Author Archives: Kiki

Fairbanks: Aurora Take Three

I started to get really good at spotting aurora. It starts out looking like a vertical cloud. Then you hold up your phone and it turns green. So we went behind the hotel where it was darker and there were … Continue reading

Posted in alaska | Leave a comment

Fairbanks: Back in the City

After five days at the hot springs, I had booked a week in the city. I chose The Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Conference Center, a kind of Radisson-level place that had a kitchen and seemed comfy, but was reasonably priced. … Continue reading

Posted in alaska | Leave a comment

Fairbanks: Chena Ice Museum

One of the attractions at Chena Hot Springs is an ice bar. You go in in a group and you get maybe an hour to hang out. They only serve appletinis, and they cost $20 a pop, so unless that … Continue reading

Posted in alaska | Leave a comment

Fairbanks: Mush Puppies

They had dogsled rides at Chena, but I had already tried it last time I was in Alaska with my mom. Plus, I was running low on funds and had read that sometimes the dogs poop while they run, and … Continue reading

Posted in alaska | Leave a comment

Fairbanks: Aurora Take Two

Chena Hot Springs is known for aurora viewing. We knew it looked good for that night, so I had my shoes and coat on, ready to go. I heard people running past our cabin squealing, so I went outside, and … Continue reading

Posted in alaska | 1 Comment

Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs Restaurant

They had a nice restaurant and bar. The clam chowder was recommended, and it was awesome, so rich with cream and butter. It was also suggested we order from the appetizers only. The buffalo wings were good and I ordered … Continue reading

Posted in alaska | Leave a comment

Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs

Chena Hot Springs was discovered on August 5, 1905 by brothers Robert and Thomas Swan, gold miners who had heard that a U.S. Geological Survey had seen steam rising from a valley somewhere on the upper Chena River the year … Continue reading

Posted in alaska | 3 Comments

Fairbanks: Aurora Take One

The aurora was predicted to be awesome on our second night there, so I booked us an aurora watching in a lodge in the mountains. one trick they pull is that the price does not include the van up there, … Continue reading

Posted in alaska | Leave a comment

Fairbanks The Treehouse

I have always dreamed of seeing the aurora. I did some research and Fairbanks in March is the best time. I planned 2 weeks so that regardless of the moon phase, weather, or a low aurora index, I would definitely … Continue reading

Posted in alaska | 1 Comment

Just a Quickie to Seattle: The Gits Concert

It was The Gits Day (!), according to a King County proclamation issued by executive Dow Constantine. The second event Saturday to celebrate the re-release of The Gits’ 1992 debut album “Frenching the Bully” took place at KEXP gathering space, a nice, … Continue reading

Posted in seattle | Leave a comment

Just a Quickie with Andy and Cat

Bob wasn’t the only one experiencing a homecoming this weekend. I went through 9 years of Catholic school with Journalist Andy Nystrom, and we were even on the school paper together until the teacher told me to stop wasting my … Continue reading

Posted in seattle | Leave a comment

Just a Quickie to Seattle: The Gits

There were two events happening Saturday to celebrate the re-release of The Gits’ 1992 debut album “Frenching the Bully” album on Sub Pop Records. There were speeches and proclamations and a mini gallery of Mia’s art. The band signing the reissued … Continue reading

Posted in seattle | Leave a comment

Just a Quickie to Seattle: Hotel Sorrento

Bob’s first band was called the Sniveling Little Rat Faced Gits, further cementing our bond with our Monty Python geekiness. They formed when he was at Antioch College in 1986. Bob went back to the East coast and eventually LA, … Continue reading

Posted in seattle | Leave a comment

Norway: Fish Market

Bergen’s main attraction is the fish market. There is a large indoor market, then purveyors lining the bridge. there is a sit-down restaurant, and I was craving the crabs legs I had seen, but honestly they were disappointingly small and … Continue reading

Posted in Norway | Leave a comment

Bergen: The Never-Ending Bowl of Soup

The Olive Garden’s “Endless soup and salad” has nothing on these people. I was wandering around looking for a place for lunch and saw a Mexican restaurant. Whaaat? But I saw camarones al mojo de ajo and that sounded so … Continue reading

Posted in Norway | 1 Comment