InArkansas.com

The cover of Arkansauce Issue 2 features this photo of University of Arkansas students enjoying a meal in their dormitory ca. 1910 (from the holdings of the Special Collections Department of the University of Arkansas Libraries)

Arkansauce Issue 2, guest edited by Nathania Sawyer, associate head for special projects at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies and senior editor for the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, is available for free download by clicking here. 

Published by the Special Collections Department of the University of Arkansas Libraries, Arkansauce is a mix of popular and semi-scholarly articles illustrated with original documents, drawings and photographs.

Its focus is on food history, nutrition, cooking, customs, table manners, chefs, food producers and production, restaurants, cookbooks, recipes, menus for ordinary and special occasions, the culinary heritage of minority groups, immigrants, and specific geographic regions of Arkansas, food-related poetry, mythology, and literature.

The 2012 issue includes articles on Arkansas Colonial Fare by Morris S. Arnold, Name That Kitchen Gadget by Gaye Bland, A Tour of Arkansas Food Festivals by Nathania Sawyer, Poke Springs Eternal by Marcia Camp and much more.

Printed copies are not available; those who wish to subscribe should send an e-mail to managing editor Diane F. Worrell at dfworrel@uark.edu, asking to be added to the Arkansauce mailing list for future issues.

For more information call (479) 575-5330.

Get Cliff Lee's autograph from 4-5 p.m. Friday (Feb. 3) at the grand opening of AT&T's Park Avenue store.

Want to say hello to Philadelphia Phillies pitcher (and Benton native) Cliff Lee and get his autograph?

Come to the grand opening of AT&T's Park Avenue store, 300 S. University Ave., Little Rock, from 4-5 p.m. today (Feb. 3).

Bring a can of food for Arkansas Foodbank. Don't have one? Target is within easy walking distance of AT&T, so head over there first and pick up some canned goods to help fight hunger in Arkansas. 

Along with collecting canned goods, AT&T will donate $25 to Arkansas Foodbank for each AT&T device upgrade or new contract sold through Sunday (Feb. 5). 

For more information call the AT&T store at (501) 603-9335.

Celebrate what would have been Bob Marley's 67th birthday (Feb. 6) on Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Rev Room. 

One Love Entertainment's fifth Annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash, hosted by Sonta Jean of radio station KOKY, is happening from 8 p.m.-1 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 4) at the Rev Room, 300 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock.

Marley, who died in 1981, was lead singer for the reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers who helped share Jamaican music and the Rastafari movement with a worldwide audience. 

Entertainment at the Rev Room will be by Tim Anthony of Afrodesia, Tawanna Campbell, Butterfly, Fire & Brimstone, Tippa Tino, Darril Edwards on steel drums, the LR All-Star Band and more.

Admission is $10 advance (available at the Rev Room and Exxon on the Run, 418 E. Broadway, North Little Rock) and $13 at the door.

For more information call (501) 744-8842 or (501) 823-0090.

Image by ML Baxley

Social Media guru and PR professional Natalie Ghidotti offers tech tips for busy parents in this month's magazine.

Balance, schmalance. A wise friend of mine once said that to me when I asked her how she balanced her career as a writer and mother to three children. It was a nice wake-up call for me, as I typically run around crazy trying to keep all my balls up in the air, constantly worrying I'm not doing anything to the best of my ability.

Wife. Mother. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Publisher. Editor. Volunteer. Trying to wear all those hats is overwhelming sometimes, so I try to keep a good sense of humor and be grateful for the abundance.

This edition of Little Rock Family is tailored for all the moms who work outside the home. Our cover story features local social media darling and public relations professional Natalie Ghidotti, who shares tips for working parents on how to maximize social media and branding to promote themselves personally and professionally.

We also have tips for moms thinking of returning to a workforce that has changed drastically in the last few years.

I'm very excited to introduce you to the 2012 Class of Mothers on the Move. Selected by a team of Arkansas Business Publishing Group editors, these professional women balance (there's that word again!) work, family and community with aplomb. They inspire us, and we hope you'll find their stories inspiring too.

Also, don't miss our Ages & Stages section, featuring articles on colic relief for babies and parents, mobile apps to make parenting easier, helping your young student stay organized and tips for raising respectful tweens.

Plus we have feature stories on the beautiful production of Shen Yun Performing Arts coming Feb. 27-28 and Bowl for Kids Sake benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas.

You can pick up a copy of our February edition in 625 locations across central Arkansas. And visit us online at LittleRockFamily.com for more ideas and information for your family.

China is among the cultures to be celebrated at Lanterns at Wildwood Park for the Arts. 

Annual outdoor winter festival Lanterns will be held from 6-10 p.m. today-Saturday (Feb. 2-4) at Wildwood Park for the Arts, 20919 Denny Road, Little Rock.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6–12 and free for children ages 5 and younger.

New this year is a free shuttle from the parking lot at Kroger at Chenal Parkway and Kanis Road.

Visitors can stroll along paved pathways lit by firepits and luminaries into the park’s winter woodlands to enjoy indoor and outdoor entertainment at lighted vistas representing cultural vistas including China, Paris, India, Shakespeare’s England, Venice, India, Americana with a baseball theme and Shakespeare’s England.

International foods and beverages are available for purchase with prices from $2-$8. Patrons can exchange cash or credit card for Wild Bucks, the Park’s currency.

Honoring the Chinese Year of the Dragon, Wildwood’s Asian Woodland Garden invites families to create their own lanterns, try using chopsticks, visit a display by sculptural art students at Hall High School and enjoy vegetarian fare, hot tea and sake.

The lobbies and stage of Wildwood's 625-seat performing arts complex will be transformed into a Parisian street market filled with antiques vendors, a French fortune teller, art by Gene Hatfield, and nightly performances by Ballet Arkansas and The Muses.

Wildwood’s lakeside performance pad will transport festival-goers to the carnival atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro with food and beverages by Cafe Bossa Nova and dance music by a five-piece bossa nova band.

Stargazing will be featured at The Moon created by Botanica Gardens founder Chris Olsen, and in India, guests can feast on a dinner by restaurateur Sami Lal of Star of India. 

Further east in Wildwood’s Butler Arboretum, the young and young at heart can pitch baseballs for prizes in Americana’s Baseball vista. Little Rock’s Hot Dog Mike will create selections reminiscent of America’s favorite pasttime, and at a nearby lakeside firepit, s’mores will be available to purchase and personalize.

Venice returns this year to the Gazebo, where guests can launch wishing lanterns on Wildwood’s Swan Lake and enjoy sweet treats, Venetian bellinis and kiddinis (the child-friendly version).

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre will present Shakespeare’s England on Butler Hill with nightly shows, complete with combat artists and lute players, and smoked turkey legs and ale brewed by Vino’s in Little Rock.

For more information, tickets and a map, visit www.wildwoodpark.org (click on festivals & events) or call (501) 821-7275.

Vote for your favorite Little Rock Soiree cover (February 2012 is pictured here)

Little Rock Soiree is celebrating its 10th anniversary in March. Time flies when you're having fun!

Many stylish, whimsical, inventive, thought-provoking and artistic covers have appeared on the magazine over the years -- to view them click here.

The staff of Soiree would like to know: Which is your favorite cover, and why?

Leave a comment below; be sure to include the date of your preferred cover and the reasons why it's your favorite.

Your response may be published in the March anniversary issue of Soiree. 

Detail from a 2007 reproduction of a 1938 original photograph of baseball player Helen Carson is part of an exhibit at Laman Library. 

The exhibit Line Drives and Lipstick: The Untold Story of Women’s Baseball is on display at Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. 

The exhibition -- which features more than 60 items including postcards, game programs, photographs, posters and articles from national magazines -- explores women’s impact in America’s national pastime from baseball’s beginnings in the 1860s.

Visitors to will get to know Jackie Mitchell, who struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game in 1931, and Sophie Kurys of the South Bend Blue Sox who holds the record for the most stolen bases in one season in any league (201 steals in 203 attempts in 1946).

 Admission is free. The exhibit will remain through March 18. For more information call (501) 758-1720 or click here. 

Anonymous 4

Renowned a capella vocalists Anonymous 4 will perform at 7:30 p.m. today (Feb. 1) at Christ Episcopal Church, 509 Scott St., Little Rock.

Anonymous 4 members Susan Hellauer, Ruth Cunningham, Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek and Marsha Genensky add historical scholarship to contemporary style to create their programs, which combine music with poetry and narrative.

They've sold nearly 2 million copies of their 18 recordings of medieval, contemporary, and American music.

Tickets are $20 at the door. For more information call (501) 537-1698. 

Here's a video of Anonymous 4: Live at Soundcheck: