Flying into ANC on Thurs Jan 6 at 5pm. My flight to the lower 48 does not leave until 2am. Anyone have suggestions on something to do on a long winter night during my layover. I have access to a car.

For a good meal in the downtown Archorage area, stop in at Orso http://www.orsoalaska.com and have some of their fabulous smoked salmon chowder.

Orso is an excellent choice, but I prefer halibut to salmon. My very favorite meal in town is Simon and Seafort's halibut cheeks (the sweetest meat on the fish), which they braise in a beurre blanc sauce and crust with Parmesan and asiago cheeses. It's available 5pm-6pm on the First Seating menu and comes as a three-course meal for $25 (http://simonandseaforts.com/page/menu/74849) or (usually) as a special menu item for about the same price (sans courses one and three and beverage) after the First Seating menu ends.

Alas, I start work just before you arrive and get off about the time you depart, so I won't be a good dinner companion. Perhaps there might be a few others, though--be sure to post your availability in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...up-thread.html.

One of the things I dislike about living in Alaska is the dearth of things to do outside of dining, movies, and the relatively few drinking holes around. There won't be much else for you to do while you're here.

That said, do read the following threads for some ideas on cuisine and things to kill time:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...0-week-ak.html (This post has a restaurant list: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/14159240-post20.html)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...best-food.html (This post has a restaurant list: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/13231708-post31.html)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...gs-do-anc.html (This post has a restaurant list: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/9937421-post11.html)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...ge-alaska.html (This post has a restaurant list: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/8823055-post41.html)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...es-alaska.html (This post has a restaurant list: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/5983976-post16.html)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...staurants.html (Post #2 has a restaurant list)

Also required reading: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...anchorage.html (specifically post #2). I doubt most of that list will be available to you with such a short, late layover this time of year, but it might be worth doing some research to see if anything interesting to you will be open.