Life + Culture

Bentonville's Greatest Cheerleaders

With A New Welcome Center and Master Plan, Visit Bentonville Is Amped For Community Development Article by Violet Bloomfield | Photography by Violet Bloomfield & Ellison Bynum-Hyman Exciting changes are underway at Visit Bentonville, the organization connected to every hotel, restaurant, and activity in the city. If you’ve ever needed help staycation planning, chances are a friendly face at the Visit Bentonville has supported your search. With an emphasis on community engagement while...

Life + Culture

The Undervalued Art of Being Uncool

Creating a culture of participation where people are connected enough to engage, supported enough to grow, and invested enough to stay. Article by Graham Cobb | Photography by Michelle Bazis Authentic, honest, vulnerable human connection is more valuable than credit. The tough part is, well, it’s tough to do. Right and selfless acts for the greater good get overlooked. Those efforts aren’t cool. But they’re critical. And those actions are the foundations upon which leaders are built. ...

Travel

Duck Hunting is Hard Work

Trading the hustle for time, memories, and the simple love of being afield Article by Wyatt Layman | Photography by Garret Layman Growing up in the rural, Missouri Ozarks, duck hunting was a labor of love—heavy emphasis on labor. It meant beyond early mornings, driving hours to stand in the draw line, breaking ice and, on more than one occasion, finding out the hard way that there was a leak in my waders.  Those were the days when I was still somewhere between hunter stage 2 and 3—caring more...

Entertainment

Bentonville Bike Fest Launches Red Bull Double Down

An Event Blending Pro BMX and MTB for Epic Entertainment Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Kate Austin Bentonville Bike Fest is back at it, bringing all biking formats together for a unique annual festival, now in its sixth season. Founder and Red Bull Athlete, Kenny Belaey, works year-round to develop fresh programming and partnerships for Bike Fest. This year, visitors will experience an all-new contest that Belaey says has “never been done before.” Red Bull Double Down will...

Style + Beauty

A Luxury Barbershop With VIP Perks For Member Development

Owner Josh Saffran Added Unique Upgrades To The Gents Place Franchise Model In Bentonville, Especially At His Walmart Campus Location Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis When Josh Saffran, co-owner of Bentonville’s The Gents Place, first moved to town 15 years ago, he was part of the migration of CPG suppliers drawn to the region for their relationships with Walmart. While thriving in his corporate career, Saffran recognized an opportunity in the entrepreneurial space when the local...

Life + Culture

Paige Paints For Play

Bentonville Artist Paige Dirksen Invites The Community To Find Joy and Experience Play Through Her Imaginative Murals Article by Violet Bloomfield | Photography by Violet Bloomfield & Paige Dirksen Paige Dirksen is a local artist whose passion for community arts is abundant in both the designs and execution of her lively murals, which decorate many corners of the city. With an MA in Art Therapy Counseling and a BA in Art/Psychology, Dirksen uses her understanding of art and mental health to...

Life + Culture

Bentonville: The Next Creative Flashpoint

How Bentonville's collective creative energy allows us to imagine something none of us could have built alone. Article by Allyson de la Houssaye | Photography by Justin Palmer & Mandy Babyar The truth about what I do is a little nuanced.   I may say I’m a documentary filmmaker, State Commissioner, or Parks and Rec Board Chair, but through it all, what I’m really doing is building relationships. I help people meet each other. I connect those with an idea to those with a resource. Sometimes I...

Home Services

It Takes A Village

Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis They say it takes a village. If you’re a mother reading this, I want you to think about your family’s daily routine. Consider when your child was a newborn, surviving on formula, living in diapers, and building their immune system one germ at a time.  Think about your baby shower when friends and loved ones celebrated your growing family by gifting you with a car seat, stroller, baby monitors, and clothes. Think about when your partner switched shifts...

Education

Setting The Table

A Bentonville Farmers Market Spotlight Article by Violet Bloomfield | Photography by Violet Bloomfield & Ellison Bynum-Hyman Every Saturday morning, the Bentonville Farmers Market unites the community by creating a space for local businesses to shine. As seasons change and the weather cools, the market moves indoors to cherish the cozy winter months and continue recognizing small businesses year-round. Locals appreciate the concentration of NWA makers, farmers, and entrepreneurs who convene...

Finance + Legal Services

Arkansas Moves Activates Neighbors

What The Rebranding Of Bentonville Moves To Arkansas Moves Signifies For Mobility Throughout The Natural State Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis In the heart of Northwest Arkansas, a subtle but powerful ‘movement’ is taking root. You can hear itin the persistent hum of tires on pavement, the crunch of dirt on trails, and the chatter of new neighbors connecting outdoors. What began as a hyper-local initiative known as Bentonville Moves has officially rebranded as Arkansas Moves , a...