International travel
ASBTDC sets New Lender Quick-Connect Event for Small Businesses on May 7 and a dark and stormy night in central Arkansas; plus headlines and sports.
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MEETINGS: The North Little Rock School Board will have a special call meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall.
EVENTS: Sunday, May 11, is Mother’s Day this year and plan accordingly.
POWER OUTAGE: It didn’t seem like Wednesday’s storm was all that big of a deal but it knocked the power out and it still hasn’t come back at 9:30 p.m. but the laptop has a good battery and flipping the phone to a hotspot means the news still goes out. Just a shorter, more abbreviated version.
International travel
Supposedly, “bonjour” is a magic word.
Not like “abracadabra,” and it isn’t a magic trick, or least not the kind where you pull a rabbit from your hat.
It is more like a magic word that grants you entry, or a warmer welcome.
I’ll know more for sure in a couple of weeks the first time I walk into a boulangerie or patisserie or cafe and blurt out an Arkansas-accented “bonjour” to the shopkeepers as I announce my presence. Bonjour means good morning and is the way, or one of the ways, the French say hello.
The French expect to be greeted and to not do so is considered by them to be rude. The hundreds (thousands?) of articles and videos we’ve watched in preparation for this trip have all said a “bonjour” in the morning, and “bonsoir” in the afternoon and evening, prime the pump and make for a more pleasant experience.
My suspicion is “bonjour” is also a magic word because it lets the shopkeeper or clerk or whomever know immediately you’re not a native French speaker. As if my cartoonishly large presence wasn’t enough to give that away, the Arkansas-accented bonjour will definitely do the trick.
I thought, for a time, to do a Duolingo crash course and pick up some basic French, but, again, my suspicion is the French would not want to suffer through that anymore then we’d want to suffer through some Boston stereotype spitting out Southie as we listen with a puzzled look and lots of huhs and nods.
Anyway, All of this is a convoluted and long-ish way of saying I’ll be going on vacation, and it is a big one, 11 days to Paris and Amsterdam.
Our flight leaves next week, and we’ll be in Europe through the following week. ArkansasNewsroom.com has published weekly since its launch in November 2020, and the plan is to publish something the week we are in Paris..
I have the ability to prewrite and schedule some posts before the trip. The site’s content management system, I’m told by the help desk, will also work in France and should allow me to publish something remotely.
Or at least hit publish on a pre-write.
This is the first time in more than a decade I won’t be traveling with a laptop, though. Too bulky and I need to save room for souvenirs and such. But I am taking my iPad, as well as a wireless keyboard and mouse that will replicate the laptop experience at a fraction of the weight.
When a Plan Comes Together
Most international trips are planned several months or even years in advance.
Not this time and certainly not this trip.
We decided at the end of January that we’re going and the traveling party is me, my wife, Gwen, her mother, her brother and his wife.
The reasons for the group and the short time frame are both the same – my brother-in-law, Jimmy.
Jimmy Green is apparently quite the salesman and earned the President’s Cup award from U.S. Foods where he has worked for the last couple of decades.
This isn’t his first win either, but this is the first award that has come with a European trip as part of the package.
At Christmas, he was pretty confident he’d win but wouldn’t know for sure until a banquet in January. We had been talking about a family trip to somewhere, but it didn’t look like it was going to work out for this year. Then I asked him if he won, could he extend his trip on the front or back end, and he said yes, as that wasn’t an uncommon thing.
Then I asked him, if he and his wife Val were already going to be in Europe, why couldn’t we package that with a trip to Paris for the five of us.
Then I got that look.
The look that says, s**t, why didn’t I think of that, then I heard, “s**r, why didn’t I think of that” and a plan was hatched. We just had to wait.
Why Paris
There are several reasons why but the main one is my wife’s mother, Frances Green.
For years she taught high-school French and sponsored the French Club.
She always dreamed of going to France when she and Jim were younger but when there’s time, there’s not the money and when there’s the money, there’s nor the time.
Last year, the two of them, along with Jimmy and Val, went bootscooting across Iceland, and I thought of that as a bit of a tester to show a trip to France would go as the Paris Olympics were that summer but it didn’t work out,
I do remember Jim saying, as we watched some of the Summer Games, that he regretted not getting Frances to Paris, but when there’s the money, there’s not the time, and Jim will be with us in spirit,
Plus, it is Paris afterall. I mean, there’s 15 million tourists a year there. France is the most visited country on the globe as every creed, country and continent makes its way there at some point.
Any town with 3,000 hotels has to be doing something right.
Getting There
When we were looking at traveling there we considered our options.
Option A) Fly from Little Rock to a major city then a direct flight to Paris.
Option B) Drive to Dallas, then take a direct flight from DFW to Paris
Option C) Some weird hopscotch from here to somewhere in the U.S. then on to London, then Paris.
No disrespect to the LIT but as a gateway to international destinations it seemed a little lacking.
It was, to my great surprise, the cheapest and most time effective. And by a lot. To the tune of several hundred dollars for two seats.
The mysteries of air travel I suppose because my assumption would have been a direct flight would have been cheaper but the ticket prices tell the tale. When booked in February, a direct flight from DFW to Paris would have been roughly $1,200 while a flight from Little Rock to Chicago, then Paris, was $850 a piece. So, save $700 and not have a five hour drive to DFW? That’s an easy answer.
And, perhaps, it was meant to be. Jimmy, Val and Frances fly out of Memphis the same day we do, and, here’s the part where it was meant to be, we’re all on the same overnight flight from Chicago to Paris.
We’re all even sitting within a few rows of each other.
Wild, how that worked out.
Trip Prep
I’ve personally worn Lonely Planet out. I think I’ve read, at least twice, everything they’ve written on Paris and Amsterdam. And they’ve written thousands and thousands of words.
We’ve also learned on YouTube travel tutorials from channels like Les Frenchies and Paris in my Pocket. There’s a cottage industry, of sorts, for American expats to make travel tip content videos as well as produce newsletters, phone apps and the like. You can hire them personally, if you’ve got the coin, to guide you around Paris if you like.
The money tree harvest was OK but not that OK,
Gwen has a family member who’s a travel agent, and she helped with booking the transfers from the airport to the hotel in Paris and from the hotel to the train station, as we’re traveling to Amsterdam by rail as opposed to flying, then helped with the itinerary and hotel in Amsterdam.
She could have done the same for Paris, but the short time frame led to her making recommendations, such as a hotel that has air conditioning (not every hotel in Paris does) and elevators (also, not every hotel does) and both are essential, at least to us.
Gwen also works with Nicolas Mayerhoeffer, of Maumelle, a native of France who provided helpful tips, advice and some wonderful maps.
The Plan
We’re going to hit the major attractions:
The Louvre, because the Mona Lisa and we already have timed tickets for entry.
Notre Dame, because it has reopened, or at least sort of. The death of Pope Francis meant they stopped ticketed entry for a time, and depending on how the Conclave goes, it may not be easy to get in. Of course, even as a non-Catholic, it would be nothing short of amazing to be there when or shortly after a new pope was named,
The Eiffel Tower. For real, how could you miss that?
And some other things. The thought of standing under the Arc de Triomphe blows my mind. The thought of the boulangeries and patisseries and cafes makes my stomach growl. The thought of being in Paris, the most romantic city in the world, with my love, makes my heart flutter.
Does that all sound very tourist-y? Yes. Also, we are tourists, so we should do the touristy things.
On the other hand, the very Rick Steves hand, I embrace his notion of being a temporary local, where you do and see the things as if you lived there, just for a short time.
Rick Steves is another whose videos and articles have been a blessing. Especially with his way to pack: “if you can’t wear it twice, don’t pack it.”
I don’t think that applies to underwear or socks, though, or at least it won’t for me.
Getting there
You’ll have to fly and somehow, some way, Little Rock is the most affordable way to fly.
You’ll need a passport. There’s a passport office in Hot Springs and you’ll need to make an appointment, but if you have a photo and the required documents, along with what it costs, you can leave with one. At least for now, DOGE hasn't killed it, yet. You can also renew online.
For Paris, you won’t need a car, as public transportation is handy, but it is a walkable city, so pack good shoes. The various YouTube channels and articles all suggest you’ll get a minimum of 20,000 steps a day.
You’ll need some Euros, the currency of France, along with the rest of the European Union. You can order them from your bank and in our case that was Regions. Most places take cards – MasterCard and Visa but not American Express or Discover – but having some cash can be handy as some public toilets aren’t free and will cost to get in when you need to do your business.
Eating in Paris is expensive, but it is also worth remembering that a 15-percent tip is built into the bill by law, so that 20-Euro lunch or 40-Euro dinner isn’t that pricey. You can leave a small tip, like a Euro or two, if you thought the service was exceptional or if the server helped with translating.
You’ll want and need an eSim for your phone. Lonely Planet recommended Sally and that’s what we’re using. An eSim lets you connect, at no charge, to the local network for data or the wifi, which is abundant. At roughly $10 for the trip, that’s a bargain compared to the $10 or $15 AT&T charges daily for international roaming.
Lonely Planet has a terrific guidebook you can order or buy locally to get you ready before the trip.
We also managed a trip to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts before the trip to check out their Diego Rivera Paris art exhibition and get us in the mood for the museuming. It also allowed me to try out the murse I bought for the trip. “Murse” is, for the unfamiliar, the portmanteau of man purse, or murse.
You’ll also have to have an international adaptor, so you can plug your phone into it so it can charge. An external battery pack also appears to be super helpful, to keep the phone going the day as using it as a map, camera and translator can drain your battery pretty quick.
Have You Been?
Have you travelled to Paris? Do you have any tips on sites to see or places to eat?
Let us know by replying to this email or contacting me directly or commenting below.
Until then, see you on the Boulevard. Sorry, Neal, stole your line.
Kwame Brathwaite: The 1970s now open at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts recently announced that Kwame Brathwaite: The 1970s, is on view now through Oct. 12.
Photographer Kwame Brathwaite, who died in 2023, created the visual overture for the Black is Beautiful Movement in the late 50s and early 60s. This intimate exhibition will highlight 16 of the artist’s independent studio works created during the 1970s. Working with The Kwame Brathwaite Archive, AMFA proudly announces that the exhibition features three never-before-seen images.
“Brathwaite’s work is a testament to the power of art as activism,” said Victoria Ramirez, Executive Director of AMFA. “This exhibition honors his extraordinary vision and role in shaping cultural identity through photography and brings his vibrant legacy into dialogue with today's conversations around beauty, representation, and self-determination. We are proud to have these works at AMFA.”
The newly released images include portraits of model and designer Carolee Prince, singer and songwriter Teddy Pendergrass, and a striking group shot of four models against a purple background.
The exhibition, Kwame Brathwaite: The 1970s, shows a more experimental and expressive side of Brathwaite’s photography —one where color, composition, and cultural storytelling take center stage.
Upcoming events
Guided Tours: Museum guests can enjoy a free, docent-led tour of Kwame Brathwaite: The 1970s. Guided tours are offered on June 21, and July 26, at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are free, and registration is recommended at events.arkmfa.org.
Pine Bluff Through the Lens with Michael Grice: On June 18, Michael Grice, the son of ‘Arkansas’s most prolific photographer’ Geleve Grice, will delve into his father’s legacy of documenting Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
A Legacy of Images: Art Talk with Kwame Brathwaite Jr.: On July 31, the artist’s son, Kwame Brathwaite, Jr., will offer a unique and personal perspective on Brathwaite’s work and legacy.
ASBTDC sets New Lender Quick-Connect Event for Small Businesses on May 7
Small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking funding will have a unique opportunity to pitch their projects at Lender Quick-Connect: Find Your Funder.
The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is hosting the new no-cost event on Wednesday, May 7, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Reynolds Business Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
In just one afternoon, attendees can connect with multiple Arkansas lenders and pitch their business financing needs in a fast-paced, one-on-one meeting format.
Each participant will be matched with up to seven lenders, based on key business details including their industry, credit score, business stage and project scope.
Attendees can also:
Meet with credit counseling services to discuss financial readiness
Engage with ASBTDC business consultants and Small Business Administration representatives
Get expert tips on crafting a compelling funding pitch
Participating lending institutions include Arkansas Capital Corporation, Arkansas Federal Credit Union, Arvest Bank, Bank OZK, Communities Unlimited, FORGE Community Loan Fund, Hope Credit Union, First Community Bank, First Security Bank, First Service Bank, Regions Bank, Simmons Bank, Southern Bancorp Bank, Southern Bancorp Community Partners and U.S. Bank.
The event is designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the funding landscape and build relationships with funders who have a proven track record of small business lending.
“We hope this format will be more efficient and less intimidating than approaching individual lenders,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. “With banks, credit unions, microlenders and Community Development Financial Institutions all taking part, Lender Quick-Connect will showcase a wide range of options for funding a new business, business purchase or expansion.”
Pre-registration is required. To reserve your spot, visit tinyurl.com/325wetrc or contact ASBTDC’s Nick Stevens at 501-804-4530 or njstevens@ualr.edu.
Through its offices around the state, the ASBTDC offers no-cost services and resources for Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more information, call 800-862-2040 or visit asbtdc.org.
Disclosure: ArkansasNewsroom.com is an ASBTDC client.
Upcoming Travs games
At Tulsa, now through May 4
Springfield Cardinals, six-game homestand
Tuesday, May 6, 6:35 p.m.
Mad Mallards Week: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas' obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited
Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at DSP Box Office). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed
Wednesday, May 7, 6:35 p.m.
Mad Mallards Week: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas' obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited
Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at DSP Box Office). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed
Thursday, May 8, 6:35 p.m.
Mad Mallards Week: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas' obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited
Operation: Military Appreciation: $3 Thursday: Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and select Concessions deals!
Friday, May 9, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - Country Music: End your week at DSP with a BANG! | Presented By Baldwin & Shell Construction
Mad Mallards Week: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas' obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited
Saturday, May 10, 4:05 p.m.
Mad Mallards Week: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas' obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank
Sunday, May 11, 1:35 p.m.
Mad Mallards Week: Join us in celebration of Central Arkansas' obsession with waterfowl hunting! | Presented By Arkansas Ducks Unlimited
Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon!
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank
Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at DSP Box Office) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers
At Wichita, May 13-18
At Northwest Arkansas, May 20-25
San Antonio Missions, six-game homestand
Tuesday, May 27, 6:35 p.m.
Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at DSP Box Office). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed
Wednesday, May 28, 6:35 p.m.
Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at DSP Box Office). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed
Thursday, May 29, 6:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: $3 Thursday, Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and select Concessions deals!
Fiesta de Diamantes: The Travs will take the field as the Diamantes de Arkansas in salute of Hispanic Heritage! | Presented By Modelo Especial
Friday, May 30, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - Mashup Madness: End your week at DSP with a BANG!
Saturday, May 31, 6:05 p.m.
Faith & Family Night: The perfect night for a church (or gymnastics) group outing! Come enjoy a pre-game talk with Olympian and Razorbacks Gymnastics coach Jordyn Wieber, above, who will also be available during the game to meet & greet with fans. | Presented By Hickingbotham Investments
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank
Sunday, June 1, 1:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at DSP Box Office) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers
Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon!
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank
At Corpus Christi, June 3-8
Health
Pandemic deaths unknown
The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.
Covid toolkit
There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.
If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:
Get vaccinated
Get boosted
Wear a mask
Avoid crowds