Arkansas Times

ARKANSAS’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF POLITICS AND CULTURE ■ december 30, 2010

www.arktimes.com

Joker!

The worst congressional trade ever is among the BEST AND WORST OF 2010

By David Koon and Bob Lancaster PAGE 10

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2 December 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

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The INsIder

Still mysterious

n Just who is Arkansans for Common Sense? The independent political group popped up in the Democratic primary, spending a ton on ads blasting Bill Halter, Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s opponent. It also spent money later on ads supportive of Lincoln, who lost the general election to Rep. John Boozman.

The group doesn’t report its source of money, though it spent $637,000 on ads related to the Lincoln election. Rep. Marion Berry’s son, Mitchell, a lawyer, filed the group’s incorporation papers, but has said he was not allowed to identify where the money comes from.

An interesting wrinkle is the group’s continued spending on newspaper ads saying recent congressional tax cuts were a good thing, but not enough. Said a recent ad in the Democrat-Gazette: “A two-year extension is a step in the right direction, but we need more,” the ad says. It closes: “Tell your congressman that going back to the old tax rates will not move Arkansas forward.”

A little leftover money? Or are the same people who funded the original drive continuing a campaign unrelated to Lincoln?

She was an advocate for an end to the estate tax. While the rate was cut substantially by the recent tax cut legislation, it, too, was cut from the old rate of 45 percent to 35 percent for only two years. Could that have been what the “reformers” were about to begin with? Berry said he’d ask those behind the effort whether they’d say more about continuing expenditures. So far, no callback.

Home on the range

n Charles Portis’ novel “True Grit” is told through the voice of an Arkansas girl and turns on the killing of her father in Yell County, plus her hiring of a marshal in Fort Smith to track down his killer.

So, the question, arises, why was the Coen brothers’ remake of the film produced in Texas and New Mexico, not Arkansas? The Coen brothers gave an explanation to blogger Cole Haddon about their use of “iconic Western landscapes” in the movie: Said Ethan Coen: “You know what?

That’s one thing that’s not faithful to the novel. The landscape is a total cheat, but we kind of thought people will think it’s a Western, and some things you just can’t mess with. People want that.

Brother Joel Coen added: “The whole pictorial idea of the movie would have been much different in a place like Arkansas. The honest answer is it kind of becomes this mishmash of different considerations that go into where you’re shooting and how you want to treat the landscape. They’re a little hard to sort out after the fact, but it’s everywhere from the practical to just what does the movie actually want to be about.”

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Never flush, rinse or wash this stuff down the drain: n Medication (pills, creams, etc.) n Most automotive fluids n Car wax n Most paint, glue, and thinner n Poison and/or insecticide n Kerosene and/or lighter fluid n Oven, floor and furniture cleaner n Primer n Fertilizer n Nail, shoe and/or metal polish n Battery acid n Fiberglass Epoxy n Photographic chemicals n Moth balls

Little Rock residents can request a free Can the Grease© starter kit by calling 501-688-1400 For more information contact Brenda Willis at 501-688-1490 or Joseph Schaffner at 501-688-1449 or email us at customerassistance@lrwu.com www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 3

Smart talk

Contents

Delta-made high society

8 Protecting the lake

n Tuckerman, Ark., amid the Delta row crops of Jackson County, isn’t much known for high-society cotillions. Nonetheless, a son of Tuckerman, Bronson Van Wyck, has become the A-list party planner of choice in New York city and beyond. BizBash, an industry journal for planners, named him the party designer of the year. He’s president of Van Wyck & Van Wyck, which he runs with his mother Mary Lynn and sister Mimi. The firm’s work and its leader were featured in a recent New York Times article for its good taste for billionaires like George Soros, Rupert Murdoch and David Koch, plus entertainment celebrities, major businesses (he handled Mercedes-Benz’s Oscar night party) and major arts institutions. He doesn’t sound like the average farmer in the Times’ account: “There’s not much in his carriage that suggests that Bronson Van Wyck grew up on a farm in Tuckerman, Ark. The farm, however, had been in his mother’s family for generations. His parents settled there after his father finished Harvard Business

Environmentalists fear a land use plan for the Lake Maumelle watershed gave up too much to development interests.

— By Gerard Matthews

10 Thank God it’s over

VAN WYCK STYLING: A private party in Nashville.

School, and his father approached agriculture in the Mississippi Delta with entrepreneurial zeal, he said. It was not a small farm, but don’t ask how many acres. “ ‘That’s one of those questions like, “How much did money did you make last year?” ’ he said.

From there, he continued through Groton and Yale.”

When they say it’s not about slavery ...

Charter school: All in the family

n The 150th anniversary of the Civil War is upon us. Dec. 20, for example, was the 150th anniversary of South Carolina’s vote to secede. Inevitably, the observance will resume the lingering hostilities over the question of whether the bloody conflict was a war over states rights or slavery.

For the record, Guy Lancaster of the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture, provided us a copy of the journal with resolutions adopted by the Arkansas secession convention. Among others: “Resolved: That it is the deliberate sense of this convention that African negroes and the descendants of the African race, denominated slaves by all the constitutions of the southern slaveholding states, is property, to all intents and purposes, and ought of right to be so considered by all the northern states, being expressly implied by the constitution of the United States and a denial on the part of the people of the northern states, of the right of property in slaves of southern states, is, and of right ought to be, sufficient cause, if persisted in by northern people, to dissolve the political connection between said states.”

n The Dallas Morning News has been doing a series of articles on charter schools and it has included some information worth following here, as charter school backers keep pushing for more state money for their operations.

One thing to watch for: nepotism.

The Dallas paper reported on the Focus Learning Academy, a Dallas charter school of 700 students, where founder and Superintendent Leroy McClure makes $146,000, about $50,000 more than the chief of a regular public school district that size. His wife, Yvette, makes $100,000 for consulting work. His brother is the school’s facilities manager and his sister is a teacher.

That name might be familiar in Conway. McClure and his brother are Conway High School graduates. They started a Focus Learning Academy in Conway, but announced closure of the charter school in 2007 on account of low enrollment and financial deficits. Texas has proved friendlier to the cause.

Say goodbye to 2010, a hot and sorry one with many more worsts than bests. — By Bob Lancaster and David Koon

16 Little Rock Club at work

All is forgiven by club members when the Little Rock National Airport director goes astray. — Max Brantley

Departments

3 The Insider

4 Smart Talk

5 The Observer

6 Letters

7 Orval 8-15 News

16 Opinion

19 Arts & Entertainment

31 Dining

37 Crossword/ Tom Tomorrow

38 Lancaster

Words VOLUME 37, NUMBER 17

n “I am opposed to the proposition that it was ordered by President Nixon. That argument is totally false, demonstratively false.”

I don’t know whether it was Henry Kissinger who confused demonstratively with demonstrably, or the Washington Post, which quoted him. Probably the Post, although English was not Kissinger’s first language, and after 70 years in this country, he still speaks with a German accent. n Homer is coaching. Jachilles is academically ineligible: We noted the other day that Odyssey Sims plays for the women’s basketball team at Baylor. Since then, I’ve learned that Julysses Nobles is on the men’s team at the U of A. n “The sheriff’s office has ruled the 4 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

Doug smith doug@arktimes.com

death a suicide.”

Wayne Jordan writes, “I don’t believe that a sheriff’s office ever ‘ruled’ anything.

It might make a finding based on investigative evidence and give an opinion as to the cause of death, but I don’t believe it can make a ‘ruling’ like a court can. Have I become too picky?”

Possibly, but pickiness keeps this column going.

One dictionary definition of rule is “to decide or declare judicially or authoritatively; decree: The judge ruled that he should be

exiled.” Jordan is correct that a sheriff doesn’t rule in that way. Lacks the authority.

But rule can also mean “to make a formal decision, as on a point of law.” I think a sheriff’s official opinion on cause of death could be called a ruling, even though it’s not authoritative in the way a judge’s ruling is. But a simple “The sheriff’s office has said the death was a suicide” would be sufficient here. n Prepositions gone wild, Part XXVIII: “Cal Amadee, a motion consultant, said he’s known Snively for the better part of 20 years. ‘I hold him to the utmost respect,’ Amadee said.” Hold him to the utmost respect, eh? What for, to see if the respect’s sleeves need shortening? To greatly admire someone is to hold him in the utmost respect.

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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FOR INFORMATION OR SUBSCRIPTIONS CALL 501-375-2985

On a bright and blustery day week before last, The Observer got across the river for the opening of North Little Rock’s new roundabout (or should that be “traffic circle”?), a $1-point-something million-dollar, two-lane European extravaganza at what was previously the not very extravaganza-ish intersection of Pike Avenue and Broadway. Speeches were made. Ribbons were cut.

Though we don’t have much experience with roundabouts, we’re pretty sure we could navigate one in a pinch. That doesn’t mean everyone can. A thicket of new signage has sprouted near the roundabout, most of it as unfamiliar to your average driver as Egyptian hieroglyphics.

A big green billboard on the Pike Avenue side shows something that looks like a modern-art representation of a Dodo bird, with arrows pointing off in all directions.

Passing it at 35 miles an hour doesn’t give much time for thoughtful reflection.

While we were standing there looking at the bright new concrete and landscaping, a driver pulled up, signaled, then turned the wrong way around the roundabout (where things run counter-clockwise), eventually winding his way out without a head-on collision. Most folks apparently find it a little counterintuitive to jog right when all they want in the world is to turn left. Go figure.

Though loads of folks have told us the roundabout will work smooth as silk once the new wears off and drivers get used to it, not everybody is so sure. As we were marveling at our tax dollars at work, a young laborer in a reflective jacket walked up and told us that he had considered buying a nearby lot. He wanted to start Roundabout Wrecker Service and felt confident it would do business like gangbusters.

The Observer has become something of a Facebook philosopher of late, cultivating a crop of peeps both close and distant who often respond to our posts with a Like or even a real-life communique. Like a lot of folks, we’ve connected via The Book of Face with people we knew when we were but a lad, some we knew in college and thought we’d never see again, and quite a few we see everyday. We’re sure the young’uns have probably moved on to more minty pastures due to old geezers like us clogging up the

Facebook works and rendering it uncool, but we’re having a heck of a good time at it for now, posting everything from rare seed catalogs to flamethrower rants about politics.

Every once in awhile, when we’re in our cups, The Observer will get a hankerin’ to get meditative. It’s in those times that F’book really pays the bills. Here’s a recent post by moi that people seemed to like: “When my son is a man, this is what I’ll tell him: Cherish the hard times, because they’re what you’ll remember for the rest of your life. You’ll remember that you survived them, and you’ll remember the people who helped you survive them. This is the secret of memory, my son: What is heavy stays. The days when things run smooth tend to pile up and blow away like leaves.”

Speaking of Junior, he’s shaping up to be a writer like the Old Man; always with a book in his hand, always with some fabulous new idea for a story. He writes fiction, mostly, laboring at least four or five hours a week at the sometimes thrilling art of laying one brick after another until — maybe — you succeed in building a cathedral. It fills his pop’s heart with gladness to hear that boy in his room, click-click-clicking away at his little worlds, so full of monsters and love.

The Observer has taught fiction writing on the college level for over 10 years now, and I hope you don’t take it to be bragging or the blindness that is an occupational hazard of fatherly love when we say that at 11 years old, my kid can write a lot of adults under the table. He hasn’t got the structure or stamina down pat yet, but on a sentence-by-sentence level, he manages to knock one out of the park every once in awhile.

We ran across the following passage in one of his stories the other day, the lines so full of music that we had to read them three times, the final time out loud: “She went downstairs and sat on the beachyellow couch and thought deeply. For the first time in her life, she hated the son of a bitch she’d married. She thought of him opening the door and getting in the Jeep, never looking back, and driving away, over the hill and out of sight from her and her weeping daughter.”

Ain’t that pretty?

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8601 West Markham • Little Rock • (501) 228-7296 www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 5

9:5

Letters arktimes@arktimes.com

Big ideas?

Congratulations on asking our fellow Arkansans to Think Big! It is absolutely amazing what people can come up with when no limits are placed upon their thinking! Many of the ideas deserve to be put into action, and this truly would be a better place to live! Also, I loved the two ideas already in action — the helping game has the potential to make some real changes in the world, and as an educator, I was thrilled to read about the plans for the new children’s library.

Unfortunately, I came back to earth with a big thud on the next page as I read about the DREAM deferred. How can people be so small-minded? Why should children be punished for the actions of their parents? How much more could these young people contribute to our state and country? For shame!

Sara Jane Luckey Little Rock It was with great anticipation that I picked up your latest issue, to see if you were wise enough to select one of the eight great Big Ideas I submitted. Alas, no such luck. Actually, I feel like we were

grossly misled. You said you wanted Big Ideas, which I took as a call to the masses to help save our street, block, town, state, nation or planet. You were going to select entries from both civic/business leaders and entries from the rest of us. But why bother asking the rest of us to limit our ideas to 300 words or less when you didn’t print more than 30 words from the rest of us? And come on! Which staffer really thought that a new Trader Joe’s and a ping-pong based theme bar was a Big Idea or worthy of mention at all? So, being the generous kind of person that I am, I’m giving you a chance to make amends.

I want you to take every Big Idea you received and forward it to the appropriate public agency that can make it happen, and request that agency respond to the originator. Granted almost every one will be “Can’t do that at this time”, but at least the rest of us can feel that our voices have been heard.

Gary Bortz Little Rock

Police pensions

Retired Little Rock Police officers, their spouses, and the widows of those who have passed on, need your help. The help you can provide is very simple. Take some time to read the information available to the public at littlerockpolicepensionnews.com, a website created by one of the retired officers to keep the other re-

Drink Smarter!

Arkansas Times launches its first iPhone app, Cocktail Compass.

Cocktail Compass, available for free on the iTunes store, collects information on every bar, restaurant and venue that serves alcohol in Central Arkansas and steers you to the closest happy hour, and specials available only to Cocktail Compass users.

tirees informed. If you have some time, attend the Little Rock Police Pension Fund meetings or at least read the minutes of their meetings, located at www.littlerock. org/citydepartments/police/pension/.

What I believe you will learn is that city and state officials who have responsibilities that can affect the health of the Little Rock Police Pension Fund are not doing their due diligence to take all measures available to them that would improve the health of the fund.

Once you learn these things like I did, take a few moments to call or write the appropriate officials and let them know how you feel.

I left the Little Rock Police Department in 1987, looking for better pay and benefits, and what I thought at the time, might be big-time excitement in the federal government. While that move has benefitted me in many respects, I can safely say now that the best law enforcement job I ever had was as a Little Rock police officer. There’s simply no comparison. I owe everything to the training and experience I received there, and the friendships I made there.

The people of Little Rock should also know that I have worked with federal agents of all types, state and local investigators, detectives and uniformed officers in cities of all sizes around the country. If you stay in one locality your entire career, one might believe that people doing the

job in another department or agency in another city are better police. I can now safely say that the men and women with whom I worked at LRPD could have held their own, and in most cases, have done much better, than the people with whom I’ve worked since.

Any of the now-retired Little Rock officers could have done what I did, but they chose to stay where pay and benefits are not up to the level they are elsewhere, and serve the people of Little Rock.

I know that states and municipalities around the country are under fire right now for having created exorbitant pension systems for their employees, having good reason to know they would never be able to fund them. But the pensions these retired Little Rock police officers receive are very meager in comparison, the retirees generally don’t qualify for Social Security, and most of them still work other jobs to survive. They should not have to worry from month to month whether their pension system will stay afloat.

Joe Isom East Amherst, N.Y. Submit letters to The Editor, Arkansas Times, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, AR 72203. We also accept letters via e-mail.

The address is maxbrantley@arktimes. com. We also accept faxes at 375-3623.

Please include a hometown and telephone number.

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6 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

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For our family of AFF ladies, it is not about being a “Calendar Girl”, but rather being able to “GIVE BACK” and makes a difference.

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11200 W. Markham (West of Shackleford on Markham) Little Rock 501-223-3120 • 866-988-vino www.arktimes.com www.arktimes.com••DECEMBER December 30, 2010 7

The WEEK THAT was Dec. 22-28, 2010 It was a good week for …

ARKANSAS. The Census reported population growth in the state of about 9 percent, to 2.9 million, the last decade. That was slightly below the national average, but good enough not to lose representation in Congress.

MAUMELLE. Dillard Department Stores announced it would take over the closed Target warehouse in Maumelle and hire 300 people to work there filling Internet orders.

It was a bad week for …

The LITTLE ROCK AIRPORT COMMISSION. A meeting to review some new financial procedures occasioned

by Airport Director Ron Mathieu’s bad habits turned into a lovefest for the wayward director. See Max Brantley’s column.

The STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. It insists not a single one of the 135 administrators and office workers with state-provided vehicles should have to give it up because they might find themselves on call some day. The arrogance of independence.

HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER MADISON MURPHY. The Republican oil heir, who’s been a long-time advocate for reduced government spending, defended the highway department’s free auto policy.

The STATE CORRECTION AND COMMUNITY CORRECTION DEPARTMENTS. They, too, have proved reluctant to give up an excessive number of state-provided vehicles. They also cite the on-call nature of jobs, but have provided little evidence of on-call demand of employees tooling around in free rides. Gov. Mike Beebe is overdue to impose a little executive influence.

P.K. HOLMES. The Senate failed to confirm his non-controversial appointment to the federal bench in Fort Smith, which means he’ll have to go through the Senate committee approval process again. It’s part of general Republican obstruction to judicial appointments. Arkansas additionally has two open judgeships for which the president has made no nomination.

The AEROSPACE EDUCATION CENTER. The museum and IMAX theater will close Jan. 1 because of declining visitors and other financial support.

8 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

The Arkansas Reporter

Phone: 501-375-2985­ Fax: 501-375-3623 Arkansas Times Online home page: http://www.arktimes.com E-mail: arktimes@arktimes.com ■

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Balancing interests in Lake Maumelle Does county plan go far enough to protect watershed?

by Gerard Matthews

n Earlier this month, the Pulaski County Planning and Development department released a recommended land use plan for the Lake Maumelle watershed – one that is favored by developers.

Wallace Roberts & Todd, a Pennsylvania-based consulting firm, helped design the plan with input from community groups, developers and Central Arkansas Water officials. But does the final product go far enough to protect water quality? Clean water activists think not.

In 2008, Tetra Tech, an engineering and consulting firm, released a Watershed Management Plan for Lake Maumelle, a source of drinking water for approximately 400,000 people in Central Arkansas. The firm suggested two possible paths for protecting water quality. One path was a conservation-based approach, which relied heavily on keeping a large percentage of land in the watershed completely undeveloped. The other, a performance-based approach, allows developers to use a Site Evaluation Tool (SET), a computer program that analyzes what effect different development scenarios may have on water quality, to make sure run-off of phosphorous and other chemicals doesn’t harm the lake.

The recommended plan released by the county this month is performance-based, and that has clean water advocates worried.

Kate Althoff, of Citizens Protecting Maumelle Watershed (CPMW), says the SET must be tested.

“The SET is unverified, and we have best management practices that we’ll be using in the watershed that should be tested before they’re used,” she says. “In the original watershed management plan, the performance based approach was supposed to be done on a small test scale for a period of three years or something like that. The test case now will be the first large subdivision built out there.”

Developers prefer the performancebased plan to zoning, minimum lot size requirements or conservation-based plans because it allows them to build higherdensity developments. In public comments filed with the planning department, Timothy Daters of White-Daters & Associates, speaking on behalf of Deltic Timber, one of the largest landholders in the watershed, said the performance-based approach would “provide Deltic with the flexibility to develop their property while protecting the water quality of Lake Maumelle.” Daters

WHAT WILL GO IN?: Will new land use plan adequately protect Lake Maumelle from pollution? said other options, like those preferred by groups like Sierra Club and CPMW, “place unwarranted and unsupported restrictions on property owners.”

Martin Maner, director of watershed management at Central Arkansas Water, says the SET, combined with assurances that a certain percentage of land will remain undeveloped, will protect the water supply.

“The real risk of only using the SET and performance-based standards is they have to be designed properly, constructed properly and maintained to keep up that efficiency,” Maner says. “If any of those areas are not done adequately, then it’s going to exceed the [chemical loading] rates. My position has been you can use the SET but you have to have a minimum of 30 percent of undisturbed land. That’s like insurance. The other things that are really good about what’s being proposed is the prohibition of those egregious uses that should not be in the watershed of a water supply lake, such as natural gas exploration, mining extraction, high-density animal operations, landfills, hazardous waste transfer stations, all those things that should not be in there. That’s good.”

Althoff says developers have always favored a performance-based approach and have lobbied for it throughout the plan’s development. Maner says it’s natural that developers would take an interest in how the plan turns out, but doesn’t think they have had any undue influence on the process.

“I would say that the major landholders in the county’s portion of the watershed are the two main developers and CAW, and yes, they have had influence on this because we are all the major landholders. So, because they understand it, and make comments, then the planners respond to that. I don’t think they’ve done anything under the table. They’re just major property holders so

they’ve had changes in what was originally proposed. But it’s all going to come down to what Judge Villines wants and how well the quorum court members are educated,” Maner says.

The quorum court, according to Althoff, will be instrumental in getting any kind of protections for the lake passed. Since they will ultimately vote on the land use plan, their understanding of the issue is critical.

“When we developed the original watershed management plan in 2008, we never did have the quorum court’s buy-in on it at all. For some of them it was over their head.

They had never seen land-use, they had never seen any of that stuff before and they didn’t care. The problem was, we spent $1.2 million on a plan and we didn’t have buyin from the county leadership and therefore we couldn’t generate enough political will to pass the management plan criteria, so we got this watered down thing we’re talking about now.”

Althoff is also worried that groups like Secure Arkansas, who, according to a mass email from one of the group’s leaders, believe that attempts to regulate the watershed are part of a U.N. plot to undermine private property, will have some success in lobbying quorum court members.

“I’m concerned that now that we’re showing up on their bubble, they’re really going to lobby the quorum court, which to begin with was very reluctant to go into this kind of land use plan,” she says.

The county’s planning department is accepting public comments on the proposed plan until Jan. 31. You can view it here: arktimes.com/lakemaumelleplan. Maner said the plan will then go to the county planning board before moving on to the quorum court. A final draft of the plan probably won’t make it to the quorum court until the spring of next year.

Fearless flying by leslie newell peacock

n Starting Nov. 12, the Arkansas Times has been publishing articles on-line and in print on spending practices at Little Rock National Airport, revelations that have prompted the city commission that oversees the airport to make wrist-slapping changes in policy.

Here’s the itinerary, the various stops made along the way to current policy at the airport. n On Nov. 12, the Times reported that in May, at the behest of Executive Director Ron Mathieu, the airport wrote a $40,000 check to Little Rock Christian Academy.

The check was, ostensibly, for advertising on the school’s football field, but it was written after an exchange of e-mails between the school’s development director and Mathieu that spelled out the urgency of receiving the “LRCA pledge” so football turf could be installed on the field. Asked about the $40,000 expenditure at the June meeting of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission, Mathieu was evasive, saying, “we’ve done a number of television and radio ads, as you know,” and mentioned a banner the airport put up at the Race for the Cure. Initially refusing to speak to a reporter about the expenditure and saying the Times had published “untruths,” Mathieu later apologized, saying he was not aware of Little Rock’s aversion to public spending on private schools. He maintained, however, that it made sense to advertise the airport on the football field of a K-12 private school.

Commissioners called Mathieu’s move “poor judgment.” At their December meeting they voted to cut Mathieu’s discretionary spending limit to $25,000, half the $50,000 he previously had; limited his spending on advertising without commission approval to $5,000; and made it policy that advertising in new venues, formats or mediums and purchasing school-related advertising will now require commission approval. n On Nov. 25, the Times reported on Mathieu’s extensive travel and hotel and meal expenses, including yearly trips to Hawaii (with commissioners, whose way was also paid by the airport, and spouses, who reimbursed for tickets purchased), a trip to Brussels and a $15,000 trip to Paris, the latter with Mayor Mark Stodola, whose way was paid by the airport. The Times also reported

New time for the Times n Start adjusting your internal calendars, Times readers. Beginning the second week of January, the Times will become a Wednesday paper. It’s a move we’ve long wanted to make

The ‘club’ defends Mathieu.

— Max Brantley, Page 16

that top management at the airport spent more than $272,000 in 12 months time, charged to the airport’s credit and debit cards. Among the charges: A $5,000 gift to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for membership in the Chancellor’s Club, a $366 meal at Arthur’s Steakhouse for Commissioner Jesse Mason, a $694 personal meal at Ruth Chris’ steakhouse, Chenal Country Club dues, more than $12,000 for Lands’ End shirts for staff over a twoyear period, thousands of dollars on airfare, moving expenses and lodging for new employees in 2009 and 2010. In response, the Commission updated policy to spell out that the airport will not pay for meals for spouses and family, all travel expenses of the executive director must be reviewed and approved by the commission prior to reimbursement, credit card information will go to the commission’s finance committee every month for review. Air travelers may upgrade to the next cabin of service if their flight requires more than four consecutive hours on board.

Mathieu reimbursed the airport $3,000 for the meal, club dues and tuxedo rental. Three commissioners also canceled their plans to travel to Hawaii in January for the annual Aviation Issues Conference. n On Dec. 15, the Times reported that Commissioner Bob East reimbursed the airport a total of $7,629 for an aircraft he and Mathieu chartered for travel to Washington to meet with the state’s congressional delegation. A $913 limo charge was not reimbursed. The Times also noted previous chartered flights, with all but gas donated by Commissioner Tom Schueck, along with other charitable contributions by Mathieu at the expense of the airport. The travel policy adopted by the commission last week allows chartered air travel, but requires written justification, and says commissioners should apply “a test of public scrutiny, as any expenditure may become a matter of public Knowledge,” when incurring expenses.

The commission last week approved a budget of $281,000 for travel to educational conferences and training in 2011. Its personnel committee will evaluate Mathieu’s job performance in January and report to the commission in February. The evaluation is done annually.

— and the standard among alternative weeklies across the country — but until recently our printer arrangement didn’t allow it. The switch takes effect Jan. 12. We’ll also maintain our tradition of posting our free digital edition on arktimes.com the afternoon before we hit newsstands; look for it on Tuesday afternoons.

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sonnywilliamssteakroom.com www.arktimes.com www.arktimes.com••DECEMBER December 30, 2010 9

2010:

There was

the summer from hell ...

and then things got worse.

By David Koon and Bob Lancaster illustrations by tommy durham

T

he first decade of the 21st century is coming to a close if you can believe it — let that sink in for a second, you ol’ time traveler you — and that means it’s time once again for our annual Best and Worst issue, our annual salute to the goodest and baddest that Arkansas had to offer in the previous year.

Sad to say, but in the grand scheme of things, the Year of Our Lord 2010 turned out to be kind of a bummer, what with the BP loosing a bajillion gallons of black gold into the Gulf of Mexico and the ongoing Great Recession and what not.

As seen on our cover this year, one of our Worsts for 2010 was that the voters saw fit to award the congressional seat formerly occupied by the solidly liberal and reliably thoughtful Rep. Vic Snyder to former Karl Rove toady Tim Griffin, part of an Arkansas red tide of toxic Republicans. We’d call that a definite low point, though

Rep. Griffin’s tenure is almost sure to pay dividends for the low side of the Best and Worst equation in the future. Also landing with a splat in the Worst column: an electrocuted anchorette, the Summer from Hell, and some near-deadly hillbilly caviar. Read on for details.

As has been our trend in recent years, we wound up with more Worsts than Bests, something which we have struggled mightily to correct, but which seems to simply happen of its own accord and for wholly mysterious reasons, like good watermelons down in Hope and sightings of the Fouke monster — the latter of which makes an appearance in these pages this year courtesy of U.S. District Judge William R. Wilson Jr. No matter what arcane forces are at play on the makeup of the Best and Worst this year, we found the process of reading back over it to be a calming experience. Blessedly, we only have to live through it all once.

Worst carry-on

A Southwest Airlines employee at Little Rock National Airport called police in June after a peek inside an improperly-labeled package bound for Texas revealed a cache of 45 human heads. The founder of the Wynnebased firm doing the shipping told officials that the free-range noggins were part of an education program for doctors.

Worst dropped call

In July, Pierce Boyd, 19, dropped her cell phone while talking to her mother as she approached the I-430 bridge near Maumelle. The young lass went to pick up the phone, lost control, and she and her Toyota wound up in the river. She escaped unharmed as her car sank, but not before making sure she had retrieved her cell phone and a Bible.

10 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

Worst escape

A suspected bank robber led police on a chase across Little Rock before stopping his car on the Main Street bridge, leaving the money behind and jumping into the Arkansas River. The fall killed him.

Best correction (if you’re Jack Jones)

A mix up at the Arkansas Supreme Court in May resulted in the court issuing an order denying a stay of execution for death row inmate Jack Jones, which meant he could be delivered into the hands of the Lord with all deliberate speed. Later that same afternoon, the court replaced the order with another that said the stay of execution had actually been granted.

Best blue

A rare New Year’s Eve blue moon escorted in the new year. It was pretty. Not blue, but pretty.

Worst rock

An alleged fragment of the “little rock” for which this city was named was “dedicated” in a riverfront ceremony in May in a million-dollar tourism promotion venture.

Best Elvis

In August, Elvis D. Presley of Star City, a 44-year-old impersonator of Elvis A. Presley of Memphis, filed to run as a write-in candidate for governor. He wound up getting 66 votes.

Worst gridiron base-running

Worst shock

Her Facebook report in July by the KTHV anchor Dawn Scott that she had been electrocuted while using a faulty hair dryer turned out to be an exaggeration.

Best bride

Chelsea Clinton, Arkie by birth and class, got hitched in style in New York in July. Typical expense: $12,000 wedding cake.

Worst ouch

A Little Rock man was seriously injured in September when the homemade bomb he was holding between his legs while packing it with gunpowder exploded prematurely. To add insult to injury, cops searching his home later found a meth lab.

Brenda Haynes, Sheridan school superintendent, said in January the school district “hit a home run” when it hired Louis Campbell, former Razorback star and former college and pro football coach, as its head football coach.

Best little whorehouse in Cabot

In May, Lonoke County deputies broke up what they said was a prostitution ring operating out of a house in a fashionable neighborhood in Cabot.

Worst tradeoff

A Camden man was notified in January by Social Security officials that as a result of his having won $1,000 in the state lottery his next monthly disability check would be cut by $998.

Continued on page 12 www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 11

Worst cloudy

In December, Arkansans hoping to take in the spectacle of a once-in-500-year conjunction of a total lunar eclipse and the winter solstice were stymied by a layer of thick clouds that covered most of the state. Better luck next millennium.

Best butts and hands together

From Wally Hall’s column in the Arkansas DemocratGazette on Jan. 1: “Frank Broyles put emphasis on winning first and butts in the seats second, and yes, they go hand-in-hand.”

Worst home invasion by cows

Three cows invaded a Murfreesboro farm home in February, pretty much wrecked the place before they were detected and evicted several hours later. Homeowners insurance wouldn’t pay. Does your policy have a cowinvasion-damage exclusion?

Best absquatulation

Former Arkies Mike and Janet Huckabee made it official in April that they had shed their provincialism to become legal residents of Florida, the Sunshine State.

Where they soon begin building a $3 million beachfront mansion with cement pond.

Worst cow gang

Another gang of Southwest Arkansas cows loitering along Interstate 30 near Prescott one midnight in April caused several wrecks. A number of them had to be shot after ignoring orders from authorities to disperse.

Best in the history of the world

In Wally Hall’s column in the Arkansas DemocratGazette on Feb. 5, Wally dubbed Charles Cella at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs as “the greatest horseman and greatest track owner in history.”

Worst coddling

Officials in Little River County agreed in May to provide a state prison inmate with peach-flavored Nehi soda and sunflower seeds in exchange for his testimony in a murder trial scheduled for June.

Worst razzing of Hilda Cornish

The fecund Duggar clan — Jim Bob and Michelle have 47 natural-born children now, or thereabout — were obliged to spend some medical time in Little Rock at the first of the year, and in January they leased and occupied the historic Cornish House on Arch Street, ancestral home of Hilda Cornish, who was a friend of Margaret Sanger’s and the founder in the 1930s of the first formal birth-control movement in Arkansas.

12 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

Worst networking

Two 20-year-old Walnut Ridge Einsteins were arrested and charged with the theft of a backhoe in April after proudly posting pictures of themselves with the stolen machine on Facebook. “Whenever someone posts their crime on Facebook, it makes our job a lot easier,” the arresting officer said.

Best fetch

The owner of Lil’ Dog, a mixed-breed pooch from Ashley County, was shocked back in May when the amateur drug dog returned from his rambles in the neighborhood with a gallon freezer bag containing 24 smaller bags filled with marijuana.

Worst adoption

Police in El Dorado say a teen-ager walked into the local animal shelter there in June, pulled a pistol, and robbed the joint. The take: One black pit bull dog. The suspect was later arrested while walking the dog, and was assigned a cage of his own.

Best characterization

From the obituary of Vergia Arnold of Sheridan in May: “Granny, as she was known to her family, made the best homemade rolls and chocolate pies known to mankind.

She loved fishing, going to church, good gospel singing and working in her yard, but most of all her family.”

Worst bottleneck

In January, the Daily Beast website named a quarter-mile section of Interstate 30 around Exit 141 in downtown Little Rock as country’s 59th worst commuter traffic bottleneck.

Best headline

“Smoking groin lands two in custody” — from the KAIT (Jonesboro) website in June.

Best move

Officials in Little Rock agreed in June to move a bronze statue of a Labrador retriever in Riverfront Park which had been installed in a spot popular with wedding photographers. Problem was, while the statue was meant to suggest an animal poised to spring from a dock to fetch a downed waterfowl, many of those not familiar with the mechanics of dog-leaping thought the pooch appeared to be making a deposit, not a retrieval.

Worst near-permanent vacation

A tourist from Arkansas who was visiting Dodge City, Kan., in September almost became a resident of Boot Hill when he put a decorative noose around his neck for a funny photo op and then lost consciousness. A worker from a nearby museum had to rush in and save him.

Worst season in hell

The first week of August, which saw triple digits for days and record highs for several Arkansas cities. Little Rock set a new record of 106 on Aug. 2, then bested that by one degree the next day — the same day Searcy reached a Death Valley-like 108.

Best Confederate

That would have to be Loy Mauch, who was elected in November to represent Arkansas House District 26. A former commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans post in Hot Springs, Mauch has called the Confederate flag “a symbol of Jesus Christ,” and belongs to a group that believes the South should re-secede from the Union.

Best of class

Vic Snyder of Little Rock, the state’s classiest and sanest congress-critter, announced in January he’d retire at the end of the year.

Continued on page 14 www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 13

Worst swap

In November, the voters of Arkansas’s Second Congressional District gave the seat previously occupied by the reliably liberal and courageous U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder to Republican Tim Griffin, a former aide to Karl Rove who has spent the last 10 years up to his eyeballs in Republican dirty tricks, including vote suppression in Florida and the Bush administration’s politically-motivated firings of several U.S. Attorneys (including former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas H.E. “Bud” Cummins, who was forced out so Griffin could have his job).

Worst cold

Single-digit temps three days running at the end of the year’s first week, with sub-zero lows over much of north Arkansas. Another big winter storm numbed northern two-thirds of the state at the end of January. February was one long icicle.

Worst lazy

Arkansas was ranked the third laziest state (behind only Louisiana and Mississippi) in a Business Week magazine survey of sedentary lifestyles published in July.

Best unfriending

In May, an Arkadelphia mother was convicted of misdemeanor harassment and ordered to pay a $435 fine and attend parenting classes after she was convicted of hacking her 16-year-old son’s Facebook account and changing his password.

Worst day for wearing a badge

In the middle of May, two West Memphis police officers were killed after pulling over a pair of anti-government extremists on Interstate 40 near that city. Later, it turned into a full-on firefight in a Wal-Mart parking lot, with the suspect and his son firing on police with an AK-47 assault rifle from their van. Before it was over, two more cops were wounded, several cars were turned to Swiss cheese and the two men in the van were killed.

Worst dry

By Oct. 18, Central Arkansas’s weeks-long dry spell finally got so bad that a large pile of driftwood that had collected against Murray lock and dam in the middle of the Arkansas River caught fire, blistering paint but not damaging the steel and concrete dam.

Best private

The obituary in January for Jim Cobb of Little Rock began by noting his death, and then it said: “Jim Cobb was a very private person. The only way this obituary could be published would be over his dead body.”

14 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

Best private (runnerup)

A Conway man won the state lottery’s first big Powerball jackpot in January. After taxes, he took home less than half the $25 million payout. The man shunned all publicity, and disconnected his phone — and a nosy reporter who ventured onto his property seeking an interview was chased off with a gun.

Best (or at least Supreme) Wallyism

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports columnist Wally Hall wrote in June that the expansion of the SEC into the Big 12 “seems not only probable, but likely.”

Worst caviar

Worst carpool

In September, a teen-age worker at the North Little Rock YMCA put 17 students just dismissed from Indian Hills Elementary in the bed of a single pickup truck and hauled them back to her place of employment, which almost instantly became her former place of employment.

Worst April showers

Tornadoes ripped through Arkansas on the last day of April and then again on May Day, killing one person and all but leveling the small town of Scotland.

Worst hate

A Heber Springs man and his brother-in-law brought home a long-nosed gar filled with roe from a spearfishing trip to Greers Ferry Lake in April, and decided to turn the fish eggs into caviar, which you can do with some species of Arkansas fresh-water fish, but not gar.

Gar roe are toxic, which the family of four found out the hard way a few hours after feasting on these. A tough night and the day following but they all survived.

Clint McCance, a school board member at tiny Midland School District in Pleasant Plains, caused national outrage in October after he ranted on his Facebook page about his hatred for gays and lesbians, saying — among other things — that he would be happy if all homosexuals committed suicide. He eventually apologized and resigned.

Best irony

In the middle of the uproar over McCance’s remarks, George Takei — the openly-gay actor best known for portraying U.S.S. Enterprise helmsman Mr. Sulu on the original “Star Trek” — weighed in via Youtube video, saying: “Mr. McCance, you are a douchebag.

That’s right. A douchebag. ... You apologized for your poor choice of words, but you are always going to be a douchebag.”

The paterfamilias in the gar egg eating story was Darwin Aaron, whose first name must have given ol’ Mr. Survival of the Fittest quite a chuckle up there in heaven.

Worst school spirit

A reporter for a local sports radio station was fired in August after University of Arkansas officials complained to her employer that she had worn a Florida Gators cap to a press conference following a Razorback football scrimmage, drawing the ire of Coach Bobby Petrino.

The incident brought out the nuts, with the young woman reportedly receiving several death threats.

Best nuking from orbit

Best new holiday

Wormageddon, on March 21. (So-named because of the mysterious appearance above-ground of earthworms all over Central Arkansas.)

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Best moonshiner

An 83-year-old Batesville man in April became the state’s first officially licensed moonshiner. He said he’d launch a distillery that would make not only shine but a line of liquors including one that’s said to taste like apple pie.

Worst seasonal mixup

A foot of snow in north Arkansas on the first day of spring.

Best dancers

Of all the men’s college basketball teams in Arkansas only one was asked to the Big Dance — the NCAA tournament — in March. The Golden Lions of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. (The Lady Trojans of UALR were the only Arkansas women’s team to make it.)

Worst day for pollen

April 6. It was so heavy that every gust of wind through the pine grove out near our place sent great green clouds of it billowing like heavy smoke. From 36,000 feet, the whole region appeared wrapped in dense yellow smog.

Worst tea party rhetoric

One of their national organizers passing through in April complained that a couple of local TV interviewers were cheerful and upbeat, not angry and wanting to do violence to somebody, which is the official party attitude. This bird said the KTHV interviewers were “so bright and chipper that I thought I’d have to beat one of them to death.”

Best legal precedent

In a December order in which he recused from a case involving the controversial construction of a new coal-fired power plant in South Arkansas, U.S. District Court Judge William Wilson Jr. formally cited the 1972 Arkansas-filmed movie “The Legend of Boggy Creek” after noting the case “appeared to be as hairy as the Fouke Monster.”

From new and improved

campgrounds at Crater of Diamonds and Mississippi River state parks to new mountain bike trails at Pinnacle Mountain, you may not even recognize your old favorites. But, we guarantee you’ll find something new to love.

Maybe the new rope course at The Ozark Folk Center or the cabins at Lake Ouachita or the interpretive center at Mount Nebo…

�������������������������� �������������������������� ������������������������������� ���������������������� Devil’s Den State Park > ��������������������������������������������

�������������������������������������

www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 15

eye on arkansas

Editorial n The Chamber of Commerce does not snuggle up only with public officials, though that is some of the dearest snuggling.

The chamber fancies opinion-molders too. Some years back, we knew a newspaper editor in small-town Arkansas who doubled as president of the local chamber of commerce. He saw no conflict of interest in those offices, believing the chamber universally loved, except perhaps by malcontents at the shoe factory who should have been grateful they had a job at all.

And so it has remained, in most of Arkansas. With the help of the chamber, ours is still a low-wage state, the chamber and its friends in government and the media still oppose any effort at the unionization that could make workers’ lives better, and they still support tax breaks for grossly wealthy and lowpaying corporations.

It is a sign that Little Rock, at least, is growing up that a citizens group has challenged city government’s annual $200,000 gift to the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. What the chamber does with the public’s money is largely unexplained, though knowing what we do of the chamber’s political philosophy, we can be sure the money is not squandered on the common man.

Early this month, Arkansas Community Organizations sent a letter to the city board of directors and Mayor Mark Stodola asking that the city stop giving taxpayers’ money to the Chamber. ACO suggests the money could be better spent for police and fire protection, for trash collection., for transit, for any public purpose.

The board and the mayor didn’t agree, and the chamber got its $200,000, but the ACO will be back. So will Max Brantley, editor of the Arkansas Times, who has repeatedly questioned the taxpayers’ subsidy of a private special-interest group.

Public Citizen, a public-interest group, has reported that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $32,452, 999 to influence the 2010 midterm elections, more than anyone else. (The money was used to aid conservative candidates and causes.)

Both the U.S. Chamber and local chambers can muddle through without public assistance, yet city officials seem to believe the contribution to the chamber is the last thing that can be cut from the city budget. It should be the first. n Speaking of misuse of public funds, the elevation next month of Rep. John Boehner of Ohio to speaker of the House is truly scary. Boehner is a proponent of voucher subsidies for religious schools. He wants publicly funded “faith-based” charities to have the right to discriminate in hiring on religious grounds. He’s pushed for “intelligent design” instruction in public school science classes. Friends of the First Amendment must be prepared to resist.

201 East Markham Street, 200 Heritage Center West, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 Home page: http://www.arktimes.com • E-mail: arktimes@arktimes.com Publisher Alan Leveritt editor

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16 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

brian chilson

Squeezing the rock

A LOOK BACK: One of the worst moments for Arkansas in 2010 was former Midland school board member Clint McCance’s Facebook hate-filled rant about gay children in October. Protesters lined up outside the school and asked for McCance’s resignation.

LR Club at work n The Little Rock Airport Commission signaled last week that Airport Director Ron Mathieu’s job is safe.

It adopted some window-dressing financial rules in response to reports in the Times of his egregious misspending, but otherwise sang his praises for cadging freely available federal dollars for airport expansion.

Mathieu, you may remember, seemingly lied to a commissioner’s direct question about an ad expenditure and has approved spending for himself and staff worthy of banana republic royalty. No matter.

The commissioners really seem to think if you build a bigger airport, a city will come, and not the other way around. They should know better.

Airport passenger boardings dropped a whopping 25 percent at Little Rock National between 2000 and 2009, from 1.285 million to 948,000. 2010 isn’t looking much better. The airport boarded 91,647 in November this year, 19 fewer than the 91,966 boarded 10 years ago in November 2000.

Yes, as commissioners brag, airport revenues have skyrocketed. That’s because they are sticking it to airport consumers and sticking it to them hard.

When Mathieu came on staff in 2006, you could park next to the terminal on the west side for $8 (free for less than 30 minutes). That charge is now $13, a 63 percent increase. The long-term lot south of the terminal cost $6 a day. That’s now $10, a 67 percent increase. There was no airport charge on rental cars.

It’s now $3.50 a day. The gouging is evident in every aspect of the operation, from bagels to beer.

The economy and area growth drive airport traffic, not Mathieu’s management. But we are kidding ourselves if we think catering and parking fees alone will pay the tab for a Taj Mahal aerodrome.

Commissioners are so happy with the money flow, they’ll probably give Mathieu a raise of his $180,000 pay in February, not to mention more for his cosseted staff. Surely there’s to be a COLA for the unfriendly $96,000-a-year public relations of-

Max brantley max@arktimes.com

ficer who took the fall for Mathieu’s shipping of $40,000 in public money to his son’s private Christian academy. She already makes more than the director of the Arkansas State Police.

The airport field of dreams is typical city leadership fantasy. The city’s $200,000 taxpayer handout to the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce is justified by its supposed stellar job creation record. But when I asked Mayor Mark Stodola for proof of his very specific job claims, I got only a mishmash of news releases that fell well short of his number. The paperwork included touts of businesses that had actually cut jobs recently — Dassault Falcon and LM Windfiber — and a citation of Verizon, which slashed hundreds of jobs here after it bought Alltel. The chamber and the mayor also took credit for decisions by major companies already here with veteran work forces — think the Alltel wireless spinoff and Southwest Power Pool — not to make extremely expensive moves elsewhere.

It’s the Little Rock Good Suit Club at work. Club members, who enjoy airport commission appointments and other perks that come with clout, always behold their work and proclaim it good. What’s a little dishonesty, featherbedding and taxpayer-financed gratuities among members of the club? Accountability? That’s only for union school teachers.

Just remember when the club starts bragging on themselves to look at other indicators — static population, declining city tax revenues, declining air traffic, eroding school enrollment and decaying essential infrastructure — before you stand and applaud.

brian chilson

To govern conservatively n It will not be long before the big new conservative cohort in the Arkansas legislature — old-line Republicans, Tea Partiers and reactionary Democrats — will be at loose ends and looking for fresh conservative causes.

They constitute a sizable majority in the legislature that will assemble at the Capitol in two weeks and they will be looking to make a difference. But you can expend only so much initiative punishing gays and undocumented immigrants and their children or stymieing people who can’t or won’t participate in the health-insurance system.

All that can be done in only three or four weeks.

Besides, those do nothing to advance the truly substantive conservative causes: making things fair for beleaguered small businesses and entrepreneurs, protecting market competition and pruning our ever-expanding state government.

That’s where we come in. Our encyclopedic services include legislative programs and guidance across the political spectrum, including our pro-business conservative friends.

Let’s get to the easiest first. A conservative legislature could implement the suggestions of the Arkansas Alternative Energy Commission, which has proposed a couple of ways to encourage entrepreneurs and investors in renewable energy to produce power for our electrical grid.

Ernest Dumas One is what is called a feed-in tariff, which would regulate how the big electric distribution companies take and compensate for power produced by individuals and businesses that use solar, wind, biomass, geothermal or other renewable sources of energy. The big out-of-state holding companies, the coal and oil cartels and some of the liberal co-ops won’t like it because they want to decide where colonies like Arkansas get their electricity, and they want it to be from coal, oil and gas and from their own boilers, not clean and renewable sources and resourceful Arkansas people.

It is a baby step that won’t shake up the energy industry or solve our long-range energy problems, but it would give Arkansans cheaper and more reliable power over the long run, stimulate new businesses and jobs and obviate the need for more big, costly and polluting generating plants. It is a conservationist’s dream.

Another way that the legislature could befriend small Arkansas businesses is to level the playing field against big multistate corporations that compete unfairly by avoiding the income taxes that Arkansas entrepre-

Murphy’s Law for asphalt czars n Until Sunday, Madison Murphy, oil scion from El Dorado, was thought of as a small-government conservative.

What happened Sunday was that the statewide newspaper in Little Rock quoted Murphy as saying the Highway and Transportation Department needs all those hundreds of state cars it maintains for employees.

The newspaper further quoted him as saying that 135 employees holding administrative positions in the department’s central office need to use their state cars to commute between work and home. That, he explained, is because they are on-call around the clock and might get called out to some kind of road emergency.

I think, then, that I will put in a request for a company car. I am, after all, on-call around the clock, whenever my brain is percolating with column thoughts.

Let us say, just for example, that I got a call in the middle of the night from a source saying that Gov. Mike Beebe had gone mad and was running nude through Governor’s Mansion neighborhood, elud-

John Brummett jbrummett@arkansasnews.com

ing both his security detail and a phalanx of city patrolmen.

To better prepare me to write a column on this extraordinary spectacle, I would stagger to my personal vehicle, the one on which I make a personal monthly payment, and drive to the area in question for on-site reporting.

By what we will call Murphy’s Law, I would require a company car just for such an occasion.

I predict I will not be granted this vehicle. The private newspaper company employing me is frugal on its outgo in light of being a for-profit enterprise beset by economic realities.

A state agency is not inconvenienced by the forced efficiencies of profit-seeking nor by the constraints of economic realities. That goes double for an agency like

neurs have to pay. That would be by joining most other states that levy corporate income taxes and requiring the multistate corporations to use an accounting process called “combined reporting” when they compute their Arkansas taxes.

The accounting firms have taught the big corporations how they can avoid paying taxes on their profits in Arkansas and get a leg up on the little stores they compete with.

They artificially shift their profits earned in Arkansas to the books of a subsidiary with a mail drop in Delaware, Nevada or another tax haven and pay almost no Arkansas tax, giving them a sizable advantage over the Arkansas-owned nursery, hardware and dry-goods stores with which they compete.

Most states caught on to the dodge and adopted combined reporting.

Phil Jackson, a conservative businessman from Berryville, spent his eight years in the state Senate trying to bring some fairness to the tax system by stopping the tax scofflaws, but the big boys beat him down.

Some energetic Tea Party Republican ought to shoulder his yoke.

The new GOP caucus could join cause with Mr. Republican, Sheffield Nelson, and make those rich Texas investors pay their fair share of maintenance for tearing up Arkansas roads and aquifers and taking our natural gas to fire the boilers and heat the homes of the Ohio Valley and other eastern points. The Texas boys put one over on Gov. Beebe and the legislature two years ago by sneaking in provisions of the severance tax law that let them take enormous quantities

of shale gas out of the state with a smidgen of tax in return. They reap huge profits and Arkansans are left to tax themselves to pay for the corrupted roads and land.

Nelson, the former state GOP chairman, national committeeman and twice the party’s standard bearer, wants to try again to make the big Texas companies pay Arkansans a modest compensation for exploiting their natural heritage. A simple majority of the legislature could raise the tax rate on most of the gas by a negligible 1 percent, which would still go a long way toward eliminating the need for higher gasoline or sales taxes to fix the highways.

Finally, they could take a cue from the father of modern Arkansas Republicanism, Mike Huckabee, and try to check the mushrooming growth of state prisons.

Huckabee left the details on how to do it to the legislature, as was his custom, and neither he nor the lawmakers ever got around to it. Governor Beebe has ordered a study about how to do it because he doesn’t want to have to raise taxes to build and operate more prisons, which are already costing us $350 million a year. The study suggests that we stop sending so many non-violent offenders—small drug abusers, check kiters, small-time thieves and the like—to prison for long terms, curtail mandatory sentences for consecutive offenders and make more use of treatment, probation or other supervision options.

Talk about saving the taxpayers’ money and scaling down government. That’s the way to do it.

the Highway Department that exists with constitutional independence and with dedicated revenue.

That is why I have called our Highway Commission the “asphalt czars.”

Murphy is chief among them as a Mike Huckabee appointee to a 10-year term on the Highway Commission. Now beginning his last two years, he is the newly ascended chairman.

Let us insert the rich irony here: Before going on the Highway Commission, Murphy got appointed by Huckabee in the 1990s to a special right-winger’s commission — indeed, it was known as the Murphy Commission — that recommended all manner of efficiencies to limit the size of state government and eliminate waste to keep faith with the taxpayers.

Beebe, who is trying to reduce state government’s vehicular fleet because of unfavorable press attention, expressed displeasure with the Highway Commission for blowing off his executive order to reduce the number of vehicles, as is its right as a constitutionally independent agency.

Murphy was responding to the governor, explaining that he had evaluated the Highway Department’s fleet high and low and determined that the department needed just about very one of those cars.

That is surely what his staff told him.

Constitutional independence can lead to

an insularity of experience by which a commission appointee can become overly dependent on the presumed expertise of the professional staff, thus losing broad perspective. The appointee comes to serve the trusted state employee, not the forgotten taxpayer.

This independence also can lead to an arrogance of power that, from time to time, needs to be reined in from the outside. This next legislative session with all these new small-government conservative Republicans — that would seem an ideal time.

A special highway subcommittee to hold the agency’s appropriation hostage until the very end of the session, extracting whatever amount it determines to be spent to maintain vehicles it deems inessential — that is the route I would recommend.

Oh, I almost forgot: I also would propose referring to the people a constitutional amendment to put the Highway Department back under the governor. It would never pass, since people do not trust themselves to elect good governors. But it might get a few of our public cars out of private driveways.

John Brummett is a columnist and reporter for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. You can read additional Brummett columns in The Times of North Little Rock. www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 17

1620SOLD Restaurant Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Big Whiskey’s American Bar & Grill Capi’s Restaurant SOLD Catfish SOLD City & BBQ Grill Cheeburger Cheeburger SOLD Hampton Inn Heights Toy Center SOLD Hunka Pie Juanita’s Mexican Cafe and Bar Loca Luna Restaurant SOLD Pizza Cafe Red Door Restaurant SOLD Smile Bright Teeth Whitening SO Restaurant Starving Artist Café Sticky Fingerz StoneLinks Golf Course Trio’sSOLD Restaurant

halfoffdepot.com/littlerock

arts entertainment

This week in

Patrick Sweany to White Water

Danny Barnes plays Juanita’s Page 21

Page 20

and

to-do list

20

calendar

22

Movies

26

Dining

31

NYE party planner A survey of the best bets for ringing in the New Year.

By Lindsey Millar

I

f you’re stepping out on New Year’s Eve beyond dinner, you’re likely headed to one of two sorts of shindigs: a big-ass party or a concert. Find out below where you fit in.

Do you enjoy congregating with mass chunks of humanity? Need to hear music you know when dancing?

Like to have room to roam at your get-downs? Then you’re headed to a big-ass party. And there’s none bigger than New Year’s Eve at The Peabody (8 p.m., $45 adv., $55 d.o.e.), with four bands and two DJs spread throughout the hotel’s bars and ballrooms. The party

starts in the hotel lobby, where Power 92’s Tre’ Day and jack-of-all-styles g-force spin hip-hop and pop in a DJ battle. From there, find Southern rock cover band CRISIS, party act Tragikly White or local jazz king Rodney Block in the ballrooms, or hang with the cigar smokers in Mallard’s for sax and keyboard duo Wine and Roses. In the Peabody penthouse (9 p.m., $20), the High Society crew is throwing an exclusive party with DJ Hollywood, Spencer Rx, Big Brown and Chelsie’s Angels Burlesque Troupe. Tickets are limited and available exclusively via RSVPsociety.com.

Other big-ass party options: Cajun’s Wharf (4:30 p.m., $25) is counting down the New Year with The Buzz 103.7; a complimentary appetizer bar opens at 7 p.m. and arguably Little Rock’s finest cover act, Cody Belew and the Mercers, does pop and R&B hits, beginning around 9 p.m. Chris Bowen and One Stone Productions always draw huge crowds wherever they throw events. On New Year’s Eve, they’re teaming with Infamous Events and B Dot to host a big soiree at the War Memorial Stadium Letterman’s Club (8 p.m., $25 adv., $50 VIP), with live Continued on page 24

CODY BELEW AND THE MERCERS: Will ring in the new year at Cajun’s.

www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 19

■ to-dolist

by John Tarpley

THUR SD AY 12/ 30

PATRICK SWEANY

9 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5

n Normally, I’d feel trepidation recommending this show. It seems I’m not the only one who thinks the blues rock revival is overstaying its welcome. Don’t get it twisted, I love (and love to play) a grimy, cocksure electric blues just as much as the next pasty white guy, but just last week, I heard three different Black Keys songs in three different ads in a single commercial break. So why am I going to endorse this gig? Because every time he comes to town, Patrick Sweany, that wolf-voiced, bluesscorching son of a gun, shakes up one of the best blues shows you’ll see this side of Holly Springs. The Ohio native hollers, shimmies and stomps through three hours of loud, distorted Piedmont blues, shaking juke-joint swagger out of a tractor-sized hollow-bodied guitar. I’m a convert. Dan Auerbach and Jimbo Mathus (big-time throwback rockers from The Black Keys and Squirrel Nut Zippers, respectively) are outspoken members of Team Sweany, too. If there’s a rock show this week that’ll threaten you with a good time, this one’s it.

BLUES ON RED: Ohio blues rocker and local favorite Patrick Sweany returns to White Water Tavern for what’s sure to be a long scorcher of a set this Thursday, Dec. 30.

GOINES RETURNS: Fresh off of releasing another reliably terrific mixtape in “It’s Gotta Be Black,” Pine Bluff rapper and Times favorite Goines hits the Mediums Art Lounge stage during “1.1.11”

S ATU R D AY 1/ 1

‘1.1.11.’

9 p.m., Mediums Art Lounge. $10

n After this New Year’s Eve, you’re going to be tired, maybe still hung over and probably ready to stock up on as many 20 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

extra hours of rest as possible before tackling another calendar year. That’s just the nature of New Year’s Day. But the lineup for “1.1.11” should be enough to make those with an ear for local hip-hop perk right back up. Local rapper/activist/ promoter Osyrus Bolly hosts “1.1.11,” a hip-hop showcase night featuring some of the best Arkansas has to offer with sets from the Tillman brothers of EarFear, fresh off of releasing the cumbersomely-titled but banging “G33KS GON3 W!LD,” their third album in six months; Goines, who just released “It’s Gotta Be Black,” the newest in a long string of Suga City-affilliated mixtapes that live in my car stereo; Epiphany, the hyper-literate emcee with a dial that’s seemingly stuck on “grind”; the baritone swagger of Southwest Boaz; reggae-tinged rap from Bully Gang; heavy club bangers from the masked men of Da Saw Squad; and rock fusion from local mainstays Velvet Kente.

SUNDAY 1/2

‘S.I.N. SUNDAY: THE ANDY WARR EXPERIENCE’

10 p.m., Ernie Biggs. $8 with R.S.V.P.

n In last week’s issue, we threw some well-deserved accolades towards “Brother” Andy Warr, saying that newly-crowned prince of local rock music makes us feel both short and lazy with his 7’10” stature and his 140 bands (both precise figures calculated using the science of hyperbole).

This Sunday, you’ve got the chance to see him hard at work during this week’s “S.I.N. Sunday,” a weekly “Service Industry Night” for waiters, bartenders, chefs and the whole food-serving cadre. He’s playing a triple header with Sweet Eagle, the Detroit rock supergroup with Andy on guitar; Iron Tongue, the metal group that manages to get better with every gig and

now features Andy on bass, and his eponymous band, Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth. If you haven’t yet, go find out why the hype is real. Heck, say hello.

Just because you’re the most intimidating man in town doesn’t mean you can’t be the nicest man in town, too.

F R I D AY 1 /7

MOCKINGBIRD HILLBILLY BAND/ ISAAC ALEXANDER 9 p.m., The Afterthought. $7

n It’s no secret that we’re fans of The Afterthought, Hillcrest’s neighborhood jazz bar and one of the most chill drinking holes in town. And now that the Little Rock institution is booking local, folktinged rock music, we’re excited to have more reasons to go. This Friday marks the

■ inbrief

venue’s first experiment in widening its tent to local musicians more likely to set up shop on White Water Tavern or Stickz stages. The Mockingbird Hillbilly Band brings its whacked-out, psychedelic flavor of Holy Modal Rounders-inspired hickfolk to the lounge and prolific local pop brainiac Isaac Alexander breaks out a set full of the hyper-melodic, dry-humored pop earwigs that make him one of the best songwriters Little Rock has to offer.

Maybe even a few regular jazz jammers at The Afterthought will join on stage to spice up a few numbers. I tend to doubt it, but there’s always power in suggestion, nudge nudge.

THURSDAY 12/30

n Bluegrass chanteuse Cindy Woolf brings her Americana stylings to The Afterthought, 8 p.m., $5. Cajun’s Wharf winds down 2010 with music from Steve Bates, 5:30 p.m., and the John Sutton Band, 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. Stickyz hosts a night of straight-up rock and roll with local supergroup Magic Hassle and epic indie rockers American Gods, 9:30 p.m., $5. Folk troubadour Ol’ Puddin’head hits Thirst n’ Howl for his weekly stint, 8 p.m., free. ACAC hosts two New Orleans acts with soundscapes from Sun Hotel and hyperactive pop from Caddywhompus, 9 p.m., $5. Texas indie outfit The Young Maths open up the night at Maxine’s before heavy local duo Androids of Ex-Lovers lends its barrage of bass and drums to longtenured local singer/songwriter Bryan Frazier in one of the coolest, unpredictable collaborations we’ve heard of in months, 9 p.m., $3.

S ATU R D AY 1/ 8

‘ARKANSAS SHORTS’ 7 p.m., Malco Theater. $7

n After two years of sell-out screenings at Hot Springs’ gorgeous, historic Malco Theater, “Arkansas Shorts” is set to return for its fourth year, showcasing music videos, experimental films, documentaries and narrative shorts from the state’s filmmakers. Highlights include “Breathturn,” a music video by Marc Byrd for his celebrated ambient band, Hammock; “Ces Jours” by Valley of the Vapors organizer (and former frontman of ska heroes The Blue Meanies) Bill Solleder and local painter Michael Shaeffer; the amazingly titled “North Korea Taking the Speed Boats” from author J. Lee; “Princess Bling Bling and the Art Knight” from Anna Wingfield and her 5th grade Art Club, and “cinePLOSION!,” a live multi-video installation by Dan Anderson, experimental filmmaker and director of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. All proceeds from the night’s celebration of cinema go to Valley of the Vapors, the local non-profit arts organization.

RODNEY CARRINGTON 8 p.m., Robinson Center Music Hall. $47.20

n In 2003, Rodney Carrington released an album called “Nut Sack.” Say what you will about the country comedian/ crooner and his awful, lowest common denominator quiver of fart and fat jokes.

Feel free to hate his rapid-fire sleaze, his flat-out unfunny jokes about killing nuns and orphans while drunk driving, his smug, self-satisfied grin, his race-baiting shtick, his gay-baiting shtick, his irritatingly nasal singing voice, the bed-stain of a sitcom he starred in or the fact he made himself a millionaire by perpetuating the same tired “ignorant redneck” stereotype that’s a cancer to the upstanding majority of Southerners. By all means, hate him for that, if anything. Hate him because Bill Hicks died and we’re left with this doofus.

Just don’t say that naming an album “Nut

SATURDAY 1/1

BOZO: Don’t miss Rodney Carrington singing about his genitals Saturday, Jan. 8, at Robinson Center Music Hall.

Sack” isn’t kind of hilarious.

FRIDAY 1/7

S UN D AY 1/9

n Up-and-coming heavies from around the state bring it to Vino’s when At War’s End, Veridium, Through the Looking Glass and C4 take to the venue’s back room, 9 p.m. Acoustic duo Brian and Nick play for the Flying Saucer crowd, 9 p.m. Hungrytown throws back its folk sound all the way to the 1920s at the Faulkner County Library, 7 p.m., free. Bonnie Montgomery’s backwoodsy folk act Montgomery Trucking hits White Water Tavern, 10 p.m.

DANNY BARNES

9 p.m., Juanita’s. $10 adv., $12 d.o.s.

n It’s a long way from point Delta blues to point punk, but the space in between is jam-packed with all breeds of young, aspiring cowpunks, psychobillies and tattooed hayseeds. But 49-year-old Danny Barnes, a country-punk O.G. (“original gentrifier”), can still storm the alt-country barn with kids half his age. Admittedly, he’s the Kurtis Blow to, say, Nashville Pussy’s Wu-Tang Clan and he looks more than a little like a cop, but for 20 years the Texan has repurposed the entire idea of “banjo,” running it through loop pedals and laptops, scatting over twangy riffs and, in his old band, Bad Livers, using it to rough up classics from Iggy Pop (“Lust for Life”) and Motorhead (“Ace of Spades”). He may be an overlooked force to most, but with a recent profile on NPR, outspoken fans in Dave Matthews, Mike Gordon of Phish, real life guitar hero Bill Frisell and college-country icon Robert Earl Keen ready to praise him at the drop

n Comedy rockers Hosty Duo bring their Ween-esque tendencies to Stickyz, 9 p.m., $5. Laid-back rockers Mojo Depot strum and harmonize at Cregeen’s Irish Pub, 8:30 p.m., $5.

East Dallas modern rockers One Bent Minute cover radio hits from Lady Gaga to Korn at West End, 10 p.m., $5. Revolution brings to the stage the heartfelt music of indie rockers Falcon Scott, folkie Sean Michel and supercatchy pop duo Midwest Caravan, 9 p.m., $5-$8.

SATURDAY 1/8

ONE MAN BANJO BAND: Banjo virtuoso, hardcore punk connoisseur and middle-aged skateboarder Danny Barnes lands in Juanita’s on Sunday, Jan. 9. of a pick and a nation of folks hungry for alt-country, Barnes may want to brace himself for a sudden explosion. Better late than never.

n Revolution gets back in black with AC/DC tribute act Hell’s Bells, 9 p.m., $5. A trio of alt-country acts returns to Vino’s with Neil Travis, Steepbanks and Slackwater taking the stage, 8 p.m., $8. Bluegrass badasses Runaway Planet harmonize around the mic at Cornerstone Pub and Grill, 9 p.m. White Water Tavern brings in a night of heavy metal from widely loved Rwake and Story of the Eye, 10 p.m.

Energetic pop-rock newcomers All the King’s Men visit Maxine’s with fellow Oklahomans The Red River, 9 p.m., $5. www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 21

www.arktimes.com

afterdark

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.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30 Music

Cindy Woolf. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., $5. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

“V.I.P. Thursdays” with DJ Silky Slim. Sway, 8 p.m., $3. 412 Louisiana. 501-907-2582.

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

John Sutton Band (headliner), Steve Bates (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

Magic Hassle, American Gods. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9:30 p.m., $5. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

Ol’ Puddin’head. Thirst n’ Howl, through Dec. 31: 8 p.m. 14710 Cantrell Road. 501-379-8189. www. tnhrocks.com.

Patrick Sweaney. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m.

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

Sun Hotel, Caddywhompus. ACAC, 9 p.m., $5.

608 Main St. 501-244-2974. acacarkansas.wordpress.com.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free.

111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-374-7474. www. capitalhotel.com/CBG. The Young Maths, Brian Frazier (with Androids of Ex-Lovers). Maxine’s, 8 p.m., $3 donation. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

coMedy

Claude Stewart. The Loony Bin, 8 p.m.; Dec. 31, 7 and 10 p.m., $6-$12. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. www.loonybincomedy.com.

events

Lights in the Landscape. Gardens are lit with 1.8 million holiday lights from 5 to 9 p.m. each evening. $6 for adults, $4 for children 6 to 12 years old.

Children 5 and under are free. Garvan Woodland Gardens, through Dec. 31. 550 Akridge Road, Hot Springs. www.garvangardens.org.

“River Market on Ice” 2010. The River Market Pavilions turn into an outdoor ice skating rink for the holidays. For hours and more information, visit holidaysinlittlerock.com. River Market Pavilions, through Jan. 9, 2011, $8. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31 Music

Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth, Man Against Fire, Flameing Daeth Fearies, The Vail, Afternoon Delight, PWK. Maxine’s, 8 p.m., $12 adv., $15 d.o.s. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

Brown Soul Shoes. Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 9 p.m. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub. com.

22 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

WEIRD SCIENCE: Buzzy, eccentric busking duo Tyrannosaurus Chicken brings a wild mix of trance-inducing Delta blues and lower-than-lo-fi garage attitude to White Water Tavern on Thursday, Jan. 6, and Midtown Billiards on Friday, Jan. 7.

The Cate Brothers, Mountain Sprout, Big Smith. George’s Majestic Lounge, 6 p.m., $10.

519 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-442-4226.

Cody Belew & the Mercers (headliner), Richie Johnson & Brandon Peck (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 4:30 p.m., $25. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

Cool Shoes and Cybertribe present WolfE-Wolf, Sleepy Genius, Justin Sane, Sleek, Cameron Holifield, Ewell, Paul Grass, Risky Biz. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $10 general, $25 V.I.P. 1300 S. Main St. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

DJ Chaz. Khalil’s Pub, 9 p.m., $25 table reservations. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224.

www.khalilspub.com.

DJ Shaun Patrick. Lulav, 9 p.m., $40 or $75 per couple. 220 A W. 6th St. 501-374-5100. www. lulaveatery.com.

DJ Silky Slim. Sway, 9 p.m., $10. 412 Louisiana.

501-907-2582.

DJ Stellar, Michael Shane, Phillip Dixon (disco); DJ Kramer (lobby); Whitney paige, Dominique Sanchez, DJ Steve (theater).

Discovery Nightclub, 10 p.m., $25. 1021 Jessie Road. 501-664-4784. www.latenightdisco.com.

Embrace the Crash, The Supporting Cast.

Cregeen’s Irish Pub, 8:30 p.m., $10. 301 Main St., NLR. 501-376-7468. www.cregeens.com.

Four on the Floor. The Underground, 10 p.m., $10. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-375-2537.

Fundamental Elements, Scratch Track.

Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $10 adv., $15 d.o.s. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

The Gettys. Fox And Hound, 10 p.m., $15 or $25 per couple. 2800 Lakewood Village, NLR. 501-7538300. www.foxandhound.com/locations/northlittle-rock.aspx.

Hayes Carll, Grace Askew, Travis Linville. 18 and older Revolution, 9:30 p.m., $20. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

“High Society Live” with DJ Hollywood, Spencer Rx, Big Brown, Chelsie’s Angels Burlesque Troupe. In the Peabody penthouse.

Only 150 tickets available. The Peabody Little Rock, 9 p.m., $20 early admission. 3 Statehouse Plaza. 501-906-4000. www.peabodylittlerock. com.

“Inauguration Day New Year’s Soiree” with Jeron Marshall, Tawanna Campbell, Ultimate Groove, J-Dub. Clinton Presidential Center, 8 p.m., $25-$50. 1200 President Clinton Avenue. 370-8000. www.clintonpresidentialcenter. org.

Joey Farr and the Fuggins Wheat Band.

Midtown Billiards, 11 p.m., $8 non-members. 1316 Main St. 501-372-9990. midtownar.com.

Jonathan Wilkins and the Reparations. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m. 2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.myspace.com/whitewatertavern.

Katmandu. Next Level Events, 8 p.m., $25 adv., $30 d.o.s. 1400 W. Markham St. 501-376-9746. www.nextleveleventsinc.com.

“The Last Dragon” New Year’s Eve Bash.

Mediums Art Lounge, 8 p.m., $15-$20. 521 Center St. 501-374-4495.

Nevertrain. Flying Saucer, 9 p.m. Flying Saucer, 10 p.m., $10-$15. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-7468. www.beerknurd.com/stores/littlerock.

Pop Tart Monkeys. West End Smokehouse and Tavern, 10 p.m., $25. 215 N. Shackleford.

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

Rip Van Shizzle. Thirst n’ Howl, 10 p.m., free.

14710 Cantrell Road. 501-379-8189. www. tnhrocks.com.

Stardust Big Band. Arlington Hotel, 8:30 p.m., $165. 239 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-6237771.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m.

111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Thomas East. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

“Rivertop New Year’s Eve Party” with Tragikly White, Crisis, Rodney Block. The Peabody Little Rock, 8 p.m., $45 adv., $55 d.o.s.

3 Statehouse Plaza. 501-906-4000. www.peabodylittlerock.com.

Typhoid Mary. Denton’s Trotline, 9 p.m. Denton’s Trotline, 9 p.m. 2150 Congo Road, Benton.

501-315-1717.

White Collar Criminals. Markham Street Grill And Pub, 9 p.m., free. 11321 W. Markham St. 501-224-2010. www.markhamst.com.

William Staggers and Friends. The Afterthought, 9 p.m., $20. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd.

501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

coMedy

Claude Stewart. The Loony Bin, 7 p.m., $12.50.

The Loony Bin, 7 and 10 p.m., $6-$12. The Loony Bin, 10 p.m., $25. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. www.loonybincomedy.com.

events

“Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival New Year’s Eve Bash.” A New Year’s Eve fundraiser for the HSDFI, featuring a special midnight menu from Chef Matt Fuller and music from Chuck Dodson. Central Park Fusion Cuisine, 10 p.m., $50 adv., $75 d.o.e. 200 Park Ave., Hot Springs.

Lights in the Landscape. See Dec. 30.

“New Year’s on the Nile.” The Little Rock Zoo turns into Grauman’s Hollywood Theater to celebrate the New Year. With cocktails, dinner and music from the Shannon Boshears Band.

Little Rock Zoo, 8 p.m., $75 adv., $100 d.o.s. 1 Jonesboro Dr. 501-666-2406. www.littlerockzoo. com.

“River Market on Ice” 2010. See Dec. 30.

UpcOMiNG EvENTS Concert tickets through Ticketmaster by phone at 975-7575 or online at www.ticketmaster.com unless otherwise noted.

JAN. 21-23: “The Color Purple.” 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m., $22-$52. Robinson Center Music Hall, 7 Statehouse Plaza. 244-8800, celebrityattractions.com.

JAN. 21: Jason Aldean. 7:30 p.m. $28.70-$54.15. Verizon Arena. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com JAN. 22: Randy Newman. 8 p.m., $32-$65.

Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson, Fayetteville.

479-443-5600, waltonartscenter.org.

JAN. 26: No Age. 9 p.m., $12 adv., $15 d.o.s.

Revolution, 300 President Clinton Ave. 8230090, revroom.com FEB. 9: Kid Rock. 7:30 p.m., $60.20-$102.90.

Verizon Arena. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com FEB. 21: Tapes n’ Tapes. 9 p.m., $12 adv., $14 d.o.s. Sticky Fingerz, 107 Commerce St. 372-7707, stickyfingerz.com

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1 Music

“1.1.11” with EarFear, Goines, Velvet Kente, Epiphany, Southwest Boaz, DA Saw Squad, Bully Gang. Mediums Art Lounge, 9 p.m., $10. 521 Center St. 501-374-4495.

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

Hosty Duo. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $5. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www. stickyfingerz.com.

Mojo Depot. Cregeen’s Irish Pub, 8:30 p.m., $5.

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

One Bent Minute. West End Smokehouse and Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. 215 N. Shackleford. 501-2247665. www.westendsmokehouse.net.

Solstice, Falcon Scott. Revolution, 9 p.m., $5-$8.

300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom. com.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m. 111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG.

EvEnts

“River Market on Ice” 2010. See Dec. 30.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2 Music

“S.I.N. Sunday” with DJ Charles Feelgood, Sleepy Genius, Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth, Iron Tongue, Pilot Whale. Ernie Biggs, 10 p.m., $8. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com.

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

EvEnts

“River Market on Ice” 2010. See Dec. 30.

MONDAY, JANUARY 3 Music

Lemuria, Ezra Lbs, Shoplift. ACAC, 9 p.m., $5.

608 Main St. 501-244-2974. acacarkansas.wordpress.com.

EvEnts

“River Market on Ice” 2010. See Dec. 30.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 4 Music

Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps, Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m. 2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.myspace.com/whitewatertavern.

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

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

“River Market on Ice” 2010. See Dec. 30.

sports

UALR Women’s Basketball vs South Dakota State. UALR - Jack Stephens Center, 7 p.m. 2801 S. University Ave.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5 Music

Acoustic Open Mic with Kat Hood. The Afterthought, 8 p.m. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-6631196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

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, 5:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf. com.

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

Karaoke with Big John Miller. Denton’s Trotline, 8 p.m. 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

Lucious Spiller Band. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9:30 p.m., $5. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

Mike Merryfield. The Loony Bin, Jan. 5-6, 7 p.m.; Jan. 7, 8 and 10:30 p.m.; Jan. 8, 7, 9 and 11 p.m.

10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. www.loonybincomedy.com.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free.

111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-374-7474. www. capitalhotel.com/CBG.

EvEnts

“River Market on Ice” 2010. See Dec. 30.

sports

UALR Men’s Basketball vs St. Bonaventure.

UALR - Jack Stephens Center, 7 p.m. 2801 S. University Ave.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6 Music

“V.I.P. Thursdays” with DJ Silky Slim. Sway, 8 p.m., $3. 412 Louisiana. 501-907-2582.

Jeff Coleman. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., free.

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

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

Luke Williams Band. Revolution, 9 p.m., $5. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom. com.

Mike Merryfield. The Loony Bin, through Jan. 6, 7 p.m.; Jan. 7, 8 and 10:30 p.m.; Jan. 8, 7, 9 and 11 p.m. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. www.loonybincomedy.com.

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

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free.

111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-374-7474. www. capitalhotel.com/CBG. Tyrannosaurus Chicken. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m. 2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.myspace. com/whitewatertavern.

EvEnts

Hillcrest Shop & Sip. Shops and restaurants offer discounts, later hours, and live music. Hillcrest, first Thursday of every month, 5-10 p.m. P.O.Box 251522.

501-666-3600. www.hillcrestmerchants.com.

“River Market on Ice” 2010. See Dec. 30.

Live Music

THiS WEEk iN THEATER “Boeing Boeing.” Bernard, a successful architect living in Paris, thinks he can easily cope with his three air hostesses, who all happen to be his fiancee, in this comic farce. For reservations, call 562-3131 or visit murrysdinnerplayhouse.com. Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, through Dec. 31: Tue.-Sat., 6 p.m., $22-$30. 6323 Col. Glenn Road. murrysdinnerplayhouse.com.

GAllERiES, MUSEUMS nEw Exhibits, EvEnts

n Fayetteville FAYETTEVILLE UNDERGROUND, 1 E. Center St.: “Colored Porcelain,” ceramics

by Susy Siegele and Mike Haley; “The End of Isolation,” portraits by Adam Campbell; “Oppression, Suppression, Detachment, Growth,” photographic documentation of installation art concerning kudzu; “Carl Berman,” paintings, presented by his widow Blanche Berman and curated by Hank Kaminski, reception 5-8 p.m. Jan. 7, First Thursday. Noon7 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. www. fayettevilleunderground.blogspot.com. n Hot Springs Downtown galleries will be open 5-8 p.m.

Jan. 7 for Gallery Walk.

ARTCHURCH STUDIO, 301 Whittington Ave.: “More Life Lessons …,” paintings by Nancy Dunaway, Jan. 7-31. Half the proceeds of sales go to Genesis Cancer Center. 501-318-6779.

GALLERY 726, 726 Central Ave.: Priscilla Cunningham, paintings, January artist. 501624-7726 JUSTUS FINE ART, 827 A Central Ave.: Michael Ashley, pottery, also paintings, sculpture and jewelry. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sat. 501-321-2335. n Rogers ROGERS HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 322 S. 2nd St.: “Building Rogers,” exhibit about the architects, builders and merchants behind the city’s public and private structures with photographs, documents, tools; “Buried Dreams: “Coin Harvey and Monte Ne,” photographs; “Rogers Auto-Biography: An Automotive History of Rogers,” through 2011. 479-621-1154. n Russellville RIVER VALLEY ARTS CENTER, 1001 E. B St.: Marlene Gremillion, watercolors, opens with reception 1 p.m. Jan. 2. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.Thu., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri. 479-968-2452. n Springdale ARTS CENTER OF THE OZARKS, 214 S. Main St.: “Life’s Moments,” paintings by Beth Woessner, “Treasures of the Ozarks,” photographs by Roy Horne, both Jan. 7-28, reception 6-8 p.m. Jan. 13, McCuistionMatthews Gallery. 479-751-5441.

ongoing Exhibits

ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER, MacArthur Park: 37th annual “Toys Designed by Artists,” through Feb. 20; “Delta Exhibition,” annual juried show, through Feb. 20; “Collectors Show and Sale,” works from more than 20 New York galleries, through Jan. 2; “Currents in Contemporary Art,” “Masterworks,” “Paul Signac Watercolors and Drawings,” ongoing. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 372-4000.

ARKANSAS STUDIES INSTITUTE, 401 President Clinton Ave.: “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War,” Main Gallery, through Jan. 28,” Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects exhibit, Mezzanine Gallery, through Jan. 29, 2011; “Making Pictures: Three for a Dime,” photography exhibit based on Maxine Payne’s book, through Feb. 19. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Mon.-Sat. 320-5791.

BOSWELL-MOUROT FINE ART, 5815 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Work in all media by Elizabeth Weber, Hugo Erlacher, Mary Ann Stafford, Lam Tze Sheung, Catherine Rodgers, Jon Etienne Mourot, John McDermott, Kyle Boswell and others. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sat. 664-0030.

Continued on page 25

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www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 23

None better than the Coens n “True Grit” opened last week to much fanfare and acclaim. A couple of friends I’ve spoken to about the film have said it’s one of the best movies of the year, but not one of the Coen brothers’ best, and I think I would agree with that.

It is a damn fine film, but there’s something frustrating about the Coens choosing to make it. As both an adaptation and a remake, its strengths are based on the Coens staying out of the way of the story.

Which is to say, you can hardly do better than to simply transcribe Charles Portis’ virtuoso dialogue from the novel. That, along with action sequences that mirror the scintillating second half of the novel (and 1969 film adaptation), means the movie leans almost wholly on its bloodline rather than any new interpretation the Coens bring. For the greatest filmmakers of our day, then, it seems like low-hanging fruit.

That’s right: the greatest filmmakers of

Graham Gordy our day, and among the greatest filmmakers ever. It’s always difficult for people, especially artists, to compliment their contemporaries. For the competitor/ape in us, I suppose we still consider greatness as some sort of threat. We wait till an artist is dead and then over-praise them.

But my questions is: Who’s better? Name someone.

The Coens have made 15 feature films together over the last 25 years. That’s an almost Woody Allen-level output, yet we don’t have to suffer through the other two bad ones it takes to get to the one solid Allen film every few years. And I can say that almost without exception about the Coens. Even though there are films of

theirs that I’ve liked much less than others, everything they’ve done is far more interesting or compelling or original than 95 percent of everything else out there.

And maybe that’s what was missing for me with “True Grit”: the Coens’ unique brand of authorship. When you have the most distinctive voice in the industry, why adopt (and adapt) someone else’s?

Consider their second film and first studio project, “Raising Arizona.” How many writers, when describing their heroine’s infertility, would choose to narrate the words, “Edwina’s insides were a rocky place where my seed could find no purchase”? What other filmmakers would create a scene in which (in “The Big Lebowski”) the words, “No, Donny.

These men are nihilists. There’s nothing to be afraid of,” is a laugh-line? And who among contemporary screenwriters could recapture an era and genre better than the Coens with their noir endeavor, “Miller’s Crossing,” and lines like, “You ever notice how the snappy dialogue dries up once a man starts soilin’ his union suit?”

It must be hard, even for the brilliant, in our faltering filmmaking economy. If you examine the financial returns of their

nye parties Continued from page 19

music by Tawanna Campbell, James “JDubb” Williams and Jeron and DJ Mike Blaze; the dress code is semi-formal. West Little Rock’s favorite place to drink and sit in comfortable chairs, West End (10 p.m., $25), has modern rockers Pop Tart Monkeys and a balloon drop.

On the north side of the river, Fox and Hound (10 p.m., $15 or $25 per couple) hosts primo party band The Gettys for ’80s night; dress in’80s style and entry is free. If all you want to do is dance, you’re headed either to Electric Cowboy (7 p.m., $10) for a $1,000 balloon drop at midnight and the cha-cha slide, to Discovery (10 p.m., $25) for seasoned Vegas DJ Stellar, drag queens and the best New Year’s Eve give-away around (a 2010 Mercedes Smart car) or to Juanita’s (8 p.m., $10 adv., $15 d.o.s.; $25 adv., $30 d.o.s VIP) for contemporary EDM from Little Rock’s biggest crews, Cool Shoes and Cyber Tribe.

If cover bands, balloon drops and DJs from Vegas sound like the seventh circle of hell, maybe a concert? The standout of the night is singer/songwriter Hayes Carll, a Texas native and Hendrix College alum who appears to be the heir to twang-y Texas songwriters like Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle, who made careers out of striking an anti-Nashville pose. Armed with new songs from his upcoming album “KMAG YOYO (and Other American Stories),” Carll comes to Revolution (9:30 p.m., $20, 18 and older) with Memphis singer/songwriter Grace Askew and Okla24 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

HAYES CARLL: The Hendrix alum has new material ready to go for his New Year’s Eve show at the Rev Room. homa folky Travis Linville supporting.

Other concert options: St. Louis popsoul act Fundamental Elements is at Stickz (9 p.m., $10 adv., $15 d.o.s.) with

Scratch Track opening. At White Water Tavern (10 p.m., $5), Jonathan Wilkins plays good-time barroom rock built on a folk foundation. In Spa City, Brother Andy

movies, you’ll see that their most fiscally successful projects have been “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”, “Burn After Reading,” and 2007’s “No Country For Old Men” (another adaptation). And when you look at the Coens’ oeuvre, they seem to have employed a “one or two for them/one for us” doctrine. For instance, “The Man Who Wasn’t There” followed “O Brother ...” while “A Serious Man” came after “No Country for Old Men” and “Burn After Reading.” The lesson here is that even the Coens can’t cheat the box office hangman and must appease both the studios and the Scott Rudins of the world.

The Coens are the modern-day Billy Wilder/I.A.L. Diamond, having succeeded in every genre they have attempted (and that’s most of them). But they’re better than Wilder and Diamond — I would say it after they were dead, so I might as well say it now — insofar as they’re not just diversely talented or masterful at all genres, but because their mark is almost always indelible.

So, here’s to your next original work, Misters Coen. Whether it’s the one for them or the one for you, I don’t care as long as it’s yours.

and His Big Damn Mouth celebrate the release of its new album, “Hell’s Angles” and share the bill with Man Against Fire, Flameing Daeth Fearies, The Vail, Afternoon Delight and PWK at Maxine’s (8 p.m., $12 adv., $15 d.o.s.). Rockers White Collar Criminals play Markham St. Grill (9 p.m., free). Long tenured local musicians make up the experimental rock act Ugly Stuff, which plays Union (11 p.m., free). North Little Rock country-tinged rockers NeverTrain perform at Flying Saucer (10 p.m., $10-$15). Local metal and post-grunge heroes Four on the Floor bring their faithful to Underground (10 p.m., $10). Denton’s (9 p.m.) hosts party band Typhoid Mary. Rockers Embrace the Crash and The Supporting Cast are at Cregeen’s (8:30 p.m., $10). William Staggers and co. do funk and soul at the Afterthought (9 p.m., $20). Prog-rockers Joey Farr and the Fuggins Wheat Band return to Midtown (11 p.m., $8), where all the downtown partygoers will start to filter in after bars close at 2 a.m.

Finally, they’re not big-ass parties and they’re not concerts, but they still deserve your consideration: New bar/ multi-purpose space Mediums (7 p.m., $15-$20) screens Berry Gordy’s martial arts film “The Last Dragon” and offers an oxygen bar. Intimate dance club Sway (8 p.m., $10) hosts DJ Silky Slim and offers a VIP champagne package. Hillcrest hangout The House (10 p.m., free) stages a dance party with Dr. Mysterium DJing.

And Town Pump doesn’t have music or special event, but it is setting up a peanut butter and jelly bar.

Be safe.

calendar

Continued from page 23 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.

GALLERY 26, 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd.: 16th annual “Holiday Art Show,” paintings, sketches, pottery, photographs, glass, sculpture, ornaments, scarves, jewelry, mixed media by more than 70 Arkansas artists, through Jan. 8.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 664-8996.

GREG THOMPSON FINE ART, 429 Main St., NLR: “Twice Told Tales,” paintings by Rebecca Thompson, through Jan. 15; also work by Glennray Tutor, William Dunlap, Donald Roller Wilson, Carroll Cloar, Barry Thomas and others.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 664-2787.

HEARNE FINE ART, 1001 Wright Ave.: “Pioneers of the Paint: Masters of the 19th Century,” paintings by Edward Michael Bannister, Charles Ethan Porter, Robert Scott Duncanson and Henry Ossawa Tanner, through January. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 372-6822.

KETZ GALLERY, 705 Main St., NLR: “After Class Art Show,” work by art educators Charlotte DeRoche, Angie Shelton, Casey Gorman, Anna Wingfield, Mary Matthews, Lora Matthey, Kristen Malluns, Mona Brossett, Connie Willis and Camilla Landers; also “Cityscapes,” paintings by John Kushmaul, through December. 529-6330.

LAMAN LIBRARY, 2801 Orange St.: “All Aboard: Lionels at Laman,” hands-on train exhibit, through Dec. 30. 758-1720.

LOCAL COLOUR GALLERY, 5811 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Art and jewelry by members of artists’ cooperative. 501-265-0422.

M2GALLERY, 11525 Cantrell Road (Pleasant Ridge Town Center): Charles Henry James, retrospective, also work by Jason Twiggy Lott, William Goodman, Char Demoro, Cathy Burns and others. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 225-6257.

RED DOOR GALLERY, 3715 JFK, NLR: Buddy Whitlock, featured artist, also work by Lola Abellan, Mary Allison, Georges Artaud, Theresa Cates, Caroline’s Closet, Kelly Edwards, Jane Hankins, James Hayes, Amy Hill-Imler, Morris Howard, Jim Johnson, Annette Kagy, Capt.

Robert Lumpp, Joe Martin, Pat Matthews and others.10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. 753-5227.

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.: Fused glass sculpture by Lisabeth Franco, paintings by Joy Schultz, Mike Gaines, MaryAnne Erickson, Stephano and Alexis Silk, jewelry by Joan Courtney and Teresa Smith, sculpture by Scotti Wilborne and Tony Dow. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

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

TOBI FAIRLEY FINE ART, 5507 Ranch Drive, Suite 103: Jane Booth, large abstract oils. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Fri. or by appointment. 8689882. n Benton DIANNE ROBERTS ART STUDIO AND GALLERY, 110 N. Market St.: Work by Chad Oppenhuizen, Dan McRaven, Gretchen Hendricks, Rachel Carroccio, Kenny Roberts, Taylor Bellot, Jim Cooper and Sue Moore. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 8607467. n Bentonville CRYSTAL BRIDGES AT THE MASSEY, 125 W. Central Ave.: “David Hockney: Six Fairy Tales,” 39 etchings from Hockney’s book, through Jan. 7. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thu.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 479-418-5700. n Calico Rock CALICO ROCK ARTISTS COOPERATIVE, Hwy. 5 at White River Bridge: Paintings, photographs, jewelry, fiber art, wood, ceramics and other crafts. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Thu., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun. calicorocket.org/artists. n Fayetteville UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS, Mullins Library: Ashworth collection of Native American Art, through December. n Hot Springs AMERICAN ART GALLERY, 724 Central Ave.: Thomas Kinkade, Jimmy Leach, Jamie Carter, Govinder, Marlene Gremillion, Margaret Kipp and others. 501-624-0550.

GALLERY CENTRAL, 800 Central Ave.: James Hayes, featured artist. 501-318-4278.

HOT SPRINGS CONVENTION CENTER: “Hot Springs: A Journey through History,” photography.

LINDA PALMER GALLERY, 800-B Central Ave.: Jason Sacran, paintings, through Jan. 31st. 501-620-3062.

TAYLOR’S CONTEMPORANEA, 204 Exchange St.: Sheila Cotton, oils, through December. 501624-0516.

MUSEUMS, ongoing ExhibitS

ARKANSAS INLAND MARITIME MUSEUM,

Continued on page 27

n artnotes Toys that play with you

BY LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK

n The deck headline on last week’s Art Notes referred to copy that ended up on the cutting room floor, in case you were wondering. The review of the Delta Exhibition ran so long, the review of the 37th annual “Toys Designed by Artists” exhibit was cut.

This week we make up for that, because the toy show, a creation of the Arts Center, has some great stuff in it. Like William Price’s “Sheriff Rubber Ducky,” a double-barreled duck that looks like it can shoot back — the perfect toy for the duck hunter in your life. “Ducky” won a purchase award.

Others of my favorites: Ye Seul Seo’s “Please, Soothe Me,” a beautifully-felted Asian doll whose arms move and make her look like she’s wiping away tears when you turn a crank, and which also won a purchase award. Also Chance Dunlap’s meat-eating plant “Tumbler” and another of his wheeled toys, “Refugee,” a tentacled thing; they are weird, beautifully made sculptures. “Tumbler” won an honorable mention.

A toy that didn’t win but should have: John Watts’ “Don’t Spill the Oil Board Game,” complete with box (believably fabricated and depicting two startled children); game board; game money; oil drums, dolphin, turtle, fishing boat, sail boat, alligator and otter pieces and, in the middle, an oil platform. Stack the oil drums so the top one spills and oops! The

SHERIFF RUBBER DUCKY: William Price’s toy at the Arts Center. gulf loses.

Undoubtedly the biggest toy ever in the history of the toy show (an Arts Center original): “SLIM,” Brooke Foy’s giant wooden unicyle made entirely of the branches of trees — a large forked limb supports the seat and pedals, the wheels are woven sticks, the spokes of shaved branches. It’s nearly the width of the Jeannette Rockefeller Gallery.

James Volkert of Conway has cleverly reproduced Fragonard’s “The Swing” on a small canvas and hung it from a brass structure that appears to have gears that will allow the painting to swing. Nice.

Like the Delta in the accompanying gallery, the show runs through Feb. 20.

cajun’s wharf presents

If you want to rock in the New Year, the bar at Cajun’s Wharf is the place to be. Join us for an appetizer buffet and a midnight champagne toast — all to the music of Cody Belew & The Mercers, for only $25 per person.

cajunswharf.com

mon-sat from 4:30 p.m. 2400 cantrell road • on the arkansas river 375-5351 www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 25

Saturday, Dec 31 – Thursday, Jan 6

HELP WANTED ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

CELEBRATING OUR 10th YEAR!

WiLd TarGeT – pG13 1:45 4:00 6:45 9:00 Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt, Rupert Grint

HoWL – nr 2:00 4:20 7:00 9:15

Jon Hamm, James Franco, Allen Ginsberg Sundance & Berlin Film Fest

BLack sWan – r 2:00 4:20 7:00 9:20

Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel 12-Critics Choice Movie Award Nominations, Official Selection Toronto & Venice Film Fest

Fair Game – pG13 2:15 4:15 7:15 9:15 Naomi Watts, Sean Penn Satellite Award Nominations

THe GirL WHo kicked THe HorneTs nesT – r 1:30 Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyquist

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26 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

WORD WAR I: Based on a true story, “The King’s Speech” follows a newly crowned George VI of England (Colin Firth, left), who, with his country on the brink of war, undergoes an unorthodox course of treatment to fix his life-long, debilitating speech impediment with the help of eccentric speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush, right), his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), and Winston Churchill himself (Timothy Spall).

DEC. 31JAN. 2

movielistings All theater listings run Friday to Thursday unless otherwise noted.

Check www.arktimes.com for updates. Market Street Cinema showtimes at or after 9 p.m. are for Friday and Saturday only.

NEW MOVIES The King’s Speech (R) – After being crowned King of an England on the verge of turmoil, George VI (Colin Firth) is faced with the challenge of fixing his debilitating speech impediment with help from eccentric Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).

Breckenridge: 11:00, 1:40, 4:20, 7:00, 9:50. Rave: 11:20, 2:20, 5:15, 8:05, 11:10.

Wild Target (PG-13) – Victor, a middle-aged assassin (played by Bill Nighy) takes on a young apprentice and finds himself irrevocably attracted to their next victim. Market Street: 1:45, 4:00, 6:45, 9:00.

RETURNING THIS WEEK Alpha and Omega (PG) — Two wolves try to find their way back home after being kidnapped from their pack. But things go awry when the two opposites attract. Voiced by Hayden Panettiere and Justin Long. Movies 10: 12:35, 2:55, 5:05, 7:20, 9:30.

Black Swan (R) – Darren Aronofksy’s psychological thriller about a twisted friendship between two master dancers in an elite New York City ballet company. With Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis.

Market Street: 2:00, 4:20, 7:00, 9:20. Rave: 12:10, 3:05, 5:45, 8:30, 11:20.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) — The latest adaptation of the beloved C.S. Lewis fantasy series. Breckenridge: 11:00, 1:45, 4:20, 7:00, 9:35. Chenal 9: 11:15, 1:50, 4:20, 7:00, 9:30. Rave: 10:25, 1:15, 4:10, 7:05, 10:00.

Despicable Me (PG) — A skittish criminal mastermind hiding in the suburbs plans to steal the moon, if only he can keep three orphaned girls away. Movies 10: 12:30, 3:00, 5:20, 7:35, 9:50.

Easy A (PG-13) — A straight-laced, all-star high school student uses the school’s rumor mill to give her social life a boost in this loose adaptation of “The Scarlet Letter.” With Emma Stone. Movies 10: 12:25, 2:45, 5:10, 7:25, 10:10.

Fair Game (PG-13) — Director Doug Liman dives into the Valerie Plame controversy of 2003 in which White House officials outed a CIA agent. Market Street: 2:15, 4:15, 7:15, 9:15.

The Fighter (R) — A look at legendary Irish welterweight Mickey Ward (Mark Walberg), his halfbrother and trainer, Dickey (Christian Bale), and their rise out of crime and drugs. Breckenridge: 11:25, 2:10, 4:50, 7:40, 10:20. Chenal 9: 11:10, 1:40, 4:15, 7:15, 10:10. Rave: 10:35, 1:35, 2:25, 4:30, 7:45, 10:35. Riverdale: 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:35, 10:10.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (R) — Cyber-genius Lisbeth Salander finds herself in the hospital after taking a bullet to the head and up for charges on attempted murder upon her release in the final chapter of the “Millennium Trilogy.” Market

Street: 1:30.

Gulliver’s Travels (PG) – Jack Black and a pack of shameless producers neuter Jonathan Swift’s brilliant, biting satire. Couldn’t they have at least changed the name out of respect? Breckenridge: 12:00, 2:30, 5:10, 7:45, 10:10. Chenal 9: 11:30, 2:05, 4:05, 7:30, 9:45. Rave: 11:35, 1:50 (2D); 12:20, 2:35, 4:50, 7:10, 9:30 (3D).

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (PG-13) — With Voldemort in control over Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic, Harry, Ron and Hermione have to race against time to overthrow the evil lord.

Breckenridge: 1:25, 8:00. Rave: 4:20, 7:40, 11:05.

Riverdale: 12:00, 3:20, 6:25, 9:30.

How Do You Know (PG-13) — A former athlete (Reese Witherspoon) finds herself caught in a love triangle between her professional baseball player boyfriend (Owen Wilson) and a corporate suit (Paul Rudd). Breckenridge: 11:20, 4:45, 7:35. Chenal 9: 11:05, 1:35, 4:10, 7:05, 9:40. Rave: 10:45, 12:00, 1:45, 4:40, 7:50, 10:45. Riverdale: 11:25, 2:00, 4:35, 7:15, 10:05.

Howl (NR) — Radical beat poet Allen Ginsburg (James Franco) breaks down societal barriers, faces a jail sentence for public obscenity. Market Street: 2:00, 4:20, 7:00, 9:15.

Jackass 3D (R) — Johnny Knoxville and his daredevil pals are back, this time getting stupid and crude in the third dimension. Movies 10: 12:05, 2:20, 4:35, 7:10, 9:35.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (PG) — Soren, a young, orphaned barn owl, joins a band of wise, noble owls to fight wouldbe conquerors. Movies 10: 12:15, 2:35, 4:55, 7:15, 9:40.

Life as We Know It (PG-13) — Two singles have to learn to work together when they become caregivers to a baby, orphaned after their mutual best friends die in a car accident. Movies 10: 1:00, 4:15, 7:05, 10:05.

Little Fockers (PG-13) — Five actors, 20 Oscar nominations, six wins, one tired joke beat to death by a screen full of stupid Fockers. With Ben Stiller, Robert DeNiro. Breckenridge: 11:40, 2:15, 4:35, 7:20, 10:00. Chenal 9: 11:35, 2:10, 4:45, 7:35, 9:50.

Rave: 11:00, 11:45, 1:30, 2:15, 3:00, 4:00, 4:45, 5:30, 6:30, 7:15, 8:00, 9:00, 9:45, 10:30. Riverdale: 11:05, 1:15, 3:30, 5:40, 7:50, 10:10.

The Living Sea (UR) — Aerospace IMAX: A tour of the world’s oceans. 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. (Thu.), 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. (Fri.), 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. (Sat.) Megamind (PG) — A blue, maniacal supervillain turns into a restless mess when his sworn superhero enemy is accidentally killed. Voiced by Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Brad Pitt. Rave: 11:30.

Paranormal Activity 2 (R) — After a series of break-ins, a couple puts up security cameras in their home, and what they see is sinister. Movies 10: 12:10, 2:50, 5:25, 7:40, 9:55.

Red (PG-13) — Three of the CIA’s top agents are

jolted out of their peaceful retirements when they’re framed by the agency for murder. With Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren. Movies 10: 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00.

Saw 3D (R) — People tortured for the amusement of creepy mouthbreathers and sociopaths-intraining. Movies 10: 12:20, 2:40, 5:15, 7:45, 10:15.

Secretariat (PG) — The unlikely story of housewife Penny Chenery (Diane Lane), horse trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich) and their legendary Triple Crown-winning racehorse. Movies 10: 12:45, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45. Riverdale: 11:30, 2:10, 4:50, 7:25, 10:05.

The Social Network (PG-13) — David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin’s instant-classic dives into the drama behind Facebook’s controversial rise from a Harvard dorm room experiment to a world-wide ubiquity. Market Street: 4:15, 6:45, 9:00.

Tangled (PG) — Daring bandit Flynn Rider, Princess Rapunzel and Rapunzel’s 70 feet of hair find adventure and romance during their journey through the outside world. Voiced by Mandy Moore. Breckenridge: 11:10, 1:30, 4:30, 7:15, 9:45.

Rave: 10:40, 1:35, 4:15.

The Tourist (PG-13) — Johnny Depp plays a hapless American abroad. Angelina Jolie plays a temptress super-spy. Things explode. Breckenridge: 11:30, 1:55, 4:25, 7:10, 9:40. Chenal 9: 11:25, 2:00, 4:35, 7:25, 10:00. Rave: 12:05, 2:50, 5:30, 8:10, 10:50.

Tron: Legacy (PG) — The reboot of the 1982 classic has Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) entering the virtual gladiator arena to find his lost father (Jeff Bridges). Breckenridge: 11:15, 2:00, 4:40, 7:30, 10:15. Chenal 9: 11:00, 1:45, 4:25, 7:10, 10:05. Rave: 6:50, 9:50 (2D); 1:20, 4:25, 7:35, 8:20, 10:40, 11:30 (3D). Riverdale: 11:10, 1:45, 4:25, 7:10, 10:00.

True Grit (PG-13) — Rugged U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) helps a stubborn girl track down her father’s killer. Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Breckenridge: 11:05, 1:35, 4:05, 7:25, 10:05. Chenal 9: 11:20, 1:55, 4:30, 7:20, 9:55.

Rave: 10:55, 1:00, 1:40, 3:50, 4:35, 5:25, 6:40, 7:25, 8:10, 9:20, 10:15, 11:00. Riverdale: 11:35, 2:05, 4:40, 7:20, 9:55.

Unstoppable (PG-13) — Denzel Washington has to stop an unmanned freight train full of explosives and poisonous gas from wiping out a city. Breckenridge: 11:05, 5:00.

Yogi Bear (PG) — A devastating 7-hour epic about the decline of a Hungarian farm and the interpersonal complications that arise in its wake.

Not really: it’s just Yogi Bear. Breckenridge: 11:45, 1:50, 4:10, 7:05, 9:30. Chenal 9: 11:10, 1:30, 4:00, 7:40, 9:35. Rave: 10:50, 1:05, 3:20, 5:40 (2D); 11:40, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:25 (3D). Riverdale: 11:20, 1:20, 3:25, 5:35, 7:30, 9:40.

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

Cinemark Movies 10: 4188 E. McCain Blvd., 9457400, www.cinemark.com.

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

Market Street Cinema: 1521 Merrill Drive, 3128900, 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.

■ moviereview I saw the best actors of my generation doomed by an unimaginative script ‘Howl’ and the myth of Ginsberg. n Given the subjectivity of art, the internal dialogue that only exists within an artist’s head and how boring it is to watch somebody paint a picture, carve a block of marble into a statue or make a film, it’s no surprise that movies about artists are hard to pull off. Encased within that truth is another: Movies about working writers are double, super-duper, rhinestone-encrusted hard to pull off. Though guys like Hemingway and Jack Kerouac have sold the world on the idea that the life of a writer is all about swashbuckling adventure and derring-do, the truth of the matter is this: for the most part, being a professional scribbler is about sitting alone in a quiet place for an extended time, shunning the company of others in order to talk to yourself. Doesn’t that sound glamorous?

Whereas a flick like “Pollock” can at least show the act of putting paint to canvas and “Amadeus” can show Mozart in the throes of musical ecstasy, there are only so many interesting ways you can show a man sitting at a typewriter, pecking out words.

Given that, I consider it safe to say without even researching the topic that the number of movies (much less successful movies) about novelists and poets can be counted on both your hands, with fingers to spare. Add to that number the interesting new film, “Howl,” about the writer Allen Ginsberg.

Though it struck me as a sort of lazy bit of cinema whose material might have been served better with a solid documen-

calendar

Continued from page 25 NLR: Tours of the USS Razorback submarine. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 1-6 p.m. Sun. 371-8320.

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. 3741957.

CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, 1200 President Clinton Ave.: Standing 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.

HISTORIC ARKANSAS MUSEUM, 200 E. Third St.: “Adrienne Cullins: Black Market Kidney Factory,” paintings; “All in the Touch,” sculpture

by Diana B. Ashley and multi-media by Scinthya Edwards, through Jan. 30; “Model Trains of Bill Albright,” Eclectic Collector show, through March 14, 2011. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. $2.50 adults, $1.50, $1 children for tours of grounds. 324-9351.

MacARTHUR MUSEUM OF ARKANSAS

tary instead of dramatization, it’s still a lot of fun for lovers of poetry and Ginsberg’s jazz-infused verse.

“Howl” jumps around a bit in time, but it focuses mainly on the 1957 obscenity trial of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the owner of City Lights Books in San Francisco, who first published Ginsberg’s sexually, racially and chemically-charged longform poem, “Howl.” Though Ginsberg (played with a good bit of expertise by James Franco, who I had honestly never seen as much of an actor until now), is not present at the trial in the film, the tense courtroom sparring over the meaning of art and the necessity to move the cultural ball forward in verse is interesting, especially in the hands of two of the best

actors working right now: Jon Hamm as defense attorney Jake Ehrlich, and David Strathairn as prosecutor Ralph McIntosh.

The rest of the film is built around the core of the trial, with Ginsberg reflecting on the meaning of “Howl,” flashing back and forth in time while giving a sit-down interview with an unseen reporter. These scenes are further juxtaposed by the poem’s first, hot-off-the-typewriter reading in a seedy beatnik coffeehouse, the words often illustrated in a whirl of colorful animation.

Though the ensemble cast does some great work here (including brief cameos

by Jeff Bridges and Mary-Louise Parker as English department stuffed-shirts who discount the cultural worth of Ginsberg’s

masterpiece), and the animated segments set to the rhythms of the poem are beautifully done, I couldn’t help but think that I was watching a film that didn’t really need to exist.

Franco does a fine job capturing Ginsberg’s passion and humor, and may well land some award nominations for his portrayal. But for the most part, he’s either delivering lines from the poem or recreating a 1950s interview with Ginsberg word for word. Even the trial portions of the film are no doubt based on transcripts.

Given that, I couldn’t help but think that I’d rather be watching videos of interviews with the actual poet. Why watch a copy of a great artist — even a copy created by a fine actor — when you can hear from the man himself? Instead, we get a film about artistic passion that winds up feeling strangely distant.

Even so, films about writers are rare enough that when one comes down the pike, you should probably jump on it if you’re a bookworm like me. Too, the animated portions of “Howl” — in which muted, street-faded colors arch, skip and dance across the screen in response to Ginsberg’s gritty words — are almost worth the price of a ticket in themselves.

If only the filmmakers had put more energy into giving us what made Ginsberg tick instead of what he said once a reporter’s tape recorder started rolling, we might be talking about an entirely different movie, and you might be reading an entirely different review.

— David Koon

MILITARY HISTORY, MacArthur Park: “In Search of Pancho Villa,” artifacts from soldiers of the period, medals and original sketches of the Mexican Punitive Expedition, the United States retaliatory action in 1916 against the Mexican general who attacked a small border town in New Mexico, through May 2011; “Warrior: Vietnam Portraits by Two Guys from Hall,” photos by Jim Guy Tucker and Bruce Wesson, through April 2011; 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: “The Fine Art of Jazz,” photographs of Kansas City jazz musicians

by Dan White; exhibits on African-Americans in Arkansas, including one on the Ninth Street business district, entrepreneurs, the Mosaic Templars business and more. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tue.-Sat. 683–3593.

MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY, 500 President Clinton Ave.: “Illusion Confusion,” optical illusions, through March 2011; “Harry’s Big Adventure: My Bug World!” through Jan. 9, 2011; interactive science exhibits. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. Admission: $8 adults, $7 children ages 1-12 and seniors 65 and up,

children under 1 free, “Pay What You Can” second Sunday of every month. 396-7050. www. museumofdiscovery.org.

OLD STATE HOUSE, 300 W. Markham St.: “Arkansas/Arkansaw: A State and Its Reputation,” the evolution of the state’s hillbilly image; “Badges, Bandits & Bars: Arkansas Law & Justice,” state’s history of crime and punishment, through March 2011. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 324-9685.

WITT STEPHENS JR. CENTRAL ARKANSAS NATURE CENTER, Riverfront Park: Exhibits on wildlife and the state Game and Fish Commission. n Calico Rock CALICO ROCK MUSEUM, Main Street: Displays on Native American cultures, steamboats, the railroad, and local history. www. calicorockmuseum.com. n England TOLTEC MOUNDS STATE PARK, State Hwy. 165: Major prehistoric Indian site with visitors’ center and museum. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun., closed Mon. $3 for adults, $2 for ages 6-12. 961-9442. n Jacksonville JACKSONVILLE MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY, 100 Veterans Circle: Exhibits on

D-Day; F-105, Vietnam era plane (“The Thud”); the Civil War Battle of Reed’s Bridge, Arkansas Ordnance Plant (AOP) and other military history.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. $3 adults; $2 seniors, military; $1 students. 501-241-1943. n Morrilton MUSEUM OF AUTOMOBILES, Petit Jean Mountain: Permanent exhibit of more than 50 cars from 1904-1967 depicting the evolution of the automobile. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 7 days. 501-7275427. n Scott PLANTATION AGRICULTURE MUSEUM, U.S. 165 S and Hwy. 161: Artifacts and interactive exhibits on farming in the Arkansas Delta. $3 adults, $2 ages 6-12. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 501-961-1409.

SCOTT PLANTATION SETTLEMENT: 1840s log cabin, one-room school house, tenant houses, smokehouse and artifacts on plantation life. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thu.-Sat. 351-0300. www. scottconnections.org. n Springdale SHILOH MUSEUM OF OZARK HISTORY, 118 W. Johnson Ave.: “All Dressed Up,” men’s, women’s and children’s fancy clothing, through January. 479-750-8165.

‘HOWL’: Aaron Tveit and James Franco star.

www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 27

Hey, Do this!

Food, Music, Entertainment and everything else that’s FUN

Color Purple

PLUS

Hillcrest’s Shop & Sip the first Thursday of each month Argenta Restaurant Week From January 10-22 A Raisin in the Sun at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre

FORECAST

Exciting Arkansas events on the horizon n Celebrity Attractions brings The Color Purple to Little Rock, January 21-23 at Robinson Center Music Hall. The soul-stirring musical is based on the best-selling novel by Alice Walker and Oscarnominated film directed by Steven Spielberg. Nominated for 11 Tony Awards, The Color Purple is a landmark theatrical event with a joyous Grammy-nominated score featuring jazz, gospel and blues.

The show opens on Friday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. with performances 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 22 and Sunday, January 23. Tickets range from $22-$52. To purchase tickets, visit www. celebrityattractions.com or call 501-244-8800.

28 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS TIMES

presented by

A dv e rt i s i n g D e pa rt m e n t

n Robinson Center Music Hall hosts funnyman Rodney Carrington on Saturday, January 8 at 8 p.m. A comedian, actor and writer, Carrington is best known for his comedy albums. Rodney starred in his own TV sitcom Rodney, which ran for two seasons on ABC. He also co-wrote and co-starred with Toby Keith in the feature film Beer for My Horses. He regularly performs to sold out crowds across the US and Canada. Tickets are $47.20 and available through Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Comedian Rodney Carrington performs at Robinson Center Music Hall on January 8.

The Color Purple photos: Scott Suchman

The

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Hours: 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Saturday; 1 pm-5 pm, Sunday The Old State House Museum is a museum of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

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ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS TIMES • DECEMBER 30, 2010 29

SHOP ‘N’ SIP First thursday each month

shop ’til 8pm and enjoy dining in one of the many area restaurants.

the New Year after Starts Here! christmas sale!

4523 WoodlaWn (Historic Hillcrest) 501.666.3600

e r o m e m so

FORECAST

Exciting Arkansas events on the horizon n Hillcrest’s Shop & Sip is a family-friendly event held on the first Thursday of each month. Local shops, restaurants and venues stay open after-hours until 9 p.m. with special promotions as well as complimentary appetizers and drinks. Have fun strolling the sidewalks, listening to local bands and browsing the stores. This month’s Shop & Sip is on Thursday, January 6. In addition to Shop & Sip, don’t miss 2nd Friday Art Night in downtown Little Rock on Friday, January 14 and Argenta Art Night on Friday, January 21, which are also free and family-friendly. n On Friday, January 7, Room Service at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse. The show centers on a penniless producer and his colleagues who will stop at nothing to get backing for his play.

This kooky classic runs through Wednesday February 5. Tickets are $30, Sunday evening through Thursday; $32 on Friday and Saturday; and $28 for preview performances as well as the Sunday matinee. The price includes dinner, the show and tax. For showtimes and additional information, visit www.murrysdinnerplayhouse.com or call 501-562-3131. n Indulge in some of the best local fare during Argenta Restaurant Week. From January 10-22, enjoy special 2-course lunches for $8 and 3-course dinners for $25 from prix fixe menus along with their regular menus. Participating restaurants include Ristorante Capeo, Starving Artist Café, Riverfront Steakhouse, Benihana, Creegan’s Irish Pub, Reno’s Argenta Café, Cornerstone Grill and Pub and Argenta Market. Diners are also invited to enter into Diner Drawings fofr a chance to win prizes from Stanley Jewelers, Baker House Bed and Breakfast, Argenta Market and other shops in the Argenta district. For more information, visit www.argentarestaurantweek.com.

2616 Kavanaugh • 661-1167 M-F 10-6, SAT 10-5

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2701 Kavanaugh Blvd., Ste. 105 501-614-NOVA (6682) www.cafebossanova.com

Notable author and educator Dr. Steve Perry speaks at Philander Smith College on Jan. 18.

$2 Diamond Bear Draft During Shop & Sip 2710 Kavanaugh Blvd.

(501) 663-2198

HILLCREST SHOPPING & DINING drivers Please be aWare, it’s arkansas state laW: Use of bicycles or animals

Every person riding a bicycle or an animal, or driving any animal drawing a vehicle upon a highway, shall have all the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions of this act which by their nature can have no applicability.

overtaking a bicycle

The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a roadway shall exercise due care and pass to the left at a safe distance of not less than three feet (3’) and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle.

yoUr cycling friends thank yoU! http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ • Go to “Arkansas Code,” search “bicycle” 30, 2010 • ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS TIMES 30 august 26, 2010 • advertising supplement to arKansas times 36 DECEMBER

n Philander Smith College’s Bless the Mic lecture series continues with Dr. Steve Perry on Tuesday, January 18 at 7 p.m. at the M.L. Harris Auditorium. Principal and founder of Capital Prep Magnet School, CNN Education Contributor and best-selling author (Man Up! Nobody Is Coming to Save Us and Raggedy Schools the Untold Truth), Dr. Steve Perry has a blueprint for America’s teachers, parents, decision-makers and anyone who cares about the education of America’s children. The event is free and open to the public. For more information about the event and about Dr. Steve Perry, visit www.philander.edu/ lecture-series. n Opening Friday, January 21 at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre is the award-winning drama, A Raisin in the Sun, the story of an African-American family living on Chicago’s South Side in the 1950s. Recently widowed, Lena Younger receives a life insurance check and plans to buy a house for her family, freeing them from the cramped tenement she shares with her two children, daughter-in-law and grandson. Her son, Walter, the man of the house, has other ideas. In the struggle that ensues, one dream is realized and the other is deferred. It’s a powerful portrait of one family’s quest for the American dream.

Preview performances take place on Wednesday, January 19 and Thursday, January 20 at 7 p.m. Opening night is Friday, January 21 at 8 p.m. and includes a post-show reception with the cast as well as complimentary champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets range from $20-$60 and are available by phone at 501-378-0405 or online at www.therep.org. n The Old State House Museum presents Arkansas/Arkansaw: A State and Its Reputation. The exhibit reveals the early development of Arkansawyers as coarse, illiterate and violent backwoodsmen on one hand, while also lifted up as a noble frontiersman – independent, humble and honest. Beginning in 2011, the Old State House Museum will mark the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with five years of exciting exhibits and programs.

The museum’s goal is to conserve two newly acquired Confederate battle flags by 2012.

For more information about this project, visit www.oldstatehousemuseum.com/supportthe-museum/flags-campaigns.aspx. The Old State House Museum is located at 300 W. Markham in downtown Little Rock and is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Admission is free.

n Rosalia’s Family Bakery is now open next door to sister-restaurant Cafe Bossa Nova in a space that formerly housed Movie Gallery. The 2,900-square-foot space (which includes a large private meeting room) is modeled on a Brazilian panaderia, according to Dan Monroe, who co-owns the bakery and the restaurant with his wife, Rosalia Monroe. That means, he said, specialty Brazilian breads as well as “just about anything” you’d expect to find at a bakery — bagels, baguettes, cakes and cookies, and challah, rye, savory, white and whole grain breads.

With a full coffee bar serving fair trade coffee from Dean’s Beans, Rosalia’s will fill a coffee shop void in Hillcrest and may give Starbucks some competition, Monroe said. Salads and sandwiches and other lunch items will likely be part of the mix in the future, he said.

The bakery is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The phone number is 319-7035, and the address is 2701 Kavanaugh.

Restaurant capsules Every effort is made to keep this listing of some of the state’s more notable restaurants current, but we urge readers to call ahead to check on changes on days of operation, hours and special offerings. What follows, because of space limitations, is a partial listing of restaurants reviewed by our staff. Information herein 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.

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order by city; Little Rock-area restaurants are divided by food category. Other review symbols are:

B Breakfast

L Lunch

D Dinner

$ Inexpensive (under $8/person)

$$ Moderate ($8-$20/person)

$$$ Expensive (over $20/person)

CC Accepts credit cards

Little Rock/ N. Little Rock American 65TH STREET DINER Blue collar, meat-and-two-veg lunch spot with cheap desserts and a breakfast buffet. But hurry — breakfast closes down at 9 a.m. on the dot, and the restaurant doesn’t reopen until 10 a.m. for lunch. 3201 West 65th St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-562-7800. BL Mon.-Fri. ACADIA A jewel of a restaurant in Hillcrest. Wonderful soups and fish dishes. Extensive wine list. Affordable lunch menu. 3000 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, CC. $$-$$$.

501-603-9630. LD Mon.-Fri. D Sat. BIG ROCK BISTRO Students of the Arkansas Culinary School run this restaurant at Pulaski Tech. 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

Continued on page 32

■ dining Capi’s detours south of the border But it’s not just another Mexican restaurant. n Does Little Rock really need another Mexican restaurant?

The familiar question (my answer, by the way, is, always “sure”) might be prompted by a quick glance at the revamped menu at Capi’s in the Pleasant Ridge Town Center.

Menu headings include tacos, enchiladas and tamales. There’s an appetizer, despite a different name, that could pass for cheese dip.

But Capi’s is not another Tex-Mex eatery. Nor is it another platform for a happy clan of immigrants turning out the cooking of their homeland modified for perceived Arkansas tastes. It is more like Diana Kennedy come to town.

Peck (the cooking genius behind Trio’s) and partner Brent Peterson have long had a passion for south-of-the-border cooking.

And I mean not just Mexico, but Central America, the Caribbean and beyond. Trio’s once featured KICK THE COLD: Capi’s posole will warm you up. a month of Latin specialties each May. Fresh and unusual ocean fish; unusual herbs; exotic vegetables and chili parlor chili has a dash of cinnamon.) fruits were carefully prepared and made for But it’s a departure from norm around here. great, change-of-pace dining.

This is a good spot to jump to the tamales Peck, struggling a bit to find a niche for (chicken, cheese and pork), classics of the the sleek mallville setting of her second Mexican genre, not Delta-style like you find restaurant, decided to jettison the original at Doe’s. Peck stuffs hers admirably. The concept of “small plates” or tapas. I’ll miss corn mush doesn’t overwhelm the fillings. the macaroni and cheese and lots more, but I They are steamed, Oaxacan style, in banana confess to having faced obstacles at times in leaves, which produces a moist, almost fallcomposing coherent meals from the many apart tamale with a scent of vegetable. Comchoices. For one thing, the plates weren’t plex seasonings that tingle modestly, rather small enough. Generous isn’t a bad thing, than burn, are the key here. but the prices added up.

We also had some real winners in the Never mind the old. In with nuevo Latiseafood category. no. Hardly a hint remains of old dishes, save There was Mexican paella ($21 and some familiar dessert favorites from Trio’s available only after 5 p.m.). It was more and a couple of standard salads. In its place soup than rice-dominated paella, but I have are dishes that, even when familiar, exhibit no cause to complain about a shortage of details that set them apart from the neighrice when a chile medley fires up lobster borhood taco truck. bisque stock. The star of the dish was abunSome flavors will prove a challenge to dant seafood, added in just the right order so some eaters, though the comprehensive that all the key elements — mussels, scalmenu descriptions should prevent surprises. lops, shrimp, halibut — were plump, moist We tried carne asada enchiladas for examand tender. ple. If Brenda’s excellent corn tortillas from I’ve saved the best for last but you’ll orthe 65th Street tortilleria weren’t the base, der it first — or at least right after a complithey came from a similarly expert provider. mentary bowl of chips with pulpy, smoky, The filling? Striking. Beef strips were surtomato-sweet salsa. It’s gambas al ajillo, prisingly tender for grilled skirt steak and or shrimp with garlic. Lots of garlic. There cloaked in a mahogany sauce that didn’t bite were lots of big, moist, sweet shrimp bathed with pepper but romanced with aromatics, in an oil and garlic sauce atop a thick tangle particularly what seemed a LOT of cinnaof pasilla chile debris. Ever had barbecued mon. This is classic in its way. (Even Greek shrimp at Manale’s in New Orleans? Capi

has taken that dish on a quick trip to Mexico. More bread for sopping, please!

We loved a brunch visit (weekends, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.). The place was crammed post-church and a heaping bowl of spicy posole, chock full of shredded pork and hominy with all the requisite condiments (radish, lettuce, cheese) on the side, was just the thing for a frigid day. Warming, too, was a masa-thickened bowl of lively tortilla soup, as good as you’ll find for miles around. The huge hit though was the breakfast quesadilla — crispy tortillas stuffed with mellow white cheese, scrambled eggs, crunchy bacon and creamy avocado chunks. Roasted potatoes and tingly pico de gallo came with them. This dish is a lot of food for $8.50.There’s juice, cocktails and bottomless cups of hot coffee.

Capi’s hummed early on a Saturday evening, too, with most tables full and a few stylish folks perched at the small bar or the high cocktail tables beneath the light-strung “tree that grows out of the bar.

Be sure to peruse the drink menu, also a place for innovation, as well as interesting wine choices. There’s a fresh take on the margarita that I liked well enough to try twice — a smooth, high-end tequila blended with plenty of lime and distinctive agave nectar. And shoot me, but I still appreciate a place with several beer choices on draft, particularly when the food is interior Mexican or American Southwest.

The menu cries for a special dessert to match. Flan is sometimes available and coconut mousse also seems like a fit with south of the border fare. But old Trio’s favorites — raspberry cream pie, peanut butter/chocolate pie and banana delight never disappoint, no matter the setting. brian chilson

what’scookin’

Capi’s 11525 Cantrell Road Pleasant Ridge Town Center 501-225-9600 Quick bite

Fresh herbs, a cornucopia of chiles and fresh seafood are among the twists that set Capi Peck’s nuevo Latino cooking apart from the many other Latino entries in the market. Don’t miss brunch, particularly the quesadillas.

Hours

11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily (until 10 p.m. ThursdaySaturday).

Other info

Credit cards accepted. Full bar. www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 31

Restaurant capsules Continued from page 31

institution. 10907 N. Rodney Parham. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-228-7800. BLD Mon.-Sat. 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, 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. $$. 501-526-6661. BL Mon.-Fri. CAJUN’S WHARF The venerable seafood restaurant serves up great gumbo and oysters Bienville, and options such as fine steaks for the non-seafood eater. In the citified bar, you’ll find nightly entertainment, too. 2400 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-5351. D Mon.-Sat. CAPERS It’s never been better, with as good a wine list as any in the area, and a menu that covers a lot of ground — seafood, steaks, pasta — and does it all well. 4502 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-868-7600. LD Mon.-Sat. 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, All CC. $-$$.

501-375-7105. BLD daily. 270 S. Shackleford. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-224-1656. BD Mon.-Sat. B Sun. COPPER GRILL Comfort food, burgers and more sophisticated fare at this River Market-area hotspot. 300 W. Third St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-375-3333. LD Mon.-Sat. CRUSH WINE BAR An unpretentious downtown bar/lounge with an appealing and erudite wine list. With tasty tapas, but no menu for full meals. 318 Main St. NLR. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-374-9463. D Tue.-Sat.

DAVID FAMILY KITCHEN Call it soul food or call it downhome 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 South Commerce St. 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. Also at Bowman Curve. 1615 Rebsamen Park Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-9734. LD daily. 400 N. Bowman Rd. Full bar. $$-$$$. 501-224-3377. 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. $$$-$$$$.

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32 DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

501-603-9208. D Tue.-Sat. 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. $$. 501-3721919. L Mon.-Fri. FRONTIER DINER The traditional all-American roadside diner, complete with a nice selection of man-friendly breakfasts and lunch specials. The half pound burger is a twohander for the average working Joe. 10424 Interstate 30. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-565-6414. BL Mon.-Sat. GRAMPA’S CATFISH HOUSE A longtime local favorite for fried fish, hush puppies and good sides. 9219 Stagecoach Road. 501-407-0000. LD. HAYESTACK CAFE Southern cooking, po’boys and hearty breakfasts with an emphasis on family recipes. 27024 Kanis Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-821-0070. BLD Tue.-Sun. MARKHAM STREET GRILL AND PUB The menu has something for everyone. Try the burgers, which are juicy, big and fine. 11321 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$.

501-224-2010. LD Mon.-Sat. 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. 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. L Mon.-Fri. D daily.

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. 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.

STARLITE DINER Breakfast and the ice cream-loaded shakes and desserts star here. 250 E. Military Road. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-353-0465. BLD. STICKYZ ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CHICKEN SHACK Fingers any way you can imagine, plus sandwiches and burgers, and a fun setting for music and happy hour gatherings. 107 Commerce St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-372-7707. LD Mon-Sat. THIRST N’ HOWL Bar food is the specialty at this “Gilligan”themed pub. Good burgers. 14710 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-379-8189. LD daily.

TOWN PUMP A dependable burger, plus basic beer food.

1321 Rebsamen Park Road. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-6639802. 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. $$-$$$. 501-221-3330.

LD Mon.-Sat. THE UNDERGROUND Bar food — hamburgers, chicken strips and such. 500 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-375-2537. D 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. WHOLE FOODS MARKET Good sandwiches, soups and hummus to go; an enormous number of hot and cold entrees from the deli; extensive juice bar. 10700 N. Rodney Parham Road. All CC. $-$$. 501-312-2326. BLD daily.

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. $$. 501-244-9550. D Tue.-Sat. YOUR MAMA’S GOOD FOOD Offering simple and satisfying cafeteria food, with burgers and more hot off the grill, plate lunches and pies. 402 S. Louisiana St. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-372-1811. L Mon.-Fri.

AsiAn CHI’S CHINESE CUISINE No longer owned by Chi’s founder Lulu Chi, 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. All CC. $-$$. 501-604-7777.

CRAZY HIBACHI GRILL The folks that own Chi’s and Sekisui offer their best in a three-in-one: 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.

GENGHIS GRILL This chain restaurant takes the Mongolian grill idea to its inevitable, Subway-style conclusion. 12318 Chenal Parkway. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-223-2695. 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. $$-$$$. 501-7162700. 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.

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. SAIGON CUISINE Traditional Vietnamese with Thai and Chinese selections. Be sure to try to authentic pho soups and spring rolls. 6805 Cantrell Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-4000. L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sun. 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.

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Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Dine in • Take Out • Patio • full Bar Mon. -Fri. 10-10 • Sat. 9-10 Sun. 9-9

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BarBecue CHATZ CAFE ’Cue and catfish joint that does heavy catering business. Try the slow-smoked, meaty ribs. 8801 Colonel Glenn Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-5624949. LD Mon.-Sat. CORKY’S RIBS & BBQ The pulled pork is extremely tender and juicy, and the sauce is sweet and tangy without a hint of heat. Maybe the best dry ribs in the area. 12005 Westhaven Drive. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 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. $-$$.

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. All CC. $$. 501-513-0600.

LD Mon.-Sat., L Sun. 5107 Warden Road. NLR. All CC. $$.

501-753-9227.

european / ethnic 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. $$-$$$. 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 PUB 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.

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.

YA YA’S EURO BISTRO The first eatery to open in the new 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. $$$. 501-821-2485. LD daily. BR Sun. BRUNO’S LITTLE ITALY This more-than-half-centuryold establishment balances continuity with innovation in delicious traditional and original fare. The pizza remains outstanding. 315 N. Bowman Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-224-4700. D Mon.-Sat. GRAFFITI’S The casually chic and ever-popular Italianflavored bistro avoids the rut with daily specials and careful menu tinkering. 7811 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-224-9079. D Mon.-Sat. 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. $-$$. 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 Mon.-Sat.

Affordable tuition • Outstanding faculty Classes when you need them — days, evenings, weekends and online Quality university-transfer curriculum and technical programs/courses Tutoring and counseling services • Child development centers Small classes • Financial aid available A convenient campus close to where you live and work 3000 West Scenic Drive North Little Rock,AR 72118 (501) 812-2200 www.pulaskitech.edu

Visit us on Facebook or Myspace. www.arktimes.com • DECEMBER 30, 2010 33

Food for Thought

a paid advertisement

To place your restaurant in Food For Thought, call the advertising department at 501-375-2985

AMERICAN

SEAFOOD Cajun’s Wharf 2400 Cantrell Road 501-375-5351

Food and fun for everyone when you pair Cajun’s Wharf’s succulent seafood and steak with the ever-evolving live entertainment. Enjoy the fabulous fresh seafood or aged Angus beef while listening to the rolling Arkansas River on the famously fantastic deck! They also boast an award-winning wine list.

Black Angus

Homemade Comfort Food Daily Specials • Monday: Spicy Shrimp Stir-fry. Tuesday: Pot Roast.

Wednesday: Meatloaf. Thursday: BBQ Plate or Shepherd’s Pie. Friday & Saturday: Fried Catfish.

Capers Restaurant

Indulge in the culinary creations and intimate environment that define Capers Restaurant. Food and wine enthusiasts agree Capers’ sophisticated approach to dining is key to it’s many accolades including receiving the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for six years running.

Copper Grill & Grocery

An endless array of delicious dishes available in the Grill or grab your Gourmet-to-Go from the Grocery. Offering products by French Farm, Bella Cucina & Bittersweet Herb that promise to turn any recipe into a memorable masterpiece Copper Grill & Grocery is a wonderland for the gourmand.

SO

Contemporary metropolitan bistro meets Southern smalltown hospitality in a neighborhood bar. SO offers the best in fresh seafood and hand-cut rustic meats, complimented by an extensive and diverse wine list, honored with Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. Whether casual dinners, special occasions, meetings with clients, or private parties, our service will impress. Reservations six and more. Private Lounge.

Butcher Shop

Tremendous steaks, excellent service, fair prices and a comfortable atmosphere make The Butcher Shop the prime choice for your evening out. In addition to tender and juicy steaks, The Butcher Shop offers fresh fish, pork chop, 24 hour slow roasted Prime Rib, char grilled marinated chicken and fresh pasta. Ideal for private parties, business meetings, and rehearsal dinners. Rooms accommodate up to 50-60 people.

Capi’s

New South of the border comfort food menu with Southwestern and authentic Mexican specialties. Quesos, enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas and tamales steamed in banana leaves.

Eclectic brunch menu Saturday and Sunday. Creative cocktails, exceptional wine list. Live music Friday nights at 8:30. Serving Tuesday - Sunday 11:00 to close.

Flying Saucer

“A great place to hangout, experience great beer and authentic German specialties”. The Flying Saucer definitely offers a unique range of domestic and international draft and bottled beers, carrying over 80 beers on draft and 120+ different bottled beers, many which are seasonal.

Accompanying their unique beer line-up is a menu packed with flare. Bratwurst is the house specialty served with German coleslaw, or you can try Brat Con Queso or Beer Brat Nachos. Be sure to leave room for dessert: Young’s Double Chocolate Stout Ice Cream Float offers the best of both worlds.

Buffalo Grill

The crispy off the griddle cheeseburger and hand-cut fries star at this family friendly stop and will keep you coming back. The casual atmosphere will have everyone feeling right at home. The options are endless for whatever dining mood you are in. Grilled Tuna Steak sandwhich to a loaded foot long hotdog to the crispy chicken tender salad. Buffalo Grill does not disappoint. Fast and friendly staff. Very affordable prices!

Morningside Bagels

Morningside Bagels café is a full service bagel bakery.

We serve breakfast, lox and deli sandwiches on a bagel.

Our fresh cream cheese schmears and Guillermo’s coffee compliments our bagels. We serve espresso drinks hot and iced. Our soups and bagel chips have developed their own following. Come visit with Roxane and David Tackett and enjoy.

10907 N. Rodney Parham Mon-Sat 10:30am-9pm Breakfast 6-10:30am 501-228-7800

BISTRO Lulav

220 West 6th St. 501-374-5100 Breakfast Mon-Fri 6:30 am -10:30 am Lunch Mon-Fri 11am-2pm Dinner Tues-Sat 5-10pm V Lounge til 1am, Thurs-Sat

Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro 200 S. Commerce, Suite 150 (501) 375-3500 Tues-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri & Sat 11am-10pm

Fresh seafood specials every week. Prime aged beef and scrumptious dishes. Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, over 30 wines by the glass and largest vodka selection downtown. Regular and late night happy hour, Wednesday wine flights and Thursday is Ladies Night. Be sure to check out the Bistro Burger during lunch. Jump start your day with bistro breakfast from Lulav featuring scrumptious omlettes, pancakes and more.

14502 Cantrell Road 501-868-7600

For the salad lover, Dizzy’s is an absolute paradise. Its list of eleven “Ridiculously Large Entrée Salads” runs the gamut of what you can do with greens and dressing. For example Zilpphia’s Persian Lime Salad, featuring grilled turkey breast, tomato, cucumber, onion, lime and buffalo mozzarella over romaine. For another: Mary Ann’s Dream, with grilled chicken breast, baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cranberries, mandarin oranges, bourbon pecans and bleu cheese. Don’t that sound good?

300 West 3rd Street 501-375-3333

Brunch Sunday 11 am to 4 pm Lunch Mon-Sat 11 am to 4 pm Dinner Mon-Sat 4 pm to close 3610 Kavanaugh Blvd.

501-663-1464

chinese Fantastic China 1900 N Grant St Heights 501-663-8999

Hunan Oriental Cuisine

Sunday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm Mon-Thur 11 am to 9:30 pm Fri 11 am to 10:30 pm Sat 11:30 am to 10:30 pm 11610 Pleasant Ridge Drive 501-223-9966

Sharing good things with good friends is the motto at Fantastic China. A Central Arkansas favorite offering the Freshest Chinese Food in town. It’s made to order with 100% Vegetable Oil. The presentation is beautiful, the menu distinctive, and the service perfect. Fantastic China is one of the heights most reliable and satisfying restaurants and a local favorite. Full bar.

Hunan Oriental Cuisine is a Little Rock institution that has been serving great Chinese food for over 24 years. Come dine in a calm, relaxed atmosphere where the food can be enjoyed as it was meant to be enjoyed; fresh right out of the kitchen. Or, if you prefer to order takeout, be prepared to come pick up your food quickly, since most orders are ready in 10 to 15 minutes. Lunch Specials are available everyday. Try something different. You never know what you might come to like.

mexican Casa Manana Taqueria

400 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-6637 6820 Cantrell Road • 501-280-9888 18321 Cantrell Road • 501-868-8822

Voted Best Mexican 2007. Featuring authentic fare from the Puebla region of Mexico, the selections seem endless at your choice of 3 locations in the Little Rock area. You will find an array of dishes ranging from the salient Shrimp Veracruzana at La Palapa out west to great Guacamole in the River Market Taqueria. Or try tasty Tostadas that share the name of the original Cantrell location, Casa Manana.

Mediterranean Layla’s

Enjoy regional specialties such as Lentil soup, a huge serving of yummy Hummus, Baba Ghannnouj or Tabbouleh.

And don’t forget about the Gyros, they’re sure to be heroes in your book!

9501 N. Rodney Parham 501-227-7272

Brazilian Café Bossa Nova 2701 Kavanaugh Blvd 501-614-6682 Tues-Sat 11am-9pm Sunday Brunch 10:30-2pm

Try something different! Café Bossa Nova serves up cozy atmosphere and unique Brazilian dishes guaranteed to satisfy and served with that special Latin flare. Don’t deny yourself one of the delectable desserts prepared fresh daily or for an A+ apertif, drink in the authentic flavor of the country in the Caipirinha~a perfect blend of lime, sugar and Brazilian sugar cane rum. Dine with them tonight!

Shackleford & Hermitage Rd. (501) 312-2748

Nuevo Latino www.capisrestaurant.com

11525 Cantrell Rd, Suite 917 Pleasant Ridge Town Center 501.225.9600

323 President Clinton Ave 501-372-8032

400 N. Bowman Rd 501-224-0012 1611 Rebsamen Park Rd 501-296-9535 11am-9pm 11am-10pm Friday & Saturday

10848 Maumelle Blvd North Little Rock 501-753-6960 Mon-Fri: 6am-2pm Sat & Sun: 7am-2pm www.morningsidebagels.com

steak

brew pub Vino’s Pizza•Pub•Brewery 923 West 7th Street 501/375-VINO (8466)

Beer, pizza and more! Drop in to Vino’s, Little Rock’s Original Brewpub! and enjoy great New York-style pizza (whole or by-the-slice) washed down with your choice of award-winning ales or lagers brewed right on site. Or try a huge calzone, our new Muffaletta sandwich or just a salad and a slice with our homemade root beer. The deck’s always open, you don’t have to dress up and the kids are always welcome (or not).

Vino’s is open 7 days, lunch and dinner. You can call ahead for carry-out and even take a gal. growler of beer to-go. And guess what?? The bathrooms have just been re-done!

asian panda Garden

2604 S. Shackleford Road, Suite G 501-224-8100.

Fresh, flavorful, all-you-can-eat sushi. With fresh and authentic Chinese dishes, nice decor, great dessert choices and excellent sushi, Panda Garden raises the bar.

34 december 30, 2010 • ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS TIMES

Sonny Williams

If you have not been to Sonny Williams lately, get there immediately and check out the martini/wine bar. Now you can enjoy 35 wines by the glass, 335 selections of wine, 6 single barrel bourbons and all different kinds of Scotch from the many regions of Scotland. Of course, don’t miss out on the nightly entertainment by Jeff at the piano. Sonny’s is a River Market mainstay and perfect for intimate private parties; free valet parking! As always, Sonny Williams has the best steaks in town along with fresh seafood and game. No Skinny Steaks… Call ahead for reservations (501) 324-2999

Faded Rose

Featuring the Best Steaks in town with a New Orleans flair from a New Orleans native. Also featuring Seafood and Creole Specialties. As Rachel Ray says “This place is one of my best finds ever.” Back by popular demand…Soft Shell Crab and New Orleans Roast Beef Po-Boys.

500 President Clinton Avenue Suite 100 (In the River Market District) 501-324-2999 DINNER MON - SAT 5:00 - 11:00 pm PIANO BAR TUES - THU 7:00 - 11:00 pm FRI & SAT 7:00 - Late

400 N. Bowman 501-224-3377 1619 Rebsamen 501-663-9734 Open Sunday

REAL ESTATE b

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De ce m b er 3 0 , 2 0 1 0

Enjoy luxury living in Hillcrest masterpiece open Sunday

2 pm - 4 pm

Elegantly perched above Allsop Park in the heart of Historic Hillcrest, sits this stunning new contemporary work of art at 4305 N. Lookout. Built by Chip Bosley, it has been designed with stateof-the-art technology and every creature comfort you can imagine. This home instantly reminds you of the sleek dwellings often seen in James Bond movies.

With three distinct, luxurious levels, it was designed with every family member in mind. Four bedrooms and five-and-one-half bathrooms provide ample space for everyone in the family. The entry level, which is the second floor, features the common areas of the home, complete with a living room framed by two-story floor-to-ceiling windows soaring two stories that provide a breathtaking view of colorful Allsop Park. These windows are dressed with electric shades that disappear with the touch of a button. The open design of the main floor features a chef’s kitchen where every amenity is included, a majestic dining room with a built-in buffet and a private terrace. The living room is separated from the kitchen by a suspended fireplace that is best described as a work of art. A guest suite with a private bathroom is also tucked away on this level.

The first floor is a dream for children of any age with a media room, two spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a separate full bathroom, a private terrace facing the park, a full utility room and mini kitchen, a large room with multi-functional options including control room for AVW and security monitors, office, play room, storage or art studio. Heated, stained and scored concrete floors on this level of the home are a rich, “cola” color lending more warmth and coziness to this

The kitchen is a dream.

Contemporary home has gorgeous amenities.

multi-functional level.

The third floor of the home is dedicated to the master suite. It has a huge master bedroom, with a gas fireplace, kitchenette, built-in side tables and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the living room below and park beyond. Travertine floors are stunning and flow into the master bathroom, which must be seen to be believed. Consuming more than half the square footage on this level, each element of the master bathroom has been developed to the fullest. The oversized spa shower and separate spa tub has every element one could imagine. The expansive closet features built-ins and has a full-size front loading washer and dryer. A third living area is next to the master suite and has a private terrace facing the park.

A roof top deck literally tops off this amazing home. It covers the entire footprint of the home, is accessible by stairs or elevator and is equipped for ultimate entertaining. Other features of this spectacular home are a three-car garage, parking pad space to accommodate 6-8 additional cars, a Curtis Stout high-tech audio visual system that boasts 11 flat screen TV’s throughout the home, a state-of-the-art security system utilizing closed circuit cameras and so much more.

If you have ever dreamed of living in a contemporary masterpiece with a completely private surrounding, this is your chance. This fantastic home is listed by Susan Desselle of The Charlotte John Company and is offered for $1.6M. See it at the open house this Sunday, January 2, from 2-4 p.m. or call Susan at 501-772-7100 to arrange a private tour.

Heated floors are a wonderful feature.

The home has many extras. www.arktimes.com • December 30, 2010 35

REAL ESTATE by neighborhood TO ADVERTISE, CALL TIFFANY HOLLAND AT 375-2985 Land

Downtown

20 W. MARTIN, GREENBRIER$109,000. 25.21 acres off Brannon Road. Pastureland, borders creek, city water, electric, septic on property. Perfect for horses, cattle and your dream home. MLS# 10269741 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501730-1100 or 501-679-1103

5 STATEHOUSE PLAZA - New construction building on the east end of the Doubletree Hotel.

Floor-to-ceiling windows provide exceptional views of river, ballpark and area activities. Enjoy the fireworks and River Market activity from spacious 200+ SF terraces. Only 6 left! Call Susan Desselle with the Charlotte John Company at 772-7100 or visit www. SusanSellingLittleRock. com

SCRATCH GRAVEL, DAMASCUS $69,900.

Beautiful country view on paved road, level with some hardwood trees and large barn, public water at road. Seven acres total, buy all or part.

Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-730-1100 or 501-6791103

LOTS OF STREET APPEAL

\

Call Rocky Herman at 240-9172 4BR/2BA home on a cul-de-sac lot. Spacious

Access Realty 228-0018

kitchen area with lots of room to entertain and cook. Master bedroom separate for privacy.

It’s worth a long look at $128,000. MLS# 10270972

Experience ~ Dedication ~ Success

Susan Desselle

Capitol View/ Stiffts Station

400 S. VALENTINE - $109,750.

2BR/1BA updated in 2008 with HVAC, roof, kitchen, bath, flooring, paint, lighting, etc. Large fenced yard w/great deck. Walking distance to UAMS & Hillcrest. Call JoJo Carter 773-9949 or www.pulaskiheightsrealty.com for more info.

Hillcrest

4101 C ST - $224,900. 3BR/2BA, 1836SF. Recently renovated!

Enter MLS# 10255320 on www.

PulaskiHeightsRealty.com for more photos. John Selva, Pulaski Heights Realty, 993-5442

For All Your Real Estate Needs

The Charlotte John Company A 2010 Top Producer Over $7.5M closed Susan Desselle The Charlotte John Company 5811-B Kavanaugh Blvd Little Rock, AR 72207 501-772-7100 cell 501-325-5399 efax SusanSellingLittleRock@gmail.com www.SusanSellingLittleRock.com Publisher’s Notice

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free 1-800-669-9077. The toll-free number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

36 December 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

West Little Rock

9204 CYNTHIA - $122,500.

4BR/2BA, 1426 SF. Great twostory home centrally located.

New paint, new lighting fixtures & other updates throughout.

Large fenced backyard. John Selva, Pulaski Heights Realty, 993-5442 14615 BROWN BEAR DR $299,900. Great 4BR/2.5BA, approx. 3015 SF home in the new Don Roberts School District.

Plenty of space for the entire family. Formal dining room, office, family room & eat-in kitchen all downstairs. All bedrooms have large walk-in closets and master bath & closet are huge. Side-loading garage & fully fenced yard. Call Bob Bushmiaer of Pulaski Heights Realty @ 501352-0156 for more info or a private showing.

4811 SUGAR MAPLE - $449,000.

Spacious 5BR/3.5BA home with office and bonus room, built in 1995. Great multi-functional backyard. Extensively updated!

Susan Desselle, The Charlotte John Company, 772-7100 9 LISA COURT - $174,900.

This 3BR/2BA approx. 1770 SF, 1-level home in Marlow Manor is super clean & move-in ready!

Updates include new HVAC, hardwoods & carpet in bedrooms.

Large eat-in kitchen, open family room & fully fenced yard make this a perfect starter home or great for someone looking to downsize. Call Bob Bushmiaer of Pulaski Heights Realty @ 501352-0156 for more info or a private showing.

Neighboring Communities

4924 HILLCREST AVE - $459,900.

3BR/3BA plus 3-car garage. 2600 SF. Recently renovated home on large corner lot. Call John Selva at Pulaski Heights Realty at 501993-5442.

712 N. WALNUT - $159,900.

2BR/1BA in the heart of Hillcrest. Just 1/2 block of Kavanaugh. Renovated kitchen w/custom maple cabinets, tile floors, solid surface counters.

Enter MLS 10257444 at www.

PulaskiHeightsRealty.com

Riverdale 1 TREETOPS #1104 - $399,000.

Top floor condo. 3BR/3BA, over 1900 SF. Sweeping views of the river and river valley. Luxurious, full service high rise. Susan Desselle, The Charlotte John Company, 772-7100

1480 W. LAWSON RD - $189,900.

All brick on 3.5 acres in Alexander!

1850 SF, 3BR/2BA, hardwoods in great room and formal DR. Bryant schools. Clyde Butler, CBRPM, 501-240-4300.

21854 WILLIAM BRANDON DRIVE - $168,500. Enjoy country living on five level acres only 15 minutes from downtown Little Rock! Like-new home with 4BR/2BA, wood-burning fireplace, granite counters, stainless appliances & more! Call Clyde Butler of CBRPM at 501-240-4300.

GREERS FERRY LAKE Spectacular view! 5 acres.

Utilities, covenants, seller financing. Owner/agent. 501-825-6200

Conway 1110 TRILLIUM - $152,000. Newly refreshed 3BR/2BA split plan w/ new countertops, kitchen faucet and paint throughout. Gas log FP, wood floors and fenced yard. Close to schools! MLS# 10266757 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501730-1100 or 501-679-1103

Conway 1220 TRENTON - $123,000.

Charming 3BR/2BA with all new carpet, paint, tile, appliances including refrigerator, light fixtures, countertops, door knobs and pulls. Must see! MLS# 10262073 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-730-1100 or 501-679-1103 31 BERNARD - $149,000. Sparkles and shines like new! 3BR/2BA, huge living room with cathedral ceiling, oversized breakfast area, wood-burning fireplace, large bedrooms, 2” blinds thru-out. Fenced yard. MLS# 10253781 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501730-1100 or 501-679-1103 3535 HOMESTEAD - $103,900.

Adorable 3BR/2BA split open plan with breakfast bar, side-by-side refrigerator, 2-inch faux wood blinds, laundry room and large deck with access thru kitchen and master. MLS# 10272778 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501730-1100 or 501-679-1103 5125 GALLERIA COVE - $209,000.

Stunning 3BR/2BA with open split plan, an abundance of built-ins and storage. Extraordinary lighting throughout, smooth top cooking surface, breakfast bar, walk-in pantry. FP, screened in porch and fenced yard. MLS# 10268505 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-730-1100 or 501-679-1103

Greenbrier 39 INDIAN SPRINGS - $166,500.

3BR/2BA new construction with gas fireplace, tile backsplash, smooth top cooking surface, microwave, pantry, jetted tub in master. Large deck with country view. MLS# 10257991 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501730-1100 or 501-679-1103 53 WIN MEADOW - $239,900.

A little bit of country with all the modern amenities! 4BR/3BA with large kitchen w/oak cabinetry, double pantry, cook’s dream island, breakfast nook with large windows. Across from 55-acre lake. MLS# 10257940 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501730-1100 or 501-679-1103

Sherwood 400 MAXINE - $119,000.

3BR/2BA, 1452 SF all brick home on corner lot w/a fully fenced yard! Heated and cooled craft room/workshop, new roof in 2010.

Clyde Butler, CBRPM, 240-4300

SPONSOR ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY-READ PARTS OF THE REAL ESTATE SECTION. CALL TIFFANY TO FIND OUT HOW.

375-2985, EXT. 362

No. 1125

edited by Will Shortz

■ CROSSWORD

Happy New Year From

Across 1 The Divine, in 23-Across 4 “M*A*S*H” costar 8 Get started 14 Woman s name that means “messenger of God” 16 Simple hydrocarbon 17 *Omaha-born human rights activist 18 Mauled 19 Pick ___ (quibble) 20 Supérieur et Érié 22 Baum princess 23 Ligurian capital 25 Having harmony 28 Suffix with ball 29 Physics unit 30 Tee follower 32 1955 Platters hit 34 Plunk preceder 35 Follows 36 *Today’s kids, demographically speaking

38 Plessy v. ___ (landmark Supreme Court decision) 40 Gate opener for Apollo 41 Afternoon services 42 Drew Barrymore hosted this show at age 7: Abbr.

43 Est., e.g., once 46 Approximately 946 of these make a qt.

47 Bouquet : pheasants :: covey : ___ 49 Volkswagen model 51 Hockey’s Phil, to fans 53 Hubbub 55 “Dianetics” author ___ Hubbard 56 How some gym instructors stand 59 *Brand with the challenge to lose one inch from your waist in two weeks

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE S T A L A G

T A L E S E

O N E A C T

S C A L D I N G

T A T E R T O T

O P E N N E S S

P Y R R H I C V I C T O R Y

S A T S

F I R E D A T O N H E T E S T O L A K E S A U V G E L I I N

O B O L I

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O U S A T R E P E R E A R M M A S P

S O T T E D T A L E

B L A C K E Y E D S U S A N

N E O N A T A L

O B S O L E T E

L E T S P A S S

E U R O P E

E M I N E M

R O N E L Y

61 Many a campaign fundraiser 62 Sweet wine 63 It goes in front of a coal tender 64 Hayes portrayer in “The Mod Squad,” 1999 65 Number of tiles per Scrabble set for the letter at the end of the answer to each starred clue Down 1 Split or crack 2 More asinine 3 Viewing with elevator eyes 4 ___-pitch 5 It may be good or free 6 Con 7 Mexican silver center 8 Trick 9 Chiwerespeaking tribe 10 “And ___ the field the road runs by”: Tennyson 11 Courtroom cry 12 Feeling gloomy, say 13 Lockjaw 15 ___-1 (“Ghostbusters” vehicle) 21 Part of a pig 24 *“What Do You Do With a B.A. in English?” musical 26 ___ régime 27 *Performer born James Todd Smith 31 Mocedades hit subtitled “Touch the Wind”

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Puzzle by Bill Thompson

33 Urges 34 Gunpowder holders 35 Japanese surname follower 36 Comprehending 37 Latin lover s bouquet, maybe 38 Where the N.S.A. is headquartered

39 Some wallet material 42 Blunder 43 Prefix with cumulus 44 Like some kisses 45 Irk 48 “Hello ___” (Todd Rundgren hit)

50 Director Kazan 52 Bygone science/sci-fi magazine 54 Sued party in a legal case: Abbr.

57 Michael Jackson s first #1 solo hit 58 Calif. neighbor 60 Hosp. units

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.

Online subscriptions: Today s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay.

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

Sell your homes in

REAL ESTATE by neighborhood

Great rates for Realtors & FSBO!

Call Tiffany at 375-2985 for pricing and availability. www.arktimes.com• December • december30, 30,2010 201037 37 www.arktimes.com

Upcoming n Here are some predictions for 2011.

The active voice will sneak into one of Wally Hall’s columns, and as a result the crap will be scared out of him.

Secretary of State Mark Martin will claim the State Capitol’s gold dome as one of the “spoils of war” for having won election last November, and will have the dome pried off and placed atop the back-yard gazebo at his home where Nut intersects with Crackpot in the Twilight Zone.

For appearance’s sake, or just to deprive Darwinists of one of their snark points, Creationists will begin eschewing bananas.

Among recovered little-known Arkansiana will be that the loganberry was named for a knight in the First Crusade.

The degeneration of the mainstream media that began in 1993 and now has virtually all the once-proud and powerful outlets at death’s door will be found to have been caused by a virus.

Those who predicted that the world would end on May 21 will be dismayed when May 22 breaks as usual, and plods along much as May 22nds have since yabba dabba doo.

The Huckabees will decline an invitation to appear on Dancing with the Stars lest someone in their denomination mistake it for televised sexual intercourse.

Bob L ancaster A shepherd boy will discover artifacts from the DeSoto Expedition — including a stone pipe with skunkweed ash still in the bowl and a stupid grin on a jawbone fragment — in a small cave near Magnet Cove.

A new Conservative Bible will retain all the familiar passages about faith and hope but eliminate all those about charity.

UAPB will adopt a ball-game cheer in which white students in the bleachers chorus in unison, “Yowzer! Yowzer! Yowzer!”

Congress will impeach President Obama for the high crimes and misdemeanors of being a Negro and foreign-born.

Arkansas will become the nation’s fourth leading producer of tomatoes not fit for human consumption.

Supermarket tabs will say Arkansas Second District Rep. Tim Griffin is the illegitimate son of Karl Rove, wags will begin to call him KR Jr., or KR Fitzjunior, or just Junior, and he will show his annoyance by threatening to have them caged.

C

The church janitor recently elected state land commissioner will resign in favor of another church janitor who needs the job more and who has no idea what a land commissioner does, either.

The Republican Party will dump the elephant as its mascot and symbolic embodiment and go with something more up-todate and appropriate, the weasel.

Sarah Palin will propose a baby-seal clubbing contest to eliminate the pussies among the 2012 Republican presidential contenders.

In an attempt to show that he can be as hip as the next guy, Rush Limbaugh will have his jowls pierced, but not even an MRI will be able to find the studs.

It will be discovered that neither of Arkansas’s U.S. senators casts a shadow.

Sheffield Nelson will sue the state Game and Fish Commission, claiming it is introducing into Central Arkansas wetlands large alligators with special tracking chips implanted in their brains intended to cause them to waddle into the metroplex and find him and eat him.

State Rep. Loy Mauch will introduce legislation to ban the recitation of Walt Whitman’s elegy “O Captain! My Captain!” in Arkansas public school classrooms.

President Obama will sign a proposal requiring him to make concessions that will anger his base before signing any proposal, including that one.

Jimmy Hoffa’s remains will be discov-

S

LASSIFIED LASSIFIED

PROTECH SOLUTIONS INC.

Nationwide Innovative IT solutions Provider has immediate opportunities for Software Engineers/Systems Analyst/Technical Analyst/Programmer Analyst in Little Rock AR in any of following areas JAVA, JSP, J2EE, Servlets, EJB, JDBC, Struts, Spring, XML, Javascript, Perl, AJAX, Web Services, HTML, UML, WebSphere, WSAD, JUNIT,Oracle, DB2, J2EE, Design Patterns, MQ Series, Oracle Developer Suite, ASP, VB, VB.NET, SQL Server, Business Intelligence Reports, Web Services, Rational Suite and FileNet Applications. Bachelor’s / Master Degree required depending on position. We also accept the foreign educational equivalent of the degree. Excellent Compensation offered.

Send resumes to Protech Solutions Inc. Attn: HR at 303 West Capitol Ave, Ste 330, Little Rock, AR 72201 or HR@ProtechSolutions.com DECEMBER 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES 38December 30, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES 38

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

Metrology Lab • Quality Assurance Inspector • Quality Engineer Quality Test Technician • Reliability Engineer • Technician I-Engineering

www.BEIPrecision.com

Employment

Miscellaneous

Volunteer

50 Driver Trainees Needed Now! Learn to drive for Covenant Transport! Earn $700 per week!

No Experience Needed! Benefits & 401K, Local CDL Training.

Gets you job ready! 1-888248-1364

New! Free to Try! 4 Services!

1-877-660-3887 Instant Live Connections! 1-866-817-3308 Hundreds of Local Women!

You Choose! 1-877-747-8644 Connect With Live (18+) Local Ladies! 1-866-530-0180 (AAN CAN)

Volunteer Opportunity: If you can give hope, have a listening heart, and want to help survivors of all forms of violence to heal.

Please call: 501-374-7233 and ask for Karla.

Paid In Advance! Make $1,000 a Week mailing brochures from home! Guaranteed Income!

FREE Supplies! No experience required. Start Immediately! h t t p : / / w w w. h o m e m a i l e r p r o gram.net/

Furniture GREAT FOR CHRISTMAS!!

Couch for sale. Beautiful stainresistant ultra suede sectional, 4 piece. Purchased at Cantoni in Dallas for $3,200. Barely used, asking $1,500. call 501607-3100 can send pictures upon request.

Electric Cigar Box Guitars Great Holiday Gifts

501-837-3878 www.jagshouse.com

Financial Services CASH NOW! Get cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. High payouts.

Call J.G. Wentworth. (866) 447-0925. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. (AAN CAN)

Adoption Services *Adopt* A successful couple, high school sweethearts, yearn to be at-home-mom & doting dad. Kathy & Jimmy 1-800-482-8086 Expenses Paid PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Talk with caring agency specializing in matching Birthmothers with Families nationwide. LIVING EXPENSES PAID. Call 24/7 Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions 866-4136293 (Void in Illinois)

Instruments BluesBoy Jag electric cigar box guitars. Great Holiday Gifts! 501837-3878 www.jagshouse.com

Real Estate Houses and cabins for sale. The ‘Green’ alternative-For as little as $3,000 you can have a cabin for your property. Call Shawn at Smart Green Construction for more info: 501-516-1941

Products AWESOME GOURMET COFFEE \endash the perfect holiday gift!FARM DIRECT Certified ORGANIC 100% KONA. Compare Moonstruck’ s ORGANIC pound - $25 - to Whole Foods’ CONVENTIONAL pound - $50. moonstruckorganics.com 808328-0707 (AAN CAN)

FIND JOBS ONLINE @

Send Resume/cover letter: Attn: Sam Smith, 303 West Capitol Ave. Little Rock, AR 72201

The premier manufacturer of optical encoder-based positioning equipment for the space, military, and range/instrumentation markets, BEIPSSC‘s high-tech, state-of-the-art facility produces thousands of reliable sensor systems for critical applications each and every year.

WWW.ARKTIMES.COM

Account Executive Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods has a position open for its office in Little Rock, AR. Candidate will Manage creation of advertising campaigns including television, radio, print, outdoor and online components; manage research, development and placement of multi-element media buys; manage qualitative and quantitative market research projects to develop and evaluate advertising campaigns; manage Web site development and redesign projects. Duties also include managing client budgets while maintaining profitable billing and developing Request for Proposal documents for new business initiatives. Bachelor degree in Business or Marketing required.

ered — the bird entrails refuse to tell me exactly where — and positively identified.

The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville will loosen or weaken academic standards further, until there are only three of them left.

Following the lead of Congress, the Arkansas state legislature will repeal all state taxes on anyone who can afford to pay them.

Lt. Gov. Mark Darr will push legislation to make abortion providers and abortion recipients forever ineligible to receive Arkansas Traveler certificates.

Texas will require public-school history textbooks to claim that Phyllis Schlafly and Newt Gingrich, perhaps in previous incarnations, fought alongside Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett at the Alamo. (Of the two, I think the Schlafly claim is more credible.)

In an attempt to placate the new evangelical Tea Party mayor of Hot Springs, Oaklawn Park will glue pictures of saints and apostles on its slot machines over those of kings, queens, jacks, lemons, cherries and big red No. 7’s.

David O. Dodd or a reasonable facsimile will be rehanged as part of the Arkansas celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Also, descendants of Confederate soldiers in Gen. Albert Pike’s Indian brigade will scalp descendants of black Union soldiers from Kansas in a re-enactment of the Battle of Poison Spring near Camden.

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www.arktimes.com • December 30, 2010 39

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