The other night the Betster drew the short straw and had to cover one of those important community meetings instead of the cool literary event with Atz Kilcher and his new book.
As yours truly talked about the low turnout with other dedicated citizens, we realized that Homer had grown big enough that on any given night there might be not just one, not two, but three happenings to stress our calendars.
Sure, back when Homer had 500 people, the community theater might compete with Slim pickin’ his guitar at the Bayside, but most people knew what counted. Slim played most every Friday, but a loosely written musical based on a minstrel show where the actors conquered stage fright with a little too much liquid courage? You didn’t see that everyday.
Now we might have a major concert, a nomprofit fundraiser and an exciting Mariners game all on the same night. Add in a committee meeting, maybe a class on beekeeping and flower yoga — well, you’re just going to have to make some hard choices.
Here’s the Betster’s advice: if you have to attend a civic dog-and-pony show, go for the ones with free food and swag.
If we lived in a big metropolis like Anchortown, we would expect an abundance of choices. Homer is just big enough to have choices, but small enough that we notice them. With good planning it’s possible to avoid the challenge of deciding on which hot visiting act you need catch.
Our arts mavens tend to stick to The Calendar, the master plan whereby they avoid issues like that. We only have 52 weekends in a year, though, and something has to give.
Even in February when lots of people escape south stuff happens. That’s kinda weird, isn’t it? Remember the days when the town rolled up its sidewalks and you’d see more Homerites in Hanelei? Now enough people stick around you can actually gin up a good cabin fever controversy. Uh, don’t try that — it’s not pretty.
So relish the luxury of choices, citizens, and get out and enjoy yourselves, maybe with these Best Bets:
BEST GET OUT BET: Plan a big summer adventure with another one of the Barley and O.A.Ts (Outdoor Adventure Talks) at 5:30 p.m. tonight at Grace Ridge Brewery. Catie and Tom Bursch talk about the logistics of portaging a boat over the Alaska Peninsula from Cook Inlet to Lake Iliamna and boating the Kvichak River to Bristol Bay.
BEST ANGEL’S SHARE BET: There might still be tickets left for KBBI’s always-popular Scotch whisky tasting at 8 p.m. tonight at AJ’s OldTown Steakhouse. Whisky genius Skip Clary leads a tasting of fine singlemalts. Tickets are $75 at KBBI and at AJ’s.
BEST GAME ON BET: With all these cooks and fishermen in town, there will be some stiff competition at the Chowder Cookoff at 5 p.m. Friday at Grace Ridge Brewery. Vote for your favorite chowder. Tickets are $10, with proceeds benefiting Kevin Bell Arena programs.
BEST WALK ON THE WILD SIDE BET: Need to get your blood flowing in the morning? Walk, run or push the tots in a stroller for Walk/Run from 8-10 a.m. today and Monday at the South Peninsula Athletics and Recreation Complex, or SPARC.
A young moose browses on a bush by Homer City Hall on Friday morning, Feb. 9, 2018. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Great view, good location A pair of bald eagles sit in a nest near the Lake Street and Bypass stoplight. Since 2010, a pair of bald eagles has nested in the area near Beluga Slough. The first nest was destroyed when the tree fell down in a winter storm, but over the years eagles have built nests near the slough and in a stand of trees across from the Homer Post Office. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Great view, good location A pair of bald eagles sit in a nest near the Lake Street and Bypass stoplight. Since 2010, a pair of bald eagles has nested in the area near Beluga Slough. The first nest was destroyed when the tree fell down in a winter storm, but over the years eagles have built nests near the slough and in a stand of trees across from the Homer Post Office. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
