InArkansas.com

We all love to shop. So wouldn't it be awesome to be able to shop anywhere, anytime?

With Arkansas' first fashion truck -- trinity.simone -- you can.

The 20-foot mobile boutique, complete with hard wood floors and crystal chandeliers, will celebrate its grand opening from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. today (May 17) at the River Market Pavilion, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock.

The super chic space offers a stylish collection of branded fashion apparel, handbags, accessories and shoes.

With trend-setting lines seen on the pages of national fashion magazines, the trinity.simone mobile experience includes fashion parties, trunk shows and private shopping. It offers clients a chance to have their own “Girls Night Out” at home by bringing the truck straight to them.

Hosts are encouraged to bring 10 to 12 guests to the fashion parties where they can enjoy hors d’oeuvres and specialty drinks as they shop. The truck offers the host of parties 40 percent off any one item in the boutique and 15 percent off all remaining items. All attendees also receive 15 percent off the store during the party.

The boutique is also available for charitable events where the store can offer incentives to donate portion of sales back to the cause of choice.

Along with shopping, trinity.simone will celebrate its grand opening with styling tips, makeovers giveaways, music, food and drinks. Guests will enjoy a desserts and cocktails happy hour from 5 - 6 p.m. with a signature fashion truck cocktail.

For more information, email Erica at info@trinity-simone.com or call (832) 647-5496.

The Friends of Central Arkansas Libraries (FOCAL) Used Book Sale is going on the road to three different Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) branch library locations in May.

Book sales will be held at the following branches:

• Oley Rooker Library, 11 Otter Creek Court
• Amy Sanders Library, 31 Shelby Drive, Sherwood
• Williams Library, 1800 Chester Street

Books from the Main Library Used Book Sale will be for sale at these branches 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today (May 17) and tomorrow (May 18).

Paperbacks are $.50 and hardbacks are $1. All categories of books will be available, including fiction, mystery, romance, science fiction, children's, cookbooks, sports, travel and many more.

Other FOCAL branch sales will take place in September at Dee Brown Library, Nixon Library and Thompson Library, and in November at the Children's Library & Learning Center, McMath Library and Terry Library.

Funds from the book sales help CALS provide programs at branches and book club kits, as well as Summer Reading Club and special Saturday programming for children at the Main Library. For more information about the sales, call (501) 918-3000 or check out the website.

To volunteer at the FOCAL book sales, call (501) 918-3095 or email adelaney@cals.org.

If you have been on the hunt for a piece of furniture for the living room, a ladder or even a video recorder, you won't have to look much further.

Pennsylvania Trading Co. got its long-awaited Dempsey Warehouse Sale off to a great start Thursday (May 16) at the old warehouse at 1501 East 2nd St., Little Rock.

This is the warehouse of the former Dempsey Film Groups who did commercial filming in Little Rock for many years. The 18,000-square-foot warehouse is filled with equipment from their business in addition to lots of personal items that they are wanting to sell.

You will find just about anything you can imagine at the sale, ranging from furniture to appliances, kids' toys, computers, books and boats (cool!), to video production and editing equipment, building materials and Japanese slot machines -- plus much more!

Click here to see the full list of stuff that will be on sale and pictures here.

What's great are the awesome discounts that you'll receive on the items. This includes:

• Friday -- 20 percent off
• Saturday -- 30 percent off
• Sunday -- 50 percent off

Cash and check will only be accepted.

Shop today (May 16) until 4 p.m., and Friday and Saturday (May 17-18) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale will also be running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday (May 19).

For more information about this huge sale, click here.

Image by Lindsay Irvin

The annual International Greek Food Festival is starting tomorrow (May 17) and running through Sunday (May 19) at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1100 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock.

Admission is free. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. tomorrow (May 17) and Saturday (May 18) and 11 - 3 p.m. Sunday. 

The festival offers an intriguing medley of Greek, Armenian, Georgian, Romanian, Russian, Indian, Middle Eastern, English and American dishes menu favorites. A limited menu of mouth-watering cuisine -- Greek chicken dinner, gyros platter, baklava, pastry plates -- can be enjoyed at the festival, ordered online or picked up at a drive-through.

Visitors can enjoy music, dance and other cultural traditions.

The festival will include Old World Market, selling specialty foods such as falafel, Greek olive oil, hummus, dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves), cheeses and the popular secret salad dressing handmade -- Pete's Famous -- and bottled at the church. Frozen dinners to-go, homemade pastries, Russian collectibles, imported gift items from around Mediterranean will also be available.

A kids' area features face painting, a candy walk, a climbing wall, rides and grilled hot dogs.

Continuous entertainment includes Greek, Scottish, middle Eastern, Indian, Russian, flamenco and Irish dancers, cloggers and guitarists.

See the full entertainment schedule here.

Guided tours of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church are scheduled. Everything takes place at the church, 1100 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock. Admission, parking and trolley service are free.

To view a complete schedule click here or call (501) 221-5300.

There will be an olive oil and vinegar tasting with Raimondo Winery, starting at 5 p.m. at Eggshells Kitchen Co.

Looking for something fun to do tonight?

Take advantage of great sales, specials and lots of fun at Happy Hour in the Heights, the historic district's monthly event happening every third Thursday.

Here is a look at what you can expect tonight (May 16):

• Charlotte John Co., 5811 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Enjoy a cookout on the porch with grillmaster Brandon Finch from 5 - 7 p.m.
• CARE for Animals, 5516 Kavanaugh Blvd.: From 5 -7 p.m., Hot Dog Mike will be on site with his cart serving up some hot dogs to help increase awareness of CARE's mission in central Arkansas for Animal Rescue. This will also be the day they will release its new CARE T-shirt.
• Proposals, 5913 Kavanaugh Blvd.: The boutique is partnering with new neighbor Dwell and serving cool drinks and snacks. Special discounts will be offered, as well.
• Zen Spin, 5612 R St.: If you're thinking of getting into shape, this is the place to go. It is offering new clients a first week free.
• Caroline’s Consignment, 1917 N. Grant: Shop 'til you drop! There will be 20 percent off items storewide until 7 p.m.
• Eggshells Kitchen Co., 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd., Ste. K: There will be an olive oil and vinegar tasting with Raimondo Winery, starting at 5 p.m. And also learn how to make four different kinds of Arugula Pestos using Raimondo Winery Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegar.
  
• RJ Tao, 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd., Ste. G: Take a load off at the super-chic restaurant and night club and enjoy half-off cocktails for ladies, as well as specials on sushi and drinks.
• Boswell Mourot Fine Art, 5815 Kavanaugh Blvd.: Stop in and check out the gallery's new exhibit Arkansas Artists & Their Works with pieces by sculptor Andy Huss, collaborative mixed media on canvas by Megan Chapman and Steward Brenner, roku vessels by Winston Taylor and works on paper and canvas Melissa Wilkinson.

For more information, click here.

Don't miss the chance to win a shopping spree at the Promenade at Chenal this month.

Summer is upon us and wouldn't it be nice to amp up your wardrobe with new duds?

The Promenade at Chenal is giving shoppers three chances to win an awesome shopping spree all this month.

Registration is as simple as flip flops on a summer day. Click here to register to win. When you do, you'll be entered to win one of three shopping sprees  -- $500, $1,500 and $3,000 -- which will leave you plenty of time to do some browsing and start building your shopping spree wish list.

Not so Facebook savvy? Registration is also available in The Promenade at Chenal Management Office, located just around the corner for Luxury Nails Spa or at any of our ladies apparel merchants along the Main Street. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, click here.

Find stylish and functional yoga gear at Lulumon.

The Promenade at Chenal today announced that lululemon athletica is set to open in late fall.  The new store will be the first official retail store to open in Little Rock.

A location in the Heights was set up as a test showroom last year.

Lululemon athletica, with a new 3,188-square-foot store, is a yoga-inspired athletic apparel company that creates components for people to live long, healthy and fun lives. Lululemon makes technical athletic clothes for yoga, running, working out and most other sweaty pursuits. This includes sports bras, tanks, tops, jackets, pants, shorts, skirts and dresses, bags, hats, socks and underwear, yoga mats and props, and running accessories.

For more information, click here.

This is the third installment in our new series "In Season at the Farmers Market" where we will do just that -- explore what is in season at the moment.

This month, in addition to strawberries, tomatoes are in their peak season. They are a healthy, savory fruit first cultivated by the ancient peoples of the Americas.  Conquistadors took the red fruit to the Old World in the 16^th century, and the world was never the same.

“Interestingly, the definition of the tomato differs if we're talking botanically or cultivation-wise,” said Dr. Rosemary Rodibaugh, a professor and extension nutrition specialist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “Botanically, it's a fruit all the way, but the way we use it, it's a vegetable.”

Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins A and C. Fiber is also present in good amounts.  They are low in calories and rich in potassium.

When you go to the farmer's market, look for Arkansas tomatoes at their peak between May and October. Fresh tomatoes can be used in salads or served sliced with fresh mozzarella and balsamic vinegar. Of course, tomatoes also work great when stewed, baked, broiled or used in soups. 

Purchasing and storage tips:

• Choose tomatoes that are firm and plump.
• Most ripe tomatoes are completely red, or reddish-orange, depending on the variety. Heirloom tomatoes come in a variety of colors including red, bright green and purple/black.
• Purchase unpackaged tomatoes, or those packaged in perforated wraps. This allows tomatoes to ripen better.

Farmers markets open to get your tomatoes:

West Little Rock Farmers Market, Village Shopping Center parking lot, 10700 N. Rodney Parham Dr. -- This new farmers market, located in front of Whole Foods Market, had its first farmers market last Wednesday (May 9) and it was a hit. Several farms sold their fresh produce and will be available again tomorrow (May 15). This includes: North Pulaski Farms, Laughing Stock Farm, Little Rock Urban Farming, Barnhill Farms, Falling Sky Farm and Freckle Face Farms. Enjoy live music while shopping from 4 to 7 p.m. New!

Little Rock Farmers Market, River Market Pavilions, 400 President Clinton Ave.: Filled with farmers selling farm-fresh produce straight to consumers from the backs of their trucks from early morning until mid-afternoon every April through October, patrons can find bargains on Arkansas crops as well as a bountiful array of handmade arts and crafts at the farmers market. There will be a variety of fresh produce, including ripe tomatoes!

Bernice Garden Farmers Market, 1401 South Main St., Little Rock: The SoMa farmers market sells sustainable fruits, veggies, nuts, berries, flowers, herbs, cheeses and tons of cool artisan goods. The market will be open every Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until the fall.

Argenta Farmers Market, 6th and Main Streets, North Little Rock: From 7 a.m. - noon every Saturday, the public can peruse the various vendors selling tons of artisan goods and fresh produce, including tomatoes. It's on the River Rail Trolley route with an abundance of free parking, making it easy to get in and out! Call (501) 993-1234 for more information.

Hillcrest Farmers Market, in front of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 2200 Kavanaugh Blvd, Little Rock: The year-round farmers market, which is open 7 a.m. - noon Saturdays, will have a large variety of goods and produce, especially tomatoes.