A&E Advisory for July 6-12: Opera and the art of fine living

EUREKA SPRINGS — I’ve jokingly said, “Where two or three gather … there also will be Dick Trammel.”  Every occasion involves a good cause or good time.

On Saturday, Trammel will guest host the Founder’s Gala, a benefit for the Eureka Springs Downtown Network, the city’s Main Street organization. The gala celebrates Eureka Springs becoming a Main Street America community. It’s a significant accomplishment, as Eureka Springs is the only city in Arkansas that has been bestowed this honor for 2012.

The Founders' Gala will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Voulez-Vous Lounge, 63-A Spring St., inside the historic New Orleans Hotel. Live Music, scrumptious hors d'oeuvres and wine will make it festive, as will all the notables and dignitaries who will become part of the Founder's Circle, celebrating the city’s past and investing in its future.

More information is attainable through the group’s executive, Jacqueline Wolven, at (479) 244-5074 or [email protected].

July 8
Music: Opera indoors
BENTONVILLE — Opera of the Ozarks continues its 62nd season through July 20, including two more performances in the climate-controlled Arend Arts Center. The first of these performances is
 
Anyone who’s been to a performance of any kind at the this performing arts hall knows what a treasure it is. Its technical amenities and acoustics take it beyond any other high school performing arts facility in the area.

For an evening out of the heat, catch the 4 p.m. performance of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohem Sunday and Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the same time on July 15. The Arend Arts Center is at 1901 S.E. J St., not too far from the school district’s state-of-the art football field and practice facility.

The two dates are your only two chances to catch the opera indoors, as the rest of the performances are at Opera in the Ozark’s open-air theater at Inspiration Point in Eureka Springs.

July 11
Defies classification: Taste it, hear it, love it
EUREKA SRINGS — They call it a festival for all the senses — the second annual Fleur Delicious Weekend. It’s been described as a French-themed celebration with a street fair atmosphere throughout town though July 15.

First, there’s music.

There will be music in Basin Spring Park beginning Thursday including performances by Chuck Onofrio and Steve Jones, Brick Fields, the Hogtown Hot Club jazz ensemble, the Phillipe Family Quartet. Also Thursday, Chelsea’s will host a Drink and Draw — Bob Norman will host a Fleur De Lis Art Jam starting at 7 p.m.

To taste and see, the Eureka Springs Farmer’s Market at Pine Mountain Village will expand beyond its usual offerings: There will be a cooking demonstration and wine tasting with Raimondo Winery in Mountain Home. Along those lines, the Caribe Restaurante y Cantina will present the Fleur de Lis Drink and Draw Art exhibition and reception and a French-inspired jewelry show from 6-8 p.m. Thursday.

Highlights include the Spring Street Waiter’s Race at 3 p.m. July 14, the Eureka Springs Gallery Association Gallery Stroll late that night, Sunday brunch with French champagne on July 15 and a French winer dinner at The Cottage Inn Restaurant on Sunday night.

Deals on dining, lodging and other services are also available throughout Fleur Delicious Weekend. Go here for more details.

July 12
Music: Simply … Melanie
EUREKA SPRINGS — Starting to see a pattern here? There’s a lot going on in Eureka Springs over the next week.

Singer-songwriter and folk music icon Melanie (she prefers not to use her last name Safka) will perform on behalf of the Auditorium, 32 S. Main St. in Eureka Springs. She took the stage at Woodstock early in her career and has been recording and performing ever since, mostly with her son, guitar virtuoso Beau Jared.

Her most recognizable hit song is “Brand New Key,”a novelty song that became popular in the early 1970s. Others that were successful her: “Ruby Tuesday,” “What Have They Done to My Song, Ma,” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain).” (Incidentally, "Brand New Key" was featured in the 1997 film Boogie Nights, as well as the 2010 movie (sadly) Jackass 3D.

Oh, and besides being just another pretty voice of a generation, she’s also got a Grammy Award and an Emmy Award at home.

Seats to Melanie’s show are $22.50 for reserved seating only. More information can be found here or by calling (479) 253-7788.