AY About You February 2024

ARKANSAS’ LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2024 | AYMAG.COM

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Set in the opulent yet perilous Persian Empire, QUEEN ESTHER is a captivating tale of beauty and bravery. Esther’s ordinary life changed forever when she was taken through the palace doors, entering a new world of royalty and risk. With a crown on her head and a secret in her heart, can she find the courage to trust in God’s plan and believe that she was made for such a time as this?

Don’t miss your chance to escape the ordinary this Spring Break with QUEEN ESTHER, live on stage for one final season!

MARCH 9 – OCTOBER 5, 2024 | BRANSON, MO BOOK DIRECT (800) 377-1277 • SIGHT-SOUND.COM

WHAT’S INSIDE 8 Publisher’s Letter 10 Connect 12 Top Events 172 Murder Mystery 176 Arkansas Backstories

HOME & GARDEN 18 Form Meets Function 24 Chic and Unique 26 Rock Solid 42 It's Garden Thing, You Dig? 52 Something Old, Something New 63 AY's Interior Design Awards

FOOD

82 Love to Eat, Eat to Love 88 Wine & Dine 92 Recipe: Decadent Valentine's

Brownie Hearts 94 The Soul of Cooking 100 Trout Fishing in America

OZARKS 104 Visiting the Ozarks 114 Go Play Outside 120 Plenty To See and Hear In

The Ozarks This Spring

TRAVEL 124 Hot Springs Happenings 126 Wearing O' The Green 130 Barns and Camels and Chocolates, Oh My!

134 No Place Like Home 142 Get Out of Town 148 The Water Calls

NONPROFIT 152 A Mother's Promise

ARTS & CULTURE 154 Herd Mentality 158 Larger Than Life:

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

HEALTH

162 The Whole Patient

ABOUT YOU

14 AY's 14 Days of Valentine's 168 This Side of Seven:

Ozarks Bucket List, page 104

ON THE COVER Justin White's futuristic smart-home project in Hot Springs leads off our annual Home Issue. See more on page 18.

Photo by Lori Sparkman.

Second Chances

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Photo by James Moore

Choose

“We hope you will consider sending your children to PCSSD. We take your child’s education personally,” said Assistant Superintendent for Equity and Pupil Services, Dr. Janice Warren. “PCSSD is committed to providing all students with learning experiences that prepare them for college or career readiness.”

School Choice is an Arkansas state law that allows families to register in a school district that is outside of their residential zone. In Arkansas, families must The Pulaski County Special School District is attend school in their designated attendance zone committed to providing equitable and excellent based on where they live. School Choice allows education for all students through rigorous students to transfer from one district to another college and career readiness instruction. District district and opens our schools to families outside administrators work year-round to assure all district lines allowing students to be a part of our students achieve at their maximum potential through school family, no matter their neighborhood. collaborative, supportive, and continuous efforts PCSSD serves 25 schools in Little Rock, Maumelle, of all stakeholders, including teachers, staff, and and Sherwood. Those 25 schools include 16 community members. elementary schools, four middle school campuses, one junior high campus, and four high school campuses.

PCSSD www.pcssd.org

The School Choice application period is open now through May 1, 2024. Registration for Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 opened on January 8. Registration will soon open for Pulaski County students who are not zoned for but interested in attending PCSSD. That registration window opens March 4, 2024 for kindergarten through 12th grade. Students who currently attend a PCSSD school will be automatically re-enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year.

ABOUT PCSSD

If you have specific questions related to registration and school choice within PCSSD, please contact the Office of Equity and Pupil Services at 501-234-2021.

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.

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER

Heather Baker hbaker@aymag.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Dwain Hebda dwain@aymag.com

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Sarah Coleman scoleman@aymag.com Mak Millard mmillard@aymag.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Darlene Hebda darlene@aymag.com

STAFF WRITERS

John Callahan jcallahan@aymag.com Sarah DeClerk sdeclerk@aymag.com

MANAGING DIGITAL EDITOR

Kellie McAnulty kmcanulty@aymag.com

ONLINE WRITER

Kilee Hall khall@aymag.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Mike Bedgood mbedgood@aymag.com

Joe David Rice, born in Paragould and reared in Jonesboro, probably knows Arkansas as well as anyone alive. The former owner of an outfitting business on the Buffalo National River and the state’s former tourism director, his Arkansas Backstories is published by the Butler Center.

Amy Gramlich is a wife, mom, blogger and public school educator proudly planted in Arkansas. She loves to celebrate all occasions big and small with fun outfits, creative recipes and fresh home decor (which must always include plants). She enjoys all the details that go into planning the next trip or party.

Kelli Reep is a writer and public relations practitioner in central Arkansas. When she is not looking for the best pie in the state, she is being ordered around by three cats. She likes to read, cook, sleep and help out when she can.

Heather Swayze is a mom of two boys and has been married to her high school sweetheart, Dakota, for 10 years.

She attended Arkansas State Three Rivers and Henderson State University. Since 2014, she has served the central Arkansas area providing photography for weddings, couples and families.

Jason Pederson spent 20 years as KATV’s Seven On Your Side reporter.

He is now deputy chief of community engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

He and his wife, Mary Carol, have two biological children and one bonus son. They are longtime members of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock.

Angelita Faller is the news director for the office of communications and marketing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. A native of Newton, Ill., Faller holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in digital storytelling from Ball State University.

Jamie Lee is a native of southwest Louisiana now residing in Little Rock. She is a freelance photographer and writer who focuses on food and restaurants.

Jamie has been a photographer for 15 years, shooting seniors, families, portraits, branding and food. She also has more than 25 years of experience with marketing in the travel and tourism industry.

Genevieve Townley is the owner of Wonderlily Photography and resident of Hot Springs.

She loves photography, her family (two teenagers ages 16 and 18), her dog, Maggie, and husband of 22 years. She also loves anything that involves going to the beach. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Lora Puls lpuls@aymag.com Jenna Kelley jkelley@aymag.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Linda Burlingame lindaaymag@aol.com Mary Funderburg mary@aymag.com Karen Holderfield kholderfield@aymag.com Jona Parker jona@aymag.com Dana Rodriguez dana@aymag.com Bethany Yeager bethany@aymag.com

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AY Magazine is published monthly, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10 AY Magazine (ISSN 2162-7754) by AY Media Group, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, AR and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AY Magazine, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201.

Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Single issues are available upon request for $5. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call 501-244-9700. The contents of AY are copyrighted ©2024, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Articles in AY should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AY. Please recycle this magazine.

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publisher's letter

WELCOME TO THE MONTH OF LOVE! Despite being less than two months old, 2024 has certainly made its presence felt, starting the year with a snowstorm and freezing temperatures. We are still a couple of months out from warmer weather, greener yards and getting back outside, so hopefully this month will bring us the last blast of winter.

This issue of AY About You is packed full of things to help you get through the winter blues, starting with our Bucket List visit to the Ozarks.

This gorgeous section of Arkansas will get you dreaming of summertime with its pristine lakes and rivers, friendly people, and multiple things to do.

We bring you some of the great outdoor amenities to be had, visit some legendary lodges and get you ready to visit the Buffalo River.

Speaking of getaways, spring break is right around the corner, and again, AY has you covered.

Check out our suggestions for a fun-filled week, from exotic dream trips to relaxing getaways that are right here in your Arkansas backyard. Whether traveling as a family or just the two of you, there is a lot to see and enjoy.

No matter how cold it gets this month, Valentine’s Day is here to warm the hearts of lovers everywhere. Check out our list of romantic restaurants to show that special someone how much you care.

Finally, we bring you plenty of inspiration for the home and yard this month. We talk to professionals to learn the new home trends and celebrate Arkansas’ best interior designers. Plus, we preview this year’s Central Arkansas Home & Garden Show, hosted by the Home Builders Association of Greater Little Rock. This wonderful event will provide plenty of inspiration for home remodeling and updates, as well as a large garden display for those itching to get their hands dirty out in the yard. Make plans to attend.

Even in winter, there is lots to love about Arkansas, so make plans to get out and enjoy it with the people you love most. Thanks for reading AY About You!

Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com / heatherbaker_ar

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Are You Smiling?

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READER FEEDBACK FOOD BITES: PATTICAKES BAKERY, TACOS 4 LIFE & MORE "AY Magazine thank you for keeping us in the know about emerging spots and location expansions. Your thoughtful statement acknowledging PattiCakes and its recent business was very thoughtful. In challenging times, your support for small business owners makes a meaningful difference."

Willroth Consulting

Pine Bluff Country Club to Host Delta Diamond Chef Awards Gala & Competition October 15

UA-PTC CHEFS HALL, MCAFEE RECOGNIZED FOR LEADERSHIP, EXPERTISE “Excellence is their game.”

Theresa Allred ASK AN EXPERT: PERSONAL PEP RALLY, MISTI COKER, CO-FOUNDER “Thank you AY Magazine for sharing our message and helping us give to those who have been given a diagnosis not of their choosing. Visit our website, become involved and join us March 9th at Mack's Prairie Wings for the 7th Endure The Dirt Adventure Race.”

Personal Pep Rally-Pass on Joy SOFIE SMITHSON: EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN “Had the pleasure of seeing this band last night at the Duck Derby, and they are phenomenal. So much talent!”

The Rogue Roundabout

Want to See a Bald Eagle in Arkansas? Now is the Time to Watch!

WELCOME HOME: CHEF-INSPIRED RESTAURANTS FEED A COMMUNITY WHILE HELPING RESCUE A NEIGHBORHOOD "The best in town” Kayla Jones THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR NEWS: ASHLEY KING OF THV11, ALICE 107.7 & 101.7 KISS FM “She’s a class act!”

City of North Little Rock - Government

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TRENDING ON AYMAG.COM

Follow heatherbaker_ar on IG for weekly Bucket List restaurant giveaways.

Actors Needed for Zoey Deutch Movie Being Filmed in Little Rock AY’s Best of 2024 Nomination Round BrickUniverse LEGO Convention Returning to Little Rock Fresh Start: Looking To Eat Healthy In The New Year? Say No More ‘The Barber of Little Rock’ Gets Shortlisted for an Academy Award!

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Three Major League Baseball Hall of Famers will be featured guests at the Seventh Annual Hot Springs Baseball Weekend Aug. 23 – 24 at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

Have you had a chance to try Big Chicken in Fayetteville? One of our employees did over the weekend and said it was very good!

(Photo by Jenna Kelley)

agenda

Top

you just can't miss!

THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Feb. 1

Simmons Bank Arena - North Little Rock

As an ideal family-friendly event, the Harlem Globetrotters will be showing off their coolest skills with the Washington Generals. All hoop-lovers are sure to enjoy this opportunity, as the Globetrotters will be available for autographs and photos for those who have a Magic Pass.

MEAN GIRLS Feb. 2-4

Robinson Center - Little Rock Mean Girls, a musical comedy, will be hitting the Robinson Center stage this February — is that not so fetch? Follow the lives of the plastics through high school, and laugh out loud to the production that screams “Tina Fey.”

GARDEN BROS NUCLEAR CIRCUS Feb. 15-19

Arkansas State Fairgrounds - Little Rock The Garden Bros Nuclear Circus will be hosting its incredible acts this February at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds. Guests of all ages will be able to enjoy all the fun and games that the circus brings, complete with a completely new show.

BALLET ARKANSAS PRESENTS SWAN LAKE Feb. 16-18

Robinson Center - Little Rock Ballet Arkansas will be bringing the world’s most-iconic classic ballet to the Robinson Center this February, for two days only. This production is promised to be vibrant, with stunning costumes and sets, as well as a community cast of children and adults. Ages 2 and older are required to have a ticket.

COMPANY Feb. 20-25

Walton Arts Center - Fayetteville

Company is the winner of five Tony Awards, and is known as being both hilarious and brilliant. As a musical comedy, Company follows Bobbie while she navigates the questions of adulthood as she turns 35.

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events 1

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Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts , Little Rock

NWA Home Show Rogers Convention Center, Rogers

Frost Fest Washington County Fairgrounds, Fayetteville

Pinnacle Fight Night Maumelle Event Center, North Little Rock

Black History Commission of Arkansas February Symposium Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Little Rock

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Little Rock Anime Festival Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

Brickuniverse 2024 Build IT! Tour Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

Arkansas Black Film and Music Expo 2024 Fayetteville Town Center

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SoMardi Gras 2024 SoMa, Little Rock

The Arkansas Symphony Unvalentine’s Day 2024 Orchestra Presents Little Rock Zoo “Bond & Beyond” Robinson Center, Little Rock

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16-19 The Great Backyard Bird Count 2024 Little Rock Zoo

2024 Mardi Gras Parade Little Rock

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Cody Johnson Simmons Bank Arena, North Little Rock

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Treaty Oak Revival The Hall, Little Rock

48th Annual Arkansas RV Show Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

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2024 Chocolate Fantasy Ball Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

SoNA’s “Defying Expectations” Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville

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Casey Donahew JJ’s Live, Fayetteville

“Wheel of Fortune” Live Robinson Center, Little Rock

"Godspell" Argenta Community Theater, North Little Rock

“Little Women” Reynolds Performance Hall, Conway

Randy Rogers Band JJ’s Live, Fayetteville

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Jake Scott JJ’s Live, Fayetteville

6th Annual NWA Black-Owned Business Expo Fayetteville

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson We Who Wrestle with God Tour Simmons Bank Arena, North Little Rock

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Steel Panther The Hall, Little Rock

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River Rhapsodies IV William J. Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock

The Dead South JJ’s Live, Fayetteville

The Comedy Zone: Dave Williamson Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville

Blackberry Smoke The Hall, Little Rock

Journey Hot Springs Convention Center

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aymag.com

days

of Valentine's

Giveaways W

e want to give you, our readers, the opportunity to make this Valentine's Day a memorable one. That is why we have brought back our annual Valentine’s Day Giveaway to help you spice up your special day.

How To Win

Each day of February leading up to Valentine's Day, visit AY’s social media platforms for the code word of the day. Enter it at aymag.com/contests for a chance to win. Items must be picked up in person.

BALLET ARKANSAS

Ballet Arkansas presents Swan Lake Feb. 17 and 18 at the Robinson Center in Little Rock! Experience the world's most iconic love story, set to Tchaikovsky's paramount score and told by one of America's Top 100 ballet companies on its 45th anniversary. Do not miss the power and beauty of Swan Lake with these two tickets to the production at 7:30 p.m Feb. 17.

Value: $120 520 Main St. Little Rock 501-244-8800 | balletarkansas.org

1 day

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WRIGHT PLASTIC SURGERY

Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa is pleased to offer PRX Derm Perfexion Treatment, a noninvasive and nonsurgical treatment that stimulates collagen production to transform the skin's texture and tone. Wright Plastic Surgery’s licensed esthetician will administer the PRX Derm Perfexion with a relaxing massage technique. The treatment involves no needles, no pain and no social downtime and is suitable for all skin types. Lean into self-love this Valentine’s Day by elevating the skincare journey with Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa.

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day

Value: $300 1811 Rahling Road, Suite 100 Little Rock 501-575-0088 | drwrightplasticsurgery.com

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TIPTON & HURST

3 day

DR. SUZANNE YEE

Tipton & Hurst is the closest anyone can get to a no-brainer when it comes to finding an ideal Valentine’s Day gift. Undeniably, red roses are a universally loved flower and are well-suited for any occasion. These premium long-stemmed red roses will be arranged in a vase with beautiful filler, sure to brighten up a home or thrill that special someone.

Value: $175 Locations in Little Rock, Conway, North Little Rock and Pine Bluff 501-666-3333 | tiptonhurst.com

It is no secret people glow when they are in love. Take your glow further with this SkinMedica treatment and product package. The DiamondGlow facial exfoliates, extracts and infuses the skin with one of six customizable Pro-Infusion serums to reveal a radiant result. Within 72 hours, improvements can be seen in fine lines, overall dryness, radiance and roughness. Maintain that radiance with a SkinMedica HA5 hydrating serum that promotes the skin's self-hydration, and protect it with the SkinMedica Mineral Shield SPF. Most everyone can fall in love with their skin all over again.

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SISSY’S LOG CABIN

Celebrate your love this Valentine’s Day with an extraordinary gift from Sissy’s Log Cabin. This stunning pink opal heart amulet by David Yurman includes an 18K yellow gold box chain and perfectly captures the essence of romance. As the Mid-South’s largest family-owned and -operated jewelry retailer of diamonds, jewelry, estate pieces, and more, Sissy’s has everything you need to make your Valentine feel special.

Value: $2,245

Value: $424

Locations in Pine Bluff, Little Rock, Jonesboro, Memphis, Conway and West Little Rock 501-663-0066 | sissyslogcabin.com

12600 Cantrell Road, Suite 100 Little Rock 501-222-7204 | drsuzanneyee.com

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HEATHMAN FAMILY DENTAL

It’s important to love yourself first. That is why Heathman Family Dental is here to help patients look and feel their best this Valentine’s Day by offering 25 units of Botox. At Heathman Family Dental, dental health and aesthetics go hand in hand to help patients embrace their natural beauty and maintain their best smile.

Value: $325 12501 Cantrell Road Little Rock 501-223-3838 | heathmanfamilydental.com

SARACEN CASINO RESORT

Located at Pine Bluff’s Saracen Casino Resort, Red Oak Steakhouse is Arkansas’ premier steakhouse, combining comfortable elegance with elevated flavors. Serving prime-grade wet- and dry-aged beef, Red Oak is also Arkansas’ only restaurant serving certified Kobe Beef. Executive Chef Matías de Matthaeis masterfully impresses the palate with delicately crafted dishes that take dining to the next level, and the first-class staff offers a seamless evening with wines curated by Arkansas’ most-decorated sommelier, Ken Lipsmeyer.

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day

Value: $200 (gift card) 1 Saracen Resort Drive Pine Bluff 870-686-9001 | saracenresort.com

$200

day SEI BELLA MED SPA

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Whether treating yourself or your other half, let Little Rock’s premier medical spa give guests a health and wellness experience like no other.

Sei Bella Med Spa offers all manner of services to help guests stay healthy, happy and beautiful, from body sculpting to age management and hormone therapy.

Value: $250 (gift card) 10310 W. Markham St., Suite 202 Little Rock 501-228-6237 | seibellamedspa.net

day BEYOND THE LENS!

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Experience Techo-Tainment™ and be immersed as you soar above 22 national landmarks and take flight over America on FlyRide at Beyond The Lens! This gift basket is ideal for both romantic date nights and family outings. With eight combo passes, a plush teddy bear, a wine tumbler, cozy socks and delicious chocolates, the basket serves as a well-rounded and thoughtful gift. Create lasting memories for you and your loved ones at Beyond The Lens!

Value: $350 3115 W. 76 Country Blvd.

Branson, Mo. 417-337-9333 | beyondthelens.com

Don't Forget!

Each day of February leading up to Valentine's Day, visit AY’s social media platforms for the code word of the day. Enter it at aymag.com/contests for a chance to win. Items must be picked up in person.

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AGELESS AESTHETICS

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day

Let the professionals at Ageless Aesthetics in Hot Springs set skin up for success with this DiamondGlow Facial. Traditional wet facial treatments rely on chemical exfoliation and only treat skin at a surface level. DiamondGlow’s patented recessed diamond-tip wand, on the other hand, delivers a next-level resurfacing treatment, deeply cleaning and rejuvenating the skin to exfoliate, extract pores and infuse the skin with pro-infusion serums.

Value: $225

Treat a significant other — or oneself — with a bit of bling this Valentine’s Day. This set features a Tacori black onyx and sterling silver pendant and earrings in the classic bloom style. Jones & Son Diamond & Bridal Fine Jewelry carries the top bridal and fashion brands on the market, so be sure to pair this exceptional gift with the ideal ring or bracelet to complete the look.

Value: $550 11121 Rodney Parham Road Little Rock 501-224-3433 | jonesandson.com

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HOT SPRINGS SOUVENIRS & GIFTS AND HOT SPRINGS HAT COMPANY

Give that sweetie this sweets basket from Hot Springs Souvenirs & Gifts, and then get ready for a day at the races in this derby hat from the Hot Springs Hat Company. From pet products and jewelry to T-shirts, stickers and much more, Hot Springs Souvenirs & Gifts puts the “one stop” in “one-stop shopping,” while Arkansas’ largest hat store has headwear for every style, season and occasion.

PARK PLAZA MALL

Whether shopping for everyday essentials, the perfect gift or any special occasion — Park Plaza retailers will keep you on trend. Gift options for your valentine include the Red Roses Bear from Build-A- Bear Workshop, Ocean Noir cologne from Perfume Boutique, a gift set from Bath & Body Works or a gift card from Dillard’s. Finding must-have brands, delicious food and exciting entertainment all in one place is easy at Park Plaza!

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6000 W. Markham St. Little Rock 501-664-4956 | parkplazamall.com

JONES & SON DIAMOND & BRIDAL FINE JEWELRY

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135 Medical Park Place Hot Springs 501-623-2500 | agelessaestheticsar.com

Value: $242.96

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day

Value: $370 334 Central Ave. Hot Springs 501-624-1076 332 Central Ave. Hot Springs 501-463-9210

DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION OF HOT SPRINGS

Get a taste of Spa City with an excellent assortment of gifts from the Downtown Association of Hot Springs. This gift basket contains hand-picked products from Bathhouse Soapery, Jess & JoJo's Boutique and Buffalo Clothing Co., as well as a sweatshirt, Valentine’s Day spongelle, napkins, candy, pencils, a pin, and a tea towel from Wrapped Gift Boutique, gift certificates and merch from Copper Penny Pub, Ouachita Bar & Grill, and the Ohio Club. With recommendations for the best dining, shopping and entertainment in the city, the Hot Springs Downtown Association makes planning the next date night easy.

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Value: $600 629 Central Ave. Hot Springs 501-321-1700 | downtownhotsprings.org

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home

Function

Form Meets

Household Solutions combines time-honored craftsmanship with modern touches

By KELLI REEP // Photos by LORI SPARKMAN

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J

ustin White, owner of Household Solutions and Smedley Cabinets in Hot Springs has spent three of his four decades of life in construction. Starting as a shop hand for his father making trim for cabinets at age 10, White got his contractor’s license in 2000 and has expanded his offerings through Household Solutions to flooring, countertops, lighting, custom pools, boat docks and more.

Today, White focuses on new home construction, repairs and restoration, kitchen and bathroom remodeling and other home upgrades within 50 miles of Hot Springs.

“Our priority is quality,” he said. “It’s important to us to build beyond our client’s expectations. We focus on top-of-the line products we can get without delay, so our homeowners get their project within the budget and timeframe we provide them.”

White came to this working philosophy after having worked on homes for other contractors.

“You start out installing trim work, and you discover plumbing that is in the wrong place,” he said. “That led me to start understanding plumbing and installing it correctly, which led me to studying electricity and learning effective and efficient wiring. Eventually, I started thinking, ‘Why couldn’t I build a whole house?’ I decided to get my contractor’s license, and that’s how I started Household Solutions.”

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aymag.com

Continuing his father’s legacy of creating and installing custom cabinetry helped White expand his capabilities.

“I went from custom cabinets to carpentry and worked for other builders,” he said. “From there, I started doing remodels for kitchens and bathrooms. Word got out I could do this, and then people would ask me to do other projects for them. I said, ‘Why not? Let me try this.’

“Kitchen and bath remodels can make a huge improvement in your home’s value. If you are wondering how to make your home more functional and beautiful at the same time, I’d recommend starting with these two rooms.”

Remodeling a kitchen or bathroom is a solid investment, averaging a return on investment of more than 50 percent. Specifically, kitchen remodels have a national average of about 53 percent to 71 percent return on investment, according to Remodeling Magazine's 2022 Cost vs. Value Report. However, larger and more extensive remodel projects see lower returns than smaller projects, according to the same report.

“Kitchens are vital, and people still need those remodeled,” White said. “Right now, I get more calls for bathroom remodels than ones for kitchens. I’m not sure if that’s completely because the kitchens have already been updated or if they are just more modern from the original builds. Regardless, looking at remodeling your kitchen and/or bathroom is more an investment in your home and its subsequent sale than any other home improvement you could do.”

White's goals have been helped along by close working relationships with other professionals, such as the partnership he's enjoyed with longtime interior designer Sandy Sutton, president of Sandy Sutton's Design Center in Hot Springs.

"Justin and I began working together five years ago and in that time period we have done many projects together of various sizes and styles," Sutton said. "We soon realized that we had the same goals of quality work and attention to our clients and their wishes. Our staff fit together well, and the projects ran smoothly and led to new projects.

Justin White, owner of Household Solutions in Hot Springs, began his career building cabinets at age 10 and has now grown into whole-house construction.

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"About a year ago we began discussing designing and building a home for a client. Justin and I worked closely with him to select the finishes and design the house. We worked together to design the home from top to bottom, inside and out. I then selected furnishings, art, rugs etcetera to finish out the house to compliment his style. We are currently in the final stages of designing and building a luxury showroom with full vignettes focused on kitchen and baths with flooring, tile, lighting, cabinetry and plumbing. Our idea of offering design-build services came naturally, and we are excited about the future."

White continued rounding out his expertise and building services by recently getting into custom swimming pool construction. As with the other segments of his business, he sought to exceed the expectations of a growing list of homeowners.

“I started building custom pools the same way I started my building career,” he said. “I saw the need was there and I wanted my clients to have the best possible experience when investing so much money and space in one thing.

“Swimming pools are such a vital part of the outdoor space, so we take a lot of pride in well-thought-out designs and paying close attention to elevations and all of the plumbing and electrical so the owner will have a dependable, trouble-free pool for years to come. It’s helped Household Solutions set itself apart from other contractors because we do more than the average contractor.”

As the company expanded and refined its services, White also increased his presence to make it easier for clients to find him and discuss projects.

“We expanded our new showroom, Household Solutions, at 4112 Central Ave. in Hot Springs,” he said. “It is our goal to give better customer service, whether you are a contractor like us or a homeowner, so that your order is worked on very quickly, you receive good pricing and on-time delivery. We also wanted to bring to Hot Springs all the luxury finishes into one convenient showroom.”

White says the ability to provide a turnkey service for his clients allows him more control over the job, which allows him to control the schedule for installations and construction. He combined his various expertise in home construction, custom cabinetry, countertops fabrication, custom pools and boat docks to build a complete smart home on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs.

The home, which is 4,500 square feet, sleeps 27 people, has a complete game room with pool table, a pool and boat dock, and each room has an en suite bath. Luxury appointments can be found throughout.

“When designing this home, I loved the idea of incorporating the barrel ceiling and arched architecture but still keeping it modern,” he said. “I saw the similar barrel ceiling over the famous Fremont Street in Las Vegas and it gave me the idea for the strip lights on the barrel ceiling. I worked extensively with the automation company to design a random pattern to give it a similar look.

“In this home we went to the next level using Dekton countertops, Isenburg faucets, Emser flooring, Dal tile, Ruvati sinks and Flourco tubs. Dekton can be used outside, unlike quartz, and also comes in sheets perfect for wall applications. We used it on the fireplace walls, shower walls and in the kitchen. Isenburg Faucets are made of German steel with modern styling; Ruvati sinks have industry-leading versatility and Flourco tubs are classy and sleek. Even the lighted mirrors are by Flourco and come standard with defoggers and can come with colorchanging lights.”

White said bathroom remodels offer a high returnon-investment rate.

Constructed as a rental home on the western side of Lake Hamiliton, the home is packed with futuristic whole home automation that boggles the mind.

“People want to vacation with their entire family or with friends, so having one place where they can be together and provide them with all manner of things to do is important,” he said. “This home is a fully smart home and can be operated from an app on your smartphone.”

Smart homes are outfitted with smart devices and systems, which enhance efficiency, security, comfort, and overall management of the home. All these aspects are connected and controlled via internet connection using one main hub and app called Control4. Many people are familiar with systems that allow appliances to turn on before arriving at home or begin washing clothes after the occupant leaves for work. Fully smart homes, by contrast, offer so much more, starting with smart lighting, which users can control the intensity and color of remotely.

“One key feature of the automated lights is scene selections that allow you to turn them all on in a particular pattern and color with one touch,” said White.

“The ‘all off ’ setting is very good for saving expenses when leaving or at bedtime. We also took the lighting to the next level using a Pixil tape light. This allows the lights to be different colors and move in patterns. This is a much more interesting light than the solid color RGB of the past.”

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White said the smart home he designed as a vacation rental will be the model for his family home.

Smart sensors detect motion, open doors and windows, and complete other activities for enhanced security.

Entertainment is another big draw for new homeowners and renters, White said, and the showpiece home delivers that, as well, maximizing the occupant’s experience. Smart TVs connect to the internet for streaming content and integrate with other smart devices, such as smart speakers, which are voice-activated devices that can control other smart devices and provide information. Media centers centralize these functions for managing and streaming music, movies and other multimedia content.

Home management also includes refrigerators, ovens and washing machines with connectivity and other advanced features to allow the homeowner or renter to schedule chores while in or out of the home.

“It doesn’t completely eliminate chores, but it does make them easier to manage,” White says. “You may still have to sort laundry and place it in the washer and dryer, but you can start either from your smartphone while away so you can come home to clean clothes to fold, hang and put away.”

As one can imagine, energy consumption for a home that can sleep upward of 27 people will use a ton of energy. That is where smart homes are particularly effective in managing costs. Smart meters monitor and manage energy consumption in real time while smart thermostats adjust heating and cooling based on occupancy and usage patterns. Energy-efficient lighting provides automated light control to save energy as well.

While smart homes like the one White has constructed offer convenience and efficiency, it is important for renters to prioritize their security and privacy. This home utilizes Control4, a leading provider of smart home automation systems. The key features of Control4 systems include home control, entertainment, climate control, security, intercom and communication. It allows the homeowner or renter to coordinate virtually all connected devices in the house to create a personalized experience with solutions to maximize comfort, convenience, entertainment and peace of mind. The system provides easy operation for the whole family, allowing them to dim lights, play music, manage heat and air, lock doors, arm the security system and more.

White, who has a 16-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, is so sold with the potential of the smart home of the future he plans to build his family’s forever home in the same style as the futuristic project he has completed on Lake Hamiliton.

“This home was built as a vacation rental, and I wanted to work out the kinks on it before building our own smart home,” he said. “The features that really had me sold on using automation are the control of HVAC, showstopping lights, locks, camera, security, pool functions, including being able to start the hot tub on my way home, and wholehome entertainment and music.

“I want to give our kids a few years of a home with all the fun and amenities before they go out on their own. It’s important to me to make the home I live in, and the ones I build for others, as high-quality as possible.”

“People want to vacation with their entire family or with friends, so having one place where they can be together and provide them with all manner of things to do is important.”

Similarly, smart thermostats regulate heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for energy efficiency while smart plugs and outlets enable control over traditional appliances by making them compatible with smart home systems. To enhance energy efficiency even further, smart blinds and curtains can adjust based on time of day or user preferences.

Safety and security features of the smart home include cameras that provide real-time video surveillance, which is accessible remotely and even allows the homeowner or renter the ability to talk with someone entering the home’s property.

Smart doorbells also allow users to see and communicate with visitors at their doorstep via a mobile app while smart locks enable keyless entry and remote monitoring of door access.

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Interior Designer specializing in luxury home furnishings, new construction, kitchen and bath design as well as commercial remodeling and construction.

501.624.6700 | SandySuttonsDesigns.com

Provider of windows, doors, trims, mouldings, siding, ceilings, finishing products & more.

Modern & Contemporary Luxury Bathroom & Kitchen Plumbing Fixtures. Provider of faucets.

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Chic and Unique Casa Bella offers beautiful, quality furnishings

By KELLI REEP // Photos provided

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he price of everything is going up: food, transportation, entertainment, utilities and even furniture. As Arkansans navigate how to make their budgets stretch more to cover all the necessities of life, Casa Bella in Hot Springs is helping them maintain their aesthetic with high-end furniture for the home and office.

Brenda Leaton, founder and owner of Casa Bella, makes it a priority to find the best quality furniture, sometimes for 50 percent of the price of new. She founded Casa Bella in 2010 and will celebrate the shop’s 14th anniversary in April. AY About You caught up with her recently to talk about the shop’s expanded showroom and how consignment furniture helps Arkansans create personalized, unique spaces in their homes and offices.

AY About You: Casa Bella is such a beautiful place to visit and shop.

How did you get started in consignment furniture? Were you a designer or interior decorator?

Brenda Leaton: I’ve always had a passion for decorating and beautiful furnishings. Over the years, I’ve taken different courses, and the consignment furniture business always piqued my interest. I am amazed at how unique the pieces are and how one piece can set the tone for an entire room’s look.

Several people approached me about starting my own consignment shop, and after looking into it, I chose to pursue that route. I’m originally from Hot Springs — my family moved here in 1974 —so I wanted to remain in the city because this is home to me. That was in 2010, and Casa Bella has been at the same address with the same owner all these years.

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AY: What kinds of furnishings does Casa Bella have? Is it just for homes, or do you have items for offices?

Leaton: We provide anything and everything for the home or office.

AY: Why do you think people choose high-end consignment furniture over new, or what they’re calling “fast furniture,” which is the kind of furniture you get at big-box stores and other department store outlets?

Leaton: It’s definitely quality. The furniture we have in the store is name brand, and is made of real wood and will last for a long time.

You get much more value for your dollar here, and of course, there are things here you won’t find in anyone else’s home.

AY: How do you go about getting your consignments?

Leaton: If someone approaches me about consigning their furniture, I ask them to email me photos, and I can determine from those if the furniture is something I think I can sell. Several times, I’ve had entire homes of furnishings someone wanted to consign with me due to downsizing to a smaller home, redecorating or relocating to a new area. If there are a lot of furnishings and I’ve determined they will work well in my store, I will go to the home and choose what items to sell in Casa Bella.

AY: So if someone is interested in putting their furniture on consignment with you, all they have to do is email the photos to you at consigncasabella@gmail.com?

Leaton: Yes, but I’m really choosy about what I select for the store.

The inventory in Casa Bella has little wear and tear, if any, and the furniture must come from a reputable name brand [and be] made from quality materials.

AY: Who would you say is your typical client?

Leaton: In general, the typical Casa Bella client is female, age 45 or older. This describes both the client who buys from Casa Bella, as well as consigns with us. They understand quality furniture is beautiful, wellmade and will last for a long time. They have their own design aesthetic and understand what will and won’t work within it. The clients we serve at Casa Bella are more selective in what they purchase and want quality.

However, our customer base is growing with more and more younger clients who see the value in our furniture.

AY: Can someone purchase jewelry or handbags online?

Leaton: Yes. Our new website is consigncasabella.com, and most things we have in the store, including our furniture, are available online. Shopify powers it, so if you see something in the store and decide later you want to buy it, you can purchase it from our site from the convenience of your smartphone, laptop or tablet, or a customer can call and pay over the phone with a credit card and pick up later.

AY: What, in your opinion, sets Casa Bella apart from other consignment or new furniture stores?

Leaton: Consignment furniture and decor is not what a lot of people think it is. The reality of consignment furniture is very high-quality furnishings and very unique items. What we have in Casa Bella, you won’t find in other stores. If you have a particular style, you are more likely to find items in Casa Bella than in new-furniture or department stores.

We are more apt to fit your individual style aesthetic because we have everything from A to Z. Even if you are just window shopping, you may find a perfect piece for your home at an incredible price.

Our reputation is such that if you see something you like, purchase it then, or it will be gone. Our turnover rate is really fast, and our inventory comes in and goes out just as quickly. We also hold regular sales where items are reduced according to how long they’ve been on the floor. If you see something you like but can’t quite purchase right then, keep an eye online or in-store for the sales. We are very active on our Facebook and Instagram pages at Casa Bella Hot Springs and post new arrivals every Friday and throughout the week. Casa Bella also offers a 30-day layaway, which is popular among customers.

AY: You recently reconfigured your shop and now have more showroom floor space. What led you to take on this project?

Leaton: I had a large room in the back of the store that I used just for storage. A year ago, I decided to clean that out and use the space for additional showroom [space]. It added about 30 percent of floor space.

By taking what I had in our existing showroom and repurposing it, it allowed more options for our clients when they come to shop. We offer everything for the home or office, and we even offer patio and outdoor furniture seasonally.

AY: You recently began consigning luxury handbags, and you also are selling French Kande jewelry. Can you talk a little about what led you to expand into these products? What can your clients expect when they peruse these in your shop?

Leaton: I saw a need here in our area for luxury handbag consignment, and we now offer Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Prada, Fendi and more. We ensure every one of our handbags is 100-percent authentic before offering them for sale in the shop. I either authenticate them or use a service that will authenticate them. Those who are considering purchasing one can rest assured that what they are purchasing is real and of the best quality.

French Kande is a jewelry line established in 2009 in Los Angeles by a woman named Kande Hall. She was visiting Paris, and she happened upon these little medallions. According to the founder, she thought the pieces were so stylish and captivating and unlike anything she had ever seen. She purchased a handful of gifts for friends and family, but after a few months of being back in the United States, she clasped an old medallion onto an opera-length strand of pearls, and something clicked.

Today, French Kande is sold in more than 600 high-end specialty boutiques, including Casa Bella. The pieces are all handmade with very high-quality materials. The design is kind of boho chic.

AY: Do you have interior designers and decorators utilize your shop?

Leaton: Yes, designers and decorators use us for private homes, vacation rentals and other rental properties and offices. More and more people are buying vacation homes and condominiums for short-term rental in Hot Springs, and they come to Casa Bella to furnish the entire space.

AY: Can someone hire you to find certain pieces for them?

Leaton: The way we manage this is a customer who is looking for a certain piece can leave their contact information with me, and if something like what they are looking for comes in, I will contact them first.

AY: What is your message to someone who has never visited your store before and may be reluctant to try it?

Leaton: After 14 years at 325 Broadway St. in Hot Springs, I’ve learned a lot about what the people in central Arkansas are looking for in home decor. I welcome anyone to visit us to find a piece that speaks to them, whether it’s furniture, handbags or jewelry. Our store is an oasis; when you walk in, you will find it to be a surprising discovery. Outside, it’s a simple, red-brick building, but when you walk in, it’s like you’ve walked into a luxury hotel or boutique.

In addition to furnishings, Casa Bella offers designer jewelry and handbags.

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ROCK SOLID

As this stunner attests, River Valley Builders raises construction to an art form.

Builders look forward to showcasing craft through Central Arkansas Home & Garden Show

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By Dwain Hebda // Photos provided

s COVID-19 restrictions and supply-chain snarls have become a thing of the past, the demand by homeowners for remodels and new builds has reached a fever pitch.

AY About You sat down with some in-demand builders to discover what is new in the market, what keeps the builders in the industry and how they continue to provide the best for their clients in central Arkansas.

YOUNG GUN

Nathan Cooper may represent a new generation of builders in Little Rock, but the 14-year veteran of the local residential construction market follows the same time-honored traditions of craftsmanship and pride that have ruled the industry for decades. For that, the Little Rock native said, he has the Home Builders Association of Greater Little Rock to thank because it bridges generations of builders in the central Arkansas market.

“I became a member through the company I worked for previously,” he said. “My former employer had been past president and was involved for 20, 30 years, and he really got me involved in the mid-2000s. When I started my own company, I placed a value on becoming a member and becoming involved.

Cooper's fine “I was on the board of directors, and I now craftsmanship shows serve as a life director. Three years ago, I took on in every room of every a role as a national delegate, essentially a national project. representative from our local association. I’ll go and participate in three meetings per year and [at] those meetings, hear what other cities and states are dealing with, and then bring that back to our association to help us keep abreast on all the issues that involve our industry.”

Cooper said while his role brings in a national scope to the work of the home builders group, the primary focus is on local members and the local market. This has driven many of the activities of the association, including the cornerstone Central Arkansas Home & Garden Show, which returns to the Arkansas State Fairgrounds in Little Rock in March. He said while many see the show as merely sales opportunities, he sees a bigger, more service-oriented side to the two-day event.

“This [show] provides an excellent opportunity to come meet with reputable, licensed, qualified builders that can help them lay out a plan,” he said. “One of the things we’ve always had at the show is what we call the Ask the Builder Booth.

We will have various builders man that booth throughout the weekend, so if a customer just doesn’t know where to start, we’ll walk them through that. It’s not a sales booth; it’s literally just we’re there to answer questions that the general public has about any part of the building process.”

“The pandemic is almost a Cooper got into the construction business relatively early in life, discovering in high school division line in how we used that he had a passion for building things.

“I like the aspect of being able to see visually to see things and how we see at the end of the day what you’ve accomplished,” things now. I would do a lot of he said.

This led him to work steadily for construckitchen and bath remodels where tion companies while attending college for three Nathan Cooper it was, ‘We have this space, but years at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and then finishing his degree in construcwe want to make it nicer or more efficient.’ Posttion management at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. pandemic, I’m seeing a lot of people add space, Cooper hung his own shingle in 2010, and whether that’s adding outside space or whether today, Little Rock-based River Valley Builders is a respected name in the residential market. that’s adding on to their house.”

“We focus on custom projects. I would say we’re probably 70 percent high-end custom re— Nathan Cooper, modeling, and then the other 30 percent is new owner of River Valley Builders construction. Everything we do is for an owner, nothing speculative.”

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River Valley Builders combines modern and traditional elements.

The needs and wants of clients have evolved over the past 14 years, Cooper said. Today’s clients have shifted from remodels that are merely cosmetic to more elaborate projects that add space to the existing home.

“The pandemic is almost a division line in how we used to see things and how we see things now,” he said. “I would do a lot of kitchen and bath remodels where it was, ‘We have this space, but we want to make it nicer or more efficient.’ Post-pandemic, I’m seeing a lot of people add space, whether that’s adding outside space or whether that’s adding on to their house.

“I think people have realized that they want to spread out a little bit more. They need office space to work from home, or they have various needs where they want to be able to have family over at the house, rather than going out. That’s a lot of what I’ve seen over the last few years.”

This attitude has carried over to new home construction as owners are dreaming bigger about what they want included in the projects.

“Every build is different, and everybody’s needs are different,” Cooper said. “With the way home values have gone, people want the house to represent that home value, and so they’re adding certain features in the house that fit their lifestyles. That could be an exercise room or an office/library type of space or a double-island kitchen where they have a big family and they want everybody in the kitchen — or maybe it’s a $100,000 outdoor living space with a fireplace so they can extend that square footage in the outside.”

Cooper said the primary advantage he has as a builder in the local market is the ability to stay light on his feet and adapt to the demands of each individual project. This attribute, as well as the quality of the finished product, has kept his work docket full.

“We can provide all the services, but we can also not provide services

if they have a designer they want to work with, if they have an architect they want to work with,” he said. “If a customer brings me a set of plans that they worked with an architect on, we can run with that, but we’ll also get calls from people who don’t know where to start. We hook them up with an outside architect or an outside designer that we work hand in hand with.

“Having that flexibility in meeting customers’ needs is something that has really set us apart. We work with just about everybody.”

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A FAMILY AFFAIR

Little Rock-based Dillon Homes & Real Estate has a long history of quality work in the local market, having formed in 2005. Today, the company is busier than ever, staying on top of demand thanks to the inclusion of four family members involved in the business: the husband and wife team of Tony and Janet Dillon and the couple’s sons, Chase and Bo. “We divide and conquer,” Janet said.

“We’re all four general contractors, and we all four take our own projects. We normally all meet with the client, or at least three of us, and then we decide who’s got it, who has enough room on their plate and who they’re a fit with. There’s always a lead on every project, and we’re all involved in every project, but one of us is the actual lead.”

“The first year we brought our boys on board, it was interesting,” Tony said. “They were asking a lot of questions, and I’d pull up my spreadsheets, and they let me know that technology had passed me by. Now they’ve brought us on board to where we have all kinds of systems in place. It really works very well for our company.”

The Dillons' home creations provide style, comfort and value for the money.

During their time in business, the family behind Dillon Homes and Real Estate has seen a little bit of everything in the local market. Primarily We can help from the design stage all the way up to the build stage.” serving central Arkansas, the family has been known to take work Janet said the current trend in new homes is to build larger; as ownjust about anywhere as the opportunity presents itself. Janet said ers are more home-based in all areas of their lives, they want enough it is a point of pride to be able to mold to a wide range of projects, space to run the gamut of usage and activities. bringing quality and craftsmanship to each one.

“Ever since the pandemic, everyone wants the office in their home,” “Our specialty is cusshe said. “They want a place for their kids to be able to play. There are so tom home building, but many things that they’re needing to keep at home in case this were ever we don’t have specific to happen again. I think that calls for more square footage. Several of sizes,” she said. “We’ll our clients say they’re down-sizing, but they’re still going large.” build all sizes, all types.

“There’s been more thought to all the family members,” Tony said.

“There’s a strong trend to in-law quarters for aging parents in the last several years. We’ve also been a leader in designing areas for entertainment. Ever since the pandemic, patios have almost doubled in size. People realized during COVID-19 that they were spending “We divide and all this time at home, and there wasn’t anything to do or get excited about. That led to more enterconquer. We’re all four taining, bigger patio sizes, the outdoor kitchens, general contractors, and the fireplaces. People really want to create that atmosphere that, when you’re at home, it gives you we all four take our own more of a reason to want to be there.” projects. We normally In addition to new technology brought about by their sons, Tony and Janet both said jobs have all meet with the client, or at least three of become easier to manage in recent years as supplychain issues have smoothed out. Tony said the lesus, and then we decide who’s got it, who has sons of the pandemic era have also created better enough room on their plate and who they’re processes that keep jobs moving.

“During the time it was taking over a year or a fit with.” more to get some appliances, especially the upperend ones, we’ve developed what I like to call to— Janet Dillon day’s normal,” he said. “The trick is these days to co-owner of Dillon Homes & Real Estate be very timely when you’re ordering things. Today, we’re ordering appliances when we draft a project,

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Despite the economy, Dillon Homes has remained in high demand. where before COVID, it wouldn’t take but three weeks, max, to get appliances.

“Windows are the same way. You used to be able to get them in three or four weeks. Then a couple of years ago, it took six months, and now we’re somewhat less than that, but it’s not like it was pre-pandemic, and it will probably never be that again. We’ve had to adjust to that.”

Another resource that has helped the Dillons weather good times and bad in the local market is the Home Builders Association of Greater Little Rock, of which they are longtime members.

“As a past president and present board member for over 10 years, the HBA here in Little Rock has always been there to support our members and the many phases of the building process,” Tony said. “If you’re looking for a builder, plumber, electrical, HVAC, lighting, flooring, etc., you can find someone in the HBA where our members support using members. Along with that, we have educational seminars on new products and services throughout the year.

“It’s a great place to meet people in the business one on one during our member functions to support your products and services, and that’s a key factor at the HBA.” Along with that, the couple is excited to attend the association’s annual home and garden show, which they said is showing the most traction since the pandemic.

“I’m excited about it,” Tony said. “[As an event] we’re kind of getting back on track. We have on-site professionals in a family-friendly atmosphere. In 2024, whether you’re looking to build, remodel or start a garden in the spring, the home and garden show is really the place to be.

If you have questions, we have the answers.”

A LEGACY IN HOME BUILDING

Leveraging three generations in Arkansas residential and commercial construction has given Clark McCarley of McCarley Construction in Little Rock a unique skill set in his stock and trade, growing the 15-year-old company into a sought-after builder.

“My family were home builders backing up to 1949 in West Memphis — my grandfather, my father and now me,” he said. “McCarley and Co. was our original company, and we were in the development, construction and real estate business. We moved it to Little Rock in 1987, when my father was in the real estate appraisal and property management business.

“I kind of took that over, changed it to McCarley Construction in 2010, and we’ve been going ever since.”

The company focuses on remodels, especially working with duck clubs, which McCarley has carved into a unique market niche.

“Well, I’m a huge duck hunter, first and foremost,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to know a lot of people within the duck hunting industry both from the private sector and the corporate sector. I’ve made a lot of connections with those guys, and they want to see their duck clubs nice, and they’ve got the money to spend on it. We’ve been blessed to have them call on us to do those projects.”

A McCarley Construction home makes a beautiful statement both inside and out.

McCarley said the remainder of his business — remodeling — has been going full bore ever since 2020 due to a combination of COVID-19 restrictions and the runaway real estate market that made moving into a new house more difficult for a lot of people. This has allowed him to run at “We’re here to do it full capacity of work just on Little Rock projects. right and do it right the “The residential market, as far as being able to find a new house or a house for sale, has been minimal, so homeowners first time. We’re fair have decided, ‘Well, since we’re going to be homebound for however this time period is going to be, let’s just remodel to our customers and it,’ ” he said. “We’ve gone from smaller remodels to today, clients, and that has where some people are practically rebuilding an old house and making it new. It’s been pretty chaotic. We’ve been very made it possible for us blessed to stay as busy as we have been.” to be here for the long term.”

The amount of work McCarley Construction takes on has not come without challenges. A couple of years ago, the — Clark McCarley issue was laying hands on building supplies and being held owner of McCarley Construction up by supply-chain woes, and while that has leveled off, other elements have not.

“Materials these days, not bad,” he said. “It’s more the labor force, and that is more due to the tornado’s damage in Little Rock than anything. I’ve got six full-time guys that It’s just something that I feel I need to be a part of and that I am proud pretty much consist of carpenters and everything else we sub out. Meto be a part of.” chanical, heating, air, plumbing, electric, roofing siding, masonry — all One event McCarley is particularly excited about is the annual home of that is subbed out. and garden show, which brings homeowners and craftspeople under one “I don’t micromanage my guys. They know what I expect. They know roof. He said the show continues to grow in popularity and attendance what to do. I treat them fairly, and I take care of them, and that’s the due to the variety and instructional nature of the exhibitors. only way I know how to do business.”

“The home show includes a wide variety of industries within the McCarley said the upshot of his relationship with his workers has construction and home and garden industries,” he said. “We’ve got Grebeen a stellar reputation for quality work in the local market. Little Rock enway coming this year. There will be window companies, siding comis still a market where reputation precedes a company, and he said he is panies. Lumber 1 is our major sponsor. Anybody who’s fixing to build a proud of how McCarley Construction has become known. house or redo a house ought to go and look at everything under one roof “If it’s something that somebody wants to cut corners or kind of be versus having to go to multiple locations to look at stuff. on the low end, I’m not your person, just from a reputation standpoint.

“I think every year going forward, [the show] will just get bigger We don’t cut corners,” he said. “We’re here to do it right and do it right and bigger. Now that COVID guidelines per se have kind of dropped the first time. We’re fair to our customers and clients, and that has made off, I think there will be more vendors and more participation and more it possible for us to be here for the long term.” consumers coming through the door.”

McCarley also has a stellar reputation among his peer builders, and As for the future of the company, McCarley Construction is in he has been very active in the Home Builders Association of Greater good hands and poised for a fourth generation to continue the family Little Rock to help improve the local industry for all. legacy.

“I’m the vice president this year for the association,” he said. “You “We have been so blessed to have had the work and made the relaknow it’s just such a great network of builders, associate builders, associtionships that we have over the last 60, 70 years,” he said. “We’re still a ate members, just people within the industry, all have a good reputation. small, family business. My brother works for me. My sons are 21, 18 and We all refer each other business. We have an amazing executive director.

15, and they work for me in the summer. One works for me full-time.

My guys are my family. We’re here for the long haul.”

Beautiful touches and attention to detail sets McCarley's work apart from the competition.

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Find your everything.

Homes are meant for living — and ours are made for living well.

Gorgeous spaces. Upscale amenities. Scenic beauty. All in thoughtfully planned communities where work and play naturally come together. Looking for a lot or home in your ideal neighborhood?

Connect with our trusted Realtors® today.

chenalproperties.com | 7 Chenal Club Boulevard | Little Rock, Arkansas 72223 | 501-821-9108

PotlatchDeltic is an expert at selling quality real estate. Having established some of the most sought-after developments in Central Arkansas, including Chenal Valley in Little Rock and Red Oak Ridge in Hot Springs, the company also offers a wide variety of recreational properties for sale around the state.

2024 Home Guide

Parkinson Building Group

I

n 1999, Bill Parkinson saw the state of the new construction market and knew he could make something better. Twentyfive years later, Parkinson Building Group continues to go above and beyond for its clients while designing and building beautiful, fully custom homes across central Arkansas.

Parkinson and his team are motivated by each client’s desire to build something truly special. A custom home is often the culmination of years of dreaming and hard work, and Parkinson Building Group brings those long-awaited visions to life with the best products, subcontractors and service available.

Parkinson’s unique approach, based on building the best team for the needs of each job, sets the company apart and makes it a go-to for clients long after the sale. The team’s main goal with every project is to help clients not just get through the building process, but enjoy it as they work hand in hand to tackle the myriad decisions and obstacles that come with custom home construction.

“We have worked over the last five years to create wonderful teams of individuals to help our company execute the projects that we are blessed to work on,” Parkinson said. “This allows us to help more individuals reach their goals with their projects. We encourage people who call us to ask our past clients about their experiences. We value customer satisfaction and quality, and it is reflected in our reputation in the industry.”

That reputation is truly something to be admired. Parkinson’s years of experience, coupled with his long-tenured team members, make for consistent results, no matter what happens in the ever-evolving construction industry. Parkinson’s teams have the network and relationships to address issues as they arise with as little impact on the owner as possible — a feat that less-seasoned professionals may struggle to overcome.

For those whose dream home is still a dream, Parkinson advised spending the time up front on detailed planning and selections. It is exciting to start on the project of a lifetime and for good reason, but careful work in the early stages will help ensure things go smoothly, saving owners time and money.

Parkinson is a proud member and past board member of the Home Builders Association of Greater Little Rock and the National Home Builders Association. Parkinson Building Group is one of only three accredited Southern Living Custom Builders in the state and collaborates with top home builders all over the country. In addition to scores of testimonials, the company has been featured in all manner of publications and has won numerous awards for its work.

“We feel blessed to have this level of resources, support and accreditation behind our name,” Parkinson said.

18122 Cantrell Road, Little Rock

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US ONE OF THE BEST IN ARKANSAS!

BUILDING CUSTOM HOMES WITH PRECISION AND CARE. We’re a custom home building firm that is focused on your needs and desires. We work with you to identify the perfect lot, design a plan and budget, and build a place you’ll love to come home to forever.

See our best work at ParkinsonBuildingGroup.com 501.954.8570

2024 Home Guide

River Rock Builders

R

iver Rock Builders in Little Rock was founded by Patty and Keith Wingfield in 1999. For more than two decades, the company has brought dream homes to life through state-of-the-art virtual technology and superior energy efficiency. River Rock homes are not only some of the most dazzling in the state; they are also some of the most innovative.

Keith is a certified graduate builder, certified green professional and LEED AP, and River Rock is the most active Energy Star Builder in central Arkansas. In fact, River Rock built only the third single-family home in the world to meet LEED v4.1 Platinum standards. The project was the nationwide winner of Outstanding Single Family Project of the

Year and People’s Choice Residential Project of the Year by the United States Green Building Council.

Also setting the company apart is its unique design-build concept. Using in-house 3D design capabilities, the River Rock team can give clients the ability to virtually walk the space of their dream home before it becomes reality. This gives both client and builder a deeper insight into the space and the client’s expectations before a single piece is put into place.

Each River Rock project is carefully tailored, and every home is built with high-performance materials and systems to provide the healthiest, most comfortable, most durable and most energy-efficient homes in central Arkansas.

2024 Arkansas Valley Drive, Suite 503 • Little Rock / 501-416-8986 / riverrockbuilders.net

Because Keith and his team are eager to accept a challenge, they also have a penchant for building on difficult terrain. Whether it is a charming home built on a steep hillside, something modern perched on a ridge or a transitional-styled home hanging off both sides of a mountain, there is hardly a limit to what location they will take on next.

“I often say that we are married to the client during construction and, in some cases, forever.” Keith said. “We have to work together to achieve a common goal, much like a husband and wife work together to make a good marriage. Our ultimate goal is always the same on every project, and that is to make the customer happy. We want customers to have the home of their own dreams.”

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Another Net Zero Energy home for River Rock Builders

Green building

is fundamentally about living with clean air in a healthier environment, using sustainable materials, and lowering energy costs.

We are a team of custom home builders, specializing in the design and construction of high-quality, high-performance homes.

CUSTOM

home builders

501-416-8986 | RiverRockBuilders.net | Little Rock, Arkansas

2024 Home Guide

All American Heat & Air

A

ll American Heat & Air offers residential and commercial HVAC service, sales, installation, maintenance and repairs, in addition to air-duct cleaning, air purification and new homebuyer inspections. Owners Justin and Danielle Fox understand that every home needs HVAC, and every homeowner deserves to work with a company that can be trusted and offers prices that are fair.

Every member of the All American Heat & Air team is licensed and certified, available 24/7 year-round, and makes customer satisfaction their No. 1 priority.

The motto of All American Heat & Air is, “We are personable. We are professional. We are proud.” That commitment shows, clients throughout central Arkansas can attest. The company is family-owned and operated, and they know how important it is to stick to a budget. All American Heat & Air gives customers all the information they need about their system to make an informed decision, and they offer preventative maintenance plans that can save time and money down the road. The company is also proud to provide 15 percent discounts to all military, first responders, doctors, nurses, teachers, and seniors 55 and older.

Top-shelf service without top-shelf prices — that is the All American way.

Sherwood / 501-920-2494 / allamericanheatandair.net

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL HVAC SERVICE • SALES • INSTALLATION • MAINTENANCE • REPAIRS • FREE ESTIMATES • FINANCING AVAILABLE • Available 24/7 365 days • We offer Emergency HVAC Services • Become a service agreement client and SAVE • Discounts for Military, First Responders, Doctors, Nurses, Teachers & Senior Citizens (55+)

We are Personable. We are Professional. We are Proud!

HVACR # 0005769 Licensed, Insured and Bonded!

Certified HVAC Technicians (501) 920-2494 www.AllAmericanHeatandAir.net 40

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home

It’s a Garden Thing, You Dig?

Garden vendors brace for big rush at annual show

By Dwain Hebda // Photos provided

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B

y the time the Central Arkansas Home & Garden Show opens its doors for its two-day stand at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds, spring fever among area gardeners will have already reached a fever pitch. It is generally too early in the Arkansas growing season for going whole-hog out in the yard, but that does not stop those who live in the dirt from scooping up every plant they can get their hands on.

Adam Wells, president of Lumber 1 Home Center, experienced the carnage firsthand last year during the inaugural year of the show’s expansion to include garden plants and decor.

“I believe we sold out of all live plants sometime midway through the first day of the show and had to bring in more merchandise,” Wells said. “I think we’re prepared this year with a little more robust inventory and backup inventory. I’m sure word has spread, though; people better get Adam Wells there early if they want to get their pick of what we’ve got in stock.”

The garden side of Lumber 1 has steadily grown to claim more market share in areas where its stores operate. Wells said the company’s Mayflower location has set a high bar for the company’s other stores to reach, including the soon-to-open Little Rock location.

“We’re very proud of our garden center, especially at our Mayflower location. It’s become a destination,” he said. “I will tell you that is due in no small part to our garden center manager there, Marta Mobbs, who is an excellent resource. She’s been in the forest industry and been running our garden center for about five years now, and she’s not only incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, but very skilled in selecting live plants and the associated craft and decor-type things that go along with the garden center. We’re proud of that. “[Garden] has really become a focal point of our business, which has been a pleasant change over the last five years. We’ve heard of people coming from as far as Memphis, [Tenn.] We regularly get people from Russellville and Hot Springs coming just to shop at our garden center there.”

Wells’ company is not only a vendor for this year’s show, returning to the Hall of Industry at the fairgrounds, but Lumber 1 is also the presenting sponsor for the event, which will bring the best in ideas for the home and yard.

“At Lumber 1, we want to be present and support the great Little Rock builder community,” he said. “I’ve served on the board of directors for the Home Builders Association of Greater Little Rock for the last five years and really believe that it’s important to support our home builders, who provide so much quality housing for the community.

“As far as the show itself is concerned, last year felt like one of the best-attended shows that I can remember, if not the best. Late winter, early spring is the perfect time to be doing it because people are thinking about building a house, redoing a house, not just through builders, but do-it-yourselfers. With the garden show incorporated now, I think it’s really set the stage for growth.”

Prior to last year, the homebuilders and the garden crowd ran in concentric circles, and the Home Show peacefully coexisted with the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show. However, dwindling participation forced the latter event to end its 30-year run in 2021. Organizers of the Home Show, sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Little Rock, saw the opportunity to fill a need.

Nursery stock brings out the spring fever in Arkansas gardeners.

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Whether perennial or annual, the upcoming Central Arkansas Home & Garden Show will showcase plenty of ideas for the yard.

“What’s so wonderful about this show, especially with the addition starting last year of the garden show, as well, is you get to see so many vendors from so many different specialties that showcase what they can do,” Wells said. “What I find in visiting with people who are attending the show is they come out of it pleasantly surprised that there is a product that they weren’t aware existed or there’s a supplier here locally that does something that they had only read about on the internet.

“It’s great when people can talk to knowledgeable professionals who are there to give them some true face time and talk about making their dreams a reality, which is what I think this home show can do for people. It’s an exciting thing to build a house, to remodel a house, even if it’s a small project in your backyard. Those are exciting things, and I think coming to this show can really inspire people, and it’s yet another reason why we’re so proud to be such a big part of it.”

With the success of last year’s garden addition has come more vendors in that product space.

One new participant, River Valley Horticultural Products /Site One Landscaping Supply in Little Rock, was a longtime supporter of the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, and according to Kevin Grisham, Little Rock branch manager, the anticipation on the part of the business for the 2024 event is high.

“We did the flower and garden show since the beginning of time, mostly for name recognition, staying in people’s minds,” he said.

“We haven’t finalized all of our plans for this show, but we’ll probably bring something that’s easy to sell, like perennials, birdhouses and bird feeders — things that people can grab and go.”

Grisham said he was not surprised at the response to last year’s show, saying home gardening is as popular among homeowners as it has ever been during his decades in the nursery business.

“I think the interest is still very much there,” he said. “As a matter

of fact, we saw a big spike during [the COVID-19 pandemic] with our business because of the people being at home and wanting to do home improvement. That really hasn’t diminished much. I think people are a little bit gun-shy about the weather now because we’ve had two winters and now maybe a third winter that we’re going to see some significant damage, but that really hasn’t detracted from their interest in doing it.

“Most homeowners are still tackling the more simplistic jobs. There’s an occasional water feature, and there’s an occasional firepit. Most of those are ready-to-use kits that they can install but nothing really elaborate as far as masonry work. Planting-wise, people are very, very conscientious about trying to beautify their area. There is a big spike in interest in natives, deer-resistant — Adam Wells, items that we get asked about all the time that also offer winLumber 1 Home Center ter hardiness.”

Grisham said that like fashion or trendy paint colors, plants come in and out of style, albeit not as quickly. One trend that’s currently going strong are plants that appeal to pollinators, leading the nursery to carry a wide range of plant stock to fit into a variety of landscapes.

“We have a whole list of things for pollinators. There’s a whole list of perennials, everything from columbine to coral

“It’s great when people can talk to knowledgeable professionals who are there to give them some true face time and talk about making their dreams a reality, which is what I think this home show can do for people.”

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bells and bee balm — that sort of thing,” he said. “We have done quite a bit of work on trying to make the native selection here even better than ever because the demand is up. I don’t really know what’s driving that except people maybe are just done with the basic green boxwood, and they want something that’s more beneficial to the environment.

“It’s a challenge trying to find native plants, native origin and things that are also pollinator-friendly because the green industry wasn’t geared for that for years. We were just doing ornamental things, not things that were ornamental and had the practical use of being good for the environment. Today, there’s a whole tab on our website we’ve devoted to the native category.”

With the expanded plant selection also comes the expertise and advice for which the longstanding nursery is known. Grisham said about 30 percent of clients in any given season are rank beginners looking to improve the appearance and curb appeal of their property.

“The beginners come in and say, ‘I want a green bush and a red bush,’ and we get to help them pare down and discern what they’re looking for,” he said. “We find out what the light exposure is, find out what their soil’s like, those fundamental questions.

“Even on the contractor side, there are a few we have to educate a little bit because there’s so many different new cultivars on the market now that they’re not familiar with. We don’t try to put all the latest and greatest on the shelf until we kind of prove them. Growers come out with a derivative of an azalea or something, and they’re all basically performing the same function, but it’s hard to brag about them and really stand behind them until you see them in the landscape for a season or two.”

Such expertise is what has led generations of gardeners to the 40-acre nursery’s door year after year and what will likely draw them by swarms to River Valley Horticultural Products’ display at the Central Arkansas Home & Garden Show. Grisham said he looks forward to such interactions as a chance to reconnect after a long winter with the people who share his love for plants and gardening.

“You know, our store is a destination. It’s a bit of a drive for most people, and so we try to make it worthwhile,” he said. “I tell my staff, ‘The customer can buy plants anywhere in town, but it’s the service and experience that brings them back.’ If we don’t get it right, then we don’t see growth. We keep trying to get it right.”

FROM GREENHORN TO GREEN THUMB Here are three cardinal rules of gardening from Kevin Grisham, branch manager at River Valley Horticultural Products in Little Rock: 1. WHEN POSSIBLE, GO NATIVE. “Native plants often provide a better survivability element.

They might be more cold-hardy, heat-hardy, soil tolerant.

They are generally easy to acclimate and, usually, easy to transplant. Those are probably the biggest pluses.”

2. DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR DEPTH. “We always preach proper planting depth because I think that’s most misunderstood. We see more plant death from things being buried too deeply and being waterlogged than we see from any other issue. You can under-water something and completely defoliate it and get it to come back, whereas when something dies from root rot, there’s very little chance it will rebound.”

3. EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL. “Some plants are very, very showy; some are not so much so.

A boxwood is just a green blob, where other things flower.

The best yards use a little bit of both in their design. Everything has its niche and its place in the landscape.”

River Valley Horticultural Products/Site One Landscaping Supply carries hundreds of plants and flowers for sun or shade.

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2024 Home Guide

Gary Houston Electric Co.

O

f all the important details that go into building and maintaining a home, electricity is one where investing in quality makes a world of difference. Whether building a new home, remodeling a current one or just maintaining the existing system, it is more than worthwhile to choose a company whose experience and reputation are second to none.

For more than 45 years, Gary Houston Electric Co. has served central Arkansas with affordable, quality and timely commercial and residential electrical contracting services.

Known for their strong emphasis on customer satisfaction, Gary Houston offers a variety of services, from whole-home generator installs and preventative maintenance to USB-C outlet installation, landscape lighting and more.

Since taking the reins from founder Gary Houston, president Keith Weeks has continued to build upon the company’s legacy of quality and trust. Weeks himself has been with the company for more than three decades, and he and his team are motivated by the deep relationships they have formed over the years. Gary Houston has strong ties with the local community, serving new and repeat clients for a number of years.

“Our biggest accomplishment is our team as a whole here at Gary Houston Electric,” Weeks said.

“Their growth and accomplishments have been nothing short of amazing to watch over the years, and I can say without hesitation that they are what I’m most proud of.”

The best advice Weeks can offer to the home builder or owner, he said, is to leave electrical work to the electrician. There are some things best left to the professionals, and doing so will save everyone involved a potential heap of trouble down the road.

With experts like those at Gary Houston, the choice between do-it-yourself and relying on expertise is a simple one, and that is why customers keep calling on Weeks and his team for all their electrical needs.

“Without question, our goal is to always strive for excellence and complete each project with a satisfied client,” Weeks said. “We wouldn’t have been able to have our longevity without our long-term and loyal customer base.”

1922 W. Third St. • Little Rock / 501-375-8330 / garyhoustonelectric.com 46

For more than 40 years, Gary Houston Electric Company has served Central Arkansas with affordable, quality and timely Commercial and Residential electrical contracting services with a strong emphasis on customer service.

We service both new construction and existing structures needing electrical repair or being remodeled.

1922 West 3rd Street | Little Rock, AR 72205 501-375-8330 | garyhoustonelectric.com 47

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Jennifer Adkins, Owner

Sharon Adkins, Owner

Dennis Adkins, Owner

(501) 224-3900 | 11621 Rainwood Rd #4 Little Rock, AR 72212

Come talk to the experts!

The Canyon Timbers • Deep bark text • Detailed char areas • Heat-rated vented logs • Sizes 21” to 36” • Natural or LP gas • Installation available • Single side and See-thru available 19650 I-30, Benton congofp.com

501.316.4328

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2024 Home Guide

Metro Appliances & More

C

elebrating their 50th year in business, Metro Appliances & More has provided excellent products, unmatched service and unbeatable prices. Appliances are the lifeblood of a home, whether remodeling or building new, and Metro Appliances has over 60 brands to choose from. Washers and dryers, refrigerators and freezers, ranges, microwaves, dishwashers and cooktops — customers will find everything they need at any one of the company’s four Arkansas showrooms. They also carry a huge assortment of outdoor appliances and all types of grills.

At Metro Appliances, however, it is about more than just offering the most products. As an employee-owned business, every member of the Metro team has a vested interest in going above and beyond for their customers. They are more than salespeople; they are tried-and-true appliance experts. With their wealth of experience and constant training from vendors and manufacturers,

customers can be confident they will be matched with the appliances that are best for their lifestyles and needs.

There are plenty of ways to connect with the experts at Metro Appliances. While in-store shopping is the most popular option, Metro’s live chat team is ready to help online shoppers, and team members have also been known to FaceTime, Zoom or Google Meet to get customers the products they need. No matter how they get the job done, everyone at Metro Appliances & More works tirelessly to ensure total customer satisfaction.

Showrooms in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Lowell and Jonesboro / metroappliancesandmore.com

YEARS

MetroAppliancesAndMore.com

| Little Rock-Chenal • North Little Rock • Lowell • Jonesboro 50

Discover a complete decorative resource in North Little Rock

Acme Brick. The Best Thing To Have Around Your House.

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10921 Maumelle Blvd. | North Little Rock (501) 812-5574 | brick.com/littlerock 51

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home

Something Something Old New

Stylish residential spaces, like this one by Parkinson Building Group, combine the best materials with classic craftsmanship.

Today’s home trends run the gamut from original artwork to home electronics systems

By Dwain Hebda // Photos provided 52

T

he well-dressed home in 2024 is showing off a little of the old and the new, according to professionals across the spectrum of residential building, decor and automation. Quality construction and welcoming spaces are as important as they ever were, while home electronics and countertops continue to innovate and evolve. Of course, three things are still the most important of all: location, location, location.

“We are doing a lot of work on acreages; there’s still a pretty heavy mix of people who want to be on a little bit of land. In fact, I’ve got a couple we just developed a house for on 60 acres,” said Bill Parkinson, founder of Parkinson Building Group in Little Rock. “I would say probably half or more of our jobs are going to be on acreages, and the other half are going to be in Chenal subdivisions or the Heights-type neighborhoods [in Little Rock].”

Once people find the lot they want — be it on a rural spread or in one of the elegant neighborhoods of the city — Parkinson’s clients are looking to build homes that satisfy all manner of usage, from hobbies to extensive family gatherings to spaces for work, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We still are seeing an interest in having a home office; that’s probably one of our big ones that is still very popular post-COVID,” ParkinCountertop World of Bryant offers a range of surfaces and the son said. “I think a lot of people did make more of a permanent move expertise to bring any kitchen or bath together beautifully. to being able to work, if not on a full-time basis, at least as needed parttime from the house on a pretty consistent basis, and so that’s definitely still a hot item.”

Campbell said the company takes a different approach than most Inflation has made financing tricky for many would-be new homewhen working with clients. Rather than installing systems piecemeal owners, but those who can come up with the cash are not afraid to spend for certain functions, HomeTronX’s technology is designed to integrate it on grand homes that offer lots of square footage. multiple systems throughout the home. This allows the company’s sys“I haven’t seen a bunch of people backing off on square footage yet tems experts to take a more comprehensive approach during the initial unless they are downsizing,” Parkinson said, “but that’s an age-related consultation with the homeowner. thing more than a trend. We still have a lot of people who are 55-plus “I think we fit a very different mold,” he said. “I think a lot of people who are getting rid of their 5,000- to 6,000-square-foot house would probably say speakers and TVs and streaming music are but wanting to ‘downsize’ to 4,000 square feet. their most popular install, but we are so different in the “That’s not everybody, though. The acreage we way we’re structured. We look at the client’s entire just did was a couple in their early 60s, and they home and all the things they want a system to do, designed a 9,000-square-foot house. I wouldn’t and then we try to really fit the lifestyle versus put them in the ‘downsizer’ category.” selling products.

Parkinson said homes now feature “We specialize in all of it, so if somemany more creature comforts than just body is calling us for shading, they may offices. Golf simulators, for instance, not know we do security. Most people are a must-have home feature that prefer to deal with one company to has been going strong for a couple of do it all, so it may start with interior years now. shading and then turn into a security “We’ve put three in over the last 12 system, camera system and then fullmonths,” Parkinson said. “We’re really home automation.” starting to see an interest there in that The company has also earned the 35- to 55-year-old group that’s either trust of architects, builders and other really into golf or has kids or both. residential professionals throughout its — Bill Parkinson, Many of those systems, you can also service area. This allows them to work play dodgeball on it or soccer. It’s a largehand in hand to complete a robust home Parkinson Building Group ticket item that’s a fun thing to put in.” automation system controllable via a wall Home electronics systems are also somepanel or via smartphone. thing in high demand in both new construction “We get a lot of call-ins directly from clients and remodels — and for good reason. Systems tojust wanting to add stuff to their home,” Campbell day can control virtually any aspect of home automasaid, “but we also have built relationships with builders tion with the touch of a button. and designers locally to where if they’re working on a house, Jonesboro-based HomeTroniX installs systems that can control evthey’ll frequently call us and say, ‘We definitely need this in here.’ A lot erything from the home theater and the garage door to interior and of our business is call-ins and a lot of it is referrals, but we do have buildexterior shading. ers and interior designers that we work with on almost every project “There’s a lot more interconnected devices throughout homes than they’re doing.” ever,” said John Campbell, director of sales. “As far as who is purchasing As much as these systems do, it may be hard to imagine even more these systems — people who are renovating or people who have new robust home controls coming in the future, but Campbell said the techhomes — it’s really a very good mix of everything.” nology is improving all the time.

We still are seeing an interest in having a home office; that’s probably one of our big ones that is still very popular post-COVID.

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For a yard that delivers all the fun without the upkeep, check out Luxury Lawns & Greens’ synthetic grass products.

“I think we’re going to get a lot more into voice control, and we’re He said while most clients have the grass installed in the backyard, he probably going to see some AI integrated in,” he said. “We have to be is starting to serve some projects where people are looking to install it ready for it, and that starts with finding the right people. We’ve also got in the front, as well. He views each completed job as an advertisement to keep training our existing employees to be ready for what’s coming.” for new business.

Technology is also transforming the exterior areas of today’s homes.

“We’ve just grown by word of mouth,” he said. “Through my landLandscaper Jason Bermingham, who, for nearly 20 years, has owned and scaping company, I had a base of clients. We did one install and said, operated Maple Leaf Lawns & Sprinklers in Little Rock, is a leader in ‘We did this yard. Go look at it.’ Then they liked it, and the next one a new niche of outdoor living through synthetic lawns. liked it, and the next one liked it. It just kind of snowballed from there.

“The synthetic grass business has changed so much over the years,” That’s led to more and more people getting grass in their backyard he said. “When I first started this business, the biggest benefit compaevery year. nies talked about was, obviously, you don’t have to mow it or fertilize it, “It’s just easier; there are no chemicals, no water. The younger genwhich is great, but for me, the thing I always like to talk about was how eration, in my opinion, don’t want to pay someone to come and do their it was more useful. yard because it’s expensive now. Your return on investment “For instance, one great thing about the product is it with this grass is usually about four to five years.” drains 45 gallons of water per minute. If it rains all For every new concept that has been introduced day, normally kids and dogs can’t go out and play into the residential market in recent years, there afterward because it’s so muddy, and so they’re is at least one heritage item that is redefined stuck in the house. With this product, howby product innovation and ever-improved ever, they can go out and play very soon materials. Such is the case with counterafter the rain stops, and they don’t track tops, said David McDougall, owner of in dirt. They don’t track in grass. This Countertop World in Bryant. means the lawn is usable, basically, “Homeowners are looking for 24/7 as long as it’s not pouring rain or ways to create a timeless, comfortsnowing. My wife loves that, and for able kitchen or bathroom that reflects me, that’s the biggest benefit.” their style and values,” he said. “They Bermingham said when he startalso want to invest in quality materials ed marketing the product through resistant to heat, stains and bacteria. his other company, Luxury Lawns & Some homeowners may be spendGreens in Little Rock, he was coning more than they used to because of stantly battling one of two misconcepthe increased demand and cost of some tions about synthetic grass: either the materials, such as natural stone and cus— Jason Bermingham, homeowner envisioned it as the plastictom-made items. Others may opt for more Luxury Lawns & Greens looking AstroTurf of old, or they assumed it affordable options that can still achieve a would mirror what is used in sports stadiums. modern and organic look.”

He said neither perception accurately reflects reality.

McDougall said durability is a major selling “That was a battle at the beginning. Everyone was point for consumers in the market for new countertops. thinking Razorback Stadium grass, right?” he said. “This is “Ultra-durable and nonporous materials, such as porcelain more like a zoysia grass. There’s no black rubber pellets in it. It looks like and Dekton, can withstand high temperatures, scratches and UV rays real grass. It’s soft. It’s comfortable. You can jump on it. You can fall on and do not require sealing or polishing,” he said. “The products in 2024 it. It’s great for kids.” are better than in 2020 or 1990 because they offer more variety, quality A specialized application for the product is as a putting green, which and technology to meet homeowners’ changing needs and preferences.

Bermingham said is growing in popularity among local homeowners.

They also incorporate more sustainability and environmental awareness

“This is more like a zoysia grass. There’s no black rubber pellets in it. It looks like real grass. It’s soft.

It’s comfortable. You can jump on it. You can fall on it. It’s great for kids.”

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in their production and use.”

Counter surfaces, like all home finishes and appointments, change according to current styles and decorating tastes. However, the strengths and limitations of various base materials have generally not changed. Even so, the range of options available to the consumer is such that McDougall and his employees are in near-constant educational mode to help customers choose the right surface to match their lifestyle.

“The best countertop material depends on various factors, such as budget, preference and usage,” he said. “Marble is a classic and elegant choice but also porous and prone to staining and etching. It requires regular sealing and care to maintain its beauty and hygiene. Granite is a popular and durable option. It can handle heat and moisture well but also needs sealing to prevent staining and bacteria growth.

“Quartz is a manufactured and versatile option but unsuitable for outdoor use because it can discolor or warp under heat and sunlight. Soapstone is a natural, low-maintenance option but is also soft and susceptible to scratches and dents. It is nonporous and heat-resistant but can darken over time and requires oiling to enhance its color and texture.”

McDougall said there are a variety of design and installation options that can help make countertops look their best, even when dealing in a less-expensive material.

“Intelligent and interactive features such as wireless charging, flushmount pop-up electrical outlets and integrated lighting enhance the kitchen’s functionality and convenience and are becoming much more popular,” he said. “Innovative and artistic designs such as waterfall edges, geometric patterns and mixed materials add visual interest and contrast to the kitchen.

“The trends that we are seeing in kitchen countertops for 2024 are natural and textured finishes, such as honed or leathered surfaces, which offer a softer and warmer look and feel. Earth tones and colors inspired by nature, such as deep blues, terracotta shades and colorful marbling are also popular as they create a cozy and stylish atmosphere, and finally, custom and handmade features such as full-height backsplash, free-floating stone vanities and bespoke tiles are in demand, adding personality and uniqueness to the space.”

One of the most enduring elements of a stylish home is in the artwork that graces its walls. Buddy Whitlock, a native Arkansan and notable artist, said homeowners should first free themselves of thinking they need to display something based on other peoples’ opinions over their own.

“The old saying, ‘I don’t know if it’s art, but I know what I like,’ is actually a perfect kind of saying,” he said. “Everybody has an opinion about art and what they like and what they don’t like. I believe you need to definitely enjoy the piece of art that’s in your house, not put it in there because somebody else might like it.

“I think there’s really two types of art. One is fine art and something you would collect — a certain artist, a certain style or whatever — and it doesn’t really have to match anything, and then there’s the other art that’s just decorative and matches your furniture. Most people fall somewhere in the middle; you have to go with what you like that’ll match your house and that you’ll be happy with, also.”

Whitlock said regardless of the theme or subject matter of the art being displayed, there are some timeless rules regarding displaying it in a manner that is most flattering to the work and the overall space itself. He said such issues are regularly addressed by the professionals at Howse in Little Rock, a fine home decor store with which Whitlock is affiliated.

“Our rule is you don’t want crowded, but you want to fill the space,” he said. “A lot of people will put in a console, two lamps and a piece of art. Well, why not just do a big piece of art, floor to ceiling? Do you need that console? Are you just trying to fill the space? At Howse, you can buy a piece of art that’s floor-to-ceiling cheaper than you can buy a piece of art, two lamps and a console. It all fills the space, but it allows you to go big.

When selecting art, especially for a neutral wall, do not be afraid to go bold, said acclaimed artist Buddy Whitlock.

“We recommend doing bigger art, not small dinky pieces.

Art just looks better big. It makes more of a statement and draws your eye. You don’t want to speckle the walls with a bunch of small pieces of art unless you’re doing a gallery wall.

You want one big statement piece instead of four or five different small pieces everywhere because it calms the room down.”

A mistake many people make when they display art is hanging it too high on the wall, Whitlock said.

“The center of the art needs to be eye level or lower,” he said. “I prefer to hang art lower than higher. You’re not always standing up looking at art. Most of the time, you’re sitting down.”

Another important element the homeowner should consider is the color scheme of the room and how a piece of art is framed to accentuate the overall design aesthetic.

“If you have a neutral room, then you can do a neutral piece of art, or you can do something very colorful. At Howse, we prefer neutral walls because it makes the art pop,” he said.

“If you have a colorful room, you’re going to want to either match those colors or stay very neutral. It gets too busy if you have a lot of different-colored furniture and pillows and stuff everywhere and then you add a piece of art that’s also colorful.

You would need a neutral piece of art in that situation.

“The trend I see now in frames is a very simple floating frame or simple shadowbox frame, not a lot of ornate stuff.

You can do an abstract in a really ornate frame and it looks gorgeous — we did one today that’s a small landscape in a huge ornate frame — but I wouldn’t overthink the frame. I would do something that coordinates with the art and keeps it simple. You want the art to be the focus, not the frame.”

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aymag.com

2024 Home Guide

Carl Gray Henson Builders

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up with you long after we finish building your house,” he said. “Our repeat business is a testimony to the trust that our customers have in us regarding one of the most important purchases in their lives. We’re glad to help.”

The company’s renown extends far past the state’s borders — Carl Gray Henson Builders has also received national recognition for its work. Carl Gray Henson Builders is a 20-year member of Southern Living Custom Builder Program, and received the coveted Cornerstone Award in 2016. Beyond Southern Living, Carl Gray Henson was also given the Distinguished Service Award from the American Lung Association for its work in the “Kids Kozy Kottage” program.

For residents of central Arkansas, it is hard to find a more decorated group of custom home builders. Owner Carl Gray Henson and his team work tirelessly for their clients, facilitating the construction of magnificent homes from lot selection to design and building.

For anyone who dreams of a home built with passion and attention to timeless architectural detail, Carl Gray Henson Builders may be the right choice.

arl Gray Henson Builders in Little Rock sprung from a lifelong interest in building and grew into a full-blown custom-building business. Since 1974, the business has developed into a company fully devoted to helping its clients create dream homes that exceed expectations while remaining small enough to give each customer the personal attention he or she deserves.

Owner Carl Gray Henson has been building custom homes in Little Rock, west Little Rock and surrounding areas for many years. Since 1998, he has been a member of Southern Living magazine’s Top 100 Builder Programs. This program is by invitation only, and membership is based on design, quality of construction and reputation in the local community.

Henson offers hands-on service and is very passionate about what he does. All of his projects are built with timeless architectural detail but with plenty of modern conveniences. Along with custom home building, Henson also does some remodeling, and satisfaction is his goal with every project.

“We care about each and every customer, and that is why we follow

P.O. Box 24626 • Little Rock / 501-413-8341 / carlgrayhenson.com 56

501.413.8341 P.O. Box 24626 Little Rock, AR 72221 carlgrayhenson.com CarlGrayHenson

2023

2023

INNOVATIVE HOME AWARDS

Home technology with you in mind.

From security to entertainment to complete home control, Triple-S has the solution for you.

2023 INNOVATIVE HOME AWARDS 501-664-4599 2820 Cantrell Road, Little Rock triplesalarm.com

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Over 40 Years Experience

Do you have a favorite place to eat a burger, a go to get-away place for the weekend, a great shoppe to buy the perfect dress, a fun place to grab a beer? We’re putting together a collection of all that’s great around the state...and it’s voted on by you, our readers!

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501.321.1215 | 916 Hobson Avenue | Hot Springs

voting starts: March 6-27

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501.650.0500 | hartnessconstruction.com | 501.681.1263

2024 Home Guide

MetroRock Roofing

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hane Ferguson has always had a passion for homes, and his career in real estate quickly evolved to include other aspects of home ownership. While MetroRock Roofing in Little Rock as such started in 2023, Ferguson has more than two decades of residential home building experience under his belt, making MetroRock Roofing a natural choice for customers in central Arkansas.

From simple repairs to replacements and emergency roofing services, the MetroRock team helps residents stay safe and secure with a properly working roof. That growing team is now made up of 10 project managers who all share Ferguson’s passion for roofing, and the crews they partner with take pride in their craft from start to finish.

“My primary goal is to have a happy homeowner no matter what division of our company we are working with,” Ferguson said. “I work with integrity and honesty, and I do my very best with our clients each and every time. When a past client refers a family member or friend to our company, it is the ultimate compliment.”

Ferguson and his team are committed to excellence both in the work they produce and the customer service they provide alongside it. They

listen to the needs of their clients and strive to make the already overwhelming home building experience as simple as possible.

“When working with clients on their custom home, the entire process is all about their dreams and needs,” he said. “When designing, I bring the same level of quality I would want if it were my own home.

My team and I lean towards a clean and contemporary design that will be timeless.”

For soon-to-be homeowners just starting out on the building process, Ferguson recommended finding someone who has a clear passion for what they do, as well as someone who is compatible with their needs and style. Opt for a company with experience, and do not shy away from getting opinions from previous clients.

“I would like to thank every client that has chosen to partner with my family-owned businesses, whether it has been real estate, new construction or roofing,” Ferguson said. “We are so thankful for each and every one of you, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without you. To our team, thank you for your hard work and commitment to providing an amazing experience to our homeowners.”

Little Rock Metropolitan Area / 501-204-6980 / metrorockroofing.com 60

When it’s time to replace the shingle roof on your existing home, rely on us!

FREE INSPECTIONS • SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

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“Shane Ferguson with MetroRock Roofing has worked vigorously on getting my roof approved after the storm, when the insurance company didn’t want to approve it.

He will go to work for you as well. Shane has helped when we didn’t know what to do next.

- CORLISS WILLIAMSON

501-204-6980 | LITTLE ROCK, AR AND SURROUNDING AREAS | OPEN 24 HOURS 61

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FULL RANGE REAL ESTATE SERVICES • TITLE SEARCHES • TITLE INSURANCE • YEARS OF EXPERIENCE From the simplest residential closing to the most complex commercial real estate transactions, Commerce Title is committed to providing unmatched expertise and exceptional customer service.

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To schedule a closing, please contact us directly at 501-588-3980.

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2024

Interior Designer

Nothing transforms a house into a home like stylish and tasteful design.

Each year, AY About You’s Interior Design Awards recognizes the best interior design professionals to be found in the Natural State. The skill and artistry of this year’s honorees are unmatched, creating spaces as welcoming and comfortable as they are efficient and useful.

Whether for home or office, the 2024 winners profiled on the following pages stand at the very top of the profession.

AY About You salutes them all.

ay

ABOUT YOU

INTERIOR DESIGNER AWARDS

2024

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

Casey Sarkin Home

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t Casey Sarkin Interior Design in Fayetteville, projects are handled not only with owner Casey Sarkin’s 25-plus years of experience, but with the combined knowledge and expertise of her whole team: junior designer Hannah Coleman, project manager Trish Dick and finance manager Michelle Allen. Together, they guide projects through a carefully detailed four-phase process, ensuring the entire project process is smooth and productive.

Sarkin specializes in high-end custom homes, working from the beginning of architectural plans through construction of the home and all the way to the finishing decorative touches, but she and her team are also experienced with smaller projects ranging from remodels and renovations to slower, room-byroom designs in both residential and commercial settings.

Sarkin’s career in interior design began after her home was featured in a magazine. Before long, people came to her for help redoing rooms in their own homes, and for a time, she helped free of charge before realizing that she could turn design into a career. Prior to that, however, she gained experience in a variety of businesses, including municipal bonds trading, retail and real estate, all of which left a strong impression on how she runs her own business.

“We always try to get value for the money [our clients] are spending because interior design can be expensive,” Sarkin said. “There are all kinds of budgets, and I think my business background definitely taught me how to work within building allowances and that time is money — not taking too much time, keeping the flow of the design build. Because we work with a lot of new construction, there are time constraints for

everything. It’s important to know what your expenses are and keep good track of how you run your business. You’re spending your client’s money, so you need to be a good steward of that money.”

Just because Casey Sarkin Interior Design is run with a business mindset does not mean the work is any less personal, she said.

“We’ve done two houses for one family,” Sarkin said. “The first house was one that had sat empty for six years.

They moved in with a very large family of seven kids, and we basically reconfigured that whole house. It was just stunning in the end, but it was even more than that; it was just like there was a place for everything that they needed and all their family, and it was just a joy.

That’s the best part of my job, that clients usually become friends, and we’ve stayed friends with them since.”

For anyone looking to find the right interior designer for their needs, Sarkin noted that Instagram, publications and referrals are all great places to start. Before choosing, however, make sure to interview multiple designers.

“It’s such a personal relationship,” Sarkin said. “You’re going to spend a lot of time with these people, and they need to be able to know who you are, so you need to make sure that you’re very comfortable with a working relationship.”

That’s the best part of my job, that clients usually become friends.

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LJ Interiors

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isa Stagg inherited her love of design from her mother, a talented seamstress with whom she spent many childhood hours in fabric shops, helping to select just the right pattern for her mother’s clients. Stagg got her first experience in interior design while working as a visual merchandiser at McCain and Park Plaza malls in North Little Rock and Little Rock, respectively, where she set up windows, display cases and Christmas decorations.

“I’m from a small town,” Stagg said, “and no one had heard of an interior designer in my hometown. When I went to college, I didn’t even know that was an option for me.”

During that roughly decade-long period, she also began to help friends spruce up their homes. In 2006, the Junior League of North Little Rock asked Stagg to open her home to their Christmas home tour and recommended she make business cards for the event. Before long, she had a new career designing residential homes alongside her assistants, Tracy Cooper and Julie Smith, and has been busy ever since.

“I love to create spaces that are beautiful and pleasing to the eye but where people actually living in them can function and love their home,” Stagg said. “That leads to inviting other people into their community, and that’s where memories are made. To me, that’s what you really want to do: have a home

that you enjoy and that you feel comfortable having other people come into, as well.”

Though Stagg uses many different design styles to suit her clients, her personal touch is often characterized by clean, edited spaces with pops of color and mixing client’s existing furniture with new pieces to create an updated but balanced look.

“One of my favorite trends is the prep pantry,” Stagg said. “It’s a second pantry that’s larger than your normal pantry. I built one in my house, and it’s probably my favorite thing that I did. We do a lot of entertaining and have a lot of friends over. I have another dishwasher and other appliances in the pantry, so [the kitchen] can keep a clean, edited look, and you do your prep work back there. From what I hear, there are also going to be a lot of trends this year towards spaces that look lived in. Everything’s moving a little bit warmer in color.”

Having designed her own dream home, Stagg said she understands how stressful it can be. Everyone’s budget is limited, her own included.

“Most of the time, people are scared,” Stagg said. “They’re spending a lot of money, no matter what their budget is. If it’s a small or large budget, it’s still a lot of money to them. I truly love working with people, even with a very small budget. I love giving them the very best that I can with their money, because I feel like God gave me this ability, and so I love using it to help others.”

I feel like God gave me this ability, and I love using it to help others.

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aymag.com

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

I

Shayla Copas Interiors

nterior design is just one aspect of the iconic Arkansas brand Shayla Copas Lifestyle in Little Rock, which also includes the means to liven up a home with founder and owner Shayla Copas’ licensed collections of furniture and accessories, the knowledge to do so with her book, Four Seasons of Entertaining, and even the option to embrace a total change of scenery with travel design services and hosted journeys. The business began, however, simply as Shayla Copas Interiors in 1997, having developed from a simple silk plant business that grew into so much more.

“My philosophy of interior design is that, first and foremost, the house has to be functional,” Copas said.

“People have to live in it. It doesn’t just need to look good; it needs to be a space that, when people come in, they find it has a cozy, warm feeling that makes them want to end their day there, and then start their day there.”

This was the philosophy that guided her largest project to design spaces throughout the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion for former Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former First Lady Susan Hutchinson. For eight years, Copas donated her time and expertise to the project free of charge.

“We designed a custom silk wall covered with handpainted images of birds and special botanicals from the state, all to represent Arkansas,” Copas said. “We redesigned the

main living space, a TV/library area, and totally redesigned the kitchen and the guest cottage.”

A major part of what sets Shayla Copas Interiors apart is an in-depth intake process that ensures every project starts off with a clear understanding of the client’s personal style and preferences.

“When we do design, because we’ve done our homework on the intake process, we are able to make their dreams a reality,” Copas said. “I would say that’s probably our biggest secret sauce, although it’s not really a secret because all of our clients know about it. We like to take a deep dive into what makes them passionate and what they love so that we can achieve those goals for them.”

To any aspiring interior designers hoping to follow Copas’ model of success, she recommends striving to discover a personal style. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it is no substitute for originality. Many new designers may look to the work of others to find inspiration, but that can hold them back from looking inward to find what they themselves love.

“What they need to realize is that design is very subjective, and so one person might love their design, where another might not,” Copas said. “They need to understand that if they love something, there’s a reason for it. They need to be secure in their presentations and know that what they’re putting forth is great work.”

My philosophy of interior design is that, first and foremost, the house has to be functional.

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Shine Interior Design Studio

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hine Interior Design Studio in Lonoke is the result of a dynamic duo between two licensed interior designers, Natalie Biles and Stacey Breezeel.

Biles brings almost two decades of residential design experience to the partnership, while Breezeel has worked since 2009 on a wide range of commercial projects, from higher education buildings to corporate offices and retail spaces. Since they officially formed Shine in 2019, their team has expanded to include two more interior designers, Ashley Fiant and Heather Kramer, plus executive assistant Randi Weigle.

Whether a project is residential or commercial, sustainability is one of Shine’s top priorities. That may be characterized by the use of materials that are renewable and promote a healthy living space, but it is also reflected in a drive to design things that serve a client’s future needs as much as their current ones, allowing a space to serve for decades, rather than just a handful of years. While certain aspects, such as paint colors and light fixtures, can be changed relatively easily, the floor plan itself must be able to function long-term and age in place.

“We’re very client-focused, and I believe that we’re empathetic designers who really listen to our clients,” Biles said.

“We’re not there to impose a style or a set of things that need to be done. Our design background and education has exposed us to many different styles and design principles. We learn who our client is, we listen to what their needs are, and we use those design principles and things that we know to develop a design that responds to them.”

One such project was a residential home that earned Shine a

national award. The client had medical issues, including life-threatening allergies, which required Shine’s team to do extensive research on what materials could be used to ensure the health and well-being of their client. For another project, designing the Grumpy Rabbit in Lonoke, Shine designed the space to not only serve the needs of the client, but those of the wider community, as well.

“The purpose of it was to provide a nice restaurant space for a community that was in dire need of something that wasn’t a chain, something that had homecooked meals, and creative meals, at that,” Breezeel said. “[Since] they’ve been open, it’s encouraged other businesses in the community to revitalize their spaces.”

For both aspiring designers and those who are considering hiring a designer, Biles encouraged being open to change. Both client and designer might sometimes feel stuck with a particular space and think they have tried everything. In such cases, be willing to remove everything and look at the space completely blank, and then put things back in a different way.

We learn who our client is. We listen to what their needs are.

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aymag.com

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

Stacy Lane Sheid Interiors

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“I just finished my first contemporary house,” SheidEpps said. “I didn’t know if I could do it, but it was really fun because it pushed me outside of my box. I had to source different things. I had to think differently, and I really enjoyed it.

Then I did a house in Fort Smith that was probably built in the late ‘60s, and we redid the entire house. We brought in an architect from Birmingham and revamped it. It’s fabulous. It’s got the best bones.”

To any aspiring interior designers, Sheid-Epps recommended learning from a more experienced designer and their previous mistakes while also trusting one’s gut and personal taste, but she also stressed the importance of relationships.

“I work with a lot of builders and subcontractors, and I’ve built relationship with them. I can’t even tell you how many jobs I’ve been on with some of them,” Sheid-Epps said. “We each know how the other does things. Then I have some friends who are interior designers, and we just get together and powwow sometimes. I think those networks are really important. There’s just so much to learn, and it never stops.”

native of Mountain Home, Stacy Sheid-Epps grew up in her family’s furniture business and learned from an early age how to help customers find what they need for their homes. If she ever complained about not knowing how to help, her grandmother would give her the same answer: Ask the customer questions, and get to know them. Years later, that advice still guides her as she gets to know her clients to design the ideal home for them, assisted by her junior designer, Mindy Yates.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but SheidEpps’s goal is to design spaces that do not seem like they were decorated by an interior designer at all. Rather, she seeks to make them feel personal to the client and look as though they came together naturally.

“I’m pretty traditional,” Sheid-Epps said. “I want a house to stand the test of time. I’m not into trendy interiors or exteriors. I want you to buy something once and love it forever, not go, ‘I love this today. I’m going to do my whole house like this,’ and then in three years, want to redo it again. I’d rather you collect and have a really interesting home.

When people walk in, [your home] should tell a story about your past, where you grew up and your hobbies.”

Such collections do not need to be bought all at once; they develop over years, handed down from family members or discovered at flea markets. Nor do collections have to be old, and Sheid-Epps enjoys mixing the traditional with the contemporary. What is important is that each home reflects the client and is able to last.

I want a house to stand the test of time... I want you to buy something once and love it forever.

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FEELS LIKE HOME. LOOKS LIKE HOWSE. A FURNITURE STORE THAT IS AN EXPERIENCE.

FURNITURE • ART • DESIGN

(501) 725-4719 16105 Chenal Parkway Little Rock 72223

(479) 657-6211 2530 S Pinnacle Hills Pkwy Rogers, AR 72758

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

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stablished by Amy Terry in 2018, AC Designs in Little Rock focuses on home interiors, remodels and new construction, with the additional offerings of window coverings and seasonal decorating. In 2022, AC Designs celebrated the milestone of more than 100 clients who worked with the company, and it has continued its legacy in creating beautiful spaces for its customers.

Photo by Steve Spencer

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my Baker Designs is the brainchild of Hot Springs designer Amy Baker, whose love of nature and the outdoors continues to inspire her designs in Spa City and beyond. Raised around the construction industry before obtaining her interior design degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Baker has continued to impress her growing clientele list. With over a decade of experience, Amy Baker Designs specializes in residential and commercial design and can tackle everything from new construction and remodels to furnishing and staging. Home spaces designed by Baker are beautiful and practical in equal measure, made to be an enjoyable and relaxing haven for families at every stage of life. Commercially, the studio has been involved through projects such as Hot Springs’ In the Trees resort, which draws upon the breathtaking sights of the surrounding Ouachita Mountains to create a luxury getaway for guests.

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t Little Rock firm Art of Design, Sha Davari and her team give clients a multitude of options and an unmatched level of quality and value.

Davari has more than 20 years of experience helping individuals discover their personal style, and through Art of Design’s complimentary design service, clients can see the vision for their space come to life from consultation to installation. At Art of Design, it is about helping individuals create the ideal surroundings to live the story of their lives, whether the project is a paint consultation or new home construction. The studio’s showroom and warehouse carry a large inventory with styles from traditional to contemporary and boasts an expert staff ready to help customers pinpoint their new favorite designs. With every project, Art of Design’s goal is to not only bring value to a home, but to enhance a family’s enjoyment of their space.

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ith more than 25 years of interior design experience, Casey Sarkin leads a team of interior designers, project managers and office staff members that value creativity and efficiency and have remarkable attention to detail. They bring the expertise and experience needed to cultivate a smooth, productive process from the first meeting to the final walkthrough, collaborating with clients and tradespeople to create livable, functional, beautiful homes.

Casey Sarkin Interior Design in Fayetteville offers services for both commercial and residential spaces ranging from full remodels and renovations such as flooring, millwork, plumbing, lighting and more to smaller, room-by-room designs for a slower approach, all carefully planned through a detailed, four-phase process. No matter what services a client chooses, the team’s goal is to create a personal haven filled with treasured pieces that are curated, along with a distinctive collection of furnishings, art and collectibles that reflect the client’s personality, style and life.

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orey Powell Design Co. is a full-service interior design studio established in northwest Arkansas in 2021 by founder and lead designer, Corey Powell.

Since then, Powell has had countless opportunities to create, design and execute warm and inviting spaces.

Whether one is building from the ground up, tackling a home renovation or refreshing a room, Powell can help create a dream space. Powell has designed across Arkansas and in Texas, Tennessee, Missouri and Wisconsin. In 2021, Powell designed for a local television design show. She works closely with clients, creates classic designs, and offers full-room or home installations for furnishings, art and accessories, which allows clients to walk into a turnkey-ready space. The company continues to grow and now includes a six-member install team. In addition to full-service design, the firm offers two-hour design consultations, e-design services and remote design.

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entral Arkansas-based Debi Davis Interior Design gained renown for creating beautiful, functional spaces. Widely known for both residential and commercial projects, Debi Davis Interior Design works within a broad range of design styles to bring out clients’ individuality in each project.

Established in 1992, Debi Davis Design Interiors has perfected a four-step process to its work, ensuring the highest in personal attention, attention to detail and adherence to production timelines.

Davis works with families with children, families with pets and those with lots of grandchildren. Debi Davis Interior Design prides itself on creating homes that carry clients throughout the chapters of their lives.

The company’s 2024 AY Interior Design Award adds to a stack of accolades, including from Southern Living, AmericasMart Atlanta and numerous Arkansas “best of ” lists.

“Designing for our clients has led many to become close, lasting friends,” Davis said. “That is what makes the job so rewarding and makes me excited to get up each morning to start a new day working for our clients, friends, and building something beautiful for them.”

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AC DESIGNS TEAM Amy Terry | amy@acdesignsandmore.com

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Beautiful, organized, highly functional, affordable spaces.

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ART OF DESIGN — SHA DAVARI

7,500 square feet of showroom space, plus a With10,000-square-foot warehouse, Art of Design in Little

Rock has a wealth of options and the expertise to help customers make important design decisions.

Art of Design does not charge hourly for design work, instead taking a $500 deposit for each room that goes towards any items purchased. Each room is carefully designed to meet the preferences and needs of the client, and owner Sha Davari’s team works diligently to find the best pieces for the home.

Once the final design and cost estimate are approved, the Art of Design team arranges furniture, places accessories and hangs art to bring the carefully curated vision to life.

Every piece on the showroom floor is handpicked, and there are hundreds of custom options available. From first home to dream home and every space in between, Art of Design offers unmatched quality, service and value.

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501-615-8565 2200 N. Cantrell Rd. | Little Rock shadavari.com |

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INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

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arper Howey Interiors in Springdale has more than 20 years of combined experience in creating distinctive interiors that balance form and function for homes, corporate office settings, medical offices and retail spaces. At Harper Howey Interiors, services are tailored to meet each client’s individual taste and lifestyle.

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eth Reed is the owner and lead designer of Interiors by Beth Reed in Conway, as well as vice president of the Arkansas chapter of the Interior Design Society. Working alongside architects, developers and contractors to turn unique project dreams into reality, Reed and her team are deeply involved throughout the entire process. The studio strikes a tasteful balance between multiple elements of style, creating spaces that are comfortably livable yet decidedly different. From consultation and concept to completion, Interiors by Beth Reed implements and manages every phase of the project and prides itself on providing the highest standard of service.

Photo by Rett Peek

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onathan Parkey’s interior design studio is an expertly curated selection of furniture, art and gifts located in Little Rock’s Riverdale Design District. Officially opened in 2020, the much-acclaimed J Parkey studio prides itself on combining timeless designs with an unorthodox style.

Parkey’s background in musical theater and luxury fashion brands is expressed in his design work through his sophisticated use of textures and patterns. When it comes to residential projects, J Parkey designs environments that emulate and elevate each client’s lifestyle.

From single room remodels to ground-up new construction projects, the studio has the resources to see a project through from start to finish. With an unmatched eye for detail, a careful attention to craftsmanship and an unwavering commitment to quality service, J Parkey’s footprint can be found across the state and in Manhattan in New York City and in Aspen, Colo., and beyond.

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ess Baxter Design in Little Rock is led by Jess Baxter, who has been in real estate since 2008 and brokering since 2019. Because Baxter is a certified interior staging and design professional, she enjoys utilizing her creative side in all real estate endeavors. Specialized in buying, selling and staging, Jess Baxter Designs also specializes in flipping and all interior design needs. Real estate is Baxter’s passion, and her business encompasses her knowledge and expertise to help clients through every part of homeownership.

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ince 2014, designer Jill White has been creating eclectic, modern spaces for families of all types. Jill is known for her penchant for bold patterns, abstract art, high-contrast styles and forward-thinking designs. Jill White Designs in Little Rock specializes in residential and commercial design and works on projects of all sizes to meet the needs of its clients while all the time ensuring that form follows function.

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rmed with a trained design eye and years of experience, Krista Lewis, owner of K. Lewis Interior Design in Little Rock, is one of the most sought-after designers in Arkansas. Known for her approachable style and casually elegant aesthetic, Lewis creates rooms that mirror the lifestyle and tastes of her expansive clientele.

Lewis’ expertise reflects her rich educational, professional and personal experiences. Following college, she worked for an architecture and engineering firm, where she gained experience in commercial construction. She also spent time living in New Orleans and absorbing its eclectic style.

“New Orleans was a great training ground and inspiration for my aesthetic,” she said. “I developed a respect for the comfortable atmosphere created by mixing traditional design elements with the relaxed attitude that is central to my design philosophy.”

After more than two decades of working in design, Lewis still approaches every project as the unique proposition it is.

“Designing custom interiors for my clients is a synergistic process,” Lewis said. “I strive to understand the needs of each client I work with by learning about how they live and what they love.”

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ocated inside Metro Appliances & More, North-Little-Rock-based Kitchen and Bath Ideas provides design and project management services for kitchens and baths with an emphasis on cabinetry and countertop products. As central Arkansas’ most sought-after kitchen and bath designer, the firm makes it easy for clients to turn their dreams into reality. The company’s online questionnaire and checklist allows clients to map out their ideas before meeting with a design professional. Once at the Kitchen and Bath Ideas showroom, clients can explore options and services while developing a relationship with one of the firm’s experienced design consultants.

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J Interiors in Little Rock began 18 years ago, after owner Lisa Stagg was asked to open her home to the public for a local Holiday Home Tour fundraiser. Since then, she has endeavored to create beautiful, edited spaces that function well over time for her clients. The daughter of a talented seamstress, Stagg spent much of her childhood in fabric stores while her mother selected the ideal fabric for her clients, and it was here that she discovered her love of design. She found that when her clients love their homes, they invite others in, and that is where memories are made. Stagg is experienced with projects of many styles, sizes and budgets, from simply choosing paint colors to start-to-finish new builds. She makes use of clients’ existing furnishings to create an updated look by balancing the old with the new while mixing high-quality investment pieces with budget-friendly accessories to stay respectful of any budget.

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assimo Interior Design is a refined interior design studio that has locations in Little Rock and Fayetteville. The designers at the studio include Dakota Pyle, Tammie Weaver and owner Scott Paterek. Paterek’s style blends the contemporary and traditional and is influenced by the architecture of each space. Visitors to the showrooms can find a variety of gifts, including work by local artists, as well as furniture and accent pieces. The full-service design firm can assist both residential and commercial clients from the conception to the completion of a project. From small jobs that make a big impact, such as bathroom remodels, to freshening up a stale conference room, the firm can handle a wide variety of requests.

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hinality Design in North Little Rock, led by owner and master artisan Aric Phippin, is centered around providing the best services for its customers. Phinality Design’s services include specialty canvas art, furniture, murals, stained concrete, historic repair, and all styles of decorative finishing and painting work. Phinality Design’s work has been featured on Extreme Home Makeover, in Southern Living, and in numerous other national and regional print publications, as well as being seen in restaurants, homes and businesses throughout the area.

Each customer’s imagination can truly come to life with Phinality Design.

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andy Sutton Design Center in Hot Springs is at the forefront of making homes and businesses more stylish and functional. An interior design expert and Hot Springs native, Sutton understands the best designs are based on purpose and function. When a design solves a functional problem simply and elegantly, the resulting form is honest and timeless.

“A hallmark of my ongoing success is that I have a rare ability to absorb my client’s personality and lifestyles, then transform that into rooms of distinction,” Sutton said. “I have vast experience in residential design and commercial properties. With nearly 30 years in the interior design business, I continue to provide excellence for a wide variety of clients from coast to coast.”

In addition to being recognized as a 2024 AY Interior Design Award recipient, Sandy Sutton Design Center’s expertise and artistry has been recognized at the highest levels of the industry, including the prestigious American Society of Interior Designers Gold Award for Sandy’s personal Lake Hamilton residence, Southampton. Every client can expect the same award-winning creativity and attention to detail on their own projects.

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or decades, national award-winning interior designer Shayla Copas has dedicated her life to helping others enjoy theirs through Shayla Copas Lifestyle in Little Rock, be it by improving their homes through interior design and her own collection of beautifully designed products, by helping them find a home away from home while traveling the globe, or by sharing her years of experience through her book, Four Seasons of Entertaining. It all began with Shayla Copas Interiors, which is founded on the idea that a home should be the most treasured space in a person’s life. It should be a space to unwind, raise a family, and rest in a gracious and harmonious atmosphere. Every project is guided by the client through the team’s in-depth and clientcentered intake process, which helps pinpoint the client’s unique style, preferences and moods. This ensures that the space becomes quintessentially their own, while remaining respectful of the client’s time and budget.

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Great selection of furniture and accessories plus our outstanding design work!

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(501) 777-5373 115 N Center St., Lonoke, AR 72086

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stablished in 2019, Lonoke-based Shine Interior Design Studio creates beautiful, functional, and empowering spaces in homes and businesses that reflect each client’s unique personality and style. With over 60 years of combined experience, Shine’s award-winning design team are well-versed in designing luxury homes and state-of-the-art corporate spaces.

Co-owners Stacey Breezeel and Natalie Biles formed their business with the goal of providing balanced and thoughtful spaces to meet each of their client’s needs, whether it be for residential or commercial design services. Shine specializes in new construction, remodeling and full-service interior design for homes, and the company offers stunning design transformations for restaurants, hospitality and rentals, adaptive reuse and community spaces, coffee shops, specialty services and retail, corporate interiors, and fitness facilities. From building to remodeling, the immensely talented design team at Shine is ready to meet each goal with hands-on efforts and achieve the space each client requires.

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t Stacy Sheid Interiors in Fayetteville, clients can depend on founder Stacy Sheid-Epps and her years of experience to make smart decisions in timeless decor. Having grown up in the furniture business, Shied-Epps has been helping customers find what they need for their homes from a very young age. When she complained she did not know how to help them, her grandmother’s response was always the same: Ask them questions, and get to know them.

That has been her M.O. ever since — understand the client to understand what they want their home to become.

To Sheid-Epps, decorating is creating a feeling, whether it reminds a client of someone or something, and there is no better compliment than someone walking in saying how comfortable a space feels. She and the SSI team do their very best to give every client the attention to detail necessary to create that feeling.

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tatements for the Home is an interior design firm and home decor and gift store in Hot Springs. Not only does Statements provide interior design services, but the business has a showroom that offers flooring, fabrics, furniture and accessories, including a full range of Hunter Douglas blinds and Bespoke window treatments and furniture. Owners and interior design consultants Julie Nichols, Ashley Campbell and Amy Porter have more than 50 years of combined experience in interior design. Their work spans all types of design in hundreds of residential and commercial spaces across the country. Services include interior design, home decor and gifts, custom window treatments, upholstery, remodeling and construction, and wallpaper.

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aggart Design Group in Little Rock is a fullservice design studio with a focus on custom residential homes. Taggart Design Group offers architectural design, construction services and interior design consultation to clients in search of thoughtful, custom-tailored spaces.

A home is the single most important material thing in client’s life, and Taggart Design Group strives to make the homes they create exceptionally great — homes that expand the way clients live while also excelling in both beauty and craft. Taggart Design Group believes that process starts with a dedication to understanding their clients’ project needs, and then working tirelessly until those dreams are met. The studio’s longstanding relationships with a skilled set of consultants (landscape architects, civil and structural engineers, framers, trim carpenters, cabinet makers, etc.) set their practice apart.

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rkansas native Tom Chandler was educated in Oklahoma and graduated with a degree in business. Chandler has owned Tom Chandler and Associates in Little Rock since 1980, and in 1981, he began teaching interior design, opening the Chandler School of Interior Decorating in Little Rock two years later. The firm’s clients span the country, ranging from Arkansas to Hawaii, North Carolina to California, Florida to Washington, D.C., and all points in between. Tom Chandler and Associates offers a wide range of services, from one-day home makeovers to complete home move-ins and holiday decorating. Although his work schedule keeps him quite busy, beginning each workday at 5 a.m., Chandler always finds time to help others and greet the day with one of his famous quotes, “Get up early and be the best that you can be.”

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ivid Designs in Little Rock is an interior-design company that can assist with remodels and interior design projects. In addition to the company’s interior design service, Vivid Designs offers a gift shop that provides a wide array of jewelry, apparel, gifts and furnishings. Owner Amber Doggett, the third generation of her family in the furniture business, started the company in 2002. She assists clients with all aspects of their home remodels, and clients can purchase a full line of furniture, art and accessories through her. From kitchens and bedrooms to entryways and more, Vivid Designs is available to assist clients with their interior design needs.

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food

Pictured are dishes from Cache in Little Rock, left, and Cypress Social in North Little Rock.

Love to Eat, Eat to LOVE Romantic restaurants feed the body and warm the heart this Valentine’s Day

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos provided

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egendary cartoonist, Peanuts creator and cultural touchstone Charles M. Schulz once said, “All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” Truer words may never have been spoken, and the sentiment is particularly apt in February, when all the world turns its attention to heart-shaped boxes, red roses and a holiday devoted to love.

Valentine’s Day has long been a holiday to warm the heart during the coldest months of the year, when couples express their fondness for one another through gifts and romantic outings. It is

also very big business: According to the National Retail Federation, total spending on Valentine’s Day is expected to approach $26 billion, a little more than $190 per person. This makes Feb. 14 the third most expensive holiday of the year in the U.S. Such statistics tend to feed the cynic in a lot of people and make it easy to paint the holiday as nothing more than an expensive tradition fueled by the retail industry and appealing to the most basic and primal urges humans have. Stoking the neverending drive to drum up a little hanky panky by plying a potential

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The Preacher’s Son in Bentonville, left, provides a fresh vibe, and Red Oak Steakhouse at Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff offers sumptious meals. lover with gifts has, after all, resulted in $235 spent per person for U.S. men, the NRF states, compared to $119 per person for women on average.

While the retail world’s modern exploitation of Valentine’s Day is prima fascie accurate, it is also true that the holiday we now know has a surprisingly long lineage underpinned in love and sex.

Historians are not unified in the origins of the holiday, but many point to the ancient pagan fertility festival, Lupercalia, as a likely predecessor, per National Geographic. This annual February blowout featured plenty of non-PG traditions, including more nudity than a 1970s pool party at the Playboy Mansion.

The festival was so popular, it continued even as Christianity spread its way throughout the European continent. Naturally, the Church was not wild about a party of such lasciviousness, so under Pope Gelasius I, it declared Feb. 14 a day of feasting in honor of the martyred St. Valentine in the late fifth century, National Geographic reported. Even though — interesting side note — there are more than 30 St. Valentines (as well as a couple of Valentinas), which makes it hard to tell exactly which one the holiday is celebrating, thus did Rome sanitize the holiday enough to be safe for modern-day audiences from first-grade classrooms to retirement homes.

Other traditions related to the day have similarly interesting origins: Per the Farmer’s Almanac, the first recorded Valentine’s Day card (archived today in the British Library in London) was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife whilst the duke was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Noted 14th century English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who penned the scandalous-in-itsday Canterbury Tales, is credited with the first Valentine’s poem.

According to the University of North Carolina College of Arts and Sciences, Chaucer’s 699-line Parliament of Fowls, written to

honor the marriage of King Richard II of England and Anne of Bohemia, is the first to connect St. Valentine with romantic love.

That brings the discussion of Valentine’s Day traditions to food. Every year, millions of couples observe the holiday over a delicious meal at a favorite restaurant, an act that psychologists say is more scientific than mere ritual. Behaviorists have written at length about what food represents in human relationships, as well as how it nourishes the physical self. For example, in a 2014 study published by the National Library of Medicine, food is noted as one of the earliest symbolisms of love and attachment. An infant, whose primary drivers in life are eating and sleeping, will develop affinity with the mother, who provides food, and that later translates as love.

Later on, food is an equally compelling part of the complicated process of human relationship building. What seems like mere good manners in sharing a bowl of popcorn, for example, can actually carry deeper signals of trust and intimacy, per the University of Kansas. Similarly, food can work into a power dynamic; Psychology Today reported in 2019 that during the earlier stages of relationships, females tend to be more influenced by males in their dining habits, a dynamic that tended to flip later on, especially once a couple cohabitates. While this effect may be lessening as traditional gender roles evolve, relationship experts say couples of every description report more marital satisfaction from joint activities, especially cooking.

That is before the physiological effects of certain foods kick in, from the supposed aphrodisiacal properties of oysters to the endorphin hormones released by spicy foods and the warmth and comfort of dopamine-releasing sweet flavors, as outlined by an article by flavor and fragrance manufacturer Norex.

While most of the physical and behavioral science at work in

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The Preacher’s Son

champagnes, as well as more esoteric American pinot noir and chardonnay selections.

Elstein would not disclose the Valentine’s Day menu in the works but did say several menu selections are popular for any date night, starting with the charred baby carrots with cilantro yogurt and wheat berry risotto with sauteed shrimp, butternut squash and pecans.

“One mainstay of the dinner menu is perfect for a couple’s night out: the 24-ounce ribeye for two with creamed spinach, onion rings and bordelaise,” he said. “Another dish, the whole branzino with grilled asparagus and beurre blanc, is fragrant with fresh herbs and walks a fine line between light and decadent.

“For dessert, the almond sponge cake with strawberry ice cream and Fruity Pebbles adds an unexpected dose of whimsy to the grand setting. Our chocolate coffee pudding with streusel and toasted meringue is also aimed squarely at the Valentine’s Day traditionalist with deep, lingering cocoa richness.”

CACHE food is mere background music for the average couple on Valentine’s Day, there is no doubt that what people prepare, consume and enjoy together is foundational to who they are as individuals and what they bring to their relationships. Whether put delicately, as Virginia Woolf did when she said, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well,” or more homespun as with the age-old adage, “The way to man’s heart is through his stomach,” the fact remains food can be anyone’s love language at any time of year.

With that in mind, those making plans to treat loved ones to a night out this Valentine’s Day can start with one of the following favorites:

Little Rock cachelittlerock.com

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ocated in the River Market area of Little Rock, Cache offers a memorable dining experience. The sleek, stylish dining room is encased in windows, giving the setting a jewel-box feeling that somehow still feels intimate. Impeccable service, an outstanding bar and creative dishes round out a sumptuous evening in the heart of downtown.

“At Cache, we strive to be the best and give customers that wow experience every day at every visit, but Valentine’s Day is one of our favorites because we get to do a little something special,” said Courtney Wellborn, general manager.

“Cache will offer a prix fixe menu on Valentines Day made especially for lovers. It gives our wonderful guests the opportunity to try new items that we don’t have on our normal menu. We love decking the restaurant out with roses and candles to set off the perfect romantic evening for you and your partner.”

Wellborn was tight-lipped about what the Valentine’s Day offering would be but did suggest a signature cocktail to begin the evening.

“Our #9 cocktail is the perfect choice for Valentine’s Day dinner,” she said. “Named after the song ‘Love Potion No. 9,’ this cocktail is the perfect balance of citrus and fruit and is sure to get your night going in the right direction.”

THE PREACHER’S SON Bentonville thepreachersson.com

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ne of northwest Arkansas’ best-loved restaurants, the Preachers’ Son in Bentonville offers an unforgettable night out. Ben Elstein, director of new concept development at Ropeswing Hospitality Group, the restaurant’s ownership group, said the overall effect comes from a masterful combination of ambiance and food.

“The Preacher’s Son dining room — constructed within a 1904 church — contains elements of ethereal, minimalist beauty in its design, along with show-stopping, soaring art glass,” he said.

“Executive chef Neal Gray’s cuisine reflects a combination of subtlety and opulence. Combined with attentive but unfussy service, an evening here is remarkable, intimate and unpretentious.”

Elstein recommended opening with the very popular old fashioned made with pistachio-washed bourbon and velvet falernum.

For Valentine’s Day, he also recommended the restaurant’s selection of French wines, including premier cru bordeaux and vintage

RED OAK STEAKHOUSE

Saracen Casino Resort, Pine Bluff saracenresort.com/dining/red-oak-steakhouse

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ffering low lighting, unique decor and out-of-this-world food, Red Oak Steakhouse at Saracen Casino Resort in Pine

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Bluff provides a romantic and intimate ambiance for any occasion and especially on Valentine’s Day. “The combination of romantic ambiance, exceptional service, delectable cuisine, along with special touches tailored to each guest, makes Red Oak Steakhouse Arkansas’ premiere choice for the perfect romantic Valentine’s Day dinner,” said Todd Gold, senior director of hospitality at Saracen. “As the South’s only certified provider of genuine Japanese Kobe beef, Red Oak offers a one-of-a-kind experience.”

Gold recommended from the bar the Cupid’s Martini, Flame of Love, Pink Lady, Dark Chocolate Old Fashioned, Cupid’s Arrow and, sexiest of all, the Kir Royale, which is made with champagne and creme de cassis with a lemon twist.

Start the memorable meal with an appetizer of fried oysters on a bed of grits and the showstopping burrata salad, a classic caprese with a twist. The presentation is stunning and, with Italian flavors of mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic pearls, as delicious as it is elegant.

“For those with a tender heart, Red Oak always has a unique entree selection of tenderloins,” said Executive Chef Matías de Matthaeis. “The six-ounce prime filet, the eight-ounce prime filet, bone-in filet, bison tenderloin and A5 Kobe beef tenderloin, together with a plethora of sides and enhancements, are some of Arkansas’ most respected steak offerings.

“Diver scallops with broiled polenta cakes over a celery root puree are also sure to wow you and your date. Roasted tomatoes and Spanish saffron beurre blanc sauce are the perfect partners for this appealing main course.”

Finally, save room for the signature Black Forest cake, which features robust cherry, chocolate and pistachio flavors.

Scenes from Cache, top left and right, and a dish from Red Oak Steakhouse showcase luxurious fare.

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Offerings from Cypress Social, top and bottom left, and Red Oak Steakhouse are sure to impress dates.

CYPRESS SOCIAL North Little Rock cypresssocial.com

Susie Long. Those seeking something spicy should try a Hissy Fit specialty cocktail made with Rancho tequila, Rock Town triple sec and dragon-fire jalapeno syrup.

After an appetizer of fresh Gulf oysters on the half shell and Fowler’s Folly, the house seasonal charcuterie and pickle board to share, it is time to select an entree.

“Our six-ounce filet is sous vide to be as tender as the feelings for your special someone,” Lenners said. “We also offer a panseared salmon on a bed of creamy gnocchi to warm you up, topped with a kiss of Southern-squash-relish sweetness on the finish.

Another popular selection, shrimp, pork belly and grits, switches up an old favorite with a new twist.”

Finally, couples will enjoy a robust dessert selection, highlighted by several house specialties.

“We encourage inducing a chocolate coma via a coffee toffee [chocolate] tres leches, followed closely by our carrot cake featuring bacon and pecan toffee sauce,” Lenners said. “Chef Sara [Horton]’s desserts will knock your socks off.”

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idden in private woods off Maumelle Boulevard in North Little Rock, Cypress Social offers romantic views, while the softly lit and cozy dining room and private parlor feature vintage cypress wood walls and original art. Attentive, friendly and knowledgeable servers guide guests through an exceptional, award-winning dining experience.

Tyler Lenners, director of special events for Cypress Social and its sister restaurant, Petit & Keet in Little Rock, played coy when asked about the forthcoming Valentine’s Day selections but said the menu can make any date night special.

“While we’ll be offering a special prix fixe menu only on Valentine’s Day, Cypress Social can be your romantic date night spot any day of the week with our regular dinner menu,” he said.

For starters, Lenners recommends a selection from Cypress Social’s acclaimed wine list, artfully curated by in-house sommelier,

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Perfect start.

For any occassion.

Call today to book your table for our special Valentine’s celebration.

425 President Clinton Ave 501.850.0265 cachelittlerock.com cacherestaurantlr

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Wine&

Dine

Sassafras Springs Vineyard & Winery a premiere destination

By AY STAFF // Photos provided

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nyone in northwest Arkansas seeking a wonderful, wow-filled fine-winingand-dining experience with an appealing ambiance needs look no further than Sassafras Springs Vineyard & Winery in Springdale. The well-known 60-acre estate in Washington County brings together guests for many special occasions, highlighted by vintage wines produced from the finest available grapes.

Co- owners Cheryl and Gene Long, the husband-andwife tandem who collaborated in bringing Sassafras Vineyard & Winery to life, spared no expense in procuring grapes for their award-winning red and white selections. The couple has also planted hybrid grapes on premises that have been developed by the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and while the vineyard is not yet ready for production, the couple has high hopes for the future, even as they continue to produce award-winning wines from the some of the finest grapes in the country.

“We purchase grapes from local farmers in addition to the grapes that we grow,” Gene said. “Our signature Syrah wine is made from fresh grapes purchased from the West Coast.

We also have our wines bottled for us from the Hopland/ Sonoma area of northern California. We offer 10 varieties under our label; our Syrah wine has won three international gold awards and our pinot has been awarded a triple gold.”

Sassafras Springs Vineyard & Winery started as a relatively simple concept for the Longs and evolved from there.

Gene, a Louisiana native, and Cheryl, from Springdale, spent decades in other careers before taking on their dream project, opening the winery in 2014.

“In the beginning, we saw ourselves as a petite, six-acre winery open six months out of the year,” Gene said. “Now we have grown into what is today a 12-month-per-year winery, tasting room, event center, wedding venue, chapel and lodging. Future growth will include an expanded production building, which will allow us to produce more of our wine and offer wine classes.”

“The winery has had tremendous growth over the past 10 years,” Cheryl said. “We continue to make improvements and create spaces, and 2023 has brought additional growth to our venture, with the construction of another lodge for our overnight guests and expansion of our event center. We also just broke ground on a new production building, which will house our new automated bottling line and wine fermentation tanks. Guests will be able to tour this facility to see how our wines are produced.”

Among the amenities for visitors to enjoy is the tasting room, a former milk barn with many rustic features still preserved. The building’s Fire and Vine Room, with its beautiful, natural wood decor, provides a cozy setting for couples and groups, seating up to 40. The treehouse-like decks and patio will accommodate more than 300 guests, and in addition to the wine, there is a food menu, as well.

Cheryl and Gene Long founded Sassafras Vineyard & Winery in Springdale in 2014.

Events are a big part of the business, and the Longs have leveraged the natural beauty and unique buildings to create everything from the ideal setting for a couple’s unforgettable day to family reunions and more.

“We host more than 500 events per year, including everything from birthdays to proposals, wedding showers, weddings, baby showers and all celebrations of life. We also offer spaces for corporate events and meetings,” Gene said. “Our high standards create a unique experience in wine tasting,

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We host more than 500 events per year, including everything from birthdays to proposals, wedding showers, weddings, baby showers and all celebrations of life.

wedding options, including the stately, open-air Chapel Ruins, the nearby Stables Event Center, which showcases a stunning reception area, and the Veranda, which overlooks the vineyard for a one-of-a-kind romantic backdrop.

There are also multiple lodging options, including the Lodge, the Retreat and the Airstream, each with impressive features that give them their own unique vibe.

With its stone and cedar lap exterior and gleaming interior wood floors, the 3,000-square-foot lodge blends rustic beauty with the sleek elegance of modern-industrial design.

The great room and four elegant suites were inspired by the European and American wine resorts the Longs have visited during their travels. Gene designed the building, and Cheryl provided interior decor to create a building that both blends into and enhances the stunning natural surroundings.

The newest offering, the Retreat, opened in May 2023, providing a modern take on a Tuscan lodge that offers every creature comfort a visitor could want. Offering four bedrooms, including two main-level master ensuites, the Resort is an ideal setting for groups of up to eight people, complete with a modern kitchen.

Guests seeking something completely unique can also check out the Airstream at the Winery. This luxury 1976 Airstream mobile home has been outfitted with creature comforts such as two twin beds, a pull-out couch, a TV, a shower, Wi-Fi, a kitchen and much more. Such lodging options have earned the property numerous local awards.

“We have been voted the most romantic getaway nine

winery visits and events celebrating all aspects of life, both individually and corporate. [The winery] is great for anyone looking for a unique experience in northwest Arkansas, as well as those from surrounding states who want to visit a stunningly beautiful environment.”

The Longs are a winning example of showing how imagination can become reality, Cheryl said.

“The winery was Gene’s vision, and the wedding venue was a dream of mine,” she said. “The land was owned by former Arkansas Razorbacks Football Head Coach Houston Nutt.

We purchased the land with the vision of having a world-class boutique winery and wedding venue. Gene envisioned turning an abandoned dairy barn on the property into the main tasting room for our future guests.”

Today, that vision has taken root in the form of multiple

The land was once owned by Houston Nutt, former football head coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

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What began as a dream of a petite, six-acre winery open half the year has grown into a winery and tasting room that is open year-round and boasts multiple event venues and lodging sites.

years in a row by the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette readers,” Cheryl said.

As new amenities continue to come online, the Longs said they feel a great sense of pride in what has been accomplished, one event and one satisfied visitor at a time.

“Our primary focus is to produce and bottle wine from local chambourcin grapes, to produce wine from imported grapes from the West Coast, and to bring wine and wine-

tasting experiences to northwest Arkansas and the surrounding area,” Gene said. “Our vision is to provide excellent customer service while witnessing what God has done through us and to see thousands of people enjoying a quiet night with friends and family, as well as being a part of so many people’s important, life-changing celebrations and joyful moments.”

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recipe

Decadent

By Amy Gramlich // Photos by Amy Gramlich

Valentine’s Day The month of sweetness has arrived. To celebrate in a sweet way this February, treat loved ones to a batch of these decadent Valentine’s Day brownie hearts.

These brownies, made from scratch, will make an impression whether served individually on dessert plates or presented as part of a Valentine’s dessert charcuterie with other fruit and treats. With multiple steps involved, these rich and fudgy brownies are a labor of love, but that makes them ideal for the occasion.

Brownie Hearts Three Ways to Cut Brownies Into Heart Shapes USE A HEART PAN

Use a brownie pan specially designed for brownie hearts (as seen in the photo to the left). These pans, divided into individual hearts, can be found around Valentine’s Day at many department stores and through online vendors.

Before baking, each heart pocket needs to be generously sprayed with cooking spray so that the batter does not stick and the hearts can release easily from the pan.

Follow baking instructions listed in this article.

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USE COOKIE CUTTERS

Opt to bake the brownie mixture in two 8-inch baking pans. (The batter will be thin — which is good since cookie cutters will be involved.) Line the pan with foil (with foil hanging over the edges by a few inches) and spray the bottom and sides of the foil well with cooking spray. Bake brownies at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until the edges have pulled in slightly and a toothpick comes out clean. Dust with sea salt, if desired.

Set the pans on a wire rack to cool.

Once the brownies have baked and completely cooled in the pans on a wire rack, gently lift the brownies out using the extra inches of foil like handles. Use 2- to 3-inch cookie cutters to gently cut heart shapes into the brownie layer.

Before you start making cuts, consider how you plan to go about inserting the cutters so as to waste as little brownie as possible. Before starting, think about the best place to start the first cut so that you maximize the entire piece, creating as many brownie hearts as possible.

USE A SHARP KNIFE

A third option is to very carefully cut heart shapes using a sharp kitchen knife. Follow the steps above for lining two 8-inch pans with foil. Follow the same baking directions. Rather than using cookie cutters, use a knife to gently cut out heart shapes.

While this option works in place of a special pan or cookie cutters, the brownie heart shapes may not be as consistent as with the other two options.

DRESSING UP VALENTINE’S DAY BROWNIE HEARTS

Chefs can go two different directions when it comes to serving these brownie hearts. They might wish to go the traditional route and serve the brownies untopped. As this is the classic way many people prefer their brownies, they might want to leave at least some of the brownies reserved with no topping at all. A small sprinkle of sea salt across the tops pairs well with the richness of the brownies, if desired.

The second path is to consider the brownie the base for a variety of fun toppings. A dusting of powdered sugar adds a special touch to this Valentine’s Day treat.

To incorporate some color and freshness to the dessert, add one sliced strawberry to garnish the top or side of each brownie on the dessert plates.

Other ideas include piping melted caramel, melted white chocolate or melted dark chocolate over the tops to make the brownies extra rich.

There is also the option of adding melted white chocolate to a shallow bowl and dipping the tops of the brownie hearts completely in the melted chocolate.

Sprinkle with Valentine’s sprinkles for an extra flair.

If adding melted chocolate topping to the brownies, allow the brownies to set for 30 minutes or so until the chocolate has hardened.

These decadent Valentine’s Day brownie hearts will be a winning choice for a Valentine’s dessert.

INGREDIENTS • 2 teaspoons vanilla • 1 1⁄4 cups butter • 2 teaspoons salt • 4 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate • 4 ounces milk chocolate baking chocolate • 6 eggs • 1 cup flour • 3⁄4 cup cocoa • Sea salt or powdered sugar for dusting • 2 cups sugar • Optional strawberries for garnish • 1⁄2 cup brown sugar DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350° F.

2. Brown the butter by placing butter in a pan and melting over medium heat. Once melted, keep over medium heat and swirl occasionally. The butter will start to foam, turn golden brown and have a nutty aroma. Take off heat and set aside until ready to use.

3. Chop the chocolate bars roughly and melt in the microwave in 15- to 20-second intervals, stirring between intervals until chocolate is fully melted.

4. To a large bowl, add both sugars, vanilla, salt and eggs. For approximately 10 minutes, using an electric mixer, mix on high speed until mixture achieves a light and fluffy consistency.

5. Next, add the browned butter and melted chocolate to the bowl and blend until incorporated.

6. In a separate mixing bowl, sift the flour and cocoa before folding it into the batter with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

7. Generously grease a heart-shaped muffin pan and add two heaping tablespoons of batter into each heart pocket.

8. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and gently bang the pan against the kitchen counter one or two times to force out air bubbles. Bake for another 10 minutes or until brownies are cooked through but still fudgy. Optional: Sprinkle each heart with a bit of sea salt or powdered sugar.

9. Cool on a wire rack for at least half an hour. Using a sharp knife, cut around the edge of each brownie to separate it from the pan. Carefully invert the brownies onto a wire rack and allow to cool a while longer.

10. Store extras in an airtight container.

Yield: 15 to 18 brownies.

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food

Chef Jamie McAfee

The Soul of Cooking Longtime chef Jamie McAfee earns prestigious accolade

By Aprille Hanson Spivey // Photos provided 94

A

sk Chef Jamie McAfee what his favorite dish is, and he will come back with the same question. It does not come from indecision or a lifetime of being asked that question, but from a passion for serving others.

“I just enjoy cooking,” McAfee said with sincerity and confidence hewed by 48 years in the culinary world.

“If I invite you to dinner, I’m going to ask you what you like — Italian, Asian, French. It’s hard for chefs to answer that because we don’t have a particular dish; we just want good food. My favorite thing to cook is the dish you’re going to enjoy.”

McAfee’s humility, combined with a healthy understanding that he has worked hard and earned his place in the kitchen, makes his recent designation as a Worldchefs Certified Master Chef at age 64 an emotional victory. He is one of only five members of the American Academy of Chefs from Arkansas and one of only three members of the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs) from Arkansas. There are just 1,500 master chefs within Worldchefs.

McAfee’s prowess in fine dining has led him to work among the greatest in the industry, raise millions of dollars for charity and train the next generation of chefs. It is an extraordinary life with beginnings in the Arkansas Delta.

“I just kind of wanted to prove to the world you can start out as a nobody and end up as something,” McAfee said.

For the past 21 years, McAfee has been the executive chef and general manager of the Pine Bluff Country Club.

He teaches five classes four days a week at the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute at the University of Arkansas - Pulaski Tech in Little Rock while working at the club six days a week. It is a notable feat because most chefs of his caliber have long abandoned nightly labor in the kitchen for more managerial roles.

That work ethic came from growing up in McGehee

“My favorite thing to cook is the dish you’re going to enjoy.”

— Chef Jamie McAfee as the middle child of seven to parents James and Emma Jane McAfee.

Jamie McAfee was born a preemie who struggled with a stutter. At 14, while he was leaving a speech pathology lesson, his mother was in a minor car accident, and his head hit the windshield. He never stuttered after that.

“My father said it knocked the stuttering out of me. Most of the teachers in early school thought I was the class clown, but I would just stutter under pressure. They’d make me sit in the hall, and I didn’t learn my phonics,” McAfee said. “I think the reason I fell into cooking was because it was something I could do.”

His father was a chef in the U.S. Navy, later becoming a chef at the Delta Country Club in McGehee, where McAfee worked from 1986 to 2003, starting at about 14. His career was less about following in his father’s footsteps and more about changing the culinary culture for chefs.

“So many of our chefs in the world have problems with alcoholism and addiction. [My father] was one of them who got caught up in the alcohol,” he said. “That’s the reason, at a young age, I was peeling his shrimp, peeling his tenders, wrapping his baked potatoes. That’s kind of what spared me.

“I was always frustrated and angry. I had a good childhood. Out of all his children, he was pretty tough on me. He always said the reason he was tough on me is I had too much of a weak soul, so he wanted to toughen me up.”

While his father did not want him to be a chef, McAfee fell in love with cooking at a young age. The first thing he cooked successfully was cream sausage gravy at age 12.

“I guess where I got my love for cooking and really realizing some people did it for a passion, I learned to cook from African American women in my parent’s kitchen [at the country club],” McAfee said.

“They coveted their recipes. They would turn their back when making biscuits or certain sauces. They were scared they’d lose their job if someone could do it better than them. It was the only thing they could hold onto to make a living.

“That really struck me. I’ll share recipes now, and I’m willing to do it, but I remember thinking, ‘Wow, they have that much passion to do this and that much care.’ That always stood out. I tell a lot of people I’ve been to three to four different chef schools, taken classes all over the U.S. … but the actual cooking, the soul of cooking, 75 percent of it came from the African American women in my parent’s kitchen.”

More than McAfee’s cooking roots came from the Delta, so did his

This rack of lamb helped McAfee earn his recent honor.

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tions and things diners absolutely will not eat, though he may challenge it.

McAfee said he might then start with a pan-seared scallop on a bed of cheese grits, transitioning to ahi tuna with an Asian glaze or maybe a chicken or beef dish, along with a good wine tasting.

For McAfee, it has always been about giving the best experience to the customer.

“For our palate to grow, we have to experiment,” he said.

Throughout the years, his customers have become like family, which has given him the right excuse to stay.

“I knew I was dealing with successful people. I knew they liked quality. I just never had the money to open my own restaurant,” McAfee said, adding that it is hard for restaurants to succeed.

This year, he said, he is proud the club’s restaurant finished in the black.

“Most country clubs I worked at gave me the freedom to do what I wanted to do. I loved cooking for 400 to 500 people at a wedding or 400-person catering, but cooking at, like, Chick-filA, they probably feed 1,000 people a day at lunch. I really admire those people. If you stand on your feet on concrete for eight hours a day, you have my appreciation. I just didn’t like that high volume.”

With that level of quality comes intensity. When McAfee is cooking, he is hyper-focused.

“I’m sort of like a Nick Saban. I will chew your [expletive] out. I’ve stopped trying to yell and cuss, but I’m very direct and to the point,” McAfee said. “I set the tone from the get-go. You better be on your toes if I’m back there cooking.”

Despite the challenging work and 100-plus-degree days in the kitchen, McAfee said he is not burned out from his years in the industry — quite the opposite — and he is still trying new things, including excelling at lavish charcuterie boards.

“I know this sounds strange, but the longer I’m in it, the more I love it,” he said McAfee’s career has been centered around feeding, but it is not just with food. It is about feeding the minds of those around him through charity work and teaching.

For years, he has participated in the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center’s Five Star Sensation charity event in Cleveland, Ohio, with Chef Wolfgang Puck, who serves as honorary chair, for many years and has raised millions for the cancer center. He has worked alongside famed chefs such as the late Paul Prudhomme and Sam Choy.

For Arkansas charities, he has raised about $20 million in the past 40 years, but even more than giving back monetarily, he takes his role in molding the next generations of chefs seriously.

“When I was young, I acted just like Gordon Ramsay until a mentor told me, ‘Why don’t you quit [expletive] and start teaching,’” McAfee said. “I used to get mad when somebody wouldn’t take it as seriously as I would. It took him chewing my [expletive] out to say, ‘Why don’t you make it enjoyable for them?”

Today, he encourages his students to experiment and learn from their mistakes. He has taught countless culinary students, about 20 of whom are chefs who make six-figure salaries. He taught Little Rock chef Jennifer Maune, who found success as a season 13 finalist on MasterChef: United Tastes of America last year.

“I’m one of those teachers who tries to teach the real world.

spouse. McAfee began dating his wife of 44 years, Laurie, when she was 15. During her junior year, she moved to Fresno, Calif., and when he graduated in 1977, he visited her and stayed for six months until her father told him it was time to leave.

“She called me when she got out of high school and said, ‘What are you doing Aug. 11?’ I said, ‘I don’t know. What do I need to do?’”

McAfee said, adding that his future wife replied, “What do you think about being at the church and getting married?”

“Best decision I ever made,” he said. “She always knew what she wanted. She saw potential in me.”

McAfee’s parents divorced, and in 1977, he began working at a hotel his mother owned while also working at the country club for his father. In 1981, she sold the hotel, and McAfee moved to Memphis, Tenn., where he earned a culinary degree from the now-closed Memphis Culinary Institute. He earned another in 2005 from UA - Pulaski Tech, where he teaches. From there, he has studied across the U.S. While in Memphis, his father urged him to learn another skill because he was not making any money cooking. He worked in distribution for Nike for five years, starting with unloading trucks.

A year and a half later, he was managing the warehouse.

“At 23, I had a little over 200 employees under my rein,” McAfee said.

While it was never his passion, his organizational skills translated to Nike, where he lined up the boxes of shoes like he would later do with needed ingredients for the day.

“In professional cooking, we call it ‘mise en place,’ or having everything in order,” he said. “You have 10 pounds of shrimp every day, 25 chicken breasts ready to go, the flour, butter, oil measured out and prepped.

“If you get that organized, it’s like a symphony of putting it together … proper planning prevents poor performance. What’s the difference between Alabama and Arkansas? It’s the way they practice football. It’s their schedule.”

While working at Nike, he was also cooking. He worked about three years, with six to eight months for free, at the two-star Memphis restaurant, the Cafe Meridian, just to have it on his resume.

“For the first 20 years in the culinary world, I would work for less than $4 an hour. Once you get the years of experience and continue with your education, all the other salaries start coming into hand,” McAfee said.

In 1986, the McAfees moved back to McGehee to raise their two children. McAfee worked for the next 17 years at the Delta Country Club while growing in his craft and expanding his education. McAfee became a sous chef and then a working chef in the late ’80s, executive chef in 1994, a chef in the American Academy of Chefs in 2013 and is now a Worldchefs Certified Master Chef.

McAfee’s skills and education helped him make connections.

He played golf with George Makris, executive chairman of Simmons First National Corporation and Simmons Bank, who was president of the Pine Bluff Country Club at that time. He hired McAfee, who has built up a customized experience for the members and patrons of the club for the past 21 years.

While the club’s menu boasts a range of cuisine, from Southernstyle cooking to international dishes, McAfee’s best advice is to ignore the options on the menu.

“I like tasting menus. If you came to the club, throw the menu away and say, ‘Chef, fix me something,’” he said. “Once you do that, you have entrusted me with preparing the best array of foods.”

He said he asks a few questions about budget, dietary restric-

I “ know this sounds strange, but the longer I ’m in it, the more I love it.

— Chef Jamie McAfee”

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… They’re not always going to achieve success in a recipe. They have to know how to reach and fix it on the spur of the moment to achieve success,” he said. “Something I always tell my students every semester — never stop dreaming. Never lose your determination and desire to achieve your dream.”

Several former students have gone on to work in his kitchen, and his succession plan is already in motion. His children, Jay McAfee, 43, and Ashley Keaton, 39, are both successful chefs in their own right. Over the next five years, Keaton, the

head chef on the club’s day shift, and Tim Wasson, head chef on the night shift, will likely step into his role at the club.

Beyond the awards, what McAfee has given back will shape the future of culinary arts in Arkansas. A fellow chef once told McAfee that he has “trained more chefs in the trenches in the kitchen every night than anyone in Arkansas.”

“That’s a pretty good legacy,” McAfee said.

World-class dishes In order to earn his Worldchefs Certified Master Chef designation, Chef Jamie McAfee began practicing in July, settling on what dishes he planned on making in August. He finished cooking in August at the Pine Bluff Country Club. Here are the meals and the descriptions that earned his certification:

Wisconsin butter-poached Maine lobster; summer corn bisque; shoepeg risotto, seafood galantine garnish Paired with Jadot chablis premier cru, Fourchaume, France “The crisp and tangy citrus flavors with the stony mineral character of the wine will contrast nicely with the butter and rich lobster flavors. While the flavors and structure of the wine will offer a nice contrast to the lobster, the moderate weight and ripe fruit character will still be in balance with the risotto and bisque.”

Petite Eureka lemon and white chocolate trifle; graham cracker crust, blueberry caviar; toasted macadamia dust Paired with Perrier-Jouët blanc de blancs champagne, France

Roasted New Zealand rack of spring lamb; wild mint demi, parsley’d chimichurri sauce; sweet onion petals, potato Annie, pan-seared asparagus; Meyer lemon zest garnish Paired with Catena paraje altamira malbec, Uco Valley, Argentina

“The challenge in pairing a wine with a trifle is the sweet creaminess which would require a wine with considerable sweetness. To lighten the mood in a contrasting style, I have chosen a champagne, balancing the creamy sweetness with bubbles and intense acidity instead of sweetness. The Perrier-Jouët offers classic minerality and high acidity to contrast with the creamy trifle while bridging citrus and macadamia nut flavors with bright citrus note and an underlying toasted-nut character of the champagne.”

“The richness of the young lamb demands a bold, crisp red wine with generous ripe fruit to do battle with its char-roasted intensity. The spicy counterpoint of the chimichurri sauce seeks a partner to tango with complex, contrasting flavors. This high-altitude malbec made from perfectly ripe fruit that somehow manages to retain its characteristic acidity and vibrant berry fruit tones is the perfect dance partner.”

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food

By Dwain Hebda // Photos provided

Trout Fishing in

America

nt offers a bygone tast a r u a t s e R e of th o ’s t i d i s V e h n a o t , s a e k time e D Ozar

DeVito’s Restaurant in Harrison is known for serving some of the best trout in the area.

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T

he joy of visiting any new place is learning the history of the establishment and, in doing so, becoming a part of its evolving backstory. So it is with visitors to DeVito’s Restaurant in Harrison, which has been serving the best homemade Italian dishes and delectable trout entrees across multiple generations over nearly four decades.

“We have worked together for 53 years and never come to blows,” said Joe DeVito, who runs the restaurant with his two brothers, Steve and Chris. “It’s just special. I don’t know how many families could do what we have done.”

DeVito’s restaurant, opened in 1986 and rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2000, has a long reputation in the Ozarks with a clientele to match.

Not unlike the DeVito family themselves, much of the clientele is multi-generational, and dinner at the restaurant is a family tradition savored over many years. The establishment also sees its share of new faces, part of the rising eco-tourism movement that has flocked to the Ozarks in recent years.

Joe understands such motivations because it was the pull of family and the lure of the land that moved his late father, Jim, to bring the family here in the first place.

“Dad retired here. He always called it God’s country,” Joe said. “The beauty of our area with the Buffalo River, the gorgeous lakes, the best trout fishing available means there’s a little bit of everything to do.

DeVito Fa

“The number of visitors is just growing and growing, especially as we’ve got more bicycle trails in our area. This is the perfect spot to be.”

Wisconsin-born and Illinois-raised, Jim DeVito was a passionate outdoorsman whose zeal for hunting and fishing was matched only by his love for food and family. During World War II, he served in Germany, after which he was transferred to Camp Robinson in North Little Rock. While there, he met and later married Mary Alice Raney, a native of Harrison who was then a student at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock.

In 1970, Jim had amassed 29 years in the Army and retired at age 47. He and Mary Alice moved back to her hometown, where he was smitten by the natural beauty and sportsman’s paradise to be had there. The couple had intended to go into the antiques business and, in fact, ran a store for a while, but

mily

The establishment opened in 1986 and was rebuilt after a fire in 2000.

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Patrons can fish at the DeVito’s trout farm and even have the restaurant cook the catch. aymag.com

The late Jim DeVito, who established DeVito’s, called the Buffalo National River area “God’s country.”

Fate stepped in when Mary Alice’s father, Albert H. Raney, approached the couple with a business proposition they could not pass up.

Raney was a tourism entrepreneur before there was a word for it, having operated several attractions in the Jasper area, including a trout farm and Mystic Caverns. He sold out to developers of theme park Dogpatch USA in 1966, only to start another trout farm in a place called Bear Creek Springs. It was this latter attraction Raney offered Jim and Mary Alice to help run alongside Mary’s brother, Gene.

“Grandpa gave us the 40 acres there at Bear Creek, and Dad gave half of it to my aunt and uncle because they knew how to raise trout,” Joe said. “I started working over there when I was 7 years old with my family. As kids, we would bait hooks, take fish off. I remember cleaning as many as 400 trout in one day. We just cleaned and packed them on ice for people to take home with them because we didn’t have the restaurant yet.”

The trout farm became a successful, popular attraction until the early 1980s. What survived the DeVito boys heading off to college at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville the reconfiguration of nearby highways nearly killed off entirely when traffic was diverted around the attraction.

“It pretty much killed the trout farm,” Joe said. “About that time, we all moved home and built the original restaurant. We took the old 100-year-old gift shop, tore down part of it, remodeled it and built the original DeVito’s there from the ground up.”

Although it took quite a bit of prodding to nudge Jim into the restaurant business, the family patriarch’s love for food was deeply apparent, and he passed this passion on to his sons, which, at that time, included

a fourth brother, James, who would later leave to open his own restaurant in Eureka Springs.

Joe remembers the early days of DeVito’s being a study in experimentation and on-the-job training.

“We had no clue what we were doing,” he said. “Somebody, a few years before we opened the restaurant, showed us how to butterfly and debone a trout. We didn’t know how to butterfly a trout up to that point.

“All the Italian recipes we use are from Dad’s family going way back, but the trout recipes, we just kind of created on our own. We kind of played around and created most of those dishes.”

The restaurant was an immediate hit, and, through changing times, tastes and a global pandemic — not to mention the loss of the restaurant to fire, followed by Joe’s death two weeks later in 2000 — DeVito’s has soldiered on. Today, there is plenty that provides a refreshing link to the past, starting with who is manning the kitchen.

“All the Italian dishes are just like Dad made them all along,” Joe said. “The three of us, Steve, Chris and I, make everything — all our raviolis, our sausage, our meatballs, our sauces, our breads. They’re all made in house by us. All our desserts, pies and such come from Dad and Mom’s old recipes.

“The three of us [brothers] have done all the food preparation and all the cooking for the last 37 years. We don’t have any cook helpers. We don’t have sous chefs or anything like that. There’s two of us brothers in the kitchen at all times, except on Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve, when all three of us will be cooking.”

Even the trout farm still exists, and while it does not attract nearly the traffic it used to, patrons can still fish by appointment, paying by the pound on what they catch. For a slight upcharge, anglers can even have

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The Italian recipes have been in the family for generations.

The three of us, Steve, Chris and I, make everything — all our raviolis, our sausage, our meatballs, our sauces, our breads. They’re all made in house by us. All our desserts, pies and such come from Dad and Mom’s old recipes.

— Joe DeVito

the restaurant prepare their quarry, or, for a quarter, visitors can merely feed the fish, a popular option for families with young children.

The clientele is roughly split between people who regard DeVito’s as the best Italian restaurant around versus those that see it as their favorite fish restaurant.

“I’ve had people leave comments online saying, ‘It doesn’t look like an Italian place,’ or ‘It doesn’t look like a fish place,’” Joe said. “I thought, what the hell does that matter if the food’s good?”

Joe himself struggled to name a favorite from the menu but, when pressed, played it straight down the middle.

“Our DeVito combo has our homemade ravioli, our sausage and meatball, and a half order of pasta on it. Our fettuccine alfredo and seafood fettuccine are also favorites of a lot of people on the Italian side,” he said. “On the trout side, our best seller would probably have to be our boneless grilled trout, which they can have Cajun or DeVito style, or they can have half Cajun/half DeVito. The trout almondine is another favorite. It’s boneless also.”

However, for those who know, there is one dish that tops them all, an off-menu item that is only available about half the time. Those patrons lucky enough to have tasted it whisper of the dish like a legendary monster trout few have seen and no one has ever caught.

“Something we don’t have on the menu half the time is smoked trout,” Joe said. “That’s something people ask for all the time. I just don’t have time to make it. I have to go catch 30 or 40 extra trout, debone

them, marinate them overnight, and then smoke them. Then we make a smoked trout paté out of that smoked trout.

“That’s something my dad played around with, a brine solution for marinating the trout. He played around with it for years and finally got it right. Luckily, he wrote it down before he passed on.”

In another nod to a bygone era, DeVito’s still takes reservations — recommends them, actually — a testament to the restaurant’s enduring popularity. Joe said traffic on any given night ranges from a light crowd of 37 patrons to slammed to the gills with 125 hungry diners, and there is little rhyme or reason to it. The only thing each night seems to have in common with the next is the quality of the food and the warmth of the service, which draws both well-established locals and first-time tourists alike, each seeking to savor a helping of Arkansas culinary history.

When asked who was the best cook among the DeVito brothers, Joe quickly answered, “Me,” then let out a laugh.

“Nah, we’re all good,” he said. “We’ve all done it all and could do it with our eyes closed, probably.”

DeVito’s Restaurant 350 DeVito’s Loop, Harrison 870-741- 8832 devitosrestaurant.com Hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays: 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sundays: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Mondays: Closed

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ozarks

Visiting the

Ozarks

By John Callahan // Photos provided

Breathtaking natural beauty attracts thousands of visitors a year to the Ozarks.

A

kansas is well-deserving of its title as the Natural State, and there are few better places to experience that natural beauty than in the Ozark Mountains, whether it be by taking in the views from the mountaintops, biking down their slopes or fishing in the many waterways of their valleys. Nestled between the peaks, travelers can also find welcoming and picturesque towns that offer places to have a good meal, a good time and a good night’s rest.

Driving north from the state’s capital along U.S. 65 and then winding along Arkansas 9, such a traveler would find Mountain View, the seat of Stone County, which has a population of almost 3,000 as of the last census. Despite its small size, the town is famed across the country as the home of the annual Arkansas Folk Festival.

“Folk Fest celebrates our self-proclaimed title as Folk Music Capital of the World,” said Tracy Turpin, executive director of the Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a celebration of the music, artistry and heritage of living here in the Ozarks. I hear stories from back in the 1970s of it being reminiscent of Woodstock in size and intensity. It’s a lot calmer now, but it’s a great festival and a great time for families.”

The festival includes a parade down Main Street and live music at the courthouse square throughout the weekend, as well as artists and vendors showing local wares and artistry. This year will mark the 62nd annual festival in April, but those who are not able to attend will still have plenty of opportunities to experience genuine Ozark folk music. When the weather is warm from mid-April to late November, musicians and locals still gather in the town square to play into the night, much as they have done since the town’s founding in the 1870s.

This, however, is only the first of four festivals that take place annually in Mountain View. The second is Mountains, Music & Motorcycles, a bike rally that draws attendees from across North America each August to participate in events, including a poker run, motorcycle and car shows, a pie eating contest, live music, local vendors, and more.

“Bean Fest and Champion Outhouse Races is probably our most unique festival,” Turpin said. “It’s a bean cookoff, and we have about 50 pots of pinto beans that are cooked by various people who enter the contest. We provide the beans and the pots, close off one of the streets and make a huge kitchen out of it. [Contestants] cook beans with their own recipe and whatever spices and ingredients they bring with them. Then

Motorcycle routes and hiking trails abound throughout the region.

they’re voted on for the title of Best Beans.”

Once the cookoff is finished, the crowd gathers to watch the great Champion Outhouse Races, in which wheeled “outhouses” speed down Jefferson Street, powered by two human pushers and steered by a driver sitting on the outhouse seat. The teams are often dressed in costumes. After competing in heats to determine “the fastest privy in the Ozarks,” first-, second- and third-place winners are awarded the gold, silver and bronze toilet seat awards and cash prizes. For those hoping to prove themselves as a bean cooker or outhouse racer, or just those looking to see it all for themselves, the festival is held every October.

This past December also marked Mountain View’s inaugural Christmas On The Square, which expanded the town’s annual Christmas parade and tree lighting into a full festival.

“We had a lot of activities here on the square, mainly aimed at the younger generation, to do something for the kids here in the area and from out of town,” Turpin said. “Little train rides, hay rides, a petting zoo. Of course we went all out, lighting up the square in the downtown area, so it was really beautiful. People really enjoyed it, and we got some great feedback. Whether we meant to or not, we’ve added a fourth festival this year by doing this big Christmas celebration, and I believe that will be a permanent thing for us.”

One does not need to wait for the nearest festival to make Mountain View worth the trip, however. The nearby White River is a popular

When the weather is warm from mid-April to late November, musicians and locals still gather in the town square to play into the night, much as they have done since the town’s founding in the 1870s.

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Multiple accomodations provide pristine views and proximity to area activites.

Trout fishing at local waterways is hard to beat.

Mountains, Music & Motorcycles draws attendees from across the country to Mountain View.

spot for anglers and the source of multiple state- and even world-record trout. Fishing guides and rental boats are available to anyone looking to spend a day on the water. Other outdoor attractions include the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail, which has five loops of varying levels that total 50 miles of trail; hiking trails like the 4.1-mile White River Bluff Loop; and Mirror Lake, a man-made lake stocked with trout.

For an experience that is not quite in- or out-ofdoors, one could visit the famous Blanchard Springs Caverns, a “living cave” with constantly growing and changing formations that offer a new experience, even for returning visitors. Tours are offered at varied levels of intensity, providing options for anyone from children in strollers to true spelunkers.

Within the town itself, shoppers can find a vibrant downtown filled with local establishments, craft shops and a farmers market.

“I’ve always got to put a plug in for PJ’s Rainbow Cafe,” Turpin said. “It’s home cooking at its best. I swear, sometimes I go in there, and my grandmother must be back there in the kitchen because it’s just that good.”

Continuing north along Arkansas 5 for just half an hour, a traveler would reach the town of Calico Rock, so named for the streaks of blue, black, gray, red and orange running through the surrounding bluffs that resemble calico cloth. Founded in 1820, the town was once an important stop for travel and commerce along the White River, though its importance faded in the twentieth century, and the town struggled for many years. Recently, however, it has made a resounding comeback.

“Calico Rock became part of Main Street America this past year,” said Gloriaann Sanders, executive director for the Calico Rock Community Foundation and Main Street Calico Rock. “We have totally refurbished Main Street to the boomtown it was in the early 1900s. This is still a small town with a population of 1,500 people, and to some, it is the ‘pearl not yet discovered.’ We’ve had guests register from Austria, Switzerland, France and many [nearby] states.”

Many of these guests come to stay at the Calico Riverview Inn, a bed and breakfast on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was constructed by a man named Ben Sanders in 1923 and was made entirely out of concrete following a fire that destroyed much of the town.

“My sister, husband and I bought [the building] in 2021 and spent almost two years restoring it to its historical significance,” said Tracy Owens, co-owner of the Calico Riverview Inn. “It has Georgian columns on both sides of the building, which is a little out of character for a building of that architecture.

There’s porches on the front and side, and when we restored the building, we took it back to what the pictures showed from the early 1920s. We opened up the porches and those columns were actually hidden behind the walls, they had just been enclosed all of these years. When you come and stay at the inn, you can sit on the original porches overlooking the river, just like Ben Sanders intended.”

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Given the town’s location directly on the White River, it is an ideal spot for fishing within walking distance of many of its lodging options.

“The fishing guides are world class,” Owens said. “You don’t have to have bait or tackle or any of that; all you need is a fishing license, which you can also get here in Calico. Then when you come back at noontime, they’ll do a shore lunch. They take out the trout you caught and clean it and cook it for you right there with all of the trimmings.”

The town itself is home to the Calico Rock Museum, which tells the history of the town from the days the land belonged to Native Americans through its early settlement and up to 1967. In addition to preserving the past, it provides a space for some 28 local artists to sell items ranging from pottery and furniture to woodworking, jewelry and more.

There are local restaurants such as the Printing Press Café & Ice Cream Parlor, Kinship Coffee, Between the Buns, Juniper’s Back Door and the town’s own speakeasy, Peppersauce Alley, named after the moonshine trade which once thrived in Calico Rock. Visitors can also take a tour through Calico Rock’s Ghost Town, the abandoned remnants of more than twenty buildings, such as the old jail, cotton gin and barber shop.

Several annual events are held in the town, including an antique car show in April, a rodeo and bull-riding contest in June, a Fourth of July fireworks show, Trick or Treat on Main Street for Halloween, and the Living Windows & Lighted Christmas Parade. “[Living Windows] is a weekend where they have live people in all of the storefronts,” Owens said. “They pick a theme every year. One year it was movies, so there were windows for [National Lampoon’s] Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life, The Santa Clause — all of these different movies and people dressed in costume. We probably have 2000 people come to Calico Rock that evening, along with a parade where Santa Claus comes through and the kids can go to the fire station to meet Santa.”

Calico Rock sits some 23 miles in either direction from Mountain View and Mountain Home, a position which has perhaps kept it somewhat hidden but also gives it easy access to whatever attractions either have to offer, in addition to its own small town charm.

“When you meet visitors to Calico Rock, a lot of them say, ‘This is the best place on Earth, and we hope no one ever finds out about it,’ because they want it to be theirs,” Owens said.

As much as there is to do in and around Calico Rock, it is also a great place to not do anything at all. Travelers can leave the hustle and Cute and kitchy shops are a part of the local landscape.

Situated on the White River, Calico Rock offers stunning scenery and much more to travelers.

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bustle behind to sit overlooking the river and drink in the calm. For particularly good views, Sanders said the fall colors are usually at their most magical around the second week of October.

The last stop on this Ozark road trip is the city of Mountain Home, the seat of Baxter County, which has a population of just under 13,000.

The city is one of America’s top freshwater fishing destinations, thanks to its proximity to no less than five significant waterways. These include three rivers: the White River, Buffalo National River and North Fork River. The city is also flanked on either side by Bull Shoals Lake and Norfork Lake.

“The fun doesn’t take a break in Mountain Home and the Twin Lakes Area — it’s a year-round affair,” said Dani Pugsley, president and CEO of the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Whether it’s soaking up the sun by swimming and surfing the lakes in the summer, casting a line in the rivers during winter, or enjoying a myriad of shopping, dining and exploring options, there’s always something to do.”

Frequent events are held year-round, from educational presentations at the Baxter County Library and shows at the Twin Lakes Playhouse to larger annual events. The latter range from the Sowbug Roundup, a series of fly-tying and fly-casting demonstrations and seminars at the Baxter County Fairgrounds, and the Norfork Pioneer Days Heritage Festival, which features living-history tours, live reenactors and ironworks at the Jacob Wolf House, to the Twin Lakes Thunder Rally and Car Show and the Mountain Home-Town Christmas Festival — to name only a few. During any month of the year, there is likely to be at least one annual event and any number of smaller events.

Outdoors, the nearby rivers and lakes offer more than enough for a full vacation spent fishing and boating. Outdoorsy folks can bike down Oakridge Mountain Bike Trail at Bull Shoals-White River State Park and Pigeon Creek Trail System at Lake Norfork or hike on foot at Big Bluff Goat Trail and Bull Shoals Lakeside Trail. Push Mountain Loop is among the most scenic motorcycle routes in the Ozarks, while a short drive outside of town brings travelers to Pigeon Creek ATV and Motorcycle Area. The area’s parks and waterways are replete with camping sites and cabins for any degree of lodging in the great outdoors, and golfers can play a round at Big Creek Golf & Country Club, a multi-year winner of Golf Digest’s Places To Play five-star award.

Cave divers can also visit Bull Shoals Caverns, one of the world’s oldest limestone caves. The caverns formed some 350 million years ago, more than 100 million years before the first dinosaurs. Salamanders, small bats, frogs and camel crickets still inhabit the cave, and it is estimated that it was used by Native Americans as far back as 10,000 years ago.

Options for shopping are too many to name but run the gamut from thrift stores and boutiques to arts and crafts, jewelry, and books.

Eateries are no less plentiful and include both chains and local restaurants, including award-winning barbecue, Mexican, home-style cooking, pizza, fresh-caught specialties, bars and breweries. Visitors can try their hand at an escape room at Mountain Mystery Escapes, play retro games at Happy’s Arcade, throw axes at Sharp Edges Axe Throwing, go bowling at Driftwood Lanes and more besides.

“Mountain Home and Baxter County are rich in history, with Baxter County just celebrating its sesquicentennial, or 150 years,” Pugsley said. “The Baxter County Historical Society is a must-see stop when visiting the area. They have information on the building of the Norfork and Bull Shoals dams, how Mountain Home received its name and my personal favorite story of Mountain Home resident Nellie Mitchell.”

Another must-see recommendation from Pugsley is the Vada Sheid Community Development Center on the campus of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. The center, often referred to as “the Sheid,” is a venue for numerous live music and performance art events and also plays home to a beautiful art gallery that has exhibits by both student and professional artists.

There is no shortage of events, activities and attractions in the Ozarks.

Wherever a traveler may steer through those winding mountain roads, it would be difficult for them to go very far wrong. The Ozarks are a dream for outdoor enthusiasts, be they anglers, bikers or hikers, and even small towns welcome visitors with food, festivals and culture aplenty. There is more than enough to do, plus the all-too-rare luxury of the time and space to do nothing at all but sit back, relax and enjoy Ozark living.

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Perched on a picturesque bluff overlooking the White River, the Calico Riverview Inn Bed & Breakfast provides a stunning retreat for any traveler looking for a restful, invigorating stay.

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Authentic I talian cuisine, fresh rainbow trout, and choice steaks.

— Trout Fishing available by appointment.

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ozarks

Go Play

Outside

Ozarks renowned for outdoor adventures of all kinds

By Dwain Hebda // Photos provided

F

ully understanding the sprawling outdoor ethos of the Arkansas Ozarks — from its shining lakes, gurgling trout streams, brawny mountain bluffs and majestic woodlands — takes some doing. As a centerpiece for the state’s tourism industry and home to the renowned and beloved Buffalo River, the first waterway in America to be declared a National River, there is a lot of ground and associated activities and attractions to cover.

One longtimer in the area, Ben Fruehauf III, owner of Buffalo Camping & Canoeing in Gilbert, has seen the area explode over the years as visitors discover and rediscover the Ozarks’ quiet beauty as an ideal vacation retreat. He came as close as any to summing up the incomparable environment and unique worldview of the area.

“In my mind, you do one of two things in this world: You either work or you play,” he said. “I knew I wanted to be in the Ozarks and Gilbert specifically from the very early ‘70s, when we came here to float and just fell in love. Something about the fresh air, seeing something different, just nature itself.

“I ran an ad once that said, ‘You’re stuck on Cantrell [Road in Little Rock] at a red light, bumper to bumper, and you could be in Gilbert throwing rocks and smelling daffodils.’ A lot of people got it. We’ve had folks from probably all the states and 23 foreign countries. We serve not only our region and our state, but visitors around the world. Our work revolves around everybody else’s play.”

It is difficult to spend even a few minutes talking to Fruehauf and not be taken by his enthusiasm for the place he calls home, where he has welcomed so many for so long.

“A lot has changed, but the bottom line is probably the same,” he said. “Let’s get out. Let’s go do something. You rent a canoe for $85 for a day for two people. It’s cheap recreation, and you’re looking at a national pastime of canoeing and being outdoors. It’s not only the river that sells itself; it’s the bluffs, the eye candy if you will, which is always going to be a draw.

“Factor in [COVID-19], and we had two of our best years by hundreds of thousands of dollars in ’20 and’21. I thought the season was over come school and Labor Day, but people were coming back all the way through November, and I said, ‘Thank you, Lord.’ It blew my mind.”

Fruehauf is not alone in his enthusiasm for one of Arkansas’s biggest draws. Darryl Treat, executive director of the Greater Searcy County Chamber of Commerce is another true believer for whom promoting the Ozarks is more than a professional pursuit; it is a passion the listener can feel.

“We are not overpopulated. We are rustically, ruggedly beautiful,” he said. “People come for the Ozarks’ scenery, the peace and quiet.

They get an escape from a lot of the hustle and bustle of the rest of the world, and of course, the Buffalo National River attracts a lot of people to float.”

Treat, an eighth-generation Arkansan, and the people and places he represents do not simply rely on nostalgia or the enthusiasm of locals to draw folks, of course. Growth in tourism has come as a result of much careful planning, study of the target clientele and positioning the product appropriately in the minds of prospective visitors.

“I can’t say that I’ve seen a change in the traveler; what I have seen is a change in what we provide in the county,” he said. “We have greatly increased the number of Airbnbs, lodges, RV parks, campgrounds — things of that nature. We have provided an awful lot more lodging amenities than we had when I started out.

“We have also done a very strong job of marketing ourselves. We have grown cycling in the county. That’s probably one of the biggest changes is that when we started out we had almost nothing going on with cycling, and now we have a fair amount. That was a big change here locally. We also identified roads that could be marketed for motorcycles, and we got involved with painted barn quilts. There’s now an Arkansas Quilt Trails that covers a lot of the state, and we were the second county in the state to actually be a full-fledged Arkansas Quilt Trails county.

“We have also promoted Dark Skies, something else that has risen in prominence significantly. This past year we had the second annual Dark-Sky Festival just outside Marshall at Bear Creek Log Cabins, and the third annual is coming back again this year. On the Bortle scale, the Buffalo National River is as dark as it gets anywhere between here and the East Coast, as far as I know.”

The growth of inflow to Treat’s specific territory has resulted in not only more visitors, but of a demographic that is likely going to

Fishing draws all manner of visitors to the Buffalo National River and the White River.

By float or by boat, exploring the Buffalo River is a beloved Arkansas tradition. continue to “There are also some restaurants that have figured out it doesn’t really pay dividends for a support activities if they shorten their hours or close for the season. Some very long time to come. places that used to always close for the winter aren’t doing that anymore, “We have a lot of young people who or they’re starting to serve dinner now, when they never used to.” come to the Buffalo National River in the summertime to float the river.

Milburn also noted the many new restaurants that are popping up The stretch of river between Tyler Bend and Gilbert tends to be, probably, throughout the area, further adding to the diversity and quality of fare to the most visited stretch on the entire Buffalo National River,” he be enjoyed by visitors. said. “People come from central Arkansas, anywhere from “Big Springs, which is a barbecue joint down the road Little Rock to Hot Springs to Searcy, Heber Springs, from me, is probably one of my favorite places in the Russellville, Greenbrier. Central Arkansas is the state of Arkansas to go. It’s a staple, a destination market for us. People flow up here. kind of place, just like if I’m down duck hunting “When it comes to out-of-state visitors, I in south Arkansas, I’m going to try to get my would say Texas is probably the No. 1 state, Craig’s Bar-B-Q. If I’m down around St. Joe, People come from central but there’s a strong group of people who I’m going to stop in at Big Springs.” come from Louisiana. We also get people Even within the foundational business of Arkansas, anywhere from Little from Branson, [Mo.], that come down to the Buffalo River itself, changes have been Rock to Hot Springs to Searcy, see us, and any of the surrounding states – made to better meet the tastes of the modOklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi – we get ern guest, Milburn’s included.

Heber Springs, Russellville, people that come and visit.”

“There’s still plenty of young people Greenbrier. Central Arkansas is coming, Ben Milburn, owner of well-known and most of them coming want outfitter Buffalo River Outfitters in St. Joe, the market for us. People flow a kayak,” Milburn said. “They want to do estimated the 40-year-old company welcomes something different than what people my up here. between 12,000 and 15,000 guests per year. In age are used to doing, so we’ve definitely seen — Darryl Treat, Greater Searcy County a shift in the activity from canoers to kayakers. addition to renting various watercraft for padChamber of Commerce dling or floating, BRO also branched into a num“That adds a little strain to the logistics of haulber of other amenities and services through the years, ing equipment and dealing with the boats and stuff including cabins and shuttle service. like that because kayaks are a little bit harder to handle The majority of the visitors cram in during the vacation seathan a canoe. You almost need two people; one on each end to son, and the challenge now, as then, is how to attract visitors outside of hold the handles. You can’t really grab a kayak by the center and carry it ideal weather conditions or water levels. Milburn complimented the busilike you can a canoe. It’s a little more complicated when it comes to the nesses in the area that, to this end, have invested in things to take some of logistic side of it, but that’s our job, to deal with that kind of stuff and the seasonality out of the area’s draw. handle that for people, so that’s what we do.”

“There are tons of activities to do here,” he said. “There’s a lot of hiking.

The White River, while perhaps not carrying the general caché and There’s mountain biking on what they’ve developed as the Ozark Grindname recognition as the Buffalo River, especially outside the state, is aner Trail, which runs from Witt Springs all the way down to Tyler Bend other powerful attractor to the Ozarks. The White River feeds some of through Snowball. You’ve got all the national forests, where people can the best fishing in the nation which, for years, has supported numerous bring UTVs and ATVs and ride on some of the national roads. lodges and resorts in the area.

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Fishing is one of many ways to make family memories that can last a lifetime.

Brenda Turner is owner of one of the best-known of these, Stetson’s On The White in Flippin. She said in her 35 years of ownership, she has seen the demands of travelers change dramatically, even if the reason for the visit has remained same as it ever was.

“Once it was just men who used to come, and just any [accommodation] would do, a tent or not, even sometimes just sleeping under the stars,” she said. “Now we find the women are making the reservations for the family. They may have some input from their husbands, but it is very important for a business like ours to make sure the pleasures of the female visitors are met. They want air conditioning. They want full kitchens and all the pluses.

“A family will come during the day and do a lot of traditional outdoor activities, but at night, they want their internet, and during the daytime, it is mandatory to have a swimming pool, even though we have a river full of water. It’s kind of a try-to-meet-everybody’shappiness-halfway kind of thing.”

As around the Buffalo River, Turner said the White River region of the Ozarks has also stepped up its game to offer more activities than just fishing. At the same time, she said, much of the tourism trade in this part of Arkansas remains a generational pursuit, which helps perpetuate return business over many years.

“The biggest feature that we see here are the fathers and sons or fathers and daughters who want to come and fish, experience the river, experience nature,” she said. “We are very blessed in the Ozarks to have all kinds of different animal life, not only trout fishing. We’ll have kids and families that go out fishing, but then they’ll come back with stories: ‘We saw eagles flying, and they caught a fish.’ ‘We saw deer swimming across the river.’

“I think that is what a lot of the families are trying to get back to. Computers and games and things they can do in the house are wonderful, but we find there’s a lot of families that are wanting to get their kids off the couch and get back and be active and enjoy their surroundings, and with the flexibility of jobs with people now that work from home, they can come do things at different times of the week and different stays. That is something they are encouraging their children to come with them and experience.”

Clint Gaston, owner of Gaston’s White River Resort in Lakev-

iew and a father himself, could not agree more.

“Really, what sells it are the memories that we’re able to provide for all the families that visit us,” he said. “I think about that all the time actually. You know, ‘What is my purpose here? Can I do more?’ I truly do feel that the best thing that we are able to provide is we’re able to share everything that we have down here with the rest of the world.

“I’m looking at the White River right now. Not many people get to do that, and I get to do it every day. I’m really proud to be able to share that with everybody else by taking somebody out to let them catch their first fish or their first really big fish.”

Gaston said although the resort used to be the be-all destination in the area, today it is as likely to be the base of operations for families while they take in many other attractions besides fishing.

He said the proliferation of nearby amenities has helped everybody in the tourism business locally.

“Years ago, everybody came just for trout fishing, and that’s all they would do. If they booked three days, every day they’re here, they spent fishing,” he said. “What we’re seeing now are families with hobbies and interests that are all so varied. We get people that will fish one day and then they want to go explore the Ozarks and see what else there is to offer, which is a lot.

“Bull Shoals Lake is five minutes from us, and it’s one of the nicest lakes, and honestly it’s kind of a hidden secret. It’s a huge lake.

You can get out there and wake-surf, wakeboard, pontoon, fish — just do it all. There’s hiking and biking around here too.”

Another big change is how different regions of the Ozarks work together to share visitors by cross-promoting each other through word of mouth, Gaston said.

“I look at somebody visiting the Ozarks, it’s about making it the best bang for their buck,” he said. “There’s so much to do within an hour’s drive of us. I always recommend to everybody to make us your hub, spend a day to see the Buffalo River, then spend a day fishing the White River, then go explore something else. We have all the amenities that you want and need, including a restaurant, so stay with us, fish with us, then go out and explore the Ozarks and really see the area for what it is.”

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ozarks

Plenty to SEE and HEAR in the OZARKS this SPRING A touch of Monet, heel-stompin’ bluegrass and woods a-glow

By MARK CARTER // Photos provided

T

he 19th century French landscape painter Eugène Boudin was among the first to paint landscapes, to borrow a contemporary phrase, on site.

Rather than recreating a vision from memory, he took his canvas and easel to the precise spot he intended to portray. As revealed by the following quote attributed to him, Boudin equated replicating a landscape onto canvas from memory with folly.

Everything that is painted directly and on the spot has always a strength, a power, a vivacity of touch which one cannot recover in the studio…

Three strokes of a brush in front of nature are worth more than two days of work at the easel.

— Eugene Boudin Boudin, obviously, was not around to meet Bob Ross. The joy of painting notwithstanding, Boudin was a pioneer of the iconic style that came to be known as “en plein air.” Translated, it means open air, or outdoors, painting, an artist with a brush paired with a landscape waiting to be recreated, changing hues and shadows of light there for the taking.

The inventions of the portable canvas and easel in the early 19th century and, later, that of the collapsible tube of oil paint enabled artists to better depict those fascinating variants of natural light and weather.

The American artist John Singer Sargent even incorporated the style into his own Claude Monet Painting by the Edge of a Wood (seen at left) in 1885. Monet, of course, is considered the father of impressionist painting, and his

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work helped introduce plein-air painting into the artistic mainstream and advance the Realism movement that sprang from this crazy notion to get outside and paint.

The image of an artist equipped with stool, canvas, easel and palette set up on a beach or inside a wooded grove or even at the lip of a pond filled with water lilies (Monet again) is as ingrained into the collective Western consciousness as any other.

Visitors this spring to the upper White River, the lakes around Mountain Home or, specifically, to Gaston’s White River Resort in Lakeview should be prepared to get their Monet on this May. The annual Plein Air on the White River event is scheduled for May 7 to 11 at Gaston’s and coincides with the acclaimed yearly Cotter Trout Festival.

The event brings in plein-air painters from Arkansas and neighboring states who, over the course of three days, will paint and sketch the northern Arkansas landscape. On the final day, works will be submitted for judging to Texas artist and gallery owner David Tripp, who will conduct a one-day workshop on a nature trail along the White River before the competition begins.

The event is a project of the nonprofit White River Artists. The entry fee is $75, and space is limited, so plein-air artists should make plans soon. Contact Dana Johnson, president of the Ozark Regional Arts Council and treasurer of White River Artists, at 870656-2057.

BLUEGRASS AND STAINED GLASS IN MOUNTAIN HOME Just down Arkansas 5 in Mountain View, the Ozark Folk Center State Park is gearing up for its round of annual spring events including the Mountain View Spring Bluegrass Festival. Hosted by the nonprofit Mountain View Bluegrass Association, the festival runs March 7 to 9 this year and features some of the top national and regional names in the bluegrass music industry.

Set to take the stage are the Seldom Scene, a four-time Grammy Award nominee; 10-time International Bluegrass Music Awards winner Becky Buller; the Gib-

Clockwise from top left: Plein Air on the White River at Gaston’s and coming to the Mountain View this spring — Becky Buller, the Edgar Loudermilk Band, totaleclipse stained-glass panels and the Seldom Scene.

son Brothers, winners of 11 IBMA awards; and the Edgar Loudermilk Band.

Also on the card are Dave Adkins, Catahoula Drive, the Baker Family, SpringStreet, Big Mill and the Redmond Keisler Tribute Band. Tickets for the spring event (a fall festival is held, as well) are available at mountainview-bluegrass.com.

The folk center’s spring bill also features a chance to experience the April total solar eclipse in a unique way. Visitors can watch the eclipse from beautiful, urban-light-and-pollution-free Mountain View and make their own commemorative 12-inch stained-glass solareclipse panel in the process. Three classes will be held to instruct participants how to make them, and attendance is required at each one.

The classes will be held in the visitor center lobby on the mornings of April 1 to 3.

Participants will learn the Tiffany method of stained glass, which uses copper foil instead of lead, and can pick between six quilt square patterns for the design.

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This is not Build-a-Bear Workshop; participants will learn how to make a pattern, cut and grind glass, apply copper foil, and solder and finish the panel, and they will be working with sharp glass, a hot soldering iron and solder, as well as chemicals.

Some manual dexterity is required, and participants are asked to wear appropriate clothing and leave the open-toed shoes at home. All tools and supplies will be provided, and the class is for ages 16 and older. The cost is $300 plus a $64 craft class registration fee and a $95 materials fee.

Other classes on the Ozark Folk Center’s spring agenda include forging a knife, advanced broom making, learning pottery on a potter’s wheel, blacksmithing, tin smithing, forming and soldering copper, herbal apothecary, letter press, crocheting a rug, patchwork aymag.com

quilting, yarn spinning, and much more.

Visit arkansasstateparks.com/events for more information, or call the Ozark Folk Center at 870-269-3851.

BRANSON: THE NEW FIRE, LIGHTS AND LORE, THE POP MAGICIAN AND A NEW HOTEL Backtracking from Mountain View up Arkansas 5, past Mountain Home and Gaston’s, and across the Missouri border, one quickly finds Branson, where Gatlinburg, Tenn., and Las Vegas meet in the middle. It bills itself as the live music show capital of the world, which is not hyperbole considering the city topped out at more than 50 live-show theaters, and 60 Minutes itself billed Branson as the “live music capital of the entire universe.”

Branson may lie just across the state line, but Arkansans have grown to consider it practically one of their own. Why not? On any given day, Arkansas plates might outnumber the home-standing Missouri tags.

Branson regulars have some new attractions to look forward to this spring, starting with Silver Dollar City, the 1880s theme park rated by Tripadvisor as the country’s top amusement park based on traveler reviews and ratings. To their delight, those attractions include the new Fire in the Hole family roller coaster.

The original ride, opened in 1972 as the first indoor roller coaster, was closed at the end of the 2023 season to the disappointment of dedicated fans for whom the ride had attained something close to cult status. Fire in the Hole fanboys did not have to wait long for reprieve. In August of last year, Silver Dollar City leadership announced that it was spending $30 million, the park’s largest investment in a single attraction, to bring back Fire in the Hole, bigger and better than ever.

Scheduled to open for the spring 2024 season, the new ride will anchor the new Fire District in the park and be housed inside a

The new Fire in the Hole, seen still under construction at Silver Dollar City, is five stories high and more than 1,500 feet long.

five-story, temperature-controlled building to ensure riders waiting in line will not do so in the rain. The new ride will feature three drops, a water splashdown, 14 iconic show scenes with updated special effects, and a custom soundtrack with high-resolution onboard audio to help tell an enhanced story of the Ozarks hill town of Marmaros and the gang of vigilantes known as the Baldknobbers who burned it down.

The coaster track will run roughly the same as the original, just shy of a third of a mile, and its speed will max out at 26 mph. Fire in the Hole historically was a great introductory coaster for children but supplied enough oomph to satisfy older riders — a mashup of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain.

Dalton Fischer, communications manager for Silver Dollar City, said it will remain that way, recalling the words in August of Darren Torr, president of Rocky Mountain Construction, the firm that built the new attraction. Torr promised the new Fire in the Hole will be fondly familiar yet daringly different.

When the original ride closed last year, it had seen more than 25 million riders from countries across the globe, he said.

“There aren’t many rides with a shared experience similar to A rendering of the revamped Fire in the Hole ride that,” he said. “As the park exat Silver Dollar City. panded, we wanted to make sure

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our rides expanded along with it.”

Fischer said park officials knew a new version was on the horizon when the original ride’s closure was announced. “We knew if we removed that ride, our fans would not be happy,” he said. *** After splashing down at Fire in the Hole, visitors can discover what Branson has in common with Barcelona, Spain. (A hint: It is not a Woody Allen sequel.) The answer is, of course, El Mago Pop, Europe’s highest grossing illusionist (real name, Antonio Díaz).

In 2019, Díaz fulfilled a dream by purchasing Teatre Victòria in Barcelona for the equivalent of roughly $33 million, and last year, he bought the former Mel Tillis Theater for an undisclosed sum and turned it into the Branson Magic Theater, his U.S. base of operations.

Díaz has taken his close-up magic all over the world, and his spectacular illusions are in more than 200 countries on Netflix and the Discovery Channel, but there are just two places where El Mago Pop’s illusions are performed in an El Mago Pop theater, and one of them is located off Missouri 248 in Branson.

For more information, visit elmagopop.com. *** When night falls in Branson, Ozark Nights (with a capital N) comes alive with history and mystery, or so says Lynn Berry of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Ozark Nights is a new interactive experience

Clockwise from left: El Mago Pop at Branson Magic Theater, The Ozarker Lodge, Ozark Nights.

where history meets mystery amid a really cool light show. Berry shared the backstory: “Guests will have a nighttime encounter with natural and supernatural wonders through an exploratory walk along a gentle, illuminated path deep in the forest. The interactive journey takes place within an ancient mountain hollow, once home to the Owen family, some of the earliest settlers in the region.

“For generations, folktales have surrounded the old Owen homestead and the sudden disappearance of the family more than 100 years ago. Rumors of otherworldly sounds, flashes of light and strange phenomena have captivated the imaginations of residents and visitors alike.”

The history of the old Owen ranch makes for a good ghost story, and it has an Arkansas connection. Here it is, courtesy of ozarknights. com: In 1875, as his diaries tell the story, Amos Owen purchased a buckskin map from a frail old man in Pea Ridge for “a bag of molasses, hard candy and a gallon of Tennessee white mule.” The old timer claimed that it was a map to a Spanish treasure that had been buried north of the White River.

Amos and his wife, Sarah, along with daughters Grace and Hannah and the newborn James, followed this map into Missouri.

Sarah’s diary entry notes that, “We found a beautiful little valley… and I think we found our home!”

The Owens settled into trying to scratch

out a living in the rough Ozark hills, even as Amos started excavating the opening of what appeared to be a long-abandoned mine. In the summer of 1885, the Springfield Herald reported strange lights being seen in the area. The locals began referring to the strange lights as “foxfire” or “spook lights.” These stories soon entered Ozarkian folklore.

Sarah writes, “…the more we work, the stranger things are becoming out here. We’ve found that we can work at night! The trees, the creek, even the rocks put off a light like I have never seen. We’ve set up an outpost with supplies so we can stay nearby. Just walking to the mine seems to give us new energy!”

Amos’ last entry on Dec. 21,1885, tells a tale: “Today we found what seems to be a silver, metal door, but hard like iron. Unlike any metal I know of. The treasure must be behind this door, and tonight, with the blessing, we’ll find it.”

On that frigid Winter Solstice Eve in 1885, the Owen family was certain that their hardscrabble lives were about to change.

Did he use black powder to blast? His neighbors certainly reported loud explosions and great flashes of color. Wash Hembree, out hunting possum that night, told the Herald, “Stars were fallin’ from the sky, the earth was shakin,’ and I was awaitin’ for Gabriel to blow his horn!”

As dawn broke, Hembree made his way to the Owen property to check on his reclusive neighbors. What he found defied explanation.

The Owen ranch, indeed, looked as if the stars had descended. Trees were down. Their homestead was destroyed, and there was no sign of the Owens. They had vanished.

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Sheriff Ikey Combs finally showed up from Forsyth to investigate and confirmed that, indeed, the family had disappeared. He put up a heavy chain across the road that entered the ranch and added an iron padlock.

Ozark Nights is not all alluring light show and ghost stories, though. Located in the West End Entertainment District on Missouri 376, the attraction includes the Home Fires community firepit area, open to all guests, as well as private firepits where guests can roast s’mores and share their own weird tales. Food and beverage service is available, and the nighttime attraction is open from sunset to midnight most nights.

Learn more at ozarknights.com. *** The region surrounding Branson hosts millions of visitors each year. Explore Branson reported a record 10 million of them in 2021.

All those visitors need a place to stay; therefore, hotels and lodges are a common sight in Branson.

One of the city’s newest is offering a unique way to experience a Branson vacation: the Ozarker Lodge boutique hotel.

Located off U.S. 165, the Ozarker is billed as the area’s first true boutique hotel experience. Its branding focuses on the nostalgia of family road trips. A vintage, wood-paneled Jeep Wagoneer parked out front welcomes guests upon arrival.

Its accommodations, rustic yet modern, include a new outdoor swimming pool, a natural playground for the kids (in age or heart), creekside soaking tubs, firepits for s’mores and even poolside movie nights with plenty of popcorn.

Preview the whole experience at theozarkerlodge.com. aymag.com

hot springs

FALL IN LOVE WITH THESE EVENTS IN

FEBRUARY

February is the month for lovers, and perhaps nowhere is that more true than in Hot Springs. Whether one has a love for the arts, the ponies, or great food and drinks, Spa City has them covered.

Here are a few things happening in February:

FEB.

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THE REBEL STAKES OF MICE AND MEN A staple of American literature, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men comes alive at the Pocket Community Theatre this month.

Experience the poignant story of two friends and the circumstances that befall them in this tragic yet beautiful production. For tickets and showtimes, call 501-623-8585 or visit pockettheatre.com.

NPC SATURDAY POTTERY SERIES: HEART-THEMED CUP OR MUG

FEB.

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What better gift to give a loved one than something from one’s own two hands and imagination? National Park College will provide the means to do just that with this special one-day class. Geared toward beginners (but all are welcome) this fun, instructor-led pottery class will turn anyone into an artist while they create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece of drinkware for someone special.

For details or registration, visit np.edu/ community-friends/continuing-education.

FEB.

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One of the favorite events on the racing calendar at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, the Rebel Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-old mounts at a distance of one and onesixteenth miles. Enjoy heart-pounding action as the horses thunder down the stretch. Afterward, be sure to visit one of the resort’s award-winning restaurants, or try your luck in the casino, where the excitement continues, even after racing season. Learn more at oaklawn.com.

Check out these fun attractions and happenings in Spa City this month.

Taco Mama

Taco Mama takes pride in its freshly prepared, award-winning, from-scratch classic Mexican food. Chef Diana Bratton and her husband, Shane, opened Taco Mama in 2009, and the restaurant has been nothing but a success since.

Taco Mama is also vegan- and vegetarian-friendly. The restaurant offers food-truck services for private events as well as catering — and the menu is not just limited to Mexican food, thanks to Bratton’s 36 years in the industry.

Enjoy a margarita and delicious food indoors or out on the dogfriendly patio. Restaurant staff invite diners to come taste the difference.

MURDER WITH THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES

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What happens when one combines a delicious dinner with intriguing entertainment and everyone’s favorite hill folk? The Murder and Macabre Mystery Dinner. This fun evening combines the drama of an interactive whodunit with a delicious all-you-can-eat buffet by the Porterhouse, one of Hot Springs’ favorite restaurants. There is even dancing and crowd games at intermission. Call 501-6275534 for tickets and full details.

1209 Malvern Ave. / 510 Ouachita Ave. / 501-624-6262 tacomama.net / TacoMamaHotSprings / tacomamahotspringsar

arts & culture

Green

Wearing O’ the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade turns heads

By Justina Parker // Photos provided

A trio of men dressed as leprechauns attends the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Hot Springs.

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I

n a world where bigger is better, it is nice to know people can still appreciate how important the small things in life can be. Take, for instance, the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Hot Springs, an event that is short on distance but long on fun.

“I was in the very first parade in 2004, when we only closed off one lane of Central Avenue,” said Bill Solleder, director of marketing at Visit Hot Springs. “My favorite part of the parade has been watching it grow each year and seeing everyone come together.”

Slated for March 17, the 2024 event will bring more than 30,000 people to line Bridge Street in downtown Hot Springs. This year’s celebrity grand marshal, Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith, is sure to thrill onlookers.

“I look forward to joining the great tradition that is the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade for their 21st year,” Smith said. “The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders have fired up this celebration for many years, so I can’t wait to join the fun and see what Hot Springs is all about during this big little parade.”

With people spreading down the more than mile of street covering Central and Magnolia avenues and over Bridge Street, every year, it gets harder and harder to measure exact attendance. One thing that remains precise, however, is the measurement of the route, which has been carefully curated over the years to help ensure the parade’s claim as the shortest in the world. With its length only twice as long as its width at 98 feet long, Ripley’s Believe It or Not declared Bridge Street the “World’s Shortest Street in Everyday Use.”

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I’m always amazed by the costumes and different floats. If it can be green, you can guarantee it will be there.

— Leslie Humphrey of Pine Bluff, parade goer

Costumes are a quintessential part of the event.

While many other cities, including Denver and St. Louis, have claimed to have the shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Hot Springs still holds the title because Bridge Street is the focal point of the parade. In fact, the official measurement of the route is itself a traditional element of the event, and organizers have vowed they are not above reducing the length of the route to rebuff any challenger cities, should it be necessary.

Melissa Elkins, owner of Scrubbingbee cleaning services in Hot Springs, said the event is something everyone should experience at least once.

“The parade is always a fun time for the city,” she said. “People love to come watch and … I enjoy making time to attend and seeing the colorful floats and excitement of the crowd.”

Hayden Ennis, owner of Mamoo’s Paradice Cream downtown, shared the positive impact the parade has on his local business.

“We’ve been downtown for the last six years, so we’ve seen the impact of the parade and the unfortunate year they were unable to host it due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “It has provided us with a boost in business, even being on the opposite side of the downtown strip. We always do festive green homemade waffle cones that weekend and hope to one day serve green ice cream on the parade route.”

Aside from the unique appeal of the event’s format, there are other elements that will add to the festivities.

This year’s parade starter is Forrie J. Smith, recognized for portraying Lloyd in the popular television series, Yellowstone.

This fan favorite and real-life cowboy will fire the gun to kick off the parade.

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An appearance by the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders is a parade tradition.

As with most events that have survived as long as the parade has, there are local touches that have become tradition for parade regulars.

The aforementioned Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are one, as are Irish dancers and Irish Elvis Presley impersonators from the International Order of the Irish Elvi, Hot Springs Chapter. Also expected are the festive floats that have become as much a tradition for their sponsors as they have for the spectators.

Dennis Barry, seven-year participant in the Spa City St. Paddy Wagon float, established a family tradition after moving to Hot Springs from Shreveport, La. “St. Patrick’s Day is a special holiday for us, as my middle name is Patrick and my mom’s is Patricia,” he said. “We had big Mardi Gras parades in Louisiana, so we wanted to create Spa City St. Paddy Wagon.”

A former police officer, Barry chose to build the frame to create an old paddy wagon, and participants wear green uniforms with white stripes to look like inmates. The Barrys house foster kids, and he expressed with excitement that they have had at least 15 foster kids in the parade and often have been able to see the children’s family members in the crowd.

“In 2016, when we first made the float, we had kids in sixth grade, and now they’re in college, so we always have new community members join. There’s around 12 of us on the main team for the float,” he said.

“Them getting to throw out items to their family members in the crowd is extra special.

“The past few years, we’ve had to up our game due to the increase of people attending. A big part of the celebration is that we are down there by noon and just have a big tailgate party to cook corned beef, burgers,

other Irish food and enjoy everyone’s company.”

Another parade participant and Hot Springs local, Michelle Atchison, drove her Camaro in last year’s parade.

Atchison recalled the excitement of last year’s events.

“Cathy Carver, owner of Splash Wine Bar and Chrysalis [Day Spa], reached out to me about being in the parade,” she said. “We decorated my Camaro in green and gold, and honestly, it was the best time ever. Just to see the looks on the kid’s faces when they caught the beads was priceless. The whole atmosphere is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.”

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade occurred, somewhat surprisingly, in the United States, not Ireland as many would assume. In 1601, what is now known as St. Augustine, Fla., hosted the first parade, a tradition that has spread across the states, but only one is able to claim the official title of shortest parade.

Hot Springs’ big little parade got its start when a group of friends gathered at a local restaurant in Spencer’s Corner adjacent to Bridge Street in 2003 to discuss how to bring more tourism to Spa City. When one member of the group of Irish descent suggested a St Patrick’s Day parade on Bridge Street, the group became excited about the possibilities.

“We batted around ideas for using that street’s fame to help bring more visitors to Hot Springs,” said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs. “One of the ideas that was

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“

The whole atmosphere is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.

— Michelle Atchison of Hot Springs, parade goer and former participant

Costumes welcomed and a good time guaranteed all along Bridge Street.

floated was perhaps holding a St. Patrick’s Day parade on the world’s shortest street. We never imagined that the little parade would grow to become internationally famous and bring 30,000 fans to downtown Hot Springs every March for the celebration of the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but it has.”

Since the first event in 2004, the parade has garnered its share of accolades and national media attention. It has also spawned an entire weekend’s slate of related activities, which kick off on Saturday with pre-parade festivities, including vendors, food trucks and activities for the family. Live music will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a free show by country artist and three-time Grammy nominee Pat Green at 8 p.m on Bridge Street.

The district will re-open Sunday at 3 p.m. and have

beer tents, bounce houses, food trucks and the Annual Blarney Stone Kissing Contest at 4 p.m. The official measuring ceremony of Bridge Street by the world’s tallest leprechaun happens before the parade itself at 6:30 p.m. At 8 p.m., attendees can enjoy a second free concert, this one by the Molly Ringwalds, which will deliver the hits of 1980s.

Arkansas native and perennial attendee Leslie Humphrey travels with her family and friends from Pine Bluff to attend the parade each year.

“We love going to the parade,” she said. “My friends, daughter and whole family attend. The people watching, the businesses around town having themed items and the concerts are always fun.

We always anticipate seeing who the grand marshal will be, and our favorite so far has been [actor] Alfonso Ribeiro; we laughed so hard and enjoyed watching him dance. [Pro wrestler] Ric Flair was so much fun too.

“We break out our green to dress up and always have a lot of fun watching everyone. It’s absolutely the best time, and I would encourage everyone to go. People attending the parade get so creative.

I’m always amazed by the costumes and different floats. If it can be green, you can guarantee it will be there.”

For the full schedule and latest information about the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, visit shorteststpats.com.

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travel

Barns and camels and chocolates, oh my!

By JOE DAVID RICE // Photos by JOE DAVID RICE

A camel greeting at Rhoda Farm in Clinton.

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T

he good folks at the Arkansas Department of Transportation have invested millions of tax dollars improving U.S. 65 from Conway to Harrison, leveling slopes, straightening curves and adding lanes.

Travelers in a hurry can now easily make the 110-mile journey in two and a half hours.

It is not exactly a drive through the remote wilderness — with 45 churches, 10 Dollar Generals, five Sonic Drive-Ins, three Walmarts and two Dairy Queens along the way (not to mention an indoor shooting range, a winery, a quail preserve, a disc golf course, a wedding chapel, a psychic reader and even a heavy-equipment operating academy).

There are some interesting surprises, too, from camels to chocolate rolls. Here is an alternative: During the next trip north on U.S. 65 toward Harrison, Eureka Springs or Branson, make it a leisurely trip, and explore lesser-known highlights along the way.

For starters, many have blown past the Village at Pickles Gap just a couple of miles north of Conway, never realizing that it is worth a stop. The Ranch House Antiques and Hazel Green, an upscale women’s boutique, are there, along with a half-dozen other retail establishments.

A mile or so beyond Greenbrier is the turnoff to Woolly Hollow State Park, a 375-acre reserve with a fishing lake, a seasonal swimming beach with a bathhouse, 40 camping sites, five trails (including a 9.4-mile option for mountain bikers) and the original 1882 one-room homestead of the Woolly family.

Continuing north, travelers cross North Cadron Creek, one of the state’s best canoeing streams during the wet months.

A few miles upstream from the bridge is the site of Pinnacle Springs, a once-thriving community that had at least 10 bathhouses, eight stores, two hotels, a skating rink, a saloon and the Arkansas Christian College serving its population. The town fell into decline, the post office closed in 1891, and all that remains are scattered remnants of old foundations.

Damascus, the next point of interest, was known for years as a speed trap. That is no longer the case, but the town has another claim to fame: the site of a Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile explosion. A 103-foot-tall rocket, buried in a silo a couple of miles north of Damascus, blew up on Sept. 19, 1980, following a rupture in a fuel tank, and ejected its nuclear bomb high into the air before crashing into a ditch 200 yards from the silo. Had safety devices failed, the warhead, with an explosive capacity 560 times that of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima, Japan, would have obliterated Damascus and everything else within a 250-square-mile area.

Bee Branch, between Damascus and Clinton, has produced professional fisherman Larry Nixon; major league baseball players Jim McKnight and his son Jeff McKnight; and Amber Straughn, renowned astrophysicist and deputy project scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope — not bad for a town of just under 300 residents.

About two miles north of Clinton, there is a large pasture just before the entrance to the Natural Bridge of Arkansas. Careful observers may spot a pair of camels in this field. Yes, that is correct — camels. The larger one is named Sampson, and the smaller is Titus. They are pets of Jill and Paul Rhoda, who have now owned and cared for camels for over 20 years, featuring them in Clinton’s annual “Behold the Lamb” live nativity program the first week after Thanksgiving.

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Landmark sights along the way include the Smith Barn in Marshall, top, decadent chocolate rolls in Searcy County, middle, and the Gilbert General Store.

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Sampson was only 2 weeks old when the couple got him and had to be bottle-fed for months. He is now 8 years old, and Titus is 4. The Rhodas learned that horses and cattle generally do not like camels upon first seeing them. By placing the camels in a pen within the pasture for a time, they got the animals accustomed to each other, and they get along. As for food, the camels graze alongside the other livestock, but Jill shared a secret: Camels enjoy doughnuts, honeybuns and cookies.

Next door is one of the state’s geological marvels: the Natural Bridge of Arkansas. Open daily from March through November, the commercial venture, which has a modest admission fee, includes a bluff shelter, a picnic area, two old cabins and, of course, the 120-foot natural span that is probably about 3 million years old.

Another three miles north on U.S. 65 is a short sign on the left, or west, side of the highway that reads “Bluffton Cemetery.” Follow this gravel road for about four miles, and travelers eventually arrive at the Bluffton Preserve, a 989-acre Nature Conservancy tract with four miles of frontage on the bluff-lined Archey Fork of the Little Red River. Hiking trails, canoe access, picnic tables and a wonderful swimming hole await, reminding many visitors of the Buffalo River, but getting there requires a high-clearance vehicle.

Roughly five miles later, travelers pass an interesting assortment of buildings on the left, one of them marked “The Zoo Church.” This is the site of the former Hallie’s Rest Stop, a tourist attraction dating back half a century ago. Owned by Harrison businessman Hallie Ormond, its amusements ranged from a zoo, pony rides and arcade games to a miniature railroad, of which portions of tracks remain.

In addition to this establishment, Ormond had acquired several thousand acres of timberlands in the area, much of it along the scenic Middle Fork of the Little Red River north of Shirley. Around 1980, Ormond offered the property to then-Gov. Bill Clinton for a state park. With tracts strategically located along the stream, it would have allowed canoeists to paddle until they tire, make camp, and then repeat this routine for another day or two.

Ormond, a long-standing Republican, met resistance from Clinton’s staff, sadly. The land appraised for $303 per acre, and Ormond wanted $313. Unable to compromise over that $10 per acre disagreement, the proposed deal fell through. Ormond sold the property a week later to a national timber corporation. It was, according to Richard Davies, director of Arkansas State Parks at the time, the single biggest disappointment in his 40-year career.

“The property was absolutely beautiful,” Davies said. “A combination of the best of the Buffalo River and Petit Jean Mountain.”

As visitors approach Leslie, they will notice an assortment of stone yards.

The oldest of the bunch is Sutterfield Stone. Established by C.D. Sutterfield in 1971, it still has an old A-frame structure built by the elder Sutterfield, who roofed the building with pancake-flat rocks. His granddaughter, Tabatha Wilson, the third generation of her family in the rock business, said things have changed over the decades. When her grandfather first started, local landowners willingly let him remove rocks from their properties at no charge. The business is now forced to buy them.

Leslie is worth a visit for its antique shops and historic downtown area.

One chapter of Leslie’s past is pretty grim: Soon after the Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad closed its machine shops in town in 1912, a devastating fire broke out in the Williams Cooperage plant, destroying the large factory and putting hundreds of men out of work. A financial reorganization of the company collapsed, bringing Leslie’s economy down with it. In fact, things got so desperate in Leslie that the American Red Cross had to intervene, bringing in teams to feed the local children.

Dessert aficionados will find a special treat in Leslie and Marshall — chocolate rolls, an elongated pastry that delights the taste buds. Recognizing a marketing opportunity, civic leaders have proclaimed Searcy County the “Chocolate Roll Capital of the World.”

Architecture fans might enjoy examining the Dr. Sam G. Daniel House on Nome Street in Marshall, one block west of the courthouse square. Built

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in 1902-1903 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a Today, the site is known as a principal put-in and take-out point for padtwo-and-a-half-story house built in the Queen Anne Revival Style using dlers and is a popular swimming destination during the summer season. cut lumber reportedly purchased from the Sears, Roebuck and Co. Maybe a hundred yards beyond the north end of the bridge is a gravel Alert travelers will note a small sign reading “Zack Road” at the secroad on the right. Half a mile long, it leads to an area known locally as ond traffic signal in Marshall. Zack, some five or six miles to the north, Shine Eye — a favored spot with a wonderful gravel bar and deep swimis the hometown of world-class yodeler and country music star Elton ming hole beneath a colorful bluff.

Britt. Political groupies might recognize Britt’s A little over a mile past that, U.S. 65 tops name because he ran against John F. Kennedy out on a hill that has Ferguson’s Country Store in 1960 for the Democratic Party’s nomination on the right. A good selection of outdoor gear for president — unsuccessfully, as it turned out. and souvenirs is available, of course, but FerguShortly beyond the intersection with Zack son’s has built a well-deserved reputation on its Road is the Kenda Drive-In Theater, one of two enormous — and tasty — homemade cinnamon such establishments remaining in the state (the rolls. Across the highway is Coursey’s Smoked other is some 35 miles to the east in Mountain Meats, an institution soon to hit its 80th year View.) Opened in April 1966, the Kenda rein business. Both Ferguson’s and Coursey’s are placed the Ken Theater, a traditional venue in seasonal and may be closed until late winter or downtown Marshall that was operated by Ken early spring.

Sanders and his family.

Arkansas 333 intersects with U.S. 65 at FerNamed after his 1-year-old daughter, the guson’s. Taking 333 east for a couple of miles will Kenda screens popular Hollywood releases get you to Gilbert. The quaint town, established on weekends during the winter months and on the banks of the Buffalo River in 1902, was expands its schedule as the weather warms. originally a construction camp for the Missouri The original speakers have been retrofitted to & North Arkansas Railroad and was named for receive broadcasts from the theater’s own FM Charles Gilbert, the company’s secretary and station, but vehicular radios also pick up the treasurer. The town soon boasted a post office, 88.9 FM signal. While the theater’s 400-car two hotels, four stores, three doctors, a cotton gin capacity is seldom approached, popular films and a saloon — the latter of which was washed such as Titanic and Top Gun: Maverick have away by the Buffalo in the great flood of 1915. drawn big crowds. The record attendance can A strange religious sect moved to town in be traced back years ago to a showing of Boot1920, adding about 70 residents to Gilbert’s leggers, a 1974 production of Charles B. Pierce population. When the charismatic leader failed that was filmed in the nearby Buffalo River to resurrect a dead member of the congregation country. Now training its fourth generation, the as promised, the group disbanded, although a family-owned attraction is in good hands. handful of its buildings still stand, along with the Classic wooden barns in Arkansas are fast old general store, circa 1901. When the railroad disappearing, but travelers can spot one now ceased operations in the mid-1940s, Gilbert’s and then on U.S. 65. Approximately four miles population began to wane and now seems to north of Marshall is perhaps the most photohave stabilized at 26. The community has long graphed example in the entire state. Known as been known as the state’s coolest town due to its the Smith Barn, it was built by Calvin Stephenadvantageous geographic location on the banks son in the late 1930s. Jerry Don and Judy Smith of the Buffalo. In more recent years, some of its purchased it and the surrounding property in citizens have taken to calling it the Aspen of the 2000 and began restoring the structure in 2002.

Surprising sights lie around every corner on Ozarks. Either description seems apt.

If you are lucky, you might get a picture of the the route, top, and in small towns, including Continuing north on U.S. 65, you will soon barn with a herd of elk in the background. come to St. Joe and Pindall, both of which can be Leslie’s lovely downtown district.

Another couple of miles will bring traveltraced back to the days of the Missouri & North ers to the junction with Arkansas 74. About seven miles to the west are Arkansas Railroad. Another thing they have in common is an interesting the few remaining houses and stores in what was once the thriving comstyle of vernacular architecture. Constructed of small, irregularly shaped munity of Snowball. As for the name (there are only two Snowballs in rocks apparently scavenged from nearby hillsides, the rough exterior walls the whole country), it appears the original settlers wanted their town to of stacked stone are distinctive to the area. be named Snow Hall to honor a local leader. When they applied to the Harrison, the Boone County seat, also has ties to the old Missouri federal government for a post office, an employee in the postal service & North Arkansas line. Although the railroad is long gone, the city is somehow recorded the name as Snowball, and that is what it has been still in the transportation business, and FedEx Freight is among its major called since 1888 (although the post office closed in 1966). employers. Harrison’s primary downtown area, the Harrison Courthouse A local teacher named James Corbett Morris was a creative soul and Square Historic District, was added to the National Register of Historic composed a song — “The Battle of New Orleans” — to help his students Places in 1999. Two blocks to the north is another National Register in Snowball grasp American history. Morris later changed his name to listing, the Hotel Seville at 302 N. Main St. The handsome three-story Jimmy Driftwood, went to Nashville and signed a contract with RCA building, constructed in 1929 in the Spanish Revival Style, is still open to Records. Johnny Horton covered the above-mentioned song and won a guests. The historic Maplewood Cemetery, just a few blocks off the highGrammy for it in 1960. way on Maplewood Road, is spectacular when fall foliage hits.

Continuing north on U.S. 65 will bring travelers to a road to the Travelers who desire additional information on north-central Arkanleft that leads to the Tyler Bend Visitor Center, a campground and acsas might enjoy a stop at the state’s official welcome center on the north cess point on the Buffalo River. Along the way, you will pass the Collier side of Harrison at 3391 U.S. 65 N. The phone number is (870)741-3343.

Homestead, a 40-acre tract settled by Solomon Collier, his wife, Ida Mae, Visitors can expect to find friendly staff, clean restrooms, and fresh (and and their two children in 1932. Their old log home, surrounded by an free) hot coffee. ancient picket fence, is a favorite of photographers.

To sum up, U.S. 65 out of Conway offers an expedient option for trips U.S. 65 crosses the Buffalo National River at a place known as Grindto the northern reaches of the state, but for people willing to slow down, ers Ferry. A ferry operated there until the first bridge was built in 1929. there are definitely some roses to appreciate along the way.

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NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Arkansas teeming with fun attractions for spring break activities

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos provided

W

ith spring break right around the corner, many families are gearing up to take a trip, get in some good old-fashioned family time and make some memories. The thing is, with prices being what they are, many families are finding it harder to afford a traditional spring break trip to the mountains, the Gulf of Mexico or a major metropolitan city.

It is a quandary many families across the nation are familiar with, which has given rise to the so-called “staycation,” also known as the “nearcation” or “homecation.” Whatever one chooses to call it, the reference is the same: taking a shorter trip to attractions within one’s home state that are generally less expensive and easier to manage than a traditional destination.

Nationally, the trend for staycations is on the rise in a big way. In 2022, the Vacationer surveyed more than 1,000 American adults to get their feelings on the subject. Nearly 70 percent of respondents said they already had or were planning a staycation.

A recent article by Forbes broke it down even further, citing a source with the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board that reported a growing trend of people checking into hotels in their own proximity to get the feel of vacation living without the air travel. In fact, management of the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills reported 85 percent of its business originated from within California, while 1 Hotel in West Hollywood told the publication the biggest spike in guests was among those who could literally walk from their homes to the property.

The rise of the staycation comes down to several very basic components. Forbes listed an aversion to flying, a desire for local experiences and the high cost of everything as three accelerants of the trend.

The magazine also reported Boston Consulting Group statistics that showed 75 percent of leisure trips in 2019 were by car, more than double those of 2018. Slightly more than half of the trips were within 200 miles of home, the magazine reported.

TravelPulse pointed to even more fundamental motivations: fear of sickness in crowds during the COVID-19 pandemic and high inflation ever since. A survey conducted last year by Radical Storage showed that even four years after the height of COVID-19, staycations are still holding strong. Of the more than 2,000 people in the U.S. surveyed, more than 44 percent preferred the staycation, a market

size of almost $364 billion in 2023 that is expected to roughly double by 2033.

Experts said staycations may also help drive better utilization of allotted days off. Compared to other nations, Americans are bad about taking vacations. Fortune magazine reported last year that 38 percent of U.S. workers allotted paid time off did not take it compared to 23 percent of workers in the United Kingdom. With staycations being close by and therefore able to be taken in smaller chunks of time, Americans might be more willing to close this gap on their counterparts around the world.

Doing so is more than self-serving; it actually works to employers’ benefit. Statistics released by CalendarLabs last year showed workers who reported being happiest took an average of 15 days off annually.

Moreover, it did not matter if the 15 days were taken consecutively or spread out over the course of a year because each delivered the same rejuvenating benefits.

Meanwhile, data shows Arkansas is an increasingly hot commodity for tourism, an attractive destination for guests, including its own residents, and a legitimate economic engine. Arkansas’ tourism industry generated $9.2 billion in 2022 on the strength of welcoming a little more than 48 million visitors, including many from within its own borders. The Arkansas tourism industry also supported nearly 68,100 jobs, or nearly 4 percent of all jobs in Arkansas, according to data released last fall from an economic impact study commissioned by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.

Arkansas is ideally suited for staycations, from its natural beauty to the attractions it offers reflecting the arts, culture and history of the state. Staycations also help keep the state’s economy strong, supporting jobs and communities alike while keeping the tax burden on residents in check. In short, there has never been a better time to rediscover the Natural State.

AY About You broke down some sample itineraries in a few of the state’s most popular regions. Some are ideal for families, while others are better for couples — because when it comes to spring break, who said children should have all the fun?

Wherever a staycation may lead, there is something fascinating waiting behind the next corner in Arkansas.

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CENTRAL ARKANSAS ACTIVE As with all other regions of Arkansas, the heart of the state is blessed with an abundance of outdoor activities for the whole family. Start with Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Roland and the newly christened visitor center, itself a sight to behold. Within the park, find 22 miles of trails, including 14 miles of challenging mountain bike trails. For something a little more rugged, check out the Nature Conservancy’s Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area, 373 acres of pristine wilderness viewable along six miles of hiking and mountain bike trails.

Other great attractions include the Arkansas River Trail, which connects multiple attractions from downtown Little Rock to the popular Big Dam Bridge and the many recreational attractions in Burns Park in North Little Rock.

March is generally a little chilly for fun out on the water, but the fishing is great year-round at the Arkansas River, Lake Conway and Lake Maumelle, to name a few hotspots. Visit the Arkansas Game and Fish website for full regulatory guidelines. No tackle? No problem! The Central Arkansas Library System keeps a stock of fishing gear for rentals.

For other family fun, check out Professor Bowl in Little Rock, Millennium Bowl in North Little Rock and Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge in downtown Little Rock. Check out Big Rock Mini Golf & Fun Park in Little Rock for go-karts, mini golf and batting cages, or visit the newest go-karting attraction in the area, the Central Arkansas Karting Complex in Vilonia.

Arkansas River Trail

Burns Park

Pinnacle Mountain State Park Visitor Center

Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area ARTS AND CULTURE Central Arkansas is also blessed with a variety of museums, galleries, performance spaces and other fascinating attractions. The Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock offers a rare and unique look at the two-term presidency of Arkansas native Bill Clinton.

Also downtown are the Old State House Museum, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, which provide immersive, educational looks at the state’s bygone days. The newly renovated Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in downtown Little Rock’s MacArthur Park provides a stunning showcase of exhibits and is also home to the Children’s Theatre.

Big Dam Bridge

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

Clinton Presidential Center

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FAMILY Children of all ages can enjoy Little Rock’s Museum of Discovery, which offers a wide range of interactive exhibits that stretch the imagination while immersing guests in the sciences.

Other great attractions for families are the libraries of Conway, North Little Rock and Little Rock, each with its own programming for young readers through teens. A showpiece among these options is the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library & Learning Center in Little Rock, which offers a wide array of engaging events and activities for children and families.

A night out at the ballpark is always great family fun, so head to Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock to cheer on the Arkansas Travelers.

Finally, do not miss the opportunity to visit the Little Rock Zoo, the state’s only municipal zoo and an award-winning family attraction.

Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts

Little Rock Zoo

HOT SPRINGS ENTERTAINMENT Spa City has built its reputation as a tourism town, thanks to a wide variety of entertainment. Start at the Mid-America Science Museum, where children are limited only by their imaginations. This state-of-the-art science facility features exhibits that include the Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk, the world’s most powerful conical Tesla coil, the Oaklawn Foundation Digital Dome Theater, DinoTrek and more than 100 other hands-on science exhibits, shows and experiences.

Enjoy one of Hot Springs’ newest attractions at Adventureworks, which offers yearround ziplining at heights of up to 80 feet on zips as long as 1,000 feet. For something a little closer to the ground, enjoy the Evans Children’s Adventure Garden at Garvan Woodland Gardens, which offers 1.5 acres of interactive fun with a waterfall and cave, an iron bridge that resembles woven tree branches, and rocks weighing more than 3,200 tons.

The family will also appreciate the chance to burn off a little energy at Northwoods, central Arkansas’ premiere collection of hiking and mountain biking trails, or take on one of several hiking trails that ring the mountains just adjacent to town and are accessible from the downtown historic district.

HISTORY Hot Springs has a rich and colorful history, and many of its current restaurants and attractions are steeped in it. For example, as

Mid-America Science Museum

Northwoods Trails

a former mob playground to the likes of Al “Scarface” Capone and Charles “Lucky” Luciano, there are plenty of attractions that speak to this exciting chapter in the city’s history.

Visit the Gangster Museum of America for an entertaining account of Hot Springs’ mobster days, then stroll down to Maxine’s Live or the Ohio Club, where guests can sit in the same spot as some of the notorious wiseguys of the past. (The food is pretty good too.)

If the National Pastime is more one’s speed, Spa City has it covered. Baseballers enjoyed the surroundings as much as the gangsters did, and they frequently partied, gambled and caroused together. Today, visitors can walk in the footsteps of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Cy Young, Honus Wagner and Jackie Robinson on the self-guided Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail.

Arlington Hotel Resort & Spa

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While taking in the sights of downtown, take a moment to visit the plaques denoting the Arkansas Walk of Fame, which recognizes individuals who were born or lived in the Natural State. A short walk from there, find other interesting landmarks, including Bathhouse Row and the regal Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa. LODGING Sometimes, it is where you stay that counts, and for those who want to escape the ordinary, Hot Springs offers unique accommodations that are anything but routine.

For deluxe accommodations, Spa City Rentals is the ticket and connects visitors with some of the most deluxe accommodations in the city. Whatever the group size or itinerary, Spa City Rentals will ensure a visit unfolds from a luxury residence that is close to everything.

In the Trees is a unique resort that offers picturesque treehouses and cabins tucked away in the Ouachita Mountains. Serenely private yet right near the action, In the Trees offers access to top-notch mountain bike trails and private hiking through the forest, and is a short drive to downtown’s many amenities.

For others who like their digs to be just a little bit different, check out the retro vibes of two restored vintage motels, the Gold-Inn Hot Springs and Dame Fortune’s Cottage Court. Both restored to their kitschy glory, the funky properties also offer the best in modern conveniences to suit today’s traveler.

Adventureworks

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS CYCLING No discussion of the attractions in the northwest corner of the state is legitimate without talking about mountain biking. On that front, northwest Arkansas is a revered spot in the country, thanks to a concerted effort to develop trails that incorporate the local terrain into the best riding in the nation. Do not let the YouTube videos deceive: there are great rides for all ages and skill levels, from youth and adult beginners to Double Black Diamond daredevils.

In fact, there are so many trails there that it is difficult to list them all, so consider the following a mere primer, divided by difficulty. Note: Ratings are subjective; seek local advice at bike shops to determine if the difficulty level is appropriate for each party.

Beginner Good Vibrations, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, Bentonville Lantern Loop, Wolf Creek Park, Bentonville Little Sugar, Bella Vista Lake Fayetteville Trail, Fayetteville Intermediate Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, Rogers Fossil Flats, Devil’s Den State Park, West Fork Fitzgerald Mountain, Springdale Mount Kessler Loop, Fayetteville

Hobbs Monument Trails

Leatherwood Bike Race Trail

outdoor public art in cities here. Tour the murals and outdoor installations in Bentonville, as well as the self-guided mural tour in Fayetteville.

Younger visitors will enjoy the Scott Family Amazeum children’s museum in Bentonville, while older children and adults can take in a show at the Momentary in Bentonville or the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers. Finally, do not forget to check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals baseball team, especially if the downstate rivals, the Arkansas Travelers of North Little Rock, are in town.

Difficult Back 40, Bella Vista Here’s Johnny Mountain Bike Trail, Bentonville Wedington Lower Roundtop Trail, Fayetteville Dragon Scales, Slaughter Pen, Bentonville CULTURE For a slower-paced vacation, take in the cultural amenities that exist throughout northwest Arkansas.

Among them is Bentonville’s Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, one of the most acclaimed art museums in the country. There is also plenty of

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

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For a truly immersive artistic vibe, check out Eureka Springs, a funky enclave cut out of the mountains of Carroll County. Galleries, unique architecture, street musicians, off-beat festivals, ghost stories and plenty of other oddities make this welcoming mountain hamlet a one-of-a-kind experience.

WILD ADVENTURE Among all the accommodations in Arkansas, there is nothing quite like the experience of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs. This rescue operation offers upclose-and-personal encounters with rescued exotic animals and is home to an assortment of lions, tigers, bears and other wild creatures saved from a life of exploitation. Visitors can tour the grounds or opt for the deluxe treatment, which is to stay on site in a lodge suite, tree house or glamping tent near the big cat habitats, all while supporting the work of Turpentine Creek.

Scott Family Amazeum, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and downtown Eureka Springs

NORTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS BUFFALO RIVER Spring break is generally too cold for a float trip, but that does not mean there is nothing to do at the Buffalo National River. For starters, the region is crisscrossed with hiking trails that provide a good workout and picturesque views.

It is very important, however, to choose the appropriate trail for the ages, experience levels and fitness levels of the party.

Consult the National Park Service for a description of trails, and check with local experts to determine which trail is a good match.

WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS One unique feature of the area near Ponca are the elk herds that gather daily and are viewable from areas just off the main road. Once hunted to extinction in the state, the elk’s numbers have increased to about 500 animals thanks to a decades-long reintroduction program sponsored by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Elk can be viewed in multiple locations in the area, but the most common one is the six miles of Arkansas 43 and Arkansas 21 in Boxley Valley. The best times to see the elk are dusk and dawn.

SMALL-TOWN CHARM Throughout the Buffalo River area, the landscape is dotted with small communities and unexpected pleasures. In Searcy County alone, enjoy satisfying, chef-inspired fare at Skylark Cafe, Ryan’s Main Street Grill and Serenity Farm Bread in Leslie; Ferguson’s Country Store and Restaurant and Big Springs Trading Co. in St. Joe, and Oxley Store & Diner in Oxley. Other landmarks include the Ozark Cafe, one of the oldest continually operating businesses in Arkansas, and the

Lost Valley, Buffalo National River and bull elk in Ponca

unexpectedly gourmet fare of the Low Gap Cafe. Both eateries are located in Jasper in Newton County.

In nearby Marshall, make time to attend a showing at the Kenda Drive-In, one of only two drive-in movie theaters left standing in Arkansas, which has ticket and concession prices so reasonable, it is easy to make the visit a double feature. Also in Marshall, get a bird’s eye view of the famed river via Buffalo River Air Tours or get a bead on the 30 waterfalls that exist in the Richland Creek Watershed with a visit to the Richland Waterfalls Welcome Center in Witts Springs.

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BEYOND THE LENS!

NORTH LITTLE ROCK

Beyond The Lens! is where entertainment and technology collide.

We call it Techno-Tainment™, and you will love it! It is also home to one of Branson’s newest attractions, FlyRide. This amazing sensory experience gives you the immersive feeling of flight as you soar over 22 national landmarks.

The exhibits at Beyond The Lens! will have you engaging in fun, interactive gaming and trivia, including 2-minute escape rooms, virtual reality games and an augmented reality scavenger hunt. Dive into the alien egg ball pit. Hunt for Bigfoot. Flip and spin like never before with Flip Zone, a thrilling modern-day bumper car ride.

You will capture incredible photo opportunities: sitting in the Oval Office, holding your own press briefing in the White House Press Room, becoming a life-size Barbie Doll and G.I. Joe or taking a selfie on a $50 million stack of cash.

Come experience Techno-Tainment™ at Beyond The Lens! Branson.

The city of North Little Rock is always up to something new, from public art to outdoor adventures, live entertainment and more. Home of minor league baseball’s Arkansas Travelers, visitors can also find live music at Argenta Plaza, see World War II naval vessels up close at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum or explore the natural beauty of places like the Old Mill and Emerald Park.

“Dogtown” is home to all kinds of excellent food, as well.

Whether eating out, ordering in or even venturing out for a little al fresco dining in the spring air, North Little Rock has the food trucks, restaurants, diners and breweries to satisfy any craving.

With plenty of things to do by day or night, inside or out, from the hiking trails to the city streets — come see what North Little Rock is all about.

NORTHLITTLEROCK.ORG

BEYONDTHELENS.COM

MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY

What started as an antiquities and curiosities museum in 1927 has evolved into central Arkansas’s premier hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and math museum. From toddlers to grandparents, Little Rock’s Museum of Discovery offers fun and educational experiences for people of all ages.

The Museum of Discovery’s calendar is full of exciting events yearround. For ages 6 and younger, the museum has Room to Grow, a gallery containing a soft play space as well as the Discovery Animal Clinic, a shopping market and more. The newly opened Science Lab gallery features collaborative learning zones focused on forces and energy, light and sound, and electricity and magnetism. Coming in February is the Dynamic Earth gallery, which gives guests an exciting look at how the Earth changes through all manner of different systems and forces. Also debuting later this year is the sensory cove for guests with sensory processing disorders.

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MUSEUMOFDISCOVERY.ORG

Looking for something fun to do? North Little Rock is always up to something: outdoor adventure; chef-driven restaurants, live music and fun year-round attractions.

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MOUNTAIN HARBOR RESORT & SPA Your smile is your passport to the family spring break of your dreams at Mountain Harbor Resort & Spa on stunning, wilderness Lake Ouachita. Forget the long drives or crazy airports. We’re in your backyard! From log-sided luxury cottages with hot tubs to lake view guest rooms, snuggle in for a good time — and we have it all for spring break. Grab a boat at Arkansas’s most awardwinning marina. Get pampered at Arkansas’ No. 1 rated spa, Turtle Cove Spa. Hike or bike the spectacular Lake Ouachita Vista Trail, or take it slow on a breathtaking horseback ride through the springtime forest. In the evenings, roast marshmallows around the courtyard firepit, or enjoy a glass of your favorite beverage cozied up by the native stone outdoor fireplace. Bring your “catch of the day” to the Harbor Lodge Restaurant, and the chefs will cook it up and give it back with all the fixings, to boot. Our weekend breakfast buffets are renowned! Family owned and operated since its founding in 1955, Mountain Harbor Resort & Spa is our passion project. Our drive for customer service has led to improvement of the resort’s amenities every year. Mountain Harbor offers a variety of lodging for every budget and boasts one of the largest inland marinas in the South. The floating marina store features a camper’s grocery, fishing supplies and sporting goods, as well as the world’s only floating Subway in the summer and a spacious, covered patio. Mountain Harbor offers Arkansas families a place to be together, bond and create memories to last a lifetime.

MOUNTAINHARBORRESORT.COM

SPRING BREAK AT MOUNTAIN HARBOR RESORT & SPA MOUNTAIN HARBOR RESORT & SPA ON LAKE OUACHITA • Premier Luxury Cottages and Lakeside Lodging • Largest Full-Service Marina in Arkansas • Lake-View Dining at Lodge Restaurant • Turtle Cove Spa • DreamChaser Houseboats • Riding Stables • Pet Friendly • Resort Trailhead Access for IMBA Epic LOViT Trail • Full-Service RV Sites • Ocean Extreme Dive Shop • Easy Distance to Hot Springs

For over four generations, our award-winning resorts have been vacation destinations for those who treasure the natural beauty of Arkansas.

We invite you to stay with us on your next adventure.

870-867-2191 • 800-832-2276 MountainHarborResort.com •

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Get out of Town:

Popular destinations outside the Natural State

By Mak Millard // Photos provided

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BRANSON, MO.

Situated just a hop, skip and a jump across the Missouri border, it is little wonder why Branson is a popular choice for Arkansans on vacation.

Tripadvisor lists it among its top destinations in the United States, and there is even a proposed state house bill to designate the city as the “Live Entertainment Capital” of Missouri — and for good reason. Just about every corner in Branson is a stone’s throw away from one of the more than 100 live shows on offer, with genres spanning comedy, magic and live music, all the way up to blowout spectaculars such as Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Show Attraction. Even museum-going offers a unique combination of experiences, with options such as the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum right at home with the likes of the Titanic Museum Attraction and Hollywood Wax Museum.

While Branson’s attractions are nearly endless, almost all of them pride themselves on a level of immersion that delights children and adults alike. On the more eclectic side, there are those such as the self-described “techno-tainment” of Beyond the Lens and FlyRide. Transporting guests in a markedly different way is Sight & Sound Theatres, which takes dramatizations of biblical stories to a whole new level with live animals and painstaking theatrical detail.

“Branson is one of the top family vacation destinations in the country, according to Tripadvisor,” said Pamela Yancey, president and CEO of the Branson Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“The Branson/[Twin] Lakes Area offers a vast array of family-friendly activities and attractions that everyone will love.”

No talk of visiting Branson would be complete without mentioning one of the crown jewels of American theme parks, Silver Dollar City. The 1880s-themed complex opens in the spring and offers more than a few days’ worth of rides, shops and spectacles for the whole family. Making a return this year is the new and improved Fire in the Hole indoor roller coaster in the newly incorporated Fire District area of the already sprawling park. Live demonstrations by artisans such as blacksmiths and glass blowers prove why the park was designated the “Home of American Craftsmanship” by the U.S. Congress. A litany of food and entertainment options to top everything off might just make Silver Dollar City the closest thing to a no-brainer on one’s Branson to-do list.

Back in the present day, a visit to downtown Branson reveals gems such as the Historic Downtown Branson, Branson Landing and hundreds of retail spots, all easily accessible by way of the free downtown trolley. For visitors keen to enjoy the best of the Ozark outdoors — outside of Arkansas, that is — there are plenty of recreation and camping opportunities available, as well. From hiking trails and scenic overlooks to underground cave systems and three different lakes to choose from, there is as much fun to be had outside the city center as within it.

MEMPHIS, TENN.

If it feels like there is a story down every street in Memphis, Tenn., it is because there is. Historic mansions and estates capture snapshots of bygone eras, while spots such as the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, the Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame Museum and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music connect the dots between past, present and future in the self-described “home of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll.” Even that is barely scratching the surface, with nearby Elvis Presley’s Graceland offering 120 acres dedicated to the King himself to explore.

“Named by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the best places to go in 2023, Memphis is a city unlike any other,” said Lauren Berry, director of public relations at Memphis Tourism.

Make plenty of space in the itinerary to take in some of the most impactful sights, such as the National Civil Rights Museum in the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The nationally acclaimed institution traces the history of the American civil rights movement into the present day and is recognized as one of the top museum destinations in the country.

As the name would suggest, the city is home to a whole host of restaurants nationally renowned for their Memphis-style barbecue, so stopping by any one or more of these iconic joints probably warrants its own line on the travel agenda.

“Our food scene is exploding,” Berry said. “Visitors come from all over the world to try our world famous barbecue. Whether it’s our barbecue, fine dining, exploring our vegan food scene and everything in between, Memphis will surely have something to satisfy your taste buds.”

When it comes to destinations as rich in sound as they are in flavor, Memphis is hard to beat, especially because of the presence of Beale Street, or “America’s Most Iconic Street” per USA Today. For those in search of a trip with a little nightlife, the clubs and bars lining Beale Street will be a welcome sight, while retail options such as Strange Cargo and A. Schwab offer eclectic gifts for the discerning souvenir shopper.

If, for some reason, all of that is not reason enough to put a spring trip to Memphis on the calendar, there are other must-visit spots outside of the delicious food, live music and fascinating history. Travelers can take in the view from the 32-story observation deck at the Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, catch a Grizzlies NBA game or even take a classic trip to the Memphis Zoo. Those as-yet undecided folks can even take an online quiz, courtesy of Memphis Tourism, that will provide a few itinerary options to get the ball rolling.

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DALLAS

The big-city vibes in Dallas mean that, by sheer numbers alone, there should be something for everyone on the trip to enjoy. During a spring visit, sports buffs can make themselves at home on the ice or the court with a visit to a Stars or Mavericks home game, while nature lovers will relish the chance to visit the Dallas Zoo — the oldest and largest in the Lone Star State at 106 acres and 136 years old — and the Dallas World Aquarium.

Unsurprisingly, the city is also a haven for museums and historical sites. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza chronicles the assassination and legacy of former President John F. Kennedy, while the George W. Bush Presidential Center is home to a number of insights into presidential life. Visitors in search of moving and educational experiences should also check out the African American Museum of Dallas, home to one of the largest African American folk art collections in the country, and the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum.

Spanning 20 city blocks, the Dallas Arts District bills itself as a hub of creativity and the largest arts district in the country, so it is fitting that the Dallas Museum of Art, one of the largest arts museums stateside, also finds its home there. The vast collection will keep art aficionados occupied for a while but with a multitude of galleries and art spaces throughout the city, there are really no bad options for the creative spirit to explore. For a kid-friendly, interactive experience, do not miss the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, either, which is itself a work of art that has four stories and an outside escalator that provides clear views of downtown.

“Dallas exudes a unique energy, which is fueled, empowered and super-charged by its diverse people,” said Kemi Okeowo, communications manager at Visit Dallas. “Dallasites embody a maverick, can-do spirit expressed through a thriving arts scene, iconic sports culture, creative culinary influence and warm hospitality.”

Soaking up all that history, art, science and culture is bound to leave any traveler hungry, and thankfully, Dallas has much to offer on that front too. The city prides itself on a diversity of flavors and influences, offering everything from classic Texas-style barbecue and Tex-Mex to Asian, Italian and even Canadian cuisine. For a decidedly adults-only excursion, celebrate the birthplace of the frozen margarita machine — yes, really — by exploring the stops on the Margarita Mile.

Those looking to “shop till they drop” in Dallas will find no shortage of options either. Galleria Dallas offers a few hundred of the biggest retailers, as well as an ice skating center and dining. Downtown is the flagship Neiman Marcus store, which has wowed luxury shoppers since the early 1900s and is considered a historic landmark. Not to be overlooked in downtown’s historic West End is an authentic western shopping experience at Wild Bill’s Western Store. Stock up on cowboy essentials before getting ready for the return trip — but do not leave town before stopping for a photo op at Reunion Tower and taking in the cityscape from the 470-foot-high GeO-Deck.

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MISSISSIPPI

It is hard to pick a single destination in a state as bursting with history and culture as Mississippi, so it is well worth considering a spring visit to the Hospitality State to be just the first of many. Even better, it is an excuse to take the beautiful drive through the Arkansas Delta on one’s way to the “Birthplace of the Blues.” Once on the Mississippi side of that namesake river, there are plenty of towns one can stop in to get a taste — both literally and figuratively — of the deep South. Whether one is visiting sites on the Mississippi Blues Trail or following along the Mississippi portion of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, there are landmarks around every corner worth exploring. Also not to be missed is the self-described “heart and soul of the Delta,” Greenwood, where one can follow pre-built itineraries that highlight the best dining, music and cultural stops in the area. A visit to this portion of the state adds another dimension to the stops found in Memphis, so do not shy away from the idea of mixing and matching destinations.

Farther north, fans of rock ‘n’ roll can continue their musical trek in Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis, by knocking out three of the seven stops on the “Elvis Triangle” between Tupelo, Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.

Those looking to emphasize the “road” part of their road trip can travel along the Natchez Trace Parkway, which is headquartered in Tupelo and connects the scenic and historic 444-mile corridor from Natchez, Miss., to Nashville.

An hour away, Oxford offers everything one expects from a charming college town and more, with options for the artists, foodies, shoppers and nightlife seekers alike. Spend the day touring William Faulkner’s Rowan Oak home, visiting art galleries and perusing local shops — including Neilson’s, the oldest department store in the South — and then take in the bars and live music once the evening sets in.

Toward the capital, Jackson, travelers still checking off their museum bucket list will find two for the price of one in the interconnected Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. The double feature is within walking distance of the Mississippi Museum of Art, and there are plenty more markers to be found along the state’s cultural trails: the Blues Trail, Freedom Trail and Writers Trail. A jaunt down the road to Laurel is ideal for those in search of a small-town getaway. The setting for HGTV’s series Home Town, which features locals Erin and Ben Napier, Laurel has undergone an impressive renaissance over the past decade, making it a great place to enjoy shopping, dining and relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of larger cities. The town is also home to Mississippi’s first art museum, the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, which was founded in 1923.

FLORIDA

The Sunshine State might not be exactly a neighbor as far as borders go, but this is a vacation, after all, so it is OK to let the definitions relax a bit too. Besides, whether one spends the whole time with sand in their toes or ventures out to explore the local area, there is nothing quite like a beach vacation to help shake off the winter blues. Pensacola is a mustvisit in the Florida panhandle, and not just for the white-sand beaches.

There are just as many things to do downtown as there are along the shoreline.

“Florida has something for everyone,” said Dana Young, president and CEO of Visit Florida. “Pensacola’s rich history, beautiful beaches and Southern charm converge to create a captivating destination that promises a perfect blend of relaxation, culture and coastal wonders.”

Guided walking tours give visitors a glimpse into the history of the “City of Five Flags” from as far back as the 1700s. Art galleries, restaurants and shops dot the downtown streets, and Palafox Street is a hub for all manner of boutiques, cafés and entertainment venues. Nightlife also abounds in city-block-wide Seville Quarter, where in addition to the original Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium, adjacent rooms offer everything from an oyster bar and a pool hall to a courtyard with live music.

The city is as strong in the air as it is in the water, thanks to the presence of the National Naval Aviation Museum, the world’s largest. More than 150 restored aircraft are on display across the museum’s 350,000 square feet of exhibit space and 37-acre grounds. As another treat for the aviation buffs, the Blue Angels practice from mid-March to midNovember and can be seen from the museum’s viewing area, and there is even a flight simulator for would-be pilots to try.

Those more keen to enjoy the water will find ample ways to do so, whether that is diving down to the world’s largest artificial reef, ocean fishing, paddleboarding or just soaking up the sun from the emerald waters off Pensacola Beach. Other family-friendly options include a visit to Laguna’s Beach Bar + Grill, which has ropes courses, mini golf and more.

Nearby Perdido Key takes the island living even further. The 16-milelong strip of white sand beaches no wider than a few hundred yards in most places contains one of the last stretches of nearly untouched wilderness the Gulf of Mexico has to offer. Located right between Pensacola and Orange Beach, Ala., the unique area is a haven for nature lovers thanks to Perdido Key State Park. Camping and hiking options are available just across the bridge in Big Lagoon State Park, as well.

Not to be outdone by the mainland, there is plenty of entertainment to be found on the state line. World famous Flora-Bama Lounge is a one-stop shop for music, seafood and all-around good times, making it a great way to wrap up a day on the beach or in the ocean.

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SMALL WORLD BIG FUN ​​Small World Big Fun has agents who specialize in planning both individual and group travel to areas all over the world, from Disney destinations to river cruises, tropical getaways, international dream trips and more.

Owner Cindy Minor has helped clients check off their travel bucket lists since 2001. Since opening its doors in 2008, Small World Big Fun has grown to include 50 expert agents across 18 states. In 2023, Small World Big Fun opened a new division of the company, Big Fun Travel Worldwide, to highlight and expand its international travel expertise.

“We are not ‘order-takers,’” Minor said. “We really listen to our clients’ wants, needs and vision for their vacation. It’s our job to find out not only the where, but the what and why so that we can offer suggestions that might be a better fit, as well as planning extras that our clients might not even know about.”

Small World Big Fun agents take the stress out of vacation planning by helping clients navigate the hundreds of options and mountain of decisions to be made before and during the trip. Agents are well-traveled and can often make firsthand recommendations. They develop deep, personal relationships with travel providers to ensure the trip goes off without a hitch — not to mention they have access to exclusive offers unavailable to the general public.

With Small World Big Fun at the helm, all that’s left to do is show up and have “Big Fun.”

SMALLWORLDBIGFUN.COM | (501) 831-5211

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SPRING INTO ACTION ON THE ALL-NEW FIRE IN THE HOLE FAMILY COASTER AT SILVER DOLLAR CITY As the Ozark Mountains envelop in budding flowers, blossoms and blooms, break out of the winter blues this spring at Silver Dollar City, which features the all-new family coaster, Fire in the Hole, the largest indoor coaster in the Heartland. A retelling of a historic night in the Ozark Mountains, families board their own “pumper”— an 1880s steampowered firefighting wagon — to fight a fictional blaze in town, set by the pesky Baldknobber vigilantes. With three indoor drops, onboard highresolution audio, a falling bridge, a quick water-splash finale and hightech special effects, the coaster was constructed with family members of all ages in mind, all inside a climate-controlled, five-story building.

Set in the Fire District, Fire in the Hole is the center of 10 additional

family-friendly rides and attractions, where the heroes of today spark the heroes of tomorrow. The new-for-2024 Sadie’s Pretzel Café sits atop the Fire District, serving handmade pretzels and SDC’s worldfamous pretzel dogs and overlooking the area on a 140-seat dining deck. Across from Sadie’s, a new merchandise location, Flanders Dry Goods, showcases Fire in the Hole merchandise. Both locations draw inspiration from the coaster’s account of a historical night.

SDC’s rides and thrills highlight the picturesque setting of the park in the spring, with roller coasters and attractions towering over the 100-acre park. Take a spin on Time Traveler, the Western Hemisphere’s fastest, steepest and tallest spinning coaster, or fly upsidedown three times on the Outlaw Run wooden coaster. Plus, find even more family thrills in the Grand Exposition section of the park.

Down on the ground, 100 resident craftsmen demonstrate their art right in front of guests each day using 1880s methods and techniques, from glass blowing and pottery to blacksmithing and candy making.

In 2024, the park’s Heartland Home Furnishings will open in a newlyconstructed furniture factory, offering handcrafted dressers, wardrobes, chairs, tables and more, all created at Silver Dollar City.

There is plenty of spring entertainment around every corner too: the awe-inspiring Living Garden display, speed painting and even America’s Got Talent runner-up Kristy Sellars are just a sampling of springtime entertainment lined up this season. Pair award-winning entertainment with new spring food offerings and park food staples such as skillet meals, award-winning barbecue and homemade ice cream.

Silver Dollar City opens for 2024 on March 9. A complete operating schedule with dates and hours is available on the park’s website.

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America's #1 Theme Park Discover the Heart of the Ozarks at Silver Dollar City. Step back in time as you explore a mountain mining town filled with one-of-a-kind rides including the NEW indoor family coaster—FIRE IN THE HOLE, demonstrating craftsmen, live shows and street performances, unique shopping and down-home cooking.

Plan your next vacation and learn more about the park’s spring festivals at silverdollarcity.com

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T he

water calls Cruises, resorts trending as spring break spots

By Mark Carter // Photos provided

The Icon of the Seas is a monumental cruise ship that provides a memorable way to celebrate spring break.

W

ater has long been associated with refreshment, recreation and even inspiration. People need it to live, of course, but also for reasons that stretch far beyond mere survival.

The Australian pop band Geowulf scored a hit with the 2016 single, “Saltwater,” which caught on in the United States as the soundtrack to Corona’s advertising campaign that year.

The song’s lyrics touch on the natural attraction to water: Come to the ocean Even when you’re broken Come to the water Let it wash you over.

People seek it out, all right, and it washes over them. When it comes with a deck chair, a pina colada or maybe even a Corona, and some glorious sunshine, it nourishes body and soul. The winter storm that blanketed most of the state in snow for several days in January had many Arkansans looking ahead to spring break and thinking about the call of the water.

For Little Rock travel guru Cindy Minor and her team at Small World Big Fun, the attraction to water is manifesting itself these days mostly in all-inclusive cruises and beach resorts. It is a little misleading to call Minor a travel agent, though. She launched the

Offering a variety of activites, cruises can suit travelers of all types.

Small World Big Fun agency in 2008 with a focus on setting up families with Disney destinations and in almost 16 years has expanded it to include 50 agents in 18 states planning trips across the globe.

Cruises started to blow up in popularity last year as Americans fully emerged from the veil of COVID-19 restrictions, Minor said. During the pandemic, Americans were forced to stay closer to home because of travel restrictions, and activities such as snow skiing spiked during spring break. Post-COVID, people were ready to shed the masks and answer the call of the water. Caribbean cruises, especially, represented a popular way to do just that and started to make a comeback in 2023, Minor said.

“That was the year we saw people decide they were comfortable leaving the country again,” she said. “Cruises [and all-inclusive resorts] are a great option for those who have a passport and want to go someplace warm.”

Minor and her team were ready to help clients find destinations closer to home when travel was an issue, and they are ready to help them find the right beach or boat now. Both cruises and resorts offer family and adult options, and Minor said it is important to work with an agent to make sure one gets exactly what one wants.

“We work really hard to match the right resort or right cruise with exactly what the family wants,” Minor said. “For spring break, a lot of families want to avoid the college crowds, and is this family or adult?

There are plenty of options for both.”

Cruises, especially, have gained in popularity. Like all-inclusive resorts, more cruise lines now offer rides and activities formerly restricted to terra firma — attractions not long ago thought impossible for a ship.

In January, the Royal Caribbean line launched the largest cruise ship in the world, the Icon of the Seas. Part resort hotel, part amusement park, the 20-deck floating leviathan sails out of Miami. Like other Royal Caribbean ships, it is divided into “neighborhoods,” each specific to a certain demographic, such as kids, thrill rides and adults.

Mexico and the Caribbean are among the most popular spring break spots for Arkansans.

Other lines are upping the ante, as well, and appealing to a broad audience. Then there are the specialty lines designed specifically for families (Disney) or adults only (Virgin).

“Cruising is really a fantastic option for families who want to be together but also want to go and do their own thing,” she said. “If your kids are younger, you want to do Disney. For the really, truly adults-only cruises, there are celebrity cruises and Virgin Voyages.”

Spots for 2025 and 2026 are filling up fast, so it is best to plan for in advance, she added.

The Icon of the Seas, meanwhile, is a floating city with a crew of 2,350 and up to 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity. In addition to its 20 decks, it boasts seven swimming pools, six water slides and what Royal Caribbean says are the tallest waterfall, tallest water slide and largest water park at sea.

Icon of the Seas also introduces some new concepts to cruising including the Aquadome, a diving and performance venue under a glass dome on the top of the ship; the Pearl, a structural art feature on the promenade; the Absolute Zero ice skating rink and entertainment venue; the Surfside family neighborhood; the Hideaway beach club, which features the first-ever suspended infinity pool on a ship; Thrill Island, the self-proclaimed largest waterpark at sea with six water slides; and Swim & Tonic, billed as the largest swim-up bar at sea.

Many lines also offer stops at their own private islands replete with similar attractions. It is no wonder people are drawn to the water. Brenda Price, a Florida-based agent for Small World Big Fun who specializes in cruises, said the current demand for cruises has surpassed pre-COVID numbers.

“Cruises are an excellent option for spring break. They allow you to get away to someplace warmer, providing lots of fun activities and great food while you’re traveling from port to port,” she said. “There is something for everyone on a cruise ship. Quite a few new ships are being debuted annually across the multiple cruise lines, and in general, ships all are filling up.”

Though the demand is higher, Price said there is still limited

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“

Cruises are an excellent option for spring break. They allow you to get away to someplace warmer, providing lots of fun activities and great food while you’re traveling from port to port.

— Cindy Minor, owner of Small World Big Fun availability for spring break cruises this year. The appeal of spring break cruising in the Caribbean is in the relative ease of travel, she said.

“With spring break, you have a limited number of days out of school, so I think people are wanting something relatively easy that allows them to travel internationally but stays within the confines of their break dates and doesn’t involve a lot of tiresome travel,” Price said.

“The Caribbean, especially, is popular for spring break. I’ve seen more families steer towards Royal Caribbean and Norwegian for spring breaks, due to their offerings geared towards the teens and ‘tweens’ age groups.”

For Katherine Lu, an Arkansas-based agent with Small World Big Fun, cruising is where it is at, whether the boat is bound for Alaska, the Caribbean or even European rivers.

“We’ve seen a lot of interest in these destinations in the last year, and that doesn’t seem to be slowing down,” she said. “Cruising has come roaring back and is more popular than ever right now.”

For Arkansans looking to get away during spring break, though, the Caribbean and its relatively easy access from Little Rock may be their best bet. Lu said it is not too late to make spring breaks plans for 2024, but time is short.

“Availability will very soon become an issue,” she said. “My advice is that whatever fun looks like to your family, make plans to create memories with your people now.”

Lu said the changes wrought by the pandemic have left a lasting impact on travelers. In the immediate aftermath of COVID, clients were more cautious about planning far in advance because they did not know if there might be another wave or if they would lose money booking a trip that they could not take, she said.

“Everything in travel has changed since COVID. Things used to be fairly predictable, but COVID turned everything on its head,” she said. “Lead times for planning travel were 12 to 18 months prior to COVID. As things have settled into a new normal, confidence is increasing, and lead times are now six to nine months, although I also see people planning even further ahead once again.”

Americans are eager to get out and explore now that travel restrictions are not an issue. During COVID, Americans flocked to state and national parks, Lu said. That was good news for states like Arkansas, with an abundance of high-caliber state parks, a national park and many other outdoor attractions. Domestic travel was up; cruising and international travel were down. That was then, Lu said.

“2023 saw lots of families taking to the seas and longer flights to experience destinations they hadn’t visited in a while,” she

said. “As our confidence in safety and financial security has grown, so has our appetite for travel.”

Given that rising demand and a short spring break window, Lu advises potential spring breakers to be prepared for less flexibility.

“In the U.S., the spring break season is considered to be the second half of March and all of April,” she said. “Most schools in Arkansas have the same spring break, which is nice for families with kids in different schools, including college. While it is nice that everyone’s spring breaks align, it means you have to plan ahead and probably have less flexibility than an entire summer break of six to 10 weeks, depending upon the type of school your child attends. Individuals, couples and friends who don’t have children can take advantage of slower times if they are able to travel when school is in session.”

Minor said all-inclusive resorts in Mexico or the Caribbean are another great option for spring-breaking Arkansans.

“Families want to go somewhere where there’s no snow, and for Arkansans, the Caribbean and Mexico are much easier to get to,” she said. “There are so many fantastic family resorts.”

Among Small World Big Fun’s trending resorts are the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, located on the western tip of the Dominican Republic, and Hyatt Ziva Cancun on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. These all-inclusive resorts are for all ages but have plenty of options for adults only.

Another spot growing in popularity and highly recommended by Minor is Xcaret Park along the Riviera Maya near Cancun. A collection of theme parks and attractions, Minor called it “Disneyland in Mexico on the beach.”

Attractions include a Mayan village, where local artisans work with the tools available to the ancient indigenous people, as well as a coral reef aquarium, caving, ziplining, multiple water activities and even open-air theater performances.

“You name it, they do it,” Minor said.

Thinking ahead to summer, when bigger trips are planned, Minor said she advises clients to take into account the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and travel headaches that may result.

Trending summer destinations include Vietnam, Japan and Egypt, she said.

Of course, there is always her firm’s original go-to — Disney and its fellow Orlando attraction, Universal Studios. Minor said spring break at the Orlando parks is busy but “you don’t have the ridiculous, huge crowds.” She added that some discount passes are still available for Disney and Universal.

“The parks there are a really good, solid choice if you can’t do a cruise or a resort,” she said, adding one last piece of advice for would-be trip planners: “For any big trip, you want to work with someone who makes sure all the boxes are checked.”

Whether it is the water that calls or a specific destination, Lu stressed that, in general, planning for a trip is planning for a trip.

“Some are shorter, some are longer, but they all involve research, commitment and getting prepared for an adventure,” she said.

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A Mother’s Promise Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos by CAROLINE HOLT PHOTOGRAPHY

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lejandra “Allie” Monge vowed she walking the same path. Free-will donations would never let her baby son, Azare accepted, but no family is ever turned away “If I had not been able ariel, see her cry. on the basis of their ability to pay.

It is not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes “Just being able to stay here in the house to stay at the Ronald the pressure and stress of being so far from her with Azariel, our experience was great,” native El Salvador, her American hometown Monge said. “I mean, we got to know everyMcDonald House, I of Springdale, and everything that comes with one here in the house. Everyone got to know honestly really do not having a seriously ill him, and he loved it. The child are more than staff is very welcoming, know what I would have she can keep within. very nice. They were alAfter everything ways there for me if I done because that would mother and son have wasn’t feeling 100 perbeen through — the cent or if I needed anyhave been an extra stress troubling pain during thing for Azariel, I mean, pregnancy that rejust anything.” for me. Just being here vealed heart trouble in The organization opat the Ronald McDonald the unborn baby, the erates on donations and open-heart surgery he several major fundraisers House is home to us.” had at just 4 days old, throughout the year, inthe 250-plus days of cluding February’s Chochospitalization in Litolate Fantasy Ball, which tle Rock — the least is sold out for 2024; Red him, but for a child whose health problems are Monge should be alShoe Crew Shamrock of the cardiac variety, he has shown more heart lowed to do is cry, but Shuffle 5K + Fun Walk than people many times his age. Supporting one look at her tiny on March 9; Blue Jeans him in his health battle is a mother unwaverson allows her, more & Bubbles on June 13; ing in her dedication, who is herself held up often than not, to keep the annual Golf Scramble daily by the home she has found at Ronald this promise she has on Sept. 9; and A Night McDonald House. made to herself. in Vegas on Sept. 19.

“When I knew there was something wrong Alejandra and Azariel Monge “Azariel is a very A special fundraising with him, my whole world just fell apart,” happy baby,” Monge drive currently underMonge said. “I didn’t even see Azariel after he said. “He smiles so big, and every time he way, Share a Night, allows donors to sponsor was born. They took him right away, and after smiles, it makes my day, so I mean, how can I a family’s stay at whatever monetary level they that, I didn’t wanna stay far away from him. not stay positive with this baby?” choose. Donors are especially encouraged to “At the moment, Azariel is under hospice A second source of support and comfort donate in February, when Ronald McDonald care, but the doctors are really impressed right the new mother has received has been from House is offering to match Share a Night donow with how he’s doing. If I had not been the strangers she has come to know as her nations up to $43,000, doubling the impact able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House, “familia Americana” at Ronald McDonald for resident families.

I honestly really do not know what I would House in Little Rock. There, she can get some “One hundred percent of the proceeds have done because that would have been an rest, enjoy a meal and, for everything else that from Share a Night stay local, helping provide extra stress for me. Just being here at the Ronplays on her mind, not worry about how she a home away from home for over 3,200 famiald McDonald House is home to us.” will pay for it all. lies each year,” said Candice Hickman, comTo participate in Share a Night, make an“I had two jobs trying to save up for Azarimunications director. “Some stay for a night, other donation or learn about other ways to el and trying to figure out where I was gonna a month or more than a year, and all families support the mission of Ronald McDonald be staying here in Little Rock,” Monge said. stay free thanks to sponsors and donors.”

House Charities of Arkansas & North Loui“After he was born, one of my friends was like, Little Azariel has a long fight ahead of siana, visit rmhcarkansas.org. go ahead and look into the Ronald McDonald House. I’m like, what’s a Ronald McDonald House? They’re like, it helps families that are GOOD TIMES FOR A GREAT CAUSE in need that have kids in the hospital.”

Mark the calendar for these 2024 events that support Ronald McDonald House Charities of In fact, the organization — formerly Arkansas & North Louisiana. For latest event information, visit rmhcarkansas.com. known as Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas, now Ronald McDonSEPT. 9 MARCH 9 ald House Charities of Arkansas & North Golf Scramble Red Shoe Crew Louisiana — serves thousands of children Shamrock Shuffle 5K Pleasant Valley Country Club, Little Rock and families through the Little Rock house, + Fun Walk A fun day on the course with friends, food, the Ronald McDonald Family Room at the and casino-themed games. Morning and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Two Rivers Park, Little Rock afternoon flights will be available. in Little Rock, a mobile dentistry unit and, shamrockshufflear.org coming in 2025, Ronald McDonald House SEPT. 19 Shreveport-Bossier in Louisiana.

JUNE 13 A Night in Vegas The houses host families of critically ill Blue Jeans & Bubbles children receiving treatment at local hospitals The Hall, Little Rock Rusty Tractor Vineyards, Little Rock and provide a homestyle hotel-like experience A casino-themed party featuring favorite A casual street festival filled with of food, lodging, laundry, Wi-Fi and other games, drinks, food and fun. bubbly, good food and live music. creature comforts, along with other families

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arts & culture

Hold on to your horns — PBR is back

By DUSTIN JAYROE

I

f a baker’s dozen is 13, what phrase would best describe the number 11? At Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock this spring, call it a bull’s dozen because for the 11th time, the Professional Bull Riders’ premier series, Unleash the Beast, will return to central Arkansas. If attendance numbers align with previous years at the wildly popular event, Dogtown will once again become Bulltown — at least for a weekend.

There is just something about North Little Rock and Arkansas that keeps PBR coming back. It is no secret as to why for Robert Simpson, senior vice president and general manager at PBR and a longtime veteran of the industry.

“Anywhere around the region [and] in the state of Arkansas, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody that didn’t know what PBR was,” Simpson said. “It’s one of our better events on tour.”

There is probably little disagreement to be had with such a sentiment. As Simpson points out, Arkansas — along with neighbors Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and so on — is typically where salt-of-the-earth people harmonize with The Professional Bull Riders’ Unleash the Beast will take place at the Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock in March. the bread and butter of PBR. As such, a PBR event in the state — even 11 years of them — may not come as a surprise. Fans and insiders, however, would know Each tour and competition involves a different tier of rider and bull that this face value is not the whole picture; Arkansas has been getting based on rolling world rankings. Riders may go up and down in tours a different kind of beast. throughout the season based on points and performance in a similar Over the past three decades, PBR has cemented itself as the lodestar way to promotion and relegation in English soccer, just much more of bull riding in the world. A typical year brings hundreds of collective frequently. national and international events and hundreds more professional riders All of the tours mean something competitively, and all put on a show competing in sanctioned tours. These range from the Pendleton Whisky for attendees, but the pinnacle of PBR is Unleash the Beast. It is the Velocity Tour to the Touring Pro Division to international circuits in tour every rider wants to work their way up to, in which the current top Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico.

40 in the world compete across the core season, November through May.

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Hundreds of professional bull riders compete during sanctioned tours with the Professional Bull Riders.

The top 40 bull riders in the world will compete for the title of world champion during Unleash the Beast.

Unleash the Beast brings big-time payouts and even greater stakes as each contestant vies for the ultimate crown of world champion.

The 23 stops on the Unleash the Beast calendar this year include Madison Square Garden in New York, Allstate Arena near Chicago, the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., the Toyota Center in Houston and, of course, Simmons Bank Arena.

“As star-studded as the field will be on the rider’s side, the bull side will be just as star-studded,” Simpson said. “For people who don’t really follow it, until they see it, they don’t understand the bull is half the star of every ride.”

Simpson said while many cheer for the riders — or expect to — plenty pull for the bulls, as well, first-time visitors especially. “[They] just cannot believe the athleticism that the bulls have; they’re like racehorses,” he said. “They are that caliber of an animal that people walk away and say, ‘Holy moly … That’s not that same bull that I watched at that county fair.’

“We bring bulls from across the country — literally, they’re handpicked. They are the cream of the crop, so every bull that we bring to

Unleash the Beast brings the big names of bull riding to North Little Rock.

North Little Rock will have a pedigree to them, a resume.”

PBR employs a dedicated livestock director who keeps tabs on more than 1,000 bulls countrywide and has control of the reins behind each tour event’s lineup, monitoring recent performances, energy levels and moxie. The bulls need to be tough — or “rank” in bull rider vernacular — but not too tough so as to create some balance to the field and avoid events becoming drawing contests.

Like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, when the best riders and the best bulls in the world collide, the result is destined to be memorable, or in Simpson’s words, “unforgettable.”

Insofar as they are the best of the best, being a rider or a bull at Unleash the Beast is a seat at a pretty exclusive table. The audience, on the other hand, is a bit of a melting pot. PBR is a popular sport, and as such boasts a myriad of core fans across the country, continent and globe, a a base of folks who, like any sport, follow the major and minor players, keep up with the live standings, watch the tour on TV to see the drama unfold firsthand, and may even root for a rider as one would a football team.

As big as that fan base has become over the years, when it comes to the tour, it will only represent a small slice of who is in the stands. The rest of the routinely sold-out crowds will run the gamut of families, couples, suburbanites, rural-breds and anything in between. In Simpson’s eyes, that is one of the biggest things that makes PBR so special.

No matter the color of the collar, there is plenty of fun to be had for everyone.

“The additional people in that arena that come out, they want to see a big-time event, and that is what we give them,” Simpson said. “They might not follow it the rest of the year, but they do come back.”

It is with this demographic — indirect fans and first-timers destined to return — that PBR has become a sort of 30-year-old snowball. With each seasonal revolution, the venues need to get bigger to accommodate the demand. Simpson aptly likens it to Arkansas itself, which may seem unassuming or be preconceived in certain ways to folks to the east and west, north and south, only to prove those assumptions as mischaracterizations.

Whether describing landmarks of the South that he has seen with his own eyes or the fierce majesty of bull riding to which he has dedicated his career, Simpson offers the same advice to anyone unfamiliar with either: Do not pass judgment until you go.

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“To win North Little Rock, you better be somebody, because this list is pretty stout.”

— Robert Simpson, senior vice president and general manager at Professional Bull Riders

Madness for which the same month is known — anything can happen and everything will be on the line.

Last year’s Arkansas event saw Dalton Kasel, a 25-yearold Texan, nab the overall win at Simmons. He entered the event ranked No. 4 in the world after another win just one weekend prior in Los Angeles and climbed up the world rankings to No. 2 after going a perfect 3-for-3 in North Little Rock. Kasel, who won PBR’s Rookie of the Year award in 2019, rode that momentum all the way to the world finalsbut ultimately fell just short of the title, finishing the season at No. 5 in the world.

Kasel has competed in Arkansas four times in past seasons and hopes to make it a fifth this year.

“Going to a place like North Little Rock with such an electric crowd and such a good fan base, it makes it so much easier for us as riders to be successful,” Kasel said. “We couldn’t do any of it without them, and I am super excited to come back and be around all these great people.”

Kasel said he dreamed of the life he is now living since he was 2 years old, when he first saw a PBR event on TV. At While the riders are impressive, the bulls are equally impressive for their around 13 or 14, he finally talked his parents into the idea, athleticism and attitude. and from the moment he hopped on a bull for the first time, he — like the aforementioned first-timers in the crowds “Once we get a fan to an event … they come back,” he said. “In the that watch him — was hooked. marketing world, it’s getting that fan that’s never been to go — that’s Kasel is the latest in a long line of sport legends and rising stars that kind of it in a nutshell because once they go and they experience the live have put up big performances north of the capital city. Simpson himself show and take it all in, they see the enormity of the bulls compared to points out how impressive the list of names is who have come through the cowboys. They see a cowboy ride, feel the excitement of the crowd, Simmons, many of whom will likely be in the field again this year. Ridexperience all the pomp and circumstance around the event. It’s easy to ers like José Vitor Leme, a two-time world champion who PBR ranks get hooked. in its top five riders in sport history, plus J.B. Mauney, Derek Kolbaba, “Thirty years later, we’re selling out Madison Square Garden, we’re Ryan Dirteater, and the list goes on and on. selling out Sacramento, Calif., and we’re selling out Chicago. It’s all of “These guys are legends,” Simpson said. “Almost short to say, to win these major metropolitan cities, as well, that have just embraced PBR North Little Rock, you better be somebody because this list is pretty because the product is so good. … We just kind of keep growing with stout.” the sport.”

PBR’s Unleash the Beast returns to Simmons Bank Arena for a When the bulls buck into Simmons Bank Arena in March, the dratwo-night stand on March 15 and 16. Returning fans and curious newma, stakes and those circumstances will have reached a tipping point. comers will need to act quickly because both nights are usually packed Of the 23-event Unleash the Beast regular season, North Little Rock is houses, and the Saturday showdowns typically sell out fast. Tickets start the 16th contest and during this home stretch — just like the basketball at $15 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or pbr.com.

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nonprofit

Larger than Life:

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

By Sarah Coleman // Photos provided

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in Little Rock recently completed a $3.5 million renovation.

T

he Mosaic Templars of America, a Black fraternal organization, was founded in 1883 in Little Rock and headquartered at the epicenter of Black culture on West Ninth and Broadway streets.

With a location built upon the rich Southern and African American history, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center now stands as a completely renovated, state-of-the-art accredited museum.

Since the original building was unable to be restored by the center following the aftermath of a fire in 2005, a new, 35,000-square-foot interior now sits in its place, complete with exhibits, classrooms, staff offices and more.

During the holiday season, MTCC held its official reopening, with Quantia “Key” Fletcher, executive director, leading the museum to new heights. The $3.5 million project includes new exhibit space and an overall updated, interactive experience.

Fletcher, who joined MTCC before the first exhibits were installed, counts the reopening of MTCC as one of the biggest blessings she has been able to witness.

“It is a dream come true to see the center reopened. It has been years of planning and development to make this happen, and it looks 15 times better than we could have even imagined on blueprints,” Fletcher said.

“When we walk through the new space and we see the colors and bold images that are larger than life, we see the stories that are told in a more expanded way.”

Fletcher likened the process of reopening such a significant organization to that of cooking a gumbo because it has been a process of infusing new technology and creativity in order to honor the traditions and stories of ancestors.

“It all came together in the best way, and it feels like we’ve been working on this recipe for five years, and we have finally gotten it right,” Fletcher said. “It means so much more to me, knowing that I’ve been at the museum for 15 years. We wanted to make sure that we not only honored the stories that have been told here, but continue to tell the story that was inclusive of so many new stories.”

Fletcher said the effort was not just in the realm of describing 19th-century historic affairs, but also encompasses the newness of the center itself because it has grown and expanded so much over the years.

With a passion for history and preservation, Fletcher said her biggest goal for MTCC is for it to not be the best-kept secret in Arkansas. She said she has witnessed several guests liken MTCC to the quality of a national museum, an impressive comparison she does not take lightly.

“To have something this great in Little Rock really speaks to the testament and magnitude of the work everybody has put in.

We have had a lot of people come and go on this project, and there’s been a lot of heart poured into each and every one of these exhibits,” Fletcher said.

The overarching theme of the exhibition is based on how the African American experience is woven into the fabric of the past, present and future of Arkansas. Broken up into six major themes, the exhibit includes sections on success, community, people, culture, survival and oppression and the African American experience in Arkansas.

“As guests walk through these themes, they will be able to see how they’re clearly defined and tell very specific stories about Arkansas,” Fletcher said.

Updated exhibits at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center showcase the local legacy of African American history.

For example, guests will be able to learn about the stories of Sue Cowan Williams, the first African American school teacher in the Little Rock School District, or the Elaine Race Massacre in the survival and oppression area.

“Guests can see and hear stories and interviews about what is was like when communities and cultures were split from [Interstate 630], but they’ll also get to hear about the survival and overcoming of oppression and survival and how far Arkansans have come in terms of that,” Fletcher said. “The area that talks about community and culture also touches on our HBCUs and what community means in terms of jobs and careers.”

In the community area, the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame will also be highlighted in a new way, in addition to its separate location within MTCC. Recipes can also be found and shared via QR codes throughout the exhibit because food is a large part of Black culture.

Another revamped area includes the barbershop and beauty salon, which features chairs that can be sat in, unlike the previous exhibit.

Guests can be transported in time and place by listening to the stories told in both spaces.

According to Fletcher, revamping these spaces was a cool project because it presented a new take on a section that was loved, creating a more immersive experience overall.

The focus of MTCC is ultimately to preserve, interpret and celebrate African American history and culture in Arkansas, and Fletcher and her team have found a new way to incorporate this in a hands-on experience for both children and adults.

“One of the things we are most excited about with this reopening are the interpretive experiences we now offer for adults,” Fletcher said, adding that traditionally, museums offer an hour-long tour that describes an overall view of the entire space.

However, Fletcher said research has shown that when people come to museums, they are more inclined to enjoy an emotional, immersive, interactive experience with many exhibits. In order to create this culture within MTCC, Fletcher said it is now offering Deep Dive events for adults, which are similar to how students get to be involved during field trips.

“Deep Dives are an extensive program on one particular part of the

exhibit, where guests can really walk out with a deeper understanding of a specific area in the museum,” Fletcher said.

The first Deep Dive, “What’s in the Pot?” will take place Feb. 3 in celebration of Black History Month. The topic is African American food traditions from Africa to Arkansas and will merge agriculture in Arkansas with the ways food became a tradition.

“We will look at how food traditions from Africa were taken with them from the mainland right through the South into Arkansas and how these traditions are still present today,” Fletcher said.

Deep Dives are only part of what Fletcher is excited about in the new space, and she is equally excited about opportunities for children that will be even more interactive as before.

Now when children come into the gallery space, they have an opportunity to interact directly with the original artifacts and items in the gallery, rather than sitting for a PowerPoint presentation.

“The more expanded and open space allows for people to have experiences that are truly immersive. Children will get to know these stories in a new way,” Fletcher said.

Artificial intelligence is another big addition to the museum, and the technology allows for people to walk into a room, sit in front of a Civil Rights leader and directly ask questions to them.

StoryFile, the company that originally started using AI in that way, was originally focused on Holocaust survivors but, since expanding, has added historically significant leaders. Currently, MTCC has the StoryFile for Andrew Young, a Civil Rights activist and pastor who was the first African American mayor of Atlanta.

“It is a super cool addition. You go in, push a button, and Andrew Young pops up on the screen to have a conversation with you,” Fletcher said. “This is so different from any other interactive exhibit because it is not pre-programmed.

He will only answer the questions that you ask him.”

The focus of the center is to preserve, interpret and celebrate African American history and culture in Arkansas.

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Immersive experiences are a hallmark of the updated museum.

“The beautiful thing about Arkansas’ history, particularly our African American history, is that a lot of our stories are the same. The civil rights struggles that you see in Atlanta, throughout Mississippi and in New Orleans were the same struggles we had here in Arkansas.

The overcoming of adversity and challenges are very similar throughout the South.”

Interactive spaces enhance the exhibits.

— Quantia “Key” Fletcher,

executive director

This is beneficial for those curious about what life was really like because it is likened to a history book opening in 3D. The second StoryFile MTCC has access to is that of a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

At the very end of the exhibit, there is also a station called the Exit Experience, which allows guests to share their personal story and views on what they experienced. It replaced the previous guest book that could be signed upon leaving.

“The Exit Experience is similar to recording an Instagram Reel or a TikTok video. It will send your response to us, and with sharing your story, we can share with others as they experience the new exhibits,” Fletcher said.

MTCC is recognized and acclaimed, garnering a lot of support both locally and nationally, because it is the third Black history institution in the South to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

According to Fletcher, the dynamic programming and amazing exhibits are only part of the larger goal, and the reopening of MTCC is really just the beginning. “We know that people are going to love it when they visit. People have always loved the museum, but the best way to support us is to tell other people about how amazing Arkansas’ history is,” Fletcher said. “This is a present we want to share with everybody, and

we want to give everyone the opportunity to learn more about Arkansas’ culture beyond the state of Arkansas.”

One of Fletcher’s larger goals is to make MTCC a stop for tourists to know and enjoy during their travels to Arkansas.

“The beautiful thing about Arkansas’ history, particularly our African American history, is that a lot of our stories are the same. The civil rights struggles that you see in Atlanta, throughout Mississippi and in New Orleans were the same struggles we had here in Arkansas,” Fletcher said.

“The overcoming of adversity and challenges are very similar throughout the South.”

According to Fletcher, donations and gift-shop buys are a major way for individuals to continue to support that programming as the center continues to expand services throughout the state.

MTCC has a lot in store for the future and will have continued programming specific to Black History Month, Juneteenth and Women’s History Month. This February, MTCC has several activities and additional programming planned. In addition to the “What’s in the Pot” Deep Dive, MTCC will also partner with Community Bakery and Loblolly Creamery for Black History Month flavors and designs, offer several gallery storytimes for children and their families, and more.

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THE WHOLE PATIENT Complementary medicine may be effective in helping treat ADHD

By Sarah DeClerk // Photos provided

M

edication can be a game changer for people who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, but some patients may be drawn to new and alternative treatments that can complement or even replace pharmaceutical medications.

“Many parents are seeking answers to help their children,” said Chayla Slaton, a psychologist at Arkansas Children’s and assistant professor in the pediatric psychology section of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. “They are concerned with adverse side effects that may come along with medications, and they are seeking out what they believe to be safer alternatives to help.”

She added that while an increased awareness about ADHD has led to a wealth of online resources, she encourages families to seek professional answers to questions.

“Some of the opinions are not backed by evidence,” she said. “I would encourage families to talk to their primary care doctors, psychiatrists, therapists, etc., to make sure that the information they are considering is backed by evidence. Not every approach works for every family, but every family has the right to make a decision that is informed.”

ADHD is marked by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than 8 percent of children and 2.5 percent of adults have ADHD. Stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin are the most effective and commonly prescribed treatment, the association states. Such stimulants increase the availability of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which improves communication between brain cells and enhances focus. Behavioral therapy for children and parents can also help treat ADHD, the association states.

Erin Holleman, advanced practice registered nurse at Natural State Behavioral Health in Hot Springs, said ADHD can be caused by a range of factors, including genetics, environment and brain damage. She added that ADHD may be comorbid with various conditions, including anxiety, mood disorders, dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder and substance use disorders.

Dr. Julie Logan at Natural State Behavioral Health said although

ADHD includes a spectrum of executive functioning problems and presentations, external factors such as diet, toxins, exposure to electronic devices, and family and economic environment can worsen executive functioning.

When treating ADHD, it is important to eliminate sugary foods, as well as those that contain excitotoxins such as food colorings and artificial flavorings, she added. Other toxins that can disrupt executive functioning include mold and volatile organic compounds, she said.

Chayla Slaton She added that the next edition of the DSM is set to include a new category of executive functioning disorders caused by exposure to screens and electronic devices.

“Children today are being given electronic devices from a very early age to babysit and entertain them, much as television watching has been used in generations before,” she said. “This has a particularly disruptive effect in the developing brains of young children and teenagers alike.”

Genes, too, play a role in ADHD, she said, adding that genomics can provide insight into a person’s brain chemErin Holleman istry and how it translates into attention disorders, as well as the most effective chemical and lifestyle interventions.

“Identifying a patient’s natural neurotransmitter profile means that we can use personalized lifestyle interventions, dietary modifications, nutrient therapies and have a much better likelihood of choosing the right medication for a person, if needed,” she said. “We really believe the future of successful treatment of many disorders will be based on knowing and addressing the patients’ genetic strengths and weaknesses as they relate to certain illnesses.”

Holleman added that scientists are Julie Logan just starting to understand the impact of external factors on ADHD, as well as internal factors such as genetics, the gut-brain connection, the microbiome and illnesses that cause neuroinflammation.

“The future of psychiatry and the treatment of ADHD will include a holistic and integrative approach tailored to each individual that utilizes not only conventional medications and behavioral therapies, but also includes integrative treatment modalities that best meet the needs of each individual with a diagnosis of ADHD,” she said.

Dr. Nihit Kumar, a psychiatrist who specializes in children, adolescents and addiction at Argenta Counseling & Wellness in North Little Rock, said a thorough evaluation is key to diagnosing and treating ADHD. He said he is careful with his diagnoses because stimulant ADHD medications can have side effects such as stomachaches, headaches, decreased appetite, sleep disturbances, irritability or even psychotic symptoms, as well as the potential for abuse.

“At the same time, it is so rewarding to see individuals improve when their ADHD is treated well,” he said. “They feel like they are a completely new person in a better way.”

While stimulant medication is still a first-line treatment for ADHD, Kumar said there are new options for the delivery of the medication. Journay PM uses a delayed-release stimulant that can be given at bedtime, and the Xelstrym stimulant patch can benefit patients who cannot swallow pills or may need the medication to last longer than pills can achieve.

Other advances include using devices such as a trigeminal nerve stimulator or a neurofeedback device Dr. Nihit Kumar to stimulate the nervous system, he said. In addition, a new video game, EndeavorRx, was recently approved by the FDA as an ADHD treatment.

Kumar said he expects such therapies to increase over the next decade.

“Although some of these devices and digital therapeutics may have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, they have limited clinical efficacy and require more data before being widely used,” he said, “so [they] may not be an appropriate option for many.”

Non-stimulant medications are Casey Flippo sometimes used to treat those with ADHD, especially those who experience side effects from stimulants, he added. He said that while stimulants increase dopamine, the non-stimulant Qelbree and a similar medication, Strattera, target norepinephrine.

Other non-stimulant medications, such as clonidine and guanfacine, treat ADHD through other mechanisms.

He said there is evidence that behavioral modification programs such as parent-child interaction therapy, the Positive Parenting Program and the Incredible Years can help treat ADHD in children, and effective Erin Gray classroom intervention can improve emotional and behavioral regulation.

For adults and older children with ADHD, he recommended cognitive behavioral therapy.

“Therapy alone can be effective for mild symptoms of ADHD,” he said. “However, moderate to severe symptoms will generally require treatments with medications. Of course, therapy and other alternate treatments can also be combined with more traditional medication treatment in someone really struggling with ADHD symptoms.”

He listed meditation, acupuncture and therapeutic massage as complementary ADHD treatments, along with certain supplements and exercises such as yoga, taekwondo and tai chi.

Slaton said in addition to advising families to talk with their heath care providers about medication, she primarily recommends behavioral therapy to help develop emotional regulation and teach executive functioning skills such as organization, inhibitory control and time management. She added that it is best if parents learn to teach these skills, as well.

“My hope is that we increase awareness about executive functioning skills and how to teach these skills,” she said. “The development of these

skills can start at a very young age, even in infancy. All young children would benefit from the explicit teaching of these skills.”

Research shows that medication combined with therapy provides the best outcome for patients with ADHD, she added, and although medication can help manage symptoms, therapy can teach skills that last a lifetime.

According to a 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, adult ADHD diagnoses are growing four times faster than those of children. Slaton said the increase is due to decreased stigma and increased awareness.

“Younger generations are more open with sharing their stories and battles publicly through social media. This is leading others to seek answers to their questions and seek out treatment such as therapy when in the past, that was considered more taboo,” she said. “I also hope that increased discussion will lead to more research in these areas and additional treatments will come to light with more evidence backing them.”

Kumar said the increased awareness of ADHD has drawbacks, as well as benefits.

“I see a lot of children being over diagnosed with and treated for ADHD when the reasons for their struggles and behaviors are unclear,” he said. “Stimulant medications can be abused and can cause side effects, including growth restriction and psychotic symptoms, if not carefully monitored. A careful assessment and evaluation of functional impairment is essential before considering a diagnosis and treatment for ADHD.” Logan listed stress, toxin exposure, low-quality food, fear about the future and an excessive use of electronics as causes for the rise in mood and executive function disorders. Holleman agreed, adding that the internet and social media have made people more aware of ADHD symptoms and more likely to discuss their concerns with their health care providers. An overstimulating world is also a factor, she said.

“Our brain is responsible for interpreting all of the sensory input we receive to make decisions and direct our actions,” she said. “Whenever there is excessive overstimulation, our brain can become overwhelmed.

When this happens, we can become overstimulated and develop symptoms that mimic those of ADHD.” Rather than seeking a pathological reason for such symptoms, Holleman recommended setting limits on electronic devices, trying mindfulness-based practices, connecting with nature, and improving one’s sleep hygiene, diet and exercise routine.

ADHD can cause significant impairment in both children and adults, Kumar said, and appropriate treatment can improve quality of life for patients. However, he said mild stress levels, poor sleep, other mental health disorders, substance use disorders, medications, and other factors can cause cognitive impairment, as well.

“It is imperative that these other factors be given careful consideration before a diagnosis is arrived at,” he said. “I have seen many individuals wanting treatment with stimulants to improve their performance at work or home when they don’t actually have ADHD, and this is just inappropriate.”

Additional holistic treatments include diet interventions, nutritional supplements and neurofeedback, Holleman said. Logan added that some supplements that can strengthen brain chemistry include B12 methylcobalamin, methylfolate, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids and certain botanicals.

Although ADHD is not on the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana in Arkansas, there is some anecdotal evidence that the drug can benefit patients with ADHD. A 2022 case report from Canada studied three patients who used medical marijuana to treat their ADHD and reported improvements in ADHD-related depression, anxiety, emotional regulation and inattention. Another case study details a Finnish ADHD patient who achieved positive results with medications containing THC after experiencing negative effects from Ritalin.

“ADHD has a lot of different variables to it, and it’s predominantly

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working on certain receptors in your brain that are going to trigger toms, such as delayed reaction time, slowed working memory and and cause hyperactivity, which is going to lead to a lack of focus and problems with executive function. extreme hyper-reactions to certain situations,” said Casey Flippo, “The use of hemp and marijuana products, including medical owner of Dark Horse Medicinals in Little Rock. “From a medicinal marijuana, actually does the opposite of what ADHD treatment is application, we’re going to operate on some of those receptors that are supposed to do,” he said. “I would caution against the use of marijuana in the brain to help calm someone that was dealing with that type of products to treat ADHD symptoms.” ailment a little bit better than some of the other, more pharHolleman said she could not find any valid research to maceutical applications.” support the use of CBD as a treatment, and the research A common argument for medical marijuana is the available is not positive when it comes to using mardrug’s limited potential for addiction, abuse and ijuana to treat ADHD. However, she said she has adverse side effects compared to pharmaceuticals. heard anecdotally from clients that marijuana “Generally speaking, it’s going to be a safer helps their ADHD symptoms. application, especially for younger, less well“What we do know is that marijuana developed individuals,” Flippo said. “Early helps with anxiety,” she said. “A lot of my adulthood, when the brain is not fully declients have ADHD and anxiety sympveloped, I don’t think there’s any scenario toms that are comorbid. Is the marijuana in which a pharmaceutical stimulant is the helping with the anxiety or the ADHD? best solution, and I do believe that cannabis More research needs to be done to answer can offer a segment of relief for people [with these very important questions, but at this ADHD] with a much more mitigated longtime, I would hypothesize it is helping term effect.” with the anxiety symptoms.”

He added that he would like Arkansas to She added that research does show broaden its medicinal marijuana criteria to that chronic marijuana use in adolescence include a number of ailments and that while and early adulthood can be detrimental medical marijuana is not a universal cure, it to the developing brain and have a negacan be a viable option for patients seeking tive impact on intelligence quotient, atalternatives to pharmaceuticals. tention, concentration, learning, memory In the meantime, patients with ADHD formation, performance and executive in Arkansas can try legal hemp-based functioning skills. supplements. Erin Gray, owner of HealWhether they employ medication, ing Hemp of Arkansas in Little Rock, said therapy, holistic remedies or a combinaseveral of her customers treat ADHD using tion of the three, it is clear that patients products that contain cannabinoids such as who have ADHD can benefit from indiCBD and cannabinol, as well as legal trace vidualized treatment plans. amounts of THC, the psychoactive compo“ADHD is a complex disorder with Natural State Behavioral Health nent of marijuana. many different types of presentation, so While some adult customers use the every individual with ADHD may look supplements to treat the anxiety associated slightly different,” Kumar said. with ADHD, she said several parents use While some patients may require hemp-based tinctures to manage their chilmotor-skills training, others may bendren’s ADHD because CBD interacts with efit from interventions that target their the serotonin receptors to reduce aggression inattention, he added. Children may and elevate moods, she added. benefit from a 504 plan or an individual“I have a couple that come in for ADHD, ized education plan to provide appropriand then I have a couple that also come in ate school personnel and resources, and for autism, and it has greatly helped them,” adults and children with ADHD genshe said. “It has just basically changed their erally require short bursts of work with quality of life throughout the whole family frequent breaks, he said. structure.”

“Parents and families should spend She said that appetite suppression and time researching medication options and “zombie-like” personality changes are two of discussing this with their providers, with the most common side effects of traditional careful consideration given to potential side ADHD medications that her customers say effects or risks of these medications,” he said. caused them to turn to hemp. Although Healing In the future, he added, he hopes advances in Hemp is not a medical marijuana dispensary, she said research and clinical evidence will provide ways to she would also like to see Arkansas broaden its medical more objectively diagnose ADHD in children and adults. marijuana criteria.

Logan said she hopes patients and practitioners will work “With the opioids that are out there these days, the Adderall, people to address all the factors that cause ADHD, rather than relying on tending to misuse them or become dependent on them, I see that as a medication therapy. Holleman agreed, adding that she would also like negative side effect to those pharmaceuticals, where you don’t see that to see better diagnostic tests and treatments. as much on the medical marijuana side of it or the CBD industry, hemp “I would love to see treatments not include medications,” she industry,” she said. said, “but I would be happy with a world where there is a truly Kumar said he would not use medical marijuana or hemp to treat integrative and individualized approach to treatment for each inADHD because marijuana’s short-term effects mimic ADHD sympdividual.”

“Our brain is responsible for interpreting all of the sensory input we receive to make decisions and direct our actions. Whenever there is excessive overstimulation, our brain can become overwhelmed.”

— Dr. Julie Logan

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Dr. Julie Logan, DC, FMAPS holds a fellowship in the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS) with a focus on pediatrics and helping both the client and their parents to overcome autoimmune conditions, developmental delays, gastrointestinal disorders, and chronic inflammatory illnesses.

• Holistic psychiatry and mental health clinic treating conditions such as depression, anxiety and other mood disorders,obsessive compulsive disorder, autism, ADHD, PANS/PANDAS and related disorders.

• Treatment of pediatrics and adults • Integrative approach utilizing conventional, lifestyle, nutritional, functional and biomedical medicine practices to restore a client to optimal health.

• Spravato treatment center

Erin Holleman, APRN, FNP, PMHNP is a dual certified psychiatric and family nurse practitioner who specializes in integrative psychiatry and has over 19 years experience providing holistic care to clients.

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This side of SEVEN – By Jason Pederson

Second chances

I

n 2018, Brittney Bryant was recently divorced and focused on raising four children when a guy started messaging her on Facebook.

He showed up in her “people you may know” list, meaning they had mutual friends.

“He was persistent in pursuing me as a friend,” Bryant said. “I started to send him words of encouragement and whatever God would put on my heart.”

Then one day, in April 2018, he called.

“I was driving down the freeway, and the Holy Spirit said, ‘Pull over.

He’s about to tell you something that will change your life.’”

The man was Charles Robinson Jr. He was calling her from a prison cell on a forbidden cell phone. He wanted to share his story and see how she would react.

In 2001, Robinson was a 16-year-old sophomore at John L. McClellan High School in Little Rock. One night, he and his friends, Damarcus Jordan and Raymond Williams, hatched a plan to rob a pizza delivery man. A gun was involved, and the delivery man was killed. All three were charged as adults; Robinson and Williams each got 30 years, while the triggerman, Jordan, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

“I asked [Robinson] if he had repented to God, and he said yes,” Bryant said. “Well, God has forgiven you if you have repented, but have you forgiven yourself ? And he said, yeah I have. God doesn’t hold it against you, so I won’t hold it against you.”

Bryant serves as pastor of New Way of Life Ministry in North Little Rock. She knows that the Bible is full of examples of people who got second chances and were used in mighty ways: Moses, Jonah, David, Rahab, Samson, Peter and others. She was willing to give Robinson a chance.

She said their conversation also opened her eyes to an issue to which

Juvenile crime makes the front page.

she had never given much thought: the excessive sentencing of juveniles.

“It sparked an interest in me to really look into it after hearing his story,” she said. “I was like, wow, that is when you were 16, and now you’re in your 30s. That’s a really long time. So anyway, it just went from there.”

If 30-year or life-without-parole sentences for teenagers sounds excessive, consider the times. The ’90s and into the early 2000s was not a good time for juveniles to commit serious crimes. A narrative had taken hold in America: kids are bad, and they are getting worse.

Bill Clinton’s rise in politics brought HBO to Arkansas, and in 1994, Gang War: Bangin’ in Little Rock was released. This documentary came on the heels of motion pictures like Boyz n the Hood and Menace II Society, which both portrayed teenage boys as rudderless and ruthless. That same year, as president, Clinton signed into law the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, the largest crime bill in the nation’s history.

In January 1996, a Newsweek article stated “Superpredators arrive: Should we cage the new breed of vicious kids?” Two months later, a U.S. News & World Report cover story focused on “Teenage Time Bombs.”

New York, Illinois and Colorado were among the first states to erode juvenile protection laws as a reaction to sensational crime stories involving kids. By the end of the 1990s, nearly every state had followed suit. One of the changes was a willingness to sentence teenagers to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In a 2012 decision, Miller v. Alabama, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sentencing minors to a life behind bars with no possibility of parole was unconstitutional. Between 1976 and 2010, close to 60 minors in Arkansas were sentenced to life without parole. In the years since the decision, about 35 of those prisoners, known as “Miller Kids,” have been released. One of the latest to be freed was Jordan, who was released Jan.

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5. Robinson and Williams were both paroled in February 2022, ing in empathy and more susceptible to peer pressure. Many and both are doing well. minors who commit grave offenses are not rotten to the core “I wish them all the best,” said Valorie Colclough. or irredeemably depraved. They made terrible decisions and, Back in 2001, she was Valorie Lockhart, the wife of Hergiven a second chance, can prove their worth to society. The man Lockhart. When Herman and Valorie married, she brought overall Miller Kids stats in Arkansas support this, at least so two children into the relationship, and he brought six. Then the far, and so does the life of Robinson, who wonders what kind pair added a son. Providing for nine children (10 if you count of man he would be had he not been incarcerated. a nephew who stayed at their home “God sat me down for a reaall the time) was no easy task, so the son,” he said. “I could have ended 37-year-old Lockhart took a second up dead. I wouldn’t have gotten my job delivering pizzas.

GED. I wouldn’t have taken colThat is, until Feb. 11, 2001. lege courses. I would not have tak“This is the most senseless, stupid en vocational classes. Everything murder we’ve had in a long time. To happened for a reason, and while have a pizza delivered to your own I’m not just 100 percent grateful, house and then kill the delivery man I am grateful that I survived and — it’s just stupid.” Those were the I’m alive.” words of Little Rock Municipal Judge Brittney Bryant is now Brittney Lee Munson during the first appearRobinson. The pair married in ance of the three teens in court.

2019, nearly three years before “I’m praying that the one who Robinson was paroled. Robinson just got released, [ Jordan], makes the is a happily married Black man in most of his opportunity, as it seems his late 30s, working multiple jobs the other two have,” Colclough said. to provide for his family — just “All crime is bad. It’s sad we have like Lockhart was. so much Black on Black crime. Our “I think about him,” Robinson children don’t get it. Crime and viosaid of the victim. “Hearing that lence are not the answer.” story about him working a secOther men who have never tasted ond job to take care of his family freedom as adults will be up for review and, like, we took that from them, in the first quarter of 2024. Richard and they didn’t have a father, and Cox, Cedric Harris and Terry Carroll it hit me even more when my fawere all teens in the mid-1990s, when Brittney, left, and Charles Robinson Jr. ther passed. The feeling that I felt they were defendants in murder cases. for my dad … I know they felt it As Miller Kids, they will all likely be ten times more because somebody granted the second chance at life their victims were denied. else took their father from them … which was us.”

Roderick Lewis will also be back in court. Lewis was 16 in 2001, Robinson is a licensed contractor and owner of Robinwhen he gunned down a 35-year-old father of six. As a Miller Kid, son Remodeling and Renovations, through which he reLewis was paroled in August 2020. In the summer of 2023, the now stores rental and investment properties. More than that, he 37-year-old Lewis was charged with killing 21-year-old Jeremiah helps restore people. He hires homeless men and formerly Story, a jailer with the Perry County Sheriff ’s Department. incarcerated men. He is living out Ephesians 4:28, which Thankfully, Lewis is the exception. At least 31 of the Miller Kids teaches that “anyone who has been stealing must steal no have been released and have peacefully lived among us in society longer, but must work, doing something useful with their without incident. At the time of this writing, another 22, including own hands, that they may have something to share with Cox, Harris and Carroll, remain locked up. A few others, like Lewis, those in need.” He also intends to use his testimony to help squandered their second chance and are back in prison, but with a young people avoid the mistakes and poor choices he made few tragic exceptions, the U.S. Supreme Court has been vindicated. as a youth.

Structurally, the brain is still growing and maturing during ad“My story will help a lot of people,” he said. “When peoolescence, beginning its final push around 16 or 17, many brainple find out I was incarcerated for 21 years starting at age 16, imaging researchers agree. In January, the Massachusetts Supreme they don’t believe it. I don’t look like or act like they expect Court became the first state to take things a step further, issuing a people who were institutionalized. I have talked to a couple ruling that protects “emerging adults,” or young people ages 18 to of people … trying to put them on the right path. Other 20, from sentences of life without parole. than that, I am just living life, enjoying my freedom and this Young people tend to be more impulsive, less thoughtful, lacksecond chance.”

JASON PEDERSON For two decades, Jason Pederson served as KATV-Channel 7’s Seven On Your Side reporter. Now on the other “side” of his awardwinning time on the news, he now serves as deputy chief of community engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

His perspective-filled and thought-provoking column, “This Side of Seven,” publishes exclusively in AY About You magazine monthly.

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the

Murders of

Mary Lee M

By Sarah Russell

ary Lee Orsini was poison dressed up in a pair of high heels. Effortlessly, she projected whatever she sensed someone wanted or needed. That ability was packaged in a striking combination of raven hair, creamy skin and ice-blue eyes. By March 12, 1981, the 33-year-old had accrued a high husband count. That day, though, Orsini was down one — her latest husband was dead in the upstairs bedroom.

That Thursday morning, responding officers from the North Little Rock Police Department found 38-year-old Ron Orsini lying face down on the bed. The massive amount of blood surrounding his head suggested an aneurysm or cerebral hemorrhage. Shortly after the coroner’s arrival, that was ruled out. Bloody hair at the back of the head had concealed the bullet’s entry point, thought to be that of a .38 caliber weapon. This was homicide.

The crime scene on Pontiac Drive gave up nothing else — no murder weapon, no signs of forced entry or burglary, and no witnesses — but detectives had Mary Lee. Upon their arrival, she had been so calm that they wondered if they had the right address. Now her sobs ricocheted off the

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walls of the interview room.

Ron had been dead for hours before the mid-morning call to headquarters came in. Mary Lee explained that her daughter had been dizzy that night, so she slept in her daughter's room. In an abundance of detail, Mary Lee related that the two had gone to breakfast, then she took her to school. After that, there was a trip to the drugstore, a little window shopping, and then Mary Lee came back to the house. It was only then that she opened the door to the master bedroom. Although the two rooms shared a wall, she heard absolutely nothing that night, nor did her daughter. The detectives avoided looking at each other. Not hearing a blast of that magnitude would be highly unlikely.

Mary Lee then launched into a monologue that splintered in opposite directions. There was another reason she slept in the other room. She did not want officers to think they had any marital problems; it was just that she was beside herself with Ron’s sudden behavior change. He told her to trust him, but she found a bank bag with lots of cash, heard him mention a “drop,” and then there were all those strange calls. She had hired a private detective, she said, because she would do anything to keep Ron safe.

Like a symphony conductor, she let the crescendo drop.

The room went silent before a burst: The killer, she said firmly, was her brother. She was sure of that. The siblings were in a legal war over a money issue. Just the night before, he was circling the house, trying to intimidate them again. There, she said. There was their killer.

To detectives, however, the only truth in the room was just what the crime scene said. Either this wild hare killed her husband, or she had opened the door to the person who did.

Leaving hours later, Mary Lee had not noticed the arriving officer. His brother had been married to that woman, he immediately told detectives. During their yearlong marriage, Mary Lee became very insistent that he adopt her daughter. Already at the lawyer’s office when an error in the documents was found, he was rescheduled for the signing. To him, it was just a small delay, but he dreaded telling Mary Lee — so he did not. Instead, he called her to say he had just signed the documents. She was, he later said, over-the-moon happy.

When he got home, he found that all Mary Lee had left him were the lightbulbs, and within days, he received divorce papers. Child support for his supposedly adopted daughter was requested at $1,000 a month. That, the officer added, was not her only divorce, and it definitely was not her only marriage — there had been four or five. Now it was clear to detectives why Mary Lee had first called the Sherwood Police Department instead of their own.

What Ron had not known was before she created the persona of Mary Lee, she had been Mary Myrtle Hatcher. The 10th-grade dropout fictitiously became a University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate from a wealthy ranching family in remote Stone County. Her real childhood home was just miles away from the Pontiac house, off a dirt road that reflected the struggles of her widowed mother.

Her first marriage, she told others, was to an older Air Force officer, when it was actually to an 18-year-old

enlistee who married her twice before he decided to run east as far as there was land. He feared no man, he said, as much as he came to fear her.

Ron’s ex-wife, Linda, told detectives that their divorce was her own fault. Ron had been the kind of husband that never even fussed when the house was a mess.

He would send her off on some errand, only for her to return to find everything just so. He was a man who went about life quietly and steadily. There was really no good reason, she said, that she began the affair with their former neighbor.

Two weeks after their divorce went through, she got cold feet and wanted her slippers back by Ron’s bed. It was too late; he had met someone new.

The new woman had reached out to Ron to talk, Linda said, telling Ron that she was the ex-girlfriend of the man involved with his wife. Linda’s lover told her he ended that relationship because the woman was a habitual liar, possibly a dangerous one. It was somewhat unnerving when suddenly that same woman became the new Mrs. Orsini — Mary Lee Orsini.

Now Ron was dead, and detectives discovered that the year prior, the couple had obtained a personal loan from Metropolitan National Bank. It was a 90-day loan to bridge the time between the purchase of the Pontiac house and the imminent closing of their previous home. Central Heating and Air in Little Rock, of which Ron was a partner, had a long-established relationship with the loan officer. She had not hesitated to approve the loan.

The due date for the loan had been October 1980, but now it was March 1981, and the loan was still outstanding. Knowing that Ron’s father was dying of cancer, the loan officer had always chosen to contact Mary Lee instead. Even then, she just hated to call him. The loan, Ron assured her, would be taken care of promptly. She hung up, convinced it would be just as he said. The tone of his voice, however, told her he had not known the loan was still outstanding.

Days later, Mary Lee called to invite her to Ron’s funeral, and then Mary Lee went all business. The bank would get their money. There was, she reminded the loan officer, the credit life insurance she, Mary Lee, had insisted be put on that loan. Furthermore, the company’s partnership agreement stipulated that surviving partners would buy out the deceased’s share. The loan officer had found the conversation to be very disturbing, and detectives agreed. The newly purchased Pontiac home also had pay-out insurance in the event of a death.

Despite the apparent motive, lack of direct evidence made for a questionable case. The prosecutor decided to take it to a grand jury, reasoning if 12 of the 16 jurors voted to indict her, Mary Lee would go to trial. If not, they would still have the option of taking her to court at a later time.

Meanwhile, one of Ron’s business partners had found her a lawyer — Bill McArthur. Colleagues knew him to be one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the state. He made prosecutors look like a fools if their cases were not airtight.

Going to the grand jury would also allow the prosecutor to find out where they needed to strengthen their case.

By now, Mary Lee had proved herself capable of delivering regular content to the media, and in return, she found them to be very useful. When Mary Lee insisted on taking the stand, they did not fail to show up for her. The jury foreman later said the only thing they learned was all she could be pinned down on was her name. Nevertheless, on July 28, 1981, she walked.

Confident of the outcome, Mary Lee had already invited friends over for champagne. They anticipated just a discreet clinking of the glasses, not the packed house they entered. Flashbulbs were going off like fireflies all around them, and in the center of it all was Mary Lee, who was in a very hot clutch with some man.

As the scene became increasingly uncomfortable, friends quietly began to make their way back past the media. One by one, they chose to take to the road on this hot summer night.

If only Mary Lee had done that — taken to the road — but no, she would stay right where she was, and soon enough there would be another murder. She was, after all, poison dressed up in high heels.

(To be continued…)

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Chainsaw art

By Joe David Rice

I

f beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I assume the same can be said for art. Today’s connoisseurs can take their pick from abstract art, art deco, contemporary art, distressed art, fine art, folk art, impressionism, minimal art, modern art, neoimpressionism, pointillism, pop art, post-impressionism, regional art, rococo and surrealism — among others.

Then there is chainsaw art, a lesser-known and largely unappreciated form of artistic expression. Admittedly, this highly specialized genre has a few drawbacks. It requires a spacious outdoor “studio,” and the creative exercise can be exceptionally messy and noisy, not to mention dangerous. At last look, Sotheby’s, Christie’s and the major art brokerage houses have yet to include examples of chainsaw art in their auctions or catalogs. In fact, when I contacted the firms about this genre, their representatives were unfamiliar with it.

Despite the relative newness of this art form (portable chainsaws have been around for less than a century), chainsaw art seems to be catching on. For years, Kay and Roy Jackson operated Alpena Chainsaw Art on U.S. 62 in downtown Alpena after relocating from nearby Branson, Mo. Working with pine, cedar, maple, walnut, ash, cherry and other logs, they create bears, beavers, fish, pigs the occasional Razorback, as well as special pieces on commission. Kay is modest about her ability to transform stumps into sculpture. “I just think it’s a blessing that God gave me the talent to take care of my children,” she said.

For a firsthand introduction to this unique cultural advancement, I can recommend attending Carving in the Ozarks, a chainsaw art festival hosted by Eureka Springs in April. It is a nationally recognized event drawing two dozen or so carvers from around the country and several hundred fans. On the first day of competition, each participant works from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a sculpture from a single log. The logs, which have maximum lengths of five feet and diameters of two feet so the art can be hauled away in the bed of a pickup, are usually pine, cedar or catalpa. Saturday’s event is similar — noisy and alive with flying wood chips — although artists must complete their efforts by 3 p.m. Every sculpture is then put up for auction, and proceeds are evenly split between festival organizers and artists. Also, there are cash prizes for the top works are awarded.

As for me, my contribution to the world of chainsaw art is simply striving for consistent 16-inch cuts of firewood.

Joe David Rice, former tourism director of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, wrote Arkansas Backstories, a delightful book of short stories from A through Z that introduces readers to the state’s lesser-known aspects.

Rice’s goal is to help readers acknowledge that Arkansas is a unique and fascinating combination of land and people — a story to be proud of and one certainly worth sharing.

Each month, AY will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give you a new appreciation for this geographically compact but delightfully complex place we call home. These Arkansas Backstories columns appear courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. The essays have been collected and published

by Butler Center Books in a two-volume set, both of which are now available to purchase at Amazon.com and the University of Arkansas Press.

At Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation we are committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. Our qualified staff is here giving support for the tasks of day-to-day living, allowing for the enjoyment of more pleasant and carefree activities.

NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER at

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