Tag Archives: River Market

Tonight at Jazz in the Park – Rodney Block and The Real Music Lovers

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Rodney Block BandJazz in the Park kicks off its third year tonight with Rodney Block and The Real Music Lovers.

The concert will be from 6pm to 8pm in the History Pavilion in Riverfront Park.  The closest entry point to the History Pavilion is Ottenheimer Drive off of President Clinton Avenue.

In case of rain, the River Market West Pavilion will be the alternate location for the event.

Rodney Block is a native of Dumas, Ark., where he began studying trumpet in the school band at a young age. For the past 5 years his core ensemble, Rodney Block & The Real Music Lovers, has built a loyal and solid fan base. They have performed throughout the South and abroad. The ensemble has performed for a U.S. Vice President and frequently provides the entertainment at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion for varied events.

The Real Music Lovers have also been selected to play at several music festivals, including the Clark Terry Jazz Festival and Riverfest. Block has shared the stage with such artists as Earth, Wind, & Fire, Joe, Algebra, Whodini, Johnny Gill, Dwele, Johnathon Butler, Dave Hollister, Wynton Marsalis, and Eric Roberson. He has backed for artists such as Liv Warfield, Conya Doss, Dwele, Sy Smith, Carol Riddick, and Anthony David.

jazzinparkThe event is completely free, but no coolers are allowed. Beer, wine, soft drinks and water will be available for sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit Art Porter Music Education, Inc.’s scholarship fund.  Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome, and there is some seating in the natural stone amphitheater at the History Pavilion.

This event is sponsored by Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau and the River Market.

For more information about Art Porter Music Education, visit www.artporter.org.

Jazz in the Park returns Wednesday evenings in April in Riverfront Park

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jazzinparkJazz in the Park kicks off its third year in April.  It comes back better than ever through a new partnership with Art Porter Music Education!

Art Porter Music Education, Inc. (APME) continues its mission of keeping the musical legacies of local jazz statesman Art Porter, Sr. and his son, renowned saxophonist Art Porter, Jr. alive with community enrichment opportunities, volunteerism, and the awarding of scholarships. Through music, APME works to enhance education by helping students improve reading, language and mathematical skills. The partnership with the River Market to support Jazz in the Park, a free, family-friendly event featuring jazz in downtown Little Rock, is a natural fit for both organizations.

The concerts will be every Wednesday in April from 6pm to 8pm in the History Pavilion in Riverfront Park.

This year’s lineup features:

  • April 1 – Rodney Block & The Real Music Lovers
  • April 8 – Jazz R Us
  • April 15 – New Era Jazz Project
  • April 22 – Stellar Way
  • April 29 – John Burnette Band

The closest entry point to the History Pavilion is Ottenheimer Drive off of President Clinton Avenue.

In case of rain, the River Market West Pavilion will be the alternate location for the event.

The event is completely free, but no coolers are allowed. Beer, wine, soft drinks and water will be available for sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit Art Porter Music Education, Inc.’s scholarship fund.  Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome, and there is some seating in the natural stone amphitheater at the History Pavilion.

This event is sponsored by Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau and the River Market.

For more information about Art Porter Music Education, visit www.artporter.org.

$1 Day at Museum of Discovery Today

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From 1pm to 5pm today, admission to the Museum of Discovery is only $1 per person.

The Little Rock Marathon will still be finishing up to the west of the museum, but that means there will be other activities to enjoy in addition to the Museum.

A featured exhibit is Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed.  This new and in-depth look at the prehistoric creatures that once roamed the Earth educates as well as excites visitors. 

It dispels common misconceptions and engages young and old visitors alike with hands on interactive exhibits like a fossil dig pit, timeline matching game, and much more. Guests can get up close looks at life-size skulls, arms, feet and everything in between.

Fund set up to ensure sustained support of July 4th Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Pops on the River featuring ASO

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popsonriverAccording to an article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, a fund has been set up to ensure long-term sustained support of the paper’s Pops on the River music and fireworks spectacle.  The Pops on the River Charitable Fund has been established at the Arkansas Community Foundation. The first gift was a donation of $100,000 by the Hussman Foundation.

The state’s largest Fourth of July celebration, Pops on the River is a day-long observance that draws around 30,0000 people to the River Market district and First Security Amphitheater in downtown Little Rock. Fireworks and a free concert by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra highlight the celebration.  The celebration was started in 1983 by the then-Arkansas Democrat just as Riverfront Park was first developing.

“The idea is to try to set up an endowment fund over the years that will generate enough income so that it could pay for Pops on the River,” Democrat-Gazette Publisher Walter E. Hussman Jr. said in the article.  He envisions that the fund will build year by year toward a goal of $1 million.  The goal amount would generate $50,000 per year to cover the costs of Pops on the River.  Though the Hussman Foundation plans on annual donations of $100,000 as economically feasible, the fund is set up to take donations from other foundations as well as corporations and individuals.

Final HOLIDAYS IN THE PARK tonight

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HolidaysInThePark2014Logo_tstFirst Security Amphitheater in Downtown Little Rock has been transformed into a winter wonderland of lights this holiday season. You can enjoy a ten minute light show choreographed to music throughout the holiday season.

Over 50,000 lights make up the show.  The display also features the tallest real decorated tree in Arkansas.

Tonight, from 5pm to 10pm, is the final chance to see the Holidays in the Park lights display.

Holidays in the Park kicks off today in Riverfront Park

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HolidaysInThePark2014Logo_tstFirst Security Amphitheater in Downtown Little Rock will be transformed into a winter wonderland of lights this holiday season. You can enjoy a ten minute light show choreographed to music throughout the holiday season.  Over 50,000 lights make up the show.  The display also features the tallest real decorated tree in Arkansas.

Festivities kick off today.  From 3pm until 5pm, there will be a meet & greet with Santa Claus. Come to the River Market Pavilions and enjoy holiday cookies, beverages, crafts, games and much more!
At 5pm today the lights will be turned on in a special ceremony.  The lights will stay on until 10pm.
The Holidays in the Park lighting display will run through January 3.

A #ThrowBackThursday Party with Big John Miller at the River Market this evening

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TBT WJC10Combining the concept of #ThrowbackThursday and the Clinton Library 10th anniversary, the Convention & Visitors Bureau is offering a Throwback Thursday party this evening.

Join the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau for a “Big Downtown Thursdays“-style party in the River Market Ottenheimer Hall.  The fun runs from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

This Throwback Thursday event will be free and open to the public, and like “Big Downtown Thursdays,” which took place in the mid-to-late 90’s while President Clinton was in office, this will be a fun networking and social event, and will feature music by the Big John Miller Band. Food and beverages available for purchase.

Originally planned for the outdoor pavilions (which were the final location of the Big Downtown Thursdays), due to the colder weather, tonight’s event has been relocated to the Ottenheimer Market Hall of the River Market.