THE QUAPAW QUARTET.

Quapaw Quartet plays Mozart, more
The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Quapaw Quartet will be featured Friday, Jan. 21, in the third concert of the Art of Music chamber music series at the Arkansas Arts Center.
The Quapaw Quartet is comprised of violinists Eric Hayward and Meredith Maddox, violist Lin Chang and cellist Melita Hunsinger. The quarter’s program will feature Mozart’s “String Quartet in C major,” Stravinsky’s “Three Pieces for String Quartet” and Ravel’s “Quartet in F major.”
ASO cellist Stephen Feldman will serve as host of the show, discussing the various pieces. Showtime is at 8 p.m., and tickets are $20. Call the ASO box office at 666-1761, visit the ASO’s website at www.arkansassymphony.org, or purchase them at the door.
The Arts Center’s Best Impressions restaurant will be open for dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call 907-5946 for reservations.
Chapter 6 on Sunday
The Chicago-based men’s a capella group Chapter 6 will appear Sunday, Jan. 23, in the “Trinity Presents …” Performance Series at Trinity United Methodist Church.
Since becoming the youngest group to win the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes in 2000, Chapter 6 has garnered numerous awards and accolades for its technique and original arrangements of pop, jazz, gospel and rock. Last year, Chapter 6 won the grand champion title in the National Harmony Sweepstakes. The group has four albums and headlined a Branson, Mo., theater show for two seasons. They’ve also toured nationally and performed with symphonic orchestras in Indianapolis, Seattle and Detroit.
Showtime is 6 p.m. and admission is free, but a ticket is required for the usually filled-to-capacity performances. Call 377-1161 for ticket availability. Childcare is available by reservation; call the church at 666-2813.
Trinity UMC is at Evergreen and Mississippi.
Big Buck hunting
Got that set of trophy antlers from this past deer season, or do you just want to see an impressive collection of horns in one setting? Then check out the Arkansas Big Buck Classic, scheduled for Friday through Sunday, Jan. 21-23, at the Little Rock Expo Center on Interstate 30 near the Pulaski County line.
Along with the deer competition, more than 250 sporting goods vendors, outfitters and boat dealers will be on hand. Other exhibits include the first year of “The Raptor Project” Birds of Prey and Odie Sudbeck’s “Awesome Whitetails.” Returning exhibits include the Arkansas State Chili Cook-Off, Bowmasters Indoor Bow Tournament, the live Kodiak grizzly, South Texas rattlesnake handlers, and a live whitetail deer display, plus a chance to win a Chevrolet Silverado truck from Bale Chevrolet.
Hours are 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. Parking is free.
In the Big Buck Classic, deer harvested during the current hunting season are scored in search of the largest in the state for 2004-05. Hunters can bring antlers to the classic Friday and Saturday for scoring (entry deadline is 5 p.m. Saturday). Categories include Gun, Bow, Crossbow, Muzzleloader, Ladies and Youth in divisions of typical and nontypical, and an award for the largest from each county.
For more information, visit bigbuckclassic.com on the web or call 985-1533.
Time for SmackDown!
World Wrestling Entertainment returns to Alltel Arena for its first televised event in more than two years with its SmackDown! showcase on Tuesday, Jan. 25, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
WWE had not presented a list of competitors to the arena before the Times’ press deadline, but with this SmackDown! being the last before the WWE’s Royal Rumble, most of the SmackDown! regulars were expected to participate, including WWE champion John Bradshaw Layfield, U.S. champion John Sena, cruiserweight champ Funaki and tag team champions Doug Basham and Danny Basham, along with Olympic champion Kurt Angle, Joy Giovanni, Rey Mysterio, Luther Reigns and more.
Ticket prices are $21.75 to $41.75, plus service charges, and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets (most Harvest Foods stores), through charge-by-phone at 975-7575, on the web at ticketmaster.com and at the arena box office, 975-9000.
Toy time in PB
Toy enthusiasts will gather in Pine Bluff this weekend for the International Toy Collectors Association Toy Roadshow. The group, which represents more than 5,400 toy collectors, will meet at the Holiday Inn Express at 3620 Camden Road, just off Interstate 530 at exit 39. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Admission is free, and collectors with the ITCA will be prepared to buy antique and collectible toys on the spot. Hard to find toys, dolls, trains and cast-iron banks are expected to be on display. The ITCA, in its press material, claims that $225,000 has been spent by its organization at one event for a rare mechanical bank and $17,000 for a Barbie doll collection and clothes. The ITCA recommends bringing in any toy, no matter the expected value, anything made before 1970 in any condition (don’t try to clean or alter the condition either, the ITCA says), and any sample toys or anything with a famous name, such as comic book or Disney characters. Early toys from the 1850-1920 period are particularly hot today, as are toys from the baby boomer generation, including robots and space toys. Original packaging and labels can triple the value of a toy, the ITCA says.
For more information, visit the www.toyroadshow.com website.

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