Category Archives: Holidays

See Washington’s Family Bible on the Washington Birthday Holiday

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George Washington’s Family Bible

On exhibit through July 12, 2013

1presToday is the George Washington Birthday Holiday.  George Washington’s Family Bible is currently on display in Little Rock at Historic Arkansas Museum.  It is part of the museum’s exhibit, Treasures of Arkansas Freemasons, 1838 – 2013, on exhibit  through July 12, 2013, in the museum’s Study Gallery. The exhibit correlates with the 175th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Arkansas, in downtown Little Rock and also features which will be on display for the entire length of the exhibit. Admission to the exhibit is free.

The George Washington Family Bible is on loan from the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA. It contains Washington’s signature and notes written in his hand. George Washington was a life-long Mason, having joined as a young man. He was later asked to be Charter Master of Alexandria Lodge No. 2. renamed after his death Alexandria-Washington Lodge. The Lodge was the recipient of many of Washington’s personal possessions, including this family bible. The George Washington Masonic Memorial is now the repository of many of the Alexandria-Washington Lodge’s artifacts.

“Freemasonry has been described as a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols, the goal of which is to take good men and make them better men,” guest curator Dick Browning wrote for the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Along with the George Washington bibles, Arkansas treasures often imbued with the symbolism of freemasonry will be on exhibit, including masonic aprons and jewels, ceremonial trowels, gavels, a ballot box and the chair of Arkansas’s most famous Freemason, Albert Pike.

12 Images from ’12

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In no particular order, here are a dozen of my favorite photos from 2012.

12of12 diversions

Though Diversions closed and a new bar Next is in the space along Kavanugh, earlier in the year captured the shadow on an inside ledge.

Leaves floating in a fountain.

Leaves floating in a fountain.

Shadows on the Tower Building.

Shadows on the Tower Building.

The historic Woodruff house.

The historic Woodruff house.

Falling snow in Hillcrest looks more like a scifi attack.

Falling snow in Hillcrest looks more like a scifi attack.

Back stairwell at LR City Hall.

Back stairwell at LR City Hall.

One of LR's newest hotspots, RJ Tao's bar top features lights and colors.

One of LR’s newest hotspots, RJ Tao’s bar top features lights and colors.

Warwick and Jessica Sabin sharing a quiet moment at their wedding.

Warwick and Jessica Sabin sharing a quiet moment at their wedding.

At height of autum, a maple tree in MacArthur Park.

At height of autum, a maple tree in MacArthur Park.

An early morning look at the west facade of the Clinton Presidential Center.

An early morning look at the west facade of the Clinton Presidential Center.

I love shadows. When two competing shadows provide an overlay, I am even happier.

I love shadows. When two competing shadows provide an overlay, I am even happier.

12of12 capital

The Capital Hotel and vehicles provided holiday lights.

Clinton School and River Market Present A RUSSIAN CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS

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New Year’s Eve Production at ARVEST on Ice in the River Market

The Grand Jete Dance Troupe is made up of children 10-16 years of age from Moscow, Russia. They are known as one of the best youth dance groups in the region and have toured the United States and Europe under the direction of Ekaterina Anseeva and Tatyana Duginova.

The troupe has prepared a special performance for Central Arkansas during the 2012 holiday season! Performances are FREE, but donations are encouraged and will go to support the initiatives of Peacework and partnering orphanages in Moscow. Previous tours have included the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow, Russia; Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida; and various venues in Dallas, Texas.

River MarketDowntown Little Rock is where you will find festive holiday fun! Bring your family and friends to enjoy Russian ballet and ice skating on New Year’s Eve.
Monday, December 31, 2012
River Market East Pavilion
4:00pm
(The ice skating rink will be open from 9am – 7pm)

If you are unable to attend the New Year’s Eve production, join us at any of the other performance venues on tour – completely free and open to the public!

Dec. 29 First United Methodist Church – Carlisle 6:00pm
Dec. 30 First United Methodist Church – Benton 6:00pm
Jan. 2 St. James United Methodist Church – Little Rock 6:30pm
Jan. 3 Christ of the Hills UMC – Hot Springs Village 5:30pm
Jan. 4 Highland Valley UMC – Little Rock 6:30pm
Jan. 5 First United Methodist Church – Hot Springs 5:00pm

About Peacework in Russia
Peacework is a nonprofit global service organization that has worked with children’s homes in Russia since 1991, from Blagoveschensk in the far east, to Ulyanovsk, Ekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, Pavlovsk, and Moscow in the west. Peacework works alongside its Russian community partners to improve the living conditions for the children, provide educational and inspirational programs, and offer support for the rocky and difficult transition from the only home they’ve often known as a child into Russian society.

The children and youth in the Grand Jete Dance Troup work with the youth at Orphanages #51, #105, and others in surrounding Russian villages of Noginsk, Istra, and Serviev Posad, sharing their dancing talent and helping to smooth the challenges of growing up in Moscow and its surroundings.

Little Rock Film Fest Special Offer

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Little Rock Film FestivalThrough today (December 20), the Little Rock Film Festival is offering a special on passes for the 2013 festival.  The dates for the 7th LRFF are May 14-19, 2013.

The All Access or Gold Pass, normally $250, is available for $200.  It grants priority admission to all 2013 LRFF films and parties including the Opening Night Film Screening and after party, the Oxford American Party and the Arkansas Times Closing Night Gala Awards Ceremony. Your Gold Pass includes access to the Filmmakers Lounge where special panels are held, and free refreshments are available. There are also exclusive Gold Pass only after‐parties. Your Gold Pass gives you access to all of the festival’s year round events such as the monthly Argenta Film Series, the Little Rock Horror Picture Show and the Reel Civil Rights Film Festival. All of these events continue the expansion of the Little Rock Film Festival into one of the premiere year-round film advocacy organizations in the American South.

The Silver Party Pass is available for $90, normally $100.  It provides admission to 2013 LRFF Film Screenings, Panels, and legendary After-Parties. Silver Pass Holders receives second priority entrance to screenings, workshops, panels, and festival parties! The Party pass will grant the pass holder entry to most parties, many with complimentary food and drink.The Pass will allow entrance to the opening night film after Gold Pass holders are seated.

To purchase tickets, visit here.  The discount code for the Gold Pass is: MerryChristmas.  The discount code for the Silver Pass: is Happy Holidays.  (Please note there are no spaces between the words in either discount code.)

Little Rock Tree Week — Statehouse Convention Center

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IMG_3824

IMG_3826Today’s Little Rock Tree Week focus is the Statehouse Convention Center.  The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau has trees throughout several of its facilities.  The largest tree is located in the eastern lobby of the Statehouse Convention Center.  This tree is visible from both Markham Street and Scott Street.  In addition to oversized balls, lights and fabric, the tree features large reindeer.

Little Rock Tree Week – Capital Hotel

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IMG_3580As Little Rock Tree Week continues, today’s feature is the Capital Hotel.  In addition to enjoying the tree, visitors to the Capital Hotel can admire Chef Tandra’s gingerbread village as well as musical performances in the lobby.

The schedule for the remainder of this week is:

• Don Roberts Elementary on Tue, Dec 18 at Noon
• Violinists on Tue, Dec 18 at 5:30pm
• Capital String Quartet on Wed, Dec 19 at 5:30pm
• St. Paul United Methodist Bells on Wed, Dec 19 at 7pm
• Booker Arts Magnet on Thu, Dec 20 at 10:15am

Among the groups performing earlier this month have been: Forest Heights Middle School, Horace Mann Magnet, eSTEM, Pulaski Academy, Williams Magnet, Episcopal Collegiate, Mount St. Mary Academy, Central Arkansas Christian, Sylvan Hills High School, Holy Souls School, Bale Elementary, Cabot Middle School and the UCA Hornaments.

The arrival of the tree at the Capital Hotel.

The arrival of the tree at the Capital Hotel.

The tree and other decorations at the Capital Hotel are overseen by Tipton Hurst.  The Hurst family is descended from Little Rock’s first hoteliers, the Peay family. The Peay Hotel stood a few blocks away from where the Capital Hotel was constructed in the 1870s.

The tree arrived on a Friday afternoon. It took several hours to get it raised into place and secured.  It took all weekend for a crew to decorate the tree, which has thousands of lights wrapped around its branches.  The tree was officially lit on Monday, December 3.

Little Rock Tree Week – City Hall

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IMG_3635This week, the Little Rock Culture Vulture will highlight some of the Christmas trees found around town in public spaces.  We start at Little Rock City Hall.

The Christmas Tree in the 1908 rotunda of Little Rock City Hall.