In the News

Check out some of the press clippings where Laughlin House has been mentioned lately!

A word from the dog

Well, HI there! Pleased to meet you!

My name is Dixie, but you can call me 

Mrs. Doo. Although sometimes I'll 

answer to just plain Doo, or -- often-- 

Mrs. Dixie Doo-licious. 

My Mama wanted me to introduce myself so that you wouldn't be taken by surprise when you come to visit her. Sometimes Peoples mistake me for the rug, since I usually camp out in the sitting room and don't move for hours and hours. But I'm here to tell you that meeting me should be an Event at Laughlin House. So here's how I would like for it to happen: You may kneel before me and rub my belly. You may watch me snore. In lieu of belly rubs, I will also accept ear pullin' or bum-scratchin'. 

You might have guessed that I'm the real Lady of Laughlin House.  In dog years I'm 91 years old, and I feel it in every one of my poor, aching, arthritic joints. I'm hard of hearing, m'eyes ain't what they used to be, and I'm just plain hongry (that's "hungry" with an "O") -  all the time.  My Mama says I'm pretty stubborn and set in my ways. But -- I mean... a lady needs a routine.

So because I'm 91 years old and have earned a right to complain a little bit now and then, I think it's time to get a few things off my chest (also quite scratch-able, mind you) about  what's really goin' on around Laughlin House B&B.

You see, there's this room ... this little room that needs watchin'. It needs my undivided, laser-focused attention. It is the place where magical things happens. Where my daddy creates things out of thin air and makes my mouth water. The room with the smell-goody things that dance around in my dreams. 

You know which place I'm talking about? The one where Breakfast comes from?  That place is my favorite place in the whole wide world. And my horrible, rotten parents LOCK ME OUT of it. With a gate that has bars and everything. It's TERRIBLE. I'm in Purgatory!

All day long I stand [snooze] guard in front of this magic room. One eye on the gate (and the other rolling back in my head as I drift deeper into canine slumber), just staring into the kitchen, waiting for Mama or Daddy to open that gate and walk inside that wondrous little room. But they never let me in. Nev-ah. Just leave me hanging outside that jail-cell gate.

 I mean ... c'mon, throw a dog a bone every now and then!

And don't get me started on breakfast time. 

Because I. Love. Breakfast Time. 

In fact, Mama and I do a song-and-dance number every morning when it's time to eat. If you walk past the window early enough in the morning, I'm sure you'll witness our happy dance routine. Mama looks a little crazy.

But ...  at Second-Breakfast, when it's time for all the peoples (Mama and Daddy call them "Guests") to eat, my Mama and Daddy lock me out in the GARAGE. The nerve.

... And I'm such a sucker. I just let 'em do it. They always pull out those delectable little chewy morsels that are shaped like steaks and taste a little like meat and they watch me chase them into the garage and then they SHUT THE DOOR. I feel so ashamed.  I fall for it every time ... Mama says it's because I beg for food at the table and offend everyone with my odiferous doggy breath and my squeaky nose.

 I mean, wouldn't you? If your daddy made such fantastical meals as Savory Waffles Benedict or Banana-Stuffed French Toast? With BACON? and SAUSAGE?   

But some of the Peoples who come through here are really nice. Don't tell Mama and Daddy, but some of them sneak me table scraps sometimes. (You know who you are. Look into my eyes. Now ... Feed the dog.  Fffeeeeeeedddd the dog.) 

Some Peoples really get it -- they know who runs the place. In fact, just last week a couple refused to leave until I was rescued from my garage prison so they could thank me for letting them stay here. I really liked those people. They had style. And I think if I could've worked on them a bit longer, they would've let me into the kitchen. Wouldn't you?

Dixie Doo OUT.   ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

A treasure, indeed.

It is a rare occasion that hype measures up to my expectations.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is another story altogether. It is spectacular in every way.

We had the opportunity to tour the museum last night during the member preview, and it’s all I’ve thought about ever since. What this museum means for our community. What it means to the art world. What it means to me personally and to our B&B. It will simply change everything.

 We’ve been watching the construction progress since the museum was announced in 2005, and we’ve walked the trails almost daily since we moved into Laughlin House. The overlook is always the first place I take my family.  Until now it’s just been a teaser – a nice little walk down a beautiful trail to a wooden deck with a view of the rumbling activity in the ravine. We’ve watched the massive cranes move the steel beams from one side of the gully to the other, mesmerized, like watching fish in an aquarium. We’ve had to content ourselves with telling our friends and family, “it’s coming.” We’ve sounded  like a broken record.  

My friends, there is truly a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Pure gold. The museum is an awe-inspiring space -- from the masterpieces in the galleries to the walls of glass facing the beautiful ravine walls, to the meandering landscaped and sculpture-filled trails leading there. The works in the galleries and on the grounds are completely accessible to the crowd. You can stand literally centimeters from some of the most valuable pieces of art in the world. You can see every crackle, every brushstroke, every dimple. You’re allowed to take pictures (non-flash, of course). You can fully experience the work, short of touching it. And it's all free, thanks to Walmart. (But don't forget, you have to reserve tickets. See my last post for details.)

I can’t claim to know too much about art yet, but having a world-class museum in my backyard, I can assure you, will quickly change that. I cannot wait to go back.

If you haven’t scheduled your trip yet, go.   Oh, and be sure to book a room at Laughlin House.

Welcome, Crystal Bridges!

Crystal Bridges Grand Opening 11-11-11
Bentonville is buzzing in anticipation of the Crystal Bridges grand opening in a couple of weeks.  The trails are packed with sight-seers getting the last glimpses of the construction site before it opens. We see the pedestrian and bike traffic increasing by the day out our front door... I have a feeling that the Bentonville timeline will surely be defined in the future as BCB (Before Crystal Bridges) and ACB (After Crystal Bridges).  


If you were planning on coming to the opening, take note of this information (borrowed from Downtown Bentonville's website www.downtownbentonville.org): 

Schedule of Events, Opening Day, 11-11-11

• 10 a.m.            Grand Opening ceremonies at Bentonville Town Square
• 12:30 p.m.       Museum opens, ticketed entry every half hour
• 9 p.m.              Last timed-ticket entry
• 10 p.m.            Museum closes

• Crystal Bridges is anticipating a large number of visitors during the first couple of months. To make sure everyone is able to see the museum, reserved, timed tickets will be required to enter .  
• We recommend reserving timed tickets well in advance. Timed tickets will be available for entry at half-hour intervals from 12:30 through 9 p.m. on Nov. 11 and beyond. You must have a ticket for every member of your party, age one and up. Infants need not be ticketed. Strollers are welcome, provided there is adequate space and the stroller is controlled by an adult.
• You should plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to the time on your timed ticket. Once you are inside the museum, you may stay as long as you like. We suggest planning on a two- to three-hour visit.

You can reserve your tickets at http://shop.crystalbridges.org/Events.aspx or call 479-418-5700  between the hours of 10 a.m. and  4 p.m., Monday through Friday.


Also coming up:
Next weekend is the Toyland First Friday!  

• NOV. 4, 2011
• 11 a.m. — 9 p.m.
• Get a sneak peek of this year’s hottest holiday toys sold in Walmart stores nationwide. Come dressed as your favorite Disney Princess and play games and get some cool giveaways.

This is our first venture into blogging, so we'll be feeling our way around and trying to find our Laughlin House voice. For now, we're pretty focused on Crystal Bridges. Stay tuned for more Laughlin House and Bentonville news and events!