Arkansas Times

ARKANSAS’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF POLITICS AND CULTURE ■ august 26, 2010

www.arktimes.com

HOW

BIG IS THE STICK?

Looking back and forward after ‘strong’ Mayor Stodola’s first term.

By Leslie Newell Peacock PAGE 12

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Pellet sniper suspect

n Little Rock Police Department spokesman Lt. Terry Hastings confirms that an arrest warrant has been issued in the Parris Towers pellet gun shootings that have bedeviled neighbor David Jones, with a shooter taking potshots at Jones’ dog, car and Jones himself from the tower all summer. Hastings said that George Allen, a former resident of the low-income housing tower at 18th and Broadway, became a suspect after a pellet rifle was found in his apartment as it was being cleaned out.

Allen, a 66-year-old Vietnam veteran, had lived in Parris Towers since 2005, but was ordered evicted Aug. 10 by Judge Chris Piazza after Little Rock Housing Authority employees testified that in June, Allen cursed Parris Towers manager Christy Walls, threatening to “f*** her to death” and telling her that if she called police she’d better “leave the state of Arkansas” after Allen became frustrated over paperwork related to his rent.

Housing employees also testified that a few days before the hearing, during a routine pest inspection, maintenance personnel at Parris Towers found that Allen had shot up his wall and refrigerator with a pellet gun.

Allen testified that he owned a pellet gun, but said it was at a friend’s house in North Little Rock and that the walls and refrigerator were already damaged when he moved in.

A source familiar with the investigation said that Allen has yet to be formally charged because he is in the hospital with a head injury following a fall.

Hastings said he will face felony criminal mischief charges due to the large amount of damage done to David Jones’ car, a 1977 Ferrari, shot more than 130 times.

On the ropes

n Last week, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Office of the Inspector General finally released a blistering audit of local public radio station KABF. It outlines many shortcomings and steps necessary for the station to continue to receive CPB funding.

The report found “material noncompliance with CPB requirements” including $49,957 in questionable expenses, lack of documentation supporting contributions, lack of discrete accounting and noncompliance with requirements for open meetings, open financial records and maintaining a community advisory board.

Some of these issues were brought to the attention of the board of directors Aug. 3 by board member Jay Jansen. He says a lot of the issues have been known for some time, but little corrective action has been taken.

At KABF’s last board meeting, Aug. 17, station manager Willie Cosme said there were enough funds to keep operations going in the short term, but that his hours, and those of one other employee, would be reduced by half to cut costs. He couldn’t be reached at press time.

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Smart talk

Contents Water ways

EXPENSIVE REAL ESTATE: Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

50-yard-line seats: Pricey n The University of Arkansas Athletic Department recently announced that it was raising the price on required donations for preferred seating for Hog football games in Razorback and War Memorial Stadiums next year. The required contribution for a midfield seat in Razorback Stadium will double, from $150 to $300, which the UA claims is a fraction of the cost of similar seats at such schools as Alabama.

But wait. It’s a little more complicated than that. Say you want to have prime seats next year for your family of four and you’ve never had them before. To qualify to make a contribution for seats between the 40-yardlines, you must first be a Broyles-Matthews level, or $5,000, donor to the Razorback Fund. Only then may you contribute $1,200 for the right to four seats between the 40s in Razorback Stadium. You’ll also have to pay a seat charge of $145 each, or $580, for preferred seating in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. And don’t forget you have to buy the tickets themselves, too. A single ticket for all seven games in Fayetteville and Little Rock this year costs $375, or $1,500 for four. So if there’s a seven-game slate next year at the same price, your family’s four midfield seats for all Hog games will cost you $8,280 — $1,182 per game or $295 per ticket.

Even for the likes of Louisiana Monroe and Tennessee Tech.

A parking pass is included, however, if that’s any consolation.

Cokes and popcorn extra.

n Yahoo recently ran an article on “15 things you can do without.” This was one of the 15: “Water — Besides the monthly utility bill, there’s no reason to shell out $1 for every bottle of water you drink. Bottled water is so last-decade a ny wa y. We ’r e over it, and into tap, filters and reusable water bottles. It’s cheaper for you and better for the environment.”

The potentate of Arkansas bottled water is Breck Speed, president PEOPLE BUY THE BOTTLE: of the venerable Business is up for Mountain Valley.

Mountain Valley Spring Water, headquartered in Hot Springs. We asked him if the bottled-water business was drying up, so to speak.

He responded: “The bottled water business overall is up 2.3% this year over last, and Mountain Valley is doing much better, with a 6% increase. We kind of fit a nice spot for all those folks that don’t like plastic because we’ve been selling in glass for 139 years. We are kinda retro cool again!” (Mountain Valley uses both glass and plastic containers.)

UALR raises the bar n The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has announced it hit the $75 million target of the “It’s Time for UALR” fund drive 18 months early and so has increased the goal to $100 million. The drive has paid for construction of four new buildings and renovation of two others. Projects include engineering, information technology and nanotechnology.

A UALR release touted the contributions of the school’s faculty and staff. More than 50 percent contributed a total of $2.5 million.

10 Fair’s condition poor

Temporary classrooms, a temporary principal and long-standing academic problems: What’s the Little Rock School District to do about J.A. Fair High School?

— By David Koon

12 How strong is the mayor?

Has Mayor Mark Stodola done such a good job as the city’s first “strong mayor” that nobody dares run against him except last-minute token opposition? Or is it maybe that leading Little Rock in these troubled times ain’t such an attractive gig?

— By Leslie Newell Peacock

16 Arkansas joins the South

Democrats and Republicans alike are predicting big gains for the Republican Party in Arkansas this fall. — By Max Brantley

Departments

3 The Insider

4 Smart Talk

5 The Observer

6 Letters

8 Orval 10-14 News

16 Opinion

19 Arts & Entertainment

39 Dining

45 Crossword/ Tom Tomorrow

46 Lancaster

Words VOLUME 36, NUMBER 51

n William D. Lindsey writes: “In the Words column Aug. 12, Ray White asks ‘Don’t linguists have a name for a phrase that is misunderstood and then the misunderstanding overtakes the original?’ I think perhaps the term Mr. White is searching for is ‘eggcorn.’ ” Could be. According to Wikipedia, an eggcorn is “an idiosyncratic substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound similar … The new phrase introduces a meaning that is different from the original, but plausible in the same context, such as ‘old-timers’ disease’ for ‘Alzheimer’s disease.’ ” This is opposed to a malapropism, where the substitution creates a nonsensical phrase, such as Mrs. Malaprop’s report of an allegory on the banks of the Nile. A character in Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s play “The 4 august 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

Doug smith doug@arktimes.com

Rivals,” Mrs. Malaprop gave her name to this sort of error. Eggcorn, a word only a few years old, is supposedly derived from the case of a woman who said eggcorn for acorn.

A cousin of eggcorn and malapropism is the mondegreen, which we discussed previously. A mondegreen is a word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something that was sung or said, as ‘There’s a bathroom on the right’ for ‘There’s a bad moon on the rise.’ But a mondegreen doesn’t drive out the original.

An eggcorn may, or at least come close.

I see ex-patriots almost as often as expatriates these days, and hone in is gaining on home in.

“Eggcorns seem to be proliferating in American English for a number of reasons,” Lindsey writes. “One, I think, is the Internet. People seem increasingly to type out (sound out) online whatever they think they’ve heard, regardless of grammar, syntax, spelling, or linguistic accuracy. The other factor, I suspect, is that attention to language is just not taught as well as it should be in our school system.” He mentions a young man of his acquaintance who “just finished a BA at Fayetteville, and who is bright and fairly well read, but who spells at a level that would have been considered fourth-grade when I was growing up.”

ARKANSAS TIMES (ISSN 0164-6273) is published each week by Arkansas Times Limited Partnership, 201 East Markham Street, 200 Heritage Center West, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72203, phone (501) 375-2985. Periodical postage paid at Little Rock, Arkansas, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ARKANSAS TIMES, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, AR, 72203. 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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Jody Hardin’s pigs have 72

western, or what have you — and then they hours to get out of Grady. Mayor’s have 48 hours to write, shoot and edit a seven-minute film that fits in that genre. orders.

Though that might sound like child’s The mayor, who happens to be Jody Hardin’s uncle and his neighbor in down- play, there’s a lot of work poured into those town Grady, said it was incumbent on seven minutes. Sleep is a luxury most him to “take swift action� after the six teams can’t afford. Coffee is the Elixir of Gloucester Old Spots visited City Hall on Life. Speed in all things is your friend.

The Observer realized this year that Sunday. Then, Hardin says, they went to the bank. One of them jay-walked “and we’re getting a bit long in the tooth for that was the reason for the eviction,� he that kind of running around. The realization came at about 4 a.m. Sunday morning. sighed.

The pigs had trotted over from Hardin’s Though we’ve been lucky enough to grab small farm, “a nightmare hell-hole what sleep we could in our own beddymoneypit� in the city limits of Grady that bye in previous years, this year found us has been in Hardin’s family since the late camped for a good bit of the weekend at 1880s. Farmer Hardin had been in trouble The Fortress of Employment, our red eyes with the law before. He was, in fact, “on dazed and blinking into the fluorescent probation,� for teaching his flock of turkeys lighting of the Arkansas Times newsroom to follow him down Main Street several come the darkest hour of Sunday before the dawn. years back. Seventy or 80 of them.

I don’t know if you’ve ever had the It was the Gloucester Old Spots’ opportunity to sleep first visit to City at your place of Hall, which is four wageslavehood, but houses down from it is definitely not Hardin’s property. recommended. The Hardin said their Observer usually pen was new and avoids the Times “heavily armored� on the weekends but, unfortunately, like someone has Hardin believes he poisoned the water left the gate open HERCULES: Took it to City Hall. hole. Mrs. Observer and the pigs crossed the mayor’s yard and headed for the seat hasn’t yet seen fit to toss us completely past the couch to the curb, so we’ve never had of government. “I fully understand it’s an election year the pleasure of trying to sleep in this place and he has to come down hard,� Hardin full of hard surfaces to write on and chairs said about his uncle, whom he affection- designed to keep sleepy editors awake at ately described as a “dirty rotten scoun- two in the afternoon on a slow news day.

After trying out a plywood bench with drel� who has called the police on occasion when Hardin’s goats have rambled over to thin, burlap-like cushions in the office of a co-worker, The Observer finally settled his backyard.

Hardin must now find a home for the on one of the few comfortable chairs in pigs, or pay a $1,000 fine. He’s hoping the the whole joint — those in the lobby, fact that the pigs are a rare breed will help placed there to convince waiting guests him find a home. The home might need that we’re a snazzy media org instead of to hold more than six pigs; some of the The Island of Mismatched Furniture. Still, trying to sleep bolt upright isn’t fun for an renegades are pregnant. old fart like Yours Truly, even in a wellFor the fourth year now, The upholstered chair. We woke three hours Observer spent a hot Friday, Saturday and later with our lower back throbbing and Sunday last weekend making a movie for our neck feeling like someone filled it with the Little Rock leg of the annual 48 Hour crushed glass.

We got our movie in on time, thanks Film Festival. Team Arkansas Times won the whole enchilada last year, so we’ve got to some sleep-deprived whippersnappers something to prove. If you’re unfamiliar (thanks Eric, Mona and Jessi!) but we’re with the concept, the idea is that teams thinking: might have to Observe from afar draw a genre out of a hat — action, sci-fi, in the future.

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Letters arktimes@arktimes.com

City a pigsty

In case you haven’t noticed, our city is a pigsty. Drive down Cantrell Hill, past Austin Brothers, past Junior Deputy to LaHarpe Blvd. and all one will see is litter.

It’s a disgrace and it was a disgrace last spring during the Little Rock Marathon.

Mayor Mark Stodola, instead of exercising his right to file for re-election, could exercise his gluteus in a maximum way by picking up this trash.

Think of the calorie burn that will ensue once our mayor just does it.

David McCreery Little Rock

Will endure Boozman

Max Brantley wants us to vote for Sen. Blanche Lincoln to a third term as a U.S. senator, solely because she is, in his opinion, more palatable than the alternative, John Boozman. Well, that is the logic I’ve used in the previous two elections. Sorry, but that argument just won’t work the third time.

Senator Lincoln has proven to be one of the most Republican-leaning Democrats in Washington, perhaps surpassed in that category only by Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska.

Her voting record has consistently been anti-union, as shown by her refusal to support the Employee Free Choice Act and her vote against confirming Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board. These anti-union votes, along with her long-time advocacy for repealing the estate tax, have convinced me that she would be more comfortable at a chamber of commerce luncheon than at an AFL-CIO meeting.

There’s only so much that can be asked of voters who want a real Democrat representing Arkansas in the U.S. Senate. Senator Lincoln has gotten my vote twice, but I have reached a point that I will not give it to her a third time. I will be one of those voters who, much to Mr. Brantley’s chagrin, will vote for a third party candidate rather than Senator Lincoln, and I am ready to suffer the consequence of six dreadful years with John Boozman as our junior U.S. senator.

Thomas G. May North Little Rock

Teachers and test scores

Well aytch e double hockey sticks John Brummett, let’s just let any old boy off the streets come on in and try their hand at teaching school. They might could do better. This whole moronic argument makes me so angry. We (well, not me) have bought into the concept of the standardized test as God so completely that many ignoramuses automatically accept as fact that something so ephemeral as teaching/learning can be totally judged by the resulting scores.

Doesn’t anybody understand that there is so much more to judging the success of a 6 august 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

teacher than standardized tests scores?

Who are the students in a class; what home environment do they come from; what is their diet; how much sleep do they get; do they have one parent or two, good parents or bad; where do they live, projects or gated community; what medical conditions do they have, what medications are they on (or need to be on); what kind of administration does the school have, great or poor; what kind of finances does the district have; rural, urban or suburban; how many English language learners; some kids are good at tests, some are not; what type teachers did the child have in the past; where did they go to school last year or last week; immigrants? migrant families?

I could go on.

Standardized test scores are only one piece of the overall picture of the results of a teacher’s work. A great teacher can work like a dog and get minimal results, and an average teacher, with the right situation, can get better results. Let’s lay some of the blame for educational failures where it properly belongs — parents who don’t care; incompetent administrators; incompetent politicians; a glut of immigrant children from other cultures with little English skills; rotten celebrity role models that teach kids music and sports are the paths to success; a consumer/advertising driven society that presses endless electronic playthings on our youth and draws them away from academic

pursuits; generations of wealth and consumerism that have made us and our children lazy; no discipline at home or anywhere else; education colleges that are not worth a plugged nickel, and on and on and on again.

Teachers are given a near impossible task and expected to perform miracles, then blamed when they can’t. Tomorrow I am going into the classroom with 13-year-olds stoked on Mountain Dew and video games, half on Ritalin and the other half needing to be, and try to teach them something they could care less about. If we are so darn bad, you give it a shot. You wouldn’t last a week.

Neither would any of the other pompous idiots constantly crying for teachers’ heads.

If you want to make education better, go home and turn the TV off, read a book with your kid, say no to the next sugar blast, take the cell phone away. That would be much more helpful than the constant drum of criticism against teachers.

David Dickey Sherwood

Waving the flag

I must give a shout-out to Arkansas Flag and Banner. I needed a custom carry-all bag for my wheelchair. They had me show what I needed. They said I could pick it up in two weeks. Three or four days later, they called and said it was ready. I said “wow” and picked up the flag-themed bag the next day. It blew me away. It definitely fits my new electric wheelchair from the VA. How’s that for the dog days of summer in Little Rock?

Walter “Bud” Finne Little Rock

The Griffer and Gridiron

I thoroughly enjoyed your artice on the Gridiron. Judge McGowan has done a great job as the main producer over the last several years.

It should not be forgotten, however, that Mildred and Griffin Smith were the powers that be behind the Gridiron production for many years before Judge McGowan was promoted to CEO. Mildred and “the Griffer” put untold numbers of hours into each production. I think it cannot be denied that they put this show on a professional basis. Some with thin skins were irritated from time to time, but most subjects took it in good humor.

As a former Gridiron thespian with no talent for singing, dancing or acting, my hat is still off to the Smiths.

William R. Wilson Jr. Little Rock

What disaster?

I just finished reading John Brummett’s piece on Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s attempt to put $1.5 billion recently into a bill, monies that would be directed toward “special disaster relief to farmers,” specifically for a “percentage-loss” calculation for crops in 2009.

This was the third time over the past few weeks I’ve read about this, and each

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time, I’ve just wondered, “What disaster?”

Arkansas hasn’t had a tsunami, hurricane, or even really bad tornado season over the past year. I called Lincoln’s office in both Washington and Arkansas, and no one on her staff could tell me what “disaster” this was in reference to.

Yes, it’s been hot. Rainfall low. Guess what, as a farmer that’s part of the gig.

Food might be the most recession proof market going. People are going to have to eat. I own a business, and it’s down this year. What “disaster” could I blame this on to get a pork spending bill?

No, Lincoln’s push for this $1.5 billion handout — and that’s all it is — is nothing more than a last ditch pandering for votes.

Farmers chose their occupation, as we all did, and subsidies are nothing more than a nice, sanitary word for welfare.

What Brummett did was provide a tiny microcosm for what’s wrong with our country: Everyone being told (to the point that a lot are believing) that they are entitled to something if everything doesn’t turn out right. Guess what? Life is tough, get a helmet.

Anthony Lloyd Hot Springs

District. It said state money spent there was a waste and announced a new lobby group, backed by some of the state’s wealthiest families (Walton, Hussman, Stephens, Murphy) to oppose the school district’s court fight against segregation caused by charter schools in Pulaski County.

From the Arkansas Blog

Submit letters to The Editor, Arkansas Times, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, AR 72203. We also accept letters via e-mail.

The address is maxbrantley@arktimes. com. Please include a hometown and telephone number.

Readers had plenty to say after the Times broke the news that the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce had gone on the attack against the Little Rock School

Sell your gold.

Help a child.

Slice it anyway you want. There is blame on both sides. One thing is for sure, having the school system at war with the business community is a recipe for disaster. Of course, having everyone take sides instead of look for solutions only makes the problem completely impossible to solve, which I’m sure is the point.

— Full Throttle In no other place I have lived (8 states), did the Chamber not fully support the local school system. This union hatred of the Waltons and Hussman is far out of line with trying to improve the state. With their type of leadership, we would still have serfs (Walmart still does in some regards).

— Couldn’t Be Better

A portion of every gold sale through October goes to Soaring Wings Ranch, a foster care nonprofit organization in Conway, Arkansas.

A child’s smile glitters more than gold.

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Au g . 1 8 - 2 4 , 2 0 1 0 It was a good week for …

NORTH LITTLE ROCK. The “urban cool” of the city’s Argenta Arts District was given a warm write-up, with photos, in the New York Times Sunday travel section.

Dogtown has never had it so good.

LOTTERY TICKET SALES. Despite objections mostly of the religious variety, the state Lottery Commission gave the go-ahead, subject to legislative review, to lottery vending machines. Like it or not, they’ll rake in more dollars from the mathematically challenged and irrationally optimistic.

UALR. The college hit its $75 million fund-raising goal 18 months early and so decided to increase the goal to $100 million.

It was a bad week for …

The PULASKI COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. It started school with dreadful new schedules that extended the school day for little kids because the school board’s ruling majority wanted to punish union teachers. Now the Board, in the face of angry parents, is stumbling as it tries to correct its error. Maybe voters will correct some of those error-prone board members next month by voting them out of office.

T h e A R K A N S A S S TAT E CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. It shilled for major gas producers by joining in their trashing of Josh Fox, the documentary filmmaker who showed his “Gasland” in Little Rock and talked about the dangers of new methods of gas extraction.

The LITTLE ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT. Its headquarters is a health hazard because of a leaky roof, whose maintenance has long been deferred on account of city budget woes.

CIRCUIT JUDGE MIKE MAGGIO of Conway. He’s become a poster child for how judges should not behave if they want to build public confidence.

First there was reporting on a bundle of tax liens filed against him. Then came news that he was in arrears on his home mortgage, to the point that a courthouse sale was scheduled (and later cancelled). Then came State Police footage of Maggio’s production of a trumped-up badge to flash at a state trooper who promptly gave the judge a pass on a speeding violation.

10 august 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

The Arkansas Reporter

Phone: 501-375-2985­ Fax: 501-375-3623 Arkansas Times Online home page: http://www.arktimes.com E-mail: arktimes@arktimes.com ■

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A high school in distress Can a $1.97 million infusion help J.A. Fair?

By David Koon

n It’s saying something that J.A. Fair High School has much bigger problems than those of the structural variety.

On May 25, in the midst of a torrential downpour, a 30-by-40-foot section of the roof on the north end of the school collapsed, taking down several walls with it and stressing key structural steel on that end of the building. Luckily, the collapse happened when no students were present.

By the time classes began last week, a large part of Fair looked like a can whose top had been popped, with an area one hundred feet square open to the sky and over a dozen classrooms out of commission. A village of doublewide portable buildings at the other end of the campus is handling overflow until repairs to the wing are completed in December.

If test scores or graduation rates are any measure, there wasn’t a whole lot of learning going on in those classrooms even before the roof fell in. According to 2010 benchmark exam results provided by the Little Rock School District, only 26 percent of 11th graders at Fair scored “proficient or advanced” in literacy. By way of comparison, the district’s best scoring schools, Central and Parkview, reported rates of 67 and 76 percent, respectively. Results were poor in other disciplines — 18 percent proficiency in mathematics, 25 percent in Algebra I. Opened in 1982 as part of the Pulaski County Special School District, Fair was annexed to the Little Rock School District in 1987 as a result of the school desegregation case. It became a magnet school in 2000, offering courses in medical studies, environmental sciences, and information technology.

Last week, it was announced that J.A. Fair was one of three academically troubled schools in the Little Rock School District approved to receive a federal School Improvement Grant. Fair, Cloverdale Elementary, and Hall High School all received grants of just over $1.9 million dollars. While that money could be a godsend to a troubled school like Fair, several members of the Little Rock School Board question the process by which the grant was secured.

Under federal guidelines for the School Improvement Grants, one of the ways a troubled school could secure money was by the “Turnaround Model,” which called for replacing the principal, and granting his or her successor “operational flexibility” to

brian chilson

The WEEK THAT was

DISREPAIR: Structural problems aren’t all that’s ailing J.A. Fair. make changes to improve student performance.

Little Rock School Board member Melanie Fox said the board learned of the turnaround option July 22, only eight days before the grant application deadline. On July 28, the Little Rock School District posted a job opening for a new principal at J.A. Fair, with a closing date of August 5 (the search was opened again on August 10, with an open-ended closing date).

Up until July 22, several school board members said, their understanding was that J.A. Fair principal Brenda Allen was to serve through at least the 2010-2011 school year. An interim principal, Clausey Myton, a former assistant principal in the Little Rock district, has since been named.

Attempts to reach LRSD superintendent Linda Watson or Myton for comment were unsuccessful at press time.

School board member Baker Kurrus is one of those who questions both the motive and the timing of the replacement of J.A. Fair’s principal shortly before school opened.

“The principal change this year is not related to anything other than the school district’s aggressive attempts to obtain additional grant money,“ he said. “Otherwise there wouldn’t have been a change out there, I don’t think. At least, I didn’t hear of such a change until the School Improvement Grant [was mentioned].”

Kurrus believes that strong, “reformminded” leadership will be key to bringing J.A. Fair’s academics back from the brink.

Calling the history of J.A. Fair “emblematic of school failure,” Kurrus said that while there are wonderful teachers at the school,

the faculty has been allowed to “drift” by previous administrators.

“In my opinion, changing principals but not changing the kind of principal is a wasted effort,” he said. “If you have a situation that’s not working, you have to have factors that cause dramatic change, you don’t need a status quo caretaker at a school that needs to be reformed… There‘s been a consistent pattern of lack of achievement out there that‘s had no consequence.”

Zone 5 board member Joey Carreiro tends to agree that Fair needs leadership, but isn‘t sure it‘s the magic elixir to mend all the school‘s ills. “A strong leader has a positive effect, but is that the cure-all?”

Carreiro asked. “I don’t know that it is. I think just as important is to have a team that’s working together.”

Carreiro said that the gap in academic achievement between Fair and schools like Parkview and Central might be explained by the fact that many students at those schools chose to be there, which isn’t always the case at J.A. Fair. In addition, he said, the kids coming into Fair often aren’t as prepared to learn as those coming to high schools in other areas of the city.

“The middle schools that have fed [Fair] have been weaker middle schools,” he said.

“When you put all that together, the kids are coming in not as well prepared to start with. It’s not an excuse that we didn’t get everybody up to speed, but it’s just a matter that they’re starting with a different group of kids than at other places.”

Melanie Fox said she wants to help Fair, too. But, on the school improvement grant, she said she knows a good bit about Continued on page 11

Blasphemy by the ticket Opponents of lottery machines cite Bible.

by Gerard Matthews

n By the Arkansas Lottery Commission’s count, 23 people spoke at the hearing last week to receive public comment on the lottery commission’s proposal to allow tickets to be sold by ticket vending machines (or TVMs).

Two spoke in favor of the machines, while the rest were vehemently against them. But from what the opponents were saying, it was more than the vending machines they were against.

Most commenters used their allotted time to talk about the evils of gambling and the lottery itself, quoting scripture and publicly stating their personal Christian beliefs. Some comments took on an anti-government tone.

“I don’t want any more money going to this circus of a lottery commission,” said Kenny Wallis, a coordinator for the anti-immigrant group Secure Arkansas, “or to finding the ivory-billed woodpecker or social justice or to anything else that wastes taxpayer money.”

Wallis surely heard, as did all the rest who were gathered in one of the conference rooms at the Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock, that the subject at hand was whether or not to allow TVMs, not encroaching socialism or the moral decay that the lottery would, according to some present, certainly bring to our state.

Sarah Bean of North Little Rock stepped up to the podium and began, “Our nation is reaching a critical time in its history. We are a by-the-people, for-the-people nation, but lately American voices are not being heard.

We saw this a few weeks ago with the overturning of proposition 8 in California.” She went on to say that should the commission decide to use the vending machines, it would be just one more example of a decision made against the “voice of the people.”

Bean didn’t note the overwhelming majority of voters who approved a statewide lottery in 2008.

As commenters continued to speak, their comments became more and more religious in tone. One man quoted scripture at length before telling the commissioners they were “robbing the poor” and would

one day be held accountable for what they’ve done. The lottery commissioners, seemingly anchored in concrete, unable to escape the public flogging, nodded politely as each person offered their comments.

With every Bible verse that was quoted, the crowd became increasingly vocal, starting out by applauding loudly for commenters who proudly expressed their religious beliefs and ending up interrupting speakers with “Mmm hmmm” and “That’s right.” It wasn’t long before people were actually blurting out “Amen” whenever someone brought up their faith in “the Light, Lord Jesus Christ,” as did one speaker.

Some even suggested sly and evil motives on the part of the lottery commissioners.

“This whole lottery thing was brought in low-key so Christians wouldn’t know about it,” one woman said.

One observer, who said he believed firmly in the separation of church and state, said he was disappointed in the tone the public comment session had taken.

“What I saw at that meeting was the reason why people have such a skeptical attitude toward evangelical Christians,” he said. “It would be nice if they were armed with facts and not just scripture.”

After the hearing had come to a close, reporters interviewed Loretta Lever of Little Rock, who spoke in favor of the vending machines. TVM opponents who stood nearby chided the reporters, saying they were members of the “liberal media” and had no business interviewing Lever when so many had spoken out against the machines.

At a lottery commission meeting held immediately after the hearing for public comment, commissioners voted unanimously to approve the use of TVMs. Opponents who stayed for the commission meeting felt as though they had been ignored or that the comment session was some sort of kangaroo court. From the commission’s perspective, their job is to maximize scholarship dollars. Using vending machines that the commission has already paid for in an effort to increase sales was a no-brainer.

fair

year, she said, the school has been rife with talk of faculty and parent-fueled controversy, something she said is likely a symptom of ongoing leadership problems and which can lead to a “defeated” atmosphere. While a change in the principal’s office seems to be a step in the right direction, she believes that an interim principal brought in just before the school year under questionable circumstances might have trouble leading the school out of the academic desert.

“They may disappear,” she said. “How hard are they going to work? Do they even want to be there?”

Continued from page 10 what Cloverdale Elementary and Hall High plan to do with their share of the money, but “couldn’t tell you one thing about what they plan to do at Fair” — a situation she calls “alarming.” Like Kurrus, she questions the timing of the principal replacement.

“These grants shouldn’t be about scoring a buck,” she said. “They should be about improving the academics and achievement of our students.”

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www.arktimes.com • august 26, 2010 11

Wait until after the election. Then, Mayor Stodola says, Little Rock will talk about what kind of city it will be. In other words, will it raise taxes?

By Leslie Newell Peacock

L

ittle Rock mayor Mark Stodola’s only opponent this election season is a last-minute filer who is head of the local effort to legalize marijuana and who has made several unsuccessful runs for office. But Stodola is in an unenviable position nevertheless.

Stodola, as the city’s official cheerleader, must put forth a positive message about the state of things, one that stresses the advances the city has made during his first term as the city’s first “strong mayor.”

But he’s been mayor during a time of repeated cuts in the city budget, thanks to the growing cost of services and the worst economy the country has experienced in decades. Little Rock is a city that a former mayor describes as “losing ground” and “running out of fuel.” Stodola knows, as surely the city board of directors does, that he’s got a city sales tax increase campaign ahead of him. He will have to make the argument that unless Little Rock can come up with new revenues, it’s got nowhere to go but down.

And while he doesn’t say so, he surely wants to clarify that other ambiguity that marks his first four-year term in office, the hybrid mayorcity manager form of government that puts him a step removed from

12 august 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

directly implementing change.

In 2007, voters said yes to giving the mayor new powers: He has veto power over city board actions, he has the ability to appoint boards and commissions, and the city manager and city attorney serve at his pleasure, sort of — he can’t fire them without the approval of the board of directors.

The vote also provided for a salary in the six figures for a newly full-time mayor. Stodola makes $160,000.

The city’s other top administrator, City Manager Bruce Moore, makes $168,920.

Some see that as an administration that is top-heavy, though the mayor and city manager like to compare their situation to that of a company with a CEO (the mayor) and the COO (city manager).

If you ask Stodola what we have to show for the new government plan, he’ll give you lots of answers. He points to the fact that crime is down — 54 percent in the case of homicides — since he took office, and says it’s partly thanks to his support of PIT (Prevention, Intervention and Treatment) programs and Quiet Nights special policing units, paid for with federal dollars.

brian chilson

You want leadership?

shortfall with money in the street fund reserves and cuts in special project expenditures.

Here are some examples of how the city is dealing with its leaner budget: Going after more federal dollars to handle city responsibilities: The city won a $4 million COPPS (Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving) grant to fill 20 vacancies at the Little Rock Police Department, and a $2 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant to upgrade 20-year-old police software. A federal SAFER grant is paying for 18 firefighters, and city buildings are getting new HVAC systems. Thanks to the feds, sidewalks, 2.7 miles of them, are being built in the First Ward, which includes some of the poorest neighborhoods in town.

Since the start of 2009, the city has eliminated 44 and a half jobs to save money, 20 of them at the end of last year. There are now 171 vacancies — 111 of them funded from the general fund — saving the city around $5 million. Like the uniformed employees, non-uniformed employees have gone without a raise since 2009, when they got 3 percent.

The last time city code enforcement — the folks whose job it is to resolve problems with high grass, trash dumping, property neglect and so forth — was fully staffed was in 2007. Then, there were 32 CITY MANAGER code enforcement officers coverMOORE: Employees ing 122 square miles. Until the city answer to him. manager authorized Housing and Neighborhood programs to hire two “too involved” in the manager’s job to let him know. According people last week, the department was 11 employees short. to some people who know, that’s happened a time or two.

The Parks and Recreation Department — usually the first to take a hit when budget overruns threaten — is down 14 he greatest challenge Stodola, Moore and the city direc- employees. Our city parks are categorized as Class C parks tors face right now is finding a way to pay 4 percent because we don’t have the manpower to mow and maintain raises agreed to in contracts with police and firefighters them. A $7 million bond re-issue is allowing the department — raises the public safety employees have deferred for a year to remake War Memorial Park, fix up neighborhood parks already. The city needs $1.4 million for police, $900,000 for and buy land — but there’s no maintenance budget to keep firefighters and about $600,000 for American Federation of the new landscaping alive, the weeds from taking over, State, County and Municipal Employees members (sanitation, the trash cleaned up. The only reason the city’s two public pools stayed open this summer is that private companies street, fleet mechanics). That’s close to $3 million.

This bill is coming due at a time the city is scraping by. kicked in $20,000.

At the Planning and Development Department, the permit The budget for 2010 had $6 million less in its general fund than it did in 2009, and the city had to cut $2.7 million more desk is closed during the lunch hour because there aren’t enough mid-year, thanks to a substantial change in utility rates that employees to man it. City planners who used to work with produced a 16 percent decline in franchise fees to the city. neighborhoods on action plans are making maps because the When Moore and the board suggested the gap could be employees who used to do the graphics are gone. The departpartly made up by using insurance money that would have ment has gone without a building inspector for five years (he rebuilt the burned Adult Leisure Center on Twelfth Street, was promoted to commercial inspector) and the building codes supporters of the center rose up. The board backed off, manager, Chuck Givens, is out doing electrical inspections. leaving Moore to suggest that employee layoffs might be “We’re down to the bare minimum,” Givens said.

Three alert centers were shut down. There are potholes. required, which in turn put pressure on the police, fire and AFSCME members to agree, for a second time, to forgo One resident complained to Stodola his street here was worse than those he’d seen in Afghanistan. raises that had been due at the first of the year.

Continued on page 14 The city was able to make up its (now much reduced) brian chilson

He says he “engineered” the compromise with the Little Rock Zoo, War Memorial Stadium and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences that sold park property to UAMS (for an amount still under negotiation). Indeed, the former minor league baseball park at the heart of this swap still silently rots, a growing eyesore.

He notes the location of the $150 million Welspun pipe plant here (after getting a $2 million incentive from the state), Windstream’s decision to stay (after a $5.5 million incentive from the state and in no small measure due to its pre-existing footprint here). Millions of dollars in federal stimulus grants to revitalize neighborhoods south of Interstate 630. A new soccer field out west, on land previously owned by Central Arkansas Water.

He’s worked with the new Land Bank Commission, whose members he and city directors appointed, to obtain and resell abandoned properties around Central High School and other areas.

Less intriguing is his boast that he triggered a study of downtown redevelopment — one that joined other studies on a shelf somewhere. He also said he is enlisting the Department of Correction to help get public areas cleaned up. He put cigarette butt containers in the River Market district along Clinton Avenue.

Sometimes, his influence is limited. He was not able to persuade the Little Rock Zoo’s board to make smoking at the zoo illegal. He did not get a no-knock ordinance passed that would have kept door-to-door solicitors away.

And though Stodola could fire the city manager if he decided he wanted to work with someone of his choosing, someone with no history with the city board, politically it would be a bad move. City Manager Moore, who has been on the job for eight years, is more than competent, has lots of support on the board and is African-American in a city with a black population somewhere near 40 percent of the total. To get rid of the city’s most high profile black leader since Mahlon Martin would be impossible.

That’s something that Stodola raised in a recent interview.

“He represents a significant part of the community,” the mayor said, and his position helps combat the perception that only wealthier parts of Little Rock benefit from action by the city board.

Moore said the mayor-manager dynamic hasn’t changed as much as people might think. He noted that he worked for Mayor Jim Dailey, who while not a full-time mayor worked full time.

As city manager, Moore said he’s brought in talent from across the country to head up city departments — Fire Chief Rhoda Kerr, for example, who after five years here now heads up the Austin, Texas, department.

Moore acknowledged there was some getting used to. Early on, however, Moore said the mayor told him if he was getting

T

www.arktimes.com • August 26, 2010 13

City government There are 48 vacancies in the Little Rock Police Department (by Moore’s count, 60 by Chief Stuart Turner’s), including a captain, lieutenant, sergeant and 12 police officers. The rest are crime scene specialists, tech personnel, dispatchers, clerical workers, investigators. When this reporter was at headquarters a couple of weeks ago, it was raining in the lobby. The city is going to have to come up with $400,000 for a new roof, money that will come at the expense of city services. “Our radio system is still analog,” Chief Stuart Thomas noted in an interview, and it’s becoming difficult to find parts for repair.

The city was able to hire 20 new officers with its COPPs grant, but 17 of them are still in training.

Thomas said a police car involved in an accident a couple of weeks ago was totaled because its value was only about $900. Information technologists at the department had to strip new software out of new computers so they’d be compatible with the records system’s 1989 software.

Stodola has said he wants Little Rock to be “the next great Southern city.” It’s looking like that’s a way off — unless the city can generate new money. That’s where the sales tax increase comes in.

STODOLA: Defining the new role of mayor voted on in 2007.

O

N

orth Little Rock has a strong mayor, that’s for sure.

Muscular Mayor Pat Hays is unchecked — witness his latest deal with a developer that would swap city land for a block downtown on which the developer would build a hotel — and though his efforts include the head-scratching (the Razorback submarine) and the conniving (a gerrymandered TIF district to divert school millage to the new hotel and parking lot), he’s made a lot of people happy, and has held the mayor’s job longer than any other.

Little Rock, like many other larger municipalities, moved to the city manager form of government because it was seen 14 august 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

brian chilson

CHIEF TURNER: Short 60 people by his count.

n nearly every managerial desk in City Hall, handy to reporters, is a chart of sales tax collected in Arkansas’s 50 largest cities. Little Rock’s is a half cent. Sherwood is the only other city collecting only a half cent. Bentonville, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Rogers and Springdale collect two cents. Bryant collects three cents. Fort Smith pulled in $3 million in sales tax collections in June this year; Little Rock, more than twice as large, received $1.9 million.

Little Rock’s total tax revenues top all other cities’ because of Pulaski County turnback.

But the city could use the $22 million another half-cent could generate — depending, the mayor and manager and city directors all emphasize, on what kind of city the residents want.

Should we have more police officers? More parks, mown and tended? Speedier code enforcement? Better planning?

Or is the status quo fine for now, in an economy that threatens to take a second dip?

brian chilson

Continued from page 13

as more professional and less political. Motivating the swing back is the idea that an elected mayor would be more responsive to the public.

Little Rock’s hybrid system still has some folks wondering who really is in charge. Tom Dalton, who was city manager in the 1970s, called Little Rock’s government a “hybrid of a hybrid,” its structure “floating between various forms” of council-mayor and council-manager systems.

When Stodola was elected in 2007, he was a new animal, exerting himself in a way the board and manager were unused to. Jim Dailey says Stodola’s tenure so far has been one of “transition,” where beneath the surface there has been a “discounting of the validity of what has happened,” a resistance to change.

Dailey — long an advocate for the strong mayor system — said he believes that things have “worked fairly well with Bruce and Mark” and they are making a “territorial adjustment” but he believes the city needs to move toward a stronger mayor. Which is not to say he thinks Moore is doing a bad job. “Bruce Moore is one of my best friends,” Dailey said. “I would hire Bruce to be my chief of staff.” And that’s something the mayor ought to be able to do, he said: Hire his chief of staff — without the say-so of the city board. Little Rock’s government “needs to be a pure strong mayor system. … We need to finish the job” that the 2007 election started, the former mayor said.

Neighborhood activists like saddle-burr Jim Lynch and Fair Park Residents Association head Joe Busby give Stodola good marks because of the mayor’s interest in neighborhood issues, and, Lynch said, “he’s a maniac on law enforcement.”

Both — especially Busby, who made a statement of support for Stodola the day Stodola filed for re-election — want to give the mayor more power.

When Stodola, a former prosecuting attorney, decided to run, “I called him up and asked, ‘Why do you want to be mayor?’ ” Lynch said. “He said, ‘I enjoy solving problems.’ ” “He didn’t run to be a potted plant,” Lynch added.

Busby called Moore “a brilliant man,” but added, “I think we have a voter-initiated system where we have a strong mayor but didn’t have the strength of will” to do away with the power of the city manager. Some of that has to do, Lynch and Busby say, with the fact that Moore is black.

S

todola’s most obvious frustration — though not that obvious — has been in how long it’s taken to get his idea to privatize the landfill off the ground. He has been talking

about privatization, which he initially thought would not just increase city revenues but would get the despised BFI landfill in Southwest Little Rock closed sooner, for three years. The city manager said a study was needed before a request for proposals should go out; the city attorney looked into whether privatization would be allowed under bond criteria and eventually private legal counsel was required. The request for proposals was still being completed while this story was being written; it’s due soon, Moore said. “I know the mayor’s not pleased with the time it’s taken,” Moore said. But, he said, the issue is a complex one.

If the landfill is privatized, 16 city employees could be out of work. But Moore said the RFP addresses that, asking for a plan on how city employees could be taken on. Or, because of the vacancies in public works, maybe those employees could move there.

C

ity Director Michael Keck was seen as a likely opponent for Stodola earlier this year, but last month he announced he’d decided not to seek re-election, much less run for mayor.

At a City Board meeting two weeks ago, Keck, who represents the Fifth Ward (West Little Rock), called for a reality check on the city’s budget situation, seeking quick decision-making on how the 2011 budget can include $3 million in raises for police and fire without additional revenues. If their future is uncertain, Little Rock employees need time to prepare, he said.

One by one, board members weighed in, with Ken Richardson (Second Ward, East Little Rock) saying there was a “sense of urgency” that meant the board needed to “roll up its sleeves and get down to work.” Brad Cazort (Fourth Ward, Northwest Little Rock) added, “If we’re not going to talk about new revenue sources, we need to talk about cuts.”

Joan Adcock (at-large), noting that she was normally optimistic, said she feared layoffs were imminent.

But Stodola came out of the meeting upbeat, saying things were going to work out. “We’re finally going to get the RFP for the landfill out,” he added.

After the election, however, look for a call for a public discussion on “what we can be as a city,” as Stodola puts it, and the need for new tax revenues to get there. It’s likely the discussion will include the issue of whether the mayormanager double team is the way to move forward.

501-376-1195  1023 West Markham  Downtown Little Rock www.doeseatplace.net www.arktimes.com • august 26, 2010 15

e y e on ar k ansas

Editorial n In other states, the super-rich pledge to give their wealth to charity. In Arkansas, we’d be happy if they just quit trying to tear down the public schools.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette asked in-state moneybags if they’d join Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and other billionaires in giving away their skillfully inherited money. Not on your life, Rich Arkansas responded.

A South Arkansas heir, invoking the mythical “death tax,” was fairly typical of the group. “I know they’re [Gates and Buffett] both advocates of keeping the death tax and keeping it at a high and confiscatory rate,” he said. (“Death tax” is what people who’re rich and dishonest call the inheritance tax, which is levied only on a tiny number of very rich people, none of whom has been forced to take a real job.) “I don’t believe I’ll succumb to the blandishments of social pressure when we’re already engaged in what we believe are appropriate philanthropic practices.”

That’s the voice of people who’ve been brought up to believe that because they’re richer than other people, they’re better than other people. How often do they claim exemption from the rules applied to their lessers: “I don’t believe I’ll succumb to the blandishments of statutory law.” “I don’t believe I’ll succumb to the blandishments of organized religion.” “I don’t believe I’ll succumb to the blandishments of common decency.”

Will they succumb to the blandishments of their less fortunate neighbors, who need the public schools for the education of their children? Not these boys. Many of the same ones who were named in the D-G article, or should have been – Waltons, Stephenses, Murphys, Hussmans, Demings et al – are members of a Billionaires Club that is using its considerable wherewithal in a campaign to replace traditional public schools with charter schools teaching what rich guys like to hear – reverence for wealth, principally. Their plan to crush teachers unions in the process – they hate it when the non-rich lack servility – has brought the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce to their side.

The chamber stands for nothing if not cheap and docile labor.

Arkansas doesn’t have a monopoly on self-satisfied billionaires, if that helps. Rupert Murdoch won’t be joining the GatesBuffet project. When Murdoch turns loose of money, such as his media conglomerate’s recent million-dollar gift to the Republican Governors Association, he expects a sizeable return on investment. The Republicans’ “pro-business agenda” is what attracted Murdoch, a spokesman said, hinting that groups with a proconsumer agenda shouldn’t look that way for help. Shouldn’t go to Fox News, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post for fair reporting, either.

201 East Markham Street, 200 Heritage Center West, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 Home page: http://www.arktimes.com • E-mail: arktimes@arktimes.com Publisher Alan Leveritt editor

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MUTE TESTIMONY: Last week, people had the opportunity to identify and claim personal items found after the Albert Pike Campground flood in June. The items filled two buildings at the Pike County Fairgrounds. The flood killed 20 people.

Painting Arkansas red n Thanks to a rotten economy and a black president, the 2010 election could be politically historic in Arkansas.

If polling and opinion from both Republican and Democrat politicos are correct, the Arkansas Republican Party is going to make a giant leap toward parity this year.

One-party dominance in Arkansas was a product of tradition, populism and charismatic politicians.

The big tent Democratic Party held everything from gun-loving, abortion-hating religious conservatives to ultra-liberals. The bedrock was a monolithic black vote.

This year, fear of job loss and the sour economy — a recent poll said 54 percent of Arkansas voters think it’s going to get worse before it gets better — drive poll after poll. At every level, opinion sampling shows a majority of voters favoring Republican candidates, thanks particularly to the flight of rural and conservative voters from the party of Barack Obama.

It’s so bad that polls show Gov. Mike Beebe flirting with a 50 percent vote despite a successful first term, a huge campaign treasury and a little-known opponent recently arrived from his Florida income tax haven.

Beebe still should win, but down the ballot, a revolution is brewing. No wonder. President Obama got only 35 percent of the vote here in 2008 and his numbers have gotten worse. The special interest campaigns have persuaded Arkansas voters that more health care coverage for more people is a bad thing in one of the country’s poorest states. Add to this toxic stew an instinctive mistrust among many on account of Obama’s skin color, his middle name and the campaign to link his name with Islamic terrorism.

Republicans are striving to make even legislative races a national referendum. If they succeed, watch out. Once Arkansas voters break their contract with the Democratic Party, they’re not likely to renew it.

The most optimistic Republicans and the most pessimistic Democrats think that could mean a majority

Max brantley max@arktimes.com

Republican legislature by 2012.

Seven Senate seats currently held by Democrats are on the November ballot. The rosiest prediction I can get from a Democrat is a win in three of those seven. Republican predictions range from 5 victories for the GOP to a sweep (which would mean 15 of 35 Senate seats in GOP hands).

Republicans claim — and I’ve yet to find a Democrat to hotly dispute this — a lead in most of the contested state House of Representatives races, too. The GOP is talking about increasing its House contingent from 28 to 40.

Grim, too, is the outlook for statewide offices. The Republicans have a shot at all seven, if you believe the generic preferences of voters. This could mean, for one, that an expense-account-abusing extremist Republican fruitcake might win the office of secretary of state. Fortunately, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has no Republican opponent. With that and Beebe’s likely survival, the Democratic Party will still control legislative redistricting, but they can only work at the margins of demographic shifts that will put increasing Republican might in Northwest Arkansas and suburbs while former Democratic strongholds like the Delta continue to empty of people.

Polling also shows a Republican defeat of U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln and possible victories in three of the four congressional races, with only U.S. Rep. Mike Ross a slim survivor. This poor state will suffer disproportionately if this occurs, particularly if it’s part of a national wave that rolls back health reform and increases the deficit through foreign adventurism and giveaways to the rich. But the voters are always right, aren’t they?

The summer of Democrats’ discontent n We analysts of Arkansas politics all have our set talking points when asked why Democrats continue to succeed here in state and congressional elections even as Republicans win at the presidential level, a pattern that differentiates Arkansas from its Southern neighbors. A flurry of polling data and anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that after Nov. 2 that question may no longer exist.

It’s clear that Republicans are positioned to run up a series of victories from the local level to the U.S. Senate that is unprecedented in the state’s political history. The dire re-election prospects of U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln are old news at this point. More startling are the double-digit leads for Republicans in two open U.S. House seats shown in last week’s Talk Business polls (on which I collaborated). Truly extraordinary, and widely discussed in political circles, are Republican leads of about the same size in “generic” matchups (that is, unnamed Republican versus unnamed Democrat) for the open seats for two constitutional officers. Finally, last weekend, the state GOP executive director told a crowd of party loyalists that every Republican in a hotly contested Arkansas legislative race is polling ahead of his or her Democratic opponent. While these also represent

Jay barth guest writer

“generic” races since candidates are just now introducing themselves, the breadth of the apparent GOP strength in this polling data is indicative of the vulnerability of the Democratic brand in the state.

Opinion polls are imperfect snapshots and these particular snapshots were taken at the point of President Obama’s lowest approval ratings and in the wake of daily headlines regarding the use of state vehicles for personal use by state officials— a story that clearly touched a nerve in Arkansas’s populist electorate. And, many Democratic candidates continue to have significant financial advantages over untested Republican candidates. For instance, in the polling for secretary of state and lieutenant governor, the actual candidate matchups shrunk the Democratic disadvantages significantly. Despite the fact that most races will inevitably tighten, many signs point to a flurry of Republican victories this fall.

Indeed, after two polls showed Republican gubernatorial challenger

Does it take one to know one? n Since state Sen. Joyce Elliott called herself one, I went to the dictionary to see exactly what a “pinhead” was.

It’s the head of a pin. But there’s a second meaning. Oh, dear. A pinhead is a “dull and stupid person.”

Let’s be clear: Elliott, the veteran state legislator who is the altogether highly regarded Democratic nominee for Congress in the 2nd District to succeed Vic Snyder, did not call herself a pinhead directly.

What she did was get caught between a candid declaration of the way she thinks and the banality that a dreaded campaign consultant talked her into saying in a commercial unveiled last week.

This commercial is designed so that she might advance what the consultants call a “message” and begin development of what the consultants refer to as a “narrative.”

That means she seeks to get moving in the direction of the prevailing political breeze, which is more a strong wind,

John brummett jbrummett@arkansasnews.com

which would explain how otherwise solid politicians like Elliott keep getting tossed about by it.

Here’s what happened: Elliott spoke several weeks ago to the Political Animals Club and said the first thing she wanted people to know in regard to where she stood was that she was “absolutely not running against Washington — any pinhead can do that.”

Then, last week, her campaign unveiled a commercial in which Elliott sits at a dining table and rails against, well, Washington — for corporate bailouts and corporate tax loopholes and gifts for congressmen from lobbyists and pay raises for congressmen, the latter two of which she says she will eschew as part of her plan to clean up the place she had

Jim Keet within ten points of Governor Mike Beebe, politicos of both partisan persuasions actually began to ask aloud whether Governor Mike Beebe’s relection might be at risk. That talk was tamped down by Beebe’s fiery attack at the annual meeting of the Arkansas State Employees Association two weeks ago, in which he derided Keet for “throwing rocks and mud” at the state’s reputation.

The speech showed the governor would not take anything for granted as the fall campaign begins.

Still, the fact that Beebe — a governor with an extraordinary record of tax cutting and fiscal management, who is ideologically in step with Arkansas voters, who has governed without a whiff of scandal in his administration, who leads a state that a vast majority of Arkansans feel is “on the right track,” and who still claims approval ratings that his peers around the country envy — will have to fight to hold his seat shows that something extraordinary is at work in Arkansas this election cycle.

Such puzzling dynamics are not unprecedented during seismic shifts such as may be underway here. Around Labor Day in 1994, Texas Gov. Ann Richards had approval ratings well over 60 percent making her the most personally popular Texas governor in the modern era. She was swept from office by George W. Bush only weeks later, in an election that began the GOP’s dominance in Texas that continues (and of course turned out to have innumerable ramifications in domestic and international politics).

The key question now is whether this may be a “bad year” for Arkansas Democrats, or the cementing of some more fundamental, lasting shift in Arkansas’s partisan balance. In the Southern states which have preceded Arkansas into the Republican ranks in recent decades, analysts can point to a particular election cycle as the one where a “new normal” was created in which the advantages that Republicans had at the presidential level began to consistently express themselves in state politics. There is much to point to 2010 being such a “realigning” election in Arkansas: the state electorate’s dislike of President Obama that is decidedly more emphatic than most elsewhere in the country; demographic trends that show Republican counties quickly growing while Democratic areas plateau or shrink in population growth; low turnout among the only part of the Arkansas electorate (18-24 year olds) that supported President Obama in 2008; the dying away of “yellow dog” Democrats, and the development of a farm team of GOP candidates to create a stronger future set of candidates.

Populist, well-funded campaigns that have carried the day for Arkansas Democrats in the past may pull out Democratic victories this fall. That road to victory is particularly treacherous, however, when the political landscape is shifting and — perhaps — realigning.

previously said she wouldn’t run against because any pinhead could do that.

Just as she didn’t specifically call herself a “pinhead” this time, Elliott didn’t specifically use “pinhead” the first time as a label for her Republican opponent, Karl Rove protege Tim Griffin.

But Griffin, recently seen getting Bud Cummins fired as U.S. attorney so he could put the job on his own candidacyenhancing resume, does, in fact, run against Washington.

Surveys show that people are sick up to here with the lobbyist influence, the corruption, the campaign money, the polarization and dysfunction, the deficit, the debt, the raging ineptitude.

Elliott can say that she is not actually running against Washington in this commercial, but rather explaining how she’ll make it better when she gets there.

In fact, that’s precisely what she told me just now over the phone — that she’s not “just running against Washington,” but to improve Washington, adding, “If I thought everything was fine, there’d be no need to run.”

But that’s a nuance and subtlety entirely too delicate for the modern political mood and modern political discourse.

So which time did she err, in the speech or the commercial?

I’d say both.

I winced when she seemed in that Political Animals speech to defend Washington’s status quo and flirt with name-calling. I winced even as I grasped and agreed with what she was trying to say. It was that she’d made a career of working within the system for good, as House Education Committee chairman and then on Gov. Mike Beebe’s transition team, among other efforts.

But I laughed aloud when she unveiled this commercial belying the speech, doing so without even the least attempt to reconcile — if merely to say, “As I’ve said before, I’m not just running against Washington. I’m running to make it better.”

Most polls and political experts think Griffin will win this race because the raging mood is anti-Obama and Elliott will be burdened by an appearance of untimely liberalism.

I’m doubting that either her “pinhead” remark or her anti-Washington commercial will change that.

Jay Barth is a professor of politics at Hendrix College. Ernest Dumas will return next week.

John Brummett is a columnist and reporter for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. You can read additional Brummett columns in The Times of North Little Rock. www.arktimes.com • AUGUST 26, 2010 17

ride the

s u B s e u l B

Saturday, Oct. 9 at Helena

Featuring

Motor Coach Transportation Provided by Arkansas Destinations / Little Rock Trailways

Taj Mahal Charlie Musselwhite

Walter (Wolfman) Washington Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets Pinetop Perkins and Bob Margolin Bobby Parker • Larry McCray Preston Shannon Plus a live performance by Bluesboy Jag on the Blues Bus.

$

9 9

Price Includes: • Round-Trip Tour Bus

Transportation • VIP Tickets Into The r e P on Gated Concert Area s Per • Live Blues Bus Performance En Route • Lunch at Craig’s Barbecue in DeValls Bluff

Hosted by publisher Alan Leveritt and arts and entertainment editor Lindsey Millar.

Rese your rve s todayeat !

Blues B office us leave s s Scott (intersec the Arkan ) tio s after at 10 a.m n of Mar as Times . k the c once Oct. 9 and ham & rt sam r e day eturns .

Charge by phone (all major credit cards), at 501-375-2985. Or mail check or money-order to Arkansas Times Blues Bus Box 34010, Little Rock, AR 72203

arts entertainment Free This week in

Corb Lund plays Stickyz

Original Wailers to Revolution

Page 20

Page 21

and

to do list

20

calendar

22

Movies

30

Dining

39

Voices of Freedom: A Rally in Support of the West Memphis 3

the

WM3

Eddie Vedder and Natalie Maines help sound the rallying cry on Saturday at Robinson.

By Lindsey Millar t’s inching close to two decades.

For more than 17 years, Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelley have been imprisoned for a crime a growing number believe they didn’t commit. Soon, the so-called West Memphis 3 will face their best opportunity yet to prove they were wrongly convicted.

To raise awareness, the WM3 advocacy nonprofit Arkansas Take Action has organized “Voices for Justice,” a star-studded rally to be held beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 28, at Robinson Center Music Hall.

On Sept. 30, the Arkansas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Damien Echols’ appeal for a new trial. According to the arguments filed with the court by national legal organizations, new DNA testing and forensic evidence — along with evidence that the original jury foreman engaged in blatant misconduct — prove that Echols, who currently sits on Arkansas’s death row, was wrongly convicted of murder.

“In late April, we learned oral arguments were going to be Sept. 30,” Echols’ wife, Lorri Davis, said earlier this week.

“And of course that was real hard to take because that’s five months away. So I started thinking, ‘Why not use the time in a really positive way that would bring people together?’ For longtime supporters. To try

I

to educate people.

But most importantly, to send a message to the state of Arkansas: We’ve done our work, we’ve proved our case and [the Arkansas Supreme Court] needs to do the right thing and end this injustice.”

Davis, who’s also a co-founder of Arkansas Take Action, made the event national news when she got two of the cause’s fiercest — and most famous — champions on board: Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and The Dixie Chick’s Natalie Maines.

One of the WM3’s longest supporters, Vedder appeared on the 2000 “Free the West Memphis Three” compilation and co-wrote the song “Army Reserve” on Pearl Jam’s 2006 self-titled album with Echols.

Last year in Memphis, Vedder told the crowd that he’d decided to include the city on his small tour because of the WM3 and implored it to learn about the case. “You owe it to your country,” he said according to the Memphis Flyer. “It could happen to

LENDING THEIR VOICES: Natalie Maines and Eddie Vedder are two of the West Memphis 3’s strongest supporters.

any of us. Three men are in prison, and they shouldn’t be.”

Maines appeared, with Davis and other members of Arkansas Take Action, at a rally at the state Capitol in 2007. She delivered letters of concern about the case to the governor’s office.

Originally, Davis said, she and other ATA organizers wanted to hold the event somewhere more quiet and respectful, like a church. As the Times reported, the rally was initially slated for the Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church.

“I don’t know anything about coordinating a big event like this, and it turned

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 Robinson Center Music Hall, $25 Tickets via Ticketmaster or the Celebrity attractions ticket office (300 S. Spring, Suite 100)

out that, logistically, the church didn’t make sense,” Davis said.

But then Robinson Center stepped in and, with prodding from Vedder, ATA decided to steer the event away from a high-ticketpriced benefit and into a rally with an affordable $25 ticket. As a consequence, Davis said, Vedder and Pearl Jam are likely to go into the red for the event.

In addition to the musicians, who will play acoustically and almost certainly sing some songs together, Quapaw Quarter United Methodist preacher Rev. Thompson Murray, Davis and other members of Arkansas Take Action will speak. Local actress Lisa Blount will sing, and new video messages from the WM3 and from long-time supporter Henry Rollins will screen.

The event bills Vedder and Maines along with “special guests.” Davis was tight-lipped about who those special guests are, but promised that they were well known and had been confirmed. I’ve heard from other sources close to the event that the rumors are true: Johnny Depp and Patti Smith are the special guests. www.arktimes.com • AUGUST 26, 2010 19

■ to-dolist

By John Tarpley

TH U R S D AY 8 / 2 6

48 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL 7 p.m., 9 p.m.; Riverdale 10. $10.

n Again, it’s over before it’s barely begun.

But that’s the nature of the beast known as the 48 Hour Film Festival. Once a year, the film project returns Little Rock, banding together teams of friends, co-workers, families and college students to write, produce, perform and edit a short film in a whirlwind, Red Bull-fueled weekend of competitive cinema. The catch? Teams are given a required character, one required spoken line, a prop and a film genre to build their film upon. This year, teams were given a camp counselor named “Geoff” or “Georgia Cook,” a tire or a wheel as a prop and “here we go again” as the films’ “frankly, Scarlett, I don’t give a damn” coup de dialogue. This year, 21 teams entered, including the reigning champs here at our paper, spearheaded by the Andrei Tarkovsky of the Arkansas Times, our senior cineaste, David Koon.

Screenings are 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Thursday (Group A) and Friday (Group B).

ELI YOUNG BAND 9 p.m., Revolution. $15.

n For the last decade, this plaintive, M.O.R. college-country act bypassed loud, national exposure in favor of relentlessly touring of small towns and college circuits, pushing their own releases and winning over regional radio stations, eventually finding itself with a major label deal and a notoriously dedicated fan base in spite of its relative anonymity in the world of big country. By taking this more personal, road-tripping route of bringing big music to small crowds, the Eli Young Band, fronted by long-time collaborators Mike Eli and James Young, come around often and return to ever-growing crowds. The sound, however? It’s about what you’d expect: an inoffensive, beige mash of everything in the middle of the dial, all seemingly drawn from an old Parade Magazine’s weekly Columbia House CD Club insert. New country, ’90s rock, classic adult-contemporary — it’s all there in some safe, shapeless blah. But it’s a potent blah that consistently fills up theaters and clubs with excited fans who sing along to every word sung by the “Eagles by way of Blake Shelton” easy-goers. Recently, the band’s expanding popularity has earned it airtime on country music stations, opening spots for the big-timers like the Dave Matthews Band, Alan Jackson and Gary Allan and the record for the longest running single on Billboard’s country charts with “When It Rains,” a twangy, earnest piece of musical 20 AUGUST 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

MORE M.O.R.: No strangers to the road, the college-country act Eli Young Band comes to town for a show at Revolution. loneliness made for gray mornings. Expect this to bring out legions of devotees.

SU N D AY 8 /2 9

CORB LUND

8 p.m., Sticky Fingerz. $10.

n This celebrated Albertan singer, like the Eli Young Band above, maintains hordes of dedicated fans without tapping into the

mainstream pipe. Unlike them, he’s no slick brand of twang-pop. Alt-country it ain’t either. Corb Lund is a traditionalist, singing — sometimes yodeling — about the Civil War, whiskey, horses and his native Canada. He and his backing band, the Hurtin’ Albertans, have more in common with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys than anything you’ll see on GAC. And his voice is almost unsettlingly twang-free. For a purist, he’s an odd bird, loved in Canada and criminally overlooked in America.

Maybe it’s because even the most enthusiastic champions of the Canuck cowboy are quick to admit his music takes time to click; he’s a grower with albums of dusty prairie dirges that demand repeating. But songs like the gorgeous “The Truth Comes Out” and the talkin’ shuffle of “Long Gone to Saskatchewan” are quick, slick entry points to a rich, addictive body of northof-the-border country. And now, after making five albums that barely squeezed into American ears, Lund signed to New

NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Celebrated Canadian country traditionalist Corb Lund brings his poetic, melodic brand of twang to Sticky Fingerz.

Between screaming guitar solos, lugubrious, wailing sincerity and spoken word samples drawn from Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, Stickles unites the “never say die” punk ethos with 1860s fierce determination, bending time and history to draw a short, thick line between the 1st Dragoon Calvary and Agnostic Front. Smart, wild and at the front of the pack, Titus Andronicus is bringing one of the most anticipated shows of the summer to town and one of those rare, Monday night treats in Little Rock that can’t be passed up. It’s a shoo-in for our pick of the week. Magic Hassle, the local supergroup that gets better and better with each show, and The See, Little Rock’s anthemic answer to the night’s headliners, provide support.

THE ORIGINAL WAILERS 9 p.m., Revolution. $15.

BRAVE NEW BAND: One of the best groups of indie-rockers you’ll find anywhere, Titus Andronicus, is set for a much-anticipated Monday night show at Revolution.

West Records, brought out his first U.S. release in “Losin’ Lately Gambler” and now sits in the same roster as fellow purists Dwight Yoakam, Kris Kristofferson and Steve Earle. He’s enormously literate, a gifted storyteller and a deceptively imaginative troubadour from the same vein as his new label mates. If there was any justice in an industry notoriously devoid of such things, ol’ Corb would find little trouble translating the accolades and gold to stateside. If you’re looking for real country, look no further.

MO N D AY 8 / 3 0

TITUS ANDRONICUS

guitar heroes Dinosaur Jr. and U.K. folkpunkers The Pogues, all the while alluding to Shakespeare, Camus and Dutch master Pieter Bruegel. Soon after being embraced by the notoriously elitist taste-makers, front man/history buff Patrick Stickles began cavorting as a glam-rock Ulysses S. Grant while writing the follow-up, “The Monitor,” an expansive concept album about the Civil War. Or growing up in small town New Jersey. Or the degeneration of a country at-large. Interpretation aside, it’s an electric, domineering opus full of punk suites and retooled, shanty Irish jigs as shambolically drunk as it is defiantly whipsmart, belligerently walking (and puking on) the divide between “exhilarating” and “self-indulgent” for an epic 65 minutes.

n Just because the name is a bit misleading doesn’t mean this isn’t one of the week’s to-dos. The Wailers web left behind in Bob Marley’s wake is a tangled web, to say the least, but I’ll do my best to explain.

This seven-piece is two-sevenths Wailer with Junior Marvin and Al Anderson, singers and lead guitarists, in the ranks, but their “original” status isn’t necessarily so. (The Wailers were founded by Marley, Peter Tosh and namesake Bunny Wailer).

However, Marvin and Anderson have played huge roles in the history of reggae; both contributed to Bob Marley classics “Survival” and “Uprising” while Marvin contributed guitar to “Exodus,” one of the greatest albums ever, and took reign of the band after Marley’s death in 1981. Now this Junior Marvin, not to be confused with Junior Murvin, Lee “Scratch” Perry cohort and brain behind “Police and Thieves,” has also been a regular figure with Toots & The Maytals and Burning Spear, while Anderson played a role in Peter Tosh’s masterpiece “Legalize It.” Listen, I warned you this would be a convoluted trip through Rocktown. Bottom line, this is, simply, as close to Bob Marley as you can get without getting a second-hand high from Ziggy’s dreads, so skankers, mount up. The Movement, a rock/hip-hop/ reggae fusion act from Philadelphia opens the night.

8 p.m., Revolution. $10

n What a much-needed alternative to the navel-gazing “me, me, me” pasture of indie bands. This basement-punk outfit is one of the most ambitious rock acts in recent memory. Now take “ambitious” and replace it with “intelligent,” “important,” “complex,” “inspired,” “celebrated” or “straight-up exhilarating” for a quick describe-all of these new New Jersey darlings. The band’s debut album, 2008’s “The Airing of Grievances” was an instant classic of the genre. Triumphant, unhinged and relentlessly melodic, the outfit drew its spazzed-out sound from

BOB’S YA UNCLE: Remnants of the Marley-led Wailers bring originals and classic covers to Revolution.

■ inbrief

THURSDAY 8/26

Out at Denton’s Trotline in Benton, Big John Miller belts out soul hits with support from his band, 8 p.m. The Last Waltz Ensemble, a tribute act to The Band during its time with Bob Dylan as well as its output from the Big Pink, plays Revolution, 9 p.m., $8.

On the other side of the River Market, another, completely different tribute act shreds away as Battery pays tribute to Metallica, 9 p.m., $10. Vino’s brings in a night of post-hardcore with Moment of Fierce Determination, Burning the Past, Taifias and Hourglass, 7 p.m., $5. On Louisiana, the new club, Sway, lights up with help from DJ Silky Slim, all night, $3. Throwback cock-rockers Triple Cobra roll into Hot Springs for a show at Maxine’s; they’re joined by selfdescribed “comedic cabaret pop-punk sensations” Flameing Daeth Fearies, 8 p.m., $5 suggested donation.

FRIDAY 8/27

Cool Shoes returns for their monthly dance party; this time around, Cool Shoes regulars DJ Wolf-E-Wolf and Sleek man the decks at the Downtown Music Hall stage, 10 p.m., $5 over 21, $8 under 21. The Arkansas-born, Austin-residing Ouachita brings its dusky take on ’70s Southern rock to the brave souls at Midtown Billiards, 12:30 a.m., $8 non-members. High-energy classic rockers Katmandu play a free show at Capi’s, 8:30 p.m. The party rock band familiar to Little Rock clubbers and nightlifers, Boom Kinetic, plays Sticky Fingerz, 10 p.m., $8. Juanita’s hosts promoters I Love the Good Life’s monthly Zodiac party with Final Fridays: The Virgo Zodiac Affair, 9 p.m., $5 early admission.

SATURDAY 8/28

Super-sized Springfield, Mo., family band Big Smith brings its backwoods, traditional sounds to Revolution; local country deconstructionists Mockingbird Hillbilly Band pick and grin first, 8:30 p.m., $8. Vino’s hosts a thumping, flashing night of techno with a house music dance party, 8 p.m., $5. Conway’s long-time home for metal, Soundstage, brings a night of thrashing and wailing with Safe to Shore, Forever Eternal, Medic Red and Kingdom Under Siege, 8 p.m., $7. Singer/songwriter Shannon Boshears plays Markham Street Grill and Pub, 9 p.m. At Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, Thomas East rounds out his standing weekend stint as house pianist, 7 p.m. At the Weekend Theater, the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” continues its run, 7:30 p.m., $14-$18. www.arktimes.com • AUGUST 26, 2010 21

www.travs.com.

www.arktimes.com

afterdark

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26 Music

Battery: Masters of Metallica. Sticky Fingerz Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $10. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz. com.

Big John Miller Band. Denton’s Trotline, 9 p.m.

2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

Brown Sole Shoes. Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 9 p.m. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub. com.

Dave Williams & Co. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., $5. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www. afterthoughtbar.com.

DJ SilkySlim. Sway, $3. 412 Louisiana. 501-9072582.

Funky Motif. Town Pump, 10 p.m., $3. 1321 Rebsamen Park Road. 501-663-9802.

The Gettys (headliner), Lyle Dudley (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www. cajunswharf.com.

The Glitch Mob, Cornmeal. George’s Majestic Lounge, 8 p.m., $15. 519 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville.

479-442-4226.

J-One Presents: “In Too Deep.” Deep Ultra Lounge, 9 p.m. 322 President Clinton Ave. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m., free. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-3242999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

The Last Waltz Ensemble. Revolution, 9 p.m., $8. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090. revroom. com.

Moment of Fierce Determination, Burning the Past, Taifias, Hourglass. Vino’s, 7 p.m., $5. 923 W. Seventh St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.

“Posh.” Ernie Biggs, 9 p.m., $5 early admission.

307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com.

Steele Jessup. Grumpy’s Too, 9 p.m. 1801 Green Mountain Drive. 501-225-9650.

The Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free. 111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-3747474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Triple Cobra. Maxine’s, 8 p.m., free. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

Voodoo Sauce. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m.

2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.myspace.com/ whitewatertavern.

coMedy

Tommy Blaze. The Loony Bin, 8 p.m.; Aug. 28, 8 and 10:30 p.m.; Aug. 29, 7, 9 and 11 p.m., $6-$9.

10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. www.loonybincomedy.com.

events

Civil Rights History Town Hall Meeting.

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, a museum of African-American history, kicks off a series of civil rights history town hall meetings. The audience is invited to relate civil rights stories and experiences.

Information collected during the town hall series 22 AUGUST 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

SUNDAY, HEAVY SUNDAY: White Water Tavern opens its doors for a rare Sunday show that brings Saviours, an Oakland, Calif., speed sludge band fresh off of Ozzfest, to town alongside Pallbearer, local, Billie Holiday covering (!) doom metallists, and Rwake (above), one of the world’s greatest sludge bands which just so happens to hail from Central Arkansas. will be used in an Arkansas African-American Civil Rights traveling exhibit. Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 5:30 p.m. 701 Main St., Pine Bluff. 870-536-3375. www.artssciencecenter.org.

Women’s Equality Day. A celebration of the 19th amendment with Treasurer Martha Shoffner, State Sen. Joyce Elliott, former state treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher and civil rights activist Annie Abrams. State Capitol, 12:30 p.m., free. State Capitol.

FilM

48 Hour Film Festival. Screening of films made over a 48 Hour period. Group A (including the offering from Arkansas Times) screens Aug. 27; Group B on Aug. 28. Riverdale 10 Cinema, 7

and 9 p.m., $10/screening. 2600 Cantrell Road.

(501)296-9955.

lectures

James Miller. The managing director of the Mississippi Community Health House Network will discuss his organization’s efforts to create health houses across Mississippi. Clinton School of Public Service, 12 p.m., free. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 501-683-5239. www.clintonschool.uasys.edu.

sports Arkansas Travelers vs. Tulsa Drillers.

Dickey-Stephens Park, through Aug. 27, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-7559.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 Music

Adrenaline. Fox And Hound, 10 p.m. 2800 Lakewood Village, NLR. 501-753-8300.

Boom Kinetic. Sticky Fingerz Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 10 p.m., $8. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

Chapters, Beyond the Veil, Poisonwood.

Soundstage, 7 p.m., $6. 1008 Oak St., Conway.

Cool Shoes with DJs Wolf-E-Wolf, Sleek.

Downtown Music Hall, 10 p.m., $5-$8. 215 W. Capitol. 501-376-1819. downtownshows.homestead.com.

D-Mite and Tho’d Studios Showcase.

Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 9 p.m. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub.com.

DJ Ja’Lee. Sway, 5 p.m., $5. 412 Louisiana.

501-907-2582.

Eargasm. Reno’s Argenta Cafe, 9 p.m. 312 N. Main St., NLR. 501-376-2900. www.renosargentacafe.com.

Earl & Them, The Last Waltz Ensemble, Hardaway and The Commoners. George’s Majestic Lounge, 7 p.m. 519 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-442-4226.

Eli Young Band. Revolution, 9 p.m., $15. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090. revroom.com.

An Evening of Jazz with Chuck Dodson.

Maxine’s, 8 p.m., $5. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

Final Fridays: The Virgo Zodiac Affair.

Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $5 before 11 p.m. 1300 S. Main St. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

First Class Fridays. Bill St. Grill and Pub, 9 p.m.

614 President Clinton Ave. 501-353-1724.

Jason Greenlaw & the Groove. West End Smokehouse and Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. 215 N. Shackleford. 501-224-7665. www.westendsmokehouse.net.

Katmandu. Capi’s, 8:30 p.m., free. 11525 Cantrell Suite 917. 501-225-9600. www.capisrestaurant. com.

Kickback. Grumpy’s Too, 8 p.m. 1801 Green Mountain Drive. 501-225-9650.

Mulehead, Brent Best. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., $10 adv., $12 d.o.s. 2500 W. 7th. 501-3758400. www.myspace.com/whitewatertavern.

Ouachita. Midtown Billiards, Aug. 28, 12:30 a.m., $8 non-members. 1316 Main St. 501-372-9990‚Äé. midtownar.com.

Ramona & Carl. The Afterthought, 9 p.m., $7.

2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Steele Junior. Flying Saucer, 9 p.m., free. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-7468. www.beerknurd.com/stores/littlerock.

Strangelove (headliner), Shannon McClung (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

The Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m. 111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Thomas East. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

Tragikly White. Denton’s Trotline, Aug. 27-28, 9 p.m. 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

White Collar Criminals. Markham Street Grill And Pub, 9 p.m. 11321 W. Markham St. 501-2242010. www.markhamst.com.

events

“Father, Son and the Holy Gay.” Comedian Lianna Carrera performs. ACAC, 8 p.m., $10. 900 S. Rodney Parham Road. 501-244-2974.

Free AIDS Testing. 5 p.m.-8 p.m., free. The Village, 3915 S .University. 570-0300, thevillagelive.com.

LGBTQ/SGL Youth and Young Adult Group.

Diverse Youth for Social Change and Straight Ally Youth and Young Adults hold Friday evening meetings for youths age 14 to 23. 800 Scott St., 6:30 p.m. 800 Scott St.

FilM

48 Hour Film Festival. See Aug. 26.

sports

Arkansas Travelers vs. Tulsa Drillers. DickeyStephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-7559. www.travs.com.

Concert tickets through Ticketmaster by phone at 975-7575 or online at www.ticketmaster.com unless otherwise noted.

SEPT. 4: Keith Sweat, Montell Jordan, Next, 7:30 p.m., $35-75. Riverfest Amphitheatre.

SEPT. 18: Vino’s 20th Anniversary with Ho-Hum, Ashtray Babyhead, Living Sacrifice, The Boondogs, Big Boss Line, The Baileys, Gino Delray. Vino’s, 923 W. 7th St. 375-8466, vinosbrewpub.com.

SEPT. 23: The Hold Steady, $18. Revolution, 300 President Clinton Ave. 523-0090, revroom. com.

SEPT 24: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

8:30 p.m., $18 adv., $20 d.o.s.. Revolution, 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090, revroom. com.

SEPT. 25: The Moving Front Record Release Show. 10 p.m. White Water Tavern, 2500 W. 7th. 375-8400, myspace.com/whitewatertavern OCT. 10: Nickelback. 6 p.m., $55.95-$80.35.

Verizon Arena, NLR. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

OCT. 21: Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie.

7 p.m., $39.75-$49.75. Verizon Arena. 800-7453000, ticketmaster.com OCT. 28: Al Green. 7 p.m. Statehouse Convention Center, 7 Statehouse Plaza.

376-4781, pollstar.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 Music

Annual Rackensack Folklore Society Concert. Arkansas Arts Center, 7 p.m., $8 adults, $5 children. MacArthur Park. 501-372-4000. www. arkarts.com.

Barrett Baber. Flying Saucer, 9 p.m., free. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-7468. www.beerknurd.com/stores/littlerock.

Big John Miller Band. The Afterthought, 9 p.m., $7. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www. afterthoughtbar.com.

Big Smith, Mockingbird Hillbilly Band.

Revolution, 8:30 p.m., $8. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090. revroom.com.

Brown Sole Shoes, The Troubadoors.

Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 8:30 p.m., $5. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub.com.

DJ Ja’Lee. Sway, 5 p.m., $5. 412 Louisiana.

501-907-2582.

DJ Steve (lobby), DJ Patrick Simmons (disco). Discovery Nightclub, 10 p.m., $10. 1021 Jessie Road. 501-664-4784. www.latenightdisco. com.

Embrace the Crash. Bill St. Grill and Pub, 10 p.m., $5. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-3531724.

House Music Dance Party. Vino’s, 8 p.m., $5.

923 W. Seventh St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.

Interstate Buffalo. Midtown Billiards, Aug. 29, 12:30 a.m., $8 non-members. 1316 Main St. 501-372-9990. midtownar.com.

Karaoke at Khalil’s. Khalil’s Pub, 7 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com.

Living Daylights (headliner), Legoria Payton (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road.

501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

Mulehead, Il Libretina. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., $10 adv., $12 d.o.s. 2500 W. 7th. 501-3758400. www.myspace.com/whitewatertavern.

Pilot Whale, Arlo and the Otter, Adam Faucett and the Tall Grass. Maxine’s, 8 p.m., $5. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub. com.

Raising Grey. Fox And Hound, 10 p.m. 2800 Lakewood Village, NLR. 501-753-8300.

Safe To Shore, Forever Eternal, Medic Red, Kingdom Under Siege. Soundstage, 8 p.m., $7. 1008 Oak St., Conway.

Shannon Boshears. Markham Street Grill And Pub, 9 p.m. 11321 W. Markham St. 501-224-2010. www.markhamst.com.

coMedy

Tommy Blaze. The Loony Bin, Aug. 28, 8 and 10:30 p.m.; Aug. 29, 7, 9 and 11 p.m., $6-$9. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. www.loonybincomedy. com.

events

Arkansas Gun & Cartridge Collectors Club Gun & Knife Show. Arkansas State Fairgrounds, Aug. 28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Aug. 29, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

2600 Howard St. 501-372-8341 ext. 8206. www. arkansasstatefair.com.

Certified Arkansas Farmers Market. A weekly outdoor market featuring produce, meats and other foods from Arkansas farmers. Argenta Market, 7 a.m.-12 p.m., free. 521 N. Main St., NLR. 501-379-9980. www.argentamarket.com.

Falun Gong meditation. Allsopp Park, 9 a.m., free. Cantrell & Cedar Hill Roads.

Farmers Market. River Market Pavilions, 7 a.m.

400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info.

Free AIDS Testing. 5 p.m.-8 p.m., free. The Village, 3915 S .University. 570-0300, thevillagelive.com.

“Lost in the ‘50s” Car Show. Antique, classic and street rod cars compete for awards. Music

by Elvis impersonator Butch Dicus. Centerstage Playhouse, 12 p.m. 204 N. 1st St., Cabot.

Rollin’ on the River 5k/2k Family Walk. For more information, visit rollinontheriver.org or call 501-227-3711 Clinton Presidential Center, 8 a.m., $25. 1200 President Clinton Avenue. 370-8000. www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org.

Super Summer Saturdays. Programs and activities related to the Center’s summer exhibit, “Nature Unleashed.” Clinton Presidential Center, 10 a.m., free. 1200 President Clinton Avenue.

370-8000. www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org.

“Voices for Justice.” A rally for the West Memphis Three, featuring special video messages from Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley alongside acoustic performances by Eddie Vedder, Natalie Maines, and special guests.

Robinson Center Music Hall, 7:30 p.m., $26.75.

Markham and Broadway. www.littlerockmeetings. com/conv-centers/robinson.

Books

Alan Lowe and Jason Hall. The authors sign their new book, “The Ghosts of Little Rock: Tales of the City’s Most Haunted Places.” Shop the Rock, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 400 President Clinton Ave. 501-5377058. www.shoptherocklr.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29 Music

Afton Shows presents Rivalry For Ruin, They Were All Goliaths, Disguising the Silence, Das Gift, The Weeping Gate, For Which It Stands, Hone, Sarah Sebestyen and County Line. Juanita’s, 5 p.m., $8 adv., $12 d.o.s. 1300 S. Main St. 501-372-1228. www. juanitas.com.

Corb Lund. Sticky Fingerz Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 8 p.m., $10. 107 Commerce St. 501-3727707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

Rwake, Saviours. White Water Tavern, 9 p.m.

2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.myspace.com/ whitewatertavern.

Successful Sundays. Ernie Biggs, 9 p.m. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs. com.

Sunday Jazz Brunch with Ted Ludwig and Joe Cripps. Vieux Carre, 11 a.m. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.vieuxcar-

recafe.com.

coMedy

Tommy Blaze. The Loony Bin, 7, 9 and 11 p.m., $6-$9. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. www. loonybincomedy.com.

events

Arkansas Gun & Cartridge Collectors Club Gun & Knife Show. See Aug. 28.

MONDAY, AUGUST 30 Music

Lyle Dudley Band. Town Pump, 10 p.m., $3.

1321 Rebsamen Park Road. 501-663-9802.

Monday Night Jazz with Steve Struthers, Brian Wolverton, Dave Rogers. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., $5. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd.

501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Richie Johnson. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m., free.

2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

Titus Andronicus, The See, Wicked Good.

Revolution, 8 p.m., $10. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090. revroom.com.

Wes Jeans, Badhand. The Village, 8 p.m., $10.

3915 S. University Ave. 501-570-0300. www.thevillagelive.com.

Live Music Thursday, augusT 26 VooDoo Sauce Friday, augusT 27 MuLeHeaD NigHt oNe BReNt BeSt of SLoBBeRBoNe (DeNtoN, texaS) saTurday, augusT 28 MuLeHeaD NigHt two suNday, augusT 29 RwaKe SaViouRS (oaKLaND, ca)

myspace.com/whitewatertavern Little Rock’s Down-Home Neighborhood Bar

7th & Thayer • Little Rock • (501) 375-8400

Lectures

Batu Kutelia. The Georgian ambassador to the United States, Canada and Mexico speaks. Clinton School of Public Service, 12 p.m. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 501-683-5239. www.clintonschool. uasys.edu.

Jim Gerstein. The executive director of Democracy Corps speaks on public opinion research and strategies for progressive campaigns.

Clinton School of Public Service, 12 p.m., free.

1200 President Clinton Ave. 501-683-5239. www. clintonschool.uasys.edu.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 Music

Brian & Nick. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m., free.

2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

Cory Branan, Drag the River (acoustic set). White Water Tavern, 10 p.m. 2500 W. 7th.

501-375-8400. www.myspace.com/whitewatertavern.

Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m., free. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-3242999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

Karaoke Night. Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 8 p.m.

314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub. com.

Karaoke Tuesday. Prost, 8 p.m., free. 120 Ottenheimer. 501-244-9550.

Karaoke with Big John Miller. Denton’s Trotline, 8 p.m. 2150 Congo Road, Benton.

501-315-1717.

Magic Hassle, Mandy McBryde. Town Pump, 10 p.m., $3. 1321 Rebsamen Park Road. 501-6639802.

Tequila Tuesdays with DJ Hy-C. Bill St. Grill and Pub, 8:30 p.m. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-353-1724.

Tuesday Jam Session with Carl Mouton.

The Afterthought, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

dance

“Latin Night.” Revolution, 7 p.m., $5 regular, $7 under 21. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090. www.revroom.com.

events

Farmers Market. River Market Pavilions, 7 a.m.

400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info.

Robert Hess and Tour de USA. Tour de USA 2010, a cross-country motorcycling touring adventure to raise awareness for prostate cancer, visits as part of its ‘The Longest Motorcycle Charity Tour in the World’ tour. State Capitol, 2 p.m. State Capitol.

The ROOT Cafe “Canning Kitchen” Summer Workshop. ROOT’s third annual summer series of food preservation workshops.

Christ Episcopal Church, Aug. 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Sept. 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Sept. 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $10. 509 Scott St. 501-375-2342.

105 N. R odNey P aRham L ittLe R ock (501) 223-3600 m oN -S at 10 a . m .-6 P . m .

S uN 1 P . m .-5 P . m . midtowneantiques@att.net www.midtownantiquemall.com find us on Facebook

drink local

UpcOMiNG EvENTS

Steve Bates. Cregeen’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m., free.

301 Main St., NLR. 501-376-7468. www.cregeens. com.

Summer Jam Session. Christ Episcopal Church, 6:30 p.m., free. 509 Scott St. 501-3752342.

The Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m. 111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Thomas East. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

Tragikly White. Denton’s Trotline, 9 p.m. 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

Trey Johnson. West End Smokehouse and Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. 215 N. Shackleford. 501-2247665. www.westendsmokehouse.net.

support your community.

Continued on page 29

www.arktimes.com • AUGUST 26, 2010 23

SAVOR CITY the

Y

our favorite chefs have put together special, prix fixe lunch and dinner menus for the month of September that are priced below what you would ordinarily pay for each course separately. Go to www.experiencelittlerockdining.com for more information.

LUNCH $15 2 COURSES

SEPTEMBER 2010 LITTLE ROCK RESTAURANT MONTH

ends sep. 30

TIER ONE

DINNER $35 3 COURSES

1620 RESTAURANT (DINNER ONLY) www.1620restaurant.com 1620 Market Street • (501) 221-1620

FERNEAU (DINNER ONLY) www.ferneaurestaurant.com 2601 Kavanaugh Boulevard • (501) 603-9208

BEST IMPRESSIONS (LUNCH ONLY) www.bestimpressionsrestaurant.com 501 East 9th Street • (501) 907-5946

LULAV www.lulaveatery.com 220 West 6th Street • (501) 374-5100

CAFE BOSSA NOVA www.cafebossanova.com 2701 Kavanaugh Boulevard • (501) 614-6682

SUSHI CAFE www.sushicaferocks.com 5823 Kavanaugh Boulevard • (501) 663-9888

CAPI’S www.capisrestaurant.com 11525 Cantrell Road • (501) 225-9600

SO RESTAURANT-BAR 3610 Kavanaugh Boulevard • (501) 663-1464

CAPRICCIO GRILL www.peabodylittlerock.com 3 Statehouse Plaza • (501) 399-8000 CHEERS IN THE HEIGHTS www.cheersith.com 2010 North Van Buren Street • (501) 663-5937 CIAO BACI (DINNER ONLY) www.ciaobaci.org 605 Beechwood Street • (501) 603-0238

LUNCH $12 2 COURSES

SONNY WILLIAMS’ STEAK ROOM (DINNER ONLY) www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com 500 President Clinton Avenue #100 • (501) 324-2999 TERRY’S THE RESTAURANT (DINNER ONLY) 5018 Kavanaugh • (501) 663-4152 TRIO’S RESTAURANT & CATERING www.triosrestaurant.com 8201 Cantrell Road • (501) 221-3330 VIEUX CARRE www.vieuxcarrecafe.com 2721 Kavanaugh Boulevard • (501) 663-1196

TIER TWO

DINNER $25 3 COURSES

ACADIA www.acadiahillcrest.com 3000 Kavanaugh Blvd., Suite 202 • (501) 603-9630

THE BUTCHER SHOP STEAKHOUSE (DINNER ONLY) www.thebutchershop.com 10825 Hermitage Road • (501) 312-2748

B-SIDE (BREAKFAST/BRUNCH ONLY) 11121 Rodney Parham (Market Street Shopping Center) (501) 554-0914

CAFE 201 Crownplazalittlerock.com 201 S. Shackleford Road • (501) 223.3000

BIG WHISKEY’S www.bigwhiskeys.com 225 East Markham Street • (501) 324-2449

CAJUN’S WHARF (DINNER ONLY) www.cajunswharf.com 2400 Cantrell Road • (501) 375-5351

www.experiencelittlerockdining.com Menu Items differ with each restaurant. Tax and gratuity not included

Lunch $12 2 courses

TIER TWO CONTINUED

Capers www.capersrestaurant.com 14502 Cantrell Road • (501) 868-7600

Dinner $25 3 courses

Juanita’s Café & Bar www.juanitas.com 1300 Main Street • (501) 372-122

Capital Bar and Grill (DINNER ONLY) www.capitalhotel.com 111 West Markham Street • (501) 374-7474

Lilly’s Dimsum Then Some www.lillysdimsum.com NorthLittle RodneyRock Parham Road • (501) 716-2700 Special prix fixe menus at reduced prices11121 at these restaurants.

Copper Grill & Grocery Loca Luna Restaurant www.coppergrillandgrocery.com www.localuna.com 300 East 3rd Street • (501) 375-3333 3519 Old Cantrell Road • (501) 663-4666 Copeland’s The Pantry www.copelandsofneworleans.com www.littlerockpantry.com 2602 South Shackleford Road • (501) 312-1616 11401 North Rodney Parham Road • (501) 353-1875 Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro Red Door 200 Commerce Street • (501) 375-3500 www.reddoorrestaurant.net 3519 Old Cantrell Road • (501) 666-8482 Diversion Tapas Restaurant (Dinner Only) 2611 Kavanaugh Blvd., Suite 200 • (501) 414-0409 Salut!

1501 North University Avenue • (501) 660-4200 The house 722 N. Palm Street • (501) 663-4500

Lunch $7 2 courses

TIER THREE

Dinner $15 3 courses

Alley Oops 11900 Kanis Road • (501) 221-9400

Pizza Cafe (LUNCH ONLY) 1517 Rebsamen Park Road • (501) 664-6133

Cotija’s Mexican Grill 406 S. Louisiana St. • (501) 244-0733

Purple Cow www.purplecowlr.com 8026 Cantrell Road • (501) 221-3555 11602 Chenal Parkway • (501) 224-4433

Black Angus 10907 North Rodney Parham Road • (501) 228-7800 Burge’s www.smokedturkeys.com 5620 R Street • (501) 666-1660

the villa italian restaurant www.thevillaitalian.net 12111 W. Markham, 310 Rock Creek Square (501) 219-2244

Damgoode Pies www.damgoodepies.com 2701 Kavanaugh Boulevard • (501) 664-2239

Underground Pub www.theundergroundpub.com 500 President Clinton Avenue • (501) 707-2537

The Hop Diner (Lunch Only) 201 East Markham Street • (501) 244-0975

Zack’s Place www.zacks-place.com 1400 S. University • (501) 664-6444

IRIANA’S 201 E. Markham St. • (501) 374-3656

Attention Little Rock Restaurants: There is still time to participate in the month long Savor the City dining campaign.

Call Phyllis at 375.2985 or Phyllis@arktimes.com for more details.

Deadline: Monday, August 30.

www.experiencelittlerockdining.com Menu Items differ with each restaurant. Tax and gratuity not included

One of the most vibrant restaurant scenes of any small city in America!

■ musicreviews Brooks & Dunn n For better or worse, Brooks & Dunn are largely responsible for ushering in the new wave of twang-pop country as we know it, delivering the final blow to the “golden age” with their flair for showmanship and progressive gaud.

You don’t have to look any further than the enormous success of their 1996 cover of B.W. Stevenson’s classic country-folk love song, “My Maria” for a quick encapsulation of the early-’90s transfer of power. As hard as it is to admit, especially for a B.W. devotee like myself, Brooks & Dunn’s faithful take, though slick and updated, may just be better than the 1973 original.

Elsewhere, they’ve released a gang of self-written songs (a rarity in country circles) under their steer skull logo, deceptively nuanced, undeniably memorable and as masterfully crafted as any Southern-fried songs released since.

So with this, their “Last Rodeo” tour, they’re leaving behind a 20-year legacy of omnipresence. After all, it’s nearly flat-out disloyal for a Southerner not to have a small piece of affection roped off for the iconic duo, no matter how far removed you are from country music.

Proof? I went with a partner-in-crime who’s seen international tours as a drummer for a spazz-core dance-rock band and, here, oversees a venue for eardrum-detonating noise bands. It’s hardly the profile you’d draw for a Brooks & Dunn fan, but, good Southerner that she is, she yee-haw’ed and sang along for the entire — and I mean entire — two-hour set.

The other 10,479 in Verizon Arena this Saturday night were just as stirred. From the time the two exploded onto stage with “Play Something Country” to the inevitable finale of, well, you know exactly what it was, the two-hour, high-energy retrospect of one of the most successful careers in musical history kept the audience rapt.

Was it simply being in awe of their celebrity? After all, the two are icons to the point of caricature. Scrawny, bush-lipped Kix in his

brian chilson

Verizon Arena, Aug. 21

LAST RODEO: Brooks and Dunn wowed the crowd at Verizon Arena despite tension between the two. signature 5-gallon and lanky, jerky-tanned Ronnie with his facial hair that can’t decide if it’s a goatee or a neckbeard redefined the look of the land.

Maybe it’s because nearly every single song played that night turned into a partytime sing-along. “Ain’t Nothin’About You,” their sexy-time anthem; “Neon Moon,” one of their earliest hits; “Brand New Man,” their first and greatest single; and, God help us, the tacky-but-undeniable “Rock My World (Little Country Girl)” were delivered by the duo with an oomph that only comes with finality.

That said, the two didn’t so much as look at each other the entire night, giving the show a healthy dose of tension that would have ruined the night if not for the fact that they’re such damn good performers, able to command a crowd with a single kick or wink.

But what this weekend’s concert lacked in camaraderie from the label-arranged duo, it made up for in significance. Critics of contemporary country may scoff, but seeing a sepia-colored video history of the two over the last two decades projected on stage while Kix played a gorgeous, acoustic rendition of “Last Rodeo” raised even the most stubborn of goosebumps.

After their split, Brooks will still charm with those half-drunk kinetics and Dunn will

still use that ineffable campfire vibrato — one of the greatest ever in county music — but, as they assured the crowd, hell isn’t going to freeze over again.

— John Tarpley

Gordon Lightfoot

Hot Springs Convention Center, Aug. 23

n Gordon Lightfoot still has work to do, and it seems that he lives to keep working. For him, singing is his work, and he takes it seriously. He proved that Monday night at the Hot Springs Civic and Convention Center, before a decent crowd with more energy than one might have expected on a hot August night.

If only the sound had been up to Lightfoot’s lofty standards and work ethic.

As it was, his voice should have been louder than it was, which would have served a double purpose: making it easier to understand the Canadian way of pronouncing some words, and drowning out pockets of the chattering class in the audience, those who insist on making themselves heard above the performer on stage.

But Lightfoot managed to serve up what he had promised: a two-hour show, minus a 20-minute intermission, that is. Unlike most concerts, there was no opening act, and at exactly 8 p.m., Lightfoot and his four-man

band walked out and minus any pomp and circumstance, began to play, with Lightfoot looking slightly overdressed in a short red velvet coat. The show’s lighting was nicely understated throughout, playing off of some swaths of fabric that were nicely arranged.

Fans were in good spirits for a Monday night, eager to clap along and applaud the intricate guitar stylings of Terry Clements, who, along with drummer Barry Keane, bassist Rick Haynes and keyboardist Michael Heffernan, were all dressed in black and maintained a low profile as they supported their leader. Lightfoot did admirably well for someone who is 71 and has survived two lifethreatening incidents in the past eight years.

Beginning with “Triangle” and “Cotton Jenny,” the show ambled along through Lightfoot’s catalog of hits and songs that probably had more of an impact north of the border than in the United States. Following energetic takes on three of his best-known anthems — “Ribbon of Darkness,” “Sundown” and “Alberta Bound” — the quintet took a break after 50 minutes. When they returned, Lightfoot, who had changed outfits and now looked more the part of a riverboat gambler in a dark vest, pondered a few theories of how a certain boat sank and it wasn’t the Titanic he was leading up to, but perhaps his most famous story song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

And while Lightfoot threw out a few narratives on how some songs were written, plus some jokes and tall tales, he was mostly business, delivering up tasteful versions of his hits, “Beautiful” and “IfYou Could Read My Mind,” along with worthy takes on “A Painter Passing Through,” “Let It Ride,” “14 Karat Gold,” “Carefree Highway” and “Ringneck Loon.”

By the time he mentioned how his next song had been recorded by impressive numbers of other artists, most folks knew it was time for a nifty ride through “Early Morning Rain,” followed by a brief story about how on a hot July night he had written the next number, “Song for a Winter’s Night.”

After that song, the band left the stage, but they were wise enough to return for an encore of “Blackberry Wine,” but there would only be one serving for this thirsty crowd.

— Jack W. Hill

A&E News

New on Rock Candy

n Vino’s turns 20 this year and to celebrate the brewpub/pizza joint/venue has planned a party that’s not only nostalgic in all the right ways, but the answer to a lot of birthday wishes around town.

General manager Chris New has spent the better part of the last year working to line up (and, in several cases, reunite) some of the biggest, most beloved local bands to have ever played the space on Saturday, Sept.18.

They include Ho-Hum, Ashtray Babyhead, Living Sacrifice, The Boondogs, Big Boss Line, The Baileys and Gino Delray.

The brewpub also plans to offer throwback beer and pizza prices for the anniversary.

26 AUGUST 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VINO’S: Ho-Hum will be part of the line up for Vino’s 20th anniversary celebration on Sept. 18.

$100 OFF any purchase

*

Kenneth Edwards fine jewelers

RIP Luke Hunsicker

7811 Cantrell Rd. | Little Rock | 501.312.7477 | kennethedwards.net * $400 minimum purchase. In stock merchandise only. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Must present coupon for discount to apply. Coupon has no residual value.

1980-2010. n The Little Rock music community lost one of its most beloved figures earlier this week. Luke Hunsicker died early Monday morning after a long battle with brain cancer.

He was 29.

Music fans across the country knew him as the rangy, charismatic bassist in American Princes. He joined the band as it was blossoming from a local favorite to a national touring act signed to North Carolina’s Yep Roc Records.

Followers of the local music scene remember him as one of the area’s most in-demand bassists, who, at one time or another, played as a member of 613 Mob, Big Boots, The Evelyns, Silver Swirly, Sugar and the Raw, Them of Delphi and Under Rues.

Friends and family remember him as a “Renaissance man,” someone who “could do a little bit of everything really well,” according to his wife Sydney, a Fort Smith native whom he met at an American Princes concert in Chicago and married three years ago.

He drew. He worked with pastels. He sewed. He sculpted, earning the awe of high school friends as a senior when Parkview decided to purchase “Bucket Boy,” a selfportrait sculpture, from the torso up, coming out of a five-gallon bucket. And he cut hair in a barber chair in his house. Usually in exchange for a six-pack.

In fact, cutting hair very nearly became a profession. He initially turned down the Princes’ offer to join because he wanted to go to cosmetology school and was planning to go again recently.

But according to his friend Jack Lloyd, music was the art he was most passionate about for the last eight years.

The Princes’ Collins Kilgore and David Slade remember the first time they saw Hunsicker play bass. They were at opposite ends of White Water Tavern, watching him play with The Evelyns, and they met in the middle to say what the other was thinking: This guy needs to be in our band.

“I’d never heard lines like that,” Slade remembered earlier this week. “The melodies were brilliant. And he made them seem so effortless. I’ve played with him live for years. Thinking about it now, that’s one of

my favorite memories. It hit me, like seeing anyone else never has.”

Beyond his musical contribution to the band, his bandmates remember his as a steady, calming presence.

“We all had to spend a whole lot of time together on the road, and there are a lot of tough times, where people are prone to wig out,” Kilgore said. “But Luke was always there to tell people to chill out, to know when circumstances weren’t all that serious.”

Slade remembered him being constantly engaged with his friends and family.

“He was constantly keeping in touch with people, not just in Little Rock, but around the country. He took so much joy in people’s good fortune.”

“He got to know people so well,” echoed Mike Motley, who first befriended Luke at Parkview High School and later played with him in Sugar and the Raw. “If he gave you advice on something, you could pretty much take it to the bank. We used to joke when we had problems that the answer should always be, ‘What would Luke do?’ ” Even when he got sick, Motley said Hunsicker continued to provide guidance to his friends.

“He helped everyone else deal with it.

He guided his friends and family through his terminal illness. He refused to let it get to him. You could joke with him about anything all the way up to the end.

The last time I saw him, I knew he wasn’t doing good, and I probably wasn’t going to see him again. We had a good talk.

I kept telling him, ‘I love you, man,’ so we started talking about that movie, ‘I Love You, Man.’ ” “He taught me a completely different definition of what it meant to love someone,” his wife Sydney said on Tuesday. “Even more so over the last two years, during the time we got to spend together because of the way friends and family took care of us and let me take care of him. Nobody’s ever seen a support system like we’ve had, and it’s still going.”

At press deadline, memorial arrangements were still being made. Check Rock Candy for details and more memories of Luke.

President AICU is comprised of 11 institutions which enroll about 10% of students in the state pursuing baccalaureate degrees. The mission of AICU is to teach the next generation of leaders to think critically and creatively; to impart an appropriate set of values to expose them to the best of our past in literature, history, the arts and sciences; to teach them to communicate effectively; and to help them graduate with skills essential to their chosen profession and a desire to continue learning throughout life.

The president is charged with advocacy for AICU member institutions as a vital and significant sector of higher education in the state. The president will spend a majority of time with public policy, including but not limited to engaging the Arkansas General Assembly, serve as spokesperson for the organization and represent AICU at meetings of other organizations or committees in the area of higher education, education funding and scholarship, and public education, and interact with the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. The president will also conduct fundraising activities to support the work of AICU, with additional support for student scholarships.

Successful candidates will hold a bachelor’s degree and have experience with state public policy, governmental relations, higher education policy and/or fundraising. Excellent verbal, written, composition, and public speaking skills, and the ability to conduct research, analyze data, and publish reports.

Please send a resume and names/contact information of 3 references to:

Dr. Walter Kimbrough President Philander Smith College 900 W. Daisy Bates Drive Little Rock AR 72206 Materials may be sent via e-mail to Michael Hutchinsonmhutchinson@philander.edu. Applications are due no later than September 15, 2010.

www.arktimes.com • AUGUST 26, 2010 27

Mulehead rides again One of Little Rock’s favorite bands reunites for two nights at White Water Tavern.

By Lindsey Millar

n The plan was in place. Mulehead, arguably Little Rock’s most popular band in the late ’90s and early ’00s, was set to reunite earlier this year at Riverfest. And it would get plum billing: playing just before Lucero and The Black Crowes. The guys in the group got excited, started telling friends and began to practice. Three weeks later, Riverfest called back and told front man Kevin Kerby that Mulehead had been bumped — for Uncle Kracker.

Still, the Riverfest debacle planted a seed. With urging from Last Chance Records’ Travis Hill, the band booked White Water for this weekend’s two-night stand. It’ll be the first time Kerby, guitarist Dave Raymond, drummer Geoff Curran and bassist Brent LaBeau have played together since a thrown-together gig during Towncraft week in 2007 and, before that, since 2004.

The alt-country boom was on during Mulehead’s heyday, and, for fans of wry, boozy lyrics and spiked country rock, it didn’t get much better. The group regularly sold out local venues, with, as front man Kevin Kerby remembers it, three distinct crowds cycling through during the band’s lifespan.

“There’d be a bunch of people coming to see us, and they’d get older and quit going to the clubs so much, and then the next group of kids would come along,” he said last week.

That steady brand of loyalty might have

something to do with how the band came about. In 1992, just as he was beginning to form an early version of Mulehead, Kerby joined Ho-Hum and stuck around for six years playing guitar. Ho-Hum, as those familiar with the band know, came within steps of pop success, only to be kicked down, unceremoniously, by the vagaries of the music business. When he quit Ho-Hum in 1998, Kerby was determined to do things differently.

TWO NIGHTS OF MULEHEAD: At White Water.

The night after he quit, Kerby label frustrations as a member of The went into the studio to record Mulehead’s Gunbunnies — had played the big music debut album, “Never Again.” Local vets business game and weren’t interested in Greg Spradlin, Chris Michaels, Dave another turn.

Hoffpauir and Jeff Matika backed him up.

Kerby remembered a conversation The permanent line-up of Curran, LaBeau with someone who wanted to manage and Raymond came aboard for album Mulehead. number two, “The Gospel Accordion 2” “He told me ‘If you guys would (no one is pun-ier than Kerby in local tour, I’d make you famous.’ And my music). response was, ‘If you’d make me famous, From the outset, Kerby said Mulehead I’d tour.’ ” was a local project. The album cover of “We only wanted to be so successful,” Mulehead’s third record, “Rocket Surgery,” Kerby said. “We didn’t want it to go huge. shows an actual highway sign in Northeast Which really works to your advantage Arkansas with one arrow pointing to (the when you’re in a band. Because you’re town of) Success and another towards not going to be.”

Little Rock. Mulehead always chooses Kerby conceded that Riverfest probLittle Rock. Out of loyalty. Out of a desire ably made the right decision bumping to stick close to family. And because Kerby Mulehead for Uncle Kracker. Beyond and LaBeau — who went through similar

Little Rock, and maybe even beyond the local club crowd, Uncle Kracker’s radio ready pop reigns over Mulehead’s countryrock bar stomp. But it’s hard to imagine that a fourth wave of fans, joining survivors from the first three, won’t fill White Water to the brim on Friday and Saturday.

Particularly with two fine openers. On Friday, Kerby’s childhood friend Brent Best, the lead singer of Slobberbone, opens the show. Saturday is a double reunion as rockers Il Libertina (Joshua Bentley, Paul Bowling, Graham Cobb and Marcus Lowe) play again in the opening slot.

Advanced tickets are available via lastchancerecords.com for $10.

Otherwise, tickets are $12 at the door the day of show. Both shows begin at 10 p.m.

would someone wear a Gators cap to a Bobby Petrino press conference?” Should she have been fired? No. It’s ridiculous.

(Though 31 percent of Americans who took an ESPN poll — most of whom live in the SEC region — disagree with me on that point.) But, seriously, she knows the SEC. What was she thinking?

Fandom is often morally blind and sometimes just plain gross. We’re happy to chastise Tiger Woods heartily, but our torch of indignation burns brightly because he’s a solitary player. How many of us will be able to root against him if the Ryder Cup comes down to his singles match this year?

Our love for Ryan Mallett fits in similar context. We love him because he could carry us to a championship. We love him because he sits at the right hand of the Petrino. We love him for the same reason Lakers’ fans love Kobe and Bengals fans now love the blandly offensive T.O. as much as they love the comically offensive Ochocinco. We love him with the rationale that found us chastising Nick Saban for leaving an NFL team after a year to get back into college ball, and then embraced

Petrino when he did the same thing for us.

Sure it’s hypocritical, but we’re talking about our team.

Of course, that kind of love creates the problem. Ryan Mallett’s arrogance was made, not born, and is as much our fault as it is his. Adoration leads to infantilization: The point at which someone becomes famous is almost always the point when he stops maturing and starts regressing. And Mallett was thrust into the spotlight at some point during adolescence. Thankfully, his personality flaws don’t seem to be malicious. He’s not fighting dogs or beating women. There are no stories of him laying into innocent bystanders, and his pomposity isn’t the insidious kind that poses as humility (see Lebron, A-Rod and Jay Cutler).

Instead, it’s a brand that’s so brash as to be laughable.

So stay preposterous, Ryan Mallett.

Please continue on your silly trajectory and model yourself after my three favorite people in sports — Charles Barkley, John Daly and Mike Leach. I, for one, will love you for it. Hell, I’d give you my scantron.

Fandumb n There was a story going around Razorback message boards a few months back (which means it’s very possibly apocryphal) about quarterback Ryan Mallett entering a classroom to take a final and saying, “Who wants to give Ryan Mallett a scantron?” If true it’s the equally ridiculous Arkansas-version of Dikembe Mutombo allegedly walking into a bar while he was still at Georgetown and booming, “Who wants to sex Mutombo?”

Throughout last season, it seemed as though at some point during every Razorback game, commentators from ESPN or ABC would mention that Ryan Mallett “... isn’t arrogant; he just has swagger.” During the fourth quarter of the LSU game, Mallett led the offense down the field to take the lead in what seemed to be certain victory. The camera cut to nearspeechless sideline reporter Erin Andrews, who said, “Ryan Mallett just walked up to me and said, ‘I told you.’ I don’t know why he’s telling me that; I haven’t talked to him all week.” Then there’s the time when 28 AUGUST 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

Graham Gordy Mallet, after one of his worst outings of the season, told the press something like, “Florida is glad they don’t have to play us again since we gave ’em all they could handle.”

Why am I picking on Mallett? He’s a Heisman Trophy candidate. He’ll be an early first-round draft pick, and he’s Arkansas’s best chance at a conference championship since we were in the SWC. Who the hell cares what he says? Truth is, I don’t.

When Renee Gork, a University of Florida alum and reporter for Hog Sports, was fired last week for wearing a Gators cap to a press conference, my first reaction was not an indignant “That’s ridiculous!” or “What about the freedom of the press?”. It was simply, “Why the hell

■ artnotes A ‘Bigger, Better’ show Viola Frey’s powerful ceramics at AAC.

By Leslie Newell Peacock

n Viola Frey fixed her star in the (mostly male) galaxy of American ceramic artists with monumental ceramic figures and assemblages of kitsch figurines. “Bigger, Better, More: The Art of Viola Frey” brings to the Arkansas Arts Center Frey’s work from the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Butler Institute of American Art and other fine arts collections. It’s a significant show that offers a rare opportunity to walk among, and be dwarfed by, the work of the late California artist.

Frey’s bulky and flattened colossi, glazed in bright colors; her bricolage pieces that combine mermaids, roosters, China goddesses and the like, and wallsized paintings fill the Rockefeller and Wolfe galleries with Cubist sensibilities and the color and gesture of Matisse. It is work that is both personal, reflecting the role of men and women in her life, and iconic, thanks to her obsession with junk.

An example here of the two combined is the 7-foot-tall “Family Portrait,” in which men in suits and women in dresses stand amid a cluster of nostalgia — the Mandarin figurine, the boy with a bat, a milkmaid.

Frey’s hand-built figures have wideeyed expressions and stiff forms; she worked in sections of clay so massive the figures had to be cut apart before they could be fired and glazed. Frey applies paint to the sculpture as Cezanne or Picasso would to plane, giving her figures green cheeks, yellow noses, red hands, blue shadows. Male figures more than eight feet tall take an intimidating pose, arms akimbo and heads tilted down toward the viewer. She often represents women in flowered dresses and hats and heels, drawn from the women in her life, who were strong in their own way.

“Double Grandmothers with Black and White Dresses,” two 7-foot-plus women with forearms extended, dominate the space around them.

The figurines appear in her twodimensional work — as themselves as objects, filling a room from which a man is fleeing (“Studio View”), or as subject, creating a garden tableau of jointed doll, fawn, little girl (“China Goddess Painting”) —representations of representations of archetypes. Frey also makes monuments of her assemblages — in “Junkman,” she’s stacked slipcasts of Woody Woodpecker, a train, a putti, a horse head and the tugboat “Little Toot,”

‘FAMILY PORTRAIT’: In exhibit of Viola Frey ceramics at the Arts Center. glazed the sculpture in white and painted over it in China paint. For all her love of massive form, Frey has a beautiful line.

The show runs through Nov. 28. n If you are reading this paper the day it hits the streets, you’ll have time to go to Arts and Appetizers, Local Colour Gallery’s Aug. 26 fund-raiser for Women and Children First. The event is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and admission is $20. The women’s shelter will receive 10 percent of proceeds from sales of art by the Local Colour collaborative. The gallery is at 5811 Kavanaugh Blvd. n On Wednesday, Sept. 1, the Arts Center opens “A Century of Revolution: Mexican Art since 1910,” an exhibit of work by Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco and others from the collection of the University of Texas. The show is part of “Arkansas Mexico 2010,” a city-wide commemoration of the centennial of the Mexican revolution and bicentennial of Mexican independence. n Mosaic Templars Cultural Center has installed its first new exhibit in its changing exhibitions gallery: “The Fine Art of Jazz,” Dan White’s photographs of Kansas City jazz musicians.

The exhibit coordinates with the Friends of Mosaic Templars fund-raiser dinner “An Evening with the Legendary Ramsey Lewis,” set for Sept. 17 at the Clinton Center.

“The Fine Art of Jazz” features 50 black-and-white portraits of musicians, including Jay McShann, Orville “Piggie” Minor, Eddie Saunders and others.

calendar

Continued from page 23

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Music

The Original Wailers, The Movement.

Revolution, Sept. 1, 9 p.m., $15. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090. revroom.com.

Acoustic Open Mic with Kat Hood. The Afterthought, 8 p.m. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd.

501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Farewell Flight, Dignan, Monster Heart.

George’s Majestic Lounge, Sept. 1, 8 p.m. 519 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-442-4226.

Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m., free.

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.

Karaoke with Big John Miller. Denton’s Trotline, 8 p.m. 2150 Congo Road, Benton.

501-315-1717.

Lucious Spiller Band. Sticky Fingerz Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9:30 p.m., $5. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

Steve Wynter. Cajun’s Wharf, Sept. 1, 5:30 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-3755351. www.cajunswharf.com.

The Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free. 111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-3747474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG.

Comedy

Spanky Brown. The Loony Bin, Sept. 1, 8 p.m.; Sept. 3, 8 and 10:30 p.m.; Sept. 4, 7, 9 and 11 p.m., $6-$9. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. www. loonybincomedy.com.

Events

United Way Campaign Kick-Off. Food, drinks, information from health and human service agencies and music from Lyle Dudley. Dickey-Stephens Park, Sept. 1, 11:30:30 a.m., free. 400 W Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs.com.

Lectures

Grant Wahl. Back from covering the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the Sports Illustrated senior writer will discuss the state of American soccer.

Clinton School of Public Service, Sept. 1, 6 p.m.

1200 President Clinton Ave. 501-683-5239. www. clintonschool.uasys.edu.

MUSEUMS, GALLERIES New exhibits, gallery events ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER, MacArthur Park: “A Century of Revolution: Mexican Art since 1910,” work by Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, Jose Guadelupe Posada, Manuel Manilla, Arnold Belkin, Pedro Coronel, Jose Luis Cuevas, Rocio Maldonado, Julian Galan and others from the collection of the University of Texas, Sept. 1-Nov. 21, Winthrop Rockefeller Gallery; “Bigger, Better, More: The Art of Viola Frey,” large-scale ceramic figures, through Nov. 28, Jeannette Rockefeller and Townsend Wolfe galleries; “Currents in Contemporary Art,” “Masterworks,” “Paul Signac Watercolors and Drawings,” ongoing. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 372-4000.

LOCAL COLOUR GALLERY, 5811 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Arts and Appetizers, art sale benefiting Women and Children First, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 26, $20.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 265-0422.

MacARTHUR MUSEUM OF ARKANSAS MILITARY HISTORY, MacArthur Park: “In Search of Pancho Villa,” artifacts from soldiers of the period, medals and original sketches of the Mexican Punitive Expedition, the United States retaliatory action in 1916 against the Mexican general who attacked a small border town in New Mexico, Aug. 27-Dec. 31; “Warrior: Vietnam Portraits by Two Guys from Hall,” photos by Jim Guy Tucker and Bruce Wesson, through November; exhibits on Arkansas’s military history. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., 1-4 p.m. Sun. 376-4602.

MOSAIC TEMPLARS CULTURAL CENTER, Ninth and Broadway: “The Fine Art of Jazz,” photographs of Kansas City jazz musicians by

Dan White, Sept. 1-Jan. 7; exhibits on AfricanAmericans in Arkansas, including one on the Ninth Street business district, Dunbar High School, entrepreneurs, the Mosaic Templars business and more.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 683–3593. n Calico Rock NEW: 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. n Fayetteville FAYETTEVILLE UNDERGROUND, 1 E. Square Plaza: “Ghosts in the Landscape,” photographs

by Christian Demare; “Continental Shift,” work by artists in Seattle cooperative; “Reclaimed Surfaces,” paintings on found metal by Gregory Moore; “Let’s Eat,” functional ceramics by Karan Freeman, through August. Gallery talk 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26 by Moore and artist Leilani Law. Fayettevilleunderground.blogspot.com.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS: “At the Edge of Eden,” paintings by Terry Rowlett, Fine Arts Center Gallery, Sept. 1-Oct. 1, talk by artist 5 p.m.

Sept. 23. 479-575-7987. n Jacksonville JACKSONVILLE MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY, 100 Veterans Circle: “The Battle of Arkansas Post,” lecture by Mark Christ, doors open 6 p.m. Aug. 26, $2; exhibits on D-Day; F-105, Vietnam era plane (“The Thud”); the Civil War Battle of Reed’s Bridge, Arkansas Ordnance Plant (AOP) and other military history. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. $3 adults; $2 seniors, military; $1 students. 501-241-1943. n Jonesboro ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY: “True Grit,” work by Judith Brodsky, Peter Campus, Warrington Colescott, Larry Edwards and Lee Friedlander, Aug. 26-Oct. 3, Bradbury Gallery. Noon-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 2-5 p.m. Sun. 870-972-2567.

GALLERIES, ongoing exhibits

ACAC, 900 S. Rodney Parham Road: “Stories You’ve Never Heard: New Works by Collin Miles,” through August.

ARGENTA ART MARKET, 510 Main St., NLR: Outdoor artists and crafters market, 8 a.m. to noon every Sat. ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER COMMUNITY GALLERY, Terry House, 7th and Rock Sts.: “V.I.T.A.L. Artists Collective Inaugural Exhibit,” work

by Melverue Abraham, Rex Deloney, LaToya Hobbs, Ariston Jacks, Kalari Turner and Michael Worsham, through Aug. 28. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 372-4000.

ARKANSAS STUDIES INSTITUTE, 401 President Clinton Ave.: “Raices,” new mixed media work by x3mex about Mexican independence, through Nov. 30; “Luke Anguhadluq: Inuit Artist,” from the J.W. Wiggins Native American Art Collection, Mezzanine Gallery, through Oct. 9; “Mid-Southern Watercolorists 40th annual Juried Exhibition,” Main Gallery, through Aug. 28. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 320-5700.

BOSWELL-MOUROT FINE ART, 5815 Kavanaugh Blvd.: New work by 25 national, international and Arkansas artists, highlighting mixed media on canvas work of Darlyne Chauve, through August. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sat. 664-0030.

CANTRELL GALLERY, 8206 Cantrell Road: “Canvas and Color,” paintings by LifeQuest artists Sam Caruthers, Jennifer Coleman, Jim Conard, Anne Crow, Sharon Franke, Barbara Howes, Susie Henley, Nell Johnson, Marty Kauer, Herb Monsonan, Nancy Irving Smith, Mary Lou Ward and Suzanne Warren, through Sept. 4. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 224-1335.

CANVAS COMMUNITY ART GALLERY, 1111 W. 7th St.: Work by Little Rock photographers Andy Stringfellow, Brad Burleson, Caity Bentley, Fara Free Bottoms, Patrick Shownes, Shelby Brewer, Thomas Hudson and Tom Baker, through August.

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 509 Scott St.: “Summer Members Show,” work by Arkansas Pastel Society members Shirley Anderson, Ruth Byrn, S. Caruthers, Gertrude Casciano, Lois Davis, Marlene Gremillion, Sheliah Halderman, Mary Nancy

Continued on page 31 www.arktimes.com • AUGUST 26, 2010 29

AUG. 27-29

movielistings All theater listings run Friday to Thursday unless otherwise noted.

Movie listings for Lakewood were unavailable at press time. Visit www.arktimes.com for updates.

Market Street Cinema showtimes at or after 9 p.m. are for Friday and Saturday only.

NEW MOVIES Avatar: Special Edition (PG-13) — An IMAXonly re-release of the blockbuster with an additional nine minutes of footage. Chenal 9: 12:45, 4:10, 7:30, 10:45. Rave: 11:15, 2:55, 7:00, 10:40.

Get Low (PG-13) — Felix Bush, a notoriously reclusive Tennessee hermit, surprises the townsfolk when he arranges a “living funeral” for himself.

With Robert Duvall and Bill Murray. Market Street: 1:45, 4:00, 6:45, 9:00. Rave: 11:25, 2:05, 4:40, 7:20, 9:50.

The Last Exorcism (PG-13) — A disillusioned Baptist minister allows a documentary crew to film his final exorcism. Breckenridge: 1:55, 4:25, 7:35, 10:05. Chenal 9: 11:20, 1:50, 4:20, 7:25, 10:00.

Rave: 11:30, 12:30, 1:50, 2:50, 4:15, 5:15, 7:05, 8:05, 9:45, 10:50. Riverdale: 11:15, 2:00, 4:10, 6:10, 8:15, 10:15.

Takers (PG-13) — Five meticulous bank robbers elude a hard-boiled detective so they can pull off one last heist. With Matt Dillon. Breckenridge: 1:50, 455, 7:40, 10:15. Chenal 9: 11:05, 1:45, 4:30, 7:05, 9:35. Rave: 11:00, 12:00, 1:45, 2:45, 4:30, 5:30, 7:25, 8:25, 10:05, 11:05. Riverdale: 11:00, 1:15, 3:30, 5:45, 8:00, 10:15.

RETURNING THIS WEEK Animalopolis (NR) — A half-hour film of goofy animals being goofy in enormous 3D. Aerospace IMAX: 11:00, 7:00 Fri.; 1:00, 3:00, 7:00 Sat. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (PG) — The never-ending war between canine and feline comes to a ceasefire when they have to join forces to defeat a rogue cat spy. Riverdale: 11:35, 1:45, 3:55, 5:55, 7:55, 9:55.

Countdown to Zero (PG) — A history of the atomic bomb from its origins to its role in presentday global affairs. Market Street: 4:15, 9:00.

Cyrus (R) — A recent divorcee falls in love, but has to deal with his new girlfriend’s clueless, co-dependent son. Market Street: 2:15, 7:00.

Despicable Me (PG) — A skittish criminal mastermind hiding in the suburbs plans to steal the moon, if only he can keep three orphaned girls away. Rave: 1:00, 3:30. Riverdale: 11:20, 1:30, 3:35, 5:40, 7:45, 9:50.

Dinner for Schmucks (PG-13) — A rising executive finds the perfect dinner mate in a clumsy, dimwitted IRS agent (Steve Carrell). Breckenridge: 6:50, 9:25.

Eat Pray Love (PG-13) — Julia Roberts plays a woman who takes an eating tour of the world after her marriage ends. Breckenridge: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00. Chenal 9: 10:45, 1:30, 4:20, 7:00, 9:50. Rave: 1:20, 4:35, 7:50, 11:00. Riverdale: 12:15, 3:15, 6:15, 9:15.

The Expendables (R) — Action’s biggest names

Friday, August 27 -Thursday, Sept 2

HELP WANTED ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

CELEBRATING OUR 10th YEAR!

GeT low – pG13 1:45 4:00 6:45 9:00 Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murry

band together in this movie about a gang of hired mercenaries out to overthrow a South American dictator. With Sylvester Stallone. Breckenridge: 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 9:45. Chenal 9: 11:20, 1:50, 4:25, 7:20, 9:55. Rave: 12:05, 2:35, 5:25, 8:00, 10:35.

Riverdale: 11:05, 1:20, 3:40, 5:55, 8:10, 10:20.

Hubble 3D (G) — Seven astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis are chronicled while trying to repair the famous space telescope. Rave: 10:30, 11:30.

I Am Love (R) — Turn of the millennium Milan sees the fall of the bourgeoisie. Market Street: 1:45, 6:45.

Inception (PG-13) — A corporate spy enters competitors’ dreams to extract company secrets in DEAD MAN WALKING: Robert Duvall is at it again, generating Oscar buzz for his role this surrealist revision of heist films. With Leonardo DiCaprio and Ken Watanabe. Breckenridge: 1:30, in “Get Low” as Felix Bush, a Tennessee hermit, who shocks his former community when 4:40, 7:50. Chenal 9: 4:05. Rave: 10:50, 2:10, 5:35, he returns to his small town and asks the owner of the local funeral parlor, Frank Quinn 8:55. Riverdale: 12:20, 3:25, 6:30, 9:30.

(Bill Murray), to arrange a “living funeral” that Felix, himself, can attend.

The Karate Kid (PG) — A reboot of the 1985 classic sees the Kid as a Detroit-transplant in China, learning kung fu from the hand of his apart11:45, 2:20, 4:55, 7:40, 10:25.

10:05. Rave: 10:55, 1:40, 4:20, 6:55, 9:30. ment maintenance man. Movies 10: 1:00, 4:00, Thrill Ride (NR) — This IMAX movie takes viewers Piranha 3D (R) — When an underwater tremor 7:00, 10:00. on some of the fastest, scariest roller coaster rides frees scores of deadly piranhas, strangers must The Kids are All Right (R) — Two children in a on earth. Aerospace IMAX: 1:00 (Thu.); 1:00, 8:00 band together to save the beach. With Richard non-traditional family discover their birth father to (Fri.); 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 8:00 (Sat.).

Dreyfuss and Elisabeth Shue. Breckenridge: 1:25, the chagrin of their two mothers (Annette Bening The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (PG-13) — The 4:35, 7:05, 9:20. Chenal 9: 11:15, 1:20, 4:40, 7:10, and Julianne Moore). Market Street: 2:00, 4:00, third installment of the “Twilight” series finds Bella 9:30. Rave: 11:40, 12:55, 3:20, 4:45, 5:45, 8:35, 7:00, 9:00. graduating high school, torn between vampire 9:55, 10:55.

Knight and Day (PG-13) — When a spy realizes Edward and werewolf Jacob. Movies 10: 1:20, Predators (R) — The newest addition to the he wasn’t supposed to survive his last assignment, 4:10, 7:10, 9:55 “Predator” franchise sees a group of paramilihe teams with an unassuming stranger to escape.

Vampires Suck (PG-13) — Another spoof tary experts try to outlast the ruthless, futuristic Movies 10: 1:30, 4:30, 7:20, 9:50. movie, this time lambasting the “Twilight” craze.

Predators. Movies 10: 1:35, 4:05, 7:15, 9:45.

The Living Sea (NR) — An underwater tour of Breckenridge: 1:35, 4:30, 7:10, 9:40. Chenal 9: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PG-13) Palau, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Alaska, Nova 11:00, 1:00, 4:45, 7:25, 9:25. Rave: 12:45, 3:05, — A prince must band with a rival princess to stop Scotia and the Red Sea. Aerospace Imax: 10:00, 5:10, 7:35, 10:15. an angry ruler from unleashing a deadly, magical 12:00, 2:00 (Thu.); 10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 7:00, 9:00 Wildfire: Feel the Heat (NR) — Discover how sandstorm. Movies 10: 2:10, 5:00, 6:30, 7:40, 9:10, (Fri.); 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 7:00 (Sat.). firefighters all over the planet fight the biggest, 10:15.

The Last Airbender (PG) — M. Night Shyamalan hottest fires on the planet. Aerospace IMAX: 12:00, Ramona and Beezus (G) — Beverly Cleary’s adapts the hugely successful action cartoon about 2:00, 4:00, 8:00 (Sat.). famous Quimby sisters go through misadventures four magical defenders of the elements. Movies 10: Winter’s Bone (R) — A 17-year-old girl tracks and mistakes to save their family. Breckenridge: 1:25, 2:40, 3:55, 5:10, 6:25, 7:45, 8:55, 10:10. her deadbeat father through the Ozarks after 1:10, 4:05.

Lottery Ticket (PG-13) — A young man in the he abandons his family. 2010 winner of LRFF’s Restrepo (R) — This Golden Rock-winner in the projects has to survive a three-day weekend after Golden Rock award. Market Street: 2:00, 4:20, last Little Rock Film Festival takes the camera his neighbors find out he’s holding a lotto ticket 7:15, 9:20. along for one year in Afghanistan’s deadliest valley. worth millions. Breckenridge: 1:20, 4:10, 7:25, 9:55.

Market Street: 4:20, 9:15.

Chenal 9: 11:05, 1:15, 7:20, 9:40. Rave: 11:50, 2:30, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (PG-13) — A young 5:00, 6:00, 7:45, 8:45, 10:20. Riverdale: 11:10, 1:25, Chenal 9 IMAX Theatre: 17825 Chenal Parkway, musician must defeat his new girlfriend’s seven evil 3:45, 6:00, 8:10, 10:20.

821-2616, www.dtmovies.com. exes to win her over in this video game-inspired Marmaduke (PG) — The funny pages’ Great Cinemark Movies 10: 4188 E. McCain Blvd., romantic comedy. Rave: 2:15, 7:10.

Dane turns his family’s cross-country move into a 945-7400, www.cinemark.com.

Shrek Forever After (PG) — The final movie never-ending series of disasters. Movies 10: 1:15, Cinematown Riverdale 10: Riverdale Shopping of the series has the ogre stuck in Far Far Away, 3:2, 5:40.

Center, 296-9955, www.riverdale10.com. in which ogres are hunted and Rumpelstiltskin is Nanny McPhee Returns (PG) — The grotesque IMAX Theater: Aerospace Education Center, king. Movies 10: 1:05, 2:00, 3:20, 4:15, 5:35, 7:50, but magical British nanny (Emma Thompson) is back 376-4629, www.aerospaced.org.

10:05. to tame seven out of control brats. Breckenridge: Market Street Cinema: 1521 Merrill Drive, 312-8900, Step Up 3-D (PG-13) — The third installment of 1:45, 4:20, 7:20, 9:50. Chenal 9: 11:10, 1:40, 4:35, www.marketstreetcinema.net. the popular dance series has the street dancers 7:15, 9:50. Rave: 1:10, 3:45, 6:45, 9:15. Riverdale: Rave Colonel Glenn 18: 18 Colonel Glenn Plaza, facing off against the world’s best. Rave: 11:00, 11:05, 1:20, 3:40, 6:05, 8:30.

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The Other Guys (PG-13) — Two polar opposite Regal Breckenridge Village 12: 1-430 and Rodney The Switch (PG-13) — Seven years after she’s policemen in the NYPD take the chance to work Parham, 224-0990, www.fandango.com. given birth, a woman (Jennifer Aniston) discovers with the street smart cops they idolize, but things her best friend switched her intended sperm sample Dickinson Theaters Lakewood 8: Lakewood Village, go downhill fast.

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‘PIRANHA 3D’: Jessica Szohr stars.

n moviereview B-movie bingo ‘Piranha’ offers all the joys of schlock — boobs, blood, ravenous fish, winking cameos — in glorious 3D. n Alexandre Aja, best known for his schlock-genre remakes (“The Hills Have Eyes”), delivers a totally un-eco-political update of the 1978 B-movie “Piranha” in this summer’s gorefest, “Piranha 3D.” Set on the lovely and vast Lake Victoria during spring break, the film circles around a single-mother sheriff (Elisabeth Shue), who attempts to save the tourists and her lakefront community after an underwater earthquake releases a hyperDarwinized breed of ravenous uber-piranha into the waters.

It used to be that genre pictures didn’t have to be so referential to make themselves fun (or make fun of themselves), but evidently our post-aughts sense of selfimportance prohibits the audience from just enjoying good trash without heavy social commentary or enough winking cameos for us to remember that what we’re seeing is an homage, not necessarily a stand-alone

work of art.

That said, the cast is one of the more delightful aspects of “Piranha,” even if at times some of the casting choices push it.

For instance, was Richard Dreyfuss really needed to reprise his schlubby “Jaws” role?

Was Christopher Lloyd really required to phone in his trademark incredulity as the local wildlife expert? Ving Rhames, one of the last brilliant echoes of good genre-flick character actors, exits the film basically unused. New gore king Eli Roth (“Hostel”), however, takes an amusing turn as a shockjock DJ hosting a wet T-shirt contest that ends, of course, in infamy. And America’s latest geek boyfriend, Adam Scott (“Party Down,” “Parks and Recreation”), enlists himself adorably as an underplayed, straight man scientist, enjoying a shotgun-and-Jet Ski action scene in as much open-shirted glory as he’ll probably ever be allowed.

Coupled with the vom-worthy content,

the 3D effects make up for what is really just sub-par CGI animation. It becomes apparent early in the film that most of the budget was probably devoted to boobacquisition. There are soooo many boobs in this movie. 3D boobs. Parasailing boobs.

Aquatic-ballet boobs that would make Esther Williams turn in her grave, you know, if she were dead.

But one of the delights of 3D is that the underwater sequences are filmed as gorgeously as the T&A. Before everyone’s guts start spilling out and the water turns crimson, there are moments that make you feel as if you were at an IMAX movie about subterranean caves.

All of the standard-issue genre tropes apply. Elizabeth Shue’s loser-virginal teen son, Jake, and his cute-virginal teen girlfriend, Kelly, get to survive, despite being lured onto the yacht of a smarmy Jerry O’Connell over-parodying Joe Francis of “Girls Gone Wild.” The unbridled depravity of the booty-shaking, motor-boating springbreakers precedes a 20-minute pageant of innovative and flesh-quivering violence.

And, of course, our likable Madonnafigure, the sexless-but-sexy Elizabeth Shue, surfaces as the true heroine.

So, “Piranhas 3D” isn’t saying anything.

It’s not doing any new work regarding sexual politics. A character’s level of douchebaggery is reciprocated with a deservedly gory death sequence. Women are this way or that way. Children and virgins are safe, but pretty much nobody else is. And despite a few minor “Hey, pick up your litter!” moments, the movie dodges what would be obvious opportunities for sneaky environmental commentary.

Still, it’s hilarious. And genre aficionados will find something worth beholding. Even if it’s far too derivative to become the B-flick for the ages, there’s something to love about a movie this self-consciously awful.

— Natalie Elliott

Parties are just better

calendar

Continued from page 29 Henry, Susan Hurst, Melanie Johnston, Sr. Maria Liebeck, Sue F. Lopez, Anne K. Lyon, Nancy Martin, Diana L. Shearon, Cathy Spann, Mary Ann Stafford and Debbie Strobel. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 9 a.m.-noon Sun. 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.

GALLERY 26, 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Becki Lamascus and Katherine Strause, recent works, through Sept. 14. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 664-8996.

GREG THOMPSON FINE ART, 429 Main St., NLR: “Roger Carlisle: Light in the Landscape.”

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 664-2787.

HEARNE FINE ART, 1001 Wright Ave.: Paintings

by Larry Hampton and other artists. 372-6822.

HEIGHTS GALLERY, 5801 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Arkansas artists. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 664-2772.

J.W. WIGGINS NATIVE AMERICAN ART GALLERY, UALR Sequoyah Center, 500 University Plaza: “Traditional Native American Art of Oklahoma,” paintings in the Studio or Flat style of the 1920s and ’30s by Archie Blackowl, Blackbear Bosin, Woody Crumbo, Fred Beaver and others, through Sept. 17. 569-8336.

KETZ GALLERY, 705 Main St., NLR: “Summertime Blues,” first anniversary celebration show and sale of work by John Kushmaul, Rene Hein, Michael Lindas and others, also continuation of “View from the Road,” paintings by Tim Jacob.

529-6330.

RED DOOR GALLERY, 3715 JFK, NLR: Work by Twin, Robin Steves, Brady Taylor, Georges Artaud, Lola, Jim Johnson, Amy Hill-Imler, James Hayes and Theresa Cates. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. 753-5227.

M2 GALLERY, 11525 Cantrell Road: Jewelry by Lauren Embree; also work by Amy Laser, Charles James, Jason Gammel, Stephen Boatright, William Mayes Flanagan, Gloria Lewis and others. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 225-5257.

SHOWROOM, 2313 Cantrell Road. Work by area artists, including Sandy Hubler. 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mon.-Fri. 372-7373.

STEPHANO’S FINE ART GALLERY, 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Bronzes by Tony Dows, paintings by new gallery artist Jared Vaughn, work in all media by other artists. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Wed., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thu.-Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 563-4218.

THEA FOUNDATION, 401 Main St.: “Classroom to Canvas: An Art Teacher Exhibition,” featuring

Continued on page 32

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www.arktimes.com • AUGUST 26, 2010 31

A boy named

Adventures in apostasy: Week two

By Derek Jenkins

A Boy Named Sooie is commemorating the return of his weekly column (and exorcising his needling doubts about the upcoming season) by playing a little devil’s advocate. Week one focused on the potential problems facing an offense that many believe will be one of the best in the country.

Week two focuses on the potential redemption of a defense that many believe will be one of the worst in the conference. And Week Three will spit in fate’s eye, casting about worst-case scenarios for every game on the 2010 schedule. n Most national analysts are assuming that the Hogs’ defense will be at least somewhat better, and they’re basing that assumption largely on age and experience. That’s nebulous reasoning, but fair.

Conventional wisdom says that it is harder for young players to step into defensive roles, and Willy Robinson’s had to ask that of a lot of guys over the last two years.

As a result, more than 20 returning players, including eight seniors, saw significant action last season — and many the season before. This is a totally rebuilt defense coming into its own.

If you can believe the results of the first scrimmage, when the first team defense gave Mallett fits, then there’s been major improvement on that side of the ball.

The first team offense’s dominant performance against backups in the subsequent scrimmage seems to suggest that it was no fluke.

However, if soft scrimmages, gut feelings and conventional wisdom aren’t enough to quiet your fears, then there’s at least some solace in rattling off a few excuses. Nobody likes those, but you can in fact spread the blame for the defensive struggles pretty evenly. I already complained about the offensive inefficiency, particularly conversion rates, but it’s worth noting that as a result the Hogs’ young and struggling defense spent, on average, over half the game on the field — and most of that time on its heels.

They rarely benefited from field position.

In the five losses last season, the Hogs were forced to punt 35 times. That’s the wrong kind of gaudy number, but it’s even worse when you consider where it left the defense.

Of those giveaways, only eight pinned opposing offenses inside their own 20.

The kicking game was even worse. Alex Tejada only managed four touchbacks all 32 AUGUST 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

season — just one in a loss — and it usually wasn’t even close: Opponents generally fielded the ball around the 10-yard line.

And I hardly need mention the six times Tejada’s missed field goals deflated the whole team.

With just a little help from the offense and special teams, the defense could improve dramatically. If you’re at all confident that Tejada can turn himself around as a senior, or that either sophomore Cameron Bryan or freshman Eduardo Camara can step up and take his place, then you have to think those excuses will iron themselves out. And it’s one thing to score in three downs, but Mallett and company can do their part by cutting back on the fruitless drives, or at least stretching them out a bit.

Excuses aside, the real cause for hope is depth and experience. The Hogs have six very able players in the secondary, led by seniors Rudell Crim and Ramon Broadway, and no position benefits more from experience than the secondary. There’s enough talent and experience to rotate corners, and Crim’s move to safety should help limit the big plays that embarrassed them again and again last season.

The loss of defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard obscures the Hogs’ depth along the line. There’s been particularly good news from the preseason regarding the interior. Freshman Byran Jones is likely to see snaps, red-shirt sophomore Alfred Davis is getting into the backfield on the regular and disruptive DeDe Jones returns as our most experienced tackle. Plus, Steve Caldwell’s ends have been among the best in the league for 14 seasons. There’s no reason to believe a two-deep rotation including Jake Bequette, Damario Ambrose, Tenarius Wright and a handful of JUCO transfers won’t continue the trend.

Those assets leave little room for excuses heading into the 2010 season. In fact, I can only light on two legitimate concerns: Jerry Franklin might be the backbone of this unit, but one key injury could leave the Hogs impossibly thin at linebacker. And that plus-15 turnover margin? It’s bound to regress. If the Hogs want to field a defense worthy of contention in the SEC, they’re going to have to make their own luck. I’d say they’re in a position to do just that.

Follow A Boy Named Sooie throughout the week at ArkansasExpats.com and on Twitter at @aboynamedsooie.

calendar

Continued from page 31 the work of Jenny Delgado, Lori Kirchner, Erica Jewell and Ashley Robinson; also work by Austin Grimes, Morgan Coven, Catherine Burton and Robin Steves in studios in THEArtists Gallery (2nd floor). 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 379-9512.

TOBY FAIRLEY FINE ART, 5507 Ranch Drive, Suite 103: Contemporary Arkansas artists.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Fri. or by appointment.

868-9882.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK: “El Grito (The Cry for Independence),” contemporary work by Mexican-Americans, Gallery I and II, through Oct. 10; “Drawings of Mexico by Louis Freund,” Gallery III, through Sept.

22. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 569-8977. n Benton BOB HERZFELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY, 1800 Smithers Drive: Sarah Johnson, paintings, through August. 501-778-4766.

DIANNE ROBERTS ART STUDIO AND GALLERY, 110 N. Market St.: Area artists.

10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 860-7467. n Bentonville CRYSTAL BRIDGES AT THE MASSEY, 125 W. Central: “Transforming Tradition: Pottery from Mata Ortiz,” Field Museum exhibit, through Aug. 29. 479-418-5700. n El Dorado SOUTH ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER, 110 E. 5th St.: “Collaboration: Two Decades of African American Art,” work from Hearne Fine Art and the collection of Garbo Hearne, through Aug. 30, reception 6-8 p.m. Aug. 28. 870-862-5474. n Forrest City EAST ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE: “Small Works on Paper: Retro Works,” 30 works from the annual Arts Council exhibit 1989-1997, through Aug. 27. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. n Fort Smith MILLER BRANCH LIBRARY: Tessa Freeman, photo studies of women. 479-646-3945. n Hot Springs ALISON PARSONS GALLERY, 802 Central Ave.: Paintings by Parsons. 501-625-3001.

AMERICAN ART GALLERY, 724 Central Ave.: Jimmy Leach, Jamie Carter, Govinder, Marlene Gremillion, Margaret Kipp and others. 501-6240550.

ATTRACTION CENTRAL GALLERY, 264 Central Ave.: Work in all media by Hot Springs artists. 501-463-4932.

BLUE MOON GALLERY, 718 Central Ave.: Caren Garner, paintings, through August. 501-3182787.

CAROLE KATCHEN ART GALLERY, 618 W. Grand Ave.: Paintings, pastels, sculpture by Katchen. 501-617-4494.

FINE ARTS CENTER, 626 Central Ave.: “Sea of Love” themed exhibition. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed.-Sat. 501-624-0489.

FOX PASS POTTERY, 379 Fox Pass Cut-off: Pottery by Jim and Barbara Larkin. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tue.-Sat. 501-623-9906.

GALLERY 726, 726 Central Ave.: Caryl Joy Young, acrylics and pastels, through August. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 501-624-7726.

GALLERY CENTRAL, 800 Central Ave.: Sandy Hubler, paintings, and work by other Hot Springs artists. 501-318-4278.

HOT SPRINGS CONVENTION CENTER, 134 Convention Blvd.: “Hot Springs: A Journey Through History,” photos. Open daily. 501-321-2027.

JUSTUS FINE ART, 827 A Central Ave.: “Art Studies,” small studies along with final works by Robin Hazard-Bishop, Donnie Copeland, Hugh Dunnahoe, Dolores Justus and Steve Griffith; also work by Kari Albright, Michael Ashley, Elizabeth Borne, Cynthia Bowers, Mike Elsass, Robert Frank, Robyn Horn, Tony Saladino, Rebecca Thompson, and others, through August. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wed.-Sat. 501-321-2335.

LINDA PALMER GALLERY, 800 B Central Ave.: Linda Palmer, Doyle Young, Ellen Alderson, Peter Lippincott, Sara Tole and Jan Leek. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mon.-Sat. 501-620-3063.

RICIANO ART GALLERY, 833 Central Ave.: Riciano, Lacey Riciano and other artists. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 501-339-3751.

TAYLOR’S CONTEMPORANEA, 204 Exchange St.: Area and regional artists. 624-0516.

WILLOUGHBY HOUSE, 1250 Central Ave.: Angie Stickels, pottery, through August. 501-625-7338. n Lake Village GUACHOYA CULTURAL ART CENTER, 1652 Hwy. 65 & 82 South: “Delta Ladies Exhibit,” multimedia by Kathy Davis Day, pottery by Rebecca Potter and Delta landscapes by Shelby Nunnery, through Aug. 27. 1-6 p.m. Tue., Thu., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri. 870-265-6077. n Pine Bluff ARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER FOR SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS, 701 Main St.: “Pine Bluff Art League,” annual juried show, through Oct. 23; “GPS: Mapping Arkansas,” children’s science exhibit, through Sept. 27. 870-536-3375. n Yellville P.A.L. FINE ART GALLERY, 300 Hwy. 62 W: Mother-daughter show of paintings and drawings by Beth and Heather Ivens, work by Sandy Barksdale, through August. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tue.-Sat. 870-405-6316.

MUSEUMS, ongoing exhibits

ARKANSAS INLAND MARITIME MUSEUM, NLR: Tours of the USS Razorback submarine. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 1-6 p.m. Sun. 371-8320.

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.: “Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters,” interactive displays and animation on earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes and tornadoes from the Field Museum, through Sept. 6; standing exhibits about policies and White House life during 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.

HISTORIC ARKANSAS MUSEUM, 200 E. Third St.: “Aspects of Abstraction,” paintings by Donnie Copeland, sculpture by Gene Sparling, through Oct. 31; “You Fit into Me: Works by David Carpenter and Lindsey Maestri,” through Sept. 5; “Unprivate Mail: Arkansas Postcards and Cryptic Messages,” through Sept. 26. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. $2.50 adults, $1.50, $1 children for tours of grounds. 324-9351.

MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY, 500 President Clinton Ave.: “Alice’s Wonderland,” science and math exhibit for ages 3 to 10, through Sept.

15; interactive science exhibits. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. Admission: $8 adults, $7 children ages 1-12 and seniors 65 and up, children under 1 free, “Pay What You Can” second Sunday of every month. 396-7050. www.museumofdiscovery.org.

OLD STATE HOUSE, 300 W. Markham St.: “Arkansas/Arkansaw: A State and Its Reputation,” the evolution of the state’s hillbilly image; “Badges, Bandits & Bars: Arkansas Law & Justice,” state’s history of crime and punishment, through March 2011. 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. n Calico Rock CALICO ROCK MUSEUM, Main Street: Displays on Native American cultures, steamboats, the railroad, and local history. www.calicorockmuseum. com. n England TOLTEC MOUNDS STATE PARK, State Hwy. 165: Major prehistoric Indian site with visitors’ center and museum. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun., closed Mon. $3 for adults, $2 for ages 6-12. 961-9442.

Call for entries The Arkansas Arts Center is accepting entries in all media for the Delta Exhibition (Dec. 17-Feb. 20) until Sept. 13. Artists must be residing in Arkansas or its contiguous states. Juror will be New York gallery owner Meredith Ward. Artists may submit up to three entries. Call 372-4-000 or visit www.arkarts.com for more information.

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• September 3 – Gallery Walk • September 9-11 – Hot Springs Motorcycle Rally (Little Big Town & 38 Special) • September 14-19 – 19th Annual JazzFest • September 16 – Motorcycle Cannonball Run • September 24-25 – Legends Balloon Rally (Clint Black & Charlie Daniels)

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34 AUGUST 26, 2010 • ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS TIMES

FORECAST

EXCITING ARKANSAS EVENTS ON THE HORIZON ■ From August 31 through October 10, Murry’s Dinner Playhouse hosts Smoke on the Mountain, a foot stomping, banjo picking, bluegrass gospel music comedy where the hymns and hilarity will make a believer out of anyone. Showtimes are Tuesday through Saturday, dinner at 6 p.m., curtain at 7:45 p.m.; Sunday and special Wednesday matinees, dinner at 11 a.m., curtain at 12:45 p.m.; and Sunday evenings, dinner at 5:30 p.m., curtain at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $28-$32 for adults and $22 for children under 15. Murry’s is located at 6323 Colonel Glenn Rd. in Little Rock. For more information, visit www.murrysdinnerplayhouse.com or call 501-562-3131.

■ Boswell Mourot Fine Art hosts an art opening on Friday, September 10, 6-9p.m., featuring the work of Eric Freeman, Kyle Boswell and Tonya McNair. The gallery is located at 5815 Kavanaugh.

Call 501-664-0030 for more information. Show runs through Sep. 30. boswellmourot.com.

■ A modern musical classic of sweeping grandeur and romantic passion, Evita opens at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre on Friday, September 10. Evita tells the story of Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentinean president Juan Perón, who rose from obscurity to political power and was eventually considered the spiritual leader of the country. Special preview performances include “Pay What You Can Night” on Wednesday, September 8 at 7 p.m. followed by Thursday’s 7 p.m. show. Discussion with Director Cliff Fannin Baker and Artistic Director Bob Hupp begins at 6:15 p.m. both evenings.

The show will run through Sunday, October 3. Visit www.therep.org for more information.

ROAD TRIP! DESTINATION:

HOT SPRINGS

Experience the thrilling sounds of big bands, ensembles, trios, soloists, vocalists and more at the 19th Annual Hot Springs JazzFest, September 14-19 at historic Hot Springs National Park. The festival kicks off with “The Joy of Jazz,” a black-tie optional fete with music, dancing and a silent auction. The 7 p.m. event will be held at the Arlington Resort Hotel at 239 Central Avenue. Tickets are $40 per person or $400 for a table of ten. For reservations, call 501-7670211. All proceeds benefit Hot Springs JazzFest to ensure Saturday’s outdoor festival remains free and open to the public. On Saturday, September 18, the free, outdoor celebration of jazz begins under the sky bridge of Broadway and Market Streets. Food vendors will be available as well as Jazzy Crafts in the KidZone. Performers include Happy Tymes Dixieland Band, Arkansas Jazz Orchestra, Astral Project, Inside Out with Paul Shaw, Navy Mid-South Big Band, S’Wonderful with Shirley Chavin and a jam session with Mel Martin on sax and flute, Scott Whitfield on trombone, Bill Huntington on bass and Jay Payette on drums. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.hotspringsjazzfest.org.

■ On Friday, September 17, Wildwood Park for the Arts hosts its Wine & Food Festival. Choose from over 150 specialty wines and artful edibles created by the area’s finest chefs and restaurants, including Lulav, Restaurant 1620, Forty Two, Ferneau, Acadia, Capriccio Grill, Blue Cake Company, the Culinary School at Pulaski Tech and many more. A silent auction and a cork pull add to the evening’s opportunities. The festival takes place from 6:30-9 p.m. Tickets are available online or by phone at 501-821-7275. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more.

■ The 9th Annual Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour takes place September 17-19 in and around Mountain View. This event offers a rare opportunity to tour the studios of some of the state’s most fascinating painters, sculptors, weavers, potters, jewelers, photographers and more. The opening reception takes place on Friday, September 17 at The Citizens Bank in Mountain View. On September 1, the 2010 Guide to Artists Studios, featuring maps and information about the artists, will be available for free at Chambers of Commerce in Mountain View, Batesville, Clinton, Heber Springs and participating restaurants and shops in the region. For more information, visit www.offthebeatenpathstudiotour.com or call Tour Coordinator Becky Dahlstedt at 870-269-4103.

New Orleans’ Astral Project performs at the Hot Springs JazzFest on Sept. 18.

While in Hot Springs, be sure to stop by your favorite restaurants, music venues and art galleries. Dine on world-famous barbecue at McClard’s Bar-B-Q (505 Albert Pike Road); order the Godfather pizza at Rod’s Pizza Cellar (3350 Central Avenue); enjoy authentic New Orleans fare at Hot Springs Oyster Bar (510 Central Avenue); choose from gourmet sandwiches, soups and more at Café 1217 (1217 Malvern Avenue); and feast on fresh fish tacos and handrolled tamales at Taco Mama (1209 Malvern Avenue). Other places of interest include Maxine’s, where you can hear the best in live music (700 Central Avenue). Browse brilliant works of art by local, regional and national artists at Justus Fine Art (827-A Central Avenue), Gallery Central (800 Central Avenue) and American Art Gallery (724 Central Avenue).

Wood-fire ceramist Joe Bruhin will open his Ozark studio as part of the Off The Beaten Path Studio Tour, Sept. 17-19.

■ Marcus Pinkney’s new dance club, SWAY, is now open at 412 Louisiana in downtown Little Rock, the former location of The Factory. Pinkney says it is the sort of dance club you’d see in a larger city with a dance floor in the middle of the room framed by raised seating. The 600 square-foot patio allows smoking. The club is open Thursday and Friday from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m. and Saturday from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. Visit www.facebook.com/clubsway for details.

■ Camp Aldersgate Fish Fry is Ferocious Fun! Join the fun, festivities and of course the fish on Saturday September 18 from 4-7 pm. Enjoy the children’s carnival, games, handmade specialty items and delicious homemade goodies from the bake sale all in support of this non-profit organization.

This year will also include music by Jubilation Jazz, Bob Hayes and many others. Handicapped accessible parking will be available on Camp grounds. Others may park at Baptist Eye Institute and ride the fun shuttle with other Camp Friends. Take out for those who want to be a Camp Friend but can’t stay for the fun will also be available. Seniors age 65 and older $10; Adults $15; Children 4-11 $10; Children under 4 FREE. For more information call 501.225.1444. Camp Aldersgate is Arkansas’ only non-profit uniquely dedicated to serving children with disabilities, and enriching senior adults through educational and recreational programs in an out-of-doors camp environment.

The 19th Annual Hot Springs JazzFest blows into town Tuesday, September 19 with the Sophisticated Swing fundraiser at the Arlington Hotel & Convention Center and ends Sunday, September 19 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church with Jazz Mass. In between are performances by the Phyllis Emert Combo at the Quapaw Baths & Spa, the Navy Mid-South Big Band in a free concert on Friday night and a free outdoor festival all day Saturday on Broadway, featuring Astral Project, Happy Tymes Dixieland Band, Inside Out and Anything That Moves. For more information please visit www.hotspringsjazzfest.org or call 501-767-0211.

DESTINATION:

MEMPHIS

America’s top cigar celebrity and renowned cigar producer Rocky Patel will be making a rare appearance in Memphis for a fundraiser for the International Children’s Heart Foundation. Patel on Beale, open to cigar aficionados as well as the general public, will be held on Saturday, August 28 at Prime Time Sports Bar on South Second, followed by a private dinner at Spindinis on South Main. The event at Prime Time Sports Bar, from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., will feature two bands, free cigars and a grand buffet. There will also be a live auction. The highlight of the auction will be 16 all-inclusive trips to Patel’s private resort and cigar factory in Danli, Honduras. Rub elbows with Rocky Patel for only a $50 admission price. Additional ticket packages are available for $250 and $350. The $350 package includes a VIP dinner at Spindinis with Patel at 7:00 p.m. The event, presented by Havana Mix Cigar Emporium, will also introduce the new Beale Street Cigar, a special cigar made with tobacco selected and produced by Rocky Patel. The hand-rolled, imported cigar will be sold exclusively in Memphis at Havana Mix Cigar Emporium

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS TIMES • AUGUST 26, 2010 35

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what’scookin’ n Gerald Lambert and Gerald West, veterans of the pub business in New York, have opened Hibernia, a new Irish restaurant and pub at 9700 N. Rodney Parham. Justin Williams, a Texarkana native, is executive chef. His culinary degree is from Cordon Bleu. In addition to his restaurant gigs in Memphis and Miami, Williams served as the executive chef for the 2008 presidential debate in Nashville.

The menu, which you can view on Eat Arkansas, includes Irish standards like cottage pie, bangers and mash, fish and chips, colcannon and Irish breakfast as well as things like po’ boys, burgers and steaks.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. until close Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until close on Saturday and 10 a.m. until close on Sunday. The phone number is 246-4340 and the website is hiberniairishtavern.com. n Brandon’s, Arkansas’s first craft distillery, is celebrating its first batch of vodka and gin with a tasting at the Arkansas Arts Center from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2. The spirits will make the short trip from Brandon’s headquarters, Rock Town Distillery, at 1216 E. 6th St. in Little Rock, to the Arts Center. The vodka and gin should start hitting liquor stores throughout Central Arkansas this week.

Restaurant capsules Every effort is made to keep this listing of some of the state’s more notable restaurants current, but we urge readers to call ahead to check on changes on days of operation, hours and special offerings. What follows, because of space limitations, is a partial listing of restaurants reviewed by our staff. Information herein 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.

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order by city; Little Rock-area restaurants are divided by food category. Other review symbols are:

B Breakfast

L Lunch

D Dinner

$ Inexpensive (under $8/person)

$$ Moderate ($8-$20/person)

$$$ Expensive (over $20/person)

CC Accepts credit cards

Little Rock/ N. Little Rock American

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. 1300 S. Main St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-372-1228. L Mon.-Fri., D Thu.-Sat. ON THE BORDER This latest Brinker chain offering — in a cheery, colorful setting — has great Tex-Mex food and a menu that offers some specialty chicken, shrimp and fish dishes. 11721 Chenal Parkway. Full bar, All CC. $$.

501-217-9275. LD daily.

Continued on page 40

■ dining Good things in the Pantry Czech’s twist on mac and cheese and Stock Pot stand out. n Tomas Bohm is doing many things right at The Pantry, his uber-cool yet comfortable restaurant in West Little Rock.

The Czech native has created an interesting but approachable menu that includes several items true to his heritage, and there’s not a lot of local competition in the schnitzel/spaetzle sphere. He buys locally grown and produced foods and makes most things from scratch, including bratwurst. He spends much of his time going table to table, and his ability to make people feel welcome is clear. That has helped create a loyal group of regulars. And he’s created a nice vibe in the bar and offers happy-hour specials that draw crowds to an area of town not teeming with fun places to hang out.

All of that combines to create a pleasant experience in sharp contrast to the atmosphere at the many chain restaurants prevalent out west.

The Pantry sits on hallowed ground — the space where decades earlier Alouette’s became the first fine-dining offshoot of the famed Restaurant Jacques and Suzanne.

Later, chef/owner Denis Seyer, one of the star J&S alums, morphed Alouette’s into the more casual Gypsy’s Grill. The Pantry is the logical next step in that direction.

The crowning glory would be if every dish at the Pantry was as successful as the concept, approach and atmosphere.

But a fairly thorough testing of the menu resulted in only slightly fewer misses than hits. Coincidentally, our first visit, for lunch, comprised all the misses, while a return trip for dinner was mostly a hit parade.

First, lunch: We’d never seen deviled eggs on a restaurant menu, so we just had to try the Pantry’s truffled version ($4.95). We found them creamy, a bit over-whipped, and somewhat bland. Exactly what they needed wasn’t clear. That they needed something was.

Bland became a theme. The mushroom soup ($3 for a cup) was thin with little zip, not off-putting but boring. Same with the homemade pate — whipped light, certainly creamy, not overly liver-whang-y, but lacking in herb, spice or zing.

Ditto the weiner schnitzel ($9.50), a huge slab of pork, battered and fried crispy. Other than the juice of the accompanying lemon wedge there was no taste enhancer, and it needed one. Double ditto the porchetta sandwich ($8.50), slices of overcooked pork topped with a red cabbage and served between way-too-thick slices of artisan bread.

We left lunch dissatisfied and a bit puzzled. Nothing was inherently wrong, but every dish was missing the magic. Or maybe our taste buds were napping. We

THE PANTRY BRAT: Homemade, affordable, delightful. loved everything about the Pantry but the food; yet it had the potential to wow. And when we came back for dinner, it did.

The 180-degree difference surely owed only to our selections. The cheese spaetzle ($6.95) is a decadent cousin to mac/cheese — homemade noodles in creamy bechamel sauce, served in a small casserole dish.

While creamy and dreamy good, it could have been boring, but it wasn’t, thanks to the kick of caramelized onion.

It’s been a while since we have enjoyed a main course as much as the Pantry’s “Stock Pot” ($14.75). Tender filets of cod swim in a delicate fish stock dosed with dill and accompanied by long slices of perfectly crispy yet tender carrot and fennel. This was a subtle but flavorful dish. We were early diners, having hit the Pantry right after work, so we were surprised when the waitress told us we got the last “Stock Pot” of the night. Turns out his supplier was out of fresh fennel, Bohm told us. No fennel, no “Stock Pot.” Though it didn’t seem the right choice on a 103-degree day, we also opted for the Pantry pie ($8.95), a twist on shepherd’s pie — mashed potatoes layered atop a succulent goulash stew and baked. The strong points here were the bold flavor of the stew (almost like a beef burgundy) and the tender, succulent hunks of beef.

Bratwurst is not traditionally a side item, but we didn’t want to miss the first homemade bratwurst we’d encountered in a Little Rock restaurant. And at $3.75, it was affordable. The Pantry’s brat is a subtle delight, more the thickness of a regular hot dog, served on a soft roll and topped with pungent but slightly sweet homemade kraut. Add spicy mustard and you have a damn fine meal — or accompaniment in our case.

Were we to have taken another step down the gluttony highway, we know

where it would have led — to the “Rustic Bowl,” the Pantry’s one-pot meal whose ingredients and price vary each day based on what’s on hand. It offers printed proof of the restaurant’s reliance on fresh ingredients and its trust in chef Titus Holly’s ability to make something great out of what’s in season and in stock.

Journalistic obligation forced us to order a couple of desserts (it’s a dirty job … blah, blah, blah). The honey brulee ($6) was a bit thicker and more custard-like than most brulees, tasty but with little direct honey taste. The “chocolate salami” ($6.50) is named, we were told, for its shape, and if so it must be because the three crunch slices of chocolate and nuts, layered with vanilla ice cream, look something like sliced salami in texture. A bit of a stretch, but who cares — this is good stuff.

Best we can tell, Bohm’s formula is working. We’ve already been back for happy hour — got to love a $2 Boulevard Pale Ale in addition to other drink and other appetizer specials. We know we’ll be back to eat. We also know what we will and won’t order.

The Pantry

11401 Rodney Parham Road 353-1875 Quick bite

Most area diners are more unfamiliar with German and Czech dishes than other ethnic cuisines more common in these parts. One can’t-go-wrong jumping off point is the cheese spaetzle ($6.50), a decadent cousin of mac/cheese — homemade noodles in creamy béchamel sauce with a nice caramelized onion kick. Creamy and dreamy.

Hours

11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to midnight Saturday.

Other info

Full bar. Moderate prices. Credit cards accepted. www.arktimes.com • AUGUST 26, 2010 39

Restaurant capsules Continued from page 39 RUMBA Mexi-Cuban spot in the River Market area, this restaurant and bar has a broad menu that includes tacos and enchiladas, tapas, Cuban-style sandwiches. Specialty drinks are available also. 300 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-823-0090 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090.

65TH STREET DINER Blue collar, meat-and-two-veg lunch spot with cheap desserts and a breakfast buffet. 3201 West 65th St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-562-7800. BL Mon.-Fri. SENOR TEQUILA Authentic dishes with great service and prices, and maybe the best margarita in town. Multiple locations: 4304 Camp Robinson Road, NLR, 791-3888; 9847 Maumelle Blvd., Maumelle. 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road.

Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-224-5505. LD daily.

ACADIA A jewel of a restaurant in Hillcrest. Wonderful soups and fish dishes. Extensive wine list. Affordable lunch menu. 3000 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, CC. $$-$$$.

501-603-9630. LD Mon.-Fri. D Sat. TACO MEXICO Tacos have to be ordered at least two at a time, but that’s not an impediment. These are some of the best and some of the cheapest tacos in Little Rock. 7101 Colonel Glenn Road. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-416-7002.

LD Wed.-Sun. TACOS GUANAJUATO Pork, beef, adobado, chicharron and cabeza tacos and tortas at this mobile truck. 6920 Geyer Springs Road. No alcohol, No CC. $. LD Wed.-Mon. TAQUERIA THALIA Try this taco truck on the weekends, when the special could be anything from posole to menudo to shrimp cocktail. 4500 Baseline Road. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-563-3679. LD Wed.-Mon. BIG ROCK BISTRO Students of the Arkansas Culinary School run this restaurant at Pulaski Tech under the direction of Chef Jason Knapp. Pizza, pasta, Asian-inspired dishes and diner food, all in one stop. 3000 W. Scenic Drive.

NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-812-2200. BL Mon.-Fri. BLACK ANGUS 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. BLD Mon.-Sat.

General

eat local

support your community

40 AUGUST 26, 2010 • ArkAnSAS TimeS

BOBBY’S CAFE Delicious, humungo burgers and tasty homemade deserts at this Levy diner. 12230 MacArthur Drive. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-851-7888. BL Tue.-Fri., D Thu.-Fr. BOSCOS This River Market does food well, too. Along with tried and true things like sandwiches, burgers, steaks and big salads, they have entrees like black bean and goat cheese tamales, open hearth pizza ovens and muffalettas.

500 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-9071881. LD daily.

BOUDREAUX’S GRILL & BAR A homey, seat-yourself Cajun joint in Maumelle that serves up all sorts of variations of shrimp and catfish. With particularly tasty red beans and rice, jambalaya and bread pudding. 9811 Maumelle Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-753-6860. L Fri.-Sat., D Mon.-Sat. 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. $$. 501-663-5951. BLD Mon.-Sat. 400 President Clinton Avenue. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-374-1232. BL Mon.-Sat. 401 W. Markham St. No alcohol, All CC. $$.

501-526-6661. BL Mon.-Fri. BUFFALO GRILL A great crispy-off-the-griddle cheeseburger and hand-cut fries star at this family-friendly stop.

400 N. Bowman Road. Beer, All CC. $$. 501-224-0012.

LD daily. 1611 Rebsamen Park Rd. Full bar, All CC. $$.

501-296-9535. LD daily.

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.

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. CAMP DAVID Inside the Holiday Inn Presidential Conference Center, Camp David particularly pleases with its breakfast and themed buffets each day of the week.

Wonderful Sunday brunch. 600 Interstate 30. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-975-2267. BLD daily.

CAPERS It’s never been better, with as good a wine list as any in the area, and a menu that covers a lot of ground -- seafood, steaks, pasta -- and does it all well. 4502 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-868-7600. LD Mon.-Sat. COAST CAFE A variety of salads, smoothies, sandwiches and pizzas, and there’s breakfast and coffee, too. 400 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-3710164. BL daily.

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, All CC. $-$$. 501-375-7105. BLD daily. 270 S. Shackleford.

No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-224-1656. BD Mon.-Sat. B Sun. COPPER GRILL Comfort food, burgers and more sophisticated fare at this River Market-area hotspot. 300 W. Third St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-3333. LD Mon.-Sat. CRUSH WINE BAR An unpretentious downtown bar/ lounge with an appealing and erudite wine list. With tasty tapas, but no menu for full meals. 318 Main St. NLR. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-374-9463. D Tue.-Sat. DAVE’S PLACE Downtown’s premier soup-and-sandwich stop at lunch, and a set dinner spot on Friday night to give a little creative outlet to chef supreme David Williams. Beef, chicken and fish are served with continental flair. 201 Center St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-372-3283. L Mon.-Fri., D Fri. DAVID FAMILY KITCHEN Call it soul food or call it downhome country cooking. Just be sure to call us for breakfast or lunch when you go. Neckbones, ribs, sturdy cornbread, salmon croquettes, mustard greens and the like. Desserts are exceptionally good. 2301 Broadway. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-371-0141. BL Sun.-Fri. DELICIOUS TEMPTATIONS A great variety of sandwiches, meal-sized salads and homemade soups, many of the items heart-smart. Great desserts, too. 11220 Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-225-6893.

BL daily.

DIZZY’S GYPSY BISTRO Interesting bistro fare, served in massive portions at this River Market favorite. 200 South Commerce St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-3500. LD Tue.-Sat. THE FADED ROSE The Cajun-inspired menu seldom disappoints. Steaks and soaked salads are legendary. Also at Bowman Curve. 1615 Rebsamen Park Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-9734. LD daily. 400 N. Bowman Rd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-224-3377. LD daily.

FATSAM’S LOUSIANA CAFE Heaping plates of Louisiana-influenced food in a corner of the River Market food hall. The lineup changes daily, but expect to find a steam table full of shrimp Creole, etouffee, jambalaya, red beans and rice and the like. 400 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-244-4720. LD Tue.-Sat. FERNEAU Great seafood, among other things, is served at the Ice House Revival in Hillcrest. With a late night menu Thu.-Sat. 2601 Kavanaugh. Full bar, All CC. $$$-$$$$.

501-603-9208. D Tue.-Sat. FLYING SAUCER Beer, with dozens on tap, is the big draw at this popular River Market venue, but the food’s good, too.

Sandwiches, including a great Reuben, salads, quesadillas and the bratwurst are dependable. 323 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-372-7468. LD daily.

FOX AND HOUND Sports bar with bar munchies to watch games by. 2800 Lakewood Village. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-753-8300. 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. $$. 501-2254487. LD daily. 400 W. Capitol Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $$.

501-372-1919. L Mon.-Fri. FRONTIER DINER Order at the counter for home-cooked plate lunches, burgers and delicious pies. 10424 Interstate 30. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-565-6414. BL Mon.-Sat. FROSTOP A ’50s-style drive-in has been resurrected, with big and juicy burgers and great irregularly cut fries. Superb service, too. 4131 JFK Blvd. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$.

501-758-4535. BLD daily.

GADWALL’S GRILL & PIZZA Once two separate restaurants, a fire forced the grill into the pizza joint. Now, under one roof, there’s mouth-watering burgers and specialty sandwiches, plus zesty pizzas with cracker-thin crust and plenty of toppings. 12 North Hills Shopping Center. NLR. 834-1840. LD. GRAMPA’S CATFISH HOUSE A longtime local favorite for fried fish, hush puppies and good sides. 9219 Stagecoach Road. 407-0000. LD. HAYESTACK CAFE Southern cooking, po’boys and hearty breakfasts with an emphasis on family recipes. 27024 Kanis Road. Ferndale. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-8210700. BLD Tue.-Sun. HONEYBAKED HAM CO. The trademark ham is available by the sandwich, as is great smoked turkey and lots of inexpensive side items and desserts. 9112 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. 501-227-5555. LD Mon.-Sat. THE HOP Old line dairy bar with burgers, fries and milkshakes. 7706 Cantrell. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-2276505. LD Mon.-Sat. HUNKA PIE Twenty to 25 different kinds of fresh baked pie daily. Plus, Krispy Kreme donuts in the morning, coffee, milk and cheesecake. 304 N. Main St. NLR. All CC. $-$$.

501-612-4754. BL Mon.-Sat. (closes at 6 p.m.).

JUST LIKE MOM’S Daily specials include mom’s goulash, lemon pepper chicken over rice and garlic roast beef, with generous sides of pinto beans, cornbread, potatoes. 3140 E. Kiehl Ave. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-833-0402.

BLD Mon.-Fri. B Sat. KIERRE’S KOUNTRY KITCHEN Excellent home-cooking joint for huge helpings of meat loaf and chicken-fried steak, cooked-down vegetables and wonderful homemade pies and cakes. Breakfasts feature omelets, pancakes, French Toast and more. 6 Collins Place. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-758-0923. BLD Tue.-Fri., BL Sat. MARKHAM STREET GRILL AND PUB The menu has something for everyone. Try the burgers, which are juicy, big and fine. 11321 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$.

501-224-2010. LD Mon.-Sat.

MCBRIDE’S CAFE AND BAKERY Owners Chet and Vicki McBride have been serving up delicious breakfast and lunch specials based on their family recipes for two decades in this popular eatery at Baptist Health’s Little Rock campus. The desserts and barbecue sandwiches are not to be missed. 9501 Lile Drive. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-3403833. BL Mon.-Fri. OLD MILL BREAD AND FLOUR CO. CAFE The popular take-out bakery has an eat-in restaurant and friendly operators. It’s self-service, simple and good with sandwiches built with a changing lineup of the bakery’s 40 different breads, along with soups, salads and cookies. 12111 W. Markham St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-228-4677. BL Mon.-Sat. RED DOOR Fresh seafood, steaks, chops and sandwiches from restaurateur Mark Abernathy. Smart wine list. 3701 Old Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-666-8482.

L Mon.-Fri. D daily.

RIVERFRONT STEAKHOUSE Steaks delivered fresh from Chicago twice a week are salted, peppered, seared in an infra-red oven and then buttered for a meat-eater’s dream chowdown. There’s more to like also: crab cakes and shrimp bisque and chops and chicken and lobster tail.

2 Riverfront Place. NLR. Full bar. $$-$$$. 501-375-7285.

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. 501-7710808. LD Mon.-Sat. SHAKE’S FROZEN CUSTARD Frozen custard, concretes, sundaes. 5508 John F Kennedy Blvd. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-753-5407. LD daily.

SO RESTAURANT BAR Call it a French brasserie with a sleek, but not fussy American finish. The wine selection is broad and choice. Free valet parking. Use it and save yourself a headache. 3610 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-1464. LD daily. BR Sun. STICKY FINGERZ ROCK ’N’ ROLL CHICKEN SHACK Fingers any way you can imagine, plus sandwiches and burgers, and a fun setting for music and happy hour gatherings. 107 Commerce St. Full bar, All CC. 501-372-7707.

LD daily.

SUFFICIENT GROUNDS Pastries, bagels at breakfast, wraps, sandwiches, smoothies, salads at lunch.

120 Commerce St. No alcohol. $-$$. 501-372-0969. BL Mon.-Sat. TEXAS ROADHOUSE Following in the lines of those loud, peanuts-on-the-table steak joints, but the steaks are better here than we’ve had at similar stops. Good burgers, too.

3601 Warden Road. Beer, All CC. $$. 501-771-4230. D daily, L Sat.-Sun. 2620 S. Shackleford Rd. Beer, All CC. $$. 501-224-2427. D daily, L Sat.-Sun. TOWN PUMP Soup specials daily for lunch and a dependable burger, plus basic beer food. 1321 Rebsamen Park Road. 501-663-9802. L Mon.-Sat. D daily.

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. Full bar. $$-$$$.

501-221-3330. LD Mon.-Sat. TROPICAL SMOOTHIE Besides the 45 different smoothies on the menu, the cafe also serves wraps and sandwiches (many of them spicy), salads and “tortizzas.”

Good food, healthy drinks, long line at lunch but it moves fast. 12911 Cantrell Road. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-9444307. BLD daily.

VIEUX CARRE A pleasant spot in Hillcrest with specialty salads, steak and seafood. The soup of the day is a good bet. At lunch, the menu includes an all-vegetable sandwich and a half-pound cheeseburger. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-1196. LD Mon.-Fri., D Sat., BR Sun. WHOLE FOODS MARKET Good sandwiches, soups and hummus to go; an enormous number of hot and cold entrees from the deli; extensive juice bar. 10700 N. Rodney Parham Road. All CC. $-$$. 501-312-2326. BLD daily.

WILLY D’S DUELING PIANO BAR Willy D’s serves up a decent dinner of pastas and salads as a lead-in to its nightly sing-along piano show. Go when you’re in a good mood. 322 President Clinton Ave. Full bar. $$. 501-2449550. D Tue.-Sat. YOUR MAMA’S GOOD FOOD Offering simple and satisfying cafeteria food, with burgers and more hot off the grill, plate lunches and pies. 402 S. Louisiana St. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-372-1811. L Mon.-Fri. ZACK’S PLACE Expertly prepared home cooking and huge, smoky burgers. 1400 S. University Ave. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-664-6444. LD Mon.-Sat.

AsiAn CHANG THAI AND ASIAN CUISINE One of the few Thai restaurants in Central Arkansas. Skip the pan-Asian buffet and order off the menu. Don’t miss the exotic mieng kham appetizer; you won’t find anything that covers as many taste sensations in one bite. 9830 Highway 107. Sherwood. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-835-4488. LD Sun.-Fri., D Sat. CHINESE PAVILION HUNAN RESTAURANT A longtime favorite in Chinese restaurant polls, it’s one of the earliest Asian eateries on the north shore. 8000 Hwy. 107. NLR. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-835-8723. LD Tue.-Sun. CRAZY HIBACHI GRILL The folks that own Chi’s and Sekisui offer their best in a three-in-one: tapanaki cooking, sushi bar and sit-down dining with a Mongolian grill. 2907 Lakewood Village. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-8129888. LD daily.

FANTASTIC CHINA The food is delicious, the presenta-

tion beautiful, the menu distinctive, the service perfect, the decor bright. 1900 N. Grant St. Full bar, All CC. $$.

501-663-8999. LD daily.

GENGHIS GRILL This chain restaurant takes the Mongolian grill idea to its inevitable conclusion. It’s a restaurant where you choose all the ingredients that will be blended together and cooked on a massive round grill.

12318 Chenal Parkway. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-2232695. LD daily.

LILLY’S DIMSUM THEN SOME Innovative dishes inspired by Asian cuisine, utilizing local and fresh ingredients. 11121 N. Rodney Parham Rd. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-716-2700. LD daily.

MT. FUJI JAPANESE RESTAURANT The dean of Little Rock sushi bars with a fabulous lunch special and great Monday night deals. 10301 Rodney Parham Rd. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-227-6498. LD daily.

OSAKA JAPANESE RESTAURANT Veteran operator of several local Asian buffets has brought fine-dining Japanese dishes and a well-stocked sushi bar to way-out-west Little Rock, near Chenal off Highway 10. 5501 Ranch Drive, Suite 1. 868-3688. LD. SAIGON CUISINE Traditional Vietnamese with Thai and Chinese selections. Be sure to try to authentic pho soups and spring rolls. 6805 Cantrell Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. 501-663-4000. L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sun. SAKURA Standard Japanese steakhouse and sushi fare — it’s hard to go wrong choosing from the extensive menu.

Also in Bryant. 4011 E. Kiehl Ave. Sherwood. No alcohol, All CC. 501-834-3546. LD daily.

SUSHI CAFE Impressive, upscale sushi menu with other delectable house specialties like tuna tataki, fried soft shell crab, Kobe beef and, believe it or not, the Tokyo cowboy burger. 5823 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-663-9888. L Mon.-Sat. D daily.

BArBecue CHATZ CAFE ‘Cut and catfish joint that does heavy catering business. Try the slow-smoked, meaty ribs. 8801 Colonel Glenn Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-5624949. LD Mon.-Sat. CORKY’S RIBS & BBBQ The pulled pork is extremely tender and juicy, and the sauce is sweet and tangy without a hint of heat. Maybe the best dry ribs in the area. 12005 Westhaven Drive. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 954-7427. LD daily. 2947 Lakewood Village Drive. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-753-3737. LD daily.

JO-JO’S BAR-B-Q The smoky aroma of Jo-Jo’s standard ’cue has shifted from Levy to Sherwood. 3400 Burks.

Sherwood. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-812-5656. 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. $.

501-945-5551. LD Mon.-Fri., L Sat. WHOLE HOG CAFE The pulled pork shoulder is a classic, the back ribs are worthy of their many blue ribbons, and there’s a six-pack of sauces for all tastes. A real find is the beef brisket, cooked the way Texans like it. 12111 W. Markham. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-907-6124. LD Mon.-Sat. 1400 S.E. Walton Blvd. Bentonville; 516 Cantrell Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-664-5025. LD Mon.-Sat. 12111 W. Markham. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-907-6124.

LD Mon.-Sat. 5107 Warden Road. NLR. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-753-9227. LD Mon.-Sat. 150 E. Oak St. Conway.

All CC. $$. 501-513-0600. LD Mon.-Sat.

europeAn / ethnic AMRUTH AUTHENTIC INDIAN CUISINE Indian restaurant with numerous spicy, vegetarian dishes. 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-2244567. LD daily.

CAFE BOSSA NOVA A South American approach to sandwiches, salads and desserts, all quite good, as well as an array of refreshing South American teas and coffees. 701 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-614-6682.

LD Tue.-Sat., BR Sun. GEORGIA’S GYROS Good gyros, Greek salads and fragrant grilled pita bread highlight a large Mediterranean food selection, plus burgers and the like. 2933 Lakewood Village Drive. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-753-5090.

LD Mon.-Sat. LAYLA’S Delicious Mediterranean fare -- gyros, falafel, shawarma, kabobs, hummus and babaganush -- that has a devoted following. All meat is slaughtered according to Islamic dietary law. 9501 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-227-7272. LD daily (close 5 p.m. on Sun.). 612 Office Park Drive. Bryant. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-847-5455. LD Mon.-Sat. MASALA GRILL AND TEAHOUSE A delicious traditional Pakistani buffet, plus menu items like a chicken tikka wrap (marinated broiled chicken rolled in naan) and a chutney burger. 9108 Rodney Parham. No alcohol, All CC. $$.

501-414-0643. LD Tue.-Sat., L Sun. MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE Gyros, falafel and souvlaki plates, as well as hummus, tabouleh, eggplant dip and other dishes — wonderful food at wonderful prices. 400 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-372-1662. L daily.

TERRACE ON THE GREEN This Greek-Italian-Thai-andwhatever restaurant has a huge menu, and you can rely on each dish to be good, some to be excellent. Portions are ample. 2200 Rodney Parham Road. Full bar. $$-$$$.

501-217-9393. L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat. UNDERGROUND PUB Hearty, tasty British pub-style fare,

including exceptional custom-made sausages, crunchy fish and chips and a decent Reuben. Inviting bar with an impressive draft beer and single-malt whiskey selection.

500 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-7072537. LD Mon.-Sat. YA YA’S EURO BISTRO The first eatery to open in the new Promenade at Chenal is a date-night affair, translating comfort food into beautiful cuisine. Best bet is lunch, where you can explore the menu through soup, salad or half a sandwich. 17711 Chenal Parkway. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-821-1144. LD daily.

itAliAn BRAVO! CUCINA ITALIANA This upscale Italian chain offers delicious and sometimes inventive dishes. 17815 Chenal Pkwy. Full bar, All CC. $$$. 501-821-2485. LD daily.

BRUNO’S LITTLE ITALY This more-than-half-centuryold establishment balances continuity with innovation in delicious traditional and original fare. The pizza remains outstanding. 315 N. Bowman Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-224-4700. D Mon.-Sat. GRAFFITI’S The casually chic and ever-popular Italianflavored bistro avoids the rut with daily specials and careful menu tinkering. 7811 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-224-9079. D Mon.-Sat. OLD CHICAGO PASTA & PIZZA This national chain offers lots of pizzas, pastas and beer. 4305 Warden Road.

NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-812-6262. LD daily.

1010 Main St. Conway. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-329-6262.

LD daily.

PIZZA CAFE Thin, crunchy pizza with just a dab of tomato sauce but plenty of chunks of stuff, topped with gooey cheese. Draft beer is appealing on the open-air deck — frosty and generous. 1517 Rebsamen Park Road. Beer, Wine. $-$$. 501-664-6133. 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. $-$$. 501-666-5403. LD Mon.-Sat. RISTORANTE CAPEO Authentic cooking from the boot of Italy is the draw at this cozy, brick-walled restaurant on a reviving North Little Rock’s Main Street. Familiar pasta dishes will comfort most diners, but let the chef, who works in an open kitchen, entertain you with some more exotic stuff, too, like crispy veal sweetbreads. They make their own mozzarella fresh daily. 425 Main St. NLR. Full bar. $$-$$$.

501-376-3463. D Mon.-Sat. ROCKY’S PUB A little taste of Philly, right in North Little Rock, with authentic cheesesteak sandwiches, hoagies, salads and the like. But you’d be remiss not to try the Italian specialties whipped up at night, such as the proscuitto piselli verdi. 6909 JFK Blvd. NLR. Beer, Wine. 501-8331077. LD Mon.-Sat. SHOTGUN DAN’S Hearty pizza and sandwiches with a decent salad bar. Multiple locations, at 4020 E. Broadway, NLR, 945-0606; 4203 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood, 835-0606, and 10923 W. Markham St. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$.

501-224-9519. LD Mon.-Sat., D Sun. VINO’S Great rock ’n’ roll club also is a fantastic pizzeria with huge calzones and always improving home-brewed beers. 923 W. Seventh St. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$.

501-375-8466. LD daily.

ZAZA Here’s where you get wood-fired pizza with gorgeous blistered crusts and a light topping of choice and tempting ingredients, great gelato in a multitude of flavors, call-your-own ingredient salads and other treats. 5600 Kavanaugh Blvd. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-6619292. LD daily.

MexicAn CANTINA LAREDO This is gourmet Mexican food, a step up from what you’d expect from a real cantina, from the modern minimal décor to the well-prepared entrees. We can vouch for the enchilada Veracruz and the carne asada y huevos, both with tasty sauces and high quality ingredients perfectly cooked. 207 N. University. Full bar, All CC. $$$.

501-280-0407. LD daily.

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. 1300 S. Main St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-372-1228. L Mon.-Fri., D Thu.-Sat. ON THE BORDER This latest Brinker chain offering — in a cheery, colorful setting — has great Tex-Mex food and a menu that offers some specialty chicken, shrimp and fish dishes. 11721 Chenal Parkway. Full bar, All CC. $$.

501-217-9275. LD daily.

RUMBA Mexi-Cuban spot in the River Market area, this restaurant and bar has a broad menu that includes tacos and enchiladas, tapas, Cuban-style sandwiches. Specialty drinks are available also. 300 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-823-0090 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090.

SENOR TEQUILA Authentic dishes with great service and prices, and maybe the best margarita in town. Multiple locations: 4304 Camp Robinson Road, NLR, 791-3888; 9847 Maumelle Blvd., Maumelle. 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-224-5505. LD daily.

TACO MEXICO Tacos have to be ordered at least two at a time, but that’s not an impediment. These are some of the best and some of the cheapest tacos in Little Rock. 7101 Colonel Glenn Road. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-416-7002.

LD Wed.-Sun.

100% Real Charcoal Broiled

Burgers • steak • ChiCken

Now Serving Breakfast!

6-10:30 am FREE COFFEE with breakfast purchase throughout August!

10907 N. Rodney Parham • 228-7800 Mon-Sat 10:30 am - 9 pm

50% OFF 2ND ENTREE* Half off least expensive entrée

Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Dine in • Take Out • Patio • full Bar Mon. -Fri. 10-10 Sat. 9-10 • Sun. 9-9 501-280-9888 6820 Cantrell • 9am -10 pm

400 President Clinton Ave. (In the River Market) Hours: 8 am 5:30 pm Mon -Sat 372-6637

The BesT AuThenTic MexicAn seAfood in Town

501-868-8822 18321 Cantrell Rd. • Hwy. 10

Full Bar • Take out • Dine in For Gourmet Seafood lovers Monday • Friday: 10-10 • Saturday: 9-10 • Sunday: 9-9 *Must present coupon

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LoCATIon: Lakewood nLR, 5:15am M,W,F

evening claSSeS mon., tue.,and thur., 6Pm-7Pm neW WomenS claSS at 9:15am, Bring your child, 2 and uP.

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Food for Thought

a paid advertisement

To place your restaurant in Food For Thought, call the advertising department at 501-375-2985

AMERICAN

SEAFOOD rm

AT(spec ad)

Denton’s Trotline

Attention: Members and Guests. Denton’s Trotline is known for their award winning catfish and seafood buffet.

Outstanding appetizer menu. Family owned, featuring a newly remodeled building with live music. Full service catering available.

02/01/08

DENTON’S CaTfiSh & SEafOOD BuffET — 24 Years In Business —

We Cater • Carry-Outs available hours: Tues-Thurs 4:00-8:30pm • fri-Sat 4:00-9:00pm

315-1717

Cajun’s Wharf

Food and fun for everyone when you pair Cajun’s Wharf’s succulent seafood and steak with the ever-evolving live entertainment. Enjoy the fabulous fresh seafood or aged Angus beef while listening to the rolling Arkansas River on the famously fantastic deck! They also boast an award-winning wine list.

2400 Cantrell Road 501-375-5351

2150 Congo Rd. Benton, 501-416-2349 Open Tues, Wed & Thurs 4-9 Fri & Sat 4-11

Lulav

220 West 6th St. 501-374-5100 Breakfast Mon-Fri 6:30 am -10:30 am Lunch Mon-Fri 11am-2pm Dinner Tues-Sat 5-10pm V Lounge til 1am, Thurs-Sat

Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro 200 S. Commerce, Suite 150 (501) 375-3500 Tues-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri & Sat 11am-10pm

1900 N Grant St Heights 501-663-8999

Fresh seafood specials every week. Prime aged beef and scrumptious dishes. Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, over 30 wines by the glass and largest vodka selection downtown. Regular and late night happy hour, Wednesday wine flights and Thursday is Ladies Night. Be sure to check out the Bistro Burger during lunch. Jump start your day with bistro breakfast from Lulav featuring scrumptious omlettes, pancakes and more.

Casa Manana Taqueria

400 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-6637 6820 Cantrell Road • 501-280-9888 18321 Cantrell Road • 501-868-8822

Canon Grill

2811 Kavanaugh Blvd 501-664-2068

Stop in for Our ALL DAY LONG HAPPY HOUR SATURDAYS! Order up some homemade salsa & cheesedip with your happy hour beverage and stay for dinner! Tasty Quesadilla’s and Mexican chicken Pizza. There are menu items to accommodate those not in the Mexican food mood too.

And of course, The Margarita cannot be missed!

Copper Grill & Grocery

An endless array of delicious dishes available in the Grill or grab your Gourmet-to-Go from the Grocery. Offering products by French Farm, Bella Cucina & Bittersweet Herb that promise to turn any recipe into a memorable masterpiece Copper Grill & Grocery is a wonderland for the gourmand.

SO

Contemporary metropolitan bistro meets Southern smalltown hospitality in a neighborhood bar. SO offers the best in fresh seafood and hand-cut rustic meats, complimented by an extensive and diverse wine list, honored with Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. Whether casual dinners, special occasions, meetings with clients, or private parties, our service will impress. Reservations six and more. Private Lounge.

Butcher Shop

Tremendous steaks, excellent service, fair prices and a comfortable atmosphere make The Butcher Shop the prime choice for your evening out. In addition to tender and juicy steaks, The Butcher Shop offers fresh fish, pork chop, 24 hour slow roasted Prime Rib, char grilled marinated chicken and fresh pasta. Ideal for private parties, business meetings, and rehearsal dinners. Rooms accommodate up to 50-60 people.

HUNKA PIE

Hunka Pie specializes in premium hand-crafted pies. We welcome all pie lovers to come share a slice today! Call ahead for whole pie orders. Chocolate Peanut Butter, Velvet Lips Chocolate Cream, Strawberry Cream Cheese, Chocolate Pecan, Coconut Custard, key Lime, French Apple Pie & more.

Now Serving Lunch! Monster Frito Pie, Spinach & Feta Greek Pie, Toasted Artichoke Sandwich.

Flying Saucer

“A great place to hangout, experience great beer and authentic German specialties”. The Flying Saucer definitely offers a unique range of domestic and international draft and bottled beers, carrying over 80 beers on draft and 120+ different bottled beers, many which are seasonal.

Accompanying their unique beer line-up is a menu packed with flare. Bratwurst is the house specialty served with German coleslaw, or you can try Brat Con Queso or Beer Brat Nachos. Be sure to leave room for dessert: Young’s Double Chocolate Stout Ice Cream Float offers the best of both worlds.

Buffalo Grill

The crispy off the griddle cheeseburger and hand-cut fries star at this family friendly stop and will keep you coming back. The casual atmosphere will have everyone feeling right at home. The options are endless for whatever dining mood you are in. Grilled Tuna Steak sandwhich to a loaded foot long hotdog to the crispy chicken tender salad. Buffalo Grill does not disappoint. Fast and friendly staff. Very affordable prices!

Open daily. 11 am - close Sunday Brunch. 11 am to 2 pm 3610 Kavanaugh Blvd.

501-663-1464

Shackleford & Hermitage Rd. (501) 312-2748

Sharing good things with good friends is the motto at Fantastic China. A Central Arkansas favorite offering the Freshest Chinese Food in town. It’s made to order with 100% Vegetable Oil. The presentation is beautiful, the menu distinctive, and the service perfect. Fantastic China is one of the heights most reliable and satisfying restaurants and a local favorite. Full bar.

Voted Best Mexican 2007. Featuring authentic fare from the Puebla region of Mexico, the selections seem endless at your choice of 3 locations in the Little Rock area. You will find an array of dishes ranging from the salient Shrimp Veracruzana at La Palapa out west to great Guacamole in the River Market Taqueria. Or try tasty Tostadas that share the name of the original Cantrell location, Casa Manana.

Indulge in the culinary creations and intimate environment that define Capers Restaurant. Food and wine enthusiasts agree Capers’ sophisticated approach to dining is key to it’s many accolades including receiving the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for six years running.

300 West 3rd Street 501-375-3333

For the salad lover, Dizzy’s is an absolute paradise. Its list of eleven “Ridiculously Large Entrée Salads” runs the gamut of what you can do with greens and dressing. For example Zilpphia’s Persian Lime Salad, featuring grilled turkey breast, tomato, cucumber, onion, lime and buffalo mozzarella over romaine. For another: Mary Ann’s Dream, with grilled chicken breast, baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cranberries, mandarin oranges, bourbon pecans and bleu cheese. Don’t that sound good?

mexican

Capers Restaurant 14502 Cantrell Road 501-868-7600

chinese Fantastic China

Homemade Comfort Food Daily Specials • Monday: Spicy Shrimp Stir-fry. Tuesday: Pot Roast.

Wednesday: Meatloaf. Thursday: BBQ Plate or Shepherd’s Pie. Friday & Saturday: Fried Catfish.

10907 N. Rodney Parham Mon-Sat 10:30am-9pm Breakfast 6-10:30am 501-228-7800

BISTRO

2150 Congo Rd. • Benton from Little Rock to Exit 118 to Congo Rd. Overpass across i-30

Black Angus

Hunka Pie

304 N. Main St. North Little Rock (inside Galaxy Furniture Store) 501-612-4754 Tues-Sat 10am - 6pm www. hunkapie.com www.facebook.com/ hunkapie

323 President Clinton Ave 501-372-8032

Mediterranean Layla’s

9501 N. Rodney Parham 501-227-7272

Enjoy regional specialties such as Lentil soup, a huge serving of yummy Hummus, Baba Ghannnouj or Tabbouleh.

And don’t forget about the Gyros, they’re sure to be heroes in your book!

400 N. Bowman Rd 501-224-0012 1611 Rebsamen Park Rd 501-296-9535 11am-9pm 11am-10pm Friday & Saturday

Brazilian Café Bossa Nova 2701 Kavanaugh Blvd 501-614-6682 Tues-Sat 11am-9pm Sunday Brunch 10:30-2pm

Try something different! Café Bossa Nova serves up cozy atmosphere and unique Brazilian dishes guaranteed to satisfy and served with that special Latin flare. Don’t deny yourself one of the delectable desserts prepared fresh daily or for an A+ apertif, drink in the authentic flavor of the country in the Caipirinha~a perfect blend of lime, sugar and Brazilian sugar cane rum. Dine with them tonight!

brew pub Vino’s Pizza•Pub•Brewery 923 West 7th Street 501/375-VINO (8466)

Beer, pizza and more! Drop in to Vino’s, Little Rock’s Original Brewpub! and enjoy great New York-style pizza (whole or by-the-slice) washed down with your choice of award-winning ales or lagers brewed right on site. Or try a huge calzone, our new Muffaletta sandwich or just a salad and a slice with our homemade root beer. The deck’s always open, you don’t have to dress up and the kids are always welcome (or not).

Vino’s is open 7 days, lunch and dinner. You can call ahead for carry-out and even take a gal. growler of beer to-go. And guess what?? The bathrooms have just been re-done!

42 august 26, 2010 • ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS TIMES

steak Sonny Williams

If you have not been to Sonny Williams lately, get there immediately and check out the martini/wine bar. Now you can enjoy 35 wines by the glass, 335 selections of wine, 6 single barrel bourbons and all different kinds of Scotch from the many regions of Scotland. Of course, don’t miss out on the nightly entertainment by Jeff at the piano. Sonny’s is a River Market mainstay and perfect for intimate private parties; free valet parking! As always, Sonny Williams has the best steaks in town along with fresh seafood and game. No Skinny Steaks… Call ahead for reservations (501) 324-2999

Faded Rose

Featuring the Best Steaks in town with a New Orleans flair from a New Orleans native. Also featuring Seafood and Creole Specialties. As Rachel Ray says “This place is one of my best finds ever.” Back by popular demand…Soft Shell Crab and New Orleans Roast Beef Po-Boys.

500 President Clinton Avenue Suite 100 (In the River Market District) 501-324-2999 DINNER MON - SAT 5:00 - 11:00 pm PIANO BAR TUES - THU 7:00 - 11:00 pm FRI & SAT 7:00 - Late

400 N. Bowman 501-224-3377 1619 Rebsamen 501-663-9734 Open Sunday

REAL ESTATE b

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Enjoy Living on the River at the Statehouse Residences open Sunday

2 pm - 4 pm

The Statehouse Residences are gorgeous, state-of-the-art condos nestled between the Doubletree Hotel and the Old State House Museum. Built above the old Law Library and Law School, they occupy floors 7-12 and are all newly constructed.

The 13 condos, six already sold and completed, offer buyers the unique and distinctive opportunity to enjoy the only luxury living downtown, right on the river.

All the condos have expansive covered terraces on the river side, and many also have terraces on the city side. From the riverside terraces, you feel as if you are on a cruise ship. The river activities are a constant source of entertainment.

Take in the sights as the Arkansas Queen makes multiple daily trips up and down the river, the majestic barge traffic floats by, boaters whiz past and the fireworks explode over Travelers games at Dickey Stephens Park. It’s also a great spot for the massive fireworks shows Memorial Day, Independence Day and New Years Eve. Enjoy the buzz of the city as it comes to life, conducts its day and goes to sleep again all with amazing sunrises and sunsets.

The condos still available for sale are in various stages of completion. One of the most unique features of this opportunity is that the condos are purchased at

the stage the buyer can choose all aspects of their home. These choices are not limited to a few previously selected by the developer. It is a blank canvas upon which you can create your dream condo home.

A few of the amenities of living at The Statehouse Residences include: underground parking with monitored entry/exit 24/7, state-of-the-art security, HUGE covered terraces expanding your square footage with these irresistible outside rooms, an intimate community of only 13 condos, attached access to the Doubletree Hotel and The Robinson Center, a trolley stop directly in front of the Residences, a public boat dock directly behind the Residences, covered access to the Millennium Trail, and walking access to all downtown and River Market District activities.

Don’t miss your opportunity to consider what it might be like to simplify your life and free yourself to come and go with no worries about security or home maintenance. The remaining condos begin at $429,000. Visit the Statehouse Residences this Sunday, August 29, from 2-4 p.m. for a guided tour. These homes are listed with Susan Desselle of the Charlotte John Company. Call Susan today at 501-7727100 for more information or a private tour.

Make your space your own.

The Statehouse Residences from north of the river.

Gorgeous views are here.

Each condo is unique.

www.arktimes.com • August 26, 2010 43

REAL ESTATE by neighborhood TO ADVERTISE, CALL TIFFANY HOLLAND AT 375-2985 Land

DOWNTOWN CONDO

LOTS FOR SALE - Greenbrier.

1/3-1/2 acres starting at $23K. Trees, all utilities. Just 8 miles from Conway. 501-472-5807

Downtown Historic District

$208,000 / LEASE FOR $1200 mo Architectural design • Modern features • 12th Floor Skyline View Featured 4 times in At Home in Arkansas!

Call Gerald White, 680-3640 or Mary Johnson, 952-4318.

Visit www.LRCONDO.com for more pictures & info.

Gold Star Realty

910 WELCH - $95,000. 3BR/2BA w/hardwoods, French doors, fresh paint & sits on 3 lots. Blocks from Presidential Library & Heifer. Jean Noell, CBRPM, 350-3297

Buying Lake Hamilton Condos!

501.664.6629

Isn’t It Time You Lived

The Dream?

Little Rock is nationally recognized as being one of the strongest real estate markets and most stable economies in the country! And now, with interest rates hovering at and below 4%, the time to sell your current home or buy a new home, has never been better.

Don’t let the national media doom and gloom mislead you! Call Susan today for specific feedback on the value of your current home, or great information about what is available in the home market inventory for you right now!

Call Susan Desselle with

The Charlotte John Company at 501-772-7100 today!

Or visit www.SusanSellingLittleRock.com to begin your search now!

Downtown City Center 5 STATEHOUSE PLAZA - New construction building on the east end of the Doubletree Hotel.

Floor-to-ceiling windows provide exceptional views of river, ballpark and area activities. Enjoy the fireworks and River Market activity from spacious 200+ SF terraces. Only 6 left! Call Susan Desselle with the Charlotte John Company at 772-7100 or visit www. SusanSellingLittleRock.com OPEN SUNDAY, 2-4 PM!

Heights

#2 South RD TERRACE $329,500. Updated contemporary on .62 secluded, wooded acres.

3BR/2BA, 3 patios/deck. FSBO 501-663-8094

Hillcrest

Midtown

123 N. SUMMIT - Rare find close to ACH, UAMS, & Hillcrest. 2 BRs and a separate office, 2050 SF. Totally updated including cherry wood laminate flooring throughout, all new plumbing & electrical wiring, new kitchen counters, sink & dishwasher, new tank-less H2’ 0 heater, wired for computer network, audio/video and IR remote, a deck, fenced yard and oversized 2 car garage. A 21X17.6 ft sunroom w/vaulted ceiling, tile floor, water proof walls, lots of windows and sunken Jacuzzi hot tub. Located in Union Depot next to AR School for the Blind. Call Clyde Butler of CBRPM at 240-4300.

Foxcroft 3701 FOXCROFT - $299,900.

3BR/2.5BA, 2600 SF. Updated kit. Wonderful deck, backs up to greenspace. Jean Noell, CBRPM, 350-3297

4101 C ST - $229,000. 3BR/2BA, 1836SF. Recently renovated!

Enter MLS# 10255320 on www.

PulaskiHeightsRealty.com for more photos. John Selva, Pulaski Heights Realty, 993-5442

712 N. WALNUT - $162,500.

2BR/1BA in the heart of Hillcrest. Just 1/2 block of Kavanaugh. Renovated kitchen w/custom maple cabinets, tile floors, solid surface counters.

Enter MLS 10257444 at www.

PulaskiHeightsRealty.com 4214 C STREET - $149,900.

2BR/1BA starter home, 1166 SF. Walk to UAMS or shopping on Kavanaugh. Call John Selva at Pulaski Heights Realty at 501993-5442.

44 August 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

price reduced!

1023 N. POLK - $199,900. 3BR/2BA, 1600 SF. Updated kitchen & bathrooms. New roof, gutters, energy efficient windows & exterior paint.

Large corner lot w/privacy fence.

Hardwoods & plantation blinds throughout. FSBO, 951-9051

2 CAPE COD - $259,900.

4BR/2.5BA, 3250 SF.Traditional home w/wood privacy fence.

Sits on cul-de-sac. Jean Noell, CBRPM, 350-3297

Apartment managers Are first-time home buyers affecting your occupancy levels?

Advertise with Hip Apartment Living. 501.375.2985

REAL ESTATE by neighborhood

Coldwell Banker RPM is proud to welcome back

Jean Noell Call Jean for all your real estate needs! jnoell@cbrpm.com

Publisher’s Notice

4924 HILLCREST AVE - $475,000.

3BR/3BA plus 3-car garage. 2600 SF. Recently renovated home on large corner lot. Call John Selva at Pulaski Heights Realty at 501993-5442.

Pebble Beach/ Pebble Beach Estates

501.350.3297 All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free 1-800-669-9077. The toll-free number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

423 N. VAN BUREN - $174,900.

Over 2700 total SF. Buy now & have renter offset your mortgage payment. Main level is 2BR/2BA, 1500 SF. Upstairs studio rental is approx 550 SF ($525/mo.) Also, has 700+SF walkout basement.

New Paint! Owner is licensed agent. Call John, Pulaski Heights Realty, at 993-5442 for more info.

OPEN SUNDAY, 2-4PM

312 DEL RIO - $189,900.

4BR/3BA, GREAT space buy!

Perfect inlaw/teen quarters. Walk to Catholic or Hall High. Call Susan Desselle of the Charlotte John Company for a private tour. 501772-7100.

Capitol View/ Stiffts Station

Hillcrest

Neighboring Communities 21854 WILLIAM BRANDON DRIVE - $168,500. Enjoy country living on five level acres only 15 minutes from downtown Little Rock! Like-new home with 4BR/2BA, wood-burning fireplace, granite counters, stainless appliances & more! Call Clyde Butler of CBRPM at 501-240-4300.

Conway 31 BERNARD - $149,900.

Sparkles and shines like new!

3BR/2BA, huge living room with cathedral ceiling, oversized breakfast area, wood-burning fireplace, large bedrooms, 2” blinds thruout. Fenced yard. MLS# 10253781 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-730-1100 or 501-679-1103 730 SLOPE - $269,000. New Must See! 4BR/3BA, gameroom, computer area, custom tile shower, granite countertops, wood & tile. MLS# 10251178 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-730-1100 or 501-679-1103.

37 INDIAN SPRINGS $152,000. New construction!

Charming 3BR/2BA home w/ gas fireplace, breakfast bar, tile backsplash, smooth top cooking surface. Jet tub, stained & scored concrete floors. Deck with view. MLS# 10253103 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-730-1100 or 501-6791103 53 WIN MEADOW - $229,900.

A little bit of country with all the modern amenities! 4BR/3BA with large kitchen w/oak cabinetry, double pantry, cook’s dream island, breakfast nook with large windows. Across from 55-acre lake. MLS# 10257940 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-730-1100 or 501-679-1103

Mayflower 10 FREDONIA CT - Beautiful 3BR/2BA home with cathedral ceilings and all the extras homeowners are looking for! Easy interstate access to Conway and Little Rock. Visit www.10FredoniaCourt.com to see additional photos of this beautiful property. Ray Scott, The Charlotte John Company, 501-240-1442

No. 0729

28 VALMONT $169,900.

Fantastic floor plan! 3BR/2BA new home. Large kitchen with hearthroom. Fireplace, beautiful floors and cabinets. Walk kids to school. MLS# 10262566 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501730-1100 or 501-679-1103

Edited by Will shortz

518 CAMBRIDGE PLACE $185,000. Wondeful space buy in Cambridge Place! 3BR/3BA, 2336 SF. Master w/office & balcony. 1BR/1BA on main level. Two FP with gas logs, pool & tennis court. Robert Klein, The Charlotte John Co., 765-8287

Greenbrier

■ CROSSWORD

Pleasant Valley

Across 1 Take in 6 With 55-Down, where to get oysters 9 Big East team 14 Decorative fabric 15 Milk source 16 “Be-Bop-___” 17 Enchanted world in “Return of the Jedi” 18 Golf groundskeepers tools 20 Added conditions 21 Reservoirs 22 Broncos home, once 26 “What did I tell you?”

27 Stopover 28 “Nice!”

29 Prefix with nomial 30 [Snap snap] 31 Unilever soap brand 32 Rural musical instruments

33 Chef s hat 36 Here/there separator 37 “The Basement ___” (1975 Dylan album) 38 Rest on 39 Internet giant 40 Flying Tiger Line hub, for short 41 Mauna ___ 42 Tach measure 43 It came out of Cicero s mouth 44 Rested 47 Place for an N.H.L. logo 51 Roseau is its capital 52 Blue-roofed chain 53 “Keep your eyes open!”

55 Battle of Blue Licks fighter, 1782 56 Showed 57 “Baudolino” novelist 58 Napping

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE Y O G I

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59 River through Glasgow 60 To be, in Baja 61 Moves, briefly

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13 Carrier that had a pioneering transpolar route 19 Get clean 21 Quitting time in Québec, maybe 23 Cow cover 24 Press 25 Whiff 30 Worded 31 Titter in a tweet 32 N.F.L. team with teal jerseys, for short

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33 Rash treatment 34 High-pitched wind

40 “Mi Vida ___,” gritty 1994 drama set in L.A.

46 Plain homes?

48 Flirted (with)

49 Sorceress on the island of Aeaea 42 Like “King Kong” 50 ___ Oro and “Psycho” 36 Some contenders 43 Airplane heading 53 Kind of fly, for short 37 Shout made with 44 See 3-Down a raised arm 54 Up to, quickly 45 Hoopster 39 Fourth of 12 Mourning 55 See 6-Across 35 Bind

For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554.

Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information.

Online subscriptions: Today s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay.

Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

Arkansas times presents PULASKI COUNTY Real Estate sales over $271,000 Edward J. Love, Jacuelyn C. Love to Pete Yuan, Tracy Yuan, 22 Bretagne Cir., $1,175,000.

Nancy H. McKenzie Residence Trust, Leslie M. Santillo to Belinda H. Shults, L29, Canal Pointe, $850,000.

Gretchen Farrell, Craig Farrell to Edward J. Love, Jacquelyn C. Love, 207 Deauville Pl., $835,000.

John Rogers, Angelica Rogers to Betty L. Elrod, L4 B2, Chimney Rock, $725,000.

Cartus Financial Corp to Christopher C. Cooley, Cristy A. Cooley, 32 Bretagne Cir., $680,000.

Pamela Brandon, Ronnie Brandon to Valerie Parlave, Edmund T. Ronan, 18 Sellette Ct., $675,000.

Robert L. Fleming, Douglas Melkovitz to Broadway LLC, 1700 Broadway St., $595,000.

Sharilyn S. Gasaway, Ronald B. Gasaway to Stephen & Deborah Northington Revocable Trust, Deborah A. Northington, Stephen M. Northington, 60 Bellegarde Dr., $565,000.

Troy E. Powell, Louise Powell to Rodney E. Hawkins, Tamara N. Hawkins, 14 Courts Dr., $530,000.

Julie Smith, Julie Buford to Eugene S. Harris Revocable Trust, Eugene S. Harris, Georgia K. Harris Revocable Trust, Georgia K. Harris, L16, Paschal Heights, $505,000.

Arkansas Riverview Development LLC to Michael D. Desselle, Susan T. Desselle, 5 Statehouse Plaza, $490,000.

Thomas H. George, II, Ruthie George to Stuart M. Irby, Jr., 3917 Valley View Dr., $445,000.

John Brennan, Sara B. Brennan to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, 2108 N. Palm St., $437,030.

One Bank & Trust to Larr y K. H o l l i n g s w o r t h , 3 3 C o u r t s D r. , $430,000.

William T. Jones, Rebecca G. Jones to Kelsey D. Bailey, Chanda L. Bailey, 146 Marseille Dr., Maumelle, $405,000.

Randy Wiggins Company, Inc. to Christopher B. Denham, Carol A. Denham, 2032 Madison Layne Ct., Sherwood, $367,000.

Derek G. Webb, Marla G. Webb to Muassam Siddiqui, Romana Siddiqui, Legal Description Omitted, $359,000.

Max B. Madden, Jacqueline R. Madden to John B. Peace, Pamela J. Peace, 16 Carmel Valley Ln., $359,000.

Jessica W. Howard to Jeb Neel, Kathryn Tucker, 5716 Stonewall Rd., $354,000.

HBH Builders, Inc. to Joe A. Solomon, Miriam W. Solomon, 65 Montagne Ct., $350,000.

Kenneth T. Perkins, Wanda S. Perkins to Joseph G. Bussell, Debra G. Bussell, 15 Durance Dr., $322,000.

Donald R. McElhaney, Rhonda McElhaney to Richard T. Adams, 1916 Oakbrook Dr., Sherwood, $315,000.

Joseph C. Kindy, Aimee E. Kindy to Lucas Lee, Jodi Lee, 4 Durango Cove, Maumelle, $302,000.

Medlock Construction Co., Inc. to Joseph A. Reedy, Jamie L. Reedy, 8423 Wolf Creek Ct., Sherwood, $290,000.

John Wright Construction Co. Inc. to Dianne F. Ackerman, Bret A. Foreman, 12 Bonnard Cove, $289,000.

Paul E. Dussex, Rhoda B. Dussex to Donna R. Cox, 2708 Whitewood Dr., Sherwood, $288,000.

Woodhaven Homes Inc. to Daryl Ireland, Leslie Ireland, 210 Corondelet Ln., Maumelle, $283,000.

Jack H. Showers, Linda D. Williams to Matthew Taylor, Shannon Taylor, 13518 Saddle Hill Dr., $280,000.

Traci H. Willis, Tim W. Willis to Gregory Browning, Dana Browning, 166 Orleans Dr., Maumelle, $271,000. www.arktimes.com • august 26, www.arktimes.com • August 26,2010 2010 45 45

Lies & Others n The old cauldron-tender we called Mimmy was given to outlandish allegations, but if you challenged her on any of them, she’d take offense: “Well, I guess I’m just a damn liar, then,” she’d huff. And you’d best not agree with her about that — because then she’d really take offense.

It’s how liars get away with it. They make it your fault.

A poll last week showed that a large number of you morons believe the president is some other religion besides Christian. Muslim, Hindoo, Wiccan or some such. One of those Others that are tolerated here, sometimes.

That’s a lie about the president, of course, acknowledged as such by just about everyone in the lie-acknowledgment business. So how, the Associated Press wondered, could a known lie gain such currency — so many subscribers?

Are there that many dupes and wannabe dupes out there?

Well, yes, there are. But that’s not the whole story here. Lots of people who don’t believe a lie about someone they dislike will say they believe it just in the hope of influencing hanging-back nitwits to join their liar ranks. The Clinton impeachment was based on this strategy. Whatever’s required to “take our country back” — lies, truthiness, coup-plotting, pitchforks,

Bob L ancaster

grease. The right combination will find itself or it won’t. The plan will come together or it won’t.

Another part of the renascent lying liars story is this: people like believing lies. One reason we like it is because it can contribute to our self-confidence. We hear the lie and say to ourselves, “Yeah, that’s just about how I had it figured.” Then we can give ourselves credit as shrewd, prescient rascals, hard to fool. And if the lie is too prominently unmasked that we can’t pretend to have been asleep or on vacation or in the crapper, we can say, “Well, OK, it’s a lie, what difference does that make?”

Another reason we like believing that we believe lies that we really don’t is that they are generally more interesting than the truth. Nobody wants to go to the trouble of making up and spreading a dull lie. If it’s going to be dull, you might as well just go ahead and tell the truth — and give yourself some self-esteem-boosting credit for that.

If it’s a dull lie, you run the risk of liar’s

C

guilt or liar’s remorse for having indulged or propagated it, or if you’re beyond the reach of such common decencies, you still might suffer self-reproof for having squandered your lie capital on such a dud.

A lurid, dripping whopper wouldn’t have cost you a penny more.

Lies are more festive, more entertaining because there aren’t burdensome limitations on them. Since the basic part is just made up, you might as well sensationalize the rest of it. Plus, the dull lie won’t lure feebs; you need the bolder lie for that, psychedelic if you can make it so, preferably one involving a conspiracy, the vaster the better.

The truth has only one purpose — to somehow anyhow get itself expressed — but a lie can have any number of excuses.

There’s the self-serving lie: “I am not a crook” and “I did not have sex with that woman” and “Mission accomplished” and “Why, heck no, governor, if you grant me clemency I wouldn’t even think about going out and killing a bunch of old ladies or policemen.”

There are lies you tell children: “This’ll hurt me more than it does you” and “Good job!” And lies just for old-timers: “No, Momma, we’re not putting you in the nursing home; we’re just going to visit.”

There are lies to buy time: “Your power will be restored by 8:45 this evening” and “I’m putting that in the mail even as we speak.” And lies of desperation: “Rover

S

LASSIFIED LASSIFIED

Immigrant Rights Advocate American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas

The ACLU of Arkansas, an org. that defends & promotes civil rights & civil liberties, seeks immigrant rights advocate. Job: facilitate Immigrants’ Rights Network, foster communication among law enforcement, public, groups & media, use advocacy & education regarding civil liberties violations, conduct rights training sessions, & create reports.

Req’d: Bilingual Spanish/English, 3 years community organizing experience or equivalent, group facilitation & coalition building skills, experience with immigration, human rights, social justice issues, or immigrant communities, computer proficiency, excellent writing and speaking skills.

Hired by/report to Exec. Dir. Benefits included.

Send cover letter, resume, 2 writing samples, salary requirements, & 3 references to: IRA Position, ACLU of Arkansas, 904 W. 2nd St., Little Rock, AR 72201.

Applications accepted until pos. filled, but not before 9/7/10.

ACLU-AR is an EEO/AA employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and sexual minorities to apply.

Write or see website for full job description - no e-mails or calls please say how you learned of the job. august 26, 2010 • aRKaNsas tIMEs 46August 26, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES 46

$$$HELP WANTED$$$ Extra Income! Assembling CD cases from Home! No Experience Necessary!

Call our Live Operators Now! 1-800405-7619 EXT 2450 http://www. easywork-greatpay.com (AAN CAN)

Couch for sale. Beautiful stainresistant ultra suede sectional, 4 piece. Purchased at Cantoni in Dallas for $3,200. Barely used, asking $2,000. call 501-607-3100 can send pictures upon request.

MOVIE EXTRAS earn up to $150/ day to stand in backgrounds of major film. Experience not required.

CALL NOW! 1-888-664-4621 (AAN CAN)

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Education HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Graduate in just 4 weeks!! FREE Brochure.

Call NOW! 1-800-532-6546 Ext. 97 http://www.continentalacademy. com (AAN CAN)

LOCAL TANKER Drivers Needed immediately in your area. New Division.

Must live within 30 mile radius of NLR. $700/wk for 40 hour week + $10/ hr OT pay. Home daily.

Top of the line equipment and benefits.

Class A CDL and 23 yrs old.

Maverick Transportation 1-800-289-1100 CALL TODAY! www.drivemaverick.com

DATING SERVICE. Long-Term/ Short-Term Relationships, FREE-2TRY! 1-877-722-0087 Exchange/ Browse Personal Messages 1-866362-1311. Live adult casual conversations 1-877-599-8753 Meet on chat-lines. Local Singles 1-888869-0491 (18+) New!! Talk Live!!

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Health & Wellness VIAGRA 100 MG and CIALIS 20 mg!!! 40 pills + 4 free for only $99 #1 Male Enhancement, Discreet Shipping $save $500 BUY THE BLUE PILL NOW!!! 1-800-558-1272

Adoption & Adoption Services adoring couple longing to adopt newborn. Promising to give a secure life of unconditional & endless love. Linda & Sal 1-800-595-4919 expenses paid.

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Metrology Lab • Quality Assurance Inspector • Quality Engineer Quality Test Technician • Reliability Engineer • Technician I-Engineering

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Adoption & Adoption Services PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Talk with caring agency specializing in matching Birthmothers with Families nationwide. LIVING EXPENSES PAID. Call 24/7 Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions 866-413-6293 (Void in Illinois)

Legal Notices PUBLICATION OF HEARING-St. Joseph COUNTY. TO: Jollen ReardonRichardson IN THE MATTER OF: Jeremiah Richardson (12/13/04).

Kenya Richardson (9/27/07).

Keaton Richardson (9/16/08) A hearing regarding Adjudicatory Trial on Petition (Child Protective Proceedings) will be conducted by the court on _September 29-2010_ at 1 :00 p.m. in St. Joseph County.

Circuit Court -Family Division. 125 W. Main St. Centreville MI 49032 before Judge Thomas E. Shumaker IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Jollen Reardon-Richardson personally appear before the court at the time and place stated above. This hearing may result in the termination of your parental rights to above named minor children

Real Estate For sale by owner. land/home $250 deposit negotiable. call today 501-407-9522.

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Employment

ate my theme paper on Beowulf” and “I swear, officer, before I shot him I would’ve swore that mail carrier was a buck deer. I even seen horns.”

There are lies to comfort the bereaved — on the obit page every day. And lies that attempt to deny the obvious: “ This isn’t about the money” and “I’m the real victim here.” Egregious, laughable lies you won’t hear except at a political speaking: “I’m just so happy to be with you tonight here in Gould.”

There are lies of outright flattery: “The new hairpiece looks really great.” Earnest lies: “Whatever’s mine is yours.” And sardonic ones: “Aw, yeah, I could sit here all day listening to you brag on your grandchildren.”

There are lies to cover arses, like the ones about Saddam’s WMDs, and lies to gull rubes with, like Bro. Copeland’s prosperity-gospel lies. Lies and more lies.

Lies, damned lies, statistics.

Some of these are benign enough, even well-intentioned, meant to cushion harsh truths or to evade them. That’s not to pardon them or grant them respectability, but they lack the toxicity of this 2010 batch of lies — the nastiest since the tail-gunner kept the dossier. These cutting-edge lying liars have no interest in even the pretense of fair ‘n’ balanced lying. All they ask of the lies that audition for them is that they punish somebody. Gratuitously is OK. Maybe even preferable.

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Has been in climate controlled storage. Stain resistant, twotone taupe suede. I orginally paid $3200. Comes with four black suede pillows. asking $2,000. Call 501-607-3100

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The YMCA of Metropolitan Little Rock is accepting applications for the 2010 Fall Soccer Program. The program better known as the Westside

Futbol Association is designed as a recreational and instructional league for children ages four through 18.

Prices are competitive and financial assistance is available.

The Little Rock YMCA was founded on April 22nd, 1885 by a group of men spurred on by Colonel Logan Root. They wanted to make their community a better place for young men in need of direction. While they probably never imagined that one day people of all ages, races, and faiths would swim, play basketball (a sport which wasn’t invented until 1891), or exercise together in fellowship through programs that their organization developed. Today, the YMCA develops our community’s youth, encourages healthy living, and fosters social responsibility through a variety of programs like childcare, swim lessons, fitness classes, sports leagues, and family programs.

The YMCA sponsors youth sports because it is our philosophy that participating in team sports helps kids become not only better players, but better people as well. We encourage fair play, positive competition and family involvement.

Goals for children participating in the YMCA soccer program, Westside Futbol Association are to increase self esteem, teach social skills, teach physical skills, develop responsibility, appreciate diversity and to develop a healthy attitude toward physical activity and competition. Statistics show that youth that participate in organized team sports have enhanced decision making skills, better coordination, are more cooperative and excel at goal setting and leadership.

To learn more about the YMCA of Metropolitan Little Rock or to register for the 2010 fall season of the Westside Futbol Association visit our website at www.ymcalr.org or contact Jeremy Bernard at 501-227-8343.

Arkansas Times • August 26, 2010 47

Great checking plus a free gift Open a Metropolitan personal checking account with direct deposit and receive a George Foreman Champ™ Grill as our gift to you!

Visit any nearby and neighborly Metropolitan location to open your checking account and receive your free gift.

866-79METRO • metbank.com

Limited-time offer. While supplies last. Certain restrictions apply. See bank for details.

MNB 0810 006 Grill_10x12.75.indd 1

Member FDIC

8/20/10 2:36:20 PM