Because I had to do research at the Butler Center for Arkansas History and Culture, I drove out to Little Rock early, and after completing the research I came to do, enjoyed some time walking around the River Market area. I stumbled onto a downtown branch of Fidel & Co., a coffee bar I enjoyed a few years ago in the East Village neighborhood of Little Rock, and dropped in just in time to miss a heavy downpour of showers. About the time I finished my latte, the rain cleared out, and I was able to walk back to my car. As always when in Little Rock, I am surprised at how clean and modern the city looks. One gets the impression that Little Rock is far more prosperous and progressive than Memphis. Certainly it does not hurt to be a state capitol. But Memphis could take some lessons from its neighbor to the west.