Happy Friday, Anchorage. In today’s edition: Lucky Wishbone’s 70th anniversary, Santa’s workshop, makers market, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Fiscal strain prompts tough choices: Anchorage School District has enacted a hiring freeze amid a $77 million deficit expected next school year, reviewing 200 vacancies and allowing exceptions for essential student learning or safety roles — get all the details.

New path to recovery: An Anchorage tiny home village is taking shape with 24 microunits in place and eight more coming to house a behavioral health treatment program, with ribbon cutting scheduled December 10 — read the full story.

Homegrown classic keeps cooking: Anchorage’s Lucky Wishbone has celebrated 70 years, still serving its 1955 core menu to generations of regulars. The beloved diner also earned a 2025 James Beard America’s Classic Award — read the full story.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Enjoy crafting during a classic movie night
• Anchorage Museum hosts all-star Dark Daze concert
• Stroll Kincaid’s magical Solstice Tree Tour
• Join a relaxing morning yoga session
• Enjoy a sensory-friendly museum morning
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

🫶 We got your back

Community parks face off: Anchorage’s 2026 Park of the Year is up to you. Vote online through Dec. 10 for Cheney Lake Park, Jewel Lake Park, or the newcomer Potter Marsh Watershed Park. The winner gets custom artwork by local illustrator Sarah Glaser and a collectible community sticker. Choose your favorite vibes. See how and when to vote.

Carrier emphasizes safety and reliability: Aleutian Airways is now flying three roundtrips a week between Anchorage and Unalakleet, restoring regular service after Kenai Aviation shut down in November and Ravn Alaska closed in August. Under a DOT Essential Air Service contract, flights run Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday on Saab 2000 aircraft. Fingers crossed for smoother skies. See the schedule and details.

Your low-key pint HQ: From crisp pilsners and easygoing hazies to curveballs like a Chocolate Coconut Porter, King Street Brewing Company keeps the taps lively. The kitchen steps in when a snack feels essential, and there’s cider plus a solid NA pick for anyone on driver duty.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🧥 The Ugly Sweater Holiday Show @ Discovery Theatre | Friday (12/5) at 7:30pm – Think your ugliest sweater has seen it all? Sammy Miller & The Congregation serve up an Alaska-style variety show with jazzy spins on classics, local guest artists, and hidden-gem jams, the kind of merry mayhem that shortens the dark, lifts spirits, and rewards good company.

🌺 Gallery Talk: Georgia O’Keefe @ Anchorage Museum | Friday (12/5) at 7:30pm – If you like your culture potent and to the point, pop in for a brisk 15-minute gallery talk on Georgia O’Keeffe with guide Lucky. Think big flowers, desert skies, and the Mother of Modernism, delivered before your parking meter even blinks.

This weekend

🛍️ Makers Market hosted by Little Fish @ Atwood Center | Saturday (12/6) at 11:00am – Little Fish is taking over APU’s Atwood Center with a two-floor Makers Market, 50-plus Alaska artisans, and food trucks to keep you fueled while you browse. It’s the one-stop shop for gifts that aren’t from a warehouse. Bring patience, reusable bags, and small talk.

😂 Bret Ernst @ Chilkoot Charlie’s | Saturday (12/6) at 7:30pm – Cobra Kai’s own Cousin Louie hits KOOTS with the kind of raw, rapid-fire storytelling that’s made him a “comic’s comic” for over two decades. Expect sharp takes, big laughs, and a night that proves why he keeps landing on every “funniest comedians working today” list worth reading. Grab a seat early—this one’s going to pack out.

🌈 Here to Pee @ Momentum Studios | Saturday (12/6) at 9:30pm – Ren Q. Dawe and an all-trans comedy lineup take the mic for a night that’s equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and unapologetically defiant. This nationwide comedy protest uses humor to push back against anti-trans laws while raising money for local LGBTQ+ orgs—so you can cackle and support the cause.

🎅 Santa’s Workshop @ O’Malley’s on the Green | Sunday (12/7) at 10:00am – Whether you’re wrangling kids or just here for the cocoa, this cozy pop-in delivers classic holiday cheer. Grab a Santa photo, decorate an ornament or cookie, write Santa, sip cocoa, and drop a toy for the Donation Tree, then head home pleasantly glittered.

🕯️ Candlelight: Tribute to Coldplay & Imagine Dragons @ 49th State Brewery | Sunday (12/7) at 6:30pm – Let a sea of candles and a live string ensemble turn two stadium-filling bands into an intimate, goosebump-inducing experience. From Coldplay’s soaring anthems to Imagine Dragons’ cinematic hits, it’s the kind of night where every song feels like it was written just for you. Bring your feelings—this one goes straight for them.

🏛️ Bank of America Museums on Us @ Anchorage Museum | Sunday (12/7) at 12:00pm – Whether you bank with BoA or just kept the card, it gets you free general admission at Anchorage Museum the first weekend of each month, with ID. Special exhibits still cost, but you get 10% off in the museum store, which feels like found money.

Next week

🎨 Vital & Creative: Watercolor for Beginners @ Anchorage Museum | Tuesday (12/9) at 11:00am – Ready to finally watercolor something besides grocery lists? The museum’s beginner-friendly session has staff guiding you through gallery examples, tools, and easy techniques, then you paint in peace. All materials included, $15 covers admission, members save, ages 55 plus, registration required.

🐘 Annual YPG White Elephant Gift Exchange @ Broken Blender | Tuesday (12/9) at 4:00pm – Think you remember how White Elephant works, or did someone steal that memory too? YPG takes over Broken Blender for gift-swapping shenanigans, with food and drinks for purchase. Watch the chaos, or jump in by bringing a wrapped $20 gift and arriving on time.

👜 Repair & Reuse: Turn Feed Bags into Tote Bags @ Anchorage Museum | Tuesday (12/9) at 6:00pm – Trade that stack of feed and dog food bags for a sturdy tote you’ll actually brag about. Beginners learn the sewing machine, pattern basics, and a little repair-first gospel at Seed Lab, free with registration. Thrifty, tidy, and surprisingly stylish, just like you.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 The Ugly Sweater Holiday Show @ Discovery Theatre – 7:30 pm
• 12/5 Winter Series @ Alyeska Resort – 9 pm
• 12/6 Sammy Miller and The Congregation @ Anchorage Concert Association – 7:30 pm
• 12/11 Pouya @ Williwaw Social – 9 pm