Beginning this Thursday, February 9th and continuing on through the weekend until Sunday, February 12th, 2012, the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center will be hosting the Anchors Aweigh Boat Show in Anchorage. The Alaska Marine Dealers Association and the Coast Guard are just a few of the organizations that will be on hand offering safety and education classes throughout the event. Several financial institutions will also be available to discuss payment options for buying your very own boat through one of the many specials going on at the boat show.
I know how long the winters here in Anchorage can be. So, it's nice to be able to stretch your legs somewhere other than inside your house. Head to the civic center this weekend to get the latest and greatest information on the boating industry so you're ready to head out on the water come summertime. Lead times vary from vendor to vendor and stock can be limited. So you need to start planning for summer now. Park at the Anchorage Athletic Club (9th & Gambell parking lot) to take advantage of one of the free shuttles to the show. Admission for adults (ages 12+) is just $8 per day or $10 for a multi-day pass. Kids admission is free (ages 11 and under). Families of five or more can get in for $20 total.
The Anchors Aweigh Boat Show in Anchorage is open from 10am to 8pm Thursday through Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Seminars will be offered on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The schedule of classes are as follows:
FRIDAY
12pm - Boating in Salt Water
2pm - Sailing
4pm - Boating in Fresh Water
SATURDAY
11am - Cedar Strip Canoe Building
12:30pm - Boating in Salt Water
2pm - Inflatable Repair
3:30pm - Boating in Fresh Water
5pm - Coast Guard Auxiliary
SUNDAY
11am - Sailing
12:30pm - Jet Coat Repair
2pm - Boating in Fresh Water
3:30pm - Boating in Salt Water
Get out of the house, learn a few things about boat safety and maybe even get a deal on your very own boat for summertime fun by attending the Anchors Aweigh Boat Show in Anchorage this weekend (February 9-12, 2012). Boating is one way to soak up some of the natural Alaskan beauty we sometimes take for granted.
If you love folk music, you're going to love the Anchorage Folk Festival. Beginning Thursday, January 19, 2012 and continuing through Sunday, January 29, 2012, musicians from around the world as well as our own state will be performing for the public all around the City of Anchorage. There will also be workshops given throughout the free 10 day event.
Several different acts will be performing on various days at the main stage (Wendy Williamson Auditorium, UAA campus, Lake Otis & 36th Ave, Anchorage). Performances will be held from 7pm to 9:30pm on January 19th and 20th, 12:30pm to 6pm and 7pm to 10:15pm on January 21st, 1pm to 5pm and 7pm to 10:30pm on January 22nd, 7pm to 10pm on January 27th, 12:45pm to 6pm and 7pm to 10:15pm on January 28th and 1pm to 5pm and 7pm to 10:30pm on January 29th. There will be a special Folk Night for all UAA students held on Thursday, January 26th from 9:15pm to 11pm. For a complete list of who will be performing and when, please visit the AFF website's mainstage page.
Everyone of all ages is welcome to attend any of the workshops that will be held during the Anchorage Folk Festival. Even kids under 8 years old are welcome as long as they have an accompanying supervising adult with them. Some of the workshops available include Music Theory: A Zen Approach, Improve Your Singing Voice, Fingerstyle Guitar, Swing Dance Lessons, Native American Flute, Fun With Ukeleles and even a Banjo Workshop. There is no need to call ahead to make a reservation or pay anything out of pocket. Simply show up and you'll be able to join in on the fun. You might even learn something. For a complete list of the Anchorage Folk Festival Workshops, please visit the AFF website's workshop schedule page.
The Anchorage Folk Festival is a great place to listen to true artists from all around the world perform amazing folk music. You can even learn a new skill at one of the workshops. The best part of all this is that it is absolutely FREE! You don't pay a dime for this great time! That's quite a bargain. So, bring the family and enjoy some great music.
Christmas is just about here. One of the fun parts of the holiday season is seeing the joy in kids' faces as they rip into their presents to find the treasures buried beneath. The "treasures", however, have changed tremendously over the years. To share a history of the evolution of toys, the Anchorage Museum has transformed their atrium into a Wonderland of Toys in Anchorage. From now through January 8, 2012, the exhibit will showcase toys throughout the years, with some dating back to the 1800s.
Amongst the twinkling lights in the museum's atrium, attendees will view World War I toy soldiers, full-sized French dolls and carousel horses. Disneyland isn't the only place showing that it's a small world after all. The evergreen tree at the center of the Wonderland of Toys exhibit is decorated with over 100 dolls dressed in traditional costumes representing countries all around the world. You don't want to miss this incredible display with your family.
Come celebrate a fun family tradition in the Anchorage area by visiting the Wonderland of Toys at the Anchorage Museum. The exhibit is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm and Sunday from 12pm to 5pm from now until January 8, 2012. All it costs is the price of a museum ticket. For museum members, admission is always free. For non-members, adults are $12 each, seniors, students and members of the military are $9, kids ages 3-12 are $7 and kids under the age of 3 are free (donations are always appreciated). However you choose to spend your time, I want to wish you a happy holiday season!
Anchorage was recently named as the 10th Best City in America to live according to online magazine Businessweek.com. Ranked #10 on the list of America's Best Places, Anchorage was recognized for its quality of life, educational access and low crime rates amongst other factors. This is the first time Businessweek.com has compiled its list of 50 Best Cities.
In its report, Businessweek.com specifically cited Anchorage for its amount of park acres per person as well as the best air quality of any other city on the list. At 6.4%, our unemployment rate is well below the 8.6% national average reported as of last month. Our low foreclosure rate (0.0053) has kept many Anchorage homeowners out of the mess the rest of the country has experienced in the real estate market over the last few years.
Businessweek.com took 50 of the largest cities in the United States and ranked them according to the following criteria (amongst others):
The most weight for ranking was placed on air quality, school performance, level of education of citizens and the amount of restaurants, bar, parks and museums available to residents. This study just puts in writing what most Anchorage citizens are already well aware of: Anchorage is one of the best cities in America to live. Let me know if you are interested in purchasing your own Anchorage home so you can enjoy all the benefits Anchorage has to offer for yourself.
This year, America's Promise Alliance named Anchorage as one of its 100 Best Communities for Young People. This is the fifth time Anchorage has won this recognition. America's Promise Alliance uses this competition to highlight cities all around the United States who show their belief in the youth of their community by reducing the high school drop-out rate and providing support and services to meet the needs of their young people.
Anchorage really does believe that the children are our future and can provide a perspective that the adults of our community should hear. That's why the city encourages young people to talk to their government leaders about concerns and issues that are important to them, either in writing or in person. Middle and high school students are invited to talk about education initiatives with the School Advisory Board. The Food Bank of Alaska and the Summer Food Service help disadvantaged youth nourish their bodies so they can be strong enough to nourish their minds. Service programs such as Anchorage's Promise and America's Global Youth are designed to get Anchorage youth out of the house and involved in the community.
In order to be considered for the 100 Best list, Anchorage went through an intense application process detailing what the city has done for their youth to provide a safe place for kids to thrive, caring adults to help, a strong education, a healthy atmosphere and a way for kids to be involved in their community (the Five Promises). Anchorage was evaluated on its strong, innovative methods of fulfilling the Five Promises that America's Promise Alliance teaches. As a winner of this most distinguished honor, the City of Anchorage will receive $2500 that can be put back into a local program to continue providing our youth with the tools needed to be productive members of society.
It's nice that America's Promise Alliance again recognized what we the people of Anchorage already know. Anchorage is one of the best communities for young people. We'll continue to make it so for years to come, as well.
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