Tonight at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, a FREE film: LAST DAYS IN VIETNAM

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In partnership with AETN, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History will host a preview screening of the “American Experience: Last Days in Vietnam.”  The screening starts at 6:30pm tonight at the museum in MacArthur Park.

Free admission. Free popcorn and beverages provided.

During the chaotic final days of the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese Army closes in on Saigon as South Vietnamese resistance crumbles. The United States has only a skeleton crew of diplomats and military operatives still in the country. As Communist victory becomes inevitable and the U.S. readies to withdraw, some Americans begin to consider the certain imprisonment and possible death of their South Vietnamese allies, co-workers, and friends.

Meanwhile, the prospect of an official evacuation of South Vietnamese becomes terminally delayed by Congressional gridlock and the inexplicably optimistic U.S. Ambassador. With the clock ticking and the city under fire, a number of heroic Americans take matters into their own hands, engaging in unsanctioned and often makeshift operations in a desperate effort to save as many South Vietnamese lives as possible.

Last Days in Vietnam was produced and directed by Rory Kennedy, an Emmy Award-winning independent documentary filmmaker and co-founder and president of Moxie Firecracker Films. Her work has been shown on PBS, HBO, A&E, MTV, and Lifetime.

The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History is a program of the City of Little Rock’s Parks and Recreation Department.

 

Easter Family Festival at the Clinton Center today from 10am to 2pm

easterheroThe Clinton Presidential Center will host its 10th annual Easter Family Festival on Saturday, April 4, patterned after the popular “White House Easter Egg Roll.” The festival will include Arkansas’s largest “green” egg hunt, as well as a variety of free activities, entertainment, and prizes.
Easter Family Festival
Saturday, April 4, 2014
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Clinton Presidential Park
1200 President Clinton Avenue
Rain Date
Sunday, April 5
1-4 p.m.
Along with the egg hunt for children (using eco-friendly eggs), FREE activities for children of all ages will include FREE photos with the Easter Bunny! Photos will be posted on clintonpresidentialcenter.org and will be available for downloading.

Family Fun Saturday today with Dr. Mamie Parker & Ark. Game & Fish Commission at Mosaic Templars

gI_125689_Parker_MamieJoin Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission for a wild-life inspired Family Fun Saturday featuring Dr. Mamie Parker – Arkansas native and former Assistant Director of Fisheries and Habitat Conservation at the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Prior to this position, she made history when appointed the first African American as the FWS Regional Director of the 13 Northeastern states.

Schedule of Events
10 a.m. – Noon
Meet a panel of extraordinary women with outstanding STEM careers for a morning of exploration, exposure and hands-on fun involving careers in the environmental and natural science fields.

Noon – 1 p.m.
Lunch

1 – 2:30 p.m.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will have a mini wildlife exhibition with alligators, turtles and more in MTCC’s “backyard.”

Lunch will be provided. Family Fun Saturday is free and open to the public. For more information contact Hollie Sanders (Hollie.Sanders@agfc.ar.gov ) or Elvon Reed (elvon@arkansasheritage.org).

ARKANSAS GIVES today!

Arkansans have a heart for giving. On April 2, 2015, let’s join together to grow the love for our state’s nonprofit organizations. Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., we’re challenging all Arkansans to give to the charities of their choice.

During this one-day event, each donation you give will help your favorite nonprofit organizations qualify for additional bonus dollars from Arkansas Community Foundation. All participating nonprofits will receive a portion of a $250,000 match pool; the more a nonprofit raises, the more of the bonus dollars it will receive.

There are many worthwhile non-profits participating.  But since this is a Little Rock culture blog, here is a listing of cultural non-profits serving Little Rock which are participating.

Final weekend for CAT IN THE HAT at Ark. Arts Center Children’s Theatre

IMG_5568Today and tomorrow at 2pm are the final two days to CATch the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre presentation of The Cat in the Hat.

“One of the most familiar and beloved picture books of the last half century will erupt with fun on the Children’s Theatre stage,” said Todd Herman, executive director of the Arkansas Arts Center.

“Young audiences and those young at heart will be transported into the world they’ve always imagined while seeing the classic book come to life.”

It’s a rainy day with nothing to do. Sally and her brother are miserable. Bored. Simply dying for fun. Then bump! Something quite unexpected. You guessed it. It’s a cat. In a hat. In fact, it’s the Cat in the Hat, and he’s just in time to show the kids a thing or two about fun. It’s just a matter of know-how, you know. So don’t listen to that fish! Jump in! The water’s fine! Just don’t tell mom!

The cast for The Cat in the Hat includes:

  • Ben Gibson of Little Rock as Boy
  • Sharon Combs of New York, N.Y., as Sally
  • Courtney Bennett of Little Rock as Cat
  • Mark Hansen of Little Rock as Fish
  • Aleigha Morton of Beebe as Kitten 1/Thing 1
  • Lauren Linton of Memphis as Kitten 2/Thing 2

Bradley Anderson is the artistic director and Katie Campbell is the show director. Costumes are designed by Erin Larkin; technical direction by Drew Posey; lighting design by Penelope Poppers; properties and set design by Miranda Young and Rivka Kuperman is the stage manager.

The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre presenting sponsor is Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the season sponsor is Dr. Loren Bartole, ‘Family Footcare’.

Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

The Science of Paleontology at tonight’s Museum of Discovery “Science After Dark”

0315 science after darkEach month the Museum of Discovery hosts “Science after Dark” for adults aged 21 and up.  This month’s theme is “Science of Paleontology.”

Adults may not get spring break, but tonight is a chance to feel like a student again by learning fun facts about dinosaurs and fossils. And this time, you can learn about science while drinking a beer!

Here’s what you can expect at tonight’s month’s Science After Dark:

  • Dr. Joe Daniel will answer fossil questions
  • The museum’s new dinosaur exhibit will be highlighted
  • A lot of fun exploring the museum and it’s interactive exhibits

Beer sold by Stone’s Throw Brewery and the aptly named Fossil Cove brewing; pizza by the slice sold by new MOD neighbor Damgoode Pies.

The program runs from 6pm to 9pm. Cost is $5, FREE for museum members. (Go ahead and get a membership, it will more than pay for itself within a year!)

Spring Break at the Clinton Center with Peanuts and the Arkansas Symphony

This Spring Break, the Clinton Center invites students to enjoy fun and FREE activities.  

With partners like the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Center invites families to engage in interactive musical activities. Students will have the opportunity to play different types of instruments and meet local musicians.  

Additionally, students can enjoy Peanuts-themed activities inspired by the Center’s current temporary exhibits, “Pigskin Peanuts” & “Heartbreak in Peanuts.”  

March 23 – 27, 2015
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Clinton Presidential Center

March 23: Interactive musical activities with local musicians & Peanuts activities

March 24 – 26: “Instrumential Petting Zoo” with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra & Peanuts activities

March 27: Interactive musical activities with local musicians & Peanuts activities

Spring break activities are FREE; however, admission fees to tour the Museum apply.