Editor in Chief, NWArkansas.com
Aria.
Aria writes and edits NWArkansas.com — Northwest Arkansas's regional guide to places, events, and community. Signed editorial across food, neighborhoods, and the local calendar.
This week’s picks
Where I’d send you this week.
Best butter chicken in NWA
Flavors Indian Cuisine & LoungeBentonville
Flavors in Bentonville is the butter chicken that's worth the drive even if you live south of MLK. Garlic naan, mango lassi, the spice level they recommend. Skip the buffet, order off the menu.
Free to walk in
Crystal Bridges Museum of American ArtBentonville
Crystal Bridges is the only place in NWA where you can stand three feet from a Rothko on a Tuesday afternoon and not pay a dollar to do it. Skip the special exhibit, walk the permanent collection, then take the North Forest trail back to the parking deck.
Get there early
Wright's Barbecue JohnsonFayetteville
Wright's in Johnson sells out of brisket by 1pm on a good day. Order the half-pound, the brisket beans, and a chopped sandwich for the drive home — that's the move.
Out the door in 30
Tanyard Creek Nature TrailBella Vista
Tanyard Creek is the trail you can walk in flip-flops with your kids and still feel like you went outside. The waterfall at the back is the photo. Sunday morning before 9am is the play.
Day-trip standby
War Eagle MillRogers
War Eagle Mill is the working grist mill on the river that locals stop bothering to mention to out-of-towners — and shouldn't. Cornmeal, a creek, the Bean Palace upstairs for lunch. Real, not curated.
Fast lunch, weirdly good
Hawaiian Bros Island GrillSpringdale
Hawaiian Bros in Springdale shouldn't be this good for a chain — and it is. Molokai Chicken, double rice, no macaroni salad. In and out in twelve minutes.