North Star - Anchorage, AK

Alaska became an official territory owned by the United States in 1912, but Anchorage did not develop until many years later. It contained no valuable minerals to mine and did not serve well as a fishing community, so it took until 1920 to become an official city, only after it became a bustling railroad port by the Alaska Engineering Commission. Up until the 1930s, the railroads served as the center of the Anchorage economy. After this, air transportation and military became the main focus of the city.

In March of 1964, the world’s second-largest recorded earthquake, the Good Friday 9.2 magnitude earthquake, struck Anchorage and caused over $3 million in damage – this equates to over $2 billion based on current values. Following several years of rebuilding, researchers made the Prudhoe Bay oil discovery in 1968. This led to an economic shift from aircrafts to oil drilling. Along with the oil discovery came a sharp boost in growth in the Anchorage area, which includes the establishment of many surrounding communities, including the North Star neighborhood.

While the majority of North Star consists of residences, a few popular restaurants call the neighborhood home. Hula Hands Restaurant, located on Fireweed Lane that borders the south side of North Star, brings a little warm island flare to the generally chilly Alaskan neighborhood with its infamous island cuisine. Menu items include meals like Musubi and a Kalua pig sandwich.

The other classic dining spot, Kriner’s Diner, sits on C Street, just north of Fireweed Lane. Kriner’s Diner serves traditional American food, like pancakes and eggs for breakfast, and hot sandwiches or B.L.T.s for lunch and dinner, but its special meal is known as the Family Burger. The patty alone weighs two pounds, and it also contains eight slices of cheese, a custom fresh-baked bun and crisp toppings. Even though this giant burger can easily fill you up, you cannot leave without trying the delectable cinnamon rolls made fresh every day in the diner.

Most residents would need to travel into the downtown area or other surrounding neighborhoods for clubs or bars. The one bar in North Star is called Reilly’s, a little-known Irish pub that serves any type of alcohol you could want while you kick back and watch your favorite game.

The neighborhood of North Star spans a mere 0.527 square miles, making it possible to walk from one side to the other in a matter of minutes. For the more adventurous residents, the 110-plus-store Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall is only a two-mile bike ride away.

While walking and biking are certainly options in North Star, the cold weather usually puts people behind the wheel of a car or into a bus. Trains travel through the area, but they are often not necessary to get into the downtown area because of its close proximity to the neighborhood. A few taxi companies service the area, but residents must call ahead of time to schedule their transport.

Fairview Lions Park, on E 8th Avenue, offers lush, green spaces where you can stretch out with a book, a playground, and a covered picnic area. The Chester Creek Sports Complex houses the Ben Boeke Ice Arena, a great place to bring the kids for ice skating lessons. Just north of Chester Creek, which borders the northern side of North Star, lies the Valley of the Moon Park. This large park features playgrounds, baseball fields, open play fields, miles of walking routes on Chester Creek Trail, picnic tables and covered shelters. From families to exercise enthusiasts, this park offers all kinds of summertime fun.

The average price of a one-bedroom rental stands around $971, and it is very similar to rental costs in the greater Anchorage area. Other necessities, such as energy, health care and food, generally cost more in Anchorage than around the country. This likely corresponds to the relatively small population and lack of traditional resources.

Although not technically in North Star, the grocery store Hana Market sits just south of Fireweed Lane, the southern border of the neighborhood. For shoppers looking for less of a small-town shop and a greater selection, they can opt to travel one mile south into Midtown to shop in a Walmart Supercenter.

While there are limited shops within the neighborhood itself, North Star's central location makes it easy to get downtown for all of your shopping needs. Residents often drive the two miles north to shop in Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall. With five floors and over 110 stores, this mall sells everything you might ever want. While the shopping center contains the usual popular stores like JC Penney and Abercrombie & Fitch, it also houses smaller boutiques that you may not find anywhere else. For instance, Circular Boutique can only be found in this Anchorage mall, and it offers stylish, eco-conscious clothing from established and emerging designers, like Tracy Reese, Rachel Zoe, Ted Baker and more.