Author Archives: Scott

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About Scott

A cultural thinker with a life long interest in the arts and humanities: theatre, music, architecture, photography, history, urban planning, etc.

On June 13, make plans to see 13 on June 14-16 or June 21-23

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13coverThe Weekend Theatre opened 13 last weekend.  It continues through June 23.  Directed by Hannah Sawyer, it features a score by Tony winner Jason Robert Brown and  a book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn.

Performances are at 7:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30pm on Sundays.

A grown-up story about growing up! When his parents get divorced and he’s forced to move from New York to a small town in Indiana, Evan Goldman just wants to make friends and survive the school year. Easier said than done. The star quarterback is threatening to ruin his life and his only friend, Patrice, won’t talk to him. The school freak sees an opportunity for blackmail and someone is spreading the ‘nastiest’ rumors. 13 is a hilarious, high-energy musical for all ages about discovering that cool is where you find it and sometimes where you least expect it.

Great Typo Hunt focus of Darragh Lecture

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Great_Typo_HuntJeff Deck, author of The Great Typo Hunt: Two Friends Changing the World, One Correction at a Time, will speak at the Central Arkansas Library System’s (CALS) 2013 Fred K. Darragh Jr. Distinguished Lecture on Thursday, June 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Library’s Darragh Center, 100 Rock Street.

Deck is a writer, editor, and typo hunter. The Great Typo Hunt, co-authored with Benjamin D. Herson, details their trip around the country correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors in public. Copies of the book will be for sale at the lecture; Deck will sign books at a reception following the talk.

The Fred K. Darragh Jr. Distinguished Lecture is held annually to celebrate Mr. Darragh’s contributions to public libraries and his service to CALS. He served on the boards of many organizations, including CALS, the Arkansas Library Association, Southern Regional Council, Peace Links, and the Arkansas Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

He served as President of the Arkansas Council on Human Relations, President of the Little Rock Urban League, and President of the National Council for Community Services to International Visitors in Washington, DC.

Reservations are appreciated, but not required. To RSVP, email pedwards@cals.org or call 918-3009. For more information, contact 501-918-3086.

Movies in the Park – Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1

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1368478223-movies_in_the_parkFor a movie series that starts at twilight, it is appropriate that Movies in the Park kicks off the 2013 season tonight in Riverfront Park with the 2011 hit film Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 1. The fourth in the vampire/werwolf saga, it is directed by Bill Condon.

The film stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Anna Kendrick, Peter Facinelli, Kellan Lutz, Billy Burke, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Elizabeth Reaser and Nikki Reed.

Breaking_Dawn_Part_1_PosterMovies in the Park is a free outdoor movie series in Little Rock’s River Market. They take place at the First Security Amphitheatre. The mission of Movies in the Park is help foster a sense of community and enjoyment in downtown Little Rock and throughout Central Arkansas by bringing people together to enjoy a movie in a unique setting along the scenic banks of the Arkansas River.

Movies start at dark. Visitors are welcome to bring picnics but please no glass containers and pick up afterwards. Those choosing not to bring their own picnic, the park does have concessions available for sale.

Bring bug spray, picnic and family and have a good time!

The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau Technical Services department provides all the equipment for the movies.

Jazz in the Park continues tonight

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jazzinpark

The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau continues the new series of free jazz concerts tonight.  TwiceSax is featured tonight.

Jazz in the Park will be every Wednesday night in June and July from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. They will take place in the History Pavilion in Riverfront Park (between the Junction Bridge and Peabody Park).

Beer & Wine will be available for sale – portions of the proceeds will benefit Sculpture at the River Market…so no coolers, please. Free to attend!

History of State Capitol is topic of noon talk today

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irreverant_overview

The State of Arkansas turns 177 later this week.  A good way to mark this is to contemplate the building which has been the seat of government for over 100 of those years.

ad conclusio, per aspera; or, Two Architects, Six Governors, Dozens of Contractors, One Jailed Senator, Fifteen Years, and 2.23 Million Dollars Lead to What? is the name of a noontime conversation being hosted by the Central Arkansas Library System today, June 12.

The program, which will take place in the Arkansas State Capitol building in Room 272, will feature State Capitol historian David Ware.

It is being billed as “an irreverent overview of how the Capitol project survived.”  Construction of the Arkansas Capitol began in 1899 and stalled early due to problems with financing and failed deadlines.

With the support and vision from the project’s most emphatic backer, then-Governor George Donaghey, members of the Arkansas Legislature met for the first time in the chambers of the still-unfinished Capitol on January 9, 1911. Donaghey declared the building was “done enough” to accommodate the solons and state officers.

Bottled water and cookies will be provided; guests are invited to bring their own lunch.

June 11 Architeaser: Arkansas State Capitol

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IMG_5768The dome of the Arkansas State Capitol Building is generally thought to be smooth – but as this photo shows, there are quite a few flourishes and architectural touches on the dome.   Built over 16 years (from 1899 to 1915) it had two architects of record (George R. Mann and Cass Gilbert) and was both championed and reviled by various Arkansas governors during the design and construction.

The cornerstone was laid on November 27, 1900. Since this was to be a “pay as you go” project, that slowed progress considerably.  When completed, it measured 440 feet along its north-south axis, and just over 195 feet from east to west.  From the ground to the top of the dome is 213 feet.  The building has nearly 287,000 square feet of offices.

The majority of the exterior of the Capitol is made of Batesville limestone.  The curved portions of the dome, however, are made of softer Indiana limestone.  Total construction cost was $2.2 million with today’s value of the building being $320 million.  The cupola is covered in 24 karat gold leaf.

Tomorrow there will be a lecture on the construction of the building.  More information on this will be in another entry.

 

Philip Martin headlines tonight’s Tales from the South

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talesfromsouthTales from the South returns with the June “Tin Roof Project” featuring Philip Martin.  The program takes place tonight.  Advance reservations are required and seating is limited.

Music is by the Salty Dogs and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

Philip Martin is a columnist, editor and the chief film critic at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He has won more than 40 regional and national journalism awards during his tenure at the newspaper, including two Green Eyeshade Awards, and he was a finalist for the 2012 James Hearst Poetry Prize.

He is also the “monkey in the nose cone” at blooddirtandangels.com, a culture blog from “the perspective of a self-identified Southerner who still reads novels and likes baseball, dogs and punk rock music.” His first album of original songs, Gastonia, was released in March 2013, and is now available on iTunes and through most other digital outlets.

Born in Savannah, Ga., Martin has played pro baseball in South America and rhythm guitar in garage bands. He lives in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock with his wife Karen and three rescue terriers.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories.  While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

The program takes place at Starving Artist Café.  Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $5, not including dinner.

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.