Highlights June 14-21
It’s another big week for big happenings, with lots of special events happening in NWA.
On Friday, Poor Richard’s Art in historic downtown Rogers is throwing a party to celebrate the building’s 100th anniversary and to honor the artists whose work is currently on display at gallery, Johnny Ware, Jan Ironside and Kelly Green. The event happens from 4 to 8 p.m. at 116 S. First St.
Head to Lake Fayetteville today through Sunday for the International Solar Splash World Championships. Teams from U.S. colleges will be competing along with teams from Canada and Turkey in their solar powered boats. For a schedule go to www.solarsplash.com. A great way to enjoy being outdoors. Free.
And in the same neighborhood on Saturday, you won’t want to miss the third annual 92.1 The Keg Wingfest at 4 p.m. at the Northwest Arkansas Mall. Look for the tents in the mall parking lot and be ready to eat your fill of chicken wings from several area restaurants. Called the biggest chicken wing celebration in the south, the pubic will be able to sample wings and judges their favorites. Tasting from 4 to 8 p.m. with Leah & The Mojo Doctors delivering their stellar brand of hot blues. At 7:30 p.m. the wing eating championship will begin, followed by the Harley Davidson giveaway at 7:30. $5.
For a bit more laid back day, check out Arkansas Statehood Day at the historic Headquarters House, 118 E. Dickson on Saturday. From 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. actors and musicians will be strolling the grounds in period costumes, there will be speeches and lectures and a reenactment of a knife fight in the Arkansas General Assembly. It’s a good way to learn a bit of Arkansas history and it’s a free event. For a schedule go to www.washcohistoricalsociety.org.
Another good way to enjoy the Ozarks is the annual OMNI Center’s Peace Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Tour gardens are at the homes of Ed Laningham, Emily Kaitz, Candy Clark and Teddy Cardwell, Ginger and Gary Belew, Hamsa and Moshe Newmark, Nancy Maier, and Dick Bennett. Tickets are $10 at the homes the day of event or at www.omnicenter.org.
New thought enthusiasts will flock to Fayetteville to meet and hear some big names in metaphysics at the Transformation Conference Saturday and Sunday at the Fayetteville Clarion. Keynote speaker will be PMH Atwater, who has written books on near death experience, The New Children or Indigo Children. Also speaking will be Psychic Detective Carol Pate and Delores Cannon, a regressive hypnotherapist and the author of several books on “Lost” knowledge and past life regressions. Other speakers will discuss tarot, astrology, Reiki for pets, herbs, healing with your mind and the coming of the New Earth. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., exhibits open at 8 a.m. and the conference begins at 9 a.m. Registration is $70 for one day or $125 for both days. To hear Atwater’s talk only the cost is $25.
Listen
Fayetteville’s music scene is reverberating with lots of good music this week. George’s is bringing in three big Texas acts: Monte Montgomery tonight, Jackson Taylor on Saturday and Charlie Robison on June 21.
Mountain music fans will want to ink in Friday night at GoodFolk for Shannon Wurst’s CD release party. The Alma native is releasing her first CD, Sunday Pie, and pie lovers will want to take note—anyone who brings a pie to share during break won’t have to pay the $10 admission fee. The new CD features Nashville fiddle player Eamon McLoughin of The Greencards as well as Arkansas players Chris Cameron, Stan D’Aubin, Ernie Hill and Wurst’s stepfather Ed Carr. Wurst has been sitting in with the 2007 NAMA Band of the Year, Charliehorse recently, so if you didn’t know that girl was, now you do.
Remember when JR’s used to bring in emerging indie bands and the basement of the small, now defunct, music club was packed with music fans wanting to hear the next big thing? If you do and if you’ve missed it, you can catch a bit of the old feeling, although in a bigger space—the Dickson Theater—on Monday night when the super cool Kickball from Olympia, Wash. blows into town to support their latest release, with France’s (yes across the pond, France) Clara, Clara, The Only Children with former members of Get Up Kids and The Anniversary and Holy Ghost Children. Willamette Weekly, the Portland, Ore. free weekly calls Kickball one of the Northwest’s best bands. A not to miss show.
