Going out

        Dance: Contemporary Dance Theater opens its 2001-02 guest artist season with with a spin or two around the stage by the venerable Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. 8:30 p.m. today-Saturday, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, Aronoff Center for the Arts, $18-$22. 241-7469.

        Misfits: The old-guard punk act — one of the pioneers of the whole genre — brings its 25th anniversary show to town for a night of roof-raising. 8:30 p.m. today, Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, $16.50-$18. 562-4949.

        Haunted village: The historic Heritage Village Museum at Sharon Woods — old enough to be haunted, that's for sure — does Halloween with spooky offerings ranging from a headless horseman to a haunted graveyard, 1800s funeral parlor and more. 6-9 p.m. Fridays, 5-8 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Oct. 28, $7. 563-9484.

        Mug Shots: Madison Clayworks shakes things up when it opens its ever-popular exhibit of one-of-a-kind mugs crafted by local artists of the Clay Alliance. 4-8 p.m. today, 6501 Madison Road, Madisonville. 321-4458.

Staying in

        TV picks: VH1 repeats all five parts of Say It Loud!: A Celebration of Black Music in America with comments and/or clips from Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Barry White, Gladys Knight, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Al Green and others (6-11 p.m. p.m.).

        • TV Critic John Kiesewetter also says HBO repeats Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (8-10 p.m.).

Sending help

        Take a twirl: Well, here's a deal that's hard to turn down: Dance lessons, music, food and a chance to help victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. It's a 6 p.m. benefit, with local pros teaching dance — lots of stuff with a Latin focus — from 7-8 p.m., then DJ Jack Meinking playing a nightful of dance music. Plus the usual raffles, prizes, silent auction and other such goodies. 6-11 p.m., The Syndicate, 18 E. Fifth Street, Newport, $15 includes food. 859-371-1151.

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: Piano stylist Bradley Sowash and his mighty fast fingers kick off the Entertainment Plus! series. 8 p.m. Saturday, Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton, $5-$12. 863-8873.

        48 hours out: Peanut Butter Theater does its scare-share with Washington Irving's spooky family classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, 20th Century, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley, $8-$9. 351-9978.

        A week away: The Cincinnati Antiques Festival trots out a ton of dealers, plus appraisals, lectures and seminars, next Friday-Oct. 21, Sharonville Convention Center. 561-0950.

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