Hot Springs Hot Spots Magazine - May 2015

hot springs

hot springs music festival pg 18

MAY 2015

Crazy samurai pg 6

WOLFHEART pg 12 kenny & courtney pg 8 HSHotSpots.com

CRAFT BEER FEST PG 32 MIND YOUR MANORS PG 24 #hshotspots

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SoupS, SaladS, SandwicheS, burgerS, STeakS, Seafood, pizza & more!

Treat Mom to something special at Java Primo on Mother’s Day!

Arkansas Trivia Night @ Steinhaus Keller

beef Tenderloin $15.99 or honey glazed Salmon $13.99 eggs benedict Served ALL DAY

food . drink(s) . trivia . prizes

(7:30am to 3:00pm)

mimosa or bloody mary $4.50 javaprimo.com

facebook.com/javaprimo

Two Great Locations!

4429 Central Ave., Ste. A Hot Springs 501-318-9789

614 Main Street Arkadelphia 870-230-1337

hot springs

Thursday, May 21st 7:00 pm

mon-Thurs 6:30am-10:00pm friday 6:30am-11:00pm Saturday 7:30am-11:00pm Sunday 7:30am-3:00pm

#hshotspots

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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 Kai Coggin Matt Fuller T. Porter Montgomery Eric Overacker Randy Womack SALES Josh Williams

This just in: May is here. That not only means flowers, (Do you know what a simple compilation of Brassia Orchids is going for nowadays?) but it also means that summer is right around the corner – and things are about to heat up around here. As if they haven’t already. Not only are we starting to tackle some of the more hot-button issues affecting our lives, but we’re also going to take a more journalistic approach to our coverage, not only for ourselves, but for you too. You deserve to hear things from both sides and you also need to be cognizant of what’s really going on in our community. Because as Alan Moore says, “People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.”

We found some pretty cool things to talk about this month. We’ve got the second installment of the craft beer festival, who doesn’t like beer? That’s eerily similar to not liking bacon. There is a restaurant in town that will help you lose your virginity. There is an artist who makes tangible objects and landscapes look fake. There are two local musicians who sound like they belong in the early twentieth century, but look younger than your kid brother and sister. There is a 5k you can participate in that will help bring military veterans and their families back together after all the weeks and months apart. So many good things are happening in our community, that we can’t cover them all. You’ll just have to get up, get out and enjoy the next few months of warm weather.

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Go to HSHotSpots.com/Shop For advertising opportunities: info@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

EATS CRAZY SAMURAI

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JAPANESE RESTAURANT GOES PSYSCHO ON YOUR TASTE BUDS

MUS I C COURTNEY & KENNY

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A LOCAL DUET, TRADITIONAL SOUNDS & A NEW AUDIENCE

ART S WOLFHEART

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G IVI NG OPEAKFIT

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FE AT U RED

THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF STEVE KESTERSON

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ARE THEY MADE FROM REAL 18 HOT SPRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL 27 GIRL SCOUTS? 24 MIND YOUR MANORS 32 BEER FEST

A 20 YEAR LEGACY OF CLASSICAL MUSIC TRAINING

FROM EXCHANGE CULINARY GROUP

HILLTOP MANOR BED & BREAKFAST, HISTORY, BEAUTY & ACCOLADES

FOAMIN’ AT THE MOUTH: DOn’t miss the 2nd Annual craft beer fest, MAY 30

A 5K for everyone & Every dollar helps veterans

D O N’T M I S S ALBUM REVIEWS

9 10 LIVE SHOW LISTINGS 16 restaurant LISTINGS 33 complements from THE CHEF WHAT’S TRENDING 34 35 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 5 BUBBLY & BURGERS

MAY

#hshotspots

EATS crazy samurai

A modern Japanese restaurant in its first year of business gets psycho on your tAstE buds & boasts the greatest sushi and hibachi arts around

Photography by Jeremy Rodgers

Story by J. L. James

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Geo “Patrick” Oh, hibachi master and owner of Crazy Samurai, located at 5431 Central Ave., has been obliterating taste bud conventions and astonishing diners in Hot Springs with high quality ingredients and hibachi splendor for the last eight months. Recently Patrick and sushi master Hayashi unveiled the First Lady Roll, a combination of shrimp tempura, avocado, white tuna, and fresh strawberries and blueberries that results in about nine inches of deliciousness.

Hayashi prepares most elements of the restaurant’s sushi dishes, but Patrick designed this newest addition to Crazy Samurai’s already stellar sushi selection.

Patrick and his wife, Angelina Oh, opened Crazy Samurai in September 2014. Patrick and Angelina first met around six years ago when Patrick lived in Dallas and Angelina lived in Little Rock. They chose Hot Springs as the spot for their rendezvous. As Patrick fell in love with his future wife, he also fell in love the Spa City. “I told Angie

when we’re married, I’m going to open a business here,” Patrick said. He said the beauty of the landscape is what first endeared the town to him. “I’ve traveled to a lot of towns,” Patrick said, “but Hot Springs has something special. It’s not my hometown, but it feels like my hometown.”

Patrick’s actual hometown is no “town” at all; it’s Yokohama, Japan, a city of about 3.6 million people.

Of the many lures Hot Springs cast at Patrick, the lack of crowding is the one that snagged him. “It’s just more peaceful. No traffic. Fresh air,” Patrick said as he laced his fingers behind his head, reclined slightly in his chair and grinned as he reflected.

“People think he’s a big city guy,” Angelina said. “But he’s not; he’s countryside. He loves to fish.”

Angelina, who is originally from Surabaya, Indonesia and has lived in cities such as New York and Philadelphia, said she is also happy to be in a “beautiful city” that’s

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not overcrowded. Angelina plays both management and culinary roles at Crazy Samurai.

“Angelina is an excellent cook,” said Steve Helms, apprentice Hibachi chef. Patrick is the magician who turns ordinary ingredients like white onions into arcane volcanos in front of guests’ eyes at the hibachi table, but Angelina prepares much of the hibachi food that comes from the kitchen.

Patrick has been cooking hibachi-style and preparing sushi for around 15 years. In that time he has developed superior skill preparing both sushi and hibachi dishes. Technique, though, isn’t what drives his culinary philosophy. “The most important part isn’t technique,” Patrick said. “It’s the quality of ingredients. When I pick my ingredients, I feel like it’s for my family, not for strangers. For the sushi and the hibachi. I don’t use the regular butter, I use the cholesterol free butter. So even the small stuff, I pick what I would use for my family.”

That culinary philosophy has earned Crazy Samurai an increase in customer volume over recent months. “We appreciate our customers,” Helms said, “and we hope they know that. Our sushi master and hibachi master pay such attention to detail, and that’s why we’re gaining new business every day.”

Perhaps another reason for Crazy Samurai’s growing customer base is that Patrick and his team were careful to not create the stuffy atmosphere associated with other sushi joints. Sushi virgins can come to Crazy Samurai and not worry about so-called rituals. For example, Patrick said it’s okay to mix wasabi in soy sauce. It’s also okay not to. He said that neglecting the chopsticks is no deal breaker.

But, Patrick offers this bit of advice to make sushi more enjoyable: “People make the mistake of cutting sushi with a fork. It breaks the flavors apart. If you don’t want to use chopsticks, just use the hand. That’s okay.” When Hayashi or Patrick prepare a piece or roll of sushi, they do it while paying particular attention to flavor ratios – each bite should contain a particular amount of avocado, a particular amount of tuna and a particular amount of rice, for example. Cutting the piece with a fork manipulates the ratios.

Seasoned sushi consumers are likely familiar with Hayashi and Patrick’s work. But that reluctant crowd who is worried they might look silly using chopsticks and the “ew, raw fish?” crowd would do well to choose Crazy Samurai as the place to finally slice through their sushi cherry.

$1 Sake

after 8pm!

Weekdays 11:30am-10pm Weekends Noon-11pm Patrick (Gio) Hibachi Master

Closed Tuesdays

Hayashi Sushi Master

5431 Central Avenue 501-525-0488

Now !

Hiring

Call Now for Your Reservation! #hshotspots

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MUSIC

COURTNEY & KENNY

Photography by Eric Overacker

Story by J. L. James

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Courtney Overacker and Kenny Tillery, that is, A Local duet WHO brings traditional sound to contemporary audiences in HOT SPRINGS

Kenny Tillery, a Hot Springs native who spent his early years in the Fountain Lake area, has been playing guitar since he was 14 years old. The music scene, however, is sufficiently stocked with guitarists.

So, at the age of 21, Tillery added the bass guitar to his reper toire to become a more versatile musician. He has played with several ar tists such as Dave Almond and Brian Mar tin, who has become a local legend, and currently performs as the bassist for Professor Tele, a local classic rock, country and blues band fronted by Shane Simanton. Last year Tillery teamed up with longtime friend and incredibly talented vocalist, Cour tney Overacker, to bring a traditional, but fresh sound to Hot Springs.

While Tillery has been honing his craft for several years, Overacker only recently began performing. In her youth she played flute in the

Fountain Lake band and she often sang in church, but she’s had no formal vocal training. “I’ve been singing since I could talk,” Overacker said. “But much more as an adult because it allows me to be more creative. And I need to be creative.”

Tillery said he’s enjoyed collaborating with Overacker not only because it gives him a chance play guitar, the instrument he first loved to play, but also because Overacker brings a unique sound and look to their performance. “She’s a great singer,” Tillery said.

“She has a lot of natural stage presence she never knew she had. That’s why I like playing with her; I think she needs to be up there.”

Overacker and Tillery perform both traditional and contemporary music, but they’re par tial to the classics. “I like the old stuff,” Overacker said.

“What I love about those songs is that they tell stories,

hot springs

ALBUMS ON REVIEW not just repeat themselves over and over.” She takes a lot of vocal inspiration from classic country female vocalists. “Women were really performers then and couldn’t rely on studios and sex appeal,” she said.

Overacker’s classic vocal style, inspired by the likes of Patsy Cline, Norah Jones and Doris Day, is an ideal accompaniment to Tillery’s intricate guitar work. As a teenager Tillery became interested in guitar because of 90s metal bands like White Zombie. He played electric guitar for about a year before receiving an acoustic as a gift. “I got an acoustic guitar when I was 16,” Tillery said. “And it just changed music for me. I got into acoustic blues, like Rober t Johnson.

Growing up in Fountain Lake, before the internet was so accessible, you didn’t realize things like that exist.”

Tillery has continued to sculpt a distinct style built upon his love of acoustic blues. For several years, Tillery has spent a por tion of the winters traveling to St. Petersburg, Fla. to study, one on one, with blues legend Roy Bookbinder.

Tillery said although the duo plays mostly traditional ballads, his roots tend to make their way into his guitar performances. “Everything I do has a little bit of blues in it because I can’t help it,” Tillery said.

Overacker, who has known Tillery since adolescence, remains in awe of his ability with the guitar. “We’ve been friends forever,” Overacker said.

“I always knew he was a great guitarist. But now, after playing with him for a year, I realize just how – I mean oh my gosh – he’s really good.”

Overacker and Tillery are currently booking several other gigs around Hot Springs for the summer.

Overacker said she enjoys playing at the Farmer’s Market and at the Fine Arts Council because the “audience seems like they care about what we’re doing.”

Although the pair performs traditional folk compositions and songs written by established ar tists, they aren’t the same old cover band. They are dedicated to performing songs which feature intelligent, insightful lyrics complemented by intricate guitar pieces. It has been said that ar tists, essentially, effectively share their point of view with an audience.

Tillery and Overacker’s approach to performance embodies that philosophy. “When I’m on stage,” Overacker said. “I just try to convey the story in the song. I try to paint that picture for the audience.”

JEFF BRIDGES SLEEPING TAPES

So, I’m a few months behind the news cycle here, but when I heard this was a thing, I had to do it. The cool part – the best part – is that all the money raised by the album goes to the charity No Kid Hungry. Also the album art, which features a man’s face scattered with nearly as many eyes as a fly’s is pretty cool, and disturbing. It was illustrated by Lou Beach, who does some pretty cool, pretty disturbing stuff.

The audio itself, however, balances right along that line that divides creepy and lulling. The album opens with

BLUR ThE MAGIC WHIP

Britpop icon Damon Albarn always has a way of reaching into your eardrum’s subconscious and pulling out sounds you didn’t think you were capable of hearing. Whether it’s the collaborative genius of Gorillaz, or the other project he is most known for, Blur, Albarn’s deep-thump bass, psychedelic synths and kooky harmonies usually tickle your cochlea like a feather. Tasty shit. The latest, and highly anticipated, release from the aforementioned Blur doesn’t disappoint.

After a 12-year hiatus, and in their 27th year of existence, Blur comes back at you just as before, and even more inventive with The Magic Whip. As Albarn usually

an introduction, which is literally The Dude rambling on about the implications of the words “sleeping” and “tapes.”

In most cases, the album does what it’s supposed to do. In others, it’s just weird. In “Temescal Canyon,” Bridges takes you on a hiking trip, in your mind of course. Then he introduces you to a stranger in cargo shorts and white t-shirt and it’s hard to get the guy out or your head. In “Ikea,” Bridges uses one of those weird voice modifiers and gets a little Scientology-esque on us. Apparently, when Bridges dies, he will fly around the planet and light up when he flies over memorable places.

Bridges is one of the best and most iconic actors of our time, and that’s why some of this album works. “The Raven” is a dramatic story that has the intended comforting effect. “Chimes” is a medley of calming chimes while “Sleep, Dream, Wake up” is a little too weird. Sleeping Tapes serves its purpose well. The subject matter is such that only Jeff Bridges, and probably Morgan Freeman, can pull off without creeping you out so bad you’ll never sleep again. But hey, as a fellow insomniac, I recommend giving it a try. Download it at dreamingwithjeff.com. — Review by J. L. James does, he takes you on a journey through an electric set of offerings, with a myriad of worldly flavor. The album opens with “Lonesome Street” and the sprightly, superfun, minor-chord guitar crashes and subtle, but intricately woven, high-pitched synths are quintessential Blur. Albarn’s mellow, British accent and drummer Dave Rowntree’s kicks throughout the track, and throughout the album in general, are right on point. Then they slow it down with the staccato reverb of the melancholy “New World Towers,” and bring you right back up with “Go Out.” The weird and creepy “Ice Cream Man” reminded me of early Gorillaz, with clean, choppy guitars, babbling synth and harmonic melodies.

The rest of the album fit my expectations, from the familiar pleading vocals, Greek-tragedy-style chorus and crisp guitar runs on “My Terracotta Heart” to the marching, driving, save-the-world echoes on “There Are Too Many of Us.” His homage to David Bowie on “Thought I Was a Spaceman” was one of the few lulls in this latest effort. I mean I kind of like the marimbas, but like Albarn does sometimes, he gets a little flighty for just a couple minutes too long.

On the whole, The Magic Whip does exactly what a Blur album should do, it entertains, and proves that a little creativity and experimentation always makes for an interesting musical experience. — Review by Josh Williams

#hshotspots

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VENUES

LIVE SHOW LISTINGS FRI 5/8 SAT 5/9

700 CENTRAL AVE.

THURS 5/14 SAT 5/16 FRI 5/22

SAT FRI SAT

5/23 5/29 5/30

711 CENTRAL AVE.

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FRI SAT SUN FRI SAT FRI SAT FRI SAT SUN

5/8 5/9 5/10 5/15 5/16 5/22 5/23 5/29 5/30 5/31

mountain sprout (AR) Psychobilly/Bluegrass john paul keith (TN) Rock john willis and the late romantics (AR) Pop/Folk/Jazz; amyjo savannah (AR) Blues/Folk Nick brumley (TX) Singer-Songwriter FOUL PLAY CABARET (AR) Burlesque GRINGO STARR (GA) Alt-Rock DREAMERS (CAN) Metal The federalis (AR) Folk/Blues/Rock MISS GAY ARKANSAS (AR) Drag Show MYA’s madams (AR) Drag Show ALL THE WAY KOREAN (AR) Alternative Punk Show Memphis dawls (TN) Folk JOHN JORDAN (AR) Blues BRIAN KELLY (AR) Country Brian martin (AR) Folk JUSTIN WALKER (AR) Country JOHN JORDAN (AR) Blues GABLE BRADLEY BAND (AR) Country TRACI MICHELE (AR) Country RENA WREN & THE GOOD GUYS (AR) Rock/Folk RYAN SAUDERS (AR) Rock SHELLEY KING (TX) Blues/Folk/Country

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1442 AIRPORT RD.

305 MALVERN AVE.

4330 CENTRAL AVE.

THURS FRI SAT FRI SAT THURS FRI/SAT FRI SAT

5/7 5/8 5/9 5/15 5/16 5/21 5/22-23 5/29 5/30

Kydryd Spyrts (AR) Rock ROCK SOLID (AR) Rock IDENTITY CRISIS (AR) Rock DEREK HERENDON (AR) Rock THE BIG DAM HORNS (AR) Rock Kydryd Spyryts (AR) Rock HWY 124 (AR) Rock Sol Def (AR) Rock Just Saying (AR) Rock

FRI/SAT SAT FRI/SAT WED FRI/SAT FRI/SAT

5/8-9 HIGHWAY 49 (AR) Country/Rock 5/9 HIGHWAY 49 (AR) Country/Rock; PIG-N-WHISTLE with ALEX Ward (AR) Karaoke 5/15-16 FAMILY DOG (AR) Country/Rock 5/20 Karaoke with Charles Fowler (AR) Karaoke 5/22-23 HIGHWAY 49 (AR) Country/Rock 5/29-30 CODE BLUE (AR) Classic Rock

SAT FRI SAT FRI SAT SAT

5/9 5/15 5/16 5/22 5/23 5/30

INTERSTATE 69 (AR) Alternative BLANE HOWARD (AR) Country DIAMOND BLUES BAND (AR) Blues JOHN CALVIN BREWER BAND (AR) Blues/Rock Gable Bradley Band (AR) Country Moonshine Mafia (AR) Blues/Rock #hshotspots

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arts

Steve Kesterson channels the powers of Norse gods and blasts them on the canvas

What do you get when you combine the brute strength and determination of Thor and the supreme intellect and power of Odin? You get “Thorin,” the artist behind WolfHeart. No, I’m not talking about the 1995 release from Portuguese death-metal squad Moonspell, I’m talking about Steve Kesterson, one of the newest artists to open a gallery in downtown Hot Springs. How can he compare himself to gods, though? Because he has a delusional self-confidence, like all artists. Plus, he’s built like an NFL linebacker, so he can compare himself to Thor and Odin all he wants. I wasn’t going to argue.

Kesterson was born in Wenatchee, Washington 43 years ago, but he was raised in Murfreesboro, Ark. Or, actually, he raised himself. With a mother on the lam and an alcoholic father, he was forced to mature rather quickly.

After a stint in the United States Air Force, he decided to follow his dream. He had visions of becoming a comic

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book artist and author, and with his determination, it was obvious that he was going to make those visions materialize. He wrote several books (Stalking the Flock, The Wolf in Wolf’s Clothing, Bullets, The Virus, Shrapnel) and started a clothing line (Wicked Jester). He developed a legion of fans by spouting lore like “If you judge me by my appearance, I will judge you by your ignorance” and “Popularity is what people strive for when they lack the strength to be themselves.” His images of strength, power, wisdom and determination are brutal, violent and devoid of bullshit.

Spencer’s Gifts LLC and Hot Topic Inc. offered him millions for his work. But he decided to give his brands to three of his closest confidants. That’s just the kind of guy he is. “These companies offered me a shitload of money,” Kesterson said, “but they destroy brand. I’m not like that, I just love art.”

WOLF HEART Story by Josh Williams

The money, fame and pressure began to mount, and it put more strain on his already unhappy marriage, which was in its 17th year. Then, to add to the emotional strain, his father was diagnosed with cancer and died soon after. Thorin was tired of being angry. Luckily, he had an awakening. A rebirth. He wanted to focus on the positivity in strife. He “found beauty in darkness.” He was “embracing life.” He had to “heal or destroy himself.”

He really just didn’t give a shit anymore. So, he went to live in the woods for year.

It’s from that time in isolation that most of his new work originates. “You have to lose yourself, to find yourself,” he said. “Nature is my church. I am a very private individual and I was very fractured. I had to do what my heart and my conscience told me.” Being one with the wilderness allowed Kesterson to explore his true love: photography. And like a true artist, he spares no

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expense and exudes more patience than a daycare nanny when it comes to his work. He will wait days, even weeks, for the perfect shot. He put almost 100,000 miles on his truck last year, meandering through the deserts and

woodlands of our vast country. “It doesn’t matter until I love it,” he said. “It has to reflect the beauty of the world.

Above all, I have to be satisfied, and unless you weave your soul into it, it’s not art. I’m selling a piece of my soul,

and it makes it that much more fulfilling when people enjoy it.”

And enjoy it, you will. The photographs this guy takes are incredible. They almost don’t seem real, and yet his shots are completely raw. It’s amazing how he can make a desert look Grimace-purple or snow fall blood-red, but he does it. The level of detail in his pictures resemble a specimen under a microscope. “Nothing you see is a composite. All of my work is done in a light room.

I don’t manipulate colors, I enhance them.”

Kesterson doesn’t confine himself to conventional boundaries. “I’ll break every rule when it comes to shooting. My pictures have to have the perfect balance of technicality and creativity, and I won’t be satisfied with a picture until I have that balance. I have to love it, above all else.”

WolfHeart Gallery is a must see. Inside you will find pictures of nature in a light and with a beauty rarely seen. It’s an experience that will change your view of the outdoors. The amount of heart this lone wolf puts into his craft is evident from the moment you walk through the doors. Steve says, “My therapy is on the walls.” It sure is. You can see Thorin’s unique works of art at 718

Hours 12pm - 7pm Tuesday - Saturday Professional Tattoo Artists Trey Steelman and Justin Clark

909 Central Avenue #hshotspots

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GIVING

O•PEAK FIT A 5K for anybody on May 16 at beautiful Catherine’s Landing every dollar goes to help veterans

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The first OPeakFit – that’s Operation Peak Fitness – race will take place at Catherine’s Landing, located at 1700 Shady Grove Road, on May 16. All active and retired military may participate in the race free of charge. The race is a 5K and serves as a fundraising event for Higher Peaks, a non-profit organization that’s dedicated to taking veterans and their immediate families on outdoor excursions to build unity among the family members and focus on mental, physical and spiritual health.

Zach Joyce, executive vice president of Higher Peaks Inc., formed the non-profit in 2011 in Dallas with his brother Geoff Maxey, president of Higher Peaks Inc. Joyce said he had recently vacated his position at AT&T. He wasn’t sure what kind of work he wanted to do next, but knew that it should be important, make a difference. Inspired by their own experience as a military family, Joyce and Maxey developed a concept in which they would reach out to veterans who have been injured or have experienced emotional trauma and help them reconnect through the outdoors.

Veterans and their families can apply for an outdoor adventure by visiting www.higherpeaks. org and applying for an adventure grant. One grant application reads: “…Most of my family have said that my daughters and I have reconnected, but to be honest I’m not sure we have. Anything we can do through your organization will help out a lot.”

Higher Peaks works directly with the staff sergeants who represent the families to approve the grant. Presently, Higher Peaks has organized two adventures a year since its inception. Joyce said his goal is to have enough funding to organize 12 adventures per year. He said the most difficult part of the job is not being able to approve every adventure grant.

Getting to see the families rebuild their bonds is a rewarding experience, to say the least, for Joyce. “At first they’re hesitant to admit they need help,” he said.

“But once they get out there; that first night when they’re cooking s’mores over a fire, the excitement of seeing those smiles that weren’t 100 percent on the first day, but on day two they’re just enjoying life. That’s what it’s about.”

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Joyce’s grandfather, father and brother (Maxey) were all in the marines. He said they were a tight family before his parents’ divorce, and it took some time for that bond to be repaired. “When I look at how hard that was on our military family,” Joyce said.

“And you know, no one got a serious injury or PTSD. No one went through what these soldiers went through. I can only imagine what that’s like.”

Both Joyce and Maxey are natives of Hot Springs. They have hosted Higher Peaks outdoor experiences in areas across the country. They had primarily survived, as many non-profits, on corporate sponsorship. OPeakFit is Higher Peak’s first official fundraising event, and Joyce said it was important to host the event in his hometown. “I’ll always be tied to this city,” Joyce said. “It’s special. There’s not too many places you can hike, go kayaking and swim just any day.”

OPeakFit is dedicated to raising funds for Higher Peaks’ outdoor adventures and promoting healthy lifestyles. Joyce said that Higher Peaks is dedicated to promoting “social integration, family relationships, healthy wellness and spiritual wellness all through the outdoors.”

The OPeakFit5K is designed to welcome all fitness levels. “It is all about families,” Joyce said.

“There are no obstacles, no mud pits. Anyone can participate. If you’re a mom pushing a stroller, you can come out.” The registration fee is $35 for adults and $10 for children. Higher Peaks invites retired and active duty military and their immediate family to participate free of charge. Interested parties can register at www. catherineslanding.com or at www.higherpeaks.org There will be live music and number of activities in addition to the race. Every dollar raised goes to help veterans and their families reconnect through Higher Peaks.

•

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live music EVERY Weekend!

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Mother’s Day!

$3 Wine ( a l l D ay )

brIan martIn

12-3pm

Memorial day weekend Story by J. L. James

C o m p l I m e n ta ry a p p e t I z e r s for our veterans, aCtIve Duty & reserves

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EAT/DRINK

RESTAURANT LISTINGS FIRST LADY ROLL FROM CRAZY SAMURAI

AMER IC AN 3B’s 630 Ouachita 623-2160

Back Porch Grill 4810 Central 525-0885

JASON’S 148 Amity 617-5488

MAXINE’s 700 Central 321-0909

BAR BEC UE McClard’s BBQ

PANCAKE SHOP 216 Central 624-5720

BURG ER S Classics Bar & Grill 4813 Central 525-7172

MOOYAH 3954 Central 520-5000

THE OHIO CLUB

101 Central 623-5225

C HI NE S E HUNAN PALACE 4737 Central 525-3344

Wok Express 1418 Albert Pike 623-4932

COFFEE COFFEE LOVE 4832 Central 781-5006

C AFE/ BIS T RO CAFE 1217

INTERNATIONAL BLEU MONKEY GRILL

1217 Malvern 318-1094

4263 Central 520-4800

JAVA PRIMO

CENTRAL PARK FUSION

4429 Central 318-9789

200 Park Ave 623-0202

BR EAK FAS T / BRUNC H COLONIAL WAFFLE HOUSE

MUELLER’s BISTRO

Colorado Grill

111 Crawford #B 623-7005

320 Ouachita 623-7992

111 Central 624-9273

zoe’s

COPPER PENNY PUB

2230 Malvern 321-2921

711 Central 622-2570

Smokin’ in Style 2278 Albert Pike 767-9797

Stubby’s BBQ 3024 Central 624-1552

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4307 Central 525-2710

C A JU N/ C R E O LE FAT JACKS

336 Central 627-0702

505 Albert Pike 624-9586

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English Muffin

hot springs

lotus 515 E. Grand 701-4007

STEINHaus KELLER 801 Central 624-7866

SUPERIOR BATHHOUSE 329 Central 624-2337

I TA LI AN Belle Arti 719 Central 624-7474

JAY’S 538 W. Grand 760-8132

LUNA BELLA 104 Grand Isle 520-5862

JAHNA’s 1803 Airport 767-0200

JA PANESE/ SU S HI CRAZY SAMURAI

LATIN AME RICAN VINA MORITA 610 Central 625-7143

ROLANDO’S 210 Central 318-6054

ME XICAN CotiJa 1335 Airport 760-1165

PICANTE’S 801 Central 623-2300

TACO MAMA

1442 Airport 767-4240

RAZORBACK PIZZA 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

1209 Malvern 624-6262

S EAF O O D BUBBA’s CATFISH

TREJO’s MEXICAN

5411 Central 762-3474

3040 Albert Pike 760-2316

PIZZA Deluca’s Pizzeria Napoletana

5431 Central 525-0488

407 Park 609-9002

Osaka Japanese

crispino’s

3954 Central 525-9888

HAWG’S PIZZA

2608 Albert Pike 767-0700

Cajun Boilers 2806 Albert Pike 767-5695

Fisherman’s Wharf 5101 Central 525-7437

MR. WHISKERS 1538 Malvern 262-3474

S O UT HER N/ S O UL cafe 135

LOTUS FRIED RICE FROM LOTUS

135 Central 627-0676

Higdon Square Café 706 Higdon Ferry 623-7744

Phil’s 2900 Central 623-8258

SLIM CHICKENs 1384 Higdon Ferry 463-9797

walker’s 136 Silver 282-0538

S T EAK HO US E Brick House Grill

TOP SIRLOIN STEAK from JAVA Primo

801 Central 321-2926

KJ’s Grill 1834 Airport 767-0063

Porterhouse 707 Central 321-8282

ROCKY MTN. GRILL 5812 Airport 767-2887 #hshotspots

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MUSIC FESTIVAL

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hot springs

A 20 Year Legacy of Classical Music Training in the Spa City Story by Kai Coggin

It has been said that, “writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” Well, it takes a few masterful architects, a strong solid foundation and a whole lot of teamwork to hold together a music festival with the same world-class caliber of musicians and quality of performances as the Hot Springs Music Festival (HSMF).

On May 31, on the terrace of the Arlington Hotel, a brass ensemble will open this milestone of a festival season with an original brass fanfare composed

by Sterling Proctor, a composer who specifically wrote the piece for the 20th year of the Hot Springs Music Festival. With more than 10,000 people in attendance last year and more than 6.4 million people listening to concerts on nationwide radio broadcasts the festival has proven its reach and importance.

This is the year to reflect on the legacy that this festival has built, not only for the thriving arts community of Hot Springs but also for all of the talented musicians who have been involved. HSMF Board Member Donna Casparian said the festival is “an opportunity for this community to distinguish itself from other towns of this size. It has continued the Hot Springs legacy of truly being a city of all the arts.”

A legacy starts at the beginning. The Hot Springs Music Festival was co-founded by Richard Rosenberg, a conductor, and Laura Rosenberg, an arts administrator, in 1996. Their creative vision shaped the tradition of excellence that the HSMF carries with pride into each season.

Photography courtesy of the Hot Springs Music Festival

Laura Rosenberg is passionate about classical music and firmly believes it still plays an important part today. “In the 21st century we are bombarded daily with every kind of stimulus, both pleasant and unpleasant, all competing for our attention,” Laura said. “In this environment, listening to live classical music played by real people on real acoustic instruments serves as a sort of touchstone: it provides a framework in which our brains can sort, process and put into perspective the experiences of our lives. Besides, it is a powerful communicative art, a form of human expression that bypasses language to speak directly from one soul to another.” Laura, who for a time directed the HSMF, continues to serve as a consultant and the arts administration mentor.

On day one 1996, a volunteer named Mara Magdalene told Laura, “I’ll do anything you ask for, just don’t ask me to use a computer!” Twenty years later, Magdalene relies on computers to complete the entire spectrum of her work, from application submissions and audition pieces uploaded into Dropbox, to emailing back and forth to mentors and apprentices. Magdalene said that soon the orchestra may be reading their sheet music from iPads. Now, she is the HSMF’s seasoned executive assistant, a cornerstone – a backbone of knowledge and insight in the background of all this magnificent sound.

When Magdalene first began her work with the HSMF, she didn’t expect to play the significant role she has for the last two decades. “Well,” Magdalene said, “it started

out as a volunteer job and evolved into something that I love, and I’ve kind of fought for, and I hope to continue for another 20 years.”

The cooperation between Magdalene and newly appointed Executive Director Suzanne Davidson is synergistic and clear. “Suzanne wanted to know how we’ve always done things, so we could make a plan to go forward,” Magdalene said. Davidson is no stranger neither to leadership in the arts nor working efficiently and cooperatively in non-profit settings.

A working artist holding a masters degree in arts education and a member of the Board of Directors for the City of Hot Springs District 1, Suzanne Davidson began her career as an art teacher in Arkadelphia schools. She went on to own a small business, shared her financial savvy in the manufacturing sphere, managed non-profits and arts organizations, worked for the Dallas Classic Guitar Society and now serves on several arts organizations and boards, including her second term on the Arkansas Arts Advisory Council, appointed by Governor Mike Beebe.

Davidson is determined to follow the traditions of the HSMF while looking forward to shaping the next twenty years and taking it to the next level.

“Twenty years is a huge milestone in arts organizations, and we are excited to celebrate,” Davidson said. “When you work in the non-profit realm, be it music, arts, curing diseases, you work with passionate people who love what they do, and it is very rewarding.”

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MUSIC FESTIVAL

Davidson is settling into her sixth month at the helm of the HSMF. Her experience with fundraising and reaching out to form and keep relationships with community and board members has proven to be successful. On Arkansas Gives Day, April 2, the HSMF finished 8th in the Top Ten List of Small Nonprofits in the State of Arkansas, raising over $13,000 to help pay for scholarships and housing.

“It takes 50 weeks of work to put on a two week festival,” Magdalene said. The HSMF mission is twofold: first, the HSMF strives to provide performance experience and mentorship opportunities to especially talented international pre-professional musicians, and second, it insists upon providing high-quality music performances and performing arts-related activities at reasonable cost to residents of and visitors to Arkansas and the Hot Springs community.

Months before the festival, HSMF sends recruitment posters to all the music schools in the country

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and electronically broadcasts them internationally. The apprentice application and acceptance process is a rigorous one, based solely on the merit of young preprofessional musicians. All apprentices accepted receive a full scholarship plus housing. This is an international festival, with some apprentices coming from as far as Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Venezuela, Brazil and other countries. Hot Springs is definitely on the classical music map.

During the festival, the more than 100 apprentices are linked with world-class mentor musicians from major orchestras, chamber ensembles and conservatory faculties. The mentors work with the apprentices side by side, some providing private lessons and master classes, while also attending the intensive rehearsal and performance schedule. For apprentices, it is an intense two weeks of practicing, performing, more practicing and performing. “We put them in a performance environment that they can expect to have as professional musicians, immersed in 3 to 4

rehearsals, then a performance,” Magdalene said.

This type of dedication to craft only inspires greatness, only creates a drive to really pursue a career as a professional musician. This is where that 20-year legacy comes in again. There are countless stories of apprentices going to the next level.

Jenny Mann (bassoon mentor) was an HSMF apprentice and is now E.D. of the Tuscaloosa Symphony.

Orisus Molina (clarinet mentor) was an HSMF apprentice and is now Principal Clarinet of the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra. Phillip Man, Music Director of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, was an HSMF apprentice. His wife, Dr. Tatiana Reitman Mann, the concert pianist, music teacher, and now music director of Wildwood Park for the Arts in Little Rock, was an HSMF conducting apprentice.

A legacy that hits really close to home is that of former apprentice Brittany Osman, who moved here from New York to study conducting and stayed to start a family. “HSMF has had a profound impact on

hot springs

A NIGHT BY NIGHT “DO NOT MISS” LIST FOR THE MUSIC FESTIVAL Season XX of the HSMF is May 31 - June 13. With fourteen nights of undeniably great music available to the Hot Springs community at free or reasonably priced ticket cost, it is tough to pick and choose which events to attend. If your nights are booked or you have small children that might squirm because it’s past their bedtime, all of the daytime rehearsals are free and open to the public. You will see and hear classical music being practiced, played, rehearsed,

performed at almost all hours for the two weeks of the festival; Hot Springs will be pulsing with sound.

I asked a few of the Hot Springs Music Festival Board Members and staff to choose their favorite event. If you can’t make it to all the events, at least come out for one night. Be a part of the legacy. Be in tune with music that is timeless. Here are some nights not to be missed:

Don’t Miss #1

OPENING FANFARE - Festival Brass Ensemble

The Arlington Hotel Terrace | Sunday, May 31 | 6:45pm | Free The festival starts with the brass ensemble heralding the beginning of another season. This year’s brass fanfare is special because it was composed specifically for the celebratory 20th year of the HSMF. An original piece, in an original town, this is just for us. Bring your family, stand on the lawn and travel back in time to the revelry and pageantry of days of old. Suzanne Davidson: “This is where the celebration begins!”

Immediately following the opening fanfare, the nationally recognized mentor ensemble, the Cavell Trio, will be performing in the Arlington Ballroom for $15. The first night of the festival is chock full of bells and whistles, a night not to be missed. the entirety of my adult life,” Osman said. “In addition to attending as a viola apprentice, I also attended as an arts administration apprentice, conducting apprentice, saxophone and Theramin Associate, and music librarian associate. I moved to Hot Springs in 2009 to continue studying conducting with the Rosenbergs and to volunteer in the music festival library with Mara and began singing with the Festival Chorus. I was recently hired as the official Music Librarian of the festival which brings my experience full circle in a way. The greatest thing about this festival is that it provides deep and diverse opportunities to explore the Music Industry. The skills, experience, and personal connections I’ve gained from HSMF have helped me create a unique and viable career doing what I love as a musician, teacher, and librarian.” Osman is now the only orchestra teacher in all of Garland County. She is keeping the flame of classical music education burning bright right here in Hot Springs.

Cont. on pg 22

Don’t Miss #2

Inside Looking Out

First United Methodist Church Life Center | Monday, June 1 | 7:30pm | $10 Great for young band students. This is your chance to literally be a part of the orchestra. Sit next to your favorite instruments and watch as the musicians goes through a first look, a cold reading of a piece of music.

See how Maestro Peter Bay dissects the score and guides his orchestra through the intricacies of each piece.

Witness the art of teaching music first hand. The audience can move around to different instruments. An unforgettable experience.

“We take the orchestra and spread it out so the audience actually sits inside it,” Mara Magdalene said. “They follow the progression of a first reading through rehearsal. It’s great for kids.”

Don’t Miss #3

Festival Symphony Orchestra

Oaklawn Visual & Performing Arts School | Saturday, June 13 | 7:30pm | $20 This is the main event! The apprentices and mentors have been rehearsing for two weeks, and they have become a united orchestra, a united sound. The mentors have instilled professionalism and dedication to the apprentices, and everyone is ready to play at their highest caliber. If you only make it to one event this year, treat yourself to the Festival Symphony Orchestra.

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MUSIC FESTIVAL

THE HIGH NOTES CONT.

Hot Springs Music Festival {Cont.}

Also Worth Checking Out:

Bathhouse Row Progressive Concert

Bathhouse Row | Saturday, June 6 | 7:30pm | Free Hear the sounds of Bach, Myers Crespo, and Gershwin bouncing off the buildings of our very own downtown Bathhouse Row, featuring the Festival Trombone Choir, Harp music performed by Shana Norton and other exciting performers. The players stay on the porches, and the audience moves to each bathhouse, ending at the Superior Brewery. This is afree event, so bring the family. Bing the neighbors too!

“My favorite event is the Bathhouse Row progressive event,” board member Nan Cameron said. Not only is it exciting, fine music, but it is the Festival’s way of giving back to our supportive community.”

Chamber Players Potpourri II

First Presbyterian Church | Friday, June 12 | $10 By now, the apprentices are going in stride and ready to show what they’re made of. Casual and fun, come out to support these musicians, as they select their music.

“Outside of full orchestra concerts my favorite events are the ‘potpourri’ concerts,” board member Donna Casparian said. “These can often be some of the most amazing and inspired performances of the festival.

The best trombone solo I have ever heard was a solo performance from a young man from Oklahoma State, and the most fun was the expression on his face at the conclusion when his peers jumped to their feet wildly applauding him and he literally beamed knowing that, indeed, he had nailed this.”

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The HSMF partners with school districts, art galleries and local churches to make all of this possible.

Oaklawn School for Visual & Performing Arts holds concerts with the entire festival symphony orchestra.

It holds rehearsals in many of the art galleries which are open to the public. At 6 p.m. on June 5 Emergent Arts will host the Improvisatory Play-Off in which musicians and artists will collaborate. Chamber concerts are held at local churches. At 7:30 on June 6 Bathhouse Row is home to the Progressive Concert in which the audience moves from one bathhouse porch to another, listening to performances including Bach and Gershwin. The idea is to end up at the Superior Brewery for a beer.

“If you have never come to a concert, just come,” Davidson said. “Chamber concerts are $10, orchestra $20, but all concerts are just $5 for students of any age.” To encourage young musicians, the HSMF is contacting band directors and offering one free concert ticket for each child that is involved in the music programs. This is the legacy of the future.

Mara Magdalene said she is excited about HSMF reaching it’s 20th season. “In the beginning, the first year, there were a number of people that really didn’t think this was going to last past that first year,” she said, smiling reflectively. “We proved them wrong.

We are still here. We are still strong. We are definitely on the map, and there is still room for growth…some people might not have heard of Hot Springs, but they have heard about this Music Festival.”

The HSMF runs from May 31 - June 13, 2015. Under the Musical Direction of Maestro Peter Bay, this 20-year milestone of sound will surely delight your ears as world-class musicians and exceptionally talented young people come together from all over the world to play their hearts out in our lovely city.

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23

HILLTOP MANOR

A LOCAL BED & BREAKFAST CHOCKED FULL OF HISTORY, BEAUTY AND NOw, NATIONAL INDUSTRY ACCOLADES

Story by Josh WIlliams

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Photography by Amanda Shelley Ledbetter

hot springs

Have you ever walked into a place and immediately felt at home, even though it was not? Hilltop Manor at 2009 Park Avenue is one of those places.

The owners and innkeepers of Hilltop Manor, Jennifer DeMott and Joanna Brooks, have taken a classic tradition and updated it for today’s instant-gratification mindset.

There is no way you won’t feel comfortable in this unique, luxurious escape from the everyday hustle and bustle.

The combination of old craftsmanship and colorful Asian styles that are represented by the Manor made me feel like I was in a weird amalgam of “Groundhog Day” and an episode of “Samurai Jack.” I’ll try to communicate how breathtaking this place is, but my feeble attempt won’t come close to doing this place justice.

Hilltop Manor offers five decadent suites and five beautiful acres of absolute paradise for your enjoyment.

You will feel the stress melt away immediately as you step onto the grounds. The “cobblestone” architecture and pagoda-esque tin roof made me hungry for either fish and chips or sushi, I couldn’t decide. The landscape of Magnolia trees, rose bushes, old stone walls, a patio with a builtin fireplace and luscious green pastures creates a canvas so beautiful, that even the most novice of painters can reproduce. While sitting on the spacious, open-air porch, I literally dozed off while listening to the cascading waterfall at the front of the property. It’s easy to see why everyone from Jesse James to Al Capone have caught some z’s on this patch of perfection. Hilltop Manor was named a Top 10 B&B 2014 and “Best in the Midwest” by BedandBreakfast. com. As a Select Registry Inn, this gem is sure to leave you refreshed and satisfied. I wanted to sell my house and move in immediately.

Joanna and Jennifer have spared no expense in making sure that your stay will be a memorable one.

Earlier I referred to the updates made to this 125-yearold structure: A/C, WiFi, CD/DVD players complete with libraries, 1000-thread count linens and terry cloth robes, tiled jacuzzi-style tubs, refrigerators, microwaves, a complimentary 24-hour snack and beverage center, full breakfast from Joanna, flat-screen TV’s with cable and HBO, and iPod docking stations are just a few of the modern conveniences that go along with your rooms. These amenities are enough to soften even the toughest critic, but the history and sheer elegance of the B&B is enough to put anyone in a trance. The stone fireplaces, original hardwood floors and century-old chandeliers and sconces help you visualize it’s one-time, and now renewed, place in the upper echelon of our storied community.

Hilltop Manor was originally built in 1890 by a gentleman named Mose Klyman. He was a Jewish fellow who was a member of the Congregation House of Israel in Hot Springs, and also Vice President of the Leo N. Levi Memorial Hospital Association, which still operates today. Furthermore, Mose owned another business still in existence, Craighead Laundry in downtown Hot Springs.

Klyman had his hand in a surplus of dealings around the area, including card games and parties at the Manor that were frequented by Al Capone.

Some thought Klyman to be a confirmed bachelor, hence the Craftsman Style of the B&B compared to the traditional Victorian style that was so popular in the early twentieth century. But, he met a woman, Billie Leonard, and whisked her away to Asia for their honeymoon, which explains the Asian flare accented throughout the property.

Prior to Klyman, the history of the property is sketchy. No one is certain who owned the property, but there is evidence of a farm. As you peruse the real estate, you will find remnants of an old barn, a retail shop and the original stairs in the first farmhouse. It is believed the barn is where Frank and Jesse James would hide out during their misdeeds in Hot Springs.

But none of this really means anything, right?

I mean I’m just a writer plugging a business. So, don’t take my word for it. Listen to some thoughts expressed by actual patrons of the Manor: “I only fear that this B&B has spoiled us, for any other will not live up to this one. It was the best part of our vacation”—Michael & Ashley

“This bed and breakfast is simply stunning. From the beautiful outside landscaping to the stunning hardwood floors. Our suite was warm and cozy. And the bed so comfortable you thought you were at home. And, to make everything even better, Joanna makes you feel at home! Our breakfast was simply amazing! She made our anniversary weekend so very special! We will definitely be back again.”

“My wife and I just got home from a two-day stay with Jenn and Joanna. We spent the most laid back, relaxing two days either of us could recall. Everything about Hilltop Manor was perfect. Joanna’s tour of the house and Jenn’s tour of the grounds set the scene for our stay. Our breakfasts were yummy and our late night visits with Joanna and Jennifer by the outdoor fireplace will be a favorite memory for the both of us. We will be back.”—Don & Barb, Arvada, Colo.

I know B&B’s are usually for travelers or vacationers, but locals need to check this place out, too. If nothing else, go say hi to Jennifer and Joanna and check out this amazing place. You might end up staying for a while.

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Over

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Unusual Items from all Over the World

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Story by T. Porter Montgomery Photography by Jeremy Rodgers

You may have to deal in the black market to get Girl Scout Cookies, but these recipes make it worth it #hshotspots

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EXCHANGE CULINARY GROUP

By this time of year, I can’t tell you how many food blogs I read bemoaning the coming of Girl Scout Cookie Season (GSCS), but I know it was more than 11 at last count, and every single one, without exception, is full of self-deprecation and whining about what it will do to their waist line. Full of how they can’t say “no” because the cookies are so good, and “blah blah,” “selfcontrol,” “blah,” lack-of-will-power,” “blah!”

I would like to offer this view point, juxtaposed to my fellow food writers. Every one of us lives on borrowed time. Everything we do in this life has an unknown but finite number attached to it.

Over the course of your life, you will have a set number of kisses, broken hearts and – most importantly – a finite number of meals. So, why would you ever want to try to lower your lifetime high score of amazing and enjoyable experiences? This life view manifests itself in the gusto with which I approach GSCS. Sometimes it means going to some unusual lengths to secure cookies when they are out of season. This is more or less what happened a few weeks ago. The end of GSCS had drawn to a close, catching me by surprise. I had been reveling in a surplus of Girl Scout Cookies (GSCs), and as tends to happen when I’m surrounded by an abundance of good

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food, my brain started analyzing the GSCs as another ingredient to be broken down, chopped, crushed, repurposed and used as a base component in my next gastronomic adventure. Of course this meant I had to eat all of them. You know, to truly appreciate and understand their construction and flavor profiles.

It had been a heady week of cookie consumption, and discarding the small mountain of empty GSC boxes I had created in the name of science, I drove to the store with a plan for an epic GSC-themed dinner par ty. But there were no Girl Scouts with tables featuring multicolored boxes piled high at the grocery store. Neither were they at Sam’s Club or even Walmar t. I star ted to panic and immediately called my old GSC connection, who I will refer to as “Gwen.”

“Gwen!” I shouted, “I need Girl Scout cookies for dinner, but I can’t find them anywhere. Where are all the girl scouts?”

“You need them for dinner?” Gwen said. “Man, first off you should probably rethink your diet choices.”

“G, I’m not eating just the cookies (this time), they are being used in some dishes I have to make!”

“I hate to be the one to tell you this, bruh, but Girl Scout Season is over. They turned off the tap last week. No more cookies.”

“What? Nothing?”

“Bro, you know I’d help you out if I had something, but I’m tapped, I got nothing.”

That’s when I shattered. I’d been hitting the cookies pretty hard, and when I realized I’d have to go cold turkey I started to shake a little. “Come on, please,” I whined, “don’t you at least have a box of Thin Mints or some Samoas stashed back? I’ll pay top dollar G.” “Okay, listen: I might know a guy. I’ll make a couple calls, you meet him at the location I give you and bring cash.”

GSC addiction is not a pretty thing, and it can take you to some bad places. In the future I’ll buy my cookies well ahead of time. But this time the sketchy cookie dealer came through and saved the dinner party thanks to this stellar guest list:

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Ginger Coconut Sauce: 1 can regular coconut milk (not lite) 4-5 tablespoons fresh Minced Ginger Pinch of red pepper flake 4 tablespoons sugar Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan on mediumhigh heat, stirring briskly to dissolve the sugar as the coconut mixture heats. When the mixture begins to a simmer, back the heat down to medium-low and continue to cook for another 15-20 minutes. This will help thicken the sauce and soften the ginger. You may choose to cook it longer to reach a thicker consistency if desired. Once sauce has reached desired consistency, either pour sauce into a blender to puree the small chunks of ginger or use an immersion blender (also known as a hand blender) to blend the sauce for around two minutes or until it reaches a smooth consistency. Set aside to cool before spooning over your tacos

ORANGE-IS-THE-NEWBLACKENED-ROUGHY, FISH TACO

Fish:

Accoutrement: (Everything else that goes in a taco that isn’t sauce or meat)

1 box Samoa cookies ½ cup instant potato flakes ¾ cup sweetened, shredded coconut 6 orange roughy filets,

(Approximately 1/4-1/3 pound each) 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 3 large eggs Salt and pepper to taste

18 white corn tortillas 1 small head Napa cabbage (Sliced thin) 1/2 red onion (Shaved) 8 baby Portobello mushrooms (Sliced thin) 2 jalapenos (de-seeded and sliced in long, thin strips) 1 bunch of cilantro (de-stemmed and roughly chopped) 6 limes cut into small wedges

You will need three bowls just large enough to accommodate the pieces of fish. Pour the flour in the first bowl, whip the eggs in the second bowl and finish your fish-dredging-station by finely chopping up the cookies and placing them in a bowl with your coconut and potato flakes. Mix them well. Season the fish with a little salt and pepper. Dredge them first in the flour, then the egg and finally the Samoa mixture. Set them aside somewhere cold to rest for a few minutes, and here’s why: When the instant potato flakes come in contact with the liquid from the raw fish and the egg that coats the outside, the flakes greedily try to hydrate themselves, creating a bullet-proof crust around the outside of your fish. But that takes a few minutes when using cold liquid, so give your fish a few moments of peace and rest, while you get everything else in order.

Pre heat your oven to 425°, and in a non-stick skillet with an oven-safe handle, heat a few tablespoons of olive oil, and drop in the breaded fish. Fry until golden on the first side, flip them over and slide the skillet in the oven to let the fish finish in there. While the fish bakes (about five minutes), lightly fry all the necessary corn tortillas on one side using either a flat top or another large skillet. Remove fish from oven and let it rest for a minute or two while you build your tacos with the desired accoutrement, (Onions, cabbage, mushrooms, jalapenos) place the fish on top, and garnish with your ginger coconut sauce, cilantro and squeeze of lime. Tip: Make sure you are sitting in a chair with a back on it when you first attempt to eat this. It’s not my fault if your taste buds explode and the ensuing foodgasm makes you blackout and fall out of your chair.

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EXCHANGE CULINARY GROUP

Preheat oven to 350°

CRUST:

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CUBAN GRASSHOPPER

SAVVY SMILES LECHIE BARS

12 thin mints

(10 for the milkshake, 2 for garnish) 3 scoops vanilla bean ice cream 3 oz. rum 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup 1/4-1/2 cup half and half

(Start with ¼ cup, add more as needed) Dash of Mint extract

CRUST:

Place all ingredients in blender and pulse until combined. Pour into large glass or mug, garnish with crumbled thin mints on top, and get your shake on. That’s really pretty much it. Hell, you could probably put everything in a big mug, stir it with a spoon, call it a day, and it’d still be delicious!

Honestly, why are you still reading this? Go enjoy getting wasted on a milkshake!

1 cup butter, room temperature 2/3 cup dry lemonade powder 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 egg, plus 3 yolks 2 tsp vanilla 1 and 2/3 cup flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 small can sweetened condensed milk

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1 box savanna smiles 6 Tablespoons butter 2 Tablespoons lemon zest (Approx. 1 large lemon) 2 Tablespoons lemon juice (Approx. ½ large lemon) 1 Large (or 2 small) egg(s)

CAKE:

Grease a 9x13 pan with sweet cream butter and set aside. In a food processor combine all ingredients for crust, pulse until blended. It’s okay if there are some larger cookie pieces left. Press out the crust into the greased pan so that it covers the bottom.

Bake at 350° for 10 minutes, remove from oven and let cool while you mix your cake batter.

CAKE: Cream the butter, sugar and lemonade powder in mixer on medium-high for about two minutes or until light and fluffy. Lower the speed slightly. Add eggs and vanilla. Continue mixing until blended, don’t overmix.

Turn mixer to low and add flour and baking powder and continue mixing. Don’t overmix. Spread batter into the greased pan and bake for 15-20 minutes until edges begin to turn golden and the center is set. Do not overbake. Remove from oven and use a large toothpick or bamboo skewer to poke 20-30 holes in the top. Spread can of condensed milk over the top, and let cool 15 minutes before serving. You can dust the top with powdered sugar, and garnish with berries if you are one of those people who are into gilding the lily.

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DON’t MISS!

BEER FEST

Foamin’ At the Mouth: DON’t MISS THE 2ND ANNUAL CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL on May 30.

Blues, music and beer. Who would miss that? ...WE WON’T

Story by Josh Williams

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Beer. One need not say another word. “Hey man, wanna beer?” Heh. Then, when you start throwing around words like Hefeweizen and India Pale Ale and Nut Porter, well, many more people than just one dude start to listen. They’ve been listening for the last ten years or so. People like to feel cool. So, listen up, people. Hundreds of these craft beers, and countless other delicacies, will be on display in full force once again at the 2nd annual Hot Springs Craft Beer Festival 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, from 6-9pm at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

What makes our festival so special this year? Festivals celebrating the carbonated inebriant have been happening for eons. Its one of the oldest beverages humans have produced, dating back about 7000 years. It is one of the first-known biological engineering tasks to utilize the process of fermentation.

The invention of bread and beer has of fermentation.

The invention of bread and beer has been argued to be responsible for humanity’s ability to develop technology and build civilization. There is actually a “Purity Law,” instituted 500 years ago, that still remains today in a revised form. The Reinheitsgebot, instituted in Bavaria, permitted beer to be made only with barley, hops and water. Today yeast and wheat are permitted. Beer brewing is a delicate science. That’s why this festival is happening, and thank goodness that it is.

The Spa City Blues Society is the angel from beer heaven playing the role of host for this much anticipated event. The SCBS always has a hand in numerous events around town, and sometimes they get stretched a little thin. Admittedly, the Blues Society was a little overwhelmed and underprepared for last year’s inaugural craft beer party. Well, this year, they’ve

hot springs learned. They’re throwing a party about beer. This year’s version will feature much more than just the ambrosia that is malted barley and hops.

Rob Pratt, President of the Spa City Blues Society, and organizer of the 2015 festival, has promised that this year’s event will be nothing like last year’s. “We know we were short on amenities last year. We’ve been working real hard on it. The traffic flow was just awful.

There was no room and there was nothing that was really unique. It just seemed like other festivals.” I don’t think he was saying there was anything wrong with other beer festivals. We actually have a few good ones here in our very own state; The Arkansas Times Beer Festival, Little Rocktoberfest, and the Food and Foam Fest at Dickie Stevens Park are a few in our region.

Rob said, “I like those festivals, but they just kind of lay stuff out there. They’re just too basic, you come in, get in line, grab a beer, stand there, drink, repeat. This year we are going to have so much room!

We’re going to be able to spread out this year. We’re going to have swag and cheese and cigars. There will be great, great live music from local artists. We’re going to have beer from over 50 breweries. We want to be different. We want this to grow huge. We want this to be the best in the country.” As he leaned back and laughed, he said, “we’re going to have plenty of seats, too.”

This year’s vendor list is substantial, and they will be providing a gaggle of goodies: treats like decadent chocolates and cheeses, fine cigars from Churchhill’s Cigars and Pipes, smoked meats and other fine foodstuffs from local restaurants, not to mention about 200 different beers, all waiting for that thirst you’ll need to quench after that hot, late May afternoon.

If all this doesn’t sound good enough, you will have a chance to experience even more.

Along with this year’s general admission tickets, the festival will also have VIP tickets available for purchase. These VIP tickets allow entrance one hour early to the event, they will provide you with a commemorative beer glass (yes a real glass), and they also allow access to about two dozen beers, and other eateries that won’t be available to general admission ticket holders. There will also be less expensive designated driver passes that will allow access to all food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Beer is serious business. And on May 30, Hot Springs will have its scowl and beer socks on.

For more information visit hscraftbeerfest.com or call (501) 463-7190.

COMPLIMENTS from THE CHEF

Bubbly & Burgers

Matt: About 10 years ago at a Miami food show I was given salted popcorn to pair with Champagne and was told to think of Champagne as the “beer of wines.” My perception of food pairings with Champagne forever changed that day. Oysters, sushi and salty foods marry well with Champagne. Often overlooked, fried foods and fatty foods benefit from the Champagne’s acidity and bubbles as a contrasting flavor to help wash them down.

Randy: I completely agree with Matt. A glass of champagne pairs perfectly with a burger finished with goat cheese, sautéed onions, tapenade, and yes, french fries. Take a chance here, it’ll pay off. The burger topping-possibilities are endless, there are no mistakes you can make. And of course, some pairings will make you happier than others.

A secondary fermentation that occurs in the bottles create the bubbles or “mousse,” as the French say. They provide a light and stimulating accent when paired with food. The residual sugars in champagne offer an ideal accompaniment to the salts in most everyday meals.

My personal motto about pairing champagne is to be prepared to bend the rules.

Matt: The weather is rapidly getting warmer so it is the perfect time to experiment with Champagne as your summer beverage of choice with a meal. The next time you order a burger and fries forgo the beer and order Champagne (a rosé works great if you like ketchup).

Looks like a summer for bubbly and burgers.

Matt Fuller, Head Chef & Owner of Central Park Fusion Cuisine, has been all over the world; attending culinary school specializing in French cuisine and becoming a private chef on yachts, where he got to travel and experience many places and learn the food of those places.

It was there, throughout the Bahamas, Florida Keys, Baleric Islands off the southern coast of Spain, that he gathered the melange of flavors that he brings to his food.

Randy Womack, a native of the California wine country, is the Certified Wine Sommelier (CWS) at Central Park Fusion. Randy has worked in management, executive and food and beverage service capacities for several major companies including including Scandanavian Airlines, Grand Hotels and John Q. Hammons, and has served as maître d’hôtel for Chateau on the Lake in Branson, Mo.

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#LATERGRAM•ING

jeremy_rodgers_photography #hotspringshotspots

visithotsprings Breathtaking view of a beatiful downtown! #VisitHotSprings #Arkansas #Repost @jeremy_rodgers_photography ... #hotspringshotspots

WHAT’S HOT WHAT’S NOT Buffalo Trampling Down City Streets We’re kind of on the barbed wire fence with this one. On the one hand, it’s hot the bison escaped their oppressive boundaries, but on the other hand, shouldn’t we be able to catch these guys?

I mean the settlers nearly wiped out the entire species and we can’t keep six of ‘em out of Lakeside?

Huckabee Throws His Wednesday Night Hat in the Ring... Again Poetry has a New We appreciate the good Home at Kollective things you did for Coffee shops and Arkansas, but we poetry: a marriage even don’t see Washington Republicans won’t protest. letting you haul the triple-wide to Pennsylvania Ave. this time either. $75,000, no wait, $86,000 Hot Springs Fishing Cheap Beer & Challenge Bloodsuckers Anglers get another It’s that time of crack at Big Al, who’s year again. The wor th ten large love/hate we have with himself. Can somebody our lakes, Southern catch the bass-tard summer pests & big already? We’re tired starburst beer specials. of this guy and his Newsflash: It ain’t special elusive nature. when Bud Light is your beer of the month... every month.

Butchering the English Language to be Hip Craft Beer Fest “Ph” and “f” possessing the same $30 and you can drink all the great phonetic proper ties doesn’t entitle you beer you want. This is cer tainly not the to charge $10 for “phroth.” festival where Pabst won a blue ribbon.

Be social with us! a_angenuity Clue #1 #HSHotSpots (Downtown Pub Crawl - 2015)

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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

MAY

EVENT CALENDAR

14-16 State softball 1-10 ART & THE PARK championships ARTS FESTIVAL

at Downtown Hot Springs

7 the muses project & the hot

springs cultural alliance present: inspiration/collaboration

at Kimery Park

15 the temptations Review: at Oaklawn’s Finish Line Theatre

du for the parks

takes flight exhibit opens

20th annual norma lampert lupus springers 5K

9 Hot Springs cruisers

20th annual car show

at Hot Springs Memorial Airfield

summerfest uptown on park avenue at 100-700 blocks of Park Avenue

crystal falls water park at magic springs season opens at Magic Springs

10 kundalini yoga for creativity at Arlington Lawn

ringers of hope mother’s day concert at Garvan Woodland Gardens

kickoff party

at Oaklawn Racing & Gaming

16 OPEAKFIT race

at Garvan Woodland Gardens

at Gregg Orr Marine

dennis edwards in concert

at Mid-America Science Museum

8 mystic creatures topiary art

24 memorial day fireworks 25 oaklawn’s unofficial summer

at Catherine’s Landing

at Mid-America Park

10th annual stueart pennington running of the tubs at Downtown Hot Springs

22 4th fridays arkansas

at Transporation Depot

hot springs concert band free summer concert at Whittington Park

28-30 2015 british

national car meet

at Hot Springs Convention Center

30 magic springs concert series “Randy Houser”

jazz experience

at Magic Springs

at Quapaw Baths & Spa

hot springs craft beer festival

23 spring car show at National Park College

little miss arkansas pageant

at Hot Springs Convention Center

31-JUNE 13 Hot springs music festival, season 20

at Hot Springs Convention Center

at Various Locales (See Page 18)

at Arlington Hotel

at Downtown Parking Deck

24 stardust big band

june 4 flavor of the park #hshotspots

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