Randy's Guide CXLVIII (148)

Today is the 64th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing; Friday is Cote d'Ivoire's Republic Day; Saturday is Taiwan's Father's Day; Sunday is Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell's 24th; Monday is the 21st anniversary of Reagan's Civil Liberties Act, which paid living Japanese-American WWII interns $20,000; Tuesday is Oscar-nominated "Doubt" actress Viola Davis' 44th; and Wednesday is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.


Local News
Retail vacancies in the fashionable downtown Palo Alto district have topped 10 percent, the highest level in at least two decades. Merchants are also worried about an ordinance loophole allowing landlords to convert empty commercial space to office space should vacancies top 5 percent. www.mercurynews.com/ci_13002659


Change for Change
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 Old Skool Cafe.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Slight chance of thunderstorms today, with gradual warming through Sunday.

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


Deal of the Week
Thanks to reader Jack H. for this tip. Saisoft is now offering free IT training to unemployed workers in the entire U.S. www.saisoft.net/wia_program.html


The Environment
White roofs reflect about 75% of sunlight, whereas dark roofs only reflect about 15%. Painting roofs and pavements white would reduce on air-conditioning use, cool interiors, and improve air quality.

Previous:
Avoid deodorant aerosols and antiperspirants that contain zinc, aluminum, formaldehyde, DEA, triclosan, fragrance, and parabens. Burt's Bees and Crystal Body are a couple of good options that won't harm your skin or local waterways.


Music Videos
"She Loves Everybody" by Chester French (Cambridge, Mass.)

Two Harvard grads named their band after the sculptor of the John Harvard statue on campus, and now their latest work features a number of collaborations with hip-hop and R&B stars. Tour stops include San Francisco (Sep 13), Chicago (Aug 15), Denver (Sep 6), and Irvine (Sep 18). www.ChesterFrench.com

Previous:
"Stuck on a Boat" by Port O'Brien (Oakland, Calif.)

Tours with Modest Mouse and Bright Eyes brought them greater exposure. Their West Coast swing of concerts in June showed they can more than hold their own. Now their two albums' worth of material is heading to places like England, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Belgium in August. www.PortOBrien.com


Movies (domestic revenues through August 2)
The Adam Sandler film "Funny People" topped the charts with $22.7 million [rated R, 3007 screens, $7,535 per screen]. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" added another $17.9 million [rated PG, $255.7 million overall, 4393 screens, $4,077 per screen]. The animated film "Aliens in the Attic" premiered poorly at $8.0 million [rated PG, 3106 screens, $2,578 per screen]. "The Collector" opened in eleventh place with $3.6 million [rated R, 1325 screens, $2,699 per screen]. And the Indian romance film "Love Aaj Kal" took in a whopping $1.2 million [NR, 102 screens, $12,174 per screen].

Adam (PG-13): Drama; about a handsome young man with Asperger's syndrome and a beautiful new neighbor; co-starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne

The Cove (PG-13): Documentary; about one man's effort to halt undercover dolphin hunting off the coast of Japan

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (PG-13): Action; about the elite military team and its fight against the mysterious Cobra organization; co-starring Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, and Sienna Miller

Julie & Julia (PG-13): Comedy; about the life of Julia Child and blogger Julie Powell; co-starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Stanley Tucci; directed by Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail)

Lorna's Silence (R): Drama; about a young Albanian woman, living in Belgium, who becomes involved in a mobster's plan

Paper Heart (PG-13): Drama; about a young skeptical woman who embarks to make a documentary about love in America; co-starring Michael Cera and Seth Rogen

A Perfect Getaway (R): Thriller; about a thrill-seeking young couple who encounters suspicious couples in a remote part of Hawaii; co-starring Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich

Yoo-hoo Mrs. Goldberg (NR): Documentary; about the driving force behind the popular radio show "The Goldbergs" that debuted in 1929 and later evolved in a hit television sitcom; co-starring Ed Asner

DVD Pick - Wendy and Lucy (R): Low-budget to the max, this haunting drama about a drifting woman and her lovable dog on their way to better times in Alaska is memorable and beautiful. Michelle Williams, previously seen on "Dawson's Creek" and "Brokeback Mountain," is the title character, and boy does she act. Domestic box office: $0.9 million; foreign box office: $0.3 million.


Free Activities
Free Museum Days [Thu 11a-5p]: Berkeley Art Museum and Burlingame Pez Museum. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu www.burlingamepezmuseum.com

Jesus Diaz [Thu 6-7:30p]: Salsa performance. In Jessie Square (SF). www.bombomusic.com/html/qba.html

Amsterdam Live event [Thu 8p-midnight]: A fusion of art, live music, and dance. Complimentary Amstel Light and performance by Shiny Toy Guns. At Ruby Skye (SF). RSVP to amstelsanfran@mirrorball.com for you and a guest.

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Thu 7p, Sat-Sun 3p, Wed 7p]: 50th anniversary. "Too Big to Fail" is the production. At Lakeside Park (Oakland), San Lorenzo Park (Santa Cruz), and Todd Grove Park (Ukiah). www.sfmt.org

Best of the East Bay Party [Fri 5p-midnight]: Featuring six stages with 20 East Bay bands (including Goapele), live art demonstrations, comedians, drag shows, international dance stage, and more. At the Oakland Museum of California. www.eastbayexpress.com

Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sat 8p]: Featuring "Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind" and "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." At Creek Park (San Anselmo). www.filmnight.org

Vintage Paper Fair [Sat-Sun 10a-4p]: Featuring antique postcards, photos, brochures, and memorabilia. At Golden Gate Park's Hall of Flowers (SF). www.vintagepaperfair.com

Nihonmachi Street Fair [Sat-Sun 11a-6p]: 36th annual. Featuring taiko drums, Asian rock bands, Japanese food, and more. In Japantown (SF). www.nihonmachistreetfair.com

Pistahan: Filipino-American Exposition [Sat-Sun 11a-5p]: 16th annual. Featuring a Saturday 11a parade, an adobo cook-off, balut-eating contest, Filipino art, and more. At least 50,000 expected attendance. In Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.pistahan.net

Japanese Summer Festival [Sat-Sun 1-8p]: Featuring bonsai displays, calligraphy, flower arrangements, taiko drums, judo, folk dancing, and more. At the Japanese Cultural Center (Concord). www.diablojaclub.com

Taming of the Shrew [Sat-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 McLaren Park (SF). www.womanswill.org/shrew

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

Sunday Streets [Sun 10a-2p]: The seventh Sunday Streets event. Featuring free bike rentals, bike maintenance, solar telescope viewing, skating lessons, swing lessons, aikido demonstrations, and two live music stages. Along JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park and the Great Highway (SF). www.sundaystreetssf.com

Oakland Museum of California [Sun noon-5p]: Featuring The African Presence in Mexico, Squeak Carnwath, Student Collages, Future of Sequoias, and Told from a Totem. At the Oakland Museum of California. www.museumca.org

Golden Gate Park Band [Sun 1p]: 127th season. This week's theme is "A Concert of Great Band Music," featuring violinist Pam Carey. At the Music Concourse Bandshell in Golden Gate Park (SF). www.goldengateparkband.org

Stern Grove Festival - Toto La Momposina [Sun 2p]: 72nd season. Featuring the Colombian-based sounds of cumbia. WIth Nation Beat, performing Brazilian rhythms of maracatu, opening. At Stern Grove Amphitheatre (SF). www.sterngrove.org


Paid Activities
SF Chefs. Food. Wine. [Thu 6-10p, Fri 10a-11p, Sat 10a-midnight, Sun 10a-5p]: Featuring California wineries, chef demonstrations, 25+ food tastings, dinner receptions, LGBT night at Orson, chocolate after party, and more. In Union Square (SF), $40-700. www.sfchefsfoodwine.com

Madeleine Peyroux [Thu 7p]: Wonderful jazz performer, on a return swing through the Bay Area. At the Montalvo Arts Center (Saratoga), $45-65. www.madeleinepeyroux.com

San Jose Jazz Festival [Fri 5-midnight, Sat noon-midnight, Sun 11a-8p]: 20th annual. Featuring Bettye Lavette, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Allen Toussaint, and over 100 other performances on nine different stages. Over 100,000 expected attendance. In downtown San Jose, $10-30. www.sanjosejazz.org

Depeche Mode [Wed 7:30p]: English electro rockers with a bevy of hits (Just Can't Get Enough, People Are People, Enjoy the Silence, Personal Jesus) to perform. With Peter Bjorn and John opening. At Shoreline Amphitheatre (Mountain View), $20-343. www.depechemode.com

Better than Ezra [Wed 7:30p]: The New Orleans-based band hit it big with their first single, "Good." With 16 Frames opening. At the Independent (SF), $25. www.betterthanezra.com

Previous: Film - San Francisco Jewish Film Festival [through Monday in SF]; Theatre - The Unexpected Man [through Aug 15 in SF]; Theatre - Tinyard Hill [through Aug 16 in Palo Alto]; Theatre - If You Give a Mouse a Cookie [through Aug 16 in Oakland]; Art - Lords of the Samurai [through Sep 20 in SF]


Upcoming September Activities
Yeah Yeah Yeahs concert [Sep 9 in Oakland]; San Francisco Symphony [Sep 11 in SF]; The Killers concert [Sep 12 in Mountain View]