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i n a r k a n s a s, w h e r e t h e r e s s m o k e , t h e r e s b a r b e c u e
July 2016 $4.95
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ii ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com
july 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 1
ON THE COVER
P H O T O G R A P H BY R E T T P E E K
features
48 66
ON CUE HISTORY LESSONS
When it comes to barbecue, The Natural State has always been a cross- When it opened its door s for the fir st time 75 year s ago, the Historic
roads. To the nor th, St. Louis and its famed baby back ribs. To the east, Ar kansas Museum made histor y. Or, really, it started to make histor y
Memphis dr y rub and Carolina pulled pork. To the west, Texas, where brisket and its continued to do so, thanks in large par t to the effor ts of two
is king. But dont think were overshadowed by our neighbors. Because in individuals, its founder and its longtime executive director, whose
Arkansas, from the pit to the platea process documented within these stewardship shaped that legacy and helped our states past come alive
pagesweve taken the ver y best and made it our own for generations of Ar kansans
By Jordan P. Hickey, Nicholas Hunt, Mariam Makatsaria and Emily Van Zandt By Katie Bridges and Mariam Makatsaria
Photography by Arshia Khan and Rett Peek Photography by Rett Peek
2 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

DEPARTMENTS
Front Porch 105 Good Tasting
13 Culturalist Photography by
Arshia Khan
Sketchbook
16 Lawrence McElroy Weekender
106 Big Peach, Lime
Favorite Things Light
18 Tom Dillard Hollywood goes south in
Ten years of the Encyclopedia Atlanta
of Arkansas By Zach Matthews
By Mariam Makatsaria Photography by
Photography by JAMIE HOPPER
Arshia Khan
Outdoorsman
ONE ON ONE 112 Down by the River
20 Graham Gordy Celebrating 40 years of the
The actor and screenwriter on BOC with Mike Mills
his life in lights By Nicholas Hunt
By Jordan P. Hickey Photography by
Photography by Wesley Hitt
Arshia Khan
Last Word
HOMETOWN 120 Memory Banks
25 Altus Remembering a childhood
By HEATHER STEADHAM spent knee-deep in the creek
Photography by By Johnny Carrol Sain
A COOKBOOK FEATURING RECIPES & STORIES
FROM ARKANSAS' INNOVATIVE KITCHENS Arshia Khan
Habitat pAGE 20
themodernarkansastable.com 31 Digital by Design
501.399.3684 Five services bringing interior
design to the masses
By Katie Bridges
Good Taste
99 Southern
Gourmasian
Finding balance on a new
menu
By Jordan P. Hickey
Photography by
Arshia Khan
104 Caprese to go
Its salad on a stick
Photography by
Arshia Khan
Arkansas Life, Volume 8, Number 11 (ISSN 2374-0868, print) (ISSN 2374-0892,

online) (USPS PE 12922) is published monthly by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Inc., 121 East Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201. Periodical postage
paid at Little Rock, Arkansas, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to Arkansas Life, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203-2221.

EDITORS LETTER ARKANSASLIFE
121 East Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201
volume 8 number 11
Niche Publications Director

STACI MILLER FRANKLIN
Retail Advertising Director ashley frazier
Niche Sales Director Sloane mares Grelen
Circulation Manager John Burnett
Marketing & Events Director AMANDA COPLEY
EDITORIAL
Editor KATIE BRIDGES
Creative Director KELLEY LANE
Senior Editor JORDAN P. HICKEY
Associate Editor NICHOLAS HUNT
Assistant Editor MARIAM MAKATSARIA
Photographer ARSHIA KHAN
Designers
MARK BUFFALO
SETH MASSENGILL
Copy Editor KAREN LASKEY
Contributing Writers
ZACH MATTHEWS
JOHNNY CARROLL SAIN
HEATHER STEADHAM
EMILY VAN ZANDT
Its not every day you have the chance to interview someone whos given Contributing Photographers
44 years to a local institution, like Bill Worthen, the longtime director of the WESLEY HITT
Historic Arkansas Museum. He took his post in 1972you know, back when JAMIE HOPPER
Nixon was ordering up a space-shuttle program. In other words? Hes a guy rett peek
whose roots run deep at the museum. (Its not for nothing that were featuring Contributing Artist
him this month as we celebrate the museums 75th anniversary.) But his roots LAWRENCE Mcelroy
run even deeper in Arkansas, back to a time when Arkansas was still on the ADVERTISING
road to realization. Special Sections Manager WENDY MILLER
When it comes to finding a true-blue, born-and-raised, Natural State natural, Advertorial Writers
youd be hard-pressed to find one better than Bill. SARAH DeCLERK
Without even realizing it, that true-blue-Arkansan thing became something LINDA GARNER-BUNCH
of a recurring theme this month. The barbecue gurus we spoke to for Legend JENNIFER ELLIS
Has It (page 50) are of the firmly planted variety as well. Take Buddy Halsell, CODY GRAVES
for instance. His father started Blythevilles venerable Dixie Pig back in the SPENCER GRIFFIN
20s; he came on board back in 1954, and still shows up to work every day at Advertorial Designer LEANNE HUNTER
86 years young. Then theres Scott McClard, whos the fourth generation to Advertising Designer WESS DANIELS
stoke the pit at his familys joint in Hot Springs. There are others, too. In fact, Advertising Photographers
if you really stop and think about it, this deep-rootedness extends far beyond KELVIN GREEN
the bounds of this issue. WILLIAM HARVEY
For so many people, ours is a place worth sticking around. For some, its Advertising Account Executive TWEEDIE MAYS
a place found late in life, one which exercises an almost magnetic pull. For
othersmyself and my husband includedits a place you leave with no Arkansas Life is published 12 times yearly
intention of coming back. But you do. And you stay. And darn it if thats not by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
the best decision you could have ever made.
Im not exactly sure what it is, this thing that sticks people to this place like Publisher WALTER E. HUSSMAN JR.
crazy glue. But theres this: That Pig Sandwich (page 58) probably doesnt hurt. President/General Manager LYNN HAMILTON
V.P./Advertising SCOTT STINE
V.P./Circulation LARRY GRAHAM
Cheers, Digital Director VERONICA OXENDINE
Editorial Information 501.918.4505

Advertising Information 501.244.4334
Circulation Information 501.918.4555

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A GOOD WORD
ArkansasLife Arkansas Life
I just opened my June 2016 edition
@ArkansasLife Arkansas Life of Arkansas Life andas always
Arkansaslife.tumblr.com
flipped straight back to the last page
for the Last Word. I enjoyed the
quick read about Katy Henriksens
trek from Wisconsin to Arkansas to
Brooklyn, then back again to Arkan-
Feedback? Write to us at sas. Brooklyn was so much front and
Editors, Arkansas Life, 121 center in the news several weeks
E. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, back during the New York demo-
AR, 72201, or drop us a line at katie@ cratic primary and I enjoyed her
arkansaslife.com. Letters addressed to descriptions of it.
Arkansas Life become its property, and may I love your magazine in totality. I
be edited for length and clarity. love the slick feel and bright, bold
colors. It most always seems to cov-
ON A HIGH NOTE er just what I am interested in. But,
Correction: In last months Favorite however, nonetheless: my favorite
Last month, our Day Trips package was brimming with stunning
Things, we incorrectly mentioned that Lauren spot of every issue is that back page
photographs of a Quapaw Canoe Co. outing on the Mississippi
Manning reports on the Young Farmers Success Act and the real-life stories told there.
River. In the shots, you may have noticed multi-colored flags
for AgFunderNews. She reports on venture capital Please keep em coming!
strung between a pair of gangly tree trunks. What you didnt
investment and innovation in agriculture technology know (and what we, ourselves, just learned about via comments Hazel Farris, Little Rock
for AgFunderNews. In addition, she works with the left on our Facebook page) is that the same flags now flutter
National Young Farmers Coalition regarding the in the wind atop *gasp* Mount Everest. Needless to say, our Have a first-person essay youd like to
Young Farmers Success Act, as well as other issues. interest was piquedor should we say, peaked?by this most contribute to Last Word? Email us at
epic of realizations. editorial@arkansaslife.com.

CONTRIBUTORS
Johnny Carrol Sain

Freelance writer/editor Johnny Carrol Sain
has lived at several addresses in Arkansas,
though none have been more than a 30-minute
drive from his bir thplace in Dardanelle. You
might simply label him a local in the Arkansas
River Valley and southern Ozarks. As a lifelong
hunter, angler and naturalistwildflowers, trees,
water, clouds and all creatures great and small
have always warranted careful observation
and appreciationhes spent most of his four
decades in either woods or water. It should
come as no surprise then that Johnnys favorite
writing subjects are wild places, wild things (like
the crawdads he captures in this months Last
Word, page 120), rural culture and offering proof
that the term philosophical hillbilly doesnt
necessarily have to be an oxymoron.
Emily Van Zandt

Contributor and former Arkansas Life staff
member Emily Van Zandt misses many things
about her former Arkansas home. Since moving
to the Washington, D.C., metro area in late 2015,
Emily has been searching in vain for a proper
pimiento-cheese sandwich and fried catfish
not to mention a good beer for under $8. And
dont even ask about the prospect of a flaky fried
pie, the lack of which she discusses on page 65.
Not that the East Coast is all bad: Her ability
to find a decent oyster has greatly improved,
and shes happy to repor t she currently resides
in a neighborhood first surveyed by George
Washington. (Take that, history nerds.) Emily
now works as a freelance writer and associate
editor for Arlington magazine.
Rett Peek
When it came to photographing this months
barbecue package (page 48), convincing Little
Rock-based photographer Rett Peek to climb
aboard was a piece of cakeor, better yet, easy
as fried pie. The man loves barbecue. He grew
up scarfing down ribs at Sims with his father and
brother and has kept going back for those juicy,
thick cuts of pork. Which is to say, shooting at
Sims was a pretty special experiencenostalgic,
even. When hes not trotting around the state
capturing pit masters in their natural habitats,
Rett and his family of four enjoy exploring other
corners of the worldmost recently, Seaside,
Florida.

FRONT PORCH
the culturalist
A months worth of peaches, patriotism and Puccini
Johnson County Peach Festival

July 21-23
CLARKSVILLE | Arkansas oldest festival is going on sure there werent many bouncy houses back in 1938),
its 78th year this month, but the fruit that inspired it many traditions remain the same from the festivals
ripe, juicy Johnson County beautieshas been growing early days, like the crowning of Miss Elberta and, of
near Clarksville ever since those first Elberta peaches course, the peach-eating contest (which dont happen
were planted in 1893. And while thereve been a few at the same time, mind you). (sites.google.com/site/
additions to the celebration over the years (were pretty johnsoncountypeachfestival)
American Made: Treasures From the American Folk art Museum
July 2 Sept. 19
Horse Jack of Woodbridge, NJ, James Bard, 1871, American Folk Art Museum, New York;
Standing Sentinel Whirligig, artist unknown, mid to late 19th century, American Folk Art Mu-
seum, New York; Mrs. Keyser, artist unknown, ca. 1834, American Folk Art Museum, New York.
The Reading and Signing of the Opera in the Ozarks

Declaration of Independence July 15
jULY 2 & 4 EUREKA SPRINGS | An opera school tucked away in the lush
WASHINGTON | If youre like most folks, you know a few landscape of the Ozarks? Yes, we have one of those. It sits on
lines from the Declaration of Independencetruths that are a patch of land called Inspiration Point, a mountainous place
self-evident, unalienable rights, life and liberty, etc.but not too many miles from heaven, purchased in the 20s by a
perhaps fall short of, shall we say, a certain familiarity. (Guilty.) German-born architectural engineer who intended to build a
Maybe thats because youve never heard it read aloud castle there (we almost had one of those). Every summer, the
by someone in period garb (unless you had a particularly students enrolled in this rigorous singing program perform three
ebullient U.S. Civ teacher), as was the Fourth of July custom operas, and more than 6,000 people from across the nation
across the Union during the 19th century. That all changes flock to see them. Mozart, Britten and Puccini, here we come.
at Historic Washington State Park this July 2 and 4, when (opera.org)
curator Josh Williams will bring history to life from the
balcony of the parks historic courthouse. Be sure to brush
up on your quill penmanship before you arrive, as youll be
asked to add your John Hancock to a copy of the original.
(historicwashingtonstatepark.com)
West Side Story | July 6

CONWAY | Somethings coming, something good, croons the
hopeful Tony in Leonard Bernsteins West Side Story. Wed say
the love-struck teenager makes a good point there, especially
since the cast and crew of the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre
are bringing the Jets and the Sharks, the rival gangs of 1950s-era
New York, to the Reynolds Performance Hall this month. Directed
by North Little Rock native Jeremy Williams, the story is a not-so-
subtle re-imagination of Shakespeares Romeo and Julietbut
with more politics and violence. With its many high-energy dances
and songs, its no surprise that West Side Story is considered a
classic in American musical theater, making the decision to attend
this show a snap. (Snap, snap.) (arkshakes.com)

the
calendar
BENTONVILLE | Painstakingly
JULY 1-29: Annual Juried Art
hand-stitched quilts. Intricate
Competition and Exhibition
weather vanes. Hand-carved
at the South Arkansas Arts
furniture. Brightly hued oil por- Center in El Dorado
traits. To the self-taught artists
of young America, art wasnt JULY 4: 33rd annual Pops on
something found in museums the River at First Security
or studied in textbooks: It was Amphitheater in Little Rocks
just a part of everyday lifean Riverfront Park
elevation of the practical, an
embellishment of the utilitarian. JULY 8-10: Tesla Fest at the
In collaboration with New York Mid-America Science Mu-
Citys American Folk Art Muse- seum in Hot Springs
um, the Crystal Bridges Museum JULY 9: South Main Vintage
of American Art presents more Market at The Bernice Garden
than 100 relics of Americas in Little Rock
folk-art heritage this month, in a
show thats both a walk through JULY 10 & 12: Internet Cat
history and a celebration of Video Festival at Arkansas
what could be considered the Arts Center in Little Rock
purest, most authentic American
art form. (crystalbridges.org) JULY 12: Miranda Lambert at
the Walmart AMP in Rogers
JULY 15-17: Fat Tire Festival

at Lake Leatherwood Park in
Eureka Springs
JULY 16: Firefly Fling at the

Botanical Garden of the
Ozarks in Fayetteville
JULY 17: Weezer & Panic! at the

Disco at the Walmart AMP in
Rogers
JULY 21: Fitz and the

Tantrums with Zella Day at
Georges Majestic Lounge in
Fayetteville
JULY 21-23: Homegrown

Music Festival at Byrds
Adventure Center in Ozark
JULY 22: Preservation

Libations Master Mix-off
at the Albert Pike Masonic
Temple in Little Rock
JULY 22-24: Rogers Cycling

Taste of Brazil Festival
July 9 JULY 23: Murphy USA
MORRILTON | The prospect of the 2016 Olympics got you daydreaming about Rio? You Summer Concert Series:
can get a taste of itlike, 18 courses worthat the Winthrop Rockefeller Institutes quarterly Little Texas at Union Square
tasting dinner this month. The menu, dreamed up by chef Robert Hall, boasts staples like in El Dorado
feijoada, a black-bean stew brewed with smoked meats, and moqueca, a mildly spicy
JULY 30: 30th annual World
shrimp dish soaked in coconut milk, tomatoes and spices. And then theres the po de Championship Cardboard
queijo or, in other words, heavenly cheese-bread bites that are nigh impossible to stop Boat Races at Sandy Beach
eatingcrispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. Theres also well, you get in Heber Springs
the picture. And after the four-hour affair, you can take a long post-dinner nap because
accommodations are included in the package. Brazilian not your cuisine of choice? Try
the Taste of Italy next month. (rockefellerinstitute.org)
FRONT PORCH
Arkansas Sketchbook
Portrait of Gabriel Sword
Lawrence McElroy
Oil on canvas
2016
He was still himself when he was younger, when he first he brought along a set of watercolors just to see if he could still do it. On the
had a piece accepted into the Annual Delta Exhibition. But even then, as a morning of the second-to-last day, he forced himself to go outside, put paint
young man in 1979, Lawrence McElroy knew himself well enough to realize to canvas and, 45 minutes later, saw a landscape appear fully formed on the
there was something lacking in his work that no amount of dedication to the surface. (That piece was later accepted into the Annual Juried Exhibition of
studio might supersede or allow a shortcut aroundhe knew he needed to see the Mid-Southern Watercolorists.) After a few more successes and boons
the world, better understand it through the accumulation of life experience. to self-confidenceto say nothing of the serendipitous encounter with a
So, he allowed himself to be taken along by life. An interest in drawing led homeless man in November that provided the spark of inspiration for the
to an interest in anatomical drawing, which led to a career in medicine. For piece above, which was not only accepted into this years Delta but won the
more than three decades, he worked in cardiology, and in the process, it seems Contemporaries Awardhes gotten to a point where he feels comfortable
fair to say, he developed a more fundamental understanding of the human taking up the paints once again, all these years later.
condition than most of us could ever hope to have. I can see a clear degree of maturity that was not there, he says when asked
This has always been the plan, he says, now 60 years old. I always knew about the difference between his past and present work. That painting that
that I would eventually paint again. I did for the Delta show in 79that hangs in my house. I see it every day.
Beginning in 2010, he started actively planning a return to paintingfirst I always liked that. I was very proud of that. Now that Ive started painting
converting his garage into a studio, installing track lighting and cabinetry, again, I see the difference. and literally, those 38 years of life experiences
and later stretching his own canvases and accumulating a cache of necessary do inform this latest piece, and will continue to do so. There was not much
supplies. (Also worth noting: In order to properly understand the business content in the work back then. That was a missing componentand it is
side of things, hed gotten a masters degree in museum studies from Johns now in place. jph
Hopkins, studying from 2010 to 2013 while working full timewhich ought
to give you some sense of the mans dedication to the idea.) The 58th Annual Delta Exhibition is on display at the Arkansas Arts Center in
And then a few summers ago, while on a trip to the beach with his family, Little Rock through Aug. 28.

FRONT PORCH
tomS
Pic k s
favorite things
One for the Books 1 1. Im going to say that my
Getting a read on the favorite novel is Donald
founder of Encyclopedia Haringtons Architecture of
of Arkansas the Ozarks. Its a crucial in-
stallment in a multivolume
series of novels on the
Ozarks, and it introduces
many interesting charac-
ters. Its funny. Its serious.
Its deeply thoughtful and
yet hilarious, and it paints a
picture using what Donald
called Ozark Surrealism.
2. Im an avid gardener.
PHOTO BY ARSHIA KHAN
That would be my number

one hobby. Thats a very
broadly intended response
because gardening is very
2 multidimensional. Im inter-
ested in botany in addition
to gardening. Its one of the
most therapeutic hobbies
3 that you can have.
It was a seventh-grade project that
did it, says Tom Dillarda report on Izard County 3. My favorite movie is
in north Arkansas. Id never even heard of [that probably Rosalie Goes Shop-
county], but that project just opened up my eyes, ping. Its filmed in the Arkan-
he says. I started really young having an interest in sas Delta around Stuttgart
in the rice region of Arkan-
what I call Arkansas studies. sas. Its so artfully conceived
But with his growing curiosity, Tom realized how and photographed, and
little was published about Arkansas. And frankly, he those grain-storage facilities
was tired of scouring other states resources to find over there look like great
cathedrals in the movie.
information about his own. Over time, he began to
dream up a project: an encyclopedia of all things 4. [I love] Willie Nelsons
Arkansas. A print book to leaf through? That was 4 ballads. Im not going to
old hat, but an electronic version would make the pick a particular one, but
information accessible from anywhere. he has an incredible voice.
It could be full of angst. It
With funding from giants such as the Winthrop could be full of joy or per-
Rockefeller Foundation and the National plexity. His voice is just so
Endowment for the Humanities, the Butler Center multidimensional.
(where Tom was the director at the time) launched
5 5. My favorite artist is Elsie
the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture in Freund. I think her jewelry
2006. Ten years and close to 5,000 entries later, the art is just spectacular. She
website still relies heavily on volunteerssome of was from Eureka Springs.
whom arent even residents of Arkansas (or citizens She also painted, and I have
of the U.S.). That level of collaboration, he says, still some of her paintings, but I
only have one piece of jew-
humbles him. elry. Its just so expensive
Although now retired and living with his wife, to collect. She used stones,
Mary, on an 8-acre farm nestled between Benton glass and metal. Anyway, her
and Malvern, Tom still edits and fine-tunes entries. jewelry is just grand.
In fact, just a few hours before we met he received 10 6. Isaac T. Gillam repre-
in need of tweaking, he tells meand chances are 6 sents the myriad of black
hell wake to a dozen more in his inbox tomorrow. leaders following the Civil
After a lifetime of studying Arkansas history, the War who stepped forward
most significant lesson you get from it is how little to help the freedmen adjust
to emancipation. Research-
you really know, he says, eyes twinkling behind ing and writing about him
his glasses with a Dumbledore-esque kindness and [for the encyclopedia] was
wit. Anytime you got millions of people living in such a thrilland I am
a defined geographical area, there are millions of proud to help bring his
amazing life to the attention
stories there. mm of modern Arkansans.
FRONT PORCH
Screen Play
For the past several years, native son Graham Gordy has made a
name for himself in lights. And even though the path hasnt been an
outright easy onec ase in point, his current project, Quarry, which is
(finally) slated to air this falltheres little doubt where hes headed
As told to Jordan P. Hickey | Photography by Arshia Khan
Graham Gordy could tell this better. That pretty much living in this field. Its ridiculous, honestly. Like, the idea that I can sit in
goes without saying, though in many ways his story, the way it traces my home in my pajama pants and watch words bump together on a page
the well-trod narrative of so many young people whove struck off for is completely decadent when people are out here actually working hard to
Hollywoods greeneror at least more luminescentpastures, is a rela- make a living. And its not that it hasnt come without a lot of hard work,
tively straightforward one. Because at one time, he was the local boy a lot of student debt and a tremendous amount of heartache. But I think
specifically, the Conway boywho, with little more than the dream of Ive gotten to the point recently where you sort of throw yourself away.
appearing on the silver screen, set out for Los Angeles at the age of 19
and returned home a year later. Who found a different calling in the On patience:
world of screenwriting, to craft stories far-ranging in tone and genre, Somebody said very earlyI think it was probably in grad schoolthat
settling in the limelight and building upon the burgeoning career that from idea to screen, if things go well for a feature, it usually takes about
followed thereafter. five years. And since we first pitched this to several cable networksHBO
But much in the way that some narratives splinter and refuse the molds was the one who bought itits been four years now. Its funny, because
we insist they wearnot unlike a very uncomfortable and poorly fitted TV is supposedly so much more efficient. I rewatched the first season of
holiday sweaterso, too, could the same be said here. When we spoke The Sopranos not long ago. And you see the kids on that showI mean,
at a North Little Rock coffee shop in January, there was a possibility the they look a year older, maybe more, between the pilot and the second
show Graham had been working on with his writing partner, Michael D. episode. So I guess they have a history of taking a very long time with
Fuller, for the past four years, Quarrya story based on the pulp novels these things. Its really unbelievably frustrating. Its really a testament
of the same name that follows a Vietnam vet who returns home only to to choose projects youre passionate about becausewhen it comes to
join a crime syndicatewould finally see the airwaves this past spring. televisionyou may be working on them for five years. You may also be
However, thanks to what can only be described in decent terms as an in development with them for two or three or four years before that. So,
imbroglio of epic proportions (there are many other less-decent terms), its a long process and a short life.
the airdate has been pushed time and again and again.
Now, tentatively, its happening: Quarrys slated to air on Cinemax this On collaboration and staying loyal to what drives you:
coming fall. But as we waitand waitwith bated breath, we thought I have a writing partner in this, [Michael D. Fuller], and 90 percent of
it time to share Grahams story. And because he speaks faster than you the time, we see eye to eye in terms of what the show iswhat we think
might expect, phrases coming haltingly and in stops and starts, the it is and what we want it to be. But theres also some negotiation there.
ideas resolving into full paragraphs before rippling and echoing the And theres also the negotiating with the people who are footing the bill
larger ideasand because the 8,000-word transcript wont rightly fit in for the whole thing. So, it is the antithesis of a solitary experience. If you
a space better suited for a tenth of thatweve decided to run some of get a note from somebody, it may be, Oh, thats their own particular take,
the most salient parts of that conversation, (which have been edited for or thats their upbringing or their particular proclivity, or whatever. But if
length and clarity). three people are telling you, This isnt working or Im not getting that, then
you need to listen and probably need to make that change. The rule I use
On the reason for getting into this business: is that if one person tells you that youre drunk, they can f*** off. But if
Theres very few people who get into this thinking, This is the best three people tell you that youre drunk, you need to sit down.
opportunity I have to get a big house or a car. You get into it for the love of
it and because you feel the need to express something. And I think youre On the time period:
taking something you consider to be artor artful, at leastand trying [Michael and I] were talking about a time that kind of fascinated both
to package it in a way that it can be commodified. I mean, as soon as a of us: the early 70s. Were both from the South, so something set in the
poem makes a dollar, its not a poem. So its a matter of taking something South felt right, and initially, we were talking about, like, what would
you care about the most and trying to protect it from being mangled in be a dark, gritty The Dukes of Hazzard. Something having to do with
the world of commerce. criminality in the South thats obviously not as, you know, jumping the
General Lee and being chased by the same sheriff and whatever. But there
On figuring out what you want to do: was something about that that was instantly kind of nostalgic and cool, and
I turned 40 in November, and a lot of this has been a realmaybe crisis then combining that with the idea of the early 70s being so rich in terms
of conscience is too dramatic. Just figuring out what it is I really want of culture. Maybe the best period for movies in the history of cinema.
to do. I think you start to realize the road starts to narrow in terms of Arguably the best period for music. But a terrible time for the countryin
the time you have left to do these things. This is an incredibly privileged terms of recession, in terms of lack of trust in the government. Obviously
position to be in. And by that, I just mean the opportunity to make a a lot of paranoia going on at that time. And I feltand Michael feltthat

we were in a sort of repeat of that time to a degree.
We started looking around for books, either fiction or
nonfiction, just to sort of base this on, and Michael came
across the Quarry novels. And what interested us the most
is that it was about a vet returning home from Vietnam, sort
of getting ostracized from polite society. And in the end,
he sort of ends up, out of desperation, joining this criminal
network all along the Mississippi river.
On addressing PTSD in the show:

We really started to examine what that period was like his-
torically: the experience of vets coming home at that time,
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) before there was an
acronym for it, before anybody knew what it was. Thats
what the show became more than anything else to us: How
does that individual come back and deal with that when
theres no outlet or even articulation for what that feeling is?
Once we found that and started exploring that, researching
thatin addition to the time period itself, the culture at the
time, the politics at the time, the sort of bifurcation of the
country from left and right at the timewe really started to
kind of find what the show was. A general audience doesnt
necessarily want to watch eight hours of television about
PTSD, so you have to engage them in a TV show they want
to watch, and characters that they want to see and so forth.
So, that has to be the Flintstone vitaminsit has to look like
Barney and Dino, but you have to put something thats the
real reason in there.
On speaking with vets about their experiences:

We read a book called What It Is Like To Go To War by Karl
Marlantes who was a Vietnam vet, and it was just fascinating.
And we got to talk with him on the phone several times, and
hes just a brilliant guyone of those guys thats a Rhodes
scholar and then went to Vietnam and then came back. He
had gotten married right before he went to Vietnam. He
came back, and for the first three to four years, he was so
irritable and so frustrated, had this rage. He said he was such
a chill guy before he left, and he was like, I came back home
from war, and what is different? And then he said, well, I got
married before I left, so it must be my wife thats causing all
these problems. So he was blaming marriage and his wife for
all of this, and then his wife finally said, you are a different
person than you were before. War has changed you, and we
need to go speak to a psychiatrist about this. He started writing
[the book] in the 70s, but it was something that he had been
working on for 30 years, 40 years, before it was published.
I had multiple conversations with a buddy of mine from
high school whos a Navy SEAL. And its funny, too, because
hes such a lovely guy. Hes totally kind of a good ol boy, and
I said I wanted to talk with him about this, and I think he
thought that because of the nature of the business that Im
in, that I wanted to hear, like, the cool Navy SEALs stories.
And I said upfront, I really want to talk to you about PTSD,
and he kind of went silent, and he said, OK, Ill be happy to
lets set up a time cause its a long conversation, and he said,
Ill have a few Captain Morgans, and then Ill be able to talk
to you about it. He said, My wife understands my addiction
to my brothers over there, and my love for them is more than
Ill ever feel for her. And its like, Good God, I cant believe
that youre saying that.
For an extended cut of the interview, visit arkansaslife.com.

FRONT PORCH
hometown
altus
There are no sour grapes in this storied small town
by Heather Steadham | Photography by arshia khan
I ve taken Exit 55 off I-40 many times, mostly on my way

to see my dad when he taught and coached at Subiaco
Academy, living out on Lake Dardanelle in the town of
New Blaine (population 174). But Ive not once taken it to get to the
wine capital of Arkansas: Altus.
9:56 a.m.
With its gabled roof and Tudor-style faade, Altus city hall reminds
me of the architecture I saw in Germany and Austria during my four
years living abroad; makes perfect sense to me, as Im vaguely aware
In the 15 miles between the highway and the Altus city hall, I note that many Germans settled in Altus in its early days. As I enter the main
there is not much to note; theres a Meetin [sic]at 64 Event Center, a hall, I see a display case to my left featuring wines and grapes from local
VFW Bingo Hall and the requisite Arkansas churches every other mile vineyards, which again makes total sense as the town is known for its
or so, but with no cars behind me and the clearest blue sky Ive seen in wineries. Yet to my right, in an alcove behind a seating area, I see a
weeks above, my speed lags and my thoughts meander to the history of little shelf with a mock street sign above it: Coal Miner Blvd. I have to
the city ahead of memy personal history, that is. When my mom found wonder how many folks realize that Altus main source of employment
out I was headed to Altus, she gave me two instructions: 1) Look at the for years and years was this dangerous work that caused the deaths of
piano in the back room of the museum, and 2) Find your grandpas many men, my great-uncle Dave included.
name on the coal miners memorial. Behind the front counter, a woman with a terrifically bright smile says,
I told her Yes, maam, as every good Southern child should. But now Shell be right with you. This is my first hint that in Altus, everybody
that Im almost in town, I begin to wonder: Just how deep could my roots knows everybody, including anticipated guests. As I sit to wait for my
go in a place Ive hardly visited? host, from just behind my head I hear, Heather! How are you? Sorry

you had to wait so long. my Catholic-school roots tugging
I stand up and see Veronica at me. Is that made from tigers
Post, mayor of Altus and wife to eye? I ask.
Paul Post, vice-president and co- It is, she replies shyly.
owner of Post Familie Vineyards I have a rose-bead rosary I got
& Winery. Her cropped blonde from the Vatican when we lived
hair frames her blue-rimmed in Italy, I share. Its blessed by
glasses that almost exactly match the Pope.
her sleeveless dress. She walks No longer is after-hours
purposefully in her patent nude Veronica shy. As we drive past
peep-toe high heels, and I am SGL Carbon, a major area
impressed by both her fashion employer that makes carbon steel
sense and her stamina. I follow electrodes, heading toward what
her to her office, a glass-walled is now Ozark Middle School, she
square one door down from the tells me about her honeymoon in
police departments. The phone Italy 21 years ago and how she
begins ringing almost as soon as hopes one day to go back. The
we enter, and Veronica shrugs, honeymoon tale pauses long
saying, The life of a small- enough for her to point out where
town mayor is never what you the 2011 tornado came through
imagine. and devastated nearby Denning
I have to agree with her there. (as well as Veronicas own home).
I didnt even realize a small- But Veronica doesnt linger
town mayor was a full-time too long on the sad. We park
job. I figured it was a volunteer at the middle school and head
position, an honorary one at to a plaque proclaiming this to
that, but Veronica is known for be the original site of Hendrix
taking calls, writing grants and, College. And thats cool and all,
most famously, putting Altus on but instead I am fascinated by
the national map back in 2003 via a huge oak tree standing in the
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richies courtyard to my right.
Fox reality show, The Simple Life. Thats been here since I was a
This is Veronicas fourteenth year child, Veronica informs me. My
as mayor, and many people have daughter was valedictorian and
asked her why she does it. Is she crazy? I love it, she tells nonbelievers. she even talked about that tree in her speechabout all the generations
I tell the employees, At the end of the day, we know weve helped that must have played on it in their time here.
someone. If its Lonnie out mowing the park or Leon and Jeff taking I guess its not just my own roots that run deep in this beautiful
care of street problems, everything is for the benefit of the public. country.
But its not Mayor Veronica Ive come to seeits after-hours Ve-
ronica. Its Altus Veronica. And shes only too happy to show me the
place shes lived all her life. But first, she has to get some things out of 11:43 a.m.
her car. Tricias moving, she says, referring to the nice lady who greeted We arrive at the Altus Heritage House Museum, a handsome brick
me. And I just got through moving, so I brought her boxes. So off she building listed on the National Register of Historic Places that used
goes, leaving me at the counter with Patricia Salazar, the clerk for both to house the German American Bank. Mary Darter, president of the
the water and police departments. I dont know how she does it, she museum board, sits outside on a bench, waiting for us to arrive.
says, watching Veronica sprint out the door in her stilettos. Veronica tells her up front: That piano youve got belongs to Heath-
I dont either, but I do know its the perfect time to ask my signature ers family. She needs to see it.
question: So, Tricia, what makes Altus Altus for you? Mary smiles and leads us past rocking chairs, past quilts, past the
Tricia doesnt hesitate. For me, its the small town atmosphere and the biggest American flag Ive ever seen indoors, to the back room. And
general friendliness of everyone here. If you need anything, someones sure enough, there it sits: a black upright player piano thats in pretty
there to help you. Its why weve stayed here for so long. And, right on darned good condition.
cue, Veronica returns with three huge boxes for her. The player part doesnt work anymore, Mary informs me. But you
can play it, if youd like.
I can play it? I ask, trying to remember the sum total of four years
11:15 a.m. of piano lessons from ages 6 to 10.
Veronica and I climb into her cream-colored Ford SUV and she im- You can play it, she nods.
mediately marks down some mileage. You know, I live exactly half a Ive got one go-to piece when Im told I can play something, and
mile from home to work. She checks her dashboard. And I have 50 really I only remember the right hands part: Jesu, Joy of Mans Desiring
miles to empty, so that will last me several days. by Johann Sebastian Bach. Its one of my favorite classical pieces, and
I cant help but notice that in a cubby right next to the gearshift its what I chose for my bridesmaids to walk down the aisle to. I lift
lies a plastic travel-sized-shampoo-like bottle clearly labeled HOLY the keyboard cover and plunk away. Sure enough, its held its tune
WATER. What on earth does she need to carry holy water around for? I pretty well. And although Ive never been all that interested in family
wonder. I then see a rosary hanging from the rearview mirror and feel historya character flaw to be sureI literally tear up. Just a little bit.

Did you see this? Mary asks when I finish. A lot, as it turns out. Paintings by locals and
On the music rack is a history of the pianos newspaper clippings from the 1920s and spin-
familymy family. One of the pictures shows ning wheels and old washing machines and a 12:32 p.m.
my great-grandfather John Thomas with his room done up like a one-room schoolhouse. Kelts Restaurant and Pub is a square metal
wife and five kids; one of them is my grand- We just collect a little here and a little there, building on the south side of Altus city park;
father, young and blonde. The wife and two says Mary. Little is not how Id describe the the flags of Great Britain, Ireland, Wales and
of these children died in a train wreck, Mary museums collection, but I cant argue with a Scotland (as well as the good ol United States)
says, perhaps forgetting that these are my an- lady whose own father was a coal miner here stand out front. You know Dans open if his
cestors, perhaps thinkingquite accurately until the early 1950s when all the coal was flags are out, Veronica informs me.
that I dont know as much about my family mined out and farming came to the forefront. Dan McMillen, the owner, sits on a barstool
as I should. A lady who proclaims, Im old enough to be near the front door, his long gray hair pulled
They stalled on the tracks, I add. the history. into a low ponytail and braided, his arm in a
Mary nods. So what, to a lady whos been here longer sling. Its just so I dont put my arm over my
The next picture is of all the children who than just about anybody, makes Altus Altus? head, he explains. I had a pacemaker put in.
survived, taken in 1966the same year my Its home. Its where I grew upabout a Kelts also had its moment in the sun in the
mom graduated from high school. Thats my block over there on Cedar Street where I let days of The Simple Life. Paris and Nicole hung
grandpa, I say, pointing to the tallest man. out my first yell. Been yelling ever since. Its a out here all the time, as did much of the crew.
Veronica and Mary stay silent, I imagine sens- good place to grow up if we ever grow up. Im not afraid of the media, he tells me, the
ing the reverence in my voice. Im ashamed I I like Marys outlook on life, and I appreciate first of many times he relays that sentiment.
havent visited sooner, yet proud that my fam- the way she safeguards the history of so many I order the shaved turkey sandwich; its
ily has contributed to this wonderful museum people, including my own. Veronica hugs her Veronicas favorite and she orders the same,
in this historic little town. Now, what else you goodbye just like she hugged her hello, and as does her husband Paul, whos joined us for
got to show me? off we go. lunch. I guess were simple, I say, and I get a

few well-deserved eye rolls for my cheesy reference.
When The Simple Life folks were first coming to scope out the town, the
Arkansas Film Commission wanted to come through and do hospitality
training with the locals. Veronicas response? I dont think our townspeople
need to be trained to be hospitable. Theyre pretty nice on their own. My
thinking was, let them come and meet the people as they are. Veronicas
strategy worked, and out of many towns scouted throughout five southern
states, Altus was chosen for the shows location.
Dan arrives with three plates, side salads dressed with his wifes special
recipe. Dan and his wife, Jan, first met in Seattle where they both worked
at Time Warner. My wife was my boss and she still is, he tells me, his eye
glinting mischievously. They moved down here to care for Jans parents, and
realized they needed something to do for a living. He hadnt really worked
in food service before, but he really enjoyed the idea of pubspublic
houses. You open your home and put out your best and invite people in.
They found this building in 1994, and Kelts was born.
So what makes Altus Altus to you? I ask.
Altus is what it is, Dan shrugs. They have a wonderful park, some
interesting people.
But soon Dan is back to talking about his food (which he is obviously
quite proud of) and his wife (whom he clearly loves dearly) and how he
is totally a media whore (his words! Not mine!). We finish our meals in
boisterous company, and its easy for me to see why even out-of-towners
come back for more at Kelts.
1:41 p.m.
Altus City Park is on the south side of Highway 64, bordered by Hendrix,
Main and Franklin Streets. Every July, the Altus Grape Festival is held
here. But today, its a just a meticulously manicured piazza that displays
a veterans monument and, as described by my mom, a coal miners
monument. The latter has a statue of a life-sized miner, carrying a pickaxe
over his shoulder, surrounded by five square, towering columns, engraved
with the names of the souls brave enough to burrow into the earth and
retrieve what was Americas driving energy source for the majority of the
twentieth century.
As instructed, I locate my grandfathers nameJohn Clifford Wilson
which is located just above his fathers nameJohn Thomas Wilsonand
below his brothers nameDave Wilson. I take a picture of this legacy,
and remember my Uncle Dave, and how he coughed into his white mono-
grammed handkerchief, and I remember my grandpa, who was repeatedly
tested for black lung but was lucky enough to escape it. I look at all of
the names inscribed herethere must be thousandsand I realize how
hardworking the people of Altus have been and how precious their lives
were, so many given just to support their families. If I had a hat on, Id
tip it in respect.
1:54 p.m.
In her time as mayor, Veronica has garnered more than $500,000 in grants
for the city. The city hall building itself used to be a Simmons Bank, but
after Veronica inquired as to what the newly abandoned building was
going to be used for, the Simmons folks donated it outright to the town.
It seems like what Veronica wants, Veronica gets.
Youre not afraid to ask for what you want, are you? I ask her.
Veronica raises her eyebrows. I figure you have a 50-50 shot going in.
Its either yes or no. And if you can explain your reasoning, you have a
better chance. My little motto is, You have to be a turtle. A turtle never
gets anywhere unless he sticks his neck out.
We pull into the parking lot at Post Familie Vineyards and Winery
store, where I see grape juice and habanero pepper sauce and peach salsa
and sorghum molasses, not to mention port, sherry, chardonnay, pinot man arches connect what looks like marble columns, gold-leaf painting
grigio and moscato, along with other varietals Ive never heard of like adorns the area above the altar and sonorous organ music swells and
cynthiana, chambourcin, seyval and delawine. And here I thought I flows throughout the space from above.
was educated in all things wine. Its not long before Amy Sexton, the organist at St. Marys, looks down
Under much duress (OK, none at all), I begin tasting the wine. The from the balcony. Come on up, she says. I cant get there fast enough.
crisp pinot grigio is followed by the smoky seyval which is followed Amy begins to tell me how the organ is made with reeds, classifying
by the brut (a sparkly pinot grigio, Im told) which is followed by the it as a tracker organ, and sheds some light on the history of the instru-
Prophecy and the sangria and the Ives and the red muscadine and the ment, telling us how it was purchased second-hand in 1925 thanks to
Blue Parachute. Dont worry, Veronica says. Im driving. the generous donations from the parish members.
My cheeks are quite toasty when Paul joins us again to take me to Ive always, always wanted to play one. And never, never have I asked.
see the works. I float into cool rooms that smell grapey delicious. It is Then I remember what Veronica said about being a turtle: You never
a winery, you know, Paul teases as I mention the smell. get anywhere if you dont stick your neck out. Could I possibly play
Post Familie Vineyards and Winery crushes more than one million it? I ask.
pounds of grapes every year. The grapes are harvested in July, and the Well, sure! Amy says.
wine is ready to go by Christmas. But even though the volume is stag- I begin the old stand-by, the right hand part of Jesu, and Amy hollers
gering (Paul tells me that Post is among the largest 100 wineries in the out Hold on!
country), the portraits and snapshots hanging everywhere remind me I stop, and soon Amy has joined me, sheet music for the piece in
that this is still a family operation. An operation run by a family of seven hand. You play the right hand, she says. Ill play the left.
brothers and five sisters. (God bless their sainted mother.) Together, Amy and I fill up the church with our song. My hand is
At the end of my tour, Paul and Veronica kiss goodbye. As Veronica stumbling, uncertain. Hers is confident, accommodating.
and I return to her car, I marvel at the size of it all. Paul and I have When we finish, Veronica tells me That was my wedding song!
21 brothers and sisters combined, she says. Pauls mother helped Me, too! Amy says. Forty-one years tomorrow.
name me. My mother didnt know she was having twins and didnt Mine, too, I say, and I am literally astounded at how connected we
have names picked out. She suggested Monica, as we were born at St. are, and how we might never have known had I not stuck my neck out.
Monicas Day, and Veronica. Pauls a twin too. Family roots here are Amy gives me a tour of the church, pointing out the artwork and what
truly tangled indeed. it means and telling me fascinating facts about how the altar is actually
supported by sandstone grounded all the way into the dirt of the land.
I ask Amy my signature question, and she provides a unique answer:
2:59 p.m. The bells. They call us to worship, they toll when someone dies. And the
The construction of St. Marys Catholic Church as it stands today was land. Working in the vineyard as a childputting my feet in the dirt.
finished in 1902. The sandstone blocks of the church were culled from Too soon it is time to go, and Veronica returns me to the city hall. I
the hilltop on which it was built, and the square tower on one end, with stop once more at the little alcove devoted to coal miner memorabilia.
the three arched entries (signifying the Father, the Son, and the Holy Sitting between a guest sign-in book and a history of the coal mines is
Ghost) is another reminder of my time in Europe. a black ball cap. On it is printed the words: Coal Miners Granddaughter.
When Veronica and I enter the sanctuary, my senses overload. Ro- I put it on. I take a selfie. I smile.

FRONT PORCH
Long been a fan of HGTV
star Emily Hendersons
style? Good news: She
can still be your designer,
even though shes two time
zones away.
Photo by Tessa Neustadt
POST-MODEM DECOR
Need some decor guidance but dont have it in the budget? Enter online design
services, which are bringing good style to the (ever-growing) masses
By Katie Bridges
Scenario: Youve got a new place, and its a fresh canvas. a how-to layout and a list of impeccably curated ready-to-order products
White walls, white trim, lovely floors, lovely light, lovely everything. to fill your once-empty room. Theyll even handle the ordering for you.
The only issue? Its rather empty. After schlepping several carloads of All youve got to do is answer the door when the Crate & Barrel delivery
castoffs to Goodwill, youve narrowed down your belongings to a clean- man arrives and have a screwdriver on hand.
lined sofa, a matching pair of armchairs, that midcentury credenza you The numbers in support of these services are astounding. In March
scored on Craigslist and some art that holds personal meaning. And even of this year alone, Denver-based startup Havenly, which was created by
though youve got an overwhelmingly expansive Pinterest board titled a pair of sisters who struggled to find reasonably priced design help,
The New House!! and an RSS feed jammed with the latest 28-best this registered 25,000 new users. Leura Fine, founder of Laurel & Wolf,
and the 34-best that, youre flailing. Youve gone so far as to start shop- was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list this year, and for good
ping online, placing itemsa kilim rug, a linen duvet, a marble-topped reason: Launched in 2014, her company has since secured upward of $25
tablein phantom carts, but never feeling sure enough of yourself to million in funding. And the startup Homepolishwhich allows clients to
enter those 16 digits. Because that would mean commitment. And that, purchase top-notch designers by the hour, and, unfortunately, is not yet
as we all know, is terrifying. afoot in Arkansashas 888,000 Instagram followers and has collaborated
Sound familiar? (Its almost too familiar to this writer. Because, you on the design of more than 10,000 homes since its founding in 2012.
know, been there, marble table and all.) If so, this is probably fairly But its not just Bay-area tech firms jumping on the online interior-
familiar, as well: the desire to turn over those white walls and lovely design wagon. It seems traditional full-service designershere locally, the
everything to a designer who just gets itwho knows what youre after likes of Katie Henry and Tobi Fairleyview e-services as an opportunity
and how to magically, almost effortlessly, make it all come together. Who to tap into audiences they hadnt reached before: transient apartment
makes commitment far less terrifying. dwellers, say, or folks who admire the designers aesthetic but dont live
And whose going rate is roughly twice your mortgage. in pop-on-over range (like a Southern belle hankering for a SoCal vibe).
Until, say, four years ago, youd have been stuck. But somethings These designers know, however, that this convenience comes with a
happened to the design industry, folks, and that thing is the internet. OK, caveat: If youre after custom everything, and if youre looking for more
sure, the internets been around for a little longer than four years, but thats of a collaborative, conversational kind of relationship, you cant beat
when tech-y startups began popping up with solutions for homeowners a full-service designer, wholl handle everything from idea to install.
big on ideas and not so big on budgets: online interior-design services. If youre not, though, know this: The world is your well-designed oyster.
In a nutshell: You upload photos and dimensions of your space, as well And just in case youre currently having a hard time finding your way
as links to inspiration (hello, Houzz and Pinterest). You collaborate with out of that white-wall, empty-room haze, here are five services to turn
a vetted designer and presto, change-o! Youve got a custom mood board, to that will help cast the net.

HAVENLY
$79 - $199
Yep, you read that right: For $79, Havenly of-
fers a mini session, in which your designer
sends along two concept boards and a list of
product suggestions, and offers complimen-
Upload photos tary buying service (meaning, theyll take
and dimensions care of all the ordering). It all starts with an
of your space, online style survey: Are you eclectic-Scan-
like this Laurel dinavian? Or Boho, perhaps? Then you
& Wolf client did
for her master choose the type of room youre needing help
bedroom, and with, name a budget, upload a photo of the
youll receive space, along with its dimensions, and add
a custom links to online inspiration. Bonus: Even if you
moodboard
dont sign up for the service, you can still shop
(right) and all the
instructions you dreamy moodboards curated by Havenlys
need to make it designersturns out those killer Dorothy
a reality (below). Draper-style chests youve been searching for
are just a click away. (havenly.com)

Are you beachy
Bohemian
coastal? Or do
you lean more
minimalist
modern? Take
the Laurel &
LAUREL & WOLF Wolf design quiz
to find out.
$399 - $599
With the largest network of vetted
designers (more than 1,000!), this service,
created by longtime interior designer
Leura Fine, prides itself on being able to
satisfy even the choosiest of clients. And
heres why: You get to pick your designer
from among the ranks. Its kind of like
Match.com. You say youre interested, see
whos interested back and get to choose
the lucky suitor. Once youve landed
on your match and have your mood
board in hand, youll have 10 full days
of open communication to fine-tune
that final design. In other words: Cue
the collaboration. (laurelandwolf.com)
LOCAL!
KATIE GRACE
DESIGNS
$750 and up
Perhaps youve stumbled across Little
Rock-based designer Katie Henrys
Instagram feedchock-a-block with
inspiring behind-the-scenes shots from
clients projectsand thought, Wish I
could hire her. Good news: For $750 per
room, youll get a phone consultation, a
design board, links to suggested items
and two revisions. Not only is it a good
way to spruce up your space, but its also
a way to do so on your own time: Add a
piece here, save up for that piece later. No
pressure. (katiegracedesigns.com)

Fans of a
California-cool
aesthetic will
find a friend in
designer Emily
Henderson,
whose
e-services
include a space
plan (right) and
mood board
(below).

LOCAL!
TOBI FAIRLEY
DESIGn
$1,350 and up
Tobi Fairley, that longtime darling

of the Little Rock design world, is
seemingly everywhere these days,
what with her national-design-
magazine mentions, burgeoning
furniture and fabric lines, and long
list of across-the-country clientele.
But with the designers Inbox
Interiors service, you can still get a
dose of Tobis signature bold-and-
bright aesthetic, no matter where
shes traveling. Send photos and
dimensions of your space via email,
and youll receive a box loaded
with a lookbook, a shopping list,
sketches and elevations, even paint
and fabric samples. Think of it as a
happy medium between completely
digital and 100 percent full-service
designing. (inboxinteriors.com)
EMILY HENDERSON
DESIGNS
E-SERVICE
$2,000 and up
Perhaps you watched along as she

became an HGTV star. Or maybe
youve admired her quirky style from
afar these past few years, following
along on her standout design blog.
In any case, you probably never
knew this: Those photos youve been
pinning from her Pinterest page?
They could be photos of your own
home. Because even though shes way
over in LaLa Land, her e-services
mean shes just a click (and a couple
grand) away. Well worth it, wed say,
for a chance to live in one of her
eclectic, mega-watt spaces. And if
you dont have $2,000 to shell out
for a room design but have, say, a
couch you just dont know what to do
with, try her Design Agony service,
where you email her a burning design
question, and she responds with a
quote and advice on how to tackle it.
(stylebyemilyhenderson.com)

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RIGHT
ON
CUE

What is Arkansas barbecue? Its not Texas brisket, after all. And its not Memphis dry-
rubbed ribs. Its not KC burnt ends or South Carolina whole hog. Its simple. Unassuming,
even, with a little bit of this and a little bit of that. And its unabashedly delicious. Which
is why we offer this celebration of tried-and-true Arkansas barbecuefrom the first
morsel of hickory-smoked pork to the last crumbs of that fried Elberta-peach pie
photography by rett peek
July 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 49
LEGEND
HAS IT Whats in a name?
A lot, actually. In the
case of these five local
institutions, a name
McClards, Sims, what
have youmeans
generations of fine
barbecue finesse
The story that

a traveler gave
Alex McClard
the recipe for his
famous sauce in
exchange for a
place to stay? Its
m c clards
not a hoax, Scott
says. The recipe
is still in a bank
lock box.
hot springs
The key to
McClards
decades-long
success, Scott
stresses, is
consistency. The
menu, for example,
has remained the
same (save for
the sausage added
last year).
Year founded: 1928

Founders: Alex and Alice McClard
Current owners: Philip and Scott
McClard and John Thomason
Generations: 4
It would be nice to turn this over

to the kids and go live my life, but theres
no way it would succeed without us being
here. My uncle Philip comes in at 2 a.m.
every morning. He makes the sauce, gets
the fire going, gets the meat on. When he
leaves at 11 a.m., my other uncle, John, and
I step in. We trim the meat, make sure the
food is cooked right, the plates look good,
and the employees are happy.
We also take care of the pit all day. Its
OK in the wintertime, but around July and
August, the temperature can get to about
115 degrees. So my uncle and I take turns.
Its an arduous task.
People tell me, Oh, you own McClards.
I say, Noit owns me. There is a huge
sense of pride. This was my great-grandfa-
thers. It was my grandfathers. It was their
whole life. Im just doing my best to keep it
going. My greatest pride is when a longtime
customer comes in, sits at the bar and says,
You know, this sandwich tastes just like
when your grandfather used to make it. It
doesnt get any better than thatkeeping
things consistent with who we are. People
tell us to branch out, to get bigger. If we got
bigger, we wouldnt be McClards. Scott
McClard, as told to Mariam Makatsaria

sims
Bar-
little rock
B-Que
Year founded: 1937
founders: Allen and amelia sims
Current owner: Ron Settlers
Generations: 2
Well , Ive always been told by

my mother and everybody that this place
was started back in 1937 by my uncle Allen
Sims. He bought this little shotgun building
down here on 33rd, and he started it like a
cafe: Sims Cafe. Uncle Al used to get to work
around 11, 12o clock, and hed stay open till
12 at night, five days a week. More or less,
it was labeled as a beer joint that sold good
barbecue.
Back in the 40s, 50s, part of the 60s, black
people were contained to their own areas. And
even back in the 50s, Sims was the hot spot on
Friday and Saturday nights. You know, people
would be down there dancing and drinking
beer, andwhat do they call itbrown-
bagging. You couldnt hardly get through the
little streets before they widened it out and
everything.
Then in 1976, Uncle Al and Aunt Amelia
decided they wanted to retire. And at first,
Although many didnt anyone want to take it over. I went
hands come and asked about it, and told em thats what
together in I wanted to do. And we reopened on Oct. 2,
making Sims what 1976, a Saturday morning. And its been rolling
it is, cook Leroy ever since.
Williams (shown Its a challenge because youre given
here), whos been something on a silver platter. I was given an
with the restaurant already-established business, just had to restart
since 1984, kicks it. And keep up the image and keep up the
off the process quality and stuff. Thats a job. Thats something
each morning you have to have in your heart, something
at 7 a.m. that kind of grows in you, that you want to
do. Ron Settlers, as told to Jordan P. Hickey
T h e b b q iss u e
Being featured Legends
on the Travel
Channels BBQ
stubbys
Crawl has brought
even more
customers to the
joint, Chris says.
hot springs
bar-b-que
To this day people
say, Hey! We
saw you on TV
and came!
Year founded: 1952

Founder: Richard Stubby Stubblefield
CURRENT OWNER: CHRIS DUNKEL
Generations: 2
Back when it first started in the

50s, Stubbys was north of the Arlington Hotel.
My family bought it in 1976. I was 3 years old.
In 1978, we changed locations and opened up
on Central, right across from the Oaklawn
racetracks.
But my first memories were probably at the
original joint. Thats where I first cut my teeth.
I was just this fat little kid running around with
an apron bussing tables. Thats where I first
learned how to prep, make slaw and beans,
and chop meat. I did cut myself a few times.
It was there that I honed my skills, saw how
the pit worked.
Theres not much thats changed since.
Our recipes are the same as they were back
then. The cafeteria line, too, is a tried-and-
true concept that originated in the 50s, and
we continued with it. If youre a vegan or a
vegetarian, youre going to hate us. You walk
in, and you see what we have right thereall
this meat. Its simple. And thats how Stubbys
began. Chris Dunkel, as told to Mariam
Makatsaria

The folks at White
Pig Inn use a
mix of green and
cured hickory to
smoke their meat,
believing that
pecan is too acrid.
Luckily, they have
a reliable source
for the hard-to-
come-by wood.

T h e b b q iss u e
Legends
white pig inn

north little rock
My grandfather didnt have any

set hours back in the early days. He closed
when people quit coming, and many, many
times, when someone would pull up and
beat on the door, he would open up again.
You have to understand, Highway 70
was a major east-west corridor back then.
So for anyone coming from the East Coast
to California, its very likely they passed by
the old White Pig Inn. It was an interest-
ing collection of people passing through
over the years.
In 1984, we moved into the new build-
ing. It probably took 30 minutes to bull-
doze the old one. I say that with a chuckle.
The old building actually had a barbecue
pit in the dining room. It was quite a din-
ing experience with the hickory smoke in
the air. You could watch my grandfather
or my father come out and turn the meat
right next to your table. It had a lot of
characterand I still have dreams about
itbut its day had come and gone.
Youre talking to the end of the road, as
far as I know. The restaurant business has
been really good to me and my family, but
I am going to encourage my girls to go on
and seek and do something else.
The average life span for a restaurant is
8 months, so I think White Pig has done
very well. At times, it has not been easy,
but the restaurant has given me a life of
experiences. I have friends from the res-
taurant Ive accumulated over the years
that are justthere is no value that could
be put on that.Greg Seaton Jr., as told
to Nicholas Hunt
Year founded: 1920 (purchased by the Seaton

family in 1940)
Founders: The Boyer family
Current Owner: Greg Seaton Jr.
Generations: 3

T h e b b q iss u e
Legends
dixie blytheville
pig
Well, of course, when I got out of the service four years later, I started working for him.
We had car hops out there, and we used to stay open till 11, 12 and 1
my dad started all of this back
in 1923. It was a log cabin with a oclock at night. We close about 8:30 p.m. now.
We cook our meat with hot fire. Personally, I dont like the smoked
Year founded: 1923 sawdust floor in it. Hed moved up
here from Mississippi about that taste. Youll belch it for three days! People always say, How do you make
founder: ernest halsell same year. People were moving that hot sauce? And I say, Well, Ill tell you how I make it. I make it by the
gallon. Dad developed it. The only thing its not good on is ice cream.
into this part of the country for
Current owner: Buddy Halsell the new farm land. He just knew We send it all over the country.
how to work. You can know a lot Im 86, and all I do around here now is try and keep out of everybodys
Generations: 3 of things, but if you dont know way. I might clean off a few tables and greet people when they come in
how to work, you cant do nothing. the door. But I am out here every day, and I am just happy I have a place
He built this place in 1950, and to go. Buddy Halsell, as told to Nicholas Hunt

RIGHT: Though
Buddy Halsell
can still be found
at the restaurant
daily, his son,
Bob, now runs the
show, opening
and closing
the restaurant
each day.
ABOVE: Bob
Halsell puts a
days worth of
Boston butt in the
pit each morning
at 8:30 a.m. Itll
only be turned
once during its
8-hour cook.

ode pig our associate editors newfound barbecue love
to the
Ive always avoided picking sides when it signature sauce is a thin, sharp mix of pepper and vinegar. It runs like
water. Sampled straight, the taste is a curious explosion: equal parts
comes to barbecue. From Texas brisket to Memphis pulled pork to
Alabamas wonky mayo-based sauce, its all good to me. So when I spicy, sour and savory. But combined with slow-cooked pork, the two
first heard of Blythevilles Pig Sandwich, claimed by a reputable source are greater than the sum of their parts. If this werent an ode, Id say
to be Arkansas only home-grown barbecue style, I wasnt expecting the fat cuts the spice and tartness while the vinegar in turn opens up
to fall in love. the pork. But because it is, Ill simply say this: Tasting this culinary
It was an accident really. Id made the 3-hour drive from Little alchemy was akin to a first kiss. For me, in the kitchen at Dixie Pig,
Rock to that tiny Mississippi County town to interview Buddy Halsell it was love at first bite.
about the history of the Dixie Pig (see page 56), and, as a sort of side Its a beautiful chemistry not lost on Jeff Wallace, owner of Kream
excursion, to sample a few Pig Sandwiches and see what was what. Kastle and son-in-law of its founder, Steven Johns. After leaving Buddy
It didnt seem all that impressive as Buddy broke down the Pig Sand- behind, Id walked into the tiny office-slash-kitchen at Jeff s drive-in
wichs component parts for me on the line in the Dixie Pig kitchen. unannounced, and he was kind enough to chat barbecue with me over
Chopped or sliced pork cooked over charcoal (some around town the constant buzz of orders coming in through the ancient intercom.
will do pulled, but Bob Halsell, Buddys son, insists its a foreign influ- We talked of his 31 years in the business and how even though hes
ence: Thats what they do in Tennessee. This is Arkansas!). Theres added plenty of things to the menu, the Pig Sandwich is still the best
slawthough in this case, its dry, with just a hint of vinegarand seller. Its not even close.
a plain bun, a short stint in a sandwich press and, finally, the sauce. [Blythevilles] got the best barbecue, he told me without a hint of
Thats where the magic is: that sauce. jest. You will hear people tell you that in Kansas City.
Turn back now ye lovers of molasses-, tomato- and mustard-based Not ready to make the three-hour trip back to Little Rock, every
sauces; youll not find what youre looking for here. But for those of mile taking me farther and farther from my now beloved Pig Sand-
you of a certain persuasionlovers of salt-and-vin- wich, I made one more stop a little ways down the
road at Penns Barbecue, planning to take home its
By Nicholas Hunt
egar chips, sauerkraut or a swift kick in the pants
youll never look back. Similar in concept to whats version for dinner. I ate it in the parking lot with
whipped up in eastern North Carolina, Blythevilles the passion of a convert.

T h e b b q iss u e
pig sandwich
Blytheville, home of
the Pig Sandwich,
has at least nine
barbecue joints
thats one for every
2,000 residents.
Pigging and Choosing

A guide to three of our Blytheville favorites
D ixie Pig Kream Kastle Penns Barbecue
As the only one of the three Located in a retro drive-in (and Smaller even than Kream Kastle,
barbecue joints listed here to have boy do we mean retrojust take this simple drive-through is the
chairs and tables and, well, indoor a look at that intercom), Kream definition of a pig shack: everything
seating, Dixie Pig is the kind of Kastles 12-hour-charcoal-smoked you need and nothing you dont.
place where you will rest your chopped or pulled pork is topped Served in the traditional white-
elbows on the hardwood as you with a slightly thicker, less tart paper wrapping, Penns version
devour your sandwich. You can get sauce, but otherwise features of the sandwich boast chopped-
the pork chopped or sliced, white that trademark dry slaw and a to-order pork, a toasted (but not
or outside brown, depending on light squeeze in the sandwich pressed) bun, slightly saucier slaw
your preference. Just dont ask for press. Order some onion rings, and a little more spice. (367 S.
it pulled. (701 N. Sixth St.; and youre set. (122 N. Division St.; Division St.; (870) 762-1593)
(870) 763-4636) (870) 762-2366)

awesome
Unraveling the history of Arkansas most beloved barbecue condiment
1934: 1967:
Casey and Iris The Shack is
Slaughter found bought out by
The Shack. investors.
2.
Talk of barbecue
in central Arkansas, and sooner
rather than later, someone will
bring up that most legendary of
Little Rock pig joints: The Shack. Joe Finch founds FINCH sells to Don
And legendary is the key word J.B.s Barbeque in and Cletus Smith,
here. Founded in 1934 by Kessler Conway using Shack who rename the res-
Casey Slaughter and his wife, sauce. taurant Smittys.
Iris, the original Shack closed its
doors 54 years later. And though
its been gone almost three decades,
if even half the stories told about it
are true, the world is worse for its The Smiths sell Smittys
absence. to Darrell W iley, who keeps
But the thing is, The Shack didnt a version of The Shacks
die. Not quite. sauce on the menu.
What people remember most 3.
when they think of The Shack is
that vinegary, black-pepper-infused
sauce. And that very sauce, as luck
would have it, lives on. There are at
least four central-Arkansas barbe-
cue joints that name-drop the con-
diment on their menus. And with
Tim Chappell, owner of Gusanos
Chicago-style Pizzeria, recently
launching a commercial version
from a recipe he received from Joe
Finch, an Arkansas barbecue leg-
end in his own right, we thought it
was about time we did a little culi-
nary archaeology.
So, after delving into news
clippings, filling a white board with Whole Hog
diagrams and devouring our fair
share of chopped pork, were finally
Cafe North Smittys
ready to present the definitive* Little Rock Bar-B-Que
history of The Shack Sauce. nh (5107 Warden Road, North Little Rock; (740 S. Harkrider St., Conway;
wholehogcafenlr.com) smittysbarbeque.com)
*Editors note: Definitely not
definitive. In fact, email
nicholas@arkansaslife.com to
report any tips or leads.

sauce
T h e b b q iss u e
shack sauce
p h otograp hy by arshia khan
1.
1984:
The Shack closes
and reopens under
1988: The original location
closes for
joe finch
the ownership of the buys
Carpenter family and
Charlie Morgan Inc.
good. brand. recipe
recon
1.
Joe Finch acquired
Finch sells the shack Finch sells

the recipe from
Finch opens to David Thompson,

someone who was
a Shack employee
the recipe to
The Shack who renames it
during the Slaughters
in Maumelle. the Smoke Shack. Tim Chappell. ownership.
2.
The Smiths open Cletus Smith was

the manager of the
The Smokehouse in 4. original Shack after
Conway. the Slaughters sold
out, and brought the
The Taylors sauce recipe with
him to both Smittys
take ownership and the Smokehouse.
in 2015.
3.
The North Little
Rock Whole Hog
compared a cus-
tomers hand-written
Shack sauce recipe
against one published
in the Arkansas
Democrat. They now
make a batch three
times a week.
4.
In a 2010 Sync
Smokehouse Smoke Shack Weekly article, David
Bar-B-Que Bar-B-Q Shack Thompson claimed
(505 Donaghey Ave., Conway; (206080 Arkansas 365 N., Maumelle; Sauce his Shack sauce
recipe comes from
(501) 764.4227) (501) 803-4935) (theshackisback.com) a little old lady he
worked with at Blue
Cross who claimed
to be involved in the
original Shack since
its founding.
T h e b b q iss u e
side
side dishes
At an Arkansas barbecue
joint, its not all about
ways
photograph y b y ars h ia k h a n
the meat. Here are 25
dishes worth side-
stepping the main course
5. 6. 7.
12. 13. 14.
19. 20. 21.
1. Green beans, Sims Bar-B-Que in Little Rock; 2. Black-eyed peas, Lindseys Hospitality House in North Little Rock; 3. Sweet potatoes, C apitol Smokehouse
& Grill in Little Rock; 4. Fries, Smoke Shack Bar-B-Q in Maumelle; 5. C andied yams, Lindseys Hospitality House in North Little Rock; 6. Coleslaw, C apitol
Smokehouse & Grill in Little Rock; 7. Tamale spread, M c Clards in Hot springs; 8. Coleslaw, Jo-Jos BBQ in Sherwood; 9. Tamales, Smittys Bar-B-Que in
Conway; 10. Tomato relish, Smoke Shack Bar-B-Q in Maumelle; 11. Baked beans, Mickeys CMB BBQ in Hot Springs; 12. Fried okra, Jo-Jos BBQ in Sherwood;

1. 2. 3. 4.
8. 9. 10. 11.
15. 16. 17. 18.
22. 23. 24. 25.

13. Fried green tomatoes, Smittys Bar-B-Que in Conway; 14. Zesty Italian salad, Mickeys CMB BBQ in Hot Springs; 15. Onion rings, Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
in Conway; 16. Cornbread, Sims Bar-B-Que in Little Rock; 17. Greens, Sims Bar-B-Que in Little Rock; 18. Potato salad, C apitol Smokehouse & Grill in Little
Rock; 19. Devilish eggs, Mickeys CMB BBQ in Hot Springs; 20. Steamed cabbage, Lindseys Hospitality House in North Little Rock; 21. Barbecue nachos, Jo-
Jos BBQ in Sherwood; 22. Potato salad, HBs Bar-B-Q in Little Rock; 23. Squash casserole, C apitol Smokehouse & Grill in Little Rock;
24. Baked beans, HBs Bar-B-Q in Little Rock; 25. Sweet potato fries, Jo-Jos BBQ in Sherwood
Want to get your
hands on some
Elberta peaches?
Theres no better
place than this months
Johnson County Peach
Festival in Clarksville
(page 13).

T h e b b q iss u e
fried pie
HUMBLE
pie
You can keep your trendified kolaches. Here at home, we prefer our sweets on the simple side
Washington, D.C., is not the South. attempted. You can find shrimp and grits, but boiled peanuts are
scarce. Savory cornbread and Delta-style tamales arent exactly
This may not be a fact argued in many circles west of the
Mississippi, but inside the Beltway, its actually up for discussion. fixtures in the area. And then theres dessert.
Lack of door holding and a penchant for brushing past people In a city of steakhouses, its no surprise that cheesecake abounds.
without an excuse me aside, the truth about D.C.s Northern vs. So do thick slices of fudge-frosted chocolate cake. And yet, for all
Southern status is revealed in its kitchens. No Nashville hot chicken that sugar and decadence, I find myself searching for fried pie.
sandwich from whatever hip D.C. bistro or kolache from the latest When I lived in Arkansas, I never really cared for the stuff, not
Texas pastry pop-up can convince me that our nations capital city enough to seek it out specifically, anyway. But if I needed something
is an authentic source for all things pickled and fried and holy. sweet after a lunch of barbecue or catfish, fried pie would often
Sit down in a Washington restaurant, and theres no need to satisfy me.
specify that youd like unsweetened tea with your lunch because I can remember my first fried-pie encounter, at a gas station
there is no pitcher of sweet tea waiting. And lord help you if you somewhere in Missouri, my dad opening the wax-paper wrapper
ask for an extra glass to go. and pulling out a palm-sized turnover shellacked with glaze. Im
In the spring, this is a land of crabnot crawfishwhere Old sure it was one of the Hostess-branded fruit pies, with sticky-sweet
Bay beats Creole seasoning to the boil pot every time. Then theres filling and crust stiffened with time and shelf-stable ingredients.
the experience of watching the food you love be cannibalized by Was it a true fried pie? Not really. But it was unfussy. And thats
restaurant trends. At a restaurant on the D.C. waterfront, I was essential.
served a neon-yellow whipped pimento cheese so thin and runny Fried pie, if anything, is a humble dessert. It should follow a
you didnt even need a knife. Bless it. casual supper and be served with paper napkins. It should be
Southern classics have fascinated chefs well beyond the available by a cash register, with dark-brown crust and an uneven
borders of Arkansas for years. Chicago, New York and the shape. Maybe a little filling spilling out.
like are no strangers to fried chicken, biscuits and cornbread. Southern food is at its best when its casual and delicious. When
Washington, too, has more than its fair share of Southern it tastes better than it looks and you didnt need a reservation or
restaurants, each with varying degrees of success. After all, special occasion to get your hands on it. Goat-cheese-topped fried-
D.C. is a transient city, with plenty of Deep South transplants green tomatoes and pork-belly-studded grits are fine, I guess. But
bringing their carefully honed taste buds with given the choice, Ill take my tea in a plastic cup
them with each new political wave.
But still, some Southern dishes are rarely
By emily van zandt to go, my pimento cheese spread thick on white
bread and my fried pie in a wax-paper wrapper.
With a little filling spilling out.

Streamlined City of the Future , Max Mayer, 1938
66 ARKANSAS LIFE
MAKING
A s t h e H i s t o r i c A r k a n s a s M u s e u m f t e s i t s 7 5 th y e a r , a
look at the two individuals whove shaped its course and
ensured its future: founder Louise Loughborough and
longtime executive director Bill Worthen
HISTORY July 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 67

FOUNDERS, KEEPERS
Visitors may have noticed the likeness of an older woman, captured in oils and
photographs, keeping vigil over the rooms and halls of the Historic Arkansas
Museum. For those unfamiliar, her name is Louise Loughborough, founder of
the museum. And its all because of her

by Mariam Makatsaria
L
ouise Loughborough wasnt very tall. in my seat to get a proper view of Elizabeth without having
Or so Im told by the three women Im to squint, listening as they begin to tell the story.
sitting with near the soaring windows We talk about how Louise, who desperately wanted to
on the upper level of the Historic save the half block of dilapidated houses between Markham
Arkansas Museum. In an effort to learn and Cumberland, made an appointment with the Little Rock
as much about its founder as possible, branch of the Work Progress Administrationan ambitious
Ive decided to meet Elizabeth Reha New Deal agency that aimed to conquer unemployment by
and Tricia Spione, two historical re- supporting infrastructure projects. As the women speak,
enactors who have, at one point or I learn not only that Louise had a soft spot for historic
another, portrayed Louise. Both Elizabeth and Tricia are preservation, but that there was also something nostalgic
charming, the kind of women who make jokes, laugh heartily for her about the buildings.
and externalize everything. Neither bear any resemblance As a child, shed stroll down across Third Street on her
to Louise. Not physically, at least. To their right is Felicia way home from school, and every once in a while, shed
Richardson, the museums living-history coordinator who make a loop around Cumberland to a pay a visit to a candy
uses news clippings, letters and photographs to piece store she was particularly fond of. As a young girl looking
together the actresses monologuesand who does a little around the neighborhood, she could see nothing but magic.
acting on the side, too. And all of us are tall women, Tricia Sure, the houses were a little shabby, even by standards of
says, every inch of her face expressive. the time. But they offered a quiet link to the past, to the
Despite what the tall women tell me, I cant think of stories shed heard from family members. This house was
Louise as being a particularly short lady. In a black- where Scottish stonemason Robert Brownlee lived with
and-white photo displayed in an exhibit celebrating the his family and two slaves. That house was where William
museums 75th anniversary, she cuts an imposing figure, Woodruff turned out the territorys first newspaper. In the
with birdlike features. Shes sitting in a floral chintz chair, 1880s, the block had been all but stripped of its virtue,
her left elbow resting on its arm, her right hand loosely surrendered to a cluster of brothels and transformed into
gripping an Antiques magazine. Shes not smiling. Rather, an unruly slum. The ladies of the night, as Louise called
she has a preoccupied look on her face, eyes narrowed as if the prostitutes living in the notorious red-light district, were
someones asked her something that took her by surprise, plaguing an area that became known more for its squalor
and she hasnt yet thought of a proper answer. And you can than the grandeur shed heard of.
tell, even by the way shes positioned in her seat, that theres And thats how Louise came to meet a man by the name
an eagerness about her, a kind of toughness that made a of Floyd Sharp, the administrator of the WPA, who was less
giant of herdespite her diminutive stature. than convinced the undertaking would be something of
Theres a reason why, whenever Louises name is interest to the administration. But Louise was blessed with
mentioned, its always preceded by the words pioneer the fluttery charm and gracious manners of a true Southern
or leader. She accomplished something that was nothing lady, and Floyd couldnt quite bring himself to say no. To
short of extraordinary during the dysfunctional Great subdue her, or perhaps curb her ambitions, he cooked up
Depression era: She founded the Arkansas Territorial the near unfathomable sum of $30,000 that would need
Restoration, or what is now the Historic Arkansas Museum, to be raised before the WPA would even consider lifting
saving a half block of houses from condemnation at a time a finger to help fund site acquisition and restoration. The
when historic preservation was still a novel ideaa time compelling-needs statement (a proposal explaining why the
when women struggled with the burdens of domesticity, project mattered and needed to exist) she was asked to turn
and the country with a great economic malaise. in was meant to make the task close to impossible. For the
It was because of that powerhouse aspect of her, project to become remotely appealing to the WPA, Louise
Elizabeth chimes in, enunciating every word, the way stage had to do her fair share of what we would now call lobbying.
actresses do to project their voices in an auditorium. Heres After all, the structures she was trying to savewith the
this little person making things happen for Little Rock and exception of the William Woodruff print shophadnt
for Arkansas. She was one smart cookie, because she knew really housed people of great importance or prominence.
what she wanted. I think she was also aware of what she needed to [say] in
The other two women nod in agreement. At this point, order to get the Legislature to help her out, so she focused
the sun is low enough that it briefly blinds me, and I shift on the important, higher-up people, Felicia says matter-

of-factly, and thats followed by a wave of Elizabeths spent the day with the Roosevelts on the veranda,
and Tricias bobbing heads. Take the Hinderliter overlooking the Potomac River.
house, for example, which was perhaps best known The challenge Floyd threw her way was merely a
for being a working-class bar. But Louise knew what hurdle. Louises plan of attack was simple. She tugged
to emphasizethe story of this log house being where on the legislators coat lapels and asked them for 30
the last Territorial Legislature met in 1835, where seconds of their time, to which, once again, they
powerful lawmakers congregated after working hours couldnt say no.Ultimately, the General Assembly was
over a drink or two. And that alone, Louise proposed, convinced. The next time she waltzed into Floyds
made the house an invaluable structure. office, Louise had $30,000 in hand. Despite his shock
In addition to being charismatic, however, Louise and reluctance, Floyd kept his promise.
had clout. Her earnestness and intellectual curiosity can Being a vanguard for historic preservation, the
be traced back to her lineage, which included the likes ladies tell me, Louise had a vision. But it wasnt just
of Arkansas Supreme Court Justice George Claiborne about saving old buildings. It was important that the
Watkins and William Savin Fulton, Arkansas last blocks present be very much a product of its pasta
territorial governor who later became a senator. Whats relic of early Arkansas, its founding fathers and their
more, a life of civic activity had provided her with the courage and fineness. To her, the misuse of the houses
tools necessary to get what she wanted. In addition to by the ladies of the night was a personal offense. In
her husbands connectionsa well-known attorney, that sense, she wanted to strip the block of its gritty
he had more than a few acquaintances in the states realityand who better than architect Max Mayer
General AssemblyLouise had spent years developing to make that vision come true? After all, Max had
her own. Shed been involved in the preservation of the studied in Paris, snagged the then-prestigious Prix de
Old State House, and active in the National Society Rome and spent some years learning and designing in
of Colonial Dames. She was the vice regent of the Italy. With Maxs help, Louise restored the structures
Mount Vernon Ladies Association, which owns and to their Colonial-era greatness. She went so far as to
maintains George Washingtons estate. In 1936, for add boxwood cuttings from Mount Vernon to the
example, the Arkansas Gazette noted that she spent Brownlee Houses gardenbecause theres nothing
10 days at Mount Vernon, where she picked peonies more telling of the founding of the country than
and white iris from the presidents garden and used living things cut from the living things that once
them to adorn tables for an afternoon-tea event, then flourished where George Washington roamed. It was

a connection she deeply cherished, and she wanted for visitors to stick in their grinning, camera-ready
us to feel the same way. And in the summer of 1941, facesare young and humble, with dainty limbs and a
the Arkansas Territorial Restoration opened with the smattering of leaves. I think, so much of this place has
sole mission of restoring the historic structures. Louise changed. Grown up. Moved on, but still looking back.
served as its chairwomana position she held for 20 This museum center where I were sitting didnt even
years until she fell ill in 1961. exist until 2001. Louise wouldnt have recognized the
Were here because of her, essentially, because of her theater space, certainly not the exhibits boasting the
vision, so we love those stories, says Tricia. Man, it many artists who came long after she died in 1962, and
was the 30s, and she went to the Legislature and said, definitely not the hashtags painted on the museums
Excuse me. Tricias voice thins into a flutelike tone, walls. But even though shes not here to see how far the
then softens into a whisper. I love that she tugged on place has come, she was there to ensure its birth. And
their collar or something and had her little note cards. in being a steward for that legacy, she made a place for
Peering over Elizabeths head, I catch a glimpse of herself. After all, theres a reason why these three women
the brick chimney and white wood of the Hinderliter are so involved in keeping her spirit alive, and theres a
House, and the realization hits me: Louise had once reason why, even when talking about themselves, the
stared at these buildings, walked these grounds many, conversation somehow ricochets from acting back to
many years ago. Surely, the structures themselves are the the woman theyve been charged with bringing to life.
same, but I know they are somehow different. In looking Its the confidence. Its the way you hold yourself.
at photographs, the befores and afters, its easy to see. The Its the standing up straight. Its the looking in the eye,
buildings are now neater, the square is tighter, almost says Tricia, suddenly sitting up straight. It brings us
like a freshly made bed. By the Hinderliter House, back to Louise, who, as the women pontificate, always
theres a tree that now stands 40-some feet tall, tipping carried herself with certainty and poise. There is no
to the left like a drunkard. I remember stopping by it way of knowing what was crossing the founders mind,
during a tour Id taken a few weeks before, overwhelmed of course, and all these little mannerisms the actresses
by the trees size and my smallness in comparison. assume to be Louisesour exchanges are peppered
The trees Ive seen in photos of the museums early with Louise must have or should have or probably
dayslike the one in the picture of two ladies at the did. But there are things that we do know. Louise
opening of the Arkansas Territorial Restoration, which Loughborough might not have been a tall woman, but
stands near the museums glass doors with a space she certainly stood well above the fray.

an
OBJECT LESSON
Since 1972, the Historic Arkansas Museum has been in one mans (extremely
capable) hands. As Bill Worthen prepares to retire later this year, he offers
a unique perspective on the institution hes nurtured these past 44 years: its
history as told through the museum holdings he most admires
As told to Katie Bridges Photography by Rett Peek
t
his is just absolutely fun for one of the very few antebellum oil paintings states artisan tradition, first in an effort to
me, says longtime Historic to include an African-American; a painting fill the museum houses with period-relevant,
Arkansas Museum Direc- by George Catlin (who documented Native Arkansas-made pieces, and later, once theyd
tor Bill Worthen, pulling Americans on canvas) of Mrs. John Drennen learned of the many treasures out there begging
open the door of the mu- (the wife of the man who oversaw their removal to be preserved, to understand and celebrate
seums 1,500-square-foot from the territory). In fact, everywhere we a century and a half of Arkansas creatives. In
on-site storage space. This look, theres a story. Theres the Edward Durrell the 1980s, the museum created the Arkansas
is the kind of thing I just love to do. Stone-designed childrens furniturevery Made program, dedicating itself to procuring
He flicks a switch, and the fluorescent lights modern, er, moderne? says Billand the and preserving for perpetuity Arkansas
overhead begin to blink to life. And though early-20th-century clocks made in Texarkana. artisan goodsdecorative, mechanical and
Im not sure what to expectthis is, after (Whodve guessed that such nice clocks could fine artmade in the past 200 years. (In
all, my first time in the belly of a museum be made there?) There are the baskets and the 2001, the expanded museum changed from
Ive got to say its not what Im seeing as the Bowie knives and the hand-carved walking the Arkansas Territorial Restoration to the
shadows filling the cinder-block-walled space sticks. And while hes effusive with stories Historic Arkansas Museum, further honoring
begin to take shape. Which is this: furniture of the objects provenances, bubbling over that commitment.) These days, though its
everywhere, arranged in neat aisles of kempt with that enthusiasm reserved for folks who hard for Bill to pin down an exact number, the
antiques. A hodgepodge of cane chairs and are living their lifes work, he never mentions museums holdings now number some 75,000.
wooden clocks and end tables. Orderly racks the one thing they all have in commonthe Its so much fun to show people something
of shotguns; racks of fine art. I mean, its like antebellum nudes, the moderne chifferobes, about their home state that they didnt know,
the prop department for an inflated-budget the silver-plated shotguns, the what-have- he says. You know, Arkansas used to have a
film titled Arkansas: The Movie. Or like your yous. bit of an inferiority complex. I dont think it
grandmothers mysteriously overstuffed base- Theyre all here because of him. has that now, but theres still a residue of that
mentif your grandmother is, you know, Ar- To understand this, youve got to rewind the We dont have any great artists, whatever. Well,
kansas. tapes about 44 years. Its 1972, and Bill, then we do. In a lot of ways, we have as good of an
And this isnt all of it, Bill says, noticing a young history teacher, has just assumed the artisan tradition as anybodyand how much
my wide-eyed stupor. Weve got 4,000 square mantle of the Arkansas Territorial Restora- fun is it to open that to folks here in the state?
feet off-site. tion, more of a historic-preservation project Thats what I love about this.
As we walk through the space, I realize the than a museum, as he says, with a staff of six. Which is what brought me here. A few
man whos been helming Arkansas foremost The ATR is moving into its third decade at a months ago, as Bill began to wind down to-
historic museum for more than four decades time when the idea of what a museum could ward his retirement (which coincides with the
is, at heart, a consummate tour guide, a guy be is beginning to maturemoving beyond 75th anniversary of the institution hes shaped
with more Arkansas facts and figures on the the preservation of historic homes and into and guided these past 44 yearspicking up
tip of his tongue than most of us could hope a more visitor-friendly experienceand Bill where Louise left off, filling in the gaps), Id
to muster in a lifetime. Now, I dont want to sees potential everywhere. His first task? Seek come to him with a question: Would he be
shock you, but I will show you the one antebel- accreditation for the museum. His second? willing to share the 10 museum holdings he
lum nude we know was done in Arkansas. Im To bring those standards of professionalism holds most dear? Or would that be too hard?
gonna cover my eyes, he says, pulling out a to the houses on the grounds. We no longer It actually didnt take me all that long,
sliding pegboard rack dotted with framed por- had Ms. Loughboroughs taste and vision, so he says as we sit down to chat about those
traits, landscapes, sketchesa gallery in min- we had to fall back on something, Bill says. 10 things in his conference room, where a
iature. He was so proud, he actually signed So we fell back on research. striking oil portrait of Louise silently takes
it: Henry Byrd. He rarely signed his work. For the next few decades, Bill and his stock of our conversation. To tell the story,
Bill has stories for the other works, too team devoted themselves to researching the these are the objects.

FANCY DANCE BUSTLE
Mickey Mouse Beaded Dance Bustle; hawk feath-
ers, beads; Quapaw, 20th century; on loan to the
Historic Arkansas Museum from Ardina Moore
Our permanent exhibit We Walk
in Two Worlds: The Caddo, Osage & Quapaw
in Arkansas chronicles the Native American
fa n cy d a n c e b u s t l e presence here. We invited three nationsthe
Osage, the Caddo and the Quapawto come
here and work with us. And all of them were
eager to come. I was naively thinking, Oh,
well, well just tell one story. Itll be the Indian
story and the white mans story. No, no, no.
You have three stories. You have three different
nations, and each one has a distinctive history
and a very clear, different language, different
mythology, values.
They really came up with the title, which
has a lot of different implications: Its the
historical world and the present world, its a
world of whites and Indians, and its a world,
even within themselves, of the values that are
sort of pulling them apart in a lot of ways. But
its also a world of coming together. And the
object that best describes this concept for me
in the whole exhibit is this dance bustle. It was
made by Ardina Moore, who was one of the
elders we were working with. Shes the grand-
daughter of the principal chief of the Quapaw.
Her grandson became a fancy dancer, dancing
in competitionsjust an expression of Native
American artistry. So she made this fancy-
dance bustle that hed wear on his back. Well,
he loved Mickey Mouse. And so, you know,
the combination of the two worlds this rep-
resents is just such a beautiful statement of,
Were making the best of these two worlds. Its
one of my favorites.
PAINTING OF
DON JOSEPH
Capt. Joseph Bernard Valliere dHauterive (1747-
1797); oil on canvas; attributed to the artist Jose
pa i n t i n g o f d o n j o s e p h
bowie no. 1 the carrigan knife

Francisco Xavier De Salazar Y Mendoza (1750-
1802), New Orleans and Louisiana Territory,
1790-1795; 47 by 39 inches; gift of Mr. and
Mrs. A. Howard Stebbins III
This portrait is of the commandant
of Arkansas Post, Don Joseph Bernard Val-
liere dHauterive. He was French, but at the
time, Louisiana was owned by the Spanish.
They sort of contracted out with the French,
who knew the local area better. This was
painted by Jose de Salazar, who was a very
well-known New Orleans painter. It could
have been painted in New Orleans, but artists
were notorious for traveling to wherever they
could get a good commission. If you had two
or three people you were going to paint, it
would make the trip worthwhile.
The reason this painting is one of my
favorites is because it was given by Elsie dwight mission Sampler
and Howard Stebbins. And they were sort
of mentors in the business of collecting Ar-
kansas. They started collecting Arkansas
stuff in the 1940s and 1950s and were just terrific students of the past. a local printing expert, helped us. He paid the expense for having two
There was a direct descendant of Don Joseph who still owned the presses madewe got one, and he got the other. Its a precise replica
portrait. In 1955 or thereabouts, Mr. Stebbins came to terms with of the one Woodruff brought here.
themthey could use the money, and Mr. Stebbins obviously wanted Our restoration of the print shop was completed just a few years
the painting. We lusted over this painting for years, and the Stebbinses ago. She had some reasons for it, but Ms. Loughborough actually tore
finally decided theyd let us have it. And it really is one of the finest down what was left of the original two-story print shop in 1941. It had
objects of early Arkansas. been changed somewhatthe wall had fallen in; thered been a fire.
There were enough differences that we cut her some slack, saying, We
understand why you made the mistake you made.
RAMAGE PRESS
William E. Woodruff knew that as soon as Arkansas was
DWIGHT MISSION SAMPLER
named a territory, somebody would be named printer to the terri-
tory, and if you were the printer, you were responsible for all of the Rare Native American Sampler; silk crewels cross-stitched on linen support;
official government documents. You might make your living making made by Nancy Graves (b. 1817), Dwight Mission Cherokee settlement near
a newspapera tough livingbut if you had this government con- present-day Russellville, Arkansas; dated 1828; 14 by 14 inches; Arkansas
tract, you would have a leg up. He hustled a used Ramage press and Natural and Cultural Resources Council Grant Purchase
brought it to Arkansas territory, landed at Arkansas Post and started The Osage Captive is a fairly well-known story in the Native
the newspaper immediately upon getting here. American world. There was an Osage girl, Maria James, who was cap-
We wanted to have the kind of press that was actually used in tured by the Cherokee and was put into the school at Dwight Mission,
Arkansas Post and at this site, where he printed the Arkansas Gazette which was started near Russellville. The school was run by missionar-
from 1824 to 1827. For three years, that building was the sort of nerve ies, and they taught students the social graces. The sampler was the
center, the information center of the entire territory. So we sent Andy sort of defining statement of the students abilities in needlework, as
Zawacki, our conservator, to do some research on the Ramage press. it were. And these samplers can tell such a depth of story: the Native
Turns out that Ramage presses did not have interchangeable parts American and the white relationship, the education of women, the
you made one press, you sent it away, you made another. They werent demonstration of competency in womens work, all of those kinds of
uniform. So we said, OK, were going to need to make one. John Horn, things, and, you know, bringing Christianity to the heathens, as these

missionaries were doingthats in quotes, arkansas Washbourne; lithograph on paper, hand-colored;
by the way. t r av e l e r Leopold Grozelier, lithographer; printed and
This sampler, made by Nancy Graves at print
published by J.H. Buffords, Boston, 1859; 20
Dwight Mission, is the oldest known Native by 18 inches; gift of Parker Westbrook
American sampler. And the way we got it The Arkansas Traveler was a cul-
was so much fun, too. Our curator herejust tural phenomenon. It was a piece of music. Then it was a dialogue:
another great personis Swannee Bennett. As Swannee was bidding Where does this road go? It doesnt go anywhere. Why dont you fix
on this, he was on the phone. The Sothebys operator who was the roof? Well, its raining. Why dont you fix the roof when its not
bidding for him said, Whats that going on in the background? Is raining? Well, it dont need fixin then! Hee Haw kind of stuff, but
that a shot? Swannee said, Well, yes, Im trying to kill some ducks its classic. Folklorists see it as one of the quintessential statements
here! He was bidding on this from the duck blind. I think he killed of regional folklore in America.
his limit that day. Turns out that an Arkansas artist managed to capture it, a fel-
It turned out that the other bidder was the Smithsonian. It low by the name of Edward Payson Washbourne. He painted this
would have been great in the National Museum of the American picture of his acquaintance, Sandy Faulkner, who was the original
Indian, theres no question. But its also great here, because its an Travelerthe guy who first told the story of being lost and going
Arkansas story. up to the squatters cabin and trying to get directions, and the
squatter just would not give him any information. All the while,
the squatters playing the first half of the tune. And then finally,
ARKANSAS TRAVELER PRINT the Traveler says, Why dont you play the turn of the tune?, and the
The Arkansas Traveler, after the genre painting by Edward Payson squatter says, Well thats all there is. And the Traveler says, Mind if

W. o .
Robertson
RifLe
I? And he plays the second half. And then hes welcomed into the house, a really strong legacy of that knife. And it sort of opened our eyes to
given all the whiskey thats left. The way Sandy Faulkner told the story, the possibility of this other knife, the Bowie No. 1, which came up for
it was about the end of the frontierclass or economic level. And it auction in 1992. We had to sort of cobble together donations from here
was reconciliation through the magic of music. And I love that story. and there$32,000 for one knife. Everyone agrees its probably worth
But unfortunately, when the story caught on all over the country, three times that.
and when the people telling it were outside of Arkansaswhen it wasnt Now the Bowie No. 1 clearly came from the same shop. It was
Sandy Faulknerit became a joke on the state. The last line of one of definitely made by the same person. It says Bowie No. 1 on the
the most popular stories is: He hasnt had the courage to visit Arkansas platean old, old marking. We dont know whether James Black did
since. All through the last half of the 19th century, people would com- it or whether someone who owned it did it later, and then you ask
plain about the damage the Traveler had done to our reputation. But yourself a question: If you had a knife that you knew was related to
one of things weve been able to do is to help re-establish the Arkansas the Bowie family, and arguably the first Bowie knife, how would you
Traveler as a great creation of Arkansas folklore. This print was the first mark it if you wanted to perpetuate the story of this knife? Probably
Traveler print that came out, and it acknowledged the artist, who was Bowie No. 1. So, we may have Jim Bowies or his brother Rezins knife
an Arkansas boy, and it acknowledged Sandy Faulkneran Arkansas down there, or not. And thats one of the great things about collecting:
boy, tooas the original Traveler. Its the most essential statement of You never know for sure.
the Arkansas Traveler image, and it was given by one of our beloved
commission members, who died just last year, Parker Westbrook.
HINDERLITER HOUSE
Its the oldest house in the city. Its on its original site; its
JAMES BLACK KNIVES forever been right there. It was a grog shop, a place for people getting
The Carrigan Knife; James Black, Arkansas; c. 1830; steel, walnut scales, together and being convivial. You know, what could be better than
silver wrap, plated silver, tang and ricasso; guardless Bowie type; guardless hanging around a bar in early Arkansas and having a little flask of grog
coffin-shaped handle wrapped with silver; 10 1/4-inch overall length; gift of and enjoying life with your friends?
Mary Delia Carrigan Prather I have all sorts of fond memories of the Hinderliter House. On
opening day of the Territorial Restoration in 1941, my mother was a
Bowie No. 1; attributed to James Black, Arkansas; c. 1830-1836; black walnut volunteer tour guide in the house. And during our Christmas open
with wood handle scales, silver-wrapped pommel, bolster and fluted tang, house, we do country dancing in there. I am, oh, how many genera-
silver studs and escutcheon; clip-point blade with silver-wrapped ricasso and tions Well, Im old Arkansas from before the territorial period on
sharpened false edge; 18 1/2-inch overall length my mothers side, and from the territorial period on my fathers side.
The Carrigan knife was given to us by the Prather family. My dad taught us how to do the Virginia Reel to music that was actu-
Because of this knife and its lineage, we know who owned it from the ally being played on an old wind-up record player. That was part of our
time it left James Blacks shop in Washington, Arkansas, until now. education. Now I lead the Virginia Reel. We have country dancers who
Its only been in the ownership of two different families, and it was really know what theyre doing, and theyre great, but they let me sit in
documented in 1919a photograph of it, a story about it. So we have and lead a couple of dances.
continued on page 118

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
AROUND
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79
AroundTown
THE HEIGHTS
Scenic streets
SHOPPING AND DINING ABOUND
IN BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD
L ocated on the north end of Kavanaugh
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Boulevard, the Heights is one of Little
Rocks most eclectic neighborhoods. Visi-
tors flock to the Heights for one-of-a-kind
dining and shopping, and residents are
drawn to the areas diverse housing and dy-
namic community.
Unique boutiques such as The Yarn Mart
and White Goat, as well as several fabu-
lous galleries, add to the neighborhoods
charm. Foodies can delight in nearby eater-
ies, which run the gamut from fresh seafood
at Sushi Cafe to tasty bites at ZAZA Fine
Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co.
The Heights is also home to the Little
Rock Country Club, which was founded in
1902. In addition to its championship golf
course, the club boasts breathtaking views
of downtown Little Rock and the Arkansas
River Valley.
Prospective residents can take their pick
from a mix of historic and new homes. The
Heights offers a variety of fun community
events, as well as the Westover Hills Farm-
ers Market.
Top: The Heights neighborhood in Little Rock offers a plethora of housing options, from
historic abodes to new construction. Middle left: The Heights is home to an array of
upscale boutiques such as Emporium Home, which carries furnishings, decor and more.
Middle right: Misty Dissinger works on her painting during a class at the L & L Art Gallery
in the Heights. Bottom: Fantastic shopping opportunities draw residents and visitors to
the Heights. Pictured here is Sissys Log Cabin, which offers exquisite jewelry. Bottom left:
Seth Garner putts on the 13th green at the Little Rock Country Club during the opening
round of the 2015 ASGA Mens Stroke Play Championship.

ADVERTISING FEATURE
AroundTown
ANTIQUES/VINTAGE
Inquire
about the era
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
OLD AND MADE TO LOOK OLD
SLOANE GRELEN/ARKANSAS LIFE

V intage is the new old. With descriptions
such as retro and vintique entering an-
tique lovers lingo, it is not always a reference
your grandmothers Victorian settee.
In yesteryear, things were made to last. Now-
adays, manufacturers build new to look old.
Items that are old but not quite antique are
everywhere. As people are taking to repurpos-
ing, the old is taking on a new look. Grandmas
headboard becomes a bench, or her chest of
drawers covered in chalk paint bears only a
slight resemblance to the chests former self.
People hinge vintage doors together to create
room dividers.
In general conversation and understand-
SUBMITTED PHOTO
ing, people sometimes interchange antique

and vintage. A solid understanding of the
terms is important when you are buying and
selling. In the antiques trade, the term an-
tique refers to objects more than 100 years Top left: The mannequin is wearing a 1960s Howard Wolf silk cocktail suit and straw hat
old. A vintage item can be old, but the term and is holding a Hattie Carnegie hat box. Also shown are 1970s Louis Vuitton suitcases
can also mean the item was made to look old. and a 1940s Hartman Skymate, from Vintique Market. Top right: This handmade pine
kitchen cabinet with original porcelain knobs and original cracked ochre paint from the
Be sure to ask when a piece was made. Vin- 1800s at South Main Creative was made to last. Middle right: The portable Remington
tage clothing is making a comeback, too. Mix- typewriter circa 1935 is from South Main Creative. Bottom left: A twin headboard
ing and matching are the key. Hat boxes and combined with reclaimed wood repurposes to a bench. This and the vintage purse,
pillows and suitcase are from Inretrospec. Bottom right: Old doors with chipped paint
old luggage are being repurposed and incor- hinged together create a backdrop while old hymnal pages are repurposed into a wreath
porated with furniture. from Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Market.
TIPS ON INCORPORATING VINTAGE WITH CONTEMPORARY

A great way to incorporate antique and Today, people are contrasting I see more and more people using vintage
vintage furniture into todays relaxed decor contemporary furnishings with vintage and antique pieces in modern design to
is to paint the pieces. Armoires, chests, finds for a richer, more eclectic and achieve an eclectic look. Using inherited or
sideboards and dining tables can lend a personalized look. collected items in design allows for a more
transitional look when given a coat of paint. unique look.
Tony Spicer, Vintique Market
Larry Jordan, Fabulous Finds Adam Smith, White Goat
Todays customers have multifarious inter- The most interesting spaces are those Vintage items bring a great mix of textures
ests when adding a piece to their home or creatively and artfully enriched with eclectic and pops of color to any decor. Upcycled
wardrobe. We encourage mixing modern- treasures. A home should reflect personal- vintage items add personality to a space
day, well-made pieces with midcentury, ity and authenticity. Go treasure hunting for and are one-of-a-kind conversation pieces.
French Provincial, ect. pieces that speak to you. Ashley Norris, Bella Rustina
Javonne Stewart Jordan, inretrospec Valerie Wingert, South Main Creative Modern Vintage Market

AroundTown
HILLCREST
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FILE PHOTOS

Fancy facades
IMMENSE AMOUNT OF SHOPPING,
SCENERY AND FOOD MAKE AREA UNIQUE
I n Little Rocks Hillcrest neighborhood sits a unique

combination of quaint houses, specialty shopping and
exquisite food. Each location seems to contain its own story
within its walls while exuding a warm facade.
SLOANE GREELEN/ARKANSAS LIFE

Guests and residents alike can enjoy the one-of-a-kind
shopping experience Hillcrest has to offer and will be al-
most guaranteed to find what they are looking for, if not a
serendipitous item that piques their fancy. The neighbor-
hood truly offers a rare collection of specialty stores such
as E.Leighs, Box Turtle, Gallery 26, Haus Werk and more.
Finding good food and drinks is not a difficult task in
Hillcrest. The area contains scrumptious cafes, such as Top: Jackie Bracey, center, walks with kids, from left, in wagon, Harrison Bracey,
Milo Coffee Co. and Cafe Bossa Nova. Those looking for Thomas Bracey, and Jack Bracey, with friends Lauren Greber, in stripes, and
unique gourmet cuisine have options, such as Kemuri for her children John William, and Luke, during Hillcrests annual July 4th Parade.
Bottom left: Tara Stainton, left, sells produce to Leslie Kurczek of Sherwood and
sushi or La Terraza Rum & Lounge for an amazing expe- her daughter Lauren at a recent Hillcrest Farmers Market. Bottom right: Some
rience. No one need go hungry in Hillcrest, and diners of Little Rocks most charming homes are located in Hillcrest. The neighborhood
palates will be thankful. also offers gorgeous scenery, beautiful parks and eclectic shops.

AroundTown
RIVERDALE
Strolling by the river
RAVI NAHATA/CAPTURE ARKANSAS

NEIGHBORHOOD SHOWCASES
OUTDOOR FUN AND SCENIC VIEWS
A superb area to live amid scenic views, play and exercise

at various amenities and consume savory cuisine, Little
Rocks Riverdale community has a ton to offer.
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

Exercise enthusiasts can enjoy the various running and
biking trails, as well as the Big Dam Bridge, which gives
them the opportunity to practice their fitness while enjoy-
ing the gorgeous views the neighborhood has to offer. If
visitors or residents are just looking for a leisurely stroll in
the park or a place to relax, Murray Park offers a serene
atmosphere, while golfers have the chance to enjoy the
large golf course that is Rebsamen Park. The community
provides opportune living choices with gated communities
and homes with well-kept lawns and gardens.
Food is always an important aspect when it comes to a Top: The Big Dam Bridge, which is an integral part of the Arkansas River Trail
specific region, and Riverdale does not disappoint. With connects Little Rocks Riverdale neighborhood to North Little Rock. Bottom
left: Elisa Abad keeps produce in order at the Argenta Farmers Market on
options such as Faded Rose, Cajuns Wharf and more, din- Main Street. Bottom right: A cyclist rides past blooming wildflowers along
ers have plenty from which to choose. Rebsamen Park Road.
pastel garden
,
More of Nature s
wonders in stock.
1523 Rebsamen Park Rd | Riverdale Design District | Little Rock Like

Us
Phone 501-663-0460 | 10:00 - 5:30 Mon - Sat | cynthiaeastfabrics.com

AroundTown
SPECIAL LEARNING
Building Bridges
Pediatric Therapy
PHOTOS BY WILLIAM HARVEY/ARKANSAS LIFE

Services
ENGAGING CHILDREN
EMPOWERING FAMILIES
A s you open the front door, the first thing

to catch your eye is a large painting with
the words Hope happens here, and it does.
For more than 30 years, owner and direc-
tor Rachel Morse has been passionate about
building relationships with children and fam-
ilies, not about building a mega practice. As a
speech-language pathologist who specializes
in treating children with autism-spectrum
disorders and other social-emotional and de-
velopmental challenges, Morse has supported
families in celebrating each childs individual
differences while encouraging their contin-
ued growth. Whether a child with autism-
spectrum disorder, an international adoptee
with complex challenges or a child with aprax-
ia and sensory-processing dysfunction, Morse
and her colleagues engage and empower their
clients through a respectful partnership with
the family.
The Interdisciplinary Council on Develop-
ment and Learning (www.icdl.com) recognizes
Building Bridges as the only DIR/Floortime
clinic in Arkansas, and Morse as the only fully
certified provider in the state. Her speech-
language-pathologist colleague Caitlin McAfee
and occupational therapy associates Ashley
Griffin and David Bise are all in the process of
DIR certification. The DIR/Floortime model is
unique and quite different from ABA or other
behavioral approaches and addresses core un-
derlying differences in relating, interacting and
communicating.
On any given day at Building Bridges, you
might find a toddler in a pop-up bus with
Mom and Dad; two teenagers planning a Star
Wars adventure with Zoe, the therapy dog; or
a 10-year-old dressed as a pirate or astronaut Top: Sometimes writing a creative story for Zoe, the therapy dog, is the highlight of the day.
embarking on a mission. Creativity abounds, Middle left: At Building Bridges, great value is placed on building relationships and that often
means including siblings in therapy. Middle right: Through a context of play and other speech
relationships are built, communication grows, and occupational therapy experiences, parents and grandparents learn to attune, engage, and
and hope happens at Building Bridges. challenge and children and teens learn to regulate, connect, communicate, think, and reflect.
For more information, call 501-503-5160. Some- Bottom left: The staff at Building Bridges is focused on engaging children while celebrating
their individual differences. Bottom right: The team at Building Bridges includes, from left,
one with a caring voice will be happy to help you on Caitlin McAfee, Ashley Griffin and Rachel Morse, as well as Zoe, the therapy dog. David Bise,
your journey. who is also a member of the staff is not pictured.
AroundTown
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FILE PHOTOS

LITTLE ROCK EDUCATION
Living and learning

ARKANSAS CAPITAL CITY OFFERS VARIETY
OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
L iving in Little Rock has its perks, and one is a wide

selection of educational facilities, including those that
are specific to students interests and needs.
The city is home to two school districts, Little Rock
School District, Pulaski County Special School District.
LRSDs magnet program includes high schools such as
Parkview, which focuses on fine arts. The district is also
home to one of the citys premier middle schools Pu-
laski Heights Middle School.
PCSSD is celebrating its recent graduating class, where Top: Fourth-grade students at Chenal Elementary work on school assigned laptops
370 students were awarded scholarships. Chenal Elemen- for some of their classroom lessons. Pulaski County Special School District wants
to provide every district student with a laptop or tablet. Bottom left: Central
tary School is commonly voted into the Arkansas Demo- High School sophomores Mariah Carter, center, and Natalie McGarry, upper right,
crat-Gazettes annual Best of the Best contest as a favorite explain their microbiology science fair projects to two sets of judges during the
public elementary school. Little Rock schools annual competition. Bottom right: John Henry Adams, a
kindergartener at Forest Heights STEM Academy, peers under his bridge made of
Little Rock also has several public charter schools that of- spaghetti noodles as a WINGS mentor hangs a weight on it during an engineering
fer students a comprehensive, student-focused education. challenge at the school.

AroundTown
LAKE OUACHITA
Mountain Harbor
Resort and Spa
KICK BACK AND RELAX IN ONE OF
HOT SPRINGS PREMIER RESORTS
A visit with friends in the early 50s to the new-
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
ly filled Lake Ouachita sparked a dream that
would become one of Arkansas favorite and most
award-winning resorts. Mountain Harbor Resort
and Spa on Lake Ouachita has now been serving
customers for more than four generations. Own-
er and CEO Bill Barnes, the son of founder Hal
Barnes, attributes the resorts success to a long-
standing culture of passionate customer service.
Since its early beginnings, Mountain Harbor has
grown into one of the Souths largest inland mari-
nas with a 2,400-square-foot floating marina store,
a floating Subway and a full rental fleet. Voted Ar-
kansas Best Resort and Best Marina, Mountain
Harbor features a wide range of lodging options,
from charming lakeside guest rooms to luxury cot-
tages; one of the Souths largest inland marinas
with a 2,400-square-foot floating marina store and
a full rental fleet; Turtle Cove Spa, rated as one of
the nations top 20 spas; horseback riding and car-
riage rides; a dive shop; and a host of recreational
activities.
For lake dining options, the Lodge welcomes
guests to its rustic Lodge Restaurant at the heart
of the resort. In addition to the Lodge Restaurant,
serving breakfast lunch and dinner, the resort also
offers Jenns Specialty Foods, offering personal-
ized catering and fresh and frozen entrees and
desserts.
From kayaks and SUPs (stand-up paddleboards)
to party barges and fast, powerful ski boats, Moun-
tain Harbors marina has just about everything
families need to get out on the lake and have fun.
Surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, the
resort offers access to more than 45 miles of hiking
and biking on the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail.
Family owned and operated for 61 years, Moun-
tain Harbor has cultivated a culture of passionate,
personal customer service. From a formal greeting
by Harbor Dog at the front door to your last fond Top: Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa is located on Lake Ouachita just a short drive
farewell, the staff and families of Harbor will make from Hot Springs National Park. Middle left: While enjoying the beauty of Arkansas
Lake Ouachita, try a couples massage at the spa. Middle right: From a quick sandwich
you feel at home. to a full catering menu, Mountain Harbor offers dining options for just about any taste.
For more information, check out www.mountain Bottom: Located on Lake Ouachita, Mountain Harbor offers a variety of boating choices,
harborresort.com. from kayaks to party barges.

AroundTown
PLEASANT RIDGE
Specialty shopping
CODY GRAVES/ARKANSAS LIFE

OPEN-AIR MALL OFFERS UPSCALE
BOUTIQUES, GALLERIES AND RESTAURANTS
S ituated just west of Interstate 430 on Cantrell Road,

Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center exemplifies the
class and sophistication of west Little Rock.
Visitors and residents can find most necessities at
CODY GRAVES/ARKANSAS LIFE

Pleasant Ridge Town Center, which offers The Fresh
Market, as well as a variety of galleries, salons and cute
SUBMITTED PHOTO
boutiques such as Pout and Vestas. Visitors will also find
well-known home furnishings stores such as Marshall
Clements and local favorite Embellish. The center also
boasts some of the finest restaurants in Little Rock, in-
cluding Bar Louie, Bonefish Grill, Istanbul Mediterra-
Top: Located on Cantrell Road just west of Interstate 430, Pleasant Ridge Town
nean Restaurant and more. Center offers a plethora of upscale shopping establishments and delectable
The surrounding area offers an array of activities for eateries. Bottom left: Embellish Design Center, which offers home decor,
the whole family. The adjacent Pleasant Valley Country furniture and expert service, recently moved to its new location between Pigtails
& Crewcuts and Vestas in Pleasant Ridge Town Center. Bottom right: Some of
Club offers recreational activities such as golf and tennis, Little Rocks best restaurants, such as Bonefish Grill, Sky Modern Japanese and
as well as fine dining and scenic lake views. Bar Louie, are can be found in Pleasant Ridge Town Center.

2015
B OF THE
2015

AroundTown
BENTON/BRYANT
Growing
inside and out
SCOTT DETTMER/CAPTURE ARKANSAS

CITIES HAVE WIDE ARRAY
OF ACTIVITIES TO OFFER
I n Saline County, both Benton and

Bryant have seen major growth
in population and economic sur-
plus. This can be seen through the
already existing, but always improv-
ing, parks and recreation centers,
as well as development of various

shopping areas.
In 2015, Hurricane Creek Vil-
lage, which is anchored by Academy
Sports and the states largest Kroger
Marketplace, opened in Benton with
access to Interstate 30, Arkansas
5 and Alcoa Road. In addition to
this complex, the city has decide
to add additional shopping sites in
the form of the Shoppes of Benton,
which is estimated to open in 2017.
The Shoppes of Benton has al-
ready secured businesses such as
T.J. Maxx/Home Goods, Hobby
Lobby, Ulta and Texas Roadhouse
as occupants. The developers have
estimated that the center will cre-
ate more than 500 jobs and gener-
ate $1.7 million in annual sales-tax
revenue.
Residents of Benton and Bryant
and the surrounding areas dont
have to spend all day inside shop-
ping, however, because there are
beautiful parks in the area. The
public has access to gorgeous parks
such as Tyndall Park in Benton,
Bishop Park in Bryant which is
home to basketball courts and an Top: The Saline County Courthouse in Benton is a local landmark that adds to the areas charm.
indoor/outdoor junior Olympic-size It was finished in 1902 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Middle
pool and Mills Park in Bryant. left: Teresa Talent walks with her Wirehaired Fox Terrier, Chanel, in Bryants Mills Park. Middle
right: Tyler Taggard, right, backs off a safe distance as his cousin Landon Smith, pulls a small
Benton and Bryant offer plenty to fish off his line while fishing together with Landons sister Riley Smith, on Lake Charles in Bryants
do in a variety of categories to pique Bishop Park Wednesday afternoon. Bottom: Audrey Edmondson, left, looks back at her friends
ones interest. as they share a ride on a large cushioned snake at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton.

AroundTown
SEARCY
Serene
NANCY KEY/CAPTURE ARKANSAS

surroundings
COMMUNITY OFFERS UNIQUE OPTIONS
L ocated in White County, the city of Searcy is a quiet

town with lots to do.
Downtown Searcy is a vibrant area with lots of local
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
shops to browse in search of unique items to buy. The
Rialto Theater has become a destination for movie lov-
ers, and in the holiday season, downtown comes alive
with beautiful decorations.
Searcy is also home to Harding University, a private
Christian institution dedicated to helping its students FILE PHOTOS
achieve their dreams.
Visitors to Searcy can also check out the White Coun-
Top: The historic Black House has a long history in city of Searcy it was built
ty Pioneer Village. This village is a collection of 19th-cen- before the Civil War and was one of the first 100 Arkansas buildings placed on
tury buildings, farm equipment and other items of inter- the National Register of Historic Places. The house now contains the Searcy Art
est from the history of the county. The staff at the village Gallery. Bottom left: David Cantell pushes his daughter, Elena Cantell, 2, on a
swing at Berryhill Park. Bottom right: From left, sisters Cheyenne and Autumn
gives guests a glimpse into what life was like during the Laws of Judson and Soraya Gifford of Higginson dress in 19th-century style
citys early history. clothing to volunteer at the annual Pioneer Village Spring Fest.

AroundTown
LAGRANGE, GEORGIA
Take it on
the road
FANS INVITED TO ENJOY CITY AS
RAZORBACKS TAKE ON TIGERS
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
W hen the Razorbacks visit Auburn
University, Arkansans looking
for a great place to stay will find that
LaGrange, Georgia, has a surprising
amount to offer. Located just off Inter-
state 85 and less than an hour northeast
of Jordan-Hare Stadium, visitors can
find affordable lodging options, exqui-
site gardens, ancient artifacts, unique
boutique shopping, fresh and delicious
dining and more, making the city a fan-
tastic choice for an extended football
weekend.
Arrive on Thursday afternoon just in
time to visit Hills & Dales Estate. Cel-
ebrating its 100th anniversary, this local
treasure was once the Callaway fam-
ily home and gardens. The estatepre-
served by the fourth generation of the
Fuller E. Callaway familyis open to the
public for the education and enjoyment
of the community.
LaGrange is also one of just seven lo-
cations in the world with a collection of
rare biblical artifacts on exhibit. Located
at the Biblical History Center, this mag-
nificent display of daily-life in the Arti-
facts Gallery provides the visitor with a
look back into ancient times.
Venture downtown for great shopping
and dining options. When its time to re-
lax with friends before the game or cel-
ebrate Arkansas victory, theres a great
selection of locally owned restaurants
serving burgers, prime bison, fish, chick-
en, barbecue and more.
LaGrange is an ideal location for food,
fun, relaxation and a great weekend of Top: An aerial view of the historic Hills & Dales Estate shows the details in the home and
SEC football. gardens that is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Middle left: While in LaGrange, visit
Contact the LaGrange team at 706.884.8671 the Biblical History Center, which is one of only seven locations in the world that feature rare
biblical artifacts. Middle right: Lafayette Square in downtown LaGrange is a great place to
or dave@lagrangechamber.com to help draw visit for a relaxing evening before or after the Razorbacks game against the Auburn Tigers.
up a game-winning plan. Bottom: Visitors to downtown will find many welcoming shopkeepers from local boutiques.

GOOD TASTE
F i r s t Ta s t e
THE SOUTHERN
GOURMASIAN
F o l l ow i n g t h e D r ag o n , h e a d to ta i l
By Jordan P. Hickey | Photography by Arshia Khan

omething is the same this after- a hot day. Two bites. A thumbprint depression
noon. Fixed and familiar. Half of denting the side.
a steamed bun left on the oblong Recalled now years later, as the
rectangular platehalf-eaten The Southern aforementioned projector wheezes and the
with the shadow of a thumb depression left Gourmasian present reassembles and resolves into focus,
in the side. Dollops of root-beer-colored hoi- 219 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock it feels as though very little has changed.
sin shaped like fat teardrops and the state of (501) 313-5645 That is, of course, with the exception of The
thesoutherngourmasian.com
Maine. Looking up, I see chef Justin Patterson Southern Gourmasians brick-and-mortar
of The Southern Gourmasian, a towel draped Best Dishes storefront, just a block west of the plaza
over his shoulder, chatting with our photog- Chicken wings with Thai peanut sauce and regularly appropriated by food trucks, that the
rapher about the dishes hes laid out for the pickled pears; Thai chicken burger; restaurant has called home since early 2015.
Korean barbecue lettuce wraps; dark choco-
shoot, so I return my attention to the plate in late bread pudding
As our photographer steps outside to grab
front of me and take the last bite. something from her car and Justin ducks into
Its something that sends the minds projector Kid friendly? the kitchen, I get up from my table, curious
clunking into motion, the dust cleared by an Sure! Theres not a kids menu, per se, but if to see what dishes have been prepared for the
youve got little kimchi-eating gourma-
influx of familiar flavors: Here, the memory sians, there are plenty of dishes that may days shoot.
of a summer day on Capitol Avenues broken- pique the kiddos palates There are no steamed buns, no chips.
brick plaza. The sun is shining. A chorus of gas Rather, theres a plate of chicken wings
generators brap and punish ears, feeding their Price Range with a Thai peanut sauce and pickled pears.
$5 to $10.50 for apps; $7.50 to $9 for steamed
respective trucks with coiled lengths of hose buns; $7.50 to $9 for sandwiches; $8 to $13 Chicken-fried cauliflower steak paired with
like spaghetti. And out of one yellow-framed for main plates a pear-ginger relish, snow peas and sauteed
window comes a foil-lined Styrofoam box. vegetables. Pork-belly corn dogs plated with
Hours
Popped open, and there are hand-cut potato 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Thursday,
pickled red onions and sweet-and-spicy
chips floppy with runoff from the adjacent 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. mustard. Leaning over to examine a salad
pickles and mango salad. A trio of steamed Saturday with pickled watermelon rind, pork belly and
buns are held upright by the close quarters; feta, Im struck by how it all appears so new
Reservations
removal requires a little coaxing, and the Unless youre interested in nabbing a spot at and differentthat so little feels the same.
bond between them is like skin to leather on one of the beer dinners, not necessary Or at least thats how it seems on the surface.

But of course something was going to be different.
As is the case with just about anything in this world, the more
time you spend away from a given place, the more likely you are to
be blindsided by change upon returning. And if youve been gone
an especially long while, theres a fair chance what you remember of
the original has been all but absorbed by the present iterationthe
equivalent of taking an elevator up the evolutionary ladder, go-
ing from blobby single-celled microbe to iguana without knowing
much of anything of the intervening floors. All of which is a very
roundabout way of saying: Theres been a pretty remarkable evolu-
tion at The Southern Gourmasian since the food truck first hit the
streets in 2012, since the brick-and-mortar storefront opened in early
2015and even, for that matter, in the past few weeks and months.
The truth is, in looking around the space, its not terribly difficult to
find reminders of that past, vestiges large and small, that suggest just
how far the restaurant has comelargely because its all in plain view.
Recent visitors may have noticed a copy of Southern Living propped
open just beside the cash register that names The Southern Gourma-
sian as one of the finest food trucks in the South. Said visitors may
have also noticed a sheet of paper taped to the front door indicating
the expansion of dinner hours and a black sandwich board asking
patrons to seat themselves. (Also, if the western wall, the one on your
right upon walking in, seems a little longer than you remember it,
that may be because the black dry-erase-board menu is no longer
therea casualty of the new emphasis on full-dining service.)
And really, theres plenty more that could be said of the space
say, the well-loved copies of Lucky Peach, a quarterly food mag
co-founded by Momofukus David Chang, a pioneering NYC chef
whom Justin counts among his key influences, stacked just in front
of the back bar; or the copies of The Modern Arkansas Table, a very
fine cookbook, indeed, some might saybut of course, none of these
changes really matter so much as this: Theres a menu. A printed
onewith eight subsections and close to 40 options.
Now, for those whove been away for a very long while, this may
come as something of a surprise. (Perhaps youve even thrown the
magazine across the room, yelled Zounds! and spooked the dog.)
And this would be an acceptable response because, again, for a long
time, the menu wasnt like this. Items listed on the truck were broken
into Steamed Buns, Sandwiches, Bowls and Desserts, and
marked off as they were sold out, which was often the case. On the
restaurant menurecently expanded back in late Marchthe same
offerings continue to make appearances, but so, too, have others.
Yet, for as different as those new dishes might seem, one point bears
noting: The guiding principle behind most every item on the menu
has been consistent ever since The Southern Gourmasian started,
and that principle is balance. In terms of texture, in terms of flavor.
For the most part, even when more disparate flavors are thrown
into the mix, the restaurant does a fine job in striking that balance.
On the chicken wings, the Thai peanut sauce pairs nicely with the
pickled pears. On the chicken-fried cauliflower steak, the flavors
are subtler, the breading a fine foil for the pear-ginger relish and
sauteed veggies. Perhaps the dish that fares best in this respect is a
Thai chicken burger that tastes like summer, with cilantro playing
off piquant red onions and pockets of edamame hummus that, when
you find them, are like secrets.
In fairness, there are times when the marriage of flavors can be
a rather shaky one, as if the things required to catalyze the fusion
had been misplaced, with the flavors merely juxtaposed for the sake
of itwhere theres just a casual across-the-room nod of acknowl-
edgement, as opposed to a full-on embrace. This is the case with the

corn dogs, where the batter to the eye and pleasing to
all but blunts and masks the the lips and fulfilling to the
flavors of both the pork and stomach.
the sweet-and-spicy mus- As he says this, I cant
tards and pickled red on- help but think about the
ions. With the Korean fried piece of paper folded in
chicken, its more a matter my notebookthe menu
of overcompensation; the for the restaurants up-
entire dish is a take on the coming beer dinner with
traditional Southern plate Stones Throw Brewing,
of fried chicken, greens and a monthly collaboration
cornbread. But with noth- they started just about 2
ing to provide the counter 1/2 years agoand which
elementwith the lack never repeated a dish until
of an equal and opposite they celebrated the din-
force coming up against ners two-year anniversary
itthe balance gets upset, this past January. (In July,
skewed and lopsided with the five-course dinner will
an emphasis on the salty. include Freckle Face pork
With those few exceptions, loin, bourbon-braised
however, its worth men- peaches and sweet-corn-
tioning that the flavors are and-edamame succotash,
more often than not equally and a peach rice-pudding
weightedand a successful brle.) In that moment,
equilibrium established and Im struck by the fact that,
maintained. despite all the steps The
Southern Gourmasian has
As Im mentally inter- made forward, theres still
rogating the pork-belly- consistencybecause that
topped salad, I see Justin guiding principle of bal-
come around the corner. ance has always been there.
Looking over the dishes, Its not until a few min-
he describes whats on each utes later, however, that I
plate, calling out a few ingre- really begin to understand
dientsthe feta that comes the extent to which balance
from Kent Walker, the pork governs not only Justins
belly from Grass Roots Co- cooking but his business
opand telling the story be- something which, at face
hind the deceptively simply value, seems almost para-
named pork kimchi stew. doxical. He talks about the
(Apparently, he listed it on whole new menu thing as
the menu before hed decided on a fixed recipe. And yes, you really something that allowed him to feed both his creative and business-
ought to try it.) minded inclinations. Theres movement forward while staying true
As we return to my table, Justin moves my now-empty steamed- to roots. Theres being creative while maintaining the business. The
bun plate to the side (which I later decide must be a metaphor for concept is fluid, given to change, adjusting to whatever it needs to
something), and I ask him about the deliberateness of that bal- accommodate.
ancethe extent to which that principle is in mind before he sits
down to create a dish. A few days later, I happen to walk by the broken-brick plaza
Its just kind of intuitive in cooking, the goal when you create din- and see the yellow truck brapping away, along with a few others,
ner, he says. Where it might be for some people balanced in terms a canister of propane perched on the back. Around front, I see a
of, I want to have a starch, a vegetable, a meat, from a chef s point new-ish sign to the left of the window that reads, in part, We began
of view, its probably going to be more balanced in terms of, I want as a food truck in 2012 and we have grown to have a brick + mortar
to have something with textural contrast. Lets take the salad that we location in downtown Little Rock! The food truck scoots around + we
just looked at with the pork belly. Its got something very rich and cater like crazy! Thanks for your business! :)
fatty, and on top of that, its got a pickle, so its sweet and acidic to Stepping right, I look at the menu written on a narrow black dry-
cut through that. Its also got a little bit of raw onion. erase board, not quite wide enough to cover the old white one sticking
Youre always thinking when you create a dish of how its going to out on either side, which are like wings with spidery cracks and the
balance in the end, he goes on to say. Maybe the word balance isnt partial profile of a red dragon mostly obscured by the new menu.
on your mind, but I think that kind of sums up what you do when Written on the newer board in neon-green capital letters that slant up
you createalmost anything, really. Im a musician, too, and when from left to right, there are subsections for bowls, sandwiches, buns
you talk about writing musicit gets mixed, and it gets edited, and and everything else. Best I can tell, theyve already sold out of the
it gets built into this thing that you can digest for your consumption. shrimp grits, the almond-crusted-chicken sandwich, the soy-and-
And we do the same thing with food. We take these different ingredi- ginger-braised short-rib buns. Then I see the steamed pork-shoulder
ents, and we put them on a plate, and we try to make them pleasing buns and realize something is the same.

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GOOD TASTE
YOU SAY TOMATO

C aprese three ways, or the ultimate Fourth of July appetizer
Photography by Arshia Khan
Move over corn dogs, kebabs and popsicles: This season belongs to our new favorite
food-on-a-stickthe Caprese salad (or, rather, these three versions we dreamed up upon seeing
the first homegrown tomatoes hit the farmers market). And whats not to love? These easy-to-
make snacks are the perfect way to get creative with that farmers-market haul. Better yet, like
most food that comes skewered, these bite-sized morsels can be munched one-handed. And with
all the drinks, lawn games and fireworks weve got planned for our Fourth of July celebrations,
that seems mighty important. nh
Classic Asian Latin

-Striped Cavern tomato -Kumato tomato -Yellow heirloom tomato
-Fresh basil -Roasted seaweed snack sheets -Avocado
-Mozzarella di bufala (We like -Fatty tuna (Dont live near Blu -Queso fresco
Corvino, which can be found at Fresh Fish Market in Bentonville? -Parsley
Kent Walker Artisan Cheese.) Check out sushinut.com.)
-Drizzle of olive oil
-Drizzle of olive oil and balsamic -Drizzle of sesame vinaigrette
vinegar -Sesame seeds

Good Tasting What were eating
this month
Maple-and-Herb
Sausage Home
Skillet
Lost Forty Brewing, Little Rock
Just because beer
doesnt necessarily scream
brunch doesnt mean you
should rule out this east
Little Rock brewery for
your next lazy Saturday-
morning meal. (Case in
point: The smorgasbord
theyve dubbed Home
Skillet.) And if you just
really cant do without that
mimosa, try Lost Fortys
blend of Day Drinker Bel-
gian Blonde and fresh OJ.
(501 Byrd St.; lost40brew-
ing.com)
Deep-fried
Croquettes
Four Quarter Bar, North
Little Rocks Argenta
To dig into one of these
disks of breaded and fried
goodness is to know its
name. (Croquette comes
from the French word for
to crunch, after all.) The
version served up at this
new New Orleans-themed
bar (called Trolley Wheels
on the menu) comes stuffed
with pulled pork, celery and
green onionswhich, as
far as were concerned, is
cookings true holy trinity.
(415 Main St., North Little
Rock; fourquarterbar.com)
Duck Confit
Skyes Little Bistro, Little Rock
Previously home to The
Clean Eatery, this little
nook off Third Streets
Strattons Market has now
been transformed into a
sprightly bistro that feels
surprisingly continental.
Add a French-inspired
menu that includes house-
made duck confita glo-
riously gamy, spectacularly
savory duck leg preserved
and then cooked in duck
fatand you have a match
made in Francophile heav-
en. (403 E. Third St.; face-
book.com/skyeslittlebistro)

Weekender
Almost Famous
Sure, Atlantas 2,173 miles from Los Angeles. But these days, it
looks like the Big Peachwith its picture-perfect parks and posh
amenitiesis stomping ground for Hollywoods brightest
By Zach Matthews | Photography by jamie hopper
y wife and I decided to skip the Valentines Day crowds, not to notice us, yall.
instead making our reservations a day early. Thats how Now, you may be thinking, film stars? In Atlanta? Five years ago, it
we found ourselves seated in the corner of one of the West would have been unheard of. But thanks to an American outpost of
Sides hottest joints, right next to a Hollywood A-lister fresh off a series Pinewood Studios (the London soundstage where all the Star Wars
of action hits, and his co-star, a darling of small-budget indie films. films were famously shot), not to mention some very friendly tax laws,
According to the buzz at the bar, they were in town to shoot a film- its all too common nowadays. With the burgeoning Hollywood scene
noir crime drama. As my wife and I whetted our appetites with plates and a healthy dose of economic recovery, large swathes of Atlanta have
of locally cured meats and farm-to-table cheeses, they sat beside us seen urban renewal on a scale reminiscent of the pre-1996 Olympics
in street clothes, doing a script read-through. The action star had a days. This time, though, the new growth is decidedly high-end, while
backpack tucked beneath his seat, from which they would periodically remaining easygoing and unpretentious, just as Atlanta has always been.
pull pages, each with a different scene to rehearse. Our server came by, Initially, the glamerati seemed to favor the West Side, with its Beverly
carefully maintaining her no-celebrities-here nonchalance, to take our Hills-grade venues such as Star Provisions, a high-end dry-goods store
drink orders. with a swank, speakeasy-ish back kitchen called Baccanalia. It sounds
Most restaurants these days have a list of fancy craft cocktails dreamed posh, and it is. But theres still something decidedly Southern about
up by their bartenders, but if you really want to test the strength of a having to walk past a classic meat counter overflowing with hams,
place, try ordering a classic drink and see what they do with it. My Old chops and fresh sausages in order to reach the fancy white tablecloths
Fashioned wasnt on the menu, but the bartender clearly knew his stuff. through a set of service doors. The food there can only be described as
Single cube of pressed ice, generous splash of Bulleit Rye, house-cured High Southern Decadentexactly the Midnight in the Garden of Good
cherry and an aromatic shaving of orange peelhe nailed it. It was clas- and Evil vibe most Hollywood types seem to associate with the South.
sic, elegant, clean. When it arrived, the indie darling took a look over As the West Coast crowd became more familiar with the city, however,
his shoulder and said, Ill have what hes having. They only pretend they started to venture beyond the tony West Side. I saw one actress

(known for running marathons) training on the
sidewalks one day in Midtown, near where the
film trailers usually set up. She looked to be on
her way across Piedmont Park, to the Atlanta
BeltLine, a greenway thats rapidly becoming
the citys most unique feature. The brainchild
of a Georgia Tech masters student named Ryan
Gravel, the BeltLine was
reclaimed from the citys
quasi-abandoned railway
the new growth easements. When finished,
is decidedly high- the central corridor will
run some 22 miles long,
end, while remaining linking parks, municipal
easygoing and facilities and, increasingly,
upscale loft housing and
unpretentious, just as shopping districts. Busi-
Atlanta has always been. nesses fortunate enough
to already be on the new
greenway have been re-
versing their entrances, finding that they draw
more walk-in traffic than they once did facing
the streets.
That starlet had no doubt realized what a
treasure the rail-to-trail project has turned out
to be. Even for noncelebrities, strolling the Belt-
Line can be especially nice on hot summer days,
when the pushcarts for local popsicle startup
King of Pops appear like mushrooms along the
trail. (And yes, local popsicle startup is totally
a thing here.) With the pops as whimsical as they
are delicious, its impossible to walk by the push-
carts multicolored umbrellas without indulging.
Atlantans initially questioned whether the
Hollywood wave was a passing fad or would
be here to stay. The city, after all, is fairly urban
but mostly lacks the dense blocks of skyscrap-
ing towers youd see in Chicago or New York.
Ironically, it has turned out to be the accessibility
of nature that has really made the city useful
to the film studios. Atlanta is the only large
metropolitan area that sits astride a national
park: the Chattahoochee National River. Not
even Denver or Salt Lake City can make that
claim. Area college kids shoot the Hooch as
soon as the weather warms each year, and they
do so in increasingly clean and well-managed
waters, bobbing among fly fishermen and along
boardwalks filled with schoolchildren on bird-
watching outings. Not too long ago, one of the
Hoochs dog beaches was temporarily closed so
that it could be used for an arena scene in The
Hunger Games. The digital editors must have had
a heckuva fun time removing all the gawking
canoeists passing by in the background.
For now at least, the Hollywood scene seems
to be here to stay. Atlantans have gotten used
to the funny yellow signs directing traffic to
the nearest location shoot (always with code
names like Rawhide or New Neighbors to
deter the paparazzi). The stars seem to have
truly discovered the South as it is, rather than
as they imagined it to be, and theyre sticking
c anoe aroundwith good reason.

Hot Fuzz
Exploring Hot lanta is easy as (peach) pie
//STAY St. Regis. Popular with pro athletes, including golfers headed to Augusta
for The Masters each year, the ritzy establishment boasts gorgeous
Buckhead Treehouse
chandeliers, daily explosions of fresh-cut flowers and marble everything.
These quirky digs are available via Airbnb, although these days, youll have
Plus, seeing as its hotel restaurant is housed in a full-blown art gallery,
to book well in advance, as it was recently named the sites No. 1 most
whens the next time youll have a chance to ogle a Picasso over a flame-
desirable rental in the world. With windows reclaimed from an old fac-
grilled leg of lamb with green-garlic chimichurri? (88 West Paces Ferry
tory, fairy lights and an ambience that might be called peak rustic, this
Road NW; stregisatlanta.com)
actual treehouse is only minutes from Buckheads high-end shopping and
dining district. (airbnb.com)
//EAT
The Georgian Terrace Ponce City Market
This historic edifice, with its block-spanning, umbrella-dotted brick ter-
Originally constructed in 1926 as a Sears & Roebuck factory, this market
race, sits on Atlantas main drag across from the famous Fox Theatre.
hall has lived many lives. Today, however, it is the poster structure for
How historic? In 1939, the premiere of Gone With the Wind was held in
21st-century downtown renewal: The high-ceilinged space now plays
Atlanta, and when the film was over, Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, author
host to a slew of craft restaurant venues and unusual shops, interspersing
Margaret Mitchell and many other luminaries repaired in their gowns
farm-to-table Cuban, Chinese, Southern and Mexican walk-up counters
and tuxes to the elegant Georgian Terrace ballroom for the post-debut
with artisanal vendors and swanky boutiques. . (675 Ponce De Leon Ave.;
gala. Recently renovated, the hotel offers affordable but luxurious in-city
poncecitymarket.com)
lodging. (659 Peachtree St.; thegeorgianterrace.com)
The St. Regis Kimball House

If youre looking to splurge, Atlantas nicest hotels are presently clustered Built in an old train station in Decatur, a historic small town long ago
on the upscale streets of Buckhead. The crown jewel may well be the absorbed by Atlanta on its east side, Kimball House boasts what may

the family dog
Woodruff park
very well be the most innovative cocktail list in the city. Hipster With a regularly rotating menu, you might be treated to authentic
waiters in 1920s-period aprons hover like bees behind the room- Brunswick stew one night, then find the chefs working on a whole
length bar while quirky taxidermy and reclaimed lighting add to suckling pig in a smoker box on the front patio the next. (1205
the ambience. Dont overlook the dining menu; its scrumptious. Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta; commonquarter.com)
(303 E. Howard Ave., Decatur; kimball-house.com)
Canoe
Heirloom Barbecue If youre in town during the workweek, there is nothing more
The brainchild of former Korean pop star Jiyeon Lee and her Atlantan than sipping a cocktail on the lawn at Canoe, a fixture on
American partner, Cody Taylor, who are both classically trained the local dining scene since the 1990s. Every Wednesday night in
chefs, this Korean-American fusion barbecue joint is built into the the summer, the restaurant hosts a different (typically unplugged)
side of an old convenience store near the Hooch. The restaurant band in its back garden. Locals know to show up early to grab an
was such a smash hit when it opened in 2010, the city had to Adirondack chair overlooking the river. After a flood in 2009 nearly
begin controlling traffic outside. These days, its take-out-only but swept the restaurant away, the back garden has been completely
still well worth the trip from anywhere in the city. Dont miss the redone with a walk-up bar right on the banks of the Hooch. (Its
fried-okra skewers with tangy kimchee-inspired dipping sauce. even possible to canoe to Canoe!) Pro tip:Try the smoked salmon
(2243 Akers Mill Road; heirloommarketbbq.com) on crispy potato cakes. (4199 Paces Ferry Road.; canoeatl.com)
Common Quarter
The newest offering of the Local 3 restaurant group, this beach- THE FAMILY DOG
inspired establishment features a classy but relaxed atmosphere, The Family Dog is a core part of a visit to Virginia Highlands, one
where the host and co-owner (musician Chris Talley) will likely of Atlantas best bar-and-shopping districts. Famous for its live
greet you at the door. One entire wall is devoted to a navigational music (often with audience participation), expect a packed, but
chart of St. Simons Island, the thematic inspiration for this sum- very friendly house.This is a great place to sample one of Atlantas
mery Southern getaway in East Cobb, a wealthy neighborhood many microbrews, such as the tart-but-refreshing Orpheus Atlanta
just outside the Atlanta Perimeter on the north side of town. Plumb Saison. (1402 N. Highland Ave.; familydogatl.com)

centennial Olympic park
//SEE & DO craftsmanship (and fishing), the school is world-renowned. (494

Main St., Blue Ridge; oysterbamboo.com)
Piedmont Park
Atlantas largest city park, this huge green space backs up to
Midtown, giving Piedmont a very Central-Park feel. Large ex- Shoot the Hooch
panses of lawns are hubs for soccer and impromptu bag-tossing Summer in Atlanta is defined by floating season. From roughly
contests, and are dotted with strolling families, as well as folks Memorial Day to Labor Day, outfitters like the appropriately
who make for some very interesting people-watching. Safe and named Shoot the Hooch offer inner-tube rentals so you can float
conveniently located, this is the perfect place for a morning run. the chilly waters of the Chattahoochee, passing through Atlantas
If it rains, swing by Park Tavern, which offers $1 drafts only when longest nature preserve with your cooler bobbing close at hand.
its pouring. (1440 Dutch Valley Pl.;parktavern.com) (Yes, they also rent cooler floats). Its inexpensive, relaxing and,
given some of the shenanigans the college kids get up to, oh-so
Oysters Bamboo Fly Rod School colorful. (shootthehooch.com)
The only school of its kind left in the country, Oysters Bamboo
Fly Rod School is tucked into the North Georgia hamlet of Blue Booth Western Art Museum
Ridge, about an hour north of the Atlanta Perimeter. Master en- This sleeper museum is arguably even more impressive than
graver and bamboo guru Bill Oyster teaches week-long classes in Atlantas flagship art museum, the High. Tucked into a corner of
the ancient art of crafting wooden fly rods, in a brand-new studio Cartersville, about 30 minutes north of town, this Smithsonian af-
complete with lodge-style bedrooms above and a kegerator out filiate has one of the largest collections of Western American art
back. With its small art galleries, olive-oil vendors, mountain train in the world (and has recently hosted exhibitions of some famous
rides and adventure rafting outfitters, quaint Blue Ridge, Georgia, pieces by Ansel Adams and Frederic Remington). Well worth a
is worth a day visit in its own right. But if you have an interest in half-day trip. (501 Museum Drive, Cartersville; boothmuseum.org)

//SHOP
Krog Street Market
Similar to Ponce City Market, nearby Krog Street Market pioneered the idea of a
high-end, modern mall carved out of an old factory space. Tour the stalls, sip a
beer, andthis is keya triple scoop of bourbon-salted-pecan from Jenis Splendid
Ice Cream. In addition, Krog Street plays host to a slightly more sophisticated sit
down restaurant cluster than Ponce City Market, anchored by celebrity chef Ford
Frys Mexican-American joint, Superica, as well as Kevin Rathbuns eponymous
Rathbun Steak and its sister restaurant, Krog Bar. This is a must-visit for foodies.
(99 Krog St.; krogstreetmarket.com)
The West Side

This zone was arguably the first in the citys new wave of urban renewal. With
flagship shops such as J. Crew, Lululemon Athletica, Anthropologie and IKEA,
along with Atlanta-only specialty stores such as ladies boutique Ann Mashburn
(annmashburn.com), an actual canning and jarring store called Preserving Place
(preservingplace.com) and swank menswear purveyor Billy Reid (billyreid.com),
this is one of the best walk-around shopping and dining districts in town. (1170
Howell Mill Road)
The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

Ten years ago, Buckhead was nearly razed. Once an area famous for both its
nightlife and periodic outbreaks of celebrity violence, several blocks of old bars
were leveled so that a new ultra-high-end shopping zone could be created. Now
nearly complete, it boasts brands usually found only on Fifth Avenue or in Bev-
erly Hills, such as Jimmy Choo, Tom Ford and Herms. (Its denizens also tend to
sport some of the most outlandish clothing this side of a Zoolander film, making
for a very entertaining stroll, even if youre just looking.) (3035 Peachtree Road;
The family dog theshopsbuckheadatlanta.com)

outdoorsman

UP A CREEK
In the early 1970s, Mike Mills began renting canoes out of his college
apartment. Now, the outfitter he foundedBuffalo Outdoor Centeris turning
40, and hes the de facto face of the river. Needless to say, its been a trip
By Nicholas Hunt | photography by Wesley Hitt
Were scraping bottom, and judging by the shallow, degree in parks and recreation at the University of Arkansas. He
crystal-clear water ahead, it doesnt look like were going to also went to Oklahoma, bought 10 canoes with a $1,000 loan
make it. Slowly we lose speed as the friction of our hull on the and set up a guide operation in his Fayetteville apartment. Hed
submerged gravel bar overcomes the force of the water and our set camp, cook and clean for groups of students, businessmen,
own momentum, and all too soon, Mike Mills, owner and founder doctors or dentists on various Ozark rivers, but he soon learned
of the Buffalo Outdoor Center, and I are aground. that guiding wasnt where the money was. It was in renting the
Though its a beautiful daycloudless, cornflower blue skies canoes. He quit grad school after only a year and moved to Ponca,
and temps in the high 70s, with just enough breeze to make up determined to make a go of it. His father sent him a three-page
for the lack of shadeits not the best day for canoeing. The water letter telling him that it was a waste of talent and education
is low along the upper Buffalo River, and pretty much everyone that if he respected a woman, he couldnt ask her to move out
paddling today is having to walk one section or another. But into the boondocks to eke out a living. (That the tail number of
though weve added our fair share of color to the rainbow-painted Mikes personal plane reads 143RMcode for I love you, Ronda
rocks dotting the waterway, as he and Ive successfully navigated Millsshows just how wrong his father was.)
one rapid, one gravel bar, one obstacle after another, a silent The only business around that time in Ponca was the Lost
understanding has come between us: We. Are. Not. Walking. Valley Lodge. When Mike found out the retired Air Force colonel
Strangely, its Mike thats run us aground. Hes greeted most who owned it was looking to sell, they struck a verbal deal that
every boat weve passedeach time returning their How ya doing? Mike would buy it, the colonel would finance it, and Mike would
with the same answer: I just keep getting better. While chatting come over to learn how to manage it. The very next weekend,
with people in a passing canoe, hed let his eyes wander just long sometime in May 1974, Mike was there at the lodge working
enough to miss the main flow, a difference in depth of about an when a lawyer from Mississippi came by the lodge, found out it
inch. But as Mike knows better than most, sometimes an inch was for sale and cut the colonel a check on the spot. But in the
is all it takes. process, he hired Mike.
[Two years later], he did the very best thing that he ever could
Mike learned to canoe almost by accident. His dad was a have, Mike says of his former boss. The man tried to sell the lodge
farmer, a businessman and the commander of the Army Reserve to Mike for exactly twice what he paid for it. Instead, Mike went
unit in Fayetteville, and one week a year, the family would leave down the road and founded the BOC.
their home in Rogers to go camping, always by a river. As the It turns 40 this month.
oldest boy (and a natural early riser), Mike always ended up
paddling while his father fished. He learned the different strokes Back on the river, it will take more than being beached
without ever learning their names. He learned tricks like how to get our feet wet. After all, Mike is the elder statesman of
sticking your bow in the eddy behind a rock will swing your the 15 National Park Service concessionersprivate companies
boat around so you can head back upstream. That canoe, a contracted to provide a service to the NPSoperating along
Grumman his father bought in 1958, still hangs outside the the 135-mile Buffalo National River for a reason. We dig our
BOCs headquarters in Ponca. reinforced paddles deep into the water-smoothed rocks, both
During his college years at Hendrix in Conway (which were taking our weight off his beloved Blue Hole canoe and pushing
broken up by a stint in the Marines), these skills made him ourselves back upstream, and soon, after studying the river for
a popular guy on campus. There was a big back-to-nature signs of deeper water (such as Vs of ripples pointing downstream
movement in the early 70s, and he had a tent and a canoe. He on the waters surface), were floating again.
knew where to go and what to do when he and his friends got The waters not high, he says once were back in the channel,
there. One trip down the Big Piney, someone said they really but even what were doing nowjust trying to find the right
ought to do this for a living, and, well, thats exactly what Mike routeis a lot of fun.
did. He graduated and went north to Fayetteville for a graduate Clearly, hes not wrong. Even though the BOC was a handful

short of renting out all its boats today, the river roads, he says without missing a beat.
is full of revelers. And Mikes let me in on a When Mike first came to Ponca, all the roads
little secret: Every one of the blue paddles is were dirt, and it wasnt until 1979 that the the
his. Knowing this, I crane my neck up river, last of them leading into town was paved. But
then down, and have to squint to find one: a even that process was painful.
paddle thats not blue. They did the dirt work one year and paved
It took a long time for Mike to grow his it the next, he explains, a small smile growing
business into what Im seeing. But hes as because he knows the punch line. Its all chert
patient as the river he loves. For something here, so literally, we had to carry two spares
like 20 years, he barely paid himselfprior to for everythingthe trucks, the trailers, all of
1999, he was making less than $20,000 a year itbecause if you only had one spare, you
choosing instead to reinvest everything he couldnt guarantee youd get home.
could into his company. When he first started, His record that year was seven flats in one
he shared a party line with four of his neighbors day.
(for a while, one, who had emphysema, would But that was, and still is, just part of the job
eavesdrop on his business calls, wheezing). a job he handed off four years ago.
But like any good entrepreneur, Mike knew Its easy to find an accountant, somebody
when to pivot. Hed already left guiding that can sit behind a computer all day and do
behind. And in 1979, when the National Park business, he says. Its easy to find someone
Service made all the outfitters on the river that can get in a backhoe and dig up a septic
park concessioners and began setting rates, line and get down in that ditch and fix it,
he knew he wasnt going to make a living and it is easy to find someone that is really
just renting canoes anymore. In 1985, after good with the public, that can stand behind
three and a half years as Arkansas Parks and the front desk all day and work with poise.
Tourism director (a position which gave him a Its finding someone whos all three [thats
tremendous education in tourism), he began the challege]. Thats the type of person I am,
buying land and building cabins. Thats when and in looking to replace me, thats who I was
the BOC changed from a seasonal business to looking for.
a year-round destination, he says. He realized He didnt have to look far. Five years ago,
hed been sitting on a gold mine. he brought his son-in-law Austin Albers on
board, and a year later put him in charge. But
In the shadow of the hulking limestone dont think it was a case of nepotism. Anyone
bluffs and surrounded by a floating party, I that knows me knows I wouldnt do that, Mike
cant help but wonder if the river is a victim says. In fact, Austin didnt even know what
of its own success. Plans to dam the river were Mike had in mind. Hed been working for
abandoned in 1965, and last year, it saw 1.4 J.B. Hunt when Mike let him know that if he
million visitors, about 300,000 of whom came wanted it, there was a job waiting for him at
through the doors of the BOC. And its likely
the numbers would be much higher if the park
the BOC. But Mike never told him what job
it was or even how much it would pay. That
buffalo bash
service didnt place limits on its concessioners. Austin took it was just another sign he was How does the Buffalo Outdoor Center cel-
But Mike doesnt think the traffic is too much. the right guy for it. ebrate its 40th anniversary? With a party, of
In fact, he tells me, the National Park Service course. The all-day, family-friendly festival, to
conducted a survey of paddlers on the river We make it in the end. That literal run- be held the 30th of this month, will feature
and asked them if they thought the crowds in with the gravel bar turns out to be the closest a 5K fun run, food, giveaways, live music and
diminished their experience. Surprisingly, he call weve had all day, and its not long before tons of BOC gear on sale.
says, the vast majority actually thought the were sliding the canoe up the bank at the It was my daughters idea, Mike says with
Kyles Landing takeout. Its organized madness a smile. In fact, she started putting it together
crowds enhanced it.
before I knew anything about it. I was going
Still, many people will come up to him and around us as patrons of Mikes company and
to be in Alaska. And now, well, I am not
say they were floating the Buffalo in the 70s others search out their shuttled cars, and his going to be in Alaska.
when it was still under the radar. But Mike employees load up the boats. But while Mike Though the party will be held well past
knows better. It became the first national river could easily let his guys stow his trusty Blue the usual end of the upper Buffalos float
in 1972, after all, and until 1999, the best year Hole and load his gear for himits what he season, with 6,300 interested in the event
hed ever had was 1978. Only about a half- pays them for, after allhe doesnt. He finds on Facebook, its looking to be one heck of
dozen have beat that mark since. his own Jeep, and with the practiced motions a birthday bash.
But while the river and the people who enjoy of a life spent on the water, he lifts his canoe
it may not have changed much in his lifetime, up so its balanced over his head, walks it a Where: Ponca, Arkansas
there has been change. couple dozen yards up the bank and loads it
When: July 30, 8 a.m. 6 p.m.
Though he was an early adopter of the on his roof rack himself.
internet and immediately knew it would Somewhere along the line, a patronor maybe Cost: Free
revolutionize the tourism industry (he its a friend (with Mike, sometimes its hard to
bought his first Mac in 1983 and snagged tell)stops to chat. Website:
buffaloriver.com/poncafest/
buffaloriver.com in 1996), thats not the first Hows it going, Mike? the woman asks.
thing that pops into his head when I ask him Oh, Im just getting better all the time, he
about the biggest changes hes seen. Paved answers. And thats the truth.

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Dr. Skinner began the long journey to becoming an optometrist.
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relaxed, atmosphere of the Arkansas Family
Eyecare practices.
Soon after her introduction to Arkansas Family Eyecare, Dr. Skinner accepted
a position to work with the Sheridan Eyecare Clinic and moved to Central Ar-
kansas. She nds the Sheridan Eyecare Clinic to be an extremely professional,
efficient, yet friendly environment in which to practice. Dr. Skinner loves her life
as an optometrist because it involves interacting with the people and families of
Sheridan and Grant County. Her involvement in this community gives her work
even greater meaning and makes her feel a part of her patients lives. This in-
timate atmosphere reminds her of her own hometown. Dr. Skinners hobbies,
which include running, hiking, skiing, reading and spending time with family and
friends, t right in with this wonderful community. Dr. Skinner is excited to be-
come even more involved.
Because many eye diseases can cause loss of vision without pain or any aware-
Left to Right, Back Row: Jean Rushing, optometric technician;
Terri Cantrell, optical assistant ness on the patients part until it is too late, I stress the importance of yearly eye
Left to Right, Front Row: Chelsea Acklen, optometric technician; exams for people of all ages; especially children and mature individuals, says
Mishey Brown, clinic manager;
Dr. Holley E. Skinner, optometric physician;
Dr. Skinner. Vision problems that interfere with a childs learning and education
Kay Kessinger, front desk/optometric assistant are easier to correct when addressed early. Also medical ocular health issues are
easier to correctly diagnose and treat if addressed early, she adds.
I hope you have enjoyed reading more about our Sheridan Eyecare Clinic and Dr. Skinner. They form a wonderful team that
wants nothing more than for their patients to feel that they are seeing Eye-to-Eye with their doctor each time they leave the clinic.
The August issue of Arkansas Life will similarly introduce you to our Little Rock Eyecare Clinics staff and Dr. Robyn J.
Hull, optometric physician.

AN OBJECT LESSON
Continued from page 77
ROBERTSON RIFLE
Half-Stock Percussion Rifle; steel, iron, copper,
coin silver, walnut stock; made by W. O. Robertson,
Pulaski County, Arkansas, 1870; 55-inch overall
length; purchased with generous donations from
David Crews, Mr. and Mrs. Adron Crews, Allen
McKay, Nellie Mosley, Andy Edwards, Jim and
Peggy Jones, Don Winton, Rush Harding, David
Alexander, Fadjo Cravens Jr., Don Hamilton and
Dr. Charles Haynie
W.O. Robertson made this rifle in Little
Rock in 1870a period when, really, most
guns were being made in a factory. It had all
the bells and whistles. I mean, little compart-
ments, compression caps for firing, a place for
powder, a sheath and a knife, silver decora-
tionjust one of these statements of, I am
a gunsmith and I can make a gun that does
anything. Which is sort of sad, because it was
right at the end of the artisan tradition.
But one of the things about it thats so im-
Razorback Regional Greenway Distinctive Downtowns Crystal Bridges Museum
portant to me is that this was one of the first
objects we bought in auction after we really
committed to the Arkansas Made thing. And
I vividly remember, it was an auction over in
LonokeMac McCrary had died, and it was
in his collection. We were bidding on it, and
it was just so exciting. I think we got the gun
for like $3,000its worth far more than that.
But at the time, that was a formidable amount
of money. And it represented the commitment
of the museum to really, seriously go after
Arkansas-made stuff: This is the direction we
want to go in; this is what we can show off to
the state.
GIVING VOICE
MONUMENT
As a museum, we tell our stories through
objects. But enslaved folks werent able to leave
Beaver Lake a great material legacy behind because of the
nature of their situation. We realized that in
This ad paid for with state and private regional association funds order to tell those stories, theater might be a

good way. And thats when we latched onto
a particularly gifted fellow named Curtis
Tate. Curtis was an actor who grew up in
the Childrens Theater at the Arkansas Arts
Center, and he was a creative entrepreneur
in a lot of ways. We hired him to be our
first full-time interpreter. He really sort of
turned this institution around as far as our
understanding of our African-American
heritage is concerned.
One of Curtis dreams was to have every
enslaved person connected to a property on
the museums grounds to be represented by
some way in a monument. And it was one of
those things where it was a nice sentiment,
but how do you realize that? We knew wed
have to do a lot of research. Unfortunately,
Curtis died tragically. But we were able to
find a number of names, and a number of,
just, numbers, basicallyunnamed people
who were only documented through num-
bers in the slave schedules of the census.
Youre talking about real people and, just, a
mark. For the entire legacy of their life here.
With the Giving Voice monument, the
idea was that we might give those people a
voice, even if its a teeny-tiny voice. It was
Curtis vision, and we were finally able to
dedicate it a few years ago. The monuments
out there, and every single person our re-
search could come up with is theresome
of them full names, some of them one name,
some of them just an enumeration.
HERB GARDEN
The Herb Society of Americas Ar-
kansas Unit has two other herb gardens in
Little Rock. Theres one at the Governors
Mansion and then one at the School for the
Blind. My mother, Mary Fletcher Worthen,
did the research for the one here and came
up with a little booklet called Frontier Phar-
macy, which details the herbal remedies
early settlers and Native Americans used.
Some of them definitely work; some of them
are questionable. We had to discourage
my mother from wanting to put in opium
poppiesshe finally realized that being
hauled away to the pokey was not what she
really wanted to do. But she, you know, really
wanted to be historically accurate.
The Herb Society has been doing this for
40 years, and Im so appreciative of volun-
teers like them. The Master Gardeners, the
Herb Society, the Colonial Dames these
are all people whove stuck with us over the
years. They make this place so much better
than it would be without em.
LAST WORD
Catch and Release

By Johnny C arrol Sain
The most humble of waters calls to me. Chocolate-milk- shoulder deep into a nefarious-looking mud hole and feel around
colored seeps and tinkling rocky rivulets no wider than a long stride with predatory focus emanating from eyes to digits. Soon, a wide
are the most persuasive. I know the denizens of those tiny waters, smile cracked through his deliberate expression, and a profound
and they call as well. They whisper of a time that seems not long ago sense of awe clutched my gut as he lifted his hand from the mud.
when all I wanted could be found at the end of a long dirt driveway Falling globs of muck revealed a giant claw clasping his pinkie finger
or just beyond the next creek riffle. like a miniature vise, with Uncle Terrys grinning mug as a backdrop
I wanted crawdads. to the dangling crawdad. With this knowledge, catching deep-hole
A fondness for crawdads might seem odd for a boy born and crawdads was a doable, though gritty, endeavor.
raised in the River Valley and southern Ozarks of west-central In contrast, catching mountain-creek crawdads, like the ones we
Arkansascrawdads are, after all, the totem of Louisiana folk found in the moonshine-clear Illinois Bayou and its tributaries near
but maybe a Natural State upbringing is why my appreciation for Hector, was almost mystical. With the flip of a rock, I could witness
crawdads goes beyond the palate. I caught thousands before I ate magic as the silt vanished in crystal current and a form material-
my first one. I caught them for a closer look in an old pickle jar. I ized: a brick-red crawdad with fire-tipped claws highlighted in teal,
watched the swimmerets churning under their tails. I watched the a dazzling beast as compared to the plain-brown ditch variety. My
multiple mouth parts in action as I fed them worms. I watched young mind had never reckoned there were different types of these
them because they fascinated me. And then I set them free. While creatures, but here was distinction ushered by eons of tectonics and
untold summer hours of my childhood were spent ankle deep in a water bringing change to the land. Vibrant, yet cryptic, shades grew
ditch, creek or pond, there is no crawdad-catching genesis in my in intensity with every second as the water cleared. Then there was
story. Like Mom and Dad, the Razorbacks and the Bible, crawdads this magnificent and alien creature within my grasp, an ancient
are immemorial. soul holding secrets that I would never be old enough to know but
As I recall, the winding ditches alongside Bells Chapel Road desperately wanted to learn.
near Atkins carried the aroma of quintessential rural Arkansas I still yearn for those secrets.
summera complex mix of fresh-cut hay, mimosa trees, manure Those summers have since evaporated, leaving only muddy trails
and mud. And the ditches were crammed with crawdads. My cousin of memories, but the crawdads are still part of my soggy, warm-
Robert and I made daily expeditions through the Johnson grass weather pursuits. Inspired by Hemingways Big Two-Hearted
and tickseed, hunting for pools of relative clarity and unsuspecting River, Ive fished for smallmouth bass with crawdads caught as
crawdads. With quarry sighted, the crawling stalk began until we needed for bait. Ive also pushed aside the smallmouth and enjoyed
were close enough to slip a hand the crawdad as a meal, with my
toward the segmented tailalways daughters, a nephew and a niece
the tail because even the smallest helping to fill the pot on camping
claws were menacing. Success was trips. After all, passing on craw-
a flapping mad dad pulled from dad-catching tactics to the next
the water with our fingers safely generation is a family tradition.
behind those pinchers. Our craw- Crawdads gave me a sense of
dad-catching repertoire was basic, place, a more intimate under-
and a capture was rare. But during standing of my home and the
my ninth summer of life, we would natural forces toiling beyond our
learn new methods peculiar to perception that shape nature.
different environments and situa- Theyve helped me hold on to a
tions. And my relationship to the sense of wonder every time I see
crawdads evolved as well. semiferal puddles or a wild back-
The biggest revelation was when woods creek. But mostly, they take
our uncle Terry demonstrated that a crawdad pinch didnt hurt all me back to a simpler time when my only concerns were pinched
that much. As he followed us down the ditch one hot summer day, fingers and getting back to Grannys while supper was still warm.
Uncle Terry asked why we passed the deep holes because they surely
held some whopper mudbugs. We told him about the feared blood Johnny Carrol Sain is a homegrown Arkansas freelance writer and
pincher crawdads, the big ones with red-tipped claws that could editor. He was born, raised and currently lives in the River Valley
nip a plug from our fingers. He guffawed, said something about no region and is continually amazed at the wonders and joys found here
nephews of his being scared of a crawdad, then proceeded to reach in The Natural State.


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i n a r k a n s a s, w h e r e t h e r e s s m o k e , t h e r e s b a r b e c u e

July 2016 $4.95

2 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

Arkansas Life, Volume 8, Number 11 (ISSN 2374-0868, print) (ISSN 2374-0892,

4 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

Niche Publications Director

Editorial Information 501.918.4505

6 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

Being Social #myarkansaslife

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Johnny Carrol Sain

Emily Van Zandt

10 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

Johnson County Peach Festival

The Reading and Signing of the Opera in the Ozarks

West Side Story | July 6

14 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

JULY 15-17: Fat Tire Festival

JULY 16: Firefly Fling at the

JULY 17: Weezer & Panic! at the

JULY 21: Fitz and the

JULY 21-23: Homegrown

JULY 22: Preservation

JULY 22-24: Rogers Cycling

Portrait of Gabriel Sword

16 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

That would be my number

20 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

On addressing PTSD in the show:

On speaking with vets about their experiences:

For an extended cut of the interview, visit arkansaslife.com.

july 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 21

I ve taken Exit 55 off I-40 many times, mostly on my way

july 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 25

26 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

july 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 27

july 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 29

july 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 31

32 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

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34 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

Tobi Fairley, that longtime darling

Perhaps you watched along as she

july 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 35

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1.800.848.9559 | 1.501.821.5555 | chenal.com

Life happens here. JUNE 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 37

$1,739,000 $1,375,000 $949,900

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48 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

The story that

Year founded: 1928

It would be nice to turn this over

July 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 51

Well , Ive always been told by

Year founded: 1952

Back when it first started in the

July 2016 ARKANSAS LIFE 53

54 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com

white pig inn

My grandfather didnt have any

Year founded: 1920 (purchased by the Seaton