Outdoor gardening season winds down
I too, am feeling the coolness in the morning and can't help but notice the geese flying out, ducks and cranes too. The moose are back in the yard, calfs trying to figure out the strange behavior of their mother and bulls wandering about recklessly. These are the signs of "The End" as far as outdoor gardening is concerned and it isn't just because the moose are hungry.
Alaska apples begin to pop up at local markets
A sure sign of autumn - in addition to the yellowing leaves and the dark nights - is the arrival of apples.
More matter with less pay crux of theater's problem
FAIRBANKS -- The Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre board of directors says it has accepted the resignation of artistic director Bruce Rogers, who says he was only offering to take a pay cut, not quit.
Contributor with a camera
FAIRBANKS -- It's hard to say whether photographer Barry McWayne, who died Aug. 8 in Anchorage after a brief illness, is better known for his art and photography contributions or his kindness and unparalleled sense of humor.
'Souvenir' a tightrope act with laughs
Cyrano's sold out the first couple of shows of "Souvenir" and, judging from the audience's reaction, I'm guessing that word of mouth has continued to draw good houses.
Friend recalls Stevens' advocacy for Alaska science
When Syun-Ichi Akasofu first approached Ted Stevens, the Japanese-American leader of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Geophysical Institute was desperate -- the institute's rocket range had no money to maintain or improve its structures and equipment.
Debut marks Hopkins as a musician to watch
On Aug. 22 I had a chance to hear a wonderful young musician as part of the 12th annual Young Alaskan Artist Award Recitals sponsored by Anchorage Festival of Music. Cellist Patrick Hopkins of Fairbanks performed with remarkable poise, technical precision and emotional depth in a program that included music by Haydn, Schubert, Prokofiev and Chopin. In addition two other works were added to the program.
Reading the North
Zephyr
Trip tracker
Yes, fellow Alaskans, our summer is wrapping up and slowly fading into the ever increasing darkness of winter days to come. Did you get a chance to explore the richness of our great state's natural beauty? Don't let a little -- OK, a lot of rain -- get in your way. There's still time to squeeze in one more excursion before Mother Nature covers our landscape with a cool, white blanket. Fall camping can be the best time of the year for backcountry exploring, but plan for cooler nights and pack your wet gear and lots of bug spray.
Weekend roundup: Hot picks
Tips to keeping your State Fair experience fun and frugal
(Note: Reporter Kaylin Bettinger has spent the past week at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. In addition to writing about people and events, she's been making a checklist of practical tips for fairgoers.)
Casting call for 1,000 extras in Barrymore movie begins Friday
Alaskans, time to get your 1980s on.
Monster pumpkin sets new state record
The new record to beat is 1,101 pounds in the giant pumpkin contest at the Alaska State Fair.
Local events for gardeners
Save next Saturday! Harvest day and Scarecrow Contest at the Alaska Botanical Garden. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Family fun, face painting, arts and crafts, dipnetting for apples and Alaska’s only scarecrow contest. $5 per person or $10 per family, but free with three canned food items or bags of garden produce. Register for the Scarecrow contest at www.alaskabg.org.
Spring bulbs worth planting before too long
I hate writing the annual column about getting ready for the first frost and this is the usual week for it. However, I saw spring flowering bulbs for sale the other day, early for hereabouts, and it seemed to me to be a perfect excuse to break with tradition and write about something else.
Local produce is piling up
The Alaska State Fair is running full steam. It's the first day of September; Labor Day is fast approaching.
Boys offer a kid's-eye view of fun at the state fair
PALMER -- Conor, 10, and Quinn Janigo, 8, tagged along with me on Monday for a kid's eye view of the Alaska State Fair. The booths that I routinely ignored were paradise to them.
Off key, but on target
Seventy years ago, every opera lover in New York knew of Florence Foster Jenkins and her improbable career.
Long-lost Tlingit peace-sign headpiece finds new home
Back in 1972, during a trip to Puget Sound, Nathan Jackson of Haines found himself expected to perform a Tlingit dance. But he didn't have regalia with him, including a proper head dress. That detail turned out not to be a problem as Jackson, an expert carver, quickly whittled out the frontlet for a headpiece and -- voila! -- the show went on.
Heritage center house posts result from billionaire's interest in Alaska
Anchorage received a remarkable gift earlier this month when four house posts were installed at the Southeast clan house on the grounds of the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Four carvers were involved in the project, David Boxley, brothers Joe and T.J. Young and Israel Shotridge.
UAF is host to largest black spruce in Alaska
Forester Tom Malone once guided me on a trek to see Alaska's largest black spruce tree. It was a short adventure. The 71-foot tree is a two-minute walk from my office.
