Hot Springs Hot Spots Magazine - July 2015

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JULY 2015

KUHS 97.9 HANDMADE RADIO pg 27 national park aquarium pg 23 FILL THE BUS pg 14 BAILEY’S pg 6

MISS ARKANSAS SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT PG 18

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LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

HOT SPRINGS HOT SPOTS CREATIVE/ART Marisa Rodgers EDITORS Josh Williams J. L. James PHOTOGRAPHY Jeremy Rodgers Amanda Shelley Ledbetter CONTRIBUTORS Grace Brown Aaron Brewer Woodrow Hightower SALES Josh Williams

Welp, summer’s here. Officially. The mosquitos are out and the humidity is up. Even though we’re constantly itching our legs and slapping our necks with ferocity and moving at a pace reminiscent of someone having a hot, soaking wet towel draped over their shoulders, we have much to look forward to. Hot Springs Village is rife with activity, with Basecamp and its 100 Days of Summer, and whatnot. Various parks, trails, golf courses, lakes, spillways and amphitheaters await, patiently, for our arrival. But, if you want to beat the heat, we will show you a local aquarium that is as cool as it looks, or you can mosey on down to Star Gallery and meet an artist from Little Rock who takes doodling to the next level. But, back to the outdoor fun. The sun is shining. Go down to Magic Springs and catch a classic funk and R&B band. Take a stroll down the promenade or go get some fresh eats from the food trucks at the Farmer’s Market for Pete’s sake. Speaking of fresh food, we will inform you of a local farm who supplies our area with their goods and two chefs who are doing something creative down on the farm and making beautiful music for your taste buds. Speaking of beautiful, the reigning Miss Arkansas, Ashton Campbell hung out with us folks at Render for a day, and we got it all on camera. Speaking not of cameras, KUHS 97.9 will be making its debut on our FM dials in the coming days, and our ear drums couldn’t be more turned on. So sit back, or get up, or do whatever it is you do. Enjoy this fun, vibrant, exciting time of the season, and forget about all the pain and anguish we put each other through on a daily basis. Enjoy this issue of our magazine. You’ve earned it.

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EATS BAILEY’S DAIRY TREAT

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20 years of Grilling and chilling

MUS I C KC & the sunshine band

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The music legend performS at Oaklawn’s Finish line Theater

ART S norgi

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IN A WORLD OF COLOR, SOMETIMES BLACK AND WHITE IS NECESSARY

G IVI NG FILL THE BUS

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united way: leading the way by lending a helping hand

D O N’T M I S S ALBUM REVIEWS

6 FE AT U RED

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18 MISS EVERY WOMAN 23 up close & personal

HOW THE GIRL NEXT DOOR IS SHAPING THE FUTURE national park aquarium offers an educational experience for all

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27 ON THE AIR 32 FARM TO TABLE

KUHS 97.9 HANDMADE RADIO CULINARY pop-UP HOSTED BY JV FARMS, Featuring two RENOWNED Chefs

9 10 LIVE SHOW LISTINGS 16 restaurant LISTINGS 33 TOP 10 THINGS 35 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE JULY

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EATS

BAILEy’s

Photography by Jeremy Rodgers

Story by Grace Brown

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Bailey’s Dairy Treat: 20 Years of Grilling and Chilling

It’s that time of year again where hamburgers and hot dogs are many people’s go-to summer eats. With all the fast food joints in town it’s hard to find out where the good burgers actually are; lucky for you we here at Hot Spots have the perfect little drive-in for you to check out on your next lunch break. For the past 20 years, Lien and Kieulien Morphew have been serving up handmade burgers and frosty treats to the community of Hot Springs.

Bailey’s Dairy Treat is a local, family owned drivein located on Park Ave, and every Monday through Saturday Lien and his wife can be found dishing out quality food with friendly service.

Lien came to America 40 years ago in 1975 from Vietnam when he was adopted by an American family. Since then he has been an active member of the community. He attended school right here in the Spa City and is a graduate of Hot Springs High. Before becoming the owner of Bailey’s, he star ted as an

employee there when it was known as The Polar Bar, and now, its twenty years later…

Just last month the Morphew family celebrated their 20 years of excellent service to the Hot Springs community with free hot dogs, ice cream and cake. People crowded the small drive-in’s parking lot to get a taste of the handmade hamburger patties Lien makes each day. Even President Bill Clinton reached out to congratulate him on his drive-in’s success. Lien greets each customer with a hear t-warming smile: a small ray of light into the lives of many of his regulars.

“I have people come up and they don’t have to order,” he said. “I already know what they want.”

Bailey’s is his dream come to life; “I wanted to own my own business after I worked with my partner in Houston. I like owning my own business. I can do what I want,” he laughed. And he does just that; Lien decided to add some of his eastern culture to his menu and started serving chicken fried rice, beef fried rice, steak

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fried rice and egg rolls. “I had to do something different, hamburgers are everywhere now. Besides, everybody loves my fried rice,” he proudly said. He uses only the freshest meat at his drive-in and his chili is homemade.

They offer up some of the freshest, most-juicy burgers in town, and their onion rings and fries are on point!

Aside from the his burgers and chili dogs, Lien makes a mean banana split sundae with real fruit.

He layers his soft serve vanilla ice cream with fudge, fresh banana puree, real strawberries and finally whipped topping. Trust me when I say you’re going to want to share this one with a friend; it’s a monster of

a treat! Aside from the sundaes, he has several flavors of malts and shakes that are all made from Coleman Dairy products and real fruit.

One of the best things about Bailey’s, aside from the banana split, has to be the prices. Their most expensive menu item is only $5.99! Try going to some fast food drive through and finding deals like that.

The “Bailey’s Big Mouth Special” is hands-down the best deal around as far as good ole’ classic burgers go. You get a large cheeseburger, fries and a drink for $6. Their menu covers the basics: chicken, beef and fish, along with treats like cheese sticks and onion rings, but there is nothing basic about the taste. You can taste the happiness and passion that goes into their work.

Bailey’s Dairy Treat is located at 501 Park Ave., just nor th of the downtown strip. They are open every Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. The food is always made-to-order fresh, and the service treats you better than family does. Head on down and try one of their homemade egg rolls or handmade hamburgers before another twenty years passes you by.

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MUSIC

MUSIC LEGENDS

KC & the sunshine band PERFORM at Oaklawn’s Finish Line Theater and that’s the Way we like it

Photography Courtesy of The Hot Seat

Story by J. L. James

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Their first album was released 42 years ago, and their sophomore release went triple platinum in 1975.

Music legends KC and the Sunshine Band, fronted by Harry Wayne “KC” Casey, tore up the charts in the 1970s with hits like “That’s the Way (I Like It)” and “I’m your Boogie Man,” and now they’re back with their first new studio album in more than a decade. The first disc of the two-part release, “Feelin’ You! The 60s,” was released earlier this year while “Feelin’ You! Part 2” will be released later in 2015. On July 24 KC and the Sunshine band will bring their top 40 parade live to Oaklawn Racing and Gaming.

The band debuted in 1973, but for the first few years the band was primarily Casey himself. “No band existed,” Casey said. “I used studio musicians and played many parts myself.”

Around the time the smash self-titled second album was released, Casey had a core group of musicians

who remained constant until about 1980. Casey said he loved his early career, but beginning in the early 80s he began to burn out. In 1984 KC and the Sunshine Band officially retired.

“I was just so done with the business,” Casey said.

In 1993, after a nine-year hiatus, “The Arsenio Hall Show” hosted a reunion of KC and the Sunshine Band.

The band then played a few gigs for family and friends before finally deciding to get back into show business. Casey said he enjoyed performing again but the reintroduction to the business took its toll. “I went through a period of doing bad things,” Casey said. “I went on a drug and alcohol binge and in 1995 I checked in to rehab for three months.” Casey is proud to say that he’s been sober for nearly 20 years.

Casey used to use music as reason to use, now he uses music to celebrate recovery.

With the “Feelin’ You!” project, Casey explores new depths as a musician and songwriter. “Feelin’ You! The

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ALBUMS ON REVIEW

TODRICK HALL on youtube

60s” is a collection of covers of 60s classics. He covers songs from Aaron Neville’s “Tell it Like it Is” to Smoky Robinson’s “You Really got a hold on Me” to Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind.” “It’s really the musical diary of my life,” Casey said.

Casey recorded a slower tempo version of Jackie DeShannon’s “Put a Little Love in your Heart.” “It was after Sandy Hook,” Casey said. “And I felt the words were more important than the groove.”

Where Casey has really evolved is as a song writer, which he says will be apparent on “Feelin’ You! Part 2.” “Lyrically,” Casey said, “I’ve matured immensely. I’ve gone to places I never went before.” Casey said he’s a “commercial songwriter,” and for the first time he’s “writing with more depth.” With three Grammy awards and more than 100 million albums sold, Casey has certainly mastered the art of commercial song writing. Casey said he’s proud of this album because he’s evolved as a songwriter and vocally sounds “better than ever before.”

Casey said he’s “testing the waters” experimenting with deeper issues in writing lyrics and incorporating more of a funk and swing sound like he did in the 70s. “I’m ready to get the next record,” he said.

Casey said he’s “looking forward” to performing at Oaklawn Racing and Gaming on July 24. Younger fans who dig that pure dance pop thing are sure to love the show, but probably not as much as die hards who remember rocking out to Casey’s hits in the disco back in the 70s.

YouTuber Todrick Hall is breaking new ground in the entertainment scene after videos he posted to YouTube went viral. For nearly 5 years he and his crew have written, choreographed, styled and directed nearly 50 full scale musical productions. Each production features beautiful cinematography and original twists on lyrics set to familiar tunes.

Hall auditioned for American Idol season 9, and after reaching the semifinals he turned to YouTube in hopes of continuing his dream. The majority of the videos posted to his channel are original musical parodies, but he has recently

SLIGHTLY STOOPID Meanwhile… Back at the Lab

The eclectic, West Coast rockers from Orange Beach, San Diego, California are back, just in time for summer.

With their eighth studio album, and first in three years, “Meanwhile…Back at the Lab,” comes at your ear drums with a myriad of sounds that are unmistakably Stoopid. After 21 years, the unclassifiable band who plays a fusion of folk, rock, reggae and blues mixed with hip-hop, funk, metal and punk are still having fun and making your day better.

The newest effort opens with Dabbington, a mellow, funk-inspired groove that eases you into the day with its driving

started doing covers of popular songs including “Invisible” by country music star Hunter Hayes. Some of his most popular videos feature Disney characters, popular YouTubers and the band Pentatonix.

Although most of Hall’s music is deep fried in satire his talents as a musician are impeccable. His ability to manipulate lyrics and layer them seamlessly on top of each other for beautiful results is really amazing. His unique style is sure to get you dancing and singing along in no time flat.

Hall has already done one nationwide tour, “Twerk Du Soleil,” where he and his crew performed some of their favorite original songs including “Twerking in the Rain,” “All that Ass” and “Pentatodrix.”

A few of Hall’s posts to his YouTube channel serve a dual purpose, as he occasionally takes his moment in the spotlight to address pop-culture issues. His video titled “Beauty and the Beat Boots” addresses the LGBTQ community while “Alice in WeHoLand” satirically deals with people being too consumed by their cell phones. Whatever the message he attempts to get across, Hall has his audience ROTFL (rolling on the floor laughing) with his witty approach. He, without a doubt, possesses a unique quality that could add a new and interesting element to the entertainment world. — Review by Grace Brown rhythyms and funky bass lines. As the album progresses, so does the music. Guitar maestros and band founders, Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald get back to their pop roots with “The Prophet” before easing back, slightly, to the steel drum, funky synth and reggae inspired grooves that they are known for on “Fades Away,” before finally opening up their hearts with the punk anthem, appropriately titled, “Fuck You,” and at this point you’re not even halfway through the album.

The dirty funk of “Time Won’t Wait” and the grungy blues of Rolling Stone will get your juices flowing. If you haven’t yet, you’ll come around with “Come Around.”

C-Money, DeLa and Karl Denson bring the horn section into focus and drummer Ryan Moran steadies the groove the whole way. The easy-going, feel-good nature of the band comes through with the delicate mandolin and percussion sounds from Oguer Ocon on “One Bright Day,” and the blues hound in each of us will surface after hearing “Life Rolls On.”

The album showcases Slightly Stoopid’s wide range of musical talent, which they’ve been developing over the years. This album proves how flexible the band has become in their two decades of genre exploration. If your lucky enough, maybe you can catch them on their 2015 Summer tour, Everything is Awesome. In the meantime, go get this album. — Review by Josh Williams

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VENUES

LIVE SHOW LISTINGS

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arts

NORGI Jimmy Parks AKA “Norgi” In a World of Color, Sometimes Black and White is Necessary

Story by Josh Williams

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Hot Springs has always been a town that has been quite receptive to artists of all ilk. Good artists.

Unknown artists. The town affords them a platform to display their craft. It has always been so giving and nurturing. And the artists respond in kind. They give their all back to the community by producing art that is one of a kind. I mean, who takes an art form that consists of nothing but black ink scribbled on white background and makes it interesting? I mean, nobody reads anymore, right? Because society today is so entranced with loud and bright colors, the subtleties and nuances of gray have been lost in the fold. One man is bringing them back.

Jimmy Parks, a.k.a. “Norgi,” is a 49-year-old native of Little Rock. He love to draw. He’s been doing it for most of his life. And he’s really good at it. He grew up in Searcy with a strict, religious background and he was doing alright, but he wanted a deeper connection. He wanted to be

free to do his art wherever and whenever he pleased. He wanted to escape. So, he did what most other teenagers do — rebel. He started drawing with the fervor of a thousand illustrators. And he came up with something unique. And all he used was a ball point pen — well, sometimes he used a Sharpie — and a white canvas. When someone looked at his body of work from afar, they would think that someone was just doodling on a page. But if one looked closer one would realize that something else is there. His drawings were crazy and cool, wild and reckless. They almost looked like one of those Rorschach tests. They were vague, yet exact. One friend told him that a piece “looked like cartoons having an orgy,” and so, Norgi was conceived.

The public was outraged. “Wait a minute, that’s not art. That’s just scribbling on a page. That’s a juvenile waste of time.” Remember what Andy Warhol said, “Art is what you can get away with.” Norgi doesn’t care, anyway. “I don’t mind that

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some people think my work is juvenile. It’s less pretentious that way. Oh, I like to play around a bit, you know, get messy. But I also like to keep things simple. Black and white. Clean lines.

Plus, I can do it anywhere and it’s very inexpensive. There is always a pen and a piece of paper lying around. You know those pens that have those messages on them, ‘this pen was stolen from--?’ They made those because of me.”

Black ink on the complete absence of color is not his only style he’s produced some sculptures, he’s done smaller figurines and some more functional pieces. He has also created some political cartoons, some of which have appeared in a couple Little Rock publications — Emerald City South and Free Press of Central Arkansas.

“Whatever I’m doing,” he said, “It’s about broadening consciousness. I really want my art to communicate and connect with people. I find myself doing more ‘participatory art.’ It’s just where I’m at right now. Lately, I’ll be doing a show in a gallery and I’ll leave a pen and a post-it note with a two or three squiggly lines

on it asking people to continue the drawing. Then the public comes in and adds their own touch, their own piece, and make it communal. I’ll come back two or three weeks later and there are thousands of drawings based on a few wavy lines. There are some really creative people out there. It’s amazing.”

Norgi’s art will never go out of style. One really doesn’t know what the hell it is, and ignorance will always be in fashion. That’s the beauty of art. It’s open to interpretation.

Plus, one would never have to worry about which way to hang a Norgi on the wall. He said, “I want it to be hard to decide. I don’t even like to sign it. I take it in from different perspectives.

I try to keep it vague. I want you to see it from different points of view. I don’t start with a theme or a message. I want people to see it on their own. It’s all about pure expression.”

Norgi is a big fan of Apophenia — the experience of perceiving patterns or connections in random or meaningless data. That’s what we are really.

Just meaningless data. But there is hope for us yet, and Norgi believes it more than just about everybody. You can check out more of Norgi’s art at Star Gallery, located at 810 Central Avenue, or like Norgi Art on Facebook.

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GIVING

FILL THE BUS United Way is Leading the Way by Lending a Helping Hand

Photography Courtesy of United Way

Story by Grace Brown

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Stocking up on school supplies is probably the last thing on any parent’s mind in the middle of summer, but for parents of many students attending public school in Garland County that isn’t always a shopping trip they can afford to make. Thankfully, the selfless people at United Way of Garland County are hosting “Stuff the Bus,” an event held on July 31 and August 1 at all three Wal-Mar t locations in Garland County that helps families obtain school supplies for the upcoming school year. Volunteers will be waiting to pass out school supply lists and collect donations from nine in the morning until three in the afternoon.

United Way is a worldwide, charitable, nonprofit organization that offers assistance to those in need in an assortment of ways, one being the annual, tax-free event, Fill the Bus. Their mission states that they focus on creating a “common good” at the hands of members within individual communities, and signs of progress are evident within our community. This is the fourth year that United Way has sponsored this event after seeing this great need within the county. As a

result, students at local public schools are able to live healthier lives and gain access to the same resources as their more fortunate peers.

With 22 schools in the area receiving assistance from United Way, beaucoups supplies are needed, and it really isn’t that hard to help out.

“While you’re out shopping, pick up a few extra boxes of crayons or a notebook — a little can go a long way,” said Executive Director Jane Browning of United Way. Browning has thir ty years of experience as an executive director of non-profits under her belt, among many other talents, and she has dedicated her life to helping others, and she’s brought her kind-hear ted nature here to the Spa City.

All of the donated school supplies are sor ted by volunteers, stuffed onto a school bus and then divided between the 22 schools in the area, although some schools have taken matters into their own hands. Once the items reach the school it is at the discretion of the school’s counselor to distribute the supplies as they deem necessary. “The items we need

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the most are calculators for our high school students and backpacks in all sizes,” said Browning.

For a while now, the need for school supplies has been on the rise and businesses, churches, and other members of the community have made individual efforts to collect supplies and disperse them. Now United Way serves to help manage and expedite the process. Before school supply drives, many teachers would use their own money to make sure every student had the supplies they needed to get through the school year.

Jamie Limbaugh, a four th grade teacher at Oaklawn Magnet School, knows all about the needs in the classroom. “Even if the impact is as minimal as a pack of pencils it still sets the stage for the rest of the year for that child,” said Limbaugh. She stressed how “huge” Fill the Bus is and it’s huge impact on the children receiving school supplies, in par ticular those in elementary school. “It puts every student on a level playing field so no student feels that they star t the year off already behind,” said Limbaugh. “That can help boost the morale of students that may be behind

in academics, and impact their performance the rest of the year.”

The wonderful work from the people at United Way of Garland County extends far beyond Fill the Bus to foster a positive learning environment for children attending public schools, each year they hold “Garland County’s Got Talent” and award scholarships to the school that produces the winner, and the scholarship money is then split among the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners.

United way also works closely with the Oaklawn Foundation to ensure that cer tain needs of students living in pover ty are met. According to Ann Carrithers, “the Oaklawn Foundation donates $33,000 annually to all seven school districts, plus National Park College.” Carrithers is in charge of seeing that the money donated is distributed evenly among each district. Like the school supplies, the funds are split up and given to each school. Once the school receives the aid, it is up to school counselors to distribute.

This donation from the Oaklawn Foundation is a huge

added bonus to what the school’s already receive. The schools can use this gift for everything from money for doctor’s visits and medicines, groceries, or paying a utility bill for the month.

According to Browning, one in three children live below the pover ty line: That means in a regular high school classroom, eight to ten students on average are faced with burdens no child should have to experience. Worrying about not having food to eat or not having enough school supplies to get through the year are questions all too common in our community.

That is exactly why non-profit organizations like United Way are doing the work they are so passionate about.

Currently they are seeking volunteers to pass out school supply lists to shoppers, sor t out donations and fill the buses parked outside each of the three locations. If you are interested in learning about how to volunteer, or the services offered by United Way, you can contact their office at (501) 6232505 or visit them in person at 233 Hobson Ave. Hot Springs, Ark.

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EAT/DRINK

RESTAURANT LISTINGS BANANA SPLIT SHAKE FROM BAILEY’s

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MISS ARKANSAS

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hot springs

Miss Every Woman How the girl next door is shaping the future Story by J. L. James

As it has every year since 1958, Hot Springs will host a plethora of talented and beautiful women who each represent a unique and important cause. Between July 5 and 11, judges will select one of 46 young women, who’ve been working their tails off to represent their communities, and crown her the next Miss Arkansas. Of course this young woman will be beautiful. Of course she’ll have to look good in a bathing suit. Of course she’ll have to tap dance or sing or play the piano; but, what most people don’t realize is that she’ll also touch the lives of thousands of young people across the state of Arkansas; that she’ll serve as mentor and role model for the girls who will be the future of Arkansas, the nation and the world; and, that she’ll embody a representation of Arkansas for which this state should be most grateful and proud.

The woman who will be passing the crown this month is Miss Arkansas Ashton Campbell of Hindsville, a town of fewer than 100 people. Campbell won the title the first time she competed in the pageant, a rare feat in the pageant world. While Campbell has certainly represented the title of Miss Arkansas with beauty and grace, she believes it’s important that Arkansans realize that there is more, much more, to Miss Arkansas than a beauty pageant. “I want to remind people of the power of the organization,” Campbell said, “and all the young women who are working really hard to serve

Photography by Jeremy Rodgers

their communities and raise money for a lot of different causes. It’s so much more than one crown.”

Every contestant in the pageant represents a platform, and that’s the real essence of the pageant: that each woman has dedicated her time to an important improvement to her community. Campbell’s platform, “Aim higher: setting our sites on higher education,” is closely tied to Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant and her inspiration to begin competing in the Miss Arkansas system. The Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant is part of the Miss America Pageant system, the single largest scholarship provider to young women in the nation. The Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant awards more than $88,000 in scholarships to contestants.

While Campbell was a junior high student researching her own academic future she became inspired to compete in the pageant system. “When I was 14 I told my parents I want to go to the University of Arkansas,” Campbell said. “They said, ‘help us pay for it.’”

Campbell, as ambitious at 14 as she is at 21, began researching various scholarships to help her achieve her goal and inevitably stumbled upon information about the Miss Arkansas and Miss Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen pageants. In 2011, Campbell won the Miss Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen crown, receiving $3,000 in scholarship and more than $5,000 in awards and gifts.

While a student at U of A preparing for the Miss Ouachita River Pageant (which she won, receiving even more scholarship money), she became passionate about higher education in Arkansas. She and a professor were discussing some concerns about the state of education in Arkansas. Campbell said she read that Arkansas ranked 2nd in the nation in child poverty and the number of students seeking higher education was significantly lower than that of the national average. Her professor noticed Campbell’s passion and suggested she represent higher education as a platform.

“If we push education in Arkansas,” Campbell said, “then maybe some of the cycles of disadvantage would be impeded as well.”

Winning Miss Arkansas earned Campbell another $20,000 in scholarships, then when she was 2nd runner up to Miss America, she earned another $20,000. She went beyond “helping” her parents pay for U of A.

Campbell’s parents were among the first generation in her family to get a college education, and she’s used their example to rally behind her platform throughout her reign as Miss Arkansas. “As Miss Arkansas you have the opportunity to reach thousands of kids,” Campbell said. “I talk about how my father grew up in a home with nothing but his parents pushed him to go to school. I try to be as personable as possible.”

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MISS ARKANSAS

Which is another thing Campbell has excelled at: being the most down-to-Ear th person to where a crown.

“She’s so real,” said Miss White River Samantha Hudon.

“She’s always herself. She has a genuine hear t.”

Hudon, a 23-year-old Hot Springs native and graduate of Lakeside High School is one of the 46 women hoping to receive the crown from Campbell on July 11. Hudon is a sophomore, majoring in broadcast journalism at the University of Central Arkansas.

Hudon, who was mentored by Miss Arkansas 2013 Amy Crain, said that Campbell has been a “phenomenal” Miss Arkansas.

Hudon’s platform is “Get up, Get moving.”

She said if she won on July 11 she would spend her reign promoting healthy lifestyles and reaching people.

“I would want to be remembered for my platform which is active lifestyles,” Hudon said. “I want everyone to be active, not just youth.” Hudon also said she would set a goal to be the most traveled Miss Arkansas so she could “reach the most people.”

Hudon is an experienced contestant who has held multiple titles such as Miss South Central Arkansas, Miss Frisco Springs, and in 2012 she was Miss Greater Hot Springs, which she said was her “most exciting title to hold.” This will be her four th time to compete in the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant.

The current Miss Greater Hot Springs, AuBrianna Burroughs, has little pageant experience but is well-versed in serving her community. At 24, this will be Burroughs’ first and only time to compete in Miss Arkansas before reaching the age limit. Burroughs’ major inspiration for competing is her platform: “Disability doesn’t mean inability.”

Burroughs is involved in a non-profit organization called Ali’s Angels, which is dedicated to helping find a cure for Batten’s disease and to developing all-inclusive playgrounds that would not

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hot springs

separate children with special needs from their peers.

“I thought this would be an amazing way to get a voice,” Burroughs said. “It’s a good avenue to get that message out there.”

Burroughs said that the “Alpha” (that’s what they call pageant virgins) experience is “overwhelming.”

“Ultimately,” she said, “you’re applying for a major job.

Fitness is a big par t of it but mostly it’s interviewing skills. It’s a lot of prep work.”

Burroughs said she’s impressed with how Campbell has conducted herself as Miss Arkansas and would love the oppor tunity to reach as many people as Campbell has. “She’s been absolutely wonderful,” she said. “She has been herself this whole time and it’s been amazing to watch her grow this last year.”

Campbell, Hudon and Burroughs all agree on the most impor tant roles of Miss Arkansas: to serve as the spokesperson for both the Children’s Miracle Network and Arkansas Children’s Hospital and to serve as mentor to young women through various programs and as a role model in the public eye.

Campbell has pulled this off and then some. She has taken her predecessor Amy Crain’s advice — to leave the organization better than she found it – to hear t. Throughout her reign she spoke with more than 60,000 children and treated each one with the respect and dignity each of them deser ve. Whether she was wearing her crown on the back of a Harley or wolfing down coon meat (which she said is way too rubbery to taste like chicken) in Gilett, Ark., she’s taken the time to be genuine and personable with each person she encountered. She said that genuineness is the most impor tant quality her successor should have. She would tell the next Miss Arkansas this: “My advice is that it doesn’t matter if it’s your 1,000th person to meet that day, you treat them like they’re your first.”

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Up Close & Personal NATIONAL PARK AQUARIUM OFFERS ANYONE WHO ENTERS A UNIQUE and educational experience with its scaly residents Story by Woodrow Hightower Photography by Jeremy Rodgers #hshotspots

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AQUARIUM

No one quite seems to know what to expect when they walk into the bright blue gift shop holding the entrance to the National Park Aquarium. The building, occupying part of the Arlington Hotel’s parking garage, is modest enough from the street. With a quick exchange of money, the guest is advised to enter through a painted slat door to a unique collection of fish, lizards and invertebrate. Everyone from Nemo the clownfish to the Geico Gecko is represented here. Since it’s a common concern, rest assured that the collection does not include any snakes. Time to relax.

Often overlooked by locals, the National Park Aquarium has quietly “wow”ed children and adults alike for decades with its offbeat purpose: to display the beautifully chaotic spectrum of the less-than-fuzzy share of animals that makes up the majority of the natural world. The NPA is curated and managed by my parents, Kelly & Dana Hightower, who obtained ownership and took over operations

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in January 2007. With reasonable admission prices, this indoor attraction provides a valuable, pleasant and refreshing alternative to the baked midday pavement after a long day walking downtown. The establishment encourages people to go at their own pace and get to know the various animals. Between the informative labels and knowledgeable staff, you would have to try very hard to not learn something.

Don’t let larger aquariums cloud your judgement; this establishment is unique to Arkansas, let alone Hot Springs, and it won’t disappoint.

It’s wor th pointing out that, in terms of sheer spectacle, this place is cer tainly not in competition with larger regional aquariums and zoos.

We use the limited space that we have to cram in as much passion and wonder as possible. The strength of the Aquarium is in its details. With many small scale exhibits highlighting species and small ecosystems and an engaged staff, the guests can feel more involved

with the various specimens. Cer tain reptiles, such as Slowpoke the sulcata tor toise and the bearded dragons are often uncaged by the curators, allowing handson interaction with the audience. The Aquarium also focuses on displaying species with interesting qualities or stories to promote a more personal engagement.

This place has been a par t of the community, and its passion is bringing science and nature to those who might not otherwise get to enjoy it.

While the star of the show is undoubtedly the large sulcata tor toise, many people also enjoy the chameleons near the entrance. The beautifully strange blind cave fish swim amidst quar tz crystals. The fact that they don’t have eyes often surprises people. A dramatically colored blue line grouper, a saltwater fish, watches the guests more aler tly than they watch him.

Each creature in the Aquarium has a personality, even the unashamedly slothful Gila monsters. Their eyes are bright, and everyone is clearly well-fed and happy.

hot springs

A major goal of the Aquarium is to make sure that its customers leave educated. Although many exhibits consist of fish or insects that are pretty to look at, some discuss different issues.

The four-eyed fish, an interesting specimen with two pupils in each eye, has led scientific study into new discoveries in optics and the function of the eye. It’s also housed with a small colony of fiddler crabs who live among the mangroves and threaten passersby with their claws. Another standout from the labels is the distressing tendency of private pet owners to buy and subsequently abandon reptile species, such as iguanas, that get too large and live too long. Many of the exhibits in the building are actually rescued from pet owners who were no longer able to care for their exotic pets, and unfor tunately, the Aquarium has reached capacity.

Another service this business provides is to acquaint children and adults with the less

conventionally cute animals of the world. Many people harbor a vague distrust and fear of reptiles and insects, which is not always warranted. Although many species are dangerous, others are perfectly benign. Beyond that, however, is that these animals are all more mindful and charismatic than the average person would assume. By interacting with these exotic animals that many people might never see or touch, the experience can lead to a wider view of nature and how its pieces fit together.

The constant incremental improvements the Hightower family have made to the Aquarium in recent years are obvious. The building, which was originally built to be a showroom for automobiles, was conver ted to its current layout in the late 80s.

A combination of the aging building and decades of “good enough” repairs give the establishment a distinct personality, not to mention the fun, eccentric nature of the current owners. Many of the original

tanks are still in place, and their scratched glass tells their age. The paint on the guardrails is chipped and worn by thousands of hands and young, climbing feet. The bathrooms are still using original fixtures, for those who enjoy antique porcelain.

When you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day, hot day or really any day, the National Park Aquarium can make it happen for you. With a unique gift shop and a professionally curated animal collection, the experience is well wor th the price of admission, and it remains one of Hot Springs’ best kept secrets. Make sure to stop by for a visit this summer and, as the bossman – my dad — would say, “Come be surprised by nature!” Prices are $5.75 for adults, $4.25 for children ages 4-12, and $4.75 for seniors ages 60 and wiser. Summer hours are currently 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Group rates are available, call 501 624-3474 for details or questions.

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KUHS 97.9 handmade radio Story by Josh Williams Photography by Amanda Shelley Ledbetter & Aaron Brewer #hshotspots

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KUHS COMMUNITY RADIO

Most of today’s popular entertainment sucks.

Let’s start with music, for example. We are spoon-fed these shitty, mass produced, generic noises with lyrics that have the breadth and depth that only a 13-year-old can express. Video images are even worse than the socalled “music.” Our brains are inundated with lame ass, three-minute home movies of cats sleeping or babies trying to dance or people hitting each other with shovels – the latter is actually kind of entertaining – but seriously, what has happened to us? I thought we were supposed to set some sort of example for the rest of the human race.

“What are you talking about? Just look at that dog chasing its tail. It’s so cute.” I’m going to quote Annie Savoy here, “Cute? Cute?? Ducks are cute. I don’t want to be cute.

I want to be exotic and mysterious.” That is exactly what the new organic, home-grown community radio station in Hot Springs is going to bring to the airwaves.

The long anticipated debut of KUHS 97.9 FM Hand-Made Radio is just over the horizon. Speaking of

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the horizon, the radio station will run entirely on solar power, with the exception of a couple backup batteries for emergencies, and it’s the only one in the state of Arkansas, just so you know. This will also be the Spa City’s first true community radio station. The buzz about this spot on the frequency modulation dial has been in people’s ears for a long time now, and soon that static will become the sweet sounds of music, news, theater, variety, sports, talk — you name it. This radio station will be different from your run-of-the-mill commercial radio stations. As a non-profit radio station, many of the guidelines and playlists to which commercial radio adheres don’t apply. Hand-Made Radio can play whatever the hell it wants to play, without succumbing to the desires of huge record labels and over-regulated media conglomerates.

KUHS is a “community” radio station; it needs the support of the community. It’s disc jockeys won’t be getting paid, the artists and musicians featured won’t

be getting paid, the technicians at the station won’t be getting paid. This station is a true labor of love, and it has been ever since the idea for it was conceived.

Hot Springs has been extremely supportive.

There are numerous individuals and groups of people who have been instrumental in the development of KUHS already: a Kickstarter campaign raised more than $10,000, performance art groups such as Foul Play Cabaret and Red Door Studios have donated several thousand greenbacks through benefits, local businesses such as City Plumbing and Electric have given cold hard cash, and Steve Gill and Wireless Etc. have provided the site for the broadcast tower for the price of peanuts.

But three people in particular have proven to be the life blood of Hand Made Radio.

Bill Solleder is the executive director of Low Key Arts, a non-profit entity dedicated to promoting local artists and their craft. He also helped spearhead the KUHS movement. The FCC requires community radio

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stations to follow two critical guidelines: The content must be locally produced and the station must broadcast for a minimum of 40 hours a week. “When Bob Nagy and Zac Smith came to me with the idea,” Solleder said.

“I was humbled. They looked at the criteria it took to start KUHS, and they could’ve gone to anybody, but they came to us. It’s quite an honor.”

Solleder has always supported the local art scene and made a few friends along the way so it’s no surprise Nagy and Smith approached him. He has a vision for the radio station and what it means for Hot Springs.

“No matter where you go today, radio stations sound the same,” Solleder said. “KUHS has the opportunity to be completely different. It can pose as a farm system so to speak, where aspiring DJs and technicians can practice their craft. It can be used as a community calendar that all media can utilize, every genre of music can and will be played, it’s really a no-brainer for everybody.”

This is a huge opportunity for the city of Hot Springs to create its own market, to become its own media source. “Radio is something that turns everybody on,” KUHS general manager Zac Smith said. “It means so much when the younger generation, who has a lot to say, has the means to say it. They can choose their own damn music, expand their horizons and really get involved with what’s going on in Hot Springs. Why not take locally relevant stories and create our own media for it? I want to learn things about our community, hear bands I’ve never heard, meet people I’ve never met. I want to really expand the airwaves of our community. I want to tell the stories of Hot Springs.”

KUHS will tell the story of Hot Springs, alright.

They will make all 2 watts of power reach the entire world. “Wait a minute, 2 watts of power covers like, five miles.” That’s where the beauty of technology enters

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KUHS COMMUNITY RADIO

the fold, my friend. KUHS will be streaming. That’s right.

The interwebs. Everyone from Sheboygan to Shanghai will be able to get a taste of Hot Springs and the exciting and varied culture that it offers. There will even be an app for your mobile device.

Hot Springs community radio sounds awesome in theory, but one must have the means and the knowledge to manifest the vision of KUHS. Zac Smith and his partner in crime and life, Cheryl Roorda, own the property at 240 Ouachita Ave. Smith thought that it would be a suitable building but had some doubts.

Smith went to technological guru Bob Nagy for answers.

Nagy is the brains behind “the brain” of KUHS. Nagy, a native of New Hyde Park, New York, has been working with non-profits for years. He’s a board member with Austin Airwaves, a non-profit that promotes community radio all across the country. He taught a course on solar power at National Park College. He brings a fount of energy and expertise to KUHS. “I’m not a great

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programmer, but I’m a technical genius,” Bob said, touting his invention.

The aforementioned “brain” is an incredible piece of machinery. It may not look innovative and advanced, but looks can be deceiving. It’s a 16 in. by 24 in. piece of plywood that houses numerous computer components that only true computer exper ts can identify. “The brain” is an all-in-one command center for KUHS. It manages the power for the entire station, it takes temperature readings of the building, it has complete wireless communication capabilities, it gives up to the minute status readings of every job the radio station is performing – and it only cost $400 to construct. Nagy fits right into the Hot Springs community. “We’re a small station,” Nagy said, “but we’ve got big ideas and a big hear t.”

When KUHS launches in a matter of days, Hot Springs will have yet another home-grown, artistic, culturally rich product that everyone can enjoy. With all

the hatred and dissonance within the ranks of our society, it’s refreshing to have something that everyone can latch on to, and make their own. KUHS provides an outlet for people of all races, creeds, religions, sexual orientation and ideas to come together and make a positive impact on our neighborhood. And because there are very few restraints on the content that KUHS can produce, Hot Springs will truly have its own voice. Anyone interested in becoming a DJ or getting involved in any way can email kuhs@lowkeyarts.org. Tune in to 97.9 on your FM dial to listen, or visit KUHS-LP.com for more.

“I’m doing this because I love radio,” Smith said. “It’s a super fun medium, but community has been completely yanked out of it. I want to invert that. KUHS has the potential to live beyond my personal dreams and be an integral part of a healthy, engaged arts community for generations into the future. KUHS will be a key contributor to the overall health and vitality of this great fucking town. That’s my ultimate goal.”

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DON’t MISS!

FARM TO TABLE

A CULINARY Pop-up Hosted by JV Farms, Featuring Chefs T. Porter Montgomery and Jeffery Dobbs

Photography by Jeremy Rodgers

Story by Josh Williams

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If there is one event you don’t want to miss in July, it’s the Farm to Table “Pop-Up” cooking event hosted by JV Farms, located at 5754 Sycamore Road in Bismarck. It’s a new monthly event where two chefs, T. Por ter Montgomery and Jeffrey Dobbs, will create a four-course meal using locally grown food supplied by JV Farms. A lot of people are talking about it, especially the chefs. “I think it’s a fantastic idea, and a lot of fun,” Chef Por ter beamed. “Often as Chef’s we have these wild ideas for dishes, or cool ways of plating something, but sometimes they are so labor intensive, and demanding from a food cost standpoint, they can be very tough to execute in a commercial kitchen, especially if that kitchen is not able to charge more than $20 or $30 a plate for food. So you have to pick your battles when it comes to running a sustainable menu in your own restaurant. But when we do a popup such as this, we just get to have fun and create, it’s more like you are setting a dinner for your intimate

friends, so you really get to put your self, and your hear t out on the plate.”

JV Farms has the mantra that “healthy food starts on the farm.” They have an array of free ranged animals raised on grass and succulent woodlands free from chemicals and hormones. JV Farms, owned by Jay and Valorie Lee, also organically grows their own crops.

You can find their products on the farm on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11a.m. to 6:30 p.m., at The Village Market and at the Downtown Hot Springs Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. Call 501-732-9093, or email the farm at jvjvcattle@yahoo.com CHEF SPOTLIGHT

Chef T. Porter Montgomery, raised in the mountains of Colorado, a has made his living as both a personal chef, and a knife-for-hire. His first big crossroad came in his early 20s, when he made the decision to leave culinary school. Opting instead to spend his next

hot springs

four THINGS YOU DIDN’t KNOW ABOUT summer in

Story by Grace Brown

Hot Springs Village When you think of The Village, what comes to mind?

For most it’s probably incredibly slow drivers, retired people and seclusion. However, these days folks out

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# three years apprenticing under certified executive chef and traveling restaurant consultant, Jody Kessler. After traveling across the country with Chef Kessler’s sous chef, he finally ended up in the ski town of Sun Valley Idaho working on the catering crew at the famous “Christina’s of Sun Valley.” This employment afforded the opportunity to cook on multiple occasions for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rob Lowe, John Kerry, Jamie Lee Curtis and many other members of Hollywood and business royalty. Chef Porter initially came to Hot Springs for an extended weekend to visit family, which has now become almost 3 years. Having decided to stay in Hot Springs to be closer to his father who has been fighting cancer, chef Porter has recently taken over the kitchen at Surfa’s Culinary District.

Chef Jeffrey Dobbs began his commitment to culinary prowess on the old family slaughterhouse in Arkansas. During his college career, he was employed by the famous Stoby’s restaurant in Conway. It is here where he realized that “the restaurant provides a way to express my creative side as well as the hard working side.” After four years as Stoby’s line manager and a 6 year venture into the land of whitewater rafting guides and various other restaurant gigs, a former roommate convinced him to try his hand as a chef in Chicago. He trained under master chef Greg Houhoulis for almost two years, and then obtained the position of executive chef at The Ogden in downtown Chicago when he was 27.

Being two blocks east of the United Center, he cooked for many high-end athletes and movie stars. After his father became ill, Jeffrey moved back home. His father’s unfortunate passing has kept him in Hot Springs, and he’s looking forward to bringing his energy, expertise and hard work to the Spa City culinary scene.

in Hot Springs Village are celebrating summer in ways you may find surprising, and if you love the outdoors and the feeling of community, they want you to join.

GROVE PARK of Hot Springs Village is a beautiful new venue located within the woodland atmosphere of the Ouachitas and contains picnic benches, fire pits and a stage. Just some of the events you may find out at Grove Park include: REELS & GRILLS on July 17 and August 21 a movie theater-sized projector screen will fill the Grove Park stage area for a special showing of two featured outdoor enthusiast-related documentary films brought to you by the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

GREEN MARKET (formerly known as the Farmer’s Market) has found a new home at Grove Park. Open every Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon, it features locally made, locally grown products from some of your favorite Hot Springs vendors and new faces from all throughout Arkansas. The Artisan Market returns September 15 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and is a seasonal market featuring the wares of some of the areas finest artisan peddlers and crafters.

Music under the stars The first Friday of each month the park presents Rock Porch Sessions featuring live performances by some amazing musicians. The third Sunday of each month, musicians bring an instrument and jump right in at the “Rhythym Jam” sessions at 1 p.m.

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OUACHITA TRAIL CHAIN Currently there are 26 miles of trails located in the Village open for hikers, bikers and nature enthusiasts.

Plans are well underway for adding even more mountain biking, street biking and kayaking trails of varying difficulty, so it won’t be long until Hot Springs Village becomes a hotspot for outdoor thrill seekers.

100 days of summer The Hot Springs Village Basecamp is hosting 100 Days of Summer in hopes of promoting active lifestyles outdoors and educating outsiders of the unqiue, natural assets available to everyone in Hot Springs Village. Every day for 100 days, they are posting helpful tips and tricks to survive the heat and hosting events to take fun to the next level this summer, such as these first ever events:

KAYAKING STEEP CREEK RACE down the Balboa Spillway on September 5th where some of the most talented whitewater kayakers will compete

LONGBOARDING THE VILLAGe INVITATIONAL on July 19, and

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GEOCACHING CHALLENGE throughout the month of August.

ALL ABOUT THE WATER There are eleven lakes located within the gates of Hot Springs Village, with marinas located on Lakes Balboa (which even has a tiki bar!) and Desoto, where you’ll find the new “Waypoint at Desoto Marina.” At Waypoint you’ll find your standard marina shop, a Basecamp hub, coffee bar and a huge outdoor deck restaurant where you can relax and have a burrito and a beer. These lakes have great spots for fishing, boating, wakeboarding or just relaxing on the beach.

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TRENDING

#LATERGRAM•ING

WHAT’S HOT WHAT’S NOT Rainbows for Everyone!

The Supreme Cour t ruled in favor of samesex marriage, and now it is recognized in all 50 states. Love wins!

heyjamirae BTS- Last week’s shoot with @jeremy_rodgers_ photography and #MissArkansas2014 for this upcoming months issue #hotspringshotspots

His Holiness, Pope Francis, gave one heck of a cyclical.

He didn’t just address Catholics, but the entire human race, and called for us to open our eyes and attempt to fix the damage we’ve inflicted on our planet. Intelligence and an open mind in a religious figurehead? You don’t see that every day.

Downtown Renovations The City of Hot Springs held an open house at the Medical Ar ts Building downtown to kick off planning for the renovation of the unused upper floors of buildings in the downtown area. Economic progress for the 5th worst economy in the US? Yes, please.

The Season Finale of Game of Thrones Seriously, it sucked! Don’t even bother watching the show now, the books are way better anyway.

Obama moves to double the US salary limit on overtime!

Finally all that extra time you’ve been spending at the office is going to pay off… We hope.

Mr. Trump, you’re fired!

After making flat out racists and sexist comments, NBC decides to terminate Trump. Looks like he’s gonna have hell toupee. Sorry, couldn’t resist.

beverlydluxe #BeverlyDLuxeOrganicHair at home #TheVilla #hotspringshotspots #HotSprings

Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement While everyone was busy celebrating false hopes of unity, Obama signed the secretive, multinational Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement that threatens to extend restrictive intellectual property laws across the globe.

We really are a bunch of sheep.

Be social with us! jeremy_rodgers_photography Good day of shooting #hotspringshotspots #ouachitahighcountry #canon_photos #lakehamilton #hotspringsnationalpark #arkansas

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If you don’t agree with anything, want to share your favorite things about what’s going on around you in your hometown, or want to contribute your ideas to any of these or future installments (we have more fun in the works), find us online at

hshotspots.com. Be sure to tag us #hshotspots or #hotspringshotspots, so we can find you and just maybe you’ll find yourself back here! And, thank you for everything you do to make Hot Springs more awesome everyday!.

hot springs

AUGUST

EVENT CALENDAR

16 Wine Pairing Dinner

8-11 Miss Arkansas Pageant 9 Movies at the Market

at Vina Morita

at Hot Springs Farmers Market

at Hot Springs Farmers Market

at Hot Springs Convention Center

presents “Grease”

ONE NIGHT ONLY: Five Star Theatre presents Song Stylist Linda Davis

at Vina Morita, 610 Central

Movies at the Market presents “True Grit” with Jeff Bridges

17 3rd Friday’s at the FAC

at The Five Star Theatre, 701 Central

The Fine Arts Center, 626 Central

10 Magic Springs Concert Series

Donald Trump keynote speaker at Reagan-Rockefeller Dinner

“Sidewalk Prophets”

at Hot Springs Convention Center

24 KC and the Sunshine Band 25-26 South Hot Springs at Oaklawn’s Finish Line Theatre

Lions Club Gun & Knife Show

at Hot Springs Convention Center

25 Magic Springs Concert Series “Loverboy and Lita Ford”

at Timberwood Amphitheatre

29th Season Hickory Hill Park Hickory Hill Park, 216 Bryant Rd.

Summerfest Uptown, on Park Avenue

18 Magic Springs Concert Series 26 Stardust Big Band “3 Doors Down” 30 Movies at the Market 20 Hot Springs Concert Band Free presents “Seabiscuit” Summer Concert Series 31-AUG 2 The Pocket Theatre “All I Really Need to Know 23 Movies at the Market presents presents I Learned in Kindergarten”

at 100-700 blocks of Park Ave

at Hot Springs Farmers Market

at The Pocket Theatre, 170 Ravine St.

Jazz Experience

Band Free Summer Concert Series

at Timberwood Amphitheater

10-11 Quiltfest 2015 11 Magic Springs Concert Series at Hot Springs Convention Center

“Newsboys”

at The Arlington Hotel

14 BLEND (a capella 50’s

at its best!)

at The Five Star Theatre, 701 Central

at Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa

at Timberwood Amphitheater

at Hot Springs Farmers Market

at Whittington Park

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

24 4th Fridays Arkansas

Quapaw Baths & Spa, 413 Central

AUG 3 Hot Springs Concert at Whittington Park

#hshotspots

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Go Outside It increases your odds oF having an adventure #doitwithalocal

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112 Blackhawk Lane • Hot Springs, AR • 501-767-1373 36

hshotspots.com

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