Randy's Guide XCII (92)

Today is "Entourage" actor Adrian Grenier's 32nd and activist Cindy Sheehan's 51st; Friday is Flemish Day and Free 7-Eleven Slurpee Day (its 80th birthday); Saturday is Sao Tome and Principe's Independence Day; Sunday is actor Harrison Ford's 66th; Monday is Bastille Day; and Tuesday is journalist Arianna Huffington's 58th.


Local News Story
The public has the chance to comment on five building designs to prevent suicides on the Golden Gate Bridge. Public hearings will be held on July 22 and 23 for the $45 million barrier. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/09/MNR111LQTT.DTL


Change for Change
Congrats Vital Life Services with the latest donation from Randy's Guide! Hope other readers have opened their pocketbooks too.

Charity to consider: The Little Angel Fund. A tip from Elvin Z. points out this New York-based group of parents supporting premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and their families.

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, Foundation for the People of Burma, and now Vital Life Services.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Cooling off, with morning fog and afternoon breezes. Coast 60-69; bay 70-79; inland 80-89. Lows 50-59.

High 91, Low 69: Blue Springs, Miss. (chance of t-storms)
- In response to rising demand for hybrid cars and slowing sales for SUVs and large trucks, Toyota announced that it will build the Prius outside of Japan for the first time

High 99, Low 83: Las Vegas, Nevada (chance of t-storms)
- Palo Alto-based Ausra recently unveiled its solar thermal power factory, which aims to produce about 700 megawatts of solar collectors - enough to power 500,000 homes

High 90, Low 70: Washington, D.C. (partly cloudy)
- Recovering Sen. Edward Kennedy returned to the Senate floor to cast the deciding vote in favor of Medicare reform


Environmental Tips
With Governor Schwarzenegger's declaration of a statewide drought last month, it's time to look at our lawn-watering habits. Lawn sprinklers, set to release large drops of water close to the ground, should be aimed for lawns (not sidewalks) early in the morning (not mid-day).

Previous:
It's strawberry season! Buy local and organic, and use extras for smoothies, pancakes, and salad dressing.


Music Videos
"Angels on the Moon" by Thriving Ivory (San Francisco, Calif.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S38-mjy5NtA
Fresh off the release of their debut album in June, the quintet has hit it big as one of VH1's You Oughta Know bands. Look for them later this month in Denver, Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, and Richmond.

"Where the Hell Is Matt?" by Matt Harding (Seattle, Wash.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY
In about two weeks, over 5 million viewers have checked out his global tour of different locations, all with a common thread: dancing badly. The video-game engineer left his job in 2003 to travel the world, only to find corporate sponsorship and international fame at his footsteps.

Previous:
"Shine a Light" by Wolf Parade (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpYtlEvBX6s
Wolf Parade parades its new album with stops this month in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Hollywood, San Diego, Dallas, Raleigh, and New York City.


Movies (through July 6)
#1 Hancock (PG-13): $62.6MM opening; 3965 screens; $15,789 per screen
#2 WALL-E (G): $32.5MM; $127.2MM overall; 3992 screens; $8,144 per screen
#3 Wanted (R): $20.1MM; $90.2MM overall; 3185 screens; $6,295 per screen
#19 Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (NR): $0.2MM opening; 33 screens; $6,218 ; about a young couple who falls in love

Blind Mountain (NR): Drama; about a young Chinese student sold into sex slavery by human traffickers

The Edge of Heaven (NR): Drama; about six individuals working toward reconciliation in Germany and Turkey

The Gits Movie (NR): Documentary; about the underground Seattle band, The Gits

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (PG-13): Action; about a horned superhero who must fight to stop a ruthless dictator and his army to save Earth; co-starring Ron Perlman and Selma Blair; directed by Guillermo del Toro

Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D (PG): Action; about a mocked science professor and his nephew, who travel beneath the Earth's surface; co-starring Brendan Fraser

Meet Dave (PG): Comedy; about an ordinary man, operated by microscopic aliens, who must try to save their planet; co-starring Eddie Murphy

My Father My Lord (NR): Drama; about a young Israeli man growing up in an ultra-Orthodox family

Tell No One (NR): Thriller; about a reopened murder case and the pediatrician suspected of the crimes; co-starring Kristin Scott Thomas

The Wackness (R): Comedy; about the friendship of a teenage drug dealer and a psychiatrist in New York City; co-starring Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck, and Mary-Kate Olsen

Water Lilies (NR): Drama; about two Parisian teenage girls who befriend a third and eventually practice synchronized swimming together in the local pool

Netflix pick – Persepolis (PG-13): Animated; about the autobiographical story of Marjane Satrapi, who comes of age in Iran and France during the 1970s; $4.3MM box-office gross


Free Activities
Dolores Park Movie Night [Th 8:30pm]: 1981 Bill Murray classic "Stripes." With Maestro providing entertainment starting at 7pm. In Dolores Park (SF). www.doloresparkmovie.org

Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sat 8pm]: "Across the Universe" on Friday (San Anselmo); "Field of Dreams" on Saturday (San Rafael). www.filmnight.org

Cirque de la Bastille [Sat-Sun 11am-7pm]: Circus performers, chef demonstrations, fashion shows, French poodle parade, and more. Along Santana Row (San Jose). www.santanarow.com

Art Under the Oaks [Sat-Sun 11am-4pm]: At Alden Lane Nursery (Livermore). www.aldenlane.com

Obon Festival [Sat-Sun noon-8pm]: Bon Odori folk dancing, taiko, carnival games, bingo, and food booths. At Jackson and 5th Street (San Jose). www.jtown.org

LGBT Wedding Expo [Sun 12:30-3:30pm]: Featuring more than 45 screened gay-friendly businesses. At the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway (SF). www.samelovesamerights.com

Rachid Taha [Sun 2pm]: French-Algerian artist. With MC Rai opening. In Stern Grove (SF). www.sterngrove.org

Tango No. 9 [Sun 6pm]: Tango nuevo. At Cafe Royale (SF). www.caferoyale-sf.com

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Sat-Sun 1:30pm, Wed 6:30pm]: Its latest production, "Red State," focuses on a small Kansas town that is the last to vote in the 2008 presidential election. At Mosswood Park (Oakland), Yerba Buena Gardens (SF), and Montclair Ball Field (Montclair). www.sfmt.org


Paid Activities
Festival - Solano County Fair [Th-Sun 11am-11pm]: Featuring musical acts Keith Sweat and Rooney, Guitar Hero contest, Demolition Derby, and more. At Solano County Fairgrounds (Vallejo), free-$29. www.scfair.com

Comedy - Kathy Griffin [Fri 7:30pm, Sat 8pm]: At the Mountain Winery (Saratoga), $50-90; and the Sleep Train Pavilion (Concord), $35-75. www.kathygriffin.net

Film - 13th Annual Silent Film Festival [Fri-Sun]: 12 films in all. At the Castro Theatre (SF), $14-140. www.silentfilm.org

Theatre - The Kinsey Sicks [Fri 8pm]: San Francisco-based "dragapella" quartet hosts an informal, raunchy talk show. Audience participation permitted. At the Herbst Theatre (SF), $25-35. www.kinseysicks.com

Film - Midnight Mass [Sat 11:55pm]: Special screening of "Barbarella" hosted by Peaches Christ. Featuring an on-stage production of "Bearbarella," performance by The Devilettes, and the Orgasmatron Challenge. At the Bridge Theatre (SF), $13. www.peacheschrist.com

Live Music - Scissors for Lefty vs. Locksley [Wed 8pm]: With elephone, The Matches, and Murder of Lilies opening. At the Great American Music Hall (SF), $13. www.musichallsf.com

Theatre - A Chorus Line [through July 27]: Musical about the narrowing down of 17 dancers to 8 for the final production. At the Curran Theatre (SF), $25-99. www.shnsf.com

Art - Ming Dynasty collection [through Sept 21]: At the Asian Art Museum (SF), free-$12. www.asianart.org

Previous: Theatre - Oh My Godmother! [through July 26 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through July 27 in SF]; Art - Women Impressionists [through Sept 21 in SF]; Art - Frida Kahlo [through Oct 26 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in August
Bill Maher [Aug 7 in Saratoga]; San Jose Jazz Festival [Aug 8-10 in San Jose]; Nihonmachi Street Fair [Aug 9-10 in SF]