Date: February 18, 2020 | Photography: Taylor O'Dell |
Local boutiques, history-rich parks and museums, and larger-than-life murals make this border town one to visit | A Special At Home in Arkansas Promotion
Above: Murals by Australian artist Guido van Helten on grain towers at the OK Foods feed mill depict three Fort Smith locals.
Belle Starr Antiques & Vintage Market
Explore more than 9,000 square feet of vintage curiosities and midcentury finds at this antique mall named for one of the American West’s most notorious outlaws. With more than 80 booths, you’ll always be able to find something “new to you.” bellestarrantiques.com
Card + Cloth
At home in GreenPointe Shopping Center, this boutique is a combination of its owners formerly separate stores—one selling women’s clothing, the other specializing in stationery. The two joined forces in 2018 and since then, Card + Cloth has been a go-to for apparel, accessories, gifts, and paper goods. cardandclothshop.com
Creative Kitchen
First opened in 1988, Creative Kitchen is a staple for gourmet food and culinary goods in the region. Beyond kitchen gadgets and tableware, the store offers cupcakes, petit fours, and cookies for those who prefer to leave the baking to others. creativekitchenstore.com
Fort Smith Coffee Co.
With two locations—one downtown and the other in The Shops at BrickCity—you have double the opportunity to sample a cup of this locally roasted brew. Keep an eye out for special drinks, like basil lemonade in the summer and spiced apple cider in the winter, which are added to the menu seasonally. fortsmithcoffeeco.com
Fort Smith Little Theatre
This community theater produces six full-run productions a year, plus several shorter off-season shows. The 2020 season includes A Southern Exposure opening April 16
as well as family favorite Annie, which opens July 30. fslt.org
Fort Smith Museum of History
Founded in 1910, the Fort Smith Museum of History was established to preserve and share information about the city’s history, including more than 40,000 artifacts connected to Fort Smith. While visiting, see the nearby Fort Smith National Historic Site. fortsmithmuseum.org
Fort Smith Regional Art Museum
This art museum shows exhibits by local, regional, and international artists. “A Family Affair: Three Artists, Three Visions, One Family” is a new exhibit opening March 13 that features work from Arkansans Dede Hutcheson and her daughters, Robyn Horn and Karen Hutcheson. fsram.org
Majestic
Though recently rebranded, this venue has been hosting live music since the 1990s under a host of owners and aliases—most recently, The Sound Room up until spring 2019. This month, mark your calendars for singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle (March 5), folk/Americana guitarist James McMurtry (March 18), and four-piece string band Arkansauce (March 21). majesticfortsmith.com
The Park at West End
In late April, the Park at West End re-opens its gates for the season. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy Ferris wheel rides, an Italian carousel, and concessions. The brick wall standing high above one edge of the park plays host to a piece of art by renowned street artist D*Face, who visited Fort Smith as part of The Unexpected art event. fortsmith.org/the-park-at-west-end
Riverfront Skate & Bike Park
Part of Fort Smith’s ever-growing riverfront is the skate and bike park, opened in fall 2018. This addition boasts a 12-foot vertical wall, Plexiglass wall, and a mountain bike playground—plus, it connects to the 7-mile multi-use Greg Smith River Trail. fortsmith.org/riverfront-skate-bike-park
Rolando’s Nuevo Latino Restaurante
The Fort Smith location of this Latin eatery is the original of three statewide. Its menu includes all the classics Americans have come to expect at their favorite Mexican restaurants, but served with Ecuadorian and Argentinian influences, as well. rolandosrestaurant.com
Taliano’s Italian Restaurant
Taliano’s has been serving authentic Italian dishes, from pastas and chicken piccata to tiramisu for dessert, since it first opened in 1970. The menu also includes a generous wine list and vegetarian offerings. talianos.net
The Unexpected
In 2020, The Unexpected enters its sixth year bringing urban artists to Fort Smith to brighten the landscape with murals across downtown. While the project culminates with a festival in October, the murals remain up year-round and can be visited with a self-guided walking tour. Visit unexpectedfs.com for a map to see for yourself.
EXPLORE THE STATE
Crossroad Festival
March 7 // Pine Bluff
This year’s activities are themed around family stories and women of the Arkansas Delta. The free event takes place at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. asc701.org
The Temptations & The Four Tops
March 9 // Little Rock
Get ready to boogie when two of the greatest Motown acts come to Robinson Center. Tickets are $44-$79, and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. robinsoncenter.com
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
March 10 // Conway
The story of the songwriter’s life, love, and career is told through her music in this Grammy Award-winning musical. The traveling show begins at 7:30 p.m at Reynolds Auditorium at UCA. tickets.uca.edu
27th annual Camden Daffodil Festival
March 13-14 // Camden
Three showcase gardens offer opportunities to walk among thousands of daffodil blooms during this annual fest. Garden tours begin at First United Methodist Church downtown. camdendaffodilfestival.com
World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 17 // Hot Springs
Grand marshal Cheech Marin, St. Louis Cardinal mascot “Fredbird,” and Shamrock King and Queen Tim Culbreth and Cindy Baswell are several of the personalities joining the annual parade in downtown Hot Springs. shorteststpats.com
The Legendary Pacers
March 26 // El Dorado
The early rock ’n’ roll band plays at 8 p.m. at Griffin Restaurant as part of the Murphy Arts District’s Thursday Night Live lineup. Cover is $5, or free for MAD members. eldomad.com
