Weekend Offerings: Arthur Miller, St. Patrick's Day and Nail Polish

Sherman Oaks is always buzzing with new events and happenings. There's lots to do this week, including St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, theater, a lecture on saving the oceans, movies, jazz and comedy. Get out there and enjoy.

Thursday:

• Every St. Patrick’s Day we all become a little Irish, so enjoy some Guinness stout (first brewed in 1759) and some traditional Irish food over at the Valley Inn Restaurant.  In honor of March Madness, the Valley Inn offers a special bar menu as well, which includes Coach Wooden’s favorite fried-chicken sliders.  Quench your thirst and enjoy some great food this St. Patrick’s Day.
  Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at The Valley Inn
  Where:  Valley Inn Restaurant, 4557 Sherman Oaks Ave., Sherman Oaks
  When:  Thursday
  Time: 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (Dinner)
  Website: www.valleyinndining.com
  Phone Number:  818-784-1163.

• Theater lovers can go see Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman over at the Skirball this evening. This dramatic masterpiece features Jane Kaczmarek and if you can’t make it this evening, be sure to catch Arthur Miller’s masterpiece on Friday (8 p.m.), Saturday (2:30 p.m.), or Sunday (4 p.m.). 
  Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
  Where:  Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles
  When:  Thursday
  Time:  8 p.m.
  Phone Number: 310-440-4500.
  Web site: www.skirball.org
  Price: $48, $40 general; $20 for full-time students

• St. Patrick’s Day is being celebrated all day long. Tons of bars and restaurants are having specials today, including Springbok Bar & Grill, located on Victory Boulevard. The bar will open at 10 a.m., and the kitchen will open at 11 a.m.  Bars and restaurants tend to get very busy on this holiday (who wouldn’t love an excuse to drink green beer?) so be sure you get there before 6 p.m. because there will most likely be a cover charge after that.  Join the Springbok in celebrating this holiday with live music and great traditional Irish cuisine. 
  St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
  Where:  Springbok Bar & Grill Los Angeles, 16153 Victory Blvd.
  When:  Thursday
  Time:  10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday
  Phone Number: 818-988-9786
  Web site: www.thespringbok.com

• Another great place to go if you happen to have today off is The Oaks Tavern, where you can commence your drinking and eating of all things green promptly at 8 a.m.  You can literally roll out of bed and get your green on.  Other reasons to go? Free Guinness and Jameson stuff, shot wheel specials every hour, and food trucks in the evening.
  St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
  Where: The Oaks Tavern, 13625 Moorpark St., Sherman Oaks
  When:  Thursday
  Time:  8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday
  Phone Number:  818-789-0401
  Web site: www.theoakstavern.com

Friday:

•  Girls, we just want to have fun!  Go spend the early part of your Friday evening by testing new nail colors, sipping on champagne, and eating treats from a local cake shop on Ventura Boulevard.  Try the news spring and summer nail polishes from Butter London, all right here in Sherman Oaks. You can have your cake and eat it too at this color-testing party. 
  Butter London Nail Laquer Color Testing Party
  Where:  Handmade Galleries, 14556 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks
  When: Friday
  Time:  5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  Web site: www.handmadegalleriesla.com
  Phone Number: 818-382.3444.

• We all have to do our part to preserve the world we live in, and there are many celebrities out there that fight for certain causes.  One such celebrity is Ted Danson, who has founded the nonprofit organization American Oceans Campaign.  He is appearing at The Skirball Cultural Center to discuss his book Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them.  A book signing will follow the program, so be a part of the social dialogue on what we can do to preserve the oceans and head over to the Skirball. 
  Reading and Lectures: Ted Danson
  Where:  Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles
  When:  Friday
  Time:  8 p.m.
  Phone Number: 310-440-4500.
  Web site: www.skirball.org
  *Tickets are FREE, but advance tickets are highly recommended

• Quality theater can always be found in Sherman Oaks, and Firehouse is one such piece that is currently playing at the Whitefire Theatre.  If you want to stay on Ventura Boulevard and enjoy some great theater, this is the place to go. 
  Firehouse
  Where: Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks
  Date: Friday
  Time: 8 p.m.
  Web site: www.whitefiretheatre.com
  Additional Info: By award-winning playwright Pedro Antonio Garcia, this is based on a true story where honor and loyalty clash with "doing the right thing" in a south Bronx firehouse.
  Runs:  Through April 29 (Fridays only!)
  Advance Tickets: $22     At door:  $25    Groups: $15
  Tickets & Information:  ovationtix.com/trs/pr/801815 

• Fab’s Corner Cucina is famous for not only its food, but for its live jazz every Friday night.  If you enjoy jazz, and love food, plant yourself in Fab’s and enjoy your evening.
  Friday Night Jazz
  Where: Fab’s Corner Cucina, 4336 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks
  Time: 8-10 p.m.
  Date: Friday
  Web site: www.fabscornercucina.com

Saturday:

• If you’re a teen interested in movies, the Sherman Oaks Library is playing Close Encounters of the Third Kind at noon so head on over there if you want to catch a great Steven Spielberg movie in the middle of the day. 
  Close Encounters of the Third Kind
  Where:  Sherman Oaks Library, 14245 Moorpark St., Sherman Oaks
  When:  Saturday
  Time:  12 p.m.
  Phone Number:  818-205-9716
  Web site: www.lapl.org

• Live jazz music is always a great weekend activity, so head over to Café Cordiale where you can enjoy the live jazz music and have a great time with friends and family.  You can enjoy the musical stylings of Ethan Farmer, Gordon Campbell and other special guests.  
  E&G (Jazz R&B)
  Where:  Café Cordiale, 14015 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks
  When:  Saturday
  Time: 10 p.m.
  Phone Number:  818-789-1985.
  Web site: www.cafecordiale.com
  *No cover

• Going to comedy clubs is always a great weekend event, and if you like to support local comedians, you can head over to the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club. Greg Wilson has guest-starred on Modern Family, Bones, Ugly Betty, Law & Order, and Third Watch. 
  Up-N-Comers Featuring The Greg Wilson
  Where: Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, 1000 Universal Studios Blvd., No. 222 Universal City, 91608
  Date: Saturday
  Time: 6 p.m.
  Web site: thejonlovitzcomedyclub.com,
  Ticket Price: $10
  *18 & over

• Another place you can laugh it up at is the LA Connection Comedy Theatre. This place is great if you don’t want to drive very far this evening, and you can enjoy local comedy groups. 
  Wheels of Comedy
  Where: The L.A. Connection Comedy Theatre, 13442 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks
  Date: Saturday
  Time: 10:30 p.m.
  Web site: www.laconnectioncomedy.com
  Price: $10

Sunday:

• If you prefer a relaxing end to your weekend, you can head on over to the Skirball Center where you can enjoy some local theater! Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is being performed, and it even features the well-known Jane Kaczmarek. 
  Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
  Where:  Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles
  When:  Sunday
  Time:  4 p.m.
  Phone Number: 310-440-4500.
  Web site: www.skirball.org
  Prices: $48, $40 general; $20 for full-time students

• The most relaxing thing to do on a Sunday (besides sleep all day)? Yoga! Try a free "intro to yoga" workshop.  You can learn the basics, and whether you’re new to yoga or just need a refresher course, it will center your body and mind before the next busy workweek.  
  Intro to Yoga Workshop
  Where:  Rising Lotus Yoga, 13557 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks
  When:  Sunday
  Time:  12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
  Phone Number:  818-990-0282.
  Web site: www.risinglotusyoga.com

• Fun for family, dates, and groups of friends, miniature golf is always a lot of fun.
  Miniature Golf
  Where:  Sherman Oaks Castle Park, 4989 Sepulveda Blvd., Sherman Oaks
  When:  Sunday
  Time: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  Web site: laparks.org/shermanoaks_castlepk/miniaturegolf.htm
  Prices: adults (ages 13 – 64) – $6.50, children (ages 5 – 12) - $5.50
                *Note - Children 4 and under are FREE with a paid adult

• The weekend always seems to come and go at lightning speed–one minute it’s Friday evening, the next, it’s Sunday evening already and you’re beginning to dread the inevitable.  Go and procrastinate by having some fun at The Oaks Tavern.  They offer a Trivia game from 6–8 pm Sunday. Bar tabs to 1st and 2nd place!
  Trivia
  Where:  The Oaks Tavern, 13625 Moorpark St., Sherman Oaks
  When:  Sunday
  Time:  6-8 p.m.
  Web site: www.theoakstavern.com

• Love the music scene? You can attend a special CD release concert at Café Cordiale for Luis Conte.  Be sure to call for reservations because it’s sure to get busy.
  Luis Conte, CD Release Concert
  Where:  Café Cordiale, 14015 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks
  When:  Sunday
  Time: 8-10 p.m.
  Phone Number:  818-789-1985.
  Web site: www.cafecordiale.com