If you answered yes to any one of the three above questions, you’ll probably be interested to know that there’s a screening of the new White Stripes documentary “Under Great White Northern Lights” this Sunday from 6-9 p.m. at the Greenhouse Grille.

The film, directed by Emmett Malloy, features on and off stage footage of the White Stripes during their 2007 tour of Canada after the release of their 6th album “Icky Thump.” For the tour, the band planned to play a show in every province and territory in Canada.

“We wanted to play out of the way towns that don’t usually get shows,” White Stripes frontman Jack White said of the Canadian tour.

The White Stripes released the documentary on Tuesday along with a box set including a DVD of their 10th anniversary show in Nova Scotia, a double LP/CD of 16 live tracks, and a 7″ on red vinyl.

Across the country, select bars, venues, and a few private residences are showing the documentary. Locally, the Greenhouse Grille, someone’s house in Rogers, and Eureka Springs High School have shown or are showing the film.

The Greenhouse Grille is typically closed on Sunday night, but they’re opening the bar, and pulling out a movie screen and their Bose speakers for the screening.

Movie party?

I have two questions for you. First of all, do green eyes count? I’m tempted to say no even though I used that excuse myself. Secondly, is “pinch” pronounced pin-ch or peen-ch? I say pin-ch.

Tonight’s big event is the Dickson Street Pub Crawl which begins at 5 p.m. at Common Grounds. You’ll get a passport to take around to the participating venues and at each stop, someone will mark your card to verify your visit. Once you’ve visited all 15ish places, you can return to Common Grounds to get a free t-shirt.

So you know, there is no requirement to consume anything at the stops. Even if you were consuming something non-alcoholic, that would just be silly. Here’s a map.

If you’re wondering what kind of specials are available in the Dickson Street area, Dustin has put together a list from our sponsors that should help.

As for tunes, Smoke & Barrel has a cover-free show with Cletus Got Shot, GoodFolk has Johnsmith and Grub’s has Boom! Kinetic.

If you’d rather dance, FIX has DJ Nicholas Scott and Scarpino’s has country dancing with the Big Walley Revue Band.

There’s more, though.

The list:

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Dickson Street: St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl

LIT: The Kory Montgomery Band

UARK Bowl & Ballroom: Seedling Film Association

Grub’s: Boom Kinetic

Greenhouse Grille: Dave Malm

JJ’s Grill n Chill: Mo Brothers

Teatro Scarpino: Country Dancing with the Big Walley Revue Band

GoodFolk: Johnsmith

Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall: Guest Artists – 2 Cellos & Guitar Recital

Arsaga’s on Crossover: Singer/songwriter night

Fix Ultra Lounge: St. Paddy’s Day w/ Nicholas Scott

Smoke & Barrel Tavern: St. Patrick’s Day w/ Cletus Got Shot

George’s: Ayurveda / Open Addiction

The original ordinance that established the district was passed in 2006; however, former Mayor Dan Coody vetoed the provision requiring a geotechnical analysis of the soil, which typically cost several thousands of dollars, said Karen Minkel, director of strategic planning and internal consulting for the city. In contrast, for this amendment, the city mandates a certified architect or engineer to inspect the soil, which would run a several hundred dollars, she said.

About 75 percent of the building permits issued in the Hillside/Hilltop Overlay District are located in expansive clay soils, which are prone to failure. The cost to repair a poor foundation could add up to between $20,000 and $40,000, Minkel added.

Bobby Ferrell said he did not support the measure because of the mandated additional cost it places on the builder.

“In this particular case, the city is placing itself between the property owner and their discretion,” Ferrell said.

Before the vote, Mayor Lioneld Jordan weighed in on the matter, saying when he worked as a carpenter in Fayetteville he always thought there should be something in place to ensure homeowners and realtors knew what they were buying.

“I supported it then. I will support it now,” Jordan said.

Ward 3 Aldermen Robert Rhoads and Ferrell voted against the ordinance.

Aldermen also agreed to annex 99 acres of Johnson into Fayetteville city limits.

The acreage is north of Van Acshe Drive and will allow the city to continue to grow with residential and commercial developments and provides additional access to our mall area, Mayor Jordan wrote in a memorandum to the council.

By accepting the annexation, Fayetteville will enter into a sewage and water contract. David Jurgens, Fayetteville’s utilities director, ensured that the city has the capacity to serve the additional customers.

In other business, the ordinance to authorize the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau to manage the monthly First Thursday events was passed. City staff cited a need for an entity, other than the city administration, be given control of the event in order for it to continue to be successful. There were no votes against the measure.

Also at the meeting, Matthew Petty’s ordinance that would call for festival organizers to open their books for review failed 6-1.

Requiring organizers to share the information would allow the city to “better account for tax collection so that we can better asses the economic benefit” of the festivals, Petty said.

Steve Clark, president of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, spoke against the ordinance, saying it was arbitrary and “strikes fear in the heart of any reasonable businessman.”

During the council’s discussion of the measure, Alderman Ferrell said it could turn Fayetteville “into a ghost town of festivals.” It sends a negative message to potential new festivals, he said.

Petty was the only alderman in favor of the ordinance.

The measure that would allow the Farmer’s Market to operate during First Thursday events was left on the first reading. Mayor Jordan said that some things still needed to be worked out before the council discusses the issue.

For questions about any of the following meetings, please contact the City of Fayetteville’s administration office at 479-575-8323 or the Washington County Quorum Court Coordinator at 479-444-1701.

On Friday, however, the Walton Arts Center announced that they need more time.

Citing discussions with area Chamber of Commerce and other leaders in the region, concerns about the economy and the ability to put more detailed proposals together, the WAC announced that the new deadline to submit potential sites for consideration in their expansion project is Aug. 2.

“Extending the deadline is the right thing to do,” says Peter Lane, President/CEO of Walton Arts Center. “Since the site selection criteria were released, we’ve received a great deal of feedback on the process. This feedback indicates that the parties involved need more time to gather ideas and create proposals.”

Lane said that he feels extending the deadline will be a good thing.

“By giving everyone more time to consider their proposal, we are ensuring a fair and inclusive process” he said.

Seriously. What a great idea. No stress, no gifts to give, just an excuse to drink irish whiskey and Guinness and hang out with your friends at your favorite pub. Good idea, Irish people.

Here’s the St. Patty’s Day news from Local540 this week.

Arts & Entertainment – Live Music

Mickey Finn’s starts celebrating St. Patty’s Day on Tuesday with a St. Patty’s Day Eve celebration featuring David Malm, aka Patty O’Grill. Also, they open at 11am on St. Patty’s Day.

Smoke and Barrel Tavern has 25% off whiskey, $1 off Guiness all day, and Cletus Got Shot for free on St. Patty’s Day Wednesday.

Buster Belly’s is offering $1.50 off all drinks for St. Patty’s Day on Wednesday.

There’s a St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl on Dickson St. Wednesday night. Zooloo’s will extend their happy hour specials until 10 p.m., and offer $3 Absolute, Bacardi, Crown, Cuervo and Tanqueray.

Greenhouse Grill doesn’t have to get dressed up for St. Patty’s Day. They’re always green. This week, Dave Malm is playing on Wednesday. Still on the Hill and 3 Penny Acre play Friday night.

Miller Williams reads poetry at the Walton Arts Center on Thursday to the music of the Walter Savage Trio. Also, wanna win a broadway package for the 2010/11 season? Check out the WAC’s South Pacific blogging contest.

Sammus Theory, Pretty Boy Convoy, Knowing Had, Open Addiction, Full House, Charliehorse, Silverstone, and Trampled by Turtles are at George’s this week. Check the schedule.

Grub’s has Boom Kinetic, $4 car bombs, $1 margaritas, and $2 import beers to celebrate St. Patty’s Day.

LIT has a free show Tuesday with Eat Sugar, the Aviation Orange and DJ Jeremy Lloyd (three SXSW bands) and $2 wells all night. Plus there’s another free show on St. Patty’s Day w/ Kory Montgomery Band.

Ella’s has live jazz every Friday and Saturday with Lorrie Morris and William Reyes this week.

The Seedling Film Association will host a St. Patty’s Day party at the UARK Ballroom on Wednesday, w/ a costume contest and a montage of clips from the cult classic horror film Leprechaun!

21st Amendment has Barret Baber Thursday night and Randall Shreve on Sunday with $2 domestic bottles and $5 martins. No cover!

The Fayetteville Clarion has Seafood & Jazz Friday Nights at Park Place Grill featuring local Alex Lewis on guitar, and classical guitarist Willaim Reyes for Sunday brunch.

Get a preview of all the great local art at Heartwood Gallery in their photo section on Local540.

Ladies drink for 50¢ every Friday night until midnight at the Dickson Theater

Restaurants

The St. Patty’s Day pub crawl starts at Common Grounds on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pick up your passport and return at the end of the night for a free pub crawl t-shirt.

Mimosas are just 99¢ every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Cafe Rue Orleans.

Emelia’s Kitchen will host an Irish Whiskey tasting (or wine if you’re not a whiskey fan), along with an Irish Dinner on Wednesday night for $35/person.

Students eat for 1/2 price every Tuesday night at Slim Chickens from 4 p.m. – close with a valid student ID. It’s a party.

Sassy’s BBQ nachos are on sale all month long. Get a full order for $5.99, or a 1/2 order for $3.99

Get 1/2 price wings at Hog Haus Wednesday night during the St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl!

Get a pound of brisket or pork, two pints of side items, four buns and BBQ sauce for a family of four for just $13.95 at Penguin Ed’s.

Hugo’s fries. Now you want some, don’t you?

Need to feed a lot of people? Get your event off to a flying start with catering from Flying Burrito.

Kids eat free every Tuesday night at Lucky Luke’s BBQ.

Retail

Where is Spring Break taking you? Be ready with denim shorts, white denim, studded sandals, strappy wedges, florals, stripes and pastels. Have Fun, love Masons!

Good Things Boutique just got a new shipment in from Indigenous Fair Trade & Organic. Stop by and see the new styles!

Ultra Studios keeps your measurements on file for custom fits.

Home and Garden

First time on the market, the condos in the original St. Joseph’s Church in the historic district start at $150,000. Located on the corner of Willow and Lafayette, there are eight unique 1 and 2-bedroom units now available. Call Sheree Alt for more information!  479-236-7116.

Need office space? Get a fully furnished executive office in Springdale for $500/mo from BR Management. First month free!

Not sure what type of wildflowers to plant in your garden this spring? Call the local experts at Holland Wildflower Farm.

Make your kitchen or bathroom look brand new with tile from Clayton Tile. Check out the pictures of some of our work.

Health and Body

Curves of Fayetteville and Springdale’s annual Food Drive is taking place through March 20. Join Curves w/ no joining fee and for just $34/mo when you donate a bag of groceries for local food banks.

If you own a business, you can answer 5 questions to find out if TruHealth Family Care can save you money by supplementing your employee health plan with their 40/25 plan.

Get a free guest pass to Clubhaus Fitness just by stopping by during the St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl.

Austin Vision Care reminds us that March is Save Your Vision Month. Come get your vision healthy!

Save $30 off Microdermabrasion treatments this month at The Eye Center on Millsap.

More

Spring Break is on the way and Kirsty’s Place has special programs for school age children even when the schools are closed. Call for details.

Design your own t-shirts for a birthday or bachelor party, and print as many or as few as you want in full, photographic color at Zortees.

Buy 500 full-color business cards for the price of 250 this week from Insty-Prints.

If you’re headed out of town for Spring Break, better reserve a spot for your pup at Ernie Boudreax’s Doggie Dude Ranch!

The Farmers’ Market is just around the corner, and Flora will be full of locally-grown flowers. Send some to someone you love.

Is your PC running slow? Let Integris Tech speed it up for you.

The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce is now enrolling for their GreenWay Initiative. More info is here.

During that meeting, there was a public discussion on permitting and funding of events (that one lasted around 5 hours), a controversial rezoning ordinance, an ordinance limiting the amount of cars allowed in a single family driveway, and a state of the city address delivered by Mayor Lioneld Jordan.

We don’t expect tonight’s city council meeting to top the Jan. 19 marathon in terms of length, but there are several pretty interesting items on the agenda.

In fact, every single item under new business is pretty interesting. Here’s what’s on tap.

First Thursday under new management?

The first item under new business is an amendment to city code to allow the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau to be the managing entity for the monthly First Thursday events. The bureau seeks control of the public parking spaces on both sides of East Street on the square and to close off East Street to traffic from 4 – 10 p.m. during First Thursday. The Visitors Bureau is hoping to use the area of East Street to add an outdoor element to First Thursday by bringing in additional artists in new booth spaces in front of East Square Plaza.

Extra hours for the Farmers’ Market?

Next up, the council will vote on whether or not to allow the Farmers’ Market to operate for an extra hour on Saturdays (until 2 p.m.), and during First Thursday from 4 p.m. until dark. If the ordinance is passed, the Farmers’ Market would be allowed to operate on the square for one Thursday evening a month inside the parking spaces on Center and Block Street.

Hillside back from the dead?

The much talked about hillside ordinance is next on the agenda, sponsored by Brenda Thiel and Sarah Lewis. The gist of this one is that the city would amend the building code to require homebuilders in the Hillside Overlay District (areas in town w/ more than a 15% slope) to have their foundations approved by a professional engineer or architect. Former mayor Dan Coody vetoed a similar ordinance in 2006, but it’s back tonight.

99 new acres

The council is then expected to discuss a proposed resolution to annex 99 acres of land from the city of Johnson in exchange for providing contracted water and sewer service to Johnson residents who live south of Clear Creek. This one has a long history but it should be over tonight.

Open books for festivals?

Finally, Ward Matthew Petty has proposed an ordinance that would require festival organizers using public property in Fayetteville to hold events lasting longer than two days to disclose their financial records (revenues earned and expenses paid). The proposal is intended to ensure that these festivals collect and pay the proper amount of sales tax, but it’s ruffling the feathers of some current festival organizers, and others who think it will discourage folks from starting festivals in Fayetteville.

Sound like a party? We’ll see some of you there.

View the complete agenda.

I’m talking, of course, about tonight’s city council meeting. We’re working on a preview of the meeting which should be ready pretty soon but the gist of the art-civic mashup is that there will be discussion about how to handle First Thursday’s potential new neighbors as it pertains to art and other sales on the Square. Also, there’s a BBBQ-related topic up for review and where there’s bikes, there’s fire. Or smoke. Or flames? Both? Ah forget it.

Moving on, another round of SXSW bands are in town this evening. NYC’s Aviation Orange, Cincinnati’s Eat Sugar and Laissez Faire Club’s Jeremy Lloyd are all at LIT just off Dickson Street. It’s a free show and from what we hear, there are $2 wells all night.

Over at George’s, a big show is scheduled with The Sammus Theory (Phoenix) headlining. Also on the schedge are locals Pretty Boy Convoy and Mountain Home’s The Knowing Hand. I think there’s a fourth band called Live Sosa but I don’t have confirmation. Anyone?

There’s jazz at Scarpino’s, a choral concert at Walton Arts Center and Jeff Fox at JJ’s.

If none of that sounds exciting or if you just want to kick it in the company of some fellow word wizards, Smoke & Barrel is hosting a real-life Words With Friends (aka Scrabble) Tournament. Put down your iPhone and prove yourself, you poser.

List:

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

LIT: Eat Sugar / The Aviation Orange / DJ Jeremy LLoyd of Laissez Faire Club

JJ’s Grill n Chill: Jeff Fox

Walton Arts Center: UA Spring Choral Concert

Teatro Scarpino: Live jazz – McCleod/Burson Quartet

Smoke & Barrel Tavern: Scrabble Tournament

George’s: Sammus Theory / Pretty Boy Convoy / Knowing Hand / Live Sosa

But we have taken some strides lately to make a few things clear here on the Flyer and this post will discuss those strides. (Strides?)

If words like “transparency,” “trust” and “policy” bore you to death, then by all means, please click the “back” button on your browser now.

Here are a few things we’ve added to the Flyer recently:

Corrections (Oops) – This is category for us to place corrections in. If the mistake is grammatical or is simply a spelling error, we usually just fix it and go on with our biznass. If we forgot to credit a photo or listed an incorrect date or something like that, we’ll write up an Oops for it. The link is located under the About tab in the main menu.

Disclosures – This is a page we created to help you understand our disclosure policy. On it you will find a list of general disclosure rules we try to follow with examples of how/where we’ve put those rules to use. You will also find a few specific disclosures that we expect to be ongoing. The link is located under the About tab in the main menu.

Sponsors – Without our sponsors, there would be no Fayetteville Flyer. We love them. We hope you do, too. The Sponsors page is exactly what it sounds like – a list of our sponsors. You can also see their weekly messages rotating in various places around the Flyer. The link is located under the About tab in the main menu.

Events – Annual / Monthly – This is a page we’ve created to serve as a repository for event coverage. For example, if you’d like to see all of the First Thursday guides we’ve put together, just visit the First Thursday page. Easy enough, right? The link is located under the Local Info tab in the main menu.

Archives – This page isn’t new but it’s been kind of hard to find. It’s exactly what it sounds like. The link is under the Home tab in the main menu.

Crazy Dog – This is just something I thought of about five minutes ago. It’s a page of photos I grabbed from Flickr after searching for “Crazy Dog.” It’s also a good example of what happens when you stay up until 2 a.m. writing a blog post about transparency, trust and policies.

For questions about any of the following meetings, please contact the City of Fayetteville’s administration office at 479-575-8323 or the Washington County Quorum Court Coordinator at 479-444-1701.

Photo: ArkansasRazorbacks.com

Arkansas head men’s basketball coach John Pelphrey has reassigned one of his assistant coaches to an administrative role and will hire a new assistant coach for the Razorbacks’ staff for the 2010-11 season it was announced today.

Isaac Brown will be retained on staff and reassigned to an administrative role within the program. Brown will begin transitioning to his new position, but will maintain his recruiting duties until a new assistant coach is hired. Assistant coaches Rob Evans and Tom Ostrom will remain on the Razorback coaching staff.

Pelphrey says the search for a new assistant coach will begin immediately.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to improving our program, I believe these changes will result in the development of both a stronger coaching and support staff,” Pelphrey said. “After making my recommendation, Jeff Long assisted me in creating this opportunity. I appreciate the support of our administration and their continued assistance in providing our basketball program the resources and the opportunity to succeed. I appreciate what Isaac Brown has brought to our program and look forward to working with him in his new administrative role.”

Pelphrey said he is “committed to taking steps to foster improvement in all aspects of this program both on and off the court.” He said he has “worked proactively and decisively to make fundamental changes in the expectations” of the student-athletes.

“Many of those lessons have been difficult as the repercussions of decisions made by individuals have adversely affected the entire team. A member of the Razorback men’s basketball program will maintain a commitment to academic and athletic success while representing the University of Arkansas in an appropriate manner.”

“On the court, while we have had some success, our coaches and student-athletes understand the expectations of the Razorback program is to compete for championships and win consistently in the Southeastern Conference and nationally. We will continue to work every day in all facets of our program to meet those expectations.”

In a news release issued this afternoon, UA officials noted that Pelphrey’s 53 percent winning percentage in his first three seasons is just under that of former coach Nolan Richardson’s, which was 57 percent. The release also reminded the media that Pelphrey set a school record in 2008 for the most wins by a first-year Razorback head coach at 23, and that he led the Hogs to their first NCAA Tournament win in nine seasons.

“After meeting and discussing in detail all areas of our men’s basketball program, I continue to believe Coach Pelphrey understands what it takes to build our program to the level of our high expectations and is working extremely hard to do so.” Athletic Director Jeff Long said. “We have asked John and his staff to do more than win basketball games, we have asked them to build a program on and off the court of which our University and supporters can be proud. This process will take additional time.”

“In his tenure, John has taken steps to bolster discipline and foster a recommitment to academics and character in our program. He understands that the strength of a program is based on developing those traits in student-athletes on the basketball court, in the classroom and in life. Coach Pelphrey also understands the University of Arkansas’ commitment to athletic success specifically the importance of winning basketball games. He has embraced the history and tradition of Razorback Basketball since his arrival and feels a tremendous personal responsibility to return our program to the levels that we all desire on the court. We will continue to assist Coach Pelphrey and his staff as they work towards success in accomplishing all of these goals.”

The event, which was intended to create an economic development plan for the City of Fayetteville, included a timeline for implementation and action items based on input received from Fayetteville citizens.

What resulted was the creation of the Fayetteville Forward Economic Accountability Council, the formation of 11 volunteer groups, and the identification of 38 city-led action items, each with a specific focus intended to improve economic development efforts and address quality of life issues in Fayetteville.

On April 17, the city will hold a second Fayetteville Forward summit from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. inside East Square Plaza to evaluate the progress made since last year, and explore new areas for improvement.

“We are hoping to continue what was started last year,” said Julie McQuade, Community Outreach Coordinator for the city, and one of the organizers of Fayetteville Forward. “We want to strengthen the colaborations that have already started, identify new groups that need to be formed, and to celebrate what has been accomplished over the past year.”

Bliss Browne, founder of Imagine Chicago, will return to Fayetteville to facilitate the follow-up summit.

McQuade said that a follow-up event to track the programs progress has been a part of the plan all along, and the city also wants to to continue to build on the accomplishments from the past year.

“I think a lot of the developments that have come about over the last year came about because of connections made, and discussions coming out of the action group meetings from Fayetteville Forward,” McQuade said. “It was a real catalyst for making connections, and a lot of positive things that have happened over the last year wouldn’t have happened without it.”

The city is urging all Fayetteville residents that can make it on April 17 to attend.

From a media standpoint, fall brings us new television and winter brings us film awards season. Now that the Oscar season is over, we tend to go on an early summer vacation. Writers don’t tend to put much of an effort into television in the spring and the film selection is pretty terrible. However, this spring, we can find solace in a few gems that are hidden in the spring mess.

Please take these recommendations for a few things that deserve your attention this spring. Remember that in just a few short months, summer will be here and culture will pretty much be at a stand-still. (EEK)

Glee Returns

I have to tell you that the last few months of Wednesdays have been pretty dry. Granted, we are still glad to have the superb “Modern Family” around but “Glee” has been greatly missed. The Golden Globe and SAG winner for Best Comedy comes back to FOX in late April at a time when we are all growing tired of American Idol. In fact, I predict that Idol doesn’t really have more than a season or two left in its reign.

When we left off, the “Glee” kids had just won their sectional meet and are on their way to regionals. This spring finds great material for the writers who have already secured Neil Patrick Harris and Idina Menzel as guest stars. “Glee” will also feature a Madonna-themed episode and renditions of Lady Gaga and Beyonce. Songs aside, “Glee” is as smart as it is funny. Jane Lynch’s portrayal of the villain Sue Sylvester is sure to win her an Emmy nomination and hopefully a win. Her character arch has been both hilarious and brilliant and is great to watch.

Of course, no mention of Wednesday would be complete without yet another plea to watch “Modern Family,” which is the best show on television currently. Its witty writing and superb acting have stood out among a rather boring television season.

Great New Shopping

Are you looking for some great items to spruce up your home this spring? If you are, look no further than V.S. Mobley’s General Store off Dickson in Fayetteville. The store, which opened last fall, offers gorgeous home decor. However, even if some of their items are outside of your budget, it’s still beautiful to go look at. The owner has put together a stunning store that rivals some of the great stores in Tulsa like Dwelling Spaces.

Although sometimes pricey, there are some beautiful things that are both budget-friendly and chic. Look for the tinted hydrangeas (dried) or Dwell bedding. It is about time for Fayetteville to have a chic alternative to IO Metro and I applaud anyone who turns a nightclub (formerly Blu) into a stunning store.

No mention of shopping would be complete without a mention of my favorite store, Handmade, in Evelyn Hills.

The Farmers’ Market Returns

Early April brings the return of the quintessential Fayetteville experience, the Farmers’ Market. The Fayetteville Farmers’ Market reached new heights last year. Perhaps it had to do with the economy, but the crowds have never been bigger. However, the local vendors rose to the challenge and supplied some of the most gorgeous produce and flowers. From Dripping Springs Garden to the Arsaga’s coffee booth, there are some landmark booths that greet you like old friends.

April and May might not bring the biggest selection, but they do bring out the true Farmers’ Market fans. You begin to see the musicians and artists who perhaps can’t work the crowd in June, but have a nice following in April. It’s a great way to see some vendors that don’t always appear in the heat of the summer.

Of course, the last big reason to go to the Farmers’ Market is to see the dogs. The Fayetteville Animal Shelter routinely shows off its pets and encourages adoption. We found our little dog Charlee on a routine Saturday morning. It’s a great way to support the shelter and give a home to a wonderful friend.

Get Your Patio On

Whether it is at Trailside or Little Bread Co., the patios and courtyards around Fayetteville offer a great experience in the comfortable temperatures. There is nothing quite like getting one of Hannah’s muffins at Little Bread Co. and taking your paper outside and reading on a cool spring morning. It is an experience that should never be missed. We go every single Saturday and it’s a great escape from the rest of the week. It provides a nice mini vacation from the reality of Monday to Friday.

Trailside Cafe & Tea Room has a great little deck that provides a great place to enjoy a great cup of tea and a scone. The spring provides a wonderful time to enjoy some of these places that you might not in extreme weather. It’s definitely worth getting up and out for.

Spring Comes To Your Closet

Make a quick jump over to Target. Whether it’s for their home furnishings of Jean Paul Gautier or their store line, Target is really bringing it this spring. However, their biggest treat is the new Liberty of London graphic line. From clothing to home décor, the Liberty of London line has taken over Target. Liberty has brought their gorgeous, fun, and witty floral prints over seas. The line offers everything from picture frames to dresses, men’s ties to bikes. Liberty has found a chic way to integrate their graphic prints into some items that we use every day. Liberty has plates, glasses, neck ties, scarves, purses, water bottles, piggy banks, all with their signature prints. It’s worth a trip just to see the collection.

So at the end of the day, spring might not be my favorite season. However, this spring we do have a few things to be thankful for from dining to clothing. Spring has come and I suppose we should just embrace it because it will be summer before we know it.

Head over to the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Foundation to learn more about the Litter-Free Zone program.

Just last month, Tate Elementary in Van Buren was certified as the state’s fourth official Litter-Free Zone. The school received Litter-Free Zone signs to post around its campus and $1,500 in award money from the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Foundation for their work in the program.

Read it at the Municipal Live Wire blog

Tonight, an unexpected stop by three bands at Ameroplace (house venue) marks the first of the SXSW traffic. San Francisco psyche-pop band Young Prisms leads the way with label mates Weekend and Woodsman also scheduled.

Also SXSW-bound are Chicago rockers Apteka, who are at Rogue on Dickson Street tonight.

If you get the chance, head out and show some of these bands that stopping off in Arkansas is a better idea than taking the night off to watch Jay Leno in some hotel room outside Dallas.

There’s other stuff happening tonight but I gotta get to the hospital. It’s not for me and it’s not an emergency. Just a check-up.

List:

Monday, March 15, 2010

UA Student Union: 2010 Arkansas Clarinet Day

Ameroplace: Young Prisms / Weekend

Rogue: Apteka

JJ’s Grill n Chill: Ryan Young

Pesto Cafe: Darren Ray

Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall: Stephanie Richardson Conducting Recital

Most of them involved moving to Los Angeles and either stalking or sleeping with famous people, waiting tables at Hollywood restaurants and hoping for them to come sit in your section, or breaking into their houses and leaving a copy of your latest script in their magazine racks.

These days though, the best way to get your movie made may be just to write it, cast it, film it, and edit it yourself.

That’s what Fayetteville filmmaker Chuck Meré did recently, and this week his hard work will come to fruition when he debuts his new movie “Quitting” at the Union Theater on the University of Arkansas campus Thursday.

We got in touch with Meré recently, and he was nice enough to answer some questions for us.

Fayetteville Flyer: What have you been listening to lately?
Chuck Mere: Fastball: All the Pain Money Can Buy. It’s been my favorite band for a long time. The lead singer actually let me use some of his solo stuff for Quitting. He’s a really great guy! I met the entire band when they came to Fayetteville about two years ago. It’s was truly a dream come true for me.

FF: Tell us a bit about how Quitting came about.
CM: My buddy James (the writer of Quitting), my friend Mandy (production designer of Quitting) and I were in a terrible garage band. We couldn’t get a gig. We didn’t even have a full set to play, and we weren’t at all motivated. Eventually practice became hanging out at Asbell Park and smoking cigars. Smoking cigars eventually became smoking cigarettes, and before we knew it, we were hooked. This sparked the idea of Quitting, and eight years later here we are.

FF: How long have you been working on the film?
CM: It took James three years to write it, and it took me four years to make it.

FF: Give us a brief synopsis.
CM: The film follows the disastrous week of four friends in a garage band as they try to quit smoking seven days before their first gig.

FF: Most of the film was shot in Fayetteville, correct?
CM: Almost all of it. One scene was shot in West Fork.

FF: What has been your biggest challenge with the filmmaking process?
CM: Finishing the film. There have been so many times during this process that I just wanted to quit (no pun intended) but I made myself keep going. In making this film, I have set myself on fire, ruined my credit, turned my parent’s house into a set, and somehow convinced people to work for free. It was hard, but it was worth it.

FF: Tell us a bit about the cast, and the casting process.
CM: I was a drama major at the U of A, so finding actors was not a hard task. Rather than holding auditions we offered roles directly to the actors we thought best fit each character.

FF: The independent film community in Fayetteville seems to be growing. Would you agree?
CM: It seems to be, but I’ve lived in Fayetteville for 17 years, and I’ve seen the birth and death of a few film festivals. We’re definitely on the rise right now, but who knows if we’ll stay that way.

FF: Your premier is in March at the Union. What are your plans for the film after that?
CM: I am currently working on a distribution deal for the DVD. I encourage people to check www.quittingmovie.com for updates.

Some of the folks behind the 540 Film Festival have formed a new non-profit that they hope will help foster the continued growth of the local independent film scene in Northwest Arkansas by helping connect some of the locals interested in the art of filmmaking.

It’s called the Seedling Film Association, and they will hold their first public meeting this Wednesday, March 17 at the UARK Bowl & Ballroom on Dickson St.

“Our goal is to meet regularly to give filmmakers networking opportunities as well as give the public a cultural alternative to the commercial film experience,” said Cassie Self, one of the folks behind the new organization.

The first meeting will also include a costume contest, a montage of clips from the cult classic horror flick “Leprechaun,” and a discussion on the organization’s plans for a music video competition in May.

Doors open at 6:30 and the costume contest and other festivities begin at 7:00.

Next game: 7 p.m. Friday, March 19 at LSU in Baton Rouge (Full Schedule)

More:

• Vinson homer caps Hogs’ comeback, Box Score – ArkansasRazorbacks.com
• Vinson’s Home Run Gives Arkansas Sweep – ArkansasNews.com

On Barefoot Contessa, the theme was “Italian Restaurant Food at Home”. Joe Realmuto of Nick and Toni’s restaurant in East Hampton showed Ina how to make their famous Penne alla Vecchia Bettola, a simple yet unbelievably good creamy tomato pasta dish, followed by a silky rum raisin tiramisu. I’d already planned on watching the Oscars that night; but now that I had some serious inspiration for dinner, I was hoping I could lure Hubby into watching them with me.

Ladyfingers & Coffee

Just the mere mention of tiramisu sent my sweet tooth into a frenzy, and I knew I had to get to work quickly – tiramisu is not a thrown-together-at-the-last-minute affair. Tiramisu takes some time, some planning, some patience, and a heck of a lot of self-control to keep your fingers – or your face – out of the mixing bowl.

Although Ina inspired me with her rum raisin tiramisu, I have to say I’d pick chocolate over rum raisin any day. So I rummaged around in my trusty recipe folder and came up with a tried-and-true favorite: chocolate tiramisu. Now, while I can’t claim this recipe as my own (ma grazie, Giada!), it’s so good, you won’t care who came up with it after the first bite.

This recipe takes the basics of tiramisu – ladyfingers, coffee, whipped cream and mascarpone – and launches them to another level by folding in chocolate zabaglione to the cream filling. Zabaga-WHO, you say? Zabaglione (or sabayon, in French) is a light custard made with sugar, egg yolks, cream and sweet wine, usually Marsala. The ingredients are furiously whisked together in a double boiler to create a thick, fluffy, airy cream. This particular zabaglione incorporates melted chocolate, which makes it that much more over the top.

Chocolate Zabaglione Ingredients

With my ingredients prepped and my assembly line at the ready, I carefully constructed my tiramisu. Ladyfingers are delicate little things; be sure to dip them in the coffee for only the quickest of seconds, or you risk them falling apart in your hands. Once my chocolaty, creamy, coffee-y masterpiece was complete, I covered it with plastic wrap, stuck it in the fridge, and counted the seconds for the next six hours.

As Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin took the stage on Sunday night (I heart you, Steve Martin), Hubby and I sat down to a cozy, comforting Italian night in: crusty bread, olive oil, Penne alla Vecchia Bettola and mesclun with pesto vinaigrette – ending, of course, with my chocolate tiramisu. The chocolate mascarpone cream was silky and decadent, and the ladyfingers were soft and cakey. I’m not sure if my tears were for Sandra Bullock or for my quickly-disappearing dessert. Heck, I was so ready to dig in, I even forgot the chocolate shavings. Whatta shame. Enjoy!

Chocolate Tiramisu

Tiramisu:
8 oz. mascarpone cheese
2/3 c. heavy cream
1/2 c. sugar
2 1/2 c. strong coffee, warm
24 ladyfingers (crispy, preferably Savoiardi)
cocoa powder for garnish
dark chocolate shavings for garnish
1 batch chocolate zabaglione

Chocolate Zabaglione:
2 Tbs. heavy cream
1/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips
4 egg yolks
1/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. Marsala wine

For the zabaglione, add cream and chocolate to a heavy small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the chocolate chips are melted and smooth. Set aside and keep warm.

Assembly Line

Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, Marsala, and salt in a large glass bowl until blended. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, but do not allow the bottom of the bowl to touch the water. Whisk the egg mixture over the simmering water until it is thick and creamy, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Using a large rubber spatula, fold the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate to chill completely.

Place the mascarpone in a large bowl and set aside. With an electric mixer, beat the cream and ¼ cup of the sugar in a medium bowl until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone. Then fold in the chilled chocolate zabaglione. Cover and refrigerate.

Chocolate Mascarpone Cream

Whisk the warmed espresso and the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar in another medium bowl until blended. Line a 9×5x3″ metal loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing the plastic to extend over the sides. Working with 1 cookie at a time, dip the cookie into the espresso, and arrange cookies in a single layer side by side over the bottom of the prepared pan.

Spoon 1/3 of the mascarpone mixture over the cookies to cover and dust with cocoa powder. Repeat dipping the cookies in the espresso and layering the cookies, remaining mascarpone mixture and cocoa powder 2 more times. Dip the remaining cookies in the espresso and arrange side by side atop the tiramisu. Press lightly to compact slightly. Cover the tiramisu with plastic and refrigerate at least 6 hours.

Unwrap the plastic from atop the tiramisu. Invert the tiramisu onto a platter. Remove the plastic. Sift the cocoa over the tiramisu, and with a vegetable peeler or sharp knife, make dark chocolate shavings and sprinkle over top.

*If the above slideshow doesn’t load, you can view the entire set of photos on Flickr.