Randy's Guide LXXXIX (89)

Today is Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi's 63rd and Juneteenth; Friday is World Refugee Day and Summer Solstice; Saturday is Prince William of Wales' 26th; Sunday is singer (and SF Pride Grand Marshal) Cyndi Lauper's 55th; Monday is Uganda's Father's Day and Estonia's Victory Day; Tuesday is Quebec's St. Jean Baptiste Day; and Wednesday is National Catfish Day.


Local News Story
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, a lesbian couple of 55 years, became the first same-sex newlyweds to marry in San Francisco following the state Supreme Court's decision in May. With extensive coverage, fellow reader Spencer J. also tied the knot with his beau Tyler B. during the City's first full day of nuptials. www.sfbg.com/blogs/politics/2008/06/samesex_weddings_a_love_story.html www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-17-gay-marriage_N.htm


Free Transit - today
In honor of Dump the Pump Day, Bay Area transit agencies have sponsored a Spare-the-Air transit day. This means that most agencies (such as SamTrans, MUNI, AC Transit) will be free all day, and some (ferries, trains like CalTrain, and BART) will be free until noon. www.sparetheair.org


Change for Change
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 Foundation for the People of Burma.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Mild and sunny. Coast 58-65; bay 66-73; inland 74-81. Lows 48-55.

High 66, Low 49: Anchorage, Alaska (mostly cloudy)
- Two backpacking women in their 20s were found after several days because of a cell phone signal on the boundary of Denali National Park

High 77, Low 63: Boston, Mass. (chance of t-storms)
- The Boston Celtics celebrated the team's first NBA championship in 22 years with a rally attended by tens of thousands of fans from TD Banknorth Garden to Copley Plaza

High 81, Low 59: Cedar Rapids, Iowa (partly cloudy)
- Floodwaters have pounded eastern Iowa, with billions in property damage and thousands of people evacuated


Environmental Tips
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state drought, the first in 17 years. It's time to fix that leaky faucet (which can lose up to 20 gallons a day) or toilet (200 gallons per day). To test the toilet, add a few drops of food coloring in the tank and see if the coloring makes it into the bowl after about 10 minutes. If yes, you have a leak!

Previous:
Some ideas for Father's Day: a solar backpack (http://www.brunton.com/), a 95%-recycled sleeping bag (http://www.sierradesigns.com/), or a hand-cranked two-way radio (http://www.etoncorp.com/).


Music Videos
"New Soul" by Yael Naim (Paris, France)

Ms. Naim became the first Israeli solo artist to have a top 10 song in the U.S., in part because Steve Jobs personally selected "New Soul" for the MacBook Air laptop commercial. She comes to Philadelphia (Friday), Boston (Saturday), New York City (Sunday), Bimbo's in SF (Tuesday), the El Rey in LA (Wednesday), and then it's off to Canada and France for the next month.

Previous:
"That's Not My Name" by The Ting Tings (Salford, England)

The indie-pop duo soared to #1 on the UK Singles charts with "That's Not My Name," off their debut album. They will be stopping in New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia later this month, then tour through Europe, and finally a return to the States in July


Movies (through June 15)
#1 The Incredible Hulk (PG-13): $55.4MM opening; 3505 screens; $15,810 per screen
#2 Kung Fu Panda (PG): $33.6MM; $117.3MM overall; 4136 screens; $8,127 per screen
#3 The Happening (R): $30.5MM opening; 2986 screens; $10,220 per screen
#20 The Fall (R): $0.2MM; $1.4MM overall; 84 screens; $1,818 per screen; about an immigrant girl and a bedridden man who befriend each other while recovering in the hospital

Get Smart (PG-13): Comedy; about an agent who aims to stop a global crime syndicate; co-starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

Love and Honor (PG-13): Drama; about a young Japanese swordsman who fights for his honor after losing his eyesight and wife

The Love Guru (PG-13): Comedy; about an American left to be raised by gurus in India; co-starring Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, and Justin Timberlake

Mongol (R): Action; about the early life of Genghis Khan, who went on to conquer half of the world

The Mother of Tears (NR): Horror; about an ancient urn once belonging to the Third Mother, a powerful witch who spread death and destruction; co-starring Asia Argento

Savage Grace (NR): Drama; about a charismatic young lady, her well-bred husband, and their child who unbalances the marriage; co-starring Julianne Moore

Tuya's Marriage (NR): Drama; about a Mongolian desert herder who refuses to move as part of the country's new industrialization policy

Woman on the Beach (NR): Drama; about a film director who uses a deserted beach resort to finish his script

Netflix pick – Paprika (R): $0.72MM box-office gross; a bizarre, fanciful anime extravaganza, about the ability to tap into others' dreams, with a hard-to-block-out theme song


Free Activities
Opera at the Ballpark [Fri 8pm]: Catch French superstar Natalie Dessay in her SF Opera debut as the lead in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. Simulcast from the War Memorial Opera House performance. At AT&T Park (SF). www.sfopera.com

Concerts at the Presidio [Th-Fri 7:30pm]: Works by Liszt, Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Haydn, Tchaikovsky and Scriabin. At the Golden Gate Club (SF), RSVP at 415.447.6274. www.presidio.gov

Japantown Craft Fair [Sat 10am-4pm]: At the Japanese Cultural and Community Center (SF). www.jcyc.org

17th Annual Danville Faire [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: In downtown Danville. www.mlaproductions.com

Juneteenth [Sat-Sun 11am-7pm]: Featuring gospel, R&B, hip hop, and jazz performances to celebrate Emancipation. In Civic Center Plaza (SF). www.sfjuneteenth.org

3rd Annual Summer Solstice Food Festival [Sat 11am-6pm]: Sample foods from more than 20 local food vendors. At Cheese Plus (SF). www.cheeseplus.com

Savour the Square [Sat-Sun noon-6pm]: Featuring wine tastings, food samples, cooking demonstrations, and live entertainment. Enter the raffle for prizes. At Ghirardelli Square (SF). www.ghirardellisq.com

32nd Annual Folk Festival [Sat-Sun noon-10pm]: Featuring live music (such as the Fishtank Ensemble), harmonica workshops, music lessons, and more. At San Francisco City College Wellness Center (SF). www.sffolkfest.org

8th Annual Summer Sailstice Festival [Sat noon-8pm]: Featuring sailboat rides and demonstrations, boatbuilding contest, beach treasure dig, and more. Along Treasure Island Marina (SF). www.summersailstice.com/sf

Stern Grove - [Sun 2pm]: Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, with Sila and the Afrofunk Experience opening. At Stern Grove (SF). www.sterngrove.org

2008 Annual Spring Show [through July 25]: Check out the fresh talent in fashion, photography, architecture, and other visual arts. At the Academy of Art University (SF). www.academyart.edu


Paid Activities
Live Music - Taj Mahal [Fri 8pm]: The Grammy-winning blues singer, with Keb' Mo' opening. Final spring show of the season. At the Nob Hill Masonic Center (SF), $25-75. www.sfjazz.org

Festival - 5th Annual Oakland Dance Festival [Fri-Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm]: Featuring 12 Bay Area dance companies performing short works. At the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts (Oakland), $10-25. www.companycballet.org

Live Music - Vans Warped Tour [Sat 11am-11pm]: Featuring Reel Big Fish, Pennywise, The Academy Is..., Gym Class Heroes, and countless others. At Pier 30/32 (SF), $33. www.warpedtour.com

Live Music - Death Cab for Cutie [Sat 8pm]: With Rogue Wave opening. At the Greek Theatre (Berkeley), $40. www.deathcabforcutie.com

Festival - Sonoma-Marin Fair [through Sunday]: At the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds (Petaluma), $8-14. www.sonoma-marinfair.org

Theatre - Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage [through Sunday]: A deconstruction of the Old English epic. At the Ashby Stage (Berkeley), $17-30. www.shotgunplayers.org

Previous: Festival - San Francisco Ethnic Dance [through June 29 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through July 27 in SF]


Pride 2008
Metro City Bar [Fri 10pm]: Project Drag Queen contest, with guest judge Donna Sachet. 2124 Market @ Church. www.tilfriday.com

Sacramento Pride [Sat 10am-7pm]: Parade from Capitol Park to Southside Park, where a festival will be underway. After party at Badlands, Faces, Mercantile and The Bolt. www.sacramentopride.com

White Horse [Tue 8pm]: Finals of Pride Idol 2008. 6551 Telegraph @ 66th St. www.myspace.com/whitehorsebar

Pilsner Inn [Wed 6-9pm]: Pulled pork sammies, hostess Peaches Christ, Good Vibrations prizes, and beer specials. 225 Church @ Market. www.pilsnerinn.com

Elixir [Wed 9pm-2am]: Free pizza, guest bartenders, and raffle prizes. Tips and raffle sales go directly to SF AIDS Foundation, as part of the AIDS Walk SF fundraiser. 3200 16th St @ Guerrero. www.elixirsf.com

32nd Annual Frameline Festival [through June 29]: 237 international LGBT films, along with cast interviews and parties. At four sites (in SF and Berkeley), $7-90. www.frameline.org


Upcoming Activities in July
Pier 39 celebration and fireworks [July 4 in SF]; The Police with Elvis Costello [July 14 in Mountain View, July 16 in Concord]; Feist [July 19 in Berkeley]; Gilroy Garlic Festival [July 25-27 in Gilroy]