Bella Vista City Guide

the famous Colorado aspens as they were turning in fall," Doug remarked. "It was a bit disappointing to see that those photos did not come out as good as I remembered seeing with my own eyes…it made me want to find a better way to do that. It all seemed to evolve from there." Nature photography became Doug's passion. He oen finds himself pulling off the side of the road to capture a spectacular sunrise or sunset. He enjoys nature shots on the lakes in Bella Vista, storms and other things that he knows most people might miss seeing. Doug's work is featured prominently throughout this guide. To see more of his work, check out his website: https:// drkeckphotography.zenfolio.com. Plans for the future During Demara's term as Arts Council president, she will be focusing on adding additional public art for the community. "We are building off of the first Arts Council Public Art install of the "Marilyn" sculpture," she noted. e sculpture is by artist Larry Pogue and is located in front of Fire Station #1, which is next door to City Hall. e Arts Council has a robust plan for 2022 that includes public art projects and education programs that will engage the community. Plans for upcoming projects include: • A month long "yarn bombing" project that will invite community members of all ages to contribute knitted or crocheted components that will be assembled by a team and installed throughout the city at locations such as city hall, library, historical museum and other locations. • A sculpture(s) for the new Public Safety building. e Arts Council was awarded $100,000 for a bronze artwork for the entrance of the new Public Safety building, which broke ground in July of last year. Hight Jackson is the architect for the building, and noted "Hight Jackson is excited to partner with the Bella Vista Arts Council on a bronze artwork installed in front of the new Public Safety Facility. It will integrate an extra design feature to the front plaza that Bella Vista will be proud of." Demara is excited to build on the success of the council's first community based fundraising campaign, which made the "Fire Fly" installation at the library possible. It was accomplished in partnership with the Bella Vista Library Foundation. e council is always looking for more Bella Vista artists to highlight. "We have over 40 artists on our list for future recognition and continue to add more," Demara notes. "We ask that any professional artists email us via artscouncil@bellavistaar.gov to be considered." Photo courtesy Doug Keck 38 | 2022 Bella vista city guide Macadoodles beer, wine and spirits retailer is located right across the border from Bella Vista in Jane, Mo. In business for over 23 years, it boasts a wine cellar stocked with over 4,000 different labels of fine wine that include domestic, regional, European and more for all over the world. ey also offer a wine tasting bar, where there are always uncorked wines to taste, open to close, seven days a week. In addition to their expansive wine cellar, they have impressive selection of liquor and beer. Liquors include all of your favorites and their beer room carries over 600 different dra and imported beers. Roger Gildehaus, founder and president of Macadoodles, feels their continued success is predicated on the fact they he really listens to his customers. And one of the best examples of this is the Macadoodles whiskey club he started as a way of giving customers a say in the whiskey products he sells. "A couple years ago I decided to form a whiskey club of people that are really into trying new whiskeys and, most important, really knew their whiskey. I like to refer to as whiskey aficionados," Roger said. "I told this group of people that their names were going to be on this big sign by the whiskey counter. And we're gonna meet once a month to taste new whiskeys that have come in and you guys will do ratings on them." It was important to Roger that he not have a vote in the rating process, he would just function as the facilitator of the tastings. "I figured if I'm standing in the whiskey aisle and the club had given a whiskey a 93 rating I wanted to be able to look a customer in the eye and say I didn't push the vote one way or another. ese were all rated by a select group, their names listed right there on the sign." Roger was quick to add that he does, however, taste the whiskeys with the group, he just dosen't have a vote in the rating. e club was a big hit and it evolved into the club members assisting Roger with his barrel picks. e way the industry works is a distiller will send Roger a tasting kit of their latest batch so he can try it out before he purchases a barrel. "I get four or five of the members from the club and they sit down and sample the whiskeys with me," he said. "ey tell me the one they like the best and I purchase a barrel. e whiskey is then bottled under Macadoodles label as the latest barrel buy. We add a sticker saying that this whiskey was selected by the club. I think it gives it a little more credence." Beyond the tastings, Roger saw the whiskey club as an opportunity to do some fundraising for his favorite charity, Lifeline. "I chose Lifeline to be our charity of choice probably 22 years ago," Roger said. "And up until covid, every year we have done a spring and fall wine tasting as a fundraiser for Lifeline of Northwest Arkansas. A couple of years ago, because of the popularity of whiskey, I started doing whiskey tasting charity events, too. At the last one we sold tickets to the tasting, held raffles and auctioned of some whiskey. In one day we raised $22,000 for Lifeline." ere's a waiting list, but you can sign up to join the whiskey club. Or just stop by to do some wine tasting, or see the latest Macadoodles whiskey club recommendations. 53 Macadoodle Ln. Pineville, MO 64856 417-226-4686 SPONSOR CONTENT Macadoodles' whiskey club gives customers a voice

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