Going out

        Alison Krauss: You heard her in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, now she appears with Union Station for an evening of high energy bluegrass and folk, 8 p.m. today at the Taft Theatre, Fifth and Sycamore streets, downtown. $28-$35. 562-4949.

        "Forever Plaid': The popular '50s musical revue about a vocal quartet whose lives are cut short in a car crash opens 8 p.m. todayaboard the Showboat Majestic, Public Landing, downtown. $12-$14. 241-6550.

        Swedish prog rock: Underground favorites the Flower Kings bring their arty, psychedelic sounds to BarrelHouse Brewing Company, 9 p.m. today, 22 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine. $12- $15. 421-2337.

        After-hours art: The Cincinnati Art Museum is now open late on Wednesdays with special programming 5-9 p.m. Tonight, while roving the galleries you can hear music by Iswhat or sit in on a gallery talk with Deputy Director Stephen Bonadies. 721-2787.

Staying in

        TV picks: If you thought Twin Peaks was weird, get a load of Wolf Lake (10 p.m., Channels 12, 7).CBS jump-starts the fall TV season with this wild tale about people who turn into wolves in a remote Washington town. Lou Diamond Phillips, Tim Matheson, Graham Greene, Sharon Lawrence and Scott Bairstow star in what could be the season's first cancellation.

        • Critic John Kiesewetter also says Junkyard Wars (9 p.m., Learning Channel) starts a new season with two teams trying to build monster trucks.

The Goods

        CD picks: The record biz begins its fall blitz this week with a bunch of major new releases.

        • Mariah Carey's long-awaited Glitter (Virgin; $18.98 CD, $12.98 cassette) hits stores ahead of the movie with a mix of ballads and hip-hop tinged versions of '80s disco hits.

        • Former Cincinnatian Babyface releases Face 2 Face (Arista; $18.98 CD, $12.98 cassette), his first for the label run by his longtime friend and Cincinnati native L.A. Reid.

        • Oscar winner Bob Dylan is back with Love and Theft (Columbia; $18.98 CD only; $20.98 limited edition with bonus two-track CD).

        • Twang kings the Derailers update classic country on Here Come the Derailers (Lucky Dog; $17.98 CD only), the Texas band's first for the label.

        • Rapper Jay Z has Blueprint (Polygram; $19.98 CD, $12.98 cassette).

        • Long-running metal band Slayer is as loud and cranky as ever on God Hates Us All (American; $18.98 CD, $12.98 cassette).

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: Mystery author Margaret Coel visits Joseph-Beth Booksellers to sign and discuss her latest novel, The Thunder Keeper, 7 p.m. Thursday, Rookwood Pavilion, Norwood. 396-8960.

        48 hours out: Maestro Paavo Jaarvi takes the podium for his first concert with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra featuring works by Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky and a world premiere work by Charles Coleman, 8 p.m. Friday, Music Hall. $13-$36. 381-3300.

        72 hours 'til Saturday: There are open auditions for NBC's new daytime syndicated version of The Weakest Link starting 9 a.m. at the Westin Hotel, Fifth and Vine streets, downtown. 621-7700.

        — Jim Knippenberg

Contact Jim Knippenberg by phone: 768-8513; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: knipenquirer@yahoo.com.

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