Welcome to the River Market
Located in the
heart of Little Rock's River Market District,
the River Market is an
exciting public
food market that will
entice your senses with
its relaxing
entertainment and rich
cultural experiences.
Please make a selection
from the menu above.
For information about upcoming events, please click here.
What's New?
The River Market is OPEN on the 4th of July!
This Saturday the Ottenheimer Market Hall will be open from 7am-6pm & the Farmers' Market will be open from 7am-3pm. Come on by to pick up everything you need for your Independence Day celebration - steaks, ribs, watermelons and red, white & blue potatoes to make a patriotic potato salad.
Love Your Farmers' Market Contest - Help Us Win!
We have found another cool contest called "Love Your Farmers' Market" sponsored by Care2.com and LocalHarvest.org. We'd love it if you would vote for us & pass the word! As the favorite farmers' market, the River Market could win $5,000 in this online contest. Please help our farmers' market win by voting today! Click THIS LINK TO VOTE NOW! Thank you!
America's Favorite Farmers' Market Contest
Over the next few months, America's Farmland Trust will be working around-the-clock to raise awareness about the importance of farmers' markets to our farms, communities, and regional economies! America's Farmland Trust is promoting a contest which will encourage everyone in our community and around the country to know the value that farmers markets offer. We encourage you to vote for the River Market as your favorite farmers' market!
CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THE RIVER MARKET FARMERS' MARKET!
River Market Cooking Club
The River Market Cooking Club returns on Saturday, June 20th with Chef Jacob Peck from Forty Two in the Clinton Library! The demo will run from 9am-11am. The fee to attend the Cooking Club is $10.00, paid at the door.
The audience will watch as Chef Jacob demonstrate signature recipes and answer questions about all things culinary. There will also be a sampling of the prepared food following the demonstration.
Everyone is welcome to participate in the River Market Cooking Club, but space is limited to 40 participants per demo. Please contact the River Market office at (501) 375-2552 or email dhoffman@littlerock.org to reserve your space.
Farmers' Market 35th Anniversary
The Farmers’ Market in Little Rock’s downtown River Market District will celebrate its 35th year anniversary this year with a week-long celebration beginning Tuesday April 21st – the official opening of the 2009 season.
Patronized by locals and tourists alike, the Farmers’ Market has served as a seasonal institution and local destination favorite for over three decades. Filled with farmers selling farm-fresh produce straight to consumers from the backs of their trucks from early morning until mid-afternoon every April through October, patrons can find bargains on Arkansas crops as well as a bountiful array of handmade arts and crafts.
On Saturday, April 25, the celebration will continue with a special presentation honoring longtime farmers and market participants, as well as community leaders who have contributed to the growth, promotion and enhancement of The Market. Additionally, in partnership with Pulaski Technical College Foundation and the Arkansas Culinary School, the Little Rock Diamond Chef demonstration will take place with four local chefs showcasing their culinary skills as well as teaching the audience how to prepare a few of their favorite recipes. The chefs will also provide copies of the recipes to the attendees.
River Market attractions, museums and shops are also getting in on the fanfare, offering special discounts, promotions and events of their own. A complete listing of anniversary highlights can be found on the Farmers’ Market special 35th anniversary website at www.FarmersMarket35.com.
The River Market Farmers' Market is every Tuesday & Saturday from 7am-3pm until the end of October.
Top Chef: The Tour
Kicking off the Farmers' Market 35th Anniversary festivities will be a visit from 
Bravo Television’s Top Chef: The Tour. The Little Rock stop will feature chefs Radhika Desai &
Leah Cohen from season 5 of "Top Chef." They will be performing 3 cooking demonstrations throughout the day using ingredients purchased from the Farmers’ Market, complete with gourmet tips and tastings. The event will be held from 10 am to 5 pm on Tuesday April 21st and is free to the public. Exclusive Top Chef gear and the opportunity to win fun prizes by testing show knowledge will be available as well. For more information, please visit http://thetour.bravotv.com.
Brown Sugar Bakeshop Now Open!
The sweet new addition to the River Market's Ottenheimer Market Hall is Brown Sugar Bakeshop, a specialty dessert bakery. Sisters Kristi & April Williams combine old-fashioned goodness with a modern infusion of fresh, gourmet ingredients to create a plethora of treats that are certain to please. From grandma’s style yummy Blonde Walnut Brownies to distinguished Italian Limoncello Cupcakes, Brown Sugar Bakeshop offers the best in individually-portioned sweets, as well as desserts large enough for a crowd.
Come visit Brown Sugar at their storefront in the corner space next to Mason's Deli & Grill in the Ottenheimer Market Hall. Or you can visit the Brown Sugar blog where you'll find their weekly baking schedule, cool pictures and other fun and exciting news.
River Market Cooking Club
We pleased to announce that Chef Tim Morton & Evette Brady from Restaurant 1620 will be entertaining & enlightening River Market guest for the first installment of the 2009 River Market Cooking Club on Saturday April 18th. These popular monthly cooking demonstrations have been held at the River Market’s Bill & Margaret Clark Third Floor Facility for the past 10 years and have featured guest chefs from many of Little Rock’s finest restaurants. The demo will run from 9am-11am. The fee to attend the Cooking Club is $10.00, paid at the door.
Participants will watch as the chefs demonstrate signature recipes and answer questions from the audience. There will also be a sampling of the prepared food following the demonstration.
Everyone is welcome to participate in the River Market Cooking Club, but space is limited to 40 participants per demo. Please contact the River Market office at (501) 375-2552 or email dhoffman@littlerock.org to reserve your space.
More dates & chefs to be announced...
Brown Sugar Bakeshop
River Market's Ottenheimer Market Hall will soon have a new vendor, Brown Sugar Bakeshop. Brown Sugar will be opening in March to the space next to Mason's Deli & Grill. You'll be hearing much more about Brown Sugar in the coming weeks, but in the meantime click here for a sneak peek at their menu.
Best Fresh Vegetables
The 2008 "Best of Arkansas" winners were recently revealed by the Arkansas Times. We'd like to thank everyone for voting us "Best Fresh Vegetables!" You also voted us Runner-up for "Best Place to See Someone Famous." The River Market Farmers' Market is every Tuesday & Saturday from 7am until 3pm.
In additon to that, two River Market Vendors also recieved some recognition. Boulevard Bread Company won "Best Bread" & "Best Gourmet To Go." And Shaka Smoke Lodge was credited with the Editor's Choice for "Best Smoked Ham."
Article appeared in the 2008 Where We Live magazine, a special publication to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. To receive your free copy of Where We Live, a guide to central Arkansas, call 501-378-3807.
A Place To Run Free
Peabody Park designed to promote imagination and discovery
Nancy Elizabeth Goodman
Special Sections Writer
Children will soon have a place to use their imaginations and feel the rush of exploring the outdoors — right in the heart of downtown Little Rock.
...
Two years ago, Dr. Dean Kumpuris, Little Rock city director and gastroenterologist, had a vision for the children of Arkansas. He had just read two books, one about playgrounds and the other about how children today no longer have places to run free and use their imaginations to their full potential. The combination of both readings inspired Kumpuris' idea — one that is coming to life in Riverfront Park.
Peabody Park is the result of a collaboration among the city of Little Rock, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and The Peabody Hotel. It was named in honor of The Peabody's donation of $250,000.
"The minute I heard the plans, I was all for it," said Gregg Herning, manager of The Peabody. "It will be a great amenity to the city and to the guests at our hotel."
Funds had been appropriated for a playground to be built at Riverfront Park, and with the addition of the Peabody's donation, the new adventure park became possible.
Kumpuris knew that in order to create a park for children, he needed their input. He put an ad in the paper, asking for children of all ages to tell him and the architects what they wanted in the park.
"The children told us what they wanted," Kumpuris said. "They made drawings and told us flat out what they did and didn't want in their park."
The children's requests were taken seriously by Kumpuris and Leland Couch, architect with Arkansas Parks and Recreation, and put into action.
A large spray area lies in the middle of the park at the bottom of a hillside. Motion-censored waterspouts will spray up at different times and in different heights, allowing children to immerse themselves in a fountain of fun.
Built high above one of the many tunnels and surrounded by large native stones, the Ozark Pavilion will provide children and adults with a place to relax and take in the beauty of the Arkansas River. The pavilion will have a concrete floor and stationary tables and chairs. Parents can sit in the pavilion and watch their children play below. The pavilion also will be available to rent for birthday parties and other events.
Dozens of large native stones were strategically placed to create climbing spots, ranking in different skill levels.
A number of small and large outdoor rooms, similar to grottos, are interspersed throughout the stones.
Closer to the riverbank will be a wetlands area containing indigenous plant species.
The park will provide children and adults with a place to relax, explore and take in the natural beauty of Arkansas, Kumpuris said. Plus, with proximity to the shops and restaurants in the River Market, families will have all they need in one location.
"You can now come to downtown Little Rock, park your car once and have things to do for an entire day," Kumpuris said.
Couch and construction manager Jackie Collins have been working on the park for months, through rain, sleet and snow.
Kumpuris said he is excited to see the completed project.
"There's nothing like this anywhere," he said. "The uniqueness of this park will get national attention."
Ride Up & Be Secure
The River Market has a new bike rack to provide cyclists a secure place to park while they're enjoying the Ottenheimer Market Hall or Farmers' Market. The River Market encourages everyone to bike more often. Did you know that 40% of US travel happens within 2 miles of where people live? And nearly all of that travel is by car! Think about the amount of carbon that is emitted from people firing up the car just to run out for a loaf of bread or a cup of coffee. What if once a week, people replace a trip under 2 miles with a bike instead? Sounds pretty simple doesn't it? Get out there & get some fresh air, reduce the amount of fuel you consume & feel a little better about yourself!
NEW! Apples, made by Arkansas Ironworks:
Carrots, made by Dero Bike Racks:
River Market Mural
The brilliant local artist April Burris has painted a beautiful mural of Downtown Little Rock's skyline featuring the River Market & Riverfest Amphitheatre. The bold & colorful piece can be seen on the 2nd floor of the River Market in the hallway between the stairs & the River Market office.
April has participated in the River Market's Farmers' Market for the past few years, so you may recognize her work. She has also shown her work at The Art Scene & several places around Arkansas. For more information about April, visit her website, www.dancingrabbitstudio.com. And next time you're at the River Market, take the stairwell up to the 2nd floor & have a look!
