Randy's Guide CXIII (113)

Today is supermodel Tyra Banks' 35th and Poland's Miners' Day; Friday is comedian Margaret Cho's 40th; Saturday is Saint Nicholas Day; Sunday is Pearl Harbor Day; Monday is Immaculate Conception Day and Buddha Enlightenment Day; Tuesday is actor Jesse Metcalfe's 30th; and Wednesday is U.N. Human Rights Day.


Local News
From the offbeat track: Mayor Gavin Newsom, presumed to be a guest at Yelp's annual holiday event, stood up the organization that amasses customer reviews for restaurants, shops, and bars. Newsom has had to be more cautious with mayoral proclamations since last year's Colt Studio Day. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/04/BAMG14H0O6.DTL


Change for Change
Charity to consider: Natural Resources Defense Council. Reader Rene L. is a proud worker for NRDC and recommended its inclusion in the Guide. I appreciate its multi-pronged approach to environmental issues, with pressure placed upon various levels of our government. Though headquartered in New York City, NRDC has a regional office here in San Francisco. http://www.nrdc.org/

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

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, Little Angel Fund, and San Francisco Health Services Coalition.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Mild and sunny. A great time of the year to be out and about in the region.

Highs: coast (upper-50s); bay (low-60s); inland (mid-60s)
Lows: coast (upper-40s); bay (low-40s); inland (upper-30s)


Environmental News
With the winter season bearing down upon us, it's time to monitor and replace your home's air filters. Heating and cooling typically accounts for half of the energy used in a typical home, so breathe better and save some money.

Previous:
Mayors of San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland announced last week that they intend to help promote the nation's first electric-car network with major infrastructure investments and coordinated regulations. Over the next four years, Better Place plans to invest $1 billion to creating a system similar to ones the company has designed in Israel, Denmark, and Australia.


Music Videos
"Imitosis" by Andrew Bird (Chicago, Ill.)

With previous links to Squirrel Nut Zippers and Bowl of Fire, Andrew Bird is a singer-songwriter who has mastered an array of instruments, from the mandolin to the violin. Look for his new album in January, and a February tour taking him to such locales as San Francisco, Denver, Los Angeles, and New York.

Previous:
"Check Yes Juliet" by We the Kings (Bradenton, Fla.)

The pop punk quartet met back in middle school and now have a debut album under its belt. Their last tour was with The Academy Is..., and now they're part of a couple of holiday shows in Orlando and Atlanta.


Movies (domestic revenues through November 30)
#1 Four Christmases (PG-13): $31.1MM opening; 3310 screens; $9,387 per screen
#2 Bolt (PG): $26.6MM; $66.8MM overall; 3654 screens; $7,274 per screen
#3 Twilight (PG-13): $26.3MM; $119.7MM overall; 3425 screens; $7,692 per screen
#10 Milk (R): $1.5MM opening; $1.9MM overall; 36 screens; $40,385 per screen; the Gus Van Sant-directed biopic about the San Francisco activist who became the first openly gay official in the country has laughter, tears, and cheers - look for Sean Penn to snag an Oscar nom for his role as Harvey Milk

Cadillac Records (R): Musical drama; about Chicago's Chess Records, which launched the careers of Etta James, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and Willie Dixon; co-starring Beyonce Knowles, Mos Def, Cedric the Entertainer, and Adrien Brody

Eden (NR): Drama; about an Irish mother of two who strives to maintain her marriage after ten years

Lake City (R): Drama; about a mother and son on a family farm, and a drug dealer who has a score to seller with the son; co-starring Sissy Spacek and Dave Matthews

Nobel Son (R): Thriller; about a professor soon to be a Nobel Prize winner, and his estranged kidnapped son; co-starring Alan Rickman and Shawn Hatosy

Punisher: War Zone (R): Action; about vigilante Frank Castle and his attempts to take down a local mob boss

DVD Pick - Bee Movie (PG): Jerry Seinfeld's film debut is generally a winner, as he gives comedic voice to a bee not too enthusiastic about joining the hive's gigantic honey corporation. Other voices you'll recognize include Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates, John Goodman, Oprah, Larry King, and Sting. Domestic box office: $126.6 million; overseas: $160.4 million.


Activities
Presidio Tree Lighting [Fri 5:30-6:30pm]: Featuring music and refreshments. At Presidio Main Post (SF), FREE. http://www.presidio.gov/

Hayes Valley Block Party [Fri 6-9pm]: 18th annual. Featuring the Circle of Life art walk, live musicians, and many independent boutiques. In Hayes Valley (SF), free. http://www.hayesvalley.com/

75th Anniversary of Repeal Day [Friday evening]: Various locations in San Francisco will be actively celebrating the repeal of Prohibition 75 years ago. Check out Elixir, Bourbon & Branch, Cantina, Alembic, Swig, and the 21st Amendment Brewery.

Ballet Flamenco Jose Porcel [Fri-Sat 8pm]: Featuring seven flamenco dancers and six Latin musicians. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $19-48. http://www.calperformances.org/

Winter Cabaret [Fri-Sat 8pm]: Featuring holiday acrobats, jugglers, breakdancers, and other circus performers. At AcroSports (SF), $5-15. http://www.citycircus.org/

Swedish Christmas Fair [Sat 9am-4pm]: 25th annual. Featuring hot mulled wine, a fish pond game, gingerbread decorations, Swedish folk music and dancing, and more. At St. Mary's Cathedral (SF), $2-5. http://swea.demo.tankbar.net/christmasfair27___1432.aspx

Art Deco and Modernism Holiday Sale [Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm]: Featuring art nouveau, art deco, vintage western, and other accessories and collectibles. At Concourse Exhibition Center (SF), $10. http://www.artdecosale.com/

Fungus Fair [Sat 10am-6pm, Sun noon-5pm]: 38th annual. Featuring recipe samples, presentation talks, marketplace, and more. At Oakland Museum of California, free-$8. http://www.museumca.org/

German Holiday Market [Sat 11:30am-4pm]: 3rd annual. At the German International School of Silicon Valley (Mountain View), free. http://www.gissv.org/

International Body Music Festival [through Sunday]: Training workshops and concert programs. At Theatre Artaud (SF) and various locations in Oakland, $10-25. http://www.crosspulse.com/

Velveteen Rabbit [through Dec 14]: Featuring ODC/Dance. Special Italian Ice Day, Cookies Day, and LGBT Family Day. At Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SF), $15-45. http://www.odcdance.org/

The Seafarer [extended through Dec 14]: About an Irishman's return to Dublin on Christmas Eve. At Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley), $20-51. http://www.marintheatre.org/

Previous: Theatre - Joe Turner's Come and Gone [through Dec 14 in Berkeley]; Event - Great Dickens Christmas Fair [weekends through Dec 21 in Daly City]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through Dec 27 in SF]; Musical - Phantom of the Opera [through Jan 4 in SF]; Art - Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul [through Jan 5 in SF]; Art - Maya Lin: Systematic Landscapes [through Jan 18 in SF]


Upcoming January Activities
Chinese New Year's Spectacular [Jan 13-15 in Cupertino]; Video Games Live [Jan 24 in Oakland]; Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings [Jan 28 in SF]