Daddy Warbucks

Daddy Warbucks
WAC II Study
Still No Revelations
The much anticipated study on the Walton Arts Center is in. Drum roll and a blaring of a quartet of trumpets, please. The results: NWA needs a bigger venue to lure the “big time Broadway shows.” Duh. Didn’t we know this already? And here is the real kicker. Another bigger auditorium and space needs to be built. Again a no brainer. But then it gets dicey. The WAC II could be built “to the west of the current WAC” or closer to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Contemporary Art in collected by Walmart heiress Alice Walton of Llama Investment fame. Again duh. Did Daddy W. not warn readers that the current WAC administration is cow-tipping towards the big money up north—who want to go to a Broadway show in the afternoon and sleep in their own beds in the gated communities in Benton County that night? They don’t want to make the pleasant little 20-30 minute drive to Fayetteville and be on Dickson Street anymore. These mavens not only want to, and have, censured the shows, now they want the Broadway shows closer to their homes.  A mysterious “someone” may build the WAC II the consultants said. Just who that “someone” is, we will watch and see.

BIG QUESTION
What’s the average income of a runner in the New York City Marathon?

STRIPPED DOWN
The Sonic on Sixth Street, at the foot of the UA campus is still there, but stripped down to the bare studs. The renovation is going for more than just new awnings.

PRIZE WINNER II
The Library of Virginia and the Library of Virginia Foundation awarded their poetry prize to a University of Arkansas Press author for the second year in a row. Poet R.T. Smith won this year’s prize for his collection “Outlaw Style.” Last year’s winner was Elizabeth Hadaway for her collection, “Fire Baton.”

ON THE RADIO
The UA Press also announced that Garrison Keillor read two poems from Jo McDougall’s collection “Towns Facing Railroads” on “The Writer’s Almanac.” The UA Press published McDougall’s book in 1991. The poems are “On Catalpa Street” and “I’ll Be Seeing You” were read on successive days. Reading poems from the same poet two days in a row is something Keillor doesn’t do very often.

NEW NAMES
An old familiar name is back cooking chicken. Bud’s Family Style Chicken opened recently in Bentonville. Closer to home, Brey’s opened a month ago at 324 W. Dickson St., along with Formosa Chinese Restaurant, at 1998 N. College Ave. and Garcia’s Mexican Grill, 4201 N. Shiloh Drive. The Georgia chain, Mellow Mushroom, will be opening soon in the NWA Mall area. Unfortunately, Einstein’s Bagel’s, which makes great bagels an schmears, had planned on opening their first franchise in Fayetteville, but a nearby Starbuck’s x’ed that. Instead they opened in Benton County, but Daddy W. hears they may have another location lined up in Fayetteville.
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OTHER EATS
To the delight of many, The Greenhouse Grille has reopened after completing a renovation project that involved rebuilding a failing wall behind the South Fayetteville eatery. And the reopened Little Bread Co. in downtown Fayetteville has added a pizza and pasta dinner to their daily offerings.

QUICK AND HEALTHY
Snackers at the Razorback game last week had their last chance to eat a healthy game-day alternative since the home games are over for this season. Daddy W’s talking about the Chickpea booth at Donald W. Reynolds stadium. The new offering features sandwiches and wraps made of hummus and other Middle Eastern treats. Owner John McIntyre used the game day-operation as a test market for an upcoming restaurant and catering business to be based in Springdale. We’ll be watching for the opening.

RENEWABLE DEGREE
John Brown University in Siloam Springs recently announced an interesting new degree: a bachelor of science in renewable energy. It will be offered in fall 2009. JBU is the first university to offer a renewable energy degree in Arkansas and one of only a few U.S. institutions offering a four-year degree in this field. Can the UA be far behind?

NEW ALE
Hog Haus Brewing Co. in Fayetteville has announced the winner of the brewery’s Oktoberfest home brew competition. It’s Hog Nut Brown Ale by Ken Gillespie. Using Gillespie’s recipe, Hog Haus will brew the Hog Nut and offer it to the public at the restaurant. So tip a glass to the new brew.
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BUILDER AWARDS
The Fayetteville Chamber held it’s construction industry awards night recently. Here are the winners:
Adaptation and Reuse: Alexander, Merry-ship and Alt for the Fulbright Building
Gold Shovel Award: Malco Theaters for the new Razorback Theater
Landmark Award: Washington Regional Medical Center for the Pat Walker Senior Center
Community Outreach: The Seven Hills Homeless Transitional Living Space
Visionary Development: Pratt Place Inn
Green Award: Biobase
Residential Development: Quality of Life’s Village at Skull Creek
Commercial Contractor: Flintco
Supplier of the Year: City Lumber

BIG ANSWER: The average income of runners in the NYC Marathon is $130,000.