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Welcome to the Play Blog, an insider’s guide on everything from music to pop culture, local dining, drinking, art and nightlife. Alaska or Outside, it’s fair game. Who's hot, who's coming to town, who's doing something worth noticing. We're on it.
Reader input is a big part of this blog, so express yourself and post comments. And if you have gig announcements, press kits, news briefings, story ideas, MP3s, CDs and reviews please ship them our way play@adn.com.
Pamyua premieres new video for 'Bubble Gum' - 10/23/2012 4:32 pm
Ghosts and ghouls haunting town - 10/19/2012 4:55 pm
More reality TV coming to Alaska - 10/19/2012 11:49 am
REVIEW: Richard Thompson is a master of fine dissonance - 10/17/2012 4:04 pm
Alaska Railroad offers trips on the Alyeska Halloween Train - 10/10/2012 2:32 pm
VIDEO: Flogging Molly's sold-out show at the Egan Center - 10/4/2012 12:12 pm
Call to filmmakers: Make a movie in 2 days - 9/28/2012 2:45 pm
Oktoberfest is coming to Anchorage - 9/27/2012 3:25 pm
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 22, 2009 - 11:59 am
I wouldn't expect to see this commercial on television in Alaska (or anywhere else) anytime soon. The racy spot features two Playmates who can't seem to get enough of one of Quiznos' new Toasty Torpedo sandwiches. (Note: the video posted below is borderline NSFW. There's no nudity, but you might want to put on some headphones because there is a lot of moaning.)
It's titled "2 Girls, 1 Sub" - a play off the infamous scat-porno "2 Girls 1 Cup" - and according to Ad Age, Quiznos is denying all involvement in the ad. The end credits sport a Playboy logo, but it's hard to believe that the people at Quiznos had no idea this was going on, especially given the affinity for weird ads such as the Singing rat-like creatures and allusions to Man-on-toaster loving.
What do you think of the ad? What do you think about Quiznos' claims they weren't involved with it's production?
- Spencer Shroyer
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 21, 2009 - 2:31 pm
Devin the Dude: Photo by mozzchopz / ADN reader submission
Do you enjoy Anchorage's night life and have pictures to prove it? Submit them to our Party Crashers gallery.
Don't have any photos of your own but still want to check out the gallery? Click here.
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 20, 2009 - 5:44 pm
Photo by Evan Steinhauser / Anchorage Daily News
With more construction scheduled for F Street this summer, Tom Banks with Sub Zero (612 F Street) said the bar might also be undergoing a facelift. Banks said the lounge – which prides itself on Belgian Ales – had become too similar to Humpy’s (610 W Sixth Ave.), its next door neighbor and big brother. He said there aren’t any concrete plans yet, but steps may be taken to distance the bars’ identities.
Humpy’s also recently opened a new company store in the space on the corner of F Street and Sixth Avenue that was formerly Stephan Fine Art Gallery. Banks said limited space for the merchandise inside Humpy’s and the success of a similar store in the Fifth Avenue Mall led to the move.
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 20, 2009 - 3:42 pm
Owner Charlene Goeas checks on a pot of rice: Photo by Erik Hill / Anchorage Daily News
Business at Hula Hands Polynesian Restaurant (4630 Mountain View Drive) is so hot, it’s opening another restaurant. Owner Charlene Goeas said the new location at 501 W. Fireweed Lane is scheduled to open this week and will have the same menu of Pacific Island flavors that have brought in waves of diners for the last nine years. Fans of Kalua pig, teriyaki beef and lupulu (a Tongan treat made from taro leaves filled with corned beef and coconut milk) can visit the new digs from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 20, 2009 - 3:05 pm
Marc Lester / Anchorage Daily News: Tom Doerner is the owner of the White Spot Cafe, a downtown landmark on Fourth Avenue.
What's for dinner after a long day at work? How about filling the void in your belly at White Spot Café (109 W. Fourth Ave.)? The café is open later for summer and added another two tables since our last review.
The spot's extended summer hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. See the menu here.
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 18, 2009 - 7:00 pm
Erik Hill / Anchorage Daily NewsIn this 2004 photo, ADN Spirits Blogger Keith Saunders pours a single malt Scotch during a tasting at the Hotel Captain Cook.
A Wall Street Journal piece from Saturday outlined some of the differences in the way Scotch is consumed in American and overseas.
"The purists' complaint is that whereas a small splash of spring water seems to open up a whisky, releasing its full bouquet and flavor, ice tends to do the opposite. The tongue is anesthetized by the cold, and the whisky itself acquires a smoothness that glosses over the deeper complexities of the dram."
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 15, 2009 - 5:58 pm
Have you been grooming your 'stache for the the upcoming World Beard and Mustache Championships?
We've got a feature in the works for next week, but we can't wait to see photos of readers' facial fur. Submit your pictures here and we will blog about our favorites in the upcoming week.
- Spencer Shroyer
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 15, 2009 - 5:56 pm
Photo: Megan Thompson
Rolling Stone reported Blink 182 reunited for a live gig in Hollywood last night after four years of feuding. This morning the band released their summer tour schedule on Billboard. Read about the bands renewed bromance and see backstage photos on bassist, Mark Hoppus' blog.
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 13, 2009 - 4:31 pm
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 13, 2009 - 11:06 am

It might be too early to tell, but Jeremih’s “Birthday Sex” may edge out Lady GaGa's Poker Face as the summer jam that gets played so much even your mom knows the words.
What do you think?
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 13, 2009 - 10:08 am
Photo by Bill Roth / Anchorage Daily News
Midnight Sun Brewing Company's new location will open 2-8 p.m. Friday, just in time for the release of Fahrwasser Fairway Pilsner, the latest edition to the Crew Brew Series.
Here's a profile we ran earlier this month.
Find the brewery at 8111 Dimond Hook Drive, a couple blocks north of Home Depot on Hartzell/Abbott and a couple blocks northeast of Long Branch Saloon.
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 12, 2009 - 2:27 pm
Photo by Bob Hallinen / Anchorage Daily News.
The Anchorage Market and Festival is opening this weekend. Locals still call it the Saturday Market, but the event changed its name when it started running on Sundays too.
Here's a preview we ran last year and the market's official site.
I can't wait for the food and dog watching
- Spencer Shroyer
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 12, 2009 - 12:32 pm

Another concert shakeup today, the two Protest the Hero shows scheduled for next weekend were canceled.
According to a press release from Family Tree Productions, "Refunds for the ticket price are available at the original place of purchase. If you purchased a ticket on GROOVETICKETS.COM your refund will be processed automatically."
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 12, 2009 - 11:32 am

We just got an e-mail from Bitoz Productions saying that the Method Man and Redman show scheduled for this Saturday, May 16 has been postponed to Sept. 19. According to the release, tickets purchased for the original show will be be honored.
Read the full press release HERE.
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 11, 2009 - 10:04 am
A column from The Atlantic this morning details a tariff battle between America and France that would have shot prices on Roquefort cheese into the stratosphere. Luckily the 300 percent import increase was dropped earlier this week.
Read the full column here.
I like a little Roquefort on my salads, or even in a quiche. Some of these recipes on the Food Network site look especially good.
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 8, 2009 - 4:30 pm
Apparently Col. Sanders is no match for Oprah. KFC announced it will no longer immediately redeem the free chicken coupons downloaded by millions of Americans in response to Oprah's televised and online promotions on Tuesday. Is anyone (besides KFC) surprised by the storm of freeloaders a plug for free food on Oprah can generate?
Read more here or get a raincheck here.
- Rachael Fisher
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 8, 2009 - 4:12 pm

We heard murmurs about a similar lineup last week (a MySpace bulletin we saw also listed Tony Yayo) but had trouble nailing down any specifics.
Apparently it is going down - at the Dena’ina Center no less. Ticketmaster just listed the event and said tickets will go on sale tomorrow at noon.
The posted lineup also includes “JD Whoo Kid” not DJ Whoo Kid. Whoops.
- Spencer Shroyer
Posted by play_blog
Posted: May 7, 2009 - 11:50 am
Photo courtesy Bearfoot Bluegrass.
Local bluegrass heroes Bearfoot had a strong showing on the Billboard this week. Their album "Doors and Windows" debuted at no. 1 on the bluegrass charts. See the chart analysis here.
Read more about Bearfoot in this Daily News profile from last year.