SAT | MARCH 7
</b><br />
Josh Tickell had never made a film before setting out on an environmental road trip with his 鈥淰eggie Van鈥� and a video camera in 1997. His 11-year journey took him to more than 25 countries, generated two books, a nonprofit organization and the documentary, 鈥淔uel.鈥� Winner of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award for Best Documentary, the film chronicles the development of America鈥檚 oil addiction and presents sustainable solutions to 鈥渞epower America,鈥� such as vertical farms and algae that turn wastewater into fuel. Lending their expertise and star power to the film are Julia Roberts, Sheryl Crow, Woody Harrelson, Willie Nelson, former President Jimmy Carter, Larry David and Richard Branson. Check theaters for show times. .</p>
<p><b>(CONCERT)</b><br />
Musician Peter Himmelman is both an edgy rock troubadour and a wholesome children鈥檚 entertainer. He has scored numerous films and television shows, composed runway music for fashion designer Issey Miyake and written songs for a teddy bear used to help autistic children and rape victims. See this multifaceted musician in concert tonight as part of the Getty Museum鈥檚 Saturday Nights at the Getty series. The free performance series features a mix of music, dance, theater and spoken word in a casual, social setting. Sat. 7:30 p.m. Free. $10 (parking). Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. Reservations required; limit of four seats per reservation. (310) 440-7300. . </p>
<p><b>(CONCERT)</b><br />
Craig Pomranz hopes to perk up recession-weary Angelenos with a show reminiscent of icons Sammy Davis Jr. and Mel Torme. The Orthodox kid-turned-big-city crooner will swing into spring with light-hearted ballads like 鈥淟ove Is the Thing鈥� and the jaunty 鈥淕ive Me the Simple Life鈥� from his new album, 鈥淢y Heart Don鈥檛 Skip a Beat.鈥� Sat. 9 p.m. $15 (plus two-drink minimum). The Gardenia Restaurant and Lounge, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. (323) 467-7444. . </p>
<p><b>(PURIM PARTY)</b><br />
Who says Purim is just for kids? Young professionals will have a plethora of opportunities tonight to get masked and boisterous. Purimpalooza VI at Beverly Hills鈥� A Cow Jumped Over the Moon features DJ Eric Rosen and a live performance by the Moshav band. The party also offers a bonus: free parking in Beverly Hills on a Saturday night (lot on Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard). The event is co-hosted by JconnectLA, Jewlicious, AISH L.A., the Chai Center, StandWithUs and the Zionist Organization of America. Sat. 8:30 p.m. $25 (includes one drink). A Cow Jumped Over the Moon, 421 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 405-2336. . </p>
<p><b>(PURIM PARTY II)</b><br />
Just north of Beverly Hills, Sunset Boulevard is the setting for another mega-Purim bash for young professionals (21-45). 鈥淧urim on the Strip: Rock and Roll Purim鈥� includes a legendary nightclub setting (The Roxy), music, dancing, a costume contest with prizes, and hors d鈥檕euvres and desserts (dietary laws observed). Your incentive to R.S.V.P. early? The first 300 receive a free drink. Event sponsors include ATID L.A., The 91传媒 Federation Young Leadership Division, 91传媒 Free Loan Association, Gesher City L.A., Birthright Israel Next-L.A. and the W Group at Stephen S. Wise. Sat. 8 p.m. $36 (by March 5), $54 (at the door). The Roxy Theatre, 9009 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 481-3244. . </p>
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<p><big><b>SUN | MARCH 8</b></big></p>
<p><b>(CONCERT)</b><br />
Neshama Carlebach began singing with her influential father, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, at age 15. But it wasn鈥檛 until after his death in 1994 that she launched a professional singing career. In 鈥淔eed Your Soul!鈥� a concert hosted by Makom Ohr Shalom, Neshama will perform her father鈥檚 legendary music, but with her own flair and original compositions. Reb Shlomo鈥檚 longtime collaborator in 91传媒 outreach, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, will deliver a blessing live at the concert via Skype. Sun. 6:30 p.m. (doors open). $40, $72 (Supporters Package), $108 (Premier Package), $180 (Premier Couples鈥� Package). The Writer鈥檚 Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. (818) 894-1754. .</p>
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<p><big><b>MON | MARCH 9</b></big></p>
<p><b>(SOCIAL ACTION PURIM)</b><br />
At IKAR鈥檚 Purim Justice Carnival, the loot you score at game booths will go toward something better than an oversized stuffed pink bear. Your winning chips can be donated at the end of the night to a variety of causes, including Middle Eastern peace, immigrant rights, recycling, health care, etc. Tonight鈥檚 adult festivities include two bars, two DJs, appetizers and a party that鈥檒l go 鈥渦ntil we can鈥檛 tell the difference between Haman and Mordechai.鈥� Mon. 5 p.m. (Family Justice Carnival), 7 p.m. (costume parade, megillah reading and shpiel), 9 p.m. (Adult Justice Carnival). $15 (Family Justice Carnival), $20 (Adult Justice Carnival). Westside JCC, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. . </p>
<p><b>(SPECIAL-NEEDS PURIM)</b><br />
The theme of the Los Angeles Friendship Circle鈥檚 Purim festival is the Wild West, and we can think of lots of cool costume ideas: a cactus, a tumbleweed … a barstool, maybe? Perhaps cowboys and Indians would be easier. Children with special needs and their families can come together, costumed or not, to hear a megillah reading, eat Western-style fare, do arts and crafts, frolic in the moon bounce and play carnival games. Teen volunteers will join the fun and assist those who need it. Sponsored by the Monkarsh Family Foundation. Mon. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Bais Chaya Mushka School for Girls, 9051 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 277-3252. {encode=”info@fcla.org” title=”info@fcla.org”}. . </p>
<p><b>(PURIM IN THE VALLEY)</b><br />
Valley Ruach is throwing a low-fuel, low-cost party that draws inspiration from the schoolyard carnivals of our youth. The inaugural Purim in the Valley will be a sports-themed wonderland 鈥� complete with jousting matches, a Velcro wall and basketball hoop shots 鈥� an auction, dessert bar and free drinks all night long. Attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite sports star (or you can just wear your college sweatshirt and say you鈥檙e dressed as 鈥渁 fan鈥�). The adult (21-39) fun begins after a megillah reading with the Adat Ari El congregation. Mon. 6:45 p.m. (megillah reading), 8 p.m. (party). $10 (pre-paid until March 8), $15 (at the door). Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. (310) 926-2386. {encode=”info@valleyruach.org” title=”info@valleyruach.org”}. . </p>
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<p><big><b>WED | MARCH 11</b></big></p>
<p><img src = )
” border = 0 vspace = ‘8’ hspace = ‘8’ align = ‘left’>(FOOD)
The falafel at Pita Kitchen in Sherman Oaks tastes like it came straight from a street corner in Tel Aviv. Such ethnic restaurants stake their reputation on the authenticity of their food. But cultures surreptitiously blend in a city like Los Angeles, exchanging spices and replacing cooking techniques. Pulitzer Prize-winning L.A. Weekly food critic Jonathan Gold and chefs Nancy Silverton (Mozza), Roy Choi (KoGi) and Sarintip 鈥淛azz鈥� Singsanong (Jitlada) will discuss how bona fide cultural cuisine can exist in our hodge-podge urban center during Zocalo鈥檚 鈥淐an Food Really Be Authentic?鈥� Kogi Korean BBQ Taco Truck anyone? Wed. 7:30 p.m. Free. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Advance reservations strongly recommended. (213) 403-0416. .
(NETWORKING)
Have you been laid off, downsized, replaced, pink-slipped, forced into early retirement or just plain fired? Help is here. Pink Slip Party L.A. is a new business-networking mixer that lets you bemoan the circumstances of your job loss and then helps get you back on the work wagon. Rather than trying to mine the Web for jobs, spend your evening with job hopefuls, recruiters, coaches and resume writers in a casual, social setting (with alcohol!). Wed. 6-8 p.m. Free entrance and parking, $5 margaritas. Pink Taco patio, Westfield Century City Shopping Center, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 691-2178. .
(SAFETY)
The Los Angeles Police Department and Hatzolah of Los Angeles are requesting the community鈥檚 help in reporting unusual activity in your neighborhood and around your workplace 鈥� areas more intimately familiar to you than to the police. LAPD detectives Jack Gonzalez and Suzy Frank will be conducting a security briefing for the community on terrorism awareness. They will share a brief history of terrorism in the United States, provide information on the LAPD Major Crimes Liaison Office program and supply contact information for reporting suspicious activity. Wed. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Beth Jacob, 9030 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills. Also, March 19. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Shaarey Zedek, 12800 Chandler Blvd., Valley Village. Advance registration is requested. (310) 247-0584. la.{encode=”10@sbcglobal.net” title=”10@sbcglobal.net”}.
THU | MARCH 12
(ISRAELI-STYLE PURIM)
Israeli DJ Eyal and Persian Israeli DJs Eliran and Tal may be throwing competing Purim parties on the same night, but the two powerhouse party promoters are far from rivals. They cater to slightly different sectors of the 91传媒 Israeli population 鈥� DJ Eyal has been on the scene a bit longer than the young brothers and has a loyal following of veteran Israeli revelers, whereas Eliran and Tal draw a very hip, young mix of Israelis, Americans and Persians. Both bashes offer a raucous, beat-driven, beautiful-people-filled night of swanky clubbing. Purim Party with DJ Eyal: 8:30 p.m. (doors open). $25 (at the door only). Cabana Club, 1439 Ivar Ave., Hollywood. (323) 309-1514. Purim Carnival 2009 with DJ Eliran and DJ Tal: 9:30 p.m. (doors open). $18 (presale), $25. Opera, 1650 Schrader Blvd., Hollywood. (310) 857-6218. .
(lecture)
Journal Editor-in-Chief Rob Eshman will be speaking on current events in the L.A. 91传媒 community at Social Circle鈥檚 gathering this week. Eshman鈥檚 Letter-From-the-Editor-style talk will be the centerpiece of an evening that includes a light dinner, wine, dessert, coffee and plenty of time to mingle and socialize. The Social Circle is an active Stephen S. Wise Temple group for 91传媒 singles in their 50s and 60s, but this event will be open to the entire community. Thu. 7 p.m. (dinner), 8 p.m. (Eshman鈥檚 talk). $15 (members), $20 (guests). Stephen S. Wise Temple, Hershenson Hall, 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 204-1240. {encode=”johnseeman@aol.com” title=”johnseeman@aol.com”}.
