JBB: The Where's Your Book Set? Meme

From Mrs. S.

The questions:

1. Title and author of the book
The Yiddish Policemen's Union, Michael Chabon

2. What year is the book set in?
Present day, alternate universe

3. What happened on this day in that year?
Umm...Miss Venezuela won the Miss World competition - it was in the paper this morning.

4. Where is your book set?
Sitka, Alaska

5. Have you visited that place before? If yes tell us something about your trip. If no, look the location up on google and tell us an interesting fact about the city/country.
No, but I want to! Fun fact: "Sitka" is pronounced "Sheet’ká," and has the largest incorporated city limits in the United States, four times the size of the state of Rhode Island. Thanks, Wikipedia!