ArkansasLife February2018

BEHIND SEEING T HE COUN T ING
PHOTOGR A PHER T IM NAT UR A L STAT E F ROM CROW S ( A ND

HUR SL E Y ’S L ENS A NE W PER SPECT I V E C A R DINA LS, ETC.)
Pie OH MY!
NATURALLY CURIOUS | February 2018 | VOLUME 10, NO. 6

ADVERTISEMENT
FEBRUARY 2018 ii Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 1 Arkansas Life

February
FEATURES
Honey Pies’ brûléed

meringue has got us
all, like, bru-yay!
Photo and cover photo
by Arshia Khan
40 52
IN PIE WE CRUST DO UBL E EX PO SUR E
Pie oh my, indeed, friends. After untold calories— What do Andy Warhol, Crystal Bridges and
and so much research—we’re finally ready to dish on one Southern funeral homes have in common? They’ve
of our favorites. Fair warning: Pie puns abound all been photographed by one man: Tim Hursley
As told to Bonnie Bauman and Mariam Makatsaria By Jordan P. Hickey
Photography by Arshia Khan Portrait by John David Pittman
FEBRUARY 2018 2 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 3 Arkansas Life

February
VOLUME 10, NO. 6
18 80
Front Porch Dispatches
13 FIVE THINGS FIRST 31 FROM LITTLE ROCK
Bird spotting, beard growing, Healing with the help of
bowling score-keeping, birth- a friend
day brewing and the little-
36 FROM LITTLE ROCK
known history of African-
Voices from a forgotten
American athletes
desegregation
20 BIG DAM PHOTO
A sign to stay in the Ozarks
22 PERSON OF INTEREST
Arkansas’ new head of tour-
Table
90
ism, Jim Dailey, sells us on
the state 73 FIRST TASTE Taking a
spin around the new Leverett
Lounge
Life/Style 78 CRAVINGS We’re not lazy, Venture
we’re efficient: getting din-
25 WELLNESS Racing, past
ner to-go -
the finish line 80 THE FEED A foodie love- 83 AFIELD Don’t drone on— “I don’t know if anyone
28 ASK THE EXPERT State-
letter and a reason for mo’
moscato
drone up!
can express how it feels
88 CULTURALIST Bon temps,
ment lighting worthy of
exclamations black power and the Triplets of
to be ignored for so
Belleville many years.”
90 HOMETOWN Know what page 36
72 you want? What you need?
Well, Batesville’s got it
-
96 ONE TAKE The dying art

of classic cars

Editor’s Letter
< Many pies were consumed in

the making of this issue, and we’re
not ashamed to say we’d do it all
over again.
from the oven and it tasted like

a hug. I couldn’t get enough of
it. It was, as I’ve since learned,
what every truly great Southern
pie is: simple.
For this issue, we asked some

of our favorite local foodies
to share what they consider
to be the best piece of pie in
the state, and among their
choices, simplicity reigns.
There’s nothing clever or cute
or curious about these pies.
More often than not, they’re
pies made from a recipe long PIE SEE WHAT
committed to memory, the kind
of pie that’s almost an extension
YOU DID THERE.
of the person making it. And Punny headlines we
I guess that’s what we really loved but to which we had
want when it comes to pie: to say good-pie
I
’m a Michigan transplant who was reared in the melting pot of
Northwest Arkansas, so I like to think I didn’t truly become an something delicious wrapped
up in the stuff of memories. “The Apple of Our Pie”
Arkansan until I enrolled at the University of Arkansas. But if
Sweet and simple.
I’m being honest, the true conversion took place a year later and a
couple blocks down the street from the registrar’s office.
And about that Tri-Delt Pie— “The Slice Is Right”
how’s this for simple: Beat two
I became an Arkansan at 920 W. Maple St., aka the Tri-Delt house.
eggs in a bowl, then blend in a
cup of sugar, a half cup of flour,
Suddenly, my friends weren’t from California and Chicago and “Days Gone Pie”
a stick of melted butter and a
Kansas City like they’d been when I was growing up near Walmart
teaspoon of vanilla. Stir in a
HQ. I quickly learned that Ashdown’s near Texarkana and Hamburg’s cup of pecans and 6 ounces of
down by Louisiana and that El Dorado is somewhere in the middle. chocolate chips, pour into an “Pie All Means”
I learned about DeWitt’s Demolition Derby and that if you’re from unbaked pie shell and bake at
Brinkley, you know rice. I learned other things, too: how to say y’all 325 degrees for 50 minutes.
with abandon, and how to differentiate “seal” from “sill” absent of Serve to your favorite tried-
context. (It’s subtle, but there’s an ever-so-slight difference if you and-true Arkansans with a glass “Eyes on the Pies”
really listen.) I learned, much to my dismay, that true Arkansas girls of sweet tea. I’m sure they won’t
know football. I also learned to love pecan pie. soon forget it.
“We Only Have Pies for You”
It was something that had never graced my northern grandmothers’ Cheers,
tables, something that no relative had ever requested for Thanksgiving Feedback? We’d love to hear from you!
“supper.” And it didn’t look like much—there was no pleasantly Email us at katie@arkansaslife.com, tweet us
braided crust or jewel-toned filling oozing out. But it was on our @ArkansasLife or send us some snail mail to
dining tables every formal chapter dinner and it was often still warm P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203.

Ark ans a s Lif e
NATURALLY CURIOUS
Contributors
EDITORIAL DR. LAVERNE SETH ELI BARLOW

EDITOR KATIE BRIDGES
ARSHIA KHAN
BELL-TOLLIVER
CREATIVE DIRECTOR EMMA DEVINE Little Rock-based writer who wrote Arkansas Life staff photographer
“Question: Does EBBBFg SENIOR EDITOR JORDAN P. HICKEY Editor of The First Twenty- “Boo” (page 31) and who pens our who shot “In Pie We Crust” (page 40)
RoboCop count as a ASSOCIATE EDITOR WYNDHAM WYETH Five: An Oral History of the “Cork Dork” column (page 81)
rom-com? If yes, then PHOTOGRAPHER ARSHIA KHAN Desegregation of Little Rock’s Twitter: @arshiak
that. If not … 500 Days Public Junior High Schools Instagram: @sethebarlow
COPY EDITOR KAREN LASKEY
of Summer.” (excerpted on page 36)
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Hardest part about interviewing your
—Jordan P. Hickey SETH ELI BARLOW
BONNIE BAUMAN When did the idea for the book first best friend?
LAVERNE BELL-TOLLIVER
MARIAM MAKATSARIA EEBBBBBBBBFD come about? Staying on topic for more than
HEATHER STEADHAM “I refuse to give sway to my Years ago, my mother five minutes.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
JORDAN CRAIG
mushy side, but I secretly love suggested that I write about
ROBERT DAVIS Runaway Bride. With a cat those experiences. More What’s it like looking back on that
BROCK DIXON
DEREK HENDERSON named Italics and the most recently, Joel Anderson, now time?
TIM HURSLEY
practical proposal ever given, Chancellor Emeritus at UALR, MARIAM Hard but also affirming.
RETT PEEK
“I love a good rom-com when EEEBBBBC JOHN DAVID PITTMAN who wouldn’t be charmed by this suggested it. I wanted the book Surviving cancer is a really
TAYLOR PIVA MAKATSARIA badass thing to do.
it features The Duke! Check Gere-Roberts classic?” to be about more than me.
out John Wayne and Maureen CONTRIBUTING ARTIST
NIKKI DAWES —Heather Steadham Former Arkansas Life associate
O’Hara in The Quiet Man.” How long was it in the works? editor who interviewed pie aficionados
—John David Pittman Since 2014. I was approved for “In Pie We Crust” (page 40) and
ADVERTISING to have a semester away from who wrote “Give It a Rest” (page 25)
SPECIAL SECTIONS MANAGER WENDY MILLER
HBBBBe “Never Been Kissed is my my campus assignment during Best bite from this issue?
DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER KRISTIN BROWN long-time favorite because, like, that fall to formally begin the Mmm, a couple of nibbles of
Instagram: @marimakatsaria
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE TWEEDIE MAYS who wouldn’t want to go back to project. extra-dark chocolate we used
ADVERTORIAL WRITERS
high school? No? Not even as Did you get any tips for pie-making?
as a prop.
SARAH DECLERK
EMILY EDMISTEN
an undercover reporter? Maybe How many hours of interviews did you I learned that the best, most
LINDA GARNER-BUNCH that’s just me.” conduct for it? What’s your go-to meal on a regular
humble pies are made with
CODY GRAVES
—Wendy Miller Too many to count. I spent day?
both hands and heart.
ADVERTORIAL DESIGNER LEANNE HUNTER between one and three hours I see an endless variety of food
- ADVERTISING DESIGNER WESS DANIELS interviewing each person. That
doesn’t include the travel time
Favorite pie pun?
when I’m shooting, but my
favorite meal to come home to
“Keep your eyes on the pies.”
Valentine’s Day ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHER WILLIAM HARVEY
Arkansas Life is published 12 times yearly

to reach them. is steak and vinegary eggs.
is right around by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
WALTER E. HUSSMAN JR.

So, pie and running … Can you
have both?
Is there a wine you’re saving for your Last photo you took with your iPhone?
PUBLISHER
six-years-cancer-free party? Lilies in a white vase on a
the corner, PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER LYNN HAMILTON Of course. Eat it, burn it, Champagne, always window pane.
then eat it again.
and love is in V.P./ADVERTISING
V.P./CIRCULATION
SCOTT STINE
LARRY GRAHAM
Champagne! With oysters,
fried chicken and potato Favorite snack?
Interesting pie tidbit?
the air. Which NICHE PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR STACI MILLER FRANKLIN
There’s a place in Mexico
chips. Raw cashews.
dBBBBee “I’ll watch Friends with
romantic RETAIL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
NICHE SALES DIRECTOR

ASHLEY FRAZIER
SLOANE GRELEN Benefits every time it’s on.

called “Pie Town,” and I’d
really, really like to go there
A sign someone is your best friend?
When they hold your chest
comedy gives M ARKETING & EVENTS DIRECTOR AMANDA COPLEY You can’t go wrong with a someday. tube so it doesn’t get wet in the
good laugh, an unrealistic
you all the CIRCULATION MANAGER JOHN BURNETT
121 East Capitol Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201

outlook on love and Justin
shower.
Timberlake. It’s shameful

warm fuzzies? 501.918.4505 | www.arkansaslife.com
For subscription inquiries, please call 501.918.4555 and embarrassing, but I

- For advertising inquiries, please call 501.244.4334
Price per issue: $4.95
really like that movie!”
—Ashley Frazier

13
FIVE THINGS FIRST
20
BIG DAM PHOTO
22
WHAT YOU’LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS MONTH PERSON OF INTEREST
FIVE THINGS FIRST
SHAVE
THE DATE
The Root Cafe/
Arkansas Times’ annual
beard and mustache
contest is back this
month and hairier
than ever
PHOTOGRAPH BY RETT PEEK

FIVE THINGS FIRST
H On Feb. 28, Evin will be part of

a panel discussion at the Crystal
Bridges Museum of American Art
in Bentonville, along with NBA and
NCAA All-Star Sidney Moncrief and
National High School Sports Hall of
Fame coach Oliver Elders. For more
information, visit crystalbridges.org.
Razorback coaches would coach

the black players on the side. It
definitely surprised me, because
not only was there Jim Crow-
era competition going on—but
Jim Crow-era contact sports.”
What do all these stories

mean today?
“When it comes to [sports]

heritage f rom an Af rican-
American standpoint—I think
this is true—it has always been
THE HERITAGE OF SPORTS political. There is no way you
can divorce sports from off-
the-field issues when it comes
A Q&A with Evin Demirel, author of
to all these socioeconomic
African-American Athletes in Arkansas: Muhammad
issues swirling around. There’s
Ali’s Tour, Black Razorbacks & Other Forgotten Stories
no separating the two. And
that’s something to keep in
How did this project come about? mind when we look at Colin
Kaepernick or these national-
“In some of the articles that I’ve done over the years, I keep pointing anthem protests going on
out, Hey, this needs to be done when it comes to African-American around police brutality; you
THE HAIR APPARENT heritage—specifically, pre-integration schools. Then I realized, you
know, no one’s doing it in a concerted way. Maybe I should just step
can’t just say, I want to keep
sports out of politics. Especially
When it comes to Little Rock beard photography— up and try to give it my best shot. So, I thought a book would be when, in the ’30s and ’40s, you
because yes, that’s a thing—Rett Peek is royalty one way to catalyze that effort.” had Jackie Robinson being
pushed into the political realm
Were there any stories that surprised you? by Major League Baseball.
T
here’ll be a lot to see come Feb. 10 at SoMa’s Bernice And before that, Jessie Owens
Garden. Goatees and French forks. Mutton chops and Van “The Black Razorbacks surprised me—still surprise me. It was a was being pushed into the
Dykes. Waxed beards, Santa Claus beards, dyed beards, faux group of teenage African-Americans native to Fayetteville in the political realm when the U.S.
beards, polka-dot beards, 2-foot-long beards. But look a little closer late 1920s [who] began scrimmaging against their white neighbors wanted him to run in Nazi
and you’ll see a fellow off to the side—you’ll know him by the who lived in the same south-Fayetteville neighborhood. And as Germany. And now, some in
graphite-gray backdrop he’s standing behind, and the camera in H Think you have the best they grew older, the African-American boys joined a community society are acting like that’s
mustache? Best groomed
his hand. That’s photographer Rett Peek, and for the past six years, team—and became known as “the Black Razorbacks” in the white- not kosher.”
beard? You can register on
since the founding of the annual Root Cafe/Arkansas Times Beard & site the day of the contest.
owned newspaper. And the reason was because the Razorbacks
Mustache Contest, he’s been immortalizing Little Rock’s bristliest More info? Call (501) 414- gave them hand-me-downs, and so did the [Fayetteville] Bulldogs. For more information about
beards and the men who grow them (and the women and kiddos who 0423. The Black Razorbacks would scrimmage against the same group of Evin’s book, visit thesportsseer.
don them). Here are a few of his favorite snaps from contests past. white players who were then at Fayetteville High School. And the com.

FIVE THINGS FIRST
BIRD BY BIRD
It’s a big job, keeping track of all our fine-feathered
friends. Here’s how you can pitch in during this year’s
Great Backyard Bird Count
M
aybe you’ve spied a curious cardinal on your fence post
or seen a pair of doves roosting in the eaves. If you have,
you’re already halfway to helping the scientists at the
Audubon Society keep track of the feathered set who call this
neck of the woods home. For four days each February, the society
enlists the help of regular joes—seasoned birdwatchers and novices
alike—to collect real-time data, which helps them better grasp the
“big picture” bird population. (Last year, that picture was quite big:
data trickled in from more than 180,000 checklists tallied in more
than 100 countries.) To take part, all you need’s an eBird log-in
(follow the link below), a good eye and a working knowledge of
the types of birds that might be hanging around your feeders. To
help, we asked Arkansas Audubon Society’s conservation director
Dr. Dan Scheiman to give us some insight on the 10 species we’re
most likely to see in Arkansas backyards. —kb
h The Great Backyard

Bird Count runs from Feb.
ILLUSTRATION BY NIKKI DAWES
16-19. To register, visit

gbbc.birdcount.org.

FIVE THINGS FIRST
No_5
HOPPY BEERTHDAY!
Getting a slice of the keg at Paris’
Prestonrose Farm and Brewing Co.
S
ome places just know
how to birthday.
No_4
The second weekend
of this month (Feb. 8-11),
the folks at Prestonrose Farm
and Brewing Co. are gonna be
hosting a bash to celebrate their H Can’t make the birthday bash?
Make plans for the Valentine’s Day
second “Beerthday,” pulling out
four-course beer-pairing dinner at the
H The Big Lebowski knows
all the stops over the course of farm.
how to keep score when a long weekend.
bowling. Do you … Dude? Given the opportunity, we’d
totally spring to make the
(rather substantial) trek out
as possible. So if after slinging two balls down the lane, you’ve only to Paris each of the four days,
LET’S ROLL taken out three pins, you’ll jot down three points for that frame—or
round—of the scorecard.
(house-made charcuterie on
Friday? King cake, beignets statewide. This is, after all, a
place whose ingredients often
and Cajun fare on Sunday? All
Keeping score in bowling can be tough to pin down HERE’S WHERE IT STARTS TO GET CONFUSING, THOUGH. of the yeses). But, friends: If grow right underfoot. The
Special bonuses are earned for knocking down all 10 pins during a you’re only able to make it there hops in an English IPA? The
turn. If you manage to clear the lane on the first roll—a “strike”— once, make it Saturday. Liz and chamomile in their chamomile
your turn ends. It ain’t easy, friends, but doing so will net you 10 Mike Preston, the owners of the brown? The peppers in the hot-
“S
mokey, this is not ’Nam. This is bowling. There are points for that round. Plus, you’ll get to tack on the points from the place, are gonna be cramming pepper hefeweizen? All their
rules.” next two rolls you make. To note this on the scorecard, you’ll mark that thing with lots and lots doing and growing. (Note:
We’ll likely be quoting The Big Lebowski’s Walter the strike with an “X” in the box at the top of that frame. Don’t of locally raised beef brisket, We’ve also heard tell that there
Sobchak around the office as that happiest of hours nears each write anything below—not just yet, anyway. On your next turn, you’ll heritage pork, local pasture- might be a special beer that’s
evening—Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge has officially opened just record the number of pins knocked down—let’s say, 3 and 4—at the raised chicken, an as-yet-to- been brewed for the occasion,
about a block from our building in downtown Little Rock. This top of the second frame. Then you’ll add the total—7—to the 10 you be-determined fish and some but they’re keeping things
retro-inspired bowling alley has it all: vintage ’70s decor, a full bar got from the strike, marking “17” at the bottom of that first frame. housemade tofu made from under wraps.)
(White Russians for all!) and snacks ranging from burgers to poutine Arkansas soybeans. As you might expect, the
to something called “totchos.” They even have a karaoke room! STILL WITH US? OK, LET’S TALK ABOUT SPARES. Buttttttt that’s all kinda availability and variety of
And while The Dust Bowl is equipped with the modern automatic If you’re able to knock down all 10 pins in two tries, you’ll earn a secondary. most all the brewery’s rotating
scoring systems we’ve all become accustomed to, why not embrace spare. To record it, you’ll note how many pins you got on the first Thing is, for as great as the beers kinda hinges on what’s
the retro nature of the place and do things the old-fashioned way roll—say, 5—in the top left of the frame, then draw a forward slash food is—just about all of which available. But if there’s one
with pencil and paper? If you want to avoid angering the Walters in the box next to it. Whatever you get on your next roll—say, 4— is raised locally, and even on thing we’re certain of, it’s
of the world, though, you’ll need to know the proper way to fill in you’ll then add to the spare, which is worth 10 points. In this case, the farm itself—Prestonrose this: With all of Prestonrose’s
the scorecard’s frames. Here’s how you do it: that’ll be 14. has earned a devoted following plans to expand—f rom
their Beer Farm Bistro to a
FOR THE MOST PART, YOU’RE JUST TALLYING HOW MANY FINALLY: whole slew of events—there’s
PINS YOU’VE KNOCKED DOWN. If you manage to score a strike or a spare on the 10th and final never been a better time for
Each player gets two rolls to knock down as many of the 10 pins frame, you’ll gain one extra bonus roll. —ww celebration. —jph

BIG DAM PHOTO
SEEING
THE
SIGNS
Photography by Taylor Piva
It was one of those days you hope

never ends. One whose details
you do your best to commit to
memory: hiking the Lost Valley
trail with friends from college,
swimming in the Buffalo River
at Steel Creek, watching the
sunset from Hawksbill Crag.
But for Fayetteville-based
photographer Taylor Piva, it
was more than just a lovely day
outdoors. It was a sign.
The previous couple of years
had been a period of drastic
change. She’d left her native
Kansas after graduating from
college, moved to Missouri
and eventually Arkansas for
work. But she’d just made one
of the boldest decisions of her
life: She’d quit her full-time
job to pursue her passion for
photography. And that day,
looking out over the canopy of
the Ozark National Forest, the
realization that she was about
to start a new adventure, a new
chapter in her life, fell upon
her like a warm blanket. That
view was all the affirmation she
needed.
Taylor and her friends cooked
dinner over the open flames
that night before bedding down
in sleeping bags under the stars
without even a tent above their
heads. And as she closed her
eyes to sleep, she did so with
the knowledge that, in that
moment, she was exactly where
she was supposed to be. —ww

PERSON OF INTEREST
PERSON OF INTEREST
JIM DAILEY
The new director of Arkansas Tourism knows a
thing or two about selling folks on The Natural
State
By Mariam Makatsaria | Photography by john david pittman
ON REPRESENTING THE STATE

“What this job is about is promoting our state, connecting possible
visitors from outside of the state and country to the assets and
beauty that we have here in Arkansas. That’s kind of what I did
When asked if he considers as mayor. Before that, I had my own business—an office-furniture
himself a walking encyclopedia business—so I’ve always been a conceptual salesman, I guess. I’ve
of all things Arkansas, newly moved from the local-level representation to now, representing the
appointed tourism director Jim entire state. I’d already been calling myself, with a degree of smile
Dailey laughs. on my face, the mayor of Arkansas. We have such a wonderful state,
“I’m stepping in the shoes and I’m just happy to be one of the key people that’s working with
of Joe Rice, who was just that,” a great team to promote it.”
he says of his predecessor, who
held the post for three decades. ON THE FIRST DAYS OF HIS NEW JOB
“Around him, I go, God, I don’t “A lot of it, as a newbie, is interaction with the staff and talking
know anything.” about some of our assignments. We have a commission meeting
But that’s just Jim being that’s coming up. I’m setting up appointments with people I want to LIGHTNING ROUND:
modest. In truth, he’s a natural visit. We also have the Governor’s Conference on Tourism coming FAVORITE TRAIL?
for the job. After all, he had up in March. That’s a really big part of the tourism department each THE OZARK HIGHLANDS TRAIL. MY FRIENDS
the public-ser vant thing year. There’s just a lot on the plate. I mean, I walk in here, first day AND I HAVE HIKED PROBABLY 120 MILES
OF IT.
down pat: He was the mayor in, and think, Well, it’s going to be a little bit of getting myself oriented.
of Little Rock for 13 years, But it’s like jumping in over your head immediately.” MOST SCENIC CAMPGROUND?
served on the Arkansas State THE RICHLAND CREEK RECREATION AREA.
Parks, Recreation and Travel ON HIS GOALS IT’S A BEAUTIFUL CAMPGROUND, WITH ALL
KINDS OF WATERFALLS AND STREAMS AND
Commission, and led the “There are 502 cities [in Arkansas], and I bet each one—whether BIG HOUSE-SIZED BOULDERS.
Arkansas Municipal League it’s a city of 200 or a city of 100,000—has a story to tell. I’m
as its president, just to name actually going to the Arkansas Municipal League meetings, starting MOST MEMORABLE
a few of his bona fides. He’s tomorrow in Fort Smith, and will be making a short pitch to them. DINING EXPERIENCE?
THE OARK CAFE. I WENT IN THERE, AND
more comfortable being called To say, Let’s start the conversation about stories that you may have to IT WAS A RUGGED-LOOKING LITTLE
a salesman, working to promote tell, and then hopefully, we’ll follow up with those [stories] and PLACE. THEY FIXED ME ONE OF THE BEST
his stomping grounds—a not- begin to document and promote them. My goal is to elevate that as SANDWICHES THAT I’D EVER HAD.
too-pushy, not-too-passive, all- much as we can and, hopefully, to make each and every city proud
CHILDHOOD FISHING SPOT?
too-good-at-his-job salesman. of the fact that it has a story to tell and that it’s getting out there.” THE WHITE RIVER. IT’S A GREAT
By the time he’s done talking PLACE FOR TROUT FISHING.
about this bluff or that lake, this ON EFFORTS TO BRING MORE VISITORS TO ARKANSAS
ARKANSAS’ BEST-KEPT SECRET?
museum or that off-the-beaten- “We have a governor who is very passionate about the tourism and CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK.
path eatery, you immediately hospitality industry and sees it as economic development, so we’re
start making plans. blessed to have that kind of support from the top. We may not have
“I love this state,” he says. the automatic attraction that, say, New Orleans or Atlanta has, but
“I grew up in Arkansas. I’ve collectively, we have something we can capitalize on if we can get
always been in the business of travelers to come to the region. Then once they get here—whether
promoting our assets. I’m just it’s a person who gets recruited here for a job or a person who’s
telling stories about something recruited here to visit—they say, Wow, this is really a great state. We
that’s really rich with history, will come back. We will tell our friends. Our biggest obstacle, if I look h To find your
that’s rich with attractions that at it as an obstacle, is not what we have to offer, but it’s getting that own happy trails,
I know people will enjoy.” message out there to where we get people to give us the first try.” visit arkansas.com.

l
25
WELLNESS
28
LIVING WELL IN THE NATURAL STATE ASK THE EXPERTS
WELLNESS
GIVE IT A REST
You’ve put in the hard
work and reached the
finish line—now it’s time
to put your feet up
By Mariam Makatsaria

REPLACE WHAT’S LOST.
Ever wondered what happens
during a runner’s bonk—that
moment somewhere between
mile 18 and 26 when both your
STRETCH SMARTER. brain and legs lock up and
the prospect of ever reaching
Stretching before a run—or any the finish line begins to look
sort of a demanding workout— impossible? When glycogen
not only prepares your sleeping stores, which your body uses
muscles for what’s about to as its primary fuel during a
come, it also increases your strenuous activity, are depleted,
range of motion and flexibility. you begin to experience the
However, as the good docs symptoms of hypoglycemia, such
say, how you stretch is just as as mind-blowing fatigue and an
important. “We know that people I-give-up mindset. (It might also
do better with dynamic stretching be the reason you’re seeing
prior to a run than they do with unicorns romping along the trail.)
static stretching or holding a
stretch,” Dr. Cassat says. “We
know people don’t necessarily
STEER CLEAR FROM IBUPROFEN.
have a lower injury risk with
If you’re experiencing next-day
static stretching; that doesn’t
discomfort or stiffness, your
affect injury risk whatsoever.”
first instinct might be to reach
So ditch your old-school static
for those over-the-counter
stretches and opt for dynamic
painkillers. Although they work
movements such as leg swings,
like magic when it comes to
side lunges and deadlifts.
subduing a nagging headache,
anti-inflammatory drugs do
WHIP OUT THOSE COMPRESSION little to nothing to help you
recover from that grueling run.
SOCKS. In fact, taking them might even
lengthen the time it takes you
If there’s ever been a good to bounce back from a day of
After logging 26.2 time to wear snug, tight-fitting strenuous physical activity. “The
miles, your body’s garments, it’s now. Compression inflammatory process of an
gonna need to heal. socks, tights, or calf sleeves injury is important to muscle
have been said to provide growth, so when you take anti-
support, lessen impact and inflammatories, you slow down
improve circulation during the muscle repair and recovery,” Dr.
race. Not to mention, they help Cassat says.
reduce post-race hobbling. “We
can actually measure changes in
IF IT HURTS, GET IT CHECKED OUT.
L
et’s say that a couple months back, you decided to go the injury markers to muscle cells,
distance—like, a long distance. We’re talking 26.2 miles of and people have less muscle
injury wearing compression,” Dr. Running-related injuries are not
distance. Maybe it was one of those, “You know, I’ve always uncommon—especially for first-
Cassat says. “It modulates that
wanted to do this once in my lifetime,” or an abiding love for absurd after-run soreness and helps time racers. In fact, Cassat says
amounts of aerobic activity. Whatever it was that spurred your muscles get ready for the next that as a newbie, you’re about
decision to run a marathon, you’re now in it aching-ankles-deep, run.” three times more likely to get
injured than a seasoned runner.
and you’re committed. Repetitive trauma hinders the
After all, a marathon isn’t exactly something you do on a whim. REST, BUT CONTINUE MOVING. body’s ability to heal tiny cracks
It takes discipline, focus and a whole lot of planning. You devised in the bone, which results in
a strict running regimen and slowly began building your weekly As much as you might be stress fractures. (This is where
mileage. That neighborhood jog you could barely get through anxious to get back on your feet cross-training comes in handy).
and train harder to trim your “If you start to have pain that
during week 1? You can now crush it with practiced ease. You’ve
previous record, most experts doesn’t go away with rest in a
been diligently training, sacrificing TV time and reading time and agree that a little R&R goes few days, it’s probably beneficial
conversations-with-significant-other time. a long way (like, in an even- to see somebody to make sure
Now after all the hard work, the Little Rock Marathon is finally longer-than-an-ultramarathon you’re not missing something
around the corner. With all the buildup to the big day, you probably way). “[Runners] need to give that could be treated very easily,
haven’t had much time to prepare for what comes next—after the themselves at least a good three something that may hamper your
or four days of rest,” Dr. O’Malley ability to do the race at all,” Dr.
finish line is crossed and your muscles have taken a serious battering. O’Malley says. “The same thing
says. “I think what would be
Which is why we reached out to two sports-medicine specialists— good after they had just stressed after the race. A lot of people will
Dr. Michael Cassat of UAMS’ Running Clinic and orthopedic their bodies with running is push through to finish the race;
surgeon Dr. Lawrence O’Malley—for advice on what to do for an doing a different activity besides then they continue to have pain
injury-free and all-around more pleasant recovery period. Before you running. Swimming, biking, that nags them.”
elliptical—any sort of aerobic
speed into those 26.2 miles—from the initial surge of excitement to
activity that’s easy on their joints
the unadulterated joy of spotting the last mile marker—we suggest will help them recover from the
you take heed. long run.”

LIGHTBULB
MOMENTS
Tips from Chandler and Jill
ASK THE EXPERTS
on all these things statement
fixtures
LET THERE BE THINK FUNCTION OVER FORM.
(STATEMENT)
LIGHTS
“Remember that lighting has a
purpose, which is not just to look
pretty,” Jill says. “Don’t forget
to think about surroundings.
Ho-hum builder-grade fixtures got you down? Where is the light going? How
many light sources do you have?
Brighten up, buttercup—these two Little Rock Is this fixture for decorative
designers have just the thing: lighting that purposes only, or a main light
packs a punch source?”
BE IN A GOOD HEAD SPACE.

Make sure fixtures are hung
with at least 7 feet of clearance
to the floor, and with a good
30-32 inches of room between
the fixture and the counter, and
33-36 inches between the fixture
and a dining table.
KEEP IT IN PROPORTION.
THE MODERNIST: JILL WHITE The size of the fixture also
depends on the size of the
room—smaller rooms need
- smaller-scale pieces, and large

rooms can handle larger pieces.
“Lighting can make or break a room— EASY DOES IT.

it is one of the pieces that I always Limit the number of bold fixtures
in one room, says Chandler:
encourage my clients to not cheap out “This way, the statement light
will really stand out instead of
on. With that being said, pieces by having to fight for that attention
with other statement pieces in
Kelly Wearstler—the queen of lighting, the room.”
in my opinion—are not in most

people’s budget, but I at least use them THE TRADITIONALIST: CHANDLER BAILEY
as inspiration. But these? These are -
have-to-have-it lights—seriously, you “Statement lighting doesn’t necessarily have to mean
may not even need furniture if you have ‘chandelier.’ All of these fixtures make a subtle impact—the
them!” crystal flowers on the sconce make such a beautiful shadow
on the wall.”
COURTESY OF KELLY WEARSTLER
-
1. Precision large pendant by Kelly Wearstler. 2. Halcyon linear pendant
-
by Kelly Wearstler. 3. Precision large pendant by Kelly Wearstler. 4. 1. Calais chandelier by Niermann Weeks for Visual Comfort. 2. Pagoda lantern by Coleen and Company.
Melange sconce by Kelly Wearstler. All available through Jill White Designs. 3. Lynn wall sconce by Aerin Lauder for Visual Comfort. All available through B. Interiors.

DISPATCHES
DISPATCH FROM LITTLE ROCK NOV. 30, 2017
‘Boo’ “I feel awkward,” I tell him.

“That’s OK,” he says. “We can be awkward together.”
This is a conversation I’ve been alternately putting off
and waiting to have for five years, and now that we’re sitting across
from each other, there’s a part of me that’s wondering if it’s not too
Confronting your past late to bolt for the door.
and confirming your present On the other side of the table, fair-haired and bespectacled, is
my best friend. I’ve always been the kind of person for whom “best
By Seth Eli Barlow | Illustration by nikki dawes
friend” is a level, not a singular title, but truth be told, he’s not even
that. He’s something more, some word I’ve yet to find. And it’s
exactly that something more that’s made me dread this conversation.
In 2011, at the age of 22, Seth Eli Barlow was told that he was dying, that
The question I want to ask—have to, even—is a simple one: Why
stage 4 cancer was ravaging his body. When he moved from Washington, me? But in the asking, there’s a laying bare of five years of emotion
D.C., back home to Arkansas for treatment, he had only one friend in that I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to face or understand.
the state he could turn to. Collected from journals written at the time “Why did you choose to be so good to me?”
and interviews in the present, this is their story. He takes a bite of his sandwich and thinks. His eyes are blue, the

DISPATCHES
that I had come to expect, but with curiosity at me, an anomaly is “Just being scary,” he’d said. NOV. 30, 2017
his world, something to be investigated. The small cleft of his chin The floor of his bedroom was a shelf upon
bounced with his mouth as he caught me up on his life: law school; which he directly stored most of his clothes.
“W
as I a burden?”
his sister, whom I also knew; and the boy who had just dumped His bed, brown jersey sheets, was tucked It was, perhaps, the
him. His hair was the kind of brown that turned almost blond in into a corner against the wall. question I’d been most
the summer or in the winter, or maybe just depending on the light. “You get the inside,” he said. afraid to ask. At the time, to ask for what
- Finally, our salads were delivered, distracting us from the only
subject that we had, by now, failed to broach. We made busy in our
meals, dancing our forks above the leaves. “So,” he said finally, “how
“Fine with me.” I shed my shirt and slid
my jeans down my legs, little hairs fluttering
down from my thighs behind them. I was
I wanted felt like such an imposition. To
dare ask of him that he share his bed, his
warmth with me, when all I had to offer was
“When you’re sick and did this happen?”
I looked up at him and shook my head. “I have no idea.” I began
thankful that he chose that moment to
go brush his teeth. Already, my body was
my own broken body in return seemed crass
and unimaginable.
someone looks at you, they recounting the tale. The lump, the tests, the needles, the blood work,
biopsies, the goodbyes and the move. “And now I’m here. And,” I
paused, “I guess now I just try not to die?”
beginning to change. Where the weight had
shrunk from my cheeks, it gathered around
my waist, and with every movement, new
He looked at me the same way he had
spoken to me that first morning—“no,
Boo”—a tone of why would you even ask, or
never really see you. To “Well, that would be ideal,” he said. tufts of hair would fall loose from my arms
or legs or chest and lose themselves upon
of course the sky is blue. When even your own
body is revolting against you, it becomes so
them, you are their own NOV. 30, 2017

the floor.
I was already under the covers by the time
he came back. He shucked his shirt and
easy to forget that people can have a love
for you that extends beyond your physicality.
“I was frustrated sometimes,” he said, “at
eventualities reflected, a
W
hen I was first diagnosed with cancer, I sought out others pants and slid beneath the blanket beside the cancer, but never at you.” Such a simple
who’d faced similar diagnoses. Though they tried to tell me me. We weren’t touching then, a solid few
distinction, to separate my body from
projection of their own that once my diagnosis was made public, the way people
looked and talked to me would change, it was a concept that I found
impossible to understand until it happened.
inches between us the entire way down like
you were spending the night at an aunt’s
house and were forced to sleep with the
myself, so easy for him to make, yet such a
foreign concept for me. For all survivors, I
think. We’ll always be the crime that crossed
crumblings were your fate When you’re sick and someone looks at you, they never really see
you. To them, you are their own eventualities reflected, a projection
cousin you rarely saw.
We made small talk for a while, about
us, at least in part.
of their own crumblings were your fate theirs. They see themselves college and grad school, Little Rock and
theirs.” as the sick one, what they might look like if they were to be the
unlucky one. For them, you’re just a walking reminder of their own
the people we both knew. We talked about
the boys we had dated and wondered aloud
JUNE 28, 2012
- mortality. In an effort to avoid this, they will stop looking at you. if we’d ever really been in love. We talked
I
stopped and picked up burritos
That is a relief. The tired and frightened eyes of the healthy were until our voices faded and sleep held us, and
for dinner. On my way to his house,
a pressure I struggled with—their constant not knowing what to when my eyes opened, I was only surprised
driving across town, I wondered if I was
say or how to act. that I’d never noticed falling asleep.
normal. If I was typical. If I was statistically
But not him. And that’s why he matters. Because when so many I leaned over to check the clock, still an
significant. My mind searching for the
chose to look away, he looked at me, saw only me. And to have hour before the alarm would ring, and still
color of shallow shipwrecks, a blue that edges green in the shadows, moment when it all began, that one instant
someone look at me, see themselves and keep looking was more an hour before I had anywhere to be. In an
like waves on an angry sea, shading sapphire to emerald, lapis to than I ever knew to ask for. effort to combat my ever-changing body when the first cell decided to turn against
jade. He looks at me like it’s a silly question, like it’s not worth the In some ways, it was and still is the most intimate relationship temperature, I had turned the ceiling fan up me. What was I doing when my body first
weight I’ve let it carry, but also like he understands and that maybe I’ve ever had. To be loved by someone when you’re dying, when they to its highest setting, and now, seven hours decided to commit mutiny? I’ll never know,
he knows that in asking the question of him, I’m really asking myself. know there’s a very good chance that things won’t turn out well is, I later and battling someone who insisted on but I hope I was happy, was outside enjoying
think, one of the biggest sacrifices someone can make for you. When wrapping themselves in as much fabric as the sun, was with friends and that I was
you’re sick, it’s so easy for people to just fade away. After all, that’s was available, I was regretting that decision. laughing.
DEC. 8, 2011 what they expect of you. I wondered what he felt like. It had When I got to his house, the Cubs were
been so long since anyone had touched me on. We ate in silence. The pensive and
rustling silence of not knowing what to say,
I
t took us several weeks, but we finally made a date to have without wearing gloves. My body ached. My
dinner. It was December then, and my first chemo appointment FEB. 22, 2012 skin, atom by atom, strained in his direction. how to broach tomorrow. He was braver.
was the next day. I had told him a few days earlier that I was sick. I had never needed anything so badly. He spoke first.
We had been talking on Facebook, and somehow typing the words, “In all of this, I’ve been scared, but I’m
W
e were having a sleepover, our version of a night on the “Would it make you uncomfortable if I
the gentle patter of fingers on keys replacing voice, seemed safer. town: ice cream, easy-bake cinnamon rolls and late-night put my arm around you?” I whispered it, not worried anymore.”
I had tried not to tell many people, just my closest friends and the TV. The night had become morning, and finally we gave almost hoping he wouldn’t hear. His voice “You were scared? When?”
people in D.C. I knew would miss me once I’d moved back home in to our tired bodies and got ready for bed. He asked me if I’d be was quiet and restful. He looked at me. “Every day in the
to Little Rock. Saying the words, seeing their expressions change, OK on the couch. I said yes and walked over to the closet that held a “No, Boo.” hospital. I didn’t know what would happen.
seeing myself die in their eyes—it was something I wasn’t yet able to stack of blankets. He rose off the couch and tossed his empty bottle My hand slid down and across his torso, I didn’t want to lose you.”
do. Moving my lips, making sounds, it made things real. Somehow, into the recycle bin; it clinked among a dozen others. He turned my face nuzzled into the nape of his neck. “Yeah,” I said putting down the bowl
in the deepest reaches of my imagination, I was still able to believe up the staircase, each step sighing under the weight of his foot, and I rejoiced in his physicality, touching each of ice cream. “Me, too.” The batter on the
that if I never said the words aloud, they would cease to be true. stopped halfway up, his brow just disappearing behind the ceiling, hair with my fingers, each mole with my television struck out and walked back to
We met at a little corner restaurant that served salads and pizza and turned back to me. “Boo, come up.” thumb. Freckles galaxied out across his his dugout. The camera panned up through
and gelato and pretended to be Italian. He was wearing a peacoat I downed the last of my beer and shut the closet door. “OK.” back, tracing the subtle curve of his spine the crowd, thousands eating popcorn, hot
turned up against his neck, and he hugged me like it hadn’t been It was a little name we’d taken to calling each other, “Boo.” I’d first down to where it met my chest, pressing dogs, beer. Each one with smiling, happy,
a year since we’d last seen each other. We went upstairs to a table called him that when I met him at his home, on the front porch of constellations into me and melting into my careless faces. All connected with a singular
and ordered salads and tried to make small talk about anything we a rented carriage house. The light above us was dark. skin in the way that the sky skims beneath emotion projecting onto the field. In groups,
could think of. “What are you doing all Boo Radley-like in the shadows?” I’d the sea at the curve of the Earth until they we thrive, a thousand bouncing energies
I looked at him, and he stared back—not in the devastating way asked. become indistinguishable. converging and diverging, replicating and

DISPATCHES
multiplying. It’s only when, through the
very happenstance of life, we are singled out
and left alone that we begin to crumble. No
man is meant only for himself, not least of
all in the face of death.
He shifted again and reminded me that, his stubble gently pricking my ear.
in one true way, I was not alone. Alone in He held me, and I was thankful that we weren’t in love, that he was just my friend. That
my fate, yes, but not in that moment, not when he held me he was only a comforting friend and nothing more. That our lips never
on that couch—I was alive and with him, touched, that our hands never drifted too far below our waists, that he did not love me.
and we were watching the Cubs lose again. There is nothing worse than to love a dying man, to love anything that can die. To love
Everything was normal. when, at any moment, the delicate scale of life can be so easily tipped over, is to invite pain.
“It’s fifty-fifty, I guess. Either I will or He held me awhile, one hand tracing up the slope of my back, the other resting on my
I won’t.” thigh, now stretched across his legs. “You’re going to be fine.” He said it once and a thousand
He looked at me. “You will.” times. I don’t remember what I said. I held on. He told me stories of his family, of people
I raised up my head. “Don’t lie to me. You he’d known. Each one once sick and each one now living strong—an aunt, or a cousin, a
don’t know that. You can’t.” girl, either way.
He locked his arms around my shoulders I told him I had a plan. If the news wasn’t good, I would go away. I didn’t want people to
and pulled me into him. Melted ice cream see me die. I didn’t want him to have to watch. He ran his fingers through my hair.
stained the edge of his upper lip. He spoke “If I told you the truth, how much I wanted to give up, how much I wanted to let go, if
slowly and deliberately, trying to force each I told you everything, would you still love me tomorrow?”
word into my mind. “I know you. And I “If you don’t know the answer to that, then you don’t know me at all.”
know how hard you’ve worked, how hard My body hurt. Not from the chemo, not from the Neulasta, not from working, not from
you’ve fought. And I know that tomorrow anything but from the sheer weight of every thought I would never have suddenly crashing
we’re going to put this behind us for good.” into my mind. All the things I’d miss, places I would never go and never see. There was so
The game ended in silence, but we kept much to the world, and I wanted more. I wanted everything. I would never have enough of
watching the television. tomorrow. My voice cracked. “I will miss the sun. I will miss the warm on my hands and
“Ready for bed?” he asked. my arms. And the way it feels.”
“No, but I’ll go with you.” It was between
1 and 2 in the morning, and the steady
stream of baseball had been replaced with NOV. 30, 2017
infomercials for products no one would ever
need. I collected our bowls from the coffee
A
nd there we were, five years later and finally, over a plate full of sandwiches, I’d
table and ran water over them, washing away gotten answers to the questions I’d always wanted to ask. It was only then that I
the delicate glaze the melted ice cream had realized the answer, as it so often is, wasn’t the point.
left. He came up behind me and wrapped For years, I’d been searching for a name for us, some term or classification that would
an arm around my shoulders. define exactly what we were and what he was to me.
“Let’s go.” Is he what it’s like to have a brother? As an only child, I’ll never know. Savior seems such
We walked up the stars, the second step an awkward word, full of camp and kitsch, but what else do you call someone who was, at
from the top letting out its usual groan. one perfect moment, everything you needed? “Why is English the worst?” He doesn’t know
I turned into the bathroom to brush my a word for us, either.
teeth, while he undressed and turned out He was necessity. I couldn’t have done this without him. Angel, soul mate, savior, friend,
the lights. A moment later, I crawled into whatever you want to call it—in the end, don’t they all play the same part? They save us.
bed beside him. Instinctively, he crossed They make us better. They show us the best in us so that we can go another day.
over me, enveloping me in himself, the I can’t say that he cured me because he didn’t. The doctors did. But he did save me, not
only protection he knew he could offer. just my bones and body, but everything else—my mind, my heart and my soul. The same
My breath left me in a shudder, and with as being alive and existing are two separate things. Existing is what your body does. Keeps
it went the world, or at least the portion your heart beating, eyes blinking, pulsing whatever electrodes we have in our brain to make
of it that I had heaved upon my shoulders it work, your physical presence on this Earth. But being alive, feeling and loving and hurting
throughout the day. “Let it out, Boo. Let it and caring, having an emotional connection to the outside world—that has nothing to do
go. You’ve done everything you can to beat with how healthy your body is or isn’t.
this. Tomorrow is just getting proof of that.” And that’s what he did. He made it easy to stay alive, even when my body didn’t. I don’t
I turned to look at the dark shadow line know what it was, the hand-holding, the hugs, the sleepovers, whatever. He was there. And
on his face that I knew was hiding his eyes. he loved me, and I loved him, and somehow that worked.
I wanted to speak back, tell him how puny Sitting across from me, he’s still the goofy guy I met in college and still the man who
and stupid his words sounded. To tell him saved my life. I’ll never see a simple side to him, and I suppose that there will always be
that there were no words for him to say, a part of me that searches for how to put who he is and what he did for me into words.
no thought in his mind or touch in his Getting up from the table, we make plans to see each other the next day. With him, there
body that could counterbalance the crush will always be a tomorrow.
of Forever as it sat upon my chest. My
mouth opened, but before I could speak,
the dappled light of the moon through the Now five years cancer-free, Seth Eli Barlow is a Cleveland county native who works as a writer
blinds caught the tear track on my cheek, and sommelier in Little Rock. He and “Boo” will celebrate a decade of friendship in 2018. They
and his lips were brushing against my hair, still root for the Chicago Cubs.

DISPATCHES
An unpublished Arkansas Gazette file

community before you attended say, “Is the color going to rub off on you?”
photo of West Side Junior High, taken school? or “Is the black going to come off on you?”
on Sept 5, 1961. to that person’s friend.
I had no experience beyond being cursed People … ignored me, which was more
at or treated in some harsh manner. Let often the case. … I don’t know if anyone
me explain that. When I was in the first can express how [it] feels to be ignored
through the third grade, attending Stephens for so many years. Most of the time, no
Elementary—I attended there … through one said anything to me at all other than
my sixth grade—[for] the first few years, those few people who would taunt me in
my family and I lived on a street just different kinds of ways. … Now there were
behind that school. … That was totally people in class, and I think it was maybe
African-American. That neighborhood was the second year or the third year, who might
insulated. We had no contact with … the say something or talk to me, one or two
white community. … people—in class—and that was about it. But
The children didn’t have contact beyond they wouldn’t say anything outside of class.
… the local grocery store owner. … His … There was this somewhat-understood
store [was] right down the street from our pact that I might be talked to inside the
house. Other than that, everyone else was class. That’s as far as the students went. There
African-American. Our stores were on were a couple of teachers that seemed to
what is called Ninth Street here in Little be at least—I wouldn’t say friendly, but
Rock, and the movie theater was there, the accommodating in some kind of way. I
hairdressers, the doctors—everyone was had a home economics teacher who was
located on Ninth Street. I didn’t know any rather kind, and even though there were
different. … The summer of my third-grade several negative incidences that happened
year, I believe, we moved to 24th Street, and out of her sight … in the home ec class,
everything changed. There were very few they didn’t happen while she was around,
African-Americans there. so she wouldn’t have known some things.
When I’d walk to the store, that is when It’s amazing how students can find ways
I was met with a lot of hatred. … People to do things.
who were driving cars [would] throw things The gym teacher—I learned years later
out of their windows, call me derogatory when we were talking at some kind of
names and otherwise try to make life very reunion—seemed to have attempted to
DISPATCH FROM LITTLE ROCK white junior high schools. The stories they tell are candid and raw. Now negative. So that was my experience with befriend me, although at the time, I didn’t
so many years removed from their experiences, the students give intimate the white community before I went to junior understand that. But she [said she] really
accounts of their lives then—the loneliness, the prejudice, the small bits high school. was hoping … I would join some of the
Our Voices of joy they found day to day.

It can be a shocking thing, to hear these that had been silent for so long.
As Dr. Bell-Tolliver writes, “This oral history approach provides them
with something they did not have in 1961 and 1962: the opportunity to
What experiences stand out in your
mind from your junior high days?
organizations. I had no knowledge. I did join
the pep squad, by … the way. I had a choir
teacher who allowed me to join … the group.
I say “allowed” because I was hoarse at the
You know, it’s funny that it’s usually the time that I was trying out, both years. … So
An excerpt from The First Twenty-Five: break the silence.” In the excerpt that follows, we hear from the individual
harsh ones that stand out in my mind. … I don’t know if he ever knew whether I could
An Oral History of the Desegregation of Little who desegregated Forest Heights Junior High School—the only instance
I’ll try to also think about some positive sing or not, but that was so kind! (Laughs.)
where there was just one African-American student who went to class.
Rock’s Public Junior High Schools The student in question? Dr. Bell-Tolliver herself. —jph
ones as well. … The first one was the first I also remember one teacher who did a
day of school when my mother took me to kindness. I’m not sure if she was kind, but
By Dr. LaVerne Bell-Tolliver school. … I could tell that she was pretty she did a kindness … and that was a day
M
y name is LaVerne Bell-Tolliver. I attended Forest Heights anxious, pretty nervous, even though she when it was minus 5 degrees. I happened to
Junior High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1961. … didn’t say anything during that time. She arrive at school … so early that the doors of
I was the only one to attend that school for the first two drove me to school. the buildings were locked. … She saw me
“O
n May 23, 1961,” Dr. LaVerne Bell-Tolliver writes in the
years, the seventh and eighth grades. In the ninth grade, two other That day I remembered her holding my standing against the wall trying to just find a
opening lines of her new book, “the Little Rock School Board
students attended with me, but [for] those first two years, I was the hand. … This school … was in an affluent way to keep warm. … Initially she unlocked
designated twenty-five students to be the first African-
only African-American student there. area. … Children of privilege were attending her door and was preparing to walk in, and
Americans (then called “Negroes” or “Coloreds”) to attend four of the five
public Little Rock junior high schools.” For the next 18 pages, the story is that school. So there was not outwardly on … turned around, and just told me to come
Did you know the other two students who came in your that first day the name calling or yelling or on into the room. She never said a word to
straightforward, easily digested. Although it deals with a branch of history ninth-grade year before they attended? jeering or any of that. … When we walked me or anything [during that time]. It was
that’s been largely overshadowed by its counterpart—the desegregation of
through the crowd that was standing around my teacher, by the way. … But she never said
Little Rock Central High School in 1957—the overview that these pages I knew one of them. … She lived a few blocks over [from my house]. the door, waiting for the school to open, a word to me. But she allowed me to come
provide is clear and concise and lays a contextual foundation for what’s The other student, I did not know. one little child said “Hi.” … I could tell into the room where it was warm. That was
to follow. It’s an account that is, in tone and timbre, like so many others. that my mother was calmer right then. … a kindness.
The second part, however, is what makes it stand apart from so many And you completed all three grades there? She left, but that was the last time that
histories of that era. If the first section was a photograph, then the second child said anything to me. No one else said Did you attend a predominantly white
section—appropriately titled “Our Stories”—is where the formerly still Yes, I did. anything … on that particular day. … The high school as well?
image starts to move, speak, come to life. For just over 200 pages, we hear, other memories that I have are of people
firsthand, from 18 of the 25 students who integrated the once exclusively What … were your experiences … with the white who would … push one person onto me and Yes, I did. … I attended Hall High School,

DISPATCHES
and some of the school board record’s never learned how to … during that time, the strengths of the African-American
meeting notes indicate that they really junior high and high school, is where you families that I really hold dearly and have
wanted to keep that—I don’t know a polite develop socially, emotionally, and all of those researched, education, and hard work ethic,
way to say it—but as white as possible. So kinds of things. So it’s been a challenge to and extended family—those kinds of things
… they deliberately did not allow very many learn how to relate from that social aspect. have taken a huge hit … in part as a result
C O N W AY
African-Americans to attend. It does not I can do very well in a work environment of the desegregation process.
appear that … many African-Americans or where there’s a purpose, something to
2018 SHOW wanted to attend. … They wanted to attend accomplish … because that’s what I learned What recommendations would
Presented by the Central, more than likely. And the school in school. I learned how to accomplish tasks you have for parents who were
district lines kept changing, so that if more … and to move forward … those kinds of contemplating placing their child into
African-Americans lived in that area, all of things. … I have been successful in the work an environment where the child will
a sudden the school district lines changed world and in the professional settings. … be a minority?
again. … Consequently there [were] never But in that emotional setting, that’s the
FEBRUARY 18, 2018 any more than nine or ten students … that piece that still seems to have ragged edges I would recommend to the parents that
were African-American in that school at or gaps, no matter how hard I’ve worked on they think long and hard about that … and
Conway Expo Center the time that I was there. I think there were that piece. … consider whether … they have provided
about seven in my class, so I never attended that child with the proper care, confidence,
and Fairgrounds … any class that had any other African- How do you think your actions [of] consideration that they need to have in
1 P.M.  5 P.M. | CONWAY Americans in the class. … Nevertheless, desegregating the schools influenced order to help that child be prepared to be
… having five to seven students [attending our community and our city? okay wherever they are. Consider whether or
the school] was a huge difference to me. … not they as a family are able and willing and
General Tickets I felt much more comfortable. There were I look around this community now that committed to talking with each other more
$7 in advance online; people that were sitting with me at lunch. I’ve returned to Arkansas, and I see, really, in a democratic style, if they’re committed to
$10 at the door I forgot to mention that when I was in some positives and some negatives. The listening to that child. Explore that decision,
junior high school, absolutely no one ever … positives seem to be that on the surface, and whether they’re willing to support that
sat with me at lunch, except for when I was people do seem to get along a little bit better child throughout the entire process. All
70+ VENDORS FASHION in the ninth grade and those two students interracially. From time to time, there seems children are not able to handle situations
were there. But I had become so desensitized to be more interaction; there are people that along that line. … Whether it’s a racial
to the situation, I couldn’t even appreciate are employed at a lot of different levels. … issue, or whether there’s something else that
the fact that two students were there by that There’s been an African-American mayor would place that child in a minority role,
time. … By the time that I went to high here, and there’s an African-American city they need to have every type of emotional
school, I knew a couple of the students, manager. Those situations would have never and spiritual support possible to be able
and I was just so excited to be able to have occurred without desegregation beginning to make that move into that community.
someone to sit with me. It was so different, in the schools and in other types of areas, so … As a child, being seen as different is a
not being ignored, … even though the same that is a positive kind of thing. Even the fact reason for many people to bully them, or to
can’t be said of being in the gymnasium that people are able to live in the [state] of cause challenges for them. … Some children
during assemblies or those kinds of things, Arkansas in various communities—maybe would not be able to handle that. Making
Sponsors because similar things would happen. … not in every community … that seems to the decision to place a child, whether it’s in
When I was in junior high school, I would be positive. an academic setting or in other places, might
have a whole row to myself … because no On the other hand, with regard to the be helpful for them in terms of making
one would sit on the row. In the high school, schools, things are in a horrible situation. progress … academically or physically or
they would just not sit on either side of me, There’s what you call “re-segregation” in whatever. However, it may hamper them,
or they would ask for me to scoot down … many areas. Even though—say, for instance, as it did for me, in many other areas. So the
so that their friends could sit with them. … at Central High and in other places, people child needs to have parents who understand
I think the difference for me, being in junior attend the schools that are Caucasian and the potential repercussions and are willing
high and high school, was that I knew that African-American … Latinos attend those to provide that network of support in all
there were other African-Americans that schools—they re-segregated in certain areas. those other areas. … They also need to have
were there, … and I felt better at that time. … There are many more charter schools and a strong faith network and a strong ability
other types of private schools where many to plug into God, because … that child
How do you think your experiences Caucasians attend. In some ways people will need to be able to have that resource
[of] attending a white school have re-segregated. available. If they don’t have that, I would not
influenced your adult life? Ninth Street, I just can’t help but mention place that child there. Of course they would
how our black community was decimated … still need that wherever they’re going, …
I think that it has had untold effects on decimated. People lost jobs as teachers in the but they would need it so much more when
my adult life, in that it affects the way that various schools. Businesses just completely they are intentionally placing that child in
I need space to myself. I think … even if went away because of the desegregation a situation where they will be … different,
I had attended other schools, I probably process. … I think there’s a complex way and they will be seen as different.
www.arkansasbridalcommunity.com would have been more of an introvert, but of looking at it. It’s not all good or all bad,
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! I need huge amounts of space. … I have, on but some people lost almost everything.
the other hand, learned how to do things … I think that may also speak to why the
by myself because of the fact that I had students are not performing as well. We lost Excerpt courtesy University of Arkansas Press.
to do them then. … It has also affected, something else, culturally, that we haven’t For more information, visit uapress.com/
unfortunately, relationships … because I been able to regain. Whereas, in the past, product/the-first-twenty-five.

A celebration of
the state’s unofficial
official dessert
As told to Bonnie Bauman

and Mariam Makatsaria
Photography by Arshia Khan

�
Pie Lover:
KELLI MARKS
Pie Love:
CHOCOLATE FUDGE
BROWNIE PIE
“W e have this group, and

once a month, we go out
and eat local and have drinks.
Sharon [from Little Rock's
Honey Pies] was the last
one to join us. At some point,
she brought us all some mini
pies. She’s got this chocolate
fudge brownie pie that she
makes. That night, we went
out to Cajun’s. After we came
home from a nice night out,
�
my husband and I both kind
of tore into the pie. We just
stood at the counter, not even
Pie Lover: bothering to sit down or get a
plate or anything. It was just
REX NELSON
� Pie Love:
so delicious. You really can’t go
wrong with a brownie that has
a pie crust on it. It’s got this
BLUEBERRY PIE
Pie Lover: crunchy top on it that looks
EVETTE BRADY crinkly. You get into it, and it’s
Pie Love:
“I grew up in southwest
Arkansas, in Arkadelphia.
My dad was a big fisherman
this soft, rich chocolate. But
then you get that pastry crust
EGG CUSTARD PIE so we would go to Lake that’s flaky and cuts through
Ouachita, and we would stay the sweetness of the filling.”
Oh, Honey
“I remember going
Franke’s Cafeteria in
Little Rock with my mom
to Pies (shown
above and
at left). They
at the old Shangri-La Resort
in Mt. Ida. I grew up eating
their homemade pies. They’re
Kelli is the owner of Sweet
Love Bakes in Little Rock, but
Sweetie
and my family as a kid, getting couldn’t be any wonderful, the best I’ve had her newest venture, Cathead’s
in line and then getting to the more perfect, in the state. If I had to pick Diner, opens this spring in Little
thanks to a favorite—and I’m glad I Rock’s East Village. On the
desserts. Oh my god, I couldn’t
owner Sharon don’t have to—it would be the menu: Pie. And biscuits. And
wait to get to the desserts. I
Woodson’s blueberry pie. You don’t see donuts. Read more on page 80.
always got the same thing: the
egg custard pie. I want to say and executive blueberry pies at a whole lot of
I was about 8 or 9 years old pastry chef places. It has a rich, sweet, gooey
�
pies
Anne Wood’s berry taste, and it’s got what I
when I first had it. I’m 60 now,
know-how. consider to be a perfect crust.
so I grew up on that pie. It was
(Just flip back What is so wonderful about the
the best thing in the world. I
mean, oh my goodness. Just
to the cover if Shangri-La Resort is that it’s Pie Lover:
you need any like stepping back in time. It STEVE SHULER
heaven. I think a lot of people more proof.) looks now just the same as it
would say that it’s almost like
a flan, because it has egg yolks
did back in the 1960s—like a
movie set. So it’s the experience
Pie Love:
and heavy cream and a hint of PEANUT BUTTER PIE
as a whole, and it’s as close as
nutmeg. And butter—tons and I can get in Arkansas to going
In which a baker’s dozen
of Arkansas foodies reveal
tons of butter.”
Evette was the executive chef

back to my childhood.”
“W e had a barbecue dinner
at someone’s house. A
friend of mine brought two
Rex is senior editor for the
their favorite pies, past and and owner of Little Rock’s 1620 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, whole versions of the peanut
Savoy. She now serves on the and blogs about all things butter pie from Three Sam’s
present, and we fall in love committee for the Arkansas food, sports and politics at Barbeque Joint in Mabelvale.
with the stuff all over again Food Hall of Fame. rexnelsonsouthernfried.com. It was so well-received that I

barely got to try any of it. The currently on Mylo’s menu. But it
place burned down in March of can’t hurt to ask, right?
2016, and just reopened recently.
The first time I had it again was
a month ago. For what you pay
for it, I can’t imagine pie getting
any better. It’s a chilled pie—a
�
love letter to peanut butter. It’s Pie Lover:
got a traditional flaky crust, MATTHEW BELL
but then it’s got this really
creamy center. There are layers Pie Love:
of peanut butter fudge, with a COCONUT CREAM PIE
ton of crushed Reese’s cups on
top. It’s completely chock-full
of peanuts. Just one look at it,
and you know this is a peanut
“I ’m from montana originally,
and Montana doesn’t have
a super-definitive food style.
butter pie that doesn’t mess I would say I wasn’t well-
around.” versed in pies before I moved
to Arkansas. Not long after I
Steve is a Little Rock-based moved here in 2006, we drove
food writer and host of the Little
to The Family Pie Shop in
Rock Foodcast.
DeValls Bluff. Quite a few
local writers have written about
�
it, so it was something I wanted
to check out. It was in a garage,
and as far as I could tell, there
Pie Lover: was no refrigeration. We got a
coconut cream pie. Hers had a
JOËL ANTUNES
regular pie crust, coconut cream
Pie Love: with toasted meringue on top.
F or years, this map-dot Delta town of 610 souls was home to

two of the biggest names in Arkansas pie: “Ms. Lena” of her
eponymous pie shop, and “Ms. Mary” of The Family Pie Shop. Both
PECAN PIE
The unique thing about the pie
was the combination of her
coconut cream, her crust and
women knew, almost instinctively, how to make mile-high meringue,
and could fry a chocolate pie worthy of diverting a certain former “I had it about three or four
years ago when Mylo
Coffee Co. in Little Rock first
the meringue. It almost had
a real, pretty forward honey the Cracker Pie. It’s an old
president’s motorcade an hour out of the way. And while only Ms. flavor. I think because the pies Southern tradition, and the
Lena’s Pie Shop remains, and though both of the “pie ladies,” as opened. I go there at least once original recipe predates my
never got refrigerated after they
they were known, have passed away, their legacies live on, both in a week now—sometimes even family, for sure. It’s typically
were made, the meringue kind
the memories of anyone who was lucky enough to get a forkful of more. Mylo’s is a good place made with saltine crackers,
because everything is fresh, and of sweated. It had these beads
a “pie lady” creation, and in their families who’ve memorized the on it, and something about it whipped egg whites, sugar and
recipes and kept the ovens warm. Because if ever there were a thing I like it when people make food Every pretty chopped pecans. But there
Ms. Lena of Ms. Lena’s Pie Shop, in the words of with heart, with love. Every was just perfect.” pie (like this
to transcend time and place, to put us back in the same room with are variations of it. My great-
her daughter, Viv Barnhill day, they make a quantity one, from
a loved one we’ve lost, surely, it’s pie—a fact confirmed by these Matthew is the executive chef grandmother reinvented the pie
of everything and when it’s Bentonville’s
oral-history excerpts collected by the Southern Foodways Alliance. at South on Main in Little Rock. for the Red Apple Inn in Heber
“Well, started back probably in ’94 I believe. And mom, she just—she finished, it’s finished. The pie Gooseberry
Springs when they opened in
made this awesome recipe for fried pies and she said, ‘Let’s do fried was crunchy, not too sweet and Pies) deserves
pies.’ And she had this little pie shop built on. You see how small it Editor’s note: For more about Ms. a pretty pie 1963. She has a great cookbook
the perfect size. It had a very that was published in the mid
Ms. Mary of The Family Pie Shop is but it works. And so me and her started out, when she was like,
good dough. You know, some Mary, take a look on the opposite plate. We
probably 75, 76, anyway we started out and I was helping her and she page. nabbed this ’70s. It’s called Feasts of Eden,
was just doing it like I think one day a week like maybe Saturday and places don’t cook the dough and it’s the original cookbook
“Now one of the [grandsons] that I was telling you about, he always one from
enough. For me, I don’t like
�
so we did that. And it worked out real good. And then Chuck Nolas for the Red Apple Inn. There’s
likes—he likes to mess around in the kitchen because they don’t say Cobblestone
[television reporter] got a hold of it somehow and he came along and that. In Europe, when we eat & Vine in this quote from her in the
nothing either, but he likes to mess around with me and watch me what after that it just kind of boomed, you know. And she just couldn’t keep
I’m doing. And you know now they can learn more by watching you baguettes and croissants, we Little Rock. book, ‘I first had this simple but
up. And so we’ve been doing it. Then we—me and my daughter after
like [them] to have a nice brown
than they can you trying to teach them, because my—my little girl, you
know she’s not a little girl—big girl now, one day she came in here and
mom—mom passed away in ’05 and she had cancer—and she said
on her deathbed, ‘Would y’all please keep my pie shop going for me?’ color. The most important thing Pie Lover: delicious dessert 30 years ago in
Booneville, Arkansas. It is still a
I was sick and I didn’t feel well, and I was—that’s when we had those She said, ‘I worked too hard to throw this away.’ She said ‘I’ve got is for the pecans to be nice and SCOTT MCGEHEE
favorite at the Red Apple. It is
fried pies. And she said, ‘You want me to’—she called me Mae-Mae. fresh. The one from Mylo’s was
She said, ‘Mae-Mae you want me to fix the fried pies?’ I said, ‘Baby
you don’t know how to do that.’ ‘Yes; I do.’ I said, ‘Well, OK’; I had the
everything perfect. All you have to do is do it.’”
perfect.” Pie Love: quickly made and freezes well.'"
crust and everything ready. Do you know that child fixed them and they
PARADISE PIE Scott is the executive chef of
looked prettier than mine’s, everything just as smooth and even. So I These interviews were conducted by Sherri Sheu on behalf of the Southern Joël is the executive chef at One Yellow Rocket Concepts, which
said, ‘How did you learn that?’ She said ‘Watching you.’” Foodways Alliance. For more information, visit southernfoodways.org. Eleven in Little Rock’s Capital
Hotel. “T he pie that’s most adored—
one that’s been in my
family for generations—is
owns and operates Big Orange,
Local Lime, Lost Forty Brewing
Co. and ZaZa Fine Salad and
Editor’s note: This pie is not the Paradise Pie, also called Wood-Oven Pizza Co.

Wilson Cafe
Coconut Pie
For the crust:

1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
4 tablespoons cold water
Mix flour and salt; cut in the

shortening with a pastry blender or
your fingers until mix is crumbly.
Add water and mix until it comes
together. Lightly flour surface and
roll out dough to the desired size.
Place dough in pie pan; tuck edges
under and crimp as desired. Place
pie crust in freezer while you make
the filling.
For the filling:
No Hard
1 cup sugar
O nce upon a time, Shari'

Haley’s specialty was fish.
Not pie. Not anything remotely
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons flour
3 eggs
related to pie. Then, after she
and her now husband, Joe 1 teaspoon vanilla
Cartwright, opened the Wilson 1 cup milk
fillings
Cafe in December 2013, she 1 cup shredded coconut
started making pies. Which is
astounding. Because to taste Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream
this coconut cream pie—the sugar and butter until light and
dollop of cream whipped in- fluffy. Add flour, then add eggs one
… but this pie? The one whipped up house, the crust a feat of flaky at a time. Mix in vanilla and milk.
in teensy Wilson by Shari' Haley of perfection, the coconut filling Stir in coconut. Add mix to your
… Good heavens, that cococut prepared pie crust and bake until
Wilson Cafe? It might just be the filling—you’d think she’d spent firm, about 40-50 minutes. Top with
best we’ve had a lifetime getting it just right. whipped cream.

�
You can see more of the fruit.
To me, that makes it special. It Gooseberry’s
has breadcrumbs in it, and it’s Chocolate Pecan Pie
Pie Lover: very crunchy when you bite into
it. Also, the cinnamon, which
“After extensive, tedious research, I’ve
P. ALLEN SMITH found that I gravitate toward very dense
is what I love about apple pies. and chocolate-y desserts. The fudge filling The Pantry’s
Pie Love: When I’m in Little Rock, I go
back to Community Bakery.”
Capital Bar & Grill’s
in this pie is my idea of perfection. Said
perfection is made all the more delicious Cheesecake
LEMON MERINGUE PIE Bourbon Pecan Pie when encased in a loving embrace of flaky, “Honestly, the cheesecake at
buttery crust and crunchy pecan topping.” the Pantry is all kinds of swoon-
Louis was the executive chef at “Had one pecan pie and —Emma Devine
Little Rock’s legendary Jacques you’ve had them all, right? worthy. The perfection of a creamy
“I was probably in
when stumbled upon
my 30s
this lemon meringue pie at

and Suzanne, and is now co-
owner of Petit & Keet.
Wrong. So, so wrong. Here,
the bourbon brings out an
impressive richness without
cheesecake base topped with a
crunchy brûléed top is irresistible.
It’s every custard-lover’s dream—
being overbearing. And they and literally the only dessert I ever
Craig’s in DeValls Bluff on a order.” —Arshia Khan
are not playing around when
drive from Memphis back to
Little Rock. It was so good
that I thought it would make
�� it comes to those pecans
either. This thing is loaded!”
—Wyndham Wyeth
a bulldog break its chain. It Pie Lover:
starts with the crust. Any good KAT ROBINSON
pie, in my opinion, starts with
the crust. It was beautiful and
flaky and buttery. The meringue
Pie Love:
CHOCOLATE OLD-
was really tall. It was coming
FASHIONED HAND PIE
toward me as the waitress
brought it to me. My eyes got
really big. It was a very proud
meringue, and made a beautiful
“S itting in the case at Batten's
Bakery in Paragould was
a tray of fried crescent-shaped
presentation. The lemon custard
hand pies billed as ‘Chocolate
was especially tart, which I like. Old-fashioned’ pies. Intrigued,
I don’t like things overly sweet. because typically a chocolate
The combination of that tart pie is custardy, and this pie
custard, sweet meringue and clearly wasn’t that, I bought
the flakiness of the pie crust
Pie
a couple. Back in the car, I
made it a wonderful experience.” took a bite. And you know
that scene in Ratatouille when
Allen is an author, television Anton Ego, the food critic,
host, entrepreneur and
takes a bite of the ratatouille
conservationist focused on
and is instantly transported
organic gardening, green
back to his childhood? That’s
design and garden-to-table
what happened to me. That
chart
cooking.
bite brought me right back to
my grandmother’s kitchen in
Gurdon, and she’d just handed
� me one of her chocolate pies, a
simple, humble pie made with
Honey Pies'
Apple Pie
Pie Lover: just four ingredients: dough,
“Heart follows belly in matters
Around the Arkansas Life
cocoa, confectioners sugar and
LOUIS PETIT butter. And it was warm and
of pie. So while there are many offices, sweets are more
pies that I’ve loved and longed
the chocolate was molten and than just dessert—they’re
Pie Love: it tasted like the best chocolate
after since taking up residence
in Arkansas, the apple pie from science. Here, a statistical
DUTCH APPLE PIE chip cookie you’ve ever had. Honey Pies has my heart. Likely
because I once ate an entire Cafe Bossa Nova’s breakdown of our go-to
That. Pie.”
Four-layer Pie
“D
thing over the course of an
o you know Community
afternoon.” —Jordan P. Hickey
Arkansas slices
Baker y? They have Kat is a food and travel writer “There’s a lot to love about Little
wonderful apple pies. Most based in Little Rock, and has Rock’s Cafe Bossa Nova: the cheese
apple pies that you buy in stores written the book on pie in bread, the caipirinhás, those chicken
are very sugary and sweet. It’s Arkansas—Arkansas Pie: A crêpes. But if I’m being honest? It’s
When Charlotte's Delicious Slice of the Natural this creamy, chocolaty, shortbread-y
cloying. I don’t like it when Eats & Sweets pie I’ve got on my mind each time I
State—and is currently working
there’s so much sugar that it says "mile-high on a follow-up as well as an talk my friends into joining us there
tastes like an apple mousse. The meringue," AETN documentary titled Make for dinner—not that it’s a tough sell.”
pies at Community Bakery— they're not Room for Pie. Both debut in —Katie Bridges
you can taste more of the fruit. playing around. March.

bit of … um … imbibing the
night before, so it was that
kind of hunger. I suddenly
remembered the mini-sweet
potato pie I had stashed in the
car from when we’d stopped at
Rhoda's Famous Hot Tamales
in Lake Village on the way. I
grabbed that pie and with one
hand on the wheel ate it like a
taco. It was so good. So. Good.
It had that sticky, caramel-y
sweetness to it, and was rich
and creamy and the filling had
just seamlessly cooked into the
first layer of pie crust. Man.
At that moment, that pie was
everything I needed it to be.”
Matthew is the executive chef

at The Hive in Bentonville,
and a four-time James Beard
semifinalist.
��
Pie Lover:
VINCE PIANALTO
Pie Love:
MILE-HIGH BANANA
CREAM MERINGUE PIE
��
Pie Lover: “T he meringue was like a
glacier on top. It was my
birthday, and when the waitress
nuts than it needs, but it is so
STEVEN BROOKS at Charlotte's Eats and Sweets
delicious. So delicious.”
in England recommended pie
Pie Love: Steven is the host and executive for dessert, we were all kind of
NUT BUSTER producer of the AETN’s Cooks lukewarm about it. We were all
with Brooks as well as the just like, OK, pie. We’ve all had pie.
“I was sampling pies for an

event and the Nut Buster
f rom Bizzy B's Bakery in
executive chef for Tankersley
FoodService.
But then she set the slice on the
table and there was a collective
Whoa!, and that meringue was
Bentonville was one of the Did your there for more than just wow-
��
pies in the lineup. I remember favorite slice factor. It was light and fluffy
sinking my fork into a slice and fall pie the and springy. And the banana
falling in love, and it has been wayside? Did filling had that homemade
my go-to ever since. I’ve got
one in my kitchen right now,
Pie Lover: we turn a
blind pie to a
banana-custard taste to it. And
the crust was crunchy and really
and I’m going to go treat myself MATTHEW MCCLURE transcendent stood up to the cream and the
to a slice. Oh my goodness! Oh tart? Reach out
my goodness! It’s chocolaty and Pie Love: to us on Twitter
meringue. The only bad thing
about the experience was I had
you can taste all three of the SWEET POTATO PIE or Facebook
to share. But we all ended up
nuts—the toasted almonds and let us
going home with a whole pie
“I
and pecans and walnuts—and was driving back f rom know.
each—it was that good.”
the decadence of the drizzle of a cooking event in
white and dark chocolate. It’s Mississippi and after about Vince is a chef instructor
sinful. This is like a chocolate- two hours on the road I for pastry at Brightwater: A
pecan pie that’s been taken to became ravenous. I also had Center for the Study of Food in
the next level and given more a headache. There’d been a Bentonville.

D
e At first glance,
it seems
there’s a rift
between Tim
Hursley’s
professional
and personal
work. For nearly
x four decades,
O
the renowned
architectural
photographer
has developed
a portfolio of
clients with
p
names like
Warhol, Gehry
and Safdie,
while his
personal work,
U
in contrast, has
taken him into
brothels and
o funeral homes.
But spend time
with him, and
you understand
it’s all the
same
B s
L r BY JORDAN
P. HICKEY
E
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY TIM
HURSLEY AND
PORTRAIT BY
e JOHN DAVID
PITTMAN

It was an incongruous thing.
The colors
didn’t match.
The sky
was natural.
The sand
was natural.
The grass rose through the sand

in sparse, green-tufted patches
and it led to the water, which
was a reflection of the sky. The
sky was gray and ominous, and
the water was jade. Everything
natural jelled in a frame around
the object that filled the center
of the photograph and which
was, decidedly, quite unnatural had been sourced made it clash all the more with its surroundings: Renowned
in the setting where it had been The vista was of the shores of Lake Michigan. architectural
photographer
placed. It was a curtain. The curtain had come from a funeral home.
Tim Hursley
The cloth was a deep, rippled It was an odd activity for a family vacation. has been
red. The frame, which allowed The photographer, Tim Hursley, his brothers and his sisters, his wife and one of photographing
the curtain to stand freely, his adult sons were all somewhere out of frame. Two sisters and his other adult son Southern
bulged slightly upward from were behind the curtain, holding it steady so the wind wouldn’t take it. Undoubtedly, funeral homes
since two
the shoreline, with the center there was more than a few degrees of incongruity with respect to the setting and the
hearses in
nearing the horizon, like two F curtain, but there was also something about it all that seemed to speak to who the downtown
holes on a violin joined together, photographer was. He was a man whose interests, professional and personal, straddle Helena caught
almost symmetrical but not a line that appears, at face value, to represent a considerable divide, but which, in his eye in
quite. It looked like the sort of reality, are not so far apart. 2011.
stage that might play host to a He was someone whose studio perhaps sums up that dichotomy best.
company of poorly constructed Walking into that studio, a two-story building not far from the Arkansas School
marionettes, puppets tottering for the Deaf, you find antique-store ephemera, folk art and drift wood, taxidermied
unsteadily from the far reaches animals, old neon signs once used to advertise funeral homes. At every turn, there’s
of the inner curtains. But it was another curiosity, another reason to stop and gawk. (How many places in the world,
Over the course of a career that goes back nearly four decades, Tim Hursley has photographed
not a stage for puppets, nor after all, can claim to have a stuffed two-headed calf?) But a closer look reveals everything from some of the world’s best-known architecture to funeral homes. However, since
anything of the sort. Instead, something even more compelling: If you look in the right places, the finer details 1985, the studio he keeps in Little Rock has been a home base of sorts.
the reality of where the curtains of the place begin to describe the arc his career has taken over the course of three

Left: Moshe Safdie’s Yad
Vashem in Jerusalem.
Right: John Portman’s
Renaissance Center in
Detroit. Opposite page: A
toppled dog-food factory in
North Little Rock.
If you
look in
th e r ig ht
p lac es,
th e fi n er
d etai ls of
th e p l ac e
b eg in to
d esc r i b e
th e arc h i s
c areer h as
taken over
th e c ou rse
of th ree
d ec ad es.
decades since he'd taken up 1990. sometimes it takes spending time with someone to get an adequate with two identically positioned, yellow-complexioned figures—each in the lab of the Pine Bluff Mortuary, taking photographs of a place
residence there. Most telling, however, are look behind the curtain. with their right hands raised in salutation—outlined different aspects that, just a few minutes before, had been occupied by the deceased.
Those poster-sized his archives. Behind a door at of the human circulatory system. And to Tim’s left, just outside the There wasn’t anything especially compelling about the place,
The Network
photographs of New York’s the end of a narrow corridor, frame, was Avery Alexander, the owner of the lab, who was very neither from the inside nor the outside. It was a small brick building
Museum of Modern Art? That a former darkroom is climate- Oprah Winfrey much alive, though visibly skeptical about Tim’s project. across the street from a train yard and a delapidated cottonseed oil
was him. The black-and-white controlled and filled with black was playing in the embalming lab. Two empty stainless-steel gurneys “So, I got that one,” Tim said, “but I want to do one of just the mill. Two white hearses languished out back, leafy weeds creeping
photograph of Andy Warhol file cabinets whose handwritten filled the majority of the tiled fluorescent-lit room. It smelled like one—would you call it a gurney?” along the tread of their wheels from the white gravel drive. A chapel
positioned on a bookshelf beside labels show names like Gehry baby wipes, which, as it turns out, is also what embalming fluid “Mhm,” Avery said. across the way, which had once been a meeting place for a plumbers'
the Mr. Cool sign? Him. The and Safdie. These are the smells like. The muffled hum of a ventilation system played behind “If we push this one back, I’m just going to step in here and get union, had a main room filled with stacks of chairs and three alcoves,
books about the Rural Studio negatives from the nearly 30 the dialogue, which injected into the otherwise silent space an odd a closer-up of that one.” with dimmable multicolored lights. A small showroom in the back
and the brothels of Nevada? years Tim has spent crisscrossing artifice of tension and drama. “I want you to lie on the ground,” the television continued as was lined with coffins braced to the walls, along with a bicycle and
Also him. Even the most the globe, photographing some “And you knew he did the same thing to us,” the television Tim and Avery navigated the gurney out of the frame and started a large photo of Avery’s mother.
curious of the taxidermy—the of the world’s best-known declared, “my resentment is so strong …” to discuss the placement of a bucket. Undeterred by the lack of Like virtually all of the funeral homes Tim had photographed
aforementioned two-headed architecture. The Guggenheim The camera clicked. attention, the television continued to speak over them. “I want you for the series, he’d come across this one purely by chance. When
calf and a glass-enclosed in Bilbao. Andy Warhol’s studio, Tim Hursley, glasses on the bridge of his nose, wearing an orange to put your belly to the Earth.” we’d left Little Rock for Pine Bluff that morning, there had been
diorama with stuffed squirrels— The Factory, in New York. The hat embroidered with the word “SILO,” the letter “I” replaced with a Now it has to be said that it was a strange thing to find oneself in a no fixed schedule, no overarching plan for how the day would go.
make their own contributions Clinton Presidential Center crumpled silo that looked like a half-inflated windsock, was standing place where we all end up but never see. And it was even stranger still There were a few places he knew of, a few owners he’d reached out
to the story: They appear in a here in Little Rock. at the back of the room, looking at the image that the wide eye of to watch as one of the world’s foremost architectural photographers to. Once there, he’d ask if they knew of anyone else in town, and
photograph that won Tim the No doubt, there’s a great his camera had just captured. Tubes snaked in and out of cabinets. approached the interior of the embalming lab with the interest and could they put in a word for him? Aside from needing to meet two
58th Annual Delta Exhibition’s deal to be learned about a Tweezers and scissors and brushes and mascara and lipstick cluttered scrutiny as he might have a new multipurpose high-rise near the key qualifiers—that the place in question was a funeral home and
Grand Prize in 2016 and which person from their work, from an expandable makeup box on a counter beside a small rectangular Ben Franklin Bridge or the newly constructed Asia Culture Center the owner had allowed him inside—the threshold for giving a place
led to his first solo show since the spaces they occupy, but tub of translucent rose-tinted liquid. Along the back wall, two posters in Gwangu, South Korea. But here he was, Tim Hursley, standing a shot was fairly low.

Right: These photos represent
but a fraction of the million-plus
images Tim made of the silo.
Both series
Not every visit had been
depict when a tornado tore through Hale County in rural Alabama and
successful. Far from it. Of the environments left the silo’s steel ribs mangled, which is exactly how Tim Hursley
40-plus funeral homes he’d had found it in 2006.
shot since starting the series in that, while at On a cloudy day in early spring, he’d been driving on Alabama
2011—when he’d found two very different Highway 14, somewhere between Marion and Greensboro. He’d
white hearses on a desolate been doing work for the Rural Studio, an architecture program that,
stretch of downtown Helena— ends of very since 1990, has provided innovative, student-designed structures
relatively few had yielded results different for low-income residents. Since meeting the founder, Mississippi
worth showing. Some had, architect Samuel Mockbee, in 1994, Tim had documented the
though. And there’s a reason for spectrums, project and had eventually released a book. Even after Mockbee’s
this: Tim approaches his work, represent death in 2001, Tim continued to make visits to the studio, three to
personal and commissioned, all four times a year, often exploring the area by driving back roads.
the same—with an openness, some of the On that day in 2006, he’d seen the silo from the road. In a video
clear eyes and curiosity, an
awareness that structure,
most intimate produced by the Oxford American’s SoLost series about the silo seven
years later, he recalls thinking that it was “completely sculptural
everything, courses with a sense actions a and reminded me of what could be an early Frank Gehry project.”
of rhythm, and that light hits For four years after coming across the silo, Tim regularly drove by
a funeral home with the same
person can the site. In 2010, when it was at risk of being torn down for scrap,
amount of deference as it does a experience he bought it from the owner and worked out a deal where he’d rent
multimillion-dollar skyscraper the land the silo was on. Not long after, he installed the camera so
arrowing into the sky. in life—and that he could get shots of it without actually having to be there. The
Or, say, a silo. after. frequency, he told me later, wasn’t necessarily about the volume of
photographs—it had never been his goal to accumulate a million
of them. It was more about resting easy that, with a photo being
E v e r y 12
taken every 12 seconds, there was less a chance something would
be missed. For someone simply glancing over the frames, the silo in
seconds
those photos seems unchanged, photo to photo. But if you’ve seen an
object like the silo confronted with so many different environments,
for a year and a half, there was climates, external stimuli, as Tim has, there must be a difference
a new frame. Dark. Light. Day. from one frame to the next.
Night. Birds. Storms. For just “The serial nature of it, I think, is what makes it so interesting,”
about a million frames, the said David Houston, executive director of the Bo Bartlett Center at
surveillance camera mounted Columbus State University, in the Oxford American video. “What’s
on a two-by-four documented different about those million frames? Well, think of the casual
the simple rural setting before snap-shooter, and think of the photographers we admire: What
its lens in all seasons. At center, makes them great? Obsession. What’s the obsession? It’s returning
though, it was constant: an old to a few ideas, or a few places, and getting underneath the surface
grain silo, bent over at the waist, and mining the depths of those places. And that’s exactly what Tim
crippled a few decades before has done here.”

Pine Bluff Mortuary in Pine Bluff.
Left: “Train Ride,”
photographed at
a funeral home in
Vicksburg, Miss., was
featured in the 58th
Annual Delta Exhibition
in 2016. Opposite:
A scene from the PK
Miller Mortuary in Pine
Bluff.
For many
years during the

’80s and ’90s and early aughts,
Tim visited the brothels of
Nevada and made photographs.
To look at, the rooms feel settled,
the hard edges and spurs broken
down and softened under the
lights, though there are some
small bits of personality to be
found: dolls, postcard-sized
photographs of birds on the
corners of a mirror, lace shawls
left on the door, egg timers
outside the door, posters of
Marilyn Monroe, shag carpet,
red-lit rooms, Yahtzee. There In these been a layover of sorts, the funeral homes have a gravitas that
accompanies the realization that the footprints people leave are of
are no people, though it does
not take much imagination to i ma g e s , a different nature. After that point, not even the footprints are left.
put them there. In these images, w h at ’s
“Funeral m e ,”
what’s left is an impression—a
l ef t i s a n
Tim said.
homes near into the air, was what appeared to be the remnants of an old elevator
shaft. It was all bones, picked clean. Iron beams rusted red. It looked
footprint. People have left
enough of themselves there to i mp re s s i o n — In Tim’s photograph of the
“OK, check it out,” Siri responded. We were sitting in his Ford like a line drawing, the sketch of a structure with only a few boxes make their presence linger, even Henson-Holcomb Mortuary, there were no people. In the chapel,
Explorer with the door semiajar, facing the train tracks that run across filled in, with the rest open, filled with sky and the abandoned after they’re gone. a fo ot p r i nt . standing lights with red glass covers painted the space—the white
the street from the Pine Bluff Mortuary, a balled up McDonald’s bag building just behind. Much like the silo, it was sculptural. It’s interesting to think about walls, the white ceiling—in shades of rose. At the front, facing the
from that morning’s breakfast balled up on the dash. Thanks to an “The light’s nice,” Tim said, getting out of the car. “It’s only how those photos compare with
Pe o p l e h ave 10 or so rows of tightly assembled pews, was a large portrait of Jesus.
introduction he’d coaxed from Avery, we were going to be heading going to get flatter.” others that he’s taken, especially l ef t e n o u g h In that photograph, like so many of the others he’s taken, one can’t
to Henson-Holcombe Mortuary. As he started to walk through the massive concrete arch, the with those he’s taken of the help but wonder: What would the people do if they were there? But
“Starting route to Henson-Holcomb Mortuary,” Siri said. “Head letters F-O-X written in barely legible block caps, the last vestige of funeral homes. Because while of t h e ms e l ve s the truth is, they are there. Oftentimes, they’re just outside the frame.
north on South Indiana Street, then turn left onto East Fifth Avenue. what had once been the facade of the Fox Brothers Hardware Store, there’s a sense of preservation t h e re t o Not long before he took that photo, Tim was talking with the
In 2.9 miles, turn left onto South Blake Street.” Tim paused and looked over the fading urban landscape. There was in all of Tim’s work—after mortuary’s owners. As was the case with most every place we visited
“Ding … ding … ding,” intoned Tim's Ford Explorer, reminding a seamlessness to it, a gradual shifting of patterns. There was, in a all, in the broadest sense, ma ke t h e i a r that day, the explanation was met with some incredulity. Irene
him the door was still open.
Two minutes later, as we were driving through downtown Pine
sense, some sadness, too.
Tim is a quiet man who is even quieter when he’s working. He
everything from a dilapidated
silo to recently constructed
p re s e n ce Holcomb, who owned the funeral home with her husband, had
been doing a word search when we first arrived—there weren’t any
Bluff, I asked him about the difference between taking photos of the approaches his work seriously, and when he’s taking in a place, his multimillion-dollar structures l i n g e r, eve n services that day—and had followed us into the chapel. From where
MoMA and funeral homes. I'd barely finished asking the question attitude and demeanor approach something verging on a trancelike is fleeting—the two series she stood, some six rows back, she wondered aloud why someone
when a stretch of downtown caught his eye. state, eyes occupying some otherworldly plane, imagined or not. On have a particularly interesting
af t e r t h ey ’ re would be interested in spending his time on such a curious project.
“We’ll come back through here, but let’s take a quick step out,” the ground, there were remnants of a floor, tiles of different colors— relationship. Both series depict gone. “If you don’t get out and look around, like us, going out and
Tim said. “Well, I mean, when I’m shooting a good building, I’m red and beige checks, yellow and beige checks, white tile bleached environments that, while at very looking at funeral homes …” Tim started to say.
kinda looking for …” bone white—that had been left almost intact. It was difficult to different ends of very different She stifled a laugh.
He trailed off. say whether the divisions between the alternating patterns marked spectrums, represent some of “… We wouldn’t have seen this.”
Siri interrupted: “Turn right onto West Fourth Avenue, then turn off where walls once stood or whether they were representative of the most intimate actions a “It’s amazing what’s intriguing and interesting to people,” Irene
right onto South Ninth Street.” varying strata exposed by erosion’s ongoing natural excavation. There person can experience in life— said.
He stopped the car in front of an empty lot in the middle of were no people, but there were traces of people everywhere. and after. “Well, you look around,” Tim said, his voice pitching a little
downtown and leaned over the wheel to look out the passenger “Turn right on West Pine Avenue,” Siri said as Tim walked around In each, many people have higher, a little unsteady, “and you go and try to make a photograph.
window. a pile of broken bricks taller than him that had been mounded in passed through, and the imprints This is the only photograph we’ll make here. We might not be in
“It’s an elevator-door thing—that’s crazy,” he said. the center. “Proceed to route,” Siri said as he returned to his car for they’ve left are no less fleeting.
Sure enough, rising sheer from the lot, some three or four stories his camera. But whereas the brothels have Story continued on page 94

73
FIRST TASTE
78
CRAVINGS
A GATHERING OF GOOD TASTE 80
THE FEED
FIRST TASTE
LEVERETT LOUNGE
A Fayetteville neighborhood
eatery puts a new spin on
things
By Bonnie Bauman
Photography by Arshia Khan
Cozy and calming,

this walkable
restaurant is a
gathering spot for
its neighborhood.

FIRST TASTE
I
t’s a Saturday in
mid-January, the
sky is gray, the
temp is 30 degrees
below what I deem
acceptable, and I’m
in desperate need of a pick-
me-up—something to pull
me out of the downward
spiral of post-holidays/
pre-spring doldrums.
So I press pause on researching

cheap flights to Mexico, re-
hide my January survival stash
of chocolate truffles, layer up
within an inch of my life and set
off with my sig other to a place
that I have a feeling might just
do the trick: Leverett Lounge
in Fayetteville.
Why Leverett Lounge? Since
the restaurant opened back in
November, folks (my foodie
f riends, in particular) have
been bending my ear nonstop,
telling me how “unique” it is, Snag a seat by the open
how I’ve just got to try it. One kitchen and you’ll spy
chef I ran into recently became chef Ben Gitchel doing
so animated while describing a the Little Bread Co. (now under new management), both veritable his Ben thing.
pork roulette topped with an Fayetteville institutions.
“outstanding” shakshuka sauce I’ve had Leverett Lounge on the brain since I dipped in to do a
that I lost all enthusiasm for bit of recon the week before. During that visit, I learned that for the
the pizza I’d just picked up for couple, the opening of Leverett Lounge required a bit of evolution.
dinner. Back in the spring of 2017, they’d opened the restaurant side of
The chef at Leverett who’s Sit & Spin, a hip, eco-friendly laundromat-slash-burger joint. But
got all the other local chefs ultimately, they realized what the neighborhood, a mostly residential
drooling is Ben Gitchel. He area inhabited by a large number of young professionals, really
and Hannah Withers, his needed was a walkable nighttime restaurant—something that, unless
partner in the business (and in you live in a downtown area, is sorely lacking throughout most of
life, the pair are married), are Northwest Arkansas. So while the laundromat side of the endeavor
no strangers to the Northwest kept spinning along, the pair decided to revamp the restaurant to
Arkansas food scene: They’re better meet the needs of the area.
the folks behind both the “We get a lot of diners who are walking from their homes in the
second iteration of the historic neighborhood to have dinner and a glass of wine or meet up with
and well-loved Maxine’s Tap friends,” Hannah told me as we cozied up to the tiny bar overlooking A Ben thing: Perfectly
Room and the initial launch of the kitchen. “We weren’t seeing that with Sit & Spin.” crispy chicken cordon
Not to mention, she explained, that rejiggering the concept has bleu and so-much-more-
allowed Ben to do … well, to do Ben. Ben’s a classically trained than-a-side-dish Catalan
chef who worked for a time as a saucier. And a cursory look at the spinach.
menu Hannah showed me makes it clear that this guy is serious

T FIRST TASTE
collection and the grinning and mounted head

of a boar (Boris)—adorn the ash-blue walls. This
small intimate space (there are eight tables total,
along with a patio that’ll be back in business come
spring) screams neighborhood restaurant.
When it comes time to order, we decide to begin
with two small plates: the “Mel’s Diner,” wedges
of fried garlic cheese grits with remoulade, and
H Ben and Hannah pick the patatas bravas, fried new potatoes topped with
up inspiration from their scallion aioli and red-pepper tomato sauce. At the
travels—a piquant romesco
last minute, I opt for an order of beer-battered
sauce from Spain, grits and
remoulade from Louisiana.
shrimp, intrigued by that orange-marmalade sauce
(!!!) that’s served on the side for dipping.
The fried grits are everything you’d expect them
to be: crisp on the outside and warm, cheesy and
creamy on the inside. And the remoulade sauce—a
sauce that can easily be too mayonnaise-forward and
lacking in nuance—is spot on. Red and green and
golden, the patatas bravas are a cheerful highlight
of the meal and elicit an “Oh!” when they’re set in
front of us. As for the shrimp, they’re plump and
perfectly fried (here is where you don’t judge me
for ordering three fried appetizers) and the perfect
vehicles for the marmalade, which basically tastes
like sunshine in a ramekin.
Next up is entree time. I’ve ordered the seared
cod and my date has opted for the cordon bleu.
The delicately pan-seared fish is buttery and flaky
and topped with house-made croutons and fresh
his sauces. There’s a bordelaise dill, which bring texture and lightness to the dish.
sauce, a remoulade, a romesco I inhale it. Then I get to the leeks. And, oh reader:
sauce, a plum sauce, an orange- Do not leave Leverett Lounge without eating these
marmalade sauce (!!!) and a leeks! They actually also come as a small plate, which
Cuban sofrito. we chastise ourselves for not ordering. But who
The menu is also an outlet he said, he’s not about to be knew that charring leeks and then covering them
for the inspiration both Ben hemmed in by geography—the with bacon and a dollop of Romesco sauce would
and Hannah regularly collect current menu is dotted with transform what is basically a lowly onion into such
during their culinary travels, inspiration from Asia, Italy, a delectable morsel of goodness? As for the cordon
they told me. Taking off to Spain and North Africa. bleu, it’s perfectly executed, with a bordelaise
delicious destinations is a And that’s just the kind of sauce that manages to be both delicate and robust.
priority for the pair—just two inspiration I’m in need of today. And again, accompanying this dish is a side that
days before my visit, they’d LEVERETT LOUNGE threatens to steal the show: wilted spinach with
returned from San Francisco.
T
he dining room is toasted pine nuts, golden raisins and Zirbenz pine
There, Ben fell hard for ezme, 737 N. LEVERETT AVE., FAYETTEVILLE
packed. Nonetheless, (479) 249-6570 liqueur. It tastes like hope. Clearly, this is a chef
a spicy tomato-based Turkish my husband and I grab who knows how to treat a veggie.
dish, which he’s thinking of a just-vacated high-top with BEST DISHES Lastly, dessert: zabaglione, or raspberries,
somehow incorporating onto a great view of the small open Garlic grits with remoulade; Spanish
blackberries and blueberries bathed in a Marsala
the restaurant’s upcoming new leeks with romesco sauce and bacon;
kitchen. After liberating myself Richard’s coconut beer-battered wine custard. This sign-off to the meal is just what
menu, set to launch later in the from my cocoon of outerwear, I shrimp; patatas bravas; Catalonian I want it to be: bright and refreshing with a hint
month. settle into the table and begin spinach; cordon bleu; three-cheese of decadence, thanks to the custard.
“Some of the stuff that we do to thaw, thanks in no small part lasagne; seared cod; ribs; zabaglione
After we’ve settled the bill, we linger a bit, loath
is just classic French cooking, to the Latin music that fills the h Much like the environs, KID-FRIENDLY? to leave the warmth and cheerfulness of our corner
like the cordon bleu,” he told air and the bustle and clink of Leverett Lounge’s dishes Sure. But only the non-picky table. As I look around, I realize the place is still
me later. “I’m not going to the dining room. “Funky chic” are elevated but still ones who appreciate a perfectly brimming with diners, most, like us, finished with
change it or do anything fancy is the best way to describe the unabashedly comfortable— executed country pâté.
dinner but content to hang out and bask in the
to it because it’s good enough as space. Festive runners lie over the proof’s in the pudding
PRICE RANGE warm glow of what Hannah and Ben have created
is. But other dishes, I’m having white table clothes. A quirky (er, zablagione).
$4 to $17 here. Once we finally bring ourselves to leave, I
fun playing with, especially assortment of what could only brace myself as we step outside for the chill I know
bringing in sauces that people HOURS
be called “stuff ”—old-timey Mon. to Sat. 5-10 p.m. is coming, but when it does come, it’s not so bad.
aren’t familiar with.” And, portraits, an eclectic plate It feels kind of invigorating.

DINNER HACK #2: HEIGHTS DINNER HACK #4: STRATTON’S
CRAVINGS CORNER MARKET MARKET
It’s a cold February evening Work downtown? Swing by
WINNER, WINNER, and you’ve already been to
two basketball practices and
Stratton’s on your way home
and pick up an entree or
I-DON’T-WANNA- still have to pick the little one

up from gymnastics. Enter
four from the display case:
spaghetti and meatballs
MAKE DINNER Heights Corner Market, where

a couple pans of chicken
for him, ahi tuna for you,
mac ’n’ cheese and roasted
spaghetti and some jalapeno veggies for them. Or, heck,
For those nights when ain’t nobody got DINNER HACK #1: DISTRICT FARE
cornbread are yours for the mac ’n’ cheese for everyone.
time for that, there’s this: to-go suppers taking, because chicken BONUS: THEY SELL WINE.
spaghetti is exactly what you (405 E. 3rd St., Little Rock;
that are just as good as mama makes (and Wednesday night just became need right now and you didn’t strattonsmarketlr.com)
… maybe better?) Roast Chicken Night thanks even dirty a pan, you minx.
to the gloriously succulent (5018 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little
by katie bridges | PHOTOGRAPHY By Arshia Khan birds this Hillcrest mainstay
churns out on Hump Day.
Rock; heightscornermarket. DINNER HACK #5: CATERING TO YOU
com)
But Tuesday night? That’s
Heat-n-Serve Lasagna Night. If you have a friend who
Thursday? Roast-Salmon-and- DINNER HACK #3: BOULEVARD truly loves you, you’ve been
Veggies Night. Grab a salad, gifted a frozen Catering to
a baguette and maybe a jar
BISTRO You casserole during a time
of housemade rillettes or of need—maternity leave,
Sure, that table by the general convalescence, bad
two, and darn it if you don’t
window looks cozy, but breakup, what have you. But
see a stove again until Friday.
you’re in yoga pants and that did you know that there’s
(2807 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little
half-a-season of The Crown a whole mess of goodness
Rock; districtfare.com)
isn’t exactly going to watch waiting for you in their display
itself, amirite? Take that cases that doesn’t require an
Grass Roots Farmers’ Co-op oven to reheat? Like grilled
Chicken Marsala home with pork tenderloin? Chicken
you care of Boulevard Bistro’s pot pie? Chicken-artichoke
daily-specials-to-go service casserole? CRAB CAKES?!
and don’t look back, sister— Call ahead to see what’s on
at least until you’ve got, the menu—but we promise,
you know, more appropriate you won’t be disappointed.
pants. (1920 N. Grant St., (8121 Cantrell Road, Little
Little Rock; boulevardbread. Rock; cateringtoyoulr.com)
com)
DINNER HACK #6: TAZIKI’S CAFE

You may think of Taziki’s as
That Place with the Addictive
Soup or That Place with
Those Chicken Rollups, but
know this: It’s also That
Place with the Dinner for
Four. Picture this: Enough
roasted leg of lamb, basmati
rice, greek salad and pita
chips to appease you and
even your pickiest of mini-
yous. Done and done.
(statewide; tazikiscafe.com)

THE FEED CORK DORK
WHAT’S COOKING
MOSCATO: THE OG only want to drink “serious wines,” moscato d’Asti deserves its place
on the dinner table. In the hands of the right winemaker using time-
OF THE ASTI DOCG honored techniques, one of the most aromatic and delicate wines
in the world can be produced. Moscato is the Italian pronunciation
of the grape muscat blanc, one of the oldest grape varieties in the
By SETH ELI BARLOW
Photography By Arshia Khan
world. It was a favorite of the ancient Greeks, and its popularity
DEAR VALENTINES,
WELL BUTTER
continued with the Romans, who planted it all over their empire.
The best moscatos in the world come from Italy’s Piedmont region,
especially the hillsides surrounding the small mountain town of
Wanna know the way to our hearts? It’s (duh) through our
bellies. Ideally in the form of these locally made sweets:
-A big ol’ bucket of Juanita’s Candy Kitchen’s cashew brittle

OUR BISCUITS Asti. These wines are light and ethereal, with floral aromas that
remind me of those rare weeks in April and May when it seems
like every flower in the state is blooming all at once. They’re slightly
sparkling—frizzante in Italian—with delicate bubbles and a frothy
We’d been waiting to see where two of Little Rock’s most head when poured. There is, of course, a slight sweetness, but these
-A box of fleur-de-sel pecan toffee from Lambrecht Gourmet
talented free-agent chefs would land, and by golly if they wines are never cloying, and it’s that delicate sweetness that makes
(32-count, #pleaseandthanks) the wine such a perfect pairing with food.
aren’t landing together at the forthcoming Cathead’s
-Basically everything at Bentonville’s Markham & Fitz Diner. Baker extraordinaire Kelli Marks (formerly of It’s unfortunately true that there are some less-than-great bottles
Chocolate Makers of moscato out there, but finding a great bottle is easy with a
Sweet Love Bakes) and Donnie Ferneau (formerly of little insider knowledge. Much like French wines, Italian wines are
-A ginormous slab of Martin Greer’s Olde-Tyme Fudge Good Food, the 1836 Club and, y’know, Ferneau) are governed by a strict set of laws that control everything from where
the brains behind this East Village venture, which’ll grapes can be planted to alcohol levels, and it’s understanding
-A baker’s dozen of Ann Potter Baking’s almost-too-pretty- be offering up Southern-fried goodies and barbecue this classification system that’s the key to grabbing a great bottle.
to-eat iced sugar cookies starting this spring. We were able to snag a taste, and The highest tier, the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e
let’s just say … it’s more than worth the wait. Keep an Garantita or DOCG (which translates to controlled and guaranteed
xoxo, designation of origin), is a ranking that signifies that a wine has
eye on their Facebook page (facebook.com/catheadsdiner)
not only been grown in a specific place but has been inspected by
Us for deets. the government to ensure quality. The best moscatos will always be
labeled with the words “Asti DOCG.”
H Think all moscatos

are cloyingly sweet? This
Italian sparkler will prove
otherwise.
Tintero “Sori Gramella” Moscato d’Asti, $13
Grown in the Italian town of Mango (yes, really), this wine comes from
one of the most well-known moscato vineyards in all of Italy, the hillside
Sori Gramella vineyard. Delicious on its own, this wine is even better
when poured over fresh Arkansas strawberries and blackberries.
Marco Negri Marsilio Moscato d’Asti DOCG, $16
“I
t’s OK if I cry,” I tell the woman taking my order. She
Summer in a glass, this moscato is full of tropical notes of peach,
looks at me a little strangely but nods her head. I’m placing papaya, pineapple and plumeria. I can’t open a bottle of this without
a to-go order for one of my favorite dishes in Little Rock:
POWER HOUR
being transported back to a vacation I once took to Zanzibar. I can
the pork dumplings at downtown Little Rock’s Three Fold. My almost feel the sand beneath my feet when I drink this wine. Pair it with
preferred spice level? Double poison. spicy ramen, and prepare to be wowed.
With pizzas as good as those being fired at Raduno Brick “Are you sure?” the server always asks, and I’m always sure. “Trust Cocchi Asti DOCG, $18
Oven & Barroom, it’s easy to focus on the first part me,” I want to say. “I’m a professional.”
Here’s the thing—I’ve got a secret weapon waiting for me in the A true sparkling wine, this is Champagne’s fun and flirty best friend.
of the restaurant’s name and neglect the “barroom” Notes of honey, wildflowers and ripe pineapples give way to the surpris-
fridge: a bottle of moscato d’Asti DOCG. It’s a perfect pairing, the
part. No longer, friends—not with Raduno’s new happy- ingly complex flavors of guava and nectar. If sunshine were ever bottled,
complex spice of the dumplings and the subtle fizz of the slightly you could imagine it tasting like this
hour lineup, which has turned our fave pizza place into sweet wine. It’s a match made in heaven, or at least in a small
a rotating wonderland of boozy bargains. Tuesdays? northwestern Italy valley. Why does it work so well? It’s the balance
They’re now for $6 gin-and-tonics and $5 whipped- of sweet and heat. When the amount of sugar in a wine matches the
feta apps. Wednesdays? Liter wine carafes for $30. spice level of a dish, the two cancel each other out while highlighting
Thursdays? Draft beer specials. In other words: We’ll the intricate flavors of each.
see you there. Like, a lot. (radunolr.com) While sweet wines may get a bad rap, especially from those who

83
AFIELD
88
CULTURALIST
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR WEEKEND 90
HOMETOWN
AFIELD
READY
FOR LIFTOFF
It’s a bird! It’s a plane!
It’s … a remote-con-
trolled unmanned
PHOTO BY JORDAN CRAIG
aerial vehicle?
By wyndham wyeth

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.
“You want to be able to control
the system, so the best way to
MAD PROPS
practice is to just take it off into
the air a couple of feet up and
When it comes to buying a
START SMALL. try to hold it in an imaginary drone, the sky’s the limit …
square right there in front of Well, the sky and your wallet
“You could go out and buy, say, you,” Robert says. “Don’t try
the DJI Mavic or something if to fly it around until you’re
you’ve got a thousand dollars Promark Warrior
comfortable that, if the wind
to throw down [for] a small Drone P70-CW
blows, you can still keep that
helicopter,” Robert says. “But a $99
helicopter right there in that
$100 to $200 helicopter from square.
Walmart or the local hobby Robert suggests spending at least $100
shop is going to be a good start on your first drone, as it will likely be
because it’s going to be small KNOW BEFORE YOU FLY. large enough to fly outside in normal
enough that you can crash it a
couple of times, you’re not going In addition to the basic FAA
wind conditions. The Promark Warrior
to injure yourself and it’s still restrictions on where you can is a great place to start, he says—with
going to fly.” and can’t fly, there are a few auto takeoff and landing, a 576-pixel
other areas you need to stay camera and a companion smartphone
away from, including airports,
REGISTER YOUR DRONE. hospitals and emergency-
app, the Warrior has everything you
response efforts. You’ll probably
need as a beginner. But you’ll probably
The law on drone registration has want to graduate before too long, as the
F
rom science-fiction want to avoid flying in residential
changed a handful of times over areas as well, lest you battery only allows for about 12 minutes
fodder to hot-button the past couple of years, but as inadvertently violate Arkansas’ of flight time.
political-military topic, of this writing, all drones must voyeurism law. Make it easy on
the evolution of drones over be registered with the Federal yourself, and download the FAA’s DJI Spark
the past several years has been Aviation Administration. As long official B4UFLY app, which uses
as you’re not a commercial drone $399
both fascinating and fast— your GPS location to provide real-
pilot, you can register your drone
and here in Arkansas, no one as a hobbyist under a special
time information about airspace
“If you want to enter the more precision-
knows this better than Robert restrictions and other flying
model aircraft designation, which requirements. controlled and semi-pro camera arena,
Davis of aerial video production requires the aircraft to weigh users should look to the DJI product line
company Arkansas Aerials. between .55 and 55 pounds and
found at most major retailers,” Robert
“Five years ago, there was me be labeled with a registration
number. Registration can be JOIN THE CLUB. says. “If the budget is tight I would
and one other guy in the state recommend the DJI Spark.” It should be
done via the FAA’s website for
doing it, and we were flying our a fee of $5, covering all your Robert joined the Arkansas noted that the Spark doesn’t come with a
own custom systems,” Robert aircraft for a period of three Sky Tigers in Maumelle when remote, but is instead controlled via your
says. “Now you can buy one at years. For the record, that’s he first started flying remote- smartphone or even hand gestures, though
Walmart.” practically nothing compared controlled model planes, back
to the potential civil penalty of
a remote can be purchased separately if
Really, the fervor surrounding before drones came along. “It’s
up to $27,500 or a criminal a very safe, very controlled you want a bit more piloting precision.
drones isn’t all that surprising: fine of up to $250,000 and/ place to learn and have fun with
They’re fun, they’re futuristic or imprisonment for up to three your aircraft, and you’ll meet a Drone Kits
and they can provide us with a years if you fail to register your bunch of people,” he says. “The $100 to $3,500+
perspective not usually available drone. In most cases, though, neat thing about this hobby is
to humans with such ease. But the FAA will attempt to educate that it encompasses all walks Brave enough to DIY? You’re going
offenders rather than prosecute of life.” Visit the Academy of
if you’re thinking about taking them.
to wind up saving probably 20 to 30
Model Aeronautics website
flight, there are a few things you (modelaeronautics.com) for a
percent, Robert says. Plus, you won’t
need to know about recreational directory of clubs in your area. have to concern yourself as much with
drone use. For that, we turned FOLLOW THE FEDERAL AVIATION the proprietary repair restrictions of more
to Robert for tips on how to ADMINISTRATION’S RULES. professional drone lines. Robert suggests
straighten up and fly right. visiting hobby sites like hobbyking.com
You can find a full list of the and hobbytownUSA.com for a variety
FAA’s regulations regarding of kits ranging from RTF (Ready to Fly),
drones on their website (faa. which come pretty much assembled in
gov/uas), but Robert says the
three most important things to the box, to ARF (Almost Ready to Fly),
remember are as follows: Fly which will require a bit more building
below 400 feet, always keep and possibly some additional purchases.
h Drone cameras your aircraft in your line of sight, “I would recommend looking at the
are typically made for and never fly over people or near $400-price-range kits that match your
shooting video with still buildings.
technical-construction comfort level,”
PHOTO BY JORDAN CRAIG
photography as more of
an afterthought. But as
Robert says. “You’ll wind up with a
you can see, that doesn’t reliable copter you’ll have intimate
mean you can’t still get construction knowledge of for easy fixing
some breathtaking shots. during a mishap.”

Arkansas Life 87 FEBRUARY 2018 Arkansas Life 86 FEBRUARY 2018
Answers:
1. Pinnacle Mountain near Little Rock (photo by Robert Davis). 2. Magic Springs Theme & Water
Park in Hot Springs (photo by Robert Davis). 3. Sam’s Throne near Jasper (photo by Jordan Craig).
4. Downtown Eureka Springs (photo by Jordan Craig). 5. Arkansas River near Dardanelle (photo by
Jordan Craig). 6. Harris Brake Lake near Perryville (photo by Jordan Craig). 7. County Road 39 near
Perryville (photo by Jordan Craig). 8. Cotter Bridge (photo by Brock Dixon).
8.
from up on high?
these Arkansas locales as seen
Quiz time! Can you identify
GAME OF DRONES
7.
CULTURALIST 2.2-3 2.2
YANG LUO-BRANCH:
THE ART OF PLACE IN
2.1
WHERE TO BE THIS MONTH ARKANSAS AT THEA
FOUNDATION’S ART
DEPARTMENT
2.2-18
THE SNOWY DAY AND
OTHER STORIES BY EZRA
2.3-4.28 JACK KEATS AT ARKANSAS
ARTS CENTER CHILDREN’S
THEATRE
SOUL SEARCHING 2.3

THE ILLUSIONISTS: LIVE
FROM BROADWAY AT
ROBINSON CENTER
Here’s what you’re going
to need to complete the 2.8
Boy Scout-certified, THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE:
ranger-led, 20-mile RODNEY BLOCK AT
Flapjack 20 overnight GRIFFIN RESTAURANT
hike: warm socks, a
IN EL DORADO
headlamp, that Patagonia
puffer hanging in the back
of the closet, hiking boots,
2.10
a pre-trek nap, a healthy
BRANDY CLARK
2.3 dose of gumption. Here’s AT THE REV ROOM
Eureka Gras Night Parade what’s waiting for you at
in downtown Eureka Springs the end: PANCAKES. A 2.15
bunch of ’em. If you need LINDI ORTEGA AT
more convincing, keep in SOUTH ON MAIN Cinephiles: You may remember a film called Triplets of
2.10
mind there are plenty of Belleville, an Oscar-nominated, Cannes-lauded animated
Hot Springs Jazz Society’s other pluses, not the least 2.17 flick set to a foot-tappin’ Jazz-Age score? This month,
Mardi Gras Costume Ball of which is the chance to BALLET ARKANSAS’ composer Benoît Charest brings the film he scored to
take in the stillness of CHILDREN SERIES: YOUNG life on the Walton Arts Center stage care of a “cine-
2.10 Cane Creek State Park by PERSON’S GUIDE TO THE concert” performed by the very-not-terrible Terrible
Fat Saturday Parade of Fools the light of a full February ORCHESTRA AT PULASKI Orchestre de Belleville. If you loved the film … well,
on Fayetteville’s Dickson Street
moon. ((870) 628-4714) TECH’S CHARTS THEATER quel specatacle! (waltonartscenter.org)
2.10
SoMardi Gras Parade and Festival
on Little Rock’s South Main Street
2.10-11
2.11
THAT NASHVILLE SOUND
The Tate Modern-curated exhibition Soul of a Nation: Art
in the Age of Black Power makes its stateside debut at Crystal Barkus on Main on Little
Bridges, bringing with it 63 works created by black
Rock’s South Main Street
artists between the apex of the Civil Rights movement
in 1963 and 1983. It’s a powerful look at how the black If you’re a little more Maren Morris than Mozart, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Music City Hit-Makers might be just
2.13
experience shaped art-making, and also a way to ensure the show to expand your orchestral horizons. A trio of Nashville songwriters who’ve produced Grammy winners
that the art itself gets some much overdue respect. Fat Tuesday Crawfish Boil at for the likes of Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and Lady Antebellum join the ASO for two nights of singer/
(crystalbridges.org) Faded Rose in Little Rock songwriter-meets-symphony performances and good ol’-fashioned Southern storytelling. (arkansassymphony.org)
Dee’s been in Batesville 40
years or so, and she knows where
to send me. “You should see the
aquatic center. Of course, it’s
cold now, so they might not
be open. And you need to go trophies, and I learn that Mark
downtown. They’re doing a lot Martin’s a NASCAR driver
of good things there. And go from Batesville—and that he
to the Mark Martin Museum, was sponsored by Viagra. And
’cause this is his hometown. that he has signed baby clothes
And there’s a dirt racetrack 5 for sale in the gift shop.
miles down the road where he Must. Not. Make. Joke.
got his start.” Laura suggests I go to the
So I head to the Mark Martin Spah Grill at the top of the hill
Museum. I find its location on for lunch, but Dee told me that
my phone, but unfortunately, if I crossed the river and took
it doesn’t tell me who Mark a left at the fifth stoplight, I’d
Martin is. get to see Batesville’s historic
That’s right, I don’t know homes on my way downtown.
who Mark Martin is. But Dee I’m a sucker for historic homes,
just dropped his name so matter so I follow Dee’s advice.
of factly that I was ashamed of I pass Antebellums and Arts
my ignorance. I figure he’s a and Crafts and Victorians. I’m
After a roller-coaster
racer of some sort. Dirt bike? not sure where I want to park
existence, the Melba
Four-wheeler? I have a friend to sashay down Main Street,
Theatre is finally back in
lights. cabin, and it’s freaking amazing. who goes to dirt tracks every
Unrefined timbers supporting weekend for motocross events.
The Pinto Coffee & the roof provide a perfect I know it’s a thing. I’m just not
Comida? Yeah, we’ve display from which to dangle into that particular thing. BATESVILLE
bean. wicker baskets and polished But the Mark Martin
T
HOMETOWN he London Bach Choir’s just finished telling me I can’t gourds. Refinished wood plank Museum is, I find, located at a POPULATION:
always get what I want as I finally, thank goodness, get to floors support the bookshelves Ford dealership. And there’s a 10,497
ROLLING
some hills just outside Batesville. U.S. 167 North had been that house hot-pink Hello race car out front.
mind-numbingly flat for so long, the Stones were the only source COUNTY:
Kitty gloves and tables that Ah. Independence
WITH IT of entertainment for this Boston Mountains-bred girl. I don’t know
if rolling terrain is what I wanted or what I needed, but either way,
I got it.
hold driftwood cutting boards
and chairs that cushion
In the museum’s guest book,
visitors have signed in from DRIVING DISTANCE
Stormtrooper and Darth Vader Kentucky and Mississippi and FROM LITTLE ROCK:
Finding what you I’m approaching Batesville from the south, and before long, I’ve and Yoda Christmas stockings. North Dakota and Louisiana 95 miles
found myself in Southside, a formerly unincorporated suburb that, “Come in if you can get in!” and Florida. This Mark Martin
need in Batesville after opposing annexation by Batesville in 2014, officially became a woman calls to me, and I guy must be pretty well-known. WHY YOU’RE GOING THERE:
Arkansas’ Newest City. At least, that’s what the sign says. The sign Second oldest
By Heather Steadham see Dee Prince, owner of the Laura Pelley, womanning the municipality in Arkansas
Photography by Arshia Khan also reads, “If you lived here, you’d already be home.” shop (“but not the building,” information desk, tells me that
Indeed. she clarifies). She’s also the during Mark’s last “Race 4 FORMER MONIKERS:
In Southside, you can find Southside Elementary School, Southside proprietor of the hair salon set Hope” event (he started Hope Napoleon and Poke Bayou
Resale, Southern Charm Framing & Engraving, Southside Grill, up in the back room. “I did a for Arkansas last year, which
Southern Traditions Antiques … there’s so much South here I can’t lady’s daughter’s hair who lived supports children’s advocacy CLAIM TO FAME:
believe I have to go north to Batesville to reach Southern Belle Flea in Colorado. She couldn’t wait efforts) at the Batesville Motor Home of Lyon College
Market, my first stop for no other reason than the mental image of to go back and tell people she Speedway, there were 450
a corseted woman in a hoop skirt willfully associating with a “flea” got her hair done at the flea people who came through the MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
tickles my fancy. Arkansas Scottish Festival (April
market.” museum’s doors. 13-15) and the Southern Food
But I do. That’s something I’d brag I stroll through, looking at Festival (June 30)
When I get there, I see that Southern Belle Flea Market is a log about, too. race cars and race suits and race

HOMETOWN
MAIN STREET
SMARTS
Making the most of
Batesville’s recently
reinvigorated downtown
Melba Theater
This carefully renovated single-screen
theater started life as an opera house
in 1870. It’s now the centerpiece of
downtown’s rehabilitation—as well as
a spot to take in a $4, second-run flick.
(115 W. Main St.; melbatheater.org)
The Pinto Coffee & Comida

You might not necessarily think
“Tacos!” when you hear “coffee,” but …
why the heck not? The Pinto—which
serves up “hand-crafted espresso
drinks and Mexican dishes with a
Southern flair”—is the stuff of student
dreams, as well as a mighty fine place
to cure what ails you. Cures include
matcha lattes, cheese dip and crispy-
pork street tacos. (100 E. Main St.;
thepintocoffee.com)
109 Main
We’re pretty sure you won’t see items
like panko-crusted fried artichoke
hearts with ginger sriracha on most
small-town-eatery menus, which is
what makes 109 Main such a welcome
The White River
surprise for visiting foodies. But it’s
rolls through
not all pinkies-up—expect live music
most weekends and what is arguably but when I see Paper Chase Batesville just
a stone’s skip
Batesville’s best burger. (109 E. Main bookstore, I stop. Immediately.
St.; facebook.com/109MainBatesville) away from the
I am a writer and an English
freshly rehabbed
teacher, after all. downtown.
Mayfen Thomas has owned
Gallery 246 the place for 20 years. They
Featuring work by more than 30 have a book club meeting every
artists from across the Batesville area, month, and when they read A
this artists’ co-op supports both artists Man Called Ove, “some of us
and art-lovers through exhibitions wanted to kill him ourselves.” I “Old School Iron”).
and art classes. On view at any given
time: everything from oil paintings read the book this past fall, and But it’s Gallery 246 that makes my jaw drop. Paintings and
and hand-thrown pottery to jewelry I share that sentiment. Mayfen collages and ceramics—there must be thousands—by local artists
and photography. (243 E. Main St.; has a used section and a new are available for purchase. One vase in particular catches my eye:
gallery246.com) section and even a yarn section. It’s tortoiseshell brown and embossed with chevrons and ivy and is
I buy, oh, $36 worth of books truly a work of art. I want to buy it, but I’ve already spent my free
(don’t tell my husband) and funds on books.
Village Adventures/
head on up the road. When I lived in Italy, I always looked for street art, for collectibles
There’s so much worth made by locals, for pieces that would make me recall the wonderful
Polk Bayou
Sleepy Polk Bayou meanders through stopping for here: the Batesville places I’d been: Istanbul, Tunisia, Lichtenstein. But as much as I’ve
downtown Batesville just north of Area Arts Council Gallery been traveling in Arkansas lately, I haven’t done the same. And there
Main Street before emptying into (where I’m obsessed with a truly is a wealth of artists to support here, with works every bit as
the White River. Dip your toe in necklace by Michelle Rhodes) meaningful, every bit as beautiful as anything I found overseas. I
by renting a kayak or a stand-up
and Old Towne Mall (where can’t believe that it took just one trip north of my hometown of
paddleboard from this charming
outfitter housed in the old pharmacy they serve f ried pies) and Conway to realize that Arkansas is as rich and diverse and worthy
on Main. (286 E. Main St.; Chuck’s Main Street Gym of remembering as any exotic destination I can name.
villageadventures.com) (where you can get your fix of In Batesville, I’ve learned I have indeed got what I need.

Story continued from page 63 long and get comfortable, you might wanna take
me in the back.”
many other places in Pine Bluff. It’s unique
to me that you made this kind of churchlike.”
A l at e r,
She laughed.
“That was his intention when he did that,” few hours Tim
said Lloyd, Irene’s husband, of his uncle, was deep in the grass. The tall, tall grass bowed
who’d built the funeral home from the ground stiffly at the knee and, once the photographer
up. had passed, slowly regained some of its lost
“To make it churchlike?” his wife asked. height. It never rose all the way, though,
“Uh-huh.” in the way that something broken never
“All chapels look churchlike to me,” she feels quite the same after it’s been mended.
said. “Most of ’em.” Locusts were buzzing in the grass. The pulpy,
There was a moment of rather boiled-greens smell from Pine Bluff ’s paper
uncomfortable silence before Tim said, mill was heavy on the air. It was 93 degrees.
“That’s a familiar looking picture of Jesus.” Upon reaching a point where he could set
“That picture’s been there 50 years,” Lloyd up the camera, apparently oblivious to the
said. “Hanging on that wall 50 years.” heat, Tim threw a dark cloak over himself
Silence again took hold. There was no and the camera. A few dragonflies whirled
television to fill the gaps. Irene returned to overhead in drunken loops. In a creek that
the front office. Lloyd watched as Tim tried lay just on the other side of the fence where
to capture this place that he’d worked for Tim had positioned his camera, a snapping
nearly 50 years. As Tim worked on getting turtle the size of a toddler performed the
the shot he liked at the front of the chapel, breaststroke in its watery shadows. But none
only the lens of his camera visible behind the of that was of interest to him.
large curtain, I asked Lloyd about his life and “You’re seeing that I want to get that shot,
how he’d gotten into that line of work. huh?” he’d told me a few minutes before
“When I was young, I wouldn’t go near wading off into the grass.
a hearse or a funeral home,” he told me. If you were to follow the line of Tim’s
“When I decided to come to school up here, camera, this is what you’d see: Across the
my mother told me, you got an uncle up ravine, there was a low brick building. It
there in Pine Bluff. Get with him, and maybe was the embalmer’s lab where we’d been
he can find you a part-time job. I say, well, earlier in the day. Had you walked along
what does he do? She said, he manages a the side, you would have gotten a faceful
funeral home in Pine Bluff.” Eventually, of baby wipes as the scent wafted through
Lloyd said, one thing led to another, and he the vents. Beyond the building, there was
found himself in the business. an old mill that processed cottonseed oil,
He was a tall man, affable and well-dressed a long, silver, rust-bitten building running
with a good sense of humor. He showed parallel to the railroad tracks, large industrial
me a copy of “The Dead Beat,” a regional buildings that gave the appearance of having
newsletter for funeral-service workers that been abandoned long before. To the right of
Know real estate, bills itself as “The Caregiver’s Soapbox.” He the small brick building, there were two long
said that he enjoyed reading it but always white cars, a hearse and a limousine. They
mortgage or insurance agents started with the “Chuckles” section. He then were older looking. Weeds sprouted up and
recounted one of his favorite jokes from choked their wheels. On the concrete patio,
who deserve recognition? that month’s issue. (The punch line: “Which there was a McDonald’s cup Tim had set
virgin was mother of Jesus? The virgin Mary down and never retrieved.
or the King James virgin?”) He later showed A silver pickup truck started making its
Nominate your favorites in us his collection of miniature hearses, which way along the gravel drive.
he often keeps under lock and key so the “Avery!” he called out over the ravine.
Arkansas Life’s children of patrons don’t play with them. “Don’t hide your hearse!”
“I don’t think people know what funeral Avery, apparently seeing the older man
Top Agents Contest. homes really look like,” Tim said from across waving his arms, backed out and parked on
the room, where he’s setting up the shot. “So, the other side of the building. When Tim
this could be a book, and it’d show them what came back to the car, his hair was sweaty,
they look like.” plastered to his forehead below the orange
CAST YOUR VOTE: “You’re right,” Lloyd said. “Most people, bill of his silo hat. As he took down the tripod,
when you’re talking to them, they don’t want he said, “I like moodier light, but if there’s
arkansaslife.com/agents to go in a funeral home.” Having set up a no hearse there, there’s no photograph.”
Look for the results in the May issue of Arkansas Life. joke he’d told me a few minutes before, he
then said: “And sometimes, people coming
The entry deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. in to pay their insurance and stuff—have a To see more of Tim’s work, visit timothyhursley.
seat. No, I don’t wanna sit down. If I stay too com, or on Instagram @timhursley.

One Take
In which we gave Harrison-

based photographer Derek
Henderson a Polaroid, eight
frames of film and one take
to get the shot.
THE DYING ART OF CLASSIC CARS: A STUDY

These old school mechanics, folks who work on carburetors instead of the
new vehicles—it’s what I kind of gravitate to. I think a lot of it comes back to
freedom. A lot of these guys I’ve talked to, when they were 15, they got a set of
wheels and they could get out. And drive. And in those days, especially for my
great-uncle Harold—that’s him in the photo, with his ’56 Crown Victoria and
his ’46 Ford pickup, his two prized possessions—it was like, This is my way out of
here, this is my way to learn something. And if I don’t know how to put it back together after I’ve
messed it up, then I won’t go anywhere else. For me, it’s that classic mantra of American
freedom, the dream of getting out on the road.
As told to Jordan P. Hickey

Photographed by Derek Henderson
FEBRUARY 2018 96 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 iii Arkansas Life

FEBRUARY 2018 iv Arkansas Life

ArkansasLife February2018

Diunggah oleh

Informasi Dokumen

Judul Asli

Hak Cipta

Bagikan dokumen Ini

Bagikan atau Tanam Dokumen

Opsi Berbagi

Apakah menurut Anda dokumen ini bermanfaat?

Apakah konten ini tidak pantas?

Hak Cipta:

ArkansasLife February2018

Diunggah oleh

Hak Cipta:

BEHIND SEEING T HE COUN T ING

PHOTOGR A PHER T IM NAT UR A L STAT E F ROM CROW S ( A ND

NATURALLY CURIOUS | February 2018 | VOLUME 10, NO. 6

FEBRUARY 2018 ii Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 1 Arkansas Life

Honey Pies’ brûléed

FEBRUARY 2018 2 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 3 Arkansas Life

96 ONE TAKE The dying art

FEBRUARY 2018 4 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 5 Arkansas Life

< Many pies were consumed in

from the oven and it tasted like

For this issue, we asked some

FEBRUARY 2018 6 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 7 Arkansas Life

EDITORIAL DR. LAVERNE SETH ELI BARLOW

Arkansas Life is published 12 times yearly

is right around by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.

WALTER E. HUSSMAN JR.

NICHE SALES DIRECTOR

SLOANE GRELEN Benefits every time it’s on.

121 East Capitol Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201

Timberlake. It’s shameful

For subscription inquiries, please call 501.918.4555 and embarrassing, but I

FEBRUARY 2018 10 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 11 Arkansas Life

FIVE THINGS FIRST

PHOTOGRAPH BY RETT PEEK

FEBRUARY 2018 12 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 13 Arkansas Life

H On Feb. 28, Evin will be part of

Razorback coaches would coach

What do all these stories

“When it comes to [sports]

FEBRUARY 2018 14 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 15 Arkansas Life

h The Great Backyard

16-19. To register, visit

FEBRUARY 2018 16 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 17 Arkansas Life

FEBRUARY 2018 18 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 19 Arkansas Life

It was one of those days you hope

FEBRUARY 2018 20 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 21 Arkansas Life

ON REPRESENTING THE STATE

FEBRUARY 2018 22 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 23 Arkansas Life

FEBRUARY 2018 24 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 25 Arkansas Life

FEBRUARY 2018 26 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 27 Arkansas Life

BE IN A GOOD HEAD SPACE.

- smaller-scale pieces, and large

“Lighting can make or break a room— EASY DOES IT.

Kelly Wearstler—the queen of lighting, the room.”

in my opinion—are not in most

FEBRUARY 2018 28 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 29 Arkansas Life

DISPATCH FROM LITTLE ROCK NOV. 30, 2017

‘Boo’ “I feel awkward,” I tell him.

FEBRUARY 2018 30 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 31 Arkansas Life

them, you are their own NOV. 30, 2017

FEBRUARY 2018 32 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 33 Arkansas Life

FEBRUARY 2018 34 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 35 Arkansas Life

An unpublished Arkansas Gazette file

Our Voices of joy they found day to day.

FEBRUARY 2018 36 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 37 Arkansas Life

FEBRUARY 2018 38 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 39 Arkansas Life

As told to Bonnie Bauman

FEBRUARY 2018 40 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 41 Arkansas Life

“W e have this group, and

Evette was the executive chef

FEBRUARY 2018 42 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 43 Arkansas Life

F or years, this map-dot Delta town of 610 souls was home to

FEBRUARY 2018 44 Arkansas Life FEBRUARY 2018 45 Arkansas Life

For the crust:

Mix flour and salt; cut in the

For the filling: