JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015
DINING
|
LIFESTYLE
|
ENTERTAINMENT
linda rowe thomas creating inspiration
RAIZ MENTALITY
ARGENTA ARTS DISTRICT
EAT LOCAL
Your Car Will Look Like New! NO APP’T NECESSARY
COME BY TODAY! WWW.DENTDOCTOR.COM ®
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Locally Owned & Operated Since 1962 Tax Planning and Tax Return Preparation Services for individuals & Small Businesses
Payroll Services Monthly Small Business Services
Accounts Payable Services
(501) 225-2154
Professionalism, good solid advice, and someone you can call any time of the year, not just during tax season; that’s what you expect and that’s what you get at EKW Advantage.
16723 Cantrell Road Little Rock, AR 72223 2
Dings & Dents Bumper Dents Hail Damage Bumper Scrapes/Scratches Curbed Wheels Auto Detailing Windshield Repair
FREE ESTIMATES!
S A M E DAY R E PA I R 11301 W. Markham
(Across from Office Depot)
224-0500
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ANY ONE SERVICE OVER $100 Not valid with any other offer or discount. One Coupon per vehicle. Expires 2/28/15. 411
Amber’s
Goochie Poochie Dog Grooming
We treat your pet like our own! 501.771.0706 · 3400 Burks Ste. B · N. Little Rock, AR
Beyond Ballroom Former USSS Champion with 25 years of experience.
Offering Lessons for beginners or experts: ² Salsa ² Mambo ² Cha Cha ² Tango
² Waltz ² Foxtrot ² Swing ² Samba
Wesley Crocker (501) 291-7843 Call now about Wedding Packages for Your 1st Dance! beyondballroom@yahoo.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS www.localmag411.com
SHOP LOCAL 4
Check out some of your local featured boutiques for some great shopping!
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RAIZ MENTALITY 6
Raiz Mentality is a lifestyle brand whose sole purpose is to impact global change by teaching others to live with a positive mindset. Anything we want out of life can be achieved with the right mentality. Influenced by positivity, powered through skateboarding.
FEATURED RECIPE 7
Enjoy this quick, easy and delicious meal! Brought to you by Gary Dillon at the Overlook Grill in The Little Rock Racquet Club.
A DESIGNERS PASSION 8
When people experience life-changing events, there are some who succumb to it and those who rise above it. Then you have extraordinary individuals who triumph over adversity and create inspirational lives for others. Fashion Designer, Linda Rowe Thomas is one of these greats and her story is a true testimony to that.
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EAT LOCAL 11
Cache is the opportunity to bring a stunning vision of the most urbane, contemporary dining experience to downtown Little Rock. It creates an extraordinary dining experience where no detail is left unattended.
ARGENTA ARTS DISTRICT 12
The Argenta Arts District is set in the historic heart of downtown North Little Rock. It is filled with Art Galleries, Artist Studio’s, an Arts Foundation, a Community Theater, Chef driven Restaurants, a Farmer’s Market, eclectic shopping, & more.
WHAT IS LOCAL? 14
You’re part of the local economy, so you understand how important it is to keep this city vibrant and moving forward. We’re doing that, too!
Designer
LINDA ROWE THOMAS
info@romasbylrt.com
Model
TAYLOR OWEN
missyowen@hotmail.com
Make Up Artist
MELISSA JOHNSON
mojozilla.mojo@gmail.com
Photographer
MIKE RUSSELL
mikerussellphotography@gmail.com
ON THE COVER
Local. Magazine Local_LittleRock
PUBLISHER Richard Niemeyer ART DIRECTOR Kaitlin Schmidt WRITERS Charlette Beasley Kaitlin Schmidt PHOTOGRAPHER Mike Russell [cover photo] ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Richard Niemeyer ADVERTISING SALES Tasha Harvey For Advertising Information, please call 501-554-1126 Local. Magazine is published bimonthly by 411 Publications, P.O. Box 1835, N. Little Rock, AR 72115 411publications@gmail.com The contents of Local. are copyrighted and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written consent of the publisher.
CONTRIBUTER SPOTLIGHT CHARLETTE BEASLEY Charlette Beasley is an accounting professional who spends most of her free time writing and providing ideas and inspiration through journalism. She received her Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting from Henderson State University during 2010 and is now working towards her M.B.A. at Harding University. MIKE RUSSELL For over 10 years, Mike has been honored to be chosen as photographer for many weddings and portraits throughout Central Arkansas and around the world. He has a love for portraits, weddings and the photographic arts. Check out his website or drop by his studio located in the Argenta Arts District. mikerussellphotography.com
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NIXON | HIPPYTREE | VOLCOM | IRON&RESIN RVCA | WESC | AG | DIESEL | SCOTCH&SODA
SHOP
Dandelion is a small bulk medicinal and culinary herb, spice, and tea shop. We only provide organic and responsibly wild harvested bulk herbs, teas, and spices. We also carry local honey, coffee, tinctures, pink house alchemy simple syrups, and herbal supplements. 419 President Clinton Ave. Little Rock
PROVISIONS FOR THE CULTURED GENTLEMAN
11220 N. RODNEY PARHAM RD. SUITE 3 LITTLE ROCK 72212 5 0 1 . 2 4 6 . 5 4 6 8
We are a locally inspired clothing company based in Little Rock. Our focus is to bring trendy, fashionable clothing to a hyper local level. We are a humor infused, vintage style clothing company that encompasses all of your States of Mind. 411 Main St., N. Little Rock
Fringe brings you all the fresh new styles of the fashion world, Fringe works hard to find & create a new style that’s hip, fashion-forward, and most importantly affordable. It is clothing for the trendy and modern, fashion forward with nostalgic flair. 112 River Market Ave., Little Rock 4
CLASS SCHEDULE: Jan. 17 Intro to Hydroponic Gardening Jan. 24 Intro to Wine Making Jan. 31 Intro Cheese Making Feb. 7 Intro Beer Making Feb. 14 Intro to Hydroponic Gardening Feb. 21 Intro to Wine Making Feb. 28 Cheese Making
thousands of items in store! Beer, Wine, Cider, & Mead Making Supplies. Cheese Making Supplies
Class starts at 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. Seating is limited. Class will last a little over an hour. Discount on class material after the class.
501-725-5296
Pickling Supplies Hydroponic, Indoor, Organic, & Aquaponic Gardening Supplies
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Spectacularly innovative and contemporary. Cilantro’s cuisine is inspired by authentic central Mexican flavors and ingredients with a unique twist. Come experience the hospitable staff and complimentary, delicious chips and salsa in a cozy, intimate atmosphere. You can also enjoy homemade queso or fresh guacamole made fresh at your table. Entrees include a variety of specialties that you can not find at an average Mexican restaurant.
New & Used Items 106 Rodney Parham Rd. | Little Rock, AR 72205
MARBLE · GRANITE · QUARTZ LIMESTONE · TRAVERTINE Locally owned & operated since 1996 Specializing in fabrication/ installation. Remnants as low as $45 installed! Builder/ Contractor grade materials
2225 Cottondale Ln. · Little Rock, AR
501.280.9777
www.all-natural-stone.com
Cilantro’s makes their own fresh tortillas using original flour from Mexico. The vegetables they purchase from U.S. Food Service come from Green Hills, a Mexican company in Siloam Springs, AR. Weekly specials, including drink specials. This includes a variety of margaritas, i.e., strawberry, mango, peach, pina colada, and Cilantro’s very own margarita mix. So whether you’re looking for a nice place to drink with friends, celebrate a special event with thirty or more guests, eat dinner with family, or eat lunch with a few co-workers, Cilantro’s is the place to be!
2629 Lakewood Village Dr. N. Little Rock, AR
(501) 812-0040
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JUNK REVIVAL
Meet Maxi. Designer of
Vintage Goods & Pretty Things!
Raiz Mentality Local: Tell us a little about you. Maxi: I’m 21 years old and was born in Argentina. My family and I moved to the United States when I was 7 for financial reasons. My family has been able to create great lives here; something we just couldn’t do back in Argentina. They all own their own small businesses now which is why I decided to pursue this path with my clothing line.
Having value in yourself, remembering who you are and staying true to yourself all while being able to grow is the whole idea behind the name.
Local: What do you like to do in your spare time when you aren’t designing for your line? Maxi: I love skateboarding and grew up playing soccer. I am very outgoing, active person. I am also currently in school for Business Entrepreneurship.
Local: Where can we find your clothing? Maxi: You can find my line at Culture Clothing Company on Rodney Parham and on my online store at www.raizmentality.com
Local: What has been your main inspiration? Maxi: My sister has always been a major inspiration to me. She was the first one in our family to start her own business and has been successful. The second I told her I wanted to start my own clothing brand, she was super supportive. When it comes to the clothing, I’ve been influenced by skateboarding fashion and the local music scene. I’ve watched all the people in these scenes and how they dress and what appeals to them… It’s a whole other demographic. I love hip hop, rap, rock, skateboarding, and soccer. Taking little pieces from all these cultures has had a huge impact on my clothing line. Local: What has been your learning process to make your brand successful? Maxi: I have had to teach myself everything. It all started when my niece was taking a sewing class. She helped me learn enough to be able to sew basic pocket tees. Everyone seemed to love these basic cut and sew shirts so I kept making them. I wanted to make it more legitimate, so I came up with a name and logo. I couldn’t afford a screen printer at first. I bought these special fabric markers and sat there every night hand drawing my logo on each shirt. I finally saved up enough to buy my first screen printing set up and then started teaching myself how to do it from online videos. After perfecting my logo, I decided to branch off into printing designs. I fell in love with the art and process of it all and people loved it. It’s been about a year since I started printing my own designs, and now I am focusing on seasonal collections and growing the brand. Local: What’s the meaning behind your name? Maxi: Originally, it was called Raiz which is Spanish for “roots” or “origin”. We all come from the same place. As we grow up and change, we still know where we came from. If I would have stayed in Argentina, who knows where I would be, but it makes me appreciate everything I have now that much more. I think that goes for everyone. The name has now evolved into Raiz Mentality.
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Local: What about your logo? Maxi: I chose an eye to symbolize my brand. The eye is so broad. It is being aware and seeing everything around you. That’s how you grow.
Local: What kind of goals do you have for your business in the future? Maxi: I want to become established and be available world wide. I want to spread my message through my clothing, that’s what is really important to me. I don’t want to be famous. I just want to make an impact on peoples’ lives where they can see my clothes, know the meaning behind it and support this idea of positivity… support this idea where we are more powerful than we think. I think that’s what clotting brands lack. They might have the coolest designs, but what does it mean? No matter how much I grow, I want people to remember why I am doing this. People can’t be scared to branch off into their own ideas and to be themselves. We are all our own worst critics, but even the people that have created global change didn’t do it by saying they couldn’t do it. They went for it. They had the confidence and drive to pursue what they believed in. That should go for everyone. We are all people, and I think it’s beautiful that we are all different yet still the same. Local: Any advice for others thinking about making their vision come to life? Maxi: Stay true to your origins, but never stop growing. With that mentality, nothing can stop you. I have experienced that first hand. I’m grateful that I know what I want to do at such a young age, and I know that every one is capable of succeeding in their dreams, too.
We have a unique style and one-of-a-kind pieces.
· Cow Hides · Apparel · Chocolates · Jewelry · Home Decor · & MUCH more!
Mon-Fri 10-6 Saturday 10-4 1103 Oak St. Conway, AR
5920 Hwy 5 · Bryant, AR 501-653-2822 www.anchorbodymod.com
Arkansas Beauty School 1061 MARKHAM ST. CONWAY, AR 72032
www.raizmentality.com
501 - 329 - 8303
FEATURED RECIPE
501-227-9900 • www.lrstarofindia.com 301 N. Shackleford Rd West Little Rock
Star of India Restaurant is the first Restaurant that introduced Indian Food in the State of Arkansas. Star of India uses the finest ingredients in all items to make sure you experience and taste the home style cooking of India. Locally owned since 1993. Open 7 days a week. Delivery available.
Mention this ad for a FREE Mango Juice!
QUICK, EASY AND DELICIOUS! Stuffed Chicken Florentine
www.crainhyundainorth.com
Jason Crouch 501-514-8283
Michael Gonzales 210-383-0275 Call now! Mention this ad to receive a gift from us with a purchase of your new vehicle.
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5660 Warden Road N. Little Rock, AR 72120
BIRTHDAY PARTIES & MEETINGS
TE A IM T L U HT G I S
GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE!
REAL D 3D EXPERIENCE
ULT IM SO ATE UN D
Total Time: 20 min Prep: 15 min Cook: 12 min
Level: Easy
What You Will Need: • 5 oz. chicken breast, butterflied • 2 tablespoon cream cheese • 2 tablespoon feta cheese • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise • 2 ounces of spinach • Salt and Pepper to taste • 2 pieces of smoked bacon • Sprinkle of cracked pepper (You will probably be tripling or more this recipe depending on how many your cooking for, it will be easier to blend down the more your making.) 1. Blend the cream cheese, feta cheese, mayo and most the spinach till creamy. 2. Keep a little spinach and feta to the side to add after the rest is blended for texture. 3. Butterfly chicken breast to stuff. 4. Wrap with your smoked bacon and put on your flat grill at 350 degrees, grill on each side for 5-6 minutes or until the bacon is golden brown. 5. Saute your side at this time, we used squash and peppers.
McCain Mall Stadium 12 & RPX 3929 McCain Blvd North Little Rock, AR 72116
Breckenridge Stadium 12 1200 Breckenridge Dr Little Rock, AR 72205
Scan to purchase tickets or check times! www.Regmovies.com or 1-800-Fandango
Light and low calorie meal, super easy and delicious! Recipe brought to you by Gary Dillon, The Overlook Grill in The Little Rock Racquet Club located in Foxcroft. 501-225-5711 garydillon@lrac.com
Closed Caption Capabilities
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ON THE C OV E R
A DESIGNER’S PASSION
T
By Charlette Beasley | Photography By Mike Russell
here’s an indescribable beauty in being able to live your dreams and give back to the world at the same time. National fashion designer and Little Rock resident Linda Rowe Thomas is the epitome of such beauty. After becoming a burn survivor at the age of two, she is now an author, non-profit owner, mother and wife, and one of Local Magazine’s newest inspirations. Aside from her prominent flair for fashion, which she allowed us to see first-hand, we were drawn to her inspirational story, resilient demeanor, and most of all, her humble spirit. The fatal house fire which claimed her then six year old sister’s life and left her with facial scarring and without fingers on her left hand transformed Linda into a young survivor more so than a victim. She recalls the earliest memories of her interest in fashion design to have begun around age five. Spending much of her time at her mother’s heels watching as she sewed in her spare time reeled Linda in even further. She’d take the scraps her mom did not use to make clothes for her dolls. When Linda was a little 8
older, her mother recognized this interest as being more than just seasonal and purchased her a little red table-topped sewing machine, and this, my friends, was truly the beginning of fashion designer Linda Rowe-Thomas as we know her today. After watching the movie ‘Mahogany,’ she was amazed to discover she could actually do what she loves and call it work. So that’s exactly what she did. She’s a self-taught designer and owner of company ‘Romás by Linda Rowe Thomas.’
Timeless classics with contemporary style. This sums up Linda’s vision for the works of art she creates within her Romás line. “My vision is for the mother to buy it, but her daughter is always in her closet.” Much of her inspiration comes from eras well before the millennium. Glamorous gowns and dresses that once characterized a woman’s strong femininity are her favorites. Having been in the fashion business for a while now, she has an endless number of designs that have either fabulously materialized or are in line to do so. Remarkably, since Arkansas does not have a wide variety of production companies to help make her products, Linda sews everything by hand. Most of the stylists who contact her on behalf of celebrities after her runway shows during New York Fashion week do not realize this and at times can make unrealistic requests, one being having a gown delivered in a day or so. There have been times she has had to turn down work because she is the sole designer. She is considering hiring a small staff to assist her with some of her tasks, but she is confident that
even then she will continue to be at the front line of her company’s design team for many years to come. She gave us a tour of her studio which she describes as her “second home.” Be on the lookout in the near future for the opening of her new showroom that will be located in downtown Little Rock. You can rest assured that with the new space will come new inspiration and thus new material. Wanting to learn more about Linda’s market, we inquired about her customers. When asked about the places in which she has customers, she named big cities like Dallas and New York. They are not concentrated in any one area but instead spread throughout many areas. While she has received support in Arkansas, most of her clients are located elsewhere. When Linda realized the shortage of red-carpet events in Arkansas worthy of her couture, she decided to design a collection for the “everyday fashionista.” The contemporary collection, LRT, is much more moderately priced than her luxury items and has received more attention in the state than many of her other collections.
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, NY
Although Arkansas is now her home, Linda finds herself in New York quite often. New York Fashion Week has become a big hit on her agenda, and her collections have gained a lot of exposure there. One such collection, released in the fall/winter of 2011, is where fashion and chocolate met. Inspired by her love of Godiva Chocolates and fashion, the luxurious fabrics and colors she used to produce such elegant masterpieces reflects how easily she is able to combine her passions to create absolutely stunning attire. When Godiva Chocolatiers caught wind of her collection, the company decided to co-sponsor its presentation at
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. What a treat that was for her! In addition to her Godiva collection, a couple of Linda’s other favorites are Back to Black, characterized by the little black dress and beyond, and Parisian Sheek, the epitome of a Paris girl from her day to evening. When we spoke with her towards the end of 2014, she was designing several new holiday pieces that you can find on her blog, romasbylrt.com.
But wait, there’s more! Fashion is not the only thing Linda is in the business of designing. She designs hope too! Five years ago, she founded a non-profit organization she calls “Designing Hope.” This awe-inspiring organization helps young burn survivors cope with the aftereffects of their experiences and motivates them as she was motivated, to eliminate “can’t” from their vocabularies and strive to achieve whatever their hearts desire. For the past five years, Designing Hope has presented an annual fashion fundraiser that presents a fashion show and silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the burn unit of Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Camp Sunshine, a four-day retreat at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock for young burn survivors. Linda takes pleasure in being able to give back to those in need. Having been a young burn survivor herself, she knows exactly what many of the young girls and boys in the burn unit are going through. When they see her up close and personal living her dreams and speaking theirs into existence, most are inspired more than they have ever been in their lifetimes. She recalls one camper at Camp Aldersgate who transformed right before her eyes, over the years of course, from a shy, reserved camper into a confident, social butterfly secure in herself, and in her heart, she knows that the relationship she developed with the young lady really made a difference. It is success stories like these that continue to drive Linda to do more, live life as if it is not her own, and build people up rather than tear them down. The more we have gotten to know Linda, the more outstanding we find her to be. Believe it or not, design is not her only passion. Writing is a hobby she loves . She wrote her first book in her late twenties. Titled Mocha, it is a coming of age story involving a girl who was shipped to her live with her grandmother only to end up
around the wrong crowd. In hopes of dealing with the life she created, she moved away to start fresh. The story takes a turn when she receives a phone call that forces her to face the past she thought she’d outrun. Intrigued yet? For those of you itching to take a peek, you can find it on Amazon. In the future, it will be available for download via electronics, i.e., Kindle, IPAD, etc., and hopefully one day developed into a movie. Your Local magazine will definitely stay tuned. With all of the extraordinary, unique details surrounding Linda’s life, we cannot forget to mention what’s most important to her: family. From Douglassville, a small town in Texas, she was raised with two brothers and three sisters. One of her sisters passed away in a house fire, and one of her brothers passed away while serving in the 82nd Airborne Division. Her surviving siblings still currently reside in Texas. Linda and her husband relocated to Jacksonville, Arkansas approximately twelve years ago but visit them when they can on holidays and/ or throughout the year. She has two children, a ten-year old son and a nineteen year-old daughter. Her daughter’s interests lie in theater and drama, and her son’s focus is baseball and has been since he was four. Linda’s mother was a huge inspiration in both her life and career. Helping her to become an independent woman, she taught her to know no limitations. She raises her children as she was raised, to believe in themselves no matter what and not to allow any obstacle prevent them from achieving their goals. As her mom always told her, “Can’t is not an option. ‘No’ is just an answer.” And this is how she has lived her life ever since.
w w w. r o m a s b y l r t. c o m 9
Attention members & guests
Latin dancing in Central Arkansas and beyond
Salsa EVERY Friday night at
Monster Jam
January 16 & 17, 2015
Live Music, Billiards, Food, & Fun on Tap. Open Daily 11am-2am
614 President Clinton Little Rock, AR 72201
JANUARY
Florida Georgia Line January 24, 2015
FRI Afterlife 2nd
SAT Joey Farr and The 3rd Fuggins Wheat Band THURS SAVING ABEL 8th
Starts at 9 PM with a basic Salsa lesson until 10 PM No Experience Required!
FRI Luke Williams 9th SAT 10th
Third Degree
FRI Supernova 16th FRI 30th
Big Shane Thornton
Harlem Globetrotters February 5, 2015
Dancing until 2 AM to Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cumbia, & top 40 Latin hits.
Fleetwood Mac
No Partner Required!
March 11, 2015
Shows start at 9 PM
Home of the 1/2 lb Midtown Burger!
like us on Facebook at Facebook/littlerocksalsa $5 from 9-10 $8 after 10
For the FEBRUARY schedule, check out:
TCSMIDTOWN.COM
1611 EAST OAK ST. Conway , AR 72032 10
$10 for under 21
www.littlerocksalsa.com
Winter Jam Tour March 27, 2015
Featuring Skillet, Jeremy Camp, Francesca Battistelli & more!
Tickets & Info: (501) 975-9000
EAT EXPERIENCE AN ULTRA CHIC SPOT WITH ECLECTIC, UPSCALE DISHES
C
ache Restaurant (pronounced “cash”) is the combined vision of Rush Harding and his son, Payne Harding. For Rush, a businessman and philanthropist, Cache is the opportunity to bring a stunning vision of the most urbane, contemporary dining experience to downtown Little Rock. For Payne, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Cache is the canvas on which to create an extraordinary dining experience where no detail is left unattended. It offers fine dining in an attractive setting that includes contemporary art, stainless steel, incomparable views of the River Market, and a wall-less, open kitchen viewable to all of those dining. At around 10,000 square feet, Cache can seat around 200 and has a top of the line bar and lounge area on the second level. The name Cache is rich with meaning for the restaurant’s founders. The area around the iconic Cache River on the Arkansas Delta is where Rush Harding was born and raised. The moniker also provides a nod to the dictionary definition of a cache as a place for storing valuable possessions. Rush and Payne hope that Cache becomes a destination where the people of Arkansas can gather over great food and drink and create treasured memories that last a lifetime. Cache offers a broad range of prices and cuisine types. It’s difficult, really, to categorize Cache into a single genre, but expect something familiar and classic, presented with elegance and a unique style. Executive Chef, Matthew Cooper,
who did the bulk of the menu design, is attracted to rustic dishes with classic flavors, but hopes to bring them new life in this trendy setting. “My style of cooking is very rustic, traditional and true to my Southern roots as well as the styles found in the northwest region of America,” Cooper said. “Our menu at Cache will support the sustainable and local organic food movements. We’ll also be very gluten friendly — I’m gluten intolerant.” They’re aiming to serve “top quality ingredients at reasonable prices.” The menu will change occasionally, but expect seasonal and local wherever possible. Cache has a superb variety from appetizers to desserts. The citrus salad with a decadent blend of oranges, grapefruit ,strawberry, parmesan, rye crisp, lemoncello dressing and the Salmon entree with creamy spaetzle, oven dried tomato and crispy leeks seem to be a crowd favorite. Also available are dishes such as Braised Pork Shank, Shellfish Paella, Lamb Rack, Scallops, Bone in Pork Chop, Herb Chicken, and Confit Duck Leg. While the food takes center stage, the extensive wine and hand-crafted cocktail list are quite impressive as well including unique spice and herb infused liquors. Payne Harding’s vision for Cache is one that transcends food — where every guest encounter receives as much care as what emerges from the kitchen, and we think they have done just that.
425 President Clinton Ave. Little Rock, Arkansas
70 Different kinds of Whiskeys! 225 E Markham St, Little Rock, AR 501-324-2449
Visit our tap room 402 E. 9th St. Little Rock Hours : Wednesday-Friday 4-9 Saturday 12-9 Sunday 11-8
Great local food trucks every day Ask for a Stone’s Throw anywhere great food is served
TheThe Best Round in Town Best Round in
Town
made in house. made for you. made every day! 4305 Warden Rd. · N. Little rock, ar 11
By Charlette Beasley
B
501-379-9101 MUGSCAFE.ORG @ M U G S C A F E A R G E N TA
AR · NLR, T E E R AIN ST 515 M THE CHURCH AT A R G E N TA
521 Main St · N. Little Rock, AR 501.410.7783 butcherandpublic.com
We are a fresh expression of church rooted in the Argenta Arts District of N. Little Rock. We will continually hold out the promise that it is possible for humans to unite with one another, offer their individual gifts and share a common commitment to God’s mission. If you are committed to exploring what it means to follow Jesus in this world, then don’t hesitate to join us Sundays 10:30. CHURCHARGENTA.ORG 12
521 Main St. N. Little Rock, AR
elieve it or not, some communities are more than just groups of people who reside near one another, and the Argenta District is one of them. Recognized as North Little Rock’s oldest and most diverse neighborhood, it has become a local leader in creating one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest communities in Central Arkansas. The vision began with the Argenta Community Development Corporation (CDC) in 1992 when a group of concerned Argenta residents connected in an effort to fight against the forces that threatened to destroy the once thriving area in which they lived. Tasked with transforming an abandoned downtown area into the vibrant residential, entertainment, and commercial attraction that it is today, the CDC brought in millions of investment dollars to fuel the growth of the historic district. Once the neighborhood began to experience growth, it became inevitable that the CDC would continue to be a driving force behind Argenta’s success. Eventually, this led to the creation of the Argenta Arts Foundation in 2007. This local arts organization provides both financial and marketing support for local art endeavors and advocates for art, education, and economic development within the Argenta Arts District. During a meeting with the Argenta Arts Foundation and Argenta Downtown Council Marketing Director, Drue Patton, he mentioned a unique program called the Art Connection that is at least partially funded by the foundation. It’s an after-school work program for high school students interested in working within the creative economy. These students paint works of art, sell them, keeping 50% of the proceeds, and in addition earn minimum wages. Participants are students of North Little Rock High School who are among an under served group, and this opportunity continues to open doors for them. Another program funded through Argenta Arts is Artist, Inc. It strives to teach local, professional
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400 N. Broadway St. North Little Rock, AR 72114
501-708-2739
Photograph By Tim Zimmerman
artists of all disciplines, including performing, literary, and visual arts, the business end of a fine arts practice. Last year, there was a total of eight weekly sessions offered between September and November. For those who were unable to attend in-person, the Artist Inc. online program was recommended. Talent and economics have been recognized as necessary components of a thriving community, and Argenta is committed to making them as attainable and convenient as possible. In addition to various programs, several annual events have also been organized and implemented. Among the most popular are the Farmer’s Market, Wine Festival, and Craft Beer Festival. Recently, the Argenta Arts Foundation announced it will be sponsoring a 2015 acoustic music series. The shows will be held at the Joint, a 100 seat theater and coffee house located at 301 Main Street in North Little Rock. With the exception of December 2015, the concerts will be held every third Thursday of the month. January 22, February 19, and March 19 are the first three dates on the season schedule and will feature Grammy Award winning artists. Tickets can be purchased online at www.argentaartsacousticmusic.com. As this is expected to be a very popular event, those wishing to attend are encouraged to reserve their seats early. Since the Argenta District began rebuilding and investing in the community, there seems to always be something to do. According to Drue, “every resident should be able to walk a few blocks from their homes and ‘bump into fun’.” The Argenta Downtown Council is committed to the development and growth of the community and the preservation of the architectural integrity of downtown Argenta. The link between the residents, businesses, and local organizations like the Arts Foundation continues to promote even more growth in the area. With partnerships like these, there’s nowhere for Argenta to go but up.
501-374-3515 Classes For Beginning Or Continuing Students 2 Hour Wheelthrowing Class Every Friday Night Main Street Gallery claytimepottery.com 417 Main Street ▪ N. Little Rock, AR (Argenta)
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What is Connecting you to everything Local.
Local. is a high quality, bimonthly magazine that seeks to put locals in touch with their community. We want to help connect our communities through highlighting local people / businesses, events, restaurants, and charities. MISSION Our mission is simple. Every city has an incredible community of creatives, hard workers and people with a dream. Whether they are businesses, designers, artisans, shops, chefs, etc, they all deserve to have their story heard. We want to encourage residents to connect with their locals, to shop local, to eat local, to appreciate where they live, and to learn about everything that no one has taken the time to give publicity. PURCHASE LOCALLY Check out each issue to learn about the awesome variety of stores and restaurants here in Central Arkansas so you can keep your money local. WE WANT TO: · Give our local businesses low cost advertising options and the maximum exposure they all deserve. · Recognize local talent and individuals that are truly making an impact in their community. · Focus on local events and projects around the area and make sure their vision is heard. · Provide an upscale guide to all your local resources. · Give local photographers and writers the opportunity to have their work shown.
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Encouraging everyone to stay connected with their local community here in Central Arkansas is just the beginning. We are dedicated to building a magazine that helps others build themselves. Thank you for all of your support!
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