Not only do our visitors have good stories, they give us some perspective on our town. We get so involved with our lives here sometimes we don't think beyond our borders. What do other people think of us? Hey, chat up a visitor and ask.
Like the other day the Betster ran into a guy from Germany traveling with his wife and little girl. They had lots of questions. Is this really an arts town? When does the tide go out? Can you see otters from the Spit? Then they guy said something cool. “Homer isn't like those other Alaska towns,” he said. “It's not one main road. It's like a real town.”
A real town? Imagine that. Us? But there you go. Maybe we're doing something right.
If you want to see what's right about Homer — or just fun — get out, and rain or shine, try out some of these Best Bets:
BEST THE BIG GRIND BET: Kachemak Bay didn't use to look like this. Tens of millennia ago, glaciers dang near covered everything. How'd that happen and how did the glaciers change things? At 3 p.m. today, learn about glaciers with “The Great Transformers,” a talk by a park ranger with slide shows at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center.
BEST MORE THAN A GOOD CIGAR: Our island neighbor to the south has more than good cigars, bearded revolutionaries and sugar cane. Maria Finn Dominguez has traveled and taught in Cuba. She shares tales from “Cuba in Mind,” an anthology she edited, at 7 p.m. tonight at Amped Café on Pioneer Avenue.
BEST AS FRESH AS IT GETS BET: We suffer canned food and overpriced produce all winter, but come summer, our gardens bless us with the best vegetables you can find. Want to share your bounty? Go to the “Garden to Gourmet” potluck at 6 p.m. Friday at the Wynn Nature Center on East Skyline Drive.
BEST MUSIC IN THE PARK BET: The best dang little public radio station in America takes the music out of the studio this weekend, with live music for two days straight. Ayup, it's the annual KBBI Concert on the Lawn at Karen Hornaday Park. The concert with local, state and national performers runs 1-10 p.m. Saturday and 1-9 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20 a day for adults, $10 for anyone under age 18 not with an adult. Nineteen acts perform, including Laura Love.
BEST GOOD, DIRTY FUN BET: You know the saying: if you're not getting dirty, you're not having fun. Unless the weather clears, there will be plenty of mud splattering Saturday with the Homer Racing Lions Motocross race at the Anchor Point track. Practice starts at 10 a.m. and the race at 11 a.m.
BEST IT'S A CLASSIC BET: Have you seen all those antique cars around town? Well, they're not the only classics in Homer. Starting Monday, the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra starts its Summer Music Festival, with classical music and more. See the arts section on page 2B for more information, or visit www.homeronline.addr.com/kpo.
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