Randy's Guide CXXV (125)

Today is the beginning of the Bahai Faith's Ayyam-i-Ha; Friday is activist Ralph Nader's 75th; Saturday is Secretary of Energy Steven Chu's 61st and Finland's Kalevala (Culture Day); Sunday is Tasmania's Eight Hours Day; Monday is 007 actor Daniel Craig's 41st; Tuesday is Japan's Hinamatsuri (Girl's Day); and Wednesday is Vermont's Admission Day.


Local News
Our beloved hometown newspaper, The San Francisco Chronicle, may be nearing its end. Hearst Corp., a privately held New York conglomerate of 16 papers, says that cuts are imminent and a sale or closure is possible given financial circumstances. Publishing since 1865, the Chronicle has weekly readership of 1.6 million and online readership at SFGate among the top 10 news Web sites in the nation. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/25/MNO2164F73.DTL


Deal of the Week
Visit the famed de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park on Tuesday, March 3 for free. While there, you can pay an additional $10 for either the new Andy Warhol exhibit (through May 17) or the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit (through April 5). www.famsf.org/deyoung


Change for Change
Charity to consider: San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR). Providing free rape crisis services for over 30 years, the San Francisco-based organization also offers information and resources to healthcare workers, educators, and law enforcement officers. www.sfwar.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, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Bay Localize.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Unsettled, with warmer sub-tropical moisture likely for Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

Highs: upper-50s (coast) to mid-60s (inland)
Lows: low-40s (inland) to upper-40s (coast)


Environmental Tips
Dirty disposable diapers - the EPA estimates that we send 3.5 million tons of them every year. Look into either cloth diapers or flushable diapers (www.gdiapers.com) as better solutions.

Previous:
Plastic containers with a "microwave-safe" label only means that it will not melt or fall apart if used in the microwave. Chemicals may still leach into the foods when heated. Instead, transfer the food into a glass or ceramic container for quick reheating.


Music Videos
"Mexico City" by Jolie Holland (San Francisco, Calif.)


Bred in Houston and now living in New York City, Ms. Holland released her fourth album in October of last year. Her next gig is at Carnegie Hall on March 11.

Previous:
"Hope There's Someone" by Antony and the Johnsons (New York, N.Y.)


A Noise Pop headliner in San Francisco, the cabaret group is known to explore transgender issues in its music. Three months of upcoming shows in Europe (ranging from Brussels to Zurich to Edinburgh) are broken up by a lone U.S. performance at Coachella on April 19.


Movies (domestic revenues through February 23)
#1 Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail (PG-13): $41.0 million opening; 2032 screens; $20,192 per screen
#2 Coraline (PG): $11.4 million; $53.8 million overall (3rd weekend); 2155 screens; $5,305 per screen
#3 Taken (PG-13): $11.3 million; $95.0 million overall (4th weekend); 3102 screens; $3,637 per screen
#44 The Dark Knight (PG-13): $94 thousand; $533.2 million overall (32nd weekend); 55 screens; $1,708 per screen; congratulations are in order for its two Oscars, including one for Heath Ledger's chilling performance as the Joker

The Betrayal (NR): Documentary; about the struggle of filmmaker Thavisouk Phrasavath's family to survive U.S. economic sanctions in Laos

Echelon Conspiracy (PG-13): Thriller; about a young American engineer caught in the middle of a deadly international plot; co-starring Shane West, Edward Burns, Ving Rhames, and Martin Sheen

Garrison Keillor: The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoes (NR): Documentary; about Garrison Keillor, who began a one-man radio show in 1974 that formed the basis for "A Prairie Home Companion"; co-starring Robin Williams and Garrison Keillor

Gomorrah (R): Drama; about six short stories involving criminals in southern Italy

Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience (G): Documentary; about a day in the life of Joe, Nick, and Kevin Jonas

One Day You'll Understand (NR): Drama; about a Gestapo trial that reveals the truth behind the actions of a man's parents during WWII

Silent Light (NR): Drama; about a traditional married man who falls in love with another woman

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (PG-13): Action; about the famed video-game warriors in a battle in Bangkok; co-starring Chris Klein and Michael Clarke Duncan

Two Lovers (R): Drama; about a young troubled man who moves back home and promptly becomes involved with two women of opposing characteristics; co-starring Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Isabella Rossellini

DVD Pick - Cloverfield (PG-13): This tense disaster film, made from the perspective of a hand-held camera, has limited dialogue but a surprisingly good premise and execution. Domestic box office: $80.0 million; foreign box office: $90.7 million.


Activities
Martha Wainwright [Thu 8p]: As part of Noise Pop; sister of Rufus Wainwright. With AA Bondy, Ryan Auffenberg, and Karin Denike opening. At Slim's (SF), $12. www.marthawainwright.com

WonderCon [Fri 12-7p, Sat 10a-7p, Sun 11a-5p]: Hundreds of comic-book vendors and artists, with appearances by cast members of Watchmen, Star Trek, and Terminator Salvation. At Moscone Center South (SF), $12-40. www.comic-con.org

Maus Haus [Fri 5p]: As part of Noise Pop; assembled through friends and Craigslist. At Benders Bar (SF), FREE. www.maushaus.com

Guitar Blues [Fri 8p]: With Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford, and Ruthie Foster. At Marin Center (San Rafael), $18-40. www.marincenter.org

Celebrity Crab Crack-Off [Sat noon-3p]: 7th annual. Join local celebrities and members from the San Francisco 49ers. Proceeds benefit the 49ers Foundation. In Union Square Park (SF), FREE though food/alcohol tickets are $5 each.

The Sacred Arts of Bhutan [Sun 10a-5p]: Exhibit runs through May 10. At Asian Art Museum (SF), FREE first Sundays. www.asianart.org

Nicole Cabell - soprano [Sun 3p]: 2005 winner of the BBC Singer of the World competition in Wales. Her solo debut album also captured multiple awards. Including works by Liszt and Bernstein. At Hertz Hall (Berkeley), $41-46. www.calperformances.net

Chris Isaak [Mon 6p]: At Amoeba Music (SF), FREE. www.chrisisaak.com

Museum of African Diaspora [through Sat]: Celebrate Black History Month with exhibits about food origins and slave narratives. At MoAD (SF), FREE. www.moadsf.org

Betrayed [through Mar 8]: Based on journalist George Packer's New Yorker article about Iraqi translators working for Americans in Baghdad. At Aurora Theatre (Berkeley), $40-42. www.auroratheatre.org

International Children's Film Festival [through Mar 15]: 3rd annual. Featuring more than 150 short films. At Moscone Center South (SF), Zeum Theatre (SF), and Children's Discovery Museum (San Jose), FREE with museum/festival admission. www.sfchildrensfilm.org

Bat Boy, the Musical [through Mar 22]: About a half-bat, half-human boy. At Foothill College's Lohman Theatre (Los Altos Hills), $18-26. www.foothill.edu/FA/theater

Previous: Comedy - The W. Kamau Bell Curve [through Saturday in SF]; Dance - Swan Lake [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Angry Black White Boy [extended through Mar 8 in SF]; Theatre - In the Next Room (or the vibrator play) [through Mar 15 in Berkeley]; Theatre - Souvenir [through Mar 15 in SF]


Upcoming April Activities
Lily Allen concert [Apr 4 in SF]; UB40 concert [Apr 17 in San Rafael]; Fleet Foxes concert [Apr 21 in Oakland]

Randy's Guide CXXIV (124)

Today is novelist (and Sausalito resident) Amy Tan's 57th; Friday is Barbadian singer Rihanna's 21st; Saturday is Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's 85th; Sunday is eight-term Senator Ted Kennedy's (D-MA) 77th, Washington's Birthday, and Oscar Night; Monday is Russia's Defender of the Fatherland Day and Guyana's Mashramani-Republic Day; Tuesday is Mexico's Flag Day; and Wednesday is Philippines' People Power Day.


Local News
Lance Armstrong and 135 other cyclists zipped through the Bay Area on Monday, with crossings over the Golden Gate Bridge and through Devil's Slide en route to Santa Cruz. Despite the wet weather, hundreds lined the route along Highway 1 to catch a brief glimpse of the Tour of California, which ends on Sunday in Escondido. www.hmbreview.com/articles/2009/02/18/news/doc499c5e00bda9c720773253.txt


Deal of the Week
In light of Denny's successful Grand Slam promotion, during which two million free meals were served, IHOP is celebrating National Pancake Day with a free short stack (three) of buttermilk pancakes. It's a charity fundraiser that hopes to raise one million dollars. Only on Tuesday, February 24, from 7am - 10pm. www.ihoppancakeday.com


Change for Change
Charity to consider: San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR). Providing free rape crisis services for over 30 years, the San Francisco-based organization also offers information and resources to healthcare workers, educators, and law enforcement officers. www.sfwar.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, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council, and now Bay Localize.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Sunshine for now, then light rain will resume on Saturday for several days.

Highs: upper-50s (coast) to mid-60s (inland)
Lows: low-40s (inland) to upper-40s (coast)


Environmental Tips
Plastic containers with a "microwave-safe" label only means that it will not melt or fall apart if used in the microwave. Chemicals may still leach into the foods when heated. Instead, transfer the food into a glass or ceramic container for quick reheating.

Previous:
For guests staying in San Francisco, the Orchard Garden Hotel and the Good Hotel are a couple of "green" options. The Orchard Garden in Nob Hill offers an outside-air cooling system, natural paints & carpets, organic bath products, and a key-card system preventing electricity use when the room is unoccupied. The Good Hotel in SoMa has reclaimed wood headboards & bed frames, recycled wallets for sale, glass-bottle light fixtures, and free parking for hybrids. www.theorchardgardenhotel.com www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/good


Music Videos
"You Are My Sister" by Antony and the Johnsons (New York, NY)


A headliner for the upcoming Noise Pop Festival in San Francisco, the cabaret group is known to explore transgender issues in its music. Opening night show with Billy Basinski at the Nob Hill Masonic Center on Tuesday, tickets $32-40.

Previous:
"Sweet Life" by Catie Curtis (Newton, Mass.)


Studio album #9, recorded in Nashville, comes from the optimist who contributed to the final Lilith Fair tour. After a quick tour in the UK, she has shows in New York City, Denver, Austin, Albuquerque, Philadelphia, and several small towns in the Mountain West and New England.


Movies (domestic revenues through February 16)
#1 Friday the 13th (R): $43.6MM opening; 3105 screens;
#2 He's Just Not That Into You (PG-13): $22.3MM; $57.8MM overall; 3175 screens;
#3 Taken (PG-13): $21.8MM; $80.5MM overall; 3109 screens;
#22 Under the Sea 3D (G): $0.9MM opening; 49 screens; the Jim Carrey-nominated IMAX film has a slam-bang first weekend

Absurdistan (NR): Drama; about a desert village of 14 families, with a dearth of water and an overabundance of lazy men

Crips and Bloods: Made in America (NR): Documentary; about the two primary gangs in South Los Angeles

Eleven Minutes (R): Documentary; about Project Runway's season one winner, Jay McCarroll, and his work for New York's spring 2007 Fashion Week

Fired Up (PG-13): Comedy; about two high-school football stars who join the cheer camp in a plot to be around gorgeous young women

Just Another Love Story (NR): Drama; about a family man of the suburbs who is mistaken as the boyfriend of a young woman who suffers amnesia in a car accident

Serbis (R): Drama; about a family that lives in and operates a rundown pornography theater

Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail (PG-13): Comedy; about Madea's stint in jail and her family's subsequent support; co-starring Tyler Perry and Derek Luke

DVD Pick - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (PG-13): A sensual, romantic trip for two American women to Barcelona is the premise for Woody Allen's latest film. Penelope Cruz has won accolades, including an Oscar nomination, as a jealous, half-crazy lover. The movie also scored Best Film (comedy or musical) at the Golden Globes. Domestic box office: $23.2 million; foreign box office: $65.7 million.


Activities
Andrew Bird [Thu-Fri 8p]: Randy's Guide musician. Bringing his eclectic musical style and whistling all the way from Chicago. Shows are sold-out, so off to Craigslist to buy second-hand tickets. At the Fillmore (SF), $30 retail. www.andrewbird.net

Russian Festival 2009 [Fri 5-9p, Sat 11a-10p, Sun 11a-7p]: 21st annual. Celebration of food, music, dance, and art from Russia. At the Russian Center (SF), free-$10. Go to website for 2-for-1 coupon. www.russiancentersf.com

Treasure Island History Day [Sat 11a-3p]: 3rd annual. Featuring walking tours, video shows, and memorabilia exhibit. At Building One (SF), FREE. www.treasureislandmuseum.org

Andy Warhol Exhibition Opening Celebration [Sat 9p-midnight]: Cocktails, snacks, art tours, and dancing. At the de Young Museum (SF), $40-80. www.deyoungmuseum.org

Modest Mouse [Sun 8p]: With Japanese Motors and Mimicking Birds opening. Show is sold out. At the Fox Theatre (Oakland), $35 retail. www.modestmouse.com

Swan Lake [through Mar 1]: Production by San Francisco Ballet. At War Memorial Opera House (SF), $25-255. www.sfballet.org

Souvenir [through Mar 15]: Based on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York socialite. At the ACT (SF), $15-80. www.act-sf.org

Previous: Film - SF Independent Film Festival [through Sunday in SF]; Comedy - The W. Kamau Bell Curve [through Feb 28 in SF]; Theatre - Angry Black White Boy [extended through Mar 8 in SF]; Theatre - In the Next Room (or the vibrator play) [through Mar 15 in Berkeley]


Upcoming March Activities
Jimmy Eat World [Mar 4 in SF]; An Evening with Googoosh, Iran's pop diva [Mar 21 in Oakland]; Tenor Jose Carreras [Mar 28 in San Rafael]

Randy's Guide CXXIII (123)

Today is Senator Arlen Specter's (R-PA) 79th and Lincoln's Birthday; Friday is Canadian singer Feist's 33rd; Saturday is St. Valentine's Day, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's 67th, and retired quarterback Drew Bledsoe's 37th; Sunday is "Simpsons" cartoonist Matt Groening's 55th and Singapore's Total Defence Day; Monday is President's Day and Lithuania's Independence Day; Tuesday is Green Day musician Billie Joe Armstrong's 37th; and Wednesday is Gambia's Independence Day and Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison's 78th.


Local News
Forbes magazine has rated U.S. metropolitan areas based on their commute times, income tax rates, unemployment, violent crimes, weather, and EPA Superfund site spending. Stockton claims honors as the worst city on the Misery Index, while Modesto ranks #5. www.modbee.com/local/story/595622.html


Deal of the Week
Pink Slip Sunday! Laiola, a popular Spanish tapas joint in the Marina, is offering a complimentary dinner to each recently unemployed diner, assuming one paying customer per free meal. This promotion is only for Sunday, February 15. E-mail joe@laiola.com to make your reservation.


Change for Change
Congrats to Bay Localize, the latest charity to benefit from Randy's Guide. Hopefully each of you has checked out the group's activities and donated either time or money.

New charity to consider: San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR). Providing free rape crisis services for over 30 years, the San Francisco-based organization also offers information and resources to healthcare workers, educators, and law enforcement officers. www.sfwar.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, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, and Natural Resources Defense Council.


Bay Area Holiday Weekend Weather
Make sure you bring an umbrella for your Valentine's Day festivities. Thursday's sunshine will give way to periodic showers for the next several days.

Highs: low-50s
Lows: upper-30s (inland) to mid-40s (coast)


Environmental Tips
For guests staying in San Francisco, the Orchard Garden Hotel and the Good Hotel are a couple of "green" options. The Orchard Garden in Nob Hill offers an outside-air cooling system, natural paints & carpets, organic bath products, and a key-card system preventing electricity use when the room is unoccupied. The Good Hotel in SoMa has reclaimed wood headboards & bed frames, recycled wallets for sale, glass-bottle light fixtures, and free parking for hybrids. www.theorchardgardenhotel.com www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/good

Previous:
With Valentine's Day upon us, look into biodynamic wines, beeswax candles, restaurants with a local/seasonal focus, and fair-trade flowers.


Music Videos
"Happy" by Catie Curtis (Newton, Mass.)


Studio album #9, recorded in Nashville, comes from the optimist who contributed to the final Lilith Fair tour. After a quick tour in the UK, she has shows in New York City, Denver, Austin, Albuquerque, Philadelphia, and several small towns in the Mountain West and New England.

Previous:
"Heart of Chambers" by Beach House (Baltimore, Md.)


Dreamy lyrics from the duo... a great way to escape the economic doldrums. Shows in Baltimore and Houston over the next month will showcase their second album.


Movies (domestic revenues through February 8)
#1 He's Just Not That Into You (PG-13): $27.8MM opening; 3175 screens;
#2 Taken (PG-13): $20.5MM; $53.6MM overall; 3184 screens;
#3 Coraline (PG): $16.8MM opening; 2299 screens;
#36 The Class (PG-13): $0.2MM; $0.6MM overall; 27 screens; about a French teacher working in a gritty neighborhood; Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Film

Confessions of a Shopaholic (PG): Comedy; about a New York City gal whose shopping addiction and mounting debt conflict with her new position as a financial advice guru; co-starring Joan Cusack, Hugh Dancy, and John Lithgow

Friday the 13th (R): Horror; about a brother searching for his missing sister amid the mysterious woods of Crystal Lake

The International (R): Thriller; about an Interpol agent and a Manhattan Assistant DA tracking the shenanigans of a powerful bank; co-starring Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, and Armin Mueller-Stahl

Of Time and the City (NR): Documentary; about director Terence Davies' reflection on his birthplace of Liverpool

One Day You'll Understand (NR): Drama; about the unlocking of one family's secrets during the French Occupation of WWII

Owl and the Sparrow (PG): Drama; about a flight attendant, a zookeeper, and an orphan girl whose lives intersect in the mega-city Saigon

Under the Sea 3-D (G): Documentary; about exotic, undersea locations off Southern Australia, New Guinea, and the South Pacific; narrated by Jim Carrey

DVD Pick - C.R.A.Z.Y. (NR): About a teenage boy struggling with his identity while growing up in Quebec with four brothers and a conservative father during the 1960s and 1970s. A recurring theme occurs around Patsy Cline's song "Crazy." Winner of 11 Genie Awards (Canadian Oscars) and 13 Prix Jutra (Quebec Oscars).


Activities
Charlie Murphy [Thu 8p, Fri-Sat 8p/10:15p, Sun 7p]: Best known for his contributions to Comedy Central's "Chappelle's Show." At Cobb's Comedy Club (SF), $27-33. www.charliemurphycomedy.com

Food from the Heart [Fri 5-8p]: 6th annual. Food samples and wine pours supporting Slow Food San Francisco. At the Ferry Building (SF), $2 tasting tickets. www.slowfoodsanfrancisco.com

Swan Lake [Fri 8p]: Featuring the Russian National Ballet. At Marin Center (San Rafael), $18-65. www.marincenter.org

Now and at the Hour [Fri-Sat 8:30p]: A modern illusionist combining magic, mind reading, story telling, and theatre. At the Exit Theatre (SF), $10. www.sffringe.org

Bill Cosby [Sat 5p/8:30p]: The television star muses about life. At the Paramount (Oakland), $43-54. www.billcosby.com

Pillow Fight [Sat 6p]: Bring your pillow and laughter. At Justin Herman Plaza (SF), FREE. www.pillowfight.info

Tango La Melodia [Sat 7p/9p]: A seven-piece band fusing tango, gypsy jazz, and blues with theater. At the Red Poppy Art House (SF), $15-25. www.tangolamelodia.com

How We First Met [Sat 8p]: 9th annual. An improv comedy show revolving around three selected first-meet stories between people who are dating or married. At the Herbst Theatre (SF), $20-35. www.howwefirstmet.com

Robin Thicke [Sat 9p]: R&B singer with the single "Lost Without U." At the Warfield (SF), $43-60. www.robinthicke.com

Chinese New Year Run Festival [Sun 9a-2p]: Along Commercial St. and Kearny St. between California and Clay (SF), FREE. www.ymcasf.org/chinatown/events.html

Philip Glass' Music in Twelve Parts [Mon 5-10p]: Featuring composer Philip Glass in a multi-hour effort that focuses on his work during the 1960s and 1970s. At Davies Symphony Hall (SF), $25-55. www.performances.org

Sisters' Bingo [Wed 7-10p]: The monthly charity event returns with a "Cops and Robbers" theme. Cash and prizes awarded to winning bingo cards. At War Memorial House (SF), $20-40 for two cards. www.sistersbingo.com

In the Next Room (or the vibrator play) [through Mar 15]: About six lonely people who seek relief from a local doctor. At the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, $16-71. www.berkeleyrep.org

Previous: Theatre - Angry Black White Boy [through Sunday in SF]; Event - San Francisco Beer Week [through Sunday in the Bay Area]; Film - SF Independent Film Festival [through Feb 22 in SF]; Comedy - The W. Kamau Bell Curve [through Feb 28 in SF]


Upcoming March Activities
Mac Martin bluegrass concert [Mar 21 in Mountain View]; Evita [starts Mar 27 in Walnut Creek]; Branford Marsalis Quartet [Mar 29 in SF]

Randy's Guide CXXII (122)

Today is Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo's 24th; Friday is Bob Marley Day; Saturday is actor Ashton Kutcher's 31st; Sunday is writer John Grisham's 54th; Monday is Nobel Prize economist Joseph Stiglitz's 66th; Tuesday is commentator George Stephanopoulos' 48th; and Wednesday is Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's 45th.


Local News
With the new southbound Highway 101 carpool lane, the Transportation Authority of Marin and the MTC's 511 program announced a $600 incentive every four months for each new vanpool starting or ending in Marin County. A minimum of seven riders must sign up for the vanpool, and emergency rides home are guaranteed at any time during the day. www.marinij.com/ci_11629938


Change for Change
Charity to consider: Bay Localize. The Oakland nonprofit, which promotes regional self-reliance, is working with Glide Memorial Church to produce vegetables atop its Tenderloin offices. Kale, turnips, carrots, and radishes are currently in full production. www.baylocalize.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, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, and Natural Resources Defense Council.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Showers should taper off by Friday evening, just in time for the big Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday. Partly cloudy and cool for the weekend.

Highs: low-50s (coast) to upper-50s (inland)
Lows: upper-30s (inland) to mid-40s (coast)


Environmental Tips
With Valentine's Day upon us, look into biodynamic wines, beeswax candles, restaurants with a local/seasonal focus, and fair-trade flowers.

Previous:
Many of you may be considering upgrades to LCD or plasma televisions as part of the digital signal switch in February 2009. LCDs use slightly less energy per square inch of screen, and tend to come in smaller sizes - both of which mean less energy costs and hazardous chemicals to produce and consume. And, look for the Energy Star label!


Music Videos
"Used to Be" by Beach House (Baltimore, Md.)

Dreamy lyrics from the duo... a great way to escape the economic doldrums. Shows in Baltimore and Houston over the next month will showcase their second album.

Previous:
"Clouds" by The Morning Light (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

With their self-titled debut hitting stores a few months ago, the pop-rock band has hit the ground running. Appearances over the next month include stops in Dallas, Austin, Charlotte, New York City, Albany, Philadelphia, State College (Pa.), Milwaukee, and Chicago.


Movies (domestic revenues through February 1)
#1 Taken (PG-13): $24.7MM opening; 3183 screens; $7,765 per screen
#2 Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG): $13.9MM; $83.2MM overall; $4,327 per screen
#3 The Uninvited (PG-13): $10.3MM overall; 2344 screens; $4,405 per screen
#16 The Wrestler (R): $2.3MM; $13.1MM overall; 722 screens; $3,204 per screen; about an aging wrestler, his stripper girlfriend, and his plan to return to the ring; nominated for Best Actor (Mickey Rourke) and Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

The Class (PG-13): Drama; about a French high-school teacher working in a working-class neighborhood; Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Film; Cannes winner of Palme d'Or

Coraline (PG): Animation; about a young girl who enters a parallel world; co-voiced by Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher

Donkey Punch (R): Thriller; about seven young adults who run into trouble on a large party yacht

81st Academy Award Short Films (NR): Animation; a melange of the five Oscar-nominated animated short films and the five Oscar-nominated live-action short films

Fanboys (PG-13): Drama; about a group of childhood friends who drive across America to Skywalker Ranch in order to allow their dying friend to check out "Phantom Menace" before its release date

Heart of Fire (NR): Drama; about a young female soldier during the civil war in Eritrea

He's Just Not That into You (PG-13): Comedy; about a group of people in their 20s and 30s and their efforts to have successful relationships; co-starring Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, and Scarlett Johansson

The Pink Panther 2 (PG): Comedy sequel; about the bumbling inspector who must track down an artifact thief; co-starring Steve Martin, Andy Garcia, John Cleese, and Alfred Molina

Push (NR): Thriller; about a group of rogue psychic warriors who try to undermine a powerful government agency in the safe haven of Hong Kong; co-starring Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, and Djimon Hounsou

DVD Pick - You Kill Me (R): A strange comedy about an Eastern European hit man (Ben Kingsley) trying to shake his alcoholism, and a potential girlfriend (Tea Leoni) lost in her tracks. A few random shots of San Francisco give a sense of civic pride. Domestic box office: $2.4 million; foreign: $1.3 million.


Activities
San Francisco Chamber Orchestra [Thu 5:30p, Fri-Sat 8p, Sun 3p]: Featuring clarinetist Dimitri Ashkenazy in works by Bach, Copland, Mahler, and local composer Festinger. At the Contemporary Jewish Museum (SF), Herbst Theater (SF), St. Mark's (Palo Alto), and St. John's (Berkeley), FREE. www.sfchamberorchestra.org

Circus Oz [Thu-Fri 8p, Sat 2p/8p, Sun 3p]: Australia's audacious circus returns after two years. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $13-48. www.calperformances.net

Ledisi [Thu-Sat 8p/10p, Sun 2p/7p]: The Oakland native brings her award-winning music back home. At Yoshi's (Oakland), $5-26. www.yoshis.com

Kodo [Fri 8p]: Based on the ancient tradition of taiko drumming. At Marin Center (San Rafael), $20-65. www.marincenter.org

Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue [Fri-Sat 9p]: All the way from the Big Easy. At the Independent (SF), $22. www.tromboneshorty.com

Muir Woods Earth Day Celebration [Sat 8:30a-1p]: Restore Muir Woods National park, with lunch provided. At Muir Woods Visitor Center (Mill Valley), FREE. www.nps.gov/muwo

Chinese New Year Community Street Fair [Sat 10a-4:30p, Sun 9a-5p]: From Grant to Pacific, and Kearny to Stockton (SF), FREE. www.chineseparade.com

Giants FanFest [Sat 10a-3p]: 16th annual. Featuring self-guided tours of the clubhouses, batting cages, dugouts, and press box, as well as interactive games and activities for children, autograph and photo opportunities, and Q&A sessions. Appearances by Tim Lincecum, Will Clark, Vida Blue, and Barry Zito, among many others. First in-person chance to purchase 2009 single-game tickets. At AT&T Park (SF), FREE. www.sfgiants.com

African American Celebration through Poetry [Sat 1-4p]: 19th annual. At the West Oakland Library, FREE. www.oaklandlibrary.org

Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt [Sat 4:30-9p]: Last year's contest drew more than 1,000 participants. Meet at Justin Herman Plaza (SF), $10-40. www.sftreasurehunts.com

Chinese New Year Parade [Sat 5:15-8p]: A tradition since the 1860s. From Market/2nd St. to Kearny/Jackson (SF), FREE. www.chineseparade.com

Woo at the Zoo [Sat 6p, Sun noon, also Valentine's Day 12p/6p]: 20th annual. Featuring new animals, positions, and information, as told by Jane Tollini. Brunch or dinner included. At the SF Zoo, $75. www.sfzoo.org

Choreography at the Core [Sat 8p, Sun 2p]: Contemporary ballet. At Fort Mason (SF), $20-30. www.companycballet.org

The Bird & the Bee [Mon 8p]: As featured on Randy's Guide. With Obi Best opening. At the Independent (SF), $15. www.thebirdandthebee.com

San Francisco Beer Week [through Feb 15]: Assorted events this week in SF at 21st Amendment, Monk's Kettle, Alembic, Murphy's Pub, City Beer Store, Magnolia Pub & Brewery, Toronado, Thirsty Bear Brewing. Also at Chez Panisse Cafe (Berkeley), Jupiter Brewery (Berkeley), Hotel Mac (Point Richmond), Schooners Grill & Brewery (Antioch), Iron Springs Pub & Brewery (Fairfax), Lagunitas Brewing (Petaluma), Marin Brewing (Larkspur), and Firehouse Grill & Brewery (Sunnyvale). www.sfbeerweek.org

SF Independent Film Festival [through Feb 22]: 11th annual. Featuring a wide array of feature films, short films, and parties. Films at Roxie Cinema (SF), Victoria (SF), and Shattuck Cinema (Berkeley). Parties at Cellspace, Medjool, and Thee Parkside (all SF). FREE-$200. www.sfindie.com

The W. Kamau Bell Curve [through Feb 28]: At times insightful or humorous, the comedian who joked on Comedy Central that Barack Obama could never become President shares his views on race, class, and gender. At the SF Playhouse, $25. (for $10 tickets, use code: friendofthecurve) www.wkamaubell.com

Previous: Theatre - Rich and Famous [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Twentieth Century [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Angry Black White Boy [through Feb 15 in SF]


Upcoming March Activities
Swan Lake by SF Ballet [Mar 1 in SF]; Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour & Corbin Bleu Concert [Mar 4, 6-8 in Oakland]; Thomas & Friends Live! [Mar 6-8 in Cupertino]