News of Super Storm Sandy’s destruction on the East Coast and beyond has the Betster thinking: Alaska is the place to be when it comes to weather. Sure, snow may blow sideways here some days, but we’ve never been through anything like the havoc Sandy wreaked. Our hearts go out to those who are picking up the pieces after the storm. While life on the East Coast has slowed considerably because of the storm, there’s still plenty to keep us going at Latitude 59 and some change. We even get an extra hour this weekend to enjoy some of these Best Bets:

BEST SOMEWHERE MY LOVE BET: The 27th Pratt  Museum Ritz Art and Experience Auction happens Saturday from 6:30-
10 p.m. at Wasabi’s. The theme is Ritz at the Winter Palace. Think Dr. Zhivago. It’s a chance to get all dolled up in your most beautiful winter formal wear. Or not. As you choose. A full-course Russian dinner will be served. There will be dinner music by Johnny B and after dinner dancing with Bunny Swan and Johnny B. Tickets are $100 each and are available at the Pratt Museum or the Homer Bookstore. As always, there will be a chance to bid on wonderful art and one-of-a-kind experiences.

BEST FROM CARNEGIE HALL BET: McNeil Canyon Elementary students, as well as nine members of the Homer Youth String Orchestra Club, will perform with the Kenai Peninsula Orchesta at 2 p.m. Sunday at Homer Mariner Theatre. The concert is the result of Link Up, a
28-year program of Carengie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.

BEST TIS THE SEASON ALREADY BET: The Anchor Point Senior Center invites us to kick off the holiday shopping season with its Holiday Bazaar Arts and Craft Fair on Saturday. The fair will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Chapman School. There will be 44 booths at the fair, which is the first of the season.

BEST GET A FEW EXTRA WINKS BET: We turn back the clocks this weekend, which gives us an extra hour to sleep or enjoy all there is to do in our Cosmic Hamlet.