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