ANOTHER WEEKEND IN ANCHORAGE:

Another weekend in Alaska....I started the weekend at Border's tonight enjoying a cup of chamomile tea, a book and the sound of a local guitarist. This is how I end every week-the only thing that changes is the bookstore, but Border's is my favorite (just not as close as Tidal Wave or Barnes and Nobles).
Driving home I was enjoying the beautiful full moon over the mountains-it makes the snow look pink and lights up the sky from the reflection of the light off of the white snow!
I knew I had made it to my neighborhood when I saw the police cars and Community Project vans-they were rounding up the homeless from the streets for the night. There are three or four shelters in this area but some people just don't get to the shelters-I don't think it is a lack of space. I just think some people are unable to manage to make it to the shelters because they just can't organize that kind of activity. The Community Project vans and the police pick them up and take them to jail for the night-it's too cold at 9 degrees for people to be on the street.
There are several things going on this weekend. My favorite is the World Music Festival at the Native Heritage Museum. Below is the Saturday schedule:

WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL OPENS WINTER SEASON NOV. 4

The Alaska Native Heritage Center opens the 2006/2007 winter season with the 3rd annual World Music Festival on November 4, 2006 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Internationally recognized musicians perform an array of musical sounds from Native contemporary and traditional music to Reggae. Admission is free.

Performers include:

• Pure Fe - Native American contemporary music - soulful vocals accompanied by acoustic lap steel slide guitar. Performing at 1:00 p.m.

• Natural Vibrations - A Natiave Hawaiian group playing Reggae with an island twist. Winner of the 1999 Reggae Album of the Year. Performing at 4:00 p.m.

• JoMaLa Jazz - Internationally renowned quintet light up the stage with contemporary jazz, Latin and funk. Performing at 2:30 p.m.

• Jujuba - a six member marimba band from Homer, AK playing exhilarating, postive-energy music from Zimbabwe and southern Africa. Performing at 11:00 a.m.

• Pamyua - A new world sound - mixing gospel, R&B and funk with northern indigenous music. Performing at noon.

• ANHC Dancers - Traditional Native song and dance from the Heritage Center’s talented team. Performances all day long.

Saturday night is the fund raiser for the Anchorage Folk Festival-Novemberfest. A big, free, festival at the new train depot at the airport(which I saw when I got lost there-it is beautiful with full size statues of brown bears and moose). Music, food and some kind of dancing they call-contra, I think.

I am for sure going to the World Music Festival but not sure about the evening event! I want to go to the beginners knitting class but it is from 1-3, can't miss the World Music Festival. Some of us wanted to go to the wine tasting but at $50 that was quickly ruled out! There is one more interesting thing-but again it conflicts with the World Music Festival....it's called the "Psychology Behind Dog Leadership from 9-3 presented by someone from the Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles. Strange!

Of course, there's my favorite end to the weekend-tea, the Sunday paper and a fresh pastry at the New Sagya Market on Sunday morning!

Have a good weekend!!!!