Last week I went to the Fayetteville area -- or Northwest Arkansas, as locals like to say -- for a planning and brainstorm session for a client. Outside of accomplishing a lot workwise, our group experienced the charming and super-friendly terrain of Bentonville, where Wal-Mart is based, and Fayetteville, home to the University of Arkansas.
I was taken with Arkansas, as people are as sweet as their iced tea and towns have quaint squares that harken back to the good 'ol days.
We ate like locals on the Bentonville square, including at the new, industrial-chic Tusk & Trotter where I ordered baby back ribs.
A highlight was getting a sneak peek tour of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art that will open November 11 as one of the most seminal collections of American art. The exquisite museum campus is tucked in the woods near hiking trails, and the head curator led us through the hefty art collection while framing the key works of art, artists and movements in context with the evolution of America from colonial day to present.
Of course, there was also Razorbacks football. Our Friday ended with a surprise tailgate party where a blow-up Razorbacks mascot supervised our revelry. The game day tailgate came with Miller Lite, pulled pork sandwiches and a nearby pep rally with the cheerleaders and marching band.
The Razorbacks beat the Auburn tigers as we all "called the hogs" with a spirited "Wooooo Pig Sooieee!" Arkansas was a happy state that day.
