Chilkoot Charlie's: Equal Parts Famous and Infamous
July 9, 2008 at 3:00 PM |
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What started in 1970 as a one room, Alaska themed wood cabin bar, Chilkoot Charlie's (known as Koot's to locals) has turned into Alaska's most famous drinking and live entertainment pantheon. When the original owner, Mike Gordon, bought the former piano bar, he promised to triple gross sales at his new establishment with the oil boom taking place on the north slope.
In the 38 years since, not only has Koot's tripled sales exponentially, but it's slowly consumed every business around, expanding into themed sections that include a Russian room, a swing bar (the dancing kind!), an outdoor patio and two areas for live music every night.
Previous performers have included everyone from Metallica to Eddie Money; Alaskan acts also take the stage. The long list of accomplishments has earned Koot's quite the reputation: In 2000, Playboy named it the best bar in America.
The infamous half of the Koot's story comes in the form of a bar patron's death years ago, widely attributed to excessive force on behalf of the bouncers. The staff in question were eventually exonerated in court, but to this day, if you're too wild and get tossed out of the bar, the bouncers hold video cameras to avoid any possible he-said-she-said.
No matter what night you're in Anchorage, Koot's has a party be it the Anchorage Roller Derby Queen Pagaent, Rock Band Karaoke or--our favorite--the upcoming July 31 Beads, Boobs and Booze Judigras!
On the weekends there are long lines, but with midnight sun mania you can always guarantee a ranging good time. Just don't get too fratty or you may end up on Koot's camera!
Related Stories:
· Chilkoot Charlie's [Official Site]
· Bars coverage [Jaunted]
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