Going out

St. Patrick's parade: The annual green parade trots out more than 200 units and 5,000 participants marching the streets of downtown while a bunch of downtown bars and restaurants serve up green beer and corned beef. Begins 1 p.m. today at Eighth and Reedy, travels west on Eighth, south on Vine and east on Fifth. 922-2230.

Karamozov Brothers: The famous acro-juggle-slapstick troupe joins the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for the whimsical Erich Kunzel extravaganza that will go to Carnegie Hall in April. 7 p.m. today, Music Hall, $17-$47. 381-3300.

Opera Raps: The Cincinnati Opera discussion series has opera expert Roger Pines chatting it up about the summer 2003 productions of Turandot and La Traviata. 4 p.m. today, Mayerson Auditorium, Hebrew Union College, 3101 Clifton Ave., Clifton, free. 744-3511.

On TV

Top pick: Rock 'n' roll! The Police reunite for the first time in 18 years to play "Roxanne" and "Every Breath You Take," while Elvis Costello and AC/DC rock the house at the 2003 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony (9 p.m., VH1) taped Monday in New York.

• Critic John Kiesewetter also says Wayne Brady plays '60s singer Jackie Wilson on American Dreams (8 p.m., Channels 5, 22).

The goods

Magnet mania: Is it possible? Magnetic Poetry is already 10 years old? Yep, the little tiles you stick on the fridge to make instant poems are not only 10, they have also expanded all over the place. The big push this year is "kid friendly," with products aimed at teaching language. Such as: In Other Words ($14.95), two-sided tiles with a common word on one side and a less common synonym on the other; and First Words ($14.95), oversized tiles that double as a starter kit for young readers. Available in toy stores and at www.magneticpoetry.com.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: Jack Quinn's Irish Pub throws an all-day St. Patrick's celebration with bagpipers, Irish food and an evening concert with contemporary Irish pop act The Celtic Boys. 11 a.m. until closing Monday, 112 E. Fourth St., Covington. (859) 491-6699.

48 hours out: Friends Night Out at Ensemble Theatre dishes up a 5:30 p.m. happy hour and dinner buffet at BarrelHouse Brewing Co. and a performance of Warren Leight's James and Annie at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, $20. 421-3555.

72 hours till Wednesday: Former U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and president of Ireland Mary Robinson gives a presentation, "The True Agenda of Human Rights." 7 p.m., Hall Auditorium, Miami University, Oxford, free ticket available at (513) 529-3200.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com