Anchorage al fresco: 24 spots for enjoying food and drinks in the sunshine

Also: Mixed reviews from some teachers on the reading legislation touted by Gov. Dunleavy, more on Mayor-elect LaFrance's transition team, and a rundown of Juneteenth events. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Good afternoon. It’s Friday, June 14. In today's newsletter: - A law that Gov. Dunleavy championed to improve reading outcomes in the state's public schools [has received mixed reviews]( from some Alaska teachers. - In Anchorage, our window for outdoor dining is short, but we make the most of it. [Check out our list of eating and drinking spots]( with al fresco options, including local favorites, hidden gems and unlikely venues. - Anchorage Mayor-elect Suzanne LaFrance [has selected a transition team]( with 18 members who'll focus on three areas that she's described as her main priorities. Juneteenth is on Wednesday, but events in Anchorage commemorating the holiday will begin this weekend, starting with the big citywide celebration on the Delaney Park Strip on Saturday and Sunday. You can find more details about that and other ways to celebrate Juneteenth [here](. Wondering what else is going on this weekend? [Highlights include]( the Mountain Bike for Women Festival and a Youth Fishing Day at Ship Creek. Anchorage weather It's mostly sunny today with a high around 72 degrees and a slight chance of showers this evening. Looking ahead, we can expect similar conditions through the weekend — mostly sunny skies, a chance of showers and highs in the low 70s. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Vicky Ho, vho@adn.com [24 eating and drinking spots in Anchorage where you can soak up sunshine outdoors →]( Relaxing on a deck or patio is ideal on a sunny summer day, whether it’s the main event or you’re socializing after a hike or bike ride. Here's a roundup of some top selections around town. ADVERTISEMENT [Gov. Dunleavy claims early success for Alaska’s new reading law. Some teachers say the story is more complicated. →]( Some educators tasked with implementing the Alaska Reads Act say that its rollout has been bumpy and that the data Gov. Dunleavy cited in touting its success doesn’t necessarily prove the legislation led to improvements. [Anchorage Mayor-elect LaFrance chooses transition team of prominent nonprofit and business leaders, former politicians →]( The transition team is divided into groups that will focus on Suzanne LaFrance’s three priority areas — “good government,” “safe streets and trails” and “building our future” — and gather input from affected community members. [State lawmakers rejected Dunleavy’s appointment of a talk show host to a lucrative fish job. His new pick? An ex-talk show host. →]( In May, lawmakers narrowly rejected a talk radio host’s appointment to a highly paid position regulating Alaska’s commercial fisheries. Now Dunleavy has chosen a new appointee with a similar — though not identical — background for the job. (via Northern Journal) [U.S. Catholic bishops approve new outreach to Native Americans, offer regrets for boarding school abuses →]( The effort is intended to reinvigorate the ministry and assure Indigenous communities that they don’t need to feel torn between their Native identity and their Catholic one. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Woman arrested in early morning Anchorage hit-and-run that sent pedestrian to hospital →]( [‘Teaming With Microbes’ gardening podcast: Strategies for planting beans and peas →]( [Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on gun accessory used in 2017 Las Vegas massacre →]( [Micro communities for the homeless sprout in US cities eager for quick, cheap solutions →]( [Your employer might be spying on your tech. Here’s how to check. →]( [The song of the summer is happening whether you like it or not →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States