Randy's Guide LIV

Happy German-American Day (Saturday), 37th to Matt Damon (Monday), Columbus Day (Monday), and Ugandan Independence Day (Tuesday)! Welcome to all new readers. Please forward on to friends, family, and colleagues... and update me about any e-mail changes.


Event Alert:
Theatre Bay Area and Theatre Communications Group, in conjunction with numerous sponsors such as BART and The Onion, have teamed up to provide another Free Night at the Theatre. Each person can receive two complimentary tickets to performances later this month. Check out http://www.theatrebayarea.org/tix/ftd_list.jsp for more details. Note: additional shows will be added over the next two weeks - be vigilant.


Local News Story of the Week:
Three-minute online dating is at your service! The Stanford University graduate class project has turned into San Mateo-based Speeddate.com. http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=81472


~ CHANGE FOR CHANGE ~
Charity to consider: Bay Area Community Services. For over 50 years, BACS has served both adults with severe mental illness as well as seniors throughout Alameda County. http://www.bayareacs.org/

Previous organizations Randy's Guide has spotlighted and donated: Common Ground Relief, LYRIC, Aldea Inc., Glide Memorial, City CarShare, Maitri, Loaves and Fishes, Friends of the Urban Forest, and Farm Sanctuary.

Donate through the non-profit's Web site or your corporate donation program.


Weekend Weather:
20% chance of storms Friday, then warming through Sunday
High 62-66, Low 52: San Francisco (beach), San Bruno
High 64-69, Low 52: San Francisco (downtown), Berkeley
High 67-76, Low 45-48: San Jose, Danville, San Carlos, Napa, San Leandro, Santa Rosa, Mountain View

High 54-83, Low 37-51: Denver (clear & warm, then 20% chance of rain)
High 76-87, Low 50-67: Lincoln (clear, then 50% chance of t-storms)
High 85, Low 65: Newark (mostly cloudy)
High 89, Low 75: New Orleans (30% chance t-storms)
High 68, Low 54: Santa Monica (clear)
High 57, Low 47: Seattle (partly cloudy, then 60% chance of rain)


Environmental Tip of the Week:
Your milk purchases add up... the most energy-efficient choice is using a refillable glass container at dairy farms. The plastic containers come next, as they are easily recyclable and are a lighter material than glass or coated plastic.

Previous: For those looking to remodel their homes, consider an eco-friendly home contractor. Green building practices are the foundation for the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which lists accredited professionals at http://www.usgbc.org/.


Video of the Week:
"Harvest (within you)" by Clinic (UK)

Supporting Arcade Fire in the UK and Ireland over the next two months.

Previous:
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Jake Shimabukuro (Hawaii)

Based on George Harrison's classic song, Shimabukuro's ukelele-based video has received more than 1 million views. He's currently on tour in Japan and Hawaii, but will be returning to Washington, Oregon, Nevada and California later in October.


New Films: {#1 The Game Plan (PG), $23.0MM, 3103 screens; #2 The Kingdom (R), $17.1MM, 2793 screens; #3 Resident Evil: Extinction (R), $8.0MM, 2828 screens; #20 Into the Wild (R), $0.6MM, 33 screens}
- Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (R): Western; about the notorious U.S. outlaw and his enemies who attempt to cash in on the reward money. Co-starring Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, and Mary-Louise Parker.

- Darjeeling Limited (R): Comedy; about three American brothers whose attempt to bond while journeying across India becomes derailed; co-starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman; directed by Wes Anderson

- Feel the Noise (PG-13): Musical; about an aspiring Harlem rapper who escapes to Puerto Rico to become Reggaeton stars; co-produced by Jennifer Lopez

- Heartbreak Kid (R): Remake comedy; about a bachelor who meets the girl of his dreams while on his honeymoon; co-starring Ben Stiller; directed by the Farrelly brothers

- I Want Someone to Eat Cheese with (NR): Comedy; about a Chicago actor searching for his soul mate; co-starring Jeff Garlin and Sarah Silverman

- Lust, Caution (NC-17): Thriller; about a powerful politician who works for the Japanese puppet government and the woman enlisted to assassinate him; co-starring Tony Leung, Tang Wei, and Joan Chen; directed by Ang Lee

- Michael Clayton (R): Thriller; about a former prosecutor who takes care of a corporate law firm's dirty work; co-starring George Clooney and Tilda Swinton

- Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (PG): Fantasy; about a young time traveller who battles dark forces of evil

- Vanaja (NR): Musical drama; about a teenage girl in rural southern India who yearns to become a dancer


Freebies:
- http://www.sfsymphony.org/: FRI noon. Outdoor concert featuring Copland and Gershwin. In Cesar Chavez Plaza (San Jose).

- http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/: FRI 10:30am-noon, 2:15-7pm; SAT/SUN 11am-7pm. Featuring Gillian Welch, Los Lobos, Emmylou Harris, Jeff Tweedy, and dozens more. In Speedway, Lindley & Marx Meadows in Golden Gate Park (SF).

- http://www.sfzinefest.com/: FRI 2-8pm; SAT 11am-7pm. With more than 50 small-press vendors representing the independent, underground publishing community. At the Women's Building (SF).

- http://www.sanbrunochamber.com/: SAT 10am-4pm. 4th annual Autumn Fest in San Bruno City Park.

- http://www.adas4art.org/: SAT/SUN 10am-5pm. 9th annual Art in the Park (Danville).

- http://www.sancarloschamber.org/: SAT/SUN 10am-5:30pm. 17th annual Art & Wine Faire (San Carlos), near Laurel St. and San Carlos Ave.

- http://www.winecountrycajunfestival.com/: SAT 1-6pm. Inaugural food and music fest, featuring Zydeco Flames, cajun food demonstrations, and palm readers.In downtown Napa, along First St.

- http://www.poloniasf.org/: SUN 10am-5pm. In honor of Polish Heritage Month comes this festival in the County Fair Building of Golden Gate Park (SF).

- http://www.sausageandsuds.com/: SUN 10am-6pm. In downtown San Leandro, near Parrott and E. 14th streets.

- http://www.sfcolumbusday.org/: SUN 12:30pm. Italian Heritage Parade, with Grand Marshal Frankie Valli. From Fisherman's Wharf to Washington Square Park (SF).

- www.sfjazz.org: WED noon. Live jazz by Joel Dorham Latin Jazz Octet in Levi's Plaza (SF).



Non-Freebies:
Symphony - Itzhak Perlman [Th/Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm]: The famed violinist-conductor performs Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms. At Davies Symphony Hall (SF), $25-125. http://www.sfsymphony.org/

Ballet - Joffrey Ballet [Th/Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm/8pm]: As part of Cal Performances' October tribute to Twyla Tharp. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $34-90. http://www.calperformances.net/

Festival - Sonoma County Harvest Fair [Fri-Sun 10am-7pm]: At the Sonoma County Fairgrounds (Santa Rosa), $4-6. http://www.harvestfair.org/

Live Rock - The Shins [Fri 8pm]: Propelled to fame as the band that Natalie Portman's character listens to the movie "Garden State." With The Shaky Hands opening. At the Greek Theatre (Berkeley), $37 general. http://www.theshins.com/

Opera - Appomattox [Opens Fri 8pm, through Oct 24]: World premiere of Philip Glass' production, about the close of the U.S. Civil War. At the War Memorial Opera House (SF), $15-275. http://www.sfopera.com/

Live Rock - The Go Go's [Fri 9pm]: Limited tour for the '80s female-only band. At the Independent (SF), sold out - buy secondhand. http://www.gogos.com/

Live Rock - Download Festival 2007 [Sat 2-11pm]: Headliners are The Cure and AFI. At Shoreline Amphitheatre (Mountain View), $22-75. http://www.downloadfestival.com/

Live Rock - Genesis [Tue 8pm]: The band reunites, with Phil Collins as the lead. At the HP Pavilion (San Jose), $58-228. http://www.genesis-music.com/

Previous: Opera - Tannhauser [through Oct 12]; Theatre - Sweeney Todd [through Oct 14]; Theatre - Theatre Rhinoceros: The First Thirty Years [through Oct 14]