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COMMENT
Owning it
Thanks
Dan Aykroyd said of John Belushi, “He was a good man, but he was a bad boy.” I think we can say the same for Al Franken. I don’t know what the story is with these guys, must be a “SNL” thing. Anyway, Al made some mistakes in the past but he is getting it right this time. Step aside and let the newly appointed senator — surely a Democrat — get his/her feet on the ground before the elections next November. Bill Clinton should have done the same thing when he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar — OK, that was a bad analogy, it wasn’t a cookie jar. If Clinton had resigned when he should have instead of arguing the definition of the word “is,” Al Gore would have become president. Gore would have been running in the fall of 2000 as the incumbent against Bush. I heard James Carville on a talk show saying that he didn’t think that would have made much difference. Well, James, how much difference did we need back then? One or two hanging chads would have changed the history of this country, and changed it for the better. What Franken did was wrong, but he has recognized his mistakes. He “owned it,” as the saying goes. I’m not defending what Al did in the past, but what he is doing now is the proper thing. David Rose Hot Springs
Let me begin simply by saying “thank you” for the column titled by Max Brantley “Man’s world” (Nov. 30). With all of the explosive allegations concerning sexual harassment lately, it was good hearing a man’s opinion about the issues women like myself have dealt with for years. Every time I hear or read an article about sexual harassment, sexual assault and discrimination faced by women even in low profile settings, it stirs up many emotions and memories I’ve been struggling with myself involving these types of situations. It is even more disappointing to hear other women discount the effect this has on our society by blaming or doubting the women who bravely stand up for themselves. I a lso appreciated your ac k nowle d g ement t h at t here are many women in our world who would make g reat leaders if only given a chance void of the misconceptions and stereotypes that are evident in our country today. As the words of the song says, “It’s a man’s world, but it wouldn’t be nothing without a woman or a girl.” L atonya Montgomery L ittle Rock From the web, in response to the Dec. 7 Arkansas Blog post “Razorbacks introduce new football coach Chad Morris”: I suppose it will be considered “breaking,” though hardly unlooked for, news five years from now when he is unceremoniously fired. tsallernarng
tsallenarng, with your ability to know what’s going to happen five years down the road, you really should spend time in the stock market. Big F un “Being a champion is not an event, but a life style” said the coach who most recent team ranks 122nd in the nation in total defense. C ato1 Seems to have a winning attitude. Nice of him to acknowledge the difficult job Julie Cromer Peoples was given. We shall see. ShineonL ibby From the web, in response to the Dec. 8 Arkansas Blog post, “Circuit judge orders state to stop issuing all new birth certif icates until unconstitutional procedure corrected”: Sadly, the Judge Tim Foxes of this state and country, who actually still labor under the notion that their purpose is administration of justice and equal application of the law for all citizens, now appear as freakish outliers from the norm. The speed w it h which Leslie Rut ledges at a ll levels of t he Republican Party are installing ext remist ideolog ues into t he judiciary is frightening. A far more lasting legacy (or pox) than The Orange Idiot’s temporary reign as imperator. RIP Democracy. tsallernarng
From the web, in response to the Dec. 8 Arkansas Blog post “Governor directs Health Department to resume issuing birth certificates under revised procedures”: t Now was that so hard? Just think of all the taxpayer money spent to have it your way, Leslie Rutledge. M axifer I have waited nearly two years for this, to be able to get my child’s birth certificate with any measure of dig nit y (that is, without the indignity of obtaining a court order identifying myself as a “stepparent” petitioning for “parental” rights). So far, in calling ADH to see what I need to bring, I have been put in endless hold queues and given no information. I hope they hold an emergency meeting and sort out how to implement this, and make it as easy as possible on those of us seeking a correction. I don’t wish to wait any longer to put this behind me. rooibos
From the web, in response to the Dec. 10 Arkansas Blog post “Rep. Bob Ballinger wants to keep fighting over birth certificates”: Why are Bullet Bob and his ilk so fascinated with sex the way other people have it? What pictures must flash across the slide-screens at the back of their occipital regions? What makes them tingle? Silverback66 Bob is a bigot and hater. Those are his birth parents. Jake da Snake
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5
WEEK THAT WAS
Quote of the week “It’s an honor, it’s a privilege to be the head football coach at the University of Arkansas. The one thing you’ll never have to do is, you’ll never have to tell me go. You may have to tell me, ‘Whoa,’ but you’ll never have to tell me go. We’re gonna put it in the left lane, and we’re gonna put the hammer down. We’re gonna have fun.” — New Razorback football coach Chad Morris at his introductory press conference. Morris, previously the head coach at SMU and offensive coordinator at Clemson, is known for his up-tempo, dynamic offensive schemes. Morris signed a six-year contract worth $3.5 million annually.
Government. Before Teach for America, Henderson, 39, worked as a research scientist for NASA and a consultant for the global outfit McKinsey & Co. In early interviews, Henderson looks to be positioning himself as a moderate with big ideas. Can a moderate Democrat with big ideas give a popular Republican incumbent governor a significant challenge? The odds would appear to be long.
Birth certificate discrimination fixed, under pressure Democratic candidate for governor Jared Henderson, the former executive director of Teach for America in Arkansas, has announced he’s running for governor as a Democrat. The Little Rock native is a University of Arkansas graduate with master’s degrees from Harvard Business School and Harvard’s Kennedy School of 6
DECEMBER 14, 2017
ARKANSAS TIMES
Bir th cer tif icates a re once again being issued at the state Department of Health after a brief halt ordered by a judge. Last Friday, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox ordered the state to stop issuing birth certificates until it initiated a fix to procedures that had been found unconstitutional by t he U. S. Supreme Cour t . In response, Governor Hutchinson sent the health department a directive for new procedures to comply with the equal protection clause of the Constitution. Previously, parenthood
was presumed in the issuance of birth certificates to opposite-sex married copies but not to same-sex couples, which the U.S. Supreme Court found unconstitutional. Under the governor’s order, married same-sex couples will be treated the same as opposite-sex couples — that is, female spouses of mothers will be treated the same as male spouses — and such couples can receive corrected birth certificates at no charge if they have a certificate under the old rules. But Rep. Bob Ba llinger (R-Berryville) wants to keep fighting. He said that in the upcoming fiscal session of the legislature, he’ll push to eliminate the presumption of parenthood afforded to married couples. Instead, Ballinger would try to dodge the equal protection issue by asking mothers to identify the biological father.
New UAMS candidates The University of Arkansas System has named two finalists for the UAMS chancellor position, previously held by Dan Rahn, who retired: Stephanie Gardner, UAMS’ interim chancellor; and Cam Patterson, senior vice
president and chief operating officer at Weill-Cornell Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital. Two previous finalists — Dr. A. Wesley Burks, dean of the school of medicine at the University of North Carolina, and Dr. Danny Jacobs, executive vice president of the University of Texas School of Medicine’s Galveston branch — withdrew after visits to the campus, forcing the search to start anew. A potential complicating factor in attracting top candidates: UAMS is facing a dire budget crunch that could lead to job cuts.
2nd District polling There was polling underway earlier this week for 2nd District Congress. Among the tests: U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-Little Rock) vs. state Rep. Clarke Tucker (D-Little Rock). The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was likely behind the poll. Tucker’s name has long been floated as a congressional candidate. Two Democrats, Paul Spencer and Gwendolynn Combs, have already entered the race.
OPINION
Roy Reed, 1930-2017 BY ERNEST DUMAS
R
oy Reed, whose reporting on The movie “Selma” in 2014 chronracial conflicts across the South icled the march, which actually were for The New York Times illu- three separate events. The film’s script minated and energized the civil rights for the iconic event of the marches — movement in the 1960s, died Sunday at the attack by lawmen on marchers with Fayetteville of an aneurysm. He was 87. clubs and tear gas at the Edmund PetReed, who was born near Hot tus Bridge at Selma — tracked Reed’s Springs, wrote for the Arkansas Gazette detailed and gripping account in the for nearly nine years before joining the Times. The actor John Lavelle played Times as its Southern correspondent Reed in the film. It was nominated for early in 1965. His first assignment was an Academy Award and a Golden Globe to cover the epic march of civil rights for best motion picture and won one activists led by Dr. Martin Luther King Academy Award and several other film Jr. and John Lewis from Selma, Ala., to awards. Montgomery to protest Southern barFor two years, Reed covered the riers to voting by African Americans. major civil rights struggles across The violence at Selma recorded by Reed the South, including the 1966 March spurred Congress and President Lyn- Against Fear in Mississippi by James don Johnson to enact the Voting Rights Meredith, the first black student at the Act of 1965, which outlawed restraints University of Mississippi. Meredith on black voting in much of the South planned the solitary 220-mile march and parts of other states. to embolden African Americans to reg-
Silly acts, good law
I
t was unavoidable that the struggle by sexual minorities to gain the equal treatment that the Constitution promises them would devolve into silliness and that the majestic courts of the land would have to get their dignity sullied in order to resolve the issues. There was the grave question of which bathroom transgender people should be forced by law to use, which even Donald Trump thought was silly. Let them use the one they feel comfortable using, he said. Case solved, pretty much. Last week, Governor Hutchinson, who has a fairly low threshold for nonsense, had to step in to order a dithering Health Department, backed by a dithering attorney general and a few Republican legislators, to treat parents, including same-sex parents, the same in issuing birth certificates, just as the U.S. Supreme Court said the Constitution required. Lesbian parents could not get the state to put their names on the birth certificate, while opposite-sex couples, as always, put their names on the birth certificate of a child born of a surrogate. A lawsuit went up to the state Supreme Court, which sent it back to the trial judge, Tim Fox, to settle. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge was
battling to keep the couples at bay. Judge Fox finally gave the Health D epa r t ment a deadline to adopt ERNEST a rule that settled DUMAS the issue and until it did so to stop issuing birth certificates at all. The Health Department posted a notice that day halting the issuance of birth certificates. Hutchinson took a few moments that morning to scribble an order to the department resolving the matter. Treat them the same, he ordered. Governing sometimes is easy. The U.S. Supreme Court is finding it exceedingly hard, or maybe it is just the court’s governing member, Anthony Kennedy, who must decide whether the owner of the Masterpiece Cakeshop, who opposes same-sex marriage, had to obey a Colorado state law that says businesses cannot discriminate against customers based on race, sexual identity, religion or whatever. His lawyers maintain that the First Amendment protection of religious freedom gives him the right to refuse to serve them. The justices heard arguments and debated it squeamishly two weeks ago. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan’s old
ister to vote and to protest Congress’ tories of men and women who worked lack of progress in enacting civil rights at the newspaper, published in 2009. protections. On the second day of the When he left the Times, Reed bought walk from Memphis to Jackson, with a plot of land on a remote mountain at Reed plodding along drinking a Coke, Hogeye, south of Fayetteville, and comMeredith was shot by a white sniper missioned the renowned architect Fay and hospitalized. Jones to design a stone and glass house Later, Reed reported from the news- atop the mountain, where he lived with paper’s Washington bureau in Presi- his wife, Norma, and a menagerie of dent Johnson’s final year and after- livestock, including donkeys that he ward, and from bureaus in London and rescued or borrowed in Texas. New Orleans. He taught journalism Reed was born Feb. 14, 1930, in Hot at the University of Arkansas at Fay- Springs to Roy E. Reed, a mail carrier etteville for 16 years after leaving the and storeowner, and Ella Meredith Times, and wrote several books, nota- Reed. A younger sister died in 1964. bly “Orval Faubus: The Life and Times He attended Ouachita Baptist College of an American Prodigal,” an acclaimed at Arkadelphia for a year and transbiography published by the University ferred to the University of Missouri at of Arkansas Press in 1997. “Beware Columbia, where he graduated in 1951. of Limbo Dancers: A Correspondent’s He worked for a year at the Joplin, Mo., Adventures with The New York Times” Globe and joined the Gazette staff in won a Porter Prize in 2012. The UA 1956. He attended Harvard University Press also published “Looking for Hog- on a Nieman Fellowship in 1963-64. eye,” a collection of essays about the He is survived by his wife, Norma; a son, South, in 1986, and “Looking Back at John Reed of Little Rock, and daughter, the Arkansas Gazette,” a collection of Cindy Buck of Buzzard’s Bay, Mass. stories distilled from scores of oral hisconfederate, probably will write the line of disputes over using religion opinion, because he has taken the and spiritual texts as a pretext for unpopular role of writing the order in exercising individual prejudices. The all of the gay-rights cases going back to same book of Leviticus that says you Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down should kill men who sleep together state sodomy laws in 2003 (a year after also instructs you never to violate God’s the Arkansas Supreme Court did so). laws against eating pork, shellfish, Kennedy has broken ranks with the catfish, salmon or tuna — or apparently court’s Republican majority a few times, to sell them. notably on the equal-protection cases. Favorable biblical references He is under pressure not to abandon to slavery and seg regation and the court’s originalists again on the unfavorable ones to antithetical cake issue. The originalists, formerly religions were once claimed as First led by Antonin Scalia, are now led by Amendment grounds to discriminate. his successor, Neil Gorsuch. Now there is an Internet war among Originalism is the doctrine that clerics over whether the Bible forbids searches for plausible-sounding ways same-sex marriage when it makes two to hold that the Constitution does not references to matrimony as matching mean what it says. a man and a woman. That must mean It was baff ling to most people it forbids all other marriages. why a gay couple wanted a guy who But wait, what about all those abhorred them because they wanted favorable biblical references to having to get married to bake a cake for them. many wives and concubines, not just As the conservative columnist David one? Brooks wondered, why give him their Back in 1968, the Supreme Court business in the first place? Just be nice held that a South Carolina barbecue and find an agreeable baker. joint could not refuse to serve black But they were hurt, as you might customers on religious grounds (he understand, and wanted it made clear claimed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for others that equality under the law “contravenes the will of God”). “Patently was manifest, even for a silly cake. frivolous,” the court said of his claim. So we have another test of Justice So the cakeshop owner says baking Oliver Wendell Holmes’ theory that is a form of art and that his First great cases produce bad law or its Amendment right to express only ideas corollary, that silly cases make good that match his sacred beliefs exceeds a law. couple’s right to be treated equally. Is On its basic level, Masterpiece poor Anthony Kennedy up to writing Cakeshop is the latest in an ancient again that this is patently frivolous? Follow Arkansas Blog on Twitter: @ArkansasBlog
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8
DECEMBER 14, 2017
ARKANSAS TIMES
A difference
H
ow low can a columnist go? On evidence, nowhere near as low as the president of the United States. I’d intended to highlight certain ironies in the career of U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). The self-anointed moral arbiter of the Senate began her career as a tobacco company lawyer — that is, somebody ill-suited to demand absolute purity of anybody, much less Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.). Gillibrand’s first job out of law school in 1991 involved representing Philip Morris in civil liability lawsuits and criminal racketeering investigations. Challenged, she has alibied that lucrative corporate shilling enabled her to do pro bono (charity) work on behalf of abused women and children, among other good causes. Maybe so, but the New York senator’s history nevertheless suggests a certain flexibility about ends and means that one would like to have seen extended to her colleagues during the current moral panic regarding sexual misconduct. “Democrats are so stupid,” Bruce Bartlett, the former Reagan administration Treasury official and born-again scourge of Republicans, tweeted. “The obvious thing to say about the Al Franken business is that he will resign the day Trump resigns.” Fresh from leading the campaign to purify the Democratic Party by purging Franken, Gillibrand made a great show of urging President Trump to step down. Fat chance. Instead, the middle school bully in the White House essentially called her a whore. “Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand,” he tweeted, “a total flunky for Charles E. Schumer and someone who would come to my office ‘begging’ for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. ...” She’d do anything for money. Get it? Nobody ever said Trump wasn’t a cunning bully. In effect, the president turned the liberal outrage dial up to 11, leaving Democrats sputtering and making a decent, accommodating fellow like Franken look like a weakling. No matter how low you go, Trump will go lower. The man simply cannot be shamed by anybody playing by adult rules. So far, no Democrats have been willing to take the argument into the gutter. Nor am I saying anybody should. But in the street, there are many things a beautiful woman like Gillibrand
could say about a flabby old blowhard talking dirty about her. What’s more, as a New Yorker, I’m pretty GENE sure she knows LYONS how. But Democrats are supposed to be the polite party. Backstabbers maybe, but polite. Consider, for example, the remarkable Atlantic article that led Gillibrand to declare that enough was enough, and that Al Franken had to go. Written by former congressional staffer Tina Du Puy, it tells about a 2009 party during which she asked Franken for a photo: “We posed for the shot,” Du Puy writes. “He immediately put his hand on my waist, grabbing a handful of flesh. I froze. Then he squeezed. At least twice. “I’d been married for two years at the time; I don’t let my husband touch me like that in public because I believe it diminishes me as a professional woman.” Poor guy. The husband, I mean. “It shrunk me,” Du Puy said. “It’s like I was no longer a person, only ornamental. It said, `You don’t matter — and I do.’ ” Hey, at least she didn’t call herself a “survivor.” Anyway, remembering this atrocity sends the author into an impassioned reverie in which she endorses today’s “pervert purge” and throws poor Franken under the bus along with — who else? — Bill Clinton, whom Sen. Gillibrand also recently renounced after 20 years of politically expedient friendship. Regarding Franken, I’m with Minnesota’s former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson, who has urged the senator to recant his resignation pending an Ethics Committee investigation. “Being a victim can be painful but the answer to an injustice cannot be to create another injustice,” he wrote on his blog. “I am deeply troubled by the resignation of Al Franken and the complete absence of anything resembling due process.” I’d go further. Harvey Weinstein probably belongs in prison; any man who exposes himself at the office (Halperin, Lauer, Rose) should have been fired at once, and possibly prosecuted. Men should keep their hands to themselves. But hyperventilating aside, a woman who gets patted on the posterior during a photo op is hardly a victim. The perpetrator may be rude and fundamentally silly, but he hasn’t committed a sex crime. It’s an insult, not an outrage. The refusal to make distinctions is characteristic of lynch mobs everywhere.
Money talks
D
emocratic candidates face a being left out of dilemma in Arkansas. To take the political proon the GOP members who are cess. Instead of firmly entrenched in the state legis- worrying about lature and Congress, they will need helping a candilots of money and lots of votes. The date meet his or easiest way to get more votes is to her end-of-theAUTUMN spend more money. Obscene amounts year fundraising TOLBERT of money. Thanks to the U.S. Supreme goal, many, like Court’s Citizens United decision and me, are already worried about our President Trump’s judicial appoint- January budget when health insurments, this will be our reality for a long ance deductibles restart. time. The six Republicans who make This past week alone, I’ve heard up our congressional delegation have complaints from several women who stopped pretending to care about their feel they are being reduced to their constituents. They vote in line with pocketbooks and the protest work done the interests of big corporations and over the past year isn’t enough on its lobbyists. They know what side their own. Now, to get access to the candibread is buttered on. dates and attend the events, they are The challengers who are popping asked to pay $50 here or $100 there to up to take on the GOP better have deep attend a happy hour or cocktail party pockets themselves, run in rich circles, or other type of fundraiser. or be able to raise money outside of I get the way campaign fundraising the state: all things that seem to run works, but many of the men and women counter to the principles of the mil- who have taken an active role over the lennial voters and the progressives past year are newer to the dirty busithe Democrats must capture and con- ness of running for office. The candivince to turn out and vote. These voters dates must make sure, in order to caparen’t too keen on the political games ture these voters, that everyone feels that candidates must play in order to included in the campaign, including be competitive. To raise money, you those who can only donate a very small have to ask for money. Constantly. If amount of money or only their time. not done correctly, these candidates Not only are these candidates faced who desperately need campaign dona- with the task of running for office as tions can turn off voters who will see a Democrat, they are also faced with them as no different from richly bought the task of growing the party. Costs GOP senators and congressmen. The and expenditures must be transparent. end result could be no money and low How much do you need to buy yard turnout. signs? How much is needed for TV and Now that the 2018 election season radio? Not everyone can navigate the is kicking into high gear, activists who Federal Election Commission website. have spent the past year showing up From campaign filings from the at marches, protesting in D.C., call- third quarter, it is obvious the Demoing their members of Congress and cratic challengers are woefully underspending every bit of extra energy to funded. Sums of $3,000 or $10,000 or push back against this administration’s even $20,000 on hand do not even comagenda often consider themselves more pare with the amounts U.S. Reps. Steve a part of the “resistance” and groups Womack and French Hill have amassed. such as the Indivisibles than the local Each of them has over $1 million ready Democratic Party. They have spent to be used to crush their challengers. the past year exhausted from fightIf Democrats are not able to raise ing now only to find themselves on the the money to reach the people with receiving end of request after request videos and ads, they’d better figure out for campaign contributions. Since I a way to motivate the people through write about women in politics, I often grassroots campaigns. It probably hear from women across the state who won’t be enough to win the big-money are frustrated with the political pro- seats, but it can help the down-ballot cess and the candidates. The year 2018 races. It’s going to be a long, painful was supposed to be different. Instead, haul for the Democrats. To be competiworking women, who often handle the tive again in Arkansas statewide, they family finances and are already strug- will have to start small and not take gling to balance holiday spending with one millennial or progressive voter their regular budget, feel like they are for granted.
Save the date for the first annual
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NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS
Hilton Garden Inn Little Rock Downtown New Year’s Eve on The Roof
Four Quarter Bar NYE w/ The Mike Dillon Band + Dazz and Brie
Cache Restaurant
Cache’s Palette:New Year’s Eve
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DECEMBER 14, 2017
ARKANSAS TIMES
PEARLS ABOUT SWINE
Morris takes off
C
had Morris’ clear and present on defense despite giving up batches hurdle last week, upon being of points in their losses. Morris has anointed as the Arkansas made it clear that he won’t neglect Razorbacks’ sixth permanent head the defensive side, football coach in a quarter-century a departure from of occupancy in the Southeastern the way fellow playCon ference, wa s to conv i nce calling specialist grumbling, listless fans that his B o b b y P e t r i n o credentials were something greater assumed this job a than the seemingly pedestrian 14-22 decade ago. Petrino BEAU WILCOX record in three seasons as the lead convinced himself pony for the long-besieged SMU and the fans that his offensive acumen program. could easily outstrip the deficiencies He g rasped the oppor t unit y, on the other side, which is why his approaching the challenge with defensive coordinator for all four atypical zeal for a guy with no prior seasons, Willy Robinson, was left to connection to the state, much less languish in that role and hasn’t found the flagship university thereof. If you similar employment since. were a doubter when the hire was Where Morris figures to score announced, as I freely admit that I fastest, however, is in cutting trails was, your tune started getting a bit across this state and his beloved cheerier once Morris got to work. state of Texas for talent. The Hogs And he did, in all conceivable ways. weren’t high in the running for megaHe stirred the defense in an early talent Gerry Bohanon, a four-star locker-room powwow with a bold quarterbacking phenom from Earle, proclamation that the best defensive but that may now change. Bohanon coordinator in the country would be has size and wheels that are coveted arriving (as of this moment, that hire in this era and scheme, and Morris hasn’t been made but some formidable seems determined to entice him by candidates have been bandied about). luring high-caliber receiving talent He gave a top-shelf interview during to the Hill. He flipped SMU commit the Hogs’ basketball game about his Mike Woods to his new destination desire to take his high-speed, variable quickly, and Woods was a prospective offensive philosophy to the SEC and jewel of SMU’s incoming class who maximize Arkansas’s best returning had offers from larger and more talent while reassembling a Texas prolific schools. Linemen wanting recruiting pipeline that has sputtered to be at the forefront of this downhill in recent years with Bret Bielema machine are taking interest. focusing on other states and regions It represents a refresh for a to mine talent. program that had gotten stale and Morris is the Gus Malzahn we uninteresting at an alarming pace. needed, not the Gus Malzahn many That may be the greatest boost that of us convinced ourselves we wanted. Morris provides, and it’s a credit to His ardent belief in having skill players those involved in his hiring that they with quickness and endurance and a saw the sorely needed stylistic shift. quarterback to direct traffic calmly In the three campaigns out of the amid a frenzied attack is akin to the 26 where the Hogs reached doubleAuburn coach’s hurry-up no-huddle, digit win totals in the ruthless SEC, but only in an ancillary manner. an offense that employed pace and Team speed will be at a premium, innovation was the calling card. and creativity and deception won’t Morris knows this, and eschews necessarily be hallmarks. Morris and anything that might be considered offensive coordinator Joe Craddock moderation. believe in vertical threats and twoIt will accordingly be an offense back sets, and pinpoint execution of a that leans hard toward the aggressive. weighty tome of a playbook. It’s a bit The expectation is that Morris’ choice of a shame Austin Allen missed this of a defensive guru will reflect the boat by a year. same mentality. SMU improved dramatically over Hammer down? Don’t mind if I Morris’ three-year stint, from two to do. Best of luck, Coach Morris — a five to seven wins, but the Mustangs success-starved program awaits your also made some perceptible strides feeding it.
THE OBSERVER NOTES ON THE PASSING SCENE
A guy in a truck
T
he Observer, having owned a little white house way down in Stifft Station lo these past 14 years or so, has amassed a collection of Guys in a Truck. If you own a home, you may well have your own Guys in a Truck: the reliable, reasonable, honest, independent contractors who you call when something goes kaput. The roof starts leaking, the hot water heater spews, the washing machine dies with a gurgle and a wheeze, and out comes the phone, along with a prayer that your Guy in a Truck hasn’t chucked it all and gone to work for The Home Depot or the highway department since the last time you called him. When we bought our lit t le house on Maple Street, one of the things tendered in the sale was the package heating and air unit: a vast, slumbering rectangle of sheet metal just off the back steps. Even then, it wasn’t new, and possibly not even new when it was installed on the house, which we bought from a rather shoddy f lipper back when f lipping houses hadn’t yet helped crash the economy. That first summer, the air unit worked fine until the blazing heat of July, when it coughed and died, plunging our house into the kind of heat normally reserved for orchid greenhouses and Brazil. So, to the phone book — remind grandpa to tell you what those are someday, children — where we flipped to Page 1 of the air conditioning section and soon picked a name at random that sounded somehow reasonable: Around The Clock Heating and Air, Mr. Mamdo, sole proprietor. Mr. Mamdo, angel that he is, always comes to us in times of trouble, when the perspiration is running from our furrowed brows or our feet are freezing. Over the long years of our shared, mechanical torment, he has watched Junior grow up and seen us through three cats, as we have seen a few of his kids, tagging along with dad on service calls, grow up. One of them is in dental school in Florida now,
put there by the blue-collar sweat and toil of his immigrant father and The Observer’s desperate insistence on clinging to an HVAC unit that should have long since been consigned to Valhalla. We always make a point to ask how his soon-to-be-dentist son is doing when Mr. Mamdo comes to call. The Observer, whose own dear Pa worked himself into an early grave on a roof to give Yours Truly a better life, knows the sacrifices fathers make for their children. So it was that last month, our heating and air unit — that rumbling, cla n k ing wa rhorse of ma ny a 110-degree day and sub-zero night — gave up the ghost, to much weeping and gnashing of teeth by all but Mr. Mamdo. He’d been warning us for years that the day would finally come, even as he held our AC unit together with bubblegum and zipties. Finally, it was here. Not only had the blower fan died, he told us, like a doctor delivering a cancer diagnosis, but the heat exchangers were on the verge of rusting out, raising the specter of carbon monoxide poisoning. “A Death Machine,” he called it, which made the pale gray box by the back steps suddenly seem very exciting indeed. A price was quoted, Spouse went to the bank for a loan, and then we spent a day watching Mr. Mamdo, a helper and one of his sons wrestle the old unit out through the back gate and the new, shining unit into place. Even when it was time to pay up, Mr. Mamdo argued with The Homeowner, cutting his price and still trying to insist that we could pay him half now and half next month, interest free, no problem. “It’s the holidays,” he said, perhaps sensing, as The Observer did, that it would be the last time we saw our old friend for a long while, “and you are like my brother, man.” Never has The Observer come so close to shedding a tear while handing over a large check, and it had nothing to do with the staggering number of zeros.
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GUEST COLUMN
Gratitude
N Submission Deadline:
January 1st, 2018 Acts must be able to perform minimum of 30 minutes of original material with live instrumentation. To Enter: Send streaming Facebook, ReverbNation, Bandcamp or Soundcloud links to showcase@arktimes.com and include the following: 1. Band Name 2. Hometown 3. Date Band was Formed 4. Age Range of Members (All ages welcome) 5. Contact Person 6. Phone 7. Email All musical styles are welcome.
12
DECEMBER 14, 2017
ARKANSAS TIMES
ow, more than ever, I find my- ity public educaself thankful for those who tion holding the resist. Those who remind us line against much of our higher common values. The fact- better funded and checkers and truth-tellers. Those who more connected build bridges in communities instead of school privatizers. BILL walls to segregate. The ones who stand And thank goodKOPSKY up and speak out against injustice. ness for groups like Where would we be without groups Audubon Arkansas, the Sierra Club and like Arkansas Advocates for Children and the Citizens Climate Lobby who are tellFamilies reminding us that the tax plan ing the truth about climate change. now before Congress vastly benefits the President Trump and a majority in most powerful corporations and billion- Congress deny the science that climate aires among us, at the expense of nearly change is a massive threat to our future. everyone else? They deny even as we have record hot Lawmakers fund this tax giveaway year after record hot year, despite record to the most powerful by eliminating tax storms, droughts and fires. They deny deductions for teachers, raising taxes on the economic opportunity of transitioncollege students and seniors, and making ing the American energy sector, leavhealth care even less affordable. They pay ing us decades behind other countries. for it with cuts to job training, education But Arkansas policymakers know green and our social safety net. They explode energy is good for consumers, our econthe national debt, leaving the bill to our omy and for our planet because we have kids. And they give a loophole to expand strong energy advocates. dark money in our elections, cut AmerThere are so many more issues where ica’s green energy investment and end Arkansas grassroots and nonprofit groups protections for the Arctic National Refuge. are making a huge impact. Concerned But these facts didn’t come out in con- Citizens of Monticello Area countering gressional hearings because they didn’t the resurgent KKK with a Love Not Hate have any. Community groups speaking campaign. The ACLU going after courts out is how we’ve exposed this terrible that are criminalizing people for being tax plan. poor. Concerned Citizens in Prescott Thank goodness for the Arkansas working with school leaders to make Opportunity to Learn Campaign, Rural discipline policy more effective and fair. Community Alliance, Campaign for Health advocates that helped ArkanGrade Level Reading, Forward Arkansas, sas maintain our Medicaid expansion Arkansas Education Association, Grass- — offering life-saving health care to over roots Arkansas and others who’ve held 300,000 Arkansans. Thank God for the the state’s feet to the fire for effective women across the country exposing seximprovements in our schools. ual harassment, and the activists exposThe good news is that Arkansas has ing systemic problems with our criminal made major strides in recent years by justice system. The list goes on and on. investing in research-proven reforms I’m privileged to work with many of like improving our curriculum, raising these leaders and groups at the Arkansas teacher quality, and expanding pre-K. We Public Policy Panel and Citizens First have a long way to go, but there is near Congress. They inspire me daily. universal consensus about the next steps This Saturday, Dec. 16, we are havamong teachers, administrators, school ing a day of action. It starts at 11:30 a.m. boards, parents, community groups and on the steps of the state Capitol with a education experts. rally against the terrible tax plan advancSadly, big money is driving another ing through Congress. It continues from education agenda that ignores the data noon to 4 p.m. with a meeting of the Citiand insists we need radical privatization zens First Congress to plan next steps instead. Never mind that its experiments on several key issues. And we are havin other states failed. Never mind that it’s ing a party from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at diverting attention and resources away the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center to from far more effective strategies. Never celebrate one another and recharge for mind that many of the charter and private the work ahead. Join us. There’s lots of schools it advocates for segregate based room for you in this movement, too. on race, ability and income. Thank goodness for the huge crossBill Kopsky is the executive director of section of people who care about qual- the Arkansas Public Policy Panel.
CANNABIZ
Banker for Rx
J
ohn Stacks, the chairman and 981. The Plant Board will license growCEO of a small Arkansas bank, ers to participate in a 10-year industrial last year voted against the amend- hemp research program and administer ment that allowed the sale of medical the program in cooperation with the marijuana in Arkansas. But Stacks at- University of Arkansas’s Department of tributes his opposition to a “lack of Agriculture and the Cooperative Extenknowledge” of the benefits of cannabis, sion Service. The board will also set the and announced this week that his bank, location and acreage of the test plots. HomeBank of Arkansas, will handle acYields and acreage will be small counts from medical marijuana grow- in early years, but should be steadily ers and sellers. increased if the crop proves itself viable. HomeBank, with assets between $78 An ancient crop that was historically million and $79 million and branches in grown for rope, sail canvas, fishing nets Little Rock, Portland (Ashley County), and clothing, industrial hemp differs Greenbrier, Damascus and Marshall, will from cannabis in that it’s low in THC, the partner with third-party private bank- active ingredient in cannabis that gets a ing company Safe Harbor, which Stacks user “high.” Under the law, strains to be said will provide compliance with com- grown as industrial hemp in Arkansas plicated federal laws, such as the Bank must contain less than .3 percent THC. Secrecy Act and anti-money-launderFisher said medical marijuana advoing laws, by vetting growers and sellers cates Gary and Melissa Fults asked him and keeping a transparent accounting of to help write the hemp pilot bill. Helpcash transactions. “Safe Harbor has been ing him with the draft was Nicholas Dial, doing this as long as we know of,” Stacks now the president of the Arkansas Hemp said. By using Safe Harbor, the bank can Association. “file the proper reports with the proper Fisher said that unlike medical cannaauthorities and you take all that cash” bis, which is often grown indoors under away from the growers and sellers. “It very strict lighting, nutrient and waterhopefully prevents theft and crime.” ing conditions to maximize its THC conAnother Arkansas bank is said to be tent, industrial hemp is grown outdoors working with the industry, but has not like any other agricultural crop. “Similar gone public. to a weed,” Fisher said, hemp is naturally drought tolerant and pest resistant, and Had Arkansas legislators attended can grow in pretty much any soil type. this week’s Ark-La-Tex Medical Canna- The plants mature in 90 to 120 days, and bis Expo at the Statehouse Convention have over 25,000 uses, Fisher said. Center and seen the dozens of businesses “The major markets right now have to that will be created as a result of the mar- do with food for the seed oil, the indusijuana industry, they might have decided trial oil for cosmetics and shampoos and to expand, rather than limit, growing lotions, things like that,” he said. “You and dispensing in Arkansas. can use the fiber to make fabrics, and also There were booths for everything building materials.” Fisher said insulafrom fertilizer products to safety testing, tion, particle board and fiberboard can hemp oil products, custom lighters and be manufactured from the sturdy hemp pipes and grinders, safe cash recycling fibers, which can be mixed with cement and banking apps and grow lights. There to form “hempcrete,” a strong and lightwas even a booth touting coconut coir weight building material. as a growing medium. One of the biggest potential markets One of the booths was hosted by for hemp — and one that could have a the Arkansas Hemp Association, a non- huge impact on the economy of Arkanprofit trade group founded to promote sas — is its use in making paper. Unlike and expand nonintoxicating indus- trees, which can take 20 to 30 years to trial hemp as an agricultural crop in grow big enough to provide pulp for the state. AHA Vice President Jeremy paper, a hemp crop can be grown over a Fisher said the first licenses to grow summer. There are currently five indusexperimental plots of hemp in the state trial paper mills in Arkansas, and Fisher should be issued by the Arkansas State said they could likely be retrofitted to Plant Board next spring. use or supplement with hemp fiber. Arkansas approved the issuance of Fisher said that the support from the licenses to grow experimental plots of farming community for a new potenhemp in March 2017 with the passage tial cash crop has been overwhelmingly of House Bill 1778, which became Act positive.
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December 15
ARGENTA THIRD FRIDAY ART WALK a
Buddhist Paintings by
RUTH PASQUINE
Ruth Pasquine Fine Art Studio 600 N. Olive, North Little Rock RECEPTION: Friday, Dec 15, 5-8:00 pm www.ruthpasquine.com
“Vairochana” 2014, oil on canvas, 40 x 28 inches arktimes.com DECEMBER 14, 2017
13
Arkansas Reporter
THE
CROSSLEY: The District 41 candidate says he thinks “Arkansas can do better.”
The class of 2016 First-time candidates outraged by Trump’s election off the bench and into state and local races. BY DAVID KOON
N
othing wakes a sleeping person that could cost Republicans control quicker than a splash of cold of Congress, Arkansas candidates for water to the face. The election offices from school board to the U.S. of President Trump in November 2016 House are hoping they can surf that appears to have been that cold dousing hoped-for tsunami, even in a deep red for progressive Americans. state. Across the country, people who had State Rep. Michael John Gray never considered running for public (D-Augusta), the chairman of the office have turned their outrage into Democratic Party of Arkansas, said that candidacy, and recent elections — while the election of Donald Trump including a near-sweep for Democrats and the policies he has put in place has on Nov. 7 in Virginia, with Democratic Democrats inspired to run, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam candidates he’s talked to are mostly crushing Republican Ed Gillespie, and engaged by their repulsion at what goes Republicans seeing their supermajority on in Washington. “It’s not necessarily in that state’s legislative body evaporate just Trump,” he said. “It’s the bad literally overnight — seem to suggest that policies or the Washington politics of the wind might be blowing against the doing nothing and blaming it on the other party of Trump. Arkansas is also seeing guy.” Though the politics of running a surge of new candidates from the left, against “Barack Obama everywhere” has most of them political novices who freely paid dividends for Republicans over the admit they’re off the bench because of past decade, including in Arkansas, Gray Trump’s election. With a wave election said he believes it would be a mistake potentially brewing for next November for candidates to run on an anti-Trump 14
DECEMBER 14, 2017
ARKANSAS TIMES
agenda. Another motivated to run, in part, “People want to believe in something,” because of the Trump election is Gray said. “I think really, if you’re trying Jonathan Crossley of Jacksonville, to change things, you’ve got to have a who is aiming to unseat Republican vision. You’ve got to have hope and an Rep. Karilyn Brown (R-Sherwood) in idea.” Gray said that while he is “at best, House District 41. Crossley, the principal cautiously optimistic” about Democratic of Baseline Academy in the Little Rock chances in November 2018, he said School District, said that as a person the lesson from Virginia and other trying to help teach children civic duty, challenging special elections recently responsibility and respect for others, won by Democrats is you can’t win if you he believes America can do better than don’t run, and if you run, fight for what’s Trump and his divisive politics. going to make peoples’ lives better. “I think Arkansas can do better, and “What we learned from Virginia is that I want to be a part of the new wave you go out there and run your campaign of Arkansas Democrats that brings on your issues and on your solutions,” he that better to the forefront. We’re said. “Don’t just run a campaign about a generation that expects more, a how bad the other guy is, but a campaign generation that does more for our on your vision of the future and how local communities, that believes in you want to make life better for where something really tangible and visionary.” you’re from or for your kids or for your Even though he personally opposes neighbors. Then things do seem to cut Trump, Crossley said his campaign is through the noise a bit.” about what he believes is possible for the Nicole Clowney, a Fayetteville state, not about the president. “I think Democrat running for Arkansas House that’s a bad way to run a campaign, [and] District 86, said that while the election that’s a bad way to present policy,” he of Donald Trump wasn’t that surprising, said. “If it’s always about the negative the immediate, organized response to and what you’re against, what’s the the election and how the resistance affirmative? What are you for? What to Trump’s agenda has been sustained do you believe in? What’s the vision for a over the past year has been. “I think this better tomorrow? What’s the bold action year has brought a lot of anger and a lot you’re trying to bring about for a better of frustration,” she said, “but it’s also tomorrow? If it’s just about the negative, been really inspiring to watch grass- that’s not a very inspiring message.” roots movements make that real change. Crossley said his message is that all There’s no doubt that the election Arkansans, regardless of party, politics motivated me, but it was in that way.” or where they live, want a better future Clowney has an edge: She’s running for our children. He’ll reach across party for the seat held by a Democrat — Rep. lines to accomplish that, he said. Greg Leding, who is seeking a seat in Gwendolynn Millen Combs, an Air the state Senate. But Clowney said Force veteran and Little Rock school she had never seen a place for herself teacher running to unseat Republican in politics until she saw the work the 2nd District U.S. Rep. French Hill, said Trump resistance — particularly women that while she refuses to call Trump an — have been doing since the election. inspiration, his election was “absolutely” “Just that hard planning, and making her motivation for running. The the phone calls, and dealing with elected organizer of the Little Rock Women’s representatives in that way that women March on Jan. 21, an event that drew have done so consistently for the last thousands of protestors to march on the year,” she said. “There need to be more state Capitol, Combs said that within women doing that as elected officials. days of announcing she was organizing I’ve always known that, but I’m not the march, she met with local politicians sure that the power of that was brought who convinced her to have an impact by fully home to me until I witnessed what running for public office. A first-time women have been able to do.” Clowney candidate, Combs knows she’s aiming joins Fayetteville City Council member high by running for a seat in Congress, Mark Kinion as an announced candidate but said that she did so because she for the District 86 seat. doesn’t believe she can address the issues
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she wants to tackle at the local level. She said she believes Hill is vulnerable. “He’s making bad decisions. He voted against health care, he voted in favor of the tax plan. He’s voted against a living wage for people in the past. His voting record is pro-business, pro-banker, antipeople. I think if that message is able to get out to people in an effective way, I think that it can make a difference.” Combs noted the leadership women have shown in the protest movement against Trump policies, and said that has translated into a surge of female candidates nationwide. She said Emily’s List, a website that supports female candidates, reports there are over 20,000 women nationwide who have announced they are running for public office since the 2016 election. Combs said she believes that reflects the outrage women feel over the misogyny Trump displayed during the campaign. Still, like Gray and others, she said a solely anti-Trump election strategy is a ticket to defeat. “We need to be pro something,” she said. “That’s an idea that seems to be known pretty widely. People are thinking about that, realizing that, and understanding that. That’s encouraging, and we’ve seen positive things as a result of it.” While Combs said she’s optimistic about the chances for Democratic candidates in Arkansas next year, Trump’s relatively high approval rating in the state means it will be tough for any progressive candidate to win. She said her approach has been to talk to people about their concerns first, and their politics second. “I open every conversation with everybody I meet by saying, ‘What are the issues you’d like to see Congress tackle right now?’ ” she said. “I don’t say, ‘Do you vote?’ I don’t say, ‘Who did you vote for?’ I open by listening to that. Then I say, ‘The reason I asked is because I’m running for Congress. I think that’s the right way to approach anybody. We’re all people, and we all have serious concerns.’ ”
THE
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BIG Holidaze Ahoy! PICTURE
Edition
Play at home, while buying disposable crap to prove your love! 1) It was recently announced that a product that’s somewhat beloved elsewhere is coming soon to Arkansas. What is it? A) Pancho’s Old Fashioned Love Grease: The Lube With A Tingle! B) Dr Pepper’s idiot brother who flunked out of medical school, Mr. Pibb. C) Yuengling Beer, which was previously sold only east of the Mississippi River. D) Rickety Deathtrap brand unicycles. 2) A recent article on Politico.com suggested a candidate to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Tom Cotton should Trump appoint Cotton to lead the CIA. Who is it? A) Chelsea Clinton. B) Any Republican who ISN’T a child molester. C) A birthday-cake-powered cyborg. D) Yet another perfect clone of Cotton, grown and programmed in the Koch brothers’ secret North Korean volcano lair. 3) A new documentary by Arkansas filmmakers Brent and Craig Renaud recently debuted on HBO. What’s it called? A) “Brent and Craig Renaud Tersely Correct People on How To Pronounce Their Last Name.” B) “Jiro Dreams of Sushi 2: The Nigiri Strikes Back” C) “Meth Storm,” a documentary about the struggles of those addicted to cheap, high-grade methamphetamine in rural Arkansas. D) “Bigly Tremendous Fantastic Voyage,” which documents the real-life mission to shrink a submarine and send it into Donald Trump’s brain to try to fix whatever the hell has clearly gone wrong in there. 4) Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox recently issued an order that threw the state into some turmoil for a brief period. What was Fox’s order? A) He ordered that leopard print shall henceforth be considered “classy.” B) He added “really, really bogus day in court” to the list of conditions that qualifies a patient for a medical marijuana card. C) He ordered the state to stop issuing all birth certificates until Arkansas complied with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that required birth certificates issued to gay and lesbian couples to include the names of both same-sex parents. D) He declared Dec. 15 “Judge Tim Fox Is Better at Everything Than You Day” statewide. 5) A bit of landscaping on the grounds of the Clinton Presidential Center made news recently. What was it? A) Vandals clipped a shrub into the spitting image of Whitewater Special Prosecutor Ken Starr. B) There was another axe murder in that creepy hedge maze Bill insisted on having planted. C) A patch of farkleberries, a plant forever connected to Arkansas politics by the late, great editorial cartoonist George Fisher, who often used the term to mock Gov. Orval Faubus, was planted. D) The Whomping Willow won’t stop whomping Clinton School of Public Service Dean Skip Rutherford.
Correction
Answers: C, A, C, C, C
The Walton gift to the University of Arkansas to create the School of Art, reported in last week’s issue on philanthropy, incorrectly said the gift came from the Walton Family Foundation. The $120 million is coming from the Walton Charitable Support Foundation.
arktimes.com DECEMBER 14, 2017
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DOLLARS, STAT UAMS says more state aid crucial to maintain mission, quality. BY LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK
BRIAN CHILSON
I
f you’re a patient at the medical cen- past four years, in 2014, 2015 and 2017. budget and be the sort of medical center ter at the University of Arkansas for Revenues have tracked upward since 2010, the state can be proud of, UAMS Interim Medical Sciences, you might not feel but so have expenses. During his tenure, Chancellor Dr. Stephanie Gardner and the pain that a budget deficit of $39 former Chancellor Dan Rahn, who left Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and million represents for the institution as a this year, begged the UA board to lobby for Administration Bill Bowes have emphasized. whole. That deficit is but a drop in the $1.5 more state dollars for the institution, which It must raise its revenues. But something’s billion bucket that is UAMS’ total budget. supports five colleges and a graduate school. got to give on the expenditure side, and But the deficit — which was budgeted While the situation is not as bad as it was in “everything’s on the table,” Gardner said in last year and approved by the UA System 2014, when UAMS had to borrow money to an interview last week. The current operating Board of Trustees — has, at this point in the operate, it seems to have again reached a model “is not sustainable,” she said. fiscal year, risen to $72.3 million. Clinical tipping point — especially given that there That means vacant positions are being revenues, while higher this year than last, are only six months left in the fiscal year evaluated for elimination, benefits like are not meeting what UAMS leadership to make up the $32.5 million gap, keep the vacation days for employees could be reduced describes as an ambitious budget, and joint deficit at $39 million and come up with and some employees may lose their jobs. initiatives with other health systems have a deficit-free budget for FY 2019. UAMS’ In the wake of a similar budget shortfall at required unexpected spending. On top of unrestricted net assets, which it might tap the University of Mississippi Medical Center that, the UA System has told UAMS that it into for emergencies, only amount to $52.4 earlier this year, that hospital eliminated wants its 2019 budget to be balanced. million. 195 jobs and 85 unfilled positions. When the UAMS has run a deficit for three of the UAMS can’t cut its way to a balanced cuts were announced, UMMC’s chancellor
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told the media, “When you look at education, research and technology academic medical centers like us development, and clinical services. all across the country … they are Propping up UAMS is the all facing these challenges, these hospital, which provides 77 percent battles.” Gardner and Bowes said of revenues for all of UAMS. the same thing. The $39 million deficit stems “We need to try to make sure from several things: UAMS carries there’s a correction on this $32 depreciation on its own books, as million,” UAMS’ unbudgeted do all campuses in the UA System. shortfall, Gardner said. “We can’t Thanks to a growth spurt in the continue like this.” late 2000s — which included the In fact, in his address to the UA board in 2017, former Chancellor Rahn warned of a “death spiral” should the state not increase its appropriation for UAMS. In an email to all employees before a Nov. 28 “Town Hall” with staff about UAMS’ financial difficulties, Gardner stressed that UAMS’ annual revenues have “consistently exceeded our expenses,” but have “not been enough to meet our infrastructure investment needs. “With our limited state funding, our dependence on clinical revenue to fund our education and research missions, the rising cost of doing business, proposed cuts in Medicare reimbursement and changes to Arkansas Works and the Affordable Care Act expected next year, we are faced with even greater pressures now.”
Bowes said, that because depreciation is not a real cash expense, UAMS’ budgeted deficit could have been less than $39 million. But, he said, “we have to look at it that way [because] we are responsible for the debt we incur on our projects.” It is an expense that is measured collectively against revenues, thus pushing the deficit up. UAMS will spend $4.5 million
raises at UAMS. Staff (not including faculty) have seen their salaries rise only 1 to 2 percent over the past four years, Gardner said. Because of lagging pay, UAMS annually has had an 18 percent turnover in nurses, she said; UAMS is working to get their pay up to market levels. UAMS also has employees whose pay is only in the 25th percentile nationwide among their peers, Gardner said. The hospital also had a 2 percent increase in its costs for health insurance coverage for employees. “We absorbed that instead of putting it on employees,” Gardner said. The additional $32 million deficit is due to a shortfall of $15 million in anticipated clinical revenues and unexpected expenses related to the creation of the Accountable Care Organization with Baptist Health to take care of Medicare patients and a second initiative to serve Medicaid patients with behavioral health and developmental disability needs with Baptist, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Bost Inc. clinics in Northwest Arkansas. The latter arrangement is meant to address the possibility of declining Medicaid dollars if the state hires a managed care company to run its Medicaid program.
FUTURE CONCERNS
Arkansas’s contribution to its medical teaching hospital, the institution that turns out a huge number of Arkansas’s physicians, is $106.6 million a year. It once allocated $120 million, but the legislature cut the appropriation back after the passage of the Affordable Care Act in anticipation that the health care law would reduce UAMS’ cost of treating Arkansas’s indigent population. (The ACA, aka Obamacare, did reduce UAMS Medical Center’s unreimbursed costs, from 13 percent of its budget to 3.5 percent.) The $106.6 million number sounds like a generous sum until you consider that UAMS must use a great percentage as its match for Medicaid reimbursements. In 2017, the match was $85 million, leaving only $21 million in state support for the rest of UAMS’ mission, including
Other negatives could impact UAMS down the road: Governor Hutchinson has asked the federal government to approve a waiver that would allow only those who make less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level to enroll in Medicaid; the Department of Human Services has said around 61,000 Arkansans would be removed from the program. UAMS can’t predict what that would mean for its bottom line, since where those 61,000 would seek treatment can’t be known, but it would surely increase the hospital’s unreimbursed costs. Should Congress pass a tax bill with the provision that removes the penalty for not sharing in the country’s insurance costs, the Affordable Care Act will be weakened further. And if the Congressional Budget Office is correct and the bill will actually raise taxes on people making less
BRIAN CHILSON
WHAT THE STATE GIVES NOW
INTERIM CHANCELLOR GARDNER: Says UAMS “can’t continue” to operate as it has unless it can get more more state funding.
$130 million Winthrop Rockefeller this year in debt service on bonds Cancer Institute (2010), the new $197 of $45 million to renovate rooms in million hospital tower (2009) and its 1955 hospital — which is rife with the Psychiatric Research Institute problems in plumbing and structure (2008), as well as the cost of high- — for patient use again. UAMS has dollar medical equipment —UAMS’ two other buildings that are nearly depreciation stands at $85 million, 60 years old — the Winston K. Shorey an amount that represents what it Education Building (1957) and the needs to invest in campus facilities Barton Research Center (1960). and equipment. Another cash expense in the You could argue, Vice Chancellor deficit is $20 million that is going to
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than $75,000 a year, more people “reclassifications” — promotions — such changes. These strategies aren’t may be unable to afford insurance and “out-of-cycle salary increases.” new; much the same thing was done and increase UAMS’ indigent care. Though UAMS has taken steps to in 2015. address Medicare and Medicaid Some might argue that shorter reimbursement challenges, to hospital stays and more patients BUTTONHOLING balance the budget for the 2019 fiscal could be a negative, if it means LEGISLATORS year, “much more action is needed.” patients are released too soon Interim Chancellor Gardner — Can UAMS catch up without from inpatient care or must spend who is one of two new finalists for layoffs? “We’re looking at less time with their doctors at the chancellor position after the everything,” Bowes repeated. appointments because of pressures original two finalists for the job UAMS can’t delete clinical service on clinics to increase patient load. dropped out — says she and other lines without harming the medical Layoffs could also hurt operations. UAMS administrators will seek out c o l l e g e ’ s Gardner legislators one-on-one to make their a b i l i t y UAMS can’t cut its way to a has said that case that Arkansas’s only medical t o t r a i n a solution teaching and research institution, doctors, so balanced budget and be the “ w i l l its only Level One Trauma Center, even if some sort of medical center the c e r t a i n l y needs to take a higher priority in p r o g r a m s come about state can take pride in. state funding. cost money from a lot UAMS is working to operate as rather than of creative efficiently as it can. “We’re trying to generate it, they can’t be eliminated minds providing ideas and being look at every aspect of our services without harming the teaching willing to help find solutions.” Some and programs we provide, what’s mission. But Bowes said leaving of those creative minds could be critical and what’s sustainable,” vacancies unfilled and doing away UAMS employees; a mailbox has Gardner said. “But we want to be with certain contracted services will been set up so they can give input. true to our mission, to improve improve the bottom line. While the institution declined to health care in the state.” U A M S l e a d e r s h i p release their emails, it did give a list Gardner says a l s o b e l i e v e s t h e of employee suggestions: Disallow UAMS will reduce institution can raise space heaters. Increase parking expenses by revenues by further fees. Cut catering for meetings. limiting the improvements in Increase efficiency in collecting hiring of new administrative patient information. Eliminate the employees and functions, like birthday holiday. Decrease length suspending all billing, access to of hospital stays; see more patients. appointments to Create frequent flyer accounts to see more patients save on travel purchases. Turn off and cuts to hospital the lights when a room is not in use. stays. It has Close nonclinical or hospital care contracted with during the Christmas holidays. Quit Huron Consulting buying coffee. of Chicago to look at No suggestions provided to the
Times suggested administrators should look to their own house to save money. But, UAMS’ decision-making in its pay of its administrators has gotten less than favorable attention at times. In 2013, its decision to pay a former CFO, Melony Goodhand, $312,000 simply to be on call for questions after she left the university raised some eyebrows, especially after she quit the job for which she left UAMS and after it was learned that Bowes, her successor, was hired at $270,000. More recently, an anonymous writer to the Times has grouched about the university’s contract with College of Medicine Dean Pope Moseley that allows him to spend months in Denmark doing research at the University of Copenhagen while earning $600,000 a year at UAMS. Asked if faculty or administrators might be asked to renegotiate contracts in a way that would save UAMS money, spokeswoman Leslie Taylor replied, “Everything is on the table.”
BRIAN CHILSON
BILL BOWES: The UAMS funding model, which among other things requires the institution to budget depreciation, is not sustainable.
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Arts Entertainment AND
Beyond binary
In addition to the book, Moats and book, but that doesn’t mean it’s his wife are doing a monthly podcast, exclusively for children at specific the first episode of which was released reading levels. His aim, Moats said, is on iTunes in November. to illustrate it clearly enough so that Bash-O-Bash’ encourages genderfluid kids “Bash-O-Bash” takes place in the “a toddler would love to flip through a to express themselves. countryside of Arkansas, and while it lot.” As for getting the ideas and themes was important to him that “Bash-O- across to someone who is only looking BY COLTON FAULL Bash” demystify a lot of things about at the pictures, Moats says a lot of the ooking through illustrator stories and artwork for children who kids and parenthood, he also aimed gender fluidity will be “expressed Bryan Moats’ portfolio, there are, as the project’s website says, “as to mystify things we often consider through dress and clothing as well as are traces of whimsy that make conforming and nonconforming as they mundane — namely, living in the context.” his work seem almost predestined for come.” country and being connected to the Sexuality, though, isn’t going to be a the pages of children’s books. Take, part of the “Bash-O-Bash” universe. for example, the 350 drawings he “From start to finish,” the website did for a research project in the reads, “Bash-O-Bash is about kids’ communication sciences and nonsexual expression of their disorders department at the gender.” University of Central Arkansas, “It’s not really an issue, but images of interactions between because we want to give these people and animals compiled into characters a life of their own, a reel called “Weird and Endearing we might as well give each one Moments.” Or the plaid and polkaparagraph and explain what dotted Spotted Crow character he they’re all about and why you drew for Asthmatic Kitty Records, want to read more about them in a record label run by Sufjan Steven’s the future. There’s no sexuality in stepfather and best known for it whatsoever. It’s just a zero part releasing the singer-songwriter’s of it,” Moats said. discography. Even in Moats’ work “I think ‘Bash-O-Bash’ is an as the former art director for the adorably brilliant idea,” Emily Arkansas Times, it shows — his cover Young, owner of Dog Ear Books for the “Get Lit: A Preview of the in Russellville, said via email. “As 2016 Arkansas Literary Festival” of soon as I read up on it some, I books flying about a room. was hooked. It’s something that Moats’ work is simple: filled-in is severely lacking in the literary line drawings, well-wrought, often world, especially on a local level.” against white backgrounds. “My Young is a supporter of Moats’ work trajectory as a creative person has on a platform called Patreon — a always been leading me towards key part, Moats said, of publishing illustrating children’s books,” he in a market where there aren’t a lot told me as we sipped on coffee at of children’s books bringing up the a Little Rock coffee shop. “People idea of gender-fluidity; “Bash-Ohave always told me, ‘You know, Bash” does not yet have a publisher. Bryan, you should do that,’ and I’d “I think these days, it’s necessary for FAST FOX: One of Bash-O-Bash’s only initially openly gender fluid characters, Fast Fox, identialways agree.” children to have fewer restrictions fies as a girl, is the youngest character, loves to race, dress up and is a founding member of the When Moats and his wife, local makerspace. on who they are, so that they can Meredith Martin-Moats, had kids figure it out themselves,” Young — twin sons and a little girl — he noticed Moats is the illustrator, but he land. “It’s a rural state,” he said. ... It’s continued. “I, personally, would love his sons never really embraced gender emphasizes that “Bash-O-Bash is a really important to us to tell stories to have my child growing up with norms. “They like to paint their toenails family project. Everything from the that fully show characters who are in characters like ‘Bash-O-Bash’ provides.” or wear nightgowns,” Moats said. “We name (a “fun, explosive, nonsense every single way super happy about Ultimately, Martin-Moats said, “It’s could definitely see how this could word” his sons made up when they this environment they live in.” about blowing open gender boxes and end up being a struggle for both of were younger), characters and story has “I really love the process of helping it’s also about breaking down all kinds them.” So, Meredith and Bryan turned been a collaboration with his wife and layer the stories,” Martin-Moats said. of walls. ... I think a lot of times adults to look for things for their children sons. “It’s never been just my project,” “For example, thinking about how creek are so afraid of anything that doesn’t fit that were not gender-conforming. he said. “We talk about storylines names can surface in the stories or how into a box. Kids’ capacity for complex Finding little, they decided to create over dinner,” Martin-Moats said. “We butterfly migration patterns can make emotions is really quite huge. In my something themselves. That work- have family meetings to talk about the an appearance.” personal opinion, it’s often adults who in-progress series is called “Bash-O- characters. All of the characters are “Bash-O-Bash” will probably be a bit fear complexity more than children. Bash” (bashobash.com), an array of at least partially created by our kids.” wordier than the average children’s The stories are about all of this.”
L
BRYAN MOATS
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“THE VIRGINIA STATE COLONY for Epileptics and Feebleminded: Poems” by Molly McCully Brown, the inaugural recipient of The Oxford American Literary Project’s Jeff Baskin Writers Fellowship, landed on The New York Times’ “Times Critics’ Top Books of 2017” list. Brown is working on her first book of creative n o nf ic t io n, a c o nt in ua t io n of h e r manuscript “What We Are.” For more on her work, visit mollymccullybrown.com. A G R A NT O F $ 3 0 0,0 0 0 f rom the Windgate Charitable Foundation in Siloam Springs will promote UA Pulaski Tech’s arts programming at its Center for the Humanities and Arts (CHARTS), the college announced today. The Windgate Foundation — which also provided $20.3 million for the new ar t depar tment building at UA Little Rock — has been a generous supporter of CHARTS, providing $1 million to furnish and equip the facility, which includes classrooms, a 450-seat theater and the Windgate Gallery, and providing a $500,000 challenge grant to create an endowment, which Pulaski Tech met. Revenues from programming will be reinvested in CHARTS to help it become self-sustaining. ARKANSAS STATE Sen. Joyce Elliott (D-Little Rock) earlier this week was awarded the Public Leadership in the Arts Award for State Arts Leadership by Americans for the Arts and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). “When I was growing up,” Elliott said, “access to the arts was minuscule at best, mainly because of economic conditions, perception of value and a lack of advocacy on behalf of the arts. I consider the arts integral to completion of the human soul, not an a la carte option. It is crucial that our advocacy centers on ensuring art is a part of the main course of life.”
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HENDR IX COLLEGE IN CONWAY announced plans this week for the Miller Creative Quad, to include two residence halls, a new museum of art, a 990-square-foot auditorium with an industry-standard film screening room and music practice facilities and teaching spaces. For more on the project, visit hendrix.edu/creativequad.
GIVE THE GIFT THAT ROARS!
LITTLE ROCK / C M Y K
92059 / HALF PAGE ISLAND - FRONT OF PAPER / ARKANSAS TIMES arktimes.com DECEMBER 14, 2017 Follow Rock Candy on Twitter: @RockCandies RUN DATE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14
21
TO-DO
LIST
BY STEPHANIE SMITTLE, LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK AND OMAYA JONES
COURTNEY PITTMAN
THE
BALLADS FOR THE BARROOM: Carson McHone (above) and Kevin Kerby (right) share a bill at the White Water Tavern Thursday night.
CHAD COCHRAN
THURSDAY 12/14
CARSON MCHONE, KEVIN KERBY
9 p.m. White Water Tavern.
Maybe it’s the good genes, but Carson McHone is compared most often to other young, beautiful contemporaries — Amanda Shires and Elizabeth Cook, for example. One listen to anything the Austin native’s performed in the last year, though, connects her more with the music of an earlier — and maybe less trendy — set of peers. Dwight Yoakam’s cadence and yodellike tendencies seem to emerge from the lines in McHone’s clever exercise in denial, “Maybe They’re Just Really Good Friends,” and McHone’s
Nashville-born lament “Sweet Magnolia” is delivered with a warm, unbroken delivery a la Kathy Mattea or Patty Loveless. In short, McHone seems to have fiercely resisted the path of the pure country traditionalist, opting for restrained, intimate confessionals like “How ’Bout It” and “Only Lovers” that represent a collective sort of B-side to McHone’s duet with Ray Wylie Hubbard, “Chick Singer Badass Rockin.’ ” She’s joined by Kevin Kerby, the unofficial official Poet Laureate of Pulaski County, frontman for barroom country-rock outfit Mulehead and a perfect example of someone who, like McHone, understands that the visceral immediacy of a song is always more important than how it gets packaged. SS
FRIDAY 12/15
OR, JOSHUA ASANTE, COUNTRY FLORIST
9 p.m. Capitol View Studio.
This is a hell of an all-ages show and a perfect time to check out the sleek Capitol View Studio tucked
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away at 120 Cross St. and the work they do with the Arkansas Music & Arts Foundation. There’s Or, a new project from Jack Lloyd and Everett Hagen; the multihyphenate solo work of Joshua Asante (Amasa Hines, Velvet Kente); and Country Florist (Andrew
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Morgan of Chinese Girls and Ettiem), of “Outtakes, roughed up jams, and whose disco-infused “Waveland,” a notes to self,” the release notes, adding, collection of 11 superbly layered tracks “Tear along the perforations and pour recorded on a Yamaha MT4X, was some boxwine. Set yr glass down released on Drawing Room Records before you get down.” Speaking of in October. For a dance primer, find wine, there will be some for sale for Country Florist’s “Landfall,” a sampler those of age. Beer, too. SS
IN BRIEF
THURSDAY 12/14
FRIDAY 12/15-SUNDAY 12/17, TUESDAY 12/19
A CHAMBER SINGERS CHRISTMAS
7 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., Old State House Museum. 7 p.m. Tue., St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 4106 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, NLR. Free-$15.
Some of the most beautiful (and oddball) sacred music committed to paper has been done for the season of Advent. Note, for example, the many settings of the traditional English carol “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day,” a strange and sprightly little boogie that depicts Christ’s life in first person: “In a manger laid, and wrapped I was/So very poor, this was my chance/Between an ox and a silly poor ass/To call my true love to my dance,” or the folk verse tale of Good King Wenceslas, an admonition as truth bomb-y today as it was when it was written in 1853: ‘Therefore, Christian men, be sure/Wealth or rank possessing/Ye, who now will bless the poor/Shall yourselves find blessing.” When we checked in with the Arkansas Chamber Singers ahead of this concert, they had the two aforementioned pieces on the set list, as well as three of the loveliest takes on “Ave Maria” you’ve never heard: one by Felix Mendelssohn with a marvelous tenor solo; another from living Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, and a sonorous motet block from Robert Parsons, a 16th century composer whose sudden death by drowning cut short a career that very well could have made him a household choral name like, say, that of near-contemporary Thomas Tallis. This concert from the angelic, polished voices of the Chamber Singers ensemble promises to be part rollicking, part meditative and to give you a chance to hear some otherworldly (see: Ola Gjeilo) and seriously undersung Christmas repertoire. Admission to the performances at the Old State House is free; the Tuesday performance at St. Luke’s will set you back $15. SS
SOUNDS OF UNITY: Laura Lynn Danley (pictured) and Justin Patterson of Ten Penny Gypsy join guitarist/ songwriter Brian Nahlen for an acoustic cafe at Unity Church Friday night.
FRIDAY 12/15
SOUNDS OF UNITY: BRIAN NAHLEN
7 p.m. Unity Church, 2610 Reservoir Road, Little Rock. $10 suggested donation.
Here’s a new acoustic cafe series from duo Justin Patterson and Laura Lynn Danley, a pair of longtime regulars at songwriters’ circles who just released their sweetly harmonic self-titled debut, “Ten Penny Gypsy,” produced by Anthony Crawford, a seasoned former sideman to Vince Gill and Neil Young. Their set is paired this month with some tunes from featured baritone Brian Nahlen, a fellow Central Arkansas Music Awards nominee (visit arktimes.com/cama for more on that) whose 2016 album “Cicada Moon” ranges from melancholy ballad (“Holdin’ On”) to a Zeppelinesque pep talk (“Sing Out Loud”) to anthemic post-apocalyptic comfort (“A Song for the End of the World”). SS
FRIDAY 12/15
THIRD FRIDAY ARGENTA ART WALK, ‘MAKE IT MERRY’ 5-8 p.m., downtown North Little Rock. Free.
The spirit is moving over in North Little Rock’s artsy Argenta. The monthly Friday night celebration of art features more things to do than you can squeeze into three hours, so decide: Will you go to the Argenta Holiday Showcase at the Argenta Branch Library at 420 Main, where the diverse art of nine artists — Michael Shaeffer, Lynn Frost, Sulac, Vincent Griffin, Brianna Peterson, Michael Castellano, Phillip Huddleston, Heather Canterbury and Meikel Church — will be shown? Then to “Make It Merry” at the Innovation Hub, where for $10 (kids) or $15 (adults) you can make holiday gifts in the studios for screen-printing, printmaking, laser, 3D printing and more? (Some activities are free.)
Or will you do the Art Walk to see impressionist Barry Thomas demonstrating his painting skills (711 Main St.), detour to 600 N. Olive to Ruth Pasquine Fine Art Studio to see her Buddhist-themed paintings, head back to Main to check out University of Central Arkansas professor and printmaker Jessie Hornbrook’s show “My Social Insecurity” and knitted creations by Mindy Lucas at Mugs Cafe (515 Main St.)? The art walk path leads on, to Jake Jackson’s work at the NLR Heritage Center (506 Main St.); “Best of the South” at Greg Thompson Fine Art (429 Main St.); “VI Machina” by David Murphree at studioMAIN and “Permanent Waves,” work by Spencer Puritan, at Argenta Gallery (both at 413 Main St.); and “Path to Enlightenment” at Core Brewery (411 Main St.). House of Art’s “Poets be like …” doesn’t start until 9 p.m., but doors open at 8 p.m., and you’ll be glad to rest up for the spoken word, comedy and music event ($10). LNP
Poet Miki Gaynor is featured at Guillermo’s Coffee, Tea & Roastery for Poetry Night, 7 p.m. Midterm elections are fast approaching, so Nexus Coffee & Creative hosts the happy hour Holiday Cards to Legislators letter-writing effort in the River Market, 5:30 p.m. Brian Nahlen and Nick Devlin play for happy hour at Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m., free, and later, Tragikly White takes the stage, 9 p.m., $5. Sesame Street Live lands at Verizon Arena, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., $22-$52. Norman, Okla., one-man band Mike Hosty plays a free, all-ages show at Stickyz Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 8:30 p.m. The Joint is home to a Comedy Bowl with hosts A.J. Marlin and Wesley and David Kleitch, 8 p.m., $10. Tom Clark goes for laughs at The Loony Bin, 7:30 p.m. Thu.Sat., 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat., $8-$12. Tenor Arnold Rawls joins the Hot Springs Concert Band at the Woodlands Auditorium in Hot Springs Village for a holiday concert, 7:30 p.m., $12. The River City Men’s Chorus gives its final holiday concert performance, Second Presbyterian Church, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY 12/15 The “Juke Joint Duo,” Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm, channel backwoods blues at the White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m. The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s “Home for the Holidays” concert features soprano Kelly Singer, Stephanie Smittle and the Praeclara vocal ensemble, 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., Robinson Center Performance Hall, $15-$65. Irma Gerd and Jess Kitten host a holiday party, Club Camp: Slay Belles, at Club Sway with shows at 10:30 p.m. and midnight. Flatland Cavalry takes its West Texas sound to Stickyz, 9 p.m., $10. Kadela blends trippy electronica with acoustic live instrumentation at Four Quarter Bar; think “fast yoga flow,” 10 p.m., $7. Seth Freeman performs at West End Smokehouse, 10 p.m., $7. The Dangerous Idiots takes their potent, punk-informed rock to the stage at Maxine’s in Hot Springs, with Open Fields and SHYTVVNS, 9 p.m., $5. RaabGaas (Rats at a Bar Grab at a Star), My Hands to War, Auspicious and The Weeping Gate play the back room at Vino’s, 8 p.m., $7. Chris DeClerk kicks off the weekend with happy hour at Cajun’s, 5:30 p.m., free, followed by a late night set from Rustenhaven, 9 p.m., $5. Opal Agafia & The Sweet Nothings take their rootsy soul to the stage at Kings Live Music in Conway, CONTINUED ON PAGE 25
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23
THE
TO-DO
LIST
BY STEPHANIE SMITTLE, LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK AND OMAYA JONES
FRIDAY 12/15-SATURDAY 12/23
‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’
Argenta Community Theater. 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., 7 p.m. Tue.-Thu. $25-$30.
Memory can be unkind to art, erasing the nuance we felt from a book or poem when we first read it or, worse, supplanting the depth of
the original work with a hazy, bland chance to rectify past wrongs, release pastiche of remakes we half-remember. self-imposed misery and mend So, when Argenta Community Theater broken relationships.” However, she decided to reimagine “A Christmas remembered it “as a grim tale which Carol,” playwright Judy Goss went plays upon Scrooge’s guilt and pity straight back to the source, reading for the crippled Tiny Tim.” A fresh Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella for read revealed humor and compassion. the first time. She knew, she told “Suspense never lags, vivid characters us, “the story’s power: Scrooge gets a abound,” Goss said, “and irresistible
SATURDAY 12/16-SUNDAY 12/17
FRIDAY 12/15
WINTER SOULSTICE VI: FOR THE LOVE OF OTIS
AMY WINEHOUSE TRIBUTE
9 p.m. Sat., 7 p.m. Sun. White Water Tavern.
It was this week in 1967 that Otis Redding’s plane crashed into icy Lake Monona only 4 miles away from the Madison, Wis., airport, just as the soul singer was poised to steer the previously dominant Motown
sound Staxward. Redding packed an emotional wallop with each word, coaxing an immediacy from utterances like “fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa,” elevating the nonsensical to something more akin to keening. And, with the Funkanites, Joshua Asante and DJ Baldego at the helm for two nights straight, this is probably your best bet to commune with the otherworldly Otis without help from DMT. SS
9:30 p.m. Revolution. $15-$20.
Rock ’n’ roll loves an outlaw, and Amy Winehouse’s personal life — pouring pints at The Hawley Arms, getting into fights, picking at her
towering bouffant, struggling with addiction privately and publicly — threatened to overshadow her music. Here to remind us is Julia Morgan Struthers as Winehouse, with a killer opening act: Dazz & Brie and The Emotionalz. SS
SATURDAY 12/16
ARKANSAS PUBLIC POLICY PANEL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FAYETTEVILLE
joy emerges from impending doom.” With a new narrator’s vantage point (no spoilers) and music from fiddler Charlie Friedman, the revised classic will be performed at the ACT through Christmas Eve Eve. Find tickets at argentacommunitytheater.org. SS
5 p.m. Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. $25.
One thing about our local political climate is clear: the Arkansas Public Policy Panel will have their plates full for the foreseeable future. “Putting the public back in public policy since 1963,” the organization’s website reads, the Public Policy Panel coordinates the Arkansas Citizens First Congress,
an advocacy group that mobilizes when, say, the Arkansas legislature threatens to pass policy adversely affecting LGBTQ rights, water quality or funding for early childhood education. If that rings your bell and you’re looking to find out more, spend your Saturday happy hour over at Mosaic Templars with the panel, a silent auction, open bar, live music from Tim Anthony & Afrodesia and food from Lost Forty, The Pantry, The Root and more. SS
SATURDAY 12/16
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS VS. TROY TROJANS 7 p.m. Verizon Arena. $25.
SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Star forward Daniel Gafford and the Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball team take on the Troy University Trojans at Verizon Arena Saturday night.
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DECEMBER 14, 2017
ARKANSAS TIMES
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Neutral ground might have disappeared altogether from the political landscape, but there are still a few corners of it in the sports world, at least technically speaking. Coach Mike Anderson, star freshman forward Daniel Gafford — an El
Dorado native who’s been averaging over 12 points a game — and the rest of the Razorbacks men’s basketball team face off against the Troy University Trojans at Verizon Arena on Saturday. The Trojans, sitting at 5-5 overall, land at Verizon Arena after two consecutive losses, to the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles and to the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Blazers. SS
IN BRIEF, CONT. with an opening set from Nate Kennedy, 8:30 p.m., $5. PRINT
7 p.m. Riverdale 10 Cinema. $8.50.
Elmore Leonard’s novels have long been the source of film adaptations. In fact, there hasn’t been a decade since the ’50s that didn’t feature some adaptation of a Leonard work. The author, who died in 2013, wrote over 30 novels, several of which were winningly adapted for the screen — “3:10 to Yuma” in 1957 and a remake in 2007, “Get Shorty” in 1995 and the FX television series “Justified.” Steven Soderbergh is as prolific a filmmaker as Leonard was a novelist. There isn’t a job on a film set he hasn’t done, often working under assumed names for different roles, and since 1985 he’s amassed more than 40 credits as a director alone. Soderbergh’s adaptation of “Out of Sight” (1998), said to best capture the style and tone of Leonard’s writing, is next up in the Arkansas Times Film Series, screened Tuesday in partnership with Film Quotes Film and Riverdale 10 Cinema. The script, by “Get Shorty” scribe Scott Frank, is snappy and funny, the cinematography is stylish, and it’s the first pairing between the director and actor George Clooney, who would go on work together on the series of “Ocean’s Eleven” movies and a remake of Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Solaris.” Clooney plays Jack Foley, a career bank robber who tries (and fails) to go straight, and who is being hunted by U.S. Marshal Karen Frisco (Jennifer Lopez). Roger Ebert said of the pairing, “These two have the kind of unforced fun in their scenes together that reminds you of Bogart and Bacall.” Of course there’s a “meet cute” that takes place in the trunk of a car, and we later get one of the best love scenes committed to film, even though Soderbergh admits he stole it from Nicolas Roeg’s 1973 film “Don’t Look Now.” The film also features a cameo from Michael Keaton, reprising the role of detective Ray Nicolette from Quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown.” OJ
CW: CD: AD:
Live: 1.875" x 5.25"
‘OUT OF SIGHT’
AE:
Trim: 2.125" x 5.5" Bleed: none"
TUESDAY 12/19
PM:
Closing Date: 6/2/17
Kids’ birthday parties aren’t exactly known for breaking new musical ground, but maybe that’s different when the blonde from The B-52s is your mom? Cindy Wilson, best known for her time partnering with Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider on party tunes like “Rock Lobster” and “Loveshack,” met the bandmates who played on her full-length solo debut “Change” for the Kill Rock Stars label — Ryan Monahan and Lemuel Hayes — when they were playing in what Wilson told the Lenny Letter was “a really fantastic Beatles cover band,” one she hired (and rehired) for her son’s birthday shindig. Wilson spent most of her time with the B-52s shimmying and shouting. On “Change,” she coos. The beat is still there, often a Tom Tom Club-ish bounce, with Wilson’s voice whispering above it: “All over the world, all over the world, people are asking, “What more can I be?” SS
PO:
Publication: Arkansas Times
CINDY WILSON
9 p.m. Stickyz Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken Shack. $20.
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SATURDAY 12/16
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“WHAT MORE CAN I BE?”: Cindy Wilson of The B-52s performs at Stickyz Saturday night in support of her solo album on Kill Rock Stars, “Change.”
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The Cons of Formant play stringforward folk for the crowd at Kings Live Music, 8:30 p.m., $5. Kris Allen stops at the Ron Robinson Theater on his “Somethin’ About Christmas” tour, 6 p.m., $25-$75. Foul Play Cabaret burlesque troupe tantalizes at Maxine’s, 9 p.m., $10-$15. WVRM, Funeral Chic, Abandon the Artifice and MOFD share a heavy bill at Vino’s, 8 p.m., $8. WWE brings its contenders for the NXT Live title into the ring at Clear Channel Metroplex, 6 p.m., $20-$75. The Little Rock Zoo hosts “Holidays in the Wild,” with visits to animals from Santa, crafts and a buffet lunch in Cafe Africa, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., $10$23. Woodpeckers take the stage at Cajun’s, 9 p.m., $5. Weakness for Blondes takes the stage for the Lagunitas Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at Four Quarter Bar, 10 p.m., $7. The Grief Brothers perform live at Hibernia Irish Tavern, 8 p.m. A Year and a Day takes the stage at West End Smokehouse, 10 p.m., $7. The Plantation Agriculture Museum in Scott opens its grounds for the seventh annual Holiday Crafts Open House, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 4815 U.S. Highway 165, free. Smokey & the Mirror, Shannon Wurst, and Cameron Johnson give a free concert for Main Street Music Night at Arts Center of the Ozarks, 7:30 p.m., RSVP by calling 479-751-5441 or visiting acozarks.org. Tragikly White takes its dance mix to the stage at Revolution, 9:30 p.m., $10. It’s a Flipoff Pirates Christmas at Fayetteville’s Smoke & Barrel Tavern, 10 p.m., $5. The cast of drag artists at Club Sway takes audience requests for Total Request Live, 9 p.m.
QC:
SATURDAY 12/16
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SUNDAY 12/17 Hibernia Irish Tavern hosts its weekly Traditional Irish Music Session, 2:30 p.m., free. The Band Camino charms with pop hooks and earnest vocals at the Rev Room, 7:30 p.m., $10-$12.
TUESDAY 12/19 A touring production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” goes up at the University of Central Arkansas’s Reynolds Performance Hall, 7:30 p.m., $27-$35. Elsewhere in Conway, Tyler Sellers and his jazz trio play a set at The Brickroom, 1020 Front St., 6:30 p.m., $5.
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Dining WHAT’S COOKIN’
THE NEON ORANGE and green bowling pin signage is up, the bowling pin handles on the front door are attached and the Dust Bowl Lanes and Lounge at 315 E. Capitol Ave. should blow in by Christmas, an owner says. Adam Price, vice president and partner in parent company The McNellie’s Group of Tulsa, says he’s also “bullish” on the opening of Fassler Hall, the McNellie’sowned restaurant next door at 307 E. Capitol: He’s hoping for a mid-January opening, though his crew is telling him February. Until then, you’ll be able to eat, drink (full bar) and go for strikes in the vintage-furnished Dust Bowl, which is making use of the red leather bar front from the building’s former identity as the M.M. Eberts American Legion Post as well as seats and mid-century wire-and-diamond wall decor salvaged from a bowling alley in Pryor, Okla. The wooden lanes were also “harvested” from Oklahoma because, Price said, “the sound when the ball hits the wood is more satisfying” than on today’s lane composites. There are eight lanes — two of which are walled off for private parties — and a karaoke room down the hall from the bar. Final touches are being installed, and the fire marshal is expected this week. When Fassler Hall opens, it will serve a simple menu of seven house-made sausages, schnitzel and more, along with German beers and local brews. It will seat around 200 inside and in the beer garden on the west side of the building. LIKE SANTA? LIKE BEER? Want your picture made with Santa while drinking a beer? The latter might not happen, but Lost Forty Brewing and Whole Foods are still making merry for a good cause at the Winter Beer Fest at Whole Foods, 501 Bowman Road, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. Lost Forty will offer samples of beer, including yearround, seasonal and from a limited pin of Peach Sour beer, Whole Foods will have Rockhound IPA bratwurst on the grill, beer food recipes will be available, and Santa will be in the Lost Forty Tent ready for the camera. Don’t come empty handed: Lost Forty and Whole Foods will be collecting food for the Little Rock Kitchen Cabinet that feeds students in Little Rock who might otherwise go hungry. Bring five or more items from the list of needs: canned meats, fruits and vegetables; prepackaged meals; peanut butter; cereals; soups; juices; and pasta and pasta sauces. LOOK IN MARCH for a new pizza and burger eatery in the Market Place Shopping Center: Sauced. Construction has begun on the restaurant, the former site of Casa Real, 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road. 26
DECEMBER 14, 2017
ARKANSAS TIMES
BRUNCH TACO: A sunny-side-up egg with cheddar, punchy jalapeno relish and hot sauce in a warm tortilla.
Breakfast smorgasbord South on Main’s brunch is a crowd-pleaser
T
here are some things you know for certain though you’ve never tried them firsthand. Skydiving is probably pretty terrifying, at least right before you take the plunge. Getting tased is probably quite unpleasant. And South on Main probably has a pretty good Sunday brunch. Yes, in the years since its opening, we’d never made it to one of Little Rock’s most touted restaurants for breakfast. It turns out it’s pretty much exactly what we thought it would be: delicious and fun. It was also not too pricey and we got a ton of food. We’ve often defended South on Main against those two very complaints from lunchtime diners who want to see a chicken fried steak hang off the edges of a 10-and-a-half-inch plate. We appreciate stick-to-your-ribs home cooking in reasonable portions. And, frankly, we’ve never understood
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the overpriced charge: the food is always solid and we find the happy hour to be one of the most reasonable in town (especially for the caliber of drinks served). At any rate, the Waffle Fry Poutine is a bargain at $10. You get a hearty portion of very well-seasoned waffle fries (we don’t know exactly what the seasoning was, but it was reddish-brown and gave a good hearty kick). The sausage gravy is a vision: thick, chewy with chunks of sausage, and a wonderful brownishgray color. A smattering of shredded cheddar rounds it out. We found this to be an ideal appetizer for a group of four — although it would’ve pleased six as a simple starter. The waffle fries are crunchy and sizable — the perfect vehicles for thick gravy — and the whole thing comes together quite well. If you want something with a bit of
kick to help cut through that gravy, order a Corpse Reviver No. 2 ($10). We’re usually afraid of gin cocktails with lots of liqueurs we can’t pronounce, but no more! This spritely devil is served up (no ice), with a good dose of gin, dry curacao, lemon, Cocchi di Americano and Herbsaint. It’s pungent, but in a straightforward, citrusy and sweet way. It’ll set you right. We weren’t in a huge hurry, which was a good thing on this particular busy morning. To keep the flow of nibbles coming we ordered up the Breakfast Tacos ($8). Chorizo, a sunny-side-up egg, cheddar, jalapeno relish and hot sauce come tucked in a warm and toasted flour tortilla. These were a table favorite. The chorizo had a kick, as it should, as well as a crumbly, but firm texture. The eggs were perfectly cooked, and the jalapeno relish was punchy enough to warm things up without scalding your lips. You’ll find the BBQ Shrimp ($16) under “Light Plates” on the menu. Of course, “light” is relative. No corners were cut in the making of SoMA’s take on a Creole classic. Four beautiful, fat
BELLY UP
GROW grow LOCAL
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ARKANSAS TIMES
serving better than bar food all night long DecEMBER
15 - Kadela 16 - Lagunitas Christmas In-Formal w/Weakness for Blondes 21 - Dylan Earland His Reasons Why w/ Willi Carlisle 22 - FreeWorld CD release party 23 - The Brian Nahlen Band Open until 2am every night! 415 Main St North Little Rock • (501) 313-4704 • fourquarterbar.com
A BARGAIN: Waffle Fry Poutine, with sausage gravy.
Gulf shrimp and roasted bell peppers rested on a bed of cheese grits. The South on Main 1304 Main St. 244-9660 southonmain.com QUICK BITE
The Biscuit Plate with Sorghum Butter and Jam ($5) is good to share. They’re enormous things, of the cathead variety. They’re airy and light, but a good bake holds them together with nicely browned bottoms and tops. The sorghum butter is a creamy, cinnamony tasting concoction that’s sweet and heavenly. We found that we just couldn’t go wrong with any of these smaller plates. They help to offset the cocktails.
HOURS
11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday (brunch).
OTHER INFO
Full bar, CC accepted.
whole dish was smothered in a rich, brown sauce, a beautiful combination of butter, Worcestershire sauce, herbs and spices. The grits were creamy and sharp from the cheddar. If you manage to finish all of the grits, grab a scrap of biscuit and sweep up the rest of the gravy. It’s too good to stay on the plate. If you’re out for a hearty portion of something rich that will cure a hangover, you won’t go wrong with the Fried Oyster Eggs Benedict ($14). The oysters were fried to a beautiful golden brown. Underneath was a thin strip of country ham that sat atop soft, toasted English muffins. Two “soft eggs” are served on the side and the whole thing is topped with hollandaise. We’re not a huge fan of wobbly whites when it comes to eggs, so these might have been a bit under poached for our taste, but combined with the oozy yolks, the overall effect was quite pleasing, a sauce unto itself. With all this mushy richness, the crunchy texture of the oysters was welcomed. The dish rivaled similar creations we’ve had in a couple of New Orleans eateries.
DECEMBER 1 - 17 MUSIC & LYRICS BY HUGH MARTIN & RALPH BLANE BOOK BY HUGH WHEELER
arktimes.com DECEMBER 14, 2017
27
MOVIE REVIEW
IT’S COMPLICATED: Dave Franco and James Franco star in the Franco-directed “The Disaster Artist,” a movie about making a movie.
A hundred mirrors
‘The Disaster Artist’ is meta-meta. BY JACOB ROSENBERG
T
ommy Wiseau’s cult-classic “The Room” is a pinnacle of “so-bad-it’s-good” film genre, now screened “Rocky Horror Show”-style in theaters to riotous crowds. The experience of making the awful film was chronicled by Gregory Sestero, who appeared in “The Room” as the character Mark, in a book co-authored with Tom Bissell: “The Disaster Artist.” Enter film director James Franco, attracted to the story of Wiseau because he felt a certain kinship — they both idolized James Dean and they both went to Hollywood to become him. (In Franco’s case, he did become Dean, in a way, playing him in a TV movie. More importantly, though, Franco has become a star of Dean’s ilk: He’s handsome and talented. In Wiseau’s case … it’s more complicated.) Now, Franco has made “The Disaster Artist,” a movie about the book about the movie. Franco’s film follows Sestero (played by James’ brother, Dave Franco), an attractive young actor struggling in San Francisco, eager to move to LA, get rich, get famous, be a star (and be James Dean, too). When we first meet Sestero, he’s in an acting class reading a scene from “Waiting for Godot” with cardboard-like rigidity. Sestero then watches Tommy Wiseau (played by James Franco) glide to the stage and, horrifically gyrating, overacting and completely releasing himself 28
DECEMBER 14, 2017
ARKANSAS TIMES
to the possibility of failure on stage. After class, Sestero asks for tips on acting and a friendship is birthed. Wiseau proves to be much more reticent than he is on stage; he has money and seems vaguely European, but will not answer questions about his past. Bizarrely, he seems to want to be considered American, insisting he’s from New Orleans to explain his strange accent. In most movies, when a person goes to Hollywood to be the next James Dean, they begin a path to one of two disastrous ends. One we can call “the failure of the American/Hollywood dream.” After their travails, we’d discuss how the fallout teaches the hero that success doesn’t matter. We can call the other ending “the triumph of the American/Hollywood dream.” Afterward … well, we’d discuss how the fallout teaches the hero that success doesn’t matter. In “The Disaster Artist,” though, these narratives are dizzyingly merged, creating a meta, very funny and ultimately revealing story about what it means to be a star. Wiseau and Sestero each fail at stardom, though Sestero gains a little bit of steam in life by getting an agent and finding a girlfriend, Amber (Allison Brie). The plot chugs along, and you’re brought through the hellish world of auditions in rapid, pithy shots of the ridiculous Wiseau trying out for “All American” roles. The levity of the talentless failing is markedly different than the soul-crush of watching someone fall flat
on his face going after his dream. It’s sweeter, funnier — and this is where James Franco shines as an actor. It’s not Franco’s fault necessarily (well, maybe a little), but you don’t often forget it’s Franco on screen. James Franco is a star, after all, and despite ourselves, we often do not want stars to act. We want them to be in a role that seems like acting (think Tom Cruise in most movies post-“Magnolia”), but in “The Disaster Artist,” you’re allowed to forget Franco is Franco. His celebrity is given to Tommy. The script sets up Sestero and Wiseau as the two opposites — one successful, one fledgling — but the two careers you track while you’re watching it are Franco’s and Wiseau’s, braided together. Sestero and Wiseau fail, predictably, and Wiseau decides to go into his own deep pockets to make “The Room.” And, it gets even more meta. Seth Rogen, who produced the film and plays straight man Sandy, said Franco directed the movie in character. There were scenes, he said, where Franco was “playing Tommy directing a movie as Tommy directing a movie as Tommy. That was when we were like: ‘This is fucking weird, man.’ ” “The Disaster Artist” continues to etch out a discussion of what it means to be a star, indulging in the meta without missing a beat, and all that subtext is there to mine if you want it. Most of the movie, though, can be glided through as hijinks and laughs; it turns out that the making of “The Room” is almost as funny as “The Room” itself. It’s sad and it’s breezy — unless you want to dig. In a strange inverse relationship, “The Room” aimed for tender and veered into hilarious; “The Disaster Artist” went for laughs and took a turn for the profound.
UPCOMING EVENTS
On a cold, clear, moonless
night in the middle of winter we find the mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost’s residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal and the hearts mend – almost – in this delight
DEC
14-16
DEC
14-17
DECEMBER 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 2017 $16-ADULTS • $12-STUDENTS & SENIORS THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT CURTAIN TIME IS 7:30 PM. SUNDAY AFTERNOON CURTAIN TIME IS 2:30 PM. Please arrive promptly. There will be no late admission. The Box Office and the theater open one (1) hour prior to curtain. The House opens 30 minutes prior to curtain. For more information contact us at 501.374.3761 or www.weekendtheater.org
DEC
12 & 18
The Weekend Theater
Almost, Maine
The Studio Theatre
Meet Me in St. Louis Combo Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt
4 days Classroom Training in Little Rock
OUR 25TH SEASON IS SPONSORED BY PIANO KRAFT CentralArkansasTickets.com to purchase tickets and flex passes.
1001 W. 7th St. • Little Rock, AR 72201
DEC
Four Quarter Bar NYE w/ The Mike Dillon Band + Dazz and Brie
DEC
Hilton Garden Inn Little Rock Downtown New Year’s Eve on The Roof
DEC
Cache Restaurant Cache’s Palette:New Year’s Eve
31 31 31
The Studio Theatre
Studio Theatre 2017-2018 Season Pass The Weekend Theater
2017-18 Season Flexpass
Go to CentralArkansasTickets.com to purchase these tickets and more!
Arkansas Times new local ticketing site! If you’re a non-profit, freestanding venue or business selling tickets thru eventbrite or another national seller – call us 501.492.3994 – we’re local, independent and offer a marketing package!
LOCAL TICKETS, ONE PLACE arktimes.com DECEMBER 14, 2017
29
Holiday Gift Guide Holiday Season is Wrapping Up! Visit these local retailers to gear up for the holiday season of gift-giving. Make this Christmas a holly jolly one for your
favorite outdoorsman at Ozark Outdoor Supply! Bring the techie to the woods with any of these three gifts: the PETZL Tikkina headlamp, Outdoor Tech Buckshot Pro all-in-one wireless speaker, power bank and flashlight, or the Outdoor Tech Turtle Shell 3.0 Rugged Wireless Boom Box.
perfect host gift
Colonial Wine and Spirit has the for the holidays: the Gift Pack of Scotch Whiskies. The pack includes 4- 100 ml bottles of the following: Glenmorangie Original 10 Year Old, Glenmorangie Lasanta Sherry Cask Finished 12 Year Old, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban Port Cask Finished 12 Year Old, and Glenmorangie The Nectar D’Or Sauternes Cask Finished 12 Year Old, all for $27.99.
Visit the Central Arkansas Library System’s Cox Creative Center to find gifts for loved ones of all ages!
Stop by Krebs Brothers Restaurant Store to pick up any of these great gifts: the BIA Cordon Bleu Sushi-2-Go Set for 2, the BIA Cordon Bleu Noodles-2-Go Set, or the easy to use Thunder Group bamboo sushi roller.
Your favorite wines have arrived at
your neighborhood grocer, Edwards Food Giant at Tanglewood! They have them all…Grab dinner and drinks this week at Edwards Food Giant.
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DECEMBER 14, 2017
ARKANSAS TIMES ARKANSAS TIMES ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
2017 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Give the gift
of Arkansas this holiday. Champion Trees of Arkansas: An Artist’s Journey, Arkansas Beauty by Tim Ernst or Arkansas State Parks by Tim Donar. The soaker stone coasters make great stocking stuffers. They are made in Little Rock and feature original sketches. Buy local at Wordsworth Bookstore.
Head to Warehouse Liquor for
these specials:
Freixenet 750 ml for $7.99 (regular price $11.99), Santa Margherita 750 ml Pinot Grigio for $19.99 (regular price $22.99), and Belvedere Vodka 750 ml for $22.99 (regular price 24.99). Also, get a $24 rebate when you purchase a 12-pack case of Freixenet.
KNIFE SALE!
BUY 1 GET 1 KNIFE SALE HALF OFF
BUY 1 GET 1
HALF OFF
Going Now through Dec 24 23rd. NOWonTHROUGH DEC.
(501) 687-1331 4310 Landers Road, NLR M-F 8-5 Sat. 9-5
BUY IT! CALS COX CREATIVE CENTER 120 River Market Ave. 918.3093 COLONIAL WINES & SPIRITS 11200 W Markham St. 223.3120 colonialwineshop.com EDWARDS FOOD GIANT 7507 Cantrell Rd. 614.3477 other locations statewide edwardsfoodgiant.com KREBS BROTHERS RESTAURANT SUPPLY
4310 Landers Rd. NLR 687.1331 krebsbrothers.com
OZARK OUTDOOR SUPPLY 5514 Kavanaugh Blvd. 664.4832 ozarkoutdoor.com WAREHOUSE LIQUOR MARKET 1007 Main St. 374.0410 WORDSWORTH BOOKS 5920 R St. 663.9198
Tis the season to shop Little Rock’s independent bookstore for: Books Literary gifts Gift certificates Free gift wrapping available
Stop in today!
WORDSWORTH BOOKSTORE
5920 R St • Heights (501) 663-9198 • Mon - Sat 10-6; Sun 12-5 ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT arktimes.com arktimes.com DECEMBER DECEMBER14, 14,2017 2017 331 1
ARKANSAS TIMES presents NEW YEAR’S GUIDE
RINGING IN 2018 Break out the bubbly! It’s time to celebrate as we ring in 2018 with a bang. From private and elegant locations for dinner to super big parties to dancing and live music, there’s something for everyone this New Year’s Eve. And after you’ve partied to your heart’s content, start the New Year right with a Bloody Mary and delicious brunch at these great locations. Check out all the happenings at these Central Arkansas hot spots as we present a special end of 2017 and beginning of 2018 party guide.
Little Rock’s Most Award-Winning Restaurant 1619 REBSAMEN RD. 501.663.9734 thefadedrose.com
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ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Ringing in 2018 ARKANSAS STATE PARKS
www.arkansasstateparks.com Guided hikes on New Year’s Day are part of an annual First Day Hikes initiative in the state parks in all 50 states. Begin the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors! Contact your favorite Arkansas State Park for a schedule!
LITTLE ROCK
BOULEVARD BISTRO
DAY LONG. Mimosas, Bloody Mary’s and Boulevard’s regular brunch drinks!
1920 N. Grant Street, Little Rock 663-5949 boulevardbread.com Don’t miss this special New Year’s Day brunch at Boulevard Bistro! The chef will be serving bread pudding, French toast, shrimp and grits, and also a petit filet with eggs, grits, asparagus and hollandaise. Happy Hour Drink Specials will be running ALL
Boulevard Bistro
CACHE RESTAURANT
425 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock 850-0265 cachelittlerock.com Cache Restaurant hosts a night in COLOR! Chef Payne Harding has carefully planned an exquisite, four course dinner with two available seatings. A complimentary ticket to Cache’s party is included with each dinner purchase. Please call for your reservation at (501) 850-0265. Tickets for the party are also sold separately from dinner, and can be purchased through centralarkansastickets. com. The Vegas-style party includes: 4 Bars across the restaurant (no long drink lines!), a silhouette photo booth, live music in the downstairs lounge, a DJ and shadow dancers at the upstairs party, live artists painting, $10 Belvedere Martini bar, hors d’oeuvres buffet, and a Champagne toast at midnight!
Christmas and Christmas Eve Meal TO-GO
Available for pickup December 23 or 24 by 2:00 pm
Menu
FEEDS 6-8, $99 Smoked Pit Ham Cornbread Dressing Sweet Potato Casserole Italian Green beans Mix Green Salad with Dressing House made Rolls Pecan Pie • Apple Pie
PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY!
Call 501-225-0500 and select option 1 on phone or call 501-580-4189 or email vesuviobistro@gmail.com Orders must be received by December 19th
Open until 2am
on New Years Eve Featuring
Mike Dillon Band with Dazz & Brie! Stop in for
New Year’s Day Brunch Open until 2am every night! 415 Main St North Little Rock • (501) 313-4704 • fourquarterbar.com ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT www.arktimes.com DECEMBER 14, 2017 arktimes.com DECEMBER 14, 2017
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Ringing in 2018 CLUB 27
614 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock 414-0400 club27lr.com Say goodbye to 2017 and hello to 2018 in a different way.... Salsa dancing! Join the folks at Club 27 for an evening dancing
to the best salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, and reggaeton. Heat up the night with one of their delicious Latin cocktails that include mojito, caipirinha, sangria, margarita and more. Cover is only $10 and it includes a midnight toast! See you on the dance floor!
THE FADED ROSE
1619 Rebsamen Rd., Little Rock 663-9734 thefadedrose.com Want to go out but not fight the crowds and then pay twice as much because of the holiday? The Faded Rose is your place to be on New Year’s Eve. Go to this neighborhood favorite and enjoy the same great food, drinks and service they provide every day.
FOUR QUARTER BAR
415 Main Street, North Little Rock 313-4704 Rebel Kettle Brewing fourquarterbar.com New Year’s Day brunch at Four Quarter Bar, The Mike Dillon Band will be bringing in opening at noon. Get the award-winning the New Year with Dazz and Brie at Four Bloody Mary! Winner of 2017 Toast of the Quarter Bar. They’ll be open later than most Town Best Bloody Mary. bars – until 2 a.m.! A champagne toast at midnight is included in the price of admission. The kitchen will be open until 1:30 HILTON GARDEN INN a.m. Pre-event tickets are $25 and day of 322 Rock Street, Little Rock show tickets are $30. Get your tickets at 244-0044 www.centralarkansastickets.com. New Year’s Eve on the Roof! Ring in the New Come back the morning after for a special Year Gatsby style at the Hilton Garden Inn
Club 27
Join us for brunch
10 am -2 pm , on Ne w Ye ar s Ev e. OPEN ALL DAY ON NEW YEAR’S DAY!
Not
your average steak & burger JOINT! 314 Main St. North Little Rock | 501.916.2646 skinnyjs.com • @skinnyjsAR 34 34
DECEMBER 14, 2017 ARKANSAS TIMES DECEMBER 14, 2017 ARKANSAS TIMES
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Agasi 7 Rooftop Bar (Gatsby attire optional). The party starts at 9 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m. There will be hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast at midnight, a live DJ, party favors, and prize giveaways including overnight stays and tickets to next year’s party! All of this for $79 per person. The Hilton Garden Inn also has accommodations with a breakfast buffet for 2 guests, packages starting at $100 per room per night (with purchase of entry fee). Buy your tickets at www. centralarkansastickets.com. Purchase your tickets online by Tuesday, December 26th. Limited tickets available.
Ringing in 2018
Working Glass Hero and the Shandy featuring Rob Gnarly and Lemonade! You’re also in for a treat this New Year’s Day with Rebel Kettle’s Hot Mess Hoppin’ Johns! See you at Rebel Kettle in 2018.
REV ROOM
300 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock 823-0090 revroom.com Let loose at the Rev Room Fireball 2017 on Sunday, December 31. It’s always a party at the Rev Room! Little Rock’s Place to play. Go to revroom.com for info.
Rev Room
MIDTOWN BILLIARDS
1316 S Main Street, Little Rock 372-9990 Ring in the New Year at Midtown Billiards, your historic late night bar! Ed Bowman will begin cranking out the tunes at 2 a.m. Cover is $10 per person and $15 for couples. Party to the wee hours this New Year’s Eve!
REBEL KETTLE BREWING COMPANY
822 E 6th Street, Little Rock 374-2791 rebelkettle.com Spend New Year’s Day at Rebel Kettle. They will be opeing at 10 a.m. and serving up brunch until 3 with BrewMosas featuring
CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH US!
Complimentary shuttle until 2am to all the downtown hotspots and complimentary breakfast the next morning. With two award winning restaurants on property, an amazing dinner is just steps away.
RING IN 2018 AT CACHE Two seatings for dinner: 5:30 & 8pm. The party starts at 8pm. Champagne toast at midnight. Our theme is Cache’s Palette: A Night Immersed in Color. Tickets for dinner are $150 per person, includes a ticket to the party. Tickets for just the party, if you don’t want dinner are $75. Call 501.850.0265 for reservations and seating options
BOOK YOUR ROOM TODAY!
Get tickets at centralarkansastickets.com.
1-800-WYNDHAM
CacheRestaurant | 425 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock | 501-850-0265 | cachelittlerock.com | CacheLittleRock B
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Ringing in 2018 STICKYZ ROCK’N’ROLL CHICKEN SHACK
107 River Market Ave., Little Rock 372-7707 stickyz.com Spend your New Year’s Eve at Stickyz Rock’n’Roll Chicken Shack! Their live music celebrations will feature Deep Sequence, Ryan Viser, and Flintwick, starting at 9 p.m.
VESUVIO BISTRO
1315 Breckenridge Drive, Little Rock 225-0500 Vesuvio Bistro has a special New Year’s Eve menu that you do not want to miss! They have prepared a 4-course menu especially for the holiday. For $65 per person, choose from three appetizers, three starters, four main entrees, and three desserts.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK SKINNY J’S
314 Main St., North Little Rock 916-2645 skinnyjs.com Ring in the New Year with Skinny J’s! They’ll be offering their brunch menu from 10 to 2 on New Year’s Eve to help you prepare for the evening. On New Year’s Day, they’ll have the full menu along with their special“Bruncher” burger available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. to help you recover! There’s
Vesuvio Bistro
Skinny J’s no better way to start your 2018 than with some amazing food and they’ll be there in the Argenta District ready to serve it to you!
WYNDHAM RIVERFRONT
2 Riverfront Place, North Little Rock 371-9000 Celebrate NewYear’s Eve withWyndham! Dine in one of their award winning restaurants,
Benihana or Riverfront Steakhouse (reservations required), and then take advantage of their complimentary shuttle to all the downtown hot spots to safely ring in the new year until 2 a.m. Complimentary late check out (1:00 p.m.) and full, hot breakfast buffet included. Rooms starting at $99.00. Call 501-371-9000 for room or dinner reservations today!
NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS SPARKLE AT THE ARLINGTON! NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION DINNER
Dec. 31, 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm Venetian Dining Room Make it a great start to a memorable evening by enjoying this festive buffet in the Venetian Dining Room. Adults $36, Children (Age 6 - 12) $17 No charge children 5 & under (Prices include tax & gratuity)
GALA DINNER DANCE
FESTIVAL PARTY
In the Conference Center 8:30 pm - 1:00 am Dancing to the music of a live band. White Chocolate, party favors, champagne toast at midnight and tax are included. $45 per person At 12 am, a Black Eyed Pea Reception will commence in the Magnolia Room for guests of both parties.
7:30 pm • Crystal Ballroom Stardust Big Band from 8:30 pm - 12:30 am Five-course gourmet dinner, two drink tickets, wine with dinner, champagne toast at midnight, party favors, tax and gratuity included. (Also includes visiting the Festival Party next door.) $175 per person Reservations required
For more information call or email 800.643.1502 or info@arlingtonhotel.com • visit www.ArlingtonHotel.com 36 36
DECEMBER 14, 2017 ARKANSAS TIMES DECEMBER 14, 2017 ARKANSAS TIMES
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
HOT SPRINGS
THE ARLINGTON RESORT HOTEL & SPA
239 Central Ave., Hot Springs 623-7771 arlingtonhotel.com The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa offers three ways to ring in your New Year with a New Year’s Eve Celebration Buffet in the Venetian Dining Room, the Gala Dinner Dance in the Crystal Ballroom with the Stardust Big Band or the Festival Party in the Conference Center with live music from White Chocolate. At 12 a.m., a Black Eyed Pea Reception will commence in the Magnolia Room for guests of both parties. On New Year’s Day, start the New Year right with the breakfast buffet
at 7 a.m. or relax with a Bloody Mary, or your favorite beverage after 8:00 a.m. in the lobby.
Ringing in 2018
SILKS BAR & GRILL
Inside Oaklawn Racing & Gaming 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs 623-4411 oaklawn.com Wrap up 2017 with the biggest New Year’s Eve celebration in town at Silks Bar & Grill! On Sunday, December 31, enjoy live music from Jacob Flores, Susan Erwin and Moxie. Silks will also be serving a delicious prime rib dinner, party favors and a chance to win a share of $7,500! Plus, hit the breakfast special at the Bistro between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for only $5.99! ■
Join us New Year’s Day! Brunch specials and full bar. 1920 N. Grant St. 501.663.5951 www.boulevardbread.com Located in the Heights, SOMA, UAMS and Baptist Hospital
The Venetian Dining Room at Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa.
NEW YEAR’S DAY AT REBEL KETTLE
Opening at 10 a.m. and serving our brunch menu with BeerMosas and The Shandy with Rob Gnarly until 3 p.m.
Serving up Rebel Kettle
Hot Mess Hoppin’ Johns
all day long!
Now booking for holiday parties and catering.
Call today!
822 E. 6th St., Little Rock • 501-374-2791 11610 Pleasant Ridge Rd. • Suite 110 • Little Rock • 501-225-1300 2513 McCain Blvd. • North Little Rock • 501-753-9800
REBELKETTLE.COM
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ALSO IN THE ARTS
THEATER
“A Fertle Holiday.” The Main Thing’s rapid-fire holiday musical comedy about a “trouble-ridden holiday reunion in the tiny town of Dumpster, Arkansas.” 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., through Jan. 13. $24. The Joint Theater & Coffeehouse. 301 Main St., NLR. 501-372-0205. “Almost, Maine.” The Weekend Theater’s production of John Cariani’s holiday love story. 7:30 p.m. Thu.-Sat. $12-$16. 1001 W. 7th St. 501-374-3761. “Meet Me in St. Louis.” The Studio Theatre’s staged version of the MGM classic film. 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2:30 p.m. Sun. $20$25. 320 W. 7th St. 501-374-2615. “Harvey.” Murry’s Dinner Playhouse presents Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play about an invisible rabbit. 7:30 p.m. Tue.-Sat., dinner at 6 p.m.; 12:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Sun., dinner at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., through Dec. 31. $15-$37. 6323 Colonel Glenn Road. 501-562-3131. “The Gift of the Magi.” Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s world premiere of the O. Henry classic, with original music by Andrew Cooke. 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Sun., 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun., through Dec. 24, see therep.org for additional performances. $30-$65. 601 Main St. 501-378-0405. “Santaland Diaries.” Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s take on David Sedaris’ irreverent holiday roast. Various times, performances staggered to coincide with “The Gift of the Magi,” see therep.org for tickets and times, through Dec. 24. $30-$65. 518 Main St. 501-378-0405.
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DECEMBER 14, 2017
ARKANSAS TIMES
“It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” TheaterSquared stages Joe Landry’s adaptation of the Frank Capra film classic. 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun., through Dec. 31. $10-$40. Walton Arts Center’s Studio Theater, 495 W. Dickson St. 479-443-5600.
FINE ART, HISTORY EXHIBITS MAJOR VENUES
ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER, MacArthur Park: “49th Collectors Show and Sale,” works from New York galleries, through Jan. 7; “The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design,” through December. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 372-4000. ARTS CENTER OF THE OZARKS, Springdale: “Artists INC,” through Dec. 20. BUTLER CENTER GALLERIES, Arkansas Studies Institute, 401 President Clinton Ave.: “Reflections in Pastel,” the Arkansas Pastel Society’s national exhibition, through Feb. 24; “Bret Aaker: Conatus,” Loft Gallery, through Jan. 27; “The Art of Injustice,” Paul Faris’ photographs of Japanese incarceration at Rohwer, through Dec. 30. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 320-5790.
cell, through Feb. 19, 2018; “Art of Africa: One Continent, Limitless Vision,” pieces from the Clinton Presidential Center’s archives as well as from President Clinton’s own personal collection, through Feb. 12, 2018; permanent exhibits on the Clinton administration. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun., $10 adults, $8 seniors, retired military and college students, $6 youth 6-17, free to active military and children under 6, President Clinton’s birthday. 3744242. CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, One Museum Way, Bentonville: “Stuart Davis: In Full Swing,” nearly 100 works by the modernist jazz-influenced painter, through Jan. 1; “Native North America,” indigenous art, through Jan. 7, 2018; “Not to Scale: Highlights from the Fly’s Eye Dome Archive,” drawings and models of Fuller’s geodesic dome, through March 2018; American masterworks spanning four centuries in the permanent collection. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon., Thu.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed., Fri.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.Sun., closed Tue. 479-418-5700.
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSEUM VISITOR CENTER, Bates and Park: Exhibits on the 1957 desegregation of Central and the civil rights movement. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. 374-1957.
ESSE PURSE MUSEUM & STORE, 1510 S. Main St.: “The Power of Plastics: Reshaping Midcentury Fashion,” plastic handbags from Anita Davis’ collection, through Jan. 7; “What’s Inside: A Century of Women and Handbags,” permanent exhibit. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun. $10, $8 for students, seniors and military. 916-9022.
CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, 1200 President Clinton Ave.: “Mandela: The Journey to Ubuntu,” photographs by Matthew Willman and recreation of Mandela’s
FORT SMITH REGIONAL ART MUSEUM, 1601 Rogers Ave.: “Bonfire,” 21 environmentally focused works by textile artist Barbara Cade, through Feb. 8, 2018;
“Momoyo Torimitsu: Somehow, I Don’t Feel Comfortable,” giant inflatable bunnies, through December. 18. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 479-784-2787. HISTORIC ARKANSAS MUSEUM, 200 E. 3rd St.: “Body/Ecology: Daniella Napolitano and Carmen Alexandria Thompson,” through Jan. 7; “Hidden Treasure: Selected Gala Fund Purchases,” including portraiture by Henry Byrd, work by Thomas Hart Benton, watercolors by Jacob Semiatin and more, through Jan. 8; “Gordon and Wenonah Fay Holl: Collecting a Legacy,” through Feb. 4, 2018. Ticketed tours of renovated and replicated 19th century structures from original city, guided Monday and Tuesday on the hour, self-guided Wednesday through Sunday, $2.50 adults, $1 under 18, free to 65 and over. (Galleries free.) 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 324-9351. MacARTHUR MUSEUM OF ARKANSAS MILITARY HISTORY, 503 E. 9th St. (MacArthur Park): “Waging Modern Warfare”; “Gen. Wesley Clark”; “Vietnam, America’s Conflict”; “Undaunted Courage, Proven Loyalty: Japanese American Soldiers in World War II. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-4 p.m. Sun. 376-4602. MATT McLEOD FINE ART, 108 W. 6th St.: Work in all media by Arkansas and outof-state artists. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 725-8508. MOSAIC TEMPLARS CULTURAL CENTER, 9th and Broadway: Museum of African-American entrepreneurship and work by African-American artists. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 683-3593.
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PAINTING
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For all your interior - exterior painting needs
The Board of Commissioners, Central Arkansas Water (CAW), is seeking letters of interest and resumés from Little Rock residents interested in serving on the Board. CAW is the largest public water supplier in the state of Arkansas and serves the Greater Little Rock-North Little Rock area. The water commissioners have full and complete authority to manage, operate, improve, extend and maintain the water works and distribution system and have full and complete charge of the water plan. The governing board consists of seven members who serve seven-year terms. The Board appointee for the existing vacancy will fulfill the remainder of a seven year term ending June 30, 2020. In accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 25-20-301, the Board must consist of four residents of Little Rock and three residents of North Little Rock. The current vacancy is for a Little Rock representative. CAW is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in all areas of our operations and on the CAW Board of Commissioners. All interested Little Rock residents are encouraged to apply and should submit a letter of interest and resumé no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday, December 28, 2017 to:
Residential & Commercial Free Estimates 30 years experiance
Board of Commissioners Central Arkansas Water C/O Becky Linker, Chief Administrative Officer P. O. Box 1789 Little Rock, AR 72203 Telephone: 501-377-1357
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Mike Morris 501-541-6662
Mizarpainting1@gmail.com
ARKANSAS TIMES
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VOTE NOW! ARKTIMES.COM/RESTAURANTS18
Voting Starts Nov. 25 | Ends Jan. 13 Next year, the Arkansas Times will put out the 37th edition of our Readers Choice restaurant awards. That makes us the oldest and most respected readers survey in Arkansas. Walk in many restaurants around the state and you’ll see our posters on the walls. Be a part of the tradition: Vote online for your favorite chefs and restaurants in dozens of different categories. Winners will be announced in the March 15 issue and an awards celebration sponsored by Ben E. Keith Foods and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits will be held at the UA Pulaski Tech Culinary Arts and Hospitality Institute who will prepare all the food for the celebration March 13. Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute
DECEMBER 14, 2017
ARKANSAS TIMES
#ATRCA
ARKTIMES.COM/RESTAURANTS18 40