I guess the first “official” day of summer isn’t until June 21, but here in Arkansas, it’s been summer for almost a month now. Time to cycle all of our summer fashion statements back to the front of the closet, and set our music playlists up with our 2022 summer soundtracks. 

 

As our own unique way of christening the season, we’ve got a very summery bucket list for you this month — patios. Jenny Boulden reported on the ins and outs of all the things that make patio dining so special, and then we put together a list of our favorite restaurant patios in the state. 

 

And speaking of the sounds of summer, I don’t know about you, but my seasonal soundtracks are full of country music this time of year. So you know I’m excited about the fifth-annual Arkansas Country Music Awards this month. This issue includes a full list of nominees for the June 6 ceremony, as well as a couple of special features on some local artists on the rise. 

 

Then there’s, of course, that beautifully fun cover to talk about. Because what is an Arkansas summer without a little travel? This month, it’s all about Fayetteville and that one-of-a-kind downtown scene. If you only come to town for the Hogs, then you don’t know what you’re missing. Give the city a visit (or two) outside of the regular season — you won’t be disappointed. 

 

There are a few more awards to get to in this issue as well. Last month, we featured the full listing of AY’s Best of 2022, and this month we unveil the overall winners in each category. We also once again partnered with the Arkansas Bar Association to present its annual awards, and featured this year’s AY’s Best Lawyers, which were decided by you, our readers. 

 

If you are among the many deserving businesses or individuals to win one of these awards this year, then also check out Jason Pederson’s “This Side of Seven” column this month, which provides some useful, grounding perspective on the very nature of awards, and what really are the most important things in life. 

 

And now, I’ll leave you to it! I hope you enjoy this June issue as much as we do. 

 

Happy Summer!

 

Heather Baker,

President & Publisher

hbaker@aymag.com

Instagram / heatherbaker_ar