Going out

Sue Grafton: The best-selling mystery author makes her only regional stop to sign and discuss her new whodunit, Q is for Quarry. 7-8:30 p.m. today, Books & Co., 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering. Line numbers distributed beginning

6 p.m. (800) 777-4881.

John Wesley Harding: The British singer-songwriter brings his witty, fun and sometimes outrageous acoustic act to the Southgate House's intimate parlor. 8 p.m. today, 24 E. Third St., Newport, $12-$15. 779-9462.

Allergy program: The Harrison Branch Library goes the good-health route with a program on childhood allergies full of details about pets, foods, bee stings and more. 7 p.m. today, 10398 New Haven Road. 369-4442.

Audrey Luna: The renowned soprano aims for the high Cs with percussionist Allen Otte and pianist Brad Caldwell. 8 p.m. today, Robert J. Werner Recital Hall, University of Cincinnati, free. 556-4183.

Staying in

TV pick: Roy Scheider plays a Russian gangster who shatters Officer Sully's (Skipp Sudduth) world in a special two-hour Third Watch (9 p.m., Channels 5, 22). Meanwhile, a student is arrested for drug dealing by an undercover cop in the school on Boston Public (8 p.m., Channels 19, 45).

Critic John Kiesewetter also plans to watch the Rugrats Halloween special, "Curse of the Werewuff," in which Angelica tricks the babies into giving up their hard-earned candy (8 p.m., Nickelodeon).

Hot tickets

Happy holidays: Tickets for "A Royal Christmas" with Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Charlotte Church and 150 dancers and singers, go on sale at 10 a.m. today. The tour comes to U.S. Bank Arena, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3. Tickets are $40-$85 at the arena box office, Ticketmaster outlets (562-4949) and on line at www.ticketmaster.com.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: The alternametal outfit Mushroomhead is at Bogart's with Shadows Fall, High on Fire and Avenged Seven Fold. 8 p.m. Tuesday, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, $12.50-$14. 562-4949.

48 hours out: The Cincinnati Art Museum rolls out the mat for Richard West, director of the National Museum of the American Indian, and his thoughts on "American Museums in the Twentieth Century: By Whose Authority?" 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Museum Auditorium, $5. 721-2787.

72 hours 'til Thursday: The Human Race Theatre Company opens a production of the ever so zany off-Broadway hit pop-rock musical Bat Boy: The Musical. 8 p.m. Thursday, Loft Theater, Dayton, $28. (888) 228-3630.

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