Randy's Guide CIII (103)

Today is journalist Barbara Walters' 79th and Defense Secretary Robert Gates' 65th; Friday is Amazing Race winner (and model) Tyler Denk's 32nd; Saturday is Belgium's French Community Holiday; Sunday is The Philippines' Day of Awareness and Unity Against Child Pornography; Monday is Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's 72nd; Tuesday is Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard's 33rd; and Wednesday is World Vegetarian Day and China's National Day.


Local News Story
118-year-old law firm Heller Ehrman, based in San Francisco, will dissolve on Friday. Hundreds of corporate attorneys across geographic lines will no longer be part of the firm that survived the 1906 earthquake and helped negotiate financing for the Golden Gate Bridge. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/25/BUQF135ES8.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
Cool coastline, warm inland - the usual for early fall weather. Highs: coast (60s), bay (70s), inland (80s). Lows: low-to-mid 50s.


Environmental News
Toyota Motors will offer a plug-in hybrid by the year 2010. Toyota also promises to increase its natural-gas car production and offer more cars using its popular hybrid technology.

Previous:
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.


Music Videos
"Little Bit" by Lykke Li (Stockholm, Sweden)

Raising comparisons to Feist and Bjork, Lykke Li released her debut album in the States back in May. Her U.S. tour includes stops in Washington D.C., New York City, Boston, Chicago, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and L.A. in October and November.

Previous:
"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.


Movies (domestic revenues through September 21)
#1 Lakeview Terrace (PG-13): $15.0MM opening; 2464 screens; $6,090 per screen
#2 Burn After Reading (R): $11.0MM; $36.1MM overall; 2657 screens; $4,151 per screen
#3 My Best Friend's Girl (R): $8.3MM opening; 2604 screens; $3,174 per screen
#4 Igor (PG): $7.8MM opening; 2339 screens; $3,336 per screen

Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer (NR): Documentary; about the improvisational jazz singer Anita O'Day

Choke (R): Comedy; about an actor who starts to fake choking in restaurants in order to help pay for his mother's medical bills; co-starring Anjelica Huston and Sam Rockwell

The Duchess (PG-13): Drama; about a young English woman betrothed to an older man who has his eyes on an older woman; co-starring Ralph Fiennes and Keira Knightley

Eagle Eye (PG-13): Action; about two innocent people who receive menacing phone calls and then become fugitives; co-starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan

Humboldt County (R): Drama; about a young man who fails out of medical school and then takes up residence with pot farmers of Northern California

The Lucky Ones (R): Drama; about three Iraqi War veterans who return home to take a road trip to Las Vegas; co-starring Tim Robbins

Miracle at St. Anna (R): Drama; about black WWII army soldiers and a modern-day crime; co-starring Derek Luke; directed by Spike Lee

Nights in Rodanthe (PG-13): Romance; about two aching souls who cross paths during a storm in North Carolina; co-starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane

The Pool (NR): Drama; about a poor teen in India who dreams about a life of luxury, symbolized by a swimming pool

A Thousand Years of Good Prayers (NR): Drama; about an elderly Chinese man who befriends an Iranian immigrant in Spokane, Wash.; directed by Wayne Wang

ITunes film - Gone Baby Gone (R): Amy Ryan, in an Oscar-nominated performance, is electrifying as a single mom who is at the center of a Boston police investigation trying to locate her missing daughter; co-starring Casey Affleck, Ed Harris, and Morgan Freeman; directorial debut by Ben Affleck; $20.3 million domestic box-office


Free Activities
A Taste of Greece [Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-9pm]: At the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (SF). www.annunciation.org - go to site for free ticket.

Schroeder's Street Party [Fri 4:40-9pm]: Celebrating the 115th anniversary of the venerable German resto-bar, and the kick-off to the Oktoberfest season. At Schroeder's (SF). www.schroederssf.com

Academy of Sciences Opening Gala [Sat 9:30am-9pm]: The grand re-opening of the museum in a new home, with live music, dancing, green technology demonstrations, and sustainable foods. Saves on what normally would be a $25 admission (and minus all the festivities). In Golden Gate Park (SF). www.calacademy.org

Pacific Coast Fog Fest [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: Featuring a parade, live music, a sand castle contest, and arts and crafts. Along Palmetto Avenue (Pacifica). www.pacificcoastfogfest.com

Sunset Community Festival [Sat 11am-4pm]: At the Sunset Recreation Center (SF). www.sfnpc.org/node/1787

Expo for Independent Arts [Sat 11am-6pm]: 9th annual. At Dolores Park (SF). www.artsandmedia.net/expo

Italian Family Festa [Sat noon-10pm, Sun noon-6pm]: 28th annual. In downtown Willow Glen (San Jose). www.downtownwillowglen.org

Public Library's Big Book Sale [Sun 10am-6pm]: 44th annual. Benefitting the SF Public Library system. The biggest book sale west of the Mississippi, with over 300,000 books and other media on sale. At Fort Mason (SF). www.friendsandfoundation.org

Folsom Street Fair [Sun 11am-6pm]: 25th annual. World's largest leather event. Featuring Berlin, Shiny Toy Guns, The English Beat, and the Presets. Along Folsom Street (SF). www.folsomsstreetfair.org

Out and About in Rockridge [Sun 11am-6pm]: Along College Avenue (Oakland). www.rockridgeoutandabout.com

2008 Comedy Day [Sun noon-5pm]: 28th annual. Featuring Supervisor Tom Ammiano, Will Durst, Diane Amos, and about 30 other comedians. In Golden Gate Park (SF). www.comedyday.com

~ Ongoing ~
Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sat 8pm]: "Amelie" and "Bridge over the River Kwai" (San Anselmo). www.filmnight.org

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Th-Fri 7pm, 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 Sebastiani Theatre (Sonoma), Analy School (Sebastopol), and Walnut Park (Petaluma). www.sfmt.org


Paid Activities
Film - Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway [Th, Sat, Sun 7pm]: Special screenings of the Broadway musical. At select theatres, $20. www.thehotticket.net/rent

Live Music - Cold War Kids [Fri 8pm]: With We Barbarians opening. At Great American Music Hall (SF), $21. www.coldwarkids.com

Live Music - Rock 'n' Blues by the Lake [Sat 10am-7:30pm]: 6th annual. Featuring Third Eye Blind, Luvplanet, and Plain White Ts. Benefits Novato public schools. At Stafford Lake (Novato), $15-60. www.rocknbluesbythelake.com

Event - San Francisco Blues Festival [Sat-Sun 11am-6pm]: 36th annual. Featuring Johnny Winter, Hot Tuna, Buckwheat Zydeco, and more. At Fort Mason (SF), $35-80. www.sfblues.com

Event - Let the Children Play Music Festival [Sat noon-8pm]: 2nd annual. Featuring live music, arts and crafts, a kids zone, and more. At Guadalupe River Park (San Jose), free-$5. www.globalfusionmusic.com

Event - Festa Italiana [Sun 10am-4pm]: Sample Italian specialties and wines, along with live performances, cooking tips, and grape crushing. At Copia (Napa), $20 (including 5 wine tastings). www.copia.org/festaitaliana

Theatre - A Bronx Tale [through Oct 19]: Featuring Chazz Palminteri as 18 different characters in the Bronx, a reprisal of his career-making solo show two decades ago. At Golden Gate Theatre (SF), $40-85. www.shnsf.com

Previous: Theatre - Spitfire Grill [through Sunday in Palo Alto]; Opera - The Bonesetter's Daughter [through Oct 3 in SF]; Theatre - Yellowjackets [through Oct 12 in Berkeley]; Event - Renaissance Faire [through Oct 12 in Hollister]; Theatre - Spring Awakening [through Oct 12 in SF]; Theatre - Rock 'n' Roll [through Oct 18 in SF]; Art - Frida Kahlo [through Oct 26 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through Dec 7 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in October
Asian Culinary Forum [Oct 10-12 in SF]; Flower Drum Song [starts Oct 28 in San Jose]; Joe Turner's Come and Gone [starts Oct 31 in Berkeley]