Red Bud Manor Blog

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-14T10:55:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Valentines Day is the second most popular card sharing holiday just behind Christmas? Today approximately 141 million cards will be exchanged and approximately 85% of them will be purchased by women. So I guess that leaves the men to buy the box of chocolates or jewelry for his sweet.

Some traditions of Valentines Day include stories as far back as the Middle Ages, where names of men and women were exchanged by drawing from a hat and then each person wearing the others name on their sleeve for a week before February 14th. So perhaps this is where we get the phrase "wearing your heart on your sleeve". Then there was the citing of a bird on February 14th representing the type of love a young girl would marry. If she saw a Robin, she would marry a sailor; if she saw a sparrow she would marry a poor man, but have a happy life; and if she saw a goldfinch she would marry someone rich.

My guests this past weekend celebrated Valentines Day with wonderful dinners at some of Eureka's finest restaurants, had couples massages and attended the Chocolate Festival. They were also treated to a bag of Valentines goodies in their rooms including homemade red velvet crunch cookies. If you are still thinking about Valentines Day and haven't quite gotten around to express your love they way you would like, you could always book a weekend romantic getaway for next weekend here at the Manor. Or if that doesn't fit your schedule, by her or him a gift certificate for a future romantic trek to the extraordinary escape of Eureka Springs.

Happy Valentines Day

VW Bugs Invading Eureka Springs

2010-08-03T17:25:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite weekends in Eureka Springs is the last weekend in August when the Northwest Arkansas VW Show is in town. Volkswagens have been a big part of this country's driving experience. In fact my first car was a VW bug that I took to college and later I owned a VW Bug convertible. Both of these cars were among my favorites. I'm thinking there might have to be one in my garage when I retire!

Recognized as one of the largest three-day events in the Mid-West, this year's VW festival , August 27 - 29, celebrates its 18th year in Eureka Springs. Whether you're a fan of the classic bug, a Karmann Ghia, a VW van or one of the newer modern VWs, there will be something for you. In fact you'll be able to admire your favorites from the front porch of the Manor as the parade on Saturday at 3PM will go right by the inn.

If you'd like to see all the cars in the show up close and personal you can at the Inn of the Ozarks which is just a short walk from Red Bud Manor. For more information visit http://www.nwavwa.com/

Tasty August Tours

2010-08-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

The third weekend in August promises to tantalize your taste buds and melt away the heat as the Alliance of Better Bed and Breakfasts hosts this late summer event, August Taste of the Inns. Each member inn will have decadent appetizers and specialty mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails) and tours of their facilities. Participants will receive recipes of the gourmet items presented at each of the seven bed and breakfasts and will also be entered into a drawing for gift certificates from local merchants and restaurants.

Red Bud Manor will offer Mai Tais with Tropical Bruschetta and Hawiian Tea Sandwiches. There is still one jacuzzi room left for this fun filled weekend and the August Taste of the Inn package include your tour tickets ($25 per person). This self-guided B&B tour will occur during cocktail hour 3 to 7 PM on August 21, 2010. To see all the inns participating go to http://www.relaxeureka.com/. Call Red Bud Manor now to reserve your space as only 100 tickets will be sold.

Yards and Yards of Yard Sales

2010-08-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

If you are one of those individuals who loves to find a bargain or a unique treasure, then yard sales are probably one of your favorite pasttimes. You will want to be in Eureka Springs August 6th & 7th for the 16th Annual Yards and Yards of Yard Sales. This citywide event has something for everyone from antiques & collectibles to estate sales. As the saying goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure" and Eureka Springs has the event for you to find your treasure.

You can pick up the map for all of the yard sale locations, including at list of items for sale, at the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce. Of course, I will have some here at Red Bud Manor Inn should you wish to stop by and say hello.

Celebrate July4th in Eureka Springs

2010-06-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it's only a month until we celebrate July 4th? I have the perfect weekend plan for your celebration. July 2nd arrive at Red Bud Manor and after you unpack have a special ice cream treat on the new rear deck. Later take a nice stroll up the street for dinner at Ermilios Italian Home Cooking restaurant. July 3rd starts with a healthy, sumptuous breakfast at the Manor followed by a walk to downtown for some shopping and lunch. Come back to Red Bud Manor Inn for a brief nap before heading out to Black Oak Amphitheatre for a night of Classic 70s Rock with Styx, Foreinger & Kansas.
After a ten year hibernation, the Black Oak Amphitheater has undergone a renovation and now the 7,000 seat outdoor amphitheatre is back in action. Located in Lampe, Missouri, about half-way between Eureka Springs and Branson. You can find out more information about the concert and purchase tickets from http://www.blkoakamp.com/
July 4th you start of the day with a Red, White and Blueberry breakfast at the Manor. Afterwards you can either head back downtown for more shopping or visit some of our newest attractions such s the Queen Anne Mansion or the Underground Eureka Tour. Fireworks that evening will be at 9:30 PM in Holiday Island, a fifteen minute drive from the Manor. You can start the evening earlier by attending the pulled pork dinner sponsored by the Holiday Island Chamber of Commerce and then listen to music by Jerry Yester of the Lovin' Spoonful from 5-7PM.
Plan your three day getaway now so you won't miss out on any of the fun!

Opera in the Ozarks

2010-06-03T18:12:00.000-07:00

Opera in the Ozarks celebrates it's 60th Anniversary with three of the world's most beloved operas. Opening night June 18th begins with Tosca, then Carmen on June 19th and Don Giovanni on June 26th. Since 1950, this non-profit organization has provided artists with an intensive development experience while giving audiences a four-week season of quality performances. Set in the beautiful Inspiration Point outdoor venue you will enjoy the finest of opera under the Ozark night sky. Don't miss Opera in the Ozark's biggest season combined with a relaxing getaway at Red Bud Manor Inn. For tickets visit http://www.opera.org/ and mention this blog when you call for reservations and get $10 off your weekend stay.

Eureka Springs Blues Weekend

2010-05-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

Eureka Springs Blues Weekend is only two weeks away and Red Bud Manor still has room for you. Be pampered with a healthy sumptuous breakfast and then head downtown, a short walk from the Manor, to listen to the great music. Tickets on sale for this year's Eureka Springs’ Blues weekend June 3, 4, 5 & 6 in beautiful Eureka Springs, Arkansas can be purchased online www.eurekaspringsblues.com for all performances or selected ones. The 2010 Eureka Springs Blues Weekend will once again feature a lineup that reads like a "Who's Who of the Blues". There are multiple Blues Music Award (BMA) nominees and winners, multiple Grammy nominees and winners, and two Blues Hall of Fame members.

Headliners include John Hammond, Charlie Musselwhite with The Tablerockers, Magic Slim & The Teardrops, and featured artists include Bob Margolin, Shaun Murphy, Kelley Hunt, Super Chikan & The Fighting Cocks, Otis Taylor, Shawn "Lil' Slim" Holt, Marquise Knox, Albert Castiglia, and Fast Johnny Ricker.

Need a break in the middle of the day? Come back to the Manor and have afternoon refreshments on the rear deck surrounded by trees or take a nap in the two-person hammock. Then head back out for more music in the evening. Call now (866-253-9649) to reserve your room for a wonderful weekend getaway in Eureka Springs with some fantastic Blues music.

Eureka Springs Car Shows

2010-04-27T14:31:00.000-07:00

Eureka Springs is a great place for car shows and Red Bud Manor's front porch is the best seat in town. So plan now to make your escape and pick your favorite car show to enjoy. The scheduled events are:

May 8 - PT Cruiser Car Show http://www.nwaptcruiserclub.com/
May 29 - 16th Annual Mustang Show
June 4 - Kustom Kemps modified street cars http://www.kustomkempsofamerica.com/
June 11 - The 9th Annual Miatas at Eureka http://www.miatasofeureka.com/ or http://www.nwamiataclub.com/
Aug 27-29 - The 17th Annual VW weekend http://www.nwavwa.com/
Sept 10-11 - The 40th Annual Eureka Springs Antique Automobile Show with hundreds of vintage cars
Sept 30 - Oct 3 - The 20th Annual Corvette Weekend. http://www.eurekaspringscorvette.org/

If you're a car fanatic why not plan a romantic weekend for you and your partner in beautiful Eureka Springs.
It'll be a real gas!

Power Foods: Green Tea

2010-01-30T15:12:00.000-08:00

Tea is a staple at Red Bud Manor in Eureka Springs and is served at every breakfast and often as a treat in the afternoon. I recently had a guest who was interested in green tea as he had heard it was better for you. I of course made him a pot of Dragonwell Extra Special green tea. We then began discussing the health benefits of green tea and how to brew it. I thought I'd share some of our discussion with you.

Green undergoes no fermentation process so it is closest to a straight-from-the-tree state and is relatively low in caffeine - about 20 mg per cup compared to 160 mg for coffee. It varies dramatically in flavor from grassy and sweet to floral and fresh to nutty and roasted. Green tea is loaded with cancer fighting antioxidants and has been shown to reduce high blood pressure and build bone density. It is also noted for its ability to aid weight-loss, improve immune system functioning and simultaneously relax and rejuvenate the body.

Preparation of green tea is different than black tea as the water should be heated to just under a boil and the tea brewed for only 1 to 3 minutes. When I find individuals who say they don't like green tea as it is bitter, it is often because the cup was improperly brewed - either too long or with too hot of water.

There are many health benefits to all teas and loose leaf tea delivers less caffeine in your cup than the bagged counterparts. Tea in many ways is a lot like wine. It's fun tasting different ones so you can find what pleases your palate. At the same time you are reaping health benefits from each cup.

Red Bud Manor has fourteen different loose leaf teas to tantalize guest's taste buds, and I'd be happy to prepare a pot for you during your next stay in Eureka Springs.

A Look Back at 2009

2009-12-31T13:11:00.000-08:00

It was good to review this past year and all the changes that happened. It all started with an ice storm in late January which damaged several trees on the property. After completing the clean-up of the debris, work began on plans for new landscape features to replace the lost trees and bushes and enhance the areas for guest’s relaxation and weddings. Working on the main garden area inspired me to create a “Secret Garden" back of the Manor. This included building a new 12x24 foot deck and tiered rock wall for more plants. Guests have long enjoyed the front porch of the B&B for relaxing and now they can sit among the trees on the rear deck or have a wedding on the deck. (You can see a picture of the deck on the website under the About the Manor tab) The two-person, eco-friendly hammock is still available for guests to enjoy.

New gourmet teas were added to the tastings available to each guest. Included is an award winning green tea called “Lemon Ginger Snap”, a finalist at the World Tea Expo Championship. Special fall and spring teas were also added to the inventory and these included Spiced Pear, Harvest Apple, and Tropical Mist Sencha. With oolong teas that increase your resting metabolism, green tea that reduces high blood pressure and builds bone density and teas to help you relax there is a tea for everyone. Guests learned about the health benefits of tea and the first birthday tea party held in October was a delight for nine year old Chelsea and her friends.

More gluten-free recipes were added to the breakfast menu. I’ve had the pleasure of cooking for several folks who suffer from either gluten intolerance or Celiac disease. One of my guests who has had Celiac disease for twelve years said, “You are a great gluten-free cook”. One of the new recipes added is a cinnamon apple pancake and of course the signature lavender cookies provided to each guest at check-in are always gluten-free. I really do enjoy trying new recipes and meeting the unique dietary needs of my guests.

Guests came to enjoy the arts, the outdoors, the festivals and the holidays. Some came to celebrate their anniversaries, to enjoy their honeymoon and some just to relax and escape the daily stress of life. Several people attended the first ever August Taste of the Inns tour which included appetizers and mock tails at each of the ten members inns of the Alliance of Better Bed and Breakfasts. Halloween found my sister and me, dressed as witches, handing out candy to over 600 costumed folks who came by the Manor. Getting ready for the holidays brings magic to the Manor. I decided to enter this year’s Christmas Lighting Contest and Red Bud Manor came in 2^nd place for our area of town. The Manor was all decked out for the 3^rd annual Sweet Treats Tour on December 12, 2009. The year was ended by helping guests celebrate Christmas and New Years. Eureka Springs has something for everyone and I consider it an honor to help you enjoy your time while here and look forward to meeting more wonderful folks in 2010.

Fall Happenings

2008-10-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

October has been a busy month at the Manor. The new website launched October 1st. New marketing collateral is also in the works. New flavors of tea were added to the cabinet and 14 gourmet flavors are now served. In addition, guests can purchase stump pots to brew the tea in so they continue to enjoy a good cup of tea a home.

During this time of year Eureka Springs is bustling with folks eager to see the colors of Fall and enjoy the crisp feel of the mornings. While the busiest weekend with the War Eagle Craft Fair has past, we still have many activities for guests to enjoy. Halloween is always a fun time here. It reminds me of when I was small... parents dress up with their kids and walk the loop. At the Manor we dress up and hang out on the porch to give out the goodies.

November also has lots to offer with the Folk Festival and Food & Wine Weekends. Of course staying at the Manor on your way to a Thanksgiving feast or pampering yourself by extending your Thanksgiving Holiday is another fine November activity. Our first Fall Harvest Tea Weekend will be held November 21st/22nd.