THE WEEKEND TEN

Souvlaki, baklava and gyros pile up at Greek Food Festival

Baklava and other baked goods are always hot sellers at the annual Greek Food Festival.
Baklava and other baked goods are always hot sellers at the annual Greek Food Festival.

1 MUNCHIES

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1100 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock, is once again dishing up heaping helpings of souvlaki, baklava and gyros at the 34th annual International Greek Food Festival, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. New items this year include a lamb dinner and an ouzo cake. Admission is three canned food items or $3, free for children under 12. Free parking is available at the nearby Agape Church, 701 Napa Valley Drive, Asbury United Methodist Church, 1700 Napa Valley Drive (with trolley access) and Pulaski Academy, 12601 Hinson Road. Call (501) 221-5300 or visit greekfoodfest.com.

2 MESS

Bubbles, slime, mud and pools of gunk make for a sticky, wacky sort of day as the Museum of Discovery, 500 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, presents its annual Messtival, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $10; $8 for adults 60 and older, teachers, Little Rock City employees, military and children 1-12. Call (501) 396-7050 or visit museumofdiscovery.org. See story on Page 4E.

Soprano Francesca Mondanaro sings the title role in Opera in the Rock's Madama Butterfly.
Soprano Francesca Mondanaro sings the title role in Opera in the Rock's Madama Butterfly.

3 MADAMA BUTTERFLY

Love, loss, betrayal and abandonment — all the prime elements of grand opera — as Opera in the Rock stages Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly, 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and conductor Geoffrey Robson in the pit, at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St., Little Rock. Soprano Francesca Mondanaro sings the title role of a teenage geisha whose services are included with the house an American naval office (tenor Daniel Foltz-Morrison) rents in 1904 Nagasaki, Japan. Tickets are $20-$65, $15 for students. Call (501) 378-0405 or visit tickets.therep.org.

Marilyn Ronnel dances the role of Princess Aurora in Arkansas Festival Ballet's Sleeping Beauty. 
Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Jon Marbaise
Marilyn Ronnel dances the role of Princess Aurora in Arkansas Festival Ballet's Sleeping Beauty. Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Jon Marbaise

4 MORPHEUS

Arkansas Festival Ballet stages The Sleeping Beauty, Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky's storybook ballet, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre in MacArthur Park, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. The 85-person cast includes guest artists, Arkansas Festival Ballet Company dancers and youngsters from area dance schools. Sponsors are the Marbaise Family, Murphy Oil Corp. and Drs. Laura and Steve Hutchins. Photo opportunities with the cast follow each show. Tickets are $30, $20 for students, $15 for children. Call (501) 227-5320, email info@arkansasdance.org or visit arkansasdance.org.

5 MALVERN

Teams of horses and wagons will speed along the track at the second annual Racing on the Ridge Chuckwagon Races, Friday-Sunday at Whiskey Ridge Ranch, 26260 Arkansas 84, Malvern. The event will also feature, scattered throughout the weekend, trail rides, roping, music and a parade. Admission is $50 for a three-day pass, $20 for Friday or Saturday, $10 for Sunday, free for children "shorter than our little mule." Visit shorturl.at/aguY2.

6 MIXOLOGY

Sample all the adult beverages central Arkansas has to offer at the Locally Labeled Pavilion Party, 6-8 p.m. today at the River Market Pavilions, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. Local breweries, wineries and distilleries will supply samples and will have bottles for sale; attendees can get a start on their Locally Labeled passport for special deals and gifts. Admission is free; you must be 21 and older to attend. Call (501) 376-4781 or visit littlerock.com.

7 MAGNOLIA

Magnolia grills up a tasty good time with its annual Magnolia Blossom Festival and World Championship Steak Cook-Off, Friday-Saturday in downtown Magnolia. Surrounding Saturday's cook-off will be music, an art show, car and boat shows, crafts and a 5K. General admission is free; steak tickets are $20. Call (870) 234-4352 or visit blossomfestival.org.

8 MUSIC

Earth, Wind & Fire performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Walmart AMP, 5079 W. Northgate Road, Rogers, as part of the Cox Concert Series. Gates open at 6. Tickets are $42-$86.50. Call (479) 443-5600 or visit amptickets.com.

Rocky by Laura Raborn, part of "Presence," on display May 17-July 13 at Cantrell Gallery in Little Rock.
Rocky by Laura Raborn, part of "Presence," on display May 17-July 13 at Cantrell Gallery in Little Rock.

9 MANKIND

"Presence," recent paintings depicting human presence by Little Rock artist Laura Raborn, go on display with a 6-8 p.m. meet-the-artist, wine-and-cheese reception Friday at Cantrell Gallery, 8208 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. The exhibit remains up through July 13; gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Admission to the reception and the gallery is free. Call (501) 224-1335 or visit cantrellgallery.com.

Guitarist Tony McManus performs today for the Argenta Acoustic Music Series.
Guitarist Tony McManus performs today for the Argenta Acoustic Music Series.

10 McMANUS

Guitarist Tony McManus, with Julia Toaspern on guitar and violin, performs at 7:30 p.m. today at The Joint, 301 Main St. in North Little Rock's Argenta Arts District, part of the Argenta Acoustic Music Series in partnership with Potluck & Poison Ivy, the Southern storytelling series. Tickets are $30. Call (501) 425-1528, email steve@stevedavison.com or visit argentaacoustic.com.

Weekend on 05/16/2019

Upcoming Events