Wild Review for December 2005

Member of the Month

December’s Wild Recognition goes to Ship Creek Center. Jimmy Wong purchased the Ship Creek Center in 2002 and in 2003 remodeled the mall with a view toward creating a “Made in Alaska” venue and his work and vision have come together to enhance opportunities in downtown Anchorage for visitors and residents alike!

Consistent with the “Made in Alaska” theme, most of the shops offer Alaskan-made products, featuring the Alaska Native Heritage Center’s downtown store Heritage Gifts. The Ship Creek Center also offers free Native dance shows all summer long, free live entertainment twice per month during the winter, and a number of displays for visitors to enjoy, including the larger than life outdoor Iditarod murals on the outside of the mall, the “History of Anchorage” pictorial timeline display along 4th Avenue, and an indoor 1964 Earthquake display.

Most recently they’ve added the Tlingit bear totem, known as the “Heaveyweight of Alaska”, which resides in front of the building near 4th & C St. The totem symbolizes wisdom, fearless power and inner strength.

The Ship Creek Center also features Russian and African furs and gifts as well as fine Mexican, American and Russian dining. For a full schedule of events and shops located within the mall, visit We congratulate Jimmy Wong and the Ship Creek Center for being December’s Member of the Month and appreciate the enhancements to our downtown!

December 2005 Meeting Champions

Ray & Ashland Hose are the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Meeting Champions for December. The Hoses were instrumental in bringing the 2007 Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs annual convention to Anchorage.

The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs is a confederation of 47 Hawaiian civic clubs located throughout Hawaii, as well as Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. The association’s objectives are to take an active interest in the civic, economic, health and social welfare of the Hawaiian community; to support programs that benefit people of Hawaiian ancestry; to provide a forum for discussion of public interest; and to honor, fulfill, protect, preserve and cherish all sources, customs, rights and records of the Native Hawaiian ancient traditions and places.

The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs annual meeting will bring 600 delegates to Anchorage in September 2007 with an estimated economic impact of $578,800. Congratulations to Ray, Ashland and other members of the local Hawaiian Civic Club for bringing this piece of business to Anchorage!