The City Wire pushes three new features

A review of 30 area restaurants in 16 weeks is one of three new features The City Wire will launch in May.

DOING 30 WITH PETER
Peter Lewis, who has authored “The Friday Feast” since November, will profile 30 locally-owned and/or operated restaurants across five categories: American, Asian, BBQ, Mexican and Date (establishments to impress your date, spouse or both). The City Wire will post each Wednesday a new review from Lewis. The 16-week review, to be themed, “Doing 30 with Peter,” is scheduled to conclude Aug. 19 with “The Peter Wrap.”

There will be no “The Friday Feast” during this time.

By way of reminder, Lewis was born and raised in Fort Smith and is a graduate of the University of Texas. Prior to returning to the Fort Smith area, he spent a year as a bartender living abroad and traveling. He’s also a frequent contributor to Half Broke Hotel.

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
The City Wire will highlight each month a business operating in the Fort Smith region. Business struggles, accomplishments, philanthropic support and many other factors will be considered when selecting a business to profile. Input from The City Wire readers also will be considered.

“It sounds silly to note that businesses have a huge role to play in the ups and downs of the regional economy, but sometimes we need to remind ourselves that thousands of area businesses keep the payroll flowing,” said Tom Kirkham, publisher of The City Wire. “Our goal with The City Wire Business of the Month is to provide that reminder.”

Robert Parson, who recently joined The City Wire as a freelance writer, will research and write the monthly business profile.

Parson has more than 30 years of broadcast journalism experience, with much of that in the Fort Smith area. His background also includes life insurance sales and negotiating oil and gas leases between energy companies and private landowners.

PERSON OF THE MONTH
Parson also will research and write The City Wire Person of the Month. This profile will capture a few basics about a person with a previous or ongoing impact in the socio-economic development of the region.

“Far too often the folks in the trenches who make things happen are overlooked. Many times that is because those are the ones who seek results instead of kudos. It’s our goal with this monthly profile to shine a little light on these people,” Kirkham explained.

As with the business profile, The City Wire will consider input from readers in selecting the Person of the Month.

The business profile will post to The City Wire mid-month, and the person profile will post near the end of each month.