We seasoned Alaskans have come to expect crummy weather on holiday weekends. For a moment there, our cynical expectations seemed to be fulfilled. As it turned out, cloudy weather bracketed the weekend, with blazing sunshine in between. Locals and visitors alike could actually wear shorts. Well, at least the locals did, which explained the blinding light coming off the Spit from all those halibut-white Euro-American legs.
Monday night at the Fourth of July parade, you could tell everyone had a good time by all the beaming smiles. People actually had, well, tans. OK, a little color in their faces. An old fashioned small town parade capped off the weekend nicely, don't you think?
It makes ya wonder, though: Has the tourist industry made some kinda Faustian bargain so things will be wonderful for our visitors? If gas prices start dropping, look out.
Well, who is the Betster to try to understand the ways of the universe? This could be the start of something amazing: clear, sunny days most of the summer, every summer. For Alaskans who come to expect the worst, expecting the best might be an idea too big to wrap our puny brains around. So while we try to figure that out, live for the moment and why not enjoy some of these Best Bets?
BEST YOU GO HARPO BET: OK, here's a cliché shattered. Instead of old guys in porkpie hats playing the bass, we've got, well, the Bacot Basement Babes playing jazz on — the harp? Sounds wild, huh? Check it out tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Pier One Theatre, or catch performances at 8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a champagne gala on Saturday night. Tickets are $20 at the Homer Bookstore.
BEST BEACHES BET: It's a dang shame. Dr. Beach never lists Kachemak Bay among his Top Ten U.S. Beaches. Well, what does he know? Learn about our glorious beaches here at 9 a.m. Friday with a "Life on the Edge" beach walk at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. Or, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, head over to Peterson Bay for Locals Day Across the Bay, with guided beach and forest explorations, sponsored by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies. That event is $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers or $25 for children under 12.
BEST GET BUGGY BET: Psst, you may have noticed: Alaska has bugs. Want to learn more? Entomologist Lois Bettini presents "Bug Lovers Wanted!", a guided tour from 12:45-3 p.m. Saturday at the Calvin Coyle Trail. Meet at the Paul Banks Elementary School parking lot. Then, starting Monday it's "Bug Me!" week from 1-2 p.m. July 11-15, with an hour of bug collecting along the museum's Forest Trail. Registration is required; call 235-8635.
BEST BEAR WITH ME BET: Bear expert Will Troyer just put out "Into Brown Bear Country," one of those soon-to-be-a-classic Alaska nature books. Not only does it have great photographs, but, well, the guy knows his bears. At 6 p.m. July 13 he talks about bear behavior and biology for the Pratt Museum's quarterly potluck.
BEST THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH BET: If you've been lucky enough to land a beautiful, sea bright king salmon at the Fishin' Hole on the Homer Spit, you can thank Nick Dudiak, the guy who had the notion of stocking the lagoon. Last month the Homer City Council honored him by naming the popular fishing spot after him. At 6 p.m. July 13, there's a formal renaming ceremony when it officially becomes the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon.
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