Going out

        Dragon Tales Live: Those lively characters Cassie, Quetzal and Zak & Wheezie, all natives of the PBS series, strut their stuff in a flashy new stage show name of Missing Music Mystery. Four-day run opens 7 p.m. today, Firstar Center, all seats $13 tonight, $13.50-$17.50 after that. 562-4949.

        National Geographic: The ever-so-highly respected lecture series Live . . . from National Geographic kicks off with photographer Chris Johns and a multimedia presentation on “Saving Africa's Wildlife.” 7:30 p.m. today,Procter & Gamble Hall, Aronoff Center, $11.25-$23.75. 241-7469.

        Tom Stoppard drama: Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival hits the stage with four weekends of the Oliver-award winner Arcadia by the author of Shakespeare in Love. 8 p.m. today through Feb. 10, 719 Race St., downtown, $15-$20. 381-2273.

        Pennywise: The popular California punk quartet with the big sound shakes up the floorboards. 8 p.m. today, Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. $14. 562-4949.

Staying in

        TV picks: Go “Inside the Terror Network,” as PBS' award-winning Frontline looks at U.S. security lapses that allowed terrorists to hijack four passenger jets on Sept. 11. (9 p.m., Channels 48, 54, 16).

        • Critic John Kiesewetter also says Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) Friends think he's in love with Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), not Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) (8 p.m., Channels 5, 22).

Web site of the day

        Obit patrol: Meanwhile, off in the glittery world of dead rock 'n' roll stars, there's a Web site out there that collects obituaries of rock 'n' rollers for fans who want to read them, then read them again. Or for the morbid among us. Kurt Cobain, Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Elvis, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, all of them. Oh, and Frank Sinatra, but we can't explain what he's doing there. Go to www.hotshotdigital.com and click onto the We Will Always Remember link.

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: There are bargains all over the place on books, CDs, videos and more at the Friends of the Public Library Warehouse Sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday, 8456 Vine St., Hartwell. 369-6035.

        48 hours out: The Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series at Playhouse in the Park welcomes storyteller David Novakfor his comic — and often surprising — spin on some classic fairy tales. 10:30 a.m., 12:30 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Rosenthal Plaza, $4-$5. 421-3888.

        72 hours 'til Sunday: The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is up and about early for a rare Sunday afternoon concert with guest conductor Junichi Hirokami leading an all-Russian program, 3 p.m., Music Hall, $12-$51. 381-3300.

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

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