River City Gift Company, in Hillcrest, has added a lounge, with tables, chairs and couches, where it’s serving drinks and sweets. The converted stock room, plus some seating in the store proper, accommodates some 25 to 30, according to owner Scott Harris. Beginning Monday, May 18, he’ll open at 7 a.m. — instead of 10 a.m. — Monday through Saturday Later in the summer her plans to extend his evening hours, from 6 p.m., to 7 or 8 p.m. His menu, he says, is “Starbucks-esque,” with coffee, latte, mocha, 120 varieties of tea and chocolate truffles and the like. If the lounge catches on, Harris says he may add a kitchen and start serving food.
Once again, Ashley’s is hosting a Farm to Table dinner to benefit the Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market. On Sunday, June 7, chefs from Restaurant Iris, Ciao Baci, Ferneau and the Capital Hotel will collaborate on a local-foods-featured meal. The cost is $150 per person and you can make reservations, via 501-370-7011 or ashleys@capitalhotel.com.