Inviting Arkansas Blog

New Records for Stamp Out Hunger

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:23:16 -0500

We had to share this great news today! The 2012 Stamp Out Hunger campaign broke a record today by bringing in 121,423 pounds of food to the Arkansas Food Bank this year. Last year, 93,664 pounds of food was collected. Gov. Mike Beebe announced the drive and encouraged participation, and mail carriers followed. The food donated to Stamp Out Hunger was collected by mail carriers on the second Saturday of May. This has been going on for twenty years!

Totals, by post office location were:

Little Rock

Asher 11,196

Baseline 6,099

Brady 7,667

Chenal 6,638

Forest Park 7,938

L.R. Main 4,586

South Side 6,143

West Side 19,952

North Little Rock

Maumelle 8,424

Pershing 13,616

Park Hill 11,694

Rose City 3,486

Sherwood 12,984

North Little Rock’s Clinton
Elementary School 916

Grand Total 121,423

We here at Inviting Arkansas bet some of our readers played a part in these donations, so hats off to you! This is a great step in our community and something to be excited about!

Watch their video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj1JNLsK6QM&feature=plcp

About the Arkansas Foodbank

The Arkansas Foodbank is the largest food bank in Arkansas. Its warehouse in Little Rock and its branches in Warren and Caddo Valley, Ark., serve approximately 300 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other agencies that provide aid directly to hungry Arkansans. Last year the Foodbank distributed millions of pounds of food to agencies that help feed hungry people. For information on how you can fight hunger, visit arkansasfoodbank.org

What's Happening This Week

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:20:00 -0500

It’s summertime and time for fun! Here are a few events happening in the near future that will fill up the free time you have this forthcoming week.

For all you fashion folks out there, this Wednesday and Thursday, May 23rd and 24th, join fashion boutique B.Barnett for their St. Emile European Sportswear Trunk Show. It’s a fall and winter trunk show is being hosted at the B.Barnett store on 8201 Cantrell from 10:00a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

The 35th Riverfest celebration is just two days away! Starting May 25th and ending the 27th, you can see artists such as Neon Trees, Staind, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Third Eye Blind, Little Big Town, and Snoop Dogg. Avoid heavy traffic and all that walking by riding the Little Rock Shuttle. Details of pick up and drop offs are on Riverfest’s Facebook page. A round trip cost is $3, but if you bring a non-perishable food item you get $1 off. For tickets to Riverfest, head to Walgreen’s and buy a $20 discounted ticket that is good for three days for one person. If you wait to pay at the gate, they’re still only $30 a person.

The Little Rock Film Festival starts next Tuesday, May 29th and ends Sunday, June 3rd, and is hosted on the banks of the Arkansas River. This non-profit organization showcases international, narrative, documentary, and short films from around the world. Don’t miss these Arkansas premier films! For more information visit http://bit.ly/KjDDfh.

Calling all science-loving grown-ups! The Museum of Discovery is hosting an event on Wednesday, May 30th called Science After Dark. It is centered around a scientific discussion over wine and chocolate at the Museum of Discovery. Questions such as “Who made the first chocolate?” and “How is wine made?” can be answered if you are 21 years of age or older and have $5 for admission. This event lasts from 6:00 to 8:00p.m.

There you go guys and gals! We hope you have a great time at these events and make sure to look forward to our June issue being released Friday, June 1st. Happy happenings to you!

From the Grounds Up

Wed, 02 May 2012 14:56:27 -0500

Tickets are running out for Our House’s Dinner on the Grounds! Read more about the event and the organization it benefits in our newest Charity Close Up here.

This Just In

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:47:00 -0500

We receive many emails every day and thought this news worth sharing. Congratulations to Reach Out on Read on the generous donation from Mitchell Williams law firm!

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard P.L.L.C. has named Reach Out and Read Arkansas as the firm’s 2012 Take Time To Give primary charity.

Reach Out and Read is an early literacy program that partners with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. The law firm is donating $25,000 to Reach Out and Read to fund clinics with books and training on the organization’s model.

Along with a monetary donation, Mitchell Williams’ staff and attorneys will volunteer throughout the year with Reach Out and Read. This will include waiting-room readings at area clinics and helping collect and distribute books.

Mitchell Williams’ Take Time To Give program is the firm’s community service initiative that provides monetary and volunteer support to civic and charitable organizations throughout Arkansas and the region. The program has supported more than 200 organizations since its formal launch in 2004. In 2010, Mitchell Williams launched a new website, TakeTimeToGive.com, to help raise awareness of Arkansas’ many charitable organizations.

“We are thrilled to support Reach Out and Read Arkansas through our Take Time to Give program this year,” said Harry Hamlin, Mitchell Williams’ managing director. “Being read to as children is something many of us take for granted. Illiteracy is an intergenerational phenomenon affecting individuals, families, communities and regions. Reach Out and Read Arkansas is helping ensure that every Arkansas child enters kindergarten prepared with the skills needed to succeed.”

Doctors, nurse practitioners and other medical professionals incorporate Reach Out and Read’s evidence-based model into regular pediatric checkups, by advising parents about the importance of reading aloud and giving developmentally appropriate books to children. The program begins at the six-month checkup and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities. Families served by Reach Out and Read are reading more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills – leaving them better prepared to achieve their potential.

“We are so grateful to Mitchell Williams for providing these funds and for bringing awareness to our mission,” says Mica Strother, president of the Reach Out and Read Arkansas Board of Directors. “Key findings reveal that parents served by Reach Out and Read are up to four times more likely to read aloud to their children. Children served by Reach Out and Read show significant developmental gains in language and a six-month developmental edge over their peers in the preschool years. They also score higher on vocabulary tests and school readiness assessments.”

In Arkansas there are 27 Reach Out and Read Programs serving 40,372 children and distributing 61,320 books annually. Mitchell Williams’ donation of $25,000 will help the organization provide the full, five-year program to 500 children.
Along with the primary charity program, Mitchell Williams will continue its support of nonprofit missions throughout the state through the Take Time To Give website and its social media outlets – Facebook.com/TakeTimeToGive and Twitter.com/TakeTimeToGive. Nonprofits who are looking for monetary support are encouraged to submit an online application at TakeTimeToGive.com/requests. Organizations who would like to submit events and information to post on the website can send information to Holly Hiett at hhiett@mwlaw.com.

Looking Back : Our Fave Fashion Trends from 2011

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:52:00 -0600

Every month, Inviting Arkansas works with local retailers to give our readers the most up-to-date trends appearing in the fashion world. So we thought we’d take a look back at some of our favorite fashion trends from 2011.

1. The Maxi

Whether in skirt or dress form, ankle-skimming lengths were hugely popular in 2011 and aren’t losing steam as we roll into 2012. We all drooled over this maxi dress from Vesta’s that appeared in our June issue.

2. Sequins

Ahhhh, sequins. Little bits of happiness sewn onto shirts, skirts, dresses, purses and just about everything else. In 2011, sequins were so bright, we dedicated an entire fashion spread to shiny things alone. Seen here were two fully sequined looks from RK Collections and Faux Pas.

3. Capes

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s incredibly chic capes, come to save the day from the winter coat doldrums. For those of us who needed a break from parkas and peacoats, capes were in abundance this fall. We were particularly smitten with this option from Companions.

4. Faux Fur

For the second year in a row, fur vests were a huge trend. We DIED for this Rachel Zoe version from Barbara Jean. But this year, that trend branched out to include faux fur anything. So if you’ve been wanting to try a faux fur jacket, go ahead. You have the right to bear arms.

5. Brights

Whether it was neon accessories, colored denim or color blocking, bright hues were present from January till December in 2011. We featured some of our favorite hues back in March.

Those were a few of our favorites. Which trends do you hope to see continue into 2012 and which do you hope will disappear?

—-

All photos by Rett Peek.

All 2011 issues of Inviting Arkansas are available for viewing online here.

The Fun Happens December 3rd to Benefit Miracle League

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:06:38 -0600

The Miracle League is where kids with a variety of disabilities get to play baseball! You can help support this worthwhile program at the Major League Party on Saturday, December 3, at Dickey-Stephens Park.

At the event, you can enjoy live music by Arkansas’s favorite dance band, Tragikly White, and mix and mingle with food and beverages while you bid on silent and live auction items. Auction items include signed memorabilia items. The party starts at 6 p.m. and lasts until midnight. Round poker with minor and major league players starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person.

Major league players expected at the party include Cliff Lee, Dustin Moseley, Travis Wood, Tommy Hunter, Scott Carroll, Slade Heathcott and more!

For more information or to make a donation to Miracle League, visit MiracleLeagueAR.com.

Gobble, Gobble and Go!

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:16:00 -0600

Before you gobble down some turkey and dressing, you can start your Thanksgiving day with a family-fun run at the Go!bbler Turkey Trot hosted by Go! Running. Start time is 8 and the course starts and ends at the running store in the Heights in Little Rock.

In many states across the nation, the Turkey Trot has grown into the undisputed way to begin Thanksgiving Day for thousands of runners. The Trot tradition extends through generations and participants who celebrate the holiday with family and friends. Now, Little Rock upholds the tradition with The Go!bbler.

The course, which offers a 3- to 8-mile loops, covers all aspects of running, including road, track, trails and a few other surprises! The only thing you have to bring to enter is a can of food or some other non-perishable food item. All collected foods will be given to food donation programs serving our community on Thanksgiving day.

The Go!bbler also will offer a T-shirt swap and refreshments. Instead of having new T-shirts made for the event, Go! Running will have a T-shirt swap, so bring an old race shirt with you if you want to participate and add to the mix of shirts.

Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without pie. Fittingly, prizes will be rewarded in the form of pies for some surprise categories.

For more information, call the store at 501.663.6800.

Wishful Thinking

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:55:43 -0500

Attorney and business man, Bryan Hosto, keeps a busy schedule but always makes time for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year, he’s part of the committee for a brand new event, Farm Fresh Wishes, that hopes to be deliciously successful. Read more about Bryan’s work with Make-A-Wish in our Charity Close-Up here.

Farm Fresh Wishes is the only event in Arkansas that pairs local chefs with local farmers to make local children’s wishes come true. Make-A-Wish has handpicked some of the state’s most talented chefs to prepare a seven course meal featuring Arkansas foods. The tasting menu will be served with wine pairings and beer. Proceeds from this event will go towards granting the wishes of area children with life threatening medical conditions. Thursday, September 22, 6:30 p.m., Clinton Presidential Library, $1,000 per table / $125 per ticket, 501-376-9474 for tickets.

Kaleidoscope Kids Auction Helps Grieving Children

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:37:00 -0500

Story and photos by Inviting’s Jillian McGehee

“People die. Relationships don’t.” The astute statement was made by Sarah Cowan, a volunteer with Kaleidoscope Grief Center. She and countless others give their time to the organization, which serves grieving children, teens and their families after the loss of a parent or loved one. Established in 1995 as in independent nonprofit organization, the Kaleidoscope Grief Center merged as a program of the Methodist Family Health Counseling Clinic in January 2009.

April Leslie was only 32 when she became a widow left to raise her 3-year-old daughter. April easily found a support group, but it consisted of mostly older adults. Upon learning of Kaleidoscope Grief Center, she immediately felt relief in knowing that her grieving daughter would get the help she needed.

April’s story is just one of many that come out of the grief center. To help produce more success stories, fundraisers like the Kaleidoscope Kids Auction are held. The event has outgrown the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and this year will take place at the Woman’s City Club (Junior League of Little Rock’s headquarters). Admission is only $75 per person or $125 per couple. The auction will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16. All proceeds benefit the grief center and Methodist Family Health clinics around the state.

Chairing this year’s event is Sally Riggs, a dedicated volunteer.

Sally is married to Keith Riggs, whose grandfather was a Methodist pastor and served the Methodist Orphanage on Fillmore Street long ago. The orphanage was the cornerstone of today’s Methodist Family Health.

“I am a professional volunteer,” Sally says with a smile. “Whether it’s for church, school or the community, it makes me feel good. I like being involved and being hands-on. And everyone here at Methodist Family Health is so nice and easy to work with.”

Sally, a member of St. James United Methodist Church, commends all of the services that Kaleidoscope and Methodist Family provide, but she is especially fond of the Kids Club. “It’s a good source for children and teens to get together and have fun,” she says. “It’s not all about grieving and counseling. They can have fun too.”

Ashley Coldiron, executive director of the Methodist Family Health Foundation, says Sally is a “wonderful” board member for Methodist Family Health. “She’s totally dedicated and works quietly behind the scenes getting things done. Sally is the type of volunteer who will haul pizzas in her vehicle one weekend and chair a gala the next month. She is the type of volunteer every organization would like to clone!”

The Kids Auction is a “fun time,” notes Sally, who will also be in charge of flower arrangements for the evening. In addition to a wine cork pull, more than 100 auction items will be up for grabs.

Highlights of the live auction include a Dominican Republic weeklong vacation in a villa at Punta Cana’s Campo de Camp Resort; high tea for 30 guests with tables set with English china; guided hunting trip with lodging at CrossHeirs Retreat Lodge; brunch for 14 at an E. Fay Jones-designed home; condominium in Destin, Fla., for a week; Walt Disney World trip complete with airfaire and hotel and four Park Hopper passes; and several pieces of art, including a James Hayes hand-blown glass bowl, Michael Black watercolor and Teresa Cates oil paintings.

Some of the silent auction items include a Michael Kors handbag, NFL tickets, many pieces of hand-made jewelry, and gift certificates to local restaurants and getaways.

For more information, email acoldiron@methodistfamily.org.

We're wild for Wild Birds!

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:38:12 -0500

We are wild for these Eco-Tough recycled bird feeders from Wild Birds Unlimited! Stop in at Wild Birds in the Heights and mention their ad in Inviting Arkansas to receive 20% off one of their recycled feeders!

Wild Birds Unlimited : 1818 N Taylor St., Little Rock : 501.666.4210

Behind the scenes with P. Allen Smith.

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:35:29 -0500

On the day of our photo shoot with P. Allen Smith, the entire staff was like a group of excited children on the first day of school. We’d each been to Moss Mountain Farm, Allen’s garden home retreat, once before and were excited to return to the pastoral retreat.

Though the house looks like an 1840s Greek Revival farmstead, it’s actually very green. You can read about Allen’s green philosophy in this month’s issue!

As we scouted the grounds for possible photo locations, we saw lambs and chickens running around the property.

The staff takes a moment to discuss our options.

Allen’s two acre garden grows a variety of organic fruits and vegetables. A small harvest was picked on the morning of our shoot for the basket Allen holds on the cover.

The chickens we used for the cover shoot were Black Laced Wyandottes, one of the rare heritage breeds that Allen protects through his Heritage Poultry Conservancy.

The chickens were amazingly calm sitting next to Allen!

On the grounds, rainwater is harvested into a tank that’s hidden under the yard and used to irrigate the flower beds and and gardens.

If you are interested in seeing the garden home for yourself, visit http://www.pallensmith.com/tours/ for more info!

(All images by Kari Gillenwater)

Our first annual “Green Issue” is on newsstands now,...

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:09:22 -0500

Our first annual “Green Issue” is on newsstands now, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome! Find your copy today or give us a call (501.219.1000) to find a pick-up location near you.

Be sure and check back with us throughout the month, as we’ll be blogging about ways to give your day-to-day lifestyle a green tweak, as well as giving you behind the scenes peeks at the making of our “Green Issue!”

Spread Some Magic

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:45:09 -0500

As many girls do, I too dreamed of being a princess while playing dress-up in any high heels I could find. My favorite was Cinderella. One of my first story assignments after coming to work for Inviting Arkansas was the Cinderella Ball. I was intrigued.

The fall event benefits Safe Places, a nonprofit organization that helps children and families throughout Arkansas. It focuses on providing free services to combat child abuse, sexual assault and violence, among other things. Safe Places gets young ladies involved through the Cinderella Leadership Program, and the Cinderella Ball is the culminating event to celebrate the girls’ accomplishments. The nonprofit uses the fairy tale to counsel and teach children who have been hurt how to break the cycle of violence and create their own happy endings. While the event doesn’t take place until October, they need your help now.

Safe Places is seeking sponsorships for the enchanted evening of dining, dancing and a touch of stardust. See how you can help by calling Safe Places at 501.690.1151.

— By IA’s Jillian McGehee

After the Party

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:16:00 -0500

By IA’s Jillian McGehee

It’s nice to slow down in the summer, but I’m always keeping a lookout for special events that benefit a good cause. After all, people don’t stop needing assistance when the party’s over. Organized events such as seated dinners and silent auctions take place less in the summer. However, there’s always a way you can lend a hand, even when the party frock takes a breather in the closet.

Make a phone call to an organization like Arkansas Foodbank or Our House Shelter, and you could be on your way down a philanthropic path. Or, as subjects of many of my features stories explain, think about what interests you. Chances are you’ll find a nonprofit organization or business dedicated to your interests. For example, if you love literature, Reach Out and Read might be a good fit.

Need a little inspiration as you consider your philanthropy niche? I suggest you take a look through this month’s issue. I dare you not to become inspired as you discover how people like Georgia and Dominik Mjartan made their American dreams a reality while also giving back.

Philanthropy Talk

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:20:44 -0500

We were lounging poolside the other day and couldn’t help overhearing a conversation. As avid observers of people, we often find ourselves listening to others around us. At the neighborhood pool, three men were standing in the water two feet from the top of our lounge chairs. And they were talking loudly, so naturally, it was hard to resist listening to what they were saying.

The men appeared to be in their late 30s-mid 40s. They all had brought their children to the pool for the afternoon, and appeared to be married judging by the left-hand rings. They must have given their wives a break for the afternoon.

While their kids splashed around and took turns doing tricks off the diving board, the men stood waist-deep in the water sipping cold beverages and talking about life. They candidly discussed typical male things. You know, things like beer, baseball, blondes, barbecue and business dealings. Our ears perked up when one man mentioned the Heart Ball, which is the signature fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

This black-tie event is one of the biggest on Little Rock’s social scene. We were impressed that one of these dads had brought the Heart Ball to their discussion circle in the first place.

Hearing these men talk about a charity event reminded us of an inner-office writing assignment at work. We each were asked to define our target market, and someone included men in her answer. A common belief is that only women are interested in reading about people and parties centered on philanthropy.

In our line of work, we see men, young and old, graciously involved in the community. At Inviting Arkansas, we feature men in our pages just as much as
women, and based on feedback we receive, men enjoy seeing themselves and their male counterparts.

Take Ivan Hudson and Will Whiting, for example. We recently wrote a story about them as co-chairs of a new group for young professionals. As if they aren’t busy enough, Ivan and Will have enhanced their leadership roles on the board of directors for Just Communities of Arkansas. The ambitious men agreed to serve as leaders of the Change Agents, which is an auxiliary group of JCA. By day, Ivan works as the diversity business enterprise manager for the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, and Will is vice president for public policy at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. Their lists of community involvement go on and on, from Big Brothers/Big Sisters to the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Whether it be men or women, it’s impressive at how they balance their careers with volunteer work.

Ivan and Will are just two men in this giving community. To be sure, there are many more dedicated to making a difference. We could name more, but then we would feel obligated to name them all, which is a good problem! It means Little Rock and the surrounding areas are filled with men doing extraordinary things. You’ll see them on party pages in social magazines flanked by their wives or friends and read about them in feature stories. It was so refreshing to see these gentlemen in the pool put aside talk of beer and baseball and turn their attention to philanthropy!

Healing Hearts

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:04:24 -0500

Happy April! We have lots of events this month, no foolin’! You can check out our calendar of events online to see what grabs you. And check out The List in our printed edition where you’ll find more detail about the Top 10 events. Our April issue will hit newsstands soon, so be watching out for beautiful cover girl Jeanne Johansson!

As you plan your month, we’d like to share an event that you or a loved one might need. Kaleidoscope Grief Center’s Camp Healing Hearts hosted by Methodist Family Health will be held May 20 and 21 at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock.

Camp Healing Hearts is for children ages 5-18 and their families who have lost a loved one to death. Camp will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 20, and will end at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 21. Unlike the traditional camp setting, Camp Healing Hearts unites families in the grief process by encouraging parents and guardians to attend the event alongside their children.

The event is free, and deadline to register is April 29! For more information, call 501.661.0720 ext.7170 or visit www.methodistfamily.org

Mark your calendar

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:51:34 -0500

Cantrell Gallery is nearing the end of the wonderful exhibit by Kitty Harvill, BRAZIL: An Endangered Beauty.
If you haven’t been by to see these pastels and watercolors of the Atlantic Coastal Rainforest with its lovely inhabitants, come by soon, before it’s too late! Last day of exhibit is Saturday, April 9. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. In conjunction with the end of Kitty’s exhibit, a special event is scheduled. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9, Cantrell Gallery will be hosting a trunk show of the new spring line from Regalia Handmade Clothing. It’s comfortable, natural fiber clothing designed and made in Eureka Springs by Mark Hughes. There will be a Preview Party with refreshments from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 8.

Think you’ve got an awesome mom? The search launches...

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:07:08 -0500

Think you’ve got an awesome mom?

The search launches today to find ‘America’s Most Deserving Mom’ and Florida’s Emerald Coast challenges husbands, sons and daughters from every corner of the country to nominate their someone special for the title and official grand prize — a 2011 Buick Enclave, one-week stay for six in a luxurious Destin beach house courtesy of Southern Resorts, round-trip airfare and $1,000 spending money (www.facebook.com/floridasemeraldcoast).

From comedic to heartfelt, and tear-jerking to knee-slapping, entrants must create a video telling the world in one minute or less why their mom or wife warrants the honor and grand prize. All videos can be submitted to the Emerald Coast Facebook page – www.facebook.com/floridasemeraldcoast – until Apr. 24; once uploaded, voting begins and entrants are encouraged to share the video with family and friends to accumulate votes – one vote per day, per user.

Out of 82.8 million mothers in the United States, one grand-prize winner will be revealed on May 16. Florida’s Emerald Coast will end the promotion on Mother’s Day, May 8, before announcing ‘America’s Most Deserving Mom’ one week later. The top 10 videos, as voted on by the general population, will go to a committee on Mother’s Day, where the winning video will be selected.

Unpretentious, breathtakingly beautiful and named the “No. 1 Beach Town in the South” for 14 consecutive years by the readers of Southern Living, Florida’s Emerald Coast is famous for 24 miles of sugar-white sands and emerald-green waters. Year-round, vacationers indulge in simple pleasures – from the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” and spirited seaside celebrations to challenging holes golf and 14,000 affordable, Gulf-edged accommodations.

For more information on The Emerald Coast’s Search for America’s Most Deserving Mom, visit www.facebook.com/floridasemeraldcoast or call the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800.322.3319 or 850.651.7131.

Plant it Pink

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:45:57 -0500

This is the first week of spring. Let’s celebrate!

The Argenta Arts Foundation and its partners invite you to celebrate this beautiful season with 25,000 pink tulips in downtown North Little Rock’s Argenta District. Festivities start tomorrow and last through March 31st. In addition to having fun, the festival will honor families affected by breast cancer.

Gardening guru P. Allen Smith is the presenting sponsor of Plant it Pink. The proceeds from sponsorships and events will benefit the Arkansas affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

A kick-off reception, featuring delicious food and live music by Rodney Block Project, will be held tomorrow in the CityGrove Townhomes Art Park on Fifth Street between Main and Maple in Argenta. Tickets are $50 and space is limited to 300.

On Saturday, bring the whole family out for a day of activities. P. Allen will host a spring garden discussion at 9 a.m. on bringing pink into your life. Dr. Suzanne Klimberg of UAMS will also be there. The Park Hill Dixie Land Band will start us up at 8:30 and the North Little Rock Community Band will be the music for the Honors Walk starting at 10. Bongo Willie will be on hand for the kids along with face painting by the NLR Mayor’s Youth Council, a bouncy house and Little Caesars Character with give-aways. Look for the NLR PINK Fire Truck on Main Street.

The city’s favorite food trucks will be on Main at 6th street serving an array of delicious foods!

At 10, P. Allen Smith will lead the Susan G. Komen Honor’s Walk down Main Street in Argenta. Everyone is welcome to participate, wear your pink to show your support for the Komen Foundation and breast cancer survivors. Hot Pink Mardi Gras beads will be distributed to all participants.

For more information, visit http://plantitpinkforkomen.eventbrite.com

Nominations needed for Governor's Arts Awards

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:42:52 -0500

The Arkansas Arts Council is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Governor’s Arts Awards. The annual awards recognize Arkansas artists, arts patrons and corporations for their outstanding contributions to the arts community.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 6. Nominees must be current Arkansas residents or Arkansas-based corporations.

Nominations are accepted in seven categories: Arts Community Development, Arts in Education, Corporate Sponsorship of the Arts, Individual Artist, Folklife, Patron, and Lifetime Achievement.

A distinguished panel from the Arkansas arts community reviews the nominations, and the award winners will be honored at an awards ceremony later this year. Each nomination will be judged on the significance of the contributions made, the range of the individuals and groups served and the length of time and degree of the activity or contributions.

Governor’s Arts Awards nomination forms are available at www.arkansasarts.org. For more information, call Cheri Leffew at 501.324.9767 or e-mail cheri@arkansasheritage.org.