Bass Reeves Statue Unveiling Is This Weekend

Do you ever play that game where you list five people you would like to invite to dinner – anybody in the world, dead or alive? Who would you choose? I’m thinking Bass Reeves would be an interesting choice because he could shed light on American history and culture from an incredible viewpoint, and probably tell a heck of a good (and true) Wild West tale.

Bass Reeves was born a slave to a Texas farmer and politician. According to a website dedicated to him, “Reeves fled to Indian Territory in the 1860s to avoid the usual punishment of death for fighting with his master. Reeves lived among the Seminole and Creek Indians until the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing African-Americans from slavery and oppression. Settling in Van Bure, Arkansas, Reeves married, began a family, and tended his farm.

“In 1875, Isaac C. Parker - a newly appointed federal judge - set out to tame the Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. James Fagan, the 10th U.S. Marshal appointed to the district, began recruiting 200 deputies to capture fugitives so that Judge Parker's court could administer justice. Bass Reeves was a natural choice because of his intimate knowledge of Indian Territory, his skills in multiple dialects, his markmanship, and his tenacity.

“By the time Reeves retired in 1907, this former slave had served 32 years as a federal peace officer, arresting more than 3,000 felons. Reeves finished his law enforcement career as a member of the Muskogee, Oklahoma Police Department. Many scholars consider Reeves to be the most outstanding frontier hero in United States history.”

The Bass Reeves Legacy Monument will be unveiled this weekend in Fort Smith. Numerous events are planned in conjunction with the unveiling. Today, Thursday, May 24 you can meet the monument artist Harold T. Holden at a Welcome Party from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Fort Smith Museum of History. There will be brats and beans, soft drinks, beer, and wine and live music by Blue Fiddle. The event is open to the public and costs $10.

On Friday, May 25 will be the 5th annual Book Lovers' Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Featuring Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, the award-winning author of "Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, U.S. Deputy Marshal." copies of her book are available for sale and signing at the event, which takes place at the Fort Smith Convention Center Theatre Lobby. Tickets are $25.

A Thank You Awards Gala will begin at 6 p.m. at The Movie Lounge with a Red Carpet Entrance and Cocktail Party. It will be followed by the awards recognition dinner prepared by Executive Chef Will Greenwood, former White House Chef to Presidents Clinton and Bush Jr. The After Dinner Movie & Dance starts at 9 p.m. Dress is “cocktail chic” and tickets are $100 per person or $850 per table of ten. Special celebrity guest appearances will be made by James Pickens Jr., an actor on the ABC drama “Grey’s Anatomy”; Alyse Eady, 2010 Miss Arkansas and Miss America Runner Up; and Angela Taylor, Channel 40/29 New Anchor.

The actual monument dedication is Saturday, May 26. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. in Pendergraft Park. At 10:30 a.m. the monument will be unveiled. From noon to 5 p.m. there will be activities on the grounds of Pendergraft Park, and at Fort Smith National Historic Site, Fort Smith Museum of History, The Clayton House, U.S. Marshals Museum, The Park at West End, and the Downtown Restaurant & Pub Association. The fun will include food, music, Ferris wheel rides, art discussions, book readings and signings, and more.

From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. you can view Reeves’ gun and badge at the Fort Smith National Historic Site Visitor Center. The historic site will also offer at 2 p.m. at research talk with historian Art T. Burton, a “Life of a Marshal” program, and the opportunity to meet the Reeves Family.

For details on these and all the other events and programs being offered over the weekend, visit DeputyBassReeves.com.

 

Biking Into History in Hope

Tarona Armstrong, Chief of Interpretation at the President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site in Hope, just sent word about a new Biking Into History program. The ranger- led bicycle tours start this  Saturday (May 26) at  10. The free tour  begins at the historic site visitor center (117 South Hervey Street) and take  place every Saturday and Sunday through June. Park rangers lead an approximately 4 mile, 1 to 1 ½ hour bicycle tour covering 5 different locations in town that were points of interest in President Clinton’s childhood: the Birthplace Home where he lived with his mother and grandparents for the first four years of his life; the Hope Train  Depot; Brookwood Elementary School where he attended first grade; the site of the former Julia Chester Hospital where he was born; and his Boyhood Home on 13^th street. Participants must bring their own bicycles, helmets ( required), and water.  Of note, riders under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The tour also follows a route along city streets so participants need to be at least 13 years old to ride with traffic. The site is open 9-4:30 daily and admission is free. For more details call 870-777-4455 or go to www.nps.gov/wicl. 

This Weekend in the Arkansas Delta

 
Happy Wednesday to you all! For most of us, this weekend signifies not only the official start of summer, but a three-day holiday weekend! If you’re still making plans for the Memorial Day weekend, check out some of these events taking place throughout the Arkansas Delta!

Augusta hosts the 15th annual Augusta Days on May 24-27. The festival features a carnival, arts and crafts, a 5K run, a car show, a mini-tractor pull, fireworks, a variety of food vendors, and live entertainment. To learn more, phone 870-347-6457.

Enjoy the Memorial Day holiday weekend at Crowley’s Ridge State Park in Paragould! The park hosts Fishing on the Ridge Kids’ Derby on May 26. Kids 15 years and under are invited to compete for a variety of prizes. That afternoon, it’s Memorial Day Madness! Bring the family and enjoy recreational activities, interpretive programs, swimming, and cruising in pedal boats while listening to music on the beach. Visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com or phone 870-573-6751 for details.

Celebrate the rich and diverse heritage of Gillett during Heritage Days 2012 on May 26. The all-day event, held in the city park, features activities for the entire family, including a 5K, games and tournaments, live entertainment, vendor booths, a barbecue contest and a street dance. Civil War reenactors and staff from Arkansas Post Museum State Park will offer a variety of pioneer activities for the kids. To learn more, phone 870-548-2634.

Enjoy an evening of gospel music as Cane Creek State Park in Star City hosts Music in the Park on May 26. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and watch the sunset while enjoying great live music. Pack up the entire family and head to the park for Dutch Oven Dessert and Game Night on May 27. Play a variety of games while waiting for the Dutch oven dessert to cook! Log on to www.ArkansasStateParks.com or phone the park at 870-628-4714.

One Tank Travels: Gilbert

Gilbert is laid out along the banks of the rugged and free-flowing Buffalo National River in the Ozark Mountains.

The main draw for tourists is camping and canoeing at the Buffalo. And in a town with a population of only 13, visitors can easily outnumber locals. The 2000 census set the town’s population at 33, the delineation on the sign marking the city limit; but the number of residents has dropped since then.

Don’t let its size fool you. Gilbert may be a tiny town, but it is big on beauty and charm. It scenery and people are distinct and inviting.

Located just off of U.S. 65 on Ark. 333, the main road through Gilbert ends at the soft gravel bar providing access to the scenic river. The nation’s first national river, the Buffalo National River meanders through the Ozarks for almost 135 miles. This middle section is noted for its beautiful limestone bluffs, smallmouth bass, and year-round floating. Designated in 1972 after years of debate, the Buffalo celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

This area of the river came into existence in the early 1900s. The Gilbert General Store, built in 1901, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the name Mays Store. The community was founded in 1902 when a railroad construction camp for the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad was built and named in honor of Charles W. Gilbert, secretary-treasurer of Allegheny Supply Company, which was building the railroad. In 1906, William Mays moved his store and post office from Duff, located a few miles away.

Gilbert was a hub for commerce. Cotton, logs, ore and grain came by rail. Gilbert was eventually the home to a repair shop for the railroad, which ceased operation in 1946. While the tracks were removed and sold as scrap, there are still signs of the railroad where the old concrete supports crossed the Buffalo River. The former rail bed is now a hiking route along the river.

Today, Gilbert contains a few homes, guest houses and cabins for rent, and camping facilities. An RV park opened recently. Remnants of old homesteads provide a hint of its past. The Gilbert General Store is still in operation, providing supplies and hunting and fishing licenses. It offers a selection of T-shirts, knick knacks, beverages, sandwiches, snacks, charcoal, automotive needs and more.

Owner Ben Fruehauf describes the store as a working museum. He’s been adding old signs, memorabilia and other items to the store since he and his wife Cindy purchased it in 1988. He runs his other business, Buffalo Camping and Canoeing, from the store too, renting cabins, and canoes, kayaks and rafts for single or multi-day float trips.

A stone’s throw from the General Store is The Gilbert Café feeding diners in the area – locals and tourists. It’s a blue plate special locale serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Back out on Ark. 65, Ferguson’s Country Store & Restaurant is another excellent place to eat for breakfast and lunch. And don’t miss getting some smoke meats and cheeses from Coursey’s or Big Springs Trading Company. Numerous other outfitters, attractions, lodging and dining opportunities are available in this middle Buffalo area. 

Gilbert never fails to make me smile, and I always feel a wave of relaxation wash over me as I step out of my car. This is a place for un-orchestrated vacations - a place where you walk to the river, flip a rock in the water, take a swim, float the buffalo, chat at the general store.

Gilbert holds the self-proclaimed title of “Coolest Town in Arkansas.” It is the coldest place on average here in The NaturalState. It’s definitely one of the coolest places I know of, but not just because of the temperature.

One Tank Travels: Exploring Downtown Conway

 

First Ever Hats in Hot Springs Festival

Got a hat? Any kind will do. And a perfect chance to wear it is at the First Ever Hats in Hot Springs Festival May 31-June 2.

One Tank Travels: Jonesboro

We invite you to have “More Fun Per Gallon” in Arkansas this year. Each day we will be blogging on different Arkansas destinations which can be reached on one tank of gas or less. This is basically every corner of The Natural State. We hope these suggestions help you in planning a trip to remember.

Today’s Trip: Jonesboro

Today’s “One Tank Travel” suggestion in the Arkansas Delta is Jonesboro. Located along Crowley’s Ridge in northeast Arkansas, it continues to be one of Arkansas’s fastest growing communities.

There’s also something for everyone in Jonesboro!

There are great options for family fun. Check out the Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center, operated by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. It’s a fun and insightful way to learn more about Crowley’s Ridge, its geography and topography, and the “critters” that call the region home. Don’t miss the 16-minute film, complete with special effects and animation, which explains the formation of the ridge. Hands-on exhibits tell the story of the plants and wildlife that call the area home. There’s also the ASU Museum, located on the grounds of Arkansas State University. Exhibits tell the story of the region’s history from prehistory to today, including great hands-on activities for all ages.

Looking for some outdoor fun, visit Lake Frierson State Park for a picnic, camping, fishing, boating or hiking. On Target Family Sports Complex offers miniature golf, batting cages, and driving ranges.  

Jonesboro offers great shopping options. The Mall at Turtle Creek features large retailers and smaller shops and boutiques, in addition to a play area for the kids and a food court. Downtown Jonesboro is home to a variety of shops, antiques stores, spas and restaurants.

When it’s time to grab a bite to eat, there are great restaurant options guaranteed to please even the pickiest palate. If you’re in the mood for pizza, I’d suggest Upper Crust Pizza, a personal favorite. You also can’t go wrong with Piero’s Restaurant, one of my favorite places to eat in northeast Arkansas. Godsey’s Downtown Grill and Omar’s Restaurant are also local favorites. If you’re in a barbecue mood, there’s Couch’s Barbecue and Corky’s. Jonesboro offers a variety of restaurants that will make the whole group happy. Click here for a list of restaurants in Jonesboro.

If your plans include an overnight stay, check out West Washington Guest House Bed and Breakfast. Built in 1914, the beautiful house features 12 bedrooms, all named after famous Arkansans. If the kids are wanting to swim and the weather isn't cooperating, check out the Holiday Inn, which features an indoor pool. There are plenty of lodging options in Jonesboro. For more information, click here.

So fill your tank, grab the family and head to Jonesboro for the day, the weekend or the entire week! Safe travels!

Bass Reeves Statue Arrives in Fort Smith

A monument to celebrate deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves has arrived in Fort Smith. The statue traveled from Oklahoma to Arkansas and was placed at Pendergraft Park this week (May 16). A motorcade of police escorted the statue to the park. Awaiting the arrival was a large crowd that included Oklahoma sculptor Harold Holden who was commissioned to craft the statue and Bass Reeves re-enactor Baridi Nkokheli.

The official dedication ceremony for the statue is May 26 at 10 a.m. at the park.

A famous Reeves arrest was Belle Starr, the "Bandit Queen of Dallas.” During her sixteen-year career as an outlaw, Reeves was the only lawman to ever successfully apprehend her. She turned herself in when she found out Reeves had a warrant for her arrest.

A 10-day celebration surrounding the unveiling of the monument takes place through the 27th of this month in the city, which is also set to be home-base to a U.S. Marshals Museum.

Kids Can Learn the Basics of Fishing

 

The first gathering features an AG&FC biologist who will teach participants about gear, bait, rigging, fish handling, and commission-owned pond locations. The first 40 children who attend the clinic's initial session receive a coupon good for a free fishing rod and reel, which is redeemable on May 19. At the clinic's second session, participants will be able to fish in the MacArthur Park pond while receiving advice from an AG&FC biologist on fish handling.

One Tank Travels: Heber Springs

Well, if that doesn’t make Heber Springs worth at least one tank of gas, I don’t know what does.

In addition to the great outdoors, Heber Springs’ historic downtown district has an Americana square with a stately county courthouse, museum, antique shops, art galleries, and gift shops. Spring Park, which attracted settlers to Heber Springs in the 1830s, is located in the heart of town along east Main Street. The park has picnic tables, shade trees, a basketball court, skateboard ramp, playgrounds, two outdoor amphitheaters, public restrooms and is wheelchair accessible. It’s also the backdrop for many festivals throughout the year including Spring Fest and Old Settler’s Days.

One Tank Travels: Little Rock’s River Market

 

You can start your adventure at any number of places in the River Market. The Clinton Presidential Library is located at the eastern end of President Clinton Avenue. You’ll get a feel for the White House when visiting the museum due in part to the authentic replicas of the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room. The informative but not boring displays are a fun way to learn about American history. There is a variety of acclaimed visiting exhibits, such as original Dr. Seuss art, a rare collection of Elvis photos, Peter Max Paints America, and Play Ball! The St. Louis Cardinals. A monthly schedule of nationally known speakers adds to the allure.

This Weekend in the Arkansas Delta

Kimberly J. Williams

DeltaTraveler@gmail.com

 

Some of the Arkansas Delta’s favorite festivals and events are taking place this weekend.

Downtown Paragould is the setting for the 23rd annual Loose Caboose Festival on May 17-19. Live music, carnival rides, a bike ride, vendors, a fish fry, a large children’s area and stage, an expanded arts and crafts area, a karaoke contest, and petting zoos are all scheduled. To learn more, log on to www.LooseCaboose.net or phone 870-240-0544.

If you’re a fan of crawfish, Dermott is the place to be as the town hosts the 29th annual Crawfish Festival on May 18-19. The two-day festival also features live music, the Arkansas Game and Fish aquarium, a dog show, children’s rides, vendors, arts and crafts…. and crawfish! To find out more visit www.DermottCrawfishFestival.com or phone 870-538-5656.

Downtown Tyronza serves as the backdrop for the 10th annual Stars and Stripes Festival on May 18-19. The festival features live music and a pageant on Friday evening. Saturday’s events include a parade, live music, games, and vendors and concludes with an evening street dance. For more information, phone 870-487-2168.

The 14th annual Piggott Heritage Park Car Show, one of Arkansas’s largest, takes place May 18-20 in Piggott. Check out hundreds of classic cars restored to their glory. Other festivities include live entertainment, classic car parade, games, and lots of food. Saturday night’s events include a 50s dance contest for kids and live music. For more information, contact 870-598-3167.

The 2012 Tour de Hoot Bicycle Tour is slated for May 19 in McGehee. The bicycle tour, which benefits the McGehee Boys and Girls Club, offers routes ranging from 25 to 100 miles throughout southeast Arkansas. The event is known for great rest stops and delicious food. A pasta dinner is held the night before the race at the Boys and Girls Club. Registration is $35. Log on to www.TourdeHoot.com or phone 870-222-8410 for all the details.

Come visit the Arkansas Delta! You won’t be disappointed!












 

Greek and Other Ethic Foods Shine This Weekend

 

Storytellers in the Park: Tales from the Buffalo

The 40th anniversary celebration of the Buffalo National River continues with another offering from the Buffalo National River Partners “Storytellers in the Park: Tales from the Buffalo” series at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19 at Steel Creek.

Gary Weibye, a Newton County author, will tell tales of “Hubby” and “Wifey” and their many experiences in a new found environment. He’ll inspire you with stores of rural Newton county and its residents’ values and customs. He’ll even have a few tales of haunted places in those hills. Local musician Brent Crow will provide entertainment.

This Weekend in the Arkansas Delta

The weather forecasters are promising a beautiful weekend in the Arkansas Delta! Take a look at some of the great events going on throughout the region.

May 11 is the date for the dedication of a replica of Fort Curtis in Helena-West Helena. The reproduction of the Union Civil War fort is located at the corner of York and Columbia streets in historic downtown Helena. The May 11 dedication of the fort begins Helena’s Civil War Sesquicentennial commemoration of a multi-faceted heritage that includes Federal occupation, seven Confederate generals, and an encampment of thousands of freed slaves. The dedication begins at noon. Log on to www.CivilWarHelena.com or phone 870-816-1152 for more information.

Marion hosts the annual Esperanza Bonanza Festival through May 12. The festival features a barbecue cooking contest, carnival, rodeo, a golf tournament, live music and games for children and adults. For more information, phone 870-739-6041.

Pull out the lederhosen and head to Stuttgart for the 5th annual German Heritage Festival on May 12! The event is held on the grounds of the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie. German beer and wine, bratwurst, Germanic desserts and potato salad are on the menu, along with live polka music, grape stomping, log and stone throwing contests, a variety of children’s activities and a 5K run. Phone 870-672-1425 for more information or log on to www.GrandPrairieMuseum.org.

Head to Blytheville on May 12 as the community hosts Mayfest. The historic downtown is the setting for the arts and crafts festival, featuring live music, a dog show, activities for kids and a variety of food vendors. Learn more by logging on to www.MainStreetBlytheville.com or phoning 870-763-2525.

Celebrate The Natural State’s heritage as Parkin Archeological State Park in Parkin offers an Arkansas History Fair on May 12. Demonstrations and programs are offered throughout the day, with topics including Dutch oven cooking, pottery making, archery and atlatl throwing. Contact the park at 870-755-2500 to learn more.

Native American legend says the sound of the drum reflects the heartbeat of Mother Earth. It is also a belief that when people sing along with the drum, nature joins in harmony and carries the spirit of the songs to the Creator. Explore these legends and create a drum to take home when Hampson Archeological State Park in Wilson offers The Mother’s Heartbeat on May 12. The workshop is suitable for all ages. The $10 participant fee includes all materials. Contact the park at 870-655-8622 to learn more.

Cane Creek State Park in Star City hosts the park’s first mountain bike race on May 12. The Cane Creek Timberland Mountain Bike Race wends through the wooded, hilly trails of the park. Prizes awarded for race length and age divisions. Early registration fee is $25. Contact the park at 870-628-4714 for details or to register.

Get out and explore the Arkansas Delta this weekend!

Several Options for Celebrating Mom this Weekend

Historic Arkansas Museum: Live music, dance, frontier demonstrations, pioneer games and more are on tap at the 39th Annual Territorial Fair, May 12 in downtown Little Rock.  

Quapaw Quarter:

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra:

Arkansas Queen: Treat Mom to a relaxing cruise on the Arkansas Queen Riverboat, May 13. Boarding begins at 12:30 p.m. with a departure time of 1 p.m. The trip ends at 3 p.m. The menu consists of salad, chicken, ham rice, green beans, fruit salad rolls and dessert. Admission including meal is $32.50 plus tax per adult and $22 plus tax for those ages 3-12; ages three and younger are free.

One Tank Travels: Texarkana

Today: I-30 from Hot Springs to Texarkana

This weekend, Texarkana is going to be in festival mode as the town is the starting line for the Bandit Run, an annual re-enactment of the legendary drive featured in the 1977 Burt Reynolds flick Smokey and the Bandit. More details can be found here. Bandit Weekend kicks off this weekend and the  start of the Bandit Run is on Monday.  For those who might want to make a venture to Texarkana sometime, here are some quick pit stops to potentially check out. 

Attractions: Check out the U.S. Federal Building/Downtown Post Office – It’s the second more photographed federal building in the U.S. (the first is the Supreme Court in D.C.). Stand in two states at once and have your picture made.

Tour the Museum of Regional History- This museum has a variety of historical collections covering the history of the region from the time of the Caddo through the founding of Texarkana and beyond. Located at 219 State Line Avenue.

Got kids?  Stop by the Discovery Place,  a hands-on children’s museum. More details on both museum times can be found here.

If you are still in museum mode, you can head to the Four States Auto Museum at 217 Laurel Street. They are open mainly on weekends but special tours can be arranged by calling 870-772-2886. 

There is also a brand new museum opening this Saturday ( May 12): the Lindsey Railroad Museum at Broad and Wood Streets.

Look for: Scott Joplin mural: this pays homage to master ragtime composer and Texarkana native Scott Joplin. Joplin received a Pulitzer Prize (awarded after his death) for his work and is probably best known for composing the popular Maple Leaf Rag.

Lunch options: Hopkins Ice House on Third Street. They are celebrating their 3rd anniversary on Saturday (May 12) and will have outdoor service and bands that day.

Or TLC Burgers, which has been voted #1 burger in Texarkana for 6 years. Located on 201 E. Broad Street.

Or Twisted Vines Café (218 Broad St) French-inspired café inside Twisted Vines Floral Studio.  Le Cordon Bleu (Paris) trained chef. This café is open Tues-Friday 11-2 for now but their times will be expanding in another month.

More lunch options can be found here.

Attractions: Ace of Clubs House on 420 Pine Street.

This Victorian style house was built in 1885 and has some neat history. It’s probably best known because of the local legend of being built with the money won with the draw of a lucky poker hand. The building features a floor plan (the only place in the world with this plan) that is said to have been inspired by the lucky card of mention- the ace of club.

Visit the Perot Theatre ( not open on weekends). Located at 3rd and Main Street

This theater, which first opened in 1924, is a landmark in town. Classic stars such as Will Rogers and Annie Oakley performed here as well as other popular acts due to the town’s prime location as a bustling railroad town.

Got kids? Check out the outdoor Kidtopia Playground at Broad and Spruce. They have equipment in shapes of Texarkana's historic buildings including the Post Office, Ace of Clubs, and Perot Theatre. 

Get a feel of the neighborhood by exploring Quality Hill Historic District or enjoy the outdoors at either Spring Lake Park or Bobby Ferguson Park.

Dinner: Zapata’s at 217 Walnut Street. More options can be found here.

If you might want to stay in town,  lodging includes the new Regency Inn & Suites on State Line just off the interstate.  More options can be found here.  

Dinosaur Exhibit at Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover

The Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover has a new exhibit: “Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas.”

The Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources opened in 1986 and although the museum represents all of Arkansas's natural resources, it is dedicated to the pioneers of south Arkansas's oil and brine industries. 

If you were intrigued by the movie There will be Blood, a stop in Smackover shouldn’t be missed. The museum is the spot to learn about the drillers, roughnecks, roustabouts, and teamsters that shaped the region’s oil and brine industry. South Arkansas was transformed by oil and the discovery of it here in 1922 gave birth to one of the wildest oil booms in history.

 

The museum is situated in the midst of the historic 60 square mile Smackover oil field.  “If you set a toe in the Smackover oil field you’d be covered with oil by the time your other toe got it,” was a popular saying of the time. Located outside the museum is a 112- foot replica of a wooden derrick, which eventually became a popular symbol of the 1920’s oil boom. Inside, the second floor of the museum offers a view of a re-created, boom-era street scene. The scene, which can also be explored on the first floor, includes numerous storefronts, a jail, a newspaper office, and vintage cars. Photographs and exhibits throughout the building explain the era in detail. 

 

Circuses, carnivals, and chautauquas provided an entertainment outlet for oil producing communities like Smackover.  A popular display at the museum is the Rhene Meyers circus wagon. Although trained at Julliard School of Music, she chose the circus over the opera. After her circus (Barnum & Bailey) closed, she and her husband drove this carriage into town in 1929. She entertained folks from the balcony of the wagon as a one woman band. Meyers died in 1988 and the tar colored wagon sat on the bank at Smackover Creek for 10 years until her brother donated it to the museum. The museum is located at 3853 Smackover Highway and hours are: 8-5 Monday-Saturday and 1-5 on Sunday. For more details on the museum, call 870-725-2877 or visit www.amnr.org.

Mather Lodge Reopens May 8 Following Renovation

The renovation work replaced the 1960s-era dining room with a more rustic-style design, expanded the kitchen, added a meeting room, relocated the guest registration desk, enhanced the guest rooms, and constructed a new swimming pool. The renovation did not affect any of Mather Lodge’s original Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and later Works Progress Administration (WPA), work dating from the 1930s.

I commend the Arkansas State Parks personnel for giving us an updated modern facility with minimal impact on the historic building. Now we have the best of both worlds. The renovated portion mirrors the Adirondack-style park architecture of the original 1930s portions of Mather Lodge. And anyone who has hiked the beautiful trails of the park will appreciate the addition of restrooms underneath the pool due to its proximity to one of the park’s most popular hiking trails.

Parking has been expanded from 44 spaces to 81 including four ADA accessible spaces. A new barrier-free walkway connects the parking area to the lodge’s new entrance.

Petit Jean lies in a unique area between the Ozark and Ouachita Mountain ranges in west central Arkansas. Situated on Petit Jean Mountain, the park encompasses 2,658 acres of rare natural beauty. Thick woods, ravines, streams, springs, spectacular views and interesting geological formations are preserved almost as French explorers found them 300 years ago.

The park trails system features 20 miles of interconnected trails and quintessential Arkansas scenery. Trails range in length from one-quarter mile to 12 miles.

These hikes are not simply walks in the woods. They illuminate history and nature. One can visit a cabin constructed in 1853 by slaves and tenant farmers, or walk on stone steps cut and laid in the 1930s by men using only hand tools and teams of mules. These hard working men of the CCC drew a wage of only a dollar a day.

The park’s unique “carpet rock” formed when crisscrossed fractures in sandstone were filled by quartz cement. Since quartz is very resistant to weather and erosion, the filled fracture lines now stand out in relief like a man-made pattern imprinted in each boulder’s surface. Equally intriguing are the huge “turtle rocks,” which appear to be just what their name implies.

Just as flowing water over countless centuries has carved the valleys, so have lichens, living on the surface of bare rocks and producing acidic secretions, dissolved rock and created fissures, eventually breaking larger stones into smaller ones.

Wildlife watchers can observe mink, kingfishers, herons and raccoons foraging the creeks for meals, which might include fish, frogs, crayfish and mussels.

Birding enthusiasts frequent the park to see the double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, ring-necked duck, bald eagle, wild turkey, spotted sandpiper, pileated woodpecker, Carolina chickadee or golden-crowned kinglet. Field checklists are provided by the park.

The park drew its name from the legend of a young French girl who disguised herself as a cabin boy so she could secretly accompany her fiancé to the “New World.” Petit Jean, or “Little John,” became fatally ill and requested to be buried on the mountain. Many believe she is in fact buried at a point overlooking the Arkansas River Valley. The “gravesite” is one of the most popular sites to visit at the park. The spirit of Petit Jean is said to hover over the mountain, giving it an air of strange enchantment.

As Petit Jean State Park reveals its history, legend and nature, it also provides peaceful and serene venues.

Lush tree canopies shelter plants such as wild hydrangeas, violets, mosses, ferns and liverworts. Running water along Cedar Creek Self-Guided Trail tempts passers-by to cool their feet in the summer. A 94-foot waterfall gives hikers of Cedar Falls Trail a refreshing spray, while Cedar Falls Overlook provides a magnificent view of the falls from above.

Other natural attractions at the park include Rock House Cave, Bear Cave, and a natural bridge along Seven Hollows Trail. The hollows inspired those who wanted to preserve the area as a state park. Sunsets over the river valley are spectacular from Palisades Overlook.

Mary Ann Richter Overlook provides a scenic view of the peaks of Mt. Nebo, Mt. Magazine and of Dardanelle Rock on the south bank of the Arkansas River. The flatlands visible in the distance include Carden Bottoms and Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge.

The CCC Overlook with a view of Petit Jean River to the west, gives visitors an opportunity to watch black and turkey vultures as they soar the windy bluffs and roost on the sheer canyon walls below.

In addition to the new lodge, the park offers cabins, individual campsites and pull-thru sites, all with water and electrical hookups. Modern bathhouses are also available. You can also Rent-A-Camp and Rent-A-Teepee.

Picnic and grocery supplies, firewood, horseback riding and arts and crafts shops are located near the park. Some facilities are open seasonally only. Petit Jean is Arkansas's only state park with its own airport, open for daytime use only.

Musical Connections at the Buffalo National River

The Crooked Creek Ceili Band will provide the program that builds a musical bridge from Scotland and Ireland to traditional Ozarks bluegrass. You’ll discover the roots of local cultural heritage through traditional instruments and arrangements of familiar and unfamiliar tunes.

Mather Lodge reopens May 8

At a press conference this week we got a preview of the $4.3 million renovation of Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park, located atop Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton. Petit Jean State Park became Arkansas’s first state park in 1923.

The lodge, which has been closed since Dec. 2010 for the project, will reopen Tuesday May 8. New additions include a new dining room, an expanded kitchen, a new entryway, a swimming pool, and a meeting room. The lobby and dining area feature exposed log construction and glass window walls to provide a full view of the natural beauty surrounding the lodge. The renovation was designed to not affect or impact the lodges original Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) work from the 1930s.  This is important because Mather Lodge is the only CCC lodge which was either completed or still exists in the Arkansas State Parks system. In 1992, Mather Lodge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Village Creek State Park's Pickin' in the Park Starts Today

 Music has always played an important part in the culture of the Arkansas Delta. Throughout Arkansas, if you get more than a few talented folks together, there’s always a chance that they’ll pull out their instruments and start playing. The perfect example of Arkansans’ love of music is Pickin’ in the Park.

You can wile away a few hours or a few days enjoying live bluegrass, gospel and country music during Village Creek State Park’s annual Pickin’ in the Park in Wynne. The event starts today and goes through Saturday. You’ll find musicians and vendors galore at this family-friendly event. This is a wonderful event for kids, especially if they enjoy music. Vendors offer a variety of food and drink, so grab the family and spend a few hours enjoying the music and being outside!

Bring your lawn chair and listen as professional and amateur musicians play their favorite tunes. If you play an instrument, make sure and bring it along! The event is held in Campground A. To learn more contact, Village Creek State Park at 870-238-9406.

And don’t forget your instrument if you play!

Art and Nature Celebrated With Artosphere Festival, New Crystal Bridges Exhibit

Artosphere is an arts and nature festival running for two months. It celebrates not only the arts in all forms, but also artists, influenced by nature, who inspire people to live more sustainable lives. Presented by the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, events and performances take place throughout northwest Arkansas at traditional locales as well as unusual settings. Music, theater, dance, visual arts, lectures and more can be found on stages and in auditoriums as well as on bike trails. This is the third year for the multi-week event, which has dozens of free and low cost programs.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville opened 11-11-11 in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of landscape. “The core of our identity is art and nature,” said Kevin Murphy, the museum’s curator of American art, in a press conference today. “Hosting this exhibit is so appropriate.” The exhibit is “The Hudson River School: Nature and the American Vision” a touring exhibition of 45 original paintings from the finest collections of the New-York Historical Society.

Celebrating African Culture in the Ozarks

Feel the beat of the African drum calling you tomorrow when Kouakou Yao (“Angelo”) and his Afrique Aya Dance Company put on a unique and unforgettable experience of the culture and art of West Africa during Africa in the Ozarks, held in Eureka Springs May 3-6.

This is the fifth year for the event led by master-level African performers and teachers from around the country. It begins at 6 p.m. Thursday with an African feast at Caribe Restaurant, located at 309 W. Van Buren.

You can catch performances of world-class drummers and dancers at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at The Auditorium on 32 S. Main. There will also be mask stilt walking.

Head to Conway This Weekend for Toad Suck Daze

 

When was the last time you had a “toadally fantastic weekend?” Get ready to have that experience May 4-6 as Conway’s  31st Annual Toad Suck Daze rolls around. All the festival favorites are back, such as Stuck on a Truck, arts and crafts, 5K and 10K races, the Toad Market, the Toadal Kids Zone, the Toadal Game Zone, and Mardi Daze parade. Also taking place are performances by the Faulkner Academy of Arts members, Toad Suck car show, the Toad Daze pageant and the kid’s crawl, drag and squirt. New this year is a bicycle safety rodeo and tune-up shop.

Vote for Your Favorite Cheese Dip This Saturday at Fayetteville Sip & Dip

I absolutely, positively love cheese dip. I could eat it every day, and come really close to doing so some weeks. I like all types – simple Rotel mixed with Velveeta to the real cheeses laden with spices, peppers and even meat – which is why you’ll find me this Saturday (May 5) at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Fayetteville for the Northwest Arkansas Cheese Dip Classic.

The cheese dip competition takes place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Local celebrities, food critics, and political dignitaries will join the public in voting to decide which cheese dip will best represent the northwest Arkansas region at the 3rd annual World Cheese Dip Championship on Oct. 20 in Little Rock.

The cheese dip classic is divided into amateur and professional divisions. Winners receive cash prizes as well as trophies created by a local artist. The professional division winner also receives free entry into the 3rd annual World cheese Dip Championship and hotel accommodations for the championship weekend in Little Rock.

Some of the restaurants signed up for the professional division include: The Flying Burrito Company, Qdoba, Northwest Arkansas Chef’s Association, Farrell’s Lounge, Ella’s, and Legacy Blues Club. There will also be a University of Arkansas Greek cheese dip competition. Sororities and fraternities will partner and battle it out to be crowned campus champions.

And in case you didn’t realize it, this Saturday is Cinco de Mayo, and what better way to celebrate than by eating and voting on your favorite cheese dip.

The Northwest Arkansas Cheese Dip Classic is also partnering with Fayetteville Foam Fest to create a new and unique for the area. Fayetteville Foam Fest takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Washington County Fairgrounds. It is a craft beer appreciation festival, and a non-profit festival dedicated to raising money for FEED FAYETTEVILLE.

In addition to create beer and cheese dip, there will be live music from local and regional artists and other food and beverages for sale. Three of the food vendors for the event are Hammontrees, Mellow Mushroom and Hog Haus Brewing Company.

Proceeds from the Northwest Arkansas Cheese Dip Classic will benefit the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas, whose mission is to create brighter futures for single-parent families by offering encouragement and access to higher education through community supported efforts.

Admission to the Northwest Arkansas Cheese Dip Classic is $10 for adults, $5 for students with a valid school ID and FREE for children 10 and younger. Advance tickets can be purchased at some Arvest Bank locations, including the main bank and branches on Crossover, Green Acres, Joyce, University, Wedington, West Sixth, and the Walmart Supercenters on Mall Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Gumbo and Catfish...Oh, My!

Cabot’s Strawberry Festival is this Weekend

 

Mayhaws in El Dorado

Mayhaws have a reputation as a celebrated delicacy of Southern U.S. cuisine.

“From the time I was a little girl we grew up eating mayhaw jelly,” said Elizabeth Eggleston, executive director of the El Dorado Historic District Commission. “It’s a very unique taste, very sweet. They don’t mass produce it like strawberry or grape or some of those, so it’s more of a local and regional jelly.”

“A lot of people in town go to the Mayhaw Festival (May 5) and buy mayhaw jelly by the case,” continued Eggleston, who is from El Dorado. “And that lasts for the year. Some people still do the canning jars too.”

For people who want berries to make their own jelly, an option is Paul’s Mayhaw Orchard, a local business.

“Many people still have native trees around here,” said Paul McLaughlin, president of the Louisiana Mayhaw Association and owner of Paul’s in El Dorado. “They’ll go out to the river bottoms, they’ll get a tree, bring it back home and plant it. And they are a really a hearty tree, real tough. They’ll grow just about anywhere.”

Historically, wild mayhaws, which are indigenous to the Southern U.S., have been harvested in places like river bottoms and backwoods sloughs. Boats were often in the process. To get the berries, the limbs of the mayhaw bushes were shaken over the boat and nets or sheets were used to scoop them out of the water.

Commercial and home orchards are now being created with grafted mayhaws. McLaughlin’s orchard is an example of this.

Established in 2003, the orchard is located directly behind his welding shop on Nick Springs Road. He has 100 trees and the varieties include New Majesty, Spectacular, Royal Star, Cajun, Maxine, Royalty, Texas Star and Native. “The bottom part of the tree is a native hawthorn tree,” he said. “You get a different variety on top of it. That’s for an orchard setting.”

He noted the varieties taste different too. “The Spectacular are dark deep red and are the sweetest berries with the highest sugar content,” he said. “The Royal Star are tart. And the Maxine are the middle of the road between sweet and tart.”

McLaughlin said he usually harvests in May hence where mayhaws get their name.

“After harvesting we freeze the berries to have them for sale year-round because people like to make jelly to give as gifts,” he said. “We also keep mayhaw jelly for purchase along with pepper jelly made with mayhaw juice that is a big hit around Christmas.” The versatile fruit can be used for everything from jam to wine.

McLaughlin has had to be resilient in his efforts with the orchard. He planted 200 trees the first time. “I grafted them in the field, all kinds of mayhaw trees,” he said. “And the deer came and wiped them out in two nights. It threw me off a couple of years.”

After this initial try, he came back and grafted trees in a nursery situation where they could get the height on them until the bark toughened up so the deer wouldn’t bother them. “Then I planted them,” he said. “It’s still a young orchard. It will produce a lot of mayhaws when we finally get it going.”

“It’s hard to grow mayhaw trees further north than out here,” he continued. “In Camden they have them in river bottoms but now with this new variety (Maxine) doesn’t bear until June. And mayhaws usually bear in May. The Maxine are disease resistant to fire blight and are a really good berry that’s the coming thing right now.”

Witnessing a friend’s success with pecan orchards initially sparked the idea to start an orchard of his own. He began researching the possibility and one day, while working at the home of Charlie Murphy, (of Murphy Oil) McLaughlin shared his idea of a mayhaw orchard. When he finished, Murphy asked him if he had started the orchard yet.

“And I thought, “Well I guess I better do it,” he said. “This man is pretty sharp!”

McLaughlin then got involved with the Louisiana Mayhaw Association. He’s been involved for 12 years and has served as president the last two. “I’ve learned a lot about the business,” he said. “I would like to start an Arkansas Mayhaw Association. The jelly itself promotes the fruit. Once you taste it you will want some more.”

Many festivals in the South highlight the berry including the South Arkansas Mayhaw Festival in El Dorado. The event is headquartered at the Newtown House Museum and is scheduled for May 5 this year.

“We have the house open so you get some history, and bluegrass music, which is a part of Southern culture. You get the cultural aspect and the arts plus some Arkansas history,” said Patrick Hotard, executive director of the South Arkansas Historical Foundation (SAHF), which produces the festival. “It’s also a street fair so you can just have general fun. We sell our own mayhaw jelly and we have museum tours.”

The Newton House Museum is a Greek- revival two-story home from the mid-1800s. It is the only house open to the public in El Dorado that was built before the Civil War.

The annual festival, now in its 20th year, serves as a fundraiser for SAHF and is reminder of the pioneer history of the town. “The object was to have something on the grounds,” said Hotard. “It’s a part of the community which allows us to incorporate different things into a one day event.”

There are four mayhaw trees behind the museum and some of the berries are used in the jelly sold at the festival. “It’s a local variety so its fruit is something that has been picked and used, specifically for jelly, for a long time,” said Hotard. “It’s a local favorite product.”

The recipe used for the festival’s jelly is from a recipe from Rachel McKinney, who was from a prominent El Dorado family and helped start the festival in town.

“I vividly remember Rachel McKinney as the organizer of the festival,” said Eggleston, who served on the Mayhaw Festival Board. “Rachel always wore pink. She loved pink. And she was instrumental in keeping the group together each year to produce the Mayhaw Festival. She always wanted it to be centered around the John Newton House to include the history of the Newton family and their contribution to El Dorado and Union County.”

Eggleston said the tradition of making the jelly is indigenous to the area and can be traced back to Native Americans. “It’s part of our culture,” she said. “And I don’t want it to be a dying art. That’s why I want to stay involved. So that the younger generation will know the importance of the mayhaw berries to the region.”

The Newton House Museum is located at 510 N. Jackson. More about the South Arkansas Historical Foundation and the South Arkansas Mayhaw Festival can be found by visiting www.soarkhistory.com and www.mayhawfestival.com or by phoning 870-862-9890.

Paul’s Mayhaw Orchard is located at 279 Nick Springs Road, 1/2 mile east of town off of 82 East (Strong Hwy.) The orchard is located on the right behind Paul's Welding Shop. Along with selling berries, tours of the orchard are also available. More information can be obtained by calling 870-862-1931.

Delicious Looking Fresh Produce Now at Farmers Markets

Nearly all feature fresh produce along with plants, flowers and some crafts. The Certified Arkansas Farmers Market in North Little Rock and the River Market Farmers Market in Little Rock have both recently opened. 

The CAFM outdoor shopping venue awaits visitors from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Located across from the Argenta Market in North Little Rock’s historic district, it is also on the River Rail trolley route. An abundance of free parking is available. Check out the latest in locally grown produce and other items at the corner of Main and 6th Street. Visit http://certifiedarkansas.com/ or phone 501-379-9980 for details.

The Little Rock farmers market is one of the state’s oldest, having been around since 1974. The two open-air pavilions in the River Market are full of vendors every Tuesday and Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in season. In addition to Arkansas crops, there’s also a wide variety of handmade arts and crafts.Visit http://www.rivermarket.info/learn-more/farmers-market.aspx for more information.

You can find more information on other Arkansas Farmers Markets on the Arkansas Agritourism website.

First Ever Thea Arts Festival Debuts in Argenta

The first ever Thea Arts Festival is this weekend ( April 28) from 10-6 on Main Street in the Argenta Arts District of North Little Rock. The free festival celebrates the arts and money raised through sponsorship of the festival helps support the arts in schools across Arkansas.

If you are planning to go, a quick heads up that Main Street will be blocked to traffic from Broadway to Sixth Street, but the trolley will still be running. Local businesses will also be open.

2012 Earth Day Festival is Saturday at Heifer Village

National Park Week!

National Park Week starts tomorrow (April 21) and lasts until the 29th. During this time entry to all 397 national parks in the nation is free with special activities offered in many.

 National Park Service sites in Arkansas include:

Arkansas Post National Memorial

 The first semi-permanent European settlement in the lower Mississippi Valley region, Arkansas Post became part of the United States during the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. By 1819, the post was a thriving river port and the largest city in the region and selected the capital of the Arkansas Territory. The park contains the January 11, 1863 Arkansas Post battlefield. The battle, as well as the rest of Arkansas Post's rich history, is interpreted at the park museum. The Arkansas Post National Memorial is located at 1741 Old Post Road in Gillett.

Buffalo National River

In the heart of the Ozarks, the Buffalo River was America's first national river in 1972. The 150-mile-long free flowing Buffalo offers both swift-running and placid stretches, sand/gravel bars, towering limestone bluffs, woodlands, protected wilderness areas and nature watching opportunities, including deer and elk. Fishing is also available along the river. Over 100 miles of trails have been blazed for public use. Designated horseback riding trails are located in each district of the river, under the auspices of the National Park Service. Resorts and outfitters are located throughout the river region. Camping is available at most access points and primitive camping is allowed along the stream. The Tyler Bend Visitor Center, off U.S. 65 north of Marshall, provides exhibits and materials to the public. Other centers/ranger stations are located at Buffalo Point and Pruitt. The Ponca Elk Education Center is another interesting stop located in the area.

Fort Smith National Historic Site

Fort Smith National Historic Site embraces the remains of two frontier forts, plus the Federal courtroom of the Western District of Arkansas. Hanging Judge Isaac C. Parker's court and jail have been restored as reminders of 80 turbulent years in the history of the government's Indian policies (1817-1896). The museum exhibits illustrate the court's impact on the Indian Territory (Oklahoma), U.S. Marshals, outlaws and regional history. The park is located at Third and Garland Street in Fort Smith.

Hot Springs National Park

The rare natural features of Hot Springs National Park were first protected when Congress declared the area a "reservation" in 1832, some 40 years before Yellowstone became the world's first national park. While preserving an array of 47 hot springs and their watershed, the park provides hiking opportunities scenic drive, and camping. The park is located in and around downtown Hot Springs.

Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

The site of a major test in 1957 of the Civil Rights act where nine (the Little Rock Nine) African-American students integrated the all-white school. The museum across the street depicts the struggle through exhibits and photos. This is still a working high school, one of the top schools in the state. The school is located at 2120 Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive in Little Rock.

Pea Ridge National Military Park

 Pea Ridge National Military Park preserves the site of an 1862 Civil War battle that gave the Union total control of Missouri and led directly to the federal occupation of Arkansas. During the Battle of Pea Ridge, some 26,000 soldiers clashed during the two-day battle, with Confederates under Gen. Benjamin McCulloch and Union forces under Gen. Samuel R. Curtis. The Confederate army also included about 800 Cherokees. Today, the Pea Ridge Military Park the park encompasses 4,300 acres and features a reconstructed Elkhorn Tavern, visitors center, museum, self-guided tours and a 2.5-mile segment of the "Trail of Tears."The park is located at U.S. 62 East in Pea Ridge.

President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site

The home where the 42nd president spent the first four years of his life with his widowed mother and grandparents.  This historic site preserves President Clinton's home and tells the story of his early life in Hope. The home is located at 117 South Hervey Street in Hope.

Yarnell's Returns To Shelves in Arkansas

New Natural Area Protects Rare Species

Natural areas can be found across Arkansas and they protect the diverse ecosystems that are found in the state. The Longview Saline Natural Area in Ashley County is a new addition to the lineup.  

The area borders a stretch of the Saline River that harbors endangered mussels. It also conserves plant communities, including pine flatwoods, that provide habitat for an endangered bird species.

“This particular natural area has several natural communities that are rare in the state,” said Chris Colclasure, Deputy Director of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC), which manages the System of Natural Areas in the state. “And it supports three federally endangered species.”

These include the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, one of the few bird species endemic to the U.S., and two aquatic mussels found within the stretch of the Saline River that borders the natural area: the winged mapleleaf and pink mucket.

“It’s a very unique area and because the area is rather large with several miles of Saline River frontage it became a targeted area [for protection],” said Joe Fox, a Forestry Director at the Arkansas Field Office of The Nature Conservancy, which was a partner in the project.

As of now, 527 acres of the natural area are open to the public and work is in progress to include an adjoining 1,696 acres to the area. Which equals a large tract of land for the public to explore. It offers outdoor options like hiking and birding. It also hosts access to the Saline River so fishing, kayaking and canoeing are possible. Walk-in hunting will also be allowed. The goal is to have the land transferred in time for an April 30 dedication of the natural area.

Fox also noted a potential to expand the area in the future. “The possibility exists that it could be a few thousand more acres in 2 or 3 more phases,” he said.  “If [certain] negotiations are successful the natural area could grow.”

The Buffalo River Trail: How It Began and Where It's Going

Battle of Jenkins Ferry Day in Sheridan

The Grant County Museum in Sheridan will be the set for the Battle of Jenkins Ferry Day on April 28 from 10-2. The battle was fought in 1864 in Grant County during the American Civil War.

Top Authors Showcased This Weekend

 

Activities take place throughout Little Rock and North Little Rock including the Central Arkansas Library System’s Main campus, and venues in the River Market  and Argenta arts districts. The agenda includes a mix of sessions, panels, special events, performances, workshops, presentations, opportunities to meet the authors, book sales and signings.  There are also sessions on food and activities for children. Most events are free and open to the public.

 

This Weekend in the Arkansas Delta

Kids of all ages are welcome at Lake Poinsett State Park in Harrisburg for Kids and Horses on April 14. Spend the day horseback riding and munching on fresh-popped kettle corn. Park personnel will hand-lead rides for the youngsters in the park’s playground area. Helmets are required and provided by staff. The cost is $3. More information can be obtained by contacting the park at 870-578-2064.

Cinderella Presented by PCCUA and Helena Little Theatre April 12-14

The beloved tale features the songs and music of Rodgers and Hammerstein originally

made famous by the legendary Julie Andrews in 1957. The adaptation features great warmth, a touch of hilarity and magic, and the “happily ever after” that audiences, young and old, adore. 

 

Premium reserved seats are $12, and standard reserved seats are $8. Tickets may be purchased by calling 870-338-6474, ext. 1373, or visiting the box office located in the PCCUA Fine Arts Center.

Grab Your Kilt! Batesville Hosts 33rd Annual Arkansas Scottish Festival April 13-15

The sound of bagpipes echoes through the Ozarks again this spring, as Lyon College in Batesville hosts the 33rd annual Arkansas Scottish Festival on April 13-15.

The festival, honoring Scottish heritage and traditions, features a vast array of events and exhibits, pipe bands competition, food vendors offering traditional Scottish dishes, Celtic music, sheepdog demonstrations, and, of course, bagpipes.

Historic Helena Offers Live on the Levee Concert and Helena Second Saturday This Weekend

This Saturday, April 14, marks the first Live on the Levee concert series, a partnership between King Biscuit Blues Festival, Sonny Boy Blues Society and the Delta Bridge Project. The concert features music by 2 Mule Plow and Lisa Haley & the Zydekats.

The group 2 Mule Ploy is considered one of the finest collection of Memphis’ bluegrass talent ever assembled. Their three-part harmonies and instrumentals are a highlight of every show. While the group’s shows consist of mostly traditional bluegrass music, they have “bluegrassed” songs by the Beatles, the Allman Brothers, Lynard Skynard, Elvis, Eric Clapton and Jerry Lee Lewis.

April 14 is also Helena Second Saturday! The event brings local artisans, musicians, merchants, farmers and visitors together the second weekend of each month in downtown Helena. The event, held along historic Cherry Street, is a great opportunity for shopping, eating and exploring. Many of the businesses along historic Cherry Street participate and offer extended hours on Second Saturdays. You’ll find artists, musicians and craftspeople located along the street, playing live music or create a masterpiece in front of your eyes.

Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship Tickets On Sale Now

 
I used to think golf was the most boring sport to watch on television. That was before I owned my own set of golf clubs and developed an appreciation for the sport. Now I happily spend days like yesterday watching The Masters and rooting for Bubba.

I’ve never been to a golf tournament and it always looks like such an interesting process when I watch it on TV. I mean, would I want to stay in one place? Follow a favorite from hole to hole? What is it like? Then this morning’s inbox came with information on a perfect way to find out – the Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship, the official LPGA Tour event, returns to Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers June 25-July 1 and brings the world’s best female golfers to the area.

Tickets are now on sale and as a first for the tournament, sponsored by P&G, anyone who purchases a ticket online over the next two weeks will be entered in a drawing to win four Malibu Party Deck VIP hospitality tickets to the final round on Sunday, July 1. The winners will be announced on the tournament website on Monday, April 23.

Tickets are on sale at http://nwachampionship.com/, or by calling 479-715-6100. Daily tickets are $25, valid any one day, Friday, June 29 – Sunday, July 1. Weekly grounds passes, valid all week, can be purchased for $50. Admission is free to the public Monday, June 25 – Thursday, June 28. Children 17 years old and younger are admitted free with a ticketed adult.

Video Games Live in El Dorado

Halo. Zelda. Mario. Final Fantasy. If these names mean anything to you, then read on! 

Upcoming Programs at Lake Ouachita State Park and Lake Catherine State Park

Spring is the time for chirping birds and blooming flowers and there are plenty popping up around Lake Catherine State Park in Hot Springs. To celebrate, the Outdoor Adventure Series-Birds and Bloom Weekend is April 13-15 at the park. Guided wildflower and bird hikes and educational nature programs that weekend explore the many birds and blooms in this Ouachita Mountain landscape. Also on the agenda at the park is a kayaking adventure April 18 or April 25 known as Kayak Cove Adventure. No experience is necessary, but you should be comfortable around water. Kayaks, paddles, and life jackets are also provided. Cost is $15. Visit www.arkansasstateparks.com or contact the park at 501-844-4176 for more information on either program.

A Visit to Dryden Pottery

Dryden Pottery in Hot Springs houses the largest showroom of handmade pottery in the state and is known for colorful handmade pieces such as plates, bowls, cups and vases. Materials used for the pottery include Ouachita Mountain clays and Arkansas quartz crystal.

The day I stopped by, Kimbo was in the back throwing and Kelly said when people visit the shop if he is back there they can watch him at the wheel.  Cheyenne does a lot of the glazing and showed me to the back of the shop where this work is done.

“My grandfather started it [the business] in ‘46 but we started in Kansas and we moved over here,” said Cheyenne. “We get people who come in maybe they have heard about us and maybe they haven’t.” Regardless of how a person comes to find themselves at the shop ( the colorful mural that wraps around the outside of the shop enticed me to stop in that day), the Drydens are happy to share their knowledge of the business and the art form.

A Visit to Fox Pass Pottery

Since 1973, Fox Pass Pottery has been a landmark of the Hot Springs arts community.  The studio is set in a woodland setting nestled against Hot Springs National Park and features handmade pottery by Jim and Barbara Larkin. The Larkin’s specialize mainly in functional work and Barbara does sculptural work. Jim’s work is made on the potter’s wheel and Barbara’s is hand built.

They mix their clay from several different clays and minerals. 'It’s our own formula that we’ve worked up over the years to fit the firing temperature, durability, glaze fit, color, elasticity, various criteria that we have,” said Jim. 

The most popular items they make are mugs. “I love to make them because I know people are going to use them,” said Jim. “We look at other cultures and we talk about their rituals as if we don’t have our own. But they are so common to us we sometimes take them for granted. But getting up in the morning and having your coffee…I collect mugs from other potters and I’ll look them over and I’ll pick a mug out that just feels good, there is something to it that I really enjoy. And that morning cup of coffee just sort of relaxes me and gets me ready for the day and there is that ritual involved with that.” When he makes a mug, “I want it to be one that brings someone some bit of pleasure,” he said. “And that’s true with all the pottery we make.”

Jim explained the inspiration behind a few of the crafts inside the studio. “Things like that plate over there, with that white streak and the patterns off of it,” he said as he pointed to a plate hanging on the wall. “ I like to kayak and canoe the Ouachita, Caddo and the rivers around here and the creeks I fish like the South Fork and Fourche and so on. When you come around a bend in a creek or a river where the water has flooded and it’s washed out tree roots and they are stuck down, well those kind of drifty patterns there are inspired by those root patterns you see. Or the one with the bowl in the center. [ Jim points to another piece of pottery on the wall.] We call that Ouachita Mountain glaze. I’m not trying to do a literal painting of that but those are the inspirations. Patterns in rocks or trees. I can pick up a rock and look at it and do something on a pot and maybe that will evolve into something else and 15 years later it becomes something all together different but it started there.”

Easter Celebrations in Little Rock This Weekend

This Weekend in the Arkansas Delta

Rowdy Adventures Zip Line Park in Okolona Opens This Weekend

Rowdy Adventures, a 300-acre outdoor adventure park ( that includes zip line tours) in Okolona is scheduled to open for the 2012 season this weekend ( April 7). The park bills itself as the South’s largest outdoor adventure park. The zip line tour takes adventurers on a three-mile tour by harnessing them with all the necessary equipment to soar through the air and enjoy the scenery.

Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Historic Baseball Trail Opens in Hot Springs

Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson. These are just a few of the high profile baseball legends that came through Hot Springs to play and train. In honor of the city’s tie to baseball history, the city has created the Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail: The Birthplace of Spring Baseball. The city officially opened the trail during a ribbon cutting ceremony at Whittington Park yesterday. The site has a special connection to baseball history because in 1918 Babe Ruth hit the first 500-foot-plus home run while playing a spring exhibition game at the park. The ball traveled 573 feet and landed in an alligator pit at the nearby Arkansas Alligator Farm. 

At each location, the plaque contains a QRC code that allows smartphone users access to audio that adds more information about the plaque’s significance in American baseball history. There is also a phone number to call for the audio.

Visiting Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley, Melanie and Mammy in Little Rock

 

A part of the facility’s commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, this exhibit compares the romanticized idea of the “Old South” with the often gruesome reality of life as it really was for many Arkansans from 1861-1865. Reel to Real: Gone with the Wind and the Civil War in Arkansas pairs up rarely seen items from GWTW with actual objects and firsthand accounts of the monumental battle in Arkansas.

The Shaw-Tumblin Gone with the Wind Collection (Reel) is fascinating for everyone; from those who love movies to those whose interest is history. You enter into the film world of Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler via costumes, photos and movie outtakes. The exhibit explores the influence of movies on the perspectives and attitudes of the public.

The Real portion portrays the true nature of the conflict with Arkansas slave narratives, women’s diaries, letters home from soldiers as well as uniforms and weaponry, all from the museum’s permanent collection. It brings the realities of war to life, with the words, stories and songs of those who endured the ordeal of war in Arkansas.

Time is running out; the exhibit ends April 30.

Tour America’s Treasures Features Arkansas Locations

 

Read Lee Price’s blog about this gorgeous piece of architecture and surrounding grounds on the Tour America Treasures blog page. You’ll learn plenty about this piece of American and Arkansas history; so much so, you’ll start planning a visit.

While you’re in that part of the state, stop at Lake Chicot State Park, situated on the shores of Lake Chicot. It offers fully equipped cabins, fishing dock, bicycle, boat and party barge rentals, special programs and tours, plus Civil War history.  Terrific shopping is available at the Paul Michael Company, Nonie’s Antiques and others. When you get hungry, check out Rhoda’s Famous Hot Tamales, the Cow Pen Restaurant, the LakeShore Café and others. 

Hiking at Lake Catherine State Park

The weather has been gorgeous lately and a great chance to explore the Arkansas outdoors. Towering pines, lush hardwoods, large lakes, flowing waterways, abundant wildflowers, streams, and a variety of wildlife provide a nice backdrop for spring day hikes. Arkansas has over 250 hiking trails scattered through the state's Corps of Engineers recreation areas, National Forest areas, National Parks, and State Parks.

A Whole Bunch of Fish

 

 

The annual Kids Free Fishing Derby is scheduled for June 9 at the Hogan Hatchery. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s for ages 12 and younger and has a limit of three fish per child, one rod or pole per child. The pond is stocked with catchable-size fish before the derby begins and each participant must bring their own tackle and bait. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, which sponsors the event, suggests everyone brings something to sit on, cameras, refreshments, sunscreen and hats.

Spring Birding in Arkansas

Located within the Mississippi Flyway, spring brings the highest diversity and most colorful birds to the state as raptors, shorebirds, thrushes, warblers, and vireos migrate to their northern breeding grounds. The bird habits of some species involve staying and breeding in the state, while others stop only to rest and refuel before continuing their long journeys.