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21c Museum Hotel, Bentonville

Sunday, June 30, 2013

This is the view from Valet Parking, which is a total waste
of money.  You can park right behind the hotel for free and
notice the luggage art by the front door...
This sculpture by Cuban artist Alexandre
Arrechea is super cool
Notice Jackie here, he is taking in all the license plates from
New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey parked in front
of the hotel


Friday, June 28, 2013

Harmon and Jeanie recommended that we take Chloe to the 21c for its quirky art and to see this contemporary, boutique hotel located on the square in Downtown Bentonville.  They were right, the hotel was cool, fun and interesting in so many ways starting with checking in.

They have a troop of doormen and valet drivers that welcomed us and opened the double doors.  Chloe was about to use it in the lobby so I quickly looked for a bathroom for her but it wasn't that easy to find.  I went back to the doormen, men not man, and one of them directed her past the bar to the right.  I couldn't tell where to check in and he had to direct me around the corner to two young people standing behind wireless laptops at a table-high bar, not a counter.  I was handed a key to our room in a record time of 2 minutes, I don't think that's ever happened, like ever.  And it was good since Chloe couldn't find the lobby powder room located behind the large bar in between nooks of art.  So we were up in the elevator to our third floor room fast and just in time.

I called down to the front desk to have a key made for Jackie who was parking the car, since I was given a single key that must be swiped in the elevator for it to operate.  I like this security.  So after a text, he was up putting our stuff away and made notice of a 4 foot green Penguin in our hall.  We got the hotel information book and found out the Green Penguins were a permanent exhibition of the hotel, see from their website:

Chloe next to it on the way
 to dinner....
 About the Exhibition
“We have sought the origins of life in the earth’s oldest natural material, that is petroleum. A black, dense liquid disgorging from the warm womb of Mother Earth, and the natural repository of the planet’s entire history of organic life-forms, from its origins to the present day. We have studied the technique known as ‘cracking,’ which breaks up this natural magma into a series of synthetic, artificial derivative products. We have discovered plastic, the most modern and extraordinary element that any artist can manipulate.
We use objects and shapes in plastic that evoke or simulate nature, so as to reinstate petroleum’s ancient, primary forms of life and imagery. This means turning life back in its tracks, as a way of finding the poetical voice an soul of art in the material itself.” — Cracking Art Group
21c fans and residents of Northwest Arkansas selected green as the color to best represent the region. The mission of Cracking Art Group is to raise awareness of environmental issues and the use and misuse of natural resources by creating artworks with materials derived from petroleum products. The name Cracking Art refers to the chemical reaction that occurs when converting raw crude oil into plastic, or the moment when natural becomes artificial. Founded in 1993, Cracking Art Group has created over 600 exhibitions worldwide.

 We also enjoyed reading the amenities of the hotel which included a "Zombie Apocalypse", which in a nutshell, described as if Zombies show up, you can use anything in your room to defend yourself and no charges will occur on your bill.  This was fun to read to Chloe as she contemplated what a Zombie Apocalypse was. :)  She took a million photographs without the artist's name so I'll share them to spark your interest, I hope.  We loved the contemporary hotel right in the middle of a buzzing downtown all sparked because of Sam and Bud Walton and the 5-10 dime store that turned into a retail phenomenon.  Thanks to the Walton's for keeping it's headquarters in an absolutely beautiful part of Northwest Arkansas and eventually bringing this Oklahoman and Rural Eastern Arkansas family to see the wonderful 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville.  I will watch as they will open another 21c hotel in Lexington, Kentucky and Durham, North Carolina.  This one has so many interesting rooms of art I haven't mentioned, as well as luggage out front that has a fake cigarette can out front.  I know, no one smokes in Arkansas.


Try this hotel, you won't be disappointed, just a little blown away by the art and the penguins that remind us to respect our natural resources and a reminder that global warming is real and to be respected and hopefully slowed.


21c Museum Hotel, A st, Bentonville, AR  Check out their website:  http://www.21cmuseumhotels.com/bentonville/?s_kwcid=TC|1028367|21c%20hotel%20bentonville||S|p|27329739674


And here's an indepth article on the hotel's grand opening in April: http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/offbeat-at-bentonvilles-21c-hotel/Content?oid=2851703





This is a cool chandelier in the corner of the lobby



I loved the donkey pillow on the couch by the bed


A better view of the room


Believe it or not, Chloe comes up with poses...
that's a bumble bee outside the hotel


The lobby bar is cool, those stools crank up and down


I like these tables made of sticks, literally
Here's the Penguin when we got back from dinner


PS. the font/html is not allowing a normal post, I may have to come back and get it right, come on BLOGGER!
This is in the lobby, it's kinda freaky as babies are coming
out of the back of that there armadillo

I love catching up with Aricka when I'm in NWA...she
and I roomed for a semester in the Kappa house...she's a
classic.  I miss her so much!!

Chloe's Youtube Video

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Chloe made this on Tuesday, she cracks us up! :)

Local, Downtown Memphis

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Chloe and Gumball made 3rd overall in 10-14 age group at
the Farmfest 5K a week ago.  She decided last minute to
take him and they had a great time!  And she won the
16 and under category at the Bake Off with her poundcake!

Caitlin Riley was Chloe's summertime babysitter a while back
and it was so fun running into her at the 5K!

I took Stella and Whit with us to
Farmfest when we dropped CoCo's
poundcake for the Bake off 

I'd say the best part of Farmfest
for us was the Saturday afternoon
wrestling...this is in front of the
post office....Chloe made the comment
that the guy in green looked like a
young Uncle Martin...hahahahaha!

Look at this shot...cracks me up

Two weeks ago, Chloe and I went to the farm to ride her horse
Sonyador, who's 7.  I've been really worried about letting Chloe
ride until Sonya was at a more mature age and now that she's 7,
it was perfect timing to get her out.  This is Chloe on Sonya's mom,
who is 13+ and I rode Sonya.  She rode like a dream!!
The reason we went to Memphis on a Sunday night was to see
the hard rock, punk, Irish band Drop Kick Murphy's which I
thought were bad.  But the opening band from LA, "Old Man
Markley" was really good.  This is the lead singer with a kazoo
in his mouth, the lady to HIS left has a washboard, while the
other members of the band played other instruments

This poor photo doesn't do this
Crab Stuffed Avocado justice...it's
served with a charred tomato relish
and chipolte cream

This photo doesn't do the bar justice either...it was a neat
atmosphere I'll say

Father's Day morning Jackie and I did the Gearhead Tri
again and ran into these Wynne boys, JR Thomas,
Thomas McCutcheon, Jake Haralson and Bryce Dodson

Chloe our photographer got this shot of August and Stella
duking it out....What's up with the knee high socks August?

Chloe also got this one of Shaver Huff at the church service
at Village Creek a few weeks ago...he is laid out and all comfy
Sunday, June 2, 2013

Holy Smokes, Jackie and I came upon this restaurant on Main Street and I instantly fell in love.  We were in Memphis to go to Minglewood Hall and see an Irish band called Drop Kick Murphy's.  Turned out we were most impressed with their opening band Old Man Markley.  They were a great band from LA with a violin, washboard, kazoo etc.  I loved much, much more than the Murphy's.  At least we could understand the words they sung....:)

We just happened upon Local while enjoying the Sunday afternoon crowd downtown.  We got a table near the window and totally enjoyed people watching.

Yes, I know... I ordered an appetizer!  And I'm so glad we did.  That avocado stuffed with crab meat was delicious, I nearly licked the plate clean.  For dinner, I ordered the Goat Cheese and Crab Enchiladas served with Mexico City Corn.  It was outstanding.  I loved the creamy enchiladas and the great, rich corn.  Again, I nearly wiped the plate clean.

I was in Capelli last week getting my hair done and asked if anyone had been to Local and it got rave reviews from them too.  Capelli has a new hair stylist, Don whom I love and who gave Chloe and excellent cut the other day.  You'll have to make an appointment with him!

Anyway, Local was a great find for us and I am looking forward to trying it again.  They have another location in midtown that I've also heard great reviews of.  There have been so many restaurants come and go downtown that I hope this one stays around.  Wondering what a gastro pub is?  I looked it up on google, it originated in England: Gastropub or gastrolounge refers to a bar and restaurant that serves high-end beer and food.

And for the record, I didn't pay attention to what Jackie ordered because I was into mine.  :)
Check out their cool website: http://www.localgastropub.com/

Local, 95 Main St. Memphis,  901-473-9573