Stories by Eric E. Harrison

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: LR Winds, Chamber Singers salute season Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:MUSIC: 'English Christmas'The Arkansas Chamber Singers, with guest conductor Gabriel Statom and harpist Anna Kathryn Pepper, perform tradit... December 8, 2022

Seasonal sensation: Ballet Arkansas’ ‘Nutcracker Spectacular’ a reimagined classic Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" debuted in St. Petersburg, Russia, the week before Christmas 1892, which would make this year the ballet's 130th anniversary.Ballet Arkansa... December 8, 2022

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: 2nd Big Bad moving into ex-Soul Fish; Blackberry Market now open in Argenta Restaurateur Ben Brainard confirms he has signed a lease on the former Soul Fish space at 306 Main St., Little Rock, and plans to open a second location of his Big Bad Breakfast franchise. (The first ... December 8, 2022

Arkansas Symphony renaming music engagement, education programs for Ronnel The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra is naming its lifelong music engagement and education programs the "E. Lee Ronnel Music Academy."The name change, announced Tuesday at Heifer International, h... December 7, 2022

Arkansas Symphony renaming music engagement and education programs for late Lee Ronnel The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra is naming its lifelong music engagement and education programs the “E. Lee Ronnel Music Academy.”The name change, announced Tuesday at Heifer International,... December 6, 2022

Humorist David Sedaris sets April 24 show at Little Rock's Robinson Center Performance Hall Author and humorist David Sedaris will put on a one-man, one-night show at 7 p.m. April 24 at Little Rock's Robinson Center Performance Hall, 426 W. Markham St. at Broadway. Tickets &mda... December 5, 2022

Tedeschi Trucks Band sets April 28 concert at Simmons Bank Arena Tedeschi Trucks Band, touring in support of their four-album recording project “I Am the Moon,” performs at 8 p.m. Friday, April 28 in the Theater@Simmons Bank Arena, the smaller seating ... December 5, 2022

Harlem Globetrotters set April 7 game at North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena The Harlem Globetrotters 2023 World Tour comes to North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena, 7 p.m. Friday, April 7, playing their perennial opponent, the Washington Generals.Tickets — $27-$11... December 5, 2022

Song and dance: ‘Guys and Dolls’ a sure bet at Rep There are many shows worth a gamble on local stages this holiday season, but "Guys and Dolls" at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre is a sure bet.The quintessential Golden Age musical (music and... December 4, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Christmas shows onstage in Argenta, Rogers Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:THEATER: 'White Christmas'Veterans Bob Wallace (Jamie Stewart) and Phil Davis (Case Dillard), still working together as a song and dance du... December 4, 2022

THEATER REVIEW: Arkansas Repertory Theatre's 'Guys and Dolls' is a sure bet There are many shows worth a gamble on local stages this holiday season, but “Guys and Dolls” at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre is a sure bet.The quintessential Golden Age musical (music a... December 3, 2022

Country superstar Kenny Chesney to headline April 22 at North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena Country singer/songwriter Kenny Chesney, on his “I Go Back Tour” with “special guest” three-time Grammy nominee Kelsea Ballerini, performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at N... December 3, 2022

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: BBQ joint moves into new home; 2nd Root Cafe set for Breckenridge Count Porkula on Wednesday officially moved out of its home at The Rail Yard on East Sixth Street and into its new building at 201 Keightley Drive (just north of Cantrell Road), former home (before a ... December 1, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: ‘Messiah,’ Men’s Chorus top weekend schedule Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts this weekend:MUSIC: 90th 'Hallelujah'The Arkansas Choral Society performs, for the 90th time, portions of George Frideric Handel's &quo... December 1, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Candlelight Carol Services brighten Hendrix College Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:CHRISTMAS: Candlelight servicesThe Hendrix College Choir will sing for its annual Candlelight Carol Services, 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 4 p.m... November 29, 2022

Champions of Hope lets teens learn philanthropy, fundraising Catholic High junior Ted Penick signed up with The Centers for Youth and Families' Champions of Hope program to learn more about the nonprofit, meet new people and get out of his social comfort zo... November 27, 2022

Gamblers, gals set to inhabit Rep stage The Arkansas Repertory Theatre goes back to the pinnacle of musicals as they used to be as it stages Frank Loesser's "Guys and Dolls" for its December production."It's funny, th... November 27, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: 2 actors condense 7 books into ‘Potted Potter’ Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:THEATER: 'Potted Potter'Actors Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner condense all seven Harry Potter books (and a real life game of Quidditc... November 27, 2022

‘Fiddler’ raises roof at Robinson Center The national touring production of "Fiddler on the Roof" arrived 11 months late to Little Rock's Robinson Center (originally set for January but postponed after an outbreak of covid-19 i... November 26, 2022

Surviving adversity: ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ tour arrives, post-pandemic and postponement EDITOR'S NOTE: The national tour of "Fiddler on the Roof" originally was to have been onstage at Little Rock's Robinson Center in January; an outbreak of covid-19 in the cast forced ... November 24, 2022

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: Chain joke comes true for Conway; Salad chain eyeing Arkansas expansion For years, it was a social media-fueled joke in and around Conway: Every time a construction project started, it was going to be a new Olive Garden. Well, nobody's laughing now that Fayetteville-b... November 24, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Museum’s Dino-Lites display to shed light on Hot Springs Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts this weekend:LIGHTS: Dino-LitesThe Mid-America Science Museum, 500 Mid America Blvd., Hot Springs, hosts the annual lighting of its Dino-Lites disp... November 24, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: ‘Mermaid’ swims onto Murry’s stage Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:THEATER: Murry's 'Little Mermaid'Bridget Davis plays Ariel, the daughter of the Sea King (Christopher Noyes), whose obsession with thin... November 22, 2022

Arkansas Arts Council unveils 2023 Governor's Arts Awards Christina Littlejohn, chief executive officer of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, will receive the Arkansas Arts Council’s 2023 Arts Community Development Award, among the Governor’s Arts ... November 21, 2022

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: Tamalcalli opens softly on Main St.; Thanksgiving list — dine-in or pick up Tamalcalli, the Tamale, Taco & Cerveza Stand, which has been operating as a food truck, opened Tuesday in its new shotgun storefront at 308 Main St., Little Rock. (It's next door to Bruno'... November 17, 2022

RESTAURANT REVIEW: El Sur succeeds in shift from food truck to storefront Slowly, but "Sur-ly," the area's Latin food scene is expanding beyond Ark Mex, Tex Mex, Gringo-Mex and authentic Mexican.We've got Venezuelan and Argentine restaurants, and with co-o... November 17, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: ‘Cirque Christmas’ clocks in at Little Rock, El Dorado Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts this weekend:FUN: Cirque Christmas"A Magical Cirque Christmas," a combination of cirque, comedy, music and magic, takes the stage for two... November 17, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Author Wiley Cash to receive award from Lyon College Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:Novelist honoredNew York Times bestselling novelist Wiley Cash will read from his work at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Bevens Music Room, Brown Chapel, Lyon C... November 15, 2022

Country singer/songwriter Koe Wetzel sets May 13 concert at Little Rock’s First Security Amphitheater Country singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Koe Wetzel will bring his “Road to Hell Paso” tour, with “special guests” Pecos & The Rooftops and The Cadillac Three, to... November 14, 2022

Avett Brothers, Turnpike Troubadours to co-headline Feb. 24 concert at North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena Country band The Turnpike Troubadours and the Avett Brothers will co-headline a concert at 6:50 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena. The Wood Brothers open the show.Tic... November 14, 2022

Foreigner, Loverboy plan July 14 tour stop at Walmart AMP in Rogers Legendary rock band Foreigner, on their Historic Farewell Tour with Loverboy, will stop at Rogers for a show at 7 p.m. Friday, July 14, at the Walmart AMP, 5079 W. Northgate Road. Gates will open... November 14, 2022

Indie pop singer/songwriter Ben Rector sets April 27 show at Little Rock's Robinson Center Independent pop singer/songwriter Ben Rector, on his 14-city spring 2023 “Old Friends Acoustic Tour,” performs at 7:30 p.m. April 27 at Little Rock's Robinson Center Performance Hall, ... November 14, 2022

OPINION | MUSIC REVIEW: Violinist dominates ‘warhorse’ concerto Felix Mendelssohn's e-minor Violin Concerto qualifies as a warhorse. And violinist Geneva Lewis rode that warhorse to victory and beyond Saturday night at Little Rock's Robinson Center Perform... November 13, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: ‘Hometown’ circus set in Hot Springs, Greenbrier Elsewhere in entertainment and the arts:FUN: 'Hometown' circusGreenbrier-based Piccolo Zoppe puts on its Winter Circus, Friday-Dec. 4 at the Hot Springs Airport, 525 Airport Road, Hot Spr... November 13, 2022

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: ‘Chick out’ West Little Rock outlet of franchise; Indian restaurant set to open on Markham Atlanta-based Chicken Salad Chick's third Little Rock-area location, at 17400 Chenal Parkway, and the chain/franchise operation's sixth restaurant in Arkansas, has its grand opening on Tuesday... November 10, 2022

MUSIC: ASO hosts violinist’s first full ‘run’ at Mendelssohn Concerto Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto is one of the most frequently performed works in the repertoire, so most violinists might have to consider how to make it fresh for audiences.Violinist Geneva L... November 10, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Aretha tribute at UCA, chamber music for brass on tap Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts this weekend:THEATER: 'What it means to me'Singers and a band give Aretha Franklin some "R.E.S.P.E.C.T.," a staged tribute to the... November 10, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Folk Festival features daytime Faire, evening concerts Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:MUSIC: 75 years of FolkThe Eureka Springs City Auditorium, 36 S. Main St., Eureka Springs, hosts the 75th Original Ozark Folk Festival Thursday-Sat... November 8, 2022

Country singer Justin Moore set as grand marshal of Hot Springs' St. Patrick's Day parade Country singer and native Arkansan Justin Moore will be the celebrity grand marshal of the First Ever 20th Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 17, 2023, along 98-foot B... November 7, 2022

Country star Dwight Yoakam sets Feb. 17 at North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena Country star Dwight Yoakam performs at 8 p.m. Feb. 17 in the Theater@Simmons Bank Arena, the North Little Rock venue's smaller footprint.Tickets — $59.75, $79.75 and $99.75 plus service char... November 7, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Musical, comedy occupy Fayetteville stages this week Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:THEATER: 'Chicago' anniversary"Chicago" (music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Ebb and Bob Fosse), on its 25th annive... November 6, 2022

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Kemuri keeps its quality in second location Kemuri — sushi, seafood, robata recently opened a second location at the top/back of the backward "L"-shaped Centre at Chenal shopping center on Chenal Parkway.Going by the nickname Ke... November 3, 2022

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: One Eleven open again for 2 meals; Dog Town Pizza opens in Amboy One Eleven at the Capital, the premier restaurant in the Capital Hotel, 111 W. Markham St., Little Rock, has reopened for dinner as of Oct. 18.The comparatively small dinner menu doesn't appear to... November 3, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: ‘Sesame Street Live!’ set to make magic at arena Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts this weekend:FUN: Muppet magicFans can take a journey with Elmo to discover the "power of yet" in "Sesame Street Live! Make Your Mag... November 3, 2022

Filmland 5 previews 2 films at sneak peek The Arkansas Cinema Society screens two award-winning/award-potential films — "Empire of Light," from Academy Award-winner Sam Mendes, and "Nanny," the 2022 Sundance Film Fes... November 1, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: Two ASO trios, quartet to perform for ‘Intimate’ concert Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:MUSIC: 'Intimate Voices'Two trios of Arkansas Symphony Orchestra musicians and the orchestra's resident Quapaw Quartet perform for the ... October 30, 2022

Six scary days: Options across the state where you can go bump in the night Halloween falls on a Monday this year, and most of the ghosties, ghoulies, trickers and treaters will go bump on that night.But there's a whole range of activities going on across the state starti... October 27, 2022

RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: Pizza Hut moves west to Bowman; O’My Golly Tamales now open in west LR The west Little Rock Pizza Hut on which we reported a few weeks ago has officially moved, lock, stock, crust and toppings, from 11410 W. Markham St. to an end-cap storefront in the Bowman Curve Shoppi... October 27, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: ‘13: The Musical’ takes stage at Studio Theatre Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts this weekend:THEATER: 'Driving Miss Daisy'The Argenta Community Theater stages "Driving Miss Daisy" by Alfred Uhry in its new edu... October 27, 2022

Four Broadway ‘princesses’ take on Disney You might think something called "Disney Princess: The Concert," a montage of songs from Disney animated movies focusing on Disney princesses, would be strictly for the kiddies.You'd be ... October 25, 2022