Arkansas Times: Feb. 4, 2010

ARKANSAS’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF POLITICS AND CULTURE ■ february 4, 2010

July 12, 2007

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Nurturing fiction

Last Wednesday, Jan. 27, a “Forces of Nurture” column by Cathy Frye appeared in the Arkansas DemocratGazette under the headline “Mothers in Haiti Face Living Nightmare.” The column described a Haitian mother of two trying to survive in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, trying to find food and shelter for her children, trying to find her missing husband.

It read like a true story, one told by a reporter on the ground.

“Her infant son remains naked much of the time. She has nothing with which to clothe or diaper him. It’s easier to keep the baby loosely wrapped in the grubby T-shirt she found.

“The toddler doesn’t understand. ‘Why can’t we go home?’ she asks. ‘Where is Daddy?’

“And again, and again — ‘I’m thirsty.

I’m hungry. I have to go potty.’ ” But Frye has never been to Haiti. The column was fiction, though nothing told readers that.

Deputy editor Frank Fellone said, “It was meant to suggest what a mother would think of the suffering mothers of Haiti. It wasn’t meant to tell the reader that Cathy had been in Haiti but it was her imagining of what it would be like to be a mother in Haiti.” After a brief pause Fellone continued, “It seems to some of us that that wasn’t properly conveyed. It was an outpouring of emotion rather than an actual observation. An editor’s note would have worked.”

Frye did not respond to an e-mail request for an interview.

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The ongoing effort to catalogue records from the court of former 5th Division Circuit Judge Willard Proctor and his Cycle Breakers probation program has turned up a large cache of letters to the judge from those he had sentenced – letters that the prosecuting attorney was never aware of though they were relevant to active cases.

The letters, which fill a folder four inches thick, were apparently received

by Proctor’s court during a few months in 2005. With only a few exceptions, the letters are handwritten on lined paper.

Most are pleas for leniency. Many contain references to Biblical scripture, particularly passages dealing with forgiveness and judgment. Others contain fairly detailed information the Prosecutor Larry Jegley says should have been part of the record.

One of the strangest letters is a threepage missive from a probationer who was locked up in the Pulaski County Detention Center. After telling the judge twice that Continued on page 9

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ArkAnsAs Times • februAry 4, 2010 3

Smart talk

Contents

Boozman’s O’Keefe problem

Hungry

n Rep. John Boozman, who’s mulling over a U.S. Senate run against Sen. Blanche Lincoln, co-sponsored a bill (H.Res. 809) last year to honor “the fact-finding reporting done by Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III in their investigation in the fraudulent and illegal practices and misuse of taxpayer dollars by the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN).”

You might remember, O’Keefe was arrested Monday in New Orleans and charged with entering federal property SEEMS NUTTY NOW: under false pretenses with the intention of committing a felBoozman’s praise for ony (a.k.a. tampering with Sen. Mary Landrieu’s phones).

ACORN-stinger O’Keefe.

Some Republicans are running away from O’Keefe. What does Boozman say? Here’s an equivocating response from communication director Sara Lasure.

“The resolution co-sponsored by Congressman Boozman recognizes fact-finding efforts in an investigation into ACORN’s illegal practices and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

These actions were worthy of this recognition. The resolution was offered months in advance of allegations of illegal conduct. The congressman certainly doesn’t condone illegal activity but he is very proud of the work highlighting the irresponsible illegal activity of ACORN which deserve to be investigated by an independent prosecutor.”

The real question is how can the congressman be so sure their earlier work was so estimable and their tactics fair and honestly described, given the sleazy business they were caught red-handed in this week? Is it only because he liked the outcome and was willing to overlook other niceties?

n Another sign of the times: A Gallup poll puts Arkansas as second in the nation for “food hardship,” with 24 percent of respondents reporting that there had been times in 2009 when they’d been too poor to buy the food their family needed.

Mississippi was first. Virginia was the only Southern state not in the top 15.

The Fourth Congressional District had a 27.9 percent rate of food hardship, the highest of the state’s districts and 19th nationally among congressional districts. The greater Little Rock area, with one in five reporting food hardship, had the lowest rate in the state. The First District’s rate was 22.5 percent, the Third District’s 21.3 percent.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index was analyzed by the Food Research and Action Center, which released the results last week.

We’re well-informed

Goldberg, speechwriter Leah Vest DiPietro and press assistant Scott Allen. The news release about the importance of a stable economy came from the Senate office. n “Lincoln Receives 2009 Wheat Because this is an election year, Lincoln Advocate Award” also has a campaign office in Little Rock “Lincoln: Now is not the Time to with its own communications arm. Katie Destabilize Our Economy” Laning Niebaum, communications director “Blanche Works to secure grants that and spokesperson, left the Senate office to create green job training” work in the campaign — which is privately If you’re a newspaper reporter, you funded, of course. “Green job training” is a don’t go hungry for information about campaign office release.

Blanche Lincoln these days. Indeed, And when Lincoln became chairman you’re practically covered up by news WHEATIE: Lincoln and grain friends. of the Senate Agriculture Committee in releases like the three that accompanied the September, she added more media help. Liz Friedlander is the headlines above. There’s so much news about Senator Lincoln Committee press secretary, Courtney Rowe the communications being disseminated that it takes three press offices to do it. director. Essentially, they work for Lincoln. The wheat release Like the other 99 U.S. senators, Lincoln has a taxpayeris theirs. Like the Senate office people, Friedlander and Rowe supported communications division within her Washington are public employees.

Senate office. It consists now of press secretary Marni

Words n I’ll be Franz and you be Earnest: “With a proposed health-care bill that might have been designed by Frank Kafka in collaboration with Rube Goldberg, it’s taken a lot of arm-twisting, creative accounting, and nifty little deals to move it along.” n Tom Fularee seeks the meaning of the expression “who shot John.”

“I know it doesn’t have anything to do with Kennedy or Lennon,” he writes. “It’s been around longer than that.”

My first guess was that the phrase had to do with strong drink, or getting drunk.

Like a substantial number of my guesses, this was incorrect. Turns out, I was thinking of “who hit John” and a variation, “who struck John,” both of which can be heard in old John Ford Westerns: “Give 4 february 4, 2010 • Arkansas Times

8 ‘Old Ag’

Think tank says Blanche Lincoln’s committee chairmanship a blow to environmental law. — By Paul Barton

10 New Christians

Theology of social justice drives Harding students off campus and into ‘community.’ — By Mara Leveritt

19 Bobby on top

Rapper wins first showcase; three semifinals to go. — By Lindsey Millar

Departments

3 • The Insider

4 • Smart Talk

5 • The Observer

6 • Letters

7 • Orval 8-15 • News

16 • Opinion

19 • Arts & Entertainment

31 • Dining

37 • Crossword/ Tom Tomorrow

38 • Lancaster

VOLUME 36, NUMBER 22

Doug s mith doug@arktimes.com

me a glass of that who hit John, pilgrim.”

An on-line dictionary of Western slang says that “who hit John” does indeed refer to intoxicating beverages.

“Who shot John” is harder to pin down, but contributors to Wiktionary had a go.

“It can mean ‘Don’t give me a rambling explanation,’ ” one wrote. “A father might say to his child ‘Tell me what happened and leave out the who shot John.’ ” But there seemed some agreement

that “who shot John” can also refer to a disheveled appearance. “When I heard ‘Girl, you look like who shot John,’ I knew I looked a mess.” n The American Dialect Society has named tweet “the top word of 2009,” and Google — the verb, not the noun — “the top word of the past decade.” I’m not sure what “top” means in this context, but there you are. I’ve personally had little truck with tweet. n A United States senator testified on behalf of a nominee for a federal judgeship: “Two words come to mind. First, integrity. He has it, an over-abundance of it.”

Sounds over-qualified to be a judge, but he might make a good newspaper reporter.

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.

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RETIREMENT LOOKS GOOD

A friend of The Observer who

works at the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway noted on her blog last week one of those rare and unexpected acts of kindness that happen when, and where, you least expect it. This one unfolded in the drive-through lane at Zaxby’s chicken restaurant on Dave Ward Drive.

A woman pulled up to the drivethrough window to grab her order and pay for her tab, and asked to pay for the car behind her as well. The worker at the window asked if she knew the people who would now be getting a free dinner and she said she did not. She just wanted to do something nice for a fellow friedchicken lover.

Once the lady pulled away, the next customer was told her ticket had been taken care of. Not wanting to shirk the responsibility of paying for her own food, this customer decided to pay for the car behind her as well.

According to Robert Wilcox, one of the restaurant’s managers, this happened five or six times, until there was just one car left in line. When she was told her meal would be on the house, she promised to pay it forward somehow, in honor of those in line before her, who had paid it backward.

Last Sunday, after the great

semi-thaw that burned off the sheen of ice that had kept us stranded at The Observatory for two days straight, we ventured out into the sunlight. Looking for some grub, we went out to West Little Rock to sample the fare at a barbecue joint that recently opened in those parts. When we got there, we realized that while the rest of the world was coming out of the deep freeze, the sidewalk in front of this place surely had not. From the edge of the parking lot to the point shielded by the storefront overhang was the world’s longest, skinniest skating rink; eight feet of 2-inch-thick ice. Spouse, who once shattered her ankle, and who has been determined since then not to have a repeat performance, almost turned back. Jonesing for smoked meat products, however, we held her hand and coaxed her over the ice floe. As we watched, an elderly gent — on a walker, no less — and his caretaker slipped warily across to the door. The Observer gritted his teeth every moment that the old feller might fall.

Once The Observer, Spouse and Junior were inside and had ordered, we ex-

cused our self and headed down the strip mall to the Oriental market just down the way. Among the monosodium glutamate and kung pao seasoning, we found what we were looking for: a big bag of sea salt — $2.50 for a 3-pound bag. After having the clerk saw off the corner of the bag with his pocket knife, we walked back to the restaurant and liberally salted a 4-foot strip of the mini-glacier directly in front of the ’cue joint’s door. By the time we finished our barbecue sammiches, the salted strip had gone to crumbling slush. Was that so hard?

FROM HERE

Our Yankee friend called and

asked our advice. What do you do when a waiter or waitress or nurse who is 20 years younger than you calls you “dear.”

She says she’s getting that all the time.

This is a bad, bad trend.

Slap ’em, we said. Except for the nurse. Nurses call everyone “dear.”

Or ask them to cut up your meat.

More weather-inspired mus-

ings: The Observer’s spouse sees the world through snow-colored glasses. He lives for snow. He stares up into the sky every time the temperature drops below 40 and a cloud musters. He watches the Make-A-Wish weather channel and tells his family that snow is right around the corner and we’re going to be socked in.

He’ll settle for sleet with a dusting of snow on top, however, so imagine his joy last week. He might as well have been riding in that laundry basket with the gleeful mother and child we saw coming down Cedar Street. A plus for him is that he can miss the morning paper and not feel at sea.

What was excellent about last week’s bad weather (if you were warm and not on the highway) was that it was just a little bit unexpected. There were warnings, but they were vague. It was like it was in the old days, before radar and sophisticated weather predicting. Then, snow wasn’t just pretty and unusual, it was a surprise. It might start at midday and the schools would turn us loose (though they never closed when streets were dry as they do today). We’d tromp through it in our saddle oxfords, stopping at the Island X for a cheese dip on the way home. No one twittered us a warning. There was no weather channel. These were very happy days for our spouse indeed.

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Letters arktimes@arktimes.com

Disclose conflicts In the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission meeting Jan. 22, the conflict of interest issue by state commission members dominated much of the meeting. While the rules for deciding air permits under which the commission operates do not require disclosure of financial conflicts and recusal by commission members, as a matter of principle, they should.

In contrast to other state commissions, the Pollution Control and Ecology Commission makes decisions that affect the health of individuals, communities, environment, and wildlife. The commissioners whom the governor appoints must place the safety and health of our state above all else, even jobs. Tom Schueck’s past decisions as a former commissioner to introduce minute orders and votes to approve the Turk air permit may have been made with environment and health foremost in his mind, but we will never know.

The conflict of interest issue belongs squarely in the office of the governor, where appointments are made. In recent public forums, I have advocated “high expectations” for the citizens of our state.

Arkansans should expect public officials to place the environmental and yes, the

economic health of the state above selfinterest. We should expect quality and above-board decisions — and not be satisfied with less. I don’t expect the Commission to support my view on all issues, but I do expect a fair and level playing field.

The standard? All business and personal conflicts should be fully disclosed prior to key decisions and the commissioner should recuse him or herself.

Ken Smith State director, Audubon Arkansas

Run Beebe run I think it’s high time Sen. Blanche Lincoln took a good long hard look around her. She’s let us down, and now she’s behind in every poll and things don’t look good for her political future. I wish Gov. Beebe would run for Senate.

Our governor has an approval rating of 80 percent, Arkansans like him because he’s been good for us. For the good of people and party, Governor Beebe please consider running for the Senate.

Lindsay Brown North Little Rock

The library tax “It’s the library! It’s our library!” This is what runs through my head as I read about the “successful” lawsuit against the Central Arkansas Library System.

Although Little Rock voters voted for the library to receive funds from a 1.5-mill

property tax increase, because the Quorum Court missed a paperwork deadline CALS doesn’t get to keep the first year’s collection and has to give it back. How much? According to last Friday’s article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, likely over $4 million. That works out to the average homeowner getting back about $45.

What could I do with $45? I could buy three, maybe four, books. Or my $45 plus yours and yours could buy thousands of books, DVDs, newspapers, and magazines; build two new branch libraries, one of them a children’s library (with the nice ancillary benefit of increasing property values); give us free access to computers, the Internet, and online databases; pay for story-times, after-school programs, clubs, and speakers; provide free public meeting spaces, and much, much more.

Which is the better choice? It seems to me the voters already answered that question in 2007 when we voted nearly two to one FOR the tax. The director of CALS says he may have to close a branch, delay the opening of one of the new libraries, decrease hours, and buy fewer books — or maybe even close all the libraries for a month. I find this alarming!

It hasn’t been decided whether refunds will be given as a credit on property taxes, a check from the library, or otherwise. If I get a credit, I’m donating that amount to CALS. If I get a check from the library, I’m going to write “VOID” across it and take it back

— maybe when my 3-year-old son and I take our weekly visit to our local library to play in the castle and check out a stack of (way more than four) books. I think we’ll borrow the children’s classic “Stone Soup.”

The group behind this lawsuit would do well to learn its lesson about community cooperation versus selfishness.

Little Rock is fortunate to have an expansive, modern, well-managed, and well-staffed library system. We voted to support it, but now this lawsuit has gone against the will of the voters. I hope others will join me and refuse to take the money back — it’s the library!

Jill Curran Little Rock

Bright lights Re: the article about a North Little Rock sign ordinance: Bright nighttime lights, including signs, streetlights, and private property exterior lighting, are detrimental to individuals, whole neighborhoods and the nighttime sky. These new signs create a driving safety hazard, just as glaring property lights (as opposed to even, low lighting) actually create cover for crime commitment, lighting trespass into sleeping quarters disrupts circadian rhythms necessary to good health and, not a small consideration, people are being robbed of the joy of nighttime skies.

Hedy Rogers San Diego

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ArkAnsAs Times • februAry 4, 2010 7

The Arkansas Reporter

The WEEK THAT was Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 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 …

■­

■

Campaign climate

ICE. An ice storm becalmed most of the state for several days and punished some with loss of power. Driving was hazardous.

Think tank warned of Lincoln anti-EPA stance.

By Paul Barton

The HOGS. The men’s basketball team ended a 15-game SEC road losing streak with a victory over Ole Miss.

JOHN TYSON. The UA trustee questioned the athletic department’s $20 million building plan to cover offices, a banquet room and other “infrastructure.” Tyson said it seemed a lot for 450 students, departing from the usual acquiescence to jock spending.

U.S. SEN. BLANCHE LINCOLN. Another poll showed her trailing her latest announced challenger, U.S. Rep. John Boozman. She took comfort in superior fund-raising.

ARKANSAS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. Polled by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, only one of them (retiring Rep. Vic Snyder) expressed support for President Obama’s call to welcome homosexuals into the military. Common sense opposition to a rule that limits military recruiting is another reason we’ll miss Vic Snyder.

HOUSE SPEAKER ROBBIE WILLS. He said he would flout the House rule against campaign fund-raising by House members during a legislative session (claiming it’s not intended to prohibit congressional fund-raising). He also said he’d have voted against health reform legislation. It was an inauspicious start to a campaign by a man who wants to succeed Vic Snyder.

ARKANSAS TECH STUDENTS. The school was forced to rescind scholarship offers to comply with a state cap on scholarship spending that the university had exceeded for three years — to the detriment of non-scholarship students.

The NORTH LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT. It got a grilling from federal Judge Brian Miller about its desire to be released from desegregation supervision. Its students’ scores, minority recruiting efforts and lack of an integrated workforce in better neighborhoods all came in for deserved scrutiny.

8 february 4, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

brian chilson

It was a bad week for …

‘agracrat’: Lincoln joins Republicans in supporting anti-EPA bill. n WASHINGTON — A paper published by a think tank last month warned that Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s ascendancy to the Agriculture Committee chairmanship was a bad omen for passage of climatechange legislation in 2010 due to her close ties to agricultural producers and processors seen as major contributors of greenhouse gases.

The paper, written by former Washington Post reporter Dan Morgan, was released by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, about a week before Lincoln became one of only three Democrats to co-sponsor a bill — largely drafted by lobbyists for carbon-emitting industries — that would gut the Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to proceed on its own with carbon restrictions. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was lead sponsor.

The Post reported Jan. 11 that lobbyists greatly assisted in writing the bill. Two days later, the German Marshall Fund, which describes itself as a “non-partisan American public policy and grant-making institution,” released Morgan’s paper that fingered Lincoln.

Called “The Farm Bill and Beyond,” the 62-page document warned: “Lincoln’s appointment was yet another example of Democratic real politik trumping policy interests: It may weaken the chances for climate-change legislation, but it will strengthen her fund-raising ability going into a tough 2010 re-election campaign.

Lincoln will be well positioned to influence trade and climate policy, farm subsidies, and food issues such as the use of growth hormones in milk and antibiotics in animal feeds (a key interest of Arkansas-based Tyson Foods, the world’s largest processor of and marketer of beef, chicken, and pork).”

Lincoln was appointed chairman of the committee in September.

Morgan, a freelance writer on energy and agriculture, summed up that “Old Ag forces have been immeasurably strengthened” by Lincoln’s gaining the chairmanship in the fall. He defined “Old Ag” as the major farming organizations and commodity groups who favor the status quo in government subsidies and programs.

Old Ag also sees agriculture “as a loser in climate-change legislation,” Morgan wrote.

Agricultural practices are blamed for producing at least 15 to 20 percent of greenhouse gases by United Nations panels. Meat production, highlighted by deforestation to make room for grazing, and manure that emits nitrous oxide and methane gas, have been especially blamed. But crop practices that include fertilizer applications and some cultivation techniques are also viewed as contributors.

Morgan contributed an article to his former newspaper in August that coined the term “Agracrats” to describe Democrats from intensive farming states in the South and Great Plains. They overlap

significantly with the conservative Blue Dog Democrats, he said, and added their desire to protect farm programs was certain to cause flare-ups with more liberal Democrats.

“The furious farm-bloc reaction to the climate bill approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee … [in June 2009] caught House Democratic leaders off guard,” Morgan wrote in the Washington Post story.

An examination of Lincoln’s Senate record on climate-change policy over the past decade shows some flip-flops in votes and positions on climate change. In Senate testimony and press releases she has generally backed the idea of addressing global warming, but has warned such legislation should not harm the economies of poor states such as her own.

In 2003, Lincoln opposed a less ambitious bill to address climate change sponsored by Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California. She expressed fears about higher utility rates, even a $5 a month increase, and other costs being a hardship for her low-income constituents.

In 2007, Lincoln changed and signed on as a co-sponsor to essentially the same legislation. In testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, she explained her reversal with references to duck-hunting traditions in her family and in Arkansas. She also cited an Arkansas State University study that said global warming threatened bird migration patterns.

In testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that year she said: “If climate change were to continue on its current path it is not too far fetched to say that ducks could stop migrating to the deep South altogether as warmer temperatures in more northern regions would reduce their need to do so. As the study points out, the effect on the small communities whose economy depends on hunting season could be devastating.”

And in 2008, Lincoln signed on to a letter written by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W. Va., and sent to Boxer and Majority Leader Harry Reid, that outlined factors that should be considered in drafting a cap-and-trade system for limiting greenhouse gases.

One of those was to “fully recognize agriculture and forestry’s role” in contributing to the problem.

In 2009, however, she made it clear that she could not support the climate change legislation that emerged from the House Energy and Commerce Committee and passed that chamber in June.

“The majority of Arkansans rightly Continued on page 9

lincoln

Continued from page 8 believe efforts need to be made to reverse the detrimental effects of climate change.

However, they are apprehensive, and rightly so, about what a massive policy change such as a cap-and-trade plan would mean for them at a time of tremendous economic uncertainty,” she said in a statement.

“The legislation passed by the House,” she added, “places a disproportionate share of the economic burden on families and businesses in rural America. It is a deeply flawed bill. I will not support similar legislation in the Senate.”

Lincoln offered similar explanations last week as she co-sponsored Murkowski’s bill. “Heavy-handed EPA regulations will cost us jobs and put us at an even greater competitive disadvantage to China, India and others,” a statement said.

The Arkansas senator was immediately praised by many agricultural groups for her support of the anti-EPA legislation.

Morgan, who wrote the think tank paper, as well as many political observers, see her position as reflecting her need to continue getting campaign funds from agricultural interests for what is expected to be a tough re-election fight this year.

It could be an interesting issue in her reelection bid. Pollster Earnie Oakleaf of the Little Rock firm Opinion Research Associates said in a telephone interview that his past polling shows Arkansans are more pro-environmental protection than generally thought. That was even the case when questions pitted protection of the environment against economic development.

“I was stunned,” Oakleaf said. He added that he thinks such attitudes are caused by the state’s hunting and fishing traditions.

There is little doubt Lincoln’s re-election campaign fund-raising has depended heavily not only on agribusinesses but on energy and other resource–extraction industries that emit carbon.

The Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan campaign research organization, lists agribusinesses, oil and gas companies and utilities as among her top 10 sources of support from industries. She also has received significant contributions from companies involved in “agricultural services and products.”

In all, the center says she’s received $810,000 from various agriculture-related interests and $609,000 from energy and natural resource firms, a category that includes electric utilities, oil and gas, mining and forestry companies.

Among all 2010 congressional candidates, Lincoln is the No. 1 recipient of contributions from agricultural and oil and gas interests.

Through Sept. 30, the date of the latest Federal Election Commission filings, the incumbent Democrat had raised a total of $7.17 million for her race.

The INsIder Continued from page 3

he loves him, the writer ends with: “You know I like when you called me Mrs. President.”

“I think that’s just further indication of the problems that Cycle Breakers caused as far as the transparency of the judicial process,” Jegley said.

Ethics complaints

Marty nix, president of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers (PACT), has formally complained to the state Ethics Commission about finan-

Steele ad-mammogram AT.indd 5

cial reports filed by two Pulaski County School Board members, Tim clark and charlie Wood. She said that Clark had failed to disclose a $1,000 contribution from PACT in 2008, and Wood had misreported a $2,000 PACT contribution as a $3,000 gift. Clark and Wood are members of the Board majority that voted in December to stop recognizing PACT as the bargaining agent for teachers in the Pulaski County School District.

Clark and Wood said that action, which PACT is challenging in court, was the real reason for Nix’s complaints to the Ethics Commission. They also said the complaints concerned trivial reporting details and that any corrections needed

would be made. The Ethics Commission has not acted on the complaints.

Close on True Grit

Emily Prigmore, a 16-year-old junior at Mount St. Mary Academy, came close but was eliminated from the competition to cast a fresh face for the role of Mattie Ross in the Coen Brothers’ remake of “True Grit.” Emily made a callback audition after first answering an open casting call in Memphis that was mentioned on our Arkansas Blog.

Finally, she was told that the directors wanted someone younger, 12 to 13.

Filming is set for spring in and around Austin, Texas.

ArkAnsAs Times •1/26/10 februAry 4, 2010 5:17:32 PM9

Kevin lellis

gathered together: Dave Pritchett, Zach Seagle, Josh Robertson and Sophie Mays having a meeting with the rest of their team in New Jersey via Skype.

Blessed are they ...

But school administrators want no part of Harding students’ ‘conversation’

By Mara Leveritt

L

ast summer, a small number of serious students at Harding University, the Church of Christ college in Searcy, committed themselves to a budget of $10,000 — on top of their student loans — to stage a conference to explore contemporary interpretations of Christ’s instruction to “love.”

Believing they had the university’s approval and permission to use campus facilities, the students named their conference “Peace by Piece” and arranged to pay travel costs and honoraria for 10 speakers.

By the week of Thanksgiving, they had established a website, prepared a registration table to be set up in the student center, and were ready to announce plans for the event — to be held in February — at the school’s daily chapel service, which Harding students must attend.

That’s when Harding administrators told them that their conference was not

10 february 4, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

welcome on campus. They could not announce it at chapel. They could not advertise it on campus.

The students say they were told that administrators pulled their support when they learned that women were among the scheduled speakers. Publicly, Harding officials have said only that some of the speakers “represented perspectives counter to our religious positions.”

No one from Harding’s administration responded to phone calls from the Times seeking comment. Karen Kelly, an assistant professor of nursing at Harding, who is among the conference’s scheduled speakers, did not answer a request for an interview, either.

One Harding professor, who is scheduled to speak at the conference, did agree to talk. However, Mark Elrod, who teaches political science and international relations at the school, stipulated that he could only be interviewed if he was not

identified as an employee of Harding University and if a copy of his statements were provided to him — and copied to Harding officials — before publication.

The Times declined.

Concern about any association of Harding with the conference is apparently significant enough that brief biographies of the speakers that were posted on the conference website, which at first identified Kelly and Elrod as Harding faculty members, were changed to say only that the two teach “in Searcy, Arkansas.”

Harding’s decision to disavow the conference was a blow to the student organizers, and not just because it meant they would have to find a new venue and new ways to publicize the event.

The students, who see themselves as a minority on campus, were disappointed that school officials were so opposed to participating in the “conversation” they’d hoped that the conference would begin

with other students, the faculty and the administration.

They see their minority status as arising from an understanding of their Christianity that includes a commitment to justice. “It grew out of some questions we’ve stumbled upon, or that we decided to ask,” Josh Nason said. “We saw the conference as a way of starting a conversation with the people living around us.”

Kevin Lillis put it this way: “A lot of our sense of justice has stemmed from our experiences. We wanted to start dialoging with friends and the administration — to have something to start building around — so those who haven’t had the experiences we’ve had can see that maybe we’re not so different.”

The group turned a difficult situation to its benefit. They turned to the town of Searcy, where a church and several businesses readily opened their doors. Thus, the Peace by Piece Conference will be held Friday through Sunday, Feb. 5-7, in spaces at that city’s Underground CoffeehouseEatery, Sowell’s Furniture store, Rialto Theater and Trinity Episcopal Church. “ ‘Community’ is an important word for us,” one organizer explained. “So on one level, we’re excited now that the conference won’t be at Harding, because supporting local communities is a lot of what it’s about.”

Anyone interested is welcome to attend. Details at www.pbpconference.org.

john Snyder

‘The other’ Dave Pritchett, a senior in Harding’s physician-assistant program, is one of the conference’s two directors. The son of missionary parents, he spent a significant part of his childhood in Kenya and other developing countries. After high school, Harding, a conservative, evangelical college, seemed a natural choice.

Like many students there, Pritchett has augmented his formal education with extensive missionary travel. He believes those experiences have clarified and intensified his commitment to the gospel.

But along the way, he acknowledges, something changed for him.

Pritchett has participated in medical teams that traveled to economically distressed areas, offered help, and left, sometimes after as little as a week. There were times, he said, when time and supplies were so limited, and demand for medical help so great, that team members had to pass out tickets to limit the number served.

Pritchett recalled seeing sick people in Haiti get into fist-fights over those tickets.

He began to think that maybe his team had “created another problem by provoking violence among people who all were sick.”

Over time, he began to think that perhaps real help would only come from “permanent communities, living among communities that are resource poor, working beside them every day, and not just going for a week.”

That thought had been “building up,” he said, when, again while in Haiti, “we met this girl. She was probably 8 or 9 years old, and she was an albino girl — an albino girl living in this tropical country where there were hardly any trees for shade. She already has melanoma all over her body.”

Pritchett said the experience was for him what the French philosopher and Talmudic scholar Emmanuel Levinas called an encounter with “the other.”

“I think what he meant by that,” Pritchett explained, “is it’s a moment when you fully experience another person in all they are and all you can’t understand.

“Here was this girl, living what I consider to be a terrible life, perhaps shunned by friends and family who may have seen her as having a curse. I see her as having melanoma and not much chance of life. But when you move past all that, and you simply encounter this child in all her suffering, your life is changed by that encounter.”

He continued: “Levinas says there is nothing written in the stars that says you have to help this girl. But, once you have encountered her, this suffering child, you know you have to do what you can.”

For Pritchett, that meant giving the girl sun screen and sunglasses and teaching her aunt how to care for her and to keep her in the shade. But, as he prepared to leave Haiti and the child, it also meant recognizing that his response to Christ’s call to care for the poor could never again be as limited as it once had been.

“For me, it’s hard to come away from that and feel that the Bible is all people need,” he said. “At a conservative school like Harding, there are a lot of people who do trips overseas and have experiences similar to mine, but the language we learn here is, ‘Well, we can’t change people’s lives but we can offer them eternal life.’

“I can’t speak that language anymore.

Sure, the story of Jesus is important, but I can’t walk away from an experience of being with sick or hungry people and say learning about Jesus is more important

john Snyder

the dogon team: In Bamako, Mali, last August.

a sense of justice: Kevin Lillis holds a baby at Koutiala Hospital. than having food on the table every night.

For me, it’s not one or the other, it’s both.”

Intentional communities The conference’s other director is Zach Seagle, a religion and history major from New Jersey. He too was “a very

conservative Christian” when he came to Harding. He says it was “studying about social justice and care for the poor” that led him to “a broader view.”

Seagle and Pritchett say their experiences have made them both more liberal Continued on page 12 Arkansas Times • february 4, 2010 11

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planning a new evangelism: Kevin Lillis, David Pritchett, Josh Nason, Stephanie Allen, Ashely Reeves in Searcy apartment. tion, Seagle visited the West Bank of the Palestinian territories “to try to understand Continued from page 11 that political situation.”

“Mali is also a very violent country and more literal in their faith. They tend with a lot of oppression,” he explained. not to concern themselves much anymore “So I wanted to experience first-hand with denominational differences, with people’s attempts at non-violent resolucondemning sinful behaviors, or even tion of problems.” winning souls for Christ, in the way they Team members plan to remain in the once viewed that evangelical mission.

U.S. for a year after they leave Harding, Seagle’s view has changed so much that working to pay off their student loans (and he now regards some missionary activity as any debt remaining from the conference) a form of imperialism, which he opposes. and learning French, a necessary precurHe prefers to focus instead on “creating a sor to learning the Dogon dialect. peaceful world through nonviolent actions, They also started a non-profit corporasubverting systems of government that suption, called the Khora Project, to provide press and repress people, and working for a fiscal structure for their project. Khora individual, local communities. The idea is is a Greek word that means “endless to make life better for the people we live potential,” Seagle said. To him it means with, for ourselves, and for the world. “building a world that can always con“Now, evangelism for us is without tinue to better itself.” words. It’s about using our hands and feet and sacrificing ourselves for other people.”

That new understanding of evangelism Seagle had not yet returned from the has led Seagle, Pritchett, and seven other Middle East when, on a blustery January of the conference’s organizers to embrace evening, Lillis, Pritchett and three other what some call a “radical love,” similar to conference organizers gathered over Christ’s, for the poor. After they graduate, homemade pizza in Lillis’ sparse Searcy they plan to move to Mali, where they inapartment to explain the conversation tend to establish an “intentional commuthey hope to promote about the relationnity,” along the lines of Catholic monasship of faith to justice. teries, and live among that nation’s Dogon For Pritchett, justice has come to mean people for a minimum of 10 years. “people living well with each other and Asked if bringing Christianity to the with the land.” For Lillis, a nursing stuDogon is part of their plan, Seagle shook dent from Georgia, who is also heading to his head. “Not necessarily,” he said. “Our Mali, it means that “impoverished people goal is not to bring Western ideals to them, get what they need to lead healthy lives.” but to try to live in a way that makes all of Josh Nason, of Tennessee, who signed our lives more full. on to be venue coordinator for the con“We hope to be able to teach them ference, said the idea is simply that faith some things, and we expect to be taught touches every part of life, and that once a things too, like how to do community betperson realizes that, “It changes how you ter, and how to rely on each other better live. You begin to see that everything you — things that Western capitalistic culture do has consequences.” isn’t so good at.”

For example, Nason said, watching The “Dogon team,” as members call the documentary “Food, Inc.” with some themselves, are being deliberate in preparafriends forced all of them to reassess, not tion. Some spent last August in Mali trying just how they eat, but other aspects of their to learn as much as they could about Dogon lives as well. Along with Ragan Sutterlife, the water system, health problems, the field, a non-student who will be speaking language and how villages function.

For six weeks during Christmas vacaContinued on page 14

harding students

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Reaching out ‘heart-wise’

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The quiz bowl is separated into one division for students in sixth through eighth grade and another for ninth through 12th grade. Quiz bowl challenges are being held at six locations around Arkansas. A championship will be held on Saturday, Feb. 27, at the University of Arkansas-Medical Sciences Mid-South Black Expo at Little Rock.

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ArkAnsAs Times • februAry 4, 2010 13

A commitment to community Luther cut ties with monasticism; now Protestants embrace it anew.

C

hristian scholars have noted that since the Great Schism in 1054, when Christianity split between east and west, major changes in the faith have seemed to occur about every 500 years.

Martin Luther and Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church in the early 1500s. After that, things remained fairly unchanged until Catholicism’s Second Vatican Council in the 1960s — and today’s “emerging church” movement, which has started to blend together several once disparate faith traditions.

Proponents of the emerging church movement, many from evangelical backgrounds, call this developing interfaith dialogue a “conversation.” In the past two decades, some of them — part of what is called the “new monastic movement” — have gone so far as to form themselves into “intentional communities” modeled on the ancient traditions of Catholic monasteries.

Themes of the emerging church and of new monasticism run prominently through the Peace by Piece Conference that students at Harding University are holding this week in Searcy.

In Little Rock, a Sunday school class at Christ Church has begun studying the new monasticism, and another group, comprised of people from several denominations, is considering establishing itself as an intentional community downtown.

Many in the new monastic movement trace its origins to the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian and Nazi resister who was executed by the Third Reich in the last days of World War II. Bonhoeffer wrote: “... (T)he restoration of the church will surely come only from a new type of monasticism which has nothing in common with the old but a complete lack of compromise in a life lived in accordance with the Sermon on the Mount in the discipleship of Christ. I think it is time to gather people together to do this ...”

It is partly in response to that call for “a complete lack of compromise” that Dave Pritchett, Zachary Seagle, Kevin Lillis, and the six other Harding students are organizing themselves into an intentional community that they plan to locate, perhaps permanently, among the Dogon people of Mali.

The word “intentional” here signifies the undergirding belief that a life of faith cannot be cultivated in a haphazard fash-

14 february 4, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

harding students

Continued from page 13

at the conference, he and Seagle began a community garden at Harding.

Later, they organized a fashion show at Harding to highlight how many of our clothes come from countries that allow sweatshop conditions. Their hope, Nason said, was to reinforce the idea on the Harding campus that “almost everything about how we live is connected in some way to justice.”

Also at the pizza dinner were Stephanie Allen, of Missouri, who’s handling registration for the conference, and Ashley Reeves, of Tennessee, who’s in charge of advertising and promotion.

Reeves said, “When I was a freshman, I saw these older guys who were being passionate about caring for people, and I, like, didn’t see that in a lot of other people.” After a missionary internship to Mozambique, she talked about her experiences with Pritchett, Seagle and others, and, she said, “their questions became my own.”

Allen recalled a similar search for a Christian connection to justice. “Growing up in the church, I never saw much community,” she said, “much reaching out to people heart-wise. I think that’s what we’re doing with this conference.”

‘A broader idea of Christianity’

ion. Like monks and nuns in the Catholic monastic tradition, members commit to sharing “a rhythm of life,” devoting regular time to prayer, and doing work that honors Christ’s instruction to “love thy neighbor.”

Some of the speakers at this week’s conference in Searcy come from intentional communities that have been established — as most of the new ones are — in “resource-poor,” inner-city neighborhoods across the U.S. One of the speakers, Ragan Sutterfield, who will be speaking on the relationship of food to theology, is from the group in Little Rock that is “trying to discern what form a new monastic community might take here.”

Sutterfield, like the organizers of the

Peace by Piece Conference, said his focus is on “seeking forms of life that allow us to live out our faith holistically.”

“That is a common thread to many of these new movements that seem to be emerging in Christianity: the idea that the Christian faith is not just something that you do on Sunday, and it’s not like fire insurance, about going to heaven or staying out of hell.

“It’s about how we live, day to day, in the world. It’s about doing justice, caring for the poor, and creating communities of peace that welcome the stranger.

And when we begin to think about how we might actually do that in our lives, we realize it’s difficult to do on our own. We need communities that help us.”

— Mara Leveritt

It was Seagle, as a conference director, who, at the start of last semester, contacted David Collins, Harding’s dean of students, about hosting a conference at the school. Seagle said he told Collins that the conference would be about “shalom work,” which he defined as “not just about religious salvation, but about doing the work of God on behalf of the poor.”

“At first, Dean Collins thought it was a good idea,” Seagle said, “so we began lining up speakers. We wanted 10 different speakers so that the Harding community could be exposed to a broader idea of Christianity.”

He explained: “No speakers are invited to come to Harding who don’t have the Church of Christ label, and yet there are so many other good theologians and thinkers.

We wanted to bring speakers who ordinarily would not be invited to come here so that the community could hear some new ways of thinking about God.” Seagle said the group warned Collins that some of the ideas presented might be controversial. “We told him we were going to be talking about political issues, but from a Christian perspective. And he said that Harding doesn’t have any political affiliation, so that wouldn’t be a problem.”

According to Seagle, Collins was given a list of the speakers “about three weeks before Thanksgiving,” but it was not until Thanksgiving week, when the group planned to make its campus-wide announcement, that “Dean Collins pulled the whole thing. He said that he and the president’s cabinet would meet over Thanks-

giving break, and when we got back from break, they said the answer was no.”

“They said Peace by Piece was in contrast with the mission of Harding. They objected to the women speakers. And they said they could not approve of presenting an overtly Christian message without having Church of Christ speakers.”

Seagle’s voice grew more intense.

“We think these issues are overtly Christian. They are about the message of freedom and liberation and caring about other people more than yourself. They are about acting nonviolently and about love for the other, whoever that other is.

“So much of right-wing, evangelical Christianity is against so many things, like homosexuality. But once you know people who aren’t like you, once you’re out of your comfort zone for a while, and you’re able to experience other people’s lives, it’s not so easy at that point to demonize groups of people.

“Look at Christ. He went against the empire of Rome. And he sat with prostitutes and the poor — real people with real lives and real feelings and real problems.

He showed us with his life that God cares about the orphan and the widow and the people the wealthy often ignore.”

Seagle said it would be hard to assess just how the ideas to be presented at the conference conflict with the school’s mission, because, “The problem with Harding is that no doctrinal positions are written down. They’re just assumed. And our conference is challenging a lot of those assumptions.

“For example, environmentalism is something that fundamentalist Christians haven’t really cared about. They see environmentalism as something liberal — worshiping nature instead of God. “In the same way, issues like poverty and social justice are not generally acceptable here at Harding. So when someone wants to talk about these issues, they’re usually labeled as liberals and cast out and not allowed to express those opinions.

“Harding’s administrators see postmodernism or liberalism as an attack on their way of life, so they fear what they don’t understand. But the students here are very active, and curious, and they’re beginning to question the idea that Christ’s message is only spiritual and not connected to the political and social issues that affect people’s lives.”

modern, post-structuralist thought into Christianity.

“And Karen Sloan, who lives in an intentional community and knows a lot about them. She’s going to talk about the nittygritty of community — things like relationships, economics, sexuality and power.

“Chris Haw is another theologian, and he also lives in an intentional community.

He’ll be speaking about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

“We’ll have Philip Spivey, from UCA, speaking on ethics. And members of the Dogon team will discuss moving to Mali.”

Pritchett said Harding officials have been invited to the conference, but he doubts they will attend. “It really is a cul-

tural difference,” he said. “They don’t understand what we’re trying to do.”

He speculates that there might be another factor at play, as well. “They’ve got to consider the constituency of their donors, and a lot of this is generational. For instance, I could care less that two of our speakers are women, but a lot of the donors grew up in a time when that just wasn’t done.”

Lillis seemed puzzled by the officials’ decision. “The core values outlined on Harding’s website seem very similar to what Peace by Piece is trying to do,” he said. Indeed, part of the site’s mission statement reads: “The board of trustees, the administration and the faculty believe that the free-

dom to pursue truth and high academic achievement is compatible with the Christian principles to which the university is committed.”

And one of the school’s goals is listed as: “The promotion of citizenship within a global perspective — developing a Christian understanding of and respect for other cultures through an emphasis on liberty and justice.”

“I deeply respect that the leaders here would care enough to take these matters seriously,” Lillis said. “But my question is: How is dialogue not helpful to the students?

“If anything, it seems to me, it would strengthen their theological belief.”

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Core values Pritchett would have appreciated being able to talk to the school’s administrators. “I wish there was a good way to sit down with them,” he said, “not that I think we could come to terms, but in a spirit of dialogue. I think we have a great lineup of speakers that will challenge anyone who wants to think seriously about community and justice.

“We have Pete Rollins, a philosopher and theologian from Ireland, who’s going to talk about bringing appropriate post-

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ArkAnsAs Times • februAry 4, 2010 15

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Editorial n Dracula can’t stop biting necks and Ed Bethune can’t stop debasing Arkansas politics. Persistence is but one of the traits they share.

Bethune swooped into Little Rock the other day to endorse Tim Griffin, a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives seat that Bethune once held himself, until the peasants broke down the door. The affinity is obvious, Griffin being a rather nasty piece of work on his own, and a protege of Karl Rove, than whom there is no work nastier.

Griffin’s preparation for the office of congressman includes the diligent removal of black voters from registration lists in Florida.

But even such a man as that can be tarnished by a kiss from Ed Bethune. The days when Bethune was running for public office in Arkansas were peculiar times indeed. Once, he called a news conference to announce that he would not make an issue of the fact that his opponent had belonged to the American Civil Liberties Union, in the same way that Richard Nixon called press conferences to announce that he would never accuse his opponent of Communism, no matter how strong the evidence, which he just happened to have brought with him. Against another opponent, Bethune edited a tape recording to boldly misrepresent the other fellow’s position, and put it on the air as the real thing. After rejection by the voters, Bethune became president and CEO of First Federal Savings and Loan, the largest S&L in Arkansas, while simultaneously serving as chairman of the state Republican Party.

When Bethune took the helm at First Federal in January of 1987, the institution had total assets of $1.7 billion. By August of ’87, First Federal was $22.1 million in the hole. Bethune resigned in September, departing by golden parachute. He got $368,000 for his services, including $259,000 in severance pay and $109,000 of his $200,000 annual salary. First Federal ended that fiscal year $83.9 million in the red. It collapsed in June 1989 at a cost to taxpayers of $833 million. Around the same time, Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan, which had been headed by Jim McDougal, a friend of President Bill Clinton, went under at a cost of $73 million. The federal Resolution Trust Corporation, Republican-controlled at the time, spent 13 hours investigating First Federal, and 5,661 hours investigating Madison Guaranty, despite an FBI memo that said the affairs of First Federal were believed to have “much greater prosecutive potential.” Bethune went on to Washington to be an “ethics adviser” to Newt Gingrich. What else was he suited for?

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

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Return of Count Ed

frozen friday: Drivers discover navigating the hill on University wasn’t a good idea during last week’s ice storm.

Needed: strong estate tax n On New Year’s Day the estate tax, an essential part of the U.S. tax system for nearly 100 years, disappeared because Congress failed to act in December.

Congressional leaders now are pledging to act in early 2010 to reinstate the federal estate tax retroactive to Jan. 1. In the meantime, rhetoric over the estate tax will heat up.

This crazy situation is the result of the Bush tax cuts for the super-rich, tax cuts that were supposed to lead to “trickle-down” prosperity for the rest of us. What we have seen instead is stagnation of wages for most Americans, while those at the very top have become extraordinarily rich. Disparities of wealth and income are now at the highest level since the Gilded Age just before the stock market crash of 1929.

With so much wealth in so few hands, our economy has begun to operate more like a casino, with high-risk speculation fueling boom-and-bust cycles that have wrecked communities across our country.

Instead of pandering to the whims of the superrich and their heirs, we need Congress to strengthen the Main Street economy, beginning with a vibrant middle class and a respect for honest, hard work. A huge tax giveaway to the heirs of America’s wealthiest families is entirely the wrong approach.

Under the weakened 2009 law, before full repeal in 2010, the first $7 million for a couple ($3.5 million for an individual) was exempt from the estate tax.

That means two children of a wealthy couple can each inherit more, tax free, than the average American earns in two lifetimes, or more than 240 minimumwage workers earn in a whole year. But unlike the lucky heirs who won the genetic lottery, these real, Main Street workers will be paying taxes on earnings. These kinds of misplaced priorities fly in the

Brian Miller guest writer

face of an economy that supposedly rewards those who work hard.

Not all high-wealth individuals want this taxgiveaway. In fact, more than 2,000 likely estatetax payers have signed a petition in support of its preservation. At a recent press event, Bill Gates Sr., Vanguard Group founder John Bogle and Richard Rockefeller called on Congress to pass a robust estate tax.

In the end, the estate tax is fundamentally about recycling opportunity. Like the farmer who tills under leftover crops at the end of the season, the estate tax helps promote fertile fields of opportunity for the next generation to build upon. It’s about giving each generation a fresh start and a chance at achieving the American dream through their own merit.

It’s time to stop showering wasteful tax breaks upon the super-rich. We instead must call upon Congress to strengthen the federal estate tax and support proposals that find a middle ground between the weakened 2009 estate tax and the pre-Bush level of 2001.

Brian Miller is executive director of United for a Fair Economy (UFE), a national organization that works to promote a more broad-based prosperity and to eliminate extreme inequalities of wealth and income. His article was distributed by the American Forum. Max Brantley’s column will return next week.

Bad is good for GOP n The United States and the president share a terrible predicament. Counting those who have given up, 26 million people are out of work, everyone else is scared stiff, the government is out of money and the reigning political party thinks all of that is to its advantage.

That is the Republican Party, which now has 41 percent of the votes in the Senate and is determined to use them to stop the government from doing anything that might relieve the conditions.

Isn’t that, you say, a little harsh?

Consider the party’s handiwork the past two weeks. With a Massachusetts Senate seat in hand, the Republicans killed the last chance for health insurance reform, two bills that were close facsimiles of the Republican insurance bill of 1974 that the Democrats stymied that year and of the successful Republican Massachusetts plan of 2006.

The health bills would have trimmed the budget deficit, improved employment conditions and insured tens of millions who go without medical attention.

Then every Republican in the Senate voted to repudiate the nation’s debt. That would have been the effect of not raising the debt ceiling, which Republicans voted to do regularly when the Bushes and Ronald Reagan were president but now oppose to show they are against the deficit spending their own votes had created. If the government didn’t raise the debt ceiling, it would have to shut down or else default on its debt, as Arkansas did 125 years ago to

Ernest Dumas its everlasting sorrow. Either way, it would have made the Great Depression look like a picnic, which is why the senators did not invoke their power over cloture and let it go with just a cynical vote.

The party said the president should be concentrating on creating jobs rather than messing around with the broken healthcare system, but when President Obama met with Republican members of the House in that remarkable conference last week at Baltimore they let him know that his jobs program, which included targeted business tax cuts that Republicans advocated not long ago, was not acceptable to them. Republicans have moved on. They will settle now for nothing less than acrossthe-board tax cuts that include healthy cuts for the richest Americans, who already enjoy the lowest income taxes since 1928 (the top marginal rate was slightly lower at the end of the 1980s, but the effective tax liability is lower now). Such a tax cut would do nothing or precious little for jobs but raise deficits to unsustainable levels.

But who cares about that when propaganda points can be scored? If you need a primer on the political minefield that is Washington you can do no better than watch Obama’s convivial banter with the

Drinking tea, watching Fox n Two recent polls require acknowledgment and explanation. They reveal American disaffection, a mighty thing.

One says Fox News is the most trusted of five national television networks, besting by a formidable margin NBC, CBS, ABC and CNN. The other says the upstart insurgent Tea Party has higher favorable ratings than Democrats or Republicans.

Taking television first: The survey represents a subset, TV news viewers, not all Americans. Most of the liberal people I know assert that they eschew the superficial nonsense of commercial television and rely on newspapers, the Internet, periodicals, public radio and public television, which wasn’t included in this survey.

People spending a lot of time watching television news will tend to be those finding something on it that pumps their adrenaline. Fox is plainly the most proficient adrenaline-pumper out there.

But there’s this: The survey suggests that people aren’t buying this mainstream

John brummett jbrummett@arkansasnews.com

media assertion of objectivity and that they tend to favor Fox, which calls itself “fair and balanced” but only with an implicit wink, because there’s no pretense about its predilection and prejudice.

People think the mainstream media are left-leaning or Democrat-leaning and bogus in their protestations otherwise.

Actually, I see that.

The other night I happened to catch CBS’s evening news program, or at least the start of it. This was the day Barack Obama sparred with the Republican House caucus.

The lead story by Katie Couric and her White House reporter stunned me for its celebratory judgment that Obama had outshone his adversaries and won the day, so much so, Katie “reported,” that the

House Republicans. The leaders called on selected congressmen for questions and they delivered carefully scripted and largely fictional talking points. One cheerful Republican said Obama’s budget deficits each month were greater than Republican deficits ever reached in a year.

(President Bush’s programmed deficit the last year was $1.3 trillion, a little less than the deficit forecast for this year.) Another complained that Obama wouldn’t look at a Republican health bill that would guarantee good medical insurance for every single American and would not have cost one penny! Get real, guys, the president said. I’ve read your bill.

But the jobs problem is scary and it is at least encouraging that the Republicans acknowledged that the government needed to play a role. The Republicans have the same old remedy, which is as illogical now as it always was. Lower the taxes on business and investors and they will create jobs. Bush cut them to the lowest in 75 years and you can see how many jobs that produced.

Businesses hire people when there is sufficient demand for their products and services that they can foresee a profit if they hire people to produce the goods and services. Even the $5,000 credit against income taxes for each hire that Obama proposes won’t do it if no profit is in sight.

The president’s people know that but they embrace the theory that if managers see growth looming ahead the tax credit might get them to start hiring a little quicker.

Maybe. Jimmy Carter tried it after the country was climbing out of a mild recession and claimed that it sped up hiring. He couldn’t prove it.

The government role that does succeed, that has always succeeded, is stimulus. The Republicans razzed Obama that John F. Kennedy had cut taxes across the board so why wouldn’t he. Kennedy’s spending program propelled the country out of the recession; the tax cut was enacted after his death and when the economy was growing at a fast clip.

Republicans everywhere, including here, are running against the president’s stimulus program. They say it didn’t produce jobs and it caused the big deficit.

Although the recession and job losses have not been as severe in Arkansas as in the seaboard and sunshine states, we have good reason to be grateful for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for things would be much worse without it. And part of the reason things are as bad as they are is the Republican agenda of the past decade.

You will remember that President Bush and the ruling majority (using the budget reconciliation process to avoid a filibuster) stole from $50 million to $120 million a year from the Arkansas treasury to cover some of the federal deficit they created by two rounds of tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. They confiscated the state’s share of estate taxes, which amounted to $120 million in 2003, before it began to be phased out. That act and the loss of corporate state tax receipts that followed adoption of the federal corporate tax changes in 2005 and 2007 are one reason that Arkansas and nearly every state are slashing budgets and abolishing jobs.

The federal stimulus has relieved some of the pain. The Republicans are united that there will be no more of the antidote.

Republicans were thinking maybe they had made a mistake by inviting the cameras.

I think the assessment was correct.

But I don’t think the news was properly presented.

People have a pretty good idea why Brian Williams at NBC gets special White House access. It’s because he’s friendly with the president and because his network, with its cable child MSNBC, is friendly to Democrats.

On the Tea Party’s higher favorable rating than Democrats or Republicans: This reflects the utter contempt everincreasing numbers of Americans hold for the partisan silliness and dysfunction of our political institutions. So, naturally, given a superficial choice, they react more favorably to something new and different that bears no complicity in what they disdain.

It does not mean that a majority of Americans is ready to embrace the specific outsider impracticalities of the Tea Party movement.

The Tea Party would have let our financial sector collapse in the fall of 2008, then declined to provide any stimulus in early 2009. The combined effect of that would have sunk us into a depression and expedited our evolution into a wholly owned

subsidiary of the Chinese.

That our political institutions managed to head that off serves to relieve the Tea Party of any serious responsibility. So our focus turns to what wasn’t done properly.

The stimulus was essential, but was not as tightly targeted to jobs as needed. The bailout was essential, but it did not carry sufficient concurrent regulatory restrictions on how the banks, once recovered, could behave.

So all the political passion in America right now is for “other,” and Fox and the Tea Party catch the “others.”

P. S. — I’ve been invited to attend a Tea Party meeting next week in Conway to observe that adherents aren’t wild-eyed crazy people. I look forward to it. I need to go where the story is and the Tea Party, sure enough, is today’s story. For the record: I don’t think they’re crazy — or stupid or dumb. I think some of their ideas are so simplistic and naive and impractical as to be irrational. But that’s not the news. That’s one man’s opinion column.

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 • february 4, 2010 17

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CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF A must-see for any theatre fan.

Girlfriends Night Out!

“One of the most successful plays of our time.”

–The New York Post

Monday, Feb 8 • 6-9pm

Gather your girlfriends together and come play at Capi’s! $25 per person for a full night of food, drinks, and girly fun!

Call today to RSVP! 501-255-9600 “A stunning drama.

As theatre, it is superb.”

–The New York Times

Join us and some of our friends for: Trista Moldovan as “Maggie” and Michael Ellison as “Brick”

• An amazing CaPi’S tapas buffet • Wine specialist jaMeS CRiPPS will offer a selection of his special wines • Spring make-up ideas from Glo liMited • Fashion trends from Beyond Cotton • Luxuries from PowdeR & SMoke

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arts entertainment Bobby!

This week in

Ark. 4 Haiti

Exene at WWT

Page 20

Page 21

and

to do list

20

calendar

22

Movies

28

Dining

31

607’s younger bro takes round one; time for round two on Thursday.

It’s been said a million times before (for good reason) that Little Rock has entirely too much talent focused in such a small town.

Sticky Fingerz certainly had a wealth of talent on its small stage for the first round of the Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase. Bonnie Montgomery, Stella Fancy, Cody Belew and Bobby set one heck of a high bar for the upcoming bands to try to vault. And the crowd, despite the impending ice dump, came out in droves and stuck around.

Gerard Matthews, Arkansas Times writer and the night’s emcee, probably put it best while bidding the audience goodbye after firstround winner Bobby’s set with a simple exclamation of “holy shit!” He certainly said what everyone else was thinking. Amplified, at that.

When Bobby took the stage for the final act of the night, a lot of the remaining crowd expected a great showing, but I doubt many realized they were about to see what could very well be remembered as a legendary set. The younger Tillman absolutely ate the stage and flawlessly needled half an hour of no B.S., no filler lyrics through the beat. If there was a single, polite golf clap in the room, I didn’t tillman wins: Stella Fancy to wild-card round. hear it. Instead, it was all whoops, fist pumps cooler older cousins, cranking out garage bossa nova afand “yeaaaaahs” from where I was standing. Eloquence ter binging on creme de almond and Antonio-Carlos Jobe damned: Bobby shredded it and I can’t wait to see bim. Classy, playful and sporting more group dynamic what he has up his sleeve for the finals. than anyone else in town, they’re a hugely likable band Long-standing local favorites Stella Fancy are akin full of really likable folks. In fact, I’ll go on record sayto a crew of grown-up Peanuts characters and your

Osyrus tha G.O.D., proxy judge

Who? Rapper, emcee, booming voice.

On Bobby. Bobby hits the stage like a hungry serial killer at Lollapalooza. The production rocks the venue. Bobby’s set grabs the crowd like no other.

Leigh Wood

Who? Director of the Arkansas Community Arts Cooperative (ACAC).

On Bobby. Super-hero rap fantasy replete with hype and fanfare. Fits of tight rhymes in context of a filled-out narrative about growing up in midtown LR. Insane, tight shit.

Greg Spradlin

Who? Local guitar god and vocalist.

On Bobby. The story of Bobby of the LRPD — a hip-hop passion play. Mad prep and execution, dropping rhymes like a paintball gun.

ing it takes a really miserable so-and-so to dislike this band. Look for these second-place finishers to put up a serious challenge to the other bands in the wild-card round.

Continued on page 26

Natalie Elliott

Who? Music critic.

On Bobby. Showmanship is excellent. I’m also a sucker for old school intros. Very aware of the stage and his audience.

Burt Taggart, guest judge

Who? Local label owner, musician.

Claim to fame. Owner/founder of Little Rock’s most respected label, Max Recordings.

Lead singer/songwriter in local super-group The Big Cats.

Arkansas Times • february 4, 2010 19

■ to-dolist

to get as many people into the club, where the Red Cross will have a donation center.

The concert, which also features Siversa (the latest project from former members of After the Tragedy), WishTribe and Third Degree, marks Kingsdown’s final Little Rock gig before it heads to Nashville to record an album with Grammynominated producer Travis Wyrick. Over the last several years, the pop-rock band’s toured 35 states. It’s hoping that this album will propel them on the road pretty much fulltime in the near future. LM.

By Lindsey Millar and Paul Peterson

TH U RS D AY 2 / 4

KELLER WILLIAMS

8:30 p.m., Revolution. $19 adv., $23 d.o.s.

n Okay, dig this: A guy who looks like your younger uncle that spends his summers stoned, kayaking and cooking at a Yellowstone resort with folks in their 20s, is going to come to Rev on Thursday with a mounted guitar, stand-up bass, loop pedals and a drum machine. He’s gonna beatbox, he’s gonna dance and he’s gonna turn the stage into a spectacle by transforming into a one-man jam band. Kind of a synthesis between Trey Anastasio and Loudon Wainwright III, Keller Williams received a good bit of attention in 2002 for his album “Smile,” its subsequent remix album, “Dance,” and “Freeker by the Speaker,” a classic of the genre and one of my all time favorite guilty pleasures. It’s a totally inoffensive, clever, jam-y affair that’s worth checking out. And it’s open to all ages. JT.

LOVE GHOST

10 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5.

n It’s hard to think of anyone who’s stayed busier in local music in recent years than Jason Weinheimer. When not recording albums for acts like the Moving Front and Chris Michaels and the Cranks at Lucky Dog Audio, he’s lent his sideman skill to bands like Jim Mize and the Germans and the Greg Spradlin Outfit. Then, of course, there’s his regularly consuming work with the Boondogs, the band he co-leads with his wife, long Little Rock’s most reliable pop group. But

‘CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF’

8 p.m., Arkansas Repertory Theatre. $20$35.

ONE-MAN JAM BAND: Keller Williams plays Rev. with Weinheimer’s latest project, the poprock band Love Ghost, he’s been forced to slow down. Mainly because Love Ghost’s lead guitarist spends most of his days traveling the world and playing award shows. So when Jeff Matika gets a break from touring with Green Day, Love Ghost is playing. It’ll be a rare opportunity to see Weinheimer, Matika and mates play punchy pop-rock that’s bound to get stuck in your head for just about as long as it takes the band to schedule another date. Chris Michaels and the Cranks open. LM.

IT’LL HAUNT YOU LIKE A SUCCUBUS: Love Ghost plays a rare show at White Water. Photo by Ashley McLelland.

20 february 4, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

F RIDAY 2 /5

ARKANSANS 4 HAITI

5 p.m., Statehouse Convention Center. $25 and donations.

ROCK 4 HAITI

8:30 p.m., Revolution. Free-$5.

n Brick! The Cat! Big Daddy! They sweat! They drink! They lie and bicker!

It’s Tennessee Williams’ best-known work and possibly the most famous contribution the South ever made to theater.

And yes, it’s deserving of an egregious amount of exclamation marks! Is there a plot? Of course! But it all hinges on the aforementioned sweating, drinking and lying. And, brother, there’s a whole lot of each. If you frequent theater, you’ll know The Rep’s production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” is a must-see. If you shy away from the stage, this is a great opportunity to not only take a chance on one of the great American plays but also to add the word “mendacity” to your vocab. The drama runs through Feb. 21. JT.

GHOSTFINGER 10 p.m., Juanita’s. $15.

n Sounding like “Midnight Mile” Rolln Two rock benefits titled like a Prince ing Stones one minute and a rootsy song? Surely, there’s brand collaboration Smashing Pumpkins the next, Lucero’s at work here. In any case, the first gig is poppier compadres, Ghostfinger, have the big tent gathering. The governor and first lady are hosting. All proceeds will go to the Clinton Bush Haiti Relief Fund.

It’ll be held in one of the giant basement ballrooms at the convention center, and it lasts a really long time. Local R&B act Kemestri featuring Nicky Parrish opens the event at 5 p.m. and party band Tragikly White hits the stage at 11 p.m. In between a host of Little Rock’s longest running cover acts — The GroanUps, First Impressions, The Rockets, Crisis IDOL GIVES BACK: Charity Vance performs at Ar— perform. And at 8:40 p.m., kansans 4 Haiti. developed a reputation around these parts in what’s sure to be the most anticipated for their eclectic, manic live shows and performance of the night, 16-year-old attention-deficit twist on Tennessee altLittle Rock native and “American Idol” country. Led by a frenzied, mustachioed hopeful Charity Vance offers a short Richie Kirkpatrick (named Nashville’s set. At Rev, admission is free to those of best front man of 2007), they’re a threedrinking age and only $5 for those below, piece that doesn’t hesitate to bounce back which Dwaine Roark, lead singer of the and forth from post-punk to anti-folk to headlining act Kingsdown, says is meant

straight-up metal. For a taste of their peculiar twist on the ordinary, dial up their unbelievable, Auto-Tuned cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” on YouTube.

Drunken Angels and Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth open the 18plus concert. JT.

■ inbrief THURSDAY 2/4

n In case you somehow missed it: The ARKANSAS TIMES MUSICIANS SHOWCASE continues at Sticky Fingerz with round two, featuring 3 Penny Acre, Big Boots, Elise Davis and Matt Stell and the Crashers, 9 p.m., $5. Elsewhere, the ABBA tribute act Waterloo comes to UCA’s Reynolds Performance Hall, 7:30 p.m., $10-$50. Showcase semifinalist Cody Belew brings his smooth take on the rock ’n’ pop ’n’ soul hits to Cajun’s Wharf; Chucky P handles the DJing during breaks and after the band wraps up, 9 p.m., $5. At the Afterthought, pianist Carl Mouton leads a blues jam session, 8 p.m., $5.

NEW FOUND GLORY/ SAVES THE DAY

7:30 p.m., The Village. $18 adv., $21 d.o.s.

n I won’t name names, but there’s an unspoken understanding that a chunk of Little Rock’s biggest music snobs and musicians intend to indulge their inner 15-year-old by forgoing the usual Friday night shows to dive into The Village. Like Southern preachers in a liquor store, there will be a lot of silent nodding and not much eye contact. Let’s face it, for people of a certain, small age group, bands like The Ataris, The Get Up Kids and Friday’s headliners occupied a now questionable lump of our, ahem, their CD wallets. But it was inescapable: For two awkward years before the end of the century it seemed dudes singing like, about and for girls echoed in mom basements and Mazda Miatas everywhere. So if you’re through being cool for a night, check out the show. It may not be something to write home about, but here’s betting you’ll be able to spot the nostalgia peeking out through lowered hats and sunglasses towards the back of the room.

Join us, er, them. Hellogoodbye and Fireworks share the bill. JT.

S ATU RD AY 2 / 6

LIPIZZANER STALLIONS

2 p.m., 7:30 p.m., Verizon Arena. $24.35$31.35.

FRIDAY 2/5 HORSE BOXING: With the Lipizzaner Stallions at Verizon. its hindquarters in a move meant to break through infantry lines while protecting the rider. Yet another finds the horse leaping and kicking mid-leap, presumably to ward off pursuers while jumping gulleys.

Still, I bet they still look real pretty amidst all the equine boxing. LM.

TUESDAY 2 /9

PAUL DI’ANNO

8 p.m., Vino’s. $15 adv., $20 d.o.s.

n Real-deal metal heads know the name.

Before Iron Maiden blew up stadiumsized, before Bruce Dickinson, there was Paul Di’Anno. Maybe he didn’t have Dickinson’s gates-of-Hell pipes, but on Maiden’s eponymous debut, Di’Anno

n Of all of Verizon Arena’s annual events — the Globetrotters, the Gaithers, Monster Trucks, wrestling — this one is the most bad-ass. Granted, there’s a lot to peel back before you get to the essence of the Lipizzan.

Epaulet-adorned jackets are de rigueur for those who ride the centuries-old breed. And riders do so in a style called dressage, which is all about harmony between horse and rider, but, at its highest levels, embraces moves that recall both ballet and battle.

The latter is what makes the Lipizzan “world famous.” In four ancient maneuvers called “Airs Above the Ground,” the horses do moves originally intended for war. Each has a name — Mezair, Capriole, Courbette, Levade — that sounds misleadingly effete.

One involves a horse “punching” with his forequarters. Another, the most difficult apparently, features the horse hopping on METAL FACE: Di’Anno comes to Vino’s.

brought a raw, street-beat punk holler that, together with instrumental touches of prog and New Wave, helped to significantly build onto the foundation of metal laid by the likes of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. So it’s fair to think of Di’Anno as one of metal’s founding fathers. Maybe not Jefferson or Adams. But dude was there. Now, he’s coming to Vino’s on his first U.S. tour in 15 years. He’ll be doing a mix of Maiden material and his own solo work. He’ll probably also spend some time promoting his forthcoming book, “The Beast: Singing with Iron Maiden — the Drugs, the Groupies … the Whole Story.” Guess you’ve got to read it to find out all that’s contained in the ellipses. Little Rock’s finest Iron Maiden acolytes Sweet Eagle and Iron Tongue open along with The George Jonestown Massacre.

n At the ACAC space, muralist CH3MEX DJs his own art opening, “La Pinche Situacion!” 7 p.m., free.

Hugely popular Memphis-based ’80s cover act The Venus Mission returns to Sticky Fingerz for what’s likely to be a packed house, 9:30 p.m., $6. One of the few local cover bands to rival Venus Mission in popularity, The Gettys come to Denton’s in Benton for a free concert, 8 p.m. Rising country singer/ songwriter Ryan Couron continues his run of playing out often and at a wide variety of venues, 9 p.m., $5. Little Rock’s favorite husband-and-wifefronted pop band, AKA the Boondogs, play a rare show at Maxine’s in Hot Springs, 9 p.m., $5. At White Water, future Showcase contestants and rock acts Underclaire and Dangerous Idiots share a bill with the White Glove Tests, 9:30 p.m., $5. At Reynolds Hall at UCA in Conway, the Cadron Company presents the kids-geared stage play “Billy Goats Gruff,” 7:30 p.m., free. And at the Children’s Theatre at the Arkansas Arts Center, “Little Women” enters its last weekend, 7 p.m., $11-$14.

SATURDAY 2/5

n Longtime local metal heroes Living Sacrifice return to Juanita’s with War of Ages, Shai Hulud, Lionheart and The Great Commission in tow, 9 p.m., $13 adv., $15 d.o.s. Cool Shoes makes up last Friday’s iced-out (literally) dance party at Downtown Music, 10 p.m., $5. Revolution hosts a birthday bash for Bob Marley with local reggae act Fire & Brimstone and Butterfly featuring Irie Soul, 8 p.m., $10. To make up for last weekend’s canceled performances, the Weekend Theater returns to the Del Shores omedy “Sordid Lives,” 7:30 p.m., $10$14 (the final performance is 2:30 p.m. on Sunday).

Arkansas Times • february 4, 2010 21

COMEDY

www.arktimes.com

afterdark

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, FEB. 4 MUSIC

Arkansas Times Musician’s Showcase. Big Boots, Elise Davis, Matt Stell and the Crashers, 3 Penny Acre. 9 p.m., $5. Sticky Fingerz, 107 Commerce St. 372-7707, www.stickyfingerz.com. 21 plus.

Blues Jam with the Cruize Brothers. 8 p.m.

3413 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-6343.

Carl Mouton. Leads a blues jam session. 8 p.m., $5. Afterthought, 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www.afterthoughtbar.com Jim Dickerson. 7 p.m., free. Sonny Williams Steak Room, 500 President Clinton Ave. 324-2999, www.sonnywililamssteakroom.com.

Karaoke with Cowboy Dave. 7 p.m., free.

Count Pulaski Club, 200 Hwy. 167 N., Jacksonville. 983-4323 Keller Williams. 9:30 p.m., $19 advance, $23 day of show. Revolution, 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090, www.revroom.com. All ages.

Love Ghost, Chris Michaels and the Cranks.

10 p.m., $5. White Water Tavern, 2055 W. 7th St. 375-8400, myspace.com/whitewatertavern.

North Mississippi All-Stars, City Champs.

7 p.m., $18. George’s Majestic Lounge, 519 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville, 479-527-6611, www. georgesmajesticlounge.com Sam Walker. 9 p.m., free. Maxine’s, 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909, www.maxinespub.com.

Shannon McClung (happy hour), Chucky P (DJ), Cody Belew and Co. (headliner). 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., $5 after 8:30. Cajun’s Wharf, 2400 Cantrell Road. 375-5351, www.cajunswharf.com.

Sleep for Sleepers, The Radiance Effect, Our Hero’s End. 8 p.m., Vino’s, 923 W. 7th St. 375-8466, www.vinosbrewpub.com. All ages.

The Ted Ludwig Trio. 5 p.m., free. Capital Bar & Grill, 111 W. Markham. 370-7013, www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Waterloo (ABBA Tribute Band). 7:30 p.m., $40-50 (general public), $25-$35 (UCA faculty and staff), $10-$18 (UCA students). Donald J. Reynolds Performance Hall, UCA, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway. 866-810-0012, www.uca.com/tickets.

Wes Jeans. 8 p.m., free. Denton’s Trotline, 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

EVENTS

Bold Pilgrim Preservation Society. Film and panel on the migration and legacy of African Americans in Conway County. 12 p.m., free. Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. Ninth St. 6833593, www.mosaictemplarscenter.com.

“African Rhythms.” With Zinse Aggine and the Hope Drum Ballet. 10 a.m., 12 a.m., 2 p.m. Thu.Fri.; 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. Sat. $7-$8. Museum of Discovery, 500 President Clinton Ave. 396-7050, www.amod.org.

22 february 4, 2010 • arKaNSaS TIMeS

PAINTERLY: Kat Wilson’s photograph, “Artist: Rudy, Arkansas,” won a Delta Award in the Arkansas Arts Center’s 52nd “Delta Exhibition” of work by regional artists. The show runs through March 14.

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Jason Russell. 8 p.m., $6. The Loony Bin, 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 228-5555, www.loonybincomedy.com.

LECTURES

Harold Ford Jr., Michael Steele. 7 p.m., free.

UALR Center for Performing Arts, UALR Campus.

569-3308, ualr.edu/campuslife.

Robert Zimmer. President of University of Chicago. 6 p.m., free (reservations). Clinton School Sturgis Hall. 1200 Clinton Ave., reservations 6835239, publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu.

SPORTS

Oaklawn. Horse racing. 1:30 p.m., gates open 11 a.m., $2. Oaklawn Park, 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411, www.oaklawn.com.

FRIDAY, FEB 5 MUSIC

Arkansans 4 Haiti Relief Concert. With Charity Vance, The Rockets, The GroanUps, Tragikly White, First Impressions, Crisis. 5 p.m., $25 and up. Statehouse Convention Center, Markham and Broadway.

376-4781, www.arkansans4haitirelief.com.

Big John Miller Band. 10 p.m., $5. Fox and Hound, 2800 Lakewood Village Drive, NLR. 7538300.

Boondogs. 9 p.m., $5. Maxine’s, 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909, www.maxinespub.com.

Cross Canadian Ragweed, Zack Waither.

9:30 p.m., $20. George’s Majestic Lounge, 519 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-527-6618, www. georgesmajesticlounge.com.

Fire to Reason, The Curse Follows, Still Reign. 8 p.m., $5. Soundstage, 1008 Oak St., Conway. www.soundstageshows.com. g-force. 10 p.m., $5. Ernie Biggs (upstairs), 307 President Clinton Ave. 372-4782, erniebiggs.com.

Ghostfinger, Drunken Angels, Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth. 10 p.m., $5. Juanita’s, 1300 S. Main St. 374-3271, www.juanitas. com. 18 plus.

Karaoke with Cowboy Dave. 7 p.m., free.

Count Pulaski Club, 200 Hwy. 167 N., Jacksonville. 983-4323 Mellow Kicks. 9 p.m., $5. Cornerstone Pub, 314 Main St., NLR. 374-1782, www.cstonepub.com.

Mister Lucky. 9 p.m., $5. West End Smokehouse Tavern, 215 N. Shackleford. 224-7665, www.westendsmokehouse.net New Found Glory, Saves the Day, Hellogoodbye, Fireworks. 7:30 p.m., $18 adv./$21 door. The Village, 3915 S. University. 570-0300, www.thevillagelive.com Rock 4 Haiti with Kingsdown, Third Degree, Siversa, Wishtribe. 8:30 p.m., $5 under 21; free (donations encouraged) 21 plus. Revolution, 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090, www. revroom.com.

Ryan Couron. 9 p.m., $5. Underground Pub, 500 President Clinton Ave. 707-2537, www.undergroundpub.com.

Some Guy Named Robb (happy hour), TK (DJ), Donna Massey and The Blue Eyed Soul (headliner). 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., $5 after 8:30. Cajun’s Wharf, 2400 Cantrell Road. 3755351, www.cajunswharf.com.

The Gettys. 8 p.m., free. Denton’s Trotline, 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

The Ted Ludwig Trio. 9 p.m., free. Capital Bar & Grill, 111 W. Markham. 370-7013, www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. The Venus Mission. 9:30 p.m., $6. Sticky Fingerz, 107 Commerce St. 372-7707, www.stickyfingerz.com.

Thomas East. 7 p.m., free. Sonny Williams Steak Room, 500 President Clinton Ave. 324-2999, www. sonnywililamssteakroom.com.

Underclaire, The White Glove Tests, Dangerous Idiots. 9:30 p.m., $5.White Water Tavern, 2055 W. 7th. 375-8400, myspace.com/whitewatertavern.

Weakness for Blondes. 9 p.m., $7. Afterthought, 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www. afterthoughtbar.com.

Whale Fire, Life Size Pizza. 10 p.m., $5. Town Pump, 1321 Rebsamen Park Road. 663-9802.

Whitney Paige, Krystal Karrington. 8 p.m., $2. Pulse at Off Center, 307 W. 7th St. www.pulseatoffcenter.com.

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

FEB. 12-13: Gravity Slashers. Freestyle daredevil motocross competition. 8 p.m., $11.75-$24.75 adv., add $2 d.o.s. Verizon Arena. 800-745-3000. alltelarena.com.

FEB. 14: Delbert McClinton. 7 p.m., $25.50$100.50. Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville. 479443-5600, www.waltonartscenter.org.

FEB. 15: Retribution Gospel Choir. 9 p.m., $7. Sticky Fingerz, www.stickyfingerz.com.

FEB. 16: Sarah Palin. 7:30 p.m., $43.36$75.75. Verizon Arena, www.alltellarena.com.

FEB. 16-18: “Stomp.” 7:30 p.m., $22-$47.

Robinson Center Music Hall. 501-224-8800, www.celebrityattractions.com.

FEB. 21: Willie Nelson. 7:30 p.m., $35-$55.

Summit Arena, Hot Springs. 800-745-3000.

FEB. 25: A Night with Henry Rollins. 8 p.m. $18 adv., $20 d.o.s. Juanita’s. 374-3271, www.juanitas.com.

MARCH 5: Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Flyleaf. 7 p.m., $39.75. Verizon Arena. 800-745-3000, alltelarena.com.

MARCH 7: George Thorogood and the Destroyers. 7 p.m., $25.50-$100.50. Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, 479-443-5600, www. waltonartscenter.org.

MARCH 9: XIU XIU. 9 p.m., $10. Sticky Fingerz, www.stickyfingerz.com

COMEDY

Jason Russell. Continued from Feb. 4.

EVENTS

“African Rhythms”. Continued from Feb. 4.

SPORTS

Oaklawn. Horse racing. 1:30 p.m., gates open 11 a.m., $2. Oaklawn Park, 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411, www.oaklawn.com.

UALR vs. Arkansas State. Men’s basketball.

Jack Stephens Center, 7 p.m., $6-$35. UALR campus. 569-8257, http://www.ualrtrojans.com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 6 MUSIC

Big John Miller Band. 9 p.m., $7. Afterthought, 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Bob Marley Birthday Bash with Fire and Brimstone, Butterfly featuring Irie Soul. 8 p.m., $10. Revolution, 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090, www.revroom.com.

Cross Canadian Ragweed, Zack Waither.

9:30 p.m., $20. George’s Majestic Lounge, 519 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-527-6618, www. georgesmajesticlounge.com.

Culpepper Mountain Band, Matt Stell. 9 p.m., $5. Sticky Fingerz, 107 Commerce St. 3727707, www.stickyfingerz.com. 21 plus.

Dexter Romweber Duo, Exene Cervenka.

9:30 p.m., $10. White Water Tavern, 2055 W. 7th St. 375-8400, myspace.com/whitewatertavern.

Grace Askew. 9 p.m., $5. Maxine’s, 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909, www.maxinespub.com.

Justin Sane (disco), Balance (lobby). 9 p.m., $10. Discovery, 1021 Jessie Road. 664-4784, www.latenightdisco.com.

Karaoke with Cowboy Dave. 7 p.m., free.

Count Pulaski Club, 200 Hwy. 167 N., Jacksonville. 983-4323 Living Sacrifice, War of Ages, Shai Hulud, Lionheart, The Great Commission. 9 p.m., $13 adv./$15 d.o.s. Juanita’s, 1300 S. Main St. 374-3271, www.juanitas.com.

Nothing and Everything Tour with Red, Pillar, The Wedding. 6 p.m., $15 adv., $20 d.o.s.

Statehouse Convention Center, Markham and Broadway. 376-4781, Rep the Rock Rite Nite. Hip-hop showcase.

9:30 p.m., $5. Cornerstone Pub, 341 Main St., NLR.374-1782, www.cstonepub.com.

Richie Johnson (happy hour), g-force (DJ), Charlotte Taylor (headliner). 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30. Cajun’s Wharf, 2400 Cantrell Rd. 375-5351, www.cajunswharf.com.

Shannon Boshears. 8 p.m., free. Denton’s Trotline, 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

Star and Micey, Jeremy Stanfill. 8 p.m. Reno’s Argenta Cafe, 312 Main St., NLR. 376-2900, www.renosargentacafe.com.

Taylor Made. 9 p.m., $5. West End Smokehouse Tavern, 215 N. Shackleford. 224-7665, www.westendsmokehouse.net The Ted Ludwig Trio. 9 p.m., free. Capital Bar & Grill, 111 W. Markham. 370-7013, www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Third Degree. 10 p.m., $5. Fox and Hound, 2800 Lakewood Village Drive, NLR. 753-8300.

Thomas East. 7 p.m., free. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 500 President Clinton Ave. 324-2999, www. sonnywililamssteakroom.com.

Tonya Leeks. 8 p.m. Speakeasy, 412 Louisiana St. 374-2008 Whitney Paige, Mya Alexander, Leah Alize. 8 p.m., $2. Pulse at Off Center, 307 W. 7th St. www.pulseatoffcenter.com.

COMEDY

Jason Russell. Continued from Thursday, Feb 4.

EVENTS

Girls Circle in the Rock Empowerment Conference. Featuring GlamSquad, door prizes, Hot Workshops, “Keepin’ It Real” panel, fashion and talent showcases. Speakers include journalist Sheryl Lackey, actress Jennifer E. Black, Patrick Oliver, Miss Arkansas 2009 Akissi Hill-Brooks and others.

8 a.m., free (pre-registration required). Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th. 351-7750, www.girlsintherock.eventbrite.com Lipizzaner Stallions. 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m., $24.35$31.35. Verizon Arena, One Verizon Arena Way. 975-9000, www.verizonarena.com.

Lovefest 2010. Celebrity auction, $1,000 sexiest lingerie contest, lingerie show, vendor booths, music by the Meanies and Eden Crow, hosted by comedian “Doc” Davis. 4 p.m., $10. Clear Channel Metroplex, 10800 Colonel Glenn Road. 501-5160482. 18 plus.

SPORTS

Little Rock Gaelic Football training. Burns Park Rugby Pitch, noon. Arlene Laman Drive, NLR. www.littlerock.arkansas.gaa.ie.

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

SUNDAY, FEB. 7 MUSIC

Jazz Brunch with Ted Ludwig. 11 a.m., free.

Afterthought, 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Open Mic Night with 3rd Degree. 10 p.m., $5. Fox and Hound, 2800 Lakewood Village Drive, NLR. 753-8300, www.tentcorp.com.

The Legion Band, Warren Crow and Company. 7 p.m., $5. Legion Event Center, 315 E. Capitol Ave. 372-8762, legionclub.com/events.

SPORTS

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

MONDAY, FEB. 8 MUSIC

Chris James CD Release Party. 8 p.m., $10.

Afterthought, 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Steve Bates. 10 p.m., free. Union, 3421 Old Cantrell Road. 661-8311

TUESDAY, FEB. 9 MUSIC

Brugh Foster. 8 p.m., free. Cornerstone Pub, 341 Main St., NLR.374-1782, www.cstonepub.com.

Goddamn Gallows. 9 p.m., free. Maxine’s, 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909, www. maxinespub.com.

Jam Session with Carl Mouton. 8 p.m., free.

Afterthought, 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www.afterthoughtbar.com.

JP Harris, The Tough Choices. 9:30 p.m., donations. White Water Tavern, 2500 W. 7th St. 3758400, myspace.com/whitewatertavern.

Karaoke with Cowboy Dave. 7 p.m., free.

Count Pulaski Club, 200 Hwy. 167 N., Jacksonville.

983-4323.

Paul Di’Anno (ex-Iron Maiden), Sweet Eagle, Iron Tongue, George Jonestown Massacre.

8 p.m., $15 adv., $20 d.o.s. Vino’s, 923 W. 7th St. 375-8466, www.vinosbrewpub.com. All ages.

William Staggers. 8 p.m. Speakeasy, 412 Louisiana St. 374-2008

LECTURES

Terrell Owens. NFL star delivers “Bless the Mic” lecture. 7 p.m., free. M.L. Harris Auditorium, Philander Smith College. 370-5279, www.philander.edu.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10

Live Music Thursday, Feb 4 Love GHost & CHRis MiCHaeLs aND tHe CRaNks Friday, Feb 5 UNDeRCLaiRe w/ tHe wHite GLove tests & tHe DaNGeRoUs iDiots saTurday, Feb 6 eXeNe CeRveNka fRoM X, tHe DeXteR RoMweBeR DUo, BRotHeR aNDy & His BiG DaMN MoUtH Tuesday, Feb 9 JP HaRRis & tHe toUGH CHoiCes

MUSIC

Chris DeClerk. 5:30 p.m., free. Cajun’s Wharf, 2400 Cantrell Road. 375-5351, www.cajunswharf. com Dave Williams and Company. 8 p.m., $5.

Afterthought, 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Day of Fire, Papercut Massacre, Prosevere. 9 p.m., $3. Juanita’s, 1300 S. Main St. 374-3271, www.juanitas.com. 18 plus.

Ear Fear. 10 p.m., free. Union, 3421 Old Cantrell Road. 661-8311.

Jay Michael Calhoun. 9 p.m., $5. Maxine’s, 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-321-0909, www.maxinespub.com.

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

Karaoke with Cowboy Dave. 7:00, free.

Count Pulaski Club, 200 Hwy. 167 N., Jacksonville. 983-4323.

Lucious Spiller Band. 9:30 p.m., $5. Sticky Fingerz, 107 Commerce St. 372-7707, www. stickyfingerz.com. 21 plus.

Owl City, Lights, Deas Veil. 7 p.m., $12 adv., $15 d.o.s. Revolution, 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090, www.revroom.com. All ages.

Whitney Paige. 8 p.m., $2. Pulse at Off Center, 307 W. 7th St. www.pulseatoffcenter.com.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11 MUSIC

A Jazzy Valentine with Ed Polcer. 7 p.m., $50. Wildwood Park for the Arts, 20919 Denny Road. 821-7275, www.wildwoodpark.org.

Arkansas Chamber Singers. 6:30 p.m., $65.

Governor’s Mansion, 1800 Center St. 377-1121, www.ar-chambersingers.org.

Ben and Doug (happy hour), Third Degree (headliner). 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., $5 after 8:30. Cajun’s Wharf, 2400 Cantrell Road. 3755351, www.cajunswharf.com.

Dr. Rex Bell and Company Jazz. 8 p.m., $5.

Afterthought, 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-4176, www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Jim Dickerson. 7 p.m., free. Sonny Williams Steak Room, 500 President Clinton Ave. 3242999, www.sonnywililamssteakroom.com.

Karaoke with Cowboy Dave. 7 p.m., free.

Count Pulaski Club, 200 Hwy. 167 N., Jacksonville. 983-4323.

Monster Party. 9 p.m., $5. West End Smokehouse Tavern, 215 N. Shackleford. 224-7665, www.westendsmokehouse.net Tho-D Thursday. 14 one-song performances by a slate of guests. 9 p.m., $5. Cornerstone Pub, 314 Main St., NLR. 374-1782, www.cstonepub.com

THIS WEEK IN THEATER “Billy Goats Gruff.” Three billy goats contemplate crossing a bridge that leads to greener pastures. Performed by the Cadron Company.

7:30 p.m. Feb. 5, 10 a.m. Feb. 6. Reynolds Performance Hall, UCA, Conway. Free. 501-450-5092, www.uca.edu/theatre “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Brick Pollitt and his wife, Maggie “The Cat,” let it all hang out one evening at a gathering at Brick’s family estate. 7 p.m.

Wed., 8 p.m. Thu.-Sat., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sun. through Feb. 21, The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St. $20-$35. 378-0405. www.therep.org.

“The Drowsy Chaperone.” Tony Awardwinning 1920s musical comedy. Walton Arts Center, 7 p.m. Feb. 4, $38.50-$48.50. 495 W.

Continued on page 24

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calendar

Continued from page 23 Dickson, Fayetteville. 479-443-5600, www.waltonartscenter.org.

“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 Thu.-Sat.; 11 a.m. lunch, 12:45 curtain, 5 p.m., dinner, 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. Feb. 5, 3 p.m. Feb. 6, 2 p.m. Feb. 7. $11-$14.

9th and Commerce. 372-4000, www.arkarts.com.

“Second Time Around.” When two seniors fall in love but won’t marry to keep their Social Security benefits their children hit the ceiling. 6 p.m. dinner, 7:45 curtain Tue.-Sat.; 11 a.m. lunch, 12:45 curtain, 5 p.m., dinner, 6:45 p.m. curtain Sun. Feb. 9-March 7, $22-$30. Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Col. Glenn Road. 562-3131, www.murrysdinnerplayhouse.com.

“Sordid Lives.” A Texas family endures a homosexual son’s “coming out” during the matriarch’s funeral. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 7. Weekend Theater, 7th and Chester. $10-$14. 374-3761, www.weekendtheater.org.

galleries New exhibits in bold-faced type AcAc, 900 S. Rodney Parham Road: “La Pinche Situacion!” Murals and performace by cH3MEX, 7 p.m. Feb. 5. info@acacarkansas.org.

ARKANSAS ARTS cENTER, MacArthur Park: 52nd annual “Delta Exhibition,” juried show of work by Arkansans and residents of contiguous states, through March 14; “World of the Pharaohs: Treasures of Egypt Revealed,” artifacts from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, through July 7, $22 adults, $14 students; “Excavating in the Shadow of the Pyramids and More,” lecture

by Dr. Rita E. Freed of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 6 p.m. Feb. 11, Children’s Theatre, free to members, $5 for public; “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.: “V.L. cox,” new paintings, opens with reception 6-9 p.m. Feb. 6, also work by Steve Armstrong, Kyle Boswell, Frank Colcord, Carla Davis, Eleanor Dickinson, Hamid Ebrahimifar, Hans Feyerabend and others. 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.

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. 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, 24 february 4, 2010 • arKaNSaS TIMeS

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.

MARKET HALL WALL, River Market: Work by Diane Ziemski, through March, Boulevard Bread Co. 375-2552.

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

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 Ka-

vanaugh Blvd.: 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; “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, also works on paper by Ike Morgan, Jack Radcliff, Yao-Ping Liang and Francoise Gilot, through Feb. 14, Gallery II; “Make Believe by John Hartley,” monoprints, Gallery III, 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 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 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 through Feb. 25, Baum Gallery. 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,”

Continued on page 26

ROUNDTWO

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 • 9PM

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■ media In his element Obama rips GOP in Q and A forum.

By gerard matthews

Seth Meyers joked about how bad of an n Last Friday, while most of us were eiidea it was for Republicans to have inther leaving work or thinking about when vited Obama to such an event. we were going to leave work because of the weather, something historic was happening.

The president of the United States stood in front of GOP house members and took questions for almost 90 minutes – unfiltered, unscripted. It was the closest thing we’ve seen to the British Parliament’s question time, although without the shouting, laughing, booing and hissing. Around here, the ice GOP: You thought you could win a debate against this guy? and sleet held the top spot “Come on Republicans, are you on in news broadcasts, but it is undoubtedly such a Scott Brown high that you really Obama’s question and answer session that thought you could take down President will be talked about for years to come.

Obama by debating him? You do realize In terms of political theatre, it was fasdebating is why he’s president, right? Secinating. The president coolly and calmly riously, all you guys do is complain about fielded questions on health care, the stimuhow Obama is all talk and then invite him lus package, tax cuts, budget proposals and to a forum that is literally all talk. That’s everything else you can think of. Without like saying, ‘Let’s see how tough Aquathe filters of communications teams, news man is when we get him in the water.’ ” networks and every other spin doctor in Reporters covering the session have the news business, what you saw unfold, asked the White House and GOP leaders live on television, was an honest debate to continue to hold similar events. CSPAN that transcended the back-and-forth, bitter is also interested in carrying it (you can partisanship of the past year. see this one at their website). At a press For the president, it was an outright conference on Monday, a spokesman for success. Obama handled every question the president said an offer had been exas if he knew exactly what was coming, tended by Senate Republicans and that taking the time to make small talk with the White House was willing to accept. legislators and even crack a joke or two.

The only real question that remains For the Republicans, it can only be seen as is why it took Obama and his aides so a huge political gaffe. The decision to allong to do this. Had this event happened low cameras to roll on the event was made six months ago, it’s likely the Democrats by the GOP and the subsequent beating could have combatted some of the outright they received at the hands of the president lies and misinformation that was coming was broadcast live by every cable news from the Tea Party camp on health care. network – well, for the most part.

Obama even told Republicans that by How bad was it? Fox News actually cut characterizing health care reform as some away from the event to begin their comkind of “Bolshevik plot,” they were hammentary after the first hour – the only cable pering their own ability to negotiate with network to do so. CNN, MSNBC and othhim. Passage of any kind of reform would ers aired the session in its entirety. Obama upset their base since they used such exhad agreed to one hour, but when time was treme rhetoric to defeat it. up he said, “Hey, I’m having fun,” and took The more important question, though, a sip of water, readying himself for more is what happens next? If the White House questions. He wanted to keep going for the could successfully institute a regular quesexact same reason the execs at Fox shut off tion time session with GOP leaders, it could the cameras – they could all smell the poperhaps cut down on some of the partisan litical victory for the president. bitterness so pervasive in Washington these Commentary on the event, through days. It might also change the kind of canblogs, Twitter and other news sites, spread didates we select. And who knows, when so quickly and was so laudatory that by both sides talk to each other, instead of Friday afternoon, the question time sestheir party’s most radical elements, maybe sion had become almost legendary. Satsomeone will start to listen. urday Night Live Weekend Update host

What’s happening in February. n Unless indicated, event is a reading and/or book signing. Call the location for details. To list your event in the calendar, contact Lindsey Millar at “Books,” Arkansas Times, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, AR 72203, or by phone, 375-2985; fax, 375-3623, or e-mail, lindsey@arktimes.com.

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David Margolick (“Elizabeth and Hazel”), 12 p.m., CS. Steve Yarbrough (“Safe from the Neighbors”), 6:30 p.m., TBIB. D’Army Bailey (“The Education of a Black Radical: A Southern Civil Rights Activist’s Journey, 19591964”), 6 p.m., CS. Scott Conroy and Shushannah Walshe (“Sarah from Alaska”), 6 p.m., CS. Arkansas Literary Festival author announcement, 2 p.m., Cox Creative, third floor.

Poet John Sinclair talks about North Mississippi blues, 6 p.m., CS. Roberto Maranto (“The Politically Correct University”), 12 p.m., CS. Ron Hill and Sherman Willmott (“Sputnik, Masked Men, & Midgets: The Early Days of Memphis Wrestling”), 1 p.m., TBIB.

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Area bookstores and libraries: BAM: Books-A-Million, 2747 Lakewood Village Drive, NLR, 771-7581 BN-LR: Barnes & Noble-Chenal, 11500 Financial Centre Parkway, 954-7648 BN-NLR: Barnes & Noble-North Little Rock, 4000 E. McCain Blvd., 771-1124 CS: Clinton School of Public Service, Sturgis Hall, 1200 President Clinton Ave., 683-5200.

ML: Main Library, 100 Rock St., 9183000 PA: Pyramid Art, Books and Custom Framing, Museum Center, 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 110, 372-5824 RMBG: River Market Books and Gifts, Cox Creative Center, 120 Commerce St., 918-3093 TBMP: That Bookstore at Mountebanq Place, 1107 Oak St., Conway, 888-2877791 TBIB: That Bookstore in Blytheville, 316 W. Main St., Blytheville, 870-763-3333 WW: WordsWorth Books & Co., 5920 R St., 663-9198

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ArkAnsAs Times • februAry 4, 2010 25

showcase Continued from page 19

Now, Bonnie Montgomery may have seemed a bit modest in comparison to Cody Belew and Bobby and perhaps a touch minimal next to Stella Fancy, but her shy charm, in music and in character, won over a sizable chunk of Thursday night’s crowd. Her clever, funny lyrics shone when she performed solo and her voice — White County by way of Venice — sparkled even more when accompanied by Aaron David Baker and Mandy McBryde, who harmonizes only like someone with her bona fide and colorful music lineage could. Highlight of the set?

The kazoo-infused “But I Won’t.” Simple and catchy, it’s been running through my head ever since.

I think it’s safe to say that Cody Belew managed to take everyone out of their comfort zone. Even for a crowd with a diverse taste for music, his particular brand of “American Idol” country raised a number of eyebrows and, in the process, elicited a lot of comparisons to … Morrissey? OK. Belew was backed by a band composed of familiar locals; I assume they were tight, but wouldn’t know, as his voice owned the rest of the mix. Regardless, with a TNN voice and Fox News charm (I promise that’s not meant as a pejorative), I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of him finding a supportive audience at Verizon one of these days.

— John Tarpley

Round two, 9 p.m.

Feb. 4, Sticky Fingerz:

3 Penny Acre The contest’s lone representative from Northwest Arkansas, this three-piece carves an egalitarian path. Everyone sings and everyone writes songs. Bryan Hembree, who co-founded the popular Fayetteville band Grandpa’s Goodtime Fandango, put together 3 Penny Acre (named after the cost, roughly, of land included in the Louisiana Purchase) three years ago with his wife, Bernice Hembree, and Bayard Blain, a professional luthier who supplies instruments to Ezra Idlet, of Trout Fishing in America, and a number of other folk music standouts. Last year, the group won “Best New Band” at the Northwest Arkansas Music Awards and in two weeks it will head to the Folk Alliance in Memphis.

It’ll be well equipped. Its acoustic arsenal includes guitar, mandolin, upright bass, bouzouki (it’s in the lute family)

and brush bucket.

Big Boots Few local acts come with better pop-rock pedigrees. Co-founders Mason Maudlin (guitar, vocals) and Michael Motley (drums, vocals) also co-founded Sugar in the Raw (later, after the threat of litigation, Sugar and the Raw), the Little Rock party band that packed out local rooms in the early part of the decade like no one in recent memory. And current bassist Trevor Ware — who’s the fourth man to hold the job in two years, with Will Boyd, Jonathan Trotter and Luke Hunsicker as his predecessors — spent years in local teendream indie-pop sensation Grand Serenade. Together, they’re drawing from Southern rock, Brit-rock (and pop) and indie rock. Guess what there’s bound to be a lot of?

Elise Davis I think I said last week that none of the Showcase contestants had ever participated. I was wrong. Back when Elise Davis was 17, she made it to the semifinals with a band called the Sandbox Lizards. With experience that goes even beyond that — she started writing songs at 12 — Davis returns to the Showcase a seasoned vet. A UA Fayetteville senior, she has three albums under her belt and soon plans to record in Nashville with a producer who’s worked with Alison Krauss. On Thursday, she’ll be backed by Jordan Trotter (lead guitar), Trevor Ware (pulling double-duty on bass) and Joshua Tate (drums).

Matt Stell and the Crashers One of the few Showcase acts who play music fulltime, this four-piece evolved out of a solo project by Center Ridge native Matt Stell, who started performing live during his sophomore year at Drury University in Springfield, Mo., which he attended on a basketball scholarship. In 2008, Stell released his debut album, “The Sound and the Story,” which gradually, thanks to hard touring and strong songwriting, has picked up a considerable amount of airplay in Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri. Along the way, the band managed to pick up at least one high-profile fan: At the end of the month, former Drive-By Trucker and current alt-county star Jason Isbell will produce Stell and the Crashers’ first album as a full band at legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals.

— Lindsey Millar Read Rock Candy online (arktimes. com/blogs/rockcandy) for more on the Showcase, including song samples, audio, video and post-show reviews.

UPCOMING SHOWCASE SCHEDULE Feb. 11: Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth, Dangerous Idiots, Flash LaRue, Rah hoWard.

Feb. 18: Iron Tongue, Outstanding Red Team, Ryan Couron, Underclaire.

Feb. 25: Stella Fancy.

March 5: Bobby.

26 february 4, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

A ONE-MAN NICKELBACK TO PEARL JAM’S POSTAL SERVICE: Owl City, the performance name for Adam Young, comes to Revolution on Wednesday, Feb. 10, for a sold-out show. Grown folks, consider scalping your tickets to youngsters. “Fireflies,” the single that Owl City took to the top of the Billboard charts last year, is like one of those ultrasonic frequencies that inflict physical pain on people of a certain age (like ours).

calendar

Continued from page 23 large-scale drawings by David Bailin, through Feb. 4, Fine Arts Center Gallery, reception and artist talk 5 p.m. Feb. 4; “Un-Natural Histories — Paintings of Invasive Species,” work by Kristin Musgnug, UA associate professor of art, Feb. 10-March 11, reception and gallery talk 5-7 p.m. Feb. 11. 479-575-7987. n Hot Springs Galleries along Central Avenue will be open 5-9 p.m. Feb. 5, for the monthly gallery walk.

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.

BLUE MOON GALLERY, 718 Central Ave.: Sculpture by Wayne Summerhill, open 5-9 p.m. Feb. 5, Gallery Walk. 501-318-2787.

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 by Susan Dee Hurst, opens with reception 5-9 p.m.

Feb. 5, Gallery Walk. 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.

501-339-3751.

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, through Feb. 21, Bradbury Gallery, Fowler Center.

Noon-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 2-5 p.m. Sun. 870-9722567. n Pine Bluff ARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER, 701 Main St.: “Geometric Intersections: Sculpture and Paintings by Robyn Horn,” through Feb. 12.

870-536-3375.

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.: 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; “From the Collection of Jim Gatling: A Whimsy of Treasures,” through Feb. 14.

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: “Buried Treasures: A Film on the Legacy of Bold Pilgrim Cemetery,” film by the Bold Pilgrim Preservation Society in Conway County, noon-1 p.m. Feb. 4; “Recognizing Arkansas Razorback Black History,” with former coach Frank Broyles, noon-1 p.m. Feb. 10; 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.: Hands-on science and 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

Continued on page 29

Exene forever The X front woman makes a rare stop at White Water.

By Natalie elliott

ers) is fading, and uncomfortable reminders of mortality are starting to emerge.

When asked how it feels to perform X’s original material, a feat some performers might find cumbersome after 30-plus years, Cervenka says, “It doesn’t really feel odd or weird, it’s just what I do. And it’s kind of like practicing medicine or being a teacher, you know, every year you’ve got the same lesson plans. That’s what you’re teaching those kids, and you’d better be enthusiastic about it every time you teach it.”

As her gleeful dancing demonstrated

this latest rendition of existential yearnn In a notorious boys’ club, Exene Cering, she clarifies, “It’s an internal emovenka is one of punk’s greatest matriarchs tional world. It has nothing to do with — and one of the genre’s most enduring. place or time or people, it has to do with As a member of the LA band X (yep, loneliness or beauty or how you interjust plain X), she helped set the standard pret anything you see.” for punk in the late ’70s. With one-time Although the members of X (with the husband John Doe sharing singing and help of The Blasters’ Dave Alvin) reincarsongwriting duties, Cervenka’s whipsmart songwriting and biting vocals helped the punk act reel off an almost unprecedented four straight classic albums.

Since the golden days of X, which has never really stopped touring in various incarnations, Cervenka has released six solo albums, and two with a band called The Original Sinners. She has also, with help from fellow punk-poet friends like Henry Rollins, published several books of poetry. Most recently, her penchant for elaborate hand-made collages (some of which can be glimpsed in the documentary “X: The Unheard Music”) has landed her several showings in galleries in New York and California.

About four years ago, Cervenka left LA to live in rural first lady of punk: Exene Cervenka comes to White Water.

Missouri. In late 2009, soon nated as the country group The Knitters after she revealed she’d been diagnosed on a recent tour, Cervenka maintains the in the early 1980s, “Somewhere Gone” with MS, Cervenka returned to LA and joie de vivre of someone who truly loves offers Cervenka’s first solo foray into the released her latest album, “Somewhere what they do, whether or not its expresrealm of country-folk. She explains how Gone,” composed and recorded while still sion is, in fact, a joyous one. She says of the radio programming from her childin the Missouri wilderness.

X — and surely, of performing, in general hood included acts like Ray Charles, Thematically, “Somewhere Gone” — “I know I’ve only got a few years left Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Bob Dysounds uncannily like classic X mateat the most. When I get a chance to sing lan. These were the influences that never rial. Cervenka’s lyrical preoccupation those songs, I count every time I get to left her, and a passion she shared with with social and spiritual isolation comes sing those songs as a blessing because it’s John Doe upon meeting him. Too, to sum across as potent as it did when she going end, and it’s going end soon, and I up her true motivations behind making was in her mid-20s, with numbers like want to do it as long as I possibly can.” a stripped-down, mostly-acoustic album “Surface of the Sun” or the title track like her latest, she says, “I really just showcasing her plea for some torturousExene Cervenka with wanted to make a record where you could sounding human contact, usually taking the Dexter Romweber Duo understand the words.” place over an unstable, post-apocalyptic 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6 The inevitable truth is that Cervenka’s backdrop. When asked recently if the White Water Tavern, $10 generation of punk forefathers (and mothdesolate Missouri landscape influenced

feB. 4-10

UNDeRCoVeR BoSS Sunday, Feb 7, after the Super Bowl CBS n I guess everyone who works has had the fantasy at one time or another: To make that peabrain known as your boss take orders from YOU for a change.

Well, like all concepts that merit deep discussion while you’re really, really stoned, the great hog trough of American pop culture has snatched up that idea and run with it, in the form of the new reality show, “Undercover Boss.”

On the show, a corporate CEO goes undercover — well, as undercover as you can get while being constantly tailed by a camera crew — and takes a series of entry-level crap jobs in his own company.

CBS has the first installment of “Undercover Boss” premiering directly following the Super Bowl on Feb. 7. It’s a plum placement that has launched many mega hits of yore, and the network’s enthusiasm for the idea is sure to spin off inevitable rip-offs. Too — and this is the best, most corporatey part — CBS says that because workers signed paperwork agreeing to be in a documentary, employees who appear on “Undercover Boss” are not getting any extra compensation for being on the show! Take that, wage slaves!

In coming weeks, the CEOs of White Castle, 7-11 and Hooters get down in the trenches and slog it out with the little people. Looking ahead to next season, we demand that the CEO of Hewlett Packard be shipped to Mumbai, given the name “Shawn” and forced to work in a 105-degree call center where the only air conditioning is a ceiling fan installed during the days of the British Empire.

— David Koon

Terrell Owens All-Star NFL Receiver and star of the VH1 reality series, The T.O. Show

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 7 p.m.

M. L. Harris Auditorium

Presented by

Philander Smith College — www.philander.edu Lectures are free and open to the public. For more information call 501-370-5279. No tickets or RSVPs required.

ArkAnsAs Times • februAry 4, 2010 27

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Movies 10 listings are valid Friday through Sunday only. Please visit www.arktimes.com for updates.

NEW MOVIES The Big Lebowski (R) – The 1998 new classic about a stoned lay about and his pals getting snared in some surreal kidnapping hijinks. Market Street: 6:00, 9:00, 11:15 Fri.-Sat.; 6:00 Sun.-Mon. Crazy Heart (R) – Seeking redemption, fallen country star Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) finds a friend and confidante in a struggling music journalist.

Rave: 1:15, 4:20, 7:20, 10:10.

Dear John (R) – An active soldier falls in love with a conservative college student while on leave from Iraq in this adaptation of a novel by Nicholas Sparks. Riverdale: 12:00, 2:20, 4:50, 7:10, 9:30.

Breckenridge: 1:50, 4:20, 7:00, 9:30. Rave: 11:00, 1:00, 2:00, 4:00, 5:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:50, 10:45. Chenal: 10:45, 1:40, 4:15, 7:05, 9:45. Lakewood: 10:50, 1:40, 4:30, 7:10, 9:40.

A Single Man (PG-13) – Colin Firth plays an early ’60s college professor attempting to readjust to regular life after the death of his partner. Market Street: 1:45, 4:15, 6:45, 9:15.

From Paris With Love (R) – James Reese (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), a low level CIA operative has a white-knuckle day alongside his new loose cannon of a partner, Charlie Wax (John Travolta). Riverdale: 12:25, 2:35, 4:45, 6:55, 9:05. Breckenridge: 2:15, 4:50, 7:30, 10:00. Rave: 12:00, 2:45, 4:50, 5:30, 7:25, 8:30, 10:15, 11:00. Chenal: 11:10, 1:55, 4:35, 7:20, 9:50. Lakewood: 11:00, 1:15, 4:15, 7:25, 10:00.

RETURNING THIS WEEK Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (G) — Alvin, Simon and Theodore take a break from stardom and return to school. Rave: 11:10, 1:45, 4:05.

Animalopolis (NR) – A half-hour film of goofy animals being goofy in enormous 3-D. What’s not to like here? Aerospace Education Center IMAX: 11:00, 7:00.

Armored (PG-13) — Officers at an armored transport security firm risk their lives when they embark on the ultimate heist against their own company.

Movies 10: 1:20, 4:40, 7:20, 10:15.

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. Breckenridge: 1:00, 4:40, 8:05. Rave: 11:45, 12:45, 3:45, 4:45, 6:45, 7:45, 8:45, 10:20. Chenal: 12:00, 3:30, 7:00, 10:30. Lakewood: 12:00, 3:30, 7:00, 10:15.

The Blind Side (PG-13) — A homeless black teen-ager is taken in by a family that coaches him into becoming a star student-athlete. Riverdale: 12:40, 3:20, 6:00, 8:40. Breckenridge: 4:05, 9:40.

Rave: 1:35, 4:35, 7:35, 10:35.

Book of Eli (R) — Across the wasteland of what once was America, a lone warrior (Denzel Washington) must fight to bring civilization the knowledge

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28 february 4, 2010 • arKaNSaS TIMeS

that could be the key to its redemption. Riverdale: 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00. Breckenridge: 1:30, 4:10, 7:10, 9:50. Rave: 11:35, 2:25, 5:20, 8:05, 10:55. Chenal: 11:00, 2:00, 4:50, 7:30, 10:10. Lakewood: 11:05, 1:35, 4:25, 7:10, 9:50.

Boondock Saints: All Saints Day (R) — The MacManus brothers (Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus) return to Boston to avenge the murder of their priest. Movies 10: 1:35, 4:30, 7:10, 9:55.

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, 7:25, 10:05.

Dinosaurs Alive! (NR) – Paleontologists discover new fossils and uncover evidence that dinosaur descendants are still among us. Aerospace Education Center IMAX: 1:00, 9:00.

Edge of Darkness (R) – A detective inadvertently uncovers a complex yarn of conspiracies while solving his daughter’s murder. Riverdale: 12:05, 2:30, 4:55, 7:20, 9:45. Breckenridge: 1:40, 4:35, 7:15, 9:55. Rave: 11:20, 2:15, 5:10, 8:20, 11:05.

Rave: 10:40, 1:45, 4:30, 7:10, 10:00. Lakewood: 11:00, 1:45, 4:35, 7:15, 9:45.

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.

Breckenridge: 1:55, 7:05. Rave: 3:40, 1:30.

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, 4:15 The Hurt Locker (R) – A tense war thriller following bomb diffusers embedded in urban Iraq. Movies 10: 7:00, 9:50.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (PG13) — 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.

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. Riverdale: 7:15, 9:45. Breckenridge: 1:20, 4:00, 6:45, 9:25.

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. Rave: 10:25.

Legion (R) — An out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race. Riverdale: 12:15, 2:30, 4:45, 7:00, 9:15.

Breckenridge: 2:10, 5:00, 7:45, 10:10. Rave: 1:20, 4:10, 6:55, 9:55. Chenal: 11:05, 1:50, 4:25, 7:15, 9:55. Lakewood: 7:20, 9:55.

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. Breckenridge: 1:10, 6:55. Rave: 3:55, 7:50, 10:50.

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.

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, 8:00.

New Moon (PG-13) — Romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) delves deeper into the supernatu-

ral mysteries. Riverdale: 1:00, 3:50, 6:40, 9:30.

Nine (PG-13) — Famous film director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) grapples with epic crises in his personal and professional life. Market Street: 2:15, 7:15.

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, 10:15.

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.

Precious (R) – An illiterate, overweight teenager from an abusive home enrolls in an alternative New York City school hoping for a new lease on life.

Rave: 12:15, 7:30.

The Princess and the Frog (G) — A trumpetplaying alligator, a love-sick Cajun firefly and others spin a love tale on a mystical Louisiana bayou.

Riverdale: 12:15, 2:30, 4:45.

The Road — (R) — A father (Viggo Mortensen) and son make their way across a post-apocalyptic U.S. in hopes of finding civilization amongst the nomadic cannibal tribes in the year 2929. Market Street: 4:20, 9:20.

Sherlock Holmes (PG-13) — The master detective and his stalwart partner Watson embark on their latest challenge. Riverdale 10: 12:30, 3:30, 6:25, 9:20. Breckenridge: 1:05, 6:50. Rave: 11:15, 2:10, 5:05, 8:10, 11:10. Chenal: 10:35, 1:30, 4:30, 7:25, 10:20.

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. Rave: 11:40, 2:30.

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. Breckenridge: 2:05, 4:30, 7:20, 9:45. Rave: 11:05, 1:55, 4:25, 7:05, 9:45. Chenal: 10:50, 1:20, 4:00, 7:05, 9:30. Lakewood: 10:55, 1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 9:35.

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. Breckenridge: 4:15, 9:50. Rave: 12:40.

Lakewood: 10:50, 1:30, 4:20.

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.

Riverdale: 12:45, 3:05, 5:25, 7:45, 10:05. Rave: 12:35, 3:35, 7:40.

When in Rome (PG-13) – A lovelorn New Yorker (Kristen Bell) absconds to Rome, grabs a handful of coins from a “fountain of love” and finds herself the object of affection from the coins’ original throwers. Breckenridge: 2:20, 4:55, 7:40, 10:05.

Rave: 11:30, 1:50, 4:15, 7:15, 10:05. Chenal: 10:55, 1:35, 4:20, 7:10, 9:40. Lakewood: 11:10, 1:30, 4:10, 7:00, 9:45.

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: 1:40, 4:00, 7:05, 9:30.

The Young Victoria (PG) — As the only legitimate heir of England’s King William, teen-age Victoria (Emily Blunt) becomes caught up in the political machinations of her own family. Market Street: 2:00, 4:20, 7:00, 9:10.

Chenal 9 IMAX Theatre: 17825 Chenal Parkway, 821-2616, www.dtmovies.com.

Cinemark Movies 10: 4188 E. McCain Blvd., 9457400, www.cinemark.com.

Cinematown Riverdale 10: Riverdale Shopping Center, 296-9955, www.riverdale10.com.

IMAX Theater: Aerospace Education Center, 3764629, 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 No country for old country Jeff Bridges plays it broke-down in ‘Crazy Heart.’ n Willie Nelson is one of the few members of country music’s shaggily decadent outlaw coterie to avoid mention as an inspiration for Bad Blake, the anti-hero of “Crazy Heart,” director Scott Cooper’s examination of the ugly back end of Nashville’s generational changing of the guard. But Nelson’s “Whiskey River” could nonetheless be a metaphor for the divide between the film’s old and new guards.

“Crazy Heart” takes on many themes — the art-frommisery phenomenon and the oversexed, unmarriageable Baby Boomer American male among them — but chief is an avid attention to various strategies for the procurement and ‘CRAZY HEART’: Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal star. consumption of whiskey.

Heart” finally comes into focus, not as a One of the tidiest of Cooper’s insinuaguard by a flubbed lyric, to say nothing of May-December romance or a redemptions that Colin Farrell, as Tommy Sweet, the sweat that has seeped through his shirt tion tale but a consideration of immortalformer protege of Jeff Bridges’ leonine and is now colonizing his vest. He’s in on ity and how to achieve it if you haven’t Bad Blake, is “new” country — meanthe joke that he always was. left behind a devoted child bearing your ing Nashville by way of L.A., or Taylor In contrast to the stadium-filling, selimprint.

Swift appearing in trailers for the romandom-seen Sweet (like Bridges, Farrell is Blake doesn’t answer Jean’s questic comedy “Valentine’s Day” in between also mercifully seldom-heard; neither is tion, but his evasion is the answer; at besting Lady Gaga and embarrassing Stecompletely convincing as either a curany rate, he has more luck with his own vie Nicks during Sunday night’s Grammy rent or a former crowd-pleasing vocalfather figure, played bracingly by RobAwards telecast — is that he sips his whisist, even if they have T. Bone Burnett ert Duvall, than he does when he tries key from a plastic bottle that once held writing for them), Blake is on a pastto step into the role Jean asked him to Smart Water. Bad Blake has to haggle his-prime tour of the Southwest, which acknowledge. Duvall’s character turns a for his booze with vacant-eyed bowlingCooper films in a loving if sun-bleached fishing trip into something of an interalley barmaids who are loath to run him panoptic view. vention, and this wouldn’t be a movie a tab. When the haggling goes south, he Blake’s humbling circuit takes him about the living that churns out country extinguishes his cigarette in the backwash to Santa Fe, where a local keyboardist songs if his gospel didn’t come from he’s by now been forced to buy, a gesture (Malvern’s sweetly shambling Rick Dial, Billy Joe Shaver instead of the twelve that captures, in one ornery hiss, how far graduated from the Billy Bob Thornton steps. Duvall stares into the sunset and Blake has slipped, and just what greased repertory) introduces him to his niece, a earnestly speaks a few lines of Shaver’s the slope. music journalist named Jean Craddock, “Live Forever”: “Nobody here will ever “Crazy Heart” has been called “The played by Maggie Gyllenhaal. find me/But I will always be around/Just Wrestler” with a country-and-western Gyllenhaal, while completely believlike the songs I leave behind me/I’m overlay — steel guitar instead of steel able, locates Jean’s center more in Oxgonna live forever now.” folding chairs, swung like weapons. The ford, Miss., as a laconic grad student tired Blake isn’t quite ready to compose the films do share an occupation with punof toying with the intelligentsia who pass song he’ll leave behind him, but when ishments of the flesh: Images of a girthy through Ole Miss, rather than in bohemihe does, it doesn’t stop until it hits bone.

Bridges hugging a ceramic-tiled bathan New Mexico. But Bad Blake takes one “You are the man that ruined her world” room floor might make you suspect the look into her saucer eyes and sees what is more honest a line than Tommy Sweet, model for Bad Blake isn’t Kris Kristofshe’s about, and it isn’t just a story for a with his Keith Urban composure, is caferson or Waylon Jennings, two poputhird-tier newspaper Arts page. “I want to pable of delivering — unless he’s singing lar guesses, but a drunken, hamburgertalk about how bad you make this room a Bad Blake song. Even if Bad Blake’s chomping David Hasselhoff, in that devlook,” he purrs, when her line of jourmasterpiece too neatly rights all the imastating home video filmed by his own nalistic probing hews too closely to the balances in his orbit, watching it come daughter. straight and narrow. together is a satisfying peek at creative But Bad Blake doesn’t marinate in But one of Jean’s questions does manrefinery, and a heartening reminder that if the same juice of desperation as Mickey age to pierce Blake’s leathery skin. “Are the broken can make use of pain, they will Rourke’s Randy “The Ram.” “I’ve played you a daddy?” she asks, in a little too faalways be around. sick, drunk, divorced and on the run,” miliar a locution for a post-concert inter— Kyle Brazzel Blake assures an audience caught off view. He deflects, then stews, and “Crazy

calendar

Continued from page 26 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, through 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. 479621-1154. n Springdale SHILOH MUSEUM OF OZARK HISTORY, 118 W. Johnson Ave.: “All Dressed Up,” men’s, women’s and children’s fancy clothing, through January 2011; “Disaster! A Photo Exhibit of Crashes and Catastrophes,” through April 10. 479-750-8165. n Tyronza SOUTHERN TENANT FARMERS MUSEUM, 117 Main St.: “Interpretations of the Delta Landscape,” drawings and paintings by Norwood Creech, through February. 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.

Announcements The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is holding an art contest for fifth- and seventhgrade 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.

Arkansas Times • february 4, 2010 29

Super King Buffet

Chinese Buffet with Japanese Sushi and Mongolian Grill

SHINE S N all the time

Take-out available on buffet and menu items

EVERY DAY DINNER BUFFET & ALL DAY SUNDAY BUFFET

4000 Springhill Plaza Court North Little Rock (501) 945-4802 fax (501) 945-4807

Includes Crab Legs, Crawfish, Frog Legs, Whole Steamed Fish, Grilled Ribs, and Steaks Cooked to Order.

Open 7 Days A Week Sun. - Thur.

11am to 9:30pm Fri. & Sat. 11am to 10pm

Spread Some Love!

Saturday & Sunday Night Special Prix Fixe Valentine’s Menu

open seating saturday reservations are reCoMMended on sunday

663-1464 • 3610 Kavanaugh Blvd. Hillcrest

Always put litter in its place and recycle everything you can.

Doing a little can do a lot.

SHINE.

Visit KeepArkansasBeautiful.com or call 888-742-8701 for more information.

30 february 4, 2010 • arKaNSaS TIMeS KAP 0110 006 Litter_4.5x12_4C.indd 1

1/12/10 9:54:57 AM

n Laurie Lowe, the franchise owner of Five Guys Burgers and Fries in North Little Rock, hopes to open a Little Rock franchise by June in a strip mall being built at 13000 Chenal. The Little Rock eatery will be 2,500 square feet and feature a patio. Lowe, who owns the rights to build eight franchises in Arkansas, says she’s currently eyeing locations in Jonesboro, Fort Smith, Rogers and Conway. n Terry’s Finer Foods, in the Heights, is shooting for early March to open an adjacent restaurant. In the meantime, the chef is cooking breakfast, from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., and offering sandwiches the rest of the day, Monday through Saturday, behind the deli-counter. n We couldn’t get anyone to go on record about an opening date, but Bar Louie, a national tavern and grill chain, has filed a plumbing permit for the space in the Pleasant Ridge Town Center that formerly housed Imagine. We’ll let you know when the official word comes.

Until then, more about Bar Louie can found at www.restaurants-america.com/ barlouie/.

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

The newspaper accepts no advertising or other considerations in exchange for reviews, which are conducted anonymously. We invite the opinions of readers who think we are in error.

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

L Lunch

D Dinner

$ Inexpensive (under $8/person)

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

$$$ Expensive (over $20/person)

CC Accepts credit cards

LITTLE ROCK/ N. LITTLE ROCK AMERICAN

APPLE SPICE JUNCTION A chain sandwich and salad spot with sit-down lunch space and a vibrant box lunch catering business. With a wide range of options and quick service. Order online via applespice.com. 2000 S. University Ave. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 663-7008 L Mon.-Fri. ARTHUR’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE Restaurateur Jerry Barakat brings the classic New York steakhouse formula to Chenal Valley. The main event is prime beef, or even more expensive Australian wagyu beef. The steak’s crusty on the outside, just right on the inside. There’s a wide choice of seafood, too. The truffle fries are spectacular. Good wine list. 27 Rahling Circle. Full bar. CC $$$ 821-1848 D Mon.-Sat. ASHLEY’S Perfect seafood, unusual ingredients, careful cooking and gorgeous presentation make meals here a feast for eyes, mind and stomach. Incredible wine list.

Capital Hotel. Full bar. CC. $$$. 374-7474 BLD Mon.-Sat. B Sun. BONEFISH GRILL A half-dozen or more types of fresh fish filets are offered daily, grilled (perfectly in our experi-

Continued on page 32

■ dining The needle points to The Hayestack Great greasy spoon dining in Ferndale. n While a big part of the newspaper business is beating the bushes and seeing what birds rise up, there’s also the timehonored tradition of the tip. We get a lot of those around here, some small and some not so small. Sometimes — and these are the tips that we wait for with particular glee — we get a heads-up about food.

We’ve been at this long enough that we’ve learned to listen to those onion-scented whispers. By and large, if the food is good enough to come trickling back to us from our friends and relatives who live Afar, it’s probably gonna be good.

Case in point: The Hayestack Cafe, out in the wilds of Ferndale.

We’ve been hearing about crossroads cuisine: Mammoth chicken fried steaks, good po-boys. worth it. Companions, meanwhile, found a and knows what a good po-boy should The Hayestack for a while now, first because lot to like on the breakfast menu. You can’t taste like — pronounced it easily the best of its mammoth chicken fried steaks, later go wrong with bacon, cheese and eggs, and she’s had since she left Cajun country. The because of its hearty breakfast fare. When The Hayestack serves it up just as big as fries were a real treat as well: a drift of the fourth unsolicited and uncompensated they do dinner and lunch. The low point, sweet, starchy goodness, almost angel hair reviewer raved to us about the joint, we however, was the pancakes ($4.25 for a thin, cooked to golden brown perfection. knew it was time to take a ride. short stack, 5.25 for a tall). We’d heard For fans of more-crispy-less-potato French Open since last April — it’s owned and great things about the pancakes, so we fries, these would definitely be a find. operated by a young husband and wife team; know there are those out there who would The burger was similarly fine; a large, he’s the fry cook, she’s the very friendly love the nearly three-quarter-inch thick handmade patty, stacked with toppings waitress — the cafe is situated at the crossgriddle cakes. This reviewer, however, just to the point of being sloppy. The best roads of Kanis Road and Ferndale Cutoff, found them too dense. A good pancake, by surprise, however, was the homemade surrounded by green mountains. Though our measure, should be light and almost chips. We’ve had homemade chips before there’s a rumor that Ol’ Splitfoot likes to spongy; ready to soak up the melted butter and never have quite developed a taste for hang out at crossroads, vexing travelers and maple syrup. These, by comparison, them. These, however, were something and trading souls for guitar pickin’ skill, were more like bread. special: sliced razor thin, then fried to the we found only greasy spoon heaven at the Still, that one dim spot wasn’t enough point you could hold them up to the light Hayestack. The decor is just the way we to quell our enthusiasm for The Hayestack and see through them like a hazy chunk of like it, which is to say modest but spic and Cafe. With prodigious portion sizes, a very amber. The cook skimped on the salt, but span, with none of the faux-country bric-afriendly staff, and great food, it’s definitely that was quickly remedied and the chips brac that too many places try to substitute worth the trip. were quickly polished off. for character. The menu is fairly modest as We’d heard good things about the well, filled with burgers, pasta, po-boys and chicken fried steak ($12.95 for a platterthe like.

The Hayestack sized monster at dinner; $8.95 for a more On our first visit, we tried the Hayestack Cafe petite serving size at lunch), so on a return Burger ($7.95), a handmade patty topped 27024 Kanis Road, Ferndale visit, we had to have one. Our companions, with two onion rings and barbecue sauce, 821-0070 meanwhile, indulged their breakfast joneses served on grilled Texas toast. As a side, Quick bite with selections from The Hayestack’s big we tried Hayestack’s homemade potato We were pleased to see that at dinner, you can list of pancakes, omelets and other morning chips. Our companion, meanwhile, tried order up an urban Southern favorite that you fare. This reviewer has been searching for the catfish po-boy ($9.95), with a side of don’t see much around these parts: chicken and waffles ($10.95). The platter comes with a big ol’ a great local chicken fried steak for years shoestring fries. homemade waffle, paired with six chicken wings (our current favorite, which ain’t exactly Our dishes arrived quick and hot, and in your choice of barbecue, sweet chili or homelocal, is to be found at Shorty Small’s). The the portions were big enough to make us style flavor. one at Hayestack is a definite contender. think again about the devil hanging out Hours Coated in thick, crispy, well-seasoned at the crossroads. The catfish po-boy, for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday breading, it’s a big chunk of meat even at example, was huge: a nearly foot-long through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. lunch, pounded out thin and then expertly torpedo of soft French bread, topped with Sunday. fried. Smothered in white gravy and served loads of perfect catfish, onions, lettuce and Other info with two sides, it will probably take a few mayo. After one bite, our companion — Other info: All credit cards accepted. months off your life, but it’s very likely who lived in Lafayette, La., for two years brian chilson

what’scookin’

Arkansas Times • february 4, 2010 31

Where tipping is accepted but NEVER expected.

100% Real Charcoal Broiled

Burgers • steak • ChiCken Homemade Comfort Food Daily Specials

MonDay Spicy Shrimp Stir-fry TueSDay Pot Roast 10907 N. Rodney Parham • 228-7800 Mon-Sat 10:30 am - 9 pm

Roses For Your Valentine

NWiNe & SPiriTS D eighborhoo

4526 Camp Robinson Road North Little Rock • (501) 791-2626 Next to HOGGS MEAT MARKET

32 february 4, 2010 • arkansas Times

Restaurant capsules Continued from page 31 ence) over a wood fire. Several sauces are available, but the fish is good enough on its own. Shrimp, mussels and scallops star on the appetizer list and there’s plenty of meat and chicken for those who resist seafood. 11525 Cantrell Road. Full bar. CC $$. 228-0356. D daily.

BONNIE’S BUFFET Small buffet teeming with homecooked classics. Friday is catfish day, a big draw. 8622 Chicot Road. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 565-5604 LD Mon.-Fri. BRAVE NEW RESTAURANT The food’s great, portions huge, prices reasonable. Diners can look into the open kitchen and watch the culinary geniuses at work slicing and dicing and sauteeing. It’s great fun, and the fish is special.

2300 Cottondale Lane. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 663-2677 L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat. THE BUTCHER SHOP A lot has changed since 1981, when the Little Rock location in this four-location, otherwise Tennessee-based chain debuted: the menu has expanded, and people almost never cook their own steaks. No biggie on either count. Choose steak – not chicken, seafood or pasta – and let the pros cook it. You’ll be glad you did. 10825 Hermitage Road. Full bar. CC $$$ 501-312-2748 D daily.

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

Wonderful Sunday brunch. I-30 and 6th Street. Full bar.

CC $$-$$$ 975-2267 BLD daily.

CAPI’S Sophisticated yet friendly, the latest offering from the folks who created Trio’s features easy to share small bites in larger than expected portions. Selections range from the expected to more unconventional fare. Don’t skip one the fresh desserts offered each day. 11525 Cantrell Suite #917 (in the Pleasant Ridge Town Center). Full bar.

CC $-$$$ 225-9600 LD daily.

CAPITOL BISTRO Breakfast and lunch items, including quiche, sandwiches, coffees and the like. 1401 Capitol Ave. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 371-9575 BL Mon.-Fri. CAPITAL HOTEL BAR A watering hole with mouthwatering food, swished-up Southern style — pork confit, smoky gumbo, root vegetable pot pie, homemade Moon pies. Capital idea: Sit by the big windows that look out on Markham with an organic martini and maybe some country pate and pumpkin jam.. 111 W. Markham St. Full bar. CC $$ 370-7013 LD daily.

CHEEBURGER CHEEBURGER Premium black Angus cheeseburgers, with five different sizes, ranging from the Classic (5.5 ounces) to the Pounder (20 ounces), and nine cheese options. For sides, milkshakes and golden-fried onion rings are the way to go. 11525 Cantrell Road. No alcohol. CC $$ 490-2433 LD daily.

COCK OF THE WALK Yes, the chicken and shrimp are great, but go for the unbeatable catfish. Plus, we say the slaw is the world’s best. 7051 Cock of the Walk Lane, Maumelle. Full bar. CC $$ 758-7182 D daily. L Sun. CORNERSTONE PUB Numerous beers and heavier drinks along with regular live music make this a fine stopping-off spot, but it succeeds on the food end as well with the usual pub selections and sandwiches. We like this version of the muffaletta, though it’s lighter than the soakedwith-olive-oil kind they love in N’awlins. 314 Main St., NLR. Full bar. CC $-$$ 374-1782 LD Mon.-Sat. CREGEEN’S IRISH PUB Draft pints, fine single-malt Irish whiskey and a choice of food from American (chicken wings) and Irish (fried Irish camembert) pub favorites to burgers, Irish stew, fish and chips and even broiled salmon for the health-conscious. 301 Main, NLR. Full bar. CC. $-$$.

376-7468 LD daily.

DAVID FAMILY KITCHEN Call it soul food or call it down-home country, the food here ― neckbones, ribs, sturdy cornbread, mustard greens and the like ― is good, the desserts especially so. 2301 Broadway. No alcohol. CC $ LD Sun.-Fri. 371-0141.

DELICIOUS TEMPTATIONS A great variety of sandwiches, meal-sized salads and homemade soups, many of the items heart-smart. Great desserts, too. 11220 Rodney Parham Road. Beer and wine. CC $$ 225-6893 BL daily.

EJ’S EATS AND DRINKS This hoagie shop serves up generous burgers, sandwiches, homemade soups, salads and homemade potato chips. Vegetarians can craft any number of acceptable meals from the flexible menu. 523 Center St. (corner of Center and Sixth). Beer and wine. CC $ 666-3700 LD Mon.-Fri. FADED ROSE The Cajun-inspired menu seldom disappoints. Steaks and soaked salads are legendary. 1615 Rebsamen Park Road, 663-9734; Bowman Curve, 224-3377. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ LD daily.

FLIGHT DECK A not-your-typical daily lunch special highlights this spot, which also features inventive sandwiches, salads and a popular burger. Central Flying Service at Adams Field. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 375-3245 BL Mon.-Sat. FLYING FISH The fried seafood is fresh and crunchy and there are plenty of raw, boiled and grilled offerings, too. The hamburgers and fish tacos are big hits. It’s counter service; wander on through the screen door and you’ll find a slick team of cooks and servers to get you in and out in good time. 511 President Clinton Ave. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 375-3474 LD daily.

FROSTOP A ’50s-style diner has been resurrected, with big and juicy burgers, great irregularly cut fries, and a selection of Greek dishes as well. 4517 JFK Boulevard., NLR. CC $ 758-4535 B Mon.-Sat., LD daily.

GADWALL’S GRILL & PIZZA Once two separate restaurants, a fire forced the grill into the pizza joint. Now, under one roof, there’s mouth-watering burgers and specialty sandwiches, plus zesty pizzas with cracker-thin crust and plenty of toppings. 7311 North Hills Blvd., Sherwood. NLR, 834-1840. Beer and wine. CC $-$$ LD Mon.-Sat. HOMER’S Great vegetables, huge yeast rolls and killer cobblers. Follow the mobs. 2001 E. Roosevelt Road. CC $$ 374-1400 BL Mon.-Fri. JASON’S DELI A huge selection of sandwiches (wraps, subs, po’ boys and pitas), salads and spuds, as well as red beans and rice and chicken pot pie. Plus a large selection of heart-healthy and light dishes. 301 N. Shackleford Road.

Beer and wine. CC $-$$ 954-8700 BLD daily.

JIMMY’S SERIOUS SANDWICHES Consistently fine sandwiches, side orders and desserts. Chicken salad’s among the best in town. Get there early for lunch. 5116 W. Markham St. No alcohol. No CC $ 666-3354 L Mon.-Sat. LOCA LUNA Grilled meats, seafood and pasta dishes that never stray far from country roots, whether Italian, Spanish or Arkie. “Gourmet plate lunches” are good, as is Sunday brunch. 3519 Old Cantrell Road. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 663-4666 L Sun.-Fri., D daily.

LONE STAR STEAKHOUSE AND SALOON Dark imitation roadhouse, with cowboy paraphernalia and the soft glow of beer signs. Cowboys will feel at home with the beef, which is good enough, but more like range beef than the rich, marbled stuff of high-dollar steakhouses. Big salads, too. 10901 N. Rodney Parham Road, 227-9989. Full bar.

CC $$ LD daily.

MADDIE’S PLACE A broad selection of familiar but not boring Cajun-Creole staples, all well prepared and reasonably priced. Among the highlights: po’ boys made on the same bread, and with the same care, as most of New Orleans’ most revered joints, gooey bread pudding and chicken-andouille gumbo with a lusciously dark roux.

1615 Rebsamen Park Road, Little Rock. Full Bar CC $$ 660-4040. LD Tues.-Sat. MASON’S DELI AND GRILL Heaven for those who believe everything is better with sauerkraut on top. The Reuben is among the best in town. There are wraps and chicken strips on the menu, too. Ottenheimer Hall, River Market. No alcohol. CC $$ 374-0000 L Mon.-Sat. NEW GREEN MILL CAFE A small workingman’s lunch joint, with a dependable daily meat-and-three and credible cornbread for cheap, plus sweet tea. Homemade tamales and chili on Tuesdays. 8609-C W. Markham St. No alcohol.

No CC $ 225-9907 L Mon.-Sat. OZARK COUNTRY RESTAURANT Football-sized omelets filled with the same marvelous smoked meats and cheeses that are heaped on sandwiches at lunch. Great biscuits and gravy, bacon, homestyle potatoes and a daily plate lunch special to boot. 202 Keightley Drive. No alcohol.

CC $ 663-7319 BL Tue.-Sun. RENO’S ARGENTA CAFE A vast selection of sandwiches, from Cuban pork to French dip to a muffaletta, plus gyros, wraps and specialty pizzas. 312 Main St., NLR. Full bar. CC $$ 376-2900 LD Mon.-Sat. RIVERFRONT STEAKHOUSE Steaks delivered fresh from Chicago twice a week are salted, peppered, seared in an infra-red oven and then buttered for a meat-eater’s dream chowdown. There’s more to like also: crab cakes and shrimp bisque and chops and chicken and lobster tail. 2 Riverfront Place, NLR. Full bar. CC $$$ 375-7825 BLD daily.

SATELLITE CAFE This Heights techno-pop coffee shop offers fresh breads and fruits all day. Sandwiches are trendy and good. Kavanaugh and University. CC $$-$$$ 663-6336 BL daily.

SONNY WILLIAMS’ STEAK ROOM Steaks, chicken and seafood in a wonderful setting in the River Market. Steak gets pricy, but the lump crab meat au gratin appetizer is outstanding. Give the turtle soup a try. 500 President Clinton Ave. Full bar. CC $$$ 324-2999 D Mon.-Sat. SPECTATOR’S GRILL AND PUB Burgers, soups, salads and other bar food, plus live music on weekends. 1012 W. 34th St., NLR. Full bar. CC $-$$ ($2 cover) 791-0990 LD Mon.-Sat. SUFFICIENT GROUNDS Great coffee, good bagels and pastries, and a limited lunch menu are at the downtown location. 1 Union Plaza. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 372-1009 BL Mon.-Fri. TERRI-LYNN’S BAR-B-Q AND DELI High-quality meats served on large sandwiches and good tamales served with chili or without (the better bargain). 10102 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol. No CC $-$$ 227-6371 LD daily.

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE Besides the 45 different smoothies on the menu, the cafe also serves wraps and sandwiches (many of them spicy), salads and “tortizzas.” Good food, healthy drinks, long line at lunch but it moves fast. 12911 Cantrell Rd. #19 224-1113. Creekwood Plaza (Kanis and Bowman). No alcohol. CC $-$$ 221-6773 BLD daily.

VIEUX CARRE A pleasant spot in Hillcrest with specialty salads, steak and seafood. The soup of the day is a good bet. At lunch, the menu includes an all-vegetable sandwich and a half-pound cheeseburger. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 663-1196 LD Mon.-Fri., D Sat., BR Sun. WILLY D’S DUELING PIANO BAR Willy D’s serves up a decent dinner of pastas and salads as a lead-in to its nightly sing-along piano show. Go when you’re in a good mood.

322 President Clinton Ave. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 244-9550 D Tue.-Sat. WINGSTOP It’s all about wings. The joint features eight flavors of chicken flappers for almost any palate, including

mild, hot, Cajun and atomic, as well as specialty flavors like lemon pepper and teriyaki. 11321 West Markham St. Beer.

CC $-$$ 224-9464 LD Mon.-Sun.

ASIAN ASIA BUFFET Formerly Dragon Palace Buffett, with the delicious Mongolian grill, sushi, crab legs, and Asian and American items. Bowman Station, Hermitage and Bowman.

Beer and wine. CC $ 225-0095 LD daily.

BANGKOK THAI CUISINE Get all the staple Thai dishes at this River Market vendor. The red and green curries and the noodle soup stand out, in particular. Ottenheimer Hall, River Market. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 374-5105 L Mon.-Sat. BENIHANA — THE JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE Enjoy the cooking show, make sure you get a little fillet with your meal, and do plenty of dunking in that fabulous ginger sauce.

All-you-can eat sushi specials daily. Riverfront Hilton, NLR. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 374-8081 LD Mon.-Fri. D Sat.-Sun. CHI’S CHINESE CUISINE A huge menu spans the Chinese provinces and offers a few twists on the usual local offerings, plus there’s authentic Hong Kong dim sum available daily until 3 p.m. Multiple LR locations, including 5110 W. Markham St., 604-7777, with delivery; a Chi’s Express at 17200 Chenal Parkway, 821-8000, and the original at 6 Shackleford Drive, 221-7737. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ LD daily.

FANTASTIC CHINA The food is delicious, the presentation beautiful, the menu distinctive, the service perfect, the decor bright. 1900 N. Grant St. Full bar. CC $ 663-8999 LD daily.

HUNAN ORIENTAL CUISINE Old favorites, such as orange beef or chicken and Hunan green beans, are still prepared with care in very nice surroundings out west.

11610 Pleasant Ridge Drive. Full bar. CC $$ 223-9966 LD daily.

IGIBON It’s a complex place, where the food is almost always good and the ambiance and service never fail to please. The sushi is good, while the Bento box with tempura shrimp and California rolls, and other delights stand out.

11121 N. Rodney Parham Road. Beer and wine. CC $$-$$$ 217-8888 LD Mon.-Sat. KOTO Sushi and upscale Japanese cuisine. 17200 Chenal Parkway Suite 100 Full bar CC $$-$$$ 821-7200 LD daily.

NEW CHINA 8 A burgeoning line of massive buffets, with hibachi grill, sushi, mounds of Chinese food and soft serve ice cream. 201 Marshall Road, Jacksonville. 982-8988.

4617 JFK Blvd., NLR 753-8988, No alcohol, CC, LD all week, $-$$.

PANDA GARDEN Expansive buffet with sushi and a dessert bar. 2604 S. Shackleford Road. CC Beer and wine $$ 224-8100 LD daily.

P.F. CHANG’S Make a reservation to get seated immediately and enjoy some terrific flavors and presentations. 317 S. Shackleford Road. Full bar. CC $$ 225-4424 LD daily.

SAKURA Standard Japanese steakhouse and sushi fare; it’s hard to go wrong choosing from the extensive menu. 7307 Alcoa Road, Bryant, 778-9585. E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 834-3546 LD daily.

BARBECUE CORKY’S RIBS & BBQ The pulled pork is extremely tender and juicy, and the sauce is sweet and tangy without a hint of heat. Maybe the best dry ribs in the area. 12005 Westhaven Drive, 954-7427; 2947 Lakewood Village Drive, NLR, 753-3737. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ LD daily.

CROSS-EYED PIG Huge portions of marvelous barbecue, including amazingly tender pulled pork; lean-and-meaty, fall-off-the-bone-tender ribs; and crusty-brown, juicy halfchickens. 1701 Rebsamen Park Road. Full bar. 265-0000.

L Mon.-Fri, D Tues.-Fri.; 6015 Chenonceau Blvd. Beer and wine. 227-7427. LD daily. CC $$.

JO-JO’S BAR-B-Q The delicious, smoky aroma of Jo-Jo’s standard ’cue, once a Levy standard, has shifted to Sherwood. 117 Country Club Road, NLR. Beer, wine.

CC $-$$ 834-9696. LD Mon.-Sat. SMOKEY JOE’S BAR-B-QUE A steady supplier of smoked meat. With catering. 824 Military Road, Benton.

CC $-$$ No alcohol. 315-8333. L daily D Mon.-Sat.

EUROPEAN / ETHNIC AMRUTH AUTHENTIC INDIAN CUISINE Nice spicy Indian dishes in a small but shiny storefront and at a price you can afford. Lunch specials, available weekdays, are only about $6.50. Lamb and shrimp dishes accompany any number of vegetarian delights. 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road, 224-4567. LD daily, hours vary. CC. $$. No alcohol.

GAUCHO’S GRILL A real flesh-fest dining experience, introducing the area to upscale South American cuisine.

Stick with the chicken or red meat choices, pace yourself, and laugh when they suggest a rich dessert after partaking in this all-you-can-eat feast. 11 Shackleford Drive. Full bar.

CC $$-$$$ 954-8787 D Mon.-Sat. GEORGIA’S GYROS Good gyros, Greek salads and fragrant grilled pita bread highlight a large Mediterranean food selection, plus burgers and the like. Lively atmosphere and friendly folks. 2933 Lakewood Village Drive, NLR. Full bar. CC $-$$ 753-5090 LD Mon.-Sat. LAYLA’S HALAL Delicious Mediterranean fare — gyros, falafel, shawarma, kabobs, hummus and babaganush — that has a devoted following. All meat is slaughtered according to Islamic dietary law. 9501 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol CC 227-7272 $-$$ LD daily (close 5 p.m. on Sun.).

STAR OF INDIA People who don’t know if they like Indian food discover here that they do. It’s always one of Little

Rock’s most highly regarded restaurants – great lamb, great curries, great chicken tandoori, great naan. The daily lunch buffet is a real deal. Don’t forget to try the Indian beer. 301 N. Shackleford Rd. Beer and wine CC $$-$$$ 227-9900 LD daily.

TAZIKI’S GREEK FARE A fast-casual chain featuring Greek salads, pitas, sandwiches and plate dinners. The food is better than the reasonable prices suggest. Great gyros and side dishes. 8200 Cantrell Road. Beer and wine.

CC. $-$$ 227-8291 LD Mon.-Sat. L Sunday.

poblano are the real thing. 7411 Geyer Springs Road. Beer.

CC $ 565-4246 LD daily.

around arkansas BELLA VISTA

BLACKBOARDS CAFE Sophisticated and savory food with warm service and comfortable decor. 12 Cunningham Corner. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 501-855-0739 LD Mon.-Sat.

ITALIAN

BENTON/BRYANT

BOSTON’S Unremarkable chain fare—pizza, pasta, sandwiches and salads—out by the airport. 3201 Bankhead Drive. Full bar CC $$ 235-2000 LD daily.

CAFE PREGO Dependable entrees of pasta, pork and the like, plus great sauces, fresh mixed greens and delicious dressings, crisp-crunchy-cold gazpacho and tempting desserts in a comfy bistro setting. 5510 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 663-5355 LD Mon.-Fri., D Sat. CAPRICCIO GRILL ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE Large portions are the rule here, though the menu is not, as the name might suggest, exclusively Italian. Steaks, soups and seafood are good choices. 3 Statehouse Plaza. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 906-4000 BLD daily.

GRAFFITI’S The casually chic and ever-popular Italianflavored bistro avoids the rut with daily specials and careful menu tinkering. 7811 Cantrell Road. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 224-9079 D Mon.-Sat. LUIGI’S PIZZARIA Excellent thin-crust pizza; whopping, well-spiced calzones; ample hoagies; and pasta with tomatoey, sweet marinara sauce. 8310 Chicot Road. Beer and wine. CC $$ 562-9863 LD Mon.-Sat. NYPD PIZZA Plenty of tasty choices in the obvious New York police-like setting, but it’s fun. Only the pizza is cheesy.

Even the personal pizzas come in impressive combinations, and baked ziti, salads and more also are available. 6015 Chenonceau Blvd., Suite 1. No alcohol. CC $$ 868-3911 LD daily.

PIZZA D’ACTION Some of the best pizza in town, a marriage of thin, crispy crust with a hefty ingredient load.

Also, good appetizers and salads, pasta, sandwiches and killer plate lunches. 2919 W. Markham St. Full bar. CC $$ 666-5403 LD daily.

RISTORANTE CAPEO Authentic cooking from the boot of Italy is the draw at this cozy, brick-walled restaurant on a reviving North Little Rock’s Main Street. Let the chef entertain you with some exotic stuff, like crispy veal sweetbreads.

Mozzarella made fresh daily. 425 Main St., NLR. Full bar.

CC $$-$$$ 376-3463 D Mon.-Sat. U.S. PIZZA AND SALAD EXPRESS A downtown offshoot off the original with a distilled menu that includes pizza, salad and sandwiches. Call in pizza orders early. 402 S. Louisiana St. No alcohol. $-$$ CC L Mon.-Fri. VILLA ITALIAN RESTAURANT Hearty, inexpensive, classic southern Italian dishes. Rock Creek Square, West Markham Street and Bowman Road. Full bar. CC $$ 219-2244 LD Mon.-Sat.

BROWN’S COUNTRY STORE & RESTAURANT The multitude of offerings on Brown’s 100-foot-long buffet range from better than adequate to pretty dadgum good. Exit 118 on Interstate 30 in Benton. CC $-$$ 778-5033 BLD daily.

MEXICAN BLUE COAST BURRITO You will become a lover of fish tacos here, but there are plenty of other fresh coastal-Mex choices served up fast-food cafeteria style in cool surroundings. Don’t miss the Baja fruit tea. 4613 E. McCain Blvd., NLR. Beer only. $-$$ CC 945-8033 LD Mon.-Sat. L Sun. CANON GRILL Creative Southwest-flavored appetizers come in huge quantities, and the varied main-course menu rarely disappoints, though it’s not as spicy as competitors’. 2811 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar. CC $$ 664-2068 LD Mon.-Sat. EL DORADO More creative fare found here than at most of the locally owned restaurants, including a great chili verde and, occasionally, carnitas. Portions are huge, the cheese dip is tasty, the margaritas are great. 5820 Asher Ave. Full bar. CC $$ 562-1025 LD daily.

HAY CHIHUAHUA Fajitas cooked and spiced just right, served in portions large enough for leftovers. Ground beef burritos (or chicken) come with lettuce, tomatoes and a lot of sour cream and cheese, with plenty of bean and rice as side items. Hay chihuahua, it’s great! Seafood dishes and a large selection of $6.50 combos offered as well. 5500 MacArthur Drive, 753-5525. Full bar, CC $-$$ LD daily.

JUANITA’S Menu includes a variety of combination entree choices — enchiladas, tacos, flautas, shrimp burritos and such — plus creative salads and other dishes. And, of course, the famed “Blue Mesa” cheese dip. 1300 Main St., 372-1228. Full bar. CC $$ LD Mon.-Sat. LAS DELICIAS SUPER MERCADO Y TAQUERIA A Hispanic grocery store with a cluster of tables in a back corner, offering authentic, generous and cheap food. A surefire pick is the big burrito, stuffed with rice, beans, lettuce, avocado and a choice of meats. Tamales are made fresh, but heavier on the masa than those accustomed to Delta tamales will like. 3401 Pike Ave., NLR. Beer. CC $ 812-4876 LD daily.

RUMBA Don’t forget that the popular bar and live music venue does a fine job with its creative, Latin-themed food – particularly the entrees. The “Ay Caramba” Mexican casserole is cheesy, just right greasy and easy to love.

300 President Clinton Ave. Full bar. CC. $-$$ L Mon.-Fri. D Mon.-Sun. BR Sat-Sun. SAN JOSE GROCERY STORE AND BAKERY This mercado-plus-restaurant smells and tastes like Mexico, and for good reason: Fresh flour tortillas, overstuffed burritos, sopes (moist corncakes made with masa harina) and chili

CONWAY LOS AMIGOS Authentic Mexican food where everything is as fresh and tasty as it is filling. At lunch, go for the $4.99 all-you-can-eat special. 2850 Prince St. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 501-329-7919 LD daily.

MARKETPLACE GRILL Always draws a crowd for its flaming appetizers, prime rib, steaks, pasta in big ceramic bowls ― all in a wide-open, loud dining area. One menu for all day means lunch can get pricey in a dinner kind of way.

Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 65. No alcohol. CC $-$$ 501-336-0011 LD Mon.-Sun. OLD CHICAGO Pizzas, pastas, calzones, sandwiches, burgers, steaks and salads and booze. The atmosphere is amiable and the food comforting. 1010 Main St. Full bar. CC $$ 501-329-6262 LD daily.

SMITTY’S Meat so tender it practically falls off the ribs, and combos of meat that will stuff you. Hot sauce means HOT. 740 S. Harkrider. No alcohol. CC $$ 501-327-8304 LD Mon.-Sat.

EUREKA SPRINGS CAFE LUIGI Homemade bread, pasta and red sauce make this a great Italian spot. 91 S. Main St. Beer and wine. CC $$-$$$ 479-253-6888 LD daily.

ROGUE’S MANOR Great food in gorgeous surroundings. Some say it’s the finest dining in Northwest Arkansas.

Bar and humidor, too. 124 Spring St. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 479-253-4911 D Mon.-Sat.

FAYETTEVILLE AREA BORDINOS Exquisite Italian food, great wines and great service in a boisterous setting. 324 W. Dickson St. Full bar.

CC $$-$$$ 479-527-6795 D Mon.-Sat. COPELAND’S New Orleans-based chain features tasty Cajun and Creole delights as well as top steakhouse-quality steaks. The top grossing restaurant in the market in 2003.

463 N. 46th St, Rogers. Full bar. CC $$$ 479-246-9455 BLD daily.

GRUB’S BAR AND GRILLE A commendable menu that includes pub fare and vegetarian both is full of tasty offerings.

The Hippie Sandwich and the Santa Fe burger come to mind.

But what’s really great about Grub’s is the fact that kids under 12 (with their parents) eat free, and there’s no stale smoke to fill their little lungs, thanks to good ventilation. 220 N. West Ave. Full bar. CC $$ 479-973-4782 LD Mon.-Sat. JAVA ROASTING ON THE SQUARE THE place to be in downtown Bentonville. Muffins are such standouts they’ll make you remember why you liked them when they weren’t on every menu. The lunch and dinner menu feature soups and sandwiches and quiches. 102 E. Central. CC $-$$ 479-657-6070 BLD Mon.-Sat. MARY MAESTRI’S Great homemade pasta, lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, ravioli, chicken picatta and spumoni. U.S. Highway 412, Tontitown. Beer and wine.

CC $$-$$$ 479-361-2536 D daily.

MERMAIDS It’s seafood you’ll want here, of course — crab cake sandwiches, coconut-coated shrimp, smoked fish quesadillas and oyster and crawfish po’boys, tilapia, grilled salmon, yellowfin tuna, shrimp alfredo. The scaly girls serve up beef and pork for landlubbers and tempt all with huge desserts. 1815 Green Acres. Beer and wine. CC $$-$$$ 479-443-3737 LD Mon.-Sat. RIVER GRILLE Great steaks, fresh seafood flown in daily, and some out-of-this-world creme brulee. But though some pricy offerings are splendid, others are just average. Service is outstanding. Membership required. 1003 McClain Road, Bentonville. Full bar. CC $$$ 479-271-4141 LD.

HOT SPRINGS ARLINGTON HOTEL Massive seafood buffet on Friday nights, breakfast buffet daily, served in the splendor of a grand old hotel. 239 Central Ave. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 501-623-7771 BLD daily.

BRICK HOUSE GRILL Good steaks, burgers and a fresh seafood selection; kids’ meals, too. 801 Central Ave., Suite 24. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 501-321-2926 LD Mon.-Sat. CAJUN BOILERS Expertly prepared boiled shrimp, crawfish and such, served in a fun atmosphere. 2806 Albert Pike.

Beer and wine. CC $$-$$$ 501-767-5695 D Tue.-Sat. DOE’S Locally owned branch of the Greenville, Miss., icon offers the familiar steaks and soaked salad. The owners didn’t get the same tamale recipe, but they’re good, too. Biggest difference from other Doe’s eateries: It’s strikingly clean. 4904 Central Ave. Full bar. CC $$-$$$ 501-525-8585 LD daily.

DON JUAN’S Mex-style enchiladas, runny white cheese dip, great guacamole and great service in strip-mall locale.

1311 Albert Pike Road, No. A. Full bar. CC $$ 501-3210766 LD daily.

The Arkansas Times is accepting resumes for a full-time graphic designer.

Must be proficient with Macs and all Adobe software, deadlineoriented and highly organized, with at least four years experience in publication layout, ad design and web design/maintenance.

BA or BFA in Design preferred.

Salary is negotiable depending on skill and experience. Benefits include health, dental, and 401-K. Email resumes in PDF format to sheryl@arktimes.com.

No phone calls please.

ArkAnsAs Times • februAry 4, 2010 33

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

rm

100 02/01/08

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

AT(spec ad)

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

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

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.

1900 N Grant St Heights 501-663-8999

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?

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 chili. Come see what all the fuss is about! Karaoke Saturdays from 8pm-11.

SO

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.

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

501-663-1464

Shackleford & Hermitage Rd. (501) 312-2748

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

steak Sonny Williams

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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

♥ ♥

Treat your special someone to a delicious Valentine’s Day Dinner at Best Impressions!

February 14th, 2010 • 5:30-9:00pm

First Course Trio of Gigamoto Oysters with Lemon Gelato or Poached Farm Fresh Egg with Bacon Consommé

♥

Dessert Course Chocolate, Chocolate Cake with Passion Fruit Puree

Casa Manana Taqueria

♥

400 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-6637

♥

6820 Cantrell Road • 501-280-9888 18321 Cantrell Road • 501-868-8822

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

♥

Only $35/persOn Make yOur reserVaTIOns TODay! ♥ 501.907.5946 ♥ 501 East 9th Street, Little Rock Located in the Arkansas Arts Center www.bestimpressionsrestaurant.com

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

mexican

♥

♥ Main Course Pan Roasted Arctic Char with Brown Butter, Baby Carrots & Hash or Veal Tenderloin & Ricotta Gnocchi with Sauce Minestrone & Swiss Chard

♥

Capers Restaurant

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

♥

♥

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.

300 West 3rd Street 501-375-3333

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.

♥ ♥

Ump’s Pub & Grill

14502 Cantrell Road 501-868-7600

chinese Fantastic China

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.

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

y

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e

i

g

h

b

o

r

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f e b r u ary 4 , 2 0 1 0

Sherwood home perfect for family

open Sunday

2 pm - 4 pm

This beauty at 3024 Gemstone Cove in Sherwood’s Stonehill subdivision is one to see. It has a great floorplan and lots of extras. It features one-and-a-half stories, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and approximately 2,340 square feet.

All the bedrooms and bathrooms are on the main level. The master suite has a large walk-in closet, jetted tub, separate shower and double vanities. One of the other bedrooms has its own bath and the two remaining share a walk-thru bathroom.

The real beauty of this home is in the details. A tray ceiling in the living is a great affect and the hardwoods in the entry, formal dining room and kitchen are a wonderful

Relax around the fireplace.

Hardwoods are in the entry, kitchen and dining room.

addition. The eat-in kitchen has a breakfast bar, tile countertops and a cozy feel. Big windows in both the kitchen and living area allow plenty of natural light. A bonus room is upstairs. This is a great space for a playroom, office or workout room. It has a large walk-in closet and access to attic storage.

Because of its cul-de-sac location, this home is great for families with children.

This home is just like new and with its neutral colors, it is move-in ready. It is priced at $241,000 and listed with David Smith of Choice Real Estate Group. For a private tour or more information, call David at 850-8500 or 551-1119.

The breakfast bar is a good addition to the kitchen.

Neutral colors are throughout.

Arkansas Times • february 4, 2010 35

REAL ESTATE by neighborhood TO ADVERTISE, CALL TIFFANY HOLLAND AT 375-2985 Downtown

Hillcrest

300 THIRD CONDO - Competitively priced 2BR/2BA condo with French balcony, black-out shades, limestone counters and stainless appliances.

Enjoy spectacular views of the sunset.

Call Eric or Cara Wilkerson for a private tour at 501-804-2633.

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

A.J. Cathey 350-1875

Bobbie McCluskey 680-0981

Chrissie Cook 580-5878

Debbie Butler 680-8571

Gary Zulfer 413-1400

Judy Roberts 744-0181

Susan Flake 517-1150

Joshua neel 952-4146

David Smith 551-1119

Leisa House 912-4555

Carolyn Patterson 529-0401

Midtown Little Rock 16 RESERVOIR HEIGHTS CONDO $129,900. 2BR/2BA, 1384 SF. Great open floorplan and stress free living. Condo fees includes pool access.

Qualifies for $8K tax credit. Seller to pay $2500 towards closing costs and 6 months condo dues w/acceptable offer. Call John, Pulaski Heights Realty, for showing at 993-5442.

4920 LEE AVE - $215,000. 2BR/2BA, 1409 SF. New HVAC in 2009, 30 yr roof.

Updated kitchen with granite tile counters & new stainless appliances. Great backyard/deck and insulated & drywalled storage bldg. Call John, Pulaski Heights Realty, for showing at 993-5442.

211 ASH - $139,900. Investors Must SEE! To be Sold “AS IS” Large 2BR that could have a 3rd BR or nice size office.

Homes 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

Dale Humphrey Principal Broker

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

DUPLEX - $185,000. Over 2700 total SF. Buy now & get $8K tax credit and have renter offset your mortgage payment.

Main level is 2BR/2BA, 1500 SF. Upstairs studio rental is approx 550 SF ($515/mo.)

Also, has 700+SF walkout basement.

New 30 yr roof in 2003. Owner is licensed agent. Call John, Pulaski Heights Realty, at 993-5442 for more info.

North Little Rock 6220 SOUTHWIND - $273,900. Spacious 3-4BR/3.5BA 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 of the Charlotte John Company for a private tour. 501772-7100.

Sherwood

Publisher’s Notice

3024 GEMSTONE COVE - $241,000. One of Stonehill’s finest homes with a great 4BR/3BA floorplan. Home is just like NEW! Located on cul-de-sac, great for kids. Call David Smith of Choice Real Estate Group at 551-1119 for more information.

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.

Hers, inc. presents PULASKI COUNTY Real Estate sales over $100,000 Sixth Hole Condos At Chenal LLC to Jock Cobb, Jo Cobb, L111 B100, Chenal Woods HPR, $592,000.

Alex T. Gillespie, Jane S. Gillespie to Jay O. Brainard, Jr., Sally S. Brainard, L12 B4, Country Club Heights, $515,000.

Virginia Dean Scruggs Revocable Trust, Virginia D. Scruggs, R. David Scruggs Revocable Trust, R. D. Scruggs to Keith A. Dorsey, Nicole S. Dorsey, 5506 Edgewood Rd., $395,000.

SBS Construction Inc. to Debra L. Harrison, Larry E. Harrison, L124, Ashley Downs Phase 1, $375,000.

Pino Properties LLC to Randal L. Breau, SE NE 11-10N-10W (Cleburne County), $370,000.

Robert C. Porto, Jill E. Porto to Travis W. Porter, Linda M. Porter, NW 20-2N-14W, $345,000.

T h o m a s W. R o b i n s o n , Katherine Robinson to William Glasscock, II, Mary K. Gee, L58 B200, Park Hill NLR, $290,000.

Said Hanbaly, Christine Hanbaly to Jon R. Christensen, Cynthia L. Christensen, L1093, The Country Club Of Arkansas, $285,000.

Jennifer Wnuk, Michael J. Wnuk to Kristy S. King, L12 B11, Maumelle Valley Estates, $283,000.

Worthy F. Sykes, Barbara J. Sykes to Clayborne S. Stone, Melissa S. Stone, L11 B11, Pleasant Valley, $280,000.

Ernest F. Lord, II, Jessica H. Lord to Marc Bagby, Amber Bagby, L228, Foxcroft 4th, $278,000.

Constance D. Davila, David Davila to James L. Yo u n g q u i s t , K a t h e r i n e J .

Yo u n g q u i s t , L 1 2 1 R , T h e Ranch, $275,000.

Cecilia S. Shelton, Charles E. Shelton, John McMorran, April McMorran to Federal National Mortgage Association, 72 Aberdeen Dr., $269,100.

Christopher S. Lyle, Ashley G. Lyle to Ryan Atkins, Ashley Atkins, L203, St Charles, $263,000.

Anita Anthony Davis Special Taxable T, Anita A. Davis to William H. Arthurs, Jane G. Arthurs, L19, Country Place Phase 2A, $258,000.

Medlock Construction Co. Inc. to Erik A. Polta, Alina M. Polta, L80, Miller’s Valley Phase 1, $244,000.

Wael H. Refai, Aya Refai, Aya Rifai to Matthew R. Adams, Shannon L. Adams, L911, St

HERS, INC.

Charles, $241,000.

James P. Mulkern, Dawn M. Mulkern, Roseann Mulkern to Adam A. Cadorette, Amanda D. Cadorette, L20 B43, Pleasant Valley, $235,000.

Benjamin S. Robins, Jennifer Robins to Christopher J. Gilbert, L8 B6, Glenn Hills, $234,000.

Bank Of Ozarks to Erik J. Sternberg, Grace L. Sternberg, L 3 0 5 , M i l l e r ’s C r o s s i n g Phase 5, $217,000.

Brian Layland to Allen Oates, L57 B203, Park Hill NLR, $200,000.

Fitzhugh Construction Inc. to Loretta M. West, L162, Kenwood Estates Phase 3, $190,000.

MLL Properties Inc. to Charles E. Edwards, L6, Otter Creek Phase 11, $190,000.

L2 Investments LLC to Roger Mangham, 19 Connell Dr., $185,000.

Bonnie J. Kelley to Edwin R. Bethune, Lana S. Bethune, L105, Cambridge Place HPR, $175,000.

Randy M. Tolbert, Robyn M. Tolbert to Jan E. Talbot, L152, Echo Valley 2nd, $174,000.

Jerr y R. McIntyre, Nina McIntyre to Scott C. Smart, E/2 SE 26-2N-13W, $170,000.

Da vid C. Br y an, Ann B.

Br yan to Jerr y C. Wilson, Edwina Wilson, L7, Hall Cove, $170,000.

Castor Land Company LLC to Peggy A. Purkiss, L130, North Pointe, $167,000.

James A. Quick, Laura Quick to Barbara Lensing, L30, Shannon Hills East, $161,000.

Gregory C. Mitchell, Thelma J. Mitchell to Pa tricia J. Lucarz, L28 B2, East Meadow, $160,000.

Karen S. Chambers, Anne E. Delorenzo to Dustin E. Noland, Amy Noland, SE NE 14-3N13W, $160,000.

Lance S. Neptune to BAC Home Loans Servicing LP, L338, Pleasant View Phase 5 , $158,882.

Stagecoach Crossing LLC to Johnnie R. Murphy, L19 B2, Stagecoach Crossing, $155,000.

Terry A. Jackson, Shannon M. Jackson to Robin R. Gottsponer, 11609 Ridgetop Dr., Sherwood, $148,000.

Simpson Capital Corp. to Laura A. Turner, James L. Turner, L170, North Pointe, $146,000.

Yo u n g D e v e l o p m e n t & Investments LLC to Dorothy M. Pegues, Willie L. Pegues, 8 Courtfield Dr., Mabelvale,

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 36 February 4, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

$143,000.

Vladimir Salamon, Martha Salamon to W. L. Hunter, L4, Marlowe Manor Phase 1, $139,000.

Matthew R. Adams, Shannon Adams to Amanda G. May, Sarah K. May, L35, Point West 5th, $139,000.

M a r c u s F r a z i e r, E d i t h Callawayfrazier to Secretary Of Veterans Affairs, 7 Painted Turtle Cove, $136,602.

Two Steve Inc. to Jon L. Jester, Ls20-21, Pinnacle Vi e w, S E N E 4 - 2 N - 1 4 W , $135,000.

Jeanette Allen to Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, 49 Forest Cir., $133,462.

D e l t i c Ti m b e r C o r p . t o Suzanne W. Best, John W. Best, L19 B83, Chenal Valley, $130,000.

Patricia H. Bayliss to David L. Bartlett, Jr., L203, Foxcroft Square HPR, $130,000.

Antonio Carranza, Antonio Carrahza, Esmeralda Carranza to Hugo Rauhofer, Esther Rauholfer, Jessica Rauhofer, L416, Ludington Heights, $124,000.

Cynthia K. Cross to Elander M. Griffis, L334, Broadmoor, $111,000.

C h a r l e s J . Tu m b l e s o n , Summer Tumbleson to BAC

Home Loans Servicing LP, L6 B127, Park Hill NLR, $110,323.

Daryl T. Versey, Christina Versey to Secretary Of Veterans Affairs, 1315 Northwick Ct., $108,400.

Raymond A. Caldas, Monica Caldas to Shelly R. Edwards, L29, Green Valley Phase 1, $108,000.

Bank Of New York Mellon to Debra M. Moseley, L. B6, Indian Hills, $105,000.

Kevin W. Long, Kimberly M. Long to Cartus Financial Corp, L10R B1, England Acres Phase 1, $105,000.

Cartus Financial Corp to Brandon C. Mays, Latasha R. Talbot, L10R B1, England Acres Phase 1, $105,000,.

Alice Buchanan to HSBC Bank USA, 1004 Stevenson Cove, Jacksonville, $104,172.

Peggy L. Gulledge, Steven C. Bennett to Robert G. Knott, L95, Rolling Oaks Phase 1, $103,000.

Conrad Strzelecki, Barbara M. Fernald, Barbara Strzelecki, Derhonda Strzelecki, Richard Fernald to Cristen E. Strzelecki, L36, Brookshire, $100,000.

Margaret King to Xiaoping Wang, Junyan Wang, NW NE 3-1S-13W, $100,000.

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

NO ADDITIONAL DOWN PAYMENT! TOTAL Incentives

$15,600!

One Bedroom Penthouse Apartment Spectacular apartment overlooks Allsop Park. Open floor plan with vaulted ceilings, 7 skylights, built-in bookcases, large bathroom, washer & dryer.

Water and garbage are paid. $995

3923 Oakwood Road • Only 10 blocks from UAMS! No Pets Allowed.

For more information please call 501-658-3232.

hip A P A R T M E N T

LIVING

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In Hillcrest next to Allsop Park Two Bedroom Apartments Spacious rooms, one bath, ample closet space, LR, DR, w/d connections, hardwood flooring, water and garbage paid. $800-$900, depending on size

edited by Will shortz

No. 0107

Quiet... Stately... Historic...

OAKWOOD APARTMENTS

2000 Reservoir Road • 501-227-7316 Credit Cards Welcome Equal Housing Opportunity Check out all of our properties at www.warrenproperties.com *On Approved Credit

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is back!

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Arkansas Times • february 4, 2010 37 ArkAnsAs Times • sepTember 4, 2008 37

Mush n Valentine’s is upon us, mush is in the air, and I was just watching a TV commercial for the BlackBerry “smartphone” from Sprint — a commercial in which some soulful youngsters intone the old Beatles standard “All You Need Is Love.”

I don’t understand this: The commercial is meant to sell BlackBerrys, right?

But if all you need is love, you wouldn’t need no stinking BlackBerry. Unless, in the crazy contemporary scheme of things, the BlackBerry IS love. But that would contradict the Bible, which says that God is love. Maybe God only used to be love but the BlackBerry is it now.

Unless the intended subliminal message in the commercial is this: God and your BlackBerry and love are all one and the same commodity, and you don’t need anything else, so you especially don’t need to be fooling around with an iPhone or a Droid or any other make or model of newfangled electronic personal communications device.

From what I know of the contemporary Madison Avenue mindset, and from what I’ve seen of the current brain-dead cellphone generation, I don’t doubt a bit that that’s exactly the intended message, and if it is you sort of have to admire the pitch — for saying something to your targeted

Bob L ancaster consumer group by seeming to say just the opposite. The Mad Men understand the whippersnapper aversion to voices of reason and authority. Counter-intuitive I think is what they call the ploy.

Anyway, the youngsters sing “All You Need Is Love” in this commercial with great feeling, as if to show how deeply affecting they find the song’s idiot words.

I don’t understand that either, or at least I hope I don’t.

There are stupider love songs and lovesong lines, surely the stupidest of the latter being from another Paul McCartney opus: “I don’t care what they say, I won’t stay in a world without love.” I always wanted to reply to that by telling the twerps who performed it, “All right then, twerps, adios” and then gatting them off to a lovinger place.

Just a fantasy, but I always suspected that the jury, even if they didn’t do a Huckabee and just turn me loose, would at least understand where I was coming from.

There are some good, useful Valentine

C

sentiments — even some of the flowerdy ones are defensible — but “Love is all you need” is not among them. Because love is not all you need. Love is swell, all right, but you can’t eat it, clean up after nature calls with it, or pay the light bill with it.

You need grub, toilet paper, and moolah for that.

You need a lot of things, some of them more than you need love, even if you never venture outside of Beatleworld.

• When you’ve been out till quarter to three, what you need more than love is a good alibi.

• When suddenly you discover that you’re not half the man you used to be, you don’t need love so much as you need a PDE5 inhibitor.

• When you’re at the end of a long and winding road, you need love less than you need a way to get back to where you once belonged.

• When you’re sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come, I don’t know what you need — pity maybe, or a Valium, or a lobotomy — but love in that circumstance would be sort of a waste As a child, you’ll need a modest amount of discipline, and you’ll know why later on when you observe the behavior of those who never got any.

Also later on, if you have only one leg and you get into an ass-kicking contest, more than love you’ll need either a surrogate or a prosthesis.

S

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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.

TEACHER-ENGLISH High School Teacher. Available in Little Rock, AR with the LR School District. Instruct in the subject of English. Bachelor degree, five yrs of experience, AP/ LIT Advance Placement College Certification, and current Arkansas Teacher Certification required.

Contact: Robert Robinson - Recruiting Specialist HUMAN RESOURCES, Little Rock School District, 810 W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72201 or fax (501) 447-1162.

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You’ll need to get to know a good plumber. You’ll need to be literate or you’ll find it almost impossible to cope.

Sometimes you might need the jaws of life, and if you do, for the time being you’ll need them more than you do love. Sometimes you’ll need a little help from your friends to get by. Sometimes you’ll need a small vacation. Sometimes you’ll need an intervention. Sometimes you’ll need a kick in the butt with a hobnail boot.

And you’ll have situational needs. For instance, if you’re out in the yard and you see a funnel cloud touch down and head straight for your domicile, what do you need most at that point? A lot more than love, you need a storm cellar. You need Pat Robertson to pray it off in a different direction. If you were in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake hit recently, what you would’ve needed a whole lot more than love would have been to have returned to the mainland the day before.

You’ll need some lucky breaks. You’ll need some underarm deodorant. You’ll need socks. There have been people who lived long lives totally sockless — if you call that living — but things never turned out well for any of them. Well, except for Kilgore Trout, who as an old man created himself a permanent pair of unremovable socks by walking barefoot across a very shallow and extremely polluted river. In Indiana, as I recall. Had an argyle pattern tattooed on them there toward the end.

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Winter is here and so are the animals!

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Squirrels, Bats, Skunks, etc.

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ADOPT A DOG TODAY! Cooper - a small adult Terrier mix that will melt in your arms. Cooper is a sweetheart of a dog; very loving, quite and friendly. Cooper would be a great dog for anyone, Gracie - is a beautiful female Border Collie mix; Gracie is very sweet, loves to play, a great dog to hang around with, Gracie will win your heart.

Cooper and Gracie invite everyone to come and visit with them along with all their buddies at the Little Rock Animal Village. 4500 Kramer St Little Rock - 501-376-3067

Be PrePared BEFORE disaster strikes!

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Arkansas Times • february 4, 2010 39

My Metropolitan is rewarding!

Ope any Metropolitan checking account and receive a “My Metropolitan” Open roa roadside safety kit as our gift to you. The carrying case, marked with a reflective road-safety triangle, includes jumper cables, a tire gauge, s screwdrivers and sturdy work gloves.

And when you sign up for direct deposit with your new checking account, we’ll put $25 into your account*! Visit any nearby and n neighborly Metropolitan location today to open you checking account and receive your gift. your

* Limited-time offer. Certain restrictions apply. See bank for details. After verification of direct deposit, allow a minimum of 60 days for $25 to be deposited.

866-79METRO • metbank.com

Member FDIC

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2/1/10 4:34:25 PM