If spring fever has revved you up for
antiques shopping, we suggest a drive to Little Rock. You can make a fun weekend in and around this
town, with a couple of surprises that have nothing to do with great old stuff.
Friday--First Glimpse
The Little Rock area offers dozens of antiques shops, and if you're on a serious hunt for something
specific, a few phone calls before you come to town will give you a head start. But if you just want
to show up and start browsing, that's fine. I found the small newspaper Arkansas Antiques with its
large maps especially helpful for getting familiar with all the antiquing areas of town--before I
ever left home. To get a copy ahead of time, call Arkansas Antiques in Dardanelle at (479) 229-2493.
In keeping with the theme of the grand past, I stayed at The Capital Hotel downtown. It has history, but also a fresh redo with big rooms and the friendliest staff I've run across in a long time. Weekend rates for couples start at $124; (501) 374-7474, 1-800-766-7666, or www.thecapitalhotel.com. If you prefer a sleeker feel, a new
Peabody hotel sits across the street.
The closest and fastest shopping you can do from here is The Heights area around Kavanaugh Boulevard. Beware if you're "junk" antiquing: This is more of a
district for designers. Some items are neither antiques nor bargains. But you'll see lots of beautiful things. (Most of the shops on this stretch aren't open Sunday. If you see a must-have, go ahead and buy it.)
Even if you just browse, do stop in Antiquarius to see an amazing array of fine
pieces. This grand shop has stood at 3625 Kavanaugh Boulevard for 20 years. And visit Sarah's Antiques and Uniques, one of the neighborhood's newest shops, for estate jewelry, silver, pewter, china, and century-old books.
If you feel like dressing up and spending a lot on dinner, go to Ashley's in The Capital Hotel. The food is good, but I think a bit overpriced for what you get. However, the pampering setting, service, and convenient location might be worth your splurge. Across
the street at The Peabody hotel, you can relax in the huge lobby bar with live jazz or a pianist every evening. After live music (which goes till 10 p.m.) and sips, you might want to head to bed early. Tomorrow's a long day of shopping, and you'll need your energy.
