Damn Arkansan

Photo: Sarah Whitsett

Last time I wrote about Fayetteville band Damn Arkansan, I made some kind of comment equating their sound to the smell of cheap whiskey.

Of course, I meant that as an absolute compliment (cheap whiskey has fueled some of the most interesting nights in my life), but guitarist Caleb Rose was quick to inform me that Damn Arkansan, in general, preferred the good stuff.

That was just over a year ago, and much like a good whiskey or a tasty scotch, I can’t help but notice that Damn Arkansan has gotten even better with age. Also, I apparently can’t listen to their music without thinking about alcohol, which coming from me, is also a compliment.

Damn Arkansan plays drinking music. Not cry in your beer kind of drinking (though there are hints of that at times), but more often, it recalls something more rowdy. It is rollicking, wandering, traveling music, that still makes me think of whiskey after all these months, the kind that hits the back of your throat, burning at the beginning of what you know will be a great night.

The band will celebrate the release of their third EP Save Yourself this Saturday, June 22 at Smoke & Barrel Tavern. We got in touch with bass player Will Eubanks, and he was nice enough to tell us a bit about the new record, and the release party this weekend.

Tell us about the new EP. Where did you guys record it?
We recorded with Chris Moore at East Hall Recording here in Fayetteville. We’ve done all of our records there now and we have a really great relationship with Chris, so it felt natural to go back in there. He’s running an analog system complete with a 2″ 24-track tape machine, so we live-tracked all of our drums, bass, and guitars to tape before overdubbing more guitars, vocals, horns, piano, percussion, and all the other instruments you hear on the record.

We went into the studio last summer to start on the record with the intention of releasing it at the end of last year, but the more we worked on it, the more we realized what a massive undertaking this particular record was going to be. We wanted to make a record that was somewhat similar to our last release, Brave Mistakes, but we knew there was an opportunity for a really “big” sound on this record which required a lot of tracks and a lot of really detailed mixing. I think one of the songs ended up with over 70 tracks of instrumentation on it, so it’s easy to see how this one ended up taking us longer than we had anticipated. This was definitely our biggest undertaking in the studio so far, and we sort of put ourselves out on a limb in a lot of ways as far as the sound of the album goes. That said, I think it’s safe to say we’re all really pleased with the way it turned out and really excited to share it with people.

Where does the name for the record, “Save Yourself” come from?
Save Yourself is a followup to last year’s Brave Mistakes, which was really a record about going through a lot of big life changes in order to find what really makes you happy. I think this record picks up where the last one left off, asking “ok, now what?” You know, you put yourself through all these changes to give yourself an opportunity to be happy, but now you have to actually go down that path. You can’t just sit around and wait for the good things to come to you, you have to actively pursue your dreams and passions. No one else is going to make it happen for you, so you quite literally have to save yourself.

You guys have come a long way since your first record. From you guys’ perspective, how do you think the band has progressed over the years?
I think the biggest change is figuring out how to really open up our music to honestly represent who we are as people and as a band. Like every young band, we were searching for our niche for the first little bit, and especially with the first record. I feel like when you’re young like that, you spend so much time looking for the sound of a band, sometimes it can be hard to focus on the finer details of the writing process. Now that we’ve had a solid lineup for a while, we’ve established a pretty consistent sound that is Damn Arkansan and from there, we’ve been able to really push ourselves to tweak every facet of our songs to be exactly what we want from them.

I know Caleb recently moved to Little Rock. Do you guys have a plan for how to deal with that yet?
It’s not changing anything – we’ll still be playing just as much as ever. If anything, it works in our favor since we won’t have to pay for hotels in central AR anymore.

Tell us about the release party on Saturday. Anything special planned?
9:30 p.m. on Saturday at Smoke and Barrel. $5 will get you in the door and we’ll have our albums available for $10, as well as a new batch of tees, beer koozies, stickers and all that. We’ve got Family History opening up for us, which should be great. Those guys are super talented and Chase Pagan (singer/songwriter) is one of my favorite songwriters to come around here recently. For anyone who hasn’t seen them yet, get to the show early and check them out.

What’s next for you guys?
A lot of shows. We’re trying to hit the road as much as possible in the coming months to support this release, so you can expect to see us all around Arkansas and the surrounding states. We’re always writing new material and will likely be trying some of it out over the next few months, which may lead to some more studio time by the end of the year, who knows? For now, though, we’re just excited to get this record out to people. Hopefully they’ll be excited about it as well.

Staff photo

Thanks to everyone who entered our second photo challenge last week. We got a lot of great feedback on the contest, and everyone seems to like it, so we’ve decided to keep it going for a while.

There were 36 of correct answers on last week’s challenge. Not bad. For those who haven’t guessed it, last week’s photo is of the back side of the office buildings on the north side of Center Street, in “Alley 38″ just south of the Fayetteville Municipal Parking Deck.

Congrats to Brandon R., who nabbed himself a $50 gift card to Dickson Street Liquor and a Flyer t-shirt. Congrats to Ashley C. and Caitlin B., who scored free Flyer t-shirts as well.

Here’s how to enter this week’s contest: Fill out the form below telling us where in Fayetteville the above photo was taken, and be entered to win a $50 gift card to the Flyer Sponsor of your choice (see a list to the right), plus a free Flyer t-shirt. Be as specific with the location as you can.

We’ll choose the winner at random from the correct answers at around noon on Wednesday, June 26. If there are enough correct answers, second and third place winners (chosen at random) will also receive Flyer t-shirts.

Comments on this post are closed until we choose a winner so that no one gives away the answer. We’ll reveal the location for the above photo when we announce the winners next week.

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Chance of a Thunderstorm 86° / 68°	Partly Cloudy 90° / 70°	Partly Cloudy 88° / 68°	Chance of a Thunderstorm 88° / 70°	Chance of a Thunderstorm 90° / 68°

News Briefs

Springfest is set for this Saturday on Dickson Street in Fayetteville. A newly added 5k, organized by the folks behind the Hogeye Marathon, begins at 7:30 a.m.

Door-to-door salespeople may soon be required to carry a permit when working in Fayetteville neighborhoods. City law already prohibits door-to-door sales if a property owner displays a “no soliciting” sign, but a proposed ordinance could further regulate the practice of soliciting at private residences.

Washington County Circuit Judge William Storey announced Tuesday he is running for Fayetteville District Judge.

Last night’s City Council meeting included nominations to fill openings on 12 boards, commissions and committees, selling 15 acres of land to Pacific Vet Group-USA, Inc., changes to several chapters of the city’s Unified Development Code and more.

Savages were added to the Queens of the Stone Age show set for Oct. 8 at the AMP in Fayetteville.

See press release below:

Gas Line Rupture Causes U of A Evacuations

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A construction crew ruptured a 1.5 inch gas line under Dickson Street, near the Hillside Auditorium, at about 10:50 a.m. An area south of Dickson Street, west of Harmon Avenue, north of Fairview St. and east of Garland Avenue was evacuated as a precaution. Buildings evacuated included Brough Commons, Yocum Hall, Humphries Hall, Kimpel Hall, Walton College, the Reynolds Center, Walker Hall, Hunt Hall, Hillside Auditorium, the Heating Plant and Mechanical Engineering.

A SourceGas emergency crew successfully stopped the leak at about 12:10 p.m., the air quality in the area was tested and found safe, and an all-clear was issued, ending the evacuations.

Crews are now working to restore gas service to many of the buildings on campus.

The University of Arkansas wishes to thank the Fayetteville Fire Department and SourceGas for their prompt and professional response to this incident.

Tweets by @uarkansas

Agenda highlights

• Nominations to fill openings on 12 boards, commissions and committees
• Selling 15 acres of land to Pacific Vet Group-USA, Inc.
• Regulating door-to-door soliciting at private residences
• Changes to several chapters of the city’s Unified Development Code

» Download the agenda (PDF)

A meeting of the Fayetteville City Council was held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2013 inside room 219 of the City Administration Building, located at 113 W. Mountain St. in Fayetteville.

Listed below are the items up for approval, action taken, and links to downloadable PDFs for more information on each item of business.

Roll Call

Present: Adella Gray, Sarah Marsh, Mark Kinion, Matthew Petty, Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Justin Tennant, Martin Schoppmeyer, Rhonda Adams, Alan Long
Absent: None

Reports

1. Nominating Committee Report – Pass 8-0
Historic District Commission – Teresa Turk
Animal Services Advisory Board – Stacy Fraser, Ashley Yayock
Audit Committee – Jacob Pesicek
City Board of Helath – no applicants
Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals – No applicants
Environmental Action Committee – Connie Crisp
Fayetteville Arts Council – Houston Hughes, David Wright, Shannon Mitchell, Justin Hunter
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board – Richie Lamb
Telecommunications Board – No applicants
Walton Arts Center Council – Steve Clark, Barbara Taylor
Walton Arts Center Foundation – Mary Ann Greenwood

Consent

1. Approval of the May 21, 2013 and June 04, 2013 City Council meeting minutes. – Pass 8-0

2. RFQ #13-01 McGoodwin, Williams and Yates, Inc. (PDF): A resolution awarding RFQ #13-01 and approving a contract with McGoodwin, Williams and Yates, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $109,000.00 for engineering design services at the Solid Waste transfer station on Happy Hollow Road, and approving a budget adjustment. – Pass 8-0

3. Bid #13-32 Frank Gardner Construction, LLC (PDF): A resolution awarding Bid #13-32 and authorizing a contract with Frank Gardner Construction, LLC in the amount of $41,280.00 for the purchase of an overhead lube system for the Fleet Division, and approving a ten percent (10%) project contingency. – Pass 8-0

4. Williams Tractor of Fayetteville Case Farmall 105U Tractor (PDF): A resolution authorizing the purchase of one (1) Case Farmall 105U tractor from Williams Tractor of Fayetteville in the amount of $52,410.00, pursuant to a National Joint Powers Alliance Cooperative purchasing agreement, for use by the Parks and Recreation Department. – Pass 8-0

5. Stribling Equipment of Springdale John Deere 524K Wheel Loader (PDF): A resolution authorizing the purchase of one (1) John Deere 524K wheel loader from Stribling Equipment of Springdale in the amount of $129,077.00, pursuant to a National Joint Powers Alliance Cooperative purchasing agreement, for use by the Solid Waste Division. – Pass 8-0

6. J.A. Riggs of Springdale, 308E Excavators (PDF): A resolution authorizing the purchase of two (2) Caterpillar 308E excavators from J.A. Riggs of Springdale in the total amount of $239,734.00, pursuant to a National Joint Powers Alliance Cooperative purchasing agreement, for use by the Water and Sewer Division and the Transportation Division, and approving a budget adjustment. – Pass 8-0

7. J.A. Riggs of Springdale, 120 M2 Motor Grader: (PDF): A resolution authorizing the purchase of one (1) Caterpillar 120M2 motor grader from J.A Riggs of Springdale in the amount of $230,928.00, pursuant to a National Joint Powers Alliance Cooperative purchasing agreement, for use by the Transportation Division. – Pass 8-0

8. Amend Resolution No. 94-13 (PDF): A resolution amending Resolution No. 94-13 awarding Bid #13-23 and authorizing a contract with Center Point Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $289,675.00 for construction of an executive hangar addition at Fayetteville Executive Airport-Drake Field. – Pass 8-0

9. 2013 Hazmat Services Revenue (PDF): A resolution approving a budget adjustment in the total amount of $11,239.80 to recognize 2013 hazmat services revenue from Washington County, and authorizing associated expenses. – Pass 8-0

10. Transportation Bond Projects (PDF): A resolution approving a budget adjustment in the total amount of $201,621.00 to transfer escrow balances to certain transportation bond projects. – Pass 8-0

Unfinished Business

1. Amend Chapters 151, 161, 164 and 172 (PDF): An ordinance to amend Chapters 151, 161, 164 and 172 of the Unified Development Code to modify certain standards within Urban Zoning Districts, to clarify and add flexibility to some of these requirements, to amend building height references and add a maximum building height to the C-1 Zoning District, and to provide supplement design standards for auto-oriented facilities within these districts. – Pass 6-2*
* Alderwoman Marsh and Alderman Kinion voted no

New Business

1. Levi Storage Center, LLC (PDF): A resolution approving negotiation and purchase of 1.3 acres of property for construction of Town Branch Trail and the expansion of Greathouse Park from Levi Storage Center, LLC in an amount not to exceed $41,862.00 upon condition that existing liens on the real estate are released. – Pass 8-0

2. Pacific Vet Group-USA, Inc. (PDF): A resolution to sell about 14.9 acres of land in the Industrial Park to Pacific Vet Group-USA, Inc. for $223,500.00 and other valuable consideration and to approve a budget adjustment. – Pass 8-0

3. Enact §116.02 Door to Door Solicitation at Private Residences (PDF): An ordinance to enact §116.02 Door to Door Solicitation Regulations for Private Residences into the Fayetteville Code. – Left on the second reading*
* Amended to add a five-year good behavior limit on the background check review period and to allow solicitors to work until 9 p.m. at the request of the Northwest Arkansas Times circulation sales department. Aldermen then requested more time to work out details concerning the impact the ordinance would have on city staff.

4. Amend Resolution No. 183-12 (PDF): A resolution to amend Resolution No. 183-12 which approved a contract to allow access to City of Fayetteville sewage system in order to approve an amended agreement. – Pass 6-2*
* Aldermen Long and Petty voted no.

William Storey

Photo by Stephen Ironside

Washington County Circuit Judge William Storey announced Tuesday he is running for Fayetteville District Judge.

The position was held by Rudy Moore, who died in April after 22 years on the bench. Moore was re-elected to a new four-year term in May 2012. David Stewart is serving as interim Fayetteville District Court Judge until the May 2014 election decides who’ll finish out the term.

If elected, Storey said he’d work to reduce drunk driving and texting while driving.

“Clearly driving while intoxicated is a very serious crime, however, according to a 2012 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated,” said Storey in a news release.

“All too often I see people in Fayetteville texting and driving with children in the car. I truly believe this can be stopped if these drivers are aware of the risks and there are serious consequences for this conduct. We should not wait for people to be injured or die in automobile accidents before we, as a society, address this issue. Here lies the opportunity to change our perspective,” he said.

Storey, 71, is currently Administrative Judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit, and has been on the bench for nearly 24 years. Circuit judges lose state retirement benefits if they run for office and are re-elected after reaching the age of 70.

A 50-year Fayetteville resident, Storey is a graduate of Fayetteville High School and the University of Arkansas. He and his wife Patricia have three daughters and eleven grandchildren.

He is the second to announce for the judgeship. Fayetteville attorney Tim Snively said last month he plans to seek the position.

A handful of new door-to-door sales regulations could soon be adopted, including requiring city staff to furnish “no soliciting” decals to Fayetteville residents.

Photo by VinylMill

Door-to-door salespeople may soon be required to carry a permit when working in Fayetteville neighborhoods.

City law already prohibits door-to-door sales if a property owner displays a “no soliciting” sign, but a proposed ordinance could further regulate the practice of soliciting at private residences.

The proposal, brought forth by Ward 3 Alderman Justin Tennant, aims to curb a growing number of complaints from Fayetteville residents who are tired of being approached by door-to-door scam artists, such as the group of young people who were recently in town claiming to be selling items to raise money for University of Arkansas trips and internships.

The UA Police Department earlier this month released a statement warning residents not to fall for the scam.

“I feel like many of our citizens are being taken advantage of,” said Tennant. “What I wanted to do here was put up a door, so to speak, to discourage these people from actually coming into the city and doing these things to our citizens.”

Proposed requirements

» Read the ordinance (PDF)

If the new law is adopted, door-to-door sales companies wishing to operate within the Fayetteville city limits would be required to pay a $40 annual permit fee plus $5 for each solicitor.

Salespeople would be subject to a criminal background check from the Arkansas State Police and would be required to carry a visible photo ID and a copy of their company’s permit. Solicitors could only work door to door from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. during standard time and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. during daylight saving time. Violations would carry a fine of up to $500.

The ordinance would also require city planning staff to furnish “no soliciting” decals to any Fayetteville resident who requests one for their home.

Exemptions

City Attorney Kit Williams said federal law won’t allow cities to completely ban door-to-door solicitation in order to preserve First Amendment rights. Because of this, permits or fees would be waived for certain nonprofits like Girl Scouts who are selling cookies or religious and political groups exercising free speech.

Aldermen will discuss the proposed ordinance during the Fayetteville City Council meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 18 inside the City Administration Building at 113 W. Mountain Street.

Update

During the council meeting on Tuesday, aldermen amended the ordinance to add a five-year good behavior limit on the background check review period and to allow solicitors to work until 9 p.m. at the request of Brian Smith, circulation sales manager with Northwest Arkansas Newspapers. Smith said nearly half of the newspaper’s door-to-door subscription sales occur between 5 and 9 p.m. and that subscription sales would drop by about 25 percent if sales staff couldn’t work past 7 p.m. Council members then requested more time to work out details concerning the overall background check policy and the impact the ordinance would have on city staff. Aldermen will resume discussion of the proposal on July 2.

It’s a little bit later than expected, but Springfest will finally return to Fayetteville on Saturday, June 22.

The event was postponed due to an unseasonably late snow last month, but the delay has caused at least one positive this year; it gave organizers time to add a new event to the festivities.

The Springfest 5K run/walk, organized by the folks behind the Hogeye Marathon, will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Awards will be given in three age divisions, including Young Wipper Snappers (14 and under), Springfest Chickens (15-40), and Master Martins (41 and over).

Those interested in participating in the race should register online. Fees are $20 for adults and $15 for students, and all the proceeds from the race benefit Washington County Habitat for Humanity.

Race packets, including course information, will be available for pick up from 5-7 p.m. at Jose’s on Friday, June 21.

Fayetteville Springfest, organized by the businesses on Dickson Street, began in 1983 as a way to celebrate the history, culture, and flavor of Fayetteville. After a year hiatus last year, the event will celebrate its 30th year this year with a pancake breakfast, live music, local arts and craft vendors, a dog parade, pub crawl, and other activities. For more information, visit fayettevillespringfest.com.

Today	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday
Chance of a Thunderstorm 86° / 68°	Partly Cloudy 90° / 70°	Partly Cloudy 88° / 68°	Chance of a Thunderstorm 88° / 70°	Chance of a Thunderstorm 90° / 68°

News Briefs

Texas-based flight team Xxtreme Aviatrixx will participate in the 2013 Air Race Classic which ends in Fayetteville.

Facebook photo

At least 47 teams of female aviators are set to touch down this week at the Fayetteville Executive Airport as part of the 2013 Air Race Classic, a four-day, transcontinental event featuring all-women pilots.

One of downtown Fayetteville’s most used parking lots is being retrofitted to include a bioswale and a row of new shade trees.

Tonight’s City Council meeting includes several interesting items of business including nominations to fill a host of open volunteer positions, regulating door-to-door soliciting at private residences, and changes to the city’s Unified Development Code.

Penguin Ed’s on Mission Boulevard serves an incredible breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. See a photo of their french toast and check out more deals and news from our sponsors in this week’s Flyer Sponsor post.

Brookes Apartments in Fayetteville

When it comes to remodeling, why take a chance? CMI Construction are the best in the business. Testimonials.

Looking for a pet-friendly apartment? Try Brookes Apartments, near Asbell Park. Only $525/mo.

Looking for a new summer home? Check out Templeton Place from BR Management. They’re only $400/mo.

2 bedrooms, 2 baths, breathtaking views. A great condo on the 8th floor of The Dickson is available July 1.

Drink Specials

Domestic bottles and well drinks are just $2.50 every Thursday night at Buster Belly’s.

Get 50¢ wings and $5 domestic pitchers every Monday night at Mickey Finn’s! More specials.

Jose’s will have music all-day for Springfest

Arts & Events

Thursday is the new Friday, and the place to be is at Rooftop Revival at 21st Amendment. Featuring Purp Loder and EQ.

Greenhouse Grille has live music with Allison Williams, Alex Lewis Jazz Duo, and Melody & Morty this week!

Stop by Fresco Cafe Friday nights for Jazz & Soul Dinner Club, featuring brand new dinner entrees.

Jose’s has great entertainment all week, with a full day of music on Saturday for Springfest!

JJ’s Grill has free live music with Darren Ray, Clint Scrivner, JAB, Jamie Wolfe & the Wranglers and more this week!

Kingfish has live music with Judge Parker, The Great Scotts, and Keith Nicholson this week!

Ozark Natural Foods is hosting an open house at Nomad’s and Nightbird during Springfest on Saturday. More info.

Smoke & Barrel has DJ Derrick, Daikaiju, and a Damn Arkansan CD release party this week.

Tickets are now on sale for TheatreSquared’s eighth season, featuring 5 great shows, and the Arkansas New Play Festival!

UARK Bowl has comedy open mic on Thursday, and comic Tim Northern on Friday this week. More.

Walton Arts Center’s Artosphere festival orchestra will be performing several times across NWA this week. Details.

For Kids

Want to be in a band? Learn to plan an instrument in a band environment at Fayetteville Music Factory.

Mount Sequoyah is hosting a Kanakuk Kampout Day Kamp Adventure July 8-12! Sign up.

Kids eat for free every Monday – Wednesday at Flying Burrito Co.!

Terra Tots is now offering a new music class for toddlers! Join them on Mondays at 1 p.m.

Food & Dining

French Toast from Penguin Ed’s on Mission Blvd.

Looking for gluten free options in Fayetteville? Bordinos has a delicious and extensive gluten free menu.

Have you seen the awesome selection of delicious rolls, edamame and more from Meiji at ONF? Look.

The best breakfast in Fayetteville is served at Ella’s Restaurant, inside Carnall Hall.

Farm fresh at Hugo’s. Watch for delicious specials made from ingredients fresh from the Farmers’ Market.

How do you cool off and wake up at the same time this summer? Iced coffee from Little Bread Co., of course.

Wednesdays used to be a lame day in the middle of the week. Now they rule, thanks to Wing Wednesday at Lucky Luke’s! 49¢ wings, $1 drafts.

Nomad’s delivers to downtown Fayetteville after 4 p.m. Also – stay tuned for their new Farmers’ Market menu items!

Penguin Ed’s on Mission Boulevard serves an incredible breakfast on Sat. and Sun. Just look at this french toast.

Slim Chickens is giving away two $2,500 trips to anywhere in the world! Enter their Road Trip Photo Challenge.

Have you tried the Moo Pig Sooie burger at Sassy’s yet? It’s topped with pulled pork, BBQ, jalapeno, queso, and more!

Hand tossed crust, the freshest toppings, and just $5 for a slice and a salad weekdays for lunch. It’s Z’s Pizza!

Shopping & Retail

Some casual, comfy blouses new for summer at Savoir-Faire.

The Independent are extending their sale on bags and shoes this week. Get 25% off all week!

Need a gift for a great friend? That’s exactly what The Handmade Market is for.

Be Awesome tank tops are now in stock at The Mustache Goods & Wears!

Romance Diamond is offering a crazy special this month. Get $200 off any Swiss watch purchase in June.

The Southern Living Dress of the Summer is now available online from Riffraff!

Fun flats, casual blouses, tanks, short-sleeve pikos, and more are online at Savoir-Faire. New arrivals.

UA Computer Store is having some great sales on their Apple products this summer, while they last!

Health & Beauty

Looking for an eye doctor? Austin Vision Care is awesome, and conveniently located inside Sam’s Club in Fayetteville.

Need new glasses? The Eye Center carries great brands, including Gucci, Kate Spade, Versace, and more!

News

Adventure Subaru is offering .099% APR for 48 months on certified pre-owned inventory through July 1.

For those summertime bumps and scrapes, avoid the ER. Walk in to Karas Urgent Care, get in, get out, and get better.

Crews began work on a bioswale in a downtown parking lot Monday morning.

Todd Gill, Flyer staff

One of downtown Fayetteville’s most used parking lots is being retrofitted to include a bioswale and a row of new shade trees.

The improvements, made possible using a $7,500 grant from the Arkansas Forestry Commission Urban and Community Forestry Program, will help slow and filter stormwater runoff, and provide improved growing conditions for 14 new trees that will shade the parking area and reduce the urban heat island effect.

The 220-foot-long bioswale will be built in an 8-foot-wide area between a row of parking spaces in the city-owned lot at Mountain Street and Church Avenue.

Plans include perforated piping to receive and convey water, new topsoil, river rock and a concrete flush curb to allow water to flow across the parking area into the island.

Once island construction is complete, wheel stops and parking meters will be added, along with signage explaining the importance of low impact development.

The hope is that the area can serve as an educational tool.

“This parking lot is in a highly visible location where many citizens, engineers and developers park to attend meetings, pay water bills and take care of other city-related business, exposing them to low impact development techniques,” wrote city staff in the grant application packet.

Crews began work on the project Monday morning. Portions of the parking lot will be closed during construction, which is expected to last about two weeks.

Today	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday
Chance of a Thunderstorm 86° / 68°	Partly Cloudy 90° / 70°	Partly Cloudy 88° / 68°	Chance of a Thunderstorm 88° / 70°	Chance of a Thunderstorm 90° / 68°

News Briefs

A crew works to construct a bridge pier as part of the College Avenue flyover project.

Staff photo

Work continues this week on the College Avenue flyover bridge in north Fayetteville.

After more than seven years in the making, plans for a new children’s museum near Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art were finally unveiled on Thursday.

If you’ve missed out on seeing Water Liars play live in Fayetteville, don’t worry. There’s still hope. You’ve got another shot coming up on June 29.

The businesses in Evelyn Hills Shopping Center are planning a party this August, and they’re looking for a few good bands to perform.

This week’s scheduled public meetings include Environmental Action Committee, City Council, Telecommunications Board and more.

At least 47 teams of female aviators are set to touch down this week at the Fayetteville Executive Airport as part of the 2013 Air Race Classic.

The annual four-day, transcontinental event features all women pilots who fly several legs of the race making stops at different airports each year.

Joyce Wilson (left) and Dianna Stanger of Texas-based flight team Xxtreme Aviatrixx stand next to their Cirrus SR-22 at Calhoun County Airport in Port Lavaca, Texas last week in preparation for the 2013 Air Race Classic.

Facebook photo

The event, which began in 1977, aims to promote female roles in aviation and to encourage young women interested in becoming pilots.

This year’s race begins Tuesday in Pasco, Wash. and includes stops in Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado and Oklahoma.

Prior to the beginning of the race, pilots complete controlled handicapping flights of their stock aircraft at full power. Crews then fly against their handicaps, trying to best their own top speed as they fly from stop to stop. Each all-women crew features a pilot and copilot and may include additional team members. Over 80 women are included on this year’s list of racers.

The final leg of the 2,450-mile race ends in Fayetteville on Thursday and Friday. The public is invited to stop by the airport and watch the planes land as each team completes the race.

For questions about any of the following meetings, please contact the city’s administration office at 479-575-8323.

* Televised by the Fayetteville Government Channel

The businesses in Evelyn Hills Shopping Center are planning a party this August, and they’re looking for a few good bands to perform.

The event, formerly known as Eveyn cHills Fest, has been renamed the Midtown Music Showcase and will take place on August 17th in the parking lot at the shopping center.

Organizers are currently seeking five local bands to perform at this year’s festival. The bands selected to perform will be able to compete for prizes at the event, including recording time, a feature on a local radio show, and more.

“The event is going will be similar to last year’s festival, but there will be more of a focus on the music aspect this year,” said Alexa McGriff, one of the organizers of the event.

Proceeds from the Midtown Music Showcase will benefit the Fayetteville Public Schools Outback, a local food pantry and clothing closet for students enrolled at Fayetteville Public Schools.

Bands interested in performing at the festival should email a sample of their music to lisa@onf.coop, drop off a demo at Ozark Natural Foods, or mail a demo to ONF before July 1.

Fore more information about the event, visit their Facebook page.

An artist rendering of the entrance to the Amazeum children’s museum, coming to Bentonville in 2015.

Courtesy

After more than seven years in the making, plans for a new children’s museum near Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art were finally unveiled on Thursday.

The new museum, to be named the Amazeum, will be built on land located on Northeast J Street in Bentonville.

“This is a day we’ve been anticipating since early 2006, when a group of visionary parents, business leaders and educators recognized the need for a museum that would amaze children of all ages and their families while enhancing the quality of life throughout the region,” said Bob Arvin, president of the Amazeum’s Board of Directors.

The outdoor space of the planned Amazeum children’s museum

Courtesy

Plans for the Amazeum unveiled Thursday include a 44,500-square-foot facility, with an acre of outdoor space for “a backdrop for experiments and experiences inspired by the seasons.” Possible exhibits include a tinkering studio, water area, climbable tree canopy, and a lab.

The museum also introduced new executive director Sam Dean on Thursday. Dean, who was hired in November, previously served as a director for Exploratorium in the San Francisco Bay area, as well as the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

Fundraising efforts for the museum are ongoing, but a $10 million matching donation and land from the Walton Family Foundation, along with commitments from Lee and Linda Scott, The Hershey Company, General Mills and Nickelodeon helped get the project started. Details of a membership program will be announced in the coming months, Dean said.

The Amazeum is expected to open sometime in 2015.

5-day Weather Forecast

Today	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday
Chance of a Thunderstorm 86° / 68°	Partly Cloudy 90° / 70°	Partly Cloudy 88° / 68°	Clear 88° / 70°	Partly Cloudy 90° / 68°

Friday Events, June 7

TheatreSquared’s annual Arkansas New Play Festival kicks off Friday night with staged readings of Don Chipotle by Juan Francisco Villa and Raw Vision by Les Wade at Nadine Baum Studios. Admission to the readings are $7 each, or you can get a festival pass for the whole weekend for $30. Here’s more info on the Arkansas New Play Festival.

Walton Arts Center’s Art of Wine festival continues Friday night with the Uncorked! Wine Tasting, featuring more than 400 wines from around the world and food from local restaurants for $80 per person. Here’s more on Art of Wine.

Cletus Got Shot will be back at Smoke & Barrel for the first time in a long time on Friday night, and Mountain Sprout is back in town for their only George’s show of the summer Friday night as well.

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Full list:

9 a.m.  Fayetteville Underground: Portrait artist session

6 p.m.  George’s Majestic Lounge: The Nace Brothers / David Starr

6 p.m.  Greenhouse Grille: Matt Smith Jazz

6 p.m.  Jose’s: KN3

6:30 p.m.  Nadine Baum Studios: Arkansas New Play Festival

7 p.m.  Nibbles: Mike Sumler Band

7 p.m.  Tanglewood Branch Beer Co.: Jubilee

7 p.m.  Walton Arts Center: Art of Wine – Uncorked! Wine Tasting

7 p.m.  Mojito’s Mexican Grill: Effron White

7 p.m.  Foghorn’s: Sean Kemp

8:30 p.m.  JJ’s Grill: Wes & Karl

8 p.m.  Kingfish: Sarah Hughes / The Big O Show

8 p.m.  Mojo’s Pints & Pies: Jake Ayo

9:30 p.m.  The Phoenix Club: Motortrain / Surf De Soleil / Kodiak Jack

9 p.m.  Smoke & Barrel Tavern: Cletus Got Shot

10 p.m.  George’s Majestic Lounge: Mountain Sprout

Saturday Events, June 8

Shawn James

For Eddie Money fanatics and chicken wing enthusiasts, the place to be Saturday night is Wingfest, taking place at the Northwest Arkansas Mall parking lot. The event will feature a wing tasting, wing eating contests, and a concert by Mr. Money. Tickets are $15.

Also on Saturday, Fayetteville band Shawn James and the Shapeshifters will celebrate the release of their new album, The Bear at George’s Saturday night. We got in touch with Shawn yesterday, and he told us more about the album, and the release show. Admission is $5.

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Full list:

7 a.m.  Fayetteville Square: Farmers’ Market

10:30 a.m.  Fayetteville Public Library: Magician Scott Davis

11:30 a.m.  Fayetteville Public Library: UpStream Art Storm Drain Mural Walking Tour

2 p.m.  Nadine Baum Studios: Arkansas New Play Festival

6 p.m.  NWA Mall: Wingfest

6 p.m.  Fresco Cafe & Pub: Mendy Johnsen

6 p.m.  Jose’s: Mississippi Fever

8 p.m.  Kingfish: Candy Lee & the Sweets

6 p.m.  Walton Arts Center: Art of Wine – Premier Tasting

7 p.m.  Foghorn’s: Richard Burnett

8:30 p.m.  JJ’s Grill: Ouachita River Band

8:30 p.m.  Wine Cellar: Love & Money

8 p.m.  Mojo’s Pints & Pies: Duty Free

9 p.m.  NWA Mall: Eddie Money

9 p.m.  George’s Majestic Lounge: Shawn James

9 p.m.  The Lightbulb Club: Robe Flax

9:30 p.m.  The Phoenix Club: Drunken Masters

9 p.m.  Smoke & Barrel Tavern: Flawna Forte

Sunday Events, June 9

Amelia White

Nashville-based Americana singer-songwriter Amelia White is in town for an intimate show at the McGregor House near Mount Sequoyah on Sunday.

The Boston Globe said White’s performances offer “a level of composition and craftsmanship that brings to mind Lucinda Williams, Tom Petty, and Ryan Adams.”

The 7 p.m. show, at 845 N. Jackson Dr., is $10 and includes a performance from former Continental Drifters guitarist Robert Mache.

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Full list:

11 a.m.  Greenhouse Grille: HB Chilton

11 a.m.  Common Grounds: Sarah Hughes

1 p.m.  Terra Studios: Bruce Allen

2 p.m.  Fayetteville Public Library: Mountain Street Stage: East of Zion

6:30 p.m.  Nadine Baum Studios: Arkansas New Play Festival

7 p.m.  McGregor House: Amelia White / Robert Mache

7 p.m.  St. Paul’s Episcopal: The Dover Quartet

8 p.m.  Mojo’s Pints & Pies: Teddy Sablon

Shawn James and the Shapeshifters perform at the 2013 Block Street Block Party.

Staff photo

When Fayetteville songwriter Shawn James set out to make his new record The Bear, he did so in the most logical of all possible places; deep in the woods of the Ozark Mountains.

Now, James and his band The Shapeshifters are set to release the new six-track EP this weekend.

The concept album is the second in a planned three-album series that the band will release in 2013.

There are two release parties this weekend to celebrate the new record; a house show on Friday night, and on Saturday night at George’s Majestic Lounge with The Dumptruck Boys and James Dickard.

We got in touch with Shawn earlier today, and he was nice enough to tell us a bit about the new album.

The Bear is a concept record, correct? What can you tell us about that.
The Bear is the second concept EP in The Shapeshifters Trilogy (The Hawk comes out in the fall, and then a vinyl record of all three together will be released at the end of the year). The story follows a big, haggard bear as he wakes from hibernation. Consumed by hunger, he heads south to hunt and runs into all sorts of trouble.

Tell us a bit about the recording process on the new album. You guys made it kind of in the woods, right?

Album artwork for The Bear

We wrote and recorded it in the same solar powered cabin in Boxley Valley by Ponca in the Ozarks. I went out there alone for three days with nothing written. I really wanted to flesh it out alone in the environment where the bear might’ve been to get inspired. At the end of the three days, The Bear’s six tracks were written. Then I had Nick Shoulders (banjo/harmonica) and Baker (tenor banjo/mandolin) come out for the next two days and hash out their parts and make everything transition smoothly.

After the five days, we came back and practiced the album with our bass player (Jason Norton) for a month or so.

After the month of getting tighter on the songs, we went back to the cabin with a bunch of recording gear (thanks to Nick Futch our tracking engineer.) He and his lady (Anna Hutchison-photographer/videographer)
were a huge part in getting all the footage/songs down just the way we wanted them.

We recorded the album in three days and we did the main layers (slide guitar, banjo, harmonica, tenor banjo and bass) live altogether to get the raw feel that we wanted from it.

After we finished tracking the album, I sent off the tracks to my good friend (TJ Dumser) in New York who mixed my debut album Shadows for me. He mixed and mastered it just the way we wanted.

To what extend do you think elements of the environment you make a record in, and the circumstances around it can make their way into a recording?
I’ve always been a huge believer that environment we’re in/things we experience/feel makes the mood for the music we create. I couldn’t have asked for a better location to write and record The Bear in. The cabin is about one-mile-and-a-half up a dirt mountain road surrounded by forested hills. While writing/recording, we were able to hike around and explore the Ozarks. It definitely helped set the tone of the album.

With such a comfortable, relaxed, serene environment, we were able to really put forth the performance we wanted. This album would have never been the same if we went to a studio. The Bear just wasn’t meant for that kind of recording process and it definitely shows. Plus, who wouldn’t wanna record in one of the most beautiful parts of the country? We love this area and we want everyone to know.

What can you tell us about the release show(s) this weekend?
There are two shows this weekend. The first is a pre-release party where we’ll be playing The Bear in its entirety, along with some other songs. Greg Mullen and Dumptruck Boys will open the show and we’ll close it out. It’s a basement house show that is open to the public (limited parking) at 20 W. Sycamore Street.

The second show is the official release show for The Bear at George’s Majestic. That one starts at 10 p.m. ($5, 18+), and Dumptruck Boys will open. There’s also a new guy in town, James Dickard, playing from 8-10 p.m. (FREE) for those that wanna get there early.

We’ll have all sorts of new merch at both shows including t-shirts, koozies, flasks and stickers.

Shawn James – The Bear album teaser

Today	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday
Chance of a Thunderstorm 86° / 68°	Partly Cloudy 90° / 70°	Partly Cloudy 88° / 68°	Chance of a Thunderstorm 88° / 70°	Chance of a Thunderstorm 90° / 68°

News Briefs

Grammy-winning artist Estelle.

Courtesy

Grammy Award-winning artists Estelle, Maxwell, Trey Songz and Hezekiah Walker will play a free concert tomorrow night at Orchards Park in Bentonville.

Owl Creek School will serve free lunches to children ages 18 and under every weekday this summer through Aug. 2 as part of the USDA’s Seamless Summer program.

The 9th annual Wingfest is set for Saturday in the parking lot of the Northwest Arkansas Mall, and Eddie Money will be performing during the event.

If you’re a wine lover living in Fayetteville, there’s almost zero chance you’re not aware that the Walton Arts Center’s annual Art of Wine Festival is set to begin. Still, here’s a reminder.

Thanks to everyone who entered our first ever Fayetteville Photo Challenge last week. Here’s round two.

A Lucky Luke’s crew serves wings at Wingfest 2012.

Courtesy

Eddie Money fanatics and chicken wing enthusiasts, prepare to lose your minds with excitement.

The 9th annual Wingfest is set for Saturday, June 15 in the parking lot of the Northwest Arkansas Mall, and Mr. Money will be performing several of his hits at the event.

Admission is $15, and includes all the chicken wings you can sample from 6-8 p.m. Attendees can vote for their favorites, and at the end of the evening, a Northwest Arkansas restaurant wing-making champion will be crowned.

There’s a wing eating contest at 8:15 p.m., and the concert with Eddie Money is scheduled to begin at 8:50 p.m.

For those who aren’t familiar, Money is famous for 1970s and 80s hits like “Two Tickets to Paradise,” “Shakin’,” and “Take Me Home Tonight.”

Wingfest is sponsored by local radio station 98.3 The Keg, and proceeds benefit 7 Hills Homeless Center and Alzheimer’s Association.

For tickets, visit 983thekeg.com.

Eddie Money – Two Tickets to Paradise