After 9 years of living in a house situated in a quiet neighborhood close to Ottercreek I will be moving to the progressive and even vibrant SoMa(Southside Main Street) neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas. It was time for a change and a more creative environment. I know now what a great location I am getting into, but how did it all come about?
Working downtown I had made friends with many people that lived downtown but one couple came to mind when I began to get curious about making a move to downtown Little Rock. I just felt that downtown was where I needed to be but wasn't sure why. I contacted Jill Judy to look at some units that she and her husband Mark might have available. First stop were the Cathedral Park apartments that had originally been a Methodist church built in 1889. Great location and so much character, even close to a community garden that I could have a plot in. I was beginning to have the rental equivalent of a watering mouth.
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Cathedral Park Apartments-stock image
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Then we went to the Lofts at SoMa, located in the old Little Rock High School building built in 1905. I looked at 5 or 6 different units and fell for one on the 4th floor which was the only one bedroom unit on that floor. Located on the northwest corner, it has views of Scott street, the Villa Marie, and downtown. LOVE! I told her I wanted it the next day. That night I couldn't hardly sleep thinking about the new space and new neighborhood. An April 15 move date would give me a month to pack and get ready, but would it ever get here? Here is a stock image of the building until I take one of my own.
On subsequent trips to the area I began to notice more and more. I had already seen the location and knew the neighborhood was vibrant once again thanks to a series of courageous people taking a chance on it. One Thursday evening I went by and saw tons of people at The Bernice Garden and at The Green Corner Store. Turns out there is a food truck event on the 2nd Thursday of the month! I went home that night, reluctantly, and did some research. I found several Facebook pages related to my soon-to-be neighborhood.
The Bernice Garden SoMa- Little Rock's Southside Main Street Project The Green Corner Store The Root were the ones I found. Ok so a cool loft apartment, a neighborhood leaping back, a sense of community, and people creating a synergy? LOVE!
Since signing my lease on March 18th I have become a vocal supporter and excited about what I have to look forward to. I wanted to start this blog as not just a way to combine my love of food, of photography, and this new chapter but to have a community blog to share what is going on in SoMa Little Rock. Hopefully it will encourage others in the area to move to SoMa and to inspire others living in their own corner of the world to revitalize and support their neighborhoods.
Today there is to be an event at The Bernice Garden with the Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church:
The QQUMC Community Easter Egg Hunt and Cookout, with Bandito the donkey, goats, kids, lambs, sheep, a pony, and maybe a llama AND the Easter Bunny, WILL TAKE PLACE AS PLANNED, RAIN OR SHINE, AT BERNICE GARDEN, corner of Dai...sy Bates and S. Main, SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 11:00-12:30. We have tents for the animals and a pavilion for the humans, and even it rains some of the time, it's not likely to POUR - and if it does, it won't for long. So come on down! Have some fun! Have some food! Live a little!
Saw that on The Bernice Garden Facebook page. So I will be off to that and hopefully the rain will hold off a bit!
