Randy's Guide CLXXX (180)

Historic milestones this week: 3 years since the first Earth Hour was celebrated in Sydney, Australia; 6 years since Ireland banned smoking at all workplaces, the first country in the world to do so; 31 years since the Three Mile Island accident; 139 years since the first international rugby match (England v. Scotland); and 143 years since the purchase of Alaska.


Local News
The Bay Area's lone ghost town, Drawbridge, is sinking slowly into the wetland marshes of the South Bay. Its heyday came during the 1920s, as residents would hunt wildlife and row boats for parties during high tide. The last resident left in 1979, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not be doing any restorations or tours for tourists. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/25/BADE1CKPIB.DTL


Change for Change
The San Francisco Suicide Prevention is the oldest volunteer crisis line in the U.S., with its first services (the crisis line) in 1963. That number 415-781-0500 responds to over 200 calls each and every day. The program also includes help for Spanish speakers, youths, HIV/AIDS patients, and drug rehabilitation. www.sfsuicide.org

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.


Deal of the Week
Free bottle of Olay Quench body lotion. Purchase by April 16, and mail in the rebate by April 30. www.olay.com/Club_Olay/march2010/images/Quench_Form_olayhome.pdf


Environmental News
A California sea lion was euthanized last week for eating too many endangered salmon near the Bonneville Dam. Other measures designed to protect the multibillion-dollar salmon industry include firing rubber bullets and exploding underwater bombs. Environmentalists claim that hydroelectric dams are far more devastating to the salmon population. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/03/08/national/a120348S53.DTL


Weekend Weather
Drying out, with gradual warming through Sunday. Rain could return on Monday.

THU-FRI
Highs: near 60
Lows: near 45

SAT-SUN
Highs: low-60s (coast); mid-60s (SF-bay); near 70 (inland)
Lows: mid-40s (coast); upper-40s (bay-inland); low-50s (SF)


Music
"Jail La La" by Dum Dum Girls (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Their band name references both The Vaselines and Iggy Pop. The debut album comes out next week; the tour journeys to Swarthmore College, Buffalo, Oberlin College, Des Moines, Boulder, and San Diego... with an addition in San Francisco certainly possible. www.myspace.com/dumdumgirls


Movies {domestic revenues through March 21}
"Alice in Wonderland" is the highest-grossing March release ever, with an additional $34.2 million [rated PG; 3739 theatres; $9,144 per theatre; 3rd weekend; $265.4 million overall]. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," based on the best-selling children's novel, amassed $22.1 million [rated PG; 3077 theatres; $7,191 per theatre]. The Jennifer Aniston-Gerard Butler action comedy "The Bounty Hunter" opened with $20.7 million [rated PG-13; 3074 theatres; $6,729 per theatre]. And finally, the futuristic tale "Repo Men" bombed in its first weekend with $6.1 million [rated R; 2521 theatres; $2,430 per theatre].

Chloe (R): Thriller; about a successful doctor who suspects that her husband is having an affair; co-starring Julianne Moore and Liam Neeson; directed by Atom Egoyan

Greenberg (R): Drama; about a 40-something bachelor who has a life-changing experience while house sitting for his successful older brother; co-starring Ben Stiller

Hot Tub Time Machine (R): Comedy; about four men who travel back to 1986 to relive the glory days of partying; co-starring John Cusack

How to Train Your Dragon (PG): Fantasy animation; about a Viking teen, trained to fight dragons, who ultimately befriends one; co-voiced by Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, and America Ferrara

The Sun (NR): Drama; about the final days of Emperor Hirohito's reign in Japan during WWII

Waking Sleeping Beauty (PG): Documentary; about the resurrection of the troubled Walt Disney animation studios during the 1980s

DVD Pick - Zombieland (R): Woody Harrelson had a great 2009, with an Oscar nomination from "The Messengers" and this surprise hit about a mismatched zombie-fighting team. Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine herself, is barely recognizable as the youngest fighter. Domestic box office: $75.6 million; foreign box office: $26.7 million.


Free Activities
Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival [Fri-Sun 10a-5p]: At Carlmont Village Shopping Center (Belmont). www.pacificfinearts.com

Critical Mass [Fri 6p]: Starts from Justin Herman Plaza and proceeds around San Francisco. Watch for street closures/delays.

Really Really Free Market [Sat 1-5p]: Share food, clothes, media, and anything else in this outdoor marketplace. At Dolores Park (SF). www.reallyreallyfree.org

Aquarium Spotlight Day [Sat 2-5p]: Docent-led tours, hands-on marine life exhibits, and science seminars. At the Marine Science Institute (Redwood City). RSVP online at www.sfbaymsi.org


Paid Activities
The Paper Raincoat concert [Fri 8:15p]: With special guests Vienna Teng and Tim Snider. At the Noe Valley Ministry (SF), $15-17. www.thepaperraincoat.com

Trannyshack: David Bowie Tribute [Fri 10p]: At DNA Lounge (SF), $12. www.dnalounge.com

All-American Get Together [Sat-Sun 8a-4p]: 28th annual. Featuring indoor and outdoor car shows, live entertainment, vendor exhibits, kids' play area, and more. At the Alameda County Fairgrounds (Pleasanton), free-$17 + $8 parking. www.allamericangettogether.com

The Little Mermaid Ballet [through Sunday]: A mature, modern interpretation of the 1836 Hans Christian Andersen story about two divergent worlds. At the War Memorial Opera House (SF), $10-275. www.sfballet.org

Mirrors in Every Corner [through Sunday]: About a black West Oakland family who gives birth to a white child. At the Intersection for the Arts (SF), $15-25. www.theintersection.org

The Morning Benders concert [Tue 8p]: Previous Randy's Guide musical pick, based out of Berkeley. With Miniature Tigers and The Mumlers opening. At the Independent (SF), $15. www.themorningbenders.com

Learn to Be Latina [extended through April 2]: A satire following an aspiring pop singer who must transform from being Middle Eastern to Latina. At La Val's Subterranean Theater (Berkeley), $12-20. www.impacttheatre.com

Den of Thieves [through April 17]: About a recovering kleptomaniac, her former boyfriend, and a load of cash. At the SF Playhouse, $40. www.sfplayhouse.org

Previous: Theatre - Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West [through Apr. 11 in SF]; Art - Cartier exhibit [through Apr. 18 in SF]