Theater

xz ‘Of Mice and Men’, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17, Waco Hippodrome Theatre, 724 Austin Ave.; $37-$62. Call (254) 752-9797.

xz ‘The Woman in Black,’ Waco Civic Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23-24 and 30-31, 2:30 p .m. Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, Waco Civic Theatre, 1517 Lake Air Drive; $15 for opening night, $13 for adults, $10 for senior adults and students. Call (254) 776-1591.

xz ‘Cirque Shanghai Bai Xi’, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5; Nov. 6, Waco Hippodrome Theatre, 724 Austin Ave.; $37-$62. Call (254) 752-9797.

xz ‘Most Valuable Player (MVP)’, Family Series, Waco Hippodrome Theatre, 724 Austin Ave.; $10; children $5. Call (254) 752-9797.

xz ‘Fuddy Meers,’ Baylor Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1-5, 2 p.m. Dec. 6, Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center at Baylor University, 1401 S. University-Parks Drive. Call (254) 710-1865.

xz ‘Christmas at the Hippodrome’, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5, Waco Hippodrome Theatre, 724 Austin Ave.; Reserved seating: $29-$49. Call (254) 752-9797.

Art exhibits

xz ‘Seeds and Pods: Works by T.J. Mabrey, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays through Oct. 21, Croft Art Gallery, 712 Austin Ave.; free. Call (254) 714-1740.

xz ‘Oliver Retrospective: Artwork by Kermit, Katie and Khristian Oliver’, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays Oct. 17- Jan. 23; 1-5 p.m. Sundays Oct. 18- Jan. 24, Art Center Waco, 1300 College Drive; $2 donation for adults, $1 for students and educators. Call (254) 752-4371.

xz Howard Cheek Photo Show, 6 p.m. Saturday, Bosque Arts’ Center, 215 College Hill Drive in Clifton; free. Call (254) 386-6049.

xz Ceramicist Yih-Wen Kuo and the Baylor Contemporary Quilt Invitational, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays Oct. 20-Nov. 13; noon-5 p.m. Saturdays Oct. 24-Nov. 14, Martin Museum of Art, Baylor University’s Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center, 1401 S. University-Parks Drive; free. Call (254) 710-6390.

xz Trick or Treat in the Gallery, 5 p.m. Oct. 31, Art Center Waco, 1300 College Drive; free. Call (254) 752-4371.

Karaoke

xz Kids’ Karaoke, Hometown Music Stage, Heart of Texas Fair & Rodeo, 7 p.m. Thursday, Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo Complex, 4601 Bosque Blvd.; $10; $5 ages 3-12. Call (254) 776-1660.

xz Karaoke with Central Texas Talent, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Lazy Lizard Pub & Grub/Aquilla Creek Country Store, 9124 Gholson Road in Gholson. Call (254) 829-2336.

xz Adult Karaoke, Hometown Stage, Heart of Texas Fair & Rodeo, 6 p.m. Friday, Heart of Texas Fair & Rodeo Complex, 4601 Bosque Blvd.; $10; $5 ages 3-12. Call (254) 776-1660.

xz Kids’ Karaoke, Hometown Stage, Heart of Texas Fair & Rodeo, 7 p.m. Saturday, Heart of Texas Fair & Rodeo Complex, 4601 Bosque Blvd.; $10; $5 ages 3-12. Call (254) 776-1660.

Etc.

xz ‘Classie Ballou & Oldies, Too,’ Community Race Relations Coalition fundraiser, 7 p.m. Oct. 24, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6008, 725 Sun Valley Blvd. in Hewitt; $20, $125 for a table for 8. Call (254) 666-6008.

xz Fine Arts Craft Fair, 9 p.m. Oct. 24, Texas Christian Academy Elementary Campus, 720 N. New Road; free. Call (254) 644-2638.

xz Chef Mark Anthony, 6 p.m. Oct. 27, Red Men Hall, 4521 Speight Avenue; free. Call (254) 756-1221.

xz Cultural Evening, Art Center Waco, 6 p.m. Oct. 29, Art Center Waco, 1300 College Drive; free. Call (254) 752-4371.

xz ‘Trick or Treat in the Gallery’, 5 p.m. Oct. 31, Art Center Waco, 1300 College Drive; free. Call (254) 752-4371.

xz Zoo Boo, 6 p.m. Oct. 31, Cameron Park Zoo, 1701 N. Fourth St.; $7 for adults, $5 for children 4-12. Call (254) 750-8400.

xz El Dia de los Muertos, Art Center Waco, 6 p.m. Nov. 1, Art Center Waco, 1300 College Drive; free. Call (254) 752-4371.

xz ZooTunes with Baylor Symphony Orchestra and Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra, 1 p.m. Nov. 15, Cameron Park Zoo, 1701 N. Fourth St.; Zoo admission of $9 for adults, $8 for senior adults, $6 for children 4-12. Call (254) 754-0851.

xz Freedom Ball 2009, 7 p.m. Nov. 21, Waco Convention Center, 100 Washington Ave.; $75 per person, $50 for veterans & active-duty military. Call (254) 750-5810.

Mel’s Steakhouse

106 Arrowhead Road at the

Arrowhead Resort on Lake Whitney

arrowheadatlakewhitney.com/mel.htm

Phone: (254) 694-3044

Hours: 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday only.

Price: (see guide below): $-$$

Takeout available? Yes, but not the salad bar.

Smoking? No

Alcohol? Beer and wine.

Good to know: Friday night all you can eat buffet, includes the soup and salad bar, with catfish, chicken fried steak and popcorn shrimp.

Most popular dish: Tenderloin

Healthy options? Salad bar and seven chicken dishes.

Restaurant’s origins: Mel’s is owned by Arrowhead Resort. Melinda Crow, Mel, is the chef and she is also a travel writer. Crow has lived in the area for 12 years.

Price guide: $ — less than $10; $$ — $10 to $20; $$$ — more than $20.