Fairbanks Nightlife Tips by FairbanksDancer

Howling Dog Saloon: Farthest North Rock-and-Roll!

The legendary Howling Dog Saloon in beautiful Fox, Alaska, is a Fairbanks institution. On any given night, you may see Harley bikers (including an occasional Hell's Angel), tourists, gold miners, university students and faculty, local professionals and blue collar workers, military—well, you get the idea. It's a place where you can check your inhibitions at the door—to borrow from Vegas, what happens at the Dawg, stays at the Dawg.

Closed through winters, its eagerly awaited annual awakening in late April gets the Fairbanks summer entertainment season going in true Alaska style (maybe "Alaska style" is an oxymoron).

Wednesday night is Blues Jam Night at the Dawg, featuring Alaska's most venerable blues band, The Mighty Untouchables, with Larry "Rain Dog" Raines on lead guitar and vocals, Rif Rafson on bass guitar, and Lewis Holdaway on drums. Larry Cantil often joins the guys, blowin' his blues harp, and often the Rain Dog's brother, Lindy, takes the stage on guitar.

These guys remain true to the blues, covering classics from the likes of Muddy Waters, Slim Harpo, Jimmy Rogers, BB King, and their icon, John Lee Hooker. The guys toured Alaska with the Hook some 25-30 years ago. Yup, the Untouchables have been playing the blues in Fairbanks for 30 years or more. In fact, this band is as much a Fairbanks institution as is the Howling Dog.

Blues Night also is swing dance night at the Dawg, with plenty of swingin' tunes by the Untouchables, supplemented by recorded swinging blues played during the band's breaks.

The Untouchables welcome guest jammers to the stage every Wednesday night. Some of the greatest live rockin' blues I've ever heard has happened late on Blues Night—so if you've got some serious chops, bring your sax, harp, guitar, trumpet, pipes, or whatever you've got for jumpin' on some blues at the Dawg!

On weekends, the Howling Dog features various rock and blues bands—roots rock, classic rock, and some Alaska originals. Occasionally Ralph, the owner, brings in an outside "name" act, but it's usually local/Alaska bands on stage.

The annual Foodstock charity music festival at the Howling Dog raises money and food donations for the local Food Bank. The three-day weekend tradition features some 30 to 35 bands and other performances, which occur simultaneously on the indoor stage and outside on a makeshift stage set up on a flatbed trailer. After the Howling Dog opens sometime in May, call there to get a date on this year's Foodstock.

There is deck out back, a sawdust volleyball court, and horseshoe pitching. Food's available inside, and there are no-frills cabins to rent if you don't want to drive after a night of partying.

Dress Code: This is jeans and tee shirt/shorts and sandals kind of place, but anything goes.

There is room for dancing on the well-worn plank floor, but it's not the place for women to try to dance in high heels—but that's not to say it's not done by brave souls who take their chances getting heels caught between floor planks. Athletic shoes, sandals, cowboy boots—any flat-soled shoes—tend to be the better choices in foot gear. Some bare-footin' goes on, too.

Address: 2160 Old Steese Highway

Directions: Take the Steese Expressway north out of Fairbanks about 13 miles to Fox. The Dawg is located at the intesection of the Steese Expressway and the Old Steese Highway. Its parking lot is contiguous with the parking lot to the Fox gas station/store.

Phone: 907-465-4695 or 907-457-4697

Theme: Nightclub

Silver Spur: Swing and Ballroom Dancing

Every Saturday evening (with rare exceptions) all year-round, the University of Alaska Good Time Swing Dance Club hosts a combination swing/ballroom/Latin dance at the Silver Spur nightclub, 285 Old Richardson Highway on the south side of Fairbanks. Pre-recorded music, selected by a dancer for dancers, begins early at 6 pm and goes non-stop until 8:30 pm—leaving the rest of every Saturday night free to do other fun things in Fairbanks! Fairbanks dancers have eclectic tastes, and that's reflected in the musical selections. About half of the music covers different kinds of swing, including West Coast, East Coast, and Lindy swing, and hustle. The other half of the music is for nightclub 2-step, foxtrot, American/Viennese/Cajun waltzes, cha cha, rumba, salsa, merengue, American and Argentine tango, slow dances, and even an occasional polka. A Fairbanks entertainment institution, this fun night of dancing has been going on every Saturday for over 8 years! Big dance floor, great sound equipment, full bar, and best of all, fun and friendly people! Must be at least 21 years old to attend. No cover charge until 8:30 pm, when the music and dancing switches over to Country Western. Two or three times a year, this dance is bumped by other special events at the Silver Spur. So you are advised to call to make sure the dance is happening. 907-456-6300. Or contact the dance host at bluefox@acsalaska.net

Dress Code: Dress is casual. For guys, the fun-loving mostly Baby Boomer crowd (but all ages attend, from 21 to 81) gets into wearing loud Hawaiian shirts, and jeans or casual slacks. The swing kittens tend toward kicky skirts and fun dresses, or jeans or comfortable slacks. For photos of action at this swing/ballroom dance, visit http://www.ballroomfairbanks.org/SilverSpur/index.htm

Address: 285 Old Richardson Highway

Directions: Located on the Old Richardson Highway near the intersection of South Cushman Street and the Mitchell Expressway (The MItchell E-Way changes its name to the Old Richardson Highway at this intersection.)

Other Contact: bluefox@acsalaska.net

Phone: 907-456-6300

Theme: Dancing