Randy's Guide LXV

Today is my mom and aunt’s birthday; Friday is San Francisco Symphony conductor Michael Tilson Thomas’ 63rd and winter solstice/summer solstice (depending on your hemisphere); Saturday is American Idol winner Jordin Sparks’ 18th; Sunday is U.S. General Wesley Clark’s 63rd and Swedish Flag Day; Tuesday is Christmas Day, as well as political adviser Karl Rove’s 57th; Wednesday is Boxing Day and the start of Kwanzaa. Welcome to all readers! Please forward on to friends, family, and colleagues...


American Airlines & United Airlines Offers
Save 5% on any American Airlines fare worldwide for up to six passengers on the same itinerary, for purchase and travel by 12/31/07. Or, save 10% on any United Airlines fare worldwide for purchase by 12/31/07 and travel through 3/9/08 (blackout dates of 2/15 and 2/18). E-mail me if you wish to receive either code, which can only be used once.


Virgin America Offer – extended
Save 25% off unlimited Virgin America flights. Use ELEVATE25 as your promotional code. Expires Friday. Offer valid for travel through 3/19/08, with blackout dates of 12/19/07 - 1/6/08, 2/14/08, 2/15/08, and 2/18/08.


Local News Story of the Week
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. will purchase the energy from the nation’s first commercial wave power plant off the coast of Northern California, near Eureka. The energy should start entering the state network in 2012. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/18/MNEKU05V9.DTL


Change for Change
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. www.blueenergygroup.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, Farm Sanctuary, and Bay Area Community Services.

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


Holiday Weekend Weather
Partly cloudy, with highs near 55; lows in the mid-30s (Santa Rosa, Saratoga) to low-40s (SF, Daly City, Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Carmel)

High 35, Low 20: Belleville, Mich. (chance of snow)

- Joe Jankowski’s double-wide mobile home is filled with 17,000 bulbs to celebrate the Christmas season

High 60, Low 40: Brookhaven, Miss. (chance of rain)

- At least two mobile homes have been damaged by a possible tornado

High 63, Low 43: New Orleans, La. (chance of rain)

- The City Council will vote on whether to demolish 4,500 public units damaged heavily by Hurricane Katrina

High 43, Low 28: Norristown, Pa. (chance of rain)

- Police thwarted a Columbine-style attack, and the courts sentenced the 14-year-old to up to 7 years of juvenile detention time

High 41, Low 30: Stirling City, Calif. (chance of rain)

- A family of four is found huddled in the Sierra Nevada following an unsuccessful search for a Christmas tree and then four days in the snowy terrain


Environmental Tip of the Week
Organic, biodynamic, and vegan wine options are starting to enter the mainstream, sans the chemical pesticides and animal byproducts often used. Some local California options include Frog’s Leap, Bonterra, and Medlock Ames.

Previous:
LED holiday lights use about 90% less energy than typical incandescent lights. Consider purchasing a string from www.holidayleds.com; be forewarned, though, that holiday lights often still contain lead and should be treated with caution.


Video of the Week
“Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death from Above” by CSS (Brazil)

The Brazilian rockers’ name (translating to “tired of being sexy”) reportedly comes from a Beyonce quote. They’re currently wrapping up a tour through England and Ireland.

Previous:
“Unravel” by Radiohead (UK)

The notoriously anti-capitalist British rockers have gone virtual with their seventh studio album. You can download their latest album from their Web site (www.radiohead.com) and pay whatever price you wish; also check out live studio performances of their new songs.


Movie Box Office (through Dec. 16)
#1 I Am Legend (PG-13): $77.2MM opening, 3606 screens, $21,412 per screen

#2 Alvin and the Chipmunks (PG): $44.3MM opening, 3475 screens, $12,750 per screen

#3 The Golden Compass (PG-13): $8.8MM, $40.8MM overall, 3528 screens, $2,502 per screen

#11 Juno (PG-13): $1.4MM, $2.2MM overall, 40 screens, $35,686 per screen; 3 Golden Globe nominations

Charlie Wilson’s War (R): Drama; about a Texas congressman’s singular attempts to support the Afghan resistance against the Soviet Union during the Cold War; co-starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Philip Seymour Hoffman; directed by Mike Nichols; 5 Golden Globe nominations

Diving Bell and the Butterfly (PG-13): Foreign drama; about a famous magazine editor whose live plunges into catastrophe; 3 Golden Globe nominations

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (PG): Action sequel; about the treasure hunter’s attempts to unlock the truth surround Abraham Lincoln’s assassination; co-starring Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, and Helen Mirren

P.S. I Love You (PG-13): Drama; about a young widow following a list of tasks left by her late husband; co-starring Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, and Lisa Kudrow

Savages (R): Drama; about a modern American family, drifting apart emotionally and geographically, who must reunite to care for an aging parent; co-starring Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman; 1 Golden Globe nomination

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (R): Musical; about a wrongly imprisoned man returning as a vengeful barber; co-starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Alan Rickman; directed by Tim Burton; 4 Golden Globe nominations

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (R): Comedy; about the up-and-down life of the musician/songwriter; co-starring John C. Reilly; 2 Golden Globe nominations


Free Activities
Boudin at the Wharf’s Holiday Celebration [Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-4pm]: Family activities and entertainment, including a Santa visit and holiday carolers. At Pier 43-1/2 (SF). www.boudinbakery.com

Unsilent Night [Fri/Sat 7pm]: Outdoor ambient music performance – bring your own boom box. At Santa Rosa Square on Friday, Dolores Park on Saturday. www.philkline.com

Living Wage Celebration [Sat 6pm]: Featuring live music, spoken word, food, and a raffle. Benefitting the San Francisco Living Wage Coalition. At the New College (SF). Monetary donations accepted. www.livingwage-sf.com


Other Activities
Symphony - The Wizard of Oz [Th/Fri 7pm, Sat 2pm]: With a live orchestra playing during the film shown on a big screen. At Davies Symphony Hall (SF), $14-55. www.sfsymphony.org

Live Music - Messiah [Th/Fri 7:30pm]: At the Herbst Theatre (SF), $18-55. www.americanbach.org

Dance - San Jose’s Nutcracker [through Sunday]: At the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, $30-82. www.balletsanjose.org

Live Music - Queens of the Stone Age [Fri 8pm]: With Jaguar Love opening. At the Warfield (SF), $30. www.qotsa.com

Dance - Dancing with the Stars [Fri 7:30pm]: Featuring cast members from seasons 3-5. At the HP Pavilion (San Jose), $50-165. http://dancingwiththestars.aeglive.com/

Dance - Mark Morris Dance Group’s The Hard Nut [through Sunday]: Updating the Nutcracker classic to the 1960s. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $32-60. www.calperformances.net

Film - Can’t Stop the Music event [Sat noon/7:30pm]: With Randy Jones (original Village People cowboy), emcee Anita Cocktail, a Village People look-alike contest, and of course the 1980 film. At the Castro Theatre (SF), $13-28. www.castrotheatre.com

Dance - Alameda Civic Ballet’s Nutcracker [through Sunday]: At Kofman Theater (Alameda), $17-27. www.alamedaballet.com

Live Music - Vienna Teng [Fri 8pm, Sat 7pm/9:30pm]: At Saratoga High School on Friday, and the Independent (SF) on Saturday, $15-25. www.viennateng.com

Event - Festivus [Sun 7:30pm]: A rolling contest, silent auction, raffle, Mutaytor… with dessert served first, all in honor of the medical marijuana legal defense and educational fund Green Aid. At the SomArts Cultural Center (SF), $70. www.green-aid.com

Live Music - Chanticleer [through Sunday]: Grammy Award-winning artists perform both classics and new releases from its latest album. At Mission Santa Clara tonight; Carmel Mission on Friday night; Old Mission San Jose on Saturday afternoon; and St. Ignatius Church (SF) on Sunday evening. $22-44. www.chanticleer.org

Dance - Oakland Ballet’s Nutcracker [through Monday]: At the Paramount Theatre (Oakland), $15-50. www.oaklandballet.org

Live Music - Gay Men’s Chorus [Mon 5pm/7pm/9pm]: At the Castro Theatre (SF), $17-25. www.sfgmc.org

Comedy - 15th Kung Pao Kosher Comedy [through Tuesday]: At the New Asia Restaurant (SF), $40-60. www.koshercomedy.com

Theatre - Black Nativity [through Dec 30]: A gospel celebration of Christmas. At the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre (SF), $22-36. www.lhtsf.org

Dance - San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker [through Dec 30]: At the Opera House (SF), $18-198. www.sfballet.org

Live Music - Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller [through Dec 31]: #1 selling Christmas recording artist in history. At the Post Street Theatre (SF), $65-100. www.mannheimsteamroller.com


Previous: Theatre - Argonautika [through Sunday in Berkeley]; Dance - Peninsula Ballet’s Nutcracker [through Sunday in San Mateo]; Theatre - A Christmas Carol [through Sunday in SF]; Dance - Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet [through Sunday in SF]; Festival - Great Dickens Christmas Fair [through Sunday in Daly City]; Theatre - Jersey Boys [through Dec 30 in SF]; Theatre - Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza [through Jan 20 in SF];