Randy's Guide LXXII (72)

Happy Lunar New Year - it’s the Year of the Rat! Friday is Slovenia’s Preseren Day and journalist Ted Koppel’s 68th; Saturday is writer Alice Walker’s 64th; Monday is surfer Kelly Slater’s 36th; Tuesday is Lincoln’s Birthday.


Miscellaneous Alerts
Definitely, Maybe (PG-13) screening next week in SF: send your name, DOB, and full mailing address to promos@sfbg.com, with DEFINITELY PROMO in the subject line. Deadline for entry is 2pm Friday.

Diary of the Dead (R) screening next Thursday in SF: send your name, DOB, and full mailing address to promos@sfbg.com, with DOD PROMO in the subject line. Deadline for entry is 3pm Friday.

Landmark free movie passes: send your favorite recent arthouse film, name, and mailing address to sfmarketing@landmarktheatres.com, with SPRING CALENDAR PROMO in the subject line. Deadline for entry is next Thursday.

Those living in San Francisco’s Castro district can receive a free wireless router and antenna, including installation. Those outside the Castro can receive a $10 voucher for a router. In exchange for sharing the bandwidth with neighbors, residents will also be able to access the Internet at various hotspots around the world. www.sharethecastro.com


Local News Story
San Francisco residents rejected turning Alcatraz into a peace center, but did pass measures to improve city parks and extend police retirement benefits. Though San Francisco voted against gaming initiatives for tribes by a 60-40 margin, California as a whole endorsed them with 55% approval. For county results, check out www.sfgate.com/careturns.


Change for Change
New charity to consider: My New Red Shoes. Founder 30-year-old Heather Hopkins, a Princeton University graduate, provides new school clothes to Bay Area homeless and poor children. www.mynewredshoes.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, Bay Area Community Services, and now Blue Energy.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Clear skies, seasonal temperatures. Highs 55 coast, 60 bay, 65 inland; lows 35 inland, 40 bay, 45 coast.

High 75, Low 50: Cape Canaveral, FL (partly cloudy)
- The much-delayed Atlantis mission began on Thursday, carrying Europe’s $2-billion science lab gift for the international space station

High 70, Low 40: Glendale, AZ (clear)
- The New York Giants upset the New England Patriots, 17-14, to win Super Bowl XLII and end the Patriots’ chances at an unbeaten season

High 20, Low 0: Madison, WI (snow)
- The Capital Times, in publication for 90 years, has decided to end daily printing and instead focus on Internet operations

High 50, Low 30: Washington, DC (mostly cloudy)
- Republican hopeful Mitt Romney suspended his presidential campaign, while presumptive nominee John McCain pleaded his case in front of the Conservative Political Action Conference


Environmental Tips
Wood smoke contains carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and other respiratory irritants. To minimize the harmful effects of fireplaces, clean your chimney annually, choose seasoned hardwoods only, and use a screen. Check out Java Logs, made from used coffee grounds and with smoke that has 1/8 the carbon monoxide and particulates of wood. www.java-log.com

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Keep your skin looking fresh and moisturized, without resorting to harmful chemicals. Kaolin clay, shea butter, even yogurt, can all be used quite effectively to hydrate your skin with alpha-hydroxy acids and antioxidants.


Music Videos
“Anyone Else But You” by Moldy Peaches (New York City)

If you have seen Juno, you’ll remember this song. The band has reunited for appearances on The View, on NPR, and at the Juno film premiere.

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“The News” by Carbon/Silicon (England)

The duo might look and sound familiar to some of you – one was formerly in The Clash, while the other’s from Generation X. Much of its music, including live bootlegs, can be freely downloaded from its main site.


Movies (through Feb. 4)
#1 Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus (G): $31.1MM opening; 683 screens; $45,561 per screen
#2 The Eye (PG-13): $12.4MM opening; 2436 screens; $5,101 per screen
#3 27 Dresses (PG-13): $8.5MM; $57.2MM overall; 2976 screens; $2,866 per screen
#26 The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (PG-13): $0.4MM; $3.7MM overall; 205 screens; $2,154 per screen; 4 Oscar nominations

Air I Breathe (R): Drama; about four overlapping stories and their correlation to the Chinese cornerstones of life: happiness, pleasure, sorrow, and love; co-starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Brendan Fraser, Kevin Bacon, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Garcia

Fool’s Gold (PG-13): Action; about a treasure hunter’s search for exotic treasure; co-starring Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, and Donald Sutherland

Hottie and the Nottie (PG-13): Comedy; about a young man’s obsession with his hot childhood friend, and the friendship that ensues with her not-so-hot roommate; co-starring Paris Hilton

In Bruges (R): Comedy; about two hit men visiting a medieval Belgian town; co-starring Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes

Quantum Hoops (NR): Documentary; about the Cal Tech’s basketball team attempts to break a 21-year losing streak

Shrooms (NR): Thriller; about five American college students trying out magic mushrooms in Ireland

Taxi to the Dark Side (R): Documentary; about the death of an Afghan taxi driver by U.S. soldiers at Bagram Air Base

Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show (R): Documentary; about the actor’s 2005 comedy tour; co-starring Vince Vaughn

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (PG-13): Comedy; about a famous self-help guru who returns to his Southern family home for a wedding anniversary; co-starring Martin Lawrence and James Earl Jones

This week’s movie review: There Will Be Blood (R): B-plus. Very atmospheric, a great leading performance by Daniel Day Lewis, and stunning music… yet it’s periodically slow and repetitive. Nominated for 8 Oscars.

This week’s video review: Zodiac (R): A. Overlooked by both awards givers and filmgoers, with a bone-chilling basement scene and a few smile-inducing references to the Bay Area.


Free Activities
Food from the Heart [Fri 5-8pm]: Featuring tango and salsa dancing, chocolate samplings, and romantic music. Also offering $2 hors d’oeuvres samplings and $6 wine pours. Benefitting Slow Food San Francisco. At the Ferry Building (SF). www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

FanFest [Sat 10am-3pm]: Autographs, ticket sales, dugout tours, singing auditions, and more. At SBC Park (SF). www.knbr.com

What’s the Big Idea Day [Sat 12-8pm]: Open house to showcase its visual art, workshops, films, and public programs. At YBCA (SF). www.ybca.org

Heartland Antiques & Art Faire [Sun 9am-3pm]: With free popcorn. At Railroad Centre (Danville). www.ci.danville.ca.us/default.asp?serviceID2=Event%20Calendar

Chinese New Year Carnival [through Feb 24, 10am-10pm daily]: At Walter U. Lum Place (SF). www.chineseparade.com


Paid Activities
Comedy – Janeane Garofalo [Th 8pm, Fri-Sat 8pm/10:15pm]: With Mary Lynn Rajskub opening. At Cobb’s Comedy Club (SF), $31-34. www.cobbscomedyclub.com

Live Music – Jill Scott [Th-Fri 8pm]: With Raheem Devaughn opening. At the Paramount (Oakland), $43-78. www.jillscott.com

Dance – Moiseyev Dance Company [Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm/8pm, Sun 3pm]: The 70-year-old folk dance ensemble commemorates its tour to its founder. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $12-48. www.moiseyev.ru

Theatre – Hairspray [Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm/8pm]: At the Flint Center (Cupertino), $40-60. www.flintcenter.com

Event – Eternal Spring ‘08 [Sat 2-10pm]: Daytime yoga, martial arts, and poi classes; evening showcase of spring fashion. At SomArts Bay Gallery (SF), $7. www.eternalspring08.com

Live Music – The Ten Tenors [Sat 8pm]: Their stylish breed of classical, pop, and jazz arrives for the only Bay Area stop. At the Marin Center (San Rafael), $25-75. www.thetentenors.com

Live Music – Chinese New Year Celebration [Sun 4pm]: Features music and instruments from the East and West. With conductor Carolyn Kuan and pianists Peng Peng and Conrad Tao. Reception to follow. At Davies Symphony Hall (SF), $20-50. www.sfsymphony.org

Dance – Toe to Toe [Tue 6:30pm]: ODC/Dance and Cal student-athletes compete. Benefitting ODC Dance Commons. At the Concourse Center (SF), $25-125. www.slimstickets.com

Theatre – Third [through Sunday]: About a radical feminist professor whose ideas are undermined by a male student. At the Center for Performing Arts (Mountain View), $21-57. www.theatreworks.org

Event – Woo at the Zoo [through Feb 17]: Multimedia event exploring the mating behaviors of animals. At the Zoo (SF), $75. www.sfzoo.org

Film – San Francisco IndieFest [now through Feb 20]: 80 films, plus parties and live music. At various locations in SF, $5-25. www.sfindie.com

Previous: Theatre - Taking Over [extended through Feb 24 in Berkeley]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [through Apr 13 in SF] recommended