Robin Rosemond/Turnagain Times
The Bagel Factory has a family feel with great food and service.
The Bagel Factory has a family feel with great food and service.
By Robin Rosemond
Turnagain Times Correspondent
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Robin Rosemond/Turnagain Times The Bagel Factory has a family feel with great food and service. |
All eyes are on Girdwood this Fourth of July as Forest Fair makes a comeback. I predict it will be the best one yet.
If you’re heading to Anchorage for the holiday weekend, the Anchorage July 4th Celebration and Downtown Parade are always a perfect choice. The daylong activities will be at the Delany Park Strip from 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. The featured events include a patriotic and celebratory reading of the Declaration of Independence at 1:00 p.m. There’s also an 8:00 a.m. pancake breakfast, a parade, picnic, and this year, Alaska celebrates its 50th birthday! For more information call: 279-7500.
The Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum is hosting the Great Alaska Salmon Bake and Fly-by. It’s from 3 p.m.- 9 p.m. and features a variety of vintage, eye candy, and aircraft fly-by’s from around the state. Enjoy the live music, a silent auction, door prizes, and games for the kids. In addition, boasting an all you can eat salmon, burgers, hot dogs and beer garden. For more information: 248-5325.
For those of you who like to head north, Eagle River is jumping the gun, and having it’s Fourth of July Celebration on July 3, Friday night. The fireworks display will be at midnight. On Saturday, they continue the party with a parade.
Eagle River is also hosting the annual Bear Paw Festival, July 8 – July 12. Known to some as, Excali-Bear & The Knights of the Paw, this is an occasion for the whole family. It includes, a 5K fun run, Slippery Salmon Olympics, Carnival Rides, the IBEW Jammin’ Salmon Cook-Off, live entertainment, a Teddy Bear Picnic, and Teddy Bear Parade. For more information 694-4702.
For the very adventurous, the weekend of July 11-12 is The Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival. The 34-year-old festival, is a fundraiser for the Talkeetna Historical Society, and a notoriously humorous event. Although there are festivities all weekend, the ‘big’ event (Moose Dropping) is Saturday afternoon. The tradition is to head to the VFW for the Moose Drop Dropping – a raffle sponsored by the VFW. Meanwhile, the moose poop has been shellacked and numbered. The moose poop is then hauled up in the air in a net and dropped on a bull’s eye. Raffle numbers correspond to numbers on moose poop. Winners include the closest and farthest from the bull’s-eye. Other events include the Mountain Mother Contest, a parade, a 5K Footrace, and One Pitch Softball all day, every day. The festival runs July 11 and 12, 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
For something out of the ordinary, take the family on a tour of the Port of Anchorage. Every Sunday through the summer, you can visit this historical harbor, which is the gateway to 90 percent of all the goods that come to Alaska. The Port of Anchorage is expanding, so watching the ships, cranes, barges, and people, is worth the price; FREE. Yes, free! So bring the kids, park for free, get a free shuttle from the Alaska Railroad Corporate office to the tour, and munch on free hot dogs! For more information: 343-6231.
One of the best breakfast, and lunch spots in Anchorage, is The Bagel Factory. It is a friendly place, with consistently good offerings, and great service. It’s my favorite stop for a Jalapeño Cheese Bagel with scrambled egg, and a side of salsa! 142 West 34th Avenue. M-F 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Saturday 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Closed Sunday. 561-8871.
Write to me about events or places of interest: rosebud61155@mac.com Or check out my blog: www.rosemondpost.com
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