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]