Fayetteville GO!

City’s secrets revealed to those who seek

University of Arkansas students Erik Hawking and Alex Hightower take a selfie Wednesday, August 17, 2016 from the veranda at the Fayetteville Public Library. The view from the library is a popular spot for people to take photos.
University of Arkansas students Erik Hawking and Alex Hightower take a selfie Wednesday, August 17, 2016 from the veranda at the Fayetteville Public Library. The view from the library is a popular spot for people to take photos.

Every August, Fayetteville welcomes a slew of new--and returning -- students to the University of Arkansas. Whether you're a Fayetteville rookie or an old pro, we figured some suggestions that will keep you off the beaten path might be helpful. Some of these are hidden gems and some are old favorites, but they're all worth exploring as you make your way in your new home (or settle back into a familiar environment). Bonus for the Pokemon GO fans: we're also designating which of these destinations are a PokeStop (PS) or a PokeGym (PG). Happy hunting!

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Democrat-Gazette file photo

Arkadia Retrocade takes gamers back to old-school fun.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

The 410 Vintage Market at 410 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville offers a wide variety of unique items for people of all ages and tastes.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Kathleen Lehman of Fayetteville plays with some of the cats hanging out at Purr Catfe & Lounge in Fayetteville.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

The Dickson Street Bookshop has been a Dickson Street fixture since 1978, when owners Don Choffel and Charles O’Donnell first opened its doors.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

With indoor and outdoor climbing walls that reach heights of 75 feet, La Casa Pollo is a must for climbing enthusiasts.

Find A Furry Friend

FYI

Northwest Arkansas’

Greatest Hits

Don’t go so far outside the box that you miss these surefire Northwest Arkansas attractions:

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art — This nationally known museum is home to works by American artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, Robert Rauschenbert and Joseph Cornell and offers free admission to the general public. (600 Museum Way, Bentonville; PS)

Beaver Lake — At nearly 30,000 acres, Beaver Lake boasts 12 parks, 2,008 acres of campgrounds, multiple swimming beaches and winding hiking trails.

Eureka Springs (PS) — Tiny Eureka Springs (population 2095) has been called “The Little Switzerland of America” because of its perilous perch on the side of a mountain and its winding, climbing streets and sidewalks. Victorian houses and buildings, cute shops and tasty restaraunts line the picturesque streets, making it ideal for a weekend getaway.

George’s Majestic Lounge — A Dickson Street fixture since 1927, George’s offers rich history (Robert Cray, Leon Russell, and the Little River Band, to name just a few, have performed here) and a robust roster of live music. Their beer garden is ideal 9 months out of the year in Fayetteville. (519 W. Dickson St.).

Fayetteville Farmers’ Market — A beloved Fayetteville event since 1973, the Farmers’ Market on the square is open on Saturdays from April to November (7 a.m. — 2 p.m.). Expect to find more than fresh vegetables from local farms: you’ll also see street performers, gorgeous floral arrangements, and community organizations occupying the tables that rim the downtown square. (Fayetteville square, PS):

Razorback Regional Greenway — The 36-mile Greenway runs from Walker Park in Fayetteville to Lake Bella Vista in Bella Vista.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals — This Minor League Baseball team is a farm team for the Kansas City Royals. (3000 S. 56th St., Springdale)

FAQ

Fayetteville Public Library

Pokémon GO Event

WHEN — 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE — Fayetteville Public Library, 401 W. Mountain St.

COST — Free

INFO — Rachel Eaton, Youth Services Librarian, 856-7124

Sometimes it's hard to be so far away from loved ones at home, especially if it's the first time. Something that can sneak up and surprise you is how much you miss the family pet. When you find yourself needing to scratch a furry head behind the ears, Fayetteville has you covered. The Fayetteville Animal Shelter (1640 s. Armstrong) will let you "check out" a dog for a few hours or an entire day through its Hounds Around Town program. The program is designed to get the dogs out of the kennel more often, but the side effect for you is some quality time with an adorable mutt who is grateful for the exercise and freedom. Once you attend a volunteer and dog walking training, you're cleared for takeoff (call 479-444-3456 for more information). If it's a cat you're craving, grab a book and head to the Purr Catfe and Lounge (125 E. Township Street, No. 16) where you'll find a roomful of feline friends just waiting for your attention. The Catfe partners with area rescue organizations, so all the cats you'll see are available for adoption. If you fall in love, you could end up with a permanent furry friend. Fee for entry is $8 for adults.

Improve Your Selfie Game

You've probably got loved ones back home eager for glimpses of you and your new environment. Give them the best of both with selfie spots that will feature your gorgeous face with the beauty of Fayetteville in the background. You'll find the south-facing terraces at the Fayetteville Public Library (401 W. Mountain St.; PS/PG), and the Town Center (15 W. Mountain; PS/PG) will give you a backdrop of the dazzling Boston Mountains. Find a picture-perfect example of the Northwest Arkansas Trail System at the bridge that spans the spillway at the Lake Fayetteville Trail (1350 E. Zion Road or 1208 E. Lake Fayetteville Road; PS/PG). And discover a lovely view of Fayetteville that encompasses the campus, mountains and town from the iconic cross high atop Mount Sequoyah (517 W. Skyline Drive; PS/PG).

Find Some Peace And Quiet

Whether you live in a dorm, an apartment or share a house with friends, sometimes the noise and chaos can get to be too much. When you're looking for some quiet time, Fayetteville has some first-class options. If you're looking to commune with nature, it's hard to find a more peaceful -- if somber -- locale than the Confederate Cemetery (514 E. Rock St.). Immaculately maintained by the Southern Memorial Association, the cemetery features a covered gazebo perfect for gathering your thoughts or reflecting on history. The Dickson Street Bookshop (325 W. Dickson) made national news when Buzzfeed included it in a list of "17 Bookstores That Will Literally Change Your Life" -- and it should certainly be on your list of go-to places for a little "me time." The meandering bookstore covers nearly 8,000 square feet and features an estimated 100,000 used books for your perusal. Be prepared to find a stack of books that you never knew you needed. It's even open late Monday through Saturday -- a perfect respite from the rowdiness of Dickson Street right outside its doors. BYOH (Bring Your Own Hammock) and a good book to Wilson Park's Hammock Hotel (675 N. Park Ave.; PS), a configuration of posts with hooks in the northwest corner of the park, created by Girl Scout Troop 5114 last year.

Try A New Adventure

If you're of the mind that a new town means new adventures, we've got you covered. Try scaling to new heights at La Casa Pollo (17459 Lake Sequoyah Rd.), a facility that boasts 14,000 square feet of inside/outside climbing walls that reach up to 75 feet high. Bring a team of warriors along to Modern Mission (3484 E. Joyce Blvd.), which describes itself as a "hybrid of paintball and indoor laser tag." Choose only your smartest friends to accompany you to The Escape Room (4083 N. Shiloh Drive, Suite 9) to solve a mystery using puzzles, riddles and clues to escape a locked room. Get a taste of the 1980s at Starlight Skatium (612 N. College Ave.; PS) or the Arkadia Retrocade (1478 N. College Ave.; PS/PG), where $5 buys you unlimited plays on a giant roomful of arcade games. Continue the retro theme at the 112 Drive In (3352 Arkansas 112 North), one of only three operational drive-in theaters left in Arkansas. Want to really impress a date? Show him or her how cultural you are by partaking of one of the myriad of options for theater, including TheatreSquared (505 W. Spring St.; PS), who offer a 30 Under 30 deal: they reserve 30 $10 tickets for those patrons under the age of 30. That's live performances for less than the cost of a movie ticket. Laugh your socks off with Phunbags www.phunbags.com, an improv troupe of experienced comedic actors, or check out some of the staged readings by ArkansasStaged www.facebook.com/ArkansasStaged, a "collective of theater artists working to bring contemporary staged readings, experimental and original experiential theater to life in unique spaces in Northwest Arkansas."

Make Yourself At Home

The first step toward making a new town feel more like home is feathering your nest, and finding bits and bobs that fit your personality to a T is easy in a town that boasts plentiful antique malls and thrift stores. If you like your furniture and home accessories curated, cool and retro, check out 410 Vintage (410 N. College), In Retrospect (10 E. Township) or Fayetteville's Funky Yard Sale (693 W. North), where you can spend hours searching the two-story, maze-like warehouse. If you're handy with a paint brush and up for the challenge of upcycling, you can find junk-with-treasure-potential at the Fayetteville branches of Goodwill (705 E. Appleby and 3105 Martin Luther King Dr.) and the Salvation Army (1645 SW Ave.). You can also usually find some goodies -- small furniture pieces and lots of wall art, especially -- at Peace at Home Thrift (1200 N. Garland).

We've barely scratched the surface of what Fayetteville has to offer. Now it's your turn to make the town your own!

NAN What's Up on 08/19/2016

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