Monthly Archives: December 2014

FESTIVUS 2014 tonight with the QQA

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qqa FestivusThere may not be feats of strength or airing of grievances, but that doesn’t mean QQA won’t be celebrating Festivus!

Festivus is a festival for the best of us.

Festivus attendees will not be required to perform feats of strength, air grievances or decorate the pole.  All they will be required to do is have a fun time and enjoy the opportunity to bid on great auction items.

There is much for QQA to celebrate this year. The most recent achievement is the acquisition of the 1853 William E. Woodruff House. This will allow the structure to be stabilized while plans for its future are decided.

When: Tuesday, December 9 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Where: Albert Pike Memorial Temple, 712 Scott Street.

Tickets are $50 at the door.  QQA memberships are also available at the door.  The price includes food and open bar.

Proceeds benefit the preservation programs of the Quapaw Quarter Association.

ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap is 2014 CALS J. N. Heiskell Distinguished Lecturer

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espnschaapArkansans love their sports! They probably discuss and cuss sports more than any other topic.  Therefore it is fitting that ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap will deliver the 2014 J. N. Heiskell Distinguished Lecture tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Avenue. Schaap will discuss his experiences in sports journalism at An Evening with Jeremy Schaap.

Clint Stoerner, former quarterback for the Arkansas Razorbacks, will introduce Schaap.  The event is free and open to the public. A book signing and reception will follow the program. Seating is general admission. Reservations are appreciated, but not required. RSVP to pedwards@cals.org or 918-3009.

An ESPN reporter since 1996, Jeremy Schaap functions in a variety of roles at the network. He is a correspondent for E:60, the host of ESPN Radio’s The Sporting Life, and a frequent contributor to Outside the Lines, NFL Countdown, and College Gameday. His reports, interviews, and commentaries are regularly featured on SportsCenter.

Schaap has won multiple national Sports Emmy Awards and many other honors for his work, including a national Edward R. Murrow Award in 2012, and a National Headliner Award in 2007. He is the author of Cinderella Man, a New York Times bestseller, and Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler’s Olympics. In December 2013, Disney secured the movie rights to Triumph and enlisted Schaap for a consulting role on the film.

In addition to his contributions for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com, Schaap’s work has appeared in the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Time, the Wall Street Journal, and Parade.

As quarterback, Stoerner led Arkansas to a 2000 Cotton Bowl Classic victory, and went on to play for the NFL, the NFL Europe, and the Arena Football League.  He regularly appears on radio and television in Arkansas to discuss sports events.

The Heiskell Distinguished Lecture is named for J.N. Heiskell, the longest-serving member of the Library’s Board of Trustees and editor of the Arkansas Gazette for more than seventy years. Speakers and programs honor Mr. Heiskell’s commitment to excellence in journalism as well as his support of the library.

LR History, Cultural advocate Sharon Priest to retire from Downtown LR Partnership

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Photo courtesy of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership

Photo courtesy of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership

The Downtown Little Rock Partnership announced today that Sharon Priest, the Partnership’s executive director will retire at the end of January.  Priest has been a longtime advocate for and supporter of Little Rock’s cultural life since the 1980s.

“For more than a decade, Sharon has served as our executive director and under her leadership, the Downtown Little Rock Partnership has helped facilitate tremendous growth for downtown.   Her guidance and expertise has been instrumental in the Partnership’s success and set the bar high for the next director,” said Susie Smith, president of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership board of directors. “On behalf of the board, we wish to thank Sharon for all her hard work and we appreciate her dedication to the growth of downtown Little Rock.”

In January 2003, Priest was selected to serve as executive director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership (DLRP).  Priest reorganized the DLRP during that first year including rewriting the employee handbook, establishing policies and procedures and facilitating the Partnership’s office move to Capitol and Main. After commissioning a planning study and retreat, Priest placed economic development at the center of the DLRP’s efforts.

Under her leadership, the Downtown Little Rock Partnership has spearheaded the charge for revitalization of Main Street in collaboration with its stakeholders and the City of Little Rock, focusing on the redevelopment of existing structures, streetscape and safety.  In 2011, under Priest’s leadership, the Partnership successfully held the first ever Food Truck Festival on Main Street, a festival that has grown to become a major, destination event for downtown.

On behalf of the DLRP, Priest has facilitated the MacArthur Park Group, a grassroots organization of interested public and private stakeholders in MacArthur Park, through the award-winning MacArthur Park master plan process. She has organized successful clean-up efforts for the park and served as race director for the annual MacArthur Park 5K, a fundraiser for the master plan. Recently, the group raised the money for the first dog park in downtown Little Rock, MacArthur Unleashed Dog Park.

”Throughout my years in public service, one of the accomplishments I am most proud of is the many improvements to MacArthur Park.  I have enjoyed watching this beautiful area of our city become transformed into a vibrant place for all residents to enjoy,” said Sharon Priest.  “Thank you to everyone who helps make the Downtown Little Rock Partnership such a viable organization. Without our many members, city and county leadership and our amazing staff, none of this would be possible and I will miss all of you greatly.”

During her tenure with the Partnership, Priest earned significant recognition for her leadership.  In 2010 she received the prestigious Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Arkansas Chapter for her contributions to the architectural profession. Priest was the 2012 recipient of the Sandra Wilson Cherry Award for excellence in public service. She has also received the VISTA award from Little Rock Parks and Recreation for her work with MacArthur Park.

The board of directors will begin the search for a new executive director immediately.

Little Rock Look Back: Construction on Robinson Auditorium ‘Substantially Finished’

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jtrma-bw.jpgSeveral months behind schedule, it was 75 years ago today that the construction of the Joseph Taylor Robinson Memorial Auditorium was declared “substantially finished.”

On December 8, 1939, the work of the general contractor was complete.  The building’s utilities were all fully connected as the steam line and electric transformer were hooked up.  While the work of the general contractor was through, there was still much work to be done. Though there were still unfinished portions of the structure, the exterior was complete and finished surfaces had been installed on the interior.  Until the building was officially turned over to the City, the federal Public Works Administration still had to give approval for any uses of the building.

Mayor J. V. Satterfield, Jr. told the press that he wasn’t sure when the City would formally accept the building. The connection of the utilities had used up the remaining funds, so there was uncertainty as to when the final tasks would be completed.

When it was built, Robinson Auditorium was the first municipal auditorium in the south central United States to be air conditioned.  However, the air conditioning unit was not sufficient to cool both the music hall and the convention hall at the same time.  In warm weather months concurrent events would not be able to take place on the two levels.

Holiday Open House and Sweet Potato Pie Baking Contest today at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

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mtcc-say_it_aint_saysThe Mosaic Templars Cultural Center will host its annual Holiday Open House this afternoon from 2pm to 5pm.  

One of the features is the “Say It Ain’t Say’s” Sweet Potato Pie Baking Contest.  The Holiday Open House is a festive and fun opportunity to enjoy a day full of holiday cheer. We will have a wide variety of entertainment and this year’s event will feature our 3rd annual “Say It Ain’t Say’s” sweet potato pie contest, in honor of Little Rock’s black Santa, Robert “Say” McIntosh. Bring the kids to check out an awesome variety of holiday craft stations. Free and open to the public.

Two of the MTCC sister museums will also have holiday events this afternoon.  The Old State House Museum and the Historic Arkansas Museum will also be hosting holiday open houses.  All three museums are programs of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

The 47th Annual Christmas Frolic & Open House today at Historic Arkansas Museum

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hamfrolic2014This marks the 47th year that Historic Arkansas Museum has hosted an annual Christmas Open House.  For many families, attending this event on the first Sunday afternoon in December is a multi-generational family tradition.
This event celebrates Christmas as it was in the 1800s with living history, carols, reenactments, live music, dancing and more. Visitors come from across the state every year for our famous hot cider and ginger cake, as well as Arkansas Made holiday shopping in the Museum Store.
Among the activities will be blacksmithing demonstrations, the Arkansas Country Dance Band, Lark in the Morning, Sugar on the Floor, fiddler Ricky Russell and friends, Carolers in the Kitchen and the Aeolus Recorder Konsort.
Admission is free. The event runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Two of HAM’s sister museums will also be hosting holiday events today.  The Old State House Museum and Mosaic Templars Cultural Center both have Holiday Open Houses this afternoon.  All three museums are agencies of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

Old State House Holiday Open House this afternoon

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IMG_9317[1]Today from 1:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., the Old State House Museum will host its annual Holiday Open House.

The traditions of joyous family holiday celebrations past can be relived at Holiday Open House. Visitors will find the Old State House colorfully decorated for the season.

Fun, hands-on activities will be available to children; they can create unique holiday cards and more. Delightful carols will be performed by local music groups.

Visitors will also enjoy delicious cookies and punch.

Call (501) 324-9685 for more information. Admission is free.

Two of of the Old State House Museum’s sister institutions, Historic Arkansas Museum and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, will also be celebrating the holidays with activities today.  All three museums are agencies of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.