Local Services

Peel Compton's Bentonville

The Foundation's Diverse Properties Provide Peaceful Escape and Outdoor Adventure Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis Any Northwest Arkansas transplant can attest to the recreational jackpot that is Bentonville. Whether you hail from another outdoorsy hotspot, a big city, or a small rural town, there’s no denying the top-shelf options available locally for the leisure outdoorsman, wildlife enthusiast, or adrenaline athlete. Some of the options that spoil us are thanks to the stewardship...

Local Services

Central America at The Cigar District

The Bentonville Business Representing Generations of Tobacco Farmers Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Michelle Bazis & Claire McFarland Located four blocks west of The Momentary on 6th street, Bobby and Johnna Duncan opened The Cigar District, with its rooftop lounge and premium retail store, for cigar enthusiasts and the cigar curious alike. For the Duncans, each hand-rolled cigar tells a story about family traditions and cultural craftsmanship worth experiencing in the same way we...

Life + Culture

BTS: FreshGrass Bentonville

Preparing The Annual Festival Celebrating Grassroots Music Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Michelle Bazis & Claire McFarland What does it take to put together one of Bentonville’s cherished annual music festivals? FreshGrass Bentonville, organized in partnership with the FreshGrass Foundation, recently celebrated its fifth festival at The Momentary. A weekend filled with local and international musicians, spanning multiple stages, as well as craft makers and local vendors, requires...

Local Services

Experience Arkansas Heli Biking

OZ Trails™ Heli Will Take Your Next Bike Adventure To New Heights Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis Pick your poison - gravel or single track - and load up at Legends Air Center's Thaden Fieldhouse for an OZ Trails™ Heli excursion to your favorite Arkansas biking destination. Taking off from Legends Air Center at Bentonville’s Thaden Fieldhouse, each A-Star Helicopter can accommodate five individuals, in addition to the pilot. This premium adventure treat is perfect for hosting special...

Life + Culture

Stuntman On Raising Fearless Boys

Drift NWA's Jef Groff on Parenting Faith Over Fear Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Michelle Bazis & Provided Raising children is a dynamic challenge. There’s no failproof formula for successful parenting because we all have different ideas of what success looks like. Still, we tend to take the good and bad of our upbringing to write the rule book for our own household. Nowadays, this often looks like reverting to factory settings: where a sunny day and imagination are all a kid...

Life + Culture

Mentorship Through Mountain Biking

How Joseph and Kialynn Olivarez Are Stepping In With The Matthew Mark Foundation Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Michelle Bazis & Matthew Mark Foundation “I want this ‘thing’ - this father figure - to help me through life, and I didn’t have it.” Joseph and Kialynn [Kia] Olivarez are turning tragedy into triumph through the Matthew Mark Foundation - A local non-profit centered around outdoor activities like mountain biking and skateboarding, where the focus is mentorship and...

Home Services

Why Hiring a Designer Is Like your Insurance for your biggest investment, your Home!

You’ve bought something for your home that you were sure would be perfect. You had the vision. It looked great online. But then… it arrived. And it didn’t fit. Or the color was off. Or it just didn’t work with the rest of the room. Now it’s collecting dust—or worse, you’re stuck with a space that still doesn’t feel quite right. You’re not alone.  “We’ve tried everything, but it just doesn’t feel like us.” is the most common phrase I hear from clients. Design Is More Than...

Life + Culture

Rule of Three

The Bike Race That Isn't Really About Racing Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Provided “Bring a gift for a stranger.”  Not the kind of request you’d expect when registering for a bike race, but according to event organizers Andy Chasteen and Lauren Pickman, Rule of Three [RO3] isn’t really about the race. Chasteen, who humbly refers to himself as “Head Idiot In Charge,” is responsible for the genesis of RO3, a one-of-a-kind event that combines road, gravel, and singletrack bike...

Life + Culture

Five Years of Bike Fest

"There are a few ingredients you need for a festival. Bentonville ticks all the boxes." Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Michelle Bazis & Russell Bloodworth Photography What defines a great festival? Tagging the word “fest” onto an event doesn’t necessarily qualify it as a true festival experience, but is there a recipe? Start with the basics: Pick a theme, choose a crowd-friendly destination, add a double dose of entertainment, finish with a few influencers, and garnish with some...

Local Services

Women-Owned Businesses in Bentonville

Celebrating Female Entrepreneurship in NWA Article by Michelle Bazis | Photography by Provided Dr. Allyson Mertens, Mertens Eye & Optics Dr. Mertins launched Mertins Eye & Optical in 2006 to provide concierge-level eye care and handcrafted luxury eyewear. She is also the co-founder and vice president of Buffalo Development, Inc., and serves on the board for Vision Arkansas. Renae Elkins, Burn Boot Camp Bentonville Elkins opened Burn Boot Camp Bentonville in May 2017 after a 14-year...