Stories by Eric E. Harrison

Pro bull riders compete in 'Bad Boy Mowers Mowdown' at Simmons Bank Arena The Professional Bull Riders' top 30, on the group's elite Unleash the Beast tour, will compete in the “Bad Boy Mowers Mowdown,” 7:45 p.m. Feb. 25 and 6:45 p.m. Feb. 26 at North Li... November 29, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: UCA hosts touring 'military' musical Happenings in Arkansas entertainment, events and the arts:THEATER: 'Officer & Gentleman'A touring company brings the new musical "An Officer and a Gentleman," based on the film a... November 28, 2021

Nonprofit seeks to save fire station In the middle of the last century, Little Rock Fire Station 9 on East Sixth Street was the hub of the community."People voted here. The police hung out here -- because they didn't have two-wa... November 28, 2021

OPINION | RESTAURANT REVIEW: Capital Hotel’s ‘secondary’ eatery dons flagship mantle With the reopening of Little Rock's Capital Hotel in May came the reopening of the Capital Bar & Grill, the hotel's mainstay "second" restaurant and one of the town's most po... November 25, 2021

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: Cupcakes returning to Heights; Flyway sweepstakes promotes duck brew Something called Caked Up Cupcakes and Ice Cream is going into the former Poke Hula space, 5621 Kavanaugh Blvd., in Little Rock's Pulaski Heights. We don't have a timeline or any idea of just ... November 25, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Fayetteville gallery offers artwork for gifts Options and information in Arkansas entertainment this weekend:Gallery open houseOriginal artworks by Fenix Fayetteville artists will be on display and for sale as seasonal gifts through Dec. 24 at th... November 25, 2021

Hot Springs artist heads list of Governor's Arts Awards winners Hot Springs artist Linda Williams Palmer, whose most notable project is the documentation with colored pencil on paper of Arkansas' Champion Trees, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award amon... November 23, 2021

Hot Springs artist heads list of Governor's Arts Awards winners Hot Springs artist Linda Williams Palmer, whose most notable project is the documentation with colored pencil on paper of Arkansas’ Champion Trees, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award am... November 22, 2021

Central Arkansas restaurants open for Thanksgiving: Some offer dine-in while others supply pick-up meals  Here is our so-far-limited list of Thanksgiving options, including places that we know will be open and serving, and places that are offering prepared Thanksgiving dinners and elements thereof. ... November 18, 2021

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: Ex-North Little Rock Pizza Hut to become a Fazoli's; new concept pends for Hillcrest Brazilian bakery The former Pizza Hut, 3701 Warden Road, North Little Rock, behind the Target in The Other Center, is to be a Fazoli's. The North Little Rock Planning Department confirms a permit has been issued f... November 18, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Northern Lights to illuminate Argenta Plaza Entertainment options in Arkansas this weekend:FUN: Northern LightsThe North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau and the city of North Little Rock are bringing back the Northern Lights holida... November 18, 2021

Rock band Journey performs in March at North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena; Billy Idol will be 'very special guest' Legendary rock band Journey, on its 40-city “Freedom Tour 2022” with “very special guest” Billy Idol, performs at 8 p.m. March 19 at North Little Rock’s Simmons Bank Aren... November 15, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: 'Birdhouse' cirque lands at Reynolds Happenings in Arkansas entertainment, events and the arts:FUN: 'Birdhouse' CirqueCirque Mechanics' "Birdhouse Factory," inspired in part by the industry murals of Diego Rivera, t... November 14, 2021

Country-rock band Alabama sets show at North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena Multi-platinum country rock band Alabama, with Arkansas’ own country hitmaker Tracy Lawrence as a ”special guest,” performs at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11 at North Little Rock’s Simmons Bank Arena. Ticket... November 11, 2021

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: Baja Grill owners see new eatery; Benton cocktail bar sets February opening Baja Grill owners Craig Roe and Heather Baber-Roe, who recently bought Benton's Valhalla Restaurant & Axe Throwing — now renamed Valhalla: Kitchen + Bar — are working on a February tar... November 11, 2021

MUSICAL THEATER: 'Anastasia' maintains the mystery of identity The enduring mystery of whether a scion of the Russian royal family survived the revolution is at the heart of "Anastasia," the touring Broadway musical onstage this weekend at Little Rock's Robinson ... November 11, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Students, faculty reap UALR 'Dance Harvest' Entertainment options in Arkansas this weekend: DANCE: 'Dance Harvest' The University of Arkansas at Little Rock theater arts and dance department will offer "Dance Harvest — Renaissance 2021,... November 11, 2021

Nelly headlines Nov. 17 'fusion' show at Little Rock Hall music venue Grammy-winning singer/rapper Nelly, headlining a “Lil Bit of Music” concert series, billed as a “fusion of country, hip hop, rap, and R&B with a distinctly ‘rock n’ roll’ presentation,” performs a... November 9, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Hip-hop poet sets evening at Hendrix Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts: Visiting poet Chicago-born poet Mayda del Valle, 2001 National Poetry Slam Champion and the author of the poetry collections "A South Side Girl's Gui... November 9, 2021

Phenomenal pianist, impressive conductor make Arkansas Symphony debuts The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra must get these guys back here, early and often. Hot-shot young pianist Conrad Tao proved why he's the toast of the classical music world with a blow-away performance o... November 7, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: ASO musicians to play 'Duo, Trio, Quartet' set Arkansas Symphony Orchestra musicians play "Duo, Trio, Quartet" for the second concert in its 2021-22 River Rhapsodies Chamber Music season, 7 p.m. Tuesday at in the Great Hall of the Clinton Presiden... November 7, 2021

Phenomenal pianist, impressive conductor make Arkansas Symphony debuts The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra must get these guys back here, early and often. Hot-shot young pianist Conrad Tao proved why he’s the toast of the classical music world, with a blow-away performance ... November 6, 2021

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: Say 'adios' to Pancho's; bienvenido, Taco John's Saturday was the last day of operation for the last two Pancho's restaurants, at 717 N. White Station Road in East Memphis and the original, at 3600 E. Broadway in West Memphis, which opened in 1956. ... November 4, 2021

‘Beethoven & Blue Jeans’: Guest conductor leads comfortable concert with dressed-down orchestra, piano soloist The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra tunes up and dresses down for this year’s “Beethoven & Blue Jeans” concerts, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday in Robinson Center Performance Hall, 426 W. Markha... November 4, 2021

OPINION | RESTAURANT REVIEW: Fujiyama sets up shop, perseveres in pandemic At first glance, the restaurant space at 3700 John F. Kennedy Blvd., at the crest of North Little Rock’s Park Hill, would seem an ideal place for the folks who previously operated a food truck (Fujiya... November 4, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: 'GloWild Lights' to illuminate zoo until Jan. 15 Entertainment options in Arkansas this weekend: FUN: Zoo illumination "GloWild Lights," a new "larger-than-life" light show featuring more than 30 displays illuminated by more than 50,000 LED light ... November 4, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: 'Sound of Music' will fill Argenta, Wildwood stages Two Central Arkansas theaters will be alive with "The Sound of Music" (music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse): ◼️ Argenta Community Theate... November 2, 2021

'Masked Singer' tour coming July 9 to North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena will be a stop on the 50-city North American “The Masked Singer” tour, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 9. Tickets — $49.75-$99.75 plus service charges (eight-ticket... November 1, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Day of the Dead party set in CALS alley Happenings in Arkansas entertainment, events and the arts: Dia de los Muertos The Downtown Little Rock Partnership, Central Arkansas Library System and Mexican Consulate of Little Rock will celebrat... October 31, 2021

Two singers sound like Simon & Garfunkel in jukebox musical at Little Rock's Robinson Center "During any song, any audience member can close their eyes and hear Simon & Garfunkel singing," says Taylor Bloom. He's right. Bloom, who plays Paul Simon, and Ben Cooley, who plays Art Garfunkel... October 30, 2021

Vocalists bring 'Simon & Garfunkel Story' to life “During any song, any audience member can close their eyes and hear Simon & Garfunkel singing,” says Taylor Bloom. He’s right. Bloom, who plays Paul Simon, and Ben Cooley, who plays Art Garfunkel... October 29, 2021

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: Brave New Restaurant namesake adds executive chef; kBird goes on indefinite 'hiatus' Peter Brave continues as owner of his eponymous Brave New Restaurant, 2300 Cottondale Lane, in Little Rock's Riverdale. And you'll still find him in the kitchen just about every night, though he has h... October 28, 2021

Beer, food, costumes, dog show back in Hillcrest for HarvestFest The Hillcrest Merchants Association celebrates the season with HarvestFest in Hillcrest, Saturday on Kavanaugh Boulevard between Walnut and Monroe streets in Little Rock's Hillcrest neighborhood. The... October 28, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: 'Macbeth' haunts Little Rock's Studio Theatre Entertainment options in Arkansas this weekend: THEATER: Scottish Tragedy The Studio Theatre, 320 W. Seventh St., Little Rock, in a co-production with Shake on the Lake of Silver Lake, N.Y., stages ... October 28, 2021

Last two Pancho's restaurants, including West Memphis original, closing this weekend The last two remaining restaurants in the Pancho's chain, including the original at 3600 E. Broadway in West Memphis, are closing this weekend, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. Saturday will be... October 27, 2021

Dynamic duo: The story of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s partnership offers harmonic night of nostalgia It has been more than a decade since Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel shared a stage (at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2010), but you can get a taste of what made them one of the hottest... October 26, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: 'So Shoe Me' set to open at ESSE Purse Museum "The Collector's Series," a three-part exhibit of items from the private collections of three Little Rock women, debuts Tuesday at ESSE Purse Museum, 1510 Main St., Little Rock. Part 1, "So Shoe Me,"... October 24, 2021

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: Steakhouse to fill niche on Chenal; Sufficient Grounds resurrected in west Little Rock The Denver-based Sullivan's Steakhouse chain will open its first Arkansas location in "early 2022" at The Promenade at Chenal, 17707 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock. It's going into the free-standing stea... October 21, 2021

Green light on the dock: Ballet Arkansas to perform ‘The Great Gatsby,’ reimagined Glitz, glamour and murder in the previous century's Roaring '20s are on display as Ballet Arkansas opens its 2021-22 main stage season with "The Great Gatsby," at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2:30 and 7... October 21, 2021

OPINION | TAKEOUT TASTINGS: Hitting the bricks and the food trucks Take it out from the ballgame, Take it out from the crowd; Buy me some peanuts from a traveling truck — I don't care if it costs more than a buck ... This week we focus on to-go items from t... October 21, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: 'Arsenic and Old Lace' opens at Weekend Theater Entertainment options in Arkansas this weekend: THEATER: 'Arsenic & Old Lace' The Weekend Theater, 1001 W. Seventh St. at Chester Street, Little Rock, stages "Arsenic and Old Lace" by Joseph Kes... October 21, 2021

North Little Rock arena adds 2nd Morgan Wallen concert North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena has added a second show with country singer Morgan Wallen, with “special guests” HARDY and Ernest, 7:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19. The arena had previously announce... October 19, 2021

Sullivan’s Steakhouse coming to west Little Rock's Promenade at Chenal The Denver-based Sullivan’s Steakhouse chain will open its first Arkansas location in “early 2022” in the Promenade at Chenal, 17707 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock. It's going into the free-standing st... October 19, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: 'Beckett's Briefs' set for stage at UALR Going on area stages: Beckett, briefly The University of Arkansas at Little Rock department of theater arts and dance stages "Beckett's Briefs: Short Works by Samuel Beckett," 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sa... October 19, 2021

Morgan Wallen, country singer, sets November concert at North Little Rock arena Country singer Morgan Wallen headlines a 7:15 p.m. Nov. 20 concert at North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena. “Special guests” singer-songwriters Hardy and Ernest open the show. Tickets — $53.05-$1... October 18, 2021

Events to celebrate Halloween 2021 in Arkansas It’s the spookiest time of year, and there is no shortage of events and festivals to celebrate Halloween. Here are just some of the options in Little Rock and beyond. Halloween movies in the Main Str... October 14, 2021

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: Chophouse not opening, up for lease; Camp Taco is open with big brew menu We reported that Bone's Chophouse was changing its name to JB ChopHouse at both locations, the original at 3920 Central Ave., Hot Springs, and the restaurant that moved into the former location of Art... October 14, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT: Arkansas State Fair opens Friday for 10 days of fun After a one-year hiatus due to the covid-19 pandemic, the 81st Arkansas State Fair opens Friday, offering 10 days of rides, fair food, music, games, "unique attractions," livestock and crafts competit... October 14, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Robinson center hosts 'The Price Is Right Live!' Entertainment options in Arkansas this weekend: FUN: 'Price Is Right Live!' "The Price Is Right Live" will be on stage 7 p.m. Sunday at Robinson Center Performance Hall, 426 W. Markham St. at Broadw... October 14, 2021

One Direction alumnus Harry Styles sets Nov. 24 concert at North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena British singer-songwriter Harry Styles, a member of the boy band One Direction who is now pursuing a solo career, performs hits from his double-platinum album “Fine Line” on his his “Love on Tour 202... October 13, 2021