Arts + Culture

"All The World's A Stage" But Bentonville Shines Brightest

Film Project Directly Impact Local Economies and Creatives–Bentonville Film Festival Showcases NWA As An Idyllic Stage For Merging Diverse Talent Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis The 2026 Bentonville Film Festival [BFF] transcended cinema, offering a vibrant platform where diverse talent, creative stories, and heartfelt missions converge. From volunteers and producers to writers and community advocates, we’re spotlighting a few local voices who helped bring the festival’s mission to...

Life + Culture

Growing Up With Northwest Arkansas

"Ordinary days in NWA shaped my motherhood experience just as much as they shaped my kids' childhood." Article by Danielle Keller | Photography by Provided Sometimes I catch myself looking at my kids and wondering where the time went. It seems to happen more and more these days now that they're 13 and 11. Somewhere between diaper bags, playgrounds, preschool drop-offs, and family adventures, they grew up. And so did Northwest Arkansas. For the past thirteen years, we've had the privilege of...

Arts + Culture

Care Packages For Ukraine

Hugs From Friends Helps U.S. Youth Send Hope, Support, and Friendship To Kids In Ukraine Article by Violet Bloomfield | Photography by Violet Bloomfield & Provided In 2022, local Trevor Dane volunteered at a Ukrainian humanitarian center in Przemyśl, Poland, aiding refugee families during the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Services like art therapy for children, veterinary care, a hair salon, and food offered by the World Central Kitchen attempted to create a sense of normalcy, but where Dane...

Local Services

Things Every Pet Parent Should Know

When Every Minute Counts: A Veterinarian's Guide to Knowing Where to Go Article by Dr. Arden Roderick | Photography by Crawford Studios & Provided Every pet owner has experienced that moment of uncertainty. Your cat suddenly starts squinting one eye. Your puppy has swallowed something it shouldn’t have, and your regular veterinarian has already closed for the day. Your first thought is simple: “What do I do now?”  Those moments of uncertainty are exactly why I returned home to Arkansas to...

Local Services

Loving Foster Puppies

Best Friends NWA Foster Families Offer Short-Term Care for Long-Term Love Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Adam Goldberg & Michelle Bazis There’s a special kind of magic when a shelter pet trades a noisy kennel for a cozy living room. For animals waiting for adoption, a foster home is the bridge between a frightened past and a bright, loving future. It’s a true game-changer. According to Best Friends NWA, shelters with foster programs see a 30 percent higher adoption rate, as pets...

Entertainment

The Amazeum Makes Learning Visible

Opening This Fall, The Museum's Three-Part Expansion Adds Fresh Opportunities For Visitors To Learn And Grow Together Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis Since the Scott Family Amazeum first opened its doors at 1009 Museum Way in 2015, the children’s museum has been more than a destination for Northwest Arkansas’ youth; it has become a key pillar of Bentonville’s development as a family-forward city. It is a space where parents, educators, and children can find their tribe through the...

Life + Culture

The Bentonville Way

Mayor Stephanie Orman and Velocity NWA Founder Kourtney Barrett Celebrate Bentonville's Bikeable Way of Life Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Ellison Bynum-Hyman & Claire McFarland Traffic is a growing pain. We see evidence of this bittersweet ache throughout Bentonville, whether we’re running errands on Walton or navigating Downtown around mealtimes. Thankfully, our one-of-a-kind biking culture helps break up the saltiness of packed parking garages and lengthy commutes.  ...

Sports + Recreation

Get To Know Gnargo

The Bentonville-Based Cargo Bike Brand Customizing Cruisers For A Richly Diverse Community of Riders Article by Andi Darling | Photography by Michelle Bazis & Claire McFarland Gnargo Bikes began as a COVID project for Zach Springer and Elysia Contreras Springer, which grew into something much bigger than either of them expected.  While the business officially opened in 2022, the idea of Gnargo began long before that, sparked by Elysia's long morning commute in the Twin Cities. With a toddler...

Travel

The Road Trip Experience

Smith's 'Sugar Bear' Removes Burden of RV Ownership So More Can Enjoy Open Road Adventures Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis Owned and operated by Tracey and Michelle Smith, Sugar Bear Express RVs is a Northwest Arkansas brand that deals in open road exploration. A concept born from the Smith's favorite excursions and developed into an opportunity for other families to create the same core memories. Tracey and Michelle met at the University of Arkansas where she played volleyball and...

Arts + Culture

America's Art Museum

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Celebrates Landmark Expansion Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened the doors to its highly anticipated expansion project in early June 2026. Designed by Safdie Architects, the addition seamlessly extends the iconic "bridge" motif, weaving an architectural figure-eight through the Ozark forest, deepening the museum's famed integration of art, architecture, and nature.  According to Safdie Architects’...