A Polish Sausage and A Time Machine

Every morning, before the sun rises, 92 year old PaPa (Johnny Kara) starts making coleslaw, sauerkraut and horseradish sauce. Then he...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Nov 6, 20222 min read

Mr. T and My Mom

You guys remember Clubber Lang in Rocky III? Mr. T played a horrible fighter who kind of kills Rocky's trainer, Mick, he tries to take...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Oct 29, 20222 min read

Oaklawn Park Ponies...Something to Have Faith In

If you grew up in Hot Springs you will understand this post. This morning at 7:30, as I drove past Oaklawn, there were....there horses!...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Dec 4, 20202 min read

Rocky's Where the Waitresses Still Call Me Sweetie

Dear Hot Springs, I love Rocky's Corner. Their pizza is so freaking good. Chicago style of course. Their chicken wings are freakishly...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Nov 23, 20202 min read

Shhh...There's A Secret Brewery Out In The Woods!

Out in the woods, probably 12 miles from downtown, there is a funky, quirky brewery in the woods. It's absolutely perfect if your looking...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Nov 8, 20202 min read

Tax Dollars Beautifully Spent...North Woods Trails, Perfect for Locals and Tourists!

Apparently, I'm late to the party. This morning Alex and I took Aries (aka Fluffy Butt) up to the North Woods Trail. It's an...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Oct 31, 20201 min read

A Trashed Out Vision of Elegance and Hope

I love the people willing to invest in Hot Springs! They are brave and visionary. Recently, a local realtor, Chris Rix, bought an old...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Oct 25, 20202 min read

An Architectural Beauty,Transformed

A few nights ago we tried to meet up with friends at The Rooftop Bar at the Waters Hotel on Central Aveue. It was 6:30 on a Thursday and...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Oct 19, 20202 min read

The Audacity of Deluca's

Once upon a time, a few years ago, a short man with dangerous charm and a heavy Brooklyn accent moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas. This...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Oct 11, 20202 min read

A West Mountain Love Story

Have you been up on West Mountain lately? It's still gorgeous. I think it's amazing that we have a beautiful camel-hump of a mountain...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Sep 28, 20202 min read

Faith and BBQ...BBQ and Faith

I wish a photograph could capture smell. Walking into Clampit's Country Kitchen and Meat Market is so ridiculously delicious. The air is...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Sep 20, 20202 min read

The Garland County Library, So Much More Than Books

I remember, back in the 60's, my mom Ann Stell would take me to the Garland County Library on Woodbine. It was not a terribly fun place....

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Sep 18, 20202 min read

Hot Springs History and Puppy Love

On Park Avenue there's a handsome little building that's home to Tootsie's Pet Boutique. I love the history of the building, the...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Aug 29, 20202 min read

Secret Brewery in the Woods

Out in the woods, probably 12 miles from downtown, there is a funky, quirky brewery in the woods. It's absolutely perfect if your looking...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Aug 26, 20202 min read

Fordyce-Ricks Estate A Water Wheel and Love Story

I absolutely love walking my dog, Aries, around Stone Bridge in Hot Springs. It's right across from the entrance to Gulpha Gorge on Park...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Aug 20, 20202 min read

Juice Running Down Your Arms at the Track Kitchen!

When you go to the Oaklawn Track Kitchen you feel like a cool kid, an insider. For years, the Track Kitchen wasn't really open to the...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Aug 16, 20202 min read

Love In A Mexican Restaurant

Every time I drive up Ouachita Avenue and past what is now Colorado Grill, I smile a little. Not because I'm thinking about cheese dip,...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Aug 15, 20202 min read

The Most Exquisite, Delicious Bread is In Hot Springs

I'm trying to focus on things that bring me joy even if it's only for a few minutes. Our brain and soul need it, I think, to combat all...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Aug 5, 20202 min read

Uncle Daley and an Unhappy Cow

Back in the 90s we started The Spring Magazine in Hot Springs. One of the most popular columns was called Tales From The Arkansas House...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Jul 26, 20203 min read

The "Incident" on Whittington

My dad, I Granger McDaniel, was a scrawny little boy during the Great Depression in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In the early thirties he was...

Diana McDaniel Hampo

Jul 16, 20202 min read

Bird Seed

Pushing a yellow shopping buggy through the Park Avenue Dollar Store, Helen smiled, greeting everyone she and her daughter passed. “Mom,...

Sep 12 min read

Man Enough and Old Enough to Carry

Last night my youngest child, who is 22, had a bunch of friends over, big, happy dudes he's hung out with since 3rd grade. My son was...

Aug 232 min read

My 3 Favorite Seceret Foods in Hot Springs

My 3 Seceret Foods in Hot Springs Everyone has their favorite food, and that's great, but I'm sick of food that tastes like cardboard,...

Jun 64 min read