Randy's Guide LXXXVII (87)

Please note: I will be leaving for England, Scotland, and Ireland shortly for two weeks. The next Guide may not be coming out until June 12.


Today is speed skater Apolo Ohno's 26th; Friday is Price Is Right host Drew Carey's 50th; Saturday is Canada's Victoria Holiday; Sunday is Argentina's Independence Day; Monday is Memorial Day and Poland's Mother's Day; Tuesday is Nigeria's Children's Day; and Wednesday is singer Kylie Minogue's 40th.


Local News Story
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District voted 15-1 to begin charging companies for carbon dioxide pollution starting July 1. Most companies would pay less than $1 per year, but the biggest polluters - refiners - could be looking at bills of over $200,000. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/21/BADN10QD6O.DTL


Local Philanthropist
Greg S. will participate in the AIDS LifeCycle at the end of this month. Funds for his 545-mile bike ride will be contributed to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Help support his effort now! www.aidslifecycle.org/8117


Claim Your Money!
I just picked up a little over $300 (with my parents also due money) by tapping into California's Division of Unclaimed Property. Go to scoweb.sco.ca.gov/UCP and type in your name to see if you have funds sitting in California's treasury.


Get Your Mags!
Hartle Media is holding a May competition of sorts, and we benefit. Claim your free one-year subscription to 7X7 and California Home & Design now! You must live in California to register. www.7x7.com/promo www.chdmag.com/promo with code xcd222.


Change for Change
Congrats! Randy's Guide has donated to the Foundation for the People of Burma. Hopefully, fellow readers have also opened their pocketbooks to help out those in need in Burma.

New charity to consider: Vital Life Services. Founded in 1987 in Berkeley, this organization provides hot meals, transportation, housing, and other services to those with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses. The group will move into the former site of Your Black Muslim Bakery once renovation is completed. www.vitalcalifornia.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, My New Red Shoes, College Track, and now Foundation for the People of Burma.

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


Holiday Weekend Weather
Bay Area: The usual May pattern begins - cool coastside fog, mild inland. Highs 53-58 beach, 59-64 bay, 65-70 inland. Lows 45-50.

High 70, Low 50: Boston, Mass. (slight chance of rain)
- A local television host has been fired by the Comcast Network for protesting the New England EMMY chapter's decision to honor Bill O'Reilly with the Governor's Award

High 85, Low 65: Butler, Mo. (chance of t-storms)
- A car dealership is offering a May special of $250 toward either a gun purchase or gasoline, and general manager Walter Moore says most of his buyers have opted for the gun

High 83, Low 71: Caladesi Island, Fl. (chance of t-storms)
- Stephen P. Leatherman, better known as "Dr. Beach," selected this barrier island as his top beach in the U.S. for 2008

High 83, Low 59: Irmo, S.C. (clear)
- A high-school principal has resigned due to religious and professional conflicts after the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance club on campus


Environmental Tips
Easy and fast - Lower your energy bill by cleaning your clothes dryer's lint trap before each load. It will improve air circulation and reduce the amount of required drying time.

Previous:
In honor of Bike-to-Work Month, try getting out of your car and onto your trusty bicycle!


Music Videos
"Strange Times" by Black Keys (Akron, Ohio)

Danger Mouse, the producer of Black Keys' fifth album, also has Gnarls Barkley on his resume, which could mean big things for this blues-rock duo. They're due to perform in England, France, and Australia over the next month, with appearances in the U.S. in August and September.

Previous:
"Sweet Memory" by Melody Gardot (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Her bluesy voice is even more compelling given her near-fatal (and paralyzing) bicycle accident at age 19. Her debut CD is garnering rave reviews, and her tour - currently in Amsterdam and Paris - will take her to California and other U.S. cities during the summer.


Movies (through May 18)
#1 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (PG): $55.0MM opening; 3929 screens; $14,007 per screen
#2 Iron Man (PG-13): $31.8MM; $223.1MM overall; 4154 screens; $7,665 per screen
#3 What Happens in Vegas (PG-13): $13.9MM; $40.3MM overall; 3255 screens; $4,265 per screen
#10 The Visitor (PG-13): $0.7MM; $3.4MM overall; 224 screens; $3,002 per screen; the art-house drama cracked the top-10 in weekend grosses with strong word-of-mouth in its sixth week of release

Dalai Lama Renaissance (NR): Documentary; about 40 award-winning scientists and sociologists who journey to the Himalayas; narrated by Harrison Ford

A Four Letter Word (NR): Drama; about several young gay men living in New York City

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (PG-13): Action; about the famed archaeologist and his investigation into the mysterious Crystal Skulls

Mister Lonely (NR): Drama; about a young American who works as an impersonator in Paris; co-starring Diego Luna and Samantha Morton

Postal (R): Comedy; about two days in the life of the Postal Dude in a dreadful town; co-starring Gary Coleman and Ron Perlman

Reprise (R): Drama; about two Norwegian writers, one of whom succeeds, the other ends up in a psychiatric hospital

Surfwise (R): Documentary; about surfer Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz

Netflix pick – No End in Sight (NR): $1.25MM box-office gross; Oscar-nominated documentary - and award-winner from the San Francisco and New York Film Critics - about the unfolding of the latest Iraq conflict


Free Activities
2008 Annual Spring Show [Th 7-9pm, through August 1 10am-6pm]: Check out the fresh talent in fashion, photography, architecture, and other visual arts. At the Academy of Art University (SF). www.academyart.edu

30th Anniversary Carnaval [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: Eight blocks of food, music, and dance. Parade on Sunday at 9:30am. Along Harrison St (SF). www.carnavalsf.com

Antique Street Fair [Sun 8am-4pm]: Along Main Street (Pleasanton). www.pleasantondowntown.net

San Ramon Art & Wind Festival [Sun-Mon 10am-5pm]: Featuring kite demonstrations and workshops, and a hot-air balloon launch. In San Ramon Central Park. www.artandwind.com

Capsule Design Festival [Sun 11am-6pm]: In Hayes Valley Park (SF). www.capsulesf.com

29th Annual Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade [Mon 10:30am]: Along Miller Avenue (Mill Valley). www.mviloveaparade.com

14th Annual California Blues Festival [Mon noon-6pm]: With Bobbie Webb and many other bands. At Golden Gate Park Band Shell (SF). www.bobbiewebb.com


Paid Activities
Live Music - Mates of State [Th 9pm]: Former SF residents - and spouses - return with their rock music. At Silm's (SF), $17-19. www.matesofstate.com

Live Music - Diane Reeves [Fri-Sat 8pm]: Four-time Grammy jazz winner. At the Herbst Theatre (SF), $25-75. www.sfjazz.org

Event - 10th Anniversary Gay Day Great America [Fri 5pm-2am]: Featuring performance by Kelly Rowland (Destiny's Child), appearance by Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty), and DJ Paul Goodyear. Paramount's Great America (Santa Clara), $45-50. www.gaydaypga.com

Theatre - No Child [through June 1]: A solo show about individuals at a Bronx high school. At the Berkeley Repertory, $13-69. www.berkeleyrep.org

Previous: Theatre - Curse of the Starving Class [through Sunday in SF]; Art - Annie Leibovitz [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Figaro [through June 8 in Berkeley]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through July 27 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in June
Stern Grove Festival [starts June 15 in SF]; Death Cab for Cutie [June 21 in Berkeley]; San Francisco Pride [June 28-29 in SF]

Randy's Guide LXXXVI (86)

Today is painter Jasper Johns' 78th and Paraguay's Independence Day; Friday is singer Janet Jackson's 42nd; Saturday is boxer Sugar Ray Leonard's 52nd and Galician Literature Holiday; Sunday is Turkmenistan's Makhtumkuli Day; Tuesday is Cameroon's National Day and Doctor Jack Kevorkian's 80th; and Wednesday is Montenegro's Independence Day.


Local News Story
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's latest proposal would prohibit City pharmacies from selling cigarettes. Across California, 78% of independent pharmacies already follow this practice, whereas 94% of chains currently do sell cigarettes. www.kron.com/Global/story.asp?S=8312321


Local Philanthropist
Brian A. will participate in the Ironman Coeur d'Alene next month. His selected charity is MercyCorps, which passes on 90% of its proceeds to its charity programs. Help support his effort now! www.firstgiving.com/brianaugust


FREE Tickets Alert
Please e-mail me if you would like free tickets to the AIDS/Lifecycle Concert in San Francisco this Saturday evening. The event will feature 92.7 DJs Fernando & Greg, as well as jazz, chorus, symphony, and gospel performances.


Claim Your Money!
If you have used your debit or credit card for overseas purchases between 1996 and 2006, you are eligible for a portion of a settlement claim with major credit card companies. The minimum claim is $25, with higher amounts based on the number of transactions. Go to www.ccfsettlement.com for more details (deadline: May 30, 2008).


Change for Change
Charity to consider: Foundation for the People of Burma. Founded in 1999, this organization provides humanitarian assistance to Burmese communities in the areas of health, education, and leadership development. Currently, the program is focused heavily on post-cyclone aid, as reports trickle in that the death toll may top 100,000 people. www.foundationburma.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, My New Red Shoes, and College Track.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Heat advisory for Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties on Thursday. Slight cooling by Saturday. Balmy nights (55-70 degrees).
Beach - 85-90 (Th), 75-80 (Fri), 70-75 (Sat-Sun)
Bay - 95-100 (Th), 85-90 (Fri), 80-85 (Sat-Sun)
Inland - 100-105 (Th), 95-100 (Fri), 90-95 (Sat-Sun)

High 76, Low 53: Atlanta, Ga. (chance of t-storms, then weekend sun)
- Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced that the polar bear will be listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act

High 63, Low 43: Grand Rapids, Mich. (partly cloudy, then weekend rain)
- Former Senator and 2008 Presidential candidate John Edwards formally endorsed Sen. Barack Obama at a campaign event, calling him the "one man that knows how to create the change, the lasting change, that you have to build from the ground up"

High 82, Low 64: Pearland, Texas (chance of t-storms, then weekend sun)
- Poison-resistant crazy Rasberry ants were discovered in this Houston suburb, invading electrical systems, clogging pumps, and feeding on a wide variety of insects

High 70, Low 46: Postville, Iowa (partly cloudy)
- The largest-ever federal immigration raid netted at least 390 arrests at a kosher meatpacking plant for Agriprocessors Inc.


Environmental Tips
In honor of Bike-to-Work Month, the San Francisco Bay Area will set up 190 refueling stations on Thursday at key locations in San Francisco (City Hall, the Ferry Building, State, City College, etc); Oakland (Frank Ogawa Plaza, Kaiser Medical, etc); and other parts of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties. Try getting out of your car and onto your trusty bicycle!

Previous:
For Mother's Day, consider cosmetics with organic ingredients in biodegradable or glass containers. Other good ideas are bamboo robes, organic wine, or a rosemary plant.


Music Videos
"Worrisome Heart" by Melody Gardot (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Her bluesy voice is even more compelling given her near-fatal (and paralyzing) bicycle accident at age 19. Her debut CD is garnering rave reviews, and her tour - currently in Amsterdam and Paris - will take her to California and other U.S. cities during the summer.

Previous:
"With Whom to Dance" by The Magnetic Fields (New York City, N.Y.)

Another unconventional quartet, as the lead Stephin Merritt has incorporated guest leads and Marxophones into his songs. The latest album, Distortion, was released in January, while the tour leads them to Europe in June and July.


Movies (through May 11)
#1 Iron Man (PG-13): $51.2MM; $177.8MM overall; 4111 screens; $XY per screen
#2 What Happens in Vegas (PG-13): $20.2MM opening; 3215 screens; $XY per screen
#3 Speed Racer (PG): $18.6MM opening; 3606 screens; $XY per screen
#17 Then She Found Me (R): $0.5MM; $0.9MM overall; 153 screens; $XY per screen; co-starring Helen Hunt as a woman who is contacted by her apparent birth mother, played by Bette Midler

Battle for Haditha (NR): Documentary; about the 2005 retaliation of U.S. Marines in Haditha, Iraq

Before the Rains (PG-13): Drama; about an idealistic Indian man caught in the middle of a nationalism-driven campaign against his British boss

Bra Boys (R): Documentary; about a notorious surf gang in a Sydney suburb; narrated by Russell Crowe

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (PG): Sequel fantasy; about the four children who must set things right again in the realm of Narnia

Flight of the Red Balloon (NR): Drama; about an overworked single mom and her two kids who find a strange balloon with the help of a Taiwanese babysitter; co-starring Juliette Binoche

Fugitive Pieces (R): Drama; about a young boy who struggles to survive the Holocaust in Poland

How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer (R): Comedy; about three generations of Mexican-American women in a small Arizona border town; co-starring America Ferrara and Elizabeth Pena

Meet Bill (R): Drama; about an unhappy married man whose life turns around when he begins mentoring a teenage boy; co-starring Aaron Eckhart and Jessica Alba

Netflix pick – Eastern Promises (R): $17.1MM box-office gross; starring Viggo Mortensen in a complex, Oscar-nominated performance as a driver for a ruthless Russian crime family in London


Bay to Breakers
www.ingbaytobreakers.com
Greater Body Expo [Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 9am-7pm]: Health and fitness event with free samples, race packets, and late registration. At Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (SF).

The 97th Annual Race [Sun 8am-noon]: Runs through the Financial District, SoMa, Civic Center, Hayes Valley, Alamo Square, NoPa, Panhandle, Golden Gate Park, and Ocean Beach. Watch for road closures and clever costumes!

ING Footstock [Sun 9:30am-2pm]: Featuring live music (The Last Goodnight; The Crazies Will Destroy You), the Costume Contest, food & beer garden. At Golden Gate Park's Polo Fields.


Free Activities
29th Annual Hometown Days [Fri 5:30-9:30pm, Sat 9:45am-9pm, Sun 7am-5pm]: Voted best family fair by Bay Area Parent Magazine. Featuring a fun run, pancake breakfast, park rides, skateboard park, parade, live music, and more. In downtown San Carlos. www.sancarloshometowndays.com

12th Annual A La Carte & Art Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: Along Castro Street (Mountain View). www.miramarevents.com

5th Annual Hats Off America Fair [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: Muscle cars, hot rods, live bands, and an art show to boot. In San Ramon. www.hatsoffamerica.us

4th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration [Sat 11am-6pm]: Featuring Thai kickboxing, apl.de.ap (of Black Eyed Peas), Odessa Chen, and other entertainers and vendors. In Japantown (SF). www.asianfairsf.com

1st Annual Green Street Fair [Sun 10am-2pm]: Featuring green vendors, gardening demonstrations, and children's activity centers. Along Park Ave (Burlingame). www.burlingame.org

12th Annual Jazz on Fourth Street [Sun noon-5pm]: Benefitting the Berkeley High School Performing Arts department. Along Fourth Street (Berkeley). www.fourthstreet.com


Paid Activities
Live Music - The Family Curse [Th 9pm]: Metal rock. With Jealousy and We March opening. At the Stork Club (Oakland), $5. www.myspace.com/thefamilycursemission

Interview - Barbara Walters [Th 8pm]: Also in Corte Madera (Friday), Danville (Friday), and Menlo Park (Saturday) for memoir signings. In conversation with Marcia Brandwynne. At Nob Hill Masonic Center (SF), $20. www.cityboxoffice.com

Theatre - High School Musical [Fri 9:30am/7:30pm, Sat 2pm/7:30pm, Sun 1pm]: By the Peninsula Youth Theatre. At the Center for Performing Arts (Mountain View), $7-18. www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/mvcpa/mvcpa.html

Live Music - Robyn [Fri 8pm]: Swedish pop singer, with DJ Omar opening. At Bimbo's (SF), $20. www.robyn.com

Event - 7th Annual Soul Stroll [Sat 10am-1pm]: As part of Mills-Peninsula's African-American Community Health Advisory Committee's Building a Healthy Body and Soul Project. Includes health screenings and continental breakfast and lunch. At Coyote Point Park (San Mateo), $15-20. www.aachac.org

Event - 9th Annual OysterFest [Sat-Sun noon-7pm]: Featuring Eoin Harrington, Drop Kick Murphy's, and other live performers, to go with beer, wine, fish and chips. At Fort Mason (SF), $20-85. www.oreillysoysterfestival.com

Event - Immigrants Day Festival [Sat noon-4pm]: Featuring performances by Chinese, Filipino, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and Portuguese groups. At the San Mateo County History Musem (Redwood City), FREE- $4. www.historysmc.org

Live Music - The Dresden Dolls [Sun 8:30pm]: Cabaret rock. With appearances by East Bay Ray (Dead Kennedys), Zoe Keating (Rasputina), and Meredith Yayanos. At the Fillmore (SF), $28. www.dresdendolls.com

Theatre - Curse of the Starving Class [through May 25]: About a selfish mother and drunken father each trying to escape a miserable life on the farm. At the ACT (SF), $14-71. www.act-sf.org

Previous: Art - Annie Leibovitz [through May 25 in SF]; Theatre - Figaro [through June 8 in Berkeley]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through July 27 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in May
Diane Reeves (May 23-24 in SF), Carnaval (May 23-25 in SF), Black & White Ball (May 31 in SF).

Randy's Guide LXXXV (85)

Today is V-E Day; Friday is journalist Mike Wallace's 90th and Romania's Independence Day; Saturday is the Carolinas' Confederate Memorial Day; Sunday is Mother's Day and Black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan's 75th; Monday is International Nurses' Day; Tuesday is author Armistead Maupin's 64th and baseballer Barry Zito's 30th; Wednesday is actress Cate Blanchett's 39th.


Local News Story
Due to a $16 million budget shortfall, rising city salaries, and a crashing housing market, Vallejo has become the largest city in California to seek bankruptcy protection. www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9191199


Local Philanthropist
Brian A., my former boss at Gap Inc., will participate in the Ironman Coeur d'Alene next month. His selected charity is MercyCorps, which passes on 90% of its proceeds to its charity programs. www.firstgiving.com/brianaugust


Tickets Alert
Please e-mail me if you would like free tickets to the AIDS/Lifecycle Concert in San Francisco on Saturday, May 17 (7:30pm). The event will feature 92.7 DJs Fernando & Greg.


Get Your Money!
If you have used your debit or credit card for overseas purchases between 1996 and 2006, you are eligible for a portion of a settlement claim with major credit card companies. The minimum claim is $25, with higher amounts based on the number of transactions. Go to www.ccfsettlement.com for more details.


Change for Change
Congrats to College Track! I hope each of you has reached out to this fine organization and donated money or time.

New charity to consider: Foundation for the People of Burma. Founded in 1999, this organization provides humanitarian assistance to Burmese communities in the areas of health, education, and leadership development. Currently, the program is focused heavily on post-cyclone aid, as reports trickle in that the death toll may top 100,000 people. www.foundationburma.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, My New Red Shoes, and now College Track.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Cool, with afternoon breezes. Highs 55-60 beaches, 60-65 bay, 65-70 inland; lows 45-50.

High 62, Low 44: Des Moines, Iowa [chance of t-storms]
- A blind 78-year-old bowler rolled 12 consecutive strikes to complete a perfect score of 300

High 81, Low 60: Leeds, Ala. [t-storms]
- The lone U.S. manufacturer of wire hangers to survive the initial surge of Chinese imports has seen its business thrive following passage of a U.S. tariff

High 59, Low 47: Union City, N.J. [rain]
- Wayne Corliss has been arrested at his home in connection with the massive Interpol effort to track down a pedophile

High 81, Low 63: Wilmington, N.C. [chance of t-storms]
- Starting in September, residents will be the test market in the nationwide transition to digital TV on February 17


Environmental Tips
For Mother's Day, consider cosmetics with organic ingredients in biodegradable or glass containers. Other good ideas are bamboo robes, organic wine, or a rosemary plant.

Previous:
With graduation, birthday, and wedding parties upon us, preparation should account for the impact on our planet. Consider fair-trade, organic chocolate and nuts as exiting party gifts. Also consider planted herbs, flower seeds, and bamboo baskets filled with fresh, in-season fruit.


Music Videos
"Born on a Train" by The Magnetic Fields (New York City, N.Y.)

Another unconventional quartet, as the lead Stephin Merritt has incorporated guest leads and Marxophones into his songs. The latest album, Distortion, was released in January, while the tour leads them to Europe in June and July.

Previous:
"Crosseyed" by The Morning Benders (Berkeley, Calif.)

Yay for the Berkeley hills. The quartet will be sharing its new album with performances this week in Los Angeles (Thursday) and San Francisco (Friday), with San Diego, Portland, Denver, Chicago, and NYC over the next two months.


Movies (through May 4)
#1 Iron Man (PG-13): $98.6MM opening; 4105 screens; $24,024 per screen
#2 Made of Honor (PG-13): $14.8MM opening; 2729 screens; $5,407 per screen
#3 Baby Mama (PG-13): $10.1MM; $32.1MM overall; 2548 screens; $3,950 per screen
#19 Young@Heart (PG): $0.3MM; $0.9MM overall; 121 screens; $2,606 per screen; about a group of seniors who tackle singing modern rock songs

The Favor (NR): Drama; about a photographer in New Jersey who re-engages with a woman he loved 25 years ago

The Memory Thief (NR): Drama; about a drifting young man in Los Angeles who becomes obsessed with Holocaust survivors

OSS 177 (NR): Comedy; about a French agent who bumbles his way through an investigation in Egypt

Redbelt (R): Drama; about a Jiu-Jitsu teacher who must enter the prize fighting circuit in Los Angeles; co-starring Tim Allen; directed by David Mamet

Roman de Gare (R): Drama; about a popular writer who seeks new characters for her next best-seller

Son of Rambow (PG-13): Comedy; about an isolated boy who is excited to make his own action epic following a viewing of Rambo

Speed Racer (PG): Action; about a race-car driver who teams with his rival to win a race; co-starring Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, and Susan Sarandon

Standard Operating Procedure (R): Documentary; about the events at Abu Ghraib prison in 2004

Still Life (NR): Drama; about residents returning to the village of Fengjie during the building of a nearby dam

What Happens in Vegas (PG-13): Comedy; about a couple who mistakenly marries in Vegas and now tries to settle the jackpot proceeds; co-starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher

Netflix pick – This Is England (NR): Drama; about a 12-year-old boy's coming-of-age in the hands of two different skinhead groups in England; winner of Best Film (British Independent Film Awards) and Best British Film (BAFTAs)


Free Activities
Dolores Park Movie Night [Th 9pm]: Showing Soylent Green (1972), with Charlton Heston. In Dolores Park (SF). www.doloresparkmovie.org

Stanford Spring Faire [Fri-Sun 10am-6pm]: In White Plaza (Stanford). www.springfaire.stanford.edu

37th Annual Stanford Powwow [Fri 4:30-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-6pm]: With more than 30,000 in attendance, this event is the largest student-run powwow in the country. Learn about traditions and customs, while taking in powwow dance competitions. In Eucalyptus Grove (Stanford). www.powwow.stanford.edu

7th Annual Pagan Festival and Parade [Sat 10am-5:30pm]: In Civic Center Park (Berkeley). www.thepaganalliance.org

What's the Big Idea Day [Sat noon-8pm]: Open house with hands-on workshops, live performances, film screenings, and more. At the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SF). www.ybca.org

Palestine Peace and Solidarity Festival [Sat noon-6pm]: In Civic Center Plaza (SF). www.araborganizing.org

Los Vasallos del Sol [Sat 1-3pm]: Venezuelan folk music combining song, dance, and instruments. At the Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival [Sat 1:30-3:30pm]: Create your own Japanese doll, Cambodian mask, or Vietnamese dragons. At the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. www.oacc.cc


Paid Activities
Live Music - Odessa Chen [Th 8:30pm]: Moody rock, with Recliner and Brittany Shane opening. At Cafe du Nord (SF), $10. www.odessachen.com

Live Music - B-52's [Fri 9pm]: With Eagle Seagull opening. At the Independent (SF), $53. www.myspace.com/theb52s

Event - KFOG KaBoom! [Sat 4pm]: Featuring Los Lobos, Collective Soul, and Matt Nathanson. With fireworks at 9pm. At Piers 30/32 (SF), $15-20. www.kfog.com

Comedy - Kids in the Hall [Sat 8pm]: At the War Memorial Opera House (SF), $30-42. www.myspace.com/kithtour08

Live Music - Kathy Kallick & Friends [Sun 1pm]: Join this Parents Choice award winner for her 19th annual Mother's Day celebration. At the Freight & Salvage (Berkeley), $8-10. www.kathykallick.com

Theatre - Figaro [through June 8]: Based on Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. At the Berkeley Repertory (Berkeley), $14-69. www.berkeleyrep.org

Previous: Film - 51st Annual San Francisco International Film Festival [through Thursday in SF]; Opera - The Little Prince [through Sunday in Berkeley]; Art - Annie Leibovitz [through May 25 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through July 27 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in May
Barbara Walters [May 15-17 in SF, Corte Madera, Danville, and Menlo Park]; Herbie Hancock [May 23 in Sonoma]; Carnaval [May 24-25 in SF]; Black & White Ball [May 31 in SF]

Randy's Guide LXXXIV (84)

Today is May Day, Ireland's Beltane (start of summer), and Czech Republic's National Love Day; Friday is Iran's Teacher's Day, Poland's Flag Holiday, and singer Lily Allen's 23rd; Sunday is China's May Fourth Movement Day; Monday is Cinco de Mayo and Albania's Martyrs' Day; Tuesday is boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's 71st; and Wednesday is 49ers quarterback Alex Smith's 24th.


Local News Story
Waste Management has announced plans to convert excess methane from its Altamont landfill into liquefied natural gas, which would power some of its trucks. The landfill already generates about 8 megawatts of electricity from methane, enough to power 6,000 homes. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/30/BUTS10DSNP.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: Mild, with light afternoon breezes. Highs 59-64 beaches, 65-70 bay, 71-76 inland; lows 45-50.

High 59, Low 43: Chicago, IL (chance of rain before clearing Sunday)
- About 15,000 rallied for immigration rights on May Day, smaller than previous years due to deportation fears and increased efforts to register voters instead

High 74, Low 56: Los Angeles, CA (partly cloudy)
- The city remains the worst U.S. city for smog and year-round particle pollution, while Pittsburgh was tops for soot

High 64, Low 41: North Bonneville, WA (rain, then weekend clearing)
- Sea lions have been captured near Bonneville Dam in an attempt to save the chinook salmon

High 69, Low 51: Washington, D.C. (mostly cloudy)
- Cabbies have until June 1 to install meters for calculating fares, replacing a decades-old system that divided the city into zones


Environmental Tips
With graduation, birthday, and wedding parties upon us, preparation should account for the impact on our planet. Consider fair-trade, organic chocolate and nuts as exiting party gifts. Also consider planted herbs, flower seeds, and bamboo baskets filled with fresh, in-season fruit.

Previous:
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.


Music Videos
"In the Night" by Basia Bulat (Canada)

She wowed the crowd at the Fillmore as the opening act to DeVotchKa. You may have heard her song as part of a TV promotion on AMC. Catch her playing the autoharp in Seattle, Chicago, Asheville, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, and NYC later this month.

"Waiting for a War" by The Morning Benders (Berkeley, Calif.)

On Tuesday, the local indie-pop quartet releases its first album, chock-full of winning jingles. To celebrate, they stop by Virgin Megastore for a free performance on Tuesday evening, before paid (many already sold-out) performances at 330 Ritch (May 9), Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, Denver, Chicago, and NYC over the next two months.


Movies (through Apr. 27)
#1 Baby Mama (PG-13): $17.4MM opening; 2543 screens; $6,845 per screen
#2 Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (R): $14.9MM opening; 2510 screens; $5,940 per screen
#3 The Forbidden Kingdom (PG-13): $11.2MM; $38.2MM overall; 3151 screens; $3,558 per screen
#24 Tashan (NR): $0.3MM opening; 75 screens; $4,016 per screen; the latest Bollywood film hits American shores

Dhamma Brothers (NR): Documentary; about a maximum-security prison in the Deep South that has embraced an ancient meditation program

Dark Matter (R): Drama; about a young Chinese astrophysics student and his mentorship to a scientist; co-starring Meryl Streep and Aidan Quinn

Graduation (NR): Drama; about three graduating seniors who decide to rob a family member's bank

Iron Man (PG-13): Sci-fi; about a wealthy industrialist who leads a double life as a superhero; co-starring Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, and Gwyneth Paltrow

Made of Honor (PG-13): Comedy; about a man secretly in love with his best friend, who is about to be married; co-starring Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, and Sydney Pollack

Roman De Gare (R): Drama; about a popular writer seeking characters for her next novel

Standard Operating Procedure (R): Documentary; about the events at Abu Ghraib prison

The Singing Revolution (NR): Documentary; about the use of music in the Estonian struggle against Soviet and Nazi occupation

Then She Found Me (R): Comedy-drama; about a widowed woman who is contacted by her apparent birth mother; co-starring Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, and Matthew Broderick

Netflix pick – Maxed Out (NR): Informative, involving documentary about the nation's addiction to debt and credit cards


Free Activities
Sausalito Spring Faire [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: In downtown Sausalito. www.sausalitonurseryschool.org

Livermore Wine Country Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: Wine tasting, food pairings, local art, olive oil samples, and live music. In historic downtown Livermore. www.livermoredowntown.com

Cinco de Mayo Festival [Sat 10am-5pm]: At Dolores Park (SF). www.sfcincodemayo.com

Pow Wow Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-7pm]: Native American arts & crafts, dancers, drums, and food. At Mission San Juan Bautista. www.oldmissionsjb.com

Brass Menazeri [Sat 1-3pm]: Slavic brass music. With Rupa and the April Fishes. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

International Dance Show [Sat 8pm]: Dance performed to live music from Hawaii, Tahiti, and Bali. At the Mahea Uchiyama Center (Berkeley). www.mahea.com

Healthy Living Fair [Sun 10am-2pm]: At the JCC (SF). www.jccsf.org

9th Annual How Weird Street Faire [Sun 11:11am-5:55pm]: Bright costumes, electronic music, and food... with a green streak, with biodiesel, biodegradable forks, and sustainability exhibits will play a prominent role. At Howard and First St (SF). www.howweird.org

40th Annual Neighborhood Arts Festival [through Saturday]: 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 Sunday]: A fusion of light, movement, space, art, and textured sound. At the Presidio Officers' Hall (SF). www.presidio.gov


Paid Activities
Live Music - Peter Moren [Th 7pm]: As in, the "Peter" in Peter Bjorn and John. With Tobias Frobert and Big Search. At Cafe du Nord (SF), $15. www.cafedunord.com

Live Music - Fishtank Ensemble [Fri 8pm]: A fusion of Gypsy jazz, Japanese shamisen, French lyrics, and flamenco guitar. At the Red Poppy Art House (SF), $12-15. www.fishtankensemble.com

Event - Norway Day Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-4pm]: At Herbst Pavilion (SF), $8-12. www.norwayday.org

Event - Maker Faire [Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-6pm]: Great for do-it-yourselfers. At the San Mateo County Fairgrounds (San Mateo), $10-25. www.makerfaire.com

Live Music - KT Tunstall [Wed 8pm]: Pop. With Paddy Casey opening. At the Warfield (SF), $30. www.kttunstall.com

Opera - The Little Prince [through May 11]: Based on the Antoine de Saint-Exupery classic. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $20-60. www.calperformances.org

Previous: Film - United Artists 90th Anniversary Film Festival [through Saturday in SF]; Film - 51st Annual San Francisco International Film Festival [through May 8 in SF]; Art - Annie Leibovitz [through May 25 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through July 27 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in May
Margaret Cho [May 9 in Davis]; KFOG Ka-Boom [May 10 in SF]; Bay to Breakers [May 18 in SF]; Great America Gay Day [May 23 in Santa Clara]