Events in Little Rock March and April 2017

Pirates of Penzance 
     Pirates of Penzance will be performed 7:30 p.m. March 31 and 3 p.m. April 1 at Wildwood Park for the Arts.  This Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera has been a staple for audiences for decades, and it's just as funny today as it was at its debut in 1879.  For information, call Leslie Golden at 821-7275.

Jar the Floor

  Jar the Floor will be performed March 29 to April 16 at The Rep downtown.

       The ticket price is $30 to $65.  

    Four generations of black women gather to celebrate their beloved, outrageous matriarch’s 90th birthday. The trouble is, recently widowed MaDear would rather watch her soap operas and read her Bible than blow out the candles on her cake.

        Tempers flare and secrets are revealed, yet rollicking humor bites its way through the cycles of guilt and blame passed on from mothers to daughters. Fierce and funny, Jar the Floor is a heartfelt comedy that proves the ghosts of the past should not rob us of the moments we have together in the here and now.

Springfest 

    Springfest will be held 8:30 a.m. a.m. - 6 p.m. April 1 at Julius Breckling Riverfront Park in the River Market. This free festival includes activities for children, food trucks, a dog parade, races for short-legged dogs, special performances and fun with popular emcees Craig O’Neal and Roger Scott.

     This year’s theme for the Ruff on the River Pooch Parade is Saturday Night Fever with pups dressed in disco themes. There will be prizes for best costume, best stroller and best wagon. For $5, you can enter your pet into the fun. The Weenie Dog Derby will include races of  three size pooches - Beenie Weenies, Hot Dogs and Summer Sausage. 

     For more information, call Ashley Parker at 225-3378 or visit riverfestarkansas.com.

Gladys Knight

      The Empress of Soul and seven-time Grammy Award winner will dazzle Little Rock 8 p.m. April 3 at Robinson Performance Hall. 

      Tickets are $43, $58 and $68.  Come and hear some of the songs that made the 1960s and ‘70s a great time for music lovers: Every Beat Of My Heart, Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Midnight Train to Georgia, and more.  gladysknight.com.

Curbside Couture 
     The sixth annual Curbside Couture, a delightful "green" fashion show, will be held 7 - 9 p.m.
April 2 at the Clinton Presidential Center.  It features wearable designs made of recycled materials
by youngsters grades 3 through 12.
     Before the event, students will have had the opportunity to attend mentoring sessions with
acclaimed fashion designers - including Little Rock fashion maven Connie Fails - and receive
feedback about their creations.  Cash awards will be given for the best designs in elementary,
middle and high school levels.  For more information, call Ms. Fails at 748-0405 or write her at
cfails@clintonfoundation.org.

Jazz in the Park

         From 6 - 8 p.m. each Wednesday in April, music lovers can come together to enjoy live jazz and support Little Rock’s own musicians during Jazz in the Park in Riverfront Park. 

      For four years this free event has been held in the History Pavilion at the park. It is sponsored by the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau.

       This year, the event will continue its partnership with Art Porter Music Education, Inc., which offers scholarships to talented Arkansas music students who wish to further their education while promoting community service and volunteering.  

         This is the lineup:

         April 5 - The Funkanites (New to Jazz in the Park)

         April 12 - Ramona (New to Jazz in the Park)

         April 19 - Tonya Leeks & Co.

         April 26 - Sounds So Good                    

       Coolers are not allowed at Jazz in the Park, but beer, wine, soft drinks and water will be available for sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit the Art Porter Music Education’s scholarship fund. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome, and there is some seating in the natural stone amphitheater at the History Pavilion.  In case of rain, the West Pavilion will be the alternate location.

Eggshibition

    

Youth Home’s Eggshibition celebrates its 26th year April 7 at the Jack Stephens Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  Come on out and support the kids while enjoying live and silent auctions, original egg art, glass from James Hayes, live music by The Rodney Block Collective and delicious food and libations. 

     David Bazzel and Chris Kane are hosting, and Craig O’Neill is this year’s auctioneer. General admission is $50.  Patron access is $75.  Doors open for general admission at 7 p.m. A special VIP reception for patrons begins at p.m. For more information, visit youthhome.org.

 Dead Poets Society

      Dead Poets Society will be shown 1 - 3 p.m.  April 8 at The Ron Robinson Theater downtown.  Admission is $5. Come enjoy the full movie theater experience complete with comfortable seating, wonderful picture and sound, and concessions, including wine and beer. For information, call Moriah Pedro at 320-5715.

Beethoven and Blue Jeans

   The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Beethoven and Blue Jeans will be held 7:30 p.m. April 8 and 3 p.m. April 9 at Robinson Center downtown.

   It will include Beethoven's Consecration of the House Overture, Sibelius's Symphony No. 2, and Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1, featuring Andrew Irvin on violin. Philip Mann will conduct. For more information, visit arkansassymphony.org.

Downtown Dash 

     The Junior League of Little Rock’s Downtown Dash will be held 8:30 a.m. - noon April 8 starting at the Junior League Building, 401 Scott Street.  It will include a 10k, a 5k and a special 1k for kids that will begin at 8 a.m. The cost is $10 - $40. 

   The race will feature Downtown Little Rock landmarks, such as the River Market, the Clinton Library and the Arkansas Arts Center. The race is also handicap and stroller accessible. For more information visit jllrdowntowndash.racesonline.com.

An Evening with David Sedaris

   An Evening with David Sedaris promises to be filled with his wickedly witty observations 8 p.m. April 21 at Robinson Center Performance Hall.

    Mr. Sedaris made his comic debut recounting his charmingly quirky experiences of being a Macy's elf, reading his "Santaland Diaries" on National Public Radio's Morning Edition in 1992. His sardonic humor and incisive social critique have made him one of NPR's most popular and humorous commentators. 

    In 2001, he was named Humorist of the Year by Time magazine and received the Thurber Prize for American Humor.  His new Theft By Finding will be released May 30. Tickets are $25, $33, $38, $43 and $50.   ticketmastercom.

Jewish Food Festival 

     The Jewish Food and Cultural Festival will be held 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. April 30 at War Memorial Stadium.  Admission and parking are free.

    The festival features traditional Jewish foods, booths on Jewish and Israeli culture, Judaica, jewelry and other gift items for sale, Jewish music, and kids activities. It will include traditional Jewish foods: corned beef sandwiches, kosher hot dogs, cabbage rolls, blintzes, kugel and more, as well as homemade Jewish treats including rugelach, babka, challah, and chocolate-covered matzo. Israeli dishes, such as falafel, hummus, and Israeli salad, will be available, too. 

      The  festival will also feature booths on Jewish and Israeli culture. At the ever-popular Ask-the-Rabbi booth, visitors can learn about Judaism itself, from Jewish holidays to life-cycle customs. For more information, call Marianne Tettlebaum at 663-3571 or visit jewisharkansas.org. 

IndiaFest

       IndiaFest 2017 will be held 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. April 30 at the River Market Pavilion.

    Admission is free. IndiaFest attempts to bridge cultures, generations and communities through a one-day of togetherness. The event promises an environment that salutes history, embraces globalization and celebrates communities. There will be cultural activities, entertainment, merchandise for sale, and, of course, authentic Indian food.  indiafestar.com.

Pioneer Day Camp 2017: Settling Arkansas

       Each summer, pioneer day campers have fun as they explore what life was like in Arkansas more than 150 years ago. This year campers will take on the role of being new settlers in Arkansas. They will learn the fascinating steps involved in setting up home, including haggling over the price of land with the owner of a local land agency and surveying their newly-purchased land. They'll visit the blacksmith in his shop and see him make the nails and hardware for building a house. And they'll have the opportunity to “build a house” and then cook on the open hearth in a pioneer kitchen.

     The campers will enjoy crafts, pioneer games, and dancing. On the last day of camp, parents will be invited to watch the children dance the Virginia Reel in celebration of building a house.

     The dates are: June 12–16 for rising 3rd and 4th graders; and June 19–23 for rising 5th and 6th graders. The hours are 8 a.m. to noon. The cost is $85 per camper ($65 for museum members).  You may register online now to reserve your spot. Join the museum now to get discounted tuition. For more information, visit historicarkansas.org. 

Events in Little Rock April 2016

Eggshibition 

     Eggshibition will be held 7 p.m. April 8 at the Jack Stephens Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

     Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, Eggshibition has been Youth Home’s most recognizable and popular fundraising event. The evening centers around a silent auction of original works of egg art created by artists and fantastic gift basket items, a live auction of premier items, as well as hors d’oeuvres, libations, and live music.  For more information, call Larry Betz at 821-5500, ext. 209.

Pilgrimage For Peace

    The third annual Pilgrimage for Peace will be held 2 p.m. April 3 starting at Heifer International downtown.

    It is being organized by local faith and activist communities in Central Arkansas, to “mourn the violence committed in our community and the world and to walk together as active peacemakers.” Peacemakers will walk from Heifer International through the River Market and over the Junction bridge to the “Beacon of Peace and Hope,” 110 Riverfront Drive at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum on the north shore of the Arkansas River. 

    An interfaith service will be held at the Beacon site at 3 p.m., consisting of prayers, brief reflections from scripture and literature, and the reading of the names of the homicide victims in Pulaski Country from the past year. Organizers believe the event is a special and timely occasion to recall those who were murdered and have suffered from violence during the year and to offer prayers of peace and reconciliation.

      The Jewish Federation of Arkansas' annual Jewish Food and Cultural Festival will be held 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 10 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Admission is free. 

      The festival will include traditional Jewish foods: corned beef sandwiches, kosher hot dogs, cabbage rolls, blintzes, kugel and more, as well as homemade Jewish treats including rugelach, babka, challah, and chocolate-covered matzo. Israeli dishes will include falafel, hummus and Israeli salad.

       The festival will also feature booths on Jewish and Israeli culture.  At the ever-popular Ask-the-Rabbi booth, visitors can learn about Judaism itself, from Jewish holidays to life-cycle customs. At a replica of the Western Wall, visitors can leave a note of prayer, just as people do at the actual wall in Jerusalem. Judaica, jewelry, and other gift items created by local Jewish artists will be on display and for sale. Inflatables and other activities will be available for kids. 

       Entertainment throughout the day will include contemporary and traditional Jewish music by local and regional musicians. Visitors are invited to bring a bag of non-perishable food items to donate to the Arkansas Foodbank. Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Jewish Federation's work in the community, which includes allocations to Jewish and non-Jewish charitable organizations, financial assistance to Jews in need, scholarships and other resources for Jewish children and families, and funds to support charitable work in Israel. Tzedakah Boxes (boxes for charity) will be located throughout the stadium for people to deposit tickets they purchased but did not use; proceeds from the boxes will be divided among local charities that Jewish Federation of Arkansas supports.

        For information, contact Marianne Tettlebaum at 663-3571 or director@jewisharkansas.org.

                                                                 Gail Robertson 
                                                                                               Israel Getzov

                                                                                                                                                                   

Little Rock Wind Symphony
      The Little Rock Wind Symphony will present Overtures to a Premier 7:30 - 9 p.m. April 21 at Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive.

      The cost is $10, $8 for seniors and free for students.  Israel Getzov will conduct.  Gail Robertson will be featured on the euphonium.

  Hector Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture

            Dimitri Kabalevsky: Colas Breugnon Overture

            Aaron Copland: El Salón México

            Paul Hindemith: “March” from Symphonic Metamorphoses

            Matthew Nunes: Concerto for Euphonium   World Premiere     Gail Robertson, euphonium
            Johann Strauss, Jr: Thunder and Lightning Polka

Arkansas Literary Festival
   

      The Arkansas Literary Festival will be held April 14 - 17 at various locations across the city.

      This year's presenters have won an impressive number of distinguished awards and fellowships including a Pulitzer Prize, a James Beard Award, a PEN/Hemingway Award, a Hugo Award, a Coretta Scott King Award, a Will Eisner Comic Industry Award, a National Book Foundation "5 Under 35" Honoree, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, a Dashiell Hammett Prize, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Selection, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a Fulbright Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Houghton Mifflen Literary Fellowship and an Arkansas Arts Council Fellowship.
     Special events include a cocktail reception with the authors, a tour of the Governor's Mansion gardens with a wine and cheese reception, an escape room, and Readers' Map launch party. Panels and sessions include topics such as barbecue, Monopoly, female rocket scientists, travel, graphic novels, science fiction, classic literature and a story told in playing cards.

      Children's special events include a session by Nikki Grimes, an activity hour, a concert by the Kinders and a play based on How the Camel Got His Hump. Festival sessions for children will take place at both the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library and Learning Center, 4800 10th Street, and the Youth Services Department at the Main Library, 100 Rock Street. There will be special events for teens, including a poetry competition, and Writers In The Schools will provide presentations by students in Pulaski County elementary, middle, and senior high schools and from area colleges.

     For information about buying tickets for special events, visit ArkansasLiteraryFestival.org.

     Pictured above is Gregory Pardlo, an American poet whose book, Digest, won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.  His first volume of poems, Totem, won the 2007 American Poetry Review/Honickman First Book Prize and was a semifinalist for the Walt Whitman Award. 

Turkish Food Festival

      The Turkish Food Festival will be held 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. April 30 at the Raindrop Turkish House, 1501 Market Street.

    This year there will be food and culture booths, dancing, music, a children's area, crafts and more. The festival is organized by Raindrop Turkish House of Little Rock, a non-profit educational, charitable and social organization with a mission of introducing Turkish culture into American society and cultivating friendship and understanding.  

    For more information, call 223-2155 or visit turkishfoodfest.com.

Jazz in the Park
      Jazz in the Park will kick off 6 p.m. April 6 at History Pavilion in Riverfront Park.  It is presented by the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau and Art Porter Music Education, Inc., which offers scholarships to talented Arkansas music students who wish to further their education while promoting community service and volunteering.

     This free, family-friendly event is open to the public, with performances every Wednesday night in April.

April 06 – Acoustix with Rod P

April 13 – Bijoux Pighee & Band

April 20 – Off the Cuff

April 27 – SynRG

                                                                                               

Little Readers Rock
      Little Readers Rock will be held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 9 at the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library and Learning Center, 4800 West 10th Street.

     The event is free and open to the public. It is hosted by the Junior League of Little Rock and the Head Start State Collaboration Office. The event will include professional storytellers, puppeteers, snacks, music, crafts, make your own book station, greenhouse tours, pet therapy pups, and more. Children ages 3 to 5 will receive free books.

The Kinsey Collection at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center 

     The impressive Kinsey Collection will be shown until July 2 at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 West Ninth Street.  The collection includes authentic and rare art, original artifacts, books and documents that help add to a more complete story of the black experience in America. The collection has been featured at the DuSable Museum of African American History, the American Pavilion of Epcot Center at Walt Disney World and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. For more information, visit mosaictemplarscenter.com. 

Sculpture at the River Market 

    Sculpture At The River Market will present its 9th annual Show & Sale April 22-24 in the River Market Pavilions.   Hundreds of sculptures, from internationally recognized artists will be displayed. Tickets for the preview party, 6:30 p.m. April 22, are $100.  The evening will feature food, libations, live entertainment and more, will allow party guests to meet and visit with the artists.  Additionally all patrons at the Preview Party will vote for their favorite proposal from the semi-finalists works for the up to $60,000 Public Art Commission Competition.

     On Saturday and Sunday admission will be free. The sculptures will be on display throughout the weekend in the River Market Pavilions and in the adjacent area of Riverfront Park. For more information, visit sculpureattherivermarket.com.

Wild Wines of the World 

     The Little Rock Zoo will celebrate its 90th birthday 7 - 10 p.m. April 30 with its Wild Wines of the World, one of the state's largest food events with 50 restaurants participating.  There will be more than 200 high-quality wines to sample; the wines will be donated by O'Looney's Wine & Liquor. There will be five live music areas and a chance to meet some of the animals.

    The cost is $75 in advance or $90 a the door.  There is a Reserve Wine Room that costs $150 in advance or $200 at the door.  There will be bulk ticket discounts and sponsor opportunities.  To buy tickets, call 661-7208.

    Proceeds from Wild Wines benefit the Arkansas Zoological Foundation for the Little Rock Zoo to help carry-out its mission of providing engaging experiences that inspire people to value and conserve the natural world. The Foundation has helped build the new Laura P. Nichols Penguin Pointe exhibit, the new Cheetah Outpost, purchase a new train, and open a new Arkansas Farm exhibit.

Supper and Soul 

     Arkansas Baptist College will host its annual cocktail gala, Supper and  Soul, 6 - 10 p.m. April 21 at the Metroplex Event Center in west Little Rock.

    A 6 p.m. reception and silent auction will be followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and then concluding live entertainment from the Bar-Kays and Lakeside. 

     Individual tickets are $250. To purchase tickets or for information on sponsorships, contact Devae’ Lucas at 420-1206 or devae.lucas@arkansasbaptist.edu. Founded in 1884, Arkansas Baptist College is the only historically black institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River.

Paul McCartney 

      Paul McCartney will perform 8 p.m. April 30 at Verizon Arena.

      Unfortunately, almost all of the lower-priced tickets have been sold out.

     This is McCartney’s One on One tour, featuring music from his entire career - as a solo artist, a member of Wings and as a Beatle.

       Sincerely hope you can find tickets.  verizonarena.com.

 Blue Tie Blue Jean Ball 

     The Blue Tie Blue Jean Ball will be held 6:30 - 9 p.m. April 28 at Noah’s Event Venue, 21 Rahling Circle.

    The event includes hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, music and an auction. It benefits Autism Speaks Arkansas.  Tickets are $45 or $80 a couple. The cost is $400 for a table of 10.  For information or tickets, call Dawn Itzkowitz at 951-0115.

 Downtown Dash

    The 3rd annual Downtown Dash, a 5K/10K running event, will be held 8 a.m. April 23 starting at the Junior League Building on Scott Street. It will feature downtown Little Rock landmarks, such as the River Market, Clinton Library, and Arkansas Arts Center. The race is also handicap and stroller accessible. In addition to the 5K/10K, this year’s event will include a Kids’ 1K event, “Downtown Dash, Jr.” Downtown Dash, Jr. will begin at 10:15 a.m.

     The price is $35.  For more information, visit jllr.org/downtowndash. 

South Main Vintage Market

      April's South Main Vintage Market will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 9 in The Bernice Garden, 1401 South Main downtown.
      The market features only items 20 years old or older, with many mid-century modern pieces, from furniture to kitchenware to clothing.  But some items are newly crafted from vintage components.  The event will include a community piano furnished by McGehee Piano Service.