The Social fills the bill for an upscale dining spot with flavorful food and handcrafted cocktails served in a relaxing setting. Get your party started with a refreshing libation from the expansive martini menu while you prime your taste buds with an appetizer like escargot with garlic dijon cream sauce, grilled artichoke with drawn butter, or Southwestern-style crab cakes with roasted red pepper aioli. French onion soup and lobster bisque are other yummy options.

Pasta choices include lobster ravioli with brandy cream sauce, baked penne with quattro formaggio, and shrimp scampi with angel hair pasta. Lacquered duck breast with toasted almonds, rack of lamb with mint hollandaise, and filet mignon bearnaise are among the entree choices.

The Social is open Tuesdays through Sundays.

The Social
23329 Lyons Avenue
Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 799-9157
www.thesocialrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-social-valencia

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/LWY

"Leaves of three, let them be." It's sage advice when it comes to poison ivy prevention, but it doesn't really help to take the guesswork out of differentiating the plant from other, harmless varieties. If you're unsure exactly which three-leafed plants are off-limits, memorize these identifying traits:

1) Poison ivy has compound leaves.
Each compound leaf consists of three leaflets that share a stem, with the center leaflet always having the longest stem. The leaflets are usually jagged around the edges, but you might come across smooth-edged poison ivy leaflets from time to time. All poison ivy leaflets taper to a narrow point.

2) Poison ivy is usually glossy.
The leaves typically sport a waxy appearance. In the spring and summer, the leaves are bright green, while in the fall, they turn red—but they are always poisonous. The plant forms flowers in the spring and berries in the fall. The itchy blisters caused by poison ivy are an example of contact dermatitis; the reaction is due to urushiol oil present within all parts of the plant.

3) Poison ivy takes many shapes.
Shrub, bush, or vine, poison ivy takes on many forms, and it's not picky about where it grows. You might find it crawling up or tree or a fence or snaking across the dirt as a ground cover. Also note that poison ivy is found commonly all over the U.S.!

Do you have tips for identifying poison ivy or for treating the rash? Share them below!

How to Identify Poison Ivy [About]
The Mighty Poison Ivy Plant [Mayo Clinic]
How to Identify Poison Ivy [WikiHow]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/pawpaw67

Fans of Keyboard Galleria Music Center say it’s a primo destination for music lessons, musical instruments, and recording gear. Keyboards, guitars, drums, pianos, brass, strings and woodwinds are all in their inventory. New and used instruments of all price ranges are sold at the store, so you’re assured of a variety items to suit your budget. Recording equipment includes computer hardware, software, monitors, recorders, and audio interfaces.

You can unleash your inner rock star at GigMasterz Rock Skool, and take your musicianship to the next level learning to read charts and music, using state of the art gear, and practing with other musicians. You even get to play in front of a live audience. Private lessons are also an option.

Keyboard Galleria is open Monday through Saturday.

Keyboard Galleria Music Center
21515 Soledad Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
(661) 259-5397
keyboardgalleria.com
Read the reviews on Yelp.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/horiavarlan