The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris and The Best Strangers in the World by Ari Shapiro.
What charity or cause are you passionate about?
Food Bank of Alaska and the Anchorage Museum.
What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a long day at work?
I greet my dog. I have a husky mix from Bethel named Henry.
What vacation spot is on your bucket list?
Africa and Japan.
If you could domesticate a wild animal, what animal would it be?
Brown bears. They look a lot cuddlier than they are.
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris and The Best Strangers in the World by Ari Shapiro.
What charity or cause are you passionate about?
Food Bank of Alaska and the Anchorage Museum.
What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a long day at work?
I greet my dog. I have a husky mix from Bethel named Henry.
What vacation spot is on your bucket list?
Africa and Japan.
If you could domesticate a wild animal, what animal would it be?
Brown bears. They look a lot cuddlier than they are.
Off the Cuff
iners might never know that the greeter at Snow City Café, Spenard Roadhouse, South Restaurant + Coffeehouse, or Crush Bistro is the part-owner. Laile Fairbairn grabs front-desk duty when she can, just to interact with guests. She admits to micromanaging; her other job is macromanaging as president of Locally Grown Restaurants, an umbrella company that handles her successful eateries’ back-end business.
Fairbairn studied journalism at the University of Oregon, dreaming of globetrotting to cover the Olympic games. She went into advertising instead and eventually returned home to Anchorage and pivoted to food service, starting with Snow City. “I thought that Anchorage needed a cool breakfast place,” she says.
Laile Fairbairn: I have a big family, so I have a lot of family dinners. I tag along with my husband when he plays ultimate frisbee at Kincaid Park, and I play pickleball.
AB: Is there a skill you’re currently developing or have always wanted to learn?
Fairbairn: Well, pickleball. Because I’m not very good at it, not very consistent. And I’m supposed to be learning to play golf (but the weather isn’t cooperating).
AB: What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
Fairbairn: Oy vey! Starting a restaurant is a crazy thing to do.
AB: What are you superstitious about?
Fairbairn: I throw salt over my shoulder when there’s spilled salt.
AB: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
Fairbairn: Oh gosh. I have to say Snow City Café, but… I really love Middle Way Café and [The] Rustic Goat.
AB: Dead or alive, who would you like to see perform live in concert?
Fairbairn: Prince. I would also love to see Lenny Kravitz.
AB: What’s your greatest extravagance?
Fairbairn: Travel, travel, travel. Just got back from Croatia. Went on a seven-day cruise through the islands.
AB: What’s your best attribute and worst attribute?
Fairbairn: My worst is that I’m a micromanager, and my best attribute is that I like to learn new things.
