Arkansas Times - July 24, 2014 by Arkansas Times

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VOLUME 40, NUMBER 47 ARKANSAS TIMES (ISSN 0164-6273) is published each week by Arkansas Times Limited Partnership, 201 East Markham Street, Suite 200, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201, phone (501) 375-2985. Periodical postage paid at Little Rock, Arkansas, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ARKANSAS TIMES, EAST MARKHAM STREET, SUITE 200, Little Rock, AR, 72201. Subscription prices are $42 for one year, $78 for two years. Subscriptions outside Arkansas are $49 for one year, $88 for two years. Foreign (including Canadian) subscriptions are $168 a year. For subscriber service call (501) 375-2985. Current single-copy price is 75¢, free in Pulaski County. Single issues are available by mail at $2.50 each, postage paid. Payment must accompany all single-copy orders. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents without the written consent of the publishers is prohibited. Manuscripts and artwork will not be returned or acknowledged unless sufficient return postage and a self-addressed stamped envelope are included. All materials are handled with due care; however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for care and safe return of unsolicited materials. All letters sent to ARKANSAS TIMES will be treated as intended for publication and are subject to ARKANSAS TIMES’ unrestricted right to edit or to comment editorially.

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COMMENT

The legacy of tobacco Before I could get to the cover story of segregation history in the July 10 issue, I was treated to a full-page Camel cigarette ad. Talk about “history.” It was the production of tobacco that brought huge waves of slaves to North America and started a problem that has never died, including the segregation of Little Rock. The slavery continues as an enormous amount of tobacco production in the world, including the U.S., is accomplished with child labor. At least part of the “living history” could be ended by not taking tobacco industry advertising. J. Gary Wheeler Little Rock

Policy led to Little Rock’s segregation FindX’s comments (Letters, July 17) last week raise some interesting points about our article, “The roots of Little Rock’s segregated neighborhoods,” (July 10) that are worth addressing, particularly their assumption that segregation is somehow a “natural” phenomenon. As our article points out, segregated residential patterns have become much more pronounced in Little Rock since 1949. If segregation were natural, this change could not have occurred, since natural laws are by definition immutable. So if changes in residential patterns have occurred, that must be because of human intervention. Are Little Rock’s segregated neighborhoods the result of a conspiracy? You bet. City officials admitted as much during a school desegregation suit in the 1980s, the federal courts ruled that was in fact the case, and the federal appeals court upheld those findings. We’re not talking grassy knolls or faked moon landings here; we’re simply repeating the conclusions that the federal courts have reached based on the evidence. What about the students who selfsegregate in the hallways, at lunch and in the classrooms? I’d suggest that the artificially created segregated environments that they grow up in, which constantly shape their social reality day in and day out, are replicated by extension in schools. To suggest that selfsegregation in schools proves that those students are happy enough to grow up in segregated neighborhoods is to fundamentally confuse cause and effect. As to the refrain “how about we spend our time and effort on getting people to naturally integrate and value others for our diversity,” I agree, but that 4

JULY 24, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

has been the charge of the city’s schools since the Brown decision in 1954. The past 60 years don’t seem to have gotten us much closer, and I don’t see that magically changing anytime soon. How about we start to address and tackle some of the persistent and entrenched structural obstacles in the way of achieving that goal to get better outcomes? However, all the indications are that Little Rock, along with the rest of the United States, is in retreat from integration. The school settlement earlier this year removed exactly those remedies — magnet schools and M-to-M

transfers — that were put in place by the courts to counteract the effects of the conspiratorially created segregated neighborhoods. Once these remedies are phased out, there will be no active measures in place to combat segregation. Meanwhile, numerous factors, some old, some new, continue to racially polarize the city and its schools. It is precisely because of these developments that we thought it timely to revisit and reflect upon exactly how and why Little Rock got into the condition that it is in today. We believe it is important for everyone in the city to

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understand. Without being fully aware of how the city got to this point, there can be no hope of productively going forward from it. John A. Kirk Little Rock

One for Otey I think the choice of “Otey the Swamp Possum” as one of the Arkansas Travelers’ two new mascots was a good one for a number of reasons. He is cute, cuddly and friendly, which will make him a favorite with kids. He is a unique and original type of mascot. Opossums have lived in Arkansas for a long time, so they have a natural connection with Arkansas. To give Otey more notoriety, I’d call him “The Awesome Possum.” Kenneth Zimmerman Huntington Beach, Calif.

Disproportionate Stop killing kids! Israel has a disproportionate response in Gaza — which may be a war crime or a violation of the Geneva Convention — killing over 300 civilian innocents, including more than 100 children. Hamas has killed no kids and one innocent civilian. 300-1 is disproportionate. It is a similar ratio to last time Israel bombed and tank cannoned Gaza, killing 900 innocents to three Israeli civilians killed. The U.S. Secretary of State expresses concern about killing so many innocents, especially children. Express your concern to your government officials. Robert Johnston Little Rock

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In response to “That ‘ghetto’ traffic box,” a story about Theresa Cates’ public art depicting African Americans. It has received complaints and, in a few instances, been painted over. It’s sad that people would have such little respect for the joy depicted in this work and would refer to it as “ghetto.” This is an amazing piece and the people in power who bowed down to the complaints of a few should be ashamed of themselves. Stick up for the many rather than buckling to the few. Felicia Knight Olson

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THE WEEK THAT WAS

EYE ON ARKANSAS

New polling reported by The Huffington Post shows strong bipartisan support for more education for children before kindergarten. Voters are smart. They understand that more education before kindergarten is a necessity, particularly for kids most at risk of starting behind and never catching up. Only about half of children ages 3 and 4 are in pre-K programs and only about a third are in publicly funded programs. Mike Ross, the Democratic candidate for governor, has made pre-K a key campaign issue. He says no child should be denied pre-K education on account of family income or ZIP code. Republican Asa Hutchinson isn’t interested in such bold talk. He calls it irresponsible. He’s likened pre-K to a welfare program. The most irresponsible of his backers have taken to social media to characterizing pre-K programs as incubators for future criminals. Poor minorities are destined to be criminals anyway, they seem to suggest. Why pay money to try to educate them? Screw ’em. Happily, polls indicate — even among Republicans — that sentiment isn’t a majority one. But it will prevail in policy under a Hutchinson administration.

Do the math Arkansas prison officials think they need up to $100 million for a new prison simply to accommodate the current prison population, which is expected to continue to grow. They’ll also need $25 million to operate it. The reason? Prisons are already bulging with lifers and others with long sentences who won’t be leaving prison anytime soon. Add to that the rising population from get-tough-on-parolees initiatives. Add to that the pronounced desire (particularly by the Republican majority) for tougher sentencing still. You do the math: $100 million for a prison. $25 million for operations. A $100 million income tax cut proposed by Asa Hutchinson. A Republican Senate majority’s wish to kill Obamacare and end the hundreds of millions it ships into Arkansas each year. The loss of millions in expenditures as rural hospitals fail. The loss of millions in revenues from the last session’s income and capital gains tax cuts that mostly benefitted the wealthiest Arkansans. A Republican congressional candidate’s promise to slash federal spending, which comes back to Arkansas in greater volume than we send to Washington. Bottom line: Deficits as far as the eye can see. Not in the budget, because that’s not allowed in Arkansas under the constitution. But education, infrastructure, quality of life, growth. There will be bloodletting. 6

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ARKANSAS TIMES

STUART BOWLES

Voters want pre-K

VINE RIPENED: Stuart Bowles shared this photo of a ripe Bradley tomato in his garden to our Eye On Arkansas Flickr page.

D.C. politics in Arkansas

he 2013 legislative session, with its first Republican majority, resembled partisan-driven Washington in many ways, though the narrow 51-49 Republican edge in the House forced some bipartisan accommodation. The bullies of the GOP apparently foresee even better partisan times ahead. At the state Republican Convention Saturday in Hot Springs, Sen. Bryan King got unanimous approval of a resolution that says House and Senate Republican caucuses should vote for their nominees for speaker and Senate president pro tem and then unanimously support the caucus’ choice. This arises from the election of Republican House Speaker Davy Carter by a solid bloc of Democratic votes and a handful of Republican votes, upsetting GOP Rep. Terry Rice’s expected coronation. Republicans have played this game, too. A rump group of them aligned with Democrats to prevent one of their own, Sen. Dave Bisbee, from becoming Senate president pro tem in 2005. If the caucus demands unanimous votes on leadership, it’s a pretty short step from there to demanding unanimous votes on legislation. That’s the U.S. House protocol. And it’s general Arkansas Republican practice, too, private option excepted. For now. King favors a legislature in which the majority rules with an iron fist. The minority need not even attend. He’s used his co-chairmanship of the Joint Auditing Committee to hound political enemies. He’s a member of what now appears to be a controlling Senate minority that could present a legal roadblock to reapproval of the private option version of Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion. King’s partisanship doesn’t bode well for Arkansas. It means the end of consensus legislation in favor of hyper partisanship. And it will invite debilitating payback from the minority — blockades when possible through the supermajority votes required for some financial legislation. Of course Republicans just might decide to ignore the rules and challenge opponents to sue when supermajor-

ity votes fail — as they did when they unconstitutionally approved a huge fracker tax break for a multinational corporation. The requirement of party loyalty for legislators works against MAX diversity in party membership, BRANTLEY maxbrantley@arktimes.com something not lacking on the Democratic side. There’s an illustration in Little Rock, where City Director Stacy Hurst is running as a Republican for term-limited Democratic Rep. John Edwards’ historically Democratic seat covering the Heights and western Little Rock. She’s opposed by Clarke Tucker, a bright young Democratic lawyer. Hurst, pushed into running as a Republican by tycoon Warren Stephens, probably is the social moderate she claims to be. But can she function as a moderate as a member of the diehard conservative Republican House caucus, now unanimously commanded by the GOP state convention to observe party loyalty? Would Hurst vote against unconstitutional abortion bills? Would she give a Democratic governor the critical vote to sustain his veto of an unconstitutional frackers’ tax break? Would she cast a roll call vote against Republican measures endorsing discrimination against gay people? Will she speak up vigorously against a growing Republican majority speaking ill of Medicaid expansion, an issue worth millions to the giant medical institutions and medical professionals that live in and around her legislative district? Finally, though she vows to be independent, can you believe her given Bryan King’s proven record of getting even with those who cross him? The issue, by the way, is laden with hypocrisy. Back in 2008, rising House Speaker Robbie Wills, a Democrat, helped King raise money against a Democratic opponent because King had supported him in the race for speaker. Wills said he didn’t see why partisanship should figure in a speaker’s election. King was a happy beneficiary of Wills’ broad-mindedness. But King was in the minority then. And nobody has ever accused him of being broad-minded.

OPINION

Hutchinson won’t stop private option insurance

sa Hutchinson would politely decline my help if he were given a choice, and because he holds a tiny lead in the governor’s race he may not need it, but it is one of the encyclopedic services a columnist ought to provide. Here is Hutchinson’s dilemma: His case against Mike Ross is chiefly that the president and a Democratic Congress enacted the despised “Obamacare,” a.k.a. the Affordable Care Act, while Ross was a member, although Ross voted against its passage and sided with Republicans afterward on repealing it even while occasionally acting like the insurance reform was not altogether a bad thing. But on the only part of Obamacare that has had a big impact in Arkansas, Hutchinson steadfastly refuses to take a stand. That is “the private option,” the euphemism that masks the fact that expanding Medicaid to insure poor childless adults is a central feature of Obamacare.

If he were forced to take a stand Hutchins on would have to say that he would keep the Medicaid ERNEST expansion because DUMAS scrapping it would wreck the state budget, end medical coverage for more than 200,000 of the state’s neediest citizens, imperil community hospitals, disappoint doctors who have begun to accept poor adults as patients because they now can pay, and end a big economic stimulus for businesses in every community. But openly embracing Obamacare like that could stifle his campaign to characterize Ross as a pawn of the evil people who saddled Arkansas with Obamacare. Ross promises to keep the private option and hammers Hutchinson for his fence-straddling. Ross’s boldness could be riskier than Hutchinson’s quailing

Americans like GOP words but Democrats’ actions

earch the phrase “the most powerful man in the world” and what comes up are photos of grotesquely overdeveloped weight-lifters; also Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin. Awfully ironic under present circumstances. It’s a cant term TV news anchors use to describe U.S. presidents, enhancing their own self-importance as chroniclers of the great. But have two politicians ever looked less like demigods than Presidents Obama and Putin? “Things are in the saddle and ride mankind,” Emerson wrote. The unspeakable tragedy in the Ukraine underscores that brute fact. However, it’s not an existential point I’d like to make, but a political one. The American cult of the presidency has always had overtones of magical thinking. We imagine our presidents responsible for events over which they have little or no control. Technically, President Obama commands the world’s most powerful military establishment, for all the good it’s done anybody in Amsterdam or Malaysia. Often, it seems as if being the “world’s lone superpower,” to use another cant phrase, actually means that superpowers no longer exist. Not democratic ones, anyway. America’s military superiority appears to have relieved many citizens of the need to think coherently about foreign policy at all.

Not that they ever did. The paradoxical situation in which Obama finds himself has been correctly diagnosed by Kevin GENE Drum. According LYONS to a recent Politico poll, fully two-thirds (67 percent) of Americans want U.S. military power used only to address immediate threats to national security. Just 22 percent think the U.S. has a moral duty to protect democracies around the world. Three quarters of American voters want out of Afghanistan, ASAP. People who want less involvement in Syria’s civil war outnumber those who want more by 42 to 15 percent. A strong plurality wants a smaller American role in Iraq’s struggle against ISIS militants — a group too extreme for al Qaeda. More pointedly, just 17 percent think the U.S. should do more to deter Russian aggression in the Ukraine. Any wonder why Putin felt emboldened to arm drunken separatist militiamen with sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles — the rough equivalent of giving strategic bombers to the KKK? In short, Americans broadly agree with President Obama’s policies. But they also trust Republicans more than Democrats

because while 40 percent of Arkansans already have enjoyed the benefits of the Affordable Care Act and few, if any, suffered any discernible harm, Obamacare is still a word that strikes fear in most people’s hearts. Hutchinson must have discovered that the hardest thing about running for office is to get elected without proving that you are unworthy of it or without rendering governance impossible once you get the reins. Courage is a virtue and faintheartedness a weakness, but sometimes it’s the only thing that keeps you in the game. Here’s my assist to the Hutchinson campaign. He can’t tell you that he would keep insuring all those poor working people, but I can. That is what will happen and the private option will continue in virtually its present form long after either he or Ross takes office. And it doesn’t matter if the Tea Party folks get 26 of the 100 House members or nine of the 35 senators in the fall election. They won’t stop Medicaid. So if that’s your hang-up, move on. If Hutchinson keeps fudging until election day, let him be. See what else he and Mike Ross have to say because the

private option is settled. Why am I so certain? If the state scraps the private option, it will have to once again shoulder Medicaid costs that were shifted to Washington last winter as part of the Obamacare bargain with the states. After seeing the big budget savings from the Obamacare shift, the legislature decided it could cut taxes last year. Hutchinson and Ross both promise more tax cuts next year, but ending the private option would make that as fiscally reckless as it proved to be in Kansas. A total of 185,000 persons have enrolled in expanded Medicaid and another 40,000 have bought insurance in the Obamacare exchange — together nearly half of all the previously uninsured citizens in Arkansas. When the new governor takes office, some 215,000 will be enrolled in expanded Medicaid alone. Will Hutchinson and, indeed, most Republican legislators want to end medical coverage for so many of their neighbors and constituents? It was an easy vote for some Republicans last year because they viewed Medicaid, except for nursing home care, as welfare for CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

on foreign policy by 39 to 32 percent. “Bot- lays down the GOP party line: It’s purely tom line,” Drum writes “… Americans prefer Obama’s fault. “Putin saw that Obama did the actual foreign policy of Democrats, but not have the stomach” to bomb Syria “and they prefer the rhetorical foreign policy of knew that he would face no real conseRepublicans. They want lots of bluster and quences for destabilizing Ukraine.” chest thumping, but without much in the Thiessen performs the remarkable trick way of serious action.” of scolding the president for weakness while Bluster and chest thumping they’ve been praising his U.N. Ambassador Samantha getting aplenty. You almost can’t turn on Power for her “searing indictment” of Rusthe TV without seeing Sen. John McCain sian brutality, dishonesty and incompetence. and his sidekick, Sen. Lindsey Graham. Last Quite forgotten, meanwhile, are all the year Mother Jones listed 15 countries The paeans to the Russian leader’s manly deciVery Angry Senator has wanted to “bomb, siveness emitted by name-brand Repubinvade, or destabilize” since about 2000. licans. McCain’s become as predictable as a “I think Putin has outperformed our prescartoon character. Had he gotten his way, ident time and again on the world stage,” the U.S. would currently have the prover- Mitt Romney told NBC News last January. bial “boots on the ground” in five Middle “And I think most observers of the internaEastern countries — Libya, Syria, Iraq, Iran tional political scene suggest that Russia and Afghanistan — along with Nigeria and has elevated itself in stature and America North Korea. Oh, and the Ukraine, too. The has been diminished.” latest thinking in advanced GOP circles, see, Fox News pundits have been virtually is that Putin’s ill-fated adventurism was unanimous in describing Putin as a he-man prompted not by Western indifference to action hero. Sarah Palin sounded as if she’d border disputes in Russian-speaking areas like to get to know the Russian president a of eastern Ukraine. Nor by domestic politics, lot better. although Putin’s nationalist posturing has “People look at Putin as one who wrestles driven his approval rating among Russians bears and drills for oil,” she said “and our to 83 percent — even higher than George W. president wears mom jeans and equivoBush’s numbers at the time of his “Mission cates.” Accomplished” aircraft carrier stunt. Meanwhile, the most powerful men It definitely helps Putin to have a state- in the world appear defeated. Confronted run news media whose staggering dishon- with an act of mass murder whose brutality esty makes Fox News look like the BBC. is exceeded only by its slack-jawed idiocy, Writing in the Washington Post, for- Obama looks careworn, exhausted; Putin mer Bush speechwriter Marc Thiessen dead-eyed and unsure. www.arktimes.com

JULY 24, 2014

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Ball control is Hogs’ only hope

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ARKANSAS TIMES

f Arkansas is going to be an unlikely world-beater this fall, or even a better than average bunch, the onus rests upon ball, and by extension, clock control. That’s something we’ll observe in this space throughout the course of the season. The irony of Bret Bielema and Auburn honcho Gus Malzahn having a rather notorious philosophical dispute about high-speed offense is that Bielema and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney can and should cull some basics from the Auburn archetype. Malzahn took over a program in seeming ruin last year and did what he always does: power-run the hell out of it, keep the defense winded and chuck it only when the opportunity avails itself. The method to Malzahn’s madness is generating the most plays possible within 60 minutes of game clock and Chaney isn’t about to adopt that modus operandi, but Auburn covered a lot of its deficiencies last fall by simply leaving them on the sidelines. Nick Marshall is a pretty average thrower, but Tre Mason was an exceptional workhorse back and he had ample support. It all clicked, and their luck was pretty damned unfathomable, too, as has been documented. There’s a sporting chance that Marshall’s recent scrape with the law keeps him shelved for the opener against the Hogs in late August. If that happens it primarily deprives the Tigers of their field general and the guy who makes the machine run, far more than it robs them of a gunslinger. He can throw it OK and Sammie Coates is a fine top target, but both succeeded because of the element of surprise. Coates has the physical traits of a potential NFL star, but Marshall’s professional makeup is arguable at this point. Lest anyone confuse Brandon Allen (or whomever ends up starting under center for the Razorbacks) with Marshall, the Hogs are so thin defensively and so robust in the backfield that it makes perfect sense for Chaney to eyeball a five- to seven-minute edge in time of possession every week. The quickstrike Petrino brand was fine getting off the field in a hurry: Skill people were in abundance, pacing and timing were the focus and six was six, regardless of whether it took 10 seconds or 10 minutes to get it.

Neither Alex Collins nor Jonathan Williams had the appearance of a Masonlike bellcow last BEAU year despite WILCOX their gaudy numbers, but it wasn’t entirely their fault. There wasn’t any consistency to the Hog attack through the nine-game losing streak and that was a function of numerous ailments. Bad blocking, dropped passes and killer turnovers were the only things you could genuinely count on in 2013. These backs, along with dynamo Korliss Marshall and veteran Kody Walker, do present the proverbial advantage on paper, so exploiting it is critical. And though it might well be a stretch to think Arkansas can replicate Auburn’s success of a year ago, consider that the Tigers were 3-9 and 0-8 in 2012, just like Arkansas was last season. And everyone under the sun projected Malzahn’s first team to be only marginally better than that because of the major question marks that seemed to exist. Could the inexperienced Marshall take the reins in a passable manner? Could Mason be durable enough to pound away for 300 carries or so? Would a decent defensive line adequately mask a rather pedestrian secondary? The answer to those questions ended up being in the affirmative, emphatically and shockingly. The “why not us?” mentality that likely pervaded the Auburn locker room last year has to be on the tip of the coaching staff’s collective tongue this season. Play the card full tilt and draw from that recent history. Give Allen chances to thrive instead of saddling him with bad odds on third and long. Make Collins and/or Williams, and Marshall, too, a downhill monster. Invest confidence in a sizable and once highly touted slew of offensive linemen and lean on your pass rushers. As Pearls goes into a full-tilt season prediction mode in the coming weeks, be mindful of the fact that Arkansas did mature somewhat late last year as the previous column noted, and that there’s positive precedent for a quick turnaround. Hope always springs eternal in August, right?

THE OBSERVER NOTES ON THE PASSING SCENE

Forty THE OBSERVER TURNED 40 YEARS OLD over the weekend, a milestone for sure, only a number, but a daunting one. The oldsters in the audience are sure to be wistfully breathing: “Ye Gods! To be 40!” Meanwhile, the youngsters are undoubtedly saying the same thing, only with awe and dread. A middle place, then, somewhere between youngster and oldster. Middle aged? Probably, though you’ll never hear us admit it until we’re piloting a tennisball-footed walker. Nobody likes to say they’re in the middle, except those who are getting on toward the end. The Observer isn’t so sure what to think about all this arithmetic. We clearly remember asking Ma on our 10th birthday: “I wonder where I’ll be when I’m 40?” The Cubserver and Ma not even being able to fathom where things might be in the faraway age of 2014, not able to even comprehend what color the jetpack in the garage and the robot dog in the back yard of our flying saucer-shaped house might be, not sure what we’d call our mechanical housekeeper. Back in 1984, there was even a chance that we’d be nowhere, nuked to Jubilee by some vodka-tanked Russian premiere, or burned to a crisp by the hole in the ozone layer, whose edges were being constantly nibbled by the fog from a jillion cans of Aquanet and folks who made a religion out of the higher the hair, the closer to God. Somehow, though, The Observer made it. Ten years old was long ago and far away, my friends. And now, to be here, shipwrecked in this far, jetpackless future, in no more than the length of time it took to fish a mote of summer fluff from our 10-year-old eye. At 40, you realize how quickly it all moves, quicker than a falcon at wing, and that’s what fills you with dread in the ebb of the night: How quickly the years will move between now and the inevitable, unknowable end. If you let those years move so quickly, we suppose. There are ways to slow it down, of course. Life is all memory and anticipation, the past and

the future, the present swirling past you always like a stone in the river, so swift of current that the beginning of this sentence will be receding into the past before you hit the period at the end, the future out there somewhere, delicious, pulling you along, making you wonder what damn fool thing Yours Truly will say before we hit the end of this sentence: fire truck, steamboat, papaya, Geronimo. The way to slow it down is just to truly live, which is harder than it sounds. The Observer tries like hell to pull that one off sometimes and doesn’t cut the mustard, crashing instead in front of the TV with 57,000 movies or the bottomless Internet (the timesucking wonders of the future, young sir!), only to look up hours later to realize it’s midnight, another irredeemable day quietly slipped over the edge of the world while we stared at reruns of “The Sopranos.” We are, as a lot, entirely too interested in the products of the imaginations of other people, and not nearly interested enough in our own. If The Observer is ever in need of an epitaph, let that be it. And so, The Observer looks at 40: heart of a 19-year-old, memory of a 60-year-old who has just slipped in the bathroom and whacked his head on the toilet, face of a 107-year-old whaling ship captain. The view from this ridge is good, we think, even though it’s probably all downhill from here. Or maybe not. That’s what makes life both livable and dang near unbearable: the uncertainty of it all. You never see the best year of your life coming, and a lot of people don’t recognize it even after it’s long gone. Speaking of gone: Begone, birthday! Let’s get back to living without lingering on a number, without all this addition and subtraction, division and solving for Final X. Our 20s were entirely too immature, our 30s entirely too serious. Let this be The Decade of Don’t Give a Shit, then, though maybe we should save that one for our 50s. The Decade of Love, maybe. The Decade of Giving Back to Those Who Have Loved Us. The Decade of Keeping On With Keeping On. Sounds like a plan. Somebody remind us to write it down somewhere so we don’t forget it.

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JULY 24, 2014

Arkansas Reporter

THE

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Eureka Springs has led the way. Cities in Mississippi are even on the honor roll. Baton Rouge may get there. Now Fayetteville will consider an ordinance to prohibit discrimination in public services, housing and employment that adds sexual orientation and family status to the familiar list of categories generally protected by federal law. Council member Matthew Petty introduced the ordinance for a first reading at a meeting July 15. No other council members commented. It will be discussed again at August meetings. The Fayetteville Council passed a similar measure in 1998, but it was vetoed by then-Mayor Fred Hanna. It was put on the ballot by petition, but defeated. A lot has changed since 1998 on attitudes toward people of different sexual orientation, not to mention Fayetteville leadership. Current Mayor Lioneld Jordan was quoted in a local press account as saying he was “pretty sure the city’s head count would increase as a result of the proposal.”

Anti-violence advocate criticizes LR police priorities

Crime in Little Rock. It’s a hot topic. Mayor Mark Stodola has complained to the Arkansas Times that we don’t cut him a break for positive trends in the city under his leadership, including successful work against crime. City Director Stacy Hurst, a candiSTODOLA date for state House, recently unveiled a campaign thrust built on fear of crime in Little Rock. Last week came a promised communication from Rev. Benny Johnson, who leads Arkansas Stop the Violence. It’s a grassroots group that has particularly focused on crime in the inner city. Johnson has talked about challenging Stodola for re-election. In a prepared statement, Johnson criticized the Little Rock Police Department’s recent response to random gunshots near the Movies in the Park event in the amphitheater near the River Market: “Arkansas Stop the Violence believe every citizen should feel safe in whatever neighborhood that they reside in. 10

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Fayetteville considering nondiscrimination ordinance

BUCKNER: At an installation ceremony with City Manager Bruce Moore on June 30.

Q&A with Chief Kenton Buckner ‘Intelligence-led policing,’ community interaction key to curbing crime in LR, says new LRPD head. BY DAVID KOON

enton T. Buckner, previously of the police force in Louisville, Ky., was announced as the new chief of the Little Rock Police Department on May 28, with his first day on June 30. He succeeds former Chief Stuart Thomas, who retired in June after serving as chief since March 2005. Buckner is the 37th chief of the LRPD. He will be paid $135,000 per year. Buckner, 45, joined the Louisville Police Department in 1993, becoming an assistant chief there in 2011. He was selected to head the LRPD from a pool of over 50 candidates. Finalists included Buckner, LRPD Assistant Chief Eric Higgins and John Ray,

executive chief deputy of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office in Texas. Buckner holds a bachelor’s degree in police administration and a master’s in safety, security and emergency management from Eastern Kentucky University. The Arkansas Times spoke with Buckner at his office on July 11. AT: Are you settling in OK? KB: I am. I’ve got somewhere to stay temporarily. It’s my second week on the job, and I’m kind of going through orientation at this point, trying to learn as much as I can about the police department, the community,

opportunities for improvement and the challenges we have. I’m just trying to get all our vested stakeholders in the room to try to get some effective plans in place. AT: The Little Rock Police Department has issues and challenges, like any police department. They’ve been dealing with some of those issues for years. Could you talk a little bit about the pros and cons of coming into a situation like that from the outside? KB: Good question. The pros of that: I think that you bring a different perspective to the table. You have a different lens through which you’ve professionally kind of seen the world. You’ve seen the workplace in maybe a different area where you’ve gained your wealth of knowledge. Some of the cons of that might be that it will take you longer to learn the culture and some of the outside influences that are a part of any city and things going on. You see what the agency is doing, both what we say on paper and what we’re doing at the operational level. So I think there’s good and bad to that. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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WORK STILL TO BE DONE: Debris from the April 27 tornado on Dam Road in Mayflower.

Q: How’s the tornado cleanup in Faulkner County coming?

The addresses of several homes on Dam Road in Mayflower have been spray-painted on squares of plywood that lean up against a mailbox or what was once a front door. Cars sit along the road, their windows smashed and bricks in their seats. Lots are empty where homes once stood. Whole yards have become upturned wastelands of rubble and mud. Almost three months after a quarter-mile-wide tornado tore across Faulkner County, much work remains to be done to repair the damage. Arvid Straschinske, a 68-year-old retired Vietnam veteran who lives behind Dam Road, lost his house in the April 27 storm, but said his shed, which he’d filled and surrounded with a jumble of storage supplies from the debris of his house, only moved six inches. “I’m 68 years old and I gotta start all over,” Straschinske said. “I wouldn’t bother rebuilding except for my grandchildren. I want them to have a place to live.” Last week, he was picking up debris while he waited for an engineer from a North Little Rock firm to come “grade” the slopes of his land. He needs the grading information so he can apply for a permit to build a new house, a project he’ll have to undertake with the $902 of Social Security money he receives every month and the money his insurance company paid him, an amount, he said, that didn’t match what he’d lost. Church groups and other volunteer organizations continue to help clear the debris, but Faulkner County Judge Allen Dodson said the county completed its debris removal program early last week. Dodson said the county has stored the debris at three storage and disposal sites, a process that included assistance in the

form of dump truck loans from the surrounding Lonoke, Cleburne, Van Buren, Perry and Conway counties. Faulkner County will contract with the Environmental Protection Agency to set up HAZMAT storage pads for any debris categorized as a biohazard, including household appliances, household chemicals and electronic goods. In the meantime, the county is running controlled burns to dispose of much of the vegetative waste, and will work with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and the governor’s office to dispose of all removed construction debris, including demolished homes. Straschinske and fellow Dam Road resident Betty Bellinger said the street looks much cleaner than it did three months ago, thanks to efforts by the county and volunteers, as well as financial and technical support from FEMA and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. But the cleanup process is far from over. “Once we get the mass of debris out of the way, that doesn’t mean it’s finished,” Dodson said. ”Folks have still got to rebuild their lives. They’ve got to literally rebuild and get out and pick up the last little bits.” Kendell Snyder with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management said that ADEM closed its field offices in Mayflower, Vilonia and White County a few weeks ago. For the time being, residents will be responsible for removing any remaining debris themselves. “When disaster strikes, you find out who your neighbors are,” Straschinske said. “Yes sir. You find out who your neighbors are.” — Clayton Gentry

Through the media, we saw 50 plus police officers sent to the River Market on Wednesday because shots were fired the week before. We have no problem with that but where are the special operations in the inner city where many shots are fired on a regular occurrence? We have also had 29 homicides and not one time has the city sent out any press releases on how they were going to address this problem or assign any special operations that were made public. [It sent such a news release after the gunshot at the movies.] We feel like the city is showing favoritism because of the area this occurred in. Everyone’s life should be valued the same no matter what area of town they stay in. We are asking the city to prioritize the homicide and shootings that occur in predominately black neighborhoods. If you weigh your options, twenty-nine homicides versus one shooting doesn’t take a genius to know where your operations should be. We want to say to Mayor Stodola and City Manager Bruce Moore, that the lack of actions taken by the city administration is a disregard to the homicide victims of violent crimes.”

Rapert’s challenger raking it in Campaign fundraising horse races are interesting so far as they go. But money alone doesn’t win races. In legislative races, particularly, name recognition and shoe leather account for a lot. Still, that Tyler Pearson, the Democratic challenger to incumbent PEARSON Republican Sen. Jason Rapert, has again reported more campaign contributions for the quarter (though Rapert still retains a slight edge in overall fundraising). From May 21 and July 15, Pearson reported $18,247, while Rapert only raised $4,100. Rapert benefits from incumbency and held-over money. Plus the corporate PACs send money his way. He finished an uncontested primary with $50,000 to carry over, powered on the last report by more than $12,000 in corporate and PAC money, no individual contributions. Still. Pearson is making a race against a fire-breathing senator who undoubtedly has a devoted base but who also is an intemperate standard bearer for intolerance. www.arktimes.com

JULY 24, 2014

Q&A WITH CHIEF KENTON BUCKNER, CONT. AT: There were, of course, internal candidates who were up for the job of police chief who didn’t get the job. Is there any awkwardness coming into a situation where people who may have been here for years were passed over? KB: I have not seen that. I had conversations with Chief Higgins early, after I learned about getting the job. He, of course, was disappointed, as anyone would be. I can tell you that there are a lot of emotional deposits that are made when you enter a process like that. That disappointment is painful, especially if you really, really want it from your heart. I understand how that can be disappointing. But, as a chief walking in the door, knowing that I have someone on my executive staff who made it as a finalist out of 59 candidates, I see that as an asset. I have someone who is chief-worthy working with me, that I can lean on and say, “Hey, what do you think about this? What’s your experience and knowledge about the following?” To have that information right next door to my office, I see that as a good thing. That certainly doesn’t mean that I don’t recognize that he could be and probably is disappointed about not getting the job, as anyone would be. But I have not seen any kind of uncomfortableness as it relates to our interaction with each other, or by the two captains who, I believe, put in for the position. AT: You’re coming to Little Rock from Louisville, Ky. Are you seeing any major differences between how policing goes in Little Rock as opposed to Louisville? KB: Not a lot of major differences. Of course, Louisville is bigger — it’s a city of about 740,000 to 750,000 people, and a police department of about 1,280 [officers at] authorized strength. There’s a lot of similarities in our cities: diverse communities, a river that runs through the city, revitalization of downtown areas, crimes concentrated in communities, significant minority population [and] much of the violent crime occurring in the minority population and specifically the African-American community, both suspects and victims of those violent crimes. So, in that aspect, that’s one of the reasons why I put in for the [chief’s position with the] department in Little Rock, because I felt like what I had gained in my body of work would align me to be able to be successful here in this city. 12

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AT: Little Rock, like a lot of big cities — as you were just saying — has a violence problem. KB: We do. AT: We had a situation down in the River Market on Wednesday night, for example, in which some people were causing problems at “Movies in the Park” and later fired off a gun, and we had 12 people killed in April alone. We’ve got a crime problem in general as well, but violence is what makes the headlines. What is your plan for trying to combat the violence we see in Little Rock? KB: A couple of things. As far as the crime-control model is concerned, I subscribe to intelligence-led policing, which basically means we have some sort of mechanism that allows us to gather, analyze and disseminate information. From that information, I think you look at hot spots and focused deterrence. Look at locations where crime is occurring or is likely to occur, and focus deterrence — focus in on the key individuals who are causing problems in those areas. The reason that is important is so we do not alienate the public that we’re trying to protect, and who we are asking to work with us, with the kind of “net fishing” that you’ve seen some agencies do with the stop and frisk and the zero tolerance. Those things are very short-sighted, in my opinion. They offer short-term success, and in many instances, it scars the community and the trust and relationship that you have with them. AT: You’re talking about going after hot spots and a focused deterrence, and a lot of the violent crime that happens in Little Rock happens in a kind of box south of I-630, bordered by the freeways. Those are predominantly AfricanAmerican neighborhoods. With so much of the violence focused in those neighborhoods, how do you hit a happy medium between looking at hot spots and making those neighborhoods feel like an occupied country? KB: The other two aspects that I didn’t cover on the crime model are effective partnerships with our state, local and federal agencies, including prosecutors. I think we have to have those folks at the table to kind of reinforce what we’re doing at the local level. Then the last component of that is community involvement. I see that

as the foundation of an effective crime control model. Police can’t do it alone. We’re not going to arrest our way out of this. We have to have the public on board to do so. That leads me to your next question: How do you go into the African-American community, where the majority of the violent crime is occurring, and be effective in that community without alienating the community? Well, No. 1, they have to be on board with what that model is going to look like and what the plan is going to be. Then, we have to have some honest and open conversations as to: Who are our problem folks, where are the locations where these things are going on, and what are you willing to do to help us solve those crimes? There are a lot of folks who will throw stones at the police department, who will give media interviews about what we should be doing and about crime. But very seldom do we see them at our door when we’re asking for help to solve some of these crimes. One thing that I’m encouraged about is we’re talking about violent crime in our city. We’ve had 29 homicides so far [this year]. We’ve solved 25 of those, many of which would not have been solved if we didn’t have the community coming forward and giving us information. That’s a very, very good start when you have the community giving you that kind of support. Same thing with some of our robbery suspects. We’re sending these pictures out, and the community is responding. They’re helping us with some of that information. When you allow the folks that you’re protecting to have a say-so in what we’re doing and how we’re going to go about it, they’re more likely to work with you, and more likely to be patient when they’re caught kind of in harm’s way. When you’re out doing your work, they’re more understanding if they helped you devise that plan. We can do that by making sure to treat everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of where they live, [or] what their socioeconomic status is, and we have to do that both inside and outside of the police department. When you come into contact with people in the community, just because they live in a crime-infested neighborhood doesn’t mean that we treat them differently than someone who lives in an affluent community. It takes time to get those things changed. I understand that there are a lot of historical scars in this community and this police department as there are in most communities that have an urban environment. Police and

African-American communities and Hispanic communities, historically, don’t have a very strong relationship. I can’t subscribe to that. I can’t surrender to that. My job is to build those relationships and bridges where we can to get them to come to the table. All of that starts with trust. Trust is built with deposits of good will, and I think we’re doing a lot of things in the police department to get some of those conversations started. AT: You talked about community involvement. There have been efforts over the years to do youth diversion and outreach programs to try and get kids to stay away from crime. Are those programs valuable, or would that money be better spent on more handcuffs and more patrol cars? KB: I think they’re a spoke in the wheel. I think diversion is a good thing. Anytime that I can take a 16- or 17-year-old young man who is facing, let’s say, a nonviolent felony offense, and they’re thinking about taking that individual and moving them up to an adult court. Anytime that I have an opportunity to divert that young man to services that will give him a last-ditch opportunity to turn his or her life around, we have to give that a try. We know that once you become a convicted felon, you pretty much have a stripe down your back for the rest of your life. So I think we always have to have some kind of effort to do intervention and prevention with highrisk individuals. I’m a huge proponent of education. We know that kids who fall out of the classroom land in the back seat of Crown Victorias driven by police officers. So any of those programs should be a spoke in the wheel of what we’re doing. There’s no one certain thing that’s going to solve any of these problems. The problems are too big, too complex, to have these sort of penicillin approaches to dealing with the problem we’re facing. AT: There have been a number of controversial police use-offorce cases in the past few years in Little Rock. Some people have talked about whether it’s time for some kind of civilian oversight of police use-of-force investigations, or some kind of civilian review process. Could you talk a little bit about use-of-force, investigations of police use-of-force, and whether you would support something like civilian oversight?

Q&A WITH CHIEF KENTON BUCKNER, CONT. KB: That’s a great question. Let’s kind of incrementally look at that. First, let’s look at use of force. Use of force is probably one of the key things you want to look at in any police department as to how we deliver our services. The main goal for that is to ensure that the force we are using is reasonable and necessary. Even if someone says, “Well, this is not illegal, or they were not charged criminally,” if I can look at that force and I feel like it was unreasonable and unnecessary, I’m going to have a problem with it. In the same note, I’m also going to make sure our officers have the ability to protect themselves. We are husbands, we are fathers, we are brothers, we are sisters. We have families to go home to. And I am not going to put officers out on the street who are at risk because somebody thinks it’s ugly because they’ve seen us on the ground wrestling with someone who we felt was being violent with us. So there’s a healthy balance that I have to strike with that. As it relates to civilian oversight, there are successful models around the country that I’m sure you can look at to see where some sort of civilian involvement has helped. I’m a big proponent of advisory boards to be able to help the chief focus on things that are important to the community. As far as the oversight is concerned, the only thing I would want to make sure of is that it’s a model that does not tie my hands in doing my job — one that is fair for the community to help them trust our processes, and one that does not impede upon the rights of our officers. Anything like that, I’d always be willing to review it. To make a blanket statement or broadbrush statement that I would want to implement something like that after two weeks, I think would be reckless on my part. AT: Among the recent-use-of force cases, the Eugene Ellison case comes to mind. He was the elderly man killed in his apartment over on University by two police officers. KB: Is that the one where the two female officers were involved? AT: Yes. One of them apparently shot him through the open door of the apartment. KB: Yes, I’m familiar with that case. AT: Is that case something you’d look into again? As the chief, of course, you’re going to be involved, but given the controversy

surrounding that incident, would you revisit it? KB: As it relates to my practice, do I plan to do that? I do not. I’m not going to rehash old investigations where the disposition has been rendered for those cases. I’m going to respect what due process has done for those cases. If it’s something that’s ongoing, that we do not have a disposition on, and I’m going to be asked to weigh in, we’re going to give it a thorough investigation. I’m going to make sure that everyone involved has been interviewed and that we’ve taken a comprehensive look at that case. But as far as going back and undoing or looking to undo things, I just don’t think that would be prudent of me to do something like that. AT: New leadership is always worrisome for people involved in any organization, because a lot of new leaders want to come in and put their own stamp on things. Is there anything that you’d like to change in the LRPD in coming years, and how do you find a balance between rocking the boat and sticking with the status quo? KB: Change is much like castor oil. It should be administered by the teaspoon. I have not seen anything in this agency that leads me to believe that those kind of changes are necessary. Chief Thomas gave me the keys to a pretty damn good car, and I appreciate that. Does that mean it couldn’t use four new tires? No. Does that mean that maybe a tune-up would hurt us? No. Does that mean we need a new coat of paint on it? Possibly. But I haven’t seen anything as it relates to our engine and transmission that would lead me to believe there’s something structurally wrong with this police department. There are always opportunities for improvement. We’re always going to be seeking that out. As it relates to change, I want our officers to have input on what that change should look like. I’m a huge fan of not allowing myself and other folks who have been promoted through the ranks to sit in air-conditioned rooms and write things on a white board that impact a number of different people who have no say-so on what the final model should look like. In many instances, they could save us time and money if we’d just ask them: “What do you think about this?” That doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m going to agree with them every time, but the fact that they were heard, I think, makes a healthy police department.

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PREVENTING DEADLY DISEASES

Michel Leidermann Moderator

Thursday, July 31 aT 10:30 PM In Spanish with English subtitles aetn.org www.arktimes.com

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Tom Cotton has a golden resume, but questions linger about whether his style and politics fit Arkansas. BY DAVID RAMSEY

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t was 85 degrees and humid at the Fourth of July picnic in Corning, just south of the Missouri border. Tom Cotton stood by the stage in Corning’s Wynn Park, waiting his turn to give a short speech. Dressed in khakis and a crisp, light blue buttonup, sleeves rolled up slightly, Cotton bounced gently on his heels, taking a moment to himself before the hobnobbing to come. Corning’s population is a little more than 3,000, but on the Fourth it’s probably five times that, as people from all over the county and beyond pour in for the festivities: a parade, carnival rides, country music, $2 hot dogs, a beauty pageant, fireworks. Oh, and politics. In election

BRIAN CHILSON

THE CHALLENGER: Last August in Dardanelle, Tom Cotton announced a run for Senate against incumbent Mark Pryor.

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years, candidates from both parties, for everything from governor to dogcatcher, show up to make their pitch and glad-hand. This is the day-to-day grind of a politician on the trail, “gripping and grinning” as the campaign consultants say. In a small, rural state like Arkansas, as the prevailing wisdom goes, this kind of retail politics still matters. The Corning picnic is part of the circuit, which includes the Coon Supper in Gillett, the Oyster Supper in Slovak, the Chicken Fry in Mount Nebo and the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival. (Cotton skipped this last one to attend a closed-door seminar with numerous billionaire donors and GOP elites in California, hosted by the Koch

brothers. According to a report in The Nation, the Kochs served “oven roasted Angus natural filet mignon served in a fresh green peppercorn sauce,” which sounds a little better than pink tomatoes, but Cotton’s political opponents have attacked his choice as out of touch with Arkansas.) Cotton, 37, is running for Senate, challenging incumbent Mark Pryor, and on paper he should be winning handily. He’s running in an off-year election with an electorate likely favoring Republicans, in a state trending dead red. President Obama’s approval ratings in Arkansas are in the low 30s. Pryor is the last Democrat

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RETAIL POLITICS: Cotton meets with a constituent in Rison.

when previous Lt. Gov. Mark Darr resigned in disgrace early this year, the state didn’t bother to fill the vacancy). “My opponent [John Burkhalter] is the preferred candidate of President Obama,” Griffin told the crowd with a straight face. When Cotton’s name was called, he bounded up the steps. While others walked to the middle of the stage to deliver their spiel, Cotton grabbed the microphone and took off at a trot to the front, fast enough that it appeared he might run off the edge. He held the mic close and spoke loudly, with the hard, thudding consonants of a cheerleader (or a drill sergeant). You could hardly blame Cotton for being a little overeager. The candidate has been taking heat from the chattering classes over his skills as a retail politician. He’s too cold, too stiff, too academic, too robotic, the story goes. As University of Arkansas professor and pollster Janine Parry told U.S. News & World Report, “Cotton has a reputation, bless his heart, for being a bit of a cold fish.” Cotton himself joked to Politico, “I’m warm, dammit.” After his speech, Cotton began to make the rounds. He walks in big, forceful strides and speaks in a flat, facts-and-figures cadence. At

BRIAN CHILSON

in the state’s congressional delegation; former Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln was trounced in 2010 by more than 20 points. And then there’s Cotton’s resume: Harvard undergrad, Harvard law, Army Ranger who did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year, the national media had declared Pryor the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the Senate, a “dead man walking.” Instead, with the election just four months away, the polls seem to indicate a tight race. The early prognosticators may have underestimated the Pryor brand in Arkansas, but with a pickup for Republicans now in some doubt, grumblings have emerged about Cotton himself, who had been considered a rising political superstar in the Republican ranks. “What’s wrong with Tom Cotton?” asked a recent U.S. News & World Report article; a writer at The American Conservative followed up by blogging that the Cotton campaign was “flailing.” The assembled crowd in Corning waved political novelty fans (“I’m a FAN of Pryor”) to keep cool. “Pryor’s done Arkansas really good for a lot of years,” one Pryor fan, Jerry Ladd of Corning, told me. “I don’t think Obama’s done good this year, or the last four years.” But that wouldn’t stop Ladd, who works for the Highway and Transportation Department, from voting for Pryor, he said. “He’s helped Social Security, trying to keep it where it is. If you’re the workingman and woman out there, when you get in your late 50s and 60s, your old body’s not the same as it was. So you need help. That’s why I really like Pryor. He’s a family politician who has helped the state of Arkansas. I’ll vote for Democrat or Republican — anybody that’ll help the state of Arkansas and help me.” Paragould truck driver Michael Sanders said he was planning to support Cotton. “We definitely need a freaking change,” he said. “From Biblical to what’s actually right. What’s ruining this country is all the freebie stuff. I’m a taxpayer, I still work and I’m probably going to have to work until I die. I feel like Mark Pryor’s sold us out, supporting everything Obama goes for.” Obama, Obama, Obama. Republicans running for office in Arkansas this year are hoping that’s the magic word. In particular, many Republican strategists believe that the president’s signature health care law, bludgeoned to great success in Arkansas in the 2010 and 2012 elections cycles, is a political gift that will keep on giving. “Most definitely, 100 percent, it will work in 2014,” GOP strategist Bill Vickery recently told Talk Business. “There are only three things for certain in life: death, taxes and the unpopularity of Obamacare in the South.” At his turn on stage in Corning, even Tim Griffin, the outgoing congressman running for lieutenant governor, vowed to continue to fight Obamacare, despite running for a state office that has nothing at all to do with the national health care law (an office so light on duties that

6-foot-5, he stands a head above the crowd. He’s a political cartoonist’s dream: angular and gangly, big ears, crew cut, a neck that seems two sizes too tall. Cotton has an intensely formal manner, and that will probably never change, but he has steadily improved at the awkward business of making small talk with strangers. Both in Corning and other stops where I’ve watched him on the trail, he seemed confident and at ease in individual conversations with voters. He speaks directly, he’s a patient listener and is quick to laugh. A Cotton campaign worker told me that the criticism is the best thing that could have happened to the candidate, an extremely driven man used to willing his way to success. Cotton was a little stung by the press labeling him a subpar retail politician; now he was bound and determined to prove them wrong. And once Cotton fixates on a goal, he is, by all accounts, a force to be reckoned with. He is methodical, hyper-focused and single-minded. A meticulous perfectionist and obsessive worker. Always has been. Surely his experience in the Army shaped him, but old friends say he already had a demeanor well suited to the military. If Bill

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Clinton — a politician who made a big impression on Cotton when he was growing up — was born with charm, Cotton was born with discipline. Of course, while many things in life can be won by outworking the other guy, likability isn’t one of them. Cotton can be stiff in public appearances and in front of the camera. He always hits his talking points, but he’s still working on mastering the skill that has made more than a few Arkansas politicians famous: making all those talking points sound like aw-shucks empathy. “He’s a little more professorial,” a former teacher of Cotton’s who saw him recently at a fundraiser told me. “I don’t see Tom as ever being the backslapping politician at the chicken fry.” One of the people Cotton met in Corning was Betty Foster, a retired resident of Knobel, sitting in a lawn chair near the stage. (Actually, he came to shake her hand twice — “He forgot the first one,” she said. “Most of them have better memories than that.”) Foster said that Cotton was polite and friendly, but she wasn’t planning on voting for him. “He scares me,” she said. “He’s a little bit radical. There’s too many people in this country who depend on Social Security and Medicare. They have got to be protected.” For all the talk of personality, it’s Cotton’s votes — and the bombardment of advertising

BRIAN CHILSON

TALKING POINTS: Tom Cotton is a disciplined politician who sticks to the script.

over the last few months pointing them out — that seemed to be influencing the voters in Corning still skeptical of the challenger. Many Democratic operatives believe that Pryor got a lifeline drawing an opponent with Cotton’s record. Cotton voted against funding for disaster relief, against the farm bill and against bills to make student loans more affordable. He voted for a bill that would have eventually raised the retirement age for Medicare and Social Security and moved toward “voucherizing” Medicare. He was in the middle of the government shutdown fight and voted against the omnibus appropriations bill that kept the government running this year and included funding for Arkansas Children’s Hospital and countless other local interests. The list goes on. Team Cotton has arguments about why he did so, but the broad picture is hard to dispute: Cotton is an ideological purist on the far right end of the American political spectrum. He believes in an aggressive reimagining of the role of government and the social safety net in modern American life, and is more than willing to stand by his principles, even at the cost of federal dollars flowing into Arkansas. The Pryor campaign has been attempting to paint him as an “extremist” and “reckless,” and his voting record gives them plenty of material.

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Will Cotton’s politics and personal style give him trouble in a state with a tradition of economic populism, folksy retail politics and an independent political streak? Or does it even matter? Perhaps Arkansas is destined for Republican rule no matter whose name is next to the R. Perhaps an all-Obamacare-all-the-time political message can’t lose. Certainly, that’s why many thought Pryor was toast to begin with. We’ll have our answers come November. Major implications for both Arkansas and the national political picture hang in the balance, as voters try to decide just what to make of Thomas B. Cotton.

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hen Cotton first emerged on the political scene in 2012, the conservative breitbart.com gushed that he was “one of the best candidates running for Congress this election cycle — and possibly ever.” Unflagging neoconservative and GOP kingmaker Bill Kristol was also a big fan and his magazine, The Weekly Standard, has run dozens of fawning items on Cotton (“best read while listening to John Philip Sousa and cooling an apple pie” as Slate’s Dave Weigel put it). A recent profile

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MEET THE PARENTS: Len and Avis Cotton campaigning for their son.

ton supporters when he was growing up, but by high school, Cotton considered himself a Republican, according to friends. When he arrived at Harvard’s very liberal campus, his conservative perspective only hardened. He delighted in being an iconoclast. Cotton devoted his time at Harvard to “cultivating contrarianism,” as he wrote in his column at the Harvard Crimson. “He was never shy about it,” said Adam Kovacevich, a close college friend of Cotton’s now working for Google in Washington, D.C., who considers himself a moderate Democrat (after Harvard, he did a stint as New York Sen. Joe Lieberman’s press secretary). “He always kind of knew himself, knew who he was. I certainly don’t agree with Tom on all the issues, but we were both very interested in the ideas behind politics.” Their rap sessions had a philosophical bent, and Cotton was as interested in Plato and Aristotle as he was in the news of the day. Cotton wrote his senior thesis on the Federalist papers. “He thought a lot about what it means to be an American, what are the values that define American democracy,” Kovacevich said. Cotton also seemed to romanticize certain grand ideas that may have seemed antiquated to his classmates. In his columns, he wrote often of virtue, honor, glory, patriotism. “We dislike honor in this most democratic age,” Cotton lamented in one. Another: “How little we hear

BRIAN CHILSON

in National Review reported that Cotton had both read all of Thucydides and volunteered for the infantry, concluding that he “seems to have it all.” Even the National Journal, ostensibly sober and above the fray, called him “The Immaculate Candidate.” (Cotton declined to be interviewed for this article; his Congressional office has responded to queries from the Times only once, when asked what Cotton’s favorite song was for a sidebar in the Times’ Music Issue. Answer: “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”) Cotton is the great hope for a splintered Republican party in search of a savior. He has both Tea Party cred and approval from the establishment, plus big-money backing from powerful right-wing advocacy groups like Club for Growth and Heritage Action. He is a hardliner who appeals to both the anti-tax and the war hawk wings of the party. Perhaps most of all, there is that sparkling resume, a life story perfect for a political bio. Even the name: Tom Cotton. If a Hollywood movie gave that name to a fictional all-American Southern politician, it would almost be too on the nose. Cotton grew up on a cattle farm just outside of Dardanelle in Yell County, son of Len, who worked for the state Department of Health, and Avis, a middle school principal. Friends remember Cotton as unusually driven and methodically focused, even as a boy. He was a thoughtful kid who followed the rules, and he had the same serious bearing that he has today — he’s often remembered as mature and “wise beyond his years” by both peers and adults who knew him growing up. “He was a planner,” said Marcia Lawrence, principal at Dardanelle High School, who taught Cotton AP English. “That was his makeup. He was gonna work that plan and do what it took to get that plan into fruition.” “He always seemed to have it together from day one,” said Greg Judkins, a friend who grew up with Cotton in Dardanelle. “Always organized, no wasted effort. There was a group of us who would want to go party and hang out and be a little more rambunctious. He always just had things to do. There was always something on his mind, something big. He had a bigger picture. Just like you see today, he was motivated. Pretty much everything he did was efficient. He always had a plan. When he decided he wanted to go to Harvard, he made up a plan on how to do it.” In addition to his schoolwork, Cotton’s big passion was basketball, and he played as a lanky center for the Dardanelle High School Sand Lizards. Cotton wasn’t the best athlete, an old AAU coach remembered, “but he was intuitive as far as being able to be in the right position. He understood the angles. Very fundamental. He knew where he was supposed to be and what he was supposed to do.” Cotton’s parents were Democrats and Clin-

of self-discipline in our indulgent and permissive society.” The summer after his freshman year, he reread Jane Austen’s novels, wanting to reflect on what they had to say about virtue and an ethical life. Some friends told him he seemed like he would be more comfortable in another century. As a college columnist, Cotton was an oddball conservative intellectual. Undergrad scribblings from 20 years ago, of course, reveal no secret clues as to what sort of senator Cotton might make. They nonetheless make for interesting reading, in part because College Cotton was more engaging and recognizably human than the scripted Candidate Cotton is allowed to be. He could occasionally be prudish and hectoring, but his style — if stuffy and overstuffed — was endearing. It’s actually too bad that we don’t get more of Cotton the columnist on the campaign trail (imagine William F. Buckley in fatigues), rather than the robo-candidate repeating readymade talking points. “No, I could not have sought or expected popularity and its absence concerns me not at all,” Cotton wrote. “This is the reason I have written polemical philippics: I have sought to counteract rampant prejudices. … It was my intent to challenge with my writings; and by challenging, I meant to improve, to jolt slumbering minds into wakefulness.” Harrumph!

Cotton has steadily improved as a campaigner, but no one will confuse him with Clinton. “It’s almost like the minute he realizes he’s smiling, he puts on a serious face again,” said Julie Baldridge, who has been close to Cotton since he spent a summer working for her at age 19 in the Little Rock office of then-U.S. Congressman Ray Thornton, a Democrat. “He’s simply a formal, serious person. … It’s hard for him not be himself.” One old friend compared him to the characters on “The Big Bang Theory,” the hit show about loveable but socially awkward brainiacs. “I think the characterizations people try to make are amusing, pretty far off base,” said Michael Lamoureux, a Republican state senator from Russellville who has known Cotton since they were basketball rivals as boys. “It seems like the intent is to describe him as some sort of robot. You know, he’s a normal guy that happens to have a better resume than the average guy, but he’s a human. I see some of the attacks and I think, maybe he’s wrong on policy, but he’s not from another — he’s not a robot or something.” Politics is a funny business. Talk to those who really know Cotton and you’ll hear about his dry sense of humor and what a loyal and generous friend he is. But that’s a different matter altogether than translating the perfect political bio into a human being that Arkansans can relate to. Al Gore was reportedly charming once you really got to know him, but the caricatures in political narratives have a way of hardening. “He does have a great deal of empathy,” one friend of Cotton’s said. “It’s just it’s hard to see it.” Of course, there are other skills in a politician’s toolbox beyond charm. Keeping to the same talking points over and over isn’t easy, and it’s probably no surprise that Cotton is extremely good at sticking to the script, making him unlikely to make an unforced error. “He’s disciplined in that regard,” said Clint Reed, a Little Rock GOP strategist. “Not everybody has that skillset. As a guy who does politics for a living, man, I’d take candidates like that every day of the week.” One way of looking at the campaign, then, is that Cotton is a robot. Another way of looking at it (a frightening prospect if you don’t like his politics) is that Tom Cotton is a political machine. The Cotton campaign’s big bet is that all he needs to do is perseverate on “Obama” and “Obamacare.” Cotton’s standard OPM rate — “Obama” per minute — is typically around 4 or 5, but can be as high as 10 when he really gets going. Ask him about student loans and he’ll talk about repealing Obamacare. In an interview

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lift the 35-year-old former Army captain from It’s a long way from backslapping at barbecues. obscurity — and 47 percentage points down in Cotton eventually went on to Harvard Law, followed by a stint clerking for a U.S. Court of his first internal poll — to the fourth floor of the Appeals judge in Houston and gigs at private Cannon House Office Building.” law firms in Washington, D.C. On his way to a Thus Cotton emerged as a darling of the right: lucrative career as an attorney, Cotton decided a well-funded, articulate, diehard conservative. instead to take a sharp turn, enlisting in the Almost immediately, his fans began to dream U.S. Army. Someone with Cotton’s background of bigger things, including Pryor’s Senate seat. would typically have gone into the Judge Advo- “He’s bound to attract attention in Washingcate General (JAG) Corps, but Cotton wanted to ton, and ... blessed with bright prospects for be a soldier on the ground, and he volunteered gaining still higher office,” wrote Fred Barnes for the infantry. in The Weekly Standard. Cotton was thinking Friends who spoke to him at the time were big too — he started polling a possible Senate race in February, a month after he was sworn surprised by his decision to enlist but described in to the House. him as resolute and assured in his decision. (Cotton has said that the events of Sept. 11, when “Some people say I’m a ‘young man in a hurry,’ ” he was in his last year of law school, originally Cotton told National Review last May. “They’re inspired him to join, but he first needed to pay right.” off his student loans.) Cotton, whose father had volunteered to go to Vietnam, had always xxxxxxxx held soldiers in high esteem. His hero was Churchill, “the greatest man of our century,” in Cotton’s estimation. A Crimson column Cotton penned on Churchill might help in understanding his thinking: “Had Churchill not faced down death as a young man, would he have had the courage to face down Hitler in 1940?” In another, he wrote, “Americans once venerated their generals; today we venerate our sports heroes. This development is both healthy and sad; healthy because it means we do not suffer the depredations of war, but sad because it deprives of GRIPPING AND GRINNING: us displays of great virtue.” “He does have a great deal Cotton completed paratrooper of empathy,” one friend said. “It’s just it’s hard to see it.” and Ranger training and served as a platoon leader for the 101st Airborne in southern Baghdad in 2006, then later volunteered for a second combat he stories and myths of Arkansas politics tour, serving as captain on a Provincial Reconare dominated by the outsized personalistruction Team (PRT) in Laghman Province ties of charming good ol’ boys like Dale in Afghanistan. Bumpers, Mike Huckabee, Mike Beebe and Andrew Wilson, who served as a fellow capMark Pryor’s father, David, the popular former tain with Cotton in Afghanistan, described him governor, congressman and senator (whose as “the moral compass of the PRT. I was probname still counts for something; a Pryor camably always more of an emotional leader. Tom paign worker told me that every time they go out on the trail, voters say things like “say hi to wasn’t really that. He was more steadfast, he your daddy for me” or “make sure and tell your had a process. He’s a very straightforward guy. dad, thanks for everything”). Finally, of course, He follows the rules, always plays by the rules.” After five years of active duty, Cotton took there was Bill Clinton, whose shadow hangs a job at the Washington, D.C., office of highover any Arkansas politician on the rise. powered consulting firm McKinsey & Co. In Cotton’s first column at the Crimson was 2011, he decided to run for Congress back in about meeting Clinton with his family as a boy: “His eyes twinkled that twinkle that is now so Arkansas, taking residency at a family home in Dardanelle. By that time, he had been gone for familiar to all of us. He mouthed inaudible more than 15 years and was a relative unknown thanks, and then moved on to the next face. on the political scene. During the primary, he Forty-five seconds, at most. And he absolutely received a FedEx envelope from the Club for meant it all, the way young couples mean it Growth, Politico reported: “Tucked inside that when they say, ‘I love you.’…Bill Clinton is the envelope and several to come were $300,000 most successful campaigner of our time because in checks from Club members, enough to help he is the most sincere campaigner of our time.”

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Cotton’s precise motivation was for voting the way that he did. We don’t judge politicians on intentions. We shall know them by their works. Cotton believes so fervently that the federal government should no longer be involved in subsidizing student loans (despite the fact that he took Stafford loans at Harvard) that he voted against bills that would have lightened the burden of loan repayment for more than 200,000 Arkansans. He is such a hard-liner on the debt that he was willing to drive right off the fiscal cliff into national default, a potential economic catastrophe that he called “short-term market corrections,” saying, “I’d like to take the medicine now.” Voting against the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Bill, Cotton said, “I don’t think Arkansas needs to bail out the Northeast.” He said that it was larded up with pet projects, but he also voted against a Sandy bill that included only funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Cotton complained that it wasn’t offset with corresponding spending cuts). On foreign policy, Cotton is an unreconstructed neoconservative. “George Bush did largely have it right,” he said. Cotton co-sponsored a bill that would likely ban certain forms of birth control, such as IUDs and the morning-after pill. He voted against the Violence Against Women Act and against the Paycheck Fairness Act. Around half a million Arkansans get food stamps, but Cotton advocates for massive cuts to the program, claiming that “we’ve all been in a situation where we stand in the grocery line at Walmart” and see someone using a food stamp card with “steak in their basket, and they have a brand new iPhone, and they have a brand new SUV.” Cotton voted for the Paul Ryan budget, which would cut benefits for seniors, including preventative care, and eventually transition Medicare into a voucher-like system; he was also the only member of the Arkansas congressional delegation to vote for the Republican Study Committee Budget, which would eventually raise the eligibility age for both Social Security and Medicare to 70. Both budgets would give tax cuts to the wealthy and cut trillions of dollars in programs serving lowincome Americans. Cotton seems to be a true believer on all of this. He is resolute and uncompromising. He’s not pretending to be someone he’s not. It will be up to Arkansans to decide whether they like what they see. BRIAN CHILSON

with the right-wing blog Hot Air, he was asked about America’s sluggish economic recovery and responded with a sentence about jobs and a paragraph about Obamacare. There is zero doubt that Obama, and Obamacare, are a net negative for Pryor. Antipathy for the president runs deep in Arkansas, ranging from honest, coherent critiques to the more unhinged variety. (A couple of voters at a campaign event in Pangburn told me they “wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t have another four years of Obama.” When I noted that his term would be up, they responded, “All he’s gotta do is declare war somewhere, and then we won’t change presidents; think about that.”) Still, there is the risk that voters may start to tune out such a narrow message (not to mention the fact that nearly 200,000 Arkansans have gained coverage via the state’s “private option” version of Medicaid expansion; Cotton has dodged takON MESSAGE: The ing a position on the private option, Cotton campaign has but it’s funded by Obamacare, the aimed to nationalize the law that Cotton is so eager to repeal). campaign, with a big focus on Obamacare. It’s worth noting that Republican Asa Hutchinson, running for governor, has been offering a more diversified — and locally focused — campaign port“The only guiding principle that explains all folio, and is doing a bit better in the polls. Congressman Cotton’s votes against Arkansans Meanwhile, Pryor will continue to hamis his principled interest in seeing himself get mer Cotton on his votes. When Cotton voted ahead,” said Pryor deputy campaign manager against the farm bill, political analyst Charlie Erik Dorey. “The Club for Growth is perfectly Cook wrote, “My hunch is that there is a lot of illustrative of exactly how loyal Congressman head-scratching over that vote among farmers Cotton is to these out-of-state special interests and folks in rural and small-town Arkansas. … and the billionaires backing his campaign, and my guess is, his vote on the farm bill will be a has been from the very beginning of his politicudgel that Pryor will swing at him from now cal ambitions. … There is a guiding principle to November, providing an opening that the when someone will ride the special interest incumbent needed and the challenger could dollars into Congress, then take an oath of ill-afford to give. If Cotton doesn’t regret the office and immediately position himself to vote already, he soon will.” ride those same out-of-state backers into the next higher office, and that guiding principle Cotton and his campaign were defiant — is Tom Cotton looking out for Tom Cotton.” Cotton was going to stand by his beliefs even if doing so was politically risky. His backers Of course, all politicians are seeking career believe that voters will appreciate Cotton’s advancement. What stands out about Cotton is actions as principled even if they are unpopular. the intensity of his ideological purity. Rather The Pryor campaign has a different take, than running on personality or local issues, pointing out that Cotton’s controversial votes Cotton has said he wants to “run contests of — often as the lone member of the Arkansas ideas.” Cotton is unbending in his commitdelegation — track neatly with the scorecards ment to those ideas — Tea Party economics put out by advocacy groups like the Club for and aggressively hawkish foreign policy — no Growth. (Cotton has been one of the top recipimatter the consequences and regardless of ents of campaign donations from the Club over the parochial interests of Arkansas. Cotton the last two election cycles, totaling around has been a stickler for rules his entire life — it makes sense that he’s rigid on first principles. $500,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The Club has also spent more Policy is messy; Cotton argues in black and than $700,000 in independent expenditures white. attacking Pryor.) In the end, it doesn’t much matter what

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Arts Entertainment AND

A Q&A WITH GLITTERCORE

SHER SPEER

GLAMMED OUT: Paul Bowling (left) and Shayne Gray.

Little Rock music veterans Shayne Gray and Paul Bowling talk Techno-Squid Eats Parliament, Trusty and a new album. BY WILL STEPHENSON

he members of Glittercore are Little Rock music scene mainstays, with several decades of local history and creative involvement among the three of them. Singer and guitarist Paul Bowling was a founding member of the seminal Little Rock punk band Trusty, bassist KV plays in hazynation and Nos Rebos, drummer Shayne Gray was in local favorites Techno-Squid Eats Parliament, and Bowling and Gray previously played together in The Dangerous Idiots. This is a partial accounting (Gray 22

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ARKANSAS TIMES

also cites bands ranging from Victory Garden, featuring Ben Nichols, to “a solo side project called Naked Lunchbox that I’d like to take off the back burner in the near future”), but space is limited. Glittercore, their primary focus these days, is a kind of culmination of the variously successful, locally adored groups they’ve been a part of, as is their self-titled debut (available on iTunes and Bandcamp), a sincere and ambitious indie rock record made by the generation who first used the term. This Friday at Vino’s,

they’ll celebrate the album release with Dead Anchors and The Muddlestuds, 9 p.m., $5. To mark the occasion, I asked Shayne and Paul about their admirable and strange careers, and about the new album. Shayne, tell me about TechnoSquid Eats Parliament. People speak reverently about this band, but your Allmusic bio is kind of tragic. What happened? Shayne: Sure, I’ve wanted to explain

this for many years. I was the drummer of Techno-Squid Eats Parliament and the band was formed in 1992 with me, Clay Bell, Aaron Sarlo and Mark Pearrow. The band name came from Mark. He said it sounded like some ridiculous headline from one of his favorite British comedy magazines, Viz. Billboard Magazine described us as “Anglo-smart power-pop with punk undertones.” After three months together, we made it into the semifinals of Spectrum Weekly’s Arkansas Showcase [which later became the Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase], judged by music industry legends Jody Stephens, Jim Dickinson, John Fry and Rick Clark. We placed second that evening, and, shortly after, signed to Ardent Records and recorded our eponymous album with Grammy winner John Hampton producing (Gin Blossoms, White Stripes, etc.). Philips Multimedia and Polygram re-released “Techno-Squid Eats Parliament,” we toured the U.S. and Canada and were featured on MTV’s “120 Minutes,” as well as on MTV Canada. We played SXSW, Crossroads, NXNE and Amnesty International in Boston. The album was recorded at the legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tenn. (our A&R Rep was Jody Stephens). In the early days I did most of the booking, management and promotion; Aaron and Clay were the primary singer-songwriters. There were several “Spinal Tap”type things that happened with Techno-Squid Eats Parliament. Ardent Records asked us to change our name so we would be more “marketable.” We refused and because of this we were often misplaced in record stores under “Funkadelic” or “Techno.” Distribution on the original album was not that great (much like with the story of Big Star). Distribution picked up after Ardent made our debut release into one of the world’s first “Audio-Visual Compact Discs” using Macintosh products. The problem was Microsoft was just about to be the most used platform and really only very rich artists and/or IT geeks were using Macintosh at that time. This meant most of the population didn’t even have access to a computer that could play the video and interactive portions of our disc. CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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A&E NEWS

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Leveritt, best known for her true crime classic “Devil’s Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three” (on which the recent Hollywood film was based) and its follow-up (released this year), “Dark Spell: Surviving the Sentence,” will be honored at a ceremony held at the Main Library’s Darragh Center on Oct. 16, an event that will be free and open to the public. According to the organization’s press release, Leveritt got the news from a phone call at 8 a.m. “I could not think of a better way to start the day,” she’s quoted as saying. THE ISSUE ISN’T ON NEWSSTANDS YET, but Little Rock’s Pallbearer made the very intense cover of September’s Decibel Magazine, featuring the caption, “The torch is passed to doom’s next big thing.” As we mentioned last month, the band’s new album, “Foundations Of Burden,” is set to be released Aug. 19, and members are gearing up for a big U.S. tour in October and November, but the band has also just announced a Little Rock record release show, which will take place Aug. 22 at the Rev Room, with Plebeian Grandstand, Reproacher and Napalm Christ. BONNIE MONTGOMERY, who you may recognize either as the composer of a Bill Clinton opera a few years ago (covered by the New Yorker) or as a beloved local country singersongwriter (she’s released two EPs, “Cruel” and “Joy,” via Fast Weapons Records), has finished a full-length selftitled album and it’s due out July 29. You can celebrate the album release at the White Water Tavern on Aug. 8 or, in the meantime, check out the first single, “Black County,” on our Rock Candy blog. www.arktimes.com

JULY 24, 2014

THE TO-DO

LIST

BY JIM HARRIS, LINDSEY MILLAR AND WILL STEPHENSON

THURSDAY 7/24

STEELY DAN

7:30 p.m. Arkansas Music Pavilion. $30-$100.

The Eagles suggested in “Hotel California” that “They stab it with their Steely knives but they just can’t kill the beast.” Only the most die-hard fans of both groups — yes, there did exist aficionados who could appreciate both the California-cool country rock of the Eagles as well as the jazz-and-blues-influenced pop tunes of Steely Dan — knew it was a friendly, lyrical tit-for-tat with their L.A.based music rivals, who had suggested “Turn up the Eagles, the neighbors are

listening,” in “What You Did.” Point was, the Eagles were everywhere and topping the charts and were willing to let everyone know the beast couldn’t be stopped, while Steely Dan — with its oddball lyrics and dissonant chords that could go any which unexpected direction — was a more-acquired taste. Hence, the Eagles toured a lot in arenas, broke up for more than a decade, and then went back to touring before even bigger crowds again. Steely Dan never seemed to grasp the touring concept in its first go-round, especially when the Dan devolved into just its creative influ-

ences, Bard College classmates Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, and a cadre of session musicians for its precise studio releases. The Dan took a lengthy break, too, although Fagen released a couple of excellent solo albums and embraced touring with his like-minded musical friends. Finally, Becker took Fagen up on doing another Dan album again in 2000 (20 years after “Gaucho”), and the resulting “Two Against Nature” was a long-awaited smash hit and a Grammy winner to boot. When Fagen can entice Becker to leave his Hawaii home for a few weeks, Steely Dan visits amphitheaters

from coast to coast, and now the Dan is finally making its way to Arkansas and Rogers’ Walmart AMP Thursday night. At Kansas City last weekend, according to setlist.fm, Steely Dan played a 21-song set that included “Black Cow,” “Aja,” “Hey Nineteen,” “Peg,” “Josie,” “My Old School,” and, of course, the two songs that started it all, “Do It Again” and “Reeling in the Years,” to wrap it up. The AMP’s great seats in the reserved seating area ($100) are long gone, but there were tickets on the wings of the reserved sections ($65) plus there’s grass seating behind the reserved area ($30). JH

SATURDAY 7/26

!!! (CHK CHK CHK)

9 p.m. Revolution. $12 adv., $15 day of.

GOON AFFILIATED: Plies will be at IV Corners 8 p.m. Friday.

FRIDAY 7/25

PLIES

8 p.m. IV Corners.

Before he was Plies, he was Algernod Lanier Washington, the homecoming king at Fort Myers Senior High and a wide receiver at the University of Miami. It’s important not to forget his roots in the weirdest state in the South, the birthplace of Bass, because while his commercial peaks have been songs with T-Pain and Akon and Ne-Yo hooks (or remixes of John Legend songs or whatever), his best songs are almost always abrasively simple — deep, probing, bottomless 808 jams about sex and money. He’s adaptable, but his stylistic pulse 24

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ARKANSAS TIMES

will forever be set to late ’80s Shadow Country rap, the vulgar soundtrack to the land of mosquitoes, the Everglades and subwoofers. This year, he even made a vintage Miami Bass track in “Thick,” which sounds like the future and features living legend, 2 Live Crew impresario and former Miami mayoral candidate Luther Campbell on hypeman duty. If you’re not sold on his music, keep in mind that he once tossed $50,000 out into the audience at a show in Atlanta to promote one of his records. Little Rock: It could happen here. He’ll share a bill with Rod-D, the El Dorado native recently riding high off the street hit “Pull Up.” WS

Nearly all the millennial disco-punk revivalists have hung it up. Among the league of bands that helped teach a generation of morose indie rock kids to dance — LCD Soundsystem, Out Hud, The Rapture — !!! (say it Chk Chk Chk) stands nearly alone. Of course, the California-born sextet has evolved. On its latest album, “Thr!!er” (2013), it’s largely traded the post-punk intensity that ran through its early material (like “Me and Giuliani Down by the School Yard (A True Story),” played a million times at house parties in Little Rock in the early aughts), for dance-funk that you could probably turn your Chic- and Donna Summer-loving mom onto. Don’t take that as a dis. Consider taking your mom to the show. There’ll probably be plenty of other moms in attendance. Probably moms who used to dance furiously to Soophie Nun Squad’s “No Moms Allowed!” Probably moms who attended !!!’s first shows in Little Rock. Nate Powell, award-winning graphic novelist and Little Rock punk historian, remembers those shows vividly. They happened at the Belvedere Pavilion in Riverfront Park (a regular punk venue in the ’90s). At the first show, with Soophie (of which Powell was a member) and the Popesmashers also on the bill, !!! sold every single copy of the three-song demo tape they had out at the time. So they decided to stick around for another performance. I’ll let Nate take it away from here:

“By then, the word had spread far and wide that this might be the best live band of all time, so while about 100 folks came to the first night, around 150-200 came to the second. River rats and homeless folks also caught word from their friends who’d caught the first show, and represented in major numbers. Random hippies showed up with 3-4-foot-tall bongos and congas, rain sticks, and extra percussion instruments. Within about 20 minutes of the second show, two cop cars showed up (as usual in that era), but as the officers approached the Belvedere, there was an understanding amongst EVERYONE at the show: !!! would keep playing, we’d keep dancing and stay positive, and we would show that this was truly nothing but good music on a summer night. The cops stood about 20 feet up the hill, hands on their belts/hips, assessing the situation, wondering at first why no “punk representative” had come up the hill to talk with them yet (as was our M.O. at the time). Then the music itself began to work its magic on them. It was just too good. When the song finally did end, everyone cheered and clapped as loudly as they could, smiles on everyone’s faces. !!! immediately jumped into another song, and after a moment, the police realized that This Was Just One Of Those Times To Leave The Kids Alone. They turned to walk away, the crowd cheered and clapped without sarcasm, and the cops actually waved back at us, leaving us all to simply have a good night. One of the most genuine moments of my life.” LM

IN BRIEF

THURSDAY 7/24

The Arkansas Travelers will play the Tulsa Drillers at Dickey-Stephens Park through Sunday, July 27, 7:10 p.m. (6:10 p.m. on Sunday), $6-$12. White Water Tavern will host “Rhymes Galore,” featuring Duke Stigall and Osyrus Bolly backed by the live band Wasanamenem, with special guests 607, Rodney Block, Big Piph (DJing) and many more, 9 p.m., $7. Nashville country group The Railers will be at Juanita’s with The Roosevelts and Rodge Arnold, 9 p.m., $5. SOULution will be at Stickyz at 9 p.m., $5.

MONDAY 7/28

AMANDA SHIRES

9 p.m. White Water Tavern.

The country singer and violinist Amanda Shires, who is also perfectly proficient at the guitar and ukulele but who is always described as a violinist nevertheless, played in Little Rock last week, at the White Water Tavern. She sang plaintive, warm and often funny songs with a two-man rhythm section (her standup bassist wore overalls and a tie, and her drummer stood up while he played). She told stories about people she’s met, like an odd fan in Tampa named Tiger Bill. She said at one point, “Sometimes friendship requires the use of your washer and dryer.” There was a red light bulb in the bass drum that lent an eerie, Lynchian quality to the set. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, Shires has written songs and recorded with people like Todd Snider, Justin Townes Earle, Cory Branan and her husband, Jason Isbell. (She was also apparently a member, briefly, of the Texas Playboys.) Spin magazine has said that Shires sings like an “earthbound Emmylou Harris,” and I have no idea what that means. She enjoyed Little Rock so much that she’s returning this week for another Monday night set. Who does that? WS

FRIDAY 7/25

Friends of the Central Arkansas Libraries (FOCAL) will hold another used book sale in the Main Library basement on Friday and Saturday beginning at 10 a.m., and on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. The 17th Floor, a self-proclaimed “Hip-Rock ‘n R&B cover band” based in Illinois, will be at Revolution, 9 p.m., $7 adv., $10 day of. Local favorites Amasa Hines will be at White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., $7, and Mountain Sprout, the bluegrass band and “hillbilly music machine” from Eureka Springs, will be at Stickyz with Foley’s Van, 9 p.m., $8 adv., $10 day of.

SATURDAY 7/26

Grammy-nominated, Platinum-selling Memphis Christian rock group Skillet will play at Magic Springs’ Timberwood Amphitheater, 8 p.m., $49.99-$54.99. Big Dam Horns will play at Cajun’s Wharf, 9 p.m., after Bert and Heather, 5:30 p.m. Nine-piece Australian soul band Clairy Browne and The Bangin’ Rackettes will be at Juanita’s with Knox Hamilton, 9 p.m., $15 adv., $18 day of. My Brother, My Friend will be at Vino’s with Idle Hearts, 9 p.m., $5, and the surreal, post-punk honky-tonk group The Frontier Circus will be at the Afterthought playing new stuff from its forthcoming release, “Made in Japan,” with Riverbottom Debutante, 9 p.m., $7.

MONDAY 7/28 — SATURDAY 8/2

DOWN FELL THE DOVES: Amanda Shires will return to White Water Tavern 9 p.m. Monday.

WEDNESDAY 7/30

‘HIS GIRL FRIDAY’

8 p.m. Few. Donations.

Splice Microcinema, the underground, makeshift, art-house film series that started in the back room at Vino’s a few months ago with a block of Jean-Luc Godard films, has picked up its projector and reels and relocated to Few, a “design and development agency”

housed above LULAV on Sixth Street. It kicked things off a couple of weeks ago (it’s on a biweekly schedule) with Ingmar Bergman’s “Persona,” and is lightening the mood quite a bit this week with Howard Hawks’ hilarious, undisputedly great “His Girl Friday,” a frenzied marriage plot set in a surreally insensitive newsroom. Based on Ben

Hecht and Charles MacArthur’s play “The Front Page,” Hawks’ version of the story is quicker and bleaker and funnier, with a bold absence of last-act moralizing. Also there is Cary Grant, who critic David Thomson once named “the best and most important actor in the history of movies,” and who is at his best here. WS

The 4th annual Jazz Week, titled “A Work of Art” and hosted by Art Porter Music Education Inc., starts out Monday at noon, with a kickoff ceremony at City Hall featuring 2014 scholarship recipient Lawrence Edward Barnes III. At noon Tuesday, performances will be held at the River Market Pavilions, and Martha Burks will play at Cajun’s Wharf at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Wednesday, $25. The free “Porters Players Jam Session” will be held at the Afterthought 8 p.m. Thursday, and Alex Bugnon will be at Sway at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday, $35. Closing out the week, Jeff Lorber will perform at Wildwood Park 8 p.m. Saturday, $45. www.arktimes.com

JULY 24, 2014

AFTER DARK All events are in the Greater Little Rock area unless otherwise noted. To place an event in the Arkansas Times calendar, please email the listing and all pertinent information, including date, time, location, price and contact information, to calendar@arktimes.com.

swharf.com.

COMEDY

Tracy Smith. The Loony Bin, 7:30 p.m., 10 p.m., $7-$10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501228-5555. www.loonybincomedy.com.

DANCE

THURSDAY, JULY 24

Ballroom Dancing. Free lessons begin at 7 p.m. Bess Chisum Stephens Community Center, 8-11 p.m., $7-$13. 12th & Cleveland streets. 501-2217568. www.blsdance.org. “Salsa Night.” Begins with a one-hour salsa lesson. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $8. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.littlerocksalsa.com.

MUSIC

Duke Stigall, Osyrus Bolly. White Water Tavern, 9 p.m., $7. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www. whitewatertavern.com. “Inferno.” DJs play pop, electro, house and more, plus drink specials and $1 cover before 11 p.m. Sway, 9 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501-907-2582. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Krush Thursdays with DJ Kavaleer. Club Climax, free before 11 p.m. 824 W. Capitol. 501-554-3437. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Mayday By Midnight (headliner), Almost Infamous (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5 and 9 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www. cajunswharf.com. Michael Eubanks. Newk’s Express Cafe, 6:30 p.m. 4317 Warden Road, NLR. 501-753-8559. newks.com. Open Fields. The Joint, 9:30 p.m., $5. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com. Open Jam. Thirst n’ Howl, 8 p.m. 14710 Cantrell Road. 501-379-8189. www.thirst-n-howl.com. Open jam with The Port Arthur Band. Parrot Beach Cafe, 9 p.m. 9611 MacArthur Drive, NLR. 771-2994. The Railers, The Roosevelts, Rodge Arnold. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $5. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com. RockUsaurus. Senor Tequila, 7-9 p.m. 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-224-5505. www. senor-tequila.com. SOULution. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $5. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyz.com. Sound of the Mountain, Belakus, Chelsey Manning Trio. The Lightbulb Club, 9 p.m. 21 N. Block Ave., Fayetteville. 479-444-6100. Steely Dan. Arkansas Music Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., $30-$100. 5079 W. Northgate Road, Rogers. 479-443-5600. www.arkansasmusicpavilion.com. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 7:30 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG.

COMEDY

Tracy Smith. The Loony Bin, 7:30 p.m., $7-$10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-228-5555. www.loonybincomedy.com.

EVENTS

Art Amiss 10th Anniversary Visual Art Show. The Garden Room, 7 p.m. 215 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-966-7132. Geocaching. Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, 8:30 a.m. 602 President Clinton Ave. 501-907-0636. www.centralarkansasnaturecenter.com.

LECTURES

“‘Will They Fight? Ask the Enemy’: United States Colored Troops at Big Creek.” A Brown 26

JULY 24, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

EVENTS

EVEN THE WISE: Amasa Hines will be at White Water Tavern 10 p.m. Friday, $7. Bag Lecture by Brian K. Robertson. Old State House Museum, noon. 500 Clinton Ave. 501324-9685. www.oldstatehouse.com.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. Tulsa. Dickey-Stephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs.com.

CLASSES

Cooking with Craft Beer. Pulaski Technical College - South Campus, 5:30 p.m., $75. Exit 128, I-30. Youth Chefs Culinary Camp Summer 2014. Pulaski Technical College - South Campus, through July 25, 8 a.m., $250. Exit 128, I-30.

FRIDAY, JULY 25

MUSIC

The 17th Floor. Revolution, 9:30 p.m., $7 adv., $10 day of. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-8230090. revroom.com. Amasa Hines. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., $7. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com. The Chads, Ten High, Rough Stax. The Lightbulb Club, 9 p.m. 21 N. Block Ave., Fayetteville. 479444-6100. The Christine De Meo Band. Oaklawn Park, July

25-26. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-6234411. www.oaklawn.com. Club Nights at 1620 Savoy. Dance night, with DJs, drink specials and bar menu, until 2 a.m. 1620 Savoy, 10 p.m. 1620 Market St. 501-2211620. www.1620savoy.com. DBK. Reno’s Argenta Cafe, 10 p.m., $5. 312 N. Main St., NLR. 501-376-2900. www.renosargentacafe.com. Glittercore, The Muddlestuds, Dead Anchors. Vino’s, 9 p.m., $5. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com. The Intruders. Afterthought Bistro & Bar. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Mountain Sprout, Foley’s Van. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $8 adv., $10 day of. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyz. com. Plies, Rod-D. IV Corners, 8 p.m. 824 W Capitol Ave. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. The Woodpeckers (headliner), Trey Johnson (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajun-

Geocaching. See July 24. LGBTQ/SGL weekly meeting. Diverse Youth for Social Change is a group for LGBTQ/SGL and straight ally youth and young adults age 14 to 23. For more information, call 244-9690 or search “DYSC” on Facebook. LGBTQ/SGL Youth and Young Adult Group, 6:30 p.m. 800 Scott St.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. Tulsa. Dickey-Stephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs.com.

BOOKS

FOCAL Used Book Sale. Main Library, July 25-26, 10 a.m.; July 27, 1 p.m. 100 S. Rock St. www. cals.lib.ar.us.

CLASSES

Youth Chefs Culinary Camp Summer 2014. Pulaski Technical College — South Campus, 8 a.m., $250. Exit 128, I-30.

SATURDAY, JULY 26

MUSIC

!!! (chk chk chk), Booyah! Dad, Poebot. Revolution, 9 p.m., $12 adv., $15 day of. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom. com. Big Dam Horns (headliner), Bert and Heather (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com. The Christine De Meo Band. Oaklawn Park. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411. www.oaklawn.com. Clairy Browne and The Bangin’ Rackettes, Knox Hamilton, Brothers and Company. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $15 adv., $18 day of. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www. juanitas.com. Club Nights at 1620 Savoy. See July 25. Dividend, High Lonesome, MILEZO, Marmalakes. The Lightbulb Club, 9 p.m. 21 N. Block Ave., Fayetteville. 479-444-6100. The Frontier Circus, Riverbottom Debutante. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 9 p.m., $7. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com. Karaoke at Khalil’s. Khalil’s Pub, 7 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com. Karaoke. Casa Mexicana, 7 p.m. 6929 JFK Blvd., NLR. 501-835-7876. Karaoke with Kevin & Cara. All ages, on the restaurant side. Revolution, 9 p.m.-12:45 a.m., free. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090.

PARTY AT OUR PLACE!

EVENTS

2nd Annual Vintage Military Vehicle Show. MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 9 a.m., Free. 503 E. 9th St. 376-4602. www.arkmilitaryheritage.com. Argenta Farmers Market. 7 a.m. 6th and Main St., NLR. 501-831-7881. www.argentaartsdistrict. org/argenta-farmers-market. Falun Gong meditation. Allsopp Park, 9 a.m., free. Cantrell & Cedar Hill Roads. Geocaching. See July 26. Hillcrest Farmers Market. Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. 2200 Kavanaugh Blvd. Historic Neighborhoods Tour. Bike tour of historic neighborhoods includes bike, guide, helmets and maps. Bobby’s Bike Hike, 9 a.m., $8-$28. 400 President Clinton Ave. 501-613-7001. Little Rock Farmers’ Market. River Market Pavilions, 7 a.m. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info. Pork & Bourbon Tour. Bike tour includes bicycle, guide, helmets and maps. Bobby’s Bike Hike, 11:30 a.m., $35-$45. 400 President Clinton Ave. 501-613-7001. Practice, Workshop and Open House with Matthew and Holly Krepps. Arkansas Yoga Collective, 10:30 a.m. 7801 Cantrell Road Suite D.

LECTURES

8th Annual Red River Heritage Symposium. Historic Washington State Park, 1 p.m., $30. U.S. Hwy. 278, Washington.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. Tulsa. Dickey-Stephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs.com.

BOOKS

FOCAL Used Book Sale. Main Library, through July 26, 10 a.m.; July 27, 1 p.m. 100 S. Rock St.

SUNDAY, JULY 27

TASTE.

MUSIC

Karaoke with DJ Sara. Hardrider Bar & Grill, 7 p.m., free. 6613 John Harden Drive, Cabot. 501-982-1939. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Successful Sunday. Lulav, 8 p.m., $5-$10. 220 A W. 6th St. 501-374-5100. www.lulaveatery.com.

EVENTS

Bernice Garden Farmer’s Market. Bernice Garden, 10 a.m. 1401 S. Main St. www.thebernicegarden.org. Geocaching. See July 24. “Live from the Back Room.” Spoken word event. Vino’s, 7 p.m. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www. vinosbrewpub.com.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. Tulsa. Dickey-Stephens Park, 6:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs.com.

BOOKS

Desha Peacock. A presentation by the author of “Create the Style You Crave on a Budget You Can Afford.” The Green Corner Store, 1 p.m. 1423 Main Street. 501-374-1111. thegreencornerstore. FOCAL Used Book Sale. Main Library, 1 p.m. 100 S. Rock St. www.cals.lib.ar.us.

MONDAY, JULY 28

All American Food & Great Place to Watch Your Favorite Event

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MUSIC

Amanda Shires, Ben Danaher. White Water Tavern, 9 p.m. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com. “A Work Of Art,” Jazz Week Kickoff. Little Rock City Hall, noon, Free. 500 W. Markham St. www.artporter.org/work-of-art-2014. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Monday Night Jazz. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., $5. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com. Richie Johnson. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. NW Arkansas. DickeyStephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs. com.

CAMPS

Youth Chefs Culinary Camp. Pulaski Technical College — South Campus, July 28-Aug. 1, 8 a.m., $250. Exit 128, I-30. CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Publication: Arkansas Times

DANCE

Little Rock West Coast Dance Club. Dance lessons. Singles welcome. Ernie Biggs, 7 p.m., $2. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-247-5240. www. arstreetswing.com.

CLASSES

Telling Stories Visually with Robert Bean. Arkansas Arts Center, 9 a.m., $48-$60. 501 E. 9th St. 501-372-4000. www.arkarts.com.

Trim: 2.125x11.25 Bleed: none Live: 1.875x11

Tracy Smith. The Loony Bin, 7:30 p.m., 10 p.m., $7-$10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501228-5555. www.loonybincomedy.com.

CRISP , REFRESHING

Book Our Party Room Today!

Closing Date: 5/23/14 QC:CS

COMEDY

www.cals.lib.ar.us. John D. Mimms. Booksigning by the author of “The Tesla Gate.” Hastings, 1 p.m. 1360 Old Morrilton Hwy., Conway. 501-329-1108.

Brand:Bud Light Item #: PBL201410615 Job/Order #: 263179

revroom.com. K.I.S.S. Saturdays. Featuring DJ Silky Slim. Dress code enforced. Sway, 10 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501-492-9802. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. My Brother My Friend, Idle Hearts. Vino’s, 9 p.m., $5. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www. vinosbrewpub.com. Pickin’ Porch. Bring your instrument. All ages welcome. Faulkner County Library, 9:30 a.m. 1900 Tyler St., Conway. 501-327-7482. www.fcl.org. Singer/Songwriters Showcase. Parrot Beach Cafe, 2-7 p.m., free. 9611 MacArthur Drive, NLR. 771-2994. Skillet. Magic Springs’ Timberwood Amphitheater, 8 p.m., $49.99-$54.99. 1701 E. Grand Ave., Hot Springs. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG.

A Chicago style Speakeasy & Dueling Piano Bar. This is THE premier place to party in Little Rock. “Dueling Pianos” runs seven days a week. Dance & Club music upstairs on Wed, Fri & Sat. Drink specials and more! Do it BIGG! Open 7 Days A Week • 8pm-2am Shows Start at 8:30pm

Located in the Heart of the River Market District 307 President Clinton Avenue

501.372.4782 www.erniebiggs.com www.arktimes.com

JULY 24, 2014

MOVIE REVIEW

B-movie bludgeoning ‘Purge’ sequel outdoes original, but it’s still light summer fare. BY SAM EIFLING

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JULY 24, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

he surprise 20-to-1 earnings-tobudget ratio of a little dystopian murderfest called “The Purge” last year made its spawn, “The Purge 2: Anarchy,” a foregone conclusion. What wasn’t inevitable was that the sequel would be a stronger movie than the original. Rather than pinning us inside a single McMansion during America’s newest/worst holiday, the annual 12 hours of sanctioned lawlessness known as the Purge, “Anarchy” takes us through a gnarly overnight tour of anything-goes Los Angeles. It’s still a B-movie at heart — small budget, actors you’ve never heard of, occasionally bucket-footed dialogue — but with enough verve, and with a measure of modesty around its own sadism, that it makes for a watchable summer diversion. Not that it’s an easy road to travel. Here’s a partial tour of IMDB’s plot keywords: “revenge,” “hanged man,” “body in a dumpster,” “sororicide,” “shot in the forehead,” “person on fire,” “kidnapping,” “survival horror” … it goes on like this. Basically, yes, for one night a year America calls off the rule of law and lets everyone kill the living life out of one another with impunity. To a waitress mother and her teenaged daughter in the projects (Carmen Ejogo and Zoë Soul) this is a night to bar the door, put a pistol on the table and try to keep their heads down. To a bickering young couple (Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez) it’s an occasion to put off preparations until perilously close to the beginning of the purge. To a mysterious, well-armed father (Frank Grillo) it’s a chance to visit a man who wronged him. To just about everyone else we meet, it’s an orgiastic bout of hunting people in the streets. Circumstances conspire to pull these folks together in the open, where they’re likely to be perforated by recreational snipers or bludgeoned by random lunatics or run down by spooky motorcycle creeps. Director/writer James DeMonaco builds this world as a Halloween from hell, in which roving gangs hunt with dogs and flame-throwers and yeeeeesh. While the Purge itself is about as likely to happen as a unicorn cotillion,

‘PURGE 2: ANARCHY’: Kiele Sanchez and Zach Gilford star.

the behavior of people given the premise makes an unsettling amount of sense. Surely DeMonaco means here to evoke images of open-carry activists swinging AKs around Target parking lots and Chili’s foyers as if the O.K. Corral could break out any moment, anywhere. In a too-real sense, Americans’ firearms fetish is the real subject of “Anarchy,” which tries, with limited success, to tie violence to consumer culture. In “Anarchy,” the Purge is credited with keeping overall crime and unemployment low, in large part because it thins out the ranks of the poor, who can’t afford protection. The rich are able to quarantine themselves through the chaos, giving them the luxury of fervent belief in the benefits of the Purge. DeMonaco notices, about America, that it’s a fine place to live until you’re caught out-of-doors. Then you’re largely on your own. Even if it’s not always a convincing take, it’s oddly satisfying — there’s an eat-the-rich thread running through “Anarchy” that feels oddly original for an American movie. It also feels overdue, given how many people would accept the premise, even allegorically, that letting millionaires and billionaires dominate society poses serious threats to the survival of the hoi polloi. Maybe DeMonaco overreaches, at times clumsily, in raising that point in a mainstream venue. And yet, wow, even for a movie called “Anarchy,” you gotta admire the straightforward gall.

THEATER REVIEW

‘Valium is my favorite color!’ The Weekend Theater returns with ‘Next to Normal,’ a musical take on manic depression. BY SIDNEY FUSSELL

he funny thing about bipolar depression, which “Next to Normal” makes very clear early in Act I, is that it’s rarely the isolated, lugubrious opposite of happiness. Life is just too messy for that. Directed by Ralph Hyman and starring Micah Qualls as Diane, an overburdened mother (a redundant pairing of words if there ever was one) battling mental illness, The Weekend Theater’s run of the 2008 Tom Kitt musical explores how joyful moments can occur just before or even during our downfalls, and how deep tragedies can lead to breakthroughs in personal fulfillment. The first of many great moments in “Next to Normal” is the tango-influenced “Who’s Crazy/ My Psychopharmacologist and I.” Mixing in elements of the classic “My Favorite Things,” “My Psy-

chopharmacologist and I” finds Qualls chirpily listing Diane’s bipolar medications to the audience — “Valium is my favorite color!” — not only establishing a “You’d probably go crazy, too” connection with the crowd, but also highlighting Qualls’ robust vocals and crisp comedic timing. Within minutes, she has the audience in the palm of her hand as she flirts, purrs and parries around the psychobabble staccato of Diane’s laundry list of uppers, downers, antidepressants and mood stabilizers. It’s funny, weird as hell and sets the stage for the darker, more introspective scenes in Act II. Through Qualls, we see Diane desperately trying to remain stable and tethered to her family, enduring prescriptions, psychotherapy, electroshock treatment, delusions, hospitalizations — all while still grasping for

the brilliant, unhinged, high-spirited woman she is without medication. But her demands as wife and mother mean she can’t have it both ways, leaving her swaying on a mental health tightrope and craving escape from her mundane, medicated life. “Most people who are happy are actually just stupid,” she opines. Surrounding Qualls is a strong supporting cast able to handle the show’s many shifts between drama and comedy. Especially impressive are Grace Allard and Justin Holznecht as Diane’s children, bringing disciplined performances to heavy moments which, in less capable hands and voices, could have fallen into hammy melodrama. Allard is wonderfully crass as the snarky, perfectionist daughter Natalie, and Holzknecht delivers each line as Gabe with remarkable vigor, talent and clarity. He sings like a Disney prince. As Diane and her family strive for something “next to” stability, the audience is rewarded with a complex, character-driven journey that’s charismatic, at times absurd and emotionally raw. “Next to Normal” is not only more than worthy as a weekend diversion, it fits perfectly with The Weekend Theater’s credo of conscious, enlightening community theater. It’s hilarious, entertaining and simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.

SHOP LOCAL

AFTER DARK, CONT.

COMEDY

Stand-Up Tuesday. Hosted by Adam Hogg. The

DANCE

“Latin Night.” Revolution, 7:30 p.m., $5 regular, $7 under 21. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501823-0090. www.littlerocksalsa.com.

EVENTS

Geocaching. See July 24. Little Rock Farmers’ Market. River Market Pavilions, 7 a.m. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info. Trivia Bowl. Flying Saucer, 8:30 p.m. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-8032. www. beerknurd.com/stores/littlerock.

FILM

“Teenagers From Outer Space.” Vino’s Brewpub Cinema presents. Vino’s, 7:30 p.m., free. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. NW Arkansas. DickeyStephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs. com.

CAMPS

Youth Chefs Culinary Camp. Pulaski Technical College — South Campus, through Aug. 1, 8 a.m., $250. Exit 128, I-30.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30

MUSIC

Acoustic Open Mic. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com. Free Verse Duo. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf. com. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Karaoke at Khalil’s. Khalil’s Pub, 7 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Martha Burks. Jazz Week 2014. Cajun’s Wharf, 7 and 9 p.m., $25-$40. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com. Native Lights, Fire Retarded, Pagiins. The Lightbulb Club, 9 p.m. 21 N. Block Ave., Fayetteville. 479-444-6100. Open Mic Nite with Deuce. Thirst n’ Howl, 7:30 p.m., free. 14710 Cantrell Road. 501-379-8189. www.thirst-n-howl.com. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 7:30 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Well Hung Heart, Wreckless Endeavor, Stays In Vegas. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $8 adv., $10 day of. CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Icons In TransformaTIon r

MUSIC

Brian and Nick. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf. com. The Hooten Hallers. White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m., donations. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com. Jazz on the Plaza. River Market Pavilions, noon, free. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www. rivermarket.info. Jeff Ling. Khalil’s Pub, 6 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Karaoke Tuesday. Prost, 8 p.m., free. 322 President Clinton Blvd. 501-244-9550. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Music Jam. Hosted by Elliott Griffen and Joseph Fuller. The Joint, 8-11 p.m., free. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com. Tuesday Jam Session with Carl Mouton. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Joint, 8 p.m., $5. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 29

Exhibit by Artist LudmiLA PAwLowskA

Now - August 17 Free & open to the Public tue, wed, thu 10–2pm · wed 6–8pm sun 1–3pm Exhibit will be closed July 13–19 Art for sale & percentage of proceeds go to the Artists-in-residence Program at Arkansas Children’s hospital. donations received go to ACh as well.

1000 N mississippi · Little rock 501.225.4203 · st-marks.com

www.arktimes.com

JULY 24, 2014

A Q&A WITH GLITTERCORE, CONT. Continued from page 22 We asked Ardent to print the CD to “look like a 45 RPM vinyl record” (yes, this was before Pearl Jam did it). We thought it would be clever to put a sound effect of a needle going on and off the record at the beginning and end of the CD. However, instead of making the CD look like a 45, Ardent just printed their old-school Ardent logo onto the disc. On the new Audio-Visual CD was placed a big “warning label” (that we were never told about) that read something like “Warning, this is an Audio-Visual Compact Disc. It’s compatible only with Macintosh computers. It contains band and fan interviews, four music videos and links to the website. The music on this disc can also be played in your regular compact disc player. However, if you hear any hissing, buzzing or popping sounds at the beginning it could mean you’re damaging and/or blowing up your speakers.” Many people thought the sound effect of the needle on the record was their speakers blowing up, or so it was said. I guess we ended up being a tax writeoff. By the end of 1995 I quit the band and started looking into going back to college for pre-reqs for nursing. We became close as brothers traveling on the road for three-plus years. We were one of the few local bands that toured and we would fill up clubs — like Vino’s — to max capacity. I’d like to think Ashtray Babyhead, American Princes and other later great Little Rock bands may have been influenced by us. We played and toured with such bands as The Farm, Cracker, Cheap Trick, The Connells, Eve’s Plum, Gigolo Aunts, Babe The Blue Ox, All (formally The Descendants), Alex Chilton. All members of [the band] still keep in touch. In fact, [we are] in process of recording (via the magic of the Internet) a whole new/all original album as sort of a “20 Year Reunion” and we may play a few reunion/ CD release shows within the next year or two in Little Rock and Memphis. You also played the lead role in the independent film “The Delta.” How did you get involved in that film and what’s the story there — did you think about trying acting after that? Shayne: Right after quitting TechnoSquid Eats Parliament I traveled with some friends to Memphis to see the Little Rock band Ho-Hum play Club 616. On the way back, we stopped at a local gay bar called “J-Wags” (imagine Deney Terrio’s “Dance Fever” meets “The Dukes of Hazard”) so I could pee. On the way out, the intoxicated door lady said, “Hey guy, there’s a movie director in here from New York that wants you to be in his film!” I said, “Yeah, I bet 30

JULY 24, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

he wants me to dress up in a pink bunny suit and rub some powder on his lips.” I gave her a wrong number. Apparently, a friend gave them my girlfriend’s number and there were three people to see me in Little Rock the very next day. It ended up being a legitimate independent film written and directed by Ira Sachs. He’s originally from Memphis and worked as a script supervisor in New York for Martin Scorsese, and he’d already made an interesting short film called “Lady.” I tried out for the main role in the movie, called “The Delta,” and a few weeks later I was in Memphis for the summer making the film with an entire film crew from New York. I guess I was more open to playing a bisexual role in the film because I’d recently been impressed with River Phoenix in the film “My Own Private Idaho.” With the money made from the film, I was able to

out for in “The Thin Red Line” and then the part was dropped altogether. “The Delta” ended up playing many film festivals worldwide. It’s now on Netflix and was picked up for distribution by Strand Releasing out of San Francisco. It was recently added on at the permanent collection at the MoMA in New York. I think it’s still available for rent at RAO Video in downtown Little Rock. New Line Cinema wanted me to move to L.A., and they were sure I’d be able to get into a movie soon but I had just gotten married at the time and was in nursing school. After being disheartened by the entertainment industry in general from the band fiasco I decided to stay home in Little Rock. I was asked to do several “gay films” after “The Delta,” which I turned down all except for the part of Matthew Shepard in 2001 for a “made for MTV” movie called “The Matthew

‘GLITTERCORE’: The band will celebrate the release of its debut 9 p.m. Friday at Vino’s.

start back college at UALR. I was in nursing school at UAMS by the time the film was featured at Sundance Film Festival in 1997. Sundance is in Park City, Utah, and my ex-bandmates were in San Francisco and Boston so I used it as an opportunity to get to visit with them again. I got to meet and hang out with Summer Phoenix, Parker Posey, Michael Stipe (of REM) and a few other cool people while at Sundance. A photographer for Rolling Stone took photos of me. I was interviewed on Latin HBO, Sundance Film Channel and several other things like that. I went to Los Angeles for a week and met with New Line Cinema and Bohemian Entertainment Agency. They seemed to think I could be “the next Toby Maguire.” I tried out for “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “The Thin Red Line.” Edward Norton got the part I tried

Shepard Story.” I was contacted by some people from MTV to send in an audition tape. I did and was later told I was “too fit for the part.” In 2010 I began acting again and played a role in the UCA short films “Tomahawk” by Eric White and “Tree” by Christy Ward (of “Slingblade” fame). Paul, tell me a little about your history with Trusty. And why did you decide to stay in Little Rock when the band left for D.C.? Paul: I was Trusty’s original bass player during their formative years, 1989-92, which also coincided with a surge in the Little Rock music scene. In those three years we managed to record something like 30 songs and played many shows locally and maybe just as many in Memphis. We got quite a bit of attention and it was great

fun. Trusty’s first tour, on the other hand, was miserable for me, with many canceled dates, little to no turnout and very little money. We limped along between shows eating peanut butter sandwiches and sleeping on the ground at free state park campgrounds. I guess I wasn’t punk rock enough to endure much of that and when the guys started talking about relocating to D.C., I opted out and went to college. I’m really proud of my time with Trusty and feel very fortunate to have been involved in that little piece of Little Rock music history. Bobby [Matthews] and James [Brady] wrote some amazing tunes and Bircho and I fleshed them out. It was an excellent partnership and Trusty was a great band. When and why did you guys decide to start a new project? Shayne: In 2009, Aaron Sarlo, Paul and I returned to music, founding The Dangerous Idiots. We recorded “Dangerous Idiots” at Wolfman Studios in Little Rock in the fall of 2009/spring of 2010, and the record was released to critical acclaim in the British blogosphere and Arkansas press just after Bowling and I departed the band. Paul and I decided to do something a little different after making that album. We played with a few other musicians before we found “our sound” when KV started playing bass and singing with us at the end of 2012. Paul: Shayne and I wanted to do something out of the ordinary so we thought we’d create a glam-punk band, dress up extravagantly and wear makeup at shows. The band was a four-piece originally with my dear friend Tim Anthony on bass and India Carter McFarlin on guitar and keys. The band played some covers and I had a lot of lyrical help from local writer Micah McConnell on the originals. Bass player extraordinaire Luke Tibbet filled in for Tim for a while and when Tim and India both moved on in November 2011 the direction of the band changed considerably. Bass player/singer KV came on board and the glam-feel of the shows, the cover tunes and many of the originals were replaced with a fuller guitar-driven sound topped with more emphasis on vocals and harmonies. The new CD reflects that, and it’s my favorite Glittercore effort so far. What’s better and/or worse about the music scene here today than when you entered it? Shayne: In the ’90s there were fewer places to play. I do miss bands making and posting flyers like we used to do. Little Rock has always had a vibrant music and art scene and it is even better now, and seems to be growing by leaps and bounds and gaining much local needed support.

ART NOTES

‘Outside the Lines’ Technique, technique, technique. BY LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK

everal of the works in the “12th National Drawing Invitational: Outside the Lines” at the Arkansas Arts Center will leave you wondering, how did she/he do that? How did Andrea Way create these painstaking, almost machine-made patterns of dots and grids and cell-like things? How did Victor Epkuk manage to get all those tiny Keith Haring glyphs into his composition? How did Linn Meyers make those perfect sweeping strokes on mylar? I’m not sure that’s the optimal reaction to an exhibition, however. Drawing can be such an evocative medium, able to provoke that squeezed-heart response with lines that suggest three dimensions, marks that embrace the paper. The invitational, in many cases but not all, is more about mechanics than passion. (The exhibition includes work strikingly similar to that in the 11th invitational [“Singular Drawings”], so perhaps the obsessive mark is a la mode.) An exception is the cut wax paper work of Sharyn O’Mara, who turns her flat medium into something lacy and

three-dimensional. Mia Rosenthal’s “Life on Earth” spiral of animals drawn neatly in ink is something I would love to own, because in addition to the imagery it makes great reading. The small pencil drawings in Andrea Way’s “Venetian Dream Series” are, like her larger works here, a collection of dots and dashes against topo map strokes, but (to me at least) they benefit from the texture of pencil on paper and are ultimately more about drawing than Way’s admittedly mind-boggling ink and colored pencil creations. Linn Meyers’ fractals are astonishing, but it is her untitled piece that looks like lines intersecting the fabric of space that is moving. Gary Kachadourian and Ian Jehle go the representational route, with Kachadourian’s enormous, to-scale Xeroxed drawings changing the walls of the gallery into windows and cinderblocks and Jehle’s wall-sized portraiture, the intimate writ large. Laura Ledbetter goes the symbolic route, using cut paper and thread and impossible, dream-like scenarios to suggest, she says on the Arts Center’s wonderful

LINN MEYER: Her ink on mylar work is in the Arkansas Arts Center’s National Drawing Invitational.

show website (ndi.arkansasartscenter. org) our unfortunate “instinctual desire to succeed and to dominate each other and our natural environment.” So, you may not have a visceral response to the drawing invitational, but there is work here that deserves study. The website, which includes

artists statements from all in the show, images of their work, and essays by cocurators Laura Roulet of Washington, D.C., and Ann Prentice Wagner, the Arts Center’s curator of drawings, is a terrific resource, a move the Arts Center plans to repeat with future shows. The exhibition runs through Oct. 5.

AFTER DARK, CONT. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www. juanitas.com.

COMEDY

The Joint Venture. Improv comedy group. The Joint, 8 p.m., $7. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

DANCE

Little Rock Bop Club. Beginning dance lessons for ages 10 and older. Singles welcome. Bess Chisum Stephens Community Center, 7 p.m., $4 for members, $7 for guests. 12th & Cleveland streets. 501-350-4712. www.littlerockbopclub.

EVENTS

Geocaching. See July 24. Science After Dark. Museum of Discovery, 6 p.m., $5. 500 Clinton Ave. 396-7050, 1-800-880-6475. www.amod.org.

FILM

“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” Riverfront Park, 8 p.m., free. 400 President Clinton Avenue. “His Girl Friday.” Splice Microcinema. Few, 8 p.m., Donations. 220 W. 6th St., Suite A. 501-628-9270.

POETRY

Wednesday Night Poetry. 21-and-older show. Maxine’s, 7 p.m., free. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909. maxineslive.com/shows. html.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. NW Arkansas. DickeyStephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs. com.

CAMPS

Youth Chefs Culinary Camp. Pulaski Technical College -— South Campus, through Aug. 1, 8 a.m., $250. Exit 128, I-30.

THIS WEEK IN THEATER

“Fiddler on the Roof.” Argenta Community Theater, through July 27: Tue.-Thu., Sun., 7 p.m.; through July 26, 8 p.m.; Sat., July 26, 2 p.m., $30$50. 405 Main St., NLR. 501-353-1443. argentacommunitytheater.org. “Next to Normal.” The Weekend Theater, through July 27: Fri., Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30

p.m., $20. 1001 W. 7th St. 501-374-3761. www. weekendtheater.org. “Oklahoma!.” Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, through Aug. 27: Tue.-Sat., 6 p.m.; Wed., Sun., 11 a.m., $25-$35. 6323 Col. Glenn Road. 501-562-3131. murrysdinnerplayhouse.com. “Rent.” Studio Theatre, through July 27: Thu.Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m., $16. 320 W. 7th St. “When a Man Loves a Woman.” Ron Robinson Theater, Fri., July 25, 7 p.m., $15. 1 Pulaski Way. 501-320-5703. www.cals.lib.ar.us/ron-robinsontheater.aspx.

GALLERIES, MUSEUMS

NEW EXHIBITS, EVENTS

ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER, MacArthur Park: “Telling Stories Visually with Robert Bean,” 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 26, $48 members, $60 nonmembers. 372-4000. (See full Arts Center listing below.) BOSWELL MOUROT, 5815 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Grace Ramsey, paintings. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 664-0030. HEARNE FINE ART, 1001 Wright Ave.: “Indigo Visions,” pop-up exhibit of works by 25 new,

emerging and established artists, through Aug. 30, with artists’ lecture 3 p.m. Aug. 16, reception to follow. 372-6822. MacARTHUR MUSEUM OF ARKANSAS MILITARY HISTORY, MacArthur Park: Vintage military vehicle show, including 1915 Dodge Brothers touring car used by Gen. John Pershing in 1916 as he tried to capture Pancho Villa in Mexico, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. July 26, to showcase vehicles go to arkmilitaryheritage.com; “American Posters of World War I”; permanent exhibits. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-4 p.m. Sun. 376-4602. STEPHANO’S FINE ART GALLERY, 1813 N. Grant St.: New work by John Little, Andrea Peterson and Lisa Ruggiero. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 19 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 563-4218 FAYETTEVILLE BOTTLE ROCK GALLERY, 1495 Finger Road: “Sex Machine” dance party, benefit for the gallery, starts at 9 p.m. July 26, music by DJ Robe Flax, costumes encouraged, $15 donation suggested. 479-466-3823. CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 www.arktimes.com

JULY 24, 2014

AFTER DARK, CONT. RUSSELLVILLE THE FRAME SHOP AND GALLERY, 311 W. C St.: Mixed media drawings and paintings by Rachel Trusty, opens with reception 7 p.m. July 26, show through Aug. 24. 479-967-1398.

CALL FOR ARTISTS

The Arkansas Arts Council is accepting nominations for the 2015 Governor’s Arts Awards to be made in February 2015. Deadline for nominations is Aug. 1. Nominees will be accepted in seven categories: arts community development, arts in education, corporate sponsorship of the arts, individual artist, folklife, patron and lifetime achievement. Nomination forms are available at arkansasarts.org or by contacting Cheri Leffew at 324-9767 or cheri@arkansasheritage.org. ArtsFest is now taking applications for booths for the “Art in the Park” event set for Oct. 4 in Conway’s Simon Park. Prizes will be awarded to non-student and student artists. For more information, contact kathrynoneal@gmail.com.

CONTINUING GALLERY EXHIBITS, CENTRAL ARKANSAS ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER, MacArthur Park: “12th National Drawing Invitational: Outside the Lines,” through Oct. 5; “Inspiration to Illumination: Recent Work by Museum School Photography Instructors,” through Oct. 26, Museum School Gallery; 56th annual “Delta Exhibition,” works by 65 artists from Arkansas and surrounding states, through Sept. 28, “Susan Paulsen: Wilmot,” photographs, through Sept. 28; “Young Arkansas Artists,” artwork by Arkansas students K-12, through July 27. 9 a.m.-5

p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 372-4000. CANTRELL GALLERY, 8206 Cantrell Road: “The Places in Arkansas That Keep Calling Me Back,” photographs by Paul Caldwell, through Aug. 14. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 224-1335. CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 509 Scott St.: Paintings by Dee Schulten, Dr. Lacy Frasier and Sue Henley. 375-2342. CHROMA GALLERY, 5707 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Work by Robert Reep and other Arkansas artists. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 664-0880. COMMUNITY BAKERY, 1200 Main St.: Work by members of Co-Op Art, through July. ARKANSAS CAPITAL CORP., 200 River Market Ave., Suite 400: “Bold Contrasts,” paintings by Matt McLeod, sculpture by Tod Switch, high contrast ink drawings by Robert Bean. BUTLER CENTER GALLERIES, Arkansas Studies Institute, 401 President Clinton Ave.: “Home Demonstration Clubs or How Women Saved the South,” paintings by Katherine Strause, through Sept. 11; “State Youth Art Show 2014: An Exhibition by the Arkansas Art Educators,” through Aug. 30; “Drawn In: New Art from WWII Camps at Rohwer and Jerome,” through Aug. 23; “Detachment: Work by Robert Reep,” through July 24. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 3205790. COX CREATIVE CENTER, 120 River Market Ave.: A Thousand Words Gallery features artwork by CALS employees. 918-3093. THE EDGE, 301B President Clinton Ave.: Paintings by Avila (Fernando Gomez), Eric Freeman, James Hayes, Jerry Colburn, St. Joseph Thomason and Stephen Drive. 992-1099. ELLEN GOLDEN ANTIQUES, 5701 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Paintings by Barry Thomas and Arden

Boyce. 664-7746. GALLERY 221 & ART STUDIOS 221, Pyramid Place: Arkansas artists’ cooperative, with galleries on first and second floors. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. 801-0211. GALLERY 26, 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Recent works by Marcus McAllister and Laura Fanning, through Sept. 6. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 6648996. GREG THOMPSON FINE ART, 429 Main St.: “Summer Show,” works by artists from Arkansas and the South, including Glennray Tutor, Kendall Stallings, Sheila Cotton, Robyn Horn, Ed Rice, Joseph Piccillo, William Dunlap, Guy Bell, Sammy Peters and others, through Aug. 9. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. 664-2787. GINO HOLLANDER GALLERY, 2nd and Center: Paintings and works on paper by Gino Hollander. 801-0211. LAMAN LIBRARY, 2801 Orange St.: “Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow: Living with the Atomic Bomb,” objects, film, graphics about American culture of 1940s, ’50s and ’60s and the bomb, through Aug. 11. 758-1720. LAMAN LIBRARY ARGENTA BRANCH, 420 Main St., NLR: “Quiltmakers in Contemporary America,” 15 quilts, through Aug. 16. 687-1061. L&L BECK ART GALLERY, 5705 Kavanaugh Blvd.: “The Wild Ones,” paintings by Louis Beck, through July. 660-4006. LOCAL COLOUR, 5811 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Rotating work by 27 artists in collective. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 265-0422. MUGS CAFE, 515 Main St., NLR: Quapaw Quarter Figure Drawing Group exhibit, work by Tim Ellison, Judith Faust, Jennifer Freeman, Jeannie Hursley, Marty Justice, Bonnie Nickol, Diana Shearon and Dominique Simmons, through Aug. 24. 379-9101. ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1000 N. Mississippi St.: “Icons in Transformation,” 100 expressionist works by Ludmila Pawlowska, through Aug. 17, percentage of sales proceeds to Artist-in-Residence program at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. 225-4203. STUDIOMAIN, 1423 S. Main St.: “Community Center Design Competition.” www.facebook. com/studio.main.ar. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK, 2801 S. University Ave.: “Subtractive Sculpture: Marble, Alabaster & Limestone,” Gallery I, through Aug. 1. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 569-8977. WINTHROP ROCKEFELLER CANCER INSTITUTE, UAMS: “Oncology on Canvas,” 75 artworks on tour sponsored by the Lilly Oncology and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, through July 25. uams.edu HOT SPRINGS ALISON PARSONS GALLERY, 802 Central Ave.: “Big Bang,” ceramic sculpture created with fireworks by Lori Arnold, through July. 501-655-0604. ARTISTS WORKSHOP GALLERY, 610 A Central Ave.: Paintings by Jim Reimer, jewelry and watercolors by Bonnie Ricci, through July. 50-623-6401. BLUE MOON GALLERY, 718 Central Ave.: Work by Kay Aclin, Diana Ashley, Janice Higdon, Wendeline Matson, David Rackley, Tom Richard and others. 501-318-2787. BLUE ROCK GALLERY, 262 Hideway Hills Drive: “Rock Music,” rock-inspired woven and felted tapestries by Barbara Cade, through Aug. 15. 1-4 p.m. Tue.-Sun., felting workshops 9 a.m.-noon (call for reservations). 501-262-4065. GALLERY CENTRAL, 800 Central Ave.: Dennis McCann, paintings. 318-4278. JUSTUS FINE ART, 827 Central Ave.: “Summer Show,” landscapes by Dolores Justus, abstracts by Donnie Copeland, summer themed work by

JULY 24, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

Rebecca Thompson and Emily Wood, through July 30. 501-321-2335.

CONTINUING MUSEUM EXHIBITS, CENTRAL ARKANSAS

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSEUM VISITOR CENTER, Bates and Park: Exhibits on the 1957 desegregation of Central and the civil rights movement. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. 374-1957. CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, 1200 President Clinton Ave.: “Chihuly,” studio glass, through Jan. 5, 2015; permanent exhibits on the Clinton administration. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. $7 adults; $5 college students, seniors, retired military; $3 ages 6-17. 370-8000. ESSE, 1510 S. Main St.: “What’s Inside: A Century of Women and Handbags (1900-1999),” purses from the collection of Anita Davis, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Sun., $10-$8. 916-9022. HISTORIC ARKANSAS MUSEUM, 200 E. 3rd St.: “Kateri Joe: Thank Your Lucky Stars,” mixed media, through Sept. 7; “A Beauty on It Sells: Advertising Art from the Collection of Marsha Stone,” 13th annual Eclectic Collector exhibit, through Jan. 1; “So What! It’s the Least I Can Do ...,” paintings by Ray Wittenberg, through Sept. 7, “Arkansas Made,” ongoing. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 324-9351. MOSAIC TEMPLARS CULTURAL CENTER, 501 W. 9th St.: “Arkansas’ African American Legislators,” permanent exhibits on black entrepreneurship in Arkansas. 683-3593. MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY, 500 President Clinton Ave.: “Wiggle Worms,” science program for pre-K children 10-10:30 a.m. every Tue., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun., $10 ages 13 and older, $8 ages 1-12, free to members and children under 1. 396-7050. OLD STATE HOUSE MUSEUM, 300 W. Markham: “Lights! Camera! Arkansas!”, the state’s ties to Hollywood, including costumes, scripts, film footage, photographs and more, through March 1, 2015. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 324-9685. WITT STEPHENS JR. CENTRAL ARKANSAS NATURE CENTER, Riverfront Park: Exhibits on wildlife and the state Game and Fish Commission. 907-0636.

CONTINUING GALLERY, MUSEUM EXHIBITS AROUND ARKANSAS

BENTONVILLE CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, One Museum Way: “Global Citizen: The Architecture of Moshe Safdie,” drawings, sketches, videos, photographs and scale models, through Sept. 1; “Anglo-American Portraiture in an Age of Revolution,” five paintings, including works from the Musee de Louvre, the High Museum of Art, and the Terra Foundation, through Sept. 15; permanent collection of American masterworks spanning four centuries. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon., Thu.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed., Fri.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun., closed Tue. 479-418-5700. CALICO ROCK CALICO ROCK ARTISTS COOPERATIVE, Hwy. 5 at White River Bridge: Paintings, photographs, jewelry, fiber art, wood, ceramics and other crafts. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Thu., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun. calicorocket.org/artists. CALICO ROCK MUSEUM, Main Street: Displays on Native American cultures, steamboats, the railroad, and local history. www.calicorockmuseum.com.

It’s the party to the party

hop on board the arKansas tIMes

BLUES BUS

TO THE KING BISCUIT BLUES FESTIVAL OCTOBER 11, 2014 · AT HELENA

with headliner

PLUS

Jack Rowell, Jr.

Jimmy Vivino & the black Italians

Papa Don McMinn Kenny “Beedy Eye” Smith Band, Bob Margolin and Bob Stroger Matt Schofield

Scott Kirby

Andy T and Nick Nixon James Cotton

Paul Rishell & Annie Raines

Pork Chop Willie

Lil Biscuit Band

Essie The Blueslady

EB Davis

Leo “Bud” Welch

Sonny Rhodes

Zakk Knight Band

WC Clark Band

(Scheduled as of July 22, 2014)

CHARGE BY PHONE

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PRiCE iNClUdEs: • ROUND-TRIP TOUR BUS TRANSPORTATION • TICKETS INTO THE GATED CONCERT AREA

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Bus transportation provided by

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Dining WHAT’S COOKIN’ CHRIS TANNER, owner of the popular Cheers restaurant in the Heights, is opening a new restaurant at Fourth and Main streets in Little Rock. Samantha’s Tap Room, named for Tanner’s wife, will be located in the ground floor corner location in renovated Mann on Main office building, just a few feet south down the block from Bruno’s Little Italy. The restaurant will feature a 60-foot bar on the south side looking out on Fourth Street. It will have 32 beers and 20 wines, all on draft, pumped from properly refrigerated containers in the basement below. The offerings will include craft and mainline beers and some reserve wines, but Tanner is aiming for a place that still has a casual feel. “You won’t feel obligated to dress up,” he said. The space, which has 20-foot ceilings and substantial columns, will include an open kitchen along the west wall and wood grills will do most of the cooking of a menu designed to be prepared quickly. Tanner said he has no fried foods or potatoes on his preliminary menu. Sample dishes: Roasted cremini mushrooms with bacon and parmesan; roasted peppers with olive oil and sea salt; Argentinean-spiced steak skewers; white cheese dip (yes, it’s still Little Rock, Toto); fresh pico de gallo and chips; grilled shrimp and skirt steak; crisp sweet waffles, and fine ice cream. Lots more, too, but that’s just a sample. Tanner said there’ll be an emphasis on fresh ingredients, vegetables and products obtained in Arkansas, from Mountain Valley water to organic vegetables to heritage hog meat. He’ll be selling his “No. 1s” from 18 years in the catering business and 14 years at Cheers. A mezzanine could be finished out for use as a private dining room. Below, bar customers will have three 70-inch TVs to watch sporting events and tables will be equipped with charging stations and USB ports. FROM FOOD TRUCK TO BRICKS AND MORTAR: Justin Patterson will open Southern Gourmasian at 219 W. Capitol sometime this fall. Patterson plans to keep his current menu of steamed buns, Asian chicken and dumplings, and sandwiches, but says that the new, larger space will allow him and his team to do seasonal specials and ramen, something he’s wanted to have on the menu for a while but just couldn’t get to work in the back of a truck. In addition, Patterson hints that he’s got “about 50 or so CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

JULY 24, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

A new entry into Arkansas’s barbecue pantheon Forrest City’s Delta Q makes strong debut.

here is perhaps no Southern food more hotly debated than barbecue. Enthusiasts will vehemently defend their preferred regional barbecue style, whether it hails from Texas or Tennessee, from Kansas City or the Carolinas. There are passionate folks in every barbecue camp. The argument for “best barbecue in Arkansas” is no less stimulating, though it gets a little muddy when trying to definitively determine a few frontrunners. Recently, there have been whispers about a new establishment that many feel could be a contender. It’s only been in operation for a few months now, but this Forrest City joint is already putting out some impressive ’cue. Delta Q, like most other Arkansas barbecue restaurants, is pork-centric, but its menu plunges a bit deeper than many ancient barbecue joints, offering a sizable selection of sandwiches, wraps, interesting appetizers, salads and catfish, as well as a number of old-fashioned sodas, bottled beers and wines. But make no mistake, it’s pulled pork and ribs that will put this place on the map. And don’t expect to find yourself eating in a ramshackle hut, either. Everything at Delta Q is clean, fresh and new. There’s a long, winding bar; crisp, well-designed menus, and youthful, but friendly table service. One should not overlook Delta Q’s appetizers. We started with the Delta Q Loaded Fries ($4.99). Despite the ordinary name, these are essentially a Southern version of that French-Canadian classic, poutine. Poutine doesn’t get nearly enough attention in the South, and there was no way we could pass it up here. It was composed of crispy fries topped in brown gravy, chopped pork shoulder and chewy cheese curds. Most American knock-off versions of this dish forgo using actual cheese curds and just use ordinary melted cheese. But Delta Q did it right with bits of squeaky white curd. Overall, a wonderful dish. We didn’t have the appetite to sample them this trip to Delta Q, but on future

FANTASTIC: The half rack of ribs plate from Delta Q.

Delta Q

1112 N. Washington St. Forrest City 870-633-1234 QUICK BITE Delta Q excels at traditional ‘cue, but it has plenty for those who aren’t huge fans of smoked meat — grilled chicken, salads and turkey sandwiches. We hear the catfish is top notch, too. HOURS 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. OTHER INFO Credit cards accepted, beer and wine.

visits we’ll explore a few other appetizer items. The BBQ Nachos ($7.99) — tortilla chips with chopped chicken or pork, melted cheese and BBQ sauce — will likely be first on our to-do list, but we also got a look at Delta Q’s fried cheese bites ($3.99) and they were equally enticing. And true to the spirit of Delta dining, hot tamales with chili in sets of three, six and 12 are also sold.

But the classic barbecue items left the greatest impression on us. We started with the half rack of ribs plate ($12.99), which came with two sides and a hot roll. The ribs were just fantastic; a finer rack we’ve yet to find in Arkansas. The tender meat pulled clean off the bone and there was just enough sauce to support the smoky pork flavor. Every rib was licked clean. Even the sides were impressive: wonderful baked beans that were thick and saucy with chunks of pork shoulder incorporated throughout, and a nicely done potato salad with a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing and chunks of red potato. Our pork sandwich ($4.99) was impressive as well. The chopped pork was flavorful and tender and plentiful on the sandwich. It was lightly sauced, but we added a bit more from a tableside bottle of house-made barbecue sauce. We ordered ours topped with crunchy, creamy slaw — in all, a wonderful sandwich. For an extra $2 you can make it a combo and add fries or chips and a drink. Delta Q is a fresh face within Arkansas barbecue, one that’s already making waves among barbecue fanatics. Barbecue devotees should plan to make the trip to Forrest City to see what Delta Q has to offer.

Information in our restaurant capsules reflects the opinions of the newspaper staff and its reviewers. The newspaper accepts no advertising or other considerations in exchange for reviews, which are conducted anonymously. We invite the opinions of readers who think we are in error.

B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner $ Inexpensive (under $8/person) $$ Moderate ($8-$20/person) $$$ Expensive (over $20/person) CC Accepts credit cards

Stoli Vodka ................................................ Reg $34.99 ..................... Sale $29.99

DINING CAPSULES

AMERICAN

ACADIA A jewel of a restaurant in Hillcrest. Unbelievable fixed-price, three-course dinners on Mondays and Tuesday, but food is certainly worth full price. 3000 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, CC. $$-$$$. 501-603-9630. D Mon.-Sat. BIG ORANGE: BURGERS SALADS SHAKES Gourmet burgers manufactured according to exacting specs (humanely raised beef!) and properly fried Kennebec potatoes are the big draws, but you can get a veggie burger as well as fried chicken, curried falafel and blackened tilapia sandwiches, plus creative meal-sized salads. Shakes and floats are indulgences for all ages. 17809 Chenal Parkway. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-821-1515. LD daily. 207 N. University Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-379-8715. LD daily. BLACK ANGUS CAFE Charcoal-grilled burgers, hamburger steaks and steaks proper are the big draws at this local institution. 10907 N. Rodney Parham. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-228-7800. LD Mon.-Sat. BOBBY’S CAFE Delicious, humungo burgers and tasty homemade desserts at this Levy diner. 12230 MacArthur Drive. NLR. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-851-7888. BL Tue.-Fri., D Fri. BOSCOS RESTAURANT & BREWERY CO. This River Market brewery does food well, too. Along with the tried and true, like sandwiches, burgers, steaks and big salads, it has entrees like black bean and goat cheese tamales, open hearth pizza ovens and muffalettas. 500 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-907-1881. LD daily. BOULEVARD BREAD CO. Fresh bread, fresh pastries, wide selection of cheeses, meats, side dishes; all superb. Good coffee, too. 1920 N. Grant St. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-663-5951. BLD Mon.-Sat. 400 President Clinton Ave. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-374-1232. BL Mon.-Sat. 4301 W. Markham St. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-526-6661. BL Mon.-Fri. 1417 Main St. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-5100. BL Mon.-Sat.; 4301 W. Markham St. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-526-6661. BL Mon.-Fri.

BUTCHER SHOP The cook-your-own-steak option has been downplayed, and several menu additions complement the calling card: large, fabulous cuts of prime beef, cooked to perfection. 10825 Hermitage Road. Full bar, All CC. $$$. 501-312-2748. D daily. CACHE RESTAURANT Cache provides a stunning experience on the well-presented plates and in terms of atmosphere, glitz and general feel. It doesn’t feel like anyplace else in Little Rock, and it’s not priced like much of anywhere else in Little Rock either. But there are options to keep the tab in the reasonable range. 425 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$$. 501-850-0265. LD Mon.-Fri., D Sat. CAJUN’S WHARF The venerable seafood restaurant serves up great gumbo and oysters Bienville, and options such as fine steaks for the non-seafood eater. In the citified bar, you’ll find nightly entertainment, too. 2400 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-5351. D Mon.-Sat. COMMUNITY BAKERY This sunny downtown bakery is the place to linger over a latte, bagels and the New York Times. But a lunchtime dash for sandwiches is OK, too, though it’s often packed. 1200 S. Main St. No alcohol, CC. $-$$. 501-375-7105. BLD daily. 270 S. Shackleford. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-224-1656. BLD Mon.-Sat. BL Sun. COPPER GRILL Comfort food, burgers and more sophisticated fare at this River Marketarea hotspot. 300 E. Third St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-3333. LD Mon.-Sat. DAVE’S PLACE A popular downtown soupand-sandwich stop at lunch draws a large and diverse crowd for the Friday night dinner, which varies in theme, home cooking being the most popular. Owner Dave Williams does all the cooking and his son, Dave also, plays saxophone and fronts the band that plays most Friday nights. 201 Center St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-372-3283. L Mon.-Fri., D Fri. DIZZY’S GYPSY BISTRO Interesting bistro fare, served in massive portions at this River Market favorite. 200 River Market Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-3500. LD Tue.-Sat. CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

WHAT’S COOKIN’, CONT. dishes that we have tossed ideas around on but haven’t been able or had time to execute on the truck.” Fans of the truck need not worry: Patterson and crew will still be driving out to events. Indeed, Patterson sees his new kitchen as an opportunity to expand what the truck can offer, since prep space will not be such an issue. The new restaurant will also allow Gourmasian to offer beer, wine and a selection of tasty sakes to pair with its eclectic menu. THE FIFTH ANNUAL SAVOR THE CITY kicks off Aug. 1 for Little Rock Restau-

rant Month, when eateries will provide discounts and specials to promote their chow. In August, the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau will begin posting participating restaurants and daily dish deals on its dinelr.com website and its Twitter page @LittleRockCVB. The monthlong event lets folks try out some money-saving prix fixe deals at the Savor the City dining establishments and lets the chefs strut their stuff. Last year’s participants included 1620 Savoy, Brave New Restaurant, Copper Grill, The Green Corner Store and Soda Fountain, Loca Luna and dozens more.

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JuLY 23 - JuLY 29, 2014

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JULY 24, 2014

hearsay ➥ Attention brides: THE BRIDAL COTTAGE in North Little Rock will host a trunk show showcasing the fall 2014 line of Maggie Sottero wedding gowns July 25-26. You’ll need to book an appointment to score great deals like 15 percent off your purchase of a Maggie Sottero gown during the show, a tote bag and up to $100 in accessories with every Sottero gown purchase during the show. Call 501-753-4138 for more information or to book an appointment. ➥ FLEET FEET EASY RUNNER, located in the Pleasant Ridge Town Center, will host a Girls Run this Town event at 7 p.m. July 31. This afterhours party is a full of pampering, snacks and good company. Come get sore muscles and tension spots massaged, and Moving Comfort will be in the shop for sports bra fittings and lots of sweet deals. For more information and to sign up, visit the store’s Facebook page. ➥ There will be a special family farm supper hosted by SCOTT HERITAGE FARM beginning at 3 p.m. Sept. 27 at the farm, located adjacent to the Scott Plantation site in Scott. Tickets are $84 and includes hors d’oeuvres, a four-course dinner and wine pairing, and a tour of the community supported agriculture farm. Purchase tickets by visiting scottheritagefarm. org. ➥ The annual ARKANSAS SALES TAX HOLIDAY will begin at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 2 and end at 11:59 p.m. Aug. 3. State and local sales tax will not be collected during this 48-hour period on the sale of clothing and footwear priced less than $100 per item, clothing accessories and equipment priced less than $50 per item, school supplies, school art supplies and school instructional materials. For more information, call 501682-7104 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. ➥ Check out BEYOND COTTON 2’S latest sale, with tons of items marked down 50 percent.

JULY 24, 2014

TEQUILA! Let us help you celebrate National Tequila Day on July 24th

uly 24 is a day to raise your glass to honor elixir that makes margaritas possible — it’s National Tequila Day. Here’s a tempting way to celebrate National Tequila Day — how about tipping back a few tequila shots with George Clooney and his good friends Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman. The three love drinking tequila, whether on the rocks, by the shot, or at times straight from the bottle. After many tequila-filled nights with friends, CASAMIGOS was born. Clooney, Gerber and Meldman’s idea was to make the best-tasting, smoothest tequila whose taste didn’t have to be covered up with salt or lime. They worked on the creation of Casamigos with their master distiller in Jalisco, Mexico, for years, and held many blind tastings until they knew they had it right. This is tequila you can taste, so raise a glass to their award-winning spirit. Who wouldn’t want to have a shot of tequila with George Clooney? And he’s even signed the bottle! Tequila AVION was voted “World’s Best Tasting Tequila” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the highest honor in the spirits industry. It’s crafted using exceptional Avion agave, which is grown at the highest elevations in Jalisco, Mexico. The unique Avion flavor is achieved through

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Summertime Favorite Cocktail — Paloma

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Preparation: Rim a tall glass with salt (optional, but recommended). Fill glass with ice and add the tequila and lime juice. Fill with grapefruit soda. Garnish with a lime twist, lime wheel, and cherry. Recipe courtesy of Colonial Wines and Spirits.

using only special cuts of the Avion agave plant and then slow-roasting the agave at lower temperatures to protect the natural flavors. The final step is their proprietary ultraslow filtration process, which creates a surprisingly smooth taste.

Need a variety of tastes? Avion is available in Silver, Reposado, and Anejo, and a new Avion Espresso Liqueur. If your favorite liquor store doesn’t have Casamigos tequila stocked, then ask them to order it. If you like your tequila paired with some awesome Mexican food, then head over to SANTO COYOTE, which has locations in North Little Rock and West Little Rock. They have one of the largest selections of tequila in Central Arkansas. This includes everything from highend tequilas such as Herradura Selection Suprema and Don Juloi Real to the more affordable, but still great-tasting Gran Maya and Maestro Dobel. They even have their own house made tequila, Santo Coyote Double Barrel Reposada. Santo Coyote’s most popular margarita is the Blue Coyote, made from fresh-squeezed lime juice, blue curacao and Siembra Azul Silver tequila. If you are watching your calories, the Milagro (Skinny) margarita is a great choice: it contains fresh-squeezed lime juice, organic agave and Melagro tequila. As an added bonus, they’ll be serving $2.99 margaritas in honor of National Tequila Day. With more than 38 brands of tequila, THE FOLD: BOTANAS & BAR should be at the top of your list for National Tequila Day. All of their tequilas are 100 percent agave and range from blanco to flavored to mescal, and of course, the Reposado and Anejo varieties are available. Let The Fold mixologists get creative with a variety of real fruit magaritas — they use ingredients that are in season, so you get the freshest taste for your drink. One of the most popular flavors for the summer? The jalepeno margarita

or the watermelon lime margarita. It’s yummy and refreshing on a hot summer’s day. Patrons can also customize their margaritas with specialty tequila. If you want to venture away from margaritas, other ways to enjoy National Tequila Day at The Fold is with a refreshing raspberry mule, El Diablo or bloody Maria. Of course, trying the tequila alone is another popular option. Pass the salt! If you’re over in the Conway area on National Tequila Day, join THE PAINTED TABLE GRILLE AND LIQUIDS for the farmers market margarita! This $8 special is made of Patron tequila, cantaloupe, cucumber, mint, lime juice, and agave. Enjoy The Painted Table’s culinary creations with the tequila special, as well as engaging service and a relaxing ambience. If you’re in Northwest Arkansas, you can imbibe the same margarita at TABLE MESA BISTRO in Bentonville. This boutique style bistro offers modern Latin cuisine and other multicultural options,

3501 Old Cantrell rd

501.916.9706

JoiN US FoR

Summer and National Tequila Day? Quench your thirst with the watermelon lime margarita from The Fold.

featuring seasonal ingredients with a broad appeal. If staying home is more your speed, then be sure to visit COLONIAL WINES AND SPIRITS to stock up your bar. They have a huge selection of tequilas, so you’re sure to find one you’ll enjoy. Let their expert staff help you pick out your libations and give you ideas for specialty tequila cocktails like the Paloma.

thefOldlr.COm facebook.com/thefoldbar twitter - @fold_the instagram - littlerocktaco

new happy hOur SpeCialS!

teq u l i a l a N D o i ay! t a N Tuesday Kids Eat Free Thursday Ladies Night Monday-Friday Happy Hour 2-6pm

MoNday ☞ $2 TaCoS & TeCaTe TUeSday ☞ KidS eaT FRee with adult purchase ThURSday ☞ LadieS NighT MoNday-F Riday ☞ haPPy hoUR 2-6PM Promotions subject to change

11610 Pleasant Ridge Rd. • Suite 110 • Little Rock • 501-225-1300 2513 McCain Blvd. • North Little Rock • 501-753-9800

taCO Salad

$1.50 teCateS $1 Off all margaritaS $1 Off all SpeCialty COCktailS

patiO & garage dOOrS Open!

JalapeñO margarita

Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu - 11am–11pm Daily Drink Specials • Weekend Brunch Menu Fri & Sat - 11am–Midnight Happy Hour Tues-Fri 2-6pm Late Night Hours Begin July 31 Open Late • Catering Available Open until 2am Fri & 1am Sat

Tequila as a spirit category is not just Hot, Hot, Hot!

It's on fIre. Cl a r k's p icks

who wants tapas? Join us for National Tequila Day, Thursday, July 24 Join Us For NatioNal tequila Day Thursday, July 24 1117 Oak St · Conway 501.404.9822· tablemesabistro.com

108 E. Central Ave· Bentonville 479.715.6706· tablemesabistro.com

Shot of Tequ il a El Jimador or Patron Tequ il a to m i x Sauza Hornitos Plata Sip p ing Tequ il a Don Julio or El Mayor Anejo Colonial has nearly 300 Tequila and mixed Tequila products!

Why? Tequila is such a versatile spirit. It’s great for making a cool, refreshing frozen Margarita or sipping as you would a Cognac after dinner, and all scenarios including shots with salt and lemon. Certainly, we have something for everyone. As the selection in Colonial, or at your favorite Latino Restaurant can be overwhelming, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance.

11200 West Markham Street | 501-223-3120 ColonialWineShop.com | Facebook.com/ColonialWines

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO ARKANSAS TIMES

JULY 24, 2014

DINING CAPSULES, CONT. FLYING SAUCER A popular River Market hangout thanks to its almost 200 beers (including 75 on tap) and more than decent bar food. It’s now nonsmoking, so families are welcome. 323 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-372-8032. LD daily. FRANKE’S CAFETERIA Plate lunch spot strong on salads and vegetables, and perfect fried chicken on Sundays. Arkansas’ oldest continually operating restaurant. 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-225-4487. LD daily. 400 W. Capitol Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-372-1919. L Mon.-Fri. MARKHAM STREET GRILL AND PUB The menu has something for everyone, including mahi-mahi and wings. Try the burgers, which are juicy, big and fine. 11321 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-224-2010. LD daily. MOOYAH BURGERS Kid-friendly, fast-casual restaurant with beef, veggie and turkey burgers, a burger bar and shakes. 10825 Kanis Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-313-4905. LD daily; 14810 Cantrell Road, Suite 190. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-868-1091. 10825 Kanis Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-3134905. LD daily. RED DOOR Fresh seafood, steaks, chops and sandwiches from restaurateur Mark Abernathy. Smart wine list. 3701 Old Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-666-8482. BL Tue.-Fri. D daily. BR Sat. RIVERFRONT STEAKHOUSE Steaks are the draw here — nice cuts heavily salted and peppered, cooked quickly and accurately to your specifications, finished with butter and served sizzling hot. 2 Riverfront Place. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-7825. D Mon.-Sat. RUDY’S OYSTER BAR Good boiled shrimp and oysters on the half shell. Quesadillas and chili cheese dip are tasty and ultra-hearty. 2695 Pike Ave. NLR. Full bar, All CC. 501-771-0808. LD Mon.-Sat.

TRIO’S Fresh, creative and satisfying lunches; even better at night, when the chefs take flight. Best array of fresh desserts in town. 8201 Cantrell Road Suite 100. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-221-3330. LD Mon.-Sat., BR Sun. YOUR MAMA’S GOOD FOOD Offering simple and satisfying cafeteria food, with burgers and more hot off the grill, plate lunches and pies. 215 Center St. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-372-1811. L Mon.-Fri. ZACK’S PLACE Expertly prepared home cooking and huge, smoky burgers. 1400 S. University Ave. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-6646444. LD Mon.-Sat.

ASIAN

CHI’S CHINESE CUISINE No longer owned by Chi’s founder Lulu Chi, this Chinese mainstay still offers a broad menu that spans the Chinese provinces and offers a few twists on the usual local offerings. 5110 W. Markham St. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-604-7777. LD Mon.-Sat. FANTASTIC CHINA The food is delicious, the presentation beautiful, the menu distinctive, the service perfect, the decor bright. 1900 N. Grant St. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-663-8999. LD daily. LILLY’S DIMSUM THEN SOME Innovative dishes inspired by Asian cuisine, utilizing local and fresh ingredients. 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-716-2700. LD Tue.-Sun. SKY MODERN JAPANESE Excellent, ambitious menu filled with sushi and other Japanese fare and Continental-style dishes. 11525 Cantrell Road, Suite 917. Full bar, All CC. $$$-$$$$. 501-224-4300. LD daily.

BARBECUE

CHATZ CAFE ‘Cue and catfish joint that does heavy catering business. Try the slowsmoked, meaty ribs. 8801 Colonel Glenn Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-562-4949. LD

Mon.-Sat. WHITE PIG INN Go for the sliced rather than chopped meats at this working-class barbecue cafe. Side orders — from fries to potato salad to beans and slaw — are superb, as are the fried pies. 5231 E. Broadway. NLR. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-945-5551. LD Mon.-Fri., L Sat.

EUROPEAN / ETHNIC

ALADDIN KABAB Persian and Mexican cuisines sound like an odd pairing, but they work fairly well together here. Particularly if you’re ordering something that features charred meat, like a kabab or gyros. 9112 N Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. 501-219-8787. LD daily. DUGAN’S PUB Serves up Irish fare like fish and chips and corned beef and cabbage alongside classic bar food. The chicken fingers and burgers stand out. Irish breakfast all day. 401 E. 3rd St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-244-0542. LD daily. HIBERNIA IRISH TAVERN This traditional Irish pub has its own traditional Irish cook from, where else, Ireland. Broad beverage menu, Irish and Southern food favorites and a crowd that likes to sing. 9700 N. Rodney Parham Road. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-246-4340. D Mon.-Sat., L Sun. TAJ MAHAL The third Indian restaurant in a one-mile span of West Little Rock, Taj Mahal offers upscale versions of traditional dishes and an extensive menu. Dishes range on the spicy side. 1520 Market Street. Beer, All CC. $$$. 501-881-4796. LD daily.

ITALIAN

BRUNO’S LITTLE ITALY Traditional Italian antipastos, appetizers, entrees and desserts. Extensive, delicious menu from Little Rock standby. 310 Main St. Full bar, CC. $$-$$$. 501-372-7866. D Tue.-Sat. JIM’S RAZORBACK PIZZA Great pizza

served up in a family-friendly, sportsthemed environment. Special Saturday and Sunday brunch served from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Flat-screen TVs throughout and even a cage for shooting basketballs and playing ping-pong. 16101 Cantrell Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-868-3250. LD daily. PIZZA D’ACTION Some of the best pizza in town, a marriage of thin, crispy crust with a hefty ingredient load. Also, good appetizers and salads, pasta, sandwiches and killer plate lunches. 2919 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-666-5403. LD daily. RISTORANTE CAPEO Authentic cooking from the boot of Italy is the draw at this cozy, brick-walled restaurant on a reviving North Little Rock’s Main Street. Familiar pasta dishes will comfort most diners, but let the chef, who works in an open kitchen, entertain you with some more exotic stuff, too, like crispy veal sweetbreads. They make their own mozzarella fresh daily. 425 Main St. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-3763463. D Mon.-Sat.

LATINO

JUANITA’S Menu includes a variety of combination entree choices — enchiladas, tacos, flautas, shrimp burritos and such — plus creative salads and other dishes. And of course the “Blue Mesa” cheese dip. 614 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-372-1228. LD Tue.-Sat. LOCAL LIME Tasty gourmet Mex from the folks who brought you Big Orange and ZaZa. 17815 Chenal Parkway. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-448-2226. LD daily. SENOR TEQUILA Typical cheap Mexcian dishes with great service. Good margaritas. 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-224-5505. LD daily. 9847 Maumelle Blvd. NLR. 501-758-4432.

DUMAS, CONT. Continued from page 7

ington, Crawford, Boone, Carroll and Madison) with enrollment in the 11 counties down the length of the Delta. The black ratio in the mountain counties ranges from a high of 3 percent in Washington County to two-tenths of 1 percent in four of them. Most of the Delta counties are higher than 50 percent with only Craighead (13 percent) and Poinsett (7.2 percent) having rela-

all those black people in the Delta and south-central Arkansas. But they are learning that it is mostly a program for white working people and their children. Compare the private option enrollment in the six prosperous counties of the northwest corner (Benton, Wash-

tively small African-American cohorts. But by July 1 the six northwest counties had enrolled 27,213 in the private option and the vast Delta region almost the same number, 27,871. The handful of northwest legislators who fought the private option last year and in February may take another reading. And a fourth of the members of one or the other house can’t kill it by voting

“Providing Care, in a Caring Way” “Providing Care, In A Caring Way" Activity Director: The Highlands of LPNs: have active LPN license • Must possess good knowledge of the The Highlands of• Must Heber Heber Springs • Must possess ASN or be a graduate of an LPN organization and the techniques of a diversified Springs is currently program program of meaningful, appropriate leisure time is currently hiring • 2-5 years experience in supervision within a activities in a residential healthcare facility. hiring for the following • Demonstrates good knowledge of activities for the following healthcare setting program direction positions:CNAs: positions: • Must possess a high school diploma or GED Part-Time Maintenance Assistant:

Activity Director: • Licensed CNA

LPNs: • Must have active LPN license • Must possess ASN or be a graduate of an LPN program • 2-5 years experience in supervision within a JULY 24, 2014 ARKANSAS TIMES healthcare setting

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against the appropriation, if the governor and legislative leaders don’t want them to. An appropriation of federal money needs only a majority. Also, the Arkansas Supreme Court has held that once you create a program or an entitlement the mere failure of the legislature to pass an appropriation doesn’t kill it. So let Asa be Asa, a fence straddler, and see what else he has to offer.

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HealtH Care PoliCy DireCtor arkansas advocates for Children and Families, a nonprofit advocacy organization, is looking for a driven individual to lead the fight to improve health care coverage, access, and quality for arkansas’s low and middle income children and families. Must have proven track record in health care policy analysis, state and federal Medicaid policy, and advocacy. a master’s degree or the equivalent in public policy, public health, health care/public administration, economics, law, or related field. Send cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references to cneal@aradvocates.org. Competitive salary and benefits. aaCF is an equal opportunity employer.

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JULY 24, 2014

Central Arkansas Sprinkler Smart

Inspect. Connect. Direct. Select. Inspect your system for clogged, broken, or missing sprinkler heads.

Connect a rain sensor to your irrigation system to avoid watering when raining.

Direct sprinklers to apply water only to the landscape and avoid watering the driveway, house, or sidewalk.

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Scan this QR code or call 501.340.6650 to learn more about this important program.

carkw.com 40

JULY 24, 2014

ARKANSASâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;TIMES

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