ENTERTAINMENT NEWS : From Hot Dogs to the Penthouse : * Sports host Jim Rome’s XTRA-AM radio show moves from West Hills to Hollywood.

So long, Hot Dog on a Stick. Hello, The Penthouse. That’s the name for XTRA-AM sports host Jim Rome’s new radio lair, located in the Broadcast Media Center in Hollywood. In mid-March, Rome left his old San Fernando Valley quarters, leased by XTRA from KWNK-AM in West Hills’ Fallbrook Mall (and directly above the Hot Dog on a Stick eatery).

Rome’s exit from the Valley, XTRA General Manager Mike Glickenhaus said, stemmed both from shifts in the station’s daily broadcast schedule and Rome’s other job as host of the live call-in show “Talk 2,” on the ESPN 2 cable channel. “With Jim getting off the radio at 4 p.m. and having to get to the TV studio in Hollywood for on-air checks by 5,” Glickenhaus said, “it made more sense to find a broadcast setup in Hollywood.”

No longer situated above a Valley food court but 10 floors above Hollywood, Rome dubbed his new home “The Penthouse” his first day in the new location.

Down Home in Encino: Bluegrass music has finally made it to Ventura Boulevard.

Although Dixieland, ethnic folk music and other less mainstream musical styles can be readily found in the Valley, genuine bluegrass is usually hard to find, confined to the occasional concert or festival.

Adam’s Rib, 17500 Ventura Blvd., Encino, now has bluegrass bands performing every Saturday. Owner Scott Hirschthal says bluegrass suits his place.

“We had tried different things, but nothing clicked,” Hirschthal said. “But the bluegrass fits with the restaurant. We’re a ribs and steak place with sawdust on the floor.”

Three bluegrass bands--Liberty, Copperline and Free-Wheelin’--are rotating Saturdays at the restaurant. Frank Javorsek, host of KCSN-FM’s “Bluegrass Express” radio program and owner of the Blueridge Pickin’ Parlor, speaks highly of all three:

“All these bands are top-quality Southern Californian acts. They’ve been around for years; they’re good, creative, talented musicians. Copperline especially is on the verge of becoming a national touring bluegrass band.”

The music at Adam’s Rib starts at 8 p.m., and there is no cover charge. Call (818) 990-7427.

Bluegrass can also be heard regularly at two area Italian restaurants: the Grateful Dudes play Saturdays at Vincenzo’s Pizza, 24504 1/2 Lyons Ave., Newhall, (805) 259-6733, and the Witcher Brothers play Fridays at Vincenzo’s, 2955 Cochran St., No. A-1, Simi Valley, (805) 259-9662. Neither place has a cover charge, but Pete Arseneault, who owns both Vincenzo’s, expects the fans to buy some food or drinks. “They can come in for free, as long as they eat my pizza,” he said.

Carmen in the Valley: Valley opera buffs have somewhere to go this weekend.

The West Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Pierce College Premiere Chorale will perform excerpts from Bizet’s “Carmen” at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Pierce College Performing Arts Theater, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills. Sopranos Linda Frisch-Jarvis and Diane Demetras, tenor Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos and baritone Roberto Gomez will be the featured soloists.

James Domine, West Valley Symphony Orchestra music director, said the performance will be a concert presentation of the opera and will include most of its famous pieces, among them “The Habanera,” “The Seguidilla,” “The Toreador’s Song,” “The Rose Aria” and “March of the Soldier Children”--minus only the recitative parts. The performers will not be in costume.

There will be a preconcert lecture at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 general, $8 students and senior citizens, $5 for children younger than 12. Call (818) 883-6283.

Films for Families: The first Santa Clarita Valley International Film Festival, celebrating family-oriented entertainment, concluded March 24 with winners announced in four major categories: animation, Western / adventure, short subject and feature film.

“Jacek & Placek,” a Polish film directed by Leszek Galysz, won for best animation. The award for best Western / adventure film went to “Seasons of the Heart,” directed by T. C. Christensen and starring Claude Akins, Sam Hennings, Leigh Lombardi and the voice of Yvonne DeCarlo.

“Daddy’s Girl,” written and directed by Regina Conroy and produced by Bruce Postman, won for best short subject. “Season of Change,” directed by Robin Murray, produced by Robert Spiotta and written by Shirley Hillard, was chosen best feature film.

Winners in the screenwriting category were “Buffalo Woman” by Kathy Anderson, “Post ‘Potamus’ ” by James Aitcken and “Desiring Heart” by Dean Stewart. The audience choice award, chosen by festival attendees, went to “I Don’t Buy Kisses Anymore,” directed by Robert Marcarelli.

Film industry professionals made up the panel of judges. Only family films, those within the guidelines for “G” and “PG” ratings, were accepted.

Film Contest: Warner Bros., the Burbank Unified School District and the Regional Occupational Program’s Cinema and Video Academy are sponsoring a short film and video competition for high school students (14 through 18 years of age) and adults enrolled in a high school-based vocational educational program.

Entry deadline is April 22. To receive an entry packet and information, call (818) 558-4643 or (818) 848-1435.