What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1197021
In October, Seattle singer-song- writer Chris Staples stopped by Fayetteville to perform in a living room. The host brought me a mug of hot chocolate. Staples sang tunes just as likely to ponder the meaning of human existence as to joke that the audience had expected Chris Stapleton. He sat by the couch while singing, alter- nating between guitar, synthesizer and what he called "karaoke style." I walked to the car afterwards during the brief first snow of the fall. — Garrett Moore, Online writer I am not a very good singer, but I love to sing, and I love the auto- matic camaraderie that's gener- ated when folks get together and raise their voices — and a drink or two. So, this year, I was particu- larly delighted to find the Benton- ville-based nonprofit Beer and Hymns, which has been in opera- tion for about three years now and, recently, started using their events to raise money for local nonprofits. At the end of the year, they were on track to raise more than $50,000 for groups like the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter, so you can contribute to community while you're having fun. This event is great for folks of all ages — I went with my 8-year-old children and my mom. It's hard to say who enjoyed it more. — Lara Hightower, NWA Profiles writer I honestly think the coolest thing I've experienced in North- west Arkansas over the last year was the Innovation Hub NWA pop-up in Springdale. It was really exciting to see how many creative people live in that community, as well as how making creating and learning accessible in Springdale truly had the potential to change the script for people's lives. — Mary Jordan, Creative Economy reporter One of my favorite memories from 2019 is taking my kids to a Naturals game. My children got the tickets for participating in the library's summer reading program. It was the first baseball game for my youngest. Everyone had fun eating all the fun foods offered at the park, including a bag of peanuts, of course. My toddler spent most of his time walking around the concourse and had a pretty fun interaction with a few dogs (it was Bark in the Ballpark night) and the team mascot. It was blazing hot, but a nice breeze and plenty of water really helped. The older kids watched the game, went to the playground and walked with me and the toddler for a while. My youngest slept well that night. Maybe I did, too. — Tony Reyes, Online editor FEATURE 10 WHAT'S UP! JANUARY 5-11, 2020 Rowe. The weather was perfect as the trees overhead blocked the direct sunlight while we sipped lavender lemonade and chocolate mint tea. Rowe used fresh ingredients harvested from the garden to teach our intimate group to make Julia Child's Creamy Lettuce Soup and a summery garden salad. Plus, we munched on soft, fresh bread brought by one of the participants. I came away with more than a few cooking tips and think I've thrown together the delicious and simple vinaigrette she taught us at least a dozen times since. "Shakespeare in Love" — Northwest Arkansas' only local professional theater company opened its 14th season in its breathtaking new building at the corner of Spring and West streets in Fayetteville with a production equal parts romantic, hilarious and dramatic that did the new space justice. The company's now trademark intimacy was not lost as it moved to the incredible new 50,000-square- foot building, and every seat in the cozy new house is a good one. With a cast of 18, exciting choreographed sword fights and roving musicians, "Shakespeare in Love" — described by director Amy Herzberg as a "love letter to theater" — was the perfect production to show off the new space. The costumes were lush, the talent nothing less than the brilliance we've come to expect from T2 and the impressive new lobby was a nice place to mingle before and after the utterly fantastic show. Eureka Springs Tour of Homes — My family all live out of town and when they come to visit, we try to make it up to Eureka Springs for one of the days. I've loved the beautiful little mountain town — which I'm convinced was established by gnomes and fairies — since I first visited some eight years ago. But getting to meander the streets, ogling at the charm and the history with my loved ones, always makes the trip just a bit more special. This year, my parents and I attended the 40th annual Christmas Tour of Homes, benefiting the Eureka Springs Preservation Society. We had been looking forward to the tour for months. We spent a full afternoon touring 12 properties — three churches and nine homes or bed & breakfasts. Many are buildings we have admired for years. The chance to explore their interiors and learn a bit of the history of each offered a new way to experience Eureka with my parents, who love history, architecture and the little Victorian town just as much as I do. Honorable Mentions • 'Star Wars: A New Hope' in concert, with SoNA — Arkansas Music Pavilion • 'Crystals in Art' — Crystal Bridges Museum • 'The Play That Goes Wrong' — Walton Arts Center • Holidaze pop-up bar — downtown Fayette- ville Hightower Moore Jordan Reyes Memories Continued From Page 9 Others' Eyes Continued From Page 9 Features editor Becca Martin-Brown's favorite memories of 2019 included mother-daughter dates to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at Arkansas Public Theatre in Rogers. Page designer Deb Harvell spent some of her fondest moments of the year — like this misty morning on Lake Wedington in Fayetteville — fishing with her husband.