Now that preparations for the 2006 AAN Annual Convention are in full swing, we have compiled some handy information about the convention and Little Rock.
Why do I want to visit Little Rock?
What are some interesting places to visit in Little Rock?
What do the locals do?
Okay, I want to attend. How do I register?
How do I get there?
Where will I stay?
I still need more information.
Why do I want to visit Little Rock?
In addition to the many appealing features of AAN’s annual convention, Little Rock is also a medium-sized city (pop. 184,055) with historic sites, museums, shopping and an active nightlife.
What are some interesting places to visit in Little Rock?
Museums:
- Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, home to the USS Razorback, the longest-serving submarine in the world
- EMOBA: Ernie’s Museum of Black Arkansans and Performing Arts
- Historic Arkansas Museum
- Museum of Discovery
- Central High School, a crucial battleground during desegregation
- Mt. Holly Cemetery, where Pulitzer Prize-winning poet John Gould Fletcher and executed Confederate spy David O. Dodd are buried
- The Old Mill, famous from the opening scene of “Gone With The Wind”
- Villa Marre, a home with significant local history that is also famous as the house in “Designing Women”
- Arkansas State Capitol, the grounds of which include a number of war monuments.
Arkansas Times, our host paper, has comprehensive event listings on its Web site.
Publisher Alan Leveritt offers the following suggestions:
- Take a taxi to Sim’s Bar-b-que on 33rd St. Take a taxi because you will never find it on your own and taxis are cheap. Be warned that Sims will ruin you for barbecue. Nothing else will ever measure up. And if you have been raised on beef barbecue, as in Texas, you may never be able to go home again. Order pork ribs, nothing else, with sides of turnip greens, beans and slaw. A slab will feed three or four.
  - Looking for an interesting afterhours joint to nurture your hangover? Go to the Midtown Billiards at 1316 Main. Expect an incredibly diverse slice of humanity with all classes, races and attitudes well represented. It’s smoky, loud, lots of pool and usually live music. Be careful about betting on the billiards. These guys are better than you. Things get rolling about midnight.
- Sticky Fingerz Rock n Roll Chicken Shack
- Vino’s
- Juanita’s Cantina
- Discovery
- Electric Cowboy
- U-B-U
- Backstreet Dance Club
- Cornerstone Deli & Pub
If you are a member or an associate member, you may register online at registration.aan.org. You will need an aan.org username and password, but you may still pay by either credit card or check. The cost is $295 per person before April 28, or $345 thereafter. In addition, each member paper is eligible for up to two complimentary registrations under certain conditions.
Individual non-members may also register online. The cost for non-members is $425 per person before April 28, or $475 thereafter.
If you are an exhibitor, a non-member registering a group, or just a member who prefers doing business by paper, forms are available for download at the 2006 Convention Web site.
Little Rock National Airport is served by nine airlines: American Eagle, Continental Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Northwest, Southwest and US Airways. The airport’s Web site lists the cities for which non-stop flights are offered. The hotel offers shuttle service to and from the airport every half hour. When arriving, just call the hotel at (501) 906-4000 for the expected arrival time of the next van.
The convention will be held at The Peabody Little Rock, home of the world-famous Peabody Ducks, which march down the red carpet to the Lobby Fountain every day. The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies’ convention room rate is $119 single or $129 double. To reserve rooms for the convention, please contact Peabody reservations at (800) PEABODY or (800) 732-2639.
The cut-off date for reservations is May 24, 2006. Please reserve early, as AAN’s block of rooms may sell out prior to the cut-off date.
Other than the ducks, hotel amenities include:
- In-room dining, available 24 hours a day
- One-day laundry and dry-cleaning
- Award-winning catering and conference services
- Complete audiovisual services
- Executive business center
- Valet parking
- Nightly turn-down service available
- Complimentary newspaper
- 24-hour licensed babysitting service, provided by appointment
- Award-winning restaurants
- Peabody Athletic Club, a full-service fitness center
Information and news will be posted to the 2006 convention Web site as it becomes available. The program details are now posted there, and any seminar changes will be announced there as well.
If you have additional questions about convention details, contact Debra Silvestrin at (202) 289-8484 or meetings@aan.org.
