Randy's Guide CLXII (162)

Today is musician Booker T. Jones' 65th; Friday is the 53rd anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Montgomery Bus Boycott; Saturday is India's Children's Day; Sunday is "Up" actor Edward Asner's 80th and Austria's St. Leopold's Day; Monday is "Things Fall Apart" Nigerian author Chinua Achebe's 79th; Tuesday is Czech Republic and Slovakia's Democracy Day; and Wednesday is Morocco's Independence Day.


Local News
Independently owned Wilkes Bashford, an upscale luxury boutique with stores in San Francisco and Palo Alto, has been sold to an East Coast clothier and is reorganizing under bankruptcy protection. In business for 43 years, the store has tried to woo back customers with personalized letters, in-store wine, and detailed alterations. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/11/MNVU1AI0UG.DTL


Deal of the Week
The holiday shopping season is upon us. Get 30% off in-store purchases at Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy through Sunday. http://gap.m.delivery.net/w/webView?cid=16293366826&mid=1856354299&pid=789460&vid=13665&ee=cHJpdmF0ZXJ5YW43OEBob3RtYWlsLmNvbQ__&si=&mv=H&bv=H&oc=H&sc=&k=1kfRVx


Change for Change
Charity to consider: Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center. I walked by its home offices the other day en route to KFC, and this section of Polk Gulch is a mess. The group has promoted sexual health and broken down barriers within the Asian and Pacific Islander communities since 1987. Its support of the LGBT community, abused women, and no-insurance individuals includes an alliance with health care providers and organizations. www.apiwellness.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, Darfur Sister Schools, and Rebuilding Together San Francisco.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
It's definitely peak autumn. Cool mornings, crisp and clear afternoons.

Highs: around 60
Lows: upper-30s (inland); low-40s (bay); mid-40s (coast)


The Environment
Thinking about some holiday travel? National Geographic rated 133 world destinations based on sustainability, and some top options include Norway's fjords, British Columbia's Kootenay/Yoho National Parks, New Zealand's South Island, and Vermont. The bottom dwellers are Spain's Costa del Sol, the West Bank, the Bahamas, and Mexico's Cabo San Lucas. http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2009/11/destinations-rated/intro-text


Music
"On the Beach" by Sugarplums (San Francisco, Calif.)

Ah, there are those who love Ocean Beach... and others who swear by Baker. Reader Alzara G., one of the two Sugarplums band members, takes on a happy journey along our beloved coastline. Catch them at Caffe del Sole in San Francisco on Saturday night. www.myspace.com/sugarplums1


Movies (domestic revenues through November 8)
Jim Carrey's "A Christmas Carol" scored $30.1 million to partially recoup the $200 million investment {rated PG, 3683 screens, $8,159 per screen}. The trifecta of George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, and Ewan McGregor couldn't boost "The Men Who Stare at Goats" beyond third place with $12.7 million {rated R, 2443 screens, $5,201 per screen}. A new extraterrestrial thriller, "The Fourth Kind," will not replicate the success of its low-budget predecessor, as it tallied just $12.2 million {rated PG-13, 2527 screens, $4,840 per screen}. Cameron Diaz' collaboration with the director from "Donnie Darko" yielded dismal reviews and only $7.6 million {rated PG-13, 2635 screens, $2,873 per screen}.

Boondock Saints II: All Saint's Day (R): Action sequel; about Irish brothers who emerge from a sleepy life to tackle the murder of a priest in Boston; co-starring Sean Patrick Flanery

For the Love of Movies: The Story of Film Criticism (NR): Documentary; about the history of film criticism; co-starring Roger Ebert and Harry Knowles

The Maid (NR): Drama; about a long-time live-in maid who takes extreme measures to hold on to her position

Pirate Radio (R): Comedy; about rogue DJs who broadcast off the British coast during the 1960s; co-starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Kenneth Branagh

Precious (R): Drama; about an overweight, illiterate teenage girl in Harlem who meets a life-changing counselor at a new, alternative school; co-starring Mariah Carey, Mo'Nique, and Gabourey Sidibe

2012 (PG-13): Action; about the catastrophies set to hit Earth in 2012, the end of the Mayan calendar; co-starring John Cusack, Danny Glover, and Woody Harrelson

DVD Pick - Up (PG): Just out on DVD, this endearing Pixar film about a stodgy elderly man with an adventurous past is miraculously voiced by Ed Asner. As you might expect, you'll be taken into unexpected directions... including even a shout-out to beloved Fenton's Creamery, serving the Oakland community since 1894. Domestic box office: $293.0 million; foreign box office: $214.0 million.


Free Activities
Skating Rink Opening Ceremony [Thu 4:30p]: Join NBC anchor Diane Dwyer to open two months of outdoor ice skating. First hour of ice skating also free. At Civic Park (Walnut Creek). www.iceskatewalnutcreek.com

The Parlor opening [Thu 9p-midnight]: Courtesy of the sponsors, you'll have an open bar at a new lounge for three hours, with hostess Stacy Keibler. At Parlor (SF). www.sfstation.com/rogue-release-party-e741561

**San Francisco Green Festival [Fri noon-7p, Sat 10a-7p, Sun 11a-6p]: 8th annual. Featuring 125 speakers, 350 eco-friendly businesses, local vegetarian cuisine, environmental films, and samples galore. Bring in three canned goods for free admission (last year's tally raised 6,000 pounds for the San Francisco Food Bank). Otherwise, admission is $10-15. At the San Francisco Exhibition Center. www.greenfestivals.org

Prejudice and Patriotism: The Story of Japanese Americans from 1941-1952 [Sat 2-4p]: Catch the Opening Ceremony honoring WWII Nisei veterans, with live music performed by George Yoshida and the J-Town Jazz Ensemble. Ongoing museum exhibit through Jan. 31. At the Presidio Officers Club (SF). www.presidio.gov

Black Film Festival [Sat 3-9:30p]: Start off at the gala with refreshments, dancers, drumming, and guest speakers (3-5p). Then watch four featured films, including Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. At the African American Art & Culture Complex (SF). www.sfbff.org

What's the Big Idea? Night Party [Sat 9p-midnight]: Featuring burlesque acts, visual art exhibits, Citizen Cake/Orson food menu, and more. At Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SF). RSVP at www.ybca.org/tickets/production/view.aspx?id=9948

Thai Art & Food Fair [Sun 10a-5p]:13th annual. Featuring Thai kickboxing, classical music, authentic food, beauty pageant, and more. At Golden Gate Park's County Fair Building (SF). www.watbuddhapradeep.org

Community Music Day [Sun 2-4p]: Featuring the Young Peoples' Symphony Orchestra and resident ensembles. At the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts (Richmond). www.eastbaycenter.org


Paid Activities
Widespread Panic [Thu-Sat 8p]: A jam band, in the vein of Grateful Dead and Phish. At Fox Theater (Oakland), $45. www.widespreadpanic.com

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers [Fri 8p/10p]: She formed her band in San Francisco 20 years ago, and this year has brought her third album to the public. At Biscuits and Blues (SF), $20. www.lavaysmith.com

Autumn Get-Together [Sat-Sun 8a-4p]: 20th annual. Featuring an indoor and outdoor car show, swap meet, vendor exhibits, and more. At the Alameda County Fairgrounds (Pleasanton), free-$15. www.good-guys.com

Bay Area Bead Extravaganza [Sat-Sun 10a-5p]: 11th annual. Featuring over 225 bead and jewelry exhibitors, craft demonstrations, and more. At the Marriott Civic Center (Oakland), $4-7. Online discount coupon at www.beadextravaganza.com

Erased James Franco [Sun 8p]: Catch the actor from "Spider-Man" and "Milk" for a discussion prior to a documentary about his past performances. At the Castro Theatre (SF), $10. www.castrotheatre.com

November [through Sunday]: A David Mamet satire about corruption in politics. At the American Conservatory Theatre (SF), $17-82. www.act-sf.org

Mrs. Whitney [through Nov. 22]: About a woman in search of romance, and the man she left years ago. At the Magic Theatre (SF), $20-45. www.magictheatre.org

Previous: Theatre - American Idiot [extended again through Sunday in Berkeley]