THE WEEKEND TEN

The top things to do and places to be

1 PATRICK

The Irish Cultural Society of Arkansas encourages everyone to pull out their green clothing, leash the Irish wolfhounds and get ready to jig as they present the Rock to North Little Rock St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 1 p.m. Saturday. The parade starts at Fourth and Rock streets in Little Rock, then winds its way through the River Market and across to North Little Rock, where it will end at Sixth and Main streets. Viewing will be best at Third Street, the River Market and at Cregeen’s Pub at Main Street and Broadway.

Admission is free. Call (501) 868-6416 or visit irisharkansas.org. See story on Page 4E.

2 ‘PLEASE, PLEASE BABY’

Hit country music artist Dwight Yoakam is scheduled to set the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, 100 E. Eighth St., rocking with a concert, 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $30-$160. Call (870) 862-4747 or visit mainstreeteldorado.org. See story on Page 5E.

3 PUNCHLINE

Comedian Gabriel Iglesias, whose signature routine used to involve being not fat but “fluffy,” isn’t as “fluffy” as he used to be after losing more than 100 pounds.

He’ll talk about it as he headlines a four-comic, multimedia show at 8 p.m. Friday at Robinson Center Music Hall, West Markham Street and Broadway, Little Rock. Tickets are $52.70 plus possible handling charges; call (800) 745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com.

4 PIAZZOLLA, ETC.

’Tis the season - or rather The Four Seasons - for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra as seven orchestra violinists solo in the four concertos by Antonio Vivaldi and three of the four movements of Astor Piazzolla’s Cuatro Estraciones Portenas (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires) in an Intimate Neighborhood Concert, 7 p.m. today at Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock. Violinists Katherine Williamson, Algimantas Staskevicius and co-concertmasters Andrew Irvin and Kiril Laskarov will play Vivaldi’s “Spring,” “Summer,” “Autumn” and “Winter,” respectively; Meredith Maddox Hicks, Trisha McGovern and Leanne Day-Simpson will play Piazzolla’s “Summer,” “Winter” and “Spring.” Philip Mann conducts. Tickets are $35. Call (501) 666-1761 or visit arkansassymphony.org.

5 PUZZLE

Crossword puzzle and Sudoku enthusiasts will mass on the Clinton School for Public Service’s Sturgis Hall, 1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, for the seventh Arkansas Puzzle Day, 1 p.m. Sunday. The event will also feature a screening of the award-winning documentary Wordplay. It’s free to participate or just watch; reserve a seat by calling (501) 683-5239 or emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu .

6 PACE

The Junior League of Little Rock is leaping into the racing world with the inaugural Downtown Dash, 8 a.m. Saturday. Approximately 800 athletes are expected for the 5K and 10K races, which will begin at Fourth and Scott streets and end back at 401 S. Scott St. for the post-race party, entertainment and awards ceremony. Registration in advance is $25 for the 5K, $35 for the 10K, both prices increasing $5 on race day. Spirit racers are $20 and children under 6 are free. Proceeds will benefit the league’s community service projects. Call (501) 375-5557 or visit jllr.org.

7 PITCH

John Erwin conducts the Arkansas Chamber Singers and a chamber orchestra in the “Theresien Mass” in B-flat major by Franz Joseph Haydnon the second half of a concert titled “The Sacred Spirit,” 7:30 p.m. Friday at St. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock. Leann Hatley, soprano; Suzanne Loersch, alto; Matt Newman, tenor; and Tim Bartlett, bass, will be the soloists.

The first half will consist of sacred and secular works by Carl Orff, Francisco Guerrero, Jonathan Miller, Stephen Paulus, Blake Tyson, Matthew Emery and Paul Mealor that the group will perform March 21 for the American Choral Directors Conference. Tickets are $22, $15 students and senior citizens in advance, $25 and $20 at the door. Call (501) 377-1121 or visit AR-ChamberSingers.org.

8 PERFORMANCE

Sketch comedy trio The Main Thing - Steve Farrell, Vicki Farrell and Brent Ihler - “re-create” a “world-famous” ’60s band from North Little Rock called The Dogs for Ripped & Wrinkled, an original rock musical premiering Friday at The Joint, 301 Main St. in North Little Rock. The show, which runs through May 31, was commissioned in conjunction with the Argenta Arts District’s “The British Invasion: 50 Years Later” exhibition.

Show time: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $20; the cabaret-style theater offers drinks, snacks and desserts.

Call (501) 372-0205 or visit TheJointArgenta.com.

9 PARK

Historic Washington State Park celebrates the coming of spring with an infusion of craftspeople, musicians and food with its annual Jonquil Festival, Friday-Sunday.

The festival itself is free, with a $5 parking fee. However, tickets are required for touring the park’s many historic buildings, $8, $4 for children 6-12. Call (870) 983-2584 or visit historicwashingtonstatepark.com.

10 PERENNIAL

Spring means gardens across the state start coming to life and Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs is no exception. Its Daffodil Days has a late start thanks to the cold winter, but it has begun and will be extended into April this year.

Admission is $10, $5 for children 6-12. Call (501) 262-9300 or visit garvangardens.org. Those looking for a little musical entertainment can attend “Celtic Spring,” by The Muses, at 3 p.m. Sunday in Anthony Chapel. Tickets are $25. Call (501) 609-9811 or visit themusesproject.org.

Weekend, Pages 33 on 03/13/2014

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