Randy's Guide CXLV (145)

Today is Representative Barbara Lee's 63rd (D-CA); Friday is Brentwood resident and comedian Phyllis Diller's 92nd and actor David Hasselhoff's 57th; Saturday is People Magazine's hottest bachelor Chace Crawford's 24th and astronaut John Glenn's 88th; Sunday is Burma's Martyrs' Day; Monday is Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen's 29th and Argentina's Friendship Day; Tuesday is Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau's 61st and Singapore's Racial Harmony Day; and Wednesday is designer Oscar de la Renta's 77th.


Local News
The number of millionaire households in the nine-county Bay Area actually increased in 2008, up 10.2 percent to 136,120. These individuals, who have at least $1 million worth of investable assets (excluding primary residence and collectibles), bucked a nationwide and global trend of a declining number of millionaire households. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/16/BUBM18P5VH.DTL


Change for Change
Congrats to Old Skool Cafe! Please check out the group's service offering and consider a donation to them. www.oldskoolcafe.org

New charity to consider: Darfur Sister Schools. Thanks to reader Megan D. for this tip. It's part of a conglomerate of programs patched together by the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, which is co-chaired by Angelina Jolie. This particular effort focuses on more than 100,000 Sudanese children living in 12 refugee camps in eastern Chad. When you donate, please e-mail fundraiser Jason W. at jweeby@gmail.com for calculation purposes. www.educationpartnership.org/howtohelp/darfur

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, Sustainable Conservation, Ashoka, and now Old Skool Cafe.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
After a flare-up of heat earlier this week, things have turned seasonal. Morning low clouds, followed by afternoon sunshine and breezes.

Highs: mid-60s (coast); mid-70s (bay); upper-80s (inland)
Lows: mid-50s


Deal of the Week
Every Sunday afternoon in the Mission District, the Free Farm Stand is set up to dole out whatever is in season. Last Sunday, green beans, tomatoes, plums, loquats, lemons, herbs, zucchini, red peppers, and greens were part out of the bounty. Pick up or donate some produce for this popular community effort. www.freefarmstand.org


The Environment
EcoHaul has an excellent green debris removal service in the Bay Area. The company will recycle, reuse, and donate the materials leftover from remodels or moves. Their trucks even run on biodiesel. www.EcoHaul.com

Previous:
Ammonia and bleach are both toxic and can seep into the ecosystem to produce volatile organic compounds. Instead, use hydrogen peroxide or sodium percarbonate as disinfectants.


Music Videos
"My Cabal" by School of Seven Bells (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

The Dehezas, who are identical twin sisters, met Benjamin Curtis while both opening for Interpol and formed a band named after a mythical South American pickpocket training academy. Catch their dreamy pop in August (New York City); September (Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.); and October (San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, and Seattle). www.schoolofsevenbells.com

Previous:
"I've Got Your Number" by Passion Pit (Cambridge, Mass.)

The synth pop group was named Best New Act in The Boston Phoenix, and #9 in BBC's Sound of 2009 list. July shows in Europe are followed by August shows in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia, and September-October programs in San Francisco, New York City, Austin, Morrison (Colo.), and Hollywood. www.passionpitmusic.com


Movies (domestic revenues through July 12)
Highly publicized "Bruno" did edge to the top of the charts with $30.6 million [rated R, 2756 screens, $11,110 per screen]. "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" held on to second with $27.6 million [rated PG, $119.7 million overall, 4102 screens, $6,730 per screen]. The girl from "Heroes" couldn't save "I Love You, Beth Cooper," which bombed with $4.9 million in seventh place [rated PG-13, 1858 screens, $2,648 per screen]. "The Hurt Locker," an Iraqi war drama with Ralph Fiennes and Guy Pearce, successfully expanded into the Bay Area and earned $0.6 million [rated R, $1.1 million overall, 60 screens, $10,686 per screen].

Burma VJ (NR): Documentary; about a 27-year-old undercover video journalist during the massive uprising in Burma in 2007

(500) Days of Summer (PG-13): Comedy; about a young man's unpredicable year of romance; co-starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (PG): Fantasy action; about Voldemort's tightening reign and Dumbledore's preparations for the upcoming final battle; co-starring Daniel radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Helena Bonham Carter

Humpday (R): Comedy; about two college bad boys who have taken different paths and who agree to co-star in an adult film together

Jerichow (NR): Drama; about three inhabitants of a small, poor German town

Seraphine (NR): Drama; about the 20th century French painter Seraphine

Soul Power (PG-13): Documentary; about the three-day music festival Zaire '74; co-starring Muhammed Ali, B.B. King, and James Brown

The Window (NR): Drama; about a bedridden gentleman who awaits his famous, long-absent son

DVD Pick - Tropic Thunder (R): This comedy garnered "Bruno"-esque charges last year, largely for the blackface (and Oscar-nominated) performance by Robert Downey Jr. He and Tom Cruise carry the oddball film about a crew marooned in the jungles of southeast Asia. Domestic box office: $110.5 million; foreign box office: $77.6 million.


Free Activities
San Francisco Mime Troupe [Thu 7p, Sat-Sun 2p]: 50th anniversary. "Too Big to Fail" is the production. At Montclair Ball Field (Oakland) and Cedar Rose Park (Berkeley). www.sfmt.org

Temescal Street Cinema [Thu 8p]: Final night. Featuring "Migrations," a series of short films about moving from place to place around the world. At the Bank of the West Building on Temescal Street (Oakland). www.temescaldistrict.org/cinema.html

Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sat 8p]: Featuring "Blade Runner" and "Back to the Future," both in San Anselmo. www.filmnight.org

Cotati Kids Day [Sat 7a-3p]: Featuring a parade, pie eating contests, and live music. At La Plaza Park (Cotati). www.ci.cotati.ca.us

Niles Dog Show [Sat 9a-3p]: 11th annual. Featuring dog demonstrations and competitions. At Niles Park (Fremont). www.niles.org

Connoisseurs' Marketplace [Sat-Sun 10a-6p]: 23rd annual. Featuring 250 top artists and craftsmakers, a Kids' Fun Zone, and live Bay Area bands. Along Santa Cruz Avenue (Menlo Park). www.miramarevents.com

Renegade Craft Fair [Sat-Sun 11a-7p]: 2nd annual. Featuring 200+ artists, hands-on workshops, a free photo booth, free raffles, and more. At Fort Mason Festival Pavilion (SF). www.renegadecraft.com

Mission Creek Music Festival [Sat 11:30a-8p]: 13th annual. Featuring Kelley Stoltz, Persephone's Bees, Dead Meadow, Xoel Lopez, and more. Music starts at 4pm. At McLaren Park (SF). www.mcmf.org

Taming of the Shrew [Sat 1p/6p, Sun 1p]: Since 1998, San Francisco-based Woman's Will, an all-female production company, has performed free (and paid) shows throughout the Bay Area. At John Hinkel Park (Berkeley) and Town Green (Danville). www.womanswill.org

YBGF - Ibig: Pulse of Desire [Sat-Sun 1p]: Featuring the Alleluia Panis Dance Theater with a take on Filipino martial arts and dance. At the Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

Macy's Preview of SF Chefs Event [Sat 2p]: Featuring local chefs cooking up favorites, as a preview of the annual 4-day food and wine celebration in Union Square. At Macy's Cellar (SF). www.macys.com

Free Shakespeare in the Park [Sat-Sun 7:30p]: 27th season. Featuring "The Comedy of Errors" with a 12-actor cast. At Amador Valley Community Park (Pleasanton). www.sfshakes.org

Sunday Streets [Sun 10a-2p]: Always fun. It's the fourth incarnation this year (and sixth overall in San Francisco). Free bicycle rentals, roller skate rentals, Mission walk tour, bike maintenance, Afro-Brazilian martial art demonstrations, free swing and salsa dance lessons, and more. Along 24th Street and Valencia Street. www.sundaystreetssf.com

West End Village Celebration [Sun 11a-8p]: Featuring free kids' games, live music, skate park, and street vendors. Along 4th Street (San Rafael). www.westendvillagecelebration.com

Golden Gate Park Band [Sun 1p]: 127th season. This week's theme is Great Band Music. At the Music Concourse Bandshell in Golden Gate Park (SF). www.goldengateparkband.org

Free Symphony in the Park [Sun 2p]: Weather should be ideal for listening to favorites such as Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and Beethoven's 5th Symphony. At Dolores Park (SF). www.sfsymphony.org

Stern Grove Festival - Sergent Garcia [Sun 2p]: 72nd season. Featuring the guitarist performing with his hip-hop/salsa band. With Brazilian funk band Curumin opening. At Stern Grove Amphitheatre (SF). www.sterngrove.org


Paid Activities
Wanda Sykes [Fri-Sat 8p/10:15p]: Emmy-nominated comedian who starred in "Wanda Does It" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine." At Cobb's Comedy Club (SF), $41. www.wandasykes.com

Bugs Bunny on Broadway [Fri 8p]: Featuring classic Warner Bros. Looney Tunes on a giant projection screen, with the San Francisco Symphony performing the scores live. At Davies Symphony Hall (SF), $30-80. www.sfsymphony.org

Indigo Girls [Sat 7:30p, Tue 8p]: With Common Rotation opening. At the Mountain Winery (Saratoga) and Fillmore (SF), $38-48. www.indigogirls.com

Previous: Theatre - Jack Goes Boating [through Sunday in Berkeley]; Event - Giants County Fair [through Sunday in SF]; Art - Watchmen [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Wishful Drinking [through July 23 in Berkeley]; Art - Lords of the Samurai [through Sep 20 in SF]


Upcoming August Activities
Melissa Etheridge concert [Aug 9 in Saratoga]; Pete Yorn concert [Aug 24 in SF]; KMEL Summer Block Party, featuring R. Kelly and Keyshia Cole [Aug 28 in Oakland]