Arkansas Times - April 30, 2015 by Arkansas Times

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VAULTING TO THE TOP

Meet the 21st class of Academic All-Stars, including Olympic hopeful Lexi Weeks of Cabot High School

I knew Tech was close to home, but I didn’t know it would feel like home.

Shannon Roberts, Senior, Psychology Major at Baswell Techionery

Arkansas Tech becomes a home away from home for students near and far. We offer all five of the most sought-after degrees, and we’ve added more than 50 new programs of study in the past two decades. Tech is committed to providing the highest quality education and the best overall experience for our students. It’s just one of the many reasons more than 11,000 students choose Tech. With Greek Life, campus recreation and plenty of student activities available on campus, you’re sure to find your place at Tech. Take a tour of campus and discover what you don’t know about Tech. Get started at discover.atu.edu. 2

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

15-323-344 Academic All Stars - Shannon.indd 1

4/28/15 9:09 AM

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APRIL 30, 2015

COMMENT

Clean streets, lower crime rate The crime rate in Little Rock is higher than it has been in decades and our city is now the 64th top performer in violent crime in the U.S. An average Little Rock citizen has a 1 in 13 chance of being a victim of a theft crime and a 1 in 72 chance of being a victim of a violent crime. Hope is not lost for Little Rock, however, for other cities have faced the same problem. For example, New York City reported a 51 percent decrease of theft and a 72 percent decrease in violent crimes by using a version of the Broken Windows theory. The theory claims that if an area is rundown then it will appear to be lawless and attract negative activity. If Little Rock cleaned up of these rundown areas, then there would be no attraction for the lawless, and in response Little Rock’s crime rate would drop significantly. Another result of cleaner streets would be an increase in tourism, spiking the economy of Little Rock and the profits of the small business owners. Not only would the crime rate drop, but all of Little Rock would reap the benefits of cleaner streets. John Redding Little Rock

Eureka Springs

From the web In response to the Times’ April 23 cover story, “What will Eureka do?”: First, I must thank Stephen King for allowing David free access to your literary channeling service and for only requiring a small plug for “The Shining” in payment. In other words: Wonderful introduction to your insightful article, Mr. Koon! A hook such as this is sometimes necessary in order to lure a Philis-

tine like myself to read an educational piece. I’m now much more informed about the current controversy up in Eureka Springs. It’s also left me grinning like a skeleton at the wheel of a wrecked Packard at the bottom of a hidden ravine somewhere in the Ozark Mountains. Olphart Good thing the legislative session is over. Otherwise, the bigot brigade led by Sen. Bart Hester and Rep. Bob Ballinger would be trying to pass a bill banning Bruce Jenner from com-

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Against 2223 I am not at all surprised that the group supporting [Eureka Springs’ equal rights] Ordinance 2223 has had to dig 40 years into a man’s history to come up with a talking point. Please note: They are not sticking to the facts. Fact 1: that this ordinance was pushed through at the end of the city council meeting without a fair hearing or time for rebuttal. Fact 2: that state law prohibits cities from passing an ordinance having to do with discrimination. That is under the purview of the state of Arkansas. They know the law is unenforceable and I would further submit to you that they know they don’t have a leg to stand on, so they have engaged in the typical political ploy: completely change the subject so people will stop looking directly at the issue and instead engage in “ain’t it awful.” This group of people’s true agenda is to divide our city into “us” and “them,” which is the basic goal of most government offices. Keep raising a ruckus and not look at the facts. As for Mr. Turner, he needs no defending. If you have to dig 40 years into a man’s past to come up with some “dirt” on him, that probably means for the last 40 years he’s been doing just fine. Your paper has served the troublemakers as a divisive tool, which was their goal in the first place. Pamela Stewart 4

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

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ing to Arkansas. Small minds from wide gaps in the road trying to tell the rest of us how to live. How about a vote to ban these two from Eureka Springs and Fayetteville? philbilly In response to “A child beaten, slain despite red flags” (April 23): As a former caseworker this article is hard to read. Caseworkers are not psychic. They have to process investigations with the information available to them. An investigation entails meeting with the reporter, meeting with the child and meeting with the alleged offenders. The investigators see the home. If the worker and their supervisor could not find a reason to substantiate the allegations, then DHS is out of their lives. In some cases they can open what is called a supportive service case where they think the family could benefit from services. If an investigation was properly done and there was an unsubstantiated finding, then DHS is not culpable. Did the investigator search for the parents’ names? I do not know. Were there issues with the system not picking up the previous cases? I do not know. The simple fact is this: Caseworkers are underpaid, overworked and have a very high turnover/ burn-out rate. Caseworkers take the brunt of the abuse from the parents, kids, foster parents, judges and the system in general. We need less blaming DHS and more overhauling the system so cases don’t fall through the cracks and children and families can get the services they need. oneofthemdamnlesbians Once a person has had a child removed from his or her custody for abuse, especially six confirmed physical and sexual abuse reports, then part of the punishment immediately should be to tie their tubes or give them a vasectomy. I know someone above said people can change, however, this man abused two sets of children and was allowed to have more babies in order to abuse them. Totally disgusting. Children need advocates. If people can’t be good parents, then I don’t think they should physically be capable of producing children. This is ridiculous. We are in the same state and the system failed. As the older son said, so much could have been done. We have an overpopulation problem on this earth. The last thing we need is more deviant people reproducing. thetruthhurts

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APRIL 30, 2015

EYE ON ARKANSAS

WEEK THAT WAS

Quote of the week 1

BRIAN CHILSON

“We are moving rapidly toward the criminalization of Christianity.” — Mike Huckabee on a conference call with pastors last week, laying out what he believes is at stake in the same-sex marriage question now before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Quote of the week 2

“Based on recent events, I don’t know if I could win again down there.” — Bill Clinton in a post-speech Q&A session at Georgetown University last week, laying out the reality of Democrats’ near-term prospects in an Arkansas more likely to embrace the rhetoric of Huckabee in 2016 than Hillary Clinton.

Core values

Speaking of Huckabee, he’s been adding staff in preparation for an expected May 5 announcement of his presidential bid. Among his advisors: Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin. Griffin evidently will be a volunteer (for now, at least — no word on whether his work will remain unpaid as the race heats up later in the year) but his advisory role with Huckabee raises an interesting question about Griffin’s chairing of a gubernatorial task force on the future of Common Core education standards in Arkansas. Huckabee, once a proponent of the standards, has now declared them to be “a good idea gone bad.”

Marching on the River Valley

Over the weekend, a Tea Party-sponsored rally against same-sex marriage in downtown Russellville was dwarfed 6

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

A NEW TRIAL: After 14 years on death row, Tim Howard confers with his attorneys on Tuesday at the Little River County Courthouse in Ashdown during the second day of his retrial for murdering a man and a woman in Little River County in 1997. The presiding judge, Circuit Judge Charles Yeargan, granted the new trial in October 2013 after finding that the prosecutor in the original trial failed to disclose potentially exculpatory evidence.

by a counter-protest of LGBT equality supporters, including a number of students from Arkansas Tech University. A reporter from the Russellville Courier on the scene estimated there were perhaps 30 on the anti-equality side, compared to around 200 rallying in support of same-sex marriage. Beautiful.

Hogs v. Buffalo

The Buffalo River got two pieces of good news last week. First, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he supported a continuation of a 180-day moratorium on issuing permits to new medium-tolarge-scale animal feeding operations in the river’s watershed. That won’t affect C&H Hog Farms, the operation which sparked the controversy, as it already has such a permit. But on Friday, the U.S. Justice Department said it would drop its appeal of a federal court’s suspension of loan guarantees to C&H, which effectively means a new environmental assessment must be conducted on the impact of the farm within the year.

Purple, gold and red

Public colleges in Louisiana are preparing for a drop in state funding of up to

82 percent as the state legislature there faces a $600 million shortfall in spending for higher education. That’s led LSU to begin drafting plans for declaring “financial exigency,” which is basically a form of bankruptcy, if lawmakers can’t patch the hole in the state budget. Bobby Jindal: Now that’s the guy we need for president.

by which an Entergy Arkansas customer can expect to see electricity rates rise, as compared to last year. 10.2 percent — The return on equity (i.e., profit) Entergy is seeking as part of the rate increase, a big jump from its current return on equity of 9.5 percent. The company says 10.2 percent is consistent with other utilities.

Entergy rate increase, by the numbers

Entergy Arkansas asked the state Public Service Commission for a major annual electric rate increase to pay for system improvements and a new gas-fired plant near El Dorado. That’s not categorically wrong, but let’s remember this particular hike the next time Arkansas power companies (joined by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge) express their outrage at federal carbon pollution limits. EPA rules will increase rates for your customers, you say? Well, so will your decision to bump up your profit margin. $167 million — The total size of the annual rate increase requested by Entergy. 70,000 — The number of Entergy customers in the state. 13 percent — The average amount

Tragedy in Nepal

The death toll from the earthquake near Kathmandu, Nepal, was 4,600 and rising as the Times went to press Tuesday. One of the thousands lost was Google executive Dan Fredinburg, an Arkansas native and a 1999 graduate of the Arkansas School of Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts in Hot Springs. Fredinburg was climbing Mount Everest when the quake struck, triggering a deadly avalanche.

OPINION

Asa’s talk is cheap

ome comments by Republican candidates and elected officials about the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court will upend all state laws banning same-sex marriage: Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, who’ll announce for president May 5 in Hope: “We are moving rapidly toward the criminalization of Christianity.” U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, another presidential candidate: “There is no room for Christians in today’s Democratic Party.” Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, on “Meet the Press”: He said he opposed same-sex marriage, but added, “… I also recognize if we talk about this issue we need to talk about it in terms of tolerance, we need to talk about it in terms of nondiscriminatory policy, the diversity of the work place.” Question: Identify the substantive differences between the three men on equal rights for gay people. Answer: None.

Political distinction: Asa Hutchinson seems so much nicer about his belief in legal discrimination. But MAX the result is more BRANTLEY dangerous. You can maxbrantley@arktimes.com be falsely lulled, as the national press has been, into believing Hutchinson is a moderate. This serves him well. The coverage of his appearance emphasized that word “tolerance,” not the bruising reality of Arkansas, one of a baker’s dozen of marriage equality holdout states. Consider. Hutchinson supports: • Arkansas’s ban on same-sex marriage. • Flouting of the full faith and credit aspect of the U.S. Constitution, which says that legal acts in one state (marriage of a cousin, for example) are also legal in states with different standards. Legally married same-sex cou-

Christian soldier

hen he announces next week that he is again running for president, Mike Huckabee will tap into one of the world’s great traditions of political combat: religious fear. Huckabee’s problem is that it is not an American tradition — Europe and the Middle East have been its fertile soil — and it will not carry him to the presidency. An Iowa caucus victory could be in the works for Arkansas’s former governor, but not the presidency, for which we will have cause to thank the founders, particularly Thomas Jefferson. In Iowa and other forums, Huckabee said there was an undeclared war on Christianity in the United States and that the goal of the warriors, obviously led by President Obama, was to make it a crime in America to be a Christian. It will be President Huckabee’s task to beat back the infidels before they can pass such a law. This is the wildest charge of the young presidential season and it is a giant challenge to the rhetorical excesses of Huckabee’s rivals for the evangelical vote in the Republican primaries: Ted Cruz, Scott Walker and Marco Rubio.

“I think it’s fair to say that Christian convictions are under attack as never before,” ERNEST Huckabee told DUMAS pastors in a conference call preparatory to his presidential announcement. “We are moving rapidly toward the criminalization of Christianity.” He had accused Obama of ordering military chaplains to toss their Bibles, not to pray in Jesus’ name and not to counsel soldiers on sexual morality, something he apparently picked up from the Moonie newspaper. Huckabee urged Americans not to enter military service until he or another good Christian becomes president. Huckabee says the Affordable Care Act, which offers health insurance to people with low incomes, and gay marriage are part of the war on Christianity, and last week he urged people to beg God not to let the Supreme Court legalize samesex unions.

ples are denied marital benefits by hard toil. Hutchinson’s administration. Many truly loved their family retainers. • State law that legalizes discrimina- They shed real tears at their passing. But tion against gay people in employ- worship with them? Imagine marriage of ment, housing and public accom- each other’s children? Help them register modation. to vote? Tolerance had its limits. • A state law to prevent cities and I was assured by a supporter of counties from protecting gay people Hutchinson — when I remarked on the from discrimination. (Yes, I know, he emptiness of his tolerance talk — that didn’t sign it. He didn’t veto it, either, “my people” would be a lot worse off with and he didn’t ask legislators to pull another Republican in charge. it down.) Overlook the “us” and “them” con• A state “religious freedom” law to struct from a follower of a party that likes give religious cover to people who to claim tolerance. Consider instead: Does want to discriminate. explicit rejection of your equal worth hurt • State employment policy that per- any less when it is delivered with a smile mits discrimination against gay peo- and a pat on the back? ple. Hutchinson refuses to issue an Politically, of course, Hutchinson’s disexecutive order to the contrary. ingenuous spin (including his use of his culturally evolved son Seth as a sympathy This is tolerance? shield) serves him well. It is tolerance of the sort that I saw in Maybe I’m too harsh. Maybe we’re the South in the 1960s. Cultured South- seeing a Hutchinson evolving from his erners of a certain class would never Bob Jones U. roots. Maybe someday he’ll utter the coarsest racial epithet. No, they appoint a gay person to the state Board of referred instead in gentle, patronizing Education, as Gov. Mike Beebe did. And, tones, to “the Nigras.” They didn’t beat when the Family Council again objects black people (though they knew people in hate group fashion, he’ll refer them who did). But they believed they were to a relevant Bible passage about brothdoing something akin to noble charity erly love. by paying a pittance for washing, iron“Go to hell,” would be more satisfying, babysitting, lawn mowing and other ing. But we must talk tolerantly, right?

As for Huckabee’s hostility to gays, and 17th centuries with carryovers to whom God in the Book of Leviticus modern times in Northern Ireland and ordered be killed, he might recall precincts in Eastern Europe — than to President Lincoln’s musings about the ancient Islamic and tribal splits along Southern preachers in Lincoln’s day who the southern Mediterranean. called attention to the Bible’s admiration As it happens, when I read about of slavery. How strange, Lincoln said, Huckabee’s call to arms last week I was that Christians would “dare ask a just in Avignon and Arles in southern France, God’s assistance in wringing their bread although on a culinary and sightseeing expedition rather than a search for my from the sweat of other men’s faces.” Huckabee, Cruz and their rivals are spiritual roots. My brother, the historian, not the first political leaders to arouse sent an email urging a drive over to the religious fears or stoke hostility to gain alpine village of Antraigues-sur-Volane, power. They account for much of the where our ninth great-grandfather, history of the Middle East, where the Jerome Dumas, was born before the struggle for power since 632 A.D. has, family fled west to England and thence in the name of their faiths, incited war to America to escape the persecution of between the competing claimants for Huguenots after the Reformation. the Prophet Muhammad’s legacy or Up to 4 million people died in the between other religious faiths. Under religious wars of central Europe, and Obama as with his predecessors, the none suffered more than the Huguenots, United States keeps getting sucked into whom the French throne and nobility and the wars, primarily to kill or subdue the the pope considered infidels who were radical components of the Sunni sect like undermining Christianity. al Qaeda, the Taliban and the Islamic From your history text or the movies State but occasionally the opposing Shia (notably, D.W. Griffith’s 1916 film believers, which we are currently battling “Intolerance”), you may remember the in Syria and Yemen through surrogates. St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572, The alarums of Huckabee and other the height of the wars. The massacre modern political warriors for God may followed the attempted assassination owe more to the European tradition — of Gaspard de Coligny, a leader of the the Catholic-Protestant wars of the 16th Huguenots, which was rumored to have CONTINUED ON PAGE 69 www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

Clinton rules return

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s a professional matter, I’ve been halfway dreading Hillary Clinton’s presidential candidacy. The 2016 Democratic nomination appears to be hers for the asking. Democrats enjoy a strong Electoral College advantage. And yet it’s hard to imagine how she can overcome the unrelenting hostility of the Washington media clique. Try to imagine the New York Times and Washington Post teaming up with Fox News impresario Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. on an “expose” of any other politician in Washington. Joe Conason wasn’t exaggerating much when he called it the “Hitler-Stalin Pact” of contemporary journalism. First, the two newspapers agreed to “exclusive” arrangements with one Peter Schweizer, a right-wing operative and author of “Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich.” The book’s publisher is HarperCollins, a NewsCorp subsidiary like Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, New York Post, etc. Basically, we’re in Ann Coulter country here. Schweizer’s not a journalist, but a controversialist for rightwing “think tanks.” A former consultant to Sarah Palin and ghostwriter for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Glenn Beck, he makes his living vilifying Democrats. Media Matters has posted a long list of withdrawn or retracted stories under his byline. Reporters evaluating an earlier Schweizer book the British Sunday Times found that “[f]acts that are checkable do not check out. Individuals credited for supplying information do not exist or cannot be tracked down. Requests to the author for help and clarification result in further confusion and contradiction.” The New York Times, in contrast, praised the fellow’s “meticulous” reporting. All this in service of a front page “blockbuster” by Jo Becker and Mike McIntire insinuating that, as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton sold out the national interest, helping a Russian company to buy uranium mines in Wyoming from a Canadian corporation in exchange

for a few million dollars in donations to the Clinton Foundation, the family’s charitable enterGENE prise. LYONS That and a $500,000 speaking fee awarded by a Moscow bank to the Big Cheese, her husband the former president — a guy who’s been averaging $7.5 million a year making speeches. “Whether the donations played any role in the approval of the uranium deal is unknown” the Times concedes early on. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. The insinuation couldn’t be any clearer than if they’d hinted that Vladimir Putin was Hillary’s lover. The diligent reader must persevere almost to the bottom of the murkily-narrated 4,400-word story to learn that the uranium transaction had to be signed off on by all nine federal agencies comprising the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, that none apparently dissented, and that the State Department’s man on the committee stated “Mrs. Clinton never intervened with me on any C.F.I.U.S. matter.” Oh, and the Wyoming mines aren’t actually in operation, probably because the worldwide price of uranium has fallen following Japan’s Fukishima disaster. The Russians would probably sell them back, cheap. No matter, it’s really all about what the Times calls “the special ethical challenges presented by the Clinton Foundation.” Besides Hillary and Putin, the story’s other suspicious character is Canadian mining executive and philanthropist Frank Giustra. Besides pledging half his income to good works such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative — bringing cheap HIV/AIDS drugs to 9.9 million people in Third World countries — Giustra’s other big sin was supposedly relying on Bill Clinton’s help to negotiate a multinational buyout of uranium mines in Kazakhstan. Giustra has called the Times account arrant nonsense. He even provided a flight manifest to a Forbes CONTINUED ON PAGE 69

APRIL 30, 2015

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APRIL 30, 2015

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ARKANSAS TIMES

he reason college basketball fights desperately to recapture its erstwhile appeal, despite some excellent games in this NCAA tournament and those before it, is multifold. What happened to the Razorbacks’ roster, for instance, is a tacit illustration of many issues coalescing in one hotspot. Michael Qualls was, for the last two seasons, one of the most electrifying players in the region, if not the country. His dunks were prodigious, forceful and in the case of the buzzer-beating and vicious throw he used to beat Kentucky in 2014, utterly memorable and impactful. What might’ve been lost to some is how rapidly the onetime sleeper recruit developed his whole game against that backdrop. After a nondescript but encouraging freshman campaign, he steadily improved his perimeter shot and tuned his defensive aggression properly. Still unsteady as a ball-handler and a bit prone to erratic play, he didn’t take the chance on losing his senior season to injury or sloppy play, and now he’s got a fair shot at being an early secondround pick or, with the right touch at the predraft camps, sneaking into the back end of the first round of the NBA draft in June. Of course, Qualls and fellow Hog Bobby Portis don’t make these decisions in a vacuum. Context is so critical. For Portis, the quintessential kid of an inner-city single parent made good, it’s actually everything. You’ve just won Southeastern Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore, and yet the prevailing belief is that you should return to school to bolster your stock. When you are 19, though, a year might as well seem like a decade, and a difference of a few slots in the draft is pretty negligible even if the money isn’t. Rookie deals are still lucrative even if capped, and Portis undoubtedly felt like those first-round projections, while they could improve, could also tank. There’s also no question that Qualls and Portis borrowed, if subconsciously, from relevant history. Scotty Thurman and Corliss Williamson left Arkansas after their junior years exactly 20 years prior, and two things that weren’t apparent after Arkansas’s 1994 national championship victory did become obvious after the 1995 title game loss. One was that Thurman,

undeniably one of the smoothest pure shooters to wear the uniform, was also a half-step slower BEAU than the model WILCOX two-guard, and not quite the defender that he needed to be. The other was that Williamson’s modest height was going to be viewed, fairly or not, by many execs as a literal and figurative shortcoming. By the time that draft rolled around, Williamson had slipped to the 13th overall pick — in the lottery, but barely — and Thurman’s name never got called. It was beyond dispute that had they left a year earlier, on the heels of a magical title game rather than a dud, they would’ve cashed in considerably. Neither player’s skills diminished from one year to the next, but perceptions changed, and that is almost entirely what a professional sports draft is built upon, to be frank. There are more cautionary tales in the annals of these crapshoots than success stories, because franchises take risks and misfortune is more titillating. Thurman was a commentator for many of these games where Portis and Qualls plied their trades the past couple of years. He knows as well as anyone that you have to seize upon an opportunity when it’s there, because while it may not be the best chance, to the beholder it may appear to be the only chance. It’s certainly frustrating to be a Hog fan who was encouraged by the 27-9 season that just unfolded and excited about an inevitable charmed tale playing out next fall; but, to be fair, if Kentucky can’t get to 40-0 with the cornucopia of talent in its stable, then it’s anything but fair to assume that Arkansas would have gone all that far even with Portis and Qualls in tow. And yet, for all the uncertainty about where Portis could end up or whether Qualls will get selected at all, there’s this: These guys could play overseas for riches if willing, or be practice-squadlevel guys here, and still have financial security they’ve never known before. If college basketball’s quality has suffered as a result of human needs and professional greed coinciding, perhaps it doesn’t strain logic at all.

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Addendum

he Observer has our regrets, just like everybody else. For example: last week, Yours Truly published a cover story on the increasingly ugly fight over Eureka Springs’ Ordinance 2223, which is designed to protect a bunch of groups — including LGBTQ people — from discrimination in housing, employment, accommodations, cake buying, browsing, drinking, gut stuffery, knickknack purchasing, general cavorting, funny postcard mailing and all the other stuff one tends to get up to in the weirdest, friendliest, most magical little town in the Ozarks. Though that story topped 4,000 words (yet another exhibit in The Observer’s growing museum of long-winded tomes), driving to work earlier this week it occurred to us that there was something we should have put in, but didn’t. These things happen, but normally the Way Homers don’t provide such a perfect, missed coda to what you were trying to say. The Saturday night The Observer, Spouse and Junior were in Eureka for the story was prom night. The streets were full of scrubbed, smiling young folks in their tuxes and fancy dresses and uselessly tiny handbags, giggling through rooms, the girls touching their $60 hairdos to make sure they were still there, boys standing feet apart and hands in pockets, grinning that grin one grins when he suspects he looks dashing, the kids smiling up and down stairs and smiling on and off elevators, all of them so young and beautiful. Our room was directly below the ballroom at the Basin Park Hotel, and — as the clerk warned us when we checked in — they pounded our ceiling long into the night with their boogie shoes. Junior asked His Old Man the other day if it’s possible for a life to be as full of as much symbolism and emotion as a novel, and we told him it can, if a person learns to keep his eyes open and to recognize The Important Stuff when it is happening. Some people never quite master that skill. Those folks, in The Observer’s experience, have a bad habit of going to sleep at 25 years old and waking up on their deathbeds.

Given that we were in Eureka Springs to report on how the city has improbably found itself on the knife edge of the culture wars, The Observer had our eyes open, radar dishes out, flaps extended, fingers reaching from time to time to touch the pen and notebook in our pocket, full of scribbled bits of color. The Observer and Spouse were standing in the lobby of the Basin Park Hotel, waiting on the elevator, when the doors opened and out poured a little gaggle of young people, all swirling fabric, white shoulders and burbling excitement. We watched them beam past, out the door and into the limitless possibility of the night. And in that moment, The Observer thought: This is going to be your world someday, my friends. After all us old farts lay down our swords and clubs and head to heaven, where there are no fences to separate the gay folks from the straight, you’re going to own this city, and this state, and this country. And if the polls are right, the vast majority of you don’t give a good goddamn about who is gay or straight. And that is a very, very, very good thing. They pounded our ceiling with their dancing shoes long into the night, Dear Reader. But The Observer slept like a baby. Speaking of LGBTQ issues: For our money, the biggest revelation from the Bruce Jenner interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC wasn’t that Bruce is a woman, but that Bruce is a Republican. Given the GOP’s well known, shall we say, reluctance on gay rights, The Observer can’t quite wrap the ol’ noggin around the idea of a transgender Republican. Horrendously narrow-minded, we know, but our first thought was that it would be something like meeting a cow who dreams of opening a Burger King franchise. That said, Yours Truly is fascinated with all aspects of the great human parade, and would love to talk to an LGBTQ Republican for our annual “LR Confidential” issue. If you are that person or know someone who is: anonymity and zero judgment in exchange for complete honesty. Give us a shout at 501492-3998.

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APRIL 30, 2015

Arkansas Reporter

THE

IN S IDE R

Milligan mess State Treasurer Dennis Milligan, whose public first misstep in office was to hire his first cousin for a $63,000-ayear job, has continued the reduction in force in his office. Milligan was fined by state Attorney General Leslie Rutledge $1,000 for hiring his cousin, Sam Swayze. Then, questions were raised about Milligan’s hiring of Jana Clark, wife of Sen. Alan Clark (R-Lonsdale), at $54,000 a year. Milligan defended her hiring, saying she only worked 20 hours a week and would work only while the legislature was in session. Nepotism on its face, but no consequences for Milligan. Clark left the office in mid-April, Assistant Chief of Staff Grant Wallace said. As of Monday, Milligan suspended his deputy chief of staff, Jason Brady. Brady’s suspension followed a report by John Lyon of Arkansas News that Brady may have campaigned for Milligan during office hours while working for the American Cancer Society, which would be a violation of nonprofit rules. In one email, Brady talked about poll results and remarked that “none of this is good news for Duncan” Baird, Milligan’s opponent in the Republican primary. In another, he talked about the campaign value of Facebook. He also asked to be reimbursed $308.96 for what apparently was a campaign contribution. “Sorry to ask for this, but as you know, for my job security, I can NOT be listed anywhere on a campaign contribution report.” The time on the emails indicated they were sent during working hours. Wallace, Milligan’s assistant chief of staff, also worked for the American Cancer Society, but said he did all his work on a private email account. One of Wallace’s emails was to Brady, noting that there was a receipt attached “showing paid for Dennis Milligan campaign.” Whether it was a receipt made out to Brady or concerning another person is unknown. Milligan, in announcing Brady’s suspension, said “Jason Brady is an experienced and trusted advisor … however, after learning of this situation, I have asked him to take personal leave time from the office until we learn more about this situation.” Also on Monday, Milligan fired longtime political supporter David Singer, whose job was outreach. The office declined to say why. In 2014, Singer had filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission against Milligan’s Democratic opponent, Karen Garcia, about her campaign reporting. The Times’ Arkansas Blog also report-

the Lake Conway water quality project has yet to be worked out with Exxon, but it will be subject to ADEQ review and approval. The agreement also requires Exxon to take additional precautionary measures to prevent future spills on the Pegasus and to enhance its disaster response efforts along the pipeline, including additional training for first responders and the placement of “three caches of spill response supplies and equipment at three strategic locations,” one of which is Mayflower. The portion of the Pegasus running through Arkansas has been shut down since the 2013 spill (a southern leg of the pipeline has been restarted) and it’s not clear when, or if, Exxon will take steps to restart the full line.

Who’s to blame?

FLOODED IN CRUDE: A scene from Mayflower immediately after the pipeline spill.

More lawsuits in the pipeline Despite settlement, ExxonMobil faces further litigation over 2013 Mayflower oil spill. BY BENJAMIN HARDY

ast week, federal and state authorities announced a $5.1 million settlement with two subsidiaries of ExxonMobil over the rupture of the Pegasus pipeline in Mayflower, which occurred just over two years ago. Approval of the consent decree, which is still subject to a 30-day public comment period and review in U.S. district court, would mark the first resolution of a major lawsuit related to the Mayflower spill. However, a number of other suits are still winding their way forward. On March 29, 2013, an underground segment of the Pegasus split apart along a seam in the pipe, sending a small river of diluted bitumen — a heavy Canadian crude oil mixed with large quantities of noxious solvents — down a residential street and into a cove of nearby Lake Conway. The Times, like most media, consistently reported the size of the spill as around 210,000 gallons, which was Exx-

on’s best estimate at the time. Now we have a new, smaller number from the consent decree: 134,000 gallons. That’s significant in part because the federal government assesses penalties on oil spills under the Clean Water Act based on the volume of material discharged. The settlement is between Exxon and the Justice Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Arkansas attorney general for violations of environmental law both on the federal level (the Clean Water Act) and the state level (the Arkansas Water and Air Pollution Control Act and the Arkansas Hazardous Waste Management Act). Exxon will pay $3.19 million in federal civil penalties, $1 million in state civil penalties, $600,000 for a project to improve water quality at Lake Conway and $280,000 to the Arkansas AG’s office for litigation costs. Katherine Benenati, a spokesperson at the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, said that the nature of

One of many things left unresolved by last week’s settlement is the question of culpability. Any pipeline carries some risk of spillage, but should Exxon have been able to tell that the Pegasus was especially susceptible to failure? Did it turn a blind eye to known defects in the 65-year-old pipe itself — specifically, the fact that the pipe’s manufacturer used a welding technique that made the seams in the metal susceptible to the development of dangerous microscopic cracks? Did the company carry out the proper integrity tests before deciding to use the Pegasus to accommodate the southward flow of Canadian oil in 2006? (The pipeline originally transported light, conventional crude oil northward from the Gulf of Mexico.) The consent decree requires Exxon to “henceforth treat the northern segment of the Pegasus Pipeline … as ‘susceptible to longitudinal seam failure’ … for all risk assessment and operational purposes.” And yet, presumably in a concession to the oil company’s desire to minimize its explicit admission of liability, the agreement then states, “This paragraph does not address whether Defendants were required to make such a determination prior to the Mayflower oil spill under existing regulations applicable to the Pegasus Pipeline.” Attorneys for hundreds of Mayflower landowners say that the company most definitely fell down on its job of ensuring the line’s safety. “If they had done in 2010 or 2011 what they are going to be required to do now, it’s possible this problem would have been detected,” said Ross Noland, an attorney for McMath Woods P.A. in Little Rock. MeanCONTINUED ON PAGE 69

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

THE

Inconsequential News Quiz: Lunch Meat Special

PICTURE

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BIG

LISTEN UP

Tune in to the Times’ “Week In Review” podcast each Friday. Available on iTunes & arktimes.com

INSIDER, CONT.

1) In a recent interview with the New York Times, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton admitted a habit that might seem a little weird to some folks. What is it? A) He and his wife eat birthday cake and ice cream almost every day of their lives. B) That thing you do that you hope nobody ever finds out about? He does that, too. C) Picks up homeless people and pays them to ride around with him in his car while he sings along to the 1996 Alvin and the Chipmunks album “Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes.” D) He can only ingest foods thinner than one-quarter of an inch, including saltine crackers, tortillas, thin-sliced bologna, vanilla wafers and unfrosted Pop Tarts. 2) A Kentucky blogger recently noted something strange about the law authorizing the construction of a “historic monument” to the biblical Ten Commandments on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol. What’s the issue? A) Includes a commandment that everybody shut the hell up when NASCAR is on. B) The monument is to be constructed entirely of barbershop hair sweepings, chicken wire and mud from Jason Rapert’s driveway. C) The text to be inscribed on the monument actually includes 11 Commandments, with the commandment against “coveting” split into two distinct prohibitions: coveting thy neighbors’ house and coveting “thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.” D) The law requires that “a harlot, fornicator and/or Philistine” be sacrificed atop the monument on June 1 every year to ensure Yahweh grants the state a bountiful harvest. 3) Last week, an Arkansas man was sentenced in Memphis to six years of probation and in-patient drug treatment after being convicted of doing something in that city that he probably shouldn’t have done. What did he allegedly do? A) Scaled the fence at Graceland and took a picture of himself using The King’s john. B) Asked for a vegan menu at Central BBQ. C) Went to the home of Leigh Anne Tuohy from “The Blind Side” and asked to be adopted, even though he’s not a 6-foot, 4-inch NFL-caliber football phenom willing to play for her alma mater. D) Traded the big rig he was driving — including a refrigerated trailer containing over $50,000 worth of chilled lunch meat — to two men he met at a gas station in exchange for crack cocaine. 4) Recently, Lonoke County sheriffs raided the home of a former police officer who had worked with the local Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, the outreach effort that goes into schools to teach children about the dangers of drugs and drug abuse. What do police say they allegedly found there? A) Dozens of police uniforms with the backs covered in dried spitballs. B) Nancy Reagan, with a frying pan, sizzling an egg that symbolizes your brain on drugs. C) Firearms, over $1,300 in cash, and 26 grams of methamphetamine. D) Compromising photos of McGruff the Crime Dog and Smokey the Bear. 5) Last week, the Little Rock Board of Directors voted to approve a measure that was applauded by many citizens. What did they vote to do? A) Extended anti-discrimination protections to include LGBTQ city employees and required any company that contracts with the city to do the same. B) Coin-operated handgun polishers on every other street corner. C) State Capitol building to be moved to North Little Rock prior to the next infestation by the Arkansas General Assembly. D) Sinks featuring hot water, cold water and craft beer in all city park restrooms.

ed that Milligan’s office hired the son of a staffer to redo the treasurer website and maintain it. Kurt Underwood, who until recently worked with his father and Milligan staffer Gary Underwood at their media company, Pinnacle Communications, has a contract with the treasurer’s office under a new company, JNK Tactical. His contract, for web design and maintenance, is worth $6,000, Wallace, said. Wallace said the office had taken bids and Underwood’s was the lowest. Last December, before Milligan took office, Gary Underwood called the tech vendor who contracted with then-Treasurer Charles Robinson, Magnet Media Solutions, wanting to discuss the company’s contract. He identified himself as an employee of the treasurer’s office. Magnet Media Solutions owner Minell Eberdt declined to immediately give him the information and called her contact at Robinson’s office to see if Gary Underwood was known to the office. He was not. She later wrote a letter assuring the office she would not give anyone but a client access to their account. Gary Underwood has worked before in the Capitol, serving as Mike Huckabee’s director of media operations, a busy outfit that acted as Huckabee’s personal press corps. More on Milligan is in progress. A lawsuit continues over his actions as circuit clerk in Saline County. It reportedly includes a deposition that delves into Milligan’s pressure on Baird to drop out of the race based on Capitol security camera footage that showed Baird and friends exploring the Capitol late at night (and not doing anything untoward). When Milligan apologized for violating nepotism rules by hiring his cousin, he pledged that his administration was going to be “more transparent” than those of his predecessors. In the past couple of weeks, however, Milligan chief of staff Jim Harris (who happens to be Gov. Huckabee’s brother-in-law) sent an email to all staffers directing them to delete all emails after 30 days. It’s a good guess Harris made that decision after getting Freedom of Information requests from Arkansas News Reporer Lyon. Correction: In last week’s cover story, “ ‘Bring it on’,” we mistakenly reported that Sen. Bart Hester lives in Cave City. He lives in Cave Springs. We also mistakenly said the margin by which Fayetteville’s nondiscrimination ordinance was repealed was 12 percent. It was 3 percent.

Answers: A, C, D, C, A

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APRIL 30, 2015

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

ICE PRINCESS: Little Rock Central’s Sherry Gao is headed to Harvard with her gold medals in skating.

BRIAN CHILSON

ARKANSAS TIMES

SCHOLASTIC STANDOUTS M

eet the 20 best and brightest high school students in the state. The class of 2015, our 21st, is full of Olympiccaliber athletes, musicians, quiz bowlers and scientists. There’s rarely a B on the transcripts of these students — in not just this, their senior year, but in any year of their high school careers. Back in 1995, we created the Academic All-Star Team to honor what we called then “the silent majority — the kids who go to school, do their homework (most of it, anyway), graduate and go on to be contributing members of society.” Too often, we argued then, all Arkansans heard about young 14

APRIL 30, 2015

people was how poorly they were faring. Or, when students did get positive attention, it came for athletic achievement. As you read profiles of this year’s All-Stars, it should be abundantly clear that good things are happening in Arkansas schools and that academic achievers deserve to be celebrated. They have busy lives outside school, too, with extracurricular activities, volunteer work, mission activities and more. They’ll be honored this week at a ceremony at UALR with plaques and $250 cash awards. The final deadline for college decisions has not yet arrived. College plans listed are, therefore, not set in stone.

ARKANSAS TIMES

10x

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ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

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APRIL 30, 2015

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ARKANSAS TIMES

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

MAXIM APPLEGATE Age: 18 Hometown: Cabot High school: Cabot High School Parents: Naomi Lalonde and Andrew Applegate College plans: Hendrix College

HALEY BALTZ Age: 17 Hometown: Pocahontas High school: Pocahontas High School Parents: Ely and Ginger Baltz College plans: Baylor University

Bugle boy

axim recently sent an email to the Arkansas Times tooting his own horn: He has won the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship to Hendrix College, a $10,000 award matched by the college for a total of $20,000. Tooting a horn — that is, a trumpet, in the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps — is something Maxim loves to do, and something he says has taught him “important life lessons that I will never forget.” He elaborates in his essay for the Academic All-Stars: “Having to precisely hit 2.5 steps off the 35-yard line, 5.75 steps in front of the front hash on count 6, while playing a complex lick with a crescendo initiated on 2, all while looking tall, strong and professional taught me how detailed and precise I can and need to be with everything I do in life.” Maybe it’s that precision that’s allowed Maxim to do so much: Besides his excellent academic record (33 on the ACT, a GPA of precisely 4.2308, National Merit semifinalist, AP Scholar), Maxim has managed to 16

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

Future M.D. spend summers traveling the country and practicing 12 hours a day for the international-level drum and bugle corps; performing with the Winter Guard International in winter; playing with the high school marching band, the school wind symphony and a jazz band and working as a barista two to five nights a week during the school year. In between those activities, he’s completing his Eagle Scout project — a clothes drive — and teaching trumpet lessons. He has also donned a hazmat suit while working with a church group that was cleaning out a New Orleans house hit by Katrina and closed ever since. At Hendrix, Maxim hopes to double major in music and environmental studies; a conversation he had with a Hendrix professor has got him thinking about “developing cities environmentally.” Let the Times toot Maxim’s horn a bit: From talking to him, we fully expect him to succeed at whatever he chooses to do.

aley Baltz of Pocahontas High School comes from a long line of achievers. “I’ve got a little bit hanging over my head because my mom was valedictorian and all her brothers and sisters were valedictorian,” she said with a laugh. “So I thought, ‘Oh man, I’ve got to kick it in gear or else I’m going to be in trouble.’ ” Kick in gear she has, rising to the rank of No. 1 in her class of 125, with a GPA of 4.2 and an ACT score of 30. With plans to go to medical school after getting her B.A., Haley has already started down that path by volunteering and hosting charity events that highlight her interest in medicine. “One thing I did was host a blood drive,” she said. “I started planning for it last October. They sent me posters and I hung them up and then I called some people who I knew were donors. They sent me a list of donors, and I had 25 to 30 people show up in January.” She has also served as a patient ambassador at St. Bernards Medical Center.

After college at Baylor University, she hopes to become an obstetrician, a goal she aimed for after taking a child development course and attending a program in Jonesboro that helps students decide whether the medical field is right for them. “They talked all about the fetus and how it grows,” she said. “The whole idea of delivering babies into the world is really cool. It’s a big moment in people’s lives when a child is born. When you’re there to help them with it, that’s exciting. You might not get excited about a colonoscopy, but you’ll get super excited when there’s a baby on the way.” She said she plans to come back to Northeast Arkansas after medical school and her residency, to serve the people in the area where she grew up. Haley credits some of her success to her parents, Ely and Ginger, who she said have always encouraged her to excel. “My parents really pushed me when I was little,” she said. “By the time I got to high school, that was already ingrained in my mind: that I wasn’t supposed to settle. I was supposed to be the best.”

ARKANSAS TIMES

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

MyFuture@Work Sarah Brown â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Sherwood Senior Civil and Construction Engineering ma jor Donaghey Scho lar

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APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

GRAYDON CARTER Age: 18 Hometown: Pocahontas High School: Pocahontas High School Parents: Shawn and Melissa Carter College plans: Hendrix College, if not some Ivy League prospects

Another Bill Clinton?

REID BARTHOLOMEW Age: 18 Hometown: Little Rock High School: Pulaski Academy Parents: Dave and Beth Bartholomew College plans: University of Oklahoma

Writing the book

fter considering it for a moment, Reid Bartholomew admits that he is “probably the only major writer on the football team” at Pulaski Academy. Reid has received the Sewanee Book Award, the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association’s Best Short Story award, and was the editor-in-chief of his school’s literary journal, “Veritas.” I really got into writing in my sophomore year,” he says. “I had some teachers who pointed out that I was a good writer. Once I started, I realized that I absolutely loved it and could do whatever I wanted. It was my own world.” His fiction, like that of his foremost influence, C.S. Lewis, is informed by his faith. A “very strong Christian,” Reid plans to become a pastor, and his short stories reflect the intensity of his

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

religious practice. Accordingly, he will major in English. “As a pastor, one of the most important things I’ll have to do is communicate my beliefs to others,” he says. “And writing is all about communicating ideas and beliefs clearly and effectively. Writing sermons will be really easy if I can write a book.” He does plan to write a book, in fact, which will most likely depict a spiritual journey. “A lot of the books they have you read for school are so depressing,” he says. “It always was at odds with my views on life. I’m a very positive person. I believe that there’s meaning in life and that life is inherently good. And so I try to write about things that give hope. Things may suck sometimes; but, in the end, everything’s going to turn out all right.”

oys State? Check. Photo with president? Check. Working to acquire athletic skill (golf ) to be a well-rounded Rhodes scholar candidate. Active in grass-roots Democratic Party politics. With that resume, it shouldn’t surprise you that Pocahontas High’s Graydon Carter admits to a desire for a future in politics. Here. “Arkansas matters a lot to me,” he said. In 2014, he moved from being an intern in the Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign to turn out the vote, to forming a Young Democrat chapter at his high school, to running for presidency of the state YDs. It wasn’t easy. 2014 wasn’t a good year for Democrats in Arkansas. Pocahontas is a conservative place. Flyers sometimes get taken down. Graydon was undeterred. He sees recent Arkansas election results as a backlash to national politicians and believes there’s a growing progressive streak in the state. His teachers think if anybody can make things happen, Graydon can.

Pocahontas High Principal Daniel Goodin says Graydon is an “action person. If he wants something done, he’s going to act on it.” Graydon said his political work at least encouraged a lot of discussion and “brought political issues to the minds of 300 adolescents.” Some of them joined the volunteer effort. Graydon also found time to start a debate club in Pocahontas, which helped hone his political interests. Volunteer work didn’t harm his schoolwork. Graydon is ranked fouth in a class of 124 with a 4.17 gradepoint. He’s a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist. He’s competed in Quiz Bowl and Odyssey of the Mind (leading a Pocahontas team to world competition) and participated in student government and the Key Club. He’s done volunteer work for St. Bernards Medical Center and the local Catholic Church. He led a campaign for anorexia awareness. He’s published poetry. Says Principal Goodin: “He’s continually looking for ways to make Pocahontas a better community.”

ARKANSAS TIMES

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

SHERRY GAO Age: 17 Hometown: Little Rock High school: Little Rock Central High School Parents: Xiang Gao and Li Tong College plans: Harvard University

LAURA DUNNAGAN Age: 18 Hometown: Little Rock High School: Episcopal Collegiate School Parents: Steven Dunnagan and Kim Dunnagan College plans: Undetermined

Skate star

Honorable

ooking ahead, Laura Dunnagan can envision getting a degree in law, with a concentration in immigration law. She seems a perfect fit for such a career: As president of Episcopal’s Honor Council, Laura spends much of her time thinking about right and wrong and what her high school’s Honor Code should look like. “As president,” she said, “I decided that it was time for us to take a critical look at the Honor Code and see what needed to be amended.” Because Episcopal is a relatively new school, she believes the code, while strong, could be expanded. The Honor Council hears allegations of cheating, stealing, lying or plagiarizing, and Laura said she spends an average of one and a half hours doing the work of the Council every week.

The Council’s members — who are chosen for their “personal honor and integrity,” Laura said — determine the outcome, but consequences must be approved by the head of the school. Laura’s other leadership roles are president of the Spanish Club and senior class secretary. Laura is not all about public service: She also has a musical side. Laura plays the piano and, because she wanted to “branch out,” the accordion. She also has an interest in nature: She has gone with Earthwatch to Trinidad to study leatherback sea turtles and help collect eggs. Laura is still deciding between Davidson College, Rice University, Washington University and the University of Arkansas, where she has been offered a Bodenhamer Fellowship.

herry Gao was at the ice rink when she had a phone interview with the Times, because that’s where she is most of the time when she’s not in school. Sherry has been skating ever since she saw the Disney movie “Ice Princess” when she was 8 years old, and wrote this about her “love affair with figure skating” in an essay for the Times, which began: “THUMP. What happened? I fell on my butt. Again.” Gao says skating was a journey, from skating with ease as a little girl, to finding it took more than “pointed toes” to progress as an older skater, and to finally figuring out her “groove,” winning four U.S. Figure Skating gold medals. How? “THUMP. I climb back up, brush myself off and skate on.” In the academic rink, Sherry’s achieved a triple axel of sorts: She’s first in her class, scored a perfect 36 on the ACT and missed a perfect SAT score by only 90 out of 2400 points. She scored a $5,000 Stephens Award for high school seniors and was named a semifinalist in the Presidential Scholars Program as well. The hardest thing Sherry says she’s ever done: Biology at Harvard summer

school. “You think it’s an introductory class and that you already know things, but it’s so much more than that. Just being at Harvard is crazy and surrounded by other people — like a really close classmate who had just graduated from Cornell [University]” and needed the class for medical school. Medical school is probably where Sherry is headed as well. She lives with a doctor — her father is a radiation oncologist — “and I’ve met a few foot doctors in town,” she said. She’s also thinking about teaching. “I’ve had such amazing teachers” at Central, Sherry said. “The one that inspired me the most is my European history teacher, which is crazy because I am 100 percent math and science. I walked in thinking it would be the most boring thing ever and I just loved it — it’s my favorite high school class.” Just like her spins on ice, Sherry is a well-rounded girl, something Harvard likely took into account when it admitted her last fall.

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APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

EMILY GENTLES

DARCY HAGOOD

Age: 18 Hometown: Pearcy High School: Lake Hamilton High School Parents: Darlene and David Gentles College plans: University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

Age: 18 Hometown: Little Rock High school: eStem Public Charter School Parents: Ellen Hammond-Hagood and Doug Hagood College plans: Vassar College

Quantifiably excellent

ou don’t often hear teenagers rave about the delights of statistics, but if you talk to Emily Gentles you’ll want to take a course yourself. She calls statistics “exciting. I get excited thinking about it.” Statistics allow you to “take abstract things and quantify them and analyze them.” There are lots of career options for a statistician, she said, analyzing trends for companies, for example. What might be her next statistical study? To redo a project she did for school, to quantify the difference in the number of females used in ads in male-targeted magazines as opposed to males in ads in femaletargeted magazines. Perhaps if there is something rarer than a teenager wowed by statistics, it’s one who is also a flutist and piccolo player. She says band has been a “con-

stant force” in her young life, and that she worked as hard as she could to gain a seat on the All-Region band and then the All-State band. “I still practice daily,” school day or summer day, she said, and she plans to play in the concert band at the University of Arkansas, where her academic credentials — first in her class at Lake Hamilton — earned her a full ride. But before she’s off to college, Emily will travel to Hanamaki, Japan, as a mentor for students visiting Hot Springs’ sister city. On her return, she’ll head to West Virginia to the National Youth Science Camp, where she’ll study biology and nature. Emily says her motto is to “become the best that I can be. … When I don’t win competitions or get the best grade, I’m still happy with myself because I tried my hardest.”

Mentor and tutor

ommunity service is the thing for Darcy Hagood, who is ranked No. 1 in her senior class of 117 at eStem Charter School in Little Rock, with a GPA of 4.38. A Girl Scout since the second grade, Darcy has achieved the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award, the equivalent of the rank of Eagle Scout. She was the first student in eStem history to take a full schedule of seven AP courses in one year, for which she earned straight As — and she did it as a junior. She has since taken 11 AP courses in all, and has been named an AP Scholar with Distinction. Darcy said the biggest success of her high school career, however, was her establishment of a successful, studentled program that brings high school students from eStem to tutor and mentor in elementary school classrooms. That program will surely endure long after she has graduated. “I really like to learn, and I feel like it’s important for kids to have that — to enjoy learning and to be able to appreciate it,” she said. “I know it’s really hard for lots of kids in middle and elementary

school to engage because of disabilities, because of socioeconomic situations, what have you. I thought it was really important to get somebody who does enjoy learning into those classrooms.” While Darcy hasn’t decided on a career goal yet (in college, she hopes to study neuroscience, linguistics and design, and hopes to make a decision about what she wants to do in life after taking a few classes), her attitude and work ethic ensure that she’ll likely be successful no matter what she does. “It’s been instilled in me since I was very young that just doing enough isn’t going to get you where you want to go. It’s been established in my life that having a strong and very determined work ethic is very important,” she said. “I enjoy the sense of accomplishment when things are done and done well. It’s important for me for anything I do to be done well … I feel like if I were to take on a project or an assignment that isn’t done to that full capacity, it’s not good enough. It deserves better.”

#WolvesUp 20

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

SAMUEL COLE JESTER Age: 18 Hometown: Benton High School: Benton High School Parents: Julie and Terry Jester College plans: Ouachita Baptist University

SAMUEL JOHNSON Age: 17 Hometown: Fayetteville High School: Fayetteville High School Parents: Grace Keegan Johnson and Floyd Johnson College plans: University of Arkansas

Pure energy

hen others on this list head to Ivy League schools this fall, Cole Jester plans to travel just 45 minutes away from home to attend college in Arkadelphia, despite having a GPA and ACT score that stand toe-to-toe with any high school senior in the state. Cole said he chose OBU for a reason. It’s “like home to me,” he said. “It is defined by kindness and mutual community … [and], it has innovative and cutting-edge biblical research and education.” He’ll major in political science and Christian studies, and after finishing his undergraduate education he has plans to enroll simultaneously in law school and seminary. If you haven’t guessed by now, faith is central to Cole’s life. Specifically, he has a passion for service, and his high school career has included volunteering for a community clinic, tutoring younger kids, working with the homeless and participating in mission trips from Little Rock to New York City to Quito, Ecuador. However, he said, “the greatest opportunity of

my life to help others” has been leadership in the Pure Energy Youth Choir at Benton’s First Baptist Church. As president of the 120-member choir, Cole leads practice every week, and he’s also found opportunities to counsel and assist young people dealing with trouble at home. “Many students come in lost and hurting and leave better, happier, stronger people. To many, it is the defining aspect of their high school experience,” he said. Cole’s guidance counselor describes him as “a natural born leader” and “an allaround outstanding young man.” Ranked first in his class academically and voted “most likely to succeed” by his peers, it’s no surprise that Cole contemplates a future in electoral politics as an extension of his desire to do good works. “Men and women just want a kind word and a reason for tomorrow, and I fear more than anything the day I don’t assist in that,” he wrote in his essay to the Times. “It is my, and all’s, duty to assist in building a kinder, gentler life for those we touch.”

on, on, on, to Victory...

Volunteer

amuel Johnson, who moved to Fayetteville from St. Louis, spends most of his free time volunteering for various activities and organizations related to the Catholic Church. He is a member of the Youth Advisory Council for the Diocese of Little Rock, leading prayers and organizing rallies for the church’s interests. He is a regular attendee and participant at the “primarily Catholic” Search Retreat, at which he participates in Christian-themed skits. “One of the most powerful ones,” he explains, “is about the ‘seven deadly vices’ that come and attack a girl, and she goes and joins the devil. And then at the end Jesus protects her from all of them.” He plays a cigarette smoker. Though not a native, he has fallen in love with Fayetteville, his adopted hometown, and has committed to attend the University

of Arkansas, to be close to family and remain in the city he’s grown to admire. “It’s a big enough city that you can have plenty of Walmarts, stores, a mall,” he says, “but it’s not so big that you have to deal with a bunch of traffic or a bunch of violence.” He plans to study business management — with a minor in French; he scored among the top 10 students in the country on the national French exam, and plays French-language trivia games on his phone with his French teacher. After graduating, he says, “I want to do some management level stuff for however many years, then I’m considering retiring early — not full retirement, but instead going into teaching. That way I wouldn’t have to worry about the teacher salary, because it’s not the easiest thing to live on.”

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APRIL 30, 2015

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ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

Computer whiz

BLAKE LARKIN Age: 18 Hometown: Fort Smith High School: Fort Smith Southside High School Parents: G. Keith and Cindy Larkin College plans: Harvey Mudd College

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

he world of the future is sure to be a place that runs on ever-better computing power, and Blake Larkin of Fort Smith plans on helping make that future happen. A senior at Southside High School, Blake has a GPA of 4.2, and scored a near-perfect 35 on the ACT. Involved in scouting since elementary school, he has risen to the rank of Eagle Scout. He’s also a National Merit Scholar and National AP Scholar. Along with captaining his school’s Quiz Bowl team, which he says he loves because it gives him the justification for learning as much as he can about as many subjects as possible, Blake’s passion is computers. He wants to be a computer engineer someday. “I spend a lot of time with computers,” he said. “I have a computer that I built that I spend a lot of time tinkering on, upgrading things. I program things. I love it. I’m excited to be a computer engineer. I want to build stuff to help other people do other stuff.” With computers already an integral part of people’s lives, Blake said that there is enormous potential for good in the field

of computer engineering. “I think computers are a magical box,” he said. “If you can make a better computer, you make a better life for everybody — doesn’t matter what field. Medical, business, whatever. They can already do almost anything. If you can make them do it faster, you just made everybody’s life easier. You just saved people’s lives, you helped people make money, you did everything.” Blake said he chose Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif., because the school stresses a broad curriculum of allaround learning. Asked why he pushes himself so hard to be academically superior, Blake said that if a student refuses to settle for a “good enough” grade, then learning is always an exciting challenge. “Whatever you put into high school, you can always get out. When you move on from high school and go to college, there’s never a point where you can say, ‘Oh, I did all this extra work and that was for nothing,’ ” he said. “If you’re willing to set yourself up to never coast, then working hard always gives you another mountain to climb.”

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www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

CONGRATULATIONS

BLAKE LARKIN We Are So Proud Of You! Love, Mom and Dad

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A H H P C

Sophia Ly ArkTime All-Star ad.pdf

ARKANSAS TIMES

4/21/15

1:26 PM

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

CMY

ASMSA's community of learning celebrates not only Arkansas Times Academic All-Star Sophia Ly but also each member of the Class of 2015. Since the list began in 1995, 24 ASMSA alumni have been honored among the

state’s most promising young leaders. We take great pride in the accomplishments of our alumni who are shining brightly across Arkansas and the world. We cannot wait to see what they accomplish next.

THINH “DAWN” LE Age: 17 Hometown: Benton High School: Benton High School Parents: Hanh Huynh and Thinh Le College Plans: University of Central Arkansas

Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Digital Learning • Residential Experience • Enrichment Programs

Discover who you can become at asmsa.org.

Principles and mathematics

awn Le’s family chose an inconvenient date to emigrate from Vietnam to the United States. “It was two weeks after 9/11,” she said. “I remember, because our flight got postponed.” Dawn was 4 years old and remembers her first few years in Arkansas as being “immersed in an alien world” until she finally began to grasp English. She now speaks the language with no trace of an accent, and since third grade she’s helped her parents make phone calls and schedule appointments. That language barrier, she said, “prepared me to deal with people early on. I know there are kids in high school who still don’t know their Social Security number, but I can talk over the phone with insurance people and the government.” Her transcript shows Dawn can master any academic subject she puts her mind to, but she’s especially passionate about math. “There’s a right and wrong answer, and it’s set. It’s not subjective,” she explained. At UCA, she plans to study number theory and minor in applied math. But she’s developed an

unconventional fallback plan, too: “I’m going to go to cosmetology school at the same time.” Why? “Because I really love cosmetology.” Talk to Dawn for more than a few minutes and you’ll discover she also has a certain tendency toward social advocacy, a dimension of her personality developed by her time at Girls State, Governor’s School and Model UN. “I like voicing my opinion and having it heard,” she said. For example, “I’m an animal rights activist. The mass production of animals for the sole purpose of food — it’s inhumane.” She’s been a vegetarian for four and a half years now. “And HB 1228? Honestly, I think that bill has good intentions, but it’s worded very, very, very wrongly. I support the LGBT community.” One gets the impression that it’s the same streak of nonconformity that would lead a top student with an ACT score of 34 to take night classes in cosmetology that also underlies her bold opinions. “I do well academically to make up for my first years of school, in which I couldn’t even talk,” she said.

#ASMSA

Congratulations DARCY HAGOOD!

e s t e m l r. n e t www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

SOPHIA LY

JOSEPH LIM Age: 18 Hometown: Searcy High School: Searcy High School Parents: Annie Luy and Jayton Lim College Plans: Stanford University

Fishkeeper

he Arkansas Times recently interrupted Joseph Lim from one of the few hobbies his busy schedule allows: fishkeeping. To an ignorant reporter, Joseph offered a precise definition: “Keeping fish and aquatic organisms and making sure they are in situations that fulfill their needs.” The afternoon we called, Joseph was going to great lengths to fulfill the needs of two of his rarer species of fish. To breed pygmy corydoras (small, South American catfish) and gold-ring danios (small, gold fish recently discovered in Myanmar), he was tending to a 100-gallon, aboveground pond he put together in his family’s back yard. He’s starting with three of each species. By the end of the summer he hopes to have 20 of each type of fish. “Keeping them outside is a very good way to condition them for breeding,” Joseph said. “There’s a lot of food for them to feed on. There’s a lot of sunlight for them to be happy in.” What’s happiness mean for Joseph? Variety. 26

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

“Mondays after school this year usually follow this pattern: Exit AP Spanish, head to quiz bowl,” he wrote in an essay for the Times. “Exit quiz bowl, drive to swim practice. Finish swimming, then head home and practice saxophone and piano. End musical practice, and study. I’ve often asked myself why I keep such a busy schedule. The answer is that I like doing everything. Variety is the spice of life, and I like my life extra spicy!” But Joseph is no dilettante. He’s No. 1 in his class, with a 4.22 GPA and an ACT one point shy of perfect. He’s a National Merit finalist, an All-Region band member and a Quiz bowler. In the summer of 2013, he participated in the Harvard Secondary School Program; last summer, he attended Arkansas Governor’s School. Still, he writes that he could have done more. Yet, at the same time, he knows he can only look forward. “The only thing I can do now, is look to the future, and take every opportunity that comes my way.”

Age: 18 Hometown: Jonesboro High School: Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Parents: Phuong Ly and Lynn Chang-Ly College Plans: University of Pennsylvania

Living by shape

n her essay for the Times, Sophia Ly recalled a flash of larger inspiration she found hidden in a teacher’s response when she asked for help studying for an immunology exam. “What he said struck me like lightning,” she wrote. “‘Life lives by shape.’ Those words not only helped me understand how conformational changes initiate each step in the complement cascade, but also taught me how to think differently.” Later, she explained further: “Everyone’s life is shaped differently. Life is a puzzle, and we have different pieces. We can’t just cheat off of other people about where our piece fits.” Speaking of complement cascades, Sophia’s counselor says that she’s the most respected student at the ASMSA by kids and teachers alike. That must be why Sophia is president of the Student Government Association, a position she’s used to successfully lobby the residential school’s administration for changes in student life. Bandwidth issues are a constant problem in a dorm filled with science- and computer-oriented teenagers, so she arranged a student forum with the school’s tech direc-

tors that resulted in an agreement for the ASMSA to buy faster Internet and students to cut back on the personal Netflix use. Sophia also led the SGA in protesting for cafeteria reforms: “Now we have more variety on the sandwich bar and more fresh options,” she said. “And there was this one dish made of leftovers that no one liked and no one ate, so they got rid of it completely. It was called Shipwreck Dinner.” Oh — we almost forgot academics. Sophia, who will major in pre-med, has spent summers studying forensic anthropology at Duke University, bay ecology at Washington College in Maryland, and Mandarin in Zhuhai, China, through a language exchange program sponsored by the U.S. State Department. All but one of her senior classes are in math or science — Genetics, Neurobiology, AP Physics, etc. — and she’s researching how to optimize the uptake of heavy metals by E. coli bacteria in wastewater treatment. She also plays the piano and the ukulele, not to mention basketball. Wherever Sophia goes, our guess is that she’ll solve the puzzle.

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ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

Congratulations to the Catholic High School Class of 2015 (Our 85th Graduating Class)

“Remember the Lord in all that you do, and He will show you the right way.” P rov e r b s 3 : 6



CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS

6300 Father Tribou St., Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 (501) 664-3939 www.lrchs.org www.arktimes.com

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ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

CONGRATULATIONS, EMILY GENTLES on being named an Academic All Star!

Modesty on stage

Academics • Arts • Athletics • Atmosphere

WE DO IT ALL!

Lake Hamilton School District 205 Wolf Street Pearcy AR 71964

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ALAN MAY Age: 17 Hometown: Little Rock High School: Episcopal Collegiate School Parents: Walter and Nancy Bellhouse May College Plans: Yale University

ecently, the New York Times profiled the famed college debating prowess of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who as a Princeton undergrad would abrasively bully his way through contest after contest with aggressive appeals to emotion. Debate seems to have taught Alan May the opposite instinct: to express a measured sense of restraint, selfeffacement and cool reason on every topic. Now a three-year, award-winning veteran of Student Congress, he remembers discovering debate through a 10th-grade oratory class that first delivered nothing but discomfort. “I did a poor job; I just lost my train of thought,” Alan recalled. Then, he slowly found his grip on public speaking. “I started writing down the things I wanted to say, and that helped.” Alan shows a similar mix of persistence and humility about everything from his participation in the Episcopal cross-country team (“I’m not very fast, but I got to like the people on the team”) to his future career plans (“At this point in life, I don’t think I’m qualified to make a decision.”) But his academic record reveals plenty to brag about:

He’s got a GPA of 4.51, he’s aced AP classes on every subject from calculus to Virgil and he’s the captain of the school’s award-winning Quiz Bowl team. He also interned for U.S. District Judge James Moody Jr. last summer and is a National Merit finalist. Alan’s counselor marvels at both his emotional intelligence and his appetite for knowledge, including a list of recent reading materials that includes Edward Gibbon, William Faulkner and Tina Fey. When Alan spoke to the Times, he’d just started on the Federalist Papers, which he described as “literary kale — good for you but not always fun.” Alan himself may not be certain what career path he should take, but his counselor isn’t circumspect: “I concluded that Alan should serve as a United States Supreme Court Justice,” he wrote. So, how about it? “Being a judge would be an interesting career,” Alan responded. “I don’t think I would end up on a really high court.” Sen. Cruz should take some notes.

High-pressure leader

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Age: 17 Hometown: Searcy High School: Searcy High School Parents: Kelly and Wendy Neill College plans: University of Oklahoma

rystal Neill is a leader with experience. For two years, she served as captain of the Searcy High School Quiz Bowl team and drum major of the school’s marching band. As the former, she dictated strategy, including deciding which teammates would play each round and what topics the team would pick when they got the chance to decide. As captain, Crystal writes in her essay for the Times, “I can be a part of something bigger than myself and yet contribute to extending our capabilities.” eanwhile, it took her some time to grow into her stentorian drum major call. “At first, it was difficult to yell at people,” she said. “I’m kind of quiet, so that was interesting. But it’s kind of a different voice that you’re using.” Serving as drum major also means managing at least a half-dozen tasks simultaneously. “I feel like that’s really something that helped me with leadership capabilities and learning how to deal with people, how to motivate people and dealing with conflict,” Crystal said. In both positions, Crystal also led by exam-

ple. As a clarinet player, she was a member of the All-Region band for four years. She sat in the Searcy High band’s first chair for two years. She was a member of the all-tournament Quiz Bowl team for four years, including in 2013, when the Searcy team won a state championship. All the while, she’s excelled academically. She’s a National Merit finalist and an AP Scholar, and she scored a perfect 36 on the ACT and maintained a 4.19 GPA. In the fall, she’ll attend the University of Oklahoma, likely in pursuit of a mathematics degree. Why math? “I love that every problem has an answer, but you can still be creative in how you answer,” Crystal said.

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ALEX O’BRIEN Age: 17 Hometown: Springdale High School: Har-Ber High School Parents: Nancy and Dave O’Brien College plans: University of Arkansas

The calculus of success

eadership and faith are the twin pillars in the life of Springdale’s Alex O’Brien, a National Merit Scholar ranked No. 1 in his class at HarBer High School, with a GPA of 4.25 and a perfect score of 36 on the ACT. A self-professed “math and science guy,” Alex said that he likes the problem-solving aspect of calculus, his interest spurred by the inventive teaching staff at Har-Ber. He will attend the University of Arkansas, which has offered him the prestigious Honors College Fellowship. A saxophone player, he also has been accepted to the Razorback Marching Band. He plans to study engineering at the UA. “I’m leaning towards chemical engineering right now because I want to get involved in the environmental side of industry and try to clean that up a bit,” he said. “But I’m trying to keep an open mind, realizing that once I get involved in the engineering program, I might change my mind.” A member of Crosspoint Community Church in Tontitown, for the past

few summers Alex has volunteered at New Life Ranch, a Christian summer camp in Oklahoma. He became involved in its leadership program in recent years, starting out as manual labor and working his way up. “I went and worked on the landscaping and worked in the kitchen,” he said. “I served the campers and everything else that needed to be done. This past year, I moved on to the second stage, which was working as a day camp counselor.” This summer, he’ll be a counselor-in-training. He plans to continue as a counselor there throughout his college career. That stick-to-it attitude has defined Alex throughout his high school career. He said it came from his sense of competitiveness. “My older brother got involved in sports, and he was very good at that,” he said. “I kind of found my identity in academics and music. Those were the things that I wanted to be the best at. I pushed myself, whether it was easy or not.”

EE ! R F zes pri

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ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

MICHELLE PENG Age: 17 HOMETOWN: Fayetteville HIGH SCHOOL: Fayetteville High School PARENTS: Haiyan Chen and Xiaogang Peng COLLEGE PLANS: Yale University

High flyer

ichelle Peng took flight in describing the month she spent last summer in France, honing language skills she’d begun acquiring in junior high (on top of the Chinese she speaks at home). She was nervous — jumping off a cliff with a paragliding instructor and being dropped into rapid-fire French conversations. Her nervousness faded away. “I realized that I wasn’t in free fall. Just like I had my paraglider wing, I had four years of French to help. … Thanks to my amazing French teachers at Fayetteville High, I was able to have conversation in French without sounding too idiotic.” It’s important to take chances, she says. “Sometimes when the cliff looks scary, you just have to take a running start and jump.” Her parents jumped, from China to the U.S. She’s returned to their homeland and learned of the opportunities many there lack. It has built empathy toward others, says counselor Leslie Zeagler. Her teachers echo her praise of them — “calm and quietly confident,” said counselor Dawn Norman. She’s a National Merit scholarship semifinalist and president of the school’s chapter of Young Democrats, and vice president of the statewide Young

Democrats organization, which recognized her as the Young Democrats’ Woman of the Year recently. She’s captain of the debate team, president of the Model United Nations and president and founder of the school’s chapter of Amnesty International, where members wrote letters and studied immigrant rights and the Guantanamo detention facility. She’s the top-ranked student in a class of 652, with an ACT score just one point short of perfect. Her achievements include top honors in French and math competition. Among other activities, she worked as a canvasser in the campaign (unsuccessful) to Keep Fayetteville Fair, which sought to preserve a civil rights ordinance. She sees international relations, political science and economics in her future. She’s passionate about her work with the Democratic Party. She acknowledges the end of reliable Democratic voting patterns in Arkansas, but thinks the Democrats can cope by stressing the economic programs they support. “It is a party for people who are struggling. We’re not a wealthy state. It makes sense to vote for programs that benefit them. The party should make that clear.” Michelle does.

Congratulations to

Cabot High School’s 2015 Academic All-Stars Max Applegate and

Lexi Weeks 30

APRIL 30, 2015

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ZEN TANG Age: 18 HOMETOWN: Little Rock HIGH SCHOOL: Little Rock Central High School PARENTS: L.E. Tang and Puteri Sillenneon COLLEGE PLAN: Leaning toward Yale University.

Intelligence, real and artificial

n the brief essay the Times asks All-Star nominees to write, Zen Tang revealed a mathematician’s precise analysis with the dreaminess of a lyric poet. “I’ve spent years studying real analysis (fancy calculus), nonparametric statistics, probabilistic knowledge representation and inference, machine learning and computer vision. But in artificial intelligence, there are no boundaries. … The future, filled with strange machines, crippled systems and people, sometimes is a hazy cloud, but staring at the sky, with my back on the ground, I can breathe in clearly. It asks only that I be free to change, to choose, to improve, to make things better.” Ask Zen’s counselor, Kim Williams, about him and a project to make things better comes immediately to his mind. Zen is one of the more serious students Williams has counseled, but also, he says, “one of the most caring.” Since the ninth grade, Zen has

worked in a program that sends tutors to middle schools to “help students get excited about math.” He’s helped coach his charges at Pulaski Heights Middle School into the state Mathcounts competition. Zen is No. 1 in a class of 570, with a 4.54 grade point in AP courses (he’s taken 22 of them). He’s a National Merit scholarship semifinalist and one point shy of a perfect 36 on the ACT test. He plays piano, dabbles in cooking, but shines in math and the sciences. He’s been in the Mathletes club since ninth grade and leads the school’s nationally competitive Science Bowl team. He’s a national AP Scholar for high scores on tests in the many courses he’s taken and had the top score in the state on the National Spanish Exam. He’s president of the National Honor Society chapter at Central as well as Mu Alpha Theta, the honorary math group. Zen says he’s moved from a math focus to a broader scientific focus, par-

ARKANSAS TIMES ticularly artificial intelligence, for its potential to “change the world.” He’s been experimenting for two years with experiments to have machines replicate

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

human intelligence. The problem solving is, by Zen’s lights, “fun,” even “magical.” And potentially world changing in the bargain.

SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL CONGRATULATES

BLAKE LARKIN We Are Proud Of You!

BRIAN CHILSON

LEXI WEEKS Age: 18 Hometown: Cabot High School: Cabot High School Parents: Brent and Amy Weeks College plans: University of Arkansas

Vaulting to the top

n February, at the Arkansas Vault Club in Black Springs, Cabot native Lexi Weeks set the national indoor pole-vaulting record for high school girls, clearing the bar at 14 feet, 3 ¼ inches. She is now tied as one of the country’s two top female prep vaulters; the other is her identical twin, Tori. The two are also co-salutatorians at Cabot High School — both are ending their high school careers with perfect GPAs. The New York Times profiled the sisters earlier this year in an article titled “Twin Pole-Vaulters Reach the Height of Alikeness.” “There’s a lot of pressure that comes with it,” Lexi told the Arkansas Times recently of her rank and of the attention it has generated. Asked whether sharing the top spot with her sibling had proved contentious, she replied that it had not. “We’re, I guess, competitors,” she said,

“but it’s always a healthy competition, never a bad competition. We just push each other, really.” Both Lexi and her sister, who have also been on the tennis and cheer teams for much of their high school careers, have also accepted track scholarships to the University of Arkansas, whose team is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation. She plans to major in chemistry and apply to pharmacy school after graduation, because it would be “a good job for a mom to have,” she said, “really good hours.” Lexi has also expressed an interest in competing in the 2016 Olympics. “It kind of feels like flying,” she said of pole vaulting’s appeal. “There’s always that new goal. Once you clear something there’s always that next height to go for.”

BENTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS “Excellence in Education” Congratulations, Cole Jester and Dawn Le, for being selected as Academic All-Stars

Congratulations

LRSD Academic All-Stars! We are proud to salute the two Little Rock Central High students, Sherry T. Gao and Chuang Z. Tang, selected as 2015 Academic All-Stars.

The NEW Little Rock School District Where WE Put Children First

Little Rock School District PERFORMANCE WORKPLAN LENCE FOR TOMO lrsd.org

CREATING EXCEL

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APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

ALL-STAR FINALISTS These 12 students made the final round of judging for the 2014 Arkansas Times Academic All-Star Team.

Elyzabeth Camacho

Duncan Mullins

Katy Divino

Alexandra Otwell

Bentonville High School Bentonville

Mount St. Mary Academy Little Rock

Alaa El-Khouly Southside High School Fort Smith

Austin Himschoot Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Hardy

Lake Hamilton High School Pearcy

Pulaski Academy Little Rock

Eduardo Alejandro Puente Bentonville High School Centerton

Matthew Robert Savage Arkadelphia High School Arkadelphia

Katie Taylor

Drew Central High School Monticello

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSASâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;TIMES

Adam Williams Valley View High School Jonesboro

Julie Williams Arkadelphia High School Arkadelphia

Zachary Wofford Alma High School Alma

ARKANSAS TIMES

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

ALL-STAR NOMINEES

Here are the students nominated to be Academic

The Pocahontas School District is proud of GRAYDON CARTER and HAYLEY BALTZ for being named 2015 Academic All-Stars.

Congratulations!

All-Stars. They are listed by their hometowns, as indicated by mailing addresses.

ALMA

ANNA ALBERS Alma High School ZACHARY WOFFORD Alma High School

ARKADELPHIA MATT SAVAGE Arkadelphia High School

JULIE WILLIAMS Arkadelphia High School

BEEBE

NATALIE PRUITT Beebe High School ERICH-MATTHEW PULFER Beebe High School

BENTON

SAMUEL COLE JESTER Benton High School THINH “DAWN” LE Benton High School

BENTONVILLE ELZABETH CAMACHO Bentonville High School EDUARDO PUENTE Bentonville High School

CABOT

MAXIM APPLEGATE Cabot High School LEXI WEEKS Cabot High School

CARLISLE

LINDSEY STRICKLAND Carlisle High School

CENTER RIDGE RYAN ANDREWS Nemo Vista High School

CLINTON MARIA SHIPP Nemo Vista High School

Graydon Carter

DANVILLE JOSEPH CATHEY Danville High School

EUREKA SPRINGS JUAN ROMERO Eureka Springs High School ANGELA TENAN Eureka Springs High School

FAYETTEVILLE SAMUEL JOHNSON Fayetteville High School JEREMY MUELLER Farmington High School MICHELLE PENG Fayetteville High School

FORT SMITH ALAA EL-KHOULY Fort Smith Southside High School BLAKE LARKIN Fort Smith Southside High School

HARDY

AUSTIN HIMSCHOOT Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts

Hayley Baltz “Preparing Today for Tomorrow!”

POCAHONTAS

SCHOOL DISTRICT w w w.pocahontaspsd.com www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

JACKSONVILLE

JONESBORO

JESSICA MORRIS Wilbur D. Mills University High School

SOPHIA LY Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts

JOHN YANKOWSKAS Wilbur D. Mills University High School

ADAM WILLIAMS Valley View High School

LITTLE ROCK JACK CARTER Little Rock Catholic High School KATY DIVINO Mount St. Mary Academy LAURA DUNNAGAN Episcopal Collegiate School SHERRY GAO Little Rock Central High School DARCY HAGOOD eStem Public Charter School JONATHAN HANKINS-HULL Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School ANFERNEE HAWKINS eStem Public Charter School

Shop shop LOCAL ARKANSAS TIMES

CHRIS LORUSSO Little Rock Christian Academy ALAN MAY Episcopal Collegiate School VICTORIA NEBLETT Little Rock Christian Academy ALEXANDRA OTWELL Pulaski Academy

ZEN TANG Little Rock Central High School

GRAYDON CARTER Pocahontas High School

MONTICELLO

RUSSELLVILLE

NORTH LITTLE ROCK

ALLISON RISNER Pottsville High School

SHONTIETTA WILSON Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School

CRYSTAL NEILL Searcy High School

PARAGOULD

SPRINGDALE

KATIE TAYLOR Drew Central High School

MACALAH MARSHALL Academics Plus Charter School

CHRISTOPHER BROWN Crowley’s Ridge Academy JESSICA HUFFMASTER Paragould High School CARLY NEWSOM Crowley’s Ridge Academy NATE TINER Paragould High School

PEARCY

EMILY GENTLES Lake Hamilton High School DUNCAN MULLINS Lake Hamilton High School

POCAHONTAS HALEY BALTZ Pocahontas High School

aeaonline.org 34

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

JACOB MCKINNEY Pottsville High School

SEARCY JOSEPH LIM Searcy High School

PAYTON FRISINGER Har-Ber High School

I chose UALR to ALEX O’BRIEN opportunities I Har-Ber High School I live on campu able to ho ST. JOE been and have a clos LOGAN BAKER St. Joe High School faculty, my fam

Check us ou TEXARKANA KAITLIN SANDERSON Arkansas High School CAMERON YTZEN Arkansas High School

VIOLA

CORBY MAY Viola High School

THANK YOU

ARKANSAS TIMES

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

Trevor Collin s – Maumelle E-Commerce Sophomore Digital Strate gy Intern Likes Making Videos

The Arkansas Times would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the Academic All-star Team and its scholarship fund.

UALR to expand on the educational nities I started at eStem High School. campus but am still close to home. I’ve e to host a TV show, do public speaking, e a close connection to students and my family away from home.

“

us out • ualr.at/allstar • #UALR

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APRIL 30, 2015

Arts Entertainment AND

MAKING MUSIC: SMTI takes on interpersonal communication.

TALKING TECHNOLOGY, WITHOUT TECHNOLOGY, ON THE STAGE

Young actors, writers make history with ‘Project Élan’ at The Rep. BY JAMES SZENHER

group of alumni from the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s Summer Musical Theater Intensive (SMTI) program are blazing new territory this spring by putting on a wholly original new musical. “Project Élan,” opening Tuesday, May 5, aims to connect 36

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

to audiences through our experiences of disconnection in the wake of modern technology and cultural shifts. “We could have done another musical revue, or ‘Annie,’ or ‘Oliver!’ but we’re trying to be innovative and say something about what’s going on today,”

writer Conly Basham said. What makes the play stand out, though, is that rather than the usual formula for this theme — an older perspective judging the younger generation or warning us about where the future is headed — here we have a group of millennial writers and actors working (and playing) through these issues themselves. “This is much more than a ‘kid’s show,’ it’s an opportunity to put us on the map by producing an original work,” said director and co-writer Nicole Capri, who’s been leading the SMTI program for nearly a decade now. “These young artists are brave, they’re talented and they’re competitive. They’re doing something unique because they want to do this for a living. They take it seriously.” The storylines in “Project Élan” mostly revolve around relationships, either between romantic partners or family members, and focus on how technology has impacted the ways in which we communicate with each other. One story also involves a young veteran who’s been participating in military actions abroad via remote technology at home. The new musical mixes lighthearted moments of humorous selfobservation with some real depth and weight. While it’s certainly focused on the younger generation, “Project Élan” touches on universal themes and hinges on the idea that every generation still longs for connection and love. “It’s a hopeful play,” Capri said. “Whether or not we’re tethered by technology, we can find answers together.” Music from the show will also be performed live, with some of the writers and cast members playing live instruments. Fans of the Broadway show “Once” should enjoy this style of performance, a contrast with the orchestral scores of traditional musicals. “We wanted a score that sounds like what’s on the radio now, but which would appeal to a wide range of musical tastes,” Capri said. While the play isn’t the first work of art to touch on themes of connection and contemporary technology (think Spike Jonze’s “Her”), you’d be hard-pressed to find a work of musi-

cal theater that covers this territory. “I think live theater will connect to people in ways that television or film does not,” Basham said. “It’s much more of a challenge to theatricalize these topics.” Indeed, there is no way to have text messages scroll across the screen, or have flashy visuals emphasize that we are experiencing technology. The actors and writers of “Project Élan” are instead banking on the quality of their work to connect to audiences without gimmicks. That’s pretty gutsy: These young artists are taking on a challenging topic that’s never really been done on the live stage in quite this way, and they’re doing it more or less by themselves. “The rules and expectations are changing so rapidly, it’s hard to keep up,” said Capri, who along with Basham admitted having her own moments of disconnection with some of the younger cast members, who range in age from 10 to 30. “We had written a song that referenced ‘Darkwing Duck,’ which was a favorite show of mine growing up, but none of the younger actors knew what we were talking about,” Basham said. The writers presented the songs in workshops to the younger cast members, who are current participants in the program, and adapted them so they would ring true for the younger generation. Rather than having a single writer for the songs, the musical features a broad collection of artists bringing different lyrical and musical perspectives. “All of the young writers involved are developing their own budding careers and it’s awesome to have such a diverse group who all grew up in the program,” Capri said. Along with Capri and Basham, the writing team includes Bobby Banister, Mark Binns, Sam Clark, Robert Frost, Jimmy Landfair and Charity Vance, who are all Arkansas natives who got their start with the SMTI program. “Project Élan” plays through Saturday, May 16. Special events include an anniversary celebration Friday, May 8, marking 10 years of the SMTI program and a benefit concert featuring original music from the show Tuesday, May 12, with proceeds going to the Young Artist Scholarship Fund. Find more information at therep.org.

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A&E NEWS SLEAZY, THEATRICAL, MUCHLOVED ’80s pop-metal legends Motley Crue have announced they will play at North Little Rock’s Verizon Arena on Oct. 8 as part of their so-called “Final Tour,” which has been ongoing now for roughly two years. “The fans have spoken,” as bassist Nikki Sixx put it in a press release. Also: Alice Cooper will appear at the concert as a “very special guest.” Very few lineups could demonstrate this degree of nostalgia and poor taste. Not a show to miss, obviously. Tickets range from $38-$147 and are on sale at verizonarena.com. COMING UP IN THE MAY LIVE MUSIC calendar: This year’s Riverfest, to be held May 2224, will feature Sheryl Crow, Kris Allen, 311, Better Than Ezra, Robert Earl Keen, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Sister Hazel, Girl Talk, Big K.R.I.T., Sam Hunt and Galactic featuring Macy Gray. The Steve Miller Band performs May 16 and the Dave Matthews Band performs May 19 at the Walmart AMP in Rogers. At Verizon Arena, the great Charlie Wilson, former front man for The Gap Band, comes May 29; at Stickyz, Cajun group Feufollet plays May 8 and Col. Bruce Hampton on May 29. At Juanita’s, Joe Diffie plays May 16 and Hellyeah, Devour the Day and Archer play May 17; at White Water, punk band Swingin’ Utters come May 11 and The Sideshow Tragedy on May 19. At George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, Joe Pug plays on May 13; Randy Houser opens the summer concert season at Magic Springs in Hot Springs with a performance May 30. LOOKING AHEAD IN THE ARKANSAS Times Film Series, we’ll be showing the Levon Helm-narrated NASA epic “The Right Stuff” May 21, Alfred Hitchcock’s spy-thriller masterpiece “North by Northwest” June 18 and cult-favorite documentary “Hands on a Hard Body” July 16. All screenings are at 7 p.m. and cost $5.

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THE TO-DO

LIST

FRIDAY 5/1

SATURDAY 5/2

‘SOME LIKE IT HOT’

ARGENTA ARTS FESTIVAL AND MINI MAKER FAIRE

7 p.m. Ron Robinson Theater. $5.

Billy Wilder was one of the great Holly wood generalists, a brilliant, industrious f ilmma ker r e s p on si ble f or b o t h ecst at ica l ly low-brow screwball comedies and t he blea ke st of f i l mnoir tragedies. He was an accomplished screenwriter, a noted art collector, a former journalist and an Austrian-born survivor of the rise of the Nazi Party. He directed “ D o u bl e I n d e m n i t y,” “ The L ost Weekend ,” S u n s e t B l v d . ,” “ T h e Seven Yea r Itch” a nd “The Apa r tment.” The most beloved of his films, though, is “Some Like it Hot,” the 1959 drag epic starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The American Film Institute has ranked it as the funniest movie ever made. Wilder himself w rote t he screenplay. Watching the film today, it ’s surprisingly v ulga r — even subversive. There is jazz, mob violence, cross-dressing and eroticism startling for its era; the Catholic Church rated it “C” for condemned. It’s a great ent r y-poi nt for Wi lder’s work and to be able see it at a venue like the Ron Robinson Theater is a ra re oppor t un it y. As the director Michel Haza navicius put it in his accepta nce speech for the 2012 Best Picture Oscar for “The Artist,” “I would like to thank the following three people: I would like to thank Billy Wilder, I would like to thank Billy Wilder, and I would like to thank Billy Wilder.” WS 38

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

BY LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK AND WILL STEPHENSON

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Downtown North Little Rock. Free (festival), $10 (Faire)

North Little Rock celebrates artistry and ingenuity Saturday with its Argenta Arts Festival and Mini Maker Faire downtown. More than 30 artists and musicians will set up shop on Main Street by the Laman Library Argenta Branch (406 Main St.) and who knows how many tinkerers will gather at the south entrance

to the Innovation Hub on Third Street for events starting at 10 a.m. Arts Festival artists focus on the crafted, with basketry, ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, print-making, metalwork, woodwork, leather and sculpture. There will be activities for children, artist demonstrations and music behind the library by pop/rock musician Caleb Patton, blues/soul band Brown Soul Shoes and folk rockers The Cons of Formant. The arts festival runs until 4 p.m. The Maker Faire will feature

around 60 vendors and exhibitors: techies and robots and builders and educators and even dancers, along with scheduled presentations by Josh Moody, founder and CEO at Innovis Labs; Wallace Patterson of MakerBot; software developer Sam Mauldin, and others. The Maker Faire, which runs through 6 p.m., is $10 to attend; the Arts Festival is free. It’s the first Maker Faire to be sponsored by the Innovation Hub, an idea long in the thinking and now made real. LNP

COMPLICATED GAME: James McMurtry is at Revolution 8:30 p.m. Saturday, $15.

SATURDAY 5/2

JAMES MCMURTRY

8:30 p.m. Revolution. $15.

“We grew up hard and our children don’t know what that means,” James McMurtry sings on “Copper Canteen,” the opening track to his 2015 record “Complicated Game.” Rolling Stone called the album a “New Americana Masterpiece.” I’m not sure what that would even look like at this point, but it’s certainly a good record — downbeat, rural,

working-class country-folk that blurs the personal and the political (as he did on the George W. Bush-era protest anthem “We Can’t Make It Here,” which music critic Robert Christgau called the best song of the 2000s). James is the son of “Lonesome Dove” novelist Larry McMurtry, and after college he spent formative years living in his father’s “little bitty ranch house crammed with 10,000 books.” Like his father, he considers himself a “fic-

tion writer” — his songs are narratives of often vivid imagination. A former touring guitarist for Kinky Friedman, McMurtry remains pragmatic about his industry. “I’ve seen a lot of young bands that think they’re artists and they’re not there to sell beer,” McMurtry told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “We’re basically the service industry. We’re symbiotically tied to the club business. Beer sales and tips, you know?” WS

IN BRIEF

THURSDAY 4/30

SUNDAY 5/3

CHICAGO

7:30 p.m. Walmart AMP, Rogers. $42-$97.

Next time you have seven minutes of free time, I recommend scanning the Wikipedia page for the band Chicago — mainstays of family road trips, high school pep bands and Adult Contemporary radio formats the world over. Here you will learn that the group’s name — unevocative and un-Google-able — was originally much worse. On campus at DePaul University in the late ’60s, the band went by The Big Thing, and later, strangely, Chicago Transit Authority.

You will learn that, according to original member and saxophonist Walter Parazaider, Jimi Hendrix once said to the band in this era, “Jeez, your horn players are like one set of lungs and your guitar player is better than me.” This may not sound like something Hendrix would have said — almost certainly isn’t, let’s just be honest — but it seems revealing that Parazaider would have remembered it this way, cementing forever the notion that Hendrix bowed before the musical sophistication of a group of white college students playing in a cover band called Chicago Tran-

sit Authority. You will learn that the band’s manager and early producer, James William Guercio, was a former member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention and later self-produced a film about an “Arizona motorcycle policeman,” starring Robert Blake. You will learn that the B-Side to “25 or 6 or 4” was inspired by the moon landing, that the album “Chicago 16” was primarily performed by the band Toto and that the band’s 21st album was titled “Stone of Sisyphus.” You will learn all of this and more, and in roughly seven minutes. I recommend it. WS

TUESDAY 5/5-SATURDAY 5/9

BENTONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL

Various venues. $8-$15.

THE BODY ELECTRIC: Hurray for the Riff Raff is at South On Main 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, $20.

TUESDAY 5/5

HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF 7:30 p.m. South on Main. $20.

Hurray for the Riff Raff is a widely acclaimed New Orleans band fronted by singer Alynda Lee Segarra, a Bronx native, former freight train-hopper and reformed punk who has since turned to folk and Americana. Segarra has been called “the voice of the future,” one of the contemporary folk revival’s “most compelling stylists,” and, oddly (and impressively), “proof that millennials are not lazy or unobserv-

ant or wandering.” NPR compared her to Pete Seeger, though she seems to prefer Bikini Kill. She is a progressive and compelling voice working in an often constitutionally conservative mode; as she has remarked, “You don’t see a Puerto Rican girl play the banjo in a honky-tonk very often.” The band has been featured on the HBO show “Treme,” and like most New Orleans cultural exports is frequently discussed, probably unfairly, in the context of the city’s aura and traditions. WS

The first-ever Bentonville Film Festival, an event aiming to champion women and diversity in film production, will feature 75 films ranging from studio offerings to documentaries and independent efforts. The festival was launched by actress Geena Davis (“Thelma and Louise,” “The Fly,” “Beetlejuice,” etc.) as an extension of her work with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which was started after the unexpected success of “Thelma.” “I didn’t realize it would change my life,” she said of her role in that film. “And really, the biggest standout about the film is that it had two good female parts.” According to Variety, the festival will be unique for being “the only film competition in the world to offer guaranteed theatrical, TV, digital and retail home entertainment distribution for its winners.” Robert De Niro, Rosie O’Donnell, Bruce Dern, Nick Cannon, Joey Lauren Adams and Soledad O’Brien are all due to make appearances (O’Donnell will apparently face off against Davis in a four-inning softball game). WS

Comedian Andy Woodhull is at the Loony Bin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, $7 (and at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, $10). Self-proclaimed “electronic grunge” band FMLYBND is at Stickyz at 9 p.m., $8. Country group Whiskey Myers performs at Revolution, 9 p.m., $15 adv., $18 day of. British rock group Young Guns are at Juanita’s with My Brother My Friend, 9 p.m., $5. Locals The P-47s are at White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m., $5.

FRIDAY 5/1 The Arkansas Travelers play the first of four consecutive home games against the Springfield Cardinals at Dickey-Stephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6$12. Country star Brantley Gilbert plays the Walmart AMP in Rogers with the Casey Donahew Band, 7:30 p.m., $25-$45. Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers play at Stickyz with U.S. Elevators, 9 p.m., $15. Texas countryfolk songwriter Adam Carroll plays at White Water Tavern with Chris Carroll, 9 p.m. Duckstronaut is at Vino’s with Sports Coach, Kidaudra and Open Fields, 9 p.m., $5. Amasa Hines returns to South on Main with The Hudson Branch, 10 p.m., $10.

SATURDAY 5/2 The 4th annual Spring Music Festival, featuring live music by Dino D and the D Train, Rodney Block, Off the Cuff, Tawanna Campbell and many more, plus comedy, food and other activities, is at the Quality Living Center Detail Shop on Asher Avenue. The Little Rock Farmers’ Market opens for the season at the River Market pavilions, 7 a.m. UALR hosts a Songwriters Showcase at the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m., free. Nashville band Radar Vs. Wolf is at Vino’s. Randy Harsey plays at White Water Tavern with Weedhorse and Whale Fire, 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY 5/3 Gorilla Music’s Battle of the Bands is at Juanita’s at 5 p.m., $10. Little Rock author Suzi Parker is featured at Live from the Back Room at Vino’s, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 5/6 Disney on Ice opens at Verizon Arena and runs through Sunday, May 10, $13-$61. South on Main presents Cindy Woolf and Mark Bilyeu as part of its free Local Live series. Cleveland indie rock band Runaway Brother plays with Athens, Ga., band New Madrid at Juanita’s, 8 p.m., $5. www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

AFTER DARK

SMALL TOWN THROWDOWN: Brantley Gilbert performs at the Walmart AMP in Rogers with the Casey Donahew Band 7:30 p.m. Friday, $20-$45.

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 30

MUSIC

Big John Miller (headliner), Smokey and Mayday (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com. FMLYBND. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $8. 107 River Market Ave. 501-372-7707. www.stickyz.com. “Inferno.” DJs play pop, electro, house and more, plus drink specials and $1 cover before 11 p.m. Sway, 9 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501907-2582. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-3242999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Karaoke. Zack’s Place, 8 p.m., free. 1400 S. University Ave. 501-664-6444. Little Jo. Another Round Pub, 6:30 p.m. 12111 W. Markham. 501-313-2612. www.another40

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

roundpub.com. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Open Jam. Thirst n’ Howl, 8 p.m. 14710 Cantrell Road. 501-379-8189. www.thirstn-howl.com. Open jam with The Port Arthur Band. Parrot Beach Cafe, 9 p.m. 9611 MacArthur Drive, NLR. 771-2994. The P-47s. White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m., $5. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com. RockUsaurus. Senor Tequila, 7-9 p.m. 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-224-5505. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 7:30 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-370-7013. www.capitalbarandgrill.com. Whiskey Myers. Revolution, 9 p.m., $15 adv., $18 day of. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501823-0090. www.rumbarevolution.com/new. Young Guns, My Brother My Friend. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $5. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

COMEDY

Andy Woodhull. The Loony Bin, 7:30 p.m., $7. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-2285555. www.loonybincomedy.com.

EVENTS

Live Trivia. The Joint, 8 p.m. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

LECTURES

Ron Haskins. Sturgis Hall, 6 p.m. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 501-683-5200. clintonschool.uasys.edu.

SPORTS

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

FRIDAY, MAY 1

MUSIC

Adam Carroll, Chris Carroll. White Water Tavern, 9 p.m. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com. All In Fridays. Club Elevations. 7200 Colonel Glenn Road. 501-562-3317. Amasa Hines, The Hudson Branch. South on Main, 10 p.m., $10. 1304 Main St. 501244-9660. southonmain.com. Brantley Gilbert, Casey Donahew Band.

Walmart AMP, 7:30 p.m., $25-$45. 5079 W. Northgate Road, Rogers. 479-443-5600. www. arkansasmusicpavilion.com. Club Nights at 1620 Savoy. Dance night, with DJs, drink specials and bar menu, until 2 a.m. 1620 Savoy, 10 p.m. 1620 Market St. 501-221-1620. www.1620savoy.com. David Nail. Juanita’s, 8 p.m., $20. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www. juanitas.com. Duckstronaut, Sports Coach, Kidaudra, Open Fields. Vino’s, 9 p.m., $5. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com. Ghost Bones, Seratones, Collin Vs. Adam. Maxine’s. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. www.maxinespub.com. Hatebreed, Abandon the Artifice, Sychosys. Revolution, 8:30 p.m., $17 adv., $20 day of. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. www.rumbarevolution.com/new. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Mister Lucky. Cajun’s Wharf, 9 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com. Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers, U.S. Elevators. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $15. 107 River Market Ave.

501-372-7707. www.stickyz.com. Route 66. Agora Conference and Special Event Center, 6:30 p.m., $5. 705 E. Siebenmorgan, Conway. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-370-7013. www. capitalbarandgrill.com.

COMEDY

Andy Woodhull. The Loony Bin, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., $10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-228-5555. www.loonybincomedy.com. “I Love You But You’re Sitting On My Cat.” An original production by The Main Thing. The Joint, 8 p.m., $22. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

DANCE

Ballroom Dancing. Free lessons begin at 7 p.m. Bess Chisum Stephens Community Center, 8-11 p.m., $7-$13. 12th & Cleveland streets. 501-221-7568. www.blsdance.org. Contra Dance. Park Hill Presbyterian Church, first and third Friday of every month, 7:30 p.m.; Fourth Friday of every month, 7:30 p.m., $5. 3520 JFK Blvd., NLR. arkansascountrydance.org. “Salsa Night.” Begins with a one-hour salsa lesson. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $8. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.littlerocksalsa.com.

EVENTS

8th annual MacArthur Park 5K. MacArthur Park, 7 p.m., $15-$30. 503 E. Ninth St. American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Clinton Presidential Center, 6 p.m., free. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 370-8000. www. clintonpresidentialcenter.org. LGBTQ/SGL weekly meeting. Diverse Youth for Social Change is a group for LGBTQ/SGL and straight ally youth and young adults age 14 to 23. For more information, call 244-9690 or search “DYSC” on Facebook. LGBTQ/ SGL Youth and Young Adult Group, 6:30 p.m. 800 Scott St.

FILM

“Some Like It Hot.” Ron Robinson Theater, 7 p.m., $5. 1 Pulaski Way. 501-320-5703. www. cals.lib.ar.us/ron-robinson-theater.aspx.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. Springfield. DickeyStephens Park, May 1-2, 7:10 p.m.; May 3, 2:10 p.m.; May 4, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www. travs.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 2

MUSIC

4th Annual Spring Music Festival. Featuring live music by Dino D and the D Train, Rodney Block, Off the Cuff, Tawanna Campbell and many more, plus comedy, food and other activities. Quality Living Center Detail Shop. 4201 Asher Ave. Big Dam Horns (headliner), Josh Green (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www. cajunswharf.com. Club Nights at 1620 Savoy. See May. 1. James McMurtry, Max Gomez. Revolution,

8:30 p.m., $15. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. www.rumbarevolution.com/ new. Karaoke at Khalil’s. Khalil’s Pub, 7 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www. khalilspub.com. Karaoke. Casa Mexicana, 7 p.m. 7111 JFK Blvd., NLR. 501-835-7876. Zack’s Place, 8 p.m., free. 1400 S. University Ave. 501-6646444. Karaoke with Kevin & Cara. All-ages, on the restaurant side. Revolution, 9 p.m.-12:45 a.m., free. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501823-0090. www.rumbarevolution.com/new. K.I.S.S. Saturdays. Featuring DJ Silky Slim. Dress code enforced. Sway, 10 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501-492-9802. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Lucious Spiller Band. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9:30 p.m., $5. 107 River Market Ave. 501-372-7707. www.stickyz.com. Pickin’ Porch. Bring your instrument. All ages welcome. Faulkner County Library, 9:30 a.m. 1900 Tyler St., Conway. 501-3277482. www.fcl.org. Radar vs. Wolf. Vino’s. 923 W. 7th St. 501375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com. Randy Harsey, Weedhorse, Whale Fire. White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com. Songwriters Showcase. UALR, Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m., free. 2801 S. University Ave. 501-569-8977. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-370-7013. www. capitalbarandgrill.com.

All American Food & Great Place to Watch Your Favorite Event

COMEDY

EVENTS

Butterfly Swamp 5K. UALR, 9:30 a.m., $25. 2801 S. University Ave. 501-569-8977. Falun Gong meditation. Allsopp Park, 9 a.m., free. Cantrell & Cedar Hill Roads. Hillcrest Farmers Market. Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. 2200 Kavanaugh Blvd. Historic Neighborhoods Tour. Bike tour of historic neighborhoods includes bike, guide, helmets and maps. Bobby’s Bike Hike, 9 a.m., $8-$28. 400 President Clinton Ave. 501-613-7001. Little Rock Farmers’ Market. River Market Pavilions, through Oct. 31: 7 a.m. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info. Little Rock Farmers’ Market Opening Day. River Market Pavilions, 7 a.m. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info. Pork & Bourbon Tour. Bike tour includes bicycle, guide, helmets and maps. Bobby’s Bike Hike, 11:30 a.m., $35-$45. 400 President Clinton Ave. 501-613-7001. Twice as Fine Texarkana Wine Festival. Spring Lake Park, 10 a.m., $10. 4303 N Park www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

AFTER DARK, CONT. Rd., Texarkana. Weekend Theater’s 2015-16 Gala. Unitarian Universalist Church, 7 p.m., $50. 1818 Reservoir Road. 501-225-1503. Wild Wines. Little Rock Zoo, 6 p.m. 1 Jonesboro Drive. 501-666-2406. www.littlerockzoo.com.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. Springfield. DickeyStephens Park, through May 2, 7:10 p.m.; May 3, 2:10 p.m.; May 4, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs.com.

CLASSES SATURDAY, MAY 2

Beginning Genealogy Workshop. Room 171 Arkansas State Capitol, 9 a.m. 5th and Woodlane.

SUNDAY, MAY 3

MUSIC

• Ask about our d rink specials all month long! • Mint Juleps on Derby Day! • B eer and Wine o n tap!

Chicago. Walmart AMP, 7:30 p.m., $42-$97. 5079 W. Northgate Road, Rogers. 479-4435600. www.arkansasmusicpavilion.com. Gorilla Music Presents: Battle of the Bands. Juanita’s, 5 p.m., $10. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com. Irish Traditional Music Session. Hibernia Irish Tavern, first and third Sunday of every month, 2:30 p.m. 9700 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-246-4340. www.hiberniairishtavern.com. Karaoke. Shorty Small’s, 6-9 p.m. 1475 Hogan Lane, Conway. 501-764-0604. www.shortysmalls.com. Karaoke with DJ Sara. Hardrider Bar & Grill, 7 p.m., free. 6613 John Harden Drive, Cabot. 501-982-1939. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. Springfield. DickeyStephens Park, May 3, 2:10 p.m.; May 4, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501664-1555. www.travs.com.

BOOKS

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015 Festivities begin at 2pm

“Live from the Back Room.” Featuring Little Rock author Suzi Parker. Vino’s, 7 p.m. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.

MONDAY, MAY 4

MUSIC

Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Monday Night Jazz. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., $5. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501663-1196. www.afterthoughtbistroandbar. com. Open Mic. The Lobby Bar. Studio Theatre, 8 p.m. 320 W. 7th St. Richie Johnson. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

SPORTS

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , C A L L 5 0 1 . 3 7 9. 8 0 1 9 O R V I S I T W W W. S A M S TA P. C O M .

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

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

TUESDAY, MAY 5

MUSIC

Cherub, Mystery Skulls, Fortebowie. Revolution, 8:30 p.m., $16 adv., $20 day of. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. www.rumbarevolution.com/new. Gil Franklin & Friends. Holiday Inn, North Little Rock, first Tuesday, Wednesday of every month. 120 W. Pershing Blvd., NLR. Hurray for the Riff Raff. South on Main, 7:30 p.m., $20. 1304 Main St. 501-244-9660. southonmain.com. Jeff Ling. Khalil’s Pub, 6 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-3242999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Karaoke Tuesday. Prost, 8 p.m., free. 322 President Clinton Blvd. 501-244-9550. willydspianobar.com/prost-2. Karaoke Tuesdays. On the patio. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 7:30 p.m., free. 107 River Market Ave. 501-372-7707. www. stickyz.com. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Music Jam. Hosted by Elliott Griffen and Joseph Fuller. The Joint, 8-11 p.m., free. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com. Sons of Texas. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 8 p.m., $5. 107 River Market Ave. 501372-7707. www.stickyz.com. Tuesday Jam Session with Carl Mouton. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbistroandbar.com.

COMEDY

Stand-Up Tuesday. Hosted by Adam Hogg. The Joint, 8 p.m., $5. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

DANCE

“Latin Night.” Juanita’s, 7:30 p.m., $7. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www. littlerocksalsa.com.

EVENTS

Trivia Bowl. Flying Saucer, 8:30 p.m. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-8032. www. beerknurd.com/stores/littlerock.

FILM

Bentonville Film Festival. Various venues in Bentonville. May 5-9, $8-$15. bentonvillefilmfestival.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6

MUSIC

Acoustic Open Mic. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-6631196. www.afterthoughtbistroandbar.com. Brian and Nick. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com. Cindy Woolf and Mark Bilyeu. South on Main, 7:30 p.m., free. 1304 Main St. 501-244-9660. southonmain.com. Drageoke with Chi Chi Valdez. Sway. 412 Louisiana. 501-907-2582. Gil Franklin & Friends. Holiday Inn, North Little Rock, first Tuesday, Wednesday of every month. 120 W. Pershing Blvd., NLR. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-

Gourmet. Your Way. All Day.

300 Third Tower • 501-375-3333 coppergrillandgrocery.com

GYPSY BISTRO 200 S. RIVER MARKET AVE, STE. 150 • 501.375.3500 DIZZYSGYPSYBISTRO.NET

SOUTHERN CURIOSITIES AN EXHIBITION OF ARTWORKS BY DIANE HARPER, DOMINIQUE SIMMONS, AND BARBARA SATTERFIELD

MAY 8

THE 2ND FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH 5-8 PM

a tribute to

Opening reception for

SISTER ROSETTA THARPE

(EvEryday) IntErprEtatIons Cindy Arsaga, Joe Morzuch & Adam Posnak yEar of arkansas BEEr continues with Apple Blossom Brewing Company (Fayetteville, AR)

with Stephen Koch of Arkansongs Friday, May 8 5 p.m. Free

200 RIVER MARKET AVE., STE 400 501.374.9247 WWW.ARCAPITAL.COM ROBERT BEAN, CURATOR

A museum of the Department of Arkansas Heritage

200 E. Third Street Little Rock, AR 72201 HistoricArkansas.org The Old State House Museum is a Museum of the Department of Arkansas Heritage

GRAND OPENING

GALLERY 221 & ART STUDIOS 221 JOIN US TO

MEET

BLAKE BATTLES

FREE TROLLEY RIDES!

A CREATOR OF BOW TIES AND LAPEL PINS AT OUR BOURBON AND BOWS EVENT! 417 President Clinton Ave, Little Rock, 501.244.9670

CELEBRATE INTERVIEW WITH A ! YOUNG ARTIST, PM BY GREG5-8 LAHTI 24”X 24” OIL ON  Fine Art CANVAS  Cocktails & Wine FEATURED ARTIST:  Hor d’oeuvres GREG LAHTI

Join Us 5-8 pm

Pyramid Place 2nd & Center St (501) 801-0211

ARTIST RECEPTION “H OT S EAT” BY ON FRIDAY MAY 8TH EXHIBITION: MAY 1ST- 28TH CATHERINE RODGERS

♦ Fine Art ♦ Cocktails & Wine ♦ Hors d’oeuvres ♦ Pyramid Place • 2nd & Center St • (501) 801-0211

These venues will be open late. There’s plenty of parking and a FREE TROLLEY to each of the locations. Don’t miss it – lots of fun! Free parking at 3rd & Cumberland Free street parking all over downtown and behind the River Market (Paid parking available for modest fee.)

www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

AFTER DARK, CONT. 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. MUSE Ultra Lounge, 8:30 p.m., free. 2611 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-6398. Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com. Open Mic Nite with Deuce. Thirst n’ Howl, 7:30 p.m., free. 14710 Cantrell Road. 501379-8189. www.thirst-n-howl.com. Runaway Brother, New Madrid. Juanita’s, 8 p.m., $5. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501372-1228. www.juanitas.com. SoMo. Revolution, 8 p.m., $22-$100. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. www. rumbarevolution.com/new. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 7:30 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-370-7013. www.capitalbarandgrill.com.

COMEDY

The Joint Venture. Improv comedy group. The Joint, 8 p.m., $7. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

DANCE

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

EVENTS

Disney on Ice. Verizon Arena, $13-$61. 1 Alltel Arena Way, NLR. 501-975-9001. verizonarena.com.

FILM

Bentonville Film Festival. Various venues in Bentonville. through May 9, $8-$15. bentonvillefilmfestival.com.

POETRY

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

ARTS

THEATER

“The Legend of Robin Hood.” Arkansas Arts Center, through May 10: Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., Sun., 2 p.m., $12.50. 501 E. 9th St. 501-3724000. www.arkarts.com. “Once.” Walton Arts Center, through May 3, $36-$70. 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-443-5600. Samuel Brett Williams’ “Derby Day.” Low Key Arts, through May 3: Thu.-Sun., 7 p.m., $10 adv., $15 day of. 118 Arbor St., Hot Springs.

NEW GALLERY EXHIBITS, EVENTS

New shows in bold-face ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER, MacArthur Park: “54th Young Artists Exhibition,” art by Arkansas students grades K-12, May 1-July 26; Friday, May 1, Large Courtyard and Galleries “The Gathering: Art as Activism,” for high school students ages 15-18 who wish to perform and portray their perspective on social 44

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

justice and art, 6 p.m. May 1, $8 advance $10 at door; “Family Festival and Young Artists Awards Ceremony,” 11 a.m. May 2; “30 Americans,” works by African American artists from the Rubell Collection, through June 21; “Building 30 Americans,” talk by 7 by collectors Donald and Mera Rubell and Rubell foundation director Juan RoselioneValadez, reception 5:30, lecture 6 p.m. May 7, $10 for nonmembers; “Humble Hum: Rhythm of the Potter’s Wheel,” recent work by resident artist Ashley Morrison, Museum School Gallery, through June 21. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 372-4000. ARGENTA ARTS FESTIVAL, 406 Main St., NLR: More than 30 artists selling baskets, ceramics, fiber art, glass, jewelry, printmaking, metal, wood, leather and sculpture, with artist demonstrations, kids activities and music by Caleb Patton, Brown Soul Shoes and the Cons of Formant, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 2, in conjunction with the North Little Rock Maker Faire Festival. 993-1234. BOSWELL MOUROT FINE ART, 5815 Kavanaugh Blvd.: “In Rose-Papered Rooms,” paintings by Grace Mikell Ramsey, reception 6-9 p.m. May 2, show through May 23. 664-0030. GALLERY 221, Pyramid Place, Second and Center streets: “WPA & Art from the Great Depression,” works from private collections, May 1-28. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. gallery221@gmail.com. GREG THOMPSON FINE ART, 429 Main St., NLR, and HEARNE FINE ART, 1001 Wright Ave.: National Silverpoint Invitational 2015 “Drawing with Silverpoint,” May 6-June 27, receptions 5-9 p.m. May 8 at Hearne (372-68922), 6-9 p.m. May 14 at Thompson (664-2787). L&L BECK ART GALLERY, 5705 Kavanaugh Blvd.: “Backyard Birds,” through May, giclee giveaway 7 p.m. May 20. M2GALLERY, 11525 Cantrell Road (Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center): Watercolors by Lisa Krannichfeld, opens with reception 6-9 p.m. May 1, show through June 12; also work by Bryan Frazier, Dan Holland and Sabine Danze, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 944-7155. THEA FOUNDATION, 401 Main St., NLR: 13th annual scholarship awards ceremony for winners in visual arts, performing arts, creative writing, slam poetry and fashion design, 2 p.m. reception, 3 p.m. awards. 379-9512. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK: “BFA Group Exhibition,” work by 18 students, through May 8; “MA Thesis Exhibition,” photography by Brady Forrester, ceramics by Heather Beckwith, graphic design by Yihan Wang, May 5-June 28. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., 2-5 p.m. Sun. 569-3182. WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM, 1 Stadium Drive: “Arts ExtravACANSA,” fund-raiser for the September arts festival, with punt, pass and kick competition and entertainment by the Hi-Balls, 6-8 p.m. May 7, $45. 663-2287, admin@ACANSAartsFestival.org. Cotter and Mountain Home PLEIN AIR ON THE WHITE RIVER 2015 ART SHOW AND SALE: Quick draw competition at 4:30 p.m. May 1 followed by “Art, Music and Garden Party,” Cotter Spring Pavilion; art exhibit 1-3 p.m. May 2, Donald Reynolds Library, Mountain Home. 870-424-1051 HOT SPRINGS

DOWNTOWN HOT SPRINGS: “Arts and the Park” arts festival, May 1-10, includes Gallery Walk (5-9 p.m. May 1), Art Springs craft fair (11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 3), the Plein Arts Paint Out (May 4), studio tours, poetry readings, “Tales from the South,” music, theater, ballet, workshops and culinary arts, schedule at hotsprings.org/events/ event/1127. 501-321-2027. GALLERY CENTRAL, 800 Central Ave.: New work by Janis Wiley, Sandy Newberg and Sherrie Shepherd. Reception 5-9 p.m. May 1. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 501-318-4278. JUSTUS FINE ART, 827 Central Ave.: Rebecca Thompson, paintings; Michael Ashley, ceramics, reception and talk by artists 5-9 p.m. May 1. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sat. 501772-3627.

St.: “Plein Air Painters of Arkansas,” work by Victoria Harvey, Clarence Cash, Tom Herrin, Greg Lahti, Sean LeCrone, John Wooldridge and Diana Shearon. 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. COX CREATIVE CENTER, 120 River Market Ave.: Arkansas Society of Printmakers exhibition. 918-3090. THE EDGE, 301B President Clinton Ave.: Paintings by Avila (Fernando Gomez), Eric Freeman, James Hayes, Jerry Colburn, St. Joseph Thomason and Stephen Drive. 9921099. ESSE PURSE MUSEUM & STORE, 1510 S.

Main St.: “What’s Inside: A History of Women and Handbags, 1900-1999,” vintage purses and other women’s accessories. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Sat., $8-$10. 916-9022. GALLERY 26, 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Nancy Dunaway, Katherine Strause, recent works, through May 9. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 6648996. GALLERY 360, 900 S. Rodney Parham Road: “Flora and Fauna,” work by Rachel Trusty and Beth Whitlow, through May. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 663-222. GINO HOLLANDER GALLERY, 2nd and Center: Paintings and works on paper by Gino Hollander. 801-0211. GREG THOMPSON FINE ART, 429 Main St., NLR: “Southern Landscapes,” featuring

work by Walter Anderson, John Alexander, Carroll Cloar, Sheila Cotton, William Dunlap, Charles Harrington, Dolores Justus, Edward Rice, Kendall Stallings and Rebecca Thompson. 664-2787. HEARNE FINE ART, 1001 Wright Ave.: “Faces in Certain Places: An Exhibition of Fine Art Quilts,” quilts by Bisa Butler, through May 2; “Page Turners: Original Illustrations and Prints by Bryan Collier,” through June 13. 372-6822. HISTORIC ARKANSAS MUSEUM GALLERIES, 200 E. 3rd St.: “Suggin Territory: The Marvelous World of Folklorist Josephine Graham,” through Nov. 29; “Suyao Tian: Entangled Beauty,” through June 7; “Recent Acquisitions,” objects acquired between

MORRILTON RIALTO GALLERY, 213 E. Broadway St.: “For the Birds,” avian art, May 2-June 6, awards ceremony 3-6 p.m. May 17. 416-0514, gallery@grhstudios.com.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Gallery 221, 221 W. 2nd St., is calling for entries to its exhibition “Zeitgeist” that will run June 4-July 4. Deadline to enter is May 3. The work should “look at the subtleties of our time that inform who we are through art.” For more information, contact Jenn Freeman at 801-0211 or gallery221@gmail.com. The South Arkansas Arts Center is accepting entries to its 2015 Annual Juried Art Competition to be held July 1-30. Two- and 3-D works in all media may be entered; deadline is May 20. Juror will be Dr. Stanton Thomas of the Brooks Museum in Memphis. More than $2,000 in prize money will be awarded. Entries may be online or by CD. For more information and an entry form, go to www.saac-arts.org. The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum is accepting entries for a show themed “Man versus Machine: The Art of Expression and the Wired World” to run July 31 to Nov. 1. Deadline is July 1. Submissions should be sent to FS RAM, 1601 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith 72901. Call 479-784-2787.

CONTINUING GALLERY EXHIBITS ARKANSAS CAPITAL CORP. GROUP, 200 River Market Ave., Suite 400: “Inside the Valley,” paintings by Arkansas River Valley artists Tammy Harrington, Neal Harrington and David Mudrinich. 374-9247. ARGENTA GALLERY, 413 Main St., NLR: “Eluvium and Formation: Abstracted Landscapes,” sculpture by Ed Pennebaker and paintings by LaDawna Whiteside, through May 18. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tue.-Thu., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat. argentagallery.com. BUTLER CENTER GALLERIES, Arkansas Studies Institute, 401 President Clinton Ave.: “White River Memoirs,” artwork collected by canoist and photographer Chris Engholm along the White, through July 25; “A Different State of Mind,” exhibition by the Arkansas Society of Printmakers, loft gallery, through June 27; “Captured Images,” photographs from the permanent collection. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 320-5790. CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 509 Scott www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

Each Wednesday night, the Oxford American presents Local Live at South on Main. The FREE concert series welcomes top local and regional music talent to the South on Main stage. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. APRIL 29 – TONYA LEEKS BAND MAY 6 – CINDY WOOLF AND MARK BILYEU MAY 13 – RODNEY BLOCK & THE LOVE SUPREME MAY 20 – FRET & WORRY MAY 27 – LUKE PRUITT For a complete calendar of events, visit www. southonmain.com. RODNEY BLOCK

Hey, do this!

M AY

Food, Music, Entertainment and everything else that’s MAY 1

One of the finest guitar players on the road today, ERIC SOMMER plays a rare show at MIDTOWN BILLIARDS and at RENO’S CAFE on May 2

MAY 5-16

Performed by more than 60 members of THE ARKANSAS REP’S SUMMER MUSIC THEATRE INTENSIVE (SMTI) alumni, Project Élan is a brand-new, original, culturecurrent musical that seeks to shed light on the individual needs of the millennial generation with a diverse musical score that speaks to the heart of all generations. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday (May 5-8, May 14-15), 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Saturday, May 9 and Saturday, May 16) and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 10. On Friday, May 8, there will be a post-show reception with drinks and desserts in honor of the SMTI 10year celebration. For tickets, visit www.therep.org.

MAY 11

RISTORANTE CAPEO hosts a monthly wine dinner on the second Monday of each month beginning at 6:30 p.m. For $55 per person, the dinner includes three full courses and three full glasses of wine. Reserve your space now by calling 501-376-3463 or visit capeo.us

MAY 11-17

MAY 5-JUNE 28

UALR presents the MA THESIS EXHIBITION in Gallery III located on the 2nd floor of the Fine Arts Building. Three UALR graduate students will exhibit their artworks and designs as part of their thesis projects. The opening reception is free and open to the public and will be held Saturday, May 9 from 4-6 p.m. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Sunday 2-5 p.m.

One of the most anticipated events of the year is the LITTLE ROCK FILM FESTIVAL. Details continue to be released as the festival approaches. Check out this year’s lineup for films entered into competition – in categories including “Made in Arkansas,” as well as “Golden Rock Narrative” and “World Shorts” – online at www.littlerockfilmfestival.org where you can also purchase festival passes. It’s always a big week of films, workshops and parties. Grab a Gold pass for all-access priority admission to everything.

MAY 2

The 2015 Argenta Arts Festival presents over 30 artists from across the state to 406 Main Street and introducing the 2015 NORTH LITTLE ROCK MINI MAKER FAIRE which will be at the ARKANSAS REGIONAL INNOVATION HUB, 201 East Broadway. Both events are from 10 until 6! There’s loads of free parking and several Argenta restaurants and bars!

MAY 6

COLONIAL WINE & SPIRITS will hold a tasting event with friends from Arkansas Fresh Bakery and their new line of chocolates called Cocoa Rouge. Explore some flavorful wines, savory breads and scrumptious chocolates. Stop in at Colonial’s tasting bar any time between 4-7 p.m. to find your favorite combinations.

Jason Schwartzman in “7 Chinese Brothers”

Sheryl Crow comes to Riverfest to headline the show on Friday, May 22.

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

MAY 1-3

MAY 6-10

DISNEY ON ICE: WORLDS OF FANTASY skates into Verizon Arena in North Little Rock. Tickets are $61-16 for adults and $13 for children ages 2-12. Visit www. verizonarena.com for show times and ticket info.

CASABLANCA is this month’s Classic Movie Series Feature Film at RIVERDALE 10 on Cantrell Road in Little Rock. The movie begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $5. Riverdale is the only theater in the state serving beer and wine. For a list of current and coming attractions, visit www.riverdale10.com.

RIVERFEST is Arkansas’s premier arts and music festival. The 2015 lineup features performances by Sheryl Crow, Better than Ezra, Bone Thugz N Harmony, Robert Earl Keen, Kris Allen, Sister Hazel, Girl Talk, Big K.R.I.T., Galactic with Macy Gray and more. In addition to music, there’s much to see and do with Merchant Row Arts and Crafts, Festival Print and Artist Show, Baggo National Championship, Rock-n-Stroll 5K fun run and Flowing on the River, a craft beer and wine tasting event. For tickets, visit www. riverfestarkansas.com.

MAY 21

Sonny Burgess

TOAD SUCK DAZE in CONWAY is famous for the World Championship Toad Races. The free, family friendly event also includes music, food, 5K/10K, golf tournament, arts and crafts and more. This year’s live entertainment includes performances by Sonny Burgess & the Pacers, Corey Smith and Barrett Baber. For details, visit www.toadsuck.org.

MAY 12

MAY 22-24

FUN!

At The Joint Argenta Arts Acoustic Series featuring Vicki Genfan, 7:30 p.m.

MAY 7

THE ARKANSAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA presents “BACK TO THE 80S” at 7 p.m. at the Argenta Community Theater with music from the 1780s, 1880s and 1980s. Tickets are $20 and available online at www. argentacommunitytheater. com.

Choctaw Casino: TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS, Friday, May 8, Choctaw Event Center. Doors open: 7:00pm, showtime: 8:00pm, tickets: $20 / $35. Tickets on sale NOW!

MAY 19-JUNE 20

MAY 13

MURRY’S DINNER PLAYHOUSE presents, A MIGHTY FORTRESS. The Church Basement Ladies return in an all-new musical comedy. These pillars of the church stand strong with more crazy antics, great songs and lessons reluctantly learned. No one can dish out love, life and a casserole like the Church Basement Ladies. For show times and tickets, visit www.murrysdp.com.

COLONIAL WINE & SPIRITS will hold a tasting event with legendary chef TIM MORTON from 1620 Savoy. Join us as we explore some flavorful wine and food combinations. Stop in at Colonial’s tasting bar any time between 4-7 p.m..

MAY 23

MAY 8

Comedian SINBAD performs at the CenterStage Event Center at Choctaw Casino in Pocola at 8 p.m. Tickets are $37.50-$50 and available through Ticketmaster at www. ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.

MAY 29

THE 17TH ANNUAL WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL will take place at Wildwood Park of the Arts from 6:30-9 p.m. This event pairs creative cuisine prepared by Little Rock’s finest chefs with hundreds of the world’s best wines courtesy of Glazer’s. Tickets are $75 and available at www.wildwoodpark.org.

Thank you!

AFTER DARK, CONT. Barbara Cade, Jessica Louise Camp, Sofia V. Gonzalez. Nichole Howard, Lisa Krannichfeld and Rachel Trusty, through May 10. 821-7275. BENTON DIANNE ROBERTS ART STUDIO AND GALLERY, 110 N. Market St.: Work by Dianne Roberts, classes. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 860-7467. BENTONVILLE 21C MUSEUM HOTEL, 200 N.E. A St.: “Duke Riley: See You at the Finish Line,” sculpture; “Blue: Matter, Mood and Melancholy,” photographs and paintings. 479-286-6500. C RY S TA L B R I D G E S M U S E U M O F AMERICAN ART, One Museum Way: “Fish Stories: Early Images of American Game Fish,” 20 color plates based on the original watercolors by sporting artist Samuel Kilbourne, through Sept. 21; “Van Gogh to Rothko,” masterworks from the AlbrightKnox Gallery, through June 1; American masterworks spanning four centuries. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon., Thu.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed., Fri.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun., closed Tue. 479-418-5700. THE PRESSROOM, 121 W. Central Ave.: TRUCK/ART: “Structural Defiance: Ba’aler Abstraction,” new work by Louis Watts, in the parking lot behind the coffee shop. CALICO ROCK CALICO ROCK ARTISAN COOPERATIVE, 105 Main St.: 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.

IN ROSE-PAPERED ROOMS: An exhibit of new paintings by Arkansas artist Grace Mikell Ramsey opens at Boswell Mourot Fine Art 6 p.m. Saturday and runs through May 23rd.

2012 and 2014; “John Harlan Norris: Public Face,” through May 3; “The Great Arkansas Quilt Show 3,” juried exhibit of contemporary quilts, through May 3; “Arkansas Made,” ongoing. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 324-9351. LAMAN LIBRARY ARGENTA BRANCH, 420 Main St., NLR: “Dennis McCann: A History.” 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 758-1720. LOCAL COLOUR, 5811 Kavanaugh Blvd.:

Rotating work by 27 artists in collective. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 265-0422. MUGS CAFE, 515 Main St., NLR: “The Original Selfie: Artists’ Self Portraits.” 4427778. RED DOOR GALLERY, 3715 JFK, NLR: Paula Jones, new paintings; Jim Goshorn, new sculpture; also sculpture by Joe Martin, paintings by Amy Hill-Imler, Theresa Cates and Patrick Cunningham, ornaments by D.

Wharton, landscapes by James Ellis, raku by Kelly Edwards and other works. 753-5227. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. STEPHANO’S FINE ART: 1813 N. Grant St.: New work by Mike Gaines, Maryam Moeeni, Ken Davis, John Kushmaul and Gene Brack. 563-4218. WILDWOOD PARK FOR THE ARTS, 20919 Denny Road: “Symbiotic: Art, Nature & Spirituality,” work in a variety of media by www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

AFTER DARK, CONT.

May 11-17th Presented By

GOLD PASS

FILMS. PARTY. REPEAT.

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Be a VIP at all screenings,panels, workshops and parties including the Opening and Closing Night Films. Discounted until April 29th. Visit littlerockfilmfestival.org to purchase. Use promo code: LRFFYEAH

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

CONWAY ART ON THE GREEN, Littleton Park, 1100 Bob Courtway: Paintings by Kristen Abbott, Eldridge Bagley, Nina Ruth Baker, Elizabeth Bogard, Steve Griffith, William M. McClanahan, Mary Lynn Nelson, Sheila Parsons and others. 501-499-3177. FORT SMITH REGIONAL ART MUSEUM, 1601 Rogers Ave.: “Dawn Holder: Several Collections of Commemorative Plates,” mixed media by Dawn Holder, through July 19; “The Orlanda Series,” printmaking by Anne Reichardt, through May 24. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 479-784-2787. HARRISON ARTISTS OF THE OZARKS, 124½ N. Willow St.: Work by Amelia Renkel, Ann Graffy, Christy Dillard, Helen McAllister, Sandy Williams and D. Savannah George. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thu.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun. 870-429-1683. HEBER SPRINGS BOTTLE TREE GALLERY, 514 Main St.: New silver collection by Mary Allison; also work by George Wittenberg, Judy Shumann, Priscilla Humay, April Shurgar, Julie Caswell, Jan Cobb, Johnathan Harris, Antzee Magruder, Ann Aldinger, Sondra Seaton and Bill and Gloria Garrison. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 501-590-8840. HOT SPRINGS

ALISON PARSONS GALLERY, 802 Central Ave.: Sculpture by Lori Arnold. 501-6253001. HOT SPRINGS FINE ARTS CENTER, 626 Central Ave.: “The Fine Artworks of Hot Springs,” curated show of works inspired by Hot Springs, through May. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 501-624-0489. HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK CULTURAL CENTER, Ozark Bathhouse: “Arkansas Champion Trees: An Artist’s Journey,” colored pencil drawings by Linda Williams Palmer, through August. Noon-5 p.m. Fri.Sun. 501-620-6715. NATIONAL PARK COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 101 College Drive: “The Lost Highway,” scale models of roadside architecture of the 1950s by David Rose, library, through June. 501-760-4222. JONESBORO ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, Bradbury Gallery: “Spring 2015 Senior Exhibition,” work by Sylvia M. Clemmons, Noel Miller, Penny Jo Pausch and Shawn Wright. Noon to 5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 2-5 p.m. Sun. 870-9722567. PERRYVILLE SUDS GALLERY, Courthouse Square: Paintings by Dottie Morrissey, Alma Gipson, Al Garrett Jr., Phyllis Loftin, Alene Otts, Mauretta Frantz, Raylene Finkbeiner, Kathy Williams and Evelyn Garrett. Noon-6 p.m. Wed.-Fri, noon-4 p.m. Sat. 501-766-7584.

PINE BLUFF ARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER FOR SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS GALLERIES, 701 S. Main St.: “Familiar Figures: Drawings by Alonzo Ford,” through May 16; “Bombs, Bones and Bacteria,” mixed media by Robert Reep and Tom Richard, through June 20. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat. 870536-3375.

CONTINUING HISTORY, SCIENCE MUSEUM EXHIBITS

ARKANSAS INLAND MARITIME MUSEUM, North Little Rock: The USS Razorback submarine tours. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 371-8320. ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD MUSEUM, Camp Robinson: Artifacts on military history, Camp Robinson and its predecessor, Camp Pike, also a gift shop. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.Fri., audio tour available at no cost. 212-5215. ARKANSAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME MUSEUM, Verizon Arena, NLR: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 663-4328. 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.: Permanent exhibits on the Clinton administration. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. $7 adults; $5 college students, seniors, retired military; $3 ages 6-17. 370-8000. HISTORIC ARKANSAS MUSEUM, 200 E. 3rd St.: Historic tavern, refurbished 19th century structures from original city, permanent exhibits on the Bowie knife and Arkansas’s Native American tribes (“We Walk in Two Worlds”), also changing exhibits. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 324-9351. MacARTHUR MUSEUM OF ARKANSAS MILITARY HISTORY, MacArthur Park: “Waging Modern Warfare”; “Gen. Wesley Clark”; “Vietnam, America’s Conflict”; “Undaunted Courage, Proven Loyalty: Japanese American Soldiers in World War II. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-4 p.m. Sun. 376-4602. MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY, 500 President Clinton Ave.: “Wiggle Worms,” science program for pre-K children 10 -10:30 a.m. every Tue. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun., $10 ages 13 and older, $8 ages 1-12, free to members and children under 1. 396-7050. OLD STATE HOUSE MUSEUM, 300 W. Markham: “Different Strokes,” the history of bicycling and places cycling in Arkansas, featuring artifacts, historical pictures and video, through February 2016. 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 fishing and hunting and the state Game and Fish Commission. 907-0636. CALICO ROCK CALICO ROCK MUSEUM, Main Street: Displays on Native American cultures, steamboats, the railroad and local history. www.calicorockmuseum.com. ENGLAND TOLTEC MOUNDS STATE PARK, U.S. 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.

JACKSONVILLE JACKSONVILLE MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY, 100 Veterans Circle: 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. MORRILTON MUSEUM OF AUTOMOBILES, Petit Jean Mountain: Permanent exhibit of more than 50 cars from 1904-1967 depicting the evolution of the automobile. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 7 days. 501-727-5427. PINE BLUFF

ARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER FOR SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS, 701 S. Main St.: “Exploring the Frontier: Arkansas 1540-1840,” Arkansas Discovery Network hands-on exhibition; “Heritage Detectives: Discovering Arkansas’ Hidden Heritage.” 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat. 870-536-3375. POTTSVILLE POTTS INN, 25 E. Ash St.: Preserved 1850s stagecoach station on the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, with period furnishings, log structures, hat museum, doll museum, doctor’s office, antique farm equipment. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed.-Sat. $5 adults, $2 students, 5 and under free. 479-968-9369.

ROGERS HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 322 S. Second St.: “Rebels, Federals and Bushwackers,” through Dec. 6; “Here Comes the Bride,” objects from the museum’s collection tell the story of the changes in weddings from the 1870s through today, through May; “IMAGINE: A NEW Rogers Historical Museum,” conceptual designs of new exhibition areas to be built. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon., Wed.-Sun., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tue. 479-6210-1154. SCOTT SCOTT PLANTATION SETTLEMENT: 1840s log cabin, one-room school house, tenant houses, smokehouse and artifacts on plantation life. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thu.-Sat. 351-0300. www.scottconnections.org.

ROGERS

INSPIRING | CULTURE-CURRENT | ORIGINAL

ConCeived and direCted by nicole capri WRiTTen By Bobby Banister, conly Basham, mark Binns, nicole capri, sam clark, Robert Frost, Jimmy landfair and charity vance Performed by more than 60 of The Rep’s most talented young artist alumni, project Élan is an inspiring, culTuRe-cuRRenT musical that seeks to shed light on the individual and universal needs of the millennial generation. Featuring a diveRse musical score with oRiginal songs from almost every genre of music, project Élan is a moving and revealing experience that eveRy geneRaTion can appreciate.

ARKANSAS REPERTORY THEATRE MAY 5-16 | TICKETS ONLINE AT THEREP.ORg Sponsored by Judy Tenenbaum | susan and herren hickingbotham www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

Dining WHAT’S COOKIN’ THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ALLIANCE of Arkansas will hold its annual crawfish and shrimp boil fundraiser from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Argenta Plaza, 520 Main St. in North Little Rock. Regular tickets are $45 with a $5 early-bird discount if purchased before May 1. The price includes all-you-can-eat crawfish, shrimp, sausage, the fixin’s, beer and kidfriendly drinks. A V.I.P. (very important preservationists) party precedes the event from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. It includes a tour of the North Little Rock History Commission and gourmet snacks and beer from Diamond Bear Brewing Co., hurricanes, wine and sweet treats from Loblolly Creamery. Those tickets are $70, or $60 if purchased before May 1. Go to preservearkansas.org or call 372-4757 for more information or to buy tickets.

DINING CAPSULES

AMERICAN

1 620 SAVOY Fine dining in a swank space, with a menu redone by the same owners of Cache downtown. The scallops are especially nice. 1620 Market St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-221-1620. D Mon.-Sat., BR Sun. A D A M S C AT F I S H & C AT E R I N G Catering company in Little Rock with carry-out trailers in Russellville and Perryville. 215 N. Cross St. All CC. $-$$. 501-336-4399. LD Tue.-Fri. AFTERTHOUGHT BISTRO AND BAR The restaurant side of the Afterthought Bar (also called the Afterthought Bistro and Bar) features crab cakes, tuna tacos, chicken tenders, fries, sandwiches, burgers and, as entrees, fish and grits, tuna, ribeye, chicken and dumplings, pasta and more. Live music in the adjoining bar, also private dining room. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. 501-663-1196. ALL ABOARD RESTAURANT & GRILL Burgers, catfish, chicken tenders and such in this train-themed restaurant, where an elaborately engineered minilocomotive delivers patrons’ meals. 6813 Cantrell Road. No alcohol, All CC. 501-975-7401. LD daily. ALLEY OOPS The restaurant at C re e k w o o d P l a z a ( n e a r t h e K a n i s Bowman intersection) is a neighborhood feedbag for major medical institutions with the likes of plate lunches, burgers and homemade desserts. Remarkable chess pie. 11900 K a n i s R o a d . F u l l b a r, A l l C C . $ - $ $ . 501-221-9400. LD Mon.-Sat. ASHER DAIRY BAR An old-line dairy b a r t h a t s e r v e s u p m a d e - t o - o rd e r burgers, foot-long “Royal” hot dogs and old-fashioned shakes and CONTINUED ON PAGE 53 50

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

A good place to pig out Tusk & Trotter lives up to hype.

ew restaurants in the state have generated as much buzz as Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie did when it opened four years ago. Being the new kid on the block with an eclectic nose-to-tail menu served chef Rob Nelson well as an initial selling point, but despite our glowing review from 2012, we approached Tusk & Trotter with a healthy dose of skepticism in 2015. After all, “farm to table” and “Ozark High South Cuisine” have become buzzwords in Arkansas since those initial impressions of the brasserie were formed, and the real question now was to see if the eatery still impressed after some of the new had worn off. From our recent trip, we can easily say that Tusk & Trotter is as good as ever, and judging by the packed dining room, we aren’t the only ones who think so. This is a place that is affordable and innovative — and the simple, fresh menu is just as delicious and compelling now as it ever was. First things first: Get the Charcuterie & Cheese Board ($15), because this is one of the finest examples of a meat-and-cheese sampler we’ve found. Of particular note is the peppery duck pastrami served in thick slices — it manages to keep its identity as duck while hitting just the right notes that good pastrami should. The country pate was also a revelation, moist and rich — the perfect companion to the olives and mixed nuts served to the side. A selection of cheeses and a juicy alligator sausage rounded out an experience that would have left us happy

ADD IT TO YOUR LIST: Tusk & Trotter in Bentonville.

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

with Tusk & Trotter even if we had stopped there. We’re glad we didn’t stop there, though, because the rest of our meal left us in a state of sheer bliss. Want a play on salad that will leave you surprised? The Crispy Pig Ear Salad ($8) is the way to go. Fresh spring greens are lightly tossed with pecans, rosy-red grape tomatoes, cheese and thin strips of crisp-fried pig’s ear. Does the idea of eating a pig’s ear bother you? Imagine the excellent crunch that a good crouton adds to a salad mixed with the savory, smoky depth of bacon bits — you’ve got the pig’s ear salad. There was nothing about this salad we would have changed; it exceeded our expectations. Because we arrived on a day when brunch was being served, we decided to go for a breakfast dish, the Fried Egg Tartine ($9). Thick-cut bacon and a delectable fried egg were the superstars here, but it was the flavorful bread and horseradish crema that snuck up on us with such a masterful punch that once we’d taken a bite we had to pause a moment and reflect on what we’d just consumed. Where Tusk & Trotter really scored points with us was not so much with the tartine (which we expected to be good), but with something as simple as a side of potatoes. Yes, potatoes. We’ve been disappointed time and again by the various cottage fries, hash browns and roasted potatoes served to us in

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

BELLY UP Check out the Times’ food blog, Eat Arkansas arktimes.com

the name of brunch, but we took a chance on the brasserie’s version of potatoes and were so impressed with their crunchy exterior and creamy interior that we suggest to anyone who wants to serve potatoes with brunch, eat these and then emulate them. Not greasy, not slimy, not mush — just good potatoes, lightly seasoned and served hot and fresh. This solid showing at brunch made us hungry to return to try dishes like hanger steak with eggs,

eggs Benedict made with that lovely duck pastrami, and more exotic dishes like lox and a bagel served with fried capers. Unfortunately, by that time we were approaching full and so contented ourselves with cocktails. Of utmost importance to any brunch is a Bloody Mary, and the version served at Tusk & Trotter was strong without being overwhelmingly boozy and had a nice bite of spice that worked as a civilized wake-me-up but CONTINUED ON PAGE 57

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Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie 110 SE A St. Bentonville 479-268-4494 tuskandtrotter.com

QUICK BITE Tusk & Trotter caters to both the formal and the casual with a full-service dining room divided from the more laid-back lounge. HOURS 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday (kitchen closed 2-2:30 p.m. Sun.) OTHER INFO All major credit cards, full bar. CONTINUED ON PAGE 57 www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

MOVIE REVIEW

‘EX MACHINA’: Alicia Vikander stars as a sexy sentient creation trying to pass for human.

Cyber seduction ‘Ex Machina’ is sleek, smart sci-fi. BY SAM EIFLING

asually elegant in its concept and spookily claustrophobic in execution, “Ex Machina” plops us into the near future, when a hermit genius has devised a foxy android capable of convincing even the audience that she’s got a thing for nerds. A coder named Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) finds that he’s won some kind of company lottery at Bluebook, a tech behemoth that handles nearly all of the world’s Web searches. Next thing we know, he’s in a helicopter traversing (Alaskan?) wilderness for hours on the way to spend a vacation week with the company’s founding savant, Nathan (Oscar Isaac), a dedicated student of the work hard, play hard, drink hard school of solitary brilliance. The two men seem alone in Nathan’s way-backwoods nature compound until Nathan explains the 52

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more serious aim of the trip: Caleb must interact with an artificial intelligence he calls Ava (Alicia Vikander) and report on whether she could pass for fully human. For a sci-fi fantasy, then, “Ex Machina” starts out with an almost untenably simple premise: quality assurance testing. Caleb is off-kilter the moment he meets Nathan; the former, as a younger employee, and one without a lot of social input in his life, is easily jostled by the insouciant brashness and physicality of his superior. Isaac plays Nathan as Elon Musk dunked in tequila and chased with a wheatgrass shot, and it’s no small feat, toward the tone of the movie, as to how easily and affably he dominates his charge. When Caleb sits down to chat with Ava, however, he realizes he’s

looking well into the future, and from a privileged perch. She’s earnest and keen, presented by writer/director Alex Garland as a perfectly human face and hands set against a curvy mechanized body that shows off the whirring inner workings of her arms and guts. Separated from Caleb by the thick, clear walls of what could only be called her cell, Ava shows curiosity about the outside world. Where, Caleb asks, would she like to go first, if not in this remote compound? “A traffic intersection,” she replies. She wants most deeply to go people-watching. The sensuality of her form and the flattery Caleb clearly feels as she dotes on his thoughts burble as a subtext in “Ex Machina.” If you’ve seen any of the film’s advertising or heard discussions about it (which you should ignore, by the way, and simply go see the movie, if you’re into smart, sleek science fiction; I’m including this review in that lot, as well, and don’t worry, it’ll still be here when you finish), then you’re already aware that Ava gives off an unsubtle come-hither vibe, to put it mildly. Nathan says he designed her so fetchingly to make her seem more

human, while Caleb suspects her sensuality is meant to disarm him, or any other evaluator. For, of course, a robot can more convincingly seem human if she can steer an observer’s thoughts. Set against the wider genre, “Ex Machina,” with its juxtaposition of sex and robotics, plays almost as a prequel to “Blade Runner” or as “Her” writ small and dark. Seduction and sexuality, fundamental yet endlessly complex aspects of being human, nestle snugly into discussions of artificial intelligence. How better for a robot to hack into human than to exploit our idiot love-brains? Vikander as Ava commands a coolto-the-touch vulnerability that serves this end well. The most advanced scientific marvel of all time turns out to have a coquettish streak in reserve, meant, like the rest of the film, to be completely disarming. “Ex Machina” feels draggy at times, with a small cast and slow pacing, but you will do best to trust that it knows what it’s doing, and to ease in for the ride. Its intelligence may be artificial but it is also firmly in control.

DINING CAPSULES, CONT. malts. 7105 Colonel Glenn Road. No alcohol, No CC, CC. $-$$. 501-5621085. BLD Tue.-Sat. AT H L E T I C C L U B S P O R T S B A R & GRILL What could be mundane fare gets delightful twists and embellishments here. 11301 Financial Centre P a r k w a y. F u l l b a r, A l l C C . $ $ - $ $ $ . 501-312-9000. LD daily. B-SIDE The little breakfast place i n t h e f o r m e r p a r t y ro o m o f L i l l y ’s DimSum Then Some turns tradition o n i t s e a r, o f f e r i n g F r e n c h t o a s t wrapped in bacon on a stick, a musthave dish called “biscuit mountain” and beignets with lemon curd. 11121 R o d n e y P a r h a m R o a d . F u l l b a r, A l l CC. $$. 501-716-2700. B-BR Sat.-Sun. BAR LOUIE Mammoth portions of very decent bar/bistro fare with an amazingly varied menu that should satisfy every taste. Some excellent drink deals abound, too. 11525 Cantrell Road, Suite 924. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-228-0444. LD daily, BR Sat.-Sun. BIG WHISKEY’S AMERICAN BAR AND GRILL A modern grill pub in the River Market District with all the b e l l s a n d w h i s t l e s - 3 0 f l a t - s c re e n TVs, whiskey on tap, plus boneless w i n g s , b u rg e r s , s t e a k s , s o u p s a n d salads. 225 E Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-324-2449. LD daily. BOBBY’S COUNTRY COOKIN’ One of the better plate lunch spots i n t h e a re a , w i t h s o m e o f t h e b e s t fried chicken and pot roast around, a changing daily casserole and wonderful homemade pies. 301 N . S h a c k l e f o rd R o a d , S u i t e E 1 . N o alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-224-9500. L Mon.-Fri. BOGIE’S BAR AND GRILL The former Bennigan’s retains a similar theme: a menu filled with burgers, salads and giant desserts, plus a few steak, fish and chicken main courses. There are b ig -scree n TVs f or s por t s f a ns a nd lots to drink, more reason to return than the food. 120 W. Pershing Blvd. N L R . F u l l b a r, A l l C C . $ $ . 5 0 1 - 8 1 2 0019. BD daily. B O O K E N D S C A F E A g re a t s p o t t o enjoy lunch with friends or a casual c u p o f c o ff e e a n d a f a v o r i t e b o o k . Serving coffee and pastries early and sandwiches, soups and salads available after 11 a.m. Cox Creative Center. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501918-3091. BL Mon.-Sat. THE BOX Cheeseburgers and french fries are greasy and wonderful and not like their fast-food cousins. 1023 W. Seventh St. No alcohol, CC. $-$$. 501-372-8735. L Mon.-Fri. B U F FA L O G R I L L A g re a t c r i s p y - o ff the-griddle cheeseburger and handcut fries star at this family-friendly stop. 1611 Rebsamen Park Road. Full bar, CC. $$. 501-296-9535. LD daily. CAFE 201 The hotel restaurant in the Crowne Plaza serves up a nice lunch buffet. 201 S. Shackleford Road. Full b ar, All CC. $$. 501 - 2 2 3 - 3 0 0 0 . B L D Mon.-Fri., BD Sat., BR Sun. CATFISH CITY AND BBQ GRILL Basic fried fish and sides, including green tomato pickles, and now with tasty

ribs and sandwiches in beef, pork and sausage. 1817 S. University Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-6637224. LD Tue.-Sat. CHEERS IN THE HEIGHTS Good burgers and sandwiches, vegetarian o ff e r i n g s a n d s a l a d s a t l u n c h , a n d fish specials and good steaks in the evening. 2010 N. Van Buren. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-5937. LD Mon.-Sat. 1901 Club Manor Drive. Maumelle. Full bar, All CC. 501-8516200. LD daily, BR Sun. C H I C K E N WA N G & C A F E R e g u l a r, b a r b e c u e , s p i c y, l e m o n , g a r l i c pepper, honey mustard and Buffalo wings. Open late. 8320 Colonel Glenn Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-562-1303. LD Mon.-Sat. COLD STONE CREAMERY This national chain takes a base flavor (everything from Sweet Cream to Chocolate Cake Batter) and adds your choice of ingredients or a com bi na t i o n o f i n g re d i e n t s i t c a l l s a Creation. Cold Stone also serves up a variety of ice cream cakes and cupcakes. 12800 Chenal Parkway. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-225-7000. LD daily. D AV E A N D R AY ’ S D O W N T O W N DINER Breakfast daily featuring b i s c u i t s a n d g r a v y, h o m e f r i e s , sausage and made-to-order omelets. Lunch buffet with four choices of m e a t s a n d e i g h t v e g g i e s . 8 2 4 W. Capitol Ave. No alcohol. $. 501-3728816. BL Mon.-Fri. DAVID’S BURGERS Serious hamburgers, steak salads, homemade custard. 101 S. Bowman Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-2278333. LD Mon.-Sat. 1100 Highway 6 5 N . C o n w a y. N o a l c o h o l , A l l C C . $-$$. (501) 327-3333 4000 McCain Blvd. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-353-0387. LD Mon.-Sat. E’S BISTRO Despite the name, think tearoom rather than bistro — there’s no wine, for one thing, and t h e r e i s t e a . B u t t h e r e ’s n o t h i n g t e a ro o m y a b o u t t h e p o r t i o n s h e re . Tr y t h e h e a p i n g g r i l l e d s a l m o n B LT on a buttery croissant. 3812 JFK Boulevard. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-771-6900. L Tue.-Sat., D Thu.-Sat. FLIGHT DECK A not-your-typical daily lunch special highlights this spot, which also features inventive sand wiches, salads and a popular burger. Central Flying Service at Adams Fi el d. B e e r a n d w i n e , Al l C C . $- $$. 501-975-9315. BL Mon.-Sat. FORTY TWO Solid choice for weekday l u n c h , f e a t u r i n g e n t re e s a n d s a n d wiches from around the world. 1200 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-537-0042. L Mon.-Sat. HILLCREST ARTISAN MEATS A fancy c h a rc u t e r i e a n d b u t c h e r s h o p w i t h excellent daily soup and sandwich specials. Limited seating is available. 2807 Kavanaugh Blvd. Suite B. No alcohol, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-6716328. L Mon.-Sat. JASON’S DELI A huge selection of sandwiches (wraps, subs, po’ boys and pitas), salads and spuds, as well

a s re d b e a n s a n d r i c e a n d c h i c k e n pot pie. Plus a large selection of heart healthy and light dishes. 301 N. Shackleford Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-954-8700. LD daily. JIMMY JOHN’S GOURMET SANDWICHES Illinois-based sandw i c h c h a i n t h a t d o e s n ’t s k i m p o n w h a t ’s b e t w e e n t h e b u n s . 4 1 2 0 E . McCain Blvd. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-945-9500. LD daily. 700 South Broadway St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-372-1600. LD daily. KITCHEN EXPRESS Delicious “meat a n d t h re e ” re s t a u r a n t o ff e r i n g b i g servings of homemade soul food. Maybe Little Rock’s best fried chicken. 4600 Asher Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-666-3500. BLD Mon.-Sat., LD Sun. LASSIS INN One of the state’s oldest restaurants still in the same location and one of the best for catfish and buffalo fish. 518 E 27th St. Beer and wine, All CC. $$. 501-372-8714. LD Tue.-Sat. LINDA’S CORNER Southern and soul food. 2601 Barber St. 501-372-1511. MADDIE’S PLACE Owner/chef Brian Deloney has built quite a thriving business with a pretty simple formula: making almost everything from scratch and matching hefty portions of Cajun and Creole with reasonable prices in a fun, upbeat atmosphere. M a d d i e ’s o ff e r s a s t e l l a r s e l e c t i o n o f d r a f t b e e r s a n d a l a rg e r, b e t t e r wine list than you might expect. 1615 Rebsamen Park Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-660-4040. LD Tue.-Sat. MARIE’S MILFORD TRACK II Healthy and tasty are the key words at this deli/grill, featuring hot entrees, soups, sandwiches, salads and killer desserts. 9813 W Markham St. No alcohol, CC. $-$$. 501-225-4500. BL Mon.-Sat. MARKETPLACE GRILLE Big servings of steak, seafood, chicken, pasta, pizza and other rich comfort-style foods. 11600 Pleasant Ridge Road. F u l l b a r, A l l C C . $ $ - $ $ $ . 5 0 1 - 2 2 1 3939. LD daily. MASON’S DELI AND GRILL Heaven for those who believe everything is better with sauerkraut on top. T h e Ba v a r i a n R e u b e n , a t r a d i t i o n al R e u b e n m a d e w i t h B o a r ’s H e a d c o r n e d b e e f , s p i c y m u s t a rd , s a u e rkraut, Muenster cheese and marble rye, is among the best we’ve had in town. 400 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-376-3354. LD Mon.-Sat. M I D T O W N B I L L I A R D S Yo u ’ l l f i n d perhaps the city’s finest burgers in this all-night dive. But be prepared to smell like stale cigarette smoke and grease once you’re finished. 1 3 1 6 M a i n S t . F u l l b a r, C C . $ - $ $ . 501-372-9990. D daily. M I M I ’ S C A F E Breakfast is our meal of choice here at this upscale West Coast chain. Portions are plenty t o l a s t y o u t h ro u g h t h e a f t e r n o o n , especially if you get a muffin on the side. Middle-America comfort-style entrees make up other meals, from pot roast to pasta dishes. 11725

C h e n a l P a r k w a y. F u l l b a r, A l l C C . $$-$$$. 501-221-3883. BLD daily, BR Sun. MORNINGSIDE BAGELS Tasty New Yo r k - s t y l e b o i l e d b a g e l s , m a d e daily. 10848 Maumelle Blvd. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-753-6960. BL daily. NEWK’S EXPRESS CAFE Gourmet sandwiches, salads and pizzas. 4317 Wa r d e n R o a d . N L R . B e e r, A l l C C . $-$$. 501-753-8559. LD daily. ORANGE LEAF YOGURT Upscale self-serve national yogurt chain. 11525 Cantrell Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-227-4522. LD daily. RED MANGO National yogurt and smoothie chain whose appeal lies in adjectives like “all-natural,” “nonfat,” “gluten-free” and “probiotic.” 5621 Kavanaugh Blvd. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-663-2500. BLD daily. SADDLE CREEK WOODFIRED GRILL Upscale chain dining in Lakewood, with a menu full of appetizers, burgers, chicken, fish and other fare. It’s the smoke-kissed steaks, however, that make it a winner — even in Little Rock’s beef-heavy restaurant market. 2703 Lakewood Village. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-812-0883. S A M ’ S S O U T H E R N E AT E R Y Shreveport, La., chain features large menu of salads, shrimp, fried fish, po’boys, burgers, cheesesteak sandwiches and more. Also in Pine Bluff: 1704 E. Harding Ave., 879-774-1974. 6205 Baseline Road. 501-562-2255. S I M P LY N A J I Y YA H ’ S F I S H B O AT & MORE Good catfish and corn fritters. 1717 Wright Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-562-3474. BLD Mon.-Sat. SLICK’S SANDWICH SHOP & DELI Meat-and-two plate lunches in state office building. 101 E. Capitol Av e . N o a l c o h o l . 5 0 1 - 3 7 5 - 3 4 2 0 . B L Mon.-Fri. S P E C TAT O R S G R I L L A N D P U B Burgers, soups, salads and other beer food, plus live music on weeke n d s . 1 0 1 2 W. 3 4 t h S t . N L R . F u l l bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-791-0990. LD Mon.-Sat. S P O R T S PA G E O n e o f t h e l a rg e s t , j u i c i e s t , m o s t f l a v o r f u l b u rg e r s i n town. Grilled turkey and hot cheese on sourdough gets praise, too. Don’t want a burger or sandwich? They have good daily lunch specials. 414 Louisiana St. Beer and wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-372-9316. L Mon.-Fri., D Fri. SUFFICIENT GROUNDS Great coffee, good bagels and pastries, and a limited lunch menu. 124 W. Capitol. No alcohol, CC. $. 501-372-1009. B L M o n . - F r i . 4 2 5 W. C a p i t o l . N o alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-372-4594. BL Mon.-Fri. SUGIE’S Catfish and all the trimmings. 4729 Baseline Road. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-570-0414. LD daily. T.G.I. FRIDAY’S This national chain w as o n t h e v e rge o f st al e be fo re a redo not long ago, and the update has done wonders for the food as well as the surroundings. The lunch c o m b o s a re a g re a t d e a l , a n d t h e s t e a k s a r e n ’ t b a d . I t ’s d e s i g n e d for the whole family, and succeeds. www.arktimes.com

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GROW grow LOCAL ARKANSAS TIMES

Appetizers and desserts are always good. 2820 Lakewood Village Drive,. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-758-2277. LD daily. THE TAVERN SPORTS GRILL Burgers, b a r b e c u e a n d m o re . 1 7 8 1 5 C h e n a l P a r k w a y. F u l l b a r, A l l C C . $ - $ $ . 501-830-2100. LD daily. TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE Smoothies, sandwiches and salads in an art deco former YMCA. 524 Broadway. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 246-3145. BLD Mon.-Fri. (closes at 6 p.m.) 10221 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-224-2233. BLD daily 12911 Cantrell Road. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-376-2233. BLD daily. TWIN PEAKS ‘Hearty man food,” such as “well-built sandwiches” and plenty of cleavage on the side. 10 Shackleford Drive. Full bar. 501-2241729. V I C T O R I A N G A R D E N We ’ v e f o u n d t h e f a re q u i t e t a s t y a n d s o m e w h a t daring and different with its healthy, balanced entrees and crepes. 4801 North Hills Blvd. NLR. $-$$. 501-7584299. L Mon.-Sat. WHITE WATER TAVERN Good locally sourced bar food. 2500 W. 7th St. Full b a r, A l l C C . $ - $ $ . 5 0 1 - 3 7 5 - 8 4 0 0 . D Tue., Thu., Fri., Sat.

ASIAN

B E N I H A N A J A PA N E S E STEAKHOUSE Enjoy the cooking s h o w, m a k e s u r e y o u g e t a l i t t l e filet with your meal, and do plenty of dunking in that fabulous ginger sauce. 2 Riverfront Place. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-374-8081. LD Sun.-Fri., D Sat. CHI’S DIMSUM & BISTRO A huge menu spans the Chinese provinces and offers a few twists on the usual local offerings, plus there’s authentic Hong Kong dimsum available. 6 Shackleford Drive. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-221-7737. LD daily. 17200 Chenal Parkway. No alcohol, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-821-8000. LD Mon.-Sat., D Sun. 3421 Old Cantrell Road. 501-916-9973. C H I N A TA S T E C o n v e n t i o n a l m e n u with an online ordering system (though no delivery). 9218 Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol. $-$$. 501-227-8800. LD Mon.-Sat. FAR EAST ASIAN CUISINE Old favorites such as orange beef or chicken and Hunan green beans are still prepared with care at what used to be Hunan out west. 11610 Pleasant R i d g e R o a d . F u l l b a r, A l l C C . $ $ . 501-219-9399. LD daily. FORBIDDEN GARDEN Classic, American-ized Chinese food in a modern setting. Try the Basil Chicken. 14810 Cantrell Road. Beer and wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-868-8149. LD daily. FU LIN Quality in the made-to-order entrees is high, as is the quantity. 200 N. Bowman Road. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-225-8989. LD daily, BR Sun. I G I B O N J A PA N E S E R E S TA U R A N T I t ’s a c o m p l e x p l a c e , w h e r e t h e food is almost always good and the ambiance and service never fail to 54

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please. The Bento box with tempura shrimp and California rolls and other delights stand out. 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road. Beer and wine, All CC. $$. 501-217-8888. LD Mon.-Sat. KIYEN’S SEAFOOD STEAK AND SUSHI Sushi, steak and other Japanese fare. 17200 Chenal Parkway. F u l l b a r, A l l C C . $ $ - $ $ $ . 5 0 1 - 8 2 1 7272. LD daily. K O B E J A PA N E S E S T E A K H O U S E & SUSHI Though answering the need for more hibachis in Little Rock, Kobe stands taller in its sushi offerings than at the grill. 11401 Financial C e n t r e P a r k w a y. F u l l b a r, A l l C C . $$-$$$. 501-225-5999. L Mon.-Sat. D daily. NEW FUN REE Reliable staples, plenty of hot and spicy options and dependable delivery. 418 W. 7th St. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-664-6657. LD Mon.-Sat. PA N D A G A R D E N L a r g e b u f f e t including Chinese favorites, a full on-demand sushi bar, a cold seafood bar, pie case, salad bar and dessert bar. 2604 S. Shackleford Road. Beer and wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-224-8100. LD daily. P E I W E I S o r t o f a m i n i a t u r e P. F. Chang’s, but a lot of fun and plenty good with all the Chang favorites we like, such as the crisp honey shrimp, dan dan noodles and pad thai. 205 N. University Ave. Beer and wine, All CC. $$. 501-280-9423. LD daily. P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO Nuevo Chinese from the Brinker chain. 317 S. Shackleford Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-225-4424. LD daily. S U P E R K I N G B U F F E T L a rg e b u ff e t with sushi and a Mongolian grill. 4000 Springhill Plaza Court. NLR. Beer and wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-9454802. LD daily. THE SOUTHERN GOURMASIAN Delicious Southern-Asian fusion. We crave the pork buns. Made the transition from food truck to brickand-mortar in 2015 to rave reviews. 219 West Capitol. Beer and wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-313-5645. LD Mon.-Sat. V A N L A N G C U I S I N E Te r r i f i c Vietnamese cuisine, particularly the way the pork dishes and the assortm e n t o f ro l l s a re p re s e n t e d . G re a t prices, too. Massive menu, but it’s u s e r- f r i e n d l y f o r l o c a l s w i t h f u l l English descriptions and numbers for easy ordering. 3600 S. University Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-5707700. LD daily.

BARBECUE

CAPITOL SMOKEHOUSE AND GRILL Beef, pork and chicken, all smoked to melting tenderness and doused with a choice of sauces. The crusty but tender backribs star. Side dishes are top quality. A plate lunch special is now available. 915 W. Capitol Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-3724227. L Mon.-Fri. C R O S S E Y E D P I G B B Q C O M PA N Y Tr a d i t i o n a l b a r b e c u e f a v o r i t e s smoked well such as pork ribs, beef brisket and smoked chicken. Miss Mary’s famous potato salad is full of

bacon and other goodness. Smoked items such as ham and turkeys available seasonally. 1701 Rebsamen Park Road. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-2650000. L Mon.-Sat., D Tue.-Fri. FA M O U S D AV E ’ S B B Q 2 2 5 N o r t h Shackleford Road. No alcohol. 501-221-3283. LD daily. FAT B O Y ’ S K I L L E R B A R - B - Q T h i s Landmark neighborhood strip center restaurant in the far southern reaches o f P u l a s k i C o u n t y f e a t u re s t e n d e r ribs and pork by a contest pitmaster. Skip the regular sauce and risk the h o t v a r i e t y, i t ’s f a r b e t t e r. 1 4 6 1 1 Arch Street. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-888-4998. L Mon.-Wed. and Fri.; L Thu. HB ’S BBQ Great slabs of meat with a v i n e g a r- b a s e d b a r b e c u e s a u c e , but ribs are served on Tuesday only. Other days, try the tasty pork sandwich. 6010 Lancaster. No alcohol, No CC. $-$$. 501-565-1930. LD Mon.-Fri. MICK’S BBQ, CATFISH AND GRILL Good burgers, picnic-worth deviled eggs and heaping barbecue sandwiches topped with sweet sauce. 3609 MacArthur Drive. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-791-2773. LD Mon.-Sun. S I M S B A R - B - Q U E G re a t s p a re r i b s , sandwiches, beef, half and whole c h i c k e n a n d a n a d d i c t i v e v i n e g a rmustard-brown sugar sauce unique f o r t h i s p a r t o f t h e c o u n t r y. 2 4 1 5 Broadway. Beer, CC. $-$$. 501-3726868. LD Mon.-Sat. 1307 John Barrow R o a d . B e e r, A l l C C . $ - $ $ . 5 0 1 - 2 2 4 2057. LD Mon.-Sat. 7601 Geyer S p r i n g s R o a d . B e e r, A l l C C . $ $ . 501-562-8844. LD Mon.-Sat.

EUROPEAN / ETHNIC

A L I B A B A A M i d d l e E a s t e r n re s t a u rant, butcher shop and grocery. 3400 S University Ave. No alcohol, All CC. 501-379-8011. BLD Mon.-Sat. BANANA LEAF INDIAN FOOD TRUCK Tasty Indian street food. 201 N Van Buren St. No alcohol, CC. $-$$. 501-227-0860. L Mon.-Fri. K H A L I L’ S P U B W i d e l y v a r i e d m e n u with European, Mexican and American influences. Go for the Bierocks, rolls filled with onions and beef. 110 S. Shackleford Road. Full b a r, A l l C C . $ $ . 5 0 1 - 2 2 4 - 0 2 2 4 . L D daily. BR Sun. T H E PA N T R Y O w n e r a n d s e l f proclaimed “food evangelist” Tomas Bohm does things the right way — buyin g local, making a lmos t everything from scratch and focusing on simple preparations of classic dishes. The menu stays relatively true to his C z e c h o s l o v a k i a n ro o t s , b u t t h e re ’s p len ty of cho ices t o s ui t a l l t a s t es . There’s also a nice happy-hour vibe. 11401 Rodney Parham Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-353-1875. LD Mon.-Fri., D Sat. S TA R O F I N D I A T h e b e s t I n d i a n restaurant in the region, with a unique buffet at lunch and some fabulous dishes at night (spicy curried dishes, tandoori chicken, lamb and veal, vegetarian). 301 N. Shackleford. Beer and wine, All CC.

$$. 501-227-9900. LD daily.

ITALIAN

CHUCK E. CHEESE’S Games, rides, prizes, food and entertainment for kids, big and small. 2706 S. Shackleford Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-225-2200. LD daily. DAMGOODE PIES A somewhat different Italian/pizza place, largely because of a spicy garlic white sauce that’s offered as an alternative to the t r a di t i on a l re d s a u c e . G o o d b re a d , too. 2701 Kavanaugh Blvd. Beer and wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-664-2239. L D d a i l y. 6 7 0 6 C a n t re l l R o a d . B e e r and wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-6642239. LD daily. 10720 Rodney Parham Road. Beer and wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 5 0 1 - 6 6 4 - 2 2 3 9 . L D d a i l y. 3 7 E a s t Center St. Fayetteville. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 479-444-7437. LD daily. GUSANO’S They make the tomatoey Chicago-style deep-dish pizza the w a y i t ’s d o n e i n t h e W i n d y C i t y. I t takes a little longer to come out of the oven, but it’s worth the wait. 313 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All C C . $ - $ $ . 5 0 1 - 3 7 4 - 1 4 4 1 . L D d a i l y. 2915 Dave Ward Drive. Conway. Full b a r, A l l C C . $ $ . 5 0 1 - 3 2 9 - 1 1 0 0 . L D daily. JAY’S PIZZA New York-style pizza by the slice. 400 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-3745297. L Mon.-Sat. LARRY’S PIZZA The buffet is the w a y t o g o — f re s h , h o t p i z z a , f u l l y loaded with ingredients, brought hot to your table, all for a low price. Many Central Arkansas locations. 1122 S. Center. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-224-8804. LD daily. 12911 C a n t re l l R o a d . N o a l c o h o l , A l l C C . $-$$. 501-224-8804. LD Mon.-Sat. NYPD PIZZA Plenty of tasty choices in the obvious New York police-like setting, but it’s fun. Only the pizza is cheesy. Even the personal pizzas c o m e i n i m p re s s i v e c o m b i n a t i o n s , and baked ziti, salads are more also a re a va i l a b l e . C h e a p s l i c e s p e c i a l s at lunch. 6015 Chenonceau Blvd., Suite 1. Beer and wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-868-3911. LD daily. VESUVIO Arguably Little Rock’s best Italian restaurant. The cheesy pasta b o w l s a r e s e n s a t i o n a l , b u t d o n ’t ignore the beef offerings. 1315 Breckenridge Drive. Full bar, All CC. $$$. 501-246-5422. D daily.

LATINO

CANTINA CINCO DE MAYO Friendly, tasty American-ized Mex. 3 Rahling Circle. Full bar, CC. $$. 501-821-2740. LD daily. C A S A M A N A N A G re a t g u a c a m o l e and garlic beans, superlative chips and salsa (red and green) and a broad s e l e c t i o n o f f re s h s e a f o o d , p l u s a deck out back. 6820 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-280-9888. L D d a i l y 1 8 3 2 1 C a n t re l l R o a d . F u l l bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-868-8822. LD daily 400 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. (501) 372-6637. BL Mon.-Sat. CASA MEXICANA Familiar Tex-Mex

style items all shine, in ample portions, and the steak-centered dishes are uniformly excellent. 7111 JFK Blvd. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-835-7876. LD daily. EL PORTON Good Mex for the price and a wide-ranging menu of dinner plates, some tasty cheese dip, and g r e a t s e r v i c e a s w e l l . 1 2 1 1 1 W. M a r k h a m S t . F u l l b a r, A l l C C . $ $ .

501-223-8588. LD daily. 5021 Warden R o a d . N L R . F u l l b a r, A l l C C . $ $ . 501-753-4630. LD daily. E L I E L L A Yo u ’ l l f i n d p e r h a p s t h e widest variety of street-style tacos i n C e n t r a l A r k a n s a s h e re — e v e r y thing from cabeza (steamed beef head) to lengua (beef tongue) to s u a d e ro ( t h i n - s l i c e d b e e f b r i s k e t ) . The Torta Cubano is a belly-buster.

7 P.M. THURSDAY, MAY 21 RON ROBINSON THEATER 100 RIVER MARKET JUNE 18: “NORTH BY NORTHWEST” JULY 16: “HANDS ON HARD BODY”

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DINING CAPSULES, CONT. I t ’s a s a n d w i c h m a d e w i t h c h o r i z o , pastor, grilled hot dogs and a fried egg. The menu is in Spanish, but t h e w a i t s t a ff i s a c c o m m o d a t i n g t o gringos. 7700 Baseline Road. Beer, All CC. $. 501-539-5355. LD daily. THE FOLD BOTANAS BAR Gourmet tacos and botanas, or small plates. Try the cho lula pe s ca da t a co. 3 5 0 1 O l d C a n t r e l l R o a d . F u l l b a r, C C . $$-$$$. 501-916-9706. LD daily. LA CASA REAL 11121 N Rodney P a r h a m R o a d . F u l l b a r, A l l C C . 501-219-4689. LD Mon.-Sat. LA HACIENDA Creative, fresh-tasting entrees and traditional favorites, all painstakingly prepared in a festive atmosphere. Great taco salad, nachos, and maybe the best fajitas around. 3024 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-661-0600. LD daily. 200 Highway 65 N. Conway. All CC. $$. 501-327-6077. LD daily. LA VAQUERA The tacos at this truck are more expensive than most, but they’re still cheap eats. One of the few trucks where you can order a combination plate that comes with rice, beans and lettuce. 4731 Baseline Road. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-565-3108. LD Mon.-Sat. LAS DELICIAS Levy-area mercado with a taqueria and a handful of booths in the back of the store. 3401 Pike Ave. NLR. Beer, All CC. $. 501-812-4876. BLD daily. L A S PA L M A S M e x i c a n c h a i n w i t h a massive menu of choices. 10402 Stagecoach Road. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-455-8500. LD daily 4154 E.

McCain Blvd. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. LD daily. LONCHERIA MEXICANA ALICIA The best taco truck in West Little Rock. Located in the Walmart parking lot on Bowman. 620 S. Bowman. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-612-1883. L Mon.-Sat. M A R I S C O S E L J A R O C H O Tr y t h e Camarones a la Diabla (grilled shrimp in a smoky pepper sauce) or the Cocktail de Campechana (shrimp, octopus and oyster in a cilantro and onion-laced tomato sauce). 7319 B a s e l i n e R o a d . B e e r, A l l C C . $ - $ $ . 501-565-3535. Serving BLD Fri.-Wed. MERCADO SAN JOSE From the outside, it appears to just be another Mexican grocery store. Inside, you’ll find one of Little Rock’s best Mexican b a k e r i e s a n d a re s t a u r a n t i n b a c k serving tortas and tacos for lunch. 7411 Geyer Springs Road. Beer, CC. $. 501-565-4246. BLD daily. M E X I C O C H I Q U I T O Some suggest cheese dip was born at this Central A r k a n s a s s t a p l e , w h e re y o u ’ l l f i n d hearty platters of boldly spiced, inexpensive food that compete well with those at the “authentic” joints. 13924 Cantrell Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-217-0700. LD daily. 1524 W. Main St. Jacksonville. No alcohol. $$. 501-982-0533. LD daily. 4511 Camp R o b i n s o n R o a d . N L R . F u l l b a r, A l l CC. $$. 501-771-1604. LD daily. 11406 W. Markham. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-217-0647. LD daily. MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL A “buildyour-own-burrito” place, with several tacos and nachos to choose from as

A GOOD PLACE TO PIG OUT, CONT. well. Wash it down with a beer from their large selection. 12312 Chenal Pkwy. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-223-3378. LD daily. SUPER 7 GROCERY STORE This Mexican grocery/video store/taqueria has a great daily buffet featuring a changing assortment of real Mexican cooking. Fresh tortillas pressed by hand and grilled, homemade salsas, beans as good as beans get. Plus soup every day. 1415 Barrow Road. Beer, No CC. $. 501-219-2373. BLD daily. SUPERMERCADO SIN FRONTERAS S h i n y, l a rg e M e x i c a n g ro c e r y w i t h a b a k e r y a n d re s t a u r a n t a t t a c h e d . 4918 Baseline Road. Beer, All CC. $$. 501-562-4206. BLD daily. TAQUERIA JALISCO SAN JUAN The taco truck for the not-so-adventurous crowd. They claim to serve “original M e x i c o C i t y t a c o s , ” b u t i t ’s t h e i r chicken tamales that make it worth a visit. They also have tortas, quesadillas and fajitas. 11200 Markham St. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-541-5533. LD daily. TAQUERIA SAMANTHA On Friday and Saturday nights, this mobile taqueria parks outside of Jose’s Club Latino in a parking lot on the corner of Third and Broadway. 300 Broadway Ave. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-568-5264. D Fri.-Sat. (sporadic hours beyond that). TA Q U E R I A Y C A R N I C E R I A GUADALAJARA Cheap, delicious tacos, tamales and more. Always bustling. 3811 Camp Robinson Road. N L R . B e e r, A l l C C . $ - $ $ . 5 0 1 - 7 5 3 9991. BLD daily.

could also function as an effective hair of the dog. And with flavors like pickle, bacon, pizza, ghost chili, chipotle, Tex Mex, tequila lime, sweet & spicy and pastrami Bourbon, there are numerous ways to test the skills of the bar. We admit we did not sample all these drinks, but the thought crossed our minds. Beyond the brunch menu, Tusk & Trotter’s regular dinner and lunch menus are full of wonderful things to love, like crispy pommes frites, pork belly cheese sticks and the house-made pork rinds, an order of which we took to go and enjoyed all afternoon long. These light, fluffy fried pork skins melt down to a savory, unctuous nothing in the mouth and provide a satisfying crunch and clean flavor that only the best pork rinds have. So yes, Tusk & Trotter is still performing at a high level after the initial buzz has passed, and it’s doing it in a way that shows it’s not about buzz — it’s about good food. Fortunately for the crowded dining room that greets nearly every day of business, they know the business of tasty cuisine well, and their simple, honest flavors are just another example of the way food in Arkansas has been elevated in recent years. It’s worth a trip to Bentonville just to eat at the brasserie, although there is plenty to do once you’ve eaten — that is, if your full stomach allows you to.

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MIDTOWN • MAY 1 RENO’S • MAY 2 HiTONE • MAY 5 Little Rock

North Little Rock

Memphis

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May Happenings in

Eureka Springs MAY 1 – MAY 3 1

Mansker. Caribe, 309 W. Van Buren, (479) 253-8102 Artist: ‘Woman of Substance’ Lorna Trigg. May 1st & 2nd 6 – 9pm Artist Reception April 30th 6:00pm.

VARIOUS RESTAURANTS AROUND TOWN

Arvest Bank, Community First Bank and Cornerstone Bank, located in close proximity on E. Van Buren, become galleries featuring outstanding artists all through May. Stop in any time and enjoy the art.

TASTE OF ART: A VISUAL FEAST MAY FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS MAY 1 – 31

Every May, the city of Eureka Springs shines a spotlight on the arts with a month-long festival that celebrates the visual and performing arts. May Festival of the Arts showcases more than 350 working artists that live in the community. The length of the festival and the many venues available allow every artist in the city an opportunity to show. 58 APRIL 30, 2015 ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO ARKANSAS TIMES 58 APRIL 30, 2015 ARKANSAS TIMES

Both culinary and fine arts will be on display this month during “A Taste of Art”. Eureka Springs restaurants will host local artists and their works while tempting the public with their cuisine.

DeVito’s of Eureka Spring. 5 Center Street, (479) 253-6807, Artist: Cynthia Kresse. Emporium at Farm-to-Table FRESH & Deja Vu, 179 N. Main, (479) 253-9300 Artist: Juliette Edgerton. Grand Taverne, 37 N. Main, (479) 253-6756 Artist: Larry

BANK ON ART

PLEIN AIR PAINTERS

Plein Air Painters of Eureka Springs (P.A.P.E.S.) is a welcoming group–open to artists of all skill levels

and backgrounds. Meet at the scheduled location at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays and paint a few hours before breakfast with the gang at Myrtie Mae’s (Inn of the Ozarks) at 10 a.m.

MUSIC IN THE PARK

Enjoy the sounds of Eureka Springs in our beautiful park settings every Saturday in the month of May.

GALLERY STROLLS

Saturday May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd 6:00 – 9:00pm Gallery strolls, usually only held the second Saturday evening of each month, are scheduled for every Saturday evening in May. In addition to free refreshments at galleries, each gallery stroll will also include special artists’ receptions and shows. www.eurekaspringsfestivalofthearts.com Provided by

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Amanda Eyre Ward

William Bernhardt

Books in Bloom at the Crescent Hotel.

Love of Literacy Flowers at Books in Bloom Festival Celebrates 10 years Those old-time images of the Ozarks as a by-passed backwater are rapidly fading with Northwest Arkansas’ emergence as a center for the arts. Eureka Springs has long been known as a unique and thriving art colony. Their May Festival of the Arts offers up a month-long celebration of creativity in all its forms. One aspect of Eureka’s focus on the arts in May is the growing popularity of Books in Bloom, a charming literary festival that highlights the art of the written word. 2015 marks the 10th anniversary of an event with a reputation for attracting nationally known and best-selling authors, along with many regional favorites. Books in Bloom will be held on Sunday, May 17, from Noon to 5 PM at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs. While larger cities in the area may offer a single author who comes for an hour-long talk and book signing, Books in Bloom offers up a bouquet of talented writers who spend an entire afternoon sharing their insights into the nuts and bolts of writing, as well as what has motivated and inspired their careers. Some choose to speak about what free access to library books has meant to them. Books in Bloom is a free event, offered as a gift to the public, and made possible through the work of dedicated Library Foundation members, the generous support of private citizens, businesses and grants from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Eureka Springs City and Advertising and Promotion Com60 APRIL 30, 2015 ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO ARKANSAS TIMES 60 APRIL 30, 2015 ARKANSAS TIMES

mission, among others. Festival Underwriter, the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa also provides the exquisite venue of its gardens and light-filled conservatory. The Carroll and Madison Public Library Foundation recognized the need to keep reading relevant even as the way books are published and delivered is undergoing massive changes. Regardless of how the information is received, it is that link between the mind of the writer and the mind of the reader that sparks the imagination and keeps us moving forward. Books in Bloom celebrates that connection! This year’s festival once again offers up a surprisingly diverse and exciting line up of authors, including William Bernhardt, Tess Gerritsen, Amanda Eyre Ward, and humorist Roy Blount, Jr., along with husband and wife duo James and Kimberly Dean, creator of the wildly popular Pete the Cat series for children. The hotel gardens will be dotted with festive tents filled authors who work in a variety of genres, each with something interesting to say. If this small gem of an event has not been on your radar, as it already is for a number of people who travel from ever more distant corners of the state, then it’s time for you to discover what you’ve been missing. A complete roster of authors who will attend this year is available by visiting www.BooksinBloom.org. The festival takes place rain or shine, moving into the hotel lobby and veranda in case of inclement weather.

James and Kimberly Dean

Roy Blount

Tess Gerritsen

May Happenings in Eureka Springs

LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!

Eureka Springs is a creative, yet peaceful town with winding mountainside streets lined with one-of-a-kind shops, boutiques, fine art galleries, craft emporiums, spas, museums, restaurants and more. It’s the perfect weekend getaway to enjoy Arkansas’s beautiful May weather.

Eureka Springs Festival of the Arts: May 1-31 Inspire your senses at an event overflowing with art in every form, including culinary creations, free concerts, demonstrations, art exhibits and the popular White Street Walk. www.EurekaSpringsFestivalOfTheArts.com

Mother’s Day Brunch at the Crescent Hotel: May 10 Treat your mom to a lavish brunch to show her just how much she’s loved. Brunch is served from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Call (479) 253-9652.

Award-winning Breakfasts Delivered To Your Suite Cliff Cottage Inn is the only B&B inn right in the very heart of Eureka’s “Historic Downtown” and offers luxury

42 Armstrong St. Eureka Springs (479) 253-7409

Jacuzzi suites and cottages with hot tubs. w w w . c l i f f c o t t a g e . c o m

Books in Bloom Literary Festival: May 17 Join writers from all over the country for an afternoon of presentations, readings and one-to-one conversations. Authors include William Bernhardt, Tess Gerritsen, Roy Blount, Jr. and many more. www.booksinbloom.org Visit www.arkansas.com to find more things to do in Eureka Springs.

Rock Cottage Gardens

Your One Stop Shop for Lodging, Weddings, & Wedding Cakes

Located on the Historic Loop in Eureka Springs

Bed & Breakfast Inn•Wedding Cake Bakery•Reception & Wedding Venue Call or make your reservations online! 479-253-8659 •RockCottageGardens.com ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO ARKANSAS TIMES APRIL 30, 2015 61 www.arktimes.com APRIL 30, 2015 61

FRESH is focused on using seasonal menus that utilize both local and organic ingredients whenever possible.

Lunch • Dinner • Sunday Brunch Gourmet Catering Eat Seasonally at FRESH!

179 North Main St, Eureka Springs • 479.253.9300 www.freshanddeliciousofeurekasprings.com

Open for Dinner 5 pm to 9pm Every Night

Thank you Arkansas for voting us the Best Restaurant in Eureka Springs! Award Winning Ermilio’s is family friendly, with dozens of authentic Italian choices served in a casual, comfortable, just-like-home atmosphere. No reservations are taken… Come as you are!

(479) 253-8806

BEST RESTAURANT EUREKA SPRINGS

BEST ITALIAN AROUND THE STATE

26 White Street • Eureka Springs Located on the upper Historic Loop, old Highway 62B, just a few short blocks from the Crescent Hotel. www.ermilios.com

Blue Springs Heritage Center

Historic Eureka Springs is the perfect weekend getaway. Relaxing bed and breakfasts and walkable streets, interesting shops, art galleries and outdoor adventures can all be found in the heart of the Ozarks, three-and-a-half hours from downtown Little Rock. Visit the historic bluff shelter, now on the National Register of Historic paces, at Blue Spring Heritage. Blue Spring is a natural wonder, pouring 38 million gallons of cold, clear water each day into its toutstocked lagoon. Stroll walkways and inviting garden paths that wind through 33 acres. See the historic mill site dating from the 1840s, and walk along the path of the Trail of Tears. Resident appaloosas and abundant native flora and fauna delight visitors. Blue Spring Heritage is a quiet getaway and a perfect place for group outings, weddings or any special occasion.

The Rock Cottage Gardens Bed and Breakfast Inn.

Café Roulant The Revolutionary Fine Dining Experience

Our menu changes every day. The view changes every minute! Exquisite Chef-Prepared Fine Dining While You Enjoy The Scenic Beauty Of Eureka Springs

RESERVE YOUR EXPERIENCE TODAY!

www.RollingCafe.com

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If you are planning a small wedding or event, look no further than The Rock Cottage Gardens Bed and Breakfast Inn. The Gardner’s Wedding Chapel is an elegant onsite wedding chapel perfect for 10-15 guests ceremonies and receptions for both lodgers and non-lodgers. From the in-house commercial bakery The Rock Cottage provides all wedding cakes and pastries fresh from their own kitchen. The Rock Cottage is a uniquely historic Eureka Springs landmark with five individual private rock cottages, uniquely decorated and surrounded by lovely

gardens. Each has fireplaces, king or queen beds, two-person Jacuzzi’s and all the amenities including a full gourmet breakfast prepared daily and served in the main house dining room. This premier award-winning inn was awarded the Trip Advisor 2014 Certificate of Excellence and The Talk of Town 5 star lodging.

Café Roulant

The owners of the Rock Cottage have created a new dining experience. You can eat in your car, you can eat in a plane, you can eat on a train, but have you ever enjoyed a meal in a trolley? Enjoy the scenic beauty that is uniquely Eureka while enjoying an exquisite meal prepared by some of the finest Chefs in the Ozarks on the Café Roulant. Relax and enjoy an ever-changing view as you leisurely roll through the historic streets of Eureka Springs. Unlike other eateries, the menu offers unique, exclusive entrees from a different local restaurant each night.

Ermilio’s

For those looking for a Eureka Springs classic, visit Ermilio’s. The Winner of Arkansas Times’ Readers Choice Award for Best Restaurant in Eureka Springs for 2015. Ermilio’s is a dining experience not to miss. Casual, comfortable, authentic, home-style Italian

food made fresh every day – right down to the hand-rolled meatballs. Located on the historic loop in a handsome historic house, enjoy an intimate, comfortable experience welcomed with warm bread served with roasted garlic.

Farm To Table FRESH

New to Eureka Springs is Farm To Table FRESH. FRESH is focused on using seasonal ingredients to create a menu using both local and organic food whenever possible. This quaint little establishment is a part of Eureka Springs uniqueness and is a popular destination spot in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. What started as a personal desire for quality organic and vegetarian food has turned into a thriving locally-owned restaurant. They take great pride in offering only the freshest organic foods and maintaining five-star quality ratings.

Emporium by Deja Vu

When you have finished your dining experience with Fresh, be sure to make your way through the connecting door of Emporium by Deja Vu. Deja Vu represents a variety of local artists and houses several vendors that continually bring in newly handcrafted and vintage decor. As you walk up the stairs, you are sure to be inspired by designer artisan rugs and pillows, home decorations, and accessories. Looking for the perfect gift? This is the place! They are proud to offer a one-of-kind shopping experience. Deja Vu, “We epitomize unique”.

Eureka Springs is well known for their forward thinking in culture, entertainment, and artistry. They are also known for their historical land marks such as Cliff Cottage Bed and Breakfast Inn. Cliff Cottage consists of five lovingly restored cottages right downtown. Built in 1883, it is a National Historic Registered landmark and an Arkansas Historic Preservation Site. As a prototype for Sears’ first kit home it housed the first mayor of Eureka’s Springs. A Full-Gourmet Breakfast is delivered right to your door and a complimentary bottle of Champagne or white wine is available in every room. With over 400 five-star reviews and named “One of the top six most romantic inns in the South” by Romantic Destinations Magazine published by Southern Bride, Cliff Cottage is sure to impress.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Driving home from Eureka Springs after a relaxing and invigorating trip, there is one stop that cannot be missed. A short seven miles from the historic tourist town, on scenic Highway 23, visitors are treated to a breath-taking view of the Ozark Mountains in addition to tigers, lions, leopards, bears and cougars. Providing a lifetime refuge for abandoned, abused, and neglected “Big Cats”, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is a USDA-licensed refuge. In the main compound area, visitors are as close as five feet away from these magnificent creatures. Each animal has its story/history plaque on the front of its cage for this self-guided tour, with visitors taking as long as they like to enjoy ‘meeting’ the wild cats. Picnic tables and benches are in full view of the animals, making Turpentine Creek a fun adventure for individuals, couples, and families alike. “Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh, my!”

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METRO DISASTER SPECIALISTS IS ARKANSAS’ HIDDEN GEM WHEN CATASTROPHE STRIKES I

t’s your worst nightmare. The business you worked so hard to build from the ground up is now in ashes. The church where you worship and reaffirm your faith is torn apart by a tornado. The school you entrust your children to attend is flooded and the students may not be able to complete the school year, putting their future and the school’s funding in jeopardy. Even the most carefully, well-planned building will succumb to fire, water, storm or environmental damage. When this happens, there are more questions than answers, and the first step to recovery isn’t always clear. For more than 35 years, Metro Disaster Specialists has been responding to crises just like these. Licensed general contractors by trade, Metro specializes in all types of disaster restoration. Whether it’s fine art, clothing, computers, files, furnishings, or the structure itself, Metro has a plan to recover and restore. That plan, along with Metro’s years of experience working with insurance companies, is particularly beneficial to its clients. “Our entire focus is to get your life back to normal as soon as possible,” said Don Collie, president of

64 64

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Metro Disaster Specialists in North Little Rock. “One of our clients is an owner of a manufacturing facility that experienced a massive fire loss. He told us, that if production wasn’t back running within a few days, it could cost him his business. We came in with the resources and solutions to minimize production loss and allowed his employees to return back to work in time to save the business. It’s our job to limit the time lives are interrupted by a disaster.” Ranked in the top 10 leading restoration companies in the nation by industry magazines, Metro Disaster Specialists has chosen to serve “Our entire only clients in Arkansas. Its focus on the natural state focus is to supports the state and local get your economies and results in cost-saving, professional life back relationships with the best to normal local subcontractors and local building material providers. as soon as Metro provides disaster possible” emergency service to help

fellow Arkansans one job at a time. As an emergency service provider, Metro has highly trained personnel on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Every day of the year, resources are ready to be delivered to the site of an emergency within an hour or less, depending on location. “Most people don’t realize everything that is involved after a disaster,” said Payton Smith, restoration production manager at Metro Disaster Specialists. “We inventory, pack and move everything necessary to our facilities and then clean, deodorize, sanitize and restore the structure and contents. It takes well-trained, certified and knowledgeable personnel to handle all the aspects of a disaster, and we are always implementing the latest and most advanced equipment and processes to make our service the best it can be.” Metro believes that the most crucial element to disaster restoration response, however, is empathy. “Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, employee, student, church member or any other citizen of the community, you are affected by a disaster,” Collie said. “If your home burns down, you won’t be

JOHN MORTON OWNER OF LUMBER ONE HOME CENTER

magine being out of the country when a tornado devastates your business. That’s what John Morton faced in 2014 when his business, Lumber One Home Center of Mayflower, sustained a direct hit from an F-4 tornado. “My daughter and our employees were monitoring the weather as Mayflower took the direct hit,” John said. “They tried to get to the store but were met with law enforcement and road blocks that delayed their arrival. Metro Disaster Specialists arrived on site before they were even able.” John was aware of Metro Disaster Specialists through Lumber One’s insurance broker, Ken Estes of BancorpSouth Insurance Services. Metro’s team was dispatched immediately after they were aware of the damage, and once arriving, began to secure the building. This diligence helped get Lumber One back in operation by the morning of April 29 - just one day after the storm. “We were operating on generator power, but we were able to take and fulfill contractor orders,” John

“Metro was on site with repairmen and security guards 24 hours a day until building

able to go to work, and that affects your employer. If your workplace is damaged and can’t operate, owners, management and employees can’t work or provide for their families. What do you do with your children if they can’t go to school because it’s being restored? All of these things affect every person in the community, and our job is to minimize that negative impact as much as possible.” Metro Disaster Specialists serves both commercial and residential clients throughoutArkansas.Formoreinformation, visit Metro online at metrodisaster.com/, call 501-758-2845 or like on Facebook at Facebook.com/metrodisasterspecialists.

Fire • Smoke • Water Storm • Environmental 24/7 Emergency Response Hotlines Licensed General Contractors Specializing in all types of Disaster Restoration including Contents.

(501) 758-2845 Toll Free 1-855-METRO-79 www.MetroDisaster.com

repairs were complete and the security system was once again activated. Metro did the entire structural repair of our store and worked diligently to get us back to where we were before the storm. What you see today is, in large part, thanks to them.”

said. “Metro was on site with repairmen and security guards 24 hours a day until building repairs were complete and the security system was once again activated. Metro did the entire structural repair of our store and worked diligently to get us back to where we were before the storm. What you see today is, in large part, thanks to them. “You can’t imagine what devastation a tornado can do, and I can’t imagine anyone responding more quickly or doing a more efficient job of getting us back to business than Metro Disaster Specialists,” John explains. “They were professional, and their expertise helped get us back in operation without further interruptions. Frankly, they exceeded our expectations.” John was just 20 when he moved to Stuttgart to manage Davis Lumber Company. He and his wife, Pam, eventually purchased and renamed that location, which they’ve owned for 25 years. Today, Lumber One has locations in Stuttgart and Mayflower carrying a full range of building materials, including bath hardware, doors and windows, flooring, cabinets, lighting, lumber, paint, power equipment and tools and, in Mayflower, its first garden center, which opened its doors in 2013. Boasting 6,000 square feet of plants, outdoor furniture, statuary, landscaping supplies and grills, the Garden Center at Lumber One has every essential to transform any backyard into an outdoor sanctuary. ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT www.arktimes.com www.arktimes.com

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MAY EDITION

ow can you properly thank the woman who’s spent a good portion of your life cleaning up your messes, making sure you got to school on time and fully dressed, witnessed your joys and

heartaches, and stood by you when you needed her most? Well we’ve collected a few ideas here at CUE from local retailers, but be sure you punctuate your gift with a big hug and a hearty thank you.

Evolved

jewelry

Think French beignets from New Orleans combined with the greatest shrimp and grits from Charleston to ever cross your lips. That is Shanlou style. An evolving jewelry company inspired to bring clients a very unique and forward thinking design, now available at Ember. Join them Third Thursday every month in the Heights! EMBER 5709 Kavanaugh Blvd., 225.3220 shopemberfashion.com

5709 KAVANAUGH BOULEVARD LITTLE ROCK, AR 72207 WWW.SHOPEMBERFASHION.COM 501.225.3220

Happy Ha

feet!

Happ Socks features an almost endHappy variety of models and designs, less v using a broad spectrum of color combinations and original patters. comb goal is to provide you with the Our g best and a happies socks around. What better way to stay happy this spring! bette Stop by The Label’s new store in the Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center. Pleas LABEL THE L 11525 Cantrell Rd., Ste. 301, 353.0658 facebook.com/The.Label.littlerock faceb

Brighten

Tweet!

Check out these repurposed, handmade bird houses by a local artisan and give mom a fun and functional habitat for her feathered “singers” this spring. Not only are they all one-of-a-kind, but these works of art are only $7! Come shop The Southern Fox for trendy clothing, jewelry, bath and body products, homemade jellies and more. It’s your onestop-shop for all of your Mother’s Day needs. THE SOUTHERN FOX 304 Main St., NLR Inside Galaxy Furniture 375.DESK (3375)

Add some color to mom’s wardrobe with this fabulous spring top at Rhea Drug. Paired with a fun, hip necklace and she’s sure to be the chic one in any room. After you drop off your prescription, browse for great gifts you won’t find anywhere else. As a neighborhood gift shop, there’s something for everyone. They even have free giftwrapping! RHEA DRUG 2801 Kavanaugh Blvd., 663.4131 facebook.com/rheadrug 66 66

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Send them off in

style!

Even though Mother’s Day is right around the corner, don’t forget about the grads in your life! We have everything your high school or college grad needs to have a rad spring and summer! The laundry bag is from Fred and Owen shown with our signature Culture Tee with the Little rock skyline, and a Brixton Snapback. Perfect for those All-American cookouts! CULTURE CLOTHING 11220 N. Rodney Parham Rd., Ste. 3, 246.5466 shopcultureclothing.com

Bon

So many great ideas for MOM! Come see us

Appétit

Start a new tradition with this vintageinspired Tin Recipe Box from Box Turtle. The classic design was made to last generations and the metallic gold accents are the icing on the cake! You’ll be able to share family recipes with style. Recipe box includes 12 dividers and 24 recipe cards. BOX TURTLE 2616 Kavanaugh Blvd., 661.1167 shopboxturtle.com

M-F 10-6 • SAT 10-5 2616 KAVANAUGH BLVD. LITTLE ROCK 501.661.1167 | WWW.SHOPBOXTURTLE.COM

Hello Comfort,

Goodbye Pain!

Say hello to comfort and goodbye to back, knee and foot pain. WellnessMats, revolutionary anti-fatigue floor mats, are ergonomically engineered and medically proven to provide unsurpassed comfort, safety, relief, and support while you stand, wherever you stand. Stand-up for a healthier, more comfortable lifestyle and take a stand on WellnessMats premier anti-fatigue mat. KREBS BROTHERS RESTAURANT STORE 4310 Landers Rd., NLR, 687.1331 krebsbrothers.com

Rhea

Drug Store A Tray for all occasions! Magnetic and changeable accessories for holidays and celebrations sold separately.

A Traditional Pharmacy with eclectic Gifts. Since 1922

PROVISIONS FOR THE CULTURED GENTLEMAN

2801 Kavanaugh Little Rock • 501.663.4131

11220 N Rodney Parham Rd. Suite 3 501.246.5466 shopcultureclothing.com

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT www.arktimes.com www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015 APRIL 30, 2015

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STYLE TALK

FULL NAME: Whitney Miller, owner, F The Label Where are you from? W Jonesboro, Ark

Favorite season for clothes? Summer

color for spring? Favorite F Lavender

Favorite Vacation Spot? Anywhere hot!! Favorite form of social media? Instagram

W What is your occupation? I own the Label, a men’s clothing store.

Favorite Cocktail? Wine!

T Label’s newest clothing The line you’re most excited about? TankFarm & Co., a new casual denim and tees line from the West Coast. It’s a great classic American style.

Do any of your brands have a giving back program? 3 Strands. 50% of the profits help rescue, restore, & bring hope to victims of sex trafficking. Charity of Choice? AIM, Agape International Mission, work to help rescue girls in Cambodia from human trafficking and help restore them to happy children once again. Exciting things to come at The Label? We are adding a lot of new lines to the new store!

Hottest item this spring? Brushed Twill shorts and pants

Favorite restaurant in Little Rock. Local Lime Favorite restaurant not in Little Rock. Flemings in Nashville, TN Name one necessary N extravagance. Spa Days!! The Label’s best feature. T It is a laid back shopping environment.

Other than The Label, where O is your favorite place to shop? Ember Boutique in the Heights

Raise Your Mule! 20oz Copper Mug Now Available

(501) 687-1331 • 4310 Landers Road, NLR • M-F 8-5 Sat. 9-5 68 68

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ARKANSAS TIMES ARKANSAS TIMES

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What else do we need to know about The Label? We have just moved to Pleasant Ridge Town Center!

Your best seller? Believe it or not, it’s SAXX Underwear. The one item every man needs. A great pair of premium denim.

➥ Some people view shopping as apolitical – no matter what your beliefs, a good pair of shoes will brighten anyone’s day, am I right? But sometimes where you spend your money can be a vote for or what you believe in. Since the debate erupted over religious freedom legislation here in the state, many businesses have taken a stand to say they will not discriminate against anyone. If you want to support these businesses and their stance, then head over to www.arkansansforequality.org to find a list of those businesses. This list is self-reported, so if a business isn’t on this list, it doesn’t mean that they aim to discriminate. If you’re unsure, just ask. ➥ THE ARGENTA ARTS FESTIVAL is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 2 at 406 Main St. in North Little Rock. There will be 30 artists exhibiting and selling their artwork, with everything from ceramics to jewelry to paintings. There will also be artist demonstrations and hands-on activities for the kids. For more information, visit www. argentaartsfestival.com. ➥ L&L BECK GALLERY’S May exhibit will be “Backyard Birds”. The giclee giveaway of the month is titled “Chipping Sparrow”. The exhibit will run through the month of May, and the giclée drawing will be at 7 p.m. May 20. ➥ In other art news, CANTRELL GALLERY will host a new exhibit of paintings, “The Quiet Hours” by local artist John Wooldridge. The exhibit opens with a reception from 6-8 p.m. May 15 and continues through July 10. Wooldridge, a native Arkansan who lives in Maumelle, describes “The Quiet Hours” as: “Lonely times, lonely places, the periods of transition and reconciliation of loss. He has created this body of works over the past year of reflection.” The gallery will be closed May 23-25 for Memorial Day weekend.

NEW SPRING ARRIVALS! 304 MAIN ST. (INSIDE GALAXY FURNITURE) • 375-DESK (3375)

MORE LAWSUITS IN THE PIPELINE, CONT. while, Sam Ledbetter of McMath Woods, another plaintiffs’ attorney, argues that the language in the consent decree amounts an admission “that the pipeline was susceptible to seam failure. … They determined what they had to do to make the pipeline safe for operation.” Ledbetter said McMath Woods is working in coordination with two other firms, which together represent some 130 households. Most of those plaintiffs are individuals in single-family homes in Mayflower, Ledbetter added, although some are business owners and nonresident landowners. Claims should begin going to trial in Faulkner County Circuit Court in October. In addition to the plaintiffs represented by McMath Woods and the other two firms, a number of other Mayflower residents are seeking damages against Exxon. A separate class-action suit involving landowners all along a 600 mile length of the Pegasus — which would include Mayflower and also many other landowners in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Texas — was dismissed by a federal judge in March of this year, but attorneys for the plaintiffs have filed a motion asking the judge to reconsider, given the release by Exxon of new documents. The federal regulator responsible for protecting the public from pipeline disasters, the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, appears to believe Exxon made at least some mistakes in its maintenance of the Pegasus. In late 2013, PHMSA issued $2.6 million in fines against Exxon for operations and maintenance violations related to the Mayflower spill. The company has appealed the PHMSA fines, despite the fact that it’s a smaller sum than last week’s $5.1 million settlement, perhaps because Exxon is loath to admit liability in a way that might open the door to private suits, both in Mayflower and in other communities that have been affected by pipeline failures. Both the PHMSA penalty and the settlement announced last week are miniscule when compared with Exxon’s overall budget; the company generated $87.3 billion in revenue in 2014. But, for a global corporation engaged in a messy, dangerous business, any admission of liability sets an unhappy precedent. Richard Kuprewicz, a pipeline consultant who has worked with Central Arkansas Water on the Mayflower spill, said that the presence of the manufacturing defect that led to the rupture of the Pegasus along its seam weld shouldn’t have been a surprise to Exxon. “None of this is new information,” Kuprewicz said. “This is a well-known threat factor to pipelines, for many decades.” He said that a pipeline operator should be able to assess the existing

weaknesses in its infrastructure, as long as it uses the proper tools. “There is some logic behind why they should be defensive,” he said, “but the integrity management tools are pretty clear: You know your threats and then choose the right tools to assess.” In the years before the Pegasus spill, the records Exxon has made public show that it performed some assessments on the line — with mixed results. Given the known susceptibility of this vintage of pipe, Kuprewicz questioned why the company evidently declined to pursue a more rigorous inspection after that. “In rupture investigation after rupture investigation … we see this creativity in which some companies, not all, try to excuse not doing the right thing.”

Damaged resources

In addition to the various private lawsuits proceeding against Exxon, the company also faces additional legal action from public agencies under what’s called a Natural Resources Damages claim. Last year, on the one-year anniversary of the spill, then-Attorney General Dustin McDaniel explained to the Times that such a civil suit is intended to recoup “damages as to the broader scope of what’s the long-term impact to the environment — what are the financial costs to all of this.” An NRD claim is intended to compensate the public for harm done to natural resources — such as Lake Conway and the fish and waterfowl inhabiting it — and it’s to be initiated by the trustees designated to safeguard those resources. In this case, that means the ADEQ, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ricky Chastain, a deputy director with the Game and Fish Commission, said the NRD claim is distinct from the violations of environmental law that were covered by last week’s consent decree. “It is two trains running down parallel tracks. You have the criminal side, which is a violation of rules and regulations, and that’s what was just settled. ... And then there’s assessing the natural resource damages.” Chastain said the trustees are still in the process of assessing damages, but that a number should be finalized in the next month or two. “Then we’ll approach Exxon to sit down and try to start talking,” he said. “We’ll see if there’s a reasonable way to come to a conclusion.” If a settlement can’t be reached, he said, “the alternative is to enter into litigation ... I’m hoping this is not a long, drawn-out deal. I’m hoping we can lay our assessment on the table and they can lay out their data. ... That saves everybody time and energy and money not to go through the full legal process.”

DUMAS, CONT. been ordered by King Charles IX with the support of Pope Gregory XIII. The bloodshed spread from Paris to a dozen cities. So many Protestant bodies floated down the Rhone that for a spell the town of Arles stopped drinking its water. Coligny’s severed head was packaged and sent to Pope Gregory, who sent the king a golden rose. The massacre was viewed as God’s retribution against the French Protestants, including, I suppose, the Dumas clan. I regret that I did not visit Antraigues, but at Arles, Avignon and other villages I saw the legacy of St. Bartholomew’s Day and the extended wars: the beheaded statues of the saints and other destruction at cathedrals, where the vandals of the French Revolution

took revenge for the church’s alliance with royalty and the nobility against the common people, especially the Huguenots. The wars undermined both the royalty and the Catholic Church and helped produce the French Revolution. In America, they were enshrined in the First Amendment and the creed of Jefferson, the U.S. minister to France after the French and American revolutions, that the United States must forever take pains to keep church and state separate. Huckabee must know that, too, but right now capturing the extreme evangelical wing of the party in Iowa and the Southern states is his only route to the White House, narrow as it is. God in his mercy will forgive him.

LYONS, CONT. reporter to prove that contrary to the newspaper, he didn’t take Bill Clinton with him to Kazakhstan at all. Moreover, as an extremely careful reader can determine, Giustra sold all of his Uranium One holdings in 2007 — two years before Hillary became Secretary of State — and so had nothing to gain from company’s 2010 transaction with the Russians. Or from his charitable donations. Giustra’s second suspect act was setting up something called the Canadian Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership. That too seems to have confused the scandal-hunting reporters and their supporters on the Washington Post editorial page. See, even if there’s no evidence of a quid pro quo, the Post thundered, the Clinton Foundation had promised transparency while Hillary was in office.

“However, the Times said the contributions of some connected to the Uranium One deal were not disclosed. The newspaper unearthed them in Canadian tax records. This lapse is exactly the sleight-of-hand that creates suspicion …. What were the Clintons hiding?” Basically, as it turns out, the fact that Canada is a sovereign country whose laws prohibit such disclosures. Look, there’s a reason articles like the Times’ big expose are stultifyingly dull and require the skills of a contract lawyer to parse. Murky sentences and jumbled chronologies signify that the “Clinton rules” are back: all innuendo and guilt-byassociation. All ominous rhetorical questions, but rarely straightforward answers.

GROW grow LOCAL ARKANSAS TIMES

www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

BRAIN IMAGING RESEARCH STUDY FOR NEW MOTHERS • Mothers ages 15-45 years • Full term delivery of baby within the past 8 weeks • Involves a brain imaging scan and questionnaires • All responses are kept confidential • Must be medically healthy • Monetary compensation provided Maternal care behavior is essential to the well-being of a newborn baby. Some mothers may become depressed after having a baby or may use prescription pain medication. This research study is trying to find a better understanding of how postpartum depression or opiate use changes brain activity and provide the knowledge to guide early treatment strategies.

Contact Dr. Lisa Brents at 501-413-6058 psychiatry.uams.edu/research/birc

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

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Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County (SPSF-Pulaski) is accepting scholarship applications through May 29.

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ARKANSAS TIMES

MARKETPLACE TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION, CALL LUIS AT 501.375.2985

SPSF-Pulaski recipients must be a single parent, with legal custody and have sole responsibility for the daily care of at least one child under the age of 18. Recipients must also maintain a minimum 2.5 Grade Point Average; be eligible to receive a federal Pell grant; be enrolled as a full-time student; be working toward an undergraduate degree or certificate program; and be a resident of Pulaski County, Arkansas. Recipients must be enrolled at one of our partner schools in Pulaski County: • Arkansas Baptist College • ASU Beebe (LRAFB Campus)

• Baptist Health Schools

• Harding University (North Little Rock Campus)

• John Brown University (Little Rock Campus) • Park University (LRAFB Campus)

• Philander Smith College

• University of Arkansas at Little Rock • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

• Pulaski Technical College

Scholarship recipients receive $2,700 per year ($900 each fall, spring, and summer semester) to help cover tuition, books, and living expenses. Applications are available on the SPSF-Pulaski website at www.spsfpulaski.org.

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE sought by University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR. Advanced degree in Medical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Medicine or closely related field, plus three (3) yrs. research exp. SEND RESUME TO: Janet L. Aronson, UAMS Myeloma Institute, 4301 West Markham, #816, Little Rock, AR 72205 or email MIRT@uams.edu. UAMS is an inclusive Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and is committed to excellence.

ARKANSAS TIMES

ADVERTISING SALES C U S T O M F U R N I T U R E tommy@tommyfarrell.com ■ 501.375.7225

BRAIN IMAGING RESEARCH BRAIN IMAGING RESEARCH STUDY FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS STUDY FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS The UAMS Brain Imaging Research Center is looking for participants who meet the following criteria: UAMS Brain Imaging Research Center is looking for The UAMS The Brain Imaging Research Center is looking for participants who meet the following criteria: participants who meet ages the 11-17 following criteria:  Female, No major medical conditions

Female, ages 11-17 . Female, ages 11-17  No internal metal objects (such as braces)  No major medical conditions . No major medical conditions  No internal metal objects (such as braces) . No internal metal objects (suchfor astime braces) Compensation and travel provided. Participants re

their brain. Call Sonet Smitherman at foroftime and travel provided. Participants re-(501) CompensationCompensation forceive timepictures and travel provided. Participants receive 526-8386 for more information or to participate. ceive pictures theirSmitherman brain. Call Sonet Smitherman at (501) pictures of their brain. Call of Sonet at (501) 526-8386 526-8386orfor information or to participate. for more information to more participate.

The Special Publications division of The Arkansas Times has a position open in Advertising Sales. If you have sales experience and enjoy the exciting and crazy world of advertising then we’d like to talk to you. We publish 4 publications: Savvy, AR Wild, Food & Farm and Shelter as well as corresponding websites and social media. What does all this translate to? A high-income potential for a hard working advertising executive. We have fun, but we work hard. Fast paced and self-motivated individuals are encouraged to apply. If you have a dynamic energetic personality, we’d like to talk to you.

PLEASE SEND YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO ELIZABETH AT: ELIZABETH@ARKTIMES.COM EOE. www.arktimes.com

APRIL 30, 2015

ASMSA is your opportunity to be

You are smart, and learning excites you. You find philosophical discussions more interesting than reality TV arguments. You want to create the newest app, not just download it.

As a high school junior, you can join a community of peers from all over Arkansas who are dreamers, thinkers and doers at the

state’s premier public high school. Engage in courses designed to challenge bright minds. Travel to international destinations and explore other cultures. Grow as a student while earning more than a year of college credit. Be a researcher. Be an artist. Be a scholar. ASMSA will help you become extraordinary.

Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts

Digital Learning • Residential Experience • Enrichment Programs

Discover who you can become at asmsa.org. 501-622-5100 72

APRIL 30, 2015

ARKANSAS TIMES

#ASMSA