Palmer gets winterized

Palmer put on it’s white winter snow suit and it looks really good. After a long day of deep fog and misty inversion, Palmer revealed itself on Sunday morning in a thick layer of hoar frost. It is sparkly and white and delicate and it clings to everything. It is like deliberate heavy flocking and crystalization of all the vegetation. It is what creates the winter wonderland vision that is 100% real in these parts of the world.

Palmer’s Raven Hall gets Dressed Up—This week (including the weekend) is the annual November Consign49 event at Raven Hall It’s a pretty amazing transformation of the fairgrounds’ biggest indoor building. It is a crazy evolution from a huge empty space into a well-organized mega store. Past experiences have shown that Raven Hall can be creatively developed into many a different venue—parties, meetings, public hearings, fair vendors, dog shows, job markets, dance parties, costume carnivals, memorials, potlatches, and musical events. But this community consignment event feels extra different—it’s as if you have just walked into a very huge and very affordable high-end department store.

There is So Much Merchandise—It’s a little overwhelming at first when you walk in the building. But you will adjust easily as you see the impressive organization, the cleanliness, variety, high quality and low price, it’s definitely a Palmer place to go this weekend. Clothing of all sizes, types, colors and fabrics are lined up in order. I am guessing there must be at least one thousand pairs of jeans but this year I am actually going to make a count and let you know. There is athletic and sports equipment, a full sea of footwear, at least 15 tables full of every type of decor items, and a complete library of books. There are boots, bags, bird-feeders, binoculars, blankets, bookcases, biscuit tins, belts, bowls, bonnets, balls, baskets, backpacks, bottles, blazers, bracelets, baseball caps. And that is just the inventory starting with the letter B! There is plenty of wall art, both commercial and custom.

People have been cleaning out their closets—There are few vendors on the side but 90% of Raven Hall is just racks and racks, tables and shelves of all your neighbors’ cool stuff. Essentially everyone opens up their closets and brings their things to Raven Hall to sell like one huge garage sale. The distinction is that there is infinite variety and most inventory is very good quality. You also have a choice at comparison prices because all inventory pricing is a result of the seller’s opinion. It is very difficult to walk out empty handed. The sale runs on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There is an early bird presale pass on Wednesday and half-price discount day on the weekend. Parking and admission is free. There will be food and lots of treasures and unforgettable tchotchkes. People have been cleaning out their closets for months in preparation for this event. Have fun with this unique Palmer shopping experience, which happens twice a year.

Clocks Changed—Now that we have “fallen back” in time, it gets dark early. That darkness will only increase for about 6 more weeks and then, at winter solstice, we will switch back to light increase. Nonetheless it’s “a lot of dark” right now. Thankfully people are getting their trees lit up and holiday lights will brighten things considerably. The add-on of last week’s snow and frost has lightened the deep dark a bit—but outdoor lights are more necessary and welcome than ever in our Palmer community. Lights have a positive impact on most everyone.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group.. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222.