Arkansas Times | November 2026 by Arkansas Times

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FEATURES 28 SO EASY A JOURNALIST COULD DO IT Reporters from Arkansas, North Carolina and West Virginia applied to start their own private schools. Almost nothing stood in their way. By Milo Strain, Jennifer Smith Richards, Jodi S.

Cohen, Jennifer Berry Hawes, Henry Culvyhouse and Carli Brosseau

35 TOAST OF THE TOWN

If there’s one thing people are opinionated about, it’s alcohol.

S & J PHOTOGRAPHY

THREE’S COMPANY: Lincoln, Nebraska, folk trio The Wildwoods heads to the White Water Tavern on Saturday, Nov. 7.

9 THE FRONT

Q&A: Brooke and David Condolora are working on your next favorite video game. First Person: Are polls still relevant in the year 2026? Political scholar Jay Barth breaks it down. Inconsequential News Quiz: What are these Republicans doing?

15 THE TO-DO LIST

By Elizabeth L. Cline

Neko Case in Fayetteville, Pulitzer Prize winner Brian Goldstone at Ron Robinson Theater, The Wildwoods at the White Water Tavern, the return of the Hot Springs Poetry Festival and more.

40 WHAT DO YOU MEAD?

28 NEWS & POLITICS

42 TAKE FIVE

57 CULTURE

36 DON’T WINE ABOUT IT

Down on Arkansas vino? We put those biases to the test.

Honey wine for dummies. By Guy Lancaster Our editorial picks for Little Rock’s must-sip beers and cocktails might just change your life.

48 THE WINNERS

A reader-approved catalog of the state’s best booze and bars. ON THE COVER: Josiah Moody, the brain behind Moody Brews. Photo by Sara Reeves. 4 NOVEMBER 2026

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A second data center is coming to Grant County?! By Byron Tate Jude Brothers’ third album, “Dogwood Maiden Voyage,” is the Fayetteville folkster’s finest release yet. By Daniel Ford

66 THE OBSERVER

What can we learn from the plight of the northern snakehead?

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PUBLISHER Alan Leveritt EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Austin Gelder CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mandy Keener MANAGING EDITOR Byron Tate PRINT EDITOR Daniel Grear INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER Matt Campbell AGRI AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTER Elizabeth L. Cline REPORTER Milo Strain VIBE CHECKER Stephanie Smittle

WHERE CARING MOVES MEET DALE: STATE TROOPER, OUTDOORSMAN, FAMILY MAN “You’re going to stumble, you’re going to fall, you just have to roll with it and keep going.”

EDITOR EMERITUS Max Brantley CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Mara Leveritt PHOTOGRAPHER Brian Chilson ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Mike Spain GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katie Hassell

DALE’S AMPUTATION MADE HIS GOAL OF BECOMING A STATE TROOPER MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE. FIND OUT HOW HE DID IT AT: SnellArkansas.com

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THE FRONT Q&A

THE GAMEMAKERS

A Q&A WITH ROGERS-BASED VIDEO GAME DEVELOPERS BROOKE AND DAVID CONDOLORA.

Brooke and David Condolora likely aren’t people you know by name, but they’ve been turning some heads in the video game industry. The husband-and-wife duo from Rogers is part of a burgeoning scene of small game developers in Northwest Arkansas and they have a hot new project on the way. The two met as students at Harding University in Searcy and relocated to California after graduation, where they started a video game development studio called Brain&Brain. In 2016, they released their best-known game, Burly Men at Sea, to much acclaim and industry recognition, including being featured in a Smithsonian exhibit and being named one of TIME’s top 10 games of the year. Since then, they’ve settled in Northwest Arkansas, where they’ve been working on games and hosting OZ Play, an annual convention for other local developers to show off their projects. Now, they’re back with The Marvelous Raincaster of Yell Holler, a storybook-esque puzzle game steeped in Ozark folklore, set for release in 2027. They just released a demo for their new game, collaborated with Onyx Coffee on its annual Advent calendar, and are gearing up to fly to London to attend AdventureX, a narrative-games convention, to show off The Marvelous Raincaster of Yell Holler. It’s been a big year for the Condoloras, who were kind enough to chat with us about their upcoming game, their studio and what life is like as indie game developers in Arkansas. How do you describe The Marvelous Raincaster of Yell Holler? David: It’s a game about storytelling, and it takes the form of a song. The easy way to say it is you’re rearranging the stanzas of the song to get the song right. But what you’re really doing is helping the storyteller remember how it really happened.

FAVORITE VIDEO GAME? David: “Myst” (1993) Brooke: “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998) FAVORITE MOVIE? David: “Ratatouille” (2007) Brooke: “Good Morning” (1959) FAVORITE RESTAURANT? David: Yeyo’s in Rogers Brooke: Menya Kitakara in Springdale and Ramen Nara in Rogers

Brooke: Because the game is set here in the early 1900s, we wanted to really focus on the way stories were told through folk ballads. Oral storytelling, but through song, which we thought was a really cool idea for a game. David: It’s a narrative puzzle game that has elements of the detective game genre that’s pretty popular right now, where you’re having to collect information and then go back and use that information to determine the correct order of events. What inspired the game? Brooke: I thought about telling a story about a conman who says that he can make it rain and goes about conning people, but also the idea came about because I wanted to combine this story that I heard about a real rainmaker named Charles Hatfield — who actually accidentally flooded San Diego — with the idea of weather lore from here in the Ozarks. I grew up with some of it myself, but also had come across [one of] Vance Randolph’s collection[s] of [Ozark] folklore, and that makes such a good

combo with that story. Also, just growing up with hearing weather signs and that sort of thing, like my grandparents telling me about cutting open a persimmon seed to see the spoon and the knife inside and predicting the weather from that. David: A silly one is we went to the Washington County Fair a number of years ago and saw this chicken there that had the longest legs we’d ever seen, and it turns out it’s just a whole breed. They’re what, game chickens? Brooke: Yeah, modern game chickens. David: They have like foot-long legs. It’s like two-thirds of their body, it’s ridiculous, and that directly informed the design of the main character, the rooster character. How has living in Arkansas shaped the game? Brooke: I grew up in Searcy, kind of out in the country. We left and moved to California for like seven years, and I think it took coming back to really get how special Arkansas is. Since I’ve been back, I’ve just wanted to really celebrate what I grew up with and celebrate what makes Arkansas great. The Ozarks up here are just so magical and mysterious. Being able to be surrounded by that has really influenced the art style for the game. I’m doing very specific trees and plants and animals, all specifically Ozark native — except for the rooster, a little out of place there. We don’t have a lot of game developers here. What’s it like running an indie studio in Northwest Arkansas? David: People are excited. When they find out you’re making a game — like the local libraries, for example — they get really excited. They’re like, “Hey, can you come to our event that we’re doing? Because we know these kids will love this,” and that sort of thing. You get opportunities put in front of you because it is new and unusual. —Milo Strain ARKTIMES.COM

NOVEMBER 2026 9

THE FRONT FIRST PERSON

DO POLITICAL POLLS MEAN ANYTHING ANYMORE?  YES  NO BY JAY BARTH

hen I was a kid, nothing made me more excited than seeing Jim Ranchino on KATV, Channel 7, sharing the results of his latest survey on Arkansas elections. (Yes, I know … a geeky kid!) Ranchino, a Ouachita Baptist University professor who wandered to Arkansas after completing his graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, modernized the study of Arkansas elections and had a knack for explaining the numbers behind politics — both in polling and election results — to the public. As many older Arkansans remember, he died suddenly on election night in 1978 on the KATV set at the incredibly young age of 42. Even though I never met Jim, he was a real role model for me. Indeed, a George Fisher cartoon of him — signed by Ranchino — is right by my office door today. So it’s been incredibly rewarding to play a role in survey work for the Talk Business & Politics/Hendrix College poll since 2010, a period of truly extraordinary change in Arkansas political dynamics. When the work began, Democrats still controlled almost every aspect of Arkansas politics. Within a few years, that dominance was replaced by a new one-party Republican rule that has only been cemented over the years. Watching a state move so emphatically in a new partisan direction and helping to tell that story through polling data and election outcomes has been fascinating. Moreover, polling has caught some of the shifts for the public a few months in advance of Election Day. By the time most of you read this column, we’ll know if any cracks have begun to show themselves in Arkansas’ Republican rule. We’ll also soon know the status of American public opinion work. On one hand, Democrats grew increasingly confident of gaining control of both houses of Congress and a majority of governorships across the nation starting around late August, based to a great degree on a bevy of polling data showing momentum for their party. On the other hand, ghosts of polling errors from 10 NOVEMBER 2026

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the three past presidential election cycles that led to unexpected election night results still give party activists shivers. While national poll numbers have been off in elections when Trump was on the ballot, poll-based predictions have been solid in offyear elections across recent cycles, showing just one more way Trump is a distinctive American political figure. Still, concern over polling data validity was buttressed by major polling errors from

WHILE NATIONAL POLL NUMBERS HAVE BEEN OFF IN ELECTIONS WHEN TRUMP WAS ON THE BALLOT, POLL-BASED PREDICTIONS HAVE BEEN SOLID IN OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS ACROSS RECENT CYCLES. the late summer in high-profile primaries — especially the Michigan Senate race and the Wisconsin gubernatorial race. Primaries are notoriously difficult to survey because voters can quickly change their minds based on campaign events, and when important candidates exit from races (as was the case both in Michigan and Wisconsin), numbers are thrown off.

No matter the final 2026 results, we know that survey work is dramatically different from the Ranchino era, when literally every home had a landline telephone as their key mode of communication with outsiders and they had a general trust of sharing their views on elections with those who surveyed them. Now, response rates are incredibly low even when respondents are offered compensation to participate. Moreover, there are now any number of modes of communication: landlines, cellphones, texting and the web. Subsets of the electorate are more at home communicating through each of these methods (or not at all!), making it difficult to create a truly accurate sample of the electorate. In this cycle, for instance, pollsters have consistently found that those who talk with live voices skew much more Republican, and text survey respondents skew decidedly more Democratic. Determining whom to communicate with for surveys with each method and then how to accurately mix them all together in a complete sample is more art than science for pollsters. Moreover, it’s everchanging, and carrying out the research to determine the right mix for a given election is as costly as activating the array of methods. Importantly, most news outlets that sponsor the highest-quality polling have had to shrink their budgets rather than investing in newer strategies for enhancing the confidence of the results. An array of polls that lack transparency about their methods has made it harder for the public to separate the ongoing good work from the chatter. Still, there’s absolutely no doubt that survey work has a central role in public opinion research. It is important for use by campaigns in determining the messaging that has the most promise of resonating with voters, and it is important for enhancing the public’s confidence in election results in general. But the way we gauge voter sentiments is changing fast. The most insightful public opinion research this election cycle has not been in the realm of polling. Instead, it’s been

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with a significantly different methodology: focus groups. Rather than attempting to replicate the electorate in a given election, focus groups bring together like-minded voters to share their responses to key questions about the political world. Increasingly, virtual technology is used to more easily bring these voters together, cutting the cost of focus groups. In every election cycle, there are a handful of voting groups who are crucially important for campaigns and analysts alike to better understand. In this election cycle, the most important group included those who cast votes for Donald Trump in 2024 but now disapprove of his performance in office. They make up about a fifth of the electorate and they are the reason that Democratic chances of victory have swollen in unexpected places like Texas, Kansas and Iowa. Their reactions to candidates and issues tell us as much as polls about what’s happening in the 2026 election. The most visible practitioner of focus group data right now is Sarah Longwell, a former Republican who became publisher of Bulwark. Each week she shares snippets from focus groups, particularly from those disaffected Trump voters across the country. They are fascinating, leading to great analysis and an important reminder that real people, with their quirks and passions, drive this democracy. While polling unquestionably has a place in understanding what makes voters tick and will never go away, even as it morphs, expect as we move forward to see more resources spent by campaigns and press outlets on focus groups. It’s a good investment.

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THE FRONT INCONSEQUENTIAL NEWS QUIZ

BRIAN CHILSON/JONBILOUS /ARTBALITSKIY.ADOBE.COM

THE WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH REPUBLICANS EDITION FROM ENCOURAGING TEENS TO HAVE KIDS TO TURNING HISTORY INTO A BAR, WHY ARE ALL OF THEIR IDEAS SO WEIRD? BY MATT CAMPBELL

2. The brain geniuses at the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism have proposed doing what with the 200-year-old Hinderliter Grog Shop, the oldest standing structure in Little Rock? A. Turning it into a bespoke mountain bike customization and repair shop under the day-to-day management of first gentleman Bryan Sanders B. Razing it to create a new parking lot for lobbyists, with nonstop shuttle service to and from the Capito. C. Retrofitting it to be a “light-touch cask-beverage-and-sealed-snack tavern” with bathrooms located in a separate, nearby structure D. Upgrading it with multiple televisions showing misleading AI slop about the Founding Fathers, provided by PragerU 12 NOVEMBER 2026

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3. Based on the newest report about the Arkansas LEARNS Act from the University of Arkansas’ Department of Education Reform, which of the following statements about the LEARNS program is correct? A. LEARNS is working great for all students and is not siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars from public schools so well-off white people can get a discount on private school tuition. B. There are no racial or geographical disparities between the families using vouchers and those who do not. C. While white kids make up 58% of public school students in Arkansas, they account for 76% of voucher recipients. D. LEARNS provides equal opportunities for Arkansas students, regardless of where they live. 4. Rep. Bruce Westerman was the only member of Arkansas’ congressional delegation to call on President Trump to end what? A. Members of his family and inner circle profiting from insider information and Trump’s blatant market manipulation B. Delays in releasing the Epstein files, including the thousands of documents that mention Trump by name C. Plans to livestream the firing-squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan D. The pointless Iran War

5. When it comes to debating his opponents in the U.S. Senate race, which of the following best describes Sen. Tom Cotton’s approach? A. Standing tall like an Army Ranger, taking his lumps where appropriate and explaining his positions and votes clearly and honestly B. Using the debates as an opportunity to distance himself from the myriad Trump policies he’s supported over the years C. Hiding like a rank coward, refusing to debate ever and hoping dark money can scare people into voting for him despite his utter lack of a spine D. Bravely showing up and sticking to his guns on why the Iran War that he has wanted for so long is actually a good thing for Americans 6. Gov. Sarah Sanders ruffled Republican feathers in September with an ad featuring “Brad,” the welfare queen. What was the primary complaint from MAGA types? A. Sanders falsely took credit for a Medicaid work requirement that was actually part of Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill. B. “Brad” couldn’t possibly afford to live on his own and buy all those snacks and video games on the paltry amount Medicaid provides. C. “Brad” was portrayed by a white guy instead of a Black woman. D. Sanders continues to be unfunny and woefully uncharismatic, even in ads where she’s trying to be both. ANSWERS: 1. C 2. C 3. C 4. C 5. C 6. C

1. Some badass Little Rock Central High School students made headlines by blowing whistles and confronting right-wing cranks protesting outside the school. What brought the protestors to campus? A. Demanding that Central erect a 40foot statue of slain racist Charlie Kirk B. Opposing free breakfasts and lunches for students unless the school also sends free meals to homeschoolers C. Encouraging teenagers to get married, have children and avoid becoming gay D. Blaming new LRCHS principal April Rike for the ongoing closures in the Strait of Hormuz

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Pettaway Square, in the Pettaway as neighborhood, a vibrant community by the collective Pettawayneighborhood, Square, in the thrives Pettaway thriveshub, as apowered vibrant community hub, powered by the collective work, work, creativity and collaboration of its businesses. Establishments like Moody Brews, Paper Hearts Bookstore, creativity and collaboration of its businesses. Establishments like Moody Brews, PaperGitti Hearts Bookstore, Smashed N’ Studio, Pettaway Coffee, and others are moreCoffee, than just storefronts; they’re intojust thestorefronts; fabric of thethey’re deeply interwoven into Stacked, Pettaway L’Etoile Nail Salon anddeeply othersinterwoven are more than community, with many owners andofemployees living and within and walking distance. Their synergy fosters an walking distance. Their the fabric the community, withworking many owners employees living and working within environment where businesses flourish, a testament to the shared vision for Pettaway’s growth. As Michael Orndorff, synergy fosters an environment where businesses flourish, a testament to the shared vision for Pettaway’s growth. As a developer and key figure in the community, comesin tothe Pettaway and says, ‘We can’t make Michael Orndorff, a observed, developer “No and one key figure community, observed, “No onethis comes to Pettaway and says, ‘We work.’ Folks either stay orcan’t growmake into larger spaces due to the success they find here. ” The ongoing positive developthis work.’ Folks either stay or grow into larger spaces due to the success they find here.” The ongoing posment and planned expansions, including new offices, retail spaces, restaurants highlight itive development and planned expansions, includingand newapartments, offices, retail spaces,Pettaway’s restaurants and apartments, highlight sustained evolution as a dynamic and successful district. Pettaway’s sustained evolution as a dynamic and successful district. Photography by Brittany Watts, Brian Chilson and Lori Sparkman Photography by Brittany Watts and Brian Chilson

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MONDAY 11/2. WALTON ARTS CENTER, FAYETTEVILLE. 7 P.M. $46-$80. If you’ve never listened to indie rock singer-songwriter Neko Case, or perhaps it’s just been a minute, the opening lines of “Destination,” the first track on her 2025 album “Neon Grey Midnight Green,” should set you straight. “Hello, stranger / You remind me of someone / A jangling lust pouncing on a sliver of a dusty pool of light / Your fire’s hue is a maraschino cherry,” she sings with laid-back drama, putting forth a knotty lyrical puzzle that’s at once inviting and opaque. Talk about an introduction. Destroyer, the longtime project of Dan Bejar, an equally thrilling lyricist and Case’s former bandmate in Canadian supergroup The New Pornographers, opens this show at the 1,200seat Baum Walker Hall at the Walton Arts Center. Get tickets at waltonartscenter.org. DG ARKTIMES.COM

NOVEMBER 2026 15

S & J PHOTOGRAPHY

THE WILDWOODS SATURDAY 11/7. WHITE WATER TAVERN. 8 P.M. $18.

The first thing I noticed when watching a few live videos of The Wildwoods — a trio from Lincoln, Nebraska, who write “folk songs that feel like postcards,” according to their social media bio — is the lightness of their touch. The instrumentation — fiddle, upright bass, acoustic guitar and voice — is familiar. Still, the grace and nonchalance with which the players harmonize and touch their strings suggests a deep trust, both in the sweet sound their instruments will inevitably produce and in the relationships that underlie this musical partnership: marriage and friendship. Built around high school sweethearts (and now husband-and-wife) Noah and Chloe Goose and rounded out by childhood friend Andy Vaggalis, The Wildwoods released their fourth album, “Dear Meadowlark,” in 2025. Get tickets at whitewatertavern.com. DG 16 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

EDD RAVN

TUESDAY 11/17. CALS RON ROBINSON THEATER. 7 P.M. FREE. Tran Anh Hung’s “The Taste of Things” (2023), one of the great contemporary “food movies,” opens with a 38-minute sequence in which Eugénie (Juliette Binoche), the personal chef of a wealthy 19th-century gastronome named Dodin (Benoît Magimel), prepares an elaborate meal, setting the tone of the film and expertly introducing the characters with hardly any dialogue to speak of. While Eugénie and Dodin, both middle-aged, maintain a romantic relationship — an arrangement that’s been in place for 20 years — the two sleep apart, and only when granted permission does Dodin enter Eugénie’s room to spend the night. Dodin periodically asks Eugénie to marry him, an overture she always rebuffs because she likes the way things are. But, as Eugénie says, they’re in the “autumn of their lives,” so perhaps it’s OK to take a chance? Reserve your spot for this month’s Cinema I/O Presents screening — a recent rebranding of the Arkansas Times Film Series — at ronrobinsontheater.simpletix.com. OJ

HILLCREST PORCHFEST SATURDAY 11/7. HILLCREST. FREE.

In the nearly 20 years since the first Porchfest occurred in Ithaca, New York, over 250 cities across the U.S. have adopted its wholesome block party model, setting aside one day a year for a plethora of neighborhood porches within walking distance of one another to be overtaken by free performances from local musicians. Little Rock, and Hillcrest more specifically, joins the cozy club this year, with the inaugural lineup including Adam Faucett, Ike Peters, Trevor Bates, Dandelioness, Mark Currey, Bethany Raybourn, Chris DeClerk and more. Find a map of participating porches and a complete itinerary at hillcrestporchfest.com. DG

SUNDAY 11/1-SUNDAY 11/8. VARIOUS LOCATIONS, DOWNTOWN HOT SPRINGS. FREE.

The Hot Springs Poetry Festival has a little something for everyone. Are you a bona fide lover of exacting literary poetry? Check out readings on Saturday, Nov. 7, from Clarksville native Ellie Black, whose debut book “Revelator” “dares to believe that a dumb blonde or Meredith Blake or a young girl on the internet might actually have something interesting to say” (Los Angeles Review of Books), and James McWilliams, the author of “The Life and Poetry of Frank Stanford,” a 2025 biography of an Arkansas legend that was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Looking for inspiration as you embark on writing your own poetry? Tune in for online workshops like “Writing Childhood Poems” with Megan Nichols (Monday, Nov. 2) and “Poetry as Personal Archive” (Tuesday, Nov. 3) with Toni Garcia-Butler. Just a casual appreciator of verse who prefers the accessibility of slam poetry? Drop by the Spa City Poetry Slam (Saturday, Nov. 7) or sit down for a screening of “Come See Me in the Good Light,” an acclaimed documentary about the late great poet Andrea Gibson. Find a full list of what’s on offer at hspf.org. DG MILES KALCHIK

CINEMA I/O PRESENTS: ‘THE TASTE OF THINGS’

HOT SPRINGS POETRY FESTIVAL

ARKTIMES.COM

NOVEMBER 2026 17

BRIAN GOLDSTONE

ELAINE BROWN GOLDSTONE

WEDNESDAY 11/4. CALS RON ROBINSON THEATER. 6:30 P.M. FREE. An alarming statistic lurks in the third paragraph of The New York Times’ glowing review of “There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America,” journalist Brian Goldstone’s Pulitzer Prize-winning nonfiction debut: “Politicians have been incentivized to define homelessness narrowly, including only people living in shelters or on the street. A true measure of homelessness in America would be six times the official figure … pushing the number up to more than four million.” It’s this much larger group of vulnerable people that concerns Goldstone, who zeroes in on five Atlanta families with precarious housing whose breadwinners “work a lot, and earn very little” in a rapidly gentrifying city. Goldstone’s visit to CALS Ron Robinson Theater is part of the J.N. Heiskell Distinguished Lecture Series and will be moderated by Ben Goodwin, the longtime executive director of Our House in Little Rock. Reserve your spot at events.cals.org. DG

‘SAY IT AIN’T SAY’S’ SWEET POTATO PIE CONTEST SUNDAY 11/15. MOSAIC TEMPLARS CULTURAL CENTER. 1 P.M. FREE.

A sweet potato pie is a sweet potato pie is a sweet potato pie, right? Not according to the organizers of the “Say It Ain’t Say’s” sweet potato pie contest, an annual kickoff to the Thanksgiving season that pits the city’s best bakers against one another in a “friendly but flavorful showdown.” Named in honor of the late Robert “Say” McIntosh, a firecracker activist and restaurateur known to many as the “The Sweet Potato Pie King of Little Rock,” the contest demands excellence from its competitors, whose pies will be evaluated via four categories: taste (“flavor should be well-balanced, with natural sweetness and a strong sweet potato taste”), texture (“filling should be smooth, creamy, and consistent throughout”), appearance (“pies should be visually appealing and neatly presented”) and overall impression (“judges will consider the complete experience, including taste, appearance, and overall enjoyment”). Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring a new, unopened toy to contribute to the Robert “Say” McIntosh Stop the Violence Toy Drive. DG

JOHN GREEN

When it comes to contemporary young adult fiction with a realist bent, there are few names bigger than John Green, who came to prominence with 2005’s “Looking for Alaska,” a novel whose never-ending (and mostly inexplicable) place in the crosshairs of conservative book banners only made it more popular. Green’s 2012 novel “The Fault in Our Stars,” which went on to sell over 20 million copies after receiving an explosively popular film adaptation, further solidified his importance in the world of young people’s literature. Green, who is also widely known for the educational and philanthropic work he’s done on YouTube with his brother, heads to Hendrix College in Conway on the heels of the release of his first novel for adults, “Hollywood, Ending,” which Booklist called a “spellbinding, tender, incisive, funny, and compassionate story of love and creativity.” All of the more than 1,000 tickets available for this free event have already been claimed, but here’s to hoping that your friend who snagged a spot gets sick at the last minute. DG 18 NOVEMBER 2026

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MARINA WATERS

WEDNESDAY 11/18. HENDRIX COLLEGE, WELLNESS AND ATHLETICS CENTER, CONWAY. 7:30 P.M. FREE.

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NEWS & POLITICS THE PLOT THICKENS: Grant County already has one data center in the works. Now there are two. Shown here is the Grant County Courthouse in Sheridan.

DATA BREACH

WORD GETS OUT ABOUT A SECOND DATA CENTER SLATED FOR GRANT COUNTY, DESPITE THE NDAS. BY BYRON TATE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON

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rant County has both a second data center and a large natural gas power plant to feed electricity to it in the works, according to a county official. The projects have not been announced, and not much is publicly known about either one because, like other data center projects — the ones in Little Rock, Wrightsville and West Memphis, for example — where Entergy and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission are players, many people in a position to know something have signed nondisclosure agreements (NDAs). A few details have emerged, however. According to Grant County Judge Randy Pruitt, the data center would be situated on 2,000 acres of land along Arkansas Highway 46 not far from Redfield. Less is known about Entergy’s natural gas power plant, other than the fact that Pruitt said it also is being planned. The AEDC can legally avoid producing information requested about potential business interests when the businesses involved want to stay under wraps. The state agency did just that when the Arkansas Times asked for information about this second data center plan. Entergy doesn’t talk about its plans, either, and is known for its reliance on NDAs. In July, The New York Times published two stories on a $50 billion data center, covering 6 square miles, in northeast Louisiana, said to

be one of the largest in the world. The accounts described how all of the complicated pieces were put together by officials who hid what they were doing behind NDAs. “Behind the scenes, an extraordinary amount of secrecy was necessary to pull it off,” one of the stories said. “Energy company executives, Louisiana’s governor, state and local officials and representatives of Meta worked on the deal over nine months before it was made public. The project’s speed and covertness have been trumpeted as a model for the entire tech industry.” And who pulled it all together? “Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana’s chief executive, was involved in every step of the process,” said the story, “from securing a tax rebate on data center equipment to buying nearby land and drafting nondisclosure agreements for government officials.” Considering that Entergy Louisiana is a sister company to Entergy Arkansas, it would not be a stretch to conclude that the secret dealings that went on — are going on — in Louisiana are being copied and pasted in Arkansas. Crucial details about several data centers under consideration in Arkansas remain unknown because public officials have signed NDAs. Not surprisingly, Entergy declined to comment for this story. They have been quick to text the Arkansas Times about Entergy-related

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ROOTED HERE. INVESTED HERE. Your generosity built this community. Weʼre here to help it thrive for generations to come. Every community across Arkansas has its own unique story, strength, and spirit. Arkansas Community Foundation helps keep your charitable dollars working right where you live. Whether you want to support a favorite cause today or leave a lasting gift in your will, we provide simple, tax-smart ways to make a difference in the place you call home. Because real, lasting impact starts in our own backyard. Keep your giving local. Find your local county affiliate or start giving at ARCF.org 501-372-1116

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news coverage they did not like, but when we texted and then called them to ask about the second data center in Grant County, they didn’t respond. In some ways, this is the tale of two data

could ask questions and he would try to answer them. By his account, that effort mostly failed. Only a handful of people responded to his platform, but lots of people took to social media to

“I SAID, ‘HOW ABOUT THIS? HOW ABOUT IF YOU DON’T INVITE ME BACK BECAUSE I’M NOT GOING TO SIGN AN NDA?” —GRANT COUNTY JUDGE RANDY PRUITT

centers and how NDAs have been used to shape those projects and, in some instances, split community members into those who have signed NDAs and those who have not. FIRST PROJECT VS. SECOND In summer 2025, Clean Cloud Energy officials came to the Grant County Quorum Court to state their interest in bringing a data center to the area. That project, which involves C&L Electric Cooperative Corp., has been out in the open — warts and all — ever since, with no NDAs in sight. Where it would be located, how much electricity it would need, the identity of the company that would ultimately operate the facility, how much water it would need — all that information came out for public perusal as the plans for the project matured. There has been political backlash, intense opposition from residents, wild accusations about those involved, and a lawsuit alleging that the county judge and Quorum Court were guilty of violating the Freedom of Information Act. A judge dismissed the case. The most prominent person who has not signed an NDA is County Judge Pruitt. If the company that operates the planned data center wants a reduction in their taxes, a perk made possible by Arkansas’ Act 9 of 1960, they eventually will have to knock on his door because the decision to grant that tax relief is his and his alone. Until then, he’s mostly out of the loop, other than for a handful of meetings he’s been invited to. One of those was memorable and had to do with George Murray. Murray is a recent transplant to the Sheridan area. He was an engineer and worked on a variety of large industrial projects during his career. He’s retired now, but when he moved to town, it was about the same time as the Clean Cloud Energy project began being discussed — and argued about. Murray offered his expertise by creating an online space where residents

disparage him, some alleging that he worked for Clean Cloud Energy. Still, because of Murray’s experience, Pruitt asked him to be a part of a small group of individuals the county judge could turn to for advice in dealing with big corporations — think Google or Meta — wanting to invest billions of dollars into the community for a data center. Pruitt, Murray and Justice of the Peace Mike Nevens made a splash earlier this year when they made public what they would require of a data center in Grant County, saying they didn’t want to see it, hear it, smell it, etc. They also said that to get to a full 65% abatement of taxes – the most Act 9 allows – the data center owner would have to pony up close to $60 million in an upfront payment that would be used for a variety of public and nonprofit purposes. The bottom line, the men said, was: “Sure, you can bring your data center to Grant County, but it’s going to cost you, and if you don’t want to do that, we’re OK without you.” THE MEETING So when Pruitt was invited to a meeting about the water needs of a second data center, he asked Murray to go with him. It did not go well. The meeting, hosted by the AEDC, was held in early June at Resource Management Service’s Sheridan office. RMS, as it is called, manages timber for a variety of landowners, and it is the one that would arrange the land sale for the data center. At the meeting were state economic development officials along with representatives from Entergy, the company that would use the data center, and county officials, with most appearing via Zoom. “When they started talking about the water needs of the data center, Mr. Murray started asking questions, and after a while he starts pointing out errors. He got way deep in the weeds and then poof, they were gone,” Pruitt

said, referring to the economic development officials and others who were on the Zoom call. “They disappeared from the screen.” Pruitt said he got a call the next day from Entergy executive Danny Games, who apologized for “my guy giving out bad info,” according to Pruitt, who said he also got a call from the Economic Development Commission saying that Murray would not be invited back to another meeting. “I said, ‘How about this? How about if you don’t invite me back because I am not going to sign an NDA?’” Pruitt said. The county judge said he bristles at the secrecy over who will ultimately operate the data center. When he asked during the call the identity of the data center company, the official from the company said Pruitt might not know the answer to that until ground was broken. Pruitt is not exactly comfortable in the position he now finds himself. He spent 30 years working for Grant County in a variety of capacities, then ended up as acting county judge when his predecessor, Kemp Nall, became ill in 2016. Because Pruitt was so well liked, he became county judge when Nall died. That goodwill has evaporated to some extent because of all the negativity associated with the Clean Cloud Energy data center project. Now, Pruitt said, he cringes at the thought of the curtain opening on this second data center plan and all the accusations that will fly when that happens. To say he is looking forward to retirement at the end of the year — and not having to think or hear about data centers — would be an understatement. “I have a timer on my desk that tells me how many days, hours and seconds I have before I am officially retired,” he said.

left out of the story. He worried about the safety of his family and said he was almost certain he would be sued by Entergy for speaking out. LEFT OUT OF THE LOOP The downside to not signing an NDA is that, to a great extent, Pruitt is cut out of the conversation. He doesn’t know what’s going on and just hears “bits and pieces,” as he put it. On the other hand, he said, signing one and keeping secret a project the public would have a keen interest in would be a public relations nightmare. Justice of the Peace Nevens agreed. He hasn’t signed an NDA for this second data center project, either, but considered it. “I’ll be honest, I thought about it,” he said. “I would rather not be on the outside looking in on these projects. If you’re not at the table, you don’t know what’s going on. Personally and professionally, I don’t have a problem with NDAs. But as a public official, I didn’t think it was the right thing to do.” Nevens said he was invited to one of the data center meetings and asked several questions but got no answers. “I asked how big it was. No answer,” he said. “I asked who the company was. No answer. I asked where it was going to be. No answer. They wouldn’t tell me anything.” And even though Pruitt did not sign an NDA, he’s still going to take a hit, no matter what, Nevens said. “Randy will still get roasted for it,” Nevens said. “He’ll get roasted because he didn’t stand up in a Quorum Court meeting and say, ‘This company asked me to sign an NDA and this is what I’ve heard is going on.’ But he would never stand up and talk about things that aren’t part

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“I ASKED HOW BIG IT WAS. NO ANSWER. I ASKED WHO THE COMPANY WAS. NO ANSWER. I ASKED WHERE IT WAS GOING. NO ANSWER. THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING.” —GRANT COUNTY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE MIKE NEVENS

In the meantime, he also does not like talking to the media about this second data center, although he has made a point to say that, while he may not volunteer what he knows, he will not lie about it if asked. That is despite the fact that telling all will irritate, and perhaps infuriate, friends he’s had for 50 years who are connected to the data center project. The pressure was so sharp that one person who spoke freely to this publication about the second data center called back to ask that he be

of the county’s business. So he’ll get roasted because he didn’t spill his guts about a project coming to Grant County.” The new incoming county judge, Ron Casey, who takes over in January, said he would not sign an NDA, either. “I’m a conservative Christian person, and lying is just against my belief system,” he said. “I don’t want to be put in a position where I can’t be truthful to the public. I’m not going to start my administration doing that. I’m not

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DEVELOPMENTS: Grant County Judge Randy Pruitt said he’s learned that a second data center will be located somewhere along Arkansas Highway 46 a few miles from Redfield.

going to start my administration shrouded in secrecy.” THE ONES WHO DID SIGN Key individuals who signed NDAs are Sheridan Mayor Cain Nattin, Craig Manatt, who is the president and CEO of Peoples Bank, and Bobby Taylor, head of Shelby Taylor Trucking. All three are members of the Grant County Industrial Development Corporation (GCIDC). The corporation gets bandied about in conversations about its involvement with data centers, but Manatt and Taylor said the members are simply unpaid ambassadors. “Someone calls the state AEDC and says they are interested in bringing a business or some type of industry to the state and they’ve identified Grant County as a possible location,” Manatt said. “The AEDC calls us, and we put the business in touch with the appropriate entity. That could be the county judge or mayor or school district. We’re not a data center proponent or opponent. We put them in touch with decision-makers. We aren’t decisionmakers.” Manatt said NDAs were just part of the process. “An NDA allows the various entities some breathing room,” he said. “It allows an idea to become a concept and a concept to become a project.” Taylor said Grant County needs a full-time economic development coordinator, but in the absence of one, the various members of the GCIDC will have to suffice. “I want jobs here,” Taylor said. “I want economic development, a plant, a factory, something. It’s a thankless job for us because we all have our day jobs and we don’t get paid for any of it.” Asked if he thought the GCIDC would be blamed if and when a second data center 26 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

project is announced, Taylor said that was likely. “I’m sure we will be,” he said. Sheridan Mayor Nattin was brought into the conversation, possibly because water might be needed from the city’s treatment plant to service a second data center. He said he needed to sign the NDA to stay abreast of the data center developments. In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, Nattin sent copies of the NDAs that he and David Fitzgerald, head of the city’s water and sewer department, signed in April relating to the second data center, although he redacted the name of the development company behind the project. Nattin said his signature on the form did not mean he was for or against the data center, adding that he looked at such big companies with suspicion. “Should we trust big tech?” Nattin said. “Not really. They will do what’s in the best interest of their profits.” As for providing water and sewer service to the proposed data center site that’s closer to Redfield than Sheridan, Nattin indicated it seemed unlikely, acknowledging plans for the data center in a more concrete way than anyone else who had signed an NDA. “This second project, from what I hear, is nowhere near the city limits of Sheridan,” he said. NDA AND DATA CENTER PUSHBACK In Louisiana, which is seeing an influx of data center projects, the topic of NDAs has roiled lawmakers, some of whom have signed them and then, faced with public pushback, sought to be released from them. State Rep. Danny McCormick, a Republican who represents an area where an Amazon data center will be built, told the Gulf States

Newsroom that the NDAs exist for one reason: “They don’t want the little people to know what they’re doing until after they’ve done it,” he said. With data center proposals popping up with more frequency around Arkansas, the spread of the facilities is starting to hit the radar of state lawmakers because of the public’s opposition to them. “I think definitely there are conversations going on about data centers,” Sen. Clarke Tucker (D-Little Rock) said. “It’s far too early to know how that will shake out. But legislators are aware of the concern about data centers, and there’s a general feeling that we should do something about it.” In 2023, the Legislature passed what became Act 851, which restricts the ability of cities and counties to put many controls on data centers. Tucker, however, said there could be some effort to amend the law and give local elected officials more leeway to make their own decisions about data centers. And at an energy conference held recently in Little Rock, three lawmakers expressed frustration with the state’s Generating Arkansas Jobs Act, which was passed in 2025 and allows Entergy and other electric providers to charge existing customers for the construction costs to create power needed by data centers and other large industrial developments. Customers are now funding solar arrays, batteries and gas-fired power plants upfront to make way for data centers and their voracious appetites for electricity. Before the act was passed, customers didn’t start paying for those facilities until they were built. The Generating Arkansas Jobs Act charges started hitting customers’ bills in June, with Entergy using the money collected under this line item to build a solar farm in Jefferson County. The electricity from the solar array will offset the power needed for a data center in West Memphis. One of the conference attendees, Sen. Mark Johnson (R-Little Rock), said he thought the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act inappropriately charged customers for what Entergy’s investors should be paying for. “Now, ratepayers are paying for capital expenditures, and that puts us going down a dangerous road,” Johnson said. “This is the wrong way to do this. That’s a cost shift that’s not appropriate.” Johnson said he thought NDAs had been “overused” when it came to data centers and that it should be up to the Legislature to figure out a way to balance a business’ need to keep certain details confidential with the public’s right to know what is going on in their own backyard.

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(A OU

BRIAN CHILSON

CAKEWALK: From left, Jennifer Smith Richards and Jodi S. Cohen, both of ProPublica, and Arkansas Times reporter Milo Strain research founding a private school in Little Rock, plus the official certificate acknowledging our school at bottom left.

NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED WE’RE REPORTERS, NOT TEACHERS. WE WERE CLEARED TO START PRIVATE SCHOOLS ANYWAY. BY MILO STRAIN, JENNIFER SMITH RICHARDS, JODI S. COHEN, JENNIFER BERRY HAWES, HENRY CULVYHOUSE AND CARLI BROSSEAU This story was co-published with ProPublica, Mountain State Spotlight and The Assembly. 28 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

We have no business running a private school.

BRIAN CHILSON

We’re reporters, not teachers. That doesn’t has been documenting how the American teacher skills or what kids learn. But it does matter. Inexperience has hardly been a education landscape is shifting dramatically require that all schools display an American barrier for those who want to start their own as states use public money to help fund flag, and we wanted to follow the rules. So, schools, as we have reported this year. And it private schools. With few regulations, at the Arkansas Flag and Banner store, we didn’t stop us, either. hundreds of new private and microschools decided on a smallish one that could fit in a Over the last few months, to test the process, have proliferated. circular base atop a newsroom cubicle. We reporters from ProPublica partnered with Our reporting has shown the relative ease also bought an Arkansas flag — even though local journalists in three states to establish with which people — some with questionable only public schools are required to have private schools. None required those. Total cost: $49.45. much effort. Picking the flags for our new In Arkansas, all it took was school was the hardest part of a few clicks on the Arkansas an astoundingly easy process. secretary of state website, $45 Early in our reporting in and an American flag to form Arkansas, we tried to figure a bona fide private school with out what steps we’d need to the Arkansas Times. take to make a private school. We established a school We couldn’t find all the with Mountain State Spotlight answers online, so we called in West Virginia after filing the state. our new school’s name and “We don’t have rules for location with authorities on a opening a private school,” piece of notebook paper, then Kaelin Clay Luttrell, an exchanging a few emails. Arkansas Department of And with The Assembly in Education spokeswoman, told North Carolina, we filed an us earlier this year. online notice of intent to open In fact, we didn’t even a private school at Ponysaurus have to file anything with the Brewing Co. in Durham while Education Department. All it perched on its metal bar took was a few clicks on the stools, eyeing glasses of a Arkansas secretary of state’s crisp kolsch. website, where we registered We used our names and the ProPublica-Arkansas Times news organization email ONE-STOP SHOP: The only requirement to open a private school in Curiosity Academy LLC as a addresses, following each Arkansas is displaying a flag and flagpole, so the team visited the local business, listed ourselves as state’s rules for starting flag shop in Little Rock. agents and officers, and paid private or microschools, a a fee. type of private school intended for just a few backgrounds — founded their own schools in “We picked a name. We paid 45 bucks,” a students. Experience running a school wasn’t unusual places. They’ve popped up in barns ProPublica reporter noted after we submitted needed. No one from any of the states asked and on farms, in strip malls between an the application. With that, we had created a us about our backgrounds or qualifications, antique shop and an ax-throwing business, private school. though West Virginia did ask for proof of and in churches, where lighting and sound The secretary of state’s office approved our a high school diploma. No one questioned for worship services is part of the curriculum. new business the same day. We even got a what we planned to teach or how we would All of this led to a clear reporting question: certificate. measure whether students were learning. If the hurdles to open a private school are so The Arkansas Department of Education And yet we could enroll students in two low, could we do it? And what would we learn does not regulate private schools once they’re states right now, if we wanted to. Arkansas along the way? open, and no one from the state inspected even suggested ways our school could accept the Arkansas Times newsroom, the location public money through the state’s voucher- PROPUBLICA-ARKANSAS TIMES we chose for our school. As far as we know, style program. CURIOSITY ACADEMY nobody checked our backgrounds, either. For the record, we are not enrolling Inside a flag shop in Little Rock, we Arkansas adopted a private school funding students and have no intention of operating surveyed our options. There were handheld plan in 2023, and back then there were fewer our new schools. We did, however, register American flags on skinny sticks, midsize than 100 private schools on record. With a website for our new school ventures, ones to display on a wall and majestic formal the state in the fourth year of its Education ProPublicaAcademy.com, and even designed flags adorned with silky gold fringe. Freedom Accounts program, which provides some fun pencils to show our school spirit. State law in Arkansas doesn’t require much vouchers that can be spent on private schools, This year, a team of ProPublica reporters to open a private school, nothing about there are now more than 220. ARKTIMES.COM

NOVEMBER 2026 29

30 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

LAURA BILSON

In addition, 143 microschools, which are a different category in Arkansas, were approved this year to accept tax dollars. That’s up from about 100 last school year. Establishing the Curiosity Academy was so simple — and, frankly, a bit anticlimactic — that reporters then applied to become eligible to receive public funds. (Again, we applied with our names, work email addresses and a note that this was a journalistic exercise. We had no intention of actually ever taking any public money.) We wanted to see how far our curiosity could take us. Accessing public funds as a microschool in Arkansas is easier than it is for other types of private schools, even though there is no limit to the number of students one can enroll. Unlike private schools, we didn’t need to seek accreditation or show proof of financial solvency to accept state funding. It took about 10 minutes to fill out the required information in early September. Other than our contact information, we had to upload just two documents — one detailing our proposed tuition and fees, and the other with our refund policy. We said that — “should we open a school” — our tuition and fees per student would not exceed $7,208 per school year, the exact amount of Education Freedom Account money that each student in Arkansas is eligible for this year. We said tuition “would be collected only if education is delivered, and it would be the policy of the school to refund all tuition payments for educational services that are not provided.” When more than two weeks passed and we hadn’t heard back, we reached out to the state Education Department. An employee called back that afternoon and explained that the department had decided not to accept any more applications because the school year was underway. But he didn’t reject us outright. He looked up our application and invited us to keep pursuing the public money. He said we still could apply to receive public money this school year, but as a vendor providing educational services such as tutoring. He also said we could apply as a microschool next year and even suggested a tweak to the language in our tuition policy should we decide to do that. After we hung up, he emailed us the vendor application (which we will not pursue) and let us know the microschool application for next school year will open in the spring. We asked the state Education Department whether it would be OK with us operating a publicly funded microschool. Luttrell, the spokeswoman, said the agency’s role is to decide if schools meet state requirements. Microschool families, she

said, “have the freedom to choose the educators and learning environments that best meet their children’s needs.” *** Editor’s note: After these promising exchanges, we were surprised when a rejection letter arrived. The Arkansas Department of Education declined our application for public funding about five weeks after we submitted it. A department spokesperson said it was declined because “your organization shared with us that you all did not intend to open up a real microschool but to only use this application process as a journalistic experiment.” PROPUBLICA-MOUNTAIN STATE SPOTLIGHT CURIOSITY ACADEMY, WEST VIRGINIA Hunched over a desk in the Mountain State Spotlight newsroom in Charleston, West Virginia, pen in hand, we scrawled out official notice of our new school in a spiralbound notebook. We wrote that we would serve middle school students and listed our first day as TBD. Leaving the crunchy, ragged edges on the paper, we stuffed our notice of intent into an envelope. We’d seen other new operators file similarly casual ones as they sought to register private schools in West Virginia. Then we drove over to the state Education Department to deliver the request. Our group — two reporters, a photographer and a video journalist — went through security and, camera rolling, wound our way through

the maze of the midcentury building. We got lost once, and our entourage received several perplexed glances from workers, but otherwise it was smooth sailing. The person we needed to deliver the letter to was out, but a friendly employee agreed to place it on his desk. Dozens of new private and microschools have set up shop in the state in recent years, fueled by the roughly $5,400 the Hope Scholarship offers each student to pay tuition. New private schools all go through Dustin Lambert, a manager in the Office of Student Enrichment and Support at the West Virginia Department of Education. We heard back from Lambert the next day. Our notice was received. (Hooray!) He said now we needed a letter from the fire marshal that our school building was safe for children. (Oh no.) This was a problem. Our school would be housed in the Mountain State Spotlight newsroom, which had not been inspected as a school site. We didn’t want to usurp public resources to undergo a new inspection. It felt like the end of our Mountain State school experiment. But it wasn’t. After we followed up to ask whether all schools, including virtual schools, need safety clearance to register with the state, Lambert told us that though all brick-andmortar private schools do, we “may want to consider the microschool route.” In that case, we later learned, the department wouldn’t be involved because state law doesn’t include any mechanism for oversight.

LAURA BILSON

SEALING THE DEAL: ProPublica reporter Jennifer Smith Richards and Mountain State Spotlight reporter Henry Culvyhouse head to the Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia, to hand-deliver their private school application.

West Virginia defines microschools as schools that charge tuition and are started by one or more teachers. In practice, there’s no real difference between a microschool and a private school — neither has an enrollment limit. (Yes, a micro can be macro.) He forwarded us the rules for starting a microschool, which involve providing proof of a high school diploma, at least. We notified the local school district of our new microschool venture and sent a college transcript. The Kanawha County school district, in turn, notified the state of the existence of a new microschool. And with that — bypassing the building health and safety requirements — we established the ProPublica-Mountain State Spotlight Curiosity Academy. Officials at the Department of Education said they were aware that journalists were establishing a school. But they had to just watch us do so — they have no authority over the state’s microschools. In an official statement, the department’s spokesperson said it “does not approve or deny the operation of microschools for any reason, including the qualifications of the owner/operator.” By law, should we open our microschool — and we won’t — we could enroll an unlimited number of students. PROPUBLICA-ASSEMBLY ACADEMY, NORTH CAROLINA On Friday evenings, hundreds of people gather at Ponysaurus Brewing Co., a trendy spot in Durham, North Carolina, to savor its

craft beers and cocktails, hardly the place you’d expect a school to open. But why not? On a recent Tuesday morning, the brewery was quiet and closed to customers. Behind the bar, yeast busily converted sugars into alcohol inside giant stainless steel fermentation tanks. Two journalists settled onto barstools beneath signs for pilsners and cherry sours. Icy cold glasses of Tell the Truth, a light and lemony ale, sat before them on a high-top table beside a stenographer’s notebook and a laptop. The brewery created the craft ale in partnership with The Assembly, which is also ProPublica’s journalistic partner in this private school endeavor, so it all felt very symbiotic. Ponysaurus’s owners had agreed to let us use their building and its fire and sanitation inspections, which are required to open a private school in the Tar Heel State. Reporters from The Assembly and ProPublica scanned a state of North Carolina website that details how to file a notice of intent to open a private school. First, it explained the state’s statutory requirements for opening a private school, things like reporting the school’s name and address. We also would have to administer a standardized test in certain grades, if we were going to open an actual school, and maintain annual records about student attendance and immunizations. Then, we watched a four-minute, 39-second video explaining how to file the required notice of intent. From there, it seemed simple. We created a login, then filled in the address of our school (Ponysaurus’s building), noted its owner

and chief administrator (our reporters), and named it the ProPublica-Assembly Academy. We’d hoped to include the word Curiosity in the name, but the field in the form didn’t allow enough characters. In North Carolina, our curiosity would have to be implied. We filled in a few more fields, including the grades we would serve (high schoolers), whether we would open a religious school (no) and the dates of our academic year. Then we needed to upload fire and sanitation inspection reports. This step is what brought us here, to Ponysaurus, filling out the online notice to the tune of a hissing compressor that kept clean air moving through the brewing system. “You will need to secure inspections for the building where the school will be housed. You will need a fire inspection from the local fire marshal and a health and sanitation inspection from the local health department,” the video said. Just that morning, a Durham Fire Department inspector had visited the brewery and provided Ponysaurus with a fresh business occupancy inspection. We uploaded the new report, along with the brewery’s current food establishment inspection (on which it received a 99, an excellent score, we felt, for a school). The screen flashed a confirmation. “Thank you. We have received your request to open a private school.” If approved, the page said, we should receive a school identification number in three to five business days. We hoped to join the at least 169 other new private schools that have opened in North Carolina since the 2021-22 school year, which ARKTIMES.COM

NOVEMBER 2026 31

NONTRADITIONAL: At top, ProPublica reporter Jennifer Berry Hawes, left, and The Assembly reporter Carli Brosseau apply to open a private school at Ponysaurus Brewing Co. in Durham, North Carolina.

32 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

KATE MEDLEY

marked the start of a series of expansions to the state’s publicly funded vouchers for private school tuition. If we wanted our school to tap the voucher money, we’d have to go through some additional steps, such as getting criminal background checks. We weren’t doing that. The following day, we hit a snag. It came in a brief and garbled email. It said only: “Good morning and thank you for submitting a Notice of Intent to operate a private school. To complete the process we need to fire and sanitation inspections to” and then ended abruptly like that, no explanation or period. We emailed back, asking for clarity and noting we had already uploaded the inspection reports. An official from the state Division of Non-Public Education then called. The school’s name needs to be on the inspection reports, she said, something we had not seen in any of our research. We also had not found any state statutes or rules that would preclude us — or anyone else — from opening a private school wherever we saw fit, be that a church or a brewery, as long as it passed “reasonable fire, health and safety inspections.” In a follow-up call, she clarified that her division checks only to be sure the building has passed inspections specifically for a school. A spokesperson for the agency later added that state statute does not allow them to deny a private school application, but they won’t process an incomplete application — notably one without the proper inspections. We hadn’t expected we would need a school-specific inspection at this point. The video explainer referred to inspections only generally, and the state’s written guidance indicated only that this would need to happen before occupancy. Given we had no intention of actually opening a school, we had decided ahead of time that we wouldn’t consume any additional public resources — such as fire or health inspectors’ time — in our journalistic pursuit. Perhaps Ponysaurus could pass the school-specific inspections. But the ethical red line would be our stop sign. Our curiosity would have to end in North Carolina.

KATE MEDLEY

Inexperience has hardly been a barrier for those who want to start their own private schools. And it didn’t stop us, either.

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with ann m e i N e l o h c Ni 34 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

WEEKDAYS 2PM

Our annual If there’s one thing people are opinionated about, it’s alcohol. Sure, most folks who drink are united in the pursuit of varying degrees of intoxication, but the pathways to said looseness are infinite. Thus, we return once again to our annual Toast of the Town poll, which surveys Arkansans about their favorite beer, wine and cocktails throughout the state. Read on for a list of the winners and finalists, plus an assembly of stories that capture the drinking sensibilities of our staff and contributors.

inventory of the state’s best bars and booze is back. ARKTIMES.COM

NOVEMBER 2026 35

Altus vs. the world CAN A BLIND TASTING PROVE THAT NATURAL STATE WINES CAN HOLD THEIR OWN AGAINST EUROPEAN FAVORITES?

hen I told my co-workers about my plan to host an Arkansas wine tasting in the office and write a story about it, I was met with mostly pinched faces. I quickly realized I was pitching this idea to a group made up primarily of strong-willed wine snobs who think Arkansas vino is too “cheap,” “sweet” and “bottom shelf,” as a few of my colleagues not-so-subtly put it. I have my own preferences when it comes to wine — I’m an orange wine and super-dry sauvignon blanc girly — but I also admit these whims are largely irrational. Wine drinkers are notoriously haughty, and they — we, really — often use wine tastings to prove that they’re worldly and sophisticated. When else might we get the chance to tell long, pretentious stories about those trips to France or New Zealand and to argue over whether or not a wine has legs? So I set out to disprove the naysayers, myself included, by designing a blind taste test, pitting popular wines like pinot grigio and medium-bodied reds from The Natural State against some solid and comparable options from Trader Joe’s sourced from the major wine regions of the world. Nothing from either side was over $20. I couldn’t find a huge variety of Arkansas wines in stores in Little Rock (there are 21 wineries in the state; I managed to find wines from three, all of which are located near Altus), but I tracked down enough of them to put together what felt like a fair fight. Keeping in mind that my fellow tasters clung to the idea that Arkansas wine is too sweet, I left out the moscato and muscadine fruit wines. Still, it was going to be an uphill battle.

When I told my co-workers about my plan to host an Arkansas wine tasting in the office and write a story about it, I was met with mostly pinched faces. 36 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

BY ELIZABETH L. CLINE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON

Round 1: The rieslings Wiederkehr Riesling (Arkansas) vs. Joseph HÄndler Riesling (Germany) For starters, I chose two off-dry, not overly sweet rieslings, hoping to throw off our anti-Arkansas contingent. All of the wines were served from brown paper bags to shield their identities. Even with the labels hidden, a majority of the group preferred the Joseph Händler over the Arkansas-made Wiederkehr riesling, but only by a small margin. “[The Wiederkehr] is right on the edge of being too sweet for me, but they’re both good,” said Milo, who had little prior wine-tasting experience and came into the tasting having heard the rumors about Arkansas wine. Brock agreed that the Joseph Händler was a touch better. “It’s more complex. It had a richer texture, like an effervescence on the front and back,” he said. Wendy and Brooke felt the Arkansas riesling was far too sweet. Brooke, our snootiest participant, said that spending time with sommeliers had ruined her on all but the world’s best wines. “I can’t even drink my Bota Box anymore,” she said. She predicted she’d be able to spot the Arkansas wines by smell and taste, and she was right about every single one, detesting most of them. My blind taste test was poorly designed, I feared. Would everyone decide they had to hate one of the two just to prove a point? The younger generation helped keep the experiment from going off the rails, with our least-experienced drinkers, Milo and Daniel, maintaining an open mind. “I like the clean, sweet one and not the funky one, but I might just have weird tastes,” Daniel said, announcing his preference for the Wiederkehr riesling and restoring my faith that this wouldn’t be a blowout.

Round 2: The chardonnays Post Winery Chardonnay (Arkansas) vs. Révélation Chardonnay (France) Round 2 was made difficult by a more unexpected prejudice: Our seasoned wine drinkers also hate chardonnay. It’s too buttery, too oaky, too heavy, they said. The poor, embattled Post chardonnay was nearly universally reviled, especially at first whiff, because the nose was off. I’m sorry to report that it indeed smelled pretty bad, almost like a wet dog. But the taste itself was OK, some said. Jada liked the sharpness, while she found the French chard was too buttery and sweet. Wendy, typically not a chardonnay fan, said she liked the Révélation chard more than most. “It was not really as heavy as some chardonnays are, and it had a little bite to it, and I did taste some oakiness to it,” she said. Brock agreed the Révélation was “highly drinkable.” Brooke liked it OK, too. When I asked why folks were so anti-chardonnay, Brock conceded it was a matter of coolness. “I feel like maybe there’s a trend,” he said. “Like chardonnays were all the rage maybe 10 or 15 years ago, and now it’s like pinots and like ‘savvy bees.’” Interestingly, two of our most educated wine-drinkers — Brock and Wendy — both guessed that they were drinking oaked chardonnays when, in fact, the samples were unoaked. I felt some satisfaction that my blind taste test was tripping them up, at least a little.

Round 3: The pinot grigios Post Winery Pinot Grigio (Arkansas) vs. Villa Borghetti Grigio Luna Pinot Grigio (Italy) I knew our group hated sweeter whites, so I was curious how a drier wine like a pinot grigio would go over. Still, the Arkansas-made pinot grigio earned few fans. “Acidic taste, sour, like it didn’t complete the process,” Wendy said, suggesting it tasted like a failed home winemaking experiment. Ouch. My critique was kinder, noting that the Post pinot grigio simply tasted like water or like a wine cooler, and lacked much complexity. “Tastes of nothing, smells of nothing,” Brock said, but he didn’t actively dislike it. “There’s not much to report on it.” The Villa Borghetti pinot grigio, by contrast, was my favorite of the white wines. Few others had much to say about it. At this point, the group — a bit buzzed — started arguing again about the merits of the Arkansas wine industry. Brock defended the wineries, saying that they “deserve their place here in a historical context” and schooling us about how Germans and Swiss immigrants have been making wine in Arkansas since they arrived in the late 1800s.

UNVEILING: Writer Elizabeth L. Cline (in white) reveals one of the contenders in our blind taste test of Arkansas wines.

ARKTIMES.COM

NOVEMBER 2026 37

Round 4: The juicy, light reds Wiederkehr Cynthiana (Arkansas)

vS.

Louis Jadot BeaujolaisVillages Gamay (France)

My recorder was compromised for this round (intoxication, go figure), but what I remember is that I knew far more about this Arkansas wine than the others going into it, thanks to a deeply informed shopkeeper at Colonial Wines & Spirits who helped me pick it out. Namely, I learned that cynthianas aren’t impersonating a wine that’s supposed to be grown in France or Germany; it’s made from a native Arkansas grape (apparently cynthiana is our official state grape). The employee also informed me that Arkansas doesn’t have an ideal climate for traditional wine grapes, as consistent moisture is what’s needed (not violent storms, followed by drought). I later read that climate change is making things worse. The state’s vintners import grapes and ferment them locally for the table wines. It’s the dessert and fruit wines made of muscadine, moscato or elderberry that are truly Arkansas-grown. Thus, a legit taste test would have been muscadine wines of the world against Arkansas, but that would have been an impossible sell. The shopkeeper recommended I pit the cynthiana against a Beaujolais made from gamay grapes — a very juicy, light and fruity red wine, and one my personal favorites. Jada loves Beaujolais, too. “I drank so much of this in my 20s,” she said. She knew it by taste immediately. Most folks didn’t like the Beaujolais. I found it had too much alcohol on the nose and none of the bold, juicy flavor I was after. By contrast, I loved the cynthiana’s floral notes on the nose and fruit-forward flavor, though about half of the group found it too sweet. Mostly, I liked that it wasn’t trying to be something it wasn’t. I felt myself forming yet another new wine bias, this time toward the Arkansas wine. 38 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

Round 5: The medium-bodied reds Post WineRY Traditional Red (Arkansas)

vs.

B by Fonbadet Bordeaux (France)

As the group got bawdier and buzzier, we arrived at the final round of the tasting, during which we put a medium-bodied “traditional” red by Post against a French Bordeaux. Brock recently went on a wine tour of Bordeaux, France’s famous wine region. “It changes your palate,” he said. But this $9 bottle didn’t really win him over. He picked up notes of leather but noted it was slightly sweet for a Bordeaux. “It tastes a little dirty,” Wendy said. The Post Traditional was mostly a flop. “It made me grimace,” Milo said. “It’s jammy to me. It’s like super grapey," Brock said. Jada was the lone fan. “Of the Arkansas wines, this is the one I’d probably drink over any of the other ones,” she said, adding that her in-laws were huge Arkansas wine drinkers who buy Post’s reds by the gallon. CHEERS: Arkansas wine received a mixed reception in our blind taste test.

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BEST MARGARITA, BEST BAR FOR POOL, DARTS OR SHUFFLEBOARD & BEST BARTENDER, BEST DRINKING BRUNCH BRITTNI TASKEY Two hours and $200 later Before wrapping things up, we did a bonus round of Mount Bethel’s elderberry wine, made of fruit actually grown in Arkansas. To be honest, the group was out of steam and had made up its mind by this point. Some noted it tasted medicinal, for example. All in all, not a single Arkansas wine outperformed its competitor, but some — the Wiederkher riesling and cynthiana, in particular — held their own. Daniel even said he liked the Arkansas wines better, on the whole, because they’re sweeter. “To be honest, I just don’t really love the taste of alcohol in any context. So, I think that might have something to do with why I’ve enjoyed the taste of some of these Arkansas wines,” he said. According to a 2022 study by Wine America, the Arkansas wine industry draws nearly 30,000 tourists to our state each year and generates an annual revenue of $1 billion, so clearly it’s not hurting for takers. As writer Matt McNair reported in our October Road Trip issue, the state’s wineries, especially those in Arkansas Wine Country, have good restaurants and make for a scenic, history-filled day trip from Little Rock, regardless of whether you’re going to use the bottles you buy in a roast or to toast a special occasion. Wine is sometimes meant to be enjoyed, not “overly articulated or critiqued,” as the Colonial Wines store manager told me. Too late, I thought, as I prepared to spend about two hours and $200 doing just that.

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Mead me in Arkansas ON THE THRILLS OF FERMENTING YOUR OWN HONEY WINE.

hey say that necessity is the mother of invention, so it must be true that living in a dry county drove me to take up homebrewing. Both my dad and an uncle had experimented with it in the ’90s, so when I was going to Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, I had access to some surplus equipment of theirs. Like most beginner homebrewers, I started with a few basic beer kits that had all the ingredients for specific types of ale parceled out, and I followed that up with doing some experiments of my own with different types of malt and hops, all ordered from St. Patrick’s of Texas. But then one of my classes at ASU began steering me in another direction. It started with Robert Schichler’s British literature class, which entailed the study of different Old English texts, followed by his seminar on Norse sagas. The kings and warriors who were central to many of these stories regularly drank mead. Mead is often called “honey wine,” and although there are a few commercial meaderies at present, if you wanted to sample mead in the ’90s in Arkansas, you had to make your own. Fortunately, Charles Papazian’s “The Complete Joy of Homebrewing,” the bible for all of us hobbyists, had a chapter on mead. I found a local supplier of honey in the phonebook and soon got to work. The first sip I took of the finished product changed forever how I imagined these Vikings and Grendel-killing kings of ye olden times. This stuff was sweeeeet. Imagine Beowulf in the mead hall guzzling chardonnay. That’s how the people of those times rolled, and I soon discovered why. The sweetness of mead conceals a rather high alcohol content compared to beer. I have to warn people whenever I present them a bottle, and still many don’t take it seriously. I brewed a few batches of mead for my wedding, and several people who had underestimated its potency needed to be driven home. Honestly, mead was a little too sweet for my tastes, but I kept experimenting because it was something novel that I could always

40 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

take to gatherings, and because I could get the main ingredient locally. Not only that, but just as wine grapes exhibit what is called terroir — the characteristics of the place where they are grown — so, too, does honey differ

THE GOODS: Three quarts of honey from a Lake City beekeeper, some locally grown ginger bought at the Hillcrest Farmers Market, and some cider from Drewry Farms and Orchards in Dover has the potential to make a tasty batch of mead.

depending upon what kind of flowers the bees are visiting, what time of year it is, and any number of other factors. Honey reflects the landscape and the weather. But there’s more. You can flavor mead with all kinds of fruit and spices, too, making what are called melomel and metheglin, respectively (although most people will just say fruit- or spice-flavored mead). This means that you can exhibit in your brew even more flavors from the local landscape. I started out using blueberries and blackberries in some of my early experiments, and if the result was

BY GUY LANCASTER

still a bit sweet, it was still more subtle than the Manischewitz I was drinking all too often in college. I don’t brew as often as I did living in Jonesboro, especially given the proliferation of craft beer here in Arkansas and elsewhere, but aside from the brewer’s yeast and the powdered yeast nutrient that helps to speed along the fermentation, most anything one might want for mead-making can be found at one of our local farmers markets. And not just the honey and fruit and herbs. Papazian’s book includes a recipe for something called Barkshack Ginger Mead, which is the best of the variations I have tried. Some years back, Natural State agrarian Josh Hardin, then working on his family’s farm in Grady, began growing Hawaiian pink ginger here in Arkansas, and a few other people have followed suit. In warmer climates, one can over-winter ginger, producing the stiff, knobbly roots you often see in grocery stores, but here in Arkansas one has to harvest each year, leaving the ginger roots more tender and juicy. The interplay of the ginger, with its bite, and the sweetness of the honey — this all works wonders on the tongue and makes for something my decidedly non-sweet tooth can delight in. There are now a few places in Arkansas making different varieties of mead, such as Arkansas Meadery in nearby Alexander or Juniper Tree Meadery in Paragould. But while I’ve largely surrendered myself to some of our local craft beer professionals when it comes to ales and lagers, I still like to brew mead myself. I like to be able to taste the honey in the raw before I start and then, some months later, sample the final product — a bit like eating the grapes first and then drinking the wine down the end. Tasting the transformation. Because mead isn’t just place. It’s also time. It’s both the landscape from which all the ingredients come and the passing of the seasons, waiting for the last bubbles of fermentation to part before you can pour a glass, take a sip and think to yourself, “Ahh … just like the Vikings.”

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MUST-SIP BY DANIEL FORD, AUSTIN GELDER, DANIEL GREAR, MATT MCNAIR AND MILO STRAIN

SPILL THE TEA: The Earl Grey ESB, the best-selling beer at Moody Brews in Pettaway Square, is the brainchild of owner Josiah Moody.

42 NOVEMBER 2026

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SARA REEVES

FIVE OF THE BEST BEERS AND COCKTAILS IN LITTLE ROCK, ACCORDING TO OUR EDITORIAL TEAM.

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here’s a sea of alcoholic drinks out there — some great, some not-so-great — and it can be hard to know where to drop your anchor. That’s why we tasked five Arkansas Times writers with waxing poetic about (and learning a bit about the origin story behind) some of their favorite local beers and cocktails in Little Rock. As a bonus, we also asked owners, brewmasters and bartenders connected to each beverage to share their own drink of choice in town. Cheers! EARL GREY ESB, MOODY BREWS Moody Brews, a small brewery in the Pettaway neighborhood, is brewing the most interesting beer in Central Arkansas right now, and possibly in the entire state. Chief among the creations that have garnered Moody Brews a following of discerning drinkers is the Earl Grey ESB, a beer combining a traditional English-style pub ale with Earl Grey tea, which gets its distinct flavor from the combination of black tea and citrusy bergamot oil. The result is a surprisingly tasty, complex beer, with Earl Grey heavy on the nose and subtle body notes of toast, caramel and honey from the brown ale. At least that’s how brewmaster Josiah Moody describes it. “You mix those all together and you get something, I think, that’s really interesting,” Moody told us. It pairs well with hearty foods, especially of the British variety, Moody said, adding that it helps balance out a heavy meal. I could see Earl Grey ESB being right at home with a helping of shepherd’s pie or a plate of fish and chips. Earl Grey ESB’s story is nearly as old as Moody Brews itself, dating back to 2015. Moody was running a nomadic brewery then, using other breweries’ facilities and equipment to cook up his recipes. “I was approached by Apple Blossom Brewing Co. in Fayetteville. I got to know the owners there and called them friends, and we talked about doing a collaboration beer,” Moody said.

It took off in Fayetteville, and the two breweries agreed that either could make a batch of Earl Grey ESB anytime. Moody continued iterating on the recipe, fine-tuning it over years. He landed on a trusted supplier of quality Earl Grey, and now brews 600 gallons of Earl Grey ESB at a time. Apple Blossom unfortunately went under after the pandemic, but Moody knew he wanted to bring the tea-infused beer to Little Rock when he opened Moody Brews’ brick-andmortar location in Pettaway Square in 2024. He was surprised, though, at just how well it did in Central Arkansas. “I thought this was going to be a niche, maybe even seasonal thing that tea drinkers would love,” Moody said. “It’s definitely not a trendy beer.” Instead, Earl Grey ESB is Moody Brews’ best-selling drink by far, and it’s also been crowned the best Arkansas beer in our annual Toast of the Town readers’ poll. You can find it distributed locally at spots like Rex’s Restaurant and El Sur Street Food Co, among others, where it’s a mainstay in their draft rotations. “I knew we gotta have a sessionable beer, and that was perfect, and I knew that was the one,” Moody said. “I had no idea that it would grow and do so well here in Little Rock. That part was surprising.” —Milo Strain Moody Brews brewmaster Josiah Moody’s favorite drink in town: The Bottled Negroni at The Pantry.

“I thought this was going to be a niche, maybe even seasonal thing that tea drinkers would love … I had no idea that it would grow and do so well — Josiah Moody here in Little Rock.”

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ARKANSAS TIMES

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BOTTLED NEGRONI, THE PANTRY The first time I remember ordering the Bottled Negroni at The Pantry Crest (also available at The Pantry West), I did it because of the color — that bright, orangey red, close to the inside of a grapefruit. I watched a waiter carrying a cup of ice with an orange garnish next to a nondescript bottle of this eye-catching liquid, an elixir catching the light as he set it on the table next to me. The next time I ordered one it was because of the taste: a perfectly smooth — some would say bitter — cocktail, its three equal parts (gin, vermouth, Campari) mellowed by a hint of citrus and melting ice. The next hundred times I ordered one, it was because of the color and the taste, yes, but also because The Pantry’s specific version — bottled and comprising nearly two full cocktails — gives you the thrill of parceling out your own refill as needed. An elegant, old-world version of the Chili’s Presidente Margarita, classy glass bottle in place of the blue mini-shaker (I consider this comparison high praise). The drink, available at the restaurant since around The Pantry Crest’s founding in 2014, is the brainchild of owner Tomas Bohm, who has deep nostalgic ties to the classic cocktail. “My dad always loved negronis, and it’s such a classic old-world cocktail, without a doubt maybe the classic cocktail,” Bohm, a native of the Czech Republic, said. “I first started with Campari and soda when I was really, really young, and slowly worked my way up to a Negroni cocktail.” His love for the cocktail was cemented by a meeting in Italy between Bohm’s wife and his father that is now immortalized on a small tag tied to each bottle of the stuff. “My father fell in love with my future wife that day; we shared a lot of Negronis on that patio that day,” Bohm said with a laugh. After seeing a New York bar serving bottled Aperol spritzes, Bohm knew exactly what he wanted to do with his favorite cocktail at his new restaurant. —Daniel Ford The Pantry owner Tomas Bohm’s favorite drink in town: The Old Fashioned at the Capital Bar & Grill and the boulevardier (which swaps bourbon or rye for the Negroni’s gin) at Raduno Brick Oven & Bar Room.

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$7.00 750mL $14.00 1.5 L JUICY DETAILS IPA, LOST FORTY BREWING While I enjoy the piney, boozy jolt of a weapons-grade IPA as much as the next fella, after more than one or two pints of, I dunno, Double-Hopped West Coast Rezzinator Imperial or whatever, my throat has been turned to chalk and I’m ready to switch back to good ol’ Busch Light for the duration. Unfortunately for me, most craft breweries take a dim view of good ol’ Busch Light; fortunately for me, however, Lost Forty Brewing carries the perfect compromise: Juicy Details IPA. A hazy IPA that favors the juicier profile of New England-style IPAs (as opposed to the distinctive notes of a-pine-tree-just-fell-onme common in West Coast style IPAs), Juicy Details is the beerchild of Lost Forty head brewer Jerry Gorman, who set out in 2023 to craft a “more approachable” IPA by leaning into the “juicy” aspect of the hazy style and backing off the resiny finish that, in many IPAs, tends to linger. That quest led him to New Zealand in search of the perfect hops to make the beer in his head the beer in your glass. He found them in a strain known as Superdelic (there’s no juice in Juicy Details; the fruity notes — primarily mango — come from the hops and the brewing method), and the result is a breezy IPA with a hyper-crisp front end and a finish that supplies the sharp kick of a traditional IPA, albeit with a smooth, ale-like delivery that doesn’t stick around long enough to make you want to, you know, “head for the mountains.” It is, instead, a superb happy-hour hazy: strong enough at 6.3% ABV to knock the edge off, and smooth enough to make you wish it came in a proper pint instead of the smaller, high-ABV glasses. Oh, and the juiciest detail of all? Gorman used the New Zealand hops-scouting trip as cover for a stealth marriage proposal … mission(s) accomplished. —Matt McNair

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NOVEMBER 2026 45

HOUSE MARGARITA, EL SUR STREET FOOD CO When one margarita turns to five at El Sur Street Food Co, it’s not always evident if our vision is blurring or if the empty glasses are accumulating because the drinks really do go down that easy. These chartreuse charmers are just $5 at happy hour on weekdays from 3-6 p.m., which is part of both the danger and the draw. Bartender Amber Mathys isn’t precious about the recipe. Fresh lime juice, simple syrup, Rancho Alegre tequila and Rock Town triple sec, with a Tajín rim, she shared. Simple and consistent. And at $5 a pop, you can forget all your troubles for $15! But should you? Please don’t get three-deep here before you order the apps that you really do need to help soak up some of the party juices. El Sur serves Honduran and Latin fare that’s accessible enough to any North American rube who’s ever seen a taco, but exotic and fresh enough to keep foodie sophisticates happy, too. You want the yucca frites, an extremely starchy french fry-like finger food that’s served heavily salted and with a ramekin of ranchy buttermilk dipping sauce. That the best li’l margs in town can be got in SoMa is testament to the hipster bustle that’s reinvigorated this neighborhood over the past couple of decades. Remember when that three-block stretch was mainly for early mornings at Community Bakery or late nights at Midtown? It also means that now that you’re feeling all loosey-goosey, you can chase your happy-hour drinks with a calisthenic retail routine, hitting up AR-T’s for a cute crop top and Moxie Modern Mercantile for some mid-century modern barware. —Austin Gelder El Sur bartender Amber Mathys’ favorite drink in town: The Old Cuban (a daiquiri with rum, lime, mint and champagne) at Brood & Barley.

That the best li’l margs in town can be got in SOMA is testament to the hipster bustle that’s reinvigorated this neighborhood over the past couple of decades. 46 NOVEMBER 2026

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OLD FASHIONED, ROCK TOWN DISTILLERY I know basically nothing about cocktails, so when Aaron Hickling, a bartender at Rock Town Distillery in downtown Little Rock, recommended that I get my Old Fashioned made with the facility’s Golden Promise Straight Bourbon Whiskey, I happily complied. “It’s a little bit smoother, a little bit sweeter — not by much — and it’s got some cherry notes,” he said. According to Rock Town’s website, Golden Promise is “distilled from a mash of” Arkansas-grown corn, malted barley and Golden Promise Malt, which is a “heritage malt from the UK that’s used in many famous Scotch whiskeys. It adds a honeyed sweetness to the whiskey along with an oily creaminess.” Hickling remarked that Old Fashioneds are intentionally simple — at Rock Town, that means just 2 ounces of bourbon, 0.25 ounces of simple syrup, two dashes each of Angostura and Regans’ bitters, plus an orange peel — in order to “show off each specific bourbon.” That means the drink provides a perfect opportunity for you to make your way through the impressive (and ever-growing) number of spirits at Rock Town, which bills itself as “the first legal distillery of any kind in Arkansas since Prohibition” despite opening only 16 years ago. —Daniel Grear

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Rock Town Distillery bartender Aaron Hickling’s favorite drink in town: Earl Grey ESB at Moody Brews and the espresso martini at The Pantry. ARKTIMES.COM

NOVEMBER 2026 47

CHEERS TO THE WINNERS! BARS BEST BAR Winner: Moody Brews Finalists: Four Quarter Bar (North Little Rock), Rock Town Distillery, Southern Tail Brewing, White Water Tavern

BEST DRINKING BRUNCH Winner: El Sur Street Food Co. Finalists: Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom, The Fold Botanas & Bar, Hill Station, Southern Tail Brewing, Brewski’s North (North Little Rock)

BEST PICKUP BAR Winner: Four Quarter Bar (North Little Rock) Finalists: The Hillcrest Fountain, Brood & Barley (North Little Rock), The Fold Botanas & Bar, Proof Bar + Lounge

BEST NEW BAR Winner: Attic Bar Finalists: Trackstand Cyclery and Tavern (Bentonville), Putt Chip Chill ( North Little Rock), The Botanical ( Fayetteville)

BEST PATIO OR DECK FOR DRINKING Winner: Moody Brews Finalists: Brood & Barley (North Little Rock), Hill Station, Funky Stretch Pizza (North Little Rock), Brewski’s North (North Little Rock), Southern Tail Brewing

BEST BAR FOR LIVE MUSIC Winner: White Water Tavern Finalists: Four Quarter Bar (North Little Rock), Southern Tail Brewing, Stickyz Rock N’ Roll Chicken Shack, Moody Brews

BEST BARTENDER Winner: Jaden George (Alibi’s and Brewski’s North) Finalists: David Timberlake (Petit & Keet and Swing Social), Jordan Cacici (Allsopp & Chapple), Brittni Taskey (El Sur Street Food Co.), Jade Dalzell (Petit & Keet), Taylor Clark (Brood & Barley) BEST BAR FOR NONDRINKERS TO TAG ALONG Winner: Moody Brews Finalists: Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom, The Fold Botanas & Bar, Brood & Barley, Southern Tail Brewing BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR Winner: Moody Brews Finalists: Brewski’s North (North Little Rock), Brood & Barley (North Little Rock), Four Quarter Bar (North Little Rock), Proof Bar + Lounge BEST BAR TO BRING YOUR KIDS Winner: Moody Brews Finalists: Brood & Barley (North Little Rock), Hill Station, Southern Tail Brewing, Chuck E. Cheese

48 NOVEMBER 2026

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BEST HOTEL BAR Winner: Capital Bar & Grill Finalists: AC Hotel & Lounge, Table 28, The Lobby Bar at the Arlington (Hot Springs), Aloft Hotels WXYZ Bar BEST THEATER BAR Winner: Birdie’s Cabaret Theater & Lounge Finalists: Argenta Contemporary Theatre, Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, Foster’s at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre BEST BAR FOR POOL, DARTS OR SHUFFLEBOARD Winner: El Sur Street Food Co. Finalists: Four Quarter Bar (North Little Rock), Midtown Billiards, Southern Tail Brewing, The Hillcrest Fountain BEST DIVE BAR Winner: Four Quarter Bar (North Little Rock) Finalists: White Water Tavern, Alibi’s (Sherwood), Pizza D’Action, Town Pump

BEST LGBTQ-FRIENDLY BAR Winner: Discovery Finalists: 610 Center, Club Sway, Lucky Lou’s, Bread Cheese Wine (BCW) BEST WINE BAR Winner: Crush Wine Bar (North Little Rock) Finalists: Bread Cheese Wine (BCW), Ciao Baci, Petit & Keet, Zin Wine Bar BEST BAR FOR FOOD Winner: Brood & Barley (North Little Rock) Finalists: Petit & Keet, Four Quarter Bar, Moody Brews, Southern Tail Brewing BEST HAPPY HOUR Winner: Brood & Barley (North Little Rock) Finalists: The Fold Botanas & Bar, Petit & Keet, Cypress Social (North Little Rock), Brewski’s North (North Little Rock) BEST SPORTS BAR Winner: Dugan’s Pub Finalists: Brewski’s North (North Little Rock), Prospect Sport Bar, Overtime Cabot, Brewski’s Pub & Grub

BEST BAR TO TAKE YOUR DOG Winner: Moody Brews Finalists: Hill Station, Rock Town Distillery, Southern Tail Brewing BEERS BEST ARKANSAS BEER Winner: Moody Brews Earl Grey ESB Finalists: Gotahold Brewing Downhill Ride, Southern Tail Brewing Exit 140, Lost Forty Rockhound IPA, Southern Tail Brewing Lead the Way IPA BEST ARKANSAS PALE ALE Winner: Flyway Brewing Peregrine Pale Ale Finalists: Ozark Beer Co. American Pale Ale, Vino’s Brew Pub Firehouse Pale Ale, Superior Bathhouse Brewery Candy Mountain Pale Ale, Diamond Bear Brewing Victory Pale Ale BEST ARKANSAS SELTZER Winner: Core Brewing Scarlet Letter Finalists: Ozark Beer Co. Ozark Hardwater, Lost Forty Brewing Punchy BEST ARKANSAS PILSNER Winner: Moody Brews New Ground Pilsner Finalists: Point Remove Brewing Company Petit Jean Pilsner, Gotahold Brewing Devil Put Aside, Southern Tail Brewing Above Ground Pool, Diamond Bear Brewing Little Red Strawberry Pilsner Lager BEST ARKANSAS IPA Winner: Moody Brews Pretty Feather Hazy IPA Finalists: Flyway Brewing Early Bird IPA, Southern Tail Brewing First Fiddle IPA, Lost Forty Brewing Rockhound IPA, Lost Forty Brewing Trash Panda IPA

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BEST ARKANSAS LAGER Winner: Lost Forty Brewing Easy Tiger Mexican Lager Finalists: Gotahold Brewing Devil Put Aside, Southern Tail Brewing Long Time Coming, Flyway Brewing Quetzal Mexican Lager, Diamond Bear Brewing Company Blu Golden Lager BEST ARKANSAS SEASONAL BEER Winner: Moody Brews Grumpy Ginger Finalist: Flyway Brewing Christmas Ale, Gotahold Brewing Oktoberfest, Southern Tail Brewing Feliz Navi-Dog BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES BEST ARKANSAS BREWERY Winner: Moody Brews Finalists: Lost Forty Brewing, Southern Tail Brewing, Superior Bathhouse Brewery (Hot Springs), Vino’s Brew Pub BEST NATIONAL BREWERY Winner: Dogfish Head Brewery Finalists: Ballast Point Brewing, Miller Brewing Company, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Spoetzl Brewery BEST ARKANSAS DISTILLERY Winner: Rock Town Distillery Finalists: Delta Dirt Distillery (Helena-West Helena), Butler Creek Distilling (Eureka Springs), Crystal Ridge Distillery (Hot Springs) BEST NATIONAL DISTILLERY Winner: Rock Town Distillery Finalists: Buffalo Trace Distillery, James B. Beam Distilling Co., Tito’s Vodka

DRINKS BEST MARTINI Winner: Brood & Barley (North Little Rock) Finalists: Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom, The Pantry Crest, Rock Town Distillery, The Lobby Bar at the Arlington (Hot Springs) BEST MARGARITA Winner: El Sur Street Food Co. Finalists: The Fold Botanas & Bar, Brood & Barley (North Little Rock), Funky Stretch Pizza (North Little Rock), Kemuri BEST COCKTAIL Winner: Brood & Barley (North Little Rock) Finalists: Ciao Baci, The Pantry, The Fold Botanas & Bar, Rock Town Distillery BEST MOCKTAIL Winner: Brood & Barley (North Little Rock) Finalists: Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom, The Fold Botanas & Bar, Fassler Hall, Trio’s Restaurant COLDEST BEER Winner: Moody Brews Finalists: Four Quarter Bar (North Little Rock), Fassler Hall, Southern Tail Brewing, Twin Peaks BEST BLOODY MARY Winner: Funky Stretch Pizza (North Little Rock) Finalists: Four Quarter Bar (North Little Rock), Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom, The Fold Botanas & Bar, Southern Tail Brewing RESTAURANTS, LIQUOR STORES AND GROCERY STORES BEST BEER SELECTION (LIQUOR STORE) Winner: Colonial Wines & Spirits Finalists: Legacy Wine & Spirits, Ace Liquor Center (Cabot), Firewater Liquor (North Little Rock), Shackleford Wine & Spirits

(BAR OR RESTAURANT) Winner: Flying Saucer Finalists: Fassler Hall, Flyway Brewing (North Little Rock), Southern Tail Brewing, Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom BEST BEER SELECTION (GROCERY STORE) Winner: Edwards Food Giant Finalists: Kroger, Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s BEST WINE SELECTION (LIQUOR STORE) Winner: Colonial Wines & Spirits Finalists: Legacy Wine & Spirits, O’Looney’s Wine & Liquor, Shackleford Wine & Spirits, Firewater Liquor (North Little Rock) BEST WINE LIST (BAR OR RESTAURANT) Winner: Crush Wine Bar (North Little Rock) Finalists: Petit & Keet, Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom, Bread Cheese Wine (BCW), Southern Tail Brewing BEST WINE SELECTION (GROCERY STORE) Winner: Trader Joe’s Finalists: Kroger, Whole Foods, Edwards Food Giant BEST COCKTAIL LIST Winner: Brood & Barley Finalists: Rock Town Distillery, Attic Bar, Petit & Keet, Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom BEST LIQUOR STORE Winner: Colonial Wines & Spirits Finalists: 107 Liquor (Sherwood), Ace Liquor Center (Cabot), Firewater Liquor (North Little Rock), Shackleford Wine & Spirits BEST LIQUOR STORE DELIVERY Winner: Colonial Wines & Spirits Finalists: 107 Liquor (Sherwood), Ace Liquor Center (Cabot), Firewater Liquor (North Little Rock), Shackleford Wine & Spirits

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

A SHORT DRIVE leaves the REAL WORLD BEHIND. When you’re that close to outdoor adventures this epic, you’ve got everything you need for the perfect getaway. You won’t just like your time here, you’ll love you some Little Rock.

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ARKANSAS TIMES

Order Up! SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PIXELROBOT.STOCK.ADOBE.COM

OUR GUIDE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD’S BEST BITES, HIDDEN GEMS, AND FAVORITE LOCAL SPOTS.

Sometimes we choose where to eat based on location. Just mention any part of town and tons of restaurants come to mind. Here's a list of standouts in Central Arkansas and beyond, including favorites in Heights/Hillcrest/Riverdale, Downtown/SoMa/Pettaway, Argenta/ North Little Rock, Hot Springs, Lakeview and Pine Bluff. SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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WHITE WATER TAVERN

TACO MAMA

FUNKY STRETCH

BROOD & BARLEY

RED OAK STEAKHOUSE

MOODY BREWS

MIDTOWN BILLIARDS

HEIGHTS/HILLCREST/RIVERDALE

THE FADED ROSE Ed David, a New Orleans native, his wife, Laurie, and their son, Zac, have been serving great New Orleans cuisine since 1982 in a casual and friendly atmosphere. They are widely known for their steaks and Creole and Cajun dishes. They blend their own spices, cut their own steaks and make their own sauces, right down to the housemade mayo. They have gladly served Arkansans and guests from around the world for almost 45 years and invite you to come try The Rose tonight. 1619 Rebsamen Park Road, 501-663-9734

DOWNTOWN/SOMA/PETTAWAY

BRAVE NEW RESTAURANT After 36 years in the business, Brave New Restaurant has continued to be an institution in Little Rock, offering beautiful river views, remarkable service and fantastic cuisine while providing customers with an upscale yet familial dining experience. As one of the original farm-to-table restaurants in the city, Brave New uses the freshest and highest-quality ingredients, including a constant rotation of adventurous and flavorful specials while continuing to feature longtime favorites. Without question, Brave New will keep you coming back for more! Brave New is now doing brunch every third Saturday! 2300 Cottondale Lane, 501-6632677 LIME & LOTUS Lime & Lotus (formerly Baja Grill) is a new concept created by sisters Erin and Stephanie! This asian-fusion restaurant has amazing dishes like burria, bulgogi and lumpia, with some crowd Baja favorites with a twist like curry queso and amazing rice bowls. Their newly renovated extension, The Sidebar, opens soon as a casual bar and lounge featuring tapas and small bites. 5923 Kavanaugh Blvd., 501-722-8920 54 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

WHITE WATER TAVERN White Water Tavern is known for delivering some of the best live music in the state, earning Best Live Music Venue in this year’s Toast of the Town ballot, as well as some of the best food in town. Its undeniable charm keeps people coming back, turning a beloved neighborhood bar into a place that feels like home. So, the next time you pull up to the bar for an ice-cold Busch Light, be sure to give the menu, curated by Shane Clinton, a closer look. You can find some of the best catfish, burgers, and overall bar food here. 2500 W 7th St., whitewatertavern.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

CACHE This one-of-a-kind fine-dining venue is set in the heart of the River Market district and is perfect for corporate events, private dinners or simply for people who love to have memorable meals. Well-presented plates of lobster, steak, chops and duck in a sleek setting, with a slightly more casual lunch of pizza, sandwiches, fish and the like. 425 President Clinton Ave., 501-285–8381 COPPER GRILL Whether you’re looking for a casual dinner, a gourmet experience or the perfect business lunch, Copper Grill is the choice urban restaurant for Little Rock’s food enthusiasts. It’s where you can let go and relax in the comfortable dining room, enjoy a glass of wine at the lively bar or share a spread of appetizers outside on the streetside patio. Check out our daily happy hour specials Monday-Friday from 4-7 p.m., and Saturdays enjoy brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and all day happy hour. 300 E. Third, 501-375-3333

COMMUNITY FIRST, FUSION ALWAYS. Come savor the vibrant flavors of Latin-Asian cooking. We have a party and event room and a dedicated “Sidebar” for drinks and small bites. Be sure to keep an eye on events and the local artists whose creations are for sale throughout the restaurant and bar! 5923 Kavanaugh Blvd, Little Rock • (501) 722-8920 • www.limeandlotusgrill.com

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READERS

CHOICE

A ARDS WINNER 2022 2026

DOE’S KNOWS BEST STEAK LUNCH & DINNER.

Lunch: Mon - Fri 11am-2pm Dinner’s Cooking: Mon - Sat from 5pm-9pm Closed Sunday FULL BAR, PRIVATE PARTY ROOM, AND PATIO 1023 West Markham • Downtown Little Rock 501-376-1195 • www.doeseatplacelr.com .

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ARKANSAS TIMES

DOE’S EAT PLACE What has become a Little Rock landmark of national renown, Doe’s Eat Place has its origins in the unlikeliest of models, a no-frills diner deep in the Delta. But then, nothing about Doe’s is quite what one would expect from a world-class steakhouse — except fabulous steaks, that is. 1023 W. Markham St., 501-376-1195 MIDTOWN BILLIARDS Celebrating 86 years! This late-night favorite has been operating since 1940, serving hamburgers, brats, turkey, spam and egg grilled cheese and BLTs. Midtown's hamburger has been voted "Best Hamburger in Arkansas." The Burger Challenge is back by appointment on Sundays, because you need the Good Lord's help to eat it! Midtown is currently featuring on off-menu special called the "Spam Risk." Make sure and ask for it when you come through. Owner David Shipp's creation consists of: double spam, bacon with pepper jack cheese, topped with mustard, mayo, a house made jalapeno relish, and tomato on a grilled garlic bread. Yum! Happy hour is 3-8 p.m and Tuesday is live trivia. Karaoke is every other Saturday! 1316 Main St., 501-372-9990 MOODY BREWS The little kitchen that could! Moody Brews has sharpened their food program to include house smoked proteins (including tofu) in addition to craveable sandwiches. Their vegetarian flatbread adds cajun spice marinated–then smoked–tofu to a garlic based flatbread with vegan cheese, fresh red onion, cilantro, and optional jalapeno. Their food pairs quite well with their multiple award winning beers, ciders, and sodas. 414 E 21st St., 870-918-7717, moodybrews.co SOUTHERN TAIL BREWING Southern Tail Brewing brings together craft beer, a full restaurant menu, and a welcoming event space in Little Rock’s East Village. Whether you’re stopping by for a meal and a pint, gathering with friends on the patio, or planning a private celebration, there’s room to make yourself at home. Our menu features options for a variety of tastes, including vegetarian and gluten-free selections. For your next gathering, our eye-catching Harvest Board puts a fresh spin on classic charcuterie. Available for private events and catering, party-size boards start at $150 and serve 12–25 guests. 900 E. 9th St., 501-912-0980

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

NORTH LITTLE ROCK/ARGENTA

FOUR QUARTER BAR This Argenta favorite doesn’t serve your average bar food. The menu features locally sourced pork, handmade sauces and famous hand-pattied burgers along with weekly specials that you won’t find anywhere else. Even better, the kitchen is open until 1:30 a.m. every night. Four Quarter also offers a great selection of rotating craft beers on draft. With great live music, a hidden patio, shuffleboard and dominoes, Four Quarter Bar has it all. 415 Main St., 501-313-4704 BROOD & BARLEY Brood & Barley is a family-owned gastropub at 411 Main Street in the heart of Downtown Argenta, and for the past five years we’ve been feeding North Little Rock with equal parts ambition and comfort. The menu runs the range on purpose. One night it’s a Scallop Risotto, the next it’s our monthly Big Stupid Burger Special, and we’re proud of both. The bar is where we nerd out. Our shelves hold a rotating lineup of rare and hard-to-find spirits, and the cocktail list changes often enough to keep things interesting. Pull up a stool, grab takeout on the way home, or let us handle your next private dinner or catered event. However you find us, you’ll get good food, a good pour, and the kind of hospitality that turns first-timers into regulars. 411 Main St., 501-400-8967 FUNKY STRETCH Funky Stretch Pizza is what happens when a pizza joint, a bar, and a cryptid sighting all land at 500 N Magnolia St in North Little Rock. We’re the new kids in town, serving up pies that range from crowd-pleasing classics to the kind of creative combos that make people ask, “wait, what’s on that?” Pair a slice with wings and a margarita from the bar, and you’ve got a solid night. Things get weird here in the best way. Our event lineup changes every month, from Lego Night to pop-ups like a traveling bookstore, so there’s almost always something happening. Come for the pizza, stay for whatever’s going on that night, and keep an eye out for Sasquatch. He’s a regular. Rumor has it he always adds the house cheese blend. 500 N. Magnolia St, 501-353-1123

FROM THANKSGIVING GATHERINGS TO FOOTBALL WATCH PARTIES, LET US HANDLE THE FOOD SO YOU CAN ENJOY EVERY MOMENT. GREAT BARBECUE, GOOD COMPANY, AND MORE TIME AROUND THE TABLE.

CALL US TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR ORDER:

(501)819-4227

801 W MARKHAM ST. — LITTLE ROCK @BACKHOMEBBQLR — BHBBQ.COM

BHBBQ.COM

A food-adoring, freshness-obsessed, Margarita-loving little joint! 224 W. South Street, Benton eatbajagrill.com

Craft burgers. Award-winning wings. Loaded fries. Live music. Clever cocktails. Vast beer selection. Craveable American fare. 226 W. South Street, Benton eatrevival.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Award-winning steaks + service. Creative cocktails, bourbon flights. Open-view charcuterie bar. Upscale American. Southern hospitality. 302 W. South Street, Benton eatrober.com

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LET TACO MAMA CATER YOUR HOLIDAY EVENTS! WEST LITTLE ROCK

TACO MAMA 1209 Malvern Ave. Hot Springs 501-624-6262

TACO MAMA | SIDE TOWN 510 Ouachita Ave. Hot Springs 501-781-3102

tacomama.net • Catering inquires call or text: 501-547-1590

ON TIME. ON TARGET.

g n i r e t a C y da

Holi

Whole Hog Cafe NLR

4333 WARDEN ROAD • NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR 72116 • 501-753-9227 58 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PETIT & KEET Since opening in 2017, Petit & Keet has become one of Little Rock's premier dining destinations. Founded by longtime friends and restaurateurs Louis Petit and Jim Keet, the restaurant combines exceptional cuisine, gracious hospitality, and a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere. The chef-driven menu features thoughtfully prepared steaks, fresh seafood, inventive appetizers, and seasonal selections. An award-winning wine program and expertly crafted cocktails complement the dining experience. Petit & Keet has earned national recognition from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast while remaining a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike. From intimate dinners and special celebrations to casual evenings at Keet's Corner Bar, Petit & Keet offers something for every occasion. Guests can also enjoy daily happy hour, a beautiful outdoor patio, and distinctive private spaces for gatherings and events. With its commitment to quality, creativity, and service, Petit & Keet continues to deliver a memorable dining experience that keeps guests coming back. 1620 Market Street, 501-319-7675, petitandkeet. com

HOT SPRINGS

SQZBX Hand-tossed house made pizzas, subs and salads. Brewery on-site, sells beer to go (on Sunday!) Gluten free and vegan options abound. Craft cocktail menu, gorgeous patio. Delivery available through our website using third-party delivery. sqzbx. com, 236 Ouachita Ave., 501-609-0609 TACO MAMA At Taco Mama, Chef Diana Bratton blends Texas roots, Arkansas hospitality and decades of culinary experience into a restaurant and catering brand built on bold flavor and scratch-made cooking. Taco Mama has become known for its vibrant Mexican cuisine — house-made tortillas, layered sauces, slow-smoked meats and fresh ingredients prepared with care and authenticity. But Bratton’s culinary style reaches far beyond one lane. Through Diana Bratton Catering, she creates elevated

Southern dishes, refined brunch menus, elegant wedding dinners and chef-driven seasonal experiences inspired by Southern, Mediterranean, Latin and contemporary American influences. Whether serving tacos, tenderloin or thoughtfully crafted small plates, Bratton’s philosophy remains the same: “Flavor is everything.” Weddings, rehearsal dinners, office parties and much more! For catering inquiries, call or text 501-547-1590.

PINE BLUFF

SARACEN RESTAURANTS Though the Saracen Casino Resort upped the stakes for gaming in Arkansas, they’ve had an equally impressive impact on Arkansas’s culinary landscape, as is evident in the property’s best-in-state offerings. At the Red Oak Steakhouse, you’ll dine in a venue recognized as the state’s best for four years running. Expect to enjoy Kobe beef from the South’s only restaurant licensed by the Japanese Beef Council, or choose prime-grade beef, bison and seafood alongside a carefully curated menu in the property’s flagship restaurant. Red Oak’s signature cuisine is presented in a class of its own, with Saracen’s focus on offering the best steaks in the South, carefully managed from pasture to plate, and a wine list celebrated by Wine Spectator. Legend’s is a must-try, with a constantly updated menu offering the best of what you can expect in casual dining. Or try The Post, serving more catfish than any restaurant in the state. Saracen Casino Resort, 1 Saracen Resort Drive, Pine Bluff, 870-686-9001

BIENVENUE! CHOICE EAT. ENJOY. A ARDS EXPERIENCE. READERS

BEST COMFORT FOOD

WINNER 2022 2026

BEST CAJUN BEST CATFISH BEST SALAD

ARKANSAS FOOD HALL OF FAME 2024 WINNER

READERS

CHOICE

A ARDS FINALIST 2022 2026

BEST BURGER BEST BUSINESS LUNCH BEST CHEESE DIP MOST DOG FRIENDLY BEST FRENCH FRIES BEST HOME COOKIN’ BEST SEAFOOD BEST STEAK

LITTLE ROCK’S MOST AWARD-WINNING RESTAURANT 1619 Rebsamen Rd. 501.663.9734 • thefadedrose.com

LAKEVIEW

LITTLE ROCK’S INDIE PLANT SHOP

GASTON’S RESTAURANT Gaston’s wants to make sure you experience everything in Lakeview, including their award-winning restaurant. The restaurant sits on the White River, with amazing views and a quiet atmosphere you are sure to love. The chef, Rick Gollinger, has weekly specials that start on Thursday nights and last the entire weekend. Also, there is a buffet on Sundays that you do not want to miss. Due to limited seating, Gaston’s Restaurant operates on a reservation-only basis. Open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. 1777 River Road, Lakeview, 870-431-5203

Plants, planters, and intentional living.

501 E 21ST ST, STE 5, LITTLE ROCK (501) 749-9848 | CONCRETEROOTSLR.COM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Copper Grill: Brunch, Bubbles & Bold Flavors— From Morning Mimosas to Evening Plates!

SATURDAY BRUNCH

11AM - 3PM $3 Mimosas $5.50 Bloody Marys $1 Off Draft Beers + All Regular Happy Hour Pricing

HAPPY HOUR DAILY

Monday - Friday 4PM-7PM $1 Off Cocktails + Draft Beer $5 House Wine

LUNCH & DINNER

Monday-Saturday Served until 10PM Closed Sunday

Open Mon–Sat 11am–10pm • Closed Sunday 300 E Third, Little Rock

(Corner of Third & Cumberland; half a block from the Historic Arkansas Museum)

(501) 375-3333 • info@coppergrilllr.com • coppergrilllr.com

CULTURE

OUTSIDER: Jude Brothers’ new album, “Dogwood Maiden Voyage,” is a masterful exploration of the way nature provides a place of belonging for those who may not find that in more human realms.

‘DOGWOOD MAIDEN VOYAGE’ JUDE BROTHERS’ GORGEOUSLY PASTORAL THIRD ALBUM IS A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT. BY DANIEL FORD PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM AWA

orthwest Arkansas folk artist Jude Brothers’ new album begins with an 11-minute-long epic set in the underworld, ends with a 6-minute stunner recorded with audible nature sounds throughout, and in between contains three a capella songs recorded inside the historic Winslow Train Tunnel in Washington County. And yet, the miraculous “Dogwood Maiden Voyage” is the most approachable and direct album of Brothers’ career, a gorgeous ode to the beauty and belonging of the natural world shot through with the grief of witnessing its ending. This is music for long walks in the woods at golden hour, for dancing at your uncle’s birthday party in the Shire, for the moment when the campfire has begun to dwindle and the darkness of the forest begins to encroach. It is a masterful exploration of the way nature provides a place of belonging for those who may ARKTIMES.COM

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ONE OF A KIND: While the harp, bucolic imagery and knack for knotty wordplay all make Joanna Newsom an apt comparison, Jude Brothers is a singular talent who further cements their place in the national folk scene with each successive album.

not find that in more human realms. Like so much great art, it sounds at once singular and universal. In contrast to Brothers’ previous releases, which sought to capture their intricate harp playing and striking voice with raw immediacy — “Just set up the mics in a pretty place, blast through a few takes, and release a live-sounding rendition of each song,” Brothers said of their earlier recording style — “Dogwood Maiden Voyage” was recorded in multiple locations over three years and adds fiddle, upright bass and backing vocals to Brothers’ already potent formula. The result is an album that sounds immaculate and expansive without losing the homespun intimacy of their earlier work. This new fullness is immediately apparent on the album’s lead single “Treat Me Like A Tree & Love Me For My Crookedness,” a languid and lovely country-folk song that would sound right at home on a Gillian Welch record (I do not make that comparison lightly). The addition of string arrangements is not an afterthought, but an essential complement to the songwriting, with my favorite little moment being the strings performing a liquid flourish just as Brothers sings “I’ll treat you like a stream.” Elsewhere, the strings — fiddle from Patrick McGonigle and upright bass from Geoff Henderson — play a diverse set of roles thoughtfully deployed: the showstopping wail of a solo toward the end of “Desire & Devotion,” a jaunty preview of the vocal melody to open “Magpie & Birch,” a frenzied undercurrent to Brothers’ angelic harmonies at the climax of 62 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

“Mockingbird & The Meadowlark.” But always nestled within the lush foliage of these additions and Brothers’ own considerable instrumental talents is their honeyed voice, capable in turns of seductive playfulness, wistful longing and spectral otherworldliness. Brothers’ vocals often act as an anchor to songs that meander like trails bending back across each other’s path, repeating and returning to melodies and phrasings that lend structure to the songs without requiring them to adhere to traditional versechorus-verse parameters. It is obvious but apt to compare the harp-playing, poetically inclined Brothers to the reverend mother of freak folk, Joanna Newsom. While they certainly share both a pastoral musical sensibility and an affinity for dense, knotty lyrics, there is a deeper connection here in both artists’ profound connection to the natural world as well as their off-kilter way of describing it. In fact, lyrics from Newsom’s song-of-thecentury contender “Emily” summarize the thematic throughline of “Dogwood Maiden Voyage” better than I ever could. In that song, Newsom’s narrator stares at the sky above and sings “Joy / Landlocked in bodies that don’t keep / Dumbstruck with the sweetness of being / Till we don’t be.” The songs of “Dogwood Maiden Voyage” are without exception dumbstruck with the sweetness of being, tackling human concerns such as belonging, desire and death without ever losing sight of the larger natural world that decentralizes those human concerns into part of a much larger, mesmerizing whole.

Each song’s title is composed of two words or phrases connected by an ampersand, perhaps a signifier of the inextricable connection between humans and the natural world, and of both the good and the bad inherent in that connection (the ampersands also serve as an interesting contrast to the slashes in the song titles of their previous album, if you want to get really far into the weeds). It’s also worth noting that these are often long songs on a long album, but it rarely feels as long as it is because of added diversity of instrumentation, Brothers’ elliptical songwriting and the presence of the three a capella tunes interspersed throughout like a spectral Greek chorus. Instead of slogging along, the album builds momentum toward its powerful two-song conclusion, which seems to serve as a mission statement for “Dogwood Maiden Voyage” and Brothers’ entire discography. The penultimate track, “I’m Gonna Build a Life I Don’t Wanna Escape From & It’s Gonna Be Beautiful,” is a stunning ode to self-discovery, with Brothers remembering themselves as “a filthy feral darling, just digging, crawling, snarling / Before I wore a girl’s disguise” before casting off the shackles of gender and setting out “on a mission to grant that critter’s wishing / And see that mystery abounds.” The transition between that song’s titular mantra of “I’m gonna build a life I don’t wanna escape from!” and the beginning of the closing track is my favorite moment on the album, the ecstasy of Brothers’ revelation giving way to the bug chirp and night sounds that accompany them on “Small Gods & Grief Portals.” Between incantatory lists of plants and herbs that sounds like Brothers gathering the ingredients for a spell or poultice, the song shifts to a direct address that beautifully and succinctly captures the burden of existing in the modern world: “I don’t know how to live anymore / Nothing’s like it was before / Tell me clearly, for I’m weary.” I listened to this album while passing the concrete expanse of a new Buc-ee’s standing where forest once stood, and I listened to it while walking through still-standing forest as the sun set. I listened to it during an unholy streak of 100-degree September days and I listened to it while the sun rose on the first cool morning that actually felt like fall. I listened to it while mourning endings and while celebrating beginnings. “Dogwood Maiden Voyage” and its ampersands lovingly capture these contradicting beauties of modern life, never shying away from the shadows that must exist alongside light. It is a remarkable achievement from an artist working at the height of their powers.

LITTLE ROCK MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT DRIVE Come meet our licensed clinician in Little Rock! Theyʼll be onsite to provide in-person evaluations and guide you through the state application process.

Saturday, November 21, 2026 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM DoubleTree Hotel 424 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72201

$20 NEW PATIENT

MED CARDS

Come early and take advantage of the lowest price in the state! cannahealrx.com Must be 21 years of age or older. Individuals under 21 should consult their physician. Valid Arkansas ID required. Appointment fee is $20. A separate $50 state application fee applies. No cash accepted. Medical records may be required to determine eligibility. Applicants must meet Arkansas medical marijuana qualifying conditions. Marijuana is for use by qualified patients only. ARKTIMES.COM NOVEMBER 2026 63 Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana use during pregnancy or breastfeeding poses potential harms. Marijuana is not approved by the FDA to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of marijuana.

RETIREMENT IN ARKANSAS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SHAPE WHAT COMES NEXT.

From filling prescriptions at a trusted hometown pharmacy to finding thoughtful memory care at Wellington Woods, the right local support can help make life’s next chapter feel more manageable. The support systems in this state are built to help retirees live well with confidence.

DID YOU KNOW?

Arkansas is ranked as

ONE OF THE BEST

The average retirement age is

RAWPIXEL.COM.STOCK.ADOBE.COM

states for retirees due to its affordability. HERE ARE TWO LOCAL SOURCES WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THIS MONTH!

62.

The average life expectancy is 73.9 years, resulting in an average retirement period of 13.4 years.

Wellington Woods is a locally owned, boutique memory care community in Central Arkansas, dedicated exclusively to individuals living with memory care issues. With a secure, welcoming, home-like environment, compassionate caregivers, personalized attention, and chef-prepared meals, Wellington Woods provides exceptional care while giving families comfort, confidence, and peace of mind. 2201 Wellington Village Rd, Little Rock, 501-487-7946, wellingtonwoods.care Step into Rhea Drug, a true Little Rock icon that has served the Hillcrest community since 1922. This historic pharmacy isn’t just a place to fill prescriptions; it’s a living piece of neighborhood history. For over a century, Rhea Drug has been a trusted cornerstone, adapting through the decades while maintaining its dedication to personal service. Can’t get out to get your prescriptions? No problem. We have FREE delivery service available every day. Just call today to get started. 2801 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, 501-663-4131

Sources: CDC data (2022). 64 NOVEMBER 2026

ARKANSAS TIMES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

When Someone You Love Needs Memory Care Compassionate care is at the heart of everything we do at Wellington Woods Memory Care. • Team members available 24/7 • Personalized care plans • Friendly faces and meaningful connections that feel like family 2201 Wellington Village Rd. Little Rock, AR Phone: (501) 297-4982

Visit WellingtonWoods.care to schedule a visit.

LITTLE ROCK PUBLIC RADIO PRESENTS

THE SIGNAL Live with Maria Hinojosa

Thursday, December 10th at 6pm

featuring

Latino USA

CALS Ron Robinson Theatre Littlerockpublicradio.org ARKTIMES.COM

NOVEMBER 2026 65

Nominate your favorites—from best burgers and best chefs to best hot dogs and more. Voting is open now through November 9. Final voting begins November 16 till December 11. Winners announced in our February 2027 issue.

VOTE.ARKTIMES.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

HANDPICKED, EXPERT-TESTED RECOMMENDATIONS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

1. Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Emperor Stone Earrings, authentic Natural Stone; Whitetail wool-wrapped deer antler with copper, by Kit Hutchinson; Stanley Chester & Albert's stoneware "MEH" mug; Petra Vessel by MESO, handcrafted by artisans in Sabana Grande, Honduras. store.arkmfa.org 2. Ozark Outdoor Supply RAB men's microlighter jacket and Mountain Hard Wear stretch down hooded jacket . ozarkoutdoor.com ARKTIMES.COM

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WHO DOESn't LOVE A TOTE?

3 5

CUTE & COZY!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 3. WEST SIDE WINE & SPIRITS For the whiskey lover, this Jack Daniel’s bottle paired with a holiday-themed highball glass makes the perfect festive gift! facebook.com/westsidewineandspiritslr 4. THE PUNCH BOWL LITTLE ROCK French-inspired tote bags at The Punchbowl! Chic, timeless, and perfect for everyday errands or weekend strolls. facebook.com/ThePunchBowlLittleRock 5. RHEA DRUG These cozy wool mittens will warm you up this season. rheadrugstore.com 6. SHACKLEFORD WINE AND SPIRITS Hot toddy season is among us! These pre-packaged kits make the perfect gift for cozy nights in, holiday gatherings or anyone who deserves a little extra warmth this season. facebook.com/shacklefordwineandspiritslittlerock 7. HILLCREST DESIGNER JEWELRY Shop top designers & custom creations for yourself or that special someone! hillcrestdesignerjewelry.com 8. ARKANSAS CRAFT GUILD CHRISTMAS SHOWCASE From top to bottom: "Sparkling Glass" Ron & Paula Mynatt create stunning works of glass since 68 NOVEMBER 2026

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1978. facebook.com/christmasshowcase "Mesmerizing Metal" Amy Fitzpatrick hand fashions metal into unique wearable accessories in different finishes."Good Clay" Virgeen Healey & Ray Schott create unique one of a kind pieces. Find these pieces and more at the 48th Annual Arkansas Craft Guild Christmas Showcase. facebook.com/ChristmasShowcase/

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9 Gifts That Go Places

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OzarkOutdoor.com 5514 Kavanaugh In the Heights • 501-664-4832 Monday – Saturday 9:30 am to 6:00 pm Sundays Noon to 5:00 pm (Nov 1 - Dec 20) 70 NOVEMBER 2026

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9. WHITE WATER TAVERN Have a music lover in mind this Holiday season? Come pick up or order items online like this trucker hat for all the White Water Tavern fans. whitewatertavern.com 10. WORDSWORTH BOOKS A book is a gift you can open more than once. Give the gift of a great read, like Allen Levi’s “Theo of Golden,” or a WordsWorth Books gift card! wordsworthbookstore.com. 11. BRAVE NEW RESTAURANT Give the gift of a locally roasted cup every morning with this 12-ounce bag. Throw in a gift certificate for a delicious night out. bravenewrestaurant.com. 12. MIDTOWN BILLIARDS has it all! Grab a quarter-sleeve tee or our one-of-a-kind fanny packs the next time you stop by. Come for the drinks and burgers, leave with the merch! SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE® STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title: Arkansas Times. 2. Publication Number: 454-190. 3. Filing Date: 10-01-2026 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly. 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 12. 6. Annual Subscription Price: $60.00. 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 201 East Markham, Ste. 150, Little Rock, Pulaski County, AR 72201. Contact Robert Curfman (501) 375-2985. 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher (not printer): 201 East Markham, Ste. 150, Little Rock AR 72201 9. Publisher: Alan Leveritt, 201 East Markham, Ste. 150, Little Rock, AR 72201. Editor: Austin Bailey, 201 East Markham, Ste. 150, Little Rock, AR 72201. Managing Editor: Byron Tate, 201 East Markham, Ste. 150, Little Rock, AR 72201. 10. Owner: Arkansas Times Limited Partnership, 201 East Markham, Ste. 150, Little Rock, AR 72201. 11. Known Beholders, Mortgagees, and Other Securities: None. 12a. Tax Status Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months. 13. Publication Title: Arkansas Times Newspaper. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: 8/01/2026. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date. 15a, Total Number of Copies (Net press run): 18,636; 20,000. 15b. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution (By mail and outside the mail): (1) Outside County/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541. (Include direct written request from recipient, telemarketing and internet requests from recipient, paid subscriptions including nominal rate subscriptions, employer requests, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies): 119; 117. (2) In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541. (Include direct written request from recipient, telemarketing and internet requests from recipient, paid subscriptions including nominal rate subscriptions, employer requests, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies): 0; 0. (3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS®; 9,124; 11,106 (4) Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS (e.g., First-Class Mail®):0;0. 15c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)):9,243; 11,223 15d. Non-requested Distribution (By mail and outside the mail): (1) Outside County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541 (include sample copies, requests over 3 years old, requests induced by a premium, bulk sales and requests including association requests, names obtained from business directories, lists, and other sources): 0;0. (2) In-County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541(include sample copies, requests over 3 years old, requests induced by a premium, bulk sales and requests including association requests, names obtained from business directories, lists, and other sources): 0;0. (3) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail (e.g. First-Class Mail, nonrequestor copies mailed in excess of 10% limit mailed at Standard Mail® or Package Service Rates): 0;0. (4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail (include pickup stands, trade shows, showrooms and other sources):4,911; 5,831. 15e. Total Nonrequested Distribution [Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4)]: 4,911;5,831 15f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and e): 14,154; 17,054 15g. Copies not Distributed 4,482; 2,946 15h. Total (Sum of 15f and g): 18,636; 20,000. 15i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c divided by 15f times 100): 65.30%; 65.81%. 16. Electronic Copy Circulation 16a. Requested and Paid Electronic Copies 0;0 16b. Total Requested and Paid Print Copies (Line 15c) + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies (Line16a) 9,243; 11,223 16c. Total Requested Copy Distribution (Line 15f) + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a) 14,154; 17,054 16d. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Both Print & Electronic Copies) (16b divided by 16c x 100) 65.30%; 65.81%. I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic and print) are legitimate requests or paid copies. 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requester Publication is required and will be printed in the 11/1/2026 issue of this publication. 18. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner: Alan Leveritt, Publisher. Date: 10/1/2026. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties). 72 NOVEMBER 2026

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The gift card of all Gift Cards!

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13. GASTON’S WHITE RIVER RESORT Give the outdoorsperson in your life the gift of Gaston's this holiday season. gastons.com. 14. GOOD DAY FARM TANK's All-in-One Vape’s innovative design features a ceramic heating element that ensures a smooth vaporization process, preserving the integrity of the flavor and efficacy of the oil. Highway Hotel Flower, step into a world where the spirit of the 1970's meets the modern-day quest for relaxation, adventure, and community. Our blueberry-flavored Night Night Gummies are artfully crafted with the perfect blend of THC, CBD and CBN to promote deep rest and relaxation. Live Resin Concentrate by Good Day Farm is a cannabis concentrate is the accumulation of all the desirable parts of the cannabis flower. gooddayfarmdispensary.com 15. GITTI STUDIO Come find the perfect one of a kind outfit at Pettaway's Gitti Studio. Items include this French Vintage Penny Lane Coat in Caramel

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THE OBSERVER

ursed with a name that flicks off the tongue like a slur, far from home and forced to adapt, the northern snakehead has not exactly gotten a warm welcome in Arkansas’ subtropical climes. Native to eastern Asia and possessing the discomfiting ability to breathe both in open air and underwater, northern snakeheads weren’t always the undesirable illegals we know them as today. Glistening with a python-like pattern and growing up to 3 feet long, snakeheads came to the United States bound for aquariums, dinner plates and stocked ponds, where fishermen might pay to have a go at one of these hard-fighting freshwater powerhouses. But that was before all hell broke loose. Snakeheads were dumped or escaped into natural waters in Maryland, where they survived, thrived and took out for parts north and west. Other drips and drabs of snakefish are thought to have escaped markets, stocked ponds and aquariums elsewhere in the U.S., making themselves nuisance enough to be listed in the Lacey Act in 2002, which banned their import. Eradication efforts followed the great fish’s spread to the Great Lakes and through the Mississippi River basin, and hardly made a dent. Hence The Observer’s late-summer outing to a buggy bog in eastern Arkansas, a spot so prehistorically brushy and remote that we’d not have been shocked to see a pterodactyl soaring overhead. The rough-hewn and well-provisioned agents with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had hauled trucks, boats and other manly gear to the shadeless and snakefilled New Lake, a 26-acre channel stretching through dusty crop rows somewhere near the tiny outpost of Pinetree (St. Francis County). The snakeheads of New Lake claim no searchable address, forcing The Observer, a hopeless city slicker, to rely on GPS coordinates and the kindness of strangers to find the way. You might say The Observer was a fish out of water that day, except that the analogy doesn’t work at all when we’re talking about the purported fishzilla famous

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for its uncanny ability to utilize oxygen from both water and air, allowing them to survive out of water for up to three days. The Observer was surprised to learn that snakeheads aren’t wholly unique here: Native Arkansas species including gar and bowfins have a limited capacity to breathe air, too. As non-natives, though, snakeheads claim the advantage of being newcomers to habitats where they have no established predators. Snakeheads like to eat fish, but will eat bugs and crustaceans, too, meaning they can adapt to whatever diet is on offer. And as the helicopter parents of the aquatic world, snakeheads’ instincts to lean to the overprotective side give them another advantage. Both mom and dad fish guard the nests for several weeks after the eggs hatch, boosting survivability rates and launching vast new generations of snakeheads to conquer their adopted homeland. It’s gone swimmingly for snakeheads in the Arkansas Delta, where they thrive among grassy banks and slow-moving, muddy water. “Every ditch in eastern Arkansas is suitable habitat for the northern snakehead,” Game and Fish biologist Micah Tindall said. With the ill-fated 2009 Operation Mongoose that saw state wildlife officers doing their best to rid Arkansas of the snakehead long in the rearview mirror, agency biologists now say that keeping an eye on snakehead populations in The Natural State in hopes of keeping them contained is probably the best we can aim for. The good news is that snakeheads are maybe not quite as bad as The Observer had been led to believe. “There are a lot of reports of people saying that snakeheads walk across land. They’re afraid that they’re going to come out of the water and eat their dogs or something crazy like that,” Matt Horton, the acquatic nusiance species program coordinator, said. It’s true some snakehead species can wriggle across dry land in short spurts, but the northern snakehead cannot, and relies on flooding to help it crest levees and other barriers. At New Lake, biologists submerged met-

al poles to electrofish the grassy shoreline, stunning snakeheads into stillness long enough for them to be scooped up with long-handled nets. The collected specimens were bound for poking and prodding to help scientists learn more about how and why snakehead populations are growing more entrenched in Arkansas. “We’re at the forefront of this invasion, and they’re going to continue to move,” Tindall said. “And the more we can learn here at ground zero is going to help inform other groups, other state and federal entities, as they continue to move across the landscape.” Tindall admits that while he wishes northern snakeheads hadn’t moved in, they’re uniquely intelligent and fascinating to study all the same. “They’ve been called things like monster fish, frankenfish, and those things really just aren’t good descriptors for them. We know they’re aggressive predators, but so are a lot of our other native species. I’ve heard stories of, like, ‘My kid was fishing and it tried to chase my kid.’ Well, that’s because the kid was fishing and it followed a lure to the bank, like any other predator-type fish would do. So they’ve certainly been given a bad rap.” Dropped into a new environment not necessarily of their choosing, adapting and thriving, only to be met with resentment and scorn. Sound familiar? While The Observer is reluctant to equate immigrant people to fish deemed invasive, both groups have met great challenges admirably and still fallen victim to some sinister misinformation. And different states have taken different approaches to their newcomers. Some northeastern states where eradication efforts failed have shifted gears to embrace this tasty new protein source. Clearly this is where the analogy ends, and the ending begins. What should you do if you wet a line and reel in one of these misunderstood northern snakeheads? Kill it, report the sighting to Game and Fish, then dig in. “They’re very good to eat,” Horton said. “That’s why we got them here in the United States in the first place.”

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After 25 years with the Brave New Restaurant family, Anthony (AC) needs us! He’s traveling to Chicago for a double lung transplant and will need around-the-clock care during recovery. Please scan the QR code for the Go Fund Me page. Every donation and share makes a difference. Let’s support AC and help bring him home stronger than ever! ARKTIMES.COM

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