Arkansas Times - January 11, 2012

NEWS + POLITICS + ENTERTAINMENT / JANUARY 11, 2012 / ARKTIMES.COM

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ARKANSAS TIMES

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SEPT. 24, 2011 - FEb. 12, 2012 PRESENTED bY VOLUME 38, NUMBER 19 ARKANSAS TIMES (ISSN 0164-6273) is published each week by Arkansas Times Limited Partnership, 201 East Markham Street, 200 Heritage Center West, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72203, phone (501) 375-2985. Periodical postage paid at Little Rock, Arkansas, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ARKANSAS TIMES, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, AR, 72203. Subscription prices are $42 for one year, $78 for two years. Subscriptions outside Arkansas are $49 for one year, $88 for two years. Foreign (including Canadian) subscriptions are $168 a year.

For subscriber service call (501) 375-2985. Current single-copy price is 75¢, free in Pulaski County. Single issues are available by mail at $2.50 each, postage paid. Payment must accompany all single-copy orders. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents without the written consent of the publishers is prohibited. Manuscripts and artwork will not be returned or acknowledged unless sufficient return postage and a self-addressed stamped envelope are included. All materials are handled with due care; however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for care and safe return of unsolicited materials. All letters sent to ARKANSAS TIMES will be treated as intended for publication and are subject to ARKANSAS TIMES’ unrestricted right to edit or to comment editorially.

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JANUARY 11, 2012

3

COMMENT

On the Neighborhoods issue A sincere thank you for the excellent issue “ ’Hood Sweet ’Hood” (Dec. 28). The articles were so descriptive and interesting to read about all the neighborhoods of Little Rock and North Little Rock.

My husband and I have lived in Little Rock for 25 years.

We have seen most of the areas described in the articles. Now I want to travel all over the areas to see the new and old again. The diversity of the whole area is a credit to our forefathers and developers of this capital city and its neighbor across the river.

Good wishes to you and the staff as we look forward to 2012 with its promise of more great gains in all aspects of living here.

Anita Gatzke Little Rock Having grown up in Southwest Little Rock, graduated Central High, gone to college in midtown, lived in Hillcrest, Pleasant Valley, West Little Rock and now in Argenta, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your editorials on the various neighborhoods of Little Rock.

It was fascinating to read how much has changed over the years. One thing has stayed the same however; Little Rock is still one of the friendliest towns in the country.

Larry Pennington North Little Rock Excellent work on “’Hood Sweet ’Hood.” This issue is going in my car so I can refer to it on days when I want to veer off my beaten paths and just look. It brought back some forgotten memories and also told me I didn’t know as much about my hometown as I thought.

Glenda Eddins Little Rock

No help for Koufax I have grown weary of athletes thanking the Lord for their success as if Jesus was watching and taking a personal interest in the outcome of the contest. Jesus may well be a sports fan but I couldn’t help but notice that he always took the day off when Koufax pitched. Can’t blame him much. A lot of guys sat out when Koufax pitched.

David Rose Hot Springs

On the Arkansas Blog’s report that advocate.com ranked Little Rock the nation’s 11th gayest city: JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

to move to Arkansas.

Look at the anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBT people. Oh yeah, that’s right, LGBT people are not protected under state law. It’s perfectly legal to be fired because you’re gay or transgender, it’s perfectly legal for a landlord not to rent to you because you’re gay or transgender, etc.

SocialistArkie On the Dec. 7 article on trouble at Arkansas Baptist College’s off-campus housing at the Avondale Apartments: Crime is a horrendous problem in

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Obviously, the ranking was a complete blip and someone needs to be fired.

We don’t even have a gay pride parade for goodness sake.

Last I hear, UBU was closed and Backstreet is considering closing.

I guess it’s nice we have gayfriendly churches BUT a lot of the LGBT community doesn’t feel welcome in churches AND where are these churches when bigoted legislation is coming through the legislative pipeline?

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that area. I live in the Sturbridge neighborhood, am a law-abiding citizen of Little Rock, and fear for my safety and my home security (despite personal efforts to deter a home invasion or burglary). The number of incidents reported this year at Avondale in comparison with 2010 is staggering and makes me even more uncomfortable than I already am. Unbelievable. How sad it is for those students who attend such an irresponsible institution.

I occasionally see a policeman on Reservoir in the mornings “radaring” for speeding. ... Dear LRPD: You’re clearly missing the actual problem in that area. For the safety and well-being of residents and students living in the area, get with the program.

LMNOP On the Dec. 28 article about the Park Hill neighborhood: I lived in Little Rock, just south of Hillcrest, then moved to a brand new house in Maumelle, then to Park Hill nine years ago. Park Hill is my favorite neighborhood so far. The drive to Little Rock is so much nicer without the sun in my face every morning and evening. I love the trees, the charm and the diversity of the types of homes in Park Hill. The neighbors are nice and everything I need is nearby. I love my 1923 home so much more than I did the uncozy brand-new house in Maumelle. When my son was ready to move out, he bought a fixer-upper just around the corner, because he didn’t want to leave Park Hill. I’m getting married next year, and we are staying here. We will either keep my house or buy a bigger one in the same area. I refuse to leave Park Hill. I just love it so much.

Teripop On the Dec. 21 article on the controversy over the management of the Carroll County Electric Cooperative: Thanks so much for reporting on this. At a time when people around the world are demanding more transparency and democratic rights, Carroll Electric is actively working against allowing its own members greater participation in the cooperative. To think that our tax dollars and utility payments are subsidizing such arrogance from the 1%-ers is disgusting. ozarkwaterpal

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JANUARY 11, 2012

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EDITORIAL

EYE ON ARKANSAS

Definitions

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JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

BRIAN CORMACK

T

he Republican definition of “free speech” is “money,” so affirmed by the Republican majority on the U.S. Supreme Court in the Citizens United decision. State Sen. Gilbert Baker of Conway, a man of impeccable partisanship, is only pressing his party’s case when he decries efforts to prevent rich reactionaries from selecting all the judges. (Baker may be best known for finishing behind John Boozman and Jim Holt in a Republican U.S. Senate primary. Never was there a poorer third.)

Across America, the rich and the shady — people like the notorious Koch brothers — are financing campaigns to remove unbiased judges from the bench and replace them with right-wing ideologues. One of their most successful ventures was in Iowa, where they succeeded in ousting three state Supreme Court justices who’d helped knock down a state law prohibiting same-sex marriage.

Everywhere the judge-makers go, they poison the political well, publishing false and outrageous accusations, stifling reasonable debate.

Arkansas has largely escaped such behavior so far, and high-minded citizens such as Supreme Court Justice Robert L. Brown and members of the Arkansas Bar Association want to keep it that way. A task force of the Bar Association and the Judicial Council is studying ways to keep Arkansas’s judicial elections clean. Mere discussion of potential impediments to conservative court-stacking is something that Senator Baker cannot abide. “[If] judges want to be thrown out on their ear they will try to eliminate the people’s involvement and eliminate free speech,” he protested.

(Justice Brown is not seeking another term and will not be thrown out, on his ear or otherwise.)

The Republican definition of “democracy” is “rule by rich white men” and this is what Baker means when he talks about “the people’s involvement.” In Congress and in state legislatures, Republicans are trying to make the voting booth less accessible to people who might be inclined to vote Democratic — minorities, the poor, the elderly. Republicans backed such a bill in the Arkansas legislative session last year. That one failed, but they’ll have another in 2013, and if they’ve gained a legislative majority by then —chilling thought — that bill will pass, and the people’s involvement in their government will be substantially reduced.

The legislature will not be voting on any recommendations from the task force on judicial elections. Whatever proposals the group makes to restrain special interests’ influence will be voluntary in nature, unlike the Republicans’ legislation.

Baker’s piping up now may be an indication that religious bigots and their corporate allies are planning a major effort to install right-wing judges in Arkansas, where the state Supreme Court and trial judges have knocked down antigay laws and limitations on the people’s right to sue for injuries done them. No good deeds go unpunished, it’s said.

BLACKBIRDS OVER BEEBE: Brian Cormack submitted this photo of a large flock of blackbirds filling the sky over Beebe to our Eye On Arkansas Flickr webpage. Cormack said, “It was one of the most amazing, and craziest, things I’ve ever seen.”

Education by the numbers

T

he Arkansas Democrat-Gazette opened the new year with three Sunday newspaper pages devoted to a ranking of every school in Arkansas, more than 1,000, by a two-digit number based on the Iowa Test taken by more than 350,000 Arkansas students.

This ranking was close to valueless. What’s far more interesting is a fuller accounting of the ranking, also devised by the University of Arkansas’s Office of Education Policy. That office, please note, generally tends to support the “reform” agenda of the Waltons, UA financial patrons — pro-charter; anti-union.

Gary Ritter, who holds a Walton-endowed chair at UA, told the Democrat-Gazette that the simplified ranking is “darn close” to a ranking of Arkansas schools by the family income. Notable exception: A kindergarten in impoverished Helena-West Helena, now closed, finished No. 1 in the ranking. Go figure.

Ritter thus acknowledged, in an underplayed D-G sidebar, the core of our education dilemma. The best predictor of school failure is poverty. Race, because it’s so often intertwined, is another good predictor. So when a charter school with a majority of middle income kids and a black minority touts its scores against a majority poor, majority black school district, it’s a dishonest comparison.

Take Little Rock, where the eStem charter school — richly supported by the wealthiest businessmen in Arkansas — advertises its test scores against those of the Little Rock School District, which is much poorer.

If test scores have meaning, they must measure similarly situated students. The UA has made a stab at doing that, by computing a poverty index for each and then grouping the schools within three categories of family income. It then computes how each school’s Iowa test average deviated from the average in its income group.

Take eStem, a downtown Little Rock showcase for the Billionaire Boys Club’s charter movement. The school’s Board chair and lawyer, Jess Askew, has led the legal fight to oppose the Little Rock School District’s federal court argument that magnet and interdistrict programs have been damaged by the state’s encourage-

ment of open enrollment charter schools, which have taken better students. Askew pontificated after a recent ruling, “The charter schools seek to drive fundamental change that will enhance MAX public education options and outBRANTLEY maxbrantley@arktimes.com comes for children and to break away from failed and outmoded thinking.”

Really? The eStem elementary school scored at 63 on the Iowa Test, against a 69 average by similarly low poverty elementary schools. Its middle school, at a 55 score, fell five points behind the state average in its group. Its high school, at 52, fell 8 points behind average.

The “failed and outmoded” Little Rock School District? eStem didn’t look so hot by a number of comparisons. Among elementary schools with similar economic makeup, Williams, Gibbs, Jefferson, Fulbright, Forest Park and Don Roberts scored from 5 to 19 points higher on average than eStem.

The only Little Rock middle school in the low poverty category, Pulaski Heights, scored six points higher than eStem. Central High School, the only Little Rock high school in the low poverty category by the UA computation, scored one point higher than eStem. Parkview, in a poorer economic category, still matched eStem’s 9th-grade scores.

If I had space, I’d detail the relatively minor differences between scores by the vaunted KIPP Academy in Helena-West Helena and those of several nearby public schools, even with KIPP’s advantage of a self-selected (read motivated) student body that must meet rigorous standards or be booted.

Oh, and I meant to mention: In some cases, the Little Rock schools that outscored eStem had a smaller percentage of black students and higher family incomes.

But I know that eStem’s Jess Askew would never argue that test score differences could be explained by anything other than superior instruction and “fundamental change” to “outmoded” methods.

OPINION

Citizens United: the joke’s on GOP

L

et us take a moment to savor the irony of Newt Gingrich’s implosion and Mitt Romney’s perhaps mortal wounds, both from a device of their own engineering or admiration — the U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended a century of strivings for campaign-finance reform.

By Dec. 9, the former speaker of the House had surged into the lead in Iowa and South Carolina polls and was overtaking Romney in the national horse race. That is when Romney’s superPAC, Restore Our Future, founded by three former political aides and commanded by Romney’s former partners at Bain Capital Management, plunked down $2.8 million in Iowa for TV ads attacking Gingrich for the final three weeks before the presidential caucuses. It poured more millions into New Hampshire and South Carolina, the other two early presidential voting venues. The ads attacked Gingrich’s ethics, honesty, greed and patchy record on conservative issues.

Gingrich finished a dismal fourth in Iowa and plunged in New Hampshire, South Carolina and nationally. Boy, was

he mad last week!

Next week, we will celebrate the second anniversary of the Citizens United deciERNEST sion, in which the DUMAS Supreme Court said corporations and special interests from trade associations to unions could spend any sum they wished for a political candidate or an issue as long as they give it to a political group that can cover its tracks and pretend to be “independent” of the candidate.

Romney insisted that he had absolutely nothing to do with the ads attacking Gingrich, but when Gingrich and the moderator pressed him in the New Hampshire debate Saturday he identified a number of the attacks and defended them as correct after Gingrich said they were lies. Romney admitted that the people who ran the PAC and did the ads were longtime friends.

The wall the Supreme Court erected between a candidate and an independent group is, in other words, simply

American Dream deferred

T

en years ago this week, I had a conversation with my roommate.

We were in graduate school together in New York, and he, a Brit, was telling me what he felt the differences were between growing up in the United Kingdom versus the United States.

“I think the major difference,” he said, “is that we’re not told we can be anything we want to be ... because we can’t. That seems like a quintessentially American ... dream.” His final word trailed off, trying (in that British way) not to offend my jaunty constitution.

His father was a postal worker, but he had come to the states to study playwriting, assuming he would go back to the UK after graduation, get a similarly routine job and write plays at night. I, of course, believed I would be shipped off to Hollywood to write high-budget features while sipping Bellinis poolside and farting through silk robes.

A few months prior, from our liv-

ing room window, this friend and I had watched the Trade Center towers smoke and fall. I didn’t realGRAHAM ize it, but I was GORDY embarking on an entirely new America in 2002 — an America that was ready to punch me in the mouth. His world was going to stay more or less the same because he expected it to be brutish.

Which brings me to the question: With what our country has been through over the last decade, how far are we from adopting that same stiff and distrustful upper lip as our mentors across the pond?

We Americans have always been both a buoyant and gloating sort. The bastard children of Horatio Alger and John Calvin, were we to wake up to discover a 10-foot money tree in our

a joke. It doesn’t need to be anything more.

Romney has seen the Citizens United decision as a key to his election, telling a person who questioned him about the decision last fall, “corporations are people, my friend.” The court said corporations were entitled to the same privileges the Constitution gives individuals, including free speech. Corporations could use the unlimited funds from their coffers to influence elections and the actions of elected officials in ways that individuals could, too, if they only had the money.

But Gingrich really was hoist with his own petard, as Shakespeare would have put it. Until this, he claimed paternity for Citizens United.

“I actually think that the Citizens United case is one of the best examples of a genuine strategy that I’ve seen since I’ve been in Washington,” he once said. He sent out a plea for money to help “Citizens United and me in our fight for the First Amendment rights of every American” — i.e., corporate Americans.

The Citizens United case can be said to be the progeny of the ’90s K Street Project of Gingrich and Tom Delay, which gave corporate interests and their lobbyists a bigger hand in writing laws and influencing executive decisions in exchange for GOP campaign support. The conservative nonprofit

Citizens United was set up to go after Democrats and expand the horizons for big money in elections. The court case involved the nonprofit’s attack film on Hillary Clinton, who was deemed to be the likeliest Democratic nominee for president in 2010. The Supreme Court used the case to go far beyond the lawsuit’s purpose and effectively strike down restrictions on political spending.

But Citizens United and an old rightwing buddy came to Newt’s rescue last week. Sheldon Adelson of Las Vegas, a casino billionaire who was grateful to Gingrich for helping preserve favorable tax laws for casinos and beat down a culinary union that was organizing his casino workers, wrote a check for $5 million to Gingrich’s “independent” super-PAC, Winning Our Future.

By this week, Gingrich’s PAC had bought a stunning $3.4 million of TV time in South Carolina for the next two weeks to air attacks on Romney and a 27-minute film on Romney’s job-killing record as a corporate raider.

The film tells how sharks bought companies, shed low-profit operations and jobs, and then sold them at big profits. Romney’s “King of Bain: When Mitt Romney Came to Town” is potentially devastating.

The only difference between Newt’s and Mitt’s attacks is that you know exactly who’s financing Newt’s.

living rooms, we would believe that we must’ve dropped the seed somewhere along the way. Our country runs on the (flex) fuels of optimism and delusion.

Even Mitt Romney, who, as the most viable primary candidate is supposed to tell it like it is, is running on a ticket of “Defending the American Dream” and “the America we once knew.” Just because his utopia is of the small government variety doesn’t make it any less utopian.

You’d have to have a tin ear to listen to Romney, or anyone else who owes his fortune to politics or the ties he gained there, and not hear a false ring when they say they want to abolish the cash cow that fattened them. We know you wouldn’t destroy anything that helped you, Mitt, only the things that might help us.

A few months ago, my British friend and I converged again in New York. I reminded him of that conversation and he said, “You were curious about the British Empire, and now you’ve become it, haven’t you?”

A stagnant economy that produces almost nothing, an intransigent class system, little to no thought of upward

mobility, and what changed from January 2002 to January 2012 is that we lost that “particularly American ... .”

Staggering inequality is something we’re used to, but a side effect of the new Gilded Age is that, be we Tea Party, Occupier or the most of us in between, we hate the 1 percent. We believe that if you are so garishly wealthy as to be part of it, you must’ve come about it unfairly.

And from the examples we’ve seen lately, what else should we think? Our financial collapse was a combination of delusional mortgage-buyers, banks who — from their rarified, unregulated perch — told us that housing prices would rise ad infinitum and the few plutocrats who knew better and gambled on its failure.

Time has passed. Here at home, the streets seem meaner, colder, less safe.

The American Dream is finally over.

Huzzah. We know because, whether we’re blaming our government or the rich, people have taken to the streets.

If America is still in its cultural adolescence, this disappointment seems like a necessary rite of passage and may be the best thing for us. It was a dream born of envy, but we can’t envy what we no longer respect. www.arktimes.com

JANUARY 11, 2012

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ARKANSAS TIMES

PEARLS ABOUT SWINE

Post-season thoughts

T

he 2012 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic was actually the final game of the Razorbacks’ 2011 season, was played in a stadium other than the Cotton Bowl (where AT&T service likely was sketchy due to network traffic) and it was anything but a classic. Now that I’ve gotten my quasi-Voltaire opener out of the way, a just dissection of the game can begin.

It isn’t folly to assert that Arkansas’s 29-16 win over Kansas State merits a GW Bush-style “Mission Accomplished!” banner being draped on the exterior of the Broyles Complex. The Razorbacks’ crude, bewildering performance was still somehow dominant, and the byproduct is the university’s first 11-win campaign and season-ending Top 5 ranking in over three decades. They didn’t come to paint, although there were times during the exhausting four-hour affair that I felt like one of the Petrino brothers was drawing up plays in crayon.

As is commonly the case in bowl games, the box score from Friday’s game was inadequate as a guidepost of the Razorbacks’ dominance. The Wildcats only scored two touchdowns and had only one sustained, productive offensive drive.

Tyler Wilson had an unremarkable game statistically (216 passing yards, touchdown throws to Jarius Wright and Cobi Hamilton) but was generally on target; conversely, the Wildcats’ Collin Klein was victimized by dropped passes and butchered by a Razorback pass rush that produced a season-high six sacks. It was by no means a complete performance, but as was the case when it handily vanquished a solid South Carolina team back in November, Arkansas was largely responsible for all the points on the board...for both teams.

Six weeks between games is profoundly ridiculous and seemingly avoidable, though I’m not inclined at this time to elucidate the ways and means to overhaul this clunky, inefficient engine known as the BCS. What I do know is that for all the visible and understandable flaws that this hiatus created, Arkansas did what it did basically all season long: started slowly but authored enough big plays to take control of a game against a lesser opponent.

As fate would have it, departing players did the lion’s share of the work, with Joe Adams igniting a stagnant team with yet another electric punt return, Wright tacking on the last 88 receiving yards of a record-setting career and Greg Childs and Broderick Green making big catches and runs. Jake Bequette closed out his march

toward the NFL with two more sacks and Jerico Nelson capped off the win with his longest-ever interBEAU ception return.

WILCOX Looking back, what Arkansas did en route to its finest season since Jimmy Carter and Leif Garrett roamed the Earth is an odd mix of phenomenal and frustrating. Playing an entire season without its best player — and that’s not to disrespect anyone on this squad, but to simply emphasize the value of a player like Knile Davis — is hardly a prescription for success, but the Razorbacks ably overcame that deficiency. Injuries to Bequette and Tenarius Wright torpedoed the Hogs’ admittedly faint hopes in Tuscaloosa. Garrett Uekman passed in November. The Hogs narrowly escaped disaster in the first trip to Dallas and the jaunts east to Oxford and Nashville. They played lightsout in Fayetteville, a welcome development that has loomed large as recent rumblings about abandoning War Memorial Stadium games have surfaced.

The Razorbacks’ long-term health will depend greatly on their ability to get out of their own way. They were crippled by laggardly first quarters here and there, and because the defense failed to carve out any kind of identity as a stopper, Arkansas seemed to suffer greatly on the rare occasions that it turned the ball over. The nucleus remains strong for 2011, but now that the Hogs have solidified themselves as an upper-tier program, the appeal to banner recruits is only enhanced. It is one of the nation’s most profitable programs, per a frequently retweeted Forbes report, and it now carries more cachet than it ever has.

Trouble is, as the Arkansas brand improves, so does that of the SEC at large and particularly so goes it for the titans in Tuscaloosa and Baton Rouge that played for the crown Monday night. Alabama’s thorough beating of LSU in the title game may have very well discouraged Hog fans who wonder how the hell we are supposed to excel when we have a virtual NFL expansion team on our schedule every September. The reality is that Arkansas is just as far removed from the Nutt era as Alabama is from the Mike Shula regime; in many ways, our progressive advance to this point is as pronounced as the one that Nick Saban has overseen to the southeast. At some point, perhaps we’ll catch the Tide at ebb.

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9

W O RDS

Tradition.

Achievement.

Brotherhood.

The Legacy of Catholic High Now accepting Now Now accepting accepting applications for applications applications for for the the the 2007-08 2010-11 2012-13 school school year. year. school year.

Annual Annual Open Open House House Annual Open House Sunday, Sunday, January January 24, 29, 2010 2012 Sunday, January 28, 2007 12:30 12:30 -- 2:30 2:30

Freshman Entrance Exam Freshman Freshman Entrance Entrance Exam Exam Saturday, February 10, 2007 Saturday, 2010 Saturday, February February 13, 11, 2012

CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS 6300 Father Tribou Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 Website 501-664-3939 www.lrchs.org

Draco, everybody, Draco Lake Superior State University in Michigan, an institution of higher learning that most of us hadn’t heard of until it began publishing its annual list of “Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness,” has released its latest, which was compiled, the university says, from nominations submitted worldwide.

“Amazing” tops this year’s list as the most overused word, as in “Those socks are amazing!” and “My nap was amazing!”

I have some nominations of my own.

For some reason, draconian is all over, appearing in place of simpler expressions like “cruel” and “excessively severe”: A draconian penalty thwarted the Mudbugs’ final drive. The news magazine The Week employed the word twice in one paragraph: “This draconian legislation would give the government and copyright owners the power to shut down websites suspected of illegally sharing or selling movies, music, and other copyrighted material. … To comply with this draconian law, said Rebecca MacKinnon in The New York Times, sites like Google and Twitter would need to employ thousands of people ‘to monitor and censor

user content.’ ” Draconian is derived from the name Draco. He was a 7th century Greek legisDOUG lator who wrote a SMITH dougsmith@arktimes.com code of laws that imposed the death penalty for even minor offenses. At one time, draconian was usually capitalized, but the capital “D” seems to have decreased in popularity as use of the word itself has increased. That’s probably because most users don’t know that it comes from a proper name.

Eclectic may be getting even more of a workout than draconian. It’s applied to everything and everybody these days, and I don’t understand how it can be applied to everybody. Or anybody, for that matter. The adjective eclectic means “selecting or choosing from various sources,” and “made up of what is selected from different sources.” A menu could be eclectic, or a repertoire, but a person? Well, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I guess. Maybe the woman in “Three Faces of Eve,” but I’m skeptical of these multiple-personality things unless, like Dr. Jekyll, somebody’s been drinking.

WEEK THAT WAS

It was a good week for…

It was a bad week for…

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS. The football Hogs beat No. 11 Kansas State 29-16 in the Cotton Bowl. The win marked the Razorbacks’ 11th victory, which tied a school record and pushed the team into a number five final ranking in both the AP and USA Today Coach’s Poll.

BRYANT MAYOR JILL DABBS. Bryant Alderman Adrian Henley has initiated a petition drive to recall Dabbs. Her offenses are too lengthy for this space, but include illegal pay raises, ousting a number of city employees and hiring Republican Party Chairman Doyle Webb (above) as interim city attorney.

DOYLE WEBB. The state Republican Party chairman was appointed interim city attorney of Bryant by Bryant Mayor Jill Dabbs. He’ll be paid roughly $5,400 a month for a term Dabbs said will last two to three months and not be required to keep regular office hours.

THE END OF AN ERA. North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays announced he would not seek re-election after almost 24 years in office. Hays will leave behind a legacy that includes a submarine, a tugboat, a ballpark, an arena and a riverfront trail.

TRANSPARENCY. Rep. Jane English of North Little Rock, a Republican who’s seeking a state Senate seat next year, said she plans to introduce legislation to strengthen current political campaign expenditure law, hopefully closing the current loophole that allows issue campaign committees to shield spending from disclosure.

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JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS DROP-IN DAY TREATMENT CENTER. Despite publishing notice in the daily newspaper and appearing on the Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods’ messageboard, the VA’s plan to relocate its treatment center from 2nd and Ringo streets to 10th and Main, in the former Cook Jeep building, came as a surprise to Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, who called the move “idiotic,” saying that such a center shouldn’t be put across the street from a liquor store, that it would duplicate services of a promised homeless day center on Confederate Boulevard and harm the Main Street business district’s renewal.

Dr. Tina McClain, the psychiatrist who heads mental health services for veterans in Central Arkansas, said the Main Street location was ideal for the VA and was the product of a lengthy search. The center is an outpatient clinic that, among other services, provides for homeless veterans.

THE OBSERVER

FRIED

NOTES ON THE PASSING SCENE

What the mountain said

A

s we’ve done every New Year’s Day for awhile now, The Observer spent part of the first day of The Year of Our Lord 2012 on top of Petit Jean Mountain outside of Morrilton. It’s fairly close to Little Rock, a nice drive up and back with the family on a day off, and there’s something about looking down from those lofty heights that puts it all into perspective for Yours Truly, especially when we’re there with the people we love most in the world.

Spouse is nervous about heights, so she didn’t like it much when Junior and his Old Man left the railed and leveled boardwalk at the top of Petit Jean and ventured out onto the rocks above the abyss. The Observer is the clumsy sort (just two days into the New Year, we managed to get our noggin whacked, hard enough to leave a stout goose egg, by the back door of her Honda while unloading groceries), so we understand her concern. There are places on those cliffs that are unforgiving — ankle-snapping crevasses; stubs of rock primed for a bone-fracturing trip; sheer drops to more stone, or to packed earth, or to thin air, with nothing to catch you but the river bottom several hundred feet below and the bosom of Jesus.

The danger, of course, is worth it; worth that feeling of standing out there unfettered in the wind, with the birds turning cartwheels below you and a good 15 miles of the Arkansas River curving in and out of sight at the horizon line. It is, we’d wager, the best place in this state of ours to think about time, about the passage of years, about the permanence of some things and the transience of others. In our experience, none of us ponders any of that business enough by half, so it’s good for The Observer to go somewhere that geography and geology force those considerations upon us, especially on the occasion of the New Year.

We always notice something new

when we head to Petit Jean. Coming back off the rocks from the drop this time, we noticed the graffiti there.

We’re not talking about spray paint, thank God — either people aren’t thoughtless enough to sully that place with paint, or the park rangers are handy with a sandblaster — but names and dates actually scratched laboriously into the boulders, dozens of them, from every decade. Some of the names are carved in deep, like the inscriptions on tombstones. Others are ghostly. The mountain keeps them all, we suppose, as even the faint inscriptions looked fairly new. Mostly, it was names and dates, people who had been there and gone. One, block letters incised a half-inch deep, said “Tim + Tina.” Another, in a hollow in the rock that fills with rain, was a simple, crudely-made peace sign.

Another was a date: 1914. We marveled a bit over what it must have taken to get to this high bluff almost a hundred New Years’ Days ago, before the road and the parking lot and the sturdy surveying platform built here by the state. We found something so touching about those attempts at permanence. The Observer, who sweats weekly over next week’s birdcage liner, knows all about that desire: the need to make even a single word that stays.

We don’t condone vandalism in any shape, form or fashion, not even in exchange for a crumb of immortality, but in our hoodlum dreams that night, we dressed all in black and scaled the mountain with a pack full of chisels and awls. In the moonlight, we found a patch of bare rock among the names and dates, brushed off the dirt of a century with a hand, then brought the tip of a tool to the stone.

But what to say? the chisel asked.

If you could leave a single word that would outlive you, and your children, and your children’s children, what to say? What is there to say that the mountain already hasn’t?

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11

Arkansas Reporter

THE

IN S IDE R

The Producers A long-simmering dispute in the legal community could come to a head Friday at the meeting of the Pulaski County Bar Association. Members will vote on a resolution to rescind an association decision in September to transfer the biennial Gridiron Show, a musical comedy spoof of political figures and current events, to the Pulaski County Bar Foundation.

The transfer, engineered by Circuit Judge Herb Wright, was soon followed by the foundation’s decision to change producer of the show, which had been run since 1996 by Judge Mary Spencer McGowan. The foundation has contended it could make more money from the show, scheduled for August, in support of legal education. The foundation has tapped Melanie Martin, a deputy prosecutor, to be the new producer.

The changes produced a backlash from long-time participants in the show. Sixteen lawyers, many of them with credits as lead players in past Gridirons, signed the resolution to rescind the transfer.

The Bar Association Board has recommended leaving the transfer undisturbed.

The resolution, which also calls for McGowan’s reinstatement, says she has served “without compensation, devoting countless hours of her time and energy to producing successful Gridiron Shows each biennium and enjoys the unqualified affection and loyalty of the entire cast, crew and professional support personnel …”

Signers are Dent Gitchel, Jackie Walker, Joe Purvis, Frank Falkner, Gary Green, Dick Hatfield, Bill Robinson, Kathryn Pryor, Timothy Boozer, Drake Mann, Steve Giles, Josh McHughes, Herb Rule, Brian Rosenthal, Perry Young and Cathi Compton.

Ironic note: The vote will follow a talk to the bar by Supreme Court Justice Robert Brown about his campaign to establish an apparatus to ensure civility in judicial elections.

Politicking has been intense.

Legal wrinkles at play suggest the vote might not be the final verdict on the issue.

Partial justice Shea Saenger, a woman convicted of second-degree murder in Arkansas before later stealing millions from a man suffering from CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 12

JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

A Big Year in Arkansas Jonesboro teen racks up 311 species.

BY LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK

M

itchell Pruitt the brush (turned out to is only 17, but be an armadillo) sent him he’s No. 4 in running at one point, but the rankings of most birds he saw two of his target seen in Arkansas during a birds and heard the third, Big Year. the whistle of the whisThanks to the movie, tling duck. most everyone knows what In what is a common birder story, Mitchell a Big Year is now, but for folks who don’t get out braved 100-degree heat in much, a Big Year is one in July in Southwest Arkanwhich a birder dedicates sas, walking three miles along the OK Levee on his every waking moment between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 Millwood Lake with expert to see as many species as birder Charles Mills to see possible. At dawn on Jan. a tricolored heron, which, 1, 2011, Mitchell Pruitt of course, they didn’t see started his adventure until they returned to their with a northern flicker; truck, where the bird was he ended it Dec. 30, in the hanging out. (Mom and sis nick of time, with a golden waited at a campground during this adventure.) eagle. In between he saw 309 other avian species, for He sank one leg up above the bootline in the muddy a total of 311, just seven off bed of Lake Enterprise in Dick Baxter’s 318 in 2008 (“a hurricane year,” Pruitt Southeast Arkansas trying noted, with five or six speto get a better look at an cies blown up to Arkansas eagle. It takes perseverfrom the Gulf). ance to see 311 species in Pruitt is a senior at Val365 days.

NO NEED FOR BINOCS: Pruitt holds a Swainson’s warbler, caught for banding by ASU students. ley View High School in For the record, MitchJonesboro who started ell’s rarest birds: A Eurdescribed by his parents as a “good birding seriously about two years ago. asian wigeon, which should have been At 6’4” he can practically see into the kid,” confessed to consulting his e-mail off the coast of Great Britain or somecanopy, a huge advantage for birders at school to make sure he wasn’t misswhere in south Asia, at Benwood Lake ing any rarities.) The Pruitts drove who must endure “warbler neck” every southwest of Turrell. A little Sabine’s to Fayetteville, Mitchell saw the bird, spring to see the tiny, high moving gull at the same lake. Cassin’s sparrow and then all headed for Texarkana, “a migrants. He got some of his 311 birds near Foreman. A Barrow’s goldeneye long day,” his mother said. Mitchell’s with the help of Arkansas’s top birdthat was at Lake Dardanelle last Janufather, Ken Pruitt, bootless and unable ers, who alerted him to rare birds they ary, except the one day Mitchell went to accompany his son, waited a couple were finding, and his parents’ chaufthere to see it, but which graciously of hours in a mud-mired truck in Desha feuring skills. His patient parents — returned Dec. 2. And one of the pretCounty so Mitchell could hike in to who Mitchell said were “speechless” tiest: A vermillion flycatcher, which Dick Baxter’s family’s fish farm pond when he first told them he’d decided should have been in Arizona but flew to pick up mottled duck, least bittern to do a Big Year — drove him all over in to the Stuttgart Airport instead.

Arkansas. His mother, Kathleen Pruitt, and fulvous whistling duck. Loaded Mitchell plans to attend the Unidown with scope, binoculars, camera was en route to Texarkana one mornversity of Arkansas at Fayetteville in ing when Mitchell called from school and a healthy fear of cottonmouths, fall. He’ll probably major in biology and persuaded her to check him out Mitchell made his way along the edge — maybe to become an ornithologist. of a soybean field to get to an opening No. 2, 3 and 5 in the top five Arkanand make a detour to Fayetteville to in the vegetation. A deer jumped up see a Bewick’s wren that “Arkansas sas Big Year lists: Kenny Nichols (313), Birds” author Joe Neal had e-mailed in front of him, which rattled him a LaDonna Nichols (312) and Dennis bit, and a rustle of something scaly in him about. (Pruitt, an Eagle Scout Brady (307).

LISTEN UP

INCONSEQUENTIAL NEWS QUIZ 1. Pair the three Republican candidates for the Fourth District congressional seat who participated in Monday’s debate in El Dorado with their opening statement.

Beth Anne Rankin

A. Only in America could a Dardanelle Sand Lizard run for Congress.

Tom Cotton

B. Government eats freedom.

Marcus Richmond

C. There are no silver spoons on a dairy farm, only rusty shovels.

THE

BIG PICTURE

2. According to Advocate.com, what criteria does Little Rock meet to earn the rank of the 11th gayest city in the country?

A. LGBT elected officials

D. Imperial Court chapters

G. Nude yoga

B. WNBA teams

E. Softball teams that competed in the Gay Softball World Series

H. Transgender protections

C. International Mr. Leather competition semifinalists

F. LGBT bookstores

I. Concerts by Gossip, the Cliks and the Veronicas since 2009

3. Match the following code with the drug it represents, as described in the federal plea agreement with Sedrick “Binky” Trice, a defendant in the massive Operation Delta Blues bust.

“Biggie Small” CD

A. loracet

football

B. hydroponic marijuana

apples

C. four and a half ounces of cocaine

4. In December, Lt. Gov. Mark Darr tweeted, “Was asked last night at the Capitol lighting if the tree in the Capitol was a Holiday or a Christmas tree. I said it was a CHRISTmas tree.” How many times did he use the word “Christmas” on Twitter in December?

Tune in to the Times’ “Week In Review” podcast each Friday.

Available on iTunes & arktimes.com

INSIDER, CONT. dementia, has been sentenced by a Washington State federal court to 46 months in prison and three years supervised release and ordered to pay $2,161,000 in restitution for mail fraud.

The Times reported on the scam last August and efforts by Norman Butler’s son, Doug, to recover money Saenger sent to her brother, Mark Lumpkin, and his wife, Rosemary, who live in Phillips County, and a niece, Shannon Wiggins, of Hazen.

Saenger, who was married, met Norman Butler online in 2005 and told him she was a widow.

Over the course of several years, Saenger persuaded Butler to send her hundreds of thousands of dollars for an uncle who did not exist, surgeries she never had and to buy a car, according to the court.

Because Saenger knew Butler had memory problems, she would tell him he had not written her a check, when in fact he had.

In 2009, Doug Butler discovered that his father’s savings accounts had been depleted and tracked Saenger down through a private investigator. It was through the investigator that he discovered Saenger had done time for second-degree murder in Arkansas. Butler won a civil suit against Saenger seeking restitution, but none was forthcoming.

Saenger pleaded guilty to mail fraud in federal court in August.

Doug Butler is still pursuing action in Arkansas courts to recoup money Saenger sent to her family, and Wiggins and Lumpkin have countersued. Wiggins’ case has been set for June in Prairie County; the Lumpkins’ has not yet been set.

A. 3 purp

D. xanax

CORRECTIONS B. 10

5. Identify the spelling errors below in the initial and “corrected” versions of a Washington County job posting.

C. 19

D. 27

In “Raised from the dead” (Dec. 28), we mistakenly said that Chester Ashley lived in a house on the corner of what is now Markham and Scott almost 300 years ago. That should’ve been almost 200 years ago.

In “In the middle of things” (Dec. 28), we confused the street Pine Valley, which is north of Cantrell, with Pine Manor Drive, which is just north of Evergreen in Midtown.

In “Shop it, seriously” (2012 Natives Guide), we mistakenly included American Eagle Outfitters, which is closed, among the retailers at The Promenade at Chenal.

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JANUARY 11, 2012

13

1. Rankin: Government eats freedom. Cotton: Only in America… Richmond: There are no silver spoons… 2. F. LGBT bookstores, though unless it’s secret, that’s not true; and I. Concerts by Gossip, the Cliks and the Veronicas. 3. Biggie: four and a half ounces of cocaine. Football: xanax. Apples: loracet. Purp: hydroponic marijuana 4. C. 19. 5. “Enturnal” and “Inturnal” are both misspellings of “internal.”

WHEN COLLEGE DOESN’T PAY FOR ITSELF Many former students working steadily at white-collar jobs still can’t pay their loans.

Should they have settled for a place at McDonald’s instead?

BY CHEREE FRANCO

A

my Peck works a lot. Sometimes this makes her angry. Mostly it just makes her tired.

For 12 years, Peck has spearheaded outreach efforts as a salaried employee in Arkansas museums. For the past 14 years, she’s been paying back the $13,465 she borrowed to obtain her bachelor’s in fine arts degree from Atlanta College of Art. Each month lender Sallie Mae deducts several hundred dollars from Peck’s bank account for a payment that’s roughly 70 percent interest. That means only 30 percent is actually applied against her remaining principal of $6,748. To keep up with these payments, she bolsters her $44,250 salary at the Old State House Museum with a part-time retail gig. For the past nine years, she’s had to work two or three jobs, sometimes logging 70 hours a week.

Peck, 40, grew up in Louisiana. She attended college in Ohio before transferring the Georgia art college. But economically, Arkansas has suffered the most from her prolonged relationship with top college lender Sallie Mae. “If it weren’t for these loans, maybe I’d buy a house. I certainly didn’t expect to still be living in an apartment” this far out of college, she laments.

Peck has paid about $28,000 toward the loan of $13,465. She estimates that she has at least $10,000 to go.

Her debt-load has stymied her life goals. “Working two jobs impacts my ability to meet people and date,” she says. “I can’t afford a house or children. I just turned 40, and I literally have no life.”

Back in 1990, neither Peck nor her parents understood the policies governing student loans. Peck chose Atlanta College of Art because it seemed more studio-based than art programs at public universities. She and her parents thought they could handle the cost of a private education. “We didn’t think we were borrowing extravagantly. We thought of $13,500 as a car note, paid off in five years,” she recalls.

But it’s not like a car note. Most students don’t pay on their loans until after they’ve graduated, when, in most cases, interest has made the debt much higher than the original loan.

I

n his spring 2010 study of 199 University of Arkansas students, University of Arkansas human development professor Dr. William Bailey found that students tend to overestimate their financial apti-

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JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

tude. “Most students feel they can handle any sort of debt, but their responses to empirical questions indicate a high degree of financial illiteracy,” he said.

“There’s a conflict between their confidence level

E

ven working multiple jobs, Peck at one point needed to defer her loans for three months. A few years ago, her mother was in

IN DEBT: Disgusted by how much she still owes Sallie Mae on her student loans, Amy Peck designed a “Property of Sallie Mae” T-shirt.

www.arktimes.com

JANUARY 11, 2012

15

BRIAN CHILSON

and their actual knowledge. This makes sense developmentally because, without this confidence, people wouldn’t do things like buy houses or have children.”

But he’s seen this confidence erode in recent years.

“More and more, young adults are delaying these ‘normal’ behaviors. My junior and seniors are very concerned about the current job market and their future pay scales,” he added.

The real cost of spending four to six years pursuing a degree in higher education is much steeper than tuition alone. “At the University of Arkansas, you pay about $80,000 for tuition, books and living,” said Bailey. “Then you add opportunity costs to that. Instead of college, you could’ve worked at McDonalds for $10 an hour. That’s another $80,000. So the actual costs are anywhere from $120,000 to $160,000.”

According to Bailey, Arkansas’s lack of high-paying jobs contributes to a high rate of student loan defaults — at 12.3 percent for public four-year colleges, it’s the highest of any state. “Many graduates who stay in Arkansas can’t find jobs,” he said. “So they can’t pay their loans, or they leave, find jobs and exercise their spending power elsewhere. They may have been educated at some cost to Arkansas, but they’re buying houses and cars in other states.”

His colleague, Kathy Deck, director of the UA’s Center for Business and Economic Research, details the fallout from student debt: “It cramps your ability to take out auto loans, small business loans, a mortgage … and since student debt can’t be dismissed through bankruptcy, there are huge implications that follow you the rest of your life. If you delay something like buying a house, there are repercussions for subsidiary industries — everything from realtors to contractors to furniture retailers.”

Chris Weevers, executive vice president at First Federal Bank of Harrison, the second-largest mortgage lender in Arkansas, said, “It would be like putting a whale through a needle” to get a long-term, fixedrate, secondary market mortgage for a person making $30,000, with $20,000 in student debt. “They’d stand a better chance of getting it done locally, with a smaller bank that understands the situation. But the interest rate wouldn’t be as low or fixed beyond maybe 36 to 60 months.”

At the current interest rate of 6.8 percent, a $10,000 Unsubsidized Stafford Loan will accrue about $1.90 interest each day. When monthly payments don’t cover accumulated interest, the interest is capitalized: the unpaid interest is added to the total loan amount, increasing the daily interest. Student loans accrue capitalized interest because, unlike a car loan or a mortgage, there is nothing for the lender to repossess.

“Debt is a self-reinforcing thing,” said the UA’s Deck. “That’s why it’s so important to put policies in place that will break the cycle.”

Bailey and Deck are in favor of debt education programs. Deck also suggests that the cost of higher education “should fall on the state and on taxpayers rather than on the students directly.”

Little Rock undergoing cancer treatment. While acting as her mother’s caregiver, Peck couldn’t handle her bills. She deferred to avoid defaulting.

She knew that, in addition to destroying her credit rating, a default would allow the government to garnish wages, social security and tax returns.

For the past few years, both national and state default rates have risen steadily. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the national default rate for loans applied to public institutions is 8.8 percent, up from 7 percent in 2008.

Arkansas’s public two-year institutions have a 16 percent default rate, which jumps to 20 percent for its historically black colleges. The latter may reflect the median household income of black Arkansans, which was $23,000 in 2006, as compared to the state average of $35,599. Forprofit colleges with branches that cater to older Arkansas students have national default rates of 18 percent.

I

van Reyes is in his second year at Pulaski Technical Institute, where he is double majoring in IT and culinary arts. With 11,199 students, Pulaski Tech is Arkansas’s largest public two-year college. Reyes is 33 years old and a single father of three. When he graduates next year, he’ll be roughly $36,000 in debt.

Most afternoons, Reyes camps in a booth in the Pulaski Tech cafe, nursing a giant soda and poring over binders and books. This is his self-imposed study hall, the cushion between his day shift as the cafe’s stir-fry cook and his evening classes.

“They call us ‘change-takers,’ ” he said, momentarily abandoning his binder to squint out the window at the waning winter sun. “It means you get the loan check, cash it and bounce,” meaning skip out on classes.

Reyes never intended to be a change-taker.

When he enrolled in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as a freshman in 1999, he had the best intentions. Reyes is a first-generation American. He was born in Little Rock, but his parents are from Colombia. His father never understood why he wanted to go to college.

“My dad, he’s old school Latino. Old school Latinos, man, that’s why they love America. You come here and get a job off the bat, but if my dad didn’t work 60 hours a week, he couldn’t make any real money. He told me to go to McDonald’s.

But that’s stupid, man. Why not find a job that pays double, while working regular 40 hours like everybody else?”

His entire life, Reyes watched his mother work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, at Luby’s Cafeteria, while his father pieced together part-time and fulltime jobs. That’s why, despite landing at an alternative learning center rather than a traditional high school, he made sure to get his GED and enroll in college. His parents couldn’t help with tuition, so Reyes took out loans.

“They set up tables, you just walked in and picked up an application, and then they told you what you were getting,” he remembers. Reyes’

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JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the national default rate for loans applied to public institutions is 8.8 percent, up from seven percent in 2008.

Arkansas’s public two-year institutions have a 16 percent default rate.

loans were applied to his tuition, and the excess — books and living expenses — came to him in the form of a personal check.

“I was partying a lot. I decided to keep the party going,” he said. “I didn’t get my hand slapped, so I thought I could do it again.”

Reyes managed to “party” for six consecutive semesters. “I didn’t know it had a name till the second time. I thought it was just me. Then I heard some people talking about change-taking.

I was just thinking, take the money and run,” he explained.

Three years in, Reyes was on academic probation and eventually, UALR booted him out. At 23 he moved back to his mom’s house and began working retail and paying his loans. But once he got his own place, he was forced to defer his payments.

“I started to let my loans go into default,” Reyes says. “It was the grace of a really good friend who paid to get them back on track.”

F

ederal and state lending agencies such as Sallie Mae and the Arkansas Student Loan Authority (ASLA) were established to administer Federal Family Education Loans (FFELP) in the 1970s, when rising education costs and enrollment made banks hesitant to underwrite student loans. But after the federal Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, the Department of Education began to administer loans directly. Congress figured that if the government could avoid middleman subsidiaries, it might avoid exorbitant interest rates.

ASLA is a quasi-governmental agency, a nonprofit responsible to the state legislature.

According to director Tony Williams, it has never received state funding. ASLA’s entire budget is funded through interest fees.

ASLA is in a period of transition. It currently holds $500 million in Arkansas student debt. Since it lost its ability to lend, ASLA has functioned solely as a financial aid educator. But in January 2012, it expects to begin servicing FFELP loans, which will allow it to collect government fees.

Instead of functioning as both lender and collector, it will simply collect federal loan payments.

ASLA has the option of privatizing, as Sallie Mae did, but according to Williams that will only happen if Arkansas students can’t find alternative funding. “We’d like to see if there’s a need before we get into it. The lottery scholarship is still new. We’re hoping that it will lower the need for student loans,” he said.

E

ach college determines its own students’ financial aid eligibility, including how much a student can borrow in private loans. Then the lending agency assesses the risk factors and determines the interest rate.

In the case of federal loans, a standard interest rate is set by Congress and eligibility is factored from data collected on the FAFSA form.

Eighty-six percent of Pulaski Tech students receive financial aid to cover $2,840 in annual tuition. The school estimates that, with books and living expenses, current expenses are about $16,400 annually. According to data collected by the National Center for Education statistics, 56 percent of its students borrow funds to cope with this cost, and 14.7 percent of those students have loans in default.

At UALR, annual in-state tuition is $6,643, and just short of half — 43 percent — of current

students receive loan aid. UALR’s default rate, at 9.7 percent, is lower than the state average.

Among Arkansas’s public four-year universities, UA Pine Bluff and the UA Monticello have the highest default rates, at 21.1 percent and 20.1 percent, respectively. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, UA Fayetteville and University of Central Arkansas have the lowest default rates, at 1.4, 4.7 and 8.6 percent.

But averages don’t tell a complete story. Tiny, private Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould has a 29.6 percent default rate — the highest in the state. Out of 201 students, 26 are non-white, and only six are over 25 years old. At face value, the school could be a shrunken version of Hendrix College, another private institution full of mostly white, traditional students. But Hendrix has a default rate of 1.8 percent — the lowest in the state for a primarily undergraduate institution.

Colleges with high default rates share common characteristics. Representatives from Crowley’s Ridge and Arkansas Baptist (default rate of 27.2 percent) estimate that at least half of their students have parents and grandparents who never attended college. Fewer than 10 percent of Hendrix students are first generation, and the school says about 10 percent of its freshman class graduated high school valedictorian. High-default colleges often have open admission, recruit from low-income regions and enroll at least half of incoming freshmen in remedial courses. Hendrix offers no remedial courses and has a 60 percent graduation rate. In contrast, high-default schools have about a 60 percent non-graduation rate.

A TALE OF TWO STUDENTS

D

emographically, Peck has much in common with Hendrix students.

After graduating from a public school for the gifted, she attended two private art colleges. She graduated in four years with a high GPA. Her middle-class, educated parents helped with college costs, and she supplemented with loans and part time jobs. Within two years of graduation, Peck was hired in her field.

“I’ve worked steadily, I’ve been promoted, and I still can’t afford to pay my loans,” she says.

“Shouldn’t I be grandfathered into the loan forgiveness program?”

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) forgives federal student debt for qualifying professionals who have served the public for a decade.

Peck hit the 10-year mark in 2007. Ironically, time served before October 1, 2007, doesn’t count toward PSLF. But in some ways, Peck is lucky. She borrowed only $13,500. Fifty-seven percent of Arkansas graduates had an average debt of $20,000 in 2009 — roughly the same amount as Arkansas’s per capita income that year. The federal government allows current students to borrow up to $46,000, which is twice the 2009 maximum.

When he left UALR in 2001, Reyes was already

about $21,000 in debt.

In 2007, Reyes received full custody of his then-10-year-old twins (he took custody of a third child a year later). He’d been working in retail six years. “That’s when I decided it just wasn’t me anymore,” he says. “I was doing exactly what my father told me to do, and what I didn’t want to do.”

He took out more loans and enrolled in the Information Technologies program at Pulaski Tech. Some of his credits transferred, but many didn’t.

“I lost a lot,” Reyes says. “I was almost ready to be a junior, and I got smacked down to being a freshman.”

Reyes chose IT because he’d been a computer science major at UALR. He came to the culinary program more haphazardly. In August 2010, when he enrolled in Pulaski Tech, he noticed that the executive and sous-chefs were constantly working the cafe cash register. He needed a job, and he had plenty of register experience. He pestered the executive chef to hire him.

“I think they need something like a three-day seminar.

Someone to really explain what it is you’re doing, so you can know how bad a loan is before jumping on it.”

“When you have these dudes on the register instead of in the kitchen, something’s wrong,” Reyes says. “Finally they were like, OK, just show up.” Soon after, they had a vacancy on the stirfry station.

“It’s supposed to be the hardest station, nobody wants to touch it,” Reyes says, tugging on the bill of his culinary school cap. “I was like, what’s the big bad deal? I’ll do it.”

He loved the stir-fry station. In the summer of 2010, he enrolled in the culinary program. “To me, a good mind-clearer is doing a whole bunch of prep, you know, hours of cutting vegetables. I like being in front of people and seeing the look on their faces when the pan bursts into flames and they’re like, ‘something happened.’ I put on a cooking show for them and they remember that.

As a result of that, they remember me. It feels really good to be something.”

Reyes works 40 hours a week and takes 12 hours of classes. He’s a serious student this second time around, with a 3.64 GPA. He holds the position of parliamentarian in the student government association, and he plans to run for student body president in spring. He’s excited about his education and his future, but he expects to be paying loans for the rest of his life. “It’ll probably be $500, $600 each month,” he says. “It’s just another bill I’ll always have, like rent.”

His current loans (along with his cafe earnings) pay tuition, buy books and help support his family. He’s already paid rent till February 2013.

He plans to use his last series of loans to pay even more rent forward, so that when he graduates next spring, he’ll have a safety net while looking for a job. He estimates that, as a chef, he could make as little as $18,000 starting off. As a network technician he could make up to $70,000.

“If I were to be an executive chef in my own place, I’d be happy. And if I had my own office in an IT place, I’d be happy with the paychecks and just doing what I like,” he said. He wishes that he’d waited to go to college till he was mature enough to handle the responsibility attached to borrowing serious money.

“The last I remember, it’s a free country and we have a right to choose whether or not we put ourselves in debt, but we need a serious educating. The first time, it was a walk past a table. This last time, it was a 30-minute program on a computer. I think they need something like a threeday seminar,” he suggested. “Someone to really explain what it is you’re doing, so you can know how bad a loan is before jumping on it.”

He slammed his binder shut in punctuation. It was nearly time for the Certified Cisco Networking Assistant class that represents Ivan Reyes’s first-generation American dream — that higher education that will pave the way to an easier, better life. It’s Amy Peck’s middle-class American expectation — that if she studies hard and works hard, she can live comfortably. But for many Arkansans, the post-graduate nightmare is just beginning.

www.arktimes.com

JANUARY 11, 2012

17

Arts Entertainment AND

EASIER TO FIND: The Museum of Discovery now has a Main Street entrance to this lobby.

ALL GROWN UP

Renovated Museum of Discovery reopens Jan. 14.

W

hen the Museum of Discovery closed last April for renovations made possible by a $9.2 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, the staff also had another project in the works — rebranding the museum’s image. The downtown math and science museum has long been a destination for families and schoolchildren on field trips, but adults without kids in tow have steered clear.

That’s not likely to be the case when the museum re-opens Jan. 14. The educational hotspot’s sleek new design and sophisticated exhibits send a clear message: The Museum of Discovery isn’t just for kids anymore.

“Typically we’ve been known as a family museum, and we certainly don’t want to give that up because we love our families, but we’re trying to branch out to a broader audience,” said Libby Doss Lloyd, the museum’s marketing and public relations manager. “No longer is this just a kids’ museum. This is a science, technology and math center. We really want to be a resource for the community and be known as a science center.”

The museum, which had been 45,000 square feet, 18

JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

BY BLAIR TIDWELL

has grown by another 5,000 square feet. A former loading dock has been transformed into an expansive entryway opening directly onto President Clinton Avenue; previously the entrance was inside the Museum Center at 500 Clinton Ave. As visitors enter the Great Hall, their attention is drawn upward toward a specially-commissioned kinetic sculpture that melds art and math: the wooden “Helix Wave,” which undulates over the walkway to the galleries as rotating pulleys move the components. NASA junkies will want to check out a small display that holds moon rocks from the Apollo 11 mission and another lunar rock, the highly publicized Apollo 17 rock that was presented to the state, lost and rediscovered in 2011.

The rest of the museum is divided into several galleries spread out over two floors, including three main areas: Discovery Hall, Earth Journeys and Amazing You. The largest is Discovery Hall, which explores the physical sciences, with exhibits on energy, matter, force and motion. Walking into most children’s museums feels like stepping into a Fisher-Price wonderland, with tons of plastic and lots of miniatures; a single glimpse of the

Discovery Hall will convince visitors of the museum’s grown-up intentions. The space’s interactive exhibits are unified with a sleek contemporary design of blond wood flooring and dark punctuated paneling highlighted by touches of orange hues on seating.

Also a bonus: the activities aren’t built solely for short patrons. An adult can comfortably pedal a bicycle that demonstrates the different amounts of energy needed to light incandescent bulbs versus energy-efficient CFLs or can try to bounce a ball through movable rings in a station that mimics the angles of a pool game.

The subject matter is similarly successful in walking a tricky line between keeping children engaged without making grown-ups feel like they’re reading a thirdgrade science book. The light bulb activity is a perfect example; a display on aerodynamics is another. A wind tunnel shows how its force can push a ball straight into the air, and when the tunnel is rotated the ball follows.

The simple activity explains the basics of how planes fly — even to those of us who aren’t science-smart.

The Amazing You gallery highlights biology and CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

ROCK CANDY Check out the Times’ A&E blog arktimes.com

A&E NEWS AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION AND SCRUTINIZING scores of entries, we’ve come

up with 20 semi-finalists who will face off in the 2012 Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase. There were so many quality bands entering the showcase last year that the lineup was expanded from 16 semifinalists to 20, and it was damn hard to get it down to just 20 this year.

Here’s a reminder of how the showcase works: Each night, four semifinalists will play 30-minute sets of original material for five judges, who will assess each act based on musicianship, originality, songwriting quality and showmanship.

There will also be points awarded from the audience, so bands, make sure to bring lots of your friends with you.

The competition starts Thursday, Jan. 26, and continues every Thursday through Feb. 16, with the last semifinal on Friday, Feb. 24. The semifinals are all at Stickyz and the final show is Friday, March 2, at Revolution.

In the coming weeks, we’ll introduce you to the judges and the bands that will be performing, and we’ll provide details on the prize package for the winner, so keep an eye on the Arkansas Times and Rock Candy.

The semi-finalists: Ben Franks & the Bible Belt Boys The Coasts Don’t Stop Please Holy Angell The Holy Shakes J.D. Parker & The Tin Strings Jab Jab Sucker Punch Joey Farr & The Fuggins Wheat Band Laundry for the Apocalypse Lindsay Kate Band Plain Meanness Quadkiller Se7en Sharp Shining Rae Swampbird Tsar Bomba Vore War Chief Wes Patterson Wooden Toys ARKANSAS TIMES CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Mara Leveritt is the recipient

of this year’s $10,000 Laman Library Writers Fellowship. Leveritt plans to use the money to work on “Justice Knot,” the follow-up to her 2002 book, “Devil’s Knot,” her exhaustive account of the West Memphis Three case, which became a sort of handbook for those interested in helping seek justice for Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelley.

Now in its third year, the fellowship program awards a grant to previously published Arkansas writers who are working on another book. Historian Grif Stockley won the prize in 2010, followed by Little Rock novelist Kevin Brockmeier in 2011.

IN APRIL, VICKY AND STEVE FARRELL

plan to open The Joint, a comedy/rock club cum coffeehouse/bar, in a storefront at 301 Main St. in Argenta. The Farrells are new to Little Rock, but no strangers to comedy or theater. They met in the mid-’70’s, as college theater geeks, performing in a summer show on a Mississippi Riverboat. They married and acted in plays in Minneapolis before launching two comedy ventures in Houston. The first of those, The Comedy Workshop, hosted national acts such as Rodney Dangerfield and Robin Williams.

Their North Little Rock venue will borrow from their second Houston venture, Radio Music Theater, a conceptual approach to two-act plays, involving a cast of three tackling 20 or more characters. On weekends, The Joint’s large stage will host similarly structured plays riffing on local politics and other topics.

But the coffee/comedy fusion is new to the Farrells, and they’re branching out in other ways, too. They plan to have a small stage and a permanent piano in the coffee shop, which will open early and close late, serving wine and beer at night. The space seats up to 30 and will host open mics and informal music. The large stage, in a room that can accommodate 120, will host Wednesday night improv and Thursday night local and national music acts.

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The Arkansas Times received this letter from a student in Puyallup, Washington, which is a small town close to Tacoma. We’d like to ask our readers to respond by sending pictures, postcards and other things that represent Arkansas.

JIMMY BUFFETT is headed to Verizon

Arena on March 1. Tickets range from $36 to $136 and go on sale Saturday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. via the arena box office and all Ticketmaster outlets.

RIVERFEST has announced that Lynyrd Skynyrd and Little Big Town will be among the headlining acts at this year’s Memorial Day weekend festivities.

Skynyrd plays May 26 and LBT plays May 27.

LOOKS LIKE REVOLUTION has good news for fans of orchestral pop and upbeat, rootsy indie rock: The erstwhile robe-wearers in The Polyphonic Spree are coming to town Feb. 8 and the San Diego act Delta Spirit is set to play March 19.

THE GOOD FOLKS PUTTING on Wakarusa made the first of three lineup announcements earlier this week, and there are some good’ns so far, including: The Weir, Robinson & Greene Acoustic Trio, made up of Grateful Dead alum Bob Weir, Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson and singer/ songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Jackie Greene; jam-circuit faves Keller Williams and Railroad Earth; electro DJ Pretty Lights; Southern rockers Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit; the ubiquitous G. Love & Special Sauce, and about 30 more. The next announcement will be Jan. 12.

14th-22nd

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JANUARY 11, 2012

19

THE TO-DO

LIST

BY ROBERT BELL

FRIDAY 1/13

OAKLAWN OPENING DAY

1 p.m. Oaklawn. $2.50-$4.50.

There is no better place for peoplewatching in this fine state than Oaklawn. In a single afternoon, you can see just about every demographic Arkansas has to offer. You’ve got your horse owners and your debauched heiresses and your wealthy divorcees in their big hats.

You’ve got your dudes in leather jackets and Kansas City Chiefs sweatpants.

You’ve got your toupee- and sunglassesinside-wearers peeling hundos off a fat stack and feeding them into the betting machines. You’ve got your pickup-driving good-old-boy contingent, naturally.

You’ve got your guys who are obviously pimps. You’ve got your clusters

of hungover frat bros and sorority girls nursing Miller Lites. You’ve got your busloads of senior citizens from outlying areas. You’ve got your snowbird retirees. And then, of course, you’ve got hoards of just plain, good old-fashioned Arkansas folks. Whether you’re a race-form-reading pro who’s accustomed to walking out with a heavier wallet than the one you came in with, or a novice who’ll be lucky just to lose $20, it’s always a good time. Plus, it just wouldn’t feel like late winter/early spring in Arkansas without at least one trip down to Oaklawn. On opening day, the track has a $75,000 Fifth Season Stakes, and on Saturday, you can get 50-cent corned beef sandwiches.

HICK-HOP PIONEER: Colt Ford performs at Shooters Sports Bar & Grill Friday night.

COLT FORD

9:30 p.m. Shooter’s Sports Bar & Grill. $20-$25.

A few years ago, I encountered a deeply unsettling omen at the Waffle House: a poster advertising something called “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” It turns out that far from being some new experimental menu item, this was in fact a cross-promotional effort for a song from a Louisiana gentleman by the name of Trace Adkins, and its subject matter was a woman’s particularly appealing buttocks.

“Lord have mercy, how’d she even get them britches on?”, etc. I finally heard the song some months later, and it was perhaps the most disconcerting collision between urban and rural artifices that I’d encountered since being forced to endure repeated plays of a cassingle of the 1995 Rednex hit “Cotton Eye Joe” several years earlier. Similarly, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” left me profoundly shaken, and it took only a single listen. The song was upsetting not just on account of its intense terribleness, but also because of the changing musical landscape it portended. Even though it contained no real rapping, it nonetheless pointed to a world where country music rapping was not only tolerated, but encouraged. And thus, around the same time, our nation witnessed the emergence of “hick-hop” 20

JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

artists, such as Uncle Kracker, Cowboy Troy and Colt Ford. When I found out about these performers, it left me feeling like Christopher Walken’s character in “The Dead Zone”: I’d foreseen a coming catastrophe yet had done nothing to prevent it. I thrashed about that night in a state of extreme, sleepless agitation, asking myself, “What would Porter Wagoner have thought of this world? What would Gang Starr have thought of this world, where country singers are rapping and rappers are country singing?” Finally, I awoke to the cold light of dawn and thought, “Eh, what can you do? So there are rapping country singers? No big deal.”

Anyways, if you’ve not seen the video for Colt Ford’s song “Chicken and Biscuits,” I highly recommend it. It’s a send-up of the “Twilight” films, and at the end, when Colt has rescued the hot girl from the shirtless guys, and they’re lying there on the grass and she thinks that he’s reaching over to try to bust a move but then she realizes that he’s actually just going in for some chicken and biscuits, located conveniently next to her, well, it’s pretty hilarious. The dynamic Texas country singer Rich O’Toole opens the show. Perhaps you’ve heard his song “Marijuana and Jalapenos.” Ford also performs at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville Thursday night.

BYRON TAYLOR

FRIDAY 1/13

DECADE: From left, Regi Ott, Roben Sullivant and Julie Atkins star in The Weekend Theater’s production of “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later,” which opens Friday.

FRIDAY 1/13

‘THE LARAMIE PROJECT: TEN YEARS LATER’ 7:30 p.m. The Weekend Theater. $12-$16.

Mention Laramie, Wyo., and many people will immediately think of the brutal 1998 torture and murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard at the hands of Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, who targeted Shepard because he was gay. The murder sparked a national discussion about hate crimes and inspired several songs, films and plays, including “The Laramie Project,” by Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project. The

play was based on news stories and scores of interviews with people from Laramie about the incident. This follow-up is based on interviews with people from Laramie, as well as Shepard’s mother and murderers, conducted a decade later. The Weekend Theater’s production is sponsored by several area churches, including Canvas Community Church, Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, Open Door Community Church, and New Beginnings Church of Central Arkansas. The director, Duane Jackson, also helmed the theater’s production of the first Laramie Project play a few years back.

BYRON TAYLOR

IN BRIEF

WEDNESDAY 1/11

FRIDAY 1/13

ISHI

9 p.m. Revolution. $10.

The self-described folktronic act Ishi has a “sound derived from their vision to unify the instrumentation of Folk music with the endless soundscapes of electronic production,” their bio says. Ishi’s 2010 album “Through the Trees,” incorporates many of the touchstones of dance music: thump-

ing electro beats, droning washes of synthesizer, icy stabs of keyboard. But instead of serving to inspire dancefloor debauchery, those sonic elements were used to flesh out a set of mostly straightforward, folky rock songs.

About halfway through, the album takes a pretty hard turn toward the darkly introspective, with the electronic elements largely ceding domi-

SATURDAY 1/14

YEAR OF THE TIGER 9 p.m. Stickyz.

It seems like just yesterday The Year of the Tiger entered the 2011 Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase and made it to the final round.

Not many brand-spanking-new bands have that notch on their belts, but although the band itself was new, it was made up of folks from several other prominent local acts. Mike Mullins and Rob Brackett, of Underclaire renown, started the group with Josh Tate (Elise Davis Band) and Jeremy Brasher (The Moving Front, The Stranger Steals, like 472 other bands). Now, roughly a year later, the band has released its debut EP, “Midnight Hands.” The first track, “Flesh & Blood,” has a big U2-sounding guitar line right out of the gate, before shifting gears to a passage with syncopated rhythm and squiggly synths

nance to the acoustic ones. But last year, vocalist Taylor Rea and guitarist Rob Bastien quit the band, leaving brothers J.T. and John Mudd to reboot the lineup. This year, the band promises a new album and a renewed emphasis on hedonistic ass-shaking.

The 18-and-older show also includes performances from Sex with Robots, Sniq, Germz and MC Kreepa.

SUNDAY 1/15 that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Les Savy Fav disc. “Mal De Mer” starts off with pulsing, strobe-like synthesizer and a stuttering postpunk beat before cresting with a huge chorus and soaring guitar heroics.

There’s a bit of a trick ending, with an unexpected classic rock style turn.

The final track, “True North,” starts off with a squeal of feedback and echoing guitars that show up again, supporting a plaintive chorus. Like the song before it, “True North” takes another unexpected turn toward the end, when a raspy sounding drum machine sample shuffles into the picture amid washes of synthesizer and more snaky guitar and synth lines.

If you dig thoughtful modern rock, you’ll want to get your grubby mitts on a copy of “Midnight Hands,” certainly one of the better recordings to come out of Little Rock in quite some time.

THE MENZINGERS

7 p.m. Downtown Music Hall. $10 adv., $12 door.

Hailing out of Philadelphia, The Menzingers draw from the same well as a lot of the great Midwestern poppunk outfits of the last 15 years or so, such as Alkaline Trio, Dillinger Four and The Lawrence Arms. With its soaring choruses, screaming vocals and catchy melodies, the band’s sound has a touch of what I suppose gets referred to as “emo,” though that term has gone through so many permutations that it’s by now nearly meaningless. Basically, The Menzingers’ brand of pop-punk concerns more serious subjects than does, say, Blink 182’s. After this show, The Menzingers will join Rise Against and A Day to Remember as an opening act, so this is a good chance to see the band headline a show. The opening acts are The Weisenheimers and Half Raptor.

TUESDAY 1/17

THURSDAY 1/12 Everyone’s favorite barroom songstress and rockabilly queen Bonnie Montgomery plays Maxine’s, 8 p.m., free. Modern prog-rockers Queen Anne’s Revenge play Downtown Music Hall, with Embrace the Crash and Indie Bullshit, which has a commanding lead for best band name of the decade, 8 p.m., $6. The Salty Dogs bring a bit of classic Bakersfield country to Laman Library, 7 p.m., free. The band also plays White Water Tavern Saturday night.

FRIDAY 1/13 Sol Definition scorches the stage at Denton’s Trotline, 9 p.m. For some exceedingly catchy pop jangle, look no further than Maxine’s for Texas trio Girl in a Coma, with Pop Pistol, Booyah! Dad and Ezra Lbs., 8 p.m., $8 adv., $10 door.

Fayetteville’s favorite party starters Boom Kinetic play an 18-and-older show at Stickyz with Indie Bullshit, which, again, has the best name of any band currently playing music, 9 p.m., $10. Over at Juanita’s, get a dose of heady modern rock with Blind Mary and Dark From Day One, 9 p.m., $8 adv., $10 d.o.s.

Memphis maestro John Paul Keith returns to White Water Tavern with his band The One Four Fives for some pitch perfect soulful rock.

Opening the show will be the punk ’n’ roll brawlers in Kentucky Knife Fight, out of St. Louis, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY 1/14

GLADYS KNIGHT

6 p.m. Statehouse Convention Center. $250.

Gladys Knight is, without question, one of the great soul singers of all time.

She got started in the 1950s when she was just a child, and with her backup singers The Pips, she cut numerous chart hits throughout the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, including “Every Beat of My Heart,” “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me,” “If I Were Your Woman,” “Midnight Train to Georgia” and many more.

Though rooted in gospel, Knight’s hits spanned a wide stylistic range, from doo wop and early R&B to gritty soul to sophisticated pop. The group cut the

Entertainment giant Tyler Perry’s family drama “The Haves and the Have Nots” comes to Robinson Center Music Hall, 7:30 p.m., $48.75. Trista Harris, coauthor of “How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career,” will discuss her book at the Clinton School of Public Service, 6 p.m., free. Little Rockers Booyah! Dad and scorching garage-soul outfit Ghost Dance, out of Springfield, Mo., play White Water Tavern, 10 p.m.

EMPRESS OF SOUL: The legendary Gladys Knight performs at the Statehouse Convention Center Tuesday night.

original version of “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” for Motown and had success throughout the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, netting several Grammys. Now you’re probably looking at that $250 cover charge and thinking it’s pretty steep, but

this is a dinner gala benefiting Arkansas Baptist College, the 127-year-old historically black Little Rock college that has been on a major enrollment upswing and expansion of facilities under the leadership of its president, Fitz Hill.

The Mockingbird Hillbilly Band, those fine purveyors of hillbilly psychedelia, play The Afterthought, 9 p.m., $7. The P-47s tear the place up over at Dugan’s Pub, 9:30 p.m., free. Down in Spa City, it’s Songwriters Night, featuring Brian Martin, Micah Schnabel of Two-Cow Garage, Adam Faucett, Amyjo Savannah and William Blackart, Maxine’s, 8 p.m., $5 adv., $7 door. Central Arkansas Roller Derby’s Big Dam Rollers go toe-toto with The Sisterhood of Steel, of Poteau, Okla. The event features music from garage rockers The Bloodless Cooties, with a portion of proceeds to benefit Camp Quality, Skate World on Mabelvale Cut Off, 7 p.m., $10.

www.arktimes.com

JANUARY 11, 2012

21

AFTER DARK All events are in the Greater Little Rock area unless otherwise noted. To place an event in the Arkansas Times calendar, please e-mail the listing and all pertinent information, including date, time, location, price and contact information, to calendar@arktimes.com.

2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www. afterthoughtbar.com.

COMEDY

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11

Michael Mack, Tony Dijamco, Justin Foster.

The Loony Bin, 8 p.m.; Jan. 13, 8 and 10:30 p.m.; Jan. 14, 7, 9 and 11 p.m., $7-$10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-228-5555. www. loonybincomedy.com.

MUSIC

DANCE

Acoustic Open Mic. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www. afterthoughtbar.com.

Alternative Wednesdays. Features alternative bands from Central Arkansas and the surrounding areas. Mediums Art Lounge, 6:30 p.m., $5.

521 Center St. 501-374-4495.

Bolly Open Mic Hype Night with Osyrus Bolly and DJ Messiah. All American Wings, 9 p.m.

215 W. Capitol Ave. 501-376-4000. allamericanwings.com.

Brian & Nick. Cajun’s Wharf, 5 and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-3755351. www.cajunswharf.com.

Grim Muzik presents Way Back Wednesdays.

Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 8:30 p.m. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub.com.

Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

Karaoke at Khalil’s. Khalil’s Pub, 7 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com.

Karaoke. Hibernia Irish Tavern, 9 p.m. 9700 N Rodney Parham Road. 501-246-4340. www. hiberniairishtavern.com.

Karaoke with Big John Miller. Denton’s Trotline, 8 p.m. 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-3151717.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG.

COMEDY

Michael Mack, Tony Dijamco, Justin Foster.

The Loony Bin, 8 p.m. through Jan. 12; Jan. 13, 8 and 10:30 p.m.; Jan. 14, 7, 9 and 11 p.m., $7-$10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501228-5555. www.loonybincomedy.com.

DANCE

Blue Man Group. Walton Arts Center, through Jan. 12, 7 p.m.; through Jan. 13, 8 p.m.; through Jan. 14, 2 p.m.; Jan. 15, 2 and 7 p.m., $49-$69.

495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-443-5600.

BOOKS

Trista Harris. Harris, coauthor of “How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career,” will discuss her book.

Clinton School of Public Service, 6 p.m., free.

1200 President Clinton Ave. 501-683-5239. www. clintonschool.uasys.edu.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

MUSIC

Bonnie Montgomery. Maxine’s, 8 p.m., free. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

“Inferno.” DJs play pop, electro, house and more, plus drink specials and $1 cover before 11 p.m. Sway, 9 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501-907-2582.

Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

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ARKANSAS TIMES

Blue Man Group. Walton Arts Center, through Jan. 12, 7 p.m.; Jan. 13, 8 p.m.; Jan. 14, 2 p.m.; Jan. 15, 2 and 7 p.m., $49-$69. 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-443-5600.

LECTURES

Brown Bag Lunch Lecture: “Arkansas’s Union Forces: What Drove Madison County.”

Rebecca Howard will discuss the Union forces formed in Northwest Arkansas. Old State House Museum, 12 p.m., free. 500 Clinton Ave. 501324-9685. www.oldstatehouse.com.

BOOKS

Jay Ruud. The author of “Critical Companion to J. R. R. Tolkien” will discuss his work. Faulkner County Library, 7 p.m. 1900 Tyler St., Conway.

501-327-7482. www.fcl.org.

CLASSES

GETTING TOGETHER: Blend is a Christian act that bills itself as “the Premier Acappella Doo Wop Group from Southern Illinois.” The band plays at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at The Pocket Community Theatre in Hot Springs, $5-$10.

Karaoke. Zack’s Place, 8 p.m. 1400 S. University Ave. 501-664-6444. www.zacks-place.com.

The Mudpuppies (headliner), Rob & Tyndall (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5 and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-3755351. www.cajunswharf.com.

Ol’ Puddin’haid. Thirst n’ Howl, 7:30 p.m., free.

14710 Cantrell Road. 501-379-8189. www.thirstn-howl.com.

Port Arthur Band. Parrot Beach Cafe, 9 p.m.

9611 MacArthur Drive, NLR. 771-2994.

Queen Anne’s Revenge, Embrace the Crash, Indie Bullshit. Downtown Music Hall, 8 p.m., $6. 211 W. Capitol. 501-376-1819. downtownshows.homestead.com.

The Salty Dogs. Laman Library, 7 p.m. 2801

Orange St., NLR. 501-758-1720. www.lamanlibrary.org.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Tragikly White. West End Smokehouse and Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. 215 N. Shackleford. 501-2247665. www.westendsmokehouse.net.

“VIP Thursday” with Power 92 and Stack 3.

Juanita’s, 9 p.m. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

Whiskey of the Damned. 18-and-older show.

Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $5.

107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

The Woodies. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., free.

Arkansas Craft School Session II. “Pottery” with David Dahlstedt, for all skill levels, 6:309:30 p.m., $225, Arkansas Craft School; “Jewelry Making” with Dona Sawyer, basics, 6:30-9:30 p.m., $225, Arkansas Craft School; “Web Designs for Artisans” with Shawn Hoefer, website creation, 5-8 p.m., Ozarka College, Mountain View, $225. Continues through March 2. Ozarka College-Mountain View.110 E. Main St., Mountain View. 870-269-8397. www.arkansascraftschool.org.

FRIDAY, JAN. 13

MUSIC

Big John Miller. Dugan’s Pub, 9 p.m., free. 403 E. 3rd St. 501-244-0542. www.duganspublr.com.

Blind Mary, Dark from Day One. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $8 adv., $10 d.o.s. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

Boom Kinetic, Indie Bullshit. 18-and-older show.

Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $10. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www. stickyfingerz.com.

Claude. Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 8:30 p.m. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub.com.

Colt Ford. Shooter’s Sports Bar & Grill, 9:30 p.m., $20-$25. 9500 I-30. 501-565-4003. www. shooterslittlerock.com.

Crash Meadows (headliner), Richie Johnson (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5 and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-3755351. www.cajunswharf.com.

DJ Silky Slim. Top 40 and dance music. Sway, 9 p.m., $5. 412 Louisiana. 501-907-2582.

“The Flow Fridays.” Twelve Modern Lounge, 8 p.m. 1900 W. Third St. Friday the 13th New Year Massacre. 18-andolder show includes Ishi, Sex with Robots, Sniq, Germz and MC Kreepa. Revolution, 9 p.m., $10. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

The Gettys. Fox And Hound, 10 p.m., $5-$10. 2800 Lakewood Village, NLR. 501-753-8300. www.foxandhound.com/locations/north-little-rock.aspx.

Girl in a Coma, Pop Pistol, Booyah! Dad, Ezra Lbs. Maxine’s, 8 p.m., $8 adv., $10 door. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

“Independent Music Night” Hip-Hop Showcase. Downtown Music Hall, 10 p.m.

211 W. Capitol. 501-376-1819. downtownshows. homestead.com.

Joecephus. Midtown Billiards, 12:30 a.m., $5.

1316 Main St. 501-372-9990. midtownar.com.

John Paul Keith & The One Four Fives, Kentucky Knife Fight. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m. 2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com.

Josh Green. Flying Saucer, 9 p.m., $3. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-7468. www. beerknurd.com/stores/littlerock.

Ken “The Hitman” Norton. Flying DD, 9 p.m.

4601 S. University. 501-773-9990. flyingdd.com.

Linwood. Cregeen’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m. 301 Main St., NLR. 501-376-7468. www.cregeens.com.

Sol Definition. Denton’s Trotline, 9:30 p.m. 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

Taylor Made. West End Smokehouse and Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. 215 N. Shackleford. 501224-7665. www.westendsmokehouse.net.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www. capitalhotel.com/CBG. Weakness For Blondes. The Afterthought, 9 p.m., $7. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

COMEDY

Michael Mack, Tony Dijamco, Justin Foster.

The Loony Bin, 8 p.m. and10:30 p.m.; Jan. 14, 7, 9 and 11 p.m., $7-$10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-228-5555. www.loonybincomedy.com.

DANCE

Blue Man Group. Walton Arts Center, 8 p.m.; Jan. 14, 2 p.m.; Jan. 15, 2 and 7 p.m., $49-$69.

495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-443-5600.

EVENTS

LGBTQ/SGL Youth and Young Adult Group.

Diverse Youth for Social Change is a group for LGBTQ/SGL and straight ally youth and young adults age 14 to 23. For more information, call 244-9690 or search “DYSC” on Facebook. 800 Scott St., 6:30 p.m. 800 Scott St.

POETRY

Foreign Tongues Poetry Group. Featuring Chris James, APOLLO, Osyrus, Ron MC, Coffy and Tru Poet. Vino’s, 8 p.m., $5. 923 W. 7th St. 501375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.

SPORTS

Oaklawn Opening Day. Opening day of the 2012 season includes $75,000 Fifth Season Stakes. Oaklawn, 1 p.m., $2.50-$4.50. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411. www. oaklawn.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

MUSIC

Aces Wild. Fox And Hound, 10 p.m., $5-$10.

2800 Lakewood Village, NLR. 501-753-8300. www.foxandhound.com/locations/north-littlerock.aspx.

Adrenaline (headliner), Greg Madden (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5 and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www. cajunswharf.com.

Alize. Denton’s Trotline, 9:30 p.m. 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

The Awakening. Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 8:30 p.m. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub.com.

Blend. Pocket Community Theater, 7:30 p.m., $5-$10. 170 Ravine St., Hot Springs.

DJs g-force, JMZ Dean, Jared Lawler.

Performers include Dominique, Whitney and Roxie Starlite. Discovery Nightclub, 9 p.m., $10. 1021 Jessie Road. 501-664-4784. www. latenightdisco.com.

The Eskimo Brothers. West End Smokehouse and Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. 215 N. Shackleford.

501-224-7665. www.westendsmokehouse.net.

The Fragile Elite. Cregeen’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m.

301 Main St., NLR. 501-376-7468. www.cregeens.com.

HoneyShine. Midtown Billiards, 12:30 a.m., $5.

1316 Main St. 501-372-9990. midtownar.com.

Jessica Seven, They Were All Goliaths, The Kill Crazies, Let Them Be Buried, A Traitor’s Funeral, Decay Awaits. Downtown Music Hall, 7 p.m., $5. 211 W. Capitol. 501-376-1819. downtownshows.homestead.com.

Karaoke at Khalil’s. Khalil’s Pub, 7 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com.

“KISS Saturdays” with DJs Deja Blu, Greyhound and Silky Slim. Sway, 10 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501-907-2582.

Mockingbird Hillbilly Band. The Afterthought, 9 p.m., $7. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

The P-47s. Dugan’s Pub, 9:30 p.m., free. 403 E. 3rd St. 501-244-0542. www.duganspublr.com.

The Salty Dogs. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m.

2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com.

Songwriters Night. Featuring Brian Martin, Micah Schnabel, Adam Faucett, Amyjo Savannah and William Blackart. Maxine’s, 8 p.m., $5 adv., $7 door. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www. capitalhotel.com/CBG. The Year of the Tiger, Falcon Scott, The Binary Marketing Show. Record release show for Year of the Tiger, 18-and-older. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m. 107 Commerce St. 501372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

COMEDY

Michael Mack, Tony Dijamco, Justin Foster.

The Loony Bin, 7, 9 and 11 p.m., $7-$10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-228-5555. www. loonybincomedy.com.

DANCE

Blue Man Group. Walton Arts Center, through Jan. 14, 2 p.m.; Jan. 15, 2 and 7 p.m., $49-$69.

495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-443-5600.

EVENTS

Springs. 501-623-4411. www.oaklawn.com.

BOOKS

Berniece Vann. The author will be available to sign copies of her Christian novel, “Dream a Dream: a Novel.” Hastings, 2 p.m. 915 W. Main St., Jacksonville. 501-982-3027.

Victoria Christopher Murray and Reshonda Tate Billingsley. The authors of the teen series “The DIVAS” and “The Good Girlz” will discuss their work. Pyramid Art Books and Custom Framing, 4 p.m. 1001 Wright Ave. 501-372-6822. hearnefineart.com/.

SUNDAY, JAN. 15

MUSIC

Karaoke. Shorty Small’s, 6-9 p.m. 1475 Hogan Lane, Conway. 501-764-0604. www.shortysmalls.com.

The Menzingers, Half Raptor. Downtown Music Hall. 211 W. Capitol. 501-376-1819. downtownshows.homestead.com.

Porter’s Sunday Jazz Brunch. Porter’s Jazz Cafe, 10 a.m. 315 Main St. 501-324-1900. www.portersjazzcafe.com.

Stardust Big Band. Arlington Hotel, Jan. 15, 3 p.m.; Feb. 19, 3 p.m.; March 25, 3 p.m. 239 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-7771.

Sunday Jazz Brunch with Ted Ludwig and Joe Cripps. Vieux Carre, 11 a.m. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.vieuxcarrecafe.com.

Traditional Irish Music Session. Hibernia Irish Tavern, through March 4: third Sunday of every month, 2:30 p.m.; first Sunday of every month, 2:30 p.m. 9700 N Rodney Parham Road. 501246-4340. www.hiberniairishtavern.com.

DANCE

Blue Man Group. Walton Arts Center, 2 and 7 p.m., $49-$69. 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville.

479-443-5600.

SPORTS

Horse racing. Oaklawn. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411. www.oaklawn.com.

MONDAY, JAN. 16

MUSIC

David Rosen Band. Juanita’s, 7 p.m., free. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www. juanitas.com.

Karaoke. Thirst n’ Howl, 8:30 p.m. 14710 Cantrell Road. 501-379-8189. www.thirst-n-howl.com.

Tonya Leeks. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., free.

2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www. afterthoughtbar.com.

Touch, Grateful Dead Tribute. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 8 p.m., $5. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

SPORTS

Horse racing. Oaklawn. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-4411. www.oaklawn.com.

Falun Gong meditation. Allsopp Park, 9 a.m., free. Cantrell & Cedar Hill Roads.

TUESDAY, JAN. 17

SPORTS

MUSIC

Central Arkansas Roller Derby’s Big Dam Rollers vs. The Sisterhood of Steel (Poteau, Okla.). Featuring music from The Bloodless Cooties, with a portion of proceeds to benefit Camp Quality. Skate World, 7 p.m., $10. 6512 Mabelvale Cut Off. Horse racing. Oaklawn. 2705 Central Ave., Hot

Candy Lee & The Sweets, Rough Draftz.

The Lightbulb Club. 21 N. Block Ave., Fayetteville. 479-444-6100.

Drake Bell, Boom the Wheel. Juanita’s, 8 p.m., $17 adv., $20 d.o.s. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas. com.

Iron Tongue, The Dirty Streets. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m. 2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com.

Jeff Long. Khalil’s Pub, 6 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www. khalilspub.com.

Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-3242999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

Karaoke Night. Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 8 p.m. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub.com.

Karaoke Tuesday. Prost, 8 p.m., free. 120 Ottenheimer. 501-244-9550.

Karaoke with Big John Miller. Denton’s Trotline, 8 p.m. 2150 Congo Road, Benton.

501-315-1717.

Lucious Spiller Band. Copeland’s, 6-9 p.m.

2602 S. Shackleford Road. 501-312-1616. www.copelandsofneworleans.com.

Top of the Rock Chorus Open House.

Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Church, 6:30 p.m. 7351 Warden Road, Sherwood. 501868-7661. www.topoftherockchorus.org.

Tuesday Jam Session with Carl Mouton.

The Afterthought, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

DANCE

“Latin Night.” Revolution, 7 p.m., $5 regular, $7 under 21. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. www.revroom.com.

EVENTS

Supper ‘n Soul: An Evening with Gladys Knight. Includes a reception and 7 p.m. dinner and concert by Gladys Knight, presented by Arkansas Baptist College.

Statehouse Convention Center, 6 p.m., $250. 7 Statehouse Plaza.

Tales from the South. Authors tell true stories; get schedule at www.talesfromthesouth.com. Dinner served 5-6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Reserve at 501-372-7976. Starving Artist Cafe. 411 N. Main St., NLR. 501-3727976. www.starvingartistcafe.net.

Trivia Bowl. Flying Saucer, 8:30 p.m. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-7468. www. beerknurd.com/stores/littlerock.

FILM

“Ayn Rand & The Prophecy of Atlas Shrugged.” Rave Motion Pictures Colonel Glenn 18, 8 p.m., $7.25-$9.25. 18 Colonel Glenn Plaza Drive. 501-687-0499.

SPORTS

Downtown Tip Off Club presents Chris Wallace. Presentation from the General Manager of the Memphis Grizzlies. North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m., $15-$20. 100 Main St., NLR. 501-3710116. www.nlrchamber.org.

THIS WEEK IN THEATER

“The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.” A follow-up to “The Laramie Project,” based on interviews with residents of Laramie, Wyo., as well as those involved with the brutal 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student. The Weekend Theater, Jan. 13-14, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 20-21, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 27-28, 7:30 p.m., $12-$16. 1001 W. 7th St. 501-3743761. www.weekendtheater.org.

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JANUARY 11, 2012

23

ART NOTES

‘WILD WORLD’: Kimberly Kwee’s work in the SWOP show at Laman Library.

2012 SWOP opens at Laman NMWA show at Butler Center Galleries.

BY LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK

O

ne of the great things about the annual “Small Works on Paper” traveling exhibition sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council is the publicity it gives to artists whose names aren’t yet a household word.

Kimberly Kwee is one of those artists, though she’s surely known to students she taught at Pulaski Technical College and to Chicagoans who saw her fall show at Halfmoon Gallery there. Her work in the SWOP exhibition, “Wild World,” combines pencil and ink line drawings of squat figures on paper and overlain sheets of vellum, cut into shapes that have been neatly stitched to the paper. The figures are not unlike James Tisdale’s stubby ceramic folk exhibited last year at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. (The name she tagged on the website image of “Wild World” is “Beasty Bush,” surely in reference to one of the figures.)

Works by Kwee and 38 other artists are on exhibit at the William F. Laman Public Library in North Little Rock, the first stop on a year-long journey across 24

JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

Arkansas. Winning purchase awards were William Barksdale of Cotter; Ginger Grahn of Paragould; Neal Harrington of Russellville; Dennis McCann of Maumelle, Jason McCann of Maumelle and Mike Means of El Dorado.

All the winners were worthy, but “Swimming Hole/Buffalo National River,” a photograph by Don House of Fayetteville (who is not among the unknowns), should have gotten some kind of award (though perhaps expense figured in; the six winners shared $2,000). In this photograph, a girl in red tights stands on the rocky bank of the river facing the blurry figure of a boy in burgundy swim trunks on a rock midriver; he is warming himself with his arms clasped over his torso. House has emphasized the figures’ pale skin and red garb and kept the river and bluff dark and in the background. Intentional or not, there are shades of Sally Mann in the subject matter of the picture; though the girl’s back is to us, she’s topless and just tall enough to be on the verge of puberty.

Paragould artist and art teacher Ginger

Grahn was another revelation. Her illustration, “When Smelly Met Stinky,” is a comic but elaborate pencil drawing of a long-nosed elfin creature patting a skunk on the head while a rabbit holds his nose.

A flying squirrel and a possum watch from the branches above.

Suzanne King of Fort Smith, an arts educator whose work has been selected in several SWOP exhibitions, and Dennis McCann of North Little Rock have great pastels in the show. King’s still life “Pitcher and Bowl” is in deeply saturated blues and deep yellows; McCann’s “East 18th” is a finely-wrought street scene in a less complicated palette, a block of identical greenroofed houses with cars lined up at the curb.

Thank goodness for Chroma Gallery owner Robert Reep, I always say: He brings conceptual art to the show with a piece made from finely ground-up leaves and dirt. The fastidious Reep has placed on this earthy background letters (also in leaves) that spell YARD. In a nice break from his perfect-body nudes, Victor Chalfant’s “Matchstick Man” is a digital photographic print of a man spotlit in a forest with his head on fire. Benjamin Krain’s iPhone photo “Boy v. 2.0” is a baby picture that the talented Krain has pixilated in places and otherwise fiddled with to make an engaging portrait.

Laman keeps SWOP until Jan. 29; next stop is the National Park Community College in Hot Springs.

THIS FRIDAY IS THE 13TH, but art

trollers should shrug that off and jump on the Arkansas Times-sponsored trolley between 5 and 8 p.m. to travel to 2nd Friday Art Night venues.

The Butler Center Galleries in the Arkansas Studies Institute, 401 President Clinton Ave., will feature a new exhibition for Art Night participants: “Women to Watch,” the National Museum of Women in the Arts show of work by Arkansas artists Janet Frankovic, Endia Gomez, Nikki Hemphill, Thu Nguyen, Ruth Pasquine, Deborah Warren and Emily Wood. There will be live music at the event, 5-8 p.m. Also on exhibit at the Butler Center Galleries: “Ark in the Dark: An Exhibition of Vintage Movie Posters about Arkansas,” a show from the collection of Ron Robinson, and “Leon Niehues: 21st Century Basketmaker.”

The Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St., will have a wine-tasting as its 2nd Friday event; appropriately, the band “Wine and Roses” will play. In its Arkansas artist galleries: “Found-Fired-Formed: Sarah May Leflar, Donna Uptigrove and Amber Uptigrove,” and “Tesseract Dancing: Brett Anderson and Emily Galusha.”

Amy Garland will provide music at the Old State House Museum, 300 W. Markham, where “An Enduring Union: Arkansas and the Civil War” is on exhibit. Hearne Fine Art, 1001 Wright Ave., continues its exhibit of sculpture and drawings by California artist Chukes. The ArtGroup Maumelle holds its 2nd Friday ArtNight reception in the Courtyard Marriott, 521 Clinton Ave. THE BIG NEWS IN THE MUSEUM world is the reopening of the Museum of Discovery, 500 Clinton Ave., which has been closed since last April to allow a $9.2 million renovation funded by a Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grant. The museum is now named the Arkansas Museum of Discovery, The Donald W. Reynolds Science Center, and focuses on earth science, human biology and physical science. The opening exhibition, “Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas,” built by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, showcases how new technology available to paleontologists is improving their understanding of creatures that are millions of years old.

THE ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER opens a new exhibit Friday, “Horizons Interrupted,” work by Piet Mondrian, Arthur Davies, Robert Henri, Hayley Lever, William Langson Lathrop, Frank Klepper, Johan-Barthold Jongkind and others, all from the Arts Center’s permanent collection. The show was guest curated by Lepanto artist Norwood Creech, whose own work is inspired by the Delta landscape’s wide horizon. Creech won the opportunity to be “Curator for a Day” at the Tabriz auction last year.

The show runs through March 11 in the Sam Strauss Sr. Gallery.

THE TELEVISIONIST

WM3, Portis and jail

BY DAVID KOON

PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY

8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12 HBO

We’ve written a lot about the West Memphis Three case over the years, so we won’t rehash the details, but here’s a heads up that the third (and maybe final) installment of Bruce Sinofsky and Joe Berlinger’s stunning documentary series on the WM3 case makes its TV debut this Thursday on HBO. Given that PL3 was 18+ years in the making, it’s definitely one to catch if you’ve got primo cable.

Instant, so you can complain about how the books were better to your heart’s content. So, who will come out on top?

Norwood Pratt, The Duke or The Dude?

I pick Bridges, hands down, though the original “True Grit” has its charms, and “Norwood” is a fun romp. That’s bold talk for a one-eyed fat man.

NEW SHOW: FIRST WEEK IN

8 p.m. Mondays Discovery Channel

While I happen to have a somewhat womperjawed moral compass, the thing that really keeps me from going out and knocking over banks, pirating Hollywood blockbusters and hacksawIf you’re from Arkansas, and you ing the heads off parking meters isn’t haven’t read the works of Arkansas my iron will and belief in the sanctity novelist Charles Portis, do so. Do it of Justice. It’s that I never, ever, ever now. Blow off work, want to wind up in drive to your nearjail. Haven’t you ever est bookstore and seen an American buy “True Grit” or prison movie? It’s “Norwood” or “The like a feces-scented Dog of the South” nightmare in there. and spend the rest While movies may paint a rather stylof the day reading in ized picture of life your car in the parkin The Big House, ing lot. As you probably know if you’ve the only thing keeping me out of prison been in Arkansas for awhile, drinking in at this point is: A) The unwavering the novels of Charles belief that I will Portis is a big, big step in getting your get caught immediCertified Arkie card, ately upon breaking any law. And, B) My along with floating the Buffalo River and ‘NORWOOD’: Now on Netflix. similarly iron-clad comparing momma belief that prison is stories with Bill Clina non-stop rape-oton. For those who can’t get around to thon, punctuated by a daily shanking reading Portis, however, the next best for not giving some guy your gruel at thing (though it’s a distant second) is breakfast. That’s my impression, I’m WATCHING Portis. That means the sticking to it, and I share it often with 1970 adaptation of “Norwood,” or the my kid, lest he be tempted to get all 1969 or 2010 adaptations of “True Grit.” felonious later in life. In this new show The 1969 “True Grit” starring John from The Discovery Channel, camera Wayne (in his only Oscar-winning role) crews follow those who have run afoul is — in this reviewer’s mind, anyway — a of the law in the days leading up to their bit inferior to the 2010 version by auteur long-term incarceration. Once the big directors The Coen Brothers, but it’s doors of Folsom slam shut behind them, still a hell of a good time. In both, Mattie the cameras stick around for the first Ross (Hailee Steinfeld in the 2010 verseven days as they learn the ropes, try to sion, Kim Darby in 1969) seeks justice decide who they can trust and who they for her murdered father by hiring U.S. can’t, and figure out how to put the senMarshal Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn sual back in “non-consensual.” Best of (John Wayne vs. Jeff Bridges) to hunt all, the show tries to focus on those who down her dad’s killer. In “Norwood,” a have never been convicted of a crime.

Expect a lot of tears, regret, clenched Vietnam vet (Delight native Glen Campbell) follows his dream to sing on “The fists and dudes who look like Tyrone Louisiana Hayride.” Luckily for fans of Biggums from “Chappelle’s Show” yellPortis, all three films are now on Netflix ing “FRESH FISH!”

NETFLIX PIX: CHARLES PORTIS TRIPLE FEATURE

AFTER DARK, CONT. “Les Miserables.” The Young Players, youth division of the Royal Players, will present the classic based on Victor Hugo’s novel. Royal Theatre, Jan. 13-14, 7 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 15, 2 p.m., $5-$12.

111 S. Market St., Benton.

Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and the Have Nots.”

A tale of love, honor, family and sacrifice from writer and producer Tyler Perry. Robinson Center Music Hall, Wed., Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m., $48.75. Markham and Broadway. www.littlerockmeetings.com/conv-centers/robinson.

GALLERIES, MUSEUMS

NEW EXHIBITIONS

ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER: “Horizons Interrupted,” work by Piet Mondrian, Arthur Davies, Hayley Lever and others, guest curated from the permanent collection by Norwood Creech, Jan. 13-March 11; “FABCRAFT: Crafting the Future with Digital Fabrication,” Art of Architecture series lecture by Santiago Perez, 6 p.m. Jan. 17; “Will Barnet at the Arkansas Arts Center: A Centennial Exhibition,” through Jan. 15; “Cast, Cut, Forged and Crushed: Selections in Metal from the John and Robyn Horn Collection,” through Jan. 15. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 3724000.

BUTLER CENTER GALLERIES, Arkansas Studies Institute: National Museum of Women in the Arts’ “Women to Watch,” work by Janet Frankovic, Endia Gomez, Nikki Hemphill, Thu Nguyen, Ruth Pasquine, Deborah Warren and Emily Wood, opens with 2nd Friday Art Night reception 5-8 p.m. Jan. 13, with live music, closes April 28; “Ark in the Dark: An Exhibition of Vintage Movie Posters about Arkansas,” 35 posters for films dating between 1926 and 2009, from the collection of Ron Robinson, through Feb. 25; “Leon Niehues: 21st Century Basketmaker,” through Jan. 28.

9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 320-5790.

CANTRELL GALLERY, 8206 Cantrell Road: “Cinematic Rails: Trains in the Movies,” movie set photographs by J.P. Bell, opens with reception 6-8 p.m. Jan. 13, show through March 3. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 224-1335.

GALLERY 26, 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Recent work by Julie Holt, Susanna Kirk, Fred Nash and Jason Smith, opens with reception 7-10 p.m. Jan. 15, show runs through March 12.

664-8996.

HISTORIC ARKANSAS MUSEUM, 200 E. Third St.: “Found-Fired-Formed: Sarah May Leflar, Donna Uptigrove and Amber Uptigrove,” through Feb. 5; “Tesseract Dancing: Brett Anderson and Emily Galusha,” through Feb. 5; “Reel to Real: ‘Gone with the Wind’ and the Civil War in Arkansas,” artifacts from the ShawTumblin collection, through April 30. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. Open 5-8 p.m.

Jan. 13, 2nd Friday Art Night, with music by Wine and Roses and wine-tasting hosted by Zin Wine Bar. 324-9351.

HEARNE FINE ART, 1001 Wright Ave.: Sculpture and drawings by Chukes, open 5-8 p.m. Jan. 13, 2nd Friday Art Night. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.Thu., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 372-6822.

MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY, 500 President Clinton Ave.: Grand reopening 9 a.m. Jan. 14; new traveling exhibit “Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas.” 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tue.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun., $10 ages 12 and older, $8 ages 1-11, free under 1. 396-7050.

OLD STATE HOUSE MUSEUM, 300 W. Markham: “An Enduring Union: Arkansas and the Civil War,” through March 11. Open 5-8 p.m. Jan. 13, 2nd Friday Art Night, with music by Amy Garland. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 324-9685.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK: “Life Forms,” drawings, photographs and bronze, stone and wood sculpture by Michael Warrick, Gallery II, through Feb. 26; “UALR Faculty Biennial,” work by full and part-time studio faculty, Gallery I, Jan. 17-March 7.

Reception 2-4:30 p.m. Jan. 22. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., 2-5 p.m. Sun. 569-8977.

HOT SPRINGS BLUE MOON GALLERY, 718 Central Ave.: “A Certain Trajectory,” paintings by Megan Chapman, through January. 501-318-2787.

JUSTUS FINE ART, 827 A Central Ave.: New work by Dolores Justus, Kari Albright, Jennifer Libby Faye, Steve Griffith, Robyn Horn, Vivian Noe, Rebecca Thompson and others, through January. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.Sat. 501-321-2335.

MOUNTAIN HOME DONALD W. REYNOLDS LIBRARY, 300 Library Hill: “Arkansas Craft School Faculty Exhibition,” work by Mary Patrick, Bob Patrick, Judi Munn, Gerry Chisholm, Dana Shaeffer, David Dahlstedt, Ed Pennebaker and Terri Van Orman, through Feb. 29. 10 a.m.6:30 p.m. Mon., Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tue., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 870-269-8397.

ROGERS ROGERS HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 322 S. Second St.: “Comic Stripped: A Revealing Look at Southern Stereotypes in Cartoons,” art, artifacts including Pogo originals by Walt Kelly and a Snuffy Smith comic book, through March 24; accompanying film series each Sat. through the run of the show. rogersarkansas. com/museum for schedule. 10- a.m.-5 p.m.

Mon.-Sat. 479-621-1154.

VAN BUREN CENTER FOR ART AND EDUCATION, 104 N. 14th St.: “Places in Space,” paintings by Linda Palmer, Martha Efurd and Maggie Malloy, through Jan. 27. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.Fri. 479-474-7767.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

“The Art of Science and the Science of Art” is the name of the Arkansas Darwin Day 2012 competition. Artworks should illustrate the relationship between art and science. Artists may submit up to two works in various media.

Registration is $10 per artist and the deadline to enter is Feb. 1. For more information, go to arkansasdarwinday.org.

ONGOING EXHIBITIONS

THE ART LOFT, 1525 Merrill Drive: Work by Dan Thornhill, Catherine Rodgers, Patrick Cunningham, Rosemary Parker, Kelly Furr, Melody Lile and others, with music by Rico Novales. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat. 251-1131.

CHROMA GALLERY, 5707 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Work by Robert Reep and other Arkansas artists. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sat. 664-0880.

GREG THOMPSON FINE ART, 429 Main St., NLR: “Interwoven: The Work of Robyn Horn and Dolores Justus,” sculpture, works on paper, paintings, through Jan. 14. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 920-2778.

HEIGHTS GALLERY, 5801 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Work by contemporary Arkansas artists, gifts.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 664-2772.

KETZ GALLERY, 705 Main St., NLR: Work by local and regional artists. 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

www.arktimes.com

JANUARY 11, 2012

25

MOVIE LISTINGS

JAN. 13-14

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JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

Market Street Cinema times at or after 9 p.m. are for Friday and Saturday only. Breckinridge Village 10, Chenal 9, Lakewood 8 and Movies 10 showings were not available as of press deadline. Find up-to-date listings at arktimes.com.

NEW MOVIES Beauty and the Beast (G) – It’s Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” in 2D and 3D. Rave: 9:45 a.m.

(2D), 10:15 a.m., 1:15, 4:15, 7:20, 10:15 (3D).

Carnage (R) – Roman Polanski’s latest stars Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster as parents of a bully and victim who try – and fail – to reach a peaceable solution to their children’s playground dispute. Market Street: 1:45, 4:00, 6:45, 9:00.

Contraband (R) – Marky Mark has to return to his life of drug-running to save his boneheaded brother-in-law from gangsters. Rave: 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:45, 2:45, 4:45, 5:45, 7:45, 8:45, 10:45, 11:45.

The Iron Lady (PG-13) – Has Meryl Streep ever been bad in a movie? This movie about Margaret Thatcher hasn’t gotten very good reviews, but apparently Streep’s performance redeems it. Rave: 10:00 a.m., 1:00, 4:00, 7:10, 10:00.

Joyful Noise (PG-13) – It’s Queen Latifah vs. Dolly Parton in a no-holds-barred sass-off that won’t end until the movie is over. Rave: 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 1:30, 3:30, 4:30, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30. Riverdale: 11:20 a.m., 2:05, 4:35, 7:15, 9:50.

RETURNING THIS WEEK The Adventures of Tintin (PG) – Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of one of the most popular comic series of all time, concerning Tintin, a plucky young Belgian reporter. Rave: (2D), 11:00 a.m., 1:45, 5:35 (3D).

Alvin and The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (G) – That rascally Alvin is at it again, driving Dave crazy and making him scream “ALVIN!” Only this time it’s on a cruise ship. Also, Alvin raps.

Rave: 11:15 a.m., 1:55, 4:25, 6:45, 9:10. Riverdale: 11:00 a.m., 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00.

Another Happy Day (R) – Tense drama about a wedding day fraught with potential for explosive outbursts among family members who

can’t seem to get along. Market Street: 2:00, 4:20, 7:00, 9:15.

The Darkest Hour (PG-13) – Aliens invade Moscow, in 3D. Rave: 8:35, 11:30.

The Descendants (R) – Clooney inches ever closer to making his “About Schmidt” in this tale of furrowed-browed, middle-aged soulsearching set in scenic Hawaii. Rave: 11:30 a.m., 2:15, 5:00, 8:00, 11:10.

The Devil Inside (R) – Great INXS song; terrible horror movie. Rave: 11:45 a.m., 12:45, 2:25, 3:25, 4:45, 5:45, 7:25, 8:25, 9:45, 10:45, 11:25, 12:15 a.m.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (R) – The first in a series of film adaptations of Stieg Larsson’s best-selling Millennium Trilogy, directed by David Fincher (“Seven,” “The Social Network,” “Zodiac”). Rave: 9:40 a.m., 1:10, 4:40, 8:10, 11:40.

Riverdale: 11:15 a.m., 2:45, 6:15, 9:40.

Hugo (PG) – Martin Scorsese’s latest is a familyfriendly 3D epic based on the best-selling “The Invention of Hugo Cabret.” Riverdale: 11:25 a.m., 2:00, 4:45, 7:20, 9:55.

Melancholia (R) – The latest from Dutch director Lars von Trier has to do with celestial destruction as a metaphor for feeling bummed out. Your goth girlfriend will love this film. Market Street: 1:45, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (PG-13) – Ol’ Middle-tooth is back in this, the fourth MI flick, which supposedly is really good with killer special effects and action sequences. Rave: 9:55 a.m., 1:05, 2:05, 4:20, 7:40, 8:40, 11:00, 11:45.

Riverdale: 11:00, 1:45, 4:25, 7:10, 9:55.

My Week with Marilyn (R) – Starring Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe circa 1956. Market Street: 2:00, 4:15, 7:15, 9:15.

New Year’s Eve (PG-13) – What could possibly go wrong with a holiday-themed rom-com starring Ashton Kutcher, Jon Bon Jovi, Ludacris, Ryan Seacrest, Zac Efron and everyone else in the world? Riverdale: 11:25 a.m., 1:55, 4:30, 7:00, 9:35.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (R) – Robert Downey Jr. once more stars as Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law as his trusty sidekick Dr. Watson. Rave: 9:35 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 12:55, 4:10, 5:25, 7:35, 10:40. Riverdale: 11:15 a.m., 1:50,

4:20, 6:55, 9:45.

The Sitter (R) – Jonah Hill plays an Apatovian man-child who must decide whether he will be the babysitter or else become the babysat, from director David Gordon Green (“Pineapple Express”). Riverdale: 11:05 a.m., 12:55, 2:50, 4:40, 6:30, 8:20, 10:10.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (R) – Gary Oldman stars as a fallen British spy in this smart, economical adaptation of John Le Carré’s cold war classic.

Rave: 10:05 a.m., 1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 10:05.

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (PG-13) – Vampires and werewolves and young actresses and supernatural battles and sexual tension and dramatic things and other stuff all are factors in this movie. Rave: 9:30 a.m.

War Horse (PG-13) – A horse named Joey and a young man called Albert form an unbreakable bond that carries them through the battlefields of World War I. Rave: 9:25 a.m., 12:40, 4:30, 7:50, 11:15.

We Bought a Zoo (PG) – They sure did. Made a movie about it, too, if I’m not mistaken. With Matt Damon. Rave: 9:50 a.m., 12:50, 3:55, 7:00, 10:10. Riverdale: 11:15 a.m., 1:50, 4:25, 7:50, 9:40.

Young Adult (R) – Charlize Theron stars as an unlikeable former prom queen turned desperate old hag who has returned to her small hometown to try to woo back her now happily married old flame. Market Street: 2:15, 4:25, 6:45, 9:00. Riverdale: 11:30 a.m., 1:40, 3:45, 5:55, 8:00, 10:05.

Chenal 9 IMAX Theatre: 17825 Chenal Parkway, 821-2616, www.dtmovies.com.

Cinemark Movies 10: 4188 E. McCain Blvd., 945-7400, www.cinemark.com.

Cinematown Riverdale 10: Riverdale Shopping Center, 296-9955, www.riverdale10.com.

Lakewood 8: 2939 Lakewood Village Drive, 7585354, www.fandango.com.

Market Street Cinema: 1521 Merrill Drive, 312-8900, www.marketstreetcinema.net.

Rave Colonel Glenn 18: 18 Colonel Glenn Plaza, 687-0499, www.ravemotionpictures.com.

Regal Breckenridge Village 12: 1-430 and Rodney Parham, 224-0990, www.fandango.com.

MOVIE REVIEWS

‘TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY’: Gary Oldman stars.

A real spy movie Not much explodes in ‘Tinker Tailor.’

BY SAM EIFLING

“T

inker Tailor Soldier Spy” is a spiffy wind-up toy of a movie, without the flash and whimsy of a Bond flick but set among the same caste: British intelligence officials fighting the early-’70s Cold War largely from the confines of a soundproof room-within-aroom. Known as “the Circus,” this high council of a half-dozen MI6 administrators is headed by John Hurt, known as Control, who learns that there is a mole at the table; when he dispatches an agent

(Mark Strong) to learn more from a contact in Hungary, the agent gets ambushed and shot. Control takes the fall, and with him goes George Smiley (Gary Oldman).

When word of the mole rises to the attention of the civil servant who oversees MI6, Smiley, assumed now to be clean in retirement, is enlisted to investigate the remaining four suspects.

Instantly immersive to the point of becoming oblique, “Tinker” at least is driving somewhere worthwhile. Oldman, per

his form, inhabits Smiley instantly. He has aged in a fashion that feels almost presidential — he resembles no one more than Donald Rumsfeld in this film — and he plays the old intelligence official with grace and subtlety. The officials he’s investigating — played by Toby Jones, Colin Firth, David Dencik and Ciaran Hinds — all embody the gray, rained-on souls of English office workers who happen at once to be Machiavellian top-level espionage minds, playing spook-chess against the Soviets. The closer Smiley comes to the leak, the more the personal interactions come to the fore. Director Tomas Alfredson (“Let the Right One In”) brings a novelist’s touch to the minute details of the everyday. Quick close-ups on tabletops, hands and faces build a characterization that can only be conveyed by doting on the visual, and on the small. When Cold War forces pivot around events that transpire at a holiday party, we feel a part of the quotidian lives that strain under global forces.

“Tinker” has been a big hit in Britain, but its delay in to wide American release speaks to its risks, as a departure from what we expect from espionage movies.

“Tinker” features more shots from the perspective of files in a dumbwaiter than it features shots of things exploding, and there’s scarcely a character in the bunch not towing a bargeload of moral ambiguity.

There’s very little sexy about the brownish gray palette of the office environs, nor of the officials’ wardrobes, nor of the architectural mores of the ’70s, nor of the dim skies that plague the English. The men who make decisions in this world must camouflage themselves even among one another. The banality of evil pervades “Tinker,” leaving its audience to wonder not whether they have the athleticism and sexual prowess to work as double-agents, but whether they’d have the patience and the nerve to become so baldly sinister as to be able to operate in plain sight.

The strength of “Tinker” is also its weakness: Rarely does a film manage to feel so authentic to its subject, in part because it doesn’t spend time spoonfeeding the audience exposition. Adapted from the novel of the same name by John le Carré (who worked for British intelligence services in the ’50s and ’60s), “Tinker” was once fashioned into a seven-part series on BBC. There is much to be crammed into your two theatrical hours. Not for nothing does the novel’s Wikipedia site contain a list of jargon to help along the non-spy reader; a refresher before immersing yourself in the film may shorten your learning curve. You’ll want to catch as much as possible the first time through — but “Tinker” is strong enough that a second viewing might be in order anyway.

Shun ‘The Devil Inside’ An exorcism unfinished.

BY SAM EIFLING

C

alling it now: Next December, after you’ve properly forgotten about “The Devil Inside,” you’re going to see it pop up on a bunch of Worst of 2012 lists. It’s a true clunker, marked by one of the worst endings ever committed to celluloid. After a promising first 45 minutes, full of nasty exorcism scenes and squirm-worthy effects, director/cowriter William Brent Bell closes the faux documentary as abruptly and unceremoniously as a dealer flushing a bag of pills during a raid. Plot lines are left flapping; questions are answered with ellipses. After the final scene, a line of type appears on the screen to inform the audience that the case remains unresolved, then another line of type advises viewers, who by that point are feeling to make sure their wallets haven’t been stolen along with their time, to visit a website for further details. Then the credits roll, and people blurt “that’s it?” in multi-part harmony.

It’s worth asking whether “The Devil Inside” should even qualify as a movie. (If it were a bridge, it would stop 100 yards shy of the far shore. If it were this sentence,

it wou) It’s listed at a brisk 87 minutes, but even that feels inflated. More precisely, maybe, it’s an extended trailer for a series of confused web forums where morons wonder aloud whether the movie was “real” and try to explain to one another ways in which the plot actually might have made some sense. (Note: It doesn’t.)

Whatever you do, please don’t feed this sham of a movie any ticket sales. If you want to sneak in after seeing the fourth “Mission: Impossible” or something, this will catch you up on the early-going. Back in 1989, a woman named Maria Rossi (Suzan Crowley, who unlike Bell took her part seriously) killed three clergymen during an exorcism they were performing on her. She was shipped to a mental hospital near the Vatican, where she remains locked up and clearly disturbed/satanic 20 years later, when her grown daughter (Fernanda Andrade) decides she wants answers and visits with a documentary filmmaker (Ionut Grama) in tow. There they barge into a session of, uh, exorcism school to get the skinny on what qualifies a person as possessed, and meet a pair of

‘THE DEVIL INSIDE’: Fernanda Andrade and Suzan Crowley star.

budding exorcists — Simon Quarterman and Evan Helmuth — who bring them on an exorcism ridealong and later give Maria the ol’ college try.

Not the worst setup ever, right? Trouble is, “The Devil Inside” not only quits on its plot, it flakes on its format. At least when “The Blair Witch Project” came out in 1999, first-person handheld filming hadn’t been run into the ground. The approach was fresh, and for whatever else that movie lacked, it stayed true to its premise, using only footage that the three doomed principals could’ve shot themselves. “The Devil Inside” cannot decide where it’s going, cannot follow through with a story arc, and cannot even hold itself to the rules it lays out, cutting in at least one scene to camera angles that no character in the movie could be shooting. Not

content merely to be stupid and unsatisfying, then, “The Devil Inside” also insults anyone who extends it even the most basic courtesy of playing along with its shtick.

Hand it five bucks to get a sandwich and “The Devil Inside” buys cigarettes right in front of you. Then offers one to your kid.

Part of the problem of making a movie about exorcisms is the long shadow that “The Exorcist” casts; the 1973 flick is among horror directors’ favorites, and is possibly the most iconic horror film ever.

But part of its strength is the simple fact that demonic possession is literally scary as hell. Freighted with Catholic superstition, set in claustrophobic bedrooms — a botch so execrable as “The Devil Inside” is inexcusable. Unless compelled by, say, the power of Christ, do the righteous thing: avoid, avoid. www.arktimes.com

JANUARY 11, 2012

27

AFTER DARK, CONT. Fri., 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 529-6330.

LAMAN LIBRARY, 2801 Orange St.: 2012 “Small Works on Paper,” juried show of 40 works, through Jan. 29. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. L&L BECK GALLERY, 5705 Kavanaugh Blvd.: “Landscapes,” originals and Old Master reproductions by Louis Beck, through January. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 660-4006.

LOCAL COLOUR GALLERY, 5811 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Art and jewelry by members of artists’ cooperative. 265-0422.

M2GALLERY, 11525 Cantrell: Work by Lisa Krannichfeld, Michelle Mikesell, Ann Laser, Joan Heiden, Frank Milo, Jason Gammel, Chris Hill, Richards Sutton, Robin John Tucker, Zilon Lazer, Toby Penney, Kathy Bay, Keith Newton and others. 225-6257.

REFLECTIONS GALLERY AND FINE FRAMING, 11220 Rodney Parham Road: Work by local and national artists. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 227-5659.

SHOWROOM, 2313 Cantrell Road: Work by area artists, including Sandy Hubler. 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mon.-Fri. 372-7373.

STATE CAPITOL: “Arkansans in the Korean War,” 32 photographs, lower-level foyer. 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. STEPHANO’S FINE ART, 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd.: New work by Stephano, Thom Bierdz, Tony Dow, Kelley Naylor-Wise, Michael A. Darr, Mike Gaines, G. Peebles, Steven Thomas, Alexis Silk, Paula Wallace and Ron Logan. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Tue.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 563-4218.

BENTON BOB HERZFELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY, Saline County Library, 1800 Smithers Drive: Artwork

by Stephanie Cheatham through January. 501778-4766.

DIANNE ROBERTS ART STUDIO AND GALLERY, 110 N. Market St.: Work by Chad Oppenhuizen, Dan McRaven, Gretchen Hendricks, Rachel Carroccio, Kenny Roberts, Taylor Bellott, Jim Cooper and Sue Moore.

10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 860-7467.

HOT SPRINGS ALISON PARSONS GALLERY, 802 Central Ave.: Paintings by Alison Parsons. 501-625-3001.

AMERICAN ART GALLERY, 724 Central Ave.: Paintings by Jimmy Leach, Jamie Carter, Ersele Hiemstra, Margaret Kipp, Kim Thornton, Sue Coon, Virgil Barksdale and others. 501-624-055.

GALLERY 726, 726 Central Ave.: Shirley

Anderson, Barbara Seibel, Caryl Joy Young, Sue Shields, Becky Barnett, Janet Donnangelo, Marlene Gremillion, Ken Vonk and others. 501915-8912.

GALLERY CENTRAL, 800 Central Ave.: Michael Ethridge, paintings. 501-318-4278.

PERRYVILLE SUDS GALLERY, Courthouse Square: Paintings

by Dottie Morrissey, Alma Gipson, Al Garrett Jr., Phyllis Loftin, Alene Otts, Mauretta Frantz, Raylene Finkbeiner, Kathy Williams and Evelyn Garrett. Noon-6 p.m. Wed.-Fri, noon-4 p.m.

Sat. 501-766-7584.

PINE BLUFF ARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER FOR SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS, 701 Main St.: “2011 Irene Rosenzweig Biennial Exhibition,” through Feb. 4. 870-536-3375.

ONGOING MUSEUM EXHIBITS

ARKANSAS INLAND MARITIME MUSEUM, NLR: Tours of the USS Razorback submarine. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 1-6 p.m. Sun. 371-8320.

ARKANSAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME MUSEUM, Verizon Arena, NLR: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 663-4328.

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSEUM VISITOR CENTER, Bates and Park: Exhibits on the 1957 desegregation of Central and the civil rights movement. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. 374-1957.

CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, 1200 President Clinton Ave.: “The Art of the Brick,” LEGO sculpture by Nathan Sawaya, through Feb. 12; exhibits about policies and White House life during the Clinton administration. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. $7 adults; $5 college students, seniors, retired military; $3 ages 6-17. 370-8000.

MacARTHUR MUSEUM OF ARKANSAS MILITARY HISTORY, MacArthur Park: Exhibits on Arkansas’s military history. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., 1-4 p.m. Sun. 376-4602.

MOSAIC TEMPLARS CULTURAL CENTER, Ninth and Broadway: “Soul Sanctuary — Images of the African American Worship Experience,” artifacts and photos from the museum collection; permanent exhibits on African-American entrepreneurial history in Arkansas. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 683–3593.

WITT STEPHENS JR. CENTRAL ARKANSAS NATURE CENTER, Riverfront Park: Exhibits on wildlife and the state Game and Fish Commission.

JANUARY BOOKS 11 Trista Harris (“How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career”), 6 p.m., CS. 12 Jay Ruud (“Critical Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien”), 7 p.m., FCL. 14 Berniece Vann (“Dream a Dream: a Novel”), 2 p.m., HJ. 14 Victoria Christopher Murray and Reshonda Tate Billingsley (teen series “The DIVAS” and “The Good Girlz”), 4 p.m., PABCF. 16 Dinner with Newbery Honor winner Margi Preus 7 p.m., TBIB, $7.50.

21 Richard Ledbetter (“The Witness Tree 1910”), 1 p.m., WW. 26 Sherry Laymon (“Fearless: John L. McClellan, United States Senator”), 7 p.m., FCL. 30 The Story of Your Life Writing Workshop, for the budding memoirist, 6 p.m., LL. Area bookstores, libraries and venues: CS: Clinton School of Public Service, Sturgis Hall, 1200 President Clinton Ave., 683-5200.

FCL: Faulkner County Library, 1900 Tyler St., Conway, 501-327-7482.

HC: Hastings of Conway, 1360 Old Morrilton Hwy., Conway, 501-329-1108.

HJ: Hastings of Jacksonville, 915 W. Main St., Jacksonville, 982-3027.

LL: Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock, 501-758-1720.

ML: Main Library, 100 Rock St., 918-3000.

PABCF: Pyramid Art, Books & Custom Framing, 1001 Wright Ave., Little Rock Suite C, 372-5824.

TBIB: That Bookstore in Blytheville, 316 W. Main St., Blytheville, 870-763-3333.

WW: WordsWorth Books & Co., 5920 R St., 663-9198.

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ARKANSAS TIMES

ALL GROWN UP, CONT.

BALLS AND RINGS: Adults can play too.EASIER TO FIND: The Museum of Discovery now has a Main Street enterance to this

health sciences. There are kitschy aspects — a bloodstream “superhighway” pulses red liquid through tubes around the room.

But disease prevention exhibits include visual and interactive lessons on how sunscreen blocks ultraviolet rays, how smoking affects the lungs and makes breathing more difficult, and how the body works.

A timeline depicts the digestion of granola, from tasty snack to bile to feces, with samples lined up in jars. One fascinating wall illuminates thin slices of actual human tissue — lung, brain, stomach, etc.

— that have been arranged to re-create the shape of the donors. Looking at the slivers, examiners can determine sex, age, lifestyle and more.

Earth Journeys connects natural science to Arkansas’s landscapes. Most notably, this area is home to a large globe that plays air-traffic patterns, polar ice cap movement or the activity of an El Nino storm. Adjacent is a sensory experience that most won’t want to miss: Tornado Alley. Visitors walk into a replica of a home’s basement, modeled on the houses in Little Rock’s Quapaw District.

The experience is based on the devastating storm that hit downtown in 1999, and plays television footage of the actual weather reports, mimics the sound of lightning, rain and the rumble of a tornado.

Other features include the Tinkering Studio, where an educator leads workshops and helps crafty guests build various projects. The museum has also allotted two galleries for traveling exhibits.

“Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas,” is the first to inhabit the Window of Wonders (WOW) Gallery, journeying all the way from New York’s American Museum of Natural History.

The second will debut exhibits created by the staff at the Museum of Discovery.

Another welcome addition is the store, where adults can participate by shelling out for all sorts of science-related toys.

If this shop is as varied as the museum’s original shop (closed, sadly, after a couple of years), it will be a prime place for giftseeking grown-ups.

The museum is in talks to launch afterhours events specifically for adults called Science After Dark, and currently hosts the lecture series Pub Science once a month at Boscos. It’s all about having fun while learning, which is something you can do at any age, Doss Lloyd said.

“People appreciate art and they go to an art museum and they learn about art and they are entertained at the same time,” she said. “I think that’s the vision for this museum — having people come learn about science, math and technology and have fun as they’re doing it.”

Dining

Information in our restaurant capsules

reflects the opinions of the newspaper staff and its reviewers. The newspaper accepts no advertising or other considerations in

exchange for reviews, which are conducted anonymously. We invite the opinions of

readers who think we are in error.

B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner $ Inexpensive (under $8/person) $$ Moderate ($8-$20/person) $$$ Expensive (over $20/person) CC Accepts credit cards

BELLY UP Check out the Times’ food blog, Eat Arkansas arktimes.com

BRIAN CHILSON

WHAT’S COOKIN’

A MOUTHFUL: Plato Rosalinda con Carne Asada, Casamiento, Platano y Aguacate at Rosalinda Restaurant Hondureño.

The real deal Rosalinda does Honduran food right.

R

osalinda Restaurant Hondureño, the new Honduran restaurant in North Little Rock, is the real thing. If you’re tired of the same old, same old Tex-Mex food (i.e., chimichangas, ground beef tacos, fajitas, nachos, etc.), but still crave those Latino spices, this is definitely the place for you.

Rosalinda opened its doors in September, and within a month and a half the place started packing folks in, both at lunchtime and in the evenings.

We brought our Honduran exneighbor along for our first visit only a couple of weeks after the restaurant opened, and from the start we were both impressed with their degree of authenticity. That shouldn’t be a surprise, since the head cook, Rosalinda Santos, is native Honduran.

During our first visit, we tried one of the house specialties, Plato Rosalinda con Carne Asada, Casamiento, Platano y Aguacate (Rosalinda’s steak, mixed rice and beans, plantains and avocado dish). This is an appetizing dish, the fried plantain slices mildly sweet. In the Pollo Frito con Tajadas de Platano (fried chicken with plantains), the plantain slices are cut into little medallions, and taste like fried corn. Either way, the plantains are scrumptious — and the

Rosalinda Restaurant Hondureño 3700 JFK Blvd.

North Little Rock 753-4400

QUICK BITE Ask your waitress about the Honduran staple, baleadas (bulleted ones), flour tortillas folded in half or burrito-style and filled with scrambled eggs, refried beans, grated cheese and avocado. It’s not on the menu but available, as are other Honduran dishes.

HOURS 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

OTHER INFO All credit cards accepted. No alcohol.

Delivery available.

fried chicken wasn’t bad either.

One pleasant surprise during our second visit was a dish called Sopa de Camarones con Coco (shrimp in coconut-milk soup), which is reminiscent of a Thai dish. Our Honduran friend informed us that this soup originated in the northern part of the country, where the specialty is seafood. The soup is mouthwateringly delicious. In fact, we experienced a state of sensory overload while sipping this soup. A word of cau-

tion: If you decide to try this dish, tell your table partners to not speak to you while you’re eating; you’ll be too occupied savoring the soup.

For variety’s sake, we decided to try the Tacos Hondurenos, which were refreshingly different from the traditional Mexican tacos and Tex-Mex tacos: The corn tortilla is rolled and deep fried (like with a flauta), stuffed with chicken and topped with thinly chopped cabbage seeped in fluorescent pink beet juice. We also tried the Pescado Frito, Casamiento y Tajadas (fried fish, mixed rice and beans, and sliced plantains), which was just delectable. And come to think of it, so was the Pollo Encebollado con Arroz, Frijoles y Ensalada (onion chicken with rice, beans and salad).

On our third visit, we tried the Yuca Frita (fried cassava, a potato-like root), which tasted, delectably, like fried chicken.

On subsequent visits, we plan to try the following dishes: Salvadorian Style Steak; Yuca Sancochada (steamed yuca), Tamales de Elote (tender corn tamales); Carne Deshilada con Salsa (shredded beef with salsa), and pupusas (handmade corn tortillas filled with cheese, beans or ground pork). Pupusas are, technically speaking, not Honduran, but Salvadoran. But according to several Salvadoran acquaintances, Rosalinda Restaurant also happens to make the absolutely best-tasting pupusas in all of Central Arkansas.

KELLI MARKS got her start baking in the cake section of Barnes and Noble, where she read up on how to make her first creation: A fourtier buttercream cake from scratch for her grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary. After that, she said, “I was kind of hooked.” Now, on Jan. 13, a Friday — a day she chose purposely because she said it kind of fit the trouble she’s gone to to get the business open — her bakery, Sweet Love, will open at the Cantrell Heights Shopping Center, next door to Cantrell Gallery. Marks, 31, says her motto is “Pretty things taste better” and some of the pretty things she’s made — including a three-tier gold vintage button cake, featured in the magazine Weddings in Arkansas — can be seen on her website, sweetlovebakes.com, and Facebook page, facebook.com/sweetlovebakes. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. On the day of the grand opening, she’ll offer a buy-one-get-one-free deal on cupcakes. The phone number is 501-613-7780 and the address is 8210 Cantrell Road.

MONDAY MARKED THE BEGINNING of downtown North Little

Rock’s twice-annual week of dining deals, Argenta Restaurant Week. Except this go-round, it’s not a week; it’s two weeks. From Jan. 9-22, Cornerstone Pub and Grill, Cregeen’s Irish Pub, Reno’s Argenta Cafe, Ristorante Capeo, Starving Artist Cafe, Riverfront Steakhouse, Benihana and Argenta Market will all offer $8 two-course lunch specials and $25 three-course dinner prix fixe menus, along with their regular menus.

At each participating restaurant, diners will have the opportunity to register to win all sorts of prizes from Argenta-area merchants, which will be given away on Jan. 27. More info here.

DINING CAPSULES

LITTLE ROCK/ NORTH LITTLE ROCK

AMERICAN

65TH STREET DINER Blue collar, meatand-two-veg lunch spot with cheap desserts and a breakfast buffet. But hurry — breakfast closes down at 9:30 a.m. on the dot, and the restaurant doesn’t reopen until 11 a.m. for lunch. 3201 West 65th St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-5627800. BL Mon.-Fri. CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 www.arktimes.com

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CROSSWORD

DINING CAPSULES, CONT.

EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ Across 1 Had down 5 Chips go-with 10 Lineage-based women’s org.

13 Person dressed in black 14 Wolfed down 15 Isao of golf 16 *What an EEG reads 18 Peat or propane 19 Stahl of “60 Minutes” 20 Dish alternative 21 “Time to get moving!”

24 Reinvest, as winnings 25 Some, but not much 26 ___-nez 27 Many a turkey 28 *Back to the beginning 33 Justice Kagan

36 Enclosure with a ms.

37 Newbies 38 *Up-and-comer 41 Polo Grounds great 42 Way up or down 43 Decides one will 46 Pig roast spot, briefly 48 Mimics convincingly 50 Boxing’s Brown Bomber 51 Drive like a drunk 52 Midget carracing org.

53 Tools for ESP researchers (whose symbols are found at the ends of the answers to the five asterisked clues) 57 Ankara native 58 Half-witted

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE S A C R E S T A B S

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F O Y S E A R U R I E T D Y E N E R O S O

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60 Unified 61 Lose one’s marbles 62 Small-screen award

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31 Bunch of, casually 32 These, in Toledo 34 Sweat the small stuff, in a way 35 Diarist Nin 39 “Skedaddle!”

40 Sister of Snow White

44 Tiny fraction of a min.

45 Bridge combo 46 Wooer of Olive Oyl 47 Merchant ship officer 48 ___ Games (quadrennial event)

49 Boxing venue 51 Prefix with -zoic 53 Part of a slalom’s path 54 What a swish shot doesn’t touch 55 Hydroelectricity structure 56 Faux meat base

For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554.

Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information.

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Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay.

Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

THIS MODERN WORLD

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Down 1 Putin’s former org.

2 Scand. land 3 Capt.’s guess 4 As long as, oldstyle 5 Removes, as a branch 6 Whatsoever 7 Like a pool table, ideally 8 Chop ___ 9 H.S. courses for coll. credit 10 *Act of betrayal 11 “The Jungle Book” wolf 12 Easy life, personified 15 Much removed (from) 17 Sleuth Wolfe 20 “Zip your lips!”

21 “Gotta run!”

22 Christ’s literary stopping place 23 *Scene of an annual balldropping 24 Shot 26 ___ bargain 29 1-Down’s land 30 Long. partner

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ACADIA A jewel of a restaurant in Hillcrest. Unbelievable fixed-price, three-course dinners on Mondays and Tuesday, but food is certainly worth full price. 3000 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, CC. $$-$$$. 501-603-9630.

D Mon.-Sat. BIG ROCK BISTRO Students of the Arkansas Culinary School run this restaurant at Pulaski Tech under the direction of Chef Jason Knapp. Pizza, pasta, Asian-inspired dishes and diner food, all in one stop. 3000 W. Scenic Drive. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-812-2200. BL Mon.-Fri. BLACK ANGUS Charcoal-grilled burgers, hamburger steaks and steaks proper are the big draws at this local institution. 10907 N. Rodney Parham.

No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-228-7800. BLD Mon.-Sat. BOBBY’S CAFE Delicious, humungo burgers and tasty homemade deserts at this Levy diner. 12230 MacArthur Drive. NLR. No alcohol, No CC. $.

501-851-7888. BL Tue.-Fri., D Thu.-Fri. BOSCOS This River Market brewery does food well, too. Along with tried and true things like sandwiches, burgers, steaks and big salads, they have entrees like black bean and goat cheese tamales, open hearth pizza ovens and muffalettas. 500 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, Beer, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-907-1881. LD daily.

BOUDREAUX’S GRILL & BAR A homey, seat-yourself Cajun joint in Maumelle that serves up all sorts of variations of shrimp and catfish. With particularly tasty red beans and rice, jambalaya and bread pudding. 9811 Maumelle Blvd. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-753-6860. L Sat., D Mon.-Sat. BOULEVARD BREAD CO. Fresh bread, fresh pastries, wide selection of cheeses, meats, side dishes; all superb. Good coffee, too. 1920 N. Grant St. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-663-5951. BLD Mon.-Sat. 400 President Clinton Ave. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-374-1232. BL Mon.-Sat. 401 W. Markham St. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-526-6661. BL Mon.-Fri. 1417 Main St. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-5100. BL Mon.-Fri., BL Sat. BROWN SUGAR BAKESHOP Fabulous cupcakes, brownies and cakes offered five days a week until they’re sold out. 419 E. 3rd St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-372-4009. LD Tue.-Sat. BUTCHER SHOP The cook-your-own-steak option has been downplayed, and several menu additions complement the calling card: large, fabulous cuts of prime beef, cooked to perfection. 10825 Hermitage Road. Full bar, All CC. $$$. 501-312-2748. D daily.

CAJUN’S WHARF The venerable seafood restaurant serves up great gumbo and oysters Bienville, and options such as fine steaks for the non-seafood eater. In the citified bar, you’ll find nightly entertainment, too.

2400 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-5351. D Mon.-Sat. CAMP DAVID Inside the Holiday Inn Presidential Conference Center, Camp David particularly pleases with its breakfast and themed buffets each day of the week. Wonderful Sunday brunch. 600 Interstate 30. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-975-2267. BLD daily.

CAPERS It’s never been better, with as good a wine list as any in the area, and a menu that covers a lot of ground — seafood, steaks, pasta — and does it all well. 4502 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-868-7600.

LD Mon.-Sat. COAST CAFE A variety of salads, smoothies, sandwiches and pizzas, and there’s breakfast and coffee, too. 400 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-371-0164. BL Mon.-Sat. COMMUNITY BAKERY This sunny downtown bakery is the place to linger over a latte, bagels and the New York Times. But a lunchtime dash for sandwiches is OK, too, though it’s often packed. 1200 S. Main St. No alcohol, CC. $-$$. 501-375-7105. BLD daily. 270 S. Shackleford. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-224-1656. BLD Mon.-Sat. BL Sun. COPPER GRILL Comfort food, burgers and more sophisticated fare at this River Market-area hotspot. 300 E. Third St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-375-3333. LD Mon.-Sat. CRUSH WINE BAR An unpretentious downtown bar/lounge with an appealing and erudite wine list. With tasty tapas, but no menu for full meals. 318 Main St. NLR. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-374-9463. D Tue.-Sat. DAVE’S PLACE Downtown’s premier soup-and-sandwich stop at lunch, and a set dinner spot on Friday night to give a little creative outlet to chef supreme David Williams. Beef, chicken and fish are served with continental flair. 201 Center St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-372-3283.

L Mon.-Fri., D Fri. DAVID FAMILY KITCHEN Call it soul food or call it down-home country cooking. Just be sure to call us for breakfast or lunch when you go.

Neckbones, ribs, sturdy cornbread, salmon croquettes, mustard greens and the like. Desserts are exceptionally good. 2301 Broadway. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-371-0141. BL Sun.-Fri. DELICIOUS TEMPTATIONS Decadent breakfast and light lunch items that can be ordered in full or half orders to please any appetite or palate, with a great variety of salads and soups as well. Don’t miss the bourbon pecan pie — it’s a winner. 11220 Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-225-6893. BL daily.

DIZZY’S GYPSY BISTRO Interesting bistro fare, served in massive portions at this River Market favorite. 200 River Market Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-375-3500. LD Tue.-Sat. THE FADED ROSE The Cajun-inspired menu seldom disappoints. Steaks and soaked salads are legendary. 1615 Rebsamen Park Road. Full bar, All

DINING CAPSULES, CONT. CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-9734. LD daily.

FERNEAU Great seafood, among other things, is served at the Ice House Revival in Hillcrest. With a late night menu Thu.-Sat. 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$$-$$$$.

501-603-9208. D Tue.-Sat. FLYING SAUCER A popular River Market hangout thanks to its almost 200 beers (including 75 on tap) and more than decent bar food. It’s now non-smoking, so families are welcome. 323 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-372-7468. LD daily.

FOX AND HOUND Sports bar that serves pub food. 2800 Lakewood Village. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-753-8300. LD daily.

FRANKE’S CAFETERIA Plate lunch spot strong on salads and vegetables, and perfect fried chicken on Sundays. Arkansas’ oldest continually operating restaurant. 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. $$.

501-225-4487. LD daily. 400 W. Capitol Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-372-1919. L Mon.-Fri. FRONTIER DINER The traditional all-American roadside diner, complete with a nice selection of man-friendly breakfasts and lunch specials.

The half pound burger is a two-hander for the average working Joe. 10424 Interstate 30. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-565-6414.

BL Mon.-Sat. FROSTOP A ‘50s-style drive-in has been resurrected, with big and juicy burgers and great irregularly cut fries. Superb service, too. 4131 JFK Blvd. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$.

501-758-4535. BLD daily.

GADWALL’S GRILL & PIZZA Once two separate restaurants, a fire forced the grill into the pizza joint. Now, under one roof, there’s mouth-watering burgers and specialty sandwiches, plus zesty pizzas with cracker-thin crust and plenty of toppings. 12 North Hills Shopping Center. NLR. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-834-1840. LD daily.

GRAMPA’S CATFISH HOUSE A longtime local favorite for fried fish, hush puppies and good sides. 9219 Stagecoach Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. 501-407-0000. LD. HONEYBAKED HAM CO. The trademark ham is available by the sandwich, as is great smoked turkey and lots of inexpensive side items and desserts. 9112 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. 501-227-5555. LD Mon.-Sat. KIERRE’S KOUNTRY KITCHEN Excellent home-cooking joint for huge helpings of meat loaf and chicken-fried steak, cookeddown vegetables and wonderful homemade pies and cakes. Breakfasts feature omelets, pancakes, French toast and more. 6 Collins Place. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-7580903. BLD Tue.-Fri., BL Sat. LOGANBERRY FROZEN YOGURT Selfserve frozen yogurt. 6015 Chenoceau Blvd.

No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. LD daily.

MARKHAM STREET GRILL AND PUB The menu has something for everyone. Try the burgers, which are juicy, big and fine. 11321 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-2242010. LD daily.

MCBRIDE’S CAFE AND BAKERY Owners Chet and Vicki McBride have been serving up delicious breakfast and lunch specials based on their family recipes for two decades in this popular eatery at Baptist Health’s Little Rock campus. The desserts and barbecue sandwiches are not to be missed. 9501 Lile Drive. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-340-3833. BL Mon.-Fri. OLD MILL BREAD AND FLOUR CO. CAFE The popular take-out bakery has an eat-in restaurant and friendly operators. It’s selfservice, simple and good with sandwiches CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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M arkaatnusrae DECEMBER

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Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Dine in • Take Out • Patio • Full Bar

8, 2011

The Gift of Giving PAGE 6 MAT URE

Up the Cheering ients Smallest Pat PAGE 13 ARK ANS

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2011 MBER 22,

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Good Neighb or Shiloh PAGE 4

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Cold Season Advice PAGE G 14 ARK ANS

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JANUARY 11, 2012

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DINING CAPSULES, CONT.

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JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

UPDATE BIG ORANGE A somewhat pricey, perpetually slammed burger joint in the midst of an outdoor shopping mall may not seem like the prime lunch spot for a couple of thrifthappy vegetarian hipsters, even if those hipsters happen to find themselves stranded in Chenal Parkway shopping purgatory. Certainly it would never have occurred to said hipsters to go out of their way just to eat there. It will now.

Vegetarians of Little Rock, we present Big Orange. Much beloved by carnivorous yuppies for its hormone-free, grassfed beef and its retro-fusion design, no herbivore should overlook this oasis of full-menu veggie offerings. All of the starters are veggie (some vegan, even), all of the burgers can go blood-free (not vegan, though), and there’s a handful of interesting salads.

We had the White Truffle & Pecorino Veggie Burger, the Curried Falafel & Lentil Burger’wich and the sweet potato fries with mango curry ketchup.

If you want instant gratification, go Curried Falafel. An explosion of textures and flavors, it incidentally exploded all over the plate with our first bite. But we stuffed it back together and soldiered on.

The curry was bold, satisfying, quick. Its heat was tempered by crisp cucumber slices and smooth avocado. Clean cilantro offset the heavy fried falafel and lentils, and the bun was dessert up front — fluffy and buttery, complemented by the faint sweetness of sliced tomatoes. If we have one miniscule complaint, it’s that the patty seemed a little too salty.

The falafel was served with sriracha (a spicy-sweet chile sauce) and tzatziki in generous tubs — add as you wish.

They were the perfect blend of heat and relief. The tzatziki was rich, creamy and exceptionally fresh. The sriracha made a fabulous secondary dip for the fries.

Speaking of, the sweet potato fries were sweet, salty and non-greasy, with vivid sweet potato flavor. We loved the smokiness and hint of candied zest in the mango curry ketchup.

We’ve saved the best for last.

The white truffle and pecorino veggie burger was artisanal. The patty was moist, with tactile chunks of bean. The flavors were subtle, their full ambiance unfolding slowly. This is a sandwich that gives more of itself away with each bite.

It’s a sandwich that we think — rather, we dream — about for days after our initial introduction. The earthy combination of fresh (very important!), nutty truffle with the buttery

on superb meats, cheeses and amazing goat cheese-stuffed figs. 300 River Market Ave. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-246-4876. D daily.

ASIAN

CHI’S CHINESE CUISINE This Chinese mainstay still offers a broad menu that spans the Chinese provinces and offers a few twists on the usual local offerings. 5110 W. Markham St. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-604-7777.

CRAZY HIBACHI GRILL The folks that own Chi’s and Sekisui offer their best in a three-inone: tapanaki cooking, sushi bar and sit-down dining with a Mongolian grill. 2907 Lakewood Village. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-8129888. LD daily.

FANTASTIC CHINA The food is delicious, the presentation beautiful, the menu distinctive, the service perfect, the decor bright. 1900 N. Grant St. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-663-8999. LD daily.

LILLY’S DIMSUM THEN SOME Innovative dishes inspired by Asian cuisine, utilizing local and fresh ingredients. 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-716-2700. LD daily.

MT. FUJI JAPANESE RESTAURANT The dean of Little Rock sushi bars offers a fabulous lunch special and great Monday night deals.

10301 Rodney Parham Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-227-6498. LD daily. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-227-6498.

CHEREE FRANCO

built with a changing lineup of the bakery’s 40 different breads, along with soups, salads and cookies. 12111 W. Markham St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-228-4677. BL Mon.-Sat. BR Sun. RED DOOR Fresh seafood, steaks, chops and sandwiches from restaurateur Mark Abernathy.

Smart wine list. 3701 Old Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-666-8482. BL Mon.-Fri. D daily.

REDBONE’S Piquant Creole and Cajun food that’s among Little Rock’s best. The shrimp po-boy and duck and andouille gumbo are standouts. 300 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-372-2211. LD daily.

RENO’S ARGENTA CAFE Sandwiches, gyros and gourmet pizzas by day and music and drinks by night in downtown Argenta. 312 N. Main St. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-3762900.

RIVERFRONT STEAKHOUSE Steaks are the draw here — nice cuts heavily salted and peppered, cooked quickly and accurately to your specifications, finished with butter and served sizzling hot. 2 Riverfront Place. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-7825. D Mon.-Sat. RUDY’S OYSTER BAR Good boiled shrimp and oysters on the half shell. Quesadillas and chili cheese dip are tasty and ultra-hearty. 2695 Pike Ave. NLR. Full bar, All CC. 501-771-0808.

LD Mon.-Sat. SHAKE’S FROZEN CUSTARD Frozen custard, concretes, sundaes. 5508 John F Kennedy Blvd.

NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-753-5407. LD daily.

SO RESTAURANT BAR Call it a French brasserie with a sleek, but not fussy American finish.

The wine selection is broad and choice. Free valet parking. Use it and save yourself a headache. 3610 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-1464.

STICKYZ ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CHICKEN SHACK Fingers any way you can imagine, plus sandwiches and burgers, and a fun setting for music and happy hour gatherings. 107 Commerce St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-372-7707. LD Mon-Sat. THREE FLAMINGOS Self-serve frozen yogurt.

6929 John F. Kennedy Blvd. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-835-4411. LD daily.

TOWN PUMP A dependable burger, plus basic beer food. 1321 Rebsamen Park Road. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-663-9802. L Mon.-Sat. D daily.

TRIO’S Fresh, creative and satisfying lunches; even better at night, when the chefs take flight. Best array of fresh desserts in town. 8201 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-2213330. LD Mon.-Sat. TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE Besides the 30 different fruit smoothies on the menu, the cafe also serves wraps and sandwiches (many of them spicy) and salads. 12911 Cantrell Road.

No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-376-2233. BLD daily.

VIEUX CARRE A pleasant spot in Hillcrest with specialty salads, steak and seafood. The soup of the day is a good bet. At lunch, the menu includes an all-vegetable sandwich and a half-pound cheeseburger. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-1196. LD Mon.-Fri., D Sat., BR Sun. WILLY D’S DUELING PIANO BAR Willy D’s serves up a decent dinner of pastas and salads as a lead-in to its nightly sing-along piano show.

Go when you’re in a good mood. 322 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-244-9550.

D Tue.-Sat. ZACK’S PLACE Expertly prepared home cooking and huge, smoky burgers. 1400 S. University Ave. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-6646444. LD Mon.-Sat. ZIN URBAN WINE & BEER BAR A snazzy, cosmopolitan yet comfortable, relaxed place to enjoy fine wines and beers while noshing

Curried Falafel & Lentil Burger

flavor of melted pecorino (cheese made from ewe’s milk) was incredibly comforting, and the sporadic bits of fig jam added a pleasant, unexpected sweetness. The baby arugula placated the fig with a mildly bitter, tangy kick, rounding out the palette of major flavors.

Conclusion? Though Big Orange is a burger place, the veggie patties are made with as much care as the beef patties. We are so pleased to discover a restaurant where there are veggie burgers (plural), and they are not an afterthought. 17809 Chenal Parkway, Suite G-101. Full bar, all CC. $$-$$$. 821-1515. LD daily.

OSAKA JAPANESE RESTAURANT Veteran operator of several local Asian buffets has brought fine-dining Japanese dishes and a well-stocked sushi bar to way-out-west Little Rock, near Chenal off Highway 10. 5501 Ranch Drive, Suite 1. $$-$$$. 501-868-3688. LD. PAPA SUSHI Hibachi grill with large sushi menu and Korean specialties. 17200 Chenal Parkway.

Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-821-7272.

SEOUL A full line of sushi and soft tofu stews plus a variety of Korean dishes, mainly marinated and grilled meats teamed with vegetables served with rice in bibimbap style in a sizzling-hot bowl. 5923 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-227-7222. LD Mon.-Sat. SUSHI CAFE Impressive, upscale sushi menu with other delectable house specialties like tuna tataki, fried soft shell crab, Kobe beef and, believe it or not, the Tokyo cowboy burger.

5823 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-663-9888. L Mon.-Sat. D daily.

BARBECUE

CHATZ CAFE ‘Cue and catfish joint. Try the slow-smoked, meaty ribs. 8801 Colonel Glenn Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-562-4949.

LD Mon.-Sat. CORKY’S RIBS & BBQ The pulled pork is extremely tender and juicy, and the sauce is sweet and tangy without a hint of heat. Maybe the best dry ribs in the area. 12005 Westhaven Drive. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-954-7427.

LD daily. 2947 Lakewood Village Drive. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-753-3737. LD daily, B Sat.-Sun. WHITE PIG INN Go for the sliced rather than chopped meats at this working-class barbecue cafe. Side orders — from fries to potato salad to beans and slaw — are superb, as are the fried pies. 5231 E. Broadway. NLR. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-945-5551. LD Mon.-Fri., L Sat. WHOLE HOG CAFE The pulled pork shoulder is a classic, the back ribs are worthy of their many blue ribbons, and there’s a six-pack of sauces for all tastes. A real find is the beef brisket, cooked the way Texans like it. 516 Cantrell Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-664-5025. LD Mon.-Sat. 12111 W. Markham. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-907-6124. LD daily 150 E. Oak St. Conway. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-513-0600.

LD Mon.-Sat., L Sun. 5107 Warden Road. NLR. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-753-9227.

EUROPEAN / ETHNIC

AMRUTH AUTHENTIC INDIAN CUISINE Indian restaurant with numerous spicy, vegetarian dishes. 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road.

Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-224-4567. LD daily.

CAFE BOSSA NOVA A South American approach to sandwiches, salads and desserts, all quite good, as well as an array of refreshing South American teas and coffees. 701 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

DINING CAPSULES, CONT. 501-614-6682. LD Tue.-Sat., BR Sun. DUGAN’S PUB The atmosphere is great, complete with plenty of bar seating and tables.

There’s also a fireplace to warm you up on a cold day. The fried stuff is good. Try the mozzarella sticks. 403 E. 3rd St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$.

501-244-0542.

GEORGIA’S GYROS Good gyros, Greek salads and fragrant grilled pita bread highlight a large Mediterranean food selection, plus burgers and the like. 2933 Lakewood Village Drive.

NLR. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-753-5090. LD Mon.-Sat. HIBERNIA IRISH TAVERN This traditional Irish pub has its own traditional Irish cook from, where else, Ireland. Broad beverage menu, Irish and Southern food favorites and a crowd that likes to sing. 9700 N Rodney Parham Road.

Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-246-4340.

LAYLA’S Delicious Mediterranean fare — gyros, falafel, shawarma, kabobs, hummus and babaganush — that has a devoted following. All meat is slaughtered according to Islamic dietary law. 9501 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-227-7272. LD daily (close 5 p.m. on Sun.). 612 Office Park Drive.

Bryant. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-847-5455.

LD Mon.-Sat. TAJ MAHAL The third Indian restaurant in a one-mile span of West Little Rock, Taj Mahal offers upscale versions of traditional dishes and an extensive menu. Dishes range on the spicy side. 1520 Market Street. Beer, All CC. $$$.

(501) 881-4796. LD daily.

THE TERRACE MEDITERRANEAN KITCHEN A broad selection of Mediterranean delights that include a very affordable collection of starters, salads, sandwiches, burgers, chicken and fish at lunch and a more upscale dining experience with top-notch table service at dinner. 2200 Rodney Parham Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-217-9393. L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat. YA YA’S EURO BISTRO The first eatery to open in the Promenade at Chenal is a date-night affair, translating comfort food into beautiful cuisine. Best bet is lunch, where you can explore the menu through soup, salad or half a sandwich. 17711 Chenal Parkway. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-821-1144. LD daily, BR Sun.

ITALIAN

BRAVO! CUCINA ITALIANA This upscale Italian chain offers delicious and sometimes inventive dishes. 17815 Chenal Pkwy. Full bar, All CC. $$$. 501-821-2485. LD daily. BR Sun. GRAFFITI’S The casually chic and ever-popular Italian-flavored bistro avoids the rut with daily specials and careful menu tinkering. 7811 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-2249079. D Mon.-Sat. OLD CHICAGO PASTA & PIZZA This national chain offers lots of pizzas, pastas and beer. 4305 Warden Road. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-812-6262. LD daily. 1010 Main St. Conway.

Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-329-6262. LD daily.

PIZZA CAFE Thin, crunchy pizza with just a dab of tomato sauce but plenty of chunks of stuff, topped with gooey cheese. Draft beer is appealing on the open-air deck — frosty and generous. 1517 Rebsamen Park Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-664-6133. LD daily.

PIZZA D’ACTION Some of the best pizza in town, a marriage of thin, crispy crust with a hefty ingredient load. Also, good appetizers and salads, pasta, sandwiches and killer plate lunches. 2919 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-666-5403. LD daily.

RISTORANTE CAPEO Authentic cooking from the boot of Italy is the draw at this cozy, brickwalled restaurant on a reviving North Little Rock’s Main Street. Familiar pasta dishes will

comfort most diners, but let the chef, who works in an open kitchen, entertain you with some more exotic stuff, too, like crispy veal sweetbreads. They make their own mozzarella fresh daily. 425 Main St. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-376-3463. D Mon.-Sat. ROCKY’S PUB Rocking sandwiches an Arkie used to have to head way northeast to find and a fine selection of homemade Italian entrees, including as fine a lasagna as there is. 6909 JFK Blvd. NLR. Beer, Wine. $$. 501-833-1077. LD Mon.-Sat. SHOTGUN DAN’S Hearty pizza and sandwiches with a decent salad bar. Multiple locations, at 4020 E. Broadway, NLR, 945-0606; 4203 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood, 835-0606, and 10923 W. Markham St. Beer, CC. $-$$. 501-224-9519.

LD Mon.-Sat., D Sun. VINO’S Great rock ‘n’ roll club also is a fantastic pizzeria with huge calzones and always improving home-brewed beers. 923 W. 7th St. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-375-8466. LD daily.

ZAZA Here’s where you get wood-fired pizza with gorgeous blistered crusts and a light topping of choice and tempting ingredients, great gelato in a multitude of flavors, callyour-own ingredient salads and other treats.

5600 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-661-9292. LD daily. 1050 Ellis Ave. Conway.

Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-336-9292. BLD daily.

MEXICAN

BLUE COAST BURRITO You will become a lover of fish tacos here, but there are plenty of other fresh coastal Mex choices served up fastfood cafeteria style in cool surroundings. Don’t miss the Baja fruit tea. 14810 Cantrell Road.

Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-868-3770. LD Mon.-Sat, L Sun. 4613 E. McCain Blvd. NLR. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-945-8033. LD Mon.-Sat., L Sun. CANTINA LAREDO This is gourmet Mexican food, a step up from what you’d expect from a real cantina, from the modern minimal decor to the well-prepared entrees. We can vouch for the enchilada Veracruz and the carne asada y huevos, both with tasty sauces and high quality ingredients perfectly cooked. 207 N. University.

Full bar, All CC. $$$. 501-280-0407. LD daily.

JUANITA’S Menu includes a variety of combination entree choices — enchiladas, tacos, flautas, shrimp burritos and such — plus creative salads and other dishes. And of course the “Blue Mesa” cheese dip. 614 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-3721228. L Mon.-Fri., D Thu.-Sat. RUMBA Mexi-Cuban spot in the River Market area, this restaurant and bar has a broad menu that includes tacos and enchiladas, tapas, Cuban-style sandwiches. Specialty drinks are available also. 300 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-823-0090. D Mon., LD Tue.-Sun. SENOR TEQUILA Authentic dishes with great service and prices, and maybe the best margarita in town. 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-224-5505. LD daily 9847 Maumelle Blvd. NLR. 501-758-4432.

TACO MEXICO Tacos have to be ordered at least two at a time, but that’s not an impediment. These are some of the best and some of the cheapest tacos in Little Rock. 7101 Colonel Glenn Road. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-4167002. LD Wed.-Sun. TACOS GUANAJUATO Pork, beef, adobado, chicharron and cabeza tacos and tortas at this mobile truck. 6920 Geyer Springs Road. No alcohol, No CC. $. LD Wed.-Mon. TAQUERIA THALIA Try this taco truck on the weekends, when the special could be anything from posole to menudo to shrimp cocktail.

4500 Baseline Road. No alcohol, No CC. $.

501-563-3679. LD Wed.-Mon.

AROUND ARKANSAS

BENTON

DAN’S I-30 DINER Home cooking and blue plate specials are the best things to choose at this Benton diner. Check out the daily special board for a meat-and-two-veg lunch — and if chicken stuffing’s on the menu, GET IT. 17018 Interstate 30. Benton. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$.

501-778-4116. BL Tue.-Sat. LA VALENTINA There are touches of authenticity on La Valentina’s “real Mexican” menu, including specialties like palmadas meat pies, but otherwise you’ll find tacos, burritos, chimichangas and the like here. 1217 Ferguson Drive. Benton. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-7761113. LD daily.

BRYANT

STRAW HAT PIZZA Pizza chain that bills itself as “genuine California pizza,” with a daily lunch buffet. 209 B St. Bryant. Beer, Wine, CC. $$.

501-847-1400. LD daily.

CONWAY

DOMOYAKI Hibachi grill and sushi bar near the interstate. Now serving bubble tea. 505 E. Dave Ward Drive. Conway. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-764-0074. L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat. EL CHARRITO Decent spread of Mexican items. 502 Oak St. Conway. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-450-6460. LD Mon.-Sun. THE FISH HOUSE The other entrees and the many side orders are decent, but this place is all about catfish. 116 S. Harkrider. Conway. No alcohol, All CC. 501-327-9901. LD Mon.-Sun. GUSANO’S They make the tomatoey Chicagostyle deep-dish pizza the way it’s done in the Windy City. It takes a little longer to come out of the oven, but it’s worth the wait. 2915 Dave Ward Drive. Conway. Full bar, All CC. $$.

501-329-1100. LD daily.

HART’S SEAFOOD Southern fried fish and seafood buffet over the weekend. 2125 Harkrider. Conway. No alcohol, All CC. $$.

501-329-8586. D Thu.-Sat., L Sun. JADE CHINA Traditional Chinese fare, some with a surprising application of ham. 559 Harkrider. Conway. No alcohol, No CC. $-$$.

501-329-5121. LD Mon.-Sat. LAS PALMAS IV “Authentic” Mexican chain with a massive menu of choices. 786 Elsinger Boulevard. Conway. Full bar, All CC. $$.

501-329-5010. LD Mon-Sat. SHORTY’S` Burgers, dogs and shake joint. 1101 Harkrider. Conway. No alcohol, No CC. $-$$.

501-329-9213. LD Mon.-Sat. STOBY’S Great homemade cheese dip and big, sloppy Stoby sandwiches with umpteen choices of meats, cheeses and breads. 805 Donaghey. Conway. No alcohol, All CC. $$.

501-327-5447. BLD Mon.-Sat. 405 W. Parkway.

Russellville. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-9683816. BLD Mon.-Sat. TOKYO JAPANESE RESTAURANT Besides the hibachi offerings, Tokyo also has tempura, teriyaki and a great seaweed salad. Their combination platters are a great value; besides an entree, also comes with soup, salad, harumaki (spring rolls) and vegetable tempura. No sushi, though. 716 Oak St. Conway. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-327-6868. BL daily.

U.S. PIZZA CO. Part of the U.S. Pizza Co. chain.

710 Front Street. Conway. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-450-9700. LD Mon.-Sun.

FAYETTEVILLE

36 CLUB Diverse menu — more than 80 items — of good food, ranging from grilled

shrimp salad to spicy tandoori chicken, in a lively setting. Next door, sister restaurant Bistro V, offers a quieter atmosphere. 300 W. Dickson St. Fayetteville. Full bar, CC. 479-442-9682. L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sat. AQ CHICKEN HOUSE Great chicken — fried, grilled and rotisserie — at great prices. 1925 North College Ave. Fayetteville. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$.

479-443-7555. LD daily. 1206 N. Thompson St. Springdale. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$.

479-443-7555. LD. BORDINOS Exquisite Italian food, great wines and great service in a boisterous setting. Now serving Nova Scotia mussels.

310 W. Dickson St. Fayetteville. Full bar, All CC. 479-527-6795. D. ELENITA’S MEXICAN CAFE Some of the most flavorful and reasonably priced authentic Mexican food in town. 1120 N. Lindell Ave. Fayetteville. No alcohol, All CC. 479-442-9978. LD. GRUB’S BAR AND GRILLE A commendable menu that includes pub fare and vegetarian both is full of tasty offerings.

The Hippie Sandwich and the Santa Fe burger come to mind. But what’s really great about Grub’s is the fact that kids under 12 (with their parents) eat free, and there’s no stale smoke to fill their little lungs, thanks to good ventilation. 220 N. West Ave. Fayetteville. Full bar, All CC. 479-973-4782. LD. HJEM Blinis, spekeskinke, tyttebaer applesauce, lefse crisps — it’s the little things that put Norway into this Norwegian bistro on the square. 1 E. Center St. Fayetteville.

Full bar, All CC. 479-966-4344. LD Tue.-Sat.

HOT SPRINGS

BELLE ARTI RISTORANTE Ambitious menu of lavish delights in a film-noir setting. 719 Central Ave. Hot Springs. Full bar, All CC. 501-624-7474. LD. DON JUAN’S Mex-style enchiladas, runny white cheese dip, great guacamole and great service in strip-mall locale. 1311 Albert Pike Road No. A. Hot Springs. No alcohol, All CC. 501-321-0766. LD. FACCI’S This longtime favorite of the Oaklawn crowd offers an all-you-can-eat spaghetti lunch, lots of sandwiches and pasta and extraordinary Italian dishes for dinner. 2900 Central Ave. Hot Springs.

Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-623-9049.

LD Wed. only.

FISHERMAN’S WHARF Reminiscent of a coastal seafood joint. Boisterous, family style place. 5101 Central Ave. Hot Springs.

Full bar, All CC. 501-525-7437. LD. HAWGS PIZZA PUB Good pizza and other Italian food, a wide selection of appetizers, salads, burgers and sandwiches in an allRazorback motif. 1442 Airport Road. Hot Springs. Full bar, All CC. 501-767-4240. LD. HUNAN PALACE Dependable Chinese cuisine, good soups, nice priced combos for two or three. 4737 Central Ave. No. 104.

Hot Springs. Beer, Wine, All CC. 501-5253344. LD. MCCLARD’S Considered by many to be the best barbecue in Arkansas — ribs, pork, beef and great tamales, too. 505 Albert Pike. Hot Springs. Beer, No CC. 501-6249586. LD. NOM NOMS MEXICAN GRILL-N-CHILL More than 50 flavors of delicious ice cream, with many exotic options (Avocado Cream, Tamarind Sorbet). Plus, excellent fresh and authentic Mexican fare. 3371 Central Ave. Hot Springs. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$.

501-623-8588.

www.arktimes.com

JANUARY 11, 2012

33

BRIAN CHILSON

Natives Guide

COMMUNITY BICYCLIST

Bike shops

34

JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

our environs. It’d be exciting to see our community become as cycling-friendly as Minneapolis or Portland.

Happily, one key component to a healthy Little Rock bicycling infrastructure is already in place. For a community our size, the city has a wide variety of independent bicycle shops. All of them are doing their part to both outfit cyclists and encourage the sport. Here are some of those shops: Arkansas Cycling and Fitness Boasting two locations, a large store on Bowman Road in West Little Rock and a smaller shop in Sherwood, Arkansas Cycling and Fitness sells new and used bicycles and offers repairs on all brands

BRIAN CHILSON

I

t’s no secret that Little Rock is a rewarding city for cyclists. Here, almost every cycling preference can be met. There are great flats in the southeast, perfect for experienced road cyclists wanting to burn up the miles, and “rollers” and challenging hills northwest of town for mountain bikers and hearty roadies.

Between these two extremes, the River Trail and connecting bridges offer pleasant rides for everyone from retirees on cruisers to dads on hybrids pulling babies in bike trailers. In Pulaski County, there truly seems to be a trail, path or road route for every cyclist. Who knows, if improvements to the city’s roads come with the new city tax hike, perhaps we will see a boom in commuter cycling in

ARKANSAS CYCLING & FITNESS ON BOWMAN

BRIAN CHILSON

CHAINWHEEL

Park Bridge, NLR Bicycles caters to the River Trail set. Currently geared more towards service than sales, look to this store for possible bicycle rental options in spring. An authorized dealer of KHS Bicycles and Strider Balance Pre-Bikes.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Thu.-Sat. 800 B E. Washington Ave. 501-372-2727.

Riders Ready Bicycles Located in Maumelle, Riders Ready Bicycles is the local Scott, Bianchi and Raleigh dealer.

Laid-back and knowledgeable, Riders Ready services road, mountain, BMX, cyclocross, hybrid bikes and more. Conveniently located for riders heading out from Cook’s Landing near the Big Dam Bridge. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun. 9831 Maumelle Blvd. 501-771-4848.

Spokes The new kid on the block, Spokes opened in January 2011 at the intersection of Kavanaugh and Markham in the building that formerly housed the Station Grocery. A full service shop, it offers a large selection of high-end bikes from Orbea, Cervelo, Felt, Niner and Electra, as well as a wide range of styles from cruisers to mountain bikes to road, triathlon and time trial bikes. An exceptionally handsome store, Spokes also prides itself on its relaxed wi-fi friendly atmosphere and its full service coffee bar. Plus, some Saturday mornings it serves homemade scones. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 1001 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-664SPOKE (7765).

BRIAN CHILSON

BRIAN CHILSON

of bikes. ACF is a Trek, Specialized and Giant dealer, but the pride of its inventory is Gary Fisher Signature mountain bikes. If you are in the market for a “29er,” then this is the place to go. In the community, ACF sponsors a wide number of local rides; find details via their Arkansas Cycling iPhone App. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Mon.-Sat. West Little Rock Store: 15 N. Bowman, Suite 6-9. 501-221-BIKE (2453).

North Little Rock Store: 3010 E. Kiehl Ave. 501-834-5787.

Chainwheel Now in its 40th year of business, Chainwheel is the king daddy of bicycle shops in Little Rock. Offering a wide variety of services to its customers, from custom bicycle fittings to repairs, sponsored training rides and fitness tips to purchase rewards and “Freedom to Ride” financing, Chainwheel’s got the successful bicycle store thing down pat.

The store also recently added Parlee Bicycles to its high-end armada of Trek, Cannondale and Lynskey bikes and brought top-of-the-line Pinarello bicycles to town.

Huzzah! 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. Colony West Shopping Center, 10300 Rodney Parham Drive.

501-224-7651.

Community Bicyclist The indie darling of the local bike scene, Community Cyclist has a vibe akin to an independent bookstore or record shop. Tucked into a location at the back of Tanglewood Shopping Center, CB is filled with a solid collection of affordable bicycles and bicycling accessories. It sells Fuji, Jamis, Surly, and Origin8 bikes plus ultra-cool Brooks saddles. It also does repairs, rebuilds and customizations. A great community resource for everyone from commuter cyclists to more technically-minded riders with a laid-back vibe.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 7509 Cantrell Road, Suite 118. 501-663-7300.

J&P Bike Shop The oldest bike shop in Sherwood, J&P Bike Shop prides itself on pairing riders with the right bike for their needs — which doesn’t always mean the most expensive bike. Proof that the soft sell works, J&P has been around since 1981, and in that time has been a great resource for BMX and mountain bike riders in the area. Besides Cannondale, Electra, Diamondback and Raleigh bicycles, J&P offers a wide selection of bikes for kids. It sells skateboards, too. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 7910 JFK (Hwy 107). 501-835-4814.

North Little Rock Bicycles Located 100 yards from the Clinton Presidential

SPOKES www.arktimes.com

JANUARY 11, 2012

35

JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS BAPTIST COLLEGE PUTS THE ‘FUN’ IN FUNDRAISER WITH SUPPER & SOUL

BY KATHERINE WYRICK PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON

F

rom its inception in 1884, Arkansas Baptist College, a historically black four-year liberal arts college, has inspired and educated thousands of students who have gone on to become leaders in their communities and professions. Since Dr. Fitz Hill’s arrival as president nearly six years ago, the student body has increased from under 200 students in 2006, to over 1,100 students currently enrolled. While this growth is welcome, the facilities are bursting at the seams. Pass through the campus, and you’ll witness the dramatic revitalization in progress— the restoration of Old Main, construction of the

Future students like senior Chanel Tillman, Miss ABC, will benefit from Supper & Soul. Dress provided by Proposals in the Heights. Photographed in the River Room atop the River Market Towers.

36

JANUARY 11, 2012

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO ARKANSAS TIMES

Charles Ripley Men’s Residence Hall, additional classroom facilities, Buffalo Barn (student center) and the new Campus Bistro (dining hall).

To continue their growth, however, ABC needs additional support, which they hope to generate with a sensational fundraiser, Supper & Soul, on Tuesday, January 17 in the Wally Allen Ballroom of Little Rock’s Statehouse Convention Center.

Hill says, “With such enormous growth over the past five years, more structures are needed for us to better serve the needs of our students. Funds raised will assist our efforts to also accommodate future campus growth at ABC while improving our community and the surrounding area.”

The invitation promises “No aucGladys Knight headlines tion” and “No lengthy Supper & Soul. speeches” but a festive reception at 6:00 p.m. followed by a scrumptious, soulful dinner at 7:00 and an intimate performance by none other than Gladys Knight. The seven-time Grammy Award winner has dazzled fans since the 1960s during the days of Gladys Knight & the Pips. Well-known for hits such as “Midnight Train to Georgia,” she skyrocketed to fame in the Motown era and has since recorded more than 38 albums, securing hits on the Adult Contemporary, pop and R&B charts.

Hill adds, “Our Supper & Soul gala is a perfect venue for

friends of the college to contribute, connect and receive first hand information about Vision 2020, our strategic plan for growing hope and empowering students through higher education access that is geared towards success.”

Senior Chanel Tillman, pictured on the previous page in a lovely dress from Proposals, is one of ABC’s many outstanding students who’s destined for great things. Dr. Hill praises Tillman’s accomplishments saying, “We’re grateful that Chanel selected ABC as her college of choice and Supper & Soul: An Evening pleased with how with Gladys Knight she has represented Tuesday, January 17, 2012 our college and set Tickets: $250 a standard for those Wally Allen Ballroom, who will carry on Statehouse Convention Center the future title of 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner Black tie optional, Cash bar Miss ABC.” Tillman will be graduatTo purchase tickets call ing with a Bach501-492-0549 or at www.arkansasbaptist.edu. elor of Arts degree in Human Service.

All proceeds benefit She’s a member of Arkansas Baptist College Capital Campaign Fund.

Delta Sigma Theta and is employed with DirectBuy of Little Rock. She has one daughter and in her spare time enjoys spending time with family and mentoring youth. “I am a very outgoing person and always enjoy exploring new places,” Tillman enthuses. “I’m a member of Saint Luke Missionary Baptist Church and have fun volunteering at my daughter’s school. My favorite quote is ‘A bad attitude is like a flat tire. If you don’t change it, you’ll never go anywhere.’” We predict she’ll travel far!

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hearsay ➥ EVOLVE is evolving—and moving. Beginning March 1, you’ll find this hip men’s clothier at 6800 Cantrell Rd. near Casa Manana. ➥ Get snuggly. BARBARA GRAVES INTIMATE FASHIONS is currently offering 40-50% off selected casual wear, robes and sleepwear. ➥ Oh, Erno. While supplies last, when you purchase $150 or more of Erno Laszlo at BARBARA JEAN, you’ll receive a free Erno Laszlo gift set. ➥ All aboard! CANTRELL GALLERY opens a new photographic exhibit, “Cinematic Rails: Trains in the Movies,” by J.P. Bell which documents the use of vintage trains in several movie productions over the past 30 years. Head to the opening night reception on Friday, January 13, 6-8 p.m. and meet the artist. The collection features images from movies such as, True Grit, Biloxi Blues and Tuskegee Airmen. The exhibit will continue through Saturday, March 3. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ➥ Rub elbows with an Iron Chef at the CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER. Join Forty-two for their Pork and Pinot Cooking Class on January 31 at 6:30 p.m. Cook side-by-side with Arkansas Iron Chef Stephen Burrow. Spots are filling up fast so call 501-537-0042 to reserve yours. ➥ CORRECTION: In the Native’s Guide we incorrectly stated that the PROMENADE AT CHENAL still had an American Eagle Outfitters when, in fact, it is no longer there. FYI: The newest store at the Promenade is W BY AZWELL, which opened the same month as Kenneth Edwards Fine Jewelers late last year. It’s an 11,000 sq. ft. space with a wide selection of affordable women’s clothing, accessories, shoes and more. ➥ Casting call! THE DESIGNERS CHOICE FASHION PREVIEW, now in its 5th year, will take place on Saturday, April 7th, but the casting calls for designers, makeup artists and models take place in January at the Metroplex Event Center on Colonel Glenn Rd. On Sunday, January 15 at 3:00 p.m., aspiring designers are asked to bring a portfolio of their work and two-three designs for consideration. Make-up artist casting is Saturday, January 21 at 12 p.m. and Model casting Sunday, January 22 at 3:00 p.m. For more info check out Designers Choice on Facebook.

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37

Glimpses of 2012

I

got a genuine fortune-teller’s crystal ball for Christmas, and it has simplified considerably my annual task of scanning the new year for important tidbits and then pre-reporting them back to you. I just look in there and see what I see, and it is what it is. I foresee; you decide.

So, predictions for 2012: Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, will draw unexpectedly strong opposition from a little-known challenger named Fyodor Fartin.

Among federal research grants will be one to study whether your chewing gum loses its flavor on the bedpost overnight.

Madonna will perform at halftime at the Super Bowl naked.

Fordyce will teeter on the brink, unable to answer the question of why.

Climaxing the big Fourth of July fireworks show on the Washington Mall will be a spread of thermonuclear blasts from atomic weapons procured from the late Jennings Osborne’s leftover stockpile.

There’ll be a new federal regulation that smacking your forehead with a closed fist and calling scobies no longer exempts you from responsibility for certain flatus emanations.

A big fight will erupt in a court case at the Montgomery County courthouse

over the meaning and circumstantial relevance of the word gravitas.

Western Civilization will grind to BOB a halt, probably in LANCASTER or around August.

Sports editor of the local daily will take a course in English composition at UALR and will fail.

Fracking will be implicated in all the bird deaths and fish kills, and in the geysering up of human corpses at a Heber Springs cemetery, freeing them to become zombies. They’ll fit right in.

The first non-negotiable item in the Democratic Party platform will be more cowbell.

The blowhards will continue to blow hard — hot brain-drying winds over the wasteland of talk radio.

The Hope Brights will produce the first ever watermelon to go over 1,000 pounds.

Texas will attempt to secede. Mean old [N-word]-led federal government won’t let it happen.

The mayor of Hot Springs will offer a bounty on the scalps of bona fide tourists.

The pump price for unleaded regular will hit $4 a gallon by Memorial Day.

Poland will win all the medals in javelin-catching at the 2012 Olympics.

Crystal Bridges will have a Grandma Moses exhibition. Not her work. Her. (She died at age 101 fifty years ago, and they often hang her jerkied remains as a doughty mobile at these art shows.)

Jerry Jones will decide that what’s wrong with the Cowboys is that they need a new stadium.

Tennessee will ban bananas, zucchinis, cigars, frankfurters and cucumbers for obvious reasons — or anyway for reasons that are obvious in the Monkey’s Uncle State.

Someone will steal the Christ of the Ozarks, which will disappear without a trace — no clues, no ransom note, no nothing. A program note at a subsequent Passion Play performance will name the Elders of Zion as persons of interest in the case.

An elk, homesick for the Rockies, will terrorize Jasper.

Algorithms will be outlawed in Mississippi on the suspicion that they’re a method of birth control.

The U.S. Supreme court will declare it unconstitutional to have “In God We Trust” inscribed on our coins, and Congress will propose “Git ’R Done” as a substitute.

The Great One will hang it up.

A Department of Education study will contend that contemporary high schools

don’t teach students anything except how to play ball and how to take tests. And, at Huntsville, how to kill caged raccoons with a nail gun.

To show his sincerity in wanting to outlaw all forms and methods of birth control, Rick Santorum will, as Johnny Carson used to say, cut off his schlossen.

The NRA will campaign to have murder decriminalized as long as it is committed with a gun.

A big Pogo revival will inspire spinoffs for Albert Alligator and for Bewitched, Bothered and Bemildred.

The Paragould public school liked its illegal Happy Birthday Jesus display so much that it will follow it up with an illegal Happy Easter display.

Still no sightings of the peckerwood with the ivory bill.

The vote in Bryant to re-elect President Obama will be 12; in Cabot, it will be 13.

People in other societies and countries will do important work while, electronically speaking, and without respite, we’re just jerking off.

Earth’s last reef will perish in October.

The Southern Baptist Convention will freak when it discovers, too late to stop the Rom-nom, what truly weird things Mormons believe.

The Mayan calendar doesn’t call for the end of the world on Dec. 21; it only says that on that day “we’ll all let our asses fly up,” according to a new translation.

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Hospitalist ~ Internal Medicine

Employment Crawfish Farming-8 temp positions; 5 months; job to begin 2/1/12 and end on 6/30/12; Duties: to operate boats in the ponds during the crawfish harvesting season and preparing the crop for distributing. $8.97 per hour; 2 months experience in job offered required.

All work tools provided.

Housing and transportation provided to workers who can not reasonably return to their permanent residence at the end of the work day; hours guaranteed in a work day during contract. Employment offered by Kent Soileau Farms, Inc. located in Bunkie, LA. Qualified applicants may call employer for interview (337) 945-9120 or may apply for this position at their nearest State Workforce Agency using job order # 402035. For more info regarding your nearest SWA you may call (501) 682-7719.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is seeking two hospitalists. The majority of the physicians’ time will be spent in clinical activities. It is estimated that they will spend 45% of their time commitment on the daytime and the other 45% of their time on the overnight service line performing inpatient clinical activities. Physicians will complete all necessary documentation and orders, as well as admit new patients.

The Hospitalists will also admit patients in the Emergency Department and teach and mentor the internal medicine residents who are also admitting and caring for patients there. The remaining 10% of the Hospitalists’ effort will be spent on quality improvement and administration as well as division-level tasks . MD, Arkansas medical license, American Board of Internal Medicine certified or eligible.

Mail or email CV to UAMS, Attn: Jo Ann Wood, MD 4301 W. Markham, Slot #641 • Little Rock, AR 72205 • jawood@uams.edu 38

JANUARY 11, 2012

ARKANSAS TIMES

38 January 11, 2012 ARKANSAS TIMES

Business Opportunities

Legal Notices

GPM, Inc. in West Alton, MO is hiring 15 temporary Farmworkers from 02/02/201211/30/2012: 40 hrs/ week. Workers will drive trucks and tractors and perform a variety of crop raising tasks. Plows, harrows, cultivates, seeds fields for grain crops. Also, working on tree farm, transplants tree seedlings, fertilizes and waters seedlings. Prunes as needed for correction of growth. One month experience required. $11.50/hr. (prevailing wage). Guarantee of 3/4 of the workdays. All work tools, supplies, and equipment furnished without cost to the worker.

Free housing is provided to workers who cannot reasonably return to their permanent residence at the end of the workday. Transportation and subsistence expenses to the worksite will be provided or paid by the employer, with payment to be made no later than completion of 50% of the work contract. Apply at Arkansas Dept. of Workforce Services, FLC, #2 Capitol Mall, Room 434, Little Rock, AR 72201, (501) 683-2372 and reference job order 9462798.

Superior Court of California, County of San Diego Central Division, Juvenile Court, 2851 Meadow Lark , San Diego, CA 92123 In the matter of Serenity Nichole Mullins, date of birth, May 1, 2007 (minor) CITATION FOR FREEDOM FROM PARENTAL CUSTODY AND CONTROL Case# A57079 To: Jill Erin Gentry. You are advised that you are required to appear in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego, in Department 1 at the court location indicated above on Feb 10, 2012, at 9:00 am, to show cause, if you have any, why Serenity Nicole Mullins minor should not be declared free from parental custody and control (*for the purpose of placement for adoption) as requested in the petition.

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Academic Hospitalist ~ Internal Medicine

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is seeking an academic hospitalist. The majority of this physician’s time will be spent in clinical activities. It is estimated that s/he will spend 70% of their time commitment on the Internal Medicine teaching service lines performing inpatient clinical activities and teaching residents and students. Physicians will complete all necessary documentation and orders, as well as admit new patients. The remaining 30% of the Hospitalist’s effort will be spent on educational, research and administration activities including quality improvement and division-level tasks. MD, Arkansas medical license, American Board of Internal Medicine certified or eligible.

Mail or email CV to UAMS, Attn: Jo Ann Wood, MD 4301 W. Markham, Slot #641 • Little Rock, AR 72205 • jawood@uams.edu UAMS is an inclusive Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to excellence through diversity.

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www.arktimes.com January 11, 2012 39

2012

■ FEBRUARY 9, 2011 ITICS AND CULTURE Y NEWSPAPER OF POL ARK ANSAS’S WEEKL

www.arktimes.com

TH E 30 TH YE AR OF RE AD ER S CH OIC E

Hot

Dog!

Readers Choice awa r d s

ansas. rk A in ts an ur ta es R t es B e th ck Readers pi PAGE 10

e? nt in last year ’s issu ra au st re e rit vo fa nual Readers Choice Was your The Arkansas Times an d ars) and most respec te poll is the oldest (31 ye e state. We added restaurant survey in th s s this year and as alway several new categorie as ented in central Arkans restaurants are repres e th h It’s amazing to watc and around the state! tions grow. diversity of dining op

g n i m o c ary 15

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