We have a few things that may be of interest to you and I’ve collected them and summed them up in this nifty little email newsletter. We wanted to tell you about our efforts at to make Snow City greener, our escapades in the virtual world (twitter, facebook, myspace), gift options for administrative professionals week, and this month’s artist Lance Lekander. There’s also a bio of one of our servers, Ezra.

Thanks for supporting us through this winter of, ahem, “interesting” economics. We’re so thankful that we’ve been able to keep our doors open when so many small businesses are calling it quits. It’s because of you all that we’re still flipping eggs and pulling espresso shots. We’re proud to be the place you choose to spend your time and money, and we’re so deeply grateful for your business and friendship.

Tasia Jelatis-Hoke

Front of House Manager

We just keep getting Greener!
Local produce, and compostable/recycled to-go stuff

We’re greener than ever! We’ve made the switch from plastic and styrofoam to sugar cane boxes and corn based plastic bags and cutlery. It’s kinda pricey but we think it’s worth it. We hope you think so too! We’re also working with “Alaska Root Cellars” (formerly Alaska People’s Market) to make sure we’re gettiing all the local produce we can. We’re looking forward to summer when we’ll have all the bounty the Matanuska
valley has to offer!  Soon you will be able to check out our website for more information on our hopes, dreams, and accomplishments where local and green ethics are concerned.

Social Networking
Twitter, Facebook, Myspace

Well folks, we’ve done it. We can now be found online in three different social networking programs. Facebook has proven a great way to connect with many of you. We have a few fan photos up on the site and we’d love to see more. You can also
find reviews here. If you’re more A.D.D. there’s Twitter on which we broadcast small blips of info throughout the day. And, if all that’s not enough, you should check us out on myspace where our top friends are also our staff.

[Find us on Facebook!]

Featured Employee:

Ezra, Server
This poet with a penchant for pancakes hails from the very unpretentious Turnersville, NJ. He’s no stranger to Anchorage though, having been serving within the Anchorage area for the last 8 years. Ezra enjoys bamboo, karate movies and phillips head screwdrivers. When asked what he likes to bring to every table he wittily replied, “milkshakes.” He dislikes napping. Next time you’re here make sure to check out Ezra’s colorful shoes and pen bandolier.

Celebrate Administrative Professionals!

Administrate professionals week is April 20th through 24th. Snow City Gift Cards make awesome gifts and keep your friends caffeinated. Buy at $25 coffee card for only $20. It’s a great deal. Add a coffee mug for only $6 and you have a great eco friendly gift! Stop by to check out our other merchandise or click on the merchandise link to visit our online store.

As some of us manager types were not as needed at the restaurant we’ve been giving a little extra loving to Laile and company’s new project, the Spenard Roadhouse. It looks amazing in there and they can’t wait to open their doors for all of you on February 16th! I’m looking forward to lounging around and sipping bourbon, personally.

Your friendly tech-responsible manager (yours truly) has been busy sitting in front of computers (mainly her own--yay!) and getting some things updated/rolling. (Sorry about the amount of punctuation in that last sentence--I sometimes go a little crazy with the parentheses.) So, we’re still on Twitter and holding strong with 85 lucky followers. Twitter’s pretty cool, especially now when we can get Mt. Redoubt updates via Twitter! I was kind of addicted to checking on Redoubt, though, in my defense, I believe the obsession began when I thought it was going to blow a couple of weeks ago while I was responsible for Snow City.

Right, so the new techy development…are you ready for it?..it’s the goliath of all online social networking…We’re on Facebook! Snow City on FacebookIt was time. Just as I was designing the page a customer was suggesting to one of our servers that we should have one. He had the great idea of inviting people to post retrospective photographs of the cafe. So if you have any old photos scan em in, find us on Facebook and load em up. I’m especially curious because I’ve only been in Anchorage for two years (anniversary is Valentine’s day btw).

I think that’s about it. We’ll be open this Saturday for my anniversary of moving to Anchorage, and the less widely celebrated holiday of Valentine’s day. Take care all!!!

Tasia

We’re getting real techno savvy around here (or trying). We’ve got our fashion forward merchandise online now! Whoo hoo! You can now purchase your very own Snow City t-shirt, travel mug, or GIFT CARD from the comfort of your own home--or send one to a friend. We’ve ordered a lot of new stuff so check in the cafe or online in the next few weeks to see what’s new (think knit caps with brims, long sleeved hoodies...).

In other internet news, Snow City Cafe is now on Twitter (www.twitter.com) For all of you 20th century folks, Twitter is a “microblog” meaning a blog consisting of 150 characters or less. So, check it out, follow us, and get all the latest and greatest insider tips on your very favorite Anchorage restaurant. Here’s one little tidbit for you now--this weeks Winter Wednesday Special is a super tasty soprassetta salami sandwich on rye with a feta spread. Sooo goood. And every other Wednesday this winter we’ll have something new. It’s always served with a drink and a dessert bite for $9.95. Yay!

Well folks, I think that’s all I’ve got. Looking forward to longer brighter and (fingers crossed) warmer days,

Tasia

Incoming: As the title of this blog indicates, our lovely chef, Natalie Janicka is back from a summer off. This means we’ve got some new weekly specials and y’all should come on in and try them. (This weeks quiche is YUMMY! I looove tarragon!) We’ve got a few new faces around the place and we’re looking for a few more (see employment section of this website).

Outgoing: Sadly for all of us, our baker has developed a serious allergy to...wait for it...wheat. She’s gonna take a break from baking which means we’ll be welcoming a new baker in a week or two. We will all miss Stacie’s mellow presence, sweat treats, and sweeter notes.

That’s about all from this neck of the woods. Be sure to come in on Halloween to see us all in our spookiest/goofiest finery.

Tasia

A New Restaurant
Rumors were flying as Spring turned into Summer (or breakup turned to rain) about a new restaurant. A Snow City Midtown? Something about Hogg Brother’s Café? The truth is out—Laile, JoAnn from Sack’s and a group of investors have purchased what was Hogg Brother’s Café on Northern Lights and Spenard. In November it will reopen as the Spenard Roadhouse—a lunch and dinner spot with a full bar, great burgers and pizzas along with grilled Alaskan fish and roasted veggies from the Mat-Su Valley. We hope you’re looking forward to this place as much as we are. Finally, a new place to eat when Snow City closes its doors in the afternoons! Drinks anyone?

Block Party
This year’s neighborhood block party and ACVB Evening Exchange was a blast with awesome live music by Nervis Rex, dancing, a margarita tent (courtesy of Simon and Seaforts), burgers and hot dogs, and face painting and crazy hair styling for the kids. And most excitingly…it didn’t rain! The clouds parted for a few hours (in the midst of rainy weeks) and we saw blue sky and danced under the sun.  Our 6th Annual West End Block Party was sponsored by Snow City Café, Simon & Seafort’s, The Hotel Captain Cook, and PangoMedia.

Staff picnic/kickball
To celebrate all of our hard work (pat on the back) we met in Valley of the Moon park for a game of Kick Ball with family and friends and a lot of good grub. Trust the Snow City crew to come up with some tasty food (and to know how to eat too!). Natalie, our head chef showed up with her new baby girl, Jillian, and Allison, four years. We took a picture of the whole crew to send back with a dishwasher from Russia who’s been working here this summer. I think the adults enjoyed the kick ball as much as the kids (probably more) though the competition was fierce.

Snow City 5K
The excitement continued into August with the Big Wild Run. This year Snow City hosted the 5K. We cheered our runners (and all the others) on as they bolted past Snow City and on to glory. And we felt just a little guilty for eating a Heart Attack on a Plate as we cheered—but not guilty enough to stop eating.

The latest news is that, once again, Snow City has won the coveted title of Anchorage Daily News Best Brunch! Thanks to all of our loyal fans for voting for us. We await the Press Picks results with anticipation.

Well, as my dad would say, “That’s the news from Lake Woebegone” (which makes significantly more sense if you’re from MN and/or a fan of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion Show). So be well, do good work, and keep in touch,
Tasia Jelatis-Hoke

p.s. pictures of the aforementioned joys of summer to come…

Appetizer choices
• Roasted Red Pepper, Garlic and Chevre on Baguette
• Rustic Squash Tarts
• Wild Mushroom Risotto with Seared Scallops

Salad/Soup choices
• Spinach Salad with bleu cheese crumbles, almonds, dried cranberries, and raspberry vinaigrette
• Mixed Organic Greens tossed with grape tomatoes, foccacia croutons and balsamic vinaigrette
• Seafood Chowder

Entrée choices
• Polenta with Roasted Winter Vegetables and Jus
• Ciopinno with prawns, scallops, crab, cod, and clams in tomato, basil, and pepper broth and a polenta crouton.
• Roasted Chicken Breast with Leek and Fresh Herb Stuffing served with au gratin potatoes and roasted asparagus
• Pork Loin Medallions topped with greens and crispy shallots in a whole grain mustard sauce served with au gratin potatoes and roasted asparagus

Dessert

Three choices to be determined

Kids’ Menu

Appetizer choices
• Homemade Soup
• Cold Veggie Platter

Entrée choices
• Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Homemade Crispy Chicken Strips
• Macaroni & Cheese

Dessert

In response to the random shootings that happened last December, Snow City Cafe is hosting a benefit dinner on Thursday, February 14, Valentine’s Day.  All proceeds will be donated to Elizabeth Rumsey, Tamas Deak and the Jason Wenger Memorial Writing Award.  Our staff is also donating their time and tips.

There will be two seatings – 5:30 PM and 7 PM.  $40 for adults, $10 for kids.  Very kid-friendly, family event.

The special 4-course menu will be announced on our website on January 31.

Make your reservations by calling 272-3239 or e-mail Melissa@snowcitycafe.com.  We have 100 spots to fill for each seating.