Randy's Guide XCVII (97)

Today is comedian Steve Martin's 63rd, basketballer Magic Johnson's 49th, and actress Halle Berry's 42nd; Friday is V-J Day and India's Independence Day; Saturday is singer Madonna's 50th; Monday is International Lighthouse Day; Tuesday is former President Bill Clinton's 62nd; and Wednesday is Hungary's St. Stephen's Day.


Local News Story
San Francisco residents have tripled the number of informal property assessment requests to Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting's office. Between May 2007 and May 2008, the City's median home sale price dropped over 11 percent. The deadline to file the request is Friday, August 15. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/14/BAB112AFOD.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

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 Weekend Weather
Much cooler and more morning fog by Saturday. Highs: 60-65 coast, 65-80 bay; 80-90 inland. Lows: 50-60.


Environmental Tips
Pets matter too! It's no surprise that dog or cat food can be certified organic, which means that the producers don't use GMOs or irradiation. Also check out PETA's list on companies that do not test their products on animals.

Previous:
A new driver term has been founded: hypermiler. It is an individual who strives to achieve every last mile per gallon possible. Some key tips: parking with the front of the car facing out (to exit without braking); slowing down well before a red light (to prevent idling); and using the car's momentum while on flat or downhill roads (to avoid rapid starts and stops).


Music Videos
"Bartender Song" by Rehab (Atlanta, Ga.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRC77brGYWs
The country rap-rockers have gotten a second release of their album "Graffiti the World" ... mighty generous by the hands at Universal. They're touring the East Coast this month, before opening for Kid Rock on the West Coast in September.

Previous:
"Hurricane Jane" by Black Kids (Jacksonville, Fla.)

They've hit the top 10 in the UK charts with their debut album, and Rolling Stone and the BBC both have spotlighted them for 2008. No surprise, they're touring twice in Europe over the next few months, with a few October U.S. dates including Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and San Diego.


Movies (domestic revenues through August 10)
#1 The Dark Knight (PG-13): $26.1MM; $441.6MM overall; 4025 screens; $6,489 per screen
#2 Pineapple Express (R): $23.2MM opening; $41.3MM overall; 3072 screens; $7,567 per screen
#3 The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (PG-13): $16.5MM; $71.0MM overall; 3778 screens; $4,365 per screen
#14 Singh Is Kinng (NR): $1.2MM opening; 112 screens; $10,703 per screen; the latest Bollywood comedy

Frozen River (R): Drama; a Native American woman starts smuggling illegal immigrants to survive

Fly Me to the Moon (G): 3-D animation; about three houseflies that join the Apollo 11 mission; co-voiced by Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Christopher Lloyd, and Tim Curry

Henry Poole Is Here (PG): Comedy; about a man who, facing death, seeks out seclusion - only to have his neighbors disrupt his peace; co-starring Luke Wilson and Adriana Barraza

In Search of a Midnight Kiss (NR): Comedy; about a young man, new to Los Angeles, who posts a personal ad on Craigslist

The Judge and the General (NR): Documentary; about a magistrate investigating crimes during the era of Augusto Pinochet

A Man Named Pearl (G): Documentary; about a famed gardening artist in South Carolina, whose career began when faced with racial discrimination in the housing market

Mirrors (R): Thriller; about a security man who is trying to solve unexplained deaths at the store; co-starring Kiefer Sutherland

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (PG): Animation; about the classic struggle between the Jedi Knights and the dark side

Transsiberian (R): Drama; about an American couple whose lives are disrupted during the lengthy train ride from Beijing to Moscow; co-starring Woody Harrelson and Ben Kingsley

Tropic Thunder (R): Comedy; about a small group of actors who are marooned in the dangerous Southeast Asia jungle; co-starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., and Nick Nolte

Trumbo (PG-13): Documentary; about the screenwriter's tumultuous journey through Hollywood; co-starring Joan Allen, Michael Douglas, Danny Glover, and Nathan Lane

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (PG-13): Comedy; about two young Americans who become romantically intertwined with a flamboyant couple in Spain; co-starring Javier Bardem, Patricia Clarkson, Penelope Cruz, and Scarlett Johansson; directed by Woody Allen

Netflix pick – Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (R): A clever, twisting drama from the hands of director Sidney Lumet; co-starring Ethan Hawke, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, and Albert Finney; $7.1MM domestic box-office gross


Free Activities
Bernal Heights Neighborhood Garage Sale [Sat 9am-4pm]: 15th annual. Near Cortland Avenue (SF). www.sresproductions.com

Celebrate Milpitas! [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: 3rd annual. In downtown Milpitas. www.milpitaschamber.org

San Rafael Festival [Sat 11am-5pm]: 2nd annual. At Falkirk Center (San Rafael). www.sresproductions.com

Art in the Park [Sun 10am-5pm]: 39th annual. At Susana Street Park (Martinez). www.martinezarts.org

The Good Person of Szechuan [Fri 6pm, Sat 4pm, Sun 1pm]: Presented by Woman's Will, the Bay Area's all-female Shakespeare company. At Yerba Buena Garden and Dolores Park (SF). www.womanswill.org

~ Ongoing ~
Dolores Park Movie Night [Tonight 8pm]: "Jaws 3" in 3-D. At Dolores Park (SF). www.doloresparkmovie.org

Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sun 8pm]: "Touch of Evil," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," and "American Graffiti" (San Anselmo). www.filmnight.org

Live Jazz in the Square [Th 6pm]: Featuring Nobody from Ipanema. In Union Square Park (SF). www.sfjazz.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 Glen Park and Washington Square Park (SF). www.sfmt.org

Shakespeare in the Park [Sat 7:30pm, Sun 5pm]: 25 years of Free Shakespeare. Performing "Pericles." At Central Park (San Mateo). www.sfshakes.org

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

Stern Grove Festival [Sun 2pm]: Featuring San Francisco Opera. At Stern Grove (SF). www.sterngrove.org

Walking Tours in the Presidio [Wed/Sun 2pm]: Through August 27. At Presidio Officers' Club (SF). www.presidio.gov


Paid Activities
Theatre - Mikado [Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm/8pm, Sun 2pm]: At Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SF), $11-44. www.ybca.org

Event - Golden Gate Renaissance Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: 5th annual. Featuring over 900 costumed entertainers and 100 shopkeepers. In Golden Gate Park (SF), free-$18. www.ggfaire.com (check out the site's $2 coupon)

Live Music - Rock the Bells Tour [Sat 11am]: Featuring Mos Def, A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Method Man and Redman, and more. At Shoreline Amphitheatre (Mountain View), $35-75. www.guerillaunion.com/rockthebells

Comedy - Lewis Black [Sun 7:30pm]: Comedy Central star. At Mountain Winery (Saratoga), $50-70. www.lewisblack.com

Previous: Live Music - Idols in Concert [through Saturday in SF]; Theatre - The Drowsy Chaperone [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Oh My Godmother! [extended through Aug 31 in SF]; Theatre - Uncle Vanya [through Aug 31 in Orinda]; 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 September
Opening Night Gala - San Francisco Symphony [Sep 3 in SF]; Brian Wilson [Sep 5 in Oakland]; Jennifer Hudson [Sep 11 in SF]