A couple of days later a balletomane told me he had telephoned Allied Arts for ticket information and was told ``the newspapers had made a mistake.'' So I started making some calls of my own. These are the results.

The Kirov Ballet is firmly booked into the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, Nov. 21 thru Dec. 4. Not a chance of opening here Nov. 28 -- barring that miracle. Then why not the juicy booking Hurok had held for us? Well, Dietrich won't budge from McCormick Place. Then how about the Civic Opera house? Well, Allied Arts has booked Lena Horne there for a week starting Dec. 4.

Queried about the impasse, Allied Arts said: ``Better cancel the Kirov for the time being. It's all up in the air again.''

So the Kirov will fly back to Russia, minus a Chicago engagement, a serious loss for dance fans -- and for the frustrated bookers, cancellation of one of the richest bookings in the country.

Will somebody please reopen the Auditorium?

Paintings and drawings by Marie Moore of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, are shown thru Nov. 5 at the Meadows gallery, 3211 Ellis Ave., week days, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mondays.

An exhibition of Evelyn Cibula's paintings will open with a reception Nov. 5 at the Evanston Community center, 828 Davis st.. It will continue all month.

Abstractions and semi abstractions by Everett McNear are being exhibited by the University gallery of Notre Dame until Nov. 5.