ALASKA'S NEWSPAPER

Help | Follow on Twitter | alaska.com

| Updated: 9:03 PM

Bottoms up

Visitors raise their beer mugs on the first day of the 176th Oktoberfest in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 19.

In Munich, Germany, on Oct. 18, 1810, the first Oktoberfest was celebrated in commemoration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Since 1950, the traditional festival opening has included a 12-gun salute and a midnight tapping of the first keg of beer. The mayor of Munich does the honors and then shouts, "O'zaptft is!" (It's tapped!).

Artist of the week

Visitors raise their beer mugs on the first day of the 176th Oktoberfest in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 19.
Bottoms up

In Munich, Germany, on Oct. 18, 1810, the first Oktoberfest was celebrated in commemoration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Since 1950, the traditional festival opening has included a 12-gun salute and a midnight tapping of the first keg of beer. The mayor of Munich does the honors and then shouts, "O'zaptft is!" (It's tapped!).

The nights are warm and the beer is cold at Mulcahy Stadium

A foul ball falls just short of the fence during a game between the Anchorage Bucs and the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in Alaska Baseball League action at Mulcahy Stadium.

This summer has already surpassed last year in sunny days. It may take awhile, but soon we'll realize that we can make plans in advance to do things outdoors. Yes we can wear summer clothing and forego our umbrellas (or at least leave them in the car).

Woman should dump jailbird and get on with life

I had a boyfriend for about four months who is in another state. We kept in touch as best we could but things got bad when he called me from the "can" last month and we've only talked once since he got there. I sent him e-mails, text messages, etc. He never once replied to them.

Let's hear it for Joe

Attendees enjoyed live music and samples of beer and barley wine from brewers and venders at the Great Alaska Beer and Barley Wine Festival Saturday Jan. 20, 2007 at the Egan Center in downtown Anchorage.

Let's wow Joe Six-Pack with Alaska-made beers like Snow Angel Barley Wine and Smoked Russian Imperial Stout from Kassik's Kenai Brew Stop.

Wine of the week: 2007 Cotes du Rhone Blanc

Thanksgiving will soon be upon us and even Christmas items are showing up in stores. So it's not too soon to start recommending wines for turkey day. Guigal has an awesome 2007 Cotes du Rhone Blanc. It's a great foodie wine for use with the meal or as a starter.