Going out

Hootie: '90s hitmakers Hootie & the Blowfish brings its tasty mix of pop-rock-blues to Riverbend Music Center with opening act Big Head Todd & the Monsters. 7:30 p.m. today, $15-$25. 562-4949.

Train: The radio favorites are at Bogart's with a batch of tunes from their critically acclaimed new CD My Private Nation. Matt Nathanson opens the show. 8 p.m. today, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, $25. 562-4949.

Haiku humor: Wordplay master Aaron Naparstek reads from and signs his fun new Honku: The Zen Antidote of Road Rage, full of comic relief for those who get huffy around cell phone-toting drivers, SUV road hoggers, driving dullards and more.

7 p.m. today, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Rookwood Pavilion, Madison and Edwards roads, Norwood. 396-8960.

On TV

Top pick: Cincinnati's Wes Cowan, one of TV's four new History Dectectives, helps Morristown, N.J., firefighters determine if Ulysses S. Grant actually visited their station on the PBS series premiere (8 p.m., Channels 48, 16). (Q&A with Cowan.)

• Critic John Kiesewetter also says baseball fans will enjoy the annual Home Run Derby (8 p.m., ESPN), even though Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa won't be stepping to the plate.

New in E-games

Volleyball alert: The newest release in Xbox's renegade sports series, Outlaw Volleyball delivers a funny, sexy, totally irreverent take on two-on-two beach volleyball. Gamers become one of 16 scantily clad players for great heads-up gameplay. It includes hilarious play-by-play commentary by actor Steve Carell (The Daily Show, Bruce Almighty). The learning curve here is short, with great in-game video tutorials available. Great for a group of people on the couch with four controllers, or playing multiplayer on the Xbox Live network. (Simon & Schuster; Xbox; $49.99; M for Mature).

• Also new: Wario World (Nintendo; Gamecube; $49.99; E for Everyone): Mario's nemesis finally hosts his own adventure. And Big Mutha Truckers (THQ; Xbox, PS2, PC; $19.99; T for Teens): A big-rig smash 'em up at a great price for console and PC.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: Paramount's Kings Island celebrates the upcoming opening of Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life with a Hollywood-style stunt show running Tuesday through July 27 in the International Showplace (next to the Eiffel Tower). Three shows daily Sunday-Friday, four on Saturday; free with park admission. 754-5700.

48 hours out: Roots rock favorite Slaid Cleaves is at Jack Quinn's Emerald Room with opening act Adam Carroll. 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Tuesday, 112 E. Fourth St., Covington, $12-$15. 779-9462.

72 hours till Thursday: Wilmington College-Community Summer Theatre opens a production of the musical romp Candide. 8 p.m., Boyd Auditorium, Wilmington, $10. (937) 382-6661, Ext. 267.

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E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com; fax: 768-8330.