Randy's Guide CLXIII (163)

Today is International Men's Day and actress Jodie Foster's 47th; Friday is Vice President Joe Biden's 67th and Transgender Day of Remembrance; Saturday is the 89th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" in Dublin; Sunday is singer-actor Tyler Hilton's 26th; Monday is singer-actor Miley Cyrus' 17th; Tuesday is Evolution Day; and Wednesday is the 62nd anniversary of the "Hollywood Ten" blacklist.


Local News
Target is under consideration by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency for a second-floor location in the Metreon building at the heart of the downtown. Battles by Home Depot and American Apparel to open stores have recently been lost, but Costco and Best Buy are roughly a mile away from the proposed location. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/18/MN8P1AIRGD.DTL


Deal of the Week
Free 16-ounce Steaz organic tea - just print and redeem the voucher. www.steaz.com/promotion/FreeSteaz/index.html


Change for Change
Charity to consider: Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center. This section of Polk Gulch around the API Center 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
Very rainy and windy on Friday; otherwise, partly cloudy skies... ideal for watching Big Game on Saturday. (Go Card!)

Highs: near 60 (Thu/Sun); near 55 (Fri/Sat)
Lows: low-40s


The Environment
Use the back of junk mail or printed paper for notes or phone messages... then recycle.


Music
"Harold T. Wilkins" by Fanfarlo (London, U.K.)

Catch the UK band for a free performance of its debut album at Amoeba Records (SF) on Sunday at 2pm. Later that night, the quintet performs at the Rickshaw Stop (SF). Subsequent shows include Long Beach (free), L.A., San Diego, Tucson, Santa Fe, Austin, Birmingham, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Detroit, and New York City. www.fanfarlo.com


Movies (domestic revenues through November 15)
"2012" threw a scare in us all it seems, as the disaster film tallied $65.2 million {rated PG-13, 3404 theatres, $19,165 per theatre}. Marvelous, griffy acting make the low-budget "Precious" a must-see; its third-place finish of $5.9 million is all the more remarkable {rated R, 2nd weekend, $8.7 million overall, 174 theatres, $33,762 per theatre}. The comedy "Pirate Radio" opened weakly in eleventh with $2.9 million {rated R, 882 theatres, $3,293 per theatre}. Finally, "Boondock Saints II: All Saint's Day" expanded into the Bay Area and picked up $1.0 million {rated R, 3rd weekend, $2.5 million overall, 251 theatres, $4,118 per theatre}.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (R): Drama; about a rogue detective in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; co-starring Nicolas Cage, Val Kilmer, and Eva Mendes

The Blind Side (PG-13): Drama; about a wealthy white family who adopts a homeless African-American youngster with a talent for football; co-starring Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw

Defamation (NR): Documentary; about the status of anti-Semitism in the present day

The House of the Devil (R): Horror; about a college sophomore who accepts a babysitting job for an older couple living in the woods with no baby

The Messenger (R): Drama; about a U.S. Army officer who finishes his tour in Iraq and is assigned to the Army's Casualty Notification service; co-starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, and Samantha Morton

Planet 51 (PG): Animation; about an American astronaut who lands on a planet inhabited by green people living a 1950s America lifestyle; co-voiced by Dwayne Johnson, Gary Oldman, and John Cleese

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (PG-13): Thriller sequel; about a young woman who delves deeper into the supernatural world with the likes of werewolves; co-starring Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, and Robert Pattinson

William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe (NR): Documentary; about the late civil rights attorney who represented Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and the Chicago 10

DVD Pick - Two Lovers (R): The brooding Method actor Joaquin Phoenix has a girl dilemma: the nice Jewish girl or the drug-taking neighbor, wildly played by Gwyneth Paltrow. It certainly caught the attention of the moviegoers in France, where revenues were double those of the U.S. Domestic box office: $3.1 million; foreign box office: $10.2 million.


Free Activities
Embarcadero Center Winter Carnival [Fri 4-6p]: Featuring carnival games, balloon twisters, Disney on Ice preview show, and the Building Lighting. At the Embarcadero Center (SF). www.embarcaderocenter.com

Andre Agassi [Fri 6p]: The retired tennis star discusses and signs his new memoir "Open," which has gotten a lot of press for his frank discussions about drug use. At Books Inc. in Opera Plaza (SF). www.booksinc.net

Pier 39 Tree Lighting [Sun 2-5:30p]: Featuring Disney characters, holiday entertainment, and a tree lighting. At Pier 39 (SF). www.pier39.com/Events/ThisMonth/index.htm

DJ Mark Farina [Wed 9p]: Featuring DJs Mark Farina and Alain Octavo. Just bring a new, unwrapped toy donation for Toys for Tots, or a non-perishable food item for Glide Memorial. At Ruby Skye (SF). www.rubyskye.com


Paid Activities
The Walworth Farce [Thu-Fri 8p, Sat 2p/8p, Sun 3p]: Ireland's acclaimed Druid theatre company presents this gothic comedy with rapid costume changes, cross-dressing, and mistaken identity. Sold-out performances at London's National Theatre, Fringe First Award at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival, and rave reviews in New York in 2008. At Zellerbach Playhouse (Berkeley), $72. www.calperformances.org

Peter Bjorn & John concert [Thu-Fri 9p]: Their third album hit it big with the single "Young Folks." Now this tour celebrates its fourth album. With El Perro Del Mar opening. At the Great American Music Hall (SF), $21-23. www.peterbjornandjohn.com

Hip Hop Dance Fest [Fri-Sat 8p, Sun 2p/7p]: 11th annual. Featuring two programs with various hip-hop dance groups from the Bay Area and around the globe. At the Palace of Fine Arts (SF), $35. www.sfhiphopdancefest.com

SF Bike Expo [Sat 10a-6p]: 2nd annual. Featuring bike vendors, cyclocross racing, BMX stunt show, advocacy groups, and more. At the Cow Palace (Daly City), free-$10. www.sfbikeexpo.com

Thread Show [Sat-Sun 11a-6p]: Featuring 100+ independent designers and artisans, live entertainment, clothing swap, fashion shows, and more. Donate a bag of clothes or RSVP online for discounted admission. At Fort Mason (SF), $8-10. www.threadshow.com

Snoop Dogg concert [Sat 8p]: He's still performing? Fo'shizzle. The venerable rapper from Long Beach returns in advance of his tenth album. At the Warfield (SF), $46-56. www.snoopdogg.com

Tings Dey Happen [through Nov. 29]: A solo show about Nigerian oil politics. At the Marines' Memorial Theatre (SF), $25-45. www.marinesmemorialtheatre.com

Another Night Before Christmas [through Dec. 20]: Musical about a Christmas Eve intruder stating that he's Santa Claus. At City Lights Theatre (San Jose), $25-40. www.cltc.org

Previous: Theatre - November [extended through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Mrs. Whitney [through Sunday in SF]