Based on the number of people with reddish tints to their faces around town, not all of you listened to the Betster’s advice last week regarding the rare event of continued sunshine. The Betster expected that mentioning an awesome stretch of clear summer weather would curse the weather and bring rain.
Danged if that didn’t work. Oh, not right away, but by Tuesday, poof, a sudden downpour roared in. Admit it: Weren’t you getting a little tired of all that sun? Hadn’t you begun to worry that we might have a rip-roaring wildfire?
If you’re visiting Alaska, you might be confused by local references to seasons. When we say “spring,” we mean “breakup,” when things get muddy, and when we say “winter,” we mean “as long as there’s snow on the ground.” Sometimes spring and winter happen at the same time.
Also, “summer” is what we’ve been going through, even though officially summer doesn’t arrive until the solstice on Friday. We had weather last week as warm as August has been in other years. In Alaska, we get all groovy about the weather. If it feels like summer, it is.
So enjoy the weather bliss as we embrace the sun — or rain — maybe with some of these Best Bets:
BEST WHILE AWAY ACROSS THE BAY BET: If you need to get out of Dodge, why not head across the bay to Seldovia? This would be the perfect weekend with the annual Seldovia Summer Solstice Festival, four days of music from today through Sunday. The festival starts with a boat ride and music jam at 11 a.m. today on the Seldovia Bay Ferry. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Workshops are 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The festival ends with a gospel music jam at 2 p.m. Sunday. Jazz and gospel vocalist Theresa Thomason is the headline act. Tickets are $49 for Friday and Saturday or $30 a night. For schedules and more information, visit seldoviamusicfestival.info.
BEST HE’S BAAACK BET: Native Alaska storyteller Jack Dalton visits town again with “Raven Returns,” a one-man show of tales old and new from the great north. The show is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Pier One Theatre on the Homer Spit. Tickets are $14 general admission at the Homer Bookstore or the door.
BEST IF YOU CAN’T BEAT ’EM, EAT ’EM BET: To some, dandelions are a curse, but if you’re tired of endless war against them, here’s an idea: turn them into delcisious edible treats. “Dandelions! What are They Good For?” is the title of a talk by Kevin and Cathy Wilmeth, held at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Wynn Nature Center, Mile 1.5 East Skyline Drive.
BEST SHORT HIKE BET: Need a quick little guided hike to entertain visitors? Take the ever-popular Beluga Slough Trail estuary hike. See sandhill cranes, learn about estuary plants and check out the rebuilt trail. The one-hour hike starts at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Meet at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center patio. Best of all, it’s free.
