arkansas times

ARKANSAS’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF POLITICS AND CULTURE ■ july 8, 2010

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OBAMACARE Relax.

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The INsIder Urban living

n The White-Baucum House at 201 S. Izard, a once-grand Italianate house built in the 19th century and three blocks from City Hall, has been vacant for two years — but not without occupants.

By the time city code enforcement officers showed up July 1 to rout the squatters, every room in the huge old house was stuffed with several truckloads of odiferous detritus — sleeping bags, clothing, trash — along with vomit and drug paraphernalia.

Castoff items had begun to spill from the 12-foot doors onto the porch and steps. Code officers were responding to a complaint received three weeks earlier, Neighborhood Programs head Tracy Roark said, but the Little Rock Police Department has been routing transients from the vacant house for a couple of years, according to neighbors. Harrison Development is on the tax roles as owner, but Roark said it’s likely the property had been foreclosed on.

The house was built by an Arkansas secretary of state in 1869 and was occupied in the 1970s and ’80s by the Mehlburger Engineering firm.

The house was broken into again the evening after code officers shoveled out the trash and put new plywood up over doors and windows, Roark said. If owners of the house — possibly a bank in Russellville, Roark said — don’t keep the property clean and free of transients, the city will and bill the owners.

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Coincidental cleanup

n Meanwhile, a comment on the Arkansas Blog about long-time neglect of vacant property at 611 W. Daisy Bates got some attention over the weekend. Crews showed up to repair broken windows and clean up the yard, a woman who lives nearby tells the Times. The owner of the house: Mayor Mark Stodola. Neighborhood Programs head Roark said there were no complaints on file about the property.

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Smoking on the border

n Folks must have a lot on their plate out in Fort Smith. Even with the big tax hike on cigarettes driving brand-name coffin nails above $5 a pack in Arkansas, a new study finds that citizens of that city have the second-highest per capita smoking rate in the nation. The study, part of the GallupHealthways Well Being Index and based on a nationwide survey of 354,000 participants, found that only Charleston, W. Va., beat out Fort Smith in the number of puffers.

Rounding out the top 10 were: Huntington, W. Va.; Hagerston, Md.; Evansville, Ind.; Topeka, Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Flint, Mich. and Youngstown, Penn.

Meanwhile, those with the lowest percapita smoking rates, were Provo, Utah; Boulder, Colo.; Santa Rosa, Calif.; Santa Barbara, Calif. and Salinas, Calif.

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Smart talk

Contents

8 Double slaying

Caution: Arizona ahead n In a news release that reads a little like a State Department warning about travel to an unstable foreign country, the Arkansas affiliate of the ACLU has put out a warning about travel to Arizona on account of its “racial profiling” law.

The law, which the ACLU is challenging, allows cops to stop and ask for papers from people they think might not be authorized to be in the U.S. The ACLU said profiling is already rampant in parts of Arizona.

Ever helpful, the ACLU warned people who “look foreign” that they are more likely to be stopped for minor infractions like jaywalking. To help, the ACLU has prepared English and Spanish materials (what about us Lithuanians?) on individual rights, plus a downloadable card with instructions on coping with vehicle stops and questioning. The information can be found at acluarkansas.org.

Christians at work n Secure Arkansas barely cleared the minimum signatures required by the July 1 deadline for constitutional amendments with its proposal to prohibit public benefits for undocumented immigrants. It gathered about 800 more than the 77,468 required, though it’s still not known whether all those are valid signatures. A conservative religious group, the Family Council, helped put the drive over the top with a call to members of its conservative religious/political group to pitch in on petitions. Leader Jerry Cox urged his followers to seek petitions at church and Sunday school classes, among others.

Jesus, undoubtedly, would have similarly urged a vigorous effort to prevent extension of shelter, food, medical or other public services to needy foreigners. Cox also helpfully circulated reasons from “our friends” at Secure Arkansas why the measure was important. One was that Arkansas has the fastest growing Hispanic population in the U.S. And why is this a bad thing? We’ll leave that to your imagination and the explanations of Christians Cox and his friends at Secure Arkansas.

mystery

State Police report some movement in the investigation of the slayings of two people found in a vehicle alongside Interstate 40 about a year ago. — By David Koon

10 Rx for Arkansas: Obamacare

An in-depth analysis of federal health legislation shows it will mean billions for Arkansas, coverage for tens of thousands of uninsured people and better coverage for many thousands more. What’s not to like? — By Ernest Dumas NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT: This stretch of Lousiana Street between 4th and Capitol will remain one-way.

Downtown traffic change nixed n The e-Stem charter school at 3rd and Louisiana found a traffic change, after many, the city wouldn’t go along with.

Louisiana Street between 4th Street and Capitol Avenue won’t become two-way to accommodate expansion of the school into high school grades in the old Federal Reserve building at 3rd and Louisiana. It opens July 19.

Owners of the parking deck between 3rd and 4th on Louisiana objected to continuation of the two-way pattern already provided for e-Stem two blocks to the north. Steve Beck, the city’s public works director, said engineers will work to relieve any traffic problems the one-way flow creates for the school.

The school had built a foundation for a new traffic light and bought the pole, arm and light. The city probably will buy the fixtures for use elsewhere.

16 Never hit a child

Nothing bad ever came from NOT hitting a child, says social worker Randy Cox. He has good news on the fight to end corporal punishment in school.

— By 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 n I hope they weren’t faint praises: “Little Rock City Manager Bruce Moore and City Attorney Tom Carpenter received praises from the mayor and the city Board of Directors on Wednesday during their annual performance evaluations.” The fad of pluralizing where no plural is needed continues to flourish.

Here’s the new version of an old thought: “Now abideth faiths, hopes, charities, these three; but the greatest of these are charities.” Another revised truism: “Imitations are the sincerest forms of flatteries.” n Teeth-bearing and fur-bearing: “Chihuahua Wins Ugliest Dog Title … Sporting a gray, brown and black coat, Princess Abby Francis beat a roughlooking slate of candidates for the prize, including Pabst, a teeth-bearing boxer who won last year.” A lot of human boxers wish they were still teeth-bearing.

4 july 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

Doug smith doug@arktimes.com

n “The task force, which was chaired by Northwest Arkansas megapastor Ronnie Floyd, shared Stetzer’s concerns.” I hadn’t seen megapastor before, but I like the sound of it. I guess the preacher at a very small church would be a minipastor.

Mega gets a workout in the age of excess we’re living in. I just saw a listing in the TV log for a movie called “Megashark vs. Giant Octopus.” “Megapastor vs.

Octomom” might make an interesting sequel. Or “Megashark vs. Megapastor.”

Most people would be pulling for the shark, I imagine.

Megapastor hasn’t made it into my dictionary yet, but televangelist has. Televangelist first showed up in print in the mid-1980s, according to Random House. If there was money at stake, Megatelevangelist would defeat Megashark and Giant Octopus combined. n Bill O’Reilly “seemed impervious to reality” on his May 18 TV show, according to Extra! magazine. When a Latina journalist said that crime was down in Arizona, “ ‘Crime in Arizona is up,’ O’Reilly insisted, counterfactually.” The writer here is saying O’Reilly is misinformed — as usual — but that’s not the meaning of the only counterfactual in the Random House. That counterfactual is “a conditional statement the first clause of which expresses something contrary to fact, as ‘If I had known.’ ”

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The Observer was relaxing

in the Observatory, feeling somewhat smug that he resides in a metropolitan area so civilized that it has its own submarine and in which fully 25 percent of the waiters know what a straight-up gin martini is.

To celebrate this feeling of civilized contentment, he decided to motor over to a nice steakhouse off the Financial Center Parkway and enjoy a mediumcooked New York strip steak and one of said martinis.

As The Observer was smiling and enjoying his cut of meat, a party of three, who appeared to be in their 60s, were shown to a nearby booth in the tastefully dim-lit dining room.

Just as The Observer’s feeling of being amongst civilized fellow Arkansans was combining with the warm glow of the martini, one of the two women in the party of three kicked off her shoes, turned to sit sideways in her booth and treated her fellow diners to the vision of her calloused, bunionloaded size 12 EEEE feet waggling in the aisle. During her whole meal.

A gentleman in the booth behind The Observer summed up the feelings of all who were being treated to this display.

“Uh-uh-uh,” he murmured softly.

One man’s trash is another

man’s treasure, they say. The Observer couldn’t really be bothered with either, but nonetheless we found ourselves at the Ramada Limited in West Little Rock last week for the Treasure Hunter’s Roadshow. It’s exactly what you think. Since 1996 they’ve sent teams all over the country to appraise and purchase people’s antiques and heirlooms in what is essentially a highbrow pawnshop.

What with the country in a recession, this kind of thing has a special appeal. One Roadshow employee told us that she thinks there are some people who lug antiques out of their basement to sell for rent money. They also aren’t as intent on keeping great-grandma’s jewelry box around anymore, thanks to the price of gold. Little Rock’s Roadshow has so far met with considerable success, having gotten hold of a collection of vintage comic books,

a sterling silver Japanese tea set from 1912 and a bayonet. Also sitting out were a lot of rusty old toys, baby dolls, guitars, guns, stacks of coins, candelabras, baseball cards — just the sort of miscellany one expects to see clustered together in antique stores and auction houses.

Another employee bragged that in Nashville, they’d bought Johnny Cash’s bed for $30,000. Before that, it had been a letter signed by George Washington, which had fetched $35,000. For $10,000 they’d bought an 18th century vampire “kit” — presumably including a wooden steak, and perhaps a garlic press? He admitted that while they do run into a lot of impressive and unusual finds, there’s plenty of crap that surfaces as well.

Whatever pays the rent, we suppose.

The goods that Treasure Hunter’s Roadshow gathers up are delivered to various auctions, collectors, and the occasional museum. Jewelry is usually sent off to be refined. It’s an interesting phenomenon, this sort of recycling of old possessions, we mused as we glanced at tarnished picture frames and faded silverware. Here are little bits of historical detritus, props from old black-and-white photographs, the sort of junk we couldn’t be bothered to still use but have the sentimental hankering to keep around. It’s as if since they belong to someone else’s time period, we feel we don’t have the right to throw them away or destroy them.

On the way back to our side of town, we noticed a particularly beat-up Aerostar van on I-630 with the driver’s side mirror dangling against the side of the door. We made the prudent decision to pass them on the right.

Guess some things weren’t made to last forever.

We talked to one person who took a doll to the Treasure Hunter’s event. She said it was an old doll and quite valuable. We pictured a china doll, with a little white dress and cotton body. “It was from 1960!” she added. Oh. We were playing with dolls in 1960. I guess we’re really old — and valuable?

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never be satisfied until the south side of the river is named South Little Rock.

R. Robert Bailey Little Rock

Letters arktimes@arktimes.com

The picture in the entertainment section of a young man from Comedy Central, Gabriel Iglesias, made my day. I love it when someone is not ashamed of their size and not running to a weight loss-program because someone said they were fat. Good for this young man. I can see that he is not fat, but fluffy and funny. I am keeping that picture and framing it.

Thanks for a well-rounded newspaper.

Peggy Wolfe Heber Springs

Soccer, most countries call it football.

But not in the U.S.A. OK, I admire the physical fitness of soccer players. How many U.S. football players could run nonstop up and down the pitch for 90-plus minutes? None I know of, but in “our football” we score. I might die of old age waiting for a soccer point. I am old and do not have that sort of time left.

So, please, to all the gods, let this horrific, hot, unbearable summer turn into fall with cold weather and football season before I kick the bucket.

Just let me see one more season of American football without the vuvuzela horns.

Beverly A. Clary Little Rock

Soccer not happening

Crybabies

Good photo

Geography lesson I am writing to correct the letter of Eric Francis published June 24, concerning the location of Mexico Chiquito restaurant and the origin of cheese dip.

I know nothing of the history of cheese dip. I do know, however, for many years, probably from its beginnings, the restaurant was located in Pulaski County, outside the city limits of North Little Rock. Mr. Francis is simply mistaken. The dip is probably a “home grown enterprise,” but the home was not in North Little Rock.

Mr. Francis goes on to rant a little about things that are physically located in North Little Rock being identified as in Little Rock.

Truth is that most of the money and financial support for building the arena and the ball park came from outside of North Little Rock. A county-wide tax built the Verizon Arena and the Stephens family supplied the largest contribution for Dickey-Stephens Park. The baseball team is stockholderowned and most of the stock is held outside of North Little Rock.

Mr. Francis’ paranoia about the use of Little Rock as a general location is a continuation of age-old bitterness by some on the north side. He and others will probably

I realize the whole country has World Cup fever but it’s just not happening for me.

Soccer is like abstract art, I have tried to understand it but it just goes right over my head.

For me, watching soccer is like watching a football team (a real American football team) go through agility drills. Remember in Rocky I when Burges Meredith was trying to improve Rocky’s footwork by having him chase a chicken? Well, watching soccer is like watching chicken chasing. It gets pretty boring pretty quickly, unless you happen to be the chicken.

David Rose Hot Springs

Be contento!

Be at BRAVO! for Happy Hour.

My God, why can’t you anti-tobacco crybabies let it go? The June 24 issue of the Arkansas Times mentions the smoking issue at the Zoo no less than THREE times.

It’s a crying shame the Times’ editorial staff can’t find anything more relevant to waste space on. I keep telling you, people smoking (especially outdoors) is a nonissue to the vast majority of normal people.

In the Smart Talk section, mentioning Mr. Vigneault’s tobacco client is particularly childish. I wonder how many times you’ve felt compelled to mention the ties to big pharmaceutical that 99% of the anti-tobacco crowd has? Money from

Big Tobacco doesn’t hold a candle to the money from Big Pharmaceutical funding all the anti-tobacco groups.

And, since you feel the Zoo is one of the state’s top family — cough, cough (how childish) — attractions, I guess you think it’s OK to tell the 20 to 25 percent of the families out there with a member who chooses to smoke “we don’t want your kind here.” How I wish we were all as perfect as the anti-tobacco crowd. In The Week That Was you couldn’t help yourself again with the remark about the Zoo rejecting Mayor Stodola’s no-smoking policy. Maybe the Board feels, as I do, that the mayor’s time would be better spent figuring out how the city will handle any of the multitude of real problems that exist within the city. And, in the editorial section, one final shot at the “malcontents” that keep dreaming up rights that don’t exist (i.e., the right to smoke at the zoo). How about a word about the “malcontents” (I prefer “crybabies”) that think they have the “right” to tell a businessperson whether or not they can allow a person to enjoy a legal substance (smoke a cigarette) within the place of business they OWN! I, for one, am grateful the folks that run the Little Rock Zoo developed some balls and refused to kiss you anti-tobacco jihadists’ asses. It’s way past time someone stood up to ya’ll!

John Vinson North Little Rock

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The WEEK THAT was June 30-July 6, 2010 It was a good week for …

The STATE BUDGET. Earlier predictions about a huge Medicaid shortfall this budget year were incorrect.

Plus, state revenue seemed to have turned slightly positive in June.

WACKY LEGAL THEORIES. Defenders of the Weiner School District, merged on account of insufficient size, sued in federal court to stop the merger. They claimed merger of the rural district could imperil the country’s food supply and national security.

MIKE HUCKABEE. Fox is going to test moving his weekly Fox News talk show from cable to syndication on regular channels. If he’s lucky, it will be all the more reason for the former governor to shield his income in incometax-free Florida.

The ARKANSAS ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES. It confirmed our scoop last week that it would no longer employ Tim Wooldridge as a $150,000-a-year lobbyist. It was a waste of money, for one thing. For another, it set a bad example for universities that profess not to discriminate to employ someone who supports legalized employment discrimination against gay people.

It was a bad week for …

CHRISTIAN CHARITY. An anti-immigration group submitted sufficient signatures for its punitive constitutional amendment to be considered for the ballot. Signatures still must be checked for fraud. The putative Christian group, the Family Council, helped with the last-minute push for signatures on the measure, which provides that no state aid and comfort may be given to anyone in Arkansas without the proper documents. Some Golden Rule.

The CITY OF LITTLE ROCK. Its leaders seem determined to put off rebuilding the adult community center on Twelfth Street so it can use insurance money to patch the budget. What building will we burn next?

The UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS. Documents uncovered by lawyers for the Little Rock School District show UA researchers have been working in concert with the Walton Foundation and Democrat-Gazette publisher Walter Hussman — both charter school advocates — to develop arguments against the school district’s opposition to unlimited charter schools in Pulaski County. They don’t call it Walton U. 8 july 8, 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 ■

■

■­

Death on the highway A year later, a double slaying heads to the prosecutor.

By David Koon

Police investigators brought in three Carbon monoxide blocks the absorption n At first, it looked like a traffic accident.

North Little Rock men for questioning. of oxygen in the blood, which can lead to Around 6:30 a.m. on May 9, 2009, passNo charges resulted. a host of long-term problems, including ersby reported seeing a black Ford SUV State Police spokesman Bill Sadler behavioral changes, headaches, autoimoff to the westbound side of Interstate 40 deferred all questions about the investimune disorders, and brain damage. between the Burns Park and Crystal Hill gation to the Pulaski County prosecuting Since the incident on the river, friends exits in North Little Rock. attorney’s office, which he said had and neighbors have said, Lawrence started When state troopers arrived at the instructed him to make no comments hanging with a different, possibly more scene, however, it turned out to be much about the case. dangerous crowd. One of those was Akhi more than a simple breakdown or fender John Johnson, chief deputy prosHughes. According to paperwork on file bender. Inside, they found the bodies of ecuting attorney, said his office received at the Pulaski County clerk’s office, two people: the SUV’s owner, Tammy the “enormous” case file from the State Hughes had been convicted and sentenced Lawrence, 48, and Akhi Hughes, 24 — Police around the first of June. Attorneys on criminal charges four times since he who the State Police have called “acquaintances.” Both had been shot to death. So far, the State Police won’t say why they believe Hughes and Lawrence were slain, or who they think might be responsible for the crime. Last week, however, the State Police sent their investigation file to the Pulaski County prosecuting attorney’s office, indicating that the case has developed to the point where charges might be pending.

That Saturday night on the freeway wasn’t Tammy Lawrence’s first brush with death.

In May 2006, Lawrence was sleeping on a boat moored near Murray Lock and Dam on the DEATH CAR: What first looked like an accident turned into a homicide case.

Arkansas River with are reviewing it, and deciding whether turned 18, including theft by receiving in her husband David Tedford and friends charges should be filed. “When we get a 2003, and robbery, theft of property and Richmond Rice and Veronica Harmon review file, what that means is the police fleeing in 2004. The sentences from the when carbon monoxide from a running feel like they’ve completed their inves2003 and 2004 convictions were schedgenerator began seeping into the cabin. tigation,” Johnson said. “Whether they uled to run concurrently, netting him 15 By the time friends came to check on have or not may change, but when they years in the Arkansas Department of them the following afternoon, Rice and turn a file into us, they have to identify Correction. He was released on parole Tedford were both dead, and Lawrence someone as a suspect. ... They send over in February 2009. Less than three months and Harmon were clinging to life. everything that they’ve found and leave later, he was dead.

Lawrence was eventually released from it up to us to determine whether there Reached for comment, Jason Tedford the hospital, but friends told press at the are sufficient facts for someone to be said he didn’t want to talk about the case, time of her death that she still suffered charged.” He said a decision should be but added that he felt confident that the from the effects of carbon monoxide reached by early July.

Arkansas State Police investigation had poisoning, including the loss of much of Johnson said that State Police invesbeen thorough. Investigators, he said, her fine motor skills. tigators have identified more than one have been in weekly contact with the She was left incapacitated enough by suspect, but refused to name them or family since the deaths. the incident that in March 2007, almost exactly how many are listed in the file. He Information about that investigation a year after she was pulled from the wouldn’t comment if the suspects included has been slim. One peek inside the case boat, the courts appointed her stepson those men questioned last May. happened in late May 2009, when State Jason Tedford to be her legal guardian.

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Health law gains acceptance in Arkansas There’s lot to like, including cash infusion for state.

M

aybe only because it has been six months since the last TV commercials and newspaper ads brandished Frank Luntz’s poll-tested slogan “government takeover of health care” national health insurance is enjoying a modest rebound.

Even in Arkansas, where a massive ad blitz to influence Arkansas’s pivotal congressional delegation turned the popular idea of universal health insurance into an abomination, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 is gaining acceptance, sometimes verging on enthusiasm.

Arkansas hospitals look forward to its full implementation in four years, when much of their charitable write-offs and cost shifting will end. The medical profession, which once viewed any move toward expanded coverage as socialism

By Ernest Dumas and a loss of control over medical decisions, largely favors the new law.

The state government, which must administer big parts of the law, has plunged into the details since its enactment in March and found much that it welcomes, including a huge infusion of cash into the Arkansas economy and even some relief for the severely stressed state budget.

Far from bankrupting the state when Medicaid is expanded to cover poor adults in 2014, as some state officials worried during the furious final deliberations over the bill in the late winter, the law should ease state budget problems until late in the decade, when the state will begin to kick in a small match for billions of dollars in federal assistance for medical treatment and hospital care for low-income adults. Meantime, under an unpublicized provision of the new law, the federal government will pick up nearly the full cost of the original

ARKids First, the expanded government-insurance program for children that Gov. Mike Huckabee always proclaimed to be his proudest achievement. Mike Beebe, a state senator in 1997, sponsored the bill that expanded government coverage for children of low-income families.

Governor Beebe said immediately after the Affordable Care Act’s passage that he probably would have voted against it had he been in Congress because he feared that it could increase demands on a state budget that was already stressed. He wouldn’t say the other day whether he has changed his mind — “water under the bridge,” he said — but he acknowledged that the law could produce some dividends for the state government as well as the public. He still is concerned that a sharply expanded Medicaid program will put a significant burden on the state, even if it is eight or nine years away.

Meantime, under an unpublicized provision of the new law, the federal government will pick up nearly the full cost of the original ARKids First, the expanded government-insurance program for children that Gov. Mike Huckabee always proclaimed to be his proudest achievement.

10 juLY 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

beebe: “I chaired a hospital board.

If you don’t cost shift you’re going to be out of business.”

brian chilson

“It would be easy for me to say that it will be fine until 2017 or later since I won’t be here,” Beebe said. “I may not be here next January and for sure I won’t be here in 2017.

But I have a responsibility to look at the impact things will have long after I leave.”

“To be fair,” he continued, “the counter argument is that all that federal assistance for health services will produce additional tax revenues because of the increased income for providers.” A study of the Medicaid provisions last month concluded that more than $12 billion could be pumped into Arkansas’s health-care system in the six years after the law’s major provisions are implemented.

If the Affordable Care Act succeeds in insuring nearly everyone — Arkansas is going to administer it better than Washington or anyone else in the country, Beebe promised — then it should reduce uncompensated care and the shifting of costs for indigent care to insured and paying customers and the taxpayers.

When nearly everyone is insured, through Medicaid, one of the other government insurance programs or private insurance, unreimbursed care at hospitals and other providers should be curtailed and that will benefit both state government and people who are currently insured because those costs will not be passed along to them.

“I chaired a hospital board for 10 years,” Beebe said.

“I know what uncompensated care does. I know they say they don’t shift costs, but they do. If you don’t cost shift, you’re going to be out of business.”

Seniors, who according to polls turned heavily against health reform last year owing to reports that they would lose Medicare coverage or see higher co-pays, have been discovering that it wasn’t true. The law expands rather than shrinks Medicare benefits. For instance, starting the first of the year Medicare will waive the deductible and co-insurance charges for screenings and other preventive benefits and all 506,000 Arkansas enrollees will be able to get a free annual wellness visit.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Families USA, a national nonprofit organization that promotes good, affordable health care for everyone, and ministerial groups in many communities have worked to educate people on what the law does and does not do.

The law’s timetable — its numerous provisions will be phased in over 10 years — helps reverse the antipathy.

Almost immediately a few of the most popular benefits that are not linked to other provisions of the law kick in.

By the end of the year, some 45,000 elderly and disabled Medicare enrollees in Arkansas will get $250 checks to help them pay for medicine after they fall into “the doughnut hole.” The checks began arriving in mid-June for those with such unusually high drug bills that they had already fallen into the gap. The law that expanded Medicare to cover seniors’ drug costs, which Congress passed in 2003, provides that after the first $2,830 of a person’s prescriptiondrug costs each year an enrollee must pay 100 percent of his drug bills until $4,550 has been spent. Some 175,000 Arkansans, about 35 percent of Medicare enrollees, hit the Continued on page 12

A study of the Medicaid provisions concluded that more than $12 billion could be pumped into Arkansas’s health-care system. www.arktimes.com • juLY 8, 2010 11

Health Law: The Basics

T

essential benefits, charging higher premiums for people based on their gender or health history, and barring new employees from coverage in employer health plans during their first 90 days on the job. Insurance companies will not be allowed to rescind a person’s insurance for minor errors in his or her application; the person will have to commit fraud or intentionally misrepresent a material fact to lose their coverage.

Insurance companies will have to spend 80 of their income from premiums from small-group and individual plans and 85 percent from large-group plans on actual medical care starting next year. That means only 15 to 20 percent could be kept for profits, advertising and overhead.

If they spend less than 80 to 85 percent on medical services they must refund the balance to consumers.

he Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act tinkers in small and large ways with almost every facet of federal law that affects public health, health-care institutions and the workforce. Here is a summary of its central provisions:

Expanded coverage The mandates and exchanges: Starting in 2014, most individuals who are not already insured will be required to buy insurance if they can afford it, and it will generally be deemed affordable if premiums do not consume more than 8 percent of a family’s income. Families with incomes up to 400 percent of the poverty line will receive a federal subsidy to help them buy insurance, the amount adjusted according to income. Those for whom a policy would be affordable but who elect not to purchase insurance will be assessed a tax penalty.

Employers with more than 50 full-time employees generally will be required to offer health plans to their employees and carry at least half the premium costs or else pay a tax penalty.

Exchanges will be set up in each state or a group of states where individuals and small businesses can shop for an affordable health plan. The exchanges will give individuals and small businesses the advantage of enrolling in a group plan, where the premiums and out-of-pocket costs should be comparable to current large-group plans, or cheaper.

Medicaid: The state-federal insurance program, which now covers mostly children, will be expanded to cover adults with family incomes up to 133 percent of the poverty line. The federal government will pay 100 percent of the costs from 2014 through 2016, and states will begin to pick up a small share in 2017. The state share eventually will be capped at 10 percent.

Medicare: The “doughnut hole” — the gap in which people must pay 100 percent of their prescription costs

doughnut hole each year and many stop taking medicine.

The government has provided a little help for the very poor but not those with modest incomes.

When people get the $250 rebates they are also promised more relief in coming years in the form of mandated discounts on prescriptions when they reach the coverage gap until the gap is finally phased out in 2020.

On June 1 the government began to pick up 80 percent of the cost of health insurance for employers when workers have to retire before the age of 65, when they become eligible for Medicare.

By fall, thousands of Arkansans will profit from other relatively minor reforms. Insurance companies must allow young people to stay on their parents’ policies until the age of 26. Arkansas insurers have agreed to start doing that immediately. For a Little Rock educator it came at exactly the right time. His son, who exhausted his COBRA eligibility and has a congenital illness that might prevent his getting private coverage, went back on his father’s employer policy in June.

In September, insurance companies will no longer be able to cancel people’s policies when they get sick, deny

— will gradually be closed, starting this summer with $250 checks for people whose drug costs are so high they have already reached the gap. Medicare will pay for an annual wellness visit and end deductibles and copays for immunizations, screening tests and other preventive services.

Consumer Protections Either immediately or by 2014, insurance companies will be prohibited from following many practices. Among them: Denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions or imposing different eligibility rules for them, excluding pre-existing conditions from coverage for children, imposing annual or lifetime dollar limits on coverage for

Financing Starting in 2013, people earning more than $200,000 a year or $250,000 for a couple will pay an extra tax of nine-tenths of 1 percent for the hospital portion of Medicare and a new Medicare tax of 3.8 percent on dividends and other unearned income, which are now exempt from the payroll tax.

Starting in 2018, expensive employer-sponsored insurance plans (those costing more than $10,200 for an individual and $27,500 for a family) will pay a tax on the annual value of the policies that exceeds those amounts.

Drug makers will pay fees totaling $16 billion and insurance companies $47 billion over the net nine years, and manufacturers of medical devices will pay a 2.9 percent excise tax on their sales. Indoor tanning services will pay a 10 percent excise tax on sales.

The government subsidy for Medicare Advantage, plans run by insurance companies, will be reduced by $132 billion over 10 years. The government now pays 14 percent more for people enrolled in those plans than for those enrolled in traditional Medicare.

coverage to children who have pre-existing conditions or impose lifetime caps on coverage, three of the most common complaints about health insurance.

Within a few weeks, the state Insurance Department will set up a new high-risk pool, subsidized by federal dollars under the new health law, for people who have been denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions. Arkansas has operated a high-risk pool for years but the premiums are so high — up to $1,100 a month for each person — and the coverage so sparse that only some 3,000 people, all with high incomes, participate. The federal subsidy, which will be whatever $46 million can be spread around to provide for each individual, will tide people over until 2014, when insurance companies will have to let them subscribe to regular health plans.

Jay Bradford, the state insurance commissioner, said the $46 million had to stretch for 3 ½ years, until Jan. 1, 2014, “which is when the bleeding will stop and insurance companies must cover them.” Governor Beebe said he did not want the state budget compromised by implementing any part of the patient-care act so Bradford has to make an educated guess at how many people will buy the insurance

at any subsidy level so that the state does not have to cut people off or use state dollars to continue the coverage until 2014.

The plunge in support for sweeping health-care reform in the spring and summer of 2009 was peculiarly ironic for Arkansas, which by almost any measurement enjoyed poorer health and lower access to health services than nearly every state and will get more relief from comprehensive reform.

Dr. Joe Thompson, the Arkansas surgeon general and the chief health policy adviser first to Gov. Mike Huckabee and now Governor Beebe, said the Affordable Care Act, while it has failings, came out remarkably well, particularly for Arkansas, given the conditions under which Congress had to act.

“We didn’t have a stable system,” he said. “We were headed for a crisis, a collapse. The average cost of a family policy in Arkansas in 2000 was $6,000 but by 2007 it had reached $11,500 and there had been no improvement in care or services. The politicians had to operate in that framework, knowing the looming crisis but also the hysteria on the other side.”

Seniors are discovering that it isn’t true that they’ll lose Medicare.

12 juLY 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

pages of newspapers.

The evidence of acceptance and occasional excitement about the law does not suggest that it is yet popular, though like Social Security and Medicare it probably will become so. While the fury from Republicans, tea partiers and other critics that greeted its passage in March has subsided, Republicans still believe there is hay to be made this fall on the health law. U.S. Rep. John Boozman, the Republican candidate for the U. S. Senate, has criticized Sen. Blanche Lincoln on that single issue — her deciding vote for the act, which she helped draft as a member of the Senate Finance Committee. Lincoln has dithered between half apologizing for the law and proudly proclaiming her authorship and crucial vote. But she brags about only one feature of the law, the tax breaks for small businesses that provide insurance for their workers. Businesses with 25 or fewer employees can get tax credits of up to 35 percent of the amount they contribute to workers’ premiums.

Jim Keet has tried to make the health law the fulcrum in his longshot race against Governor Beebe although Beebe had said that he probably would have voted against it and he shows only a trifle more

brian chilson

“The act differentially advantages Arkansas more than most states because we have so many poor people and so many people — 500,000 and probably more — who are without health insurance.”

Thompson said the law would propel many desirable reforms in the Arkansas health-care system while also adding in immeasurable ways to some of its problems or at least not helping solve those problems, including a shortage of general practitioners.

It should be an economic boon in one way, he said. Hospital and medical bills are the No. 1 cause of bankruptcies. The massive amount of federal assistance and the insurance that will be available to nearly everyone will greatly relieve that problem late in the decade.

Before the debate on national health insurance began in the spring of 2009, big majorities of Arkansans favored universal coverage of some kind, including a form of public insurance like Medicare for all. In the big public-relations battle that followed, the most relentless and expensive in history, the opponents of health reform won convincingly.

Senator Lincoln’s decisive position in the congressional struggle made Arkansas the crucible and attracted a blizzard of TV and newspaper ads

“The act differentially advantages Arkansas more than most states because we have so many poor people and so many people — 500,000 and probably more — who are without health insurance.”

Joe Thompson, state Surgeon General

disparaging the reform efforts in Congress. By fall, polls showed that most Arkansans opposed the legislation.

In April 2009, Dr. Frank Luntz, the Republican PR consultant, gave congressional Republicans and other opponents of a comprehensive health law their marching strategy. Luntz, author of the best-selling book, “Words That Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear,” had come up with the phrase “death tax” in 1993 to describe the 90-year-old tax on great inheritances, and those words dramatically changed public attitudes and enabled Republicans, with Democratic help, to phase out the estate tax in 2001. The estate tax went out of existence this year.

Luntz advised Republicans that no matter what Congress produced they should describe the legislation as “government takeover of healthcare” or “Washington takeover

of healthcare” and that they should constantly refer to Washington bureaucrats making decisions about the treatment that people could get. They should say that medical professionals and patients would no longer be in charge, that Washington would ration care and that there would be long delays in people getting the treatment they needed.

Focus groups showed that those words alarmed people.

The other poll-tested strategies were that health reform would add to the national deficits and that Medicare benefits would be lost.

None of those things would describe the act that eventually passed — its central features were proposed by President Richard Nixon and the Republican congressional leadership in 1974 — but the phrases were shouted at town-hall meetings conducted by Arkansas congressmen and senators and they still appear regularly in letters that swarm the editorial

enthusiasm about it now that he knows more about the demands that the law will impose on the state.

Beebe’s concerns in March were mainly about Medicaid, although he said he was disappointed that the law did not do more to drive down medical costs. One of the two steps that the law takes to insure everyone is an expansion of Medicaid, the state-federal insurance program for indigents. Starting Jan. 1, 2014, it will cover everyone with family incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty line. (The other big reform is to require employers with 50 or more workers to offer group coverage to their workers and require most individuals who do not carry insurance to buy it, with federal help if their family incomes fall below 400 percent of the poverty line. States or the federal government will set up exchanges where businesses and Continued on page 14 www.arktimes.com • juLY 8, 2010 13

Arkansas Medicaid Participation 2014-19

Arkansas United States

Arkansas United States

Newly Insured 200,690 15,904,173

Standard Effort State Federal Spending Spending $455 million $9.4 billion $21.1 billion $443.5 billion

Total Spending $9.8 billion $464.6 billion

Increased Spending 29.1 percent 13.2 percent

Newly Insured 286,347 22,809,862

Enhanced Effort State Federal Spending Spending $761 million $11.5 billion $43.2 billion $531.9 billion

Total Spending $12.2 billion $575.1 billion

Increased Spending 36.3 percent 16.4 percent

The tables, based on research by the Kaiser Family Foundation, estimate the number of people who are now uninsured but will be enrolled in Medicaid and the amounts that will be spent when the program is expanded in 2014 to include adults with family incomes up to 133 percent of the poverty line. The final column represents the estimated increase in Medicaid spending from the amount that would have been spent if the Affordable Care Act had not passed. The first chart assumes a routine effort by the states to enroll people and the second assumes a strong outreach effort. The figures combine the first six years of the program. The state spending totals do not reflect savings from federal assumption of other state costs or from reduced state spending for unreimbursed care.

individuals can purchase private plans far more cheaply than they can now.)

Arkansas has one of the best Medicaid matching ratios in the country because of its high poverty rate, but the state still puts up a little more than a dollar for every four dollars of federal aid. Richer states like New York and Massachusetts match federal aid dollar for dollar. Arkansas’s match, however, will not apply to the expansion under the Affordable Care Act. For the first three years, until 2017, Washington will pay 100 percent of the cost of covering adults up to 133 percent of poverty. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 234,000 Arkansans could be added to the Medicaid rolls if the state makes an aggressive effort to enroll people, as the state Medicaid director says

the ARKids First program, which insures some 70,000 children with family incomes above the poverty line. That will relieve the state of appropriations of more than $16 million at 2008 levels and much more if the state expands the program as the legislature and Governor Beebe planned before the budget crisis intensified.

But the state will have to budget some cash for the adult program starting in 2017: 5 percent of the costs that year, 6 percent in 2018, 7 percent in 2019 and 10 percent from 2020 and afterward.

The Kaiser study projected that with a standard effort at enrolling people Arkansas would spend $455 million over the first six years of the law to match $9.4 billion in federal aid. With an aggressive effort, the state would spend $761

produces. As we go down the road now, hospitals should be better off.”

Gene Gessow, the state Medicaid director, said the Affordable Care Act, especially its Medicaid provisions, would be good for Arkansas.

“It’s a good deal for Arkansas that we’re going to be providing access to health care for several hundred thousand Arkansans who are not now insured, and we’re going to be doing it for three years with 100 percent federal dollars and for three years after that with a modestly rising state share,” he said. “Even when it is fully phased in, the state will be able to purchase health care at a dime on the dollar.

Do I think that’s a good deal? Yes, I do.”

“Putting nine to 12 billion dollars into the health system

“Putting nine to 12 billion dollars into the health system over six years cannot hurt the economy of Arkansas.”

Gene Gessow, state Medicaid director he expects the state to do. Starting in 2017, states will start picking up a portion of the costs until 2020, when they will shoulder 10 percent permanently.

So, from 2013 through 2016, if the Kaiser Foundation’s projections are credible, the federal government will pump $6 billion into Arkansas for health-care services for the poor at no cost to the state budget. In addition to the improved well-being of an eighth of the population, that cash will be quite a stimulus for the state’s economy.

No state will be helped more by the Medicaid expansion to cover low-income adults. Arkansas does better than many states insuring poor children through the ARKids First program, but all the other 49 states and the District of Columbia do more for poor adults. Only non-pregnant parents whose incomes are below 17 percent of the poverty line are eligible for Medicaid in Arkansas while every other state matches federal aid for adults at a much higher threshold, several at 150 percent or more of poverty. The federal government will begin to pay 100 percent of the cost in Arkansas of treating people up to 133 percent of the poverty line, people who in other states are already covered partially by state dollars.

Meantime, starting Oct. 15, 2015, the federal government will pick up almost the full cost of the “B” phase of 14 juLY 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

million and the federal government $11.5 billion.

Much of the money would go to hospitals, including the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, which should sharply reduce or eliminate the appropriations that the state makes annually to those institutions to offset uncompensated care.

UAMS last year recorded $173 million of uncompensated care, treatment for people who were not insured and could not pay.

All Arkansas hospitals amassed nearly $1 billion in charges for uncompensated care in 2007, by which time they had accumulated a total of $8.2 billion in uncollected bills, according to figures of the American Hospital Association.

The Medicaid expansion and the mandated employer and individual insurance that will begin in 2014 could come close to eliminating those write-offs.

“We supported the Senate bill [the Affordable Care Act] for a lot of reasons,” said Phil Matthews, executive director of the Arkansas Hospital Association. “There were a lot of things, including coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, that seemed to be the right things to do. The number of people without coverage has been increasing at such a rate that hospitals cannot absorb the increasing losses from uncompensated care that the lack of insurance

over six years cannot hurt the economy of Arkansas. It will leave more money in the pockets of people who are buying health insurance and delivering health care. That means their income on an after-tax basis will be higher. Is that better for the state economically? I would assume it is, if it is spent in Arkansas.”

He said Beebe had directed the department, with or without the new federal law, to find ways to bend the health-care cost curve downward because health-care spending, not just Medicaid, was consuming a galloping share of the state budget.

A team of stakeholders has been working on that.

While the Affordable Care Act, as Beebe and some other critics observe, does not do a lot to drive down health-care costs it proposes a big range of demonstration projects to test some cost-containment theories. Gessow said the Arkansas Medicaid program may undertake several of the pilot projects.

While the objections to the health legislation were sweeping and usually vague, such as “government takeover of health care,” the attacks since its passage have been upon a single provision, the mandate that everyone who can afford it buy health insurance either individually or through their employment. A number of states, mainly those with

Republican governors, are suing to block the mandate on the ground that the federal government has no constitutional authority to make states undertake such a mandatory insurance program.

It is Jim Keet’s biggest beef with Governor Beebe. Beebe won’t promise not to implement the law or to join the suit against the U. S. government. Keet says he likes some parts of the new law though he doesn’t identify them.

More than 90 percent of Arkansas businesses with more than 50 full-employees provide group insurance plans now, though some of the plans may be so meager that they do not qualify.

Keet adopts the national Republican mantra that taxing businesses with more 50 or more employees that do not supply health insurance for their workers and bear at least half the cost will throw lots of people out of work.

Smaller businesses will not be subject to the penalty for failing to insure their employees although those with fewer than 25 employees can get tax credits for their contributions to employee health plans.

The employer and individual mandate is the key to whole reform. Without it, many people would avoid insurance and continue to shift the costs of their care to the insured and to taxpayers, and insurance companies could not feasibly be required to insure adults and children with pre-existing conditions and continue to insure people once they develop chronic illnesses like heart trouble and diabetes, at least without raising premiums sharply.

Dr. Thompson, the surgeon general, said the mandate was critical to the reforms but he worried that the insurance industry could be right that the penalties for employers and individuals are too weak to be very effective. People may choose to pay the penalty and search for insurance only when someone in the family gets seriously ill.

The penalty for a person whose income is more than 133 percent of the poverty line and who does not acquire insurance will be only $95 the first year. The penalties will increase for businesses and individuals in succeeding years.

The exchanges will offer employers and individuals a menu of group plans.

Each state can set up an exchange, join with nearby states or leave it to the federal government to run an exchange in the state.

Bradford, the insurance commissioner, said the state was waiting for federal regulations before proceeding, but he expected Arkansas to set up its own exchange.

“We can take care of our people a lot better than the feds will,” he said. He and the rest of Beebe’s policy team will recom-

mend a plan to Beebe early next year. He expects to get more carriers to enter the Arkansas market. Now, Blue Cross Blue Shield has more than 70 percent of the insurance market in Arkansas.

Thompson said the new health-care regimen posed a couple of major challenges for the state. He thought that it would drive the state to abandon the fee-for-service system for paying physicians, hospitals and other providers. That will be wrenching, but a good thing, he said.

He predicted that a system of bundled payments would replace the system of paying each provider for each procedure or service. For instance, if a person has heart bypass surgery there will be a single value placed upon the treatment, and instead of the anesthesiologist, surgeon, hospital and other providers separately billing the patient’s carrier there will be a single payment, which will be distributed among the providers.

Beebe said Thompson had persuaded him that the fee-for-service system was inefficient and expensive and a driver of health-care inflation.

The other challenge is meeting the increased demand for family doctors, who are already in short supply. Many people who have no insurance may still rely on hospital emergency rooms for family illnesses once they are insured, but the waiting rooms of general practitioners will become crowded when nearly everyone is insured.

The state must produce far more family doctors, but it needed to do that without the federal law.

Medical schools have been graduating more students but most of them go into specialties where the compensation is higher and life less hectic. The American Medical Association a quarter-century ago produced a fee schedule ranking medical procedures by difficulty and degree of skill and training, and it put general practitioners and pediatricians at the bottom. The government and private insurance plans eventually adopted the schedule, which helped deplete the ranks of the country’s most essential providers. The Affordable Care Act makes no direct effort to alter the compensation priorities.

It also makes no provision for supporting the training and replacement of non-physician clinicians, and Thompson said the state needed to amend its laws to allow them greater privileges and to train more of them. Clinicians could be the front line of basic care in rural areas of the state where general practitioners are few and far between. Arkansas is more restrictive than almost every state, a reflection of the power of the medical establishment at the Capitol.

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www.arktimes.com • juLY 8, 2010 15

eye o n ar k ansas

Editorial n A Freedom of Information Act request by lawyers for the Little Rock School District disgorged information from the University of Arkansas that shed light on the fight to expand open enrollment charter schools in Pulaski County.

The FOI request related to a report from the University of Arkansas Office of Education Policy intended to debunk the School District’s argument that charter schools have harmed desegregation. It’s simple, though the UA puffed a cloud of statistical smoke in dispute. Public schools in the county are losing white students; charter schools are gaining them, along with a disproportionate share of non-poverty students.

The UA school “reformers” have long aided those, like the Walton family (a major UA financial contributor), who favor charter schools and school vouchers and dislike teacher unions.

The coziness manifests itself in many ways.

An employee of the Walton Family Foundation, Naccaman Williams, is chairman of the state Board of Education. Luke Gordy, a former board member, has been hired by several wealthy backers, including the Waltons and Arkansas DemocratGazette publisher Walter Hussman, to lobby for more charter schools. The Walton/Hussman/Gordy team backs the eStem charter school in downtown Little Rock, one of those that has siphoned off white students from Little Rock public schools.

Attorney Chris Heller’s FOI request turned up the fact that UA researchers had learned, but decided not to report, that charter schools had taken a disproportionate number of white students from Pulaski magnet schools. Magnets are a primary desegregation tool that the state of Arkansas had vowed to support, not harm, in the settlement of the Pulaski desegregation case. The UA’s sniffy response when caught on the omission: Nobody asked.

Documents showed that the UA shared its report with the Walton Family Foundation before it released it to the public. It showed that Gordy hoped the Democrat-Gazette would make a big splash with the numbers (it did) just in time for a federal court hearing on the desegregation case.

Telling was the note Kathy Smith at the Walton Family Foundation wrote to Walter Hussman and copied to Scott Smith, who runs an education policy center underwritten by the Waltons at the University of Central Arkansas. Emphasis supplied: “See attached a draft copy of minority percentages which we’d had Gary Ritter’s office [of Education Policy at UA] working on to address Walter’s question. Interesting data and in my view takes the steam out of the argument Heller makes about charters being the culprits of re-segregating. Let me know your thoughts.”

Let us know if you can order up a good report from the UA on your pet project.

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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David Standridge

The shadow government

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USA: Fireworks light up the sky over the Junction Bridge in Little Rock on July 4 during Pops on the River.

Stop the violence n Randy Cox and I were in the First Methodist Church’s Boy Scout Troop 5 in Lake Charles, La. In a happy coincidence, we both wound up working in Little Rock.

Randy is a licensed social worker and a one-man Arkansas army for stopping corporal punishment in schools. See his website, neverhitachild.org, for research and informed opinion.

Randy wrote me last week with good news. U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of NewYork introduced legislation to end corporal punishment in schools by refusing federal money to schools that continue to whack kids.

Thirty states have outlawed the practice, not including Arkansas and other gun-worshipping, Republicanleaning Southern states. (The largest school districts in Arkansas, including all in Pulaski County, have sworn off pounding kids.)

McCarthy is joined by the PTA, secondary principals and a host of other organizations in the effort. I’m afraid to ask our congressional delegation and current candidates where they stand, the answers are so likely to be dispiriting. (Surprise me, Mike Ross.)

The research is extensive. Corporal punishment leads to increased negative behavior and dropout rates, McCarthy said. Punishment is discriminatorily applied.

Racial minorities and poor kids are whipped more often than white kids and the well-to-do.

News coverage of the legislation (largely ignored in Arkansas) included a mention that Memphis was thinking of reinstating corporal punishment in a “war zone” school. Yes, that’s the ticket. Show students that the proper response to violence is more violence. Think about it. Will a 16-year-old from a Memphis ghetto where shootings, stabbings and drug dealing are daily occurrences be encouraged to better behavior by a buttwhipping?

If you hit a kid with a board for sassing you at a McDonald’s restaurant, you’d be charged with assault.

But, in Arkansas and 19 other states, a coach can pound a smart alec kid with a board and they call it sound discipline.

Randy dug up an interesting piece of history. The

Max brantley max@arktimes.com

state Board of Education in 1993, packed with progressive Clinton appointees, had a discussion about ending corporal punishment. An Arkadelphia elementary principal told the board her school chose alternatives to corporal punishment, preferring “discipline with dignity.” Ultimately, the Board approved a resolution

by Elaine Scott encouraging districts to use alternative punishment. It said: “Corporal punishment serves as a model for aggressive behavior and teaches violence as a permissible solution to problems … It causes students to withdraw from the punishing situation and is linked to absenteeism, truancy and the resulting lowering of academic achievement.”

Board chairman Nancy Wood appointed a committee to report on the extent to which corporal punishment was used in Arkansas and to work with school groups on building consensus on banning it.

Education Department records today reflect no further reports, meetings or discussions. Nancy Wood told me the other day that her board term ended shortly after this action. She said the board knew from the first that historic feelings on the topic argued against a Board edict. Absent a vigorous continuing advocate – and with Mike Huckabee appointees in time taking control of the Board of Education – attention moved to other topics. The resolution was forgotten. Butts continued to be whipped.

School districts in Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Georgia account for almost three-fourths of the reported whippings in U.S. schools, even though huge numbers of kids in these states are in urban districts that don’t use corporal punishment.

Randy’s simple mantra: Never hit a child, except in self defense. No harm has ever come from following that sound advice.

Our Afghan folly n Gen. Stanley McChrystal and Michael Steele have not had much in common except serial stupidity and now this: Each has struck a blow for ending the second most disastrous American foreign policy of the past 40 years, the Afghanistan war, and likely sacrificed his career for it.

Neither the general nor the Republican national chairman intended those results.

They just blundered into it, the general from a surfeit of arrogance as well as stupidity and Steele from, well, just the stupidity for which he was already celebrated.

President Obama relieved McChrystal of his command after the general and his staff, high on chutzpah and the general’s favorite drink, Bud Lite Lime, belittled the commander in chief, the vice president and almost everyone else on the Afghanistan team in a series of interviews with a reporter from Rolling Stone magazine.

While the general’s and his aides’ sometimes senseless tirades against the administration and others cost him his command, they were almost beside the point. There were already ample reasons for cashiering him, from his role in the cover-up of the friendlyfire killing of pro footballer Pat Tillman, whose death six years ago the Army and the Bush administration tried to use as a propaganda tool, to the general’s ham-handed (and successful) effort last year to force the president to adopt his strategy to amp up U.S.

Ernest Dumas forces and spending in Afghanistan.

The relentless message of the Rolling Stone article, fortified by the anguished complaints from soldiers and McChrystal’s own frustrated ramblings, is that, far from improving, the war is going from bad to worse, is not going to get better with the sacrifice of thousands more American lives and will end just as it always has for every foreign power from Alexander the Great to the Soviet Union, with the notable exception of Genghis Khan. The only question is how much blood and treasure will we expend before we leave?

That brings us to Michael Steele, who after McChrystal’s firing, made that very point, which brought embarrassed rebukes from Republican leaders of every stripe and calls for his resignation. Steele called Afghanistan “a war of Obama’s choosing” and predicted defeat and withdrawal.

The first part is a lie and everyone knew it.

After all, the Afghan war is now the longest in U. S. history. Weeks after 9/11 George W. Bush deposited troops in Afghanistan and began bombing the infrastructure around the nation’s capital. Obama’s only mistake, and

Arkansas highways — what a mess

n This is what happens when one of the nation’s poorest states tries to maintain one of the nation’s most expensive highway systems.

Now we have yet another so-called blue ribbon commission telling us that our transportation infrastructure in Arkansas is in trouble and that we must do something — the commission doesn’t yet say what — to plug more money into it.

Get out a few state highway maps and place them side by side. Put Arkansas’s road map next to, say, that of Wyoming, another rural state where the average worker drives relatively long distances to work.

You’ll see that Arkansas’s map has infinitely more little squiggly lines than most, those squiggly lines representing too-many roads running between too-many dots representing too-many places.

We remain largely a rural culture, a farm-to-market culture, or, in some cases, an anachronistic remnant thereof.

Wyoming is rural, too, but with more wide open spaces, meaning fewer towns and fewer routes to maintain between those towns.

Yes, you say, but Wyoming is an

John brummett

jbrummett@arkansasnews.com

open-range state with fewer people and mountains between those people. But I’d say that the eastern section of Arkansas is farm fields with declining numbers of people between those fields in too many little towns. And I’d say that the southern section of Arkansas is pine tree fields with declining numbers of people between those fields in too many little towns.

Arkansas is 32nd in the nation in population but 12th in state highway miles, and those roadways in the state system carry 76 percent of our traffic.

One reason for that is that we have relatively poor and powerless local governments, city and county, and it has made sense over the years to bring many of our local roads into the state system.

Even at that, though, we’re 10th in the country in county road mileage. We just like to spread ourselves thin in lots of small, remote settlements. It’s our heritage; it’s

it was a grievous one, was to promise in 2008 that he would do what Bush would not do, which was invest the troops and money in Afghanistan to actually win.

Steele’s purpose was no different from the party’s, which is to make Afghanistan, when the certain eventuality comes, not a Republican blunder but an Obama failure.

But he undermined the whole Republican foreign policy since October 2001, when Bush decided to abandon his campaign promise of no nation building and adopt Dick Cheney’s policy of overthrowing as many flaky Middle East governments as you can.

The nutty chairman’s historical folly ought to be the occasion to refresh the nation’s memory about how Afghanistan happened. It is still important. Having been convinced that the 9/11 attacks were not masterminded by Iraq, as he hoped, but

by Osama bin Laden, Bush decided that Afghanistan was the nation to conquer.

Rather than send forces to the al Qaeda training camps in the lawless mountains to capture or obliterate bin Laden and his rag-tag comrades, which is what Americans wanted and the rest of the world supported, Bush demanded that the Taliban, which controlled the capital and some parts of the country, capture bin Laden and his men and turn them over to the United States or face an invasion by the United States and a handful of allies. The Taliban, which had enjoyed American-supplied arms and training in overthrowing the Soviet-Union puppet regime and resisting other warlords,

refused. The Taliban had asked bin Laden to leave the country in 1998 after the bombings of U. S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were traced to him, but he refused.

When the saturation bombing began, the Taliban offered to try to capture bin Laden and turn him over to a third country for trial but only if the United States supplied some evidence that bin Laden was behind 9/11.

At the time, we had only a powerful hunch.

Bush said turn them over, no conditions, or face annihilation.

While the capital was falling to U.S. and Northern Alliance forces in November and December, Osama and 1,500 or so of his followers were making their way across the White Mountains of eastern Afghanistan, harassed by about 100 U. S. and British Special Forces and a few planes. Bin Laden and his men escaped, presumably into Pakistan. We owned a corrupt government, bin Laden’s band blossomed into multitudes, and a long and dreary war, as each one always does, corrupted the values of the weary fighters and chased every bit of support for the effort, here and abroad.

The most poignant parts of the Rolling Stone article were McChrystal’s meetings with soldiers, where they told him they were dying pointlessly because they were not winning and could not win. You sense that McChrystal knew it, too, and he is doubtlessly inwardly grateful for having been relieved of responsibility. We can only hope the president knows it, too, and that he can prepare Americans for the messy consequences of our national folly.

why people came here in the first place.

In some ways, then, our communities and roads in Arkansas are like our schools.

That is to say we need consolidation.

A consultant recommended a year or two ago that the way to save the Delta region of eastern Arkansas is to redirect the dwindling population into larger clumps in the larger towns, those “worth saving” with “critical mass” and capable of offering a “quality of place.”

It’s absolutely right. I just don’t know how you possibly go about it.

And the truth of the matter is that I’m just getting started about what’s wrong with our state highway system.

There’s our matter of highway financing, which is almost wholly dependent on the strict consumption of a per-gallon tax on gasoline, which becomes a dwindling source when reasonable people drive less because gasoline prices are soaring.

We generated less in 2009 in gasoline tax revenue in Arkansas than was produced in any year since 2003. But highway repair costs aren’t going down.

Then there’s the past-its-prime way we govern highways. We grant our Highway Commission constitutional independence, meaning elected officials aren’t supposed to be able to play politics with highway money or lean on the insulated highway commissioners.

That leaves the politics-playing to

the commissioners themselves, who, by the inertia of long-standing commission policy, represent geographic regions based on old and outdated population patterns.

This gives declining rural areas in southern Arkansas more representation than the booming northwestern section.

The premium is on geographic distribution rather than smart statewide strategy.

Money doesn’t follow the cars; it follows the commissioners.

Can these highways possibly be saved?

We can at least do better. We can add elasticity to the motor fuel tax, perhaps converting it to a “variable” rate that is indexed to highway construction costs or based, at least in part, on price as well as quantity, perhaps in a wholesale excise tax.

And we can spend the money we have in a way that better follows the traffic.

But that will require a reformed Highway Commission, one element of which ought to be asking the people whether they want to approve a constitutional amendment undoing the one they passed 60 years ago making the commission independent.

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 • july 8, 2010 17

¡Novedoso Portal el latINo! ¡Noticias de ÚLTIMA HORA a Cada Hora!

El sitio www.ellatinoarkansas.com en la Internet es donde los latinos pueden dar ahora a conocer sus opiniones al resto de la comunidad Ahora los lectores de EL LATINO obtendrán minuto a minuto las últimas noticias de Estados Unidos, México, Centro y Sur América y el mundo: política, deportes, entretenimiento, economía, y mucho más transmitidas por el servicio de noticias EFE. Además, leerán las noticias más importantes de Arkansas preparadas por el equipo profesional de EL LATINO y en el blog PULSO LATINO compartirán sus opiniones e inquietudes con el resto de la comunidad.En un sólo portal, minuto a minuto TODA la información de Arkansas y del mundo:

www.ellatinoarkansas.com 18 july 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

arts entertainment

This week in

and

Native sons

Chris Denny’s former backing unit reemerges in new national act. By Lindsey Millar

L

ast year, the smart money had The Natives — Jesse Bates, Ryan Hitt, Judson Spillyards and Joshua Spillyards — as the latest in a long line of local musicians who’ve glimpsed the mountain only to return with a story to tell and a spot waiting tables at a pizza joint. As the backing unit of Chris Denny, easily the brightest folk rock prospect Little Rock’s known in recent memory, the group toured nationally and recorded an album for a New York indie label with buzz. But before the label could ready the album for release, Denny cut The Natives loose and mostly withdrew from performing.

His backing unit returned to Little Rock and revived old instrumental projects and started new ones, and that seemed to be that. But, as it never does, cosmic justice swooped in: Through members of ascendant California indie folk act Dawes, who toured and became fast friends with Denny and the Natives, the guys got hooked up with Luke MacMaster, a lead singer with a project called Romany Rye — already endorsed by Kings of Leon — in need of a backing band. Both parties hit it off and on Tuesday, July 13, The Nativesinfused Romany Rye (with Little Rock keyboardist Whitman Bransford and without Bates) comes to Juanita’s more than halfway through a tour that’s already taken them from one coast to another in a matter of weeks.

The Romany Rye is opening for Delta Spirit, another popular California act built around big, sunny melodies.

Reel Big Fish brings ska to town

Lightning Bolt promises loud show at ACAC

Page 20

Page 21

electric guitars replace acoustic ones and nearly every song now features three-part vocal harmonies, with Hitt and Spillyards singing along with MacMaster.

“We didn’t do any of that with Chris,” Spillyards said. “He didn’t discourage it, but didn’t encourage it either. We all love singing now. When we headed out to California [to practice and begin the tour], we put [“Hello, Goodbye”] on and tried to figure out how to make the harmonies work and tried to learn harmonies for Neil Young and Beatles songs. We looked down at the clock and we’d been in the car singing for 8 hours!”

to do list

20

calendar

22

Movies

28

Dining

31

likely start work on an album. Already, the Arkansas contingent’s worked with MacMaster on a handful of new songs that they could pair with six or seven songs he’d written before they came aboard.

But in the meantime, the band’s stoked for Tuesday’s homecoming show.

Several musician friends, including trumpeter Rodney Block, are likely to join them onstage. Don’t forget, with apologies to Delta Spirit and David Vandervelde, the band that you care about will be playing early, so in this rare case at a concert, punctuality matters.

It’s the same spot Dawes, now signed to ATO Records, home to My Morning Jacket and Radiohead, found itself in last year. Which is not lost on lead guitarist Judson Spillyards.

“It’s definitely the best opportunity we’ve had going for us,” he said last week, hours before Romany Rye took the stage at the Bowery Ballroom in New York.

Still, Spillyards and his mates are under no illusion that, even if the band does sign to a label, it’ll lead to real money. “ We ’ r e a l l doing things we’ve never done musically and getting to see places we’ve never seen. If we have to do this for years where we’re THE ROMANY RYE: Featuring some Arkansas talent, the band will play Juanita’s on Tuesday. not making money, we still feel like After Little Rock, The Romany it’ll pay off as long as we’re growing Rye has dates in Texas, New Mexico as people and as musicians.” and Arizona before finishing its tour The band is touring behind Romany in California at the end of the month.

Rye’s debut, “Hello, Goodbye,” a gentle Already, the band’s booked another tour folk rock album MacMaster recorded in 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 13 for November opening for Dawes. In the home studio of Delta Spirit multiJuanita’s between, the guys plan to recharge in a instrumentalist Kelly Winrich. Live, $10, 18 plus camper at Big Bear Lake and thereafter, Spillyards said the sound is amped up:

Romany Rye with Delta Spirit and David Vandervelde

www.arktimes.com • july 8, 2010 19

of I Live the Good Life, who throw regular “Ladies’ Night” parties, are billing this as “The Ultimate Ladies Night.” It’s pretty hard to disagree. Monica performs alongside new soul pianist K. Williams, local soul woman Jeron Marshall, the trumpet driven soul jazz of Rodney Block and a comedy set by Keith “Keef” Glason.

REEL BIG FISH

8:30 p.m., The Village. $13 adv., $16 d.o.s.

n Without question, Monica is going to take hundreds of folks in Robinson back to those icky, dazed days of ’tweenhood. But me? I skanked into my teen-age years with a checkered bowling shirt on my back and “Why Do They Rock So Hard?” by Reel Big Fish in my Discman. I thank my lucky stars that my ska phase began and ended with that one release, but, man, it was a helluva album. All screeching horns and white-boy harmonies behind bubblegum punk guitar riffs and lyrics about your girlfriend being a vegetarian — the type of still standing: Monica’s performance Friday at Robinson Center will be part of “The Ultimate real heady, grown up stuff I was heading into, y’know?

Ladies Night.”

And the guys were witty, to boot. I mean, Reel Big Fish has an entire Monica’s hardly floating on ’90s nostalgia; song about how big of a dork their trumpet her last album, “Still Standing,” debuted player, Scott, is. It’s called “Scott’s a this March at No. 2 on the Billboard Dork.” Long story short, if you’re into ska, charts, thanks in part to her leading role in

By John Tarpley you know these guys, you know they’re a hugely successful BET reality show of one of the biggest genre acts to come the same name. The promoters/producers

■ to-dolist FR IDAY 7 / 9

MONICA

8 p.m., Robinson Center Music Hall. $45-$75.

n As a 15-year-old, Monica immediately separated herself from the flurry of sameysame young performers of the mid-’90s with the release of “Don’t Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days),” an instant R&B classic and a defining junior high dancefloor-filler if there ever was one. Soon after, the young vocal gymnast found herself with a triple platinum debut album and a wave of expectation from fans. Not long after, she returned to the charts as half of an all-star duet with fellow teen-pop star Brandy in the Grammy-award winning “The Boy is Mine.” In short, Monica churned out monster hit after monster hit for years.

And junior high dances and church vans would never, ever be the same. Years later, 20 july 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

ska spectacular: Reel Big Fish brings their wild act to The Village.

out of the ’90s and you know the elder statesmen of third-generation ska put on notoriously wild live shows. I’m there, and I’m bringing my goofy inner 13-year-old with me. I owe that little fat kid a night on the town. Reel Big Fish plays, apparently, by themselves. Sweet.

THE REVELATIONS FEATURING ’TRE WILLIAMS

10 p.m., Juanita’s, $12 adv., $15 d.o.s.

n This should be a rare treat. It’s not so often that Little Rock gets a full-blown soul-jazz band. That alone warrants a bit of consideration for this show. If the Revelations sound as tight live as they do on the record, which was arranged beautifully by Eddie Kendrick’s cohort, Patrick Adams, this show could well be a gig for the books. Williams and the Revelations fill a much-needed vacancy in today’s neo-soul field; that is, they operate a super masculine, Kenny Lattimore-type of sound, complete with those timetested, play-by-play “good guy in a moral and/or sexual quandary struggling to reconcile his own primal desires with his moral standards” lyrics, a la R. Kelly or a libidinal, urban Tolkien. Expect the ladies to be out for Nas collaborator ’Tre Williams and his “testosterone engorged baritone” (soultracks.com’s words, not mine). The concert’s open to ages 18 and older.

S AT UR DAY 7 /1 0

JOE NICHOLS

8 p.m., Timberwood Amphitheater. $29.99-$49.99

n This is the kind of story that could only be found in country music: raised

metal for jesus: Living Sacrifice comes to town in support of their seventh release. in Rogers, Arkansas, the musician son of a small-town country bassist has his father’s passion for music, but works as a mechanic by day and a radio DJ at night.

He finally scores a contract with Warner Bros. that ends up fruitless and has to take more dead-end jobs until finally, after six resilient years — and more than a few questionable haircuts — a song finally clicks with listeners the country over and our hero spends the next few years as one of the biggest country stars around.

That’s how Joe Nichols provided the most inspiring country music tale since George Strait shaved his stubble and cut his ponytail in “Pure Country.” (Which, by the way, is heading to Broadway, and for a time had Nichols slated for the leading role.) Regardless, the hero of our story is riding high on the country charts with the release of his last album, “Old Things New,” which provided him with his third number-one single in “Gimme That Girl,” a sugary little ditty tailor-made for country consumption.

to support “The Infinite Order,” a no-frills death metal album that stands as the band’s seventh release and first since they reunited after a 2002 split. Metal heads: rejoice.

Three of Living Sacrifice’s offspring, The Showdown, Becoming Saints and In the Fade, open the night.

the deafening free-jazz duo recently; they’ll probably tell you the exact same thing right after they tell you to speak up a bit louder.

Seeing these guys live is a pummeling, freakish exercise in balancing pain — real, physical, auditory pain — with a wideeyed appreciation for their virtuosity at playing hard, fast and loud. It’s an assault of noise with one foot in Sonic Youth’s most terroristic, early moments of aural provocation and another in the skronkiest parts of Ornette Coleman’s free jazz, all done with an avant-garde intellect from the school of Krzysztof Penderecki. Did I mention how loud it is? It’s so loud that the two members wear ear safety headsets made for marksmen and airport runway workers. The bassist runs his guitar (strapped with two bass strings and two banjo strings) through as many amps as he can get his hands on, turned as loud as he can, while the drummer yelps through a telephone pickup embedded in a knit mask strapped to his head. (This drummer, by the way, is the most incredible percussionist I’ve ever seen. Bar none.) But through all the pontification, they’re still a ridiculous, abrasive, chaotic mess of a band, albeit one with a ridiculous, abrasive chaotic mess that’s sent them around the world many, many times over to play for thousands at a time. So when you can see an act of this caliber at a place like the ACAC, you’re practically required to go; $12 isn’t a bad price for an epiphany.

Transmography, Austin’s leftfield dance musicians; Cracker Creeptacular, sludgy indiepoppers, and local power-duo Androids of Ex-Lovers open.

TUESDAY 7/13

DELTA SPIRIT 9 p.m., Juanita’s. $10

n On one hand, it would be easy to dismiss Delta Spirit, saying they sound like “everyone else” from that rambling, rusty pack of gentrifying buzzbands like Dr. 8 p.m., The Village. $12 adv., $15 Dog or The Morning Benders who d.o.s. have their hearts in the suburbs and their heads in their idea of a juke-joint. But those are all good n Reading up on this Little Rockbands in a cool, evocative genre, based, 20-year-old metal act, I found the word “legendary” LIGHTNING BOLT: This free-jazz duo keeps it loud. Real succeeding at making fun music successfully engineered to work popping up where “great” or loud. up a goosebump and a shimmy or “influential” would normally be two and Delta Spirit’s no different. for any other band that didn’t Fresh from debuting “History From Below,” spearhead an entire genre for the better M O N D AY 7 /1 2 the third in a series of gruff, ambitious part of an entire decade. That genre, releases, the San Diegans take that sound Christian metal, makes for an interesting here to Little Rock. If ever there was a town Venn diagram, but its fans are fervent and 8 p.m., ACAC. $10 adv., $12 d.o.s. that loved this brand of tonal sunshine, this Living Sacrifice’s role in that particular is it. It’ll be safe to expect a packed house. scene runs deep; these guys are practically The Romany Rye, featured on page 19, canonized, inspiring practically every band n Far and away, Lightning Bolt has put and David Vandervelde, a reverb-doused that came in its wake. And now, the localon one of the single greatest shows I’ve songwriter out of Nashville, open. boys-gone-hero-mode are back on the road ever seen. Ever. Ask anyone who’s seen

LIVING SACRIFICE

LIGHTNING BOLT

■ inbrief THURSDAY 7/8

Nashville-based, Arkadelphia-raised singer-songwriter Nick Flora (formerly known as Coin Laundry Loser) brings his take on power pop back to his home state for a show in Hot Springs at Maxine’s Pub; he’s joined by local, melancholic singer Jarred McCauley, 9 p.m., free. Sticky Fingerz puts Los Angeleno punkabilly act Charley Horse alongside swinging country traditionalists Sad Daddy, 9:30 p.m., $5. The popular Dr. Rex Bell Jazz Trio takes to The Afterthought, 8 p.m., $5.

Cornerstone Pub in Argenta brings in a hip-hop revue with D-Mite and Tho’d Studios Showcase, 9 p.m. Flash LaRue, Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase Finalists, brings its catchy, driving rock to White Water Tavern, 10 p.m. Hill music aficionados, be on alert: the 7th annual National Shape Note Gathering is coming back to Mountain View’s Ozark Folk Center State Park for four days of Sacred Harp singing, 7 p.m., free.

FRIDAY 7/9

Boot-stomping Texan Bleu Edmondson plays Sticky Fingerz with local country singer-songwriter Mandy McBryde, 9 p.m., $10 adv., $12 d.o.s. Long-time Little Rock favorites, The Salty Dogs, bring their country and western stylings to the White Water Tavern stage, 10 p.m., $5. The monthly Zodiac Party returns to Revolution with a night of dance music with DJs Angel Alanis and Rumble Junkie, 8 p.m., $10 early admission.

Acoustic pub-rocker Grayson Shelton provides Cregeen’s with music, 9 p.m.

Duo Danley and Reid Patterson plays Capi’s, 8:30 p.m., free. Cajun’s Wharf offers locals Carl and Mia for happy hour, 5:30 p.m., and rock outfit PG-13 for the night crowd, 9:30 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY 7/10

Midtown Billiards brings in another welcome lineup of late-night local music in long-tenured Little Rock outfit Hector Faceplant and catchy new-jack rockers Outstanding Red Team, 12:30 a.m., $8. Radio-ready nu-country singers Ryan Couron and Matthew Huff play Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $10. The Dreamland Ballroom’s movie series, Dreamland Drive-In, has a family night with their screening of “The Little Princess,” 8:30 p.m., $5 per person or $20 for a carload.

Little Rock Fashion Week kicks off with an opening night party at Star Bar, 9 p.m.

At Dickey-Stephens Park, the Arkansas Travelers face off against the Midland Rockhounds for the last game in a threegame series, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. Local barrock cover act The Gettys plays Fox and Hound, 10 p.m., $5. www.arktimes.com • july 8, 2010 21

cLasses

www.arktimes.com

afterdark

calendar

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, JULY 8 Music

Arkansas String Band Week. A four-day workshop for stringed instrument musicians featuring guests Clarke Buehling, Matt Brown, Dan Levenson and Lukas Pool. Register at ozarkfolkcenter.com. Ozark Folk Center State Park. $160 full admission. 1032 Park Ave., Mountain View.

Carla Case Band. Town Pump, 10 p.m., $3.

1321 Rebsamen Park Road. 501-663-9802.

Charliehorse, Sad Daddy. Sticky Fingerz Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9:30 p.m., $5. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz. com.

Cheap Thrills. Markham Street Grill And Pub, 9 p.m., $5. 11321 W. Markham St. 501-224-2010. www.markhamst.com.

Chris Henry. Grumpy’s Too, 9 p.m., free. 1801 Green Mountain Drive. 501-225-9650.

D-Mite, Tho’d Studios Showcase.

Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 9 p.m., $5. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub.com.

Dirtfoot. George’s Majestic Lounge, 9 p.m., $5.

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

J-One Presents: “In Too Deep.� Deep Ultra Lounge, 9 p.m. 322 President Clinton Ave. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m., free. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-3242999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

Mare Carmody and Courtney Sheppard.

Ya Ya’s Euro Bistro, 7 p.m., free. 17711 Chenal Parkway. 501-821-1144. www.yiayias.com/littlerock/index.htm.

Nick Flora, Jarred McCauley. Maxine’s, 9 p.m., free. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

Dr. Rex Bell Jazz Trio. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., $5. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Sychosys, Jessica Seven, Zucura , Land of Mines, Danger Ready. Downtown Music Hall, 8 p.m., $7. 215 W. Capitol. 501-376-1819. downtownshows.homestead.com.

The Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free. 111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Thirsty Thursdays. 21 and up. Revolution, 8 p.m. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090. revroom.com.

coMedy

Matt Davis. The Loony Bin, 8 p.m., $6-$9.

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

events

7th Annual National Shape Note Gathering. A gathering of Sacred Harp singers 22 july 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

ROCK ON THE WATER: This Saturday night, Thick Syrup Records resurrects their series of shows on the Arkansas Queen with a night of music from Brother Andy and His Big Mouth, Androids of Ex-Lovers, The Wicked Good and DJs Poebot and Cameron Holifield. and those interested in the unusual Appalachian technique. Ozark Folk Center State Park. 1032 Park Ave., Mountain View.

Lectures

“Conway’s Native Prairie: Past, Present, and Future.� Katherine Larson and graduate students from the biology department at UCA will describe the prairie at the Jewel Moore Nature Reserve. Faulkner County Library, 7 p.m., free.

1900 Tyler St., Conway. 501-327-7482. www. fcl.org.

sports

A r k a n s a s Tr a v e l e r s v s . M i d l a n d

RockHounds. Dickey-Stephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W Broadway St., NLR. 501-6647559. www.travs.com.

caMps

“Extreme Weather and the Environment� registration. Summer camp about earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes, July 12-16 for rising 6th and 7th graders, July 19-23 for rising 8th graders. jwillis@clintonfoundation.com for details.

In conjunction with exhibit “Nature Unleashed.�

Clinton Presidential Center, through July 16. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 370-8000. www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org.

A W A R D

W I N N I N G

New Orleans Cuisine AT LITTLE ROCK PRICES! 34%!+3 s 3%!&//$ CREOLE SPECIALTIES

The Faded Rose

SeniorNet Computing Classes for Seniors.

Computer classes designed to teach seniors computer literacy to be held in the UAMS Institute of Aging, Room 1155. The courses include “Exploring Windows Vista,� 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; “Quicken,� noon-2 p.m.; “Intro to Computers,� 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Call 603-1262 for more details. University of Arkansas Medical School.Through July 29. UAMS Campus.

FRIDAY, JULY 9 Music

The Big John Miller Band. Fox and Hound, 10 p.m., $5. 2800 Lakewood Village, NLR. 501-7538300.

Bleu Edmondson, Mandy McBryde. Sticky Fingerz Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 5 p.m., $10 adv., $12 d.o.s. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

Chris Gulley. Reno’s Argenta Cafe, 9 p.m. 312 N. Main St., NLR. 501-376-2900. www.renosargentacafe.com.

Crash Meadows. Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 9 p.m., $5. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub. com.

Danley and Reid Peterson. Capi’s, 8:30 p.m., free. 11525 Cantrell Suite 917. 501-225-9600. www. capisrestaurant.com.

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

First Class Fridays. Bill St. Grill and Pub, 9 p.m.

614 President Clinton Ave. 501-353-1724.

Grayson Shelton. Cregeen’s Irish Pub, 9 p.m., free. 301 Main St., NLR. 501-376-7468. www. cregeens.com.

Jet 420. Denton’s Trotline, 9 p.m., $5. 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

Josh Green. Flying Saucer, 9 p.m., $5.

323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-7468. www.beerknurd.com/stores/littlerock.

Keith Lewis & Gil Franklin. The Honey Hut, 9 p.m. 3723 MacArthur Drive, NLR. Max Taylor & The Blue Katz. West End Smokehouse and Tavern, 9 p.m., $5. 215 N. Shackleford. 501-224-7665. www.westendsmokehouse.net.

Mobley, Man Against Fire. Maxine’s, 9 p.m., $5. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub. com.

Monica, K. Michelle. Robinson Center Music Hall, 8 p.m., $45-$75. Markham and Broadway. www.littlerockmeetings.com/conv-centers/ robinson.

PG-13 (headliner), Carl and Mia (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.

Reel Big Fish. The Village, 7:30 p.m., $13 adv., $16 d.o.s. 3915 S. University Ave. 501-570-0300. www.thevillagelive.com.

The Revelations featuring Tre Williams.

Juanita’s, 10 p.m., $15 adv., $20 d.o.s. 1300 S. Main St. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

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

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

The Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m. 111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Tommy Womack. Town Pump, 10 p.m., $10.

1321 Rebsamen Park Road. 501-663-9802.

Tonya Leeks & Co.. The Afterthought, 9 p.m., $7. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www. afterthoughtbar.com.

Zodiac: Cancer Party with DJs Angel Alanis, Rumble Junkie. Revolution, 8 p.m., $10 early admission. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090. revroom.com.

coMedy

Matt Davis. The Loony Bin, 8 p.m., $6-$9.

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

events

ÂŽ

LITTLE ROCK’S BEST FOOD VALUE . "OWMAN 2OAD s 1619 Rebsamen Road 501-663-9734

7th Annual National Shape Note Gathering.

See July 8.

sports

A r k a n s a s Tr a v e l e r s v s . M i d l a n d RockHounds. Dickey-Stephens Park, 7:10 p.m.,

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

JULY 15: Robert Plant and Band of Joy. 8 p.m., $65-$85. Robinson Center Music Hall, 7 Statehouse Plaza. 666-1761, ticketmaster. com.

JULY 29: Justin Bieber, Sean Kingston.

7 p.m., $31-$51. Verizon Arena, NLR. 800-7453000, www.ticketmaster.com.

JULY 20: WWE Smackdown. 6:30 p.m., $17-$62. Verizon Arena. 800-745-3000, verizonarena.com.

AUG. 10: Built to Spill. 8:30 p.m. The Village, 3915 S. University. 570-0300, thevillagelive.com.

SEPT. 30: Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato.

7 p.m., $40-$93, V.I.P. Verizon Arena, NLR. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

OCT. 7-9: Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival. B.B. King, Dr. John, Taj Mahal and many more. $25. Downtown Helena. bluesandheritagefest.com. $6-$12. 400 W Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-7559. www.travs.com.

Comedy

Matt Davis. The Loony Bin, 8 p.m., $6-$9. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. www.loonybincomedy. com.

events

7th Annual National Shape Note Gathering.

See July 8.

Alice’s Day of Wonder. Crafts, refreshments and activities with members of Radio Disney performing at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Museum of Discovery. 500 Clinton Ave. 396-7050. www.amod.org.

Certified Arkansas Farmers Market. A weekly outdoor market featuring produce, meats and other foods from Arkansas farmers. Argenta Market. Through Oct. 17. 7 a.m.-noon, free.

521 N. Main St., NLR. 501-379-9980. www.argentamarket.com.

Farmers Market. River Market Pavilions, 7 a.m.

400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info.

Little Rock Fashion Week Kick-Off Party.

Star Bar, 9 p.m. 1900 W. 3rd St.

Film

Dreamland Drive-In: “The Little Princess.”

Dreamland Ballroom, 8:30 p.m., $5 person, $20 car.

800 W. 9th St.

sports

“Extreme Weather and the Environment” registration. See July 8.

A r k a n s a s Tr a v e l e r s v s . M i d l a n d RockHounds. Dickey-Stephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-7559. www.travs.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 10

“Extreme Weather and the Environment” registration. See July 8.

Camps

musiC

Brian & Nick. Flying Saucer, 9 p.m., $5. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-7468. www.beerknurd.com/stores/littlerock.

Doug McKean & the Stuntmen. White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m. 2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.myspace.com/whitewatertavern.

Dreamfast, Bottle Rocket, The Last Slice.

Maxine’s, 9 p.m., $5. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

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

The Gettys. Fox and Hound, 10 p.m., $5. 2800 Lakewood Village, NLR. 501-753-8300.

Hector Faceplant, Outstanding Red Team.

Midtown Billiards, 12:30 a.m., $8. 1316 Main St. 501-372-9990. midtownar.com.

Jeff Coleman. The Afterthought, 9 p.m., $7.

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

Jeffery Jacobs (disco), Brandon Peck (lobby), Lawanda Jackson and Whitney Paige (theater). Discovery Nightclub, 10 p.m., $10. 1021 Jessie Road. 501-664-4784. www.latenightdisco.com.

Joe Pitts Band. Denton’s Trotline, 9 p.m., $5.

2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

Keith Lewis & Gil Franklin. The Honey Hut, 9 p.m. 3723 MacArthur Drive, NLR. Living Sacrifice, The Showdown, Becoming Saints, In the Fade. The Village, 8 p.m., $12 adv., $15 d.o.s. 3915 S. University Ave. 501-5700300. www.thevillagelive.com.

Mare Carmody. Java Roasting Cafe, 7 p.m., free.

6725 John F. Kennedy Blvd., NLR. Oak Crest Band. Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 9 p.m., $5. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub. com.

Ramona & the Soul Rhythms (headliner), Some Guy Named Robb (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.

Rob Moore. Cregeen’s Irish Pub, 9 p.m., free.

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

Ryan Couron, Matthew Huff. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $10. 1300 S. Main St. 501-372-1228. www. juanitas.com.

Seth Freeman Band. West End Smokehouse and Tavern, 9 p.m., $5. 215 N. Shackleford.

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

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

Camps

SUNDAY, JULY 11 musiC

Crisis. The Promenade at Chenal, 6 p.m., free.

17711 Chenal Parkway. 501-821-5552. chenalshopping.com.

Gil Franklin and Friends. The Honey Hut, 9 p.m., free. 3723 MacArthur Drive, NLR. Lightning Bolt, Transmography, Androids of Ex-Lovers, Cracker Creeptacular. ACAC, 9 p.m., $7. 900 S. Rodney Parham Road. 501-2442974.

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

Sunday/Funday Dance Party. Sticky Fingerz Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 5 p.m., free. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz. com.

sports

Arkansas Travelers vs. Frisco RoughRiders.

Dickey-Stephens Park, 6 p.m., $6-$12.

400 W Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-7559. www.travs.com.

Camps

“Extreme Weather and the Environment” registration. See July 8.

MONDAY, JULY 12 musiC

Richie Johnson. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m., free.

2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

Seabird, House of Heroes. All ages. Revolution, 8:30 p.m., $6 regular, $8 under 21. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090. revroom.com.

Traditional Irish Music Session. Khalil’s Pub, Fourth and Second Monday of every month, 7 p.m.

110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www. khalilspub.com.

events

Little Rock Fashion Week “Back in the Days” fund-raiser. A retro costume party to collect money, food and clothing for Watershed.

Star Bar, 9 p.m. 1900 W. 3rd St.

sports

Arkansas Travelers vs. Frisco RoughRiders.

Dickey-Stephens Park, 6 p.m., 7:10 p.m., $6-$12.

400 W Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-7559. www. travs.com.

Camps

“Extreme Weather and the Environment”

registration. See July 8.

TUESDAY, JULY 13 musiC

Brian & Nick. The Afterthought, 5:30 p.m., free.

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

Delta Spirit, David Vandervelde, The Romany Rye. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $10. 1300 S. Main St. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

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

Karaoke Tuesday. The 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.

P.T. Burnem, Paulie Think Hails. Maxine’s, 9 p.m., free. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

Spirit Family Reunion. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., donations. 2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.myspace.com/whitewatertavern.

Tequila Tuesdays with DJ Hy-C. Bill St. Grill and Pub, 8:30 p.m. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-353-1724.

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. 823-0090. www.revroom.com.

events

Farmers Market. River Market Pavilions, 7 a.m.

400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info.

The ROOT Cafe “Canning Kitchen” Summer Workshop. ROOT’s third annual summer series of food preservation workshops. Christ Episcopal Church, 6:30 p.m., $10. 509 Scott St. 501-3752342.

Film

“Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.” Market Street Cinema, 7 p.m., $5, kids free. 1521 Merrill Drive.

501-312-8900. www.marketstreetcinema.net.

Books

Meet the Author: Tom Dillard. The head of special collections at UA-Fayetteville and author of “Statesmen, Scoundrels, and Eccentrics: A Gallery of Amazing Arkansans” speaks. William F. Laman Library, free., free. 2801 Orange St., NLR. 501-7581720.

Live Music Thursday, July 8 FLasH LaRue Friday, July 9 THe saLTy Dogs Tuesday, July 13 spiRiT FamiLy ReuNioN (BRookLyN, New yoRk) saTurday, July 17 BLuegRass wiTH RuNaway pLaNeT Wednesday, July 21 THe LegeNDaRy maLcoLm HoLcomBe (HiLLs oF NoRTH caRoLiNa) Do NoT miss THis sHow!

myspace.com/whitewatertavern Little Rock’s Down-Home Neighborhood Bar

7th & Thayer • Little Rock • (501) 375-8400

“Wow! You got that where?!?”

Oliver’s Antiques

501.982.0064 1101 Burman Dr. • Jacksonville Take Main St. Exit, East on Main, Right on S. Hospital & First Left to Burman Hours: TuEsday-saTurday 10-5

s cajun’ wharf presents

Camps

“Extreme Weather and the Environment” registration. See July 8.

Classes

SeniorNet Computing Classes for Seniors.

See July 8.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14 musiC

Acoustic Open Mic with Kat Hood. The Afterthought, 8 p.m. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd.

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

Girl in a Coma, Scott Lucas & the Married Men, Stella’s Old Soul. Maxine’s, 9 p.m., $12.

700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

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

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

501-315-1717.

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

Shaman’s Harvest, Dark From Day One, The Vail. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $8 adv., $10 d.o.s. 1300 S. Main St. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

The Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free. 111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-3747474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Tony, Tim & Scott. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

Continued on page 24

FRIDAY, JULY 9

PG-13 The Band

SATURDAY, JULY 10

Ramona & The Soul Rhythms

THURSDAY, JULY 15

Alize

live music every night Big Swingin’ Deck Parties on Thursdays

cajunswharf.com

mon-sat from 4:30 p.m.

2400 cantrell road • on the arkansas river

375-5351

www.arktimes.com • july 8, 2010 23

Calendar

Continued from page 23

Comedy

Alex Reymundo. The Loony Bin, 8 p.m. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. www.loonybincomedy. com.

events

Little Rock Fashion Week’s “Art of an Artist.” Wine, hors d’oeuvres and art from Christopher Youngstar. Lulav, 5 p.m. 220 A W. 6th St. 501-374-5100. www.lulaveatery.com.

“Voices at the River” Legacy Award Dinner.

“Voices at the River” honors playwright Ed Bullins.

Reservations available by contacting bhilkert@ therep.org. Clinton Presidential Center, 6:30 p.m., $60. 1200 President Clinton Avenue. 370-8000. www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org.

Film

Movies in the Park — “Over the Hedge.”

Riverfront Park, 8:30 p.m., Free. 400 President Clinton Avenue. www.moviesintheparklr.net.

Camps

“Extreme Weather and the Environment” registration. See July 8.

THURSDAY, JULY 15 musiC

Animal Sound. Maxine’s, 8 p.m. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

Corey Smith. Riverfest Amphitheatre, 8 p.m., $15-$25. 400 President Clinton Ave. J-One Presents: “In Too Deep.” Deep Ultra Lounge, 9 p.m. 322 President Clinton Ave. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m., free. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

Nekromantix, The Mutilators, The Howlers.

Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $12 adv., $14 d.o.s. 1300 S. Main St. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

Robert Plant & The Band of Joy. Robinson Center Music Hall, 8 p.m., $64.90-$85.50. Markham and Broadway. 800-745-3000. www.littlerockmeetings.com/conv-centers/robinson.

Southern Exposure. Denton’s Trotline, 9 p.m., $5. 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

The Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free. 111 W. President Clinton Ave. 501-3747474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. The Afterthought, 8:30 p.m., $5. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Thirsty Thursdays. 21 and up. Revolution, 8 p.m. 300 President Clinton Ave. 823-0090. revroom.com.

Comedy

Alex Reymundo. The Loony Bin, 8 p.m. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. www.loonybincomedy. com.

Film

HSDFI Summer Film Series. Malco Theater, 6 p.m. 817 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-6200.

Patio Party Join us for live entertainment and drink specials every Wednesday starting at 4:30 p.m.

Located on the Lower Level of the Clinton Presidential Center Monday thru Saturday: Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Lunch 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Brunch Daily lunch specials ($23.99 for adults and $8.99 for children 12 and under, 4 and under free)

1200 President Clinton Avenue • Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 • 501.537.0042 • www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org 24 july 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

Camps

“Extreme Weather and the Environment” registration. See July 8.

Classes

SeniorNet Computing Classes for Seniors.

See July 8.

GALLeRieS, MUSeUMS New exhibits, upcoming events CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 509 Scott St.: “Summer Members Show,” work by Arkansas Pastel Society members Shirley Anderson, Ruth Byrn, S. Caruthers, Gertrude Casciano, Lois Davis, Marlene Gremillion, Sheliah Halderman, Mary Nancy Henry, Susan Hurst, Melanie Johnston, Sr. Maria Liebeck, Sue F. Lopez, Anne K. Lyon, Nancy Martin, Diana L. Shearon, Cathy Spann, Mary Ann Stafford and Debbie Strobel; reception 5-8 p.m. July 9, 2nd Friday Art Night. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 9 a.m.-noon Sun. 375-2342.

GREG THOMPSON FINE ART, 429 Main St., NLR: Matt McLeod, paintings, end-of-show reception 6-8 p.m. July 8, through July 10. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 664-2787.

HISTORIC ARKANSAS MUSEUM, 200 E. Third St.: “You Fit into Me: Works by David Carpenter and Lindsey Maestri,” through Sept. 5; “Unprivate Mail: Arkansas Postcards and Cryptic Messages,” through Sept. 26; “John Chiaromonte and Maribeth Anders: The Responsibility of Internal Forces,” through Aug. 8. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m.

Sun. $2.50 adults, $1.50, $1 children for tours of grounds. Open 5-8 p.m. July 9, 2nd Friday Art Night. 324-9351.

LOCAL COLOUR GALLERY, 5811 Kavanaugh Blvd.: “Christmas in July,” jewelry by Mary Allison, July featured artist, and other work by members of cooperative. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 265-0422.

MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY, 500 President Clinton Ave.: “Alice’s Day of Wonder,” performances by cast members from Radio Disney’s Rockin’ Road Show at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. July 10, in association with “Alice’s Wonderland,” handson science, math exhibit featuring characters from Lewis Carroll’s story, for ages 3 to 10, through Sept. 15; 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.: “Early Arkansas Medicine,” Brown Bag Lunch Lecture by E. Mitchell Singleton, noon-1 p.m. July 14; “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. n Bentonville CRYSTAL BRIDGES AT THE MASSEY, 125 W. Central: “ArtBuzz: Vintage Vessels,” gallery talk, 11 a.m.-noon July 15, companion to “Transforming Tradition: Pottery from Mata Ortiz,” Field Museum exhibit, through Aug. 29. 479-418-5700. n Lake Village GUACHOYA CULTURAL ART CENTER, 1652 Hwy. 65 & 82 South: “Delta Ladies Exhibit,” multimedia by Kathy Davis Day, pottery by Rebecca Potter and Delta landscapes by Shelby Nunnery, through Aug. 27, reception 6-7:30 p.m.

July 8. 1-6 p.m. Tue., Thu., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri. 870-265-6077. n Springdale ARTS CENTER OF THE OZARKS, 215 S. Main St.: “Artists of Northwest Arkansas Annual Regional Exhibition,” July 9-Aug. 6, McCuistionMatthews and Smith galleries, reception July 10. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 79-7515441.

GalleRies, onGoinG exhibits.

ACAC GALLERY, 900 S. Rodney Parham: New paintings by John Kushmaul, through July 31. 2-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Sat. 479-466-1235.

ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER, MacArthur Park:

Continued on page 29

■ media The soccer pushers Local firm gets in on World Cup action. n “The beauty of soccer is that something could happen at any moment.”

Kyle Floyd is excited about the World Cup, even though the U.S. men’s national team didn’t make it quite as far as he, or millions of other “Yanks” fans, would have liked. So why is he so excited? Well, for one reason, he just likes soccer. For another, it’s his job.

Floyd works for Stone Ward, a Little Rock public relations firm that recently became the agency of record for the U.S. Soccer Federation.

“The federation was looking for an agency with a presence in Chicago, which Stone Ward has,” Floyd says. “It was a pitch process.

And it enabled us to demonstrate that we have the capabilities to take care of their needs, but even more than that, we have people in the office that are seriously passionate about soccer and that really came across.”

As part of their ad campaign, Stone Ward created television commercials centered on the theme, “The Yanks are Coming.” The agency also created print advertisements and started the website marketingsoccer.com.

The agency, Floyd says, had two main goals for representing the U.S. team. Number one, generate excitement for the sport in the

lead-up to the World Cup. And two, actually get people out to the qualifying matches, many of which were held in the U.S. The World Cup was extremely popular in the U.S. this time around, but there still seems to be a hesitation on the part of most Americans to really embrace a game that has become so popular all over the world. Floyd says that’s only partially true.Yes, Americans tend to like higher-scoring games like basketball, but don’t underestimate their ability to rally behind a cause.

“Americans love their national teams,” he says. “It doesn’t really matter what sport it is. We threw ourselves behind some really strange sports for the Olympics. We love national teams. So to generate excitement around this wasn’t as difficult as you might think.”

The excitement was definitely there.

According to statistics from Bloomberg, EuropeTalent, FIFA, Nielson and USNews, the World Cup averaged 95 million viewers per match, world-wide. More than 120 million U.S. viewers watched at least one minute of a World Cup broadcast. Since the games come on in the morning due to the time difference, a lot of people are watching while they work.

It’s estimated that U.S. companies will likely

brian chilson

by Gerard Matthews

SELLING THE YANKS: Stone Ward’s Tommy Walker and Kyle Floyd were behind the U.S. Soccer Federation’s World Cup ad campaign. lose $121 million in lost productivity, and that’s if employees only sneak away for 10 minutes per game.

Of course, the World Cup does have its detractors. Glenn Beck and other conservative commentators have been doing their best to run the World Cup into the ground.

“It doesn’t matter how you try to sell it to us, it doesn’t matter how many celebrities you get, it doesn’t matter how many bars open early, it doesn’t matter how many beer commercials they run, we don’t want the World Cup, we don’t like the World Cup,

we don’t like soccer, we want nothing to do with it. … They continually try to jam it down our throat,” Beck said.

But Floyd says that’s a minority opinion and Tommy Walker agrees.

Walker, who works as the director of broadcast production at Stone Ward, says the appeal of soccer is not only universal but contagious.

“As Americans, if America is playing another country, then that draws everybody together,” Walker says. “At the agency, not everyone here is soccer-crazy, but when we were playing, the TVs were packed with people and when we scored it just went ballistic.”

Floyd and Walker say they’ve also partnered with the USA bid committee to bring the World Cup to America in 2018 or 2022.

The latter is probably more likely, Floyd says.

And while their work with the U.S. men’s team will likely start to wind down soon, the U.S. women’s team will play in the women’s World Cup in 2011.

The men’s team will play three “friendly” matches over the next couple of months, including a showdown with World Cup standout Brazil in August. And Floyd says Stone Ward will, hopefully, be in the soccer business for the foreseeable future.

“We’re the agency of record now, so it’s not like there’s a contract that has an end,” he says. “Our task is really to tell people, ‘Hey, kids all over this country are playing this game. You might have always thought of it as the world’s game and not America’s game but if you really stop and look around, it really is America’s game.’”

■ review The Eagles

n Unlike most people, I don’t like salmon, the Dave Matthews Band or most of the Eagles’ hit songs. But unlike the first two, I can still enjoy consuming Eagles tunes, particularly when surrounded by the 10,770 raucous fans that came to Verizon Arena last Thursday to adore the geriatric rockers.

The Eagles’ trademark has always been laid-back, melodic pop ditties with a twinge of country and usually embellished with lush harmonies. Examples include “Take It Easy,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “I Can’t Tell You Why,” “Take It to the Limit” and “One of These Nights,” all of which were recreated during the Verizon show in their purest, true-to-the-original forms – and greeted with enthusiastic mass approval.

Those songs sound to me the way cotton candy tastes — sweet without a lot of substance. But that’s really my problem, not the Eagles’. They’ve ridden that horse for nearly 40 years, establishing themselves as one of the most significant and beloved American bands ever.

One of the Eagles’ unique characteristics is that any of the four front men can take the

brian chilson

July 1, Verizon Arena

STILL KICKIN’: The Eagles performed in front of 10,770 diehard fans at Verizon Arena. spotlight, and do. Don Henley remains the MVP, the writer and singer of many Eagles classics, a multi-talented guy who hasn’t lost a thing over the decades. Glenn Frey sings another passel of hits, and while his voice is not quite as powerful as it once was, his mates’ harmonies bolstered his somewhat thin tenor. Timothy B. Schmit is blessed with one of those bell-clear high voices that would qualify him to front a Journey or Rush cover band if he ever gets tired of this Eagles thing.

And then there’s Joe Walsh — the class clown, the bad boy who mugged for the cameras that beamed the on-stage action to two large screens, the one who was given the chance to showcase many of his nonEagles highlights, including “Walk Away” and the rocking “Funk No. 49” from his days

fronting the James Gang and “In the City,” “Life’s Been Good” and “Rocky Mountain Way” from his solo career. His gonzo style added refreshing edginess to the serious, staid approach of his band mates.

The crowning song of the show was another solo hit, Henley’s “Dirty Laundry,” the song about the media’s treatment of “news” that seems much more relevant today than when released in 1982. A sequence of rapid-fire on-screen shots of Glenn Beck, Nancy Grace, Keith Olbermann and other opinionated talking heads punctuated and enriched the song.

Though the vast majority of Eagles’ hits hails from the previous century, this wasn’t only an oldies show. “Long Road Out of Eden,” the title cut from the 2007 release, also made good use of the video screens as

scenes of decay and destruction provided a stark visual backdrop, and a couple of other songs from that album were included.

This concert was the final date on the first long leg of the Eagles’ tour, but the boys didn’t slack off, performing almost three hours with one 20-minute break. The show that started at 7:40 p.m. finally ended near 11 p.m. with Henley spotlighted on the sparse “Desperado,” another syrupy ballad fans adore.

Henley, Schmit and Walsh are 62, and Frey is 61, and all have been hard at it for 40 years, producing an impressive collection of notable works that still sound fresh, if a little sappy, all these years later. Their hardcore fans’ passion and appreciation haven’t waned.

— Kelley Bass www.arktimes.com • july 8, 2010 25

by Saul Rubinek as warehouse keeper Artie and Allison Scagliotti as his geekfoxy twentysomething assistant Claudia and you’ve got a real keeper.

july 8-14

brian chilson

WAREHOUSE 13: NEW EPISODES 8 p.m. Tuesdays Sy-Fy Channel

MMM, MMM: The Hop offers Coca-Cola with pure cane sugar.

Sweet showdown Sugar cane-flavored soft drinks make a comeback.

By Bernard Reed

n The latest trend in soft drinks is nostalgia: The desire for drinks sweetened with sugar cane, as in the old days, rather than high fructose corn syrup. Cane tastes better to some folks, and it’s being marketed as better for you than corn.

Americans get 20 percent of their sugar from soft drinks. That makes soft drink production in this country an enormous industry. In the ’70s soft drink makers made the switch to corn syrup because it’s cheaper, it supports U.S. corn farmers and doesn’t have trade tariffs like sucrose from abroad.

But sugar cane is back, mostly at privately owned businesses that sell specialty or gourmet goods. But a niche market can’t be so easily defined. Take the Hop, an old-fashioned diner selling burgers, and ZaZa’s, purveyor of artisan pizzas and creative salads.

The Hop, which styles itself after an old-fashioned diner, figured that selling vintage soft drinks would add to the restaurant’s flair. It sells Mexican Cokes and sold vintage sodas from the New Jersey-based Boylan Bottling Co. The vintage sodas sold so poorly that owner Chris Isgrig decided to stop stocking them, but customers can’t get enough of the Mexican Cokes, Sprites, and Fantas, which are also made with sugar cane.

Well, well — brand recognition at play.

The Boylan Bottling Co. was founded in 1891 and pledges to provide “authentic soda-pops of a bygone era.” That is, an era when the word “Coke” wasn’t synonymous with “soft drink.”

Boylan fares better at ZaZa, the upscale pizza restaurant in the Heights. Scott McGehee, the owner, takes pride in the 26 july 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

fact that ZaZa offers healthy food, which is why he chose to stock Boylan beverages. They sell very well, he said, but the restaurant still serves regular Cokes. He wants his customers to have choices when it comes to their soft drinks, and he realizes that without the sticky, corn-syrupy choices of Dr. Pepper or Diet Coke, any restaurant would go out of business.

When you’re at ZaZa munching on a chic pizza, a glass-bottled novelty drink just looks better, besides being the supposedly healthier option. If you get a beer there, it’s probably not going to be a Miller Lite. When you’re at The Hop, a Coke will do just fine, and if you happen to be a fan of cane sugar, you’re in luck.

In this country we like our fizzy drinks too much to care about making a statement every time we need a refreshment.

The notion that sugar cane is a healthier option is sort of a joke, unfortunately.

While corn syrup is demonized as one of the big reasons for out-of-control obesity in America, especially among children, studies have shown that it’s not really any worse than sucrose. The problem is the amount of soft drinks being consumed in the first place.

Mexican Coke, although you won’t get it in the drink machine at McDonald’s, isn’t too hard to find. Besides the Hop, it’s in Mexican grocery stores and River Market district stores Green Grass and 4Square.

Whether it’s about health, or making a political statement, or trying to look cool with a throwback Pepsi in a glass bottle, human behavior is a complex thing to explain. But it can be simple, too. Those Cokes de Mexico sure do taste better.

n Though I wasn’t too impressed with the first few episodes of season one of Sy-Fy’s “Warehouse 13” — too hip, too goofy, too little chemistry between leads Eddie McClintock and Joanne Kelly — the show managed to grow on me quite a bit as the season rolled on. If you haven’t seen it and are a fan of dark comedy or sci-fi you should definitely give it a shot.

The show follows the adventures of FBI agents Pete Lattimer (McClintock) and Mika Bering (Kelly), who are assigned to a mysterious, cavernous facility in South Dakota called Warehouse 13.

Kind of like the government hidey-hole from the last scene of “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” W13 is the place where the Powers That Be stash all their amazing and dangerous stuff: samurai swords so sharp they can slice through time, for example, and energy weapons designed

by Thomas Edison and Nicola Tesla. In addition to babysitting the cosmic yard sale, the agents are often assigned to track down and recover new artifacts so they can be categorized and safely shelved to keep them away from evildoers. As with much of science-fiction television, Warehouse 13 is a show that has to teach you how to watch it: what to expect, who you can trust, which way is up when it comes to this particular universe’s often dicey physics. Once I got a little of the agents’ back story and the actors gelled a bit, McClintock and Kelly work much better as a pair for me now, and have real potential. Add to that nice performances

BACK AGAIN: ‘Warehouse 13’ on Sy-Fy.

DUAL SURVIVAL Fridays 9 p.m.

The Discovery Channel n I have no delusions about my chances for survival were I ever to find myself shipwrecked, stranded in the wilderness or otherwise detained more than 20 miles from the nearest Target store: I would be toast. I don’t like to go camping, much less snare rabbits and make shoes out of tree bark, so if I were ever in a life or death situation, I feel fairly confident that the outcome would be hikers finding my bleached bones next to a large sign made of rocks that says “Send Cheeseburgers.” That said, I have great respect for the folks that can live off the land. Little did I know there are different ways to go about it — different, anyway, from my plan to cry and pray while in the fetal position. Presenting those differing tactics to keep on breathing is the concept behind the new Discovery Channel show “Dual Survival.” Think of it as “The Odd Couple,” if Felix and Oscar had been forced to eat grubs and huddle together naked to stave off hypothermia. Every week, “bush hippie” Cody Lundin and former sniper and Army scout Dave Canterbury are dropped off in the armpit of the universe miles from assistance, and have to work together to survive. As you might imagine, their strategies to avoid becoming Bear Chow often clash.

One video at the Discovery Channel website, for example, shows Lundin and Canterbury squabbling over Lundin’s new-age edict against wearing shoes, even in sub-freezing conditions (makes him closer to the earth, Lundin says, and gives his mitochondria a boost). Lundin, however, is no dummy. His eco-friendly, science driven approach to survival often trumps Canterbury’s he-man, kill-itbefore-it-kills-you attitude. Great fun.

— David Koon

The Second Friday Of Each Month

2FAN July 10 press.pdf 1 7/1/2010 11:18:15 AM

Join us for the opening of Luke Anguhadluq: Inuit Artist

Dr. J.W. Wiggins Native American Art Collection C

Plus a special exhibit of five featured artists and a painting demonstration by Angela Davis

M

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CM

July 9, 5-8 pm These venues will be open late. There’s plenty of parking and a free trolley to each of the locations.

Don’t miss it – lots of fun!

FREE PARKING at 3RD & CUMBERLAND

MY

CY

CMY

K

Arkansas Studies Institute (401 President Clinton Ave.) Located in downtown Little Rock’s River Market District

BUTLER CENTER

FOR ARKANSAS STUDIES

FREE STREET PARKING ALL OVER DOWNTOWN AND BEHIND THE RIVER MARKET (Paid parking available for modest fee.)

Except for All the Snakes I Just Love It Out Here: The News from Stone County, Arkansas...

Booksigning with author L. Lee Cowan Live music by the Pickoids

200 E. Third Street 501-324-9351 www.HistoricArkansas.org

Sponsored by

Arkansas Studies Institute - Central Arkansas Library System The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies - www.butlercenter.org/art

A museum of the Department of Arkansas Heritage

Gypsy Bistro

Featured Artist: Rob Walker 501.375.3500

300 Third Tower • 501-375-3333 coppergrillandgrocery.com

200 S. Commerce, Ste. 150 River Market District (OldVermillion Location)

Summer Members Show Arkansas Pastel Society Exhibit: July 1 - August 31 18 Pastel Society Artists

Artists’ Reception July 9, 5 - 8 p.m.

Christ Church Gallery Little Rock’s Downtown Episcopal Church 509 Scott St | 501-375-2342 www.christchurchlr.org

405 President Clinton Ave.

NcjK at Art in the Park & The Bernice Garden Art Market Celebrate Arkansas \modnon, K`majmh`mn, home-grown Kmj_p^`, food & beverage q`i_jmn, and ^jhhpidot groups.

in the River Market District

0 ( 3 KH 5 every second Amd_\t in July through December 4 <H ( - KH 5 every N\opm_\t through September 25 (Corner of Daisy Bates & S. Main) villagecommonslr@gmail.com

(501) 244-2622

The to-do list

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Friday, July 9 -Thursday, July 15

HELP WANTED ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

CELEBRATING OUR 10th YEAR!

Father oF My Children – nr 2:15 4:20 7:15 9:20 Cannes Film Festival

July 9-11

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

ondine – PG13 1:45 4:00 6:45 9:00

Colin Farrell, Tony Curran, Alicja Bachleda • Irish Film Awards

Mother and Child – r 1:45 4:15 6:45 9:20 Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, Jimmy Smits

the Girl With the draGon tattoo – nr 1:30 4:15 7:00 European Film Awards, Palm Springs Film Fest

harry BroWn – r 2:00 4:20 Michael Caine, Emily Martimer

holly rollers – r 7:15 9:20

Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha • Sundance Film Fest The WraTh of Kahn – PG • 7Pm $5 • Tues 7/13 9 PM shoWs Fri & sat only NOW SERVING BEER & WINE EMAIL CINEMA8@CSWNET.COM FOR SPECIAL SHOWS, PRIVATE PARTIES & BUSINESS MEETINGS OR FILM FESTIVALS CALL (501) 223-3529 & LEAVE MESSAGE

501-312-8900 marketstreetcinema.net

1521 MERRILL DR.

hAve fun.

See reSultS! FATHER KNOWS BEST: Juggling a family with a frantic, risky career as a film producer, Gregoire (Louis-Do de Lencquesaing) finds himself on the edge when his production company takes a nosedive because of an eccentric film director in “Father of My Children.”

Northside WomeN’s Boot Camp is the QuiCkest, easiest Way to Jumpstart your FitNess program.

A specialized program of fitness instruction, nutritional counseling provided by Certified Class Instructor/ Personal Trainer Kaytee Wright.

LoCATIon: Lakewood nLR, 5:15am M,W,F

evening claSSeS mon., tue.,and thur., 6Pm-7Pm

neW WomenS claSS at 9:15am Bring your child, 2 and uP.

call Kaytee Wright 501-607-3100 For more information and the Women’s Boot camp calendar, visit www.northsidefitness.net

Northside A c h i ev e . B e l i ev e . S u cc e e d.

FitNess

SWim SeaSon iS here! it iS not to late to get in ShaPe! 28 july 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

With the exception of Market Street Cinema and Aerospace IMAX, movie listings were unavailable at press time. Synopses of films to be released or already playing are included. Visit www.arktimes. com for updates. Market Street Cinema showtimes at or after 9 p.m. are for Friday and Saturday only.

NEW MOVIES 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.

Father of My Children (NR) — A French film producer with a seemingly perfect life ends up in dire financial straits after a project goes overboard.

Market Street: 2:15, 4:20, 7:15, 9:20.

Predators (R) — The newest addition to the “Predator” franchise sees a group of paramilitary experts try to outlast the ruthless, futuristic Predators.

RETURNING THIS WEEK The A-Team (PG-13) — Four former Special Forces soldiers look to clear their name with the U.S. military after finding themselves framed and on the lam.

Alice in Wonderland (PG) — Tim Burton’s 3D sequel to the Carroll classic finds Alice back in the rabbit hole as a rebellious 19-year-old.

Animalopolis (NR) — A half-hour film of goofy animals being goofy in enormous 3D. Aerospace IMAX: 11:00 (Thu.-Fri.) The Back-Up Plan (PG-13) — Jennifer Lopez stars as a single woman who meets the man of her dreams hours after artificially conceiving twins.

Clash of the Titans (PG-13) — Perseus, son of Zeus, leads a band of warriors into uncharted dimensions while attempting to defeat the evil Hades, God of the Underworld.

Date Night (PG-13) — When a bored couple tries for a romantic evening in New York City, a case of mistaken identity sends them off into a night of danger.

Death at a Funeral (PG-13) — A funeral for a family patriarch goes haywire, being constantly disrupted by a series of accidents, missteps, idiocy and blackmail.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) — Greg, a 6th-grade

runt, can’t stand the ceaseless bullying, wedgies and swirlies he puts up with at school, so he retreats to his journal and his imagination.

Get Him to the Greek (R) — A dopey record company intern finds himself caught in a drugand-sex-fueled caper as he tries to bring an unruly British rock star to America.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (R) — When a shabby pair of investigators look into a decadesold missing person case, they discover grotesque family secrets. Market Street: 1:30, 4:15, 7:00.

Grown Ups (PG-13) — Five old basketball teammates act like kids again after their high school coach passes away.

Harry Brown (R) — A Marine veteran and modest Brit seeks vengeance after his best friend is murdered by a pack of thugs. Market Street: 2:00, 4:20.

Holy Rollers (R) — The true story of a young Hasidic Jew who gets caught up in an international Ecstasy smuggling ring. Market Street: 7:15, 9:20.

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) — A timid young Viking, raised to slay dragons by his heroic father, ends up befriending one he tried to slay.

Just Wright (PG) — A physical therapist finds herself falling for the professional basketball player in her care.

The Karate Kid (PG) — A reboot of the 1985 classic sees the Kid as a Detroit-transplant in China, learning kung fu from the hand of his apartment maintenance man.

Knight and Day (PG-13) — When a spy realizes he wasn’t supposed to survive his last assignment, he teams with an unassuming stranger to escape.

The Last Airbender (PG) — M. Night Shyamalan adapts the hugely successful action cartoon about four magical defenders of the elements.

The Last Song (PG) — Miley Cyrus and Greg Kinnear star in this father/daughter tale in which an alienated teen is forced to spend a summer in Georgia with her pianist father.

Letters to Juliet (PG) — An American in Italy takes it upon herself to help a number of anonymous, lovelorn women who left letters at the fictional Capulet courtyard in Verona.

The Living Sea (NR) — An underwater tour of Palau, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Alaska, Nova

Scotia and the Red Sea. Aerospace Imax: 10:00, 12:00, 2:00 (Thu.); 10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 7:00, 9:00 (Fri.); 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 7:00 (Sat.).

Mother and Child (R) — Three women with lives all affected by adoption find common ground as their stories begin to overlap. Market Street: 1:45, 4:15, 6:45, 9:20.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (R) — Remake of the 1984 horror classic in which a murderer uses the dream world to take revenge on the children of the lynch mob that killed him.

Ondine (PG-13) — This modern fairy tale sees an Irish fisherman and his daughter finding themselves changed by a woman who may or may not be a mermaid. Market Street: 1:45, 4:00, 6:45, 9:00.

Shrek Forever After (PG) — The final movie of the series has the ogre stuck in Far Far Away, in which ogres are hunted and Rumpelstiltskin is king.

Thrill Ride (NR) — This IMAX movie takes viewers on some of the fastest, scariest roller coasters on earth. Aerospace IMAX: 1:00 (Thu.); 1:00, 8:00 (Fri.); 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 8:00 (Sat.).

Toy Story 3 (G) — Donated to a daycare center after their owner leaves for college, the beloved gang of toys rally together for one last escape.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (PG-13) — The third installment of the “Twilight” series finds Bella graduating high school, torn between vampire Edward and werewolf Jacob.

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

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

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

IMAX Theater: Aerospace Education Center, 376-4629, www.aerospaced.org.

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

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

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

Dickinson Theaters Lakewood 8: Lakewood Village, 758-5354, www.fandango.com.

calendar

Continued from page 24

‘I’M SWITZERLAND’: Werewolf Jacob (Taylor Lautner), human Bella (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) in “Twilight: Eclipse,” the funniest movie of the year.

■ moviereview Sucks so good The newest installment of ‘Twilight’ is a blast for all the wrong reasons. n You may know “Glorious,” a play recently done by The Rep, based on the life and career of Florence Foster Jenkins, an opera singer who failed her way to infamy in early 1900s New York City. For years, the tone-deaf, tin-throated vocalist squawked her way through grandiose pieces from Verdi, Mozart, et al with an unrivaled ineptitude.

Time and time again, the harder she tried to convey the heights of operatic emotion through song, the worse she sounded and the dumber she looked. But the singer eventually found droves of people coming to her recitals to hear her yelp and screech through arias with the best of intentions and the worst of voices.

People loved her; in fact, the lovably inept Florence sold out Carnegie Hall months before her death.

Such is the spiritual forebear of “Twilight: Eclipse,” the third installment of the teeny-bop sensation that, thanks to its ham-fisted incompetence in every way, provided the most fun I’ve had in a theater all year.

Does it even matter what it’s about?

Nope. Good psychic kung-fu vampires with bad bleach jobs fight bad people-eater vampires in hooded robes and everyone fights teen-age werewolves who walk around shirtless in cut-off jean shorts. And it’s all treated with Shakespearean gravitas.

Somewhere along the way, we’re still supposed to care about vampire Edward and human Bella. In spite of being the center of the series — one of the most profitable movie couples in decades — they’re completely devoid of anything resembling charm, charisma or affection.

It’s grandiose dreck, mining dumb-ass teenage hormones and ennui to varying levels of failure, making any old Harlequin paperback’s two-dimensional under-

standing of the complexities of love look like “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by comparison.

Now, I know these movies aren’t made for my demographic. Or my gender. They’re certainly not made for the critics, either, but I can’t recommend this hunk of nonsensical glop enough. For a movie so painstakingly humorless, it provided the hardest laughs of the summer not only for me, but the majority of the theater along for the ride.

The two hours are so authoritatively shitty that, in my case, it provided for one of those great movie experiences where a room of strangers join together to turn a theater into a junior high study hall with one person’s snickering growing into room-wide belly laughs when the movie’s “OMG” moments belly flop into “WTF, LOL” reactions.

Take, for instance, a scene in which Edward and werewolf Jacob, who’s vying for Bella’s affections, get into a hot-headed argument. Bella steps back, throws her hands in the air and delivers this nugget: “That’s it! From now on, I’m Switzerland.”

It’s the apex of the movie’s sublime awfulness and a far cry from “With God as my witness, I’ll never be hungry again.”

“Eclipse” did, however, deliver in spades during the movie’s two epic, climactic vampire/werewolf fight scenes which were full of enough dog-on-man action to appease the most disinterested of guys dragged along to the movie.

Having grossed over $175 million in the six days as of press time, “Eclipse” is well on its way to being the most successful bad movie ever. My suggestion? Pump up that number. Get a group of friends, a few drinks and a few tickets to a late night show when the Twi-hards will be past curfew and brace yourself for what should be an accidental great time at the movies.

— John Tarpley

“The Miniature Worlds of Bruce Metcalf,” through Aug. 22; “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 ARTS CENTER COMMUNITY GALLERY, Terry House, 7th and Rock Sts.: “V.I.T.A.L. Artists Collective Inaugural Exhibit,” work by Melverue Abraham, Rex Deloney, LaToya Hobbs, Ariston Jacks, Kalari Turner and Michael Worsham, through Aug. 28. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sun. 372-4000.

ARGENTA ART MARKET, 510 Main St., NLR: Outdoor artists and crafters market, 8 a.m. to noon every Sat. BOSWELL-MOUROT FINE ART, 5815 Kavanaugh Blvd.: New work by 25 national, international and Arkansas artists, highlighting mixed media on canvas work of Darlyne Chauve, through August. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 664-0030.

CANTRELL GALLERY, 8206 Cantrell Road: “19th annual Mid-Southern Watercolorists Open Membership Exhibit,” through July. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 224-1335.

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.: “A Couple of Cut-Ups,” recent works by Amy Edgington and Byron Werner, through July 10. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Tue.-Sat. 664-8996.

HEARNE FINE ART, 1001 Wright Ave.: “Collaborations,” paintings and sculpture by Kevin Cole, Benny Andrews, Kennith Humphrey, Tonia Mitchell, Marjorie Williams-Smith, photographs by Ernest C. Withers, and other work.

372-6822.

HEIGHTS GALLERY, 5801 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Arkansas artists. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 664-2772.

KETZ GALLERY, 705 Main St., NLR: “Creative Expressions,” paintings by Dan Thornhill.

529-6330.

M2 GALLERY, 11525 Cantrell Road: Work by new artists Danny Broadway, Todd Williams, David Walker, Char Demoro and Morgan McMurry. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 225-5257.

RED DOOR GALLERY, 3715 JFK, NLR: Work

by Twin, Robin Steves, Brady Taylor, Georges Artaud, Lola, Jim Johnson, Amy Hill-Imler, James Hayes and Theresa Cates. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. 753-5227.

SALON UNDERGROUND, 2821 Kavanaugh Blvd.: “More Selections from the Estate of Howard S. Stern,” paintings, prints and photographs by Leonard Baskin, Carroll Cloar, Selma Blackburn, Frank Freed, Hiroyuki Tajima, Sheila Parsons, Douglas Walton, Marjorie Williams-Smith, Jason Williamson and Stern, through July 31.

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

Mon.-Fri. 372-7373.

STEPHANO’S FINE ART GALLERY, 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Work by area artists. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 563-4218.

THEA FOUNDATION, 401 Main St.: Arkansas League of Artists “Members Show,” through July 14. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 379-9512.

TOBY FAIRLEY FINE ART, 5507 Ranch Drive, Suite 103: Contemporary Arkansas artists.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Fri. or by appointment.

868-9882.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK: “Groovy Summer Show,” 1960s rock band posters from the permanent collection, through July 20, Gallery III, 2nd floor Fine Arts Building. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 569-8977.

UALR BOWEN SCHOOL OF LAW: “Law in a Land Without Justice: Nazi Germany 1933-1945,” World War II artifacts, through July. 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sat., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun. WILLIAM F. LAMAN LIBRARY, 2801 Orange St., NLR: “Draw Me a Story: A Century of Children’s Book Illustration,” 40 original illustrations by Maurice Sendak, Ralph Caldecott, Kate

Greenaway, William Steig, Lois Lenski, Tomie DePaola, Chris Van Allsburg and others, through Aug. 11. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Fri.-Sat. 758-1720. n Benton DIANNE ROBERTS ART STUDIO AND GALLERY, 110 N. Market St.: Area artists.

10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 860-7467. n Hot Springs ALISON PARSONS GALLERY, 802 Central Ave.: Paintings by Parsons. 501-625-3001.

AMERICAN ART GALLERY, 724 Central Ave.: Jimmy Leach, Jamie Carter, Govinder, Marlene Gremillion, Margaret Kipp and others. 501-6240550.

ARTISTS WORKSHOP GALLERY, 810 Central Ave.: Eletha Hise, Joanne Kunath, paintings, pastels, through July. 501-623-6401.

ATTRACTION CENTRAL GALLERY, 264 Central Ave.: Work in all media by Hot Springs artists. 501-463-4932.

BLUE MOON, 718 Central Ave.: Mosaic glass artwork by Cassie Edmonds, through July.

501-318-2787.

CAROLE KATCHEN ART GALLERY, 618 W. Grand Ave.: Paintings, pastels, sculpture by Katchen. 501-617-4494.

FINE ARTS CENTER, 626 Central Ave.: “Sea of Love” themed exhibition. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Wed.-Sat. 501-624-0489.

FOX PASS POTTERY, 379 Fox Pass Cut-off: Pottery by Jim and Barbara Larkin. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tue.-Sat. 501-623-9906.

GALLERY 726, 726 Central Ave.: Barbara Seibel, paintings, through July.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 501-624-7726.

JUSTUS FINE ART, 827 A Central Ave.: Michael Ashley and Dolores Justus. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wed.-Sat. 501-321-2335.

LINDA PALMER GALLERY, 800 B Central Ave.: Linda Palmer, Doyle Young, Ellen Alderson, Peter Lippincott, Sara Tole and Jan Leek. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 501-620-3063.

MUSEUMS, ongoing exhibits

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

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

CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, 1200 President Clinton Ave.: “Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters,” interactive displays and animation on earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes and tornadoes from the Field Museum, through Sept. 6; 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.

MacARTHUR MUSEUM OF ARKANSAS MILITARY HISTORY, MacArthur Park: “Warrior: Vietnam Portraits by Two Guys from Hall,” photos

by Jim Guy Tucker and Bruce Wesson, through November; 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: Exhibits on AfricanAmericans in Arkansas, including one on the Ninth Street business district, Dunbar High School, entrepreneurs, the Mosaic Templars business and more. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 683–3593.

WITT STEPHENS JR. CENTRAL ARKANSAS NATURE CENTER, Riverfront Park: Exhibits on wildlife and the state Game and Fish Commission. n Hot Springs MID-AMERICA SCIENCE MUSEUM, 500 Mid-America Blvd.: “Be the Dinosaur,” life-like animatronic dinosaurs, through Sept. 6. 501-7673461 or 800-632-0583.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, 425 Central Ave.: “Just a Way Out,” new photographs

by Thomas Petillo, through Aug. 1, photographs

by Ansel Adams, through Aug. 1. $5. $5, $4 for seniors. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thu.-Sat., noon-5 p.m.

Sun. 501-609-9955. www.arktimes.com • july 8, 2010 29

LI FE AT

F L A HPRICE. WWW.HALFOFFDEPOT.COM 30 july 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

n The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute hosts its third annual Bountiful Arkansas event Friday, July 16, and Saturday, July 17, on Petit Jean Mountain. The slate of activities includes horticulture workshops, culinary classes, keynote addresses by Chris Olsen of Botanica Gardens and Janet Carson, food-related films, tomato tastings and kids activities. Prices for individual events vary.

Register online at uawri.org. n Toyota is sponsoring a farm to table event at the Little Rock Farmer’s Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 17. The event, much like last week’s Argenta Foodie Festival, pairs nine local chefs — Capi Peck (Capi’s, Trio’s), James Meadors (Fat Sam’s), Tim Morton (1620), Mark Abernathy (Loca Luna, Red Door), Cynthia East (Pulaski Tech), Jacob Peck (Forty Two), Kathy Webb (Lilly’s), Jason Knapp (Big Rock Bistro), Donnie Ferneau (Ferneau) — with local farmers. The dishes the chefs create will be available for complimentary tasting and Toyota will give away herbs. All is to promote the auto company’s new line of hybrid cars, which will be on display.

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

4 SQUARE GIFTS Vegetarian salads, soups, wraps and paninis and a daily selection of desserts in an Arkansas products gift shop. 405 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-291-1796. L Mon.-Sat. D Mon.-Fri. APPLE SPICE JUNCTION A chain sandwich and salad spot with sit-down lunch space and a vibrant box lunch catering business. With a wide range of options and quick service. Order online via applespice.com. 2000 S. University Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-663-7008.

ARKANSAS BURGER CO. Good burgers, fries and shakes, plus salads and other entrees. Try the cheese dip.

7410 Cantrell Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-6630600. LD Tue.-Sat. ASHLEY’S Little Rock’s premier fine dining restaurant. 111 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $$$-$$$$. 501-374-7474.

BLD Mon.-Sat. BR Sun. BONEFISH GRILL A half-dozen or more types of fresh fish filets are offered daily at this upscale chain. 11525 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$$. 501-228-0356. D daily.

Continued on page 32

■ dining Busy bar Bar Louie is eclectic yet generic, unexceptional yet inoffensive. n The menu at this latest chain restaurant to open in the Pleasant Ridge Town Center is vast and disjointed — almost schizophrenic. In the “small plate” section alone, you’ll find a collection of items you’ve found elsewhere, though surely not in the same spot: gumbo, bruschetta, nachos, a hummus/tabbouleh/tzatziki plate, tempura shrimp, calamari, pot stickers, quesadillas, corn dogs, loaded fries, sliders and pizza, to name some but not all.

So the theme is ... no theme … or all themes?

The something-for-everybody approach continues across the menu: salads with Mexican, Asian and American flavors; burgers dressed 13 ways; 16 sandwiches; 14 “large plates” (entrees) including four brunch items served all day.

After a long, hot work day — capped by fighting the Cantrell/I-430 rush-hour mess to get to Bar Louie at happy hour — trying to choose from that huge mishmash was daunting. Drinks were definitely in order. And right there on the first page of the drink menu, under the header “Always at Bar Louie,” were blurbs touting happy hour and the $3 beer of the month, available all day every day.

Except “always” doesn’t always mean always, and “every day” doesn’t even mean “any day,” at least not here, not yet. Because this first Bar Louie in Arkansas had been open only a few weeks, happy hour and the beer-of-the-month plan had not yet been implemented, our friendly waitress told us. While she went to get our non-happy hour beers we collectively wondered how hard it could be — even with a newbie manager — to lower drink prices for a couple of hours each afternoon and pick a beer to feature in June. (Maybe by the time you read this, these puzzling nuts will have been cracked.)

Beers quaffed, we chose Bruschetta Pomodoro ($6.99) and Tempura Shrimp ($9.99) as appetizers. The bruschetta was build-your-own, a mound of chopped fresh tomatoes studded with garlic and basil beautifully presented in a huge martini glass with protruding parmesan-crusted toasted baguette slices. The dish was light, cool and tasty. The shrimp were lightly battered but fairly bland, though the trio of sauces (buffalo, Szechuan and chile-lime) gave a dash of flavor.

The head-scratching that started with the “what, no happy hour or beer of the month?” continued when our Aged Wisconsin Grilled Cheese ($7.99) arrived.

It wasn’t grilled. The promised bacon and tomato were there between two pieces of toasted multi-grain bread, slightly melted

brian chilson

what’scookin’

WIDE VARIETY: Bar Louie has 13 burgers on its eclectic menu. cheddar clinging to each slice. But a “grilled cheese” has to be buttered and pan-grilled, not toasted, and there has to be enough gooey cheese for the whole thing to stick together. This bacon/tomato sandwich with cheese was tasty; it just wasn’t what we thought it would be. (FYI: the sandwiches and burgers are said to come with “seasoned fries” except ours weren’t seasoned; fine with us, but not as billed.)

Our buddy opted for the Chicago Stockyard burger ($10.49), and it was better than average — a fairly large patty cooked as ordered and enlivened with a peppercorn crust (not overwhelming), Worcestershire sauce and fairly ripe blue cheese. Our favorite entree at our table was El Burrito Loco ($12.99), and what was really loco was how huge it was. You’ve heard of football-sized burritos? This one qualified, understandably, because it’s a full meal – steak, black beans, rice, tomato, etc. – in a single, large, bulging tortilla. The highlight here was the quality of the steak – tender and flavorful.

What its Facebook page calls “artfully concocted signature cocktails” were prominent in discussions of Bar Louie’s imminent local arrival, so we were duty-bound to try some (right?). And they seemed perfect for a brief, pre-dessert intermission.

Consumers beware: there are no prices listed on the drink menu, so either ask or choose not to care what they cost. We chose the latter as we selected three, including the Louie’s Cosmo and the Ultimate Bloody Louie, the two identified as house specialties. It was gratifying to get a cosmo that wasn’t sickeningly sweet – this version with white cranberry juice was crisp and refreshing. The bloody Mary was a monster – huge and just-right spicy thanks in part to Absolut Peppar as the featured vodka; it

comes with a veritable antipasto platter-ona-stick as a garnish. The Dos Sauza margarita also benefited from a simple approach – two top-quality tequilas, triple sec and lime, just the way it should be. But while all the cocktails were good, were they $8, $12 and $8 good? Maybe not.

Desserts served in martini glasses are $3.99, or you can get three of the four for $9.99; we bypassed the brownie bites and took the carrot cake bites, banana pudding and the Campfire Crunch, which features all the s’more ingredients. All were bigger than expected and very tasty. Homemade?

Probably not. But just fine.

Most everything at Bar Louie’s was just fine, actually. Not great. Not terrible. But probably plenty fine enough for most. And lord knows there are plenty of choices.

The two things that were way above average: the friendly, helpful servers and the light, bright, spacious space that houses Bar Louie, an opened-up, TV-studded remake of the original occupant, Crew.

Bar Louie

Pleasant Ridge Town Center 11525 Cantrell Road, Suite 924 Little Rock 228-0444 Quick bite

Bar Louie has everything to qualify as a likely west Little Rock hangout – lots of signature cocktails, a large bar area, scads of flat-screen TVs beaming sports and, perhaps most notable, a kitchen that stays open until last call, which is pretty dang late every night.

Hours

11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.1 a.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-midnight Sunday

Other info

Full bar. Credit cards accepted. Moderate prices. www.arktimes.com • juLY 8, 2010 31

Restaurant capsules Continued from page 31

The Prime choice for your evening ouT

Shackleford & Hermitage Road Little Rock • 501-312-2748

A Dark and Stormy: 2 oz Gosling’s® Black Seal Rum 8 oz Ginger Beer Gosling’s Rum and Gosling’s Ginger Beer available at Neighborhood Wine.

NWiNe & SPiriTS D eighborhoo

4526 Camp Robinson Road North Little Rock • (501) 791-2626 Next to HOGGS MEAT MARKET

Come See our New DeCk! outdoor seating now available.

Just off JFk Blvd.

7311 North Hills Blvd.

834-1840 • www.gadwallsgrill.com

32 juLY 8, 2010 • ArkAnsAs Times

BRAVE NEW RESTAURANT The food’s great, portions huge, prices reasonable. Diners can look into the open kitchen and watch the culinary geniuses at work slicing and dicing and sauteeing. It’s great fun, and the fish is special. 2300 Cottondale Lane. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-663-2677. LD Mon.-Fri. D Sat. BUFFALO WILD WINGS A sports bar on steroids with numerous humongous TVs and a menu full of thirstinducing items. The wings, which can be slathered with one of 14 sauces, are the staring attraction and will undoubtedly have fans. 14800 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$.

501-868-5279. LD daily.

BURGER MAMA’S Big burgers and oversized onion rings headline the menu at this down home joint. Huge $5 margaritas during happy hour. 10721 Kanis Road. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-225-2495. LD daily.

BY THE GLASS A broad but not ridiculously large list is studded with interesting, diverse selections, and prices are uniformly reasonable. The food focus is on high-end items that pair well with wine – olives, hummus, cheese, bread, and some meats and sausages. 5713 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Beer, Wine, All CC. 501-663-9463. D Mon.-Sat. CAFE HEIFER Paninis, salads, soups and such in the Heifer Village. With one of the nicest patios in town. 1 World Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-907-8801. BL Mon.-Fri., L Sat. CAPI’S Sophisticated yet friendly, the latest offering from the folks who created Trio’s features easy to share small bites in larger than expected portions. 11525 Cantrell Suite #917. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-225-9600. LD Tue.-Sun. CAPITAL BAR AND GRILL Big hearty sandwiches, daily lunch specials and fine evening dining all rolled up into one at this landing spot downtown. Surprisingly inexpensive with a great bar staff and a good selection of unique desserts. 111 W. President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-374-7474. LD daily.

CAPITOL BISTRO Formerly a Sufficient Grounds, now operated by Lisa and Tom Drogo, who moved from Delaware. They offer breakfast and lunch items, including quiche, sandwiches, coffees and the like. 1401 W. Capitol Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-371-9575.

BL Mon.-Fri. CATERING TO YOU Painstakingly prepared entrees and great appetizers in this gourmet-to-go location. 8121 Cantrell Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-664-0627.

L Mon.-Sat. CATFISH HOLE Downhome place for well-cooked catfish and tasty hushpuppies. 603 E. Spriggs. NLR. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-758-3516. D Tue.-Sat. CHEEBURGER CHEEBURGER Premium black Angus cheeseburgers, with five different sizes, ranging from the Classic (5.5 ounces) to the pounder (20 ounces), and nine cheese options. For sides, milkshakes and golden-fried onion rings are the way to go. 11525 Cantrell Rd. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-490-2433. LD daily.

CIAO BACI The focus is on fine dining in this casually elegant Hillcrest bungalow, though tapas are also available, and many come for the comfortable lounge that serves specialty drinks until 2 a.m. nightly. 605 N. Beechwood St. Full bar, All CC. $$$-$$$$. 501-603-0238. D Mon.-Sat. COCK OF THE WALK Yes, the chicken and shrimp are great, but go for the unbeatable catfish. Plus, we say the slaw is the world’s best, 7051 Cock of the Walk Lane.

Maumelle. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-758-7182. D daily. L Sun. CRAZEE’S COOL CAFE Good burgers, daily plate specials and bar food amid pool tables and TVs. 7626 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. (501) 221-9696. LD Mon.-Sat. CUPCAKES ON KAVANAUGH Gourmet cupcakes and coffee make this Heights bakery a great spot to sit and sip on a relaxing afternoon. 5625 Kavanaugh Blvd. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-664-2253. L Mon.-Sat. DIVERSION Hillcrest wine bar with diverse tapas menu.

From the people behind Crush and Bill St. 2611 Kavanaugh Blvd., Suite 200. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-414-0409.

D Mon.-Sat. DOE’S EAT PLACE A skid-row dive turned power brokers’ watering hole with huge steaks, great tamales and broiled shrimp, and killer burgers at lunch. 1023 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-376-1195. LD Mon.-Fri., D Sat. DOUBLETREE PLAZA BAR & GRILL The lobby restaurant in the Doubletree is elegantly comfortable, but you’ll find no airs put on at heaping breakfast and lunch buffets.

424 West Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-372-4311.

BLD daily.

DOWNTOWN DELI A locally owned eatery, with bigger sandwiches and lower prices than most downtown chain competitors. Also huge, loaded baked potatoes, soups and salads. 323 Center St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-3723696. BL Mon.-Fri. DUB’S HAMBURGER HEAVEN A standout dairy bar.

The hamburger, onion rings and strawberry milkshake make a meal fit for kings. 6230 Baucum Pike. NLR. No alcohol, No CC. $-$$. 501-955-2580. BLD daily.

EJ’S EATS AND DRINKS The friendly neighborhood hoagie shop downtown serves at a handful of tables and by delivery. The sandwiches are generous, the soup

homemade and the salads cold. Vegetarians can craft any number of acceptable meals from the flexible menu. The housemade potato chips are da bomb. 523 Center St. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-666-3700. LD Mon.-Fri. THE FINISH LINE CAFE Great breakfasts and a widely varied lunch selection including daily plate lunches, sandwiches, pizzas and whatever the students at the Arkansas Culinary School at Pulaski Tech come up with on any particular day. Great way to eat gourmet food cheap. 13000 S. Interstate 30. Alexander. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-8312433. BL Mon.-Fri. FIVE GUYS BURGERS & FRIES Nationwide burger chain with emphasis on freshly made fries and patties.

2923 Lakewood Village Dr. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$.

501-246-5295. LD daily. 13000 Chenal Parkway. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-225-1100. LD daily.

FLYING FISH The fried seafood is fresh and crunchy and there are plenty of raw, boiled and grilled offerings, too.

The hamburgers are a hit, too. It’s self-service; wander on through the screen door and you’ll find a slick team of cooks and servers doing a creditable job of serving big crowds. 511 President Clinton Ave. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-375-3474. LD daily.

FRONTIER GRILL The well-attended all-you-can-eat buffet includes American, Mexican and Chinese food. 2924 University Ave. $-$$. 501-568-7776. LD. GRUMPY’S TOO Music venue and sports bar with lots of TVs, pub grub and regular drink specials. 1801 Green Mountain Drive. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-225-9650. LD Mon.-Sat. HOMER’S Great vegetables, huge yeast rolls and killer cobblers. Follow the mobs. 2001 E. Roosevelt Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-374-1400. BL Mon.-Fri. THE HOUSE A comfortable gastropub in Hillcrest, where you’ll find traditional fare like burgers and fish and chips alongside Thai green curry and gumbo. 722 N. Palm St. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-4501. LD daily.

JIMMY’S SERIOUS SANDWICHES Consistently fine sandwiches, side orders and desserts. Chicken salad’s among the best in town. Get there early for lunch. 5116 W. Markham St. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-666-3354.

L Mon.-Sat. KRAZY MIKE’S Po’Boys, catfish and shrimp and other fishes, fried chicken wings and all the expected sides served up fresh and hot to order on demand. 200 N. Bowman Road. Beer, All CC. $$. 501-907-6453. LD daily.

LOCA LUNA Grilled meats, seafood and pasta dishes that never stray far from country roots, whether Italian, Spanish or Arkie. “Gourmet plate lunches” are good, as is Sunday brunch. 3519 Old Cantrell Rd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-663-4666. L Sun.-Fri., D daily.

LUBY’S CAFETERIA Generous portions of home-style food and a wider variety of meats and vegetables than most cafeterias. McCain Mall, 3929 McCain Blvd. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-771-4911. LD daily.

LULAV A Mediterranean-California fusion eatery, and the delicious flavors are like none you’ll experience anywhere in the city. Good fish, veal, daring salads and much more.

Plus, a hot bar to see and be seen. 220 A W. 6th St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-374-5100. L Mon.-Fri., D Tue.-Sat. MILFORD TRACK Healthy and tasty are the key words at this deli/grill, featuring hot entrees, soups, sandwiches, salads and killer desserts. 10809 Executive Center Drive, Searcy Building. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-223-2257.

BL Mon.-Sat. NEW GREEN MILL CAFE A small workingman’s lunch joint, with a dependable daily meat-and-three and credible corn bread for cheap, plus sweet tea. Homemade tamales and chili on Tuesdays. 8609-C W. Markham St. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-225-9907. L Mon.-Sat. OYSTER BAR Gumbo, red beans and rice (all you can eat on Mondays), peel-and-eat shrimp, oysters on the half shell, addictive po’ boys. 3003 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-666-7100. LD Mon.-Sat. OZARK COUNTRY KITCHEN Football-sized omelets filled with the same marvelous smoked meats and cheeses that are heaped on sandwiches at lunch. Great biscuits and gravy, bacon, homestyle potatoes and a daily plate lunch special to boot. 202 Keightley Drive. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-663-7319. BL Mon.-Fri., B Sat.-Sun. PERCIFUL’S FAMOUS HOT DOGS If you’re a lover of chilidogs, this might just be your Mecca; a humble, stripmall storefront out in East End that serves some of the best around. The latest incarnation of a LR joint that dates to the 1940s, longdogs are pretty much all they do, and they do them exceedingly well, with scratch-made chili and slaw.

Our fave: The Polish cheese royal, add onions. 20400 Arch St. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-261-1364. LD Tue.-Sat. PLAYTIME PIZZA Tons of fun isn’t rained out by lackluster eats at the new Playtime Pizza, the $11 million, 65,000 square foot kidtopia that recently opened near the Rave theater. While the buffet is only so-so, features like indoor mini-golf, laser tag, go karts, arcade games and bumper cars make it a winner for both kids and adults. 600 Colonel Glenn Plaza Loop. 501-227-7529. LD Thu.-Sun., D Mon.-Sun. PURPLE COW DINER 1950s fare — cheeseburgers, chili dogs, thick milk shakes — in a ’50s setting at today’s prices. Also at 11602 Chenal Parkway. 8026 Cantrell Road.

Beer, All CC. $$. 501-221-3555. LD daily, B Sat.-Sun 11602 Chenal Parkway. Beer, All CC. $$. 501-224-4433. LD daily, B Sun. 1419 Higden Ferry Road. Hot Springs. Beer, All CC. $$. 501-625-7999. LD daily, B Sun. SALUT! Elevated pub grub that’s served late Wed.-Sat. With a great patio. 1501 N. University. Full bar, All CC.

$$-$$$. 501-660-4200. L Mon.-Fri., D Tue.-Sat. SCALLION’S Reliably good food, great desserts, pleasant atmosphere, able servers — a solid lunch spot. 5110 Kavanaugh Blvd. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-666-6468.

L Mon.-Sat. SHIPLEY DO-NUTS With locations just about everywhere in Central Arkansas, it’s hard to miss Shipley’s. Their signature smooth glazed doughnuts and dozen or so varieties of fills are well known. 7514 Cantrell Rd. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-664-5353. B daily.

SHORTY SMALL’S Land of big, juicy burgers, massive cheese logs, smoky barbecue platters and the signature onion loaf. 1100 N. Rodney Parham Road. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-224-3344. LD daily 1475 Hogan Lane. Conway. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-764-0604. LD daily.

SONNY WILLIAMS’ STEAK ROOM Steaks, chicken and seafood in a wonderful setting in the River Market. Steak gets pricey, but the lump crab meat au gratin appetizer is outstanding. Give the turtle soup a try. 500 President Clinton Ave. Full bar, All CC. $$$. 501-324-2999. D Mon.-Sat. STAGECOACH GROCERY AND DELI Fine po’ boys and muffalettas — and cheap. 6024 Stagecoach Road. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-455-4157. BL daily. D Mon.-Fri. STOUT’S DINER American style diner featuring big breakfasts, burgers, catfish and monster fried pies. 26606 Highway 107. Jacksonville. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-9830163. BL daily, D Mon.-Sat. TERRI-LYNN’S BAR-B-Q AND DELI High-quality meats served on large sandwiches and good tamales served with chili or without (the better bargain). 10102 N. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-227-6371. LD Tue.-Sat. (10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.).

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE Besides the 45 different smoothies on the menu, the cafe also serves wraps and sandwiches (many of them spicy), salads and “tortizzas.”

Good food, healthy drinks, long line at lunch but it moves fast. Creekwood Plaza (Kanis and Bowman). No alcohol. $$. 501-221-6773. BLD daily.

WEST END SMOKEHOUSE AND TAVERN Its primary focus is a sports bar with 50-plus TVs, but the dinner entrees (grilled chicken, steaks and such) are plentiful and the bar food is upper quality. 215 N. Shackleford. Full bar, All CC. 501-224-7665. L Fri.-Sun., D daily.

WINGSTOP It’s all about wings. The joint features eight flavors of chicken flappers for almost any palate, including mild, hot, Cajun and atomic, as well as specialty flavors like lemon pepper and teriyaki. 11321 West Markham St. Beer. $-$$. 501-224-9464. LD daily.

AsiAn ASIA BUFFET Massive Chinese buffet. 801 S. Bowman Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-225-0095. LD daily.

CHINA INN Massive Chinese buffet overflows with meaty and fresh dishes, augmented at dinner by boiled shrimp, oysters on the half shell and snow crab legs, all you want cheap. 2629 Lakewood Village Place. NLR. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-771-2288. LD daily.

FORBIDDEN CITY The Park Plaza staple has fast and friendly service, offering up good lomein at lunch and Cantonese and Hunan dishes. 6000 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-663-9099. LD daily.

FU XING Chinese buffet. 9120 N. Rodney Parham Road.

Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-223-0888. LD daily.

GINA’S CHINESE KITCHEN AND SUSHI BAR A broad and strong sushi menu with a manageable and delectable selection of Chinese standards. 14524 Cantrell Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-868-7775. LD daily.

HANAROO SUSHI BAR Under its second owner, it’s one of the few spots in downtown Little Rock to serve sushi. With an expansive menu, featuring largely Japanese fare with a bit of Korean mixed in. 205 W. Capitol Ave. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$. 501-301-7900. L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat. KOTO Sushi and upscale Japanese cuisine. 17200 Chenal Parkway. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-821-7200.

LD daily.

NEW CHINA A burgeoning line of massive buffets, with hibachi grill, sushi, mounds of Chinese food and soft serve ice cream. 4617 JFK Blvd. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-753-8988. LD daily. 2104 Harkrider. Conway.

No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-764-1888. LD Mon.-Sun. 201 Marshall Road. Jacksonville. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$.

501-753-8988. LD daily.

ROYAL BUFFET A big buffet of Chinese fare, with other Asian tastes as well. 109 E. Pershing. NLR. 501-753-8885.

LD daily.

SEKISUI Fresh-tasting sushi, traditional Japanese, the fun hibachi style of Japanese, and an overwhelming assortment of entrees. Nice wine selection, sake, specialty drinks.

219 N. Shackleford,. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-221-7070.

LD daily.

SHOGUN JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE The chefs will dazzle you, as will the variety of tasty stir-fry combinations and the sushi bar. Usually crowded at night. 2815 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. 501-666-7070. D daily.

WASABI Downtown sushi and Japanese cuisine. For lunch, there’s quick and hearty Sushi samplers. 101 Main St. Full bar. $-$$. 501-374-0777. L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat.

BArBecue BARE BONES PIT BAR-B-Q A carefully controlled gas oven, with wood chips added for flavor, guarantees moist and sweet pork, both pulled from the shoulder and back ribs. The side orders, particularly the baked potato salad, are excellent. 5501 Ranch Drive, Suite 4. Beer, Wine, All

CC. $-$$. 501-868-7427. LD daily.

CHIP’S BARBECUE Tasty, if a little pricey, barbecue piled high on sandwiches generously doused with tangy sauce. Better known for the incredible family recipe pies and cheesecakes, which come tall and wide. 9801 W. Markham St. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-225-4346. LD Mon.-Sat. DIXIE PIG Pig salad is tough to beat — loads of chopped pork atop crisp iceberg, doused with that wonderful vinegarbased sauce. The sandwiches are basic, and the sweet, thick sauce is fine. 900 West 35th St. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-753-9650. LD Mon.-Sat. KENT’S DOWNTOWN Big sandwiches, barbecue and plate lunches served up at the River Market’s Oppenheimer Hall. Affiliated with Kent Berry’s other operation, The Meat Shoppe in Gravel Ridge. 400 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-325-1900. L Mon.-Sat. PIG AND CHIK Well-smoked meat with a thick, sweet sauce, plus nachos, huge burgers, country vegetables and lots of other stuff. 7824 Highway 107. NLR. No alcohol.

501-834-5456. LD Mon.-Sat.

EuropEan / Ethnic ALI BABA’S HOOKAH CAFE This eatery and grocery store offers kebabs and salads along with just about any sort of Middle Eastern fare you might want, along with what might be the best kefte kebab in Central Arkansas. Halal butcher on duty. 3400 S. University Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-379-8011. LD daily.

CREGEEN’S IRISH PUB Irish-themed pub with a large selection of on-tap and bottled British beers and ales, an Irish inspired menu and lots of nooks and crannies to meet in. 301 Main St. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-376-7468.

LD daily.

ISTANBUL MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE This Turkish eatery offers decent kebabs and great starters. The red pepper hummus is a winner. So are Cigar Pastries. Possibly the best Turkish coffee in Central Arkansas. 11525 Cantrell Rd. Beer, Wine, All CC. 501-223-9332. LD daily.

LEO’S GREEK CASTLE Wonderful Mediterranean food — gyro sandwiches or platters, falafel and tabouleh — plus dependable hamburgers, ham sandwiches, steak platters and BLTs. 2925 Kavanaugh Blvd. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$.

501-666-7414. BLD Mon.-Sat. SILVEK’S EUROPEAN BAKERY Fine pastries, chocolate creations, breads and cakes done in the classical European style. Drop by for a whole cake or a slice or any of the dozens of single serving treats in the big case. 1900 Polk St. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-661-9699. BLD daily.

italian AMERICAN PIE PIZZA Handmade pizza on perfect thin crust with varied toppings, and inexpensive. We liked the olive-oil-based margherita and supreme, plus there are salads, sandwiches and appetizers, all for cheap. 9708 Maumelle Blvd. Maumelle. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-758-8800. LD daily. 4830 North Hills Blvd. NLR. Beer, Wine, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-753-0081. LD daily.

CAFE PREGO Dependable entrees of pasta, pork and the like, plus great sauces, fresh mixed greens and delicious dressings, crisp-crunchy-cold gazpacho and tempting desserts in a comfy bistro setting. 5510 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-5355. LD Mon.-Fri., D Sat. CIAO Don’t forget about this casual yet elegant bistro tucked into a downtown storefront. The fine pasta and seafood dishes, ambiance and overall charm combine to make it a relaxing, enjoyable, affordable choice. 405 W. Seventh St. Full bar, All CC. $$. (501) 372-0238. L Mon.-Fri., D Thu.-Sat. GRADY’S PIZZAS AND SUBS Pizza features a pleasing blend of cheeses rather than straight mozzarella. The grinder is a classic, the chef’s salad huge and tasty. 6801 W. 12th St., Suite C. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-663-1918. LD daily.

IRIANA’S PIZZA Unbelievably generous thick-crust pizza with unmatched zest. Good salads, too; grinders are great, particularly the Italian sausage. 103 W. Markham St. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-374-3656. LD Mon.-Sat. OW PIZZA Good pizzas in a variety of ways, sandwiches, big salads and now offer various pastas and appetizer breads.

8201 Ranch Blvd. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 868-1100. LD Mon.-Fri. 1706 W. Markham St. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$.

LD Mon.-Fri. (closes at 7 p.m.).

U.S. PIZZA Crispy thin-crust pizzas, frosty beers and heaping salads drowned in creamy dressing. Multiple locations: 4001 McCain Park, NLR, 753-2900; 3324 Pike Ave., NLR, 758-5997; 650 Edgwood Drive, Maumelle, 851-0880; 8403 Highway 107, Sherwood, 835-5673; 9300 N. Rodney Parham, 224-6300; 2814 Kavanaugh, 663-2198. 5524 Kavanaugh. Beer, All CC. $$. 501-664-7071. LD daily. 710 Front Street. Conway. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-4509700. LD Mon.-Sun. ZAFFINO’S BY NORI A high-quality Italian dining experience. Pastas, entrees (don’t miss the veal marsala) and salads are all outstanding, and the desserts don’t miss, either. 2001 E. Kiehl Ave. NLR. Beer, Wine. 501-834-7530.

D Tue.-Sat.

MExican BROWNING’S MEXICAN FOOD For a blast-from-thepast approach to Tex-Mex, this is it. You definitely won’t leave hungry. 5805 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $-$$.

501-663-9956. LD Mon.-Sat., B Thu.-Sat. CANON GRILL Creative appetizers come in huge quantities, and the varied main-course menu rarely disappoints, though it’s not as spicy as competitors’. 2811 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-664-2068. LD Mon.-Sat. COTIJA’S A branch off the famed La Hacienda family tree

downtown, with a massive menu of tasty lunch and dinner specials, the familiar white cheese dip and sweet red and fiery-hot green salsas, and friendly service. 406 S. Louisiana St. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-244-0733. L Mon.-Sat. LA REGIONAL A full-service grocery store catering to SWLR’s Latino community, it’s the small grill tucked away in the back corner that should excite lovers of adventurous cuisine. The menu offers a whirlwind trip through Latin America, with delicacies from all across the Spanishspeaking world (try the El Salvadorian papusas, they’re great). Bring your Spanish/English dictionary. 7414 Baseline Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. BLD daily.

MEXICO CHIQUITO Some suggest cheese dip was born at this Central Arkansas staple, where you’ll find hearty platters of boldly spiced, inexpensive food that compete well with those at the “authentic” joints. 1524 W. Main St. Jacksonville. No alcohol. $$. 501-982-0533. LD daily.

13924 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-217-0700. LD daily. 102 S. Rodney Parham Road. No alcohol, All CC. $$.

501-224-8600 4511 Camp Robinson Road. NLR. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-771-1604. LD daily. 11405 W. Markham.

No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-217-0647. LD daily.

TAQUERIA KARINA AND CAFE A real Mexican neighborhood cantina from the owners, to freshly baked pan dulce, to Mexican-bottled Cokes, to first-rate guacamole, to inexpensive tacos, burritos, quesadillas and a broad selection of Mexican-style seafood. 5309 W. 65th St. $.

501-562-3951. LD Tue.-Thu. TAQUERIA LAS ISABELES Mobile taco stand with great authentic tacos, Hawaiian hamburguesas (burgers topped with pineapple and avocado) and more. 7100 Colonel Glen Road. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-563-4801. L Mon.-Sat., D Sat.

GEnEral ARGENTA MARKET The Argenta District’s neighborhood grocery store offers a deli featuring a daily selection of big sandwiches for $6.99 along with fresh fish and meats and salads. Emphasis here is on Arkansas-farmed foods and organic products. 521 N. Main St. NLR. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$. (501) 379-9980. BL Daily.

AROUND ARKANSAS conway

AMERICA 13-50 An American restaurant specializing in the cuisine of the first 13 colonies as well as regional foods from across the country. Brunch on Sunday. 1020 Garland.

Conway. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-327-5050. L Tue.-Fri., Sun.; D Tue.-Sat. BEAR’S DEN PIZZA Pizza, calzones and salads at UCA hangout. 235 Farris Road. Conway. Full bar, All CC. $-$$.

501-328-5556. LD Mon.-Sat. BIG JOHN’S SUBS Submarine sandwich shop. 2100 Meadowlake. Conway. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-2050739. LD daily.

BLACKWOOD’S GYROS AND GRILL A wide variety of salads, sandwiches, gyros and burgers dot the menu at this quarter-century veteran of Conway’s downtown district. 803 Harkrider Ave. Conway. No alcohol, All CC. 501-329-3924. LD Mon.-Sat. BUCKET LIST CAFE Serving daily specials. 5308 Highway 9. Center Ridge. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$.

501-893-9840. BL Mon.-Sat. CROSS CREEK SANDWICH SHOP Cafe serves salads and sandwiches weekdays. 1003 Oak St. Conway. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-764-1811. L Mon.-Fri. DUE AMICHE ITALIAN RESTAURANT Stromboli, pasta, pizza, calzones and other Italian favorites. 1600 Dave Ward Drive. Conway. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-336-0976.

LD Mon.-Sun. HOLLY’S COUNTRY COOKING Southern plate lunch specials weekdays. 120 Harkrider. Conway. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-328-9738. L Mon.-Fri. LA HACIENDA Creative, fresh-tasting entrees and traditional favorites, all painstakingly prepared in a festive atmosphere. Great taco salad, nachos, and maybe the best fajitas around. Multiple locations throughout Central Arkansas. 200 Highway 65 N. Conway. All CC. $$.

501-327-6077. LD daily.

LOS 3 POTRILLOS A big menu and lots of reasonably priced choices set this Mexican restaurant apart. The cheese dip is white, the servings are large, and the frozen margaritas are sweet. Try the Enchiladas Mexicanas, three different enchiladas in three different sauces. 1090 Skyline Dr. Conway. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-327-1144.

LD Mon.-Sun. PAYTON CREEK CATFISH HOUSE All-you-can-eat buffet featuring excellent catfish, quail, shrimp, crawfish, frog legs and a host of sides. 393 Highway 64 East. Conway.

No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-450-7335. D Wed.-Sat.

hot SprinGS THE PANCAKE SHOP The Pancake Shop’s longevity owes to good food served up cheap, large pancakes and ham steaks, housemade apple butter and waitresses who still call you “honey.” Closes each day at 12:45. 216 Central Avenue. Hot Springs. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-6245720. BL daily.

PURPLE COW DINER 1950s fare — cheeseburgers, chili dogs, thick milk shakes — in a ’50s setting at today’s prices. Also at 11602 Chenal Parkway. 1419 Higden Ferry Road. Hot Springs. Beer, All CC. $$. 501-625-7999. LD daily, B Sun.

Look for CUE next week in the July 15 issue of Arkansas Times.

Home Features include:

BY DESIGN Georgia James Creative – new team of decorators

IN HOUSE The retro-vibe Rivercliff Apartments in Riverdale

INSPIRED BUY Outside Art

SHOP DOGS Meet Wrigley, the sweet golden retrieverat The Green Corner Store

Fashion Features: STYLE CUE THE SALE ISSUE Best finds around town

CHEEK TO CHEEK Keep it light this summer

CUE ME IN Questions and answers.

July CUE... fun, funky and different!

C UE

contemporaryurbanelements www.arktimes.com • juLY 8, 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 rm

AT(spec ad)

Cajun’s Wharf

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.

Denton’s Trotline

Attention: Members and Guests. Denton’s Trotline is known for their award winning catfish and seafood buffet.

Outstanding appetizer menu. Family owned, featuring a newly remodeled building with live music. Full service catering available.

02/01/08

DENTON’S CaTfiSh & SEafOOD BuffET — 24 Years In Business —

We Cater • Carry-Outs available hours: Tues-Thurs 4:00-8:30pm • fri-Sat 4:00-9:00pm

315-1717

2400 Cantrell Road 501-375-5351

2150 Congo Rd. Benton, 501-416-2349 Open Tues, Wed & Thurs 4-9 Fri & Sat 4-11

BISTRO Lulav

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

2150 Congo Rd. • Benton from Little Rock to Exit 118 to Congo Rd. Overpass across i-30

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

1900 N Grant St Heights 501-663-8999

ARKANSAS TIMES PRODUCTION FAX

FROM: TO: CO.: Arkansas Times CO.: Prime aged beef and Fresh seafood specials every week.

PH: (501) 375-2985 ext. scrumptious dishes. Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, FAX: over 30 wines by the glass and largest vodka selection FAX: (501) 375-9565 downtown. Regular and late night happy hour, Wednesday AT to check 10/26 PUBLICATION:______________________ ISSUE DATE:____________ wine flights and Thursday is Ladies Night. Be sure out the Bistro Burger during lunch.

ES ARTIST:________

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?

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.

mexican Casa Manana Taqueria

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

Whether the Travs are at home or on the road, come enjoy the unique Dickey-Stephens Park Atmosphere at Ump’s, an upscale sports pub and restaurant, featuring sandwiches, salads, steaks, seafood, good times and more! Come treat yourself to a meal prepared by Chef’s Ball award winning sous chef Richard Lindsey. Open 6 days a week for lunch, 11am-2pm. Open nightly for all Travellers home games. Regular dinner hours Friday and Saturday only.

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.

Gadwall’s Grill

Still serving up high-quality burgers and home-made fries.

Enjoy good food in a relaxed setting. Now offering outdoor seating on the deck. Serving cheese dip, nachos, platter meals, sandwiches and fried pies. Happy hour domestic draft beer from 3-6pm.

SO

This is a first class establishment. SO has some of the best steaks and seafood in the city, including oysters from the east and west coasts. Their menu has been updated and features a fantastic selection of cheeses like port salut, stilton, murcia and pecorino. Don’t forget to check out the extensive wine list.

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.

Dickey-Stephens Park Broadway at the bridge North Little Rock T O (501) ❑ 324-BALL (2255) www.travs.com NP ❑

14502 Cantrell Road 501-868-7600

7311 North Hills Blvd.

North Little Rock (501) 834-1840

Gadwall's Grill West

14710 Cantrell Road, Suite 1A Little Rock, AR • 868-4746

Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. • Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Open daily. 11 am - close Sunday Brunch. 11 am to 2 pm 3610 Kavanaugh Blvd.

501-663-1464

Shackleford & Hermitage Rd. (501) 312-2748

THIS AD HAS INCURRED PRODUCTION CHARGES I understand that this proof is provided so that I may correct any typographical errors. I have read and authorized this ad for publication. The Arkansas Times bears no liability. Production charges will be billed to me on my advertising invoice.

HUNKA PIE

Lilly’s Dimsum Then Some

Look no further…voted Best Asian again by the Arkansas Signature_______________________________________________________________Date__________________________ Times readers. Lilly’s serves up extraordinary dishes made PLEASE RETURN THIS SIGNED PROOF PROMPTLY! 304 N. Main St. from the freshest, premium local and organic ingredients.

ARKANSAS TIMES North Little Rock P.O. Box 34010, Also enjoy warm and inviting ambiance as you dine on Little Rock AR 72203 (inside Galaxy Furniture Store) any one of the tasty house specialties. Sundays are wine 501-612-4754 day: all wine by the bottle, half off.

Mon-Sat 10am-6pm

Super King Buffet

One of central Arkansas’s largest Chinese buffets, we offer all your favorites with our sushi bar and Mongolian Grill included for one low price. Our dinner and all-day Sunday buffet include your lunch favorites as well as all-you-can eat crab legs, whole steamed fish, barbecue spare ribs, crispy jumbo shrimp and grilled steaks. Take-out buffet and menu available.

11121 Rodney Parham 501-716-2700

Super King Buffet

Ump’s Pub & Grill

300 West 3rd Street 501-375-3333

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.

asian

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.

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

chinese Fantastic China

Black Angus

4000 Springhill Plaza Ct. North Little Rock (Just past Wal-Mart on McCain) 501-945-4802 Sun-Thurs 11am to 9:30pm Fri & Sat 11am to 10:30pm

Hunka Pie

Mediterranean star of india

North Shackleford Road 501-227-9900

Layla’s

9501 N. Rodney Parham 501-227-7272

Authentic North Indian Cuisine at its very best! Vegetable and Non-vegetable Buffet daily with Special. Saturday and Sunday Brunch. Mention this ad for a complimentary Indian Mango Drink.

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!

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!

july 8, 2010 • advertising supplement to ARKANSAS TIMES

Hunka Pie specializes in premium hand-crafted pies. We welcome all pie lovers to come share a slice today! Call ahead for whole pie orders. Join us for Retro Mondays...

Slice of Strawberry Pie $2. Chocolate Peanut Butter, Velvet Lips Chocolate Cream, Strawberry Cream Cheese, Chocolate Pecan, Coconut Custard, key Lime, French Apple Pie & more.

www. hunkapie.com www.facebook.com/ hunkapie

steak 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

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!

REAL ESTATE b

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b

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j u ly 8 , 2 0 1 0

See this great home in beautiful Pleasant Valley neighborhood open Sunday

2 pm - 4 pm

This masterpiece at 19 Masters Circle is the one you’ve been waiting for. It has four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, two half-bathrooms and sits on a corner lot in one of Pleasant Valley’s most desired locations. This picturesque home is at the corner of Masters Circle and Cascades on a quiet, kid-friendly cul-de-sac with a circle drive.

There is no detail missed in this home. It has been completely updated with stunning features such as hardwood flooring, crown molding and recessed lighting.

It features a large family room, formal dining room, wet bar, office, gameroom and sun room.

All the bedrooms are large and have ample closets. The master bathroom is stunning with a marble vanity with double sinks, large Jacuzzi tub, separate shower and his-and-hers walk-in closets. Another great feature of the home is a hobby

Entertain around the pool.

The home has been updated.

room over the garage that would make a perfect weight room or as a craft area.

The chef in the family will love the kitchen. It has been remodeled with topof-the-line Jenn Aire appliances, slab granite countertops, a large center island, double ovens, ice maker and a six-burner gas range. There is also nice eating area with lots of natural light and a large pantry and desk.

The backyard is like an oasis and is perfect for entertaining. It has a large, in-ground pool with beautiful decks and a large play area for the kids. Beautiful landscaping all around the house is lush and adds extra curb appeal to the home.

The home is offered for $649,000 and is presented by Mandy Jackson with the Charlotte John Company. An open house is planned for Sunday, July 11 from 2-4 p.m. To schedule a private showing or for any questions, call Mandy at 501-993-2800 or email her at mandy@charlottejohn.com.

All bedrooms are large.

The kitchen is a chef’s dream.

www.arktimes.com • juLY 8, 2010 35

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

Picture Perfect Doll House!

DOWNTOWN CONDO

Land LOTS FOR SALE - Greenbrier. 1/31/2 acres starting at $23K. Trees, all utilities. Just 8 miles from Conway.

501-472-5807

Downtown $212,000 Architectural design • Modern features • 12th Floor Skyline View Featured 4 times in At Home in Arkansas!

2119 Maple Ridge Drive • Sandpiper Neighborhood

3BR/2.5BA home that is as charming as it’s functional. It features a large family room with woodburing fireplace, eat-in kitchen, formal dining room and a large fenced backyard. All bedrooms are on the same level. $149,900.

Call Gerald White, 680-3640 or Mary Johnson, 952-4318.

Visit www.LRCONDO.com for more pictures & info.

Gold Star Realty

QUAPAW TOWER Condo with architectural design, modern features and fabulous features. Shoji-style doors are a fantastic feature of the unit. Listed with Gold Star Realty. Call Gerald White at 501-680-3640 or Mary Johnson at 501-952-4318 for pricing or more info.

Buying Lake Hamilton Condos!

For a private appointment, call me!

Mandy Jackson 501.993.2800 • mandy@charlottejohn.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.

501.664.6629

Arkansas times presents PULASKI COUNTY Real Estate sales over $101,000 W. B. Henry, Catherine A. Henry, J. C. Henry, Sarah R. Henry to Bella Casa LLC, SW NW 12-2N-14W, W/2 SW 12-2N-14W, NE SE 11-2N-14W, $1,600,000.

Commissioner In Circuit to First Security Bank, L2, Ryder, $1,256,479.

BancorpSouth Bank to Xiang Gao, Li Tong, 30 Bretagne Cir., $1,125,000.

Todd A. Denton, Amy G. Denton to Scott K. Darnell, Natalie C. Darnell, 6 Ridgeview Dr., $565,000.

Carolyn Cress-English, Steve English to Jason Mizell, Jolie Mizell, 35 Bellegarde Dr., $508,000.

Sixth Hole Condos At Chenal LLC to Donna Terrell, 3 Chenal Downs Dr., #421, $429,000.

Richard W. Shurtleff, Elaine M. Shurtleff to Jamie Eagles, Katherine S. Eagles, 148 Courts Ln., $425,000.

Keith Hardin, Alana Hardin to JEA Investments Limited Partnership, NE NE 32-2N-12W, $415,000.

Steven B. Brant, Sandra Brant to L. J. Greenfield, Jr., Holly S. Greenfield, 801 Konrad Ct., $415,000.

Philip W. Schmidt, Paula B. Schmidt to James F. Clark, III, Christina Clark, L110, Robinwood, $415,000.

Bradley G. Taylor, Adrienne S. Taylor to Walter W. White, Lara White, 407 Colonial Ct., $390,000.

SCD Interest LLC to Leslie B. Simpson, LR2 B3, Elmhurst, $385,000.

Kanwaljeet S. Anand, Itinder K. Anand to Primacy Closing Corp., 4119 Longview Rd., $384,000.

Woodhaven Homes, Inc. to James T. Jeffcoat, Shelley W. Jeffcoat, 303 Corondelet Ln., Maumelle, $359,000.

Robert D. Skinner, Diane Skinner to Geoffrey S. Riordan, Kathy P. Riordan, 65 Laval Cir., $350,000.

Kris French to Nutan Bhaskar, Latha M. Achanta, 519 N. Pine St., $350,000.

James M. Pongetti, Debi L. Pongetti to Hall Joint Revocable Trust, LG2R, Pinnacle Ridge Estates, $350,000.

George T. Nassif, Jr., Carla C. Nassif to Otmar E. Varela, Beatriz Varela, 147 Challain Dr., $340,000.

Jonathan L. Oliver, Hollie A. Oliver to Matthew Goodwin, Lindsey Goodwin, 8 Melrose Cove, $330,000.

36 juLY 8, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES

Woodhaven Homes Inc. to Billy C. Hamilton, Tammy Hamilton, 5601 Hummingbird Ln., Jacksonville, $330,000.

Woodhaven Homes Inc. to Robert N. Fendley, Kimber M. Fendley, 7 Tm Fly Way, NLR, $322,000.

Linda J. Johnson to Timothy L. Johnson, Julia E. Johnson, 27 Chemin Ct., $315,000.

Robert A. James, Ashley G. James to Kevin O. Kelley, Tracy E. Kelley, 6 Berney Way Ct., $315,000.

Primacy Closing Corp. to Jerrod A. Pinkston, Hannah J. Pinkston, 4119 Longview Rd., $310,000.

Stephanie Brown, Daniel J. Brown to Spencer Andrews, L10 B24, Park View, $293,000.

Fredrick Alvin West Revocable Trust, Fredrick A. West to Bobby G. Williams, Faye J. Williams, 1233 Commons Dr., Jacksonville, $260,000.

John R. Cook, Linda C. Cook to John Raymond Hodges & Blanche Meriwether Hodges Living Revocable Trust, John R. Hodges, Blanche M. Hodges, L12, Oakhill No.2, L6, Tilfrey, $252,000.

Jim & Betty Rodgers LLC to Ronald H. Fair, Sharon P. Fair, 6122 Carnegie Dr., NLR, $250,000.

Fletcher Holdings LLC to James W. Henson, III, Stacie L. Henson, 1311 North Point Ln., NLR, $241,000.

David P. Studer, Jr., Erika E. Studer to Stewart B. Yaney, Meredith C. Yaney, 5 Valley Forge Dr., $239,000.

James A. Camp, Diana K. Camp to Christopher A. Keeling, Jennifer I. Keeling, 817 Cache River Rd., NLR, $239,000.

Gregory S. Hall, Anita Hall to Conrid C. Berry, III, Katherine S. Berry, 4001 Old Oak Dr., $235,000.

Eric DesJardin, Emily Schroeder, Emily DesJaridn to Robert G. Henson, Karen S. Henson, 110 Shady Dr., Maumelle, $234,000.

William C. Douglas, Mary H. Douglas to Gerald W. Kaney, Kathleen F. Kaney, 26 Valley Forge Dr., $230,000.

Ron Addington, Cecilia Addington to Amie Csege, 107 Beaver Creek Ln., Maumelle, $220,000.

Richard G. Beene, Dana E. Beene to John S. Woods, Janean D. Woods, 35 Blue Mountain Dr., Maumelle, $215,000.

Sherwood Land Company, Inc. to

Edward P. Ragelis, Jr., SE NE 13-3N12W, $214,000.

Natasha L. Thomas, Antwane J. Thomas to Paul A. Woolfolk, Erma J. Woolfolk, 12905 Faulkner Lake Rd., NLR, $210,000.

Thomas R. Bond, Patricia Bond to Crystal R. Scott, 3 Red Fox Ln., Jacksonville, $209,000.

Brian Holliday, Betty Holliday to William C. Douglas, Mary H. Douglas, 64 Springridge Ct., $209,000.

Mary L. Colbert to Bertram W. Finzer, Erin S. Finzer, 7 Hayfield Rd., $208,000.

Allen W. Richmond, Carolynn G. Richmond to Christopher Brockett, 12806 Saint Charles Blvd., $200,000.

Keith Hardin, Alana Hardin to Anne L. Michael, Edward J. Michael, E/2 NE 32-2N-12W, SE NE 32-2N-12W, $200,000.

Bill B. Butler, Dana Derrington to John P. Bales, Cathy L. Bales, 5 Braeswood Pl., Maumelle, $191,000.

Orean Brown, Lataska Brown to Natisha N. Young, 1120 Colonial Dr., Jacksonville, $187,000.

Fuller Partners 2010 LLC to Brooke Harris, 100 Sologne Forest Dr., Maumelle, $185,000.

Herman L. White, Joy R. White to USA, 5002 Madison Ave., Jacksonville, $185,000.

Kenneth W. McKnight to Regions Bank, Regions Mortgage, L141, A u s t i n L a k e s O n T h e B a y, $184,058.

Katrina Neis, John P. Neis to Daniel J. Samson, 2715 Millbrook Rd., $184,000.

Janice L. Kendrick, Vicki A. Kendrick to Dennis G. Campbell, L18 B1, Youngs Park, $182,000.

Christopher J. Cersovski, Leslie A. Wheeler, Leslie A. Cersovski to Edward P. Ragelis, Jr., 8202 Greer Rd., Sherwood, $182,000.

Jeff Bartlett, Leah Bartlett to Scott Edge, 14301 Ridgewood Dr., $176,000.

Sean K. Barden, Amy R. Barden to Deborah D. Hadsel, Stanley R. Hadsel, 106 Big Indian Dr., Sherwood, $175,000.

Robert J. Sweeney, Lacey C. Sweeney to Christine M. Bakalekos, 3078 Woodruff Creek Dr., Sherwood,

$170,000.

Stephen J. Lyp, Neva Lyp to Jan M. Weinberg, 114 Pamela Ln., Sherwood, $170,000.

ERC Land Development Group LLC to Jonathan Moreira, 157 Pleasantwood Dr., Maumelle, $170,000.

Horton Custom Homes, Inc. to Garry U. Conn, Jr., Melissa T. Conn, 2116 Reveille Cir., Jacksonville, $168,000.

Douglas W. Loftin, Jr., Cindy C. Loftin to Paul Robbins, Amber Robbins, L9, Lakeside Mountain, $167,000.

Charles A. Rose to Robert O. Anderson, Linda W. Anderson, 10007 Kane Dr., $166,000.

Brian L. Cochrane, Kelly J. Cochrane to Kelly Childers, 2314 Stoney Creek Dr., $165,000.

Christopher A. Keeling, Jennifer I. Keeling to Tracy M. Holder, Timothy Holder, 5813 N. Walnut Rd., NLR, $163,000.

Ladonna Hobson, Dana Hobson to BAC Home Loans Servicing LP, Countrywide Home Loans Servicing LP, L240, Northlake Phase IV-B, $157,447.

Susan Kerr, Susan W. Austin, William Kerr to Jason Stueart, 11913 Pleasant Forest Dr., $157,000.

Earl E. Matlock to US Bank, L13 B13, Overbrook, $156,535.

David Walters, Amy C. Yetley to Crystal M. Riley, 7707 Briarwood Cir., $156,000.

Carrie L. Francis to Robert L. Bemberg, 6508 Beacon St., $153,000.

Melissa L. Meziere, Melissa Edwards to Anita Smith Revocable Trust, Anita Smith, L18, Piney Cove, $152,000.

Alyse P. Klemm, Jack Klemm to Bichvan Huynh, 38 Wedgewood Creek Rd., $150,000.

Kathryn R. Ellington, Kathryn R. Gregurek, Christopher Gregurek to Lynda D. Olden, 13611 Scarlet Oak Dr., $150,000.

Emily R. Pierce, Douglas B. Pierce to Andrew T. Cheffins, Thomas E. Cheffins, 13208 Teton Dr., $149,000.

Graham Smith Construction LLC to David G. McNully, L29, Stagecoach Village Phase II, $145,000.

Rausch Coleman Mid Ark LLC to Santwuan Hicks, 1112 Bittercress Dr., NLR, $145,000.

Heather E. McMillan, Heather Matinchek, Michael Matinchek to Lindsey July, 9315 Northedge Rd., $145,000.

Brian Corrigan, Maryfe MezaCorrigan to Tina M. Jones, SE NW 23-2N-12W, $144,000.

Jesse C. Davis, Crystal M. Davis to Ali H. Dicko, Hapsatou Diallo, 9 Tracy Austin Ct., $143,000.

Kevin W. OBryan to Matthew A. Marino, 301 Kings Row Dr., Apt. 610, $142,000.

Dan D. Cook, Joy E. Cook to Heath Bradley, Andrea Bradley, 8 Walnut Valley Dr., $140,000.

Laura A. Garrett to James C. Terry, Becky A. Terry, 1921 Broken Bow, NLR, $140,000.

Lemus Construction LLC to Toni M. Fonzo, 8109 Castle Valley Rd., Mabelvale, $140,000.

NuAge Residential Contractors LLC to Patti D. Crisp, 10911 Windridge Dr., Sherwood, $140,000.

Jennifer A. Marvin, Shawn D. Marvin to Dana D. Broadway, 2413 Silver Maple Dr., $140,000.

Genevieve A. Johnson, Gene A. Johnson to James O. Handloser, 1106 Mellon St., $138,000.

Lela C. Hill to Michael J. Sanders, Mary E. Sanders, Mary M. Sanders, L191, Echo Valley No.1, $138,000.

Roy R. Walker, Frances L. Walker, Frances L. Crawford-Walker to James M. Schulten, 104 Horseshoe Dr., Sherwood, $137,000.

Stanley T. Henson, Mindy Henson to Thomas E. Ottenbacher, 13 Christy Ln., Maumelle, $136,000.

Walter D. Dodd, Kimberly C. Dodd to Lauren E. Griffin, 2821 Echo Valley Dr., $135,000.

William K. Robertson, Emily Roertson, Emily Robertson to Thomas R. Cecil, 20701 Presley Dr., Roland, $135,000.

James D. Fox, Carrie A. Fox to Robyn D. Rektor, 36 Willow Oak Loop, Maumelle, $134,000.

Nicole R. Flowers, Leah M. Pursell to Shane E. McClung, Diana L. McClung, 3611 Idlewild Ave., NLR, $133,000.

Dan G. Stewart, Christie D. Stewart to Phillip Davis, 11517 Birchwood

Dr., $130,000.

Jeffrey A. Rawn, Cynthia K. Matkin to Story L. Matkin-Rawn, 1600 N. Pierce St., $125,000.

Sinnakone L. Thongphadith, Tameka D. Thongphadith to John Thompson, Sheena Thompson, 1916 Hidden Oaks Dr., Jacksonville, $123,000.

James D. Williams, III, Morgan L. Williams to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, 1307 Garland Ave., NLR, $122,310.

Stacie R. Thomas, Stacie R. Wassell, Eric L. Wassell to Keith R. Davis, Susan M. Davis, 7708 Bethel Cutoff, Jacksonville, $120,000.

Andrew D. Goodman, Chelsea Goodman to Donald B. Sprouse, Bethany R. Sprouse, 308 Windhill Dr., NLR, $120,000.

Kyle M. Pack to Gary C. Atkins, 105 Apple Blossom Loop, Maumelle, $115,667.

Ray Evatt, Gloria Evatt to Darryl Talley, 1812 Arabian Ln., $115,000.

Sharron A. Davis to Michael Cunning, 2100 Dorchester Dr., $115,000.

Mark L. Brown, Dashiell A. Paine to Midfirst Bank, 107 Greentree Rd., Sherwood, $111,893.

Donald B. Sprouse, Bethany R. Sprouse to Toccara R. Lee, 3807 Hillside Dr., NLR, $110,000.

Michael A. Malloy, Sharron D. Malloy to Donald R. Collett, Sr., Glenna M. Collett, 303 W. Scenic Dr., NLR, $110,000.

Andrew A. Boersma to Larry D. Heiss, 1300 Whispering Pines Dr., $110,000.

Triple J. Builders LLC to Toni L. Tyler, 701 Saunders Dr., NLR, $105,000.

Ulysses C. Washington, Mona L. Washington to Ashley N. Wilson, 7 Longstreet Dr., $105,000.

Cynthia Vocque to Stanton E. Robinson, 423 Fountain Ave., $103,000.

Charity L. Miller, Patrick R. Miller to Bank Of New York Mellon Trust Company, Bank Of New York Trust Company, 14008 Skyline Dr., NLR, $101,242.

David Hendrich, Lesa Hendrich to James M. Guster, 10901 Beverly Hills Dr., $101,000.

Hillcrest

7 COLUMBINE COURT - Beautiful home on a cul-de-sac! 4BR, bonus room, remodeled kitchen, two living rooms & two-level decking on back.

Many great neighborhood amenities!

Call Stacy Johnson of Pulaski Heights Realty at 786-0024.

Neighboring Communities GREERS FERRY LAKE - Spectacular view! 5 acres. Utilities, covenants, seller financing. Owner/agent. 501825-6200

Conway 4924 HILLCREST AVE - $475,000.

3BR/3BA plus 3-car garage. 2600 SF. Recently renovated home on large corner lot. Call John Selva at Pulaski Heights Realty at 501-993-5442.

DUPLEX - $179,900. Over 2700 total SF. Buy now & have renter offset your mortgage payment. Main level is 2BR/2BA, 1500 SF. Upstairs studio rental is approx 550 SF ($525/mo.)

Also, has 700+SF walkout basement.

New Paint! Owner is licensed agent.

Call John, Pulaski Heights Realty, at 993-5442 for more info.

712 N. WALNUT $169,500. 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

OPEN SUNDAY, 2-4PM

4101 C ST - $229,000. 3BR/2BA, 1836SF. Recently renovated!

Enter MLS# 10255320 on www.

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

OPEN SUNDAY, 2-4PM

No. 0610

19 MASTERS CIRCLE - Picturesque 4BR home on a corner lot in one of the most desired neighborhoods. No detail has been missed in this completely updated home. Stunning kitchen, lush landscaping, in-ground pool and more.

Mandy Jackson, the Charlottle John Company, 501-993-2800.

Across 1 Not too many 5 Auckland native, informally 9 Erased 14 Uninspiring 15 Promising start to a marriage?

16 Jazz count?

17 Correct with surgery, maybe, as the eye 18 Spill (over) 19 Sitting in a cask, say 20 61-Across + 9Across 23 Elaine ___ (“Seinfeld” role) 24 Rock grp. once promoted as “the English guys with the big fiddles” 25 Not be deadpan 26 Food label abbr.

28 Tiny amount of time: Abbr.

1313 SUNSET - $92,000. Well kept and close to schools. Surprisingly huge backyard. Beautiful garden, covered patio. MLS# 10257183 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-730-1100 or 501-679-1103.

1440 BYRON $219,000. Spotless!

4BR/2BA, large family room, lots of counter space & cabinets. Awesome backsplash, gorgeous landscaping.

MLS# 10252436 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-730-1100 or 501679-1103.

215 CHAPEL CREEK - Energy star rated 3BR/2BA fantastic 10’ ceilings, stone fireplace, extensive trim, breakfast bar, hardwood floors, granite countertops. New Construction. $219,900 MLS# 10258240 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-730-1100 or 501679-1103.

31 BERNARD - 3BR/2BA newly remodeled (paint, carpet, appliances, countertops, backsplash, kitchen sink & faucet, light fixtures). Huge LR with cathedral ceiling and fireplace, fenced yard. $153,000 MLS# 10253781 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-7301100 or 501-679-1103.

Edited by Will Shortz

123 N. SUMMIT - Rare find close to ACH, UAMS, & Hillcrest. 2 BRs and a separate office, 2050 SF. Totally updated including cherry wood laminate flooring throughout, all new plumbing & electrical wiring, new kitchen counters, sink & dishwasher, new tankless H2’ 0 heater, wired for computer network, audio/video and IR remote, a deck, fenced yard and oversized 2 car garage. A 21X17.6 ft sunroom w/vaulted ceiling, tile floor, water proof walls, lots of windows and sunken Jacuzzi hot tub. Located in Union Depot next to AR School for the Blind. Call Clyde Butler of CBRPM at 240-4300.

Pleasant Valley

■ CROSSWORD

Capitol View/ Stiffts Station

32 Prosciutto di ___ (Italian ham) 33 Backed (away from) 35 Sch. whose Board of Visitors once included presidents Madison and Monroe 36 9-Across + 26Down 39 Gift received at Honolulu International Airport 40 Be runner-up 41 Way 42 Phnom ___ 44 Bug 45 Work with wavy lines, maybe 46 “Go ___ your mother” 48 Aerosol targets 49 26-Down + 61Across 55 Bill with a picture of Ben

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE A G R O

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A J I N A S G B L A S C V E T A L F S C A R O A T A N N I N T O C E N E L S P N G J A I M I S P A G O

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56 End of the NATO phonetic alphabet 57 Big Ten team 58 A lot 59 Biblical homophone of 1Down 60 Muddy 61 “Don t ___!”

62 50s scare 63 Snick and ___ Down 1 Having the know-how 2 Something that s spun 3 “Octopussy” setting 4 Question asked in a foggy state 5 Lot 6 Sits 7 Peacoat material 8 Best-selling children s book series by Walter Wick and Jean Marzollo 9 Hoops 10 Peaceful swimming site 11 Tag line?

12 Yellow-striped ball 13 Miller site?

21 Pitch tents 22 Gossip mag subject 25 Madras monarch 26 “Got it” 27 Congressional hire 29 Tea service accessory

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Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel

30 Eclipse, e.g.

31 Boppers 32 Amazing Stories, e.g.

33 Toronto daily 34 Really criticize 37 “Looks good to me” 38 “To whom it may concern” alternative

43 Hotfoot it 45 Nonalcoholic beer brand 47 Pooped 48 Like some bodybuilders bodies 49 Skinny 50 “Wasn t my fault!”

51 Title first used by Simeon I of Bulgaria 52 Piece of cannelloni, essentially 53 Tot s injury 54 Something that s spun 55 Admit (to)

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

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

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730 SLOPE - $279,000. New - Must See! 4BR/3BA, gameroom, computer area, custom tile shower, granite countertops, wood & tile. MLS# 10251178 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501730-1100 or 501-679-1103.

Greenbrier 26 VALMONT - 3BR/2BA with huge kitchen, lots of cabinets & counter space, walk-in pantry. Stained concrete floors, covered porch, walk kids to school. $149,900 MLS# 10254807 Linda Roster White Real Estate,501-730-1100 or 501-6791103.

37 INDIAN SPRINGS - New construction 3BR/2BA with gas FP, breakfast bar, tile backsplash, smooth top cooking surface, master jet tub, deck with view. $152,000 MLS# 10253103 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-7301100 or 501-679-1103.

5 COUNTRY COVE - $375,000.

5BR/4.5BA country estate. Perfect for horses! Den w/FP, granite counters in kitchen. More land available. MLS# 10238516 Linda Roster White Real Estate, 501-730-1100 or 501-6791103.

Apartment managers Are first-time home 4214 C STREET - $149,900. 2BR/1BA starter home, 1166 SF. Walk to UAMS or shopping on Kavanaugh. Call John Selva at Pulaski Heights Realty at 501-993-5442.

buyers affecting your occupancy levels?

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REAL ESTATE by neighborhood

www.arktimes.com • juLY8,8,2010 2010 37 www.arktimes.com • july 37

Obbligato n There’s a blog (a pretty good one, too) called 43 Ideas Per Minute. I do well to come up with 43 ideas per month. And just about all of those are pretty sorry excuses for ideas. They certainly aren’t ideas on the scale of a Descartes or a Plato or a Bradley R. Gitz Here are 22 of my 43 ideas for July, for example: Up and down, up and down, side side side side side. In and out, in and out, side side side side side. More than half of my monthly idea allotment, and they’re not even original. (They’re OCD toothbrushing technique advice from squirrelly Dr. Richard Thorndyke, in the Mel Brooks movie “High Anxiety,” if you care.)

At this point, one of your 43 is probably this: “Hell, I could come up with more ideas than this moron. And mine would be a lot better, too. They’d be quality ideas, like these baseball hurlers when they have what they call a ‘quality start.’ You know, not requiring follow through.”

I’d probably agree with you on that one. Most months in the idea quest you certainly could beat me like a red-haired yard dog. I hardly ever have a quality start.

“Story of son’s birth never gets too old for this mom” was the headline last Sunday on one of those always painful lifestyle columns in the local daily, and that’s more

Bob L ancaster my speed than yours.

In fact, I remember a column some time back — well, OK, a considerable time back, like an aeon ago, or a coon’s age — recounting my son’s birth. It’s not something I’m proud of, not one that’ll be in the anthology, the Essential Assmunch, but it’s on my Permanent Record and there’s no going back now. In my defense, it was meant, starting out, to be funny, as I like to think most of Sarah Palin’s observations were, and those senatorial candidates’ claims to have fought and died in Vietnam.

So yeah, most days you could beat me insofar as ideas deserving of follow through, and possibly you could beat that woman who’s always reliving her boy’s birthing, too. You could do it with half your brain tied back, as your Hero likes to say.

But there you are, thrashing and gnashing, and here the two of us professional scriveners are, living high on the hog. Squatting in tall cotton. Big shots. Taking home more

C

AJs and BFs than we know what to do with. Just the way it is. Nobody ever said life was going to be fair.

Another one of my July allotment: The difference in our elections now compared with those of yesteryear is that the ones now are completely lacking in humor. In the recent long dry primary season, was there one funny candidate – or one dour candidate who said something funny, perhaps unintentionally? I mean funny ha ha, now, not funny pathetic. There were plenty of those funny pathetics, but if you know of a single funny ha ha, let me hear from you and I’ll try to give credit.

I remember when there were at least a dozen state legislators who were funny as all get out. At least three of them went to prison, and several more of them should have, but they were funny. At least they were before they went in. Maybe not so much after. Being put in the clemency line behind cop-killers will do that to you.

Wander the corridors today and try to find somebody funny. They all look like burnt stockbrokers or Harvey Birdman.

The word sepulchral keeps coming up.

Suit after suit and then a scurrying little media clump clicking beetle-like down the marble hall. No merriment even among the flunkies or haints. It’s a comedy, yes, but Dantean not Barnumesque. Meaning not funny.

Winthrop Rockefeller, the governor not the son, was funny like I’m talking

S

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about, without trying to be, in fact trying extremely hard not to be. Funny was his albatross. Dale Bumpers and Brooks Hays were funny. Jim Johnson could be funny, for all the sulfur that never ceased BPing up out of his depths.

Richard Arnold, when he ventured into elective politics, was wickedly funny in a way that went over the heads of exactly 100 per cent of those he hoped would be his constituents. Indeed, 100 per cent of all of us. He could be funny in languages that haven’t been spoken in a thousand years, but it wasn’t a warm funny so he was pretty well screwed. Sen. Guy Jones was funny in his stentorian morning-hour lectures to Sen. Moore and me on the impending decline and fall, his material and inspiration drawn from an old-time Belgian doomster and fellow shrimp with the perfect name of Van Loon.

Just a few characters I remember from the dead past.

I’ve probably told you this, but I went to a Republican campaign rally in Rison years ago at which the candidate for Congress, a man named Warren Lieblong, was introduced as Warren Oblong. I thought that was funny and so did Warren Lieblong, but the old guy who introduced him came back to the microphone later and professed embarrassment. “I understand I’m supposed to apologize to Mr. Oblong, “ he said. “So whatever it was, I’m sorry.”

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