Going out

        Travel-Sports-Boats: The Cincinnati Travel, Sports and Boat show is crammed with more than 600 displays covering everything outdoorsy — hunting, fishing, boating, camping, sports, the works. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. today,Albert B. Sabin Convention Center through Jan. 13, $8, $2.50 youth. 281-0022.

        Shadowbox Cabaret: The Newport on the Levee live entertainment venue opens the new Sex at the Box with comedic one-acts and rock music all built on sexy topics. 8 p.m. today, continues Wednesdays-Saturdays through April 6, $10-$25. (859) 581-7625.

        For kids: The Linton Chamber Music Series teams up with the Taft Museum of Art for a new Peanut Butter and Jam Sessions series “Count on Me” with interactive art and classical music activities devoted to basic math skills. 10 and 11:30 a.m. today,Wyoming Fine Arts Center, 322 Wyoming Ave., ages 2-5, $4. 381-6868.

        Bluegrass: David Peterson & 1946 tune up for their first local appearance after an opening set from Buckeye Ridge. 7:30 p.m. today, Ripley High School, U.S. 52, Ripley, $10. 684-4342.Staying in

        TV picks: CBS starts the new year with a new awards show: The AFI Awards 2001, with the American Film Institute honoring 10 U.S. movies and nine television categories (8-11 p.m., Channel 12). CBS' People's Choice Awards airs Jan. 13.

        • TV Critic John Kiesewetter also says An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence, the annual United Negro College Fund special, airs 7-8 p.m. and 11:35 p.m.-2:35 a.m. on Channel 12. (It also airs 7-11 p.m. on Dayton's Channel 7).

        Radio highlight: Public radio's From the Top, featuring young classical music performers, debuts at 9 a.m. today on WGUC-FM (90.9). Classics for Kids moves to 8:50 a.m. today.

                Cookie time: Girl Scout cookies are on sale in the Tristate now through Jan. 20 (to be delivered in February), so if you have taken your last box of Thin Mints out of the freezer, you can stock up. (Don't worry, the girls will find you). There's a new variety this year in southwest Ohio and southeastern Indiana called Friendship Circles. A chocolate filling is sandwiched between crunchy vanilla cookies embossed with the word for friend in a variety of languages, including amica (Italian) and rafiki (Swahili). Northern Kentucky's two new cookie varieties are Ole Ole and All Abouts.

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: Guitar virtuoso Franco Platino plucks a few strings on the Xavier University Classical Piano and Guitar Series, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Cincinnati Art Museum auditorium, Eden Park, $12. 745-3161.

        48 hours out: The Year-Round Gardening Series takes aim on life indoors with a “Step-by-Step Silk Arrangements” program. 7 p.m. Monday,Monfort Heights Branch Library, 3825 West Fork Road. 369-4472.

        A week away: The bridal shopping season gets off to a healthy start with a swirl of taffeta and the super-sized Brides World expo from Cincinnati Wedding magazine. Next Saturday and Jan. 13, Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Covington. 981-0990.

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

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