Sports + Recreation

Preview: OZ Trails Bike Park

A Hard-Hat Preview Tour Of The Highly Anticipated OZ Trails Bike Park with General Manager, Gary Vernon Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis For years, Bentonville has been the undisputed "Mountain Biking Capital of the World." But just a few miles north, a new silhouette is rising against the Bella Vista skyline—one that promises to elevate the Northwest Arkansas riding scene to a global gravity destination. The OZ Trails Bike Park is no longer just a blueprint or a rumor. With...

Education

Introducing Thaden School's New Journalism Interns

Trio Violet, Ellison, and Lee Make Up Bentonville City Lifestyle's Latest Team of Journalism Interns Article by Violet Bloomfield | Photography by Ellison Bynum-Hyman We’re back with another cohort of Thaden School interns! Chosen for their creativity, curiosity, and tenacity, Ellison Bynum-Hyman (photographer), Lee Bailly (social media), and Violet Bloomfield (writer and photographer) cannot wait to magnify local voices and explore current events in Bentonville, all through the unique lens of...

Home + Design

Love Your Space

Strack Interiors' Designer Shares Insight Into Her Team's Design Process + Expert Tips To Consider For Residential Projects Article by Stephanie Strack | Photography by Jared Mark Fincher When your space is properly designed, it creates a feeling of harmony and balance that positively impacts your mental health. Wouldn’t it make sense that your biggest investment should make you feel great? This is why hiring an interior designer can be so impactful.  With the support of my husband Chris...

Life + Culture

More Than a House

Finding Community at BlakeSt: A Space for Connection and Collaboration Article by Greer Babione | Photography by Philip Thomas at Novo Studio Nestled just off the Bentonville Square, BlakeSt stands as more than a beautifully restored building. It is a living testament to connection, collaboration, and community. Originally, the late 1880s estate of Thomas Taylor Blake and his wife, Bertha, the property has evolved from a historic homestead into a vibrant hub where thinkers, athletes, artists...

Travel

Welcome To Bluewood Retreat

Meagan Miller Introduces Us To Her Local Destination for Retreats, Reunions, and Relaxation Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Cheryl Barton How are you connected to NWA? I grew up in Southeast Arkansas and went to the University of Arkansas. I met my husband, Brandon, after college while we were both working in Rogers. We spent a few years living in the Bentonville area before moving to Edmond, Oklahoma. Now we have two kids, Weston and Ryan, and our dog, Thunder. Northwest...

Home + Design

Field Supply Curates Timeless Goods

Family Blends Creative Talents Designing Vintage Retreat and Gathering Space Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis “The end goal for all of it is bringing people together over things that mean something; things that have soul and character.” Emily Petrick and her mother, Lizzie Duncan, launched Field Supply during the holiday season of 2025.  With the help of Petrick’s husband, Corey, the former mechanic’s shop off Price Coffee Road has been strategically transformed into the duo’s...

Life + Culture

Stringfellow Sings For Arkansas

'Tommy From Arkansas' signs record deal & sticks with local producer Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis I first met Thomas Stringfellow through mutual friends at The HUB Bike Lounge in Bentonville.  His kind personality and contagious smile are stand-out qualities on their own, but when I learned of his musical talents through the House of Songs’ Troy Campbell, I was curious to understand why the former American Idol contestant was content to serve his community as a barista at the...

Education

Hillfolk: A Place For Makers

Bea Apple's Love Letter To Bentonville Article by Andi Darling & Michelle Bazis | Photography by Teagan Kenny When Hillfolk co-founder Bea Apple was just a girl, she taught herself to crochet. With a single ball of yarn and a crochet hook, she would spend her days at her local library, keeping her hands moving in an attempt to fight off her youthful boredom. She says she always wanted to do visual art on some level, but the weight of expectations guided her to a more practical path as an...

Arts + Culture

McShane Opens Dream Gallery

Local Artist Turns Adversity Into Ambition, Growing Her Brand Despite Pandemic And Cancer Diagnosis Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis “I couldn’t tell you when I started painting because I’ve always done it,” said Bentonville-based artist, Chelsea McShane. “I remember a time when we were young, and my dad sat us down to ask what we wanted to be when we grew up. When I said ‘artist,’ he meant well, but he replied, ‘Well, you’ll have to support yourself. You don’t want to be a starving...

Arts + Culture

Sneed's 'No Blank Walls'

Bentonville Artist Brooke Sneed Says Murals Are A Necessity Adding Meaning To Space Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Brooke Sneed, Bella Media Agency Share a little about your arts background. I was always a creative kid, drawing or doing crafts, and then in high school my most practiced art form was dance. I have a degree in art education and first learned to paint in university art classes. Following university, I taught elementary art for four years. What attracts you to...