Randy's Guide CV (105)

Today is musician Sean Lennon's 33rd and Yom Kippur; Friday is Taiwan's Double Ten Day; Saturday is National Coming Out Day; Sunday is Columbus Day; Monday is Senator (D-WA) Maria Cantwell's 50th; Tuesday are American fashion designers Ralph Lauren's 69th and Isaac Mizrahi's 47th; and Wednesday is chef Emeril Lagasse's 49th.


Local News Story
Yosemite's Curry Village, established in 1899, evacuated over 1,000 people and closed nearby trails after a massive rockslide into the area. Only three people received minor injuries. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/09/MNHH13DJRN.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
Cool gusty winds, with sunny skies and possible overnight frost.
Highs: low-60s (coast); upper-60s (bay); mid-70s (inland)
Lows: upper-30s (inland) to upper-40s (coast)


Environmental News
Check out www.freecycle.org for giving new life to your unwanted items or scoring that vase you've always wanted for the coffee table.

Previous:
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.


Music Videos
"Banish Misfortune" by Lucia Comnes (San Francisco, Calif.)

She is known to infuse Irish folk songs with influences from India, Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria. Catch her in San Francisco at Enrico's (Oct 26) or Bissap Baobab (Nov 9).

Previous:
"Mr Rock & Roll" 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 Craig Ferguson and Ellen earlier this month.


Movies (domestic revenues through October 5)
#1 Beverly Hills Chihuahua (PG): $29.3MM opening; 3215 screens; $9,114 per screen
#2 Eagle Eye (PG-13): $17.7MM; $54.6MM overall; 3516 screens; $5,037 per screen
#3 Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (PG-13): $11.3MM opening; 2421 screens; $4,672 per screen
#10 Religulous (R): $3.4MM opening; 502 screens; $6,792 per screen; Bill Maher's critical look at religion and its devoted followers

Body of Lies (R): Thriller; about a CIA man who oversees missions carried out by a younger operative; co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe; directed by Ridley Scott

Breakfast with Scot (PG-13): Comedy; about a former professional hockey player in a gay relationship who reexamines his life following the arrival of an effeminate boy; co-starring Tom Cavanagh

City of Ember (PG): Fantasy; about two teenagers who come to the rescue of an underworld city about to lose electricity; co-starring Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, and Martin Landau

The Express (PG): Drama; about the first African American football player to win the Heisman trophy; co-starring Rob Brown and Dennis Quaid

Happy-Go-Lucky (R): Comedy; about a cheery London schoolteacher who encounters dour people around her; directed by Mike Leigh

Johnny Got His Gun (NR): Drama; about a WWI soldier who communicates his feelings through Morse code

Quarantine (R): Horror; about a quarantined Los Angeles apartment building and the television news crew footage from inside; co-starring Jay Hernandez

Rachel Getting Married (R): Drama; about a woman who leaves rehab to attend her sister's wedding; co-starring Anne hathaway and Debra Winger

Public Library DVD - Dan in Real Life (PG-13): Steve Carell plays against type as a widow who reluctantly goes to his family retreat but unexpectedly meets a lovely woman... who happens to be his jockish brother's girlfriend. Co-starring Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, Dianne Wiest, John Mahoney, and Amy Ryan. $47.6MM domestic box-office gross.


Free Activities
Fleet Week [Th noon-5pm, Fri 1-4pm, Sat-Sun 11am-7pm, Mon-Tue 11am-4pm]: Featuring the Blue Angels, the Fleet Week Ships, and celebratory festivals. At Pier 39, Fort Mason, and other locations throughout San Francisco. www.fleetweek.us

Big Blue Bucket Fair [Sat 10am-2pm]: Get your free compost and tools, turn in your old medicines, and drop off used cooking oil. At Jerrold and Phelps (SF). www.bigbluebucket.org

San Carlos Art & Wine Faire [Sat-Sun 10am-5:30pm]: Near Laurel St. and San Carlos Ave. www.sancarloschamber.org

Pumpkins in the Park [Sat 10am-4pm]: 14th annual. At Discovery Meadow (San Jose). www.grpg.org

Super Saturday Family Fest [Sat 11am-3pm]: 7th annual. At John F. Kennedy Park (Richmond). www.firstfivecc.org

LitCrawl 2008 [Sat 6-10pm]: Featuring writers and themed readings at dozens of bookstores, cafes, and bars across the Mission district (SF). www.litquake.org

Polish Festival [Sun 10am-5pm]: At County Fair Building (SF). www.poloniasf.org

Italian Heritage Parade [Sun 12:30pm]: 140th annual. Featuring Grand Marshal Tommy Lasorda. Along Columbus Avenue (SF). www.sfcolumbusday.org


Paid Activities
Live Music - Plastic People of the Universe [Th 8pm]: The featured band in Tom Stoppard's play, "Rock 'n' Roll." With Little Cow and Diego's Umbrella opening. At Slim's (SF), $15. www.plasticpeople.cz

Comedy - Brian Regan [Fri 8pm]: At Marin Center (San Rafael), $38. www.brianregan.com

Event - Asian Culinary Forum [Fri 5:30-7:30pm, Sat 9:30am-5:30pm, Sun 8:30am-5:30pm]: Featuring culinary tours, tastings, demonstrations, and panel discussions. At the Ferry Building, free-$185. www.asianculinaryforum.com

Live Music - New Kids on the Block [Fri 8pm]: With Natasha Bedingfield and Lady GaGa opening. At HP Pavilion (San Jose), $38-78. www.nkotb.com

Live Music - Joan Osborne [Sat 8pm]: With Matt Morris opening. At Great American Music Hall (SF), $28. www.joanosborne.com

Dance - Hula Show 2008 [Sat 8pm, Sun 4pm]: At the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre (SF), $35-85. www.naleihulu.org

Live Music - Panic at the Disco [Sat 8pm]: With Dashboard Confessional, Plain White T's, and The Cab opening. At San Jose State Event Center, $36. www.rockbandlivetour.com

Live Music - Santana [Sat-Sun 7pm]: With Salvador Santana Band opening. At Shoreline Amphitheater (Mountain View), $25-75 and Concord Pavilion, $28-75. www.santana.com

Event - Otsukimi Moon Viewing Festival [Sun 5pm]: Telescope into the universe and tour the bonsai garden, with live jazz and taiko. At Lakeside Park (Oakland), $15. www.oakland-fukuoka.org

Previous: Theatre - Yellowjackets [through Sunday in Berkeley]; Event - Renaissance Faire [through Sunday in Hollister]; Theatre - Spring Awakening [through Sunday 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
Madonna [Nov 1-2 in Oakland]; The B-52s [Nov 14 in San Rafael]; Green Festival [Nov 14-16 in SF]