Monthly Archives: December 2012

Away In An Inflatable Manger

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This is hardly cultural, but it has become a holiday tradition for me to post this photo. It was taken a few years back (2006 or 2007) at the Kroger store in the Heights. This inflatable nativity scene was for sale. I don’t know if anyone ever bought it.

What makes the photo all the more “special” is that Mary and Joseph are situated between an ice machine and an ashtray for employee smoke breaks. Even to this day there appears to be no room for Mary and Joseph so they are shunned and put in an undesirable location.

You may note a brown item sticking out from under the baby’s swaddling. Best I can tell that is the lower half of Joseph’s staff. It appears to be I adequately inflated and somehow it got stuck under the vinyl cloth that makes up the diaper which Mary is apparently changing.

At least it wasn’t a bouncy house manger.

ASO Happy Holidays Concerts

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The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra performs their annual, audience favorite holiday concert this weekend.  The first concert was last night but it repeats tonight, Saturday, December 15 at 8pm and Sunday, December 16 at 3pm. at Robinson Center Music Hall. This is the second concert of the Acxiom Pops Live! Series. This concert is sponsored in part by Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The audience will enjoy traditional Christmas carols, Arkansas stars, and special surprises that are sure to entertain the whole family. Everyone is invited to get cozy with the ASO as we celebrate the most wonderful time of year.

Bring the kids to the Holiday Children’s Fair at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Robinson Center Music Hall main lobby. Touch and play string, woodwind and brass instruments at the Instrument Petting Zoo, visit with Santa and join in on arts and crafts.

Tickets range from $14-$52 and can be purchased online at http://www.ArkansasSymphony.org or over the phone at (501) 666-1761. Thanks to the Entergy Kids Ticket, all kids through 12th grade are free on Sundays with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information, visit http://www.ArkansasSymphony.org.

Under the direction of Maestro Philip Mann, the concert will featured the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra joined by Ballet Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Vesper Choir (under the direction of Dr. Michael Bates), the Ted Ludwig Trio, mezzo-soprano Diane Kesling, the Central Arkansas Children’s Choir (under the direction of Dr. Ryan Fisher), Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra musicians and the Two Jewish Guys (the redoubtable Phil Kaplan and Leslie Singer).

8th Ever Nog-Off at HAM

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In conjunction with the 2nd Friday Art Night, Historic Arkansas Museum presents its 8th Ever Nog-Off tonight.  It takes place from 5pm to 8pm at HAM and is free.

What started as a friendly competitive conversation between members of two of Little Rock’s oldest families about Egg Nog recipies has turned into an annual holiday celebration.

Historic Arkansas Museum’s 8th Ever Nog-off is a culinary celebration of this favorite holiday drink, and friendly competition for the best eggnog in town. From a 185-year-old recipe handed down 7 generations to concoctions with a modern twist, the only way to determine a winner is for guests to sample them all.

Two awards are given with the prize being bragging rights. The People’s Choice goes to the eggnog that receives the most votes from the Nog-off’s discerning guests who have chosen winners astutely for the past seven years. The Taster’s Choice goes to the nog that gets the nod from celebrity tasters.

The Competitors: Capital Hotel, Copper Grill, Bridget Farris, Loblolly Creamery, Drue Patton and Museum Director Bill Worthen

After sipping Egg Nog, participants can visit any of the numerous other sites of this month’s 2nd Friday Art Night throughout downtown.

Clinton School Speakers Series Continues in December

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Though things may be winding down for the year in most arenas, the Clinton School speaker series continues to be strong throughout December (thanks to the efforts of Dean Skip Rutherford and Director of Public Programs Nikolai DiPippa).  Here is the roster for the remainder of the month.

“Cameras in the Courtroom: The West Memphis Three Case,” a panel discussion
Thursday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m. (Clinton Center Great Hall) *In partnership with the Arkansas Times
– Join us for a panel discussion on “Cameras in the Courtroom” with Jason Baldwin of the West Memphis Three; Joe Berlinger, director of the documentary film series “Paradise Lost” about the West Memphis Three case and Mara Leveritt, author of “Devil’s Knot,” which also chronicles the case.

“The Little Rock Accord,” Aled Jones, director of the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University
Friday, December 14 at 12:00 p.m. (Sturgis Hall)
– As part of the meeting of General Assembly of the Club de Madrid, a non-profit organization composed of more than 90 democratic former heads of state from over 60 countries, Jones will give a presentation about the “Little Rock Accord,” an action plan to mobilize political will to increase the role of private sector finance, particularly that of pension and sovereign wealth funds in driving low carbon, climate resilient, sustainable growth, especially in developing countries.

“Vital Voices: The Power of Women Leading Change Around the World,” Alyse Nelson, president and CEO of Vital Voices
Monday, December 17 at 12:00 p.m. (Sturgis Hall) *Book signing to follow
– Nelson will discuss the work of Vital Voices, a nonprofit that has worked for more than a decade to bring together women who want to enable others to become change agents in their governments, advocates for social justice and supporters of democracy.

Muna AbuSulayman, director of Directions Consultancy
Wednesday, December 19 at 12:00 p.m. (Sturgis Hall)
– AbuSulayman is director of Directions Consultancy, a boutique firm for innovative impactful philanthropy. She has successfully launched, managed and scaled multiple businesses and foundations throughout her career and is continuously placed in lists naming her one of the most influential Arabs in the world.


Renowned Saudi Arabian artist Manal Al Dowayan

Wednesday, December 19 at 6:00 p.m. (Sturgis Hall)
– Manal is one of Saudi Arabia’s foremost artists – her photography has been exhibited across the world and her artworks are part of the permanent collections of the British Museum and the Jordan National Museum of Fine Art. Her series, “I Am” (2007-09) is a series of black and white photographic portraits of women and addresses issues which pertain to the position of the Arab woman in Islamic Society.
*Reserve your seats by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu, or calling 501-683-5239.

Little Rock Look Back: Mayor Gordon N. Peay

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On this date in 1819 future Little Rock Mayor Gordon Neill Peay was born.  The Peay family arrived in Arkansas from Kentucky in 1825.  They quickly became one of Little Rock’s leading families.  Mayor Peay’s father, Nicholas Peay served on the Little Rock Board of Trustees (which existed before the town was incorporated) and later served on the City Council and was acting mayor.

Godon N. Peay served as mayor of Little Rock from 1859 to 1860.  During the Civil War, Peay served as Captain and later Colonel of the Capital Guard.  He later received a pardon from the federal government.

The Peay family owned the Peay Hotel, Little Rock’s first hotel, and were also co-founders of what became Worthen Bank.  They were also a founding family of Christ Episcopal Church. Mayor Peay later served as Pulaski County Chancery Clerk.

He died on December 14, 1876 and is buried at Mt. Holly Cemetery along with many members of his family.  His great-grandson Joseph Barber Hurst, Sr. served on the Little Rock City Board of Directors from 1967-1971. His great-great-granddaughter-in-law Stacy J. Hurst currently serves on the City Board of Directors.

WHITE CHRISTMAS continues at Ark Rep

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The Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s delightful production of White Christmas continues through December 30.  Most performances before Christmas are sold out, but the final week has great seats available, so book now.

Based upon the Paramount Pictures film, White Christmas, was written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama and Melvin Frank.  The show features music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a book by David Ives and Paul Blake.  The production is directed by Nicole Capri.

You’ll want to snuggle up with the entire family for this funny and heartwarming musical adaptation of the popular Paramount Pictures classic film!

When a pair of song and dance men follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters to their Christmas show at a Vermont inn, they realize a lack of seasonal precipitation is causing hard times.

Through delightful plot twists and a dazzling Irving Berlin score that includes “Blue Skies,” “I Love a Piano,” “Happy Holiday,” “It’s Cold Outside” and of course, “White Christmas,” the fellows launch an all-out campaign to save the inn and win the sisters’ hearts.

“White Christmas is the perfect holiday musical,” says Rep Producing Artistic Director Robert Hupp. “It’s a trip down memory lane for those who remember the music and the movie, and it’s sure to inspire new appreciation for the timeless songs of Irving Berlin – one of America’s greatest composers – for younger generations.”

To order tickets, visit the Rep’s website.

Imagine Main Street – Presentation on 12.12.12

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downtownlrMain Street was important to Little Rock’s development.  As the City moved south from the Little Rock and Markham Street, the growth happened from a spur of Main Street.  Over the years, things have changed to be certain.

Plans are in the works to return Main Street to a prominent role in anchoring not only downtown, but Little Rock and the entire state.  The Downtown Little Rock Partnership is co-sponsoring with Little Rock’s Mayor Mark Stodola a public presentation of the Creative Corridor plan for Main Street on Wednesday, December 12 at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (A light lunch will be available.)

The community is invited to attend the viewing of these exciting designs with its architects, Stephen Luoni, chair of the University of Arkansas Community Design Center, and Marlon Blackwell. Luoni and Blackwell teamed with the City, DLRP, and stakeholders to create the plans via a NEA Our Town grant.

Partial green streetscapes as demonstrated in the plan will soon be implemented on some blocks of Main Street as a part of a grant from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.

For more information or to RSVP contact the Downtown Little Rock Partnership office at 501-375-0121 or email Jayme Morrisette at jmorrisette@downtownlr.com.