501-918-3025
calsfoundation@cals.org
calsfoundation@cals.org
Celebrate 501 Day Downtown
Have you heard the news? There’s a new holiday on the [local] calendar and it’s celebrating all things local to the Five Oh One. On May 1 (Get it? 5/01) the Downtown Little Rock Partnership is leading the charge on celebrating central Arkansas. What started as the area code for the central part of our state, 501, now is a rally cry to promote the local businesses, events, and places that you love. And of course, CALS is bringing the noise when it comes time to celebrate.
We will have several events going on around Library Square, including the unveiling of the newest converted gallery, Concordia Hall. Walk around the recently renovated (and merged) Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square. Grab a gently read book about Arkansas or history or from the biography section for $5.01 (or lower) that day.
The day will also be a chance to experience the public–facing portion of the Rock It! Lab. Housed in the reimagined space of the Cox Building, this partnership with Advancing Black Entrepreneurship is a learning and start up program designed to promote entrepreneurship and business ownership particularly in under-resourced communities. While the Rock It! Lab has been operating virtually, this soft opening will be the first look at how the former bookstore will be used for the new program.
A combination of spaces covering three floors; there will be a buzz of activity going on. Explore the 501 Makers Makerspace where artists will have a creative suite for drawing and painting as well as sewing machines for tailors and designers. The River Shop Retail space includes a pop-up shop that will offer a sneak peek at vendor products that will be featured when the shop officially opens. And the Village Coworking space is exactly what the name describes, a shared office space with amenities that will give any small business a boost.
And, of course, there will be food! Local food vendor, the House of Mental Eatery, will be set up on the 1st floor. And our neighbors at the Ottenheimer Market Hall will be reopening this day as well, so you can walk over and grab a bite.
The fun will be going all day, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., so stop by and see if you can benefit from the services offered by the Rock It! Lab, grab a bite to eat, take home a book or just explore the new galleries and bookstore. Participants are encouraged to use #Celebrate501 on any social posts.
