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."

Holiday House is a fun event at the Statehouse Convention Center. The convention center is filled with Christmas decorations, gingerbread houses and lots and lots of shoppers for the weekend.

To me, Holiday House is the kick off the holiday season in Little Rock and something I look forward to every year.

It's also the Junior League of Little Rock's main fundraiser. The Junior League helps Little Rock families in many ways including: FACT (Families and Community Together), Grow (Girls Realizing Opportunity Within), Buckle Up and Bee Safe, Partners for Hope, Stuff the Bus and Nightingales.

Admission prices for Holiday House vary. Tonight is a special preview night from 6-10 p.m. The preview includes shopping, a silent auction and wine. Admission is $35. On the 12th, from 9 a.m. to noon, you can enjoy brunch and coffee while you shop for $25. Lady's Night Out is Thursday from 6-9 p.m. It includes a Mexican buffet and 2 drinks, a silent auction and a raffle. Tickets are $25.

General admission is from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday, 9-9 on Friday and 9-6 on Saturday. General admission is $7 for 1 day or 3 days for $15.

Welcome to the weekend in Little Rock. Besides preparing for Thanksgiving, we've got a few other things going on.

November 13-

• Cruisin' in the Rock from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the River Market. It's a monthly cruise-in.
• Little Rock Fashion Week 2009 DVD Release & Screening Party is at 6 p.m. at
  Gusano's on 313 President Clinton Ave. It's free.

November 14-

• Pinnacle is hosting a Fall Hayride & Campfire from 3-5 p.m. $10.
• Family Day at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Crafts, guest speakers and demonstrations.
• Idea Aid: World's First Brainstorm to Tackle Global Poverty is Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at the Heifer Village. Heifer is also having "Kids Cook" Saturday morning.
• The Clinton Library is having a free admission day to kick off "Five Days of Giving" and their coat drive.

I think every day we enjoy the freedoms of our country is Veteran's Day, but November 11 is the day we've designated to reflect on what the armed forces have done for our country. There are many events throughout the state, but here are a few in Little Rock.

The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs will present its annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday, November 11th at 11 a.m. at the State Capitol. This ceremony is to honor all veterans who have, and are serving this nation, both in war and in peace. Governor Mike Beebe will give the Veterans Day address. The public is invited to attend this ceremony to honor the veterans.

Admission to the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum will be free for veterans, active military and their families from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11.

On a less serious note, Veterans and Active Duty Military Eat Free at Applebee's tomorrow.

The Peabody Hotel at Little Rock is the first hotel in Arkansas to be awarded four stars in the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide. It is among only 147 four-star hotels in the nation listed in the Forbes Travel Guide.

Most of us in Little Rock probably only know the Peabody for its ducks. It is located in the former Excelsior Hotel in downtown Little Rock (next to the Old Statehouse) on 3 Statehouse Plaza. Locals know it for the famous daily duck marches, but travelers know it for the first class accommodations and dining offered there.

General manager Gregg Herning said the four-star designation was important not only to the hotel but to the state. The executive director of the Arkansas Hospitality Association agreed, saying the listing proves that Arkansas can compete on a national and international level.

This is the weekend where central Arkansas will be at or near it's peak fall colors. Take some time to enjoy it (or rake it out of your yard). With all the rain, most of my fall leaves have fallen already, but there are a few parks where you can still take in the sights of fall. Pinnacle is doing a fall colors walk this weekend.

• A FOCAL Book sale is going on at the Main library on Nov 6-8. Lots of used books for sale.
• The Sandwiching in History series takes you to the The W.W. Fuess House on 2315 South Summit. The house was built in 1914. Starts at noon on Nov 7.
• The Delta Class for Literacy is Nov 7 at War Memorial Stadium. It is Grambling vs UAPB.
• Pinnacle is having several hikes including a fall colors hike and a mushroom talk this weekend. Call 501-868-5806 if you are interested.
• The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra presents Beethoven's Fifth! on November 7 - 8 at Robinson Center Music
• The R.K. Gun and Knife Show is at the Arkansas State Fair Grounds on Nov 7-8. Tickets are $8. Open 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Heifer Village Moo-Vies presents "The Future of Food" on Nov 8, free.

Around this time of the year, people start emailing me and asking me where they can spend their Thanksgiving day.  Last year, there was a man disappointed that Julie's would not be open, because it was family tradition to go there.  I normally reply with some restaurants and events going on.  This year, I also want your advice.

Where do you take your family over the Thanksgiving holiday?  Does your family frequent a special restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner?  Do you get dinner catered by a favorite place?  Do you prefer to just stay home and watch the parade?

Comment below and share some of the special things that make Thanksgiving for you.

Halloween may be over, but there are still mummies in Arkansas.  We have once in a lifetime chance to visit some Egyptian artifacts right here in downtown Little Rock at the Arkansas Arts Center's "World of the Pharaohs" exhibit. I visited recently, and I was very impressed with the exhibit.

It's a very well laid out exhibit.  I expected the mummies and sarcophagi, but you'll also see things like tools, art and  jewelry.  It's a great sampling of Egyptian life and death.  Many of us will probably never get a chance to see artifacts like this again.

This is the largest exhibition ever to be held in Arkansas.  The exhibit is available on Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.   Admission is $22 plus an optional $5 audio tour, but discounts are available and special showings are only $14.

The exhibit will be here until July 2010, so you have plenty of time.  If you have out of town guests for the holiday season, they may even appreciate a visit to the Arkansas Arts Center.

You can read more at the link.

You've heard of big foot, but have you heard of our "big foot?" If you travel to Fouke, you'll hear the mysterious legend of a large, furry, manlike creature. The monster has a characteristic smelly odor and kills chicken, cattle, dogs and livestock. I know, "doesn't that describe almost everyone in Arkansas?" Har har.

So far our legend hasn't killed any people, but he is famous. There have even been a few movies made about this legend, and one was mocked on Mystery Science Theater 300.

So, the legend of Boggy Creek isn't really scary as much as it is famous and quite comical. Back in the days when he was frequently spotted, however, he really did scare the people of Fouke. I've read news stories about him. Just imagine a big, hairy, ape man being spotted today like that. Maybe we wouldn't be as scared in this age of instant video and YouTube where everyone carries a camera phone to catch the images, but we're still afraid of the unexplained.

Scares of Days Gone By: Gurdon's Spooky Light, Eureka's Haunted Hotel, The Haunting Hitchhiker

I think every city everywhere around the nation (maybe even the world) has a spooky hitchhiker legend. Every year I get comments about this story that go something like, "The real location for the hitchhiker is [place] and s/he is really the ghost of [star football player, outcast, homecoming queen]." Sometimes even, "She's killed drivers before by making them run off the bridge." Those emails are normally met by a friendly, "thanks for the info," while I'm really thinking, "Uh huh. Sure she has."

Perhaps this legend isn't as scary as some legends than can be pinned down more precisely, but it's still a spooky story to tell kids or teenagers as you're going across certain bridges, especially if you see a young hitchhiker.

This particular take on the story takes place on highway 365.

Scares of Days Gone By: Gurdon's Spooky Light, Eureka's Haunted Hotel