We’re in a lull right now with the summer tourist season. Although shops and restaurants have opened on the Spit, the big wave of Lower 48 visitors hasn’t yet arrived. Still, we’re seeing some new faces around town. The other day the Betster met a delightful family from Dublin. You could tell right off the teenage guy was from Outside, because he wore skinny jeans. Homer men don’t wear skinny jeans unless they’ve been hipsterized after a few semesters of college in Portland, Ore.

In the meantime, we get all the benefits of the summer season without the drawbacks, like trying to find a parking spot on the Spit that doesn’t require a 2-mile hike. We can explore cool new restaurants and go to our old favorites without standing in line. June can be absolutely delightful and sunny as long as you don’t mind a stiff breeze. 

Soon enough we’ll have to get used to people not from around here. You’ll spot them readily enough, even if they try a disguise like wearing a Salty Dawg hoody and XtraTufs. Hint: shiny new XtraTufs can be spotted from 500 yards. Locals wear their XtraTufs into the ground because they want to baby those Made in America versions as long as possible.

Soon enough it will actually be summer, as defined by the calendar and not by our perceptions that any day above freezing counts as summer. We’ll have traffic jams, lost tourists and the all-time classic sign, road construction. Meanwhile, get out and enjoy our town with these Best Bets:

BEST BACK IN TOWN BET: Speaking of Portland hipsters, four Homer guys have been making it big in the big city. Tyler Langham, Sam Tenhoff, Haven Multz Matthews and Colin McArthur are back in Alaska for a tour with their band, “Animal Eyes.” Catch them tonight at 9:30 p.m. at the Down East Saloon.

BEST ALL WRITERS ALL THE TIME: There might be a few spots left for the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference, but if you didn’t sign up, you can still catch some of the amazing literary artists visiting Homer this weekend with the annual Festival of Readings. Keynote speaker Alice Sebold reads at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Mariner Theatre. Readings also are 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Homer Elks Lodge and 7:30 p.m. Monday at Land’s End Resort.

BEST DEMOCRACY IN ACTION BET: Whatever your political beliefs, there are two opportunities this weekend. At 11 a.m. Saturday at WKFL Park, the Vote Yes on Proposition 1 supporters get together in support of repealing Senate Bill 21. Vic Fischer speaks. Then at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Best Western Bidarka Inn, it’s a “Father’s Day Town Hall Meeting” with Republican Party U.S. Senatorial Candidate Joe Miller. Miller is running for the party nomination against Mead Treadwell and Dan Sullivan. 

BEST CARRY ON BET: Walk around the Homer Middle School Track and show your support for people dealing with cancer in the annual Relay for Life fundraiser. It’s not just about the money, though, but a way to honor people working to overcome adversity. The relay starts with a survivor and caregiver reception at 4:30 p.m. Friday and then the official start is at 6:15 p.m., going until 2:30 p.m. Saturday.