Lemonade - June 2017

®

LEMONADE

June 2017 DoSouthMagazine.com

CONTENTS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / OWNER Catherine Frederick CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Scott Frederick MANAGING EDITOR Marla Cantrell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / PHOTOGRAPHERS Marla Cantrell Zoie Clift Catherine Frederick Jade Graves Chuck Haralson Dwain Hebda John Heff Hannah Hutcheson Mike Koon Megan Lankford Jill Rohrbach Jessica Sowards James Stefiuk Jim Warnock

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GRAPHIC DESIGNER Artifex 323 - Jessica Mays PROOFREADER Charity Chambers PUBLISHER Read Chair Publishing, LLC

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INSIDE

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JUNKIN’ IN PRAIRIE GROVE A big red barn, a quaint farmhouse, and all the vintage finds your heart desires, all at the Junk Ranch!

JAR-NORMOUS GIFT IDEAS Need a quick, but personal gift idea? The possibilities are endless with this simple DIY that even contains a recipe for sangria!

GRILLED CHICKEN CAPRESE

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick - 479.782.1500 Catherine@DoSouthMagazine.com

EDITORIAL INFORMATION Marla Cantrell - 479.831.9116 Marla@DoSouthMagazine.com ©2017 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions contained in Do South® 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 Do South® or Read Chair Publishing, LLC., including photography, becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. Do South® reserves the right to edit content and images. Printed in the U.S.A. | ISSN 2373-1893

This Grilled Chicken Caprese takes your outdoor grill to a new level. Fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella make this a dream of a dish on a summer night.

Cover Image: Avdeyukphoto

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There are thousands of ways to enjoy the beauty of Arkansas. We’ve gathered some of the best for you to enjoy!

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letter from the editor

My dad. He wasn’t a suit and

own right. Shortly before the

tie man. He was a cowboy

service began, it was very quiet

boot and blue jeans man. He

until one of his friends bellowed,

didn’t listen to classical music.

“Somebody better make some

He loved Merle, Waylon, Willie,

noise up in here!” There were

and Hank. He never sat behind

motorcycle jackets and gold

a desk creating presentations.

chains. Suits and ties. Beards

He spent his entire career as a

and blue jeans. Lifelong friends

military man, first Air Force, then

who were more like brothers.

Army, digging ditches under the

We cried big tears. And we

hot sun. He hated chicken and

laughed big laughs. I listened to

dumplin’s and mashed potatoes,

stories I’d never heard and can

but he loved greens with hot

never repeat. And we all kept

pepper sauce, and his favorite

saying how much we couldn’t

dessert was my Mamaw’s recipe

believe he was gone.

for fruit cocktail cake.

His death last December left a He loved a good discount. So

hole in our hearts, and in our

much so when he found one, he’d buy at least ten of whatever

family, that has yet to heal, and I’m not sure it ever will. There’s

was on sale but not before calling to ask if I needed anything.

not a single day I don’t think of him and wish I could pick up the

You never had to wonder what he was thinking, and I do mean

phone to tell him a story, or hear about his latest run-in with a

never because he’d already told you exactly what he thought,

doctor or someone at the cable company–things I used to find

even if you hadn’t asked. He was tough as nails, all the time, and

trivial or mundane, and only now realize how much I took for

he’d tell you that too.

granted. You never know how much time God has given you, and I wish I’d taken in every moment, especially the ordinary,

When I was little, he’d pretend to eat my mud pies, and he’d let

everyday ones. Every phone call. Every surprise-attack weekend

me tag along to a place called Third Step Country where I’d sit

visit. Every awkward moment. Every chance I had to make one

at the table and drink Shirley Temples and eat cherries until I was

more memory.

sick. He drove every vehicle imaginable, pick-ups, El Caminos, Camaros, but always a Chevy. He told me from an early age that

I miss him more than I could have ever imagined. But I am

Ford meant Found On Road Dead. His biggest joy in life was my

forever grateful for the forty-one years God gave me with him.

son Tyler, his best friend. He loved him fiercely. Tyler made him a

Happy Father’s Day, Dad, you were one in a million. I will love

rubber band bracelet one weekend, and he wore it every day for

you forever.

more than two years until the day he died.

My dad was always larger than life. It wasn’t until his funeral that I got to know some of his closest friends, all characters in their

~Catherine

Follow Do South® Magazine

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

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Want Results? Choose Do South® Magazine!

Norma Basinger, MD, RPHS and Janet Newman, RN

images Jade Graves Photography

Do South® is a unique magazine that focuses on regional businesses and people. I appreciate the articles provided on regional business people and local events. Its layout and color are pleasing. It reflects the type of practice we have, a space where we treat people like family.

~Norma Basinger, MD, RPHS Arkansas Vein Clinics and Skin Care

479.782.1500 | dosouthmagazine.com catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

Arkansas Vein Clinics and Skin Care trusts Do South® Magazine to promote its business and meet their advertising goals. We are proud to support businesses like Arkansas Vein Clinics and Skin Care, that work every day to make our community a healthier, better place to live and work. At Do South® Magazine, our goal is to promote businesses like yours, making sure our readers know what you have to offer. Call Do South® today to see how we can help grow your business through effective, targeted advertising.

DDOOSSOOUUTTHHMMAAGGAAZZI N I NEE. C . COOMM

&

advertiserSPOTLIGHT

QA

NORMA BASINGER, MD, RPHS Arkansas Vein Clinics & Skin Care

479.484.7100 basingeraesthetics.com 2713 South 74th Street, Suite 204 Fort Smith, AR 72903

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN PRACTICE?

I have been treating venous disease/varicose veins since 2004.

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER AT ARKANSAS VEIN CLINICS AND SKIN CARE?

We offer laser, surgical, injectable and radio frequency treatments for spider and varicose veins. For skin care, we offer a wide array of services including Broad Band Light, injectable fillers, Sculptra, Sciton Micro-Laser Peel and ProFractional, chemical peels, micro-needling and hair rejuvenation.

WHAT ARE SOME SYMPTOMS, OTHER THAN VISUAL CLUES, OF VARICOSE VEINS?

Aching pain, swelling, itching, burning, throbbing, heaviness, fatigue, leg cramps, restless leg symptoms, skin discoloration, numbness, rashes, and ulcers.

WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR VARICOSE VEINS?

There are several options available, which depend on each individual patient. Options include laser ablations, surgical removal, and sclerotherapy (injectables) under ultrasound guidance.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LATEST ADVANCES IN SKINCARE OFFERED TO YOUR PATIENTS?

Kybella is an excellent new advance for fat reduction under the chin. There’s also Platelet-rich plasma and Acell for hair rejuvenation, and Sciton diVa laser for vaginal rejuvenation.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF A SKIN CARE ROUTINE?

Sunscreen! Daily SPF 30 or more, even if you don’t plan to be outside.

WHAT ARE SOME PRODUCTS OR SERVICES YOU OFFER THAT WILL HELP PREVENT AGING SKIN?

Sciton’s Forever Young BBL targets the signs of aging and sun damage and effectively provides a more refreshed, rejuvenated and youthful appearance. ProFractional Laser treats a wide variety of skin conditions such as wrinkles, skin laxity, poor texture and tone, photodamage and scars. Micro-Laser Peels can treat a wide variety of skin conditions such as fine wrinkles.

WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST FULFILLING ABOUT YOUR LINE OF WORK?

Giving people back the ability to walk, work, stand, exercise, shop, etc., without pain, swelling and fatigue.

They also see cosmetic improvement in their legs which frequently leads to an improvement in self-esteem.

DO YOU HAVE INTERESTS OR HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF THE CLINIC?

Like most mothers, my main interest in life revolves around my two sons and family. I also like to exercise - running, yoga and biking.

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

To love my neighbor as myself.

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calendar

JUNE

some images courtesy Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, Crystal Bridges’ photo Dale Chihuly: Azure Icicle Chandelier, 2016

1-30 T H

The fun begins at 11am at the Fort Smith Museum of History. You’ll stroll downtown with local historical character reenactors including Belle Starr, and Judge and Mrs. Isaac Parker. At noon, there will be a history-themed scavenger hunt for kids, with prizes! See website for details and pricing.

Submit your events to editors@dosouthmagazine.com Crystal Bridges Museum is showing works by renowned American sculptor Dale Chihuly both in the gallery and on the grounds from June 3 - August 14. Once the gallery portion closes, the outdoor exhibit will remain through November 13. See website for pricing.

3RD June 1-30 The Great Outdoors Month Mountainburg ArkansasStateParks.com June is The Great Outdoors Month, with events planned at Arkansas’ State Parks. At Lake Fort Smith in Mountainburg, guided trail hikes, lake tours, kayak adventures, night hikes, crafting programs, and many more activities await. See website for details.

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RD

June 3 Stroll & Scavenger Hunt Fort Smith fortsmithmuseum.org

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TH

June 3 WW&L United Way Bass Tournament Alma 479.353.8717 This annual one-day bass tournament will be held at Clear Creek Park in Alma and benefits the United Way Chapter of the Fort Smith area. $5,000 in prizes. Entry fee is $80 per boat, maximum two fishermen.

JUNE 3-AUGUST 14 T H June 3 – August 14 Chihuly in the Gallery Bentonville crystalbridges.org DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

June 6 1st Tuesday Fort Smith

Facebook/RiverValleyArtisanMarket Shops and eateries in downtown Fort Smith stay open late on the first Tuesday of the month through October. Familyfriendly events, the Ferris Wheel at West End will be running, and the River Valley Artisan Market will be underway at Ross Pendergraft Park. June 17 is Dog Day, with several shelters participating.

calendar

THETOPTENTHETOPTEN 8-10

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This festival has been called the “Who’s Who of the Blues.” Lineup includes Fiona Boyes, Victor Wainwright, The Belairs, and Katie and the Girls, just to name a few. See website for details and pricing.

Live music, a fishing derby, pie contest, elk calling contest, Dutch oven cooking contest, and drawings for elk hunting permits, all in Jasper. See website to find out even more.

2324 T H

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June 8-10 Art of Wine Fayetteville waltonartscenter.org The Walton Arts Center is hosting: The Winemaker’s Dinner on June 8; Uncorked! Wine Tasting on June 9; and Premier Tasting on June 10. See website for details and pricing.

June 23-24 Elk Fest Jasper buffaloriverelkfestival.com

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June 23-24 Riverfront Blues Fest Fort Smith riverfrontbluesfest.org Fun, music, food, all in downtown Fort Smith. Lineup includes the Willie Stradlin Duo, JP Soars and the Red Hots, the Cate Brothers, Good Luck Slim, Oreo Blue, Kenny Neal, and Jesse Dean and Left of Center. See website for pricing and times.

June 24 True Grit Ride 100 Fort Smith truegritride.com

15-18 T H June 15-18 Blues Weekend Eureka Springs eurekaspringsblues.com

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DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

True Grit, which begins at 7am at Chaffee Crossing, includes 10, 28, 42, 66 and the True Grit 100-mile road ride courses as well as an 18-mile guided mountain bike ride.

See website for details and pricing.

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poetry

The

Kingfisher LINEs Jim Warnock Image John Hess

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

The chiseling call of the Kingfisher skims the glassy creek below.

She sweeps across her shimmering pantry, darting in the joy of her design.

I pause and bow, as a thousand shining rocks applaud my passing, thankful for my design; for ears and eyes to witness the work of the Kingfisher.

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people

THE SIX-MILE FLOAT words and image Hannah Hutcheson

WINNER OF OUR YOUR DAD IS RAD ESSAY CONTEST

The river is tranquil. Only the

back to the canoe. That’s my

sounds of trickling water

dad, though. He’s steady.

and the emerging cicadas’

He’s constant. He’s not one

song can be heard as our

bit worried that we haven’t

canoe lazily drifts down-

seen anyone in our group in

stream, the sun sinking

hours and the sun is starting

over the western bank. We

to go down.

lost the rest of the Fathers and Daughters from our

“How many fish is that?”

Father/Daughter float trip

Dad asks. “Thirty-two!” I

hours ago; for some reason,

eagerly reply as I toss his

nobody was quite as intent

hefty fish back. The bass are

on fishing the entire sixmile float as we were. I’m

Hannah Hutcheson and her dad, Drake Smith

ten years old, and I sit in

running this time of year, and we’ve been reaping the benefits. As we float along,

the bow with my spinning rod and reel, determined, intently

we talk easily about friends, sports, God, life. I may be the only girl

staring near the clump of fallen branches that my dad, from the

of four kids, but there’s nothing my dad has ever made me believe

stern, has instructed me to cast near.

I couldn't do, be it fishing or playing baseball with all boys or running routes at “football camp” with my brothers in our backyard.

I do as he taught me: let it sink, jerk, let it sink, jerk, let it sink, jerk – a hit! Not wanting to set the hook too quickly, I wait for just a

Looking back, I realize that he didn’t just “believe” in me. He

second and then, pop!, I set the hook, so hard that my eight-inch

showed me that I was valuable, loved, known. He empowered

lizard bait comes flying out of the water back at me, and I duck my

me. It was these attributes that instilled in me the confidence to

head just in time to escape it smacking me in the forehead.

be the woman I wanted to be, the woman I’ve become.

I hear my dad laugh from his seat behind me and then speak,

As the last slivers of sunlight disappear behind the trees, we

“That’s OK. You’ve got to let him take it a little longer before

round the bend in the river to see everyone else’s canoes

you try to set that hook.” Then, as if filming an instructional

banked, all parties finishing their dinners. At the end of the

video, my dad casts in the same spot, performs what looks

retreat, we’re awarded the “Best Fishermen” award, having

to me like the same motions I have just tried to perform and,

caught a total of fifty-six fish, the second-place duo only catching

whoosh!, a fish is on his hook, and he’s calmly letting the

eighteen. I grin and give a high-five to the fisherman who is not

monster wear itself out as he slowly, patiently, maneuvers it

just my dad, but also my friend, my mentor, my hero.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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community health

DO SOUTH CARES

®

June is Men’s Health Month, and as part of our Do South® Cares initiative, we’ve gathered tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help men live longer, healthier lives.

GET GOOD SLEEP

MOVE MORE

Adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep. Insufficient sleep

Adults need at least 2½ hours of moderate-intensity

is associated with a number of chronic diseases and condi-

aerobic activity every week, and muscle strengthening

tions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity,

activities that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips,

and depression. Also, poor sleep is responsible for motor

back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms) on two or

vehicle and machinery-related accidents.

more days a week. You don't have to do it all at once.

Spread your activity out during the week, and break it into smaller amounts of time during the day.

TOSS OUT THE TOBACCO Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. It improves your health and lowers your risk of heart disease,

EAT HEALTHY

cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.

Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Fruits and vegetables have many vitamins and minerals that may

Also, avoid secondhand smoke. Inhaling other people's

help protect you from chronic diseases. Limit foods and

smoke causes health problems similar to those that smokers

drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol.

have. Babies and kids are still growing, so the poisons in secondhand smoke hurt them more than adults.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

health

TAME STRESS Sometimes stress can be good. However, it can be harmful

Keep track of your numbers for blood pressure, blood

when it is severe enough to make you feel overwhelmed

glucose, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), or any others

and out of control. Take care of yourself. Avoid drugs and

you may have. If your numbers are high or low, your

alcohol. Find support. Connect socially. Stay active.

doctor or nurse can explain what they mean and suggest how you can get them to a healthier range. Be sure to ask what tests you need and how often you need them.

STAY ON TOP OF YOUR GAME See your doctor or nurse for checkups. Certain diseases

Get vaccinated. Everyone needs immunizations to stay

and conditions may not have symptoms, so checkups help

healthy, no matter how old you are. Even if you had

identify issues early or before they can become a problem.

vaccines as a child, immunity can fade with time. Vaccine

Pay attention to signs and symptoms such as chest pain,

recommendations are based on a variety of factors,

shortness of breath, excessive thirst, and problems with

including age, overall health, and your medical history.

urination. If you have these or symptoms of any kind, be

For more information, visit cdc.gov.

sure to see your doctor or nurse. Don’t wait!

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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lifestyle

does it work?

Do South® Magazine Reviews

Baby Foot™

words Catherine Frederick image courtesy Baby Foot™

I received Baby Foot™ from my BFF as a gift a while back and was immediately intrigued.

She’d already tried it and was raving about her results. And who doesn’t want baby soft feet, just in time for summer? Count me in!

What’s the deal?

I love a relaxing pedicure, but let’s be honest, I have neither the time nor the budget for weekly spa treatments, so I was excited to try this product out at home!

Have a product you’d like us to review? Send your ideas to editors@dosouthmagazine.com.

What’s the claim?

Using no files or razors, Baby Foot™ claims to remove dead skin cells from your feet that have built up over time, giving you healthy, beautiful feet after a peeling process takes place.

You will receive 2 booties filled with a solution containing 17 types of natural extracts. Cut the booties along the dotted lines and secure your feet inside with tape (included). Wait one hour and wash off excess gel. Fruit acids allow the dead skin cells to peel, alcohol makes the dead cells soft, and salicylic and lactic acid stimulate a flaking effect. Skin is undamaged but peels easily away from the fresh layer beneath. The peeling process usually begins after 3-7 days and can take up to 2 weeks to complete.

What’s the cost?

You can purchase direct at Babyfoot.com for $25, but it’s also available from several other retailers such as Target and Ulta.

What’s the verdict?

Does it work? Yes, it absolutely does. But, be warned. The peeling process is totally disgusting.

It took about 3 days for my peeling to begin, but once it did, it was crazy! Quite literally entire sections of dead skin were coming off my feet, and small flakes were everywhere – for DAYS. There is no way I could have worn sandals during the process. That said, in the end, it was totally worth it. My feet were so soft and smooth, just like a newborn baby and better than any pedicure I’d ever had. I would highly recommend it, just be prepared to keep those feet undercover for several days while the product does its work. Also, your feet may be a bit sensitive for a few days after the peeling process, after all, you do have baby soft feet again!

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

entertainment

Uninvited

By Lysa TerKeurst | Nelson Books, 275 pages | $17 review Marla Cantrell

I have a small confession to make.

called “Moving Through the Desperate

I have a handful of Christian authors

In Between.” In it, she uses Psalm 91,

who write so deeply and beautifully

and then she crafts prayers based on

I’d read anything they’ve written:

each verse. One of the things she says

Gwen Ford Faulkenberry, Ann Lamott,

in that chapter is, “Pain is the invita-

Lauren

tion for God to move in and replace

Winner,

Barbara

Brown

Taylor. Other than that select group,

our faltering strength with His.”

I shy away from the Christian genre shelves in bookstores. It’s not because

On days when I didn’t know how

I don’t have faith—I have a good deal

to take the next step, I’d read this

of faith—but often I find that those

chapter again and again. I’d high-

books don’t speak to me in any real

lighted the prayers she’d written,

way. I feared that might be true when

and I’d say them aloud. If you knew

I came across Lysa TerKeurst’s book,

me, you’d know praying aloud is as

Uninvited. But I picked it up anyway,

uncomfortable as public speaking,

mostly because I liked the cover.

but I did it anyway.

What a brilliant move that was.

It took a few weeks, but that supernat-

The book is about what to do when

ural strength Lysa was touting finally

you feel left out, not good enough,

kicked in. The situation I believed to

brokenhearted, lonely. But it doesn’t

be unsolvable, began to improve. I

only touch on events like being left off a guest list for a party, or

tried to find another way to explain how that happened, but

being passed over for a promotion you know you deserved. It is

the truth is, I’d done nothing to fix anything except pray.

much deeper than that.

It was a great lesson for me. I, like everyone I know, see this Lysa—and this is what I love about her honest writing—takes

life as both extraordinarily exquisite and unbelievably difficult.

us into her past when she made heart-wrenching decisions that

But in those unbearable times, we are not alone even if it feels

could have undone her. Nothing about her life was easy then. To

as if we are.

get through it, she turned to faith. And turning to faith meant that she studied furiously the scriptures that set her free.

If you’re hurt, or lonely, if someone’s broken your heart, I recommend this book a hundred times over. It could bring

While reading Uninvited, I was also struggling with a hard situ-

you the strength you hope is still within, that you’re fighting

ation that I couldn’t figure out. There is a chapter in the book

so hard to find.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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pets

PAWS ON YOUR PORCH MAKE YOUR HOUSE A HOME. M

M

F

M

Bandit

Dozer

M

Charlie

Jasper

M

Dolly

Tank

Almost Home Shelter and Rescue 3390 Pointer Trail East - Van Buren, AR | 479.462.3122 or 479.629.0056 | Almost Home Shelter and Rescue is a 501C-3 Non-Profit all volunteer staffed facility. They work in partnership with Van Buren Animal Control to find loving, forever homes for the dogs in their care. All dogs will be spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccines when adopted. The shelter is newly formed and has very limited space. Please consider adopting or fostering one of their sweet pets.

Each month, Do SouthÂŽ donates this page to local and regional non-profit animal shelters. If you work with a shelter and would like to reserve this space, please email editors@dosouthmagazine.com.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

garden

Words Megan Lankford, Botanical Garden of the Ozarks butterfly image James A. Harris, III

June in the Garden YOU CAN PLANT: THE DIRT:

If you haven’t already planted your annual bedding and vegetable plants for the warm season, no worries! June is a wonderful time for this.

TIPS: Annual bedding plants such as petunias and impatiens are often heavy feeders. Your choice of gardening organically, non-organically, or somewhere in between will determine how you feed your plants. It’s important to know what nutrients are already available in your soil. Get it tested for free at a local extension office. Test at least every other year to ensure you don’t get a buildup of nutrients, or a deficiency.

Organic gardening focuses on feeding the soil, so the soil can feed the plants. When top dressing a bed with compost use no more than ½” to an inch per year. You can also mix it in with your plants when planting them. Use organic mulch (bark, pine needles, straw, etc.) to keep the compost in place, moisture in the ground, and root zone temperature steady. You can also add organic fertilizer from a local nursery, or make your own using ingredients such as blood and bone meal.

Non-organic gardeners should also have their soil tested, and compost is still a great amendment to keep the soil healthy. Additionally, there are other fertilizers to keep your plants growing and flowering all summer long. Time or moisture release fertilizers can be mixed into the soil at planting time. You can also use a liquid fertilizer once a month throughout the growing season, or fertilizer spikes. Beware if you have pets to make sure whatever you use, they can’t get to.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

Annual Bedding Plants Zinnias Celosia Sweet Alyssum Marigolds Cosmos Milkweed Vegetables Tomatoes Squash Watermelon Beans Peppers Eggplant Corn

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entertainment

WORDS Marla Cantrell images courtesy Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Festival

The Riverfront Blues Festival is a two-day event that will take place on June 23-24 at Harry E. Kelley Park, 121 Riverfront Drive in downtown Fort Smith. More than 100 volunteers make sure things run smoothly. Buy tickets at the gate, and be sure to bring sunscreen, lawn chairs, and blankets. Food trucks will be on site, as well as stations for drinks. Admission is $15 per day, $25 per weekend. Kids twelve and under get in FREE with an adult. No pets allowed.

FRIDAY Friday, beginning at six in the evening, the music starts with the Willie Stradlin Duo, JP Soars and the Red Hots, and The Cate Brothers.

Arkansas’ Willie Stradlin Duo have been together since 2005, and are heavily influenced by Red Dirt music, southern rock, and blues. Their newest album showcases original blues songs.

JP Soars and the Red Hots have played twice at this blues fest.

JP is a Crawford County native, and in 2008 he and his band won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. They’ve played all over the world and have a faithful following.

The Cate Brothers, twin brothers from Northwest Arkansas, Earl and Ernie Cate, have one of the richest histories of any band in the south, performing for nearly fifty years. The two were inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame in 2016.

SATURDAY On Saturday, the fun begins at 5:30pm. Bands playing are Goodluck Slim, Oreo Blue, Kenny Neal, and Jesse Dean and Left of Center.

River Valley musicians, Goodluck Slim, are excited to bring their four-piece band to the Blues Fest. You’ve likely heard them on Garrison Avenue, or playing Warren’s Rec Room in Alma. Always a hit!

For more than twenty years, local band Oreo Blue has been playing and recording the blues. They’re so talented it’s predicted this performance will be the “perfect storm of the blues.”

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

entertainment

More fun at Harry E. Kelley Park in downtown Fort Smith gets underway on July 8. The Bordertown Brew Fest (Ales for Trails) is a family-friendly event that includes beer tasting for those twenty-one and older, a kids’ area that includes root beer tasting, as well as games like ring toss.

While the big draw is the 250 craft brews available to sample, many come just to hear the live music. This year, the Jillia Jackson Band, the Escape Tones, and Space 4 Lease will be performing.

Food trucks will be on site to offer something for every taste, and vendors like bike companies and Fayettechill will have kiosks where you can shop, and many will be giving away promotional items.

There’s also a baggo/cornhole tournament, a 3.11-mile Beer Fun Run, life-size beer pong, a cooling area where you can escape the heat, and a chance to give back. Proceeds from the festival will be donated to Park Partners, a non-profit that supports the continuation of trails in the city.

Kenny Neal, who lives in Baton Rouge, joined Buddy Guy’s band at age 17. His sizzling guitar work, sturdy harp, and

Last year, in its inaugural event, the group raised $22,000. One

gravelly, aged-beyond-his-years vocals, earned him multiple

thousand people attended; this year they expect that number

Blues Music Award nominations and a Grammy nomination.

to rise to 2,000.

Northwest Arkansas’s band, Jesse Dean and Left of Center,

Bordertown Brew Fest Ales for Trails Details:

recently released their album, Arkansas Amplifier. Their high energy and original music electrifies crowds wherever they play.

• General Admission - $10 – Access to Harry E. Kelley Park, 121 Riverfront Drive, and concerts. Kids five and younger get in free with parents.

• Brew Pass - $35 – Admission and access to the craft beer tasting tent.

• VIP Brew Pass - $75 – Admission, access to the craft beer tasting tent, plus access to ultra-rare craft beer tent with chef prepared appetizers and backstage passes.

• Beer Fun Run - $10 – Beer Fun Run race registration.

Does not include access to the beer festival.

• Only service dogs with documentation will be allowed into the festival.

• Visit brewfestfs.com until July 7 for registration and event tickets. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the festival at the gate.

Drink responsibly! Never drink and drive.

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' n i e v k o r n G u e i r J rai in P

words Marla Cantrell imageS courtesy The Junk Ranch

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The Junk Ranch in Prairie Grove, Arkansas lives a double life. Most days, if you saw this thirtyfive-acre site with its big, weathered red barn and quaint white farmhouse, you’d be inclined to snap a photo, to capture a piece of Americana so perfect it seems collected from dreams.

But on certain days in June and October, The Junk Ranch changes. Food trucks roll in, folk, country, and bluegrass music plays, and around 120 vendors fill 250 spaces, bringing everything from antiques to boutique clothing.

Julie Speed and her husband own the property, and Julie and her business partner, Amy Daniels, own The Junk Ranch brand that hosts the sales.

The two have a long history together. In the beginning, both had kids who were playing baseball. If you’ve ever had kids who play ball, you understand how much time you spend at practices and games, how much lag time there is to connect with other parents. Sometimes a bond forms. Sometimes friendship is the biggest win of the game.

That’s what happened to Amy and Julie. They had a lot in common, like their love for vintage everything.

As they talked, they realized they had harmonious strengths that would make working together a dream.

In 2013, they held their first sale at The Junk Ranch. They didn’t know how it would go—Prairie Grove is a town whose population today is barely over 5,000, and it’s off the beaten path—but they crossed their fingers and tried anyway.

People did show up. They told Amy and Julie how much fun they were having. The event was about more than shopping for one-of-a-kind items; it was about spending a day with family and friends, forgetting the hectic week that lay behind, dropping the expectations of the week that lay ahead.

Since then, the crowds have grown. Last October, 7,500 people attended the two-day event. Amy smiles

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as she talks about what it’s like to see your dream come true. At

to love it. Seeing the crowds, talking to the vendors, it’s

nineteen, she attended her first auction in Springdale. She remem-

wonderful. We’ve even had people jump out of rolling cars to

bers a tattered quilt she saw, remembers thinking how well-made

get to the ticket booth.” Amy laughs. “We don’t recommend

it was, how it seemed to represent a volume of history.

that, of course. But we do appreciate the eagerness.”

“The first old thing I ever bought was at a flea market near

This spring’s event takes place on June 9 and 10. Amy and Julie

Elkins. It was a bottle shaped like a fish. It was priced at a

have been working on the details since January. Just to mow

dollar, and I negotiated them down to fifty cents.” Amy

the acreage with a tractor takes eight hours. Selecting vendors

laughs. “I would never do that today, but I was so proud

takes time, but not nearly as much as in the beginning. Many

of myself for being able to bargain. They probably took my

return year after year and The Junk Ranch has a wide reach, so

money just to get me out of there!

they get a lot of applications.

“This was before flea markets were cool,” she says. “I feel

To stay on top of their game, and because they love it, Amy

like I’ve been planning for this life since I was that nineteen-

and Julie attend the quintessential antique/flea markets in

year-old. If you’re going to work hard at something, it’s good

Round Top and Canton, Texas, and in Brimfield, Massachu-

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setts. Even though vintage is, well, vintage, there are still

Five bands will be playing: The Scorchers, Mountain Gypsies,

trends to follow, still lots of new things to discover.

Sad Daddy, Shannon Wurst, and the HillBenders. Fourteen food trucks and trailers will be there, serving roasted nuts and

Amy can’t pick out a favorite vendor that comes to The Junk

kettle corn, gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, Po’ Boy sand-

Ranch, but she does mention the Jersey Picker, who will travel

wiches, and cheese curds.

to Prairie Grove from New Jersey for the third year in a row.

He attracts the “artsy crowd,” selling quirky pieces, along

By the time the gates open, every small crisis will have been handled,

with antiques, signs, paper goods, and he’ll tell some of the

every concern addressed, every “t” crossed and every “i” dotted.

best stories you’ll ever hear.

Amy and Julie will watch the clock count down, ready to go.

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“I never take it for granted. People make fun of me because every time I’ll ask, ‘Do you think people will come?’ And then you see the lines form and it’s a relief. It’s exciting to know people love vintage and junk as much as you do, and that they enjoy what we’re doing.”

Recently, The Junk Ranch was voted "Readers' Favorite Outdoor Small Fleas & Vintage Shows" by Flea Market Style, a publication Amy calls “the junking Bible.” “That was a huge milestone for us,” Amy says, and then she explains the depth of her love for old things. “You find something old and you see how well-made it was. You think about its original purpose, and you think about the people who’ve owned it.

There is so much of a story there. So much intention. I think that’s probably what people who love old things all feel.”

When the June sale is over, Amy and Julie will go into planning mode again, getting ready for their October event. It’s exhausting work but comes with so much satisfaction, she can’t imagine doing anything else. Living and loving what’s old and unique makes life feel new every day. “Is there a better job than that?” Amy asks, and then she answers. “I don’t think there is.”

The Junk Ranch 11195 Centerpoint Church Rd Prairie Grove, Arkansas thejunkranch.net June 9-10 Friday, Early Shopping Day, $10, 10am-6pm Early Shopping Pass is good for FREE return on Saturday Saturday, $5, 9am-5pm Kids 12 & Under - FREE

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Chris and Lolly A Life Filled with Music IMAGEs courtesy Chris and Lolly Swicegood

Husband and wife musicians Chris and Lolly Swicegood live in

DS: When did you know you wanted to be musicians?

Nashville. But Chris grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the

Chris: I grew up playing a lot of instruments. But when I was fifteen

two return often to visit family and perform under the name

I got my first electric guitar (a Fender Stratocaster) and started

“Chris and Lolly.”

learning the music of Stevie Ray Vaughn, and that’s when I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life performing and writing.

Their music falls under the Americana/Folk/Alternative cate-

Lolly: I started performing at a young age, and knew around age

gory, although there’s also a little soul, jazz and classic rock

thirteen that it was what I wanted to do with my life. Mostly I

included. Chris plays guitar, piano and sings, as well as writes

was focused on musical theatre and Barber Shop! I know, I was

lyrics and music. Lolly is primarily a vocalist but is phenomenal

really cool.

with melody and harmony and works with Chris by coming up with great lyrics of her own.

DS: Where did you meet?

Do South® caught up with Chris and Lolly to talk about every-

Chris: Texas Christian University (TCU) in 2005.

thing from how they met to what’s the next big thing for the

Lolly: One day I was walking to class when I noticed this good

thirtysomethings.

lookin’ dude sitting on a bench, playing his guitar. There was a couple nearby, with a puppy, and Chris and I struck up a short

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conversation about how cute the little Chocolate Lab was. A week

DS: What would you tell musicians who are struggling?

or so later Chris saw me on campus and asked me for my phone

Chris: Staying true to yourself and the kind of music that made

number! I knew right away that I had found my soul mate, but I

you want to pick up a guitar or sing in the first place, is impor-

avoided him for a few months because that made me so nervous.

tant. Success is a lot of things, and not giving up is key to

Thank goodness Chris is patient and persistent!

being able to make the kind of music that matters to you. As long as you work hard, make yourself available, and can listen to others who have been down this long and winding road,

DS: How do you collaborate when writing songs?

you’ll be all right.

Lolly: It depends really. Sometimes Chris will have music and we will collaborate on story and melody around his structure.

Other times, like on one of our soon-to-be-recorded songs “Do

DS: Is there anything else you want our readers to know?

You Think of Me,” I will bring him lyrics and melody and he will

Chris: As a matter of fact, yes. Lolly is pregnant! Come

write music to finish it.

mid-September, we’re gonna be a trio. We couldn’t be more excited!

DS: How much time do you spend on the road?

Chris: We frequently tour Arkansas, Virginia, Texas, New York, North Carolina and Kentucky. We’ve played in Hawaii and Canada, and last year we traveled to Cameroon, Africa to play music festivals, and radio and TV shows there.

DS: What do you love about Arkansas?

Lolly: It’s called the Natural State for a good reason. We love camping, and Chris loves trout fishing.

Chris: Arkansas will always be home. It’s filled with great memories and such great people, and we got married in Eureka Springs.

DS: Tell us about your latest album.

Chris: Our latest album, Evermore, started from a song with the same name that I recorded in my solo artist days. Lolly, for some time now, has wanted to revisit some of my old music and make duo songs out of them. We just finished our first music video to it recently and are really proud of how it turned out.

DS: If you could perform with any band, who would it be?

Lolly: Off the top of my head, Tedeschi/Trucks band would be amazing!

Chris: The Rolling Stones. Can you believe those guys are still rockin’?

Chris and Lolly will be performing at Movie Lounge on Friday, July 21, at 7pm. You can find their music on Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Pandora. To learn more about them, and see their touring schedule, visit chrisandlolly.com.

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diy

Jar-normous GIFT IDEAS words and images Catherine Frederick

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S

Sometimes you need a quick gift idea.

Perhaps it’s a holiday, like Father’s Day, you’re celebrating with friends, someone’s sick, or welcoming a new neighbor. Instead of one gift, why not pack a large container full of small gifts thoughtfully selected by you? As a bonus, the container itself is a gift to be reused time and time again! While we’ve featured a celebration gift idea, the possibilities are endless.

We’ve listed a few other ideas as well!

CELEBRATION GIFT MATERIALS •

Large container (mine came from Target)

•

Wooden spoon

•

Sangria ingredients (see next page)

•

Ribbon & gift tag

ASSEMBLE CONTAINER Pack your drink dispenser with your favorite wine and other ingredients needed for making this sangria recipe (or choose your favorite!). Tie on a cute ribbon and wooden spoon. Don’t forget to attach a gift tag with the recipe written on the back.

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SANGRIA RECIPE INGREDIENTS •

Fresh fruit of choice (limes, berries, lemons, watermelon, oranges, kiwi, plums, peaches)

•

1 bottle wine (I used Pinot Grigio)

•

Fresh mint (garnish)

•

½ cup agave or sugar

•

¼ cup triple sec

•

½ cup light rum

•

½ cup orange, pomegranate or lemon juice

•

1 - 2 cups ginger ale, lemonade or club soda

METHOD Add sugar or agave to container along with wine, triple sec, and rum. Stir to dissolve. Add sliced fruit and juice of choice, stir. Chill for 2 hours. Fill ice-filled glasses with sangria, top with a splash of ginger ale, lemonade, or club soda. Garnish with a mint sprig.

OTHER GIFT IDEAS MAN-GIFT

HOUSEWARMING GIFT

GET-WELL GIFT

Cheese dip

Bottle of wine

Saltines

Soda bottle Monkey hooks Jell-O Hot sauce

Surge protector

Chicken noodle soup

Beef jerky Pain reliever Sprite Pickled okra

Furniture sliders

Bottled water

Sunflower seeds

Wood touch-up markers

Chap Stick

Bacon salt

Super glue

Fever reducer

Nuts Furniture dusting wipes Travel Kleenex

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The

Hopeful

Romantic Words Jessica Sowards Images Mikela Sowards

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"... It was in the season that I could not feel the thing, when I came to the place of choosing to love when it's hard, that I uncov-

f

ered the greatest romance I’d ever had."

From my earliest memories, I was what you could call a hopeless romantic. Not just in a love story sense but in a loving life sense. I imagine for some people, it is a learned trait. However, I’m pretty sure I was born with a wide-eyed draw to what is lovely and wonderful and unexplainable.

Even as a child, I would be moved to tears every year when we decorated the Christmas tree, and every summer when the fireflies blinked and bobbed through the thick night air. I would be wooed day after day by the million tiny bits of beauty most people walked right by. All of it stirred me. It still does. I love to feel. When a song moves me, I listen to it on repeat for hours. I sit in silence daily and drink in my farm and my sons and the wild loveliness that surrounds me. I fight to hold the extraordinary nature of life in high esteem so that it might never lose its power.

For the most part, this has provided great enrichment. But it is a double-edged sword. A hopeless romantic can be swept away by Christmas lights and lightning bugs but can find great frustration in the monotony of things like marriage, in the relationships that require steadfastness when they stop feeling.

When I began dating my husband, I was only twenty-four, a broken divorcee and a package deal with two small boys and a large load of baggage in tow. I was numb.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d really felt much at all except a dull ache. In the midst of that confusing time, I think I’d been lamenting the lack of feeling most of all. I carried a composition book in my purse, full of beautifully painful words, poems and ramblings about the love story that had ended so much differently than I had envisioned when I said vows at eighteen. I didn’t even cry anymore.

Then Jeremiah stepped in. He was gentle, as broken as me and when he told me I was lovely, somewhere deep down, the quickly cooling embers of my heart began to burn again. The nature of my poetry took a turn, and in one short year, I went from one husband to another. It was a whirlwind love story, the reckless kind, full of unthinkable beauty and plot twists and hastily made decisions. It was during that year I got the romance back. It was the season where I learned to cry again, and where I learned to awe at creation again.

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We got married on a random Tuesday. I was wearing red

I chose, in that season, to love my husband even when I didn’t

jeans. The Maggie Sottero wedding gown I’d scraped together

like him. I chose to love him even when he didn’t love me back.

with my substitute teacher salary hung in my bedroom closet.

I chose to think of him, to be patient with him, to be kind to

We didn’t tell anyone we were eloping. Spring was in the air,

him. I chose to forgive him when he messed up, and I chose to

and our planned wedding date of October was just too far

pray for him until I had God’s heart for him in place of my own.

away. Romantic.

It worked. It actually worked. I stopped seeing his shortcomings It didn’t take long for routine to take the reins and for the

as deficiencies and began to see them as brokenness. Grace

reckless love to subside. The earth traveled around the sun.

washed in, and though I no longer felt swept away by enchant-

We added to our blended family, one boy and then another.

ment, I felt anchored by hope. I leaned into God to make up the

We worked in ministry. We cooked meals, took road trips,

slack that existed in my marriage. You know, I was altogether

walked the kids to school. We played at the park, grilled in

romanced in that season. I wasn’t romanced by the man in my

the backyard, threw birthday parties, fought and went to bed

bed, but by my sweet God. That was the season I got my farm.

angry, woke up and made up. We went to church, went to

That was the season I welcomed my smallest boy Benjamin, the

college, spent weekends in hotel rooms, went to concerts and

gift I didn’t know I needed. That was the season that I learned I

tried to find passion. We talked late at night, missed the alarm

had a voice and that God wanted to use my gifts to express His

in the morning, laughed, cried. We read the Bible, kind of

love to people. When I traded cheap romance for unconditional

understood it, worked as a photographer and a youth pastor.

love, I became able to understand how truly unconditionally

We loved each other, hurt each other, tried our best, and real-

lovingly and kindly God had handled me.

ized we were ill-equipped. We went to counseling, learned how hard it is to blend a family. So, we put on our happy faces

Then, after much longer than I had hoped, but in exactly the

and resolved that sometimes marriage means feeling far away

right time, my precious husband caught up. On a day as fateful

from the person that sleeps in your bed. And the earth trav-

and random as the Tuesday we said vows, he came to realize

eled around the sun, again and again.

how intentionally I’d loved him all along. And he made the choice to intentionally love me back.

It was then that a murky gray area crept its way into my line of sight. It wasn’t black and white. It wasn’t hot or cold. It was

Every evening, Jeremiah and I walk our farm. It is my favorite

just survival. I lived in fear that the numbness would come back

date. Our blended family is a melded and hodgepodge thing

if we settled into boredom. I picked fights just to make sure I

healed smooth with scars where the wounds used to be. In the

could still feel. Monotony ushered in a certain melancholy, and I

mornings, we pray. We make plans. We work hard. He is my

came to a fork in the road, a wall, a ceiling, whatever you want

very best friend. He picks me wildflowers and taught our sons

to call it. I felt stuck.

to do the same. I cook his favorite breakfast. He lets me name all the baby goats, and I love to watch him work in the garden

Romance is a funny thing. I thought I understood it, back when I

when he thinks I’m not looking.

knew everything. I thought I understood passion and I thought I had an idea about love. But it was in the season that I could not

I may be a little biased, but I am altogether wooed by this

feel the thing, when I came to the place of choosing to love when

beautiful life. It is a real-life love story. And though I am, cate-

it's hard, that I uncovered the greatest romance I’d ever had.

gorically, a romantic, I have stopped calling myself a hopeless one. It is because of hope that I really know romance at all.

Follow Jessica @thehodgepodgedarling.blogspot.com.

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shop

Summer Lovin' words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors

Wedding Gifts for the Bride and Groom

Wireless Hearing Aides by Starkey

JENNIFER’S GIFT SHOP AT SPARKS HEALTH

CENTER FOR HEARING 479.785.3277

479.441.4221

Summer Beer Varieties Mix and Match Pick 6

Zo® Medical Skin Care Products

SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS 479.783.8013

LUMINESSENCE MEDISPA AT COOPER CLINIC 479.274.4200

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We love June. The month of weddings, graduations, summer break, and celebrating dads. Enjoy them all by shopping local!

Casa Noble Reposado, Crystal Blanco, and Anejo Tequilas

Liliana Flower Stud Earrings, 18kt Rose gold and Platinum, .56cts

IN GOOD SPIRITS

JOHN MAYS JEWELERS 479.452.2140

479.434.6604

Tiffany & Co. Sunglasses and Frames

Father’s Day Gifts

DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY

SUNSHINE SHOP AT MERCY FORT SMITH

479.452.2020

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GRILLED Chicken CAPRESE RECIPE and Image James Stefiuk

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Grilled Chicken Caprese This simple, yet delicious, recipe is perfect for the season. Grab some of the ingredients fresh from your garden, or your local farmers market. Unlike other recipes, this one adds the tomato basil mixture after the chicken has been removed from the grill. We love this alteration as it allows for the freshness and firmness of the tomato and basil to come through in every bite.

Ingredients:

Method:

•

4 chicken breasts

•

2-3 tomatoes (choose your favorite type)

•

Fresh mozzarella, enough for a couple slices per piece of chicken

•

Basil (large bunch, ripped up, roughly 12 leaves)

•

Olive oil

•

2-3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

•

Salt & pepper to taste

Set your grill to medium-heat. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt & pepper.

Cook roughly five minutes per side, until cooked through.

While the chicken is cooking, in a medium bowl, add tomatoes and basil, and drizzle with the balsamic vinegar, salt & pepper. Mix by hand and set aside.

During the last one to two minutes of grilling add a slice or two of mozzarella to each piece of chicken and allow the mozzarella to melt a bit. Once the chicken is cooked, remove from grill, and top with tomato basil mixture.

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taste

Martinis in the Garden Recipes and image Mike Koon, Koon’s Saloon Mobile Bartending Service

Please drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.

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Leave behind the daily grind and join Botanical Garden of the Ozarks for a casual evening of local art, live music, and hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at the 2017 Art & Cocktails in the Garden! Surround yourself with the vibrant, earlysummer beauty of the Garden of the Ozarks as you enjoy the Garden’s art installations, an art show featuring local artists, a drop-in interactive art project, craft beer, and the evening’s signature drink—martinis! Mike Koon of Koon’s Saloon Mobile Bartending Service will be shaking up the martinis that evening.

A good tip for the perfect martini is to chill your martini glasses in the freezer for at least 10 minutes prior to serving.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

> 2 oz. vodka

Place vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker with 4-5 ice cubes and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour the strained martini in a chilled glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

> 1 ½ oz. simple syrup > ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice > Lemon twist garnish

BONUS RECIPES

Cosmopolitan Martini METHOD

INGREDIENTS > 2 oz. vodka

Place vodka, triple sec, fresh lime juice

> ½ oz. triple sec

and cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker with 4-5 ice cubes and shake

> ½ oz. fresh lime juice

vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour the

> 2 oz. cranberry juice

strained martini in a chilled glass and

> Lemon twist garnish

garnish with lemon twist.

Martini INGREDIENTS

METHOD Place vodka and dry vermouth into a

> 3½ oz. vodka

> ¼ - ¾ oz. dry vermouth (tastes vary)

cocktail shaker with 4-5 ice cubes and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour the strained martini in a chilled glass

> Garnish with stuffed olives

and garnish with a few stuffed olives.

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Now We’ re Cookin’!

ARKANSAS FOOD HALL OF FAME words Dwain Hebda images courtesy Lassis Inn, Jones Bar-B-Q Diner, Rhoda’s Famous Hot Tamales, provided courtesy Department of Arkansas Heritage

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The sign says “No Dancing.”

It’s one of the first things you notice when you step out of the dazzling lunchtime sunlight into the modest dining room of Lassis Inn in Little Rock. In fact, you see two such signs tacked onto the wall among the light blue booths, some with tables the size of ironing boards.

“Can I getcha?” says a waitress.

Ask for a menu and her face changes knowingly. It’s the sure sign of a first-timer, asking for a menu, and when you get one, you see why. Lassis does catfish, period, does it better than anyplace you’ll ever find, too. All the staff needs to know is which cut – catfish fillets, catfish steaks or buffalo ribs – and how much you want.

The TV’s on, but the sound is down to better hear the doorbell that trips with each customer emerging from the Arkansas midday. Today’s crowd holds a smattering of folks from the neighborhood, a young man dropping in for his pick-up order, a woman dining alone on her lunch break and a quartet of hipsters in faux mechanics’ shirts chatting up a waitress. The mayor isn’t here, but you wouldn’t be surprised if he were.

James H. Jones

Lassis Inn, along with Jones Bar-B-Q Diner in Marianna and Rhoda’s Famous Hot Tamales in Lake Village, make up the

“Food is how people bond,” said Chip Culpepper, a member

inaugural class of restaurants inducted into the Arkansas

of the Hall’s selection committee, a local advertising exec

Food Hall of Fame earlier this year.

and self-described big eater. “We have our family meal where everybody gathers around the table. You have dinner

“The idea (for the Hall of Fame) originally came from a member

on the grounds at church and Mom is bringing her best dish

of the governor's staff,” said Stacy Hurst, director of the

to share that culture. We all go out to eat together. I think

Department of Arkansas Heritage and the driving force behind

that's a fundamental part of who we are. It's in our DNA.”

the project. “They had seen an advertisement for the Alabama Barbecue Hall of Fame and they sent it over and said, ‘Hey,

There’s something about food in the South that inspires a

this is something Heritage should look at.’ I was immediately

passion unlike any other region of the country. You can have

intrigued because what we do is we tell the story of Arkansas

an hour-long argument with your neighbor over the best

and there really is a very compelling way to talk about Arkansas

barbecue joint and still walk away thinking the other guy’s a

and history and culture and community through food.”

fool. So, the thought of narrowing down a hall of fame class was understandably daunting, even intimidating.

Each honoree embodies the taste and people of its particular region and each demonstrates the art of simplicity.

“It was horrible. Horrible,” said selection committee member

Menus are limited, some to a single item, and the spots can

Paul Austin, director of the Arkansas Humanities Council and

charitably be described as possessing rustic charm. But each

co-host of Chewing the Fat, a podcast about Arkansas food.

is a living, breathing, frying, smoking, steaming, baking and

“The way the process worked, we had to choose from those

satisfying helping of Arkansas culture.

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online. I suspect it will be worse next year because I think

a week serving slow-smoked pork shoulder in white-bread sand-

there'll be even more nominations. It was a very difficult task

wiches or by the pound every day until it's gone. The consistent

and we made it difficult on ourselves because we didn't want

excellence of the product is rivaled only by the owner’s work

too many people being inducted every time.”

ethic – since 1963, James has only taken one vacation and one trip on an airplane, both coming in 2012 to accept the James

If there was an obvious winner among the nominations, and

Beard Award in the category America’s Classics in New York City.

that’s a big if, it probably had to be Jones Bar-B-Q Diner in Marianna, the humblest of places with the highest of creden-

It’s the Oscars of the culinary world and it’s brought the

tials. The family-run restaurant has existed for 150 years,

world to Marianna. James’ guest book boasts visitors from

putting it in the running for the oldest African American-

as far away as Yemen, Japan, Paris and New York. Governors

owned restaurant in the South.

have dropped by with their assembly of handlers, as have foodies, bloggers, and media by the score. CBS News came

Owner James H. Jones is the latest link in a chain that runs four

by a couple of years back to film a feature on what they

generations. James and his wife Betty are at it at six a.m., six days

called the best barbecue spot in America.

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Rhoda Adams

Everything about Jones Bar-B-Q Diner speaks to the passage

Food highlights our celebrations and comforts us in our

of time and the enduring, enabling power of food.

sorrow; your best memories probably involve some kind of meal or a particular dish that reminds of days and loved

The same can be said of Rhoda’s Famous Hot Tamales in

ones gone by. But there’s something else, said Rex Nelson,

Lake Village. Rhoda Adams, a relative newcomer, having

a selection committee member, Chewing the Fat co-host

been in business “only” about forty years, was called by

and well-known writer, that underscores the importance of

God to bake pies which she sold out of her house, turning

preserving these tidbits of Arkansas’s culinary heritage in a

the proceeds over to her church. Starting out, she only made

suitable hall of fame.

the sweet potato variety but she eventually caved into a customer’s request for pecan and a legend was born.

As central as good food is to bonding with family and friends, it’s even more essential for what it does among strangers.

Meanwhile, a relative taught her how to make tamales,

Food is one thing that always brings us together.

something else at which she proved to be a natural. Today, an equal number of people travel here for the tamales as for the pie, some from hundreds of miles away. More often than not, customers get both, provided she hasn’t run out, which given her far-flung reputation in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and points east, can happen fast.

“That was such a high point (of the Hall of Fame induction),” Chip said. “This is a room full of people who know a lot about food and the biggest reaction was when Miss Rhoda’s name was called. If you've been to Miss Rhoda's, you know it's a small, very humble place, but man, it's all about the food and the love and care that she puts into every single thing.”

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ARKANSAS HALL OF FAME RESTAURANTS

Inaugural Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Inductees Presented February 28, 2017 Little Rock, Arkansas

Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Jones Bar-B-Q Diner, Marianna Lassis Inn, Little Rock

Jones Bar-B-Q Diner

Rhoda’s Famous Hot Tamales, Lake Village

219 W Louisiana Street Marianna, AR

Finalists

708.224.6191

Bruno’s Little Italy, Little Rock

facebook.com/JonesBarBQDiner

Craig’s Bar-B-Q, DeVall’s Bluff Doe’s Eat Place, Little Rock

Lassis Inn

Feltner’s Whataburger, Russellville

518 E 27th Street

Franke’s Cafeteria, Little Rock

Little Rock, AR

Kream Kastle, Blytheville

501.372.8714

McClard’s Bar-B-Q, Hot Springs

facebook.com/pages/Lassis-Inn

Neal’s Café, Springdale Sim’s Bar-B-Que, Little Rock

Rhoda’s Famous Hot Tamales 714 Saint Mary Street

People’s Choice

Lake Village, AR

Grotto Wood Fired Grill and Wine Cave, Eureka Springs

870.265.3108 facebook.com/pages/Rhodas-Famous-Hot-Tamales

Proprietor of the Year Paul Bash, Ed Moore, Louis Petit and Denis Seyer, Continental Cuisine Partnership, Little Rock

Finalists Capi Peck (Trio’s, Little Rock) Joe St. Columbia (Pasquale’s Hot Tamales, West Helena) Scott McGehee (Yellow Rocket Concepts, Little Rock)

Food-Themed Event Cave City Watermelon Festival

Finalists The Annual Bean Fest and Great Arkansas Championship

Outhouse Races, Mountain View

Gillett Coon Supper World Championship Duck Gumbo Cookoff, Stuttgart World Cheese Dip Championship, Little Rock

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travel

LAKE OUACHITA STATE PARK

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travel

Discover your next adventure at Lake Ouachita State Park, just a short drive from Hot Springs. June is “Great Outdoors Month,” and this beautiful park is the place to celebrate it! From camping and kayaking to biking and swimming – Lake Ouachita has it all.

Visit ArkansasStateParks.com for more information.

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Get OUT IN Arkansas words Zoie Clift and Jill Rohrbach, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Catherine Frederick images Chuck Haralson and Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

T

he weather is heating up and if you’re looking for adventure, there’s no place better than right here in Arkansas. From zip lines, to rock climbing, to hiking and floating, those adventures are found in abundance

in the Natural State! Check out all these action-packed attractions but take note, each has its own special brand of activity for different ages so we recommend contacting the individual properties for rules and regulations.

Zip Lines Calling all adrenaline junkies! There’s plenty of high-flying fun to be had as you take on a whole new perspective of the Natural State’s varied landscapes.

Buffalo River Canopy Zip Line Tour – Ponca: buffaloriver.com, 800.221.5514 Byrd's Outdoor Adventure Center – Ozark: byrdsadventurecenter.com, 479.667.4066 Fort Rock Family Camp & Cabins – Combs: fortrock.org, 479.677.3136 Iron Horse Zip Line – Jasper: horseshoecanyonduderanch.com, 800.480.9635 Loco Ropes – Mountain View: locoropes.com, 888.669.6717 Ozark Mountain Ziplines – Eureka Springs: ziplineeurekasprings.com, 479.363.6699

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travel taste

Mountain Biking Taking on the challenging terrain of long trails via a mountain bike or hike is always a dependable source of adventure.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association has named several trails in the state EPIC routes. Trekkers can also explore the 168-mile Ozark Highlands National Recreation Trail or travel the 223-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail to the south. Discover more than twenty routes and free bicycling guides at Arkansas.com.

Rock Climbing Some of the best rock climbing in the nation is found right here in Arkansas. Grab your climbing shoes, chalk bag, and harness and spend a day or a week exploring the vertical world of the Ozark and Ouachita mountain ranges. Sam's Throne and Horseshoe Canyon Ranch are just a few of the destinations for climbers. Bouldering is also big here.

– General information: arkansasclimbers.org – Ozark mountains: horseshoecanyon.com – Ouachita mountains: ouachitarocks.com

CANOE, KAYAK & RAFTING For water junkies, the Cossatot River forms Cossatot Falls, a rugged and rocky canyon that hosts Class IV and V whitewater rapids for canoeists and kayakers. Wakeboarders can practice their craft on 600,000 acres of lakes (including 40,100-acre Lake Ouachita—the largest in the state) located across the state. Scuba divers and parasailers can enjoy the view both under and over Arkansas’ watery terrain. Check out arkansas.com/outdoors for details.

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Caddo River The Caddo River is named for the Caddo Indian tribes that, at one time, lived along its banks. It begins in southwestern Montgomery County, and flows near or through the communities of Black Springs, Norman, Caddo Gap, Glenwood, and Amity before entering the backwaters of DeGray Lake, home to Arkansas's only resort state park. Most of the river is fairly calm with some class I and II rapids.

Buffalo National River The Buffalo National River in northern Arkansas provides a beautiful space for floating. Tall limestone bluffs in earthy hues of gray, tan and brown are defining features. Rushing whitewater is interspersed among sections of calmer water as the river wends its way 135 miles through the lush green valley.

Cossatot River Arkansas’ premier whitewater experience for kayakers and canoeists. The Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area in Wickes extends for twelve miles along one of the most rugged river corridors in the central U.S. Class III and Class IV rapids attract experienced floaters during the season. You can access the river from the north on Arkansas 246 between Vandervoort and Athens, or from the south by US 278 between Wickes and Umpire.

There you have it, a long list of Arkansas’s wonders just waiting for you to explore. And when you do, take your camera along. We’d love to see your photos. Send them to editors@dosouthmagazine.com.

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southern fiction

Fences FICTION Marla Cantrell

I

I’d been through a few men by then. Not so many as to cause a

swam beneath us in Silver Springs. Sweat dotted my forehead,

scandal, but enough. My best friend Jimmie Ann and I were lying

my cleavage, the back of my neck.

on the dock trading stories, telling each other why our romances didn’t work out, starting in junior high. I’d talked so long, Jimmie

We’d been coming here since we were babies, dipped in the

Ann had thrown her forearm across her eyes, and she was

water while wearing disposable diapers that swelled around

breathing steady, so I thought she was asleep. I elbowed her. “I

our tiny bottoms. At sixteen, we’d smoked our first and last

said that guy named Waylon, who drove the bread truck, didn’t

cigarette in the bathhouse. At twenty-one, I’d stood beside

believe Dorothy ever left Kansas! He thought Oz was nothing but

Jimmie Ann underneath the park’s big pavilion in a dress I’d

a damn dream! Who could stay with a man like that!”

gotten from T.J. Maxx and held her bouquet of wildflowers while she married Dave. She’d looked like a mermaid to me, all

Jimmie Ann was a mother now, and recently divorced from

that long blonde wavy hair. The white dress that flared out at

Dave, a man so dull his idea of fun was caulking the cracks at

the bottom like fins. A year later, Ford was born.

every edge that butted together in their rickety house. They had a kid named Ford, and I loved him. Red-headed, fat, talked with

Water lapped the shore. “Let’s go to lunch,” Jimmie Ann said.

a lisp. At four years old, he seemed about perfect to me.

We walked to the diner the size of a mini-van, and we ate the “You won’t know a thing about love until you have a baby,”

blackberry cobbler first. We ate the barbeque next. We had a

Jimmie Ann said.

bottle of Old Crow she’d snuck in, and we drained our water glasses and poured the booze.

I leaned up on my elbow. “I know plenty.” Jimmie Ann just shook her head.

The sun had loosened something in me. The liquor loosened something more. All my joints seemed soft. It was hard to sit

The air was still and smelled like pine needles and the fish that

up straight.

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southern fiction

“I don’t like the days when Dave has Ford,” Jimmie Ann said. She

index finger.”

looked out the rusted screen door.

“Nobody can work the self-checkout.”

“Dave’s good to him, though. Right?”

“I should have married him,” I said.

The other three tables were filled with teenagers. Kids with nothing else to do on a Tuesday afternoon in June. Jimmie Ann

“You should have married him.”

looked at her plate. “When we were married, all he ever did was fix the cracks in things. Hardly ever left the house. That caulk

“But I didn’t.”

gun,” she said, shaking her head. “Now though. Now, he takes Ford to story hour at the library. Last week, they went to Lowe’s

“No one else has either, as far as I know.”

and built a bird feeder in one of those free classes they have.”

Birds sang. The voices of kids splashing in the lake rose, a The one waitress, wearing a week’s worth of makeup, headed

chorus of cheer. We fell asleep eventually, and when we woke

toward our table with a pitcher of water. “Top you off?” she

the stars were out.

asked, and Jimmie Ann and I both held our hands over our glasses.

The waitress raised a drawn-on eyebrow, then turned away.

I love the damp of night. How a day can be blistering and the night cool. At night, in summer, the whole world changes.

A long mirror ran along the opposite wall. I looked at my

Jimmie Ann pointed to the moon, so close to full it seemed

reflection. There were times I believed I was pretty. Now,

about to spill over. “Would you look at that,” she said. She

though, my eyes seemed too big. My hair, dark as the devil’s

checked her phone. “It’s after nine. Do you think it’s too late to

breath, was a tumbleweed. My T-shirt was ripped under the

call Dave and check on Ford?”

arms and announced a 5K that was held six years before. On a city street, I’d probably be mistaken for homeless.

This hesitancy was new in her. Before the divorce, nothing would have stopped her from calling anybody she liked, anytime she

“You don’t want Dave to be a bad dad, do you?” I asked, and

wanted. I thought about her call to me at two in the morning a

Jimmie Ann grabbed the check and headed for the register.

few years back. “I was just thinking about you,” she’d said, and when my heart stopped racing, I said, “You can’t call somebody

Outside, she said. “I just don’t want Dave to be better at this

before daybreak unless there’s an emergency.” And she’d said,

than I am.”

“Sometimes thinking about somebody is an emergency!”

I touched Jimmie Ann’s shoulder. “Impossible,” I said. I’d seen her

“He’s your kid,” I said then. “Call away.” I headed to the bath-

with Ford, her hand on his back as he slept, her eyes closing as she

house to freshen up, using the light from my cellphone to

breathed in the smell of him. Her own mama wasn’t much to speak

guide me.

of, and her daddy had bounded the backyard fence one night when Jimmie Ann and I were in third grade, clearing it and then

When I got back, Jimmie Ann said, “Ford said he misses me.” She

running into the night, away from everything he claimed to love.

was smiling, that beauty-queen smile of hers. She picked up the blanket, shook it out. Under the moonlight, her hair shone.

In the car, she sat in the passenger seat, her hands folded in her

There were pinecones beneath the blanket, and I shifted to

lap. When we made it to the highway, she said, “Dave said he

get away from one. “I caught a glimpse of Dalton at Walmart

misses me too.”

the other night. He was cussing the self-checkout register. He still wears his jeans too tight. He still wears that ring on his

“What does that mean?” I asked.

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southern fiction

Jimmie Ann looked out the passenger window, and I glanced at

I wanted to tell her she had the right to be happy, that she had the

her reflection. If she’d smiled, dimples would have shown. If she’d

right to find a man who made her want to rush home at night just

smiled wider, the small gap between her front teeth would have

to feel his arms around her. But then I saw the look on her face.

appeared. “I’m not sure what it means.”

“If you jumped the fence to get away, you could jump it to get back home,” I said.

“What do you want it to mean?”

Jimmie Ann took a choked breath. “You really think so?”

Jimmie Ann wiped her eyes. “It’s hard not having a family. You grow up with a mama who disappears at all hours, who tells

I pointed to her phone. “Tell Dave I’m dropping you off over

you when you’re ten that you’d better learn to cook if you want

at his place.”

to eat.” She looked at me, her unhappiness a veil across her face. “You grow up with a daddy who literally jumps the fence

Jimmie Ann sent the message. She pulled a brush from her

to get away from you.”

bag and took care of her hair. In the dark, she put on lip gloss and perfume that smelled like honeysuckle. The Old Crow she

I reached over and took her hand. At the next exit, I found a

tossed in the backseat.

Wendy’s and pulled into the parking lot. I wrapped my arms around her. “You don’t know what it’s like,” she said, “to have

When we pulled up to Dave’s duplex, the porch light was

a kid. I’m not trying to be mean, but you don’t.

burning. He opened the front door before I could shut off my motor. As Jimmie Ann was opening her door, he was at my

“I thought I could leave Dave and keep Ford and everything

window. I rolled it down. “I don’t know what you said to her,”

would pretty much be the same. But I’ll go home tonight, and

he said, “but thank you.”

I’ll curl up in Ford’s empty bed, and I’ll feel so much guilt I’ll not be able to sleep.”

They walked with their arms around each other until they reached the porch, then Dave bent to kiss her. I watched,

“Do you love Dave?”

feeling like I was losing her, like she was being swept into a current that would take her to another place entirely.

Jimmie Ann sobbed. “Maybe,” she said. “Probably. I love the kind of daddy he’s turned out to be. I thought he’d let me have

I sat in that drive for an hour at least. I watched as their shadows

Ford, that he’d go on his way. When we were married, it kind

moved from window to window, and finally, I saw every light

of seemed like he wasn’t that interested. I guess losing Ford

in the house go out.

shook him up.”

In the car, I said aloud, “I’m twenty-six and I don’t know a thing I rubbed her back. “I’ve been drinking more than I should,” she said.

about love.” And then I thought about Dalton. I remembered his breath on my neck. The way my heart sped up when he

Her phone pinged. She pulled away from me and took the

said my name. I still had his number in my phone. I found it,

phone from her pocket. There was a message from Dave with

rehearsed what I was going to say. I’d tell him I’d been thinking

a photo attached. Ford sat on his dad’s lap. He was dressed in

about him in a way that seemed like a bonified emergency.

pajamas with dinosaurs on them. The top had ridden up, and

He’d take a deep breath before he answered me, deciding.

his moon of a belly showed. They both were smiling. Jimmie

Who knew what could happen next.

Ann held the phone, so I could see.

“I jumped the fence,” Jimmie Ann said. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

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HOUSE AND HOME

House & Home Do South® Magazine has partnered with local experts to tell us how to build the home of our dreams, what we can do to improve the home we already love, who to call when there’s a problem, and how to protect one of the biggest

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HOUSE AND HOME

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HOUSE AND HOME

Use this helpful schedule to keep track of your home’s maintenance needs!

HOUSE AND HOME

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HOUSE AND HOME

Farmers Coop 17 locations in the River Valley, NWA & OK todayscoop.com 479.474.8051 Our code, mission, and purpose is to provide quality supplies and services, and be the leading agricultural supply, lawn & garden, pet supply, and animal feed store in the community! We carry a full line of farm, pet, and animal health supplies, fertilizer, agricultural chemicals, lawn & garden supplies, and wildlife feed and supplies. Our friendly staff is happy to answer your questions. We have an agronomist on staff, as well as other qualified personnel to handle any of your farming needs. We also have bulk feed and

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bulk fuel deliveries. Visit us at any of our 17 locations!

Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders 5111 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith, AR fortsmithhomebuilders.com 479.452.6213 Buying or selling a home can be a difficult process. Our membership roster is extensive and covers a wide range of products and services required to build or remodel your home. You’ll find everything from manufacturing, to financing, planning, real estate services, energy saving products, decorating, flooring, roofing, and so much more. Members meet strict guidelines involving experience, credit worthiness and customer satisfaction. Before you begin building, remodeling or improvement projects, visit our website first. It is your resource to find reputable, reliable people you can trust. For more information, call 479.452.6213 or visit fortsmithhomebuilders.com.

HOUSE AND HOME

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T. Glasco Designs 6123 Hwy. 271 S., Fort Smith, AR 479.646.3949 With the uncertainty of the economy and housing market, many home owners are choosing to stay in their existing homes.

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Building your home can be a really great experience, and

HOUSE AND HOME

The Paint Store 141 Fayetteville Rd., Van Buren, AR Find them on Facebook 479.474.4504 DO SOUTH MAGAZINE

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Hands down, the most popular colors can be found here – on LARGE, REAL sheetrock and wood samples! Details count when it comes to paint, so we ask a lot of questions to enable us to share the best tips and techniques. For 29+ years we've kept records of the paint you use – you can depend on consistency with us. Higher quality, better service, excellent knowledge – The Paint Store in Van Buren.

The Reserve Apartments 9505 Chad Colley Blvd., Fort Smith, AR srgapts.com 479.222.6322 Whether you’re looking for a new place to call home, waiting for a closing date on a new home, or are in the area for an extended business stay, we offer great options for everyone! Ask about our convenient lease terms and beautifully furnished units with everything included: furniture, bedding and kitchen items, and all utilities paid. Outstanding amenities include granite countertops, laminate wood floors, large walk-in closets, pool with cabanas, clubhouse, theater room, tanning bed, business center, and state-of-the-art fitness center. Call today at 479.222.6322 to schedule your tour and find out more at srgapts.com.

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Shelter Insurance - Brent Lovell 3444 Old Greenwood Rd, Ste. C, Fort Smith, AR shelterinsurance.com 479.646.1700

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repairs & replacement needs!

Read Chair Publishing, LLC 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110 Fort Smith, AR 72903