THE WEEKEND TEN

LITTLE ROCK — 1 'CUE UP

Top barbecue teams from around the world will be competing for $100,000 in prize money in what’s being billed as the“world’ s richest barbecue competition,” the second annual USA Barbecue Championship, part of Smoke on the Water,

Friday and Saturday in North Little Rock’s Riverside RV Park250 S. Locust St.

The event will also include Saturday hot-air balloon rides, a carnival with midway and a classic car and motorcycle show. On Saturday , area youngsters ages 6-10 will participate in the EZ Grill Kids’ Que Jr . Championship. Friday’ s musical entertainment schedule starts at 6 p.m. with performances by Eden Crow, Crisis and the Blue Meanies. Saturday, gates open at noon; sample the barbecue 3-4:30 p.m.

with the awards ceremony at 5. Saturday’ s music schedule starts at noon with Crisis, followed by Mr. Happy, LoCash Cowboys and, headlining at 9 p.m., Colt Ford.

Sponsors are Smoke on the Water Productions and the North Little Rock Chamber of CommerceThe carnival opens at 5 p.m. today; admission is free with unlimited rides for $15. Admission is $5 each day , Friday and Saturday , free for children 10 and under. Call (501) 372-5959 or visit smokeonthewaterbbq.com.

2 ROCK OUT

Winter Jam 2010 Tour Spectacular! , featuring Christian musical acts NewSong, Third Day, Newsboys, Tenth Avenue North and Fireflight and speaker T ony Nolan, stops in at North Little Rock’s Verizon Arena at 7 p.m. Friday. Admission is $10 at the door; doors open at 6 p.m. Call (501) 975-9000 or visit jamtour.com or verizonarena.com.

3 JESSE’S WHIRL

Former wrestler, actor, mayor and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura will discuss his new book,American Conspiracies: Lies, Lies, and More Dirty Lies That the Government Tells Us , at 6 p.m. today in the Great Hall of the Clinton Presidential Center, 1200 President Clinton A ve., Little Rock.

Ventura will sign copies of the book after his talk. Admission is free. E-mail publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or call (501) 683-5239.

4 DOGDAYS

Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane, a comedy about people willing to do almost anything for fame, power or money, opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Weekend Theater , Seventh and Chester streets, Little Rock. Additional performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through March 28.

Recommended, please, for mature audiences. Tickets are $14, $10 for students and senior citizens 65 and older. Call (501) 374-3761 or visit weekendtheater.org.

5 STEAMY SOUNDS

A host of indie rockers have converged on Hot Springs for five days of music at the Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival, through Sunday . Lucero, James Husband, The Bitter Tears, Fire to Reason and dozens more will play at Low Key Arts, 118 Arbor St., and Maxine’ s, 700 Central Ave.

Admission to shows ranges from $5 to $15. Showtimes vary. Call (501) 282-9057 or visit valleyofthevapors.com.

6 AWESOME BLOSSOMS

The historic grounds of Washington are in bloom for the annual Jonquil Festival , 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Friday-Saturday , 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Visitors can stroll the town’s streets while investigating crafts or following a costumed interpreter through the 18thcentury buildings. Historic Washington State Park is northwest of Hope on U.S. 278. Tours are $8, $4 for children 6-12.

Admission to the park itself is free and parking is $5. Call (870) 983-2684 or visit historicwashingtonstatepark.com.

7 ANTIQUE ANTICS

The Arkansas Antique Dealers Association presents its spring Antique Show & Sale, noon-8p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at Ricks Armory, 4700 W. Eighth St., Little Rock. In addition to the sale, there will also be a wine and cheese party , 6-8 p.m. Friday. Admission is $5, good for all three days. Call (479) 967-4618 or visit arkansasantiquedealers.com.

8 BODY CHECK

How do you think? The Museum of Discovery, 500 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, invites everyone to find out at Beat. Breathe. Think.

Pathways to Health , through Saturday.

Visitors can learn how the body works and witness the dissection of a heart or brain.

Admission to the museum is $8, $7 for ages 65 and older and ages 1-12. The first 200 visitors on Saturday will be admitted free. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call (501) 396-7050 or visit amod.org.

9 15 CANDLES

Gallery 26 , 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, is celebrating its 15th birthday with a new exhibit. The collection of works by Steven Wise, Jeff Waddle, Emily Galusha and Kevin Kresse will be unveiled at the opening reception, 7-10 p.m. Saturday . It will continue through May 8. Regular hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. T uesday-Saturday. Admission is free. Call (501) 664-8996.

10 DRIVE IN

Cruisin’ in the Rock, the monthly gathering of cars, trucks and motorcycles,kicks off a new season, 6-9 p.m. Friday in Little Rock’s River Market area. In addition to the collection of wheeled things, guests can also expect performances by Derrick Rose the Magic Man and Elvis tribute artist Tony Witt. Admission is free. Call (501) 370-3201 or visit cruisinlittlerock.com.

Weekend, Pages 31 on 03/18/2010

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