Literary Festival is underway; the 'cue was good
We joined several barbecue lovers (and book lovers) for the first event of the Arkansas Literary Festival: Dr. BBQ, Ray Lamke, who told us a few of his secrets and chowed down with the rest of us on some Whole Hog barbecue at lunch today at the River Market. Ended up buying both of Ray's book's, too.
Ray and I have something in common: We both think Arthur Bryant's in Kansas City is about as good as it gets in terms of history, food, all that goes into making a great 'cue restaurant. Ray also just recently visited North Carolina, where he and other cronies hit 22 barbecue joints in five days. Interesting sidelight to that trip: not a beer one for sale at any of those 'cue restaurants. Apparently, the Bible Belt rules strongly in other places.
There's a full schedule in this week's Times, as well as on our website in the Entertainment. Don't forget the Arkansas Times-sponsored Pub or Perish on Saturday night at Mallard's in the Peabody Hotel, starting at 7 p.m. It's free. Well, at least admisison is. Drinks, you're on your own.
