Renee Vanni Images

Deb and Craig – Sneak Peek

Deb and Craig were married this summer! A big congratulations. It was a fabulously fun affair with incredible food provided by Kaleb Baker of Chef Stop.  Chef Stop

The whole event was on Big Lake complete with a live band, a festive white tent with lights, just an all around great party day. Deb and Craig are an incredible couple together. Very relaxed and fun people. She arrived to the ceremony on their boat, accompanied by their grown children.  

This is just a sneak peek. Enjoy! Thank you for choosing me for this very special affair. I was happy to be part of it.

 

This is Kaleb Baker and his assistant, Chris. These guys put out an incredible spread by the lake, with a cocktail hour of various appetizers then sit down dinner with filet mignon and chicken. Everything was perfect. They have an impressive team! Tell Kaleb that Renee Vanni sent you. Check them out. 

Chick, Chick, Here

This really wonderful family invited me to photograph them at one of their homes, here in Alaska. They have this place at the base of the Eagle River mountains and what a spectacular view they have! The property is gorgeous and very picturesque. I was so excited to see they have chickens! Really pretty chickens. The 2 very young boys just love their chickens and I had so much photographing them. I really did not want to leave. It was such a joy. Just a peek here, but we captured some fantastic family heirlooms. I hope to be invited back again soon. 

 

Moose Dropping Festival 2009

Once again, I headed to one of my favorite towns in Alaska – Talkeetna, for the annual Moose Dropping Festival. Great fun, as always, eating all day long, drinking, eating, and of course, enjoying the many artisans displays . . . and drinking. Talkeetna has this incredibly magical charm. Laid back, rustic and everyone just hangs loose.  I invited my cousin, Katie and a very dear friend, Sandy. Sandy and I have been friends since the early 80’s so that makes about 22+ years long friendship. Kaye is, of course, my favorite cousin.

On our way up, we always stop at Sheep Creek lodge. Usually we have bloody mary’s at the rustic bar but this time, the weather was so incredibly gorgeous, we opted for the deck and enjoyed lemon drops rimmed in raspberry sugars and some delish ahi tuna and it was perfect snack to tie us over until we reached Cafe Michele in Talkeetna.

These are all the mail boxes just outside of Sheep Creek Lodge. A fun photograph with all the boxes lined up and the fun part is they are not lined up in a straight and perfect line but all on a curve. Seems everyone in Alaska has a bit of creativity. We need something fun to break up the winter months. Curves just make life more interesting. Don’t ‘cha think?

Only in Alaska – do we shut down main thorough fares to plan a street party. We love our summer festivals, let me tell you. What you see here is Main Street. It’s actually only been paved for about 10 years. It was a perfectly charming road when it was all dirt! And I miss that dirt road!

As soon as we arrived in Talkeetna, on Friday night, we checked into our cabin, got acclimated and headed to Cafe Michele for a dinner with wine then early to bed. Below is our cabin for 3 days of fun. Denali Fireside Cabins. They were really quite large and very comfortable.

This is the little trail to and from our cabin.

Of course, we made it to the outside courtyard of Cafe Michele’s. Our personal fav. Exquisite cuisine and remarkable salads. 

Every year, people paint and create these moose. Most are so very special. Then they are auctioned off for charity. I heard that $4,000 was raised this year. Moose on the Loose.

 

Last winter, Katie and I met a server at the local Cattle Company who told us to come see him Talkeetna, as he was opening a brew pub! So we looked up his new place – it was THE happening place in little Talkeetna.  Denali Brewing Company.  They just completed their outdoor deck two weeks before the festival and have unveiled their 1st brew. They are serving other local Alaskan brews as well. Great place. Open all year round and he’s hoping to draw Anchorage clientele.  So check it out. Nice to eat breakfast out of the deck under one of the many colorful umbrellas but you can eat inside, if you prefer. Good luck with your venture. We certainly need your fabulous establishment. I found an article below from the ADN. Take a look at the links below about the new pub.

 Beer advocate – Denali Brewing Company/Twister Creek Restaurant

 Brew pub looks for May debut in Talkeetna

Katie, making her purchase of painted moose ‘nuggets’ for the dropping game. Hey!! Big cash prizes are at stake. $150 is good food  money!

 

I liked Lora’s Namaste tattoo. She is sooo cool. Man can this girl sing and play guitar.

Now Lora’s boy, David, is lead singer in his own band of super cool guys in Talkeetna. Their band name: 4th and Main . . . sounds a bit familiar . . . 

We caught them over pizza and beer at Mountain High Pizza Pie. One of the boys hand-painted his guitar. I just loved it! They were fantastic to listen to and after their set we got to hear them play again at the town stage next day. David was also performing in a local stage production of Glass Menagerie at 7pm each night. Talent runs in that family vein.

 

One of the boys hand painted his guitar! How cool is that?

Time for beers and more food at West Rib. Fab food and of course, a perfect outdoor eatery.

And only in Alaska will you find such a rig. This was West Rib beer on tap. I find Alaskans quite resourceful and clever. Hey, whatever works, man.

 

We always run into so many friends we know from across the state. Ran into an old pal, Sean at the ball fields then again at my favorite hang out, the bar – formerly known as the Tipi Lounge, and is now called the Tipi Oasis . . . the straw umbrellas and floral decor really make it a much more happening place. Oh! and the pink neon flamingo is a class act!

Then we stopped by the WildFlower Cafe and checked out the super fun bar out back. How awesome is that. We had caesar salads with either grilled shrimp or chicken. Cooked to perfection. Ran into pals, Yvonne and Neal and their kids there, they had halibut sandwiches and we planned to go back for pizza later. Funny thing is, we just ran into them at breakfast an hour before that. Guess they ate their way through Talkeetna too. Neal umpires the ball games all day long – 14 games on Saturday! And it was hot but the air a bit more pleasant and clear. Wild fires have filled Anchorage with smoke for over a week.

The fireweed is immense and looks so pretty along the highway. It makes the most gorgeous jelly.

Just one of the many charming scenes in Talkeetna.

E-gads, more kettle corn, a chocolate milkshake and the food list goes on and on. Hope to see you there next year! We are already reserved in our little cabin. Cheers!