Randy's Guide CXXXV (135)

Today is 49ers quarterback Alex Smith's 25th; Friday is V-E Day and Canadian musician Martha Wainwright's 33rd; Saturday is Romania's Independence Day; Sunday is Mother's Day; Monday is the 89th anniversary of the federal establishment of Montana's Glacier National Park; Tuesday is International Nurses Day; Wednesday is comedian Stephen Colbert's 45th and controversial Miss California 2009 Carrie Prejean's 22nd; and Thursday is Bike to Work Day.


Local News
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has returned to Stanford University for a position at the Hoover Institute think tank. Rice has met and dined with students at Roble Hall and FroSoCo; one heated exchange has been posted on YouTube and featured on MSNBC. www.stanforddaily.com/cgi-bin/?p=1030289


Change for Change
Latest charity to consider: Ashoka. Reader Darlene D's organization, started in 1980, supports socially responsible entrepreneurs and promotes infrastructure development in more than 60 nations. www.ashoka.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, San Francisco Women Against Rape, and Sustainable Conservation.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Warmer and drier, perfect for taking mom to an outdoor brunch.

Highs: mid-60s (coast) to low-70s (bay) to low-80s (inland)
Lows: low-50s


Deal of the Week
In an effort to raise additional capital with the absorption of Washington Mutual, JPMorganChase is offering $100 for any new checking account member. Simply bring in a voucher, commit to a direct deposit, and receive all the benefits that WaMulians have come to embrace (free checks, free overdraft per year, free ATM cash withdrawals). Ask me for the e-mail voucher.


The Environment
If you're one of the 20% of Californians who change your car's motor oil, remember to take the used oil and filter to a collection center, not dump them down the drain or into the garbage. State Certified Collection Centers will even pay 16 cents per gallon for used oil. Visit www.ciwmb.ca.gov/UsedOil/Centers to find the nearest location.

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Electric cars are set to join plug-in hybrids on car lots later next year. Nissan's version should cost less than $30,000 and be able to charge 80% of its lithium ion battery in less than 30 minutes. Ford, Mitsubishi, Chrysler, and Subaru are also slated to release versions by 2011.


Music Videos
"Worn Me Down" by Rachael Yamagata (Washington, D.C.)


Her alt-light rock is perfect for such television show soundtracks as Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, and The O.C. Her second studio album received rave reviews. She has a free upcoming performance in Philadelphia on Saturday.

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"Geraldine" by Glasvegas (Glasgow, Scotland)


The award-winning quartet will make a Bay Area appearance at Shoreline's BFD music festival on June 6.


Movies (domestic revenues through May 3)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (PG-13) met expectations with a hefty $85.1 million opening weekend (4099 screens, $20,751 per screen). The Matthew McConaughey romantic comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (PG-13) started with $15.4 million (3175 screens, $4,854 per screen), while the Beyonce thriller Obsessed (PG-13) picked up an additional $12.1 million in its second weekend ($46.9 million overall, 2514 screens, $4,794 per screen). The animated Battle for Terra (PG) bombed with $1.1 million (1160 screens, $933 per screen).

Every Little Step (PG-13): Documentary; about the full scope of a production of A Chorus Line, from initial conception to the current revival on Broadway

Lemon Tree (NR): Drama; about the suspicious lemon trees of a Palestinian villager whose home now neighbors an Israeli minister of defense

The Limits of Control (R): Thriller; about a mysterious criminal in Spain; co-starring Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, and Gael Garcia Bernal; directed by Jim Jarmusch

Little Ashes (R): Drama; about the arrival of a young artist named Salvador Dali at a Madrid university; co-starring Robert Pattinson

The Merry Gentleman (R): Drama; about a divorced woman who meets a depressed hit man and witnesses a murder; co-starring Michael Keaton

Next Day Air (R): Comedy; about two low-grade criminals who stumble across a package of cocaine; co-starring Mike Epps and Dante 'Mos Def' Smith

Outrage (NR): Documentary; about closeted politicians in Washington, D.C.; co-starring Barney Frank

Star Trek (PG-13): Sci-Fi action; about the exciting, well-staged beginnings of James Kirk and Spock, and their philosophical clashes aboard the Enterprise; co-starring Chris Pine, John Cho, Simon Pegg, and Bruce Greenwood; directed by J.J. Abrams

Tulpan (NR): Drama; about a Kazakh soldier who returns to his farming village

Tyson (R): Documentary; about former boxing champion Mike Tyson, and his examination of his childhood and early career

DVD Pick - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (NR): Two university students must make a tragic decision whether to abort a pregnancy during the last days of Communism in Romania. It won the top prize (Palme d'Or) at Cannes Film Festival, best European Film and Director at the European Film Awards, and ranked as the best film of 2007 for A.O. Scott (The New York Times). Domestic box office: $1.2 million; foreign box office: $8.6 million.


Free Activities
Taiwanese-American Cultural Festival [Sat 10a-6p]: Featuring Taiwanese aboriginal and indie-pop bands, orchid exhibits, Taiwanese foods, and more. In Union Square (SF). www.sftafest.org

Pagan Festival [Sat 10a-5:30p]: 8th annual. Featuring a parade, temple of change, altars, Celtic song, and more. Next to farmer's market. At MLK Civic Center Park (Berkeley). www.thepaganalliance.org

Flavors of the Gardens [Sat 10a-5p]: Featuring local foodmakers in cheese, pickles, jams, gelato, honey, bread, and more. Live entertainment and other arts. At Allied Arts Guild (Menlo Park), suggested $5 donation. www.alliedartsguild.org

Asian Pacific American Heritage Celebration [Sat 10a-5p]: 9th annual. Featuring Urisawe Korean Drum Group, Filipino Association of Foster City Choir, Shamisen Jazz and Pop, and more. MCs Jana Katsuyama and Lloyd LaCuesta of KTVU Channel 2 News. At San Mateo Central Park Recreation Center. www.asianamericanbooks.com

The Glories of Arab Music [Sat 1-2:30p]: Featuring the Georges Lammam Ensemble with Naser Musa. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

In Conversation with Bill T. Jones [Sat 2p]: Discussing his efforts to portray Lincoln's legacy for his upcoming bicentennial. At YBCA Forum, RSVP required. www.ybca.org

Koret Museum Day [Sun 10a/11a/noon - 5p]: 17 Bay Area museums will open their doors on Mother's Day. Check out the Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco Zoo, Exploratorium, San Jose Museum of Art, or Oakland Museum of California. www.koretmuseumdays.org

Sunday Streets II [Sun 10a-2p]: The 2nd round of outdoor fun in San Francisco this year. Featuring free bike rentals, bike maintenance booth, guided nature walks, hula hoops, yoga, and more. From AT&T Park to Bayview along 3rd Street. www.sundaystreetssf.com

How Weird Street Faire [Sun noon-7p]: 10th annual. Featuring local dance music companies. Near 2nd St./Mission (SF), suggested $5-10 donation. www.howweird.org

Direct from Taiwan! [Sun 1-3p]: Featuring the O-Kai Singers and Hsieh Yuwei Ensemble. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org


Paid Activities
Keiko Matsui [Fri-Sat 8p/10p, Sun 7p/9p]: Elegant contemporary jazz. At Yoshi's (SF), $28. www.keikomatsui.com

KFOG KaBoom [Sat 4-10p]: Featuring Los Lonely Boys, Susan Tedeshi, and Chuck Prophet. And of course the famed fireworks show. At Piers 30-32 (SF), $15-100. www.kfog.com

The Lieutenant of Inishmore [extended through May 24]: About Irish terrorism toward humans... and cats. At the Roda Theatre (Berkeley), $18-57. www.berkeleyrep.org

Indigo Girls [Wed 8p]: The famed folk-rock duo celebrates its eleventh studio album, though this one is its first independently produced album since 1987. With Matt Morris opening. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $39. www.indigogirls.com

Previous: Film - San Francisco International Film Festival [through today in SF and Berkeley]; Theatre - Miss Julie [through May 17 in Berkeley]; Art - Watercolor Exhibit [through May 24 in SF]


Upcoming June Activities
Julio Iglesias concert [June 3 in Saratoga]; Bolshoi Ballet [June 4-7 in Berkeley]; Pride 2009 [June 27-28 in SF]