3rd day 2012 alaska trip - ANCHORAGE

Had an interesting day!! WHEW!! Started out early today with breakfast, again, at the Snow City Cafe.

Mary and Diana at the Snow City Cafe in Anchorage

Another great breakfast. Sat next two two ladies that got my attention. One lady had on very spiked beautiful dark green shoes and I just couldn't imagine walking around in the snow and ice in them. I had to ask her how she managed. We then met Mary and Diana who are date consultants/professional matchmakers. My VERY FIRST!!! Their business is MEET ME FOR LUNCH. They teach how to dress, where to go and all those important tips to meet Mr and Miss Right. At the moment, they are lacking in men from 40-60 years old. Hey, any takers??? Hi Mary and Diana--they are checking out the blog.

Oh, the shoes.....she grew up in Anchorage and got her first pair of "heels" at about 4 years old. She then was hooked!! Went to every garage sale etc and looked for any kind of heels/spikes to buy. Diana said the spikes "dig in" are are actually good in the snow. Mary said she actually runs in them. Bless her!!@#
On to my favorite place to shop for the best, most authentic native art---The Native Hospital Gift Shop.
The lady who runs it, Karen, is there only on Friday so today was the day. In the lobby of the hospital someone was playing a guitar and everyone was singing. I joined them for awhile and it was great.
In the shop I met another lady who seemed like she knew what she was looking for and buying--I hooked on to her. She taught me a lot about quality and authenticity of the native pieces. Hank and I, of course, bought some wonderful "works of art".
It started snowing and continued all day but didn't really amount to much. Seems warmer--maybe I'm just getting used to it.

Shop where they make the qiviut scarfs, hats etc. They repaired a scarf Hank bought me years ago . The warmest material EVER!!! and beautiful. I loved the little shop front.

Another Fur Rendezvous event was the native market in the Diamond Mall. Tables and tables of art pieces. I didn't think as nice as the ones in the gift shop. Found a few very special pieces and made Hank a happy boy. Met a girl with the most beautiful long white fur coat. She said she made it for her wedding. I did take a photo hope it will come up here--I'm working on that.
Stoped at  OOMINGMAK where they make qiviut (musk Ox) knits. Hank bought me a scarf there many years ago, 30 or so, and  a hungry moth had lunch in a few places. The native lady there had repaired it for me--did a nice job.
The town is now filling up with Iditarod people so lots of traffic and many streets are closed.
Dinner time--to one of our favorite places for king crab legs, Phyllis' off 4th on D. Great crab dinner. Used to be $19.95 now its $30. So sweet and so much!!
On Friday nites at the Anchorage Museum its free admission from 6pm to 9pm. Two exhibits we wanted to see. Faces of approx. 20 men and 2 women after the finished their climb up Denali! Some faces revealed anguish and pain while others joy and jubulation.
Next exhibit Smithsonian Arctic Heritage showing many small films of village life past and present. Displays depicting life as it was in the villages, including some unique ivory pieces, seal gut "raincoats", ceremonial wear, tools etc.
Busy day. Home to get ready for any early start tomorrow. ITS IDITAROD TIME!! 10am start.

At David Green Furriers/No he didn't buy it--I bought fur boots.

Just a note from yesterday about David Green Furriers, where I bought my boots. The lady that we spoke with was the granddaughter of David Green who owned the first store. One of his sons daughters was Maria, the lady who helped us and took us into the fur vaults. That was an experience. We went thru a pictoral history of the family and the store. Her grandfather met with the best of them---the Pope, many Presidents and many celebrities. Their side of 4th ave. was the side most damaged by the 1969 earthquake. 4th ave was the street that just opened up and literally swallowed up cars, road, trees and the like. Her grandfather was in the steam baths and shouted "The Russians finally got us". He thought it was a Russian attack. Maria just had a flat tire, otherwise she would have been driving on 4th ave. she was out of town waiting for someone to come help her. To Barb Cirone---when we were here the furrier  was Jonas Brothers (no relation), remember that store with the huge bear at the front door?
They have since gone out of business and David Green is the main furrier around. He loans many of the Fur Rondezvous people parkas from his shop to wear during the event. They are beautiful parkas! The fellow who sat next to us last nite at the melodrama had one of the beautiful parkas on. He was 91 years old and was the Regents KING!!! His QUEEN was sitting next to him with her tiara on and another beautiful parka. She was married 4 times but buried all four---some spell!! Quite a pair.
Just a bit of "fur" history. Till tomorrow.