GOING OUT

        Black history: It's opening night at the Main Public Library: An ambitious and colorful series on the evolution of African-American artistic endeavors in honor of Black History Month. Installment the first: “African Drums: A History of West African Drumming and Its Influence on American Black Music.” 7 p.m. today, Library atrium, 800 Vine St., downtown. 369-6945.

        Tokyo String Quartet: It's a mix of the familiar and the not so familiar when the world-renowned chamber group strings together a night of Mendelssohn's Quartet, Op. 81 and chases it with rarely heard one-movement quartets. 8 p.m. today, College-Conservatory of Music, Corbett Auditorium. $8-$12. 556-4183.

        Mary Ellen Mark: Call it a major Kodak moment — photos of everything from Mother Teresa to runaway children in Seattle to Ms. Mark's latest project, all assembled in a tightly-knit lecture and slide presentation. 7 p.m. today, Greaves Concert Hall, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights. $5. (859) 572-5421.

        British author: Whew. talk about one mighty loaded topic. Christopher Hitchens, author of more than 10 books and longtime contributor to The Nation, heats things up when he tackles “Accidental Politicians: Authors as Public Citizens.” 8 p.m. today, Room 127, McMicken Hall, University of Cincinnati. Free. 556-2560.

Staying In

        TV picks: Frasier discovers that his favorite Shakespearean actor (Sir Derek Jacobi from I, Claudius) has no talent (9 p.m., Channels 5, 22).

        • TV Critic John Kiesewetter also says Howard Hesseman (WKRP in Cincinnati) and Valerie Harper (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) guest star as Steven's (David Alan Basche) parents on Three Sisters (9:30 p.m., Channels 5, 22).

What's in stores today

        Video picks: With not much to inspire among this week's new video releases (Urban Legends: Final Cut, anyone?) Enquirer film critic Margaret A. McGurk suggests that dedicated action fans check out the new Jackie Chan Gift Set, on VHS or DVD, featuring lesser known features Gorgeous, Jackie Chan's Who Am I?, and Miracles.

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: Have banjo, will travel. To where? To Stanley Pub's Bluegrass Jam Night, where some of the city's top pickers get together and let fly a night full of twang. 9 p.m. Wednesday, 323 Stanley Ave., Columbia-Tusculum. 871-6249.

        48 hours out: A little something for folks about to step into the bottomless pit of home remodeling: A Home Products Expo with more than 200 exhibits, all sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky. Four-day stand opens 4-9 p.m. Thursday, Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Covington. $6. (859) 331-9500.

        Get To It appears daily. Send items to Nancy Berlier, Deputy Tempo Editor, at nberlier@enquirer.com.

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