21c Bentonville makes it on the It List: The Best New Hotels 2013  in the June issue of Travel + Leisure

In 2011, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art put sleepy Bentonville, Arkansas, on the world art map. And the opening of the 21c, part of a growing brand of hotels known for their contemporary art collections in second-tier cities (Louisville; Cincinnati), is reinforcing that position.

One of the most charming parts of Northwest Arkansas is the local stores and restaurants. If you are looking for a unique gift for your Valentine, you don’t have to look very far!

• Edible Arrangements in Fayetteville
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered in Rogers
• Rick’s Bakery in Fayetteville
• Pinnacle Station Local Market in Rogers

The Fresh Market will open a new location in Rogers this Wednesday, July 25. This will be their second store in Arkansas in addition to their Little Rock location. The Rogers Fresh Market will be located at the Pinnacle Promenade, 2203 Promenade Boulevard, Suite 12100, which is the building that was previously home to Borders bookstore.

Christine Buckley writes of Eureka Springs in the Huffington Post:

Eureka Springs is a Victorian village that claims to be the only city in the U.S. whose entire historic downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a funky little artsy oasis filled with unique shops, art galleries, artist studios, restaurants and Victorian homes built into the picturesque Ozark mountainside.

The 2012 Walmart Shareholders Meeting was a tremendous success from both a business and an entertainment standpoint.

Justin Timberlake arrived on stage in a hula skirt, reminiscent of Sam Walton’s famous Hula Dance on Wall Street, and entertained the crowd as he emceed throughout the morning. A bevy of entertainers surprised the crowd of around 14,000 associates and shareholders as the meeting moved along. Entertainment included the Zac Brown Band, Victoria Matlock, Juanes, Take 6, Ariele Macadangdang, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Lionel Richie, Taylor Swift, and Celine Dion.

Here are more photos from the event. (Source: Walmart)

Shareholders heard from CFO Charles Holley, President of Walmart International Doug McMillion and CEO Mike Duke during the business portion of the meeting. The reports were rosy, as Walmart has seen improved comp-store sales in recent quarters and it’s share price has hit levels not seen in more than a decade.

Rob Walton, chairman of the board of directors, announced preliminary results of shareholder voting which showed that all 15 current board members were re-elected and Marissa Mayer of Google was elected as the 16th director. Shareholder proposals failed to receive the majority votes needed to pass.

The shareholders meeting wrapped up a long week of events, during which shareholders and associates were immersed in Walmart culture and history, and were entertained by artists such as Carrie Underwood, Chris Young, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick and several others.

Having a drink at the Press Room in Bentonville

Last night we went to the Press Room in downtown Bentonville, right off the square. There’s been a lot of buzz about this new coffeehouse by day/bar by night. The place was hopping, but we managed to snag the last seat in the house!

Press Room offers a little bit of something for everyone. I tried the manhattan and the pale ale (a local brew), and my friend had the Americano, a blend of hot water andespresso. They also serve food, although we weren’t eating tonight. The menu has light items like sandwiches and salads, and they have a full cheese menu served after 5:30 pm.

Lots of people were there meeting friends, on dates and hanging out. The wide window offered a view to the busy street, where there were tables for outdoor patrons. We’ll definitely be back to try the food!