THE BEST OF THE WORST OF TIMES

IT’S ROUGH OUT THERE. STILL, LET’S CELEBRATE WHAT’S GOOD.

Bitching and moaning is what we do best at the Arkansas Times lately, but sometimes you have to don rose-colored sunglasses and cheer yourself up with a trip to the snow cone shack. Even the most entrenched misanthropes among us can admit there are some fine people doing delightful things around here (shout out to Arkansas’s 2021 best budtender, Buffy Montgomery!), and that perhaps that’s cause enough to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Arkansas’s pathetic vaccination rates could suck anyone into the doldrums, but the annual Best of Arkansas edition is a well-timed shot in the arm.

The readers have voted, and you have pretty good taste. Sen. Joyce Elliott is indeed the best Arkansan. The Van, which supported the dignity of our homeless population even through the pandemic by helping them secure essentials like clothes, food and toothpaste, deserves accolades and support. Discovery’s reign as the best gay bar should not and has not been challenged.

We peppered some of the winners with lightning round Q&As, and were happy we did. Actress Jamee McAdoo shared what it’s like to dip a toe into the pageant scene and wind up winning the tiara. Designer Kelley Kolletis tipped us off to the color of the year and even told us how to not mess it up. TV meteorologist Todd Yakoubian offered up a dad joke tragic and endearing enough to make the whole state groan.

The editors here have favorites, too, and we took the liberty of fleshing out readers’ nominations with a few of our own. Food editor (and best author nominee) Rhett Brinkley picked Arkansas’s best peck of pickles on a road trip to visit Blytheville’s own Mr. Davis Pickles. A former preschool teacher who bounded into the pickle-making arena after sampling his own mother’s recipe and finding it wanting (savage!), Dedric Davis pickles whatever he pleases, rules be damned. Turkey bologna? Hot dogs? Sure, pickle them, why not? And his cucumber-based concoctions are equally innovative. Can’t decide between dill or bread and butter? Let Mr. Davis Pickles blow your mind with a combination of the two flavors, all in one jar.

Our most elusive editor, Lindsey Millar, gives up the secret location of his clubhouse with a story about Natural State Treehouses, a Fayetteville-based business that can make your childhood dreams come true.

And culture editor Stephanie Smittle combines encyclopedic knowledge of the Little Rock music scene and her signature balletic prose to remind us why the White Water Tavern, our favorite phoenix, will always rise to the top of any best live music venue list.

The mosquitoes are biting and a dark virus cloud seems to have settled over the state like we’re the Addams Family or something. But if it’s the end times, might as well enjoy them. So binge watch “The Mysterious Benedict Society” courtesy of Little Rock’s best newly famous writer, Trenton Lee Stewart. Affix some faux lashes from Beauty & Beyond to look your most fly on the voyage to the hereafter. Drop in at Colonial Wines and Spirits (“best booze to go”) and provision yourself to offer up a proper farewell toast. It’s summer vacation’s (and maybe even Western civilization’s) last gasp. Let’s break out the good stuff.

BEST OF ARKANSAS

RECREATION

BIKE TRAIL

Arkansas River Trail Finalists: Mt. Nebo State Park Monument Trails (Dardanelle), Northwoods Trails (Hot Springs), Pinnacle Mountain State Park Monument Trails (Roland), Slaughter Pen (Bentonville)

CHEAP DATE

Pinnacle Mountain State Park (Roland) Finalists: Arkansas Skatium, Kenda Drive-In (Marshall), The Rail Yard, Riverfront Park

FAMILY ATTRACTION

Little Rock Zoo Finalists: Brady Mountain Recreation Area on Lake Ouachita (Royal), Little Rock River Market District, Loco Ropes (Mountain View), Petit Jean State Park (Morrilton)

GOLF COURSE

Rebsamen Golf Course Finalists: Burns Park Golf Course (North Little Rock), Country Club of Little Rock, Pleasant Valley Golf Course, Red Apple Inn & Country Club (Heber Springs)

GYM/PLACE TO WORK OUT

10 Fitness Finalists: 365 Fitness (Conway), Gravitas Martial Arts (Conway), Jolly Bodies, SparkFit

HIKING TRAIL

Petit Jean State Park (Morrilton) Finalists: Devil’s Den State Park (West Fork), Emerald Park (North Little Rock), Pinnacle Mountain State Park (Roland), Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area (Roland)

MARINA

Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa on Lake Ouachita (Mount Ida) Finalists: Brady Mountain Resort & Marina on Lake Ouachita (Royal), Eden Isle Marina on Greers Ferry Lake (Heber Springs), Heber Springs Marina on Greers Ferry Lake, Shiloh Marina on Greers Ferry Lake (Higden)

OUTDOOR ATTRACTION

Garvan Woodland Gardens (Hot Springs) Finalists: Buffalo National River, Little Rock Zoo, Loco Ropes (Mountain View), Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Hot Springs)

PARK

Two Rivers Park Finalists: Allsopp Park, Burns Park (North Little Rock), Murray Park, Pinnacle Mountain State Park

PLACE TO CANOE/KAYAK/TUBE

Buffalo River Finalists: Caddo River, Little Maumelle River, Little Red River, White River

PLACE TO SWIM

Greers Ferry Lake Finalists: Buffalo National River, DeGray Lake, Lake Hamilton, Little Rock Racquet Club

RESORT

The Lodge at Mount Magazine (Paris) Finalists: Gaston’s White River Resort (Lakeview), Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (Mount Ida), Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Hot Springs), Red Apple Inn & Country Club (Heber Springs)

BEST FILMMAKER

KASTEN SEARLES

JEFF NICHOLS

Little Rock born writer/director Jeff Nichols has made five feature films: “Shotgun Stories,” “Take Shelter,” “Mud,” “Midnight Special” and “Loving.” He and his wife and and son live in Austin, Texas.

What have you been working on?

I’m writing a lot of screenplays. I’m probably paraphrasing Mark Twain, but I’ve always believed that you have to fill up your creative well. After releasing “Midnight Special” and “Loving” back to back, I’ve been in that mode: gotta go write some stuff. The well has been filled. Now, I’m ready for the world to open up so I can go make some movies. One thing I can tell you on the record is that I’m working on my second draft of my “Quiet Place” film [the third in the series]. It’s one of the most intense scripts I’ve ever written.

What’s something you’ve watched recently that stood out?

I was blown away by “Mare of Easttown.” I’m prejudiced slightly because my friend from college Craig Zobel directed it. But I thought it felt like one of the most sincere representations of small town life that I’ve seen in a very long time.

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