the enduring value of home. The place where memories are made, traditions are carried forward, and futures are built.
Bon Voyage!
The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. — St. Augustine
Happy July, friends! Welcome to the Explore issue!
This month, we celebrate exploration — both near and far — and the people who remind us that discovery often begins with curiosity. Thank you to talented artist Sean LeCrone for lending his stunning piece The Long Afternoon to our cover. Read more about Sean’s work and the inspiration behind it in Impressions of Spain
We continue the journey in For the Good Times. Through her unique travel business, Margaret Critz, a Virtuoso travel advisor, goes the extra mile to design trips that unfold like perfectly paced, heartfelt stories.
But those who seek adventure don’t have to travel far from home. Just ask newlywed Samantha McCain, whose Honeymoon in Arkansas proved that some of the most meaningful getaways are right in our own backyard.
If you’ve ever ventured inside The Punch Bowl in SoMa, you’ve likely been transported by its stunning collection of European antiques. In From France, With Love, proprietor Angela Sortor shares how she sources the pieces in her space and some of the fascinating history behind them.
If this issue has inspired a bit of wanderlust, Tay Stratton of Fennel & Fire has the perfect cure — Host a Travelcation Date Night ! She shares tips for slowing down, paying attention and letting curiosity lead the evening, beginning with planning a beautiful meal.
These are just a few of the many features waiting for you in this month’s issue. Welcome aboard! We’re glad you’re along for the journey.
STEPHANIE HASBROUCK, PUBLISHER
@LITTLEROCKCITYLIFESTYLE
July 2026
PUBLISHER
Stephanie Hasbrouck
stephanie.hasbrouck@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Anna Yanosick | anna.yanosick@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Katie Bode | katie.bode@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION MANAGER
Valerie Merrick | valerie.merrick@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Anna Yanosick, Samantha McCain, Tay Stratton, Stephanie Hasbrouck, Kali Kasprzyk, Sue G. Collins
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Anne Henry Milner, Samantha McCain, Margaret Critz, Angela Sortor, Janie Jones
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe
LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
Christian Brothers Automotive is located in West Little Rock on Chenal Parkway across from Splash Car Wash. Our most important mission is “To glorify God by serving our team, guests, and communities with excellence.” We are proud to be a member of our community. We offer full Automotive Repairs on most makes, (including but not limited to); Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Jaguar, Ford, GM, Toyota, Lexus, Subaru, Chrysler, Dodge, and VW. At Christian Brothers West Little Rock we have the same diagnostic equipment as the manufacturer(s). We perform everything from Oil changes to engine replacements, including tire replacement, batteries, and routine maintenance.
CONTACT US TODAY 501-430-5539 | cbac.com/west-little-rock 15516 Chenal Pkwy, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1 – 4: Scenes from Little Rock Regional Chamber Serve the Rock Community Impact Day. Little Rock City Lifestyle joined Chamber members from across the community to help prepare Lake Nixon for this summer’s campers. 2: Stacey Breezeel of Shine Interior Design Studio, Financial Advisor Amanda Leija and Beth Wickliffe of Southern Branding. 3: Stacey Breezeel, Stephanie Hasbrouck, Sherri Davis of AAMSCO Identification Products, Tara Peet of the Hughes Agency and Beth Wickliffe. 4: Madison Rial of J. Cole Construction and Jennifer Rogers of Trimlight of Central Arkansas. 5 – 6: The Promenade at Chenal came alive on Saturday, May 2, welcoming more than 600 guests for an unforgettable Sip & Shop filled with style, sips and community spirit.
Glenn Grimes Receives LREA Gene Smith Award
Congratulations to Glenn Grimes, Capitol Glass Company’s second-generation owner, for being awarded the prestigious Gene Smith award. The LREA Gene Smith Award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the Little Rock Executives’ Association (LREA). The award recognizes the hard work and dedication of members who promote each other in the marketplace and strive to do as much business with each other as practical.
by Christopher Davis
Photography
Promenade at Chenal Introduces Extra Savings Program
The Promenade at Chenal recently introduced its new Extra Savings Program. Designed especially for military members, teachers and students, the program makes shopping even more rewarding. Simply look for the Extra Savings sticker at select stores, scan the QR code and unlock exclusive discounts while you shop. For more information, visit tanger.com/chenal.
Scan to read more
Daniel & Jones Orthodontics Opens New Bryant Location
Congrats to our friends at Daniel & Jones Orthodontics, who recently celebrated the opening of their new Bryant location at 2355 Springhill Road, right behind M&F Bank. In addition to its Little Rock Location, Daniel & Jones has served Saline County for more than 30 years. Book a free consult online, and follow Daniel & Jones on social media to see the beautiful new space.
Scan to read more
For the Good Times
MARGARET CRITZ TURNS ITINERARIES INTO MEANINGFUL, STORY-DRIVEN TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
ARTICLE BY ANNA YANOSICK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARGARET CRITZ AND PROVIDED
Margaret Critz, a Virtuoso travel advisor, goes the extra mile to design trips that unfold like perfectly paced, heartfelt stories. Through her agency, For The Good Times Travel, Margaret tailors itineraries for travelers seeking more than just a unique destination to check off their bucket list.
“I want to create travel experiences that feel personal, immersive and emotionally memorable long after people come home,” Margaret says.
When constructing each adventure, Margaret considers every nuance — what inspires the traveler, what experiences
they enjoy, how they want to feel and what memories they want to bring back. To uncover these details, she starts with an in-depth consultation.
“What I really want to understand is deeper than the destination itself,” she says.
Using these initial conversations as a foundation, Margaret pieces together the framework for the client’s journey and then refines it with them.
One of her standout trips was Saddle Up & Slow Down in Northern Ireland, where guests stayed a week in the historic
“It’s a stunning world, and the stories you hear, the people you meet and the moments you experience stay with you forever. They become part of who you are.”
city of Derry. After making bespoke hats in Donegal and riding horses down the beach at sunset, everyone shared fish and chips around a bonfire.
“It was this incredible mix of guests from different parts of the United States, some of whom had never met before, sitting together with Northern Irish locals who were opening their homes and lives to us,” Margaret says.
Margaret also strives to leave room for spontaneity, ensuring there’s always space for those unintentional moments that can make the whole trip.
“I naturally think in terms of people’s stories,” she says.
Witnessing a live cow birth on a farm in Ireland was not on the to-do list, but it’s a tale everyone wanted to tell back home.
“Sometimes luxury is a stunning suite overlooking the sea. Sometimes it’s having a private guide bring history to life in a way you’ll never forget. Sometimes it’s being welcomed into someone’s home for tea in Northern Ireland and leaving feeling like you’ve made a genuine human connection.”
Margaret Critz
Margaret grew up traveling, spending summers with her extended family at East Coast resorts or horseback riding out West. In fact, the name For the Good Times Travel is an homage to Margaret’s grandparents, who always requested that song during family getaways.
“What I remember most is not just the destinations themselves, but how travel brought all of us together,” Margaret says. “Those trips were full of closeness, laughter, learning, exploring and spending meaningful time together. I grew up experiencing travel as something joyful and memorable, and that had a huge influence on me.”
After exploring careers in television and project management, Margaret returned to what truly fulfills her. She joined Gifted Travel Network, completed a travel MBA and began curating custom itineraries, changing lives one trip at a time.
“Even now, working in this industry and traveling as much as I do, I’m still amazed by how much there is out there to see and do,” Margaret says. “It’s a stunning world, and the stories you hear, the people you meet and the moments you experience stay with you forever. They become part of who you are.”
For more information, visit forthegoodtimestravel.com.
Honeymoon in Arkansas
A Motorcycle Adventure Across the Natural State Delivers Adventure, Laughter and Unforgettable Moments
ARTICLE BY SAMANTHA MCCAIN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE HENRY MILNER AND SAMANTHA MCCAIN
Image Courtesy of Anne Henry Milner: AMaggio Photo
Unequivocally happy and blessed. Whether you go across the globe or just down the road, your honeymoon should be just as special as your wedding. But much less stressful. Some people like to go hundreds or thousands of miles away. Traveling on a plane or boat to a destination where they can unwind and enjoy their new life together. This is a short story of my honeymoon on the back of a motorcycle through the beautiful state of Arkansas.
When my husband, Aaron, and I started planning our honeymoon activities, we absolutely used the mindset of “Well, why couldn’t we?!” To give some context, we had a crawfish boil at our reception. Our ceremony was on the top of Petit Jean, one of our favorite places, and our motorcycle was our honeymoon mode of transportation. We tailored it all to fit us.
We began our honeymoon by staying at the Bass Pro Pyramid in Memphis. Yep, you read that right, the Bass Pro Pyramid. We left Monday morning, planning an easy back-road ride through Arkansas farmland. But Mother Nature decided Monday was the perfect time to unleash 30–40 mph winds. Remember, we were on a motorcycle, so we comically felt like cartoon characters with a leaf blower in our faces. We laughed all the way there.
Now, if you haven’t had the chance to go to the pyramid in Memphis, it truly is an experience that I highly recommend. It has hotel rooms that have been curated based on different wildlife
Image Courtesy of Anne Henry Milner: AMaggio Photo
“This is a short story of my honeymoon on the back of a motorcycle through the beautiful state of Arkansas.”
or outdoor activities. The rooms have views of the store or the Mississippi River. Since we enjoy the great pastime of people watching, we selected a room with a screen porch overlooking the store.
After some bowling and good food, we worked our way across the state to stay at a beautiful Airbnb overlooking the Boston Mountains. This part of the trip was our opportunity to truly decompress, experience the unmatched natural beauty of Arkansas and be with each other. We searched for Elk in Ponca, marveled at handmade pottery at Osage Clayworks, meditatively watched the wind turbines spin, listened to the water at the base of Beaver Dam, watched an eagle and its two young in the nest, drank champagne in a hot tub and were unequivocally happy and blessed.
So, this is my recommendation: go on a trip that makes you happy. Eat good food, see cool things and enjoy the beginning of your new life together.
If you’re trying to improve your physical and mental health, you need an environment that keeps you inspired and encouraged—a place where you never have to walk into a mess, where you always feel comfortable yet challenged to improve, with an unbeatable atmosphere that greets you every time you walk in the door. That’s WorkHarder Gym.
From France, With Love
ANGELA SORTOR’S PUNCH BOWL BRINGS PIECES OF FRANCE TO LITTLE ROCK
ARTICLE BY STEPHANIE HASBROUCK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGELA SORTOR, CONTRIBUTED
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE SO DRAWN TO ANTIQUES WITH HISTORY AND CHARACTER?
Aside from the sheer quality of materials and craftsmanship, I think it’s because people love a story. It taps into our curiosity and emotion and creativity. I think antique furniture and objects connect us through time and space. To think most of these items survived multiple wars and now reside in an American suburban home ... Does that not somehow make you curious about its previous life and the people who housed that piece before?
WHY DO YOU SOURCE MOST OF YOUR ANTIQUES FROM FRANCE?
I have a long history with France. My mother married a Frenchman 34 years ago, and we moved to France when I was 16. I have lived there and visited many, many times. It is a second home to me and always will be. Importing from France is really a win-win for me. I have so much fun learning about history and natural resources that inspired the creation of the pieces I come across, and I find people in this industry are equally as passionate about their history and culture and eager to share, which makes it even better.
YOUR MOTHER LIVES IN FRANCE AND HELPS WITH THE BUSINESS. HOW SPECIAL HAS IT BEEN TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE?
I just feel so lucky we both had the willingness to even try. We’ve always made an amazing team, but this has really helped us grow individually and evolve a bit from a simple mother-daughter duo into two adults who share responsibility and passion for something. I don’t know a ton of people who can say they have that with a parent.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU TRAVEL OVERSEAS, AND WHAT DOES A TYPICAL SOURCING TRIP LOOK LIKE?
I usually go to France three times a year, two of which I ship containers. The early summer trip is usually just for sourcing and exploring new areas.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE REGIONS, VILLAGES OR MARKETS TO EXPLORE?
Of course, I am partial to Lyon which is my home away from home. Specifically, Les Puces du Canal which is a large antique ‘flea market’ that I have been visiting since I was a teenager. Most of my vendors are in Lyon, and at this point, they are practically family. In addition to Lyon, I try to pick a new area to explore each year.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH PIECES ARE WORTH BRINGING BACK TO THE PUNCH BOWL?
Easy, I buy what I love. I figure if I think it’s good enough to put it in my own home, that someone will love it and if they don’t then I’m not stuck with something I don’t like!
HAVE YOU EVER FOUND A PIECE WITH AN ESPECIALLY MEMORABLE HISTORY OR PROVENANCE?
I have come across some interesting pieces, a monastery table from Marseille that was once in a great dining hall of a local monastery, but we found it in the basement of a market covered by years of dust. My most recent fun find just came in on the latest container — a trunk that once belonged to the Bourbon family. The House of Bourbon is one of the oldest European royal dynasties originating in France in the 13th century and continues to endure. France’s most famous kings were descendants of the Bourbon lineage. I don’t think
“I have so much fun learning about history and natural resources that inspired the creation of the pieces I come across, and I find people in this industry are equally as passionate about their history and culture and eager to share, which makes it even better.”
“To think most of these items survived multiple wars and now reside in an American suburban home ... Does that not somehow make you curious about its previous life and the people who housed that piece before?”
the trunk is quite that old. It likely belonged to a distant relative and was found in the royal apartments in Limoges, which have been closed for quite some time.
WHAT’S ONE ITEM YOU FOUND THAT YOU COULD NEVER BRING YOURSELF TO SELL?
This is easy. It is actually the piece that started this whole thing. Back in 2018, I found this massive carved walnut secretary desk sitting outside of a market stand. To this day, it may be the most incredible piece of furniture I’ve come across. We priced shipping every which way you could imagine, and no matter what, we were paying more than triple the cost of the piece. Finally, we priced the cost of an entire container and realized, yes, it’s more money, but it made more sense financially. So, in late 2019, I shipped my first container for resale to Little Rock and sold those items out of my booth at Midtown Vintage Market, and here in 2026, I am typing these answers out while sitting at my secretary desk that truly belongs in a castle but lives with me in an old house in downtown Little Rock.
YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SPRINKLER SERVICE EXPERTS
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KOOB S T O TAKEYOU AWAY
I ASKED MY EXPAT AND TRAVEL-SAVVY FRIENDS TO RECOMMEND BOOKS TO TAKE ME FAR AWAY. HERE YOU GO!
ARTICLE BY SUE G. COLLINS
Blue Latitudes
BY TONY HORWITZ
Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before. The Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist travels to various parts of the world, following in the footsteps of explorer James Cook.
The Island of Missing Trees
BY ELIF
SHAFAK
It is 1974 on the island of Cyprus. Two teenagers, from opposite sides of a divided land, meet at a tavern in the city they both call home. The tavern is the only place that Kostas, who is Greek and Christian, and Defne, who is Turkish and Muslim, can meet, in secret, hidden beneath the blackened beams from which hang garlands of garlic, chili peppers and wild herbs. This is where one can find the best food in town, the best music, the best wine. But there is something else to the place: it makes one forget, even if for just a few hours, the world outside and its immoderate sorrows.
The Corfu Trilogy
BY GERALD DURRELL
Three classic tales of childhood on an island paradise - My Family and Other Animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives and The
Garden of the Gods by Gerald Durrell - are available in a single edition for the first time in The Corfu Trilogy
Just before the Second World War the Durrell family decamped to the glorious, sun-soaked island of Corfu, where the youngest of the four children, ten-year-old Gerald, discovered his passion for animals: toads and tortoises, bats and butterflies, scorpions and octopuses. Through glorious silver-green olive groves and across brilliant-white beaches Gerry pursued his obsession . . . causing hilarity and mayhem in his ever-tolerant family.
Cutting for Stone
BY ABRAHAM VERGHESE
Cutting for Stone is a novel written by Ethiopian-born, Indian-American medical doctor and author Abraham Verghese. It is a saga of twin brothers, orphaned by their mother’s death at their births and forsaken by their father.
The Museum of Innocence
BY ORHAN PAMUK
The author is a Nobel-laureate Turkish novelist. The book, set in Istanbul between 1975 and 1984, is an account of the love story between the wealthy businessman Kemal and a poorer distant relative of his, Füsun.
Host a Travelcation Date Night
A travelcation night isn’t about planning a real trip (though it sometimes turns into one). It’s about slowing down, paying attention and letting curiosity lead the evening — often starting in the kitchen.
PICK ONE SMALL PLACE
Choose a village or city you don’t know much about. Somewhere walkable, a little romantic and rooted in everyday life. Not a headline destination — something quieter. Once you pick the place, let it guide the night.
STEP INTO THE STREETS
Open Google Maps or Street View and wander together. Follow side streets. Notice markets,
bakeries and hidden cafés. Pay attention to what people might be eating there, what’s growing nearby, what flavors seem to show up again and again.
LET A RESTAURANT SET THE TONE
Find a small local restaurant and linger over the menu. Discuss what you’d order and why. Is it comfort food? Something seasonal? Something you’ve never heard of? This is where the place starts to feel real.
GO DEEPER — ONE INGREDIENT AT A TIME
If a dish or ingredient catches your attention, follow it. Look up the ingredient. See how it’s used elsewhere. See if it’s local, where it’s made or grown. Ask how it might show up in your own kitchen. This kind of curiosity — layered and unhurried — is how flavors become familiar.
POUR A DRINK AND KEEP WANDERING
If the menu lists a local wine, tea or spirit, look it up together. Where does it come from? What does a tasting look like there? Imagine the afternoon light, the view, the pace of the day. You’re not researching — you’re daydreaming with intention.
COOK SOMETHING INSPIRED BY THE PLACE
Find a simple local recipe that represents the region. Cooking together turns the experience from imagined to tangible. It doesn’t have to be authentic or exact. It just has to make you laugh, have fun and spark curiosity.
MAP THE PERFECT WEEK
Before the travelcation ends, sketch out the version of a week you’d spend there. Morning walks, long lunches, one special meal, one day with no plans at all. Sometimes the joy is simply agreeing on what you’d love.
Travelcation nights teach us how to be curious about places, flavors and each other. Sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin at home, with a recipe, curiosity and the willingness to spend time together.
A Guide to Going Somewhere Together Through Food, Flavor and Curiosity
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
The 10% Target Mindset
Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT
Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.
He calls days later.
That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.
The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.
The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.
“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”
FEATURING JEN COHEN
Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.
1 2
MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS
The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.
STACK THE DECK
Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.
3
DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE
No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.
4
SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP
Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.
5
NEVER MISS A MONDAY
The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
EVERY WEDNESDAY IN JULY
Wednesday Spins
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts | 5:00 PM
Enjoy Little Rock’s most elevated midweek escape — rotating DJs, stunning museum views, great drinks and a creative social energy that makes the week worth it. Bring your friends or come alone for a great time, enjoy the music and stay for the atmosphere. For the full lineup, visit ArkMFA.org/Series/Wednesday-Spins.
SELECT DAYS IN JULY
Cooking Classes at Eggshells Kitchen Co.
Eggshells Kitchen Co. | Various Times
Eggshells Kitchen Co. has another month of educational cooking classes, including Disney Treats at Home on July 15 and a quick pickling class on July 29. For more information, or to register, visit EggshellsKitchenCompany.com.
JULY 3RD
SoMa After Dark
SoMa | 4:00 PM
On the first Friday of each month, Little Rock’s South Main district transforms into a walkable celebration of local makers, boutiques, live entertainment, art and food. This community gathering reminds you why shopping and dining local matters. Get all of the details at SoMaLittleRock.com.
JULY 4TH
Pops on the River 2026
First Security Amphitheater | 5:00 PM
Little Rock’s signature Fourth of July celebration brings together live performances by Kemistri Band, The Rodney Block Collective and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra — all building toward a spectacular fireworks finale above the Main Street Bridge. A vendor marketplace, food trucks and a Military Appreciation Tent round out the festivities. Arrive early as parking is limited! For more information, visit LittleRock.com.
JULY 6TH – 28TH
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Arkansas Repertory Theatre | Various Times
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved retelling of Joseph’s biblical journey bursts onto the stage with songs spanning rock, calypso, country and beyond. A vibrant new vision brings fresh joy and cultural richness to a show audiences of every age have cherished for generations. Secure your tickets at TheRep.org/Joseph.
JULY 17TH – 19TH
Indoor Sidewalk Sale
Art Group Gallery | Various Times
This beloved annual event moves indoors, where eager art lovers gather to browse and bring home original works at prices that are genuinely hard to beat. It’s one of the most anticipated shopping moments of the year for collectors and newcomers alike. For more information, visit ArtGroupArkansas.com.
JULY 18TH
2026 Rock City Margarita Festival & Great Arkansas Beer Festival
Statehouse Convention Center | 5:00 PM
Get ready for a massive, 21+ summer celebration featuring unlimited samples of margaritas, beers, wines and seltzers — plus games, music, dancing and giveaways. This one sells out every year, so don’t wait. Get your tickets now at LittleRock.com/Events/ The-Great-Arkansas-Beer-Festival-Rock-City-Margarita-Festival-2026.
JULY 18TH
Mount Holly Garden Series
Mount Holly Cemetery | 9:00 AM
Alice Brown, President of the Arkansas African Violet Society, will share tips for how to grow beautiful African violets at 9 a.m. July 18 at Mount Holly Cemetery. Bring a lawn chair, enjoy the cemetery’s beauty and learn something new about gardening. The Downtown Dames will provide refreshments and door prizes. Master Gardeners earn education points for attendance. For more information, visit mounthollycemetery.org.
AUGUST 1ST
Back-to-School Bash & Tax Free Weekend
Promenade at Chenal | 11:00 AM
Kick off the school year at the Back-to-School Bash held in The Promenade at Chenal courtyard! Enjoy a live DJ, meet Miss Arkansas, grab food and drinks and join the fun with giveaways, photo ops and a DIY patch station. Plus, shop tax-free and support young entrepreneurs with Kids Market as they showcase their mini-businesses during the event. For details, visit Tanger.com/Chenal.
Bash Back to School
August 1, 11am-1pm
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Spain’s Landscapes, People and Pace Inspired Artist
Sean LeCrone’s Vivid Collection of Paintings
IMPRESSIONS OF SPAIN
ARTICLE BY ANNA YANOSICK | PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED
Sean LeCrone’s paintings burst with bold brushstrokes and an air of familiarity that makes anywhere, no matter how far, feel like home. Set in Spain, his sun-drenched The Long Afternoon embodies the comfort of an unhurried moment. Oklahoma-born and Arkansas-raised, Sean teaches oil and acrylic painting at Art Group Gallery.
TELL US ABOUT THE LONG AFTERNOON, FEATURED ON OUR COVER. WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND IT?
The pace of it. Two people in no hurry to be anywhere. I wanted to paint that ease, the long afternoon light and the sense that sitting and talking is enough.
SPAIN IS KNOWN FOR ITS RICH COLOR, ARCHITECTURE AND ENERGY. WHAT ELEMENTS MOST CAPTIVATED YOU AS AN ARTIST?
One of my favorite artists is the Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla, known for his vibrant light-filled scenes of Spanish life. I had the pleasure of visiting an exhibit of his works in Valencia. I was inspired by this and my own experiences in the sun of Spain.
WERE THERE ANY UNEXPECTED DISCOVERIES OR HIDDEN PLACES IN SPAIN THAT LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON YOU?
I hiked up Monte Urgull in San Sebastián, and it was quite a long uphill trek. It was a wonderful relief to find a small bar near one of the lookouts at the top with great views of the ocean.
WHY DO YOU THINK TRAVEL AND EXPLORATION ARE IMPORTANT FOR ARTISTS?
When you’ve painted the same place for years, you stop really seeing it. Spain forced me to slow down and look again — different light, different color, nothing automatic. That kind of forced attention is where I think most good work comes from.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME IN SPAIN?
For me, it was simply the light and the people. The Spanish light had a quality I had never painted before — warmer, especially in the late afternoons, and the people shared that same warmth. I tried to capture these feelings in my Spanish paintings.
See more of Sean’s works at Art Group Gallery in Pleasant Ridge Town Center or visit lecronefineart.com.
Parade of Shadows
The Long Afternoon
YOUR AGAIN BEGINS HERE
You don’t need “easy.” You need results.
At Baptist Health Rehabilitation, we are bold with our care. We know recovery is a challenge, and we are here to help you win.
We use the latest technology to help you get stronger. We challenge you to push past your limits because we know you can do it.
We stay with you for the whole journey. From our hospitals and therapy centers to your home—we meet you where you are.
There is life after injury. With hard work and encouraging care, we will help you get back to living life on your own terms.
FOR YOU. FOR LIFE.
THE BEST TIME TO CALL YOUR REAL ESTATE ADVISOR ISN’T WHEN YOU’RE READY TO SELL.
IT’S LONG BEFORE.
I partner with homeowners from the very beginnning, helping you see what buyers will see, prepare on your timeline, and arrive on the market with confidence. Repairs, staging, decluttering, landscaping, marketing, every detail, completely handled.
