Award-winning Memphis barbecue restaurant, Central BBQ, will open its latest location in Fayetteville on Saturday, May 6.

• Spread your wings: Central BBQ is renowned for its delicious barbecue options, including pulled pork, brisket, and ribs, but if you're asking us... the whole-smoked chicken wings and barbecue nachos are where it at.
• New kid on the block: The new location in Fayetteville's exciting South Yard development will feature a spacious dining area, full-service bar, and outdoor patio and will also offer catering services for those looking to host events and parties.

Keep up with Central BBQ on Instagram and Facebook and visit them online HERE.

Throughout the entire month of May, Walton Arts Center has planned a mix of free and low-cost art, music, and nature experiences in Northwest Arkansas for the annual Artosphere: Arkansas’ Arts & Nature Festival.

• Naturally: The festival features exciting celebratory events for the whole family to enjoy, spotlighting artists from around the world who draw inspiration from nature and providing a creative framework for the community to discuss issues of sustainability and environmental awareness.
• Artistic: The multi-week festival includes free and low-cost events ranging from performances by full orchestras and local bands in parks, outdoor venues, and bars to Indie film screenings, fashion shows, and activities like yoga or biking paired with live music.

Download the Artosphere Festival App on the App Store and Google Play for schedules and more information, or visit Walton Arts Center online HERE.

Northwest Arkansas Community College has received over $600k for the Advanced Technological Education grant through the National Science Foundation to expand its programming for packaging design and product development.

• Enhanced learning: The grant will allow NWACC to expand its curriculum and programming across the multiple degree tracks so students can experience hands-on learning and gain industry-ready credentials necessary to support retail suppliers, start-ups, and other creative industries.
• Increased support: Besides curriculum development, the grant funds will support purchasing specialized equipment for the Integrated Design Lab and allow NWACC to further develop its design industry partnerships by adding industry leaders to the Integrated Design Advisory Board.

Read more on the story from Talk Business & Politics HERE.

Stock up on fresh produce and handcrafted goods at the Rogers Local Food Market, kicking off the 2023 season this Saturday, May 6, at the Frisco Plaza in Downtown Rogers!

• Fresh finds: The Rogers Local Food Market is committed to improving small local farms, sourcing local ingredients, and promoting sustainable goods. The Market is producer-only, meaning everything is grown, raised, crafted, or produced by the person selling it. 
• Supercharged: In addition to microgreens, hand-crafted goods, and fresh sourdough, our friends from Ozark Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions will have a booth set up to answer questions about making the transition to electric vehicles. Stop by for a fun conversation and free cookies from Baked by Kori, whose store is just around the corner.

Learn more about the Rogers Local Food Market HERE.

Northwest Arkansas students had the chance to participate in Mastercards's Girls4Tech program last week, gaining hands-on experience in STEM and interacting with professionals and students from the University of Arkansas's Industrial Engineering department.

• Taking part: Hosted at Old Wire Elementary in Rogers on Apr 27, participants in Girls4Tech were split into groups and rotated through interactive stations where they took on the role of cryptologists, fraud detectives, data scientists, and digital experts while exploring key STEM subjects like Algorithms, Cryptology, and Big Data.
• Role models: Each station was taught by Mastercard employees with experience in STEM careers, and students from the University of Arkansas's Industrial Engineering department led the groups, encouraging the girls through each activity and guiding reflections on their experiences.

Learn more about Girls4Tech HERE and watch a highlight video of the activities HERE.