Need some way to entertain the kids today? Want to have fun for the whole family?
The Museum of Discovery offers Science with Santa today from 9:30am to 3:00pm.
Enjoy science demos, pictures with Santa, a hot chocolate bar and more!
Plus, Santa will join Kevin Delaney for science shows!
Pictures with Santa are from 9:30am to 11am & 12:30pm to 2pm.
Awesome Science with Santa and Kevin at 11:30am and 2:30pm.
On December 12, 1819, future Little Rock Mayor Gordon Neill Peay was born. The Peay family arrived in Arkansas from Kentucky in 1825. They quickly became one of Little Rock’s leading families. Mayor Peay’s father, Nicholas Peay served on the Little Rock Board of Trustees (which existed before the town was incorporated) and later served on the City Council and was acting mayor.
Godon N. Peay served as mayor of Little Rock from 1859 to 1860. During the Civil War, Peay served as Captain and later Colonel of the Capital Guard. He later received a pardon from the federal government.
The Peay family owned the Peay Hotel, Little Rock’s first hotel, and were also co-founders of what became Worthen Bank. They were also a founding family of Christ Episcopal Church. Mayor Peay later served as Pulaski County Chancery Clerk.
He died on December 14, 1876, and is buried at Mount Holly Cemetery along with many members of his family. A nephew of his, Ashley Peay, served on the City Council in the 1920s. Mayor Peay’s great-grandson Joseph Barber Hurst, Sr. served on the Little Rock City Board of Directors from 1967-1971. One of Mr. Hurst’s sons, Howard, was born on Mayor Peay’s birthday.
The Dave Rosen Big Band and the Maumelle High School Jazz Band will play Christmas and holiday favorites with jazz and swing arrangements at this free concert.
The Dave Rosen Big Band, led by local musical instrument store owner Dave Rosen, is an 18-piece big band jazz powerhouse. These top-notch musicians have been playing classics from the Big Band and Jazz eras since 2004.
Led by band director Carl Mouton, the Maumelle High School Jazz Band plays a variety of music, representing different styles of music and cultures. MHS Jazz Band students learn to improvise within a song using the given chords as a guide. They put these skills to work by performing at local holiday and spring concerts, as well as community events.
Friday, December 11, 7:00 p.m.
CALS Ron Robinson Theater
100 River Market Avenue
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
What began as a spirited and good-natured rivalry between the offspring of two longtime Little Rock families has given birth to one of the most anticipated holiday events of each year.
Get in the holiday spirit with Historic Arkansas Museum’s 11th Ever Nog-off, a culinary celebration of a favorite holiday drink and friendly competition for the best eggnog in town. Guests will also enjoy a new exhibit by Arkansas artist Ray Parker, holiday shopping in the Museum Store, roasted pecans in the Brownlee kitchen, caroling and storytelling around a fire pit on the museum’s historic grounds. Music will be provided by Heather Smith.
This year’s 11th Ever Nog-off will be judged by Capi Peck (Trio’s), Scott McGehee (Yellow Rocket Concepts) and Marcella Dalla Rosa who won the opportunity to judge this popular competition at Historic Arkansas Museum’s 20th Candlelight Gala
Noggers:
One Eleven at the Capital Hotel
Cache Restaurant
Loblolly Creamery
Bill Worthen
Stone’s Throw/Heritage Grille
John Selig and Leah Elenzweig
Rock City Eats featuring Chef Ken Dempsey and Greg Henderson
Each year, HAM announces a Nogger Emerita who has won this competition too many times!
This year’s Nogger Emerita is Bridget Fennell Farris! She has been a fierce Nog-off competitor with her famous “John Robert Jackson’s Egg-nog”
Ray Parker
Ray Parker is an oil painter from Fayetteville whose subject matter focuses on human portraiture in a style that is both naturalistic and expressive. Parker’s intimate portrayal of the human form intends “to address both the timeless and temporal character of life, I place my subjects in contexts that allow me to investigate their emotional and psychological nature …”
The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) Board of Directors has selected Nate Coulter, Little Rock, as its director.Selection/Transition Committee chair Fred Ursery said, “After a nation-wide search, the Selection/Transition Committee reviewed the numerous applications for the position, interviewed four of the applicants, and presented to the Board the two applicants it felt were most qualified for the position.
“The Board members met the applicants at a public reception and received a number of comments from the general public, library patrons, and the staff. At our December board meeting the board members discussed the applicants. The board felt that both applicants were highly qualified, but after discussion agreed upon Nate Coulter as the successor to Dr. Bobby Roberts.”
Coulter responded by saying, “I am humbled and honored by the Board’s decision, particularly considering the strength of other applicants. Thanks to the leadership and vision of Bobby Roberts and the hard work of his staff and board, the Central Arkansas Library System has become a very respected and cherished part of our community. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to help lead CALS to even greater heights.”
Roberts announced his retirement in February, 2015, but plans to work through March 4, 2016, during a transition period.
Coulter is currently Of Counsel with Millar Jiles, PLLC, and was previously Partner in the law firms of Wilson, Engstrom, Corum & Coulter, and Wright, Lindsey & Jennings. Coulter has served on the CALS Board of Trustees, CALS Foundation Board, and in various volunteer capacities for CALS.
Pagans on Bobsleds XXIV: One More Splash! is newest installment in the long running holiday tradition for Red Octopus Theater. Pagans on Bobsleds XXIV: One More Splash! will run December 10-12, 2015 at The PUBLIC Theatre, located at 616 Center Street, in downtown Little Rock, AR. Doors will open at 7:30PM and the show will start at 8:00PM. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for senior citizens, military and students. Tickets are general admission, no reservations and there will be refreshments available. The show is recommended for mature audiences, child tickets are $490.
Pagans on Bobsleds XXIV: One More Splash! a memorial to Sandy Baskin, long time head writer and director of Red Octopus Theater, who passed away earlier this year. There is no adequate way to measure the influence Sandy Baskin had on the central Arkansas performing arts community and countless actors in her 3 decades of performing, writing and directing. Sandy Baskin performed with Red Octopus theater for over 20 years and for much of that time was the head writer and director of countless live sketch comedy shows, short films and other performances. Ms. Baskin may have left this plane of existence, but she will always be the head redhead in Red Octopus.
This year, Pagans on Bobsleds, the long running Red Octopu holiday tradition, will be a greatest hits of Sandy’s favorites including Fauzio’s, The Nutcracker Suite, Elves What Woo, The Old Lady, They’re Having Eggnog, Devil Hound, Santaman, Fruitcake and many more. Unfortunately, due to her passing, Sandy really left the other Octopi in a lurch for a funny lady with a red bouffant that can cuss like a sailor. That role is in a lot of these sketches, but Red Octopus thought, the only thing to do without Sandy Baskin, was to make everyone try to fill her comedy shoes. It will take a cast of 12 including Frank Butler, Alli Clark, Brian Chambers, Sarah Cunningham, Lesley Dancer, Michael Goodbar, Jeremiah Herman, Nichole Henry, Anderson Penix, Luke Rowlan, Brittany Sparkles, Evan Tanner, Jason Thompson and Jason Willey
Current Executive Director of Red Octopus, Jason Willey said, “Sandy loved hanging out with her people and often she’d say she was just going to have “one more splash” before we called it a night. That usually turned into another hour and a lot of laughs. Everyone in Red Octopus will miss having one more splash with Baskin. We thought, that’s what this show should be for Red Octopus and our fans, one last splash, for Baskin.”
Red Octopus Theater looks forward to seeing all our friends and fans for Pagans on Bobsleds XXIV: One More Splash, a tribute to the one and only Sandy Baskin.
For more information please contact Jason Willey, Executive Director, Red Octopus Theater at (501) 291-3896, or RedOctopusTheater@gmail.com. Red Octopus is also online atwww.redoctopustheater.com.
To contact The PUBLIC Theatre, call 374-PLAY.
Congressman French Hill will be a guest conductor of the Little Rock Wind Symphony for the band’s Christmas concert 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 10 at Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock. Rep. Hill is the recipient of the conductor’s baton, which was auctioned off this summer at the band’s annual Flag Day concert. Hill will lead the performance of “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson.
This child-friendly concert includes other holiday favorites, including the LRWS’s traditional presentation of “O Holy Night”, this year sung by soprano soloist Suzanne Loerch. The delightful Roberts Elementary School Children’s Choir returns to entertain and the LRWS Brass Choir will feature prominently on the program. The concert will conclude with the audience sing-along. Music Director Israel Getzov conducts.
There will be a silent auction before the concert, offering lots of items to fill those Christmas stockings. The auction opens at 6:30 p.m. and bidding will conclude at the end of the concert intermission.
Tickets are available at the door and are $10 for adults, $8 for adults 65 and over, and free for students.
Program
Christmas Festival
Jesse Ayers: Fanfare for Christmas Morning
LRWS Brass Choir
Leroy Anderson: Christmas Festival
Victor Herbert: March of the Toys
Paul Carey: Peace on Earth…and lots of little crickets
Roberts Elementary School Children’s Choir
David Foster / Brown: Grown-up Christmas List
Suzanne Loerch, mezzo soprano
Tchaikovsky / Curnow Nutcracker Suite
J.S. Bach / Reed Sheep May Safely Graze
Lopez & Lopez / Bulla Symphonic Highlights from “Frozen”
Adolph Adam / Lovrien O Holy Night
Suzanne Loerch, mezzo soprano
Leroy Anderson: Sleigh Ride
U.S. Rep. French Hill, Christmas Conductor
Warren Barker: It’s Christmas!
Audience Sing-Along
Little Rock Culture Vulture 