December and Beyond - Flying Squirrel News December 2013

Hello to all, happy holidays and happy winter!

Sure is wintery around here. Plenty of snow and below zero temps were November's norms in Talkeetna. Hopefully things will warm up a little so we don't all feel like staying in our warm beds all day. Either way, we hope you'll stop in at the Squirrel for one of many warm reasons including soups, panini sandwiches, delicious hot K-Bay Caffe coffee, a pot of tea and a cookie, wood fired pizza and so much more! This December is sure to fly by with the first of the month being on Thanksgiving weekend. Here's what's happening at the Squirrel in the next few weeks:


Squirrely Table at PTA Handmade Holiday Bazaar
At Talkeetna Elementary School
Saturday, December 7, 11am-5pm
Among all the other wonderful vendors at this annual holiday craft fair and PTA fundraiser, look for ME at a fun, miscellaneous table with Flying Squirrel stocking stuffers like granola, kale chips, coffee beans and stickers. Plus I'll be selling my sister, Esther Golton's wonderful music CDs as well as some farm pickles and jam! There is no better gift than something that is locally produced, handmade and supports a local business or artist!


Gingerbread House Workshops
Sundays, December 8 (2-3:30) & December 15 (1:30-3:30)
There is still time and room to sign up for our annual family gingerbread house workshop! Preregistration and prepayment is required so please stop by or call this week! This two part family participation class includes designing and baking on the first Sunday and decorating on the second Sunday. Up to 4 participants per house which must include at least one adult. Come join in the fun!


Second Saturday Art Opening, Live Music & Taste of Talkeetna
Saturday, December 14
New to Talkeetna, Leah Kilmer is a talented young painter and has prepared a wonderful and colorful show. Please support local art and artists, come check out her work and meet the artist from 3-5pm. Also, I finally convinced Dave Harrell to provide a little background music for this festive evening and he'll be playing some live piano from about 4-6pm. And, if you're lucky enough to get tickets for the Taste of Talkeetna, we'll be seeing you at the Squirrel between 4 and 8pm!


Holiday Gift Ideas & Christmas Special Orders
We can ship your favorite Squirrel goodies anywhere in the US! To share some Squirrel love, visit our online store or e-mail us to make a special request. Of course, if you live close by, stop in to select from a wide array of mini cookies, plated and wrapped for holiday visiting, or contact us to request anything from a big cookie platter to appetizers to fully catered holiday parties. Christmas is right around the corner and we will send along an email update with our Christmas special order selections such as gorgeous Yule logs, Christmas stollen, cheesecakes, dinner rolls and other fancy items for your holiday table. Deadline for Christmas orders will be December 22 with pick up on Christmas Eve day.


Holiday and January Hours
We're keeping things the same over the next few weeks with our regular Tuesday-Sunday hours through December 22. Then it will get mixed up a bit with the holidays - please note WE WILL BE OPEN ON WEEKENDS (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays) throughout the Christmas and New Years weeks:
OPEN Tuesday, December 24, 9am-3pm - Christmas eve - holiday orders ready for pick up noon-3
CLOSED Wednesday, December 25 & Thursday, December 26 - closed for Christmas
OPEN Friday, December 27, 9am-9pm with Wood Fired Pizza from 4-9pm
OPEN Saturday, December 28, 9am-9pm with Wood Fired Pizza from 4-9pm
OPEN Sunday, December 29, 9am-5pm
CLOSED December 30 - January 2 - Happy New Year!
OPEN Friday, January 3, 9am-9pm with Wood Fired Pizza from 4-9pm
OPEN Saturday, January 4, 9am-9pm with Wood Fired Pizza from 4-9pm
OPEN Sunday, January 5, 9am-5pm
Beginning the first full week in January, we'll be open regular hours again, but we'll be closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Have a very warm and wonderful December, full of giving and receiving lots of love and light.
Anita
Continue reading »

November News 2103

Hello to all,
Thirteen years in Alaska and I have never seen a Halloween with no snow on the ground. When she came in for fill in shift yesterday, Jenny said, "If I wanted this kind of weather, I'd move back to Portland." The rain we didn't get in June and July has definitely caught up with us. It sure creates a bigger demand for soup! Holiday season is upon us already...look for Squirrel treats and nibbles at some of the local craft shows and events and let us know how we can help make your Thanksgiving extra special, easy and delicious! Don't forget we are OPEN ON TUESDAYS this winter!

 
Second Saturday Art Opening
Well, November's art show will be whatever it will be. Some combination of sketches and drawings by some combination of Chris Bowman and Jon Mann. Entitled "Kind of Sketchy" it's sure to be, well, whatever it will be! Come check it out during November - and visit the artists (Bowman via skype I believe) at the opening reception on Saturday, November 9, 3-5pm. December we will welcome a new artist and new-comer to the Talkeetna area, Leah Kilmer, who will hang original paintings.

 
Cooking Class - Holiday Baking
Sunday, November 17, 1-4pm
This class in the Flying Squirrel kitchen will focus on tips and techniques for making beautiful, delicious and stress-free holiday treats from scratch.  Rolled, drop, and refrigerator cookies, pie crusts and fillings, holiday spices and fruits, and holiday yeast breads will be discussed. Help to make, bake, eat and take home pumpkin-pecan-praline pie, mini pannetones, and some fancy cookies. To register for this class (it's already 1/2 full!), please contact Alaska Folk School at 907-733-7111 or by going to this link.

 
Thanksgiving Orders: Turkeys & Pies & Croutons oh my...
It's that time of year already! We'll be dreaming up some fancy and delectable desserts for your Thanksgiving table. Look for another e-mail this month as well as posters around town with our holiday offerings including my mother's most delicious cranberry sauce, several varieties of pie and cheesecake as well as fresh dinner rolls. The order deadline will be November 23 with pick up on November 27. I foresee Brian's Talkeetna Grown Sweet Mama Squash in some pies! We have unseasoned croutons available now to stash for your whole grain stuffing and often we run out before Thanksgiving, so you might want to pick up a bag or two next time you stop in. Finally, we will order fresh free range turkeys through New Sagaya again this year - ORDER DEADLINE OF NOVEMBER 15!

Everyone Loves a Bargain, Discount, Bonus or Deal!
• Espresso Drink Punch Card - Early Risers get the bonus! Buy any drink made on the espresso machine BEFORE 10AM and remind us to punch your card. Buy 9 and get a 12 oz free! Most days, the Squirrel is OPEN AT 7:30am.
• Bread Card - Buy 12 breads, get a $5 value toward the next one. We keep them on file and throw them away after a year of no use, so come get some bread!

• Prepay Credit - Pre-purchase $50 or more and get a 5% bonus ($2.50 on $50, etc.). We keep a credit for you in our file box. Advantages for you: you don't have to wait as long to be rung up; you can come in without your wallet; other discounts still apply; plus as my mother would say: I didn't find $2.50 in the street today! 
• To Go Packaging Discount - 5% off if you bring your own travel mug, or bread bag, or soup container...
• Mike Fisher Non-Motorized Discount - 5% off if you arrive at the Squirrel by non-motorized means!

Regular and Holiday Hours
Our regular winter hours will apply for all of November, except we will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 28 and we will open later than usual on Friday, November 29, at 10am.
SUNDAY: 8am-5pm
MONDAY: closed
TUESDAY: 7:30am-6pm
WEDNESDAY: 7:30am-6pm
THURSDAY: 7:30am-6pm
FRIDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm)
SATURDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm)

Coming Up in December
• Mail Order Holiday Goodies! - Actually you can do this any time at our online store! Send some Squirrel love to your loved ones including ruggelach, birch nut granola, assorted cookies, dog treats, t-shirts and gift certificates. Soon to be added: kale chips, seeded barley crackers, and Squirrel stickers.

• Gingerbread House Workshops - This year's two part gingerbread house class will be held on Sundays, December 8 & 15. Save the dates and watch for posters, sign up and more information to come. You can already get your name on the list since a limited number of houses will be available. Call or ask at the counter to reserve a spot for this fun annual family event!
• Taste of Talkeetna - Word on the street is that this annual tour of Talkeetna restaurants sponsored by the Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce will be held on Saturday evening, December 14.
• Christmas Holiday - Great news! We plan to do our usual Christmas holiday order, then after being closed for a couple of days, we'll be open weekends at the end of December! Hopefully returning college students and visiting family members will be able to get their Squirrel fill before the end of the year.

Hope everyone stays warm and dry out there!
Anita
Continue reading »

October News 2013

Hello again,October is here and we hope that the yellow brick road of golden autumn birch leaves leads you to the door of the Squirrel for any number of wonderful reasons... Plus a few other tidbits.

 

Winter Hours
This year we will see what it's like to stay open 6 days a week (including Tuesdays!). New winter hours for the Squirrel at least through the end of the year: 

SUNDAY: 8am-5pm • MONDAY: closed
TUESDAY: 7:30am-6pm • WEDNESDAY: 7:30am-6pm • THURSDAY: 7:30am-6pm
FRIDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm)
SATURDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm) 

 

Art Openings
October brings local resident and young artist Bekah Mathieson back to the walls of the Squirrel. PLEASE NOTE: the opening for her show entitled, "I Never Thought I Could Draw," will be held on THURSDAY, October 10 from 5-7pm. This collection of anatomical charcoal drawings will be on display until early November. In November welcome back Chris Bowman for a show of new work called "New Found Art in Newfoundlands."

Adult Bread Class: Flatbreads
Last month's Basic Breadmaking class was completely full and lots of fun. Interested in taking a class in the kitchen at Flying Squirrel? FLATBREADS will be held Sunday, October 20 from 1-4pm. In this class for anyone over the age of 15, we will make fresh whole wheat pita and rustic ciabatta including mixing and shaping the dough, proofing, baking and eating! The class will learn about special dough and oven techniques for handling flatbreads including an introduction to baking with fire and how to simulate brick oven conditions at home. Basic bread making skills are recommended. Please contact Alaska Folk School to sign up by clicking here or by calling 907-733-7111 before October 15.

Taste of Alaska Community Potluck
Tuesday, October 8, 5:30-7pm at Talkeetna Elementary School
Join Talkeetna Elementary School students, parents and staff for a celebration of Alaska foods and healthy eating! This is the 3rd annual potluck and fundraiser for the PTA's healthy snack and salad bar programs at the Elementary School. Free soup dinner featuring Alaska grown foods will be provided by Flying Squirrel Bakery Cafe and all community members are welcome. Bring along a side dish, dessert or homemade bread to share if you can.

Halloween Haunted House - Edible Ones!
Wednesday, October 30, 2-5pm
No - there will NOT be a haunted house at the Squirrel this year - but you can make your own edible haunted house to bring home or share with friends at our annual Halloween Creepy Treats class! Children ages 5-12 will work in groups of 2-3 (with a parent for kids under 7) to create a fun and spooky graham cracker haunted house in this afternoon workshop. Limited to 18 children and it usually fills up, so sign up early!

New Bread Schedule
SUNDAY: Oatmeal Sandwich Loaf • Whole Grain Bagels (plain or with seeds)
MONDAY: CLOSED
TUESDAY: Olive Oil Baguette • Molasses Multigrain
WEDNESDAY: Ciabatta • BAKER'S CHOICE {Sunflower Rye, Eight Grain, Alaska Barley Bread or 100% Whole Wheat}
THURSDAY: Olive-Herb Fougasse • Country Sourdough
FRIDAY: Whole Wheat Baguettes • Whole Wheat Pita (preorder only) • Light Wheat Challah
Gluten Free Bread: First Friday of each month, preorder only
SATURDAY: Olive Oil Baguettes • Cheese Bread • Spent Grain • Whole Wheat Walnut Raisin

VEGGIES FOR SALE!
Ask at the counter for Talkeetna Grown vegetables: kale, winter squash, cabbage and potatoes. They will be available well into December with potatoes offered until they start sprouting in the spring! If you're into sauerkraut or kim-chee, now is the time to call Brian for a quantity discount on cabbages!

Enjoy this glorious autumn weather!
Warmly,
Anita Continue reading »

September News 2013

Summer has been busy in a great way. Successful by all accounts with a great staff, wonderful online reviews, challenging catering opportunities and fun adventures in food! Now it's definitely looking and feeling like autumn around here with a few golden leaves falling from the birch trees, all the kids back in school and, of course, meetings. A few of our hard working friendly staff will be moving on to other adventures for the winter or longer and we say big thanks and good luck to Becca, Johanna, Katie and Kyle. There are LOTS of reasons to frequent the Squirrel this fall especially in the next few weeks...

Art Shows
There is still a little more than a week to come have a look (and a purchase for a great cause) - the Susitna Wild group exhibit is wonderful to see and shows many perspectives on our community connection to the Susitna River. Most of the proceeds from sales of this show will go toward efforts of the Coalition for Susitna Dam Alternatives. That show is coming down on September 12 so if you have a piece hanging in the show that didn't sell, please come to claim it! Coming up next, my dear mother-in-law Leilani Kingsbury will be hanging some of her own photography showing the many years of hard work, reward, and beauty found out at Birch Creek Ranch. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, September 14 from 3-5pm.

Rosh Hashanah Specials
This week, Jews all around the world celebrate the changing of their calendar to a New Year. In celebration of the holiday whose name means literally "head of the year", we will have traditional round challahs, some with golden raisins this Friday, September 6 around 11am as well as sweet, moist honey cakes Wednesday through Friday. To reserve a challah please call with your order before Thursday at noon. Stop in and enjoy an apple slice dipped in honey in hopes of a sweet year to come!

Bread Basics - an Alaska Folk School class at Flying Squirrel
Sunday, September 15, 1-4pm
This course is for anyone over 15 that wants to learn the skills and concepts in making bread. It will be held at the Squirrel and taught by yours truly, Anita Golton! We'll cover everything you need to know about making small batches of homemade bread in your own kitchen. The class is being offered through Alaska Folk School - please go to this link for more information or to register.

Farm Bounty
Every year, farming brings many surprises the best of which this year may have been the flying squirrel that visited Robin Song's porch at the farm. This year there were no raspberries at all but some wonderful tomatoes and record breaking squashes. We continue to use farm produce whenever possible at the Squirrel whether lettuce greens on our panini sandwiches, broccoli and herbs on pizza, cauliflower in the quinoa salad or our new favorite sunshine soup that features pureed summer squash. Brian will still hold a few more weeks of farm stands, so get it while you can - Saturdays in the Squirrel parking lot from 3-6! You can purchase zucchini and yellow squash any time over the counter at the Squirrel and soon we'll add kale once the farm stands are over. Photo by Robin Song.

September Hours
We are now closed on Mondays for the rest of the winter. Everything else stays the same in September and October hours are in the works.
SUNDAY: 8am-5pm
MONDAY: closed
TUESDAY: 7:30am-7pm
WEDNESDAY: 7:30am-7pm
THURSDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm)
FRIDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm)
SATURDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm)

Hoping the Folk School folks don't need to hold an ark building class any time soon! We'll be working on a sun dance special here pretty quick...
Warmly, Anita Continue reading »

Mid Summer News 2013

Hello Everyone,
With summer in full swing, the Squirrel has been swinging with it. We have our busy days, our busier days and our lines to the door days. It's all been pretty manageable and as much hard work as anyone would expect in a typical Alaska summer. Our grilled Panini experiment has been great fun and very well received. We have a few new treats we're excited about like Really Good Bars and Seeded Barley Crackers. The Squirrel stickers that say "Eat. Real. Food." with our logo sold out a week ago and we're working on getting more! Trip Advisor reviews we've received regularly over the last month are incredibly positive and it's nice to know that some of the travelers that find their way to the Squirrel are enjoying what we do. Hard to believe that a bit of darkness is coming back and that there are really only about 6 weeks left of our busiest season. Following are a few important things I wanted to make sure to pass along...

 
"Gone Fishin" - TWO DAYS OFF!
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Squirrel is open seven days a week! EXCEPT: Flying Squirrel will be closed Sunday, July 21 and Monday, July 22 for a mid summer break. Even I need to sleep in once in a while and all the staff deserved a couple of days to chill. Hopefully Brian and Oliver will come home with a pile of fish and I'll be at home helping to process Kenai River reds and working on some pickles and jam along with much needed sleep on my two days off. We'll be back on Tuesday!


 
CELEBRATE THE SUSITNA RIVER WITH ART!
August's art show will feature various artists with a wonderful theme - our local, important and beautiful waterway, the Susitna River. We're working with the Coalition for Susitna Dam Alternatives to raise awareness about the community connection to this integral part of our town and it's surrounding wilderness. Artists with something to contribute can contact Anita at the Squirrel or Rachel at 733-3813 or just bring in your ready to hang artwork or photography by August 7. The opening reception will be held on August 9 from 6-9pm. A portion of proceeds from sales will go to help the Coalition's efforts. Meanwhile, until the river show, stop by the Squirrel to see Tony Crocetto's Abstract Explorations show - it's so great to see these big, colorful canvases on our walls! Pictured painting by Steve Durr.




ALASKA GROWN PRODUCE AND BRIAN'S LOCAL FARM STANDS
Flying Squirrel is committed in many ways to supporting other small Alaska businesses and to using fresh Alaska Grown products whenever possible. Especially during summer, but also throughout the year, we feature Alaska Grown barley, birch syrup harvest right down the road from our friends at Kahiltna Birchworks and lots of vegetables from our local family farm Talkeetna Grown at Birch Creek Ranch. The state's agriculture program is even helping out Alaska's specialty crop farmers by giving restaurants who participate in the Alaska Grown Restaurant Rewards Program a small percentage back for purchases of some Alaska Grown products. Everyone works SO hard in Talkeetna and in Alaska all summer long, but I think farmers must work the hardest, possibly with the least financial reward. We're doing this for so many reasons, but mostly it all just tastes SO good! Look for the Alaska Grown symbol on some of our signs, notes on the pizza menu and ask the counter staff what has Alaska Grown in it today! Some of our favorite features: sparkling rhubarb ade, birch toffee pecan cookies, birch chai latte, cream of greens soup, Thai cucumber salad, sesame snap peas, and roasted veggies in and on everything from pizza to breakfast wraps to tasty grilled Panini sandwiches! YOU TOO can support these efforts and help ensure that a small local farm can survive our crazy Alaska weather, seasons, caterpillars, droughts, small market base and other farming hardships. Buy veggies from a local farm stand:
WEEKLY TALKEETNA GROWN FARM STANDS
Tuesdays, noon-3pm at the Senior Center
Fridays, 2-7pm at the Willow Farmer's Market (including Squirrel bread and goodies!) and
Saturdays, 3-6pm at Flying Squirrel

Have fun in the sun!
Anita Continue reading »

May 2013

Hooray for May!
Up north and around Alaska, people wait for the ice to go out on the Tanana River to find out who wins that annual guessing game. I just checked out their website and saw that the ice depth actually got 2 inches THICKER last week and is currently about 10 inches thicker than at this same time last year (and the 5 previous years as well)! Around Talkeetna the roads are clear, the driveways are getting better, and the birch trees are finally being tapped at the Birchworks up the street, but the river is still solid and the farm fields still have a good 2 feet of snow! This is the latest spring I have ever seen. So, we all seem a bit in denial that any day we'll have green leaves and LOTS of visitors to our quiet town. Hope to see you out and about, stopping in at the Squirrel for some of these wonderful events in May...

Friday, May 10, 5-6:30pm - Poetry Slam!
Youth and adult poetry workshops with Kima Hamilton of Brave New Alaskan Voices will be held May 9 & 10 at NSI. A poetry slam will be held here at the Squirrel on Friday evening. Ages 8 and up are welcome for both youth and adult categories. Whatever your style, you can learn to create it, say it, and slam it - or just come by to watch! For questions contact Shoo at 733-2402. Sponsored by the Association of Alaska School Boards and FOCUS Homeschool.


Saturday, May 11, 3-5pm - Second Saturday Art Opening
Visit with Valley artist Jessica Cavazos during her opening reception of "The Unique Art Works of Ravens Element" and to learn more about her culturally unique art of Mehndi. Her Henna art and Painted Candles will be available for viewing and purchase. Art work will be on display until early June. Coming up in June is photography by Dora Miller.



Sunday, May 12, 11am-3pm - Mother's Day High Tea
Enjoy this fine English tradition with a selection of loose leaf teas, champagne, and Flying Squirrel’s sumptuous finger foods presented on a tiered platter…a relaxing and delicious treat for any mother in your life! Reservations highly recommended. For more information or to make a reservation, please call or stop by the Squirrel.


Sunday, June 2, 7pm - Stay Warm CD Release Concert
Yes, my talented sister with the sweet voice, poetic lyrics and unique dulcimer has a new CD! And although she and Jim are now residing in New Haven, Connecticut, Esther will be back for a few weeks to offer up her newest recording for your listening pleasure. As one of the few people that got to hear it first, I can tell you that it's GREAT (though certainly I'm pretty biased)! Join us at Flying Squirrel for Esther's Alaska CD Release including:

Limited Seating CD Release Concert: 7pm, $12. Tickets available in person or by phone at the Squirrel beginning May 7. Doors Open with Hors d'oeuvres on Esther at 6:30pm.
Free After Party, CD Signing and CD celebration cake, 8:30-9:30, all are welcome.
More information about Esther, her music, and her new CD "Stay Warm" is available at esthergolton.com!

May Hours
Despite all the snow on the ground, we are officially on summer hours:
SUNDAY: 8am-5pm
MONDAY*: 7:30am-7pm *Closed Mondays in May & Sept except open holiday weekends
TUESDAY: 7:30am-7pm
WEDNESDAY: 7:30am-7pm
THURSDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm)
FRIDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm)
SATURDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm)



   


Other Tidbits
• CALL FOR ARTISTS: Flying Squirrel will host a group show with an opening in early August entitled Susitna Wild - A Celebration of the River Through Art. This fundraiser for the Coalition for Susitna Dam Alternatives will feature area artists' works that show our local connection to the river. If you are interesting in submitting art for this show, please contact Anita at the Squirrel.
• NEW STAFF: I'm so happy that Kelly and Ben will continue to be the familiar faces you see around the Squirrel this summer. Plus please welcome Brandon, Margaret, Becca, and Katie and give them feedback as they learn the ropes!
• TALKEETNA GROWN CSA: The veggie starts at the farm can't wait for the snow to melt! Brian is still offering shares for this summer's bounty of produce being grown at Birch Creek Ranch - this is THE best way to ensure that you will eat a wide variety of locally grown produce all summer. Forms and more information are available at the Squirrel or call Brian at 841-7885. And YES, Birch Creek Ranch will have the retail greenhouse open from mid May to early June.
• PTA Birds of Alaska Quilt Raffle: Remember that beautiful quilt that was hanging in the Squirrel some of the winter? It will be raffled off on May 22 to benefit the wonderful programs sponsored by the Talkeetna Elementary PTA. Tickets are only $5 and are still available at Flying Squirrel!

Wow! I thought I was ready and excited for summer, but after writing and reading all this, I'm already thinking about the relaxing days of autumn. Now, everyone go outside and do a sun dance and get that snow to melt!
Warmly,
Anita Continue reading »

April 2013

Hello Everyone,
Wow, who knew that I would be thinking of spring so longingly this late in March. I don't remember so much fresh snow and so much cold (below zero temps) at the same time that my childhood home in Pennsylvania has bright yellow forsythia and colorful crocuses in full bloom! Hopefully by the time all of these fun April events occur, this especially wintery March will just be a memory and we'll be peeling off the layers of clothing both indoors and out. Beyond all the delicious food and drink, there are SO MANY great reasons to come to the Squirrel this month; apologies in advance for the inevitable lake that will form in the parking lot at some point in April - please don't let it stop you from finding your way into the Squirrel!

Gluten Free Baking Class
Sunday, April 7, 1-4pm - LOTS of people have expressed an interest in this class with only a few sign ups so far - REGISTER BEFORE WEDNESDAY by calling Alaska Folk School at 733-7111! Just a decade ago, gluten-intolerance levels were at 1 in 2,500 worldwide. Some surveys suggest that today, 1 in 133 people are more comfortable when they stay away from certain grains including wheat, barley and others. So, how do you bake without wheat flour? This class will introduce participants about what gluten free means for baking including substitutions, gluten free flours, and finding recipes with the common, easy to obtain ingredients you may already have in your kitchen. Join this fun, interactive and hands-on session in the kitchen at Flying Squirrel Bakery Café where you will help make delicious gluten free cookies and muffins. Min 6, Max 12. PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!

Beer Trippin' & Beer Bakin'
Denali Brewing Company has organized another year's "Beer Trippin' Weekend" where homebrew enthusiasts from Anchorage spend a few days in Talkeetna...well, drinking beer, I guess! This year, we're joining in the fun with an informal Beer Bakin' class on Saturday morning, April 6 at 10am. Only a $5 materials fee for 1 1/2 hours in the Squirrel kitchen where we'll make bacon-cheddar-ale muffins and chocolate beer crinkle cookies! Anyone's welcome (6 years old and up, probably it will mostly be adults), but be prepared to hear a lot about beer from serious homebrew enthusiasts. Call ahead if you'd like to come - limit is 16.

Second Saturday Art Opening
Saturday, April 13, 3-5pm - Here at the Squirrel, we try to encourage and support the staff in their non-work endeavors. We're super excited that our front counter diva, Kelly Saunders will be hanging her first ever art show here. Come by for the opening reception of "Mystical. Wild. Free." a collection of paintings and photography from a magical perception including Kelly's unique art with a story-telling and thought-provoking twist.

Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce General Meeting
Flying Squirrel will stay open until about 9pm, a bit later than usual, on Thursday, April 11 to host the Chamber's monthly general meeting. Meeting begins at 6:30, come a little early for some dinner, snacks or dessert!

Earth Day
The Talkeetna Earth Day Celebration will be held at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar on Saturday, April 20 from 11am-3pm. Come see us at our booth where we'll have granola, breads, rhubarb ade, t-shirts, and lots of information about how the food you eat affects our planet and what we do at the Squirrel to try to help. Also, it's that time of year when we all start to think about the snow melting enough to plant something in it! Brian's CSA Talkeetna Grown has 2013 produce shares available - forms can be found on bulletin boards around town, at the Squirrel or at his booth on Earth Day. Yay veggies!


Spring Steeping: A Tea-Themed Open House
Saturday, April 27, 11am-1pm - Stop in at the Squirrel to talk tea with co-owner of Summit Spice & Tea Company, Audrey Paule. Try some free samples including traditional and unique varieties of black tea, green tea, maté, herbal tea and more! Loose leaf tea and tea accessories will be available for purchase. As part of this event you can also sign up for a special one time class: INTRO TO TEA - SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 10am ...a wonderful opportunity to get more in depth at this tea tasting with Audrey Paule. The approximately one hour class will include a mixed flight of 10 traditional teas from around the world. Learn some tea history, tea brewing techniques and what factors affect tea quality before and after steeping. Maximum 16 participants. Cost: $10. Preregistration and prepayment required. Please call or stop by Flying Squirrel to register.

Coming up in May
Our hours will remain the same through April. In May, we'll open up on Tuesdays and add in Thursday pizza nights (we'll be open 7 days per week from Memorial Day to Labor Day). At this time we're still hiring a few positions for summer - send serious inquiries our way for bakers and front counter/barista staff opportunities! Mother's Day is always a big hit at the Squirrel - this year we'll be trying "High Tea" for something different, refreshing and relaxing for all the well-deserving mom's out there - more details to come! We're also hoping for another visit by Michael McGuire from K-Bay Caffe to get our staff trained up and to bring you another chance to get all jazzed up about K-Bay's awesome coffee.

Summer here we come!
Hopefully,
Anita Continue reading »

February - what's not to love!

Ahhh February.
What's not to love? Heart shaped cookies and mouth-watering truffles, beautiful fluffy snow, the days getting just long enough that something can be done after 4pm, the feeling that spring is on the way but Talkeetna is not yet overwhelmed by visitors. I think I might like February almost as much as March! This February there are even more things to love - particularly if you find your way over to the Squirrel:

LOVE BITES: a tasty and tasteful Valentine's pairing dinner
Thursday, February 14, 5:30pm
Save the date! Make a reservation! This one's not to be missed (whether you think love bites the big one or you hope to end up with a few love bites of your own on Valentine's Day). Join us at the Squirrel for a special evening with tablecloths, flowers, full service, an amazing 5 course mostly wood-fired dinner with beer or wine pairings and special guest Adam Fast from Specialty Imports. Limited seating, advance reservations required, 21+ please. Also, after the pairing dinner, we can pair you up with tickets to Complexities of Love, the Valentine's variety show at the Sheldon Arts Hangar - showtime is 8pm. Call or stop by the Squirrel to find out more, see the menu or make a reservation!

 
Second Saturday Art Opening
February is a short month for art on the walls, so make sure you stop in early in the month or come to the opening reception on Saturday, February 9, 3-5pm to see the exhibit, Alaskan Dreams, new paintings by Bill Barstow. As well, the Talkeetna PTA bird quilt will be back on our walls - the gorgeous quilt is being raffled as a fundraiser for Elementary School programs. 2013 will bring some wonderful art and artists to the walls of the Squirrel including, Mike & Jyoti's niece Priya Wittman, our own wonderful barista Kelly Saunders, henna artist Jessica Cavazos, photographer Dora Miller, more Crocetto paintings AND hopefully a group show celebrating our local beloved waterway, The Susitna River.

Adult Cooking Classes - Artisan Bread Basics Again!
Back by popular demand will be a second round of the Artisan Bread Baking class that everyone enjoyed so much last fall. Having learned from that class, this one will be longer so we can cover all the things there are to talk about AND have time to bake and eat our breads! So, please sign up and pay in advance for the class, especially if you tried in November and it was full: Sunday, February 17, 1pm-4:30pm. $28 per person. Limited to 12 participants. Also, more classes in the works with Alaska Folk School, hopefully this spring: Gluten Free Baking and Flatbreads!

Coffee and Other Treats
We'll be ordering K-Bay Caffe coffee beans this weekend. If you want something special (wouldn't that make a great Valentine's gift!), let us know before this Sunday so we can order your favorite kind in one or 5 pound bags. We'll have decadent truffles available in cute little boxes and heart shaped cookies galore for the week or so before Valentine's. AND the biggest treat these days seems to be the yummy experiments we're doing with grilled panini sandwiches! Stop by and try something new.

The Great Outdoors
Finally we have some great snow. Let's hope it doesn't all melt too quick. There are so many fun opportunities to get outside right now including the new Tigger Lake ski loop which is practically in our back yard. If you come to the Squirrel by non-motorized means, you get a 5% discount! That means arriving by skis, snowshoes, on foot, bicycle, dog sled, or horse! It's pretty unofficial, but you can get to the Squirrel from the trails quite easily if you're looking. I also think it will be great fun to check out the hopefully first annual Fat Tire Bike Race in Talkeetna. The Squirrel will be at the registration with coffee and goodies! Crazy fun.

Summer Employment Opportunities
It's that time of year when we all start thinking and planning for the busy months ahead. Summer employment (training beginning in April and early May) is available at the Squirrel for many skill levels including baking, cooking, counter/barista, dishwasher and more. If you or someone you know want to work hard and eat well, you can stop by and ask for an application or send an e-mail.

Click here for our hours of operation and lots of other information about all things Flying Squirrel!

If Valentine's Day is nothing else, it makes me think about finding nice things to say to people, not just once a year, but whenever possible - so thanks to everyone - we love you, customers!

Anita Continue reading »