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.

By Rachel Birdsell

The Giant Coffee Cyborg known as Starbucks, has been under fire lately, namely because they are of the devil and they hate smokers. Not the kind of smokers you use in the backyard to make delicious barbecue, but rather the people who smoke cigarettes. Starbucks has implemented a ban on any smoking 25 feet from their stores. Yes, smokers, we realize that Starbucks can’t enforce the ban unless they actually own the property that’s 25 feet from the store. So, you can stop howling about that part of it, but feel free to keep wailing about the part where Starbucks is taking away your right to inflict your odious habit on the rest of us. I mean, how dare Starbucks stop the people who are slowing killing themselves with nicotine from slowly killing the people who are walking into a Starbucks to slowly kill themselves with their sugary, double mocha, triple caffeine, latte that has been frapped into a dither? I think that last sentence should make it blatantly obvious that I don’t frequent Starbucks.

Seriously, smokers, chill out. We who are of the non-smoking variety don’t want your smoke on us. You know why? Because it stinks, which in turn means, you stink. There’s just no nice way to put it. Cigarette smoke stinks, especially when it’s been marinating in someone’s hair and clothing in between showers. I know that we former smokers are the worst about bitching about cigarette smoke, but it’s only because we have emerged from the rank dark side and stand glorious on this brighter side where we don’t reek and where we can breathe without coughing.

I know smokers like to play the victim and say that they’re being persecuted because they should be able to smoke wherever they want outside, but I think they’re being a bit dramatic about it. Would you want an exterminator standing outside dousing the Starbucks patio with pesticide while you’re trying to enjoy your hipster coffee? Of course not, because pesticide stinks and isn’t healthy to inhale. You know what else fits that description? I’ll give you a hint: It rhymes with cigarette smoke.

As far as Starbucks being of the devil, well, it is. I knew this before Pastor Steven Andrews of USA Christian Ministries told me, too. He thinks we need to boycott companies which endorse marriage equality like Starbucks because they are, “working against Jesus and leading people to sin and to possibly go to hell.” Steve also spouted that “If you love Jesus, you won’t give your money to those working against Jesus, our Savior.” Obviously Pastor Steve is unaware that Jesus is actually on the board of directors at Starbucks, so by doing business with them, you’re actually helping pay Jesus’ salary. Jesus is also the one who came up with the smoking ban. So, smokers and Pastor Steve, and especially smokers named Pastor Steve, need to stop crabbing about Starbucks. You can still smoke and be a homophobe; the rest of us just ask that you please do both in the comfort of your own home.

Rachel Birdsell is a freelance writer and artist. You can drop her a line at rabirdsell@gmail.com

Win Two Tickets to see Spank!

By Terrah Baker

When 50 Shades of Grey hit bookshelves in 2011 it was an instant hit, selling over 70 million copies worldwide within the first two years. One lead actor in the upcoming satirical performance Spank!, which will be at the Walton Arts Center on June 29, said he thinks it’s become the secret, guilty pleasure of women and men — mostly women — around the world.

“When you see giant groups of people coming out of [Spank!] that are fans of [Fifty Shades of Grey] you realize that’s a lot of people to be into something that’s so taboo,” said Gabe Bowling who plays Hugh Hanson — the Christian Grey-like character. “Or at least was considered taboo before the book came out.”

The play is a parody of the famous novel — now a trilogy with Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed published in 2012 — and offers audiences a humorous look at the edgy and “sexy” culture the book delves into.

For those who haven’t heard about the phenomenon, the story centers around a young, virgin, college graduate who falls in love with a high-class, good-looking business man (Grey) who just happens to be into bondage and S and M. Contracts that define their relationship ensue and so does their ever-darkening sex life. The story was ripe with satire, and original writer Jim Millan who’s written for Larry King Standing Up, Cheech and Chong and Kids in the Hall was well qualified to take advantage of that.

The scene of Spank! is set with writer E.B. Janet going on a get-away weekend to work on her current project — a racy fantasy novel. E.B.’s imagination brings to life the characters of the book, which interact with her and the audience. Leading man, Hanson tries to entice the leading woman of Janet’s novel Tasha with raunchy serenades, saucy dialogue and an invitation to his red room of pain. All the while, the characters of the parody are poking fun at themselves, causing the audience to “laugh-out-loud” (Chicago Reader).

Since its stage debut in October 2012, Spank! has had tour dates in over 70 cities across the United States and Canada. A preview of the “hilarious satire of practically every trope in popular culture,” can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/52408645 (Chicago Public Radio).

Spank! is not associated with, nor authorized by, author E.L. James or Vintage Press. For more information about this performance contact the Walton Arts Center Box Office by calling 479.443.5600 or by visiting waltonartscenter.org. For more information on Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody, visit www.spankshow.com.

Another week of complex planetary energies falling to Earth. Mars interacts with Pluto (inconjunct), Uranus (sextile) and Chiron (square, challenge, ouch!). We won’t know how to compromise, we’ll want to be friends but our hurts will challenge that desire.

Friday is Flag Day. Early morning Sunday, Father’s day, Chiron (the wound that creates compassion that heals the world) retrogrades until November 19th. It’s a long Chiron retro, from 14 to 9 degrees Pisces. Where is that in everyone’s chart?

Flag Day. “Progress is the subtle force behind the ‘flags of all nations.’ Flags are symbols of the devotion of a people to their national soil and their national spiritual objectives. Behind the colors & symbols of the flag is a point of power which inspires the Soul of the people.”

Chiron in the astrology chart indicates a significant wounding and sacrifice, both of which create compassion so we can help others. Chiron is a very sensitive point. When Chiron’s retrograde, we enter into a healing journey, we hurt more deeply because the wound surfaces. This “echo” of wounds past occurs so we can recognize, remember and identify them – a process of healing ourselves. Like homeopathy (doctrine of similiars), a small dose of what harmed, actually then heals us. It’s a crisis. We hurt painfully. Then we heal, so we may heal others. Father’s Day. Let us celebrate all fathers today. Including Our Father in Heaven, the original template of the “father.”

ARIES: Over the months things you have felt guilty about may surface. Also feelings that you didn’t do enough to help others. You will be shown many ways to assist humanity in developing their imagination. First you will encounter this yourself, especially through dreams. You will become more empathic. Healing abilities may emerge. You will be called to lead with maturity and emotional strength.

TAURUS: You experience how different you are. This is apparent in groups. Therefore you don’t join often groups. Only with those with similar thinking. Leadership is an ability needed at this time by humanity. This you have. However, don’t let your personal life be overrun by possessions and things of the past. This deters your leadership work in the world. With relationships your cooperation is needed.

GEMINI: Subtle feeling occur in upcoming months that you want to prove self-worth, your ability to be in the world (yet always not of it) and that everyone else’s idea of success is not your idea. Work with others only if it creates happiness (the personality) and joy (the Soul). Make a list of your qualities, virtues, gifts and abilities. Ask yourself where you want these to be used. Childhood’s emotional wounds are over.

CANCER: There may be a crisis concerning your religion or spiritual practices. Being “on the Path” does not make life easier. It becomes more difficult with more tests in order to strengthen our willingness to continue. Perhaps a vital change is called for in your practice as student and/or teacher. Take time to assess what is truly needed here. Perhaps it’s relocation. Or a refinement. Or a prayer for help.

LEO: In the coming months very subtly emotional wounds experienced in childhood (everyone experiences wounds in childhood for many different spiritual reasons) will surface in unexpected ways. You will remember and re-experience them for understanding. You will re-awaken to the loss of loved ones. All of this has purpose. A healing of your burdens. You will sense other beings around you. They are angels.

VIRGO: It’s important not to isolate yourself in the coming months. You’re being asked instead to cooperate more fully with others, especially partners and those intimately involved in your daily life. A partner may reveal something that hurts and in need of healing. You may re-experience feelings of rejection due to early life incidents. A greater balance of self-identity in relationship is needed in order to have balanced relationships. Chiron helps you.

LIBRA: You might remember wounds, illnesses and accidents when you were young. You might feel sadness or anger concerning these. You have great healing abilities. Perhaps you unaware of this. Your presence heals others. Your smile, too. Now the healing needs to be done within. Through understanding, through compassion, through forgiveness, and through sharing. Everything that occurs in our lives is purposeful. Everything is a lesson. “Love underlies all happenings in our lives.”

SCORPIO: You’re highly creative. Though perhaps you don’t realize this. Being survival oriented is a highly creative skill. During the coming months you can help those attempting to discover their creativity. As a child did you consider yourself creative? Scorpio’s creativity is often hidden to them. But then one day, through some discipline (astrology, art, architecture, writing) their creativity surges forth. This is one of those times.

SAGITTARIUS: Mother and home are important. More so now and for the rest of the year. Any insecurities that occurred as a child within the family will re-emerge. Are you the “unusual one” in the family? This has its consequences. We feel abandoned sometimes. However we’re unusual because we have a particular work to do in the world. We spend the rest of our lives attempting to realign with family. Others who are also “different” recognize you.

CAPRICORN: You may remember any criticisms and judgments directed at you as a child. Criticisms from parents, siblings, friends, teachers, etc. They may have been about how you expressed yourself. They may have created injury to your self-esteem. From this wound you are now always extremely careful how you express yourself with others. Your focus is always upon always allowing everyone to be heard and listened to. You never judge or criticize other. You practice ahimsa (harmlessness).

AQUARIUS: As Chiron retrogrades it offers lessons concerning money, resources and what we value. Sometimes we’re not taught how to use, save or invest money. Sometimes a sense of values (self value and the value of having and using resources such as money) is not instilled in us as children. So we must learn this as adults. When we have money here is a way of using it. We save some, we tithe some, we invest some, we use the rest for our daily need. We always share and save. Self-worth is our goal/gold.

PISCES: There will be a journey into self-discovery, spiritual purpose and life’s meaning. Perhaps as a child you were not noticed, pushed aside, made fun of or considered impractical. There were times when, retreating into yourself, you lived in a world of self-survival. This persists today. It’s a world where you must now find personal meaning and not give up. Only when doing what we love will we find the harmony needed to live a full life. Do not neglect yourself.

—

Risa D’Angeles, founder & director…

Esoteric & Astrological Studies & Research Institute—-

—-a contemporary Wisdom School studying the Ageless Wisdom teachings –

The foundation of the Teachings is Astrology.

~Email: risagoodwill@gmail.com

~Web journal: www.nightlightnews.com

~Facebook: Risa’s Esoteric Astrology for daily messages

Cutline: Photo Submitted
Big Bad Gina is made up of Jori Costello, Melodie Griffis, Renée Janski, and road manager, RJ.

Album Release Party:

Saturday, July 13

Teatro Scarpino

Doors at 7:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m.

Staff Report

Big Bad Gina is one of those bands that makes a statement with their talent, originality and presence. They’ve been touring the country after winning national recognition for their musical performances, playing with well-known artists like the Indigo Girls in Milwaukee. At the end of the day, Big Bad Gina is a NWA-based favorite that has been hitting the scene hard working to further their reach and personal goals as musicians. We were able to sit down with the group despite their busy schedule to find out about their new album, Shine Your Light — a tribute to womyn’s music with positive messages for community and Earth.

Q: How did the members of the group meet?

A: Melodie and Renée met at a Pride event for the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville and really clicked. We formed Big Bad Gina and began to play at the local coffeehouse and the Fayetteville Goddess Festival where we met Jori. There we sat in on each other’s sets and within a couple of months, the musical magic and three-part harmony had happened and we were a trio! We loved making music together immediately. Our musical styles have a wonderful chemistry together and when we found our signature three-part harmony it was love at first chord.

Q: In what genre would you classify your music?

A: Genre Hoppin’, Folkin’ Rockin’ with a Driving Girl-Groove Edge

Q: Why do you love singing and creating music?

A: It is an expression of our innermost souls — we can’t imagine not making music. Each of us has worked hard from a very young age to cultivate our musical talent and skill, creating the individual and collective musicians we are today. It is our life’s work and a true joy to make music.

Q: What does each member of BBG bring to the group dynamic?

A: Jori has been in the music scene from her early teens as a solo performer and in various ensembles from Kansas City to Lawrence to Fayetteville. Melodie studied jazz guitar and has worked in various and eclectic ensembles around the globe from Cameroon, West Africa to Austin, TX. Renée took her degree in opera, studying bluegrass along the way, and performing internationally from Vienna to New York City. All of us are multi-instrumentalists, and together we play 10 instruments plus hand percussion.

Q: What does the band hope to accomplish with their music?

A: We know how long a journey it has been for female musicians to be heard and to be successful in the music industry. We are honored to be a part of the ever-evolving women’s music scene that pioneers like Holly Near, Meg Christian and Cris Williamson worked so hard to forge. As activists and artists, it is especially gratifying to know that our musical message has been an inspiration to young women who share a similar path.

Q: If you had to pick a favorite song from your band, what would it be and why?

A: Melodie – My favorite is You Don’t Love Me Anymore, which is on our second release, Lake of Dreams. It seems that our audience can identify with the emotions conveyed in the words and in the simplicity of the instrumental foundation. People are often moved as much as I was when writing it. That is very gratifying as a song writer.

Renée – I really love our new piece Beetz in My Salad that I co-wrote with S.J. Tucker. We recorded it and it has recently released as a single on our website – it’s on our new CD also. It is our World Salad flow, a veggie (w)rap – haha. It hammers home a message about world hunger and local food choices. It also showcases killer bass, percussion and beat box.

Jori – My favorite is Mo’ Better, a piece I wrote from our first release, Amazon Warrior Princess. I love it for it’s funky groove and feel good message. It tells a story that even though love changes, it still grows.

Q: Tell us about your new project Shine Your Light.

A: We are thrilled to release our newest CD, it has been a labor of love and we’re eager to show it to the world! Shine Your Light is a tribute to womyn’s music with positive messages for community and Earth. With something for everyone, “Shine Your Light” is an extraordinary fusion of powerful and dynamic vocals, showcasing multi-instrumentalism, fun and witty messages and plenty of opportunities for dancing! We recorded Shine Your Light at Crisp Recording Studios here in Fayetteville — we love working with Darren, he’s so creative, capable, talented and his studio is state of the art! (www.crisprecording.com) Shine Your Light will be available for purchase on our website Big Bad Gina) and iTunes, CD Baby and most of the other online retailers.

Upcoming Events: We’re looking forward to the National Women’s Music Festival www.wiaonline.com www.wiaonline.com) and Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival (www.michfest.com) this summer, as well as weekends at our beautiful home stage at the Voulez Vous Lounge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas (outineureka.com). For more information about us and our calendar, please check out our website www.bigbadgina.com or FaceBook us at Big Bad Gina.

Glenn Mollette

By Glenn Mollette

Recent news about cell phone giant Verizon is a bit disconcerting. Every phone record of every Verizon customer is now an open book to our government. Can we not call mom without it being the government’s business? Is there no such thing as “personal” anymore? Alarmingly the answer is “no.”

No one wants a terrorist living next door. We do not want people roaming our country looking for lives and buildings to destroy.

Our FBI, CIA and military intelligence must be commended and praised for their efforts to prevent heinous acts from happening in our country.

However, our liberty is at risk when anyone from the government can show up at any time and search through our homes, invade our personal property, invade our banking account information, go through our mail and family picture albums, or go through all of our computers to see every web page we’ve ever browsed. The books we read at the library, our newspaper subscriptions and what we bought at the grocery store is nobody else’s business. I hear the argument “If you aren’t hiding anything then what do you care?” I care because, as a United States citizen, it is an invasion of our liberty. One invasion leads to another. The loss of freedom is slowly eroding in our country.

The government is supposedly protecting you. Then one day we wake up in fear of making a move without government permission.

Any invasion of our personal lives or privacy should go through proper channels and the legal process of being granted an investigative search warrant. In this scenario papers would have to be filled out explaining why such a search is necessary. Authorities who do such random searches must be held accountable for any damage done to the citizen’s home, family pictures, files, computers, clothes or any item that has been touched or mishandled in anyway.

Authorities who search without just cause should be responsible for dry cleaning bills, carpet cleaning, painting and the purchase of new electronics if any of the electronics are damaged. If the suspicions end up true and the raided house ends us revealing someone who is plotting to hurt others then that changes the scenario.

Those who search should never be allowed to destroy someone’s home and leave it in a state of disaster.

When someone is suspected as being a threat to hurting anyone or suspected of being a terroristic threat to a community or our nation then of course everything must be done to determine what is going on and every precaution taken to save lives.

The truth of the matter is that if the FBI invades a person’s home and does a search and they find 50 guns it doesn’t mean anything. Many people collect guns. If the person has told people about his plans to shoot people at the movie theatre or if he has written threatening stuff on Face book then the authorities have every right to take his guns, investigate and arrest him if they find documented facts.

The Patriot Act was established after the 911 attacks. We will never forget the heinous crimes committed against our country. The question is this, “Has the patriot act made us safer as a nation?

The Patriot Act has given the government more freedom to invade any person’s privacy in Any Place, USA, but has it made you safer? Do you feel safer because of the Patriot Act? Since the Patriot Act there have been countless episodes of violence that the new law has not prevented throughout the states. Military base shootings, office shootings, campus shootings, movie theatre shootings and more.

For every terroristic act that has been stopped we celebrate as a country and thank those involved in preventing it.

The Patriot Act needs to be edited. Our citizens should only have to fear criminals and terrorists, not government officials with a license to violate our civil liberties. There should be a compromise and a system of checks and balances that protect the freedom of Americans as well as keeping us safe.

Glenn Mollette is the author of American Issues, Every American Has An Opinion, plus hundreds of other stories, articles and books. You can hear him each Sunday night on XM Radio on 131 at 8 EST. Contact him at gmollette@aol.com

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers with a five-year survival rate of just 6 percent and no early detection tools or effective treatments.

Thanks to the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act, a new law enacted in January, there is hope for those touched by this disease. I would like to thank Senator Pryor, Senator Boozman, and Representative Womack for supporting this historic legislation, which requires the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to evaluate its current efforts in researching pancreatic cancer and focus on ways to improve outcomes for patients.

Due to sequestration, however, federal funding for medical and cancer research has been cut, and the progress we have made is now being threatened. Without adequate NCI funding, it will be difficult to leverage the opportunities that develop as a result of the passage of the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act.

On June 18, I will be joining thousands of advocates across the country for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s (www.pancan.org) National Call-in to Congress to urge them to save medical research that saves lives. This disease has had a devastating impact on my life, but with Congress’ help, we will be able to develop the tools and treatments so desperately needed to give hope to future generations.

Sincerely,

Dana Quinn, NW Arkansas Community Rep

Bentonville