The ice storm came a few days early this year. The Arkansas Travelers held their annual hot stove meeting Tuesday night in North Little Rock. When the Travelers host the hot stove gathering, it’s usually a recipe for either winter weather or, as was the case two years ago, tornadoes. Not this year. Having attended this event for the past 20 years, I can never remember a larger crowd for a Travelers hot stove meeting.
Read MoreHot Stove
posted by rexnelson on February 5th, 2010Thanks, Mr. Cella
posted by rexnelson on February 4th, 2010Charles Cella has done it again. The owner of Oaklawn Park knows how to do things in a big way while earning media exposure in the process. If Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta show up in Hot Springs on April 3, it will bring one of the most anticipated races in years to our state. It also will be the largest purse for a filly and mare race in the history of North American thoroughbred racing. National media attention will be focused on Arkansas for days.
Read MoreTime for a eulogy?
posted by rexnelson on February 2nd, 2010Lary Fugate of Pine Bluff, an old-school newspaperman if ever there were one, sent me a long piece by Carl Sessions Stepp. The article is titled “A Eulogy for Old-School Newsrooms.” I think of all the colorful characters I’ve met. I think of the events I’ve been allowed to experience firsthand. I think of the friends I’ve made. And, as I get older, I cherish the memories more than ever.
Read MoreThe Banana Pudding Republic
posted by rexnelson on January 28th, 2010Members of the Southern Foodways Alliance like to refer to themselves as citizens of the Banana Pudding Republic. It’s a fitting description for this fun group. I’ve had the privilege of attending SFA events in Greenwood, Miss., and Louisville, Ky. And the small but hearty band of us who are SFA members in Arkansas get together on occasion.
Read MoreHacks and flacks
posted by rexnelson on January 26th, 2010In a recent blog post, Jeffrey Goldberg writes that some of his friends in the public relations business have been “inundated with calls from journalists looking to escape our profession before it dies, as opposed to after it dies.” I’ve heard from a few journalists myself in recent months. No, we’re not hiring right now.
Read MorePigs have flown
posted by rexnelson on January 25th, 2010Jim Henderson has been the radio voice of the New Orleans Saints since 1986. In other words, he has seen a lot of bad football games. As Garrett Hartley made the kick that is to this point the most famous play in Saints history, Henderson had an emotion-filled description that will go down as one of the great radio calls in NFL history. Pour me a cup of cafe au lait. Pass the beignets. Pigs have flown.
Read MoreI know what it means. . .
posted by rexnelson on January 22nd, 2010New Orleans has hosted more than its share of big events through the years — Super Bowls, NCAA Final Fours, title fights, college football championships, national political conventions, you name it. But the Saints have never hosted an NFC championship game — until now. My previous job took me to New Orleans a lot. I don’t get down there as often these days. On Sunday, I’ll truly know what it means to miss New Orleans.
Read MoreLunch with Sandy
posted by rexnelson on January 20th, 2010When the Clinton School of Public Service hosts a noon lecture, it always advertises it as a “bring your own lunch” event. To heck with that. Since the lectures end at 1 p.m., this is a chance to drive just down the street and have a late lunch at Sandy’s Homeplace Cafe at 1710 E. 15th St. The unassuming home of Sandy’s is tucked into the industrial district near the Little Rock National Airport. Sandy doesn’t advertise. You will rarely see a review of the place. She only serves lunch from Monday through Friday. If you like Southern country cooking, though, you will have a hard time finding a better value anywhere in Little Rock.
Read MoreRainy morning in Monroe
posted by rexnelson on January 19th, 2010It was raining steadily as I pulled away from my home at 4 a.m. Sunday. I had ignored Wiley’s advice. He had called the previous afternoon and said: “If it’s raining fairly hard when you get up tomorrow morning, I suggest you go back to bed.” Indeed, the rain was coming down when the alarm went off at 3:30 a.m. But I was wide awake.
Read MoreThe sweet science
posted by rexnelson on January 18th, 2010In the early 1900s, the top three sports in America were baseball, boxing and thoroughbred racing. All are sports I still enjoy following. But they have slipped in the past century, falling far behind football and, to a lesser extent, basketball on the American cultural spectrum. Thanks to the work of Ray Rodgers, one of the top amateur boxing officials in the country, Arkansas is somewhat of a center for boxing. That’s something the vast majority of Arkansans don’t even realize.
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