April & May 2014

Hello all,
All this sunshine seems like a sure bet for spring really being here, even if we don't get the daffodils and cherry blossoms that folks down south enjoy. But in the late afternoon, around the bases of the trees and in the dirty road ditches, that earthy smell reminds us that everything is just ready to burst. In a month, everything will be green and I, for one, am so looking forward to it! So much to look forward to at the Squirrel during April and May, too. Hopefully you make it all the way to the bottom of this newsletter and we hope to see you soon - maybe by bicycle since the bike path is almost clear!

Earth Day Celebration
April 19, 11am - 3pm
Talkeetna's Earth Day Celebration at the Sheldon Arts Hangar always provides a wonderful chance to see what folks around town are doing to help the planet's health and well-being. It's like a health fair for the planet AND a chance to clear off your porch from a winter's worth of stashed recycling! Stop by our booth and say hi to Kelly who will be there with lots of fun Flying Squirrel items and information that will provide you with some "food for thought". And, at the booth next door, my husband Brian Kingsbury will be encouraging folks to eat their locally grown veggies by buying a CSA produce share for the 2014 season. I sure hope you'll support him in his 5th year - somehow, farming doesn't get any easier... More info available at talkeetnafarm.com.

Closed for Easter - April 20
We will be closed on Easter Sunday this year. It's the last hoorah before launching into spring employee training and the busier summer months. We'll enjoy the day off and hope you will too!

 Art on the Walls
Stop in to see the creative photography by Anina Bolt (above left). Her work is interesting and colorful and will be on display until early May. The rest of the summer is shaping up nicely so save the dates for the following opening receptions and support the creative endeavors of local artists!

Openings are the second Saturday of the month from 3-5pm:
May 10: Steve Durr new paintings (above right), Once Upon a Time in Talkeetna
June 14: Julia March Crocetto fabric art
July 12: Deroy Brandt photography
August 9: Group Show - The Art of Food, Food in Art, or Art So Good You Could Eat It!

Call for Artists! In conjunction with Northern Susitna Institute's "Key Ingredients: America by Food" exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute, Flying Squirrel will host a group show with a food theme! We will be soliciting local artists to create artwork in any medium that can be hung on the wall and connects in some way to food, food culture, wild food, etc. Submissions will be collected from August 1-7 for the show that will open on August 9. Please contact Anita at the Squirrel if you would like to participate.


Mom and Me Make Cupcakes! - Sunday, May 4, 2-4pm
In honor of Mother's Day, we will hold a fun and tasty cupcake cooking class for young children (3-6 years) and their moms! Please leave the other siblings with dad or a friend just this once and come into the Squirrel's kitchen to make and bake cupcakes and icing. Then, after looking at some inspiring cupcake pictures and reading a story, we'll decorate the cupcakes to eat and take home.

Children must be accompanied by a parent (preferably their mother!). Preregistration and prepayment is required. Limit of 12 children. Cost: $15 for 1 child with 1 parent, $25 for 2 children with 1 parent.

 Mother's Day Brunch - Sunday, May 11, 10am-3pm
Ahh Mother's Day! One of these years I'll hire a fancy chef for this event and take the day off! It's always truly fun for me though, a different kind of creative outlet that treats some of the people that deserve it the most - moms! Make reservations early for our delectable, special Mother's Day meal for the whole family or just Mom and her friends, or anyone else that loves great food....and relaxing music...and massage. Watch for more details to come!




April Hours
In April our winter hours will remain in effect as follows, then everything changes in May (see below), and again in June...stay tuned!
SUNDAY: 8am-5pm (except closed on Easter, April 20)
MONDAY: closed
TUESDAY: closed
WEDNESDAY: 7:30am-6pm
THURSDAY: 7:30am-6pm
FRIDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm)
SATURDAY: 7:30am-9pm (Pizza Night: 4-9pm)

May/Summer Hours & New Faces
Say hi to some new faces during the month of May as we start gearing up for summer! We're getting excited to ramp up for summer with Margaret, Willow, Hannah, Nancy, Esther, Amanda, Nate, Jonny, Mark and Kimmy! Also, please note that in May Full Circle Farm produce box pick up will return to the Squirrel on Mondays and that we will only be closed on Tuesdays. Starting on Memorial Day, you can visit us 7 days a week.
SUNDAY: 8am-5pm
MONDAY: 7:30am-7pm
TUESDAY: 7:30am-7pm (Closed Tuesdays in May & September except open May 27)
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)

Whew. Yup, summer's coming!
Warmly,
Anita

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March 2014

Hello to All,

If only we could stop talking about the weather! Could this really be it? So warm. So little snow. Could spring really come early this year? Could break up be the easiest ever? Regardless, March is always a wonderful month full of festive occasions and so much more sun and light that we feel drunk on our (usually delusional) spring fever. It's impossible to help it - everyone gets out a lot more in March than they did in January and February and the talk of the impending busy summer is just around the corner. While you're out and about soaking up these longer days, think of the Squirrel...

 

Art Happenings

The wonderful still life paintings from Tony Crocetto's art students are still hanging at the Squirrel. March's artist cancelled, so we'll see what develops. No opening scheduled for this month at this point. But we may be able to hang something new and interesting even if just for a few weeks during this month of many out of town visitors. Stop in and be surprised at what's on the walls, or not! Meanwhile, in the works for April are photographs by Anina Bolt. Artists and photographers interested in showing work at Flying Squirrel can contact Anita to find out what's involved, we have openings we would like to fill, so get creating! Also, watch for announcements about a call for artists for an August group show featuring art and photography that shows off my favorite subject matter: food!

 

Oosik Ski Race

March in Talkeetna has become Oosik month. This fun classic ski race will be held in Flying Squirrel's neighborhood this year, as of now scheduled to start and end at the Mile 11 gravel pit right next door! We will be catering the finish line with two tasty soups and delicious fresh bread. Sign up to ski or volunteer at http://www.denalinordicskiclub.org/ and think of the Squirrel if you need coffee, snacks, Sunday breakfast or a pizza dinner - in honor of this year's Oosik being right next door PIZZA NIGHT WILL BEGIN AT 2pm on Saturday, March 15!

 

Summer Employment Opportunities

Flying Squirrel is accepting applications for summer positions including baker, front counter/barista, dishwasher, and part time cook/prep cook. Please stop by Flying Squirrel during business hours to pick up an application or e-mail to inquire: info@flyingsquirrelcafe.com. We will start needing folks who can train in mid to late April and into May.

 

Squirrel Deals

Walk/Bike/Ski to the Squirrel: The bike path is already almost clear! And the skiing on the Talkeetna Lakes Park trails is still decent. Arrive at the Squirrel by non-motorized means and tell your server when you pay to receive a 5% discount!

Prepay Credit: Prepay $50 or more and receive a 5% bonus as well as lots of convenient perks! We'll keep a card on file with your credit account, you can walk in without your wallet, and you don't have to wait to be rung up, just say, "Put in on my credit" and you're out the door!

Save a Tree/Bag/Cup: Bring your own bag, travel mug, food container and receive a 5% discount!

 

Warmly,

Anita

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February News 2014

Hello All,
Despite the crazy April weather in January, the calendar still says February as far as I can tell. That being said, there's only so long we can all feel stuck inside. So, when you've dug out the appropriate footwear-of-the-day, whether ice cleats, rain boots, snowshoes or sandals, and you figure out how to get out of your driveway, we sure hope you'll stop by the Squirrel! Here are some February happenings...

Valentine's Dinner - Friday evening, February 14
This year we're having a 5-course fancy, but not too fancy, pairings dinner. Couples (or singles) will share appetizers, soup, salad, wood-fired pizza and dessert along with 4 beer or wine pairings. Live classical guitar music will accompany the dinner with our very own Ben Heller. Reservations are being accepted from 5:30pm until 8:30pm. The menu is available at the Squirrel counter if you want a preview. We also have special tickets to Complexities of Love if you want to combine dinner and a show! For more information or to make a reservation, call the Squirrel at 733-6887.

Art Opening - Student Show
Local painter Tony Crocetto has been teaching art classes through Alaska Folk School for several years. Some of his students will show what they've been learning for Flying Squirrel's February exhibit. The opening reception will be held Saturday, February 15 from 3-5pm (note that this is actually the 3rd Saturday in February). March will bring photography by Mark Westman. If you or someone you know would like to show art or photography at Flying Squirrel, we have openings beginning in May - contact me at the Squirrel any time.

Summer Employment Opportunities
It's already time to start thinking about summer! If you or someone you know is interested in working at Flying Squirrel this summer, get an application in early. We'll need bakers, cooks, barista/counter folks, and dishwashers. For more information or to get a hold of an application, please contact me by e-mail or stop in at the Squirrel.

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

Onward toward Spring. Again.
Warmly,
Anita Continue reading »

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
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