What's happening this winter in Central Arkansas?

Two Pinnacle Mountain State Park workshops this month introduces you to the ins-and-outs of Dutch oven cooking. On Feb. 4 you can learn to prepare meals outdoors the way our frontier ancestors did. Admission is $15 and advance payment is required. Saturday, Feb. 18, the focus is on Dutch oven desserts. No prior experience is necessary for this one. Advance payment of $15 secures your registration. Meet at the park visitor center for both events, 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road in Little Rock. Phone 501-868-5806 for more information.

The beauty of an Arkansas winter is explored through Pinnacle Mountain State Park’s Discovery Lake Cruises, Feb. 5 and 19. Guided boat tours of Lake Maumelle are led by park interpreters as you watch for the thousands of birds which migrate South during colder weather. Dress in layers for extreme cold and windy lake weather. Advance payment of $10 for adults and $5 for ages 6-12 is required. Meet at Jolly Roger’s Marina, 11800 Maumelle Harbour Road in Roland. Phone the park at 501-868-5806 for more information.

It’s difficult to believe anyone can improve on Shakespeare but when you throw Cole Porter in the mix, you get a masterpiece. Based on “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Kiss Me Kate” is a play within a play where a cast working on a musical version of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” begins to mimic the literary classic they are performing. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, and $5 for students. The curtain goes up at 7 p.m. for the Thursday-Saturday shows, 2 p.m. on Sundays. Show dates are Feb. 9-12 and 16-19 at Benton’s Royal Theatre, 111 Market Street. Visit theroyalplayers.com to order tickets online or phone 501-315-5483.

Renowned actors Danny Glover and Felix Justice present "An Evening with Martin and Langston" on Thursday, Feb. 9 in Conway. This production “draws audiences inside the worlds of two of the greatest orators of the 20th century: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Langston Hughes.” The show begins with Justice’s critically acclaimed portrayal of Dr. King through the words of his most memorable speeches. Glover brings to life the words and poetry of Langston Hughes through readings of his work. A question and answer session follows at Reynolds Performance Hall on the UCA campus where the event takes place. Visit www.uca.edu/reynolds or phone 501-450-3406 to order tickets, which are $10-$40.

Celebrate St. Valentine’s Day with your special someone by taking a cruise aboard the Arkansas Queen on the Arkansas River. The $59.95 price includes the trip and a full-course dinner. Boarding begins at 6:30 p.m. with the cruise from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dates are Feb. 11 and 14. Visit www.arkansasqueen.com or phone 501-372-5777 for more information or to make reservations.

The one-of-a-kind BLUE MAN GROUP appears in Little Rock Feb. 14-16 at Robinson Center Music Hall. The show creates experiences that defy categorization. The trio of “bald and blue characters” are best-known for their theatrical performances which take the audience through a multi-sensory, multi-media journey. Theatre, percussion, music, art, science and Vaudeville are combined into a masterpiece of entertainment. Ticket prices vary. Visit www.celebrityattractions.com or phone 501-244-8800 for more information. Robinson Center is located at 426 West Markham in downtown Little Rock.

Perhaps the most distinctive voice in show business today will be on stage in the form of award winning actor James Earl Jones, Feb. 23 in Conway. Jones’ easily recognizable intonation has been featured in live stage, film and television roles and enriched recordings of everything from classic dramas to Bell Atlantic commercials. But the role for which he is best known is “Darth Vader" in the “Star Wars” trilogy of feature films. Jones will present the topic of “Shakespeare in the Minority Key” during this Black History Month salute. Tickets are $10-$40 for the event which takes place in Reynolds Performance Hall on the UCA campus. Visit www.uca.edu/reynolds or phone 501-450-3406 for more details.

The expectation of what spring brings to The Natural State is showcased during the 21st annual Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, Feb. 24-26. The theme for this year is "Floral Notes." The event includes educational gardening seminars, amazing indoor garden displays, over 100 booths with garden-related items for sale, a juried flower show, children's activities, a professional florist's design competition, and a silent auction benefiting scholarship and community beautification grant programs. Everything takes place at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock. Admission is $8 for adults, free for those ages 11 and younger, and $6 for senior citizens age 60 and older and for members of the military. Visit www.arflowerandgardenshow.org for a full schedule or phone 501-821-4000 for more information.

The cooler months are a great time for collectors who want to add to their stash and the 26th annual Arkansas Glasshopper Inc. Depression Era Glass and Pottery Show is a must-shop destination. Dates are Feb. 25-26 at the Hall of Industry on the State Fairgrounds, 2600 Howard Street in Little Rock. Dealers from several states show and sell china, and pottery from the Depression Era. Special displays of rare glass and glass identification are also on the schedule. Phone 501-868-4969 for additional details.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Little Rock Wind Symphony presents "Carmina Burana!" on Sunday, Feb. 26. The program features music inspired by the greatest love poems ever written, and Jamie Lipton dazzles on a theme and variations for euphonium. Assistant Director Michael Chance conducts the performance which takes place at Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive. Admission is $10, $8 for senior citizens, and free for students. Visit www.lrwindsymphony.org or phone 501-666-0777 for more information.