I'm reviewing a SOLAR EVENT?! WUT…read more Yep, you can see the Aurora Borealis (or "Northern Lights" if you're a simpleton like me) from Anchorage! Can you see it reliably? Not really. You're going to have to do some work. The farther north you go, the higher your odds. You'd have slightly better luck up at Hatcher Pass. Better still up at Talkeetna. Better still up in Healy. The ultimate place to see them reliably is Fairbanks. The downside is: you're in Fairbanks. Anyway, to see them in Anchorage, you'll have to hunt. You'll have to stay up late. You'll have to wait for a really good forecast, you'll have to get clear skies. Contrary to popular belief, the equinoxes (March and September) are the best times to see them. Everyone says January, but they are wrong. It's suggested mainly because it's the darkest month, not necessarily because the green and pink displays are the most brilliant. I've seen them so brilliant that you could see them over Moose's Tooth, the restaurant (note: this is very uncommon). Will post a photo of it later!

You can see the Northern Lights from a few different places in the world. I was fortunate enough to…read moresee them several times when living in Alaska. I can see why the cultures that developed in the arctic regions came to believe that they lived in a magical and sacred place. One look up at the divine light display on a clear winter's night will convert anyone.

Food truck festival was a hit for us. Amazing different kinds of food, it was just amazing.read more

This is a random windmill placed in an urban area. There is free parking available nearby and the…read morewindmill is fenced off to keep inebriated patrons of the Chilkoot Charlie's from climbing it. The windmill is in pretty good shape considering its age and the fact that the owner, Mike Gordon, is tired of maintaining it. Gordon owns and operates Chilkoot Charlie's where the windmill is now located. The windmill is made of wood and has colorful lights running up and down its support structures, which vandals love throwing rocks at. the blades are also colorfully lit up at night, almost looking like a pinwheel. All the lights rarely if ever work and if they do, it is a shear miracle. The windmill dates back to the early 1960s and is an iconic city attraction. It was moved to its current location in Spenard in1985 and has a 55 gallon time capsule buried beneath it that will be opened around 2050. The windmill serves as the background to some of the city's special events like the Spenard Food Truck Carnival, Vaccination Pop-ups and This is not a stop that will take up too much of your time. With that being said, I recommend making it part of a larger itinerary or visiting it on your way to somewhere else

I really like this town. It is the state's largest city and a gorgeous place. It has a lot of…read morepersonality, great food, lots to do, and picturesque scenery that would make Instagram proud. They have a tourist information center that can help your plan your visit. There is tons to do here, like hunting, fishing, visit a glacier, jet ski, snow mobile, ski, hike, and helicopter tours. The people here are so very friendly. This is one of a few cities that I have been to that people actually speak to you as you pass them. The snow capped mountains in the background are awesome. And giving the right weather conditions at the right time of year, you can see the Northern Lights. You will have to venture out to darker area of the city such as Flat Top Park. The city does have a huge urban camper problem and pockets that are trashed and graffitied. But they also have an expansive public art collection throughout the downtown area that consists of a bunch of awesome murals and sculptures. Most of them are very nice. The downtown area, like most major cities, does not have free parking. There is metered street parking, commercial lots and garages that you will have to pay to park. Fun Fact: Anchorage lies within 10 hours by air of nearly 90% of the industrialized world. Between its bars, breweries and pubs, the town has a decent nightlife scene. and souvenir shops, tours, and restaurants are o' plenty. You will find a lot of trails to hike here as well as scenic look out points and mountains. You can not possibly do them all. You will have to prioritize them. I had been avoiding this city for so long, but it is an awesome place and I will definitely be back. I will say though, that your experience during the summer will be totally different than your experience in the winter.

I moved to Alaska sight-unseen…read more I got off the plane and grabbed a Taxi. Making my way through the dusty streets of Spenard, passing an adult bookstore and a sketchy motel, my heart sank. "What have I done?!" Over the past 6 years I've started to find "my tribe" here. I've helped build a small but strong Elite community. I joined the local mountaineering club. I started going to "Arctic Entries". I've seen a dozen breweries open. I've seen that adult bookstore transform into brand new community space: a combo coffee shop and bookstore. (that also has wine, beer, and delicious food) Does downtown still look a little busted? Sure. Is anyone going to fly to Anchorage to take photographs of the local architecture? Of the historic sites? No. Do I still wish more places would stay open past 10pm in the summer in this "Land of the Midnight Sun" we all brag about? I do. Is there a great community of people in this city that feels like a small town? Absolutely. But does the tired cliche that "the best part of livin' in Anchorage is that it's right next to Alaska! (har, har, har!)" still hold true? It does. Thanks for giving me a home in the beautiful 49th state, Anchorage. Thanks for continuing to grow and refine yourself. I'm glad I get to lay my head here! (on weekdays, at least)

This larger than life mural has a lot going on. It is 120 feet wide and about 50 Feet high and is…read morethe work of Bob Patterson, the 1997 Northwest Magazine's Photographer of the Year. It was painted in 1997 and is located overlooking a parking lot behind City Hall. The mural is packed with images of notable local figures, iconic landmarks and military milestones. It also lists the donors that made the mural possible. You will see a bunch of military aircraft, Captain James Cook, Olympic skiers, and a very detailed image of Alaskan mountains and Anchorage's cityscape across the top. Across the bottom of the mural is the name of donors and other people/businesses that were instrumental in the completion of the project. It is a very nice mural with a lot to dissect. I really like the mural's detail. It is definitely a sight to see. Parking to get a closer look is very easy. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance and well as tons of commercial parking lots and garages. As I mentioned, it overlooks a lot. Anyway, as with most mural that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area such as the 5th Avenue Mall, Town Square Park, and Anchorage Visitor's Center, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

I'm feeling quite overwhelmed right about now, as I've just attended my first Yelp Event. It was so…read moremuch more than I anticipated, and i have very high levels of anticipations. JS We were greeted by Amazing Andrew, as he shall henceforth be known by me, the organizer of such things. I had no idea what to expect, this being my first such event. Amazing Andrew directed us to sit, make ourselves comfortable, and mingle. Well I'm not shy at all, so Blake and I go sit at a table with a couple of others. Jessyka, and Matt, and we sat and chatted, getting to know each other for a while. So nice to meet you guys, and make new friends. It was very cozy, and warm. I dislike cold restaurants, i like to feel warm when i take my jacket off. The server came around and took drink orders - we had decaf. He asked if I'd like any flavoured creamer - nice touch, i like it. We were brought appetizers, consisting of deep fried breaded mushrooms, battered onion rings, deep fried pickles, with ranch dip. As Jessyka was gluten free, there was more for us. And they were delightful. Now, i do not like a pale gold finish on my deep fried items. I like a dark golden, really crispy finish, and I wasn't disappointed. No limp exterior to these nuggets of deliciousness. I tried to stick to only one of each but seriously, it's not possible. Our server asked us if we'd like to try the Cabbage Soup - now i must admit to a certain sneering facial expression, because i was imagining cabbage soup to be limp cabbage, floating in a clear broth, but thought ok, let's give it a go. This unctuous creamy delight is in my top 2 items we sampled tonight. Not clear broth, but creamy goodness, such as in the base of a good chowder, thick, with cabbage and corn, small pieces of maybe chicken or pork? Not sure on the meat, but i do know it was fantastic. I ate the whole bowl myself. Then the serious chow down of huevos rancheros, chicken fried steak, black beans, hash browns, gravy. That EGG! That YOLK. Perfection. Just cutting into it, made me shiver all over with happiness. 10/10 for the yolk alone. Do not ever ruin an egg, whether my egg be under (with slime) or over (hard yolk) cooked, because it will lose you a star maybe even 2 stars from any review I do. And then another plate of goodies. Perfectly cooked brisket, tender, savory, flavourful, juicy - the nicest brisket I've ever had, hands down. And a superb Benedict, with Canadian bacon, another of those perfect eggs, and the hollandaise. They made a masterful hollandaise, i really take my hat off to the chef. May the good lord have mercy on my arteries right now. Seriously, so good, i can just feel those arteriosclerosis plaques just building up. There was more hash browns too, i guess they saw my note about extra potatoes please. And then a Harley Cake, which was a pancake, coated in a syrup and some pecans. I'm not really a sweets person, but i ate it nonetheless. Because it was divine, like everything else. I had an awesome tasting tonight, thank you so much Harley's for the experience, and thanks to Amazing Andrew and his superb organizational skills. You both rock!

Another very successful OYE! This one was done a little…read moredifferent but we had such a blast! Andrew is always an excellent host and Tiffany from Denver was a delight! We had a chance to order anything we wanted off the menu and the food was fantastic!! I loved the sit down style it made us really get to know our dining neighbors, which was a blast! We all ordered different things and everyone shared bites which was so great! As for the food it really was super seriously awesome! Thanks YELP and Cafe AK.

What wasn't to LOVE about this YELP event?? First, I adored…read morethat it was at lunch time, what a fun escape from the workday. Second, I've been a big fan of Bombay but I hadn't been in person for a long time and what a pleasant surprise that was! Andrew as ALWAYS was a fantastic host AND we had a guest surprise from Seattle that was a blast as well. I always have a hard time deciding what to get and the buffet made that SO easy. The service from the staff was also fantastic. Fun food, great company, and another great YELP event!

I am so proud and grateful to be part of the Yelp community in Anchorage . Todays' Elite event was…read morewonderful . I had never been to Bombay Deluxe but I can't wait to go back . The food was delicious . I had the lunch buffet that is served 7 days a week. I couldn't pick a favorite item because they were all GREAT ! We had our own special dining area and the camaraderie at our table was infectious . I want to send a special thanks to Andrew our Yelp Ambassador for putting this very cool and delightful event together . Ps Kathryn , it was so nice to meet you !

This sculpture is the work of Leo Vait of Homer, Alaska who made the piece in 2006. It is located…read morein downtown anchorage, in a small Plaza area in front of the Atwood State Office Building. It is a duplication of another piece, also by Valt, that is located in his hometown of Homer. The "bones" are arranged much like the whale bone huts in some of the native Alaskan villages. They are made of 3/16 inch steel, coated in zinc and then painted. The sculpture is part of the Alaska State Council on the Arts' a Percent for Art Dedication collection. I find this piece very unique and intriguing. It is illuminated at night and has some large rocks placed under it to add to its aesthetics. It is a simple piece and it reminded me of an exhibit at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, around the lake. It is in decent shape, especial for being 16 years old. It is definitely attention getting and hard to miss. Parking to get a closer look is very easy. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance and well as tons of commercial parking lots and garages. This is defiantly not a destination piece that you make a special trip to see, but is nice to take a look at if you find yourself in the area. Anyway, as with most sculpture that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area such as the Land Management Center and Anchorage Tourist Center or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

This is a very interesting mural that was commissioned by Enlighten Alaska, a cannabis dispensary…read morein Anchorage, who wanted to provide something awesome for the community and their customers. It is 13 feet high and 50 feet wide. This mural was painted in 2018 by Taylor Gallegos, who is the member of a band from Colorado called Voiceland Hop. He did the mural while he was in Anchorage for a show. It is a colorful an abstract piece. If you look closely, you can distinguish animals in the mural such as an elephant, an orca, an octopus, a wolf, a butterfly, and an owl. You will also see a woman in a yoga zen pose, another woman stretching with her arm out, and Earth, sun and moon. Some of the images you have to look real close to find. This is a very intriguing and unique. I really like this style. I also find it amazing that Gallegos does these murals in between performing while on tour. This mural is a bit outside of downtown and not near many of the State's attractions, but it is definitely worth seeing. Parking to get a closer look is very easy. There is free street parking along the street in front of the mural and the dispensary has a private lot on the side and the back. I parked on the lot on the side. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. I came here after visiting Alaska Wild Berry Park Chocolate Store.

This is a sculpture that depicts three ships of the controversial explorer, Captain James Cook,…read morethat represent the 3 voyages of his exploration. There are bronze markers that are engraved with information of each respective voyage. The voyages occurred between 1768 and 1780, with him being killed during the third voyage in 1779. The piece sits in a little trench that is lined with medium sized rocks. It sits in front of the Anchorage Pel'meni restaurant and across the street from the Captain Cook Hotel. It was made in 1977 BY Josef Princiott, with the assistance of Susan Mckittrick, Jim Froehlich, and Dean Mctavish. This area seems to be heavy on Captain Cook, with this sculpture, the hotel, Cook Inlet and his memorial all within a few blocks from each other. It is a nice piece, but is showing signs of wear and tear. It could use a little TLC. Parking to get a closer look at this sculpture is very easy. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance and well as tons of commercial parking lots and garages. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions, such as the Captain Cook Memorial, or The Alaska Victim Memorial, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

What a great way to lean about good quality chocolates and support and Alaskan business - that is…read morealso a big supporter of Alaskan businesses! Great for small groups to do the tour!

From the owner: Chugach (pronounced CHEW-gatch) Chocolates hand makes chocolates at the base of the Chugach…read moremountain range in southcentral Alaska. We craft chocolate bars with two overlapping missions: 1) Making chocolates that taste exceptional. When we create new flavors, if it's not some of the best tasting chocolate in the world, we won’t make it. 2) Making chocolates with local ingredients. We use the various Alaskan grown, harvested, or made flavors and products to create our signature chocolate bars. Like our Prince William Sound Sea Salt Bar that we make with Sea Salt from Prince William Sound, which we either make in house with sea water from Whittier, AK or we purchase from Prince William Sea Salt Company in Whittier; our AK Birch Toffee Bar that we make with Alaskan Birch syrup from Bridge Creek Birch Company in Homer, AK and Kahiltna Birchworks in Talkeetna; our Kelp and Cayenne Bar that we make with kelp from Barnacle Foods in Juneau; as well as others.