Going out

Bluegrass-Jamgrass: The highly respected Waybacks fiddle around. 8:30 p.m. today, Southgate House, 24 E. Third St., Newport, $12. 779-9462.

You decide the price: Ovation Theater Company does a price adjustment with its pay-what-you-can preview of the musical farce Triumph of Love. 8 p.m. today, Fifth Third Bank Theater, Aronoff Center. 241-7469.

Cornel West: The African-American author and thinker is at Miami University for the no-holds-barred presentation "Race Matters." 8 p.m. today, Hall Auditorium, Oxford, free but ticket required. (513) 529-3200.

On TV

Critic's pick: Dick Van Dyke, who played an old doctor for nine years on Diagnosis Murder, visits Scrubs to play, you guessed it, an old doctor. And one way short on modern knowledge. Scrubs, 8:30 p.m., Channels 5, 22.

The has-been housemates - MC Hammer, Emmanuel Lewis and Survivor vet Jerri Manthey - perform in a talent contest emceed by none other than Monty Hall. The prize? Moving into the mansion's master suite. Surreal Life, 9 p.m., Channel 64.

The goods

The cow remembered: It's almost the first anniversary (Feb. 15) of the notorious Cinci Freedom's escape from the slaughterhouse, and what better way to celebrate than with a piece of art. Local artist Tom Lohre offers a whimsical sepia print of the cow jumping over the moon in Mount Storm Park. $15. Check it out at www.tomlohre.com, where you'll also find a color cow screen saver.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: The edgy Percussion Group Cincinnati makes music with tools at hand - toy pianos, garbage cans, computers, all kinds of stuff. 8 p.m. Friday, Cohen Family Studio Theater, University of Cincinnati, $10. 556-4183.

48 hours out: BarrelHouse Brewing Company opens the tap on its World Series of Beer with expert Ed Westemeier and guests sipping world-class ales while munching at a German sausage buffet. 6-8 p.m. Saturday, 22 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, $25. 421-2337.

72 hours 'til Sunday: It's a scorching hot ticket on the classical music scene when former Cincinnatian and current Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart leads the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. 3 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, $5-$22. 723-1182.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com