By Jim Knippenberg
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Going out

Classical Roots: The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra kicks off its groundbreaking "Classical Roots: Spiritual Heights" series with works by Dvorak and Mozart, plus music by African-American composers such as Harry T. Burleigh, Duke Ellington and others. 7:30 p.m. today, Zion Baptist Church, 630 Glenwood Ave., Avondale, free. 381-3300.

Artful evenings: The Taft Museum of Art lecture series surfaces at the Blue Ash Branch Library with curator of education Abby Schwartz speaking about portrait painter John Singer Sargent. 7 p.m. today, 4911 Cooper Road, free. 369-6051.

Acoustic lunch: The popular lunchtime concert series in Piatt Park features the sounds of folk duo Wild Carrot. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. today, Garfield Place and Vine Street, downtown, free. 352-4080.

On TV

Top pick: The doctors are in at the FX channel, which premieres an adult drama about the superficial world of plastic surgery. Nip/Tuck (10 p.m., FX), with Joely Richardson.

• Critic John Kiesewetter also says don't miss David Letterman, Billy Crystal, Cheryl Tiegs and Toni Tennille (no Captain?) on a 1979 Battle of the Network Stars (7 and 11 p.m., Trio Channel.)

New CDs

Critic's pick: Lollapalooza ringmaster Perry Farrell's reunited Jane's Addiction unveils the band's first album of new material in 13 years, Strays (Capitol; $18.98; $22.98 with limited-edition DVD).

• R&B diva Mya is back with Moodring (Interscope; $18.98 with bonus calendar).

• Hard-core honky-tonker Brad Paisley has Mud on the Tires (Arista; $18.98).

• Unrepentant '70s metal superstar Kiss returns with Symphony: Alive IV (Sanctuary; $24.98; $27.98 limited edition with a third CD), recorded Down Under with the Melbourne Symphony.

• Folk-rock icon Bob Dylan's new project is the soundtrack to his film Masked and Anonymous (Sony; $18.98; $21.98 for limited edition two-disc set with live unreleased tracks, as well as seven songs from his new reissue program in SACD surround-sound catalog).

• Alt-rockers 311 release Evolver (Volcano; $18.98)

New on DVD/Video

Critic's picks: It's a good week for independent film fans, says Enquirer film critic Margaret A. McGurk, with the arrival on DVD of Atom Egoyan's moving Ararat, about Armenians coping with painful history. Also: Jesus' Son, an offbeat drug tale featuring Billy Crudup and a manic Jack Black.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: Miami University botanist David Francko is at Joseph-Beth Booksellers to sign and discuss Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths, as well as serving up a batch of creative gardening ideas. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Rookwood Pavilion, Madison and Edwards roads, Norwood. 396-8960.

48 hours out: The Behringer-Crawford Museum's Coffee Cup Concert Series continues with the Juggernaut Jug Band, 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Devou Park, Covington, $10 (series discounts). (859) 491-4003.

72 hours 'til Friday: The Middletown Greek parish Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church begins its annual spanakopita-baklava-folk dance festival. 5-11 p.m., 2500 Grand Ave. (513) 422-2312.

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