During the daytime, downtown Little Rock swells with briefcases and business suits. An estimated 42,000 employees stream into area high rises to conduct a wide range of business with the rest of the world.

From offices overlooking the Arkansas River, portfolio managers handle financial matters for Stephens Inc., the largest investment bank off Manhattan's Wall Street. Execs at Acxiom develop interactive marketing services for large, global clients. Creative teams at Dillard's headquarters discuss the upcoming spring line.

As the clock above the Central Standard Time plaque ticks toward noon, professionals filter into the streets, mixing with tourists at area eateries. Advertising colleagues entertain new clients at Ashley's, the nationally recognized, upscale restaurant inside the historic Capital Hotel. Lobbyists and legislators further flesh out the debates that dominated the morning at the nearby State Capitol over fried green tomatoes and other Southern fare at Cotham's. With about 70 restaurants, downtown caters to all tastes.

Once the workday ends, downtown transforms into an elegant center of philanthropy and culture. Theaters, galleries and museums attract the area's elite and up-and-comers. Several nightspots beckon the younger set. And when the weekend rolls around, all kinds of crowds mix for farmers' markets, festivals and fun in general.