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Monday Munchies: Zelli Deli

The prosciutto and fig sandwich seemed to defy physics.

Food and Drink

🍝 Alex checked out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Zelli Pasta" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/02/23/homemade-pasta-zelli-springdale-local" data-vars-content-id="39d1707b-182f-4ce2-b38a-1eb85a9783c1" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Zelli Deli" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/02/23/homemade-pasta-zelli-springdale-local" target="_self">Zelli Pasta</a> as take-it-home-and-cook-it-yourself, but they&#x27;ve since started serving sandwiches, which is more my style.The setup: Downtown Springdale may soon become my fave lunchtime location — there are tons of options, it&#x27;s easy for me to get to, and the crowds aren&#x27;t yet insane (if you can find a parking spot!).

The Agenda: Construction project plans

The Bentonville and Springdale city councils meet tonight.

News

Your city councils are back from spring break and plan to meet tonight.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bentonville" data-vars-click-url="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1728/files/agenda/8676" data-vars-content-id="37d352ce-2c0e-458c-b500-3572cd9ed6e8" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Construction project plans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1728/files/agenda/8676" target="_blank">Bentonville</a> will vote on:

Heartland Forward targets maternal mortality — but Arkansas lags

The U.S. now has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world.

Health

Bentonville&#x27;s Heartland Forward launched a drive to slash U.S. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="maternal mortality" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/05/09/heartland-forward-maternal-health-initiative" data-vars-content-id="dd5a2be0-e141-4c31-9bf6-948319f87b7b" data-vars-headline="Heartland Forward targets maternal mortality — but Arkansas lags" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/05/09/heartland-forward-maternal-health-initiative" target="_self">maternal mortality</a> in half within five years.Why it matters: Maternal deaths in the U.S. have more than doubled since the 1980s, and the country now has the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="highest rate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison" data-vars-content-id="dd5a2be0-e141-4c31-9bf6-948319f87b7b" data-vars-headline="Heartland Forward targets maternal mortality — but Arkansas lags" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison" target="_blank">highest rate</a> in the developed world. About 84% of the deaths are preventable and roughly 65% happen after childbirth.

Monday Munchies: Afghan food in Rogers

BEK Restaurant offers Afghan and Turkish menus.

I&#x27;ve eaten at a dedicated Afghan restaurant one time in my life. It was a wonderful experience, and it wasn&#x27;t in Northwest Arkansas.🇦🇫 The latest: We now have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="BEK Restaurant &amp; European Gourmet Market" data-vars-click-url="https://beknwa.com" data-vars-content-id="43de37c6-a4ff-41f0-b668-5fa8d3506fe8" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Afghan food in Rogers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://beknwa.com" target="_blank">BEK Restaurant &amp; European Gourmet Market</a> in Rogers, where diners order off the Turkish or Afghan menus.

Arkansas wins NCAA opener

Arkansas advances to face No. 12 High Point in the second round on Saturday.

Sports

Arkansas&#x27; 97-78 defeat of Hawai&#x27;i in the NCAA Tournament opening round Thursday continues a recent run of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="postseason successes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48216252/arkansas-tops-vanderbilt-win-first-sec-tournament-2000" data-vars-content-id="292f4900-cacd-4c5d-b4d8-dac7f68def7c" data-vars-headline="Arkansas wins NCAA opener" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48216252/arkansas-tops-vanderbilt-win-first-sec-tournament-2000" target="_blank">postseason successes</a> for the Razorbacks.

Your weekend plans: Basketball, comedy, art

Things to Do

Enjoy the first weekend of spring.🇺🇸 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;America 250: Common Threads&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/america-250-common-threads/" data-vars-content-id="ebf288bd-4dc8-4042-b236-c30948d77ce4" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Basketball, comedy, art" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/america-250-common-threads/" target="_blank">&quot;America 250: Common Threads&quot;</a> — This new temporary art exhibition at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville commemorates the United States turning 250 this year.

Monday Munchies: 10 NWA spots open on Mondays

Whether you've got a work team or family in town, there are still several local dining options to choose from on a Monday.

Monday dining can feel thin. Many operators don&#x27;t serve at the beginning of the week so they can prep, restock and give staff a break.<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bocca" data-vars-click-url="https://boccanwa.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="1746649b-0351-4dd8-bd15-5dfd20a30229" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: 10 NWA spots open on Mondays" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://boccanwa.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">Bocca</a>, Fayetteville — Italian food and pizza, serving Mondays 5-9pm.</li></ul>

Crystal Bridges Museum expansion set for June opening

This next chapter further positions it not just as a place to experience art, but as a year-round community space.

Local Brief

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will reveal its expanded campus on June 6, marking the most significant addition since the Bentonville landmark debuted in 2011.Why it matters: Founded by Walmart heir Alice Walton, the museum is a cultural anchor for Northwest Arkansas and a major tourism draw. This next chapter further positions it not just as a place to experience art, but as a year-round community space.

Plan your spring: Paint, pics and printing

Mark your calendars for these  arts and culture events happening across Northwest Arkansas this spring and early summer

Mark your calendars for these arts and culture events happening across Northwest Arkansas this spring and early summer:

Your theater plans: What's on stage this season

Theatergoers are in luck. These plays are hitting the stage in Northwest Arkansas between mid-March and late June:🎷 March 17–22: &quot;Some Like It Hot&quot; — This musical is set during Prohibition in Chicago where two men disguise themselves as women to hide from gangsters, and it&#x27;s coming to Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Get tickets" data-vars-click-url="https://waltonartscenter.org/tickets/series/broadway-series/some-like-it-hot/?performanceId=31525" data-vars-content-id="77d4e7cf-d27d-470a-b996-819e4019b50a" data-vars-headline="Your theater plans: What&#x27;s on stage this season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://waltonartscenter.org/tickets/series/broadway-series/some-like-it-hot/?performanceId=31525" target="_blank">Get tickets</a>.

Food festivals, farmers markets and more in NWA this spring

Nothing speaks to culture more than food.

Nothing speaks to culture more than food. Check out NWA festivals and tasting experiences coming up this spring:🍴 April 25: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="BITE @ The Home Office" data-vars-click-url="https://bitenwa.com/event-information?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="d810d2a4-2ad6-4b09-a5aa-9a77dd0f8d40" data-vars-headline="Food festivals, farmers markets and more in NWA this spring" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bitenwa.com/event-information?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">BITE @ The Home Office</a> — BITE NWA will host a one-night food tasting event featuring more than 20 local restaurants and breweries at the Walmart Home Office in Bentonville. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Get tickets" data-vars-click-url="https://stubs.net/tickets/7759/bite-the-home-office" data-vars-content-id="d810d2a4-2ad6-4b09-a5aa-9a77dd0f8d40" data-vars-headline="Food festivals, farmers markets and more in NWA this spring" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://stubs.net/tickets/7759/bite-the-home-office" target="_blank">Get tickets</a> for $55.

Getting outside grows Arkansas' economy

The combined industries — everything from boating to equestrian activities — supported more than 43,000 jobs

Business

Arkansas&#x27; outdoor recreation economy accounted for $4.9 billion in 2024, an estimated 2.6% of the state&#x27;s GDP, according to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data. Why it matters: The combined industries — everything from boating to equestrian activities — supported more than 43,000 jobs, and have continued modest statewide growth over the last few years.<ul><li>The numbers were $3.5 billion (<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2.4% of GDP" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bea.gov/news/2022/outdoor-recreation-satellite-account-us-and-states-2021" data-vars-content-id="04476c90-30b9-4b26-a9fd-2b4c0137ddff" data-vars-headline="Getting outside grows Arkansas&#x27; economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bea.gov/news/2022/outdoor-recreation-satellite-account-us-and-states-2021" target="_blank">2.4% of GDP</a>) in 2021 and $4 billion (<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2.5% of GDP" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/12/14/natural-state-report-recommendations-outdoor-economy" data-vars-content-id="04476c90-30b9-4b26-a9fd-2b4c0137ddff" data-vars-headline="Getting outside grows Arkansas&#x27; economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/12/14/natural-state-report-recommendations-outdoor-economy" target="_self">2.5% of GDP</a>) in 2022.</li></ul>

Things to Do 🗓

Monday Munchies: Zelli Deli

Monday Munchies: Afghan food in Rogers

Arkansas wins NCAA opener

Your weekend plans: Basketball, comedy, art

Monday Munchies: 10 NWA spots open on Mondays