I recommend the Best Western which has breakfast included. There is a lunch tavern handy by the school so all you have to do is follow the crowd for supper.

Hello Tony. I will second Lin on the Best Western. Tell them you will be there for the ABS Intro course, they might give you a better rate. As far as food during the class we usually go to Williams tavern in Old Washington for lunch. Quick and decent food. Dining in Hope is somewhat limited, but you have the standard fast food and some not bad restaurants. There is also a Wal Mart near the Best Western where you can get stuff for your room fridge.

I will see you there.

Brion

The Best Western is the place to stay. Good breakfast. You'll love William's Tavern, and everyone usually eats dinner together. The instructors know where to eat. It's a lot of fun.

Bob

Thank you very much Lin, Brion and Bob for your replies. Just the kind of info I needed. I am awaiting a return call from the Best Western with a rate for Intro students. I have called a couple others also. I am on the right track! Thanks again!

Tony Zanussi

Kansas City, MO

I envy you the trip. I've never done one of the classes there but would love to do so some day. You've got a couple of outstanding instructors.

Have fun!

Gary

Over my years of teaching there I noticed things changed a bit, William’s tavern has been a constant though, it is the only place this Northerner ever eats fried okra but I have to have it when I am there. I have always said that I would hate to be a teenager in Hope AR, I would have gotten into a lot of trouble if I grew up there*, as there is NOTHING to do there.

When I started teaching at that school there was no Walmart, and that probably changed things the most for me. The first thing I do is go to Walmart and get foodstuffs to load up my hotel refrigerator with. It is much cheaper and will give you a break from the local cuisine (well that is actually the second thing, the first thing I do is stop in Texarkana to stock my refrigerator, those who have been will know what I mean <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> ).

I hope the Western Sizzlin is still closed, yes I said that right, I dreaded every time I had to eat there. The Mexican restaurant across the road from the Best Western is alright but nowhere near as authentic as it used to be. Years ago it was pretty darned good, but if you want more authentic you need to drive to the other side of Hope where there are Hispanic neighborhoods and English is almost the second language at the restaurants. I am chili relleno junkie (I can make it better than any restaurant) and one time had the craving bad, the place across the street didn’t even make the dish, so I went on a mission and that is how I found the other side of town. After several attempts I eventually just leaned into the door of a place and asked the guy at the counter “Chili relleno, si?”,… “si!” … “ahh chili relleno por favor!” and asked to be seated. But a Mexican restaurant where the waitress didn’t know what a chili relleno is was even crazier to me than the idea of a dry county.

*Full disclosure- there is even less to do where I did grow up, so I did get into a lot of trouble. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//sad.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />

I have to second Kevin's observation that there is virtually nothing to do in Hope. However, you may want to check with Kenny Rowe and see if you can drop by his leather shop for a visit. The only other thing that I found interesting to do in Hope, is attend the Watermelon Festival. The festival is usually held around the first of August. It was actually pretty fun.

If you follow 278 Hwy through Hope, you'll run across just about all the typical fast food restaurants.

Tony,

I didn't see any dates when you plan to attend, it's been a while since I have been and some of what I suggest may not be available anymore.

- Kenny Rowe's Leather: check his hours, you may have to do this over the weekend or talk him about picking a day after class and get the group to go.

- Historic Old Washington: years ago if you where a paid attendee for a class or hammer-in, you could tour the town for free, closes at 5:00 pm, at the time the tour guide told me they would make exceptions for attendees as a group or will have to save this for the weekend.

- James Black's blacksmith shop and graveyard - a must visit

- Contact the Four States Iron Munchers: several of us went to a hammer-in in Texarkana over a weekend featuring Billy Epps, contact the club about visiting a shop for a day over the weekend or an evening.

- Uncle Al's: check with Uncle Al, if he isn't visiting the class, go visit him, check the dates for his Thursday nite get together.

- ABS Masters living in the area: check to see if any mastersmiths in the area would allow the class or an individual to make a shop visit while in the area.

- Laundry: there are laundromats in Hope, don't forget to take some detergent.

There are other post on the forums about what to bring to the intro class, read them and don't be afraid to contact your instructors before the class.

Steve

|quoted:

Tony,

I didn't see any dates when you plan to attend, it's been a while since I have been and some of what I suggest may not be available anymore.

- Kenny Rowe's Leather: check his hours, you may have to do this over the weekend or talk him about picking a day after class and get the group to go.

- Historic Old Washington: years ago if you where a paid attendee for a class or hammer-in, you could tour the town for free, closes at 5:00 pm, at the time the tour guide told me they would make exceptions for attendees as a group or will have to save this for the weekend.

- James Black's blacksmith shop and graveyard - a must visit

- Contact the Four States Iron Munchers: several of us went to a hammer-in in Texarkana over a weekend featuring Billy Epps, contact the club about visiting a shop for a day over the weekend or an evening.

- Uncle Al's: check with Uncle Al, if he isn't visiting the class, go visit him, check the dates for his Thursday nite get together.

- ABS Masters living in the area: check to see if any mastersmiths in the area would allow the class or an individual to make a shop visit while in the area.

- Laundry: there are laundromats in Hope, don't forget to take some detergent.

There are other post on the forums about what to bring to the intro class, read them and don't be afraid to contact your instructors before the class.

Steve

as Steve said; lots of things to do if you just know about them. I have found that most of the students are very happy to just clean up, eat, and rest up for the next day. Evening excitement is pretty low on the list most times.

Sitting around in the room in the evening with the other students sharing the day, looking at and talking knives and other assorted gear is one of the huge benefits of the classes.

Telling lies; sharing a beverage, and developing a working relationship with other smiths away from the hustle and noise of the class is a very nice bonus.

Spent thur. over at the school putting a new belt on one of the air hammers.

See ya'll there.

Gentlemen, thanks again for the information! I know quite a few of you from visiting the Arkansas show, Gary's Mulkey's Branson Hammer-In, and Heartland Topeka. What I love about the ABS is that everybody is willing to help out and never leave anybody behind. Couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to learn from, associate with and talk knives or whatever with. Being a Marine Corps veteran I know people of that caliber are few and far between. But the ABS is full of those wonderful people! I am totally excited about attending the Bladesmithing "bootcamp" in Arkansas in April. It is what I would call "immersion training", and I can't wait.

I will probably appreciate the slower pace of life while in Hope, and for that I am sure I will be grateful. Being a wholesale meat cutter in inner city Kansas City, well, I need a break. And can't wait to get dirty! I love a challenge!

Sincerely,

Tony Zanussi

Kansas City, MO

I will also be attending the Arkansas Intro To Bladesmithing class from September 28 - October 9 coming all the way from Australia and this thread has been very informative.

I do have one question about transport from the best western or other hotels to the college? Do I have to hire a car, are there buses or is it walking distance from hotel to college?

Any information or recommendations would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Barry Kennedy

|quoted:

I will also be attending the Arkansas Intro To Bladesmithing class from September 28 - October 9 coming all the way from Australia and this thread has been very informative.

I do have one question about transport from the best western or other hotels to the college? Do I have to hire a car, are there buses or is it walking distance from hotel to college?

Any information or recommendations would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Barry Kennedy

Barry;

There may be taxi's but you won't need it. Leave a notice at the front deck for the instructor. He will look you up and get you situated for transportation; i.e bumming a ride to the school. It is eight miles.

Many students share rides just to save a little gas.

It will work out fine.

Mike

Thanks for the information Mike

I am really looking forward to this course!

Cheers

Barry

Thanks Mike, you beat me to it. Barry it will be great to have you at the school, you will learn a lot in those two weeks. Transportation will not be a problem.

Brion