Jazzy nights: Jazzmania's Open Acoustic Jam is still fairly new, but it's growing in popularity every week. This week it's Cash Only and the Badaires cranking out modern jazz with a taste of the classics - sort of the best of both worlds. 8 p.m. today, Jazzmania, 837 Willard St., Covington, free. (859) 491-2403.

Touch of herb: Cooking instructor Rita Heikenfeld hauls out her pots, pans and herbs for a session on cooking with herbs and how to use healing herbs at home. 7 p.m. today, Green Township Branch Library, 6525 Bridgetown Road, Green Township, free. 369-6095.

'Full Monty': Those desperate out-of-work mill workers keep getting buck nekkid every night in Full Monty. The musical - light, frothy and silly fun - isn't going to change the world or anything, but it's good for a laugh or 20. 8 p.m. today through Sunday, Procter & Gamble Hall, Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., downtown, $20-$65. 241-7469.

New on CD

Critic's pick: The first-ever complete recording of Franz Liszt's

amazing oratorio, St. Stanislaus, with the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival maestro James Conlon was recorded at last year's festival. The Telarc disc ($15.99) features Kristine Jepson, mezzo; baritone Donnie Ray Albert and a host of other soloists. Liszt only finished two scenes of this oratorio about Poland's patron saint before he died.

New on DVD/video

Nikki Reed (left) and Evan Rachel Wood star in Thirteen.

Critic's picks: A blood-curdling look at self-destructive adolescents and riveting performances by teen stars Evan Rachel Wood and Nikki Reed make Thirteen this week's most gripping home video release, says Enquirer film critic Margaret A. McGurk. Also new this week: The award-winning documentary about a tragic family secret, Capturing the Friedmans, and the heart-warming family film Radio, with Cuba Gooding Jr. playing the real-life disabled man who inspired a small-town football team.

Planning Ahead

24 hours out: Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati tackles Romulus Linney's wonderful Lesson Before Dying, a play based on the Ernest Gaines novel (subject of The Enquirer's first On The Same Page initiative) about a man biding his time until his execution. It's a play about maintaining dignity when all odds are against it. 8 p.m. Wednesday, continues through Feb. 14, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, $28, $25 students and seniors. 421-3555.

48 hours out: The Iguanas travel up from New Orleans, bringing along their infectious mix of Tex-Mex, rock and R&B for a night full of music, including a batch of songs from their new Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart CD. The Cole Bros. will also be there to warm up the crowd. 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Southgate House, 24 E. Third St., Newport, $12 advance, $15 at the door. (513) 779-9462 or (859) 431-2201.

Also 48 hours out: SparkCincinnati kicks off a year-long celebration of health and fitness with a New Year's Resolution Bash. Sort of a combo party/info session, the evening has a band, free food, cash bar, mix 'n' mingle, videos, tons of advice and the kick off of the 10,000,000 minutes campaign, a deal that will try to get Cincinnatians to spend 10 million minutes exercising in 2004. 6 p.m. Thursday, Paul Brown Stadium Club East, free. 241-6470; www.sparkcincinnati.com.

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