Monthly Archives: September 2015

Dollar Day at Museum of Discovery today from 1pm to 5pm

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modToday from 1pm to 5pm, admission to the Museum of Discovery is only $1 because it is Dollar Day.

It is a great time to visit Mindbender Mansion before it closes on Monday!

Mister E. and the Mindbender Society invite you to enter the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion, an eclectic place full of puzzles, brainteasers, and interactive challenges guaranteed to test the brain power and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers. Adults and children alike will enjoy exercising their minds as they try to master each of the 11 individual brain teasers and the three group activities in this fun and unconventional new exhibit.

Throughout the exhibit visitors will find a combination of tabletop brainteasers they can solve on their own and larger group challenges that require assistance from their fellow mansion guests.

Upon completing each of the select brainteasers and group challenges, visitors will have gathered the necessary clues and secret passwords to become a member of the Mindbender Society and add their portrait to the “Wall of Fame.”

Sculpture Vulture: RENEWAL RITUAL

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DSC_0650 Another of the new sculptures recently installed in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden is Denny Haskew’s Renewal Ritual.

It depicts ten adults sitting in pairings facing each other.  They are made of bronze and are situated atop a stone slab base.

DSC_0654Haskew notes that in creating the piece he wanted “to show the ritual used by a couple to renew their commitment to one another, then using many colors or people and different conversations between different genders it shows society ability to sit down and converse with one another.”

Though the individual men and women appear similar, due to coloration of the bronze, each person is unique. This reinforces Haskew’s tenet of the differences and similarities of people.

The sculpture was purchased by Sculpture at the River Market.

2015-16 ASO Pops includes Cirque, Broadway, Movies and Holiday Favorites

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aso_2-colorThe Arkansas Symphony Orchestra returns to the Connor Performing Arts Center on the Pulaski Academy campus for the 2015-2016 season.  There is still time to order your tickets.

Things get started on October 24 & 25 with “Cirque Musical.” Debuting this summer at the Hollywood Bowl, this evening will feature contortionists, balances and jugglers providing a visual feast for the eyes while the ASO will play classical and contemporary music.

From December 18 to 20, it will be “Holiday Pops with the ASO.” This long-running tradition will feature Christmas carols and other holiday songs

February 13 & 14 will be “Broadway Rocks!” Featuring Broadway stars Christiane Noll, Carpathia Jenkins and Rob Evans, this evening will feature songs from such Broadway shows as Rent, Wicked, Mamma Mia, The Lion King, The Wiz and The Phantom of the Opera.  A lot of people throw around the term “Broadway stars” but these three deserve it.  If they are in a show, they steal it!

The Pops season will conclude with “The Movie Music of John Williams” on May 7&8.  The ASO will play selections from some of Williams’ mist famous movies. He has win 5 Oscars, 6 Emmys, 25 Golden Globes and 22 Grammys.

DEATHTRAP, first show of CTLR 60th season, continues

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CTLR DeathtrapThe Community Theatre of Little Rock begins its 60th Season with the Tony-nominated murder mystery Deathtrap by Ira Levin.  It opened on September 3rd and continues tonight, tomorrow afternoon at September 10-13th The Studio Theatre, 320 West 7th Street in downtown Little Rock.

Regular admission is $16 for adults and $14 for military, students (10yrs – College) and seniors age 65+. $6.00 for Children (4-9 yrs). Children age 3 and under are given free admission. Groups of 10 or more can get in for $14. Bring a pair of gently used running shoes and receive $1.00 off your admission.
Seemingly comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a “dry” spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college—a thriller which Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway hit. Sidney’s plan, which he devises with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student, an idea which the younger man quickly accepts. Thereafter suspense mounts steadily as the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness, and with such an abundance of thrills and laughter, that audiences will be held enthralled until the final, startling moments of the play.
The cast includes Harold Dean, Jennifer Lamb, Jeremiah Elliott, Miki Thompson and Chris Boggs (who is also the producer). Jerry Woods is the director, and Karena White is the stage manager.
Performances on Thursday – Saturday ~ Box office opens at 6:30 pm, curtain rises at 7:30 pm.  Performances on Sundays ~ Box office opens at 1:00 pm, curtain rises at 2:00 pm.

Friday Night Lights Cinema: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

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fridaynightlightsHigh school football returns tonight. In honor of that, each Friday in September will feature a movie about high school football.  Up first, the eponymously titled Friday Night Lights.

This 2004 film is based on Buzz Bissinger’s book of the same name.  The book is non-fiction, but the movie employs a mix of fact and Hollywood-ization.  It was directed by actor-director Peter Berg, a cousin of Bissinger’s.  It was originally slated to be directed by Alan J. Pakula, who died before filming started.

Billy Bob Thornton, Jay Hernandez and Connie Britton lead the cast.  Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Derek Luke, Lee Jackson, Lee Thompson Young, Grover Coulson, and Tim McGraw also were in the cast.

The movie won the 2005 ESPY for Best Sports Movie.  It inspired a TV series which ran from 2006 to 2011.  Connie Britton was in the series playing a coach’s wife, as she had in the movie – but the names and aspects of the character were different.  Brad Leland played a team booster in both the movie and series.  It received 13 Emmy nominations and 3 Emmy awards during its run.

Runaway Planet at Ron Robinson Theater tonight at 7 with Arkansas Sounds

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arksounds runaway_planetTonight at 7pm, the Arkansas Sounds Music Series features Runaway Planet.

Traditional string band Runaway Planet performs hard-driving bluegrass, three-part harmonies, complex arrangements, and original songs. Runaway Planet is an Arkansas four-piece bluegrass group that has performed nearly 15 years. The band’s original music features traditional bluegrass instrumentation with modern lyrics, three-part harmonies, and highly skilled playing showing their rock, folk, and jazz influences.

The concert will take place at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Avenue.  General Admission: $10.  Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Founded in 2001, Little Rock bluegrass band Runaway Planet evolved out of a long-time friendship between members and a mutual love for traditional string-band music. Their music is a mix of hard-driving bluegrass, three-part harmonies, complex arrangements and original songs.  The musicians are Greg Alexander, guitar and vocals; Steve Brauer, banjo, guitar, vocals; Matthew Stone, mandolin, dobro; Michael Proveaux, bass, vocals.

Drawing from traditional influences like Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs and the Stanley Brothers, they are also inspired by more progressive bluegrass bands like The Country Gentlemen, The Seldom Scene and New Grass Revival.

Arkansas Sounds is a project of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, a department of the Central Arkansas Library System. Focused on Arkansas music and musicians both past and present, Arkansas Sounds presents concerts, workshops, and other events to showcase Arkansas’s musical culture.

Music and Food on tap at Main Street Food Truck Friday kickoff today

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Foodtruck FridaysMain Street Food Truck Fridays Kickoff

Friday, September 4 from 10:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Main Street Creative Corridor on The Plaza at Main & Capitol

 

Participating:  Bryant’s BBQ, Hot Rod Wieners, Jackie’s Mobile Café, Kona Ice and The Southern Gourmasian, and Michael Shaw with live music 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Menus:

  1. Bryant’s BBQ- Smoked Brisket/Pork/Beef Sandwich Combos with Fresh Cut Fries, Jerk Chicken and Spanish Rice, Fresh Gulf Shrimp and Catfish Baskets and Homemade BBQ Nachos, Loaded Fries and Coleslaw
  2. Hot Rod Wieners- Gourmet All Beef Hot Dog on Boulevard Bun:  Mudslinger- chili, cheddar, onions;  Italian Stallion- meaty marinara, provolone, pepperoni chips, basil;  Hot Cheese Injection- hot cheese sauce, peppers, hot sauce;  MAC Truck- mac and cheese, bacon;  Spicy Daewood- kimchi, mustard
  3. Jackie’s Mobile Café- Old Fashion Artisan Crafted Hamburgers with all the toppings, Farm- Raised Catfish, Finger-Licking Wings, Chick-O-Stick, Nachos and Fries
  4. Kona Ice- Tropical Shaved Ice Experience…  FLAVOR YOUR WORLD!
  5. Southern Gourmasian- Steamed Buns , Shrimp & Grits, Spicy Chicken & Dumplings, Almond Crusted Chicken Sandwich, S’more cookies

 

Live music:

Performed by Michael Shaw from 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.  Michael plays a wide variety of acoustic music from the 60’s to today. He plays all your favorite covers mixed with some of his own creations.

 

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Main Street Food Truck Fridays is held each spring and fall with up to five food trucks as an offshoot of the Main Street Food Truck Festival and is presented by the Downtown Little Rock Partnership in support of Main Street revitalization.  The dates for Fall 2015 are: September 4, 11, 18 and 25 and October 9, 16, 23 and 30. There will be no Main Street Food Truck Fridays on October 2 before the Festival. Food trucks and menus are updated weekly on Facebook: facebook.com/MainStreetFoodTruckFestival.

The 5th annual Main Street Food Truck Festival will be held Saturday, October 3, 2016 on Main Street from 3rd to 8th, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is presented this year by Road Runner Stores. This year over 40 food trucks will participate along with art and craft vendors, buskers, beer gardens, Heifer International children’s activities and more. Earlier in the year the Main Street Food Truck Festival was designated by an online magazine called Vacation Idea as one of the “Best Food Truck Festivals in the United States.” (http://vacationidea.com/ideas/best-food-truck-festivals.html)