Randy's Guide CLII (152)

Today is Qatar's Independence Day and Canadian Merchant Navy Day; Friday is Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer's (D) 54th and singer-actress Beyonce Knowles' 28th; Saturday is India's Teacher's Day; Sunday is Stillbirth Remembrance Day; Monday is Labor Day, new Rockies player Jason Giambi's 39th, and Brazil's Independence Day; Tuesday is singer Pink's 30th; and Wednesday is North Korea's Republic Day.


Traffic Alert
You have been forewarned, as local news stations, newspapers, and billboards have repeatedly instructed people to avoid the Bay Bridge this coming weekend. The bridge will be closed for a major repair operation from Thursday 8pm (tonight) until Tuesday 5am. BART will be running 24-hour service from limited stations, and additional ferries will run from the East Bay and Marin areas. www.baybridgeinfo.org


Local News
The Century 25 domed theater in Saratoga has now been converted to the Retro Dome. Its first venture, a month-long production of Schoolhouse Rock Live!, will be followed by tributes to Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland, as well as a performance by Beach Blanket Babylon and screenings of "The Wizard of Oz" and "Indiana Jones." www.mercurynews.com/ci_13256623


Change for Change
Charity to consider: Rebuilding Together San Francisco. Originally formed in response to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, this nonprofit focuses on conducting makeovers of homes and community facilities. Recent projects include the Arab Cultural & Community Center in Forest Hill, Daniel Webster Elementary School in Potrero Hill, and the YMCA facility in the Mission. www.rebuildingtogethersf.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, Sustainable Conservation, Ashoka, Old Skool Cafe, and Darfur Sister Schools.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Slight cooling through the weekend, with a return of limited coastal fog and continued afternoon breezes.

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


Deal of the Week
Free Chewy Trail Mix Bar, New Granola Nut Clusters pouch, and Eat Better America Newsletter - all courtesy of Nature Valley. http://freesample.naturevalley.com


The Environment
For the smokers out there, please use ashtrays and garbage cans for your used butts. They are the number one item found during annual beach clean-up days.

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For those with housepets, treat flea problems with borate-based carpet treatments. Fleanix carpet treatment can control fleas in carpeting for up to a year.


Music Videos
"In Color" by Jamey Johnson

The 34-year-old country singer served in the Marine Corps for eight years before churning out two albums. This particular song won an award at the Academy of Country Music Awards, and was nominated at the Grammys. Look for his third album later this year, as he is touring Los Angeles (Sep 24) and parts of the Midwest and South over the next few months. www.jameyjohnson.com

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"T Rex" by Wallpaper. (Oakland, Calif.)

To celebrate the band's new album, catch them free at Oakland's Uptown (Sep 5) and Berkeley's Amoeba Records (Sep 22). Other stops include Los Angeles (Saturday), San Francisco's Rickshaw Stop (Sep 26), Brooklyn (Oct 3), and San Jose's Blank Club (Oct 9). www.myspace.com/wallpaper


Movies (domestic revenues through August 30)
"The Final Destination," the fourth version of the 2000 surprise hit, opened with $27.4 million {rated R, 3121 screens, $8,782 per screen}. "Inglourious Basterds," starring Brad Pitt, picked up another $19.3 million {rated R, 2nd weekend, 3165 screens, $6,099 per screen}. Rob Zombie's "Halloween II" started off with a moderate $16.3 million {rated R, 3025 screens, $5,405 per screen}. And the latest from Ang Lee, "Taking Woodstock," underwhelmed with $3.5 million {rated R, 1393 screens, $2,482 per screen}.

All About Steve (PG-13): Comedy; about a crossword puzzle constructor who has problems finding a suitable mate; co-starring Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper, and Thomas Haden Church

The Baader Meinhof Complex (R): Drama; about fringe German attempts to battle American imperialism during the 1970s

Beautiful Person (NR): Romance; about a student who falls for her Parisian teacher; co-starring Louis Garrel ("The Dreamers")

Bliss (NR): Drama; about a teenage girl who might fall victim to her family's strict moral code

Extract (R): Comedy; about a flavor extract factory owner whose attempts to sell his business are put into jeopardy; co-starring Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck; directed by Mike Judge ("Office Space")

Gamer (R): Action; about the future in which humans battle in a mass-scale, multiplayer online game; co-starring Gerard Butler, Kyra Sedgwick, and Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges

My One and Only (PG-13): Comedy; about the early years of actor George Hamilton when he tracked down his mother ex-boyfriends; co-starring Renee Zellweger

Still Walking (NR): Drama; about the 15th anniversary of a young boy's death

DVD Pick - Role Models (R): A surprise. This rollicking comedy focuses on two Peter Pans, played by Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd, who are ordered by a judge to perform community service at a children's program. Domestic box office: $67.3 million; foreign box office: $25.1 million.


Free Activities
San Francisco Mime Troupe [Thu 7p, Sat-Mon 2p]: 50th anniversary. "Too Big to Fail" is the production. At Jastro Park (Bakersfield) and Dolores Park (SF). www.sfmt.org

Classical Music Revolution [Thu 8p]: Chamber music. At the Red Poppy Art House (SF). www.redpoppyarthouse.org

Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sun 8p]: Featuring "Klunkerz," "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," and "Rear Window" (all in San Anselmo). www.filmnight.org

Millbrae Art & Wine Festival [Sat-Sun 10a-5p]: 39th annual. Featuring live performances including Tainted Love, 250+ artisans, taiko drums, and more. Along Broadway Ave. (Millbrae). www.miramarevents.com/millbrae

Kings Mountain Art Fair [Sat-Mon 10a-5p]: 46th annual. Featuring juried artists, a Kiddie Hollow, volunteer-made breakfast and lunch. Proceeds prrimarily benefit the Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Kings Mountain Elementary School. At Kings Mountain Fire Station (Woodside). www.kingsmountainartfair.org

Tapestry Arts Festival [Sat-Mon 10a-5p]: 34th annual. Oldest and largest outdoor festival in San Jose. Featuring a rock climbing wall, trash art fashion show and contest, and live entertainment. In Plaza Park (San Jose). www.tapestryarts.org

Balinese Music [Sat 1-3p]: Featuring 50 performers of Gamelan Sekar Jaya, as well as instrumentalists from Pusaka Sunda. In Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

Free Shakespeare in the Park [Sat 7:30p, Sun-Mon 2:30p]: 27th season. Featuring "The Comedy of Errors" with a 12-actor cast. At The Presidio's Main Post (SF). www.sfshakes.org

Sunday Streets [Sun 10a-2p]: The sixth for 2009, and eighth overall for San Francisco. Featuring free one-hour bike rentals, skate rentals, live music stages, electric bike demos, swing and waltz lessons, and children's activities through the California Academy of Sciences. In Golden Gate Park and along the Great Highway (SF). www.sundaystreetssf.com

Hairrison Street Fair [Sun 11a-6p]: Featuring four music areas, live entertainment, and a Team Bear Community Zone. Near 12th and Folsom (SF), $5-10 donation requested. www.hairrisonstreetfair.com

Golden Gate Park Band [Sun-Mon 1p]: 127th season. This week's themes are "Great Band Music" and "Labor Day Concert: Celebrate the American Worker in Music." At the Music Concourse Bandshell in Golden Gate Park (SF). www.goldengateparkband.org


Paid Activities
Kathy Griffin [Fri 8p]: The Emmy Award-winning comedian, recently rumored to be dating Bristol Palin's ex-fiance Levi Johnston, returns to the Bay Area. At Davies Symphony Hall (SF), $45-75. www.kathygriffin.net

Sausalito Art Festival [Sat-Mon 9a-5p]: 58th annual. Voted #1 outdoor fine art festival in the nation by Art Fair Source Book. Featuring 270+ artisans, three music stages (including Jefferson Starship and Tainted Love), Woodstock Photo Exhibit, and more. In downtown Sausalito, FREE-$20. www.sausalitoartfestival.org

Scottish Highland Games [Sat-Sun 10a-6p]: 144th annual. Featuring the 1st Battalion Scots Guards (from London), Celtic rock group 1916, whisky seminar, highland dance competitions, British automobiles, and more. At the Alameda County Fairgrounds (Pleasanton), FREE-$20. www.caledonian.org

Belmont Greek Festival [Sat-Mon noon-8p]: 39th annual. Featuring Greek traditional foods (e.g. baklava and spanakopita), cooking demos, Greek bands, live mythology theatre, and traditional dances with handmade costumes. At the Holy Cross (Belmont), FREE-$5. www.goholycross.org

Livermore Valley Harvest Wine Celebration [Sun-Mon noon-5p]: 28th annual. Featuring over 40 wineries, evenly split between Robertson Park and at the wineries themselves. Sunday bus shuttle provided. In Livermore, $10-75. www.lvwine.org

Burning Man: Evolution [through Monday]: 24th annual. In Black Rock City (Nevada), $300-360. www.burningman.com

El Otro [through Sep 13]: About a teenage girl's attempt to piece together the identity of her parents. At Thick House (SF), $15-30. www.thickhouse.org

Twelfth Night, or All You Need Is Love [through Sep 27]: About a fusion of Shakespeare's classic comedy with Beatles and other music from the 1960s. At Dominican University's Forest Meadows Amphitheatre (San Rafael), $15-30. www.marinshakespeare.org

Previous: Theatre - August: Osage County [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Happy Days [through Sunday in Orinda]; Theatre - The Farm [through Sep 13 in Berkeley]; Art - Lords of the Samurai [through Sep 20 in SF]


Upcoming October Activities
Chaim Potok's The Chosen play [starts Oct 7 in Mountain View]; Jason Mraz concert [Oct 9 in Berkeley]; Ingrid Michaelson concert [Oct 9 in SF]