The Writer's Block Bookstore & Cafe — Restaurant in Alaska

The Writer’s Block has added something wonderful to this city - for a place that likes to read and drink coffee as much as Anchorage does, it was a crime that up until last year we had no independent bookstore/cafe in town. Don’t get me wrong, I love Title Wave (and its proximity to Middle Way & Kaladi!). But as delightful as a secondhand bookseller near quality restaurants is, it’s not quite the same as a quirky independent establishment like this one, that is equal parts bookstore, bistro, and event space.

The Block is awesome. The owners are often here, and almost always present at the plentiful (and awesome) events they host. You’ll encounter friendly regulars too, as well as folks on dates and others having meetings and others sitting solo with a notebook or a computer. The atmosphere could not be more cozy, inviting, and inclusive.

And the food and drinks are outstanding. Quality local brews of both the coffee and the beer variety are always on offer, as are teas and creative cocktails - the Block mojito is simply perfect on a sunny summer night. To warm you up for those cooler times, the menu is full of hearty comfort food from around the world, especially Jewish and Latin American classics (drawing on some of the owners’ heritage). Basically, the Block as something for every season and every eater, and it’s all high-quality so you can’t go wrong!!

The humans who established Writers Block are owed a debt of gratitude by Anchoragites. Thank you, Block, for shining a light on great books and using your space to promote the arts and marginalized voices, and thanks for the delicious libations and...

This is a great place if you are looking for a comfortable indoor location to sit and read for a while. Grab a coffee, sandwich, or a beer. Good food and a pleasant, calm atmosphere.

I would love to give this place five stars, it deserves it in some ways, and I would---except I can't. Even though it's way up in rugged Alaska, it seems the political ideology of Portland and Seattle have sadly found their way even into a lovely space like this, determined to ruin everything it seems... In every corner is generally ugly, strange, modern-inspired or feminist-inspired art, with political messaging all over and authors of a... very particular persuasion clearly advocated. And naturally, it is not equal or anything, no balanced perspectives from various political persuasions to be well-rounded, but just one unified message from virtually every book and every corner lauding the endless glorious voices and revolutions of the innumerable self-generating, intersecting, and "oppressed" groups.

I am so saddened to report this. I wish I could just give a great recommendation to these people who clearly work hard and cared enough to create a space for book-lovers, of which, I am one to my core. But this place is clearly ideologically driven in a narrow, one-sided prejudiced fashion against the nuclear family, patriotism, the rights of the unborn, my personal faith, etc, and I cannot support that. For all intents and purposes to the group from which I come, they might as well put up a sign up that says, "we don't serve...

A hub where people mix well, from students who are learning to hobby writers or simple tea and music lovers who find themselves under one roof, between books.

This won't be a very justified review, because the bookstore was one of my favorite places here in Anchorage and most of the employees were totally autonomous and cool, up to two people working there.

The head chef or, as the owner confirmed, her boyfriend and a bearded employee from the Middle East who questions guests in a penetrating, almost paranoid manner, almost with the energy of a cross-examination.

Questions like what is your religion, why you’re not drinking alcohol? Are you a radical Muslim or questions like “what are you doing in Alaska?” are not left out. However, he seems to be very secretive about his own past. Who is this guy asking a guest inappropriately questions so harsh, the immigration officials didn’t ask, when someone is entering the country?

The chef, Cuban with Italian roots or name whatsoever, a radical opponent of the USA. One wonders what went wrong with that guy? Why do people flee from Cuba to the USA only to later complain about the USA?

I noticed that behind the welcoming everyone neo-liberal facade, there was a radical, prejudiced opinion hidden. In America, Americans...