election. Then, we took to social media and asked our followers on Facebook and Twitter which candidates have their votes. KTVA’s survey was conducted between Oct. 12 to Oct. 19 and asked about both national and state-specific issues. Read full story with infographics on KTVA.com  If you ask my family, I’ve never been too shy to say what needs to be said. I won’t sugarcoat it — I have found the best doughnuts in Anchorage.
As I write, there is sugar coursing through my veins. Some people talk about being able to feel adrenaline move through your body, but I think I can feel the sucrose pumping its way from my heart to my hands. The red vinyl covering the seat of the booth groaned as I reached for my yellow mug of diner coffee. Suddenly, my weekend morning (OK, early afternoon) was interrupted by a wave of recollection: driving in a white Jeep on a road that hugged the ocean, windows down and music up.
Much to the dismay of my mother, I have now lived in both of the outlying states in the U.S.: Hawaii and Alaska. As a senior in high school, my rural upbringing and craving for adventure spurred my decision to apply to a university on the island of Oahu. A few months later, I learned that I got in. With some finagling, faith, and financial aid, I boarded a plane alone and left everything I knew behind. When I landed, I had to figure out how to catch a city bus. In Honolulu, a city of a million souls, I saw for the first time what it looked like for people to live on top of one another — on the ranch our nearest neighbor was a mile away. I became aware of new cultures each accompanied by their own sights, smells and tastes. Our sense of smell is intricately linked to our sense of taste — and to memory. So as I reached for that Fiestaware mug, it was the smell of the Kava’s Pancake House breakfast fried rice that transported me to that day years ago when my friends and I were driving to the North Shore of Oahu.  A three-part harmony, a good burger and a cold milkshake are part of what made America great. Not so common anymore, diners call us back to a time of bobby socks, a good jukebox and leather-topped stools where one could belly up for some grub.
My grandfather used to tell me that as a bachelor, he would go to a diner every Thanksgiving to get a turkey dinner. The image has had a Norman Rockwell-esque staying power in my mind since I was small. That, along with a hangover, drew me to City Diner in Anchorage. PALMER – High up on a plain white wall, the skinny hand of a clock ticked away the seconds, counting down the moments competitors had left to enter their creations.
When the time came, the door was shut to the dark and stormy night outside and a small group of 12 judges were assigned to stations around the room. Surrounding them were tables full of cookies, pies, breads, muffins, cakes, fudge, and cupcakes — sometimes dozens of each kind. At 9:41 p.m., the first bite was taken. Everything would need to be tasted before they could all go home.
Sometimes a place isn’t so much about geography or what’s inside. Its significance lies in the people who are there.
We sat beneath a chandelier made of wine bottles in the middle of the bar. I was eagerly awaiting our eight-course feast. I was skeptical. The tickets sport a $110 price tag, yet I reserved judgment.
My dining partner and fellow writer, Wanderer and I were inside Crush, a wine bistro in downtown Anchorage, but our reservation was for an entirely different restaurant — Harvest. Harvest restaurant is a pop-up, which by nature is temporary. It’s part of a worldwide dining trend that focuses on exclusive offerings from seasoned chefs, who cook up unique cuisine to tell stories that highlight the best of the harvest at that time. In an evening filled with record turnout and a close, but solid victory for Ted Cruz in Alaska, perhaps the most intriguing outcome of Super Tuesday in the state was the amount of support for arguably the biggest loser of the night.
 There's no doubt about it, in multiple cultures all around the world, winter is soup season.
My counterpart had the same notion-plus an elephantine amount more ambition-to procure a big, steaming bowl of ramen to battle the dark days of winter ("Momofuk'in good," Zack Fields, Dec. 10). While he smoked, simmered and boiled his own batch of Momofuku-style ramen, I went to Naruto.
Sorrento’s satisfies Growing up, I had a friend with dark hair and espresso-colored eyes whose skin turned a deep shade of copper in the sun. Her brother was flame-haired, fair-skinned and freckled. (Yes, I’m positive he wasn’t adopted.) While they both shared the same roots of an Irish father and a Native American mother, their characteristics couldn’t have been more different.
Much is the same with Italian and Italian-American food. The current owners of 601 F St. are making sure the new building stands on the principles of its past.
Built where the old Covenant House once was, Williwaw has decided to continue supporting young people by partnering with the Alaska Music Project for Youth (AMP) to help kids develop a lifelong passion for music. This Saturday, the venue is hosting a free music workshop for kids put on by local artists and AMP, followed by the first-ever benefit event for the project. Ever wish there were ways to increase your health and stamina before taking on a challenge? Maybe a first aid kit, a cache of ammo and a bigger weapon hiding in a trunk conveniently located on the way? Real life doesn’t have checkpoints or power-ups before the big battles, but local gaming group 907 Gamers is working to equip children and families to take on villains like cystic fibrosis and cancer.
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