Highlights
Two famous wordsmiths will be in Fayetteville this week, Ira Glass and Dan Savage, so we’re feeling pretty special here in NWA.
Ira Glass will be at the Walton Arts Center at 8 p.m. Saturday. His program This American Life premiered on Chicago public radio in 1995. Through his thought provoking inquiry into the looking glass of America today, Glass has elevated the story of the common man to Hollywood level. A feature film, Unaccompanied Minors, based on a story from the radio show was released by Warner Brothers in 2006. In 2007, the TV adaptation of This American Life premiered on Showtime and was nominated for three Emmy awards. This American Life has put out its own comic book, greatest hits compilations, a paint-by-numbers set and a “radio decoder” toy. Tickets are $20-$38.
Sex advice columnist Dan Savage, set the alternative newsweekly world on fire a few years ago when a handful of free weeklies began carrying his sex advice column, “Savage Love.” The f-word, the v-word and the prick word—you know, the words we all use when we talk about that sex stuff—are Savage standards. Yep, Savage is a bit raunchy, but he’s honest and wildly popular. What is there not to love? His column is carried in more than 70 newspapers and he’s now a hot ticket item on the speakers circuit. He’s coming to the University of Arkansas to speak at 7 p.m. Monday at the Arkansas Union Ballroom in the Arkansas Union. Nothing is off limits to Savage, so be sure and bring some doozies for the Q&A session. An 8:45 p.m. reception for Savage will follow in the Anne Kitrell Gallery in the Union. It’s all free.
Fayetteville Restaurant Week
Okay, we all know that here in NWA, just like everywhere else in the nation, many locally owned restaurants are shutting down thanks to the drearier than an ice storm economy. So what can you do to help? Get yourself out of the house and support your favorite joints and try a couple that you’ve never tried before. There’s an organized effort to get you out and you can read all about it at dineinfayetteville.com. Go there to find out about participating restaurants and the great specials that they’re offering. Restaurant week runs today through Feb. 5.
Music
It’s another one of those crazy weeks in Fayetteville, when there’s so much music going on it will be hard to keep up the pace. Although the Hot Club of San Francisco shows at the Walton Arts Center are sold out on Friday, with all the crazy weather, some folks are likely to turn in their tickets, so call the WAC to see if tickets are available. Who would have guessed that the Django style quartet would be so popular in NWA?
Several other noteworthy shows are coming through town this week. George’s will be hopping with Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey tonight, Boombox on Saturday night, Yonder Mountain String Band on Monday night and Jason Boland and The Stragglers on Wednesday night. Get your tickets now, as most of these shows will sell out.
For some fun, head to GoodFolk on Sunday at 3 p.m. for a Sing Party with Darlene. Darlene’s got range. She barks, she cluck and she sings like a bird. At her sing party, she will teach pitch, tone and harmony and vocal play. No experience necessary. Cost is by donation. Darlene will do a show with some very special guests Feb. 7 at GoodFolk.
Five more artists
The Art Gallery at 509 W. Spring in Fayetteville will host a reception Friday night to welcome five new artists into their tribe. Joining the 13 other artists in the collective are: wood sculpture Dwain Cromwell, painters Ruben Ruiz, Rebecca Johnson and Katie Russell and collage artist Caleb Slate. The reception will be from 6 to 8 p.m. and is free.
The Rabbit Hole
Theatre Squared will stage “Rabbit Hole,” the 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner for drama Friday through Feb. 15 at the Walton Art Center’s Nadine Baum Studio.
