Randy's Guide XCIV (94)

Today is Bolivia's Simon Bolivar Day and Florida Governor Charles Crist's 52nd; Friday is Puerto Rico's Constitution Day; Saturday is English singer Mick Jagger's 65th and Maldives' Independence Day; Sunday is Irish actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers' 31st and Finland's National Sleepy Head Day; Monday is Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' 54th; Wednesday is Vanuatu's Independence Day.


Local News Story
In light of Mayor Newsom's intentions to close several miles of the Embarcadero for two mornings later this summer, Supervisor Chris Daly has proposed that the downtown portion of Market Street be exclusively used by pedestrians, cyclists, and mass-transit vehicles. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/23/BAQI11TKH0.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. http://www.littleangelfund.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, Foundation for the People of Burma, and Vital Life Services.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Mild. Coast 62-69; bay 70-77; inland 78-85. Lows 52-59.

High 93, Low 76: New Orleans, La. (humid)
- Nearly 100 miles of the Mississippi River are closed following a massive spill of more than 400,000 gallons of fuel oil

High 87, Low 70: New York, N.Y. (t-storms)
- The Jin Shun factory, which supplied garments for Macy's, Gap, Express, and Banana Republic, underpaid about 100 employees by more than $3 million under sweatshop conditions in Queens

High 74, Low 64: San Diego, Calif. (partly cloudy)
- The 38th Comic-Con will host more than 100,000 comic book fans a day this weekend at the Convention Center


Environmental Tips
If you own a home with a roof (or know someone who does), consider a green roof. Typically, the green roof will feature native grasses and wildflowers, act to insulate the home, and slow the flow of stormwater off the roof.

Previous:
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.


Music Videos
"We Are Rockstars" by Does It Offend You, Yeah? (Reading, England)

The electro-rockers, who decided the band's name from an episode of "The Office," draw comparisons to Justice and Rage Against the Machine. They'll be in San Francisco (Fri) and Los Angeles (Sat) this week, before opening for Bloc Party in Pomona (Mon), Los Angeles (Tue), and San Francisco (Wed).

Previous:
"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 Portland (Saturday), San Francisco (Monday), and Los Angeles (Tuesday).


Movies (through July 20)
#1 The Dark Knight (PG-13): $158.4MM opening; 4366 screens; $36,283 per screen
#2 Mamma Mia! (PG-13): $27.8MM opening; 2976 screens; $9,325 per screen
#3 Hancock (PG-13): $14.0MM; $191.5MM overall; 3776 screens; $3,718 per screen
#25 The Wackness (R): $0.2MM; $0.7MM overall; 34 screens; ; about a drug-dealing teenager and the psychiatrist who befriends him

Brideshead Revisited (PG-13): Drama; about a doomed love affair and the effects of Catholicism on that relationship; co-starring Emma Thompson

CSNY Deja Vu (NR): Documentary; about the band's 2006 tour and its desire to speak about the war; directed by Neil Young

Full Grown Men (NR): Drama; about an adolescent man who begins a journey with his childhood best friend to a theme park; co-starring Alan Cumming and Amy Sedaris

My Winnipeg (NR): Drama; about the personal history of filmmaker Guy Maddin in his hometown of Winnipeg, Canada; directed by Guy Maddin

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (NR): Documentary; about the sex scandal that pushed the Oscar-winning director overseas; co-starring Mia Farrow and Nastassja Kinski

Step Brothers (R): Comedy; about two men, each living with one parent, who become step brothers in the same home once their parents marry; co-starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly

Unknown Woman (NR): Thriller; about a Russian woman who becomes highly involved with a young Italian family

Wonderful Town (NR): Drama; about a dangerous romance set amidst a Thai village recovering from the 2004 tsunami

The X-Files: I Want to Believe (PG-13): Sci-fi; about further exploits by Fox Mulder and Dana Scully; co-starring David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, and Billy Connolly

Netflix pick – The Devil Came on Horseback (NR): Documentary about the Darfur genocide and the suspected Janjaweed militias on horseback; $132K box-office gross


Free Activities
22nd Annual Berkeley Kite Festival [Sat-Sun 11am-5pm]: Kite-flying demonstrations, kite battles, taiko drumming, and a possible Guinness Book of World Records entry. At Berkeley Marina. http://www.highlinekites.com

14th Annual North Beach Jazz Fest [Sat-Sun noon-7pm]: In Washington Square Park (SF). http://www.nbjazzfest.com

12th Annual Urban Youth Arts Festival [Sat 1-6pm]: Featuring dancing performances, traditional mural work, and spray aerosol art. At Precita Park (SF). http://www.precitaeyes.org

5th Annual Theater Festival [Sun 11am-5pm]: Featuring 100 shows on 14 different stages. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). http://www.sftheaterfestival.org

Indie Mart [Sun noon-6pm]: More than 70 vendors selling vintage items, locally made clothing, cupcakes, and more. At Thee Parkside (SF). http://www.indie-mart.com

~ Ongoing ~
Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sat 8pm]: "A League of Their Own" (San Geronimo) and "The Breakfast Club (Dolores Park, SF). http://www.filmnight.org

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Sat 7:30pm, Sun 6:30pm]: Its latest sparkling production, "Red State," focuses on a small Kansas town that is the last to vote in the 2008 presidential election. At Mateel Center (Redway) and Cotton Auditorium (Ft. Bragg). http://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). http://www.sfshakes.org

Stern Grove Festival [Sun 2pm]: Featuring local favorites Voices of Latin Rock, with Sambada opening. At Stern Grove (SF). http://www.sterngrove.org


Paid Activities
Festival - 30th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival [Fri-Sun 10am-7pm]: Featuring garlic ice cream, live music, garlic recipe cookoffs, and more. At Christmas Hill Park (Gilroy), $6-12. http://www.gilroygarlicfestival.com

Live Music - Shawn Colvin [Mon-Wed 8pm]: At Yoshi's (SF), $30. http://www.yoshis.com

Theatre - What You Will [through Aug 9]: A one-man show about all-things Shakespeare. At the ACT (SF), $25-85. http://www.act-sf.org

Film - 28th Jewish Film Festival [through Aug 11]: Featuring 70 films from 19 countries. At the Castro Theatre (SF), the Jewish Community Center (SF), Roda Theatre (Berkeley), CineArts (Palo Alto), and Rafael Film Center (San Rafael). $9-225. http://www.sfjff.org

Live Music - Idols in Concert [through Aug 30]: Featuring Frenchie Davis, RJ Helton, Kimberley Locke, David Hernandez, and others. At the Rrazz Room (SF), $23. http://www.therrazzroom.com

Previous: Theatre - A Chorus Line [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Los Gatos Shakespeare Festival [through Aug 9 in Los Gatos]; Theatre - Oh My Godmother! [extended through Aug 31 in SF]; Art - Women Impressionists [through Sept 21 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended 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
Dolly Parton [Aug 5 in Berkeley]; San Jose Jazz Festival [Aug 8-10]; Kathy Griffin [Aug 25 in Saratoga]