Going out

Linda Cobb: The "Queen of Clean," known ever-so-well for a string of books on organizing home and office, is up the road a way introducing her latest life-enhancement manual, The Queen of Clean Conquers Clutter. 7 p.m. today, Books & Co., 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering. (800) 777-4881.

Mozart Quartet: The esteemed Amernet String Quartet continues its "Wednesdays at One" series, a medley of informal afternoon concerts exploring 10 celebrated Mozart quartets - Quartet in A Major, K. 464 gets the treatment today. 1 p.m., Otto Budig Theater, University Center, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, free. (859) 572-6399.

Book groups: Here's a thought for the new year: Start it off by feeding your intellect by joining a specialty book group. Barnes & Noble Newport has an open house for a whole batch of ones forming. 7 p.m. today, Newport on the Levee. (859) 581-2000.

Live jazz: Local jazz/gospel diva P. Anne Everson Price belts out any number of tunes 8 p.m.-midnight today at Carlo and Johnny's. 9769 Montgomery Road, Montgomery. 936-8600.

Staying in

Critic's pick: CBS picks up the familiar Star Search title, a hipper host (Arsenio Hall) and trims the number of categories to four. The contest runs Wednesdays and Thursdays until Feb. 6. Star Search, 8 p.m., Channel 12.

When a rich teenager is a hit-and-run victim, cops suspect that someone murdered her. The case pits Southerlyn (Elisabeth Rohm) against a lawyer with whom she has a past. Law & Order, 10 p.m., Channel 5, 22.

Web site

Chicken mania: Looking for a way to get more bang for your cluck? So to speak. Do it at www.eatchicken.com, where you'll find a bizillion poultry cooking tips, nutrition facts, food handling hints, surveys, a ton of trivia and recipes from Asian to Southwestern. Yum.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: The Chidlaw Gallery at the Art Academy of Cincinnati honors one of its own with a new exhibit of works by the celebrated children's author (and AAC alum) Will Hillenbrand. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, Eden Park. 562-8777.

48 hours out: Mecklenberg Gardens pours on the suds for its winter beer dinner all full of imported ales, Bavarian food, live oom-pah music and prizes. 7 p.m. Friday, University and Highland avenues, Corryville, $7-$15. 221-5353.

72 hours 'til Saturday: The Rosenthal Next Generation Theater Series at Playhouse in the Park kicks into gear with Brazilian storyteller Antonio Rocha sharing his biodiversity tour de force Tales from the Brazilian Rainforest, 10:30 a.m., 12:30 and 2 p.m., Rosenthal Plaza, $4-$5. 421-3888.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com