Editor’s note: For the holidays, we’ve republished this story that originally aired in 2009, followed by updates at the end.
If you’re not into Christmas, what’s there do to on Christmas Day in Juneau?
A common tradition for Americans who don’t observe Christmas – Jews and secular Chinese especially — is to patronize the two businesses that are invariably open on Dec. 25: Chinese restaurants and movie theaters.
Well, almost invariably. Here’s how my call with with Twin Lakes Cafe went:
Cafe: Thank you for calling Twin Lake …
Jeremy: Hi, are you guys open on Christmas Day?
Cafe: Uh, no.
Jeremy: OK.
Cafe: (laughs) Sorry.
Twin Lakes Cafe and all the other Chinese, Japanese and Thai restaurants in Juneau will be closed Christmas day along with most everything else, though the Goldtown Nickelodeon and the Gross-Alaska Theatres will be open. That means musician Brandon Walker would only be able to fulfill half of the chorus of his YouTube hit, “Chinese Food on Christmas.”
Members of Congregation Sukkat Shalom, Southeast’s only synagogue, will volunteer as cooks and servers at the Glory Hole’s Christmas dinner, as they have for many years running, says organizer Bev Ingram.
“That is a tradition for our Jewish community here, yes, yes,” Ingram said.
This year, Ingram expects to serve a sit-down style dinner to about 100 people. The food is donated by local markets. And Chinese food is not on the menu.
Checking in for 2015
That was 2009. We checked around again this year and things have changed. This year in Juneau, you can in fact get Chinese food and see a movie on Christmas Day. The Dragon Inn in Lemon Creek will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. Gross Alaska Theatres will be open, though the Gold Town Nickelodeon won’t.
Bev Ingram and the congregation of Sukkat Shalom have continued their tradition of volunteering at The Glory Hole Shelter and Soup Kitchen.
There is one sad update. The Twin Lakes Cafe closed in May after the one of the co-owners was diagnosed with a serious illness. A family member says she’s doing well.
