By Robin Rosemond
Turnagain Times Correspondent
I recently spent some time at Bernie’s Bungalow and Lounge. It’s a downtown restaurant/bar/club that’s like no other place in the city. It’s has fun oozing out of every nook and cranny of the massive structure. Originally, it was a small house, but it’s been built up, added on, and renovated into the most architecturally unique bar in Anchorage. The bar downstairs bar is cozy, the restaurant upstairs is beautiful, the outdoor patio is to die for and there is a great room to play pool in.
Bernie’s is having ‘Brrr Ronde’, in tandem with the official Fur Ronde and is offering live music, hot dogs on the street, food and drink deals, and promotional offerings.
Bernie is in cahoots with Permafrost Vodka from the Matanuska Valley. Permafrost is a smooth, delicious vodka released by Glacier Creek Distillery, which is Alaska’s first distillery. I met Toby Foster, a former commercial pilot who is the CEO of the Glacier Creek Distillery. He’s not only a nice guy who’s intelligent, inventive, and charming, but he came up with a great vodka made from Alaskan potatoes grown in the Matanuska Valley and Alaskan glacier water. The vodka is about $50 a bottle to wholesale distributors. The distillery’s 750-milliliter bottles are lovely and imported from Italy and made of a heavy glass ($6 a bottle). Glacier Creek Distillery is also green, the ethanol from the distilling process will fuel generators that run the plant and the potato leavings from the vodka processing will be composted. Permafrost is made locally in Palmer, Alaska. I think you should try it.
Speaking of Palmer, Alaska, I was asked to make mention of events and places outside of Anchorage, so I’m giving the Valley a plug not only about it’s vodka, but also about Turkey Red, a fantastic bakery/restaurant in Palmer. Turkey Red serves fresh, high quality, local and organic ingredients prepared in traditional ways. Turkey Red is the inspiration of local cook, caterer and gardener, Alex Papasavas. His mission is to purchase and employ locally, to retain money in the community, promote local agriculture, increase flavor and nutrition of food, and lower energy use. Turkey Red 550 South Alaska Street Palmer, Alaska 907-746-5544 TurkeyRedAK@gmail.com
The Alaska Ice Festival, will be held March 6 - 8. It’s been in development for 5 years, 2009 will be the year of the inaugural festival. Check out a fun-filled weekend filled with slide shows, how-to clinics by celebrity climbers, a mixed/ice climbing competition, equipment demos and after climbing parties. Non-climbers welcome. Proceeds from this event will go into developing and promoting the construction of an ice park in Southcentral Alaska, as well as future Alaska Ice Climbing Festivals. For more Info go to: www.alaskaiceclimbingfestival.org
Don’t forget to go see Annie at the Alaska Center for the performing Arts. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back, boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, including “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “N.Y.C.” and the ever-optimistic “Tomorrow,” Annie is a delightful theatrical experience for the entire family. Wednesday, March 18 through
Monday, March 23 at the Atwood Concert Hall. For more information: www.anchorageconcerts.org.
If you have an event or venue that you would like published in “Out of the Town” email Robin at: rosebud61155@mac.com or check out my blog: www.rosemondpost.com.