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FRIDAY, March 2

The American Cinematheque presents Paul Verhoeven — Films of Flesh and Blood, which honors the early work of the Dutch filmmaker who, before making movies, studied mathematics and physics and served in the Royal Netherlands Navy. Screenings include the 1973 Oscar-nominated Turkish Delight (one of his many collaborations with actor Rutger Hauer), followed by Verhoeven’s first American film, 1985’s Flesh + Blood, and RoboCop from 1987, as well as a preview of the forthcoming Black Book, a thriller about the Dutch resistance during WWII. To the disappointment of psycho bisexuals and psycho strippers everywhere, Basic Instinct and Showgirls will not be screened. The Aero Theater, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sun., March 2-4, 7:30 p.m.; $10, $9 seniors & students. (323) 466-FILM.

SATURDAY, March 3

Before you brag about little Stevie making Little League, watch the 6- to 16-year-old daredevils of the Russian American Kids Circus, who are trained by veterans of the world-famous Moscow Circus, hang from a trapeze, walk on a tightrope, ride a unicycle, spin plates and juggle while balancing on balls. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Dr., Cerritos; Sat., March 3, 2 & 6 p.m.; Sun., March 4, 1 & 5 p.m.; $19, $12.50 children 12 & under. (562) 916-8500.

Women, we hear, have rights. And so do minorities, gays, workers and immigrants. But what about the pagan community? Who protects their right to cast spells, ride brooms and wear capes after Halloween without governmental interference? Have your voice heard at the Southern California Local Council of Covenant of the Goddess’ fifth annual Winter Witches Ball, where you get to dress like a Ren Fair reject, munch on appetizers (spiders in a blanket) and a full dinner (toad stew, no doubt), win door prizes (need a new wand?) and dance to the sounds (creaking doors and flapping bat wings) of DJ MistressPrime. Culver City Elks Lodge, 11160 Washington Pl., Culver City; Sat., March 3, 7 p.m.-mid.; $35. (626) 332-3530.

SUNDAY, March 4

This year, try not celebrating St. Patrick’s Day shit-faced and broke in a bar; yeah, we know — fish gotta swim. It would be better to go green and celebrate early with the David Munnelly Band, direct from the Emerald Isle, who perform Irish music using traditional instruments such as uilleann pipes, tin whistles and bodhran drums. They’re joined by guest Celtic fiddler Kathleen Keane, in addition to singers, dancers and even actors. Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Janet and Ray Scherr Forum Theater, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Sun., March 4, 2 p.m.; $45, $40 seniors and $25 children 12 & under. (805) 449-2787.

When you take your place in the 22nd L.A. Marathon in front of Universal Studios and then make your way past the Hollywood Bowl, Koreatown, the Coliseum and Staples Center in agony and with a collapsed lung, just keep repeating to yourself “In-N-Out, No. 2 meal; In-N-Out, No. 2 meal; In-N-Out, No. 2 meal.” For those who want to live, there’s always the Acura L.A. Bike Tour and the Emerald Nuts 5K Run/Walk, and prior to the big race is the two-day Emerald Nuts Quality of Life Expo, where you can claim your gift bag, load up on the latest running gear and vitamins, take in a seminar and perhaps rethink this whole wanting to “accomplish a goal” foolishness. Starts at Universal Studios and ends at Fifth and Flower sts. oppositeCentral Library downtown; Sun., March 4, 7:45 a.m.; registration $105 during race week, free to wave at. (310) 444-5544. For all other events, www.lamarathon.com.


MONDAY, March 5

Composer and conductor John Williams and the Los Angeles Philharmonic host a night of movie-music magic with guests Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. Williams, the most Oscar-nominated artist with a total of 43, and Scorsese (finally a winner, even if it is only for The Departed) kick off the evening with a tribute to Bernard Herrmann, who composed the scores for Taxi Driver, Psycho, North by Northwest and Citizen Kane. And for the second half, Williams and Spielberg look inside their decades-long partnership, including film clips of Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Schindler’s List and E.T.; plus, a demonstration on “Techniques in Film Scoring.” Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., dwntwn.; Mon., March 5, 8 p.m.; $35-$150. (323) 850-2000.


TUESDAY, March 6

Britney and Anna Nicole Smith jokes just sound funnier with a Scottish accent. Glasgow’s own Billy Connolly, who once said of his native country, “In Scotland, there is no such thing as bad weather — only the wrong clothes,” is best known here in the U.S. for his role on the ’80s sitcom Head of the Class and has a rap sheet of films ranging from Mrs. Brown to Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties. He’s been immortalized on London’s Avenue of the Stars (the Hollywood Walk of Fame across the pond) alongside Olivier, Hitchcock and Chaplin, so he’s earned the right to host this impressive 15-night stint of standup, all right. Brentwood Theater, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; opens Tues., March 6, 8 p.m.; perfs Tues.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru March 24; $53 & $58. (310) 479-3003.

WEDNESDAY, March 7

From this year’s winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize to a documentary on the withdrawal of thousands of Jews from the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005, the 22nd Annual Israel Film Festival screens more than 30 films, TV dramas and series at various theaters. And kicking off the festival is Israel’s most successful film of 2006, Aviva My Love, a story about a mother who works as a hotel cook and has a talent for writing. Opening night at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Wed., March 7, 7:30 p.m.; thru March 22; $45, $10 for all other screenings. www.israelfilmfestival.com.


THURSDAY, March 8

Perhaps if we’d paid more attention to math in high school, back when a blackberry was just a fruit, we might be able to balance our checkbook. With his MatheMagic show, magician Bradley Fields gives adults a refresher course and kids a fun and exciting way to learn math and problem-solving skills using magic, storytelling and comedy. Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theater, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; Thurs., March 8, 9:45 & 11:15 a.m.; $13. (805) 449-2787.

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