Fairbanks Alaska Real Estate Specialists Jesse & Kathy Clifton 907-328-9328

Shopping in Fairbanks Alaska: Go Local

Tick, Tock. Hear that? It's the sound of time running out to get your Christmas shopping done. If you're like most people I know there are still a few names left unchecked on your Christmas list. Christmas comes at the same time every year and yet it seems I'm always rushing to get that one last gift.

Shopping in Locally Owned Fairbanks Stores. I'm very happy to have the choices the national chain stores have brought to Fairbanks. As a Fairbanks real estate broker, I understand how important they are to the community, but I also like to support our local business owners where I can. I encourage you to do the same!

Something Special has been one of my favorite stores for more than two decades. They have a fantastic selection of crystal, china, polish pottery, Alaskan gifts, chimes, music boxes, candles and Christmas items. Really, it's just a wonderful store and the owners Myrna, Kim and Stacia are fantastic folks.

If Only is a treasure tucked away in a wonderful space on Cushman next door to Arctic Travelers between Second and Third Avenue. Founded by five friends in 1998, the store carries handcrafted jewelry, fine writing implements, personal journals, sketchbooks, stationary, extraordinary gift wrap for that extra special gifts, Hansa animals for the little ones and Vera Bradley bags and luggage for mom.

Arctic Travelers Gift Shop has been a Fairbanks landmark for decades. They carry a wonderful selection of Yupik Baskets, Inupiat Carvings, Athabaskan Beadwork, Scrimshaw knives, carved antlers, Quivit, beaded jewelery and a great selection of ivory. They staff is always friendly and the'll even gift wrap your purchases!

The Fudge Pot. Do I really need to say anything here? Their fudge is fantastic, mouth watering and addictive. Stop by and try a sample... They also make a pretty mean espresso and their sandwiches are delicious. If you can tear yourself away from the fudge counter they also have some cute Alaskan gifts.

Big Rays has been outfitting Alaskans since 1947... and for a reason. They carry an incredible selection of cold weather gear; parkas, hats, gloves, thermals, boots, socks and work wear for every member of the family. The store is nothing if not packed, but it's worth squeezing your way through. Don't miss the fly-shop downstairs!

Prospector Outfitters Although not the same Prospector Outfitters long time Fairbanksans are used to, the store does carry a huge selection of cold weather gear and some great Pendleton, Woolrich, Helly Hansen and other quality name clothing. Prospector is a great place to outfit the entire family!

Gold Rush Fine Jewelery on Second Avenue has perfected the art of creating one of a kind gold, gold nugget and diamond jewelery. If you can dream it, the folks at Gold Rush can make it. They have a large selection fo unique gold nugget rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces and pendants you won't find anywhere else and that are sure to make that someone special in your life feel pretty special on Christmas morning.

Apocalpyse Design has a great slection of very high quality handmade outdoor clothing and gear for those folks who put their gear to the ultimate test. They design and create outerwear for you and your four legged friends as well as luggage and compute bags, mushing and ski-joring gear.

Fairbanks Fast Foto Your source for digital cameras, lenses, flashes, camera bags, tripods and monopods, memory cards and quality photo processing. The staff is incredibly helpful and if they don't have what you're looking for, then can get it. I've purchased several "L" series lenses for my Canon and they have always been willing to negotiate their prices to make them competitive to any online shop (even B&H).

Beaver Sports Do you know someone on your list who likes to ski, snowshoe, hike, bike, kayak or canoe? This is Alaska... Of course you do. Well, this is your store. The friendly and very knowledgeable staff has everything needed to get out and enjoying the great outdoors. As outdoor enthusiasts themselves, they know what works and doesn't and will use that experience to properly outfit those outdoor junkies on your list.

Play It Again Sports carries a great selection of new and used exercise and athletic gear for the athletes and fitness junkies on your Christmas list. Basketball, baseball, hockey, football, skiing or snowboarding. Whatever sport they're into... they have the gear you'll need.

Great Alaska Bowl Company is a must stop if you're looking for something uniquely Alaskan. One of on a few mills that create hand carved wooden bowls using 100 year old technology. Carved from birch logs, their bowls come in several sizes and can be used for almost anything. Make a gift bowl out of Alaskan candies, syrups and chocolates in the store or bring in your own gift and have it shrink wrapped inside the bowl for a truly personalized gift.

Gullivers Books I love Gullivers! What they lack in size, they make up for with a great selection and an outstanding staff. Find everything from the latest Grisham, Koontz or Cromwell novel to the classics. Hoping to get your hands on the latest political memoir? Looking for Alaskana? You can find it all right here... and what you can't find Dave and the staff can order for you. Don't miss the Second Story Cafe and the great selection of used books upstairs.

Material Girls Do you know someone who likes to quilt or embroidery... or wants to? Material Girls has a great selection of material and offers classes to get them started.

UAF Museum of the North Store carres a great selection of baleen and grass baskets, ivory, jade and silver jewelry and carvings, handmade Native masks, toys, arts and crafts, quiviut scarves and books for all ages.

Spaulding Interiors Designer Tamara Spauling has been creating beautiful homes in Fairbanks for three decades. She carries a fabulous selection of fine heirloom furnishings and decor items you absolutely won't find anywhere else in Fairbanks... and possibly the state.

Santa Claus House What shopping list would be complete without a stop at Santa's House? A wonderful toy shop, Christmas ornaments of every kind and stripe, pottery, Dickens Village (Kathy says I can't go in this section again until I biuld a room to house our collection), ivory, dolls and more. Don't miss the Alaskan t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and gifts and the mini-museum of Alaskan memorabilia. If you're lucky Saint Nick might even let you sit on his lap.

Happy Shopping...Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and God bless...

Did I miss your favorite locally-owned store? If so, please send us an email with the name and what makes them so special and I'll update the list!

"Our emotional relationship to food and drink is like some tenacious desert plant, its wiry, tough roots buried deep in our psyches." Caitlin Kelly

My emotional relationship to slugburgers and the White Trolley go back a few decades. For me it brings back memories of sitting at the counter as a boy with my dad on a sweltering summer day, not so patiently waiting for my slugbuger to arrive. It was always accompanied by a helping of french fries and an ice cold coca-cola. This was back when they dipped the buns in the hot grease for a second... and of course, before we started paying attention to our cardiologist.

Don't let the name fool you. "Slugburger" comes from the slang term for a nickel; the cost of a burger during the depression. At that time cooks started adding cornmeal, potato flour or other extenders in an effort to make every pound of ground beef count. These days hamburger is mixed with cornmeal grits and a special blend of spices, pressed very thin and deep friend. Traditionally, they're served topped with two slices of dill pickle, a smidgeon of onion and a dollop of mustard.

Today the White Trolley is showing its age; the counters are worn from decades of arms and elbows rubbing the formica. The floor is scuffed from the millions of feet that have shuffled across it. Seating is limited to a few tables and a handful of people willing to belly up to the bar. I've seen it standing room only more times than I can count and it's not unusual to have patrons lined up outside the door. Yea, it's that good.

It's a local delicacy to be sure and there's no better place to get one than the White Trolley in Corinth. They do serve other things, but really it all pales in comparison to the slug. Heck, we even have an entire festival devoted to the slugburger. Next time you're in Corinth, stop by, say hi and give it a try. You'll be glad you did.

I've seen some wacky weather in my three-plus decades of living in Alaska. I've seen it snow in the dead of summer, I've seen the temps drop so low it was a life threatening exercise just to walk five feet from your front door to gather wood for the fire and I've seen it so blasted hot you would swear you were in Florida in July. Icepocalypse 2010 is an experience I'm glad I'm missing.

It seems Mother Nature has taken to turning on the sprinklers mid November. Yep, that's right. It's raining in November in Fairbanks and it has done what few other winter storms have ever managed to do; Icepocalypse has shut down Fairbanks... and North Pole, Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla and Palmer.

At last report, the storm warning was in effect until 6PM Tuesday night. The Fairbanks North Star Borough has announced that area schools will be closed, all North Star Borough facilities and offices will be closed Tuesday. No Borough bus service or VanTran will be operating. The University of Fairbanks has announced there will be no classes tomorrow and University employees were encouraged to stay home.

Although DOT is working to sand/gravel local roads it is (as of last report) still raining in Fairbanks and North Pole and it's expected to continue through Wednesday. If you don't need to be on the road, stay home.

I mentioned to a friend earlier on Twitter to prepare for a power outage when the freezing rain starts to weigh power lines down. This is a great time to stock up on water; fill a five gallon container if you have one, or pitchers if you don't. Do you have a camp stove? Dig it and the fuel canisters out. Think about what you can cook if the power does happen to go out... now might even be a good time to cook a pot of spaghetti in case it does. Gather you candles. Find you flashlights. Charge your cell phones. If you have elderly neighbors, please check on them and make sure they're ok and help them prepare.

Weather like this tests the resolve and grit of Alaskans. We've been through nasty winter storms before. By being prepared Alaskans will weather this one as well. Stay safe out there folks!

The photos used above were sent to me from a friend and were not taken by me... We're enjoying the first snow-free Thanksgiving in I can't remember how long... and yes, it's very strange but we're getting used to it!

It looks like the beautiful fall has helped keep the Fairbanks real estate market moving forward. Although the total number of homes sold has dropped a bit, the average sales price is up and time on the market is down...

The sellers and buyers we talk to are all bullish on the Fairbanks real estate market. A few sellers are making concesions to get their homes sold, but many are getting every nickel of their asking price. We just put a listing under contract where there were multiple buyers competing for the property. Consumer confidence is good news for both Fairbanks buyers and sellers.

Average Sales Price - UP

Average Days on the Market - DOWN

Homes Sold - DOWN

List to Sales Price Ratio - UP

Is this a good time to buy Fairbanks real estate? It very well could be. Prices have come down, seller concessions are available and as of this morning a 30 year fixed rate loan will cost you 3.875%! Call us at 907-699-6024 or contact us online today to start the search for your piece of the Last Frontier.

Seeing the site, I understood the attraction. Covered in towering spruce, the tall cut bank would be a beautiful place to build a cabin. No cell service. No television. No internet. For some, a nightmare scenario. But for a few, it's pure heaven.

It was less than two hours drive from Fairbanks, but standing ankle deep in the cold, clear water of the Chatanika River we could have been hundreds of miles from home. The only noise present was the sound of the water rushing over the rocks at my feet. "Wonder what's around that next bend?" he asked as he made his way to the opposite bank. "Let's find out" I answered... again and again.

The breeze blowing through the valley did precious little to offset the 85 degree weather. I hitched the backpack up a little and silently cursed for bringing 20 pounds of camera gear. Did I really need all this? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Regardless, two miles from the truck wasn't the time to be having that conversation with myself. When a new trickle of sweat made its way from the top of my head to the jumping off point at the end of my nose, I decided crossing to the opposite bank wasn't all that important. The middle of the river was perfectly acceptable place to be.

We spent the better part of the afternoon walking the river. Each bend offering the same treasure. Beautiful unspoiled vistas, fresh air to fill our lungs & the camaraderie of an old friend. Ultimately I don't think the parcel will fit his future plans, but I can hardly think of a better way to spend an afternoon.