Arts + Culture

Carved By Heart

Wood Sculpture Artist Jarrod Flowers Is Carving Out a New Chapter Article by Katherine Jones | Photography by Sarah Bussey Photography Since graduating from Pulaski Academy in 2011, Jarrod Flowers has played football, moved across the country, gotten married and had four children. He’s grown fresh food in his own gardens, built landscapes and traveled the country in a 12-passenger van. And along the way, he’s also become an award-winning wood sculpture artist. After a decade of adventure...

Arts + Culture

Turning the Mundane into Magic

Artist Matt McLeod's Energetic Color Transforms Ordinary Images into Something Truly Special Article by Anna Yanosick | Photography by Provided Matt McLeod, known for his bold murals and vivid paintings, breathes life into the mundane across Central Arkansas using a signature approach he calls “energetic color.” “I am most inspired to take a mundane image, something that I may have walked past several times a day, and transform it into something truly visually special,” Matt says.  “Dappled...

Food + Beverage

Giddy Up

Cowboy Burgers with Peach Habanero Sauce Article by Tay Stratton | Photography by Provided For the burgers: 3 pounds ground chuck beef or ground bison 2 brioche buns 2 Tbsp Fennel & Fire Cowboy Rub Toppings: 2 oz. goat cheese 2 strips of bacon-cut in thirds Fresh peach-cut in thin slices 5-6 fresh spinach or arugula leaves For the glaze: 1/4 cup Maria’s Home Made peach habanero jam 1 Tbsp Pickapeppa sauce 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 Tbsp Fennel & Fire Cowboy Blend Instructions:      ...

Local Services

Piano Man

Don Nichols Is Devoted to Moving, Tuning, Repairing and Saving the Area's Piano Population Article by Anna Yanosick | Photography by Sarah Bussey Photography Worship leader Don Nichols is turning Arkansas’ unused pianos into instruments of joy as the founder of Piano Specialists of Arkansas. The company offers tuning, moving, repairs and even piano adoption to ensure everyone can make music. “It is my passion for everyone to enjoy making music as much as I do,” Don says. That passion was...

Arts + Culture

Multi-Layered Masterpieces

Holly Tilley Layers Colors and Abstracted Shapes to Create Beautiful, Unique Works Article by Stephanie Hasbrouck | Photography by Contributed After a long career in marketing and advertising, Holly Tilley is pursuing her artistic passion. Inspired by the outdoors, she enjoys incorporating landscapes into her stunningly colorful and multi-layered pieces.  “I primarily work in oil and love the effects you can get layering transparent colors.  Plus, in recent years I’ve moved to a more...

Style + Beauty

The Power of the Purse

ESSE Purse Museum and Store Celebrates the Evolution of Women through the Purses they Carry Article by Anna Yanosick | Photography by Katie Adkins Photography ESSE Purse Museum and Store, nestled in the historic SoMa district of Little Rock, celebrates the evolution of women through the purses they carry, offering a unique slice of history in each case. What started as a traveling exhibit that toured the country from 2006 to 2011 blossomed into one of two purse museums in the world. “It's...

Food + Beverage

Spiced Amaretto French Toast

Make Mother's Day Brunch Extra Sweet With This Elevated Classic Article by Tay Stratton | Photography by Contributed Ingredients 4 thick slices of brioche or challah 2 large eggs 1/2 cup half & half 2 Tbsp amaretto liqueur 1 tsp vanilla extract 10 grinds of Fennel & Fire Coffee Twist 1 Tbsp butter Cherry Amaretto Jam 1/2 cup cherry preserves 1 Tbsp amaretto liqueur 10 grinds of Fennel and Fire Coffee Twist Directions 1. Prepare the batter. In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, milk...

Sports + Recreation

A Remarkable Comeback

Little Rock Rangers Women's Soccer Team Makes an Exciting Return Article by Anna Yanosick | Photography by Leslie Shepherd and Rob Bostic After nearly seven years on the sidelines, the Little Rock Rangers Women’s soccer team is making a remarkable comeback.  Leslie LaRae, who coordinates the team's social media, says she believes Little Rock is ready to embrace a women’s team. And, as evidenced by the strong turnout at tryouts in March, female athletes from across the city are ready to be a...

Life + Culture

Inspiring Women

These Four Women are Helping to Build a Stronger Community Article by Stephanie Hasbrouck | Photography by Sarah Bussey Photography Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote, “Women are the real architects of society.”  We couldn’t agree more. This month, we feature four women who are building a stronger Little Rock. We asked all of them the same three questions. And although each are unique individuals with vastly different careers, all expressed a common goal of empowering others. We are inspired by the...

Life + Culture

Investing in Little Rock

Downtown Little Rock Partnership Works to Revitalize City Article by Anna Yanosick | Photography by Kyle Leyenberger and Claret Alcalá The Downtown Little Rock Partnership, a nonprofit organization, invests in the success of downtown Little Rock through vibrant events, transformative public art projects and special committees dedicated to the city’s enhancement. “The organization was created to try to bring energy and people and businesses back downtown to invest in the city, invest in the...