Randy's Guide CLV (155)

Today is South Africa's Heritage Day; Friday is broadcaster Barbara Walters' 80th; Saturday is tennis player Serena Williams' 28th; Sunday is Canadian singer Avril Lavigne's 25th; Monday is Czech Republic's Statehood Day; Tuesday is Argentina's Inventor's Day; and Wednesday is Romanian author Elie Wiesel's 81st.


Local News
San Jose's city council voted in favor of a law that bars retailers from giving customers single-use plastic bags. Paper bags with recycled materials could be sold for a fee. The environmental impact study will take place in 2010, and the ban could go into effect as early as 2011. www.mercurynews.com/ci_13405431


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
Warm even at the coast, with peak heat coming on Saturday.

Highs: low-70s (coast); mid-80s (bay); mid-90s (inland)
Lows: mid-50s (coast); upper-50s (bay); low-60s (inland)


Deal of the Week
On Wednesday, September 30, sign up for two free tickets to a variety of shows, including Beach Blanket Babylon and Smuin Ballet. Ticket regions include San Francisco, North Bay, Peninsula/South Bay, East Bay, and Sacramento. Register in Union Square starting at 10am, or online beginning at 6pm. www.tixbayarea.com


The Environment
For clearing clogged drains, pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain, followed by three cups of boiling water. Don't use over-the-counter products like Drano, which will corrode the metal pipes and release toxic vapors into the home.

Previous:
The 25th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day was last Saturday. Check out photos and news at www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html.


Music Videos
"Feel" by Marie Digby (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Her version of Rihanna's "Umbrella" propelled her to fame, after getting over one million views and airtime on STAR 98.7 FM in Los Angeles. Now she's got three albums and seven singles under her belt. www.myspace.com/mariedigby

Previous:
"Suzanne" by Hope Sandoval (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Preceding her work with The Warm Inventions, which will release their second album later this month, Hope Sandoval worked with Mazzy Star, The Chemical Brothers, and Massive Attack. Her tour over the month will include stops at the Fillmore (Saturday), Denver's Bluebird (Oct 1), New York's Bowery Ballroom (Oct 12), and Los Angeles' Mayan (Oct 22). www.hopesandoval.com


Movies (domestic revenues through September 21)
Traditionally slow September woke up with a jolt from the animated "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," which premiered with $30.3 million {rated PG, 3119 screens, $9,716 per screen}. Matt Damon's "The Informant!" coughed up $10.5 million {rated R, 2505 screens, $4,177 per screen}. "Love Happens," a romantic comedy with Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart, tallied $8.1 million {rated PG-13, 1898 screens, $4,245 per screen}. The Megan Hart thriller opened weakly in sixth place with $6.9 million {rated R, 2702 screens, $2,542 per screen}.

The Burning Plain (R): Drama; about a restaurant manager whose romantic destiny is linked to disparate characters throughout space and time; co-starring Charlize Theron

Crude (NR): Documentary; about the $27 billion "Amazon Chernobyl" legal case involving global politics and indigenous cultures

Fame (PG): Musical remake; about a talented group of artists at the New York City High School of Performing Arts

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (R): Comedy; about a charismatic man slated to be married, and the adventures of his last days of bachelorhood; co-starring Jesse Bradford

Pandorum (R): Sci-fi thriller; about two men with no memory of how they arrived in the middle of space with murderous warriors on board their ship; co-starring Dennis Quaid

Paris (R): Drama; about a heart transplant patient and the re-discovery of his sister; co-starring Juliette Binoche

Surrogates (PG-13): Sci-fi action; about a utopian world that is filled with robotic surrogates; co-starring Bruce Willis

You, the Living (NR): Comedy; about a series of characters who seek to find additional meaning in their bizarre lives

DVD Pick - Rachel Getting Married (R): Anne Hathaway is an absolute treasure as a young woman returning home for her sister's marriage after years of battling rehab. She won numerous critics' honors and was nominated for Best Actress by the Oscars and Golden Globes. The film by Jonathan Demme ("The Silence of the Lambs") shows a penchant for blunt, honest dialogue. Domestic box office: $12.8 million; foreign box office: $3.8 million.


Free Activities
San Francisco Mime Troupe [Thu 7:30p, Sat 7p, Sun 7p]: 50th anniversary - Final Weekend. "Too Big to Fail" is the production. At Sebastiani Theatre (Sonoma), Community Park (Davis), and Southside Park (Sacramento). www.sfmt.org

Fall Pacific Fine Arts Festival [Fri-Sun 10a-5p]: 63rd semi-annual. Featuring 175+ artisans. In downtown Walnut Creek. www.walnutcreekdowntown.com

Dragon Boat Festival [Sat-Sun 8a-5p]: 14th annual. Featuring dragon boat racing, taiko drums, lion dance, tai chi, and more. At Treasure Island (SF). www.sfdragonboat.com

Tour de Fat 2009 [Sat 10a-5p]: Featuring a bicycle parade, live music from Sean Hayes and others, a car-for-bike trade-in, beer on tap, and more. At Golden Gate Park's Speedway Meadow (SF). www.newbelgium.com/tour-de-fat

Fog Fest [Sat 10a-5p]: 24th annual. Featuring a sand castle contest, three music stages, and 150+ artisan booths. Along Palmetto Ave (Pacifica). www.pacificcoastfogfest.com

Expo for Independent Arts [Sat 11a-6p]: 10th annual. Featuring independent art, music, and culture. At Golden Gate Park's Music Concourse (SF). http://artsandmedia.net/2009/08/the_10th_annual_expo_for_indep.html

Summerland [Sat 11a-5p]: Featuring 70 local designers, live local bands, DJs, plaza restaurants, and more. In Mint Plaza (SF). www.summerlandmintplaza.com

Salsa Festival [Sat noon-8p]: Featuring three stages of music, salsa dance competition, tequila tasting, salsa tasting awards, and more. In Courthouse Square (Redwood City). www.redwoodcity.org

A Taste of Greece [Sat-Sun noon-9p]: Featuring Greek food, music, dancing, wine tasting, and more. At Annunciation Cathedral (SF). Get free ticket voucher at www.annunciation.org/festival

Chamber Music Day [Sat 12:30-8p]: Featuring a variety of performances. At Old First Church (SF). www.oldfirstconcerts.org

Linda Tillery & the Cultural Heritage Choir [Sat 1-2:30p]: Grammy-nominated ensemble that evokes music with West African and Caribbean origins. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

Folsom Street Fair [Sun 11a-6p]: 26th annual. Over 400,000 expected attendance. Featuring festivities for the leather/fetish community, including live demonstrations, local alternative bands, and more. Along Folsom St. between 7th and 12th St. (SF). www.folsomstreetevents.org

Out & About [Sun 11a-6p]: Featuring local artisans, musicians, cooking demos, and more. Along College Ave (Oakland). www.rockridgeoutandabout.com

Last Sundays Fest [Sun 11a-7p]: Featuring live bands including Dizzy Balloon, dozens of ArtCars, and more. Along Telegraph Ave. (Berkeley). www.lastsundaysfest.com

Alice 97.3 Now and Zen Fest [Sun noon-5p]: Featuring performances by Train, Colbie Caillat, Howie Day, and Dashboard Confessional. At Golden Gate Park's Sharon Meadow (SF). www.radioalice.com

Patrick Makuakane's Hawaiian Dance troupe [Sun 1-2:30p]: Featuring the dance company Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu, with a blend of traditional and contemporary forms of hula. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org


Paid Activities
Rock'n Blues by the Lake [Sat 9a-8p]: Featuring multiple musical groups including The B-52s and America Idol's Blake Lewis. At Stafford Lake Park (Novato), $15-60. www.rnblake.com

Kids Faire [Sat-Sun 10a-5p]: Featuring live stage shows including High School Musical Jr., live bands including Girl Authority, attraction rides, appearances by SpongeBob and Dora, and more. At the Alameda County Fairgrounds (Pleasanton), $5-8. www.kidsfaire.com

A House in Bali opera [Sat 8p, Sun 7p]: American premiere. A combination of opera, contemporary music, and Balinese dance. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $32-68. www.calperformances.org

Brief Encounter [through Oct 11]: A local debut for England's Kneehigh Theatre production about an attempted affair in a 1930s railway station cafe. At ACT (SF), $9-82. www.act-sf.org

Previous: Theatre - Twelfth Night, or All You Need Is Love [through Sunday in San Rafael]; Theatre - As You Like It [through Sunday in San Jose]; Theatre - East 14th: True Tales of a Reluctant Player [through Oct 10 in SF]; Event - Northern California Renaissance Faire [through Oct 18 in Hollister]; Theatre - American Idiot [extended through Nov 1 in Berkeley]


Upcoming October Activities
Rent: The Broadway Tour [starts Oct 6 in SF]; Star Wars: In Concert [Oct 11 in San Jose]; Annual Exotic Erotic Ball [Oct 24 in Daly City]