Going out

        Photo exhibit: The Cincinnati Art Museum has a blockbuster hanging around its venerable walls. It's The Photographic Impulse — Selections from the Joseph and Elaine Monsen Collection, showing off more than 200 photographs all about the history of photography. Today through Jan. 6, $5 includes museum admission. 721-2787.

        House tours: One of Cincinnati's oldest and best-preserved neighborhoods — namely Columbia-Tusculum — struts its stuff on a Historic Homes Tour. 1-6 p.m. today, begins at the Carnegie Center, 3738 Eastern Ave., $15. 784-7949.

        Children's theater: The new Peanut Butter Theatre company goes the spook route with the seasonal classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. 1 and 3 p.m. today, 20th Century, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley, $8-$9. 351-9978.

        Jerry Reed: The country music legend and patron saint of truckers and CB chatters headlines the Dearborn Highlands Arts Council Performing Arts Series. With a song in his heart, no doubt. 7 p.m. today,Lawrenceburg High School, Eads Parkway (U.S. 50), $8-$15. (812) 926-1778.

Staying in

        TV picks: On ABC's hip Alias, Sydney (Jennifer Garner) the college student-spy meets a deadly foe (Gina Torres) searching for an ancient sketch in Madrid (9 p.m., Channels 9, 2).

        • TV Critic John Kiesewetter says if you want to see Rodger Bingham's movie debut, tape CBS' Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three-Hour Tour in History (9 p.m., Channels 12, 7) and watch it later on fast-forward. It's fun to see the original cast, but the re-creations are dreadful.

Auditions

        Looks to be the chance you've been waiting for: You on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, singing with Marty Stuart and Rhonda Vincent. It's a contest, see, thrown by Martha White, as in biscuits, and it doesn't take a lick of talent. All you have to do is call (866) 822-5369 and sing your version of the Martha White theme song (lyrics and contest rules at www.marthawhite.com). Ten winners, selected at random, will storm Nashville on March 9for their Opry date. Contest deadline is Nov. 15.

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: Clinical psychologist Bruce Levine signs and discusses his new self-help book with the million-dollar title: Commonsense Rebellion: Debunking Psychiatry, Confronting Society — An A to Z Guide to Rehumanizing Our Lives. Whew. Take a breath, Bruce. 7 p.m. Monday, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Rookwood Pavilion, Norwood. 396-8960.

        48 hours out: Music, theater, dance and visual art mix 'n' match themselves in a new work mercy by the avant-garde artists and MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipients Meredith Monk and Ann Hamilton. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hall Auditorium, Miami University, Oxford, $9-$18. (513) 529-3200.

        72 hours 'til Wednesday: Blues king Alvin Youngblood Hart crosses the river for a date at Lucille's, no doubt playing stuff from his new Start with the Soul CD. 8 p.m., 3715 Winston Ave., Covington, $15. 779-9462.

        Contact Jim Knippenberg by phone: 768-8513; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: knipenquirer@yahoo.com.

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