Ozarks at Large

This Thanksgiving a new nonprofit, Cocoon Collective NWA, is teaming up with the Museum of Native American History for a Queer Friendsgiving event.

An early 20th century Ozarks masonry techinique using split native sandstone as an inexpensive and durable method to side houses came to be known as "giraffe houses." Common in northern Arkansas, southern Missouri and eastern Oklahoma the architectural style is starting to be adapted in new buildings. University of Arkansas architecture professor Greg Herman — who resides in a historic giraffe house in Fayetteville — provides an illuminating tour.

On today's show, two doubleshots. First up, coffee: co-founder of Onyx Coffee Lab Andrea Allen shares what it was like to prepare for the World Barista Championship and Airship Coffee shares about creating sustainable partnerships between roasters and farmers. Then, music from Willi Carlisle and Jennifer Jolley.

Andrea Allen is the co-founder of Onyx Coffee Lab and recently came in second place in the 2021 World Barista Championship. She shares how she's grown as a barista, what it takes to compete, and what competition she's like to be mediocre at.

Bonnie Montgomery, Chris Acker and Willi Carlisle will perform Wednesday, Nov. 24 at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville. We catch up with Willi, hear more about the show, and get a sampling of the music that can be heard next week.

Jennifer Jolley, composer and an assistant professor of composition at Texas Tech University, will be on the University of Arkansas campus to work with students. She'll also hear her work performed by the U of A Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony Monday night at 7:30 in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center on campus. Lia Uribe and Kyle Kellams asked her, and Christopher Knighten...the director of bands at the U of A...about the relationship between composer and performer.

A film shot in Italy, during the pandemic and before vaccines, is hard to understand. Courtney Lanning, a film critic with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, is still trying to make sense of it all.

On today's show, diverting food waste from businesses away from the landfill. Plus, using color, glass and light to bring surprise to Emma Avenue in downtown Springdale, and much more.

At the top of our show today: Arkansas’ battle with COVID-19 continues at a steady pace, Fort Smith sets date for special election to decide on continuing sales tax, and Arkansas universities recognized by U.S. News & World Report guides.

In 2017, Fayetteville City Council adopted a new Solid Waste Reduction, Diversion and Recycing Master Plan, which aims to achieve a goal of 40% waste diversion by 2027. One step in that plan is implenting a commercial food waste composting program that diverts biodegradable food waste away from trash in landfills.