Randy's Guide CXC (190)

Historic milestones this week: 36 years since the publication of the Heimlich maneuver in a medical journal; 57 years since the first recorded ascension of Mount Everest; 73 years since the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge by FDR; 83 years since the end of the Ford Model T production (15 million total); 118 years since the organization of the Sierra Club by John Muir in San Francisco

Apologies for skipping last week's Guide - I was in the midst of touring Yellowstone National Park, the Montana countryside, and Idaho's Snake River.


Local News
Four bicyclists have been hit - though none fatally - by an SUV in the Mission and Potrero districts of San Francisco. The accidents took place in a six-minute window on Wednesday night by a still-undetermined driver. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/03/BAE41DPBIK.DTL


Deal of the Week
In honor of National Donut Day, Krispy Kreme and Lamar's Donuts will be offering a free donut, no purchase necessary. Dunkin Donuts is giving away a free donut with any beverage purchase. www.krispykreme.com www.lamars.com www.dunkindonuts.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.


Weekend Weather
Possible showers on Friday, then a gradual warming trend.

Highs: mid-60s (coast); low-70s (SF); mid-70s (bay); low-80s (inland)
Lows: low-to-mid-50s


Movies {domestic revenues through May 31}
"Shrek Forever After" topped the charts for the second straight weekend with $43.3 million [4367 theatres; $9,918 per theatre; $133.1 million overall]. "Sex and the City 2" underwhelmed with $31.0 million [3445 theatres; $8,999 per theatre]. "Prince of Persia," based on the popular video game, opened with $30.1 million [3646 theatres; $8,254 per theatre]. The action comedy "MacGruber" continued to plummet, with $1.6 million in its second weekend [2546 theatres; $615 per theatre; $7.2 million overall].

Best Worst Movie (NR): Documentary; about the 1989 low-budget horror film "Troll 2," named the worst film by IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, and yet the source of devoted fans at revival nights

Get Him to the Greek (R): Comedy; about an ambitious young man whose assignment is to escort a rascally British rock star to the Greek Theatre in L.A.; co-starring Russell Brand, Sean Combs, and Jonah Hill

Killers (PG-13): Thriller; about an undercover assassin who becomes a happily married man until he learns of an assassination plan against him; co-starring Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, and Tom Selleck

Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders (NR): Documentary; a first-time uncensored look at the humanitarian group, at work in Liberia and the Congo

Marmaduke (PG): Comedy; about the beloved comic-strip Great Dane, and the family moving from Kansas to Orange County; co-starring William H. Macy and George Lopez

Micmacs (R): Comedy; about an unlucky weapons handler who is befriended by an odd crew of junkyard dealers for possible revenge

Splice (R): Sci-fi thriller; about two genetic-engineering scientists who create a potentially lethal animal-human hybrid; co-starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley

Solitary Man (R): Drama; about a once-successful businessman who now has a second chance at life, given his ability to restrain himself on a weekend college visit; co-starring Michael Douglas, Mary-Louise Parker, Susan Sarandon, and Danny DeVito

Women Without Men (NR): Drama; about the lives of four Iranian women during the turbulent summer of 1953

DVD Pick - Defiance (R): This WWII story about heroism was unknown to me, as a group of Jews struggle to survive in a Belarussian forest. Daniel Craig, Jamie Bell, and Liev Schreiber are three Jewish brothers who valiantly lead the community. Domestic box office: $28.6 million; foreign box office: $22.4 million.


Free Activities
Klezmer Wedding Celebration [Thu 6-7:30p]: Celebrate a community marriage celebration with Kugelplex, Jewlia Eisenberg, and others. In Jessie Square (SF). www.ybgf.org

Film Night in the Park [Fri 8p]: Featuring "Napoleon Dynamite." At San Geronimo Valley Community Center. www.filmnight.org

Berkeley Chocolate & Chalk Art Festival [Sat 10a-5p]: Featuring a chalk-art competition with prizes, chocolate samplings, and artisans. Along North Shattuck Ave. (Berkeley). www.chocolateandchalkart.com

Union Street Festival [Sat-Sun 10a-6p]: 34th annual. Featuring live entertainment on two stages, 150+ artisans, eco-friendly exhibits, and more. Along Union St., between Gough and Steiner (SF). www.unionstreetfestival.com

Sunnyvale Festival [Sat-Sun 10a-6p]: 36th annual. Featuring 24 local wines and beers, live entertainment, 300+ artisans, and more. Along Murphy Ave. (Sunnyvale). www.svcoc.org/artandwine.html

Berkeley World Music Festival [Sat noon-6p]: 7th annual. Featuring musical performances throughout Berkeley, including People's Park and Cody's Bookstore. www.berkeleyworldmusic.org

La Pena 35th Anniversary [Sat noon-11p]: Featuring live music, a children's show, dance party, and more. At La Pena Cultural Center (Berkeley). www.lapena.org

Israel in the Gardens [Sun 11a-5p]: Featuring Israeli music, food, and crafts. In Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.sfjcf.org/gardens/2010

Free Museum Day [Sun 11a-5p]: At the Asian Art Museum (SF) and Oakland Museum of California. www.asianart.org www.museumca.org

Temescal Fair [Sun noon-6p]: 7th annual. Featuring a Foodie Row, circus arts, East Bay Depot (featured charity!), a green zone, and more. Near Telegraph and 48th St. (Oakland). www.temescaldistrict.org/events.html

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


Paid Activities
Goodguys Summer Get-Together [Sat-Sun 8a-4p]: 17th annual. Featuring 2500+ American cars and trucks, an autocross road course, model car show, and more. At the Alameda County Fairgrounds (Pleasanton), $6-17. www.summergettogether.com

Ethnic Dance Festival [Sat 2p/8p, Sun 2p]: Featuring 37 Bay Area dance companies representing cultures ranging from the Congo to Bolivia to China. At the Palace of Fine Arts (SF), $22-44. www.worldartswest.org

LIVE 105 BFD [Sun 11a]: Featuring Sublime with Rome, Silversun Pickups, Temper Trap, Limousines, Matt & Kim, and more. At Shoreline Amphitheatre (Mountain View), $45. http://live105.radio.com/test

In the Heights [through June 13]: A Tony-winning musical about the the Dominican-Puerto Rican neighborhood of Washington Heights. At the Curran Theatre (SF), $30-99. www.shnsf.com

In the Wake [through June 27]: About the months immediately after the 2000 election, including the 9/11 tragedy. At the Roda Theatre (Berkeley), $16-71. www.berkeleyrep.org

Previous: Theatre - Loveland [through June 13 in Berkeley]; Theatre - Hot Greeks [through June 27 in SF]