Going out

Get your beads: MainStrasse's Mardi Gras crowds are gone, but there's one more weekend Mardi Gras to check out today: That would be Jazzmania, where Cincinnati favorite Lagniappe will be playing traditional Cajun music. The bar will also be serving a Cajun dinner. 6 p.m. food, 7 p.m. music, Jazzmania, Ninth and Willard streets, Covington, $5 cover includes food. (859) 491-2403.

Them Bones: Bluesy favorites Them Bones spend the night making music at an Open Blues Jam in Newport's funky Mansion Hill neighborhood. To really get the feel of the neighborhood, get there a little early and run down the street (two blocks) for a cocktail or dinner at Pompilio's. 8 p.m. today, Mansion Hill Tavern, 502 Washington Ave., Newport. (859) 581-0100.

More blues: The Rhythm, Blues and Jazz Masters Summit goes all-out when a whole herd of performers shows up for awards night. Keith Little, Greg Schaber, Leroy Ellington & E-Funk Band, Mike Wade and Rico & Two Piece will be there making music and leading a round of applause for lifetime achievement award winners Ed Cunningham, Eugene Goss and Thomas Lomax. 5 p.m. today, 20th Century, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley, $15. 731-8000.

Chamber music: The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra climbs the hill to University Heights and the UC campus for an afternoon of music with violinist Yang Liu and Gao Ping on piano. They'll join the orchestra on Mozart's Symphony No. 25 in G Minor, Joel Hoffman's Self Portrait with Mozart, Mozart's Masonic Funeral Music and his Symphony No. 40 in G Minor. 3 p.m. today, UC College-Conservatory of Music, Corbett Auditorium, University of Cincinnati. $25, $10 students. 723-1182.

Last Call

Mountain lore: This is the last day for the Cincinnati Museum Center's Passport to the World series saluting all aspects of mountain culture. Appalachian Culture Fest has it all: Sale of crafts, demonstrations of same, tons of bluegrass, a stage full of cloggers, storytellers and more. Noon-5 p.m. today, Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, free. 287-7000.

Cowboy lore: It's also the last day for the annual visit of Longhorn Professional Rodeo with the country's top cowboys competing in bronc riding, steer wrestling and calf roping. 2 p.m. today, Cincinnati Gardens, 2250 Seymour Ave., Roselawn, $12-$25. 351-3999.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: The cream of the local jazz crop assembles at the College-Conservatory of Music for a night the school is calling the Faculty Jazztet. Among the musicians: Vocalist Mary Ellen Tanner, sax man Rick VanMatre, drummer John Von Ohlen, pianist Phil DeGreg and several others, all faculty members. 8 p.m. Monday, Robert J. Werner Recital Hall, CCM, University of Cincinnati, University Heights, free. 556-4183.

48 hours out: Pianist Patsy Rabinowitz and flutist Danielle Hundley do the honors this week when Christ Church does one of its 30-minute lunchtime concerts of easy-going classical music. 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. Fourth St., downtown. Bring lunch or buy one there for $3.50. 621-1817.

72 hours till Wednesday: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus brings its Greatest Show on Earth to town for a five-day run. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, continues through Sunday, U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway, downtown, $13.50-$55. 421-4111.

Jim Knippenberg

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