Snow, snow, go away. Come again, um, never. Though old man winter keeps trying to bring us down, this weekend brings with it one sign of spring that can’t be denied: daylight savings time. We’ll lose an hour of weekend bliss, but rest assured we can fill the remaining hours with plenty of fun events. There are trunk shows and art shows, festivals, food events, fundraisers and so much more.
Friday (March 6)
Cantrell Gallery Benefit for CARE, 8206 Cantrell Road, Little Rock: Attention all animal lovers! During a special, limited-time exhibit, Cantrell Gallery will feature the art of R.S. Perry and donate 70 percent of proceeds from sales to Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals (CARE), whose mission is to rescue animals, raise awareness for spaying and neutering and advise local animal shelters on animal welfare issues. The gallery is hosting a special opening night reception from 6-8 p.m. this Friday, weather permitting. Check the gallery’s Facebook page for updates.
*Update: Due to complications cause by the weather (ugh), the decision was made to postpone this reception until Tuesday, March 10.
M2 Gallery’s Anniversary Show, Pleasant Ridge Town Center, 11525 Cantrell Road, Suite 918, Little Rock: Speaking of art, M2 Gallery in Pleasant Ridge is celebrating eight years of business. To mark the occasion, the gallery is hosting an anniversary show from 6-9 p.m. this Friday and will debut the work of international artist Sabine Danze of Paris. Works by local artists–V.L. Cox and former Woman to Watch Lisa Krannichfeld–will also be on display, and guests can enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks. For more info, contact Mac Murphy at 225-M2LR or email m2gallery@hotmail.com.
Catherine Page Trunk Show at B. Barnett, Pavilion in the Park, 8201 Cantrell Road, Little Rock: If you’re looking to add a little spring pop to your jewelry wardrobe, don’t miss B. Barnett’s Catherine Page Trunk show this Friday, Saturday and Monday. Page’s pieces are exclusive to the fashion boutique and incorporate stunning natural stone, vibrant fibers and gold accents to create a truly unique line of baubles. For more info, click here.
Julie Vos and Christine A. Moore Millinery Trunk Shows at Barbara/Jean, 7811 Cantrell Road, Little Rock: Featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Real Simple and more, Julie Vos’s jewelry line features semi-precious stones paired with luxe gold. See them for yourself and try on a few new looks at Barbara/Jean this Thursday and Friday. For more info, click here.
You know you’re going to need a few fancy hats for all of spring’s garden parties and soirées. Get a jump start on the party season and visit internationally known hat designer Christine A. Moore at Barbara/Jean on Friday. Her spring 2015 line, which features feminine silhouettes and bright pops of color, will be available for you to peruse. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to mingle with the designer herself. Find out more here.
Friday-Sunday (March 6-8)
Lanterns! Festival at Wildwood Park for the Arts, 20919 Denny Road, Little Rock: This annual deep-winter festival returns to Wildwood this weekend. Now in its seventh year, the nighttime celebration will showcase the park lit with luminaries and fire pits, winding around six areas designed to represent six different cultures: Ireland, Asia, Mexico, Austria, 1950s America and Shakespeare’s England. Guests will enjoy food and entertainment that evokes the spirit of each culture. The gates open at 6 p.m. each night. Find out more about the weekend’s festival here.
Saturday-Sunday (March 7-8)
Menchie’s Grand Opening, 17801 Chenal Parkway, Suite B, Little Rock: We don’t care what the fahrenheit says; froyo is our fave all year long. And lucky for us (and you, of course), there’s a new frozen yogurt spot in town: Menchie’s. Located in The Promenade at Chenal, Menchie’s is celebrating its grand opening with different perks each day from Saturday, March 7 through Friday, March 13. The sweet lineup includes free and discounted froyo, free t-shirts and more. Let your cup runneth over. Click here for more info.
Saturday (March 7)
Reclaimed Helena Kickstarter Push Party, Domestic Domestic, 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd., Suite C, Little Rock: Domestic Domestic in the Heights is all about American-made and Arkansas-made, and so are we. From noon to 3 p.m. this Saturday, the store is hosting a “push party” with cocktails and cookies for Reclaimed Helena’s upcoming Kickstarter campaign. Locally owned, Reclaimed Helena takes salvaged wood from the Delta and turns it into stylish new furniture pieces. Come out and support this Arkansas company, nibble on cookies and learn more. Find more details here.
Bolly Holi Day at CALS’ Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Ave., Little Rock: Holi is a popular Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of spring, and the Central Arkansas Library System is marking the occasion in a big way. On Saturday, March 7, CALS is hosting a day of Bollywood films at its Ron Robinson Theater. The trio of films, all of which are Hindi with English subtitles, will begin at noon and run through 5:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Find out more here.
ESSE Purse Museum’s Common Threads Opening Reception, 1510 S. Main St., Little Rock: On Saturday, March 7, a new exhibit is opening at ESSE Purse Museum in SoMa. “Common Threads” is said to honor the common feminine threads of creation, inspiration, sewing and family tradition that tie generations together and weave the rich, mysterious fabric of life. Works on display include mandalas made of jewelry, buttons and beads by Dallas artist Pamela Nelson; 20 steel wire replicas of artist Chelsye Mae Garrett’s great-grandmother’s sewing machine; Florine Thomason’s button collection; and more. During an opening night reception, guests can meet the exhibit’s four artists/contributors and enjoy refreshments. Visitors are also encouraged to bring buttons to add to the communal art project, “Button, Button, Who’s Got the Button.” To read more about the event, click here.