November 1997

Move downtown beneficial for 13th annual Bull Roast Date: 11/9/97 Category: Features Page: D13 BY PHYLLIS D. BRANDON ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE On the balcony of Arkansas' Excelsior Hotel, the bull was slowly cooking on the spit over a smoking fire. On Monday, with typically not much going on and when many restaurants were closed, the Arkansas Chapter of the March of Dimes invited friends to the 1997 Bull Roast "Chefs on the River" in the Clinton Ballroom. The previous 12 Bull Roasts were held on Saturdays at The Ranch. The departure proved a good idea, as almost 400 guests lined up for trays of barbecue served by Jennings Osborne. But there was lots more than barbecue. The six-piece First Impressions added music for partygoers sampling specialties from Simply the Best, Cozymel's, the New Green Mill Cafe, Winrock Farms, Auntie Ann's Pretzels, Golden Eagle, the Doubletree Hotel and Juanita's. Micki Meeks Sowell was party chairman. K-Duck's Kevin Clay served as master of ceremonies for the program, which included a live auction led by Andy Davis. The auction committee included Lisa Fletcher, Vanessa Crossfield, Sandy Russell and Angela and Matt Meeks. Cutlines 1) Jean Hagerman and Todd Clark 2) Jennings Osborne 3) Susan Moore being served by Cheryl Walker 4) Chin Son and Joe Clay 5) Rosetta Heath and Janet Tate 6) Elston Strong 7) Billie Roberts 8) Gary and Tracy Graitge cq of Maumelle

Date: 1 1/11/97 Category: News Page: B6 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN Osborne's riverfront vision taking shape Edwin Vasquez strings lights Monday atop the River Market's 1 00-foot Christmas tree in downtown Little Rock. Vasquez is one of the Osborne Elves, the private crew hired by Little Rock philanthropist Jennings Osborne to set up Christmas displays he has donated in central Arkansas.

Everything's coming up Gypsy at UALR Date: 1 1/16/97 Category: Features Page: E4 BY JACK W. HILL ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE For Dot Callanen-Gravettcq, a chance to again direct and choreograph Gypsy was too good to pass up. The theater/dance professor is enjoying this show more than she ever expected. "We have 25 UALR students, two UALR alumni and 30 children under the age of 12," Callanen-Gravett says. "The kids all have singing and dancing roles in the script, and they are all in the UALR Community School of the Arts theater and dance program." Gypsy is drawn from the memoirs of the late striptease/Udancer/actress Gypsy Rose Lee. The script was written by Arthur Laurentscq, with music by Julecq Stynecq and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Erin Wheatley has the title role of Gypsy Rose Lee, while Sarah Dougancq is Gypsy's sister, June Havoc. Priscacq Hohnbaumcq is Rose, the women's mother. Rose is grooming "dainty" June for stardom, but the girl runs away with a dancer to seek her fortune, so Rose turns her attention to younger daughter Louise, who changes her name to Gypsy Rose Lee and goes on to fame and fortune, while sister June becomes an actress. "It's an incredible story, one of the best musicals that's been written," Callanen-Gravett says. "The show is set in an era when talent was of the essence, as opposed to semi-nudity. And the strippers rock the house, twirling, bumping and grinding." The strippers are played by Dorothy Miles, Brooke Lamb-Murphycq and Katie Cauleycq. The "Hollywood Blondes" are played by Bekahcq Kisercq, Kerricq Branch, Morgan Howell, Crystal Barr, Rebecca Speed and Mary Kay Mykelbustcq. Showgirls are played by Hannah Manirecq, LaNinacq Jacobs, Kelleecq Mitchell and Kiser, Barr and Speed. Lori Loree will conduct the band and play keyboards. The musicians include Ron Bryant, trumpet; F. Anthony Thompson, percussion; Earl Hessecq and Jim Griggs Jr., reeds; E.O. Huddleston, trombone; and Rob Sveuncq, bass. Opening night will be dedicated to the late Margaret Carner, a retired UALR theater professor who died recently, and to the Jennings Osborne family for their support of the theater program. After the opening night performance, there will be a dinner at La Scala for the friends of Carner, who will share anecdotes about her career and life. She directed journalists in the Farkleberry Follies, lawyers in the Gridiron show and UALR faculty and staff in the Fribourghcq Follies. Those interested in attending the should call Mike Wallace for reservations at 663-1196. The Saturday performance will be dedicated to Carolyn Curry and Cliff Haislipcq, UALR theater faculty members who have retired.

Date: 1 1/18/97 Category: News Page: B3 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STEVE KEESEE Dark star -- for now Edwin Vasquez, an employee of Little Rock philanthropist Jennings Osborne, works Monday in front of the state Capitol atop one of two 1 00-foot light displays designed to look like Christmas trees. As the holiday season nears, Osborne's work crew is dividing its time among displays Osborne donated at the Capitol, downtown Little Rock's River Market and Hot Springs.

Skating rink starts to gel downtown Date: 11/30/97 Category: News Page: B1 BY BRIAN COFER ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE With a truckload of aluminum panels, workers on Saturday began transforming a downtown Little Rock pavilion into a scene reminiscent of New York's Rockefeller Center. By Tuesday, the normally concrete-floored pavilion behind the River Market will be layered in ice to create a skating rink amid holiday lights. "We've been calling it Little Rockefeller Center," joked Wayne Ashabraner, marketing director for Southwestern Bell, which paid for the project. The current balmy weather and the average Arkansan's lack of skating expertise might make it a poor copy of the Big Apple. But let the mercury climb. The ice should hold, said Lee Armstrong with California-based Bietek, which is installing the rink. "Well, it should do all right in this weather," he said, perhaps a little uncertainly as Saturday morning temperatures climbed well into the 60s. "At least [the pavilion] is covered. That helps." The 56 interconnected 20-foot-long panels contain tubes through which heat exchange solution runs. When water is poured on the panels, the constantly moving solution freezes the water by extracting its heat. To make the 1.5 inches of ice needed for skating, workers must spray a thin coating of water onto the panels until it freezes, then repeat the process over and over to ensure an even surface. In all, 7,000 gallons of water will be needed for the 2,800 square feet. When it opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday, it should comfortably accommodate about 100 skaters at once, said Carol Dolan, administrative assistant for the city's Parks and Recreation Department. "This is something we can say that Arkansas has never seen," Dolan said. "In the past you had to go to other cities, but now it's right here in Little Rock." The rink will be the centerpiece of a holiday extravaganza on the riverfront. Next to the ice will be a spectacle set up by perennial Christmas light enthusiast Jennings Osborne. Through Dec. 20, the area also will be the scene of a holiday boat parade, a concert and a global cultural celebration. Through Dec. 21, the rink will be open 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. From Dec. 22 through Jan. 4, hours will expand to noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. The rink will close Mondays. Admission will be free Wednesdays. The $3 admission on other days will go to the Mayor's Christmas Tree Fund. The fund benefts the American Red Cross, Anderson's Taekwondo, Arthritis Foundation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Volunteers in Public Schools and Watershed Get Ready Program.

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