Going out

Conservation series: The Barrows Conservation Lecture Series kicks off its season with world-famous field biologist Dr. George B. Schaller and his thoughts on "Conservation in Tibet: Of Snow Leopards and Tibetan Antelope." 7:30 p.m. today, Cintas Center, Xavier University, $8-$12. 559-7767.

Ben Kweller: The quirky alternative radio favorite is at the 20th Century with equally quirky opening acts Centromatic and AM Radio. 8 p.m. today, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley, $12. 562-4949.

Theater: The New Edgecliff Theater has a "pay-what-you-can" preview of Three the Hard Way, Ohio playwright Linda Eisenstein's new work about three sisters who come together to bury their father. 8 p.m. today, Artery Theater, 913 Monmouth St., Newport. 763-3844.

On TV

Top pick: Catch one last blast of icy winter games on TV before the spring thaw, when Katarina Witt, Todd Eldredge, Kurt Browning and Olympic pairs champions Jamie Sale and David Pelletier of Canada perform at the Smuckers Stars on Ice 2003 (9 p.m., A&E).

• Critic John Kiesewetter also says CBS' Late Show repeats Dr. Phil McGraw's hilarious visit with David Letterman from Feb. 17, when Dave beat The Tonight Show's Jay Leno in the ratings for the first time in three years (11:35 p.m., Channels 12, 7).

Planning ahead

24 hours out: The annual BockFest beer and food blast in the Main Street Entertainment District kicks off with a parade leaving Arnold's (210 E. Eighth St., downtown) at 5:30 p.m. Friday and continuing up Main Street through Over-the-Rhine.

48 hours out: Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series at Playhouse in the Park continues with the Lexington Children's Theatre production of Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, based on the popular children's book. 10:30 a.m., 12:30 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Rosenthal Plaza. $4-$5. 421-3888.

72 hours till Sunday: The Xavier University Classical Music Series welcomes star French pianist Jean-Philippe Collard, 2:30 p.m., Gallagher Student Center Theater, XU, Evanston. $17-$19. 745-3161.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com