Randy's Guide CLXXXI (181)

Historic milestones this week: 9 years since the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage; 34 years of Apple Computer; 37 years since the first portable cell phone call is made (in New York City); 54 years since the CBS debut of "As the World Turns" (which is ending later this year); 61 years since the Republic of Ireland was formed; and 123 years since the election of the first female mayor in the U.S. (Argonia, Kan.)


Local News
Four San Francisco restaurants - Slanted Door, Scoma's, The Cliff House, and Boulevard - made the list of the top 100 grossing restaurants in the U.S. for 2009. The top two restaurants were Tao Restaurant (Las Vegas) and Tavern on the Green (New York City), which closed on New Year's Eve. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/mbauer/detail?entry_id=60337


Change for Change
Congrats to San Francisco Suicide Prevention for the latest Randy's Guide donation! If you haven't done so, please check it out at www.sfsuicide.org

New charity: The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse. Founded in 1979, this Oakland nonprofit collects and sells donated materials for artists, teachers, and households (36,000 annual customers). Example items included antique linens, artificial flowers, yarn, and feathers. There are also periodic educational outreach programs that reach 20,000 students per year. www.creativereuse.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, Urban Solutions, and now San Francisco Suicide Prevention.


Deal of the Week
Free Butterfinger bar. If you are feeling creative, you could submit a short story to win an XBOX 360, Apple iPhone, or other prizes. www.butterfinger.com/BarInsurance/FileAClaim.aspx


Environmental News
Over 45% of dogs and 58% of cats are estimated to be overweight or obese in the U.S. Table scraps and pet treats, such as pig ears, are often laden with large amounts of sugar and fat. To investigate whether your pet is unhealthy, check out www.petobesityprevention.com.


Weekend Weather
Chance of showers on Friday and Easter Sunday. Otherwise, partly cloudy. Sierra snow showers - great for spring skiing next week!

Highs: 55-60
Lows: upper-30s (inland); low-40s (coast-bay); mid-40s (SF)


Music
"Ghetto Ways" by Scissors for Lefty (San Francisco, Calif.)

Previously featured in three other weeks for their concerts, it's time to feature the local band properly. Two brothers, joined by three members of another family, make up the quintet, which was featured by Live 105 as part of BFD 2007. Catch their show at The Bottom of the Hill on Saturday, with The Hundred Days and Saint Motel opening. www.scissorsforlefty.com


Movies {domestic revenues through March 28}
Dreamworks' "How to Train Your Dragon" opened with positive reviews and a tally of $43.7 million [rated PG; 4055 theatres; $10,785 per theatre]. 1980s-based comedy "Hot Tub Time Machine" underperformed with its third-place finish of $14.0 million [rated R; 2754 theatres; $5,091 per theatre]. The Ben Stiller drama "Greenberg" expanded gently and picked up $1.0 million [rated R; 181 theatres; $5,642 per theatre, 2nd weekend, $1.2 million overall]. Finally, the erotic thriller "Chloe," with Julianne Moore and Liam Neeson, premiered with a tepid $0.9 million [rated R; 350 theatre; $2,573 per theatre].

Breath Made Visible (NR): Documentary; about modern dance pioneer Anna Halprin

City Island (PG-13): Comedy-drama; about a corrections officer living in the Bronx who secretly takes acting courses in Manhattan; co-starring Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, and Alan Arkin

Clash of the Titans (PG-13): Action; about Perseus' quest to dethrone Hades and Zeus; co-starring Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes, and Liam Neeson

The Last Song (PG): Drama; about a father who reunites with his daughter for one summer in a small Southern beach town; co-starring Miley Cyrus and Greg Kinnear

Secret of Kells (NR): Animation; about a young boy who explores a magical book as a means to escape barbarian raids; nominated for 1 Oscar

Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? (PG-13): Comedy sequel; about four couples who meet for their annual reunion in the Bahamas; co-starring Janet Jackson and Tyler Perry

Vincere (NR): Drama; about the mother of Mussolini's illegitimate son and their eventual conclusion in asylums

DVD Pick - Frontrunners (NR): This compelling documentary about four individuals running for student body president at ultra-competitive Stuyvesant High in New York City is a must for those who thirst for a more wholesome approach to politics. Jerry and Meg, Barbara and Gavin, take notice! Domestic box office: $27,000.


Free Activities
Lower Haight Art Walk [Fri 7-10p]: Check out various bars, restaurants, shops, live bands, and art galleries. Between 400 and 700 Haight (SF). www.lowerhaight.org

La Mesa [Fri 8p]: An evening with performances from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts. At the Red Poppy Art House (SF). www.redpoppyarthouse.org

Big Idea Night [Sat 9p]: Featuring Oakland-based art collective The People, live DJs, live dance videography, local food vendors, and more. At the YBCA (SF). RSVP at www.ybcafree.org

Spring Celebration [Sun 10a-5p]: 19th annual. Featuring an Easter parade, sidewalk bistros, live music, an Easter bonnet contest, and more. Along Union Street (SF). www.unionstreetsf.com

Asian Art Museum [Sun 10a-5p]: Free museum admission. At Asian Art Museum (SF). www.asianart.org

Easter Sunday in Dolores Park [Sun 11a-4p]: Featuring a Hunky Jesus contest, the Easter Bonnet contest, Easter Egg hunt, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and live performances. At Dolores Park (SF). www.thesisters.org

Hot Air Music Festival [Sun 2-10p]: Featuring three conservatory graduates who have assembled eight hours of classical music, plus puppets to boot. At the Conservatory of Music (SF). www.hotairmusic.org

Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race [Sun 4p]: 10th annual. Near Vermont and 20th St. in Potrero Hill (SF). www.jonbrumit.com/byobw.html

San Francisco Free Museum Day [Tuesday]: Check out the Conservatory of Flowers, the Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, YBCA Gallery, de Young Museum, the Legion of Honor, and Cartoon Art Museum.


Paid Activities
WonderCon [Fri noon-7p, Sat 10a-7p, Sun 11a-5p]: Featuring Kevin Smith, Nicolas Cage, Jake Gyllenhaal, and hundreds of other comic-book-related professionals. At Moscone Center South (SF), $12-40. www.comic-con.org

Teen Poetry Slam Finals [Sat 7pm]: 14th annual. As presented by top youth nonprofit, Youth Speaks. At the Warfield (SF), $6-50. www.youthspeaks.org

Mo'nique [Sat 8p]: The Oscar-winning stand-up comedian and BET talk show host makes a local stop. At Paramount Theater (Oakland), $40-60. www.1monique.com

Music for Animals concert [Sun 7p]: Former Randy's Guide featured band. Opening acts are Mata Leon, Links, and Doll and the Kinks. At Rickshaw Stop (SF), $10-12. www.music4animals.com

Loveland by Ann Randolph [through April 11]: A solo show about the coping with the death of a parent. At the Marsh (SF), $15-50. www.themarsh.org

A Seagull in the Hamptons [through April 25]: About a beachfront play with a young man and his first love out on Long Island. At the Ashby Stage (Berkeley), $15-30. www.shotgunplayers.org

Previous: Theatre - Learn to Be Latina [extended through Friday in Berkeley]; Theatre - Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West [through Apr. 11 in SF]; Theatre - Den of Thieves [through April 17 in SF}; Art - Cartier exhibit [through Apr. 18 in SF]