Arkansas Times: Week of January 21, 2010 by Arkansas Times

ARKANSAS’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF POLITICS AND CULTURE ■ january 21, 2010

July 12, 2007

Arkansans of the Year MIKE ROSS AND Blanche Lincoln By Doug Smith • page 12

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Marty Nix, president of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers, said this week that Tim Clark, president of the Pulaski County School Board, had wrongfully omitted a $1,000 campaign contribution from PACT on his 2008 campaign finance report. Clark, who was out of town on family business, said that he’d look into the matter when he returned, and “If there was a mistake, I’ll correct it.” He said he’d need to know the number of the alleged PACT check. PACT endorsed Clark in 2008, but he and the teachers have since fallen out. The School Board voted last month to end recognition of PACT as a bargaining agent for the district’s teachers. Nix made other accusations against Clark this week. For one, she said he’d asked her to raise money from teachers for a Clark campaign against state Rep. Ed Garner of Maumelle. Clark said that was “a blatant lie.” Clark said of PACT criticism of School Board members, “They’re trying to ruin our lives.” PACT contends that it has a valid contract with the School Board despite the Board’s action last month. A hearing is scheduled March 8 in Pulaski Circuit Court.

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Smart money?

Republican Tim Griffin, the former Karl Rove political hatchet man who hopes to win the Second Congressional District seat, happily announced that investments tycoon Warren Stephens of Little Rock would lead his fund-raising efforts. Where Stephens’ money goes, the money of his minions follows, so it can’t hurt Griffin. But how’s Stephens as a political picker? The website followthemoney.org provides some information. Stephens and his wife Harriet gave money to a variety of individual candidacies for state office in 2006 and 2008 cycles — candidates for governor in Ohio and Colorado, candidates for attorney general and lieutenant governor in New York and Arkansas candidates for state legislature (Kelly Eichler), attorney general (Paul Suskie) and state treasurer (Mac Campbell). Every single one of them was a loser. Stephens did contribute to one winning candidate — an unopposed candidate for Arkansas Supreme Court, Robert Brown. He was active on the national level, too, with contributions to about a dozen federal candidates in election cycles since 2006, about evenly split on winners and losers. He was also bipartisan. Most of the wins came thanks to Democrats, putative or otherwise — Sens. Joe Lieberman and Mark Pryor and Reps. Marion Berry and Mike Ross. Noted: Stephens has also poured the maximum into Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s re-election campaign. Continued on page 11

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ArkAnsAs Times • jAnuAry 21, 2010 3

Smart talk

Contents

10 Up in lights

North Little Rock residents are squabbling over a proposal to approve lighted signs with changing messages in the city. — By Gerard Matthews

10 Reddy Kilowatt cash

OPPONENTS: Jay Barth and Linda Chesterfield.

Expensive senate race n It’s nothing compared with the U.S. Senate race, but Democratic state Senate candidate Jay Barth, a Hendrix College political science prof, thinks he may have set a fund-raising record in Arkansas already for a state Senate race likely to be decided by the primary election. He reported raising more than $162,000 in 2009 for his race for District 34, now held by term-limited Sen. Tracy Steele. He said he had more than $100,000 on hand. Barth declared early for the race and he faces opposition from at least one formidable opponent, former legislator (and Hendrix grad) Linda Chesterfield. Chesterfield’s most recent report, back in October, showed she had raised more than $18,000 and had most of it on hand. The race will be interesting. The district is majority black. Barth is white. Chesterfield is black. But some prominent blacks have joined Barth’s campaign.

gETS dONaTiON: From alumnus Harry Hastings Jr.

Pimp my ride n The snarky blog Wonkette had some fun last week with a photo of Republican Sen. Kim Hendren’s vintage Corvette, decked out with stuck-on letters promoting his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. A note from a reader who sent the photo, taken at the state Capitol, was quoted: “ … He’s the one who called Chuck Schumer ‘that Jew.’ Just blast a lil’ Whitesnake and throw on a tattered jean jacket, and Hendren’s set himself up for a steamy night of trailer trash tail (including Blanche Lincoln.)” The reliably irreverent Wonkette reader commentary took it from there. Example: “Does he have a “Gas, Grass or Ass” sticker on the back? Maybe Calvin peeing on something?”

The fireworks of February n Political junkies have some top-drawer attractions to look forward to in Central Arkanas in February. At 7 p.m. Feb. 4 at UALR’s Center for the Performing Arts, Republican National Chairman Michael Steele and Harold Ford Jr., a former member of Congress and president of the Democratic Leadership Council, will square off in a joint appearance. It’s a Black History Month event sponsored by the UALR Office of Campus Life, but it should give a local audience a lively and divergent take on the national political scene.

If wits count, odds favor Ford, who’s talking about a U.S. Senate bid from New York. UALR will pay the two men a combined $40,000 for the appearance. It’s free, but tickets must be obtained at the Office of Campus Life in the Donaghey Student Center. Call 569-3308 for more info. The big event is at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at Verizon Arena. The Republican Party of Arkansas will bring in former vice presidential candidate and “Going Rogue” author Sarah Palin for a $175-ahead party fund-raiser. Who knows what Palin ROgUE iN NLR: Sarah might say. The GOP hasn’t said what, if anything, it’s paying Palin to appear at the event. Palin

The electric industry and others with an interest in air quality legislation poured $80,000 into U.S. Rep. Mike Ross’ campaign shortly before his vote against climate change legislation. — By Paul Barton

12 Double

the pleasure

A pair of Arkansas’s representatives in Congress – Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Rep. Mike Ross – were so critical to the national issue of the year, health care, that we chose them as our Arkansans of the Year. — By Doug Smith

DEPARTMENTS 3 • The insider 4 • smart Talk 5 • The Observer 6 • Letters 9 • Orval 10-18 • news 20 • Opinion 23 • arts & entertainment 37 • Dining 45 • Crossword/ Tom Tomorrow 46 • Lancaster

Words n “Rosa Franklin, a Washington state Democratic senator, said she wants to dump labels such as ‘disadvantaged’ and ‘at risk’ in state law and replace them with ‘at hope,’ because negative labels are hurting children’s chances for success, adding … ‘We need to come up with positive terms.’ ” Does anybody else remember Curt Gowdy? He was a popular sports announcer two or three decades back, about the time the football gods decided to do away with ties by adding extra time to games, and adopting special rules that provided for quick resolution of victory or defeat. These overtime periods were popularly referred to as “sudden death.” Gowdy thought the terminology too negative. He used and advocated “sudden victory.” Nobody followed. Sports fans are a pretty hard-hearted bunch; they don’t cotton to losers and never 4 january 21, 2010 • arkansas Times

Doug S mith doug@arktimes.com

refer to them as “athletically challenged.” Most people profess concern for children, though, so Senator Franklin’s suggestion may be better received. But let’s note that “disadvantaged” and “at risk” were themselves adopted to avoid the use of older and plainer words, like “poor.” “At hope” would put us in a third generation of euphemism. I’m not sure that’s a good place to be, or that we’ll fool many children. n “ ‘Under Mr. McDaniel’s crabbed view of the law, no medical marijuana bal-

lot title will ever make any sense,’ Hall wrote.” … “Americans United and its allies were disappointed. The Justice Department’s view of standing, they asserted, is crabbed and, if adopted, could leave many Americans locked out of federal courthouses … ” According to Merriam-Webster Online, crabbed means “Marked by a forbidding moroseness: a crabbed view of human nature.” I’d hoped to slip crabbed into a sentence of my own, but I was enjoined from doing so. The Bar Association’s petition said that only lawyers are authorized to use the word. So be careful out there. If you insist on using crabbed, you may find a pack of lawyers howling in pursuit. Or you might be mistaken for a lawyer yourself, which would be even more unpleasant.

VOLUME 36, NUMBER 20 ARKANSAS TIMES (ISSN 0164-6273) is published each week by Arkansas Times Limited Partnership, 201 East Markham Street, 200 Heritage Center West, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72203, phone (501) 375-2985. Periodical postage paid at Little Rock, Arkansas, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ARKANSAS TIMES, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, AR, 72203. Subscription prices are $42 for one year, $78 for two years. Subscriptions outside Arkansas are $49 for one year, $88 for two years. Foreign (including Canadian) subscriptions are $168 a year. For subscriber service call (501) 375-2985. Current single-copy price is 75¢, free in Pulaski County. Single issues are available by mail at $2.50 each, postage paid. Payment must accompany all single-copy orders. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents without the written consent of the publishers is prohibited. Manuscripts and artwork will not be returned or acknowledged unless sufficient return postage and a self-addressed stamped envelope are included. All materials are handled with due care; however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for care and safe return of unsolicited materials. All letters sent to ARKANSAS TIMES will be treated as intended for publication and are subject to ARKANSAS TIMES’ unrestricted right to edit or to comment editorially.

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RETIREMENT

Lazy and thirsty. A friend

stopped by The Observer’s home for a brief visit Sunday afternoon, with plans to take a bike ride later on before the sun set. The conversation turned to drink prices at various local watering holes, bartenders who serve them, import vs. domestic and so on. Finally, with all topics exhausted, our buddy said, “After all this talk about beer and food, I could really go for a bite and some brew. I think the bike ride can wait for tomorrow. Wanna meet at Vino’s?” Easy, rider. We headed out on I-630, cruising with windows down, praising the fair weather deities. With an instinctive upward glance toward the rearview mirror, The Observer saw a black-andwhite LRPD cruiser zooming directly behind us so fast that we could feel the distance narrowing between us in our bones. No blaring sirens, no flashing lights, and slim odds of seeing a turn signal before it smashed right into our back fender. It was behavior unbecoming of those who Protect and Serve. Talladega Nights: 4:52 p.m. At the last second before impact, the cruiser veered over and passed us in the left lane (that was legal, at least) just as we approached the Fair Park exit. It was not unlike being in an automated car wash: He passed us so fast it felt like we were driving backwards. About 150 yards ahead, all three lanes were occupied by cars traveling parallel, allowing no room for a quick give-and-go maneuver, and we got a queasy feeling that he was gonna split that trio of cars like bowling pins. Still, no lights, sirens, or even a horn-honk to clear a path. But this Constable On Patrol did, however, manage to create a lane between the shoulder and guard rail before vanishing into thin air. Where’s the fire? We arrived at Vino’s, directly across the street from the main fire station, the one that never sits idle, which would have sent the first responders once the call came in that one of their inter-departmental brethren was on fire, buried beneath two tons of smoldering taxpayer irony. No brainer: When asked what we were drinking, we answered without hesitation: “Firehouse Pale Ale,” and found a table only moments before our buddy arrived. “What’s up?” he asked. “You didn’t beat me by too much. Jesus, you’re pale, and look like you’ve just

seen a ghost. That cop car passed you, too, didn’t he?”

The “Lee and Grant” exhibit

at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History included a table with a sign asking visitors “What words would you use to describe Lee and Grant?” The visitors could choose from a number of words and phrases, such as “loyal,” “brave” and “military genius,” and then affix those words to portraits of the two generals. The person who’d been at the table just ahead of The Observer had labeled Lee “failure” and Grant “hero.” A bit unusual for a Southern city, The Observer thought, but perhaps a sign that veneration of the Confederacy is not so widespread as it once was. He hoped no alumni of Washington and Lee College saw that harsh description. Those fanatical Lee worshippers would tear the museum apart, he figured. The Observer is something of a student of history generally, not necessarily the Civil War. But sometime back he read Grant’s autobiography, which is mostly about the War. It’s a great book — Mark Twain said there’d been nothing like it since Julius Caesar wrote about his conquests. The Observer learned from the exhibit that Lee’s many admirers had begged him to write his memoirs, but instead he wrote a book about the exploits of his father, “Light Horse Harry” Lee, in the Revolutionary War. Grant, who’d doubtless heard himself compared unfavorably to Lee many times, wrote in his autobiography that when he was named the principal commander of Union troops, he was not intimidated by Lee’s awe-inspiring reputation, as some in the North were. Having served with the real Lee in the Mexican War, he could distinguish fact from fiction, he said. For what it’s worth, The Observer thinks that Lee and Grant were both heroes. But only one soldiered for a noble cause. While Lee and Grant never slept at their posts, The Observer did. He didn’t make it to this wonderful exhibit until the closing days of its stay at the Military History Museum in MacArthur Park. The exhibit is being toured by the Mid-America Arts Alliance in Kansas City. Maybe they could provide information on another chance to see it. Take it if it’s there.

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Letters arktimes@arktimes.com

Moral equivalence Moral equivalence is an imperfect science at best so comparing the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission’s current $22,000 accounting error to, say, the city of Little Rock’s firing of lowly zoo attendants, code inspectors, etc., while paying $200,000 to the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce “contractors,” or to North Little Rock’s council members selling guns and rigging city construction bids to help a New York crime family, may seem like apples and oranges. However it still leaves one the feeling that there is something terribly wrong. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette bravely listed the names of the Martin Luther King Commission volunteers who shamelessly accepted hotel accommodations after working tirelessly to serve the underserved and give back to their community. I’m sure these same intrepid seekers of the truth will show the same vigilance in investigating which North Little Rock city contracts were given to mob associates and in finding out exactly who the Regional Chamber of Commerce contractors are and why they are so indispensable. Anthony Goldsby North Little Rock

Let’s play bocce Just read the wonderful 2010 Natives Guide to Pulaski County. Don’t know if Graham Gordy was serious or not, but one of Birmingham’s finest restaurants (The Highland) has a bocce bar in the back — very popular with UAB med students and such. Great fun — glass of wine and bocce ball. Randy Wright Little Rock

Complicated Is there nothing simple anymore? 10,000 menus after one supposedly simple phone call. Drives me insane. Then, I know I don’t have to watch but I am a sports fan and I do watch hunting shows on ESPN. It amazes me that as a child I used to go fishing with an old cane pole and go duck hunting without all the happenings of today — all those pounds of gear, body spray, etc. God, would it not be wonderful if all the animals had this protection from human beings? Maybe then it would be a fair fight. Supposedly, we are one of the most civilized nations. Sorry, but I have grave doubts. If I ask a 17-year-old in a store when the computer is down to go ahead and figure up my bill, they look at me like I’m crazy. It’s OK my wonderful young generation. Build upon this great nation and country you were given. I am a dy-

ing generation and I am sure you shall make a fine, wonderful United States of America. But guess what? I shall be watching. Beverly A. Clary Little Rock

Not enough bad news Every day I hear people declare they just don’t want to hear any more “bad” news. As Wall Street takes our retirement funds through billions of tax dollars, we are “tired” of the “bad” news. Amid billions being paid as bonuses to the same guys that drove our ship of state off the cliff, we are sick of hearing “bad” news. Our corporate-run “liberal press” is aware of how much “bad” news we will take; they give us just enough to make us believe we’re living in a “free” society. When it falls apart, we get scrutinized, not the guys on the “watch” list. We are, as Kevin Drum of Mother Jones said on the Bill Moyers Show, suffering from the “Stockholm Syndrome.” We are the captives of Wall Street. Since that is not “good” news, no one wants to discuss it. The corporations running this country do not want us going to the streets begging for their heads on a platter. So keep watching NBC, CBS, ABC or, for the paranoid, Fox News. Judy Ladd Hot Springs

The health battle I am an Obama supporter, and his organization asked me to call my senators on the health care bill. The Republicans also contacted me and asked me to call. Here’s my letter on behalf of no one but myself. First, I don’t know enough about this complicated issue (and I don’t think anyone else does either, including those of you who are going to vote on the health care bill) to know what is right and what is wrong. I suspect that there is truth in both sides. I am increasingly concerned about the Democratic Senate and House hijacking the Obama agenda to further their own agenda, which is usually a pork barrel project or expansion of government into the private sector. Also, I am increasingly concerned about the federal deficit and governmental spending, but the Republicans have no basis to complain. George Bush spent like a Democrat. I am not a wing-nut, right or left, and I believe that governmental expansion is not always bad. In fact, many times it is necessary. The sad fact is that it does not matter which party controls Congress, nor does the heart of a president matter. What Eisenhower warned about in his farewell address (the military-industrial complex) has transmogrified into the military-in-

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dustrial-lobbyists-Congressional complex so that no legislation is passed without the consent of the powers-that-be lurking behind the scenes and lining the back pockets of politicians of both parties. Americans are about at the point of saying a pox on both your houses, and I am going to keep my options open, including giving up on the system entirely. Cliff Jackson Hot Springs If Sens. Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln want to protect the interests of rural Arkansans, they will vote for some version of a government program to improve our health care. Arkansas’s rural health systems desperately need incentives to cut back costs and to improve quality of care. For example, recently our local health care clinic had no qualified staff on hand to prescribe medication to reduce my high blood pressure. I am a stroke victim. The staff had to send me in an ambulance to the regional hospital so I could get the pill I needed. That pill cost Medicare thousands. Another time there was no one in the same rural clinic to diagnose the stroke I was having and the unqualified staffer advised me to go to the grocery store and get “deep heating lotion.” Over two years later I still need therapy for the effects of the stroke that could have been prevented had

the clinic been properly staffed on a Friday when they only provided for a phone receptionist. Medicare foots the bills. I urge the senators to vote for including government in the new health care coalition. Who else can oversee how our privately-run regional hospitals manage their regional clinics? Anne Courtemanche-Ellis Pelsor I used to think that we elected good people to go to Washington and represent our values and to vote the way we would vote if we were there ourselves. Somehow in the last 200 years there has evolved a class of politician that cares nothing about what his constituents want or think and votes along an agenda that is self-serving and damaging to our country at the expense of this new ruling class. Vic Snyder is one of these people. He ignored the clamor of the people that elected him and voted for this horrible so-called “healthcare reform” bill. At a time when our country and people are hurting so much, why would our leaders want to push more taxes, more obligations, more debt and more control over us? I hope that everyone in Arkansas will keep this vote in the forefront of their minds for many years, and never elect Vic Snyder to another office again. Shame on you Vic Snyder. Go back to Oregon! Greg McMahon Little Rock

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The Arkansas Reporter

the week that was jan. 13-19, 2010

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

It was a GOOD week fOr …

RON SHEFFIELD. The former deputy insurance commissioner was appointed to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court. He’s black, which solves a political controversy that arose when Gov. Mike Beebe originally filled the seat with banker Bill Bowen, 86. Bowen resigned after a week on the court for health reasons.

■

Turn out the lights Electronic sign battle brews in NLR. by GerarD Matthews

REPUBLICANS. See Vic Snyder. OAKLAWN PARK. It got 60-degree weather for its Jan. 16 opening day of horse racing and more than 20,000 people turned out to enjoy it. CASINO TALK. A Texas promoter says he will try again to push a ballot initiative that would give his private company a monopoly on casino gambling in Arkansas, unregulated by the state. It was a baD week fOr …

The SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. Free-thinking U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder announced he wouldn’t seek an eighth term in 2010 on account of a desire to spend more time with his four young children, including year-old triplets. YARD PARKING. City directors have begun a push to pass an ordinance to ban parking vehicles in yards. Next: porch beer drinking. WORKING POOR. A small expansion of the ARKids health insurance program has been put on hold indefinitely because of the state’s budget woes. CIRCUIT JUDGE WILLARD PROCTOR. Fighting his removal from the bench for ethical lapses, he told the Supreme Court his motives were pure. And what would Proctor tell a criminal defendant in his court who said, “Yes, I did all those things but I meant well.” 10 january 21, 2010 • arKanSaS TIMES

brIan chIlSon

POLITICAL SPECULATION. U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder’s planned retirement (see below) inspired a wild burst of speculation about potential candidates for his seat and a potential domino effect in other political offices. Most interesting new name: Retired Gen. Wes Clark for Congress.

DISTRACTING: Some say LED signs are a danger to drivers. n The city of North Little Rock finds itself mired in a policy-making skirmish — taking place in cities all over the country — over whether to allow electronic changeable copy signs. Local businesses, along with the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, say yes, arguing they should be able to use the latest technology to advertise services. Others, including some on the City Council, neighborhood activists and dark-sky advocates, say no. The LED (light-emitting diode) signs

are extremely bright and can change messages every few seconds. Where some see a unique advertising opportunity, others see a distraction and a nuisance. Ward Four alderman Murry Witcher is proposing an ordinance to ban use of the signs, limiting their placement to socalled sign-overlay districts, which would be approved on a ward-by-ward basis. “It is extremely hard to balance [everyone’s interests],” Witcher says. “To a person on the council, our interest is to protect the residential areas and keep

Ross gets ‘energized’ Polluters’ dollars flow before key vote. by Paul bartOn

n WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Ross received close to $80,000 in contributions from energy, mining and related interests close to the time of his vote earlier this year against sensitive climate-change legislation, Federal Election Commission records show. Legislation sponsored by Democratic Reps. Henry Waxman of California and Edward Markey of Massachusetts attempts to address global warming by taxing carbon emissions. It would put progressively tighter limits on greenhouse gas emissions with a 17% cut from 2005 levels by 2020, and 80% by 2050. A similar bill is now being considered in the Senate. A wide range of industries that emit carbon, especially utilities, are desperately

fighting the legislation, warning it would greatly increase electricity and other energy prices and cost American jobs. Ross was one of only 44 Democrats to oppose the legislation, which passed the House 219-212 on June 26. Fund-raisers sponsored by energy companies netted him $61,000 in June alone, money coming mainly from political action committees related to oil, coal, nuclear, refining and mining companies and lobbying groups. He received an additional $2,900 that month from individual contributors related to such interests. And in May he got $13,000 from PACs opposed to the climate legislation. In all, he received contributions from 39 different companies and lobbying groups involved in those issues.

them from having obtrusive lights in their homes. The second most important consideration would be safety of the general driving public.” A moratorium on permits for electronic signs expires at the end of January. Witcher wants to extend the moratorium, but acknowledges he doesn’t have the votes to do it. But that could change. Alderman Cary Gaines was opposed to the moratorium and an ordinance prohibiting the signs. But Gaines resigned from the eight-member council after it was announced that he was under federal investigation related to the indictment of an accused drug dealer and bookmaker in Cabot. The City Council will appoint an alderman to fill Gaines’ seat. If the appointee is in favor of extending the moratorium, Witcher says, he’d have the necessary five votes to pass the ordinance. At its Jan. 11 meeting, the council set a public hearing on the sign issue for Jan. 25. A vote on whether to ban the signs would come at a later date. Some on the council expressed concern that sign overlay districts would be so difficult to create they’d never be approved, and said the sign ordinance should either set out explicit criteria or name certain areas from the outset. “The council is dragging their feet on this,” says Alderman Charlie Hight, also from Ward Four, who wants to end the moratorium and allow electronic signs. Continued on page 11 Ross’s Washington office deferred questions on the appropriateness of the contributions to his campaign office, but the latter did not respond to a request for comment. But Gabriela Schneider, spokesman for the Sunlight Foundation, a Washington watchdog group said: “We can see who is getting his ear. We can see who is lining his pockets with campaign contributions.” Ross’s contributions in June: Action Committee for Rural Electrification, $3,000; American Electric Power Co., $2,000; American Gas Association, $1,000; Anadarko Petroleum, $1,000; Arch Coal Inc., $1,000; British Petroleum, $1,000; Chesapeake Energy, $2,500; Chevron, $1,000; CMS Energy Corp., $1,000; Coal PAC, $2,500. Constellation Energy Group, $1,000; Dominion Power, $1,000; DTE Energy, $1,000; Duke Energy, $1,000; El Paso Corp., $1,000; Entergy, $1,000; Exelon Continued on page 11

ROSS

LIGHTS

Corp., $1,000. Foundation Coal Corp., $2,000; IPAA Wildcatters, $1,000; Koch Industries, $5,000. Lyondell Chemical, $1,000; Marathon Oil, $1,000; National Mining Association, $1,500. Murphy Oil, $3,000; Northeast Utilities, $1,000; NRG Energy, $1,000; Nuclear Energy Institute, $2,000; Peabody Energy Corp., $3,500; Edison Electric Institute, $2,500; Progress Energy, $1,000; Southern Company, $1,000; Southwestern Energy, $5,000. Teco Energy, $1,000; Valero Energy, $2,500; Xcel Energy, $1,000. Contributions received in May: Alliance Coal, $1,000; American Electric Power, $2,000; Chevron, $1,000; Koch Industries, $2,000; Occidental Petroleum, $2,500; Power PAC, $2,000; Tesoro Petroleum, $1,500; United Mine Workers, $1,000. Individual contributions from such interests included Brian L. Wolff of the Edison Electric Institute, $2,400, and James E. Ford, American Petroleum Institute, $500, both in June. Ross received even more contributions from opponents to climate change in July and August, including $4,000 more from the Southern Company, $1,000 from Spectraa Energy, $1,000 from the Action Committee for Rural Electrification, $1,000 from Entergy, $2,000 from Murphy Oil and $2,500 from the National Petrochemical Refiners. In contrast, Ross also received one contribution from a “green” interest, $1,000 from the American Wind Energy Association in May.

“It’s gotten into a big mess in North Little Rock and there’s only a few people who even mention these signs. It’s the same six people preaching the same message for over a year.” One of those people is Park Hill neighborhood association president Cary Tyson. Tyson says aesthetics are a main concern for those in surrounding neighborhoods, but safety is an issue too. “I don’t think there’s any doubt that these signs impose an increased danger as opposed to a standard sign,” Tyson says. “They’re made to draw your attention and keep it for an undetermined amount of

Continued from page 10

time. That’s what all the lights and bright colors are designed to do. Imagine driving down JFK Boulevard and there are 10 signs on one side of the street. If they change every five seconds, and each one changed at a different moment, you’d be seeing a different message almost every second.” There’s also the question of light pollution. Jim Fisher, president of the Arkansas chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association, says bright lights can affect people’s sleeping patterns and harm everyone’s view of the night sky. “We want to make sure there’s not so much lighting that it becomes intrusive,” he says. “The main concern is light tres-

pass. We’re not just interested in protecting astronomy and astronomers, we’re really interested in the total environmental picture and that includes whether people can sleep or not.” The council interviewed 10 candidates Jan. 7 during a special meeting and will likely choose someone to fill the vacancy at its regular meeting Jan. 25. “I’m certainly in support of good and appropriate signage,” Tyson says. “I just don’t think it needs to be the kind that shines into someone’s bedroom at 2 o’clock in the morning. I’m not opposing signs per se, but I’m opposing something that I think would be deleterious to our neighborhoods’ quality of place.”

The INsIder Continued from page 3

Our gal in NYC

We’re shameless homers for Ashlie Atkinson, the Pulaski Academy grad and former Arkansas Times intern who’s working as an actress in New York. Her current role as Phoebe in the highly praised “As You Like It,” directed by Sam Mendes at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, earned her a big personality profile in Playbill, the theater magazine (online at playbill.com). The show runs at BAM through March 13. Who knew that Atkinson made three music videos for MTV as Chunky Pam, a plus-size, white girl rap star from New Jersey. That she’d had two roles in Law and Order episodes? That her audition song is a bumping and grinding “When You’re Good to Mama.” Or that she changed the spelling of her first name in sixth grade from Ashley because she knew too many Ashleys? Her plus-size personality shines throughout the Playbill interview. Check it out. ArkAnsAs Times • jAnuAry 21, 2010 11

brIan chIlSon

Hip-deep in health care A Ross And LincoLn HAd mAjoR RoLes in 2009’s biggest sHow. By Doug Smith

12 january 21, 2010 • arKanSaS TIMES

s chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Wilbur Mills was long in the thick of things, including the creation of Medicare 40 years ago, and Sen. J. William Fulbright’s influence in foreign affairs, especially during the Vietnam war, made

him an international symbol of high-toned dissent. But that was way back, and even then it was rare for two members of the Arkansas congressional delegation to be so prominently engaged with the same great issue at the same time, and to be so widely and earnestly censured, as were Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Rep. Mike Ross in the fight over health-care reform. For all they did, and didn’t, they’re the Arkansas Times’ Arkansans of the Year for 2009.

Ross, a leader of a conservative Democratic faction known as the Blue Dogs, negotiated with President Obama and congressional leaders, but wound up voting against the House version of healthcare reform, calling it “fiscally irresponsible.” The bill passed anyway. Lincoln was a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which wrote the original version of the Senate’s bill. That bill was revised many times but it resembled the original when Lincoln cast one of the 60 votes needed for Senate approval. She said the bill was imperfect, but “a vast improvement over the status quo.” She was among a small group of senators who worked out an alternative to the divisive “public-option” provision. The two versions of reform must be reconciled by the two houses before final passage. Very likely, a government-run health insurance program — authorized in the House version but absent from the Senate version — will be absent from the final bill. Both Ross and Lincoln opposed the “public option,” as did insurance companies and right-wing Republicans. Liberal Democrats were loudly dissatisfied with the two Arkansans. Ross has generally pleased conservatives, and there are many of them in the Fourth Congressional District. Lincoln seems to have pleased hardly anybody on health care, and has been maligned left

and right by columnists, bloggers and authors of letters to the editor: “Blanche Lincoln does not deserve to be re-elected. Again and again she has proved that she cares more about the interests of corporations than she does about the well-being of Arkansans. She fought for a giveaway to drug companies, but worked for the insurance companies to kill the public option. She’s happy to advocate for eliminating the estate tax for the wealthiest Americans, but doesn’t believe working Arkansans should have the right to unionize for better pay and benefits. … ” “Thanks to Sen. Blanche Lincoln for helping to ruin Christmas and endanger the nation if this horrific health care monstrosity isn’t stopped. Maybe she’s happy that she supported the sick leftist, progressive radicalism of Barack Obama and his Chicago thugs, but her constituents are not. Of course, that means nothing to her now, since she and the rest of her arrogant Democratic goons have clearly demonstrated that they could care less what the American people think, but it may make a big difference come election time.” Lincoln is regularly threatened with political ruin for being too liberal. And for being too conservative. One is reminded of the Arkansas Supreme Court throwing an initiative off the ballot for being excessively long, and unacceptably short. Both Ross and Lincoln are up for reelection. Ross is said to be safe, Lincoln otherwise. The national Republican Party plans a major campaign against her, and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the state’s largest newspaper, has already opened fire. The notorious Karl Rove recently gave money to an Arkansas politician seeking the Republican Senate nomination. Lincolnians have not been asleep. In the last week of December, after the Senate health-care vote had finally been taken, the Lincoln camp was sending out e-mail solicitations for funds almost daily, signed by Lincoln’s campaign manager, Steve Patterson, or her husband, Steve Lincoln, or by former President Bill Clinton or by Lincoln herself: “We have a really important FEC [Federal Elections Commission] deadline coming up on December 31st, and I could really use your help,” she wrote. “As I am sure you have heard, the national Republicans have put a target on my back and I expect one of the toughest campaigns of my life. They will be looking at my 2009 fundraising totals to determine whether I have the support I need to win. A contribution from you today — even $5 or more — can make all the difference.”

Little Rock is the government

and media center of Arkansas. Pundits and politicians in Pulaski County sometimes overlook and underrate politicians from the outlands of East Arkansas. Before the passage of federal civil rights laws empowered the area’s large black

high-level talk: Ross leaves the White House after meeting with President Obama on health-care reform. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., is in front. population, rich planters chose the area’s public officials, including the congressman. Those officials were uniformly conservative — even segregationist, as long as it was legal. One year as the old order was crumbling, a young and largely unknown lawyer from Osceola named Bill Alexander was elected to represent the First Congressional District. He commenced voting the national Democratic Party line; his predecessors had bragged of their independence from it. Central Arkansas experts were nonplussed by the anomalous newcomer. “He just sprang up like a dahlia,” one said. A new kind of politics in East Arkansas had indeed flowered. The voices of black and lowincome voters were beginning to be heard. Still, Alexander was so far out of step with the power structure of East Arkansas, that people wondered how he could hold on to the congressional seat. Finally, he lost it, but not to an old-style East Arkansas politician. It was another dahlia that did the trick. Blanche Lambert grew up in Helena, a seventh-generation Arkansan, as she likes to say, and a member of a prominent farming family. Unlike a Bill Clinton or a David Pryor, she wasn’t infected by politics while still in grade school. When she graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Va., “I thought I wanted to go into nursing,” but she decided to go to Washington and work for a year before going back to school. She found a job with the congressman from her district. That was Bill Alexander. It proved to be a bad hire, from Alexander’s standpoint. While working in Washington, “I got enamored with my country and my

government,” Lincoln says. “I thought it was amazing how the system worked. I thought about being a lobbyist for my state, and I asked ‘How do you do that?’ ” A friend suggested she run for Congress instead. “So I did” — against her former boss. Was that race especially bitter because of the former relationship? “I tried for it not to be,” she says. She didn’t use Hattie Caraway as a role model, although she frequently refers to the former senator these days. Caraway, also from East Arkansas (Jonesboro), was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate, earning that distinction in 1932. “I didn’t know about Hattie Caraway growing up,” Lincoln says. “It’s amazing that I didn’t, but I didn’t. “ The young Lambert attended the Episcopal Church and had a nice personality, according to a long-time and politically knowledgeable acquaintance. He never expected her to run for Congress, though — many Episcopalians with nice personalities don’t — and he told his wife, a Lincoln supporter, “Blanche doesn’t have a chance.” It was her first political race. But Alexander was a little flighty, and even some of his supporters may have been put off by his unapologetic loyalty to the national Democratic Party. And, “Blanche got out and worked real hard, and she had some really outstanding volunteers, mostly women who weren’t usually involved in political races.” Refined, upper-class women can do a lot when they work up a glow. Arkansas has seen that more than once. Family connections helped too. “Her mom and dad had a lot of friends. Her uncle drove her around the congressional district.” She was elected in 1992 and reelected in 1994, by which time she was

using her married name, Lincoln. Her husband is a doctor. She didn’t seek reelection in 1996. She was pregnant at the time, and subsequently gave birth to twin sons. By now, she’d convinced the skeptics of her electability. Nobody was surprised that she ran for the Senate when Dale Bumpers retired in 1998. She won fairly easily, and at 38 she was the youngest woman ever elected senator. But she didn’t convert Little Rock liberals, some of whom believed she was too light for a Senate seat, and certainly too light to succeed the sainted Bumpers. She beat a couple of Little Rock lawyers who were more highly regarded by the liberal and legal communities, of which there’s considerable overlap. In those circles, and still to some extent, Lincoln was regarded as a plantation princess, certain to uphold the views of the rich, white, conservative establishment. Which she’s done a good bit of. Elected to a second term in 2004, without serious opposition, she’s generally popular with conservative groups like the Farm Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce. She opposes the estate tax, paid only by the super-rich, and organized labor’s bill that would make it easier to unionize workers. Recently named chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, the first woman to hold that office, she’ll be turning to the Farm Bureau again for support and direction. But overall, she’s justified in calling herself a moderate. She’s supported a good many social welfare programs — such as better education, nutrition and health care for low-income families — and from time to time she calls special attention to her efforts to benefit women Continued on page 14 ArkAnsAs Times • jAnuAry 21, 2010 13

health care Continued from page 13

and children. She’s usually a progressive vote on abortion. A member of the liberal do-good lobby, one who doesn’t endorse candidates openly, says “Given that she’s in a tough election fight in a conservative state, I think she’s been pretty good.” Consumer advocacy groups like the AARP have run ads praising her. Americans for Democratic Action, as solid a liberal group as there is, rates the members of Congress every year on how often they vote on the liberal side. Lincoln always scores fairly high. A recent ADA survey showed her and Rep. Marion Berry of the First District with the most liberal voting records in the six-member Arkansas congressional delegation. Janine Parry, an assistant professor of political science and director of the Arkansas Poll at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, points out that in 5 of the 6 full years that Lincoln and Mark Pryor have served together in the Senate, Lincoln has had the higher ADA score. But in Arkansas liberal circles, Lincoln is reviled far more than Pryor. The voting records of Pryor and Lincoln, both centrist Democrats, are much alike, but Pryor has a higher approval rating among both Democrats (66 per cent to 61 percent) and among Republicans (43 percent to 34 percent). The liberals like him better and the conservatives hate her worse. “I think there’s a gender element here,” Parry says, “but it’s hard to prove.” She says that 29 percent of women disapprove of Lincoln, but 40 percent of men do. “The theme I see most often coming from her office — that she’s moderate, thoughtful, independent — doesn’t seem to be catching hold among men. Instead it comes across as wishy-washy, confused or unprincipled. You could argue that being in the middle [on health care] is a pretty sophisticated position. Look at where Arkansans are. You could interpret her actions as being a good steward of what Arkansans want.” That’s Ross’ position, Parry said, and he stands up to national Democratic leaders in defending it, just as Lincoln has done. “But he seems to be seen as an independent leader, and she seems to be seen as a scaredy-cat, and to me they seem to be taking the same actions.” She observes that people refer to Lincoln by her first name. “They don’t call Ross ‘Mike’. ” Hal Bass, a professor of political science at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, was asked about genderism. “I wouldn’t completely discount it, but I wouldn’t give undue attention to it either.” That Lincoln is referred to by her first name may be an advantage, he said. “I think there is a tradition in Arkansas that we identify and appreciate candidates by their first name.” Not being on 14 january 21, 2010 • arKanSaS TIMES

anti-lincoln: Corporate-funded right-wing groups bought ads like this. a first-name basis with the electorate is a problem for all the announced Republican challengers to Lincoln, Bass said, and one reason that he’s not greatly impressed by polls purporting to show Lincoln in deep trouble. (Another reason is that he’s never impressed by polls taken this early in a campaign.) “I think we’re at a time when there’s a lot of general dissatisfaction with the governing process, and she’s been a very visible, pivotal figure in the health care debate,” Bass said. “Right now, the polls are registering dissatisfaction with the current state of anti-ross: Liberal groups called for Ross' defeat. affairs as much as dissatisfaction with Blanche.” As for Lincoln there is no ideal challenger. When she being criticized more than Pryor, Bass gets against a real candidate, she’ll look says that she’s in a more exposed position a lot better.” — up for re-election — and she doesn’t That’s an opinion shared by state Sen. have the reserve of good will to fall back John Paul Capps of Searcy, who ran his on that Pryor has. Pryor’s father, David, is first race 50 years ago. Being chairman a former senator and governor. There are of the Senate Agriculture Committee is probably people who think they’re still hugely important in a state like Arkansas, voting for him. Capps said, and Lincoln should talk about “I don’t see any Republican or Demoit a lot. (She will.) “Most of the people crat on the horizon who has the connecwho say she’s in trouble are people who tion with Arkansas voters to prevail over don’t like her. I think she’s not nearly as Lincoln in 2010,” Bass said. “Right now, vulnerable as they think. Especially when it’s Blanche or an ideal challenger. But she starts spending millions, and she’ll

have it to spend.” But another well seasoned Arkansas politician says, “If I knew Bill Halter, I’d tell him this is his opportunity.” (The lieutenant governor has been mentioned as a possible Democratic opponent for Lincoln.) The politician remembered when Bill McCuen beat First District congressman Beryl Anthony in the Democratic primary of 1992, and then lost in the general election to Jay Dickey. Anthony’s loss in the primary surprised many, “But that was Beryl’s time to go. That could happen here to Blanche.”

health-care reform has roused

the electorate more than any other issue in U.S. Rep. Mike Ross’s political career. “I had an Arkadelphia town hall meeting that drew 500 people. A year earlier, it might have drawn 25. I’ve never seen people so worried, so scared, so angry as they are now.” Ross hears their worry, their fear, their Continued on page 18

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worked-up: A distraught woman speaks against health-care reform at a town-hall meeting in Little Rock.

A child shall lead them Other ArkAnsAns Of significAnce in 2009.

n As is our custom, we solicited from readers and staff ideas for people to be honored as the Arkansan of the Year for 2009. Among readers, the leading nominee was a runaway: • 10-year-old Will Phillips, a West Fork fifth grader, won acclaim and national TV appearances for his silent protest in support of equal rights for all Americans, particularly gay people. He refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance with his class, which prompted a failed effort at coercion by his substitute teacher wouldn't pledge: Will Phillips of West Fork. and a trip to the principal’s office, along with jeering lottery he championed (and for which he from classmates. Will stood firm. was Arkansan of the Year last year) come Others of note in Arkansas last year: to full flower. He also arranged Arkan• Arkansas military members. Hardsas’s participation in a mass free medical ly a week passed without news of Guard clinic that illustrated how badly the counor Reserve or active duty Air Force troops try needs health-care reform. coming and going from duty in world • Ernie Passailaigue was drawn to trouble spots. Arkansas by almost $400,000 a year in • Kris Allen. The clean-cut Conway pay and perks to add to his South Carosinger won a popular victory as Amerilina lottery retirement. He was joined by ca’s Idol. some other high-priced South Carolina • Lt. Gov. Bill Halter saw the state 16 january 21, 2010 • arKanSaS TIMES

help, but the lottery was up and running quickly with revenues meeting even the most optimistic forecasts. • Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. The stars of a reality TV show about their huge family, they welcomed a premature 19th child who weighed barely more than a pound after an emergency C-section and suddenly wanted privacy for their family after years of seeking publicity relentlessly and profitably. • Debra Hale Shelton. The Arkansas DemocratGazette’s one-person news bureau in Conway continued to be a one-woman procession of news scoops, most about the financial mess at the University of Central Arkansas created during the administration of former president Lu Hardin. • Jerry Jones. Rose City’s favorite son opened a billion-dollar new stadium for his Dallas Cowboys, also home to an annual game between his alma mater, the University of Arkansas, and Texas A&M. • Bobby Petrino. OK, the Liberty

Bowl was a close call. But the Hog football coach seems to have convinced most Razorback faithful that a mature adult is in charge and the future is bright. • Hillary Rodham Clinton. The former Arkansas first lady became secretary of state and performed with grace, grit and energy. • Charlaine Harris. The Magnolia vampire novelist became a mega-hit internationally. • Cliff Lee and A.J. Burnett. The Arkansas natives were two of the best pitchers in major league baseball. • Gov. Mike Beebe. Careful and expert at legislative matters, the governor steered a calm and popular course through difficult economic times. Pressed to answer questions on tough issues — guns, gay rights, etc. — he’d invariably give the right answer, if quietly. • Free speech. The Arkansas legislature resisted a gun lobby onslaught and preserved public access to the list of people with permits to carry concealed weapons. The Arkansas Times’ publication of the list prompted several threats of violence from gun nuts. • Justin Moore. The country singer was Billboard’s top new country artist of the year and hit No. 1 with his “Smalltown U.S.A.,” an authentic anthem for someone from tiny Poyen. • Beth Ditto. The plus-sized punk rocker from White County continued to draw raves from international audiences and she played a successful homecoming concert at Vino’s. • Mike Huckabee. The former governor produced another book that hit bestseller lists, took over Paul Harvey’s radio slot and proved a popular Fox News show host. He remains high on the list of future Republican presidential contenders. • Maurice Clemmons. The Arkansas ex-con was slain in Washington after allegedly killing four law enforcement officers. The commutation of his sentence by then-Gov. Huckabee many years ago likely will be an enduring political issue. • Teabaggers. The Tea Party movement, complete with protestors with teabags dangling from their caps at early demonstrations, wasn’t wholly organized and financed by special interests, but such help didn’t hurt. But their grievances against government and taxes were real, or at least loud, enough to become a factor in state and national politics. Their shrill cries at meetings on health care spooked many politicians. Teabaggers had local corollaries — particularly in Searcy, Hot Springs and Fayetteville — who rose to challenge various local taxes and expenditures. • Allen Kerr. The Republican legislator from Little Rock set off a statewide discussion on the double-dipping practices of various public officials and employees. It is no longer as easy to claim both a regular paycheck and a retirement check for the same work.

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heAlth CAre Continued from page 14

anger about as keenly as anyone. “My statements and my votes reflect the overwhelming majority of my constituents,” he says, and if someone suggests that he should just do what’s right on health reform or global warming, regardless of public opinion in the Fourth Congressional District, he replies, “My job is to go to Washington and represent the people of my district.” Evidently the people appreciate it. Like all congressmen, he’s up for re-election this year, but political observers don’t expect a serious opponent. A challenge in the Fourth District would be difficult even if Ross weren’t so popular. The 29-county district is huge, and likely to grow larger, because of population shifts within the state. Still thought of as “South Arkansas,” the Fourth District now extends up the western boundary of the state to within 50 miles of Fort Smith. Booneville is in the Fourth District, and so is Mount Magazine. But there’s no major media center in the district. To reach the voters, a candidate has to buy expensive TV time in Little Rock and out-of-state. Fortunately, giving the people what they want usually doesn’t require Ross to give up what he wants. He is, he says, “the go-to guy” for the National Rifle Association in the House. (Affable, he’s not as scary as you’d expect a go-to guy for the NRA to be.) “I’m an avid outdoorsman, a hunter, a fisherman. I’m opposed to gun control. That’s who I am, that’s how I was raised.” A goodly number of other congressional Democrats were raised the same way, he says. Though national Democrats once advocated gun control, “There are 65 pro-gun Democrats in Congress today. You haven’t seen any anti-gun legislation being pushed by the leadership in this Congress, and I expect you will not.” He voted against a cap-and-trade bill favored by environmentalists and opposed by industry. A Lion Oil Company executive testified the bill would eliminate 1,200 jobs in El Dorado, making Ross’ vote easy for him. “I think global warming is real, but we have to be careful we don’t export our jobs to foreign countries.” He has his own energy bill, calling for more drilling in the U.S. and heavy investment in alternative-energy sources such as biomass. The bill has not attracted wide support. Unlike Lincoln, who presents herself as a moderate beset by extremists from both sides, Ross can openly call himself a conservative, albeit one who often supports progressive positions. He’ll talk about standing up to Nancy Pelosi on behalf of his constituents, but he’ll also admit that he can do so without risk of reprisal from the Democratic leadership. The leadership understands conservative districts, he said, and the Blue Dogs 18 january 21, 2010 • arKanSaS TIMES

monster: The Fourth now rears its head up into Arkansas's northwest quarter. frequently vote with the leadership to pass progressive legislation — raising the minimum wage, for example, and expanding health care for children. “Those things wouldn’t have been possible without the 52 conservative Democrats in the Blue Dog Coalition.” To those in both parties who say he should be a Republican, he responds “I’ve been a Democrat all my life.” His heroes have always been Democrats. When bad weather grounded Lincoln’s airplane the day before the election in 2004, Ross — who was unopposed — spoke for her at at El Dorado and Texarkana. That sort of thing doesn’t placate liberal groups such as Boldprogressives.org, which is soliciting contributions online to buy anti-Ross ads in the Fourth District. Boldprogressives calls Ross “a top Blue Dog who Keith Olbermann featured for selling out to his insurance contributors.” Perhaps Ross understands his constituents so well because he’s so often among them. His wife and two children live in the family home at Prescott fulltime. He has a small apartment in Washington, but “After the last vote each week, I’m on a plane back to Arkansas. I wake up in Prescott as many days as I wake up in Washington.” He grew up in and around Prescott. His parents were public-school educators and taught him the importance of public service, he says. When he was 10 or 11, he heard Gov. Dale Bumpers speak at the opening of a stretch of Interstate 30. It made a big impression. He joined the Young Democrats while attending UALR, and at 19 or 20 attended another speech by Bumpers, who was then a senator. He sent a note telling Bumpers of his own political ambitions. Bumpers replied with a handwritten note of encouragement that now hangs on the wall of Ross’ office in Washington. In 1981 and ’82, he was a driver for

Bill Clinton, who was seeking to make a political comeback against Gov. Frank White, and succeeded. After college, he and his wife, a pharmacist, owned a pharmacy. He served a term on the Nevada County Quorum Court, and worked for then-Lt. Gov. Winston Bryant for a time. (Bryant would later lose a Senate race to Blanche Lincoln.) When a state Senate seat opened up in 1990, he ran for it, becoming the youngest member of that body at the age of 29. People who knew him then remember him as somewhat immature but generally well-intentioned, and diligent in tending to constituents. No high school graduate, no 50-year matrimonial veteran, went uncongratulated in Ross’ district. He was never a leader of the Senate, but he was a member of the Mike Beebe faction, aka “the White Hats,” then at war with the Nick Wilson faction, and his choice of sides won him favorable notice from everyone except the Wilson gang. Term limits caught him after 10 years, and he ran for the U.S. House. To the surprise of some who’d known him in the Senate, he won, defeating the Republican Dickey. At the moment, it appears he can hold the seat as long as he wants. Some say that he’ll one day run for governor or senator. He says, “I have no plan except to ask the people of the Fourth District to re-elect me in 2010.”

At press time, Congress hadn’t

yet approved a compromise health-care bill, though it was expected to shortly. Lincoln expects that the compromise won’t include the public option, and therefore she’ll be able to vote for the bill. Other senators feel as she does, she said, and “Both the majority leader of the Senate and the speaker of the House know about the delicate balance in the Senate,” where there are no votes to spare.

Ross, asked if he would support a health-care bill without the government option, was noncommittal. “I’m withholding judgment until we actually have a final bill,” he said. “Then I’ll read it and make a decision.” An unscientific poll on the congressman’s website found respondents opposed to the Senate bill even without the government option, he said. The pressure brought on by the healthcare legislation remains intense. At one point, Lincoln’s office phones crashed from the volume of calls, and both she and Ross have dealt with unruly town hall meetings. But she finesses the question of whether health care will be the decisive issue in her re-election campaign. “I’m accountable for all the choices I make,” she says. Health care, energy, agriculture, education — “I work on all of them.” Commentators continue to say that Lincoln is in grave danger of losing her seat to a Republican, and Lincoln-bashing remains a popular sport. Lately, her home-state critics have been griping that some senators got special deals for their states in return for their health-care votes, but Lincoln and Pryor got nothing for Arkansas. Lincoln gives a statesman’s response: “Arkansans didn’t send me to Washington to be a horse trader. I think this [healthcare reform] is good policy for Arkansas and for the country. I was disappointed by some of the things that were put in the bill. But you have to continue to fight for the things that are good.” A few Internet carpers have even criticized Lincoln’s conspicuous East Arkansas accent, suggesting that she exaggerates it for political effect back home. “People that have known me all my life know that I talk this way,” she says, and for someone to say otherwise is “comical.” She’d be happy to fight the campaign on that issue.

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Editorial n As state senator and as United States representative, Vic Snyder always seemed exactly the sort of person that public affairs should be entrusted to. He’s serious, in the good sense of the word — thoughtful, earnest, sincere. Not a man given to raillery, even with supporters. You could make a documentary of Vic Snyder going about his official duties, show it at schools and civic clubs, and improve Congress’ image. But now they’ve waited too long. The pride of the Arkansas congressional delegation announced last week that he won’t seek re-election. We were lucky to have him for seven terms; we needed him for longer. No one of comparable stature is in sight to succeed him, and these are hard and complex times, the way times always are. (Only in retrospect do they become “golden” and “simple.”) Much is made of the notion that members of Congress should do only what their constituents tell them to do. Snyder wouldn’t have it. He knew that it’s often hard to determine what your constituents want — some advocates aren’t necessarily more numerous than the other side, they’re just louder. More importantly, Snyder knew that he owed the people of the Second Congressional District more than just counting up the for-and-against phone calls. He owed the Second District, and the country, the best that he could give, and that sometimes meant supporting legislation that wasn’t highly popular in Central Arkansas. That he was re-elected repeatedly anyway suggests that voters do sometimes reward virtue. If he were remembered only for his vote against the invasion of Iraq in 2002, Snyder would be remembered favorably. The only veteran in the Arkansas delegation, and the one most knowledgeable about national security, he saw through the administration’s lies before it was fashionable to do so. Because a majority of Congress believed, or pretended to believe, the claptrap they were being told, hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost, millions of dollars squandered, and the end is not in sight. But that’s only one of the jewels in Snyder’s crown. He voted against the demagogues who sought to weaken the Bill of Rights by putting a flag-burning amendment in the constitution. He opposed the misogynists who would deny a woman ownership of her own body. He stood up to the bigots who sought approval for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. He wouldn’t knuckle under to the armed and dangerous NRA when it wanted loaded guns in national parks. He fought the profiteers endangering the environment. And what was he for? Children, veterans, the elderly, all the people who deserve special help from their government. For them, especially, the new year has not started well.

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brIan chIlSon

Big loss

HIGH STEPPING: Some young martial artists were among the enthusiastic participants in the annual “marade” of the Arkansas NAACP to mark the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The parade ended with a state Capitol rally.

This, too, will pass n I was caught unawares and saddened by U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder’s announcement last Friday afternoon that he wouldn’t seek re-election this year. It’s always been safe to take Snyder at face value. If he said his four children, including three one-yearold triplets, were the deciding factor, then they were the deciding factor. Certainly, though, the prospect of a venomous re-election battle meant he’d have been torn away from the children even more than as a commuting congressman. From my political perspective, Snyder was too good to be true for a Southern congressman. He is not reflexively liberal. He is far too thoughtful for that. But he is reliably courageous. A lonely vote against a popular war? He cast one. Support of full rights for the country’s oppressed sexual minorities when the noisy mob said it was political poison? Vic Snyder was a man for all seasons. All is not lost for Democrats with Snyder’s leave-taking. Indeed, Democrats’ chances might be improved by a fresh face from outside Washington in this race, such is the unhappiness with incumbents. John Brummett wrote this week that a mushy centrist, preferably from a growing red suburban county (Faulkner, Saline) might be the ticket to complement Pulaski County’s usual strong preference for Democrats. A mushy centrist would be pretty disappointing after unalloyed courage, but better than a teabagger. Just as total failure of a health bill will be disappointing, even if the bill’s a mushy compromise. Just as the implosion of Barack Obama’s esteem among voters is disappointing. But I was reminded on Monday’s King holiday that things can change for the better. Taking the longer view, you could easily see Monday that Martin Luther King Jr. was right. The arc of the moral universe DOES bend toward justice. I ran a photo Monday on the Arkansas Blog of

Max brantley max@arktimes.com

a 1958 state Capitol rally of segregationists bearing signs saying race mixing was communism. Their shrill cries that year weren’t a dying gasp of hate. Faubusism held sway in Arkansas for too many more years. But change did come. Those same Capitol steps were employed Monday for a rally at the end of the NAACP’s Martin Luther King Day “marade.” Ambitious politicians of every hue took part. Nor was this the only event of note. Nolan Richardson, the black man who led Arkansas to the promised land of men’s basketball, spoke at a King day event at Philander Smith College. John Walker, who’s been suing the Little Rock School District for racial justice since not too many years after that seg rally at the Capitol in 1958, challenged consciences again with a speech at the Clinton School of Public Service. Walker and the school’s namesake, Bill Clinton, both come from a place called Hope. At the Central High School National Historic site, park rangers read to children from a book about King in the shadow of the school where federal troops were necessary to deliver on the Constitution’s promise of equality in 1957. The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, a shiny new monument to the black experience in Arkansas, called citizens, black and white, to a day of service. If this kind of race mixing be communism, let it roll down like a mighty stream. Meanwhile, I’ll try not to unduly sweat the smaller stuff, big as it might seem on any given day. Like one of my favorite hymns says, a thousand ages in thy sight are like an evening gone.

Call it Republicare n If leaders of the Republican Party had an appreciation for irony, a grasp of destiny or just a good sense of humor, they would show up uninvited in the Rose Garden when President Obama signs the healthreform bill and declare a historic victory for Republicans. Why not? It was a Republican president, Theodore Roosevelt, who first articulated the goal of universal insurance, a Republican president, Richard Nixon, who before Obama had come the closest to achieving it, and a Republican governor, Mitt Romney, who furnished the immediate blueprint for the plan that should soon become law. If Nixon were around, he would have the chutzpah to grab credit from the Democrats, and he would have good cause. If he had not died four years ago, Caspar Weinberger, who actually crafted Nixon’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan in 1974 when he was secretary of health, education and welfare, might express satisfaction that his handiwork had been recognized and made the law of the land. It would be some vindication for the proper old Republican, whose Cabinet service for Nixon and Ronald Reagan ended in undeserved disgrace with the Iran-Contra scandal. As long as we are fantasizing, imagine a revival of the rivalry between Nixon and Mitt Romney’s dad, George Romney, who lost to Nixon in the bitter nomination battle in 1968. They could dispute whose health plan, Mitt’s or Dick’s, was the closest template for Obamacare, as the Republicans are calling the plans written

Ernest Dumas by Democratic congressional leaders. Whether he was audacious enough to claim victory, Nixon would at least take some smug satisfaction that on the great issue that most defined his hated enemies, the Kennedys, it was his idea, the Republican idea of that time, not the Kennedys’, that was victorious. That is the triumphal irony of our time. Universal health insurance, if the flawed bill that emerges in the next couple of weeks ever comes close to that goal, will be a Republican-designed plan. Presuming that the bill that goes to the president will be either the Senate bill or a close facsimile of it, it will meet Nixon and Weinberger’s basic design, expanded coverage to everyone through employer-based or individual private insurance with government assistance for the poor. In some ways, the Democratic health reforms will have a weaker federal role than even Nixon intended. Democratic health reform is Nixon Lite. But no Republican in the land, unless it is the freshman congressman from New Orleans, will embrace the old Republican plan. Republicans rail about socialism and government takeover of health care, which are nonexistent in the current health plans, but their premise is really much simpler. Health care is a zero sum game. It should

Behold the Republican comedy n It’s starting to look like a year of backlash against Democrats and sweep for Republicans. So we may as well sit back in Arkansas and enjoy the comedic gaffefest that is the Republican primary race for the U.S. Senate nomination. If there is any basis for thinking U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln might survive the toxic climate, it’s that these are the yahoos presuming to replace her. If the Republicans don’t nominate state Sen. Gilbert Baker of Conway, the only conventionally gifted politician in the current nine-man field, then they’re nuts. And I write that knowing it hurts Baker with Republicans every time I say it. But I’m just telling the truth and letting the chips fall. Only in this parallel Arkansas Republican universe could Baker be anything other than a hard-right conservative. First you had gruff old Kim Hendren of Gravette trying to think of U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer’s name in a speech to a Pulaski

John brummett jbrummett@arkansasnews.com

County Republican group, and, unable, reaching to refer to Schumer as “that Jew” or “the Jew.” Then you had preacher/businessman Curtis Coleman trying to explain the vast chasm between Republican-strong areas of our state and Democratic-strong ones, and ending up saying that you almost needed shots to go to Eastern Arkansas. Then you had Coleman’s campaign saying that Baker was just running for the Senate so that he could turn around and resign after four years and go for the job he really wanted, which was governor. Then you had Baker explaining that that was some sort of ancient quip, and, after that, you had someone in Baker’s campaign firing back that Coleman had tried to buy

be reserved for the strong and the well off. If it is available to the sickly and those who toil for poor wages there might be less of it for the rest of us. It is a theme of the teabaggers, too, recited almost daily in letters to the Democrat-Gazette. How do the Nixon and Harry Reid plans match up? Nixon spelled out his plan, drafted by Cap Weinberger, in a special message to Congress Feb. 6, 1974. He had proposed a plan in 1971 to extend coverage to everyone but Sen. Edward M. Kennedy had a plan that, in effect, expanded Medicare to everyone and Democrats had a big majority in both houses. By 1974, Kennedy had indicated he could move closer to Nixon’s idea and he had a new and powerful ally, Rep. Wilbur D. Mills of Arkansas, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. The Nixon plan would require all employers, large and small, to offer private health plans to their employees, with the employer paying 75 percent of the premiums and employees 25 percent. Employees would be free to turn it down. The government would help small and struggling businesses with the costs for a few years. The government would set minimum standards for the policies. There would have to be an option for health maintenance organizations, which Nixon thought was the key to holding down exploding medical costs. Insurance companies could not refuse to insure someone because of the nature of their illnesses — i.e., pre-existing conditions. For the unemployed, the disabled and the self-employed, he would have provided something he called Assisted Health Insurance, which was basically an expan-

sion of the fledgling Medicaid program. People would pay what they could and the government would pay the rest. Every person, whether covered by private or public insurance, would pay the first $150 of medical bills each year. Medicare would be expanded to cover drugs. The private and public coverage would include mental health. Children would get special coverage, including eye, hearing and dental exams. Those are the basic elements of the plan that passed the Senate at Christmas. Nixon was like current Republicans in another respect. He didn’t propose paying for the extra federal burden with new taxes. Current taxes could handle the few tens of billions in extra costs each year and moreover he expected big economies in health costs to follow. The current bills pay for themselves with slightly higher taxes on the wealthy and by counting part of the premiums of expensive health plans as taxable income (the Republican John McCain’s solution 18 months ago). Still, Nixon’s was a stronger plan than either the Senate or House bills today, but Kennedy and Mills thought it too weak. Nixon signaled that he was willing to compromise with the Democrats on the details, but no sooner had Mills begun hearings on health insurance than Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment over Watergate and Mills himself was embroiled in scandal. President Gerald R. Ford, although he had opposed Medicare as the House minority leader in 1965, called on Congress to pass health care based on the Nixon model. Who could have imagined that we would one day yearn for Nixon and Ford?

off Baker by offering him a highly remunerated campaign consultancy that left Gilbert feeling most uncomfortable. Then you had Coleman’s campaign saying that was no bribe. So then we had probably the funniest moment of all — so far. Not surprisingly, it came from Jim Holt, the simplistically demagogic rightwing extremist out of Springdale. He’s the guy who once said that the chambers and commerce and Federal Reserve were liberal groups. Holt has a powerful defense. It’s that, as usual, he had no earthly idea what he was talking about. A radio station in Mountain Home staged a little debate among a few of these Republican candidates. Holt participated and endeavored to explain that it’s the Republican Party that provides the modern voice for a Southern conservatism that once could find a place in the Democratic Party. It’s such obvious and banal truth that an explanation is wholly unnecessary. But that didn’t stop Holt from gumming it up so badly that he seemed to be declaring himself a formerly avowed racist, though, of course, he wasn’t. What Holt said was that he was “born

an old Democrat, reared a Dixiecrat,” and that Ronald Reagan came along to change all that. Oh, dear. He meant an old-style Southern Democrat. It was bad enough, though, that he invoked “Dixie,” as if to embrace remnants of the Confederacy. But, even worse, “Dixiecrat” was the term in 1948 for Strom Thurmond’s bolt from the Democrats to wage a racist state’s rights presidential campaign advocating segregation and keeping down black people, even one with whom Strom was having sexual intercourse. Asked about that, Holt explained compellingly and credibly that he hadn’t known anything about that historical context and that he loved African-American people. I believe every word Holt said, especially those about not having any idea what he was talking about. He’s no racist. He’s a comedian. John Brummett is a columnist and reporter for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. You can read additional Brummett columns in The Times of North Little Rock. ArkAnsAs Times • jAnuAry 21, 2010 21

Congratulations semi-finalists

3 Penny aCre • Big Boots • BoBBy • Bonnie montgomery Brother andy and his Big damn mouth • Cody Belew • the dangerous idiots elise davis • flash larue • iron tongue • matt stell and the Crashers outstanding red team • ryan Couron • stella fanCy • sweet eagle • underClaire

SEMI-FINALS: THURS. 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25 • FINALS: FRI., 3/5 sPonsored By

arts entertainment

This week in

and

McBride and Atkins to Verizon

Fiery Furnaces come to Rev

Page 24

Page 25

to do list

calendar

Movies

Dining

NEW life: At the ACAC.

Art anew

n You know that old story that artists of all stripes tell? The one about a lack of resources and fickle audiences and no support from venues? The Arkansas Community Arts Cooperative (ACAC) knows it by heart, but after years of struggling with those pressures, the nonprofit finally seems poised to affect a change in the local cultural scene. The ACAC’s stated mission is “to provide opportunities and resources to artists and the community including those who would otherwise not have access to them.” So far, in a little more than eight years of existence, that’s meant that the group’s painted a mural in North Little Rock, offered a number of “community skills” workshops (on subjects ranging from breakdancing to papermaking) and hosted various art and fashion shows and concerts. In 2007, the co-op moved into its first permanent space, in a building on South Main. A year later, it received a three-year grant from the Arkansas Arts Council to hire a part-time director and relocated to the former Gallery B building on South Rodney Parham, where it could host concerts and events without bother-

ing neighbors. Still, even with a permanent space and the money to pay for a part-time director, the ACAC hasn’t exactly flourished. A string of directors have come and gone. Membership has hovered around 120. And the programming, with some noteworthy exceptions, has rarely changed from year to year. Enter Leigh Wood. The 30-year-old Little Rock native took over in October with experience that includes co-founding Art Amiss in Fayetteville and fund-raising for two public radio stations. In relatively short order, she’s recruited an impressive and diverse new slate of board members, set an aggressive goal for fund-raising and attracting new members and taken steps to repair the co-op’s reputation as little more than club built around a self-promoting number of longtime members. “I have to let people know that the ACAC is not a clique-y thing or an inclusive thing,” she says. “That rather, it’s an awesome thing, where you can make any weird idea you have for throwing a party or starting a workshop or whatever happen.” To that end, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, the ACAC

The ACAC looks to expand.

By Lindsey Millar

hosts a programming meeting open to all members (Wood says prospective members can join at the meeting), where ideas for upcoming events will be discussed. Already, Wood’s converted the space into a full-time gallery, which debuts a new artist every first Friday of the month. (The gallery arrangement can also accommodate other events, though until the group can secure enough volunteer support, the building rarely remains open beyond events.) And several new board members talk of passion projects they’re working on developing. Graphic artist Jose Hernandez, who’s new to Little Rock after spending his teens and early 20s living throughout Mexico and the U.S., hopes to start a mural workshop. And filmmaker and attorney Nick Rogers wants to see the ACAC stage plays and host filmmaker roundtables. Wood acknowledges that talk of ideas will do little to attract new members. She has to prove the ACAC to the community with better programming. Next up: a first Friday opening around 7 p.m. Feb. 5 for Hernandez. His graffiti culture-influenced social art looks like nothing anyone else is doing locally. More calendar information is available acacarkansas.wordpress.com. Arkansas Times • january 21, 2010 23

■ to-dolist

text — which, as far as staying relevant goes, doesn’t seem like a bad idea. But to be sure, you’re going to get at least a peek at all the different sides of Martina. Like McBride, Louisiana native Trace Adkins started his career in the neo-traditionalist vein before shifting to pop-ier pastures. Lately, that’s meant embracing Nash Vegas’ version of rock ’n’ roll (imagine a shinier, 2010 version of .38 Special) and rap (hick-hop?). Try dialing up Adkins’ monster hit, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” on YouTube for a primer. LM.

By Lindsey MiLLar and PauL Peterson

TH U RS D AY 1 / 2 1

VELVET KENTE

9:30 p.m., Sticky Fingerz. $5.

LORETTA LYNN

7:30 p.m., Reynolds Performance Hall, UCA, Conway. $40-$50.

brIan chIlSon

n This time last year, Velvet Kente had only a handful of live shows under its belt. Observant local scenesters might have remembered the band’s front man, joshua, from his live performances from several years prior, or know that “Project Runway” star Korto Momolu used his song “binti” to debut her collection at New York Fashion Week. But practically speaking, Velvet Kente was an unknown quantity last January. By March, the funk-rock-Afrobeat hybrid was unquestionably regarded as one of the state’s finest. What happened? The Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase. Which is not to say that the Showcase made Velvet Kente or that the band wouldn’t have blown up on its own, but the Showcase certainly helped speed things along. On Thursday, get a taste of what makes last year’s champs so special and make sure you come back a week later as we begin the search for this year’s in the 2010 Musicians Showcase. Local pop-rockers Whale Fire, who also made a strong showing in last year’s Showcase, share the bill. LM.

ONE YEAR LATER: Velvet Kente still riding high after last year’s Showcase.

FRI DAY 1/22

MARTINA MCBRIDE / TRACE ADKINS

7:30 p.m., Verizon Arena. $35.75-$59.75.

n Martina McBride’s been a lot things over the course of her nearly 20-year ca-

THE MANY SIDES OF MARTINA: McBride, with Trace Adkins in tow, comes to Verizon Arena. 24 january 21, 2010 • arKanSaS TIMES

reer. A honky-tonk revivalist. A countrypop balladeer. An adult radio crossover. And now, with the “Shine All Night” tour, a rock star. Or at least that’s the image she’s hoping to project with all the costume changes, grand staging, props (one video clip on her website shows her perched on a sliver of a blue moon, rising above the stage) and, especially, big electric guitars. Musically, it’s as if she’s been Keith Urban-ized — put in a new, punchy pop-rock con-

n When Loretta Lynn last visited Arkansas, she took the stage at Robinson with all the requisite poof and sparkle you’d expect from the queen of country music, and she sang in a voice about as bright and strong as she did half a century ago. But perhaps owing to her age — she was 73 at the time — she ceded a lot of stage time to a younger generation of Lynns. For fans of “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” it was nice to see the narrative played out, to get a listen and a look at Loretta’s children all grown up, but otherwise, the second- and third-generation Lynns were pretty much a drag, especially relative to their mom. So let’s keep our fingers crossed that she left her brood at home. Either way, if you’re a fan and you haven’t ever seen Loretta Lynn, you better seize the opportunity. There’s not too many 75-year-olds still touring regularly. LM.

THE QUEEN OF COUNTRY: Loretta Lynn returns to Central Arkansas.

■ inbrief THURDAY 1/21

HONKY TONK HEROES: The Salty Dogs celebrate the release of their fourth album.

S ATU RD AY 1 / 2 3

THE SALTY DOGS

9:30 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5.

n Brad Williams might have the most iconic voice in local music. Rangy and rarely onstage without a cowboy hat, the Salty Dogs front man sings in the kind of easy twang that comes from growing up in Marked Tree, but he tempers it with a big helping of Southern soul (you could imagine Williams doing right by a Dan Penn song). Williams and the Dogs — Brent LaBeau (bass), Bart Angel (drums), Nick Devlin (guitar) — often get pegged as “new traditionalists” or “honky-tonk revivalists,” which to these ears is just another way of saying country music that lasts. On Saturday, the band celebrates the release of its fourth album and first on Max Recordings, “Brand New Reason.” It’s full of hot guitar licks, organ workouts and clever lyrics. The lead track, “Rock and Roll Will Never Stay,” offers a sly rejoinder to a preacher who’s condemned rock ’n’ roll. It goes like this: “We’re living in one accord/we’re living by the spirit and we’re dying by the sooouul.” Stream it at Rock Candy. And get the CD at the reduced price of $8 at the concert. LM.

behind “My Blueberry Boat,” a woozy album marked by equal parts experimentation and catchy hooks. They played everything at double time. It could’ve been a punk show. But defying expectations has always been the Fiery Furnaces’ m.o. Anchored by siblings Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger, the group has, over the course of the last decade, cut an album with the Friedbergers’ grandmother, spliced dozens of live versions of the same song into collage-style tracks and recorded a covers album of its own material. Lately, the Friedbergers have talked of a “silent record” and launched a new initiative, “Democ-Rock,” which encourages “Citizen-Fan-Audiences” to help out with the songwriting process by passing the siblings the sort of old scraps of paper you might find in the bottom of your purse. That we’re still listening no matter what the crackpot concept or instrumental adventure surely says something about the power of those hooks. Drug Rug from Cambridge, Mass., opens. LM.

WE DNE SDAY 1 /2 7

PAUL THORN

8 p.m., Revolution. $12 adv., $15 d.o.s.

n Paul Thorn has lived a storied life. After learning guitar as a child, he went on to a brief pro boxing career that eventually landed him a televised fight with three-time world champ Roberto Duran. His first cousin, then the keyboardist for ParliamentFunkadelic, turned him on to master songsmith Billy Maddox, who recognized the untapped potential of Thorn’s voice (which sounds a lot like Timbuk 3’s Pat MacDonald). His career gained further steam when entertainment executive Miles Copeland, I.R.S. Records founder and brother of Police drummer Stewart, signed him to A&M for his 1997 debut. He’s recorded seven more since then, performed on late night TV shows and toured with Sting, Mark Knopfler, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt and Jeff Beck. And how’s this for a co-sign? Kris Kristofferson calls Thorn “the bestkept secret in the music business.” PP.

FRIDAY 1/22

nMurfreesboro rockers and Little Rock favorites Glossary return to White Water after what’s been, for them at least, a long absence. Birmingham’s Vulture Whale shares the bill, 10 p.m., $6. At Vino’s, Fayetteville standouts David Family Pegasus perform deeply infectious songs about the adventures of King David, a refugee of a (made-up) Bible-themed video game. With visuals! Matt Anders and Megan Parochka open, 8 p.m. At Revolution, throwback metal act Four on the Floor co-headlines with local alt-country band the Good Time Ramblers; the Go-Go Revolution Girls will be out, too, 9 p.m. The always-engaging indie threepiece Winston Family Orchestra offers a free show at Satellite, 9 p.m. free. At the Weekend Theater, the comedy “Sordid Lives” continues, 7:30 p.m., $10-$14. The Arkansas Children’s Theatre debuts a stage adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” 7 p.m., $11-$14.

SATURDAY 1/23

TU ES D AY 1 / 2 6

THE FIERY FURNACES 8:30 p.m., Revolution. $10.

n Back in the early part of the decade, when the Fiery Furnaces first unleashed their brand of pop experimentation on a hugely receptive indie scene, I caught them in Nashville. They were touring

n The Rep’s annual “Startin’ Early, Staying Late” fund-raiser precedes the theater’s fancy-schmancy Saturday night “Saints and Sinners Ball” and aims for a different audience — those who want to support the city’s only professional theater company, but can’t afford a $300 ticket or don’t want to don black tie. At “Startin’ Early” at the Governor’s Mansion, a $50 ticket scores you hors d’oeuvres, an open bar and music from the Bob Boyd Sounds and an opportunity to bid on a silent auction. Dress is cocktail, 6:30 p.m. Little Rock’s finest jazz act, the Ted Ludwig Jazz Trio, does its monthly night of double duty, starting, as usual, at the Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., and then shifting to the Afterthought, 8 p.m., $5. Party-style cover band Mr. Lucky returns to Cajun’s Wharf, 9:30 p.m., $5. Revolution hosts a night of local hard-edged rock at Revolution with Calling Drake, Iron Ton and Eddy and the Defiantz, 9 p.m., $5. At SpeakEasy, local pianist and vocalist John Willis gets an assist from Hanky Pank, 8 p.m., free.

WHIMSICAL WEIRDOS: The Fiery Furnaces.

n The eight-piece Meshugga Klezmer Band returns to the Afterthought for a rare performance, 8 p.m., $8. Out at Denton’s Trotline in Benton, Big John Miller belts out soul hits with support from his band, 8 p.m., free. Local singer/songwriters and roommates Bonnie Montgomery and Mandy McBryde share the stage at a free show at the Town Pump, 9 p.m. ArkAnsAs Times • jAnuAry 21, 2010 25

www.arktimes.com

afterdark NOT MARIO LOPEZ: Brooklyn DJ A.C. Slater, named by industry heavyweight Beatport as one to watch in 2009, mixes elements of big bass, electro and rave at the Village on Friday, January 22 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

calendar

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

THURSDAY, JAN. 21 MUSIC

Blues jam. Hosted by Mike Dollins and the Cruize Brothers. Odie’s House of Blues, 9 p.m. 3413 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-6343. Bop at the Legion with Eric Lee. Music from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Legion Event Center, 7 p.m., $3, 18 and up. 315 E. Capitol Ave. 372-8762. Brian Martin. Maxine’s, 9 p.m., free, 21 and up. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909, www.maxinespub.com Calling Drake, Iron Ton, Eddy and the Defiantz. Revolution, 9 p.m., $5 over 21, $10 under 21, all ages. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090, www.rumbarevolution.com. Headstrong Sessions. Bi-weekly electronic dance music with various DJs. Mac Daddy’s, 10 p.m., free, 21 and up. 314 N. Maple St., NLR. 3747665, www.myspace.com/PrescribedProductions. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’, 7 p.m., free. 500 President Clinton Ave. 324-2999, www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. John Willis & Hanky Pank. SpeakEasy, 8 p.m., free. 412 Louisiana. 374-2008. Karaoke with DJ Cowboy. Count Pulaski Club, 26 january 21, 2010 • arKanSaS TIMES

8 p.m., free. 200 Hwy. 167 N. (inside Howard Johnson’s), Jacksonville. 983-4323. Mr. Lucky (headliner), Ben & Doug (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 9:30 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 375-5351, www.cajunswharf. com. Ryan Howell, Ashley Sullivan, Tate Smith. Soundstage, 8 p.m., $6. 1008 Oak St., Conway. www.soundstageshows.com. Ted Ludwig Jazz Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free. 111 W. Markham. 370-7013. Ted Ludwig Jazz Trio. Afterthought, 8 p.m., $5. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Thirsty Thursday. With King Akeem and DJ Deja Blu. On the Rocks, 9 p.m. 107 E. Markham St. 3747625, www.myspace.com/clubontherocks. Velvet Kente, Whale Fire. Sticky Fingerz, 9 p.m., $5, 21 and up. 107 Commerce St. 372-7707, www.stickyfingerz.com.

COMEDY

John “Rajun Cajun” Morgan. Loony Bin, 8 p.m., $7. 1-430 and Rodney Parham. 228-5555, www.LoonyBinComedy.com/lr.

DANCE

Golden Gates Dance Troupe. Russian instrumental, singing and dancing ensemble. Gardner

At Ya Yas, we have a great pride in offering a menu that’s exciting & distinctive, enticed by our cocktails made from our homemade infusions & creative wine list. Located in the Promenade at chenaL Hours: Sun. 10am- 9pm Reservations Preferred 501.821.1144

Mon. - Thurs. 11am- 10pm Fri. - Sat. 11am- 11pm

Auditorium, 7:30 p.m., $5, $1 ages 6-18, free ages 5 and under. Tickets available one hour before showtime. 1000 S. Arkansas, Russellville. 479968-2452. “Thank You Gregory: A Tribute to the Legends of Tap.” Tap dancing honoring the late Gregory Hines. Walton Arts Center, 7 p.m., $18.50$40.50. 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-4435600, www.waltonartscenter.org.

EVENTS

“Startin’ Early.” Pre-party for the Rep’s Saints and Sinners Ball with hors d’oeuvres, drinks, music and auction. Governor’s Mansion, 6 p.m. $50. 1800 Center St. 378-0445.

SPORTS

Oaklawn. Horse racing. Oaklawn Park, 1 p.m., gates open 11 a.m., $2. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411, www.oaklawn.com.

FRIDAY, JAN. 22 MUSIC

AC Slater. Village, 8:30 p.m., $10 adv., $15 d.o.s. 3915 S. University. 570-0300, www.thevillagelive. com. Amatory, A Day Of Reckoning. Soundstage, 8 p.m., $6. 1008 Oak St., Conway. www.soundstageshows.com. Bushdog (headliner), Lyle Dudley (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 375-5351, www.cajunswharf. com. David’s Pegasus, Matt Anders, Megan Parochka. Vino’s. 923 W. 7th St. 375-8466, www. vinosbrewpub.com. DJs SpenceRx, J. Patrick and Soren. Star Bar, 10 p.m., $5. 1900 W. 3rd. 301-7827, www. starbarlounge.com. Echo Canyon. Town Pump, 9 p.m., free. 1321 Rebsamen Park Road. 663-9802. Four On The Floor, Good Time Ramblers, Go-Go Revolution Girls. Revolution, 9 p.m., 18 and up. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090, www.rumbarevolution.com. Fracture. West End Smokehouse Tavern, 9 p.m., $5. 215 N. Shackleford. 224-7665. Glossary, Vulture Whale. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. 2500 W. 7th. 375-8400, www.myspace.com/whitewatertavern. Iron Tongue, Knee Deep, the Sinking South. Juanita’s, 10 p.m., $3, 18 and up. 1300 S. Main St. 374-3271, www.juanitas.com. Joey Farr and the Fuggins Wheat Band. Midtown, 12:30 a.m., $5. 1313 Main St. 372-9990, www.midtownar.com. John Craig and the SpeakEasy Blues Orchestra. SpeakEasy, 9 p.m., free. 412 Louisiana. 374-2008. Josh Green. Flying Saucer, 9 p.m., $3. 323 Clinton Ave. 372-7468, www.beerknurd.com. Karaoke with DJ Cowboy. Count Pulaski Club, 8 p.m., free. 200 Hwy. 167 N. (inside Howard Johnson’s), Jacksonville. 983-4323. Loretta Lynn. Reynolds Performance Hall, 7:30 p.m., $40-$50. UCA, Conway. 501-450-3265. Martina McBride and Trace Adkins. Verizon Arena, 7:30 p.m., $35.75-$59.75. Retro Night with DJ G-Force. Rio’s Lounge, 9:30 p.m., retro dress free entry, throwback drink specials. 11 Shackleford Drive. 954-8787, www. rioslittlerock.com Sarah Hughes Band. Denton’s Trotline, 8 p.m., free. 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717. Shannon Boshears Band. Star Bar, 6 p.m., $5. 1900 W. 3rd. 301-7827, www.starbarlounge.com. SpeakEasy Broadway Floor Show. SpeakEasy, 7 p.m., free. 412 Louisiana. 374-2008. Ted Ludwig Jazz Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 8 p.m., free. 111 W. Markham. 370-7013. Thomas East. Sonny Williams’, 7 p.m., free. 500 President Clinton Ave. 324-2999, www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Tragikly White. Afterthought, 9 p.m., $7. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www.afterthoughtbar.com. Uncle Lucius. Maxine’s, 9 p.m., $5, 21 and up. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909, www.maxinespub.com Winston Family Orchestra. Satellite Cafe, 9 p.m., free. 5923 Kavanaugh. 663-6336. Zacura, Black Market Ministry, Jungle Juice. Downtown Music, 8 p.m., $6. 211 W. Capitol. 3761819, www.downtownshows.homestead.com.

UpcOMiNg EvENTS Concert tickets through Ticketmaster by phone at 975-7575 or online at www.ticketmaster.com unless otherwise noted. JAN. 29-30: Monster Jam. Giant trucks wreak havoc. Verizon Arena, 7:30 p.m., $20$25, $10 ages 2-12. 800-745-3000. FEB 4: ABBA — The Music. Reynolds Performance Hall, 7:30 p.m., $40-$50. UCA, Conway. 501- 450-3265. FEB. 6: Lipizzaner Stallions. Verizon Arena, 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m., $24.25-$31.25. 800-7453000. FEB. 12-13: Gravity Slashers. Freestyle daredevils motocross competition. Verizon Arena, 8 p.m., $11.75-$24.75 adv., add $2 d.o.s. 800-745-3000. FEB. 14: Delbert McClinton. Walton Arts Center, 7 p.m., $25.50-$100.50. 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-443-5600, www. waltonartscenter.org. FEB. 21: Willie Nelson. Summit Arena, 7:30 p.m., $35-$55. 134 Convention Blvd., Hot Springs. 800-745-3000. MARCH 5: Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Flyleaf. Verizon Arena, 7 p.m., $39.75. 800-745-3000. MARCH 7: George Thorogood and the Destroyers. Walton Arts Center, 7 p.m., $25.50-$100.50. 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-443-5600, www.waltonartscenter.org.

COMEDY

John “Rajun Cajun” Morgan. Loony Bin, 8 p.m., 10:30 p.m., $12. 1-430 and Rodney Parham. 228-5555, www.LoonyBinComedy.com/lr.

EVENTS

Annual Arkansas Marine Expo. Statehouse Convention Center, 10 a.m., $5, free ages 12 and under. Markham and Scott. 225-6177. Big Buck Classic. State’s largest deer hunting and outdoor event, wildlife petting, activities and more. Arkansas State Fairgrounds, 1 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m. Sat.-Sun., $5-$10. 2600 Howard. www.bigbuckclassic.com. Naturalization Ceremonies. Largest naturalization ceremony in the state and first of four this year. Clinton Center Great Hall, 11 a.m., free. 1200 Clinton Ave. 748-0422, jsecuban@clintonfoundation.org. Winter Hiking Adventure. Interpreter-led hike of Rocky Valley Trail to East Quarry overlook. Sturdy footwear and ample water. Pinnacle Mountain Visitor Center, 10:30 a.m., free. 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road. 868-5806.

SPORTS

Oaklawn. Horse racing. Oaklawn Park, 1 p.m., gates open 11 a.m., $2. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 623-4411, www.oaklawn.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 23 MUSIC

A.M. Refugees, the Muddlestuds, the Nasties. Downtown Music, 8 p.m., $7. 211 W. Capitol. 376-1819, www.downtownshows.homestead. com. Ben Shea, Baak Gwai, Adam Faucett, the Tall Grass. Juanita’s, 9:30 p.m., $5, 18 and up. 1300 S. Main St. 374-3271, www.juanitas.com. Big John Miller Band. Denton’s Trotline, 8 p.m., free. 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717. Bizarkanas Showcase with Mother Hug, Androids of ExLovers, Perpetual Warewolf, Color Club. Maxine’s, 9 p.m., free, 21 and up. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909, www.maxinespub.com Blu 82. Cornerstone Pub, 9 p.m., $5. 314 Main St., NLR, 374-1782, www.cstonepub.com. Butterfly featuring Irie Soul. Sticky Fingerz, 9 p.m., $5, 21 and up. 107 Commerce St. 372-7707, www.stickyfingerz.com. Covershot. Flying Saucer, 9 p.m., $3. 323 Clinton Ave. 372-7468, www.beerknurd.com. Crisis. West End Smokehouse Tavern, 9 p.m., $5. 215 N. Shackleford. 224-7665. Freeverse (headliner), Richie Johnson (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 375-5351, www. cajunswharf.com.

Izmal, Still Reign, Tangled In Ruin. Soundstage, 8 p.m., $6. 1008 Oak St., Conway. www. soundstageshows.com. Joey Farr and the Fuggins Wheat Band. Midtown, 12:30 a.m., $5. 1313 Main St. 372-9990, www.midtownar.com. Karaoke with DJ Cowboy. Count Pulaski Club, 8 p.m., free. 200 Hwy. 167 N. (inside Howard Johnson’s), Jacksonville. 983-4323. Mandy and Bonnie. Town Pump, 9 p.m., free. 1321 Rebsamen Park Road. 663-9802. Meshugga Klezmer Band. Afterthought, 8 p.m., $8. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www. afterthoughtbar.com. Michael Shane (lobby). Discovery, 9 p.m., $10. 1021 Jessie Road. 664-4784, www.latenightdisco. com. Ted Ludwig Jazz Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 8 p.m., free. 111 W. Markham. 370-7013. Tragikly White. Revolution, 9:30 p.m., $5 early admission (over 21), 18 and up. 823-0090, www. rumbarevolution.com. William Staggers. SpeakEasy, 9 p.m., free. 412 Louisiana. 374-2008.

COMEDY

John “Rajun Cajun” Morgan. Loony Bin, 7 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m., $12. 1-430 and Rodney Parham. 228-5555, www.LoonyBinComedy.com/lr.

EVENTS

Annual Arkansas Marine Expo. See Jan. 22. Big Buck Classic. See Jan. 22. Parents Without Partners Dance Social. Weekly dance for single parents, children welcome. PWP building, 7 p.m. social, 8 p.m. dance, $5-$6, all ages, BYOB. 4521 W. 65th St. 568-4476. Saints and Sinners 2010 Masked Ball. Annual Mardi Gras fund-raising gala for the Rep. Statehouse Convention Center, 7 p.m., $300. Markham and Scott. 378-0405.

SPORTS

Oaklawn. Horse racing. Oaklawn Park, 1 p.m., gates open 11 a.m., $2. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411, www.oaklawn.com.

SUNDAY, JAN. 24 MUSIC

Bonnie Montgomery. SpeakEasy, 7:30 p.m., free. 412 Louisiana. 374-2008. Classical Brunch. SpeakEasy, 10 a.m., free. 412 Louisiana. 374-2008 Jazz Brunch with Ted Ludwig. Vieux Carre, 11 a.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-1196. www. afterthoughtbar.com. Karaoke. Counterpoint, 10 p.m., free. 3605 MacArthur Drive, NLR. 771-5515. The Legion Band, Warren Crow and Company. Legion Event Center, 7 p.m., $5, 18 and up. 315 E. Capitol Ave. 372-8762. Stardust Big Band. Arlington Hotel, 3 p.m., $8, students free. 239 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 7674625, www.stardustband.net. Take Me Anywhere, Rivalry For Ruin, Lair Morgan, Painted Thrones and more. Juanita’s, 5 p.m., all ages. 1300 S. Main St. 374-3271, www.juanitas.com.

EVENTS

Annual Arkansas Marine Expo. See Jan. 22. Big Buck Classic. See Jan. 22. Dutch Oven Demonstration. Skills demonstration and tasting prior to Jan. 30 full workshop. Pinnacle Mountain picnic area, noon, free. 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road. 868-5806. W.O.W. Bird Watching. From the Wildlife Observation Window; binoculars provided. Pinnacle Mountain Visitor Center, 11 a.m., free. 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road. 868-5806.

SPORTS

Oaklawn. Horse racing. Oaklawn Park, 1 p.m., gates open 11 a.m., $2. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 623-4411, www.oaklawn.com.

MONDAY, JAN. 25 MUSIC

Di Wu. Renowned classical pianist performs selections by Debussy, Granados, Schoenberg and Prokofiev. Administration Auditorium, 7 p.m., $3. Harding University, Searcy. 501-279-4343. Irish Music Sessions. Open to all musicians. Khalil’s Pub & Grill, 7 p.m., free. 110 S. Shackle-

ford. 224-0224, 663-2515, www.khalilspub.com Karaoke with DJ Cowboy. Count Pulaski Club, 8 p.m., free. 200 Hwy. 167 N. (inside Howard Johnson’s), Jacksonville. 983-4323. Monday Night Jazz: Monthly Jam Session. Afterthought, 8 p.m., $5, $1 jammers. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www.afterthoughtbar. com. Parachute Woman. Union, 10 p.m., free. 3421 Old Cantrell Road. 661-8311. Shannon McClung. Grumpy’s, 9 p.m., free. 1801 Green Mountain Drive. 225-3768.

Live Music Thursday, Jan. 21 Haiti ReLief BeNefit Magic Hassle • cHris Denny JonatHan Wilkins • isaac alexanDer Friday, Jan. 22 glossary • Vulture WHale saTurday, Jan. 23 salty Dogs recorD release sHoW Go fast

CLASSES

Scottish dance lessons. Basic formations and footwork for traditional and modern Scottish reels, jigs and strathspeys, Mondays through March 29, hosted by Arkansas Scottish Country Dance Society. Park Hill Presbyterian Church, 7 p.m. beginners, 8 p.m. intermediate, $40, $20 ages 12-18. 3520 JFK Blvd., NLR. 821-4746.

SPORTS

Oaklawn. Horse racing. Oaklawn Park, 1 p.m., gates open 11 a.m., $2. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411, www.oaklawn.com.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 san antokyo • iron tongue myspace.com/whitewatertavern Little Rock’s Down-Home Neighborhood Bar

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

FARM TABLES? We've got 'em.

TUESDAY, JAN. 26 MUSIC

Carl Mouton Jam Session. Afterthought, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www. afterthoughtbar.com. DJ G Money Karaoke and Dance. Bogies, 7 p.m., free. 120 W. Pershing, NLR. 758-1851. The Fiery Furnaces, Drug Rug. Revolution, 8:30 p.m., $10, all ages. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090, www.rumbarevolution.com. Giant Cloud. Maxine’s, 9 p.m., free, 21 and up. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909, www.maxinespub.com Gravity Radio. Experimental composer Mikel Rouse presents multi-media show with live music interspersed with AP Newswire reports and shortwave radio frequencies. Walton Arts Center, 7 p.m., 9 p.m., $10-$15. 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-443-5600, waltonartscenter.org. Karaoke with DJ Cowboy. Count Pulaski Club, 8 p.m., free. 200 Hwy. 167 N. (inside Howard Johnson’s), Jacksonville. 983-4323. Karaoke with DJ Debbie T. Town Pump, 9 p.m., free. 1321 Rebsamen Park Road. 663-9802. Kevin Melton. Satellite Cafe, 9 p.m., free. 5923 Kavanaugh. 663-6336. Open Mic. Counterpoint, 10 p.m., free. 3605 MacArthur Drive, NLR. 771-5515. San Antokyo, Iron Tongue. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., donations. 2500 W. 7th. 375-8400, www.myspace.com/whitewatertavern. Take It Back, Something To Stand For. Vino’s. 923 W. 7th St. 375-8466, www.vinosbrewpub.com. Thomas East. SpeakEasy, 8 p.m., free. 412 Louisiana. 374-2008. Top of the Rock Chorus. Weekly membership auditions include free four-week vocal training program for women every Tuesday through Jan. 26. School for the Blind Woolly Auditorium, 7 p.m., free. 258-1389, www.topoftherockchorus.com. Wakarusa Winter Classic. Audience selects one act to receive Wakarusa 2010 invitation. With Copasetic, Mojo Depot, Starrroy, Where’s Lawrence, Waoka. Sticky Fingerz, 8 p.m., $5, 21 and up. 107 Commerce St. 372-7707, www.stickyfingerz.com.

COMEDY

Alex Reymundo. Special one-night-only performance. Loony Bin, 8 p.m., 7 p.m. seating, $10 adv., $15 d.o.s. 1-430 and Rodney Parham. 2285555, www.LoonyBinComedy.com/lr.

LECTURES

“MacArthur Park Redux: Never Underestimate What a Group of Citizens Can Do.” Downtown Partnership Executive Director Sharon Priest will discuss the process and development of the MacArthur Park revitalization efforts. Arts Center Lecture Hall, 5:30 p.m., free. 501 E. 9th. 3724000, www.arkarts.org.

MEETINGS

Science Cafe: “Crime Science.” UAMS-hosted monthly exchanges with expert panelists. Afterthought, 7 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-

Continued on page 28

Oliver’s Antiques

501.982.0064 • 1101 Burman Dr. • Jacksonville Take Main St. Exit, East on Main, Right on S. Hospital & First Left to Burman. Hours: Tues.- Fri. 10-5 • Sat. 10-4

ARKANSAS’ BEST LIVE MUSIC THU 1/21 THU 1/21

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IRON TON / CALLING DRAKE EDDIE & THE DEFIANTZ @ REV 830 A DARKENED ERA FOUR ON THE FLOOR

FRI GOOD TIME RAMBLERS @ REV 1/22 GO GO REVOLUTION GIRLS 930 FRI 1/22

LUCIOUS SPILLER BAND

SAT 1/23

REV TRAGIKLY WHITE BAND @930

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BUTTERFLY @ SF feat IRIE SOUL 9PM WEDNESDAY LUCIOUS NIGHTS @ SF 50 CENT BEER SPILLER 9PM

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A&E News

A boy named

New on Rock Candy

The Kiffin mess and looking ahead hopefully By derek jenkins

cash n “American VI: Ain’t No Grave,” the final chapter of Johnny Cash and Rick Rubin’s “American” series, is due Feb. 26 on Lost Highway. It includes songs from Sheryl Crow and Kris Kristofferson and a guest appearance by the Avett Brothers. n This year, we had more entrants to our Musicians Showcase than ever before. From that long list, we’ve selected 16 semifinalists: 3 Penny Acre, Big Boots, Bobby, Bonnie Montgomery, Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth, Cody Belew, the Dangerous Idiots, Elise Davis, Flash LaRue, Iron Tongue, Matt Stell and the Crashers, Outstanding Red Team, Ryan Couron, Stella Fancy, Sweet Eagle and Underclaire. Last year, we admitted 20 bands, but we’ve decided to try a new wrinkle this year. We’re adding a play-in round. Each week, the act that receives the highest score from judges advances to the final round and, new this year, the act that receives the second highest score will advance to a play-in round that will be decided completely by audience vote. The semifinals begin on Jan. 28 at Sticky Fingerz and continue for the following three Thursdays at the club. The play-in date is Feb. 25, and then the finals happen on March 5 at Revolution. Watch Rock Candy for much more info. n Mark your calendars, metal heads. Paul Di’Anno, the original lead singer of Iron Maiden (as in, pre-Bruce Dickinson), is headed to Vino’s on Feb. 19. It’s his first U.S. tour in 15 years and, yes, he’ll be doing an Iron Maiden set. Tickets are $15 di’anno in advance, $20 at the door and the George Jonestown Massacre, Iron Tongue and Sweet Eagle open. 28 january 21, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

n Like most people, my first reaction to Kiffingate was WTF? I mean that generally, not as some final moral response. Though Petrino faced a very different situation prior to leaving Atlanta, Hog fans would be engaging in some lowgrade hypocrisy if we piled on with the rest of the scolds. Sanctimony is a vulgar pastime, but for a fanbase that experiences that faint tickle of doubt every time a big job comes open, fulminating on the immorality of careerism should be anathema anyway. (BTW: I give little credence to rumors that Petrino turned down the job; can you imagine a worse fit for the shiny celebrity atmosphere at USC?) I feel sorry for the incoming Vols, as sorry as any fan of an opposing program could feel, but it’s probably best that Kiffin, an unproven coach so emblematic of the recruit-centered mania of modern amateur athletics, gave truth to his own lie. The frenzy of recruiting season — the shameless courtship in thrall to an arbitrary star-system — falsely situates players at the center of what is finally an impersonal, corporatized hoax. Recruiters value rankings, not the players themselves. At least Kiffin left those few recruits unlucky enough to have already enrolled in class at Tennessee more aware of their place in the scheme of things. At the same time, he was only following his muse. Kiffin knows as well as anybody that the Trojans dominate the Pac-10 through recruiting alone. That’s what’s so attractive about USC. Kiffin certainly didn’t leave Tennessee because

calendar

Continued from page 27 4176. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

SPORTS

Oaklawn. Horse racing. Oaklawn Park, 1 p.m., gates open 11 a.m., $2. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411, www.oaklawn.com.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27 MUSIC

DJ TK. Deep, 9 p.m. 322 Clinton Ave. www.myspace.com/100483293. Feel Lucky Karaoke. On The Rocks. 9 p.m., free. 107 E. Markham. 374-7625. Giant Cloud. White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m., $5. 2500 W. 7th. 375-8400, www.myspace.com/ whitewatertavern. Great American, Novella, Thrill of a Dogfight, Johnny Cage. Soundstage, 8 p.m., $6. 1008 Oak

USC is a better program. He left the SEC because he’s afraid of real competition. Good coaching certainly has its place in the Pac-10, but it’s a conference that can turn on the strength of one player. So yeah, the best recruiters might want that job. But the best coaches want to be in the SEC exactly because it’s an unforgiving conference, one that cannibalizes itself most years, presenting teams with a gauntlet of competition unlike any other. So I didn’t lose a lot of sleep over Kiffin. No need for SEC fans to suffer any identity crisis over his retreat to the west coast. But I was a little worried about one aspect of the Knoxville business: What did it mean for Steve Caldwell? Caldwell, our new D-line coach, has never made any bones about his allegiances. Of course, he’s a Razorback now, but he was a Volunteer for years. If the Vol faithful scrambled back to Fulmer, or someone with Fulmer connections, what would keep him from pulling an Ellis Johnson on us? Thankfully, SEC-scion Derek Dooley landed the job, largely on the condition that he keep most of Kiffin’s abandoned staff in place, and Caldwell remains on a Razorback staff that should leave nothing in doubt about our potential. I’d call all of Petrino’s off-season hires home runs. Caldwell was the most pressing addition to the staff, but key replacements on what is generally viewed as the stronger side of the ball make me think we’ll be even more dangerous than expected next year. Despite a backfield that could make St., Conway, www.soundstageshows.com. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’, 7 p.m., free. 500 President Clinton Ave. 324-2999, www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Karaoke and Dance. With DJs GMoney and Sway, drink specials. Star Bar Lounge, 9 p.m., free. 1900 W. 3rd. 301-7827. Karaoke with DJ Cowboy. Count Pulaski Club, 8 p.m., free. 200 Hwy. 167 N. (inside Howard Johnson’s), Jacksonville. 983-4323. Karaoke with Richard. Legion Event Center, 7 p.m., free, 18 and up. 315 East Capitol Ave. 3728762. Lucious Spiller Band. Sticky Fingerz, 9:30 p.m., $5, 21 and up, 50-cent beer. 107 Commerce St. 372-7707, www.stickyfingerz.com. Paul Sammons. Maxine’s, 9 p.m., free, 21 and up. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909, www.maxinespub.com Paul Thorn. Revolution, 8 p.m., $12 adv., $15 d.o.s., all ages. 300 President Clinton Ave. 8230090, www.rumbarevolution.com.

Batman’s utility belt seem understocked, our running game never took shape this season. Petrino’s stubborn commitment to getting it started made itself apparent in his playcalling, but we never had much luck blocking for the run. Chris Klenakis should change all that. His O-line at Nevada paved the way for three of the Wolf Pack’s ball carriers to break 1,000 yards this past season, a feat never matched in NCAA history. We have at least four backs capable of hitting that mark, though one of them’s gonna have to learn how to break a few tackles along the way. n Petrino’s old buddy from Carroll College, Kris Cinkovich, has a similarly impressive resume. After nine highly successful years as a high school coach in Las Vegas, experience that will be a recruiting asset even outside of the Nevada region, he coached the most prolific receivers in UNLV history as an assistant. Add to that documented success his familiarity with the Petrino philosophy, and you have the makings of a seamless transition at wide receivers coach. If he can also cure our periodic bouts with dropsy, he’ll more than make up for the absence of Paul Petrino. Speaking of dropped passes, let the Heisman campaign commence. The only things standing between Mallett and a trip to New York are a top-10 finish and a better completion percentage. Both those things are as much up to him as the rest of the team. If he can reign in his impulse to go for broke on every down and take a little heat off his shortyardage game, then I bet we won’t even have to toot his horn for him. Well, that’s all for this season. As much as I would love to spend the next three months navigating the troubles of our basketball program, the editors think maybe their readership could do with one less depressing subject in their pages this year, or at least one less inconsequentially depressing subject. Hell, we could all do without the doom and gloom for a while. A Boy Named Sooie will return in early-August for the football season. Retro Night with DJ G-Force. Rio’s Lounge, 9:30 p.m., retro dress free entry, throwback drink specials. 11 Shackleford Drive. 954-8787, www. rioslittlerock.com Richie Johnson (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m., free. 2400 Cantrell Road. 375-5351, www.cajunswharf.com. Rural War Room. Union, 10 p.m., free. 3421 Old Cantrell Road. 661-8311. Sam Walker, Johnny Rocket. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $5, 18 and up. 1300 S. Main St. 374-3271, www. juanitas.com. Swing Night with Carl Mouton. Afterthought, 8 p.m., $5. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www. afterthoughtbar.com. Ted Ludwig Jazz Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free. 111 W. Markham. 370-7013. Thomas East. SpeakEasy, 8 p.m., free. 412 Louisiana. 374-2008.

COMEDY

Will Marfori. Loony Bin, 8 p.m., $6. 1-430 and Rodney Parham. 228-5555, www.LoonyBinCom-

edy.com/lr.

SPORTS

Oaklawn. Horse racing. Oaklawn Park, 1 p.m., gates open 11 a.m., $2. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411, www.oaklawn.com. UALR Women Trojans vs. Denver. Jack Stephens Center, 7 p.m., $6-$35. UALR campus. 5698257, www.ualrtrojans.com.

THURSDAY, JAN. 28 MUSIC

5th and River. Cornerstone Pub, 9 p.m., $5. 314 Main St., NLR, 374-1782, www.cstonepub.com. Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase Semifnals Round One. Winner advances to finals. Sticky Fingerz, 8 p.m., $5, 21 and up. 107 Commerce St. 372-7707, www.stickyfingerz.com. Art Opening with DJ Ike. Union, 10 p.m., free. 3421 Old Cantrell Road. 661-8311. Bop at the Legion with Eric Lee. Music from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Legion Event Center, 7 p.m., $3, 18 and up. 315 E. Capitol Ave. 3728762. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’, 7 p.m., free. 500 President Clinton Ave. 324-2999, www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Joanna Barbera. Satellite Cafe, 9 p.m., free, all ages. 5923 Kavanaugh. 663-6336. Karaoke with DJ Cowboy. Count Pulaski Club, 8 p.m., free. 200 Hwy. 167 N. (inside Howard Johnson’s), Jacksonville. 983-4323. Never Say Die Tour. With Winds of Plague, Despised Icon, For Today, Stray From The Path, the World We Knew, Dying Breath. Village, 6:30 p.m., $13 adv., $15 d.o.s. 3915 S. University. 570-0300, www.thevillagelive.com. Sam Walker. Maxine’s, 9 p.m., free, 21 and up. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909, www.maxinespub.com Satisfaction: The Rolling Stones Experience. Revolution, 9 p.m., $8 adv., $10 d.o.s., all ages. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090, www. rumbarevolution.com. The Smiling Dogs. White Water Tavern, 9 p.m., $5. 2500 W. 7th. 375-8400, www.myspace.com/ whitewatertavern. Ted Ludwig Jazz Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free. 111 W. Markham. 370-7013. Trademark (headliner), Brian & Nick (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 9:30 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 375-5351, www.cajunswharf. com.

BOOKS

Dr. David Lipschitz. Executive director of the Longevity Center at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center signs copies of “Dr. David’s First Health Book of MORE (not less),” USA Drug stores at Markham and Rodney Parham, 9:30 a.m.; Doctor’s Building (S. University), 11:30 a.m.; Lakewood Village, 3 p.m. 552-4721.

COMEDY

Will Marfori. Loony Bin, 8 p.m., $6. 1-430 and Rodney Parham. 228-5555, www.LoonyBinComedy.com/lr.

POETRY

Inverse Open Mic. Neo-poetry movement Urban Hang Suite and KABF host open mic every other Thursday. ACAC, 6-9 p.m., $5. 900 S. Rodney Parham Road. 244-2979, www.acacarkansas.org.

SPORTS

Oaklawn. Horse racing. Oaklawn Park, 1 p.m., gates open 11 a.m., $2. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411, www.oaklawn.com. Philander Smith Panthers vs. Rhema Bible. College basketball. Mims Gym, 6 p.m. women, 8 p.m. men, free. Philander Smith Campus. 3705279, www.philander.edu. UALR Trojans vs. Denver. Men’s college basketball. Jack Stephens Center, 7 p.m., $6-$35. UALR campus. 569-8257, www.ualrtrojans.com.

THE WEEK IN THEATER “The Foreigner.” A pathologically shy Englishman goes to a Southern boarding house for a rest and pretends not to understand English to preserve his privacy. Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6 p.m. dinner, 7:45 curtain Tue.-Sat., 11 a.m. lunch, 5 p.m., dinner, 12:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. curtain Sun., through Feb. 6, $22-$30. 6323 Col. Glenn Road. 562-3131, www.murrysdinnerplayhouse.com.

“Little Women.” Sisters must adapt to richesto-rags lifestyle. Arts Center Children’s Theatre, 7 p.m. Fri., 3 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. through Feb. 7. $11-$14. 9th and Commerce. 372-4000, www. arkarts.com. “Sordid Lives.” A Texas family endures a homosexual son’s “coming out” during the matriarch’s funeral. Weekend Theater, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21-23; 29-20, $10-14. 7th and Chester. 374-3761, www. weekendtheater.org.

CALLS FOR ENTRIES Auditions for Community Theatre of Little Rock’s production of Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite” will be held at 11 a.m Jan. 23. and 2 p.m. Jan. 24 at 613 Center St. Call 663-9494 or visit www.

gALLERIES New exhibits in bold-faced type ACAC, 900 S. Rodney Parham Road: “Drips and Drawings,” small works on paper and drip paintings by Rachel Thompson, through January. info@ acacarkansas.org. ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER, MacArthur Park: “MacArthur Park Redux: Never Underestimate What a Group of Citizens Can Do,” talk by Sharon Priest for Art of Architecture Series, reception 5:30 p.m., talk 6 p.m. Jan. 26, free; “World of the Pharaohs: Treasures of Egypt Revealed,” artifacts from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, through July 7, $22 adults, $14 students; “Currents in Contemporary Art,” “Masterworks,” “Paul Signac Watercolors and Drawings,” ongoing. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 372-4000. ARKANSAS STUDIES INSTITUTE, 401 President Clinton Ave.: “Local History Goes to School: Traveling the World with Mifflin W. Gibbs,” through Feb. 27, Concordia Hall gallery; “New Works by Sui Hoe Khoo,” paintings, atrium gallery, through Feb. 13. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. 320-5792. BOSWELL-MOUROT FINE ART, 5815 Kavanaugh Blvd.: “Celestial Migration,” ceramics by Beth Lambert; paintings by Matt McLeod, L.V. Cox, Stephen Cefalo; glass by Kyle Boswell. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 664-0030. CANTRELL GALLERY, 8206 Cantrell Road: “Stop the Presses,” work in various media by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette employees John Deering, John Sykes, Celia Storey, Philip Martin and others, through Feb. 27. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 224-1335. CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 509 Scott St.: “Light Coming into the World,” work by Garrett Alderfer, David Bell, Lois Davis, Cornelia DeLee, Austin Grimes, Steve Grisham, LaToya Hobbs, Sr. Maria Liebeck, Mark Meador, Brittany Platt, Lenny Sheehan, A.J. Smith, Marjorie Williams-Smith, Brandye Snead and Dan Thornhill, through March. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Thu. 375-2342. CHROMA GALLERY, 5707 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Work by Robert Reep and other Arkansas artists. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 664-0880. GALLERY 26, 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Marcus McAllister and Janet Wilcox, paintings and drawings, through March 13. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 664-8996. GREG THOMPSON FINE ART, 429 Main St., NLR: “Short Stories of the Sublime,” paintings by Mark Blaney, through March 13. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 664-2787. HEIGHTS GALLERY, 5801 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Arkansas artists; special display of paintings by the late Terry Corbin. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 664-2772. KETZ GALLERY, 705 Main St., NLR: “Art Outside the Box,” work by Sulac and Matt TerArvest, also work by Rhonda Reeves, Elena Petrovich, Tim Valsholtz, Jim Westbrook, Patrician Davis and others. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 529-6330. LAMAN LIBRARY EXHIBIT HALL, 2801 Orange St.: “Enchanting Taiwan,” 38 photographs, through Feb. 28. 758-1720. LOCAL COLOUR GALLERY, 5811 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Artists’ collective showcase. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 265-0422. RED DOOR GALLERY, 3715 JFK, NLR: Work by

Continued on page 31

s cajun’ wharf presents

drivers Please be aWare, it’s arkansas state laW:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22

Bushdog

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23

Freeverse

Use of bicycles or animals

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28

Every person riding a bicycle or an animal, or driving any animal drawing a vehicle upon a highway, shall have all the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions of this act which by their nature can have no applicability.

Trademark

overtaking a bicycle

The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a roadway shall exercise due care and pass to the left at a safe distance of not less than three feet (3’) and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle.

yoUr cycling friends thank yoU! http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ Go to “Arkansas Code,” search “bicycle”

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movielistings

Rave listings are valid Friday through Sunday only. Breckenridge and Riverdale listings were unavailable at press deadline. Please visit www.arktimes.com for updates. NEW MOVIES Extraordinary Measures (PG) — A father devoted to saving his terminally ill children joins forces with an unconventional scientist (Harrison Ford) to battle the medical and business establishments. Chenal: 11:10, 1:55, 4:35, 7:20, 9:50. Rave: 11:00, 1:30, 5:10, 7:40, 10:25. Legion (R) — An out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race. Chenal: 11:05, 1:50, 4:25, 7:15, 9:55. Lakewood: 11:00, 1:40, 4:25, 7:20, 9:55. Rave: 12:20, 1:35, 2:40, 4:50, 5:45, 7:45, 8:45, 10:20,11:15. The Messenger (R) — An army officer returned from Iraq is assigned to Casualty Notification service. Market Street: 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:15, (Fri.-Sat. only). The Tooth Fairy (PG) — A star hockey player (Dwayne Johnson) is temporarily transformed into a full-fledged tooth fairy as penalty for discouraging a young fan. Chenal: 10:50, 1:20, 4:00, 7:05, 9:30. Lakewood: 10:55, 1:20, 4:10, 7:00, 9:35. Rave: 11:00, 12:00, 1:45, 2:45, 4:30, 5:30, 7:30, 10:15. To Save A Life (PG-13) — After the death of a childhood friend, a popular teen risks his own social standing by reaching out to shunned classmates. Lakewood: 10:50, 1:30, 4:20, 7:10, 9:45. Rave: 12:30, 3:55, 6:55, 9:35. RETURNING THIS WEEK A Christmas Carol (PG) — Dickens’ classic tale. Movies 10: 1:35, 4:20, 7:05, 9:20. Africa: The Serengeti (NR) — Footage of East Africa’s Serengeti plain during annual drought migrations. Aerospace Education Center IMAX: 4 p.m., 8 p.m. Sat. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (G) — Alvin, Simon and Theodore take a break from stardom and return to school. Lakewood: 11:05, 1:15, 4:00, 7:20, 9:30. Rave: 12:55, 4:05, 7:10. Avatar (PG-13) — A paraplegic ex-Marine war veteran is sent to establish a human settlement on the distant planet of Pandora, only to find himself battling humankind alongside the planet’s indigenous race. Animated. Chenal IMAX 3D: 12:00, 3:30, 7:00, 10:30. Lakewood 3D: 12:00, 3:30, 7:00, 10:15. Rave 3D: 12:15, 1:15, 2:30, 4:00, 5:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:30, 10:45. Bad Lieutenant: Port Call of New Orleans (R) — A strung-out cop (Nicolas Cage) is locked in a downward spiral as he

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that’s pure fun.

Rodney Parham at Reservoir jazzercise.com 30 january 21, 2010 • arKanSaS TIMES

probes the drug-related murders of five illegal immigrants from Senegal. Market Street: 4:20, 9:20 (Fri.-Sat. only). The Blindside (PG-13) — A homeless black teen-ager is taken in by a family that coaches him into becoming a star studentathlete. Chenal: 10:35, 1:30, 4:30. Lakewood: 10:50, 1:45, 4:35. Rave: 1:25 (Fri.-Sat. only), 4:40, 8:10, 11:10. Book of Eli (R) — Across the wasteland of what once was America, a lone warrior (Denzel Washington) must fight to bring civilization the knowledge that could be the key to its redemption. Chenal: 11:00, 2:00, 4:50, 7:30, 10:10. Lakewood: 11:05, 1:35, 4:25, 7:10, 10:00. Rave: 11:05, 12:45, 1:50, 3:45, 4:45, 7:15, 8:15, 9:45, 10:30. Broken Embrace (R) — A screenwriter and ex-director who changed his name after being blinded in a car wreck faces scandals from his past. In Spanish with English subtitles. Market Street: 1:45, 4:15, 6:45, 9:15 (Fri.-Sat. only). Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs (PG) — Flint Lockwood and his food-making invention must respond to a town’s hard times when its citizenry can only afford to eat sardines. Movies 10: 1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:40. Couples Retreat (PG-13) — Four Midwestern couples, one of which seeks marriage repair, embark on a journey to a tropical island resort and discover that therapy participation is not mandatory. Movies 10: 1:30, 4:05, 7:00, 9:35. Daybreakers (R) — Ten years after a plague turned most of the world’s population into vampires, a critical blood shortage is causing panic and gruesome mutations within the undead community. Rave: 8:30, 10:55. Dinosaurs Alive! (NR) — Paleontologists discover new fossils and uncover evidence that dinosaur descendants are still among us. Aerospace Education Center IMAX: 11:00, 1:00 Tue.-Thu.; 11:00, 1:00, 8:00 Fri.; 1:00, 3:00, 8:00 Sat.; 1:00, 3:00 Sun. Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG) — Mr. and Mrs. Fox (voices of George Clooney and Meryl Streep) have their idyllic existence turned around when Mr. Fox’s animal instincts compel his relapse into stealing chickens. Animated. Movies 10: 1:15, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:55. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (PG-13) — The leader of a traveling show who traded the soul of his future daughter to the devil thousands of years ago wagers the collection of five souls to prevent the devil from collecting hers. Market Street: 1:45, 4:15, 6:45, 9:10 (Fri.-Sat. only). It’s Complicated (R) — When Jane (Meryl Streep) and ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin) find themselves out of town for their son’s college graduation, an innocent meal together turns into an affair. Chenal: 10:40, 1:45, 7:35. Rave: 12:10, 3:50, 6:45, 9:55. Law Abiding Citizen (R) — Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) targets those associated with a trial that let one of his family’s killers off with a light sentence. Movies 10: 1:25, 4:10, 7:15, 9:45. Leap Year (PG) — When another anniversary passes without a proposal, Anna (Amy Adams) takes action through an Irish tradition that allows women to pop the question on Feb. 29. Chenal: 4:40, 10:15. Rave: 5:40, 8:20, 10:50. The Light Before Christmas (NR) — Stop-motion animated journey through sets, characters and designs of renowned artist James C. Christensen. Aerospace Education Center IMAX: 11:00 a.m. Tue.-Thu.; 11:00 a.m., 7:00 p.m. Fri.; 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. Sat. The Lovely Bones (PG-13) — A murdered young girl watches over her family and her

killer from heaven and must weigh desires for vengeance against desires for her family to heal. Chenal: 10:45, 1:40, 4:45, 7:40, 10:35. Lakewood: 1:15, 4:15, 7:05, 10:00. Rave: 1:00, 4:15, 7:35, 10:40. More Than A Game (PG) — Five talented young basketball players from Ohio star in a true-life story of friendship, loyalty and facing adversity. Movies 10: 2:00, 4:30, 7:25, 9:50. Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs (NR) — Researchers and explorers piece together the past with the archeological and genetic clues from Egyptian mummies. Aerospace Education Center IMAX: 10:00, 12:00, 2:00 Tue.-Thu.; 10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 7:00, 9:00 Fri.; 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:00 Sat.; 12:00, 2:00, 4:00 Sun. Ninja Assassin (R) — A member of the secret Ozunu assassin clan seeks revenge for his friends’ murder and follows a money trail implicating the organization in numerous other crimes. Movies 10: 1:50, 4:40, 7:20, 10:05. Planet 51 (PG) — Animated alien adventure comedy revolving around American astronaut Chuck Baker. Movies 10: 1:10, 3:25, 5:40, 7:50,10:00. The Princess and the Frog (G) — A trumpet-playing alligator, a love-sick Cajun firefly and others spin a love tale on a mystical Louisiana bayou. Rave: 11:35 a.m. The Road — (R) — A father (Viggo Mortensen) and son make their way across a postapocalyptic U.S. in hopes of finding civilization amongst the nomadic cannibal tribes in the year 2929. Market Street: 2:15, 7:15. Sherlock Holmes (PG-13) — The master detective and his stalwart partner Watson embark on their latest challenge. Chenal Digital: 7:25, 10:20. Lakewood: 7:25, 10:05. Rave: 11:10, 2:00, 5:05, 8:05, 11:00. The Spy Next Door (PG) — CIA spook Bob Ho (Jackie Chan) retires in order to marry his girlfriend and must gain approval of her kids, who mistakenly download a top secret documents, making the family a Russian target. Chenal: 10:55, 1:35, 4:20, 7:10, 9:35. Rave: 10:55, 1:20, 4:35, 7:50, 10:35. 2012 (PG-13) — Epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world. Movies 10: 1:05, 4:25, 7:45. Up In The Air (R) — A corporate downsizing expert’s cherished travel life is threatened as the woman of his dreams comes along just as he’s on the cusp of reaching 10 million frequent flyer miles. Rave: 11:40, 2:50. Where The Wild Things Are (PG) — Misunderstood at home and at school, mischievous Max escapes to a land populated by majestic, and sometimes fierce, creatures known as the Wild Things. Movies 10: 1:20, 4:00, 7:10, 9:30. The Young Victoria (PG) — As the only legitimate heir of England’s King William, teenage Victoria (Emily Blunt) becomes caught up in the political machinations of her own family. Market Street: 2:00, 4:20, 7:00, 9:20 (Fri.-Sat. only). Chenal 9 IMAX Theatre: 17825 Chenal Parkway, 821-2616, www.dtmovies.com. Cinemark Movies 10: 4188 E. McCain Blvd., 945-7400, www.cinemark.com. Cinematown Riverdale 10: Riverdale Shopping Center, 296-9955, www.riverdale10.com. IMAX Theater: Aerospace Education Center, 376-4629, www.aerospaced.org. Market Street Cinema: 1521 Merrill Drive, 3128900, www.marketstreetcinema.net. Rave Colonel Glenn 18: 18 Colonel Glenn Plaza, 687-0499, www.ravemotionpictures.com. Regal Breckenridge Village 12: 1-430 and Rodney Parham, 224-0990, www.fandango.com. Dickinson Theaters Lakewood 8: Lakewood Village, 758-5354, www.fandango.com.

■moviereview Somber ‘Messenger’

n The problem with most of the movies that have come out so far about our misadventures in Iraq and Afghanistan is one of politics. There is such an aura of confusion and waste around the Iraq war that when filmmakers try to take it on, they inevitably want to drag out their soapbox. The problem is: War on the ground — in my non-serving understanding of it, and I apologize in advance to all the combat vets I’m about to offend — is not politics. It is not ballot boxes and speeches and guys dressed in suits telling the little guy they feel sorry for him and want to better his lot in life. It is not all the completely civilized things we in this society are able to do

because some are willing to pick up a gun and trade a piece of their humanity to meet the aims of their country. War, in my understanding, is this: People barely old enough to get a drink advancing under fire. It is young men and women killing other young men and women and then being forced to live with it. It is some of them getting shot in the liver and dying slowly in the dust. Trying to paste a political message onto that is like trying to put a hat on a mule: It might work for awhile, but it ain’t gonna stay on for long. The best films about war understand that, I think, and it has been the case with the better films about Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mark up another one in the “better” category with the new film “The Messenger,” which debuts this week at Market Street Cinema. A film that deals with the war only insomuch as it deals with the product of war and how it impacts the homefront, it’s a lovely but somber recitation on a problem that has vexed human society ever since Homer put pen to paper and wrote “The Odyssey.” Specifically: Once you’ve made young men comfortable walking with Death, how do you make them fathers and husbands and neighbors again? The story follows Staff Sgt. Will Montgomery (the underrated Ben Foster). After getting wounded and later commended for an act of amazing heroism under fire in Iraq, Montgomery is rotated back to the States to undergo medical treatment for his eyes and leg, which were hurt in the blast. As the story opens, Montgomery’s former girlfriend — who he broke up with so she wouldn’t have to go through the grief of the death he was sure was coming for him in Iraq — has just told him she’s engaged to be married to another man. With that hanging on his mind, Montgomery’s commanding officer approaches him with a job that sounds like a nightmare for anyone: to be part of his area’s casualty information team — the guys who dress up in their best uniform to go to people’s houses — fathers, mothers, wives, children — to tell the next of kin that their loved one is dead. Montgomery is paired with an old hand at the job, Capt. Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), a twitchy recovering alcoholic who clearly should have quit the job years before, but can’t. Filmed documentary-style, a good bit of the movie follows Montgomery and Stone from house to house as they make their sad rounds. Death stops everywhere in a war, and it does so here as well, from ratty

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Land Without Justice: Nazi Germany 1933-1945,” World War II artifacts, through July. 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun. n Batesville UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE: “SWOP: Retro Works Exhibition,” through Jan. 29, Row Johns Building, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. n Benton DIANNE ROBERTS ART STUDIO AND GALLERY, 110 N. Market St.: Area artists. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 860-7467. n Bentonville CRYSTAL BRIDGES AT THE MASSEY, 125 W. Central: “Heroes of Horticulture,” landscape photographs, through March 21. 479-418-5700. n Conway UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS: “Tagged, Stamped & Stenciled: Guerilla Art ‘Goes Gallery,’ ” graffiti art by Mark Bode; “Polarized Dispersions,” multi-medial installation by Michael Wyshock, both Jan. 21-Feb. 25, Baum Gallery. Receptions 4-6 p.m. Jan. 21, 2-4 p.m. Jan. 24. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Wed.Fri.; 10 a.m. -7 p.m. Thu. 501-450-5793. n Fayetteville UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS: “Paper Trails,” large-scale drawings by David Bailin, through Feb. 4, Fine Arts Center Gallery. Reception and artist talk 5 p.m. Feb. 4. 479-575-7987. n Hot Springs ALISON PARSONS GALLERY, 802 Central Ave.:

Paintings by Parsons. 501-625-3001. AMERICAN ART GALLERY, 724 Central Ave.: Work by Jimmy Leach, Jamie Carter, Govinder, Marlene Gremillion, Margaret Kipp and others. 501-624-0550. ATTRACTION CENTRAL GALLERY, 264 Central Ave.: Work in all media by Hot Springs artists. 501-463-4932. CAROLE KATCHEN ART GALLERY, 618 W. Grand Ave.: Paintings, pastels, sculpture by Katchen. 501-617-4494. FOX PASS POTTERY, 379 Fox Pass Cut-off: Pottery by Jim and Barbara Larkin. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 501-623-9906. GALLERY 726, 726 Central Ave.: Work in all media by 13 Hot Springs area artists. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 501-624-7726. GALLERY CENTRAL, 800 Central Ave.: Arkansas artists. 501-318-4278. JUSTUS FINE ART, 827 A Central Ave.: New paintings by Robin Hazard-Bishop, Dolores Justus and JoAnne Oliver, clay sculpture by Cynthia Bowers, and other work. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sat. 501-321-2335. LINDA PALMER GALLERY, 800 B Central Ave.: Work by Linda Palmer, Doyle Young, Ellen Alderson, Peter Lippincott, Sara Tole and Jan Leek. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 501-620-3063. PRODIGIOUS ART LTD., Hot Springs Mall: Work by Bryan Sink and local, national and international artists. 501-520-0307. RICIANO ART GALLERY, 833 Central Ave.: Featuring work by Riciano, Lacey Alysse, Char DeMoro and other artists. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 501-

The unseen aftermath of war.

‘THE MESSENGER’: Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster star.

Continued from page 29 Twin, Robin Steves, Brady Taylor, Georges Artaud, Lola, Jim Johnson, Amy Hill-Imler, James Hayes and Theresa Cates. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. 753-5227. SHOWROOM, 2313 Cantrell Road. Work by area artists, including Sandy Hubler. 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 372-7373. STEPHANO’S FINE ART GALLERY, 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd.: “Happy Hour in the Heights,” 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 21; work by Jessica Smith, Robert Nowlin, Robert Sherman, Alexis Silk and others. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Thu.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 563-4218. TOBY FAIRLEY FINE ART, 5507 Ranch Drive, Suite 103: Contemporary Arkansas artists. 10 a.m.4 p.m. Tue.-Fri. or by appointment. 868-9882. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK: “Kom Fljugandi/Flown In,” artists working in Iceland, through March 14, Gallery I, reception 12:15 p.m. Jan. 21; “In Focus: Works from the UALR Permanent Collection,” work using the house as subject matter by Helen Phillips, Don Van Horn, Lorre Hoffman, Ginny Sims, Megan Marlett and Imogene Ragon, and works on paper by four artists, through Feb. 14, Gallery II; “Make Believe by John Hartley,” monoprints, through Feb. 28, artist talk 1 p.m. March 1. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., 2-5 p.m. Sun. 569-8977. UALR BOWEN SCHOOL OF LAW: “Law in a

walk-up apartments to quiet homes in the suburbs. On one of these trips, they’re called on to tell a woman named Olivia (Samantha Morton) about the death of her husband. For whatever reason, the emotionally fragile Montgomery is fixated on what happens to her and her newly fatherless son. After that, he engages in one of the most complicated on-screen relationships I’ve seen in awhile. Ben Foster is great here in a very demanding role that calls on him to create a character that is mentally broken but retains a shell of anger as dense as Kevlar. Watching him navigate the murky waters of Montgomery’s return to society is a sight to behold, and definitely worth the price of the ticket. Equally good is Woody Harrelson, who has made a career out of playing slimybut-somehow-lovable rednecks with a chip on their shoulder. His Stone — a veteran of the first Iraq war who laments not getting shot at — is a real treat; sometimes funny, sometimes intense, but always spot on. Less successful is Samantha Morton, but only because she plays Olivia in such a reserved and quiet way that you literally couldn’t hear what she was saying sometimes. As a viewer, there were moments when I just wanted her to get mad — at God, at the world, at Montgomery. Another gem is Steve Buscemi, in a knockout cameo as a suburbanite father whose teen-age son died in Iraq. Buscemi has always been a great character actor, but this bitter little turn, full of so much emotion and pain, was enough to pin me back in my seat. “The Messenger” isn’t the feel-good hit of the year, but if you’re looking for one of the films that will tell the tale of this war and its aftermath in coming years, this is probably a good place to start. — David Koon 339-3751. TAYLOR’S CONTEMPORANEA, 204 Exchange St.: Work by area and regional artists. 624-0516. n Jonesboro ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY: “2010 Delta National Small Prints Exhibition,” juried show, opens Jan. 21 with reception at 5 p.m., show through Feb. 21, Bradbury Gallery, Fowler Center. Noon-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 2-5 p.m. Sun. 870972-2567. n Pine Bluff ARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER, 701 Main St.: “Geometric Intersections: Sculpture and Paintings by Robyn Horn,” through Feb. 12. 870-536-3375. n Russellville RIVER VALLEY ARTS CENTER, 1001 E. B St.: Paintings by Angela Teeter, through January. 479968-2452. n Searcy SEARCY ART GALLERY, 300 E. Race St.: “2010 Small Works on Paper,” 39 works by Arkansans, through Jan. 30. 2010. 501-279-1094. n Springdale ARTS CENTER OF THE OZARKS, 214 S. Main St.: “Continuum Project for Humanity,” art/philosophy project by Lawrence Robertson, through Jan. 28. n Tyronza SOUTHERN TENANT FARMERS MUSEUM, 117 Main St.: “Interpretations of the Delta Landscape,” work by Norwood Creech, through February.

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capRica 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22 The SyFy Channel

jan. 21-27

THe ToniGHT sHow wiTH conan o’bRien 10:30 p.m., through Friday, Jan. 22 NBC

n For those of us like Yours Truly who have suffered “Battlestar Galactica” withdrawal since the series finale, the new prequel “Caprica” is likely approached with both hope and dread. Spin-offs are, in general, a terrible idea — mostly the product of a peripheral character getting caught in the pop culture spin cycle and becoming as big or bigger than the show that spawned them. “Caprica,” however — if the two-hour extended pilot you can watch for free over at Syfy.com is any yardstick — is different. Set 58 years before the robot-

n If we have to pick teams, I’m on team Coco. But I doubt I’m alone in not really caring about the fate of “The Tonight Show” or any other late night property. The appeal of flipping channels is lost on me in a world of DVRs and Netflix streaming and Hulu and whatever the next thing they come up with to make it easier to watch what I want to watch when I want to watch it. Late-nighters only work when all you’ve got is flipping channels. A nightly hour-and-a-half live show built around celebrity guests of varying appeal inevitably, no matter the host, is often going to suck. And when it doesn’t suck — when the Roots play “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” or when Jessica Biel comes onstage on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” or Sarah Silverman reveals that she’s f’ing Matt Damon — we know OH, cOcO: In the middle of the night, they call that we’ll just be able to catch it his name. the following morning on the web. initiated nuclear holocaust that winds But NBC’s recent catastrophic error the key on “BSG,” “Caprica” deals with in judgment has almost made late-night a world that Battlestar fans have so far TV relevant again. Even though the best seen only in flashback and shadow. It’s bits of monologues are being saved to a world of technological marvels, where online video now more than ever, this a would-be Frankenstein named Daniel has been such a train wreck it’s almost Graystone (Eric Stoltz) strives to build a like watching sports, potentially thrilling mechanical Golem called a Cylon. The enough to stick to in real time. pilot begins with a horrendous act, with For instance, did you catch Jimmy a young suicide bomber from a monoKimmel, in a video interview with Leno, theistic cult performing a galvanizing act take Conan’s side by saying, “We have of terror. Graystone’s daughter is on that children. You’ve got $800 million. For train, and he sets out to play God (or, in God’s sake, leave us alone”? Or Ricky this case, a god) and bring her back. The Gervais start his interview with Conan results of that quest eventually alter the by promoting his new projects in about course of humanity. Though I don’t like a 10 seconds and then spend the rest of lot of episodic TV, I’m just as hooked on the interview cursing and bad mouthing “Caprica” as I was from the first episode NBC? Brilliant. of “BSG.” Overall, the series looks to be Likely never again will we have an making an attempt to pray over some opportunity to witness such a public imdeeper topics that clearly underpinned plosion of a major television network. the “BSG” universe but never quite rose And, sadly, if the news of the no-badto the surface — among them: religion, mouthing clause in Conan’s severance race/racism, religious fanaticism, sciendeal proves to be true, O’Brien’s short tific over-reaching, nationalism and the run on “The Tonight Show” will probasoul. In short: a load smarter than your bly end in hugs instead of a great fireball average science fiction series, with slick of anti-NBC jokes. But it seems worth visuals and dynamite writing. Definitely watching just in case. worth a look. — Lindsey Millar — David Koon 32 january 21, 2010 • arKanSaS TIMES

■ artnotes Art news New Crystal Bridges piece, Delta exhibits. by leslie newell peacock

of North Little Rock; Mac Hornecker and n Walton Ford is an American artist who Carey Roberson, both of Arkadelphia; Joe invests his naturalist-style drawings and Bruhin, Fox; Don Lee, Fort Smith; Joshua paintings with biting content — literally. In his work “The Island,” Tasmanian wolves (thylacines) tear at and devour lambs; but, as the island setting hints, it was the thylacine that was doomed, unable to escape the hunters of Tasmania. “The Island,” part of an exhibit of work by Ford traveling to Berlin and Vienna later this new at crystal bridges: Walton Ford’s watercolor “The month, is now part Island.” of the collection of Miller, Benton; Katherine Monroe, Roland; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Ed Pennebaker, Green Forest; Mary ShelArt, the museum announced Tuesday. ton, Cabot; Zeek Taylor, Eureka Springs; The watercolor, a triptych, ought to pep Craig Allen Voligny, Fayetteville; and Stethings up on Crystal Bridges walls, hangven Wise, Rogers. ing among the portraits of George WashA lithograph by Kyle Chaput of Corpus ington and Samuel Morse. (Those walls Christi won the $2,500 Grand Award. are not yet built. The museum, the project of Alice Walton, is going up on Walton n Another annual show with the Delta property in Bentonville; no opening date moniker, the 2010 Delta National Small has been announced.) Prints Exhibition, opens Thursday, Jan. “The Island” is the only two-dimen21, in the Bradbury Gallery of Arkansas sional work by a living artist to be reState University. Like the Arts Center, vealed as part of the collection. ASU selected a juror from the major leagues, David Kiehl, curator of prints at n The 52nd annual Delta Exhibition, the Whitney Museum of American Art. juried this year by Art Institute of ChiWorks weren’t identified by name durcago drawings curator Martha Tedeschi, ing the judging, so ASU was particularly will open Friday, Jan. 29, with 51 works. pleased that two on its faculty — ShelTedeschi, who has written about Winley Gipson and John Salvest — and two slow Homer and James McNeill Whisof its art graduates are represented in the tler, chose the prize winners, including exhibit. There will be a 5 p.m. reception two Arkansans for Delta Awards: Kathy on opening day. Bay of Sherwood (“Txtrd Msg,” collage on paper) and Kat Wilson of Fort Smith n People power will be the subject Tues(“Rudy, Arkansas,” digital print). They day, Jan. 26, when Downtown Partnership won cash awars of $750. head Sharon Priest will talk about the onArkansans winning honorable mengoing project to redesign MacArthur Park tions include Sheila Cantrell of Batesville as part of the “Art of Architecture” lecture (“Pitchers and Pears,” colored pencil), series at the Arkansas Arts Center. Greer Farris of Fort Smith (“Epines Si “MacArthur Park Redux: Never UnVous Plait,” pine, rose and bois d’arc), and derestimate What a Group of Citizens Can Dennis McCann of Maumelle (“North Do” will focus on the efforts of 56 park Little Rock Neighborhood,” pastel). supporters who, meeting every Friday for Other Arkansas artists who’ll exhibit: Ed the last four years, raised $105,000 and Barham, Meredith Beau, Jane Colclasure, got the city’s backing to give a facelift to Ted Grimmett, Anne Haley, Steve Hollis, the 40-acre park downtown. A model of Andy Huss, Erin Lorenzen, Jason Mcthe park and drawings will be on display. Cann, Liz Noble, Don Phillips, Dominique The event begins with a 5:30 p.m. reSimmons and Marjorie Williams-Smith, all ception in the lower lobby; the talk will of Little Rock; Latoya Hobbs, Callie Mott be at 6 p.m. Matthews and Vicki Mott Matthews, all

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MUSEUMS 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.: “Jewels to Jelly Beans: Treasures from the Presidential Vaults,” objects from the collections of 14 presidents, through Jan. 30; exhibits about policies and White House life during the Clinton administration. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. $7 adults; $5 college students, seniors, retired military; $3 ages 6-17. 370-8000. HISTORIC ARKANSAS MUSEUM, 200 E. Third St.: “Viewfinding: Photography by Brian Cormack,” through April 4; “Thresholds: Landscape, Memory and Architecture,” Jeri Hillis, mixed media collages, and Deborah Warren, photographs, through January; “From the Collection of Jim Gatling: A Whimsy of Treasures,” through Feb. 14; “Guns in Arkansas History,” through January. 324-9351. MacARTHUR MUSEUM OF ARKANSAS MILITARY HISTORY, MacArthur Park: Exhibits on Arkansas’s military history. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., 1-4 p.m. Sun. 376-4602. MOSAIC TEMPLARS CULTURAL CENTER, Ninth and Broadway: Exhibits on African-Americans in Arkansas, including one on the Ninth Street business district, Dunbar High School, entrepreneurs, the Mosaic Templars business and more. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 683–3593. MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY, 500 President Clinton Ave.: “Cold Blooded Creatures,” 1:30 p.m. Jan. 21-22; 11:30 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Jan. 23. Handson technology exhibits. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. Admission: $8 adults, $7 children ages 1-12 and seniors 65 and up, children under 1 free, free second Sunday of every month. 396-7050. www.museumofdiscovery.org. OLD STATE HOUSE, 300 W. Markham St.: “Badges, Bandits and Bars: Arkansas Law and Justice,” the state’s history of crime and punishment from pre-territorial days to the mid-1980s, through March 6, 2011. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 324-9685. WITT STEPHENS JR. CENTRAL ARKANSAS NATURE CENTER, Riverfront Park: Exhibits on wildlife and the state Game and Fish Commission. n England TOLTEC MOUNDS STATE PARK, State Hwy. 165: Major prehistoric Indian site with visitors’ center and museum. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun., closed Mon. $3 for adults, $2 for ages 6-12. 961-9442. n Eureka Springs EUREKA SPRINGS HISTORICAL MUSEUM: History of the Ozark Folk Festival, in photographs, programs, documents. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.Sat., 11 a.m. a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sun. 479-253-9417. n Harrison BOONE COUNTY LIBRARY: “Visions of the Universe: Four Centuries of Discovery,” drawings and diagrams from the time of Galileo and contemporary images of planets, stars and galaxies made by the Hubble Space Telescope, Jan. 21-March 25. 870-741-5913. n Hot Springs MID-AMERICA SCIENCE MUSEUM: Science exhibits. $8 adults, $7 seniors, military and youth. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 501-767-3461. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, 425 Central Ave.: L.M. Chan, leather sculpture. $5, $4 for seniors. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thu.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun. 501-609-9955. n Jacksonville JACKSONVILLE MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY, 100 Veterans Circle: Exhibits on DDay; F-105, Vietnam era plane (“The Thud”); the Civil War Battle of Reed’s Bridge, Arkansas Ordnance Plant (AOP) and other military history. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. $3 adults; $2 seniors, military; $1 students. 501-241-1943. n Lavaca MILITARY ROAD MUSEUM, 303 S. Main St.: Photos and artifacts tell the history of the town. 9 a.m.-noon Sat. 479-739-2482. n 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. n Rogers ROGERS HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 322 S. 2nd St.: “Rogers Auto-Biography: An Automotive History of Rogers,” through 2011; “Of Promise and Pain: Life Between the Wars,” through June; “Virgil Lovelace and Life on the Farm,” through April. 479-621-1154. n Scott PLANTATION AGRICULTURE MUSEUM, U.S. 165 S and Hwy. 161: Artifacts and interactive exhibits on farming in the Arkansas Delta. $3 adults, $2 ages 6-12. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 501-961-1409. 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. n Memphis DAVID LUSK GALLERY, 4540 Poplar Ave.:

“Points South,” paintings and works on paper by Carroll Cloar and Daisy Craddock, through Jan. 30. 901-767-3800.

ClaSSES “The Sketchbook as a Creativity Tool,” with Marcus McAllister, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 25-26, Fitzgerald Hall, St. John Catholic Center, 2500 N. Tyler St. $150. atelier@marcusmcallister.com.

annoUnCEMEntS The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is holding an art contest for fifth- and seventh-grade students. Artwork should for work based on any Arkansas property that is at least 50 years old include an essay on how that property reflects on Arkansas history or why it’s important to save historic places. Entries must be postmarked by April 15. For more information, write AHHP Art

and Essay Invitational, 1500 Tower Building, 323 Center St., Little Rock 72201 or call 324-9786 or e-mail rachelm@arkansasheritage.org. Winning entries will be displayed at the Old State House in May. The Shiloh Museum is asking patrons to select artifacts to be displayed in its October exhibit, “The Music of Our Lives.” The curator has selected 40 artifacts to choose from. Ballots are available at the museum or the museum’s website, www. springdalear.gov/Shiloh. Votes will be collected through April 30. The Arkansas Arts Council is seeking nominations for the 2010 Arkansas Living Treasure Award that recognizes master craftsmen. Nominations of artists who work in traditional craft forms such as pottery, weaving, broom making, leatherworking, metalsmithing and wood carving are encouraged. The nomination forms are available at www.arkansasarts.org. Contact Sally A. Williams, artist services manager, at 324-9348 or e-mail sally@arkansasheritage.org.

ArkAnsAs Times • jAnuAry 21, 2010 33

The FirsT. The Original. The arkansas Times readers ChOiCe awards CelebraTing 30 Years see The Final resulTs in The FebruarY 11Th issue Call FOr mOre deTails ATTENTION RESTAURANTS: WATCH FOR YOUR INVITATION TO THE 5TH ANNUAL CHEF’S NIGHT OUT!

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■ media Married at the D-G Do couples make good co-workers? By gerard matthews

n It’s hard to tell from the bylines, but the newsroom at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is full of married couples. There are the obvious, the similarly-last-named Schnedlers, Storeys and Smiths. Then there’s C.S. Murphy and Seth Blomeley, Noel Oman and Cynthia Howell and others. “It’s not a statistic that I keep up with,” says general manager Paul Smith. “But I’d say there are probably about seven or eight married couples.” David Bailey, the paper’s managing editor, says it’s probably more than that. Bailey has been managing married couples at the Democrat-Gazette for years and says, for the most part, it’s been a good thing. He says occasionally couples are hired at the same time, but more often than not people pair up on the job and then tie the knot. “It’s actually fairly common in the industry because people in this business work strange hours and have strange days off, which kind of makes their social lives a little cramped and strange and different,” Bailey says. “They meet people who have the same kind of schedule and the same kind of interests, so it’s a pretty natural thing. It’s gone on at every newspaper I’ve ever worked for.” Some companies have strict policies against inter-office dating or marriage, while others find it to be healthy. “We don’t have a written policy on dating,” says Smith. “You’re certainly justified in telling a manager not to date someone that works for them. But if someone works here and does a good job, I don’t think it’s any of our business what they do on their own time or who they date.” Michael Storey, the paper’s TV columnist, married his wife, Celia Storey, the Active Style editor, in 1981 and the couple has worked together ever since. “I’m way back in the corner so I don’t have to look at her,” he says jokingly. The Storeys both work in features but don’t see each other around the office very much, he says. The couple did work closely together for one year, sharing the TV writer position, which did create a little tension. “Management thought it would be something unique,” Storey says. “Fortunately the marriage survived that. Our taste in television is completely different. I wouldn’t suggest that someone try to do the same job as their spouse at the same time.” Storey says working with his wife has been a good thing. But inter-office marriages have caused problems in the past.

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healthy: Many are hitched at the D-G. Bailey recalls a “messy divorce” years ago, but the situation resolved itself after each party moved away. Smith also recalls an incident involving one employee from the newsroom and the other from the advertising department. “It did present a little bit of a problem, but we worked through it,” he says. “If you have two employees and one is struggling in some way, you have to talk to them about how their performance is not up to par. There’s always a chance that will make the spouse mad. That’s possible and I’m sure it occasionally happens, but on balance, everything usually works out OK.” You may recall the now infamous incident in 2008 in which state editor Marilyn Mitchell went down in a blaze of glory, resigning and then firing off an e-mail to co-workers about what she perceived to be a sexist atmosphere at the newspaper. One can only imagine the kind of tension that may have caused for her husband, Jack Mitchell, who was and still is the assistant city editor. Jack Mitchell declined to comment on whether the situation had any lasting negative impact or affected his job in any way. Bailey says the situation at the D-G is healthier than it is in most places he’s worked before. “By and large the couples here have tended to stick together,” Bailey says. “Maybe it’s good for marriage because they understand what their work requirements are. It can be kind of hard for people who aren’t in this business to understand the demands. My wife is not in this business but she understands if the phone rings at 3 a.m., I’m going to answer it. Or if something happens on a holiday weekend, then I’m going to come into the office.” “I can see arguments for both sides in that there would be advantages and disadvantages, and liabilities,” Storey says. “But it seems to be working here for some reason. And that’s fine with me.”

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36 january 21, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ arKanSaS TIMES

n Za Za co-owners John Beachboard and Scott McGehee have formed a new company with a group of national restaurateurs in order to begin franchising their popular wood-oven pizza and salad restaurant. The new company, which includes former Kentucky governor and former KFC chairman and president John Brown, is contractually obligated to open at least five franchises in 2010, though Beachboard said his partners hoped to open 20 or 25. Initially, the company will target Florida and Kentucky, according to Beachboard. There’s a good chance, he said, that he’ll be moving to South Florida to open the prototype franchise in the near future. Beachboard said that he and McGehee are minority owners in the new company, though they retain full ownership of the original Heights location and future Conway outlet. The pair will also control franchising in Arkansas and surrounding states. Otherwise, Beachboard wouldn’t divulge the terms of the deal. Beachboard said that he and McGehee had signed a lease on a space near Hendrix College in Conway, but were waiting on a liquor license.

Restaurant capsules Every effort is made to keep this listing of some of the state’s more notable restaurants current, but we urge readers to call ahead to check on changes on days of operation, hours and special offerings. What follows, because of space limitations, is a partial listing of restaurants reviewed by our staff. Information herein reflects the opinions of the newspaper staff and its reviewers. The newspaper accepts no advertising or other considerations in exchange for reviews, which are conducted anonymously. We invite the opinions of readers who think we are in error. Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order by city; Little Rock-area restaurants are divided by food category. Other review symbols are: B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner $ inexpensive (under $8/person) $$ moderate ($8-$20/person) $$$ expensive (over $20/person) CC Accepts credit cards

■ dining Home style The David family serves it up on Broadway. n Overheard on a recent Friday morning at David Family Kitchen: “I’m bringing my momma here!” This from a middle-aged man in a tracksuit who merely had to breathe in the aroma coming off the griddle and survey the day’s menu, scrawled in black Sharpie on a whiteboard, to declare it up to mom’s standards. Which, of course, is pretty much the ultimate compliment for a soul food spot: to be known for true comfort food, the kind we associate with home. As its name suggests, David Family Kitchen comes by its reputation honestly. The late Rev. Stoy David opened the restaurant a little more than 11 years ago with his wife Pearletha (“Miss Pearl,” everyone calls her), and throughout its existence on South Broadway, it’s been largely staffed by Davids or other kin. These GOLDEN AND JUICY: Perhaps the best fried chicken in town. days, three David children, an aunt any meal that doesn’t include smothered and a cousin help Miss Pearl run the small we have a hard time not ordering the same potatoes. It’s a misleading name, as the kitchen and buffet line. thing every visit — fried chicken, cabbage, potatoes seem to be boiled to softness There’s no printed menu. Miss Pearl yams and cornbread. It’s the perfect balance and then fried with onions, almost like a says she never knows when she might of flavors and textures. The savory crunch potato latke, but without the pancake-style want to change things up. So she has the of chicken. The slight tang of cooked arrangement. We haven’t tasted anything whiteboard to suit her whims. For some cabbage. That thick, dessert-level sweetbetter in weeks. time, though, there’s been a degree of reguness in which the yams come swimming. larity to the schedule. Oxtails on Tuesday And a yellow square of cornbread, which and Thursday. Chicken and dumplings isn’t anything to write home about, but is David Family Kitchen on Tuesday. Meatloaf on Tuesday. Fried just the right density for sopping. 2301 Broadway st. catfish every Friday. Then there’s the other aspect of David 371-0141 That, after years of eating at David Family Kitchen, which in some circles gets BriAn ChiLson

what’scookin’

LITTLE ROCK/ N. LITTLE ROCK

Family Kitchen, we didn’t get a handle on the rotation until recently might have something to do with one constant: no matter the day, the Davids are deep frying chicken. And not just fried chicken, but golden, juicy, liberally spiced fried chicken — perhaps the best you’ll find in town. So good that it’s difficult to branch out. We know there’s joy to be found in DFK’s chicken necks and oxtails and fried pork chops, but it’s just so hard to cheat on that chicken. In fact,

all the attention — breakfast. It starts at 6 a.m., and unlike lunch, everything is made to order, which means waiting a tic. But it’s more than worth it. The menu is broad and full of all the typical combinations — eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, toast, pancakes. And cheap. You can get three pancakes, two eggs and bacon or sausage for $4.99. After a recent visit, however, we’ll be hardpressed to deviate from anything biscuitrelated (they come thick and buttery) and

ARKANSAS BURGER CO. Really good burgers, fries and shakes, plus salads and other entrees. 7410 Cantrell Road. Beer and wine. CC $$ 663-0600 LD Tue.-Sat. BEEF O’BRADY’S FAMILY SPORTS PUB The signature item is the wings, with a variety of sauces, plus burgers, specialty sandwiches, wraps, salads and fish dishes. 115 Audubon Drive, Maumelle. Full bar. CC $$ 803-3500 LD daily. BIG WHISKEY’S AMERICAN BAR & GRILL A modern grill pub in the River Market with all the bells and whistles — 30 flat screen TVs, boneless wings, whiskey on tap. Plus, the usual burgers, steaks, soups and salads. 225 E. Markham St. $$ CC Full bar 324-2449 LD daily. BOBBY’S COUNTRY COOKIN’ One of the better plate lunch spots in the area, with maybe the best fried chicken and pot roast around, a changing daily casserole and wonderful homemade pies. 301 N. Shackleford Road, Suite E1. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 224-9500 L Mon.-Fri. BOSCOS This River Market microbrewery does food well, too. Along with tried and true things like sandwiches, burgers, steaks and big salads, they have entrees like black bean and goat cheese tamales, open hearth pizza ovens and muffalettas. 500 President Clinton Ave. Full bar. CC

$$ 907-1881 LD daily. BUFFALO GRILL A great crispy-off-the-griddle cheeseburger and hand-cut fries star at this family-friendly stop. Spacious deck and lots of parking in the back. 1611 Rebsamen Park Road. 1611 Rebsamen Park Road. Full bar. CC $-$$ 296-9535 LD daily. 400 N. Bowman Road. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 224-0012 LD daily. BURGE’S TURKEYS AND HAMS Famous for its smoked turkey and hams, but also a source for good fried catfish and homemade fried pies. 5620 R St. No alcohol. CC $$ 666-1660 LD Mon.-Sat. CAPERS It’s never been better, with as good a wine list as any in the area, and a menu that covers a lot of ground — seafood, steaks, pasta — and does it all well. 14502 Cantrell Road. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 868-7600 LD Mon.-Sat. CATERING TO YOU Painstakingly prepared entrees and great appetizers in this gourmet-to-go location. 8121 Cantrell Road. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 664-0627 L Mon.-Sat. CHEERS Both locations offer good burgers and sandwiches, vegetarian offerings and salads at lunch, and fish

specials and good steaks in the evening. The Heights location is intimate and the wine list is emphasized. The Maumelle location is spacious inside and on the porch. 2010 N. Van Buren, 663-5937; 1901 Club Manor, Maumelle, 851-6200. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ LD Mon.-Sat. COAST CAFE A variety of salads, smoothies, sandwiches and pizzas, and there’s breakfast and coffee, too. 400 President Clinton Ave. (in the River Market). No alcohol. CC $-$$ 371-0164 BL Mon.-Sat. COTHAM’S IN THE CITY A Capitol neighborhood version of the famous Scott country store, with the same specialties — giant hubcap hamburgers, well-fried plate lunches and monumental desserts. 1401 W. 3rd St. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 370-9177 L Mon.-Fri. CRAZEE’S COOL CAFE Good burgers, daily plate specials and bar food amid pool tables and TVs. 7626 Cantrell Road. Full bar. CC $-$$ 221-9696 LD Mon.-Sat. DAVE’S PLACE Downtown’s premier soup-and-sandwich stop at lunch, and a set dinner spot on Friday night to give a little creative outlet to chef supreme David Williams. Beef, chicken and fish are served with Continental flair.

AMERICAN

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if you can manage room or have the foresight to consider dessert-for-later, there are man-sized pieces of yellow cake and generous helpings of homemade cobbler, the crust just this side of fried pie crust, that deserve serious consideration.

Hours

6 a.m. to 4 p.m. sunday through Friday.

Other info

Credit cards. no alcohol. Dining room closes at 3:30 p.m.

210 Center St. CC $$ 372-3283 L Mon.-Fri., D Fri. DIXIE CAFE Abundant vegetable choices that are inexpensive, wholesome, satisfying and dependable, with meats and fresh rolls to match. Multiple locations, including 1301 Rebsamen Park Road. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 663-9336 LD daily. DOWNTOWN DELI A locally owned eatery, with bigger sandwiches and lower prices than most downtown chain competitors. Also huge, loaded baked potatoes, soups and salads. 323 Center St. No alcohol. CC $ 372-3696 BL Mon.-Fri. FERNEAU Great seafood, among other things, is served at the Ice House Revival in Hillcrest. 2601 Kavanaugh. Full bar. CC $$$ 603-9208 D Tue.-Sat. FLYING SAUCER Beer, with dozens on tap, is the big draw at this popular River Market venue, but the food’s good, too. Sandwiches, including a great Reuben, salads, quesadillas and the bratwurst are dependable. 323 President Clinton Ave. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 372-7468 LD Mon.-Sat. FOX AND HOUND Sports bar with bar munchies to watch

Continued on page 38

ArkAnsAs Times • jAnuAry 21, 2010 37

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Restaurant capsules Continued from page 37 games by. 2800 Lakewood Village, NLR. Full bar. CC $-$$ 753-8300 LD daily. FRONTIER GRILL The well-attended all-you-can-eat buffet includes American, Mexican and Chinese food. 2924 University Ave. No alcohol. CC $ 568-7776 LD daily. GRAMPA’S CATFISH HOUSE Delicious fried fish, hush puppies and sides. 100 Shadow Oaks, NLR, 834-5400; 9219 Stagecoach Road, 407-0000. Beer. CC $-$$ LD daily. HEAVENLY HAM Fine hams, turkeys and other specialty meats served whole, by the pound or in sandwiches. 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 225-2136 LD Mon.-Sat (until 6 p.m.). HONEYBAKED HAM CO. The trademark ham is available by the sandwich, as is great smoked turkey. There are also lots of inexpensive side items and desserts. 9112 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 227-5555 LD Mon.-Sat. JUST LIKE MOM’S Daily specials include mom’s goulash, lemon pepper chicken over rice and garlic roast beef, with generous sides of pinto beans, cornbread, potatoes. 3140 E. Kiehl Ave., NLR. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 833-0402 BLD Mon.-Fri. B Sat. KIERRE’S KOUNTRY KITCHEN Excellent home-cooking joint for huge helpings of meat loaf and chicken-fried steak, cooked-down vegetables and wonderful homemade pies and cakes. 6 Collins Industrial Place, NLR. No alcohol. CC $ 758-0903 BLD Tue.-Fri. BL Sat. KRAZY MIKE’S SHRIMP AND WINGS Home-style cookin’ and fried fare in Bowman Curve shopping center. 907-6453, 200 N. Bowman, Suite 9. Beer and wine CC $$ LD daily. LUBY’S CAFETERIA Generous portions of home-style food and a wider variety of meats and vegetables than most cafeterias. 12501 W. Markham St., 219-1567. No alcohol. CC $-$$ LD daily. MARKHAM STREET GRILL AND PUB The menu has something for everyone. Try the burgers, which are juicy, big and fine. 11321 W. Markham St. Full bar. CC $$ 224-2010 LD Mon.-Sat. OLD MILL BREAD AND FLOUR CO. CAFE The popular take-out bakery has an eat-in restaurant and friendly operators. It’s self-service, simple and good — 11 types of sandwiches built with a changing lineup of the bakery’s 40 different breads, along with soups, salads and cookies. Rock Creek Square, Markham and Bowman. CC $ 228-4677 BL Mon.-Sat. OYSTER BAR Gumbo, red beans and rice (all you can eat on Mondays), peel-and-eat shrimp, oysters on the half shell. Decent po’ boys. 3003 W. Markham St. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 666-7100 LD Mon.-Sat. RESTAURANT 1620 Steaks, chops, a broad choice of fresh seafood and meal-sized salads are just a few of the choices on a broad menu at this popular and upscale West Little Rock bistro. It’s a romantic, candlelit room, elegant without being fussy or overly formal. 1620 Market St. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 221-1620 D daily. SCALLION’S Reliably good food, great desserts, pleasant atmosphere, able servers — a solid lunch and dinner spot. 5110 Kavanaugh. Full bar. CC $-$$ 666-6468 L Mon.-Sat. D Wed.-Sat. SO RESTAURANT BAR Call it a French brasserie with a sleek, but not fussy American finish — stone walls, handsome furniture and apron-clad waiters anxious to please. Good ingredients are prepared simply — everything from salads and sandwiches to steaks. The wine selection is broad and choice. It just simply feels good to eat here. And tastes good, too. 3610 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 663-1464 LD Mon.-Fri., BLD Sat.-Sun. THE SPEAKEASY The supper club serves a multinational menu of pot roast, scampi, Greek salads, cheese sandwiches and more and diners are entertained by jazz on Thursday nights and floor shows on the weekends. LD Mon.-Fri., D Sat., B Sun. 374-2008. SPORTS PAGE Perhaps the largest, juiciest, most flavorful burger in town. Grilled turkey and hot cheese on sourdough gets praise, too. Now with lunch specials. 414 Louisiana St. Beer and wine. CC $ 372-9316. BL Mon.-Fri., open Fri. nights for music and night food service. STICKY FINGERZ ROCK ’N’ ROLL CHICKEN SHACK Fingers any way you can imagine, plus sandwiches and burgers, and a fun setting for music and happy hour gatherings. 107 Commerce St. Full bar. CC $-$$ 372-7707 LD Mon.-Sat. STOUT’S DINER Don’t let the gas station façade fool you. The dinners are ample, the hand-patted burgers could be the best in Pulaski County, and the pies are made-to-order from scratch when you tell them what you want. They do a mean breakfast, too. 26606 Highway 107 Jacksonville 983-0163 CC. No alcohol. $-$$ BL daily, D Mon-Sat. THE HOP DINER The downtown incarnation of the old dairy bar, with excellent burgers, onion rings, shakes and breakfast. Plus, daily specials, homemade pie and quiche. 201 E. Markham No alcohol. $-$$ 244-0975 BLD Mon.-Fri., LD Sat. (close at 6 p.m.). TOWN PUMP Great burgers, good chili dogs, a monstersized platter of chili cheese fries. And cold beer, of course. 1321 Rebsamen Park Road Beer and wine (liquor license pending) CC $ 663-9802 LD daily. VICTORIAN GARDEN We’ve found the fare quite tasty and somewhat daring and different with its healthy,

balanced entrees and crepes. 4801 North Hills Blvd., NLR. Wine and beer. CC $$-$$$ 758-4299 L Tue.-Sat. WEST END SMOKEHOUSE AND TAVERN Its primary focus is a sports bar with 50-plus TVs, but the dinner entrees (grilled chicken, steaks and such) are plentiful and the bar food is upper quality. 215 N. Shackleford. Full bar. CC $ 224-7665 LD Mon.-Sat. YOUR MAMA’S GOOD FOOD Now in more spacious quarters, but still offering simple and satisfying cafeteria food, with burgers and more hot off the grill. Tower Building, Fourth and Center. No alcohol. CC $ 372-1811 BL Mon.-Fri. ZACK’S PLACE Expertly prepared home cooking and huge, smoky burgers. 1400 S. University Ave. Full bar. CC $$ 664-6444 LD Mon.-Sat.

ASIAN CHINA KING BUFFET An enormous array of all kinds of Asian fare that’s all worth a try, beginning with the four dazzling large buffet tables, plus a small sushi station, a seafood bar with shrimp, and Mongolian grill. 9210 N. Rodney Parham Road. Beer. CC $$ 223-0888 LD daily. CHINESE PAVILION HUNAN RESTAURANT A longtime favorite in Chinese restaurant polls, it’s one of the earliest Asian eateries on the north shore. 8000 Hwy. 107, Sherwood. Beer and wine. CC $$ 835-8723 LD Tue.-Sun. FU LIN Quality in the made-to-order entrees is high, as is the quantity. 200 N. Bowman Road. Full bar. CC $$ 225-8989 LD daily. GINA’S CHINESE KITCHEN AND SUSHI BAR A broad and strong sushi menu with a manageable and delectable selection of Chinese standards. 14524 Cantrell Road. Wine and beer. $-$$ CC 868-7775 LD daily. HANAROO SUSHI BAR Under its second owner, it’s one of the few spots in downtown Little Rock to serve sushi. With an expansive menu, featuring largely Japanese fare with a bit of Korean mixed in. 205 W. Capitol Ave. Beer and wine. CC $$ 301-7900. L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat. LILLY’S DIM SUM THEN SOME Delectable Asian comfort food — fried or steamed dumplings and more in a variety of presentations. Thai ginger noodles, Thai panang and pad Thai are just a few of the highlights. 11121 Rodney Parham Road. Beer and wine. CC $$ 716-2700 LD daily. MT. FUJI JAPANESE RESTAURANT The dean of Little Rock sushi bars with a fabulous lunch special. 10301 Rodney Parham Road. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 227-6498 LD daily. ROYAL BUFFET A big buffet of Chinese fare, with other Asian tastes as well. 109 E. Pershing Blvd., NLR. Beer and wine. CC $ 753-8885 LD daily. SAIGON CUISINE Traditional Vietnamese with Thai and Chinese selections. Be sure to try the authentic pho soups and spring rolls. 6805 Cantrell Road. Beer and wine. CC $$ 663-4000 L Tue.-Fri, D Tue.-Sun. VAN LANG CUISINE Terrific Vietnamese cuisine, the best in town, particularly in its presentation of the pork dishes and the assortment of rolls. Great prices, too. Massive menu, but it’s user-friendly for locals, with full English descriptions and numbers for easy ordering. 3600 S. University Ave. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 570-7700 LD daily.

BARBECUE BARE BONES PIT BAR-B-Q A carefully controlled gas oven, with wood chips added for flavor, guarantees moist and sweet pork — both pulled from the shoulder and back ribs. The side orders, particularly the baked potato salad, are excellent. 5501 Ranch Drive, Suite 4. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 868-7427 LD daily. BIRD DOG BARBECUE Situated way out Batesville Pike in Sherwood, Bird Dog Barbecue offers a homey atmosphere, diner-style grub and some of the best sauce around — not to mention a menu stocked with homemade burgers, appetizers, sandwiches and ‘cue. Go for the barbecue, stay for the small-community people watching. 17416 Batesville Pike, Sherwood. Full bar. CC $$ 833-3133 LD Tue.-Sat. FAMOUS DAVE’S A chain that runs gamut of ’cue and its relatives: chopped pork, beef brisket, barbeque chicken, rib tips, chicken tenders, hot link sausage, catfish fillets and hot wings. With an array of sauces purported to represent barbecue regions around the country. 225 N. Shackleford Road. Full bar. CC $$ 221-3283 LD daily. H.B.’S BAR B.Q. A very good barbecue place tucked away in a residential neighborhood in Southwest Little Rock. Ribs are available only one day a week (Tuesday) but you’ll like the sandwiches better anyway. Don’t forget the flaky-crusted fried pies. But it’s OK to forget your credit cards – cash is all they take. 6010 Lancaster 565-1930 No CC $-$$. No alcohol LD (until 6 p.m.) Mon.-Fri. PIG AND CHIK Well-smoked meat with a thick, sweet sauce, plus nachos, huge burgers, country vegetables and lots of other stuff. 7824 Highway 107, NLR. Beer and wine. CC $$ 834-5456 LD Mon.-Sat. SIMS BAR-B-QUE Great spare ribs, sandwiches, beef, half and whole chicken and an addictive vinegarmustard-brown sugar sauce unique for this part of the country. Multiple locations: 2415 Broadway, 372-6868; 1307 John Barrow Road, 224-2057; 7601 Geyer Springs,

562-8844. Beer. CC $-$$ LD Mon.-Sat. WHOLE HOG CAFE The pulled pork shoulder is a classic, the back ribs are worthy of their many blue ribbons, and there’s a six-pack of sauces for all tastes. A real find is the beef brisket, cooked the way Texans like it. 2516 Cantrell Road, 664-5025. 5107 Warden Road, NLR, 753-9227. Beer and wine. CC LD Mon.-Sat.

EUROPEAN / ETHNIC ALIBABA’S MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE This eatery and grocery store offers kebabs and salads along with just about any sort of Middle Eastern fare you might want, along with what might be the best kefte kebab in Central Arkansas. Halal butcher on duty. 3400 South University. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 379-8011 LD daily. CIAO BACI The focus is on fine dining in this casually elegant Hillcrest bungalow, though tapas also are available. Many come for the comfortable lounge that serves specialty drinks until 2 a.m. nightly. 605 N. Beechwood St. Full bar. CC $$$ 603-0238 D Mon.-Sat. MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE Gyros, falafel and souvlaki plates, as well as hummus, tabbouleh, eggplant dip and other dishes — wonderful food at wonderful prices. Halal dishes available, too. The River Market’s Ottenheimer Hall, 400 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 372-1662 L Mon.-Sat. UNDERGROUND PUB Hearty, tasty British pub-style fare, including exceptional custom-made sausages, crunchy fish and chips, and a decent Reuben. Inviting bar with an impressive draft beer and single-malt whiskey selection. 500 President Clinton Ave. Full bar. CC $-$$ 707-2537 LD Mon.-Sat. YA YA’S EUROBISTRO The first eatery to open in the new Promenade at Chenal is a date-night affair, retranslating comfort food into beautiful cuisine. Best bet is lunch, where you can explore the menu through soup, salad or half a sandwich. 17711 Chenal Parkway. Full bar, CC, $$-$$$ 821-1144 LD daily.

ITALIAN BRUNO’S LITTLE ITALY This more-than-half-centuryold establishment balances continuity and innovation with delicious traditional and original fare. The pizza remains outstanding. Service is impeccable. 315 N. Bowman Road. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 224-4700 D Mon.-Sat. CARINO’S COUNTRY ITALIAN A homey chain joint offering irresistible Italian bread and affordable, tasty, substantial lunches and dinners. 11600 Pleasant Ridge Road, 225-3434; 4221 Warden Road, NLR, 758-8226. Full bar. CC $$ LD daily. D’CARLO PIZZERIA RISTORANTE Solid Italian standards and a few daring originals are served in a pleasant atmosphere by even more pleasant people. 12325 Stagecoach Road. Beer and wine. CC $$ 407-0400 LD Mon.-Sat. IRIANA’S Unbelievably generous thick-crust pizza with unmatched zest. Good salads, too; grinders are great, particularly the Italian sausage. 201 E. Markham St., first level. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 374-3656 LD Mon.-Sat. PIERRE’S GOURMET PIZZA Holds its own with the good independent pizza joints in the area, and most feature meat, meat and more meat. Salads, calzones and subs, too. 4905 JFK Blvd., NLR. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 907-1929 LD Mon.-Sat. PIZZA CAFE Thin, crunchy pizza with just a dab of tomato sauce but plenty of chunks of stuff, topped with gooey cheese. Draft beer is appealing on the openair deck — frosty and generous. 1517 Rebsamen Park Road. Beer and wine. CC $$ 664-6133 LD daily. PLAYTIME PIZZA Tons of fun isn’t rained out by lackluster eats at the new $11 million, 65,000 square foot kidtopia that recently opened near the Rave movie complex. While the buffet is only so-so, features like indoor mini-golf, laser tag, go karts, arcade games and bumper cars make it a winner for both kids and adults. 600 Colonel Glenn Plaza Loop. No alcohol. CC $$ 227-7529 D Mon.-Tue. LD Wed.-Sun. U.S. PIZZA Crispy thin-crust pizzas, frosty beers and heaping salads drowned in creamy dressing. Multiple locations: 4001 McCain Park, NLR, 753-2900; 3324 Pike Ave., NLR, 758-5997; 650 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, 851-0880; 8403 Highway 107, Sherwood, 835-5673; 9300 N. Rodney Parham, 224-6300; 2710 Kavanaugh, 663-2198, and 5524 Kavanaugh. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 664-7071 LD daily. VINO’S Great rock ’n’ roll club also is a fantastic pizzeria with huge calzones and always improving home-brewed beers. 923 W. Seventh St. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 375-8466 LD daily.

MEXICAN BROWNING’S They’re still serving up old-style Tex-Mex and nostalgia at one of Little Rock’s oldest restaurants. Consistency counts for something. If the Mexican isn’t to your taste, they have American dishes too, including steaks. Catering specialties from the old Cordell’s deli can be ordered here. 5805 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar CC $-$$ 663-9956 BLD Mon.-Sat. CACTUS JACK’S This inoffensive Mexican-esque effort on McCain has everything you’ve come to expect from the average Mexican restaurant. Ample portions, if not ample seasoning. However, it’s easy on the pocketbook. 4120 E. McCain Blvd. No. 116, NLR $-$$ 945-5888 Full bar CC LD daily.

COZYMEL’S A trendy Dallas-chain cantina with flaming cheese dip, cilantro pesto, mole, lamb and more. 10 Shackleford Drive. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 954-7100 LD daily. EL CHICO Hearty, standard Mex served in huge portions. 8409 Interstate 30, 562-3762, and 1315 Breckenridge Drive, 224-2550. Full bar. CC $$ 224-2550 LD daily. LA HACIENDA Creative, fresh-tasting entrees and traditional favorites, all served in a festive atmosphere. Our picks: The taco salad, nachos and maybe the best fajitas around. $2.50 Margaritas on Wednesday and Thursday. Multiple locations throughout Central Arkansas. 3024 Cantrell Road, 661-0600. Full bar. CC $-$$ LD daily. LA PALAPA Seafood is the focus at this Mexican restaurant, but the overly huge menu contains includes land-based items such as a great chile verde. Pan-fried fish topped with cheese and tomato-based sauce is a nightly special. 18321 Hwy. 10. Full bar. CC $$ 868-8822 BLD daily. LAS PALMAS “Authentic” Mexican chain with a massive menu of choices. Otter Creek Shopping Center, 455-8500, and 4154 McCain Blvd., NLR, 945-8010. Full bar. CC $-$$ LD daily. MI RANCHITO This growing Arkansas-owned chain offers great variety and super-sized meals of solid Tex-Mex, with the typical white cheese dip, only spicier, and more flavor to the regular entree fare. 1520 Market St., 223-5414, full bar; 2110 N. Reynolds Road, 653-0032, no alcohol. CC $-$$ Both LD daily. ON THE BORDER Great Tex-Mex food, with guacamole made to order and a menu that offers some specialty chicken, shrimp and fish dishes. The salsa is so good they sell it separately. The Mercedes margarita is the best we ever had; most expensive, too. 11721 Chenal Parkway. Full bar. CC $$ 217-9275 LD daily. RIVIERA MAYA For a restaurant that touts the slogan, “Discover Real Mexican Food,” it delivers much of the same as other similarly priced restaurants. Portions on the large side, though. 801 Fair Park. Full bar CC $-$$ 663-4800 LD daily. SUPER 7 This Mexican grocery/video store/taqueria has great a daily buffet featuring a changing assortment of real Mexican cooking: Fresh tortillas pressed by hand and grilled, homemade salsas, beans as good as beans get. Plus soup every day. 1415 Barrow Road. CC $-$$ 219-2373 LD daily. TAQUERIA KARINA CAFE A real Mexican neighborhood cantina with everything from freshly baked pan dulce, to Mexican-bottled Cokes, to first-rate guacamole, to inexpensive tacos, burritos, quesadillas and a broad selection of Mexican-style seafood. 5309 W. 65th St. Beer. $ CC 562-3951 LD Thu.-Tue. TAQUERIA SAMANTHA Arguably the best among the area’s burgeoning taco truck crowd. Tacos, burritos and other authentic fare. Unbelievably cheap. Usually parked just north of the Geyer Springs and I-30 intersection Cash only $ LD daily.

around arkansas BALD KNOB

KELLEY’S RESTAURANT This is a sweet tea and huge buffet kind of place, but the owners, of Asian descent, add a special flair: shrimp fried rice next to the pepper steak, egg rolls and bread pudding, and so on. The bread pudding was a rich and delectable homemade delight. 3501 Highway 367 North. No alcohol. CC $$ 501-724-3298 LD daily.

CONWAY HOLLY’S COUNTRY KITCHEN Readers have highly recommended Holly’s in the home-cooking category, and $5.25 gets you a plate full of home-style food akin to Little Rock’s famed Homer’s and Kitchen Express. 120 Harkrider St., 328-9738. No alcohol. CC $-$$ L Mon.-Fri. MIKE’S PLACE Delicious New Orleans-inspired steaks and seafood, plus wood-fired pizzas, served in a soaring, beautifully restored building in downtown Conway. Membership required. 808 Front St. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 501-269-6453 LD daily. PIA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Casual Italian done well at moderate prices. Good selection of pastas and sauces, along with sandwiches and salads. Desserts vary daily. 915 Front Street, Conway. Beer and wine. CC. $$ 501-5139944 LD Mon-Sat. STROMBOLI’S Italian classics at this mom and pop, where as the name suggests, strombolis are a specialty. Save room for a cannoli or a cup of gelato, too. 2665 N. Donaghey Ave. No. 101. No alcohol. CC $$ 501-327-3701 LD daily. TOKYO JAPANESE RESTAURANT Besides the hibachi offerings, Tokyo also has tempura, teriyaki and a great seaweed salad. Their combination platters are a great value; besides an entree, also comes with soup, salad, harumaki (spring rolls) and vegetable tempura. No sushi, though. 716 Oak St. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 501-327-6868 LD daily.

EUREKA SPRINGS BUBBA’S Ribs are the perfect blend of crunchy, meaty and moist inside, but the pork shoulder even outshines them. Menu now includes vegetarian items. 60 Kingshighway. Beer. No CC $-$$ 253-7706 LD Mon.-Sat. DE VITO’S Crisp salads, excellent entrees, good bread and casual, friendly service. Order the magnificent smoked trout. 5 Center St. Full bar. CC $$ 479-253-6807 D Mon.-Tue., Thu.-Sun. Closed Wed. HORIZON A former New York-style deli, it now offers Italian

continental cuisine, with fresh fish on weekends. The sunset view is fabulous. Mundell Road on Beaver Lake. Beer and wine. CC $$-$$$ 479-253-5525 D Mon.-Sat. SPARKY’S ROADHOUSE CAFE Burgers are the specialty, but there are plenty of creative dishes, deli sandwiches and beer choices. 41 Van Buren (Highway 62). Full bar. CC $$ 479-253-6001 LD Mon.-Sat.

Now - Feb 6 One of our most requested comedies!

FAYETTEVILLE AREA AQ CHICKEN Great chicken — pan-fried, grilled and rotisserie — at great prices. N. College St. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 479-443-7555 LD daily. ARSAGA’S ESPRESSO CAFE A top-notch little coffeehouse with plenty of pleasing brews and a variety of baked goods. 2418 N. Gregg Ave, 479-444-6557. 401 West Mountain, 479-521-1993. 1852 Crossover, 479-527-0690. 3215 N. North Hills Blvd., 479-4435721. Law library, 479-527-0015.No alcohol. No CC $ BLD Mon.-Sat. ) COMMON GROUNDS Billing itself as a gourmet espresso bar, this Dickson Street storefront cafe also serves up some tasty dishes all day, plus a new menu of salads, sandwiches and pizzas. 412 W. Dickson St. Full bar. CC $$ 479-442-3515 BLD daily. CORNER GRILL Hearty sandwiches, a tasty and inexpensive weekend brunch, friendly staff in new location away from Dickson Street. Highway 112. Full bar. CC $-$$ 479-521-8594 BLD daily. HERMAN’S RIBHOUSE Filets, not ribs, are the big seller at this classic, friendly, dumpy spot. The barbecue chicken is another winner. 2901 N. College Ave. Beer and wine. No CC $$-$$$ 479-442-9671 LD Tue.-Sat. HUGO’S You’ll find a menu full of meals and munchables, some better than others at this basement European-style bistro. The Bleu Moon Burger is a popular choice. Hugo’s is always worth a visit, even if just for a drink. 25 1/2 N. Block St. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 479-521-7585 LD Mon.-Sat. JOSE’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT Epicenter of the Dickson Street nightlife with its patio and Fayetteville’s No. 2 restaurant in gross sales. Basic Mexican with a wide variety of fancy margaritas. 324 W. Dickson. Full bar. CC $$ 479-521-0194 LD daily. NEAL’S CAFE An immense and immensely popular plate-lunch (and plate-dinner) joint with great homemade pie and an equally loyal breakfast crowd. 806 N. Thompson St., Springdale. No alcohol. No CC $-$$ 479-751-9996 BLD Mon.-Sat. variety of fancy margaritas. 324 W. Dickson. Full bar. CC $$ 479-521-0194 LD daily. PENGUIN ED’S BAR-B-Q Prices are magnificent and portions are generous at this barbecue spot with an interesting menu, a killer sausage sandwich, burgers, omelets and wonderful lemonade. 2773 Mission Blvd. No alcohol. No CC $-$$ 479-587-8646 BLD daily. THAI DINER If your family likes good food that’s a little out of the ordinary and affordable, Thai Diner is the place to go. The appetizer menu offers mouth-watering items like squid; shrimp and lemongrass; filets of beef dolled up with lime, chili pepper and cabbage leaves; spicy papaya salad; wonton “crab angels”; egg rolls, and more. 514 N. College Ave., 479-582-1804. LD Mon.-Sat. $$ CC Wine and beer.

FORT SMITH/VAN BUREN CHINESE KITCHEN SUPER BUFFET Buffet filled with a wide selection of favorites, with gourmet, special-order Szechuan dishes also available. 1820 South C St. No alcohol. CC $$ 479-783-5388 LD daily.

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New Orleans Cuisine aT LITTLE ROCK PRICES! STEAKS • SEAFOOD CREOLE SPECIaLTIES

The Faded Rose

LITTLE ROCK’S bEST fOOd vaLuE 400 N. Bowman Road 501-224-3377 • 1619 Rebsamen Road 501-663-9734

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HOT SPRINGS ANGELS Pizza cooked in wood-fired ovens, pasta and nightly specials, cannoli and other Italian desserts. 600 Central Ave. Full bar. CC $$ 501-609-9323 LD Mon.-Sat. BELLE ARTI RISTORANTE Ambitious menu of lavish delights in a film-noir setting; excellent desserts. 719 Central Ave. Full bar. CC $$$ 501-624-7474 LD daily. FISHERMAN’S WHARF Reminiscent of a coastal seafood joint, complete with large menu and fish nets adorning the wall. Boisterous, family-style place. 5101 Central Ave. Full bar. CC $$ 501-525-7437 LD daily. OAKLAWN CAROUSEL TERRACE RESTAURANT If you’re in the mood for a little gambling and a cheap meal on a Friday night, Oaklawn can provide both. While simulcast betting goes on downstairs, the Jockey Club serves up all sorts of tasty fare upstairs. Drinks are extra. It’s serviceable food for the price. 2705 Central Ave. CC $-$$ 1-800-OAKLAWN D Fri. PURITY BARBECUE Good smoked meats, very affordable, and don’t miss out on the crock of beans. 1000 Malvern Ave. Beer. No CC $-$$ 501-623-4006 LD daily. SAM’S PIZZA PUB & RESTAURANT A cozy, inviting spot decked out in Christmas lights and offering several tasty styles of pizza (try the Sam’s special) and other dinner specials. Accessible by boat or car. Often rocks at night with lake locals. 401 Burchwood Bay Road. Full bar. CC $$ 501-525-0780 LD daily.

TEXARKANA FAT JACK’S OYSTER AND SPORTS BAR Cool hangout has great fried-shrimp baskets, huge burgers, a large beer list and lots of sports on TV. But Cajun cooking is the pride of the house, and rightfully. 3324 N. State Line Ave. Full bar. CC $$ 870-772-7173 LD Mon.-Sat.

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ARKANSAS TIMES

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ArkAnsAs Times • jAnuAry 21, 2010 39

Food for Thought

a paid advertisement

To place your restaurant in Food For Thought, call the advertising department at 501-375-2985

AMERICAN

SEAFOOD Cajun’s Wharf

Food and fun for everyone when you pair Cajun’s Wharf’s succulent seafood and steak with the ever-evolving live entertainment. Enjoy the fabulous fresh seafood or aged Angus beef while listening to the rolling Arkansas River on the famously fantastic deck! They also boast an award-winning wine list.

grampa’s catfish house

Central Arkansas’ oldest catfish restaurant. Serving all-ucan-eat catfish since 1970. A Family friendly restaurant… the place where you can walk in with a large group of folks without a reservation. Open 7 days for lunch and dinner. Catering available.

2400 Cantrell Road 501-375-5351

AT(spec ad)

100 02/01/08

DENTON’S CaTfiSh & SEafOOD BuffET — 24 Years In Business —

We Cater • Carry-Outs available hours: Tues-Thurs 4:00-8:30pm • fri-Sat 4:00-9:00pm

315-1717

Shadow Oaks (501) 834-5400 • Sherwood 7 days: L 11-2 • D 4:30-9:30 9219 Stagecoach Rd (501) 407-0000 • Little Rock 7 days: L 11-2 • D 4:30-9:30

Denton’s Trotline

2150 Congo Rd. Benton, 501-416-2349 Open Tues, Wed & Thurs 4-9 Fri & Sat 4-11

Black Angus

10907 N. Rodney Parham Mon-Sat 10:30am-9pm 501-228-7800

220 West 6th St. 501-374-5100 Lunch Mon-Fri 11am-2pm Dinner Tues-Sat 5-10pm V Lounge til 1am, Thurs-Sat

2150 Congo Rd. • Benton from Little Rock to Exit 118 to Congo Rd. Overpass across i-30

OAK STREET BISTRO

713 Oak Street, Conway 501-450-9908 Lunch, M-S, 11-2 Dinner hours will be added after a January move to a new location.

YaYas

17711 Chenal Parkway, Suite I-101 501-821-1144

Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro 200 S. Commerce, Suite 150 (501) 375-3500 Tues-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri & Sat 11am-10pm

Fresh seafood specials every week. Prime aged beef and scrumptious dishes. Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, over 30 wines by the glass and largest vodka selection downtown. Regular and late night happy hour, Wednesday wine flights and Thursday is Ladies Night. Be sure to check out the Bistro Burger during lunch.

500 President Clinton Avenue Suite 100 (In the River Market District) 501-324-2999 DINNER MON - SAT 5:00 - 11:00 pm PIANO BAR TUES - THU 7:00 - 11:00 pm FRI & SAT 7:00 - Late

With its exciting and creative dishes, it’s no secret why Oak Street Bistro has always been a Conway front-runner. Interesting combinations of great ingredients lead to wonderful flavor profiles that leave you wanting more. The menu has been expanded to feature some entrees in anticipation of its move at the beginning of the year. The desserts are decadent especially the Kentucky Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie.

Faded Rose 400 N. Bowman 501-224-3377 1619 Rebsamen 501-663-9734 Open Sunday

Whether the Travs are at home or on the road, come enjoy the unique Dickey-Stephens Park Atmosphere at Ump’s, an upscale sports pub and restaurant, featuring sandwiches, salads, steaks, seafood, good times and more! Now open 7 days a week for lunch, and open all day sat. and sun during Football season. Closed on Tues & Wed nights since baseball season has ended.

Capers Restaurant

Indulge in the culinary creations and intimate environment that define Capers Restaurant. Food and wine enthusiasts agree Capers’ sophisticated approach to dining is key to it’s many accolades including receiving the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for six years running.

Copper Grill & Grocery

An endless array of delicious dishes available in the Grill or grab your Gourmet-to-Go from the Grocery. Offering products by French Farm, Bella Cucina & Bittersweet Herb that promise to turn any recipe into a memorable masterpiece Copper Grill & Grocery is a wonderland for the gourmand.

Burger Mama’s

Burgers, of course…big juicy burgers! Chicken Fish and More! Unexpected pleasure: Homemade vegetable beef soup. Come see what all the fuss is about! Karaoke Saturdays from 8pm-11.

This is a first class establishment. SO has some of the best steaks and seafood in the city, including oysters from the east and west coasts. Their menu has been updated and features a fantastic selection of cheeses like port salut, stilton, murcia and pecorino. Don’t forget to check out the extensive wine list.

Butcher Shop

Butcher Shop Savings! SAVE NOW 15% on holiday gift certificates. $50 gift certificate for only $42.50! Mention this promotion in Arkansas Times and purchase gift certificates this September thru October and save 15%! Make a list of friends and clients you want to give during the holidays, go to the Butcher Shop, purchase all your gift certificates and save 15% - but your gifts still reflect the same amount. $50 gift certificate for only $42.50! But hurry - purchases must be made by end of October.

300 West 3rd Street 501-375-3333

10721 Kanis Road 225-2495 M-Th 10:30-9 Fri 10:30-10 Sat 10:30-11 Sun Noon-8

Ya Ya’s is both sophisticated and whimsical. Mosaic tile floors, stone columns and fabric covered wall panels while heavy beamed ceilings, hand blown chandeliers and curvy wroughtiron railings add a whimsical flair. The menu is inspired by a combination of Italian, French, Spanish and Greek cuisines. Mediterranean Euro Delights share the menu with pizzas from our wood-burning oven, rich creative pastas and an array of the freshest of seafood dishes and innovative meat entrees. Join us on the Patio, with live local music every Tuesday & Friday, or on Sunday for Brunch ($16.95 & only $13.95 for the early bird special, 10am to 11am). Reservations are preferred.

Open daily. 11 am - close Sunday Brunch. 11 am to 2 pm 3610 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1464

For the salad lover, Dizzy’s is an absolute paradise. Its list of eleven “Ridiculously Large Entrée Salads” runs the gamut of what you can do with greens and dressing. For example Zilpphia’s Persian Lime Salad, featuring grilled turkey breast, tomato, cucumber, onion, lime and buffalo mozzarella over romaine. For another: Mary Ann’s Dream, with grilled chicken breast, baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cranberries, mandarin oranges, bourbon pecans and bleu cheese. Don’t that sound good?

Shackleford & Hermitage Rd. (501) 312-2748

chinese Fantastic China

If you have not been to Sonny Williams lately, get there immediately and check out the martini/wine bar. Now you can enjoy 35 wines by the glass, 335 selections of wine, 6 single barrel bourbons and all different kinds of Scotch from the many regions of Scotland. Of course, don’t miss out on the nightly entertainment by Jeff at the piano. Sonny’s is a River Market mainstay and perfect for intimate private parties; free valet parking! As always, Sonny Williams has the best steaks in town along with fresh seafood and game. No Skinny Steaks… Call ahead for reservations (501) 324-2999 Featuring the Best Steaks in town with a New Orleans flair from a New Orleans native. Also featuring Seafood and Creole Specialties. As Rachel Ray says “This place is one of my best finds ever.” Back by popular demand…Soft Shell Crab and New Orleans Roast Beef Po-Boys.

Ump’s Pub & Grill

14502 Cantrell Road 501-868-7600

steak Sonny Williams

Satellite Cafe - Heights techno-pop coffee shop that serves up the best coffee and breakfast in town, along with great lunch options (dine in or to go). And dinner is served every night except Sunday. Half-off happy hour spot - 4 until 6:30. Remember the drive thru window, just call in and pick up!! BLD - Mon-Sat. B Sunday

Dickey-Stephens Park Broadway at the bridge North Little Rock (501) 324-BALL (2255) www.travs.com

BISTRO Lulav

Satellite Cafe

Kavanaugh and University, 501-663-6336

Attention: Members and Guests. Denton’s Trotline is known for their award winning catfish and seafood buffet. Outstanding appetizer menu. Family owned, featuring a newly remodeled building with live music. Full service catering available.

1900 N Grant St Heights 501-663-8999

9501 N. Rodney Parham 501-227-7272

Casa Manana Taqueria

400 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-6637 6820 Cantrell Road • 501-280-9888 18321 Cantrell Road • 501-868-8822

923 West 7th Street 501/375-VINO (8466)

Beer, pizza and more! Drop in to Vino’s, Little Rock’s Original Brewpub! and enjoy great New York-style pizza (whole or by-the-slice) washed down with your choice of award-winning ales or lagers brewed right on site. Or try a huge calzone, our new Muffaletta sandwich or just a salad and a slice with our homemade root beer. The deck’s always open, you don’t have to dress up and the kids are always welcome (or not). Vino’s is open 7 days, lunch and dinner. You can call ahead for carry-out and even take a gal. growler of beer to-go. And guess what?? The bathrooms have just been re-done!

Voted Best Mexican 2007. Featuring authentic fare from the Puebla region of Mexico, the selections seem endless at your choice of 3 locations in the Little Rock area. You will find an array of dishes ranging from the salient Shrimp Veracruzana at La Palapa out west to great Guacamole in the River Market Taqueria. Or try tasty Tostadas that share the name of the original Cantrell location, Casa Manana.

asian

Enjoy regional specialties such as Lentil soup, a huge serving of yummy Hummus, Baba Ghannnouj or Tabbouleh. And don’t forget about the Gyros, they’re sure to be heroes in your book!

brew pub Vino’s Pizza•Pub•Brewery

Sharing good things with good friends is the motto at Fantastic China. A Central Arkansas favorite offering the Freshest Chinese Food in town. It’s made to order with 100% Vegetable Oil. The presentation is beautiful, the menu distinctive, and the service perfect. Fantastic China is one of the heights most reliable and satisfying restaurants and a local favorite. Full bar.

mexican

Mediterranean Layla’s

Homemade Comfort Food Daily Specials • Monday: Spicy Shrimp Stir-fry. Tuesday: Pot Roast. Wednesday: Meatloaf. Thursday: BBQ Plate or Shepherd’s Pie. Friday & Saturday: Fried Catfish.

Lilly’s Dimsum Then Some

Look no further…voted Best Asian again by the Arkansas Times readers. Lilly’s serves up extraordinary dishes made from the freshest, premium local and organic ingredients. Also enjoy warm and inviting ambiance as you dine on any one of the tasty house specialties. Sundays are wine day: all wine by the bottle, half off.

Super King Buffet

One of central Arkansas’s largest Chinese buffets, we offer all your favorites with our sushi bar and Mongolian Grill included for one low price. Our dinner and all-day Sunday buffet include your lunch favorites as well as all-you-can eat crab legs, whole steamed fish, barbecue spare ribs, crispy jumbo shrimp and grilled steaks. Take-out buffet and menu available.

11121 Rodney Parham 501-716-2700

Super King Buffet

4000 Springhill Plaza Ct. North Little Rock (Just past Wal-Mart on McCain) 501-945-4802 Sun-Thurs 11am to 9:30pm Fri & Sat 11am to 10:30pm

REAL ESTATE b

J A n u A Ry 2 1 , 2 0 1 0

Contemporary home overlooks Allsop Park opEn SundAy

2 pm - 4 pm

Located at 4307 N. Lookout, this fabulous home is like a private hideaway in the heart of Hillcrest. Built in 1986, this treasure has four to five bedrooms and two-andone-half bathrooms. It has been beautifully updated with details such as stained and leaded glass features and reutilized antiques as built-in cabinetry in the kitchen and butlers pantry. Soaring ceilings in the living room and dining room create an open floor plan and are accented by windows that stretch from floor to ceiling. A half bathroom is convenient to all of the main level and is located near the dining area. Snuggle up by the woodburning fireplace and watch the snow or rain through the wall of windows, a view usually reserved for the birds. The chef in the family will love the upgrades to the kitchen. They include contemporary solid surface countertops, top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, a gas cooktop and oven plus a gorgeous spring green glass tile backsplash. The public areas on the main level boast new light wood floors. There are new sinks and remodeled tile counters in all the bathrooms.

Floor-to-ceiling windows provide excellent views.

The kitchen has been updated.

Grab the paper and a cup of coffee and indulge yourself in the all-glass sunroom between the dining room and spectacular deck. The huge multi-level deck is off the main level and is ideal for outside grilling, dining and entertaining a big crowd. The master suite is on the main level. It is cozy and enables this home to live as a one level for empty nesters. The remaining bedrooms and bathroom are downstairs along with a large utility room. An additional outside entrance to the lower level enhances its appeal for in-laws, teens and visiting guests. Hardwoods and tile flooring throughout the home make it ideal for those with allergies or pets. The front yard is wooded and requires no maintenance. There are various thoughtfully planned landscaped vignettes surrounding the back and sides of the home, and the yard is fully fenced. Enter the home from the spacious, semi-detached two-car garage with covered walkway – a rare find in Hillcrest. This home must be seen to be believed. It is offered for $429,000 and is listed with Susan Desselle of the Charlotte John Co. An open house is planned for Sunday, Jan. 24, from 2-4 p.m. For a more information or a private tour, call Susan at 772-7100 or visit www.SusanSellingLittleRock.com

Hardwoods are a wonderful feature of the home. ArkAnsAs Times • jAnuAry 21, 2010 41

BEST KEPT SECRET IN NLR!

6220 Southwind • $273,900

Spacious 3-4BR/3.5BA, three-story home with all the amenities you would expect in a newer home. Just across I-430 from Maumelle, this home sits atop the ridge overlooking the Arkansas River Valley & the downtown Skyline. This immaculate home is located in an ideal location, hidden away but only minutes from Little Rock. Easy access to the Big Dam Bridge and the River Trail.

Call Susan Desselle at 772-7100 for a private tour! www.SusanSellingLittleRock.com

Thanks for a great 2009! Let us know when we can help you in 2010. C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

Joel Tvedten

Second in most homes sold for Heights, Hillcrest & Capital View/Stifft Station*

Search all Listings at LiveInLittleRock.com 501.353.2504 • 2612 Kavanaugh Blvd. In Hillcrest The Only Real Estate Company with Live Music on the Porch! *Based on Area 3 on Central Arkansas Mulitple Listing Service (CARMLS).

42 january 21, 2010 • arKanSaS TIMES

TO ADVERTISE, CALL TIFFANY HOLLAND AT 375-2985 Hillcrest

DOWNTOWN CONDO

211 ASH - $139,900. investors must see! To be sold “As is” Large 2Br that could have a 3rd Br or nice size office. Home is priced low to allow the new owner to make updates. Close to uAms. excellent purchase for a uAms student or someone looking to rent to students. Floored attic offers LOTs of storage. Call stacy johnson, Pulaski Heights realty, for a personal showing. 501-786-0024

• Architectural design • Modern features • Fabulous amenities Featured 4 times in At Home in Arkansas!

Call Gerald White, 680-3640 or Mary Johnson, 952-4318. Visit www.LRCONDO.com for more pictures & info. Gold Star Realty

REAL ESTATE by neighborhood

Gail Ott, Owner/Broker The Best Choice for Residential Real Estate Service Shirley Knox 516-5669 Debbie Butler 680-8571

A.J. Cathey 350-1875 Gary Zulfer 413-1400

Bobbie McCluskey 680-0981

Judy Roberts 744-0181

Susan Flake 517-1150

Chrissie Cook 580-5878 Joshua neel 952-4146

501.850.8500 • 5532 JFK Blvd., N. Little Rock, AR www.choicearkansas.com

CorreCtion: In last week’s feature home for Lafayette Square, the real estate company name was incorrectly listed. Melissa Bond is with the Charlotte John Company.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free 1-800-669-9077. The toll-free number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

REAL ESTATE

by neighborhood

It's cheap, It's simple, It's effective.

Call 375-2985 for more information.

Hers, inc. presents pULAsKi cOUntY reAL estAte sALes Over $105,000 roy C. Brown, Frances A. Brown to Greg L. Hatcher revocable Living Trust, Greg L. Hatcher, Ls10-12 B331, Original City Of Little Rock, $900,000. Commissioner in Circuit to Bancorpsouth, L17, Hickory Hill, $525,000. Donald j. Frederic, jeanne B. Frederic to Avtar s. momi, simerdeep momi, 174 Courts Ln., $485,000. Bella Casa LLC to Tracey shell, NE NE 11-2N-14W, $451,000. Farmers & merchants Bank Of stuttgart to kimberly stibich, 6 Sezanne, $450,000. Bella Casa LLC to Trey L. Fleming, NE NE 11-2N-14W, $444,000. Pamela Briggs, Pam Briggs to Paula johnson-Glasgow, Lot C31 B13, Chenal Valley, $432,000. elder Custom Homes inc. to jeff Woodall, Cynthia Woodall, 139 Lake Valley Dr., Maumelle, $409,000. Bella Casa LLC to Tracey shell, NE NE 11-2N-14W, SE NE 11-2N-14W, $404,000. Billy Hartness Construction Co inc. to edwin j. Abraham, Betty e. Abraham, 156 Blackburn Dr., $389,000.

Donald e. johnson revocable Trust, Donald e. johnson to sherry L. rogers, 11000 Rivercrest Dr., $370,000. Commissioner in Circuit to First security Bank, Ls41RRR42RR, Fairway Woods PUD, $350,000. Woodhaven Homes inc. to Anthony B. mcmahan, shannon s. mcmahan, 14 Crestview Ct., Maumelle, $296,000. Davidson Holding Company inc. to BBD, LLC, L8, Towne Oaks, $285,000. Don m. Dobbins, Laura A. Bennett, Laura A. Dobbins, keith Bennett to jose G. Perez, 2609 Sweetgrass Dr., $285,000. martha j. Floyd, Bill Goff to jennifer L. Wilson, L3 B4, Woodland Edge, $285,000. H. m. Thompson, Howard m. Thompson, Donna spearman, Donna Thompson to shannon e. Barg, steven k. Barg, L1 B12, East Pulaski Heights, $275,000. Flora Price, Windle Price & Flora Price Living Trust to rickey D. Taylor, Barbara j. Taylor, 3601 Lakeview Rd., NLR, $257,000. David D. O’Dell, kelly r. O’Dell to june L. stewart, Bob L. mcCollum, 818 N. Walkers

HERS, INC.

Corner Rd., Scott, $249,000. Horace Walters to Patrick D. mehaffy, 14810 County Farm Rd., $240,000. jeff Fuller Homes LLC to O. D. roseby, 108 Cabanel Dr., Maumelle, $235,000. keathley Properties inc. to Aaron A. Glazier, rebecca A. Glazier, 4 Kanis Creek Pl., $230,000. randy Wiggins Company inc. to jerry L. mcCormick, margaret A. mcCormick, L23, Austin Gardens, $223,000. Lottie L. Adams to Dwight Henderson, 5305 Ranch Ct., Jacksonville, $220,000. Allen C. Pierson, Carol L. Powell to jennie L. Diaz, manuel A. Warrior, jr., 125 Miramar Dr., Maumelle, $217,000. David Dunn, Leslie Dunn to Bennie C. Preston, Brenda L. Preston, 1501 Sweetgum Ln., NLR, $205,000. F i t z h u g h C o n s t r u c t i o n inc. to selenge Bold, 211 Congressional Cir., $200,000. Faux Development LLC to robert T. maxson, Amy maxson, 1618 N. Fillmore St., $187,000. julie m. Bailey, Wayne W. Bailey to Amanda Butler, matthew D.

Galbraith, L10, Country Club Villas, $185,000. jeff Fuller Homes LLC to joshua T. Phillips, 102 Sologne F o r e s t D r. , M a u m e l l e , $180,000. yewei ji, Aiai Wang to steven D. Lewis, 5 Mohawk Cir., $175,000. Doug Woodall, Lita Woodall to kai H. Chang, Andrea n. Chang, 14 Bentley Cir., $170,000. sarah mosley, Billy j. Wawak & earlene Ann Wawak joint revocable intervivos Trusts A & B to sergio Atilano, javier Atilano, L2, WW Rightsell’s Acreage, $170,000. stanley e. mills, Christy D. mills to William H. Lamb, nancy D. Lamb, L537R, Country Club Of Arkansas, $165,000. sok C. Heyaime to randy L. Wright, Donna r. Wright, L10 B3, Cherry Creek, $164,000. matthew W. macFarlane to mary D. Gammill, 2925 Jadestone Dr., Sherwood, $155,000. Taj Williams, Tawuana Williams to Wells Fargo Bank, 23 Warwick Rd., $154,233. j. m. Collins, mary A. Collins to katherine e. Cooper, 21 Pamela Dr., $153,000.

Request an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) Add up to $7,618 in Energy Improvements Home Energy Rating Systems Pay off with Utility Savings Certified Home Energy Rating Professionals

501-353-0605

s t e p h a n i e G . n e i p l i n g , stephanie m. Gueck, Chad neipling to ryan P. egleston, 12407 Timber Bend Dr., $149,000. Carmen B. renogray, Carmen B. reno, karl T. Gray to Larry j. Okane, 7 Foxfire Cove, Jacksonville, $142,000. kevin L. Canfield, sonya k. Canfield to Todd m. Boyd, Carisa j. Boyd, 1504 Quince Hill Rd., Jacksonville, $140,000. sabrina Baker to Laquita y. Whitfield, 70 Wedgeside Dr., $135,000. randy Wright to markita T. Tyler, 9 Orange Blossom Cir., $135,000. Amanda r. Guerin, Amanda may, sarah k. may to jennali s. Dewbre, Benjamin T. Dewbre, 7214 N St., $135,000. L2 investments LLC to Antisha Hammonds, 9717 Herndon Rd., $134,000. mcCabe C. reynolds, jennifer reynolds to Allan s. miller, jessica m. miller, L2 B63, Indian Hills, $133,000. mary j. Lozano to Gary s. Franklin, staci miller, 3320 Rocky Ct., $130,000. G&k Home solutions LLC to steven s. Harris, Dana m. Harris,

6900 Dahlia Dr., $129,000. Alden r. roller to William mourot, Beverly roachell, 1201 N. Pierce St., $128,000. jondee Corp. to Carrie Carbonaro, L1A B2, Trammel, $127,000. Christy Griffith to shannon r. sanders, 4900 Glenmere Rd., NLR, $125,000. scott W. stutts, Debra k. stutts to james G. springer, 5 2 0 G o l d e n w o o d D r. , Jacksonville, $119,000. Chenin Vadalma, Chenin V. Doiron, Charles Doiron to nicole s. Crone, 7100 Hillwood Rd., $114,000. G&k Home solutions LLC to steven s. Harris, Dana m. Harris, 203 Winchester Dr., Jacksonville, $113,000. D&A Doyne Family Limited P a r t n e r s h i p t o L i n d a j . Perry, 5219 Frazier Pike, $111,000. james stringer to Federal national mortgage Association, 37 Oak Forest Loop, Maumelle, $106,770. seven Gables Construction Company Of Central Arkansas, LLC to michael e. Lanari, Frances C. Lanari, L8 B85, Chenal Valley, $105,000.

First Time Buyer $8,000 Energy Improvements $7,600

NO ADDITIONAL DOWN PAYMENT! TOTAL Incentives

$15,600!

ArkAnsAs Times • jAnuAry 21, 2010 43

FLIPSIDE

Lovely female kitten in need of a loving home. Born in the ‘wild’ is becoming friendly with people, she’s still shy, so needs special attention.

Call 1-262-510-3990 Accident Forgiveness. It starts the day you sign up. Call me about Allstate® Your Choice Auto Insurance today.

Psychic Reader & Advisor Looks into Past, Present, Future Specialized Reading in Tarot Card-Metal Object-Shakra call & consult for an appointment

501-223-9046

20 years public experience All major credit cards accepted

Be PrePared BEFORE disaster strikes! Fire/storm damage/Burglary Home Inventory Solutions, LLC. provides a professional, reliable, third-party home and business inventory designed to maximize your claim as well as making the claim process smoother. A standard home inventory will take approximately 2-3 hours, depending on the amount of property to be documented. Call gary griffin for your free consultation. Office: 501-224-0556 • Cel: 501-766-1128 garybakergriffin@sbcglobal.net Home inventory solutions, llC is bonded and insured

$10 off your reading with this ad.

Brooke Brolo (501) 945-0899 4615 E. McCain Blvd. North Little Rock BrookeBrolo@allstate.com

Look for our speciaL deaLs on wines for the hoLiday season You already know that we have a great selection of wines — now we are also your LOTTERY headquarters! 10% OFF on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday Wine Days.

Feature is optional and subject to terms, conditions and availability. Safe Driving Bonus won’t apply after an accident. Patent pending. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company: Northbrook, IL. © 2009 Allstate Insurance Company.

44 JANUARY 21, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

MarkhaM Street Liquor 4204 W. Markham • (501) 664-3385 •Mon. - Sat. 7am - 11:45 pm

Learn to use a Mac in your home or office.

• Organize your photos, music, movies and email. • Wireless internet and backup implementation. •Troubleshooting. • I can help you choose which Mac is exactly right for your needs and budget. Satisfaction guaranteed. cindy@movingtomac.com www.movingtomac.com (501) 681-5855

Winter is here and so are the animals!

Call us today for a free estimate, statewide. Squirrels, Bats, Skunks, etc.

AnimAl P.i.

501-628-4682

LIVING

FURNISHED AND UNFURNISHED UNITS

No. 1224

hip A P A R T M E N T

WARREN HOUSE $100 Deposits*

No Deposits for Active & Retired Miltary with valid ID. Lease or Month-to-Month Option We are pet friendly!** Two On-Site Laundry Facilities • Pool • BBQ's

Check out all of our properties at www.warrenproperties.com *On Approved Credit

**Call For Details

ApArtment mAnAgers Are first-time home buyers affecting your occupancy levels? Advertise with Hip Apartment Living. 501.375.2985

REAL ESTATE

by neighborhood

■ CROSSWORD

Credit Cards Welcome Equal Housing Opportunity

edited by Will shortz

2000 Reservoir Road • 501-227-7316

REAL ESTATE b y

n E i g H b o R H o o d

FEaTURE HOME

is back! Call 375-2985 for more information. ArkAnsAs Times • JAnUArY 21, 2010 45 ArkAnsAs Times • sepTember 4, 2008 45

Brrrrr! n Here are 50 ways of coping with the cold weather. All different from the annual cold-remedy rehash in the local daily. 1. Listen to talk radio for hours on end. The hot air just keeps on coming. 2. Be unusually sinful. It will warm your cockles to think of the hell fire you’ll soon be enjoying eternally as a result. 3. Mustard plasters are good but don’t drain the larger blisters. Unless the fluid in them freezes. 4. Mulch your extremities. 5. Take a class in advanced burrowing. 6. Heed Exodus and burn a witch. One of those rascals will radiate heat for half a day. 7. Go to one of these warming shelters and make out with a homeless dude. 8. It helps sometimes to hunker. 9. Your least favorite neighbor’s den furniture, furtively collected, will make passable firewood in a pinch. 10. It’ll stop cold drafts if you borrow a bulldozer and bank the top 18 inches of that same neighbor’s front yard against the north side of your doublewide. 11. All else failing, find yourself a tauntaun, kill and disembowel it, and crawl inside. Free room and board for a week. Stays warm in there too. You might want to take along some Febreze, though. 12. A slug of paregoric lets you feel the warmth spreading all the way down.

Bob L ancaster 13. Hibernation is good but don’t forget to bestir monthly long enough to keep the heating bills paid. 14. It’s not stylish but button up that ratskin coat when you’re out scarfing roadkill. 15. Witness a little more strenuously; put a little more oomph in your glossolalia. 16. Reduce yourself to your avatar, which doesn’t get cold. You can reflesh in April as the trees releaf. 17. Reading: the Slave Narratives from the WPA’s Federal Writers’ Project. Guaranteed to make your blood boil. 18. There’s still much to be said for the union suit. 19. Take a gander at the footage from Duluth. 20. Look into joining a sweat-lodge. 21. If you’re one of the little people, you might look into homesteading a largecapacity washateria dryer. 22. Use only hot water in your refrigerator’s icemaker. 23. Nobody ever got cold hauling hay, if you can find any to haul this time of year.

24. You’re less likely to slip and fall on icy sidewalks if you walk on your hands. 25. I’ve seen the ads for thermal condoms but you’ll have to decide that one for yourself. 26. Toe-sucking is the perfect way to get all het up, according to Dick Morris. 27. Up your intake of blubber. 28. Have a group reading of “Ancient Music” by Ezra Pound. 29. Put a pipe down until you hit a magma chamber. 30. Migraine sufferers who have learned hand-warming therapy can use it on their other digits and appendages. 31. Wiser use of all that cow methane. 32. Replenishing the coal box is always recommended, but you can’t dig peat when the ground’s frozen. You’d have an easier time burying mules. 33. Download “One Hot Minute” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers directly into a vein. 34. It‘s considered uncouth to take off your shoes and socks and warm your feet over one of those flaming desserts at an expensive restaurant, but it works. 35. Pay a televangelist of the Pat Robertson kidney to pray the cold off in a different direction. 36. Figure out what Johnny Cash meant when he sang about falling into a burning ring of fire, then do it. 37. A good dominatrix can warm your haunches like Old Lady Ashcraft with her two-handed paddle back in the Ninth Grade.

LASSIFIED LASSIFIED

Employment Field Workers-4 temp positions; 10 months; job to begin 2/1/10 through 12/1/10; Duties: to operate tractors in the fields during the preparations, planting and maintenance of the crop before, during and after the harvesting season. $9.09 per hr; 3 months experience in job offered required. All work tools provided. Housing and transportation provided to workers who can not reasonably return to their permanent residence at the end of the work day; _ hours guaranteed in a work day during contract. Employment offered by Blanchard & Patout, Inc. located in Jeanerette, LA. Qualified applicants please fax your resume to Kevin Blanchard at (225) 766-0994. Please reference Job Order #343876.

Field Workers-5 temp positions; 10 months; job to begin 2/10/10 through 12/10/10. Duties: to operate tractors in the fields during the preparations, planting and maintenance of the crop before, during and after the harvesting season. $9.09 per hr; 3 months of experience required in job offered. All work tools provided. Housing and transportation provided to workers who can not reasonably return to their permanent residence at the end of the work day; _ hours guaranteed in a work day during contract. Employment offered by Mathews Farms located in Alexandria, LA. Qualified applicants please fax your resume to Vernon Mathews at (225) 766-0994. Please reference Job Order #345095.

Development Director

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a non-profit advocacy organization, seeks a full-time or part-time development director with a minimum of 5 years of experience in raising major gifts for nonprofits. Competitive salary. EOE. Send cover letter, resume, and references to nleonhardt@aradvocates.org or 1400 West Markham St., Ste. 306, Little Rock, AR 72201 46 JANUARY 21, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES 46 august 13, 2009 • aRKaNsas tIMEs

FieldWorkers-10 temporary positions; approx 10 months; Duties: to operate tractorsin the fields during the preparations, planting and maintenance of the crop before, during and after the harvesting season. 3 months experience in job offered required. $9.09 per hour; Job to begin on 3/1/10 through 1/1/11. All work tools provided. Housing and transportation provided to workers who can not reasonably return to their permanent residence at the end of the work day;_ guaranteed of contract. Employment offered by Rodrique Planting Company located in Vacherie, LA.Qualified applicants please fax your resumes to Wayne Rodrique at (225) 766-0994. Please reference Job Order # 345096. FieldWorkers-5 temporary positions; approx 10 months; Duties: to operate tractors during the preparation and maintenance of the fields for the harvesting season and during the harvesting season. $9.09 per hour; Job to begin on 3/1/10 through 1/1/11. 3 months of experience required in job offered and must pass drug test provided by employer. All work tools provided. Housing and transportation provided to workers who can not reasonably return to their permanent residence at the end of the work day; _ guaranteed of contract. Employment offered by Palo Alto, Inc. located in Donaldsonville, LA. Qualified applicants may fax resumes to (225) 766-0994 and reference job order #344928.

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38. If you catch a cold, it can be psychologically effective to call it a “hot.” 39. Think of LaSalle, famous explorer and relisher of cold, who loved nothing better than to walk off alone and unprovisioned into the howling wilderness during blizzards so bitter that no one else could venture outdoors, and be gone for months at a time. 40. Go down only so far into Dante’s Inferno. At the bottom, there’s black ice. 41. If icewater seeps in over your waders and fills them as high as the crotch, it might be time to find another place to duck hunt. 42. I wouldn’t know personally but it’s said that frequent and arduous bishopflogging is a good heat producer. 43. You can have yourself vulcanized for less than you might think. 44. Think of the cold as just one of life’s quick-passing annoying stage props, as the thrown snow was for Mr. Snavely in “The Fatal Glass of Beer.” 45. I had a great-uncle who was a political agitator of the type called fire-eaters. Far as I know, he never once got cold. 46. Ice-fishing in these climes is always contra-indicated. 47. Coffee and cabbage rolls with Yosh and Stan Shmenge. 48. Burning the candle at both ends uses it up quickly but gives a glorious light. And twice as much heat. 49. If you just have to tongue flagpoles, blowtorch them lightly beforehand. 50. If you just have to go to a bowl game, make it the Hula Bowl.

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notice oF Filing Application for permits to sell wine and beer in cafe or restaurant. Notice is hereby given that the undersigned has filed an application with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the State of Arkansas for permits to sell and serve wine and beer with food on the premises described as: 11121 N. Rodney Parham, #36B, Little Rock, AR, Plaski County. Said application was filed on January 14, 2010. The undersigned states that he is a resident of Arkansas, of good moral character; that he has never been convicted of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude; that no license to sell alcoholic beverages by the undersigned has ever been revoked within five (5) years last past; and, that the undersigned has never been convicted of violating the laws of this State, or any other State, relative to the sale of controlled beverages. Rama Velagapudi for Amruth

*adopt* at-home-mom, warm, friendly, financially secure couple w/a lot of LOVE to give your baby. Allen&Jennifer, Expenses paid. tollfree 1-866-570-4149

in tHe CIRCUIT COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS-SECOND DIVISION BRIAN KELTON,PLAINTIFF VS. NO. CV-093123 MID-CENTRAL PLUMBING CO., INC; JOHN W. ROGERS;AND CHRISTOPHER MILLER, DEFENDANTS WARNING ORDERThe Defendant, Christopher Miller, is warned to appear in this Court within 30 days from the date of the first publication of this warning order and answer the Complaint of the Plaintiff for damages caused by a motor vehicle collision that occurred on June 23, 2006, or face entry of judgment by default or be otherwise barred from asserting Defendant’ s interest. Witness my hand and seal of this Court on this18th day of December, 2009. Pulaski County Circuit Court Clerk By: P.H. Deputy Clerk

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Real Estate Governor’s Mansion Area 800 SF apt-Restored building (one entrance - 4 units) Large LR, large BR, storage room/office wired for cable/Internet, full-size appliances incl refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, disposal, microwave/venthood, lots of closets. Washer/ dryer in each unit. off-street parking. Water paid. $750 deposit/rent. Pets ok. 501.944.2066

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