Transform - January 2013

transform january 2013 AtUrbanMagazine.com

lifestyle

featuring

entertainment

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Catherine Frederick MANAGING EDITOR Marla Cantrell

7

Arkansas August

8

Calico County

14

DIY: On This Day

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Urban Appeal

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The Green Clean

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Shop Local

28 30 32

Urban 8

ASSOCIATE EDITOR / ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Melanie Stout CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Marla Cantrell Marcus Coker Kody Ford Catherine Frederick Laura Hobbs Caleb Lebow Evelyn Mainus Tonya McCoy Anita Paddock Betty Pittman

Now Hear This Urban Reader

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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Marcus Coker Catherine Frederick Dixie Kline

people

DESIGNER Jeromy Price

34 38 42

Tick, Tock, Potter Clock

46 48 50 52

Sisters Gourmet Bistro

Gliding Toward Greatness Mighty Ivy

taste

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Calico County Squash Casserole Pineapple Fizzy Lifting Drink

travel

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Chili à la Hubs

54 58 62

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The Town That Used to Be Short Story Winner: Annie's Prayer Short Story Winner: Worth It

WEB GURU David Jamell PUBLISHER Read Chair Publishing, LLC

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick 479 / 782 / 1500 Catherine@AtUrbanMagazine.com Melanie Stout 479 / 414 / 3147 Melanie@AtUrbanMagazine.com EDITORIAL INFORMATION Marla Cantrell 479 / 831 / 9116 Marla@AtUrbanMagazine.com ©2013 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions contained in @Urban are exclusively those of the writers and do not represent those of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. as a whole or its affiliates. Any correspondence to @Urban or Read Chair Publishing, LLC., including photography becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. @Urban reserves the right to edit content and images.

FOLLOW US Subscribe to @Urban and receive 12 issues per year for only $20. Log on to AtUrbanMagazine.com today.

letter from Catherine | 5

photo by Kat Hardin

our wonderful sponsors. Thank you for your loyalty. And thank you for responding to our commitment to be a magazine that’s read, not skimmed, full of stories that lift you up and make you think.

In this issue we have the story of a young woman who faced adversity by taking up boxing and lost eighty pounds in the process. We’re introducing you to a professor who tracked down some of the best images of old Fort Smith and turned them into a book, and we’re taking you to Eureka Springs to meet a woman who spends her days turning clocks into works of art.

O

We’re also showing you a crafty way to keep track of your busy

we’re growing a bit taller, to accommodate even more of what

Fort Smith eatery that’s temporarily shut down due to a fire that

you love about us.

started just before the holidays.

Another plus? Our paper, which has always been partially

And, drum roll please! We’re announcing the winners of our

recycled, is now 100% didn’t-take-down-one-tree recycled.

Get Published in 2013 contest. Our judges spent weeks reading

We’re pretty happy about that!

your entries, then re-reading, and finally narrowed the field to

ur resolution for 2013 is to grow up a little bit. Literally.

life by using a berry box and old postcards. We’re heading to

This comes after last year’s move to increase our page

the kitchen for a chili recipe that’s winning awards, bringing you

count, since we kept finding more stories to bring you

a fizzy drink with both vodka and champagne, and we’re giving

and we wanted to add even more beautiful photos. This year

you your Calico County fix, because we know you’re missing the

the top three short stories in our youth and adult categories.

Finally, we’ve been brainstorming to find ways to bring even

The poetry category was equally challenging. We are in awe of

more small businesses into @Urban, as part of our commitment

our talented readers and we are honored you shared your work

to shop locally. With our larger page size, we’ve been able to

with us. Stay with us this year as we work on more contests to

create an additional, more compact ad, to showcase the unique

showcase your brilliance.

products and services we know you’ll fall in love with.

Whew! That’s a lot. But it’s only the beginning. 2013 is gearing So 2013, bring it on! We’ve been growing since we launched

up to be one great, great year!

in 2010, something we couldn’t have done without you and

To reserve this free space for your charitable non-profit organization, email: Editors@AtUrbanMagazine.com

lifestyle | 7

Arkansas August @lines Betty Pittman

Tangerine sunsets and cicada symphonies end the days as we sprawl upon the brittle lawn, legs and arms splayed wide to catch a wayward breeze.

Our words circle in pointless quarrels sparked by the endless heat that presses us ever thinner, faded work shirts beneath nature’s scorching flat iron.

8 | lifestyle

calico county The Comeback Kid

@story Marla Cantrell @images Courtesy Calico County

lifestyle | 9

C

alico County’s Lance LaRoche was fast asleep in the

be paid while we figured all this out.” Scott shrugs, downplaying

wee hours of November 26, 2012. In the days prior,

his role in the move that saved the day. “I just followed what

he’d been commiserating with his business partner,

he taught me.”

Scott Blair, about the coming rush of business that began at Thanksgiving and would continue into the new year.

Still, Lance wanted confirmation from the insurance company before he met with his sixty co-workers, who were wondering

It was after two in the morning when the phone rang. The alarm

how they would make it and how they would get through

company had detected motion inside the restaurant at 2409

Christmas. That took forty-eight long hours. His voice was

South 56th Street in Fort Smith. At first Lance wasn’t concerned.

shaking as he began. He stood in front of a sign he’d written

For years he’d been fielding these burglary calls, and in the

on the empty building: Closed Due to Fire Until Further Notice.

early days he’d jump into his clothes and

He said, “When I got that call Monday

drive the five minutes it took to arrive at

morning, the first thing I thought about was

Calico County, the hazard lights on his car

all of you. I was worried about how you’d

flashing. But as time went by, he’d learned

get paid.” And then he gave them the best

not to panic. Something as simple as a stack

news they would hear that week. The checks

of cups shifting can set off an alarm. So this

they counted on would continue until the

time he summoned the police to check on

restaurant reopened.

the restaurant and he stayed put.

Relief rippled through the crowd. He told The next call, about twenty minutes later,

the servers, who relied on tips as well as

was much more serious. There was no

a base salary, that they could also receive

burglary, but there was a fire. He raced to

unemployment benefits to fill in the gap.

the restaurant. The street was blocked off

And even though they didn’t have to, most of

and firefighters were battling the flames. He

the employees showed up when they were

tried to get close; the police wouldn’t let him.

allowed back in, spending a week beside

In the twenty-four years since his parents

Lance and Scott, cleaning and salvaging everything they could. “We have people

first opened Calico County, nothing like this had happened. He stood with his arms folded and watched

who’ve been with us twenty-plus years,” Lance says. “We’re

the building where he spent most of his waking hours. “I kept

like family.”

thinking, I never thought this would happen to us,” he says.

The two are still waiting for the final report on the cause of At the same time, his business partner, Scott, was sweating

the fire, but Lance believes the towels used to clean up after

bullets. He’s the numbers guy in this operation. “I was thinking,

closing, that were stored in a plastic hamper, were the source of

I hope I had the insurance written right. I hope I crossed every

the fire. The flames spread, ripping through the kitchen and into

t and dotted every i. It was literally zero hour for me. I felt like

the men’s bathroom.

everything rested on my shoulders.”

Walking through the restaurant was a hard thing to do. The Every i was dotted. If you could dot them twice, Scott had also

restaurant was filled with antiques that Lance’s parents, who

done that. “When I started back in ’89, Lance’s dad was very

are still partners in the business, collected through the years.

involved. He made sure that we were insured very well and that

Lance’s first skis were on the wall. His mom and dad would

the payroll was covered, which now meant our workers would

show up periodically after a trip to a flea market or antique

10 | lifestyle

show, and hand over their new finds. “I’d get a little frustrated,”

Scott are still waiting to see what they’ll be able to put back in

Lance says, “but the customers loved it, and now I realize I did

Calico County when it reopens. They’re also busy meeting with

too. Customers would come in and see a sign from a grocery

contractors, planning for the future.

store that used to be here and say, ‘My grandfather used to own that store.' We had a huge sign from Petit Jean Lumber from

As they wait, they talk about the history of the place. The day

over on Fresno, when everything was auctioned off.”

in June, 2006, when out of the blue, Oprah showed up to eat, is the restaurant’s crowning glory. “We only have one photo

Scott chimes in, “My mother brought in a Coke ad with two

of Oprah going into the restaurant,” Scott says. “Gayle King,

ballerinas on it that she’d found in a shop in Van Buren.

Oprah’s best friend, came in first and kept the cameras away.

Customers would bring in old Avon bottles. A guy showed up

Word traveled fast. People were leaving shopping carts full of

one day with an old gas pump and asked if we wanted to buy it.

groceries in Walmart and heading our way. We took the chair

Well, sure we did.”

she sat in and had it cleaned.” Lance speaks up, “And then we had her name engraved on it.”

“Two years ago,” Lance says, “one of my mom’s friends died.

In her attic was a toy metal tractor that kids used to ride. Her

Scott says, “The National Enquirer picked up the story of Oprah’s

boyfriend brought it to us and said, ‘She’d have wanted you

tour across the country. Just before she came to Fort Smith,

to have it.

she’d surprised a couple in Tulsa and she bought them presents at Dillards. The magazine was talking about how many calories

“We even bought an old picture that one customer sold when

she was consuming. There were pictures of our food in there.

times were hard and then he returned years later to buy back,”

She had grilled chicken and broccoli and rice casserole. The

Scott adds.

Enquirer described the broccoli as ‘dripping with cheese.’

Most of the memorabilia survived the fire but was soaked

“When the 1988 movie Biloxi Blues was being filmed at Fort

through in the effort to put out the flames. ServiceMaster now

Chaffee, Matthew Broderick, Neil Simon, Jennifer Grey, all ate

has them at their facility, salvaging what they can. Lance and

here. Crystal Gayle’s eaten here. Razorback Sidney Moncrief,

lifestyle | 11 Dallas Cowboys’ Too Tall Jones, singer/songwriter Leon Russell.”

a bigger kitchen, and they’ll have it when they reopen. There will be metal containers for the towels that are used to clean to avoid

The two go on, listing name after name. All came for the

another fire. The memorabilia that’s salvageable will go up again

hometown food you can’t get at any chain. Fried okra, chicken

and the restaurant will once again be hopping with business.

fried steak, fried catfish, yeast rolls, hand-cut fries, turkey and dressing, squash casserole. The smothered steak – that’s a family

When you walk in that first day, there will be cinnamon rolls,

recipe. And the iced tea is served in glasses so big they’re almost

wrapped up in a calico napkin, and you’ll likely inhale them

too large to hold. And lordy, the cinnamon rolls.

before the main course arrives. That’s okay. You’re celebrating.

A good friend has come back into your life. You can worry about

It’s almost too hard to think about, all this food that we all

the calories a little bit later.

showed up for, that’s now on hiatus until crews can revamp the place. Lance remembers the first menu, much smaller, and the years they spent fine-tuning the dishes that brought folks back, all made fresh, even the salad dressings.

Calico County is on the hunt for Fort Smith memorabilia to use when the restaurant reopens. If

One radio station, lucky enough to have ordered cinnamon

you have a piece of Fort Smith history you’d like to

rolls just before the fire, took a picture of them and posted it

share, email dbishop@calicocounty.net.

on Facebook, joking that they should auction them off to the highest bidder. “You hear our name, and the next thing you think is cinnamon rolls,” Lance says. “It’s a great hook, giving diners cinnamon rolls even before their food comes out, but it makes it pretty hard to sell dessert.”

We snagged the recipe for Calico County’s Squash Casserole, to tide you over until they reopen. See

The two seem humbled by the response they’ve gotten since that fateful day in November. Customers still walk into the corporate office and ask after them. They check on the staff, letting them know how much they miss seeing them.

Their Facebook page blew up with messages in the wake of the fire, their fans offering support, some even offering to come help with the cleanup.

The fire has shown them just how much Calico County means to the people here. “We have two groups of men who eat breakfast here five days a week.” Lance points, “One on each end of the restaurant. Good people, who come here every workday. We’ve had people call and say, ‘I come here to see my mother every Christmas and I always eat there. What am I going to do?’”

Lance assures them it will be okay. They hope to be up and running in about six months at the same location. They needed

page 50.

12 | lifestyle

knick-knack, paddywhack, give a dog a home.

Begin 2013 with your new best buddy. These dogs are available for adoption.

Ahimsa Rescue Foundation is an all-volunteer team founded in 2004 and based in Muldrow, Oklahoma, that rescues and places abused, unwanted and abandoned animals. All dogs are microchipped, spayed/neutered and vet-checked.

Be responsible. Spay/neuter. Not enough homes are available for the ever-growing number of unwanted companion animals.

Armani Australian Cattle Dog

Delta Jack Russell Terrier

Flynn Miniature Pinscher Jack Russell

McGee Basset Hound

Obie Australian Cattle Dog

Sadie Australian Shepherd

AhimsaRescueFoundation.org @images Tessa Freeman Ahimsa Rescue Foundation, Muldrow, OK Facebook.com/AhimsaRescueFoundation savingpaws@aol.com

Ahimsa Rescue Foundation is an all-volunteer team, founded in 2004, specializing in the rescue and placement of abused, unwanted and abandoned companion animals from eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. All pets are spayed or neutered, micro-chipped and vet-checked before being adopted to carefully screened homes.

Ahimsa’s mission is to place needy animals in responsible homes, provide humane education, and encourage spaying and neutering because not enough homes are available. Contact: Savingpaws@aol.com

14 | lifestyle

On This Day A DIY Journal

@diy idea Kate Pruitt / DesignSponge.com @story and images Catherine Frederick

lifestyle | 15

S

ince our son was born, I’ve tried to keep a daily journal of our family life. Funny things he would say or do, or just something I didn’t want to forget. Something I’d always

want him to remember, no matter how trivial or small.

I tried journals and various notebooks, each one starting off the way I’d intended. Then, before long, I’d forget one day, and then two, then before long an entire month of pages were empty.

Trying to remember things and go back to fill in the blanks was an exercise in futility. Mom Fail #57.

Determined to start this year off right, I searched for something I could leave out in the open so I would see it each evening and stick to my daily task. Something simple. Something that would not be tucked away in a drawer or cabinet in one of my cleaning frenzies.

materials

Then, there it was. Looking right at me. Begging me, MAKE ME NOW! It met my criteria of “simple” – flip to the current date, and at the end of the day jot down something that happened. For example: “Tyler got hit in the head with a golf club.” (Yes, that happened), or, “Mom backed into Dad’s car in the driveway.” Yep, that happened too.

The best part is, the calendar is perpetual, so you simply move to the next line down, year after year. Make one for yourself or give one as a personal, unique gift. Such a simple way to record the best (and worst) moments of your life, from hissy fits to hallelujahs.

Berry box

Farmer’s Co-Op: $.13 each

12 postcards or you could also use 4X 6 photos

Belle Starr Antiques: priced from $.08 to $.50 each

180 4" x 6" lined index cards Office Depot: $3.69

Date stamp

Office Depot: $3.99

Paper trimmer

Office Depot: $18.19 (or use scissors)

Twine for gift wrapping had on hand

16 | lifestyle

instructions 1

1

Holding the index cards horizontally, cut them in half. I cut

2

Stamp the month and date on each card (do not stamp the

through two cards at a time with my paper trimmer.

year). Depending on how picky you are on the “straightness factor” this takes about five minutes per month to accomplish.

3

Trim postcards to the same width of the cut index cards but about a ½ longer than the index cards. The postcards are used as monthly dividers and need to be taller than the index cards. This was the most difficult part for me.

2

Not because of the cutter, but because it almost killed me to cut vintage postcards. Next time, I’ll purchase ones that have not been used or I’ll use copies of family photos, etc.

4

Decide which postcards/photos you want to accompany each month, January through December, and place the selected postcard/photo behind the set of index cards.

3 Follow me on Pinterest®! pinterest.com/catfrederick.

Making this project? Share your photo!

Send it to editors@AtUrbanMagazine.com

4

18 | lifestyle

Christine Howard Creative Director, I.O. Metro

lifestyle | 19

A

s the New Year rings in, you’re likely wondering what will change and what will remain the same in the

1

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world of interior design. Here’s the answer, and tips

on creating your own happy home in 2013.

Soft Modern Uber traditional and stark contemporary spaces are a thing

3

of the past. Today, it’s all about creating a warm and inviting home that isn’t bleak or cluttered and fussy. Clean lines, organic materials, soothing gray colors, and more traditional framed furniture (in modern patterns) all work together to create this soothing, timeless style.

Vivid Colors Bright colors are here to stay, but please make it your resolution

4

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to leave the neons back in 2012. More muted brights take center stage in the new year. The top colors will be various shades of yellow, blue, and red. Try juxtaposing a bright color against deeper, darker colors for a rich look.

Bold Patterns Geometric shapes and graphic patterns come into their own in 2013. The focus isn’t on just one pattern in a space, but on mixing and matching different patterns to excite the senses. For example, mix a geometric or striped print with a floral pattern.

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Natural Appeal Linens and reclaimed wood still have major staying power. The soothing colors of these pieces are important because every room needs balance and a place for the eyes to rest. Blending natural fabrics and woods with lively and stimulating color palettes will be all the rage in the next few years.

Americana Classic American looks are being recreated to craft a beautiful modern look. This vintage style is interesting, yet simple and sincere. From the roll of an arm, to casters, or the perfect stamp and distressing, attention to detail is crucial to making these spaces feel both timeless and modern. To get the look, combine old and new to create a comfortable, lived-in feel.

1 Juliet Lamp $199.95 5 Rug Franco - Gray & Ivory 8' x 11' $699.95 2 Blyth Console Table - Laguna $999.95 6 Decahedron Medium Pendant - Laguna $299.95 3 Sedgwick 101" Rectangle Dining Table 7 Yellow Umbrella Stand $99.95 Slate $1,299.95 4 Colorful Whirlwind $399.95 8 Sedgwick Dining Chair - Laguna $299.95

20 | lifestyle

the green clean @story Marla Cantrell

lifestyle | 21

I

was reading Barbara Kingsolver’s newest book, Flight Behavior, a novel I highly recommend. By the final page I had something akin to a religious experience over the way

{ Automatic Dishwasher Detergent } * 1 cup borax

we’re treating our planet. Determined to cut down on my own

* 1 cup baking soda

attack on the earth, I began searching DIY green alternatives to

* 2 cups washing soda

chemical-based cleaning products, wading through hundreds

* ½ cup Kosher salt

of websites and started doing my own experiments.

Some did not work well, and I didn’t include those here. These worked for me, and left me feeling pretty good about both myself and my squeaky clean house. It also saved me a good amount of money.

And as a precaution, I keep my finished products away from

* White vinegar (to use as rinsing agent) Mix all dry ingredients in a plastic container with a tight seal; this is where you’ll store the detergent. Use 1 ¼ to 2 Tbsp. of the finished product for each load. To make sure your glassware does not come out cloudy, fill the rinse compartment with white vinegar.

children and pets.

{ Glass Stove Top Cleaner }

Here are the products you’ll need:

* Hot water

* Baking soda * White vinegar * Borax (found at Target) * Kosher salt (found at Ozark Natural Foods) * All-natural essential oils (found at Old Fashioned Foods) * Castile soap (Dr. Bronner's found at Old Fashioned Foods & Target) * Arm & Hammer washing soda (found at Walmart or make your own) * Olive oil * Lemon juice or lemon oil (lemon oil found at Cheese Gallery) I made my own washing soda by pouring baking soda onto a cookie sheet and baking it at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

This is supposed to change the chemical structure from baking soda to washing soda. It worked for me.

* 2 Terrycloth dishtowels * Baking soda * Liquid castile soap * White vinegar * Dishwashing gloves * Sponge Liberally sprinkle baking soda onto glass stovetop surface. Pour hot tap water into a large bowl and add a bit of castile liquid soap. Dip two dishtowels into the bowl, wring out until towels are not dripping, and place across stove top. Set oven timer to 15 minutes. When time is up, remove towels, put on gloves, and use sponge to scrub off dried on debris in a circular motion.

Wipe stovetop until dry, removing remaining baking soda, and then rinse with white vinegar to remove any white residue. I was amazed by how well this works.

{ Glass Cleaner } * 1 spray bottle * ¼ to ½ tsp. liquid castile soap * 2 Tbsp white vinegar * 2 cups water

22 | lifestyle

{ Measuring cup }

I love the way this works. Pour in 2 Tbsp liquid castile soap into

into spray bottle. Shake before each use.

Scrub. If you have soap build up, sprinkle the tub/shower with

Mix ingredients in large measuring cup and then pour mixture

{ Fabric Softener } * 1 gallon white vinegar * 10 drops essential oil — I used peppermint This is as simple as it gets. Take a gallon container of white

the scrubber handle, then fill the remainder with white vinegar. baking soda first.

{ Toilet Bowl Cleaner } * 1/2 cup baking soda (or borax if you don’t want the fizz) * 1/2 cup washing soda * 2 Tbsp white vinegar

vinegar and add 10 drops of essential oil. Fill the receptacle for fabric softener in your washing machine or add one cup of the

This feels a little like a science experiment. All you need to do

mixture during the rinse cycle.

is add the dry ingredients into the bowl, follow with the vinegar,

{ Furniture Polish }

and listen to the fizzle. Scrub, flush, see the sparkle. Can be left overnight, for stubborn mineral stains.

* ½ cup lemon juice * 1 cup olive oil * Spray or squirt bottle

If you have other formulas you’d like us to try, just email us at editors@AtUrbanMagazine.com. We’d

Take half a cup of pure lemon juice and stir into a cup of olive oil. Pour into a spray bottle and use sparingly. We tried this at the office and loved it.

{ Alternative Furniture Polish } * 10 drops lemon oil (make sure it’s all natural) * 2 Tbsp lemon juice * 3 drops olive oil or jojoba oil Combine 10 drops of pure lemon oil with two tablespoons of lemon juice and three drops of olive oil or jojoba.

{ Tub/Shower Cleaner } * 1 sponge scrubber with hollow handle where cleaning formula is contained. * 2 Tbsp liquid castile soap * White vinegar * Baking soda (optional)

love to hear from you.

24 | lifestyle

for the garden

Geo-Planter 72L X 16W X 14D

$7399

Raised bed gardening, easily constructed in just minutes. Geo-Planters are breathable, portable, and durable. These planters create better root structure and aeration to the root zone through the porous fabric. Various sizes available.

Farmer’s Coop | Fort Smith | Van Buren | Fayetteville | Rogers | 14 Locations | Visit farmercoop.com

lifestyle | 25

for the garden

Whitney Farms Organic & Natural Plant Foods 4lb. bag

$7 – $899 99

Rose & Flower and Tomato & Vegetable. Specially formulated to produce colorful blooms, robust plants, and an abundant harvest.

Contains Organic-Gro™ beneficial microbes and feeds with protein based nitrogen, not manure.

Farmer’s Coop | Fort Smith | Van Buren | Fayetteville | Rogers | 14 Locations | Visit farmercoop.com

26 | lifestyle

for the birds

Wild Bird Food Mr. Bird Wild Bird Treats Variety & Prices Vary

Wild Delight Fruit N Berry 20 lb. bag $3899

In winter our feathered friends need us most. Provide a premium wild bird food that attracts woodpeckers, jays, cardinals, nuthatches, and other fruit eating birds. Several varieties available. Also available are a wide variety of Mr. Bird wild bird treats.

Farmer’s Coop | Fort Smith | Van Buren | Fayetteville | Rogers | 14 Locations | Visit farmercoop.com

lifestyle | 27

for you

Muck Boots Arctic Snowflake

$10600

Muck Boots by the Original Muck Boot Company™. The Arctic Snowflake boot is 100% waterproof, lightweight, flexible, and made from four-way stretch nylon. Extremely durable, the pull-on style keeps warmth in and cold out.

Self cleaning outside gives maximum traction. All-weather boots for men and women. Several styles available.

Farmer’s Coop | Fort Smith | Van Buren | Fayetteville | Rogers | 14 Locations | Visit farmercoop.com

28 | entertainment

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Eureka Gras Mardi Gras Extravaganza January 5th — February 12th // Cost: See website for details Eureka Springs // krazo.ureeka.org Parades, contests, Taste of N’Awlins, pub crawl, jazz brunch, and of course, the blessing of the floats.

Enough fun to take you all the way through the month.

Arkansas Tackle and Hunting Show January 18th – 20th // Cost: Adults $10, Kids $5 Phoenix Village Expo, Fort Smith // montgomeryproductions.com Swamp people, seminars, vendors, dog show, kids’ night, seminars, and a People’s Choice contest for deer hunters who bring in their mounts. It’s the biggest tackle and hunting show in an eightstate region.

55th Annual Delta Exhibition JanUARY 18th – March 10th // Cost: Free Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock // arkarts.com The Annual Delta Exhibition features more than 900 entries from artists who live in or were born in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee or Texas. The Delta Exhibition represents the dynamic vision of the artists of the Mississippi Delta region.

Monster Jam January 18th – 19th @ 7:30 p.m. // Cost: Adults $20-$50 // $5 ages 2 - 12 Verizon Arena, North Little Rock // ticketmaster.com Monster Jam stars the biggest performers on four wheels: Monster Jam monster trucks. These 12-foot-tall, 10,000 pound machines maneuver through a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over or crash through.

entertainment | 29

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German Dinner at 1st Lutheran Family Ministries Bldg.

January 19th // Advance tickets: $15 Adults, $12, 12 & under // Night of: $20 Adults, $15, 12 & under 1115 N. D St., Fort Smith // 479.785.2886 First Lutheran’s Annual German Dinner includes rouladen, fried potatoes, red cabbage or green beans, cucumber salad, and apple cake with caramel sauce. Take-out available. Proceeds benefit Bethania Kids, which oversees twenty unique ministries throughout South India.

Bridal Show January 20th, 12:30 – 5 p.m. // Cost: $10 Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock // arkansasbridalcommunity.com Attendees can visit with 200 vendors, take in a fashion show, and enjoy contests, musical acts, and door prizes. See the latest wedding trends, find the perfect dress, and have a great time getting ideas for your perfect day.

Peggi Kroll Roberts Artists’ Workshop January 23rd – 25th, 9a.m. – 4p.m. // Cost: $300, $270 RAM members Fort Smith Regional Art Center // fsram.org The figure will be the subject matter of the workshop. There will be daily demonstrations emphasizing shape and their relationships in a work of art. Attendees will get one-on-one instruction and individual demonstrations as needed. Last day to register: Jan. 14th.

A Chorus Line January 25th, 7:30 p.m. // Cost: $30 – $40 Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall, Conway // uca.edu/publicappearances A Chorus Line, winner of 9 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, is coming to UCA in Conway.

Don’t miss your chance to see this mesmerizing show that enthralls audiences everywhere.

Submit your events to editors@aturbanmagazine.com.

30 | entertainment In early 2012, Bird released Break It Yourself, one of his finest albums to date. In the fall, he released a companion EP of eight songs entitled Hands of Glory. Some of the tracks were new while a few were reinterpreted versions of songs from Break It Yourself.

They were recently released together as a deluxe edition.

On these records Bird continues his tradition of creating beautiful, multi-layered music that evokes feelings of sadness, love, longing, and nostalgia—sometimes simultaneously. Some of the stand-out tracks on Break It Yourself include “EyeonEye,” “Orpheo Looks Back,” and “Lazy Projector,” an ode to fading memory.

On Hands of Glory, Bird kicks off things with “Three White Horses,” a tune that builds on a simple bass line and culminates in an epic fashion. “Orpheo” is an acoustic version of its namesake counterpart on the previous record. The simplified instrumentation infuses the chorus with a newfound sorrow.

“Something Biblical” parallels a story of a broken heart with a Dust Bowl era catastrophe ballad. Hands of Glory is bookended

Break It Yourself / Hands of Glory Deluxe Edition by Andrew Bird Mom+Pop Music—November 2012: $1000 @review Kody Ford

A

ndrew Bird is one of the most innovative and consistently amazing talents in American music today.

A songwriter/violinist/multi-instrumentalist, he has

spent well over a decade honing his craft, walking the line between traditional and experiment, and recording sublime

with “Beyond the Valley of the Three White Horses,” a nineminute reinterpretation of the opener that finds Bird drifting away into droning loops of violin and assorted instrumentation, ending the record with an ethereal sound.

Whether plucking the strings or using his bow, Bird is in command of his instrument at all times. He makes it cry; he makes it sing; he makes it scream. His creative instincts never falter on these records. Break It Yourself/Hands of Glory is a powerfully emotional work that blends heartache with joy and never misses a beat.

tracks that rarely disappoint.

For those unfamiliar with Bird, he began his career as a collaborator of 90’s swing band Squirrel Nut Zippers before forming Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire, a group much like the Zippers, that was known for it’s heavy jazz, swing, and ragtime influences. After Bowl of Fire parted ways, Bird went on to a successful solo career by releasing album’s like 2007’s Armchair Apocrypha and 2009’s Noble Beast.

I Rate It

32 | entertainment When Dolly was just a kid living in an old cabin in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, she put a tin can on a tobacco stick and sang to the chickens pecking around in the front yard, pretending they were her audience.

When she graduated from Sevier County High School in 1964, she announced to her classmates, “I’m going to Nashville and I’m gonna be a star.” Even though the entire class laughed, she still didn’t shake the dream. She, of course, did become a star, with hits like “I Will Always Love You,” “9 to 5,” and “Here You Come Again.” Dolly often went back to her hometown to give concerts that benefited the schools, even her high school band, where she had once played the drums.

As her success and wealth grew, she expanded her dreams.

Her daddy couldn’t read or write, and that is what inspired her

Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You

By Dolly Parton Putnam Publishers 128 pages: $1995

in 1996 to create her Imagination Library. The foundation's

@review Anita Paddock

been mailed to children in the United States, Canada, and the

N

goal is to give every child one book a month, mailed to their home, from the day they're born until they start kindergarten.

That program has expanded from the United States to Canada and the United Kingdom. Nearly 40,000,000 books have United Kingdom. Dolly, who’s known for her quick wit, said this

ow that Christmas has come and gone, we all feel the

about her mission, “I hope one hundred years from now I’m

need to relax. And what better way to do just that

remembered for my books and not my boobs.”

than with a book. The one I chose to curl up with is

one by Dolly Parton, the country girl who parlayed a big voice

No doubt, she will. The book, which lays out Dolly’s philosophy

and big ideas to stardom. (It also is sold as an audio book which

of dream more, learn more, care more, and be more, fills your

contains her singing some old and new songs.)

heart with hope. What a great thing for a book to do.

She opens with the moments just before she received an

So what’s Dolly’s latest dream? The girl from Tennessee wants

honorable degree from the University of Tennessee. “I peeked

to write a Broadway musical about her life. I’m betting that

through the black curtain to see the audience, just the way I

she does.

had done a thousand times before.” She was about to become Doctor Dolly.

Dolly attributes her success with her ability to dream. “It was

For more on the Imagination Library,

a dream that made me feel all dressed up when I just had

visit imaginationlibrary.com

old hand-me-down ragged clothes. A dream that filled me up with desserts of candy and cake when all we had were sweet thoughts, cornbread, and molasses.”

34 | people

tick tock, pottery clock The Work of Sally Williams Gorrell @story Anita Paddock @images Dixie Kline

people | 35

T

he drive to Eureka Springs zigzags across steep hills, through lush valleys, and a countryside filled with oak, maple, cedar, and pine. At the end of the journey sits the town of 2,300,

where residents maneuver the narrow streets made of native stone, visit the original Carnegie Library that’s built into the side of the hill, and tend the galleries that draw in visitors looking for original artwork.

Already hard at work on this day is artist Sally Williams Gorrell, who is busy applying glaze to a piece of pottery that will soon be transformed into a clock. Born in Booneville, Arkansas and educated in Fayetteville at the University of Arkansas, she is the daughter of the late U.S. Federal Judge Paul X Williams. She grew up with music; there was an organ and a piano in her childhood home and she was accomplished at playing both. Her mother taught her to appreciate beauty in the most common things: birds, flowers, clouds, rain, a nicely set table, a good book, a good meal.

Sally, who was born in 1945, settled in Eureka Springs in 1970. Today she and her husband LeRoy are pillars of their community.

Over the past forty some years, I’ve recommended Sally Williams Gorrell as the woman to see in Eureka if you want to (1) get married by a court-registered minister, or (2) visit a cool book store, or (3) consult a certified counselor, or (4) buy a beautiful piece of pottery.

But perhaps her greatest love is what she’s doing right now. Just a few short months ago on September 11, 2012, Sally stood in the studio of Gary Eagon, a master potter and Sally’s dearest friend, on the first anniversary of his death. Sally had apprenticed under Gary for twelve years. During the 1980s, they traveled together to China and India to study the native artwork in those countries. “We were best pals,” she says, “and his death was such a tragedy for me. I grieved for a year.”

While standing in Gary’s studio, Sally felt his presence, as if he was encouraging her to start again with her pottery. (She had abandoned her art to attend graduate school and she then opened up an office in Eureka Springs for the practice of psychology.)

“On that day, with the gift of encouragement from Gary, I rented a studio that is practically next door to me, and just down the hill. I had my work benches built exactly like his. He was guiding me every step of the way.”

36 | people

Sally’s newest venture, at Amity Street Pottery Studio, can be

dry, it’s fired in a kiln. Next, she paints it with a glaze, and when

traced back to her childhood.

that is dry, it’s fired once more. Finally, she inserts a battery into the finished pottery clock. Voila, a functional piece of art!

“Way back when I was a child, visiting museums, I remember seeing these ornate china clocks on display, the kind you might

Sally is quick to praise other artists who have influenced her life:

see on a mantle in a fancy house. Those clocks have stayed with

Jan Jones, who now lives in India and Gayle Batson, who was

me, I suppose, and I copied the idea of those clocks. You know

her teacher at the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock. Following

clocks play a definite part of our lives.”

their lead, Sally has several apprentices who work with her in her Amity Street Pottery Studio.

Clocks encased in pottery of all shapes and colors and sizes rest on shelves or hang from walls throughout her studio. These

It is here where her ideas turn into designs that end up as

eclectic pieces draw shoppers in for a closer look. “They’re

pieces that find their way into homes in Arkansas and around

Folk Art because, like many other artists in these hills, I’m not

the nation. Each day she looks forward to the challenge of a

following any classic traditions,” Sally explains.

new project, another way to express herself and another chance to bring art to life.

Some of the pottery clocks are whimsical in design and color.

Others are oval with flowers tufted on the edges. Any girl, and I’m including myself here, would love the dainty mauve colored ones with braided edges. I found it difficult to pick a favorite.

Sally shows her work at Amity Street Pottery Studio by appointment only. Her number is 479.981.1587.

When asked how it’s done, Sally explains that first, the clay is

More of her creations are on display at The Pink

rolled out flat on a roller, similar to rolling out pie dough for an

Flamingo at 84 Spring Street in Eureka Springs.

apple pie. She has a machine that does that for her. Just like a dressmaker, she uses patterns to cut out of the clay. Then she molds each piece into the shape she wants. Once it’s completely

38 | people

gliding toward greatness The Jerry Glidewell Story @story Tonya McCoy @images Courtesy Jerry Glidewell

people | 39

J

erry Glidewell taps the keys briskly on his computer in his office where he is ending a busy day of work as Executive Director of the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Clubs. Right now

it’s that tapping that he hears as he juggles fundraising, public relations, and programming. This weekend and for several weekends to come, his head will be filled with the rhythm of dribbling basketballs thundering onto gym floors as 101 club teams compete against each other in gyms around town. Just as he’s driving home from work, inspiration strikes and he thinks of another sound. He carefully grabs his phone, sets it to record, and hums a melody. His workday has ended at the club, but he’s just begun his night job as a songwriter.

“Sometimes a melody will pop into my head and I will hum it into my phone and record it, or I’ll sit down at the piano and write out a melody,” Jerry says. “Or it’ll come to me and I’ll just start playing it, putting chords together and putting a melody line to it. And as far as words go, you’re always looking for a hook or phrases that sound good in a song, or a little twist on a cliché you can use that gets people’s attention. If you have a good line, or a good hook, you set it up and craft the story around it to make it work.”

And Jerry has made it work. At fifty-six he’s seen his share of success. The Chicago White Sox used a rock song he wrote called Home Run for their stadium anthem during the 2012 Major League baseball season. Jerry had seven cuts on the CO3 Christian album Determined, and co-wrote the band’s charting single Be Still, which was picked up and played on the Oxygen Network.

Recently, he wrote a song called Roger Miller Time for Speed Network’s International Auctioneer Champion Amy Assiter. Jerry also recently wrote for Seattle duo Crawford & James including the song Country Crazy. And he even played keyboard for country superstar Carrie Underwood during her pre-idol days.

“Carrie performed a couple of my songs, Hopes and Dreams and Don’t Talk about Love,” Jerry says. “She was very pretty, smart and talented, but seemed a little shy.”

Jerry has an endless list of successes and enjoys writing songs from country to pop. From Jazz to Christian. He has even written

40 | people jingles for several area businesses including United Way,

for the Boys and Girls Club for twenty-three years. He’s there

Farmers Bank, and Trans-America Tire.

during the victories and when the kids are struggling, those dark times when life throws them a curve ball.

Moonlighting with music is his escape from what is both a fulfilling and sometimes stressful job. And as much as Jerry

Jerry is no stranger to hard times. When he was a teen his mom

loves music, he wasn’t exactly a protégé. He was ‘released’

died from a brain tumor. “My mom loved art and music and

from choir in elementary school because he sang off pitch. “I

was very passionate person with a great sense of humor,” Jerry

sing at home, but I don’t perform out in public. I’ll leave that

says, the memory of his mom a sacred thing for him. “She was a

to the singers that have that talent and can make the songs

wonderful influence and I can still feel her presence today.”

sound really good. I learned long ago that I wasn’t blessed in that category. “

Today, Jerry has a family of his own. Sixteen years ago he and his wife adopted a six-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy from

In fact, he planned a much different life when he was younger. As

an orphanage in Vidin, Bulgaria. Emily is now twenty-two and

a boy he dreamed of being a professional baseball player. When

Jay is eighteen. Jay may be following in his father’s footsteps.

he was eight he took piano lessons for a couple of years and then

He plays the piano, baseball, and has even helped his father

dropped out because it interfered with baseball. He still played

write a song.

the piano here and there in high school to impress his classmates, but it was his love for baseball that got him into college.

These days, Jerry keeps a journal by his side and a rhyming dictionary and thesaurus handy. His goal: “I want to write a song

He played American Legion baseball, which led to a scholarship

that will become a standard … one that will impact listeners

to play at Westark (now UA-Fort Smith) and after college he

many generations from now. The process, the journey, is the fun

played semi-pro baseball for the Fort Smith Red Sox. “You can

part of it. Taking one or two words and building on that, or one

only play some sports for so long and then you get to an age

or two notes of a melody and building on that to make a full

where you can’t play anymore,” Jerry says, looking at how his

song. Something that really moves people.”

life has turned out. “Music is something and songwriting is something that you can do for your entire life.”

What Jerry doesn’t seem to realize is how good his body of work already is. The one he dreams of – the song that will touch those

Jerry didn’t get serious about his art until a few years after he

long after we’re all gone – is already stirring in his imagination.

graduated from college. His music career sparked in 1991 when

But even if it never gets written, Jerry’s work with kids in this

he wrote a song called Sharing Christmas with You, sung by Grant

area will be legacy, and that will certainly live on for generations

Pierson. Two local radio stations, KTCS and KMAG, picked up the

to come.

song and began playing it. Jerry was thrilled. “The really neat part was, I’d be in a store and hear my song over the speakers. Or I’d be driving down the road and hear it over the radio.”

His song has been played on the radio every holiday season since, and it’s still a local favorite. He hopes his songs will live on, long after he’s gone.

Jerry’s drive is contagious. Maybe that’s why he’s so successful at inspiring area youth. He’s held the job as Executive Director

42 | people

mighty ivy

@story Marla Cantrell @images Marcus Coker

people | 43

T

o get to know twenty-year-old Ivy Jo Young, you have to go back to the autumn of 2011. For years she’d been struggling with her weight. Even looking at her high

school graduation photos was a trial, seeing what should have been one of her happiest days clouded by an image that didn’t match how she felt inside. At 5’4”, she weighed 200 pounds, something that dogged her every thought.

It wasn’t like she didn’t want to slim down. But she was hungry all the time, even waking at night, trekking into the kitchen

twenty years old, was driving to Ozark, and veered off the road,

where she’d open the refrigerator and grab another snack,

dying in the crash that followed.

the taste of failure souring every bite. She worried that some people thought she was undisciplined, or worse yet lazy. None

Sorrow soaked all the way through her. Chelsea’s death was

of that was true. As a student at the Ozark campus of Arkansas

unthinkable, a young woman taken before her adult life had

Tech University, she studied hard, and she sacked groceries five

barely begun. It was a confusing time filled with anger.

days a week at CV’s Family Foods in Paris.

Ivy Jo could have reverted then. Food can be a comfort when It was during this frustrating time that Ivy Jo happened to see

the world is crashing around you. But she didn’t let that happen.

boxer Stacy “Goodnight” Goodson’s Facebook post touting the

Coach was pushing her to stay in the game. And so she did,

S.O.B. (Slug Out Boxing) Hardcore Gym in Paris. Goodson, who

tackling the punching bag, sparring in the ring, doing lunges

played football in the small town of 3,000, later excelled as a

while holding ten pound weights in each hand.

middle-weight boxer, traveling as far as Uzbekistan in 2001 to fight. “Coach’s ad said, Do you want to get in fighting shape?”

The ring, it turns out, is a good place to figure out your life. “I

Ivy Jo says. “It sounded interesting. Then he came in CV’s and I

would be thinking about Chelsea and her mom and family, and

talked to him some more. I decided to try it.”

Chelsea would be in my head, and that’s what kept my arms up.

That’s what kept me going.”

So Ivy Jo showed up at the gym just off the square in Paris, where posters of the town’s best known fighter, Delray “Rainmaker”

Before long Ivy Jo was running up to the first bluff on Short

Raines, flood the walls. She was so out of shape that all Coach

Mountain with the other students. She describes the slant of

had her do was step on and off a Pilates step with her hands

the incline, the way her heart pumps as she’s climbing higher,

held up to cover her face. She’d do six sets of the move at a

the strain of her muscles as she forges ahead. What she feels

time, finding even that hard to do. But it helped her posture,

when she reaches the finish line is victory and amazement

and it taught her to protect her face.

that the body that once held her back now has the stamina of a true athlete.

At the end of October of that year, she was beginning to see the skies open. She’d been talking to some of her friends, getting

But Ivy Jo’s transformation was not only physical. She grew

tips on eating healthy foods and finding out how they dealt with

up on the outskirts of Paris and her ties to this community are

the cravings that came when they cut out fast food and sugar.

unbreakable. “I had friends and family, my church and Coach helping me through it. And I had a professor at ATU, Mrs. Gwen

And then on November 2, at 8:30 in the morning, Ivy Jo heard

Faulkenberry, who makes a family out of her students, and

the news that broke her heart. Her cousin, Chelsea Berg, just

helped me do better in school. She kept telling me how much

44 | people Ivy Jo tells her story after an hour’s training at the gym. Her curly hair is drenched with sweat, and her arms are beet red. She’s lost eighty pounds since Coach first convinced her that boxing was something she should try. She smiles, talking about how she’s learned to deal with not only the heartbreaking events that come our way, but the common stresses that cloud our days. “When you get in here and do what Coach tells you,” she says, “the problems you think are so big seem to get resolved.

You find yourself thinking, that wasn’t such a big deal.”

As for what Ivy Jo wants for her future, it’s to live a good life. “I want to show everyone that they can start in a place where I was and be something greater.”

No matter where that great place is for Ivy Jo, she’s taking her memories of her cousin with her. “I think Chelsea looks down on me from heaven and says, ‘That’s my girl,’” Just behind her, potential I had. In the beginning all I could think was how

another student is jabbing the punching bag. Out front a truck

Chelsea’s death was so unfair.” Ivy Jo, who’s called Mighty Ivy

whooshes by and honks. Ivy Jo wipes her brow with the back of

by those who face her in the ring, looks around the gym and

her hand, “That’s my girl,” she says again. “That’s what I’ll hear

sets her sights on the American flag that flutters in the wake of

her saying.”

a zealous ceiling fan. “Life is unfair. But now I think that it was her time, that God had a better plan for her.”

In the winter that followed Chelsea’s tragedy, Ivy Jo continued to train. Her clothes were sagging so she went out and bought more, only to have to turn around and do it again. The boxing was improving her reflexes, helping her concentrate, and helping her gain confidence. “I used to be afraid to talk to people at school. Now I can. I can speak in crowds,” Ivy says.

Something else she’s yet to do, but want to badly, is fight competitively. All this training, all this running up mountains has her itching to do more than spar at S.O.B. But it may be that she will not be doing it in Arkansas. She’s finishing her studies at ATU and has her sights set on University of Washington, where she plans to study marine biology. After that, she wants to enlist as an officer in the Navy. “I’ve been drawing dolphins since I was in grade school,” she says. “And I can talk all day about the ocean and what’s in it.”

For more on S.O.B. Hardcore Boxing Gym, visit SOB4LIFE.com.

46 | taste

Sisters Gourmet Bistro Monday – Wednesday 7a.m. to 9p.m.

Thursday – Saturday 7a.m. to 10p.m.

Sunday 8a.m. to 4p.m.

719 Main Street, Van Buren 479.474.4949

taste | 47

S

isters Gourmet Bistro is located on Main Street in historic

bite. The sauerkraut was tucked in between folded layers of

downtown Van Buren. It’s a cozy restaurant, with three

the corned beef, cheese melted on top - just enough to start to

dining areas, one with a full-service bar. When owner

melt down the cut side of the sandwich. Served with chips and

Richard Hodo applied and received a liquor license, it was a

a pickle spear, it was a perfect lunch choice. This was a large

first for Van Buren, which is the county seat of what had been

sandwich. I took one-half home.

a dry county.

The Turkey Panini was equally as good. The dressing was But the liquor (margaritas are .99 on Thursday nights) isn’t what

slightly tangy, the Swiss cheese melted to perfection, the turkey

keeps this eatery buzzing. The regulars come for the omelets

bursting with flavor. This was also a large sandwich, and half

and Panini’s and the Swiss Chicken in the evenings. And many

went home for later.

give into temptation, reaching for the pies, piled high with whipping cream, or the cakes as tall as a hat box.

The wait staff is attentive, making sure you have everything you need. The third room of this large restaurant serves as the banquet

Just walking to your table is a lesson in small town camaraderie.

room, complete with a stage and sound system used for karaoke

Customers are chatting between tables, asking after each

nights on Thursdays and has its own bar. Just off this space is the

other’s families, and the owner, Richard Hodo, is moving from

smoking veranda where heaters keep customers warm in the

table to table, greeting diners who all seem to know him.

winter and coolers blast the space in the dog days of summer.

Once at our table, we started looking over the menu, and

Do yourself a favor, head on over to Sisters in Van Buren,

were tempted to try breakfast, which is offered during all

enjoy a great meal, and have a cocktail if you like. You won’t

hours of operation. We moved on to the dinner menu, which

be disappointed.

offers everything from chicken fried steak to salmon. But we were visiting at noon, so we opted for the Rueben and the Turkey Panini.

The sandwiches arrived promptly, and both were delicious. Let’s start with the Ruben. The Rye bread was grilled to perfection.

Just the right amount of dressing on the corned beef so the bread held up and was not mushy, from the first to the last

48 | taste

@recipe and images Laura Hobbs

I

n the past two and a half years, there has never been an

The starring ingredient in his chili is stout beer. For Hubs’s

instance where I have relinquished my chokehold-like

batch, he used Milk Stout Nitro, but any stout beer will suffice.

control over the content of each and every one of my stories.

The stout left a lingering bitter flavor in the chili, which Hubs

The ideas, the words, the recipes, and the pictures have all been

counteracted with a few tablespoons of brown sugar. Being

decidedly mine. I had tossed around ideas of hosting guest cooks

a huge (huge!) fan of chipotle peppers, he added a couple,

or guest writers, but neither of those ever came to fruition; that

knowing that not everyone likes things as tongue-searingly

is, until recently. Hubs had seen flyers for a neighborhood chili

hot as he does. Feel free to add more at your own risk. I also

cook-off at the park across the street from our house, and offered

thought the mix of vegetables was a nice touch, with colored

up his chili expertise for my column; that is, if I agreed to sit on

bell peppers and fresh corn.

my hands, be quiet, and merely take the pictures.

After letting the chili simmer for a couple of hours, we hauled As most of you have probably guessed, Hubs doesn’t do a whole

the vat over to the park and got ready for the judging. Droves

lot of cooking. This isn’t, of course, because he doesn’t know his

of people showed up and tasted the nine pots of chili on the

way around the kitchen. It’s because he’s married to a Type-A

judging table. Hubs’s Chipotle Stout Chili won first place by

control freak who must have things her way in the kitchen.

a landslide! People loved the smokiness of the chipotle and the lingering flavor of the milk stout. Hubs was beaming as he

I entered into this agreement with Hubs ready to plaster a

picked up his grand prize (a six-pack of stout beer). Without

giant disclaimer reading, I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS! I

further ado, Hubs’s award-winning Chipotle Stout Chili. Enjoy!

TAKE ZERO RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT! But as I sat watching, I began to realize, “Dang. This dude’s making one hell of a pot of chili.”

taste | 49

Award-Winning Chipotle Stout Chili Serves 15+

1 ½ lb. stew meat or skirt steak, chopped into ½” chunks

2 (12 oz.) stout beers

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 large onion, chopped into ¾” dice

2 (14 oz.) cans black beans, rinsed & drained

2 yellow or orange bell peppers, chopped into a ¾” dice

2 (14 oz.) cans Great Northern beans, rinsed & drained

2 ears of corn, shucked and cut off the cob

2 (14 oz.) cans diced tomatoes, with juice

2 pkgs. hot chili seasoning mix

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 chipotle peppers, minced

canola oil, salt and pepper

¼ c. tomato paste

sour cream, cilantro and corn chips for serving

In a large soup pot, heat about 3 tablespoons of canola oil over medium heat until simmering. Add the meat and cook until beginning to brown, stirring regularly, about 7 minutes. Add the onion, bell pepper and corn, and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, another 7 minutes. Add the hot chili mix, minced chipotles, and tomato paste, and cook for about a minute until the tomato paste is melted and fully incorporated. Add the beers, brown sugar, black beans, Great Northern beans, diced tomatoes with their juice, and Worcestershire sauce, and bring to a boil.

Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least two hours, stirring occasionally. Adjust the seasonings and serve with sour cream, cilantro, and corn chips.

50 | taste

@recipe Courtesy Calico County Restaurant @image Catherine Frederick

taste | 51

It’s likely most of you are just like us, feeling withdrawal because Calico County in Fort Smith is temporarily closed, due to a fire that happened in November of last year.

While they’re busy getting the restaurant open again, they still took time to send us their recipe for Squash Casserole, one of our all-time favorite Calico County dishes.

Enjoy! And be sure to read their story on page 8.

what you need

how to make it

6 medium yellow crooked neck squash 1 small yellow onion – finely chopped 2/3 stick margarine –softened 2 Tbsp sugar 2 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 2 eggs 1 ¾ cups cooked cornbread – crumbled 1 cup evaporated milk 1 ¼ cups shredded cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Prepare cornbread as directed on box. While cornbread is baking, cut ends from squash and cut into 1” slices. Boil squash under tender.

Pour squash into colander and smash with a potato masher. Let drain for 10 minutes.

Add chopped onion to skillet with a pat of butter and sauté for 2-3 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, add prepared squash, sautéed onion, margarine, sugar, salt, black pepper, eggs, cornbread crumbs and evaporated milk. Mix all ingredients thoroughly (use a table-top mixer with paddle attachment if available).

Pour mix into a greased 9 x 13 casserole dish and bake for 35 minutes.

Remove and add shredded cheddar cheese, then bake for an additional 8-10 minutes to allow the cheese to melt completely.

52 | taste

@image Catherine Frederick @recipe Jeff Price, Bar Manager Movie Lounge

1 1/2 oz house-infused pineapple vodka (we use Hero’s Vodka) 2 oz pineapple juice Dry champagne Combine chunks of pineapple and bottle of vodka to infuse for eight days. Add infused pineapple vodka and pineapple juice in a shaker. Shake, then strain into champagne flute. Top with chilled, dry champagne.

Sponsored by Movie Lounge

7601 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith 479.226.3595 | MovieLoungeFSM.com

Please drink responsibly.

54 | travel

the town that used to be A Tale of Fort Smith’s History Told Through Postcards

@story Marcus Coker @images Courtesy Kevin Jones

travel | 55

K

evin Jones, thirty-eight, sits at Sweet Bay Coffee Shop

by Creekmore Park in Fort Smith. It’s a place I’ve been probably a hundred times, and today seems like any

other. But then Kevin says, “Creekmore Park came about in the 1930s or 1940s, and this was the edge of town. Fort Smith went from here to the river, and this area was called Southtown.”

Despite the fact that I’ve lived around Fort Smith my entire life, it’s a historical fact I didn’t know, and it took a man from Missouri to tell me.

Kevin, who just had a book published about the history of Fort Smith, moved here ten years ago to pursue a doctorate degree.

He currently teaches English education at UA – Fort Smith, but loves local history. His interest began when his mother-in-law, Ida Lue Turnipseed Janes, started telling him stories about the area. “She passed away recently, but everybody called her Turnip. She was a great force behind this book, and she pushed me to learn more,” says Kevin. Then he laughs and continues, “She’s not in the acknowledgements, though, because she probably would have smacked me.”

The unique thing about Kevin’s book, entitled Fort Smith, is that it’s compiled exclusively of pictures from old postcards.

Each postcard is coupled with a brief description, which makes the book both informative and easy to read. The postcards, more than 200, range in date from 1893 to the 1960s, and each tells a different story about Fort Smith and what has happened here over the past century. “Postcards were the instant messages of their time,” says Kevin. “Fort Smith was a hub, and a lot of salesmen or workers would send postcards as they travelled through.”

Some of those postcards came from a place called Electric Park, an amusement park owned by the Fort Smith Light and Traction Company. In the early 1900s, it was located at the end of Midland Avenue (where Kay Rodgers Park is now), and was one of the farthest stops on the north trolley line. “Electric parks were popular across the nation, because electric lights were new and just blew people’s minds,” says Kevin. “There were gardens, ball fields, an auditorium, and a casino. It was a place families could enjoy year round, night or day. But the

56 | travel became more popular, hotels weren’t cost effective. People didn’t want to pay a bellboy when they could just pull up and stay in a motel.” For a while, motels like Terry’s Motor Court grew up along Midland Avenue. “Midland was beautiful. There were medians, lush with trees, a nice place to walk. You still felt safe there. But urban sprawl changed that. Central Mall opened, and the town began to grow in a different direction in the 1960s and 1970s.”

By 1974, the Goldman Hotel closed; in 1995 it was demolished altogether. Kevin says, “Fort Smith has an odd relationship with history. Although we are progressive and we like to promote Depression hurt it; they had some problems with the bank. Now

history in Fort Smith, we tear down a lot of historical buildings

it’s completely gone.”

too. Unfortunately, it often costs more to repair them than it does to tear them down.”

Did you hear that? Fort Smith was home to a CASINO. Time changes everything—and that’s the sad truth that’s In those days, one hundred years ago, Garrison Avenue was the

affected most of the buildings in Kevin’s book. What hasn’t

life and breath of Fort Smith. As one postcard shows, it was the

changed, however, is the story of the people who live here, the

place the town gathered to hear Teddy Roosevelt speak in 1912.

history that’s worth preserving. “If we don’t know who we are,

It was also the place Kevin’s mother-in-law worked in the mid-

we lose our identity.”

1950s. “Our family still has boxes of clothes she bought while working at the Boston Store. They are in the original plastic, and

Since I spoke with Kevin at Sweet Bay Coffee Shop, I see Fort

we plan on donating them to the Fort Smith Museum of History.”

Smith differently. I’ve been reminded of the identity and spirit

Many of the postcards in Kevin’s book actually came from the

of a people and places that aren’t affected by disaster, or even

Fort Smith Museum of History. Others came from the National

changes in economy. “My grandma would say, ‘Fort Smithers get

Historic Site, the public library, or from private collections. In

back up when they get knocked down. They keep going.’”

many cases, Kevin spent hours researching one postcard, often driving around town to find the buildings depicted. Some of

The postcards in Kevin’s book may have originally been sent

them, like the Fort Smith Museum of History (which used to be

to someone else far away. But in this case, they were sent to

Atkinson-Williams Hardware Company), were easier to find than

you and me. They were sent back home. And whereas many

others. “There used to be five theaters downtown, and there’s

postcards say, “Wish you were here,” these postcards simply

a website called cinematreasures.org that tells their stories. But

remind us to be glad that we are.

they’re all closed now; many of them burned.”

The postcards show that Fort Smith has been changed by a number of things, including fires, tornadoes (1898 and 1996), and even a flood (1943). But perhaps just as much as anything else, a changing economy has reshaped the area’s landscape.

“When trains were popular, people would stay at hotels downtown, like the Goldman Hotel. But when automobiles

Fort Smith, $21.99, Arcadia Publishing.

Available at local retailers, online bookstores, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or (888) 313-2665.

Also available at Yeager's Hardware in Fort Smith and Van Buren.

58 | short story

annie’s prayer @short story Evelyn Mainus

First Place Winner – 18 and Older Category Get Published in 2013 Contest

short story | 59

I

t was a two-seater, the outhouse in which Annie was now

She was pouring her heart out to God. Please please please

fervently praying, a convenience when there are six kids in

don’t let him leave. She had no reason to think God would not

the family and the little ones are afraid to go by themselves

answer her prayer, but when Annie peered out the door, Dad was

at night, or when the teenage sisters have something they wish

stalking toward the ’48 Dodge he had painted white with brown

to discuss in private. It was not so old fashioned as to have the

trim. In that beautiful car he took the whole family on Saturday

Sears and Roebuck catalog used page by page for the necessary

afternoon rides exploring the countryside. That was just one

business; there actually was store bought toilet paper on a

of the fun things Dad thought up to do on his time off from

baling wire loop hung over the rusty nail driven into the middle

the mechanic’s job he worked at five and a half days a week.

stud on the side wall.

Fishing, swimming, tromping through the woods surrounding this place, even hoeing in the garden was fun with Dad around.

The toilet was not immaculate and it smelled like outhouses smell in spite of the cobwebs being swept out from time to time

Now he was getting into the car with his suitcase, and he was

by Annie’s mom and the lime being sprinkled from time to time

driving away!

by Annie’s dad. But Mom was not sweeping and Dad was not sprinkling as Annie sat alone crying out to God in the outhouse.

Annie was not the only one wiping tears as she walked over

Mom and Dad were on the back porch across the yard. Dad was

to the porch where Mom still stood staring down the road.

yelling and Mom was standing, holding the back door open, not

Her brothers and sisters were gathering round, the little ones

yelling back but looking as if too much had already been said.

clinging to Mom’s skirt, and most of them were crying too.

Annie did not know what started this particular battle. She

“What are we going to do?” they chorused.

stayed busy in her ten-year-old world and did not pay much attention to the general stir going on around her. When the fight

“I don’t know. Give me a minute.”

began, Annie was outside under the big tree, which today was a house in her imagination somewhat bigger than the four-room

There were no tears on Mom’s face, but her grim expression sent

efficiency in which her family of eight—soon to be nine—lived,

the others back into the house where they sat in glum silence

ate, and slept. In the imaginary house under the big tree, each

on the couch, babies on the laps of older kids. Mom went into

of her three dolls had a room all her own. Annie was gathering

the kitchen and continued working the bread dough, a job that

them into the imaginary dining room for an imaginary meal

apparently had been interrupted by the fight that sent Dad

prepared by the imaginary cook in the large imaginary kitchen.

away. Sniffles from the living room were interspersed with the

She was just lining them up to say grace when the yelling inside

thwack! thwack! of the ball of dough being kneaded, punched,

the real house became loud enough to enter the imaginary one.

and pounded on the floured table top.

“Where’s my suitcase? I’m getting out of here!”

Annie went back to the outhouse, more determined than ever.

Could that be Dad’s voice saying that he was leaving? Annie had

This time she made an altar out of the two seats, ignoring the

edged her way to the window of her parents’ room. She stood

stench and the splinters as she knelt and once again pleaded

on tiptoe and peeked in to see Dad flinging clothes into the

with God. Please please please bring him back. What more

suitcase she knew her mother had pulled out from under the

could she say? Please please!

bed. Panic stricken, Annie had run to the only place of refuge she knew—the outhouse.

It was starting to get dark. Annie did not want to be alone in the two-seater outhouse anymore. When she went back into the

60 | short story house, Mom had joined the others. Sitting. Silent.

About the Author

Annie had been inside for just a moment when she heard the car drive up. No one had time to go out before Dad walked in.

“I forgot handkerchiefs,” he said.

Mom remained silent as Dad went into their room and unpacked his suitcase.

Annie made one more trip to the outhouse.

Thank you she prayed.

@Urban Magazine would like to thank Arvest Bank for sponsoring our Get Published in 2013 contest.

Be sure to visit AtUrbanMagazine.com to read our second and third place winners’ stories.

2nd place – Only a Chair by Bill Wilwers of Barling 3rd place – What I Know is This by Kellie Cobb of Fort Smith

In 1960, with the publication in Capper’s Weekly of a short piece entitled “Dog Poor,” Evelyn Mainus began a career in writing interrupted only by long periods of working for a living. She retired from Fort Smith Public Schools in 2005, serving since then as an adjunct instructor of English at UAFS. “Annie’s Prayer” was written as a project for the Fort Smith Poets’ Roundtable, a local group whose members critique each other’s work, enter writing contests, and practice other forms of self-inflicted torture. The story is—you guessed it—autobiographical. In her youth, Evelyn did from time to time commune with God in the solitude of the outhouse.

Actually, she still does, although the facilities have improved. Why waste time getting down on your knees to scrub a tub? Say a prayer while you’re at it!

62 | short story

worth it @short story Caleb LeBow

First Place Winner – 13 to 18 Category Get Published in 2013 Contest

short story | 63

J

ohn sat against the cold concrete of his cramped gray jail

mailboxes. John nervously stood up and took the bat. Then, as

cell. How has it come to this, he wondered. He’d been a

they rounded a curb to hit the next mailbox, John noticed a

decent kid. He minded his mom and tried to think before

police car that was parked off the side of the road.

he acted. But something about being a part of a group made him feel important. It seemed crazy that only that morning

The officer turned on his blue lights and John’s friend slammed

he’d woken up on top of the world, only to fall to the bottom

on the brakes. The policemen got out with his gun drawn and

of hell itself.

yelled for John to drop the bat and for everyone to get on the ground. John dropped the bat on to the pavement and then he

He awoke that sunny Friday morning just as he did every

and the rest of the guys got out of the truck and lay down on the

morning. He got dressed and then went into the kitchen of the

ground with their hand spread out. John was pulled up on to his

small apartment that he and his mom shared. His mom wasn’t

knees and handcuffed. Then he vomited right there; his body

up yet so he wrote her a note, jumped in his old blue F150, and

couldn’t handle the stress of the moment. The officer called for

headed to the school cafeteria.

backup and put John in the cruiser. John sat there in the back of the car surrounded by bulletproof glass and asked himself how

When John arrived he grabbed a Hot Pocket and met up with his

this could be happening to him.

friends. They’d decided that after the football game that night they would spend the night at another friend’s house. They

John and his buddies were thrown into the local jail. Everyone

asked John if he was in and though he was a little hesitant to

except John called their parents and made bail within a few

say yes without asking his mom, he agreed.

minutes. John didn’t even use his phone call. He knew his mom couldn’t be reached at her second job working nights at a bar.

The rest of the day went by in a flash of excitement and after

So he sat totally alone in the little cell and questioned how he

their team won the game, John and his friends met at the local

could make such poor decisions.

grocery store. It was then John found out that his buddies had a much different plan for that night.

All he wanted was acceptance, to feel like he was worth something. But nothing filled the void. Now John felt worse than

His friends thought it would be fun to get in the back of John’s

ever. His shirt was soaked in sweat and he smelled like vomit.

truck with a bat and practice their swings on every mailbox they passed. John knew this couldn’t end well and he was tired of

But then John remembered what his youth group leader used

doing stuff like this. Last week these guys decided to make

to tell him at church, how God had made him for a purpose

pipe bombs and set them off around town to scare people. John

and loved him so much that he sent his Son Jesus to die for

had worried that someone might get too close to one of the

John’s sins. Maybe it was true. Who knows? thought John. It was

bombs and get hurt. Now he felt tense all over. He wondered

then he noticed the book sitting on the shelf next to the bed.

if he should just leave. He asked himself if this was worth it.

He couldn’t believe it was there; he hadn’t noticed it coming

Was doing dangerous stuff worth being accepted? He couldn’t

in. John didn’t know what to do, but he was desperate. So he

decide. So they climbed into the back of his truck.

opened up the Bible and began to read.

Only one of them needed to drive and John didn’t want to

When his mom finally found out what’d happened she came

because he hoped that maybe he could drop the bat and say his

to the jail and bailed John out. Though he’d spent all night

hands were sweaty. It wouldn’t be a lie. John’s heart was racing

alone, he was at peace. His mom was angry, but thankful that

and he was sweating profusely. They started “batting practice”

he was all right. She drove him home and explained to him how

and by the time it was John’s turn they’d smashed about twenty

stupid his actions had been. John apologized to his mom for

64 | short story being so dumb. He told her he wasn’t going to hang out with those guys anymore. When his mom asked John why, he told her it was because he realized that his worth wasn’t in other people’s opinions. He’d realized that night in jail that God saw him as important and cared for him, and he didn’t need anyone or anything else to prove to himself that he was worth it.

About the Author Caleb LeBow is seventeen and lives in Ozark.

He learned about @Urban’s contest from his Comp I teacher, Mrs. Gwen Faulkenberry.

The inspiration for his story was twofold. He wanted the extra credit entering the contest would earn him and he wanted to help others by showing them the hope he’s found by following Jesus Christ. Caleb says his main character struggles with wanting to be accepted and the unwise things we sometimes do to make that happen.

@Urban Magazine would like to thank Arvest Bank and Arkansas River Valley Regional Library System for sponsoring our Get Published in 2013 contest.

Be sure to visit AtUrbanMagazine.com to read our second and third place winners’ stories.

2nd place – Make Me Fire by Hannah Freeman of Muldrow 3rd place – Origami Message by Ping Wu of Fort Smith

Read Chair Publishing, LLC 3811 Rogers Avenue Suite C Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903