Stories by Emily Van Zandt

  • Planner lights Festival After Dark

    Dale Aldridge has been compared to a Christmas elf so many times, it's not exactly clever. But it is spot on.

    by Emily Van Zandt November 8, 2015

  • Composting the laid-back way

    When it comes to turning kitchen scraps and yard waste from eyesore into gardening gold, the process can be overwhelming.

    by Emily Van Zandt November 7, 2015

  • Janet Lea Zimmerman

    In a tiny town just outside of Philadelphia lives a boy who will tell anyone who asks that he knows exactly where heaven is.

    by Emily Van Zandt October 25, 2015

  • Starting young

    Parents waiting for the teen years to talk to their children about the dangers of alcohol may want to rethink their timeline.

    by Emily Van Zandt September 23, 2015

  • Agency offers hints for parents

    Looking to start a conversation with kids about safe alcohol use? The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers the following ti…

    by Emily Van Zandt September 23, 2015

  • Vapor trail

    At Vapor-Riffic in Conway, things look a little different from when the store first opened in early 2014. Each tiny bottle of the liquid nicotine mixture calle…

    by Emily Van Zandt September 14, 2015

  • A beneficial device or a risky gateway?

    As the state's regulation of e-cigarette and vaping products gets underway, debate continues over the use of the alternate nicotine products as smoking-cessati…

    by Emily Van Zandt September 14, 2015

  • Like they eat in Italy

    Chicago may have its deep dish, and New York its oversize slices, but a far more traditional pie is taking hold in Arkansas restaurants.

    by Emily Van Zandt September 8, 2015

  • Roll on

    It's just before 11 p.m. when neighbors come out to investigate the noise. On Donaghey Drive in North Little Rock, teenagers are flinging dozens of rolls of to…

    by Emily Van Zandt August 26, 2015

  • Sawbucks doesn't fill Maumelle void

    Meet a friend for lunch in Maumelle, and chances are you'll be parking your car in front of a national chain.

    by Emily Van Zandt July 30, 2015

  • Home(town) brews

    It wasn't too long ago that sipping locally brewed suds on a Friday night wasn't so simple -- or popular. Just five years ago, there were only two locally owne…

    by Emily Van Zandt July 7, 2015

  • More breweries on the way

    Asana Alehouse: Combining craft beer and yoga is the aim of this in-the-works Little Rock area brewery, which owners describe as "two-parts brewery, one-part y…

    by Emily Van Zandt July 7, 2015

  • With great toppings, hot dogs go gourmet

    Behold, the humble hot dog. Tucked into a tender split bun and slathered in mustard and relish, the Americanized sausage is as sure a sign of summer as any pic…

    by Emily Van Zandt July 1, 2015

  • Merry Wives a playful romp done '50s style

    Rain tapered off in time for the cast of Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre's Merry Wives of Windsor to take the stage on the lawn of The Village at Hendrix for the …

    by Emily Van Zandt June 14, 2015

  • Tasting tart

    Sour beers are nothing new. Intentionally, soured brews have been made under the watch of skilled Belgian brewers for centuries. Now, as the American craft bee…

    by Emily Van Zandt April 28, 2015

  • An uneven Ira’s

    It’s been a month since Ira’s Park Hill Grill first opened its doors in the former E’s Bistro space. E’s had closed somewhat unexpectedly, and it was a blow fo…

    by Emily Van Zandt April 28, 2015

  • Heading down to the corner

    Since The Hop Diner closed its doors in November 2014, we’ve had our eye on the corner space at Markham and Scott streets, with fingers crossed that the new oc…

    by Emily Van Zandt April 21, 2015

  • Southern Gourmasian delights in four walls

    In central Arkansas, you’d be hard-pressed to find a food truck more beloved than that big, yellow, dragon-emblazoned Southern Gourmasian truck. Since 2012, ow…

    by Emily Van Zandt April 14, 2015

  • Boulevard Bistro & Bar serves spring menu

    Over at Boulevard Bistro & Bar in the Heights, chef Chris McMillan has added a few new items to the restaurant’s spring menu. New starters include crab cakes a…

    by Emily Van Zandt April 14, 2015

  • The high tax of a tipple

    On a Friday afternoon in early May 1969, Arkansas’ first legal mixed drink since Prohibition was served in Little Rock. As well as the bartender could recall i…

    by Emily Van Zandt April 7, 2015

  • Another serving of Sushi Cafe

    If I’ve written about my unsophisticated sushi palette before, I’m sorry. I’ll keep it to the point with these five words: I eat grocery store sushi.

    by Emily Van Zandt April 7, 2015

  • Piri Piri heads west

    It was on minute 20 of what would be a 40-minute journey from downtown Little Rock to the new location of Boneheads at the Promenade at Chenal that I started t…

    by Emily Van Zandt March 31, 2015

  • David vs. Goliath in beer Final Four

    More than 1,200 beer geeks have made their voices heard so far in the Sync Craft Beer Tournament 2015, whittling our lineup of 32 Arkansas brews to the Final F…

    by Emily Van Zandt March 24, 2015

  • Pie in the sky

    It’s always rewarding to see a restaurant come to life after months of planning. In the case of Piro Brick Oven & Barroom, we’ve been eagerly awaiting its open…

    by Emily Van Zandt March 24, 2015

  • Getting Damgoode-er

    When Jeff Trine first launched Damgoode Pies at 2701 Kavanaugh Blvd. in Little Rock in 2001, the business had maybe five people on its payroll.

    by Emily Van Zandt March 24, 2015

  • Saline Memorial breaks ground in Bryant

    Saline Memorial broke ground on the Saline Memorial Bryant Medical Campus last week. Saline County residents can look for construction to take place at Market …

    by Emily Van Zandt March 24, 2015

  • Elite Eight features strong newcomers

    As the Sync Craft Beer Tournament 2015 rolls onto the Elite Eight, one thing is clear: Don’t count out the newbies.

    by Emily Van Zandt March 17, 2015

  • French twist for an old favorite

    It wasn’t too long ago that going to the flagship Boulevard Bread Co. location in the Heights meant squeezing into the lunch-hour line and crossing your finger…

    by Emily Van Zandt March 17, 2015

  • Heights Taco & Tamale said to open in mid-April

    Heights Taco & Tamale Co., the long-awaited Tex-Mex offering from the Yellow Rocket Concepts team, is looking at a mid-April(ish) opening at 5805 Kavanaugh Blv…

    by Emily Van Zandt March 17, 2015

  • Jacksonville goes raw

    Arkansas isn’t exactly known for its vegan eats. We’re more breaded and fried than leafy and green. But that doesn’t mean diners aren’t craving a change. And T…

    by Emily Van Zandt March 10, 2015

  • Craft Beer Tournament rolls down to Sweet 16

    More than 800 brew fans cast their votes in the first round of the Sync Craft Beer Tournament 2015, narrowing down the starting field of 32 to just 16 standout…

    by Emily Van Zandt March 10, 2015

  • Eating up North Little Rock

    Welcome, SEC visitors, to your metro dining experience. With so many games tipping off this week at Verizon Arena during the SEC 2015 Women’s Basketball Tourna…

    by Emily Van Zandt March 3, 2015

  • Beer buzz

    So much can happen in a year, especially when craft beer is involved. Since we launched our craft beer tournament last year, the Arkansas brewing scene has see…

    by Emily Van Zandt March 3, 2015

  • Three Fold expands menu, hours of operation

    Expect a crowd at Southern Gourmasian this week, as one of Little Rock’s most beloved food trucks finally makes the full transition to brick and mortar. The As…

    by Emily Van Zandt March 3, 2015

  • Downtown hidden gem

    In a food-obsessed town like Little Rock, it’s rare for a restaurant to receive universal praise. Even the most lauded eateries are subject to a grumpy diner o…

    by Emily Van Zandt February 24, 2015

  • Tamalittle closes; Damgoode closes Kavanaugh spot

    Feb. 14 was the last day of operation for Tamalittle, a small tamale shop that operated at 102 Markham Park Drive. On the restaurant’s Facebook page, owners an…

    by Emily Van Zandt February 24, 2015

  • Melting pot

    When chef Joel Antunes took the helm as executive chef at the Capital Hotel in 2013, he had a few directives. Among them? To assemble a team that didn’t shy aw…

    by Emily Van Zandt February 17, 2015

  • Driving steady

    It’s not your imagination — Main Street is buzzing. And it’s not just the construction. Through the detritus of renovation, a growing entertainment district i…

    by Emily Van Zandt February 17, 2015

  • Lasting love in Little Rock

    Love may not conquer all, but it sure goes a long way to building a successful marriage. When two people love each other, not much else matters. As Valentine’s…

    by Emily Van Zandt , Stephanie Maxwell , Nate Olson , Erica Sweeney , Syd Hayman February 10, 2015

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