The stretch of U.S. 67/167 between Little Rock and El Dorado likely experienced an increase in traffic last weekend.
A concert with Celtic soulster Richard Thompson and Americana darling Jason Isbell intrigued more than a few music lovers enough to load up some of our ubiquitous SUVs and head south. A few friends wanted to check out the newly created Murphy Arts District, the Griffin Music Hall where the concert was held, and, for some who could get reservations, have dinner at the recently opened and already buzzed-about Griffin Restaurant.
For those who haven't headed down that particular highway recently (or ever), the drive from Interstate 530 to El Dorado is a placid two-hour venture along a clearly marked route with speed limits mostly ranging from 55 to 65 mph. The highway often expands from two lanes to four; the paving of portions that aren't yet four-lane will be completed in the spring of 2020 as part of a significant undertaking by the state Department of Transportation's $1.8 billion Connecting Arkansas Program.
Unlike so many other Arkansas highways, there aren't many of those sudden speed-limit reductions--which are sometimes hard to identify because of a lack or scarcity of signage--that crop up as the routes travel through small towns. Which, when unnoticed or not observed, have been known to result in speeding tickets.
And last weekend was a fine time to visit El Dorado, what with its appealing visitor-friendly shop- and coffeehouse-lined Main Street, goings-on like the jelly-based celebration that is the 21st annual Mayhaw Festival, a lively multi-winery grand tasting at the MAD Amphitheater, and the aforementioned concert, which was terrific (the acoustics in Griffin Music Hall are excellent). The city garnered praise not only from audience members but by the musicians themselves.
"Really impressed with El Dorado," Isbell tweeted after the show. "First time here. Wonderful time and a nice town, too."
He's not the only one to think so.
Editorial on 05/08/2018