Tag Archives: Nicholas Peay

Winners of Historic Arkansas Museum’s 15 Ever Nog-Off announced!

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Congratulations to the winners of the Historic Arkansas Museum’s 15th Ever Nog-off!!

People’s Choice Award (favorite eggnog voted on by guests)
Marriott Hotel – Brown Sugar Bourbon Nog
“loved, loved, loved it!”   “classic!”   “delicious spin on a traditional nog, tastes like Christmas in a cup!”  “best surprise”Taster’s Choice Award (voted on by the panel of celebrity tasters: Ashlei King of Fox 16, Kevin Shalin of The Mighty Rib, and Rusty Mathis of Ben E Keith Foods MidSouth)
South on Main – Bootleg Eggnog
“good traditional nog”   “loved the balance of this eggnog”

Egg, No Nog Award (best non-alcoholic eggnog voted on by the panel of emerging tasters: Rhett Booher, Tess Kramer, and Mary Olive Smith)
South on Main – Bootleg Eggnog
“has a great ratio of egg vs whatever nog is”   “good, creamy texture”    “perfect nuttiness”

Not Your Great, Great, Great Grandfather’s Eggnog (favorite non-traditional eggnog voted on by the guests)
Capital Hotel – Banana Rum Eggnog
“Yum!”  “Vanilla wafer goodness!”   “Outstanding”

Historic Arkansas Museum thanks ALL of the amazing partners who make this event happen. And thank you to the two panels of tasters.

This is easily the most popular event at any 2nd Friday Art Night site throughout the year.  There was a line out the door down the street all the way to the light at Cumberland.

Have a wonderful season and happy nogging to ALL!

15th EVER Nog-Off takes place at Historic Arkansas Museum tonight!

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Eggnog lovers everywhere, rejoice! It’s your favorite time of year!

The 15th Ever Nog-off, Historic Arkansas Museum’s friendly competition for the best eggnog in town, returns to bestow goodwill, joy, and a touch of whisky to all who gather.

Tonight, Friday the 13th!, from 5pm to 8pm at Historic Arkansas Museum.

Cleanse your palate and sharpen your pencil as you ready yourself to sample several festive eggnogs creatively prepared by local nog-ologists, and offer your critique and coveted vote. The nog with the most nods receives the People’s Choice Award.

Awards up for contention:

  • The Taster’s Choice Award – awarded by the celebrity panel of eggnog aficionados with this year’s judges being Ashlei King of Fox16, Rusty Mathis of Ben E. Keith Foods Mid-South and Kevin Shalin of The Mighty Rib
  • The People’s Choice Award – awarded to the eggnog as voted on by the evening’s attendees
  • The Not Your Great, Great, Great Grandfather’s Eggnog Award – awarded by attendees to the best “untraditional” eggnog
  • The Egg, No Nog Award – awarded to the best non-alcoholic eggnog as determined by a panel of “emerging tasters”

This year’s competitors include:

  • Allsopp & Chapple Restaurant + Bar
  • Arkansas Pioneers Association
  • The Capital Hotel
  • Little Rock Marriott
  • Loblolly Creamery
  • Mocktail Mo
  • The Root
  • Stone’s Throw Brewing and The Pizzeria
  • South on Main

This is a FREE event!

200 years since the birth of Little Rock’s 23rd Mayor, early settler Gordon Neill Peay

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On December 12, 1819, future Little Rock Mayor Gordon Neill Peay was born.  The Peay family arrived in Arkansas from Kentucky in 1825.  They quickly became one of Little Rock’s leading families.

Mayor Peay’s father, Nicholas Peay served on the Little Rock Board of Trustees (which existed before the town was incorporated) and later served on the City Council and was acting mayor.

It is Nicholas Peay’s Egg Nog recipe which inspired the Historic Arkansas Museum Nog Off! (2019 edition is Friday night!)

Godon N. Peay served as mayor of Little Rock from 1859 to 1861.  During the Civil War, Peay served as Captain and later Colonel of the Capital Guard.  He later received a pardon from the federal government.  In the days leading up to the Civil War and during it, Mayor Peay was one of a group of civic leaders who corresponded with Union leaders. It has been said that this conciliatory tone is a reason that Little Rock fared better during Federal occupation and Reconstruction than did many other Confederate cities.

The Peay family owned the Peay Hotel, Little Rock’s first hotel, and were also co-founders of what became Worthen Bank.  They were also a founding family of Christ Episcopal Church. Mayor Peay later served as Pulaski County Chancery Clerk.

He died on December 14, 1876, and is buried at Mount Holly Cemetery along with many members of his family.  A nephew of his, Ashley Peay, served on the City Council in the 1920s.  Mayor Peay’s great-grandson Joseph Barber Hurst, Sr. served on the Little Rock City Board of Directors from 1967-1971. One of Mr. Hurst’s sons, Howard, was born on Mayor Peay’s birthday.

Got Nog? 14th Ever Historic Arkansas Museum Nog Off is tonight

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As part of 2nd Friday Art Night, the 14th EVER Nog Off takes place tonight at Historic Arkansas Museum.

Inspired by an inter-staff discussion about the best eggnog recipe among Little Rock’s first families, it has grown into an event attracting thousands of visitors each year.

Longtime (and now “retired”) museum director Bill Worthen still makes the eggnog recipe of Nicholas Peay, an early settler who is one of Bill’s many storied ancestors.  Joining Bill as contestants are teams from Arkansas Pioneers Association, Allsopp and Chapple, Big Orange, Loblolly, Old Mill Bread, EJs Eats, One Eleven at the Capital Hotel, South on Main, Stones Throw Brewery, and The Pizzeria.

The judges this year are Georgia Pellegrini, Louise Terzia, and Helaine R. Williams.

Three awards are given:  The People’s Choice, the Taster’s Choice (judges) and the Not Your Great, Great, Great Grandfather’s Eggnog (a nod to Colonel Peay).

Vote for your favorite nog, enjoy live music by the Electric 5, visit the #gotnog selfie station, sing carols around the fire, sample roasted pecans, and just HAVE FUN!

This FREE event runs from 5pm to 8pm.

Little Rock Look Back: Gordon Neill Peay

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Mayor PeayOn December 12, 1819, future Little Rock Mayor Gordon Neill Peay was born.  The Peay family arrived in Arkansas from Kentucky in 1825.  They quickly became one of Little Rock’s leading families.

Mayor Peay’s father, Nicholas Peay served on the Little Rock Board of Trustees (which existed before the town was incorporated) and later served on the City Council and was acting mayor. It is Nicholas Peay’s Egg Nog recipe which inspired the Historic Arkansas Museum Nog Off!

Godon N. Peay served as mayor of Little Rock from 1859 to 1861.  During the Civil War, Peay served as Captain and later Colonel of the Capital Guard.  He later received a pardon from the federal government.  In the days leading up to the Civil War and during it, Mayor Peay was one of a select group of civic leaders who corresponded with President Lincoln and other Union leaders. It has been said that this conciliatory tone is a reason that Little Rock fared better during Federal occupation and Reconstruction than did many other Confederate cities.

The Peay family owned the Peay Hotel, Little Rock’s first hotel, and were also co-founders of what became Worthen Bank.  They were also a founding family of Christ Episcopal Church. Mayor Peay later served as Pulaski County Chancery Clerk.

He died on December 14, 1876, and is buried at Mount Holly Cemetery along with many members of his family.  A nephew of his, Ashley Peay, served on the City Council in the 1920s.  Mayor Peay’s great-grandson Joseph Barber Hurst, Sr. served on the Little Rock City Board of Directors from 1967-1971. One of Mr. Hurst’s sons, Howard, was born on Mayor Peay’s birthday.

Little Rock Look Back: LR’s first government created

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Little Rock started functioning as the capital of Arkansas in June 1821. But by 1825 the settlement known as Little Rock was little more than a loosely defined group of structures. One hundred and ninety-three years ago today, on October 27, 1825,Territorial Governor George Izard signed legislation which started establishing a framework for Little Rock to function as a city.

It established that Little Rock citizens could elect a board of trustees to decide matters. Those trustees would choose one of their own to be a presiding officer. Though Little Rock would not be officially incorporated until 1831, this was the first step towards incorporation. The first trustees, elected for 1826, were Robert Crittenden, Joseph Henderson, Nicholas Peay, Bernard Smith and Isaac Watkins. Smith was chosen to be the presiding officer.

Crittenden had been largely responsible for the relocation of the capitol to Little Rock, where he owned a lot of land. He was a major political force in Arkansas politics during the territorial days. Watkins was a nephew of a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He had established the first tavern in Little Rock in 1821 and later he first mill in 1826. He was murdered in 1827 and the perpetrator was never captured.

Peay bought the tavern from Watkins in 1826 and continued in the tavern and hotel business the rest of his life. He later served on the Little Rock City Council and was acting mayor. His son Gordon Neill Peay served as Mayor of Little Rock. The Peay family also cofounded Worthen Bank and Christ Episcopal Church. Members of several branches of Mr. Peay’s descendants including the Worthen and Hurst families remain active in Little Rock affairs.