Arts & Culture in Beverly Hills

Before El Cid's skilled professional dancers and musicians strut and strum their stuff on stage, tuck into dinner fare such as the chipotle short ribs with roasted-garlic butter-whipped potatoes ($14.95), or pollo mole, a dish of seared chicken simmered in mole with red rice and ratatouille ($16.99). Vegetarian diners can hang a fang on stuffed peppers cooked in Grand Marnier ($15.99). There are eight entree selections in all, each of which is served with the soup of the day, a mixed-green salad, and a healthy heaping of zesty flair.

Home to two stages and an art gallery, the Edgemar Center for the Arts more than meets the needs of the local visual and performing arts communities. The center places an emphasis on collaboration, uniting creative minds of all ages and persuasions both in the classroom and on stage. Hosting musical performances, question-and-answer sessions with Hollywood actors, and theatrical productions old and just sprouted, the space has attracted the likes of Don Cheadle, Christian Slater, Malcolm McDowell, and Jason Alexander.

DanceGardenLA was created by Zahra Zuhair and Jenna, who have been belly-dancing since childhood and have travelled the world accumulating impressive professional credits. Zuhair has trained in traditional folk and Eastern styles—including Lebanese, Turkish, Moroccan, and Tunisian—but her specialty is Egyptian belly dance, which she has studied with some of the top teachers in Cairo. She has also been featured on the cover of Zaghareet! magazine and has written, directed, and choreographed productions as the artistic director of the Ghazella Dance Company and Po Na Na Dance Theatre. Jenna acted as a goddess bellydance instructor on an episode of Sex and the City, and made appearances on The Tyra Banks Show and the Food Network program Aarti Party. She has also starred in several bestselling belly dance-instruction DVDs.

Thanks to their more than 50 years of combined teaching experience and a talented team of award-winning instructors, the studio was named the Best Place to Learn the Art of Bellydancing in 2012 by LA Weekly. The site recommended instructor Princess Farhana's "witty repartee (and Hollywood rock-scene anecdotes)," and described the predominantly female atmosphere as "always encouraging, never intimidating." The crew teaches classes including classic and American Tribal bellydance as well as samba and Bollywood styles.

With today's side deal, $18 gets you a ticket to one of three upcoming shows at Atlanta Lyric Theatre (a $38.10 value). Performances are held within the beautiful renovated Art Deco atmosphere of the Strand Theatre in Marietta. Since 1980, Atlanta Lyric Theatre's professional musical productions have captivated the imaginations of toe-tappers, whistlers, and daydreamers. Choose one of the following shows:

The independently owned Roxy Stadium 11 regales patrons with the flickering pictures and digital sounds of the latest blockbusters and the sizable snack bar. A colorful lobby greets guests as they meander past towering pillars that stretch toward an arched ceiling swathed in neon lights and bold swaths of royal blue. Aisles of cushioned auditorium seats allow moviegoers to choose the spot closest to the screen or furthest from the person sobbing emphatically during coming attractions. High-tech projectors digitally unspool films in each theater, with RealD 3-D technology transmitting some flicks in three vibrant dimensions. To silence distracting mid-movie hunger pangs, staffers in the concessions area whip up fresh batches of Orville Redenbacher popcorn and Nathan's hot dogs alongside other traditional theater fare.