Randy's Guide LXI

Today is Thanksgiving and actress Scarlett Johansson's 23rd; Tuesday is engineer Bill Nye's 52nd; and Wednesday is Algerian Flag Day. Please forward on to friends, family, and colleagues.

Special Airline Offer
Save 25% off unlimited Virgin America flights (LAX, SFO, SAN, LAS, JFK, IAD airports)! Use ELEVATE25 as your promotional code. Expires 12/7/07. Offer valid for travel between 11/26/07 - 3/19/08, with blackout dates of 12/19/07 - 1/6/08, 2/14/08, 2/15/08, and 2/18/08.

Grand Opening Notice
Yoshi's San Francisco has its opening next Wednesday, Nov. 28. Roy Haynes & Yoshi's Birds of a Feather Super Band. At 1330 Fillmore. $100 seats still available for the 10pm show. http://www.yoshis.com

Local News Story of the Week
Local crab fishermen are furious that two Oregon boats have unloaded tons of crab in Monterey for sale within the state. There had been a local effort to halt all crab harvesting until toxicology tests return results following this month's massive oil spill in the San Francisco Bay. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/21/MNASTG9PT.DTL


Change for Change (no change from last week)
Charity to consider: Blue Energy. The San Francisco-based nonprofit, which started as a graduate project at MIT, provides low-cost wind and solar electric systems in Nicaragua and eventually will spread its model worldwide.

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, Farm Sanctuary, and Bay Area Community Services.

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


Weekend Weather
Clear, seasonable days w/cool nights
High 58, Low 47: SF (beaches), Daly City
High 61, Low 46: SF (downtown), San Rafael, Berkeley
High 61, Low 41: Point Reyes
High 63, Low 34: Yountville, Santa Rosa, Sacramento
High 64, Low 42: Oakland, Walnut Creek

High 54, Low 40: Atlanta, GA (rain)
High 48, Low 37: Dallas, TX (chance of rain)
High 29-48, Low 13-23: Denver, CO (clear, warming)
High 69, Low 47: Long Beach, CA (clear)
High 43-66, Low 31: New York, NY (chance of rain)
High 70, Low 46: Phoenix, AZ (partly cloudy)
High 42, Low 29: St. Louis, MO (mostly cloudy)


Environmental Tip of the Week
You'll no doubt have leftovers from tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day feast. Some tips to keep your food safe: (1) use hot soapy water to clean hands, cutting boards, and sponges; (2) refrigerate everything immediately; (3) store and eat turkey within four days, stuffing and gravy within two days; (4) avoid PVC-based plastic wrap by using Best Yet/Glad Cling Wrap, aluminum foil, or tupperware bins

Previous:
Family-owned Diestel Farms offers a great alternative to the mass-produced turkeys in grocery stores. Along with Heidi’s Organic Hens, Diestel turkeys provide naturally produced meat with full control over the entire supply chain to ensure the highest quality. Look for Diestel at Whole Foods, Lunardi’s, Draeger’s, Gelson’s, and other specialty grocers. www.diestelturkey.com


Video of the Week
"Thriller" by Michael Jackson (as performed by prison inmates in the Philippines)

Over 8 million have viewed this video, which features over 1,500 prisoners performing a remake of the epic video.

Previous:
“100 Days, 100 Nights” by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (Brooklyn, NY)

Formerly a prison guard at Rikers Island and Sing Sing, Sharon Jones channels no-nonsense soul that even Amy Winehouse can appreciate (especially since she’s borrowed Jones’ band for her last album). Right now, the group is touring the Midwest, with future stops in Los Angeles (Dec 4) and San Francisco (Dec 5).


New Films
{#1 Beowulf (PG-13), $27.5MM opening, 3153 screens; #2 Bee Movie (PG), $14.0MM, $93.6MM overall, 3984 screens; #3 American Gangster (R), $12.9MM, $93.6MM overall, 3110 screens; #7 No Country for Old Men (R), $3.1MM, $4.9MM overall, 148 screens recommended}

August Rush (PG): Drama; about a young musical prodigy; co-starring Robin Williams, Keri Russell, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Enchanted (PG): Family comedy; about a beautiful princess banished to modern-day Manhattan; co-starring James Marseden and Susan Sarandon

Hitman (R): Action; about a genetically engineered assassin and his unexpected emotions for a mysterious Russian woman; co-starring Timothy Olyphant and Dougray Scott

I'm Not There (R): Musical biography; about the portrayal of Bob Dylan using different actors for his stages in life; co-starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, and Heath Ledger; directed by Todd Haynes (Far from Heaven)

Stephen King's The Mist (R): Horror; about a small town under attack from creatures lurking in a mysterious mist; co-starring Marcia Gay Harden and Andre Braugher; directed by Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption)

This Christmas (PG-13): Comedy; about the Whitfield family's discovery of the true meaning of life; co-starring Regina King and Loretta Devine

What Would Jesus Buy? (NR): Comedy; about a cross-country crusade to liberate consumers from contributing to a corporate Christmas; produced by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me)

Red Balloon & White Mane (NR): Foreign revival; featuring two beloved 1950s films in restored prints


Free Festivals
Point Reyes Open Studios Art Tour [Fri-Sun 11am-5pm]: Featuring 28 local artists. www.pointreyesart.com

43rd Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting [Fri 1:30-6pm]: Live holiday performances, a visit from Santa, Ghirardelli hot chocolate, and a 35-foot tree lighting. In SF. www.ghirardellisq.com

19th Yountville Festival of Lights [Fri 2-6pm]: Block party along Washington St. www.yountville.com

2nd Culinary Fungus Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: At the Ferry Building (SF). www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

Really Really Free Market [Sat 1-5pm]: In honor of International Buy Nothing Day. At Dolores Park (SF). www.reallyreallyfree.org


Other Activities
Athletics - Turkey Beach Trot [Th 8am]: 6-mile run, 3-mile walk, and 100-meter race for kids. Limited to 1,000 contestants, with prizes awarded. Along Ocean Beach (SF), $27. www.turkeybeachtrot.com

Dance - Tango Buenos Aires [Fri 8pm]: At the Marin Center (San Rafael), $18-60. www.marincenter.org

Live Music - Babyface [Fri 8pm]: With Ayo opening. At the Paramount Theatre (Oakland), $41-70. wg

Ballet - Smuin's The Christmas Ballet [Fri/Sat 8pm, Sat/Sun 2pm]: At the Lesher Center (Walnut Creek), $45-57. www.lesherartscenter.org

Comedy - Pauly Shore [Fri/Sat 8pm/10pm]: At Cobb's Comedy Club (SF), $25. www.cobbscomedyclub.com

Family - Dan Zanes & Friends [Sat 11am/2pm, Sun 3pm]: Winner of the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $8-26. www.calperformances.net

Live Music - Queen Latifah [Sat 8pm]: At the Wells Fargo Center (Santa Rosa), $15-65. www.wellsfargocenterarts.com

Festival - 50th San Francisco International Auto Show [through Dec 2]: Green cars are sure to be the highlight of the 400,000 expected attendees. At Moscone Center (SF), $8. www.sfautoshow.com

Festival - 29th Celebration of Craftswomen [through Dec 2]: At Herbst Pavilion in Fort Mason (SF), FREE-$15. www.celebrationofcraftswomen.org

Opera - Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress [through Dec 9]: A young man is seduced by the Devil into a hedonistic lifestyle. At the Opera House (SF), $10-250. www.sfopera.com

Family - The Velveteen Rabbit [through Dec 9]: At the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SF), $10-40. www.odcdance.org

Festival - Great Dickens Christmas Fair [through Dec 23]: Victorian London setting with characters from Charles Dickens novels floating about the shops and cafes. At the Cow Palace (Daly City), $10-65. www.dickensfair.com

Theatre - Jersey Boys [through Dec 30]: A return engagement of the popular musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. At Curran Theatre (SF), $30-99. www.shnsf.com

Previous: Film – 11th Annual International Latino Film Festival [through Nov 18 in SF]; Theatre – Stardust and Empty Wagons: Stories from the Katrina Diaspora [through Nov 25 in SF]; Opera – Puccini’s La Rondine [through Nov 29]; Jazz – 25th SF Jazz Festival [through Nov 30]; Outdoors – Fallon Islands’ Whale Watching Tours [weekends through Nov 30]; Theatre – The Color Purple [through Dec 9 in SF] recommended