Randy's Guide CLXXXV (185)

Historic milestones this week: 7 years since President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" speech; 11 years since the world's strongest recorded tornado, with speeds of 318 mph (Oklahoma City); 18 years since the start of the LA riots; 83 years since the first footprints outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre (Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford); 110 years since Hawaii became a US territory; and 148 years since the Cinco de Mayo battle in Mexico.


Local News
Get ready for one more promotional sticker on business windows, for Facebook is joining Google, CitySearch, Zagat, Yelp, and others in the recommendation market. Look for Facebook "Like" decals to slowly roll out nationwide. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/28/BUFG1D5U07.DTL


Upcoming Event
The 9th annual Dining Out For Life is today, April 29. Various Bay Area restaurants will donate 25% of its food (and, for some, beverage) purchases throughout the day to local HIV/AIDS charities. www.diningoutforlife.com/sanfrancisco/participating

*Note: San Diego, Los Angeles, Denver, Albany, Boston, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and several other cities are also participating today. Eat up! www.diningoutforlife.com


Deal of the Week
I realize the CFL argument is probably overdone by now... still, you can get two free compact fluorescent light bulbs, which will undoubtedly save you energy costs versus halogen or conventional bulbs. They do contain mercury, so you will have to dispose of them at your local hardware or home-improvement store. http://energyefficientnow.com/tfli_signup.asp


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
A new California state bill by Sacramento Democrat Dave Jones would enable private car owners to rent out their autos without any penalties from their existing car-insurance policies. The CEOs of City CarShare and Spride were on hand for the news conference in San Francisco. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/29/BA1B1D6DR5.DTL


Weekend Weather
This week's unusual storm is blowing out today, leaving us with the prospect of very warm weather starting Saturday for several days.

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

SAT-SUN:
highs: mid-60s (coast); low-70s (SF); mid-70s (bay); low-80s (inland)
lows: mid-40s (coast); upper-40s (bay-inland); low-50s (SF)


Music
"Lake Michigan" by Rogue Wave (Oakland, Calif.)

The lead singer, Zach Rogue, started the band back in 2002 after losing his job during the dot-com bust. Rogue Wave recently jumped labels over to Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records, which released the group's fourth album in March. If you saw the 2009 romantic comedy "Love Happens," Rogue Wave figures prominently in the film plot. Catch them at the Fillmore on Friday, along with shows at Los Angeles' El Rey tonight and Chicago's Lollapalooza in August. www.roguewavemusic.com


Movies {domestic revenues through April 26}
"How to Train Your Dragon" pulled the rare feat of moving back into the top slot in its fifth weekend, with $15.4 million [3665 theatres; $4,188 per theatre; $178.3 million overall]. "The Back-up Plan," the cinematic return of Jennifer Lopez after five years, opened moderately with $12.2 million [3280 theatres; $3,720 per theatre]. Adventure film "The Losers" premiered weakly in fourth place with $9.4 million [2936 theatres; $3,204 per theatre]. Disney's Earth Day launch of "Oceans" mustered up $6.1 million, good for eighth spot [1206 theatres; $5,024 per theatre].

The Cartel (NR): Documentary; about the status of public education in the U.S., as well as the need for reform

Dancing Across Borders (NR): Documentary; about a filmmaker who encounters a talented teenage boy in Cambodia

Furry Vengeance (PG): Comedy; about a real estate developer who moves his family to Oregon for a major housing project; co-starring Brendan Fraser and Brooke Shields

Harry Brown (R): Thriller; about an average citizen who turns renegade after his best friend is killed; co-starring Michael Caine

A Nightmare on Elm Street (R): Horror remake; about a group of teenagers stalked by a disfigured killer in their dreams; co-starring Jackie Earle Haley

Touching Home (PG-13): Drama; about a homeless father in Marin County trying to reunite with his twin sons during their pursuit of professional baseball; co-starring Ed Harris

DVD Pick - Breakfast with Scot (PG-13): Tom Cavanagh, better known for his TV role on "Ed," plays a washed-up Canadian hockey player who is suddenly thrust into parenthood. The slight wrinkle is that he is closeted, partnered, and the new foster parent of an effeminate young boy. Domestic box office: $46,060.


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

Oakland Museum of California [Sat 11a-Sun 6p]: 31 nonstop hours of entertainment for the grand re-opening weekend. Featuring a Native American blessing, flashlight tours, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, sunrise yoga, bhangra dance, plus the exhibits of the museum. At the Oakland Museum of California. www.museumca.org

Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Festival [Sat 11a-7p, Sun 7a-3p]: 30th annual. Check out various fitness and food vendors; race is on Sunday morning from Alcatraz to Marina Green, Presidio, and Golden Gate Park. At Marina Green (SF). www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com

Children's Day in Japantown [Sat 11a-4p]: Featuring hands-on craft activities, snacks such as arare popcorn and spam sushi, and live entertainment. At Peace Plaza (SF). www.jcccnc.org

May Day Rally and March [Sat 11a-7p]: Assemble and march from 24th St/Mission St to Civic Center Plaza, then listen to speeches and hear about different organizations at Dolores Park (SF). Watch for street closures. www.actionsf.org

Marcus Shelby Orchestra [Sat 1-2:30p]: Performing "MLK" in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

Free Comic Book Day [Sat, various hours]: Check out participating stores online. Throughout the U.S. and world. www.freecomicbookday.com

Asian Art Museum [Sun 10a-5p]: Free admission. Admission to the Shanghai special exhibit is $5. At the Asian Art Museum (SF). www.asianart.org

Bike San Leandro [Sun 10:30a-5p]: Featuring a 5-mile leisurely ride around downtown San Leandro, including the Dunsmuir House grounds, or a 13-mile mountain ride of the Lake Chabot bicycle loop. Post-ride festival featuring live music and food vendors. Meet at Parrott and Washington (San Leandro). www.bikesl.org

Polish Festival [Sun 11a-5p]: Featuring Polish food, beer, dance, and music. At Golden Gate Park's County Fair Building (SF). www.polishfestival.com

Arts & Green Festival [Sun 11a-3p]: Featuring live music, green workshops, food vendors, and more. At Memorial Park (Albany). www.albanyca.org

Art in the Alley [Sun noon-6p]: Featuring 25+ local artists on Kerouac Alley (SF).

Brent Green performance [Sun 5-8p]: Featuring an opening reception and cinematic event with live narration and music soundtrack for Brent Green's first feature film "Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then." At Berkeley Art Museum. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu

Bay Area National Dance Week [through Sunday]: Featuring 400+ free dance events, including pole dance lessons, fire dance performances, and salsa classes. Throughout the Bay Area. www.bayareandw.org

San Francisco Art Museum Day [Tue various hours]: Check out the SF MOMA, Legion of Honor, deYoung, Yerba Buena Galleries, and Cartoon Art Museum for free.


Paid Activities
Norway Day Festival [Sat 10a-7p, Sun 10a-5p]: Largest of its kind in the U.S. Featuring Norwegian food, entertainers, agility demos, traditional wedding, and more. At Fort Mason's Festival Pavilion (SF), free-$22. www.norwayday.org

Broken Social Scene [Sat 9p]: Canadian indie rock musical collective, with a new album coming out next week. With Julie Dorian opening. At the Fillmore (SF), $25. www.brokensocialscene.ca

The Wind and Rain [through Saturday]: Two actors and a violinist reflect on an old Irish ballad. Part of 2010 DivaFest. At the Exit Theatre (SF), $15-25. www.theexit.org

A Seagull in the Hamptons [through Sunday]: Based on Chekhov's story, with a shift to contemporary Long Island. At the Ashby Stage (Berkeley), $15-28. www.theatrebayarea.org

To Kill a Mockingbird [through May 8]: Based on the Harper Lee novel about a black man accused of raping a white woman in 1935. At the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, $29-62. www.theatreworks.org

Girlfriend [through May 9]: Based on Matthew Sweet's album, this two-hour rock musical focuses on feelings between two teenage boys. At the Berkeley Rep's Thrust Stage, $16-71. www.berkeleyrep.org

Previous: Theatre - Equivocation [through Sunday in Mill Valley]; Theatre - Master Class [through Sunday in SF]; Film - San Francisco International Film Festival [through May 6 in SF]