By Jason Nebel
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Going Out

Anita Loebel: The Caldecott Award-winning children's book author/illustrator is at the Blue Manatee Children's Bookstore to introduce her new work, My Grandmother's Stories: A Collection of Jewish Folktales, and a new version of her 1980s classic The Night Before Christmas, 11:30 a.m. today, 3054 Madison Road, Oakley. 731-2665.

One-man show: The Victoria Theatre in Dayton opens a two-week run of the Broadway hit Defending the Caveman, with comedian Rob Becker giving his take on topics such as contemporary feminism and masculine sensitivity, 8 p.m. today, 138 N. Main St., Dayton. $28.50-$57. (888) 228-3630.

New exhibit: The Miami University Art Museum opens Myaami: Contemporary Artists of the Miami Nation, featuring beading, painting, ribbon-work, pottery and jewelry by members of the Myaami nation living all over the United States, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today, U.S. 27, Oxford. Exhibit continues through Feb. 1 (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday). (513) 529-2232.

Open microphone: Musicians are welcome to perform a short set at Allyn's Cafe's songwriter night starting 9:30 p.m. today, 3538 Columbia Parkway, Columbia Tusculum. The night attracts a mix of spirited amateurs and local professionals trying out new material. No cover. 871-5779.

New for Lunch

Chokolate Morel: The restaurant in Mason, known for its intimate, historic space and world-inspired creations by chef Dave Avalos, is open for lunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. The menu will change daily but expect to find concoctions such as honey-tarragon-praline nut chicken salad, roasted majito chicken sandwich and flatbread tarts with toppings such as arugula pesto, black pepper walnuts and white cheese. Mason-Montgomery Road and U.S. 42. 754-1146.

New on CD

Critic's pick: Today, the queen of pagan-pop, Lilith Fair founder Sarah McLachlan is basking in her Afterglow (Arista; $18.98), her first CD of new material since 1997's Surfacing. (See review on this page.)

• Metal kings P.O.D, the world's biggest crossover Christian band, has the week's top rock release with Payable on Death (Atlantic; $18.98).

• Americana rocker Ryan Adams is back with Rock N Roll (Lost Highway; $18.98)

• As the feud continues, expect no love songs to 50 Cent on rapper Ja Rule's new Blood in My Eye (Def Jam; $18.98).

• In other music-feud news, Dixie Chick Natalie Maines won't be dueting Toby Keith on his new Shock 'n' Y'All (Dreamworks; $18.98). --Larry Nager

Planning Ahead

24 hours out: Cincinnati author Corson Hirschfeld is at Joseph-Beth Booksellers to introduce his latest mystery, Freeze Dry, a tale of a con man leading a religious group that makes the mistake of borrowing money from the mob, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Rookwood Pavilion, Madison and Edwards roads, Norwood. 396-8960.

48 hours out: The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music combines its drama and musical theater departments for a production of The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade, which explores the controversial ideas of the French novelist Marquis de Sade, 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Cohen Family Studio Theater, UC. $5-$10. 556-4183.

---

E-mail jnebel@enquirer.com or fax 768-8016