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Rise and shine, Little Rock! In today’s edition: 30 Crossing Park plans, Prohibition-era cocktails, Komodo dragon day with Iroh and Tia, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
A freeway interchange reimagined: Plans to turn the old I-30 cloverleaf into 30 Crossing Park could move ahead sooner than expected, with phase zero work set to begin this year in downtown Little Rock — see what’s planned and when.
Cultural insights for better care: UA Little Rock will launch a 10-week Medical Spanish course for healthcare professionals. Classes will begin Jan. 26 on Monday evenings to build practical skills for communicating with Spanish-speaking patients — get all the details.
Expanded automotive service options: Discount Tire has opened its first Little Rock store in West Little Rock, the 11th in Arkansas, selling top tire brands and offering free tire repairs and air pressure checks — read the full story.
Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.
Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Old trees find new purpose: AGFC is encouraging residents to recycle real Christmas trees through its Habitat for the Holidays program. Drop-offs are available at Lake Pickthorne near Holland Bottoms and at Riverview Park Access on the Arkansas River in North Little Rock. The trees create underwater fish habitat and boost local fishing. See where to drop off.
Support that sticks: Ready to declutter or do one good thing this week? Our House turns donations and volunteer time into housing, job training, and childcare, helping neighbors move from crisis to stability. Quietly powerful and consistently local.
Brows, but better: Need a fresh arch? At Blue Rose Beauty & Brow Artistry, facial-mapping, threading, tinting, and microblading deliver balanced, low-maintenance brows. Expect precise shaping that quietly upgrades every selfie… and gives you a few extra minutes each morning.
A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).
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📆 Around town this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🐝 Kids’ Bee Club @ Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library & Learning Center | Tuesday (1/13) at 4:00 PM – Kids’ Bee Club is buzzing at the library with a fun crash course on Arkansas’s native bees, the unsung neighbors who skip the fancy hives. The kids craft take-home bee habitats, you bank some wholesome points, and local pollinators get new real estate.
🍷 Drink & Discuss: The Mad Women’s Ball @ Stickyz Rock’n’Roll Chicken Shack | Tuesday (1/13) at 4:00 PM – Book club with a pour, not a lecture. We’re diving into The Mad Women’s Ball over drinks and good company, swapping thoughts, side-eyeing Victorian ‘cures,’ and calling it a night at a reasonable hour, 6 to 8, not that wonky 4 o’clock.
🌌 Aurora in Winter @ Thompson Library — Central Arkansas Library System | Tuesday (1/13) at 6:00 PM – Swap doomscrolling for a brush and paint an aurora-lit winter scene, oil and all. They walk you through the picture, you bring the patience, steady hand, and maybe reading glasses. Zero experience required, just an appreciation for happy little accidents, warm coffee, and unhurried company.
🔭 Look to the Stars! @ Oley E Rooker Library | Thursday (1/15) at 6:00 PM – Finally figure out that telescope that’s been glaring at you from the closet, or learn how to borrow one from the library, in this friendly, hands-on class. Get the basics, find planets, dodge porch lights, and leave ready to wow the backyard crew.
🍦 Ice Cream and Crafts @ The Cove – Yogurt + Coffee | Thursday (1/15) at 6:00 PM – Nothing says weeknight wellness like ice cream and crafts at The Cove, where you pick your project and make a mess someone else cleans. $30 per person, pay at class, and extra kits are $25. Ages 18+, or 13+ with a parent. Click going.
🎲 Lotería Night @ Little Rock Police Department Southwest Division | Friday (1/16) at 6:00 PM – Trade your usual weeknight scroll for Lotería with Little Rock Parks and Rec, bingo’s stylish cousin with better art, louder laughs, and harmless trash talk. They bring the cards, you bring friends, your lucky streak, and that competitive sparkle you pretend you outgrew.
🎬 Harold and Maude 55th Anniversary @ CALS Ron Robinson Theater | Friday (1/16) at 7:00 PM – Harold and Maude turns 55, and seeing it on the big screen is good nostalgia, darkly funny, tender, and still rebellious. Come for Cat Stevens, stay for the existential chuckles. General admission with beer, wine, and validated parking by the Main Library.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📣 Own or manage a local business?
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How it works:
- Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
- We’ll manually verify your business is legit
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Everything you share is reviewed, and approved submissions are automatically considered for future newsletters. AKA… your business has a much higher chance of being featured in front of thousands of Little Rock locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.
We also regularly spotlight verified businesses just because we think they’re great.
Click here to get started (it’s free) →
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📻 Little Rock report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 55°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 55. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 63°F – Low: 44°F – Precip: 1%
Sunny. High near 63, with temperatures falling to around 59 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
This house is wild
Sunlit living spaces blend comfort, style, and function, with an open flow linking the large kitchen, dining room, and den. Well-proportioned lower level bedrooms offer generous closets, and the primary suite brings a hotel-caliber vibe. A spacious upstairs bonus room, complete with its own full bath, flexes as a guest suite, playroom, or office. Outside, an expansive deck sets the stage for grilling and stargazing, with a babbling brook beyond the green space.
Just 10 years old, the home includes two attic entries for extra storage. The crawl space is completely encapsulated, supporting a clean, well-kept foundation.
Take a peek inside →
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