A Sleepy Dog Staying Awake in Alaska
I spent a month in Alaska about 10 years ago, and half the month was spent in a cozy little coffee shop called Sleepy Dog Coffee Co. Sleepy Dog was a cozy little cafe situated in a strip mall in Eagle River, the small town outside of Anchorage where my mom had recently moved to live with her sister. Though I’m not entirely certain, I believe the coffee shop’s owners roasted their own coffee; I do know, however, that they shipped their beans to tourists’ homes “outside”. (Alaskans tend to refer to their own vacations to other states as “stepping outside”.)
I spent most of my days parked at the Macintosh computer they had set up in the shop for their customers, sipping my brew and surfing the web. At the time, I was mesmerized by the Internet and was gradually cultivating my addiction to the Mac platform, having left my first Apple–a Performa–back home in California, with little to comfort me besides this near-daily visit with the Sleepy Dog Mac. In fact, I spent so much time in that coffee shop that my mom purchased me a Sleepy Dog souvenir sweatshirt as a parting gift for my return “outside”.
This little coffee shop still stands out in my mind as offering one of the best cups of joe I’ve ever had, a sentiment due in no small part to the warm reception I received from the cafe’s owners and their staff, as well as their impeccable taste in computing platforms. For though I don’t completely recall the taste of the cups of brew I imbibed at Sleep Dog, I remember the pleasure I received sipping from those cups while perched behind that monitor, spying on the local Alaskans as they drifted in and out of the cafe on the mild summer days of July.
At the time, I felt guilty for having spent so much time in that shop rather than at home with mom–where I probably would have spent too much time watching t.v., allowing annoyance to build at the discomforts produced from sharing the house with the family of grifters my aunt was harboring at the time. (Did I say grifters? I’m sure I meant drifters…) Yet looking back now, I’m beginning to think Sleepy Dog was one of the best opportunities I had to get to know one small corner of Alaska. The little shop gave me a destination to walk to every day, an opportunity to take in some fresh air, and the possibility of meeting new people–familar rituals, yet in an unfamilar and great land.
May 25th, 2005 at 10:40 am
What an awesome story! The owners of Sleepy Dog are my sister and brother-in-law, and yes, they do roast their own coffee. Isn’t it just the coolest place in the world??!?!?!?! I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself enough that you chose to write this article. I live in Branson, MO and am happy that your article somehow made it to me too!!!
August 30th, 2005 at 10:41 pm
I, too, love that shop. I was stationed at Elmendorf AFB for four years (’98-’02), and lived just five minutes away from Sleepy Dog. I made it my Saturday morning (and any other morning when I just had to have a hit of their elixir) ritual to have a quad latte w/two raw sugars. Heading out on a hike to Black Tail Rock? Sleepy Dog stop. Going to Palmer to golf? Sleepy Dog stop. Running late to work? Sleepy Dog stop. Heck, I even closed on our house while spending the entire morning sitting at the corner table by the front window sucking down espressos. Never before and never since have I found such good lattes. I dearly miss Alaska (my dear wife only kind of misses it which explains why we don’t live there anymore!), and part of that entire adventure and memories as strong as Sleepy Dog’s brew revolve around the time I spent at Sleepy Dog. You know, I’m going to have to call them for some coffee beans!
August 30th, 2005 at 11:27 pm
Wanting to Run a Coffee House and somewhat LIVING the Coffee House Lifestyle here in Central Texas. I decided to look up a very cool and loving person, our midwife, who moved to Eagle Rivier not too long ago. (Spring 2005???)
She seems she may have her office right above Sleepy Dog and the place sounds SO WONDERFUL!
Although she would probably disagree (Tee-Hee!) I think the combination of pregnant women and fresh coffee sound like a match made in heaven!!
*I* certainly got through the months of baby-gestating ever searching for that perfect fresh cup of Java.
I wish I could visit. It sounds so quaint and small town and relaxing (just my style!) I at least would LOVE to order some Sleepy Dog beans!
August 31st, 2005 at 7:34 pm
Debi, you should visit! You might fall in love all over again. As for quaint and small town, Eagle River has that appeal from the centrally located shopping area, to the pretty homes tucked among the trees, to the dozens of bald eagles that call the area home. Truth be told, ER mainly is a bedroom community for Anchorage, housing something upwards of 30,000 people. But, step foot into Sleepy Dog, and you feel transported to a simpler time. I sure miss it. . .