Going out

Art opening: The Design Consortium Gallery throws a reception for the opening of a new solo exhibition by the ethereal and spiritualized oil painter Brian Jones, complete with a free, signed print for the first 75 guests. 5:30-8:30 p.m. today, 2012 Madison Road, O'Bryonville. 321-1800.

Glee club: The Miami University Men's Glee Club sings folk songs, spirituals and works by Bach, Verdi and Durufle. 8 p.m. today-Saturday, Hall Auditorium, Oxford. $2-$5. (513) 529-3200.

Puppet house: Madcap Productions Puppet Theater cooks up a Halloween-themed evening in puppet-filled workshops called "Spooky Puppet and Pizza" with a haunted puppet house, warehouse tours and all-you-can-eat pizza and refreshments. 6:30-8:30 p.m. today-Saturday, 3316 Glenmore Ave., Westwood, $20 (reservation required). 921-5965.

Ekoostik Hookah: The Columbus-based jam band makes a return appearance at Bogart's, 8:30 p.m. today, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. $15-$17. 562-4949.

Staying in

TV pick: Yep, once again Linus spends Halloween in a most sincere pumpkin patch on the 1966 classic cartoon, It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (8 p.m., Channels 9, 2), followed by the 1997 Boo! To You, Too, Winnie the Pooh (8:30 p.m.).

Critic John Kiesewetter also says women rock! Chaka Khan, Gloria Estefan, Michelle Branch, Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders and Jennifer Love Hewitt perform a benefit concert for breast cancer research, Women Rock! Girls & Guitars (10 p.m., Lifetime).

The goods

Sing it: Whoa, here's an idea whose time has come: Your very own Ray Charles doll that sings ("What'd I Say" and "America the Beautiful"), plays piano and gives the shimmy-shimmy sway, just like the real thing. The 12-inch animatronic doll is shipping to national retailers, including 3,800 Walgreen stores. It's $32.95. Check it out at www.raycharlesdoll.com.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: The Heritage Village Museum sails into a Civil War Weekend. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Sharon Woods. $5. 563-9484.

48 hours out: Xavier University plays host to award-winning author and journalist Robert Blair Kaiser to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. 7 p.m. Sunday, Cintas Center. Free, 745-2049.

A week away: The Blue Wisp welcomes former Miles Davis sideman David Liebman for its "Autumn in New York" weekend, next Friday-Saturday, 318 E. Eighth St., downtown. 241-9477.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com