Going out

        Ribs fest: The ConAgra Foods Rib America Festival does its finger-licking thing with barbecue recipes from around the country and live music from Beatlemania Live! (3:30 p.m.), Smithereens (7 p.m.) and Cheap Trick (9 p.m.). 11 a.m.-11 p.m. today, Fifth and Race Streets, downtown, $5. 621-2142.

        Garden Walk: The East Row Historic District in Newport tiptoes through the tulips on its annual Garden Walk in nine gardens attached to restored Victorian and Italianate homes. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today-Sunday, tickets at Watertower Square, Sixth and Washington Streets, $12. 588-4600.

        Great Auction: WCET follows up its annual Action Auction with the “Great Auction Sale” of items not offered on TV. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. today, TV 48 offices, 1223 Central Parkway (across from Music Hall). 381-4033.

        KSO: The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra kicks off its popular free summer concert series with “You're a Grand Old Flag,” a patriotic show that flows with sing-a-long favorites. 7:30 p.m. today, Devou Park amphitheater, Covington. (859) 431-6216.

Staying in

        TV picks: Two remarkable talents show up in this rerun: Host is Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's Daily Show fame, and the musician is the wonderful singer India.Arie. Saturday Night Live, 11:30 p.m., Channel 5.

        • Michael Crichton wrote the novel about a spacecraft on the ocean floor, director Barry Levinson and actor Dustin Hoffman jumped in, along with Sharon Stone, Samuel L. Jackson, and Queen Latifah. Catch Sphere, 8-11 p.m., Channel 5.

Hot tickets What's on sale today

        Tickets for hip-hop soul queen Mary J. Blige's July 23 concert at Riverbend go on sale at 10 a.m. today. Opening act will be Tweet (“Always Will”). Tickets are $62.25, $52.25 and $27.75 at all Ticketmaster outlets, phone 562-4949 or online at www.ticketmaster.com

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: Jack Quinn's Irish Ale House and Pub morphs into downtown Dublin for a Bloomsday do that celebrates James Joyce's classic Ulysses with limericks, readings and music. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday, 112 E. Fourth St., Covington. (859) 491-6699.

        48 hours out: Miami University's Hiestand Galleries open “Disgusting Nature,” surrealist painter Nora Sturges's exploration of the complexities of human perception. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday,Hiestand Hall, Oxford. (513) 529-1883.

        A week away: World Wrestling Entertainment brings stars such as Rob Van Dam, Bradshaw, Trish Status and Ravenfor live fights and loud grunts at Firstar Center, 7:30 p.m. next Saturday, $18-$40. 562-4949.

— Jim Knippenberg

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

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