 |
|||
|
|
The appearance of Chena Hot Springs Resort owner Bernie Karl definitely made cocktail time at the Ice Bar a special treat. Karl toasted his wife, his mother, and all the females sitting at the bar....i.e., Miriam and me. He poured drinks for the house, and told stories of making the resort a business success...of Alaska politics...and of life in general. Bernie (above, left) is shot with flash. Miriam and I are shot without. The pink and blue and green ambient lights of the Ice Museum are much more flattering than flash.
|
||
| The house specialty, an appletini made with Russian vodka, is served in a hand crafted ice glass with an ice coaster. Imbibers are encouraged to bend over and slurp the first sip from the glass without lifting it from the bar .. to keep from sloshing the liquid on yourself and ending up with a hoary beard of ice down your face, coat, and hands. |
To read the resort's information about the technical
aspects of the Ice Museum, |
||
|
|
  |
||
| The ice bar is actually just a small part of the museum. The building -- unimpressive from the outside -- also houses a collection of ice sculptures made by award-winning artists. Among other works, there are a life-size set of jousting knights, chandeliers with individually sculpted teardrop crystals, a giant chess set, a Christmas tree with lights, a lighted jack-o-lantern, and a ferocious "hockey mom" -- all made out of ice. There also are several rooms where sturdy travelers might spend the night....but with the museum temperature at a constant 20 degrees, what nut would want to sleep there -- or use the ice john? | |||
 |
 |
||
 |
|||
 |
|
 |
|
| The placard beside the "hockey mom" sculpture asks, "What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?" The answer is -- "Lipstick." |
|
||
| Back to Alaska Index Back to Main Travel Index | |||
