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TAROT: Preparing for a Tarot Reading

May 7, 2026

Tarot readers usually develop their own rituals to prepare for a reading. —photo by Steve Bonner. By Michelle Crandell, Whether reading Tarot for yourself or another person, it is important to be physically relaxed and mentally focused when you do. Prepare to give a reading by eliminating mental, emotional, and physical distractions first. “Grounded,” “centered,” and “mindful” are terms used to define the state evoked when reading Tarot. This state is also called a

Peter Pan Ballet Touts Stunning Artisan-Crafted Bird Puppets Sure to Delight All Ages

May 7, 2026

A cast of elite, pre-professional dancers has been working tirelessly to master a unique “tandem flight” technique for the “Peter Pan” ballet. Get ready to believe in magic this May! The Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theatre Co. is soaring to breathtaking new heights with their upcoming production of Peter Pan, featuring a groundbreaking, never-before-seen flight sequence that will leave audiences spellbound. For the first time in the company’s history, this spring production introduces

Call for Artists: 2026 Big Steam Blues & Roots Music Festival Poster & T-Shirt Design

May 7, 2026

The Big Steam Blues & Roots Music Festival is now accepting submissions from artists for the official 2026 festival poster and T-shirt design. The festival, scheduled for September 25–26, invites artists to help capture the spirit, sound, and heritage of blues and roots music through original artwork. The festival highlights the rich musical traditions that have shaped American culture and is presented in collaboration with the Hot Springs Food Truck

Arkansas Books: Make a Plan to Save Your Life

May 7, 2026

Originally from South Africa, debut author Alexandra Bell now calls Hot Springs home. Her new book, Make a Plan to Save Your Life: Your Essential Guide to Surviving Medical Emergencies (self-published in February), is a practical guide born of Bell’s own life experience as a retiree, Certified Longevity Coach, and former recruitment and human resources professional who spent decades helping people prepare for comfortable retirements. Bell shares, “Drawing on my concept of ‘Intentional

AMP’D UP: A Season to Start Again

May 7, 2026

This spring, Angelina Martinson reminds us that the joy isn’t in being perfect, it’s in being willing to try. By Rick Bontkowski, Spring doesn’t arrive quietly. It pushes its way in, warming the air, stretching the days, and nudging all of us back outside. There’s something about this time of year that invites movement. Walks get longer, trails call louder, and for many of us, it feels like a fresh start. But for amputees, “getting back out there” can

A Higher ACT Score Can Change Everything: Here’s How Students Can Get There

April 26, 2026

Christi Nation By Christi NationEvery year, I watch it happen. Two students. Similar grades. Similar backgrounds. Very different outcomes. One earns a strong ACT score—and suddenly, doors open. Merit scholarships. More college options. Confidence in their future. The other misses that score by just a few points—and is left piecing together loans, limited offers, and “what ifs.” That’s the reality of the ACT. A few points can mean thousands of dollars—and a completely

About the Cover . . .

April 3, 2026

“Mystical Mayhem” Photo of Emilie Boyett by Photographer Pam Clark Courtesy of Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance, taken at Arts & The Park 2025 A huge thankyou to Pam Clark for spotting and capturing that fantastic photo of Emilie Boyett in full Mystical Mayhem glory. It’s vibrant, imaginative, and perfectly reflects the spirit of Arts & The Park and its celebration of creativity. Emilie looks like she’s having the time of her life, spreading joy

Coming Soon! Peter Pan Performance by Children’s Dance Theatre Company

April 3, 2026

Last year’s cast of Peter Pan ballet brought a bit of Neverland magic to the stage. Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theatre Company invites you to take flight to exotic lands with a full-length ballet production of Peter Pan. Based on J.M. Barrie’s famous tale of the boy who wouldn’t grow up, this brilliant story takes audiences on a high-flying adventure to Neverland. There, Peter Pan, Wendy, John, and Michael encounter pirates, the Lost Boys, Captain

TAROT: The Lessons of the Fives in 2026

April 3, 2026

Michelle Crandell explores Tarot in 2026. Fives represent obstacles encountered when you attempt to actualize dreams and desires. —photo by Steve Bonner. By Michelle Crandell 2026 begins with endings (tens) and ends with beginnings (ones). Fives are the midpoint. Fives represent obstacles encountered when you attempt to actualize dreams and desires. At TEN: Reflect upon how you handled challenges, “the fives” presented along the way. At ONE: Anticipate obstacles. Problem-solve; avoid, or accept them as part of the journey. FIVES: Situations you did not create, not under

Supporting Bees Has a Wide Impact

April 3, 2026

Spring is a great time to take an interest in learning more about supporting native bees and honeybees in your area. By Alison Crane The connection between bees and biodiversity and ecosystem health is a common theme among environmentalists. Bees pollinate about one-third of the world’s food crops. They indirectly aid in absorbing carbon dioxide by supporting the reproduction of plants and trees. Declining bee populations serve as a warning sign of broader

Cameo Blue

April 3, 2026

Fayetteville resident Carolyn Guinzio is this year’s recipient of Arkansas’s most lucrative and prestigious literary award, The Porter Prize, accompanied by $5,000. Guinzio is author of eight poetry collections (including, most recently, Cameo Blue), and her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, and The Nation. Guinzio was nominated by 2003 Porter Fund Literary Prize recipient and Little Rock resident Kevin Brockmeier. The Porter Fund Literary Prize is presented annually to an Arkansas writer who has accomplished a substantial and

Local Businesses Honored by Arkansas-Asia Business Council

April 3, 2026

Beth Wild accepts AABC’s first runner-up business award from Longhua Xu (l) and Jayesh Ramnani (r). Courtesy: Arkansas-Asia Business Council Hot Springs was the epicenter for Arkansas’s evolving international business landscape when the Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses announced its transition to the Arkansas-Asia Business Council (AABC) during its annual “East Meets West of Arkansas” Lunar New Year Luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel. “We announced this milestone here because this city has always

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