Going out

        Irish Tenors: Right. They're the same Irish tenors who got everyone all in a lather on PBS. Now the mellow trio brings its “Ellis Island Tour” to town for an evening of songs about the immigrant experience. 7 p.m. today,Procter & Gamble Hall, Aronoff Center, $38.50-$62.50. 241-7469.

        Children's fest: The Cincinnati Museum Center, never one to let kids stand around with hands in pockets, has cooked up a Children's Performing Arts Festival loaded with free shows by such local tasties as singer-songwriter Zak Morgan, Theatre IV, Melchoir Marionettes and storyteller Carolmarie Stock. Noon-5 p.m. today. 287-7000.

        Statehood Days: The 1803-style Independence Day celebration keeps cranking along with costumed villagers going about their daily business, vintage speakers' program, kids' activities and heaven only knows what else. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today, Caesar's Creek Pioneer Village, Pioneer Village Road, Waynesville. $2-$5. (513) 897-3055.

        Open air concert: The Burnet Woods' Summer Concert Series tunes up and takes off to a folky start with Tracy Walker and Chris Collier. 5-8 p.m. today, bandstand, Clifton and Martin Luther King avenues. 352-4080.

Staying In

       & TV picks: Nik Faulkner (Allison Mack) wants to tell you about My Terrible Year spent babysitting her twin baby brothers while her mom (Karen Allen) works two jobs (8 p.m., Showtime).

        • Critic John Kiesewetter also says Beyond the Glory profiles Pete Rose (8 p.m., Fox Sports Net).

What's in stores today

        Tomorrow's Watch: OK, so maybe you don't need a new watch, but if this film's as hot as everyone predicts, maybe you'll want one anyway. Referring here to Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within,a sci-fi job based on the interactive game of the same name. Getting into the futuristic spirit (it's 2065), Seiko whipped up a Final Fantasy Watch designed to look like heroine Dr. Aki's magical Wrist Holo. It's not magical, but it does do just about everything but make you breakfast. $200 at watch counters everywhere.

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: Crossover punk act Blink-182 headlines a high-volume night of music with New Found Glory and Alkaline Trio adding to the rafter-rattling. 7:30 p.m. Monday, Riverbend, $22.25. 562-4949.

        48 hours out: Best-selling romance author Teresa Medeiros discusses and signs her breathless new Kiss to Remember.7 p.m. Tuesday,Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Rookwood Pavilion, Norwood. 396-8960.

        72 hours 'til Wednesday: Larger than life actress/comedienne Bea Arthur launches into five days of . . . And Then There's Bea, a one-woman show with musical accompaniment by her friend Billy Goldenberg. 8 p.m., Jarson-Kaplan Theater, Aronoff Center. $37.50-$45. 241-7469.

        Contact Jim Knippenberg by phone: (513) 768-8513; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: knipenquirer@yahoo.com.

Readers Rule: Songs that stick in your head
KIESEWETTER: Sportscaster a must-see in sitcom
Playhouse's 'Nixon' heads to London
DEMALINE: Non-Equity 'Music Man' could hit the wrong notes
'Mattress' doesn't pass CCM inspection
MARTIN: So long, chili champ
World-class beers lie within our own borders
Logan helps indigent men find better lives
PAL Scholarship honors persistence, leadership
Teaching in Kenya a learning experience
Xavier student still has all his marbles
Earle, Carpenter low-key songsmiths
Get to It
Spend evening with jazz, horses