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).