Randy's Guide CIV (104)

Today is photographer Annie Leibovitz's 59th; Friday is author Gore Vidal's 83rd and German Unity Day; Saturday is World Animal Day; Sunday is Portugal's Republic Day; Monday is Indianapolis Colts' coach Tony Dungy's 53rd; Tuesday is columnist Dan Savage's 44th; and Wednesday is actor Matt Damon's 38th.


Free Theater Alert
Get your free tickets for theaters in San Francisco and surrounding areas for the month of October. Check online at www.theaterbayarea.org today, and each Wednesday this month for ticket availability.


Local News Story
Stanford University unveiled plans for a new Green Dorm, wind energy importation, and the eco-friendly Knight Management Center. www.stanforddaily.com/cgi-bin/?p=273


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
Our first dose of autumn rain! Clearing by Saturday evening, with warmer conditions for Sunday. Highs: coast (low-60s), bay (upper-60s), inland (low-70s). Lows: low-50s.


Environmental News
Donate your hair! Local nonprofit Matter of Trust can weave hair into effective oil sponges, which detoxify noxious oil spills. And Locks of Love provides hairpieces to disadvantaged children.

Previous:
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.


Music Videos
"This Is the Life" by Amy MacDonald (Glasgow, Scotland)

Her debut album topped the charts in the UK, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium. She made her debut on U.S. television on the Craig Ferguson program yesterday, and will make an appearance on Ellen on Friday.

Previous:
"I'm Good, I'm Gone" 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.


Movies (domestic revenues through September 28)
#1 Eagle Eye (PG-13): $29.2MM opening; 3510 screens; $8,305 per screen
#2 Nights in Rodanthe (PG-13): $13.4MM opening; 2704 screens; $4,962 per screen
#3 Lakeview Terrace (PG-13): $7.0MM; $25.7MM overall; 2467 screens; $2,824 per screen
#14 Choke (R): $1.3MM opening; 435 screens; $3,033 per screen; about an actor who fakes choking while in restaurants to shore up some funds for his mom's health care bills

Allah Made Me Funny (NR): Comedy; about three American Muslims as part of a comedy troupe

An American Carol (PG-13): Comedy; about a portly, lefty documentarian who attempts to ban the Fourth of July; co-starring Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer, Bill O'Reilly, and Gary Coleman

Appaloosa (R): Drama; about two lawmen for a small town, and the young widow who complicates issues; co-starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellweger, and Jeremy Irons

Beverly HIlls Chihuahua (PG): Animation; about a spoiled dog who has a rough go while in Mexico; co-voiced by Drew Barrymore, Andy Garcia, Salma Hayek, and Placido Domingo

Blindness (R): Drama; about a woman who somehow is not affected by a mass epidemic of blindness; co-starring Julianne Moore, Danny Glover, and Gael Garcia Bernal

Flash of Genius (PG-13): Drama; about a man who invented the intermittent windshield wiper; co-starring Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham, and Alan Alda

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (R): Comedy; about one journalist's interaction with Vanity Fair; co-starring Simon Pegg, Gillian Anderson, Kirsten Dunst, and Jeff Bridges

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (PG-13): Romantic comedy; about two New Jersey teens who fall for each other over the course of 24 hours in New York City; co-starring Michael Cera

Religulous (R): Documentary; about Bill Maher's attempts to question people about their religious beliefs

Save Me (NR): Drama; about a Christian retreat in New Mexico for gays to recover from their preferences

Two Lives Plus One (NR): Drama; about a proper French schoolteacher who decides to try her hand at writing a novel

Amoeba Music DVD - Manufactured Landscapes (NR): A stirring documentary based on Edward Burtynsky's photographs and rolling camera shots of the great industrialization of China and other developing nations. Domestic box-office gross: $240,000.


Free Activities
Black Cowboy Festival [Sat 10am-5pm]: Featuring a parade, line dancing, and plenty of horses and cowboys. In Frank Ogawa Plaza (Oakland). www.blackcowboyassociation.org

Dragon Boat Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: 13th annual. Featuring dragon boating, entertainment, arts and crafts, and food. On Treasure Island (SF). www.sfdragonboat.com

Tilden Park Carousel Grand Reopening [Sat 10am-12:30pm]: Featuring free rides, ice cream, and cookies. In Tilden Park (Berkeley). www.ebparks.org

Spirit of Japantown Festival [Sat 10am-6pm]: 2nd annual. Featuring Japanese flower arrangements, taiko, comedy cooking demos, bonsai, and more. In Japantown (San Jose). www.spiritofjapantownfestival.com

Fine Arts Fall Fest [Sat 10am-5pm]: 14th annual. In downtown Montclair (Oakland). www.montclairvillage.com

Los Altos Fall Festival [Sat 10am-5pm]: In downtown Los Altos. www.losaltoschamber.org

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass [Sat-Sun 11am-7pm]: Featuring Emmylou Harris, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, Loudon Wainwright III, and others. In Speedway Meadow (SF). www.strictlybluegrass.com

Aki Matsuri Festival [Sat-Sun 11am-5pm]: Featuring karaoke, bonsai exhibits, anime films, taiko drums, and more. In Japantown (SF). www.japantownparking.com

LoveFest [Sat noon-8pm]: Featuring parade with world-class DJs down Market Street. After-parties throughout the City. At San Francisco Civic Center Plaza. www.sflovefest.org

Film Night in the Park [Sat 8pm]: Closing night. "Vertigo" in Union Square (SF). www.filmnight.org

Castro Street Fair [Sun 11am-6pm]: 35th annual. Along Castro Street and 18th Street (SF). www.castrostreetfair.org

Excelsior Festival [Sun 11am-5pm]: 6th annual. In Persia Triangle (SF). www.excelsiorfestival.org


Paid Activities
Event - Oktoberfest by the Bay [Fri 5pm-midnight, Sat 11am-midnight, Sun 11am-7pm]: 9th annual event. Featuring a Bavarian oompah band and plenty of beers. At Fort Mason (SF), $5-35. www.oktoberfestbythebay.com

Live Music - Sigur Ros [Fri 8pm]: Fresh from Iceland. At Greek Theatre (Berkeley), $43. www.sigur-ros.co.uk

Previous: Opera - The Bonesetter's Daughter [through Friday 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]; Theatre - A Bronx Tale [through Oct 19 in SF]; Art - Frida Kahlo [through Oct 26 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through Dec 7 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in November
Joan Baez concert [Nov 18-19 in SF]; Cal-Stanford Big Game [Nov 22 in Berkeley]; Around the World in 80 Days [starts Nov 22 in San Jose]