The Noisy Goose Cafe here in Palmer holds some of my earliest memories of eating out with my Dad. He took me and my three siblings for breakfast here many times. The signs covering the walls always captured our attention, as well as the real, stuffed geese hanging from the ceilings. Good times.

The Noisy Goose Cafe, also known as the Colony Kitchen, has some of the best food in town. It's located just before the fairgrounds on the right side of the Glenn Hwy as you head out of town. Customers range in age from Palmer old timers to young couples with children. The prices are similar to the Valley Hotel's cafe: $8-$13 per person.

There are senior and children menus, seafood and steaks, soups and baked potatoes with all the

toppings, and of course, burgers and breakfast. Yum! The atmosphere is really great; country music plays in the background, the waitresses are cheery and the decor is entertaining.

Overall, this cafe is a great place to take your family, meet your friends or just enjoy a cup of coffee! Come check it out!

I thought I’d make a video today about the Matanuska Wind. This wind howls down the Matanuska River Valley in the winter. Usually we get 5-6 good wind storms a winter. These usually last several days each and there is no where to hide. Well, almost no where. The Butte area outside of Palmer usually does not get this wind and today was no different. The wind was strong everywhere EXCEPT between Clark-Wolverine Road and the Butte.

The video is 8:28 minutes long and gives you a good idea what one of our wind storms are like.

Click here to see the video on youtube.

Here is a google map showing the locations of all the places mentioned on on the video:

This article was first published at valleymarket.com

All in a day's...play!

Today was a marvelous day. Clear skies, above zero temperatures, and (oh, yeah) Colony Christmas!
Below are just a few of the awesome events today, documented in photos. I also threw in a few scenic ones taken today as well. Enjoy!




Why would someone want to live off Wolverine Road? Because they want a view like the one below!



Old Matanuska River Bridge



Craft Fair at the Borough Gym



Musk Ox Farm's entry in the Gingerbread House Contest



These two girls sat atop their transportation to view the Parade of Lights.



There were all sorts of entries in the parade



Even an entry from our local waste removal services









The fireworks show was fabulous! These two photos just don't do it justice...

There are tons of things going on this week and upcoming weekend!
Here are just a few:

Wednesday Dec 9,  7-8 PM

Free 1-hour talk by Leah Rachocki at Alaska Center for Acupuncture on Rolfing Structural Integration. Here's a link for more information: Alaska Center for Acupuncture - Events

Friday, Dec 11, 7:30 PM

Alaska Children's Choir Concert at St. John Lutheran Church, 440 E. Elmwood, Palmer

Friday and Saturday, 11th and 12th, 7PM

Colony High presents "Rumors" a comedy put on by the Drama department. Tickets are $7 at the door.

Saturday, Dec 12th, 4PM

Matanuska-Susitna Orchestra concert at the Red Beet Cafe. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through the Red Beet's website, or you may call (907) 745-4050.

Sunday, Dec 13th, 2PM

Flat Baroque Concert at the Palmer Depot - FREE This group makes absolutely beautiful music (I have TWO of their albums). They play traditional music from the Renaissance era and include some traditional instruments. You don't want to miss this concert!

This weekend, Dec 11-13, is Colony Christmas. For a full list of events, go to PalmerChamber.org

One of the events is a Gingerbread House contest. Click here for more details.

Still shopping for Christmas gifts? Come to the Arts and Crafts Fairs!

• Arts+Craft Fair at the Palmer Train Depot, presented by Conoco Phillips. It's open from 11-6 on Friday, 10-7 on Saturday.
• Arts+Craft Fair at the Job Corps center by Palmer Junior Middle School from 10-4 on Saturday.
• Arts+Craft Fair at Borough Gym from 10-6 on Saturday.

Bring your family downtown this weekend and support local businesses, crafters and artists while making wonderful memories!


This update brought to you by Valley Market Real Estate.
Gingerbread UPS store photo courtesy of Palmer Chamber of Commerce.

Colony Christmas is coming up fast, folks, and here's the first announcement!

Are you creative? Do you love sweets? Do you have kids? Well, if you answered yes to any of these, this contest is for you!  There's a Gingerbread House contest sponsored by AlaskaUSA two weekends from now.

Categories:
   Business ($25 per entry, option to showcase at place of business)
   Community
   Children
(Entries in Community/Children categories are free)

Rules + Regulations:
   Entry must be 90% edible
   Max size requirements are 24" by 18" (with the base)

Judging Criteria:
   Creativity
   Overall Appearance
   Use of Colony Christmas theme, "When Reindeer Fly"

Entries must be delivered to the Pioneer Home at 10-5PM  Wednesday, December 9th - 11AM Saturday, December 12
Entries may be viewed at the Pioneer Home from 11-3:30 Saturday, Dec 12. Judging starts at 4 PM.

For more information or to enter, call (907) 745-2880 or send an email to director@palmerchamber.org. Or go to Palmerchamber.org

Good luck!       

Interested in trying something new with your hair? Wishing for the perfect manicure? Need to relax? Come to Country Cutts, where it's always a beautiful day! Country Cutts is located on the corner of S Alaska Street and W Cedar, in the two story gray building. 

Country Cutts has a staff of highly trained professionals and has been in business in the Valley for 25 years. They are the number one Paul Mitchell-focused salon in the Pacific North West. All ages are welcome here!

What services does Country Cutts offer? Practically anything you can imagine! With nine hair stylists, two nail technicians, three estheticians, two manicurists, and a fantastic massage therapist, Country Cutts is prepared to serve you, whatever your needs. They offer anything from beautiful manicures to pore cleansing facials and eyelash extensions to spiral permanents. For a full list of services and prices, go to their website at CountryCutts.com. 

The atmosphere at Country Cutts is very relaxing; people often come early for their appointments just to chat with the staff. One of the stylists quipped "We're actually counselors and hair stylists, but we only get paid for the styling part." Stan Guthrie, the owner and one of many excellent stylists, is well-known for his community involvement. He puts on a beautiful Thanksgiving fireworks show in downtown Palmer every year in order to give back to the community. This year it's slated for November 28, at 7:18 PM. 

Country cuts is open 9-6 every day of the year except for Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years and 4th of July!

All photos expandable if clicked on.

The cranes are back in the fields, green leaves are turning to yellow and moose season is on. I think we all know what that means...

Click on the photos to enlarge them. They may take a while to load.

Businesses	Restaurants/Cafes	Around Palmer
Alaskana Books Amore Day Spa/Hair Design Auto Supplies Banks - Local and National B & B Bargains Budget Feeds The Bike Shop Country Cutts Cups, Cones and Candy Dressed by Celeste Fireside Books G and G Thrift Shop Infusion Boutique Noisy Goose Cafe Stamp Cache Sidekicks Gifts Vagabond Blues Valley Hotel and Cafe	Cups Cones and Candy Noisy Goose Cafe The Red Beet Slack's Sugar Shack Vagabond Blues Valley Hotel and Cafe	Alaska State Fair Amoosement Park Churches Colony Days Colony D. Parade Colony House Museum Colony Christmas Education Options Farming in Palmer Friday Flings Friends... Hatcher Pass History Pt 1 Matsu Miners Matsu Transit October Signs of Fall Tunnels Walk around Palmer Pt 1 Wi-Fi in Palmer

In these frustrating times, people are looking to buy things cheap. So for you smart shoppers out there, Palmer has two different thrift stores, and here's one of them.

The G&G Thrift Shop, located in the Key Bank Plaza of downtown Palmer, has been in business for two and a half years. You can find anything in here, from clothing to electronics to home appliances and kitchenware.  You can find men's, women's and children's clothing, kitchen and dining items, computers, books, DVDs and VHS tapes, furniture section, children's toys, glass vases, artwork and picture frames, excercise equipment and bicycles. You can find anything here!

If you have items you don't use anymore and would like to donate to the shop, bring them through the front door during store hours and the G & G Thrift Shop will take them off your hands. You can even get larger items picked up if you call the store ahead of time.

Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9:30 - 8 and Sunday, 11 - 5. For more information or donation pick up, call (907) 745-4090.