Randy's Guide CLXXXII (182)

Historic milestones this week: 10 years since the opening of San Francisco's AT&T Park; 85 years since the publication of The Great Gatsby; 108 years since James C. Penney's first store (in Wyoming); 117 years since the first recorded college basketball game (Geneva College vs. New Brighton YMCA); 136 years since the first Arbor Day (in Nebraska)


Local News
Landlord James Quinn has deflected dozens of lawsuits over the past 15 years. His building at 850 Geary has been infested with cockroaches and bedbugs, and has a registered sex offender with several minors on the premises. Quinn claims that a 200-pound woman in a wheelchair has been "overloading" the elevator and is a probable cause for breaking it. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/08/MNIL1CR5NO.DTL


Change for Change
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 San Francisco Suicide Prevention.


Environmental News
Two more glaciers have disappeared from Glacier National Park in Montana. Glaciers release cool water into streams and lakes during late summer and fall for the benefit of local species and water supplies. In 1850, about 150 glaciers existed; today, there are fewer than 40. www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100408/NEWS01/4080304/1002/news01/Glacier-National-Park-loses-two-glaciers


Weekend Weather
Slight cooling trend, with showers likely by Sunday morning.

THU-FRI
highs: low-60s (coast); mid-60s (SF); upper-60s (bay); low-70s (inland)
lows: low-40s (bay-inland); mid-40s (coast); upper-40s (SF)

SAT-SUN
highs: upper-50s
lows: near 45


Music
"Time to Pretend" by Jonsi (Iceland)

In honor of MGMT's concerts next week in San Francisco, here is a cover of one of their hits by Jonsi, the Icelandic vocalist from Sigur Ros. His debut solo album came out Tuesday, and he has shows in Berkeley (April 15) and San Francisco (April 16), as well as a free program on April 17 at Amoeba Records (SF). Other stops over the next month include New York City's Terminal 5, Boston's House of Blues, Chicago's Vic Theatre, Denver's Paramount Theatre, and the Coachella Festival. www.jonsi.com


Movies {domestic revenues through April 5}
"Clash of the Titans" ushered in the young males and claimed victory with $61.2 million [rated PG-13; 3777 theatres; $16,213 per theatre]. Meanwhile, Tyler Perry brought in the older black women with "Why Did I Get Married Too?" and scored a personal best opening with $29.3 million [rated PG-13; 2155 theatres; $13,591 per theatre]. Miley Cyrus carried the young female audience in "Last Song," netting $16.0 million [rated PG; 2673 theatres; $5,989 per theatre].

After.Life (R): Sci-fi thriller; about a funeral director who believes he can communicate with the dead, and the young woman who desperately believes she is still alive; co-starring Christina Ricci and Liam Neeson

Date Night (PG-13): Romantic comedy; about a suburban New Jersey couple who decides to enliven things up by going to dinner in Manhattan; co-starring Steve Carell, Tina Fey, and Mark Wahlberg

The Greatest (R): Drama; about a couple whose son is killed in a car crash, only to have his girlfriend arrive months later carrying their child; co-starring Susan Sarandon and Carey Mulligan

Letters to God (PG): Drama; about an eight-year-old boy who writes daily letters to God to cope with his battle with cancer, and the postman who intercepts these letters

2012 Time for Change (NR): Documentary; about author Daniel Pinchbeck and his dictates that psychedelics are critical to ending consumerism and apathy; co-starring Sting, David Lynch, and Ellen Page; showings at the Lumiere (SF) on Friday-Sunday at 7pm

The Warlords (R): Action; about three warriors who encounter political intrigue and a love triangle during the Taiping Rebellion; co-starring Jet Li and Andy Lau

When You're Strange (R): Documentary; about the rock quartet The Doors; narrated by Johnny Depp

DVD Pick - Get Smart (PG-13): Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway are the bumbling lead agents, and great bit roles by Bill Murray, James Caan, Masi Oka, and Terence Stamp surely help in the proceedings. Domestic box office: $130.3 million; foreign box office: $100.4 million.


Free Activities
Dolores Park Movie Night [Thu 7:30p]: Featuring "Back to the Future" (1985). In Dolores Park (SF).

West Portal Fine Arts Festival [Fri-Sun 10a-5p]: 22nd annual. Featuring 75+ artists. Along West Portal Ave (SF). www.pacificfinearts.com

Arc Studios Open Gallery Reception [Fri 7-10p]: Featuring 65+ artists, live music by The Corners, Blue Bottle Coffee, Pizza Politana, and more. At Arc Studios & Gallery (SF). www.arcsf.net

Three Stories at Mission Dolores [Fri 8p, Sat-Sun 3p]: With the Sixteenth Street Players performing lively one-act plays by Chekhov, Giraudoux, and Glaspell. At Mission Dolores Auditorium (SF). www.missiondolores.org

* San Francisco Green Festival [Sat 10a-7p, Sun 11a-6p]: The fall spectacle has been so popular that a spring version has arrived. Featuring 200+ speakers (including Mayor Gavin Newsom), a green careers exhibit, an eco fashion show, the Plant Cafe Organic kitchen demos, and more. At the Concourse Exhibition Center (SF), free with four canned goods or for students/minors/City employees, otherwise $5-100 (discounts for bicyclists/public transit rirders/seniors/union members). www.greenfestivals.org

International Lao New Year Festival [Sat 10a-5p]: Featuring an ethnic fashion show, southeast Asian cultural performances, green papaya salad contest, and more. In Civic Center Plaza (SF). www.laonewyear.org

* Cherry Blossom Festival [Sat-Sun 11a-5p]: Featuring taiko, karate, shishu (embroidery), traditional dance, and more. In Japantown (SF). www.nccbf.org

Cesar Chavez Day [Sat 11a-6p]: 10th annual. Featuring a parade that starts at Dolores Park and terminates at a street fair along 24th St., between Bryant and Treat. www.cesarchavezday.org

* San Francisco Civic Orchestra [Sat 1p]: Their shows are high-quality! The oldest community orchestra on the West Coast offers up works by Mendelssohn, Friedman, Foote, and Glazunov. At the Kensington Park's Elks Club Ballroom (SF). www.civicsymphony.com

Greek Cultural Day [Sat 2-6p]: I watched the show last year and would have noshed on the food spread had I not brunched at Brenda's right before. Featuring a parade along Market Street and an indoor cultural festival with food and dance/song performances. At Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (SF). www.hellenicfederation.org

Alice Waters book signing [Sat 3-4p]: The Chez Panisse founder will be signing copies of her new book "In the Green Kitchen." At Omnivore Books (SF). www.omnivorebooks.com

* San Francisco Sunday Streets [Sun 10a-3p]: 2nd installment of the year. In partnership with World Health Day, with over 1,000 events. Featuring free one-hour bike rentals, roller-skate rentals, pet programs, yoga lessons, and more. Along the Great Highway and Golden Gate Park's JFK Drive (SF). www.sundaystreetssf.com

* Streets Alive - San Mateo County [Sun 10a-2p]: 1st ever event. Expected participant cities include Belmont, Brisbane, Foster City, Millbrae, Pacifica, Redwood City, San Mateo, and South San Francisco. Featured activities included guided walks, free swimming pools, pilates classes, and more. www.streetsalivesmc.org

The Tech Museum [Sun 10a-6p]: Free admission. It's also the final weekend for Star Trek: The Exhibition, which costs $19-25. At the Tech Museum (San Jose). www.thetech.org

Contemporary Jewish Museum [Sun 11a-5p]: Free admission in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Current exhibits include The Torah Project and Jews on Vinyl. At the CJM (SF). www.thecjm.org

Macy's Flower Show [through Sunday]: 64th annual. At Macy's Union Square (SF). www1.macys.com/campaign/flowershow/highlights_san-francisco.jsp


Paid Activities
Duncan Sheik with the San Francisco Symphony [Thu 8p, Fri 6:30p, Sat 8p]: Featuring the Grammy Award-winning artist performing the world premiere from his latest musical, along with works by Gounod, Vivier, and Poulenc. At Davies Symphony Hall (SF), $15-130. www.sfsymphony.org

MGMT concert [Mon-Tue 7p]: Previous Randy's Guide spotlight artist. At the Fillmore (SF), $30. www.whoismgmt.com

* Beach House concert [Wed 8p]: Previous Randy's Guide spotlight artist. With Bachelorette opening. At Bimbo's (SF), $16-18. www.myspace.com/beachhousemusic

Vigil [through April 18]: Featuring Olympia Dukakis as the dying aunt and Marco Barricelli as the self-absorbed bachelor whose relationship with her evolves. At the ACT (SF), $10-80. www.act-sf.org

Equivocation [extended through May 2]: A fantasy drama about Shakespeare evading a royal command to draft a play based on the Gunpowder Plot and instead drafting"Macbeth." Winner of Best New Play by Steinberg/ACTA. At the Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley), $20-54. www.marintheatre.org

Previous: Theatre - Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Loveland by Ann Randolph [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Den of Thieves [through April 17 in SF}; Art - Cartier exhibit [through Apr. 18 in SF]; Theatre - A Seagull in the Hamptons [through Apr. 25 in Berkeley]