Monthly Archives: July 2015

CALS Potter Marathon continues tonight with HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

Posted on by

RRT HP 0728Harry continues to discover his destiny as the Central Arkansas Library System’s (CALS) Ron Robinson Theater‘s (RRT) Harry Potter Movie Marathon shows Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Year three at Hogwarts means new fun and challenges as Harry learns the delicate art of approaching a Hippogriff, transforming shape-shifting Boggarts into hilarity and even turning back time. But the term also brings danger: soul-sucking Dementors hover over the school, an ally of the accursed He-Who-Cannot-Be-Named lurks within the castle walls, and fearsome wizard Sirius Black escapes Azkaban.

This 2004 film was directed by Alfonso Cuaron. This was the first Harry Potter film to not be directed by Chris Columbus.  The cast was led by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.  Michael Gambon took over the role of Dumbledore from Richard Harris, who had died.

Others in the cast were Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw, Geraldine Somerville, Gary Oldman, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, Chris Rankin, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright, Mark Williams, David Thewlis, David Bradley, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Matthew Lewis, Tom Felton, Dawn French, Emma Thompson, Julie Christie, Peter Best and Timothy Spall.

The screening of all eight movies from Sunday, July 26 – Saturday, August 1 will celebrate Harry Potter’s July 31 birthday. Special Harry Potter-themed concessions, activities, and prizes are part of the festivities at 100 River Market Avenue.

Tickets are $7 each for single tickets. Concessions will be available for purchase at every showing, and beer and wine are available at screenings scheduled after 5 p.m.

Some planned activities for movie-goers include being sorted into Hogwarts houses, competing for House Cup points, photo booths, and a horcrux scavenger hunt. Unique treats include candy from Kilwin’s and magical ice cream from Loblolly Creamery. Doors open and activities begin one hour before show time.

The movies continue in order through Friday at 7pm.  On Saturday the final two films will be shown at 1pm and 7pm.

If you see one or all 8, be sure and use #CALSPotterMarathon on social media.

Minors in Music play at River Market today at noon as part of A Work of Art Jazz Week 2015

Posted on by

minors-in-musicToday at noon at the River Market, the Art Porter Music Education “Minors in Music” will perform a free concert. This is part of the annual “A Work of Art” Jazz Week.

Minors in Music is a music education program that benefits musically gifted Arkansas students. The name is a spin-off from The Minor Key, a television show produced by Art Porter Sr. on AETN that showcased talented Arkansans. Minors in Music continues that legacy by providing the same opportunities for aspiring music students.

Under the direction of Dr. Danny Fletcher, the program combines workshops, musical and educational relationships with professional musicians and educators with a community service component to create a customized training program. The program emphasizes that the key to using music as a community-building tool is to ignite an early appreciation for community engagement within young musicians and give them the tools they need to become leaders and innovators. Music is transformative because it benefits students educationally and socially and connects a total population universally!  Minors in Music educates, encourages and empowers young people!

APME has a unique opportunity and responsibility to inspire the next generation of musicians, whether as educators, performers or producers, to explore non-traditional opportunities, and create interactive ways to inspire communities and future generations. It’s been said that true talent is often like a treasured family heirloom. As it’s passed down, each recipient polishes it, refinishes it, and makes it his own. Minors in Music are APME’s treasured family heirlooms. Their skills will be polished and refinished into their particular style and passed on to the next talented generation.

New chimp born at LR Zoo. Help pick the Zoo pick the name!

Posted on by

Mom and baby chimpThe Little Rock Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a male chimpanzee born July 18, 2015, to chimp Mahale. Along with that announcement, the Zoo also launched an online poll asking the public to vote for a name for the new baby.

Name choices for the baby were selected by keeper staff.  Presented in alphabetical order the choices are:

    • Jumoke – Swahili for “everyone loves the child.”
    • Kgosi – a Setswana term for “king” or “chief.” The baby’s grandfather was named “King Richard.”
    • Kibale – named after Kibale National Park in Uganda; this is similar to the baby’s mother, Mahale, who was named for Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania.

Voting will take place online at the Zoo website until midnight on Sunday, August 2, 2015.  Visit www.LittleRockZoo.com/babychimp to vote.  Results will be posted after noon on Monday, August 3.

This marks the second birth for Mahale, who gave birth to Kendi on August 29, 2015. While paternity tests have not been conducted, keepers suspect the likely father of the baby is Kijana, the alpha male chimpanzee of the group.

The best opportunity to see the new baby and the chimp family is during the 1:30 p.m. scatter feed at the Great Ape exhibit every day. However, mom and baby have access to an indoor air conditioned area; they have the choice to venture outside or not.

The chimp’s birth is the result of efforts by the chimpanzee Species Survival Plan (SSP) of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The SSP is an organization with members from other AZA accredited zoos that makes breeding and companionship recommendations for endangered animals.

The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things.  With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.  For more information, visit www.aza.org.

Tonight’s QQA Preservation Conversations: Fine Art Repair and Appraisal Workshop

Posted on by
QQAJennifer Carman and Laura Bryan will be collaborating to discuss art repair and appraisal to coincide with the Antiques Roadshow making its way to Little Rock on July 25.
Jennifer Carman, of J. Carman, Inc., is an art appraiser and advisor and works on everything from pottery to paper. Jennifer helps with a variety of appraisal projects.
Laura Bryan, of Bryan and Devan conservation, works to conserve and rehabilitate artifacts that have seen years of wear or abuse.
Together these women will discuss conservation methodology and appraisal. The event will be hosted at historic Curran Hall. Beer and wine will be provided.
It will start at 5:30 pm.

“A Work of Art” – Jazz Week 2015 Kicks off today at Little Rock City Hall at noon

Posted on by

apme awoa 2015Today at noon at City Hall, the City of Little Rock will host an event introducing the 2015 “A Work of Art” Jazz Week. The kickoff features the first concert of a week-long series of awe-inspiring performances. The agenda includes the introduction of Madison Moline, the 2015 Art Porter Music Education scholarship recipient, a performance by the students from the “Minors of Music” program and details on the concerts scheduled for the rest of the week.

“A Work of Art” is the primary fundraiser for the Art Porter Music Education scholarship program. All proceeds from the week-long fundraiser benefit the scholarship fund. “A Work of Art” concludes in early August in observance of the birth month of Art Porter, Jr. Attendees enjoy a week of unique educational experiences by an impressive group of local artists, music students and national recording artists.

Ticket information is available at www.artporter.org.

Harry Potter Marathon continues with THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS

Posted on by

RRT HP 0727Harry continues to discover his destiny as the Central Arkansas Library System’s (CALS)  Ron Robinson Theater ‘s (RRT) Harry Potter Movie Marathon shows with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Cars fly, trees fight back and a mysterious elf comes to warn Harry Potter at the start of the second year of his amazing journey into the world of wizardry. This year at Hogwarts, spiders talk, letters scold and Harry’s own unsettling ability to speak to snakes turns his friends against him. From dueling clubs to rogue Bludgers, it’s a year of adventure and danger when bloody writing on a wall announces: The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. To save Hogwarts will require all of Harry, Ron and Hermione’s magical abilities and courage.
This 2002 film was directed by Chris Columbus.  Returning to the cast are Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, Julie Walters, John Cleese, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Wright, Chris Rankin, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Matthew Lewis, Tom Felton and Devon Murray. Among the new cast members were Toby Jones, Jim Norton, Mark Williams, Jason Isaacs, Kenneth Branagh, David Bradley and Miriam Margolyes.

The screening of all eight movies from Sunday, July 26 – Saturday, August 1 will celebrate Harry Potter’s July 31 birthday. Special Harry Potter-themed concessions, activities, and prizes are part of the festivities at 100 River Market Avenue.

Tickets are $7 each for single tickets. Concessions will be available for purchase at every showing, and beer and wine are available at screenings scheduled after 5 p.m.

Some planned activities for movie-goers include being sorted into Hogwarts houses, competing for House Cup points, photo booths, and a horcrux scavenger hunt.

Unique treats include candy from Kilwin’s and magical ice cream from Loblolly Creamery. Doors open and activities begin one hour before show time.

The movies continue in order through Friday at 7pm.  On Saturday the final two films will be shown at 1pm and 7pm.

If you see one or all 8, be sure and use #CALSPotterMarathon on social media.

Harry Potter Marathon starts with HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE at 6pm

Posted on by
RRT HP 0726Go back to the beginning as the Central Arkansas Library System’s (CALS)  Ron Robinson Theater ‘s (RRT) Harry Potter Movie Marathon kicks off with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. (Or … and the Philosopher’s Stone for those who read the book or watched the film across the pond.)
Harry Potter, an orphaned child that has spent the first ten years of his life living under the stairs of his aunt and uncle’s house, is invited to join the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He learns his destiny lies in the realm of magic and fantasy.
This 2001 film was directed by Chris Columbus.  It introduced audiences to Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as the central trio of students at Hogwarts.  Surrounding them were British acting legends Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, Ian Hart, John Hurt, Julie Walters, John Cleese, Alan Rickman and Zoe Wanamaker.  Others in the cast included Bonnie Wright, Chris Rankin, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Matthew Lewis, Tom Felton and Devon Murray.
The screening of all eight movies from Sunday, July 26 – Saturday, August 1 will celebrate Harry Potter’s July 31 birthday. Special Harry Potter-themed concessions, activities, and prizes are part of the festivities at 100 River Market Avenue.
Tickets are $7 each for single tickets. Concessions will be available for purchase at every showing, and beer and wine are available at screenings scheduled after 5 p.m.

Some planned activities for movie-goers include being sorted into Hogwarts houses, competing for House Cup points, photo booths, and a horcrux scavenger hunt. Unique treats include candy from Kilwin’s and magical ice cream from Loblolly Creamery. Doors open and activities begin one hour before show time.

The movies continue in order Monday through Friday at 7pm.  On Saturday the final two films will be shown at 1pm and 7pm.

If you see one or all 8, be sure and use #CALSPotterMarathon on social media.