Going out

        Exploding Pops: Country star Larry Gatlin gives a twang, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestragets lush as all get-out, and the skies explode with a giant fireworks display over the Ohio. 8:30 p.m. today, Riverbend, $17. 381-3300.

        Ault Park: It's all-American all the time when Ault Park Independence Day Celebration pops with children's bike parade, a bunch of activities, concert and fireworks. 10:30 a.m. today (concert at 8 p.m.), Observatory Avenue, Mount Lookout. 352-4080.

        Piano competition: 130 pianists from 23 countries have their way with the keyboard, competing for prizes and artistic opportunities at the World Piano Competition. Today-Tuesday, Aronoff Center for the Arts, public concerts 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, $10-$50. 421-5342.

        Nature programs: No work today for most of us, so the parks are expecting a crush. And celebrating with special programs: Creek Walk, if you don't mind muddy feet, with a park naturalist, 1 p.m., Sharon Woods (meet at Gorge Trail); raptors program, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Miami Whitewater Forest Visitor Center. 521-7275.

Staying In

        TV picks: The Fourth of July, as always, is a blast on TV with fireworks and music on Boston's Pops Goes the Fourth (7:30 p.m., A&E); PBS' Capitol Fourth with Erich Kunzel (8 p.m., Channel 54; 9 p.m., Channels 48, 16); and NBC's Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular (9 p.m., Channels 5, 22).

        • TV Critic John Kiesewetter also says Billy Joel, David Crosby, Carly Simon and others perform An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson of Beach Boys fame taped in March (8 p.m. and 10 p.m., TNT).

The Goods

        CD picks: With “My Baby,” Lil' Romeo became the youngest solo act to have a No. 1 single. Now the 11-year-old rapper is releasing his full-length debut, Lil' Romeo (Priority; $17.98 CD, $11.98 cassette). The son of rap mogul Master P (and nephew of Silkk the Shocker) gets help from dad and Uncle Silkk.

        Ian Anderson hand-picked 20 tunes for The Very Best of Jethro Tull ($16.98 CD only; Chrysalis).

        The '80s revival continues with Duran Duran's enhanced version of 1982's Rio (Capitol; $11.98 CD only), which, along with such classics as “Hungry Like the Wolf,” includes three of the glam groups early videos. The re-release is the opening gun in a full-blown Duran Duran comeback with all five original members on board for the first time in 15 years.

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: Kincaid Regional Theatre, sitting out in the ever so bucolic Falmouth, Ky., tackles A. R. Gurney's smart, funny and kinda weird Sylvia,about a stray dog introduced into the lives of a well-heeled couple. 8 p.m. Thursday, Falmouth School Center, 500 Chapel St. $7-$10. (859) 654-2636.

        48 hours out: The Queen City Blues Fest, one of the best freebies in town, invades Sawyer Point Friday and Saturday with a mega list of blues acts, including headliners such as DC Bellamy, Kenny Neal and Roy Gaines. 684-4227.

        72 hours 'til Saturday: Producers of Fear Factor, Spy TV and Big Brother have an open casting call for families with teen-age kids for their next reality TV series — living on an island and competing to win a dream house. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Paramount's Kings Island. 754-5700.

Contact Jim Knippenberg by phone: 768-8513; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: knipenquirer@yahoo.com.

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