Going out

Pat Boone: The legendary crooner brings his Christmas show to the Taft Theatre, 7:30 p.m. today, Fifth and Sycamore streets, downtown. $25-$40. 562-4949.

Vicente Wolfe: The interior design superstar is at Books & Co. in Dayton to introduce his hot new book, Learning to See: Bringing the World Around You Into Your Home, 7 p.m. today, 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering. (800) 777-4881.

Library show: The Amelia Branch Library welcomes performer Tom Scheidt for his one-man show Thomas MacGregor, The Scottish Pirate, a music/storytelling show about a musician captured by pirates and forced to join them, 7 p.m. today, 58 Maple St. Free. 752-5580.

Opera Rap: The Cincinnati Opera discussion series features opera expert Charles Parsons discussing the summer 2003 double bill of Poulenc's La Voix Humaine and Weill's The Seven Deadly Sins, 7 p.m. today, St. John's Unitarian Church, 320 Resor Ave., Clifton. Free. 744-3511.

Staying in

TV pick: Katey Sagal, a singer long before she became an actress, sings on

8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teen-age Daughter when her character, Cate, practices for her solo at a midnight church service (8 p.m., Channels 9, 2).

Critic John Kiesewetter also says you may want to spend An Evening with the Dixie Chicks singing their greatest hits (8 p.m., Channels 5, 22).

Planning ahead

24 hours out: The local Irish/blues favorites the Flock hold their CD release party at BarrelHouse Brewing Company, 8 p.m. Wednesday, 22 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine. 421-2337.

48 hours out: Child development expert Jo Ann Deak is at Joseph-Beth Booksellers to sign and discuss her new book Girls Will Be Girls: Raising Confident and Courageous Daughters, 7 p.m. Thursday, Rookwood Pavilion, Madison and Edwards roads, Norwood. 396-8960.

72 hours 'til Friday: The Friends of Lucy comedy troupe breaks out with its new holiday show `Twas the Laugh Before Christmas, 9 p.m., Monmouth Theater, 636 Monmouth St., Newport. $14. 588-0513.

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com