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.

Movies in the Park – Summer 2013 Lineup

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pathThe Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced the 2013 Movies in the Park season.

Things kicks off on June 12 with Twilight Breaking Dawn (PG 13).

Other movies include:
• June 19: Remember the Titans (PG)
• June 26: The Notebook (PG 13)
• July 3: The Dark Knight Rises (PG 13)
• July 10: Zookeeper (PG)
• July 17: Big (PG)
• July 24: Finding Nemo (G)
• July 31: Breakfast at Tiffany’s (G)
• August 7: The Avengers (PG 13)

The films take place at First Security Amphitheatre in Riverfront Park along the banks of the Arkansas River near La Petite Roche, Little Rock’s namesake.

Families, picnics and pets are invited to the park to enjoy movies under the stars. The amphitheater will open an hour before film showings and movies will start at sundown each week.

For more information please visit http://moviesintheparklr.net/.

Science After Dark: Tinkerfest Preview

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scienceafterdarkThis month’s Science After Dark is on May 29 and will be “Can You Tinker Your Way Out of a Paper Bag: Tinkerfest Preview”. Some of the upcoming Tinkerfest activities will be available before the June 15 event.

Science after Dark occurs the last Wednesday of each month from 6pm to 8pm. Museum educators pick a science-related topic, and develop an event around it. The event is for ages 21 and older. General admission is $5 per person. Museum members get in free.

It is a great chance to explore the museum’s exhibits and enjoy downtown Little Rock.

tinkerfest

 

May 28 Architeaser: AP&L Building

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The Arkansas Arts Center just opened an exhibit on Bauhaus architecture. Though Little Rock doesn’t have any strictly Bauhaus style buildings, there are a few buildings designed in the International Style which was related to Bauhaus.

The Arkansas Power & Light Building on Louisiana and 9th Streets was announced in 1953 and completed in 1959. The design was by Fred Arnold of the Wittenberg Delony & Davidson firm. The reason for the delay was due to uncertainty regarding a rate case and labor contracts.

The four story building features a combination of glass, marble and brick. The second and third stories float over an open space as they extend eastward. In 2010, the marble panels on the second and third stories were replaced because of buckling. They were replaced with marble from the same quarry as the original marble.

The orb atop the building once bore the likeness of Reddy Kilowatt, a mascot used by AP&L as well as many other electric utilities in the post-World War II era. When AP&L changed its name to Entergy Arkansas (as part of the system-wide rebranding of various companies into Entergy), the orb was replaced with one which features a three-dimensional version of the Entergy logo.

Bauhaus architecture school focus of exhibit at Arkansas Arts Center

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bauhausOrganized by Foto+Synthesis Incorporated, Bauhaus twenty-21: An Ongoing Legacy – Photographs by Gordon Watkinson runs through September 22.  

This exhibition conveys the architectural history, design and enduring philosophies of the Bauhaus, a German expression meaning “house for building” and the name of an important German School principle of architecture and design.

The exhibition offers a unique perspective on Bauhaus design philosophy as it relates to architecture and its relevance in today’s society. The Bauhaus school was founded by Walter Gropius in 1919 and introduced principles that shaped the foundation of modern architecture. Conceived as a project encompassing architecture, design and photography, Bauhaus twenty-21 not only conveys the architectural history, but also illustrates the enduring philosophies of the Bauhaus.

The exhibition is comprised of 77 photographs, plans and elevations and furniture that capture the essence of Bauhaus design and its influence on modern architecture and design.

Memorial Day: Visit Mount Holly

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mthollyToday is Memorial Day – a time to pay tribute to the men and women in uniform who died in service to their country.

As a way to give this recognition, today would be a good day to visit a cemetery. One of Little Rock’s most storied cemeteries is Mt. Holly Cemetery. There are veterans from all wars: Revolutionary, War of 1812, Mexican, Civil War, Spanish-American, World War I and II, Korean, Vietnam and Desert Storm.

Founded in 1843, Mount Holly has been called “The Westminster Abbey of Arkansas.” Thousands of visitors come each year. Those interested in history come to see the resting places of the territorial citizens of the state, including governors, senators, generals, black artisans, and even a Cherokee princess. For others the cemetery is an open air museum of artistic eras: Classical, Victorian, Art Deco, Modern––expressed in gravestone styles from simple to elaborate. Some come to read the epitaphs that range from heartbreaking to humorous to mysterious. The cemetery is maintained by the Mount Holly Cemetery Association, a non-profit organization with a volunteer Board of Directors. The cemetery is located at 1200 South Broadway in Little Rock, Arkansas. Gates are open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the summer and from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the winter.

Interred within the rock walls of Mount Holly are 11 state governors, 15 state Supreme Court justices, four Confederate generals, seven United States senators and 22 Little Rock mayors, two Pulitzer Prize recipients, as well as doctors, attorneys, prominent families and military heroes.

Final Day of Riverfest: Fireworks, Fun, and Fantastic Music

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banner-square-dayRiverfest concludes today with even more live music and fun.   A highlight of the evening will be the First Security Bank Fireworks display at approximately 9pm.

On the Bud Light Stage at the Clinton Presidential Center, the Saturday night acts are Cody Belew (6:30pm), Florida Georgia Line (7:45pm) and Dierks Bentley (at 9:45pm).

During the afternoon, the acts will be Big Shane Thornton (2pm), Trey Hawkins Band (3:30pm) and Matt Stell & Deep Roots (5pm).

The Miller Lite/Arkansas Federal Credit Union Stage evening acts will feature Drive-By Truckers (at 7:30pm) and Peter Frampton (at 9:30pm).

Earlier in the day, the stage will feature Swampbird (1:30pm), Stephen Neeper Band (3pm), Sonny Burgess & The Pacers (4:30pm) and Paul Thorn (6pm).

The Stickyz Music Stage at the Clinton Presidential Center will feature Toubab Krewe (at 7:45pm) and Richie Spice (at 9:45pm).  Earlier in the day, the stage will host Damn Arkansan (2pm), The Dangerous Idiots (at 3:15pm), Adam Faucett (at 4:30pm) and Tyrannosaurus Chicken (at 6pm).

Throughout the three days of the Festival, kids will enjoy Deltic Timber KidZone area of Riverfest 2013.  The ”KidZone Playtime Promenade” presented by Deltic Timber is located along the banks of the Arkansas River near the Peabody Playground & Water Park in the central area of Julius Breckling Riverfront Park. Kids will have a great time strolling along the Riverwalk Promenade, which will feature lots of hands on activities, exciting games, creative crafts and more.

Riverfest Rock and Stroll

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2013-Riverfest-Rock-N-Stroll-T-Shirt-790x1024The 4th Annual Riverfest Rock and Stroll 5K takes place.

A family event on a fun course through downtown Little Rock.  The race will begin at 9:00 a.m.  Same day registration opens at 7:45 a.m.

WHY PARTICIPATE:
FUN – dress up as your favorite rock ’n roll star, cartoon character. or just anything fun and hang out with a few hundred people in downtown Little Rock for 3.1 miles

FITNESS – have a challenging or leisurely stroll

A FANTASTIC DEAL – a 3-day admission pass to Riverfest included in your registration, race t-shirt (while supplies last), refreshments after the race, and fun prizes for top finishers and best costumes