SOUTHERN STATES
Little Rock, Arkansas: Cosmopolitan meets Southern hospitality
The Arkansas capital added more than a presidential library in the last decade. Fine food and fun augment its charm.
For most non-Arkansans, Little Rock conjures two images: Central High School, a landmark in the history of desegregation, and Bill and
I got my jolt last summer when I returned for my high school reunion. It was a bigger jolt for my boyfriend, Alex, a Yankee with his own preconceived notions. Sure, he'd spent time in Dallas and New Orleans -- had even seen the Southern landscape on a college theater troupe tour bus -- but what makes Little Rock so special?
Although this city of 187,000-plus hasn't lost its Southern charm -- you still hear an abundance of "hons," "y'alls" and "fixin' to gos," and, depending on your circle, mentions of the Clintons or Mike and Janet Huckabee -- signs of growth are everywhere. West Little Rock has embraced its suburban lifestyle with shopping and dining options as well as an Imax theater. But the real action is in and around downtown, which continues its dramatic makeover as the historical, political and cultural epicenter.
No revitalized community should be without a restored luxury hotel. Fittingly located in the center of downtown's West Markham District -- where the old and new Little Rock meet -- the Capital Hotel is a gem of Southern hospitality. Like many other cities' grand old sites, the Capital's stardom had tarnished. But it underwent a two-year renovation and reopened in 2007 with all its charms intact. Rooms in the 1872 building were combined and expanded into 94 luxe accommodations.
But it is Ashley's, the hotel restaurant, that's generating the buzz. Chef Lee Richardson left New Orleans' famed Restaurant August after
Richardson has revamped Ashley's menu, using regional ingredients for a high-class take on Southern favorites for such dishes as
Arkansas has certainly made a name for itself in politics, so we know what you're really here to see -- the
The Clinton Museum Store is a few blocks away on (surprise!) President Clinton Avenue, in case you want to pick up an "I Miss Bill" bumper sticker or T-shirt.
If you really want to be a part of the action, claim a rickety table at Doe's Eat Place and keep your ears tuned for political gossip. Looking every bit the unassuming small-town diner, the corner shop is a favorite of Bill Clinton's and is still a gathering place for state and local power brokers.
Doe's may occupy a worn sliver of downtown, but a mile and a half away wild nights are calling in and around President Clinton Avenue. The main thoroughfare of the River Market District, home to the aforementioned eponymous gift shop, is a party hopper's paradise. After dark, live music pours out from bars such as Sticky Fingerz Rock 'n' Roll Chicken Shack. Diners and brew houses feed the foot traffic as the area takes on a vibe similar to Sixth Street in Austin,
The River Market District was just coming into its own when I was a local. Now, numerous art galleries and shops flank the bars, many of which do a brisk lunch business. The area is also home to the downtown farmers market, which is open Tuesdays and Saturdays, May through October.
But there's more to Little Rock than partying and politics. A few blocks from the Capital, and a stone's throw from the Clinton Library, is the 1,800-foot Junction Bridge pedestrian walkway that opened in 2008. It rises about 40 feet above the Arkansas River, connecting the River Market District to neighboring North
For me, said lunch meant pizza and drinks at my favorite high school hangout, Vino's Brewpub, this time trading Dr Pepper for house-brewed Rainbow Wheat beer.
At the high school reunion, I spoke with friends about how Little Rock has grown, and we argued over which ventures have improved the city. But we did agree on one thing: Though it grows more cosmopolitan by the day, Little Rock will never lose its Southern charm.
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