ShuzyQ

If you are depressed from the endless rain this summer I recommend some shoe therapy.  I tried it and it actually made the sun come out!

The sandals at ShuzyQ sing of summer and some of them are even on sale.  Nothing drives the rainy day blues away like a SALE pair of sandals.

The colors remind me of the flowers in Town Square and the styles are fun and surprisingly comfortable.

ShuzyQ knows all about sexy, fun and comfortable.

I have always wondered how people walk in heels without ruining their feet.  After walking around in a pair of shoes from ShuzyQ I realized I have just been trying the wrong brands.

I had given up on style for comfort and ShuzyQ taught me that I can have my cake and eat it too…or in this case my fun high heels and not kill by feet.

ShuzyQ is the store for good prices and great style.  I feel like a whole new woman.

See what a pair of shoes from ShuzyQ will do for you!

ShuzyQ is located in the Glacier Brewhouse building where the Imaginarium used to be.    Visit www.shuzyq.com to see some of the fun fashions.

Anchorage Downtown Hotel on K Street near 9th Avenue is a small hotel with a personality.  When new ownership took over in November they remodeled inside and out.

New paint and carpet gives some style to the place.  They had a local artist come in and paint decorative murals in the rooms.

With only 16 rooms the small size and warm hospitality create a homey feel.

All the rooms contain the necessary items to make a hotel stay pleasant.  Each room has its own bathroom and cable TV is provided.  There is an iron available and closet space.

Personally I can’t imagine what you would be doing ironing on vacation in Alaska, but I guess business travelers might find that handy.

For those of you who can’t sleep in the endless daylight they have blackout curtains.

Anchorage Downtown Hotel has parking and since this is downtown let me just throw in that it is FREE.  If you need a ride they have a shuttle.

Continental breakfast is provided and some days if things go your way you can get a real breakfast cooked by Anchorage Downtown Hotels own celebrity chef.

I’m not sure they actually said “celebrity” when we talked about it, but the guy was a fire fighter for 20 years so that should earn him celebrity status.

If he managed to cook for hungry fire fighters I imagine he can make a nice hearty breakfast!

They try to let guests know the night before when they have a full breakfast so you can plan ahead.

You may have noticed I mentioned clean twice in my first impression of the Anchorage Downtown Hotel.   I don’t care how nice your paint job is, if the room doesn’t feel clean I don’t want to stay there.

Anchorage Downtown Hotel triples the number of cleaning staff that most hotels use because they emphasize cleanliness.  The place smells clean, looks clean and feels clean.

Between the comfortable feel of the rooms and the friendliness of the staff we started feeling at home right away.  (Cleaner than my house, but I managed to feel at home anyway.)

Then we smelled that familiar smell…someone was baking.  Sure enough they bake fresh cookies every day!

I was impressed before, but as I munched on my chocolate chip cookie straight out of the oven I wondered if they would let me move in!

Check out or rather check in at the Anchorage Downtown Hotel.  The price is right and you get free cookies!

Circular is still the place to go for eco-chic. A new location with a new look is only one door down from the original store.

Circular has expanded the clothes and accessories they carry. From casual to out-on-the-town you can find beautiful, fun, unique and earth friendly clothes to wear for any occasion.

Who can say no to clothes that make you look and feel fabulous while treading lightly on the earth?

Still across from Nordstroms on 6th Avenue, Circular is now in Suite 132. A little closer to Crush, which is always a good idea!

I found lots of fun accessories and a few of my old favorites when I visited the new location.

The bicycle chain frames are still there, the amazing lotions and candles are still around.

If you have been to Circular before you should stop by and see the make over.

If you have never been to Circular then now is the time!

July 16 to 18 Circular is having a summer sale to make room for the Fall fashions and clean out some of the old lines they won’t be carrying any more.

Stop by to see the new look and the good deals.  Maybe it’s time for your own eco-friendly make over.

The food is sensational and that southern hospitality is evident the minute you walk through the door.

The restaurant is comfortable and inviting.  The staff are friendly and obviously enjoy sharing good food with visitors.

Since opening on 4th Avenue in the big blue building between C and D Street, South has become an inviting spot. (333 W. 4th Avenue)

You may think you have stepped into the south so the name is truly appropriate.

Words can’t adequately describe the quality, the flavors, the great pleasure that is food this good.  South has many southern favorites like greens, grits and tomato pie.

South owner and chef Jared Tyler is all about quality.  He cooks his own sandwich meats and slices them just the right thickness for hearty sandwiches.

Biscuits are made fresh daily so get there early.  You can have a variety of breakfast biscuit combinations or just get your biscuit with honey butter MMM!

The red velvet truffles are a delight.  The lemon cookies with white chocolate may be the greatest invention since the wheel.  They are like tasting summer.

I could go on and on about the food, but tasting it is the best way to fully understand the great food that is South.

Read the review on Urban Spoon.

I think that is the secret to Urban Greens success.  I have watched owner, Noam Schulgasser, prepare a sandwich with the delicate hand of a master artist.  Just the right amount of each element to create the flavors he is looking to share.

I had the Sicilian sandwich today.  It comes on wonderful fresh bread (not too hard, not too soft) with fresh mozzarella (which I had to skip), grilled red peppers, quality salami and some greens and tomatoes all with a balsamic vinegar dressing.

Everything was just the right balance.  Not one red pepper too many.  Not one slice of salami too few.  The quality of the ingredients is noticeable as is the care involved in putting them together.

Noam roasts his own roast beef and slices it just right for sandwiches.  That is the kind of dedication to quality and flavor that makes Urban Greens stand out in the world of sandwiches.

If you haven’t eaten at Urban Greens you have been missing out.  Located on G Street close to 3rd Avenue.  Urban Greens is a refreshing stop for a quality sandwich.

Click here to read the review on Urban Spoon.

The downtown location on 5th Avenue between D and E Streets is packed with books on Alaska.  You can find fiction and of course fun gift items in the store.

Title Wave is my favorite spot to shop for eclectic gift ideas.  Having them right downtown means finding the perfect bizarre gift for my perfectly bizarre family has just gotten easier.

It is nice having a selection of Alaskan books.  This is handy for the tourists as well as those of us who have visitors or just enjoy reading Alaskan authors.

According to their website Title Wave Books is the largest independent book store in Alaska and one of the largest new-and-used book stores in the entire country!

The downtown store doesn’t carry the vast selection that can be found at the main store, but they can get books sent over from the main store and they have plenty of books to keep you occupied.

Reading books still takes the same amount of effort, but thanks to Title Waves downtown location, buying books just got a little easier.

Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd. begins our summer concert series early this year.  May 24th will be our first concert series in Peratrovich Park at 4th and E Street.

The schedule for Mon. May 24^th -

11 a.m. to 12 Noon Robin Hopper, a popular local musician, plays folk music.

12 Noon to 1 p.m. Carhartt Brothers play bluegrass and folk music.

1 to 2 p.m. Matt Hammer has entertained Alaskan audiences for more than 30 years with folk music.

2:15 to 3 p.m. Eagle River Jazz Band entertains.

Regular Music in the Park concerts start June 2nd from noon to 1 p.m. in Peratrovich Park at 4th and E Street.  Concerts will be Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 1 p.m.

A full schedule will be posted on our web site soon, but you can always call and ask for details.  Stop by May 24th and you can pick up a schedule for the summer.

Pick up lunch at one of the many excellent restaurants downtown and join us in the park for a free concert and a chance to soak up some Alaskan sun.

The Bangkok Cafe is on 5th Avenue behind the Downtown Wine and Spirits at 930 W. 5th Avenue, Suite A.

The Bangkok Cafe understands Thai spices and knows how to make things hot.  Fortunately for me they also know how to make things mild.  I’m generally a wimp when it comes to heat.

I joined a friend for lunch and we split several dishes and found we liked them all. The fried spring rolls came out piping hot and fresh.  Yum.

The Vegetable curry dish had a nice heat to it for me.  My friend asked for more so they brought her some spices to add to her dish and she was very pleased with the results.  Again, yum.

I wish I had the food vocabulary to describe the wonderful array of flavors I enjoyed.  I have to admit that YUM is the best I can come up with.  Maybe with a WOW thrown in.

The Bangkok Cafe is worth finding! If you like Thai food you won’t want to miss this spot!

The Whale’s Tail is near the 4th Avenue entrance to the Hotel Captain Cook and is described as a “cozy spot”.  I would agree with this description.

I went in with friends on a Thursday night and found the place busy.  You can sit in the back on sofas and comfy chairs or grab a table or sit at the bar.  The options make the atmosphere comfortable, yet it still has that Captain Cook sophistication.

The $5 house wine in red or white turned out to be a great deal.  The red wine I ordered was delicious and paired nicely with the buffalo sliders we all shared.

The chef was kind enough to leave the blue cheese off my slider, but put it on my friend’s.  I always appreciate a chef who is willing to accommodate my special dietary needs.

Small plates are a new concept to me.  This seems like an extra big appetizer.  It was a nice size.  The choices were amazing.   Tempura Shrimp Martini, crab stuffed portobello… did I mention classy and delicious?

I hadn’t been in the Whale’s Tail in the evening before and it was a nice experience.  I think of this as a high end stop, but the prices and the atmosphere were inviting.

Small plates are a nice idea for friends gathering to chat and share a few drinks.  Lunch and dinner prices were also reasonable.  I’ll remember that.

Whale’s Tail has a full bar and an extensive wine list.  We were all happy with our choices.

If you haven’t been to Whale’s Tail I recommend giving it a try.  I know I’ll be back.

Muffy’s is in the 4th Avenue Marketplace (the big blue building on 4th between C and D Streets).  I work upstairs and it is heavenly walking past the flower shop every day and smelling all the fresh flowers!

Muffy’s is at the front of the building at the D Street entrance so you can’t miss it as you walk or drive by.  You really should walk by so you can get a good look at all the beautiful arrangements and enjoy the aroma.

Downtown has been missing a flower shop for a while so it’s a welcome addition to have Muffy’s downtown.  Muffy’s Garden Florist delivers from Anchorage to the Valley, including the bases.

You can visit the website at www.muffysflowers.com but I suggest coming in to see and enjoy in person.  Besides specializing in fresh flowers Muffy’s has a variety of gift items and a little Alaskana.

You can get Alaska made soaps and dried fish along with mugs and a few other Alaska gift items.

Now when you want to add fresh flowers to the office or get some to take home you just have to stop by 4th and D and visit Muffy’s Garden Florist.

The flowers are beautiful and the scent is worth lingering!