Ah yes, the missing stop #6! Now it's here!
Welcome to stop number 6 on the Spenard Landmarks tour.
You can see the complete Spenard Landmarks Series here.
This multi is fairly easy-- stage one will take you to a well known Spenard Landmark, whose neon lights and "spare room" have lit up the intersection of Minnesota & Spenard for 66+ years since opening in 1959. Stage two is just across the road and down the street, on your way to Stop #7 if you're doing this tour in order. I did pick a stage two location that I don't know any history on but thought needed more people to see it for its individual wonder. I found stage two after having dinner at one of my top two favorite ramen places in the world, both of which happen to be in Spenard.
To find stage two, go to stage one and look for a sign on the corner of this historic building with three letters. Use those letters to determine the final coordinates. This should be an easy multi-- I am only putting the difficulty high to help the average cacher overcome their hatred of multis. The terrain rating is due to snow on the ground when I hid this, and the fact that you'll have to brave a Spenard alleyway.
This is supposed to be easy. The only goal is to take you to the first location, which can't have a cache hidden here due to another cache already being placed (it's a good one, stop to get it while you're there!), and then show you another cute part of Spenard on your walk to the next tour location. If you're having any trouble solving this, please message me and I will help you out!
Okay, now that this multi cache business is out of the way, let's get down to some history.
This location opened in 1959, but it wasn't the first bowling alley in Anchorage. It is now the oldest and longest-running bowling alley in Alaska, though. The neon lights have shone down for six decades and don't seem to be slowing down, since their website states that they have the most up-to-date bowling technology possible!
One part of this place that feels particularly Spenardian is Floyd. Here is an article about Floyd. It's heartwarming and a great, easy read. If you don't have time in your busy caching day for heartwarming, here's a quick bit of flavor:
Due to his intellectual impairment, a regular job was out of the question. He needed help to make it through life, which made him exactly like everyone else before or since. The adult Kaleak was still restless and energetic. His first home in Anchorage was a residential facility in Spenard, but he typically went there only to eat and sleep. The rest of the time, he was out wandering the streets.
Given a lack of employment options, he took to panhandling and quickly became a familiar sight around Anchorage. Spenard was his primary haunt, especially the Spenard Road and Minnesota Boulevard intersection, but he could be found all over the Bowl.
He did not just stand at the corner waiting for a handout. Instead, he was a bouncing ball of energy, seemingly delighted by everything around him. His smile was large, genuine and constant. He waved at passing cars and pedestrians. He waved at everyone. Drivers waved back. Some began to look forward to passing Kaleak on their commutes or even went out of their way to share a wave.
The story continues, explaining how Floyd eventually got a business license, but still had a lot of interactions with APD. In several facebook posts, when people talk about this business, Floyd's constant presence on the corner inevitably comes up. "I miss this Anchorage," one commenter said. Maybe there are lots of part of Spenard we shouldn't miss or feel bad about their eras ending. But I hope on this tour you're starting to see a pattern-- the people of Spenard, past and present, are what make it so special. I was recently talking about this series with an out of state cacher, and I tried to explain it quickly. "I guess it's one of the only neighborhoods I know of that is evolving and healing without gentrifying. The people who care are working really hard to make sure that the space is safer and more welcoming without excluding the marginalized people who are a huge part of its history." You can read even more about Floyd here in a story that involves an AirBNB and a creepy doll.
Okay, enough soapboxing. Let's get back to caching! What are you waiting for? Let's find stage two!
.....
Are you there now?
See? I told you this was worth walking to. How cute is it? Does anyone know how this came to be? Did you know what was here before I brought you here? Feel free to take photos here for the cache page. I don't think it will help anyone find it easier unless they are already a Spenard expert, and in that case, they've probably already bowled a 26 with bumpers at stage one.
Can you smell the good smell of Ramen? Go get a bowl and warm up before you continue on... unless you're waiting for that Egg Panini I hyped up at Stop #7. See you there!