Steppe Inn
When I first came to UB I didn't know anyone and wanted to meet people. I was advised that I should get an invitation to the Steppe Inn on Friday night. I had no idea what it was, but I asked Brigitta and she put me down as her guest. So what is the Steppe Inn anyway? 
Well, like many institutions in UB, it's a little hard to explain. It's a bar, but it's only open from 6:30-9 pm on Friday. 
It's connected to the British Embassy, but you don't have to be British to join. It doesn't have bartenders, so the people who serve the drinks actually have day jobs at the embassy (including, on occasion, the Ambassador himself). Here Chablis shows off her bartending prowess. 
I bet when she accepted this job she didn't imagine her duties would include serving drinks every Friday night.
Anyhow, I've found myself returning to the Steppe almost every Friday since that first time. I even got my own official membership card. The good humor and hospitality of the embassy folks, and knowing I'll run into various friends and acquaintances,
create a nice reason to end the week there. If I need more justification for hanging out at a bar every Friday night, I remind myself that all proceeds go to local children's charities. If I need still more justification, I remind myself that just as I'm sure to see people I know, I'm sure to meet some eccentric or interesting new people. So for example, last Friday I met Birgit and Martin, 
who have been bicycling through Asia and came across Mongolia this winter. They have the frostbite to prove it, too, although luckily they didn't show me any of it.
Last week, since it was Saint Patrick's Day, the staff were serving up green beer, green vodka jello shots, and meat pies. Some of the patrons had come dressed for the occasion, too.
Seeing all this green stuff, the Mongolians in attendance looked politely puzzled. I tried to explain about St. Patrick and the snakes and the green beer, but I'm afraid I muddled it. I'll admit that I secretly enjoyed seeing the Mongolians being confused about our traditions instead of me always being confused about theirs. For the first time in five months, I understood something that they didn't!
Well, like many institutions in UB, it's a little hard to explain. It's a bar, but it's only open from 6:30-9 pm on Friday. 
It's connected to the British Embassy, but you don't have to be British to join. It doesn't have bartenders, so the people who serve the drinks actually have day jobs at the embassy (including, on occasion, the Ambassador himself). Here Chablis shows off her bartending prowess. 
I bet when she accepted this job she didn't imagine her duties would include serving drinks every Friday night. Anyhow, I've found myself returning to the Steppe almost every Friday since that first time. I even got my own official membership card. The good humor and hospitality of the embassy folks, and knowing I'll run into various friends and acquaintances,
create a nice reason to end the week there. If I need more justification for hanging out at a bar every Friday night, I remind myself that all proceeds go to local children's charities. If I need still more justification, I remind myself that just as I'm sure to see people I know, I'm sure to meet some eccentric or interesting new people. So for example, last Friday I met Birgit and Martin, 
who have been bicycling through Asia and came across Mongolia this winter. They have the frostbite to prove it, too, although luckily they didn't show me any of it. Last week, since it was Saint Patrick's Day, the staff were serving up green beer, green vodka jello shots, and meat pies. Some of the patrons had come dressed for the occasion, too.
Seeing all this green stuff, the Mongolians in attendance looked politely puzzled. I tried to explain about St. Patrick and the snakes and the green beer, but I'm afraid I muddled it. I'll admit that I secretly enjoyed seeing the Mongolians being confused about our traditions instead of me always being confused about theirs. For the first time in five months, I understood something that they didn't!
posted by Susanne D. at 5:48 PM
2 Comments:
Hello Susanne! It was nice to meet you in the Steppe Inn and we are looking
forward to come to Alaska to meet you again for a bike trip!
Many greetings
Birgit and Martin
That has to be one of the great bar names of all time. Right up there with old Anchorage favorites such as the "Idle Hour" and "The Elbow Room"
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