Hello Springtime!

It’s March, which means my season of the year. As we drove around this last weekend, I noticed a glimpse of daffodils and hyacinths emerging from the ground and ready to take in all the warm sunshine. March can have a nip of chill in the air, but it definitely provides a delightful, colorful landscape.

Here at AY About You, we’re all about good food, and our March issue is chock-full of the best Arkansas has to offer. Inside, you’ll find our reader’s poll of the best restaurants in the state, broken down by various categories. This list was determined by you, the loyal AY About You reader, and was our biggest yet, so be sure to check out if your favorite place was the winner.

We also give a tip of the cap to the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame finalists. This prestigious award is given annually to the most outstanding and legendary Arkansas restaurants, food events and operators. They truly make our state delicious!

Speaking of delicious, check out our cover story on Cache Restaurant, one of the best fine dining establishments anywhere and a frequent winner in our Reader’s Restaurant Poll over the years. We sit down with Chef Payne Harding to dish on what’s new at the River Market landmark.

We also visit our friends at Ronald McDonald House to preview the 20th annual Chocolate Fantasy Ball, coming soon. And we cowboy up with a story about PBR bull riding, coming to Simmons Bank Arena. Make plans now to come out and watch Arkansas’ own Chase Outlaw compete on his home turf!

Finally, we take you along for the ride as we explore Northwest Arkansas’s cycling culture, a major attraction in The Natural State. And we salute our beautiful State Parks, which turn 100 years old this year. As spring arrives and the weather turns nice, there’s no better way to enjoy it than at one of our 52 gorgeous State Parks.

Thanks for being loyal to our magazine and our mission. As you can see, we love telling the stories of Arkansans who are making a difference in so many unique areas. Let me know if there’s a particular story you’d like to read, or let me know who’s making a difference near you.

Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com

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