AY Magazine - July 2012

North by Northwest: Meridienne Dessert Salon & Café

“The cake world was exploding,” Varney said. “There was a new awareness about what was possible in the pastry world, so I started catering to that crowd, and it was a nice niche for me.”

By Millie Alderman

P. Allen Smith: Healthy Living and the Best of Summer

There is nothing like nutritious, homegrown fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs and meat of all kinds from this farm of mine in Arkansas. I’d like to share some ways that you can add farm-fresh goodness to your life as well as a few of my easy summertime recipes from the garden.

By P. Allen Smith

Branson in the good ol' Summertime...

If you’re looking for outdoor fun, fishing, water sports, championship golf, live music shows, world class attractions and dining, “come on down” to Branson for fantastic family fun!

By Linda Burlingame

Excursion Spotlight: Returning to Our Roots

The South Main Street neighborhood in Little Rock, Ark., is enjoying a renaissance, a renewed energy. One of the most popular anchors is a small eatery whose owners have espoused simplicity and good taste, The Root.

By Angela E. Thomas

Murder: Blood Will Tell

One night in June 1990, while visiting her parents in Pineville, La., 33-year-old Treva Parks awoke from a nightmare so disturbing that she ran from her room and sought the comfort of her mother’s arms. She had dreamed that a man was chasing her with a knife. Just two weeks later, the bad dream was a premonition come true.

By Janie Jones

Final Thoughts

It’s hot. So this month I’m offering up a smorgasbord of bite-sized chunks that can be consumed between sips from a sweating glass of iced tea or lemonade. Bon appétit!

By Sonny Rhodes

Powerful Men 2012

This year’s Powerful Men have impacted their industries and the state through their dedication to their careers, families and the community at large. See and learn about this year's 12.

Compiled by AY Staff

Green Living: A Fourth of July That's Red, White, Blue & Green

This Fourth of July lets use our sense of GREEN to make our Cookouts better for the environment. Here are helpful and easy tips to turn our patriotic parties into green parties.

By Eliza Borné

North by Northwest: Pigshibition-Pigs Occupy Fayetteville

Pigshibition (n): an art exhibit throughout the streets of Fayetteville featuring hand-painted fiberglass pigs by local artists in support of literacy.

By Millie Alderman

Art Scene: ‘Best of the South’ Exhibition and Sale

Original works by some of the South’s finest artists — both living and not — can be found all under one roof this month at the “Best of the South” Exhibition and Sale at Greg Thompson Fine Art Gallery in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

By Tracy Courage

Excursion: A Southern Sonoma

Arkansans are fortunate to not have to travel all the way to California or Italy to experience wine country — it’s all in their own backyard.

By Amy Bowers

North by Northwest: Law Enforcement Make The Best PALS

To kids, the police can be one of two things: scary and intimidating or a protector and someone they respect. The Police Athletic League of Benton County (PAL) hopes to create trust and understanding between police officers and youth by utilizing educational, athletic and recreational activities.

By Millie Alderman

Arts’ Legacy

Last summer, organizers of the Art Porter Music Education (APME) Foundation honored the lives and talent of Art Porter Sr. and Art Porter Jr. with a week of events. This year, July 30 through Aug. 4, the APME board of directors hopes to continue to build the Porter legacy.

By Angela E. Thomas

Dwell: Mediterranean Meets Modern

Bryan and Heather Austin built their dream home overlooking the Arkansas River, on the site where Bryan proposed to Heather...and now they are able to entertain friends and family while enjoying the good life.

By Amy Bowers

Guide to Good Health

This year's Guide to Good Health features exercise advice — including yoga positions for relaxation — picnic safety, foods to help you sleep and lose weight, and more.

Money: Financing a College Education

It happens in the blink of an eye … your baby bird is about to leave the nest, ready to embark on the next phase of life: college. The average cost of this next phase, as of 2011, is $100,000. As proud as you may be — and as ready as your young adult may be — how can you be financially prepared?

By Glenn Buercklin

All Through Your House with Tobi Fairley

Welcome to “All Through Your House” with Tobi Fairley, a yearlong design journey to help you make your home more beautiful … NEXT STOP — Home Office.

By Tobi Fairley

Tales From The South: The Last Days of Ray Winder Field

On a muggy Thursday night in July 2006, program in hand, I took a seat in the bleachers behind home plate at Little Rock’s Ray Winder Field, home of the Arkansas Travelers, a Double-A minor-league baseball team. The Wurlitzer was pumping out the chestnut “Here We Go, Travelers, Here We Go!".

By Jay Jennings

My Opinion: Woulda Coulda Shoulda

Someone recently asked me what advice I would offer to my very own Teen-aged Self — if such a thing were possible — from the very lofty and extremely-wise perch on which I find myself today.

By Jill Conner Browne

Sports: Dive Arkansas

It might surprise you to learn that there are more than 30 scuba diving spots to explore in Arkansas, including clear lakes and deep quarries. Arkansas has some of the most beautiful lakes and streams in the country. Come explore the blue waters of the Natural State.

By Zoie Clift, travel writer, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Create: Fun to Eat Frozen Treats

The world of cool treats is wide and deep — ices, ice creams, gelatos, sorbets, granitas, sherbets — there are so many ways to use fresh ingredients to create refreshing treats.

By Faith Anaya

Indulge: Swimmingly Well

This summer’s swimsuit trends are daring and darling with color and cut taking center stage.

	North by Northwest: Meridienne Dessert Salon & Café “The cake world was exploding,” Varney said. “There was a new awareness about what was possible in the pastry world, so I started catering to that crowd, and it was a nice niche for me.” By Millie Alderman
	P. Allen Smith: Healthy Living and the Best of Summer There is nothing like nutritious, homegrown fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs and meat of all kinds from this farm of mine in Arkansas. I’d like to share some ways that you can add farm-fresh goodness to your life as well as a few of my easy summertime recipes from the garden. By P. Allen Smith
	Branson in the good ol' Summertime... If you’re looking for outdoor fun, fishing, water sports, championship golf, live music shows, world class attractions and dining, “come on down” to Branson for fantastic family fun! By Linda Burlingame
	Excursion Spotlight: Returning to Our Roots The South Main Street neighborhood in Little Rock, Ark., is enjoying a renaissance, a renewed energy. One of the most popular anchors is a small eatery whose owners have espoused simplicity and good taste, The Root. By Angela E. Thomas
	Murder: Blood Will Tell One night in June 1990, while visiting her parents in Pineville, La., 33-year-old Treva Parks awoke from a nightmare so disturbing that she ran from her room and sought the comfort of her mother’s arms. She had dreamed that a man was chasing her with a knife. Just two weeks later, the bad dream was a premonition come true. By Janie Jones
	Final Thoughts It’s hot. So this month I’m offering up a smorgasbord of bite-sized chunks that can be consumed between sips from a sweating glass of iced tea or lemonade. Bon appétit! By Sonny Rhodes
	Powerful Men 2012 This year’s Powerful Men have impacted their industries and the state through their dedication to their careers, families and the community at large. See and learn about this year's 12. Compiled by AY Staff
	Green Living: A Fourth of July That's Red, White, Blue & Green This Fourth of July lets use our sense of GREEN to make our Cookouts better for the environment. Here are helpful and easy tips to turn our patriotic parties into green parties. By Eliza Borné
	North by Northwest: Pigshibition-Pigs Occupy Fayetteville Pigshibition (n): an art exhibit throughout the streets of Fayetteville featuring hand-painted fiberglass pigs by local artists in support of literacy. By Millie Alderman
	Art Scene: ‘Best of the South’ Exhibition and Sale Original works by some of the South’s finest artists — both living and not — can be found all under one roof this month at the “Best of the South” Exhibition and Sale at Greg Thompson Fine Art Gallery in North Little Rock, Arkansas. By Tracy Courage
	Excursion: A Southern Sonoma Arkansans are fortunate to not have to travel all the way to California or Italy to experience wine country — it’s all in their own backyard. By Amy Bowers
	North by Northwest: Law Enforcement Make The Best PALS To kids, the police can be one of two things: scary and intimidating or a protector and someone they respect. The Police Athletic League of Benton County (PAL) hopes to create trust and understanding between police officers and youth by utilizing educational, athletic and recreational activities. By Millie Alderman
	Arts’ Legacy Last summer, organizers of the Art Porter Music Education (APME) Foundation honored the lives and talent of Art Porter Sr. and Art Porter Jr. with a week of events. This year, July 30 through Aug. 4, the APME board of directors hopes to continue to build the Porter legacy. By Angela E. Thomas
	Dwell: Mediterranean Meets Modern Bryan and Heather Austin built their dream home overlooking the Arkansas River, on the site where Bryan proposed to Heather...and now they are able to entertain friends and family while enjoying the good life. By Amy Bowers
	Guide to Good Health This year's Guide to Good Health features exercise advice — including yoga positions for relaxation — picnic safety, foods to help you sleep and lose weight, and more.
	Money: Financing a College Education It happens in the blink of an eye … your baby bird is about to leave the nest, ready to embark on the next phase of life: college. The average cost of this next phase, as of 2011, is $100,000. As proud as you may be — and as ready as your young adult may be — how can you be financially prepared? By Glenn Buercklin
	All Through Your House with Tobi Fairley Welcome to “All Through Your House” with Tobi Fairley, a yearlong design journey to help you make your home more beautiful … NEXT STOP — Home Office. By Tobi Fairley
	Tales From The South: The Last Days of Ray Winder Field On a muggy Thursday night in July 2006, program in hand, I took a seat in the bleachers behind home plate at Little Rock’s Ray Winder Field, home of the Arkansas Travelers, a Double-A minor-league baseball team. The Wurlitzer was pumping out the chestnut “Here We Go, Travelers, Here We Go!". By Jay Jennings
	My Opinion: Woulda Coulda Shoulda Someone recently asked me what advice I would offer to my very own Teen-aged Self — if such a thing were possible — from the very lofty and extremely-wise perch on which I find myself today. By Jill Conner Browne
	Sports: Dive Arkansas It might surprise you to learn that there are more than 30 scuba diving spots to explore in Arkansas, including clear lakes and deep quarries. Arkansas has some of the most beautiful lakes and streams in the country. Come explore the blue waters of the Natural State. By Zoie Clift, travel writer, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
	Create: Fun to Eat Frozen Treats The world of cool treats is wide and deep — ices, ice creams, gelatos, sorbets, granitas, sherbets — there are so many ways to use fresh ingredients to create refreshing treats. By Faith Anaya
	Indulge: Swimmingly Well This summer’s swimsuit trends are daring and darling with color and cut taking center stage.