Capital City Weekly

Brita Fagerstrom performs as Roman Wilde at the Alaskan Hotel and Bar on July 8. During the show, Fagerstrom performed show-stopping numbers as Wilde, including an homage to Queen, a roof-raising Bon Jovi tribute, and a fun turn as a retro crooner. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Kings are wild: Juneau Drag returns to live shows with a diverse cast of kings and queens

Juneau Drag returns to live shows with a diverse cast of kings and queens

Brita Fagerstrom performs as Roman Wilde at the Alaskan Hotel and Bar on July 8. During the show, Fagerstrom performed show-stopping numbers as Wilde, including an homage to Queen, a roof-raising Bon Jovi tribute, and a fun turn as a retro crooner. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
William Tamaree of the Kayáashkéedítaan clan stands next to the Kéet Koowaal in this undated photo. The Kéet Koowaal is being returned to the clan from a museum in Alabama. (Courtesy photo / CCTHITA)

Alaska Native works coming home after decades down South

The objects will be returned to home, to be displayed in a future cultural ceremony.

William Tamaree of the Kayáashkéedítaan clan stands next to the Kéet Koowaal in this undated photo. The Kéet Koowaal is being returned to the clan from a museum in Alabama. (Courtesy photo / CCTHITA)
Miranda (Natalia Spengler) covertly stares at recent arrivals to the remote island on which she resides during rehearsal for Theatre in the Rough's upcoming production of "The Tempest." (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Miranda (Natalia Spengler) covertly stares at recent arrivals to the remote island on which she resides during rehearsal for Theatre in the Rough's upcoming production of "The Tempest." (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Salmonberries sit in a cedar basket woven by Faye Kohrt in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott/ For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Celebrating salmonberries

What I love about salmonberries is they’re persistent.

Salmonberries sit in a cedar basket woven by Faye Kohrt in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott/ For the Capital City Weekly)
Jill Kaasteen Meserve helps a student learn the art of flatstich beading on a Ravenstail pattern on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Sharing techniques with the next generation

“It’s so fun that we get to pass this on to the next generation.”

Jill Kaasteen Meserve helps a student learn the art of flatstich beading on a Ravenstail pattern on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Artwork by Christine Lewis, like the the painting seen here, will be featured at Juneau Artists Gallery for July. Lewis, who is this month's featured artist, will be present at the gallery for First Friday. The work will be exhibited throughout the month.  (Courtesy Photo / Christine Lewis)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

Signed books, Capitol tours and more.

Artwork by Christine Lewis, like the the painting seen here, will be featured at Juneau Artists Gallery for July. Lewis, who is this month's featured artist, will be present at the gallery for First Friday. The work will be exhibited throughout the month.  (Courtesy Photo / Christine Lewis)
Alyssa London, second from right, and her team are working to produce Culture Story, which will showcase modern Alaska Native cultures across and outside of Alaska. (Courtesy photo / Culture Story)

Team works to tell positive, accurate stories about Alaska Native life

Show aims to show Alaska Native cultures as they thrive in the modern world.

Alyssa London, second from right, and her team are working to produce Culture Story, which will showcase modern Alaska Native cultures across and outside of Alaska. (Courtesy photo / Culture Story)
A hummingbird carving marks a site on Grave Island against the backdrop of the Tlingit community of Kake. (Courtesy Photo / Lione Clare)

Resilient Peoples & Place: Youth support community through summer workforce and leadership development program

By Lione Clare with the Kake Alaska Youth Stewards Crew In the Tlingit community of Keex’ Kwaan (Kake), early summer is in full swing. It’s… Continue reading

A hummingbird carving marks a site on Grave Island against the backdrop of the Tlingit community of Kake. (Courtesy Photo / Lione Clare)
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File 
Perseverance Theatre’s annual summer youth program, Summer Theatre Arts Rendezvous, is scheduled for July 19-Friday Aug. 4.
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File 
Perseverance Theatre’s annual summer youth program, Summer Theatre Arts Rendezvous, is scheduled for July 19-Friday Aug. 4.
Haida artist Janine Gibbons poses with the book she illustrated, the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s first children’s book in the Haida language Xaad Kíl, a translation of the traditional story “The Woman Carried Away by Killer Whales.” (Courtesy photo / Janine Gibbons)
Haida artist Janine Gibbons poses with the book she illustrated, the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s first children’s book in the Haida language Xaad Kíl, a translation of the traditional story “The Woman Carried Away by Killer Whales.” (Courtesy photo / Janine Gibbons)
Eirn Heist plays guitar during the recording of her forthcoming single and EP, which share a title, "Another Rainy Day." (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)

Forecast calls for ‘Another Rainy Day’

Singer-songwriter Erin Heist records 1st EP, releases single.

Eirn Heist plays guitar during the recording of her forthcoming single and EP, which share a title, "Another Rainy Day." (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)
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Planet Alaska: Spruce tip bathing

The perfect spruce tip is tightly bound needles without the brown papery casing.

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Alaskan Brewing Company recently won an award for the art on their newly-released Citrus Wheat ale. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Can you dig it: Alaskan Brewing Co. wins award for zesty beer can art

It’s their first time winning an award from this organization.

Alaskan Brewing Company recently won an award for the art on their newly-released Citrus Wheat ale. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The first rule of wild harvesting is, “Don’t harvest what you don’t know.” It’s also the second rule. That’s because for a novice harvester, it can be easy to confuse the potentially deadly false hellebore with watermelon berry shoots. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Mork Yéilk’)

Harvesting watermelon berry shoots. What to know before you go

“Don’t harvest what you don’t know.”

The first rule of wild harvesting is, “Don’t harvest what you don’t know.” It’s also the second rule. That’s because for a novice harvester, it can be easy to confuse the potentially deadly false hellebore with watermelon berry shoots. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Mork Yéilk’)
This year’s Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist is Ernestine Saankaláxt’ Hayes. The acclaimed author is former Alaska State Writer Laureate and resides in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Pat Race)
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Hayes receives prestigious Distinguished Artist honor

Acclaimed writer from Juneau receives Rasmuson Foundation award.

This year’s Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist is Ernestine Saankaláxt’ Hayes. The acclaimed author is former Alaska State Writer Laureate and resides in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Pat Race)
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Anthony Christianson, Hydaburg mayor and leader of the Hydaburg Cooperative Association’s Natural Resource department, harvests cedar bark during a demonstration with the United States Forest Service, artists, Sealaska, and more.  (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)

Resilient Peoples & Place: ‘Monument Trees’ and cedar stewardship on the Tongass National Forest

“Cedar is the warp in the basket of who we are as a people.”

  • May 26, 2021
  • By Katie Riley, Sitka Conservation Society with Marina Anderson, Organized Village of Kasaan.
  • NewsCapital City Weekly
Anthony Christianson, Hydaburg mayor and leader of the Hydaburg Cooperative Association’s Natural Resource department, harvests cedar bark during a demonstration with the United States Forest Service, artists, Sealaska, and more.  (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)
Members of the Gonzalo Bergara Trio perform in the atrium of the Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building as part of Juneau Jazz & Classics on Friday, May 10, 2019. The music festival continues through May 18. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau Jazz & Classics Festival kicks off next week

Audiences deprived of live music spur sell outs, but opportunities remain

Members of the Gonzalo Bergara Trio perform in the atrium of the Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building as part of Juneau Jazz & Classics on Friday, May 10, 2019. The music festival continues through May 18. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File 
George Bennett Sr., seen in this July 2020 photo, served in Army’s 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War.
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File 
George Bennett Sr., seen in this July 2020 photo, served in Army’s 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War.
This photo shows smoked hooligan outdoors in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Faith Prescott)

Planet Alaska: Sharing hooligan and memories

Hooligan are connected to why Raven opened the box of daylight after he stole it.

This photo shows smoked hooligan outdoors in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Faith Prescott)
Kensey Jenkins (foreground, right) performs as a Lilac Fairy Attendant  during a rehearsal for Juneau Dance Theatre's "Spring Showcase" on Thursday, May 6. The showcase will be available to stream at certain times on May 14, 15 and 16. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Dance Theatre springs into action

Annual showcase to be available as streaming event.

Kensey Jenkins (foreground, right) performs as a Lilac Fairy Attendant  during a rehearsal for Juneau Dance Theatre's "Spring Showcase" on Thursday, May 6. The showcase will be available to stream at certain times on May 14, 15 and 16. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)