Randy's Guide XCIX (99)

Today is actor Jack Black's 39th; Friday is Arizona Senator John McCain's 72nd; Saturday is Turkey's Victory Day; Sunday is Malaysia's National Day; Monday is Labor Day and talk show host Dr. Phil's 58th; Tuesday is Germany's Sedan Day; and Wednesday is Tunisia's Memorial Day.


Local News Story
Del Martin, a lesbian activist since the 1950s, passed away at the age of 87. She most recently made history by marrying Phyllis Lyon, her partner since 1953, in both 2004 and 2008. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/28/MNGI12JDIS.DTL


Event Alert
BAR AIDS is tonight! Two Castro bars (Mix and Harvey's) will be donating 50% of sales to supporting local HIV/AIDS organizations. Other bar sponsors include Underground SF (Haight), Gravity Room (Marina), Truck (Mission), and Wild Side West (Bernal Heights). www.stopaids.org/baraids


Event Alert
Free Museum Day is next week again. Take a break from work and check out the following: Tuesday is for SF MOMA (10am-5:45pm), Legion of Honor (9:30am-5:15pm), de Young (9:30am-5:15pm), and YBCA (noon-5pm); Wednesday is for Exploratorium (10am-5pm) and SF Zoo (residents only, 10am-5pm).


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

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.


Bay Area Holiday Weekend Weather
Hot today, then gradual cooling until Labor Day. Highs: Coast (80s Th, 70s Fri, 60s Sat-Mon); Bay (90s Th, 80s Fri, 70s Sat-Mon); Inland (100s Th, 90s Fri, 80s Sat-Mon). Lows: upper 50s.


Environmental Tips
Back to school time! Be a school activist and push for propane-powered buses and for diesel particular filters. Also, request that a no-idling zone for buses and cars exist near the school, to cut emissions and make the air cleaner for growing kids.

Previous:
As you or your friends look into new housing options, consider high-density locations that promote walking and taking public transit. Recent examples in the Bay Area include San Jose's Santana Row, San Mateo's proposed Bay Meadows, and West Oakland's Transit Village.


Music Videos
"In My Arms" by Teddy Thompson (New York, N.Y.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEhWktE3njQ
The London-born country-light folk rocker recently released his fourth album, "A Piece of What You Need." The video of the first single includes a guest appearance by his friend, Rufus Wainwright. His U.S. tour includes September stops in Atlanta, Charlotte, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, before heading over to England, Ireland, and Scotland.

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"Paranoiattack" by The Faint (Omaha, Neb.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtmhGthP7vk
Celebrate the new-wave band's latest album, "Fasciinatiion."


Movies (domestic revenues through August 24)
#1 Tropic Thunder (R): $16.3MM; $65.8MM overall; 3352 screens; $4,854 per screen
#2 The House Bunny (PG-13): $14.5MM opening; 2714 screens; $5,355 per screen
#3 Death Race (R): $12.6MM opening; 2532 screens; $4,985 per screen
#18 Bottle Shock (PG-13): $0.7MM; $1.7MM overall; 324 screens; $2,011 per screen; about the California winery who triumphs over elite French winemakers during a competition in the 1970s

America the Beautiful (R): Documentary; about one filmmaker's attempts to explore whether the United States has an unhealthy obsession with beauty

Babylon A.D. (PG-13): Sci-fi thriller; about a future Earth filled with monitoring satellites, radioactive wastelands, and war zones; co-starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, and Gerard Depardieu

College (R): Comedy; about a high-school senior, recently dumped by his girlfriend, who is recruited as a fraternity pledge

Days and Clouds (NR): Drama; about a middle-aged Italian woman who suddenly must change her life

Disaster Movie (PG-13): Comedy spoof; about parodying disaster movies involving asteroids, tornadoes, and earthquakes

I Served the King of England (R): Drama; about an ambitious Czech waiter who wants to become a millionaire during the Communist era

No Regret (R): Romance; about an art designer forced into being a gay prostitute, and the son from a conservative family who chases him

Traitor (PG-13):Thriller; about an FBI agent investigating an international conspiracy; co-starring Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce

What We Do Is Secret (R): Musical biography; about the life of one of the founding members of The Germs; co-starring Shane West

Year of the Fish (NR): Animation; about a young girl who believes she is going to work at a beauty salon to help pay for her ailing father's bills, only to find out that she is stuck in a seedy massage parlor

Blockbuster pick - The Savages (R): Biting performances from Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman, as they slowly put aside their hefty differences to care for their aging father. Nominated for 2 Oscars (Actress and Screenplay), and winner of 2 Independent Spirit Awards (Actor and Screenplay). $6.6 million box-office revenues.


Free Activities
Slow Food Festival [Fri-Sun 9am-4pm]: Celebrate the Slow Food Movement, as championed by local celebrity chef Alice Waters. Live music, public speakers, the Victory Garden, a Farmers Market, and tasty local treats (Bi-Rite Creamery!). In Civic Center Plaza (SF). www.slowfoodnation.org

Millbrae Art & Wine Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: 38th annual event. Along Broadway Avenue. www.miramarevents.com

Kings Mountain Art Fair [Sat-Mon 10am-5pm]: 45th annual event. Benefits the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade and Kings Mountain Elementary School. At the Kings Mountain Community Center (Woodside). www.kingsmountainartfair.org

River Festival [Sun 4-9pm]: 16th annual event. Featuring the Napa Valley Symphony, river activities, and a fireworks display. At Veterans Memorial Park (Napa). www.friendsofthenapariver.org

Antiques and Art Faire [Mon 9am-3pm]: At Railroad Centre (Danville).

~ Ongoing ~
Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sun 8pm]: "Shaolin Soccer" (San Anselmo), "Mary Poppins" (San Anselmo), and "Juno" (San Anselmo). www.filmnight.org

Live Jazz in the Square [Th 6pm]: Featuring Claudia Villela. In Union Square Park (SF). www.sfjazz.org

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Sat-Mon 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 Dolores Park (SF). www.sfmt.org

Shakespeare in the Park [Sat 7:30pm, Sun-Mon 2:30pm]: 25 years of Free Shakespeare; this year, performing "Pericles." At Presidio Parade Ground (SF). www.sfshakes.org

Shotgun Players Theatre [Sat-Sun 4pm]: "Ubu for President." Through Sep 14. In John Hinkel Park (Berkeley). www.shotgunplayers.org

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival [Sat 1pm]: Featuring Brazilian percussion. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org


Paid Activities
Comedy - D.L. Hughley [Th 8pm, Fri-Sat 8pm/10:15pm, Sun 7pm]: The star from "The Original Kings of Comedy" and host of "Def Comedy Jam." At Cobb's Comedy Club (SF), $31-36. www.cobbscomedyclub.com

Event - Sausalito Art Festival [Fri 6pm-midnight, Sat-Mon 9am-5pm]: 56th annual event. Featuring more than 20,000 original works of art, and musical guests including The Neville Brothers, Brett Dennen, Richard Thompson, and The Cheeseballs. At Marinship Park (Sausalito), free-$30. www.sausalitoartfest.org

Live Music - Monterey Bay Reggae Fest [Fri noon-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm]: 13th annual event. Featuring Mighty Diamonds, Tribal Seeds, and Ky-Mani Marley, among others. At Monterey County Fairgrounds, $28-38. www.mbayreggaefest.net

Event - Oakland Art & Soul Festival [Sat-Mon noon-6pm]: 8th annual event. Featuring musical acts Bobby Hutcherson, the Matches, and Indigo Girls. Near 14th Street and Broadway (Oakland), free-$10. www.artandsouloakland.com

Event - Thai Art and Food Fair [Sat-Sun 10am-4pm]: Featuring Thai kickboxing, shadow puppets, food carving demonstrations, and handicrafts. In County Fair Building (SF), $5. www.watbuddhapradeep.org

Event - Greek Faire [Sat-Mon noon-8pm]: At the Greek Orthodox Church (Belmont), $2-5. www.goholycross.org

Previous: Theatre - Oh My Godmother! [extended through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Uncle Vanya [through Sunday in Orinda]; Theatre - Grey Gardens [through Sep 14 in Mountain View]; Art - Women Impressionists [through Sep 21 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through Sep 21 in SF]; Art - Ming Dynasty [through Sep 21 in SF]; Art - Frida Kahlo [through Oct 26 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in September
Opera in the Park [Sep 7 in SF]; This Land Is Your Land concert [Sep 20 in Concord]; Kenny G [Sep 27 in San Rafael]