Going out

        So Many Roads tour: There's a whole lotta loud and fast guitar licks going on when Ratdog, fronted by undead ex-dead, as in Grateful, guitarist Bob Weir, and the world-inspired jam band Rusted Root headline after Karl Denson's Tiny Universeand Keller Williams get the masses warmed up. 6 p.m. today,Riverbend, $27.50. 562-4949.

        UniverSoul Circus: It's a whole batch of sky-high eye-poppers — aerialists, body twisters, limbo dancers — set to the tune of jazz, hip-hop and R&B. Five-day stand for the old-fashioned European-style circus begins 7:30 p.m. today at Swifton Commons, 7030 Reading Road, Bond Hill, $10-$25. 562-4949.

        Electronica: West Coast techno acts Crystal Method and Uberzone team up to turn the town into an L.A. dance club. 8 p.m. today, Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, $18-$20. 562-4949.

        Donors to Know:Cincinnati Art Museum Director Emeritus Millard Rogers leads a gallery tour — and who would know the place better? — pointing out CAM's top pieces and discussing the donors who gave them. 2-5 p.m. today, $15-$20. 721-2787.

Staying in

        TV picks: Drew's torrid affair with an environmental activist (Illeana Douglas) threatens his friendship with Lewis (Ryan Stiles) on a repeat of the Drew Carey Show (9 p.m., Channels 9, 2).

        • TV Critic John Kiesewetter also says Mandy Moore from MTV sings on CBS, also owned by Viacom, during the Miss Teen USA 2001 pageant from South Padre Island, Texas (9 p.m., Channels 12, 7).

The Goods

        CD Picks: It's a prequel album for Christina Aguilera, with this week's release of Just Be Free (Warlock; $17.98 CD, $11.98 cassette), recordings made before her major- label breakthrough.

        • Neo-soul man Maxwell, appearing Oct. 7 at Music Hall, is back with Now (Columbia; $18.98 CD, $12.98 cassette).

        • Project English (Uni; $18.98 CD, $12.98 cassette) is the newest disc by Southern rapper Juvenile.

        • Miles Davis' ground-breaking Bitches Brew band — pianist Chick Corea, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette — blasts through the previously unreleased Live at the Fillmore East (March 7, 1970) (Legacy; $24.98 CDs only) a bargain-priced two-disc set.

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: Red hot jazz guitarist Scotty Anderson plays all the right notes with all the right moves at Lawrenceburg's Music on the River series. 7-9 p.m. Thursday, High and Walnut streets, free. (800) 322-8198.

        48 hours out: Bavarian dancers, homemade German dinners and lots of oom-pah most everywhere you look at Germania Society's annual Oktoberfest. Friday-Sunday, Germania Park, 3529 W. Kemper Road, Dunlop. 742-0060.

        72 hours 'til Saturday: Lush scenery and natural wonders fill up the new Omnimax film Wild California, opening Saturday, Cincinnati Museum Center. $4.75-$6.75. 287-7000.

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

Fillin' up on church-fried chicken
Church dinners turn strangers into friends
Gotta Try It
Smart Mouth
Body & mind
Women have another option
Sycamore grad's comedy reality series deserves a shot
'The Deep End' plunges into suspense
Get to it