THE WEEKEND TEN

The top things to do and places to be

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

LITTLE ROCK — 1. WILD THING

Calling all party animals: The Little Rock Zoo will be open free to all visitors 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday during Coleman Dairy Free Day. Call (501) 666-2406 or visit www.litlerockzoo.com.

2. SWEAT FEST

The Southeastern Conference women's 2009 tournament begins today at Alltel Arena, Interstate 30 and East Broadway, North Little Rock. Twelve SEC teams will be vying for the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, with the final championship game at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the whole weekend are $60-$90; single-game seats are $17 reserved, general admission (day of game only) is $12 plus handling charges and facility fees. Call (501) 975-7575 or visit the Ticketmaster Web site, www.ticketmaster. com. In conjunction with the tournament, the Dr Pepper SEC FanFare offers interactive games "and the chance to meet favorite SEC [legends]" at Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, next to the arena, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. Call (501) 975-1958 or visit the Web site, www.arkansasrivercitiessports. com.

3. LOCAL HANGOUT

The Arkansas DeltaMade Marketplace will feature some 20 vendors of products like rice honey tea soy candles and pottery from the Arkansas Delta region at the Clinton School of Public Service, 1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, from 4-8 p.m. Friday. Reservations are recommended. Admission is free. Call (501) 683-5239.

4. GRAND TIME

University of Arkansas at Little Rock piano professor Linda Holzer will play two sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti, two selections from Book I of Images by Claude Debussy, preludes by Frederic Chopin and Sergei Rachmaninoff and works by J.S. Bach and Tan Dun in a recital at 8 p.m. Friday in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, Fine Arts Building, UALR, 2801 S. University Ave. Admission is free. Call (501) 569-3294.

5. WHITE NOISE

Thriving Ivory is nothing if not thriving. The San Francisco quintet has been enjoying huge acclaim over its hit song, "Angels on the Moon," which has been on the top 10 of the iTunes Alt chart for some nine months. The band will headline a 9 p.m. show Saturday at Juanita's, 13th and Main streets, Little Rock, that will open with sets by Barcelona and Company of Thieves. Tickets are $12.50 in advance or $15 the day of the show, which is open to all ages. Call (501) 374-3271.

6. HEARTY DINNER

The people at Center for Artistic Revolution present their fifth annual Corazon Mexican Dinner and Silent Art Auction, 6 p.m. Saturday at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, 1601 S. Louisiana St. Dinner tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, $7 and $10 for ages 12 and under. Admission to the auction at 7 p.m. is free. Call (501) 244-9690.

7. MELLOW YELLOW

Jump into spring early with garden and historic home tours, re-enactments music and activities from rock-climbing to a 5K run at the Camden Daffodil Festival, Friday-Saturday in downtown Camden. The annual Championship Steak Cook-off is Saturday evening. General festival admission is free, but there are fees for tours and activities. Visit www.camdenfesti val.com or call (870) 836-0023.

8. HISTORY HAPPENING

Members of the Early Arkansaw Reenactors Association will converge at Arkansas Post National Memorial, 1741 Old Post Road, Gillett, for a Colonial Arkansas Encampment. From 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, the memorial will be open to visitors with demonstrations and a reproduction keelboat. Admission is free. Call (870) 548-2207 or visit www.arkansaw.us.

Down the road at the Arkansas Post Museum State Park on U.S. 165, living-history programs on the state's Reconstruction era start at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. Call (870) 548-2634.

9. SQUARE DANCING

An early show in a smoke-free environment that's not too loud: Those were the criteria when a central Arkansas social worker, Mark Taylor, decided to start "Music for Squares" this weekend. His first such show will be from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday at Studio Joe, 600 Autumn Road, Little Rock. The featured band will include Marc Turner, Steve Struthers and Charlie Macom. Beer, wine and food will be available, and dancing will be encouraged. Admission is $8. Call (501) 224-3400.

10. DRIVING FORCE

See classic cars, trucks and motorcycles at the season kickoff of the monthly Cruisin' in the Rock, 6-9 p.m. Friday in Little Rock's River Market District and Riverfront Park. In addition to admiring autos, attendees can hear classic rock music and try to win prizes. Admission is free. Call (501) 370-3201 or visit www.cruisinlit tlerock.com.

Weekend, Pages 33 on 03/05/2009