Part Ii

• ITALIAN REVERIE

  Arturo's

• 'Mad Dog' Russo debuts on Sirius radio

  New company, same ol' "Dog."

• Review: 'Save Me'

  (3 STARS) (unrated)

• Weekend watch

  TOMORROW

• BEST BETS: WEEKEND!

  FRIDAY

• Packed in like meat

  The Meatpacking district is one of the most happening places in the city. Here are five spots where the jet set hangs out and paaaaaarties. And if you're a newbie, bring plenty of cash, always make sure women are in your entourage, dress to impress and don't try to get in by bribing the bouncer.

• NYC PICKS

  Up beat

• CAST CALLS

  EGLEVSKY BALLET casts ages 9-14 for "Nutcracker," 1 p.m. tomorrow, Herricks Center, New Hyde Park, $20 fee, 516-746-1115.

• LI Arts

  last chance

• TV TALK

  DAYTIME

• TO OUR READERS

  "Bangkok Dangerous," a thriller starring Nicolas Cage, was not screened for critics. Read Rafer Guzmán's review tonight at Newsday.com/movies.

• Director Michael Disher brings Sondheim to Southampton

  Michael Disher isn't one to rest on his laurels. The director lauded for his student-community productions at now-defunct Long Island University-Southampton launched a new theater company at Southampton Cultural Center last season.

• BEST BETS: KIDS

  ANIMAL ARTIFACTS

• NYC Picks: Theater

  The Broadway season doesn't get serious for another few weeks, but there's plenty of new adventures Off-Broadway already:

• MetroMix Hot Picks

  Music

• NYC PICKS: Movies

  'THE 39 STEPS'

• TODAY'S PICKS

  SAMURAI GIRL (8 p.m., ABC Family) - Premiere: Jamie Chung ("Real World: San Diego") stars in this three-night adaptation of the popular teen novels.

• OFF THE WALL

  MICHAEL VICK'S DOGS. What happened to the biggest victims of the QB's notorious dog-fighting scandal? "DogTown" (9-11 p.m., NatGeo) kicks off its new season by chronicling the sanctuary rehab of four of the "most challenging" pit bulls found last year at Vick's Virginia compound. Video, photos, updates on the Vick dogs at channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/dogtown.

• Review: Nico at the Gatsby Mansion in Islip

  Nico at the Gatsby Mansion

• READER PICKS

  Web readers had lots to say about our recent article

• Review: 'A Girl Cut in Two'

  (3 ½ STARS) (unrated)

• Medieval Festival and other fall fests on LI

  Go back - way back - in time to the days when men in shining armor jousted with swords and battle axes, rescued damsels in distress and ate bloody hunks of meat with their bare hands.

• Monica Seles has 'Dancing' advice for Misty May-Treanor

  Tennis champ Monica Seles has words of caution for another statuesque athlete following in her steps on ABC's " Dancing With the Stars."

• QuickView: 'Stand Up to Cancer'

  WHEN|WHERE Tonight at

• Review: 'Everybody Wants to Be Italian'

  (1 STAR) (R)

• Oprah in talks to make an appearance on '30 Rock'

  Oprah Winfrey is in talks to make an appearance on NBC's "30 Rock," "Access Hollywood" reports.

• Amy Dickinson: Mom's dating gives daughter discomfort

  DEAR AMY: I have been divorced for more than a year and am dating a great guy. He is 55, and I am 49. I am not ready to get married. However, we have discussed him moving in with the kids and me. My son is 17, and my daughter is 20. A few months ago, my boyfriend and I went away for the night, and my daughter became very upset over the thought of my possibly sleeping with him. Consequently, we discussed the fact that she was uncomfortable with having him stay over (in the guest room) in the future. My son has not expressed negative or positive feelings with regard to the matter. Please share your thoughts.

• Places to catch a quick meal

  School starts. Workload: up. Road work under way. Traffic back with vengeance. Yes, it's time for meals-in-a-hurry. Here are four spots where you'll find them.

• LI Arts: ART

  WHAT "Alli Rufrano: Memory Box" features somber photographic images of memorial cards wrapped with materials that symbolize the artist's relationship with each lost friend or family member; also, "Into the Light: Photographs by Patricia Colombraro" explores the subconscious mind and how it relates to human spirituality.

• LI Arts: MUSIC

  WHAT The Long Beach Jazz Festival will feature performances by Ben Lacy, The Mark Sherman Group, Dean Brown Band, N.Y.'s Finest and The Rachel Z Trio.

• THE BUZZ

  GETTING READY FOR THE VMAS. Britney Spears may not sing at MTV's Video Music Awards, but Christina Aguilera will, The Associated Press reports. Aguilera will join other top-name performers, including the Jonas Brothers, T.I., Pink, and Kid Rock, host Russell Brand announced yesterday. Speaking to reporters on the backlot of the Paramount Studios in Hollywood, Brand bantered with Aguilera and rapper T.I. "It's going to be, actually, bloody exciting," Brand said of the awards show, which will celebrate its 25th year on Sunday. Brand, an English comedian largely unknown to U.S. audiences, displayed his brand of humor that can best be described with one British word: cheeky. During yesterday's presentation, he described the Jonas Brothers as "God's favorite virgins" and racily commented on Aguilera's physique.

• NYC PICKS: Art

  'CITY LIGHTS'