The Oscars are happening in Hollywood this weekend, and the Academy Museum invites you to experience Tinseltown’s annual awards extravaganza in a special way (just keep reading for details). There are also two big retail openings on Larchmont Blvd., the Ebell will be discussing the power of gardening, and the Philosophical Research Society will be teaching you how to create a treasure map for the Aries new moon (again, just keep reading). And, of course, St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans will close out the week on Friday, the 17th, with plenty of other goodies on the list to fill the in-between. (Oh, and if all that weren’t enough…don’t forget to set your clocks ahead on Sunday!)
Retail Openings
Few things get our readers as excited as new Larchmont businesses, and if they come with free donuts and free beauty products, as they do with two grand opening celebrations this weekend, local shoppers will be likely be in heaven. The first is at Holey Grail Donuts, which will be partying from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, with free Original Sin donuts and live music from DJ Blk Soap from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. And the second is at Credo Beauty, which will be offering free beauty product samples, mini services from Credo brands, and refreshments on both Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come meet your new Boulevard neighbors!
Arts, Culture, and The Philosophical Research Society
Next, join the curators of craft at the Craft Contemporary for one of its Craft Workshops: Copper Fold Forming with Adam’s Forge this Saturday, March 11 from 12-4 p.m. Learn about annealing, fold forming, and heat patinas, along with safety practices, basic skills and tools, and a variety of hammering techniques. Having taken three semesters of metalsmithing myself, this one is a little nearer and dearer than some of the other classes, so I encourage you to give this a try! Space is limited; advanced registration is required. All levels are welcome. Participants must be over 12 years old, and must be accompanied by an adult if they’re 17 and under. The cost is $180 ($175 for museum members) and includes materials, tool rental, and furnace fee. I know it’s a bit pricey, but it’ll be worth it – I promise!
Unless you live under a rock, you’re probably aware that the Oscars will be taking place this Sunday, March 12 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. (I swear it used to happen in early January, right?) Anyhoo, I’m just writing to let you know that the Academy Museum has been hosting Oscar Week Programs all week long, so y’all are getting the tail end of events this weekend – my B! – but if you’re a hair and makeup enthusiast or are just curious about the process of Makeup and Hairstyling in films, you’re probably gonna want to check this one out. On Saturday, March 11, nominees in this category will be discussing just that in the David Geffen Theater starting with a panel discussion at 1 p.m., followed by some Behind the Scenes action in the Lower Level Lobby at 2:30 p.m. The cost is the price of a regular museum ticket, which ranges from $15-$25 (free for members and kids 17 and under). Please note that seating in the theater is first-come, first-served. So try to get there early for once!
When I was just a little seal pup in my early 20s, I worked in “the industry” myself, and clearly remember one of my co-workers referring to the Oscars as his “Super Bowl” (insert eye roll). That eye roll being said, I do wholeheartedly appreciate the passion, talent, time, and hard work it takes to make quality films such as the ones up for awards, and what better place to appreciate the art of filmmaking than at the Academy Museum’s David Geffen Theater. Celebrating the 95th Academy Awards, the Oscars Night at the Museum event will take place in said theater, this Sunday, March 12 from 3-10 p.m. Enjoy a live stream of the Oscars, admission to the gallery, food by Wolfgang Puck Catering, a hosted bar, commemorative gift, red carpet experience, a 15% discount at the Academy Museum Store, and more! Hollywood glam attire is encouraged. Tickets are $250 and available on a first-come, first-served basis, as is seating in the theater. Bonus: The Museum’s upscale restaurant, Fanny’s will be offering a limited time cocktail menu inspired by this year’s Best Picture nominees. Menu available until the end of March – yay!
Shifting moods a bit, Dr. Sue Stuart-Smith will be live from England at the Ebell of Los Angeles, this Monday, March 13, discussing her newest book The Well-Gardened Mind at 4 p.m., with a wine reception to follow at 5 p.m. Prominent psychiatrist, avid gardener, and best-selling author, Dr. Stuart-Smith will be in conversion with you on the power of gardening to change people’s lives. Drawing on her grandfather’s return from World War I, Sigmund Freud’s obsession with flowers, and interviews with people from gardening projects in prisons, hospitals, and in the community, the doctor will discuss how gardening can be the answer to deep existential needs and present findings from recent research showing how connecting to nature can alleviate anxiety, stress, and depression. Stuart-Smith currently teaches at The Tavistock Clinic in London. Tickets are $45. Members will receive a discounted rate courtesy of The Garden Conservancy.
I love, love, love discovering new things, whatever it may be, and in this week’s world wide web search I came across a local non-profit institution called The Philosophical Research Society. Intrigued now, are we? I definitely was, and what’s even better is that they have a full calendar of in-person and online events for all you curious folks out there, including Peace Classes, Sound Baths, Concerts, Tools for Being Human, and The Death Cafe. And with so many interesting, offbeat, and slightly macabre offerings on the table it’s hard to choose which ones to highlight, but I’ll give it go by starting with The Aries New Moon. In this astrological time of the year that is extraordinary for focusing on authentic needs, goals and wants, Creating A Treasure Map for the Aries New Moon could be helpful, and on Tuesday, March 14 from 7-9 p.m. you can learn do just that. Tickets are $20. 
Next up is a Rare Screening of Legend Of The Witches, Director Malcolm Leigh’s haunting B&W documentary of the resurgence of witchcraft and Wiccan practices in late 1960s hippie Britain, which was recently restored by the British Film Institute, happening from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, March 17. Tickets are $15. And about The PRS: it was founded in 1934 by scholar and prolific author Manly Palmer Hall as “a repository of multicultural wisdom sources and a center of learning dedicated to the ensoulment of all arts, sciences, and crafts.” The campus is a designated historical-cultural site designed by architect Robert Stacy-Judd, that includes an auditorium, bookstore, lecture room, library, and gallery filled with a 30,000-volume collection of manuscripts, rare books, artwork, and esoterica. PRS is located at 3910 Los Feliz Blvd.
St. Patrick’s Day
Tall tales have been told about the history of Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick, the man, including the myth about him driving all the snakes out of Ireland, which isn’t true at all. Ireland has no native snake species because they simply never made it there before it became an island. What we do know as facts, according to History.com, is that Patrick was born in fifth century Roman Britain to wealthy parents, then kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at 16. He escaped years later, returned to Ireland, and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. 
In the centuries following Patrick’s death (believed to have been on March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in Irish culture: Perhaps the most well-known legend of St. Patrick, is that he explained the Holy Trinity using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.
Wow, that was quite a long lead-in, but worth the effort, for this 40th St Patrick’s Day Celebration from noon – midnight on Friday, March 17 at The Cat and Fiddle British Pub & Restaurant. The festivities will include Burlesque Dancer Miss Marquez, Guinness & Harp Beer Specials, Corned Beef & Cabbage, and a Parking Lot Party!
Of course, Fairfax’s Molly Malone’s pub, 545 S. Fairfax Ave., will be celebrating from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday as well…and LA’s oldest Irish tavern, Tom Bergin’s, 840 S. Fairfax, will also be opening at 6 a.m. on Friday, March 17, for an Irish Breakfast & Traditional Fare seating until 10:15 a.m. (They recommend taking the day off work if you attend. Ahem.) Reservations are via email only at [email protected].) After that, the party will continue with an outdoor tented lot party from noon to midnight…with three outdoor bars, live bagpipe performances, and a DJ “spinning all things Irish and more.” (So you might want to take Saturday off, too, after all that.)
Finally, in closing, I leave you with even more St. Patty’s Day Shenanigans happening at the Original Farmers Market from 12:30 – 7 p.m. Come celebrate with authentic Irish food, green beer, and live music! Enjoy a strolling bagpiper from 12:30-3:30 p.m. and traditional Irish folk music by The Merry Minstrels on the West Patio from 5-7 p.m You can also count on Magee’s Kitchen, the Market’s first eatery, to be serving their world famous corned beef, cabbage, and potato plate all day long! And to wash it all down you’ll have your choice of Green beer and imported Irish beers on tap from E.B’s and Bar 326. Sláinte!
Community and Local Government
Hi there! If you haven’t already registered to participate in the Clean California Community Days: Spring Into Action volunteer service event, happening this Friday, March 17 – Monday, March 27, Please do it now! CCCD is a statewide happening and celebration, whose goal is to clean up our communities and spread the word about taking pride in keeping California clean (I like that). And, bonus, all this hard work will lead to a “big splash” of activities and festivals on Saturday, March 25, so check the event map for that as well. Just click on the event map link and enter your zip code to find clean-ups and other related events in your area. Eazy breezy! And with 11 days of events, there are plenty of opportunities for you to pitch in and meet your fellow community peeps. This event is sponsored by the Governor’s Office, CalTrans, and their partners across California.
Your local NC, the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council is on hiatus this week, but will be back in action on Tuesday, March 21 with an Outreach Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. Check the GWNC’s full calendar here. P.S. All NC meetings will be back to IRL starting next month, so stay tuned for more info.
The Mid City West Neighborhood Council, on the other hand, has a trio of meetings on the calendar starting with the Council’s Board on Tuesday, March 14, followed by the Transportation & Sustainability Committee on Wednesday, March 15, and Outreach & Civic Engagement Committee on Thursday, March 16. Click here for calendar and deets.
