To all the aspiring sommeliers and wine aficionados of NWA, here are two exciting wineries where you can pop bottles and feel fancy. 

• Urban Cellar Winery: Founded by Fayetteville local, Cassidy Ginger, UCW sources grapes from all over the world to manufacture and craft their own wines which can be enjoyed in their intimate wine cellar style tasting room. Patrons can also book experiences to customize and bottle their own wines. 
• Mavis Wine Co: After 20 years working in the film and tv industry of Los Angeles, Meghan and Jeff moved to NWA and opened their wine bar and bottle shop in downtown Rogers with a commitment to providing the best natural, organic, and biodynamic wines to NWA. 

Plan your visit to Urban Cellar Winery HERE and Mavis Wine Co HERE

Organizations are lending a hand to families as they prepare to send kids back to school amid inflation and rising costs in NWA. 

• Rising costs: Families sending kids back to elementary through high school are expecting to spend an average of $864 on school-related items this year, an increase of $15 from last year. 
• Rising up: Many programs in the region intend to help, like the Yvonne Richardson Center’s Adopt-A-Kid Campaign or Samaritan Community Center’s Backpacks for Kids program. Businesses, such as Highground Hair Space, are offering services to students like free haircuts and more. 

Check out the story by Ozarks At Large HERE. 

Gravette’s biggest and best event, Gravette Day, is back for its 129th year this Saturday the 13th at Kindley Park. 

• Fun for all: The day will be full of activities for the whole family to enjoy including a pancake breakfast, a parade, pageants, a 5K, a car show, an art show, and more. 
• A grand day: Gravette Day celebrates the founding of Gravette during the 1890s, and receiving this year’s honor of Grand Marshal are locals Robert and Geneva Hamilton for their exemplary community service. 

See schedules and register for events HERE. 

Arkansas Soccer was ranked No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. 

• A keeper: Head coach Colby Hale led the team to its most successful season ever last year winning a season record 9 matches, earning their first trip to the NCAA Elite 8, and securing the team’s third straight SEC regular season title. 
• Taking the field: The women’s soccer team will open the 2022 season on Aug 17th at Saint Louis, and will host DePaul for the season’s first home game on Sunday, Aug 21st. 

Read more about Arkansas Soccer HERE. 

Urban Land Institute is excited to announce the first NWA Place Summit, an event designed to educate, advocate, and partner with urban planning officials in the creation of quality places where people want to live, work, play, and learn.

• The what: Hosted in downtown Bentonville on November 15-16, the event will feature dynamic speakers, interactive panel discussions, immersive tours, and informative workshops with national and regional leaders. 
• The why: Summit participants will be challenged to consider how current and future built environments can aid in the continued effort to make NWA one of America’s greatest places. 

Stay up to date by signing up for ULI’s newsletter HERE.