Randy's Guide LXXXIII (83)

Today is long-time Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's 66th and singer Kelly Clarkson's 26th; Friday is Australia and New Zealand's ANZAC Memorial Day; Saturday is architect I.M. Pei's 91st, actor Channing Tatum's 28th, and Florida and Georgia's Confederate Memorial Day; Sunday is South Africa's Freedom Day; Monday is chef Alice Waters' 64th; Tuesday is Japan's Showa Holiday; Wednesday is The Netherlands' Queen's Holiday and German-Swedish-Finnish-Estonian-Czech-Slovak Witches' Night.


Dining Out for Life
Tonight, the following cities will be participating in the fundraiser Dining Out for Life: Albany, Asheville, Chicago, Edmonton, El Paso, Grand Rapids, Hampton Roads, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Haven, Pensacola, Phoenix, Providence, Reno, Riverside/San Bernardino, Sacramento, St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco/Oakland, Seattle/Tacoma, Spokane, Tampa Bay, Tulsa.

Over the next week, Buffalo, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fairbanks, Hudson Valley, Miami, Palm Springs, and Philadelphia will host similar days as well.

25% of all food (and, for some, beverage) orders will be donated to AIDS charities. Some recommended San Francisco participants include: Firefly, Foreign Cinema, Hyde Street Bistro, La Mediterranee, and Maverick.


Local News Story
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom proposes to make curbside recycling and composting mandatory, with the threat of fines for residents and landlords who do not comply. He hopes to model the program after those already instituted in Seattle, Concord, Santa Cruz, and San Diego. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/23/BAI4109VSA.DTL


Change for Change
New charity to consider: College Track. As featured in Bill Clinton's book "Giving," College Track offers high-school students in East Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Oakland free tutoring, internships, and university application assistance. To date, all 226 students have enrolled in college. www.collegetrack.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, Blue Energy, and My New Red Shoes.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Back to sunshine and warmth. Highs - beach 62-68, bay 68-74, inland 74-80; lows - 45-55.

High 69, Low 32: Big Bear, CA (clear)
- A grizzly bear, recently featured in the Will Ferrell film "Semi-Pro," fatally mauled a handler at the Predators in Action training facility

High 59, Low 40: Bridgewater Corners, VT (chance of weekend rain)
- Long Trail Brewing Company recently signed a contract to become the largest commercial customer of the Cow Power program, which produces electricity from cow manure in the state, and agreed to provide by-product nutrients for the cows

High 57, Low 34: Lincoln. NE (chance of rain)
- With rice prices soaring over 70% in 2008 alone, Sam's Club has followed Costco by limiting customers to four 20-pound bags at all stores except those in Idaho and New Mexico

High 84, Low 59: Ocala, FL (partly cloudy)
- Actor Wesley Snipes faces a federal judge today to determine whether he will incur millions in fines and several years in prison for massive tax evasion


Environmental Tips
With gas prices averaging $4/gallon in San Francisco and over $3.50/gallon nationwide, it's time to do a quick check on your car. Replacing your dirty air filter and properly inflating your tires can improve gas mileage up to 13%, the equivalent of about 50 cents per gallon.

Previous:
An Earth Day tip for all: Americans use an average of 170 gallons of water per day, according to the EPA. To help mitigate forecasted water shortages in dozens of states, collect the "warm-up" water for your garden, and cut a minute or two off of your shower or bath.


Music Videos
"I Will Survive" by Young@Heart (Northampton, Mass.)

With an average age of 80 years old, Young@Heart brings life and joy to audiences from California to Australia. The film spotlighting the group back in 2005 is a huge winner, too.

Previous:
"Beautiful Lie" by Yoav (London, England)

Born in Israel and raised in South Africa, Yoav recently released his first album, Charmed and Strange. Check him out at Coachella (Saturday) and SF's Red Devil Lounge and Apple Store (Tuesday), before he passes through Canada, Seattle, and New York City in May and June.


Movies (through Apr. 20)
#1 The Forbidden Kingdom (PG-13): $21.4MM opening; 3151 screens; $6,792 per screen
#2 Forgetting Sarah Marshall (R): $17.7MM opening; 2798 screens; $6.335 per screen
#3 Prom Night (PG-13): $8.7MM; $32.1MM overall; 2700 screens; $3,211 per screen
#30 The Visitor (PG-13): $0.2MM; $0.3MM overall; 18 screens; $9,250 per screen; about an aging, disillusioned writer whose spirit reawakens after a young couple is found in his apartment

Baby Mama (PG-13): Comedy; about a single businesswoman who finds a surrogate in her quest to be a mother; co-starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Sigourney Weaver, and Greg Kinnear

Deception (R): Thriller; about a stuffy accounting consultant who breaks out of his shell with the help of a charismatic lawyer; co-starring Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, and Maggie Q

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (R): Comedy; about the attempts of two guys to prove they have been wrongly imprisoned at the U.S. detention center; co-starring John Cho, Kal Penn, and Neil Patrick Harris

Jellyfish (NR): Drama; about three different women living in Tel Aviv, Israel

The Life Before Her Eyes (R): Thriller; about a suburban mom who starts getting vivid flashbacks of her best friend's tragic death 15 years ago; co-starring Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood

My Brother Is an Only Child (NR): Drama; about two opposing brothers in a small Italian town during the 1960s

Netflix pick – 3:10 to Yuma (R): Western; about a debt-ridden rancher who takes on a dangerous assignment; co-starring Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, and Peter Fonda


Earth Day
SF Ferry Plaza [Sat 8am-2pm]: Reusable bag giveaways, cooking demonstrations, and the farmers' market. www.cuesa.org

El Cerrito Community Center [Sat 9am-1pm]: Beautification projects, followed by a free lunch, raffle, and family activities. www.el-cerrito.org

Macy's Union Square [Sat 10am-9pm]: Get a free plant sapling (1st 100 customers); pick up your free CFL bulb from noon-2pm; receive a free Origins Organic skin-care consultation, a cup of organic tea, and a Luna tea cake at the Origins counter; enter to win a SunPower solar-electric system, a Ford Escape Hybrid SUV, a national-parks trip to Yosemite, Grand Canyon, or Yellowstone; and join a cooking demo with Haagen-Dazs ice cream (and sample afterward) at 4pm.

Emeryville Temescal Creek Park [Sat noon-4pm]: Call 510-596-3782 for more information.

Van Hoosear Wildflower Walks [Sun 10am-noon]: Tour the 162-acre preserve. At the Van Hoosear WIldflower Preserve (Sonoma), $10 donation. www.sonomaecologycenter.org


Free Activities
Walnut Creek Fine Arts Sidewalk Festival [Fri-Sun 10am-5pm]: More than 175 professional artists. In downtown Walnut Creek. www.pacificfinearts.com

Taiko [Fri 7pm]: Lecture and demonstration of the Japanese drumming art. At Emeryville Taiko. www.etaiko.org

Rocket Dog Rescue Block Party [Sat 11am-6pm]: Take in some sun while checking out a full lineup of live performances. Benefitting Rocket Dog Rescue. At La Playa and Judah (SF). www.rocketdogrescue.org

Yerba Buena Gallery Walk [Sat 1-6pm]: 10 galleries in the area open their doors, with refreshments and maps. www.yerbabuena.org/gallerywalk

Outdoor Antique Faire [Sun 8am-4pm]: 180+ dealers will set up shop in the historic downtown of Petaluma. www.petalumadowntown.com

Dancin' Downtown [Sun noon-5pm]: 35 South Bay dance companies share the stage as part of Bay Area National Dance Week. At the Circle of Palms (San Jose). www.bayareandw.org

Sheep Shearing [Sun noon-2pm]: Watch sheep loose their wool, and try out carding the fibers. At Ardenwood Historic Farm (Fremont). www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood

40th Annual Neighborhood Arts Festival [through May 3]: Featuring a series of workshops, poetry readings, and community events at SF venues ranging from Glide Memorial to the Bayview Opera House. www.sfartscommission.org

Chris Hardman [through May 4]: A fusion of light, movement, space, art, and textured sound. At the Presidio Officers' Hall (SF). www.presidio.gov


Paid Activities
Event - A Taste of Asia [Fri 7-10pm, Sat 10:30am-4pm]: Sample signature dishes from top Bay Area restaurants, while touring the museum. At the Asian Art (SF), $25-125. www.asianart.org/tasteofasia.htm

Live Music - Kimya Dawson [Fri 8pm]: One-half of the Juno soundtrack team will be performing with Angelo Spencer and L'Orchidee D'Hawaii. At the Herbst Theatre (SF), $20. www.kimyadawson.com

Live Music - Sasha & Digweed [Fri 10pm]: Famed DJs. At the Warfield (SF), $35. www.ticketmaster.com

Theatre - Coronado [through Saturday]: A twisting mystery from the author of "Mystic River." At the Playhouse (SF), $20-65. www.sfplayhouse.org

Event - 25th Annual San Francisco International Beer Festival [Sat 7-10pm]: Featuring more than 300 beers, along with samples such as La Trappe's belgian fries and Swan's shrimp cocktail. Sold-out event, but 100 tickets are going on sale on site at noon. At Fort Mason (SF), $60. www.sfbeerfest.com

Live Music - Goldfrapp [Sat 8pm]: British electronic music. At the Warfield (SF), $30. www.myspace.com/goldfrapp

Comedy - Jay Mohr [Fri-Sat 8pm/10:15pm, Sun 8pm]: The star from "Jerry Maguire" comes to SF. At Cobb's Comedy Club, $31. www.jaymohr.com

Event - 7th Annual New Living Expo [Fri 3-10pm, Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm]: With 300+ exhibits, 100+ lectures, workshops, green businesses, and more. Featuring Alice Walker and John Gray. At the Concourse Exhibition Center (SF), $10-30. www.newlivingexpo.com

Theatre - Caroline, or Change [through Sunday]: A musical about tensions in Jewish and African-American families in small-town Louisiana in 1963. At the Center for Performing Arts (Mountain View), $26-61. www.theatreworks.org

Live Music - DeVotchKa [Mon 8pm]: The wacky Slavic-Spanish-Middle Eastern-sounding band treks in from Colorado. With Basia Bulat opening. At the Fillmore (SF), $20. www.devotchka.net

Film - 51st Annual San Francisco International Film Festival [through May 8]: 105 films at various theatres in San Francisco (Castro, Kabuki, Clay) and Berkeley (Pacific Film Archive). $9-13. www.sffs.org

Previous: Theatre - Tings Dey Happen [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Fences [extended through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Defending the Caveman [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - High School Musical [through Sunday in SF]; Film - United Artists 90th Anniversary Film Festival [through May 3 in SF]; Art - Annie Leibovitz [through May 25 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through July 27 in SF]

Randy's Guide LXXXII (82)

Today is musician Liz Phair's 41st and World Hemophilia Day; Friday is Zimbabwe's Independence Day and comedian Conan O'Brien's 45th; Saturday is Passover, actor James Franco's 30th and England's Primrose Day; Sunday is Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens' 88th and 420 Day; Monday is Texas' San Jacinto Holiday, the start of the Bahai Faith's Ridvan Festival, and Queen Elizabeth II's 82nd; Tuesday is Earth Day and actor Jack Nicholson's 71st; and Wednesday is UNESCO's International Day of the Book.


Local News Story
Martinez, previously best known for the residence of naturalist John Muir, has received an influx of tourism and civic pride due to a family of beavers in Alhambra Creek. On Wednesday evening, with supporters on hand, the city council declined to vote on whether to move the critters so that flood reinforcements can be constructed. www.contracostatimes.com/specialreports/ci_8959005


Change for Change
New charity to consider: College Track. As featured in Bill Clinton's book "Giving," College Track offers high-school students in East Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Oakland free tutoring, internships, and university application assistance. To date, all 226 students have enrolled in college. www.collegetrack.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, Blue Energy, and My New Red Shoes.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Windy and much cooler. Highs will drop from 65-70 (Friday) to 55-60 (Sunday); lows 40-45.

High 70, Low 45: New Haven, CT (partly cloudy)
- Governors from California, New Jersey, Kansas, Connecticut, and Illinois will be joined by representatives from Canada, Mexico, and the Czech Republic for a day-long conference at Yale University that addresses strategies for governments to combat global warming

High 86, Low 58: Phoenix, AX (clear)
- Mayor Phil Gordon has asked the FBI to investigate whether recent illegal immigrant crackdowns violated any civil rights laws

High 80, Low 61: San Antonio, TX (partly cloudy)
- 117 years and running, the 10-day celebration Fiesta features parades, confetti eggs, pin exchanges, live music, and a carnival

High 74, Low 52: Washington, DC (partly cloudy)
- More than 40,000 attended an open-air mass led by Pope Benedict XVI at the Washington Nationals' baseball stadium


Environmental Tips
An Earth Day tip for all: Americans use an average of 170 gallons of water per day, according to the EPA. To help mitigate forecasted water shortages in dozens of states, collect the "warm-up" water for your garden, and cut a minute or two off of your shower or bath.

Previous:
With the spotlight on filing taxes and receiving federal rebates shortly, taxpayers should keep in mind that federal and/or state incentives exist for hybrid car purchases, solar-panel installations, home insulations, and water heaters.


Music Videos
"Club Thing" by Yoav (London, England)

Born in Israel and raised in South Africa, Yoav recently released his first album, Charmed and Strange. Check him out at Coachella (April 26) and SF's Red Devil Lounge (April 29), before he passes through Canada, Seattle, and New York City in May and June.

"Sometimes I've Won" by Yonder Mountain String Band (Nederland, Colo.)

The progressive bluegrass quartet strolls through the Fillmore Friday night for a show, and then performs during the Green Apple Earth Day in Golden Gate Park on Sunday afternoon.


Movies (through Apr. 13)
#1 Prom Night (PG-13): $20.8MM opening; 2700 screens; $7,706 per screen
#2 Street Kings (R): $12.5MM opening; 2467 screens; $5,055 per screen
#3 21 (PG-13): $10.5MM; $61.7MM overall; 2736 screens; $3,827 per screen
#19 U Me Aur Hum (NR): $0.6MM opening; 89 screens; $7,224 per screen; the Bollywood directorial debut of Ajay Devgan attracted Indian-American audiences in droves

88 Minutes (R): Thriller; about an FBI forensic psychiatrist who receives a death threat that he has 88 minutes to live; co-starring Al Pacino

Body of War (NR): Documentary; about one wounded soldier's attempt to return as a handicapped veteran; co-directed by Phil Donahue

Chapter 27 (R): Drama; about a young female Beatles fan who befriends Mark Chapman during that fateful weekend in 1980; co-starring Lindsay Lohan and Jared Leto

88 Minutes (R): Thriller; about an FBI forensic psychiatrist who believes he may only have 88 minutes to live; co-starring Al Pacino

First Saturday in May (NR): Documentary; about six thoroughbreds in their race for the 2006 Kentucky Derby

Forbidden Kingdom (PG-13): Action; about an American teen who joins an ancient Chinese warrior clan to free the king; co-starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (R): Comedy; about a heartbroken man who heads to Hawaii only to find his ex-girlfriend there with her new boyfriend

Kiss the Bride (R): Comedy; about a gay man attempting to rescue his ex-high-school-boyfriend from marrying a woman; co-starring Tori Spelling

Lost in Beijing (NR): Drama; about an impoverished Chinese couple who finds jobs in the Beijing suburbs

My Blueberry Nights (PG-13): Drama; about a recently single woman who journeys across America, taking waitressing jobs and befriending people along the way; co-starring Norah Jones, Jude Law, and Natalie Portman; directed by Wong Kar Wai

Pathology (R): Thriller; about a group of medical students each trying to commit the perfect crime; co-starring Milo Ventimiglia

The Visitor (PG-13): Drama; about an aging writer whose life is revitalized after a young couple takes up residence in his Manhattan apartment

Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? (PG-13): Documentary; about one man's attempts to scour the world for the terrorist leader; directed by Morgan Spurlock

Young @ Heart (PG): Documentary; about a senior chorus who belts out hits ranging from James Brown to Coldplay to The Clash; winner of the Audience Award at Los Angeles Film Festival

Zombie Strippers (R): Comedy; about a secret government virus that turns strippers in a conservative Nebraska town into zombies; co-starring Robert Englund and Jenna Jameson

Netflix pick – The Hoax (R): Comedy; about the real-life story of a charlatan who sells his fake biography of Howard Hughes to a top publishing house; co-starring Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Julie Delpy, and Hope Davis


Earth Day
Redwood City's Marine Science Institute [Sat 8am-5pm]: Tide pool programs, ship tours, shark feeding. www.sfbaymsi.org

Antioch's Contra Loma Park [Sat 8:30am-1:30pm]: www.ebparks.org/parks/contra_loma

Livermore [Sat 8:30am-2pm]. Cleanup projects, followed by fair. www.larpd.dst.ca.us

Martinez's John Muir National Historic Site [Sat 8:30am-4pm]: Self-guided tours of John Muir's residence, wildlife displays, and live entertainment. www.johnmuirearthday.com

Tiburon's Audubon Center [Sat 9am-noon]: Cleanup project. www.tiburonaudubon.org

Oakland's Peralta Hacienda Park [Sat 9am-1pm]: Cleanup project, with free banquet following. www.peraltahacienda.org

Atherton's Holbrook-Palmer Park [Sat 10am-4pm]: Bring your e-waste, test ride an electric Tesla, and sign up for Atherton's Go Solar Initiative. www.tiemann.net/athertongreen/EPCContentEAW.htm

SF's Pier 94 [Sat 11am-3pm]: Bird walk, site maintenance, and refreshments. www.goldengateaudubon.org

Hayward City Hall Plaza [Sat 11am-3pm]. www.hayward-ca.gov

Alameda's Washington Park [Sat 11am-4pm]. www.ci.alameda.ca.us/arpd/events.html

Berkeley's Civic Center Park [Sat noon-5pm]: www.climatechangeeducation.org/earthday

SF's Zoo [Sun 10am-5pm]: Free admission with the donation of an electronic item such as a cell phone, computer, or television. www.sfzoo.org

SF's John McLaren Park [Sun 11am-5pm]: Bicycle repair, native plant sale, cleanup projects, educational hikes. www.natureinthecity.org/earthday_2008.php

Lafayette's Stanley School [Sun noon-4pm]: www.sustainablelafayette.net

Woodside Elementary School [Sun noon-4pm]: www.yourtv20.com/greenlife/yourgreencalendar/17054091.html

SF's Pier 39 [Sun noon-4pm]. www.pier39.com

SF's Golden Gate Park [Sun noon-6pm]: Come see me at the Energy Efficiency Solar booth, and check out Yonder Mountain String Band and others. At Speedway Meadow. www.greenapplemusicfestival.com


Free Activities
Cherry Blossom Festival [Sat-Sun 11am-5pm]: Check out bonsai demonstrations, taiko drumming, tea ceremonies, origami, martial arts, and more. At assorted sites in Japantown (SF). www.nccbf.org

Aloha Festival [Sat 10am-8pm]: At the Holy Name of Jesus School (SF). www.holynamesf.com

Museum of African Diaspora [Sat 11am-4pm]: Featuring Oakland's Bantaba Ensemble, the Mali Blues Trio, and more. At the MoAD (SF). www.moadsf.org

Art - Chris Hardman [through May 4]: A fusion of light, movement, space, art, and textured sound. At the Presidio Officers' Hall (SF). www.presidio.gov


Paid Activities
Film - Big Gay Movie Night: A Tribute to Madonna [Th 7:30pm]: Hosted by Energy 92.7 DJs Fernando and Greg, along with Peaches Christ, for a double feature of Desperately Seeking Susan and Body of Evidence. At the Bridge Theatre (SF), $7. www.energy927fm.com/page5_sub.php?id=111

Live Music - Non-Stop Bhangra [Sat 9:30pm]: With dance lessons at 9:30 and performances at 10 and 11pm. At the Rickshaw Shop (SF), $10-15. www.rickshawstop.com

Theatre - Defending the Caveman [through April 27]: A comedic prehistoric look at the battle of the sexes. The longest running solo show in Broadway history. At the Marines Memorial Theatre (SF), $55. www.marinesmemorialtheatre.com

Theatre - High School Musical [through April 27]: The high-flying Disney Channel series, now as a musical. At the Orpheum (SF), $23-85. www.shnsf.com

Previous: Theatre - Tings Dey Happen [through Saturday in Mill Valley]; Theatre - A Streetcar Named Desire [through Sunday in Mill Valley]; Theatre - The Government Inspector [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Fences [extended through Apr 27 in SF]; Film - United Artists 90th Anniversary Film Festival [through May 3 in SF]; Art - Annie Leibovitz [through May 25 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through July 27 in SF] recommended

Randy's Guide LXXXI (81)

Today is broadcaster John Madden's 72nd, music producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds' 50th, and actor Haley Joel Osment's 20th; Friday is Costa Rica's Juan Santamaria Holiday; Saturday is musician Herbie Hancock's 68th and talk show host David Letterman's 61st; Sunday is the Thai, Burmese, Lao, Sri Lankan, and Cambodian New Year; Monday is actress Abigail Breslin's 12th; Tuesday is Tax Day and Hawaii's Father Damien Day; Wednesday is Pope Benedict XVI's 81st and Washington D.C.'s Emancipation Holiday.


Local News Story
The Olympic Torch has come and gone, but not without thousands of disappointed fans, cancelled ceremonies, several protests (including one that involved scaling the Golden Gate Bridge), and political resolutions. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7339380.stm


Change for Change
New charity to consider: College Track. As featured in Bill Clinton's book "Giving," College Track offers high-school students in East Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Oakland free tutoring, internships, and university application assistance. To date, all 226 students have enrolled in college. www.collegetrack.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, Blue Energy, and My New Red Shoes.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Unseasonably warm. Highs 70 coast, 80 bay, 85 inland; lows 45-50.

High 53, Low 39: Albany, NY (chance of rain)
- Though endorsed by New York City Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Patterson, a proposal to charge a motorist fee for driving into downtown Manhattan was defeated by Democratic legislators in the Assembly

High 71, Low 42: Eldorado, TX (clear)
- 401 children and 133 women have left the isolated polygamist retreat built by its imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs

High 49, Low 32: Indianapolis, IN (stormy weekend)
- Six men have been accused of fraudulently taking out $37 million in mortgages on 286 homes under false companies for quick resale

High 64, Low 43: Seattle, WA (partly cloudy)
- The Dalai Lama arrived for the five-day "Seeds of Compassion" conference


Environmental Tips
With the spotlight on filing taxes and receiving federal rebates shortly, taxpayers should keep in mind that federal and/or state incentives exist for hybrid car purchases, solar-panel installations, home insulations, and water heaters.

Previous:
Even though some cities such as San Francisco and Oakland have banned styrofoam, take-out containers still generate a lot of waste. Save the time needed to ask for a box (not to mention those natural resources) by bringing your own Tupperware to restaurants for your leftovers.


Music Videos
"Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse" by of Montreal (Athens, Ga.)

The band, formerly of the Elephant 6 collective, has quietly thrived in the independent music scene. Its next album is due out later this year.

"Os Buzios" by Ana Moura (Santarem, Portugal)

The young Portuguese fado vocalist has performed before a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Now she brings her lively jazz to Modesto (Friday/Saturday) and San Francisco (Sunday).


Movies (through Apr. 6)
#1 21 (PG-13): $15.3MM; 2653 screens; $5,781 per screen
#2 Nim's Island (PG): $13.2MM opening; 3513 screens; $3,760 per screen
#3 Leatherheads (PG-13): $12.7MM opening; 2769 screens; $4,580 per screen
#15 Shine a Light (PG-13): $1.5MM opening; 276 screens; $5,392 per screen; the Martin Scorsese documentary about the Rolling Stones rocked out to a decent opening

Blindsight (PG): Documentary; about blind individuals scaling Mount Everest

Boarding Gate (R): Thriller; about a young woman who flees London for Hong Kong, only to become trapped in a manipulative game; co-starring Michael Madsen and Asia Argento

Bonneville (PG): Drama; about a widow who takes her two friends on a road trip to determine the fate of her husband's body; co-starring Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and Joan Allen

Chaos Theory (PG-13): Comedy; about a celebrated bestseller who lives through the use of timetables and index cards; co-starring Ryan Reynolds and Emily Mortimer

Hollywood Chinese (NR): Documentary; about the portrayal of Chinese Americans in film for the past century; co-starring Joan Chen and Amy Tan

Irina Palm (R): Drama; about a desperate widow who reluctantly takes a job as a sex club hostess

Never Forever (NR): Drama; about a white woman who hires an Asian immigrant to impregnate her because her Asian husband is unable to do so

Prom Night (PG-13): Horror; about a group of teens haunted by a secret on prom night

Refusenik (NR): Documentary; about the multi-decade battle to free Soviet Jews during the Cold War

Smart People (R): Drama; about an intellectual professor who awakens from an impending mid-life crisis; co-starring Dennis Quaid, Thomas Haden Church, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Ellen Page

Street Kings (R): Drama; about a veteran police detective who teams with a young recruit to investigate his former partner's killers; co-starring Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, and Jay Mohr

Super High Me (R): Documentary; about the exploration of medical marijuana

Netflix pick – Rescue Dawn (PG-13): Excellent Vietnam film starring Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, and Jeremy Davies as soldiers in a prisoner-of-war camp


Free Activities
Green Your Home Fair [Th 4-7pm]: Talk to experts and vendors who can help reduce your effect on climate change. At the Green Buliding Exchange (Redwood City). www.greenbuildingexchange.com

Movie in Dolores Park [Th 8pm]: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). At Dolores Park (SF). www.doloresparkmovie.org

Eco-Walk [Fri 10:30am-12:30pm]: Meet at Crissy Field Center for a 2-mile walk with a docent. Call 415-561-4323 to RSVP. www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/events.htm

20th Annual Sidewalk Festival [Fri-Sun 10am-5pm]: With 65 professional artists. Along West Portal Avenue, between Ulloa and 15th (SF). www.pacificfinearts.com

Cesar Chavez Celebration [Fri 7-9pm]: Documentary screening, food justice speakers, organic snacks, and more. At the Ecology Center (Berkeley). www.ecologycenter.org

Cal Day [Sat 9am-4pm]: Special lectures, free museums, the Campanile Tower, and more. At UC-Berkeley. www.calday.berkeley.edu

Cherry Blossom Festival [Sat-Sun 11am-5pm, through April 20]: Check out bonsai demonstrations, taiko drumming, tea ceremonies, origami, martial arts, and more. At assorted sites in Japantown (SF). www.nccbf.org

Get Green @ Macy's [Wed 6:30pm]: Listen to Brandon Ross (Ella Bella Farm) and Charles Phan (The Slanted Door) explain how they've expanded their businesses while staying green. Receive a sample of the featured seasonal dish, a glass of Benziger wine, a canvas Ferry Plaza Farmers Market bag, and a deluxe skin-care sample from Origins Organics. $10 donation to CUESA.


Paid Activities
Live Music - Panic at the Disco [Th-Fri 7pm]: With Motion City Soundtrack opening. At the Warfield (SF), $35. www.panicatthedisco.com

Live Music - Arlo Guthrie [Th 8pm]: The folk singer, made famous through his Vietnam War protests, comes to Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $24-52. www.arlo.net

Event - 18th Annual California Climate Conference [Fri 7-9pm, Sat 8:30am-10pm, Sun 9am-12:30pm]: Joining keynote speaker Matt Gonzalez will be various authors, professors, and environmental/labor activists. At Berkeley City College, $10-35. www.californiastudiesassociation.berkeley.edu/conference

Live Music - Wayne Shorter Quartet [Fri 8pm]: With Imani Winds as special guests. At Nob Hill Masonic Center (SF), $25-85. www.sfjazz.org

Dance - The Secret Garden [Sat 2pm/8pm]: By the Oakland Ballet Company. At the Paramount Theatre (Oakland), $15-50. www.oaklandballet.org

Event - Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo [through Sunday, 11am-7pm]: At the Santa Clara Convention Center, $3-6. www.santaclaraexpo.com

Theatre - The Government Inspector [through April 20]: Nikolai Gogol's comic tale about corrupt politicians. At the A.C.T. (SF), $15-69. www.act-sf.org

Previous: Theatre - Wishful Drinking [through Saturday in Berkeley]; Event - Grand National Rodeo [through Saturday in Daly City]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [through Sunday in SF] recommended; Theatre - Tings Dey Happen [through April 19 in Mill Valley]; Theatre - Fences [through April 20 in SF]; Theatre - A Streetcar Named Desire [through April 20 in Mill Valley]; Film - United Artists 90th Anniversary Film Festival [through May 3 in SF]; Art - Annie Leibovitz [through May 25 in SF]

Randy's Guide LXXX (80)

Today is actress Doris Day's 84th and actor Alec Baldwin's 50th; Friday is National Walk to Work Day; Saturday is former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's 71st; Sunday is Scotland's Tartan Day; Monday is World Health Day; Tuesday is novelist Barbara Kingsolver's 53rd and Japan's Birthday for Buddha; Wednesday is Philippines' Day of Valor and fashion designer Marc Jacobs' 45th.


Local News Story
The only Olympic torch route in the U.S. comes to San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon. The 80-person relay will wind from AT&T Park along the Embarcadero up to Fisherman's Wharf and back to the Ferry Building. Rival torch marches and vigils promoting global peace and human rights are planned over the next week. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/02/MND6VU4JK.DTL


Change for Change
New charity to consider: College Track. As featured in Bill Clinton's book "Giving," College Track offers high-school students in East Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Oakland free tutoring, internships, and university application assistance. To date, all 226 students have enrolled in college. www.collegetrack.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, Blue Energy, and My New Red Shoes.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Sunny and mild. Highs 55 coast, 68 inland; lows 40-45.

High 44, Low 25: Fargo, ND (mostly cloudy)
- The fastest growing university in the nation, North Dakota State now is investigating complaints about a campus skit involving a blackfaced student, as Barack Obama, receiving a lap dance

High 69, Low 63: Honolulu, HI (chance of rain)
- Laid-off employees cheered and cried at Honolulu International Airport as the final Aloha Airlines flight landed, 61 years after the company's first flight

High 70, Low 38: Ivanpah, CA (partly cloudy)
- Ivanpah Dry Lake will host two of three announced Mojave Desert solar-energy farms, which will generate enough electricity to power more than 375,000 homes

High 60, Low 42: Philadelphia, PA (rain clearing by Friday evening)
- With the tightening Pennsylvania primary in less than three weeks, Chelsea Clinton courted the LGBT vote with a longer-than-expected stop at Woody's, a popular bar in downtown Philadelphia


Environmental Tips
Even though some cities such as San Francisco and Oakland have banned styrofoam, take-out containers still generate a lot of waste. Save the time needed to ask for a box (not to mention those natural resources) by bringing your own Tupperware to restaurants for your leftovers.

Previous:
Do not pour grease or oil down the drain! It builds up in municipal pipes and eventually can cause sewage backup and spills. Instead, use a spatula to scrape the fats into a freezable container (such as a frozen juice carton) and store in the freezer. Throw it away (or compost it) when the container is full.


Music Videos
"O Fado da Procura" by Ana Moura (Santarem, Portugal)

The young Portuguese fado vocalist has performed before a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Now she brings her lively jazz to Boston (4/5), Los Angeles (4/8), Modesto (4/11-12), and San Francisco (4/13).

Previous:
"How It Ends" by DeVotchKa (Denver, Colo.)

With infused Slavic and Spanish undertones, DeVotchKa has incorporated, among other things, the theremin and bouzouki on stage. Their songs for "Little Miss Sunshine" earned them a Grammy nomination. They'll be passing through: Coachella, San Francisco, and Portland in April; Chicago, Asheville, Boston, and New York in May.


Movies (through Mar. 30)
#1 21 (PG-13): $24.1MM opening; 2648 screens; $9,103 per screen
#2 Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who (G): $17.7MM; $117.6MM overall; 3826 screens; $4,637 per screen
#3 Superhero Movie (PG-13): $9.5MM opening; 2960 screens; $3,213 per screen
#27 Married Life (PG-13): $0.3MM; $0.7MM overall; 120 screens; $2,514 per screen; about a husband (played by Pierce Brosnan) who plans to murders his wife to spare her from a potential divorce

Bab'aziz (NR): Drama; about a blind dervish and his young granddaughter who are in search of his fellow people

Backseat (NR): Comedy; about two friends who flee New York City for Montreal to escape their problems and meet Donald Sutherland

The Grand (R): Comedy; about a high-stakes international poker tournament; co-starring Woody Harrelson and Ray Liotta

Leatherheads (PG-13): Comedy; about the early years of professional football; co-starring George Clooney and Renee Zellweger; directed by George Clooney

Nim's Island (PG): Fantasy action; about a young girl and her magical kingdom; co-starring Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin

Note by Note (NR): Documentary; about the makers of the Steinway pianos; co-starring Harry Connick Jr.

Priceless (PG-13): Foreign comedy; about an opportunist who mistakenly believes that her bartender is a millionaire; co-starring Audrey Tautou

The Ruins (R): Suspense; about four Americans on vacation in Cancun who meet a German tourist searching for his younger brother

Shine a Light (PG-13): Documentary; about the Rolling Stones concerts held in New York in 2006; directed by Martin Scorsese

Shotgun Stories (PG-13): Drama; about a family feud set in the Arkansas countryside

A Walk to Beautiful (NR): Documentary; about five Ethiopian women who struggled just to deliver their stillborn children

Netflix pick – Rocket Science (R): A stuttering high-school student attempts to make the debate team at the request of its star female player. Winner of Best Director at Sundance Film Festival.


Free Activities
Macy's Men's Event [Fri 6-8pm]: Check out the spring collections from Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Ted Baker, Kenneth Cole, Ben Sherman, and others. Enjoy free cocktails and skin-care consultations, too. RSVP to 415-393-3724. $20 suggested donation for The Academy of Friends.

Norouz Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-7pm]: Persian New Year festival featuring ethnic dancing, live music, Persian food, and more. At Vasona Park (Los Gatos). www.norouzfestival.com

Global Human Rights Torch Relay [Sat 11am-4pm]: 6K run at 11am, followed by live concert, rally, and human rights forum. At Union Square and San Francisco State's Downtown Campus (SF). www.humanrightstorch.org

Zimbabwe Fair [Sun noon-4pm]: Bring your athletic shoes as a donation! Proceeds benefit the Makumbi Children's Home, an orphanage for AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe. At St. Joseph School (Mountain View). www.zimbabweparaguay.org

Speak Up for Tibet [Tue 6pm]: Candlelight vigil led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and actor Richard Gere. At the United Nations Plaza (SF). www.savetibet.org


Paid Activities
Event - Fundraiser with Dr. Philip Zimbardo [Fri 5-8pm]: Also featuring wine, appetizers, live jazz, and a raffle. All proceeds benefit Haight-Ashbury Psychological Services. At the Women's Building (SF), $20. www.womensbuilding.org

Live Music - Hiromi [Fri 8pm]: The jazz pianist will be joined by guitarist Dave Fiucyznski. At the Palace of Fine Arts (SF), $25-56. www.sfjazz.org

Event - Around the World in 80 Beers [Sat 4-6pm]: At O'Neill's Irish Pub (SF), $30. www.aroundtheworldin80beers.com

Live Music - Sweet Honey in the Rock [Sat 8pm]: The Grammy Award-winning a cappella group is joined by the Pacific Mozart Ensemble and Oakland's School for the Arts. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $24-46. www.calperformances.org

Live Music - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band [Sat 8pm]: At HP Pavilion (San Jose), $65-95. www.brucespringsteen.net

Comedy - Chris Rock [Th-Sun 7:30pm]: At the Paramount Theatre (Oakland), $46-76. www.chrisrock.com

Live Music - Eddie Vedder [Mon 7:30pm]: With Liam Finn opening. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $66. www.pearljam.com

Live Music - Anne-Sophie Mutter in Recital [Mon 8pm]: Joining the violinist will be Lambert Orkis on piano to perform Brahms. At Davies Symphony Hall (SF), $25-81. www.sfsymphony.org

Event - Grand National Rodeo [through April 12]: Show-horse jumping, live music, livestock barns, and rodeo performances. At the Cow Palace (Daly City), $17-42. www.grandnationalrodeo.com

Theatre - Fences [through April 20]: About the embittered former Negro League home run king Troy Maxson. At the Lorraine Hansberry (SF), $18-36. www.lhtsf.org

Film - United Artists 90th Anniversary Film Festival [through May 3]: Featuring 33 classic United Artists films, from Raging Bull to Annie Hall. At the Castro Theatre (SF), $6-9. www.castrotheatre.com

Previous: Theatre - Wishful Drinking [through Apr 12 in Berkeley]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [through Apr 13 in SF] recommended; Theatre - Tings Dey Happen [through April 19 in Mill Valley]; Theatre - A Streetcar Named Desire [through April 20 in Mill Valley]; Art - Annie Leibovitz [through May 25 in SF]