Local. Magazine November / December 2018 by Local. Magazine

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018

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Hear the stories of other Arkansas creatives through the Sustaining Craft podcast on iTunes and Spotify.

TABLE OF CONTENTS THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD 5 SUICIDE PREVENTION ALLIES 7

While suicide prevention is a heavy topic, Reece and the team at Suicide Prevention Allies use a unique approach to lighten it, and when things are lighter, they are easier to carry.

EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN SEARCY 8 Thea Foundation's emerging artists series.

EAT LOCAL / SHOP LOCAL 10-11

Discover local restaurants, shops and services in central Arkansas.

BE A LOCALIST 12

Sometimes the options are overwhelming when it comes to needing some help, and it’s just easier to go with the first option that pops up in a search. But try thinking local.

FEATURED FAVORITE: FLYWAY 14 LOCAL GIFT GUIDE 16 ROXOR IN THE ROCK 21

National gin with Arkansas ties. Mike Coats, who has served as a prime mover in restoring historic downtown Conway to former glory days, tells us more about his Conway restaurant.

MAUMELLE PLAY & SPLASH 27

The completed project will include a splash pad as well as playground equipment that can accommodate children with all levels of physical abilities, including those who may be in wheelchairs.

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DECEMBER EVENTS 29 ERADICATING POVERTY 30

The life of Geovanni Leiva and how he is fighting poverty with coffee.

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PUBLISHERS

Rich Niemeyer Kaitlin Schmidt

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kaitlin Schmidt

COPY EDITOR Stacey Bowers

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER STAFF WRITER Adam Cherepski

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Richard Ledbetter Elizabeth Silverstein

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kimberly Bennett Kayla Byrum Rich Niemeyer Ginnie Oliver

For advertising information, please call 501-476-4200. For Subscription services, please call 501-554-1126. Local. Magazine is published bimonthly by 411 Publications, Inc. 1100 W. 2nd St. Ste. 1, Little Rock, AR 72201 411publications@gmail.com The contents of Local. are copyrighted, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written consent of the publisher.

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ADAM CHEREPSKI Adam received his Master’s degree in Education from UALR. He enjoys everything there is to do with food, from cooking at home to dining at locally-owned establishments. Writing is a passion of his. Be sure to check out his blog, oneflewovermyhouse.tumblr. com and on Facebook at One Flew Over My House. ELIZABETH SILVERSTEIN Elizabeth Silverstein received her first paycheck as a writer in 2006, and she’s been interviewing others ever since. With a background in journalism, she especially loves telling the stories of passionate, local business. In 2018, Sustaining Craft, her interview series about creative business became a podcast. Elizabeth writes at hewandweld.com.

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and happiness away for the entire time that these feelings circumnavigate my being. Stress is a part of life; I understand and accept that. But when it gets to the point of anxiety, then something has to be done. People tell you that everything will be ok. Breathe. Try not to think about it. Let’s do something to get your mind off it. These are all very sweet, endearing and rational concepts, but forgive me when I say that an anxious person wants to look at these other individuals and tell them what bullshit suggestions they are. There is nothing you are going to do or say that is helpful at that time and place. Anxiety is irrational. It inundates our lives. It is a powerful force that demands to be recognized – you cannot just ignore it. And, above all, it is a truth. It is a truth to the person experiencing it. It is not something you just place in the back of your mind. Anxiety will only improve when it is accepted and dealt with accordingly. You have to know that it is real. Whether you are the one experiencing it or the person on the outside witnessing its wicked ways, you must know that it is real. It is frustrating; it is maddening; it is fear; it is genuine. Think about it. Visualize it. Feel it. It is uncomfortable, isn’t it? It’s not fair, is it? Why you? Why can’t you just get over it? Why can’t you just move on from it? These are just thoughts, right? You are stronger than this. Breathe. Now imagine you are 7 years old and you have these same thoughts and feelings. Imagine how real it is. Imagine how overwhelming it is. Is it unbearable? Is it infuriating? The weight that is exerted on an adult when they encounter anxiety is often more than one can carry on their own. Imagine that same weight on a small child. It is damn near suffocating. A child is not equipped with the strength that confronting anxiety requires. Are any of us really? My daughter has suffered anxiety. It has put us, as parents, through hell and back, which is a selfish statement in and of itself. We have told her that there is no reason to be afraid, but, to her, there is. We have told her to take deep breaths in the hopes of alleviating her stress. We have encouraged her to look at her anxiety in a rational manner – yes, a seven-year-old. We did not start making progress until we realized what we were doing was wrong. We were not trusting her. We were not giving her the opportunity to be afraid, and to face that fear. We were merely attempting to put a mask on the beast until it went away. This is not fair. She was not eating. She was not playing. She was withdrawing. She was not able to be herself. Imagine how frustrating this is to see your child this way – now imagine instead that you are that child. Her fears were real, and we had to recognize this before we could help her. I can recall having panic attacks as a child. It

The Weight of the World - Adam Cherepski

“Anxiety – it just stops your life.” -Amanda Seyfried Have you ever felt anxious about anything? Of course you have; we all do at some point in our lives. If you have not, then I can only presume that you have been heavily sedated since birth. If that is the case, Mazel Tov, because I can tell you from experience – anxiety sucks. For those of you who have been sedated as I mentioned before, allow me to give a description of what it feels like. What are you afraid of ? Is it public speaking? Do you fear job interviews? Do you dread looking at the stack of bills on the counter? Think back to high school – what about taking the SAT or ACT? These are all fears, and they are real. Fears are real.

Imagine your greatest fear; now amplify that fear at least ten-fold. This is anxiety. Being anxious about something is crushing. It consumes us. There is nothing else that we can think of, and there is no way someone else is going to change that. You can think to yourself that you know that the thoughts you are having are irrational and ridiculous at times, but this does not stop them from happening. Your stomach is in knots. You cannot even think straight. You are no longer living in the moment, but you are living in the fear. This is no way to go through life. You must overcome this, but while you are doing everything you can to defeat this all-consuming panic, you are incessantly reminding yourself of that which you are afraid of – a vicious cycle to say the least. There have been times when a thought has consumed me to the point that I had difficulty breathing, to the point that the nearest bathroom was not close enough (I will refrain from illustrating these experiences), to the point of developing ulcers and, yes, shingles. Hell, my hair color is the result of stressors – that is my story anyway. As I said before, this is no way to live a life. These moments suck all the joy

essentially stemmed from my parents’ divorce. I remember lying in bed, looking at the ceiling, and hoping that the weight that was on my chest would go away. Why couldn’t I fix it? Why couldn’t I free myself of this oppression that was literally causing me to have trouble breathing? Why? Because I was a kid, and I was not strong enough to lift it on my own. It felt as if someone had placed a pile of rocks on me, and it was me against the rocks. This is how my daughter felt, and I was too ignorant to see that she only needed our help. When anxiety hits, the weight that is upon you needs to be lifted. Telling your kid that she needs to breathe, she needs to think of something else, she needs to realize that there is nothing to fear – you might as well be adding more rocks to the pile. We realized that we were not helping because we did not see the fears; we did not accept them as real. As parents, we need to recognize the weight of anxiety that is on our children. We need to see those rocks, and we need to help them with that burden one stone at a time. They cannot do it on their own. We lift each fear, and we place it to the side until they are all removed, and we help our kids up. We show them the pile, and we look at it ourselves. The fears are real. The pile is heavy, but individually, they can be lifted. It is our job to illustrate this to our kids. It is not until we appreciate this that we can truly help our kids with their anxiety. Keep in mind, however, that the fears are still there. They are no longer burdening my daughter. She is back to herself. But, they are there – neatly piled off to the side. They are not gone. They may come back, and I, my wife, and my daughter are better prepared to lift them if they do…one at a time.

Arkansas Logo Logic is a local screen printing and embroidery shop located in Hot Springs, AR. Rob Koller and Jason Hunter teamed up this March, but have been working in the industry for over 30 years. Long time Lake Hamilton High School friends, Koller and Hunter, had worked together on projects on and off for years before deciding to open their own business. “I am a former aircraft mechanic. I am great with the mechanical side of things, while Jason is great with all the artwork and creativity.” Koller also says, “We offer the quality, customer service and product selection that really sets us a part from most companies in this field. We have anything and everything a person or business could want or need.”

Arkansas Logo Logic offers promotional products for individuals, schools, special events, new and growing businesses, athletic teams, and more. Need ideas to set your team or business a part? Arkansas Logo Logic offers everything from pens to clothing to license plates to vinyl decals (and anything else you can think of). Recently, Koller and Hunter also volunteered their time with Rats for Autism. Featured in Rat Rod Magazine, the precise stitch work on the leather seats of a custom Rat Rod was a hit in the auction. They also gave us some great pointers when asked what advice they could give other people that are thinking about opening their own business. “Don’t be afraid of it! Research it and go for it. You can’t let fear hold you back from doing something you love.” Are you a business needing extra branding and exposure? Be sure to ask about the Small Business Package. It includes 12 shirts, 4 hats and vinyl for your vehicle. Other custom packages available, too! Head over to 104 A Trooper Drive in Hot Springs, Arkansas or call (501) 767-2197 to see how you can start growing your business with Arkansas Logo Logic! 6

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Suicide Prevention Allies - Adam Cherepski - Photo by Jeff Fuller Freeman According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, on average, there are 123 suicides per day in the United States. To compound this fact, for every one suicide, there are 25 attempts. So, let’s do the math— every day, approximately 3,000 people attempt suicide. It is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Arkansas is ranked 17th in the country for deaths by suicide. To hear these facts is shocking. Each time one of these statistics is conveyed to us, it is like a weight being placed upon us. The question is, what do we do with that weight? What can we do to make sure that these numbers go down? That is where the Suicide Prevention Allies comes in.

Suicide Prevention Allies has two main missions: public awareness and organizational training and resources. Regarding awareness, SPA not only concentrates on suicide, but also includes issues surrounding mental health and substance abuse. This increased awareness is brought about through public events intended to start conversation as well as an online library of resources. However, SPA’s primary goal is to connect community organizations, public servants and client-care providers with mental health specialists and anti-violence advocates. This is accomplished through meetings, workshops and other events. Suicide Prevention Allies provides the needed trainings,

connections, support groups and resources to further prevention efforts in our communities. Sitting in a training, a workshop or a support group and discussing suicide and suicide prevention is not exactly the most uplifting experience. More often than not, these events are mandated by the organization to which we belong. Depending on the audience, this can be an event filled with awkward silence, pain and overall discomfort. Susie Reece, the Executive Director of Suicide Prevention Allies, doesn’t necessarily subscribe to this way of thinking. There is a difference between making light of a subject and making a subject light. The latter is Reece’s unique approach. Reece always wanted to be a stand-up comedian when she was growing up, so of course she became a suicide prevention trainer (insert sarcastic tone). In fact, she makes sure to point out that she never dreamt of her current role when she was a little girl, which, to say the least, is not surprising. But, it is this childhood dream centered on humor and making others happy that translates seamlessly into this daunting and overwhelming topic. It never crossed her mind that at one point in her life, she would be known as the “suicide lady,” but here she is. As she saw the suicide statistics increase, she realized that something wasn’t working when it came to prevention efforts. So, when something is not working, you step back and approach it in a different way. Suicide, at best, is a taboo subject. It is just something that people don’t talk about, and if they do, it is done with kid gloves. Reece prefers to hit it head on, but with humor and levity. Talk about a unique approach. Most of us have been to workshops where we sit in a room with our arms crossed, our phone out and our minds distant, and at the end of it, we have not learned a thing. Suicide prevention deserves significantly more attention. Rather than stand on a stage and lecture, Reece relies on storytelling to connect with the audience. She uses her personal experiences to let them know where she is coming from. Reece lost her dad to suicide when she was 10 years old, and it is this tragic event that has led her to the mission t she is on today, helping to make sure this doesn’t happen to others. Through stories, anecdotes and even jokes, she does what she can to lighten the heaviness associated

with suicide. Her presentations and discussions are artfully crafted to engage the participants, emotionally and rationally. I asked her how she could possibly discuss such a difficult and painful topic with jokes and humor without offending. It is a high wire that she traverses with respect and sensitivity. Even mentioning how she handles her talks is unique enough that you will remember it. The words engaging and entertaining can be used interchangeably; it’s just that you would never think to use the word “entertaining” when attending a suicide prevention talk. The question is, why not? Other speakers and trainers working for Suicide Prevention Allies all have a unique approach. While jokes may not be at the forefront for some, engagement and relevance is for each of them. SPA makes sure that individuals and groups, whether they be K-12 schools, colleges or universities, churches, youth organizations, military personnel or others have the resources and networks in place to prevent suicides through awareness. Services they provide include presentations, workshops, research initiatives, networking, advocacy and support groups. Organizations often enlist these or similar services as a reaction or because it happens to be Suicide Prevention Month. Instead, SPA would like to be utilized proactively. Even if you don’t use their services, find someone to help. When I mentioned to Reece that suicide prevention can seem like a lot to ask of people, she simply responded, “Be kind.” That is the foundation of suicide prevention: just be kind to others. Something so uncomplicated can mean so much to someone else. While suicide prevention is a heavy topic, Reece and the team at Suicide Prevention Allies use a unique approach to lighten it, and when things are lighter, they are easier to carry. To learn more about SPA, go to suicidepreventionallies.org, and you can find them on Facebook and Twitter. Or, you can call them at (501) 249-9758 For immediate help for you or someone you know, reach a trained volunteer at the Crisis Text Line by texting ARK to 741741, or please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

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every day. “Minnie can be high energy,” added Martinez. “She will do best if she can let her hair down and get a good run in every morning.” Minnie is believed to be a 2-year-old terrier mix, weighing in at 30 pounds. Minnie would do well with a person who can be firm but patient while she settles into her new home. “She’s got quite the personality for such a small dog once she gets to know you,” Martinez added. “She’s a lot of fun and would love to learn some tricks and go on lots of walks with her person.” Minnie is a graduate of Arkansas Paws in Prison, a program that matches dogs who need a bit of manners training to inmates learning how to train dogs. Minnie has learned several tricks, including “play dead.” Her adoptive family will receive Minerva’s training journal, which documents her arrival from the shelter, her daily training progress and her interactions with her trainers.

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Mocha Mocha is that jumpstart to those early hours. Ever the optimist with the energy to match, Mocha loves to play and learn. “I’ve so enjoyed getting to know Mocha in the past few months,” said Heather High, Mocha’s caseworker at Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals (CARE). “She has just so much love to give, and she enjoys being around her people.” Mocha is believed to be a shepherd/lab mix, weighing in at 38 pounds. A little over a year old, she’s got the looks that fit her personality and was named for her light brown color. Mocha comes from a rough start and needs a home where she can be guided in a gentle but firm way. She would also do best with older, active children. “She needs an owner to help her because she can get anxious in new situations, but loves interaction,” High shared. “When she knows you’re safe, she's a doll.” And Mocha plays well with other dogs, bringing energy and determination. Ever the smarty-pants, she already knows how to sit, stay, wait, roll over and shake. She would love to learn more and picks up on training very quickly. “Due to her high energy, she needs an active household or possibly even agility training,” High shared. “She would be a great hiking dog.” Minerva (Minnie) Minnie is ready to find a quiet forever home with a person who doesn’t mind a little bit of sass as she gets settled in. A new doggy friend would also be perfect. “She gets along with dogs of all sizes and ages, although may annoy older dogs with her level of enthusiasm,” said Ashley Martinez, her caseworker at CARE. Minnie is the sweetest dog you’ll ever meet, but she does need a good run and lots of walks

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Both Mocha and Minerva (Minnie) are available through the Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals (CARE). Because CARE’s pets are evaluated and selected to be family and companion animals, then placed in foster homes, they do best in homes where they are primarily inside pets and spend a lot of time with their families. To meet either of these wonderful girls, fill out an online application first through www.careforanimals.org/adoption-app.cfm. The adoption fee is $250 for Minnie, as a Paws in Prison graduate, and $200 for Mocha. The fee for both includes shots, sterilization and a microchip. About CARE Created in 1998, Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals (CARE) is a 501(c)(3) Arkansas nonprofit corporation and a charitable organization fully funded by donations and supported by hundreds of volunteers. CARE does not have a physical animal shelter and operates through their staff of three out of their office at 5516 Kavanaugh Boulevard in Little Rock. All adoptable pets are either in foster care or training with the Arkansas Paws in Prison program. CARE's rescue/adoption efforts have saved more than 4,000 animals as of January 2018. Volunteer, submit an application or view adoptable pets at careforanimals.org. This article is sponsored by Hew and Weld.

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EJ's Eats & Drinks specializes in all things breakfast, delicious sandwiches, scratch soups, HUGE salads, juicy burgers and so much more! Stop by for smiles and beer. Come in and give your inner foodie something special. 523 Center St. in Little Rock. 501-666-3700

Fat Jack's Oyster Bar and Grill provides live music, cold beer and great food. Come try the variety of cajun food, burgers and fish while watching your favorite sports team. Don't forget to try the best oysters in Arkansas! 101 Central Ave. in Hot Springs. 501-623-5225

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Black Angus is a locally owned and operated restaurant that serves fresh, homemade food including hand cut steaks, catfish, and burger patties using a charcoal grill. 10907 N. Rodney Parham Rd. 501-228-7800

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Doe's Eat Place features Little Rock's favorite steaks, hot tamales with chili, succulent broiled shrimp, tasty grilled salmon, mouth watering hamburgers and more. It is filled with memorabilia that makes the experience what it is. 1023 W. Markham St. in Little Rock. 501-376-1195

Crush Wine Bar is the perfect neighborhood bar located in the heart of the Argenta Arts District and offers a large variety of wine. Be sure to enjoy your glass with one of the meat and cheese plates on the outdoor patio this summer! 318 N. Main St. in North Little Rock. 501-374-9463

Southern Table is a boards, bites and bruschetta eatery specializing in seasonal small plates and a shared menu with world dining options. Proudly serving Southern Table produced cheeses and Raimondo Winery wines and products. 323 S. Cross St. in Little Rock. 501-379-9111.

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BE A LOCALIST. By Kaitlin Schmidt

The Cost of Local Services (Part 2) - Elizabeth Silverstein

Teneicia & April

and retirement. “I develop relationships with people to better understand what is important to them,” Pollard explained. “Then, we develop our own process to what their individual strategy should look like toward their goal. For a married couple, that goal might consider if they can retire early and how much money should they put back to do so.” The cost might surprise you. Roundtree’s services cost less than a corporate cleaning company without sacrificing quality. “Because I’m smaller, there’s a certain assurance as far as the quality of work,” Roundtree said. “I hold myself to a high quality of cleanliness.” And then she has a bit more freedom when helping clients. “I’m more flexible,” Roundtree said. “Often when you get a larger, corporate chain, you have those stipulations you can’t just go against. My motto is, ‘Lead with the heart.’” Pollard offers her clients options on how to work with her. The majority select a fee-based approach, while some select her commissionbased payment structure, which is a larger,

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be just something that happens. We’re all here to pay bills. It’s not always easy, because I’m a start-up business, but I really feel at the end, that if you take care of people, they’re going to take care of you and do a better job. When you have good people to work for you, it’s more of an asset than an expense. Sometimes it comes with sacrifices, sometimes out of my own pocket. But, when you look at the bigger picture, it pays for itself. It has.” Pollard also takes the time to make sure expectations are understood and goals have been set. “One of the top things I feel like is a misconception in our field is that I’m a stockbroker,” Pollard said. “That my value only comes in taking investments, and it’s not. We’re building a strategy and emotionally staying on track for your long-term goals. I’m not here to just get someone a specific type of return, but to manage expectation and the reality of the market to reach goals without taking too much undue risk.” As for what that means for the layman, Pollard compares it to trying to get help when sick. “That time when you’re really sick and you go into the doctor’s office and they actually take the time to listen to you, compared to going into the doctor’s office and they just dismiss you and don’t ask questions,” Pollard shared. “That’s the difference in an advisor who wants a relationship and one who just wants money. Sit down, ask questions and figure out what’s actually important to you—That’s what I do.”

"Sit down, ask questions and figure out what’s actually important to you."

one-time payment if the investments don’t require much trading. “For me, our value comes from the relationship and knowing their goals and understanding how that affects long-term care, taxes, estate and being able to look at the whole picture in our partnership, which is our relationship,” Pollard explained. “I want clients to see the value in working with an advisor who is going to help them through the tough times.” The focus is on relationships. Roundtree learns her clients’ first and last names and listens to their stories as part of her customer service priorities. “I really try to make a difference, not just as a business, but as a ministry,” Roundtree said. Roundtree extends the same effort to those she hires, paying fair wages. “It shouldn’t be something you negotiate,” she said. “It should

Me & McGee Market

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Sometimes the options are overwhelming when it comes to needing some help, and it’s just easier to go with the first option that pops up in a search. But asking a few questions to learn a business’s story along with its cost can open up a long-term relationship based on trust. Teneicia Roundtree, of Treehouse Cleaning, LLC, started her business officially in January of 2018. As the single mother of four, she was struggling to find a job in corporate retail management while taking care of her children. Her mother suggested that she try cleaning. “Corporate doesn’t always understand that if you have four kids and one gets sick, you might be out for a while,” she said. “I decided to start the cleaning business.” Roundtree started with residential cleaning then added commercial cleaning in May, serving central Arkansas. She also works with realtors for closing or showing. “I’ll be there during picture day,” Roundtree said. “I take care of any last-minute smudges to make the home look immaculate and make sure the pictures come out perfect.” April Pollard, a financial advisor with Edward Jones, started her financial experience in high school. “I started trading stock in high school,” she shared. “Then I started learning financial planning in college.” Now, along with her business marketing degree, Pollard has eight years of experience in savings, education planning, estate planning

And there’s the freedom to support the community. Along with her outreach and support to both clients and employees, Roundtree already has her eye on helping others build their own business. “One of my largest goals is to have a franchise,” Roundtree said. “I know the struggle of looking for work, taking care of family, paying bills, and just living life as a human. Yes, become a franchise, but also have a mentoring program to help them to learn how to start a business, how to be successful, how to be profitable and have a low start-up cost. I want to set them up for success without the thousands and thousands of dollars typically needed to start a franchise.” Her hard work is paying off. Roundtree has been awarded the Outstanding Minority Business of the Year through the Conway Chamber of Commerce and nominated for several other awards. Now, she wants to give those struggling that little boost. “For those who are trying hard, but may have a troubled past that's getting in the way, I got you,” Roundtree said. “Single parents, I understand there's often a choice between time and money. You can have both. I got you. I don’t want to just compete with larger chains, but actually make a difference that people can see and hopefully inspire them to do the same.” Edward Jones provides the structure without the control, leaving Pollard to choose how she spends marketing dollars and supports her community. “Because I am local and I can run my practice the way I need to, I am able to partner in the community with other businesses,” Pollard explained. “Some of the money goes back to Edward Jones, but most of the marketing comes from me and my pocket. I have a lot of freedom to choose who we work with in marketing, outreach and community involvement from a business perspective.” Reach April Pollard: 501-907-5747 April also runs a networking group for professional women called Women Influencers. Find the group on Facebook to join for encouragement, professional opportunities, and networking. Reach Teneicia Roundtree: 501-859-4188 cleanmytreehouse@gmail.com

FOUNDATION FOOTWEAR FRENCH CONNECTION CULTURE EXCLUSIVES ROWDY GENTLEMEN CRYSP DENIM VITALY AG JEANS RVCA HIPPYTREE BRIXTON BARNEY COOLS EMBELLISH DENIM HUDSON DENIM ZANEROBE

PROVISIONS FOR THE CULTURED GENTLEMAN

11220 N. RODNEY PARHAM RD. SUITE 3 LITTLE ROCK 72212

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Donny L. Quick, D.D.S. John P. Batson, D.D.S.

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2425 Prince St., Ste. 2 Conway, AR 501-329-3223 | 1212 W. 2nd St. Russellville, AR 479-567-5152 13

Attention members & guests

Open daily at 3pm

Live Music, Billiards, Food, & Fun on Tap. Open Daily 11am-2am

3rd 9th

NOVEMBER Big Shane Thornton DeFrance

10th Dirty Lindsey 16th HWY 124 17th Jeff Coleman and the Feeders 23rd Luke Williams Band 24th Lypstick Hand Grenade 30th Modern Vintage

1st 7th

DECEMBER Six Ways from Sunday Akeem Kemp

8th Sloppy Kiss 14th DeFrance 15th HWY 124 21st The Muddlestuds 22nd The Resistance 28th Fanstar 29th Lypstick Hand Grenade

Home of the 1/2 lb Midtown Burger!

1611 EAST OAK ST. Conway , AR 72032

A Counter Culture Shop

Live music Fri. & Sat. nights

NOVEMBER

3rd

FreeVerse

9th

Aaron Kamm & the One Drops

10th Paul Collins’ Beat

16th Dazz & Brie w/ Zigtebra 17th AhhFugYeahs 18th Dance Monkey Dance 23rd Weakness for Blondes 24th Chucky Waggs and the Company of Raggs

30th Groovement

DECEMBER

1st 8th

Deltaphonics Toys for Tots Xmas party with CosmOcean

14th The Busty Petits 15th Deep Sequence 21st Good Foot 31st New Year’s Eve Party

w/ Opal Agafia & the Sweet Nothings

Sunday Brunch 12-3pm! TCSMIDTOWN.COM

PARTHENON

full schedule & food menu: www.fourquarterbar.com

415 Main St. N. Little Rock, AR

(501) 565-5000 Hookahs•Shisha•Papers•Supplements•Games Detox Products•Tapestries•Flags•Candles Incense•Hand pipes•Gift Items•Vaporizers Open 7 days a week! Mon. - Sat. 10 - 7 - Sun. 1pm - 6pm

CHECK OUT THE NEW LOCATION: 8000 Hwy 107 Ste 4 • Sherwood, AR

The Magick Cottage

•Incense sticks •Resin Incense •Florida Water •Herbs •Pendulums •Stones •Jewelry •Soaps •Washes •7 Day Candles •Incense Burners •Fairy statues •Cauldrons •Crystal Balls •Books •Salt Lamps •Leather Journals

Mon. - Sat. 10:30am - 6pm

6221 Colonel Glenn Rd. • Little Rock, AR

(501) 916-9622

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{Favorite

Featured High Flying Beer - Adam Cherepski

Most people in the area are familiar with Flyway, but maybe not everyone knows what has been going on recently and what is coming down the pike. Recently, Flyway was given some nationwide publicity, in that they were featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. You might wonder why a brewery would be featured on a cooking show, but once you see the tasting room menu, the mystery will be solved. The first item on the menu is McMullen’s pride and joy—pretzels. He has been crafting soft pretzels for years, presenting different recipes to family and friends, and even once mentioning (possibly in jest) that his pretzels would be featured on Food Network

TUNE IN: one day, and here they are. Items such as Duck Confit Nachos, Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles and Gina’s Gumbo Cheese Fries will provide the dreaded “what do I order?” quandary. Bring friends and share. And, of course, new items are coming. Flyway’s beer is some of the finest in the state, and it, too, is receiving the attention it deserves. Collaborations are being requested of them regularly. This is a prime example of knowing you are noticed and appreciated. Rich-N-Tone, one of the most recognized manufacturers of duck calls, has worked with Flyway to develop Flying Duck Amber Ale, which they deem as the perfect beer for the duck blind. It will be available at the brewery starting Nov. 2. Another partnership recently forged is with Bulleit Bourbon. This cooperative effort is giving us barrel-aged Free Range Brown Ale, appropriately named Bulleit Range, a unique brew that pairs nicely with Bulleit products. Speaking of barrel aging, Flyway is currently expanding its facility to house a new dedicated space for such projects. Wine and bourbon barrels will be used to produce a new large bottle format coming next spring. Canning has become a necessity for most craft breweries. Granted, not much is better than a great draft beer, but sometimes, convenience is a factor as well. Bluewing and Free Range have been available in cans for quite some time, but thanks to mobile canning operations, more of Flyway’s lineup will be made available. Early Bird IPA and Honeybird Blond Ale are the most recent additions to the canned cast, with more on the way. Low Flock IPA, along with seasonal offerings, is on the canning horizon. Flyway is also planning many fun events to showcase their beers. Keep the Glass nights can be enjoyed at various watering holes across the state, and beer dinners, featuring food and beer pairings, will be taking place at the brewery tasting room. There are more than 35 craft breweries in Arkansas, and each one is unique. See what others are noticing—the draw of Flyway Brewing. Flyway is located at 314 Maple Street in downtown North Little Rock. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and at flywaybrewing.com.

KABF 88.3 FM Mondays 5-7pm Catch a glimpse into the realities of homelessness for the thousands of Arkansans living unsheltered. Catch past episodes on: unshelteredarkansas.com

EPIZOOTICS OF THE BLOWHOLE

PODCAST

In 2011, Arkansas laid claim to six craft breweries across the state—just six. Currently, there are more than 35, and more are regularly being added. I recently sat down with Jess McMullen, who, along with Matt Foster, founded Flyway Brewing Company in 2015. McMullen and Foster were college friends who had a crazy idea one night to open a brewery. It was one of those random conversations that most guys have and never follow through on, but these guys did. The morning after this conversation, they made sure that the other was serious about the idea. They were, and they continue to be. Flyway is a 10-barrel microbrewery in the Argenta District of North Little Rock. At any given time, they have approximately 12 different beers on tap. The list is ale-heavy, but there is definitely something for every beer lover, and maybe even just beer likers. From the immensely popular Bluewing Berry Wheat (the highest-selling beer at Dickey-Stephens Park this season) to the Ninekiller Imperial IPA, all preferences are met with great variety.

When you're out with your friends you tend to think that the conversation is funny enough to share with others. Ours truly is so we took the initiative to share it with you.

Podcast episodes available on: www.epizooticsoftheblowhole.com

Christma D

MERRY CHRISTMAS

PPY NEW

CHRIST Y R

S MA

366 Central Ave Hot Springs 501.52507627 www.bathhousesoap.com

MER

Handcrafted soap & bath luxuries made on Historic Bathhouse Row.

Every piece of Bang-Up Betty jewelry is stamped letter by letter, assembled and polished by hand in Little Rock. www.bangupbetty.com

PY H LIDA O

GIFT GUIDE

P LOCA

Quirky gift shop and place to play in a really old building located in the Historic Stifft Station District. 3009 W. Markham St. Little Rock, AR (501) 725-0209 www.stifftstationgifts.com

MERRY

MERRY Gourmet popcorn store with nostalgic candies, sodas and more!

4812 JFK Blvd. North Little Rock, AR (501) 246-3547

ON THE C OV E R

HAPPY NEW YEAR Boutique clothing, local made crafts, gifts, and more. 621 W. Main St. Cabot 501.422.0811 www.thehumblethread.com

Quality products, apparel, accessories, home dÃ©cor, cleaning and personal care products, seasonal gifts, foods and hand crafted creations by local artisans. The tea bar is also now open! 1423 Main St. Little Rock, AR 72202 (501) 374-1111 www.thegreencornerstore.com

LET US

HELP YOU BUILD YOUR

Merry CHRISTMAS AN

BRAND

PPY NE W

MERRY

501.554.1126

wokocreative@gmail.com 17

such as our recent filming with P. Allen Smith Associates. The recently filmed segment with P. Allen Smith has Debbie McGee cooking one of our family favorites, Fall Succotash, in Smith’s Moss Mountain summer kitchen. Also included in the episode is restaurateur Scott McGehee, Rattles Garden - Organic Vegetable Producer, and longstanding Barnhill Orchard. Keep an eye on

- Logan Duvall

Happy Holidays

Me & McGee Market, a family owned and operated outlet for local products, strives to provide an enjoyable and pleasing environment for our customers and vendors alike. Creating a that welcoming, positive experience is the core of Me & McGee. The ever changing setting not only showcases produce, artisan crafts, and homemade specialties, but also provides venues for events such as Dempsey’s Whole Hog Dinner by renowned barbecue chef Ken Dempsey.

FROM THE

Bringing people together and building new and strong relationships is something we take great pride in doing. The relaxing environment with campfires, live music and great company not only supports a Farm-to-Table style meal, but has allowed for wonderful opportunities

Opening Day 4.11.19 18

our Facebook page for time and exact date for the November airing! The Me & McGee endeavor was actually unintentionally started with pecans. Debbie wanting to make some extra money in retirement decided to utilize the 9 large pecans trees on the property. During the holiday season we still stay true to our roots of gathering and selling cracked and shelled pecans and a variety of delicious homemade pecan made products. If you’re looking for Arkansas gifts such as jams, toffee, brittle, then please take a moment to stop by and say hi – you’re always welcome! Thank you for the continued support. To all of those who support the Me & McGee family, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. To stay up to date, follow our Facebook page.

Me & McGee Market 10409 Highway 70 NLR, Arkansas 72117

Searcy Spotlight

A very merry Moonlite Market

november 10

december 15

Benton Saline County Fairgrounds

Conway Expo Center

70+ vendors

pictures with santa

1100 sq ft inflatable laser tag

w w w. mo o nlite marke t.com

food trucks

Brandon and Kari Fox opened Burrito Day in 2015. Burrito Day is a fast casual Baja style burrito restaurant in downtown Searcy. "We make our food in house from locally sourced ingredients. We are strong advocates for supporting local and do so through our produce, grass fed ground beef, and Organic Coffee. Five, Acre Farms, Wholly Cow Farm, Rozark Coffee and our own Searcy Farmer's market are some of our local providers." You can expect a delicious breakfast and savory lunch Tues-Sat and dinner during the weekend as well. Be sure to try the house-made cinnamon rolls that are made fresh daily. Burrito Day also just purchased a tricycle to sell their handcrafted popsicles. The restaurant has recently been expanded and remodeled. Stay tuned for the hopeful next expansion... Rooftop seating!

501-379-9101 515 MAIN ST. N. LITTLE ROCK Mon-Sat: 7AM-6PM MUGSCAFE.ORG Benjamin's is a place where you can get a stylish cut or color while having meaningful conversation. We strive to stay current with the latest trends as well as perfecting the classics. Our goal is to take care of you and provide you with the knowledge needed for continued growth. I have been a hairstylist for the past 14 yrs. I am intent on growing myself and the environment around me. I believe in the power of a great cut and meaningful conversation. 19

November

71st Annual Ozark Folk Festival Nov. 7-10

Celebrate America’s longest continuously running annual folk festival in America! With the Barefoot Ball, free music in Basin Spring Park, Hedgehoppers, the headline concert in The Aud with Funky Feat and of course, great folk music and dance!

Voted

BESTst!

a Breakf

Open 7 days a week

8am - 2:30pm for breakfast & lunch!

11220 N Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock, AR • (501) 225-6893

Location: Eureka Springs, AR

Annual Holiday House Nov. 8 - 10 Holiday House, presented by the Junior League of Little Rock, is the largest holiday shopping event in central Arkansas and hosts nearly 200 merchants and more than 14,000 shoppers each year. Location: Statehouse Convention Center

Paws with Santa Claus Nov. 17 - 18 Tis the season for Paws with Santa Claus— CARE’s annual pet photos with Santa event. A $20 donation to CARE gets you a professional 5x7 print, and holiday card packages are also available. For more information, please contact CARE by calling (501) 603-2273.

At 20 years old, vaping was the only thing that helped me end a 7 year smoking habit before it could do any more damage.

Location: Cammack Village City Hall

40th Annual Christmas Showcase Nov. 30 - Dec. 2 The Arkansas Craft Guild celebrates 40 years of bringing it’s annual Christmas Showcase of fine art and crafts to Little Rock just in time for your holiday shopping. Find one-of-a-kind handcrafted items for the special people on your Christmas shopping list. Come and visit us at our new location.

NOW OPEN in El Dorado & Heber Springs!

Location: Arkansas State Fairgrounds

22nd Annual Enchanted Land of Lights Nov. 20 - Dec. 31 Recognized as the state's largest drive-through display of holiday lights, the 1.2 mile display will continue nightly from 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. until December 31. Location: Jefferson County Regional Park

168 S Broadview Greenbrier, AR 501-358-6485

1435 S. Pine Cabot, AR 501-286-6068

913 Malvern Ave. Hot Springs, AR 501-701-4134

www.dripper svapeshop.com 20

Roxor in the Rock - Adam Cherepski

any different alcoholic beverages, or spirits, tend to have a polarizing effect on the drinker. For instance, if you’ve ever had an unpleasant experience with a particular liquor, you tend to avoid it at all costs. On the contrary, when you have a positive encounter, you are drawn to more varieties of the same. ROXOR Gin will lead you to the latter.

Friends Don Short and Robert Del Grande started ROXOR in 2016 in Dallas, Texas. While only two people were involved in the inception, they make for a strong team. Short spent more than 30 years in the beverage industry working at the executive level for Coca-Cola. He served as CEO all throughout the world, namely India, Africa, the Middle East and other areas. During this time, he learned quite a bit about the beverage industry and different cultures—a knowledgebase that obviously holds great value in this current venture. He oversees the marketing and strategy for the company and came up with the name and the design of the bottle as well. Del Grande’s background couldn’t be any more perfect for his role at ROXOR. As a James Beard award-winning chef, he understands flavor profiles and ingredients better than most, and he put these skills to great use when developing the recipe for ROXOR. He also holds a PhD in biochemistry, thus providing the advantage of formulating the perfect combinations for a balanced, approachable and flavorful gin. Short’s early contributions can be seen at the outset. Both the name and the bottle design he created speak to strength and balance—in direct relation to the gin itself. He knew that he wanted the name to convey these sentiments,

and what better way to illustrate this balance than with a palindrome? This palindrome, however, has another hidden message. While it shows balance, it takes it a step further by stating that the gin’s flavors can be enjoyed on the ROX, shaken OR stirred. If you were to Google the word ROXOR, you will find that Urban Dictionary defines it as a euphoric state, which is an appropriate, yet unintended, descriptor of the product. The bottle is, to say the least, distinct in structure. It is probably not a coincidence that Short’s time at Coca-Cola influenced his appreciation for bottle design. When you see the ROXOR bottle, even if the name were absent, you would know exactly what it is. As for the recipe, this makes ROXOR even more unique. Curated by Del Grande utilizing his past experience in both applicable fields, it contains ingredients that would not normally come to mind when one thinks of gin. Most people know that juniper is a necessity when it comes to crafting gin, and it is this flavor that presents often polarizing opinions. For all intents and purposes, gins can contain a multitude of ingredients as long as juniper is present. Since this is such a “controversial” ingredient for taste buds, Del Grande placed it somewhere other than at the forefront, as most gins do. It is this strategy that makes ROXOR as approachable and workable as it is. There are still gentle notes of juniper, but it is not overpowering. Instead, other flavors can be discerned with ROXOR; ingredients such as hibiscus, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, pecans, coriander, grains of paradise and sarsaparilla root provide the unique poise that is lacking in other gins. While most gin recipes call for the use of dried citrus peels, Del Grande decided to utilize fresh, organic peels from grapefruit and limes, giving a smoother taste, all while maintaining an alcohol content of 90 proof. It is this flavor profile that serves as a bridge between vodka and gin. Gin drinkers will enjoy

the familiar elements, and non-gin drinkers will appreciate the efforts made for them as well. In this vein, they want to appeal to a broader audience while exceeding the expectations of all within that audience. It is truly a gin that can be sipped straight or in your favorite cocktail. Recently, there has been a resurgence of the craft cocktail in bars everywhere. Finely-crafted drinks centered around classic recipes are the norm at most social gatherings. Vodka, whiskey and bourbons are without a doubt some of the most popular ingredients, with the unique taste of gin relegated to just a few offerings on drink lists. ROXOR challenges this notion with its workability for bartenders and mixologists. The aforementioned balance encourages its inclusion in the cocktail scene. You might be wondering why this Texasbased product is being featured in a magazine geared to our great state of Arkansas. It is because ROXOR was recently made available here, and it has strong ties to one Arkansan in particular: Herrin Hickingbotham. Short and Hickingbotham have been great friends for more than 30 years. It is this friendship that has evolved into a business partnership regarding ROXOR. Hickingbotham’s business acumen and notoriety in Arkansas made our state the logical choice for expanding the ROXOR brand. Due to this expansion, you can find ROXOR in almost every liquor store across the state. You will more than likely find it sitting behind every bar as well. Many restaurants in central Arkansas have featured drinks on their menus that contain ROXOR gin as the primary ingredient. If you are a gin drinker, or even if you are not, give ROXOR a try. You will be surprised, pleasantly. To learn more about ROXOR, you can find them on Facebook (@ROXORgin) and at newartisanspirits.com, or better yet, just ask for it the next time you are out at your local liquor store or favorite restaurant or bar. 21

The Mike in Mike's Place - Richard Ledbetter Arkansas is geographically compact enough to consider almost any corner of the state local. However, in regards to Central Arkansas, local includes Little Rock, North Little Rock, Maumelle, Jacksonville and Conway. Just twenty-five miles west up I-30, Conway has grown exponentially from its proximity to the Capital city. Along for that exciting ride is Mike Coats, who has served as a prime mover in restoring historic downtown Conway to former glory days.

Coats had his first food service job at age 14 in Gonzales, Louisiana. An entrepreneur early in life, Coats convinced his boss, Roy Marchan, to stay open after 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. and split the profits with his young manager. When Coats graduated from Fordyce High School in 1970, he sought his future in the hospitality industry. He forged a career first with General Mills, then TGI Fridays and spent nine years with Red Lobster in North Little Rock. He eventually opened and ran multiple Market Place Grills throughout Northwest Arkansas for the next eight years. He also served as President of the Arkansas Hospitality Association during that time and worked closely with legislators toward getting the Arkansas ‘Tip Law’ passed. Coats told Local, “I started Market Place in Conway in 2000. In 2004, Citizens for Progressive Conway approached me with some capital and asked if I would apply for the first private club license since 1942. I called another former Fordyce native, Mac Carder, who sat on the Executive Director of the Wholesale Beer 22

Distributors of Arkansas at that time and asked if he could help me behind the scenes. I told the Board that we wouldn’t be a honky-tonk and our staff would wear conservative uniforms. We received our license in December 2004 and opened June ‘05. “We are at 808 Front Street across from the railroad tracks. We purchased three buildings that were previously a fabric store, a mercantile and a record shop. I bought my last L.P. in that record store. We spent $1.2 million on renovations. We removed the interior walls between the separate businesses to make a 10,000-square-foot facility with two private dining rooms. We were able to salvage every brick from the interior walls, and my wife Tonya designed the walled-in, New Orleans-style patio we built with them out back.” He clarified, “I couldn’t have done any of this without her.” Coats has always been a hard worker and independent thinker. He gives much of that credit to his upbringing: “We lived in Fordyce until I was 12, when my dad Crayton moved us to South Louisiana with his work in the oil and gas industry. He had a very strong work ethic and made sure I worked all through school. My parents were always proud of me.” Coats said, “I took my first controversial stand in 1969 at the start of Louisiana Boy’s State. There were two factions, prointegration and segregation. The segregation group approached me and asked which side I was on? I asked them, ‘What’s this place called, Boy’s State, right? That’s all boys so it should include everybody.’ “I was elected Boy’s State Senator, where we went to the Capitol in Baton Rouge and held a mock legislative session. We were responsible for staging a debate on the Senate floor, so we chose to address integration. When I lived in Fordyce in grade school, my Aunt Veda Sue was a First-grade teacher there. When I helped her take the old chalk and textbooks to J.E. Wallace School for Black kids, I saw that ‘separate but equal’ was anything but. When we began our pro-integration debate, it didn’t take long until it got uncomfortable for the adults. They pulled the plug on us.” “When I was a senior, they were trying to integrate the schools in Gonzales and there was a strong element against it that set a picket-line to keep White kids from attending. Dad crossed the picket line to carry me to football practice and that got him into trouble. We came back to Fordyce where they had already integrated. Dad stayed in South Louisiana with his job

while Mom, my brother Craig and I left those troubles behind so I could still go to school and play football.” Coats only weighed 130 pounds when he started practice as a Redbug but had an acknowledged reputation as a hard-hitting halfback. He said, “When they asked me why I tried so hard, I told them because my dad drives 350 miles one way every Friday to watch me play.” One thing that makes Coats stand out in a crowd is his ‘pirate’ eye patch. He shared the story of how he came to wear it. In 1994, he and a friend took a Sunday afternoon flight in his friend’s experimental amphibious aircraft. They flew to an airport in Northwest Arkansas for fuel and made a hard surface landing with his retractable wheels down. Coming back to Coats’s home next to the Arkansas River, they attempted a water landing. The pilot had forgotten to retract his landing gear and the plane flipped when he touched down on the river. Coats freed himself from his seatbelt and jumped off the wing of the aircraft to reach his friend in the pilot seat. The wooden prop of the pusher style aircraft was still rotating, and in the confusion it caught Coats across his face, knocking him unconscious in the river. The pilot managed to reach and revive Coats, but they were still in a dangerous situation. His friend took his shirt off and stuffed it in Mike’s face to staunch the bleeding. As they bobbed in the water, he told Coats, ‘You’re dying, Mike. We’ve got to get you to a hospital.’ “We managed to hail some folks in a boat fishing in a bar-pit. They couldn’t swim and were afraid of flipping their boat trying to load us in. They said they were going for help. I told them, ‘I’m going into shock and I’ll die in this river if we don’t get to shore right now.’ That convinced them to take the chance and load us aboard. We hit a log crossing the river and sheared a pin in the outboard.” They eventually made it to a boat dock where the pilot was able to call for an ambulance. “I woke up in Ft. Smith Hospital four days after I thought I was a goner. I had seven skull fractures and went through 21 reconstructive surgeries. I thought at the time this patch would

define who I was for the rest of my life. Ten years later, we raised $2 million and opened Mike’s Place.” Asked where he came up with the name, Coats answered with a chuckle, “Not very original huh? We have well over 30,000 private club memberships and run 120,000 customers through here each year. Most of my servers start at 21 and work here on average eight to 10 years. I never have to hire more than a couple of people annually. Twelve of our 65 employees are purchasing their own homes. We are a strong backer of the Conway Hospital Association and provide full medical for all our people. “I’ve tried to surround myself with folks who have what I don’t. All my managers made at least 30 on their ACTs. You have to be smarter than me to work here. “Faulkner County has wonderful amenities for families. Conway’s population is at 60,000+ right now and will likely top 100,000 in the next decade. There wasn’t another business downtown when we opened here. Now there are more than seventy.” Asked what has most contributed to their success, Coats said, “I tell my servers I want them to bring me five new names of people they meet each day. I say, ‘With 9 servers on weekdays and a dozen on weekends, look how may new contacts you make at the end of the week. There’s nothing more important in the hospitality industry than knowing someone’s name.’ It’s an intimate relationship we have with people, knowing what they eat and getting to know their friends and family through receptions, graduations and reunions. 2018 has proved our best year yet. I feel fortunate just to be here. To stay in the restaurant business over 10 years is pretty amazing, but to grow and profit is even more so.” Asked when he expects to retire, Coats said smiling, “When you read in the paper, ‘Born November 1, 1951, he was a Gonzales Spartan and Fordyce Redbug…” For more information about Mike’s Place call (501) 269-6453 or go online to mikesplaceconway.com.

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In my experience most individuals appreciate locally owned businesses for several reasons. If you have a problem, usually you can meet face to face in order to resolve any issues. Dollars spent for products or services tend to be reinvested in your community. Local flavors and tastes may be found only in your region. It pays to invest in your community and be able to contribute to social causes. Buying & Spending local just makes good sense.

As an Arkansas transplant, I’ve grown to really love and appreciate the state and the people. One of the greatest traits of Arkansas is the desire people have to support local, homegrown endeavors, whether it be the boutiques you’ll find in small towns or the great craft breweries that are springing up across the state. Arkansans take great pride in supporting small business. It’s something that I enjoy being a part of. It’s great being part of a culture that supports the small business owner. It’s just a small way to contribute to the great communities in Arkansas.

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Maumelle to build inclusive playground and splash pad for children and adults of all abilities Maumelle, Ark. – Maumelle Play and Splash: A Park for Everyone has launched a campaign to build an all-Inclusive playground and splash pad to serve residents of the City of Maumelle and surrounding communities. Playgrounds bring children of all ages and walks of life together. They are where young children learn to play, make some of their first family memories, and have many of their first social experiences – making playgrounds significant to a child’s physical, social, and emotional development. Although the City of Maumelle has several playgrounds for children and families to enjoy, existing playgrounds only meet standard ADA guidelines and not everyone can participate. Additionally, the city does not have an inclusive play area to accommodate children and caregivers with disabilities. Maumelle Play & Splash will change that. “Our vision for Maumelle Play & Splash is to create an inclusive play space for everyone,” said Phillip Raborn, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Maumelle. “We want a play space that accommodates all children, with or without disabilities, and challenges each of them at their own developmental levels.” The completed project will include a splash pad as well as playground equipment that can accommodate children with all levels of physical abilities, including those who may be in wheelchairs. The cost of the entire project is $800,000, with fundraising efforts being led by a committee of volunteers. The City of Maumelle is asking for help from community members to make Maumelle Play & Splash a reality. The project has already gained impressive support in the form of a generous $50,000 lead gift from the Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation

of Little Rock. This donation will to go towards the construction of the swing structure that will accommodate children with all levels of physical abilities, including those who may be in wheelchairs. A crowdfunding campaign via RedBasket. org has also been launched with the goal of raising $21,000 in the next 21 days to purchase and install a perimeter fence encircling the playground. This fence will provide an extra layer of security, especially for parents who have to keep an eye on multiple children. Fences are particularly beneficial for children with autism who often have urges to run. The ornamental, four-foot-tall, wrought-aluminum fence, will have one entry point for both play spaces. Thanks to RedBasket.org, contributions will have no fees and will go directly towards funding the project. With your help, the City of Maumelle can create a space that focuses on inclusion, health, and bringing together families in Maumelle and its surrounding communities. Please help make the Maumelle Play & Splash park a reality by donating and sharing the story! Contributions of any amount are welcome. Donations can be made at www.redbasket. org/1758. Corporations and businesses that wish to make a large donation or sponsor particular park equipment may contact Phillip Raborn, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Maumelle at phillip@maumelleparksandrec. com or by calling 501-851-6990, or Becca Webb, Chair of the Maumelle Play & Splash Committee at becca.webb@lrsd.org or by calling 501-612-9638. For news and updates, follow Maumelle Play & Splash on Facebook @maumelleplayandsplash

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WANTED. - Elizabeth Silverstein

Wanted: Cuddles, Love, Swimming Pools and Hamburgers

does great with dogs her size with the right amount of time and proper introduction, but smaller, strange dogs and cats would not work for her.” Savannah is 2.5 years old and has been in boarding for months. “She’s been failed a lot,” said Thomas. “She’s been returned a few times through no fault of her own, and we know the perfect family for her is waiting out there. She’s so easygoing but will need an active family who wants to work with her on training—a job made easy through her love of food.” Savannah also comes housetrained and rides like a champ in the car. She also won’t say no to the occasional hamburger, and she’ll bring all the cuddles in exchange. “Savannah is such a sweet, gentle girl,” Thomas said. “If her forever home comes with a swimming pool, she would be ecstatic.”

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Princess Princess is the friendliest dog you’ll ever meet. Believed to be a boxer and terrier mix, Princess is a medium-sized dog who is excellent with older children and loves being around people. Princess does have her preferences: she would like a home without cats, and she doesn’t always enjoy sharing her toys. “We’ve discovered some resource guarding,” April Thomas, MFOA (Maumelle Friends of the Animals) treasurer, explained. “While Princess does love to run around and play, she can be dog selective over her toys. We’d like a family for her who understands this and can work with her on what she needs.” Princess would be ideal for an individual or a family who is willing to train her and work with her. She comes housetrained and knows some commands, like “sit,” “down,” and “touch.” She would love to continue basic obedience and trick training to keep her active mind sharp. If there’s a swimming pool around, Princess will get in it. This water dog loves to swim, run and bounce, and she’ll smile the entire time. She is 18 months old, 53 pounds, fixed, current on shots and microchipped. Princess is believed to be a boxer/terrier mix. Princess has been hanging out in boarding for a while now, and she is ready for her forever home. Savannah Savannah is believed to be a shar-pei and Labrador retriever mix. She comes in size extra large at 80 pounds, with all the love to match. Savannah is housetrained, up-to-date on her vaccinations and spayed. She’s great with other dogs her size and absolutely loves children. She would rather not live with any cats, though. “She has a high prey drive,” Thomas, explained. “She

SAVANNAH

-Both Princess and Savannah are available through Maumelle Friends of the Animals (MFOA). To meet either of these wonderful girls, fill out an online application first through maumellefoa.org. The next step is a meet and greet. For more information, email dogs@ maumellefoa.org. The $80 adoption fee includes shots, sterilization and a microchip. About Maumelle Friends of the Animals Maumelle Friends of the Animals (MFOA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of animals. Each rescue animal is properly cared for through vet visits, illness treatments, spay/neuter and heartworm preventatives. Those with special needs, whether medical or social, are placed in proper foster care. MFOA works very closely with Maumelle Animal Services to make sure all animals find homes as soon as possible and gain exposure through adoption events. Fill out applications or learn more at maumellefoa.org. Available pets are always hanging out at the NLR PetSmart every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. This article is sponsored by Hew and Weld.

December 36th Annual Christmas Tour of Homes Dec. 1 A walking tour of a sampling of Eureka’s most beautifully restored homes gives guests a glimpse of a bygone era. All stops on the self-guided tour will be lavishly decorated for the season with docents attired for the period to relate the history of each home. Visit www. eurekaspringspreservationsociety.org for details and ticket information. Location: Eureka Springs

Mon - Sat 5pm - 10pm

40th Annual Nutcracker Spectacular Dec. 7 - 9

www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com 500 President Clinton Ave. Little Rock, AR • 501-324-2999

Accompanied by the talented musicians of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Arkansas is pleased to present the 40th Annual Nutcracker Spectacular for four performances. This magical production features nearly 200 local children and adults, in addition to the professional artists of Ballet Arkansas. Location: Robinson Performance Hall

Geminid Meteor Shower Watch Dec. 14 Take time for reflection at this busy time of year. The dark night skies of Woolly Hollow are the backdrop for one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year at its peak - 90 to 120 meteors each hour. Join us on the beach for a beautiful vista as the shooting stars fly into view. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket, warm clothes and water. Location: Woolly Hollow State Park

Ugly Sweater 5K Dec. 16 Dig out that ugly holiday sweater and join the Little Rock Marathon crew in December for the Ugly Sweater Race 5K! For more information, www.littlerockmarathon.com/ugly-sweaterrace. Location: Outlets of Little Rock

4 2 5 E a s t 3 r d S t. l i t t l e r o c k , a r • 5 0 1 - 4 9 2 - 9 3 7 8

Eradicating Poverty with a Cup of Coffee - Elizabeth Silverstein

eovanni Leiva wants to bring the romance back into coffee. Twenty years ago, he arrived in Little Rock, Ark., on a private scholarship, with $20 in his pocket. Leiva was from a small, rural village in Guatemala. He was on a scholarship from Garvin and Sally Abernathy, a family from North Little Rock.

Needing to learn more English, Leiva enrolled in an intensive English language program. “I clearly remember one day, the Abernathys have to go to work,” Leiva shared. “They drop me off in front of this building and they say, ‘You go that way.’ And I’m sitting over there, on the steps because I’m early, and I happen to look up and I see an airplane go by. And I go, ‘My god, I just want to go back home. This is it. No way. I don’t want to do this.’” Leiva pushed through that moment and became fluent in English within eight months. “People are still amazed,” he said. “They’re like, ‘Oh wow, you must have been smart.’ Maybe. But you know what I did? I studied from 8 a.m. to about 2 a.m., 24 hours a day, it felt like, seven days a week. I applied myself.” But he missed Guatemala and his family’s farm, where they grew coffee in their backyard. “It is the number one exporter of coffee to the United States, because of its proximity and its fineness of coffee,” Leiva said. “The other thing about it is coffee on the east coast and the west coast and the central location, they all taste completely different. They all have really different characteristics, and the beautiful part about coffee is [that] coffee is a very complicated food element because there are so many traces 30

of flavors that can come to it.” And there’s a lot of work that goes into a cup of coffee. “It is this beautiful, elegant drink that you can really enjoy and get pieces of each of the origins that produce it, and at the same time, engage with the farmers who put so much labor,” Leiva said. “It is a labor-intensive crop. It is unbelievable how much care goes throughout the year, how much care goes through while picking it, and how much care it takes to craft, roast, pour and extract a cup of coffee. One of my goals and one of our goals as a company is to really start bringing the romance back into coffee. To really start getting people to engage back with the craftsmanship of it.” But Guatemala is also an underdeveloped third-world country, Leiva explained. “Where my farm is, back when I came to the United States in 1997, it was literally stuck in the 1800s America,” he shared. “And what I mean by that, there were no roads. We could not drive to our house. We didn’t have electricity. We didn’t have running water. It’s literally, it’s this bunch of little houses in the middle of no-fricking-where, and that was our farm. That’s how Guatemala is. And that’s how a bunch of other countries around the world are. What people don’t get is that the coffee is picked by individual little families. That their livelihood is based on the fact that they can sell whatever they could grow in the backyard. This backyard could be 12-by-12 feet, it could be an acre, two acres, three acres. But they depend on this. And if they don’t sell that, then somebody has to go search for that. And those are called coyotes. They come up there and purchase coffee from these rural places, aggregate to a bigger pile and bigger pile and that gets imported into the United States and that gets brokerage and all that. This is the way we did it. And that’s just what you do. You wake up and you go, ‘Let’s just go pick coffee.’” Leiva earned his associate’s degree from the UA-Pulaski Tech, determined to return to Guatemala and start a business that combined his love of technology and faith. However, during his last semester in college,

he met his wife, Alana, and his plans changed. He graduated with a job offer, became a computer programmer and, for the next 14 years, he lived the American dream. He and Alana had two children, Elijah and Ethan, and they visited Guatemala once a year. But he still missed his family and his village, and then, after a visit five years ago, while flying back to Arkansas, he came up with an idea. “What if ?” Leiva shared. “And it started with that. Why if ? why not? Why do I not bring their coffee; they grow coffee already. That’s what they’ve been doing for 60-plus years, ever since I’ve known them. What if I can get their coffee in the hands of my friends and family in the states? And then all of a sudden, I bridge the two, and while bridging the two, we break poverty? I was like, that’s it.” Leiva shipped over 50 one-pound bags of green coffee beans and taught himself how to roast them. It was the first time, in four generations and more than 60 years, that a Leiva roasted the coffee beans from their farm. “We just sold it on the regular market. We just sold it raw, and we never saw it after that,” Leiva explained.

Leiva continued his full-time job, coming home to help his wife with the kids, spend time with her and then work from 9 p.m. until 3 or 4 a.m. in the morning. For about six months, Leiva maintained the grueling schedule. There was some fear about leaving his programming work. “You’re asking me to give it all up for a dream?” Leiva said. “For a ‘What if ?’” He quit his programming job, and it took time to build Leiva’s Coffee. The first year brought in a fraction of the salary he’d earned as

a programmer, but he held onto his dream, and now, the company will be six years old in 2019. “I want to be in every home in America,” Leiva said. “I want every home in America to taste my coffee. Bill Gates once said he wanted every home in America to have a computer. And back when he said that, everybody was like, ‘Yeah, right.’ Well, look at us today. I’ve gone that bold. I want every home in America to enjoy a fine cup of coffee. That’s my goal number one.” And he’s well on his way. He started by finding other people who believed in his mission. “It has been locking arms with like-minded people,” Leiva explained. “And that takes one at a time. That takes a Nexus. That takes a Capital Hotel. That takes all the individuals that come to our website and buy coffee. And that’s why we didn’t start with a brick-and-mortar place, because I didn’t want to be this flashy new guy. I wanted to be this person who was focused on the basics and who had a solid foundation, and the foundation is to have a solid mission, that is poverty eradication.” Leiva has found immigration issues and poverty to be closely connected and wants Leiva’s Coffee to model a way to help other families. “It makes total sense why the immigration problem is the way it is, and I hate to be political in a way, but I really have a great point here,” Leiva said. “That is the reason why

our way of doing things will fix the immigration problem. Because if I was in their position, if I was in my dad’s position, to have to feed my family, if I had to find a way, I would do exactly the same thing. But if I had a way to stay with my family, to stay with my kids, and at the same time, provide for them, and provide significance for myself, and provide work and do something that I love, why would I not stay back home? In order for us to fix it, we have to empower all these micro-communities and micro-financing, so these places, so these industries can get the benefits that they can get by trading with us. If you do this, and you start empowering these micro-communities and micro-economies, then that’s how you fix families and that’s how you fix immigration at its roots. And that’s how you fix poverty at its roots. Poverty can only be fixed if you capitalize and educate. But if you capitalize and not educate, then you create problems. If you educate without capitalizing, you educate and you give them all this hope… But then you don’t give them a way to do it. But if you do them at the same time, if you do it one by one, then that’s how you eradicate poverty. I’m an example of that. I’m a living example that if you capitalize and you educate, you break people from poverty, and because of that, my two boys today have no traces of poverty in their lives because that was in place in my life. … And that

is what I hope to do in the entire coffee industry and throughout the entire world.” Want more of Leiva’s Coffee? Subscriptions are available at www. leivascoffee.com. Find the company on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter under @ LeivasCoffee. Read the full story and listen to Leiva’s podcast episode at hewandweld.com/ news.

Want more stories like this? Sustaining Craft is a weekly podcast hosted by Elizabeth Silverstein. She interviews those in a creative field or business, sharing their struggles, triumphs and advice for others. Companion articles accompany each episode and are published at hewandweld.com. Episodes can be found on iTunes, Spotify or at sustainingcraft. fireside.fm. Reach Elizabeth at hello@ hewandweld.com.

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