Celebrate The Senses In Eureka Springs

Staff Report

Fleur Delicious Weekend is a Celebration of all the senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch in the historic village of Eureka Springs. It is a French-themed weekend in which restaurants, bars, art galleries, boutiques, spas, and music venues participate with French inspired indulgences in food, wine, spirits, art, entertainment and luxe galore.

The first event of the festival is the Ciroc Vodka Bartender Competition on Wed., July 3 at 5 p.m. at Caribe Restaurante y Cantina, 309 West Van Buren. Bartenders compete to create the best drink made with Ciroc Vodka.

On Tuesday, July 9, Chef Rob Nelson of Tusk & Trotter prepares “Samplings and Sips” at the Writer’s Colony at Dairy Hollow, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 515 Spring Street.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art’s weekly WOW (Wednesday Over Water) will host a tasting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the 10th. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Thursday, July 11 Eureka Springs Farmers Market presents Cooking Demos with Chef Dave Gilderson of The Grand Taverne and KJ Zumwalt of Caribe Restaurante y Cantina, plus music by Ozark Flavor, from 7 a.m. to Noon at The Village at Pine Mountain at 2075 East Van Buren.

Thursday evening, Caribe Restaurante y Cantina presents a 3 course French inspired farmers’ market dinner featuring Railway Winery, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bob Norman will host a Burlesque Drink and Draw at Voulez-Vous Lounge at 63A Spring Street starting at 7 p.m.

From Thursday, July 11 to Saturday, July 13, The Stonehouse at 89 S. Main Street is planning a “Regions of France” wine tasting. The tasting will feature wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, and Champagne. There will also be an optional cheese pairing to accompany the wine. This will be offered from 1:00 to 10:00 p.m. each day.

On Friday, July 12 Vintage Cargo, a Euro-Vintage Marketplace at 41 Kingshighway, will serve up French café and pastries from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. That evening will be Bubbles & Boudoir—a champagne tasting & lingerie show courtesy of the Fine Art of Romance from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Queen Anne Mansion at 115 W. Van Buren.

DeVito’s of Eureka Springs at 5 Center Street will offer—in addition to their regular menu—a Fleur Delicious dinner menu and French wine flights from Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14 at 5 p.m. each evening.

All day Saturday, July 13 is the “Door to Door, Luxe Galore” shopping spree at participating boutiques throughout Eureka Springs. The Cottage Inn at 450 West Van Buren will offer a cooking class and luncheon with Linda Hager from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also on Saturday, free music in Basin Spring Park will present the Hogtown Hot Club at 1 p.m. followed by Cabaret A Trois at 3 p.m., both are cabaret styled bands inspired by the French Jazz scene. Then from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Mount Victoria Bed & Breakfast at 28 Fairmount Street will host a Fabuleaux Edible Art Cocktail Soiree.

At 3 p.m. on Saturday, waiters and waitresses from area restaurants will race down Spring Street in the Waiter’s Race. Also on Saturday, the Eureka Springs Gallery Association’s Gallery Stroll galleries include The Jewel Box, Quicksilver, Zarks, Artifacts, Eureka Thyme, Iris at the Basin Park, Prospect Gallery, Fantasy in Stone, and Studio 62 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Susan Morrison’s Signature Gallery at 78 Spring Street will host a Wild Foods and Wines’ reception from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Crystal Dining Room at The Crescent Hotel at 75 Prospect Ave. serves Sunday Brunch on July 14 with French champagne and a French food station from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Put on your best Marie Antoinette Costume for Eureka Live Underground’s Costume Contest and Drag Show & Let Them Drink Cake Party at 4 p.m. at 35 N. Main Street.

Also on Sunday, Keels Creek Vineyard will host “Sips at Sunset”, serving wine and light French inspired finger foods at 6:30pm. Meanwhile, The Cottage Inn Restaurant will celebrate Fleur Delicious Weekend and Bastille Day with a French Wine Dinner, at 7 p.m.

Throughout the entirety of Fleur Delicious Weekend, The Preservation Society of Eureka Springs presents its Grand Illumination, where paper lanterns will be lit around historic Eureka Springs.