Random Juneau encounter
On Saturday, I was sitting at Heritage Coffee (the local fake Starbucks), really starting to get into "My Life" as the Lewinsky story unfolds. I look over, and this girl has just come in with an "Appletree Supermarket" cloth bag. Now I know that there is probably more than one Appletree in the world, but I can't shake the suspicion that this bag comes from everyone's favorite supermarket on Amsterdam & 120th, where I have bought many a chocolate muffin on my way back from Plimpton. With all the courage I can muster, I excuse myself and ask where the bag is from. As it turns out, the bag was indeed from the Appletree, and its bearer was Serena, a good friend of Sarabeth, Greta, Ana, and probably lots of other friends back east. She was here on vacation with her family, and it definitely made my weekend. Juneau: a small town in a small, small world.
Halibut & Peach Cobbler Fiesta
Last night at David Charles' -- donated salmon and halibut prompted a fajita party. Byron and Ms. D. sipping their respective alcohols
The evening's highlight: Byron's peach cobbler
Devouring the cobbler
And the rain sets in -- view of Juneau from the porch
Pictures around town
A totempole outside the Juneau/Douglas City Museum
The Alaska State Capitol
Various cruise ships docking, hanging out, parallel parking..
Director and Master Carpenter Denyon Davis demonstrating how to smile, flex your biceps and blink your eyes, all at the same time
Simpson Avenue, where I am currently staying, at dusk
A small cruise ship with the requisite christmas lights
Cedar
Cedar -- the 150 lb beauty I've been hanging out with for the past couple of weeks.
Hiking up Mount Roberts
Saturday -- the big hike. Byron, David Charles, Dennis and I set out for Mt. Roberts. What started out as another beautiful, sunny day quickly gave way to Juneau weather, but the breeze helped keep us going. We made it to Gastineau peak at 3600 feet, with amazing views, marmot sightings, and showtunes to scare away the bears. (View of Downtown Juneau)
View of Douglas Island, home of the theatre and where I'm staying
Views up and down the Gastineau channel -- into the Mendenhall Valley and the great Alaskan beyond..
Crossing the snow fields
The snowy peaks -- didn't quite get there, but next time
Sun!
Last Friday -- blue skies and a warm, beautiful day in Juneau. The view from my bus stop.
Perseverance Theatre -- it's about the inside, not the facade
View south down the Gastineau channel (between Juneau & Douglas Island)
View of Mt. Roberts, next day's hike
The end of a beautiful day, from David & PJ's back porch
Bingo!
Bingo night at the Filipino Community Hall with Dennis, David Charles and Byron. Most intense experience yet. $21 to play, top prize was $1000. Dennis came within one number -- we're all going back.
David Charles and Dennis get their bearings
David Charles dabs away furiously
Byron explains alternate applications of the dabber...
Downtown Juneau after a long, but satisfying, night at the Bingo hall.
Juneau impressions
Juneau on another foggy day (two days ago) -- pre-rain and during. I'm told there's 60 days or less of clear skies a year.. so it's time to get used to the gray.
Foggy Juneau
A view of downtown Juneau from Douglas Island, where I'm currently living and where the theater is. Lots of fog. One of many many cruiseships on the right side.
4th of July, Juneau-style
July 4th in Juneau. The most beautiful day yet. No motorized couches, as I had been promised, but many interesting floats and marchers. Native Alaskan Elvis had the moves, but not so much the skills... at least he looked the part.
My personal favorite: the pro-logging (and, by extension, anti-recycling) group.
The fireman's contest, where two competing teams try to connect several lengths of firehose, and the winning team gets to soak the other team. As one of my colleagues put it, Freud would have a field-day with this event...
Fourth Stop: San Francisco
Fourth and final stop on the cross-country bus trip: San Francisco. First picture from Buena Vista Park, second from Lombard Street. Crazy how it's sunny on one side of the city, totally foggy on the other. Explored the city with Justynka, yam fries and a drive around town with Megan -- a lot of walking and appreciating this beautiful city. To the airport, Southwest to Seattle and Alaska Airlines to Juneau...
Third Stop: New Mexico
No pictures from Tennessee unfortunately, but 3rd stop on the bus: Val Kilmer's ranch outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. Two views from my 'guest-house'. Spent quality time with everyone's favorite pigeon, Krista, walking around Santa Fe, hanging out with Val's buffalos, watching V-Show yet again, and the highlight: 2 hours of tubing down the Pecos river. Back on the bus to San Francisco, major sunburn but happy.
First Stop: DC
First stop on the Greyhound: our nation's capital. Lovely visits with Stacey and Becca Campana. NBA Finals, game 7. Lunch at the House of Rep's, with a chance sighting of Dennis Kucinich. Holocaust Museum. Back on the bus to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Hamburg in May
Pre-Alaska: my nephew Ben enjoying a little naked time after his first ever pool party. Hamburg, May '05
Welcome
Hi friends,
here it is, the Alaska blog -- I'm not a big fan of the self-indulgent narrative, but check in for pictures, I promise to post regularly. It's quite a beautiful place up here -- untypically sunny these days, I'm almost sweating in my 3 layers. The theater's rather quiet, season doesn't start until August, but the gym is rocking, as is the bike and the bus pass, and it's a fun little team I'm working with.
Check in soon for some pics from my Greyhound cross-country bus trip and July 4th Juneau style. Once I'm caught up, it'll be an actual blog with new pictures whenever I have them. Enjoy, please.
