What's Up

12/16/2024

Anybody else visited Stewart Family Christmas Lights yet? 🙋🏼‍♀️ Today, Friday and Saturday 37 North will be conducting a Christmas tour. It starts at the HUB Bike Lounge, includes a train ride on the A&M Railroad, and ends with a walk through Stewart lights. See April Wallace’s photos below for a little taste and Dustin Staggs’ story for more info:

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2024/dec/14/37-north-offers-family-friendly-tour-of-region-to/?features-profiles

12/13/2024

Do you love Hallmark movies, or love to make fun of Hallmark movies? Today and tomorrow FSLT - Fort Smith Little Theatre presents "A Hall and Mark Christmas," which lovingly skewers the Hallmark holiday movie formula. Tickets are $7. Read more in Dustin Staggs' preview:
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2024/dec/08/off-season-production-hall-and-mark-pokes-gentle/

12/12/2024

Lindsey Curry launched Grateful Vase about six months ago when she realized she could help repurpose wedding and event florals to brighten others' day at nursing homes, retirement facilities and memory care units. This Saturday the nonprofit is throwing a Christmas party fundraiser at the Garden Room on Dickson, starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $35 and include hot cocoa, snacks, two prize tickets, entertainment and drinks! Learn more about the event and the organization:
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2024/dec/07/grateful-vase-repurposes-event-flowers-t-01b8f6c7/?features-profiles
(Submitted photos)

12/07/2024

Fun performance of “Nutcracker in a Nutshell” by NWA Ballet Theatre this morning at Fayettevillle Public Library. Dancers performed excerpts of the ballet to a very young audience and answered questions about their roles. Their performances of the full production of The Nutcracker will be on stage at Arend Arts Center in Bentonville Dec. 20 and 21.

12/05/2024

If you're headed over to Eureka Springs to do some Christmas shopping this month, there's plenty of events to keep you busy while you're there. Tomorrow is the Board Game Christmas Parade (6-7 p.m.); tomorrow and Saturday is Meet the Makers: Arts and Craft Show at the Main Stage Community Center (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Saturday is a Christmas walking tour of Eureka's beautifully restored homes, from 2-6 p.m., $30 per person. Oh, and Santa will be in Basin Park noon to 5 on Saturdays!

It's beginning to look a lot like a Eureka Springs Christmas ...

12/04/2024

For the first three weekends in December, you can enjoy Winter Glow at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. Families can walk through the warm glow of 2,000 luminarias, grab something to drink and listen to holiday music. $15 per adult or $45 for a family pass. See Dustin Staggs' story for what differentiates the 3 weekends:

The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks welcomes families to enter a bright winter wonderland this December with Winter Glow, a brand-new seasonal event running the first three weekends leading up to Christmas. Each evening, the garden will turn into a tranquil holiday getaway, illuminated by the warm gl...

12/02/2024

Rich and Denise Lanuti's annual December studio show will take place this weekend, Friday, Dec. 6 through Sunday, Dec. 8 at 623 East Rock Street, Fayetteville.

Featured works include fused and lampworked glass items, large and small dishes, sconces, nightlights, jewelry, clocks, trays and other items.

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, and the studio is wheelchair accessible.

12/02/2024

Did you miss the National Philanthropy Day luncheon at Fayetteville Public Library? Catch up on the highlights from the AFP Northwest Arkansas hosted event, which honored local philanthropists who have contributed to the fabric of Northwest Arkansas. See Carin Schoppmeyer's column:

The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Northwest Arkansas welcomed guests Nov. 13 for the National Philanthropy Day luncheon at the Fayetteville Public Library. The annual event is an opportunity to fete local philanthropists who have contributed to the fabric of Northwest Arkansas.

11/30/2024

Tonight at the Auditorium in Eureka Springs is a debut production of "The Nutcracker Sweets" by Ignite Dance. The legendary story of Clara will be played by 12-year-old Layla White and 59 other performers on stage in supporting roles. Admission is $11-21 based on age. See more in Dustin Stagg's story:

This holiday season, Ignite Dance Arts will light up Eureka Springs with its debut production of "The Nutcracker Sweets."

11/30/2024

For Jordan Poorman Cocker, growing up in the Kiowa tribe very naturally instilled a love and appreciation of art in her from a young age as she helped and learned from her mother, a bead worker. Most recently she curated “American Sunrise: Indigenous Art at Crystal Bridges,” which includes enormous portraits, baskets of resilience and plenty of joy. For more about the exhibit and this curator, artist and educator, see our profile below:

When Jordan Poorman Cocker was a young girl, growing up in the Kiowa tribe with a mother who was a beadworker, she would often find herself at the kitchen table with her mom, aunt, sister and others. First they cleared it, and then set to work to complete purses, dresses, necklaces and moccasins tog...

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for you, dear readers and subscribers. We hope you’re enjoying a warm and cozy holiday with loved ones. Enjoy this piece on Big Heart Bread, a bakery that donates all its proceeds to good causes. Story by Carin Schoppmeyer below 👇

Laurie Anderson of Rogers had never made sourdough bread before the spring of 2020 when everything was shut down due to COVID-19. The process of making sourdough bread begins with starter, which is nothing more than a mixture of flour and water that is given time to ferment at the proper temperature...

11/27/2024

If there's one thing you can count on from the TheatreSquared adaptation of "A Christmas Carol," it's finding a redemptive Scrooge. Hear the actors' take on it in this conversation with Courtneay Sanders Irish (who is the librarian and Mrs. Cratchett) and Justin Walker (Fred and young Scrooge). On stage now through Christmas Eve!
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2024/nov/23/audiences-can-find-hope-and-a-redemptive-scrooge/?features-profiles
Photos courtesy of Wesley Hitt for TheatreSquared

11/21/2024

This month the Garden Club of Rogers put on their first standard flower show in decades. Flower enthusiasts and judges from all around the state came to see the submissions, which included a lot of horticulture. Beyond that, the club serves the community with education, tree planting, park upkeep and awards scholarships among many other functions. Learn more of its role and its beginnings as it celebrates 95 years:
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2024/nov/20/garden-club-of-rogers-hosts-first-national/?entertainment-features-ourtown

11/18/2024

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? The NWA Boutique Show is coming up Friday and Saturday. You can find pricing for entry and its special VIP and Girls Night Out events here, along with what you can expect to find at the Rogers Convention Center (spoiler alert, gifts for men, women and children, goodies to take with or eat on the spot, for starters...)
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2024/nov/16/nwa-boutique-show-kicks-off-holiday-season-with/?entertainment-events
(Photo courtesy of the NWA Boutique Show)

11/15/2024

There’s a very special meaning behind Monica Moore’s The Hearts Project. It started as an act of meditation and grew into something much, much larger and more collaborative. You can see it for free through Dec. 1 at Fort Smith Regional Art Museum.

As visitors make their way through the lobby of the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum (RAM) and up the stairs, they are met with a simple yet profound installation: 2,700 hand-cut paper hearts, each symbolizing an Arkansan who died as a result of covid-19.

11/14/2024

The Arkansas Podcast Festival kicks off today in Fayetteville. Did you know it's for both podcasters AND listeners? A little something for everyone. Dustin Staggs' story has all the details:

This November, podcasting aficionados and creators will gather in Fayetteville for the Arkansas Podcast Festival.