Date: March 28, 2018 | Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton | Photography: Matt Johnson |
Discover central Arkansas: Head to central Arkansas for food festivals, book signings, and unbeatable theater in April
Above: Tacos served at Tacos 4 Life in Conway
As the state’s central hub, Little Rock—and its surrounding metropolitan area, including North Little Rock and Conway—is the most frequent tourist destination for out-of-towners. The area is full of answers for those with questions about Arkansas and its history, such as, Where did the capital city get that funny name? (Answer: See the actual “little rock” near Junction Bridge in Riverfront Park.)
While museums and historical markers offer one dimension of the metro area, you can learn oh-so-much more about central Arkansas by attending some of the many cultural events its residents work so hard to present. As a Little Rock resident, I’m particularly fond of after-hours gallery walks, like Second Friday Art night in downtown Little Rock, and the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre’s monthlong festival celebrating The Bard in June. If you haven’t visited this trio of cities recently, it’s time to circle a date on the calendar and make a trip soon. And if you live here, well, get out and enjoy playing tourist.
WHAT TO DO >>
Lions and tagliatelle and books, oh my—see it all in the Little Rock metro this month.
Above: Broadway’s The Lion King. Image courtesy of Celebrity Attractions
The Lion King
Robinson Center, April 19–May 6
One of Broadway’s longest-running musical successes, The Lion King, finally makes its first stop in Little Rock, much to the delight of Arkansas audiences. You already know this story and its characters well—it’s based on the Disney movie of the same name—but what makes the Tony Award-winner such a show stopper are the extravagant costumes, puppets, and set pieces that bring the African tale to life. Visit celebrityattractions.com for show times and ticket information.
Arkansas Italian Food & Culture Festival
North Shore Riverwalk Park, April 20 and 21
Did you know that Arkansas has a rich history of Italian heritage? Neither did we! A group of locals have banded together to present the first-ever Arkansas Italian Food & Culture Festival to promote and celebrate Italy’s place in Arkansas culture. In addition to vendors offering dishes like lasagna, pizza, osso bucco, and cannolis, you can enjoy two days of activities—including a bocce ball competition, Italian car show, and celebrity grape stomping. Visit aritalianfestival.com for a complete schedule and ticket information.
Above, clockwise from top left: 2018 Arkansas Literary Festival guests Sebastian Junger, Gilbert King, Wanda Jackson, Jamie Quatro, Martin Philip, and Ijeoma Oluo
Arkansas Literary Festival
Downtown Little Rock, April 26–29
Every year the Central Arkansas Library System invites writers of all stripes to Little Rock for a weekend of panel discussions, lectures, and book signings. Three of the 2018 lineup’s biggest names include Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Sebastian Junger, Pulitzer Prize winner Gilbert King, and “The Queen of Rockabilly” Wanda Jackson. On Friday, April 27, make plans to attend Author! Author!, the official festival kick-off party that gives you the opportunity to chat with featured guests. Visit arkansasliteraryfestival.org for a complete schedule and ticket information.
MORE METRO MUST-DOS >>
Jazz in the Park at Riverfront Park, Little Rock // Every Wednesday starting April 5
Opening Day for the Arkansas Travelers, North Little Rock // April 5
Springfest presented by Museum of Discovery, Little Rock // April 7
Brad Paisley at Verizon Arena, North Little Rock // April 12
Food & Foam Fest, North Little Rock // April 13
Toad Suck Daze Pageant, Conway // April 14
Save the date for the weekendlong festival May 4-6!
To Kill a Mockingbird at Argenta Community Theater North Little Rock // April 20-28
Wild Wines at Little Rock Zoo, Little Rock // April 27 and 28
Kevin Hart at Verizon Arena, North Little Rock // April 28
Ballet Arkansas’s DanceWorks, Little Rock // April 28
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at Reynolds Performance Hall, Conway // April 29
WHERE TO GO >>
Need a dining, drinking, or hotel rec in and around River City? We have a few.
Take a Taste
Wunderhaus
Get your brat-and-kraut fix at Wunderhaus, the brick-and-mortar incarnation of the successful German and Eastern European food truck Wunderbus. wunderhausconway.com
Kemuri
Baby back ribs at a sushi joint? Yep, they’re on the menu of robata, or fire-grilled, dishes at Kemuri among pages of sushi and traditional Japanese cold plates—and they’re to die for. kemurirestaurant.com
Tacos 4 Life
This philanthropy-focused Mexican restaurant has exploded in popularity across the South in recent years (including nine locations in Arkansas!), but you can still visit the flagship shop on Oak Street in Conway. tacos4life.com
North Bar
North Bar has quickly become Park Hill’s go-to for a burger and a beer, though the menu extends far past that pairing, offering everything from a loaded tofu club (you can make it vegan) to a chicken-and-waffles appetizer. facebook.com/501northbar
Loblolly Creamery
Visit the Scoop Shop on South Main Street for two scoops, an ice cream sandwich, or—if you have trouble choosing—an ice cream flight of eight flavors. loblollycreamery.com
Grab a Drink
Blue Sail Coffee Roasters
Locations in both Conway and Little Rock offer an afternoon jolt of caffeine, the perfect pick-me-up during a day spent exploring central Arkansas. bluesail.coffee
Flyway Brewing
If you plan to do a Little Rock-North Little Rock pub crawl, definitely put Flyway on the agenda—we recommend the ever-popular Bluewing Berry Wheat with a Migrate pretzel. flywaybrewing.com
Crush Wine Bar
This intimate wine bar offers either moody, cozy seating inside or an atmospheric patio experience just out their back door. facebook.com/crushwinelr
Rock Town Distillery
Rock Town offers tours of its warehouse and distillery seven days a week. Each tour is capped off with tastes of its bourbon, vodka, and gin—for those over 21, of course. rocktowndistillery.com
South on Main
In addition to a refined Southern menu and lineup of music and cultural programming, South on Main serves up some of the tastiest cocktail concoctions in the metro. southonmain.com
Stay the Night
The Capital Hotel
The historic Capital Hotel first opened in 1876. Known as “the front porch of Little Rock,” this luxury hotel sits in a convenient location close to downtown shopping and dining. capitalhotel.com
The Burgundy Hotel
The Burgundy, a member of the Ascend Hotel Collection, is a sleek, contemporary hotel option in west Little Rock. theburgundyhotel.com
The Empress of Little Rock
A bed-and-breakfast housed in a Victorian architectural gem offers daily breakfast, plus an elegant high tea by reservation. theempress.com
