LITTLE ROCK — 1 BALLET
The Moscow Ballet is back with its 20th anniversary production of The Great Russian Nutcracker, at 3 p.m. Sunday at Robinson Center Music Hall, West Markham Street and Broadway, Little Rock. The production will feature 40 professional dancers and three-dozen local children in this Russian version of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s holiday tale. Tickets are $36.50-$79.10 (including fees) with special enhanced packages available. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit nutcracker.com/buytickets or ticketmaster.com.
See story, Page 5E
2 BAUBLES The Arkansas Arts Center’s Winthrop Rockefeller Gallery has been given over to whimsy for the 38th Toys Designed by Artists exhibit. The juried exhibition of artist-created toys will remain on display through Jan. 6. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Call (501) 372-4000 or visit arkarts.com.
3 BRIDGE Get out and howl at the moon — or just take a nice stroll — at the Big Dam Bridge Full Moon Walk, Sunday. The event includes not only a walk but a health fair, special guests, refreshments and a light show. Activities start on both sides of the river at 5 p.m. and the walk begins at 6:30 p.m. Participation is free. No pets, bikes, skateboards or skates allowed. Call (501) 804-6686 or visit bigdambridge.org.
4 BIRDS Duck enthusiasts will flock to downtown Stuttgart for the annual Wings Over the Prairie festival for days of quacking and eating. The carnival and midway are already open, 1-10 p.m. today, but most activities, including the sporting collectibles show, off-road village, 10K Duck Race, the World Championship Duck Gumbo Cook-Off and World Championship Duck Calling Contest, will be Friday and Saturday. General festival admission is free. Call (870) 673-1602 or visit stuttgartarkansas.org.
5 BRETT (AND VICKI AND STEVE)
Vicki and Steve Farrell and Brett Ihler, the three members of resident company The Main Thing, play, Greater Tuna-like, all the prolific residents of tiny Dumpster, Ark, as well as their rich relatives from San Diego in town for a holiday reunion, in A Fertle Holiday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Jan. 12 at The Joint, 301 Main St., North Little Rock. Admission to the cabaretstyle show is $20. Call (501) 372-0205, e-mail vicki@thejointinlittlerock. com or visit thejointinlittlerock.com.
6 BEGUILEMENT Comedian Tim Gaither headlines shows at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday at the Loony Bin Comedy Club, in the Breckenridge Village Shopping Center, Interstate 430 and North Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock. Admission is $10. Call (501) 228-5555 or visit loonybincomedy. com.
7 BUNDLE UP Re-enactors will show guests what it took to survive the Arkansas wilderness back in the old days at the annual Mountain Rendezvous, Friday-Sunday at Petit Jean Mountain State Park, 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road, Morrilton. While you’re there, you can also stroll one of the mountain trails and visit the newly remodeled Mather Lodge. Admission is free. Call (501) 727-5441 or visit petitjeanstatepark.com.
After stuffing yourself for Thanksgiving, get out for an evening of fresh air at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road. The park is hosting its Fall Hayride & Campfire, complete with stories, hot chocolate and marshmallows, 3-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission is $10, $5 for children 6-12 and advance payment is required. Call (501) 868-5806 or visit arkansasstateparks.com.
8 BELLY UP Today being Thanksgiving Day, once you have said a thanksgiving prayer to whatever deity you support (or don’t), it’ll be time to stuff yourself with turkey and/or trimmings or a reasonable substitute thereof. Most of the big area hotels will be running Thanksgiving brunches at costs ranging up to $50 per adult; many Asian and other ethnic restaurants may be open, and many mostly chain pizza places will not only be open but will also deliver. And, of course, Waffle House and IHOP will be open, some locations of the latter with limited hours.
9 BIG SCREEN And if the prospects of getting tryptophan-sleepy in front of football games on the TV isn’t appealing and you’re looking for someplace to which to get up and go, don’t forget your local movie theater (four big studio releases — Life of Pi, the remake of Red Dawn, Rise of the Guardians and Silver Linings Playbook — came out on Wednesday to take advantage of the long weekend). Convenience stores and many supermarkets will be open, and several major retail outlets, including Kmart, Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us, will be opening at some point during the day or evening for folks waiting to get a jump on ...
10 BLACK FRIDAY
Today is the traditional mob-scene kick-off for the Christmas shopping season (not that the nation’s retailers haven’t been peddling the holiday since last Christmas), the annual ritual in which people mob big-box stores in search of big bargains. We recommend a big dose of patience, a back-up plan in case the must-have item on your list has sold out and becomes a can’thave, and for nonshoppers to stay away from the major retail intersections, including West Markham Street and University Avenue and West Markham and Bowman Road in Little Rock, and McCain Boulevard and U.S. 67/167 in North Little Rock.
Weekend, Pages 41 on 11/22/2012