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]