‘Big’ things are in store for November events in NWA

November brings New York style, a little art history and some "Empty Bowls" to Northwest Arkansas.

Rogers Little Theater presents "Don't Dress for Dinner"

The Rogers Little Theater will debut its second show of the season, “Don't Dress for Dinner,” on Nov. 1. Written by Marc Camoletti and adapted by Robin Hawdon, the play centers around the character Bernard as he plans a romantic weekend with his Parisian mistress while his wife is away. Bernard's friend Robert tags along as an alibi, and the two endure one hilarious mishap after another.

The show will run Nov. 1-3 and Nov. 7-10. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. for the Friday and Saturday performances, with the show to follow at 8 p.m. Sunday matinee's  will include dinner at 1 p.m., with the show starting at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available online or may be purchased at the RLT Box Office. For more information, call 631-8988

"REfresh" Fayetteville hosts kick-off event
REfresh Fayetteville, a movement "to help foster more public art in Fayetteville through community sponsored murals, sculptures, and installation," will host its inaugural informational and fundraising event on Nov.3 at the Greenhouse Grille.

The event will feature food from several local eateries, including Greenhouse Grille, Little Bread Co., Arsaga's Depot, Ella's, Flying Burrito, Aquafire, and Jammin Java. Live music will be provided by Fork and Knife, Cutty Rye, and Candy Lee and the Block Street Hot Club. A silent auction will be held featuring custom spray paint can sculptures to be painted by 25 local artists.

In addition to the food and entertainment, guests will have the opportunity to learn more about the organization and to take a sneak peek at the first project sponsored by modus + matt miller studio. The event will begin at 5 p.m.

All proceeds will support REfresh's mission to establish a fund to pay artists to produce public art projects in Fayetteville For more information about Refresh, visit the event's Facebook page.

Empty Bowls support Lifesource International
Who knew "Empty Bowls" could help families in need? Lifesource International will host "Empty Bowls," a gourmet soup dinner, on Nov. 5 at the Mt. Sequoyah Retreat Center in Fayetteville. Guests will dine on soup and bread and have the opportunity to take home the bowl of their choice at the end of the evening. All bowls are either handcrafted or special edition ceramic pieces.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Lifesource International's mission "to help strengthen the community by providing customized assistance to families in need." In 2012, the organization served 36,337 individuals, providing food assistance, counseling, adult education and numerous other services.

Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. in the retreat center dining hall. The retreat is located at 150 North Skyline Dr. in Fayetteville. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Tickets are limited and may be purchased online through the Lifesource website. For more information, call 521-4000.

Jones Center brings "Big Apple" to "Big Night"
The Big Apple will come to Springdale for one "Big Night" for The Jones Center's "Night on the Town" annual gala. The New York-themed event will be held on Nov. 9 at the Jones Center and will include lavish auctions, a SoHo fashion show, signature cocktails and musical entertainment.

Gala-goers will enjoy fine dining from Celebrity Chef Mario Valdovino with the option to choose between two distinct dining venues. For "The Upper Eastside," Chef Mario will serve up a five-course dinner menu complete with specially-paired wines. Those opting for the "Central Park" experience, can choose from a variety of food stations, including a full bar with featured wines.  Following dinner, guests can treat themselves to decadent desserts including truffles, flavored bon bons, and hand-dipped lollipops  in the New York inspired "Sweet Shop."

The SoHO Shopping District will feature several local boutiques and retailers, including Dillards, Mason's, Lola's, and Tesori. Beauty consultants will also be on-hand to help shoppers complete their look.

Doors will open at 5:45 p.m. for the cocktail hour, with dinner and shopping to follow at 7:15 p.m. At 8:30, New York DJ Ken Richards will get the dancing started. All proceeds from  the gala will support the operations and programs of The Jones Center.

Individual gala tickets are $150. Corporate tables seating eight are $1,200. Seating is very limited and only a few tickets remain available for purchase. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Kelly Kemp-McClintock at 756-8090, ext. 2119.

Crystal Bridges to present "The Show of the Century"
Crystal Bridges will present "The Show of the Century" during its November "Art Night Out" on Nov. 14.

The event will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1913 Armory Show in New York City, which exposed American audiences to modern art. The exhibition, titled The New Spirit: An International Exhibition of Modern Art, was the first major exhibition in the U.S. of modern European and American art. "The Show of the Century" will also celebrate Crystal Bridges' temporary exhibition, The Artists’ Eye: Georgia O’Keeffe and the Alfred Stieglitz Collection.

Festivities  will begin at 7:30 p.m. with Kyle Kellams, of KUAF radio, hosting a sit-down dinner and variety show featuring The Hogtown Hot Club's gypsy jazz swing music. ArkansasStaged will then perform Picasso at the Lapin Agile, a play by Steve Martin in which Picasso and Einstein meet in a bar in 1904.

Popular art journalist Elizabeth Lunday will be also on-hand to answer questions about “The Modern Art Invasion."

Following dinner and the show, guests can make their way to the dance floor or play the ”art collector’s game” in The Artists’ Eye exhibition. They can also enjoy comedian Roger Haak’s human statue re-creation of the famous painting Blue Nude by Henri Matisseentury. All are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Modern artist or in the gala attire of the early twentieth century.

Tickets are $40 for members and $50 for non-members. They may be purchased online or by contacting Guest Services.