Going out

Chris Bohjalian: The best-selling author of the Oprah's Book Club pick Midwives hits town to sign and discuss his new Buffalo Soldier. 7-8 p.m. today, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Rookwood Pavilion, Madison and Edwards roads, Norwood. 396-8960.

Film & Opera: The Cincinnati Film Society checks in with a screening of The Turandot Project, a documentary on a production of the famous Puccini opera in Beijing's Forbidden City; a film discussion with Cincinnati Opera artistic director Nicholas Muni follows. 7 p.m. today, auditorium, Cincinnati Art Museum, Eden Park, $4-$6. 721-2787.

Theater: The Miami University Theater Department opens the rowdy Rodgers/Abbott musical The Boys from Syracuse. 8 p.m. today and continuing through April 12, Gates-Abegglen Theatre, MU, Oxford, $6-$9. (513) 529-3200.

At Bogart's: Taking Back Sunday headlines an evening full of power rock with Autumn to Ashes, Recover and Somehow Hollow. 8 p.m. today, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. 562-4949.

On TV

Top pick: NBC finally has some new must-see TV today, when the Friends gang hopes to hit the Powerball jackpot (8 p.m., Channels 5, 22); Will's boss (Gene Wilder) falls in love with Karen (Megan Mullally) on Will & Grace (9 p.m.), and a bitter Dr. Romano (Paul McCrane) makes everyone miserable in the ER (10 p.m.).

• Critic John Kiesewetter also suggests taking a movie lover's Road Trip with Kevin Pollak to the settings for Dirty Harry, The Bridges of Madison County, Jaws, Animal House and other films (9-11 p.m., Travel Channel).

The goods

Bedtime story: Trouble sleeping? Snoring spouse? Wake up stiff and sore? You need The Deep Sleep Deck: 50 Natural Sleep-Inducing Exercises. Slightly larger than a deck of playing cards and on waaaay more pricey paper, Sleep Deck offers a tip or two per card. Like drink milk because it has tryptophan and that induces sleep; paint bedrooms soft blues or greens; teach your partner a simple anti-snore exercises and sleep in peace. It's $13.95 at bookstores and from Chronicle Books (www.chroniclebooks.com).

Planning ahead

24 hours out: The Weston Art Gallery opens solo shows of paintings by area artists Deborah Morrissey-McGoff and Jim Wainscott, 6-9 p.m. Friday, Aronoff Center. 977-4165.

48 hours out: Mime master Mark Jaster brings his music and dance-influenced Piccolo's Trunk to the Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series, 10:30 a.m., 12:30 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Rosenthal Plaza, Playhouse in the Park, $4-$5. 421-3888.

72 hours till Sunday: Classical guitar master Oscar Ghiglia performs a free recital in the University of Cincinnati's intimate Robert J. Werner Recital Hall, 4 p.m., CCM Village. 556-4183.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com