Going out

War drama: Xavier University and the Monmouth Theater join hundreds of theater companies around the world for a reading of the original anti-war play Lysistrata. 7:30 p.m. today, Gallagher Center Theater (Dana Avenue and Victory Parkway, XU) and Monmouth Theater (639 Monmouth St., Newport). Donations accepted. 604-8545 or (859) 655-9140.

Mardi Gras: There's food from more than 30 restaurants, cocktails and soft drinks from 16 distributors, a parade with Marge Schott, tons of music and beads galore at the Northern Kentucky Restaurant Association's 12th annual fund-raiser for Homeless Children. 6:30 p.m. today, Northern Kentucky Convention Center, $40. (859) 291-6572.

On TV

Top pick: Order in the court: The Practice returns to ABC after being pre-empted by reruns for two consecutive weeks. Tonight, Bobby (Dylan McDermott) seeks compensation for a client who served 15 years for a murder he did not commit (9 p.m., Channels 9, 2).

•Critic John Kiesewetter also says Hollywood Celebrates Denzel Washington when Tom Hanks presents him the 17th annual American Cinematheque Award (8 p.m., AMC).

The goods

Link it: So here's what we keep reading in the fashion mags: Cufflinks are big, but not those clunkers Granddad wore. It's the custom - and pricey cheap - jobs that are growing. So here's a way to get some on the cheap: www.eco-artware.com. What they do is make cufflinks out of anything you send them - subway tokens, coins, old typewriter keys, marbles, keys from that old computer you just scrapped. They run $40 to $75 and, yeah, they also do studs for the tux crowd.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: Previews begin for the Playhouse in the Park blockbuster production Pacific Overtures. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Robert S. Marx Theatre, $32. 421-3888.

48 hours out: The renowned baroque ensemble Apollo's Cabinet performs an Ash Wednesday program. 7 p.m., Calvary Episcopal Church, 3766 Clifton Ave., Clifton. 861-4437.

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com