If rumor columns were slapstick comedies, you might say last week I got clobbered by my own anvil. There I was, doing my due diligence and minding my business when out of the woodwork came about a dozen other news outlets screaming from the rooftops a story I’ve had in my cross hairs for no telling how long.

In case someone missed it (I can hope), here’s the rundown. The Purple Cow is going to open a restaurant in the new phase of The Village at Hendrix. If you have driven by The Village in the past week or so, you have more than likely seen mass destruction taking place where this new phase will be. I estimate it has been at least four years since I first reported that The Purple Cow was definitely, for sure, at some future point going to locate in Conway. I had a slight urge to crawl in a hole when I found out this announcement had gone public without my knowledge. In the most excellent of ironies, my husband and I were in Little Rock the night after I submitted my last column, and we decided to stop by The Purple Cow on Chenal for a milkshake. I guess you win some, you lose some.

I am somewhat consoled by the fact that I can offer you this. Rumor has it Sushi Cafe is also opening in The Village at Hendrix. This is not a confirmed fact, but a pretty good little tidbit as rumors go, if you know what I mean. Sushi Cafe in Little Rock is in The Heights, as is the original ZaZa’s. I’ve been checking out the Facebook page, and it looks like a place I need to visit. Stay tuned to see how this whole thing shapes up.

Speaking of things that have been talked about for several years, the blue building downtown was laid to rest over the past week. No doubt you have already read in the Log Cabin Democrat this week about it being donated to the city. Conway leaders are looking forward to putting something beautiful and welcoming there. I’m told for the approaching season, a 30-foot Christmas tree will be placed on the site, on or around the time of the annual downtown Christmas parade. I have to say I’m pretty excited.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and don’t look for me on Black Friday.

(Rachel Parker Dickerson is a freelance columnist/journalist. Send your questions and comments to rachelpdickerson@gmail.com)