Juneau was hoppin’ this weekend at the Annual Public Market at Centennial Hall and the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. Touted as “the best Christmas shopping in Alaska,” this Thanksgiving weekend tradition welcomed over 170 vendors and thousands of shoppers.
One of my favorite non-shopping activities at the market is the chance to get up close and personal with education birds from the Juneau Raptor Center. Blueberry (aptly named for his deep blue eyes) is an adult raven who was rescued as a chick with a fractured left leg. Being a sucker for blue eyed wildlife, I was instantly captivated by this beautiful bird.
With so many talented vendors and creative handicrafts at every glance, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you’re running around like a blind dog in a meat house. Here are some of my favorite finds at this year’s market.
I am positively SWOONING over these adorable hand-crocheted baby “XTRATUF” booties. Every Alaskan should have a cuddly cozy pair of these at home. Kindly contact Genny at genevieve.elle [at] gmail.com to get your hands on her one-of-a-kind creations.
Haines resident, Genny Szymanski, shows off her cheeky take on the Alaska sneaker.
And nothing says “The South” like Mardi Gras and John Deere aprons. These kitchenwares are handmade right here in Juneau and are reversible and can be ordered in a variety of prints and styles. Check out Kathy’s colorful inventory at Sew Passionate.
Handmade aprons from Sew Passionate.
Alaska Pure Sea Salt Co. features handmade sea salt from the Gulf of Alaska, and boy are they a big hit! I’m a fan of their wild blueberry sea salt, and this year I was surprised to discover two new additions to their line up: the Fresh Lemon and Lime Flake and the Spicy Hot Pepper Flake. I couldn’t resist purchasing the lemon and lime infused salt for rimming margaritas during my next visit to Alabama. Yummo!
Sea salt samples down by the sea shore.
I was thrilled to see the Howling Wolf Furs booth in Juneau. These designs are some of the best out there! I went head-over-heels for a pair of their beaver and lynx mukluks, and words do not describe the warmth of these boots – a must have for strutting around town or snowmachining in -30 degree winter.
Beaver mukluks with lynx, sheared beaver trim, and removable sheepskin lining. Be still, my beating heart!
Alaska Couture
It's not every day a Southern woman gets to wear a lynx. On her HEAD.
If Juneauites didn't find exactly what they needed during this year's Public Market, they were encouraged to take a little (or a lot of) LOVE:
I heart Juneau.
Want to read more about this mainstay event? My friend, Barbara Belknap, sums it up quite nicely here: Another terrific Juneau Public Market.
Hope to see you at next year's Juneau Public Market!