So you've experienced the Alaska Experience Theatre, fought your way up Flattop, shopped till you wanted to drop and savored some salmon. Night has finally fallen, but it's still not dark. Now what? You're wide awake, thanks to the seemingly infinite sunshine. You might as well go out and enjoy some live music. As we Alaskans say, you can always sleep in the winter.
If you find yourself without any after-dinner plans, here are some ideas for local music venues. Depending on your listening tastes, you might try:
- Blues Central. All blues, all the time. Live music happens every night; they have a dance floor; and you can get the best French dip in town. What's not to love? (825 W. Northern Lights Blvd., 272-1341)
- Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. Believe it or not, the museum offers music as well as visual art. On Thursday evenings throughout the summer, enjoy Jazz After Hours, featuring local favorite Melissa Bledsoe Fischer. (121 W. Seventh Ave., 343-4326)
- Snow Goose Theatre. In addition to the multilevel bar and restaurant with its outdoor dining in summer, the Snow Goose has a theater. Weekends often see concerts or jam sessions by local musicians, especially folk, bluegrass and other acoustic music. If you want to take the stage yourself, they occasionally have open mike nights during the week. (717 W. Third Ave., 277-7727)
- Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse. Great food, excellent beer and live music several nights a week lure locals into Humpy's year-round. (Hint: Try the halibut tacos. You'll swear off the beef kind forever.) The music here is eclectic; some nights offer rock; other nights might be acoustic. Regardless, the musicians here are always good. (610 W. Sixth Ave., 276-2337)
- Organic Oasis. If tea and tofu are up your alley, this eatery and casual entertainment venue might be a good option. Serving vegan fare along with music several nights each week, Organic Oasis is a good place for catching up-and-coming local musicians of the acoustic variety. They also have, on occasion, spoken word artists performing. Order some tea and enjoy. (2610 Spenard Road, 277-7882)
- Sullivan's Steakhouse. If you prefer jazz and steak, this is the place for you. Sullivan's has live jazz just about every night of the week. I like to accompany the music with one of the Sullivan's lemon-drop martinis. (320 W. Fifth Ave., in the Fifth Avenue Mall, 258-2882)
- Side Street Espresso. This cozy coffee shop often features live music (and local art) as part of First Friday each month. But keep an ear out for other possible performances. The owners are nice as can be, and when they open their doors for an evening in support of local musicians (and sometimes poets), it is indeed a special treat. (412 G St., 258-9055)
- Club Soraya. If you love to dance, whether Latin or swing, check out this place. They have live music on weekends, but the dancing is all week long. They even offer lessons. (333 W. Fourth Ave, 276-0670)
But wait, there's more. Are you a music lover looking for more than a piano bar? You're in luck. Even though most performing arts organizations are on hiatus during the summer, the concerts and festivals continue:
- Blues on the Green. For one day each year, everybody in town, it seems, loves the blues. This year will be no different, with local and national musicians heading up this all-day blues festival at Kincaid Park. (June 2,Kincaid Park; tickets and directions, 272-1341 or www.CenterTix.net)
- AWAIC Summer Solstice Festival. The organizer, Abused Women's Aid in Crisis Inc., has created a popular summer tradition, while raising awareness of domestic violence in Alaska. There will be plenty of live music plus lots of food and family-friendly activities - all for a good cause. (June 15-16, Delaney Park Strip, downtown; 743-5705 or www.awaic.org )
- Girdwood Forest Fair. Technically part of the Anchorage Bowl but somehow a world away, Girdwood hosts this annual fair with music on two different stages throughout the day and into the evening. Listen to musicians from around the state and from the Lower 48 while munching on fair food and getting a henna tattoo. (July 6-8, Girdwood, about 45 minutes south of Anchorage; 566-9039 or www.
girdwoodforestfair.com )
- Hot Tuna concert. Even if you haven't heard of Hot Tuna, which seems hardly possible, surely you have heard of Jefferson Airplane. Two of the Airplane's founding members perform in Hot Tuna, which makes it worth hurrying back to Anchorage when you're done with meandering the Girdwood Forest Fair. (July 8, Discovery Theatre, 621 W. Sixth Ave.; 263-ARTS or www.CenterTix.net)
- Alyeska Blueberry & Mountain Arts Festival. Another festival in Girdwood, but this one is hosted by the upscale Alyeska Resort and goes on for more than a week. In addition to the standard festival arts and crafts and food, there will be good wine and an abundance of folk music. (Aug. 3-12, Alyeska Resort, Girdwood; 754-1111 or www.alyeskaresort.com)
Freelance writer Karen Benning lives in Anchorage.
Editor's picks
- Get to Girdwood: The Girdwood Forest Fair is good fun. It may feel a bit like a hippy revolution, but the music, food and vibe is great.
- Go Organic: Organic Oasis is an excellent place for healthy food. The fact you can add some tunes to your meal just makes it better.
- Downtown tunes: Every Wednesday and Friday starting June 1, musicians perform at Peratrovich Park (Fourth Avenue and E Street). Music is from noon to 1 p.m. Grab a reindeer sausage from one of the vendors and sit back to enjoy the music.
