We live our lives randomly, but this weekend we had tickets and an agenda!

The Beatles album -- Abbey Road -- was performed in its entirety, note for note, cut for cut, by the group, Classic Albums Live during its first set. Walton Arts Center was absolutely packed Saturday night, and we were amazed at the generations of Beatles fans who danced and sang along. No one wanted the night to end.

Megan accepted the band's invitation after intermission and sang along to Obladi-Oblada and other classic Beatles songs. 

"And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love (pause, pause) you make." This lyric is from the last song recorded collectively by all four Beatles, and is the final song of the Medley that comprises the majority of side two of Abbey Road.
The first set ended with the final song of the album, Her Majesty.

They will be back next year to perform another classic album, Led Zeppelin 2 is the early word.

For months, we had been anxiously looking forward to last week. We had tickets for two performances (Thursday night and Saturday night) at the Walton Arts Center, plus tickets Saturday afternoon to an Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball game.
That's a lot for us, and our kids say we're old. Ha.

We had a lucky window seat for Saturday lunch at Hammontree's Grilled Cheese just off Dickson Street and near the railroad tracks. Follow your nose, you'll find it.

We live our lives so randomly that rarely do we ever have anything planned ahead of time. All we knew for certain on Saturday was: We were going to eat two meals somewhere, park somewhere on Dickson Street, attend a Razorback basketball game and then go to the Walton Art Center. We had long ago pre-purchased tickets for those events.

A few minutes after noon, we located a pay-n-park across the street from the Walton Arts Center. That's when we started following our noses, literally, to find lunch.
Actually, We, I think we, had pretty much decided to eat lunch at the same place we had eaten on Thursday evening.  But Thursday evening, Hammontree, (specializing in grilled cheese sandwiches like you've never eaten in your entire life) was not jammed packed -- hey, sit anywhere you like, a family said; a booth or a table, anywhere will be fine.

The girl in the fishnet stockings under her shorts was doing a masterful job of directing traffic, keeping up with names, seating everyone, and always a smile. And some cranky people are in that line.

Saturday noon was like Game Day.  I think we were number 20 in line for an inside table.

But when you are looking forward to appetizers like these fried artichoke hearts and a grilled sandwich called East of Edom or Parmageddon, held together with a pepper speared through the bread (I thought at first it was a giant green olive) you will wait and you will not complain.

On the side was a deluxe dill pickle and silver cup of kettle chips.  We ate there twice. And we will go again. Oh, the bowl, it has crawfish bisque. We shared it. Overload! Too much food, no bisque on Saturday.

Of course, we had to walk off that food. We walked up and down Dickson Street, from the heart of the downtown entertainment district up to familiar sidewalks at the University of Arkansas, where Dwain pointed out engineering and English buildings where he attended classes, and past dorms and fraternity houses to Bud Walton Arena.

Well, looks like Megan has photobombed Dwain's picture for his friend Roy Ragland (second from right), and his brother, son and grandson. Roy used to mail us free season tickets to equine games of speed (Oaklawn), but entry is free now. It was sure good to see him in the flesh.

Officials dimmed the lights of Bud Walton Arena as the Razorbacks came out and asked fans to light up their cell phones as excitement crescendos rolled through the crowd. Of course, we stood and called the Hogs.

 

What would the basketball game be without the Hogwild band? Is the band worth 10 or 15 points? What would the cheerleaders and pompom girls do?

We have to throw in one action picture. The Razorbacks No. 3 (in white uniform near center court) was outstanding against his former Texas Tech teammates. He kept the Razorbacks in the game during the first half, scoring almost every one of the home team's points.

We didn't see a lot of texting going on around us, although people around us are always the most interesting. At least none of them were drunk or obnoxious. There was a lot of enthusiasm. And we didn't see any political shirts ... except for the one Megan was wearing. She's a cheerleader. Oh yeah, the Razorbacks won in overtime.

After a real hamburger and Greek salad for supper at Grub's Bar and Grille, we wandered to the other side of Dickson Street and found a coffee shop. We had a little time to kill before the show.
What's inside?

Don't you just love the décor of The Common Grounds Gourmet Espresso Bar? What's on the menu, and where do we order?

Late at night, they have lots of pie and cakes.

All kinds of fresh coffees and flavors and specialty syrups and (what's on the top shelf?)

And what have we here? Board games! Cranium. Parcheesi. Split Second. Connect 4.

Are those packs of Marlboros and Camels really for sale?

Yep, if you're willing to pay 40 cents a cigarette or $8.00 a pack. Expensive smoke, and you have to go outside.

Megan went with a medium latte, and Dwain tried the New York cheesecake, because he just wanted something sweet. The cheesecake had a little glob of chocolate and raspberry sauce on each side. No, we didn't share, although Megan did stick her spoon in the raspberry sauce, and Dwain didn't argue.

It was such a warm night, that the glass, garage-door had been shoved up, and we could feel a gentle breeze, or occasionally a gust of wind blow in. That was an amazing day for January. It felt like spring, and no one was complaining about the door being up.

This is the curtain call for Dracula on Thursday night. No intermission. No one went to the bathroom. No one talked. You could hear a pin drop. Everyone was riveted to their seats, as Dracula's reign of terror came alive in our imaginations. This was a live, radio performance with full costumes, sound effects, and dramatic lighting to change the moods. We've never seen or HEARD anything quite like it. We were in London. We were in Transylvania. We were transported in time to another era -- Victorian England. It was all so real. The cast was excellent.

Here's Dwain's former, little newspaper intern, Taylor Allison. She's got a smile bigger than her whole body and can meet any challenge. She can find her way by her own headlights. She was a self-starter, and now works at the Walton Art Center and Walmart Amp. No one has to direct Taylor.

This is us driving past 329 Washington Avenue, a block east of College Avenue in Fayetteville. We drive by the old Stringfellow House every time we visit Fayetteville. Will the homeowners every invite us in or will this house ever go up for sale? We might buy it. At the very least, we'd like to tour it.

Here's a link to why this old house holds such an attraction for us:
Study in Spiritualism
Driving past the Stringfellow House Saturday night, we started humming the lyrics of an old Irish song, Raglan Road:

"On a quiet street where old ghosts meet,
I see her walking now away from me,
So hurriedly. My reason must allow,
For I have wooed, not as I should

A creature made of clay.
When the angel woos the clay, he'll lose
His wings at the dawn of the day."

Megan and Dwain