Stories by Becca Martin-Brown

Mendelssohn To Chaplin Music lovers fast enough to grab up the limited seats at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center will enjoy a smorgasbord next weekend presented by the Fort Smith Symphony. “The Awesome Classix performanc... February 21, 2021

Spectre Of War World War II is over, and Charlie Evans, a paratrooper who jumped into Normandy on D-Day, is coming home to Arkansas. It’s a sweet moment full of love and promise as he reconnects with his wife at the... February 21, 2021

Cycling Retreat Opens Doors — And Walls — For Arkansas Artists Natural State Rock & Republic is a cycling retreat — it’s a hub for locals and tourists alike to explore Arkansas by bike,” begins Scotti Lechuga, who owns the historic property at 500 N. Main St.... February 19, 2021

Look To The Hills: Little Theatre brings music back to Springfield For me, the greatest message is the spiritual message conveyed in ‘The Sound of Music,’” says Northwest Arkansas actor Jennifer Armstrong Shaver. “The message that, sometimes God leads us in ways we d... February 5, 2021

FYI “BUYER & CELLAR” — A one-man comedy starring Jacob Andrews, 8 p.m. today & Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; again Feb. 11-14, Arkansas Public Theatre at the Victory in Rogers. Tickets start at $15. 63... February 5, 2021

School news: Students earn academic honors Northwestern Laina Suarez of Bentonville has been named to the Dean's List for Northwestern University. She is pursuing a double major in journalism and psychology. This honor is reserved for studen... February 4, 2021

Persistence Pays Off: Fort Smith Symphony continues live concerts "All things considered, our 2020 concerts have been extremely successful," says John Jeter, music director of the Fort Smith Symphony. "There have been a few rescheduled concerts due to covid-19, but ... February 1, 2021

Still Waiting To Go: Fort Smith Little Theatre continues hiatus Fort Smith Little Theater has quietly and deliberately waited since March 2020 -- and is waiting still -- to reopen. Ordinarily the community theater would be embarking on its new season, which runs ... February 1, 2021

Still Waiting To Go: Fort Smith Little Theatre continues hiatus While other companies in the region have scrambled to find a way to produce something akin to live theater, Fort Smith Little Theater has quietly and deliberately waited since March 2020 -- and is wai... January 31, 2021

FYI: Libraries keep readers busy Jan. 31 (Sunday) "School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play" -- Through Feb. 14, streaming from TheatreSquared. $20-$35. theatre2.org. __ Feb. 1 (Monday) Valentine's Day Card Craft -- Pick up ... January 31, 2021

Eureka Springs artist again takes up tales of idyllic youth It was the small-town childhood of the 1950s that exists now only in memory and perhaps existed then only when viewed through rose-colored glasses. In Zeek Taylor’s boyhood hometown of Marmaduke, Ark.... January 31, 2021

Live On Stage! It didn’t really dawn on Jacob Andrews until last week. “I knew there hadn’t been any live shows around here for a long time,” he says. “Then I realized we were going to be the first.” Brenda Nemec, ... January 31, 2021

By The Book(s): Newton County Library connects with kids "Newton County is 70th in Arkansas out of 75 counties in terms of population, and its terrain is mountainous, rural and isolated," begins Kenya Windel, director of the Newton County Library in Jasper.... January 31, 2021

Church notes: Bella Vista Lutheran Church has one service this Sunday Benton County Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E. Lancashire Blvd., offers worship at 9 a.m. Sundays (traditional) and at 11 a.m. (contemporary). We are following social distancing guidelines for a s... January 30, 2021

FYI: Live music returns across NWA Friday Virtual Architecture Tour -- Frank Llloyd Wright's Bachman-Wilson House, 11:30 a.m., Crystal Bridges Museum via Zoom. Free. Register at 657-2335 or crystalbridges.org. "Peace Through Music" -... January 29, 2021

School news: Universities announce fall honor rolls College of Charleston Molly Drewry of Bentonville was named to the College of Charleston fall 2020 Dean's List. Drewry is majoring in music . To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a GPA... January 28, 2021

Birthday Bash Celebrates City: Museum finds new mix of live and virtual events There's a big bash in the planning stages at the Rogers Historical Museum, and it will include the entire community. The city of Rogers turns 140 on June 6 -- it was incorporated on June 6, 1881 -- an... January 24, 2021

FYI: Events continue online and in person Jan. 24 (Sunday) "School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play" -- Through Feb. 14, streaming from TheatreSquared. $20-$35. theatre2.org. __ Jan. 25 (Monday) Make a Paper Snowflake -- All day, Fo... January 24, 2021

Metal With A Message: Mud Lung releases self-titled first album "I can't breathe. "I can't breathe. "Say his name "feel his pain. "Pray again. "His name is not in vain." -- From "Just Us" by Mud Lung Just because music is LOUD -- and might be classified as ... January 24, 2021

Sheltered: Pandemic inspires artists to consider isolation, refuge "SHELTER," an exhibit by artist Byron Keith Byrd, and "domicile" by Stefani Byrd, his niece, hold a unique place in the history of Fenix Fayetteville. Together with other Fenix artists, they make up t... January 24, 2021

Church notes: New Life Christian Church offers new classes Carroll County Holiday Island Community Church, 188 Stateline Drive in Holiday Island, hosts the Woodward Memorial Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 via the church website, www.hicchurch.com/LouisM... January 23, 2021

FYI: Arts events this weekend Friday Virtual Architecture Tour -- 11:30 a.m., Crystal Bridges Museum via Zoom. Free. Register at 657-2335 or crystalbridges.org. Design With Ms. Dara -- 2-D and 3-D art for ages 5-12, 2 p.m., Roge... January 22, 2021

A slice of success: Pie was just an appetizer for Kat Robinson Editor’s Note: This is the first in a new monthly series that will consider food — not recipes so much as the conversation about food, about chefs, about trends, about people who influence food. So if... January 21, 2021

FYI: Art, music and more in NWA and the River Valley Jan. 17 (Sunday) Sunday Reset -- Consciousness and Personal Power virtual meditation with Sunny Lane, 10 a.m., The Momentary in Bentonville via Facebook or YouTube. Free. themomentary.org. Ice Skati... January 17, 2021

More Volunteers, More Visitors: Bella Vista Museum has new book out in April If you've ever used the phrase "small but mighty," then you could have been describing the Bella Vista Historical Museum. Created by volunteers and still staffed and managed by them, its roots go back... January 17, 2021

‘Alla Prima’ Art: Painter pursues ‘organic experience’ in oils Karen Spencer says she can’t remember a time when she didn’t feel like an artist. “I have always looked at things a little differently, thought deeply about our existence and felt empathically for th... January 17, 2021

Governor's Arts Awards: Northwest Arkansans honored in three categories The 2021 Governor's Arts Award is not the first one for lifetime achievement Trout Fishing in America has received. And Northwest Arkansas musicians Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet hope it's not the las... January 17, 2021

Hidden Gems: Native North Dakotan gathers tales of resilience Editor's note: With this story, we introduce a new Sunday feature about books, authors, what we're reading, what you're reading and anything else literary that might help get us through the winter. Ne... January 17, 2021

Church notes: Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista suspends services Carroll County Holiday Island Community Church, 188 Stateline Drive in Holiday Island, hosts the Woodward Memorial Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 via the church website, www.hicchurch.com/LouisM... January 16, 2021

FYI: Weekend events Friday Virtual Architecture Tour -- Frank Lloyd Wright's Bachman-Wilson House, 11:30 a.m., Crystal Bridges Museum via Zoom. Free. Register at 657-2335 or crystalbridges.org. Ice Skating Rink -- Open... January 15, 2021

Fort Smith Regional Art Museum to reopen The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum will reopen Friday, after closing January 4 due to covid-19 concerns. Friday is also opening day for the RAM Annual Invitational, this year themed “Exploring Mindsc... January 13, 2021

FYI: Theater, music and more still happening Jan. 10 (Sunday) "Drive-By Remix" -- A film by artist Nick Cave, sunset to midnight daily through Feb. 14, The Tower at The Momentary in Bentonville. Free; no tickets required. themomentary.org. "Th... January 10, 2021

Lifted By The River: Silver Dollar City opens ride, postpones party It was supposed to be a celebration 60 years in the making -- a yearlong party marking the 60th anniversary of Silver Dollar City, embellished by the opening of a new $23 million water ride in an all-... January 10, 2021

Church notes: PCBV hosts blood drive Benton County Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E. Lancashire Blvd., offers worship at 9 a.m. Sundays (traditional) and at 11 a.m. (contemporary). We are following social distancing guidelines for a ... January 9, 2021

T2: 'Half-Life' Extended For TheatreSquared Docudrama "We are thrilled for the attention that our production of 'The Half-Life of Marie Curie' has received," says Joanna Sheehan Bell, spokeswoman for Fayetteville-based professional company TheatreSquared... January 8, 2021

Arkansas Folk Art: Shiloh Saturday helps you paint like Essie Ward Essie Treat Ward didn't look anything like a big city artist -- and it's likely a big city artist wouldn't have considered her paintings "art." Born in the Searcy County community of Nubbin Hill in 19... January 8, 2021

FYI: Live music, streaming theater and more Friday Virtual Story Break – With Mrs. Tiffany, 10 a.m., Fort Smith Public Library via Facebook and YouTube. Free. 646-3945. Virtual Gallery Tour -- 11:30 a.m., Crystal Bridges Museum via Zoom... January 8, 2021

Fort Smith museum announces closure A Facebook post on Monday reported that “due to covid-19, and the concern for our guests, the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum will be closed indefinitely.” That the museum is “temporarily closed until ... January 5, 2021

People With A Plan: In 2020, individuals kept communities strong At this time of year, we at What's Up! usually suggest folks you might want to watch in the coming year -- people we think will make a difference. But the unique nature of 2020 seemed to call us to l... January 3, 2021

Life lessons: Father of science fiction credited for new year's wisdom It's not too late for New Year's resolutions. (I know because I haven't mailed my Christmas cards yet!) Longtime readers of this newspaper should know these words by heart, though, because I've repri... January 3, 2021

FYI: Things to Do in Northwest Arkansas Jan. 3 LAWRENCE PLAZA ICE RINK — Skaters limited to 40 at a time, through Jan. 3, 214 N.E. A St. in Bentonville. $2 skate rental, $3 skate session. 271-3390. STEWART FAMILY CHRISTMAS LIGHT DISPLAY ... January 3, 2021

A Year In Pictures: Unique moments of 2020 recalled by NWADG staff Photo Editor Spencer Tirey asked Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette photographers to submit the photos they found most compelling of those they captured in 2020. We split them up to run Dec. 31 in th... January 3, 2021

Church notes: Food pantries resume services Benton County Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E. Lancashire Blvd., offers worship at 9 a.m. Sundays (traditional) and at 11 a.m. (contemporary). We are following social distancing guidelines for a ... January 2, 2021

Podcasts Provide Connection In Isolation Of Weird Winter It's finally time to bid goodbye and good riddance to 2020, one of the worst years most of us have ever lived through. If you're feeling unmoored as the new year begins, or just burned out from the pa... January 1, 2021

FYI: Last-minute holiday opportunities Friday Digital Van Cliburn Concert Series -- 2021 New Year's Day Concert with the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, NWA Ballet Theatre, the Park Na Conservatory for Violin & Cello and the Symphony... January 1, 2021

A year in pictures: Triumphs, tragedies of 2020 recalled by NWADG staff Photo Editor Spencer Tirey asked Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette photographers to submit the photos they found most compelling of those they captured in 2020. We split them up to run here, in this... December 31, 2020

Life Finds A Way: Opportunities take root in chaos of 2020 It is traditional that journalists look back at the end of the year, revisiting the stories that changed our little corners of the world. It has been our practice for many years at What's Up! to count... December 27, 2020

Moving On: APT revamps Season 35 schedule It's official. "Meteor Shower" just became the longest-running play never to open on the Arkansas Public Theatre stage. Originally scheduled for March 20-29, the Steve Martin comedy was the first cas... December 27, 2020

Outdoors Is In: From drinks to movies, al fresco was the answer On July 1, the city of Bentonville declared itself "Mountain Biking Capital of the World" and trademarked the title. It should have come as no surprise. "This incredible distinction has come after y... December 27, 2020