Fashion at Fur Rondy

March 11, 2015

One thing I love about Fur Rondy is all the clothing and accessories not seen anywhere else in the world. Colorful kuspuks and exquisitely designed fur coats are everywhere. Attire is visually spectacular, yet practical for the climate. Here are a few highlights from this past Fur Rondy weekend in Anchorage.

Mother and daughter team, AJ and Angelina, take pause in their fabulous fur coats.

I adore that Angelina is holding the mushers roster.  Devoted fans! — I adore that Angelina is holding the mushers roster. Devoted fans!

I don't know who these men are, but I know one thing for sure.  They were warm. — I don't know who these men are, but I know one thing for sure. They were warm.

I can't quite handle how fabulous these two are.  Thanks for letting me take your picture.  This lady is so foxy, and this dude is so legit.  Sip on that coffee, y'all, because you two are ROCKIN' IT. — I can't quite handle how fabulous these two are. Thanks for letting me take your picture. This lady is so foxy, and this dude is so legit. Sip on that coffee, y'all, because you two are ROCKIN' IT.

I can't even, y'all.  If you saw how pink the inside of that lynx mouth was, you would faint.  Assuredly. — I can't even, y'all. If you saw how pink the inside of that lynx mouth was, you would faint. Assuredly.

I felt so little next to this man.  The fact that he was wearing an actual bear is beside the point. — I felt so little next to this man. The fact that he was wearing an actual bear is beside the point.

These boots?  I would own them if I didn't live in a rainforest. — These boots? I would own them if I didn't live in a rainforest.

What's going on in this picture?  Oh, a bunch o' ivory pearls, lynx claws, a whopper of an agate, and yes - an OOSIK. — What's going on in this picture? Oh, a bunch o' ivory pearls, lynx claws, a whopper of an agate, and yes - an OOSIK.

This dude was strolling around LIKE A BOSS.  Because with a green eyed cat on your head and black-out sunnies, HE CAN. — This dude was strolling around LIKE A BOSS. Because with a green eyed cat on your head and black-out sunnies, HE CAN.

The boss of all Alaska fashion bosses, DeeDee Jonrowe.  She rocks this pink fur-lined parka LIKE NO OTHER. — The boss of all Alaska fashion bosses, DeeDee Jonrowe. She rocks this pink fur-lined parka LIKE NO OTHER.

For some reason, this fella is surprised his photo is being taken.  He was a good sport. — For some reason, this fella is surprised his photo is being taken. He was a good sport.

I want this hat so bad.  But I also want to pay off my car. — I want this hat so bad. But I also want to pay off my car.

Delightful polar bear themed rick-rack and trim for a cozy kuspuk.  SWOON. — Delightful polar bear themed rick-rack and trim for a cozy kuspuk. SWOON.

Yes, my bid is $2.  I want it all for $2. — Yes, my bid is $2. I want it all for $2.

Trailer of death or trailer of money?  Your judgment.  Yes, some of those skins are inside out. — Trailer of death or trailer of money? Your judgment. Yes, some of those skins are inside out.

This is Grandpa Phil.  His gloves are epic, and no - you can't have them. — This is Grandpa Phil. His gloves are epic, and no - you can't have them.

Model to Musher, Zoya DeNure, sports a lovely fur-lined kuspuk.

Beautifully talented Alaska Native dancers at Anchorage's Dimond Center.

Alaska Inaugural Gala

January 14, 2015

It was an evening of rainforest revelry, a night of wool and sequins, chiffon and XtraTufs. It was the long-awaited Alaska Inaugural Gala - and boy, was it a sight!

Downtown Juneau's Centennial Hall was a packed house on January 10, and it felt like half of Juneau turned out for the festivities. And Juneau has never looked so good. The town rolled out her red carpet for our new Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and their families - and the community danced the night away!

Check out my video below of the first few minutes of the Gala - complete with a rousing intro by the Yees Ku Oo' dancers of Juneau and some wonderful words from Governor Bill Walker. At the 7:45 minute mark, you'll see Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott (of Tlingit heritage) join the group on the dance floor - a symbolic moment showing pride in his Native culture and solidarity with the Juneau community.

Hats off to our new leadership team!

The Decor and the Music

Selfies with the Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Collecting Wilderness Peaks

December 11, 2014

I collect many things: feathers, fortune cookie messages, hotel room key cards from my travels, whimsical earrings. But now I can say I also collect art, more specifically fine art photography from Daniel Buck's Wilderness Peaks Gallery, right here in Juneau, Alaska.

Two years ago, I splurged and bought myself "Serenity" (pictured at the end of this blog post), a splendid sunset scene photographed at Lena Cove. The photographer, who happens to be a good friend I met when I first moved to Alaska, recently moved his gallery to a terrific new space located at 263 South Franklin Street in downtown Juneau, across the street from the Red Dog Saloon.

Just in time for December's First Friday Gallery Walk, Daniel hosted a Grand Re-Opening, and boy was it packed! I knew this would be the case, so I waltzed down to the gallery earlier that afternoon, to check out the new space before all the crowds started gathering.

Lo and behold, I cast my eyes on “Melt Creek.” It wasn’t hard to notice. At 32” x 48” and printed high definition on aluminum metal, it stood out. But what really caught my eye was the turquoise blue of the water. Icy turquoise is my favorite shade of blue (really, my fave out of the whole color spectrum), so I knew I had to have it. Fortunately, I had first dibs on the art since I arrived so early - a blessing because, according to Daniel and his staff, there were about 70 people that evening who wanted to buy it off the wall, and a few budding fights over it, too!

"Melt Creek" was taken on a 10-day whitewater rafting expedition down the Tatshenshini (say that three times fast) and Alsek Rivers, which flow 130-miles through the largest internationally protected wilderness area in the world. I can't wait to go there myself one day and see this inspiring spot. Until then, I'll just have marvel this stunning glacial landscape from the warmth of my living room.

With the artist, right after my purchase.

"Serenity" under a crest of whale baleen.

NBC's The Today Show, From All Angles

July 20, 2014

Before the crack of dawn on an unseasonably dry July morning, over fifteen hundred Juneauites visited the Mendenhall Glacier for the chance to appear on national television. NBC’s The TODAY Show – in their first LIVE broadcast from Alaska – featured a cadre of tourism highlights during their filming in Alaska’s Capital City.

What started with Roll Tide hecklers progressed with a little girl and her penguin making their way through the crowd. The behind-the-scenes action didn't stop there. Our obligatory selfie happened not once, twice, but three times with the ever-gracious AND gorgeous Natalie Morales. The rain held off, daylight peaked, and the morning’s festivities wrapped up with NBC’s anchor-extraordinaire petting our fur hats and playing a guessing game of “What kind of fur is it?” (Note: Mom and I were wearing fur seal and fox fur hats, respectively. Natalie guessed, "Bear??")

For more behind-the-scenes highlights, check out my Vimeo video (below) and TODAY Takes Off.

The Crowd and the Signs

The Lady in Yellow

But First, Lemme Take a #Selfie

Dressing the Part with Cozy Kuspuks and Fur Hats

Here's a big shout out to the ever-talented Karena Perry of KM Perry Photos for taking these shots of me and my Momma. Mom is wearing a traditional kuspuk made by Nita Y. Rearden, and I am wearing my favorite kuspuk made by my Mom in 2013.