Tag Archives: The Salty Dogs

A Tin Roof Project Tales from the South: Ruth Coker Burks-the Cemetery Angel

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ruthcokerburksGenerally the first Tuesday of the month is a special Tales from the South called “Tin Roof Project” which involves an autobiography.  While all are special, this one is even more special.

Ruth Coker Burks was a young mother in her 20s when the AIDS epidemic hit Arkansas in the early 1980s. She took it upon herself to care for AIDS patients who were abandoned by their families, and even by medical professionals, who feared the disease. Coker Burks, now 55, has no medical training, but she estimates that she has cared for nearly 1,000 people over the past three decades. She became involved after visiting a friend at a Little Rock hospital where one of the state’s early AIDS patients was dying. “The nurses were drawing straws to see who would go in and check on him,” says Coker Burks. “And so I snuck into his room. And he wanted his mama. And so I marched myself out to the nurses’ station and I said, ‘Can we call his mother?’ And they go, ‘Honey, his mama’s not coming. He’s been here six weeks. Nobody’s coming.’

“And so I went back in and he looked up at me and he said, ‘Oh, Mama, I knew you’d come.’ I stayed with him for 13 hours while he took his last breath. I called his mother and I told her that he had died and she said, ‘I’m not burying him.’ So I had him cremated and I brought him home… I’ve buried over 40 people in my family’s cemetery, because their families didn’t want them.”

Ruth Coker Burks has been featured in regional and national publications and shows, including The Arkansas Times, StoryCorp, the BBC, and NPR’s Morning Edition. Originally from Hot Springs, Ruth now lives in Northwest Arkansas with her family.

Tonight’s program will take place at Best Impressions restaurant at the Arkansas Arts Center.  Music will be provided by The Salty Dogs and bluesman Mark Simpson.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $15.  Dinner can be purchased separately.

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show.  Any tickets still available at the door can be purchased for $20.

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.  This program will air on April 16.

Service Industry Night at Tales from the South

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tfts sinWorking in the service industry gives people the opportunity to see the best and worst.  Tonight, Tales from the South has its first “Service Industry Night” celebrating the people who work in that industry–and the experiences they have had.  The storytellers tonight are Skip Dahlgren, Rhett Brinkley, and Bill Scott.

Music is by the Salty Dogs and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.  Tonight’s event takes place at Sticky’s Rock ‘n Roll Chicken Shack.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the door if any tickets still remain.  Dinner can be purchased separately.

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.  This program will air on February 5.

“Say What?” as Tales from the South returns to Stickyz tonight

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talesfromthesouthThere are times in all of our lives when we want to do a double-take, scratch our heads, and/or utter “Say What?”

Tonight, Tales from the South returns to Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack with stories about experiences just like that.

The featured storytellers include Bill Scott and Jennifer Winningham,.  Live music is provided by The Salty Dogs and bluesman Mark Simpson.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

Doors open for dinner, socializing at 5 pm; Live music at 6 pm; Dinner available for purchase until the kitchen closes at 6:30.  Show starts at 7 pm Tickets $10 (show only).

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show.

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.  This program will air on December 18.

True Ghost Stories tonight on Tales from the South at Stickyz

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The annual Scaredy-Tales Night at Tales from the South features three true ghost stories.

The featured storytellers are Amy Manning, Phillip Taylor, and Jimmie Meese Moomaw.  Live music is provided by The Salty Dogs and bluesman Mark Simpson.

Tonight’s program takes place at Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

Doors open for dinner, socializing at 5 pm; Live music at 6 pm; Dinner available for purchase until the kitchen closes at 6:30.  Show starts at 7 pm Tickets $10 (show only).

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show.

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.  This program will air on OCTOBER 30.

Tonight at Tales from the South – Summer Athlete Series featuring Master Bao Ngo at the Oyster Bar

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talesfromthesouthEach Tuesday, Tales from the South features stories about life in the South told by the people who experienced them.  Tonight’s theme is “Well, Not Exactly.”

Tonight, Tales from the South takes place at the Oyster Bar.

As part of the Summer Athletes Series, tonight’s featured guest is Master Bao Ngo.

Live music is by the Salty Dogs and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

Dinner is served from 5pm to 7pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $10.

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show.

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.  This program will air on September 4.

Warren McCullough featured on Tales from the South’s Tin Roof Project

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Warren McCullough PictureThe first Tuesday of each month, Tales from the South features one person sharing their life story. They call it Tin Roof Project.  December features filmmaker Warren McCullough.  The program will be Tuesday, December 3.

Music is by the Salty Dogs and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

Warren spent his early career in Los Angeles where he starred in national TV commercials such as “Jaguar,” “Bud Light, Natural Light,” “Zicam” and “GoodYear.”  He has worked alongside stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Molly Sims and Steve Carell. He has acted in over twenty films, dozens of plays and has appeared on The Chelsea Handler Show and on the pages of Glamour, Blender and People magazines. He worked on television sets such as E.R., Entourage, Crossing Jordan, and The Young & The Restless and also movie sets such as He’s Just Not That Into You and Yes, Man.  While in L.A., Warren studied acting at the Anita Jesse Studio under the critically acclaimed acting teacher Anita Jesse. He also studied with acting coach to the stars, Margie Haber.
In 2009, he relocated back to the mid west to start Warmac Films production company. He wrote and directed the feature film Silent Night and is preparing to release it as his production company’s first full-length film. Warren is currently in preproduction on a short film that he is producing, directing and starring in. Warren’s second feature film, a thriller, is in development. Warren grew up in Thayer, MO, and Salem, AR, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater from Lyon College in Batesville, AR.
“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

The program takes place at Starving Artist Café.  Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $7.50, not including dinner.

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.

Tales from the South Tomorrow: Kat Robinson

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The first Tuesday of each month, Tales from the South features one person sharing their life story. They call it Tin Roof Project.  November features Kat Robinson. The program will be Tuesday, November 5.

Music is by the Salty Dogs and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

Kat Robinson is a food and travel writer based in Little Rock.  She travels Arkansas and the South searching for good stories, tall tales and the next great little restaurant.

In addition to Tie Dye Travels, Kat writes and blogs all about pie in the state of Arkansas — at ArkansasPie.com.  Her first book, Arkansas Pie, was released in November 2012 via History Press.

Kat previously wrote  Eat Arkansas, the blog for food loversfor the Arkansas Times.   She has written for Arkansas Wild, Serious Eats,  Sync Weekly, 2njoy Magazine, Deep South Magazine, GreenZine, Savvy Kids, Lonely Planet, Little Rock Family Magazine, Living in Arkansas, the Arkansas Times, Forbes Travel Guide, USA Today and Cat Fancy and appeared on KARN Newsradio’s The Dave Elswick’s Show.

Before starting her writing career in 2007, Kat produced and wrote for several Arkansas-based television and radio outlets, including an eight year stint producing Today’s THV This Morning.
Kat lives with her daughter Hunter in her hometown of Little Rock, AR.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

The program takes place at Starving Artist Café.  Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $7.50, not including dinner.

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.