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]