There are some mornings when the commute itself reminds you why this part of Arkansas is special.
On my way into work, I pass over the Broadway Bridge, heading into downtown North Little Rock. It is a cool morning, and as I cross the Arkansas River, there is a light mist hanging over the water. From the bridge, I can see the other beautiful bridges that connect the downtown areas north and south of the river – the Main Street Bridge, the Junction Bridge, and the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge. It is one of those simple views that never gets old.
One of the underrated benefits of working downtown is that the day starts easily. I have convenient parking at my office building, but before heading upstairs, I walk less than a block down Main Street to Blackberry Market for my favorite latte.
This morning, I am meeting a friend I got to know through Leadership Greater Little Rock. We grab coffee and catch up about work, family, community, and what is happening around the city. Blackberry is the perfect kind of downtown coffee shop for that – relaxed, friendly, and close enough to make it part of a normal workday rhythm.
On my way out, I grab another latte – decaf this time – and walk back up Main Street to Workflow, my coworking studio.
I spend the next few hours catching up on emails from one of the living room settings in the space. It overlooks the Argenta trees and parks, the river and the bridges, and the Little Rock skyline across the water. It is a pretty incredible view for an ordinary Tuesday.
By lunchtime, my coworkers and I decide we want to do something a little more fun than usual. So instead of walking to a restaurant, we hop on the trolley.
The trolley stop is directly next to our building and it comes by every few minutes, and even though the Main Street Bridge has a dedicated pedestrian path, there is something especially enjoyable about riding across the river together. It turns lunch into a small downtown adventure.
Just over the bridge, we get off at the Little Rock Regional Chamber stop. Across the street is Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, which might just be the best fried chicken in Little Rock. Gus’s is part of the Little Rock Rivermarket scene, full of restaurants, coffee shops, and clubs and stores. The small change of scenery from one neighborhood to the next is nice, and it only takes me five or ten minutes, walking or riding the trolly.
After lunch, my friends patiently wait while I make one more coffee stop. This time, it is Nexus Coffee & Creative, where I grab another decaf latte before we ride the trolley back across the river to the office. (I am aware that I have a coffee addiction.)
Back at Workflow, the afternoon is full but I am in an awesome setting to lock-in. The coworking team keeps the space stocked with great snacks, so I keep munching while I work through the rest of the day. I finish up in one of our work booths, watching the sun set over the city, the river, and the bridges.
It is gorgeous.
That evening, my wife and I have a date planned at The Attic Bar. It is about a five-minute drive from the office, which makes it easy to shift from workday to date night without much effort. We order appetizers and cocktails, settle in for a while, and then head home.
A beautiful morning over the river. Good coffee. A productive day in a great workspace. Fried chicken, trolley rides, skyline views, and a date night close by.
That is a pretty great workday in downtown Little Rock.
Zac Cerrato, Principal, Evo Business Environments
