17 minute read
Livin' in Little Rock
Livin’ Large travel
in Little Rock By DWAIN HEBDA
There’s an old saying to describe the small-town nature of the capital city that goes, “They don’t call it Big Rock.” But that just describes the atmosphere, not a lack of things to do and see. In that regard, Little Rock can hang with the best of ’em in terms of places to eat or shop as well as attractions and events.
“When I think of Little Rock, I think of a very strong sense of community,” says Libby Lloyd, director of communications for the Little Rock Conventions and Visitors Bureau. “It’s a big small town, and I think that’s relevant to a lot of people, residents and visitors alike.
AttractionsThe CVB has developed an attractions pass, a mobile app that identifies local places to see where visitors can check in and earn prizes. The following is just a sampling of the attractions to be had in the capital city, as recommended by the CVB (find more at explore.littlerock.com).
WILLIAM J. CLINTON LIBRARY AND MUSEUM clintonlibrary.gov
No trip to Little Rock is complete without a visit to the museum detailing the eight years Bill Clinton served in the White House. The full-size replicas of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room are just the beginning of the fabulous treasures waiting to be discovered.
BIG DAM BRIDGE littlerock.com/little-rock-destinations/big-dam-bridge
Located along the River Trail, at 4,226 feet, The Big Dam Bridge is the longest bridge built for pedestrian and bicycle traffic in North America. Great for a brisk ride or run, the BDB is also a prime peoplewatching spot spanning the Arkansas River. LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE nps.gov/chsc/index.htm
Learn about the fateful events that transpired during the first days of the 1957 school year, when nine Black students attempted to report to Little Rock Central High School. Multimedia displays at the site recreate those tense days and the civil rights victory that was to follow.
LITTLE ROCK ZOO Littlerockzoo.com
The whole family can get wild at the Little Rock Zoo, home to more than 500 animals, including elephants, penguins, primates and several species of big cats. Be sure to catch a ride on the Arkansas Diamond Express historic train, and take a spin on the old-fashioned carousel.
MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY museumofdiscovery.org
Unleash the kids’ imaginations at the museum ranked by USA Today as one of the best science centers in America. The mysteries of weather, chemistry, physics and the natural sciences are all on display here through fun, age-appropriate activities. Great for the young and young at heart.
PINNACLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK arkansasstateparks.com/parks/pinnacle-mountain-state-park
Don’t just stay in the city – get out into nature with a trip to nearby Pinnacle Mountain State Park. One of Arkansas’s most visited state parks, Pinnacle features climbing and foot trail routes to the summit as well as world-class mountain biking trails, paddle boat rentals and Little Maumelle River kayaking.
Shopping Funky boutiques, sophisticated shops and stores chock-full of one-on-a-kind finds are on the menu for any shopping excursion in Little Rock. The following businesses were crowned Best Of in AY Magazine’s annual reader’s poll.
BANG UP BETTY bangupbetty.com
Looking for something unusual? Look no farther than Bang Up Betty across the bridge in North Little Rock, specializing in snarky, meaningful, well-made jewelry. The quirky pieces can be personalized in any number of ways to make a one-of-a-kind gift they’ll always appreciate. Voted Best Jewelry Designer. BAUMANS FINE MEN’S CLOTHING Baumans.com
Rediscover the art of gentlemanly attire at Baumans in Little Rock’s Heights neighborhood. A throwback to a time when clothes made the man, Baumans provides quality merchandise and unparalleled customer service to help each client find his own personal style. Voted Best Local Men’s Clothing.
CARACALLA SALON & BODY SPA caracalla.com
If all that shopping leaves you sore and worn out, book some time at Caracalla, voted Best Salon. Caracalla pampers you from your hair to your toes (literally), leaving you feeling rejuvenated and ready for your next adventure.
BOX TURTLE shopboxturtle.com
Nestled into Little Rock’s charming Hillcrest neighborhood, Box Turtle is one of the top boutiques in Central Arkansas. Voted Best Local Women’s Clothing, the store also offers houseware, books, cards and other treasures for the discriminating shopper.
Dining
Two things you learn very quickly when you live in or visit Little Rock – one, we love our food and, two, we have plenty of restaurants to suit any taste. No matter what your favorite category or dish, you’ll find it here, just like these selections taken from the AY Magazine’s Best Of winners.
COMMUNITY BAKERY communitbakery.com
Little Rock’s favorite place for baked goods keeps rolling along, adding another Best Bakery title to its collection. Not only does Community Bakery produce the best cakes, pies and other sweet treats (try the sugar cookies) but hot artisan sandwiches and breakfast items and the best coffee around.
EAT MY CATFISH Eatmycatfish.com
Folks in the South love their catfish, so to be voted Best Catfish really says something about Eat My Catfish. Serving up the highest-quality U.S. farm-raised filets – never frozen, duh – it’s flaky and flavorful fish. Not into it? Try the shrimp, po’boys or a plate of mudbugs (crawfish to you Northerners). ARTHUR’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE arthursprimesteakhouse.com
They don’t make ‘em like this anymore! Arthur’s serves only the finest beef and seafood, expertly prepared and presented with the utmost in attentive service. Winner of not one, but two Best Of awards (Best Fine Dining and Best Steak), Arthur’s is the place for a memorable evening.
BRUNO’S LITTLE ITALY brunoslittleitaly.com
When you do something for almost three-quarters of a century, you get pretty good at it. That’s just what you find at Bruno’s Little Italy, where they have been serving up the best Italian food around since 1949. Voted Best Italian, try the spaghetti carbonara or one of the terrific pizzas.
CAMP TACO camptaco.com
Summer camp was never this much fun! Voted Best New Restaurant, this funky, retro spot serves up amazing tacos and sides as well as a bevy of specialty drinks that will have you smiling in no time. There’s also a rotating tap of beers from sister brewery Lost Forty, just up the street.
MADDIE’S PLACE maddiesplacelr.com
When it’s time to let the good times roll, head to Maddie’s Place, voted Best Cajun/Creole. Settle in with your favorite cocktail, wine or one of the local beers on tap. Then enjoy the best of traditional Cajun and Creole favorites including jambalaya, shrimp and grits and red beans and rice.
HEIGHTS TACO & TAMALE Heightstacotamale.com Wind down your day with a sip or two at Heights Taco & Tamale, voted Best Happy Hour. Skilled mixologists can whip up anything you Upcoming Events can imagine or let them create something totally unique, just for you. While you’re there, get something to munch on – HTT was also voted Best Cheese Dip. Little Rock loves a good party, as one look at the social and festival calendar will tell you. From music and cultural events to one-of-a-kind food festivals and holiday attractions, the capital city is the place to be. Check out these events, recommended by the Little Rock CVB.
MAIN STREET FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL Sept. 11
No one goes home hungry from one of the biggest food events of the year. Browse dozens of food trucks preparing everything from BBQ to funnel cakes to burgers and hot dogs. Plenty of music and fun for the whole family!
LITTLE ROCK RIBFEST Sept. 24
If you dine on fine swine, this is the event for you! Every ticket holder is a judge, voting for their favorite ribs from the best competitive smokers the area has to offer. While you chow down, enjoy music, vendors and even the day’s college football on the big screen. ARKANSAS STATE FAIR Oct. 14-23
If you love a good midway (and honestly, who doesn’t?) be sure to attend the Arkansas State Fair. This award-winning event brings everything you love about a fair into one place – livestock, carnival rides and games, cooking competitions and plenty of fair food.
INTERNATIONAL GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL Oct. 21-22 The largest ethnic festival in Arkansas, the International Greek Food Festival has to be experienced to be appreciated. One of the city’s largest events, the festival pays homage to the many cultures that make up Little Rock’s Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church through the dishes of their immigrant forefathers.
Livin’ in Little Rock
Prominent Central Arkansas businessman Steve Landers officially announced his run for mayor of Little Rock in September 2021. Since then, he has made it his mission to be a hands-on leader in his campaign across the city.
When asked what "Livin’ in Little Rock" means to him, Landers replied:
Steve Landers
Livin’ in Little Rock
For more than 30 years, Briarwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has prided itself on being a place and a face that its community can trust and its residents can feel comfortable in. Briarwood is a 120-bed facility that specializes in both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, providing the flexibility to meet each and every client’s needs, without sacrificing care quality — of which the team at Briarwood aspires for the highest of standards. Be it transient rehabilitation or extended stay retirement, the staff is committed to creating and maintaining a supportive relationship that reinforces the dignity of every resident. This relationship-building transcends the here and now and translates to generational resident care.
BRIARWOOD
NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER
Livin’ in Little Rock
The Little Rock Zoo inspires people to value and conserve our natural world. Come see our new black rhino, Kevin, and our newest penguin, Betty White, and watch them grow! Encounter nearly 400 animals, including many that are threatened or endangered such as: sloth bears, cheetahs, three species of great apes, and Malayan tigers.
Opportunities abound for animal interaction, from keeper chats throughout the Zoo, to meet-ngreets with penguins or other ambassador animals. Guests love the Arkansas Heritage Farm where they can feed and touch animals. Food lovers will enjoy a delicious meal at Café Africa and fun lovers always enjoy a ride on the Diamond Express Train. Come see why the Little Rock Zoo is the best place to learn, enjoy, and play!
LIONS & tigers, CRAFT BEERS! (COME TRY!)
SEPTEMBER 15
LittleRockZoo.com
Livin’ in Little Rock
At Pinnacle Hearing, we believe in the importance of real connection through effective communication. Whenever we help a client hear and interact with their loved ones, we are proud to be part of that reconnection. Communication is an integral part of living life to the fullest and we want to make this possible by changing the way people view and manage their hearing loss.
As a locally owned hearing practice in Arkansas, we take pride in creating a sense of comfort and confidence through compassion and expertise. Pinnacle Hearing aims to provide world-class hearing solutions to Arkansas residents.
Pinnacle Hearing
Congratulations Dr. Mary Chatelain Named one of AY’s Best Healthcare Professionals
Services include:
• Hearing Aid Fittings • Audiological Evaluations • Tinnitus Treatment
Helping Arkansas Hear
10700 N Rodney Parham • Little Rock
501-225-6060
415 Hospital Drive • Camden
870-837-2823
Call or Book Online
Livin’ in Little Rock
Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation is committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. The highly qualified staff provides support for the tasks of day-to-day living, allowing for the enjoyment of more pleasant and carefree activities.
Good Shepherd’s tall ceilings, open floor plan and friendly faces make for an exceptionally comfortable atmosphere. And the amenities are second to none, including a lovely dining room, covered outdoor patio area, a state-of-the-art gym, beautiful garden, and more.
NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER at GOOD SHEPHERD
Chad Curtis, Administrator 3001 Aldersgate Road, Little Rock AR 72205 • Phone 501-217-9774 • Fax 501-217-9781 www.goodshepherdnr.com
Livin’ in Little Rock
Hickory Heights specializes in providing short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services in a safe, comfortable, relaxing environment. The facility has a light-filled common area, reading library and secure, lush outdoor courtyards with large patios and a putting green, and a unique, open floor plan with four distinct halls, each with its own dining hall, kitchen and neighborhood feel.
The short-term rehab center’s team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of each person. They utilize the latest programs, techniques and modalities for strengthening, balance training, pain reduction, wound healing and increasing range of motion, and offer their services six days a week. When the goal is to return home, the patient’s prior level of function is a key element that our social services and nursing staff strive to obtain upon admission to ensure a safe transition back to home.
Hickory Heights wants you and your loved one to feel happy, comfortable and safe at the facility. To learn more, log on to hickoryheightshr.com.
SHORT-TERM REHAB, LONG TERM CARE & RESPITE SERVICES We specialize in Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care services. From the moment you enter our community, we want you to experience the difference our community has to offer. From our light-filled common area to our beautiful outdoor patios, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us.
REGISTER NOW Welcome back to school
THE PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT boasts many dedicated educators and administrators from 26 schools across central Arkansas, which now includes the DRIVEN Virtual Academy in its second year with PCSSD. These educators have dedicated their careers to investing in young people. With a new school year beginning, here are some tips from Oakbrooke Elementary principal, Dr. Kim Truslow, and Mills Middle principal Dr. Lisa Watson.
What are you looking forward to as a new year begins?
DR. TRUSLOW: I am looking forward to seeing the bright faces of students excited to learn in a new school year and to meet new friends, making memories along the way. I am looking forward to a “normal” school year with many activities and learning opportunities present. DR. WATSON: As an instructional leader of Mills Middle School, I am looking for scholars to showcase their creativity, be innovative, and ready to explore all areas of learning.
What can families do to prepare for the first day of school as the weeks of summer wind down?
DR. TRUSLOW: Families can begin new habits of going to bed early and getting into the school routine. Families can begin talking about how exciting a new school year is because it marks new beginnings and a fresh start to learning. Families can practice packing your backpack, opening your lunch, getting in and out of the car seat belt or booster seat, and talking about how their students will get home from school each day.
What can families and students expect when school begins?
DR. WATSON: Scholars and families can expect a school community that will meet the personalized academic and social needs of all scholars to prepare them for college and career readiness. Where differences are valued and respected.
DR. TRUSLOW: My goals for the 2022-2023 are to foster learning for all students where each student is known and nurtured to be the best version of themselves. My goals for the 2022-2023 school year is that every student will advance academically at least one school year in their learning and will be proud to say they are an Oakbrooke Bobcat! DR. WATSON: The goals for Mills Middle School for the 2022-2023 school year are to establish a positive learning environment where scholars’ voices are heard and they are participating in an engaging rigorous academic setting where scholars and staff are striving for excellence.
ABOUT PCSSD
Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 26 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927.
PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.
CONGRATULATIONS! Marina Ivanovsky APRN
On being named one of AY’s Best Health Care Professionals.
Founder of Marina Lifestyle Medicine and Holistic Aesthetics. Natural looking results with Botox/Dysport/ Fillers/Laser Rejuvenation BBL/HALO/Skin Tyte/ Diamond Glow Hydro Facial/Medical Weight Loss/Vitamin Injections/Metabolic Health.
I wish that I had not waited so long to meet Marina. Marina’s holistic approach to wellness is exactly what I have spent years searching for. Meeting Marina is like being truly seen and heard for the first time. The care she provides in the areas of aesthetics, weight management and longevity are informed by the most current research and technology. I am thrilled with all of the benefits I am experiencing as Marina’s patient. I’ve experienced a total change of prospective regarding wellness. Thank you Marina!”
Eleanor DePriest
Marina Lifestyle Medicine is pleased to offer the NEWEST GENERATION of FDA approved WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATION.
One of the most promising WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS on the market.
ONCE WEEKLY INJECTION. • Twice as effective as other medication for weight loss. • Half of the patients lost 15% of their body weight. • One third lost 20% of their body weight.
How it works:
• Reduces appetite • Improves control of eating • Reduces food cravings • Improves blood pressure and cholesterol • Decreases visceral fat • Decreases inflammation • Improves insulin sensitivity
Schedule your complimentary consultation at Marinalifestylemedicine.com, call or text (501)204-3111
108 N Shackleford Rd. #102 | Little Rock 501. 204.3111 marinalifestylemedicine.com marinalifestylemedicine @marinalifestylemedicine
Livin’ in Little Rock
Colonel Glenn Health & Rehab is Central Arkansas’ newest, premier skilled nursing and long-term care facility, located in Little Rock. This state-of-theart care facility accepts Medicare, most private insurances, private pay and Medicaid. Colonel Glenn offers long-term, respite and rehab services, and its skilled team of health care professionals are ready to care for you or your loved one.
