This weekend I was presented the challenge of making cinnamon pancakes with no gluten, no milk and no eggs for a guest at our bed and breakfast who required a gluten free and lactose free diet. This was a great opportunity for me to try modifying one of my favorite pancake recipes to see how it would work and I wanted to pass it along to anyone who might want to try it.
Gluten Free Cinnamon Pancakes
September 11th, 2013 by Richard Grinnell
September Sounds – 2013 Jazz Eureka
September 6th, 2013 by Richard Grinnell
Music will once again fill Basin Spring Park and venues around town as 2013 Jazz Eureka takes the stage September 13th through 15th in Eureka Springs, AR.
Eureka Springs Romantic Getaway Package
August 12th, 2013 by Richard Grinnell
Before the fun of summer is over, book that weekend or overnight trip that you and your spouse or partner desperately need. Don’t let this be another year where that special one-on-one time “just didn’t happen.” At 5 Ojo Bed and Breakfast, we can make you romantic getaway incredibly easy. We have a package that covers everything, so all you need to so is show up!
The Ojo Romantic Getaway
Your Lodging
Choose between the Carriage House, Kensington Suite, Honeymoon Suite or The Hideaway. Each room has a Jacuzzi tub for soaking and suds. The Carriage House is incredibly private with a deck overlooking the tree-filled backyard. The Kensington Suite also has a private deck and a two-person Jacuzzi tub.
The Honeymoon Suite Jacuzzi Tub.
The Honeymoon Suite has a private entrance, a romantic fireplace and a private porch swing overlooking the hollow behind the inn. The Hideaway is a private cottage with its own courtyard and entrance.
Your Meals
Every morning, enjoy an elegant gourmet breakfast at the B&B. Our French Toast is made with Jan’s fresh baked Challah bread baked right here at the inn. In fact, our delicious breakfasts are one reason our guests keep coming back to our inn. Here are some of our favorite breakfast items: poppy seed muffins, mozzarella & garlic chicken sausage, baked eggs tarragon and blueberries & cream with seasonal fruit.
For dinner, our package includes a $40 gift certificate to one of our favorite, romantic restaurants in Eureka Springs.
Your Gifts
Start your trip right with a chilled sparkling beverage upon arriving at the inn. A toasting beverage and two keepsake champagne flutes are included in the romance package.
Next, heat things up by going shopping at the tasteful and racy Scarlett’s Lingerie with a gift certificate in your package.
Your Activities
If everything else wasn’t enough, also included in your Romantic Getaway is a horse drawn carriage ride and a couples’ massage.
All of this, including two nights lodging at the inn, for only $545 ($565 in October) plus tax.
Have an Intimate Wedding in Eureka Springs Arkansas
July 15th, 2013 by Richard Grinnell
Are you looking to have a small but elegant wedding service in Eureka Springs? Allow us to assist you! We have beautiful surroundings, both indoors and out, for a small wedding ceremony. One of the best parts of holding your ceremony at the 5 Ojo Inn Bed and Breakfast: We can plan everything for you. So, just give us a call, explain what your perfect ceremony looks like and we can put it together for you!
We also have a few options for pre-arranged wedding packages. Here is the run down:
Sweet & Simple:
- Ceremony on the gazebo deck or in the Victorian Parlor
- Licensed minister
- Photographs with your camera
- Invite 2 guests to share the occasion with you ($10 for each additional guest up to eight)
- $125 ($99 for B&B guests)
Intimate & A Little More:
- Indoor or Outdoor venue use
- Licensed Minister
- Photographs with your camera
- Two keepsake glasses with sparkling non-alcoholic beverage
- Small, traditional wedding cake
- Invite 4 guests to share the occasion with you ($10 for each additional guest up to eight)
- $189 ($159 for B&B guests)
A Wedding & A Honeymoon:
- Two nights in a Jacuzzi suite
- Elegant homemade breakfasts each morning
- Use of indoor or outdoor venue for ceremony
- Licensed minister
- Photographs with your camera
- Keepsake glasses and sparkling non-alcoholic beverage
- Small, traditional wedding cake
- Romantic horse-drawn carriage ride
- Invite 4 guests to share the occasion with you ($10 for each additional guest up to eight)
- Add-ons and room upgrades available. See our Eureka Springs wedding packages page for more details.
- $510 ($530 in October)
Honeymooning
- Two nights in a Jacuzzi suite
- Elegant homemade breakfasts each morning
- Dinner for two at a fine dining restaurant in Eureka Springs
- Romantic horse-drawn carriage ride
- Couples one-hour massages
- Seasonal fresh flowers in your room
- Add-ons and room upgrades available. See our Eureka Springs wedding packages page for more details.
- $545 ($565 in October)
Come and celebrate this most special of occasions with us!
Festival of the Arts Continues with the Grand Illumination
June 29th, 2013 by Richard Grinnell
The Grand Illumination is a very beautiful time to visit Eureka Springs. The Eureka Springs Preservation Society will decorate our Victorian town with thousands of oriental silk and paper lanterns. The lanterns are part of our Independence Day celebration and will hang from June 30 – July 14.
Take in the details of Eureka Springs’ Victorian architecture by night, illuminated by the lanterns, hanging from historic downtown buildings, park fountains and many homes and porches.
The Grand Illumination is held in conjunction with Eureka Springs’ July Calendar of Events, which includes a 4th of July parade, July 4th activities in Basin Park, and Fleur Delicious, a weekend of French culture and cuisine, taking place July 9 -14, 2013.
2010 First Prize winner for home decoration
During Fleur Delicious, enjoy as bars, galleries, boutiques, spas and music venues participate with French-inspired food, wine, spirits and art.
The Grand Illumination kicks off with a party that is open to the public at the East Lawn of the Historic Crescent Hotel on Sunday June 30 from 8 – 9 p.m. Enjoy complimentary lemonade and hors d’oeuvres, live music with the band Arkansas Red and a cash bar.
Once the sun sets, about 8:30 p.m. the public will release glo-loons, balloons lit with tiny LED lights. The lawn with glow at dusk – it is a lovely sight!
The Grand Illumination also includes some friendly competition. There is a $100 prize for those with the best lantern decorations – both a home and a business. The winners are announced on Wednesday July 3 at 8 p.m. at Eureka Live Underground & Patio, with a party to follow.
Lodging in Eureka Springs for the 4th of July
We still have some availability for the Independence Day weekend. Come and celebrate the 4th in a beautiful new way! Eureka Springs is known as one of the top 25 art destinations in the U.S because of unique and innovative events like the Grand Illumination.
Moist Chocolate Pistachio Cake
June 14th, 2013 by Richard Grinnell
At our Eureka Springs Bed and Breakfast we love to serve our guests dessert for breakfast and we wanted to share our Moist Chocolate Pistachio Cake recipe with you. It’s one of our favorites and we’ve found if you slightly heat the cake before serving, it adds a subtle richness to the taste.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 package plain white cake mix; (18.25 oz)
- 1 package pistachio instant pudding mix; (3.4 oz)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder; (we use Wilbur Chocolate)
- vegetable oil for misting pan
- flour for dusting the pan
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly mist a 12 cup Bundt pan with vegetable oil, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Sprinkle the pecans and chocolate chips evenly in the bottom of the pan. Set the pan aside.
- Place the cake mix, pudding mix, sugar. water, oil and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more. The batter should look thick and smooth. Remove 1 cup of the batter to a small bowl. Mix the Wilbur’s Cocoa into the small bowl and stir until the mixture is well combined. Set aside.
- Pour the remaining batter into the prepared pan. Pour the chocolate batter over the top, trying to keep the chocolate batter away from the edges of the pan. Swirl the chocolate batter into the white batter using a dinner knife. Place the pan in the center of the oven.
- Bake the cake until it is golden brown and springs back when lightly pressed with your finger, 55 to 60 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Run a long, sharp knife around the edge of the cake and invert it onto a rack to cool completely, 20 minutes more.
- Optionally, pour some chocolate sauce over the cake.
Yield: 16 servings
Cook Time: 60 minutes
The next time you make it to Eureka Springs, AR for a getaway let us know if you’d like us to serve this fabulous cake for breakfast. Also, we have tried a lot of chocolate deserts at many of Eureka Springs’ restaurants, so when you are here relaxing, ask us to lead you to some great chocolate treats.
Eureka Springs Blues Festival
June 1st, 2013 by Richard Grinnell
The good times just keep on rolling here in Eureka Springs! After a month-long celebration of the arts, next month we celebrate one of the great American cultural traditions: blues music. Taking place June 13 -16 at venues all over Eureka Springs, this is a wonderful way to start your summer off right and just relax while absorbing the delightful, twangy and sometimes tragic music of the Delta.
Shows will be held in The Auditorium, The Barefoot Ballroom, Basin Spring Park, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and various other venues around Eureka Springs.
Tickets for Eureka Springs Blues Weekend
While I write this blog, there are only two Ultimate VIP Package tickets left, which include the following:
- Front Row seating for headliner shows
- Blues weekend tee shirt
- Poster signed by headliners and featured artists
- Goody bag with blues CD
- Admission to the father’s day Blues Picnic at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Cost: $255
One of the headliners is Victor Wainwright & The WildRoots
There are six VIP packages remaining. They include:
- Premium seating to headliner shows
- Blues weekend tee shirt
- Poster signed by headliners and featured artists
- Goody bag with blues CD
- Admission to the father’s day Blues Picnic at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Cost: $155
You can also purchase a general admission pass, which gets you general admission to headliners and featured artist shows at The Auditorium and the Barefoot Ballroom, as well as admission to the father’s day Blues Picnic at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. Cost: $80
You can also purchase tickets for individual shows for anywhere between $5 and $35. See the Eureka Springs Blues Weekend website for purchase, pricing and lineup.
Wanna Come to Eureka Springs for Blues Weekend?
Have you started thinking about what to do for your “old man” for Father’s Day? Are you a blues aficionado but can’t make it down to Mississippi or Louisiana this year? Stop by Eureka Springs for some great, all-American music. We have a cool and comfortable room for you at our bed and breakfast.
Norman Rockwell Exhibition at Crystal Bridges
May 16th, 2013 by Richard Grinnell
From May 11 through 25, come and see the work of one of America’s most beloved illustrator and artist: Norman Rockwell. Capturing scenes of American life from the bucolic to iconic and everything in-between, seeing Rockwell’s work up close is not something to be missed. See 50 original paintings and 323 Saturday Evening Post covers that document Rockwell’s engagement in American life, over five decades in the exhibit American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell. Jan and I spent over 2 hours just touring the Rockwell exhibit, so if you plan on touring the entire museum, make sure you leave plenty of time.
Norman Rockwell, Artist Facing Blank Canvas (The Deadline). Cover illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, October 8, 1938. Norman Rockwell Museum Collections ©1938: SEPS.
The Crystal Bridges museum of American Art will host the exhibition. Timed tickets are required for admission to American Chronicles and due to the popularity of this exhibition, advance ticket purchase is strongly suggested.
Purchase tickets at Guest Services or online. Tickets are $12 for adults.
About the Norman Rockwell Exhibition
One of the most popular American artists of the past century, Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) was a keen observer of human nature and a gifted visual storyteller. Rockwell documented American life in all its glory and tragedy for over five decades. The exhibition includes materials from the Museum’s archives, demonstrating how Rockwell worked: proceeding from preliminary sketches, photographs, color studies, and detailed drawings to his finished work.
Audio Tour:
Guests visiting American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell may be interested in the accompanying audio tour. Two different tours are available on each iPod Touch device – a 45-minute general tour, and a 30-minute tour suitable for families and children. Guests holding tickets for this special exhibition can pick up an audio tour at the gallery entrance at no charge.
We found the audio tour to be very informative. It was like having a personal guide with you (including Norman Rockwell’s children).
Traveling Arkansas this May?
If you are planning a trip to Eureka Springs this May or anytime this summer, please keep us in mind for superior lodging! We are located just outside of downtown Eureka Springs. The Crystal Bridges Museum, in Bentonville, is a scenic hour drive from our bed an breakfast.
The White Street Walk, Part of May Festival of the Arts
May 7th, 2013 by Richard Grinnell
Friday May 17th 2013 will mark the 23rd year of the White Street Art Walk. From 4 – 10 p.m. explore the art on White Street, less than a quarter mile from our Bed and Breakfast. White Street is located on the upper Historical Loop between Kings Highway and Prospect streets in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Historic White Street is the working address of several local artists who will welcome the public into their homes and studios to view their latest pieces. These residents will be joined by more than forty guest artists from the Eureka Springs area, who will show weaving, watercolors, jewelry, oils, pottery, stained glass and much more. Admission is free.
“Iris Clapton” by Zeek Taylor
The White Street Art Walk has a block party atmosphere with art, refreshments and music. Adding to the carnival atmosphere, street musicians meander White Street, providing entertainment and adding to the fun. Don’t be surprised if you see a few folks dressed in costumes to tour the homes and enjoy the art work.
History of the White Street Art Walk
Over twenty years ago the neighbors of White Street were discussing that many of the artists in their circle of friends attended the Memphis State University College of Art. Four of the artists decided to start the gallery art walk that year. The event grew year after year; now, people come from all over the United States to attend! Zeek Taylor and Eleanor Lux were two of the artists in this original group.
Zeek Taylor is now the current chairperson for the Eureka Springs Mayor’s Art Council. The co-chairs this year of the White Street Studio Walk are Eleanor Lux of Lux Weaving Studio, Zeek Taylor of Taylor/Titus Home Studio and Mary Springer of Willow/Spring Gallery/Home.
Would you like to join us for the fun of the White Street Art Walk? Book your room soon, as our availability for this event and all of the May Festival of the Arts weekends fills up quickly!
May Festival of the Arts Events
April 18th, 2013 by Katie Pate
Eureka Springs is lucky to call itself an arts community, and every year the whole month of May is dedicated to bringing art to the public. The May Festival of the Arts, or as we call it around here, the “MayFest,” includes a whole slew of art events. Here are some events taking place this year:
- The Eureka Springs Music Sculpture Park
- Basin Park Art Fest
- The Sphere Community Sculpture
- Plein Air Painters of Eureka Springs
A “Plein Air” painting
- Tales from the South- Eureka Stories
- Art Panel Installations from Eureka Springs High School Art Students
- Susan Storch Famiy Portrait Workshop
- Eureka Springs Preservation Society Walking History Tours
See the full calendar of events on the MayFest website.
There are going to be some returning, long favorite events as well. For example, the “Taste of Art” will be taking place in restaurants around Eureka Springs. Enjoy a delicious meal and an artists’ reception at locations like DeVitos.
Every Saturday, take a stroll and soak in some art. Featuring a specific artist each Saturday of May, galleries will be open and exhibiting local and regional works. Each featured gallery will host a small meet and greet with the artist, light refreshment and hearty artistic interpretations.
If music is more your medium, the Eureka Springs Arts Council is pleased to unveil the Eureka Springs Music Park. Interactive music sculptures will be on permanent display for public enjoyment in the North Main parking lot. The musical sculpture instruments have been conceived and designed by Ranaga Farbriarz, in collaboration with several other local artists and welders. The Music Park will have its grand opening on Saturday, May 25th at 2 p.m. The Grammy-nominated folk duo “Trout Fishing in America” will kick off the ceremony, followed by Clear Springs Music students and Ranaga himself!
And a favorite of ours is White Street Walk. This event will be on Friday, May 17th, from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. Historic White Street is just around the corner from our inn and is where many of the local artists live and work. They will welcome the public into their homes and studios to view their latest works. They will be joined by more than forty guest artists from the Eureka Springs area, who will show weaving, watercolors, jewelry, oils, pottery, stained glass and much more. A very fun art event.
Spend May at the 5 Ojo
Whether you stay one night, a weekend or all week, our bed and breakfast inn is here to provide great service, delicious breakfasts and local insight about Eureka Springs.
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