THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEK:

Want to help feed the hungry this Thanksgiving? The Downtown Rescue Mission (which isn't downtown, by the way!) can feed the homeless a complete Thanksgiving Dinner for only $1.92, or 6 people doe only $11.52 or 20 people for $38.40. You can give your gift online or charge by phone at (256) 536-2441 ext. 10. If you would like to donate food, equipment or househoold goods and furniture or volunteer your time to the Mission, call (256) 536-2441.

Looking for some family fun? You're invited to Trinity United Methodist Church on Airport Road for their Fall Festival and Picnic outside on the church grounds this Sunday, Oct. 26th from 4-6:30 pm. Enjoy BBQ ($5 adults, $2 kids), live music, bingo, silent auction, trunk or treat, "cookies & coke" walk, carnival games, inflatable moon bounces and super slide and lots of treats & prizes. Costumes encouraged. At 3:00 pm enjoy a family-friendly Fall Festival Organ Concert with everything from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” to “Phantom of the Opera”! For more info, call (256) 883-3200.

Science isn’t scary, it’s an experiment in fun at Sci-Quest’s annual Spooktacular Halloween Party. Spooktacular will span two days - Oct. 24 & 25. Come Friday night from 6-9 p.m. for the annual costume contest, experiment stations and chem"mystery” fun; or Saturday for more chem"mystery” fun and three special shows of live “Birds of Prey”. Make your reservations today. Admission is charged. For more information, call 837-0606.

Want to be entered for a chance to win a fancy trip to Nashville? All you have to do is join, rene

With the popular show "Dancing with the Stars" in full swing, you can get in with the action: MAMBO GRIS GRIS, the popular Salsa/Latin Band in Huntsville will be playing at BENCHWARMER TOO on Oct 25th. Doors open at 8:30 pm with a free salsa lesson. Band plays at 9:30 pm. $10 cover charge (salsa lesson included). For more info, call John, dance instuctor, at (901) 605-8246.

Crisis Services of North Alabama invites the public to a special service celebrating those who have survived domestic violence and honoring those whose lives have been taken as a result of domestic violence, on Oct. 23 from 6-7 pm at Oakwood University-Wade Hall.

I may have to give up my "First to the Moon & Back" license plate. There's a new license plate that will go into circulation in January. The new car tag features a colorful scene and the phrase “Sweet Home Alabama” and will replace the “Stars Fell on Alabama” plates that have been in use since January 2002. “Sweet Home Alabama" is the third most played song identifying a destination, behind ‘New York, New York’ and ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco.’

Hey, Girls, here's an idea: Thursday's are designated a Girls Night Out at La Bella Gondolas in Bridge Street. When celebrating a birthday, anniversary, upcoming wedding, or just a night out with the gals, contact them to plan and execute a creative, personalized, party for you and your girlfriends. La Bella Gondolas can be the perfect ending to your day or evening, offering three different Gondola tours for up to 6 people. For more information, call 800.979.3370 or 212.209.3370.

October 19th at 5 pm, First Baptist Church will present a free Children's concert presented by the 50-piece First Baptist Church Orchestra, “The Carnival of the Animals” by Camille St. Saens, complete with narrative of the Ogden Nash poetry written for it. Music from “The Veggie Tales”, “Shrek” and the story of Jericho will also be included in the concert. Special guests are members of “Percussive Artistry”, a new performing ensemble in our city. Children of all ages (and their families) are invited to attend. The concert will be followed with refreshments.

Huntsville, AL - October 24, 2008 - The Huntsville Chapter of Women’s Council of Realtors is hosting A Night of Glitz Fundraiser starting at 7pm on Friday, October 24 at the Huntsville Marriott to raise money for the Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund at Huntsville Hospital Foundation. The evening will feature a walk the red carpet entrance with celebrity look-a-likes, Hollywood fashion show, music, great food, pledge drive to raise money for a Giraffe Isolette-for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Huntsville Hospital for Women and children, and a fabulous prize package raffle. Read more...

Looking for some fall fun? Here's a variety of activities and events for you to check out: Scarecrow Trail, Harmony Park Safari, Tate Pumpkin Farm, Cornfield Maize, Halloween Fun House, Taste Of Home Cooking School, Disney On Ice, Ars Nova presents "Green Eggs & Ham," Fantasy Playhouse presents "Charlotte's Web," Alabama Renaissance Feast (Florence), Haunted Graystone Manor, Burritt Museum's Harvest & Indian Heritage Festival, Sci-Quest's Hands On Trucks, HCC Concert "Indivisible," Liz Hurley's Ribbon Run, Alabama Gourd Festival (Cullman), Southern Wildlife Festival (Decatur), "The Wedding Party" Bridal Fair, Wade Mountain hike, Evening Movies At The Library, plus much more. Check the events calendar for more details.

How many times a week do you go out to eat? Has the economy changed your dining out routine? What is your favorite place to eat? You might want to check out the latest Huntsville/Madison County Health Dept. report before you next outting. This is a pretty good report--not one of the 64 restaurants inspected failed to make a passing grade and one even made a perfect score of 100. Some of the places visited included Waffle House, Little Paul's Gibson Barbecue, Steak-Out, Cafe Baba, Cantina Laredo, Salsarita's, Lawler's Barbecue Express, Bruegger's, Ol' Heildelberg, Victoria's Cafe, The Chocolate Crocodile, Kentucky Fried Chicken, plus many more. Read the full report.