Arkansas Times

NEWS + POLITICS + ENTERTAINMENT / SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 / ARKTIMES.COM

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TAYLOR Country-pop star Taylor Swift headlines our

FALL ARTS GUIDE

to the biggest music, art and theater events in Arkansas.

PAGE 12

ROAD TO EQUALITY HRC BUS TOUR COMES TO

JOIN THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN, THE NATION’S LARGEST LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EQUAL RIGHTS, IN LITTLE ROCK THIS SEPTEMBER.

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PLEASE JOIN US! Friday, September 16

HRC WELCOMING RECEPTION AT BOSWELL MOUROT FINE ART 5:30–9 p.m. | Boswell Mourot Fine Art 5815 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock Please join the Human Rights Campaign for our opening event on our Arkansas stop of the “On the Road to Equality” Bus Tour. Graciously hosted by our friends at Boswell Mourot Fine Art, this event is sure to be an evening of great conversation, music, hors d’oeuvres and wine, amidst the gallery’s lovely artwork.

OPEN HOUSE & HRC PARTY AT TRINITI 9 p.m.–2 a.m. | Triniti Nightclub 1021 Jesse Rd., Little Rock Join HRC and Triniti on Friday night as we raise awareness and money for the Lucille Marie Hamilton Youth Center – Arkansas’ first LGBT youth center. Working with our friends at Triniti, it will be a night you won’t want to miss, so come out and have some fun for a great cause!

Saturday, September 17

EQUALITY BUS OPEN HOUSE 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | Central Arkansas Library River Market, Little Rock Join HRC and local LGBT groups for an Equality Bus open-house. Walk through the Equality exhibit and participate in HRC’s “On the Road to Equality” photo and video booths. Come explore and share what equality means to you.

ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR 3–4:30 p.m. | Center for Artistic Revolution First Presbyterian Church, 800 Scott St., Little Rock Join Timothy L. Mahoney, HRC Director for Estate

Planning, to learn about Arkansas laws and the steps you can take to protect your healthcare rights. Whether you’re single or partnered, young or old, a parent or not, this workshop will have information for you!

ON THE CUSP OF EQUALITY: ARE WE AT A TIPPING POINT ON LGBT EQUALITY? 6–8:30 p.m. | Arkansas Art Center Lower Lobby, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock Join HRC to learn about the state of the LGBT movement. HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse will participate in a presentation and Q & A. Learn what’s happening all around the nation. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine will be available.

RSVP required.

Sunday, September 18

FAITH, FAMILY AND ACCEPTANCE 2–4 p.m. | Philander Smith College Nugent Room of Kendall Center 900 W. Daisy Bates L Gatson Bates Dr., Little Rock On this panel, you’ll hear about the crossroads facing faith communities and families when learning to accept the LGBT people in their lives. What are some of the cultural dynamics that affect African Americans and Hispanics in this journey?

How can there be acceptance in the faith community? Stories of many families and friends will be shared. Join us to hear their stories. All are welcome. This event is co-sponsored by Just Communities of Arkansas and Philander Smith College.

www.hrc.org/roadtoequality

ARKANSAS’S SOURCE FOR NEWS, POLITICS & ENTERTAINMENT 201 East Markham Street 200 Heritage Center West P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 www.arktimes.com arktimes@arktimes.com @ArkTimes www.facebook.com/arkansastimes PUBLISHER Alan Leveritt EDITOR Lindsey Millar SENIOR EDITOR Max Brantley MANAGING EDITOR Leslie Newell Peacock CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Mara Leveritt ASSOCIATE EDITORS David Koon, Bob Lancaster, Gerard Matthews, Doug Smith ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Robert Bell EDITORIAL ART DIRECTOR Kai Caddy

Correction from Baptist Health In the August 17th issue of this publication, Baptist Health ran an ad which provided information about a lifesaving treatment for newborns called Cool Cap. The ad mistakenly said Baptist Health was the only hospital in Arkansas to offer this technology, however Arkansas Children’s Hospital was actually the first facility. We want to acknowledge the work of the team at ACH who participated in the initial research to provide this technique that is benefitting families.

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VOLUME 38, NUMBER 2 ARKANSAS TIMES (ISSN 0164-6273) is published each week by Arkansas Times Limited Partnership, 201 East Markham Street, 200 Heritage Center West, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72203, phone (501) 375-2985. Periodical postage paid at Little Rock, Arkansas, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ARKANSAS TIMES, P.O. Box 34010, Little Rock, AR, 72203. Subscription prices are $42 for one year, $78 for two years. Subscriptions outside Arkansas are $49 for one year, $88 for two years. Foreign (including Canadian) subscriptions are $168 a year.

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Little Rock Wastewater is currently performing smoke testing throughout the city of Little Rock. Smoke testing is a cost effective way to survey the condition of Sanitary Sewer Mains and Service Lines. Smoke is blown through the lines and seeps out of the ground through cracks in the sewer pipes thus pinpointing defects. The smoke is non-toxic and dissipates quickly. Wastewater crews will post fliers around neighborhoods to be affected so residents are notified of upcoming testing.

501-376-2903 www.lrwastewater.com www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 3

COMMENT

A disservice to religious dialogue I read with great disappointment the cover article in the latest edition of the Times. When I first saw the cover on the website, I looked forward to reading Doug Smith’s reporting on atheists in Arkansas in the hope that it would be more than the kind of shallow caricature we too often see in our statewide daily newspaper. My hopes were misplaced.

Smith’s article portrays a community of nonbelievers as narrow in their worldview and intolerant of other ways of thinking as many religious and sectarian groups. In what appears at times to be an attempt to put their statements or beliefs in a witty tone, Smith succeeds only in making his interviewees appear smug and dismissive. Additionally, by attempting to contact only the most vitriolic and divisive figure he could find in the Christian religious community, Smith did precisely what his article implies that the religious community does to atheists; paint a whole community with a single brush. Had he bothered to make more than one phone call, Smith would likely have found that there are many in the religious community who both support the decision to allow the bus signs but also the state Capitol display. Even much of the “Statement of Principles” quoted in the article would find support among many religious people.

As a religious professional (I am a Presbyterian pastor), I come across people who believe, disbelieve, wonder, struggle and even surrender and walk away from questions of faith. In my experience, believer or nonbeliever is not as important a distinction as some would have us believe. I know many good, ethical, generous, giving and deeply grounded people of faith and many who have no faith at all in the traditional sense.

Smith’s article does a disservice to any hope for dialogue between communities of belief and nonbelief. By reinforcing the stereotype that people of faith are intolerant of those who do not share our point of view and with his sloppy reporting painting a picture of people who do not have religious or spiritual belief as arrogant and intolerant in their own right, Smith buys into the dominant political culture of division and irreconcilable differences in society.

To Smith’s final dismissive paragraph, Jerry Cox may fear atheists but I do not. My faith is not based on anyone else agreeing or disagreeing with me. I, for one, believe in a God big enough to not feel threatened by a few billboards. The God in whom I believe is concerned with much bigger and more impactful things.

This was lazy and sloppy reporting at its worst. I expect better from the Times. You should be ashamed.

The Rev. Dr. Robert Wm. Lowry Little Rock 4 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

River Rail shouldn’t expand I’m a lifelong resident of Little Rock. I worked in the downtown area starting in 1960, and intermittently until 1980. I witnessed the deterioration and decay of the downtown area, and the many unsuccessful attempts by the city to save this area.

Yes, it’s true that there have been some successes in revitalizing downtown, but those efforts have been focused on tourism and entertainment, not retail trade. Attempts to create a population center of permanent residents have failed, as has any rebirth of a real retail trade area.

At the heart of this revitalization effort is River Rail, an expensive tourist attraction. It never was or will be a major transportation system. It’s too slow and unpredictable to even serve the one-hour-for-lunch crowd in the downtown area. Now we have another study outlining the proposed expansion of River Rail.

I recently read where Jim McKenzie, Metroplan’s executive director, said, “Nobody is talking about taking any money and expanding the streetcar [system] right now. In the future when it becomes appropriate to do, we’ll know the cost, we’ll know the route and we’ll know where the stations

ought to be.”

May that appropriate day never come! If our politicians are serious about controlling our debt, then may the day never come when it is “appropriate to do so.” The 55 percent of we Americans who still pay taxes saw over $20 million go toward this River Rail project in 2004. And we saw our financially strapped city government contribute money for its operation. Now we have a 90-page study that recommends an expansion that will cost over $100,000,000 to construct, and $1,000,000 annually to operate.

Do you really believe that spending $100,000,000 to take this trolley to Park Hill and Roosevelt Road will do any more for the economy than a couple of added bus routes? Will it ever be appropriate to spend $100,000,000 for this expansion? Logic says not.

Of course, this project changes dramatically if those developers who have been feeding on the city for years want to come up with private funds for this project. I’d love to meet one who’s developing properties in the 17th and Main corridor down to Roosevelt Road.

Will we ever learn the difference between want and need? I have my doubts.

Don Shellabarger Little Rock

Pryor shills for big oil I was very disappointed to find in my mailbox a slick, glossy expensively-made flyer from Sen. Mark Pryor’s office trying to sell me on reasons why major oil companies should keep their tax-free status and government subsidies.

According to the flyer, removing the subsidies would cost Arkansans jobs and usher in higher gas prices.

Not according to the Treasury Department, which found that removing these domestic subsidies would reduce U.S. oil production less than one half of one percent, and would increase exploration and production costs less than two percent.

Considering the price that the domestic industry receives for crude has more than doubled over the past several years, the industry should be able to afford that — without laying anyone off or jacking up the price at the pump.

The global oil market, not the domestic industry, determines gas prices. The Treasury Department estimates that subsidy removal would cause a loss of less than one tenth of one percent in global oil supply, and thus would have no impact on global or U.S. prices.

It saddens me to be reminded that, regardless of party affiliations, we still have the best politicians that money can buy.

Brad Bailey Fayetteville Submit letters to the Editor via e-mail. The address is arktimes@arktimes.com.

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EDITORIAL

EYE ON ARKANSAS

Senator Scofflaw

Republicans gone wild

W

hile Holland was endangering Arkansas children (What if he’d taken out a school bus in his mad flight?), U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) was maligning his colleagues and telling constituents “it’s just a good thing I can’t pack a gun on the Senate floor.” It’s a good thing Holland can’t pack a gun in the Arkansas Senate chamber either. Though it has authorized, even promoted, the carrying of weapons at other public gatherings — churches, funerals, football games, what have you — the Senate has kept its own home gun-free. They know the Hollands in their midst would be no more trustworthy with a loaded gun than with a fast car. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas calls for an end to Social Security, thus thinning the old-people herd, and he’s a Republican presidential candidate. The political affiliation of the armed men who robbed a Sunday School class at a Little Rock Baptist church is not as yet known.

6 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

BRIAN CHILSON

S

en. Bruce Holland makes laws, he doesn’t obey them. Laws are for little people.

Clearly a big person — he has a sports car and a cowboy hat — the Greenwood Republican roared through Perry County last winter, outrunning a deputy sheriff who was in pursuit, blue lights flashing, at speeds up to 110 miles an hour. Holland was finally flagged down by a Yell County deputy in his front. A witness to the chase testified that Holland passed her and two other vehicles in a no-passing zone. His car “was just like a rocket,” she said. She herself was terrified, as people with good sense are when they encounter feral drivers on the highway.

In court, Holland tried to evade responsibility for his actions, just as he’d tried to evade the deputy, but Perry County District Judge Elizabeth Wise wouldn’t have it.

“The only reason someone wasn’t killed that day was probably luck,” she told Holland. She ordered him to perform 400 hours of community service, a substantial amount. (And probably the first community service Holland has ever done. He’s a man who asks not what he can do for the community, but what the community can do for him.) A no-nonsense, law-andorder jurist, Wise also ordered the senator to pay $890 in fines and court costs. She called his actions on the day of the chase “totally unacceptable.”

Holland whined and said he’d appeal to circuit court. If he does, he could end up with a harsher sentence. The standard penalty for fleeing a police officer is 10 days in jail. Ten days in the slammer might make a better man of Holland. Surely couldn’t hurt.

RAZORBACK RED, WHITE AND BLUE: Fans were color coordinated at Saturday’s Arkansas football game in War Memorial Stadium.

All along the watchtower

A

mishmash this week: • UNETHICAL: The Committee for Little Rock’s Future, organized to promote the halfbillion-dollar Little Rock sales tax increase and largely funded by the real estate industry, has so far raised more than $112,000 for the campaign. Lots more will turn up after the election this week, which tax backers expect to win. The committee’s original finance report did not disclose specific expenditures except to the Markham Group, which is managing the campaign.

After I reported on the Arkansas Blog that I would file a complaint with the state Ethics Commission over the lack of specific expense disclosure, the committee added some broad categorical reporting — $15,000 for radio ads, $43,000 for mail expenses and $46,000 for “campaign workers.” Not a single specific person or business was listed. It’s clear the law is intended to favor disclosure, though you could argue it could have been more clearly written.

This much is clear: If the Arkansas ethics law allows campaign committees to funnel money through a third party (call them a campaign manager, call them a bag man, call them whatever) to disburse as a means of avoiding explicit expense disclosure, the law is inadequate and must be fixed — soon. An honest political operation wouldn’t be ashamed to report who they pay. The city campaign has not been honest.

• ARKANSAS LOTTERY: Something is cooking at the Arkansas Lottery. Want to gamble? I think the odds are better on a leadership change at the lottery than your chances of hitting a $1,000 scratch-off ticket. And since we’re in the speculation business: If there is a leadership change, don’t be surprised by an in-state hire, as opposed to a national search, and a dramatically lower compensation package.

• KOCHS AT WORK: Sad news from Crossett last

week that Georgia-Pacific was going to shut down a plywood operation and fire 700 workers of a 2,100-worker force before the year is out. Times will be hard for G-P workers, but not for the billionaire MAX Koch brothers, who own G-P. BRANTLEY maxbrantley@arktimes.com I wonder how G-P workers feel now if they voted for the candidates that the Koch brothers urged their Crossett employees to vote for in 2010 through slates distributed by a Koch Industries-funded independent expenditure committee.

Koch-funded politicians think unemployment compensation is for deadbeats and encourages a welfare mentality.

The Kochs are busy trying to elect them at both the state and national level. The Kochs are THE driving force behind the Americans for Prosperity, another so-called “non-partisan” group that has nothing but good things to say about conservative Republicans and nothing but bad to say about mainstream Democrats. When these groups pop up preaching the Republican prosperity doctrine or promoting the merits of a Republican congressional or legislative candidate, remember Crossett.

• SEPT. 11 OBSERVANCES: Is anybody really likely to forget?

• CORRECTION: I wrote incorrectly last week that Little Rock School Board candidate, Loretta Hendrix, a write-in candidate in Zone 1 against Norma Johnson, had intended to file conventionally for the school ballot but missed the deadline. Rather, she said she chose to qualify for the ballot as a write-in — “the hard way,” as she characterized it to another reporter. Also, she’s now 63, not 62. She said she’s a stickler for details and wouldn’t have graduated from Hall High School had she not been.

OPINION

Frightening the elderly

I

f Rick Perry is the Republican choice to run the country — at the moment, he is, by a wide margin — something truly revolutionary is afoot.

On the other hand, it could merely mean what is already certain, that something revolutionary is afoot in the Republican Party.

Perry would be the first Republican nominee for president since Alf Landon in 1936 that wanted to end Social Security. Landon lost the electoral vote 523-8 and, ever since, it has been considered suicide for Republicans to voice their hatred of old age, survivors and disability insurance.

Landon didn’t really hate Social Security but rather admired Franklin Roosevelt and his social programs. But he agreed to criticize Social Security and promise to undo it.

He would later admit that it was a terrible mistake and he was afterward a champion of Social Security, unemployment insurance and the other New Deal economic-relief programs.

The first Republican president after FDR, Dwight Eisenhower, came under pressure from the extreme right of the party to try to repeal Social Security and the rest of the New Deal. Eisenhower’s older brother, Edgar, who thought Roosevelt was the spawn of the devil, wrote him an angry letter saying that Social Security was unconstitutional

and that Ike was no better than the Democrats because he wouldn’t try to undo the New Deal.

Ike’s polite but ERNEST blunt response has DUMAS been received wisdom for half a century. He said the U.S. Supreme Court determined what was constitutional and it had never denied the right of the federal government to act to improve the general welfare.

“To attain any success,” Eisenhower told his brother, “it is quite clear that the Federal government cannot avoid or escape responsibilities which the mass of the people firmly believe should be undertaken by it. Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H.L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid.”

You can’t say that Eisenhower would call Perry stupid because Perry has now begun

With the oath comes a blindfold

I

am reminded of a couple of helpful lessons that arise from this almost unbelievable episode of scandal redux at the University of Central Arkansas at Conway.

First, we need to stop handing out blindfolds to appointees to state boards and commissions immediately on their taking oaths of office.

Citizens going on state boards inevitably fall under the spell of whatever administrative staff happens to be in place. Board members know only what the hired help tells them.

They are loath to ask nagging questions lest they get branded troublemakers or grandstanders, or self-important clowns addicted to the sounds of their own voices, and ostracized.

It’s a club, you see, not a public service. It’s a reward because somebody knew the governor. It’s in the job description to be incurious.

At UCA, board members patted Lu Hardin on the back as he helped himself to a bonus. They did so because he

had unctuously ingratiated himself with them and convinced them he was the heroically indispensJOHN able transformer BRUMMETT jbrummett@arkansasnews.com of their college.

He apparently accomplished this ingratiating ambidextrously by talking to board members over his cell phone with one hand as he fed a slot machine with the other.

So then these board members embraced a new president for whom the free house across the street simply wasn’t mansion enough. They exulted with warmed hearts when he gave them the sweet news: Some food service contractor had been kind enough to come out of the blue and provide him — correction, the school — an early Christmas present of $700,000 cold cash for swankier quarters.

Isn’t life wonderful when one of your contract service providers extends such

to slide away from his suggestions that he would abolish Social Security or alter it in some serious way. He still insists that it is “a Ponzi scheme” (Ponzi’s scheme lasted 200 days but Social Security has lasted 75 years and the German social-insurance program on which it was based 122 years), but in the televised Tea Party debate Monday night Perry said it obviously couldn’t be repealed.

Social Security is bad for the country, but he implied that he wouldn’t do anything about it if he became president.

Still, Perry gets more applause when he stands by his principles and says Social Security is bad for the country and he draws silence when he says he would merely try to be sure that people got their checks, perhaps by raising taxes or cutting benefits.

So is the country turning that far to the right or is it merely the suddenly vocal chorus from the right-wing conspiracists who believe all government efforts to help people is communism?

Republicans have never been averse to frightening the elderly and the young by suggesting that Social Security or Medicare would not be there for them soon or when they reach retirement age. Even Wendell Willkie, the 1940 Republican nominee and a strong supporter of Social Security, said people would not be getting their checks from the Democrats. Mitt Romney, who leads the Social Security attacks on Perry, says Social Security is in dire shape. It’s not. If small steps aren’t taken to trim future costs and raise

revenues, the trust fund will be exhausted in about 30 years and benefits will be cut about 19 percent, which would be about the same inflation-adjusted pension they receive now.

Last year, a Republican campaign persuaded millions of the elderly voters that the Democratic Congress was responsible for a freeze on their monthly checks. It wasn’t. It was a product of the Social Security formula and low inflation.

Republicans owe their big victory in the 2010 congressional elections considerably to having persuaded seniors that President Obama and the Democrats had set about in the 2010 health-insurance reform to cut their benefits under another social-insurance program that Republicans once labeled a Ponzi scheme, Medicare.

Romney, the putative father of Obamacare, said once again Monday night that the Democrats had cut people’s Medicare by $500 billion. They didn’t. There will be future Medicare savings by slashing the huge insurance company profits from Medicare Advantage plans, trimming drug-company profits and scaling back charges by physician specialists. “Obamacare” actually expands Medicare benefits.

So the big-haired Texan is different from his competitors only by degrees, and perhaps by intellect. It is not clear that he understands either the history of Social Security or how it works. We will find out if he is smarter than Ike. If it turns out that he is, the country is in bigger trouble than anyone imagines.

generosity? Why, Aramark cares. They like us. They really like us.

A few days later the board members found out that Aramark had made a deal, not a gift. Board members began flailing around trying to get their blindfolds removed.

This reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is spectacular, tenacious and unrelenting. If you are not affiliated with UCA, be thankful you are not on her beat.

But if she is the only person in the UCA board meeting room who can find stuff out, then let’s implore her to accept appointment to the board so she can question things directly — before a president runs off with 300-grand here and 700-grand there.

Dear public board members, all of you, from the Highway Commission to the Skunk Odor Reduction Study Commission: Your responsibility is to the taxpayer and to the efficient, competent service the agency or institution exists to provide.

At UCA, that would be quality educational instruction for … well, what do you call all these young people walking around? Oh, yes, students.

Hired help comes and goes, as surely UCA has demonstrated. Well, that’s true

except for Tom Courtway. He’s apparently permanent, ready to mop up on an interim basis whenever another exalted president gets caught mooning the taxpayers and students.

Now to the other lesson: All these public colleges and universities, enjoying semi-independent status constitutionally and awash in cash funds from service contracts and student fees and surcharges, are insular fiefdoms that bear closer watching.

Here’s how the insular fiefdom can work: You generate cash from hostage students for their food, books, housing and general “activities.” Then you sell bonds based on the revenue stream you’ve forcibly extracted from the students. Then you build something with these borrowed riches — a new football scoreboard, maybe — that you can show off as evidence of your noble vision for higher learning.

I cannot fathom why we value so the chief executive of a college. We give him a house. We give him secluded grounds.

We give him a car. We extol him as our most important purveyor of vital higher education.

But the most important purveyor of higher education is whoever is standing in front of a class right now. www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 7

WORDS

Reno gaining ground “Nevada’s capital city [Carson City] of some 50,000 is normally a sleepy town when lawmakers are not in session, a jumping-off point 30 miles south of Reno for travelers headed to Lake Tahoe or back to California across the Sierra Mountains. It has less of the glitz — and grime — associated with Las Vegas or Reno, the latter of which is 25 miles to the north.”

Michael Klossner writes: “In your Aug. 31 column on Pyrrhic victory, you call Pyrrhus a Greek general.

According to Wikipedia, he was a military commander and was considered a good one, but he was also king of Epirus.”

Random House says that Epirus is, 1) “an ancient district in northwestern Greece and Southern Albania,” and 2) “a modern region in northwestern Greece.” Pyrrhus might have been offended to be called a Greek, but it’s not the worst mistake I’ve made. It’s not even the worst in the Aug. 31 column. I see now that I mentioned Stuart Jay Silverman, who initiated the discussion, but on second reference, I inexplicably called him “Mr. Sherman.” For that, I

can’t claim even a Pyrrhic victory.

Who’s looming whom?: “The prosecuDOUG tor said he agreed SMITH to the plea arrangedougsmith@arktimes.com ment to avoid the expense of further litigation and the likelihood that the prosecution would fail to prove its case by relying on old evidence and witnesses who have died or changed their minds since the original trials. ‘You had one word for me, and that’s looming,’ he said of the case.”

I suppose that to a defendant, a prosecuting attorney is always looming, as in “rising before the vision with an appearance of great or portentous size: Suddenly a police officer loomed over him.” But I don’t think that’s what the speaker had in mind. I’m not sure what he did have in mind. There’s a noun looming that’s “a mirage in which objects below the horizon seem to be raised above their true positions,” but that wouldn’t apply here. Perplexity looms.

WEEK THAT WAS

WhOoP-DE-dO to BeneFit The OLd StaTe HouSe MusEum

Saturday, September 17, 2011 6 – 9 p.m.

Live Music by the Boondogs Silent Pie Auction Tickets $25/person or $45/Couple Call (501) 324-8647 for information.

Free admission for members of the 1836 Club and the Old State House Museum Associates.

PATRIOTIC HOG: A red, white and blue Hog was featured on Arkansas helmets and at mid-field Saturday.

It was a good week for…

It was a bad week for…

BOBBY AND BECKY PETRINO. The Arkansas football coach and his wife donated $250,000 to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The donation will support construction of the hospital south wing, expected to open next July.

SEN. BRUCE HOLLAND. The Republican from Greenwood was sentenced to 400 hours of community service and assessed $890 in fines and costs in Perry County District Court on charges he’d tried to evade a sheriff’s deputy in a 20-mile chase at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. He said he plans to appeal.

PATRIOTIC COORDINATION. An amazing number of fans got the message on red, white and blue clothing in alternate sections of War Memorial Stadium at Saturday’s Arkansas football game. The red, white and blue Hog looked pretty good, too.

ARKANSAS REPUBLICANS. State Repubs, who’d alleged cronyism, won a political victory after interim higher education director Shane Broadway announced that he wouldn’t seek the job permanently days before Attorney General Dustin McDaniel offered an opinion affirming Broadway’s ineligibility.

The Old State House Museum is a museum of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

8 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

BRIAN CHILSON

Whoop It Up at The

THE LITTLE ROCK ZOO. The national organization that accredits zoos has tabled reaccreditation of the Little Rock Zoo because of continuing questions about zoo finances. The news came the day before final voting on a half-billion-dollar sales tax increase that includes some money for the zoo.

GETTING ROBBED IN CHURCH. Eighteen people were robbed during Sunday school at Third Missionary Baptist Church on West 17th Street. The police said they’ve arrested three suspects, including two juveniles.

BRIAN CHILSON

THE OBSERVER NOTES ON THE PASSING SCENE

How we changed stayed away from the news sites online, and didn’t watch television at all. We couldn’t bear the networks’ hours of somber faux-reflection and black-background interviews with the still-grieving, the outpouring of broken hearts broken only by opportunities to sell us pickup trucks and new and improved washing detergents and jeans that promise to make our butt look amazing.

Instead, we spent quite a bit of the day on Sunday thinking about that day 10 years ago, where we were, what we were doing, how those first hours in the New World felt like a punch in the stomach, like a knife in the heart, slowly turning. We won’t bore you with the details of our own When, Where and How we heard. You’ve all got your own memories of that moment to think back on, and — like most — The Observer’s is altogether Tuesday-morning mundane. It would have disappeared almost immediately from our memory banks if not for the obvious.

Around 7 p.m. on Sunday night, as he does most Sunday nights, Junior sat down at the dining room table to do his homework for school. On the docket for 9/11/2011, after a dose of arithmetic and a word-search (why do they still subject kids to those? Has anybody ever learned anything from a word-search?): Social Studies homework — a sheet on which he was to record details of an interview with an Oldster in his life about their experiences on Sept. 11, 2001.

It’s good, we think, that there is a whole generation of children now that remembers that day solely as history.

One of the only positive things about the sureness of death is knowing that the sharp, biting pain of our collective past will, someday, pass away with the rest of us. Junior was just 2 years old in September 2001, and remembers nothing of it, thank God. We have tried, as much as possible, to keep it that way.

The questions on the paper were pretty standard: Where were you when you heard? What was your first reaction?

We dutifully recited the boring old facts, and Junior dutifully scribbled. Written

ON SEPT. 11, THE OBSERVER

out in longhand, by a child who knows nothing of the terrible helplessness and uncertainty of that day — a child to whom 9/11/2001 is as dusty and distant as the Vietnam War or the fall of the Ottoman Empire — it all looked so mundane, so ordinary.

At the end of the paper came the extra credit portion, where the student was expected to formulate his own interview question. Junior, the reporter’s boy, didn’t disappoint. How, he asked, did 9/11 change America?

“Well,” The Observer said, “it brought us all together. It made us feel like we were all Americans.” Junior jotted that down, stabbed a period onto the end of it, and then closed his notebook.

There are times when the hardest part of being a parent is telling your child the truth.

“Wait,” The Old Man said, “I wasn’t finished.”

Junior was puzzled for a second, but then opened his notebook and added a tail to his period, transforming that bright, declarative statement into — as history often is — something much more complicated.

“But it also made us afraid,” we told him, our son of the New World, “and since then, that fear has made us more divided than ever.”

PERHAPS YOU READ IN THE PAPER, if you live in Hot Springs, that the mayor over there said that if her two sons had been on those planes (one assumes she meant the two that brought down the World Trade Center), 9/11 would never have happened.

It was a surprising revelation to The Observer: Some people didn’t get it. It was mass murder, carried out by pawns of men who promised them paradise.

The men and women on the planes headed to New York were innocents who couldn’t conceive of such evil.

They weren’t a bunch of sissies who let themselves be incinerated. How could anyone be so untouched by the events of that day to presume otherwise?

Maybe the mayor should do a little homework of her own, like Junior.

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www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 9

Arkansas Reporter

THE

INSIDER

Bryant Mayor Jill “Republican” Dabbs was hit last week by the state Ethics Commission with a third ethical violation.

In the latest case, Dabbs received not only a letter of caution but a $100 fine after she admitted she had failed Dabbs to report a $565 loan to her campaign or its repayment; she’d failed to report one $75 contribution, and she’d failed to tell people Kizer who bought tickets to a post-election victory party that proceeds would go to her mayoral campaign.

Dabbs earlier had been cited for using campaign money to pay for lawsuits, including the unsuccessful one in which she tried to get her name listed on the ballot as Jill “Republican” Dabbs. She was also was cited for increasing her own pay without authorization by the City Council, an action for which she also was criticized by the local prosecuting attorney.

The Ethics Commission also cautioned Bryant City Clerk Heather “Republican” Kizer (she, too, had tried to be listed on the ballot by the name “Republican”).

She was cautioned for the same victory party. Specifically, she didn’t report cash and in-kind contributions from Dabbs on her campaign report and she also failed to tell her contributors that money raised at the victory party would go into her campaign fund.

Kizer also had benefited from an illegal salary increase, but escaped an Ethics Commission reprimand because Dabbs raised Kizer’s pay.

Kizer didn’t take the action herself and thus benefit improperly from her own actions.

No apologies Though Bryant Mayor Republican Dabbs explicitly admitted ethics violations in the agreed settlement with the state Ethics Commission, she all but repudiated it in a press release.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

10 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

BRIAN CHILSON

Bryant mayor – again

BROWN: Stepping down after more than 20 years on the bench.

Justice Robert Brown will leave early Wrote major court decisions.

BY DOUG SMITH

J

udicial politics have gotten meaner since Robert L. Brown first ran in 1990, and he’s worried about it, though that’s not why he’s announced his retirement from the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Now 70, Justice Brown would be effectively blocked from seeking re-election in 2014, when his term expires, by a state law that says judges can’t run after the age of 70 without forfeiting their retirement benefits. But he’ll leave the court two years early, at the end of 2012, he announced last week, and he said the reason for the early departure was impending large change at the court. Because several other justices are also around the forced-retirement age, five of the court’s seven members will have to be replaced over the next few years.

Brown thought it might ease the transition to let one newcomer get an early start.

Brown is considered by some to be the most scholarly member of the present Court, and he’s written some of its most important decisions, including those in the landmark Lakeview School District case, in which the court found the state’s method of funding

public schools to be unconstitutional. (“No longer can the State operate on a ‘hands off’ basis regarding how state money is spent in local school districts and what the effect of that spending is. Nor can the State continue to leave adequacy and equality considerations regarding school expenditures solely to local decision-making.”)

He wrote the 1994 decision that struck down voter-approved term limits for members of Congress, but upheld term limits for state legislators and constitutional officers.

The decision said that the U.S. Constitution established the qualifications for Congress.

In April this year, Brown wrote the decision invalidating Act 1, which had been approved by voters at the 2008 general election. Act 1 prohibited people who were cohabiting outside of marriage from adopting or fostering children. The act was aimed primarily at gay couples, who cannot marry legally in Arkansas. Brown’s opinion said the act violated “fundamental privacy rights ... implicit in the Arkansas Constitution ... ” Judges are elected in Arkansas; some states

use an appointive process. Brown said he’d always favored election. “I’m a Jacksonian Democrat. I prefer the process out in the open.

The other way, you don’t know who’s influencing the selection board or the governor or whoever will make the appointment. And it’ll all be done behind closed doors.”(Judges are officially nonpartisan now, but judicial races were partisan races in 1990, and Brown ran as a Democrat.)

He prefers election even with the rise of what he called in a 2009 law-review article “Toxic Judicial Elections.” He’s now the chairman of a state task force on judicial elections.

Every state is facing the problem of “vicious” campaigns in judicial races, Brown said. Single-issue groups now target judges whose rulings displease them, and the removal of limits on campaign contributions — removal by the U.S. Supreme Court — allow corporations and other special interests to pour tons of money into judicial races that were previously little-noted. Third-party groups, officially unaffiliated with a candidate, go after candidates they dislike with big money and sometimes big lies. Brown has seen ads against judges “that would make your hair stand on end.” A judge might be accused of turning loose all sex offenders, for example.

In Iowa last year, three supreme court justices were ousted by opponents of a court decision allowing same-sex marriage, and this was in the kind of elections that historically had produced easy approval for incumbents.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

LISTEN UP

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

Available on iTunes & arktimes.com

“It smells like cheese dip in here!”

Judsonia native Beth Ditto of the band Gossip at a performance last week in New York at Fashion’s Night Out.

THE

BIG

INSIDER, CONT.

“ If my sons had been on those two planes there would not have been 9/11.”

As quoted in the Sept. 11 Hot Springs Sentinel-Record.

PICTURE

THE WORST PERSON IN ARKANSAS THIS WEEK’S WINNER: Hot Springs Mayor Ruth Carney, no

stranger to gaffes. In May, she wrote on her Facebook page that she had talked with snipers about eliminating some of Hot Springs’ tourists, specifically those who don’t leave tips and use the city’s parking.

110

from public schools

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS On Wednesday, 143 high school seniors in Arkansas learn that they are National Merit Scholars. Fifty-one state high schools produced at least one semi-finalist.

More numbers:

from private schools

LESS THAN Of all National Merit Scholars come

1% 21

from Arkansas

Of Arkansas’s graduating seniors are National Merit Scholars

The number of National Merit Scholars from Fayetteville High School, the most from one school in the state. Little Rock Central (12), Conway (11), Bentonville (8), Cabot (7) and Pulaski Academy (6) followed behind.

DRUG-BOOK WAR Since 2002, the Drug Policy Education Group of Fayetteville has been donating drug-policy books and other materials to more than 50 libraries across the state. Books include titles such as “An Analytic Assessment of U.S. Drug Policy” and “Cannabis in Medical Practice: A Legal, Historical, & Pharmacological Overview of the Therapeutic Use of Marijuana.”

This year DPEG measured retention rates of the donated material at libraries across the state.

27

6

are home-schooled

26%

Of the state’s semifinalists are from Pulaski County.

31%

Of the state’s semifinalists attend Fayetteville High, Little Rock Central High or Conway High.

RETAINED 100 PERCENT ≥ Henderson State University at Arkadelphia ≥ The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville ≥ The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith ≥ South Arkansas University at Magnolia ≥ North Arkansas Community College at Harrison ≥ Lyon College at Batesville ≥ Forrest City Public Library

RETAINED LESS THAN HALF ≥ White River Regional Library at Batesville ≥ The Texarkana Public Library ≥ The Saline County Public Library at Benton ≥ The Fort Smith Public Library ≥ The Southeast Arkansas Regional Library at Monticello ≥ The Harding University Library at Searcy ≥ The Pope County Library at Russellville ≥ The Johnson County Library at Clarksville

She explained away her various troubles as mostly minor matters instigated by a political opponent.

She didn’t mention her $100 fine.

Her press release said: “Mayor Dabbs stated she will be filing amended reports; however, these are only minor corrections and the net amounts on her reports will not change and that no new donations or expenses are being added. She is simply moving items previously reported from one line to another.”

Mayor Dabbs had these final comments to make concerning this matter: “I want to say through all these circumstances, I acted openly and relied on the information I had at the time. I am not perfect but I am honest.

My focus as Mayor has not and will not change.” Wonder if that means she hasn’t given up on getting herself and Kizer fat pay increases and special treatment at the city pool for her daughter’s swim team, to name two of her early priorities in office?

Normal babies Until the Arkansas Blog pointed it out, the Arkansas Heart Gallery website, where the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services houses info about adoption, included some racially charged wording in its frequently asked questions section. Under the question “WHAT ABOUT ADOPTING AN INFANT?” was the following passage: “Over the past few decades, the number of healthy, Caucasian infants, who are relinquished to DHS/DCFS for adoption has decreased sharply. DHS/DCFS is not taking applications for normal, healthy newborns. DHS/DCFS continues to accept applications to adopt a healthy, African American child from birth to two years.”

Shoe museum As the Times discovered in a recent Q&A with Joe Johnson, the NBA star has a shark tank in his downtown condominium in Little Rock. The Sept. 19 issue of ESPN The Magazine uncovered another noteworthy domestic peculiarity about Johnson. He has a 500-square-foot closet, guarded by a door activated only through a fingerprint sensor, that houses 436 pairs of sneakers, most of which are Air Jordans. They’re mostly unworn Johnson told the magazine.

“I’ll wear them eventually.” www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 11

FALL ARTS 2011

KEB’ MO’: Headlines this year’s King Biscuit Blues Festival on Oct. 8.

NEED A LIFT? TRY FALL MUSIC Dave Mason, Meat Puppets, Rossini should do the trick.

BY ROBERT BELL

T

hese past couple of weeks of gloriously fall-like weather have been so sublime as to make one nearly forget the terrible state of nearly everything: the ravaged environment, the limping economy, the broken political process, the very fact that Rick Perry exists and is allowed to hold office. It’s enough to make you want to medicate yourself heavily. But don’t do that! Just check out some live music, which is the healthiest way to make the world not seem so crummy. There are a bunch of shows — most of them really 12 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

good — just around the corner. Oh, and the Hogs. Don’t forget about the Hogs.

A founding member of two of the best American bands of all-time — The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers — Chris Hillman is a legend in country rock circles. He plays the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View with bluegrass veteran Herb Pedersen (Sept. 23). As the inventors of the highly critically respected (just kidding) genre known

as “crab-core,” Attack Attack! (Sept. 25, Downtown Music Hall) will appeal to fans of tight pants, expensive haircuts and chugga-chugga-scream-style modern hardcore, whatever that means. For a punk rock take on the good ol’ freak-show, check out the Hellzapoppin’ Freak Show Revue, (Sept. 26, Revolution) with local bitchin’-riff merchants Iron Tongue.

If you’re still hungry for more outrageous and over-the-top showmanship, check out the other Detroit Madmen in the dance-punk outfit Electric Six (Sept. 27, Stickyz). For something totally different, don’t miss Richard Buckner (Sept.

28, Stickyz), whose latest album, “Our Blood,” has gotten rave reviews and will surely be loved by the lonesome-mopey singer/songwriter set. If you’re up northwest that day, you can go see the Traffic-co-founding, Mama-Cass-collaborating, “Feelin’ Alright”-penning Dave Mason (Sept. 28, George’s).

The legendary Meat Puppets return to Little Rock for what’s sure to be an excellent show (Sept. 29, Stickyz). Bubblegrunge maestros Candlebox take to the stage at the Arkansas Music Pavilion in Fayetteville (Sept. 29). For another dose of ’90s nostalgia, check out The Lemonheads (Sept. 30, Revolution) as they perform their classic album “It’s a Shame about Ray” in its entirety. Ambitious modern-day Outlaw country troubadour Jamey Johnson plays Arkansas Music Pavilion (Sept. 30).

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra starts its season with “Italian Vacation” (Oct. 1-2, Robinson Center Music Hall), featuring works by Mendelssohn, Respighi, Puccini and Rossini. The “Masterworks” series continues with “Legends” (Oct. 22-23, Robinson Center Music Hall), featuring Haydn and Brahms, and “Beethoven & Blue Jeans” (Nov. 12-13, Robinson Center Music Hall), featuring Beethoven, Roumain and Bernstein. The symphony’s chamber series kicks off with “Summer Vacation” (Oct. 4, Clinton Presidential Center), featuring pieces by Debussy, Vivaldi and more. The series continues with “Norman Krieger” (Oct. 25, Clinton Presidential Center), including works by Kodaly, Chopin and Brahms and “Bridging New and Old” (Nov. 15, Clinton Presidential Center), which includes works by Haydn, Griebling and Dvorak. The pops series begins with “Music of John Williams” (Oct. 8-9, Robinson Center Music Hall) and continues with “Happy Holidays” (Dec. 16-18, Robinson Center Music Hall).

ZooJam 2011 (Oct. 2, War Memorial Park) is a benefit for The Little Rock Zoo, with performances from the boot-inyour-ass-stickin’ country superstar Toby Keith, with openers Sara Evans, Eric Church and Diamond Rio. You might have been wondering what Diamond Rio had been up to, and now you know. If you’ve got any discretionary dollars left after ZooJam, you might want to think about handing them over to a scalper, because odds are really good that Taylor Swift (Oct. 4, Verizon Arena) has already sold out. But you never know. If anybody would be worth forking over the big bucks for, it’s America’s Sweetheart.

So you know that there are only, like, four Certified Guitar Players in the world, right? Well one of them — Tommy Emmanuel — is coming to UCA’s Reynolds Performance Hall (Oct. 6). Singer/songwriter James McMurtry (Oct. 6, George’s) doesn’t sugarcoat a damn thing for anybody, ever.

Got it? So if some from-the-gut truth-telling via the majesty of song is what you’re after, check him out.

The King Biscuit Blues Festival (Oct. 6-8, Helena) includes headliners James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Delbert McClinton, Bobby Rush and Keb’ Mo’. While Musicfest El Dorado (Oct. 7-8, downtown El Dorado) might not have quite the cachet of King Biscuit, the event boasts performances from Boyz II Men, Easton Corbin, Tone Loc,

FALL ARTS 2011

LUCINDA WILLIAMS: Plays Juanita’s on Oct. 11.

PRETTY LIGHTS: Plays Verizon Arena on Oct. 29.

James Otto, Sunny Sweeney and more. It’s definitely festival weather, with Hot Springs newcomer Hot Water Hills Music & Arts Festival (Oct. 7-8, Hill Wheatley Plaza), which includes more than 24 visual artists, family-friendly activities and games, food, beer and wine and live music from Grand Marquis, Big Smith and Ben Nichols playing Friday night, and Grand Marquis, The Extraordinaires and Mountain Sprout Saturday night. Batesville is bringing it with Rocktoberfest (Oct. 8, Riverside Park), which includes Lucero, Pop Evil, Egypt Central, Devon Allman’s Honeytribe and more. The Canadian duo Dala (Oct. 7, Walton Arts Center; Oct. 8, Argenta Community Theatre) has won plaudits worldwide with its ethereal folk-pop.

Guit-box virtuoso and international man of mystery Buckethead (Oct. 10, Juanita’s) brings the fretboard freakout. Probably not a lot of fan crossover here, but legendary singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams plays the same venue the very next day. The 6th Annual Harvest Music Festival (Oct. 13-16 Mulberry Mountain near Ozark) is a surefire bet to scratch your jammy-bluegrassy-hippy itch with headliners Yonder Mountain String Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Railroad Earth and more. The Arkansas Chamber Singers will perform works by Claudio Monteverdi, as well as Brahms and Schubert (Oct. 14, St. Mark’s Episcopal; Oct. 16, Clinton Presidential Center). Little Rock Wind Symphony presents Warhorses for Winds, featuring Andy Wen on alto saxophone (Oct. 16, Second Presbyterian Church). For a heaping helping of funkyelectronicajammaliciousgroovidelica, check out New Orleans’ Galactic (Oct. 26, George’s). Mrs. Jones, you have a lovely concert, with Herman’s Hermits, The Lettermen (Oct. 27, UCA).

The stoner-friendly, vintage-sample-lifting DJ known as Pretty Lights plays what’s sure to be a packed house of glowstick-wielding young folks (Oct. 29, Verizon Arena).

Crescent City wunderkind Trombone Shorty (Oct. 29, Southern Food & Wine Festival, El Dorado) is a virtuoso

TOBY KEITH: Headlines ZooJam on Oct. 2 at War Memorial Park.

jazz player who’s wowed audiences the world over. The Munich Symphony (Nov. 1, Walton Arts Center), helmed by renowned conductor Philippe Entremont, will perform Mozart’s Requiem. Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson and his backing band, The Brotherhood play George’s (Nov. 2). Up in the hollers of Northwest Arkansas is the 64th Annual Original Ozark Folk Festival (Nov. 3-5, various locations in Eureka Springs), which includes arts and crafts demonstrations, a parade and performances from Split Lip Rayfield, Big Smith, 3 Penny Acre, Still on the Hill and others. Philadelphia act Dr. Dog (Nov. 8, George’s) always packs out the house with its Beatles/Beach Boys/The Band blend of throwback rock. The Brasil Guitar Duo (Nov. 10, St. Mark’s Episcopal) has performed with symphonies around the world, playing a blend of traditional and Brazilian works.

Downtown Music Hall has a damn mouthful of bands playing Nov. 15, including Between the Buried and Me,

Animals as Leaders and Tesseract. Here’s one that’ll make your ears happy and your liver hate you: Little Rock’s rowdiest bunch of rock ’n’ roll ruffians ever, Smoke Up Johnny, play a rare show that will no doubt serve as a respite from all that Thanksgiving family time (Nov. 26, White Water Tavern). The River City Men’s Chorus offers up a holiday program (Dec. 4-5, 8 at Trinity United Methodist). Arkansas Chamber Singers’ “Holiday Concert” includes Respighi’s “Laud to the Nativity” and the premiere of a new work by Scottish composer Cecilia McDowell (Dec. 9, Trinity Presbyterian Church; Dec. 11, Cathedral of St. Andrew). It’s gonna be a Kenny Rogers kind of Christmas (Dec. 7, Walton Arts Center) in Fayetteville, unless you want to wait a few days for The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas’ Christmas Pops (Dec. 10, Walton Arts Center) or maybe Pat Boone’s “A Holiday Celebration” (Dec. 11, UCA) or The Manhattan Transfer’s Holiday Show (Dec. 15, Walton Arts Center). www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 13

BRIAN CHILSON

FALL ARTS 2011

BRIAN CHILSON

‘RING OF FIRE’

HUPP: Renovation will make for better audience experience.

REP RENEWAL Theater raises curtain on facelift.

BY ROBERT BELL

O

n a recent hot afternoon in downtown Little Rock, an SUV was parked along Main Street outside the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. The folks sitting inside the vehicle were waiting for the driver, who was standing on the curb, buying tickets through a chain-link fence from a Rep employee.

When Bob Hupp, producing artistic director, talks about the abundant support The Rep receives from the community, this scene comes to mind. Even when it’s undergoing a fairly significant renovation and is cordoned off from entry, folks just will not stay away from the place. The fence was added after work began back in late June.

Apparently it was necessary because people kept walking in to buy tickets regardless of the fact that it was a construction zone.

Back in the fall of 1988 — when The Rep moved to renovated space on Main Street from a former church next to MacArthur Park — staff members were literally racing to finish up, bolting the seats to the floor shortly before the crowd arrived for opening night, Hupp said.

That was just shy of a quarter of a century ago, when the scrappy, relatively young the14 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

ater group was making its move into a permanent home. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and the seats that were installed back when Reagan was still in office have been replaced, well ahead of opening night. The Rep renovation also added about 30 seats, bringing the total to 385.

When talking with Hupp and others involved with The Rep about the building’s aesthetic condition in recent years, the word “shabby” comes up several times, especially with regard to the “the ugliest carpeting in the world,” according to Catherine Hughes, chair of The Rep’s board.

“When you would take somebody new to The Rep for their first time, you would just try to divert their gaze upward to the art on the wall or the stairwell or just anything but looking down,” she said, laughing. “And I’m sure that carpet was beautiful 20 years ago, when it was first put in.”

So how do the board members feel about the state of The Rep now?

“We are absolutely beside ourselves,” Hughes said.

Cliff Baker, who founded The Rep and was artistic director for its first 23 years, said he’s thrilled with the renovation.

“It started so modestly,” he said of the organization. “We founded it in a little storefront, and now to see it settle in and have such a terrific audience base, it’s really neat.”

Besides the new seating and cosmetic upgrades, several other enhancements will make for a better audience experience, Hupp said. Sight lines, lighting and acoustics have been improved in the main performance space, and in addition to the new seats, another one of the most-requested improvements has been made: a larger women’s restroom.

On the mezzanine levels, the back rows of seats were raised eight inches, which might not sound like a lot, but will afford a much better view of the stage. On the second level are four tables that can be reserved to accommodate food and wine before the show.

The mezzanine bar had to be closed three years ago, because “it was just a big mess,” Hupp said.

“Literally, the floor was so wavy you felt like you were on a ship,” Hughes said. “It was a wreck.”

The room has been completely rehabbed and will now be called Foster’s at The Rep after former chairman of the board Vince Foster. The bar will serve beer and wine, and it will open about an hour before shows start and will stay open afterward as long as people want to hang out, within reason. It will also be available to rent for special events and private parties and can accommodate about 65 people.

If there’s anything beloved by nearly all Arkansans (besides the Hogs) it is Johnny Cash. The legendary performer is probably as popular now as at any point in the last several decades. So The Rep’s season opener this year will be a no-brainer for a lot of folks. “Ring of Fire” tells the story of Cash’s life through stories and songs, including the titular track, as well as “I Walk the Line,” “Daddy Sang Bass,” “Five Feet High and Rising” and more. It stars Jason Edwards, who played the role in the Broadway version, and was the only theatrical production to have the blessing of The Man in Black himself. The show starts with a Grand Reopening Gala tonight (Sept. 14) at 7 p.m. “Pay What You Can” night is Sept. 15 and the official opening is Sept. 16.

The show runs through Oct. 9.

To ensure that The Rep has the money it needs for upkeep in the future, the organization is creating a building maintenance fund, which will aim to raise about $50,000 a year, possibly through a nominal service charge, Hupp said.

All this work represents the final — and most visible — of four phases of upgrades funded by the $6 million capital campaign.

The first involved renovating The Rep’s 17-unit apartment house, where it houses the actors who come to town for productions. In the second phase, The Rep purchased another downtown apartment building, as well as a warehouse on Izard Street that was remade into a shop where the scenic elements are built. The third phase, done between seasons last year, outfitted the main building with a new roof, a new HVAC system, some wall repairs and a new freight elevator (thus retiring the oldest operational freight elevator in the state).

Phase four entailed the facelift components that were just wrapped up.

One of the biggest challenges with the renovation was finding donors for the project while also fundraising for normal operations, Hupp said.

Look who’s

FALL ARTS 2011

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LittLe Rock Barbara Graves

The Rep staff can devote 100 percent of its energy to what goes on in the space and to expanding the organization’s partnerships with other nonprofit arts groups, including the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, The Arkansas Arts Center, Argenta Community Theater, TheatreSquared and others, Hupp said.

The Rep’s popular Young Artists Program was hosted this year at Wildwood Park for the Arts. The program gives budding actors ages 10-22 the chance to perform in a main stage musical production.

Another Rep partnership that’s in the works is with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Hupp said. “We’re looking at all kinds of opportunities for the symphony and I know that [Music Director] Philip Mann is open to those possibilities and so are we,” he said. “So we feel confident that we are going to be working with the symphony in many different ways.”

As far as when that might happen, Hupp said he couldn’t say for sure, but that he’s “hopeful that in the next 24 months we might be able to do something.”

The Rep has been an anchor for downtown Little Rock, Hupp said. And he’s hopeful that other Main Street projects, such as the recently opened Porter’s Jazz Cafe, will also help solidify the area as an arts district.

“I think the Main Street corridor could be focused on cultural activities — the arts, visual arts, cafes and coffee shops and that would be an amazing complement to what already exists in the River Market,” he said.

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BRIAN CHILSON

“Our organization operates on a little over $3 million a year as an annual budget,” he said. “Half of that $3 million is generated through ticket sales and the other half is generated through contributed income, through the generosity of corporations and individuals here in Arkansas.”

The renovation capital campaign raised its goal of $6 million, but it was started at a less than ideal time — a few months before the near-collapse of the global economy back in 2008. While the economic conditions were challenging — and added about a year onto the campaign — everyone involved doubled down on their fundraising efforts, Hughes said.

The capital campaign “was a hard sell from an economic standpoint, but not from an entity standpoint,” said Bob East, who chaired the campaign’s steering committee. People appreciate the quality The Rep adds to life in the region and they’re “generous with their donations,” he said.

“And I think we got that message out, that The Rep needed this desperately and needs to be kept downtown.”

East is CEO and co-founder of EastHarding Inc., the general contractor for the renovation. Although the recession made fundraising difficult, it meant that construction costs — which had been escalating dramatically during the boom years — came down considerably. “That was one good thing about doing it at this time,” he said. “We got a lot for our money.”

Now that the renovation is complete,

sociaL in

UPDATED DIGS: The Rep’s bar was renovated and renamed as Foster’s at The Rep.

www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 15

FALL ARTS 2011

FALL ARTS CALENDAR The calendar for the upcoming week’s events is on page 28.

LITTLE ROCK AND NORTH LITTLE ROCK EVENTS Oct. 8: Harvest at Wildwood Park. Includes hayrides, arts and crafts, vendors, live music and the Arkansas Pickin’ & Fiddlin’ Championship.

Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts, Oct. 8, 10 a.m.; Oct. 9, 12 p.m., $6-$26. 20919 Denny Road.

MUSIC Sept. 25: Attack Attack! Downtown Music Hall, 7 p.m., $13 adv., $15 door. 211 W. Capitol.

501-376-1819. downtownshows.homestead. com.

Sept. 26: Hellzapoppin’ Freak Show Revue, Iron Tongue. Revolution, 9 p.m., $10. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom. com.

Sept. 27: Electric Six, Kitten, Flaming Death Faeries. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $12 adv., $14 d.o.s. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

Sept. 27: Elliott Yamin, Mikey Wax. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $15 adv., $18 door. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

Sept. 28: Richard Buckner. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 8:30 p.m., $10. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

Sept. 29: Meat Puppets. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $12 adv., $15 d.o.s. 107

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

Sept. 29: The Movement. Revolution, 9 p.m., $10. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

Sept. 30: The Lemonheads, The Shining Twins. Revolution, 9 p.m., $15. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

Oct. 1: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra: “Italian Vacation.” Robinson Center Music Hall, Oct. 1, 8 p.m.; Oct. 2, 3 p.m., $14-$48. Markham and Broadway. www.littlerockmeetings.com/ conv-centers/robinson.

Oct. 1: Hinder, Egypt Central. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $22 adv., $25 d.o.s. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

Oct. 2: Zoo Jam 2011. Includes performances from Toby Keith, Sara Evans, Eric Church and Diamond Rio. War Memorial Park, 12 p.m., $65.

Van Buren and Markham Streets.

Oct. 4: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra: “Summer Vacation.” Clinton Presidential Center, 7 p.m., $22. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 370-8000. www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org.

Oct. 4: Taylor Swift. Verizon Arena, 7 p.m., $25-$70. 1 Alltel Arena Way, NLR. 501-975-9001. verizonarena.com.

Oct. 8: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s “Music of John Williams.” Robinson Center Music Hall, Oct. 8, 8 p.m.; Oct. 9, 3 p.m., $20-$65.

Markham and Broadway. www.littlerockmeetings.com/conv-centers/robinson.

Oct. 8: Big Smith. Dreamland Ballroom, 8 p.m.,

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$10 adv., $14 door. 800 W. 9th St. 501-255-5700.

Oct. 10: Buckethead, Lynx. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $20 adv., $25 d.o.s. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

Oct. 11: Lucinda Williams. Juanita’s, 8 p.m., $30. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

Oct. 11: Mutemath. Revolution, 8:30 p.m., $20. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

Oct. 12: Kill Devil Hill, Bombay Black, This Tragic Day, At Wars End, Sychosys. Downtown Music Hall, 7:30 p.m., $16. 211 W. Capitol.

501-376-1819. downtownshows.homestead. com.

Oct. 14: Todd Snider. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $18 adv., $20 door. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-3721228. www.juanitas.com.

Oct. 15. Hayes Carll. Revolution, 9 p.m., $15. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

Oct. 21: Guitar Shorty. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $8 adv., $10 d.o.s. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz. com.

Oct. 22: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra: “Legends.” Robinson Center Music Hall, Oct. 22, 8 p.m.; Oct. 23, 3 p.m., $14-$48. Markham and Broadway. www.littlerockmeetings.com/ conv-centers/robinson.

Oct. 25: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra: “Norman Krieger.” Clinton Presidential Center, 7 p.m., $22. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 370-8000. www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org.

Oct. 28: KABF Backroads/Blues House Party Halloween Costume Bash. This benefit party includes tunes from The Salty Dogs, John

Goode & Friends and The Port Arthur Band.

Parrot Beach Cafe, 7:30 p.m. 9611 MacArthur Drive, NLR. 771-2994.

Oct. 29: Pretty Lights. Verizon Arena, 8 p.m., $30-$33. 1 Alltel Arena Way, NLR. 501-975-9001. verizonarena.com.

Oct. 30: Mates of State, Generationals.

Revolution, 7:30 p.m., $12 adv., $15 d.o.s. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom. com.

Nov. 4: All Time Low, The Ready Set, He Is We. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $22.50 adv., $25 d.o.s.

614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www. juanitas.com.

Nov. 4: A Bullet for Pretty Boy, The Great Commission, The Plot in You, The Air I Breathe, The Front Line. Downtown Music Hall, 6 p.m., $11. 211 W. Capitol. 501-376-1819. downtownshows.homestead.com.

Nov. 4: Jason Boland & The Stragglers, American Aquarium. Revolution, 9 p.m., $12 adv., $15 d.o.s. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

Nov. 5: Family Force 5. Revolution, 9 p.m., $15. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

Nov. 6: Corey Smith. Revolution, 8 p.m., $18 adv., $20 d.o.s. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

Nov. 10: Brasil Guitar Duo. Presented by the Chamber Music Society of Little Rock. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 7:30 p.m., $10 students, $25 non-students, $75 season tickets. 1000 N. Mississippi Ave. Nov. 11: AA Bondy. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $10 adv., $12 d.o.s. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

FALL ARTS 2011 Nov. 12: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra: “Beethoven & Blue Jeans.” Robinson Center Music Hall, Nov. 12, 8 p.m.; Nov. 13, 3 p.m., $14-$48. Markham and Broadway. www.littlerockmeetings.com/conv-centers/robinson.

Nov. 15: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra: “Bridging New and Old.” Clinton Presidential Center, 7 p.m., $22. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 370-8000. www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org.

Nov. 15: Between the Buried and Me, Animals as Leaders, Tesseract. Downtown Music Hall, 8 p.m., $20. 211 W. Capitol. 501-376-1819. downtownshows.homestead.com.

Nov. 26: Smoke Up Johnny. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. 2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com.

Dec. 16: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra: “Happy Holidays.” Robinson Center Music Hall, Dec. 16-17, 8 p.m.; Dec. 18, 3 p.m., $20-$65.

Markham and Broadway. www.littlerockmeetings. com/conv-centers/robinson.

THEATER THROUGH OCT. 9: “Purlie.” Purlie Victorious Judson returns to his hometown as a preacher, with a plan to save the town, its church and its people, in this Tony Award-winning musical.

Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, Tue.-Sat., 6 p.m.; Wed., 11 a.m.; Sun., 11 a.m., $23-$33. 6323 Col. Glenn Road. 501-562-3131. murrysdinnerplayhouse. com.

Sept. 14-Oct. 9: “Ring of Fire.” Johnny Cash’s life and times are brought to the stage through the Man in Black’s songs, including “I Walk The Line,” “Five Feet High and Rising” and many more. Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Wed., Sept.

14, 6 p.m.; Thu., Sept. 15, 7 p.m.; Fri., Sat., 8 p.m.; Wed., Thu., 7 p.m.; Sun., 2 and 7 p.m., $30-$40.

601 Main St. 501-378-0405. www.therep.org.

Sept. 16-17, 23-24: “The Guys.” In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, The Weekend Theater presents this tribute — based on a true story — to the firefighters and other heroes who lost their lives trying to rescue others. The Weekend Theater, 7:30 p.m., $12-$16. 1001 W. 7th St. 501-374-3761. www.weekendtheater.org.

Sept. 16-Oct. 2: “Miss Nelson Has a Field Day.” Arkansas Arts Center’s Children’s Theatre production, 7 p.m. Fridays, 3 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Arkansas Arts Center, $11 children, $14 adults. 501 E. 9th St. 501-372-4000. www. arkarts.com.

Sept. 23-25, Oct. 1-2, 7-9: “Dixie Swim Club.”

Five Southern women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships. The Public Theatre, Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m., $12-$14. 616 Center St. 501-374-7529. www.thepublictheatre.com.

Sept. 23-24: “First Farewell.” The story of Sarah Bernhardt’s visit to Arkansas during one of her nine American tours at the height of her popularity in the late 1800’s. (A Saturday matinee will be presented at The William F. Laman Public Library.)

Argenta Community Theater, Sept. 23-24, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 24, 3:30 p.m. 405 Main St., NLR. 501-353-1443. argentacommunitytheater.org.

Oct. 12: “The Second City.” The famous comedic improv troupe returns. Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 7 p.m. Thu., 8 p.m. Fri.-Sun., 2 p.m. Sun. $35 or $30 add-on to season ticket.

601 Main St. 501-378-0405. www.therep.org.

Oct. 13-14: Arkansas Festival Ballet presents “At the Barre.” A studio performance featuring original works to music by Chopin and excerpts from “Aida” and “The Nutcracker.” Arkansas Academy of Dance, 7:30 p.m., $15. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-227-5320. www.arkansasdance.org.

Oct. 21-Nov. 6: “Cinderella: A Rockin’ New Musical.” Children’s Theatre production of the fairy tale set to music. 7 p.m. Fri., 3 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Arkansas Arts Center. 501 E. Ninth St. 501-372-4000. www.arkarts.com. $35 or $30 add-on to season ticket.

Oct. 25-Nov. 5: “That 80s Show.” The Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s Summer Musical Intensive Theatre production by its Young Artists group. www.therep.org. Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts, $25 or $20 add-on to season ticket. 20919 Denny Road.

Oct. 28-30: “Shrek the Musical.” Everyone’s favorite friendly green ogre takes to the stage in this musical comedy. Robinson Center Music Hall,

Oct. 28-29, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 29-30, 2 p.m.; Oct. 30, 7 p.m., $27-$67. Markham and Broadway. www. littlerockmeetings.com/conv-centers/robinson.

Nov. 4-5: “The Diary of Black Men.” This play, written by Thomas Meloncon, examines different issues inherent in the relationships between black men and black women. Robinson Center Music Hall, 7:30 p.m., $28-$40. Markham and Broadway. www.littlerockmeetings.com/conv-centers/ robinson.

Nov. 20: Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian “Nutcracker.” Robinson Center Music Hall, Nov. 20, $30-$79. Markham and Broadway. www. littlerockmeetings.com/conv-centers/robinson.

Nov. 29-Dec. 1: “Fiddler on the Roof.” Tevye

tries to hang onto Jewish traditions in the face of changing times and his strong-willed daughters. The classic musical tale is one of Broadway’s longest-running shows. Robinson Center Music Hall, 7:30 p.m., $17-$50. Markham and Broadway. www.littlerockmeetings.com/conv-centers/ robinson.

Dec. 2-18: “A Year with Frog and Toad.”

Children’s Theatre musical production. 7 p.m.

Fri., 3 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Arkansas Arts Center.

372-4000.

Dec. 2-25: “A Christmas Carol, The Musical!”

A musical retelling of Dickens’ classic, with music

by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Arkansas CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

We’ve come a long way, baby.

1991

2011

Celebrating 20 years of student success.

Find us on Facebook.

3000 West Scenic Drive North Little Rock, AR 72118 (501) 812-2200 www.pulaskitech.edu

www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 17

FALL ARTS 2011 CALENDAR, CONT. Repertory Theatre, 7 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m.

Sun., $40. 601 Main St. 501-378-0405. www. therep.org.

Dec. 13-14: Cirque du Soleil’s “Dralion.”

Verizon Arena, 7:30 p.m., $32-$142. 1 Alltel Arena Way, NLR. 501-975-9001. verizonarena.com.

LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK

BATESVILLE MUSIC Oct. 8: Rocktoberfest. Includes Lucero, Pop Evil, Egypt Central, Devon Allman’s Honeytribe and more. Riverside Park, noon, $20 adv. $25 door. Chaney Drive. 870-698-2288. www.batesvillepromotions.com.

BIGGEST ART EVENT, EVER The opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

BY LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK

T

aylor Swift, hot; “Ring of Fire” at the renovated Arkansas Rep, great; “Judgment at Nuremberg” at the Weekend Theater, moving.

But the biggest art event in Arkansas this fall has nothing to do with the performing arts: It’s the opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Alice Walton and family’s billion-dollar investment in Bentonville.

Even if portraits of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart and Charles Willson Peale don’t make your heart beat faster or bring you to tears, they are part of American history and treasured works of art. And the sweep and beauty of Asher Durand’s “Kindred Spirits” just might make you sob a bit (folks in New York have definitely wept bitter tears over their masterpiece going to Arkansas, Alice Walton having outbid, at $35 million, the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the painting).

The museum won’t be all portraits of significant figures in history, but a broad look at the history of American art, from rare 17th century portraits to the Hudson River School, early 20th century art to contemporary installation pieces.

So there will be plenty to see at Crystal Bridges when it opens Nov. 11, 2011, or 11-11-11 (which happens to be Veterans Day) and for years to come. The museum puts Arkansas on the map.

The opening day celebration is sure to be accompanied by much as yet unpublicized but sure to happen hullaballoo.

Having no facts, let’s suppose: One of the museum’s acquisitions is a Nick Cave 18 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

“Soundsuit,” which is just as it sounds: A sculptural costume crafted to make sound when the wearer moves. Naturally, dancers have choreographed performances for the suits, and what better way to tie performance art and the CBMAA collection together than to have dancers in soundsuits swishing and swirling about the spring-fed ponds the museum bridges?

Alice Walton announced she would build the museum in 2006, then expected to be a three-year project. Her vision for the museum continued to grow, and she ditched the planned 1950s cut-off date to expand into contemporary work. The Moshe Safdie-designed complex began to grow too. A rectangle of connected buildings, tucked into a ravine that recalls “Kindred Spirits,” Crystal Springs feeds the reflecting pools they surround. Six galleries showcase the art chronologically; one of the bridges contains the restaurant. A library holds manuscripts and other ephemera Walton has collected to support study of the collection, an amphitheater (nicknamed “the turtle” for its shape) will accommodate public gatherings, classrooms will be available for students and studios for artists. Of course, there will be a gift shop. More than three miles of trails crisscross the 120 acre site and they, too, are galleries of sorts, passing through Ozark uplands and wetlands, by cultural features, all dotted with sculpture.

So what’s on the walls? The museum has made periodic announcements of acquisitions, crumbs that Arkansas’s art lovers will follow to Bentonville. Paintings, drawings, sculpture. The work,

bought at auction and privately, is by such American masters, besides those already mentioned, as John Singleton Copley, Thomas Eakins, Thomas Moran, Benjamin West, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Maxfield Parrish, George Wesley Bellows, Marsden Hartley, Norman Rockwell. Romare Bearden. Thomas Hart Benton. Jacob Lawrence. Andrew Wyeth.

Ground-breaking modern artists Jackson Pollock, Arshile Gorky and Adolph Gottlieb. Pop artists Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Marisol and Claes Oldenburg.

Hyperrealist Chuck Close. Silhouette cutting artist Kara Walker. Contemporaries we won’t have to travel to the coasts to see: Sculptor Karen LaMonte. Installation artists Jenny Holzer and Devorah Sperber.

Weird naturalists Walton Ford and Tom Uttech. Social commentator Kerry James Marshall. You get the picture.

Walton has collected work by Arkansas artists as well — Carroll Cloar, George Dombek, Pat Musick, Doug Stowe. If there’s not sculpture by Anita Huffington, I’d be surprised.

All of this is richly supported by the Walton Family Foundation, which announced a staggering $800 million contribution to the endowment last spring, the largest gift ever made to an American museum at one time (according to the Wall Street Journal) and a sum that puts the museum in the big leagues. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a billiondollar endowment, but it’s been around awhile.) Northwest Arkansas businesses are making donations to the museum.

Admission to Crystal Bridges is free, thanks, the museum says, to a $20 million contribution by Walmart. Memberships (whose costs range from $35 for students to $5,000 for benefactors) bring certain perks, including free admission to special exhibits and store discounts. The first 3,000 to buy memberships were rewarded with invitations to preview the museum Nov. 9; the museum will be open around the clock to accommodate them.

CONWAY MUSIC Oct. 6: Tommy Emmanuel, Certified Guitar Player. Reynolds Performance Hall, University of Central Arkansas, 7:30 p.m., $50. 201 Donaghey Ave. 800-662-2386.

Oct. 27: Herman’s Hermits, the Lettermen.

Reynolds Performance Hall, University of Central Arkansas, 7:30 p.m., $23-$40. 201 Donaghey Ave. Dec. 11: Pat Boone in “A Holiday Celebration.” Reynolds Performance Hall, University of Central Arkansas, 2 p.m., $23-$40.

201 Donaghey Ave. THEATER THROUGH OCT. 9: “The Kitchen Witches.”

Hilarity ensues when two TV chefs — bitter enemies — are thrown together on a new cooking show. Lantern Theatre, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m., $5-$10. 1021 Van Ronkle.

501-733-6220. www.conwayarts.org/index.html.

Sept. 23-24: “Hope for the Honeybees.”

This play by Hendrix students explores Colony Collapse Disorder, a condition in which honeybees mysteriously abandon their hives. Hendrix College, Fri., Sept. 23, 6 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 24, 2 and 6 p.m., free. 1600 Washington Ave. www. hendrix.edu.

Sept. 29: “101 Years of Broadway.” Reynolds Performance Hall, University of Central Arkansas, 7:30 p.m., $23-$40. 201 Donaghey Ave. Oct. 11: Martha Graham Dance Company.

Reynolds Performance Hall, UCA, 7:30 p.m., $23-$40. 201 Donaghey Ave. Oct. 25: Cirque Mechanics’ “Boom Town.”

Dance performance with one-of-a-kind mechanical props telling the story of the 1860s small frontier town of Rosebud, where two ambitious saloon owners have set up shop in the hopes of cashing in on the town’s gold rush frenzy. Reynolds Performance Hall, UCA, 7 p.m., $30-$40. 350 S. Donaghey.

Nov. 3-4, 9-11: “Mr. Marmalade.” Dark comedy explores the way children absorb adult issues and what it takes for them to grow up in these troubled times. Recommended for mature audiences only. UCA, 7:30 p.m., $10. 201 Donaghey Ave. www.uca.edu.

Nov. 19: “The Wizard of Oz.” Reynolds Performance Hall, UCA, 7:30 p.m., $23-$40.

201 Donaghey Ave. Dec. 6-8: Festival of One Act Plays. Two to three different one acts will be performed each evening, directed by the 2011 directing class and involving over 50 actors and crew. UCA, 7:30 p.m., $10. 201 Donaghey Ave. www.uca.edu.

EL DORADO MUSIC Oct. 7: Musicfest El Dorado. Includes performances from Boyz II Men, Easton Corbin, CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

S E A S O N

David A. Glaze - Artistic Director

Fall Opening and exhibitiOn Schedule Saturday, OctOber 15, 2011 6 tO 9 pm

Robin woods loUcks mixed media on paper diana b ashley 3D sculpture hans FeyeRabend oil on canvas and board

Songs of Praise & Celebration

Saturday, NOvember 12, 2011 6 tO 9 pm

CONCERT DATES & TIMES

bRad cUshman mixed media on paper kelley edwaRds Raku sculpture donala JoRdan mixed media on paper and canvas

Sunday, September 18, 2011 at 3:00 pm Monday, September 19, 2011 at 7:00 pm Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 7:00 pm

Jon etienne moURot Annual holiday party

Saturday, december 10, 2011 6 tO 9 pm Glitter Jesus: Putting Christ Back in X-mas

All performances are free and open to the public.

Trinity United Methodist Church, 1101 North Mississippi, Little Rock

(501) 377-1080 Visit our website at www.rivercitymenschorus.com

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5815 KAVANAUGH BLVD LITTLE ROCK, AR 72207 (501) 664.0030 WWW.BOSWELLMOUROT.COM

9/8/11 9:58:43 AM

From Canada - Juno Award Nominated An Evening With

DALA

October 8, 2011 7:00pm & 9:30pm For Tickets Call (800)-515-3849 order online at: www.argentacommnitytheater.com General Information Call 501-353-1443

FALL ARTS 2011

October 8 and 9

Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm • Sunday, noon – 6 pm

Gate Admissions • $10 Adults • $5 Kids 6-12 • Kids 5 and Younger FREE FEATURING Hay Rides to Pumpkin Hill’s Hay Fort and Hay Maze • Arkansas Pickin’ & Fiddlin’ Championship Culinary Competition • Model Trains • Garden Trains • Iron Forging Competitions Antique Shows • Children’s Entertainment • Crafts Bake Shop and Grilled Treats for Purchase RunWILD 5K and WILDFun Family Run kicks off HARVEST! Festival at 8:30 am at the Promenade at Chenal. For RunWILD 5k details visit www.RunWILD5kRace.org Beginning October 7th, catch your hayride at Pumpkin Hill! Children receive Little People’s Sugar Pie Pumpkin! Sundays 1pm - 4pm; weekdays upon reservation for field trips. $5 per person.

20919 Denny Road • Little Rock • wildwoodpark.org • 501-821-7275

4.5” x 5.875” Arkansas Times 07/22/11

Expressing Ourselves: Original Works by the Artists of Birch Tree Communities and the Arkansas State Hospital September 1 October 20, 2011 In the Exhibit Hall

Laman Library 2801 Orange Street North Little Rock 501-758-1720 20 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

A MUSICAL FALL Johnny Cash and Shrek inspire productions.

BY WERNER TRIESCHMANN

T

he Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s reopening in renovated quarters (New seats! New lobby! New bathrooms!) is the biggest news in theater this fall, but there’s more stage action to spotlight.

The Rep’s season opener, “Ring of Fire” (Sept. 14-Oct. 9), a jukebox musical that brings to the stage “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line” and more classic songs identified with the Natural State’s most prominent performer, is just one of several musical revues to be staged this fall.

There’s big budget escapism with Celebrity Attractions’ “Shrek — The Musical” (Oct. 28-30) at Robinson Center Music Hall. There’s a key Arkansas connection to this transformation of the animated hit film: The Broadway production was directed by Fayetteville native Jason Moore. Though “Shrek — The Musical” was not treated kindly by critics — most notably the one at the New York Times — the show had a year-long run and is pulling in audiences with a number of different tours.

At the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, the dancing gangs Sharks and Jets are facing off again in “West Side Story” (Oct. 25-30), part of its Broadway Season program. Stephen Schwartz’s “Pippin” (Oct. 7-23) is not nearly as well known as his “Godspell” or more current “Wicked,” but the Weekend Theater production aims to bring to life a dark, fantastical musical that’s had a solid fan base since it appeared in 1972.

“101 Years of Broadway” (Sept. 29), stopping in Conway as part of the UCA Public Appearances series, offers a more concentrated dose of theater music with an evening of songs from “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and more. “That 80s Show” (Oct. 25-Nov. 5) is a musical revue starring the fresh-faced performers in the Arkansas Rep’s highly competitive Summer Musical Theatre Intensive program. Whether the texting teens of 2011 will recover from exposure to the Flock of Seagulls and Haircut 100 is another matter altogether.

More contemplative productions are to be had at Little Rock’s Weekend Theater, where “The Guys” (Sept. 16-17 and 23-24) is now playing, timed to run during the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. This drama takes place in New York two weeks after the attacks as a grieving fire captain and an editor come together to speak about the loss

BRIAN CHILSON

AT WILDWOOD PARK A Family Festival Celebrating Autumn in Arkansas

ACTING LIKE CASH: Jason Edwards stars in The Rep’s season opener, “Ring of Fire.”

and the heartbreak. Weekend Theater will also present “The Quality of Life” by Jane Anderson, about a couple struggling to deal with the death of their daughter (Nov. 4-5, 11-12, 18-19) and “Judgment at Nuremberg,” Abby Mann’s drama about the Holocaust (Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17).

Fayetteville’s pro theater company, TheatreSquared, opened its new season with a door-slamming humdinger, “Boeing-Boeing” (through Sept. 25). The 1960s French farce about a lothario trying to keep his three stewardess girlfriends from finding out about each other, was revived to great reviews on Broadway in 2008. TheatreSquared’s young, energetic troupe should be a nice fit for this comedic track meet.

The Christmas season brings a new stage adaptation of “It’s a Wonderful Life” (Dec. 8-Jan. 1) to TheatreSquared and “A Christmas Carol, The Musical!” to the Rep (Dec. 2-25), with music by Disney-favorite Alan Menken. Whatever Rep audiences think of the timeless Dickens tale set to music, you know they will be a little more forgiving than usual as they will be relaxing in comfortable, still relatively new seats.

FALL ARTS 2011 CALENDAR, CONT. Tone Loc, James Otto, Sunny Sweeney and more. Oct. 7, 5 p.m.; Oct. 8, 10 a.m. Main Street and Northwest Avenue. 870-862-4747. www. musicfesteldorado.com.

Oct. 29: Trombone Shorty. Part of the Southern Food & Wine Festival. 8 p.m. Main Street and Northwest Avenue.

EUREKA SPRINGS EVENTS Nov. 3-5: 64th Annual Original Ozark Folk Festival. Includes arts and crafts demonstrations, a parade and performances from Split Lip Rayfield, Big Smith, 3 Penny Acre, Still on the Hill and others.

Basin Spring Park, 10 a.m., $10-$15. Downtown.

479-253-7333. www.ozarkfolkfestival.com.

Wilde’s comedic masterpiece that sends up the upper classes of Victorian London. Walton Arts Center, 8 p.m., $10-$25. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Nov. 6: “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical.”

The Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences presents this story about family, friends and memories, told through costumes, dancing and song. Walton Arts Center, 2 p.m., $8-$16. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Nov. 15-20: “Rock of Ages.” This hit musical comedy is a feel-good love story set on the Sunset Strip in the hair-metal heyday of 1987, with the music of Journey, Poison, Twisted Sister,

Whitesnake and more. Walton Arts Center, Nov. 15-17, 7 p.m.; Nov. 18-19, 8 p.m.; Nov. 19-20, 2 p.m.; Nov. 20, 7 p.m., $39-$59. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Dec. 8-Jan. 1: “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

TheatreSquared presents this stage adaptation of the classic Frank Capra film about the true meaning of Christmas. Walton Arts Center, Nadine Baum Studios, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Sun., 2 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; Dec. 21, 2 p.m., $10-$26.

505 W. Spring St. 479-443-5600. theatre2.org.

Dec. 11: “A Brown Bear, A Moon and A Caterpillar: Treasured Stories.” Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia presents this whim-

sical tale drawn from three tales by children’s book author and illustrator Eric Carle. Walton Arts Center, 1 p.m., $8-$16. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Dec. 16: “Holiday Cocktails with Larry Miller.”

The comedian and “Waiting For Guffman” star takes to the stage in a one man show about marriage, children and drinking and how each one leads to the other two. Walton Arts Center, 8 p.m., $16-$26. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Dec. 17-18: Moscow Classical Ballet — “The Nutcracker.” The Moscow Classical Ballet presents the story of Clara, The Mouse King and CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

FAYETTEVILLE EVENTS Sept. 28-Oct. 1: Bikes, Blues & BBQ. 4 p.m.

Dickson and West streets. 479-527-9993. www. bikesbluesandbbq.org.

MUSIC Sept. 23: Cody Canada & the Departed.

Arkansas Music Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., $10. 4201 N. Shiloh Drive. www.arkansasmusicpavilion.com.

Sept. 28: Dave Mason. George’s Majestic Lounge, $30. 519 W. Dickson St. 479-442-4226.

Sept. 29: Candlebox. Arkansas Music Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., $12-$42. 4201 N. Shiloh Drive. www. arkansasmusicpavilion.com.

Sept. 30: Jamey Johnson. Arkansas Music Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., $27-$52. 4201 N. Shiloh Drive. www.arkansasmusicpavilion.com.

Oct. 6: James McMurtry. George’s Majestic Lounge, 8 p.m., $18. 519 W. Dickson St. 479-4424226.

Oct. 26: Galactic. George’s Majestic Lounge, 8 p.m., $24. 519 W. Dickson St. 479-442-4226.

Nov. 1: Munich Symphony. Walton Arts Center, 7 p.m., $39-$55. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Nov. 2: Chris Robinson & The Brotherhood.

George’s Majestic Lounge, 9 p.m., $22. 519 W. Dickson St. 479-442-4226.

Nov. 8: Dr. Dog. George’s Majestic Lounge, 8:30 p.m., $21. 519 W. Dickson St. 479-442-4226.

Dec. 7: Kenny Rogers Christmas and Hits.

Walton Arts Center, 8 p.m., $50-$90. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Dec. 10: Symphony of Northwest Arkansas: Christmas Pops. Walton Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $25-$45. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Dec. 15: Manhattan Transfer Holiday Show.

Walton Arts Center, 7 p.m., $28-$54. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

THEATER Oct. 6: Martha Graham Dance Company.

Walton Arts Center, 7 p.m., $25-$45. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Oct. 13: Step Afrika. Walton Arts Center, 7 p.m., $18-$30. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Oct. 25-29: “West Side Story.” One of the biggest Broadway love stories ever is back, featuring some of the best-loved songs ever, including “America,” “I Feel Pretty,” and more.

Walton Arts Center, Oct. 25-27, 7 p.m.; Oct. 28-29, 8 p.m.; Oct. 29, 2 p.m., $63-$73. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Nov. 5: “Alice in Wonderland” — Théâtre Tout à Trac. French-Canadian troupe’s unique presentation of the classic tale implements masks and puppets. Walton Arts Center, 10 a.m., $8-$16. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Nov. 5: “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Aquila Theatre presents this take on Oscar

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FALL ARTS 2011 CALENDAR, CONT. tale drawn from three tales by children’s book author and illustrator Eric Carle. Walton Arts Center, 1 p.m., $8-$16. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.

Dec. 16: “Holiday Cocktails with Larry Miller.”

The comedian and “Waiting For Guffman” star takes to the stage in a one man show about marriage, children and drinking and how each one leads to the other two. Walton Arts Center, 8 p.m., $16-$26. 495 W. Dickson St. 479-4435600.

Dec. 17-18: Moscow Classical Ballet — “The Nutcracker.” The Moscow Classical Ballet presents the story of Clara, The Mouse King and The Sugar Plum Fairy. Walton Arts Center, Dec. 17-18, 8 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 18, 2 p.m., $32-$46.

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

THEATER Sept. 21-Oct. 2: “Stage Struck.” Arkansas TheatreWorks presents this British murder thriller, which will keep audiences guessing — and laughing — until the very end of the show. Central Theatre, Fri., Sat., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 p.m.; Mon.-Thu., 7:30 p.m., $15-$25. 1008 Central Ave. Sept. 23: The Muses Opera Gala featuring “The Magic Flute.” Wine reception at 3 Arts Cafe in the lobby of the Hale Bathhouse, followed by a stroll to the Arlington Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom for heavy hors d’oeuvres and the performance of Mozart’s last opera.

Arlington Hotel, 6 p.m., $75. 239 Central Ave. 501-463-4514. www.themusesproject.org.

Nov. 5-20: “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” Arkansas TheatreWorks presents the rollicking musical ode to the life of the legendary Fats Waller.

Central Theatre, Fri., Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; Mon.-Thu., 7:30 p.m., $20-$30. 1008 Central Ave. MOUNTAIN VIEW MUSIC Sept. 23: Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen. Ozark Folk Center State Park, 7 p.m., $20. 1032 Park Ave. Sept. 24: Riders in the Sky. Ozark Folk Center

State Park, 7 p.m., $20. 1032 Park Ave. Oct. 22: Big Smith. Ozark Folk Center State Park, 7 p.m., $15. 1032 Park Ave. Nov. 10-12: Annual Fall Bluegrass Festival.

Ozark Folk Center State Park, 1032 Park Ave. OZARK MUSIC Oct. 13: 6th Annual Harvest Music Festival.

Headliners include Yonder Mountain String Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Railroad Earth and more. 12 p.m., $74-$350. 4117 Mulberry Mountain Loop.

PINE BLUFF

FORT SMITH THEATER THROUGH Sept. 24: “The Trip to Bountiful.”

Fort Smith Little Theatre, Wed.-Sun., 8 p.m.; Sept. 18, 2 p.m., $10-$20. 401 N. 6th St. Sept. 29-Oct. 1: “The Guys.” Based on a true story of the firefighters who lost their lives trying to rescue others. Fort Smith Little Theatre, 8 p.m., $5. 401 N. 6th St. Nov. 10-19: “Christmas Belles.” The Futrelle sisters are trying to pull off a perfect Christmas program, but things get Southern crazy with squabbling sisters, family secrets, a surly Santa, a vengeful sheep, and a reluctant Elvis impersonator. Fort Smith Little Theatre, Wed.-Sun., 8 p.m.; Nov. 13, 2 p.m., $10-$20. 401 N. 6th St. Dec. 8-10: “Christmas Potpourri.” A medley of Christmas entertainment. Fort Smith Little Theatre, 8 p.m., $5. 401 N. 6th St. HELENA MUSIC Oct. 6-8: King Biscuit Blues Festival.

Headliners include James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Delbert McClinton, Bobby Rush and Keb’ Mo’.

Downtown Helena, 11 a.m., $30 (three-day pass). Cherry and Main Streets, Helena.

HOT SPRINGS EVENTS Sept. 23-24: Legends Balloon Rally. Includes lots of hot air balloon fun, with performances

by The Charlie Daniels Band Friday night at 7:30 and Three Dog Night Saturday evening at 7:30. Hot Springs National Park Memorial Field Airport, Sept. 23, 5:30 p.m.; Sept. 24, 11:30 a.m. 525 Airport Road. 501-321-2027.

Nov. 26: Arts Blast 2011. Interactive hands-on arts activities for kids 4-18, including painting, drawing, drum making, film-making, music activities and more. Hot Springs Convention Center, 10 a.m., $5. 134 Convention Blvd.

501-321-2027. www.hotsprings.org.

MUSIC Oct. 7-8: Hot Water Hills Music & Arts Festival. Includes more than 24 visual artists, family-friendly activities and games, food, beer and wine and liver music starting at 5 p.m.

Grand Marquis, Big Smith and Ben Nichols play Friday night, and Grand Marquis, The Extraordinaires and Mountain Sprout play Saturday night. Hill Wheatley Plaza, Oct. 7, 3 p.m.; Oct. 8, 11 a.m., $5. Central Avenue downtown. www.hotwaterhills.com.

FILM Oct. 14-23: 20th Annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. Malco Theater, 10 a.m. 817 Central Ave. 501-623-6200.

www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 23

Arts Entertainment AND

After respite, Rwake returns with ‘Rest’ The Little Rock six-piece has crafted one the best metal albums in years.

BY ROBERT BELL

F

or being a relatively small state, Arkansas has an incredible metal scene.

There are literally too many good bands to list, but without a doubt, one of the most prominent is Rwake. The six-piece outfit is signed to one of the biggest metal labels in the world — Relapse Records — and has played on some of metal’s most coveted stages, including European festivals such as Roadburn and Hellfest, and will play at the upcoming Maryland DeathFest.

Rwake’s records have earned rave reviews within metal circles, especially its last album, 2007’s “Voices of Omens.” The band’s latest dirge-filled work is “Rest,” due out Sept. 27.

The album is incredible. It’s a dense, sprawling masterpiece that deftly incorporates elements from across the metal spectrum while managing to sound like no other band.

There are sludgy Southern doom riffs galore, screeching black metal sickness and spiraling dual-guitar harmonies reminiscent of New Wave of British Heavy Metal acts, all woven together into an indelible whole.

Vocalist Chris Terry — known to all as 24 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

CT — handles much of the band’s press. For the last album, that meant talking to every metal zine, website or blog that came calling.

This time, he said, he’s been primarily doing interviews with magazines, including all the usual metal suspects like Terrorizer, but also several European publications “that cover everything from pop to black metal.”

Several weeks back, National Public Radio interviewed CT and posted a track from “Rest.” And numerous websites — including the tastemaker geeks over at Pitchfork — have previewed tracks from the album, usually accompanied with a good degree of salivating over the prospects of a new Rwake album after four long years. So it seems like a pretty safe bet to say that “Rest” could very well be the album that catapults Rwake to an even greater level of popularity.

But don’t expect that to translate into grueling, months-long tours. Most of the band members have day jobs and, more importantly, young’uns, which “changes everything, man,” CT said. “There in the beginning we used to try to be diehard about

it, but we’ve come to a point to where we’ve turned down so many good opportunities for the band that I’m numb to it, you know?” he said, laughing.

While having to turn down opportunities has surely caused some heartburn and grimaces, “I know where we’re at and I know what we’re doing,” he said. “And at the same time, I have the satisfaction of knowing that lots of people want us to do lots of stuff that we don’t do. It’s not like we’re not doing it because we can’t. They want it and we’re not giving it to them.”

That said, “We’re going to figure out ways to go to the coasts, and any time they offer us to go overseas, we’d probably drop everything and figure it out,” he said.

With an album as incredible as “Rest,” the opportunities will no doubt be forthcoming.

The band plays White Water Tavern Sept.

21, then heads out to St. Louis, Chicago and Nashville.

One of Rwake’s main influences is Oakland, Calif., stalwarts Neurosis, whose Black Flag meets Black Sabbath meets Pink Floyd sound has inspired countless devotees.

But the Arkansas band isn’t merely following in Neurosis’ footsteps. Indeed, Rwake has grasped the baton from that band and is racing forward. Perhaps it follows, then, that one description that has often been applied to the band is the term “forward-thinking.”

That’s definitely accurate, but Rwake has proved quite capable of stretching out in more than one direction at once. And although the band incorporates psychedelic and prog rock influences throughout its

work, “Rest” is a capital “M” Metal record, sure to please underground freaks as well as those surface-dwellers who dug Metallica and Slayer back in the day. The latter’s influence is particularly evident toward the end of the third track, “An Invisible Thread,” which has a descending harmonic guitar figure that sounds somewhat like the distant, righteously stoned cousin of the one from “Raining Blood.”

The first track, “Souls of the Sky,” starts off with a trippy sounding acoustic guitar, flute (!) and some beautiful singing from Brittany Fugate, for a moment recalling of Six Organs of Admittance or maybe Bardo Pond. But then comes “It Was Beautiful But Now It’s Sour,” with an apocalyptic, crushing riff followed quickly by — and pardon the French, but there’s just no other way this can be put — a fuckin’-A wicked solo that manages to sound foreboding and soulful all at once. And then CT starts singing backwards. Or his vocal track was played backwards. Either way, it sounds ungodly and awesome. Then there’s singer-keyboardistsample guru Fugate, whose vocals are angelic for those few brief moments of “Souls of the Sky,” but for the bulk of the album sound like a gang of winged demons strafing a hapless victim as he lies helpless in a muddy ditch.

“The Culling” starts with a sample from the 1940s horror radio show Lights Out. A spooky church bell tolls, as the host slowly intones, “it is later than you think.” That’s followed by darkly hypnotic acoustic guitar with overlapping synthesizer and samples of what sound like random outer space noise and feedback. Check out the incredible solos that snake their way into “The Culling” around the 11:20 mark. At that point, the song still has damn near five minutes left to go. Aside from two brief interludes, “Rest” is essentially four songs ranging in length from nine to 16 minutes. It would be tempting to say that ADD listeners need not apply, but the songs on “Rest” are so fluid and everchanging and effortless-seeming that even the shortest of attention spans won’t be taxed.

The final number, “Was Only a Dream,” is a 14-minute monster, highlighted by ferocious interplay between CT’s thunderous bellowing and Fugate’s soulscarring howl, as well as numerous wailing solos and turn-on-a-dime dynamic shifts.

Toward the end, the song seems to fade out with a beautiful acoustic guitar section. But then it morphs back to the massive riffola from whence it began, ending with another creepy sample.

It’s been a long four years for Rwake fans, but “Rest” has proven to be well worth the wait.

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

A&E NEWS TIME’S TICKIN’ for those of you

considering hopping on the Arkansas Times Blues Bus to the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena-West Helena.

Once again, we’re hauling busloads of blues-lovers to the Saturday portion of the festival, and once again, it’s a hell of a bargain, at $99 a person for round-trip transportation, free booze and entertainment on the bus, plus a stopover in DeValls Bluff for barbecue at Craig’s.

The bus leaves Saturday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m. from the parking garage at 2nd and Main streets downtown and returns that evening. The headliner for Saturday night is Keb’ Mo’. Other performers include Marcus “Mookie” Cartwright, Lonnie Shields, Tommy Castro and the Stax Review with Eddie Floyd, Duck Dunn and Steve Cropper, plus many more.

Call 501-375-2985 to order tickets, or send check or money order to: Arkansas Times Blues Bus, Box 34010, Little Rock, AR 72203.

20th Annual Hot Springs JazzFest September 13-18, 2011 Saturday, September 17 “Jazz in the Streets” Free Outdoor Concert

LIVE MUSIC

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 MONTGOMERY TRUCKING

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Free WorkShopS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Discount Ticket Package of $50 for Piano-Rama (Wed) • S’Wonderful (Thur) • Nova NOLA (Fri) 501-767-0211 • www.hotspringsjazzfest.org

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THE ROMANY RYE

CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL SHOWS AT

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

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

FORT SMITH NATIVE BRAD NEELY

is the creator of a new show on the cartoon network’s Adult Swim.

It’s called “China, IL” and it brings together characters from his cult “Neely Comics” series of web videos on the campus of a fictional university. It premieres at 11 p.m. Oct. 2 on Cartoon Network. Neely provides the voices for Frank and Steve Smith (the Professor Brothers) and Babycakes. Indie film star Greta Gerwig voices Steve’s assistant, Pony, and Hulk Hogan provides the voice of the university’s dean.

WALTON ARTS, which purchased the Arkansas Music Pavilion in Fayetteville in February, recently announced a major overhaul of the venue, which will see it move from the middle of a parking lot to a grassy space. The new capacity will be around 6,400, with expanded seating, much of it covered. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2012.

VENTRILOQUIST JEFF DUNHAM,

who Pollstar named the top-grossing comedian in 2009, is bringing a new show called “Controlled Chaos” to Verizon Arena next year. The show’s slated for 8 p.m., Friday, March 9, and tickets, which run $43.50, are available via the Verizon Box Office and Ticketmaster.

Dunham is bringing along several new characters, according to Pollstar.

“Two new characters will be making their Dunham debut. ‘Achmed Junior’ is described as the ‘not-asequally skeletal son of Achmed the Dead Terrorist’ while ‘Little Jeff’ is a mini-version of Dunham himself.”

www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 25

THE TO-DO

LIST

BY ROBERT BELL & LINDSEY MILLAR

WEDNESDAY 9/14

HOT SPRINGS JAZZ FEST

Throughout Hot Springs. Ticket price varies.

The 20th annual Hot Springs Jazz Fest, which kicked off on Tuesday, continues on Wednesday with Piano-Rama in the Arlington Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom (7 p.m., $25 adv., $30 at the door), where local pianists John Puckett, Tony Nardi, Chuck Dodson, Phyllis Emery, Ron Hall and Clyde Pound all perform.

Thursday, Shirly Chauvin sings, with support by Clyde Pound on keyboard, Joe Vick on Bass and Paul Shaw on drums, at Quapaw Baths & Spa (6 p.m., $10). The Air Force Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble performs at Oaklawn Magnet

School (7 p.m., free) on Friday evening.

Saturday is the big ticket event, “Jazz in the Streets,” where the Hot Springs Jazz Society’s Scholarship Jazz Ensemble, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Jazz Band, the Latin band Calle Soul, Henderson State’s Nufusion, local ensemble Anything That Moves, the Fayetteville Jazz Collective and the Air Force Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble all perform under the Sky Bridge on Broadway Street in downtown Hot Springs (11 a.m.-6 p.m., free). Sunday, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church hosts a “Jazz Mass” (10:45 a.m., free) and the Stardust Big Band closes out the festival at Arlington Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom (3 p.m., $8).

LM.

THURSDAY 9/15

‘RING OF FIRE’

8 p.m. Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

We’ve plugged the opening of the jukebox musical “Ring of Fire” in the newly renovated Rep elsewhere in the issue (more on page 14 and 20). But it bears mentioning that before the musical officially opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept.

16, the theater will stage two preview performances. On Wednesday, there’s a Gala Preview, which kicks off with a red carpet reception at 6 p.m.; tickets, which were nearly sold out at press time, are $100. Alternately, those on a budget should consider the preview per-

formance on pay-what-you-can night on Thursday, Sept. 15. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Rep’s box office the day of the performance. Before that performance, at 6:15 p.m., the Times’ Lindsey Millar will serve as a moderator in a discussion about Johnny Cash’s legacy in Arkansas with “Arkansongs” host Stephen Koch and Beth Wiedower of the Arkansas Delta Rural Heritage Development Initiative. On Wednesday, Sept. 21, Millar again serves as a moderator for a panel on Cash in Arkansas that includes Christy Valentine with Arkansas State University and Sonny Burgess and Bobby Crafford of The Legendary Pacers. LM.

THE ROAD GOES ON: Robert Earl Keen returns to Revolution on Friday in support of a new album of songs written while he was touring.

FRIDAY 9/16

ROBERT EARL KEEN

9 p.m. Revolution. $20 adv., $25 d.o.s.

Robert Earl Keen wrote his first 15 albums “like a Buddhist monk standing around in a cubicle,” he said recently. His latest, “Get Ready for the Confetti,” which Lost Highway released in August, came together more like “a truck driver lighting a cigarette in the wind.” Considering how much time the Texas troubadour’s spent on the road in his 30-year career, that’s a bit surprising. Maybe it’s a reflection of some mid-life mellowing from Keen, who’s 55.

A lot of the songs on “Confetti,” especially

the title track, do have a breezy, drivingwith-the-top-down quality. Still, despite the shift in songwriting philosophy, Keen continues to speak to the happy misanthrope in all of us (his greatest hits comp, released several years back, was aptly called “The Party Never Ends: Songs You Know from the Times You Can’t Remember”), with plenty of sly puns, dark narratives and love songs about people who can’t stand still. In other words, you’ll be happy to hear them next to “Amarillo Highway,” “The Road Goes on Forever” and all his other songs you know by heart. Cody Canada and the Departed open. LM.

THURSDAY 9/15

COUGH

8 p.m. Downtown Music Hall. $7.

Back in nineteen eighty-whatever, when St. Vitus was confusing punk rockers and Bobby Liebling was still freebasing in his mom’s basement, hearing a new doom metal band usually meant shelling out some considerable dough for a Witchfinder General import. But over the last couple of decades, the seeds of Black Sabbath have blossomed into thousands of ugly, fetid weeds – sub-genres and sub-sub-genres. Doom metal is now fully its own thing, so much so that it can be difficult to stand out. But Richmond, 26 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

Va., band Cough is one that does. The group traffics in oppressive sludge doom, like a less bluesy Eyehategod, or maybe a scarier Corrupted, but with some classic doom riffage throughout. The band’s 2010 album, “Ritual Abuse,” was produced

by Sanford Parker (who also recorded Rwake’s “Voices of Omens” and “Rest”) and it sounds incredible – the punishingly slow riffs shot through with wave after wave of crashing cymbals and pounding drums and swirling vocals that are split between singing and inhuman black metal shrieking. This band should be sick live.

Opening acts are Black Orchid and Sol Inertia. RB.

UNLIKELY POP QUEEN: Bluegrass/country crossover Alison Krauss brings her band Union Station to Harding University on Friday.

FRIDAY 9/16

ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION 8 p.m. Harding University. $40-$50.

Of all the unlikely yet enduring success stories in pop music, Alison Krauss has to rank up near the top. An angel-voiced child prodigy fiddler who found major success in the early ’90s playing pop-inflected bluegrass? Who went on to figure prominently on the massively popular “Oh Brother,

Where Art Thou?” soundtrack and its resulting tour and concert film? Who then went on to record a collaboration with Robert Plant that sold like a zillion copies to Starbucks customers around the world?

Huh. It’s safe to say nobody saw that one coming. Hell, it’s almost enough to make one not feel so cynical about the soullessness and prefab fakeness of most of the rest of the music industry. This performance includes dobro maestro Jerry Douglas. RB.

IN BRIEF

THURSDAY 9/15

FRIDAY 9/16

ARKANSAS TRAVELERS VS. SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS

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

Friday marks game three of the Texas League Championship Series. Depending on how the Travs fared in San Antonio — where they went 0-6 this season — Fri-

day’s game could be the finale. Or the bestof-five series could continue in North Little Rock on Saturday evening (same time) and even to Sunday at noon. The series is an excuse for local fans to yell longer and enjoy Dickey-Stephens a little while longer in decent weather. But it’s hard to get too worked up over the minor leagues, where players often move up as soon as they

start to experience sustained success. The Travs lost nine consecutive after outfielder Mike Trout, one of the best players in the Texas League, got called up to the Angels in August. Nonetheless, for a good number of Travs’ players, winning the Texas League Championship will be as close as they come to Major League glory. So go Travs. LM.

The Chamber Music Society of Little Rock is hosting The Linden String Quartet, currently the graduate string quartet in residence at Yale School of Music.

The group will perform works by Ravel, Beethoven and Bartok, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 7:30 p.m., $10 for students, $25 for non-students. Montgomery Trucking’s hillbilly-rockabilly hybrid is always a good time, especially at White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., $5.

Mariachi Americas kicks off National Hispanic Heritage Month at UALR at 11 a.m. DJ Salsa Alex will lead salsa dancing lessons at noon and the film “Stand and Deliver” will be screened at 6 p.m.

FRIDAY 9/16 Smooth jazz giant Najee plays at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, with opening act Rodney Block & the Real Music Lovers, 7 p.m., $50-$100. The Good Time Ramblers amble into The Afterthought for C&W-style revelry, 9 p.m., $7.

If you’ve ever wanted to appear in a music video, here’s your chance: The Flameing Daeth Fearies will be filming for its “Zombie Roommates” video at Juanita’s starting around 8 p.m. There will be makeup artists on hand to zombify the audience, but doing your own is encouraged. Se7en Sharp rocks it on out at Fox and Hound, 10 p.m., $5.

SATURDAY 9/17

MINI-TOUR: The Boondogs will debut a few songs from co-lead singer/songwriter Indy Grotto’s forthcoming solo album this weekend at the group’s three gigs.

SATURDAY 9/17

THE BOONDOGS

10 p.m., Browning’s. $5.

Little Rock’s favorite husband-andwife-fronted pop-rock outfit launches a fall tour around Little Rock at 6 p.m. Thursday when they play a preview party of the opening of the new Arkansas Arts Center exhibit “Museum School Faculty: Past and Present.” It’s open only to Arkansas Arts Center members, though those who join at the door get $10 off membership (which ranges

from $30-$80). Friday at 6 p.m., the Boondogs play “Whoop-De-Do,” a fundraiser on the lawn of the Old State House for the museum that includes a pie auction. Tickets are $25 per person or $45 for couples.

Saturday, they play Brownings, the Heights’ favorite new hangout, where owner Steve Davis’ daughter Elise Davis — a standout pop singer/songwriter herself — is regularly booking local music on weekends. On this mini-tour, look for the band to mix old

favorites in with a few songs from co-lead singer/songwriter Indy Grotto’s forthcoming solo album. It’s already generating a lot of buzz locally among those who’ve heard bits and pieces. Longtime Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas, who Tom Waits has called “one of the best drummers alive,” plays drums on it. The album’s currently being mixed, but Grotto’s husband and producer Jason Weinheimer said no release date has been set. LM.

The Romany Rye plays flawless, CSNY-inspired folk-rock at White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. Shannon Boshears will be filming for a documentary in the lounge at Discovery Nightclub, while comedian and actor Geoffrey Ian Bara performs in the theater, 9 p.m., $7 before 11 p.m. Jam-tastic Chicago act Lubriphonic takes to the stage at Stickyz, with openers Zach Williams & The Reformations, 9 p.m., $8. Rockabilly legends Sonny Burgess and The Legendary Pacers play Ward Country Dance on Hwy. 167 up in Lonoke County, 7 p.m., $6. Angry Patrick’s Comedy Bunker hosts Marc Ryan at Juanita’s, 7:30 p.m., $10. The Human Rights Campaign presents “On the Cusp of Equality: Are we at a Tipping Point on LGBT Equality?” at the Arkansas Arts Center, 6 p.m.

SUNDAY 9/18 The River City Men’s Chorus presents “In the Spirit” at Trinity United Methodist Church, 3 p.m. Mike Pinto brings the laid-back frat-reggae jams to Stickyz, with opening act Cas Haley, 8:30 p.m., $8 adv., $10 d.o.s. The 28th Annual Camp Aldersgate Fish Fry includes food, fun and music from Jubilation Jazz and Bob Hayes & Friends, noon, Camp Aldersgate, $10-$15.

www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 27

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

8 p.m.; Sept. 16, 10:30 p.m.; Sept. 17, 7, 9 and 11 p.m., $7-$10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-228-5555. www.loonybincomedy. com.

EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 14

MUSIC

20th Annual Hot Springs JazzFest. The weeklong festival kicks off Tuesday night with a concert at The Arlington Hotel’s Conference Center and wraps up Sunday night at the hotel’s Crystal Ballroom. Venues and ticket prices vary. Arlington Hotel, through Sept.

18, 6 p.m. 239 Central Ave., Hot Springs.

501-767-0211. www.hotspringsjazzfest.org.

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

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

521 Center St. 501-374-4495.

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

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

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

Burning Tree. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $5. 107 Commerce St. 501-3727707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

Gil Franklin & Friends. Holiday Inn, North Little Rock, 7 p.m., free. 120 W. Pershing Blvd., NLR. Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 5 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www. capitalhotel.com/CBG.

COMEDY

Adam Hunter. The Loony Bin, 8 p.m.; Sept.

16, 10:30 p.m.; Sept. 17, 7, 9 and 11 p.m., $7-$10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road.

501-228-5555. www.loonybincomedy.com.

EVENTS

Garland County Fair. Garland County Fairgrounds, through Sept. 17, 9 a.m., $1.

Higdon Ferry Road, off the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway, Hot Springs. garlandcountyfair.net.

FILM

“Handmade Puppet Dreams.” Heather Henson, artist and puppeteer and the daughter of the late Jim Henson, will present four volumes of puppet films, including marionettes, paper cutouts, finger puppets and more. University of Central Arkansas, through Sept. 15, 7 p.m., free. 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway. www.uca.edu.

YUCKS A-PLENTY: That’s what comic Rickey Smiley promises on Friday when he performs at Robinson Center Music Hall at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $40 to $50. Look for Smiley, famous as the host of a syndicated morning radio show (heard in Little Rock on 101.1 FM), to do all of his popular characters, including granny Bernice Jenkins and redneck Beauford.

501-372-4000. www.arkarts.com.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 15

MUSIC

20th Annual Hot Springs JazzFest. See Sept.

14.

“BLISS.” Music by DJ Greyhound. Deep Ultra Lounge, 10 p.m. 322 President Clinton Ave. Brian Nahlen. Markham Street Grill And Pub, 9 p.m., free. 11321 W. Markham St. 501-2242010. www.markhamst.com.

Chris DeClerk. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., free.

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

Cough, Black Orchid, Sol Inertia. Downtown Music Hall, 8 p.m., $7. 211 W. Capitol.

501-376-1819. downtownshows.homestead. com.

Crisis (headliner), Brian Ramsey (happy hour).

Cajun’s Wharf, 5 and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m.

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

Grim Muzik presents Way Back Wednesdays.

Cornerstone Pub & Grill, through Sept. 28: 8:30 p.m. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub.com.

Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, through Sept. 15, 7 p.m.; 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywil-

liamssteakroom.com.

Linden String Quartet. Presented by the Chamber Music Society of Little Rock. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 7:30 p.m., $10 students, $25 non-students, $75 season tickets. 1000 N. Mississippi Ave. www.chambermusiclr.com.

Montgomery Trucking. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. 2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www. whitewatertavern.com.

Nocturnal. Juanita’s, Sept. 15, 9 p.m.; Sept.

29, 9 p.m., $5. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

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

14710 Cantrell Road. 501-379-8189. www. thirst-n-howl.com.

“ONE.” DJs play pop, electro, house and more, plus drink specials and $1 cover before 11 p.m. Sway, 9 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501-9072582.

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

9611 MacArthur Drive, NLR. 771-2994.

Robert Ellis. Maxine’s, 8 p.m. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

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

COMEDY

Adam Hunter. The Loony Bin, through Sept. 16,

Voted Hot Springs’ Best New Restaurant serving Fine Cuisine From Around The Globe bleu monkey shrimp

maui salad

LECTURES

Jamie Naughton. The “speaker of the house” for Zappos will discuss the online retailer’s business and corporate philosophy. Clinton School of Public Service, 12 p.m., free. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 501-683-5239. www. clintonschool.uasys.edu.

POETRY

Rock Town Slam. Arkansas Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $5 entry, $10 poet entry. 501 E. 9th St.

28 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

(501) 520-4800 4263 Central ave. Hot SpringS

bleumonkeygrill.com

3rd Arkansas GRAND Rally. This rally for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Arkansas is sponsored by Arkansas Voices for the Children Left Behind, a statewide nonprofit that has served grandparent and relative caregivers for more than 15 years.

State Capitol, noon. 425 W. Capitol Ave. 501-324-8900. arkleg.state.ar.us.

Garland County Fair. Garland County Fairgrounds, through Sept. 17, 9 a.m., $1.

Higdon Ferry Road, off the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway, Hot Springs. garlandcountyfair. net.

Kickoff to Men’s Health. Free prostate screenings for men 40 and older of African-American descent or a family history of prostate cancer and men 50 and older. Arkansas Urology, 5 p.m., free. 1300 Centerview Drive. 877-3218452. www.arkansasurology.com.

National Hispanic Heritage Month Kick Off Day. The band Mariachi Americas will perform at the Donaghey Student Center at 11 a.m. DJ Salsa Alex will provide salsa dancing lessons at noon and the film “Stand & Deliver” will be screened at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served prior to the film. UALR, 11 a.m. 2801 S. University Ave. 501-569-8977.

“Pub Science.” Enjoy food, drinks and knowledge, with a presentation about Chinese medicine from Dr. Martin Eisele of Evergreen Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Boscos, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-9071881. www.boscosbeer.com/littlerock/story/ index.htm.

FILM

“Handmade Puppet Dreams.” See Sept. 14.

LECTURES

Dishongh Distinguished Lecture: Delphine Hirasuna. The author of “The Art of Gaman” will discuss the artwork created by Japanese Americans in camps during World War II. Main Library, 6:30 p.m. 100 S. Rock St. www.cals. lib.ar.us.

BENEFITS

4th Annual Dancing With Our Stars. This event benefits the Arkansas chapter of The Children’s Tumor Foundation. Chenal Country Club, 6:30 p.m., $100. 10 Chenal Club Blvd.

501-920-5588.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 16

MUSIC

20th Annual Hot Springs JazzFest. See Sept.

14.

The Alexei, Belair, Confused Little Girl, Every Knee Shall Bow, Swamp Sitters, Dylan the Astronaut. Vino’s, 7:30 p.m., $5. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.

Alison Krauss & Union Station. Harding University, 8 p.m., $40-$50. 900 E. Center Ave., Searcy. 501-279-4106.

Arkansas River Blues Society Jam. Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 8 p.m., $5. 314 Main St., NLR. 501-374-1782. cstonepub.com.

Arkansas State Fiddle Championship. Ozark Folk Center State Park, Sept. 16, 3:45 p.m.;

PEARLS ABOUT SWINE

Concerns real and imagined

BY BEAU WILCOX

A

Poet

Camille Dungy will share her

conservation-themed poetry Tuesday, September 20, at 6:30 p.m.

Main Library’s Darragh Center 100 Rock Street Dungy will autograph copies of her book, which will be available for purchase at the event. The session is free, but registration is requested. RSVP to mmurray@cals.org or 918-3032.

The Poetry in Zoos program is part of “The Language of Conservation” grant sponsored by Poets House and funded by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

30 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

www.cals.org

couple of short weeks ago in this space, I cited the unnatural calm that has taken hold of Arkansas Razorback fans* in the Petrino era.

Panic has not taken a sudden foothold, but after vigorously dispatching two softballs by an aggregate 103-10 tally, the Hogs have several alleged “concerns” if you derive even a sliver of credibility from talk radio callers or message board posters.

Oh, that running game. The Wingo kid dances around! Dennis Johnson’s hurt or in the doghouse! Joe Adams is gonna get kilt if he lines up as a tailback!

Greg Childs has done a D.B. Cooper.

No sacks against New Mexico — and an injury of unknown extent to Jake Bequette — means our pass rush is malfunctioning.

And that disturbing minus two in the turnover department against the Lobos, as well as several penalties of the inexcusable variety, means we are going to get torched in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 24. Because, after all, Nick Saban preys on the foe’s missteps.

What wailing and gnashing there is should be expected from the masochist wing of the fanbase. The microscope is tuned much more acutely now that Arkansas has tasted BCS; ergo, any blemish right now could fester into an abscess later if not treated. Even after the Hogs’ 10-3 campaign, it was nigh impossible to reflect on the season without giving lip service to Mallett’s ill-advised throws against the Tide, the fateful replay reviews on the Plains and the “scoop and score” in New Orleans that regrettably never came to pass.

During games, I am as bankrupt of perspective on these issues as anyone. One tends to get so emotionally invested (or maybe so drunk) while watching the proceedings that the albatross of oppressive worry sticks around for a day or so after the game. This is, incidentally, why I pen this column on Monday so I can feign levelheadedness.

In assessing these common gripes, I would say two are very real issues as we wrap up our de facto exhibition schedule against Troy on Saturday.

Childs’ vanishing act is bothersome because there were moments Saturday that he appeared frustrated at best, disillusioned at worst. Whether lingering effects of the patella injury are dampening his production is conjecture. My observation, rather, is that Cobi Hamilton’s emergence (three 100-yard games and seven

touchdowns in the seven games since Childs’ injury) has simply mitigated the need for Childs to be targeted 10-12 times per game. The staff is trying to ease Childs back into action but it may be his psyche rather than his knee that is in greater jeopardy.

As Willy Robinson noted post-game, the lack of sacks was due to New Mexico slogging its way into manageable downand-distance situations and thereby discouraging a lot of heavy blitzing. This merits attention because it’s exactly how Alabama suppresses its opponents.

On the other hand, the running game quibbles are misplaced. There will be no workhorse back this year, but with two ambulatory quarterbacks and four able runners in tow, rushing production should generally be as it was a year ago.

Troy represents another incrementally better opponent. Being the “class of the Sun Belt” could be considered damnation by faint praise, I suppose, but Larry Blakeney is a competent coach who is unafraid to have his team show more wrinkles than the Hogs’ first two victims did.

What will Petrino and Garrick McGee put on display, then? (Other than McGee’s unnerving mustache, I mean.) Recent history apprises us of Petrino’s choke-hold on the playbook, which will loosen when circumstances dictate more creativity. That’s understandable, even commendable, but even when we ambushed high-quality opponents last year with bravado the dividend was sometimes marginal. The wheel route from Ryan Mallett to Wingo last year against Alabama certainly was gorgeous but ensuing momentum was fleeting. Shooting the moon on the opening play of the Sugar Bowl was bold, but when Adams let the potential 80-yarder glance off his fingers, it had a deflating effect we didn’t truly shake until the third quarter.

There should be no risky business Saturday but this must be a game where Childs reclaims his place as a reliable possession receiver, and the defense must cause more disruption. Again, absent those happening, the results likely will not be any less lopsided; nonetheless, a few modest but perceptible upticks going into the most important game of the season would temper some of that nagging cynicism. * Columnist’s Note: I flatly refuse to employ the phrase “Hog Nation” or any of its variants in print or in conversation.

AFTER DARK, CONT. Walker Tribute Award for their longtime support of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Statehouse Convention Center, 6 p.m., $500. 7 Statehouse Plaza. 501-526-2277.

Wine Reserve Dinner. Includes a five-course meal with wine pairings. Proceeds benefit Wildwood Park’s educational programming.

Governor’s Mansion, 6:30 p.m., $150. 1800 Center St. 501-821-7275.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 17

MUSIC

20th Annual Hot Springs JazzFest. See Sept.

14.

Arkansas State Fiddle Championship. Ozark Folk Center State Park, 10:30 a.m., $6-$17.50.

1032 Park Ave., Mountain View.

Diamond State Chorus presents “I Believe in Music.” Argenta Community Theater, 2 and 7 p.m., $12.50-$15. 405 Main St., NLR. 501-7917464. www.diamondstatechorus.com.

Eclipse The Echo. Fox And Hound, 10 p.m., $5.

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

Elise Davis. Dugan’s Pub, 8:30 p.m., Free. 403 E. 3rd St. 501-244-0542. www.duganspublr. com.

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

“Inferno” with DJs SilkySlim, Deja Blu, Greyhound. Sway, 10 p.m. 412 Louisiana.

501-907-2582.

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

Lubriphonic, Zach Williams & The Reformations. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $8. 107 Commerce St. 501-3727707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

Ramona & The Sould Rhythms (headliner), Lyle Dudley (happy hour), DJ g-force (between sets). Cajun’s Wharf, 5 and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road.

501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

The Romany Rye. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. 2500 W. 7th. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com.

Shannon Boshears. Discovery Nightclub, 11 p.m., $12. 1021 Jessie Road. 501-664-4784. www.latenightdisco.com.

Sol Definition. Markham Street Grill And Pub, 9 p.m., free. 11321 W. Markham St. 501-2242010. www.markhamst.com.

Sonny Burgess and the Legendary Pacers.

Ward Country Dance, 7 p.m., $6. Hwy. 319 and Hickory Street, Ward.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www. capitalhotel.com/CBG. Tragikly White. Denton’s Trotline, 9 p.m. 2150 Congo Road, Benton. 501-315-1717.

Troy. Flying Saucer, 8:30 p.m., $3. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-7468. www.beerknurd. com/stores/littlerock.

Velvet Kente. Maxine’s, 8 p.m., $5. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub.com.

VJ g-force. Discovery Nightclub, 9 p.m. 1021 Jessie Road. 501-664-4784. www.latenightdisco.com.

COMEDY

Adam Hunter. The Loony Bin, 7, 9 and 11 p.m., $7-$10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road.

501-228-5555. www.loonybincomedy.com.

Angry Patrick’s Comedy Bunker: Marc Ryan.

Juanita’s, 7:30 p.m., $10. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas. com.

EVENTS

21st Annual Polish Karnawal Festival. See Sept. 16.

8th Annual Arkansas Peace & Justice Heroes Award. Presented by the Omni Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 5:30 p.m., $25. 224 N. East St., Fayetteville. www.omnicenter.org.

Andrew Harvey. See Sept. 16.

Arkansas Farmers Market. Locally grown produce. Certified Farmers Market, 7 a.m.-12 p.m. 6th and Main, NLR. Family Day Conway 2011. Parade for children dressed as their favorite PBS Kids characters and other kids’ events. AETN Atrium, 10 a.m.

350 S. Donaghey, Conway. 501-682-4131.

Farmer’s Market. River Market Pavilions, through Oct. 31: 7 a.m. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info.

Garland County Fair. Garland County Fairgrounds, 9 a.m., $1. Higdon Ferry Road, off the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway, Hot Springs. garlandcountyfair.net.

Hillcrest Farmers Market. Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 7 a.m. 2200 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Human Rights Campaign Bus Tour. Main Library, 10 a.m. 100 S. Rock St. www.cals.lib. ar.us.

Kingwood Big Block Party. Includes games, dancing, music from Justin Bank & Friends and food vendors Hot Dog Mike, The Food Truck of Little Rock and Hunka Pie. Kingwood, 1 p.m., free. Durwood Road and Pine Valley Road. 501-291-2562. www.knalr.org.

“On the Cusp of Equality: Are we at a Tipping Point on LGBT Equality?.” Join Human Rights Campaign to learn about the state of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement. Arkansas Arts Center, 6 p.m. 501 E. 9th St. 501-372-4000. www.arkarts.com.

Pop Wagner, Glenn Ohriln. The cowboy poet, musician and rope-trick master has appeared frequently on A Prairie Home Companion and will perform with special guest Glenn Ohrlin.

Ozarka College, Mountain View, 7 p.m., $5.

1800 Ozarka College Drive, Mountain View.

870-269-8397. www.arkansascraftschool.org.

“So Many Open Houses.” See Sept. 16.

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FILM

Handmade Puppet Dreams Children’s Program. Heather Henson, artist and puppeteer and the daughter of the late Jim Henson, presents this collection of puppetry for kids.

Faulkner County Library, 11:30 a.m., free. 1900 Tyler St., Conway. 501-327-7482. www.fcl.org.

SPORTS

Arkansas Banshees Women’s Tackle Football tryouts. MacArthur Park, Sept. 17, 2 p.m.; Sept. 24, 2 p.m.; Oct. 1, 2 p.m., $25. 503 East Ninth Street. 501-270-1469.

Arkansas Travelers vs. San Antonio Missions (if necessary). Dickey-Stephens Park, Sept.

17-18, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs.com.

Central Arkansas Roller Derby vs. Northwest Arkansas Roller Derby. Includes a halftime show by Operative A and a Star Wars costume contest. Portions of the proceeds go to Families Are Special Inc. Skate World, 7 p.m., $10, free for kids 10 and younger. 6512 Mabelvale Cut Off. 501-758-9269. www. littlerockrollerderby.com.

Rocky Horror Derby Show. Girls Rollin’ in the South Roller Derby presents the Breakneck Brawlers taking on the Mo-Kan Roller Girlz of Joplin, Mo. Skate World LLC, 4:30 p.m., $6 with military ID, $8. 521 N. J.P. Wright Loop Road, Jacksonville. 501-982-1662. www.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

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MOVIE LISTINGS

SEPT. 16-17

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SARAH’S KEY PG13 1:45 4:20 6:45 9:15 Kristin Scott Thomas, Melusine Mayance, Niels Arestrup MIDNIGHT IN PARIS PG13 1:45 4:00 7:00 9:15 Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates Directed by Woody Allen

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ARTFUL CHASE SCENE: Ryan Gosling plays a stuntman/getaway driver who finds himself on the wrong side of a bunch of gangsters in “Drive.”

Showtimes for Chenal 9, Lakewood 8, Riverdale and Movies 10 were not available by press deadline. Market Street Cinema showtimes at or after 9 p.m. are for Friday and Saturday only. Visit arktimes.com for complete listings.

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FitNess 32 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

NEW MOVIES Drive (R) – Ryan Gosling is a stuntman by day, getaway driver by night, but then his life becomes complicated when he falls in love.

Rave: 11:15 a.m., 2:00, 3:00, 4:45, 7:30, 8:00, 10:15. Breckenridge: 1:40, 4:35, 7:40, 9:55.

I Don’t Know How She Does It (PG-13) — “Sex in the City” gets married and has kids and this movie is probably every bit as numbingly dull as watching the gravy congeal on a microwave Salisbury steak. Rave: 11:45 a.m., 2:15, 4:40, 7:15, 9:45. Breckenridge: 1:45, 4:45, 7:45, 10:05.

The Lion King 3D (G) – It’s The Lion King in 3D, but also in 2D. Rave: 11:40 a.m., 7:00 (2D), 10:45 a.m., 2:05, 4:30, 9:15 (3D). Breckenridge: 1:30 (2D), 4:30, 7:30, 9:40 (3D).

Point Blank (NR) – A male nurse must battle gangsters and crooked cops in order to save his pregnant wife, who has been kidnapped.

Market Street: 2:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:00.

Straw Dogs (R) – Seriously, why with the unending remakes, reboots, rehashes and do-overs? And a Sam Peckinpah flick at that?

There have got to be some great, unmade scripts out there, right? Rave: 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:20, 3:15, 5:00, 5:55, 7:45, 8:45, 10:30, 11:30.

Breckenridge: 1:25, 4:25, 7:25, 10:15.

Tabloid (NR) – This Errol Morris documentary follows the saga of former Miss Wyoming Joyce McKinney, whose tabloid exploits in the ’70s scandalized the normally scandal-averse British public. Market Street: 2:15, 4:15, 6:45, 9:00.

RETURNING THIS WEEK Apollo 18 (PG-13) – “The Blair Witch Project” goes to the moon. Rave: 11:25 p.m.

Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (R) – Looks like Nick Swardson will assume the role of idiot man-child muse for Happy Madison magnate Adam Sandler. This piece of crap has earned a 0 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Check it out, it opened last week and Rave only has one showing. Rave: Noon.

Captain America: The First Avenger (PG-13) – The Marvel Comics patriotic superhero defends American values from the forces of something or other; starring Chris Evans and Tommy Lee Jones. Rave: 11:40 p.m.

Colombiana (PG-13) – A Colombian girl witnesses the murder of her parents and grows up to become a killer herself, as a hired assassin working for her uncle’s criminal enterprise. Rave: 11:05 a.m., 1:45, 4:35, 7:25, 10:00.

Breckenridge: 1:10, 4:15, 7:01, 9:50.

Contagion (R) – Matt Damon, Kate Winslett, Laurence Fishburn, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hawkes and Marion Cotillard star in Steven Soderbergh’s movie about a virus that kills everybody. Well not everybody, but you get the idea. Rave: 10:30 a.m., 11:25 a.m., 1:10, 2:01, 3:50, 4:50, 6:40, 7:35, 9:20, 10:20. Breckenridge: 1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 9:35.

The Debt (R) – Two retired Mossad secret agents learn a dark secret about their former colleague and the mission they undertook back in the 1960s. With Helen Mirren.

Rave: 10:55 a.m., 1:40, 4:25, 7:50, 10:50.

Breckenridge: 1:05, 3:45 (open-captioned), 6:45, 9:40.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (R) – If you hear sinister voices begging to be released from the basement of your creepy Gothic mansion, probably don’t open the door to find out what’s in there. Rave: 12:25, 5:50, 11:05.

Final Destination 5 3D (R) — The fight for teenagers’ precious, precious disposable income continues. Rave: 6:30, 8:55, 11:20.

The Guard (R) – Brendan Gleeson plays an Irish policeman who must team up with an FBI agent played by Don Cheadle in this comedy.

Market Street: 2:00, 4:15, 7:15, 9:15.

The Help (PG-13) — Emma Stone and Viola Davis star in this adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s novel about the African-American maids who work in white households in 1960s Mississippi. Rave: 10:40 a.m., 12:20, 1:25, 3:45, 5:10, 7:05, 8:25, 10:35. Breckenridge: 12:50, 3:50, 6:50, 9:50.

Midnight in Paris (PG-13) — Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams hang out with literary heavyweights of the 1920s in Paris. Market Street: 1:45, 4:00, 7:00, 9:15.

One Day (PG-13) – Life and love have a funny way of working out when you’re incredibly attractive and also when it’s just a movie, and

not actually real life. Breckenridge: 1:20, 3:50, 6:40, 9:30.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (PG-13) — The resurrected ’70s sci-fi franchise continues in this origin story of just how those primates got to be so smart. Rave: 12:10, 2:45, 5:25, 8:05, 10:45. Breckenridge: 1:15, 3:40, 7:15, 10:10.

Seven Days in Utopia (G) – After a talented young golfer blows his first big shot, he learns the true meaning of life from an eccentric Texas rancher who bears a striking resemblance to Robert Duvall. Rave: 11:00 a.m., 1:55, 4:20, 7:40, 10:05.

Shark Night 3D (PG-13) – A “salt-water lake” in Louisiana? That just happens to be filled with sharks? Sure, Hollywood. Whatever you say.

Rave: 2:40, 5:15, 7:55, 10:25. Breckenridge: 7:35, 9:45.

Sarah’s Key (PG-13) – An American journalist stumbles upon a family secret while researching a notorious Nazi roundup of Jews in Paris. Market Street: 1:45, 4:20, 6:45, 9:15.

Spy Kids: All The Time In The World 3D (PG) – Jessica Alba and Jeremy Piven – a.k.a. The Pivert – star in this family friendly romp about … wait, what? This was directed by Robert Rodriguez? Seriously? God, his alimony payments must be crippling. Rave: 1:15, 4:00.

Breckenridge: 1:35, 4:40.

Warrior (PG-13) – What could be more inspirational than the story of a schoolteacher who has to go back to beating the crap out of dudes for money because the economy sucks? Rave: 10:20 a.m., 12:35, 1:35, 4:05, 4:55, 7:20, 8:10, 10:40. Breckenridge: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00.

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

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

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

Lakewood 8: 2939 Lakewood Village Drive, 758-5354, www.fandango.com.

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

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

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

MOVIE REVIEW

Culture Shock: The ’80s

‘CONTAGION’: Matt Damon stars.

When germs attack ‘Contagion’ plausible, scary.

BY SAM EIFLING

S

tumbling out of the end credits of “Contagion,” the engrossing medical thriller out now, you may feel like audiences did 40 years ago when they left the spookily calm ending of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” and noticed just how many birds were outside.

The director Steven Soderbergh’s vision of an epic viral outbreak — think H1N1 squared — resonates in the same vein of quotidian danger. The fast-moving virus, which kills its human host after just a few days of brutal flu, passes from person to person via innocuous contact: shaking someone’s hand, handling a used martini glass, touching a door. Soap and hot water never felt so good after a movie.

The prime carrier for this carnage is a vivacious executive (Gwyneth Paltrow) who brings the bug back to Minneapolis after a trip to Hong Kong. As deaths crop up around the world, it isn’t long before a conspiracy-minded blogger (Jude Law) is trying to peddle the story of the mystery flu, and the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization are scrambling to gather data, and to develop treatments and vaccines. Laurence Fishburne puts his generally stiff and stentorian delivery to good use as a CDC administrator trying to stay in front of the outbreak; Marion Cotillard plays his top researcher; and Kate Winslet sallies into the epidemic in Minnesota to gather data and to tell people to stop touching their faces so much. (See, you’re doing it even now! This is how germs are spread, you know.) Matt Damon plays the husband — eep, make that widower to Paltrow’s patient zero.

This being a Soderbergh pic, you’re in for a pulsing soundtrack thick with elec-

tronic percussion and light-industrial synth, along with a lot of quick cuts, and a heavy hand on the color-corrections in post-production. But don’t worry: It all flows, and the strength of “Contagion” is that it doesn’t indulge in any of the supposed crowd-pleasing tropes of the disaster genre. This vision of doomsday isn’t much for car chases or shootouts or CGI or sappiness. The selfless daughter who sticks with Damon’s grieving husband, for instance, soon thinks of him as an overprotective pain. Far from “28 Days” or “The Stand,” it doesn’t imagine the total collapse of government and society (or the rise of quasi-zombieism). Rather, the virus in “Contagion” is merely bad enough to pause the world economy, close schools, ground flights, enrage nurses’ unions, keep police at home, touch off looting and food riots and require mass graves. Upending a parade of pandemic flicks that leave no misfortune unimagined, “Contagion” displays restraint, and thereby stakes claim to that most frightening dimension: relative plausibility.

The timing of the release, coinciding as it did with the dirge of 9/11 anniversary coverage, cannot have been accidental. “Contagion” makes comparisons, in the midst of the epidemic, to the influenza outbreak of 1918 that killed 1 percent of the world population, and although it never puts a hard number on the death toll for its imagined virus, it might be somewhere in the low hundreds of millions. Next to this scenario, an attack that kills 3,000 is scarcely a rounding error. But flu has killed between 3,000 and 50,000 people in the United States every year for the past three decades. Never forget to wash your hands.

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www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 33

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34 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

The media cover one of their own Local celebrity angle trumps all.

BY GERARD MATTHEWS

L

ast Tuesday news broke that a young man named Dexter Paul Williams had been found dead at a house in Maumelle. According to a police report, the owner of the house, Christopher Barbour, said Williams and TV meteorologist Brett Cummins came over to his home the previous Sunday night for a party. On Monday morning, Williams was found dead in Barbour’s tub. Barbour and Cummins were questioned by police who arrived on the scene.

The story was quickly posted on our own Arkansas Blog, along with all the details provided in the police report. Other media outlets also had the story up quickly as news started to travel through Twitter and Facebook.

Cummins was not the central figure of this story. A young man had died. Cummins was in the unfortunate position of being present when Williams’s body was discovered and was questioned as part of a routine police investigation. But there’s no question that Cummins’ involvement elevated the story to a level of newsworthiness it might not have otherwise reached. The real question is whether this situation gets covered at all without Cummins’ involvement. Who knows? Local news directors have said they would have run the story anyway.

Kelly McBride is a former journalist who now teaches at the Poynter Institute, a non-profit organization “dedicated to making journalism better,” as she once wrote.

McBride says in most local television markets around the country, the weather man is like a celebrity.

“You’re much more interested in the meteorologist or the school superintendent or the president of the hospital or the politician than you are somebody whose name you don’t recognize,” she says.

In this case, how prominently Cummins should or should not have been featured in the coverage is up to each news organization, McBride says.

“That’s what editors are for. Because at a certain point, someone in your news organization is saying, ‘Here’s how the audience is going to receive this information and here’s what the audience is interested in.’ I suspect you’d be covering this event if it was a mailman that was involved in it. But the fact that it’s a recognizable name heightens the interest.”

Randy Dixon has been around the news business for years. Until he left KATV

Channel 7 back in February, Dixon worked at the station for 31 years and served as news director for the last 10. He says it can be tricky when news organizations have to cover stories involving other media personalities.

“The deaths of Anne Pressly and Paul Eells made international news,” Dixon says.

“I would often think, ‘Are we covering this too much? Do we need to back off? Are we too close to this?’ We were very careful to not overplay something because we were too close to it, or underplay something because we were too close to it.”

Some might wonder if the attention given to local media personalities is warranted. Dixon says, for better or for worse, on-camera news reporters, and others with “grocery-store recognition” are considered public figures.

Tommy Smith probably gets recognized at the grocery store. He has been the host of the “The Show with No Name” on 103.7 The Buzz since 2004. In May of this year, Smith was arrested and booked on several charges, including failure to stop after a traffic accident, driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to a chemical test and drinking in public. It was big news and Smith got a lot of attention, but it probably would not have been a story if it happened to John Q. Public. Smith says he initially thought the media coverage was a little much.

“Due to the fact that I’ve been on the radio around here for 20 years, I knew everybody at every station,” Smith says. “When my situation hit, they were at my front door, they were on the phone, they wanted information. I resented that at first, then I got to thinking, ‘Hey, they’re just doing their job.’

And that was it. They got the information they wanted from me and they have truly not been a pest. I was forthcoming. I told them I was going away to Betty Ford for treatment and that I would undergo treatment for the next six months.”

Smith says he doesn’t know anything about the Cummins story other than, “It’s a mess and I feel sorry for him.” He says in his situation the media scrutiny actually helped him come clean and get better and no enemies were made in the process.

“When you put yourself in a position like I’m in, when good things happen they’re pretty good, but when bad things happen, you’ve had your chance, you screwed it up,” Smith says.

AFTER DARK, CONT. gritsrollerderby.com.

BENEFITS

3rd Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Ride.

2-Wheel Cruisers presents this motorcycle ride to promote prostate cancer awareness.

Landers Harley-Davidson, 10 a.m. 10210 Interstate 30. 501-353-9202. www.2wclr.com.

Beyond Boundaries fundraiser. Enjoy food, live music and a silent auction to benefit this equestrian therapy program for disabled children in Arkansas. River Market Pavilions, 7 p.m. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.beyondboundariesar.com.

Whoop-De-Do. Bid on pies in a silent auction, while enjoying appetizers and beverages and music from The Boondogs. Proceeds benefit the Old State House Museum. Old State House Museum, 6 p.m., $25 person, $45 couple. 500 Clinton Ave. 501-324-9685. www.oldstatehouse.com.

CLASSES

Acting for Adults. Liz Parker, veteran actress and director for Conway Community Arts, will tutor participants in techniques for use in cold readings, monologues, scenes, and musical theatre selections in a stress -free, easy atmosphere. Lantern Theatre, Sept. 17, 1 p.m.; Sept. 24, 1 p.m., $40. 1021 Van Ronkle, Conway. 501-450-6247. www.conwayarts.org/ index.html.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 18

MUSIC

20th Annual Hot Springs JazzFest. See Sept.

14.

Bluegrass Festival. Bluegrass jamming all week, plus professional bands Friday and Saturday night for $12. Camping is $10 a night. Cypress Creek Park, Sept. 18-24, 1 p.m. Cypress Creek Avenue, Adona. 501-662-4918.

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

“Magic Flute” cocktail concert. Features opera “appetizers” by eight singers as part of The Muses Creative Artistry Project. Garvan Woodland Gardens, 3 p.m., $25. 550 Akridge Road, Hot Springs. 501-463-4514. www. garvangardens.org.

Mike Pinto, Cas Haley. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 8:30 p.m., $8 adv., $10 d.o.s.

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

River City Men’s Chorus: “In the Spirit.” Trinity United Methodist Church, Sept. 18, 3 p.m.; Sept. 19, 7 p.m.; Sept. 22, 7 p.m. 1101 North Mississippi St. 501-377-1080. www.rivercitymenschorus.com/.

Stardust Big Band. Arlington Hotel, 3 p.m. 239 Central Ave., Hot Springs. 501-623-7771.

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

EVENTS

28th Annual Camp Aldersgate Fish Fry. This benefit for Camp Aldersgate includes music from Jubilation Jazz and Bob Hayes & Friends Camp Aldersgate, 12 p.m., $10-$15.

2000 Aldersgate Road. 501-225-1444. www. campaldersgate.net.

Andrew Harvey. See Sept. 16.

Little Rock Orchid Society Auction. Second Presbyterian Church, 2 p.m., free. 600 Pleasant Valley Drive. 501-920-1105.

POETRY

Salvation Army 115th Anniversary Block

Party. The Salvation Army, 4 p.m. 1111 W. Markham St.

SPORTS

Arkansas Travelers vs. San Antonio Missions (if necessary). Dickey-Stephens Park, 7:10 p.m., $6-$12. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs.com.

MONDAY, SEPT. 19

MUSIC

10 Years, Ancient Device, Blind Mary.

Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $15 adv., $17 door. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www. juanitas.com.

Bluegrass Festival. See Sept. 18.

“Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness.”

This documentary follows community leaders in Patchogue, N.Y., who take action after anti-immigrant violence culminates with the murder of an Ecuadorian immigrant.

Clinton School of Public Service, 6 p.m. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 501-683-5239. www. clintonschool.uasys.edu.

River City Men’s Chorus: “In the Spirit.”

Trinity United Methodist Church, Sept. 19, 7 p.m.; Sept. 22, 7 p.m. 1101 North Mississippi St. 501-377-1080. www.rivercitymenschorus. com.

LECTURES

Erin Brockovich. Reynolds Performance Hall, University of Central Arkansas, 7:30 p.m., $23-$40. 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway.

Preservation Conversations: Arkansas Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits. Tom Marr with Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will discuss the benefits of Arkansas Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits Curran Hall, 5 p.m., Free. 615 E. Capitol. 501-3703290.

ROAD TO EQUALITY

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Little Rock Zoo $20 per person

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1815 KAVANAUGH BLVD. LITTLE ROCK

Please join Boswell Mourot Fine Art and the Human Rights Campaign for an evening of great conversation, music, hors d’oeuvres and wine, amidst the gallery’s lovely artwork.

Last year’s event was a sell-out success! Get your tickets now at

LittleRockZoo.com/brew or call (501) 661-7208 *No one under 21-years-old admitted.

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SPORTS

Committee for the Future Golf Classic. Fourperson scramble benefits Committee for the Future, which supports Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Eagle Hill Golf & Athletic Club, 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., $550. 3A Eagle Hill Court. 501-364-1476. www.eaglehillgolfac. com.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 20

MUSIC

The Apache Relay, Adam Faucett & The Tall Grass, This Holy House. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $7. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyfingerz.com.

Bluegrass Festival. See Sept. 18.

Brian Martin. Maxine’s, 8 p.m., Free. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs. maxinespub. com.

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

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

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

Tuesday Jam Session with Carl Mouton. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar. com.

DANCE

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

EVENTS

Farmer’s Market. River Market Pavilions, CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 35

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State Auditor Charlie Daniels is holding over $169 million for 500,000 Arkansans and YOU might be one of them.

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Search at www.auditor.ar.gov or call 1-800-CLAIM-IT (1-800-252-4648) or 501-682-9174 This is a FREE service by the Auditor of State office.

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TELEVISIONIST

september 16 IN tHe ArGeNtA DIstrICt

‘Sons of Anarchy’ returns

BY DAVID KOON SONS OF ANARCHY TUESDAYS AT 9 P.M. FX

Though I came late to the “Sons of Anarchy” party, catching up over the summer via reruns and Netflix, this reporter is now a devoted fan of FX’s biker juggernaut. Conceived and largely written by Kurt Sutter (who cut his teeth on “The Shield”), “Sons” is back as of last week for its fourth season, and if the premiere episode is any judge, it’s going to be a hell of a good time, pushing the moral boundaries of the characters (and, through them, the audience) even more.

Week to week, the show has been some of the best TV going, with great subplots and overarching series mythology, not to mention a truly excellent ensemble cast headed by Ron Perlman as “Sons” king Clay Morrow and Charlie Hunnam as his troubled stepson and second-incommand Jax Teller. With the season three finale seeing both major villains in the show taking a much-deserved dirt nap and the Sons off to spend 14 months in jail, season four finds them emerging from prison and on to other foes. Shaping up to be chief among those foes is a face many will recognize: the alwaysentertaining Ray McKinnon, who calls Little Rock home. McKinnon co-stars as Assistant U.S. Attorney Lincoln Potter, an eccentric G-Man spearheading a campaign to tie the SOA to an international network of organized crime so as to bring the full force of the gubmint down on their heads. He’s a slippery sumbitch from what we’ve seen so far, and clearly crooked as a snake (how do we know

that for sure? Because, on a show full of Harleys, he rides a British Triumph). In short: If you haven’t seen the show, catch seasons one and two of “Sons” on Netflix Instant to get up to speed, order season three through Netflix by mail, and then climb on for season four. It looks to be an e-ticket ride.

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While even hardcore supporters of the West Memphis Three might be suffering from WM3 fatigue given the wallto-wall coverage of the story since their release from prison on Aug. 19, there’s still a few, crucial voices we haven’t heard much from: Jessie Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols themselves.

The thought of spending 18 years in a box and suddenly being told you’re free has got to be an amazing experience, equal parts joy and terror. After all, for half their lives, they have been told by others when to eat, when to sleep, when to speak and how to dress. For half their lives, and all their adult lives, they’ve known no other home but prison. Here, CBS’ “48 Hours Mystery,” which took a hard look at the West Memphis Three case last year (including a rare interview with Johnny Depp about his support of the WM3), revisits the case, postrelease. Hard to tell from the CBS news trailer what will be included, but this episode for-sure includes the first postprison television interview with Damien Echols. Hopefully, Baldwin and Misskelley will get to have their say as well.

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AFTER DARK, CONT. through Oct. 31: 7 a.m. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket. info.

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

LECTURES

Ruby Bridges Hall. Talk by Hall, the first black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South in November 1960 when she attended William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. Book signing to follow. Clinton Presidential Center, 6 p.m.

1200 President Clinton Ave. 370-8000. www. clintonpresidentialcenter.org.

POETRY

Camille T. Dungy. The poet will present “We

Live Here: Writing and Living Of and Off the Natural World.” Main Library, 6:30 p.m., free.

100 S. Rock St. 501-918-3032. www.cals.lib. ar.us.

BOOKS

“Crime and the Border.” Luis Alberto Urrea, authour of “The Devil’s Highway,” will discuss crime and the Mexican-U.S. border. Hendrix College, 7:30 p.m. 1600 Washington Ave., Conway. www.hendrix.edu.

GALLERIES, MUSEUMS

NEW EXHIBITS, EVENTS

ARGENTA STUDIOS, 4th and Maple Sts., NLR: V.L. Cox studio grand reopening, 30 paintings, also work by Doug Gorrell, 5-9 p.m. Sept. 16. www.greatfineart.com ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER, MacArthur Park: “Museum School Faculty Exhibition: Past CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

DRIVERS PLEASE BE AWARE, IT’S ARKANSAS STATE LAW USE of BIcycLES oR ANImALS

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

oVERTAKINg A BIcycLE

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

AND cycLISTS, PLEASE REmEmBER... You’re vehicles on the road, just like cars and motorcycles and must obey all traffic laws— signal, ride on the right side of the road and yield to traffic normally. Make eye contact with motorists.

Be visible. Be predictable. Heads up, think ahead. www.arktimes.com SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 37

AFTER DARK, CONT. and Present,” Sept. 16-Nov. 13; “In Search of Norman Rockwell’s America,” paintings

by Rockwell paired with photographs by Kevin Rivoli, through Sept. 18, “Building the Collection: Art Acquired in the 1980s,” through Oct. 9. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 372-4000.

ARKANSAS ART GALLERY, 500 Main St., NLR: “Art 4 Kids,” work by Mignon Hatton’s art students, reception 5-8 p.m. Sept. 16, 3rd Friday Argenta ArtWalk.

CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, 1200 President Clinton Ave.: “Mexican Independence Day,” free family event with children’s activities and Mexican food for sale, 4 p.m. Sept. 16; “In Memoriam,” helmet of FDNY firefighter who died in the World Trade Center, through Nov. 30; 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.

GALLERY 26, 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Corrie Bristow, Collin Miles, Amanda Linn, opens with reception 7-10 p.m. Sept. 17, show through Oct. 29. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 664-8996.

GREG THOMPSON FINE ART, 429 Main St., NLR: “James Hendricks: Looking Into the Spirit,” abstract paintings, reception 5-8 p.m.

Sept. 16, 3rd Friday Argenta ArtWalk. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 920-2778.

KETZ GALLERY, 705 Main St.: Sherrie Shepherd, paintings of early 20th century transportation, Sept. 16-Oct. 9, also work

by Matthew Castellano, Sulac, Peggy Roberson and Miller Smith. Open 5-8 p.m.

Sept. 16, 3rd Friday Argenta ArtWalk.

529-6330.

OLDE WORLD PIZZA, 1706 W. Third St.: “Travels,” photographs by Grav Weldon, reception 6-8:30 p.m. Sept. 15. 374-5504.

RED DOOR GALLERY, 3715 JFK, NLR: “Celebrate Color,” 30 new works by Pat Matthews, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 15.10 a.m.5:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. 753-5227.

THEA FOUNDATION, 401 E. Main St., NLR: Paintings by Ted Parkhurst, music by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra string quartet, 5:30-8 p.m. Sept. 16, 3rd Friday Argenta ArtWalk. 379-9512.

Conway HENDRIX COLLEGE, Trieschmann Gallery: “Art Club Exhibition,” opening reception 5-7 p.m. Sept. 15. 501-505-1562.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS, Baum Gallery: “Connections: The Fifteenth Year,” artwork representative of all studio courses taught at UCA, by faculty and professional artists; “More than a Mold: “Contemporary Slip Cast Ceramics,” group show of ceramic sculpture by eight national artists, including visiting artist Joe Page; and “cloud control: the devastation of an anchor,” installation by faculty member Carrie A. Dyer, Sept. 15-Oct. 27, opening reception 4-6 p.m. Sept. 15, artists’ reception 4:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 7. 501-450-5793.

Hot Springs LOW KEY ARTS: “So Many Open Houses,” installations at the empty Mountainaire Hotel, 1100 Park Ave., 6-9 p.m. Sept. 16, 4-9 p.m.

Sept. 17. Fund-raiser for Low Key Arts Inc.; $5 suggested donation. 501-655-0836. lowkeyarts.org.

JUSTICE BROWN, CONT. The task force is looking for ways to dilute the poison, and that’s not easy to do without impinging on free expression. Brown said the group was studying procedures under which a judicial candidate who’d presumably benefitted from a deceitful advertisement could, and would, disavow it.

On the wall of Brown’s office is a picture of President Dwight D. Eisenhower entering St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, Va. The photo was made in 1953 or ’54, while Brown’s father, Robert R. Brown, was rector of the church. The future justice is standing in the background. A year or so later, when Brown was 14, the family moved to Little Rock. The elder Brown had been named Episcopal bishop of Arkansas. The younger Brown attended Forest Heights Junior High School, which, like most Arkansas schools of the day, lacked air conditioning. Brown concluded that “Richmond was hot, but Little Rock was hotter.” He attended Central High as a 10th-grader, and the year after that, he was at a new high school, Hall. That was the school year of 1957-58, when the integration crisis erupted at Central, and the next year, all the Little Rock public high schools were closed to avoid integration. Brown graduated from an Episcopal school in Austin, Texas.

Thinking he’d be an English professor, he got a bachelor’s degree at the University of the South, Sewanee, and a master’s degree

VOTE NOW! 38 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

— in romantic literature — from Columbia University. To help pay for his education, he worked at an insurance company, and, “I got entranced by using the practical side of my brain.” He changed course, earning a law degree at the University of Virginia in 1968.

Back in Little Rock, he was in private practice first, then went into government work. He was a deputy prosecuting attorney, an aide to Gov. and Sen. Dale Bumpers, and an assistant to U.S. Rep. Jim Guy Tucker. He was back in private practice when, he said, Justice Steele Hays suggested at a party that he run for the Supreme Court too. He did, defeating Judith Rogers, a member of the state Court of Appeals. Hays became something of a mentor to the new justice. Brown was unopposed in subsequent elections.

Lawyers are reluctant to challenge a sitting judge.

After he leaves the court, “I wouldn’t mind doing some teaching,” and he plans on more writing. He’s written a number of articles for law journals, and last year the University of Arkansas Press published his book “Defining Moments, Historic Decisions by Arkansas Governors from McMath to Huckabee.” Not all of his future writing will be in that vein. “I’ve done some fiction writing over the years. I’d like to take another crack at it.” The impractical side of his brain is still functioning.

In the annual survey of booze and bars in Central Arkansas.

Go to arktimes.com/toast11 Voting ends Sept. 16.

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Dining

DRINK UP Check out the Times’ Happy Hour app Cocktail Compass in the iTunes store.

WHAT’S COOKIN’

seafood restaurant are “working feverishly” to open in Bentonville in time for the Nov. 11 opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, their publicist says.

The new Flying Fish will be the second in Arkansas; the original, decorated with hundreds of Billy Bass plaques, is located in the River Market district. The Fish serves catfish, shrimp fried and ceviche-style, oysters, salmon, tilapia, gumbo, fish tacos and more.

The restaurant will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Menu at www. flyingfishinthe.net.

A press release on the opening said Alice Walton, founder of Crystal Bridges, has “frequented other Flying Fish locations,” and encouraged restaurateur Shannon Wynne to open a location in Bentonville.

DINING CAPSULES

AMERICAN

ARKANSAS BURGER CO. Good burgers, fries and shakes, plus salads and other entrees. Try the cheese dip. 7410 Cantrell Road. Beer, Wine, All CC. $-$$.

501-663-0600. LD Tue.-Sat. ASHLEY’S The premier fine dining restaurant in Little Rock marries Southern traditionalism and haute cuisine. The menu is often daring and always delicious. 111 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $$$-$$$$.

501-374-7474. BLD Mon.-Sat. BR Sun. BELWOOD DINER Traditional breakfasts and plate lunch specials are the norm at this lost-in-time hole in the wall. 3815 MacArthur Drive. NLR. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-753-1012.

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. $$-$$$. 501-6632677. LD Mon.-Fri. D Sat. 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 Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$.

501-374-7474. LD daily.

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.

40 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

BRIAN CHILSON

THE OWNERS OF THE FLYING FISH

FOOD FOR THE MONEY: Tacos and a burrito bowl.

LR goes crazy for Chipotle Is the fuss deserved?

C

entral Arkansas has freaked over Chipotle Mexican Grill. Since the Denver-based chain opened its first Little Rock restaurant Aug. 16, the crowds have been unbelievably large. Friends have reported lines snaking so far out the small eatery’s door that they turned around and headed home. We decided 2:30 p.m. Saturday was as safe a bet as any, but the line still reached the door and never shortened in the 45 minutes we were there.

Chipotle does the few things it does quite well — meat, rice, beans, guacamole, salsa, cheese, sour cream and not much else, served in a flour tortilla the diameter of a pizza crust, thrown in a bowl, stuffed in soft or hard tortillas as tacos or piled atop shredded Romaine.

Three of the four meats are definitely offthe-charts good, the guacamole is very respectable and the salsas are bold and flavorful. The rice and beans are, well … rice and beans.

While well executed, this isn’t a new concept for local diners — think Blue Coast Burrito, Moe’s Southwest Grill and the late Flying Burrito.

So why has all of greater Little Rock decided Chipotle is a must-try-as-soon-aspossible spot? We figure some have enjoyed Chipotles in other cities and now can get a local fix. Others surely have heard raves from friends. Maybe still others are impressed by Chipotle’s commitment to using ingredients sourced locally, “naturally raised” meats, a focus on organic beans and its overall “Food With Integrity” theme: “our commitment to finding the very best ingredients raised with respect for the animals, the environment and the farmers.” And Little Rock always flocks to new places.

Chipotle Mexican Grill

11525 Cantrell Road (Pleasant Ridge Town Center) 221-0018 Quick bite You’ll be given the chance to add guacamole to your burrito, burrito bowl or salad as you move through the line.

And while this is good guac, do note that there’s a $1.80 add-on fee.

Hours 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Other info Beer and margaritas (liquor license pending), CC accepted

But still.

It’s hard to believe the crowds will stay this big for too much longer. There just doesn’t seem to be enough variety to keep people coming back regularly. But who knows? Plus, there are only 40-something inside seats and 20-something on the patio, so it doesn’t take a massive throng to pack the place.

Our group of six had about 15 minutes to ponder the rectangular cardboard menus you grab when you walk in the door — if/ when you can get in — before we got to the head of the assembly line and it was time to make the call. It wasn’t hard for us to cover all the bases.

After you choose your ingredient container, you name your meat. There is marinated “grilled” chicken that actually is griddled, and it’s $5.95 no matter which way you get it. The others are $6.35 — steak, Barbacoa (beef much like spicy pot roast, braised and shredded) and Carnitas (shredded pork done just like the beef). Then you give thumbs up or down to cilantro-lime rice, choose between black or pinto beans, choose your salsa, decide between sour cream

or shredded white cheese and choose or eschew guacamole (remember this will add $1.80, not an unsubstantial add-on, percentage-wise, to a $6 entree).

No one will leave Chipotle hungry, but if quantity is a priority for you, go for the burrito. One of our party had the steak burrito and another chose the veggie ($5.95), which is the only item where guacamole comes gratis. The steak was the weak meat of the bunch, based on a couple of bites. It was not strongly flavored and was a little tough.

The other three meats are fabulous. The griddled chicken was smoky, tender and well-spiced/herbed with a Southwest blend that must have included cumin and chili powder. The two pot-roast-style meats were flavorful, tender and almost a little too juicy, as the runoff in the bottom of the wax paperlined basket made the hard tacos soggy.

Three tacos come in an order, and you can mix/match meats and toppings, making for three very different taste sensations.

The roasted chili-corn salsa — one of four choices — is really more like a relish, and it definitely added some flair to a carnitas taco that would have been good even without it.

We got sides of the medium and the hot salsa, both tomatillo-based. At $1.65 for a very small plastic container, they seemed a bit pricey, but both were boldly flavored and had some good zing. The guacamole — the same $1.80 for a small container as for adding to a meal — is chunky and a bit salty, which we enjoyed.

Beer ($3.35 and $3.90) and margaritas ($4.25) are on the menu, but covered with a “Liquor License Pending” sign. It seems odd that the local franchisees couldn’t get the paperwork in order to get this procedural matter handled before opening day. But surely “pending” soon will yield to “secured.”

When you get to the cash register you will see order forms to fax to Chipotle when you want to grab your meal to go, as well as a “Burritos by the Box” order form for groups or parties — $7.85 for each of the four meat and the one vegetarian options, including guacamole, salsa and chips — with a minimum order of six.

One point that really can’t be debated is the food-for-the-money quotient. Six diners — with entrees, small drinks and side salsa/ guac added — had a total tab of $53, even after four of the six unwittingly agreed to the extra $1.80 for guacamole. And there were plenty of leftovers for most to haul home.

Will the Chipotle craze endure? The chain has more than 1,000 locations in 38 states, and is moving in on 20 years since its founding, so who’s to argue that it won’t?

Across 1 Coach Ewbank who led the Jets to a Super Bowl championship 5 Sturdy mountain climber?

9 English derby site 14 Pac-12 team 15 Circular dance 16 Iroquoian people 17 Place for a sweater?

19 Composer Stravinsky and others 20 A Mexican might sleep under it 21 Totally wrong 22 “Peer Gynt” mother 23 La ___ Tar Pits 24 Sheets for scribbling 29 30- or 60-second spot 33 Three, in Rome

34 Mideast moguls 35 Not just mislead 36 Pocahontasʼs husband 38 Hogwash 39 When a right turn may be allowed 40 “You have my word on it” 41 Suitor 43 Certain fraternity man, informally 44 Antifur org.

45 Ice cream holder 47 “ … or so ___ say” 49 “A New World Record” grp.

50 Put down 53 Beau 58 Full-bosomed 59 Fairway clubs … or a hint to the starts of the answers to 17-, 24- and 45Across and 10and 37-Down

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE E A S T

T E L E

A T E M

I N E P T

A R T S Y

L I E U T

T H A T

E T T A

T O T N N E T D S E T T P T A U T

L T A A T P O R A Y E A N T T O E S S S T E E E T A E R T A S D A E T

E N T R

S T A Y I E N V E E N T T H O T R A

T O T S

H N A E A L S F O T A T T O T A N A S R I T T I T A H S T E S S F T D T E R I P O S P I N E T T

T I N O

O T T O

T A N Y A

A S S E T

N I T E

G T O S

CROSSWORD

DINING CAPSULES, CONT.

EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

both pulled from the shoulder and back ribs. The side orders, particularly the baked potato salad, are excellent. 5501 Ranch Drive, Suite 4. Beer, 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. $-$$. 501-225-4346. LD Mon.-Sat. DIXIE PIG Pig salad is tough to beat. It comes with loads of chopped pork atop crisp iceberg, doused with that wonderful vinegar-based sauce. The sandwiches are basic, and the sweet, thick sauce is fine. 900 West 35th St. NLR. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-753-9650. LD Mon.-Sat.

60 “The Surrender of ___” (Diego Velázquez painting) 61 Whitakerʼs Oscar-winning role 62 “Zip-___-DooDah” 63 Poeʼs middle name 64 Root beer brand 65 King with the immortal line “Who is it that can tell me who I am?”

Down 1 Scaredy-cat 2 Outside: Prefix 3 K-6 sch. designation 4 Entreaty to BoPeep 5 Earlyish teatime 6 Uncouth sort 7 Suffix with buck 8 Bump in bumper cars, maybe 9 Rat in “Ratatouille” 10 Playground lingo 11 Possible cause of school cancellation 12 Storybook character 13 Superlative adverb 18 Emma of “The Avengers” 21 Music sheet abbr.

23 Annual citymagazine theme 24 “Peanuts,” for one 25 “Gladiator” star

1

2

3

4

5

14

6

7

8

17

18

11

12

13

29

30

31

32

19 21

22 25

23

26

27

33

28

34

36

35

37

38

40

42

45 47 51

EUROPEAN / ETHNIC

39

41

44

50

10

16

20

24

9

15

43 46

48

49

52

53

54

55

58

59

60

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65

56

57

Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski

26 Like a candle night after night, say 27 Breathing space 28 90 is a pretty high one 30 Left-hand page 31 Used the dining room 32 “Gunsmoke” setting, informally

35 Legendary siren of the Rhine 37 Fizzless drink 42 High dice rolls 45 Tie the knot 46 O.K. place?

48 Mr. Universe, e.g.

50 “Fernando” group 51 Small knot

52 Figure skaterʼs leap 53 Succotash bean 54 “Amores” poet 55 Presage 56 Fit for service 57 River of Flanders 59 Goldfish swallowing in the 1920s, e.g.

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

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

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

Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay.

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

THIS MODERN WORLD

ARABICA 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 Road. No alcohol, 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. Breakfast offerings are expanded with gyro meat, pitas and triple berry pancakes. 2925 Kavanaugh Blvd.

No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-666-7414. BLD daily.

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

CAFE PREGO Dependable entrees of pasta, pork and the like, plus great sauces, fresh mixed greens and delicious dressings, crisp-crunchycold 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. 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 GRILL New rendition of a 65-year institution in Little Rock is a totally different experience. Large, renovated space is a Heights hangout with a huge bar and sports on TV. Some holdover items in name only but recast fresher and tastier. Large menu with some hits and some misses. 5805 Kavanaugh Blvd. Full bar, All CC. $-$$. 501-6639956. LD daily.

CAPI’S The eatery has abandoned its previous small plates format for Nuevo Latino cuisine heavy on tamales, enchiladas and Central American reinterpretation of dishes. Fortunately, they kept the great desserts. 11525 Cantrell Suite 917. Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-225-9600. LD Tue.-Sun., BR Sat.-Sun. LA REGIONAL A full-service grocery store catering to SWLR’s Latino community, it’s the small grill tucked away in the back corner that should excite lovers of adventurous cuisine. The menu offers a whirlwind trip through Latin America, with delicacies from all across the Spanishspeaking world (try the El Salvadorian papusas, they’re great). Bring your Spanish/English dictionary. 7414 Baseline Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-565-4440. BLD 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. $. 501-5623951. LD Tue.-Thu.

42 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Tattoo artist Jud Ferguson of 7th St. embellishes one of Angie Wilson’s tattoos.

hearsay ➥ A terrific threesome!

Head to GALLERY 26 for an Opening Reception, September 17, 7-10 p.m., for a show featuring Corrie Bristow (of The Root Café), Collin Miles and Amanda Linn. The show will run from September from a previous 17-October 29.

Amanda Linn show ➥ Artful accessories.

Check out the new fall accessories and gifts at The ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER MUSEUM SHOP. AAC members receive 10% off every day. ➥ KALEIDOSCOPE RESALE BOUTIQUE on Kavanaugh Blvd. (next to SO) is closing. Most merchandise (excluding food items) is now 50% off. Formerly called Angels in the Attic, the shop—which carries gently used clothing for women, men and children as well as housewares, shoes, books and more—is operated

by Kaleidoscope of Caring, Inc. Proceeds benefit grief programs for children. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ➥ Warm fuzzies. Stop by ANTHROPOLOGIE to pick up fall sweaters at 20% off.

Tatt talk

An outing to the new and improved 7th Street Tattoos and Piercing

BY KATHERINE WYRICK PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON

7

th Street Tattoos and Piercing has settled nicely into their new digs since their move last April, a move that took them just a few blocks down the street from their previous location near Vino’s. This time they’re in a freestanding building, half of which will soon open as 7th St. Salon.

On the day of our visit, it’s business a usual—heavy rock plays in the background, a couple of customers flip through books of tattoos for inspiration. The decor is what you might call primitive modern; what look to be Indonesian and African tribal masks hang on the walls juxtaposed with a mishmash of paintings (one of a reclining bleach blond wiggling out of her denim shorts). A skeleton greets customers at the door with

Tattoo parlor a bright spot on 7th St. a sign announcing who is and who is not allowed to get inked in this establishment (not allowed: pregnant women, drunk people and minors without parents).

The purpose of our visit is to watch the Times’ own Angie Wilson get “worked on” by tattoo artist Jud Ferguson. She’s asked him to add flowers to a preexisting tatt.

Continued on page 45

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS TIMES

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 43

London calling A recent trip abroad sparks sartorial inspiration

BY KATHERINE WYRICK

D

uring a summer visit to the UK, this reporter had an opportunity to see who was wearing what on both London streets and in the bucolic English countryside. After attending a proper English country wedding in the Cotswolds, where beautiful young things wore a dizzying array of delectable hats, I ventured to the city to find some of the same trends at play (minus the extravagant headwear). Spotted: terriers (long a favorite English companion), Ray-Ban Wayfarers, polka dots, florals and black nylons (thank you—or curse you—Kate Middleton).

Another observation: the Brits continue to display an uncanny knack for putting things together that one wouldn’t necessarily think of putting together, but doing it in a way that yields brilliant results (a striped shirt and Liberty print skirt? Yes!). Here I share with you an illustrated travel diary of sorts.

Another perspective on UK trends

A knock-out Swedish wedding guest dons a vintage black hat and pale gray frock.

How much do the Brits love their dogs? This much. Find sweater, or jumper in Brit parlance, at www.cathkidstonusa.com, a quintessentially English line that recently became available in the US. It seems that everywhere one looks in England, one finds a a terrier of some sort.

An English rose sits prettily in the garden during the reception.

A classic Liberty print never goes out of style.

44 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS TIMES

Wayfarers still way cool.

As fate would have it, local style maven Rita Mitchell Harvey attended UK Fashion Week around the same time and shares her insights. “Whether gritty or girly, Liverpool or London, ratty or snappy, one bold message hummed like heaven—life, liberty and the pursuit of individual expression!” gushed Harvey upon her return. The following “Rita Report” details what’s hot: • A nouveau Newton-John look complete with swishy ponytail, minimal make-up, crisp top, leggings and boots. (“Skinnies,” or tight-legged jeans, topped with batwings or blousons were worn at night.

More stately “yummy mummies” donned lean equestrian jackets echoing a classic trend.)

• Chunky crown jewels and gobs of bangles.

• Modern vintage jackets and vests.

• Socks or fleece over the tops of boots.

• Tulle or lace puffs and ruffles galore!

• Really red lips.

• For hair: bangs, Hollywood-style, sideparted wavy hair or sleek high ponytails.

• A campy street look à la the late Amy Winehouse: tattoos, lace, fishnets, a pale face with heavy eyeliner and ink-black hair.

• Flippy skirts, blouses and shirtwaist dresses: Ditsies, Liberties and mini-florals.

TATT TALK

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43

Ferguson has been a tattoo artist at 7th St. for nine years now and has developed a loyal clientele. “85% of the people I tattoo are regulars I’ve been tattooing for years,” he says.

Ferguson got his first tattoo just after he turned 18, a tribal armband that he had covered up years ago. “It was one of the best/worst experiences in my life,” he recalls. When asked why, he explains that the person who gave him the tattoo was an outlaw biker who was having a really, really hard day (wife troubles). Needless to say, things tend to go more smoothly at 7th St. Asked if he ever has requests he refuses, Ferguson says without hesitation, “Everyday.” He takes his work seriously and won’t give someone a tattoo he believes they’ll regret or one that won’t age well over time. “People often want something that’s too small or too detailed, and your skin changes over time. My reputation is on the line. If someone’s tattoo doesn’t look good in a couple of years, it reflects poorly on me.”

Ferguson believes that the mainstreaming of tattooing has led to a lack of originality, which is why he devotes most of his time to designing custom tattoos—he does this on weekdays and by appointment only. So call him or any of the other skilled artists at 7th St. to talk tatts.

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 45

No toadfrogs, no churns

I

think I’m going back to the 20th century and let you guys have this one. I don’t like it. For 10 years now I’ve been looking for something good to say about Century 21, and that page in my notebook is still blank.

I don’t think this is merely another case of the nostalgia that usually attends superannuation — I think the 19s really were a better time than the 20s to bogart resources and take up space — but if I’m wrong about that, well, there’s a first time for everything.

The 20th century had better farms and back roads. It had more and better places to see UFOs. It had new houses that weren’t all medieval ugly and too big. It had stupid likeable yard art and not a single boxcar lacking indecipherable graffiti or theater floor without at least an inch of stick. It had more and better palm readers and cheap motels.

Even as the sun set on it, it still had thickets where you could pick wild blackberries, and slithy toves wherein to gather cypress knees to make lamps. It still had bullfrogs, bees, and about 10 times as many different kinds of birds. Except right at the end, it didn’t have ATVs or people who can’t function unless they spend 18 hours a day on a mobile telephone.

Its occupants still had jobs, houses, pensions, nest eggs and there weren’t yet enough weasels, or the weasels hadn’t yet been suf-

ficiently empowered by the imbeciles, to plunder that marvelous legacy, or squander it, or threaten it.

BOB It had its share LANCASTER of kooks (these weren’t the weasels or the imbeciles) but you knew which ones were the kooks. And the kooks themselves seemed to suspect. There were Republicans then who actually weren’t kooks, and weren’t cowed into acquiescence by the blowhards, and there were some yet unemasculated Democrats. Really, there were. You wonder what happened to them.

What the extinction agent was.

The Imbecile Party has taken over American politics in Century 21 — just about all the presidential candidates, and all but six members of the current Congress — and the Imbecile Church has jacked the country’s socalled religious life. The Imbecile Church has a creed: Comfy now, snug forever — just don’t ask any questions.

In the 20th Century there was a House of Dominoes open for business, where the essential questions were mulled, debated, answered by the derelict and luckless — too bad there weren’t minutes, or a log. They were imbeciles, too, but small-i imbeciles, and weren’t insulted if you called them that.

Didn’t take it personal. You could agree to disagree.

The 20th century had clouds that looked like clouds are supposed to look. Can’t quite put a finger on it, but there’s something foreboding, something grotesque, about a great many of these 21st century clouds. Clouds like out of El Greco, or Hitchcock, or “Macbeth.”

The 20th Century had news; Century 21 has something else. Chat, maybe. What the spooks call chatter. Something that involves posturing, spin, groupthink, rodomontade, bullshit, slovenly construction, graceless expression. Something reminiscent of the Ten Minutes Hate sessions in “1984.” Thirty Minutes Hate? More like Thirty Minutes Incoherence. Thirty Minutes Jerking Off. Century XX movie monsters had their dignity and integrity as individuals, Kong or Nosferatu as opposed to Century 21’s transformers — or Century 21’s zombies, which of course are merely Century 21 Imbeciles once removed. Home sound, think Klipsch v. the latter-day CD skreek. Yellow ’35 Doozie up ag’in any of the Asian rolling coprolites of Century XXI. Compare homer football columnists — Orville Boswell v. the Dog-Peter Gnat.

The 20th century ended child labor, and who not crazy would sign on to bring it back?

Three guesses. The 20th Century had GE College Bowl while Century 21 features “Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” where the answer 99 times out of a hundred is no.

ARKANSAS TIMES CLASSIFIEDS

The funny papers peaked in Century XX, and probably before the Sopwith Beagle and “The real reason dinosaurs became extinct.”

The 20th Century homestead nearly always had a shed, or several, full of interesting worthless stuff that was in transition from quaint to reliquary. There’s an American history lesson in just about every old shed. Century 21 abjures sheds, favoring either nothing or one of these prefab outbuildings that you trailer in preassembled rather than build. Nothing interesting in one of those. No history. No anvils. No toadfrogs. No churns.

The 20th century had apricot fried pies cooked in iron skillets, which had the very gods gnashing their teeth in envy of human taste buds and alimentary canals. You still see an occasional laughable pathetic imitation, but the authenticity dog barked and that particular caravan moved on. Momma took the secret with her. Or Lindsey’s did.

The 20th century developed an environmental conscience that became pretty formidable toward the end, but Century 21 exorcised it, lobotomized it, flung the regs down in the toxic dust and danced on them. Bring back DDT. And uninspected meat. Apologize to BP for having said anything critical about that lurking blob the size of France.

The 20th century had youth, and lacked dysfunction, entropy. Weep for it. Many other comparisons, contrasts.

At the risk of serial redundancy, the 20th century had tomatoes that were fit to eat.

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Please send your resume and cover letter to Heather Baker - HBaker@arktimes.com 2011 ARKANSAS TIMES 46 SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 14,ARKANSAS TIMES 46 September

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