By Robin Rosemond
Turnagain Times Correspondent
Since I’m living and working in Boot Legger’s Cove for a couple of months until my house sitting gig runs out, I have been driving less and walking more. I’m consciously trying to make my energy footprint as small and light as possible. Each day I work on using less oil, being a better person and letting go of all my bull. Okay, enough. It’s Solstice. Let’s party!
Town Square looks lovely with the flowers and happy folks strolling around. Alaskans celebrate the longest day of the year in many ways, but Town Square and surrounding streets with tons of events packed into one sweet celebration is the place to be. Live musical performances keep downtown hopping until the sun goes down. Pro skateboarders, chainsaw art test, live music, Dominick Cruz, Penny’s Puppets and the Rage City Rollergirls will be performing. The Hero Games are a daylong friendly competition between the police, troopers, each military branch and the fire department. Enjoy the challenging games such as the obstacle course, a “rescue the cat” climb; litter carry, the bucket brigade and tricycle races. Saturday, June 23, Town Square, downtown Anchorage.
And while were on the subject, the Fourth of July is always a blast in Town Square as well. Fireworks, music and fun! Saturday, June 23 and Wednesday, July 4th Town Square, downtown Anchorage.
Homer got it all going on June 29 and 30 at The Down East Music Festival. Two of my favorite musical acts, Pamyua and Buffy Saint Marie will be performing. Wow! A two-day outdoor Festival with over 25 Alaskan acts from around the state. Buffy Sainte-Marie will be featured on Saturday June 30th only. There will be RV Camping available. Food, arts and crafts vending! The award winning Alaska native group Pamyua will be featured both days. There will also be Belly Dancers and Fire Spinners. Tent Camping is available outside the event and all over the town of Homer. For more information call: 235-6002.
Salmonstock Music Festival is having its second year anniversary Aug. 3, 4 and 5 at the Kenai Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska and it’s a great lineup again. Left over Salmon will headline the festival so be there! Left Over Salmon is a jam band from Boulder, Colorado, formed in 1989. Their unique blend of bluegrass, rock, country, and Cajun/Zydeco, which the band calls “Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass”, has found favor with the jam band scene. The band took a hiatus in 2005, and the surviving members include Daniel Dever, Scott Askew and Thomas Rugg. For more information go to the Salmonstock Music Festival web page.
Orso and The Glacier Brew House are hosting the American Blood Bank pint for pint blood drive June 30. Give blood. Blood Bank of Alaska: 222-5630.
My epicurean portion of the column is about Mayonnaise in Sushi. I swore off any Sushi with the creamy stuff for a long time because sushi doesn’t need mayo. Anyway, my friend Dani Evans talked me in to trying an SMG (Scallop, Mayo and Tobiko). A pair of beautifully prepared SMG nori wrapped rolls piled high with a whipped looking concoction and topped with bright orange fish roe (Tobiko) arrived to the table and looked appetizing to me. I popped one in to my mouth and the flavor immediately began to melt happily into my taste buds.
Scallop is one of my favorite seafood delicacies and this was one way I’ve never had it. It was fresh, light, lovely, creamy, crunchy, and delicious. Wow! I was sold. I then tried SMG at whatever sushi bar I went to. Sushi & Sushi offer a decent one. I forgive mayo in sushi now because I love Japanese mayonnaise, which uses rice vinegar as an ingredient. It has a deeper yellow color to it; it is looser than other mayonnaise and has a tangier flavor to it. Japanese Mayo is bottled in soft plastic tubes and the most famous brand is the Kewpie Mayonnaise.
Since rice vinegar is also an ingredient for sushi rice, Japanese mayonnaise is a natural match to be used for making spicy sauce for fusion type sushi rolls. Japanese mayonnaise can be used alone to dress chopped scallops along with scallions as well. Sushi & Sushi 3337 Fairbanks. For more information: 907 333-9999.
Write to me: rosebud61155@mac.com or check out my blog: www.rosemondpost.com.
