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EAT
EAT: Sabor Cocina Mexicana
File this under "Reasons Worth Living." Sabor Cocina Mexicana's Pumpkin Flan is an exercise in restraint, as in, "We must be restrained to prevent us from eating more than one serving." Delicately spiced with globally- and sustainably-sourced ingredients like cardamom and clove, the richness of the fresh pumpkin puree and organic cream make this flan "The Flan" of your fall fantasies. This seasonal special is available beginning in October. 259-9002

EAT: Marston's Restaurant
Chilly weather is chili weather - and you won't find a better bowl than Marston's Chili appetizer, available only on Fridays and Saturdays. Filled with tenderloin of beef, black beans, ranchero cheese and pico de gallo, this delish dish is only available for a limited time. Finish your Marston's meal with other seasonal faves like Bread Pudding, Salted Peanut Pie and Malted Chocolate Pie. Marston's Restaurant is located in the Bridgeport Marketplace. 253-9910

EAT: Cold Stone Creamery
Back-to-school bliss is still in full force at Cold Stone Creamery Valencia, where the sweet-treat powerhouse is squeezing every last drop of "yum" into school's-cool September. Reward yourself (And, oh... the kids, too.) for an A+ transition to the classroom with Cold Stone's Peanut Butter & Jelly ice cream. Our fave version: The PB&Just Delicious Creation with peanut butter, grape jelly and graham cracker pie crust. (Though smashing this delish mix between two chocolate-chip cookies or Nutter Butter cookie wafers is a genius idea, too.). You'll only be able to score these Creations in September, but that's ok... because it's only leaving to make room for Pumpkin ice cream come October - and we're cool with that. Cold Stone Creamery Valencia 253-4123

DRINK
DRINK: Salt Creek Grille
Can we talk about Happy Hour for a minute? Specifically, how unhappy it makes us when we get off work too late to enjoy it? That's why we love Salt Creek Grille - they know that when you get out of work late, it's all the more important to end the evening on a pleasant note. You can enjoy SCG favorites well after Happy Hour during special theme nights like Monday's "Half Price Bottles Night," Wednesday's "Wine Down Wednesdays," where all glasses of wine are generously discounted, and Thursday's "Blame it on the Goose," which knocks all Grey Goose cocktail prices down to Happy Hour specials. But don't just go for the drinks. Go there for the awesome Chilean Sea Bass. Chef Ignacio Munoz marinates it overnight, crusts it with sesame seeds, pan sears it, then tops it with tomato, green onion and rice wine vinaigrette and serves it up with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus. It's so good! 222-9999


From 7pm to 10pm at a private Circle J Ranch home, enjoy good pours, food and auctions for great causes like Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley, Bridge to Home, Project Chacocente in Nicaragua and Tirzah International. Tickets are $85 per person or $750 for a table of 10. jbebita@sbcglobal.net

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The second installment of SCV Junction Outdoor Marketplace is coming back to Heritage Junction in celebration of all things October! In addition to the amazing line-up of arts and crafts vendors and delicious food trucks, they'll host a beer garden with local craft brews provided by the Vu, Newhall Refinery and Wolf Creek Brewing Co.

The kiddos can participate in fall-themed crafts and activities, visit the petting zoo inside Hart Park, pan for gold, show off in a costume contest and get their jump on in a bounce house.

SCV Junction is a monthly outdoor marketplace held on the first weekend of the month featuring an ever-changing mix of attractions, local artisans, crafters and small businesses set against the natural, historical backdrop of Heritage Junction at William S. Hart Park in Old Town Newhall.

You will find handmade arts and crafts, fashion, home decor, furniture, soaps, candles, vintage items, jewelry, plant art and succulents, children and baby items, food|beer|wine related items, cool and classy things for guys and more. This show is curated for quality and uniqueness!

Heritage Junction, located on the east end of Hart Park, is the headquarters of the SCV Historical Society and home to several historic structures built in Santa Clarita during the 1800s, including the Saugus Train Station. Inside the train station is a quaint museum with photos and artifacts from the early days of Santa Clarita.

Event hours are from 10am to 4pm. The beer garden will be open from 12pm to 4pm. Admission and parking are free.
www.scvjunction.com

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PLAY
PLAY: Persia Hookah Lounge
Santa Clarita is associated with a whole slew of awesome adjectives: safe, pretty... But there's one descriptor our fair town can't seem to shake: boring.

Residents who'd like their hometown excitement quotient to rise need to shimmy over to Persia Hookah Lounge in Old Town Newhall. Besides exotic food and ambience, they'll also find weekend entertainment that, when combined with authentic Persian libations, are anything but humdrum.

Thursday Nights: Learn the sensual Salsa dance, then take to the floor for an evening of swirling and twirling beginning at 8 pm.

Friday Nights: Belly Dancing performances can be trite - or terrific. Persia Lounge's professionals are the latter. The fun begins at 7:30pm on Friday nights. Bring the kids for an authentic introduction to a different place and culture - or get a babysitter and arrive after 9 for a sensational meal and show.

Saturday Nights: Love dancing? Hate driving to the Valley and beyond to do it? A killer live band takes to the stage every Saturday evening. 259-4100

PLAY: Salt Creek Grille catering
Summer is over, which means that, like it or not, it's officially the beginning of party-planning season. If "like it" is more your style, grab your calendar and your phone, then give Salt Creek Grille Catering a ring. The best dates fill fast - and here's why.

When you partner with Salt Creek Grille Catering, you can experience their delicious cuisine anywhere you want - or right at your home away from home, the Valencia restaurant! Salt Creek combines Craftsman-style architecture with warm interior design to create a casual elegance perfect for any gathering. A covered outdoor patio, a cozy porch complete with fireplace and stunning floor-to-ceiling windows offer guests a wonderful view of the exciting Entertainment Plaza in the Valencia Town Center.

Adjacent to Salt Creek's main seating areas, the Valencia Room offers groups of 12 to 30 guests a beautiful, versatile setting for any party, dinner or business meeting. The Outdoor Patio seats up to 80 guests for al fresco dining and 120 cocktail style. Available Sunday through Thursday evenings or for lunches, the outdoor patio is a beautiful place to enjoy a mixer or party. The patio is completely covered, can be enclosed and features both heaters and misters to create a comfortable ambiance for your guests. For a minimum of $5,000, the patio may be reserved on a Friday or Saturday evening.

No matter where you'll celebrate the season, gift yourself with a catering experience that is relaxed, professional, experienced and "ready to wow!" 222-9999


Don't miss this exciting show from 4pm to 9pm, featuring classic-car inspired hairstyles, games, raffles, food, drinks and fun! Take the family! The event will be held at 24305 Town Center Drive.


What a Thrill!
New Acura TLX Sports Sedan will get your Heart Pumping
With over 20 years of Acura racing history informing its design and development, the low, wide, aggressive TLX would look right at home on any racetrack.

With the TLX, you'll find your rhythm on even the curviest of roads, because your ride's equipped with Precision All-Wheel Steer or Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. No matter which you choose, the all-new TLX offers you an instinctively-responsive driving experience.

Grip the wheel and finely tuned Motion-Adaptive Electronic Power Steering provides you with superior road feedback. A state-of-the-art braking system delivers precise stopping power, just before Agile Handling Assist helps you clip the apex.

As with many great performances, much of the essential work is done in the background. Precision All-Wheel Steer on all front-wheel-drive models adjusts the rear wheel toe angles to complement the front wheels. At parking lot speed, they counter steer to decrease your turning radius. At highway speed, the rear wheels work in-phase to add stability on quick turns and lane changes. Under braking, they toe in to increase road friction and help decrease stopping distance. For the driver it is at once subtle and stunning.

So too is the class-leading fuel efficiency. The TLX's gas-sipping recipe starts with the most crucial ingredient: light weight. Think hot-stamped aluminum and magnesium among other weight-saving components.

The new star of your driveway is available in a 2.4L I4 eight-speed with 206 horsepower and a 3.5L V-6 nine-speed with 290 horsepower. Starting at $30,995 with special introductory offers available, these will move lightning fast (Both at the dealership and on the road.). Take yours for a spin at Valencia Acura. 255-3000



Dianne Curtis is the owner and president of Canyon Bulk, Inc., a trucking and construction company. She's also the immediate past president of Zonta International, a global volunteer organization dedicated to advancing the status of women through service and advocacy.

Cheri Fleming is the dealer principal and owner of Valencia Acura and the current president of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global volunteer organization working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

These women have not only made a significant difference here in Santa Clarita, but they have also made a difference globally - which is why the community is invited to celebrate these women who are changing the world! (And making Santa Clarita look super impressive while doing it!)

The night's events will include hors d'oeuvres and champagne, a live and silent auction, dinner and entertainment. Individual tickets can be had for $125 and table and event sponsorships are available. The event begins at 6pm at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. All proceeds benefit the Zonta SCV Foundation, which raises money for service projects, scholarships and grants aimed at enriching the lives of girls and women. 252-9351 www.scvzonta.org