Randy's Guide CLXXXVIII (188)

Historic milestones this week: 30 years since the release of Pac-Man; 31 years since the White Night riots; 78 years since the completion of Amelia Earhart's historic trans-Atlantic flight; 167 years since the first Oregon Trail settlers; 180 years since the publication of "Mary Had a Little Lamb."


Local News
Rampant reports of college-age individuals defacating, vomiting, urinating, and smashing glass in front of homes along the Panhandle are causing some to question the latest regulations on Bay to Breakers. Next year will be the 100th anniversary, so there will likely be even more than the 60,000 participants from this year. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/20/BAUU1DHAJV.DTL


Deal of the Week
Aveda is offering free men's shampoo through any of its network salons, spas, or stores. You'll have no problem finding them in downtown San Francisco. www.avedathanksman.com


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
More than 2 million California residents have been exposed to toxic levels of nitrates in their freshwater supply for the past 15 years. Nitrates leach groundwater wells from fertilizers, animal manure, wastewater treatment plants, and leaky septic tanks. Fruit and vegetable farmers are currently exempt from any enforcement oversight of its groundwater degradation. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/17/MNLC1DCRMF.DTL


Weekend Weather
Seasonally cool weather, with a chance of sprinkles each day.

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


Music
"The High Road" by Broken Bells (New York, NY)

Artist-producer Danger Mouse and The Shins frontman James Mercer united in 2008 and released this song using cryptic means last December. The debut album was released in March, and now they're touring with Berkeley's The Morning Benders. Catch them at SF's Regency Ballroom on Friday, with later stops in Denver, Seattle, Atlanta, New York City, Boston, and Chicago. www.brokenbells.com


Movies {domestic revenues through May 16}
"Iron Man 2" fell 59% from last weekend but still brought in $52.0 million [4390 theatres; $11,854 per theatre; $211.2 million overall]. The reuniting of "Gladiator" director Ridley Scott and actor Russell Crowe led to a solid $36.1 million opening for "Robin Hood" [3503 theatres; $10,295 per theatre]. The romantic comedy "Letters to Juliet" predictably ushered in the females to the tune of $13.5 million [2968 theatres; $4,562 per theatre]. "Just Wright" opened weakly with $8.3 million [1831 theatres; $4,525 per theatre].

The City of Your Final Destination (PG-13): Drama; about a doctoral student who tries to track down a Latin American writer for a biography; co-starring Anthony Hopkins, Laura Linney, and Charlotte Gainsbourg; directed by James Ivory

Dirty Hands (NR): Documentary; about controversial Los Angeles artist David Choe

Kites (NR): Drama; about a man left to die in the Mexican desert but struggles to stay alive to find a woman he loves

MacGruber (R): Action comedy; about a mullet-wearing special operative who assembles a team to track down an enemy syndicate; co-starring Ryan Phillippe and Val Kilmer

Paper Man (R): Comedy; about an unlikely friendship forged between a struggling married writer and a teenage girl; co-starring Jeff Daniels, Ryan Reynolds, and Lisa Kudrow

Shrek Forever After (PG): Animated sequel; about the beloved ogre who settles into a family routine only to be deceived by Rumpelstiltskin; co-voiced by Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas

DVD Pick - Chris and Don: A Love Story (NR): This is how Harvey would have wanted it. The couple in question remained together for decades, from the time they met when one was at the seaside and spied a young nearby teenager. You might have seen one of Chris' works on film, "A Single Man" and "Cabaret" being the two most publicized examples. Domestic box office: $216k.


Free Activities
Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sat 8p]: Featuring "Sherlock Holmes" and "The Princess and the Frog." At Creek Park (San Anselmo). www.filmnight.org

Harvey Milk Day [Sat 8a-Sun 2a]: 1st annual. Featuring free screenings of "Milk" and "Life and Times of Harvey Milk," dedication ceremonies for the 17th Street Plaza and Harvey Milk Sidewalk Plaque, fundraising street fair, and more. In the Castro district (SF). www.milkday.org

Boogie on the Bayou Festival [Sat 10a-6p, Sun 10a-5p]: 32nd annual. Featuring Cajun food, music, and more. In downtown Campbell. www.campbellchamber.com/pages/specialevents/boogie_bayou.htm

Heritage Faire [Sat 11a-3p]: Featuring balloon animals, a Dora the Explorer jump house, Latvian folk dancers, a magician, and more. At the San Leandro Main Library. www.sanleandro.org/depts/library/default.asp

Bassam Saba concert [Sat 1-2:30p]: The Arabic performer has previously worked with Paul Simon, Alicia Keys, Santana, Herbie Hancock, and Sting. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

Uncorked! [Sat 1-6p]: Featuring live music and chef demos. Wine seminars and tastings cost $5-50, to benefit La Cocina. At Ghiradelli Square (SF). www.ghirardellisq.com/events

EpiscoDisco [Sat 7p]: Featuring live music by San Francisco-based Barn Owl, along with Daniel Higgs, Danny Paul Grody, and photographs by Adam Wier. At Grace Cathedral (SF). www.episcodisco.com

Sunday Streets [Sun 10a-3p]: The fourth event of this year, with free bicycle rentals, bicycle maintenance, lacrosse demos, Bayview Music Festival (10a-5p), and Family Health Fair (10a-5p). Along the Bayview route between AT&T Park and the Bayview Playground (SF). www.sundaystreetssf.com

Golden Gate Park Band [Sun 1-2:30p]: This week's performance is about the dance and music traditions of Armenian-American culture. At Golden Gate Park's Music Concourse (SF). www.goldengateparkband.org

Lindy in the Square [Wed 6-8p]: Free swing lessons, followed by open dance floor. In Union Square Plaza (SF). www.unionsquarepark.us


Paid Activities
Maker Faire [Sat 10a-8p, Sun 10a-6p]: 5th annual. Learn how to make yogurt, soap, LED light pens, and dozens of other items; or listen to OK Go's performance on Sunday. At the San Mateo County Event Center (San Mateo), free-$25 per day. www.makerfaire.com

KFOG KaBoom [Sat 3-9:30p]: Featuring live musical acts Melissa Etheridge and the John Butler Trio, beer and wine garden, live fireworks display, and more. At Candlestick Point State Recreation Area (SF), $15. www.kfog.com

Castro County Fair [Sun 11a-6p]: Featuring carnival games, adult playground, pie baking contest, a Glee-Off Exhibition, CheerSF!, and more. At the Armory Community Center (SF), $25-35, with 10 game coupons. www.castrocountyfair.org

Best of Playground 14 [through May 30]: Seven short stories as selected from PlayGround's monthly readings. At Thick House (SF), $20-40. www.playground-sf.org

Hot Greeks [through June 27]: A revival of the 1972 update on the Peloponnesian War of "Lysistrata." From the minds of the Cockettes, better known for another revival, "Pearls Over Shanghai." At the Hypnodrome (SF), $30-69. www.thrillpeddlers.com

Previous: Theatre - Round and Round the Garden [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Loveland [through June 13 in Berkeley]