hot springs
KICK FLIPS OF JOY PG 21
APRIL 2014
SUSTAINABLe LANDSCAPES pg 18 CHURCHILL’S CIGARS PG 27 Turning the hands of time pg 31 GROWING MORE THAN VEGETABLES PG 32
LIVE VENUE LISTING PG 10 HSHotSpots.com #hshotspots
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hot springs
Tu-Sat 7:30am - 5pm
GIO’S PAW SPA 501-762-4010
Grand Opening April 1st Next to Cafe 1217
1217 Malvern Ave. Suite C Hot Springs, AR 71901
? t i F s s o r C s i t a h W
250 Park Avenue • Downtown Hot Springs
Specializing in healthy, natural and organic foods, Local meats, local cheese, local produce and local baked goods. Extensive Low Carb and Gluten-free menu. Home of the “Avocado Special” and the 100% Homemade Veggie, Turkey and Bison Burgers A menu based on fresh produce and fresh ingredients! Call ahead & To Go: 501-321-4977 Plenty of parking • 8 am to 8 pm • 7 Days a week
l m ov em ents va rie d fu nc tio na ly nt ta ns co es or at es Cros sF it us it y an d in co rp ns te in gh hi ty le , pe rf or m ed at y, nu tr it io n, lif es it un m m co s, es ot he r tr ai ni ng el em en ts of fi tn t it ap ar t fr om se at th n fu d ra m m in g sp or t an , ac ce ss ib le pr og le ab al sc s it h it e ke y m et ho ds . W ov em en ts th at ar m al on ti nc fu at io n fo r an y th at fo cu se s on e pe rf ec t ap pl ic th is it e, lif ay to ev er yd du al ag e 6- 86 . co m m it te d in di vi ge Road 172 Stana 477 (501) 627-4 a c it y .c o m c r o s s fi ts p #hshotspots
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
HOT SPRINGS HOT SPOTS EDITOR Jim G. Miller The madness of March weather has passed, and a fruitful April is upon us. Trees are in full bloom and camera shutters are aflutter, capturing the beauty of spring. Although the dust has settled from the yellow bricks of the fallen Majestic Hotel, the flames have sparked topics of renewal and growth throughout small historic towns like Hot Springs.
From the Low Key Arts building on Arbor Street that faces the once standing facade of the Majestic, you can now see the campus of Arkansas School Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, Whittington Avenue -- and the sunset. Though the downtown landscape lost a historic monument, there is a silver lining. More people are looking around and admiring the unique real estate that is in their midsts. As a native, it’s hard not to look into an abandoned theatre or hotel lobby and imagine it erupting with life. It’s easy for anyone with a little imagination to see the promise of this once thriving Southern metropolis. It is the potential and creativity that still remains within the beating heart of this magical city of vapors that Hot Springs Hot Spots underscores within each issue. Although the new format is square, the content you will find within its pages is not. HSHS provides insight into the works of premier artists and musicians and guides you to the venues in which to experience them. It also focuses on real stories about independent small businesses and individuals that make Hot Springs stand out. Broadening its perspective, HSHS now will profile nonprofits and other organizations in each issue. With Earth Day as well as the peak of the spring season approaching, this issue provides information about various new undertakings of community gardeners and organizers. A very small and dedicated staff of individuals creates HSHS each month, and without the help of other contributing writers, photographers and editors, it would not be possible. I would like to give a special thanks to Marisa Rodgers and Wheeler Printing Company, both of whose assistance has made the reemergence of HSHS possible. Under new ownership the possibilities for this magazine are limitless. Above all, without our invested interest in this city and our love for its people and potential, this publication would not exist. We hope to share this passion with you.
CREATIVE/ART Marisa Rodgers PHOTOGRAPHY Jeremy Rodgers Chris Sale CONTRIBUTORS Starshe Hoku O Kalani Carl Miller COPY EDITORS Ciara Cerrato Cathy Hicks SALES Kari Bars For advertising opportunities: karibars@rendercreativegroup.com or call 501-620-4520 For editorial queries: Please write to: Hot Springs Hot Spots 801 Central Avenue, Suite 30 Hot Springs, AR 71901 or email info@hshotspots.com BE SOCIAL WITH US LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/HSHotSpots FOLLOW US ON TWITTER twitter.com/HSHotSpots
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hot springs
EAT S NAPOLETANA STYLE
6
Deluca’s Pizza
MUS I C
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SALT & PEPPER SOUNDS Tony Nardi and Eddie Mobley
ART S ANIMALS & LANDSCAPES
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JOHN WESLEY WILLIAMS
G IVI NG FRIENDS OF THE PARK
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NATIONAL PARK CULTURAL CENTER
WO RT H T HE D R I V E TURPENTINE CREEK
34
Eureka Springs
D O N’T M I S S LIVE SHOW LISTING F EATURED SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES
18 22 KICK FLIPS OF JOY WITH JULIE WILLIAMS
VALLEY STREET SKATE PARK
MORE THAN 25 CHURCHILL’S CIGARS 32 GROWING VEGETABLES 29 HANDS OF TIME BECOME A CIGAR AFICIANaDO BROTHERS WATCH SHOP
PARK HAVEN COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT
10 13 ALBUM REVIEWS 16 RESTAURANT LISTINGS 35 CALENDAR OF EVENTS APRIL
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Napoletana Style
EATS
Deluca’s Punches Up Park Avenue District With Traditional Italian fare
Photography by Jeremy Rodgers
Story by Jim G. Miller
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Walking in the door, you might hear Ol’ Blue Eyes playing or maybe some classic rock-n-roll. The casual and eclectic dining area is dimly lit and there are pictures of beautiful ladies adorning the walls. In the kitchen, you will find a fun-loving Italian man from Brooklyn covered in flour and grinning from ear to ear. This is Anthony Valinoti, proprietor of Deluca’s Pizzeria Napoletana. The location is not hard to miss, as there is a giant New York subway sign on the side of the building at 407 Park Avenue that designates the stop for truly authentic pizza. Always jubilant with a spark in his eyes and a passion for sculpting the perfect pizza, Anthony has set up shop in this once vacant space on the corner of Park Avenue. Donning his grandfather’s last name, Deluca’s Pizzeria has quickly become an affectionate hangout for the community of Hot Springs. A veritable Italian soul food kitchen, Deluca’s is a stirring hub for local Hot Springs residents to share traditional Italian pie.
The term “Napoletana” refers to a style of pizza that follows an Italian tradition handed down from chefs in Naples, Italy. This style of pizza uses ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and extra virgin olive oil but for true Napoletana pizza, it’s all about the dough. True Napoletana pizza uses wheat flour and brewers yeast and is kneaded by hand. Anthony studied in Naples and trained with master chefs who disciplined him in the art of making fine, hand crafted pizza. “They were mean and they’d beat me with a wooden spoon if I messed up,” laughs Anthony, reminiscing about his training. The one thing in which he truly excelled while in Naples was the method behind building the dough by hand, and it is evident upon the first bite that he has perfected the science. The crust is light, airy and fragrant so after devouring one of his specialty pizzas you feel perfectly satisfied and content. Knowing that ingredients mean everything Anthony uses the best quality flour, hand-crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, shitake mushrooms, Italian imported
cheeses, meats and a slew of other ingredients to form and cultivate new specialty pizzas every week. Deluca’s also has a great beer and wine selection if you prefer some Chianti with your meal. You can also drop in for a cannoli or other Italian desserts and a shot of espresso. Deluca’s is a great meeting place for good food and good company. The entire city has certainly discovered that there is something special about this pizza that you won’t get anywhere else in Arkansas, much less in Hot Springs. Making pizza was something that Anthony decided to take on later in his life and he never regrets a minute of it. He sets the bar higher every day that he fires up his brick oven. The community has wrapped their arms around him and welcomed his craft not only because of his ability to create delicious pizza but also because of his gusto and character. Upon walking in you are considered family and Anthony will make it a point to come by to say hello and give you a handshake and a floury pat on the shoulder. Just a little something for you to remember him by.
700 CENTRAL AVE., HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK 501.321.0909
hot springs
DO NOT MISS
MAXINE’S is THE place in Hot Springs for Live Entertainment. Catch a Touring Band or Your Local Favorite EVERY THURSDAY through SATURDAY
TUES
Taco Tuesday taco, tequila, margarita specials
WED
Poetry/Ca$h Karaoke
THURS
Ladies Night/Live Music
FRI & SAT
LIVE MUSIC See Who’s Playing maxineslive.com
PIZZA TACOS
BURGERS CRAFTS
DRAFTS DRINKS
FRIDAY APRIL 11 - MOTHWIND/TERMINUS/JAB JAB SUCKERPUNCH FRIDAY APRIL 18 - 12 TONE ELEVATOR/CAPTAIN NOWHERE/DUCKSTRONAUT SATURDAY APRIL 26 - HIGH MAGIC/HEALER/GRIM CREEPER
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SALT & PEPPER SOUNDS
MUSIC
Photography by Chris Sale
Story by Starshe Hoku O Kalani
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As I approach, the funkiest sounds of rhythm and blues, jive and soul astound me, forcing me to close my eyes. I am in Motown in 1969. I am boogieing to the raspiest, most soulful voice I have ever heard. I open my eyes. It’s 2013 and I am still indeed in Hot Springs, Arkansas. And this, my friends, is how you will feel when you hear Salt & Pepper play for the first time. The band consists of two longtime locals, Tony Nardi (vocals, piano, bass, B-3 Hammond organ, and songwriting) and Eddie Mobley (lead vocals, songwriting, and drums). They are here in our small Spa City to put the Salt & Pepper back on our tables. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any groovier, here are some things to add to your plates when seeing them shake it up around town. Nardi’s musical career took off as early as 1967 in Alexandria, Louisiana where Nardi was stationed with the Air Force and played with a band named The Cheques. They recorded three 45 rpm records under Nardi’s own label, Heatwave, and
the band became a regional hit. Before they knew it they were signed to the famous Stax Records soul label, which is no longer in existence but is immortalized in the Stax Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. There you can see their 45 single displayed under glass alongside such greats as Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. The band split up when they received orders to be shipped out during the Vietnam War. Nardi was flown out to U-Tapao Air Force Base ninety miles south of Bangkok, Thailand. Once there, Nardi, determined to create his own group again, held auditions for a lead singer for a six-piece soul group. After a few auditions, Mobley walked in. Once Nardi heard his soul-filled Georgian voice for the first time, “all other auditions were cancelled”, states Nardi. It was the start of a longtime friendship. They have been playing music together for forty-four years. They were the first American GI’s ever to record in Southeast Asia. They also were a mixed group racially which was very rare at the time. Their
rich history made them trend setters, and their records are still selling today all over Europe. Their song “Man of My Word” has become a collector’s item for Europe’s northern soul crowd. One 45 sold for $3300 on ebay in 2009. You can catch them live at the Ohio Club Blues Jam on Wednesday nights. Nardi plays the grand piano at the Embassy Suites Wednesday through Saturday during Happy Hour. Look for them at Pop’s Lounge in the gaming center at Oaklawn Race Track and also at the Big Chill. We are lucky to have such great talents in the Spa City. Salt & Pepper was a finalist in last year’s International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, beating out duos from around the globe. They are now recording a new album entitled Old Soldier’s Blues at Big Event Music. It will feature thirteen songs, ten of which are originals. Whether you experience them live in Downtown Hot Springs or on their new full length album, they are sure to bring plenty of spice and soul to the table!
hot springs
ALBUMS ON REVIEW < LOST IN THE TREES PAST LIFE
Sounding just as haunting as the title track suggests Past Life relies heavy on the evocative timbre of both the cello and violin. A necessity of course for an orchestral folk pop band, their cherished sound emerges not just from the string section but also from the lofty dreamlike writing and vocals of singer Ari Picker. In their new album they continue to push through the melancholy ether, sounding just as beautiful, if not more so, than in their last album A Church That Fits Our Needs. The morose touch of this latest album is still embedded but the band has been reduced from a sextet to a quartet making them sound more lean and direct with the sound. Bandleader Picker studied film composition at the Berklee School of Music and many of the tracks on the new album provide an eerie thematic quality suggested via electronic flourishes illustrated in tracks like “Lady in White” and “Wake”. To properly experience the exhilarating scope of this group go sit in on their live performance and listen to tracks from their stunning new album at Low Key Arts on April 25th.
< RADKEY DEVIL FRUIT EP
These guys aren’t even legal drinking age yet, but they are raw punk rock professionals. Brothers from St. Joseph, Missouri they single handedly stole the stage at VOV X this year with songs from their pristinely polished new EP Devil Fruit. They are currently touring nationwide before a stint in Europe where they will most likely spread their popularity like an out of control wildfire. There’s just something pure about their take on punk whether it’s their age or just the natural talent, the three mesh well together on stage, as well as in the recording studio. A fan of Japanese Anime, singer and songwriter Dee has embroidered his rich appreciation of Japanese culture into the songs and even the title of the EP. Devil Fruit, a mystical fruit that gives the eater many different strange and interesting abilities, comes from stories related to anime and manga. Colorful, creative, and continuous in their raucous path to engineer positive painstaking punk, the first track on their EP appropriately titled “Start Freaking Out” invites you in to romp and let loose. It’s just as though you’ve eaten the Devil Fruit and now there’s no turning back.
< Tame Impala Mind Mischief
Mesmerizing is a word that can only be used to describe Tame Impala’s expansive psychedelic sound. It’s a beautiful, imperceptible, alternative sound fog that encapsulates itself around you and leaves you in a shrouded state of perplexity and enjoyment. Guitar, bass, drums and vocals lead into an electronic reverberating harmony that demand the body and mind to respond. Australian sirens Tame Impala easily adhere themselves to anyone’s musical listening chart. This three song EP reconfirms their pillar as remix impresarios and contemporaneous psychedelic rock stars. Check out the link to the official youtube video for the featured song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgK_Er7WZVg
Do you agree with our Reviews? Leave your feedback on our reviews at hshotspots.com. Submit your own Reviews! Send your new release album, video or movie reviews to info@hshotspots.com. #hshotspots
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VENUES
LIVE SHOW LISTINGS EVERY WED
7pm Wednesday Night Poetry/open mic 9pm CASH Karaoke w/ DJ Double C—FREE
sat 4/5 FRI 4/11
CULT FICTIOn (AR) Improv/Sketch Comedy Mothwind (AR) Metal, Terminus (AR) Metal, Jab Jab Suckerpunch (AR) Rawk SAT 4/12 SOL DEF (AR) Dance/Party Tunes THURS 4/17 OTIS THE DESTROYER (TX) Experimental FRI 4/18 12 Tone Elevator (AR) Garage Rock, Captain Nowhere (AR) Rock/Psych/Blues, Duckstronaut (AR) Electric Washboards SAT 4/19 BROads & panties (TX) Burlesque THURS 4/24 THE TRAVEL GUIDE (KS) Indie Rock FRI 4/25 MYA’s MADAMS (AR) Drag Show SAT 4/26 High Magic (AR) Psychedelic, Healer (AR) Metal, Grim Creeper (AR) Metal EVERY SUN Larry & Jacqueline (AR) Blues EVERY MON Mike Stanley (AR) Classic Rock EVERY TUES Salt N Pepper (AR) Blues/Soul EVERY WED Blues Jam Fest (Benefits THE SPA CITY Blues Society) (AR) Blues EVERY THURS DELTA DONNIE (AR) Classic Rock EVERY FRI/SAT The Ohio Club Players (AR) Classic Rock/Blues (Except 4/18-19, John calvin brewer Band) 10
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hot springs
MON TUES WED THURS FRI/SAT WED FRI/SAT TUES WED FRI SAT TUES WED
4/7 4/8 4/9 4/10 4/11-12 4/16 4/18-19 4/22 4/23 4/25 4/26 4/29 4/30
DAVID BALL (AR) Country/Blues JOHN CALVIN BREWER (AR) Rock/Blues SHANE SIMANTON (AR) Blues/Classic Rock THE LONGSHOTS JOCKEY BAND (AR) Country MISTER LUCKY (AR) Classic Rock LIGHTNIN LEE LANGDON (AR) Folk/Country TODD ROTH (TX) Blues MIDNIGHT PARADE (AR) Rock/Blues JOCKO (AR) Country/Rock Shari Bales & Mike Taber Band (AR) Country/Rock JOHN CALVIN BREWER (AR) Rock/Blues SHANE SIMANTON (AR) Blues/Classic Rock LIGHTNIN LEE LANGDON (AR) Folk/Country
FRI sat FRI sat FRI sat
4/11 4/12 4/18 4/19 4/25 4/26
CLIFF BERRY & THE JOCKEY BAND (AR) Country MAYDAY BY MIDNIGHT (AR) Dance/Party Tunes Shane Simanton, Grayson Goff, & Kenny Tillery (AR) Blues Christine Demeo Band (AR) Songwriter DAYTON WATERS (AR) Alternative Tragickly White (AR) Rock/Party
FRI sat FRI sat FRI sat
4/11 4/12 4/18 4/19 4/25 4/26
Malicious Groove (AR) Rock Usual Suspects (AR) Rock RAISING GREY (AR) Rock UNSEEN EYE (AR) Rock THE DUSTY ROSE BAND (AR) Country/Rock CROOKED HALO (AR) Rock #hshotspots
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Animals & Landscapes
ARTS
Williams
The Adult Swim video sparked the idea for Williams to use animals for making digital collages. Layering the images of wild and majestic animals over a variety of mystic landscapes, Williams provides a kaleidoscopic looking glass of imagination and brilliant color in these recent works. Fueled by motivation from friends, this series combines his talents in both photography and design.
Story by Jim G. Miller
Though this is his first exhibition in two years, Williams is no stranger to displaying work in Hot Springs. At the age of 16 he first exhibited his paintings in Gallery 801 one of the many galleries that once populated Spencer’s Corner. “I used to
The Digital Collages of John Wesley
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John Wesley Williams is a bit of a mystery. Some people might say the same of his artwork. His most recent show which will be on display this month at Maxine’s Live Music venue was inspired by an art video for Dan Deacon’s “USA” which he watched one evening with his friend and fellow artist Paul Cooper.
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sell paintings on the streets of Hot Springs,” says Williams, recalling an underground art scene that once thrived in downtown Hot Springs. Williams kept in touch with the downtown Hot Springs art scene while attaining a B.A. in both sculpture and design. He has returned to Hot Springs and finds inspiration during his weekly hikes on West Mountain to Balance Rock and along Sunset Trail. He appreciates the beauty and nature of Hot Springs. He also travels, taking long exposures of landscapes throughout the country. Though he first was a painter, Williams considers himself a photographer above all. “Richard Brown is the one who got me into photography,” Williams explains. Brown, a longtime professor at National Park Community College, is set to retire this year and has influenced the lives of many artists in Hot Springs. Williams was trained as an analog photographer and prefers capturing portraits as well as landscapes.
Having studied studio art and graphic design, Williams has run the gamut of freelance gigs and soul crushing corporate creative jobs, but has maintained his artistic sanity by doing creative work simply for fun or for his closest friends. The act of making art is perhaps often bred by the desire to create for the people in life that inspire you. Williams has been influenced and motivated, not just by friends and loved ones, but also by his professors and mentors. Renowned mixed-media installation artist and Professor of Sculpture John Salvest was a major influence on Williams during his studies at Arkansas State University. A multi-faceted artist, Williams plans to continue reinventing the boundaries of his work as he prepares for the next installation, portrait or landscape series, or whatever strikes him next. You can check out his photography and video art as well as the images from his current exhibition at jwwimages.com. View his upcoming exhibition at Maxine’s Live Venue during the entire month of April.
Live at Low Key Arts!
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115 Central AvenueAvenue • 501-623-9055 115 115Central Central Avenue plentymystic.net 501-623-9055 plentymystic.net 501-623-9055 plentymystic.net TuesdayTues Saturday • 10 am 6 pm Afterby Hours Sat 10 am 6 pm • After Appt.by Appt. Tues - Sat 10 am - 6 pm • After•Hours Hours by boutique and hair salon boutique and hair salon •
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FRIENDS OF THE PARK
GIVING
The OZARK BATHHOUSE HAS NEW FRIENDS OVER
Photography by Chris Sale
Story by Carl Miller
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The Ozark Bath House was completed in 1922 and served fifty five years as a bath house for Americans to enjoy the popular fad of balneotherapy (from Latin: balneum, “bath”). Though as penicillin became more prevalent, bath houses and the culture that grew around them became an anachronistic representation of a bygone age. Eventually in 2003 the Ozark, along with all of Bath House Row, was added to the list of “11 Most Endangered Places” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Fortunately Bath House Row would not stay on that list for long. By 2007 the efforts of the National Park Service in Hot Springs had put a stop to the gradual decay of the buildings. A 1980 law authorized the leasing of buildings on the national registry of historical places and provided a tax incentive to help defray construction costs. By 2009 the Ozark had been renovated and became home to The Museum of Contemporary Art of Hot Springs, but that role proved short-lived.
By the end of 2013 the Ozark was empty again. As The MOCA of Hot Springs was leaving the Ozark, the Fordyce, the most expensive and arguably the most elaborate of the bath houses, was just re-opening after being closed for renovations. An integral part of the Fordyce renovation was the Friends of The Fordyce, a non-profit organization that helped the National Park Service raise funds and awareness about the project. With one successful project completed, the Friends of The Fordyce have become Friends of Hot Springs National Parks to better illustrate their more expansive focus. “Friends of (Hot Springs National) Park is really about how our focus is the Hot Springs National Park system as a whole,” says Charles Smith, president of Friends of HSNP. Since March 7th, The Ozark has become the Hot Springs National Park Cultural Center and the center of operations for Friends of Hot Springs National Parks. How to use the nearly 14,000 square feet of the Ozark to their best advantage is still a work in progress, and the organization is reaching out
to other non-profits in the area to create mutually beneficial relationships. The immediate benefit has been to the Hot Springs National Park Artist-In-Residence (AIR) program. Since 2004, professional artists chosen for the program have been able to stay in a cabin rent free in exchange for putting on two public programs and donating an original piece of art to the national park. According to Josie Fernandez, superintendent of HSNP, there are over 600,000 artifacts in possession of the HSNP which have never been seen by the public. The HSNP AIR program gives artists an opportunity to bring the park to life through their art for the benefit of the public, and now with a place for the public to see that artwork the program will be able to realize its full potential. More information on the AIR program can be found at the Hot Springs National Park Service website. Visit the new home of the Friends of the National Park at the Ozark Bathhouse if you are interested in becoming a member.
hot springs
ADVERTISE WITH US! MAKE YOUR BUSINESS A HOT SPOT OF THE SPA CITY! Contact us at 501.620.4520 to learn
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801 Central Ave Ste. 11 Spencer’s Corner
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EAT/DRINK
RESTAURANT LISTINGS TOrre de Aguacate FROM vina morita
AMER IC AN Back Porch Grill 4810 Central 525-0885
Gilligan’s on Lake 5200 Central 525-3319
Mel’s Diner 1603 Airport 767-0595
BAR BEC UE McClard’s BBQ 505 Albert Pike 624-9586
Roland’s BBQ 200 Higdon Ferry 625-3079
Smokin’ in Style 2278 Albert Pike 767-9797
Stubby’s BBQ 3024 Central 624-1552
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English Muffin
ZOE’s CAFE
4307 Central 525-2710
2230 Malvern 321-2921
JACK’s 1105 Albert Pike 624-5568
C A JU N/ C R E O LE FAT JACKS
PANCAKE SHOP
101 Central 623-5225
216 Central 624-5720
BURG ER S Classics Bar & Grill 4813 Central 525-7172
GRINDHOUSE 801 Central 625-3339
MOOYAH 3954 Central 520-5000
C AFE/ BIS T RO CAFE 1217
C HI NE S E HUNAN PALACE 4737 Central 525-3344
Wok Express 1418 Albert Pike 623-4932
INTERNATIONAL BLEU MONKEY GRILL 4263 Central 520-4800
CENTRAL PARK FUSION
1217 Malvern 318-1094
200 Park Ave 623-0202
BR EAK FAS T / BRUNC H COLONIAL WAFFLE HOUSE
MUELLER’s BISTRO
STEINHaus KELLER
111 Central 624-9273
250 Park 547-7172
111 Crawford #B 623-7005
801 Central 624-7866
PARK ISLAND CAFE
SUPERIOR BATHHOUSE 329 Central 624-2337
hot springs
I TA LI AN Angel’s in the Park 211 Fountain Street 609-0767
Belle Arti 719 Central 624-7474
LUNA BELLA
ME XICAN CotiJa 1335 Airport 760-1165
DOn Juan 1311 Albert Pike 321-0766
EL PADRINO
104 Grand Isle 520-5862
1607 Albert Pike 623-2406
JAHNA’s
Mi Pueblito
1803 Airport 767-0200
JA PANESE/ SU S HI Fuji SteakHouse 608 E. Grand 321-1688
Osaka Japanese 3954 Central 525-9888
LAT IN A MERI C AN VINA MORITA 610 Central 625-7143
ROLANDO’S 210 Central 318-6054
2070 Airport 760-4647
PICANTE’S 801 Central 623-2300
Salsa’s 4324 Central 520-5305
TACO MAMA 1209 Malvern 624-6262
TREJO’s MEXICAN 3040 Albert Pike 760-2316
PIZZA Deluca’s Pizzeria Napoletana 407 Park 609-9002
Doc’s Pizzeria
Smyly’s Crab Shack
1018 Airport 760-2227
4916 Central 525-3442
RAZORBACK PIZZA
S O UT HER N/ S O UL Higdon Square Café
4330 Central 525-1616
Rocky’s Corner 2600 Central 624-0199
Rod’s Pizza Cellar 3350 Central 321-2313
Sam’s Pizza Pub 401 Burchwood Bay 525-0780
S EAF O O D BUBBA’s CATFISH TO GO 5411 Central 762-3474
Cajun Broilers 2806 Albert Pike 767-5695
Fisherman’s Wharf 5101 Central 525-7437
MR. WHISKERS 1538 Malvern 262-3474
Braised beef short rib from superior bathhouse
706 Higdon Ferry 623-7744
Phil’s 2900 Central 623-8258
S T EAK HO US E Brick House Grill 801 Central 321-2926
KJ’s Grill 1834 Airport 767-0063
Porterhouse 707 Central 321-8282
ROCKY MOUNTAIN GRILL 5812 Airport 767-2887
T EX- MEX Colorado Grill 320 Ouachita 623-7992
EL CHAPo BURGER FROM GRINDHOUSE #hshotspots
17
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES
How to Create SUSTAINABLE Landscapes with Julie Williams Rural Arkansas Chic and Gardens that Are Unique
Story by Jim G. Miller Photography by Jeremy Rodgers
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hot springs April in Arkansas means more work for both farmers and gardeners. After the unpredictable March weather, April arrives warmly welcomed. Blooms are opening, rain is falling, and temperatures are rising. Plants and projects have sprouted and are well underway for the growing season. Earth Day is a tradition is that promotes enjoying the natural environment while also sustaining it. Communities across the nation take pride in finding creative ways to expand the efforts of going green and preserving natural resources. This time of year there are great opportunities to nurture the environment while simply making your front yard look fresh and inviting. It is easier than many might expect to incorporate sustainable practices into the average -- and not so average -- garden décor and landscape designs. The trick is to determine what type of garden you want. Whether you want to incorporate sculpture, potted plants, fruits and vegetables, or a hybrid combination of such elements, the only limit is the imagination. To learn about creative and sustainable landscaping and become inspired with new ideas for this spring, local professional landscape artist Julie Williams, Director of Urban Legends Designs for Life, has some suggestions. Specializing in interior, exterior and commercial garden work, Williams is best known for her home which is tenderly referred to as the Rocky Roost. In the earthy richness of her unique homestead, Williams has cultivated her characteristic look. Built into the base of North Mountain, a natural spring flows alongside the rustic yet quaint stone dwelling. Rather than completely reshaping the land into right angles and straight lines, Williams maintains the natural flow of the landscape while incorporating gentler and more sustainable touches and artwork. Finding new and interesting ways to cultivate outdoor spaces using found objects or repurposed items is not only fun and creative, but it is also reduces the overall impact on the environment. “You can often incorporate items that the homeowner already has, a piece of old wrought iron fence, wood from an old barn, or even some old patio furniture that’s no longer being used. You can get a lot of bang for your buck while creating a beautiful and very minimalist look,” explains Williams. When it comes to choosing plants, there are a few things to keep in mind to maintain an ecologically sustainable landscape. There is more than simply color to consider. Always making an effort to buy her plants locally rather than at chain stores, Williams prefers to buy plants at Shults Greenhouse at 208 Hollywood. “You can usually find a great variety of affordable plants there, and you’re shopping local,” says Williams. Other great options for purchasing garden plants in the area, include Breshears Nursery and Greenhouse at 4532 Park Avenue and Clear Creek Gardener at 1923 Mountain Pine Rd. which has an excellent selection of organic vegetable startups. She also suggests going to the annual Master Gardener’s sale at the Historic Downtown Hot Springs Farmers Market. This year the sale will be on April 26th at the Farmers Market located at 121 Orange Street. An annual tradition now, you can find a rich selection of plants cultivated by local growers and farmers in the area. Buying locally grown or harvested plants and seeds reduces the possibility of introducing an invasive species which can potentially wreak havoc on the local ecosystem. #hshotspots
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SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES Another good way to make a garden sustainable is to plant edible vegetables and herbs. It’s better for your wallet, and it’s better for the environment since you are eating foods that weren’t shipped over long distances, consuming fuel and contributing to pollution. Williams suggests edibles such as ornamental kale and cabbage as well as herbs like parsley, sage, basil and lavender. Many people may want to plant showy flowering vegetables like eggplant, squash and even fruit like wild strawberries and blueberries for their color and beauty as well as utility. “Another way to incorporate color and character is to use colorful and unique pots to place your plants in. This also allows for flexibility in the garden, and change is always a fun factor.” The tough and rocky soil in this region can be difficult to cultivate without the use of expensive and often gas-powered machinery, so it’s important to keep an open mind and use a potential disadvantage to create a stunning look. Williams often implements native rocks as a border for raised plant beds in order to avoid the difficulty of digging in rocky soil. Adapting to the soil quality of a particular environment is always a key factor that landscapers must face. Try to work with it creatively instead of struggling against it. “Since I’ve been gardening, the climate has changed. Some years in Arkansas are hotter than others,” says Williams who chooses sturdy plants capable of enduring possibly extreme heat and a lack of water. Self-sufficient plants like lilac, lilies, and dusty miller have a backbone and won’t die if they get a little dry during the summer. Succulents, rosemary, palmetto and other tropical plants are durable options for adding some greenery to an outdoor space which don’t require a lot of attention. By choosing hardier plants, you will conserve water as well as time and money. Another option is to take Mother Nature’s cue and plant indigenous wildflowers that are naturally suited to thrive in the local environment. Varieties such as echinacea,
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black-eyed Susan, and passionflower are beautiful native choices for diversifying the color palette in an outdoor area. Nestled serenely in the woods, privacy is not a landscaping concern at the Rocky Roost, but it can be for more open spaces or more densely populated areas. The most sustainable and cost effective way to build a fence is to grow one. Planting tall grasses that thrive in the area such as bamboo or other regionally suitable bushes for hedgerows provides an escape from the outside world while enjoying your own secret garden. Williams prefers not to impose her particular tastes on someone, and is instead interested in awakening people to their own creativity and resourcefulness. “Someone may have some great stuff already but not know how to use it,” says Williams. Currently Williams has various metal sculptures incorporated into her design at the Rocky Roost, compliments of local artist Marc Menefee. They are mostly crafted from old car parts which adds an oddly rustic yet urban feel to the rural landscape of the foothill. The possibilities are nearly endless when it comes to the rich variety of natural features to work with in your sustainable landscape design in Hot Springs. If for some reason you are feeling lost in the weeds then call on local landscaping guru Julie Williams at Urban Legends. She can help you become inspired perhaps by something that’s already sitting right on your front porch.
AR Therapeutic Institute and Spa hotMassage springs 853 Third Street, Hot Springs, AR 71713 artmis853@yahoo.com For appointment: (501)
artmis.net
623-3888
We are proud to announce our newly remodeled 5000 sq. ft. facility housing our expanded classroom, large treatment rooms, executive offices and warm welcoming lobby for your relaxing enjoyment. We provide a safe, easy to find location with plenty of parking. Our Spa offers a wide variety of Spa services with one of our Professional Licensed Therapists. Our Spa price list can be found on our web site and all you do is click on the spa tab. We offer hourly facials and body wraps to include a specialty facial which reduces the appearance of wrinkles and strengthens the facial muscles. Or you can try one of our Student Massage Therapists at a reasonably priced rate of $35.00 per 60 minutes. When working with our students you are helping them to fulfill their requirements to gain the experience and expertise to achieve personal and professional goals for licensure in the State of Arkansas. We staff our spa with our licensed graduates in order to expand their experience in the workplace. Our school offers continuing education for licensed massage therapists from our experienced instructor and Education Director Otis Estes on a regular monthly basis. We also recruit professional Instructors from all parts of the world in order to expand the professional therapistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; knowledge and experience to better serve your needs. The continuing education schedule can be found on our web site under the CEU tab. We offer our own Orthopedic classes, Electrical Muscle Stimulation classes on a monthly basis and Geriatric Massage classes bi-annually. We are an AR State approved licensed facility as well as an NCBTMB National assigned school. We offer a wide variety of specialty massages in our Spa and we honor our Military personnel with special discounts on services as well as a discounted tuition. If you are interested in becoming a licensed massage therapist check out our web site, then click the school drop down box and take the time to read our school catalog. We have received recognition from the United States Department of Commerce in Washington DC two years in a row for the Best in Massage Therapy. We were one of 70 businesses nationwide to receive this prestigious double award. In past years we have successfully secured over $300,000 in donated grants for our community to reeducate senior workers for the workplace. Our industry, as well as several others, benefited from this very large contribution into our community.
Stop in today for a private tour of our new home or call for your personal interview to discuss your interest in this up and coming Therapeutic Health Care Industry.
Massage Therapy At Its Best
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SKATE PARK
Kick Flips of Joy Valley Street Skate Park Provides a Positive Path For Hot Springs Youth
Story by Jim G. Miller Photography by Jeremy Rodgers
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hot springs
The concrete was barely dry before skaters from the entire community converged on the new Valley Street Skatepark doing kick flips of joy. However, building this park was not without its hurdles. Many veteran skaters in the area can begrudgingly recall stories of being arrested and often chased by city police while skating around the city. Luckily, this doesn’t have to be an issue since skaters will now have a outlet to practice and play. The American Ramp Company, a skater owned and operated company, designed and built the park, and they have more than 200,000 others throughout the country. Many skaters in Hot Springs were major proponents in getting the project underway and finished. Although many wish it had been accomplished much earlier, the fact that it’s here is a major relief and excitement. “It feels weird now that it’s finally here. I got used to being bored and just going to get a beer. It feels nice to be active and not have to drive out of town,” says long time skater and Hot Springs resident Robbie Brindley. “Hot Springs Parks and Recreation has been dreaming about a new skate park for many years. We knew if we ever had the chance to build one that we wanted to build it right, and this one was custom designed for us with input from local skaters. We appreciate our fundraising partners and particularly Partners of the Park for believing in the idea and helping us bring it to reality,” says Jean Wallace, Director of Hot Springs Parks and Recreation. Rafael Poe Alvarez, local skating proponent and owner of Nom Nom’s Grill N Chill, has been championing the construction of the skate park since the very beginning.
“It’s a win for the people of Hot Springs, and it’s a great start for the city,” says Alvarez. “The people of the community needed a healthy outlet and this is it. There are too many thugs and drugs out there and this park provides a more positive outlook for their future. I think that’s the reason why the city got behind it. If we continue to show integrity with the use of the park, I think the city will continue to show its support, and future add-ons will be done to the park,” says Alvarez. With this new park comes a responsibility to skaters in the community to treat it respectfully. Local skaters are appreciative about having a safe, legal place to be on their boards, and the city’s final acceptance of the skating community is refreshing. “The first thing I understood about skateboarding was that it was about creating, creating a trick, and in time, putting combinations together. Most skaters I grew to know well translated that creativity into other things as well. I am pleased they have a place to let their skating creativity grow. If there were nowhere to buy paint, film, musical instruments, etc. then the face of the spa city would be very different. By having a park, skaters can be pushed to their potential,” says former Funbox skate shop owner Jim Miller. This section of 411 Valley Street is now filled with the sound of kick-flips, laughter, and people having a good time. If you have not had the opportunity yet, go by and check it out. Even if you are not a skater, it’s nice to get outside and meet happy community members, and it is never too late to learn to skate. Just make sure you wear a helmet…and maybe some elbow and kneepads. #hshotspots
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108 PRINTERS PLACE, HOT SPRINGS, AR
(501) 624-5333
hot springs
CHURCHILLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIGARS a Lesson in How to Smoke a Cigar Like an Aficionado
Story by Jim G. Miller
Photography by Chris Sale & Jeremy Rodgers
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CHURCHILL’S CIGARS WHEN CUTTING A CIGAR LOOK FOR THE START OF THE CURVE IN THE CAP AND CUT THERE
THIS IS THE END OF THE CAP
The first time I walked into Churchill’s Cigars, I didn’t know anything about cigars other then what I had seen in the movies. I thought only gangsters and rich businessmen smoked them. The one time I had smoked a cigar I made the mistake of inhaling and it made me sick as a dog. So when I walked into Churchill’s, the patient owner and proprietor, Deb Wemette, schooled me immediately. “This, this is how you hold a cigar,” says Wemette, holding it by the band of the cigar. You don’t put your fingers directly on it because the oils or grease from your hands will ruin the cigar. When lighting it, hold your head up rather than down. While lighting or ‘toasting’ the cigar, put the flame near the end or ‘foot’ if you’re lighting with a match and directly on the foot if lighting with a torch lighter so that the cigar is lighted evenly. Puff and turn, puff and turn, until the smoke flares up. When it burns red, it’s good. Also be sure not to knock the ash off the end of your cigar because the ash helps to insulate the cigar while smoking, allowing for an even burn so you get the proper taste from the cigar. “I like to be able to inform people on how to smoke a real cigar,” says Wemette, who has been the owner/ proprietor of Churchill’s for the past seven years now. Her reputation for handling customers as guests as soon as they walk through the door has set her shop apart from others. “After meeting the majority of my clients and getting to know them, they become my friends,” says Wemette. While the shop caters generally to tourists passing through Hot Springs, Deb also has a committed local clientele, and the shop is synonymous for offering the best in cigars in town. A new lower tax on cigars has also allowed for Wemette to drop many of the prices on her cigars. While she may not be able to compete with online competitors in regards to price, the one thing she is able to offer is great service -- and yet more important -- a unique parlor atmosphere. She offers an assortment of cigars, or “sticks,” ranging in color, shape, and flavor. Cuban Stock Royal Selection are her most popular selling cigars as they are made using Cuban seed and Cuban soil. The Cuban soil that the tobacco grows in has been
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transplanted to the Dominican Republic. 95% of Deb’s cigars are made with Cuban seeds. While cigars come from many places, the majority of them come from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras. The 1964 Trade Embargo with Cuba made it virtually impossible to get real Cuban cigars into the US. Traditionally, Cuban cigars were the only decent cigars that were available. This led to Cubans leaving the country with their pockets full of seeds and moving away from the island. Wemette has cigars with tobacco aged up to 10 years, and some are aged in oak barrels or in the flue of a coffee factory, providing natural essences of oak and coffee. Wemette recently changed locations from the basement in Spencer’s Corner to the shop that was formerly Golden Leaves Bookstore. Since then she has expanded her inventory in the shop, carrying shisha, ashtrays, lighters, games, and other knickknacks. She has also added a new walk-in humidor made entirely of Spanish cedar that helps the cigars to age and mellow. Wemette organizes her humidor a little differently than in other shops in that hers is organized by the strength of the cigar rather than families. Taking a tour with Deb through her humidor is like a crash course lesson in the different ranges and types of cigars. You will most likely want something young and fresh and sweet if you’re just starting out smoking cigars. You go into some stores and ask for a good cigar, and the guy in the shop will take
out whatever he is smoking in his front pocket and hand it to you. It’s kind of like drinking. You don’t want to start off with something too strong too fast.” At her new location now for only a year, Wemette is just now getting cozy and hoping to bring in more locals. “I don’t know how you can smoke cigars and not know that we exist, but I have new people from around town coming in every day.” With a smoking parlor packed with plush leather seating, a marble chess set, an indoor coy pond, and plenty of cigar smoking literature lying around, Churchill’s is definitely a great spot to relax and enjoy some leisure time. “The thing about smoking cigars is that it is a leisure. You have to set aside at least a half an hour in order to enjoy, depending on the cigar,” says Wemette. Wemette also sells her cigars at Embassy Suites, the Arlington, Marina Liquor, Service Liquor, the Wine Rack, J&B Liquor, Ruby’s Liquor and Corner Liquor. The leisure smoke of a good cigar goes hand in hand with a good scotch whiskey or bourbon, but cigars are also great for any celebratory moment or special occasion. If you or someone you know is looking to learn a thing or two about cigars, or if you are looking to buy local, then drop by Churchill’s Fine Cigars and say hello to Deb. #hshotspots
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hot springs
TURNING THE HANDS OF TIME Brothers Watch Shop Continues a Timeless Tradition
Story by Jim G. Miller Photography by Jeremy Rodgers
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WATCH SHOP
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After World War II, many veterans were given the opportunity to go into the career of watchmaking. They needed men with steady hands and good eyesight. Many of these watchmakers are gone now, but some like Mr. William Buss apprenticed younger individuals like Jonathan Kudabeck and Angie Gammill. The original operation included Jonathan’s older brother Steven who is now blowing glass in Colorado. For eleven years now Brothers Watch Shop has been serving citizens of Hot Springs who may need to have their old watches repaired, cleaned, and or replaced. The shop also has its fair share of estate jewelry, rare coins, clocks, and other unique trinkets that may otherwise be seen in a museum or antique dealer’s shop. “Clock making is not typical to women,” says Gammil, who spent her fair share of time working in the back of the shop. “I remember as a little girl running from one room to the next in my great grandparents house to hear the grandfather clocks chime,” says Gammill. “I’ve always loved puzzles and being able to figure out how things work on the inside.”
wristwatches have seen a revival and are becoming a throwback fashion accessory with small American companies manufacturing new watches made to look vintage. In most cases, wearing real vintage watches is not just a fashion statement but a status symbol depending on the year the watch was made and what condition it’s in.
People will inevitably come across grandpa’s old pocket watch and will think about getting it repaired. A good majority of the pieces that are worked on are for people with sentimental attachments to heirloom pieces handed down from generation to generation. This being said, during the age of cellular phones, vintage mechanical
Brothers Watch Shop of Hot Springs is one of the few places within 150 miles around where you can take your watch and leave it for repair directly at the location. “In most cases you have to ship it through the mail to places like Dallas or St. Louis to have it repaired,” says Kudabeck.
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“Quartz watches killed the mechanical watch market, and of course quartz watches have seen a decline over the years with cellphones, but all of that technology started somewhere, and timekeeping is where it began,” says Jonathan Kudabeck. In Brothers Watch Shop you can see the inner mechanics of a watch hand made from the 1700s before the Industrial Revolution. “You could just tell that they took pride in their craft with the inner workings and special embellishments. Also keep in mind they were doing this all by candlelight and a foot pedal operated lathe, no computer guided lasers or anything.”
Let Us Bug You hot springs
In addition to sales and repairs, Brothers Watch Shop will also assess jewelry, antiques, and coinage, and has an expansive knowledge of vintage watches. “I don’t like working with the quartz watches as much as I do the high-end, mechanical ones like Rolexes, those are just more fun,” laughs Kudabeck. Jonathan’s older brother Steven was the one who got him interested initially with the challenge of working on the mechanics of taking something apart and putting it back together again. Brothers Watch Shop will buy gold and silver as well as watches, jewelry, and coins. They also do confidential loans in addition to custom design. The majority of their clientele is brought in by word of mouth. As a traditional shop providing a unique service, they believe that if the job is done right, people will talk about it. Their prices are also very reasonable on both sales and repairs. They want to make restoring, repairing, and the overall maintenance of your jewelry or watch to be affordable, so you can continue to enjoy your cherished family heirlooms.
The Mid-South’s Largest Collection of Antique & Estate Jewelry
118 Central Avenue
501.624.4083 tillmanshotsprings.com
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COMMUNITY GARDEN
Growing More Than Vegetables The Park Haven Community Garden Project
Story by Jim G. Miller Photography Courtesy of Denise Parkinson
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Gardens can be a pathway to a new beginning. For the historic Park Avenue district of downtown Hot Springs, a new garden is another way for the community to continue its progress toward revitalization. The Park Haven Community Garden project is one of many collaborative efforts to help build community, improve health, provide fresh organic produce, and also teach sustainability and nutritional awareness. Park Haven is the second garden of its kind to pop up in the downtown area of Hot Springs as part of the Hot Springs Community Garden Network. The first was established nearly five years ago on 124 North Palm Street. The city leases the two once vacant lots for the purpose of the garden and also donates fertilizer each year. This year, the Community Garden on Palm Street will be doing a community potluck on April 27th to celebrate Earth Day. Beginning at noon, this free event features a seed-swap, picnic, musical performance, and information about the city’s expanding garden network. Park Haven Community Garden has taken 45,000 square feet of unused space in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Hot Springs and will install raised beds, fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, medicinal and culinary herbs as well as shade trees and beds for annual and perennial flowers. The space is located at 655 Park Avenue and was provided in partnership by Haven United Methodist Church who will be receiving any surplus produce for their food bank to distribute to those in need. There is still much work to be done before the garden is completed. Recently, student volunteers from National Park Community College built a garden shed to house the garden’s solar powered water pump that will collect natural spring water for keeping the garden watered. “We wanted the garden to not only be sustainable for the community but we also want to avoid wasting energy and resources that we don’t have to use,” says Dave
Reagan who has been assisting with the organization of the garden. The project would not be possible without the assistance of numerous individuals and groups such as the Park Avenue Community Association, the Hot Springs School District, the Arkansas School of Math Science and Art, Garland Towers, Garland County Health Department, the Garland County Master Gardeners, and the Park Avenue Merchants Association. “Projects such as this will go very far in helping to increase property value particularly for historic districts with blighted neighborhoods,” says Park Avenue Community Association Chairwoman Cindy Rogers. With site plans drawn up by Hot Springs architect Anthony Taylor, the community garden project is steadily underway, and more progress can be seen every day. “There’s a great energy on Park Avenue. There are a lot of opportunities coming about,” says Rogers. The Hot Springs Garden Network is looking to lease spaces for those interested in participating. The network has also just recently submitted a grant proposal to Seeds for Change, and from April 1st through April 21st, the public may log onto www.seedsofchange.com to vote for which community will receive anywhere between $10,000 to $20,000 in funding. Healing and restoring a historic community comes with showing that you can build something together, and this is exactly what the Hot Springs Community Garden Network has in mind with the Park Haven Community Garden and hopefully other future pocket gardens throughout the city. The project still has a long way to go, and it needs the dedication and volunteer efforts of the community to be completed and sustained. The Park Haven Community Garden still requires much needed building and gardening materials to complete their vision. They are also looking for volunteers skilled in gardening and construction. Spring is here, and the season is ripe for planting and nurturing a lasting community effort that will make a difference. #hshotspots
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TURPENTINE CREEK
WORTH THE DRIVE
Right in Your Own Backyard: A Wildlife Refuge
Photography Courtesy of Turpentine Creek
Story by Jim G. Miller
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On scenic highway 23 about seven miles outside of Eureka Springs, there rests one of the largest wildlife preserves for big cats in the country. That refuge is called Turpentine Creek, and it has been a refuge for tigers, lions, leopards, cougars, and other endangered wildlife since 1992. “It’s right in your own backyard,” says Scott Smith, Vice-President of TCWR. Smith began as a volunteer who devoted his services as a carpenter and welder to the refuge back in 1994 and has never looked back since. “We invite everyone who has not been here to come see these magnificent cats. The spring season is the best time to visit.” Turpentine Creek originated when Tanya Jackson Smith’s family acquired a lion named “Bum” while they lived in Northeast Texas in 1978. Smith, who currently serves as president, was only 11 at the time but remembers the second lion they got in 1982 that was named “Shelia.” The family was successful at taking care of these two lions in
their backyard up until 1992 when they moved to Eureka Springs to establish the Refuge.
www.turpentinecreek.org or visit them and their amazing big cats while it is still cool outside.
The Jacksons soon acquired many more big cats for their refuge when a breeder and black market dealer on the run showed up with forty-two cats stuffed in cattle trailers. The Jacksons put a great deal of work into preparing the 500-acre refuge where TCWR now rests. Over time people from all over the country began contacting the Jacksons, seeking to relieve themselves of the burden of their big cats. TCWR is USDA regulated and now rescues cats that have been abandoned, abused or neglected by their licensed or unlicensed owners.
Cost for admission is $20 for adults, $15 for teenagers, and $10 for Senior Citizens. Children three and younger get in free. During the summer months, the refuge is open from 9am to 6pm. The park is open every day of the year except for Christmas. Feeding time is a major highlight not to be missed which is usually around 5 p.m. during the summer. TCWR also offers habitat tours and educational talks given by refuge zoologists and biologists.
“The cats go through about 1500 pounds of raw meat every day,” says Smith. Eighty-five percent of it is donated as poultry by Tyson Foods. The remainder is donated by individuals or purchased using donations. If you are interested in volunteering or donating your time or money to this one of a kind refuge located right here in Arkansas, visit their website at
TCWR houses 130 big cats and other endangered wildlife. All of the cats are spayed or neutered and are given the best care possible. The refuge also offers photography opportunities as well as lodging. Some people have even been married there. Definitely worth the drive, this is a must see destination for every Arkansan and an opportunity to help support a place of safety for these animals in need.
hot springs
APRIL
EVENT CALENDAR
4-5
Arkansas College Basketball All-Star Game at Summit Arena
4-6
Five Star Theatre presents The World Famous Platters
11 Five Star Theatre
presents Neil Diamond Tribute Artist Keith Allyn
at Five Star Theatre, 701 Central
presents “Over the River and Through the Woods”
at The Pocket Theatre, 170 Ravine
5 The Help the Homeless Benefit Concert
at Low Key Arts, 118 Arbor | 8pm
Mid-America Science Museum “Tinkerfest” 10am - 3pm at Mid-America Science Museum, 500 Mid America Boulevard
for 2014 Season
at Magic Springs 11am
ARKANSAS DERBY DAY at Oaklawn Racing
4th annual rHythm at the runway car & truck show at Hot Springs Memorial Airport 10am - 3pm
at Downtown Farmer’s Market, 121 Orange
at Quapaw Bathhouse 413 Central Ave. | 6pm
LOST IN THE TREES at Low Key Arts, 118 Arbor | 8pm
MAY 1-3 16th Annual
Hot Springs Corvette Weekend
at The Austin Hotel and The Convention Center
13 Wine Tasting hosted by Wine MAY 2-3 Pioneer Days
Rack Spirits Shoppe
Casa Bella, 325 Broadway | 3 - 5pm
Lakeside Jazz Spring Swing
Beauty and the Bride 2014 Bridal Expo
at Lakeside Middle School, 2871 Malvern Ave. | 7pm
at Hamp Willams Building, 510 Ouachita 1pm - 4pm
11 3rd Annual Vocal-rama
15 THE MUSES
at Arlington | 7pm
5th Greatest Lobster Party Ever
25 4th Friday Arkansas 12 Magic Springs Opening Day Jazz Experience
at Five Star Theatre, 701 Central
4-13 The Pocket Theatre
19 The Spa city blues society
213 Whittington Ave | 7:30pm
at Garland County Fairgrounds, 4831 Malvern Avenue | 10am - 8pm
SATURDAYS Hot Springs
Farmers Market at Transportation Depot 121 Orange #hshotspots
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7 11 C e n t r a l av e n u e
Copperpennypub.Com
Grand Opening
April 24th live music EVERY Weekend! SUNDAY BRUNCH Don’t Miss!
A d A m FA u c e t t • A p r i l 2 1
irish fare • burgers • beer • cocktails • music
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