Author Archives: innkeeper

Thanksgiving Y’all!

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Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I know, it’s crazy. But fear not, it’s actually not as stressful as everyone makes it out to be. I mean, all you really have to do is impress your entire family with food and decor…. Wait… That’s insanely daunting. So, I looked into it, and thanksgiving can be as easy as you want it to be.

Decorating: This really is the easy part. Crazy talk you may say, but it honestly is. The food that you prepare is gorgeous and let’s be honest, that’s why they’re all there anyway. Don’t outshine your food with crazy decor. Keep it simple, but still on theme. Use ears of corn, pumpkins, cornucopias even! Thanksgiving is all about natural decor. Go out and get some sheer fabric for a table cloth and pick up some leaves from your yard to put under it. This gives you a great autumn feel. Carve out a giant pumpkin and line it to hold mashed potatoes or stuffing. Basically, anything and everything can be used as decor for Thanksgiving dinner and it’s super easy to impress people with a couple DIY projects.

 

 

 

 

 

FOOD!! Now, this is the best part of anything ever. But, it can also make or break the day. Just stick to what you know and what is easiest for you. You can do what my family does, everyone bring one thing, (something they actually know how to make) and have Thanksgiving dinner potluck style. It usually works out pretty great for us, especially when we end up with 3 different types of stuffing, 3 sweet potato dishes, and 4 different turkeys, one of which is made of cake! That was a good year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Booze: This is your backup if everything else falls apart. It’s also how you deal with the In-Laws this time of year. If you can make the perfect drink for Thanksgiving dinner, nothing else really matters. And the liquor stores are giving you a great head start this year. They’ve got pumpkin creme liqueur (great with coffee or hot cocoa), buttered popcorn vodka (add to a Washington Apple to make Caramel Apple cocktails), and the one I’m most excited about: Pinnacle’s Pumpkin Pie vodka. Mix this with warm spiced apple cider and top with whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg and you’re drinking autumn in a glass. I’m making those by the pitcher to take to Thanksgiving this year.

Dessert: Okay. Time to wrap everything up. This is where I go crazy because we always have as much dessert as we do real food. Pies, cakes, cookies, the full gambit. Pies are the staple this time of year, so you’ve got to have at least the 3 main kinds: Pumpkin, Pecan, and Apple. If you can do those, you’ve won everyone over. You can also get a little crazy and try something new with your pies. I’m personally very excited to take this to dinner this year. Bacon Pecan Pie. Yup. Bacon. Just add bacon to Grandma’s old pecan pie recipe and you’ve got yourself a sweet and salty masterpiece. Or, if you find yourself incapable of baking anything at all, like my mom, go get some desserts and put them on Grandma’s fancy china. People will never know. And Rick’s is the place to be. They’ve got any and every dessert you could want. Cake Pops are super big nowadays and they have a Pumpkin Cream Cheese cake pop that is “slap ya grammaw good!”

So, you feel better now right? I’ve given you tons of tips and plenty of shortcuts. So, don’t stress. It’s about family togetherness and thankfulness. When Aunt Susan starts complaining that the turkey is too dry, just remind her of the reason for the season. Start some new traditions and keep up the old ones. Enjoy your family time. Happy Thanksgiving y’all!

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Spooktacular Wedding Ideas!

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Fall is great and all, but Halloween is just plain awesome. It encompasses all of the great things about fall. From the dark rich colors, to the crisp breeze in the air, this is definitely my favorite time of the year. And there’s so many great things you can do to have a Halloween inspired wedding, but still keep it classy.

Pumpkins are so versatile. You can use them for an amazing arrangement outside with some hay bales, carve your wedding date into them for fun “save-the-dates,” or you can use them on your buffet as bowls. Plus, they give you that “fall feeling” without being “too much.”

For a sleeker, darker Halloween theme, use a LOT of dark colors in your decorating. Black linens with a grey chiffon overlay that’s been “clouded” looks smoky and eery, yet elegant. Dark flowers are a great way to bring in a Halloween feel too. Rich dark Calla Lilies are gorgeous. Use these with dark roses and blue hydrangeas to get a classy dark feel to your centerpieces. 

The cake is probably my favorite part of a wedding. This is a great opportunity to really go all out with a theme. And Halloween is a great inspiration for cake. You can do so many things with it. Dark and classy, or bright and fun. The decorators over at Rick’s Bakery here in Fayetteville do an AMAZING job. Have fun with your cake and eat it too.

And of course, you can always have your guests come in costume for a full out Halloween Monster Wedding. Everyone loves to get dressed up and have a great time. What better way to do that, than to celebrate your big day?!

Remember to have fun with it. Whatever your theme is. It’s your big day and it’s all about you!

Falling in love with Autumn

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I don’t know about you guys, but when this time of the year rolls around in Fayetteville, it brings back sweet sweet memories of good ‘ole college days and falling in love.  Many of you have a story to share and a time to reminisce with the feel of crisp autumn air and the smell of pumpkin spice.
We sure have those kind of memories here at Pratt Place with all these fall weddings.  It’s such a gorgeous season to celebrate such happy days with such happy people.
We actually just got in the new brochures today for fall wedding ideas.  It’s fun to research all the different ways to style a fall wedding.

So whether you’re reminiscing on past days, or looking forward to making new special memories this fall, here are some of the cute wedding ideas for the season.  These pics are just a few of the ways you can spice up your autumn wedding!

candy corn cookies

If you’re thinking a dessert table, candy corns could bring in those orange hues that you need to tie your piece together!

Blooming Pumpkin

Southern Living advertises this pretty pumpkin pot that would be great for the buffet table…

Fall

And even a combination of pine cones and candles can add that fall feel that you’ve been striving for.

We’d love for you to post some of your own favorite pics of fall weddings, whether that’s from Pinterest or your own wedding!  But of course, keep in mind that each fall wedding doesn’t have to scream “Autumn” in the color scheme or decorations.  The most important thing is being able to express your own style. The wedding day is a reflection of you and your lovey dovey!

So post up, people!

 

Tell us about your BBQ!

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It’s barbeque season in the South. With football games underway and with Bikes, Blues, and BBQs just around the corner, you know there’s “something in the air” when it comes to cooking barbeque in Fayetteville.  There’s an essence of bonding and family when you’re sitting around the grill, cooking up some sausage and ribs, hollerin’ at Joe to bring you another beer.  It’s a lifestyle, an unwritten tradition that enhances everyone’s fall-time experience.

 

One of our favorite local BBQ places here in Fay is undoubtedly Penguin Ed’s.  Not only is their barbeque outstanding, but they also have come out to the Barn to serve up their yummy goods to tailgaters.

We will miss seeing them for the following games, but we’re thankful to have worked with them for the beginning of the season!

 

We did a little research on barbeque just to give you a few tid bits on the subject, a little something that might enhance your knowledge – or even inspire you to host the next neighborhood gathering! 

 

There are four different ways of cooking barbeque (or “barbeque-ing”).  These include smoking, baking, braising, and of course grilling.  The smoking technique reminds me of some of the tastiest barbeque I’ve had.  It’s that rich, deep, wood-like/smoky flavor that is cooked into the meat.  You’ll most likely find that at the popular barbeque places around town.  That includes Penguin Ed’s.  They say that “[p]art of what makes Ed’s great is the slow, hickory-enhanced method for smoking meats.” (http://www.penguineds.com/About/)

 It takes hours to smoke meats, and you know you’ve got good food when it’s been soaking up smoke and hickory for a few hours.

Baking is what you would probably do at home (aside from grilling) in the crock pot or in the oven.  I know I’ve had some great pulled pork that mom cooked growing up for our sloppy Joes as kids. 

Braising is a technique I had never heard of, but it sounds similar to grilling.  What I found was that braising is basically cooking meat on a grill at first, then putting it in a pot of broth (on top of the grill) and letting it simmer for a couple of hours.  After that, you let it cook for a third time on top of the grill itself for the last braising effect.  They say it makes some pretty tender meat!

And finally… grilling is what you all do best.  Grab a bottle of some Sweet Baby Ray’s and you’ve got it made!

 

Post YOUR favorite Barbeque recipe and share in the community fun.

 

Happy Barbequeing Everybody!

Party Plannin’

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For all you wedding planners, brides-to-be, mothers-of-the-bride, or anyone interested in weddings, this blog is about a timeline and how to get organized.

We know weddings can be pretty chaotic if everyone’s not in the right place, or if you just lost that safety pin that holds your entire dress (life) together.  Trust me, we’ve experienced lots of those jazzy moments hosting weddings year-round here at the Pratt.

We came across a snazzy article (we do love to read) about a wedding reception timeline.  And we’re all about sharing too, because honestly, we trust the pros on this stuff. It’s important, and certainly helpful when it comes to planning a wedding!

 

So here’s the link to what we liked reading:

http://www.elegala.com/go/ideas_advice/for/wedding-reception-timeline-what-happens-when/?utm_source=GALA+Weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GALA+Weekly+8%2F22%2F12

One thing to take note of (which I didn’t know until I was actually in a friend’s wedding) was that you’re probably going to need a whole timeline for your special weekend! 

There’s always loads of stuff going on, you have to make sure that not only you (the bride/mom/whomever you may be) know what’s happening, but that you communicate it with your family and wedding party.  Whether you’re planning a bridal luncheon, bachelor party, or a ‘get-your-nails-did’ the weekend of, having a written timeline is amazingly helpful.  Start at Thursday if you need to, and write down hour-by-hour what is happening and which event follows the next. 

 It’s a lot to remember and organize, especially if you’re more of a free spirit, do things at your own pace, kind of person.  But let me tell ya, it will relieve some stress on everyone, and make your days and nights of wedding week flow so smoothly, your lost safety pin is now replaced by 5 extras you slipped into your clutch the night before.

We would love to know your thoughts on party planning or any tips you’ve come across that you love! Please share :)

Here’s to weddings, y’all!

Bubbly to Hops

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Well friends, today we came across this fabulously intriguing article about new wedding trends.  And of course, we had to inform you of this counter-traditional celebration.

What we read from @ArkansasBride today on twitter was how couples are beginning to toast to their new union not with champagne but with their favorite brew.  Lots of folks have preferred to go local to give guests a taste of their hometown …or new town.

For those of you Fayettevillians, there are several local breweries around that I’m sure would gladly support a new “tradition” such as this.  All of you in the area have certainly heard of Hog Haus, a well known brewery on Dickson Street who, along with their specialty selection of nearly 20 beers, also serves… Moldy Fungus.

Yes, it’s a burger.

Recently, we’ve heard talk of a new-ish brewery birthed out of a local’s passion for hops.  It’s hidden down on Poplar Street, known as Fossil Cove.  Though I have yet to stop by myself, it’s definitely worth looking into if you’re into tasting home-brewed beers.  And who knows, you could put Fossil Cove into some good business if you decided to serve it at your own wedding!

So what’s your favorite brew?  Local or foreign?
Or are you a classic and prefer to celebrate with a lovely bubbly champagne?

Here’s the link to the post we enjoyed.  Let us know what you think :)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/16/craft-beer_n_1790605.html

 

 

It’s almost here…

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As Fayetteville awaits the influx of college students, the anticipation grows for the football season that soon follows the backpacks and textbooks.  The newness and busyness of a fresh semester at the U of A generates high spirits and high hopes for the Arkansas Razorbacks and another season of the beloved American sport.

Here at Pratt Place, we’re already brainstorming tailgating ideas… especially for food.  There’s no great tailgate without great food, and if it were me, dessert always comes first.

Touchdown Brownies

Betty Crocker has always done it right, and this time it’s her brownies we’re after. 

This recipe calls for:

1 box (1 lb 2.4 oz) of Betty Crocker® Original Supreme Premium brownie mix
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
and Betty Crocker® white decorating icing (from 4.25-oz tube)

Make sure you follow the steps to get them just right. It’s simple:

Step 1:
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Line 9-inch square pan with foil, letting foil hang 2 inches over sides of pan. Spray foil with cooking spray.

Step 2:
In medium bowl, stir brownie mix, chocolate syrup, oil, water and eggs until well blended. Spread in pan.

Step 3:
Bake 34 to 37 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours.

Step 4:
Using foil to lift, remove brownies from pan. With football-shaped cookie cutter, cut brownies into football shapes. Pipe on decorating icing to look like football laces.

Easy as pie… or brownies.  What is your favorite tailgating treat?

Check out our Hog Wild Tailgating page on facebook!

Also, check out our pinterest page for more tailgating ideas!

 

 

Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Fast 15

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Tuesday, May 15, was Pratt Place Inn’s second time to host the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal‘s Fast 15 event.  To be chosen as one of the Fast 15, each individual must be in his or her 20s, show leadership within their organization, and significantly contribute to his or her company.  Click here to see the list of these fast-track professionals.  Congratulations to each one!

A Year in Fayetteville (Arkansas that is)

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Whether you have something in mind or are just trying to find an excuse to visit Northwest Arkansas, here is a calendar of upcoming events in the area.

January and February

For those who love bass fishing, the Arkansas Chapter of the Bass Federation has three upcoming state tournaments:

Lake Hamilton, January 14th (oops, we missed that one)
Greers Ferry Lake, February 11th
Lake Dardanelle, March 17th

Our prodigiously ranked Gym-backs began their season in January, currently #5 in the nation.  There are still a few home meets in Fayetteville, including the NCAA South Central Regional.  Click here for dates and times of the meets.

Arkansas Basketball, which started their season last November, still has several home games left in the season.  Visit Baum Stadium, and call those Hogs!  Click here for the Men’s Basketball schedule.

Currently ranked #4 in the nation, the University of Arkansas Baseball team opens their season in February at Baum stadium.  Click here for their schedule.

March

Now here’s an interesting combination.  Dig In! Food & Farming Festival is also a film festival with documentary films, a seed swap, and classes on organic cooking and gardening. The Festival is located on the University of Arkansas’s Global Campus on the square. Sounds like fun for all the foodies and green thumbs out there!

April

Iron Pig Festival, April 7th, at Fayetteville Executive Airport, Drake Field. A duathlon, Iron Pig run/walks, and a USA Cycling sanctioned time trial.  Getting ready for the Olympics!

The Naturals minor league baseball’s opening game April 12th at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. They will be playing Corpus Christi and have a fireworks display. Click here for a copy of their schedule.

Hogeye Marathon, April 15, benefiting local charities

The Fayetteville Farmer’s Market begins Saturday April 7 this year and goes until mid-November. Known as the “Crown Jewel of Fayetteville,” it is open every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

May

May 12, University of Arkansas commencement.

May 19, U. of A.  Law School commencement.

Joe Martin Stage Race. The only top-tiered National Racing Calendar event in a 10-state region 479-521-7766. Who knew that Arkansas had it’s own bicycle race?!

War Eagle Mill Craft Fair, May 4-6. Located at one of the Ozarks’ historic mills. Many local artisans show here, and you can get a hearty meal at the Bean Palace Restaurant while you are there.

June

Walmart Shareholder’s Meeting – June 1 at Bud Walton Arena.  As the number one retailer in the world, this meeting never fails to bring some of the biggest and brightest stars to Northwest Arkansas.  With several days of free concerts leading up to it, the climax of the Shareholders meeting should not be missed.  The meeting will also stream live here.

July

Altus Grape Festival, July 27 – 28th. Head south to Arkansas wine country. Altus is the location of Mount Bethel Winery, Post Winery, Chateau Aux Arc Vineyard and Winery, and Wiederkehr Wine Cellars. The grape festival is the kick off to the harvest season.  Daily grape stomping competitions and cellar and vineyard tours and tastings.

September

Highly anticipated year round, the Razorback Football season kicks off in Fayetteville on September 1, against Jacksonville State.  With this year being the first to host 6 Fayetteville home games, you’ll have even more opportunity to cheer on the heart of our state – the Arkansas Razorbacks!  Click here to see the Football schedule.

Bike, Blues & BBQ Motorcycle Rally, one of the largest bike festivals (hogs that is) in the U.S., September 26-29. Don’t miss the parade of bikes down Dickson Street each night. Fun for the whole family!

October

Chile Pepper Run. Includes collegiate and high school races. 479-521-7766

War Eagle Mill Craft Fair, Oct. 18-21.  Arts and crafts revisit for the fall.  In case you were busy in May, you can catch the local art the second time around!

November

Light the Night Parade. Annual parade held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving

December

First Night New Year’s Eve Celebrations, celebrating the arts at various locations throughout Fayetteville. 479-443-4797

Lights of the Ozarks. Award-winning event with millions of lights blanketing downtown. 479-521-1710

 

A La Carte

The fabulous new Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. A museum of American art to rival the Smithsonian. And it’s FREE!

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park is a short drive from Fayetteville.  It is considered one of the Civil War’s most intact battlefields. It offers historic structures, trails, and interpretative events.

An hour north of Fayetteville is Pea Ridge National Military Park, site of another important Civil War battle. March 9th – 11th they will be commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Pea Ridge. Click here for the schedule of events.

There is also the Trail of Tears, which ran right through Fayetteville, and the Butterfield Stage Coach Route–both of which are Heritage Trails. Their website has information on locations and events.

The Washington County Historical Society, 118 E. Dickson Street, Fayetteville, in the Judge Jonas Tebbetts house built in 1853. They have presentations on life on the frontier, the Civil War, and the Trail of Tears, as well as house and walking tours.

The Walton Arts Center near dowtown Fayetteville, is the place to go for arts and entertainment. Click here for their list of events over the coming season. Don’t miss the Joy Pratt Markham Gallery which features accomplished and emerging artists. Joy Pratt lived most of her life in the house which is now Pratt Place Inn. The Inn has several of her paintings.

The 2011-2012 season is already underway for both SoNA, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, but if you are in town and would like to hear them they still have tickets available.

These are some of our favorite activities in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  What are some of your favorite activities in and around Fayetteville? Where do you take your out-of-town guests to show off the area?

 

 

Eight Money-Saving Tips for Your Wedding

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We know that the Holidays are a popular time to get engaged.  For those of you planning your wedding details over Christmas break, I wanted to provide a few money saving tips.

There are a few things about your wedding that you should never scrimp on: such as your venue, dress, and photographer.  These basic elements are the backbone of this special day, and should be highly valued.  These money-saving tips are easy and will not decrease the value of your wedding day.

1. Use bridesmaids bouquets as reception centerpieces.  Unfortunately, all of the flowers from your wedding will eventually die, so why not save as much as you can on this temporary beauty?

2. Electronic Save-the-dates.  We may not be ready to go electronic with our invitations, but save the dates are intended to be less formal.  This can save you hundreds on paper, printing, and postage costs.

3. Have your wedding during an “off” time.  There are two ways to interpret this:

a. Have your wedding during an off season (January-April).  Most venues (such as Pratt Place Inn and Barn) have huge discounts during this time of year.  Many other vendors, such as photographers and caterers will also work with your budget during the off season.

b. Have your wedding during an “off” time of day.  So many weddings are held at 6pm, with a reception following.  If this is the case, your guests will be expecting dinner.  If you have your wedding at 3pm, your guests shouldn’t be quite as hungry.  Or have your wedding at 7:30, with only a dessert reception.  These time changes can save you lots on the catering bill!

4. Peruse garage sales for decorative items.  Antique, mismatched vases, china, and linens can make for a gorgeous reception set-up.  Garage sales are normally advertised in the paper on Saturday or Sunday mornings.  Gotta be an early bird for this one!

5. Enter Sweepstakes.  True, the daily advertisement emails can get frustrating, but the chance of winning free honeymoon airfare is worth it!  Almost every bridal magazine or wedding vendor promotes some sort of sweepstakes.  Five minutes is all it takes to enter your information.  Someone has to win the free photography package or bridal bouquet.  Why can’t it be you?

6. Ask for favors.  Know a friend studying photography?  Ask to enhance her portfolio by letting her shoot your wedding.  Does the groom’s grandmother make a mean chocolate cake?  Ask if she would be willing to do the groom’s cake.  Most people enjoy being involved with the wedding of their loved ones, and would be flattered and happy you asked for their help.

7. Cut down your guest list.  This can be one of the hardest decisions for many couples.  Who do you invite to your wedding?  It can be difficult to keep the wedding about you, the couple, at this point.  Everyone has a different opinion and perspective on the guest list situation, but one thing is for sure: Less people = less money spent.  Fewer guests saves money on numerous aspects of the wedding, such as invitations, food, alcohol, and rentals.

8. Last but not least: Borrow, borrow, borrow.  Using a friend’s, sister’s, or mothers’ accessories can save you several hundred dollars.  Items such as a veil, a garter, and shoes can push you over budget.  Instead of just one “something borrowed,” you can have several borrowed pieces, from many special people in your life.

These tips may not be for everyone, but I wanted to provide some money-saving suggestions for those working on wedding plans over the holidays.  I would love to hear your suggestions!  What money saving tips do you have for a wedding?