Dogtown Wire

There are currently discussions under way at City Hall on whether to permit Edgefest to continue to have their day long concert on the river where the RV Park is now located. Reportedly, there was only one complaint this last time, since the concert was moved from Riverfront Park near the Main Street bridge to the current RV Park location. That sole complaint came from the Clinton Library. There were numerous complaints in previosu years when the concert was located closer to downtown, yet the concert was still allowed this year. Edgefest brings around 10,000 people downtown and contributes over $10,000 to local charities.

(From UALR.edu/art)

Friday, July 18

Open Mic “Stanza Extravaganza” Night July 18 from 8:30 to 11 p.m. at the Arkansas Community Arts Cooperative at 1419 S. Main St. in Little Rock. Visit http://acacarkansas.wordpress.com/ or call 244-2979.

The Feminine Freak Show Burlesque at the Public Theatre at Seventh and Center streets in Little Rock starting at 9:30 p.m. Age 21-up, cost is $12 ~ Call 374-7529.

Godspell is playing at The Weekend Theatre at Seventh and Chester streets in Little Rock. Visit http://www.weekendtheater.org/upcoming-shows/ or call 374-3761.

Arkansas Art Center is open Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. The exhibits, Hot Color Cool Glass and Cereal Inquiries are running through July 27.
Visit http://www.arkarts.com/ or call 372-400.

Camaraderie is great and help is always at hand when you ride with a group of other bicyclists.   This weekend there are several options for group rides on our own River Trail so you can choose to ride Saturday or Sunday (or both) and whether you want to start in North Little Rock or Little Rock. Remember to introduce yourself to the group leader, if you are new to the group. All of these rides require participants to wear a helmet!

River Trail Starting in North Little Rock

8:30 a.m. Saturday, July 19

Make a River Trail loop starting at River Trail Rentals, Riverfront Park, NLR.  This ride will proceed west on the NLR River Trail to Cook's Landing, then loop through the nearby Northshore Industrial Park.  From there you will ride back down the road to and over the Big Dam Bridge, then along the Little Rock River Trail to return to the starting point.  Total distance will be about 25 miles.  This ride will be led by Tom Ezell, a Cycling Instructor certified by the League of American Bicyclists.  Contact Tom at 912-1047 (cell) if you want more information.

On the morning of 15 July, 1862 three Union vessels were sighted steaming toward CSS Arkansas.

The Ironclad Gunboat Carondelet, armed with a total of 14 guns and a veteran of several river battles with Confederate forces, the wooden Gunboat Tyler with 7 guns, and the wooden Ram Queen of the West with 4 guns.

The Arkansas, armed with a two 8-inch guns in the forward ports, two 6.4-inch rifled guns in the stern ports, and three different guns in each broadside was both out-numbered and out-gunned. Her Confederate Army gunners had never fired such large guns before and they had no training as naval gunners.

Her gunpowder soaked by a boiler leak the previous day was suspect at best. Protected by makeshift armor and facing three well-equipped ships and with two large Union fleets nearby, Arkansas was facing near-certain destruction the day after entering service.

A running gun battle quickly ensued. The two smaller ships fled downriver, hoping to reach the safety of the large Union fleet above Vicksburg. Carondelet, a veteran of several river battles, closed with Arkansas. In the words of one witness:

The center of the earth is a good place to see a movie in 3-dimensions. “Journey to the Center of the Earth ” opened up yesterday and your trusty correspondent decided to brave the perils and see the movie the way the filmmakers intended it to be seen, in glorious 3-D.

We first met Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser), an earth sciences professor, who is teaching students about the glory of plate tectonics. His students seem bored and a rival professor (SNL’s Seth Meyers) has his eyes on Anderson’s lab space. Trevor is going to get to babysit his nephew Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) for several days while his mother moves to Ottawa.

Trevor goes through several items that his brother Max, who is also Sean’s dad, had. One of them is an old copy of Jules Verne’s book, Journey to the center of the Earth. While Trevor thumbs through it he comes across numerous notations in the book. Trevor realizes that they correspond to the seismic receivers that Max placed around the world trying to prove his theory, that you can go down into the middle of the world.

(Editor’s note: A veggie loving reader sent in an email and photo to bring about an obvious whoops on the part of the Wire to support another entrepreneurial endeavor in town.)

As you know, we have the Certified AR Farmers Market downtown on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Well, this morning, I had a chance to stop by Mr. Bennie O’Neil’s produce stand located at Main and 15th / Curtis Sykes Street.  Attached is a picture of the purple hulled peas, okra, corn, squash and cucumbers I picked up.  I can’t wait to get those peas shelled and cooked! 

Show your support to both the Farmers Market on Main Street (by the Post Office) and Mr. O’Neil’s produce stand at Main and 15th Street!  We have even more opportunities to eat some good old home grown produce!

July 11-13: AAU Division I & II Boys National Basketball Tournament in North Little Rock and Little Rock. Visit www.aauboysbasketball.org.

July 12: 31st Annual Sizzle ‘N Sweat Brewery Collectables show will be at the Louis Gerschner Pavilion in Burns Park 10a.m.-4p.m. Buy, Sell or Trade. Hot dogs and refreshments available. Contact Kenn Flemmons at 501-221-3976 for details, visit www.arbeerclub.com.

AR Travelers July Home Games: Home games played at the Dickey-Stephens Park. 7/10-7/13 vs. Tulsa Drillers; 7/18-7/21 vs. Tulsa Drillers; 7/29-7/31 vs. Springfield Cardinals. Visit www.travs.com for a complete schedule. For tickets call 501-664-1555.

AR Twisters July Home Games: All Home Games are played at Alltel Arena. 7/19 Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings for 7p.m.; 7/26 vs. Texas Copperheads for 7p.m. For tickets call 501-975-KICK (5425) or visit www.arkansastwisters.com.

Certified AR Farmer’s Market: Located along the Trolley route in the parking lot on Main between 4th and 5th streets. Open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 7a.m. to NOON. Some of the state’s top local farmers will provide all types of local produce, meats, poultry, eggs and plants. For details contact Jody Hardin at 501-231-0094 or visit www.arkansasfood.net.

New nonfiction at the William F. Laman Public Library

“Mobile Internet for Dummies”

“The Agitator’s Daughter” by Sheryll Cashin

“The Monster of Florence” by Douglas Preston

“Secret societies—and how they affect our lives today” by Sylvia Browne

“The Drunkard’s Walk : how randomness rules our lives” by Leonard Mlodinow

“Rome 1960 : the Olympics that changed the world” by David Maraniss

“The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 days that inspired America” by Thurston Clark