april 2011 AtUrbanMagazine.com
rise
lifestyle
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Calvin F. Bey Marla Cantrell Marcus Coker Laura Hobbs Jim Martin Tonya McCoy Jeff Mores Clara Jane Rubarth Gloria Williams Tran Todd Whetstine
entertainment
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Marla Cantrell
22 24
Now Hear This The Language of Dance
people
MANAGING EDITOR
Catherine Frederick
A Pressed Petal Eco-friendly Hobbit House How to Fill an Empty Nest Discovering Your Inner Monk Organic Gardening The Learning Fields
29 32 34
The Color of Happiness Branding Bluegrass The Day the Earth Opened
taste
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PRESIDENT
7 8 12 14 18 20
37 38
Mojo’s Hard Lemonade Mac & Cheese Please
destination
@INSIDE
40 44 47
I Saw the Light Spend the Night with Frank Lloyd Wright Goff at Price Tower
Marcus Coker Catherine Frederick
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER
Jeromy Price
WEB GURU
David Jamell
PUBLISHER
Read Chair Publishing, LLC
Advertising and Distribution Information Catherine Frederick at 479 / 782 / 1500 Catherine@AtUrbanMagazine.com Editorial or Artwork Information Marla Cantrell at 479 / 831 / 9116 Marla@AtUrbanMagazine.com ©2011 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions contained in @Urban are exclusively those of the writers and do not represent those of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. as a whole or its affiliates. Any correspondence to @Urban or Read Chair Publishing, LLC., including photography becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. @Urban reserves the right to edit content and images.
@LETTER FROM CATHERINE
H
ooray for April! Welcome Spring! I admit, it took me a little while to “spring forward,” but now that I’m used to the time shift, all is well with the world.
For me, spring is a time of celebration. Green blades of grass push past the brown shades of winter. Tiny buds and trees burst with color right before our eyes. Sure, they are swollen allergy eyes, but who cares - I’ll focus on the beautiful landscape right outside my door and the rich garden soil begging for seed. In this month’s issue we celebrate the great beauty of our area, when we take you to the Mulberry River with our newest writer and award-winning photographer, Todd Whetstine. He’ll take you along on a trip that changed his life, catch you up on the best places to raft, hike and fish, and leave you eager to get outdoors. We’ll also introduce you to a young bluegrass singer who’s one of the best kept secrets in the River Valley. Her talent was discovered when she found a way to keep time with the bells on her baby shoes. Impressed? So were some of the greats in country music. Need a reason to get out of town? How about a day trip to a skyscraper that’s vying for a spot on the United Nations’ list of world treasures? Want a little comfort food? This month’s recipe has you covered. Three words: macaroni and cheese. Okay, five more. Absolutely out of this world. Don’t forget our first ever poetry jam being held April 9th. It’s going to be a lot of fun, and it’s free (see inside back cover of this issue for full details)! We also have some wonderful tips on Green gardening, and a story designed to discover your “inner monk”. It’s a rich mix of what’s best about our little part of the world. As we assembled this issue, we couldn’t help but think of Fort Smith’s former mayor, Ray Baker, whose recent passing touched us all. His slogan, “Life’s worth living in Fort Smith, Arkansas!” kept ringing true. He was an inspiration to many, and had so much love for his city. It’s my hope that we can all learn by his example - that joy is not something elusive. It is found in the most ordinary place on Earth –a place we call home.
Sign up on our website, AtUrbanMagazine.com, & get our weekly e-news, @Urban Mix!
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@LIFESTYLE
In a book she left,
of the @Urban Poetry Contest
I found a pressed petal – a wild petunia, I think, old, fragile, maroon – and a message I didn’t understand
@lines Gloria Williams Tran
from someone I didn’t know. A message about roads that met in the woods. I wondered what woods they met in and why – was the petal from a flower there? Did she sigh and think of him in the still of the night or on soft spring days? She came and went from my life, bruising me as she pushed her way out, and I never knew, never saw, the person who cherished the petal picked somewhere in the woods. 7
eco-friendly hobbit house stanley family finds inner peace @story and images Jeff Mores
T
hey’ve been in for about a year and a half. But there are still times Mark and Kristine Stanley, and
their two boys, Marek and Seth, are tempted to pinch themselves as they bask in the sun pouring through the wall of windows along the backside of their home in rural Rogers. If all goes according to plan, they’ll even be able to reach over and pluck a banana from one of the trees growing inside their house this spring. Yes, banana trees. Inside. You’re not going to find plans for the kind of home the Stanleys built on any architect’s shelf. In fact, you’d have to drive to Durant, Oklahoma, to find anything like what they’ve constructed in the woods in the tranquil 1300 block of Dream Valley Road near Beaver Lake. And you’d have to go as far as Colorado or New Mexico to find more than one in proximity. “Maybe we’re getting weirder as we get older,” Mark Stanley joked. “But seriously, for us, this was about making better choices. We wanted to live better and healthier. Since we’ve moved in, it’s had a domino effect. We’ve changed the way we eat, the way we think – everything.
@LIFESTYLE
Everyone is looking for some kind of inner peace and this is
But there was a method to the madness. They were constructing
what launched it for us.”
a tire bale house, which, if stacked, sealed and walled off with concrete correctly, would allow the Stanleys to live almost
The Stanleys’ 2,000-square-foot home – as far as they and
entirely without heating or air conditioning. “It’s really kind of
anyone from the city, region or state they had to get permits
amazing to think about, but you need look no further than a
through – is the most environmentally friendly in Arkansas.
cave to figure out how the whole thing works,” Mark said. “A
And the uniqueness of it all begins with the Hobbit-style, hand-
cave remains pretty much the same temperature year around.
crafted, circular front door that now stares out of the earth on
The tire bales encased inside our walls absorb the heat by day,
Dream Valley Road. “That’s the first thing everyone notices
keeping the house cool, and release at night to keep us warm.
and it’s really where the idea for doing this house began,” Mark explained. “I was watching one of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies and saw the Hobbit house. I went online, started surfing around and came across some interesting concepts. The more I researched, the more I became hooked. I started learning about sustainability and that there were other ways of building and living – where you could be almost completely energy efficient and live the way we were intended to live.” So in 2007, the Stanleys – along with the help of a few licensed professionals, family and friends – set out to turn Mark’s vision into reality. A physical therapist by day, he knew it was going to be a challenge. Mark wasn’t even certain he knew how to hold a hammer correctly when it all began. And the few motorists who drive the otherwise quiet road each day probably weren’t convinced he was ever going to figure it out. You see, there are very few studs and joists. Instead, the skeleton
“It took about a year for the temperature to really stabilize,”
of the home consists of hundreds of tightly compacted bales of
Kristine Stanley said. “Now, it can be twenty degrees outside in
rubber tires, each weighing more than a ton. The Stanleys lost
the winter, but as long as it’s sunny, it will get to a comfortable
count of the individual tires at around 15,000. So there was a
seventy degrees on its own inside.”
brief period where the Stanleys’ lot looked more like a garbage
small, wood-burning stove, but they rarely use it. “The wall of
dump than a construction site.
windows, how the house is positioned, the materials that were
The Stanleys have a
used – every detail takes the earth into account.”
9
@LIFESTYLE
an outdoor gutter system that routes rainfall into a waterfall-like flow that eventually collects in underground tanks for future use. “At a certain point, this wasn’t just a tree hugger thing anymore,” Mark said. “Overall, people seem to be changing the way they think – or at least they’re more open-minded to these kinds of things. Everyone can do something. It doesn’t necessarily have to be as extreme as a project like this.” The Stanleys are the first to admit a project like his may not be realistic for everyone. Reason being, finding a loan will almost certainly be a challenge. “There aren’t a lot of places out there And coming up with a mass of enormously heavy tire bales to
willing to give you a loan for something like this,” Kristine said.
construct the home was as easy as a phone call to the Benton
“I think that’s a shame because it probably prevents others from
County Solid Waste District, which typically pays a company to
doing it. I know it’s part of the reason it took us two years to get
haul the tires to a recycling company in Oklahoma. Delivering
this one done.
the bales to the nearby construction site saved both the BCSWD and the Stanleys a bundle of money.
“Two years is a big chunk of your life, but we were fortunate to have the luxury of not being on a time frame,” Mark said. “But
Once you step through the Hobbit door and into the cave-like
I know I could help anyone who is interested in something like
entrance of their home, the true experience begins.
this. I learned a lot of things along the way and I’d love to pass some of those ideas and experiences on to help other people
Beneath the concrete floors, a plumbing system routes water
live better. Something happens to you when you walk inside a
from the shower and sink drains, through a filter, and into a pair
home that doesn’t have a single piece of drywall – when it’s part
of indoor fruit and vegetable gardens, where everything from
of the Earth.”
bananas, avocados, tomatoes, limes, aloe and herbs bathe in the natural light. A few strategically placed skylights invite even
Between their day jobs, running the boys to basketball practices
more of the outdoors in.
and games, and hosting the occasional impromptu tour for curious passersby, the Stanleys have found time to plant several
Recycled denim and rice hulls were used as additional insulation
gardens on their property. Their goal is to eat almost entirely
within the walls and behind the ceiling. The wood planks used on
from their own gardens and local farmers markets. “It’s going to
the upper walls, as well as some of the furniture and other parts of
happen,” Mark said. “It’s that inner peace I was talking about. It’s
the interior, were milled from fallen trees. Bathtubs, countertops
infectious. I mean, there are bananas growing inside my house.
and other flat surfaces were crafted using concrete. There’s even
You gotta love that.”
10
W
hen Randy and Marquitta Keen found themselves facing an empty nest they wondered what the future held. The
answer came when The CALL (Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime) visited their church in Fort Smith last fall to encourage members to become foster parents. “We’ve always been involved in student ministries.” Randy said. ..”We’ve always loved being around kids. ..When our girls started college we felt like it was time to do something different. When The CALL showed up, we’d been praying about it, and we knew it was the right thing to do.” The Keens signed up, went through a background check and then attended classes provided by The CALL, a volunteer organization developed four years ago that partners church members with foster children, and works in conjunction with state agencies. “Once we received our certificate, we were put on the list and we got a call within twenty-four hours,” Randy said. “They [DHS] called and said they had a boy and they’d like for us to take him. And they said the boy had siblings, and they wanted us to possibly take his brother. My first thought was that I wanted to get acclimated to the system before I took them both on but within four days we had the two kids and we’ve just taken on the third brother.” The boys are eight, seven and four. They have a two-year-old brother who is in another location. The Keens would like to bring him into their home as well, although they’re aware that
how to fill an empty nest kids of the call
@story Marla Cantrell
his foster family might have a hard time letting him go. “We know they’re very attached to him,” Marquitta said, “and we understand that. We’d just like to keep these brothers together if we can. ..Before we got them the middle boy was in a shelter, the oldest one was in a home in Clarksville and the younger one was in Texarkana.”
@LIFESTYLE
It’s hard for the Keens to imagine what it was like when the boys
And while the Keens feel they were particularly prepared for
were first separated. “I think it must have been catastrophic,”
the challenge – he grew up with four brothers and her parents
Marquitta said. Randy squeezed Marquitta’s hand as he spoke.
took in foster children while she was growing up – they know
“Their world fell apart that day. It’s hard knowing that because
that not everyone who wants to help is capable of fostering.
these children did nothing to cause it. None of this is their fault.
But there are things the community can do. “People can help
One day their life was one way and the next everything they’d
gather clothes,” Marquitta said. “A lot of these kids come with
known was completely gone.”
nothing, with everything they have in a trash bag. They can help foster parents with transportation because many of these
Randy described the seven-year-old, the first brother they took in,
kids have so many doctors’ appointments, therapists, and other
as the spitting image of the young boy in the movie, “Jerry McGuire.”
appointments. If a foster parent works, it’s hard to juggle it all.
“At first,” Randy said, “we were a little nervous. We didn’t know if
..One lady made cakes for the kids’ birthdays. There’s always
we’d be dealing with kids with real behavior problems. But this little
something that can be done.”
boy, he’d come and sit beside me as soon as I got home from work As for the Keens, they believe that even if they only have these
and he was so sweet and so good. They really tug at your heart.”
boys for a short time they can show them what stability feels While some foster situations do end in adoptions, the Keens
like. They keep them on a daily schedule with dinner at a certain
first desire is to support the boys’ mother. “Our goal and our
time, and routines they follow every morning and evening.
prayer is that the mother meets the [state’s] requirements
They’d like to continue to support the boys’ mother should
and to raise her kids the way she should. We know that in a
the boys go back to her, and offer to babysit, take the family to
year’s time, say, that would be difficult for us but we see this
church, and be there for moral support. “We want them to know
as a ministry, to help these kids while their mother gets things
how to love one another, care for each other and to get a feel
together. ..We hope that by her knowing that her kids are safe
for what a balanced family is like because we see them as part
we can take some of the worry off of her.”
of our family. ..We want them to know unconditional love. ..We just want them to know that there’s security in that.”
The CALL is working to help alleviate the problem of too few foster homes trying to fill the needs of too many kids. They see their work, just as the Keens do, as a ministry, to show these children and their parents that there are Christian folks who care about their situation and feel obligated to help. In Sebastian County alone, there are 566 children in foster care. Add Crawford, Scott, Franklin, Yell, and Johnson, and another
To learn more about The CALL, you can either call 479.274.9505
twenty-six from Booneville and Paris, and the total reaches
or email inquiries to crawfordcounty@thecallinarkansas.org or
nearly 800, with only about 150 homes open to care for them.
sebastiancounty@thecallinarkansas.org
13
S
ister Macrina Wiederkehr stands at a podium, occasionally lifting her hand
to her heart while she speaks. Below her on a table flickers a candle beside a rock with these two words carved into it: “Be Still.” She looks thoughtfully at the group of about thirty that’s gathered for her retreat called “Discovering the Monk Within,“ at Saint Scholastica in Fort Smith. She says, “I could sit at your feet. I really could.” She explains, saying this means she can learn from others. But on this day she is the teacher, and she looks the part. Instead of the traditional habit, she wears a gray jacket, and peers over her glasses as she speaks. Sister Macrina is advising her pupils on their spiritual journey to “Be Still.” This is an alien concept in the age of multi-taskers, WiFi cafes, and ondemand everything.
discovering your inner monk quiet retreat
@story Tonya McCoy @images Sister Macrina
Sister Macrina grew up on a busy farm herself. She worked in the family vineyards for her grandfather, Johann Andreas Wiederkehr, who emigrated from Switzerland and started the Wiederkehr winery in Altus. She was drawn to the spiritual life at the early life of seventeen, when she entered the monastery. However, if you ask her when she decided to become a nun, she’ll tell you “this morning.” Sister Macrina explains, “We begin again each day. No matter what vocation in life
@LIFESTYLE
we choose, seldom do we have a clear image of what it really entails
has been on previous “quiet” retreat with Sister Macrina.
and this is why we have to make a commitment over and over again.”
Jacqueline’s friends didn’t think she had the willpower to be quiet, “And when I told people I was going to go on this retreat, they just laughed… but I loved being quiet.”
And Sister Macrina says that busy-ness has even crept through the peaceful walls of the monastery. She has several projects she is working on herself, including her eighth book called
Jacqueline says her spiritual journey began shortly after she’d read
“Abide.” But today she stops her writing to urge her students to
“Eat Pray Love.” She empathized with author Elizabeth Gilbert’s
carve out time in each hectic day to “ Be Quiet.”
quest to find happiness, balance, and God. “The book may have been the catalyst for me realizing I needed a change in my life.
She explains that the word monk comes from the root monos meaning single. Some groups of monks through the ages, both
“I was at a crossroads in my life and in my marriage. I was trying
Buddhist and Catholic, have taken vows of silence to obtain a
to figure out up from down and which way to go. I’m from
closer spiritual connection. To help set a peaceful mood and
Fayetteville and I didn’t even know St. Scholastica was here;
prepare her students for silence, Sister Macrina clicks through
I’d never even heard of Sister Macrina. It was in a bulletin that
her iPod until she finds a prayer of hers, set to music.
there was going to be a retreat, and it was called Soul Writing, and I thought – that’s what I need... I filled up an entire journal.”
O, ever-changing God, protect us from congealing, Jacqueline told Sister Macrina that she was thinking about Ever flowing, ever flowing, ever flowing, ever flowing.
pursuing a career in film, but was afraid that it might be an
‘Til we flow into a Sacred Stream,
unwise decision. “Sister Macrina said, ‘You need to just follow
‘Til we flow into that Eternal Drink which is You.
that, keep listening.’ She also told me that the difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions.”
Then pour us back into the world and let the flowing After the retreat Jacqueline quit her job as a teacher to pursue
begin again,
her dream to be a filmmaker. She completed a summer film And again, and again, and again.
program and now runs her own business called Pointhouse
“And so I send you forth…”
Producations (pointhouseproductions.com).
Also, she and
her husband were able to renew their marriage. But most importantly, she is happy.
At this retreat there are about three hours of the day spent in total silence.
Fellow retreater Cari Kaufman, who’s from Lowell, hasn’t read “I am not a quiet person. I thought there is no way in the world
“Eat Pray Love,” but says she’s been searching for a spiritual
I am going to be able to be quiet,” says Jacqueline Lobb, who
connection for much of her life.
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@LIFESTYLE
Cari investigated several religions and philosophies, including the pagan form of modern witchcraft: Wicca. She even helped get Wicca recognized as an organized religion in the military, while she was in the Army. But none of her searching gave her the connection she was looking for. Now, as a Baptist teacher, she is content, and hopes this retreat will help her to further her spiritual journey through “quiet.” “I wanted to experience a deeper sense of quiet. And part
Tips from Sister Macrina for Channeling your Inner Monk
of the reason I came was to slow my mind down a bit.” And some days Cari’s mind races. She is a published author and holds seminars for women about building close communities
• Listen. Be aware and present
and becoming closer to God. After writing her book “Living
in each moment.
with Strings Attached,” she started a website and ministry at
• Silence. Carve out more time every day
stringsattachedministries.com. She’s even considering leading a mission trip for women in India.
to sit in still silence in communion with
“If you want to mobilize a nation, you have to mobilize the
balance between community and solitude.
God. She urges students to search for a • Poverty. Donate or give away
women. They are the heartbeat of the family.”
what you do not need. And about ninety-nine percent of the people on this retreat are
• Obedience. She explains this does
women. Jacqueline and Cari are just two examples of the busy,
not mean to be a “door mat,” but to
successful women that Sister Macrina is ministering to today.
put others needs before yours. • Environmentalism. She encourages
Sister Macrina rings a small bell and as it vibrates around the circle
students to be stewards of the earth, and
of students. She says, “Put your hand on your heart and just listen.”
explains that we should take care of the
All you can hear is the hum of the heater, as you feel the thump of
planet we sometimes take for granted.
your heart. Just outside cars are hustling down the street to soccer games, the mall, the park. But for several minutes, there is peace within these walls, in this haven for meditation.
If you’re interested in taking part in a retreat at St. Scholastica, you can find a schedule at stscho.org. For Sister Macrina’s retreats simply click on the link that says ‘Macrina Wiederkehr.’
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you will see more birds, bees, and butterflies. Being gentle on the land is the trademark of going organic. Start your organic gardening process by getting a good reference book. I suggest, “How to Grow More Vegetables” by John Jeavons. The gardening practices are well explained and it’s based on the concept of living in a more sustainable manner.
organic gardening
Each month, I will cover concepts and practices that work in our part of Arkansas. With forty years of organic gardening
let’s get started
experience, I hope to pass on to readers some wisdom and save
@story Calvin F. Bey
you from making mistakes.
To make rapid progress to a healthy soil, start with the following practices as part of your plan.
W
hen do you feel most energized? For me, it is when I am in the garden, smelling the wonderful aroma of a
healthy garden soil. Indeed, I do take pride in turning my garden soil into a biologically alive and healthy medium. I know that
1. Use raised beds for improved drainage and better aeration.
a healthy soil means healthy plants, produce, and eventually healthy consumers. As you contemplate starting or continuing an organic garden, I recommend that you focus on this essential
2. Do not use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or GMO (genetically modified organisms) seeds. Toxins pollute the soil, and can compromise our health.
soil building concept. The payoff is well worth it. If you are wondering about how to get started, remember that
3. Use compost wisely. One inch of compost gently worked into the top few inches is usually sufficient.
activities in organic and conventional gardening are quite similar. You prepare beds, sow seeds, fertilize, weed, water, and harvest. With a little guidance you can easily become an organic
4. Follow minimum tillage practices. There is no need for a tiller for small gardens. It can actually create problems is some soils.
gardener. Begin by making a few small changes and following a few ecological principles. In due time the organic approach will be second nature.
5. Plant cover crops and use mulch liberally, thereby keeping the soil covered at all times.
My interest and expertise is with vegetables, but I encourage you to also incorporate organic practices into your lawn, shrubs, and
For more on organic gardening log on to harmonygardens.blogspot.com
flower production. When you convert to the organic approach,
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the learning fields
state will host area schoolchildren who can study and collect leaves from every tree native to Arkansas.
how does a garden grow
To visit the Learning Fields drive east on Rogers Avenue
@story Clara Jane Rubarth
(Highway 22) through Barling. Just past the I-49 overpass and the railroad tracks, turn right on Mahogany Avenue. After several blocks, turn right on Tuscany and then left on Gardener Lane. The building and the gardens are on the right. The Garden can be visited informally on Tuesday mornings between 9:00 and noon. First Saturdays are scheduled from 9:00 to noon each month from May through October. Check the website for calendar details. Group tours are arranged through the Extension Office 479.484.7737.
T
he Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing is a project of the
The Herbal Adventures committee of the
River Valley Master Gardeners. The goal of the project is to
Master Gardeners presents “Eat, Plant, and Learn”
demonstrate gardening techniques for home gardeners and to
on April 23 at “The Learning Fields.”
teach gardening principles through workshops and classes. This is not a botanical garden but rather a series of demonstration
For Reservations:
plots to inspire and to instruct home gardeners and those in
Shirley Russell 782-6915 or shirley375@aol.com
community gardens and at schools, churches, and hospitals as well as other public gardens.
Check out the blog at HerbalAdventures.blogsspot.com
Garden plots include a culinary herb spiral, medicinal
Other herb gardens of the Master Gardeners are at
herbs, roses, vegetables, strawberries and blueberries, and
Creekmore Park and at The Clayton House,
blackberries. Other plots feature flowers to attract butterflies
514 North Sixth Street in Fort Smith.
and to be cut for flower arrangements. One plot demonstrates raised bed construction and another is filled with plants native
Just in time for spring planting check out the PLANT SALE
to the River Valley. A vertical garden shows how to garden in a
for your favorite annuals, perennials, house plants, herbs,
limited space, and a labyrinth is set in raised beds of flowers
vegetables, and shrubs. The plant sale is Saturday, April 23, 8:00
and herbs along a garden path. A walking trail, which will grow
a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the First Christian Church
to five miles, is set behind the Gelene MacDowell Memorial
on Rogers Avenue, just across the street from Creekmore Park
Wildflower Meadow and beside a small stream. Along the trail
in Fort Smith. The plant sale proceeds and your donations help
an Arkansas arboretum is in progress. These trees native to our
support the non-profit Learning Fields.
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@ENTERTAINMENT
of what now makes its way out of the famed home of country music, its style just wasn’t a fit for McKenna. Thankfully, the same cannot be said for “Lorraine.” This album is named for her mother, who died when Lori was just seven years old. The most emotional tracks here deal with her mother’s life and death. The title track is a poignant recounting of her mother’s life, while track thirteen, “Still Down Here,” tells in detail how she imagines her mother’s first day in Heaven might be, ending with the heartfelt line, “Don’t forget about me, I’m still down here.” Of course, there are tunes here dealing with subjects other than death. Track seven, “Buy This Town” is a nostalgic piece regarding Lori’s middle-class childhood, while track one, “The Luxury Of Knowing,” dictates the difficulties of a long-
now hear this
term relationship. The piano based track three, “If He Tried,”
@review Jim Martin
High points: Lyrics, lyrics, lyrics! This girl can write! Low Points:
consists of the pleadings of someone who has all they need in a relationship, but still wants a little bit more.
lori mckenna — “lorraine”
L
Track five, “You Get A Love Song.” While it’s a good enough song,
ori McKenna’s latest release, “Lorraine,” is by far her
the electric musical track makes it feel like a cut intended for
best yet. Certainly a step up from her previous release,
another album that was thrown into the mix at the last minute to
the overproduced piece of pop fluff she recorded under the
take up space. It just doesn’t fit.
tutelage of country artist, Tim McGraw. This set, through acoustic overtones and lyrical genius, speaks directly to the heart. From
Overall, the acoustic feel is perfect for the heartfelt and revealing
rejection to redemption to reception, there’s not one human
lyrics. This is music as it ought to be, played from the heart and
emotion this album doesn’t cover.
soul with no regard to radio or to the Billboard record charts. Music made for no other reason than it just has to be.
On her previous release, the obviously Nashville influenced “Unglamorous,” Lori made a grab at the big time, recording the same type slick and overwrought crap you can hear anytime on
I Rate It
any Top-40 radio station. While still better than eighty percent
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malia drinkwitz @story Marcus Coker @images Theresa Schlabach & Marcus Coker
M
alia Drinkwitz learned the language of dance as a
emotion, and dance gave me the outlet. With dance, you’re
child. Growing up in Fort Smith, she used to flip and
taking music and bringing it to life for people. We stuff a lot
somersault off furniture. She taught herself how to do back
of things that are painful and hurtful, and people stay shut
handsprings. By the age of nine, she enrolled in gymnastics.
down. But grown men can watch a nine year old dance, and it
Her parents were conservative when it came to television, so
touches a part of their heart. To this day, it’s still what I love.”
she and her three brothers “lived on old musicals.” Her role
By the time she was a teenager, Malia was choreographing
models were Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.
dances and plays for her church. “If I hadn’t been a dancer, I probably would have been some Goth kid,” says Malia
“Looking back,” she says, “it worked out well. I remember as
Drinkwitz. “I always go back to Martha Graham’s quote:
a kid being deeply moved by things, especially music. But I
‘Dance is the hidden language of the soul.’
felt frustrated that I didn’t know how to express some of that
@ENTERTAINMENT
A gymnastics scholarship gave her a full ride to Oklahoma University, where she competed until she was twenty-two. “That’s a dinosaur in the world of gymnastics,” says Malia. Now, at the age of thirty-three, Malia is well acquainted with arthritis and the pains that come from years of hard falls and broken bones. But Malia says gymnastics taught her how to manage her time, how to focus through stress. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business communications, Malia went to work as a manager at Abercrombie and Fitch in Fort Smith. She coached gymnastics on the side and thought, Dance is fun, but it’s time to be practical. Still, in 2004, she rented the Alma Performing Arts Center to put on a show with
Whereas most schools will offer a PE (athletic) credit for dance
some of her friends. The show drew a surprisingly large crowd, as
team, Malia says she believes Alma is the first school in the state
well as the attention of school administration. Impressed, they
to offer either a Fine Arts or PE credit for a dance class. “Maybe
hired Malia to choreograph a musical. Malia, whose ideas are
kids don’t want to play football,” says Malia, as she points out
never ordinary, asked, “Can I suspend people from the ceiling?”
that dance is actually considered a sport by the state of Arkansas.
The administration liked Malia’s out-of-the-box approach. After
The kids are preparing for an upcoming show called “Got
going back to school for a year to earn her master’s degree, Malia
Moves,” which they will perform on April 30 and May 1. They are
was hired to teach dance classes on a daily basis. Nearly five years
concentrating on a routine to the popular song “Whip My Hair”
later, she’s teaching six classes a day, all of which are filled to
by Willow Smith. Ninth-grader Dylan Ross stretches his arms
capacity with Alma students twelve to eighteen years old. Her dance
wide open as he jumps on one leg across the room, chin up and
team went from tenth in the state to runner up in just three years.
eyebrows raised. A girl whose hair falls free from her ponytail
This past November they took first in Hip Hop and High Kick Routine.
stands still, crossing her arms against her waist, and looking at the toe of her dance shoe. The differences in personality aside,
Malia, whose classes are held in a windowless room which also
each student must dance solo in front of the class at the end of
doubles as the school’s storm shelter, had no male students her
their first semester. Malia says, “Kids moan, cry, tell me they’re
first year. The next year, two boys “threw a fit” when they were
going to puke. They say, ‘I can’t do this. You don’t understand. I
told they couldn’t join the dance class, and that changed things.
can’t dance.’ People hate it, but it gets them out of their comfort
“Now I have forty boys. I have eighteen middle school boys,”
zone. It might sound cocky, but the one thing I’ll say is that I can
says Malia. “It’s really neat to see the guy participation.”
teach anyone how to dance.”
25
@ENTERTAINMENT
The members of the dance team consider each other family. “Last year there was a girl in class whose family didn’t have money for food,” says Malia. “I spoke with school administration, and we started a food pantry in our costume room. I talked to all the kids, and they brought food. For the rest of the year, anytime that she was hungry, she’d go to this little food pantry and stock up. And I used that to train my kids. Open your eyes. There are people around you. That was so much more of a real lesson than if they were sitting in church on Sunday and someone said, ‘You need to give.’ And they got it.” Watch one of Malia’s classes, and you’ll see the proof. Boys and girls pile into Malia’s studio hour after hour, day after day. They
The bell rings. The school buses line up, and boys and girls
come in all shapes and sizes, and it doesn’t seem to matter. They
scatter as they jam their dance shoes into backpacks. Perhaps it
start by stretching and then do push-ups and sit-ups. “Every
isn’t coincidence that Malia’s classroom was designed as a storm
year,” Malia says, “people start dropping weight. They don’t
shelter. She provides a safe place for students and a way for them
realize they’re working out when they dance.”
to express what’s deepest in their hearts. Perhaps Martha Graham was right. Dance is the hidden language of the soul.
But the physical changes aren’t the only ones Malia notices. “Kids come in beat up, totally withdrawn, no self-confidence.” In her short time teaching, Malia has been reminded that life as a teen can be difficult. “They have all this pent up. I tell them, ‘This
Upcoming Show: Got Moves.
is where you go to escape. This is your outlet. If your parents
Alma Performing Arts Center
are getting divorced, if your boyfriend just broke up with you,
Saturday, April 30th at 7:30 pm
if your grades are horrid, if you don’t have any money, if life is
Sunday, May 1st at 2:30 pm
really bad, this is where you go to escape. When you step into
$5 per person
this room, that stops. This is where you get to move and feel free for a little bit and escape some of the heartache.’
www.almapac.org/calendar.html
“I tell them from the get-go it’s not just about dance. I want to train success. The discipline is life changing for them. When they walk out, they’re confident, they’re happy, and they have a good friend group. They have a place to express, and they have outlets.”
26
@PEOPLE
At twenty-four, Patricia is just finding her footing in the art world. Her portraits were recently shown at a Fort Smith gallery, and suddenly people she never knew before were talking about her talent. Patricia works in oil, but she never uses a brush. Instead she applies the paint with a pallet knife, a technique she discovered serendipitously when she forgot to bring her brush to class. Her only concession to the knife is that she has to work in slow segments, letting the paint dry a little before coming at it again. The precision is worth it, though, and she’s able to add tiny specs of brilliant color to each portrait. That’s how she sees the world: a colorful, happy mix. But it isn’t as if she’s immune to sorrow. “I wanted to be a pediatrician,” she says. “I wanted to help people. Then in my senior year [at Northside High School] my grandfather died and I realized I couldn’t do it. ..I knew I didn’t want that kind of responsibility. I’m the kind of person that even if I did everything humanly possible to save that life and it didn’t turn out, I’d beat myself up over it.
the color of happiness
“I was so sad and I was trying to be tough, especially for my father. I’d go in the bathroom and I’d cry so he wouldn’t see me do it. Outside I’d be the strong one: strong daughter, strong sister, strong everything.”
patricia del rio
Her father comes up a lot as she talks about both her past
@story Marla Cantrell @images Marcus Coker & Patricia del Rio
and her future. “Money’s always been a struggle for my family. ..They’re originally from Mexico. My dad’s always been big on education. He’s like, ‘Man, if I only had the opportunity I
P
atricia Del Rio walks in carrying a portrait of a gap-toothed
would’ve been an engineer.’ My grandparents grew their own
little girl who grins from her spot on the unframed canvas.
corn, their beans, their tomatoes, whatever. The kids helped out.
Patricia’s smile is even wider. For a moment there is more light
My dad told me that out of the entire [school] year he would go,
in the small space Patricia occupies than in all the rest of the
like, two months. But the teacher would pass him because he
building put together.
was so smart. He made it to third grade. He was in Guadalajara
29
@PEOPLE
and he was on his own, working,” Patricia says, her hands, previously in constant motion, drop to her lap. She furrows her brow and continues. “He jumped from job to job, always sending my grandparents money. He’s my biggest inspiration. He has that drive to just keep going and going.” Her father watched as Patricia worked her way through college, earning a degree in graphic design in 2010. It was a happy day for her big family, one she recalls with a kind of hushed pride. A year later, she feels a kind of cautious freedom in her decision to cut back on her day job so that she can spend more time in front of the canvas. “My father works so hard, and he saved his money. He wasn’t someone who used credit. And I want to be a success but I don’t think I have to do exactly the same thing. I
So far, her portfolio is all portraits. But she’s going to start paint-
don’t think I have to be in a certain business and just work and
ing landscapes soon. And she’s going to begin the hard work
work. I think I can paint and I can make things happen.”
of marketing, something that’s altogether new to her. Patricia believes she’ll one day earn enough to help give back to her
If the quality of her paintings is any indication, she’s exactly
father. She’d like to help him retire, in a place where he could
right. In her self portrait, she looks out on the world, her dark
grow his own food, just like when he was a boy, but this time he
hair all but covering one eye. She is smiling from a background
wouldn’t have to worry about anyone else.
of red. There are dozens of other colors in the piece, tiny little sparks of blue and green and yellow that make up who she is.
It’s likely her father sees in her what we see in her paintings:
“I always work from photographs. ..When I finished that one, I
that life is a beautiful, colorful journey. “I don’t remember a
really was a little in awe,” Patricia admits. “You know that feel-
time when I didn’t think about drawing and painting,” Patricia
ing, like when you’re in the mall and you see your reflection and
says. “I remember when my teacher would read us stories when
for a minute you think you’ve met someone who looks just like
I was little and I’d want to draw it all. I’d think about the rabbit
you? That’s what it felt like.”
she was describing and I’d invent the kind of hat it was wearing, what color it was. That’s how I followed the story. That’s how
But as much as she loved it, she didn’t hold onto the portrait. “I
I’ve always been.”
gave it to Mr. Holmes, one of my [high school] art teachers. ..He helped me so much, while I was painting it and even with so many other decisions I had to make.”
You can contact Patricia at patriciadelrio86@gmail.com
N
icole Brand, born on December 13, 1993, made her musical debut after having just turned one year old. “We had Christmas
music playing,” her grandpa, Ben Brand Sr., says, “when we noticed she was keeping time with the bells on her shoes. That’s when we knew she had ‘it.’” She began singing in public at the age of two at the weekly Jenny Lind Jamboree. “I remember sitting on Grandpa’s lap to reach the microphone,” Nicole says. Ben Sr. remembers that while sitting there, she would try reaching around the guitar as though she were playing. He knew it was just a matter of time. “She used to sit and stare at me when I played the fiddle,” he says. “I knew she was interested.” Nicole was five years old when she received her first fiddle. Her family then contacted Ms. Vida Brooks of Roland, a well-known local player/ instructor, about taking Nicole as a student. She agreed. Having never had a pupil so young, she said she wouldn’t charge them until they were sure the little girl would stay interested. Nicole left her first lesson already playing “You Are My Sunshine.” “She came to me afterwards,” says Sherri, Nicole’s mother, “and said, ‘Mama, I don’t think I’m going to need my book.’ She was already playing by ear.” Ms. Vida kept Nicole as a student for almost a month before finally admitting she had taught her all she could. When asked what they owed her, Ms. Vida refused to take even one cent, aware of Nicole’s immense talent. By the time Nicole turned six, she could play over fifty fiddle tunes off the top of her head. It was at the spring session of Turkey Track, a nationally known bluegrass festival held twice a year just south of Waldron, Arkansas, that she made her onstage playing debut as a part of the Old Timer’s Fiddling Hour. It is also where she met Boone Carlon of the Dillards (also known as the Darlings, the music playing mountain
branding bluegrass nicole brand
@story Jim Martin @images Marcus Coker
@PEOPLE
family on the “Andy Griffith Show”), who still calls her “the
Nicole performed at Dollywood when only thirteen. Then,
damndest thing I ever saw.”
two years later, at fifteen, she found herself onstage at the Grand Ole Opry. “It was just an afternoon showcase,” she
Her grandpa recalls taking Nicole to a fiddle workshop hosted
says, modest about the accomplishment. On the same trip,
by Kenny Baker, famed fiddle player for bluegrass staples,
she played at the legendary Station Inn. She is a three-time
Flatt and Scruggs. “We were late,” he says. “Kenny was still
winner of the South Sebastian County Fair Talent Show and a
there so I asked him if my granddaughter could play a couple
nine-time performer on the Dr. Pepper stage at the Arkansas/
of songs for him. He was so impressed he invited her to play
Oklahoma State Fair. All this while maintaining an “A” grade
onstage with him that night. Later, when he brought her
average at Mansfield High School, participating in track,
onto the stage and asked what song she wanted to play, she
volleyball, and softball, and being a key player in acquiring
answered by saying, ‘it doesn’t matter.’ She was confident
four State Championships.
she could play anything they threw at her, and she did!” She Today, at the ripe old age of seventeen, Nicole is still out
received her first standing ovation.
there playing various dates accompanied by the person she It wasn’t long after this that the family came together, playing
calls her greatest musical influence - her dad. Younger sister,
dates as “Nicole And Friends,” a four-piece combo featuring
Sam, who is a talented singer in her own right, sometimes
Nicole on fiddle and vocals, along with Ben Sr. on guitar, her
joins them. Nicole plays a fiddle that is well over a hundred
mom on the stand up bass, and her dad on dobro.
years old, a gift from Boone Carlon. “I like my fiddle,” she says. “It has a warm tone, not twangy like others I’ve played.”
At eight years old, Nicole went to Gene Gasaway, a former
She also likes her hot pink instrument case. When asked
member of Bob Will’s Original Texas Playboys, for further
about the future, she says she would like to pursue a career
lessons. After helping refine her bow technique, the family
in pediatrics, though she will also keep music in her life.
was again informed that she already knew everything he could teach her. It was around this time that Nicole became
“I know I have a gift,” she says, “and I’m happy that I have it. It
interested in other musical instruments.
makes me happy making other people happy.”
“I can play the fiddle, the guitar, the mandolin, the bass, and the saxophone,” she says. “I started with the fiddle, and then the bass.” When asked why the bass, she laughs. “Because Mom could play and I didn’t want her doing something that I couldn’t do.” She joined the school band while in the fifth grade where she learned the saxophone. The rest she was able to pick up on her own.
33
I
t’s early morning on a rare day in February. The snow that stilled traffic just one week before is gone. Now, the ground
sinks beneath footfalls, ditches choke with water, sand recently scattered by road crews blows fast across the once slick highways. Today it will heat up, reaching upwards of eighty degrees. Already Arlis Nuckolls is feeling the shift. His T-shirt clings to his back, sweat breaks in a line across his upper lip, and he stops for a moment to lean on his shovel. Which he is using to dig a grave at Newberry Chapel Cemetery in Alma. “This one is only forty-two inches deep,” he says. “Casket only. One
gravedigger arlis nuckolls @story Marla Cantrell @images Marcus Coker
with a vault goes forty-eight inches deep. This one’s sevenfoot-two. It’d be eight foot long with a vault. It’s thirty-two inches wide..Them vault people complain cause I dig ‘em so tight they can’t get their cables out. Dig ‘em tight, there’s not much chance of the ground sinking later.”
@PEOPLE
He knows the name of the person whose death brought him here today, but he’s not talking. “I try to think of it like digging a hole. It’s easier that way. Tomorrow I won’t remember the name. I do a lot of work here,” he says, standing beside a row of monuments, where a single surname jumps from stone to stone like an eternal game of leap frog. “The funeral homes call me. I don’t deal with families; I don’t like to be around families when they grieve that bad.” Today, the seventy-one-year-old gravedigger is working against
somewhere. Don’t you hit him.’ They don’t have no idea where
the clock. “Got to be out of here by twelve-thirty,” he says.
he’s at. Them old ones like that, the casket’s gone, but the earth
“That’s when they set up the tent.” He points to his wife of forty
will be softer there. That rod, it’ll just fall. Straight down.”
years, Mary, who sits atop a nearby headstone. “She’ll worry the night before about me finishing in time. I just go to sleep.”
When he starts, he uses an eight foot board like a student uses
The birds are loud this morning. A crow caws, once, twice. “I dig
a ruler to draw a straight line. He drives four wooden pegs into
all of ‘em for my family.”
the corners, tying string tight between the anchors. This is the only pattern he has. From there he digs down a few inches, row by row, one strip after another. “I like ‘em to be straight. Like if
Mary breaks in. “Mama wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
I did ‘em for my own family.” “The youngest daughter we got,” Arlis says, “she started getting in the grave at two year old. She’d say, ‘Daddy, I want to get
Arlis is deep in the ground now, fighting the roots of the towering
down and help you.’ She’s thirty-seven now. She’s a nurse. First
pine, roots as big as baseball bats. He climbs out, rambles over to
one I ever dug she went with me. She thought wherever Daddy
his Chevy truck and brings back the axe. “See now,” he says, “I’ll
went she was supposed to go.”
get right down in there and chop out the roots. You get a backhoe in here, with roots or rock and they can’t do that. They have to rip
That was thirty-five years ago. “We had us a gas station in
it out. No telling how far it will go. Why, I’d seen graves they dug
Alma,” Arlis says. “My wife was running that. The guy that did
as wide as mine are long. I’ll chisel out a rock. My wife’s helped
the graves at Alma Cemetery was quitting. I thought I’d do it till
me many a time. It’s easier on everything, I’ll tell you that.”
grass season started – I had a mowing service – but I never quit.” This week alone Arlis has dug five graves. If the dirt is “easy” His tools are simple: two shovels, an axe, a sledge hammer. An
he can finish a grave in two and a half hours. The rocky ones
implement, that looks like a giant “T,” is used to probe the ground.
take longer. A few he’s given up on. But not many. “I figure I’ve
If it sinks quickly Arlis knows a grave is below. “I have people say,
dug about 1,000,” he says. “I didn’t mark ‘em down or nothing.
‘I got eight grave spaces through here. Uncle Joe’s buried there
I could go back …” he says, considering the effort it would take
35
@PEOPLE
to work through thirty-five years of grave digging. “I don’t think
giving Arlis a short reprieve. Mary eyeballs the grave for Arlis,
I would though.”
making sure he stays true. There’s a tendency to angle in as you dig deeper. From inside the grave it’s hard to tell. “I seen a
“I don’t think about death while I’m working,” he says. “Now, the
grave that the family dug theirselves. You could walk in one end
baby graves, the young people, that’ll get you. ..Digging graves
and out the other,” Arlis says, describing a plot that looked like
don’t make a bit of difference, don’t make you any tougher. It
a skateboarder’s ramp. He shakes his head. “You got to know
hurts just as bad when we lose our family as if we didn’t do it.
what you’re doing.
“But I’ve always been a kind of happy guy. ..I’ve always worked
“People I don’t even know will say, ‘Get that man that digs by
hard. I never thought there was another way. I thought it was
hand.’ That feels good.”
how you was supposed to do. My grandpa farmed with two But there are few of Arlis’s kind left. What he does is important,
horses. He did everything the old way, the way I do.
both to families and to those who serve as stewards over our “Me and him dug a few graves, you know, just for the community,
oldest cemeteries. Arlis can dig in tight spaces where backhoes
like men used to do. We’d really dig. Them other guys would
can’t. He is level with the earth, looking at the nearby stones,
stand around and talk. There’d be about twelve or fifteen of ‘em
making sure nothing but the grave he is opening is disturbed.
standing there. Two or three digging. Up at McCurry [in Rudy], I never will forget it. J.T. Young. They was digging my brother-in-
“Far as I know,” Arlis says, “I’m it. My kids don’t want to take on
law’s dad’s grave. J.T. said, ‘Okay, boys, it’s my turn. He jumped
this business. They say it’s too hard,” he says. “Raised some
down in there. For fifteen minutes he didn’t throw a shovel out
smart kids.” He drops the blunt-edged shovel hard against the
and then he said, ‘Whew, that’s it for me.’ I swear that’s the
side of the grave. His muscles flex beneath the thin cotton of
truth. I razzed him about that till the day he died.”
his shirt. “I don’t know what’ll happen when I’m gone.
He talks while he works, rarely stopping. There’s a rhythm to it,
“Well,” he says, backtracking a little. “I do know what will happen.
and shovel by shovel the hole grows deeper, the smell of red
I’m going to Mount McCurry. I like cemeteries. Peaceful. And I
earth and pines swelling in the air.
got family there.”
“I been working since I was twelve. Loading pulp wood into
Arlis wipes his brow. A truck rumbles by. Birds scatter. “My kids
a truck at White Rock. I quit high school. My last day was the
will probably dig my grave,” he says.
first day of eleventh grade. Them teachers couldn’t learn me Mary walks closer to her husband and looks down at him for
nothing.” Arlis laughs. “Wasn’t their fault,” he says.
a moment before she speaks. “You know they will, Arlis,” she says. “They couldn’t let anybody else do it.”
The sun is up now, full in the sky. Clouds break across the sky,
36
@TASTE
@image
Catherine Frederick
Recipe by Bartender
Jeff Price
itron
ut C 1 1/2 oz. Absol lo ella Limoncel v a r a C . z o 2 1/ 1 tsp. sugar squeezed 1 lemon 1edge, - Sweet & Sour Fill highball wi th
ice
Add Absolut, Lim oncello, sugar and lemon juice Fill glass with wa ter & add a splash of Sweet and Sour Provided by Mojo’s Ivory House 479.434.5434
37
This is not to say, however, that I don’t realize the importance of balanced nutrition or adhere to good eating habits. For the most part, I am very conscious of what I eat, what ingredients I use in cooking and what toxins I choose to put into my body. There are occasions, though, when I feel I am well-deserving of a sinful, waistexpanding treat. This weekend marked one of those occasions. For some, macaroni & cheese comes in a box, with pasta shaped in a small, halfhearted attempt at elbow macaroni, and a dusty orange powder that struggles to pass for something even remotely close to cheese. This to me is a pitiful effort toward an otherwise near-perfect comfort food. In my book, mac & cheese means large bites of al dente pasta filled with gooey, oozy cheese
mac & cheese, please
sauce, topped with a crunchy breadcrumb topping, hot and bubbling right out of the oven. What’s that, Kraft? “The Cheesiest,” you say? Puh-leeze, I beg to differ. The first decision in mac & cheese preparation is the
@recipe & images Laura Hobbs
pasta shape. As a general rule, I look for larger, curvier varieties; the shapelier the pasta, the
S
aturday night, I had the house to myself. The TV was off, the
more sauce delivered to your face. Think classic
PJs were on, I had a glass of wine in hand and a facial mask
elbows, twisted gemelli or fancy shells – anything
haphazardly smeared upon my face. Reclined on the couch, I
with plenty of nooks and crannies. I chose the
was determined – DETERMINED, I say! – to make a third attempt
bellflower-shaped campanelle, which have a tube end and frilly
at reading “French Women Don’t Get Fat.”
edges, perfect for capturing sauce.
You see, my past two attempts at reading this book have ended
The star of this dish, of course, is the cheese. This is where
with me throwing the book down in frustrated disgust, resentful
you’re given the liberty of choosing what you like most, what
of the author for her debonair lifestyle and her annoying self-
you think tastes best, or what theme you’re adhering to. Maybe
control, and depressed that I – being the frazzled, self-loathing
you’re a traditionalist who sticks to jack and cheddar. Maybe
American woman that I am – cannot adopt such a constitution.
you’re a Francophile who chooses Comté and Brie. Maybe
I eat in front of the TV. I use paper towels as napkins. I do not
you’re hosting a Dutch-themed party where everyone is wearing
stop at one potato chip.
clumsy wooden clogs and those ridiculous pointed white hats,
38
@TASTE
and you chose Edam and Gouda. Whatever your combination, don’t be afraid to mix, mingle and experiment with your flavors. It’s hard to go wrong! For my combination, I chose sharp Irish white cheddar, creamy smoked Gouda and mild, tangy Fontina.
3 cups favorite pasta 5 Tbs. butter 1/4 cup flour 3 cups milk 4 cups shredded cheese
1/2 1/2 –
cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated cup Panko Bread Crumbs salt & pepper to taste
Although the cheese is the shining star, it needs a little help in achieving the right consistency. For that, a béchamel base is used. Now, don’t be afraid; béchamel is big in syllables, but little in effort. The ingredients are elementary: butter, flour and milk. Simply melt a few pats butter in a saucepan, and add flour to create a roux. Once the roux cooks, whisk in milk, allow it to thicken, and voila, béchamel is born. An essential element to mac & cheese that is lacking in most every store-bought version is the crunchy top. The crunchy top not only adds more texture, but it creates a toasty, nutty element that takes the flavor over the top. I chose a mixture of equal parts Bread Crumbs and grated Parmesan cheese, and sprinkled it on just before it went into the oven. Panko Bread Crumbs are especially crispy and crunchy, but if you can’t find them, regular breadcrumbs will certainly do. Only five minutes in the oven to brown the crunchy top, and you’re ready for a mac & cheese meal that puts any Kraft or Velveeta box to shame. This is the bare bones recipe, and is perfectly delicious on its own. But for those who are feeling adventurous, feel free to play with adding ingredients – herbs, mushrooms, garlic, sausage... heck, even lobster! – to suit your taste. Now, what French woman in her right mind would say “non, merci” to this?! I don’t know about you, but I’m having seconds. Enjoy!
Preheat broiler to low. In a large stockpot, bring pasta water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente; drain well and set aside. While the pasta cooks, combine the Panko and Parmesan in a small mixing bowl, tossing to combine. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour until a thin paste forms, and cook for about 30 seconds. Slowly add in the milk, whisking constantly until smooth. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking frequently, until thickened. Turn off the heat and add the shredded cheeses, stirring to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Add the drained pasta to the cheese sauce and stir it to coat. Transfer the pasta to a medium sized baking dish and sprinkle the Panko Parmesan mixture over the top. Broil the dish under low heat for about 5-7 minutes, until the top has browned (keep an eye on it!). Let sit for five minutes, then serve immediately.
Step by step photos AtUrbanMagazine.com.
i saw the light adventures on the mulberry
@story and images Todd Whetstine, Wild Woods Photography
T
he Mulberry River is tucked away in a secluded valley below the beautiful Boston Mountains, just thirty-
five miles northeast of Fort Smith, and forty-five miles southeast of Fayetteville. There the turquoise water flows over and around a rugged landscape, providing recreational opportunities for anyone who loves the outdoors. I was blessed with two grandfathers who loved to hunt and fish. We’d go just about every day. We were either running limb lines or dragging nets for crawdads or grasshoppers to bait the lines. There was time as a child I’d be running lines with catfish bigger than me laying in the boat. It was with these two old geezers I developed a passion for the outdoors. It was on the Mulberry River, I developed a passion for life. In February, 2003, I took my wife and kids, Chelsea and Colton, kayaking on the Mulberry. We were about halfway through the trip and we’d just made it through a pretty tough rapid. I started to celebrate, but before I knew it I was upside down. All I had to do was pull the rope, to release me from the boat. Instead I panicked; I was swinging my arms trying to get my head out of the water. I fought for what seemed like an eternity before I remembered to pull the rope. I got a little tug on it but couldn’t free myself. I needed to hurry. I had let out my breath and my lungs were full of water. I was hanging upside down in my
@DESTINATION
kayak. My body was limp, my arms were hanging below my head.
maneuvering skills as opposed to the lower end with a gradient
I prayed my wife could revive me, I also prayed she’d want to.
of eleven feet per mile.
All of a sudden I could feel the skirt freeing itself. I fell out of
Byrd’s and Turner Bend shuttle cars, boats, or people. There are
the kayak and made it to the top. After being underwater for
several access points on the river allowing for trips anywhere
around two minutes I was rescued by what I believe to be the
from three to forty-five miles, for those who want a multiple day
hand of God.
float. It is much easier to gain access and shuttle on the upper end. The lower end of the river curves away from Shores Lake
I hung under that boat long enough to think about what’s
Road. Boating mishaps on this stretch could make for a long,
important. I thought about the three people who were watching
tough hike out of some very rugged terrain.
me struggle and how important they were to me. As my lungs expelled all the water, I regained a breath of fresh air. My jubilation was quickly crushed. I had seven more miles to go. I said a quick prayer and reluctantly climbed aboard. There was some serious soul searching going on the last few miles. In fact, that one trip changed my life. Once back home I traded those boats for boots. A bag of lifejackets and other floating equipment was replaced by a camera bag. Hiking quickly became my preferred method of travel on the Mulberry. Equipped now with new boots and a digital camera, hiking through the woods turned into a terrible sickness, but I desired no cure. I still float, but I use a personal pontoon boat - much steadierand it holds more gear. Don’t have a boat but still want to float?
Turner Bend and Byrd’s have the only full service campgrounds.
Both Turner Bend and Byrd’s Adventure Center can provide all
Wolfe Pen and Redding campgrounds are located on the upper
the equipment and information you’ll need. Some paddling
end. These campgrounds are free on a space-available basis.
skills are recommended. Water levels can rise very fast and the
They fill up quickly once the weatherman announces rain is on
river levels can be monitored through Turner Bend’s website.
the way. You can camp anywhere on the river except private
For beginners, river levels of 2.3 feet or less are recommended.
property. Laminated maps showing these locations can be
The upper end is more challenging due to a steeper gradient.
purchased at Turner Bend. And please remember when camping
It drops twelve to fifteen feet per mile. This requires quicker
on the Mulberry that if you “pack it in, pack it out.”
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water, cascading waterfalls, wild azaleas and the dogwoods, as well as redbuds trees, that paint the canyon. Hunters flock here for the abundant wildlife - whitetail deer, turkey, and Black Bear. Last January, a friend and I were camping in a spot we had never been. Awakened at daybreak by a dozen turkeys that had surrounded the camp, I made it out of my tent and over to the bluff in time to watch them gracefully glide down to the water. At the same time three eagles below me had started their daily quest in search of prey. What a morning! The Ozark Highlands Trail winds through the area north of the
Fishermen love the Mulberry. Smallmouth bass fishing is some
river. Other than the OHT, hiking is possible along the river on
of the best in the state. These mighty little fish are pound-for-
various four wheeler trails or old logging roads. A GPS or good
pound the feistiest fish on the planet. Largemouth and spotted
orienteering skills will help prevent hikers from getting lost in this
bass are also plentiful. I’ve even seen a few nice stringers of those
dense hardwood forest. Outfitters on the river will provide shuttle
familiar old catfish. There are oodles of fish in the Mulberry.
services and information for people desiring to hike the OHT. Spring is here. The gorgeous redbuds and bountiful dogwoods Fern Gulley, the Landslide Hole, and Anvil Rock are my favorite
are painting the landscape. Wild azaleas are blooming and the
places. All three are on the lower end of the river. Sometimes I’ll
bears are waking up from their long winter’s nap. This is the
stay on a bluff to photograph eagles as they soar through the sky.
best time of year to be on the Mulberry. I’ll just be bringing my
Other times I’ll stay down on the river, and during real bad weather
boots and that old camera bag full of cool toys.
I know a few caves that provide good shelter. I even watched the National Championship between Auburn and Oregon in a cave
The Mulberry is located on Highway 23, twelve miles north
riding a snow storm out, thanks to my laptop computer.
of Interstate 40. At Forest Service Road 1501, turn west for the lower end or head east on highway 215 toward the upper
Located two and a half miles down Forest Service Road 1544,
end. For more information on camping, shuttle services and
Fern Gulley is a fairly new hotspot for hikers and rock climbers.
float trips contact Brad at turnerbend.com at 479.667.3641,
Anchor points along the top of these cliffs provide secure
or Byrd’s Adventure Center at 479.667.4066.
points for ropes used to repel. This little stream carves a path through a narrow canyon providing extremely beautiful scenery. Eventually it flows into Mill Creek before making its way to the Mulberry. Nature lovers will enjoy this hike for the crystal clear
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spend the night with frank lloyd wright the price tower
@story Marla Cantrell @images courtesy of Price Tower Arts Center & Inn at Price Tower @photograhers Jeff Millies, Hedrich Blessing, Christian Korab / Korab Photo & Marc Rains
J
ust forty-five miles north of Tulsa, in Oklahoma’s first oil boomtown, stands a work of genius by
architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Price Tower is in downtown Bartlesville, its copper-clad exterior now a muted turquoise. There are nineteen floors in this cantilevered skyscraper that once served as the headquarters for industrialist Harold Price. And within those nineteen floors are nineteen hotel rooms, each fitted with the kind of organic elegance and efficiency that would have made Wright proud. The Price Tower, completed in 1956, is the only public Wright building in the country where you can spend the night. It’s a national historic landmark and it’s also been nominated, along with nine other Wright buildings, as a World Heritage Site, a designation bestowed by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization). Already on the list are the Taj Mahal, the Acropolis, and the Great Wall of China. It is Wright’s control over his buildings that helped catapult his rise to fame. In the Price Tower he designed every piece of furniture, the murals on the walls, even the dinnerware used in the commissary. He had his own line of fabrics produced by the Schumacher Company, found a local Oklahoma sign company to produce the frames for his signature aluminum chairs, and specified the exact color of the pigmented concrete floors he called “Cherokee Red.”
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Wright saw the Price Tower as his only true skyscraper, even though he’d designed the Johnson Wax headquarters in Wisconsin in the 1930s, because the Johnson building was not a multi-purpose facility. The 221-foot-tall Price Tower made the grade because it held Price’s oil pipeline company, an office complex where several doctors practiced, a retail center, and apartments. It was as if a city block had been lifted from its moorings and stacked into a pinwheel shaped wonder. Today, the guest rooms at the restored Inn at Price Tower occupy seven of the nineteen floors. Beds face a bank of glass with a view of the Osage Hills in the distance. Triangular lights glow from the ceiling, built-in sofas jut from the walls, writing desks sit atop sage colored carpets. Even the tile floors in the bathrooms are heated. Two more floors are devoted to the bar called Copper, where you can also order calamari, bruschetta or sweet potato fries. Sit on the upper level after the sun sets, watch as the sky turns inky blue, and you’ll begin to appreciate the brilliance of Wright, who designed this building when he was well into his eighties. Don’t leave until you’ve taken the tour of the restored top floors where Harold Price worried out budgets and made deals with the biggest wheelers and dealers of his time. Look past the wood burning fireplace to the balcony where Wright constructed a concrete barrier, just tall enough so that the 5’8” Price wouldn’t have to see the city’s zinc smelter while taking in the view. Go into the corporate apartment where Wright fashioned one of his famous murals, complete with a blue moon, for the man who made this dream of a building come true. Notice what was important to Wright. It wasn’t the kitchen. It’s barely big enough for one cook. The dining table is anchored to
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the iconic charisma of Wright. Joe Price, Harold’s son, tells the story of his father’s meeting with the great architect. “‘I told Mr. Wright I wanted a three-story building, and he tried to talk me into building ten stories,’” Joe recalled his father telling him. “’So we compromised on nineteen.’” The compromise created a work of art, albeit an expensive one. Before that first meeting, Price’s budget was $500,000. When the Price Tower was completed in 1956, the cost was more than $2 million, a figure so high it was called the most expensive building per square foot in America. Long after its heyday, when the Price Tower stood empty in the 1990s, a group of art lovers contacted the then-owners, Phillips Petroleum, and the oil company worked with them to save the masterpiece. It’s a chilling little fact that at that same time there were naysayers who believed the only valuable part of this historic building was its copper façade. Since then the Price Tower Arts Center has worked to bring art and architecture exhibits to the skyscraper. Nearly 30,000 the wall, closets are tiny. But there are shelves everywhere, for
visitors show up each year to see the Wright’s “Tree That
books and art brought back from trips to faraway places. These
Escaped the Forest,” and every day someone new is introduced
were the things that mattered to Wright. It’s likely all that beauty
to the architect who changed America’s landscape.
didn’t give much respite to the secretaries who depended on space heaters when the cold winds blew, or to the tenants who
Think of that: 30,000 visitors a year in a town of only 36,000.
travailed over the tiny elevators, or even to the maintenance
That’s the draw of Frank Lloyd Wright. Isn’t it a stroke of luck
crew that battled to keep the building cool in the summer. But
that you live within an easy drive of one of the world’s greatest
the stories they had of living and working in one of about 500
treasures? And isn’t it even luckier that given the inclination,
Wright buildings should have been some consolation.
you can spend the night with Frank Lloyd Wright?
Stay the night, take the tour, and then say a little thank you to
For more information log on to pricetower.org/innatpricetower
Harold Price, a pragmatic businessman who was captivated by
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F
rom now through May 1, you can visit the gallery at the Price Tower to see an exhibit highlighting the internationally
revered work of Bruce Goff, whose career in started in 1916 when he was only twelve. That was the year he accepted an apprenticeship with Rush, Endacott & Rush, a Tulsa architecture firm. From there he built a life filled with imagination. He composed music, painted abstract works of art, and drew more than 500 buildings, 150 of which were constructed. For eight years his architectural practice was in the Price Tower. That phase of his life began after he retired from the University of Oklahoma School of Architecture, where he taught and served as chairman. It was quite an accomplishment for a man who never earned a degree himself.
goff at price tower uncovering a creative mind @story Marla Cantrell @images the Price Tower Arts Center & Skyline Ink Animation Studios
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Goff, who is considered a master of organic architecture, was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright. In fact, he was responsible for introducing the Price family to Wright, when Harold Price was looking for an architect to design the Price Tower in Bartlesville. Wright’s influence is visible in Goff’s work, although Goff’s designs are a lot more abstract; many of his houses look like giant sculptures rising from the ground. At the Price Tower exhibit, you can step inside the mind of Bruce Goff. With the help of Skyline Ink Animation Studios, you can virtually tour some of his most eclectic designs. Listen to the
Bruce Goff: A Creative Mind
music as well; the animators sifted through 8,000 of Goff’s albums
Price Tower Arts Center
to find the sound they felt best expressed the heart of his work.
510 Dewey Avenue | Bartlesville, Oklahoma
You can’t miss the design Goff produced for the John Garvey
Exhibit runs through May 1
House in Urbana, Illinois, in 1952. The house, which was never
Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm
built, is both whimsical and otherworldly. The entire structure
Sunday 12pm – 5pm
is made of a see-through material, so that it appears to float on the landscape. Fountains wait inside, spheres jut from the
Gallery admission is $4.00 for Adults
mushroom-shaped exterior, and hallways look a lot like giant
$3.00 for Seniors (65+)
gerbil toys. It is an extraordinary house, one Goff planned
and children 16 and under are admitted free of charge
to cool by running water over it in the summer and heat by freezing that same water over it in the winter, in much the same way as an igloo is insulated. The 3-D models and cinematic animation – there are twelve short virtual movies - make this exhibit an interactive wonderland for those who love art, architecture, or just want to see what life would be like if we quit limiting ourselves and just took that leap into our own creative minds.
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