Randy's Guide XCIII (93)

Today is British rapper M.I.A.'s 31st; Friday is former South African President Nelson Mandela's 90th; Saturday is Burmese Martyr's Day; Sunday is Colombia's Independence Day and actor Simon Rex's 34th; Monday is former Attorney General Janet Reno's 70th, Whitewater prosecutor Kenneth Starr's 62nd, actor Josh Harnett's 30th, and Belgium's National Day; Tuesday is singer Rufus Wainwright's 35th; and Wednesday is Depeche Mode musician Martin Gore's 47th.


Local News Story
WalkScore's survey confirms what most City residents have long realized: San Francisco is the most walkable city in the U.S., in terms of proximity to ample resources such as grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops. Chinatown, the Mission, and North Beach ranked as the top neighborhoods for such services, while Lakeshore, Outer Sunset, and Twin Peaks were at the bottom. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/16/MN3J11Q3N8.DTL


Change for Change
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. www.littleangelfund.org

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

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 Vital Life Services.


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Below-normal temperatures, with persistent morning fog and gentle afternoon breezes. Coast 59-67; bay 68-76; inland 77-85. Lows 50-59.

High 89, Low 68: Atlanta, Ga. (slight chance of t-storms)
- The CDC reported that the nation's most obese states are Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama, while Colorado ranked as the least obese

High 90, Low 58: Lodi, Calif. (sunny)
- The Castelanelli Brothers Dairy fully meets its energy needs from the methane gas produced by its 3,000 cows

High 94, Low 72: Washington, D.C. (humid)
- Former Vice President Al Gore called on the nation to make all of its electricity with renewable and carbon-free sources within 10 years


Environmental Tips
The latest e.coli outbreak in ground beef (affecting Kroger stores in the South) is a reminder of the problems with the mass production and distribution of meat. E.coli levels are much lower in grass-fed cattle. Once home, use the beef within four days in the refrigerator; otherwise, freeze it.

Previous:
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).


Music Videos
"Rise Up with Fists" by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins (Los Angeles, Calif.)

The Silver Lake-based group propelled the Twins to fame, with a global tour and several reputable end-of-the-year top-ten lists. Now they're on their own, with a debut album released last month and a solo tour through Chicago (tonight), Denver (Monday), Portland (7/26), San Francisco (7/28), and Los Angeles (7/29).

Previous:
"Angels on the Moon" by Thriving Ivory (San Francisco, Calif.)

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.)

In about two weeks, over 6 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.


Movies (through July 13)
#1 Hellboy II: The Golden Army (PG-13): $34.5MM opening; 3204 screens; $10,780 per screen
#2 Hancock (PG-13): $32.1MM; $164.1MM overall; 3965 screens; $8,091 per screen
#3 Journey to the Center of the Earth (PG): $21.0MM opening; 2811 screens; $7,477 per screen
#21 Tell No One (NR): $0.2MM; $0.5MM overall; 19 screens; $13,088 per screen; the Kristin Scott Thomas murder thriller continues to expand gracefully at selected theatres

Chris & Don: A Love Story (NR): Documentary; about the 35-year relationship between writer Chris Isherwood and painter Don Bachardy

The Dark Knight (PG-13): Thriller; about the Caped Crusader battling his old nemesis, The Joker; co-starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman; directed by Christopher Nolan

Elsa & Fred (PG): Comedy; about two aging widowers whose passion for love is reignited by a visit to Rome's Trevi Fountain

The Last Mistress (NR): Drama; about a young man torn between a French aristocratic woman and a devious courtesan; co-starring Asia Argento

Mamma Mia! (PG-13): Musical; about a daughter who invites her three potential fathers to her wedding on a Greek island; co-starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgard

Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (NR): Comedy; about a dim-witted young man who finds that a new fast-food restaurant, the object of his ex-girlfriend's protests, is on the site of his first and only romantic encounter with her

Space Chimps (G): Animation; about three chimpanzees sent to a distant galaxy by NASA; co-voiced by Jeff Daniels

Netflix pick – Death at a Funeral (R): Comedy; about a dysfunctional British family encountering a slew of far-fetched problems at their father's funeral; $8.4MM box-office gross


Free Activities
3rd Annual PAL Blues Festival [Fri 6-8pm, Sat noon-11pm]: Featuring Craig Horton, Frank Bey, and others. At Courthouse Square and Angelica's Bistro (Redwood City). www.hopeinsite.com/palbluesfestival

Tour de Fat [Sat 9am-4pm]: Benefiting the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and Bay Area Ridge Trails Council. Sponsored by New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire beer. In Speedway Meadow (SF). www.sfbike.org

22nd Annual Connoisseurs Marketplace [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: Featuring Draeger's cooking demonstrations, Organic Alley, Burt's Bees hand massages, and fresh margaritas. Along Santa Cruz Avenue (Menlo Park). www.miramarevents.com

Bay Street Arts Festival [Sat-Sun 11am-6pm]: Along Bay Street (Emeryville). www.baystreetemeryville.com

San Francisco AIDS Walk [Sun 9am-3pm]: In Golden Gate Park (SF). www.aidswalk.net/sanfran

Symphony in the Park [Sun 2pm]: Featuring works by Dvorak, Haydn, and Tchaikovsky. At Dolores Park (SF). www.sfsymphony.org

Stern Grove [Sun 2pm]: Alonzo King's LINES Ballet. At Stern Grove (SF). http://www.sterngrove.org

Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sat 8pm]: "Chariots of Fire" (Fri) and "Surf's Up" (Sat). In San Anselmo. www.filmnight.org

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Sat-Sun 1:30pm]: Its latest sparkling production, "Red State," focuses on a small Kansas town that is the last to vote in the 2008 presidential election. At Cedar Rose Park (Berkeley). www.sfmt.org

Shakespeare in the Park [Sat-Sun 7:30pm, through Aug 3]: 25 years of Free Shakespeare. Performing "Pericles." At Memorial Park Amphitheater (Cupertino). www.sfshakes.org


Paid Activities
Live Music - Coldplay [Fri 8pm]: British rock band. With Shearwater opening. At HP Pavilion (San Jose), $50-90. www.coldplay.com

Live Music - Feist [Sat 8pm]: Canadian alt-pop singer. With The Golden Dogs opening. At the Greek Theatre (Berkeley), $40. www.listentofeist.com

Live Music - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy [Sat 8pm]: With the San Francisco Symphony. At Davies Hall (SF), $10-68. www.sfsymphony.org

Live Music - Berkeley Jazz Festival [Sun noon-11pm]: Featuring Kenny G, Will Downing, Bill Culbertson, the Escovedo Family, and more. At the Greek Theatre (Berkeley), $46-90. www.berkeleyjazzfestival.com

Live Music - 14th Annual North Beach Jazz Fest [Sun-Wed]: At Mojito and other locations in North Beach (SF). Free-$15. www.nbjazzfest.com

Theatre - Los Gatos Shakespeare Festival [through Aug 9]: Performing "As You Like It," "The Tempest," and "Beauty and the Beast." At Oak Meadow Park (Los Gatos), $14-20. www.lgshakes.org

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


Upcoming Activities in August
John Mellencamp with Lucinda Williams [Aug 2 in Berkeley]; Wild 94.9 Comedy Jam [Aug 23 in Mountain View]; Slow Food Concert [Aug 30-31 in SF]