ESSENTIAL: With one exception--and that was only...

ESSENTIAL: With one exception--and that was only for one day--the staffs of Valley congressmen are working as usual. This despite the federal government shutdown (A1). It was the lawmakers’ call and the lot of them--Anthony Beilenson, Howard Berman, Howard (Buck) McKeon, Carlos Moorhead and Henry Waxman--deemed their aides “essential workers.” Waxman’s district office closed Tuesday, but is open now.

BAD BOY: Lyle Menendez spent the night in the hole. Jailers caught him with “a big store” of extra jail jumpsuits in his cell. Blankets, sheets, underwear and contraband pens too, says County Jail boss, Capt. Herb Pettus. Prisoners are allowed but one set of clothes and linens at a time. But, hey, Lyle must have been dreaming of the good ol’ days in 90210. . . . Instead, he’s on “administrative segregation” at Central Jail and without privileges for seven days.

DIGGING IN: People protesting the prospect of a subway tunnel under the hills of Hollywood and Studio City demonstrated outside Wednesday’s MTA meeting (B4). Plans call for the Red Line extension to reach the Valley via a tunnel through the Santa Monicas.

NUMBER CRUNCH: The Valleys have spoken . . . about 818. We like it. So much that we’d rather keep our area code even though the guy in the apartment upstairs may have a different one. Pacific Bell did a survey of the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. What with all the fax machines, beepers and cell phones, we’re running out of numbers. Those surveyed said they’d rather fight than switch to a new code based on geography.

NO TUTUS: They were a bunch of jocks in a dance class. They didn’t know a plie from their posterior. They’re Pilobolus, a dance troupe like no other . . . with nearly 25 years worth of staying power. Plus, they’re coming to Glendale. This and other weekend entertainment news in today’s Valley Calendar pages.