Downtown features Food Truck Fridays, Youth Market

Submitted photos SHOP LOCAL: Adam and Briana Moore have introduced Red Light Roastery to the market with fresh-roasted coffee in a variety of flavors, including Columbia Excelso, Ethiopia Yirgaceffe and Costa Rican, while Linda and Matt Mack provide market patrons with fresh vegetables straight from the Mack farm, including fresh okra, yellow squash and sweet banana peppers.
Submitted photos SHOP LOCAL: Adam and Briana Moore have introduced Red Light Roastery to the market with fresh-roasted coffee in a variety of flavors, including Columbia Excelso, Ethiopia Yirgaceffe and Costa Rican, while Linda and Matt Mack provide market patrons with fresh vegetables straight from the Mack farm, including fresh okra, yellow squash and sweet banana peppers.

The monthly Food Truck Fridays: A Farm to Fender Event will serve both the lunch and dinner crowds from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Hot Springs Farmers & Artisans Market, 121 Orange St.

Vendors are asked to focus on quick turnaround for lunch crowds, with a more leisurely pace at dinner for market patrons to savor the experience, listen to the music and enjoy the opportunity to meet and talk with neighbors.

Entertainment will include Rick McKean, performing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. McKean plays many different styles, from rock to country, and his biggest influences are troubadours such as James Taylor, Bob Seger and Jim Croce. His set list includes such hits as "Fire and Rain," "Night Moves," "Operator" and hundreds of others. He said he takes pride in the fact that he plays classic songs that the crowd wants to hear, and his jovial personality and quick humor make him even more entertaining.

Bringing wide-ranging influences and international flair to the stage is The Smittle Band from Little Rock, performing from 5-7:30 p.m. Stephanie Smittle, songwriter and lead vocalist, shares the stage with Wythe Walker on guitar, Ray Wittenberg on drums and Bill McCumber on bass.

The group's first CD, "Bright Street," was released in 2010 and its follow-up, "Tales From Tattletown," was released in late 2012. TV and radio appearances include KUAR's "Live at Laman" series, AETN's "Front Row" series, and Oxford, Mississippi's Thacker Mountain Radio. Smittle studied in Italy as an Oberlin Conservatory scholar.

This month's featured vendors include:

• Bionic Grasshopper, from Sheridan, highlighting a variety of unique wraps and sandwiches including Caribbean Jerk and Italian Chicken.

• Desiac's Sandwiches, serving shrimp po'boys, loaded fries, and pulled chicken.

• Flossie's Funnel Cakes, serving corn dogs, funnel cakes, lemonade and cotton candy.

• Itz Gůd Füd, partnering with several local farmers to feature gluten-, chemical- and hormone-free arepas for lunch and crepes and soup for dinner.

• Kristina's, bringing the "Big Easy" to town with red beans and rice, jambalaya and Cajun gumbo.

• L.A. Taco, a local favorite, offering authentic Latin food creations including tacos, tortas, guaraches, and tostadas.

• Mug Shots Express, serving a variety of Italian sodas, teas, iced coffees and ades.

• New Orleans Style Shaved Ice.

• The Lunch box, serving stuffed wings, fried catfish, pork chops and other favorites.

Food Truck Fridays is supported by the City of Hot Springs, presented by Citizens Bank and hosted by the Farmers & Artisans Market.

Blankets, lawn chairs, Frisbees, dogs on leashes with waste disposal bags, and bug spray are allowed.

Ice chests, glass containers, alcohol and cigarettes are prohibited.

The sixth annual Seeds of Peace Festival opens at 9 a.m. Saturday to celebrate the United Nations General Assembly declaration of The International Day of Peace in 1981. The local festival, hosted by R.E.G.A.R.D., focuses on what the population can do in the community to promote peace. Market patrons can celebrate the event at the Greenway Trail next to the Market by visiting more than 20 stations holding peace building activities, local music, meditation walk, and power yoga.

Youth Market supports youths in the community as they learn important lessons about running their own small business. Children ages 8-18 may register online to sell their homemade, homegrown and handmade items to customers with no vendor fee.

Emergent Arts offers opportunities for local artists from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Lanie Carlson will engage audiences with interactive storytelling for those of all ages with imaginations big and small and extreme balloon artist Jamel the Magician will charm the local youths of the community as he wanders the market starting at 10 a.m.

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Submitted photo - Linda Mack

Vendors also include Linda and Matt Mack, who have been in the vegetable business for more than 26 years. With a new tractor to aid in producing their fall crop, the public can expect to see big things from their booth. Currently in season and directly coming from the Macks' farm is fresh okra, yellow squash and sweet banana peppers. They also have pecan brittle, peanut brittle and pear preserves. Their winter market will offer kale, purple hull peas, cabbage, broccoli, green onions and beets.

When searching for that perfect cup of freshly roasted coffee, market patrons need look no further than Adam and Briana Moore's Red Light Roastery. Adam Moore said in a news release that he "sources the coffee beans for taste and freshness," and experiments with small batches until he finds the perfect level of roasting. Some of their current flavors include Columbia Excelso, Ethiopia Yirgaceffe and Costa Rican, which has tangy, sugary caramel and lime flavors.

Selection changes based on bean availability. Fresh roasting takes place every Tuesday and beans are also available at their shop from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 1003 Park Ave.

Birth Central Doulas, a wellness agency providing informational, emotional and physical support for growing families, is back again this week for the next installment of their informative sessions. This week the group will touch on comfort techniques in pregnancy, labor and beyond from 10-10:30 a.m. Through doula services, birth education classes, belly-casting and more, the organization seeks to help both new and seasoned parents achieve their best possible experience.

Hot Springs natives Tyler Glass, August Allan, Kyle Rash and Kyle Blackstone will take the stage at 9 a.m. with their newly-formed band, Theeves.

Local band Otherwise will take the stage next with an acoustic set at the Seeds of Peace festival at 11 a.m. with David Stone on bass, Robbie Stem on drums, Nancy Silver on violin and Jerry Matlock on acoustic guitar. The band will play all original music with positive, life-enhancing themes.

The gates into the pavilion area will be closed to provide a safe environment for pedestrian traffic.

Accessible parking will be designated near the curb cutouts and sidewalks.

General parking is available north of the pavilion on Orange Street and south of the pavilion on Broadway Street. Parking is free.

The Tuesday evening market will continue this week from 4-7 p.m. at the pavilion.

Entertainment on 09/25/2015

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