By Jason Nebel
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Going out

Powerman 5000: The high-energy punk-metal act is at Bogart's, 8 p.m. today, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. $15. 562-4949.

Irish whiskeys: An Irish whiskey ambassador is at the ultra-British Pub at Rookwood Mews to introduce eight varieties of Irish whiskey at a tasting where, for $20, one can sample three with choice of Irish-inspired gourmet appetizers, 5-7:30 p.m. today, Rookwood Commons, Edmondson and Edwards roads, Norwood. 841-2748.

Book signing: Best-selling novelist Elizabeth Berg is at Joseph-Beth Booksellers to sign and discuss her latest work Say When, a story of an extramarital affair from the man's perspective, 7 p.m. today, Rookwood Pavilion, Norwood. 396-8960.

Norse festival: The Chamber Music Festival at Northern Kentucky University features a performance of Mozart Viola Quintets by the Amernet String Quartet, 7:30 p.m. today, Greaves Concert Hall, NKU, Highland Heights. Suggested donation is $7. (859) 572-6984.

On TV

Top pick: If you missed some of Katie Couric's interview with Laci Peterson's family and friends on the Today show (7-9 a.m. today, Channels 5, 22), it will be expanded into a one-hour Dateline NBC special (10 p.m., Channels 5, 22).

• Critic John Kiesewetter also suggests that Steve Irwin's fans catch the Crocodile Hunter Live! (9 p.m., Animal Planet), a one-hour special from the Australia Zoo founded by his parents.

The Goods

Stock up on chocolate: Galerie Clearance Center in Hebron is seriously reducing the stockpile of the gift boxes (many filled with candy) that it specializes in with a box sale Wednesday through Saturday. Buy an empty cardboard box for $10 (10-inch square) or $20 (16-1/2-inch-by-12-inch-by-14-1/4-inch) and fill it up with stuffed animals, M&M collectibles, ceramics, sequined zip pouches, velvet-covered boxes, Barbie purses filled with goodies and seasonal gift creations. 3380 Langley Drive. (859) 538-8080.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: Garfield creator Jim Davis is at Books & Co. in Kettering to introduce his latest collection In Dog Years I'd Be Dead: Garfield at 25, 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering. (800) 777-4881.

48 hours out: Showboat Majestic opens a production of the rock/pop revue Is There Life After High School?, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Public Landing, downtown. $12-$15. 241-6550.

72 hours till Thursday: The Cincinnati Art Museum presents its annual "Taste of Duveneck" fund-raiser, featuring food and wine from 20 area restaurants and 13 wine merchants, 6:30-9 p.m., Eden Park. $60-$75 benefits conservation efforts at the museum. 721-2787.

Also Thursday: Laura Cantrell is the hip New York City disc jockey who is making her own music that other DJs rave about. She plays the Southgate House with the Schramms, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 24 E. Third St., Newport. $10, $12 day of show. 779-9462.

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