Some big names - and one big mouth - take the court tonight at 1st Mariner Arena.

The man, the legend, the lefty, John McEnroe, headlines the lineup at Pam Shriver's BCF Tennis Challenge. The annual event hosted by the tennis great and Baltimore native raises money for the Baltimore Community Foundation.

Others slated to play include John Isner, who knocked off Andy Roddick at the U.S. Open this year, Melanie Oudin, who became a sensation in New York after defeating Maria Sharapova, veteran star Lindsay Davenport, and doubles gurus Mike and Bob Bryan.

The always-entertaining Orioles Challenge this year is a pitcher's affair, with Jeremy Guthrie and Brad Bergesen set to play.

The first serve is hit at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and can be ordered online or by calling Ticketmaster.

It doesn't have to be a Christmas tree for Baltimoreans to wrap lights around it. If you've never been to 34th St. in Hampden, you need to check it out. It makes most Christmas light displays look like nothing more than a single nightlight was used.

Last week the Washington Monument was illuminated, and tonight, lamp posts in Canton Square follow suit.

The switch will be flipped at 6 p.m., and following that there's an arrival by Santa and musical performances by Smooth Teaze, the Adeline Singers, and chorus groups. Champagne, egg nog, Irish coffee, and hot chocolate will be available, and the stores and restaurants on O'Donnell St. will be offering discounts.

Two Baltimore musical institutions have been honored with Grammy award nominations.

The children's band, Milkshake, is a finalist in the Best Musical Album for Children category, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's recording of of Leonard Bernstein's Mass (conducted by Marin Alsop) is among the nominees for Best Classical Album. The producer of the CD, Steven Epstein, also is nominated for Producer of the Year.

You don't get much more disparate than that, musically speaking, but both groups should be lauded for their accomplishments. Congrats Milkshake and the BSO, and good luck in the Jan. 31 competition.

So much to do this weekend. Here are a few other events you might be intrigued by over the next few days:

Friday

Elvis, Elvis, and more Elvis - Baltimore's Night of 100 Elvises kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Lithuanian Hall, 851-3 Hollins St. The main ballroom will host at least 12 bands and 12 Elvis tribute artists. All entertainers will perform all Elvis music, all night. No song will be duplicated in the ballroom. You get the picture. Tickets are $55 and include drinks and a southern buffet.

Saturday

Merry Tuba and Holiday Sing - More than 250 brass players perform at the Harborplace Amphitheater perform a special holiday concert at 3:30. The Heart of Maryland Chorus precedes them, at 3, and from 11 to 2:30 audience members are invited to join in as part of a sing-along.

NOTE

I thought you also may be interested in knowing that the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has extended its registration deadline for its "Hallelujah! Community Sing-A-Long" on Dec. 9. The deadline is now Dec. 7, so get your lungs ready and register online.

Glancing at this weekend's activities, it seems this is truly the first weekend of the holiday season. Enjoy!

Thursday

Lighting of the Washington Monument - America's oldest monument to our first president is awash in lights for the holiday season. Live entertainment, food, drink, and even fireworks are on the tap during the pre-event, which starts at 5:30 in the heart of Mount Vernon.

Free holiday concert at Harbor East - Today, Dec. 10, and Dec. 17 shoppers and diners in Harbor East will be treated to free concerts at the corner of Aliceanna and President streets. Tonight features The Crawdaddies, next week is Mambo Combo, and the Junkyard Saints perform on Dec. 17. The music runs from 5 to 8 p.m.

Friday

Little Italy Chirstmas tree lighting - A tree at the corner of High and Stiles streets in Little Italy lights up with the Christmas spirit at 6 p.m. Holiday carolers from the Coral Arts Society and a Santa - who speaks Italian - will be among the attendees.

Saturday and Sunday

Dollar Days - Every year for one weekend in December, downtown Baltimore attractions drop admission prices to $1 or less. Dollar admission at the Baltimore Aquarium may be the highlight, but dozens of other attractions also offer up this holiday treat.

Sunday

Mayor's Annual Christmas Parade - The annual parade begins at 2 p.m. Poly/Western High School and ends on 37th St. It's a 2.5-mile path that includes more than 150 marching units. This year's Miss Yuletide is Maggie Terhune, and the grand marshall is Nicholas Greer.

There are good deals, and then there are great deals. File Baltimore's annual Dollar Days under the latter.

Each year a number of downtown businesses slash their admission prices all the way down to a buck for one weekend in December. Saturday and Sunday, a single George Washington will get you into a number of attractions, including the Baltimore Aquarium. Be forewarned though: this promotion draws big crowds, so get to the aquarium early to pick up your tickets.

Another quick note: If you're interested in catching the Da Vinci exhibit at the Maryland Science Center (and you should - it's very interesting), you'll have to buy a separate ticket. A dollar only gets you into the museum, it's not valid for special exhibits, IMAX movies, you get the picture. But it's still a great deal.

If the weather is nice this weekend, you can bet the Inner Harbor will be packed, so you might want to check out these tips on parking.

Nothing in life is free, but $1 admission ain't bad.

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon has just been found guilty of taking gift cards intended for the city's poor. She was acquitted on three other charges.

The jury convicted her of one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary and acquitted her on two counts of felony theft and one count of misconduct in office. Jurors failed to reach verdict on another count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary.

Dixon allegedly kept $630 worth of gift cards a developer intended to be used by the city's poor.  She then bought electronics at Best Buy, clothes at Old Navy and other items at Target.

"The city will still continue to move forward," Dixon said outside the courthouse after the verdict, according to The Sun. "This city will continue to run. ... We won't miss a step."

So what do you think? Should this conviction force Dixon from office? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Photo: Mayor Sheila Dixon was convicted of embezzlement today. (Steve Ruark/Getty Images)

That is to say, the kind the rest of the world plays?

In light of last night's stirring Ravens win, I thought I'd bring this to your attention: Baltimore is getting a soccer franchise in a new league.

According to the Baltimore Business Journal, the city will have a team in a minor league set to debut in April. The team will be called Crystal Palace Baltimore. Its ownership includes Randall Medd, a real estate investor and options trader from Delray Beach, Fla.; professional soccer player and real estate entrepreneur Pete Medd; and Jim Cherneski, a pro soccer player for more than a decade. Crystal Palace USA was founded with the help of Crystal Palace Football Club UK and its chairman, Simon Jordan.

I'm not the world's biggest soccer fan, but I know the sport is popular in the city. July's friendly involving Chelsea and AC Milan drew an impressive crowd to M&T Bank Stadium.  No word yet on where our new team will play, but as soon as more information becomes available, I'll post it.

A very happy Thanksgiving to all Baltimore.About.com readers and their families. Here's a short, holiday edition of your Weekend Roundup.

Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving! If cooking's not your thing, consider going out to eat this Turkey Day.

Friday-Saturday-Sunday

Festival of Trees - Kennedy Krieger Institute's 20th-annual festival kicks off at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. The largest event on the east coast features live entertainment every hour, a reading by Cal Ripken, "reindeer" pony rides, and the SantaLand theme park. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (65+) and children (5-12). Children under 5 are free. They're available online.

If you flip on the TV tomorrow to watch the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, you might see some local faces.

The Towson University Marching Band will perform in the holiday spectacular this year. It's a big honor for the students and the school - the Tigers are the only university marching band participating in the 2009 parade. The band is composed of more than 230 members coming from more than 120 different high schools, from 12 different states, who have more than 70 majors. This is the band's first trip to New York.

Parade coverage will air live tomorrow starting at 9 a.m. on NBC (Channel 11), so keep your eyes peeled for the yellow and black.