One Tank Travels: Heber Springs

May 16, 2012 12:00 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

We invite you to have "More Fun Per Gallon" in Arkansas this year. Each day we will be blogging on different Arkansas destinations which can be reached on one tank of gas or less. This is basically every corner of The Natural State. We hope these suggestions help you in planning a trip to remember.

Today's Trip: Heber Springs

I’m a keeper. Not a hoarder - a keeper. I do purge stuff – albeit some stuff easier than other stuff. Old notebooks, full of old notes, seem to be something I have a hard time parting with. If I’ve already written the article, I no longer need the notes, so I don’t know why I don’t just toss them. Sometimes I find papers stuck in the notebooks, like recently when I found an agenda from a writer’s workshop I attended in December of 2006 (yes, 2006).

Scratched on a side border was a quote from freelance writer Georgie McIrvin of Heber Springs. It read, “Everybody ought to have to go to Heber Springs before they go to Heaven so it won’t be such a shock.”

Well, if that doesn’t make Heber Springs worth at least one tank of gas, I don’t know what does.

Heber Springs was founded as a health resort in the mid-19th century. Today it serves as a gateway to Greers Ferry Lake and the Little Red River. I have to agree with Georgie that the scenery in this area is pretty heavenly. Greers Ferry is among the state's five largest lakes and is tops in providing great fishing, water sports, boating and camping. Corps of Engineers campgrounds and commercial parks are available. You can also try your hand fishing for trout on the Little Red River below the Corp of Engineers Dam. It’s internationally known for producing world-record trout. Resorts and outfitters are abundant. The lake and river have served as national models for environmental cleanliness.

In addition to the great outdoors, Heber Springs’ historic downtown district has an Americana square with a stately county courthouse, museum, antique shops, art galleries, and gift shops. Spring Park, which attracted settlers to Heber Springs in the 1830s, is located in the heart of town along east Main Street. The park has picnic tables, shade trees, a basketball court, skateboard ramp, playgrounds, two outdoor amphitheaters, public restrooms and is wheelchair accessible. It’s also the backdrop for many festivals throughout the year including Spring Fest and Old Settler’s Days.

World-class resorts, hotels, motels, and campgrounds can be found to suit any budget. I’ve had fine meals at Lindsey’s Resort on the Little Red River and at the Red Apple Inn Resort, but there are plenty of other places to try also, whether you’re looking for fried catfish or steak.

Don’t miss a trek up Sugarloaf Mountain, championship golf courses, Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery, William Carl Garner Visitor Center, and the Trumpeter Swans on Magness Lake each winter.

Heber Springs has some excellent events, like the annual World Championship Cardboard Boat Races (July 28 this year), and the city’s annual holiday lights show.

So fill up your gas tank and make plans to see Heber Springs’ little slice of heaven. I’m going to go throw out a notebook from 2006. I suddenly don’t feel like I need it anymore.

Jill M. Rohrbach

jillsjourneys@gmail.com

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Storytellers in the Park: Tales from the Buffalo

May 11, 2012 1:41 PM

By Jill Rohrbach

The 40th anniversary celebration of the Buffalo National River continues with another offering from the Buffalo National River Partners “Storytellers in the Park: Tales from the Buffalo” series at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19 at Steel Creek.

Gary Weibye, a Newton County author, will tell tales of “Hubby” and “Wifey” and their many experiences in a new found environment. He’ll inspire you with stores of rural Newton county and its residents’ values and customs. He’ll even have a few tales of haunted places in those hills. Local musician Brent Crow will provide entertainment.

Gary Wiebye was born in Minnesota and made his way through Iowa and finally to the Gulf of Mexico. He was a high school English teacher in Houston for most of his career. But, upon retirement, he and his wife, Beverly, found the Ozarks and the two of them moved to the mountains south of Jasper. Since moving to the Ozarks, Gary has written several books about the culture and customs of residents of Newton County. Gary and Beverly now call the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Ozarks their home.

The series is dedicated to the memory of Harold and Margaret Hedges, who along with others, were instrumental in the designation of the Buffalo as America’s first national river. Steel Creek is located on Hwy. 74 between Ponca and Jasper. Once at Steel Creek follow the signs to the program location. Bring a lawn chair to the program.

Jill M. Rohrbach

jillsjourneys@gmail.com

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Mather Lodge Reopens May 8 Following Renovation

May 4, 2012 12:52 PM

By Jill Rohrbach

The beauty of Petit Jean Mountain inspired the creation of Arkansas’s state parks system in the 1920s, and with it, Arkansas’s first state park. So the history of Petit Jean State Park, constructed in 1933, is as rich as its scenery and facilities, which include the legendary Mather Lodge. The lodge reopens at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, May 8 after having been closed since December 2010 for renovation.

The renovation work replaced the 1960s-era dining room with a more rustic-style design, expanded the kitchen, added a meeting room, relocated the guest registration desk, enhanced the guest rooms, and constructed a new swimming pool. The renovation did not affect any of Mather Lodge’s original Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and later Works Progress Administration (WPA), work dating from the 1930s.

Overlooking Cedar Creek Canyon, Mather Lodge is the only CCC lodge constructed in an Arkansas state park. Following the lodge’s original construction in 1934 by the CCC, the Works Progress Administration constructed an architecturally compatible addition to the lodging wing in 1939. In the 1960s, a dining room and kitchen addition were added on to the lodge. The demolition and replacement of this addition was the major work done during the renovation.

I commend the Arkansas State Parks personnel for giving us an updated modern facility with minimal impact on the historic building. Now we have the best of both worlds. The renovated portion mirrors the Adirondack-style park architecture of the original 1930s portions of Mather Lodge. And anyone who has hiked the beautiful trails of the park will appreciate the addition of restrooms underneath the pool due to its proximity to one of the park’s most popular hiking trails.

The lobby and restaurant feature exposed log construction, use of natural materials, and extensive glass window walls that provide a full view of the natural beauty surrounding Mather Lodge. The new dining room seats 104 persons and the private dining room for small banquets and group retreats seats an additional 50 to 60 people.

Parking has been expanded from 44 spaces to 81 including four ADA accessible spaces. A new barrier-free walkway connects the parking area to the lodge’s new entrance.

Petit Jean lies in a unique area between the Ozark and Ouachita Mountain ranges in west central Arkansas. Situated on Petit Jean Mountain, the park encompasses 2,658 acres of rare natural beauty. Thick woods, ravines, streams, springs, spectacular views and interesting geological formations are preserved almost as French explorers found them 300 years ago.

The park trails system features 20 miles of interconnected trails and quintessential Arkansas scenery. Trails range in length from one-quarter mile to 12 miles.

These hikes are not simply walks in the woods. They illuminate history and nature. One can visit a cabin constructed in 1853 by slaves and tenant farmers, or walk on stone steps cut and laid in the 1930s by men using only hand tools and teams of mules. These hard working men of the CCC drew a wage of only a dollar a day.

The park’s unique “carpet rock” formed when crisscrossed fractures in sandstone were filled by quartz cement. Since quartz is very resistant to weather and erosion, the filled fracture lines now stand out in relief like a man-made pattern imprinted in each boulder’s surface. Equally intriguing are the huge “turtle rocks,” which appear to be just what their name implies.

Just as flowing water over countless centuries has carved the valleys, so have lichens, living on the surface of bare rocks and producing acidic secretions, dissolved rock and created fissures, eventually breaking larger stones into smaller ones.

Wildlife watchers can observe mink, kingfishers, herons and raccoons foraging the creeks for meals, which might include fish, frogs, crayfish and mussels.

Birding enthusiasts frequent the park to see the double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, ring-necked duck, bald eagle, wild turkey, spotted sandpiper, pileated woodpecker, Carolina chickadee or golden-crowned kinglet. Field checklists are provided by the park.

The park drew its name from the legend of a young French girl who disguised herself as a cabin boy so she could secretly accompany her fiancé to the “New World.” Petit Jean, or “Little John,” became fatally ill and requested to be buried on the mountain. Many believe she is in fact buried at a point overlooking the Arkansas River Valley. The “gravesite” is one of the most popular sites to visit at the park. The spirit of Petit Jean is said to hover over the mountain, giving it an air of strange enchantment.

As Petit Jean State Park reveals its history, legend and nature, it also provides peaceful and serene venues.

Lush tree canopies shelter plants such as wild hydrangeas, violets, mosses, ferns and liverworts. Running water along Cedar Creek Self-Guided Trail tempts passers-by to cool their feet in the summer. A 94-foot waterfall gives hikers of Cedar Falls Trail a refreshing spray, while Cedar Falls Overlook provides a magnificent view of the falls from above.

Other natural attractions at the park include Rock House Cave, Bear Cave, and a natural bridge along Seven Hollows Trail. The hollows inspired those who wanted to preserve the area as a state park. Sunsets over the river valley are spectacular from Palisades Overlook.

Mary Ann Richter Overlook provides a scenic view of the peaks of Mt. Nebo, Mt. Magazine and of Dardanelle Rock on the south bank of the Arkansas River. The flatlands visible in the distance include Carden Bottoms and Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge.

The CCC Overlook with a view of Petit Jean River to the west, gives visitors an opportunity to watch black and turkey vultures as they soar the windy bluffs and roost on the sheer canyon walls below.

In addition to the new lodge, the park offers cabins, individual campsites and pull-thru sites, all with water and electrical hookups. Modern bathhouses are also available. You can also Rent-A-Camp and Rent-A-Teepee.

Picnic and grocery supplies, firewood, horseback riding and arts and crafts shops are located near the park. Some facilities are open seasonally only. Petit Jean is Arkansas's only state park with its own airport, open for daytime use only.

also on the mountain, The Museum of Automobiles is a must for automobile lovers. Numerous antique and classic autos are displayed. The museum is open daily and a small admission fee is charged.

Directions
Take Hwy. 9 (Exit 109) off 1-40 at Morrilton south nine miles to Oppelo. Then head west 12 miles on Hwy. 154 to the park. Or, visitors approaching from the west can head south on Hwy. 7 at Russellville off I-40 to Centerville, then east 16 miles on Hwy. 154 to the park. Visitor’s approaching from the southwest can take Hwy. 7 off I-30 north through Hot Springs to Centerville, then east 16 miles on Hwy. 154 to the park. Or, from Hwy. 7 off 1-30 north through Hot Springs take Hwy. 10 east to Casa and Hwy. 155 north to the park.

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Musical Connections at the Buffalo National River

May 4, 2012 9:08 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

In the continuing, year-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Buffalo National River, the country's first national river, the Buffalo National River Partners will present the program “Musical Connections from Scotland to the Ozarks” at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, May 5 at the Tyler Bend amphitheater.

The Crooked Creek Ceili Band will provide the program that builds a musical bridge from Scotland and Ireland to traditional Ozarks bluegrass. You’ll discover the roots of local cultural heritage through traditional instruments and arrangements of familiar and unfamiliar tunes.

This is the first in a series of programs called “Storytellers in the Park: Tales from the Buffalo.” The series will be presented throughout the summer in various locations of the national park, and is made possible by a donation from the Ozarks Wilderness Waterways Club in memory of Harold and Margaret Hedges. The Hedges worked tirelessly to conserve the Buffalo River and played a significant role in the designation of the Buffalo as a National River. It is to honor their memory that “Storytellers in the Park: Tales from the Buffalo” is dedicated.

In case of rain this program will be re-scheduled. For more information, contact Sybil Craig at 870-704-9114 or by email at BNRPinc@gmail.com.

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Art and Nature Celebrated With Artosphere Festival, New Crystal Bridges Exhibit

May 3, 2012 1:51 PM

By Jill Rohrbach

You can’t look at “Arkansas, The Natural State” as just a slogan. It really is a way of life. Just look at what’s going on in northwest Arkansas this week and you’ll see how the beauty of the landscape influences and inspires a way of living.

In the days ahead, you’ll find an emphasis on the marriage of art and nature. Artosphere 2012 kicks off today (May 3) at 4 p.m. “The Hudson River School: Nature and the American Vision” opens to the public on Saturday, May 5 at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Artosphere is an arts and nature festival running for two months. It celebrates not only the arts in all forms, but also artists, influenced by nature, who inspire people to live more sustainable lives. Presented by the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, events and performances take place throughout northwest Arkansas at traditional locales as well as unusual settings. Music, theater, dance, visual arts, lectures and more can be found on stages and in auditoriums as well as on bike trails. This is the third year for the multi-week event, which has dozens of free and low cost programs.

Loosely structured around the theme "Sticks & Stones", this year’s festival will feature an installation piece by Stickwork Artist Patrick Dougherty, dance and theater pieces that explore buildings and structures, and a rich tapestry of classical music programming exploring man's connection to place and identity. Popular programs will return and expand, including the Artosphere Festival Orchestra performing in Siloam Springs and Fayetteville, the Trail Mix Concert Tour in Fayetteville and Bentonville, and the first year of the Artosphere Partner Grant program, which offered $4,000 to two artists/arts organizations to develop unique projects specifically for Artosphere.

The festival has two phases: May programming, which focuses on dance, children's theater and outdoor music, and June programming in classical and chamber music. It kicks off today at the Fayetteville square for First Thursday, an art event, then with a gallery opening and lecture with Michael Pollan, author of “In Defense of Food,” and “Food Rules” at the Walton Arts Center on Dickson Street. There will be a special Farmer’s Market on Tyson Plaza, and a beer garden by Hog Hause Brewery featuring local beers. The event, which includes live music, is free. Bring a jar of nuts or peanut butter and get free event parking (in the lot across from WAC only). We'll donate it all to local food shelters in an effort to stock the shelves with real food, inspired by Michael Pollan. Today from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. is also the opening reception for “Structuring Nature,” consisting of 27 carved and burned wood panels, in WAC’s Joy Pratt Markham Gallery.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville opened 11-11-11 in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of landscape. “The core of our identity is art and nature,” said Kevin Murphy, the museum’s curator of American art, in a press conference today. “Hosting this exhibit is so appropriate.” The exhibit is “The Hudson River School: Nature and the American Vision” a touring exhibition of 45 original paintings from the finest collections of the New-York Historical Society.

This is a rare opportunity to view these works while the Society’s permanent gallery space in New York is under renovation. They will appear at only four museums around the country.

Murphy said Crystal Bridges does have a very nice collection of paintings of the artists in the Hudson River School exhibition but this collection “will give depth and fullness of the School as a whole. The scope of the collection is large compared to the single representative painting we have in our permanent collection.” In addition to well-known works by artists such as Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Church, Thomas Cole, Jasper Cropsey, Asher B. Durand, Martin Johnson Heade, and John Frederick Kensett, the exhibition includes all five paintings in Thomas Cole’s allegorical series, “The Course of Empire.”

The exhibition, which will be on view through Sept. 3, will require timed, reserved tickets for entry. Tickets are $5 for non-Members ages 18 and up, and free for guests ages 17 and younger. Museum members receive complimentary admission, but reserved tickets are still required for entry. Tickets may be reserved online at www.crystalbridges.org/Exhibitions/Hudson-River-School.

Murphy said Crystal Bridges invites the public to view, absorb, and think of the history of collecting, then go out in the nature around the museum and take photographs to share and be displayed with Crystal Bridges. The museum sits on a 120-acre park with trails and gardens. The Artosphere festival encourages the public to participate in a photography element as well.

And so, with the knowledge of the kick off of Artosphere and the opening of the Hudson River School, I leave you with the words of Asher B. Durand (1855), “Go not abroad then in search of material for exercise of your pencil, while the virgin charms of your native land have claims on your deepest affection.” Or, in other (my) words, "Arkansas, The Natural State" take advantage of all it has to offer.

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Celebrating African Culture in the Ozarks

May 2, 2012 4:53 PM

By Jill Rohrbach

Feel the beat of the African drum calling you tomorrow when Kouakou Yao (“Angelo”) and his Afrique Aya Dance Company put on a unique and unforgettable experience of the culture and art of West Africa during Africa in the Ozarks, held in Eureka Springs May 3-6.

This is the fifth year for the event led by master-level African performers and teachers from around the country. It begins at 6 p.m. Thursday with an African feast at Caribe Restaurant, located at 309 W. Van Buren.

You can catch performances of world-class drummers and dancers at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at The Auditorium on 32 S. Main. There will also be mask stilt walking.

The event is part of Eureka Spring’s May Festival of the Arts, so you can catch the Afrique Aya Dance Company at 2 p.m. Saturday during the Artrageous Parade with a free demonstration in Basin Springs Park at 3 p.m.

Take drum and dance classes at 10 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at The Auditorium. All adults and children 10 years old or older are welcome.

A closing ceremony, at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday is free and open to the public. An African-style bazaar will also be open all weekend in Basin Springs Park, featuring African clothing, jewelry, musical instruments, and art.

For schedule of events, ticketing, and class registration information, visit http://afriqueaya.org/ or contact: Anita Schnee at 479-587-0262, anitafay@gmail.com

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Vote for Your Favorite Cheese Dip This Saturday at Fayetteville Sip & Dip

May 1, 2012 10:55 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

I absolutely, positively love cheese dip. I could eat it every day, and come really close to doing so some weeks. I like all types – simple Rotel mixed with Velveeta to the real cheeses laden with spices, peppers and even meat – which is why you’ll find me this Saturday (May 5) at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Fayetteville for the Northwest Arkansas Cheese Dip Classic.

The cheese dip competition takes place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Local celebrities, food critics, and political dignitaries will join the public in voting to decide which cheese dip will best represent the northwest Arkansas region at the 3rd annual World Cheese Dip Championship on Oct. 20 in Little Rock.

The cheese dip classic is divided into amateur and professional divisions. Winners receive cash prizes as well as trophies created by a local artist. The professional division winner also receives free entry into the 3rd annual World cheese Dip Championship and hotel accommodations for the championship weekend in Little Rock.

Some of the restaurants signed up for the professional division include: The Flying Burrito Company, Qdoba, Northwest Arkansas Chef’s Association, Farrell’s Lounge, Ella’s, and Legacy Blues Club. There will also be a University of Arkansas Greek cheese dip competition. Sororities and fraternities will partner and battle it out to be crowned campus champions.

And in case you didn’t realize it, this Saturday is Cinco de Mayo, and what better way to celebrate than by eating and voting on your favorite cheese dip.

The Northwest Arkansas Cheese Dip Classic is also partnering with Fayetteville Foam Fest to create a new and unique for the area. Fayetteville Foam Fest takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Washington County Fairgrounds. It is a craft beer appreciation festival, and a non-profit festival dedicated to raising money for FEED FAYETTEVILLE.

In addition to create beer and cheese dip, there will be live music from local and regional artists and other food and beverages for sale. Three of the food vendors for the event are Hammontrees, Mellow Mushroom and Hog Haus Brewing Company.

Proceeds from the Northwest Arkansas Cheese Dip Classic will benefit the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas, whose mission is to create brighter futures for single-parent families by offering encouragement and access to higher education through community supported efforts.

Admission to the Northwest Arkansas Cheese Dip Classic is $10 for adults, $5 for students with a valid school ID and FREE for children 10 and younger. Advance tickets can be purchased at some Arvest Bank locations, including the main bank and branches on Crossover, Green Acres, Joyce, University, Wedington, West Sixth, and the Walmart Supercenters on Mall Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Tickets for the Fayetteville Foam Fest are $30. Entrance tickets for both events can be purchased together for $35. Registration to compete in the Northwest Arkansas Cheese Dip Classic is now open to the public. For more information, visit www.CheeseDip.net..
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Bull Shoals Lake is Incredible Fishery for Bassmaster Elite Anglers, Amateurs or Families

April 28, 2012 11:22 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

Bull Shoals Lake is an incredible fishery – just ask a pro, especially those at the recent Bassmaster Elite Series TroKar Quest held April 19-22 on this 60,000-acre impoundment.

“Most definitely this is one of the best lakes I’ve fished in a long time,” said Bassmaster Pro Gerald Swindle. “If you’ve got children and you want to spend some time fishing, I would definitely look at Bull Shoals. You can put a line in and catch fish anywhere. It’s like Christmas.” He added that his wife now wants to visit Bull Shoals to fish.

Swindle placed 41st in the tournament and was a commentator for the event, which will air on April 29 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2 and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET on ESPN Classic.

With a four-day total of 78 pounds, 6 ounces, Brandon Palaniuk, 24, won the TroKar Quest and $100,000. Comprised of 100 of the most talented anglers in bass fishing, the field of competitors has won more than 200 Bassmaster tournaments, 17 Bassmaster Classic championships and 21 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles. The Elite field - especially anglers such as four-time Classic champ Rick Clunn of Missouri, perennial qualifier Kevin VanDam of Michigan, and several popular Arkansas favorites like Mark Davis of Mount Ida, and Scott Rook of Little Rock - drew the public to attend the daily weigh-in events.

Nearly all of the anglers remarked on the fantastic fishery that Bull Shoals Lake offers as well as the great support and turnout for the event from the community. Many also expressed a desire to return to Bull Shoals Lake. The tournament was based at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock and Bull Shoal-White River State Park.

Palaniuk was able to land some big fish to make the difference in his win. Every angler was catching a lot of fish and weeded through the keepers to gain ounces. Most were cranking bluff walls and transitions. “This is a phenomenal fishery. I probably had 150 keepers over the last three days,” said Jason Quinn. Compared to other waters, Quinn said it ranks up there because “you can just go out there and catch ‘em.”

Palaniuk fished tight angles on small brush and rock piles in open water. On day three he hooked himself in his left pinky finger when he was reaching down for a catch and it shook. “It was a KVD treble and went all the way to the bone,” Palaniuk explained. “I took 20 minutes to try to push it out but it wasn’t doing.”He had to head to the Mountain Home emergency room. He was in and out in one and a half hours, then back on the water fishing.

Derek Remitz, who landed in 9th place with 60 pounds, 13 ounces said, “This is like a diamond in the rough.” He caught most of his fish on crankbait. They were biting about everything he threw in, type and color. “Throw it in, wind it in, and run a pattern,” he said.

Finishing in 6th place with 63 pounds, 1 ounce, Cliff Pace said, “This place is unbelievable how many fish you catch. My hands hurt so bad yesterday I could barely get fish out of my live well.”He nodded off the ubiquitous holding up of his fish at final weigh-in because he said he’d be lucky if he could even open a pickle jar later.

Edwin Evers weighed in with a solid 66 pounds for 4th place, and said he fished 45 degree banks. “I’ve been here seven days and I saw 21 more spots today that I’d like to fish.” He told Bassmasters, “I’d come back anytime you guys want to come back.” Brent Chapman, 6th place with 64 pounds, 7 ounces, agreed and remarked on the amazing Sunday crowd for the final tournament weigh-in. He said he used an old-school wiggle wart and “something that hasn’t caught on here yet, a top shelf swimbait. That’s what I caught all my big fish on.”

Keith Poche, who ended in 12th place with 58 pounds, 3 ounces, said he “didn’t think this fishery would do these kinds of numbers but it did.” Mark Menendez, 11th place with 59.5, added, “It is a beautiful place, a fantastic place to fish.” He said Bull Shoals Lake will be “off the hook in another year or two.”

Arkansan Scott Rook, 8th place with 61.8, worked a square-billed crankbait. “I caught 20 pounds a day in practice,” he said. “I’ve caught more fish this week than in a long time. Bull Shoals is alive and well.”

For more details on this Elite Series event, visit www.Bassmaster.com.

In addition to fishing, Bull Shoals Lake offers recreation activities in boating, skiing, swimming, camping, picnicking and scuba diving. Facilities are located in 19 parks operated by the Corps of Engineers, Arkansas State Parks, local governments and a marina. These parks include 18 boat ramps, 11 campgrounds, 13 picnic shelters, 11 marinas, 7 designated swim areas, and hundreds of miles of undeveloped shoreline. For more information, visit www.Arkansas.com.

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No Leak in This Boat

April 26, 2012 4:29 PM

By Jill Rohrbach

I’m really good at saying “yes.” My first inclination when presented with a challenge, new experience, or something that pushes me outside my comfort zone is excitement. It’s usually too late when I begin to think about what I have said “yes” to.

That’s how I came to be a marshal at the Bassmaster Elite Series on Bull Shoals Lake last week. I was already headed over there to cover the event. My office was trying to help secure marshals for it, and my boss asked me if I’d like to be one since I was going. “Awesome,” was my only thought. I love fishing and a day on the lake.

It wasn’t until the day before I headed to Bull Shoals when I was contemplating everything I needed to pack that I realized that would include a tin can or some similar container. Oh jeez. What had I gotten myself into? Oh, only the possibility of relieving myself in the bass boat of a professional angler who was a perfect stranger! Yep, a little outside of my comfort zone.

Now, some of you just stopped reading and are thinking, “TMI!” Most of you are laughing. I know this because no matter who I talked with about the marshal experience (and many of you were strangers I met during the event), and no matter what questions they asked, almost everyone wanted to know what a female marshal does if she has to go to the bathroom.

So let’s just cut to the chase, shall we? The rules state, “Pros and Marshals must remain together at all times, in sight of the pro’s catch… In the event of a needed restroom break or refueling situation at a marina gas pump partners are allowed to leave the boat upon which all fishing must cease until partners are back together in the boat.”

Basically, that means to me that you could ask to be put out on the bank to go, but your pro would have to stop fishing, or you can take a canister of some sort and just go in it in the boat. (Here’s a tip – take a poncho for “privacy.”)

Now I’m an outdoorsy girl and I’ve spent time fishing and on boats. While I had never been a marshal before, I knew good and well that I wouldn’t be asking a professional angler fishing for tournament money to drive me to a marina bathroom. I figured a quick trip to a tree or shrub on the bank might be an option, but didn’t like the idea of halting the fishing action. I didn’t want to be a disadvantage in a quest for a top prize of $100,000. So, I went with canister in hand. However, my ultimate game plan was simply not to go at all.

I’m happy to say that worked out for me both days. I didn’t drink a thing (okay a few sips of coffee the first day) before I met up with my pro each way-too-early morning. I’m a coffeeholic so that was hard for me, especially at the hour of the morning. Both days I stashed a bottle of water in the pros ice compartment, but didn’t drink it either day until we had actually reached the check-in at Bull Shoals Lake Dock. I’m just gonna say that for me, a little dehydration was worth avoiding the canister, which would have been pretty hysterical to try and use the second day with all the layers and rain gear I had on in the cold, wet weather.

Now the other thing you might be wondering is what the pros do with a female in the boat, although I think most of you guessed that all I had to do was look the other way.

When it comes down to it, the pros are pros and the restroom situation is no big deal.

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Want to Be a Better Angler? Be a Bassmaster Marshal

April 25, 2012 3:53 PM

By Jill Rohrbach

If you want to be a better angler, register to be a marshal at a Bassmaster Elite Series fishing tournament. Just watching different anglers fish and hearing them talk to each other is an education in itself. Plus it’s extremely interesting to see their different styles and personalities. The procedures themselves are fun from a front-row seat too, whether it be the parade-like take-off each morning of the tournament or the pros culling fish after fish to gain ounces for weigh-in.

I had my first experience as a marshal on Thursday (April 19) for the Bassmaster Elite Series TroKar Quest on Bull Shoals Lake in the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks. Comprised of 100 of the most talented anglers in bass fishing, the field of competitors has won more than 200 Bassmaster tournaments, 17 Bassmaster Classic championships and 21 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles.

I was lucky enough to draw Clark Reehm, who was more than willing to share information as he fished. He worked a pattern fishing points and bluff walls using crankbaits and jerkbaits. As soon as he got to a spot and shut the motor down he was halfway out of his seat throwing off his life vest putting down his trolling motor and casting his line. He fished with purpose and intensity.

When he got a big fish on his enthusiasm was contagious. He hauled in a 5.5 pounder the morning I was with him and didn’t contain his excitement. “That’s a $10,000 fish,” he exclaimed.

He remarked once that he was thirsty but he didn’t want to stop fishing long enough to take that drink. He didn’t eat, and didn’t grab a Gatorade until we were checked in back at the dock.

On the second day I drew Ish Monroe as a partner. Like Reehm, he’s a super nice guy, but had a totally different style on the water. Despite being in a wide open lake, I could feel tension in the air. He told me he’d chill out and talk to me after he got five fish in the boat, which he did. Surprisingly, he listened to techno dance music while he cranked along the bank. “It calms me down,” he told me.

The techno dance music seemed a strange combination with the outdoor fishing at first, but I grew to appreciate it. In fact, I’ve been playing it on Pandora while I write and find it energizes me and puts me in the zone. So, I guess I got more than a fishing lesson from being with Ish.

The hard part of being a marshal that day, other than the cold, wet weather, became the inability to get up and dance or fish, and only to be an observer.

While Ish was more reserved than Reehm, he too showed his excitement of having a large fish on the line, although when he got it to the boat it wasn't a bass. Five minutes later he said his heart was still racing from that and I realized just what it meant to him, that possibility of the big one. Even though you're just watching you begin to get excited for them at each cast. The number of fish they were catching on Bull Shoals Lake meant I had no worries of being bored watching someone else fish.

No matter who you draw as a partner, whether they talk and share information or mainly keep quiet in concentration, you’ll learn just by watching. You’ll also learn as you hear these pro anglers talking to each other about the day. Plus, there’s always the added bonus of the 70 mph thrill ride in a bass boat!

You can also find out what the pros are using at the weigh-in events, which are big shows with lots of vendors. Nearly all of the anglers remarked on the fantastic fishery that Bull Shoals Lake offers as well as the great support and turnout for the event from the community. Many also expressed a desire to return to Bull Shoals Lake. The tournament was based at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock and Bull Shoal-White River State Park.

The Bassmaster Elite Series on Bull Shoals will air on Sunday, April 29 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2 and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET on ESPN Classic.

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The Buffalo River Trail: How It Began and Where It's Going

April 17, 2012 9:54 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

Another event associated with the year-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Buffalo National River is coming up on April 24 with a presentation by Ken Smith on “The Buffalo River Trail: How it Began and Progress on the Trail,” from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Boone County Library in Harrison.

Smith will discuss the origins of the trail, the work that has been completed, and the challenges that trail builders currently face. The event is sponsored by the Buffalo National River Partners.

Smith grew up in Hot Springs and, in 1952, enrolled at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville as a mechanical engineering major. During his freshman year he joined a university hiking group, through which he developed his great love for the Buffalo River country. After leaving the University, he accepted a position with the National Park Service and worked for 12 years as a civil engineer in western parks and as a park planner in Washington, D.C. In 1974, Smith left the National Park Service and returned to Fayetteville, where he became a freelance writer, photographer and researcher. Through the years, he has become instrumental in building the Buffalo River Trail.

The Buffalo National River flows for 135 uninterrupted miles through the Arkansas Ozarks. On March 1, 1972, Arkansas’s Buffalo River was named the first national river in the United States. In addition to the natural beauty, you can enjoy superb canoeing, fishing, hiking, backpacking, and wildlife watching. A huge herd of elk roam the area and are a popular draw. Cabins, camping, resorts, and lodging in small towns are available.

For more information on this and other programs or the BNR Partners, contact Sybil Craig at 870-704-9114, by email at BNRPinc@gmail.com, or by visiting www.bnrpartners.org.

Find out more about the river by visiting the Buffalo River Chamber of Commerce comprehensive website, www.buffaloriverchamber.com.

Or, check out the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism new interactive section dedicated to the river and its visitors at www.arkansas.com/outdoors/buffalo40. The new section features an interactive map that shows the river and all of its landings, along with GPS coordinates and nearest towns. There are also lots of photos of the Buffalo, and a place to share your photos.
The website includes information on floating the river; where to rent a canoe, kayak or raft; a list of guides and outfitters and handy reference points on finding places to eat and stay.

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Steven Foster to Give Lecture and Workshop

April 10, 2012 10:40 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

It looks like Steven Foster, an herbalist and noted botanical photographer, is making his rounds in northwest Arkansas this spring. Hopefully, you can make it to one of these, the lecture or workshop.

Best-selling author, photographer, consultant, and herbalist, Steven Foster, has 36 years of comprehensive experience in the herbal field. He started his career at the Sabbathday Lake, Maine, Shaker’s Herb Department—America’s oldest herb business dating to 1799.

As an international consultant in medicinal and aromatic plant technical and marketing issues, Foster has served on projects in Argentina, Armenia, Belize, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, England, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Peru, the Republic of Georgia, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam and elsewhere.

Steven has 17 books published. He is senior author of three Peterson Field Guides, , including A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs (with Dr. James A. Duke), 2nd edition, 2000, A Field Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs with Christopher Hobbs, (2002), and A Field Guide to Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants of North America (with Roger Caras, 1995 and many other books. Other titles include Tyler’s Honest Herbal 4th edtion (with Varro Tyler) and the 1999 Independent Publisher's Association's Best Title in Health and Medicine—101 Medicinal Herbs. Foster is senior author of National Geographic’s A Desk Reference to Nature’s Medicine (with Rebecca Johnson), a 2007 New York Public Library “Best of Reference.” He has also authored over 800 articles for numerous trade, popular and scientific periodicals. An acclaimed photographer with over 250,000 images in his stock photos files, Foster’s photographs appear in hundreds of publications. He is Associate Editor of HerbalGram, and Chairman of the Board Trustees of the American Botanical Council in Austin, Texas. Steven makes his home in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Foster will speak at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 14 at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area in Rogers. His topic will be Ozark Herbs and Medicinal Plants. The park’s visitor center is located on Ark. 12 just east of Rogers. The presentation is free. For more information, call the park at 479-789-5000.

This is Foster’s second year to visit Ozark Folkways, located on Ark. 71 on the Boston Mountain in Winslow. His one-day workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, costs $100 and includes a wild herb walk and catered gourmet lunch by Chef David Lewis. Lewis is the creator of two Fayetteville favorites, Brick House Kitchen and BHK Kafé. With a focus on fresh, local cuisine like none other, Chef Lewis is a driving force in the local-food movement in Fayetteville.

Space for this class is limited and requires a $50 non-refundable deposit to reserve your spot. Contact Rebecca Buchanan, the folkways director, at 479-634-3791 or by email at director@folkways.arcoxmail.com.

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Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship Tickets On Sale Now

April 9, 2012 10:29 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

I used to think golf was the most boring sport to watch on television. That was before I owned my own set of golf clubs and developed an appreciation for the sport. Now I happily spend days like yesterday watching The Masters and rooting for Bubba.

I’ve never been to a golf tournament and it always looks like such an interesting process when I watch it on TV. I mean, would I want to stay in one place? Follow a favorite from hole to hole? What is it like? Then this morning’s inbox came with information on a perfect way to find out – the Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship, the official LPGA Tour event, returns to Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers June 25-July 1 and brings the world’s best female golfers to the area.

Tickets are now on sale and as a first for the tournament, sponsored by P&G, anyone who purchases a ticket online over the next two weeks will be entered in a drawing to win four Malibu Party Deck VIP hospitality tickets to the final round on Sunday, July 1. The winners will be announced on the tournament website on Monday, April 23.

Tickets are on sale at http://nwachampionship.com/, or by calling 479-715-6100. Daily tickets are $25, valid any one day, Friday, June 29 – Sunday, July 1. Weekly grounds passes, valid all week, can be purchased for $50. Admission is free to the public Monday, June 25 – Thursday, June 28. Children 17 years old and younger are admitted free with a ticketed adult.

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Fayetteville Modern Home Tour is April 14

April 5, 2012 3:26 PM

By Jill Rohrbach

My husband and I love looking at houses. Even though we now live in a home that we consider to be our “forever” house, we still like to pop into Sunday open houses around town every now and then.

So there’s no doubt we’ll be at the (first ever) Fayetteville Modern Home Tour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 14. It’s a self-guided tour of eight to 12 architecturally progressive and contemporary homes. The innovative homes exemplify modern living, their natural surroundings, and the history of architecture in the area. We have a somewhat modern home (particularly inside) with a little bit of acreage, including a pond, so I’m hoping to find inspiration.

Years ago, we took a tour of native Arkansan Fay Jones homes in the area. There is a strong modernism influence in Fayetteville because of him. Jones was an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright and winner of the AIA Gold Medal, the highest honor awarded by the American Institute of Architects. Jones was honored by his home state with the naming of the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas in 2009.

One of my girlfriends and I have talked before about how Fayetteville would be a great place for a tour of modern homes because it also contains a renowned follower of Jones – Marlon Blackwell, who is a designer of several homes on the tour.

The event press release says, “Participants will be able to enjoy stunning contemporary & mid-century modern residential properties throughout Fayetteville.” Well, I’m sold!

Homes on the tour include The Buckley House, the L-Stack House and Keenan TowerHouse. I’m particularly excited to see the TowerHouse. It’s very near where I live and I’ve heard people all over town speculate about the place.

The Buckley House, a classic 1968 Fay Jones-designed home, is a native stone and glass house nestled into the wooded hillside of MountSequoyah. The house is located at 964 East Arlington Terrace.

The L-Stack House is an ‘L’ configuration that divides the interior of the house by a carefully positioned glass-enclosed stairway that hinges together the two boxes that form the house structure. Throughout the house, windows and skylights are arranged to provide stunning views and illumination while still allowing for a sense of privacy. The L-Stack House is located at 857 N Woolsey Avenue.

The Keenan TowerHouse’s design includes a wooden lattice, made of white-oak fins, which reflect light at the height of the tree canopy; when approaching the house the lattice appears transparent. As visitors walk around the house, the space between the oak fins disappears providing a sense of gravity to ‘ground’ the tower. The home has an interior room for viewing the horizon and views in all directions and an open-roof exterior room. This house is located at 2570 Missouri Road.

Ingrid Spencer, former managing editor and current contributing editor for Architectural Record magazine in New York City, curated the homes for the Fayetteville Modern Home Tour, according to the press release. More homes will be added closer to the date of the tour.

Tickets are $25 in advance and can be purchased at http://fayetteville.modernhometours.com/tickets/ and picked up at designated will call locations. Tickets will also be available at select properties for $30 the day of the tour. You can also follow Modern Home Tours, which have tours throughout the country, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/modernhometours.

About Modern Home Tours, LLC:
Modern Home Tours, LLC was founded by partners Matt Swinney & James Leasure to introduce Modern architecture and living to people across the nation through fun and informative tours in dozens of cities across the United States. With carefully selected architects, neighborhoods and homes, tour goers learn about sophisticated home design and even garner ideas for their own home.

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Wood's Pharmacy & Old Fashioned Soda Fountain

April 4, 2012 12:00 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

I walked into the Wood’s Pharmacy & Old Fashioned Soda Fountain on a Wednesday, thank goodness, when the special was chicken pot pie with a side salad and a roll. It was a cool, rainy March day in Mountain View and I was delighted to see one of my favorite comfort foods on the menu. I grew up with my grandmother and my mother making this dish from scratch. In fact, it’s something I’m carrying on. I use our family recipes for the pie dough and also stew a hen and pick it off the bone. I enjoy the process of making it as much as eating it.

Ordering chicken pot pie in a restaurant is always risky though. I mean, seriously, how can it ever live up to my grandmother’s or mother’s? While I could never say anyone else’s chicken pot pie was better or as good as my family’s dish, I will say that Wood’s version was excellent. It had a flaky crust, big chunks of chicken, loads of vegetables, and a nice creamy sauce. The side salad and roll were the perfect accompaniments.

While my husband and I dug into the comfort food, our kids went for the all-American hot dog with a side of chips. There’s a wide variety on the menu, including a Reuben sandwich, Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, Salad Plate, BBQ Pork Sandwich Plate, Chef Salad, Ham & Cheese, Turkey & Cheese, Grilled Pimento Cheese, Polish Sausage, Grilled Cheese, and Peanut Butter and Jelly. Then there’s the good stuff, the old fashioned specialties from the soda fountain – ice cream soda, banana split, hot fudge cake, caramel apples, floats, shakes and malts, sundaes, ice cream, phosphates, limeade and lemonade.

It’s worth stopping in at Wood’s Pharmacy for the food as well as the soda fountain offerings. But you’ll also enjoy the overall ambiance of this old fashioned place that is a working pharmacy. It’s located on the Mountain View square, which has great shopping venues. In the evenings you’ll find impromptu music jams throughout the square grounds. This is Americana.

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Jo Jo's Catfish Wharf Serves Up Southern Goodness With an Excellent View

April 2, 2012 12:00 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

“Are we supposed to be able to eat all of those hushpuppies?” my husband Mike asked. The waitress at Jo Jo’s Catfish Wharf in Mountain View had just placed a huge basket full of these hot, fried cornmeal delights on our table as a precursor to our meals. You know you love it when food you weren't expecting shows up at the table. We, along with our two boys, started into them to give emptying the basket our best shot. I mean, waste not want not, right?

Then our meals arrived. Two kids meals – popcorn shrimp and chicken strips, both with fries. My husband had the seven-piece catfish dinner. I had the three piece. Both dinners came with fries or baked potatoes, cole slaw, brown beans, and tomato relish. I also had a side of fried okra, which is something I cannot resist ordering when I see it on the menu – that and chocolate lava cake, but that’s another story.

To say we were stuffed is putting it mildly. It was a classic Southern fried meal, which you must have every now and then. The specialty of the house may be the catfish filets, but you’ll find a variety of items on the menu, including shrimp, steaks, chicken, burgers, sandwiches, and homemade desserts. There’s also a large salad bar set out in an old johnboat.

Other pluses - the wait staff gave great service. And, the entire back side of the restaurant is windows, providing a panoramic view of the scenic White River.

It’s a great place to stop in after fishing on the river, taking an underground tour at Blanchard’s Springs Caverns, maneuvering the treetop adventure courses at Loco Ropes, spending a day at Ozark Folk Center State Park or listening to music or shopping on the town square. Jo Jo’s is located adjacent to Jack’s Fishing Resort about six miles north of Mountain View on Ark. 5.

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Southland Park Gaming and Racing is Full of Surprises

March 29, 2012 12:00 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

Recently, I was in West Memphis for the Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism, which was held at Southland Park Racing and Gaming. While the conference is full of activities from speakers and sessions to socializing, I still found a little time in the evenings to take advantage of being at Southland Park, which is how I found out that I am a roulette kinda girl. I also love to bet on the dogs even though I have no understanding of picking a greyhound in a race. I sure do enjoy seeing them run.

From greyhound racing to casino gaming, this racino is full of surprises. Southland has reel games, blackjack and video poker. The gaming floor chimes with the sounds of the machines in action and is lit by their colorful flashing lights. You’ll find fast-paced gaming tables and a one-of-a-kind poker room. Right now at Southland Park, New Player Rewards members get $20 in Free Play.

Southland Park opened its doors in 1956. Back then it offered only seasonal greyhound racing, but because of growing popularity in the 80s it now has a year-round racing season and a track surface fitted with an underground heating system. It has one of the largest kennel compounds in the nation, and is the only racetrack in the U.S. that conducts nine-dog racing as part of its live racing programs. Southland conducts an average of 6,000 races over the course of a year. Also popular is its simulcast wagering seven days a week, year-round (except on Christmas and Easter). Since I also love horse racing, this appealed to me as well.

Other surprises? Your dining options at the World Market Buffet and the Bourbon Street Steak House Grill. You won’t believe the fine dining and wine offerings of the steak house. It may be one of the city’s best kept secrets. One of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life was at the steak house. The live music makes a trip to Southland worthwhile as well. (1550 N. Ingram Blvd.; 800-467-6182; www.southlandgreyhound.com)

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Try Pancho's Mexican Restaurant in West Memphis

March 28, 2012 10:57 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

In early March, I was in West Memphis for the Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism and had the opportunity to eat at Pancho’s, a place I had heard great things about.

An eatery that starts out in 1956 with packed dirt floors and still operates today, albeit with tile flooring, is a must-try, wouldn’t you say? From its humble beginning, Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant in West Memphis continues to serve up excellent food from its immense menu. While there is plenty on the menu to rave about – from the basics like tacos and enchiladas to dinner plates such as Shrimp Veracruz and Chicken Guadalajara to desserts of Peachy Con Queso and flan – its signature dish is its cheese dip. Or cheese dips, rather. They have a yellow and white version.

To many people’s delight, you can also find Pancho’s cheese dip, salsa, and salad dressing in supermarkets in Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi. This iconic restaurant was born from a surprise high school graduation trip to Mexico offered by a father, Morris Berger, to son, Louis Jack Berger. The flavors, colors, and taste sensations the two experienced in Mexico inspired them to open Pancho’s. Today it is run by Louis’ sister, Brenda Berger O’Brien. (3600 E. Broadway St.; 870-735-6466; http://www.panchosdips.com/)

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Russellville Marina Boat Repair and Cabins Open for Season

March 21, 2012 12:00 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

Visit My Arkansas every Wednesday for information on outdoors and sports.

This warm weather makes me yearn for swimming pools and lake activities. Russellville Marina Boat Repair and Cabins is already gearing up for fun. The marina, located on Lake Dardanelle and the Arkansas River in Russellville, opened for business for the 2012 season on March 1.

If you’re headed out to fish, stop by the marina for some bait – minnows, worms, crickets, frozen shad, chicken livers, and a wide variety of artificial baits. The store is stocked with snacks, sandwiches, cold drinks, ice cream, ice, groceries, camping and boating supplies, water toys, T-shirts, and more. They are ready to fuel boats and are already working on boats in their maintenance shop.

Now through Memorial Day, the marina is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Wednesdays. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, they are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. From Labor Day to Nov. 1, the marina is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day but Wednesdays.

Three cabins are available for rent. Each has a picnic table, barbecue grill, extra chairs for relaxing outside, and a private dock to fish from or to park your boat at. You’ll also love the sunset and lake view from each cabin.

Lake Dardanelle State Park and its fabulous visitor center are in walking distance of the marina.

If you need more information you can reach them at (877) 861-7350 or (479) 967-1543 or by email at cabininfo@russellvillemarina.com.

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In The Morgue of the Mastermind: Norman Baker Speaks in Eureka Springs

March 20, 2012 12:00 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

Before I recommend something, I like to have experienced myself, whether it be a show, spa, hotel, restaurant, trail or some other attraction. But sometimes I help promote things that I’ve just heard great things about or that appear to be worth it.

I received a press release this week about a new theater production in Eureka Springs. When I read that Sunday matinees were being added due to overwhelming popularity, I figured this guy must be on to something. The title alone has me intrigued.

Here’s the press release in its entirety. I’ll let it speak for itself.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Keith Scales
kscales@ix.netcom.com
479-253-5012

(EUREKA SPRINGS, AR) -- THE NEWS: Due to the overwhelming popularity, Keith Scales, creator and star of the Midnight Theatre production of “In The Morgue of the Mastermind: Norman Baker Speaks” has announced the addition of a 2 o’clock matinee every Sunday beginning March 18. Currently this introspective look at the man who turned the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa here into a cancer curing hospital has performances at 11 o’clock every Friday and Saturday night. The production is staged inside this hotel’s Faculty Lounge located on the fourth floor across the hall from Dr. Baker’s Bistro & Sky Bar.

“Not many Historic Hotels of America have paranormal activity and even fewer offer live theater in reference to it,” noted Scales. “This 125-year-old mountaintop spa resort has both. Plus, hotel guests and visitors are asked to come and enjoy the experience. Baker’s true back story is fascinating.”

Since seating is limited, guests are encouraged to make reservations early by going to the Crescent’s front desk, calling 479-253-9766 or going on-line to americasmosthauntedhotel.com.

THE BACK STORY: In 1937 the legendary Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas became a cancer hospital, operated by a man called Norman Baker – a controversial figure, to say the least. Vaudeville performer, inventor, mail order magnate, nationally famous broadcaster, brilliant organizer and businessman, Baker was a man of many parts – but he was no doctor. In 1940 Baker was convicted of fraud and sent to Fort Leavenworth Federal Prison in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Who was this man who wore purple, made several fortunes in different enterprises and hoped some day to be President of United States? Quack doctor? Natural healer who threatened the medical establishment? Sadistic mass murderer? Madman, genius, flim-flam man? Urban legends have obscured the truth.

The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa sent resident Ghost Tour manager Keith Scales on a journey of investigation, in search of the actual Norman Baker. A classically trained actor, Scales presents his findings in dramatic form, portraying the notorious Norman Baker in the very building in which he met his nemesis. Guests and visitors to The Crescent can now meet the man face to face, and hear his story from his own point of view every Friday and Saturday night and Sunday afternoons when the hotel presents “Midnight Theatre: In the Morgue of the Mastermind: Norman Baker Speaks”. Performances are at 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. respectively in the hotel’s Faculty Lounge located on the fourth floor of what many say is “America’s most haunted hotel”.

The Creator & Star: Born and raised in London, England, Keith Scales is the recipient of many awards and fellowships as a writer, actor and director. Keith has acted in more than 200 plays and directed nearly 100 productions in professional regional theatre. From 1993 – 2009 he served as artistic director of the Classic Greek Theatre of Oregon, for which he developed English versions of 16 ancient Greek plays. In 2011 he relocated to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to concentrate on the creation of original works for page, stage and screen. He is currently the Ghost Tour Manager at the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa and coordinator of the annual Eureka Springs Paranormal (ESP) Weekend.

Here is a brief overview of Scales career and accomplishments:

FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
2010: Presenter at the South Coast Writers Conference, in Gold Beach, Oregon

2008: Winter Writer-in-Residence at Fishtrap, Oregon.

2006: His play What Mad Pursuit, produced at West End Theatre, Portland, Oregon, 2006, was a finalist for the Oregon Literary Arts Award for Drama.

2002: First recipient of the prestigious Regional Arts and Culture Council Masters Fellowship. He used the grant to visit sites associated with the Grail legend in Cornwall and the South of France, in order to develop an original stage production of the Perceval legend.

1992: Oregon Arts Commission Fellowship to travel to Kyoto to study Japanese traditional and avant-garde theatre.

1989: Named by the state newspaper, the Oregonian, “the theatre artist who made the most significant contribution to theatre in Oregon in the decade”

1988: Oregon Arts Commission Fellowship to attend the Yeats festival in Sligo, Ireland in preparation for an unprecedented production of the entire Cuchulain Cycle at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, and a symposium: The Theatre of Myth, at Portland State University.

SELECTED WORKSHOPS
Screenwriting with Cynthia Whitcomb, founder of the Willamette Writers’ Conference
Portland, Oregon 2006

Playwrighting with Irene Maria Fornes,
Seattle, Washington, 1990

Presenting Classic Greek Drama Today
Getty Center, Los Angeles, 2004

WEBSITE
http://keith-scales.tripod.com

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Don't Miss the Art, Music & Hula Hoops at Spark Cafe in Bentonville

March 19, 2012 12:00 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

Looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon? Head on over to the Spark Café at the Walmart Visitor Center located on the downtown square in Bentonville. Kids and grownups can explore their creative sides from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. during the café’s Crafts Sunday events.

Here are the topics for upcoming weeks:

March 25 – Coffee Filter Garden. Create a variety of beautiful flowers out of coffee filters.
April 1 – Brazilian Music Makers. Use recycled materials to create new traditional Brazilian instruments: maracas, tambourines, and reco-recos.
April 8 – Coffee Painting. Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer. Use the Spark Café’s signature product to create monochromatic (and aromatic) paintings.
April 15 – Butterfly Metamorphosis. A beaded caterpillar goes into one side of a paper tube chrysalis, and a butterfly made from coffee filters emerges on the other side.
April 22 – Plastic Bottle Terrariums. Celebrate Earth Day by creating your own terrarium.
April 29 – Rain Forest Creatures. Recycled materials will be used to construct a variety of plants and animals found in the Amazon Rain Forest.

Spark Café also offers free live music from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Thursday. What I love about it is the support it shows for young local talent because the performances are by Bentonville High’s most talented student musicians. While you’re there have a cup of Spark blend drip coffee – only 50 cents a cup during show time.

Scheduled to play so far are:
March 15 – The ONE and ONLY Nikki Roark
March 29 – The amazing Tilly Hollaway
April 5 – The talented BHS Guitar Club

Also, during Bentonville’s First Friday event on April 6, Spark Café will offer Hula Hoopapalooza! The world record for the longest hula hoop is 90 hours. Think you can beat that? Give it a try at the contest only on First Friday at the 5&10. Winners will be announced that evening.

That’s a lot of fun to choose from. Spark Café is located at 105 N. Main St. For more information, call 479-273-1329, ext. 2.

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Arkansas Air Museum and Ozark Military Museum Merge

March 16, 2012 12:00 AM

By Jill Rohrbach

It only makes sense to me to see the Arkansas Air Museum and Ozark Military Museum merge. They are located beside each other at Drake Field in Fayetteville, after all. The new name will be the Arkansas Air and Military Museum.

The Arkansas Air Museum opened in August 1986 and became the state’s first and largest air museum. It’s located in a beautiful old wooden hangar that is in itself a site to see. The museum gives people a place to learn about planes and how northwest Arkansas developed with Drake Field. It also serves to get younger people interested in the aviation field.

The Ozark Military Museum is dedicated to preserving aircraft, weapons and other memorabilia from WWII and other military conflicts. Some items of inventory include the Navy SNJ Advanced Trainer from WWII, the Air Force T-33 Trainer from the Korean War, and the Navy A-7 attack aircraft from the Vietnam War.

The collection at the combined museums includes antique and classic style airplanes. All planes are flyable except one. Admission prices are $10 for adults, $4 for children, and free for children under 6 years old. Rides on the Stinson S Junior are available for $50.

Look for several events hosted by the museum over the next year, including Chill with the Hills to raise money for the 7Hills Homeless Shelter. Event festivities are barbeque, music and a prize giveaway. On May 26 the museum will hold an Aviator’s Ball comprised of food, a live auction and a silent auction.

The Arkansas Air and Military Museum will host the Air Race Classic in 2013. This is a nonprofit organization promoting women’s roles in aviation. The terminus of the flight route will be at the Arkansas Air Museum and will be a unique event to witness.

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One Tank Travels: Heber Springs

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Storytellers in the Park: Tales from the Buffalo

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Mather Lodge Reopens May 8 Following Renovation

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Musical Connections at the Buffalo National River

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Art and Nature Celebrated With Artosphere Festival, New Crystal Bridges Exhibit

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Celebrating African Culture in the Ozarks

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Vote for Your Favorite Cheese Dip This Saturday at Fayetteville Sip & Dip

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Bull Shoals Lake is Incredible Fishery for Bassmaster Elite Anglers, Amateurs or Families

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No Leak in This Boat

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Want to Be a Better Angler? Be a Bassmaster Marshal

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The Buffalo River Trail: How It Began and Where It's Going

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Steven Foster to Give Lecture and Workshop

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Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship Tickets On Sale Now

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Fayetteville Modern Home Tour is April 14

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Wood's Pharmacy & Old Fashioned Soda Fountain

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Jo Jo's Catfish Wharf Serves Up Southern Goodness With an Excellent View

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Southland Park Gaming and Racing is Full of Surprises

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Try Pancho's Mexican Restaurant in West Memphis

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Russellville Marina Boat Repair and Cabins Open for Season

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In The Morgue of the Mastermind: Norman Baker Speaks in Eureka Springs

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Don't Miss the Art, Music & Hula Hoops at Spark Cafe in Bentonville

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Arkansas Air Museum and Ozark Military Museum Merge

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