By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times

Fall has arrived in all its splendor. Truly, my favorite time of year, however brief it may be.

It marks the end of summer traffic and tourism, and now one can enjoy the splendid solitude of a lone drive down Portage Road, casually viewing the changing colors of white birch and cottonwoods.

But autumn also means a change of pace in the Turnagain Arm entertainment scene.

The Seaview Café is closing down after its final show Sept. 19. Maxine’s will also close from Sept. 27-Oct. 23. However, Maxine’s won’t go quietly into the good night. Sept. 26, they will have a Closeout, Blowout party featuring The Photonz—they seem be having a major return to the music scene this year after a brief time in semi-retirement.

And as they do every year around this time, the Double Musky Inn restaurant is offering every Tuesday and Thursday two for one appetizers and Wednesday is two for one entrees. The special will continue until Thursday Oct.22, when they close for their annual vacation Oct. 25 and reopen Dec. 9—man, that is one long time to go without pepper steak tips. When they reopen, two for ones continue again.

Not to be outdone, Pepe’s Turnagain House in Indian started “Wednesday Local’s Night” offering a special half-price bar menu from 5-9 p.m.

You gotta love fall and Monday Night Football at the Brown Bear Saloon, which has started its all you can eat tacos for $8.

And how ‘bout Jack Sprat getting crazy this fall offering, for a limited time, Sushi Fridays! Chef Sean will create unique rolls every Friday night, like Citrus Salmon Roll with avocado and potato crisps or a Spicy Tuna Hand Roll, yummy! Also offering Vegetarian rolls, fresh Alaskan oysters and sashimi in addition to the regular dinner menu. Nice.

The Indian House, as promised, is really stepping it up this fall with live music. Four shows are already scheduled for this month, with more expected to come.

And the annual Girdwood Center For Visual Arts Benefit Dinner and Art Auction is being held at the Daylodge, Sept. 19. This is really a great event for good food and you can usually bid on some nice pieces of art—and get a great price on it. But the most important thing is you are supporting local artists and the GCVA.

By the way, the winner for the most TVs in a bar goes to Chair 5, which coincidentally has 5 TVs, including a 52” TV at the front of the barroom.

The Indian House came in a close second with four TVs. This month they invested in two new flat panel TVs, including a 65” flat panel above the bar.

Now on to The Scene.

Thursday, September 17

Jamn Night with Andy Mullen @ the Seaview Café 7-11 p.m.

Friday, September 18

Last Train, Rock cover tunes and originals @ the Brown Bear Saloon. Show starts around 9:30 p.m. $5 cover.

Spiff @ the Seaview Café. 7-11 p.m.

Mulch, a two-man band playing cover tunes @ The Indian House 8:30 p.m.-midnight. No cover.

Gill Rodriguez, a one-man band playing folk music @ Maxine’s 8-11 p.m. No cover.

Saturday, September 19

Melissa Mitchell Band @ the Seaview Café 8 p.m.-midnight. This is their last show.

The Grunt Monkeys, Rock N’ Roll cover tunes @ The Indian House 8 p.m.-midnight. No Cover.

Wednesday, September 23

Open Mic Night with Julia Dykstra @ Maxine’s 8-11 p.m.

Thursday, September 24

Open Mic Night with Guitar Jimmy and Jeff Collins @ The Indian House 8:30 p.m.

Friday, September 25

Scout, original and classic acoustics @ The Indian House 8:30 p.m.-midnight. No Cover.

Julia Dykstra, folk rock @ Maxine’s 8-11 p.m. No cover.

Saturday, September 26

Double-header of music @ Maxine’s Closeout, Blow-out Bash, starting with Loose Gravel 6-9 p.m. and then The Photonz 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $7 cover.

Everready @ The Indian House. 8:30 p.m.-midnight. No cover.

If you know of any events please e-mail them to us at info@turnagaintimes.com.