Going out

        Celtic Festival: Live music, costumed dancers, storytellers, exhibits, athletics and more celebrate the Celtic way at Cincinnati Celtic Music and Cultural Festival. Noon-6 p.m. today, Coney Island, $7, free under age 13. 533-4822.

        Downtown Tour: The annual Downtown Tour of Living goes poking around more than 20 lofts, townhouses and other options for life downtown, all decorated by some of the city's most creative souls. 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. today,Over-the-Rhine and downtown. Buy tickets at Fourth and Plum Street Apartments, $10. 241-8696.

        Classical: The Northern Kentucky University Brass Quintet tunes up for a nightful of works by Brahms, Handel, Mozart and Bach on the Twilight Concert Series. 7 p.m. today, St. John's United Church of Christ, 415 Park Ave., Newport, free. 431-1818.

        Art lecture: Renowned art historian Robert Rosenblumtrots out some major art in his slide lecture “Picasso or Bouguereau: Art in 1900,” in conjunction with the Modern Masters exhibit at the Taft Museum of Art. 4:30 p.m. today, 316 Pike St., downtown, $5-$10. 241-0343.

Staying in

        TV picks: Felicity meets James Bond in the fall season's best new show — Jennifer Garner (Pearl Harbor, Felicity) in ABC's action-packed Alias as college student and CIA double agent. (9-10:09 p.m., Channels 9, 2).

        • TV Critic John Kiesewetter also says NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent (9 p.m., Channels 5, 22) and UC: Undercover (10 p.m.) premiere today.

        • Radio highlight: At 8 p.m., WGUC-FM (90.9) repeats the New York Philharmonic's Sept. 20 Memorial Concert, with Brahms' “German Requiem” dedicated to the victims of the World Trade Center tragedy.

Web site of the day

        It's a new one, this, for the artful folk among us. The Downtown Initiative for Visual Art (DIVA) has launched www.divacincinnati.com, complete with gallery guides, e-mail newsletter, openings and special events, maps, even an intro section for gallery-novices.

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: Jean-Michel Cousteau, eldest son of the late Jacques Cousteau and president of the Ocean Futures Society, speaks 8 p.m. Monday, Hall Auditorium, Miami University, Oxford, free. (513) 529-2730.

        48 hours out: The internationally acclaimed Tokyo String Quartet returns to University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music for a program on Brahm's complete string quartet and chamber works. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Corbett Auditorium, $8-$12. 556-4183.

        72 hours 'til Wednesday: The new Shadowbox Cabaret at Newport on the Levee opens its first show, a little ditty name of Heeeeere's Shadowbox, a medley of favorite comedy sketches and live rock 'n' roll, 7 p.m., Riverboat Row, $10-$20. (859) 581-7625.

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

O, brother, bluegrass is big
New bluegrass on disc
CSO and chorus take special show to Carnegie
'War Requiem' reflects Conlon's grief
DEMALINE: The arts
How they set scene for 'Lear'
'Love Child' looks at babies with babies
Melody, wit carry Ben Folds
'Texas' is the Good Book according to TV
Theater partnership brings 'Monologues' to town in January
Blessid Union plans concert for wheelchair
DAUGHERTY: Everyday
De Asa Nichols builds businesses
KENDRICK: Alive and well
Silver bangles dangle from wife's arm
Cooking part of 'life goes on'
Tipping for takeout service a personal choice
Traditional 'hard cider' in season
Lunchtime chats begin
Get to it