Randy's Guide CII (102)

Today is cyclist Lance Armstrong's 37th; Friday are Canadian singers Tegan and Sara's 28th; Saturday is artist Dale Chihuly's 67th; Sunday is gold medalist swimmer Ben Wildman-Tobriner's 24th; Monday is Car Free Day and the First Day of Autumn (Northern hemisphere); Tuesday is Celebrate Bisexuality Day; Wednesday is South Africa's Heritage Day.


Local News Story
The ongoing Halloween party saga has taken another turn, as the event near AT&T Park appears to now be free (instead of $31) and will feature fewer booths. City officials are trying to reduce crowds and criminal activity that have previously centered on the Castro district. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/17/MN8P1301NJ.DTL


Change for Change
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
Much cooler than normal, with a slight chance of rain on Friday. Highs: coast, near 60; bay, near 70; inland, upper 70s. Lows: 50-55.


Environmental Tips
Infant formula in China has killed several infants and sickened thousands due to melamine contamination. Always choose products from FDA-approved companies such as Abbott, Mead Johnson, Nestle, PBM, and Solus Products.

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


Music Videos
"The Dearly Departed" by The Trophy Fire (San Francisco, Calif.)

The two founders met on the University of San Francisco campus. Now, they're drawing comparisons to Jimmy Eat World and have already played at SXSW and Noise Pop. Check out their new album just released this month.

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"Balloons" 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 Saturday. Other stops this month include San Diego (tonight) and Los Angeles (Friday).


Movies (domestic revenues through September 14)
#1 Burn After Reading (R): $19.1MM opening; 2651 screens; $7,215 per screen
#2 Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (PG-13): $17.4MM opening; 2070 screens; $8,397 per screen
#3 Righteous Kill (R): $16.3MM opening; 3152 screens; $5,168 per screen
#4 The Women (PG-13): $10.1MM opening; 2962 screens; $3,415 per screen

Battle in Seattle (R): Action; about a group of protesters who converge in Seattle during the WTO meetings held there in 1999; co-starring Charlize Theron, Andre 3000, Woody Harrelson, and Ray Liotta

Flow (NR): Documentary; about the global water crisis and the growing privatization of the resource
Forbidden Lie$ (NR): Documentary; about a fraudulent best-selling novel focused on experiences in Jordan

Ghost Town (PG-13): Comedy; about a man brought back to life who now has the unfortunate ability to see ghosts; co-starring Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear, and Tea Leoni

Igor (PG): Animation; about a hunchbacked lab assistant who aims to win at the annual Evil Science Fair; co-voiced by John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, and Jay Leno

Lakeview Terrace (PG-13): Thriller; about an interracial couple who fights with their next-door neighbor, a black LAPD officer; directed by Neil LaBute

My Best Friend's Girl (R): Comedy; about a rebound specialist who starts falling in love with his best friend's ex; co-starring Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, Alec Baldwin, and Jason Biggs

Return to Goree (NR): Documentary; about the history of African singer Youssou N'Dour and jazz music

Surfer, Dude (R): Comedy; about a surfer who returns to Malibu only to find it corrupted with corporate sponsorships; co-starring Matthew McConaughey and Willie Nelson

Towelhead (R): Drama; about an Arab-American girl who moves to Houston to live with her father; co-starring Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, and Maria Bello; directed by Alan Ball

Video Cafe rental - Michael Clayton (R): A lawyer specializing in cleaning up messes gets entangled with a corporation bent on preserving its image; co-starring George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, and Sydney Pollack. Winner of one Oscar (best supporting actress) and nominated for six others (including best picture and director). $49.0 million domestic box-office gross.


Free Activities
California Coastal Cleanup Day [Sat 9am-noon]: Clean up California's coast! www.coast4u.org

Community Day [Sat 10am-5pm]: Featuring exhibits on ice cream, bubbles, and other areas. At Lawrence Hall of Science (Berkeley). www.lawrencehallofscience.org

Pleasanton Art & Heritage Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: 25th annual event. Along Main Street (Pleasanton). www.pleasantondowntown.net

Lafayette Art & Wine Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: 13th annual event. In downtown Lafayette. www.lafayettechamber.org

Aloha Festival [Sat 10am-6pm]: At Napa Valley Exposition (Napa). www.manaleohcf.org

Benicia Annual Fair [Sat 10am-4pm]: 35th annual event. Along First Street (Benicia). www.visitbenicia.com

A World of Fun [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: Featuring a petting zoo, face painting, wild animal shows, and more. At Emerald Glen Park (Dublin). www.dayontheglen.com

Bluesfest and Sidewalk Sale [Sat 11am-7pm]: Along Chestnut Street (SF).

Redwood City Salsa Festival [Sat noon-8pm]: Featuring salsa music, dancing, and a salsa-making contest. In downtown Redwood City. www.redwoodcityevents.com/salsafest.html

~ Ongoing ~
Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sat 8pm]: "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" (Dolores Park, SF). www.filmnight.org

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Th-Fri 7pm, Sun 5pm, Wed 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 Center for the Arts (Grass Valley), Cedar Grove (Chico), and Chabot College (Hayward). www.sfmt.org

Shakespeare in the Park [Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2:30pm]: The closing weekend of "Pericles." At Presidio Parade Ground (SF). www.sfshakes.org


Paid Activities
Live Music - Monterey Jazz Festival [Fri 6:30pm-midnight, Sat noon-midnight, Sun noon-9pm]: Featuring Cassandra Wilson, Derek Trucks, Herbie Hancock, Spencer Day, and others. At the Fairgrounds (Monterey), $15-110. www.montereyjazzfestival.org

Live Music - Treasure Island Music Festival [Sat-Sun 11:30am-11pm]: Featuring Justice, Raconteurs, Tegan & Sara, Goldfrapp, CSS, Foals, and other local bands. At Treasure Island, $65-115. www.treasureislandfestival.com

Live Music - This Land Is Your Land Festival [Sat 2-11pm]: Featuring Sheryl Crow, the Black Keys, Son Volt, and others channeling Woody Guthrie and John Steinbeck. At Concord Pavilion, $19-81. www.livenation.com

Theatre - Rock 'n' Roll [through Oct 18]: A mix of Czech politics, Marxist academics, rock music, and the Cold War. At the ACT (SF), $9-80. www.act-sf.org

Event - Renaissance Faire [through Oct 12]: Pageantry, romance, and revelry. At Casa de Fruta (Hollister), $10-35. www.norcalrenfaire.com

Previous: Art - Women Impressionists [through Sunday in SF]; Art - Ming Dynasty [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Spitfire Grill [through Sep 28 in Palo Alto]; Opera - The Bonesetter's Daughter [through Oct 3 in SF]; Theatre - Yellowjackets [through Oct 12 in Berkeley]; Theatre - Spring Awakening [through Oct 12 in SF]; Art - Frida Kahlo [through Oct 26 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through Dec 7 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in October
LoveFest [Oct 4 in SF]; Radio Golf [starts Oct 8 in Mountain View]; Kirov Ballet [Oct 14-19 in Berkeley]