Going Out

'Bear': All seats are $10 for opening night of the Broadway-style stage show Bear in the Big Blue House Live including characters and musical numbers from the popular kids' television show, 7 p.m. today, Procter & Gamble Hall, Aronoff Center. Continues Friday-Sunday ($12-$22 for rest of run). 241-7469.

Contemporary Christian: Dove award-winning singer-songwriter Twila Paris brings her House of Worship Tour to Landmark Baptist Temple, 7:30 p.m. today, 1800 Glendale-Milford Road, Evendale. $15-$25. (800) 965-9324.

Opera Raps: The Cincinnati Opera series features artistic director Nicholas Muni discussing the 2004 season including Donizetti's The Daughter of the Regiment, The Maids/Fall of the House of Usher double bill, Mozart's Don Giovanni and Bizet's Carmen (with Denyce Graves), 7 p.m. today, Music Hall. Free and open to public. 744-3511.

River musical: To coincide with Tall Stacks, the School for Creative and Performing Arts offers a staging of the Tony Award-winning river-city musical, Ragtime, opening 7 p.m. today, Taft Theatre, Fifth and Sycamore streets, downtown. Continues through Sunday. $7-$17. 562-4949.

Michael Blaser: The maritime artist is at the ML Art Gallery to sign and discuss his latest limited edition prints including "Winter Packets," a dramatic Cincinnati river scene with steamboats gathered around the Roebling Suspension Bridge and floating ice packs in the water, 6-9 p.m. today, 3627 Glenmore Ave., Cheviot. 661-5055.

New Restaurant

Rondo's opens: The landmark Cheviot/Westwood restaurant space created from an old hardware store and ice cream parlour, and formerly occupied by Beech Flats, has reopened in the form of Rondo's, a new restaurant from chef Ron Wise, known for his work at Iron Horse Inn, Parker's Blue Ash Grill and other establishments. Entrees include many classic meat dishes with an Italian-Mediterranean twist such as fig-sweetened pork chops and half-chicken with sweet red chile seasoning. Menu also includes a rack of lamb, vegetarian pasta and daily special. Hours are 4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 4:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3234 Harrison Avenue. 662-3222.

Art Exhibit

Courage displayed: Eastgate Mall is hosting The Wall of Hope, a mosaic of photographs and quotes of women who are breast-cancer survivors. The traveling exhibit includes stories of more than 150 women and remains on view through Oct. 31 during mall hours: 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Center Court, I-275 and U.S. 32. 752-2294.

Planning Ahead

24 hours out: The Dayton Art Institute opens a triple blockbuster show featuring glass of Louis Comfort Tiffany, Monet and the Age of American Impressionism and photographs by nature photographer Ansel Adams. Exhibits continue through Jan. 18. Museum open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily (until 8 p.m. Thursdays), I-75 at Exit 53B (Salem Avenue). $10, $8 seniors/students, $5 youth includes all three shows. (937) 223-5277.

48 hours out: It's the final weekend for the historic Halloween event Ghost Walk of Dayton Lane offering an hour-long guided walk through the National Register Historic District with ghouls, goblins and neighborhood legends, 7 p.m. Saturday starting at Wolf Gazebo, 900 Campbell Ave., Hamilton. $15. (513) 887-1100.

72 hours out: Death metal favorites Nile are at Bogart's with opening acts Kreator, Vader and Amon Amarth and more, 7 p.m. Sunday, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. $15-$17. 562-4949.

Jason Nebel

E-mail: jnebel@enquirer.com; fax: 768-8016