Summer television is pretty abysmal -- in two words: Celebrity Circus. It would be one thing if Charles Nelson Reilly were still around or Wayland Flowers and Madame, but they're not, and we're sorry, Peter Brady on the high wire just doesn't cut it. Thankfully we have enough characters around here to keep us entertained and away from the dreck on the small screen. And while Celeb Circus airs on Wednesdays (not that we watch, we swear), Monday night TV blows, too. Thankfully we don't have to sit home and click through three thousand channels with nothing to watch. Instead, we'll go to Ouzo's new Mystery Mondays, which features a five-course ''Mystery Menu'' with dishes hailing from across the Mediterranean for just $35 per person or, for $10 more, with wine pairings. In addition to the gastronomy, there's also some astrology with a genuine tarot card reader in Ouzo's lounge. A free shot of the restaurant's potent namesake will conclude the meal, but not your evening, as a resident DJ spins a very Mediterranean soundtrack while a belly dancer will answer the question of So, You Think You Can Dance? Check it out for yourselves beginning at 7 p.m. Mondays.

Meanwhile, there's nothing mysterious about the Gen Art and Citi Private Pass Shop Miami event on Thursday at The Moore Building in the Design District, where, from 7-11 p.m., retail therapy is the common theme as shopaholics peruse fashions from more than 40 local designers and boutiques -- much like a New York City-style sample sale, although a lot more civilized. The four-hour shopping spree for women and men features cocktails, beauty services by Lace Nail Lab, and DJ Induce, whose name may not be so ironic in its mission to get you in the mood to exercise the plastic in these rough economic times. A runway show at 9 p.m. will show you how you should look in that adorable little number, and after a few free 10 Cane Rum, Baileys, Peronis and even smartwater cocktails, you won't really care much. There are a limited amount of VIP tickets that include a one-hour private sale, access to the 10 Cane VIP Lounge and a VIP gift bag for $30 in advance and $40 at the door -- cash only. General admission includes open bar and beauty services for $10 in advance and $20 at the door, again, cash only. For tickets, call 305-695-8200.

For those who lament the loss of Ivy in Aventura, Diane Heller and Susan Scott, who hosted its popular Wednesday nights, have moved the scene to Justin's, 17813 Biscayne Blvd., where every Wednesday there's no cover, free parking and $100 bottles of Ketel One, which is virtually a bargain in these parts. Scott and Heller are busy, also hosting Ritual Thursdays at Nikki Marina in Hollywood, offering a $22 dinner special for all women and half-price bottles of anything until 11 p.m. (a real bargain!), and Entree Saturdays at Kitchen 305, the restaurant formerly known as Michael's Kitchen at the Newport Beachside Hotel in Sunny Isles, featuring a $24 dinner menu, $75 bottles of Ketel One (practically free!), no cover and $6 valet.

While you're in Sunny Isles you may as well drive a few more miles to the Seminole Hard Rock's Paradise Live, a more modern version of, say, your 45-year-old Deadhead cousin's laser show, featuring Classic Albums Live, a Toronto-based concert series featuring excellent recreations of rock and roll's legendary masterpieces, note for note, cut for cut. According to series creator Craig Martin, what Classic Albums Live is not is impersonator or a cover band. ''All our energy is put into the music,'' Martin says. ''We don't wear costumes or jump around stage. We just perform the music to perfection. This music is sacred and we pay it the ultimate respect.'' This weekend's show? Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. Shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for individual seats and are available at the Hard Rock Live box office or through Ticketmaster.

Headlining another cool show at The Raleigh at 8 p.m. Thursdays is Deborah Magdalena & The Brass King, whose show The Alma Lounge is ''a delicious mixture of Nuyorican Poet's Cafe meets Club Tropicana with Harlem's Cotton Club Martini in the legendary Raleigh Hotel.'' The urban, vintage, Latin jazz show will feature vocalists, musicians and poets as well as a snack menu, valet parking and one free cocktail for $20, or, no cover if you don't drink or have a car to park. Call 305-951-1956. It's not Joey Fatone squeezing into a leotard and battling clowns on the high wire and for that, we're very, very thankful.

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