ngn little rock, may 2014
TRANSCRIPT
by Lacy Morris ~ photographs by nancy noLan
ma
p: e
ry
nn
ha
ss
ing
er
t r a v e l + c u l t u r e s o u t h w e s t
N e x t G r e at N e i G h b o r h o o d
The soul of this once-forgotten stomping
grounds for neighborly love shines
through a storied past
street view outside Boulevard Bread
Company
1. Community
Bakery
standing as the heart of
this neighborhood since
the fifties, this cozy bistro
is a go-to spot to splurge
on French silk pie ($3.50/
slice), an apple fritter
($3.50/slice), or bread
pudding with rum sauce
($3.25). Though you’ll love
the small treats, special-
occasion cakes such as
german chocolate and
lemon buttercream ($17.50)
are CB’s bread and butter.
communitybakery.com
2. the BerniCe
garden
sprinkled with whimsical
sculptures made of
various materials by local
artisans, this vibrant com-
munity greenspace hosts
sunday farmers’ markets
for Little rock locavores.
The garden is also home
to the annual arkansas
Cornbread Festival, where
the southern staple is
open for interpretation
by 20-plus competitors.
thebernicegarden.org
3. esse purse
museum
Owner and soma mover
and shaker (she also owns
The Bernice garden) anita
Davis displays her 300-
piece handbag collection
alongside contents that
are commonly found
within—think cat-eye
sunglasses next to a fifties
poodle purse. in the gift
shop, find high-end,
handmade, and vintage
purses and jewelry, all
designed by women.
$10; essepursemuseum.com
p 4. Boulevard
Bread Company
This laid-back bakery is a
one-stop shop for summer
picnics. Loaves such as
ciabatta ($5.25), sourdough
($5.75), and pagnotta
($5.75) are baked fresh
daily and served alongside
salt-cured pancetta
($5.25), house-made
pimiento cheese ($5.95/
half pint), and farm-fresh
salads (from $7.25) and
sandwiches (from $5).
boulevardbread.com
l i t t l e r o C k e r s a r e v e n t u r i n g o u t
of the highly developed downtown banks of the
Arkansas River and heading for the close-knit
community of Southside Main Street. Nearly 60
years have passed since the desegregation of the
neighborhood’s Central High School and “white
flight” left SoMa to stand as a desolate reminder
of the city’s darkest hour. Now, folks have moved
in and set up shop along the art-lined streets,
which are slated to have new bike lanes installed
later this year. It’s all the more reason to visit one
of our favorite emerging neighborhoods.
little rock’s
soMa
S.
Ma
in S
tre
et
W. 12th Street
W. 13th Street
E. 14th Street
E. 15th Street
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t r a v e l + c u l t u r e s o u t h w e s t i n s i d e r
5. sweet home
Furnishings &
Clement
arkansas natives John Bell
and Chris Clement opened
this quirky store stuffed
full of oddities and collect-
ibles found in antiques
stores, flea markets, and
estate sales around the
region. The artful arrange-
ments feature pieces
for vintage-lovers, like a
full-scale model of the
spinal cord and a glittering
1870s French chandelier.
sweethomefurnishings.net
p 6. the green
Corner store &
soda Fountain
Little rock’s first eco-store
stocks everything from
soaps and soy candles
to greeting cards and
pickling kits. Loblolly
Creamery (loblolly
creamery.com), the in-
house soda fountain,
churns out small-batch ice
creams such as rum raisin
and Buttermilk (from
$3.50), scooped on top of
hand-rolled waffle cones.
thegreencornerstore.com
8. the root CaFe
Jack and Corri sundell
spent three years prepping
to open their vibrant tribute
to local ingredients—and
due to the support of the
local community, did so
debt free. Fan favorites are
the burger ($7.75) with beef
from nearby simon Farm
served on an arkansas
Fresh Bakery bun and the
bratwurst served “old
world” or “state fair” style
($7.25). therootcafe.com
p 7. south
on main
Chef matthew Bell, for-
merly of the Capital hotel,
opened this culinary ode
to southern cuisine last
year in conjunction with
the literati-favorite Oxford
American magazine. every
Wednesday night, dine
out while Local Live (a free
concert series showcasing
the best music talent in
the area) takes the stage.
southonmain.com
The front waiting area at south on main restaurant