Ben: Well Maia, another weekend is upon us, and there's lots to do -- First Friday, the opening of Anchorage Opera's South Pacific -- but I feel like there's one event I should mention before all others. On Thursday, at the Century 16 and Tikahtnu movie theaters, there will be a one-off showing at 7 p.m. of the documentary "My Run." Why do I feel it's necessary to mention this first? Because it's sick, that's why. And I don't mean "sick" in the way the kids today mean it, like it's a good thing (go ahead, make a joke about me disparaging "kids").
"My Run" follows 57-year-old Terry Hitchcock as he attempts to run 75 marathons in 75 days. That's right, a marathon PER DAY. For two and a half months straight. I think of it as kind of like "Super Size Me," except the goal is more outlandish and probably even less healthy. My shins hurt just thinking about it. Hitchcock runs to raise awareness of single-parent families; an admirable goal, to be sure, despite what I can only assume is a severe mental illness on his part. The 2009 documentary is holding one-night showings around the country.
Maia: I'm fired up for this weekend's visit from author and New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean. Friday night at 7 p.m., she'll be speaking at the Anchorage Museum, an "onstage conversation about people, place and truth in writing," moderated by Anchorage Daily News columnist Julia O'Malley. That event is $5 for the general public, or free if you're a member of 49 Writers or the Museum. Orlean's sessions at the Alaska Press Club Conference this weekend will be open only to Press Club members, but a lot of the conference workshops are open to the general public for a $15 drop-in fee. Get the full schedule at the Alaska Press Club website. I'm looking forward to seeing Kim Severson, former ADN staffer turned awesome New York Times food writer (and my very first editor back in the day). Kim's giving a workshop at 10:30 Friday morning about "telling any story through food" that should interest any would-be food writers out there (or, honestly, anybody who likes "Top Chef" or that book about cooking all of Julia Child's recipes). She'll also be giving a reading and signing of her memoir, "Spoon Fed," at Barnes & Noble at 2 p.m. Sunday. I'm sending Seth over to get her to sign his copy of "The New Alaska Cookbook," which features recipes from Alaska chefs like our own Kirsten Dixon.
Ben: While you're busy with the Press Club this weekend, you'll be missing out on plenty. It's like we're a real cosmopolitan city this weekend, steeped in culture, with the opening of the Anchorage Opera's "South Pacific," part of the suddenly-burgeoning musical theater scene in Anchorage. The production of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein play promises to be an ambitious -- but also expensive -- one. Tickets start at $45. It opens on Friday at 8 p.m. and runs through April 10.
For those who are fans of smaller productions, "12 Angry Jurors" also opens Friday at UAA. An adaptation of Reginald Rose's classic "12 Angry Men," the play follows the debate in a jury room as they attempt to render a verdict in a murder trial.
And of course, Friday marks another always-popular First Friday, with events scattered around Anchorage for those who want to hoof it and check out a bit of local art and support local business. Some in particular that might be worth hitting up are a photographic exhibit of 125 years of commercial fishing in Bristol Bay at the Anchorage Museum and the work of photographer Nicholas Bradford at Cafe Vivachi, which represents the first time that location has taken part in First Friday. As a bonus, the weather is predicted to be a balmy 36 degrees -- I've found that the onset of spring is directly related to how enjoyable First Friday can be. Unfortunately, Thursday's snowfall may still require waterproof footwear.
Maia: Speaking of First Fridays and the onset of spring, more and more bicyclists are starting to hit the roads as things thaw, in addition to their impressive cohorts who bike year-round -- people whose sanity I question but whose commitment I salute. Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage is kicking off a monthlong "Freeze My Keys" event in which participants try to ride their bikes as much as possible rather than drive. (There are prizes, and scorecards to keep everyone honest.) They're launching it with an event Friday at Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge at 36th and Old Seward. Participants should bicycle to Modern Dwellers at 5:45 and bring a symbolic key to be kept in the shop's deep freeze until the end of April. They're going to take a group pledge to commute via bicycle more often, and then they'll set out on BCA's Bike First Friday "non-motorized tour of art galleries." So, gas hogs, look out for the mass of art-loving bicyclists cruising town on Friday night. And if you want to register to freeze your keys, you can get the info on how to do that on BCA's website.
And as long as we've got Broadway fever (a much more pleasant affliction than, say, beaver fever or Bieber fever), I should mention that this is the last weekend to catch "Lend Me a Tenor" at Anchorage Community Theatre. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. -- tickets, $11 to $15, at ACTAlaska.org. It's also your last chance to take in Alaska Fine Arts Academy's production of "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown," Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets, $7 to $14, at Tix.com.
Ben: Whew. Compared with last weekend, this weekend is a smorgasbord. The last thing I'll mention is the local A&R (short for Artist and Repertoire) Showcase at Chilkoot Charlie's on Sunday night. The show will feature ten of Anchorage's best local bands as they perform for representatives from major record labels. Who knows, maybe you can go and say you saw a band on the night they got famous. No cover, 21 and over, and the bands playing include Wolf Electric, the Hoons, and T.I.A.
Contact Maia Nolan at maia(at)alaskadispatch.com and Ben Anderson at ben(at)alaskadispatch.com.