EAT
Sunday brunch, and not a waffle in sight. Sign of the apocalypse, or heaven sent? It's the latter when your south-of-the-border breakfast/lunch combo is had at Sabor Cocina Mexicana. Their Champagne Sunday Brunch (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) features options like Cinnamon Bread French Toast, Bistec con Huevos, the Sabor Omelet, Crepas Mexicana and Huevos con Chorizo. Guests choose one plated selection and take their fill of buffet items like fresh fruit, salad, ceviche, assorted fine cheeses, bacon, sausage, plantains and freshly made pastries; 259-9002

You've probably caught onto the "cheap food" phenomenon. That's where, for just a little bit of cash, you can load up on a whole bunch of poorly-made meal-like substances and pretend that you ate real food. So we can imagine why you'd have a "Wha...?" moment when reading about Gandolfo's New York Delicatessen's "$5 After 5" special. The deal - which includes a sandwich, chips and a drink for just $5 - seems too good to be true. However, owner Steve Posner's lie detector test results indicate that you can, in fact, enjoy a delicious dinner for just $5. Choose from the Homemade Meatball sandwich, the NY Yankee (black forest ham and swiss), Knickerbocker (roast beef, provolone, onions), Brooklyn Bridge (turkey, swiss, bacon), Little Italy and more. All are made on bread baked fresh daily served with premium meats; 257-8844

DRINK
Saint Patrick's Day Edition
Corned Beef & Cabbage dinner, not a pot of gold, is what you'll find at the end of this rainbow. Egg Plantation's St. Patty's day party on Wednesday, March 17, will include live Irish music from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., plus the mandatory green beer and Guinness beer on tap. Doors open at 5 p.m. Bring the kids! Just don't bring Styrofoam, because Egg Plantation is now a Certified Green Restaurant (Good timing, guys. No pinches for you!). EP's love fest with the environment means that your to-go container is made of sugarcane, a sustainable alternative to the dreaded white foam box. The restaurant is also committed to water and energy conservation, the use of non-toxic cleaning products and lots more. We wonder if they compost all those egg shells...; 255-8222

After an all-night Happy Hour, everyone sounds a little Irish. Try on your accent (Really, please do.) at Oggi's Pizza & Brewing Co. The Green Beer Pitcher Specials on St. P's Day give you the perfect excuse to belt out that limerick you've been working so hard on; 252-7883

Sure, Saint Zita may be able to help you find lost keys, but can she score you a free order of French Fries? Unless those keys are buried under a pile of free fries (How awesome would that be?), we think not. At Wings, Pizza N Things, just wearing something green will land you aforementioned free fried goodness in honor of Saint Patrick's day. Irish or not, you'll also snag $5 pitchers of green beer and 10 free wings with the purchase of a large pizza. Best. Saint. Ever.; 295-1000

Let's Party Edition
What is a better accompaniment to watching finely-tuned athletic machines battle it out in the NCAA Tournament than 50-cent Wings and Boneless Wings? Nothing, that's what. So you'd better make your way over to Wings, Pizza N Things starting Thursday, March 18 ($2 16-ounce drafts and $2 domestic bottles are a few other reasons why WPNT is the best spot in town for March Madness.). On Friday, March 19 - after the first round of games conclude - take part in the March Madness Party with live music by On the Rocks, the ultimate cover band; 295-1000

Week nights usually suck. "The Office" and "30 Rock" are pretty much the only things that feed our will to live Sunday through Thursday evenings. So you'll understand our elation over
New Moon's new special: half off wines by the glass and a free Happy Hour appetizer with any entree purchase Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to close. Available through March 31, excluding holidays; 257-4321

"Free" just might be our most beloved word, second only to the word "food." (Don't judge us.) But switch the order and put the two together and you have, hands down, our favorite phrase: "Free food." Like the treasured friends they are, El Chaparral Mexican Restaurant in Canyon Country (252-5599) and Presidente Mexican Grill in Saugus (297-7244), know that their free appetizers (from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday), coupled with their kick-butt Happy Hour (from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) drink specials, make us a wee bit giddy.

PLAY
You can complain about not having anything to celebrate or you can make up a reason to celebrate. With super-affordable catering packages at Oggi's Pizza & Brewing Co., we suggest you start looking for invitations that say, "No News is Good News. Let's Party!" Host your bachelor or rehearsal party in their private room (two flat screen TVs!) and the bride and groom will get a free dinner for two; 252-7883

If you haven't checked out Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Company's banquet room, get on it already. No shower, birthday, anniversary or wedding to celebrate? That's fine. The $8.75 a person starting price is reason enough. Need more convincing, Negative Nellie? How about this. WC will waive the booking fee for any banquet scheduled during the month of March, or take 5 percent off your banquet total during the months of February, March and April. Here's the fine print stuff: You've gotta mention Inside SCV Magazine to get the deal, and the special's only good for new bookings; 263-9653

Three great reasons to e-vite your pals: Horseradish-stuffed Bacon-wrapped Shrimp, Bleu Cheese Beignets and Pan-seared Filet with Blackberry Cabernet Sauce. Festivities hosted by foodies are our favorite, and time and time again, it's Salt Creek's full-service catering that does the culinary lifting at gourmand-worthy shindigs. Menu development and picturesque presentation are all a part of the Salt Creek Catering experience, whether you party at home or on site on the heated/enclosed patio (seats 80) or the Valencia Room (seats 30); 222-9999

Hoping to put a little spice into your fiesta? Look no further than Hacienda Don Cuco Mexican Restaurant. Their Mariachi Sunday Brunch Buffet is great for showers or large parties, or hang out with the live band on Saturdays. "AĦQue bueno!" banquet prices start at only $15 per person;
252-8074

Magic Mountain's
"A Night to Remember"
Includes Low-price Ticket and Private Party
Proceeds Benefit Carousel Ranch and Other "Dancing with our Stars" Charities
Circle April 9 on your calendar, folks. That's the day (and night!) that you'll be spending at Magic Mountain. For only $40, you'll enjoy a whole day at the park, plus attend a private party (no lines!) from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. And the best news - $25 of the purchase price will be donated to a Santa Clarita-based charity.

Here's the background story. On April 24, 20 local nonprofits will compete in an event modeled after the popular TV show, "Dancing with the Stars." The winner will be decided by two factors: the judge's score and the amount of "votes" the dancer receives. Anyone can vote, even if they don't attend the event. Think of it like a walk-a-thon; people pledge $25 votes and the person who acquires the most votes wins the title and the cash prize.

Carousel Ranch's competitor will be Chris Brooks, co-owner of MB2 Raceway. Together with his co-owner, Will Miller, Brooks has become a great supporter of the Ranch and the services it offers to local kids with disabilities.

Chris will be dancing the Salsa. Carousel Ranch thinks he could be the audience favorite as his wife, Martine, says, "He can dance like Justin Timberlake!"

Now back to the Magic Mountain angle. Six Flags Magic Mountain is helping raise essential funds through the "Dancing" event. "A Night to Remember" on April 9 lets you "vote" for your favorite charity ($25) and get into the park and the private party for only $15 (hence, the $40 ticket price).

To take advantage of this offer, log onto www.sixflags.com/magicmountain. On the front page, in the upper right hand corner, click on the box that says "enter promo code." Just type in "CAROUSEL" (or the code of your choice) and you will receive the special $40 ticket. The park will automatically send your $25 vote to Carousel Ranch.

You can also vote for Carousel Ranch without purchasing the Magic Mountain package by going to www.carouselranch.com; 268-8010