| Photos, left to right: The line-up soon begins for the MacArthur Park 5K, Corporate Cup Race & Dog Jog on Friday, May 1! Registration information below in MacArthur Park. Margie Raimondo announced during Second Friday Art Night that she will be bringing Raimondo Winery to Main Street! See Moses Tucker announcement in Downtown Notes. The Hanger Hill neighborhood sign went up this week! The neighborhood is located east of MacArthur Park across I-30 and is experiencing the construction of new homes. |
|
|
|
|
|
April 18: Arkansas Times presents Rivergrass Revival featuring Ralph Stanley with Family & Friends, Juanita's, 614 President Clinton
April 19: Todd Rundgren at the Revolution Music Room. Learn more.
April 19: Inaugural India Fest 2015, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., River Market Pavilions. Learn more.
April 22: Jazz in the Park featuring Stellar Way, 6-8 p.m. Learn more.
April 25-26: Sculpture at the River Market 2015. View and purchase sculpture and meet the artists! In the River Market Pavilions and adjacent Riverfront Park. Free. Ticketed Preview Party April 24. Learn more.
May 1: Some Like It Hot, 7 p.m, Ron Robinson Theater. $5.
May 2: River Market Farmers' Market reopens. Learn more.
|
| Saturdays with Bobby's Bike Hike: Historic Neighborhoods Bike Tour, 9 a.m. Discover Little Rock's rich, colorful history on this 2-hour bicycle tour through the City. Pork & Bourbon Bike Tour, 11:30 a.m. Sample your way through some of the South's favorite delicacies - Ribs, southern sides and desserts, local craft beer and bourbon. Learn more. |
MacArthur Park Historic District
|
|
April 18: Community Kids Fishing Fair, MacArthur Park Pond, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Registration at 9:30 a.m. First 150 to register get free t-shirt. Cane pole only before 3 p.m. Rod and reel after 3 p.m. Live DJ and door prizes. Food, fishing, carnival games, bouncers. Adults must have a child to participate. Bring your own bait and tackle. Sponsored by City of Little Rock, AR Game & Fish Commission, Life Skills for Youth (LSY), Little Rock Parks & Recreation, Arora, Bass Pro Shop, Power 92, Little Rock Fire Department, Novel T's, Little Rock Police Department, All Day Bounce and Play and Todayz Media.
May 1: 8th Annual MacArthur Park 5K & Corporate Cup Challenge and Dog Jog. Registration is underway! Link here. All proceeds benefit historic MacArthur Park and the construction a new Universal Playground. Race registration includes t-shirt & honorary dog tags, lawn party with Steve Giles Jam Band, pizza and Budweiser's coldest brew! Stones' Throw Brewing will host a beer stop on the race route and the Go-Go Girls from Go!Running will hold down a water stop. Awards for first, second & third place in 13 categories for men & women.
Presented by
MacArthur Park Group, Little Rock Parks & Recreation
and Downtown Little Rock Partnership
Sponsored by
Arkansas Arts Center, City of Little Rock, Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History and Park Place Apartments
Also supported by Colonel Bill Hoffman, Gracie Manor, Re-Bath/Blue Frog, Budweiser, Go! Running and Stone's Throw Brewing
|
|
|
|
|
Southside Main Street, south of I-630
April 17: Hungry for Change screening sponsored by The Green Corner Store at Studio Main, 7-9 p.m. Refreshments and discussion following film.
April 19: Bernice Garden Farmer's Market grand opening, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
April 21: Join The Green Corner Store staff for the "Spring Wings" Event at Arkansas Audubon. Join the caravan to the center from the store at 4:30 for carpooling. Return by 6:15. Learn more on Facebook.
April 23: Green Cleaning Seminar, The Green Corner Store, 7 p.m. Learn more on Facebook.
Wednesdays: South on Main's Local Live Music Series. April 22-David Rosen Septet. April 29: Tonya Leeks Band. May 6: Cindy Woolf and Mark Bilyeu.
|
|
Verizon Arena
|
In Downtown North Little Rock,
1 Verizon Arena Way. For ticket information
link here (Verizon Arena) or here (Ticketmaster).
|
| April 19 Fleetwood Mac, 8 p.m., tickets available. Nearby NLR restaurants open prior to the concern include: Arkansas Ale House, Benihana, Cregeen's Irish Pub, The Joint, Reno's Argenta Caf? and Riverfront Steakhouse. April 23 Chris Tomlin May 6-10 Disney on Ice June 5 Tim McGraw-Tickets on sale April 17 June 6 Brit Floyd June 20 Black & Brown Comedy Get Down July 27 Eagles |
|
|
In Downtown North Little Rock. For more information
link here.
|
| April 16-June 5: "I Love You, But You're Sitting on My Cat!" at The Joint, 310 Main Street, Fridays & Saturdays, 8 p.m. Learn more. April 17: Friday Argenta Art Walk, 5-8 p.m., featuring 10 walkable galleries to shop, sip and stay a while. April 18: Argenta Farmers Market, 7 a.m.-noon. April schedule for Arkansas Travelers and special events, link here. April 24-25: Blues on the River Weekend, North Shore Riverwalk. Learn more. May 2: Argenta Arts Festival. Learn more. |
|
On Exhibit
9th & Commerce, MacArthur Park
30 Americans.
Thru June 21.
AAC Collection: Art as Activism.
Thru April 26.
A Humble Hum: Rhythm of the Potter's Wheel.
Thru June 21.
Paul Signac Drawings and Watercolors: The James T. Dyke Collection.
Thru July 19.
|
|
ASI Building, 401 President Clinton Avenue
Reflections on Line & Mass: Paintings & Sculpture by Robyn Horn. Thru April 24.
Christ Church Arts
509 Scott Street
The Plein Air Painters of Arkansas. Painters include Victoria Harvey, Clarence Cash, Tom Herrin, Greg Lahti, Sean LeCrone, John Wooldrige and Diana Shearon. Thru June 30.
1200 President Clinton Avenue
What's Inside: A History of Women and Handbags, 1900-1999.
Common Threads.
Thru May.
Pyramid Place, 221 W. 2nd
WPA (Works Progress Administration) & Art from the Great Depression (1930s-1940s) opens May 1.
Greg Lahti opens May 1 .
200 E. Third
The Great Arkansas Quilt Show 3.
Thru May 3.
40 Years of The Arkansas Times
Ongoing:
We Walk in Two Worlds: The Caddo, Osage and Quapaw in Arkansas
The Knife Gallery
MacArthur Park, 503 E. 9th Street
Waging Modern Warfare! General Wesley K. Clark
Vietnam, America's Conflict
Undaunted Courage, Proven Loyalty: Japanese American Soldiers in World War II
501 W. 9th Street
Freedom! Oh, Freedom! Thru December 31.
500 President Clinton Avenue
The Bare Bones Exhibit.
Thru April 26.
Mindbender Mansion
. Thru September 7.
300 W. Markham Street
Different Spokes.
Thru February 2016.
Ongoing: Arkansas First Ladies' Gowns; Pillars of Power; On the Stump: Arkansas Politics, 1819-1919; First Families of Arkansas; As Long as Life Shall Last: The Legacy of Arkansas Women.
602 President Clinton Avenue
|
|
|
Downtown Update
|
| April 17, 2015 |
|
| UALR William H. Bowen Schoolof Law student Mary Claire Hyatt ('15) has been named a postgraduate Equal Justice Works Fellow for 2015-2017. Hyatt, one of only 61 fellows selected from a nationwide pool of candidates, is the first Bowen graduate to earn the distinction.
 The competitive fellowship, sponsored by Walmart and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, will enable Hyatt to pursue a public interest law project based at Legal Aid of Arkansas's Medical-Legal Partnership at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. Her mission will be to work with medical staff and social workers to ensure that low-income children and families with special education needs get the services they are entitled to under the law. (from UALR NOW) Moses Tucker Real Estate Inc. announced its purchase of the Fulk-Arkansas Democrat Building. A $2 million renovation will start in May. Margie Raimondo also announced that Raimondo Winery will open on the ground floor. Learn more. As one of the first arts initiatives of the Creative Corridor, the City of Little Rock is soliciting designers for large-scale banner art competition. The designs will be for two full-color, large rectangular banners to be installed vertically from the parking deck on the 200 block of Main Street. One thousand dollars will be awarded for each winning design. The deadline for submissions is noon on May 18. Learn more. The Food Network's Simon Majumdar will be in Little Rock during the Literary Festival. Learn more. A Friday Morning Briefing from Roby Brock of Talk Business...link here. |
| Music highlights around town from Arkansas Times here. Little Rock (LRCVB) event listings here. |
Karski's Message
April 16-25
The Weekend Theatre
World premiere of this new play from Phillip H. McMath, the author of The Hanging of David O' Dodd. True story of how one man tried to stop the Holocaust. Learn more.
Who Cares
April 17-19
Ballet Arkansas at The Rep
Dancers will perform the concert version of George Balanchine's incomparable ballet, Who Cares? performed to a delightful musical score by George Gershwin. The concert will also feature a new work by Hilary Wolfley, winning choreography from our Visions choreographic competition, excerpts from Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias and Marius Petipa's Raymonda, and a new contemporary piece by former Hubbard Street dancer Greg Sample. Tickets are available online or
by calling The Rep Box Office at 501-378-0405. Friends of the Animal Village Free Adoptions Saturday, April 18 Little Rock Animal Village: 4500 Kramer Street Free adoptions 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Open House at 4 p.m.; annual meeting at 6 p.m. Open to the community. Learn more. Arkansas Earth Day Festival Saturday, April 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Heifer International
Celebrating its 12th year, the festival's theme for 2015 is "Let's Get Back to Our Roots." Information booths, food vendors, entertainment by Paul Morphis and the "Great Cloth Diaper Change." Learn more on Facebook.
Mount Holly Garden Series
Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m.
Mounty Holly Cemetery: Bell House
Featuring demonstration by Mike Engle on how to make TUFFA planters and how to fill them. Sponsored by Margaret Wyatt and the Downtown Dames. All are welcome.
Open House 
Tuesday, April 21, 6 p.m.
Webster University: 200 W. Capitol, Suite 1500
Advisors available to talk with potential students about a future at Webster University, downtown Little Rock or Little Rock Air Force Base. Application fee waived for those who attend. Learn more.
Job Fair
Tuesday, April 21. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Statehouse Convention Center
Presented by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and CAHRA. Free to the public featuring businesses with open positions, resume assistance from HR professionals, mock interviews and panel discussions to help job seekers.
|
| The Legend of Robin Hood April 23-May 10 Arkansas Arts Center: Children's Theatre Swords will clash. Arrows will fly. The classic tale of Robin Hood comes to life on the Arts Center stage. April 23-Pay What You Can Night. Learn more. Empty Bowls Thursday, April 23 Next Level Events (Old Train Station) 13th annual art auction and benefit for Arkansas Foodbank. Honorary Chairs: Anton and Jillian Janik. Music by Rodney Block and the Real Music Lovers. Learn more.  Arkansas Literary Festival 2015 April 23-26 Central Arkansas Library System, Main Campus, and other venues throughout Little Rock Prestigious award-winners, big names, GRAMMY nominees, filmmakers, journalists, and artists are among the diverse roster of presenters who will be providing sessions at the 12th annual festival offering a stimulating mix of sessions, panels, special events, performances, workshops, presentations, opportunities to meet authors, book sales, and book signings. Most events are free and open to the public. The Arkansas Literary Festival, the premier gathering of readers and writers in Arkansas, will include more than 80 presenters including featured authors John Waters, Rebecca Wells, Charles D. Morgan, Cheryl & Griff Day, Issa Rae, Ted Rall, Rick Bragg, Megan Abbott, Seph Lawless, and Bryan Collier. Learn more. Arts@Christ Church: The Tallis Scholars Thursday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. Christ Church: 509 Scott Street Through their recordings and concert performances, The Tallis Scholars under the direction of Peter Phillips have established themselves as the leading exponents of Renaissance sacred music throughout the world. Tickets are on sale now in the Christ Church office, $35, $20 for students. 501-375-2342. Arkansas Jazz Festival April 24-25 Clinton Presidential Center & Park The Clinton Presidential Center celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month with the Arkansas Jazz Festival, featuring "Blue" Lou Marini. Held in partnership with the Arkansas Jazz Educators and the University of Arkansas at Monticello, this FREE, two-day festival will showcase the talent of jazz bands from around the state. Featured artist, Lou Marini, has been a member of Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Saturday Night Live Band, and the Blues Brothers Band. He is an original member of the Blues Brothers Band, since the first appearances on Saturday Night Live, and appeared in both movies, as well as all recordings and tours. Bring lawn chairs. Food trucks on site. For a complete schedule link here.  Main Street Food Trucks Fridays Friday, April 24, 10:45 a.m. - 1 :30 p.m. Corner of Main and Capitol Fridays thru June 26. Sponsored by Downtown Little Rock Partnership and the Main Street Revitalization Committee--bringing people back to Main Street! April 24: Bryant's BBQ, Brunch-o-licious, The Pie Hole and The Southern Gourmasian. Keep up to date on Facebook. The Winning Numbers April 24-26 Community Theatre of Little Rock: The Studio Theatre, 320 W. Seventh A new comedy by S. Christopher Boggs. Learn more. Artworks XXVII Saturday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. Arkansas Arts Center Annual benefit including silent and live auctions with the work of more than 90 central Arkansas artists up for grabs. Live music, libations, hors d'oeuvres from Three Fold, The Southern Gourmasian, BRAVO! Cucina Italiana, RSVP Catering and Sufficient Grounds. $50 per person. Learn more. Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Piece Saturday, April 26, 7 p.m. Mosaic Templars Cultural Center Celebration of creativity and self-expression by local poetry troupe Foreign Tongues. Volunteer Training for Little Rock Film Festival Tuesday, April 28, 6-7 p.m. Ron Robinson Theatre Over 300 volunteers are needed to run the upcoming Little Rock Film Festival, May 11-17. Learn more. Live Below the Line Lunch Wednesday, April 29, starting at 11:30 Heifer Village Could you eat and drink on $1.50 per day? Stop by Heifer Village and enjoy a meal prepared by the chef at Caf?@Heifer that reflects the lack of choice faced by people living in extreme poverty. All you have to do is either donate what you might normally spend for lunch as a contribution to Heifer International's Live Below the Line campaign and/or bring a canned good as a donation to the Arkansas Foodbank. Wage and Hour Trends for 2015 Webinar Wednesday, April 29, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Joint program of Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon & Galchus and University of Arkansas Global Campus for Continuing Education. Spotlight on today's most prevalent wage and hour issues, overtime pay, training time, meal breaks and off-the-clock-work. $40 per person. Register online or contact Rickie Smith at 501-371-9999 or by email. 10th Annual Dinner on the Grounds Friday, May 1, 6:30 p.m. Clinton Presidential Center Benefit for Our House, a shelter for the working homeless and their families. Learn more. |
Clinton School of Public Service
|
 All events are free and open to the public. However, reservations are required by phone 501-683-5200 or by email. Location, Sturgis Hall unless otherwise noted. Learn more about each of these programs here.
April 17: Irene Hirano Inouye, president of the U.S.-Japan Council. In partnership with Hendrix College. 6 p.m. Non-profit organization dedicated to building people-to-people relationships between the United States and Japan.
April 18: Symposium on the Moral Imperative of Music Education, Wally Allen Ballroom, Statehouse Convention Center, 6:30--9:30 p.m. In partnership with the Spirit of Harmony Foundation, founded Todd Rundgren. Learn more.
April 20: The Barefoot Lawyer-Chen Guangcheng. 6 p.m., book signing to follow. The blind son of a poor farmer in rural China who became a self-taught lawyer and political activist. Through the help of the American embassy he left China following imprisonment. Story of a man who believe in the power of the human spirit to overcome any obstacle.
April 22: Target Tokyo-Award-winning historian James Scott explores the legend of the Doolittle Raid, a daring, some thought suicidal, bombing mission designed to avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor. 6 p.m.
April 25: Powers of Two-finding the essence of innovation in creative pairs with Joshua Shenk. 6 p.m. He suggests that, contrary to the myth of the lone genius, the real agent of discovery and innovation lies in interconnection between people who teach, challenge and buoy each other, such as Joh nLennon and Paul McCartney. Pat C. Hoy, Shenks teacher and a master writer, joins him. Powers of Two has been nominated for the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction.
April 26: Arkansas Puzzle Day for crossword and Sudoku puzzle enthusiasts, with David Rosenfelt, author of fourteen novels and three TV movies. 1 p.m. All skill levels are encouraged to attend and participate.
|
|
| Nearby DLRP Member Events
April 17: Arkansas Sounds Concert featuring Brian Nahlen, 7 p.m. CALS Hillcrest Hall, 1501 Kavanaugh Blvd. Tickets $5, available at the door one hour before the show. Learn more.
April 20: 2nd Annual STEM Conference. Keynote speaker Dr. Calvin Mackie, 7 p.m., Pulaski Tech Main Campus (NLR), Grand Hall, Campus Center Building. For more information, contact Richard Moss by email.
April 24-26: Million Dollar Quartet (touring)-Tony award-winning true story of the famed recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. Presented by Celebrity Attractions and the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau. Maumelle Performing Arts Center, 100 Victory Lane. Learn more.
April 25: Fringe: IV Party on the Edge benefitting CHI St. Vincent. Learn more.
|
|
|
| May 7: Go Red for Women Luncheon, Little Rock Marriott Grand Ballroom. Benefits American Heart Association. Learn more. May 7: Taste of the Rock, a Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce event presented by Choctaw Casino Hotel in partnership with the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau. River Market Pavilions, 5:30-7:30. Link here for tickets, $15. May 9-10: Quapaw Quarter Association (QQA) 51st Spring of homes. Learn more. May 11-17: Little Rock Film Festival. Learn more. May 22-24: Riverfest. Learn more. May 30: Beyond Hunger-Feast in the Field. Benefits Heifer International. Learn more. . June 6: Summer camps begin at Museum of Discovery. Learn more. September 16-20: ACANSA. Learn more. September 26: 2015 Big Dam Bridge 100. Registration open now for Arkansas's largest cycling tour. Link here. October 3: Main Street Food Truck Festival. For more information email or go to Facebook. |
|
|
|
|
Not on the Downtown Update email list?
|
|
|
