Despite recent numbers showing higher home prices, the most recent reports show that a new record of houses are being sold in NWA.

• New high: Reports show the second half of 2021, during which time there were 5,934 homes sold in Washington and Benton counties. Before this new high marker, the most homes sold was in the second half of 2020 at 5,726. With these types of numbers, real estate offices have the chance to expand with the market.
• Regional recognition: Northwest Arkansas’s franchise of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate (BHGRE) will soon be a multi-state office as they start the process to acquire BHGRE franchise in Edmond, OK. BHGRE has an office in Bentonville and Fayetteville and was recently nationally recognized for having the largest annual percentage growth among BHGRE’s 23 largest US offices.

Read the full Talk Business & Politics story HERE. 

Tomorrow the Arkansas Cinema Society in partnership with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is presenting a double feature for a free movie night at 6p. 

• A thrill: The movie night’s theme is neo-noir thrillers, which will include the showing of the academy award-winning thriller, Nightmare Alley (2021), and the award-winning short film, Pillow (2012) created by Arkansas filmmakers, the Miller Brothers. 
• The films: Pillow is a Southern Gothic tale with magical realism, where two brothers go to please their overbearing mother. Nightmare Alley is a newly released crime thriller based off the 1947 novel and is a story of ambition, manipulation, and danger. 

Tickets are free and required to attend. Book yours HERE. 

The Black Apple Awards are back and on track to be better than ever after a two-year hiatus. They will take place this Friday, March 25, at 214 S. Main St. in Springdale. 

• Local talent: The Black Apple Awards are an extension of The Idle Class Magazine as a recognition of local art, media, culinary performance, and music. You can take part in the awards by voting for your favorite nominees through midnight tonight. 
• What to expect: The awards event this year will have a black box gallery, neon art, video art, sculptures, performances, fashion, dancing, you name it. Some of the art will be Augmented Reality paintings as well. 

Read more about this unique way to celebrate the people and events of NWA HERE. 

Internationally and nationally acclaimed musicians are coming to perform at the Momentary in 2022 including a 20+ band music festival.

• Season opener: To begin, the Momentary will feature two-time Grammy award-winning group Old Crow Medicine Show and country star Brittney Spencer on May 12. In June, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Kraftwerk will make a showing, and in July there will be a duo of hip-hop and rap performances featuring Big Boi and Run the Jewels.
• FreshGrass: The Momentary also announced yesterday the headliners for its returning two-day festival of bluegrass and progressive roots music. Emmylou Harris and the Red Dirt Boys, the indie-roots five-piece Dispatch, and lauded singer-songwriter Amos Lee will headline the festival.

Read the full press release and see all the shows making their way to the Momentary in 2022 HERE.

Speaking of music, the Arkansas Black Music Expo will be a free two-day event celebrating Black/African American culture at The Jones Center in Springdale on April 15-16.

• Bringing big names: The expo will be presented by Music Moves to feature musical performances by Grammy nominees Carl Thomas and Kirk Whalum along with regional artists throughout the event. 
• Exposure: The mission of Music Moves is to educate and engage the community by making high-quality Black music accessible through performances and educational opportunities.

Learn more about the Black Music Expo coming up HERE.