Inside Hotel Captain Cook’s lobby in downtown Anchorage, it’s Christmas as usual. Poinsettias line countertops, garland dips from the ceilings and windows, and in the back corner by the elevators, ...

Van Buren is cooking up something sweet this weekend.

Joe Hickel brushed powdered sugar from his jeans and stepped back to look at his enormous gingerbread creation. Hotel Captain Cook guests and old friends paused to admire his work as they filtered by ...