Sunday, November 15, 2009

Phaux Photo Booth Pictures

Hello family and friends!
Sorry it has taken me so long to get these posted, but click on the photo to see them

Phaux Photo Booth

Good times!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Polarized Sun Glasses

Alaska's rivers and streams are chock full of fish. And what better way to see those fish with the naked eye, than an eye cloaked in a polarized lens (on your sun glasses, of course)! Polarized lenses, if you did not know (I didn't know until I met David), help you see through the glare and reflection on the water, allowing you to better see the fish underneath. It's pretty cool.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Calling All Photographers!

David and I need your help to capture our day with us! Please bring your digital cameras to the wedding and take lots of pictures- before the ceremony, during the ceremony (just please don't blind the officiant or our cellist and flutist! we would like for them to remain our friends :) ). We will have a laptop there for you to upload your pictures before you decide to call it a night (just bring your USB cable that works with your camera. The laptop will be a MAC, using iPhoto). There will also be a few self-addressed, stamped CD envelopes for those of you who forget your cords.

Thank you very much in advance for your help with this!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Graphics

If any of you know how to create graphics for the internet without artifacts showing up, please comment with your tips. I can't seem to figure it out! argh.

Attire

We do not have a set dress code for the wedding. If you have a tux, and want to wear a tux, then do so. If you want to wear a sun dress, it's your choice. You just might want to make sure you have a sweater with you, at the very least, because nights can be chilly. The only thing off limits is, as you probably guessed, a big white dress :)

Anchorage Tid Bits

In case you are wondering about the weather, here is some information for the average and extreme September 19ths in Anchorage:

Average high: 54F

Average low: 41F

Highest on Record: 63F in 1979

Lowest on Record: 29F in 1970

Sunrise: 7:37 am

Sunset: 8:07 pm

Registry

If you are moved to give us a gift and are looking for inspiration, we have registered at the following places:

Crate and Barrel

JC Penney


Only JC Penney has a store in Anchorage. Crate and Barrel does not charge extra to ship to Alaska (it just takes longer to get here), but JC Penney does.

Also, David and I do not have much in the way of furniture (i.e. we have matresses, maybe a folding table, a medium-sized book shelf, and... that might be it), so if you have any used but still in good shape furniture (i.e. doesn't smell bad, won't give us splinters or fleas), we would be glad to have it.

Restaurants

Anchorage has a few restaurants that serve very yummy fare. Food is a bit pricey here, so be prepared to spend at least $10 a plate in most instances. Take note:

Mooses Tooth Pizza Pub and Glacier Brew House (where we had our first date) both have excellent food and have their own breweries. Glacier Brew House is downtown, but the Mooses Tooth is not (and is also a local favorite and usually quite busy). Both also have "sister restaurants" that are quite yummy as well: The Bears Tooth (not downtown), and Orso Ristorante (downtown).

Hot dogs: On weekdays between 11 and 4, or so, on the north-west corner of G St. and 4th Ave., the (in)famous M.A. sells Reindeer dogs (and other varieties) (just be sure to follow his code of conduct). Don't be fooled by other vendors, he has long lines for a reason (but you won't have to wait too long).

The Arctic Roadrunner makes a good hamburger.

Snow City is great for breakfast, but long waits are inevitable if you go later in the morning (it's Kristina's breakfast favorite) Also note that it closed by 4pm. Harley's is also good (it's David's breakfast favorite).

Other good eats downtown include Humpy's (well, Kristina thinks so, David disagrees), Sack's Cafe and Restaurant, and Dianne's Restaurant (closes at 4pm).

What to do, What to do

The Aurora

If the sun cooperates you might be able to view the aurora. To check the forecast as September nears check: the aurora forecast. If seeing the aurora is important to you, you might want to consider a trip to Fairbanks. They see the aurora over 150 days a year as compared to 10-15 for Anchorage.

Broadway

The Lion King is in Anchorage! For six weeks! Ok, it's not outdoors, but it is the talk of the town. Visit the ACA for more info. Or purchase tickets from Centertix.

Denali National Park

The park is open for bus tours until the 15th of September. During the month of July you can apply for a permit to drive into Denali National Park in September on the 16, 17, 18, and 19. But do not pick the 19th, as it is about 200 miles from Anchorage to the park entrance and it takes all day to drive the 90 mile road into the park.


Fishing

Silver Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Lake Trout, and Greyling can all be caught this time of year. While either spinning tackle and fly fishing will work, this is the prime fishing season for fly fishers. The Kenai River has produces 30 inch 12# rainbows. See Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Hiking

This can be done from Anchorage into the Chugach State Park (600,000 acre) and the Chugach National Forest (6,200,000 acres) or you can drive outside Anchorage for other options. Flat Top is a local favorite (not exactly difficult, but does require scrambling over boulders) and within the city limits.

Hunting

This the towards the end of the hunting season in Alaska. If you have questions ask at the Outdoors directory, or ask the Groom. See Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Outdoors Directory Forum

For questions about who, what, when, and where check out the Outdoors directory forum.

Photography

This is the peak of Alaska's fall colors and bird migrations. There will likely be snow caps on the mountains, fish spawning in the rivers, and wild life to photograph.

rock collecting

From fosils to gold there are a many diffrent varieties of rock native to Alaska. See http://www.rock-stuff.com/ or the groom for more information.

shopping

In Anchorage there are several stores that sell art and native crafts, so plan to spend an afternoon wandering the streets downtown.

Train

Ride the rail


Some other handy web sites

Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau


The Weather

Alaska Outdoor Journal


Alaska State Parks


The Anchroage Daily News

How he asked...

David: Well Kristina came home for Christmas, and I had a nice weekend getaway planed for New Years. We went to the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, a local ski town. Every year they have a torch light parade down the mountain and ends with fireworks. After watching that in -5 weather, we went to dinner at the Seven Glaciers restaurant. It is on top of the mountain and you have to take a tram to get to it. During dinner she said she was cold so I got up and took off my jacket and gave it to her. She was distracted by putting it on and did not notice that before sitting down I pulled something out of my pocket. After my heart beat slowed down, I brought the ring out from under the table and said, "Kristina Koford will you marry me?" After being stunned and speechless for about 30 seconds she said yes. But even though she was speechless she managed to take the ring and put it on her finger. She said yes and we had a great dinner.

A little background. Around thanksgiving she started asking when I was going to get her a ring. I kept saying that I was saving my money, but was not there yet (from Kristina- I believed him, too). But before she even started bugging me about it had been looking for "the" ring (Kristina- "bugging?"). I found the ring at a custom jewelry shop in North Carolina, in October. The ring was already made and as soon as I walked in it caught my eye. I knew it was the one. It is 3 white gold vines wrapping and intertwined, with an oval cut sapphire. On a side note she does not like diamonds and I always wanted to give an engagement ring with a sapphire. What luck!

How we met...

Kristina: We met through eHarmony. Yep. On the internet. Now you can tell your friends that you know people who met and got married because of eHarmony.

Anyway, we were matched in late January 2008, emailed throughout February, had our first phone conversation while I was brain dead from working overtime at Alaska Junior Theater getting ready for the show, and FINALLY went out on March 6. We were not one of those "love at first site" couples, but I at least knew during the first date that we would be together for a bit. And now, a year later, we are getting married. How sweet!

About us...

About the bride

Kristina: My name is Kristina. I am originally from California and Texas, but consider Alaska home. I am currently living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina earning my Masters of Science in Library Science. I like to make beads (although I have not done any of that since starting school again) as well as bake and decorate cakes (although it is a fattening habit and I don't do it that often) (but I am probably going to make the wedding cake...).

David: Kristina loves pets- especially cats, even though she is allergic to them.


About the groom

Kristina: The groom is David. He is originally from Alabama, and came to Alaska by way of South Carolina. He is an architect, who likes to fish/hunt/be outdoors in his spare time (or is the other way around?). He is probably a better cook than me, but I don't let that get me down.


David: I love to travel. I have been to more than half of the states and 12 countries. I am not probably a better cook, I am a better cook. Unless it calls for using a recipe, I cook by taste and rarely use a recipe. Kristina is a great baker and I can only bake biscuits and cornbread.

This is at Eklutna Lake

A Map is a map is a map

Here is a map with both the Bayshore Clubhouse and the Hawthorn Suites marked. I have also included directions from the hotel to the venue, for your convenience (hopefully).


View Koford-Garner Wedding in a larger map

Ceremony & Reception Site

David and I will be tying the knot at the Bayshore Clubhouse. Both the ceremony and reception will be held there, so no worries about finding two different places!

Here is the address:
3131 Amber Bay Loop
Anchorage, AK 99515

The ceremony will start at 5:00 PM and the reception will follow.

You can find a map of Bayshore here.

Hotel Information

The travel peak ends just before the wedding so you should be able to find decent prices for lodgings (for Alaska anyway).

1. Hawthorn Suites
Tell them that you are here for the Koford-Garner wedding, and your nightly rate will be $86/night (not including tax, which is 12%). Call 907-222-5005 for reservations. Please note that this offer is only good until August 20th. After that they will only offer you their best available rate.

Hawthorn Suites is located in downtown Anchorage, so you will have easy access to yummy restaurants, the coastal trail, the Anchorage museum, and shopping.

Other perks offered by Hawthorn Suites include a free hot breakfast buffet every morning, free parking (a high commodity in any downtown area- though meters are free on the weekends, starting at six pm on Fridays), complimentary 24 hour airport shuttle, indoor swimming pool (you won't find any outdoor ones here in the AK), and free wifi service.

You can find a map of the hotel here.

2. The Sheraton
They just remodeled in the last year or two. They are also offering a deal that could be quite sweet for some of you: if you are staying for two or three nights, you pay $169 for your first night, and then your second and third nights you pay as much as the year of your birth. You can find out more info here.

(note- we did not arrange any deal with the Sheraton folks, so they won't care if you tell them you're with the Koford-Garner wedding)

3. Microtel Inns and Suites
Located near the airport, this is probably the best price you'll pay for a clean room ($60 range), but it will be tiny accommodations. Maybe ok for the single traveler. You can talk to my dad who has stayed on one before.

Friday, July 10, 2009

This is a test

My first blog, yay!

I don't really know what I'm doing...