Scene by Carson: Forget the candy

Editor’s note: Amanda Carson graduated from Ole Miss where she wore a cocktail dress and high heels to football games at which tailgating was conducted in a tent adorned with a chandelier. Prior to this she attended a private school in Memphis at which Southern manners and etiquette were stressed — which does not explain her football game decisions. Anyway, Amanda will attempt to infuse her Southern experiences, exposure and education into the arts and entertainment scene in the Fort Smith/Van Buren region.

If dressing up in ridiculous looking costumes and stuffing yourself with cheap, sugary candy is the only thing you had to look forward to this month, guess again. It’s cool and the perfect time to be out and about enjoying yourself.

Oct. 15
9 a.m.
Arkansas really is a beautiful natural state, but people rarely stop to enjoy the scenery. Devil’s Den State Park is stunning and within a very reasonable distance. October is the perfect time to enjoy the weather and the scenes. Avid hikers, Dorothea and David Justice, will lead you through the park trails and take you to rare and secluded areas. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.

Wear sturdy, gripping shoes to climb over big rocks, pack a lunch to picnic on the mountainside and lots of water to keep hydrated. The hike will be around 6 miles of rugged terrain, with bail-out spots for those who are not up to the challenge. Meet at Devil’s Den at the suspension bridge below the dam; 7 miles west of exit 45 off Interstate 540. Visit the Devil’s Den website for more details.

Oct. 22, 29 and 31
6:30 p.m.
Why does Fort Smith have such negative thinkers? Maybe because it is a town based on a negative reputation; our visitor’s center is a brothel for crying out loud. It’s actually quite horrifying, but the one time of year horrifying is okay is Halloween.

The “Murder and Mayhem Trolley” tour tells all the gruesome stories and eerie legends Fort Smith is built on. Take the trolley through the Belle Grove Historic District as you “Toast the Ghost” with drinks and treats. Be joined by characters of the past while hearing stories about the National Historic Site, Miss Laura’s, the Clayton House and more. Reservations are recommended and Tickets are $25, sorry not $1.  Must be 21 or have a fake ID to ride. Call 783-7841 or visit The Fort Smith Museum of History website for more info.

Oct. 25
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 5 to 7 p.m.
The Altrusa club presents the 24th Annual Taste of Fort Smith featuring Fort Smith’s finest restaurants, all three of them, with some other restaurants thrown in to fill the space. There are two times to choose from, lunch or the early bird special session. Get out of the chain rut and find some tasty local choices to go to next time. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door; way cheaper than any generic chain dinner out.

Proceeds benefit a slew of charities like Children’s Service League, Fort Smith Public Library, Community Rescue Mission and others. Tickets are available all around town, like at any branch of Simmons First National Bank, Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, Literacy Council of Western Arkansas. The event will be held at the Fort Smith Convention Center — see, the FSCC is good for something. If you want more events like this then Fort Smith NEEDS A CONVENTION CENTER. Call the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce for more information (783-3111).

Oct. 27
5:45 p.m.
Race for the Cure and similar events are great fundraisers, but they are getting kind of stale. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but there is nothing wrong with improvements. Ultimutt Dog Care has taken a classic and put a fun twist on it; Ultimutt’s Bark for the Cure 2-mile Fun Dog Run/Walk. Not a dog person; the crazy car lady type? Just keep your critter on a leash and surely they will be welcome. No lions, tigers or bears though. (Or chimps, they should never be pets; Planet of the Apes people, it is not as farfetched as it seems.)

Anyway, the race will be at the Mars Petcare plant, 10000 Roberts Boulevard at Chaffee Crossing, at 6:30 p.m. with registration at 5:45 p.m.  Also another great idea, not having to wake up at 5 a.m. to then go run two miles. Call Ultimutt for more information, 242-1186.

Oct. 29
7 to 11 p.m.
How can you possibly make bingo more fun? Answer: black tie attire, fine dining and drinking — lots of drinking. That is the gist of Black Tie Bingo at Fort Smith Public Library.  The event will be emceed by the charismatic Daren Bobb (KFSM 5 News), with entertainment by Jonathan Karrant and The Don Bailey Jazz Ensemble. Not sure if the combination of bingo, smooth jazz and the library is a great combination for anything other than a Narcolepsy convention, but nevertheless, D-Bobb should keep you good an entertained.

Tickets are $100 each and benefit the Fort Smith Public Library Endowment Trust. Now you must be thinking, “Really? The library? There are tons of other charities that are much more worthwhile and deserving of this money.” That may be, but think about it this way; our Nation’s fate lies in the hands of the younger generations. As it stands now, the majority of the younger generation is dumb and obese. The Nation’s future does not look so good as it is, then you add this factor. Fort Smith has a beautiful library and nice branches. Libraries are a beacon of hope in a dimwitted society. If our libraries are not maintained children, parents and citizens will not be drawn to them. Visit the library website for more info.

Feedback
Even though she graduated from Ole Miss, Amanda is comfortable using e-mail. You can reach her at [email protected]