Randy's Guide CLXXI (171)

This week features: Attorney General Eric Holder's 59th; International Holocaust Remembrance Day; Danville's heroic pilot Chesley Sullenberger's 59th; the 95th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell's transcontinental conversation with Thomas Watson; singer Alicia Key's 29th; and Australia Day.


Local News
On the heels of Trader Joe's coming to the Castro, Whole Foods is moving a few blocks from the famed hippie corner Haight-Ashbury. The scaled-back agreement, supported by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and Mayor Gavin Newsom, will allow renovation on the existing building (vacant since 2006) for a Whole Foods about the same size as one in Noe Valley. http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2009/11/02/daily174.html


Deal of the Week
San Francisco will be offering free or discounted H1N1 flu vaccines during next week, January 25-29. Locations such as Walgreen's or Safeway will offer them for about $15-20, while community health centers will offer free vaccines. www.sfcdcp.org/fluvaccine.html


Change for Change
Reader Jack H. urges readers to contribute to the Haiti relief effort. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have combined forces to help the people of Haiti after the devastating January 12th earthquake. Donate now at www.clintonbushhaitifund.org or text QUAKE to 20222 to give $10.

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, Rebuilding Together San Francisco, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, and Urban Solutions.


Weekend Weather
Storm #4 is passing through today and tomorrow. We'll see a bit of sun on Saturday before storm #5 enters the area on Sunday evening.

Highs: mid-50s
Lows: upper-30s (inland); low-40s (bay); mid-40s (coast)


The Environment
Propane-powered lawn equipment such as the Lehr Eco Trimmer meets the new EPA standards set to take effect this year and next. Replacing inefficient gas-powered equipment reduces greenhouse-gas emissions.


Music
"Ready, Able" by Grizzly Bear (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

The stop-motion animation is incredible... but then the surreal harmonies of this band are sure good too. Its third album was deemed the best album of the year by The Wall Street Journal, and also made the top-ten list for Time Magazine and The New York Times. Currently in the UK, Grizzly Bear will be at Coachella in April. www.grizzly-bear.net


Movies {domestic revenues through January 18}
Picking up Golden Globes for Best Picture and Best Director certainly won't hurt "Avatar," as it added $54.4 million [rated PG-13; 5th weekend; 3285 theatres; $16,561 per theatre; $504.9 million overall]. The Denzel Washington thriller "The Book of Eli" opened strongly with $38.4 million [rated R; 3111 theatres; $12,355 per theatre]. "The Lovely Bones," directed by Peter Jackson, broadened into the general market to a $19.9 million tally [rated PG-13; 6th weekend; 2563 theatres; $7,768 per theatre; $20.4 million overall]. And the Jackie Chan comedy "The Spy Next Door" premiered weakly with $12.9 million [rated PG; 2924 theatres; $4,404 per theatre].

Creation (PG-13): Drama; about the life of Charles Darwin and his investigation into evolution; co-starring Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, and Jeremy Northam

Extraordinary Measures (PG): Drama; true story about a successful family man whose life changes course when his two children are diagnosed with a rare disease; co-starring Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser

Legion (R): Action; about the apocalyptic battle between a ragtag bunch of humans, led by an archangel, and God's legion of angels; co-starring Paul Bettany, Lucas Black, and Tyrese Gibson

The Tooth Fairy (PG): Comedy; about a hockey player who must take the role of tooth fairy as punishment; co-starring Dwayne Johnson and Ashley Judd

A Town Called Panic (NR): Animation; about a trio who discovers an underwater world

DVD Pick - Inglourious Basterds (R): Christoph Waltz, who has won Best Supporting Actor from the Golden Globes and Cannes, is the main reason to see this revisionist action-comedy. Quentin Tarentino frequently shows off his knack for crackling dialogue and visuals, while Brad Pitt hams it up as a Nazi-hunting Jew. Domestic box office: $120.5 million; foreign box office: $192.3 million.


Free Activities
Walk for Life vs. Bay Area Coalition for Our Reproductive Rights [Sat 11a]: Featuring speakers and a march along the Embarcadero, from Justin Herman Plaza to Fisherman's Wharf. Protesters and counter-protesters expected. www.walkforlifewc.com ~ www.bacorr.org

Edwardian Ball Vendor Bazaar and Croquet Garden [Sat noon-7p]: Featuring handcrafted goods and jewelry for Neo-Victorian admirers. At the Regency Ballroom (SF). www.edwardianball.com

Casting Call for Gordon Ramsay program [Sun 11a-4p]: Bring one prepared dish at room temperature for your chance to be on Gordon Ramsay's new television program, "Masterchef." RSVP required at masterchefSF@gmail.com. Include your name, age, occupation, city and state you reside, and contact phone number in the email. At Maiden Lane's Sur La Table (SF). www.3ballproductions.com/masterchef.html

Winter Concert [Sun 1p]: Featuring works by Dvorak, Griffes, and Lyadov, as performed by the San Francisco Civic Symphony. At the Kensington Park Hotel's Elk Club Ballroom (SF). www.sfcivicsymphony.com


Paid Activities
Coffee at NightLife [Thu 6-10p]: Popular weekly event, though a special coffee/tea seminar with tastings from Blue Bottle, Ritual, Barefoot, Samovar, Four Barrel, Om Shan, and Equator will make this even better on a cold, rainy night. With Future Universal DJs. At the California Academy of Sciences (SF), $10-12. www.calacademy.org

Michael Pollan discussion [Sat 10a]: Featuring the Berkeley writer-professor whose food paeans are regular best sellers. His latest, "Food Rules," is a simplified version of his previous novels. At the Ferry Building (SF), $20 (includes book). www.michaelpollan.com

Peking Acrobats [Sat 2p, Sun 3p]: Featuring a live orchestra, jugglers, cyclists, clowns, and tumblers. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $12-46. www.calperformances.org

Film Noir Festival [through Jan. 31]: 8th annual. Featuring 10 days of film noir double features from the 1940s and 1950s. At the Castro Theatre (SF), $10. www.noircity.com

Women on the Way Festival [through Jan. 31]: 10th annual. Featuring theatre, music, and dance from local Bay Area female artists. At The Garage, ODC Theatre, and Shotwell Studios (SF), $15-20. www.ftloose.org

SF Sketchfest [through Feb. 2]: Featuring "Weird Al" Yankovic, Reno 911!, Dave Eggers, Jason Segel, Fred Willard, Neil Patrick Harris, and others. At various sites in San Francisco and one location in San Rafael, $10-35. www.sfsketchfest.com

Previous: Theatre - Auralia's Oratorio [through Sunday in Berkeley]; Theatre - Cirque du Soleil's Ovo [through Sunday in SF]; Art - Prejudice and Patriotism: The Story of Japanese Americans [through Jan. 31 in SF]; Theatre - Phedre [through Feb. 7 in SF]; Art - Cartier exhibit [through Apr. 18 in SF]