Randy's Guide CXXXII (132)

Today is Washington, D.C. Emancipation Day and Pope Benedict XVI's 82nd; Friday is Syria's Independence Day and American Samoa's Flag Day; Saturday is comedian Conan O'Brien's 46th and Zimbabwe's Independence Day; Sunday is England's Primrose Day and former CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson's 46th; Monday is Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens' 89th and Cannabis Day; Tuesday is the 91st anniversary of the Red Baron's death over France; and Wednesday is Earth Day.


Local News
In contrast to MUNI, BART, and CalTrain, the Valley Transportation Authority will likely escape higher fares, layoffs, or major cuts in service for 2009. This will prove to be good news for the 140,000+ passengers who take VTA trains or buses every weekday, about a 5% increase from the previous year. www.mercurynews.com/ci_12159833


Deal of the Week
Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's on Tuesday from noon-8p. Local shops include five in San Francisco (Haight/Ashbury, Fisherman's Wharf {2}, Ghirardelli Square, Macy's); Oakland; Berkeley; and San Jose {2}. www.benjerry.com


Change for Change
Charity to consider: Sustainable Conservation. Founded in 1993, the San Francisco-based nonprofit organization partners with businesses, government leaders, and private landowners to combat climate change and protect natural resources. The group has been recognized by the EPA, Governor Schwarzenegger, USA Today, and National Public Radio. www.suscon.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, Bay Localize, and San Francisco Women Against Rape.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Warming trend, with possible record heat on Sunday and Monday. Get out and enjoy the weather!

Highs:
Coast (upper-50s -> low-70s)
Bay (mid-60s -> low-80s)
Inland (low-70s -> upper-80s)

Lows: mid-40s -> mid-50s


Environmental Tips
Earth Day is next Wednesday. Check out festivals in Palo Alto, Belmont, San Francisco, Alameda, and other Bay Area communities for ideas to further reduce our impact on the planet. Or, volunteer with an organization to clean up beaches, restore hiking trails, build homes, and plant trees in urban settings.

Previous:
Amidst all of the retailer sales flooding the market, please remember to bring reusable shopping bags for your purchases.


Music Videos
"It's Too Late to Apoptize" by Tom McFadden (Stanford, Calif.)


The Stanford instructor has made an entertaining series of hip-hop videos to assist his students learn very complicated biological systems. Such innovation, such energy... I missed out!

Previous:
"Paper Cities" by Other Lives (Stillwater, Okla.)


A previous incarnation, Kunek, released on album. The new-named band released an album this past Tuesday to great reviews. Its lead single was featured on the season premiere of "Grey's Anatomy." Tours with either Elvis Perkins or The Decemberists will pass through Oakland (May 20), New York City, Chicago, Madison (Wis.), Omaha, Denver, Austin, and Los Angeles over the next month.


Movies (domestic revenues through April 12)
#1 Hannah Montana: The Movie (G): $32.3 million opening; 3118 screens; $10,367 per screen
#2 Fast & Furious (PG-13): $27.2 million; $116.5 million overall (2nd weekend); $7,845 per screen
#3 Monsters vs. Aliens (PG): $21.8 million; $140.2 million overall (3rd weekend); $5,274 per screen
#4 Observe and Report (R): $11.0 million opening; 2727 screens; $4,040 per screen; apparently Kevin James (as Paul Blart) is a better mall cop than Seth Rogen

Black Balloon (PG-13): Drama; about a young boy who moves to a new home, starts taking care of his autistic older brother, and finds a new girlfriend; co-starring Toni Collette

Crank: High Voltage (R): Action; about a hitman seeking the dangerous crime syndicate who replaced his heart with a mechanical one; co-starring Jason Statham

Goodbye Solo (NR): Drama; about two men who begin an unlikely friendship in North Carolina

17 Again (PG-13): Comedy; about a high-school sports star who gets a second chance at redeeming his life when he turns 20 years younger overnight; co-starring Zac Efron and Matthew Perry

Shall We Kiss (NR): Comedy; about two individuals who meet in Nantes and fall in love

State of Play (PG-13): Drama; about a U.S. congressman running for President; co-starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, and Robin Wright Penn

DVD Pick - Brokedown Palace (PG-13): Even 10 years later, issues about criminal justice systems in third-world nations still loom large for tourists and journalists. Catch Claire Danes in one of her earlier roles as an American who gets caught in a drug-smuggling ring. Domestic box office: $10.1 million.


Earth Day Activities
Gamble Garden Celebration [Fri 2-4p]: Scavenger hunt and other activities in the garden. At Gamble Garden (Palo Alto), FREE. www.gamblegarden.org

Earth Day Celebration [Sat 10a-2p]: Featuring talks about composting and local farms, an e-waste recycling drop-off, cooking demonstrations, and green businesses. At the Lucie Stern Community Center (Palo Alto), FREE. www.cityofpaloalto.org/earthday

John Muir Earth Day Celebration [Sat 10a-4p]: Tours of John Muir's 1882 Victorian home, along with exhibits, speaker Gary Bogue, and live entertainment. At John Muir National Historic Site (Martinez), FREE. www.johnmuirassociation.org

Earth Day Create-with-Nature Celebration [Sat 11a-3p]: 5th annual. Outdoor sculpture competition using natural beach objects. At Stinson Beach, FREE. www.naturesculpture.com

Eco-Fair [Sat noon-4p]: Local, organic food vendors, joined by non-profit organizations and local bands. At Santa Rosa Community Market, FREE. www.srcommunitymarket.com

Earth Day at Full Circle Farm [Sun 10a-2p]: Featuring locally grown food, Bay Area bands, a raffle, and more. At Full Circle Farm (Sunnyvale), FREE. www.fullcirclesunnyvale.org


Other Activities
Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival [Fri-Sun 10a-5p]: 27th annual. Along Santa Cruz Avenue (Menlo Park), FREE. www.pacificfinearts.com

Queer on Their Feet [Fri 8p, Sun 1p/7p]: Gay comedians featured on Jay Leno. At Unitarian Universalist Church (Palo Alto) and UU Church of Berkeley, $15-20. www.myspace.com/queerontheirfeet

Cal Day [Sat 9a-4p]: Hear famous professors lecture, check out the Berkeley Art Museum, watch the Cal football team scrimmage (with free hot dogs), and explore different campus organizations. At UC Berkeley, FREE. http://calday.berkeley.edu

Medieval Fantasy Festival [Sat-Sun 10a-5p]: 5th annual. Featuring a pied piper parade, fairies, wizards, and dragons. In downtown Vacaville, FREE. www.medievalfantasyfestival.com

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival [Sat-Sun 11a-5:30p]: George Takei will be Grand Marshal of the parade on Saturday, 1-3p. Other entertainment includes authentic tea ceremony, taiko drums, and a bonsai exhibit. In Japantown (SF), FREE. www.nccbf.org

DogFest 2009 [Sat 11a-3p]: Contests for best trick, best look-alike duo, best costume, and other categories. Also featuring a parade, tasty treats, and live music. At Duboce Park (SF), FREE. www.sfdogfest.org

Chinatown Arts in the Alley [Sat 11a-5p]: Featuring lion dancing, kung fu demonstrations, calligraphy writing by the Chinese Poet Societ, historic photos by Chinese Photographic Society, and more. Along Waverly Place (SF), FREE. www.chinatowncdc.org

The Crucible's Open House [Sat 11a-5p]: Watch live demonstrations about welding, glass working, blacksmithing, and metal casting. At The Crucible (Oakland), FREE. www.thecrucible.org

The Kite Runner [through Sunday]: About two young boys growing up in Kabul; based on Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel. At San Jose Repertory Theatre, $20-62. www.sjrep.com

Sisters Resurrection Bingo [Wed 7-10p]: Monthly charity bingo event combining humor with ample prizes. At the Green Room (SF), $20-40. www.sistersbingo.com

Distracted [through Apr 26]: About a mother coping with her son's ADD diagnosis. At the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, $23-61. www.theatreworks.org

Previous: Theatre - Grease [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - War Music [through Apr 26 in SF]; Theatre - Not a Genuine Black Man [through May 2 in SF]; Art - Watercolor Exhibit [through May 24 in SF]


Upcoming May Activities
Jay Mohr comedy show [starts May 14 in San Jose]; Bay to Breakers [May 17 in SF]; Cabaret musical [starts May 21 in Walnut Creek]