While Gabe's Gave is usually the site of Dungeon and Dragons sessions or Magic The Gathering tournaments, Wednesday it played host to the Go El Dorado Community Coalition, where instead of rolling dice and fighting goblins, community members detailed plans for the next 90 days in the tourism and hospitality industries.
Caroline Callaway, sales and marketing manager of the El Dorado Conference Center, said, "This meeting is just to kind of touch base with local stakeholders in hospitality or tourism, so that we're all kind of on the same page with what we're doing. Or at least knowing about it, because one of the results from the famous Main Street survey was the best way to get information out there to the community- no matter how much you post about it, no matter how many ads you buy- is word of mouth. So this is kind of an outlet for that."
Callaway noted that the conference center has a big event lined up for the end of March.
"We have an MMA sanctioned kickboxing event- The Real Deal Championship. They've been here twice before. They're doing the same thing. There will be a ring seating all around the ring. Doors open at 5 p.m. on March 30th and the fight starts at 6. Tickets range from $30 to $85 depending on how close you want to be."
Chelsey Turner, director of South Arkansas College's Mahony Family Library, spoke about an event that has snowballed due to the massive influence of a certain pop star and cult of personality.
She stated, "We have a literary analysis of Taylor Swift lyrics led by Joe Clark. He is an instructor at La Tech and he is going to be looking at the literary elements in her lyrics. We're gonna have a red carpet, a Taylor Swift impersonator , friendship bracelets will be made before and we're encouraging everyone to wear their eras costumes. We weren't selling tickets for that, because we can fit a hundred and five people and now we're getting a little worried, because we've seen a lot of people reach out like we have a couple people from Monticello coming and some other people. So we're excited."
Kelsie Madison, host and events manager at MAD, spoke briefly about Saturday's opening Farmer's Market and the official opening of the market on April 27. Madison also mentioned another event that she thinks will likely be a big hit with the community.
She said, "On the 20th of April as well, in the (MAD House 101) restaurant, we have Trey Johnson's 'Rocking for Alexis" benefit that he's put together. I imagine it'll be very well attended. It starts at 5 p.m."
Carol McDade of the Diamond Agency gave a brief preview of the Diamond Agency's El Dorado Insider Spring Issue
She said, "We are currently working on the spring issue , which appeals mostly to visitors. So we like it to say 'Where do you want to go eat? Where do you want to go?'... We're doing a section on traveling with pets."
Lorenzo Loston of Men of Purpose attended the meeting to promote a May 4 gospel concert at the El Dorado High School Auditorium featuring, among others, The Voice contestant Tonio Armani.
Armani's IMDB bio states, "Travis Antonio Gardner, known professionally as Tonio Armani, is an American singer, songwriter, vocalist, model, and 10 year Army Veteran who was born in Columbus, Georgia. Tonio Armani has a passion for music of any kind that promotes love and positivity; especially R&B and Soul. He feels that music is the universal language that all people can relate to. Prior to the release of Armani's debut album Intimacy, he has worked alongside International Recording Artists Like; Trina, Plies, Calvin Richardson, and Anthony Hamiliton. He is signed independently to Armani Music Group.
Loston said, "I like to call this concert a 8-7-0 pound of gumbo, a mixture of all flavors in there- a little something for everybody. Tickets start are 25 dollars. It's limited seating 450 people maxed out and there's no seating preferences. So first come first served."
South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society's Jimmie Lunsford likewise has an event on May 4, the much anticipated Mayhaw Festival.
"We've got sign-ups already available for volunteers, getting people to volunteer."
He also mentioned that Food Truck Friday will be kicking off again, "We have one truck come out to the Newton House. First Financial and some of the Murphy USA folks get to come in their backyard."
Darrin Riley, curator at the SAHPS, spoke next, heralding the return on May 10 of an El Dorado native who has seen success in the motion picture industry as of late.
"We'll have a South Arkansas Arkansas premiere of a documentary about the Ngyen family who lived here in El Dorado, operating Paul's Dairy Diner on Main for decades. Their son, Qui, has gone on to write their story."
Nguyen has seen recent success with his writing credits on Raya and the Last Dragon and Strange World
Michael O'Connell of the Union County Library system said there would be an eclipse party on April 6 two days before the astronomical event, in which the library would hand out solar eclipse viewing glasses.
Finally, Marty Rosson, owner of Gabe's Gave stated that May 4 is also free comic book day and the store would have plenty of books for children of all ages.