Monthly Archives: May 2015

Ruff on the River Goes Red, White and Blue!

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ROTR_FBRiverfest presents the 4th Annual “Ruff on the River Pooch Parade” to be held on Saturday May 23, 2015 at 9:30 a.m.  This year’s theme is Red, White, and Blue! Dress up your pooch in a patriotic theme. Ruff on the River and Riverfest want to give back to animal organizations in need. What better way than to get the community together for some fun while giving back to others.  This years proceeds recipients are as follows:  All About Labs, Little Rock Animal Village and C.A.R.E.

The registration “PAWTY” and the start of the parade will take place on the lawn of Heifer Village for the 2015 festival. The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. If you did not pre-register, you may register on site for $35 with festival admission included for the entire weekend! The “PAWTY”starts at 8:30 a.m. and immediately following the parade will be the Weenie Dog Derby for all short legged dogs.  There are three different sized categories for the short-legged dog races.1) Beenie Weenies – Measures no more than 8″ in height. 2) Hot Dogs – Measures 9-12″ in height. 3) Summer Sausage – Measures over 12″ in height.  Join our celebrity judges as they give away top prizes at the Winners Circle and introduce the recipients of our proceeds and the winners of the best costume contest!

Each Pooch registration includes one human escort. Additional human guests can walk with the pooch member by purchasing an additional escort pass. Escort passes can be purchased at the registration “PAWTY”.

Registration for additional human companions and the Weenie Dog Derby will take place the day of the event for $5.

Your registration fee benefits C.A.R.E., All About Labs and Little Rock Animal Village.

Heritage Month – La Petite Roche

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IMG_4805Today’s Heritage Month “property” is the oldest in Little Rock.  It is, in fact, THE Little Rock.

On April 9, 1722, French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de La Harpe rounded the bend of the Arkansas River and saw La Petite Roche and Le Rocher Français.

Though La Harpe and his expedition are the first Europeans documented to have seen La Petite Roche, the outcropping of rocks was well-known to the Quapaw Indians in the area.  The outcropping jutted out in the Arkansas River and created a natural harbor which provided a perfect place for boats to land.

The rock outcropping is the first one visible along the banks of the Arkansas River.  It marks the place where the Mississippi Delta meets the Ouachita Mountains.  Geologists now believe that the Little Rock is not the same type of rock as the Ouachita Mountains and more closely matches the composition and age of mountains in the western US.

In 1813, William Lewis became the first European settler to live near La Petite Roche but only stayed a few months.  Speculators and trappers continued to visit the area throughout the 1810s. During that time, the outcropping became known informally as the Little Rock.

La Petite Roche had become a well-known crossing when the Arkansas Territory was established in 1819. The permanent settlement of ‘The Rock’ began in the spring of 1820, and the first building has been described as a cabin, or shanty, and was built on the bank of the river near the ‘Rock.’ In March 1820, a Post Office was established at the ‘Rock’ with the name “Little Rock.”

Over the years, La Petite Roche was altered.  In 1872, Congress authorized the building of a railroad bridge. A pier for the bridge was built at the location of the La Petite Roche which caused the removal of several tons of rock.  The bridge was never built.  When the Junction Bridge was built in 1899, even more rock was removed in the process of erecting part of the bridge on top of the rock.  It was not viewed as being disrespectful of the City’s namesake at the time.  Indeed, it was viewed as a testament to the sturdiness of the rock.

In 2010, La Petite Roche plaza opened in Riverfront Park.  It celebrates the history of La Petite Roche and explores its importance to various aspects of Little Rock’s history and geography.

The Little Rock was added to the National Register of Historic Places in October 1970.

Riverfest kicks off today with Sheryl Crow, Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless, Kris Allen, Gaelic Storm

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2015 Riverfest SquareRiverfest is a celebration of visual and performing arts that is held annually over Memorial Day weekend on the banks of the Arkansas River in Little Rock. Riverfest is the largest single event in the state of Arkansas with a rich 38-year tradition. Approximately 250,000 festival-goers attended the 2014 event, with an estimated economic impact of $33 million on the community.

Tonight things get going with performances on four different stages.

On the Miller Lite/Arkansas Federal Credit Union Stage (the amphitheatre), Sheryl Crow will headline at 9:30.  Arkansas’ own Kris Allen will play from 8 to 9.  Just Sayin’ will just kick things off at 6:30.

The lineup for the Bud Light Stage includes: STARSET at 6:30, The Pretty Reckless at 8 and Halestorm at 9:45.

On the Stickyz Stage, The Salty Dogs will start at 6:30. At 8, Swampbird will take the stage.  Gaelic Storm will end the evening at 9:30.

The Yarnell’s Kidzone Stage will feature: The Kazoobie Kazoo Show w/Rick Hubbard at 6:15, Break Shop Bump’n at 7:15 and DJ Dev at 8pm.

TV ALERT – Museum of Discovery’s Kevin Delaney returns to Tonight Show tonight!

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Delaney MOD NBCAs proof that good things come in threes, Kevin Delaney, director of visitor experience at the Museum of Discovery, will make his THIRD appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” at 10:35 p.m. Friday, May 22, on NBC.  Delaney serves as the show’s “science expert” and performs multiple science demonstrations with Fallon serving as his lab assistant.

“I am honored to return to ‘The Tonight Show’ and represent the Museum of Discovery and Arkansas,” said Delaney. “It’s exciting to have this opportunity to showcase how amazing science is, all while serving the museum’s mission of igniting a passion for science, technology and math.”

Delaney was chosen after “Tonight Show” producers reached out to more than 50 museums across the country in search of the right candidate. Following a test show in February, Delaney made his successful “Tonight Show” debut on May 5, 2014 and returned again on November 7. To watch his first two appearances, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OELiqiIHZEI andhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQWtZd8jM3g

To learn more about Delaney, visit https://www.museumofdiscovery.org/kevin-delaney-tonight-show-jimmy-fallon

The Museum of Discovery’s mission is to ignite a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.

Heritage Month – Ten Mile House

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Ten_Mile_fDeriving its common name from its distance from Little Rock at the time, the Federal-style Ten Mile House,  is a rare example of a largely intact rural home of the early nineteenth century.  In addition to the house, there are four nineteenth-century outbuildings surrounded by a large parcel of wooded property.

It was built by Archibald McHenry, and is sometimes known as the McHenry House or Stagecoach House (due to its presence on the Southwest Trail stagecoach line).  During the Civil War it served as a military outpost for Union troops.  David O. Dodd was held a prisoner in the smokehouse prior to his trial and execution.

Ten Mile House exhibits Early Georgian or Federal influence through the use of bridging between paired chimneys situated at each end of the house. Traits of the Federal style include simple, symmetrical proportions and large multi-paned windows. Ornamentation is minimal and is usually found around entries, windows, and cornice lines. A brick smokehouse, dairy house, well house, and kitchen house—all dating from the nineteenth century—remain on the property.

The Ten Mile House was listed on the National Register in June of 1970. Several families have owned the home since its early nineteenth century construction. It has served as a combination tea room/antiques store, a venue for public dinner parties and weddings, and a residence.

The glorious song-stylings of Bonnie Montgomery are on display tonight in concert at Wildwood Park

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BonnieMontgomeryHouse_UpdateBonnie Montgomery and band, penned by San Diego Beat as “…like Patsy Cline fronting a twangier Crazy Horse…more or less a perfect formula for country rock..” is tearing a streak across the country with her Arkansas/Austin-based sound. Following the release of EPs “Cruel” (2012, Fast Weapons) and “Joy” (2013, Fast Weapons), Arkansas born and bred Bonnie Montgomery released her self-titled LP in July 2014 on Portland/Arkansas label Fast Weapons.

A classically trained singer whose southern roots run deep, Montgomery has taken her authentic spin on golden-era country/western music through the U.S. and Europe, headlining shows and also supporting Gossip, Shovels and Rope, Robert Ellis, Hayes Carll, Billy Joe Shaver, Turnpike Troubadours, Pokey LaFarge, and Wayne “the Train” Hancock, among others.

Bonnie’s composition of the modern folk opera “Billy Blythe”, about the childhood of Bill Clinton, previewed in New York, and has earned her the attention of publications such as The New Yorker, The Economist, The Huffington Post and the London Daily Telegraph.

Doors open at 6:30, concert starts at 7pm.  There is a $15 Suggested Donation.  Beer, wine and snacks will be available.  The concert will be in the Pavilion at Wildwood Park.

Get Ready for Riverfest with “Flowing on the River” tonight

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RF Flow on River2015Riverfest, Inc. invites you to “Flowing on the River,” presented by TRG Foundation, a wine and craft beer tasting to be held Thursday, May 21st from 5:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m. in the River Market pavilions in downtown Little Rock.

Natural State Wines has selected an array of boutique wines and Arkansas Craft Distributors will provide an offering of outstanding craft beers for your tasting pleasure. Representatives will be available from the vineyards and breweries to discuss and educate attendees on their products. Local Little Rock area restaurants will provide hors d’oeuvres to accompany the array of wines & craft beers. Music will be provided by FreeVerse Duo. Proceeds from this event will be used to present Argenta Community Theater’s Summer Camp program “ACTing Up” to be held in July 2015 at Argenta Community Theater.

Restaurateurs

  • BAT Farms
  • Boston’s Restaurant & Sports Bar
  • Brenda Majors Catering
  • Cheers in the Heights
  • Samantha’s Tap Room
  • Dugan’s Pub and Stratton’s Market
  • JM Foods
  • Macaroni Grill
  • Newks Catering
  • The Garden Bistro
  • Texas Roadhouse
  • Las Palmas

Admission to the event is $25 per person in advance (or $30 at the door).  For more information on the event, please contact the Riverfest office at 501-255-3378.