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]