Randy's Guide CI (101)

Today is U.S. Patriot Day, Ethiopia's New Year's Day, and rapper Ludacris' 31st; Friday is L.A. congressman Henry Waxman's 69th and Houston Rockets basketballer Yao Ming's 28th; Saturday is talk show host Tavis Smiley's 44th; Sunday is Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's 43rd; Monday is the International Day for Democracy; Tuesday is Mexico's Independence Day; and Wednesday is director Baz Luhrmann's 46th.


Local News Story
The Warfield theater, built in 1922 and home to such acts as Bob Dylan and Louis Armstrong, will reopen on Saturday under new management and a renovated interior. Comedian George Lopez will have shows over the weekend, and dates for the Kooks, the Dandy Warhols, and Rancid are forthcoming. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/11/DDUN12Q9BQ.DTL


Change for Change
New charity to consider: San Francisco Health Services Coalition. Two young volunteers found me on the sidewalks of Laurel Heights, and I signed on to a campaign for shelter beds for mothers. Founded last year, the nonprofit addresses the problems of homelessness and affordable housing. 90% of its funding goes directly to services, a remarkable rate among all charity organizations. www.sfhsc.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, Vital Life Services, and Little Angel Fund.

Donate through the nonprofit's Web site or your corporate donation program.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Back to coastal morning fog and mostly sunny inland. Highs: 60s coast, 70s bay, 80s inland. Lows: 50s


Environmental Tips
For brown-bag lunches, use cloth napkins, Tupperware, and reusable lunch sacks to reduce waste and cost.

Previous:
When replacing your carpet, take it to one of the following: a nonprofit for reuse, to SF Carpet Recycling, or through Norcal Waste Systems for recycling. Then, make sure that the new carpet is made from recycled materials and can be easily recycled (such as Type 6 Nylon).


Music Videos
"Cassius" by Foals (Oxford, England)

Foals' debut album came out in April here in the States, and you can find the dance-pop band in San Francisco for the Treasure Island Festival on Sep. 20. Other stops this month include San Diego, Los Angeles, Pomona, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Morrison (Colo.).

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"You Belong" by Hercules and Love Affair (New York, N.Y.)

With DJ Andy Butler as the foundation, the artsy disco group released its first album in March and is currently on tour in the U.K.


Movies (domestic revenues through September 7)
#1 Bangkok Dangerous (R): $7.8MM opening; 2650 screens; $2,937 per screen
#2 Tropic Thunder (R): $7.2MM; $96.5MM overall; 3446 screens; $2,098 per screen
#3 The Dark Knight (PG-13): $5.5MM; $512.0MM overall; 2575 screens; $2,142 per screen
#24 Elegy (R): $0.5MM; $2.3MM overall; 142 screens; $3,390 per screen; about Professor David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley), who gets too close to his student, Consuela Castillo (Penelope Cruz)

Burn After Reading (R): Comedy; about a government employee's lost memoir and the two gym employees who try to exploit their find; co-starring George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, and Brad Pitt; directed by the Coen Brothers

A Girl Cut in Two (NR): Romantic comedy; about a married ladies man and the weathergirl he falls for

Mister Foe (NR): Drama; about a teenage boy who fantasizes after his stepmother and later becomes obsessed with a girl who resembles his mother; co-starring Jamie Bell

Righteous Kill (R): Drama; about a pair of veteran NYPD detectives tracking a serial killer; co-starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Donnie Wahlberg, and 50 Cent

Stealing America: Vote by Vote (NR): Documentary; about the disappearance of reliable election polls and the questions about the voting process raised by the past two elections

Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (PG-13): Comedy; about a socialite woman and her working-class friend who become mired in family turmoil; co-starring Alfre Woodard

Wind Man (NR): Drama; about an old man who falls from the sky and becomes a small boy in a remote village

Women (PG-13): Comedy; about a group of women in New York City's fashion and publishing industries; co-starring Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Eva Mendes

Le Video rental - Shaun of the Dead (R): Horror comedy; about a slacker and his best friend who try to save their friends from flesh-eating zombies; $13.5 million domestic box-office gross.


Free Activities
Napa Wine & Crafts Faire [Sat 10am-5:30pm]: 32nd annual event. In downtown Napa. www.napadowntown.com

Castro Valley Fall Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: 34th annual event. Along Castro Valley Blvd. www.castrovalleychamber.com

Webster Street Jam [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: Featuring a dozen bands ranging from Scottish dance to Brazilian to Unauthorized Rolling Stones. Along Webster Street (Alameda). www.westalamedabusiness.com

Cupertino Fall Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: 4th annual event. At Civic Center Library Field (Cupertino). www.cupertinofallfest.com

Aki Matsuri [Sat 11am-4pm]: 76th annual event. Enjoy Japanese-American cuisine, taiko drums, and other cultural activities. At Wesley United Methodist Church (San Jose). www.wesleysj.net/AkiMatsuri.htm

Great American Blues & BBQ Festival [Sat 11am-6pm]: 3rd annual event. Featuring live music and gourmet soul food. Along Fourth St (San Rafael). www.teamproevent.com/events/Blues-BBQ.html

What's the Big Idea Day? [Sat noon-5pm]: Enjoy film screenings, art activities led by Red Poppy Art House, live music, and artist exclusives for Bay Area Now 5 exhibit. At YBCA (SF). www.ybca.org

Sunday Streets [Sun 9am-1pm]: Run the bases of AT&T Park, take yoga or skating lessons, or go on a guided walk tour along the Embarcadero. Between Chinatown and Bayview districts (SF). www.sundaystreetssf.com

Solano Stroll [Sun 10am-6pm]: 34th annual event. Mile-long block party, with music, food, a parade, arts & crafts, and more. Along Solano Ave (Berkeley-Albany). www.solanostroll.org

Leland Avenue Street Fair [Sun 10am-4pm]: 3rd annual event. Along Leland Avenue in Visitacion Valley (SF). www.vvboom.org

~ Ongoing ~
Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sat 8pm]: "Oklahoma!" (San Geronimo) and "Enchanted" (San Rafael). www.filmnight.org

Dolores Park Movie Night [Th 8pm]: "The Incredibles." In Dolores Park (SF). www.doloresparkmovie.org

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Th 6:30pm, Sat-Sun 2:30pm]: Its latest sparkling production, "Red State," focuses on a small Kansas town that is the last to vote in the 2008 presidential election. At Lakeside Park (Oakland) and San Lorenzo Park (Santa Cruz). 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 Sunday. In John Hinkel Park (Berkeley). www.shotgunplayers.org

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival [Sat 1-3pm]: Featuring Carne Cruda and Santero. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org


Paid Activities
Live Music - Jennifer Hudson [Th 9pm]: At Ruby Skye (SF), $38. www.jenniferhudsononline.com

Sports - AVP Volleyball [Fri 10:30am-8:30pm, Sat 8:30am-8:30pm, Sun 11:15am-5pm]: Featuring Olympic champions Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh, Phil Dalhausser, and Todd Rogers. At Pier 30/32 (SF), $15-100. www.avp.com/events/index.jsp?eventId=1035 - use discount code SPIKE

Comedy - Margaret Cho [Fri 7:30pm]: At the Mountain Winery (Saratoga), $45-55. www.margaretcho.com

Event - Brews on the Bay [Sat-Sun noon-4:30pm]: 5th annual event. Featuring over 50 beers from seven San Francisco microbreweries, including Gordon Biersch, Beach Chalet, and Anchor Steam. At Pier 45 (SF), $40. www.sfbrewersguild.org

Live Music - Janet Jackson [Sat 7:30pm]: At Oracle Arena (Oakland), $38-124. www.janetjackson.com

Event - Macy's Passport [Tue 5pm, Wed 6pm]: 26th annual event, in support of HIV/AIDS organizations. Featuring the latest in fashion design. At Fort Mason (SF), $85-200. www.macys.com/passport

Theatre - Spitfire Grill [through Sep 28]: About the happenings at a small-town restaurant in Wisconsin. At the Lucie Stern Theater (Palo Alto), $20-31. www.paplayers.org

Opera - The Bonesetter's Daughter [world premiere Sat 8pm, through Oct 3]: The world premiere of the novel from San Francisco's Amy Tan. At the Opera House (SF), $10-290. www.sfopera.com

Theatre - Spring Awakening [through Oct 12]: About a group of teenagers discovering their sense of sexuality in late 19th c. Germany. Winner of 8 Tony Awards, including best musical, score (by Duncan Sheik), and direction. At the Curran Theatre (SF), $30-99. www.shnsf.com

Previous: Theatre - Grey Gardens [through Sunday 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]; Theatre - Yellowjackets [through Oct 12 in Berkeley]; Art - Frida Kahlo [through Oct 26 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in October
Soweto Gospel Choir [Oct 11 in San Rafael]; Splitting Infinity [opens Oct 11 in San Jose]; The World of Nick Adams [Oct 27 in SF]