Randy's Guide CXIV (114)

Today is Senator Max Baucus' (D-MT) 67th; Friday is Kenya's Independence Day and musician Sheila E's 51st; Saturday is Scandinavia's Saint Lucia Day; Sunday is British soccer star Michael Owen's 29th; Monday is Bill of Rights Day; Tuesday is the beginning of Mexico's Las Posadas; and Wednesday is Filipino boxer Manny Pacquaio's 30th.


Local News
In response to the passage of Proposition 8 - and in reference to 2006's "Day without an Immigrant," the "Day without a Gay" largely was dismissed by local residents who went about working and shopping as usual. A few hundred turned out for protests in San Francisco's Mission District and UC Berkeley's campus. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/11/BAUV14LPE2.DTL


Change for Change
Congrats to Natural Resources Defense Council, the latest recipient of a donation from Randy's Guide.

Even amidst this economic recession, I hope each of you can share a little bit of your earnings with one (or more) of the many groups that I have spotlighted over the past 113 issues. It will surely help to make someone's season just a tad brighter.

-Aldea Inc: mental health care for Napa and Solano county; www.aldeainc.com
-Bay Area Community Services: mental health and senior services in Alameda County; www.bayareacs.org
-blueEnergy Group: wind and solar energy solutions for marginal communities, based in San Francisco; www.blueenergygroup.org
-City CarShare: socially responsible car sharing program in the Bay Area; www.citycarshare.org
-College Track: after-school college-preparatory program for under-privileged youths in Oakland, San Francisco, East Palo Alto, and New Orleans; www.collegetrack.org
-Common Ground Relief: rehabilitation of New Orleans; www.commongroundrelief.org
-Farm Sanctuary: animal advocacy, with educational farms in California and New York; www.farmsanctuary.org
-Foundation for the People of Burma: humanitarian aid for Burmese individuals, based in San Francisco; www.foundationburma.org
-Friends of the Urban Forest: the planting and caring for trees in San Francisco; www.fuf.net
-Glide Memorial: assistance to homeless, poor, unemployed, and HIV+ communities in San Francisco; www.glide.org
-Little Angel Fund: support and education for parents with premature or seriously ill infants; www.littleangelfund.org
-Loaves and Fishes: daily lunches for the hungry in six Contra Costa cities; www.loavesandfishesofcontracosta.org
-LYRIC: support for LGBTQQ youth, based in San Francisco; www.lyric.org
-Maitri: South Asian women facing domestic abuse or violence; www.maitri.org
-My New Red Shoes: new clothing for homeless and low-income youths, based in Menlo Park; www.mynewredshoes.org
-Natural Resources Defense Council: environmental activism group with lawyers, lobbyists, and scientists to promote action; www.nrdc.org
-San Francisco Health Services Coalition: public awareness and funds distribution for homelessness, based in San Francisco; www.sfhsc.org
-Vital Life Services: services for individuals with HIV+/AIDS and other critical illnesses, based in Oakland; www.vitalcalifornia.org

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


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Mild sunshine will give way to a very cold arctic storm on Saturday for several days of light showers (snow likely at higher elevations).

Highs: upper-50s (coast) to mid-60s (inland), dropping to mid-40s by Sunday
Lows: mid-30s (inland) to mid-40s (coast), dropping to upper-20s (inland) to upper-30s (coast)


Environmental News
Both Microsoft and Sony have provided energy-saving modes for their latest video-game systems XBOX360 and PlayStation 3, respectively. Use them (or turn off your system when not in use)! The average video-game player has about $100 in extra electricity costs per year if the system is kept in idle mode when not in use.

Previous:
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.


Music Videos
"Carry On" by Dizzy Balloon (Piedmont, Calif.)

Formerly known as Panda (before realizing that a Mexican band had already claimed that name), the youthful quintet claimed victory as the local band to be represented in tonight's Not So Silent Night concert at the Oracle Arena, alongside The Killers and Death Cab for Cutie. You can catch them at smaller venues in Pleasanton, Modesto, Larkspur, Los Gatos, Oakland, and Lodi over the next month.

Previous:
"Plasticities" 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.


Movies (domestic revenues through December 7)
#1 Four Christmases (PG-13): $16.8MM; $69.4MM overall; 3335 screens;
#2 Twilight (PG-13): $13.0MM; $138.4MM overall; 3620 screens;
#3 Bolt (PG): $9.8MM; $79.4MM overall; 3516 screens;
#9 Cadillac Records (R): $3.4MM opening; 686 screens; mediocre opening for the musical drama co-starring Beyonce Knowles, Adrien Brody, and Mos Def

Baby (NR): Drama; about a young Asian boy who commits manslaughter and is released from juvenile hall at age 18

Ciao (R): Drama; about a man who ties up his best friend's loose ends following his death

The Day the Earth Stood Still (PG-13): Action; about the latest encounter between humans and aliens; co-starring Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, and Kathy Bates

Doubt (PG-13): Drama; about a Catholic school principal who accises a priest of molestation; co-starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman

Frost/Nixon (R): Drama; about the infamous interview between British TV host David Frost and former President Richard Nixon, three years after his resignation; co-starring Frank Langella and Michael Sheen; directed by Ron Howard

Nothing Like the Holidays (PG-13): Comedy; about the return of the Rodriguez family during Christmastime; co-starring John Leguizamo, Elizabeth Pena, Alfred Molina, and Debra Messing

Pray the Devil Back to Hell (NR): Documentary; about the Liberian women who work together during its last civil war

The Reader (R): Drama; about a younger man and an older woman whose lives intersect several times during post-World War II Germany; co-starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes

DVD Pick - Dead Girl (R): Nominated for 3 Independent Spirit Awards in 2007, this low-budget drama packs a punch in a "Crash"-like fashion. Seven strangers have their paths cross in the inland valley of Southern California. Co-starring Toni Collette, Giovanni Ribisi, James Franco, and Marcia Gay Harden. Domestic box office: $17,000.


Activities
Three Decembers [Th 7:30pm, Fri 8pm, Sun 3pm]: Based on Terrence McNally's original play. Featuring mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and members of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $48-86. www.calperformances.org

Choral Christmas Spectacular [Th-Fri 8pm]: Sing along of choral favorites with the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus. At Davies Hall (SF), $20-70. www.sfsymphony.org

Mission Holiday Block Party [Fri 6-10pm]: Featuring shopping, drinking, and eating. Between 14th and 24th Street, and Mission and Dolores, FREE. www.getlocalsf.com

Alice 97.3 Green Christmas [Fri 8pm]: Featuring Alanis Morissette, O.A.R., Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Buckcherry, Lenka, and Justin Nozuka. Hosted by Sarah and Vinnie. At Mezzanine (SF), $42. www.mezzaninesf.com

KPFA Crafts & Music Fair [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: 38th annual. At Concourse Exhibition Center (SF), free-$10. www.kpfa.org/craftsfair

Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair [Sat-Sun 11am-6pm]: 25th annual. Along Telegraph Avenue (Berkeley), FREE. www.telegraphfair.com

Kwanzaa and Christmas Gift Show [Sat-Sun 11am-8pm]: 23rd annual. Featuring live music, comedy, African-American exhibits, and guest speakers. At Oakland Marriott City Center, free-$5. www.kwanzaagiftshow.com

Peter and the Wolf [Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm/4pm]: Narrated by Leonard Nimoy, with music provided by SFS Youth Orchestra. At Flint Center (Cupertino) and Davies Hall (SF), $15-47. www.sfsymphony.org

Christmas at Sea [Sat 3-9pm]: Featuring live music, refreshments, Santa Claus, ornament making, and a Living History exhibit. At Hyde Street Pier (SF), $5. www.nps.gov/pwr/customcf/apps/eventcalendar/events/safrevent40754593.html

Let Us Break Bread Together [Sun 4pm]: Featuring the Oakland East Bay Symphony and various local choirs. At the Paramount Theatre (Oakland), $10-40. www.oebs.org

Theatrical Celebration of the Winter Solstice [through Dec 21]: 23rd annual. Featuring ancient folk rituals, songs, and dances. At the Scottish Rite Theater (Oakland), $15-50. www.calrevels.org

Every Christmas Story Ever Told [through Dec 21]: At The Stage (San Jose), $15-40. www.sanjosestage.com

A Christmas Carol [through Dec 21]: At the Lesher Center for the Arts (Walnut Creek), $41. www.centerrep.org

Nutcracker Ballet [through Dec 28]: Production by San Francisco Ballet. At Opera House (SF), $20-239. www.sfballet.org

Leonardo da Vinci: Drawings from the Biblioteca Reale in Turin [through Jan 4]: A selection of drawings and notebooks. At the Legion of Honor (SF), $10 surcharge on admission. www.legionofhonor.org

Previous: Theatre - Joe Turner's Come and Gone [through Sunday in Berkeley]; Theatre - Velveteen Rabbit [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - The Seafarer [extended through Sunday in Mill Valley]; 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
Tyler Perry's The Marriage Counselor [Jan 16-18 in Oakland]; A Picasso [starts Jan 24 in San Jose]; Adele [Jan 29 in SF]