Cars as Art

Think cars are just for driving? Not so in Eureka Springs, AR. This Memorial weekend we had an Art Car parade. These aren't your typical painted show cars nor are they the same as those trucks painted on the CMT Trick My Truck reality show. No, these are actually works of art with imagination plus.

Checkout some of the cars in these pictures. Click the images for a bigger picture.

There are quite a few car parades in Eureka Springs and most of them drive the historic loop right by our place, 5 Ojo Inn Bed and Breakfast. It's fun to getaway for a relaxing, romantic weekend and sit on our porches sipping a cool drink while watching the Mustangs, VWs (my son in-laws favorite), Antique cars (my favorite), PT Cruisers, Corvettes and once even old police cars. Come join us sometime!.....Richard

In the picture below, the van has box and other old cameras covering it and the design on the van is a picture of a camera. Click it to see a larger image.

Farm Fresh Produce

The other day I was at our graphic designers when someone showed up with a bag of what appeared to be produce. Of course, my curiosity got the better of me and I asked her what they were delivering. Yes, it was a personal question, but it's a small town and I guess we tend to get involved with each others business.

She explained that the local farmers in and around Eureka Springs, AR will deliver a bag of seasonal goodies once a week from their gardens during May through September for only $15. They had delivered to her a bag of field greens, a bag of spinach, loaf of bread, a dozen eggs, a jar of jam and a bunch of green onions. Wow, fresh right off the farm and delivered to your door. Reminded me of the milkman who delivered milk to our house when we were growing up (ok, yes, I'm that old).

We thought this would be something great for our inn (5 Ojo Inn Bed and Breakfast) and what we didn't use at the inn we would use for our own personal cooking. This week we received a bag of field greens, loaf of bread, carton of strawberries, bunch of mint, a dozen eggs and some broccoli (which we had tonight...fresh is so much better than store bought). They also included some menus and tomorrow we're going to try Mustard Dill Carrots.

Go to a farmers market near you and check if some of them have a similar program. You get some great food and you help out the local farmers.

Happy Eating...Richard

An ARTrageous way to explore art

During Mayfest in Eureka Springs, Arkansas we have a month long celebration of the arts. On the first weekend we have the ARTrageous Parade where locals don their most elaborate costumes and create art on the streets. Rain put a damper on the first weekend so the parade was delayed one week and thankfully the day of the parade the rain held off.


White Street Walk

One of our favorite nights in May is White Street Walk, just a couple of blocks from 5 Ojo Inn Bed and Breakfast. Many of our local artists live on White Street and once a year they open up their homes to display and sell their art. Over the years the event has grown with many homes and businesses serving wine and appetizers to the throng of people who roam the streets admiring the art created by dozens of artists. The locals also use the time to greet friends they haven't seen in a while and the tourists enjoy a plethora of different art mediums and walk away with the bargain they just couldn't live without.


Art Shows and Music

On Saturdays some of the galleries downtown stay open late and have local and regional artists at their stores showing their work. It's a great opportunity to meet the artists and talk to them about their art.

During each weekend in May there is a juried art show in Basin Park with local and regional artists. While you are in the park, you can also enjoy free music from noon to 6:00 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

If you like any kind of art, this is the place to be during Mayfest.

A new late night restaurant in Eureka Springs, AR.

Dr. Baker's Lounge (renamed to Dr. Baker's Extraordinary Bistro -&- Sky Bar) at the Crescent Hotel has announced that during the season they will be serving food until 11:00 p.m. For our guests at 5 Ojo Inn Bed and Breakfast who are arriving into town on Friday night after 9:00 p.m. this is great news as most all other restaurants close at 9:00 p.m. We're happy because Dr. Baker's has some great bar food and we now have a place to send our bed and breakfast guests who didn't have time to stop and eat on the way here. And you can sit out on the observation deck on the 4th floor of the hotel and look down over downtown Eureka Springs or just sit inside with the classic Art Deco look.

The other day I stopped in to have lunch and ordered the Patriotic Potion. It's called the "Red White & Blue" presentation of a burger plate. It has three mini-burgers topped with red onions and Gorgonzola cheese. The presentation was simple yet elegant. The buns were fresh and tasty and the burgers very tasty. A definite winner for me.

I've also had the Havana Medicina, their twist on a Cuban Sandwich with sliced pork, ham, and pepper jack cheese. Again, the bread was great and the warmed sandwich really very good. It had a slightly spicy mayonnaise sauce on it which tickled my tongue. They have other burgers, ribs, pasta, a Reuben sandwich and pizza to name a few things on the menu.

So, for those late night arrivals or Saturday night snackers, keep Dr. Baker's Extraordinary Bistro -&- Sky Bar in mind.
.....Richard