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.