The Salvation Army angel tree is one of my favorite ways to give every year at Christmastime. The Salvation Army asks screened families to fill out a "wish list" and you can fulfill it for a child in need.  The kids request clothes, coats and normally a toy of some kind.  Last year, for example, the younger kids I played Santa for asked for bikes.   The older one asked for an mp3 player.

You can choose what angel you want and see their wishlist right up front.  The gifts are then brought to the Salvation Army (or the mall) and delivered to the family in time for Christmas.

This year, they've added a new way you can pick out your angel.  In addition to Park Plaza Mall, McCain Malls and select Wal-mart stores, they've added a list of angels online.  You can go to the angel tree site and pick your angel out from the comfort of your home.  The wishlists are visible, the age groups are broken down and, as far as I can tell, it's a similar experience to picking them out in the mall.

The gifts do not have to be purchased online.  They can be brought to a pickup location or even shipped back to the Salvation Army.  However, JCPenny has a site designed to help you pick out clothes and gifts for your angel and they will ship directly to the Salvation Army for you.

Have fun with the angel tree!

It's around the world Thursday at the Clinton Library and the Museum School is having their annual sale. It's also the big free clinic at the state house convention center.

Thursday:

• Around the World Thursday
  Doors open at 6:30pm, dinner served at 7pm. $27.95 per visitor. This week is taste of the USA.
• Holiday Celebration On Ice
  At 7 p.m. at the Verizon Arena, tickets $46.75-$125.00 via Ticketmaster.
• Wildwood Wine Reserve
  This food and wine event takes place from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Governor's Mansion. Tickets are $200.00.

Friday:

• Family Night at IMAX
  Fridays at thr Aerospace Education Center, tickets are just $5.75.

Saturday:

Holiday Open House & Craft Sale
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
At the R Street Community Church, University Ave. & R Street, browse a selection of unique handmade & international gifts.

Museum School Annual Holiday Sale
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The sale features works of art created by Museum School faculty and students, including jewelry, photography, woodwork, glass, drawings, paintings and pottery.

National Association of Free Clinics
12-7 p.m.
At the Statehouse Convention Center, The National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) and its partners will be sponsoring a one day free medical clinic for the uninsured. The Little Rock C.A.R.E. Clinic will offer basic medical care and health education. Patients call 1-877-236-7617 to make an appointment.

The holiday season is here and I've assembled the holiday events that you don't want to miss.

This year, the busy Christmas weekend is December 5-6. December 5th is when Little Rock has our big parade and State Capitol lighting. North Little Rock's parade is on the 6th.

Are you looking for Santa? Santa has been at most malls, including Park Plaza, since last weekend. He visits the Peabody on the 29th, and I love the Peabody event. Kids love seeing Santa lead the ducks down. He will be at the Promenade on Chenal on the 28th. He's got a busy schedule, but there are plenty of opportunities for your kids to turn over their Christmas lists.

Another standout event is caroling in the caverns. November 28 - December 20, you can go to Blanchard Springs and carol in Blanchard Springs Caverns. That's pretty unique!

Ryan Secrest has announced a contest where people can vote to have Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta and hometown favorite/American Idol Kris Allen appear in their hometown. Seacrest is promising the city with the most votes a free concert. As I'm posting this, Little Rock is number 2. Vote for Little Rock today.

The contest header says "free concert."  If you read the rules, it says they will do a random drawing from all the votes in a 50 mile radius of the winning town and one person will get 2 free tickets, parking and all related fees (retail $100).  To me, that makes it sound like the concert is not really "free" to everyone.

Only one vote is allowed per person/email address. The rules also make no mention of Allison as a performer of the concert, but she is mentioned elsewhere. The contest is slated to run through December 18. The show is slated to take place on February 13, 2010.

In the meantime, check out these photos of Kris in Conway and Kris Allen's new CD on November 17.  It features 13 tracks: "Live Like We're Dying," "Before We Come Undone," "Can't Stay Away," "The Truth," "Written All Over My Face," "Bring It Back," "Red Guitar," "Is it Over," "Let it Rain," "Alright With Me," "Lifetime," "I Need to Know" and "Heartless."