We stopped by the newly opened CRISP & GREEN in Bentonville this week for a light but filling lunch. It was in fact crisp. It was in fact green. We give the healthy, fast-casual restaurant an enthusiastic two thumbs up!

• Eat fresh: The menu offers delicious bowls, salads, smoothies, and more. We enjoyed the Thai & Stop Me and the No Prob Cobb salads! They also serve a selection of refreshing, scratch-made Agua Frescas – try the Strawberry Jalapeño 🍓🔥.
• Stay active: Beyond the menu, CRISP & GREEN partners with local fitness experts to provide complimentary classes and will play an active role in Bentonville's health-conscious community.

Join us in welcoming CRISP & GREEN to the NWA community and stop by for lunch. Check out the menu HERE.

Support education and access to live theatre while enjoying a night of exceptional food and entertainment during the 2023 TheatreSquared Gala, hosted by Presiding Co-Chairs Kathryn McLay and Danyelle Musselman at the Fayetteville Public Library on May 18 at 6p. 

• Wine & dine: Broadway performers Ramone Nelson and Elisabeth Evans will entertain gala attendees with show numbers from T2's past seasons. Chef Matthew Cooper of Conifer delights guests with a three-course summer menu, and following the gala, astral soul artist Joshua Asante will provide entertainment at T2's fun-filled afterparty. 
• Giveaways: Guests will have a chance to win exclusive raffle items, including a $2,500 gift certificate from Romance Diamonds Co, a selection of top-flight wines from Atlas the Restaurant, or a private tour of artwork in Crystal Bridges' Vault. 

Reserve individual tickets or sponsor a table HERE.

True Crime Fest Northwest Arkansas, presented by All the Lost Girls at the Rogers Convention Center on May 20, will highlight cold cases, share stories of the missing and unidentified, and reflect on heroes fighting to bring awareness to victims across the United States.

• True crime: The event will feature nationally renowned true crime authors, podcasters, and advocates like Nic Edwards, Karen Steward, United States of Murder, Cherry with the Crimepedia Podcast, Deep Dark Secrets Podcast, James Renner, Catherine Townsend, and more.
• Cold cases: VIP tickets are on sale to attend an exclusive event on Friday, May 19, and meet with speakers while enjoying dessert and drinks. Proceeds from the event will benefit All the Lost Girls, a nonprofit founded in honor of Melissa Witt that works to close cold cases.

Find tickets for True Crime Fest NWA and more information on speakers HERE.

Staying true to its reputation as the mountain biking capital of the world, Bentonville will host multiple cycling events this weekend, from locally organized rides to events led by national organizations.

• Bikes for all: Riders from all over the country are in Bentonville for the 3rd annual Minority Mountain Bikers Bike Week, lasting May 10-14. Simultaneously, the Gone Graveling Festival, from May 11-13, hosts a fun space for women to connect, learn and ride with three days of clinics, casual rides, and great food!
• Biking in style: Major bike brand TREK Travel will host a Bentonville Gravel Bike Tour May 14-18, complete with a stay at 21C Hotel, a tour of Crystal Bridges, and dinners at Preachers Son, Conifer, and the Hive.

If you want to get into the cycling world, the experts at Bike School Bentonville are hosting a free class at Bentonville Public Library on Saturday, May 13, from 11a-12p. Learn more HERE.

The Spanish Road Map project by a group of Spanish instructors from the Univerity of Arkansas is working to promote bilingualism in Arkansas, building a more multilingual citizenry and workforce through improved language training programs from elementary to college classrooms.

• Language barriers: The project aims to address the profound growth of Spanish-speaking populations in our state in hopes of binding communities together and better preparing native English speakers for participation in a globalized economy and engagement in an increasingly diverse world culture.
• Shared value: Daniel Caruth of KUAF recently interviewed U of A professors Luis Fernando Restrepo, Brenda Magnettis, Raquel Castro Salas, and graduate student Grace Gonzalez Sanchez on an episode of Ozarks at Large to discuss the value of developing a more bilingual population for both native English speakers and Spanish speakers alike.

Listen to the interview to learn more HERE.