Homer’s Best Bets

November 12, 2015 9:44 am
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Homer City Council member Heath Smith takes the oath of office at a special meeting on Monday. Smith was elected in a run-off election on Nov. 3 when he defeated incumbent council member Beauregard Burgess. In final election results, Smith won with 401 votes, or 64 percent, to 227, or 36 percent, for Burgess. With 633 out of 4,520 registered voters, the election turnout was 14 percent. The council also selected council member David Lewis to be Mayor Pro-Tempore.-photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News
Homer City Council member Heath Smith takes the oath of office at a special meeting on Monday. Smith was elected in a run-off election on Nov. 3 when he defeated incumbent council member Beauregard Burgess. In final election results, Smith won with 401 votes, or 64 percent, to 227, or 36 percent, for Burgess. With 633 out of 4,520 registered voters, the election turnout was 14 percent. The council also selected council member David Lewis to be Mayor Pro-Tempore.-photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News

Now that we’ve dumped Daylight Saving Time for the season, we’ve entered that time when Alaska gets dark and gloomy. If you want to get going on a good winter grump, you’re in luck. Along with darkness comes all varieties of weather misery: snow, ice and rain. 

Alternately, you could embrace winter. That’s what Norwegians do. Norwegians tout the concept of koselig, pronounced “kush-lee,” loosely translated as “cozy.” Winter gives Norwegians a chance to get all cozy. They put on big brightly colored sweaters, build fires, light candles and share the company of close friends and families.

Well, heck. We Alaskans live at about the same latitude as Norway. We have similar weather. We’re about as tough as Norwegians, too. If Norwegians can not only survive winter, but actually enjoy it, why not Alaskans?

We’re getting into koselig season ourselves, with parties, gala fundraisers and, oh yeah, baby, Thanksgiving. There’s another side to the Norwegian model of embracing winter: getting outside. It’s pretty amazing how exercise and fresh air at mid-day can cheer one up. Once the lakes freeze, you can skate. Once the snow falls, you can ski. If we don’t get snow, walk. If the trail gets too icy to walk, hit the beach — it’s always sanded.

Cozy up to good times with friends, and enjoy their company — Hey, maybe with these Best Bets:

 

BEST MORE ART BET: Like the Betster has said before, we have so much art in this town sometimes we need another week for shows. Catch the opening reception from 5-6:30 p.m. of the Kachemak Bay Campus Student Art Show in the Pioneer Hall Commons. See art from students in Asia Freeman’s painting class.

Then from 5-7 p.m. Friday, visit the opening reception at the Pratt Museum for its new exhibit, Alaska Native Art from the Pratt Collection. The show features fine and functional art from St. Lawrence Island to Southeast Alaska. At 6 p.m., Port Graham artist Jim Miller presents “Second Life: Spiritual Restoration Through Traditional Art.”

 

BEST WIP IT BET: That’s the term for what crafts people call “unfinished project,” but WIP also means Work in Progress, the name of the awesome band performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Homer Council on the Arts. Randy and Bobby Creamer, Glen Caldwell, Mindy Lewis and Jenny Martin perform original songs about love and loss as part of HCOA’s collaboration with Hospice of Homer for Hospice Month. While there, visit early and see the community art show, “Loss.” Tickets are $10 and benefit hospice.

 

BEST GET STARTED BET: With the holidays coming up, it’s time to think about special gifts for family and friends. Speaking of Hospice of Homer, their big annual fundraiser, Preparing for the Holidays, is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Wasabi’s. You also can check out the South Peninsula Hospital Craft Fair from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the hospital conference rooms and the Faith Lutheran Church Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the church.

 

BEST FRUITY WITH A TOUCH OF PEAT BET: Yeah, that’s how whisky drinkers describe a fine dram of single-malt Scotch. Learn about whisky, bourbon and other fine spirits at 6 p.m. next Wednesday for KBBI’s Whiskey Tasting at Alice’s Champagne Palace. Tickets are $50. Make reservations by calling 235-7721 or visiting kbbi.org.

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