10 THINGS TO DO

By Jennifer Nixon (Contact)

Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park has been giving visitors a look at history and American Indian culture for 35 years, and a special day is planned to celebrate the milestone. Democrat-Gazette file photo 2008-04-10 13:41:00

LITTLE ROCK — 1. Take a walk. The Governor’s Mansion gardens have been spruced upby more than a year of renovations.

Now the public is invited to come and take a look. Members of the Governor’s Mansion Association will give tours of the gardens, designed by P. Allen Smith, 3-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Call (501) 324-9805.

2. Crawl or toddle. It’s a day for tykes at this newspaper’s Arkansas Babies and Children Expo, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the Metroplex. Adult- and child-theme activities will include fashion shows, a children’s talent show, a Kid Fun Zone, stroller races, sales and appearances by cartoon characters. Admission is $5, $2 for children ages 2-12. Visit www.arkansasonline.com/abcexpo or call (501) 918-4539.

3. Pinch a pot. Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park has been giving visitors a look at history and American Indian culture for 35 years, and a special day is planned to celebrate the milestone. From 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, the park offers programs including guided tours, tool and weapon demonstrations, exhibits and workshops. General admission is free, but some activities have a fee of $1-$2.

The park is 15 miles east of Little Rockon U.S. 165. Call (501) 961-9442.

4. Get out. The Sage House Gallery and White Wagon Farm inviteseveryone to enjoy nature and artwork at Art in the Garden, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Spring plants and works by local artists will be available for sale and gardening and painting demonstrations are planned.

The gallery is at 24627 Arkansas 365 N., Maumelle. Admission is free. Call (501) 851-4608.

For more gardening advice, the Saline County Master Gardeners offer their flower and garden show, Spring in Saline. In addition to sales of herbs, vegetables, shrubs and perennials, there will be special seminars and speakers including Janet Carson, Chris Olsen and Jim Robbins. Show hours are 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Saline County Fairgrounds in Benton. Admission is free. Call (501) 303-5672.

5. Meditate and grow. Wendy Johnson of Green Gulch Farm Zen Center inCalifornia, will sign and read from her new book, Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate, at 7 p.m. Sunday at Wordsworth Books & Co., 5920 R St., Little Rock.

Johnson is a Buddhist meditation teacher and an “on-her-knees” gardener. Call (501) 663-9198.

6. Glide. Old-school rock ’n’ roll takes to the ice at Rockin’ at the Rink,a new ice show by the Diamond Edge Figure Skating Club. The upbeat show will include performances to dance songs through the years, including “Surfin’ USA,” “Hound Dog” and “Wild Thing.” Tickets are $7, free for ages 5 and under. Performances are 5 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday at the Arkansas Skatium, 1311 S. Bowman Road. Call (501) 227-4333.

7. Be cool. After a week of exhibits, receptions, master classes and competitions with high school and college jazz groups, the Clark Terry Jazz Festival draws to a close in Pine Bluff. Famed jazz trumpeter Terry and the Big Badd Band wrap things up with a performance, 6-10 p.m. Saturday in the Pine Bluff Convention Center, 2 Convention Center Plaza.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and $10 for students. Visit www.clarkterryjazz festival.org or call (870) 536-9500.

8. Pay up. Jacksonville police and firefighters do their part to raise moneyfor Arkansas Special Olympics at the annual Boots-n-Badges fundraiser, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today-Saturday. A police officer and a firefighter will be placed atop the Wal-Mart Supercenter’s roof, then will lower a boot and a bucket to collect donations from the crowd. People who drop by can enjoy pizza and hot dogs as well as a number of displays on topics including fire safety and crime prevention.

The store is at 2000 John Harden Drive, Jacksonville. Admission is free. Call (501) 982-3191, Extension 214.

9. Party on the block. Students from the Clinton School of Public Service and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law are teaming up with Southside Main Street to present a block party. Main Street between Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive and 15th street will be closed 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday for the fun, which will include a basketball tournament for fourth- and fifth-graders, appearance by Anthony Lucas and music with Christopher Denny and the Old Soles.

Admission is free. A pre-party reception for local businesses with music and guest speaker will be 5-7 p.m. today at Juanita’s Party Room, 1220 S. Main St. Call (501) 683-5239 or (501) 537-9032.

10. Rumble. Cars, tractors and motorcycles will gather at Goodsell Truck Accessories, 401 Municipal Drive, Jacksonville, for the annual Get-Together. Antique, classic and street rod vehicles of all makes and models are welcome at this show, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Donations to the Boys & Girls Club will be accepted.

Call (501) 982-2245.

E-mail things to do to: jnixon@arkansasonline.com

Weekend, Pages 81 on 04/11/2008