Jetsettersblog

Anchorage, Alaska – New shops, restaurants, attractions and the final phase of the Anchorage Museum expansion will all be ready when summer visitors arrive in Alaska in just a few short weeks. Anchorage, Alaska, has seen phenomenal growth in the past few years, and whether it is a first visit or a return trip, there’s something innovative and exciting in the city this year.

Anchorage Museum
The Anchorage Museum completes its 80,000 square foot expansion in May of 2010 with the opening of three new exhibits. The new space includes the Thomas Planetarium, interactive science exhibits at the Imaginarium Discovery Center, and the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center. The Smithsonian Institution will loan more than 600 indigenous Alaska artifacts to the exhibit, including rare cultural treasures like an 1893 Tlingit war helmet. The exhibit is designed to allow researchers, artists and Native Elders hands-on access to artifacts. Advanced touch screens allow other visitors to study each item in stunning detail as well. The expansion is evident beyond the walls of the museum too.

A new, two-acre outdoor common area filled with young birch trees opens into downtown Anchorage. The common will be a special space for events, performances, or just a sunny afternoon. “Habitat,” a stainless steel installation by English artist Antony Gormley was recently hoisted into position near the northwest corner of the space.

The massive seated human figure is the artist’s first permanent installation in the United States.

For more information on the museum, visit www.anchoragemuseum.org.

New Restaurants & Shops

Return visitors will notice a host of new shops in downtown Anchorage.

Octopus Ink joins the galleries and studios downtown along G Street, showcasing hand printed organic bamboo and cotton clothing and other distinct finds. Just around the corner, ShuzyQ’s is a haven for fashionistas in need of a new set of heels or a colorful pair of kicks.

The Cake Studio fronts Fourth Avenue, with enough cakes, cookies, cupcakes and other treats to attract anyone with a sweet tooth.

Midtown favorite Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge has expanded to a second location downtown.

They offer artisan chocolates, including handmade truffles and drinking chocolate.

Wine lovers can explore a pair of shops devoted to the vine; Grape Expectations offers beer, spirits, and a vast selection of fine wines and Crush Wine Bistro’s new cellar holds an expansive selection of bottles. Midtown Anchorage has a new culinary lure all its own.

Thirty Six Bistro is the joint venture of two veteran Anchorage chefs and offers locally sourced dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as desserts that have already inspired emphatic praise. In South Anchorage, Midnight Sun Brewing Company has opened the doors to LOFT, adding a great menu of local food alongside their winning roster of rotating brews.

Alaska flavors will be available as soon as visitors arrive in Anchorage. This July Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse, a longtime fixture downtown, will bring longtime favorites to a new location in the B concourse of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. And Chef Al Levinsohn, perhaps the most lauded chef in Anchorage, will design the menu for Norton Sound Seafood, which opens in August in the airport’s C concourse. Find more tasty places with the Anchorage Dining Guide.

New Attractions & Events

The Alaska Experience Theater has finished renovations to their space in the historic Fourth Avenue Market Place downtown and offers Alaska films and 3-D features.

Their Alaska Salmon Bake Dinner Theatre runs throughout the summer and includes dinner, Alaska Native dancing and special film screenings. For show times, visit www.alaskaexperiencetheater.com

Lifetime Adventures brings their bike rental expertise to the Copper Whale Inn. The downtown Anchorage office allows cyclists quick and easy access to the Tony Knowles Coastal trail, and Anchorage’s parks system. Visit www.lifetimeadventures.net

The Ascending Path has expanded their hiking and climbing packages with a new one hour Naturalist Rainforest Stroll in Girdwood, Alaska.

The Ascending Path is already known for ice and rock climbing trips as well as glacier hiking.

The new rainforest stroll is a great fit for non-hikers, families with young children and visitors on a tight schedule. Visit www.theascendingpath.com

The newly combined Solstice Festival and Hero Games take over downtown June 19, 2010, for a celebration of the longest day of the year.

A jovial atmosphere overwhelms the festival in Town Square, while just a block away on Fourth Avenue local police, fire and military units compete for top honors in competitive events designed to test the skills of first responders.

The Anchorage Downtown Partnership adds Mondays to the Music in the Park program this summer.

Local musical acts perform at Peratrovich Park on Fourth Avenue every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, filling downtown with music all summer long.

The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (ACVB) mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage as a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by lodging associations. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund, and one-third to service the bond debt and operations of the Anchorage Convention Centers. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. 2010 marks ACVB’s 35th year of bringing business to Anchorage.

Explore www.Anchorage.net  for more information.