Going out

Catherine Coulter: The best-selling - and frequently off-the-wall - romance-suspense author is here to introduce her new thriller BlindSide, 7 p.m. today, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Rookwood Pavilion, Madison and Edwards roads, Norwood. 396-8960.

Iranian film: The Cincinnati Film Society steps up with a screening of the film festival favorite Under the Skin of the City about a mother of four trying to keep her family together in modern day Tehran. 7 p.m. today, auditorium, Cincinnati Art Museum, Eden Park, $4-$6. 721-2787.

County fair: The Hamilton County Fair gets started 11 a.m.-11 p.m. today at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds with agriculture and farm animal contests, horse shows, music, and demolition derby at 7:30 p.m., 77th and Vine streets, Carthage, $7. 761-4224.

Ricky Nye: The blues and boogie piano favorite plays at 8 p.m. today in Chez Nora's rooftop lounge. Sixth and Main streets, Covington, no cover. (859) 491-8027.

On TV

Critic's pick: For a crowded moment in time, this series tells us, the Old West and the new forensics overlapped. Tom Berenger stars as a no-nonsense marshal in the 1880s West. Suddenly, he's working with a Pinkerton man (Peter O'Meara) who has an Ivy League education and a lot of fancy theories about fingerprints and such. Peacemakers, 9 p.m., USA Network.

• This reality show avoids the cynical, lies-and-illusion approach to TV romance. The eight couples are already engaged; the only question is which one will win a lush wedding at the end of the competition. Race to the Altar, 8 p.m., Channels 5, 22.

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Hey, bikers: Well sure, it's early to be thinking about the weekend, but this is one of those deals you're going to have to plan for. To wit: Sierra Club's annual Morning Glory Bike Ride gets rolling at 4 a.m. - yeah, a.m., it's not a typo - Sunday morning. Traditionally about 2,000 bleary-eyed riders show up for the 17- to 22-mile ride starting at Yeatman's Cove and rolling all over Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Preregister ($12) 2-5 p.m. Saturday at Yeatman's Cove or register day of ride after 3 a.m. at Yeatman's Cove ($15). 769-9184 or visit www.ohio.sierraclub.org/miami.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's Classical Guitar Conference dishes up an open-to-the-public faculty recital highlighting a diverse mix of Baroque and international favorites. 8 p.m. Thursday, Watson Hall, UC, free. 556-4183.

48 hours out: Closson's Phyllis J. Weston Art Gallery has an opening reception for its new show of works by the internationally-renowned American-Finnish painter John Finnegan, plus new works by area favorite Frank McElwain. 5-8 p.m. Friday, 2643 Erie Ave., Hyde Park. 762-5510.

72 hours till Saturday: The 127 Corridor "World's Longest Yard Sale" stretching from Northern Kentucky to Alabama gets started in Covington's MainStrasse Village. 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Sixth and Main streets, Covington, buyers and sellers welcome. (859) 491-0458.

Jim Knippenberg

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