Tag Archives: Riverfront Park

MOVIES IN THE PARK announces 2015 movies

Posted on by

MIP LRIf the Little Rock Film Festival is putting you in the mood for movies in downtown Little Rock, that feeling can continue this summer with the 11th annual Movies in the Park.

The schedule has just been released.

June 3: Divergent (PG-13)

June 10: Ghostbusters (PG)

June 17: The Proposal (PG-13)

June 24: Oz the Great & Powerful (PG)

July 1: Sherlock Holmes (PG-13)

July 8: Despicable Me (PG)

July 15: Mamma Mia (PG)

July 22: The Goonies (PG)

July 29: Iron Man 3 (PG-13)

 

Movies in the Park is a free outdoor movie series in Little Rock’s River Market. The mission of Movies in the Park is help foster a sense of community and enjoyment in downtown Little Rock and throughout Central Arkansas by bringing people together to enjoy a movie in a unique setting along the scenic banks of the Arkansas River.

Movies in the Park is a free outdoor film series shown at First Security Amphitheatre in Riverfront Park. Movies start at dark. You’re welcome to bring picnics but please no glass containers and pick up afterwards. Alcohol is allowed during the movie but, you remain subject to all local, state and federal laws and ordinances. Uniformed security is on site for everyone’s safety. If you choose not to bring your own picnic we do have concessions available for sale. Bring your bug spray, picnic and family and have a good time!

Security will absolutely NOT tolerate groups disturbing the movie. Please find a seat and be respectful of your neighbors’ movie watching experience. If you are there to socialize and not watch the movie, please do so outside of the Amphitheater.

Smoking — it is the policy of the City of Little Rock Parks and Recreation that smoking is not allowed in public parks. Please refrain from smoking inside the Amphitheater. If you must smoke please exit the amphitheater to do so.

 

Six semifinalists for new Sculpture at the River Market public commission

Posted on by

Once again, the Sculpture at the River Market program is sponsoring a $60,000 commission for a new piece of public art.

Guests of Friday evening’s preview party will have the chance to vote to select the winner.

This is the fifth year for the program.  Two of the commissioned pieces have been placed in Riverfront Park, with a third one scheduled for installation in the coming weeks.  The fourth piece is located at 2nd and Main Streets next to the parking deck.  This year’s selection will be placed in west Little Rock at Chenal Valley Road and Chenal Parkway.

Visitors to the Sculpture Show and Sale will be able to see examples of the six finalists on Saturday and Sunday as well as over 700 other sculptures ranging in size from a few inches to over 10 feet tall.

2015 semis 1232015 semis 456The 2015 semifinalists are (in alphabetical order):

  1. Kathleen Caricof: “Embrace” is designed as an entrance sculpture for the intersection. A site-specific sculpture, it would stand approximately 15′ tall and 18′ wide and be made of steel with a rusted outside finish and epoxy paint inside finish.
  2. Tim Cherry: “Ancient Wings” features a seated Griffin in a regal pose, with an arched neck and outstretched wings. It would be over 5′ tall by 6′ long and 2′ wide and be made of steel with an interior stainless steel structure.
  3. Sandy Graves: “Cotton and Clementine” would be two oversized bunnies in a whimsical design. They would be 6′ tall by 9’9″ wide and 2’8″ deep and made of bronze.  Cotton would be white and Clementine would be orange.
  4. Adam Schultz: “Standing Together” features three deer in a family group. With elongated legs and stylized bodies, the grouping would stand up to 25′ tall and cover over 120 sq. ft. They would be a combination of stainless steel and aluminum.
  5. Stephen Shachtman: “A” is a tripod which represents both Arkansas as a whole (through the steel/bronze portion) and the people of Little Rock (through the flagstone sphere). Each leg is of a different overall length; 16’, 14’, and 12’ tall; sphere in center is 40” in diameter.
  6. Michael Warrick: “Mockingbird Tree” is a tree with bubble forms for foliage plus a pair of Arkansas’ state birds. It would be 18′ tall by 11′ wide by 7′ deep. The tree would be stainless steel and the mockingbirds would be bronze.

Jazz in the Park tonight – New Era Jazz Project from 6pm to 8pm at History Pavilion in Riverfront Park

Posted on by
The New Era Jazz Project in the KATV studio

The New Era Jazz Project in the KATV studio

Jazz in the Park continues its third year tonight with New Era Jazz Project.

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.

jazzinpark

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.

Little Rock Look Back: LaHarpe Sees a Rock

Posted on by

IMG_4805On April 9, 1722, French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de La Harpe rounded the bend of the Arkansas River and saw La Petite Roche and Le Rocher Français.  He had entered the mouth of the Arkansas River on February 27 after traveling up the Mississippi River from New Orleans.

Though La Harpe and his expedition are the first Europeans documented to have seen La Petite Roche, the outcropping of rocks was well-known to the Quapaw Indians in the area.  The outcropping jutted out in the Arkansas River and created a natural harbor which provided a perfect place for boats to land.

The rock outcropping is the first one visible along the banks of the Arkansas River.  It marks the place where the Mississippi Delta meets the Ouachita Mountains.  Geologists now believe that the Little Rock is not the same type of rock as the Ouachita Mountains and more closely matches the composition and age of mountains in the western US.

In 1813, William Lewis became the first European settler to live near La Petite Roche but only stayed a few months.  Speculators and trappers continued to visit the area throughout the 1810s. During that time, the outcropping became known informally as the Little Rock.

La Petite Roche had become a well-known crossing when the Arkansas Territory was established in 1819. The permanent settlement of ‘The Rock’ began in the spring of 1820, and the first building has been described as a cabin, or shanty, and was built on the bank of the river near the ‘Rock.’ In March 1820, a Post Office was established at the ‘Rock’ with the name “Little Rock.”

Over the years, La Petite Roche was altered.  In 1872, Congress authorized the building of a railroad bridge. A pier for the bridge was built at the location of the La Petite Roche which caused the removal of several tons of rock.  The bridge was never built.  When the Junction Bridge was built in 1899, even more rock was removed in the process of erecting part of the bridge on top of the rock.  It was not viewed as being disrespectful of the City’s namesake at the time.  Indeed, it was viewed as a testament to the sturdiness of the rock.

In 2010, La Petite Roche plaza opened in Riverfront Park.  It celebrates the history of La Petite Roche and explores its importance to various aspects of Little Rock’s history and geography.

Tonight at Jazz in the Park – Jazz R Us

Posted on by

Jazz R UsJazz in the Park continues its third year tonight with Jazz R Us.

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.

jazzinpark

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.

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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.