1. Check out the farmers markets:
Hillcrest Farmers Market
When: 7 a.m.-noon Saturdays
Where: 2200 block of Kavanaugh in front of Pulaski Heights Baptist
Info: 661-1129, PHBCLR.com
Plus: Get lunch at one of the food trucks parked in the area.
Bernice Garden Farmers Market
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays
Where: 1402 S. Main in SoMa
Info: 617-2511, or find them on Facebook
Plus: Public art and nearby shops add to the fun vibe.
Little Rock Farmers Market
When: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays
Where: River Market Pavilions
Info: 375-2552, RiverMarket.info
Plus: This 40-year-old market also carries handmade arts and crafts.
Westover Hills Farmers Market
When: 4-7 p.m. Tuesdays
Where: 6400 Kavanaugh in the Heights
Info: 663-6383, or find them on Facebook
Plus: Catch dinner at one of more than a dozen great restaurants nearby.
Argenta Farmers Market
When: 7 a.m.-noon Saturdays
Where: Main Street in Argenta
Info: 831-7881, [email protected]
Plus: Shoppers can also enjoy an artisan market and live music.
2. Enjoy an iced drink at Café Brunelle or Boulevard Bread Co.
It’s no secret that at Soirée, we run on coffee. And there’s no better place to get our caffeine fix than at Café Brunelle in west Little Rock and Boulevard Bread in the Heights or on Main Street. Our summer beverages of choice? The iced americano at Café Brunelle and the iced mocha at Boulevard. Strong and refreshing, these cool coffee drinks are what dreams are made of.
Café Brunelle: 448-2687 / CafeBrunelle.com
Boulevard Bread: 663-5951 / BoulevardBread.com
3. Shop at Third Thursdays
During this monthly event in the Heights, stores are open until 8 p.m. There’s also music, hors d’oeuvres and drinks, sales and specials. InTheHeightsLR.com
4. See a flick at Movies in the Park
A free outdoor summer movie series, Movies in the Park is one of our favorite summertime events. Movies begin at sundown each Wednesday in June and July and are held in the Riverfest Amphitheatre. This year’s lineup includes classics like “Ghostbusters” and “The Goonies” with newer flicks like “Iron Man 3.” Picnics are encouraged and alcohol is allowed, but glass containers are prohibited. Concessions are also available for purchase. Bring a blanket and some bug spray! MoviesInTheParkLR.net
5. Enjoy an iced lollie at Le Pops
Day or night, Le Pops in the Heights is always a good decision. We love the blackberry vanilla and salted caramel cream pops, but Le Pops also serves ice-based pops and shaved ice.
313-9558 / LePops.com
6. Chow Down at Food Truck Fridays
A project of the Downtown LR Partnership, Main Street Food Truck Fridays takes place from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. each Friday at the corner of Main and Capitol. Food truck lineups are posted weekly on the Festival’s Facebook page, so check back regularly. The lineup often includes favorites like Loblolly Creamery and Waffle Wagon.
Facebook.com/MainStreetFoodTruckFestival
7. Dine on one of the city’s best patios
There’s really nothing like enjoying dinner and drinks al fresco on a summer evening. Fortunately, Little Rock is home to plenty of great restaurants with really fab patios. Some of our favorites: Brave New (amazing river views), U.S. Pizza in Hillcrest (people watching), Loca Luna (intimate), Cache (twinkling downtown lights), YaYa’s (go from dining to shopping in .02 seconds) and Big Orange (midtown is our fave).
8. Watch a performance at The Rep
The only professional, nonprofit theater of its size within 300 miles of Little Rock, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre is a top-notch performance venue with comfy seats, and dark, cool theaters. It’s the perfect summer hideout. From June 3-21, catch a performance of “August: Osage County,” which The Rep describes as “a darkly comedic portrait of the dysfunctional American family at its finest — and absolute worst.” Yep, that’s our kind of performance.
378-0405 / TheRep.org
9. Go to First Thursday Shop & Sip
Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, Hillcrest merchants and restaurants stay open late and offer sales, entertainment, nibbles and drinks. Vendors include everything from local shops and boutiques, to craftsmen, selling handmade goods.
666-3600 / HillcrestMerchants.net
10. Eat at the Westover Hills Food Truck Festival
The second Wednesday of each month, food trucks gather at 6400 Kavanaugh in the Heights (same as Westover Hills Farmers Market), from 5-9 p.m., for Westover Wednesdays. Participating food trucks include greats like Southern Salt, Waffle Wagon and Katmandu MoMo. WestoverHills.org
11. Play ball
Or actually, watch ball at an Arkansas Travelers Baseball Game at North Little Rock’s Dickey-Stephens Park. This $38 million facility boasts wide-open concourses, comfortable seating, luxury boxes for rent, a party deck, a beer garden and a restaurant. The Travelers have been playing ball since 1901, giving them one of the longest running histories of any minor league franchise. Even if watching live sports isn’t your thing, there’s nothing like getting a beer and a brat and relaxing in the stands. Travs.com
12. Cool off at the Arkansas Arts Center
The temperature in the AAC is always perfect, but it’s not the only thing that’s cool. The AAC is known for one of the world’s most unique collections of works on paper, including sheets by Cézanne, van Gogh, Pollock, O’Keeffe, Rembrandt and more. Plus, the center hosts amazing traveling exhibits, like this summer’s “30 Americans,” which features pieces by some of the most important African American artists of the last four decades, and the “54th Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition,” showcasing pieces by students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
372-4000 / ArkArts.com
13. Catch a breeze on one of the city’s pedestrian bridges
A part of the Arkansas River Trail System, four pedestrian bridges — Two Rivers Park Bridge, Junction Bridge, Clinton Presidential Park Bridge and the Big Dam Bridge — each offer unique river views and cool breezes. At night, you can even enjoy a light show on the Clinton and Junction Bridges. ArkansasRiverTrail.org
14. Celebrate Independence at Pops on the River
Nothing says summer like big, loud, beautiful fireworks. And our swell city has got us covered with Pops on the River. Held annually on the Fourth of July, the Pops on the River celebration begins at noon with kids activities, a classic car show, shopping, food trucks and more. Later, there’s a concert performed by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and the fireworks show begins at 9:30 p.m. Pops.ArkansasOnline.com