10 THINGS TO DO

By Jennifer Nixon

LITTLE ROCK — 1Growl. Have you spent time in the wild lately? For a reasonable facsimile, give the Little Rock Zoo a visit and commune with the zebras, monkeys, bears and bats. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and admission is $8, $6 for ages 65 and older and children 1-12. Call (501) 666-2406.

Up Northwest Arkansas way, you can get your fill of lions and tigers - as well as bears, bobcats and badgers - at the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is off Arkansas 23 just south of Eureka Springs. Gates are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and admission is $15, $10 for veterans, ages 65 and older and children 3-12. Visit www.turpentine creek.org or call (479) 253-5841.

2Trek. Stroll through downtown Hot Springs and explore the artwork ithas to offer. The monthly Hot Springs Gallery Walk, in which galleries keep their doors open late with exhibit openings and receptions, is 5-9 p.m.

today. Admission is free. Call (501) 624-0550.

3Shoot. Hog calls will fill Alltel Arena in North Little Rock when theArkansas Razorbacks basketball team takes to the court against North Texas, 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets to the game are $25. Visit www.ticketmaster.com or call (501) 975-7575.

4Gather. A slice of the Big Apple is on display at the Arkansas ArtsCenter during the 40th Collectors Show & Sale. The exhibit of New York gallery purchases ends its run Sunday.

Center hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday and admission is free. Call (501) 372-4000.

5Go inside. This weekend is your last chance to go under the skin andsee what makes us all tick. At the Mid-America Science Museum through Sunday, "Our Body: The Universe Within" is a detailed exhibit exploring the workings of the human body.

Admission to the exhibit is $21, $20 for ages 62 and older, $17 for ages 2-12. The museum is at 400 Mid-America Blvd.

in Hot Springs. Call (501) 767-3461 or (800) 632-0583 or visit www.midam ericamuseum.org.

6Munch. Work a bit of history into your lunch hour by taking part inthe monthly Sandwiching in History tour, noon today. This month's historic structure is the Park Hill Fire Station and Water Company, 3417-3421 Magnolia St., North Little Rock. Bring your lunch, listen to a lecture on this 1938 building, then take a brief tour. Admission is free. Call (501) 324-9880.

7Blow. Watch your step as you "ooh" and "ahh" your way throughRiver Market Artspace, where the artwork is a bit fragile. The contemporary art glass of a Northwest Arkansas artist gets the spotlight in "Playing With Fire: The Blown and Sculpted Hot Glass of Gary Carter." The exhibit ends Saturday and gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. Call (501) 324-2787.

8Go back. How much do you know about your hometown? Arkansasis full of historical museums, some with surprising features and hidden treasures. For instance, De Queen's Sevier County Historical Museum has a 1940s house, meticulouslydecorated to fit the period. Or there's the extensive Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie in Stuttgart with its vast collection of old farm equipment and a dizzying array of duck calls.

Visit www.arkansas.com/city-list ings/ to see what is near you.

9Relax. Unwind after all the Christmas and New Year's frenzy bytreating yourself to a spa day or two.

Hot Springs and Eureka Springs offer a wealth of options for those looking for a little pampering. For Eureka Springs, call (866) 566-9387 or visit www.eurekasprings.org. For Hot Springs, call (800) 543-2284 or visit www.hotsprings.org.

10Dig in. Oscar hopefuls and wannabe blockbusters arecrowding the multiplexes, so spend the weekend gorging yourself on popcorn and Milk Duds while watching Kate Winslet, Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston and other big-name stars command the silver screen.

E-mail things to do to: jnixon@arkansasonline.com

Weekend, Pages 54 on 01/02/2009