Day 1 (Dec. 26): It’s the day after Christmas and your mom’s probably nagging you to get those thank-you cards out early. Why not make your own thank-you notes this year? Your friends and relatives will appreciate them more than a generic paper card.
Day 2 (Dec. 27): Still haven’t seen “Iron Man” or “The Dark Knight?” Throw a Winter Break 2008 Film Festival and have your friends bring over their favorite movies. Better yet, grab a video camera and make your own movie. Can you rival Tina Fey’s Gov. Sarah Palin? How about creating an Alaska “Tropic Thunder?”
Day 3 (Dec. 28): The annual Crystal Gallery Ice Competition begins in Town Square on Dec. 26 and ends with an award ceremony at 5 p.m. Head downtown to watch the ice artists in action anytime until the end of the day, or come back later in the week to view the exhibits.
Day 4 (Dec. 29): With the stress of finals and the abundance of great food, your clothing might be feeling a bit tight. Fortunately, there are lots of outdoor activities in Anchorage to help you burn those Christmas calories. If you like cross-country skiing, head out to Kincaid or Hilltop to use the groomed trails. If you would rather skip skiing uphill, drive to Alyeska in Girdwood, or stay in Anchorage and buy a lift pass for Hilltop Ski Area. If you don’t own equipment, don’t worry — both locations have skis, boots and poles you can rent.
Day 5 (Dec. 30): So, it’s not that interesting, but why not get a head start on homework? Sure, it’s not a lot of fun to think about schoolwork right now, but if you get started now, it will make the first week back to school a lot easier. If you’re a senior, take advantage of the extra time during break to put the finishing touches on your college applications.
Day 6 (Dec. 31): It’s going to be a new year soon! Plan a New Year’s Eve party complete with sparkling apple cider, confetti and noisemakers. You also might want to write some New Year’s resolutions.
Day 7 (Jan. 1): Cookies should also be at the top of everyone’s list for the second week of break. Invite your friends to bring over some flour, sugar and their favorite recipe for a cookie-making party. Make several types and then exchange them so each person gets to take home a variety.
Day 8 (Jan. 2): If you’re looking for entertainment this break, you’ve got several options. Sports fans can get their hockey fix by watching the Alaska Aces play the Stockton Thunder at 7:15 p.m. Check out alaskaaces.com to buy tickets, which range from $10.25 to $23.75. If you’re not a sports fan, don’t despair. There are over 10 movies coming out this break, so head over to the theater and see a new release.
Day 9 (Jan. 3): If you’re feeling creative, grab a friend or two and head out to Color Me Mine or All Fired Up to paint some pottery. The businesses sell plain pottery and provide you with the materials to decorate it — brushes, glazes and stencils. After you paint your own mug, plate or figurine, they’ll fire it and return the finished product to you.
Day 10 (Jan. 4): It’s the last day of break before you have to head back to class. Spend it outside ice skating or sledding — two great options for a warmish winter day. Westchester Lagoon might not be fit for skating yet, but alternatives Goose Lake, Cheney Lake or the man-made rinks in Town Square and at Cuddy Park are. If you don’t live near a neighborhood park with a sledding hill, Kincaid has a wide variety of hills with slopes that range from almost-vertical to something your youngest cousin could handle.
Stacy Wheeler is a senior at West High School.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.