Anna Cobbs got to experience the Woodhouse Hydrafacial for herself.
Courtesy photo
You might already know WestBend as a shopping and dining destination that sits just off the Trinity River, but the must-visit development also contains a tranquil escape from the everyday world: The Woodhouse Day Spa.
The spa is one of WestBend's growing mix of beauty retailers and specialty service providers, and Fleurdille blogger Anna Cobbs stopped by recently to try one of Woodhouse's signature services.
The part-time speech therapist and full-time mom indulged in the Woodhouse Hydrafacial, an 80-minute service that focuses on nourishing your skin with antioxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. As esthetician Sunni King explains, it is a non-invasive procedure that provides deep exfoliation to reveal hydrated, glowing skin.
The Hydrafacial is one of the more than 70 relaxing treatments that The Woodhouse Day Spa offers, making it a luxurious way to start or end your day at WestBend.
While you're there, pop by WestBend's other beauty retailers — Bluemercury and Drybar — to make it a full day of glam.
Photo by Eric Kayne, AP Images for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Marilyn Monroe's iconic 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' dress is going on display at Ripley's in Grand Prairie.
The dress worn for the most famous (or, infamous) performance of "Happy Birthday" in American history is going on display in Dallas-Fort Worth. Marilyn Monroe's iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" gown will be showcased at Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Grand Prairie for a limited time, beginning Friday, June 5.
The display coincides with what would have been the legendary actress and pop culture icon's 100th birthday. Monroe was born June 1, 1926 as Norma Jeane Mortenson.
The sparkling gown became part of entertainment lore on May 19, 1962, when Monroe wore it while singing "Happy Birthday" to U.S. President John F. Kennedy at his 45th birthday gala and fundraiser at Madison Square Garden. She shimmied onstage, shed a white fur coat to reveal the sparkly skin-tight dress, and delivered a sultry, breathy "Happy Birthday."
Afterwards, JFK said to the crowd, "I can now retire from politics after having had Happy Birthday sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way."
Many historians believe Kennedy and Monroe had a romantic relationship.
Notably, Ripley's in Grand Prairie is just about 12.5 miles from the JFK Memorial and Sixth Street Museum in downtown Dallas.
Designed by French-born costume designer Jean Louis, the sheer dress was embellished with more than 6,000 hand-sewn rhinestones and created the illusion that Monroe was wearing almost nothing at all — a daring fashion statement that helped cement the "Happy Birthday" moment in pop culture history.
The dress is considered one of the most famous garments ever worn. In 2016, Ripley's purchased it for $4.8 million, a price that at the time made it the most expensive dress ever sold at auction.
In 2022, they loaned it to Kim Kardashian to wear to the Met Gala. It was reportedly returned with some missing crystals and stretched seams.
Visitors to the Grand Prairie museum will be able to see the gown up close, along with additional memorabilia tied to Monroe's life, career, and legacy, an an exhibition called "Happy 100th Birthday, Marilyn Monroe."
"Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most recognizable icons in pop culture history," Ripley Entertainment regional manager Rachel Rotella said in a statement. "With visitors looking for unique experiences across North Texas this summer, this is a rare opportunity to see Marilyn Monroe's dress that represents one of the most unforgettable moments in Hollywood history."
The Monroe display is included with regular admission to Ripley's, which features hundreds of oddities, artifacts, and interactive exhibits. The exhibit opens June 5 and will be on display for a limited time.
