Once Santa's come and gone, what's left to do on Christmas Day (Dec. 25)? Here are some ideas.
In case your dinner plans fall apart, round up the family and indulge in Christmas Day Brunch, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Peabody Little Rock. Capriccio Grill Italian Steakhouse will offer a wide selection of dishes from prime rib of beef to honey-glazed ham and roasted pork loin. Breakfast items, seafood (including poached salmon an Cajun-boiled shrimp) and desserts will also be available. Price is $39.95 for adults and $14.95 for children ages 6 to 11. Children ages 5 and under eat free. Complimentary valet parking will be provided. Call (501) 399-8062 for reservations.
Or you could enjoy Christmas Day dinner on the Arkansas Queen Riverboat. Boarding (at 100 Riverfront Park Drive, North Little Rock) will be at 12:30 p.m. and the cruise will be from 1-3 p.m. Admission is $43.59 for adults, $27.09 for children ages 3-12. Call (501) 372-5777.
And there's a Christmas buffet at North Little Rock's Wyndham Riverfront from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. serving beef, ham, smoked salmon, turkey and gravy, soups, salads, desserts and an omelet and waffle station. Cost is $24.95 for adults, $19.95 for seniors, $12.95 for children 5-11 and free for children under 5 with a paying adult. Call (501) 907-4826.
Afterward, go to the movies. New in theaters this week:
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (R) The English language version of the 2009 Swedish thriller follows a disgraced journalist (Daniel Craig) and a gifted young computer hacker (Rooney Mara) who work together to solve a 40-year old murder. Directed by David Fincher.
The Adventures of Tintin (PG) Belgian comic book star Tintin (voice of Jamie Bell) is a aggressive young reporter whose ambition takes him on all sorts of adventures in this motion-capture 3D animated film, directed by Steven Spielberg.
My Week With Marilyn (R) The set of the film The Prince and the Showgirl is where a recent graduate of Oxford (Eddie Redmayne) finds himself introducing American movie star Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) to Great Britain. With Kenneth Branagh; directed by Simon Curtis.
We Bought a Zoo (PG) A widower (Matt Damon) and his two children purchase a run-down zoo that they hope to restore, despite having no idea how to do it. With Scarlett Johansson; directed by Cameron Crowe.
The Darkest Hour (PG-13) Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella, Rachael Taylor, Joel Kinnaman play five people who are stuck in Moscow when aliens attack. Directed by Chris Gorak.
War Horse (PG-13) The epic story of a horse and his young trainer brought together in No Man's Land during World War I. With Emily Watson, David Thewlis; directed by Steven Spielberg.
Don't feel like leaving the house? Skip It's A Wonderful Life and show your holiday guests one (or more) of these unusual Christmas-themed films, available on DVD.
Bad Santa (2003; rated R for language, sexual content) Those of us who love this ultra-dark comedy know we're different from everyone else. It concerns con man and miserable human being Willie (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Tony Cox) who pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. Problems arise when Willie -- much to his surprise -- befriends a troubled kid. With Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham; directed by Terry Zwigoff.
Die Hard (1988; rated R for violence, language) Prepare for an action-packed Christmas in the company of New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) who gives terrorists, led by evil-eyed Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), a dose of their own medicine as they hold hostages in an L.A. office building during a Christmas party. With Bonnie Bedelia; directed by John McTiernan.
The Ice Harvest (2005, rated R for violence, nudity, sexuality, language) Not Billy Bob Thornton's best movie, but fairly watchable, this dark noir, set on a booze-soaked Christmas Eve, concerns sleazy Wichita mob lawyer Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) and his unsavory associate Vic Cavanaugh (Thornton), who have just embezzled $2 million from a Kansas City crime boss (Randy Quaid). But, as is so often the case with such swindles, there's a price to pay. Directed by Harold Ramis.
Gremlins (1984; rated PG-13 for violence) An entertaining mix of horror and comedy in which a boy (Zach Galligan) accidentally liberates a mass of nastily mischievous little green monsters on a small town during Christmas. With Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Little Rock's Judge Reinhold, and Corey Feldman; directed by Joe Dante.
Reindeer Games (2000; rated R for violence, sexuality, language) You might have missed this tangy thriller in theaters as it's a Christmas heist movie that came out in February and therefore tanked at the box office. It's about an ex-con (Ben Affleck) who assumes his dead cellmate's identity and gets involved in a scheme to rob a casino. With Charlize Theron, Gary Sinise, Dennis Farina, and Donal Logue; directed by John Frankenheimer.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993; rated PG for scary images) This odd, irreverent animated musical, written by Tim Burton, follows the misguided efforts by Jack Skellington, who is to Halloween what Santa Claus is to late December, to inject excitement into his life after yet another boring preparation for fright night in Halloweentown by taking over Christmastown. With the voices of Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Reubens; directed by Henry Selick.
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