Randy's Guide CXCIV (194)

Historic milestones: 14 years since the first cloned mammal (Dolly the sheep); 47 years since the introduction of ZIP codes; 75 years since the beginning of Chicago's Grant Park Music Festival; 82 years since the introduction of sliced bread; 145 years since the publication of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; 234 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.


Local News
Wednesday was not kind on San Francisco. First, the Civic Center BART station was shut down temporarily as police attempted to track down a fugitive on and around the tracks in the afternoon. Then, a man attempted to commit suicide at the Embarcadero BART station, which caused service to be disrupted for about two hours. Finally, a power outage struck the Diamond Heights and Castro neighborhoods and closed Castro station during the evening hours. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/30/BA741E7G1P.DTL www.sfexaminer.com/local/Castro-Station-closed-after-power-outage-97546089.html


Change for Change
Charity: Shanti. Founded by Dr. Charles Garfield in 1974, the San Francisco nonprofit provides educational and supportive services to over 2,000 clients with HIV/AIDS and breast cancer. www.shanti.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, San Francisco Suicide Prevention, and The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse.


Holiday Weekend Weather
Sunshine galore, with the warmest day being the Fourth of July.

THU-FRI
Highs: upper-50s (coast); mid-60s (SF); low-70s (bay); upper-70s (inland)
Lows: upper-40s (coast); low-50s (SF-bay); mid-50s (inland)

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


Movies {domestic revenues through June 27}
"Toy Story 3" held in the top spot with $59.4 million [4028 theatres; $14,731 per theatre; $226.9 million overall]. The Adam Sandler-led ensemble comedy "Grown Ups" tallied a decent $40.5 million [3534 theatres; $11,462 per theatre]. However, the Tom Cruise-Cameron Diaz action-comedy underperformed with $20.1 million [3098 theatres; $6,501 per theatre].

Mainstream films:
-The Last Airbender (PG): fantasy action; co-starring Dev Patel; directed by M. Night Shyamalan
-The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (PG-13): fantasy drama; co-starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner

Art-house films:
-Everyone Else (NR): drama
-Love Ranch (R): drama; co-starring Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci
-Restrepo (R): documentary; winner of Best Documentary at Sundance Film Festival
-Trash Humpers (NR): drama

DVD Pick - Coraline (PG): Largely overshadowed by the monstrous hit "Up," this animated dazzler evokes the creepy fun in Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas." The tale of a girl who wishes for a new family features the voices of Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher. Domestic box office: $75.3 million; foreign box office: $49.3 million.


Fourth of July Activities
Richmond [Sat 5-9:15p]: Featuring the Oakland East Bay Symphony, the Hilltop Community Choir, and a live fireworks display. At Craneway Pavilion. www.craneway.com/OEBS

Orinda [Sun 7:30a-2:30p]: Featuring a pancake breakfast, fun run, parade, and more. At Orinda Community Park. www.orindaassociation.org/fourthofjuly.htm

Concord [Sun 8a-3p]: Featuring a pancake breakfast, parade, festival, and live music. At Todos Santos Plaza. www.concordmainstreet.com/events.asp

Redwood City [Sun 9a-5p]: Featuring a battle of the college bands (Stanford vs. UC Davis), live entertainment, and more. In the downtown area near Broadway and Main. www.parade.org

El Cerrito [Sun 10a-6p]: Featuring live global music, carnival games, festival foods, and more. At Cerrito Vista Park. www.el-cerrito.org/recreation/4th_of_July.html

Berkeley Marina [Sun noon-10p]: Featuring dragon boat races, an Adventure Playground, sailboat rides, and a fireworks show. Along Berkeley Marina. www.anotherbullwinkelshow.com/4th-of-july/4th-of-july.html

Oakland [Sun noon-4p]: Featuring a petting zoo, a youth circus troupe, artisan marketplace, and more. At Jack London Square. www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122681491107181

San Francisco Waterfront [Sun 3-9:30p]: Featuring the music of Tainted Love and Mustache Explosion, as well as a fireworks display. At Pier 39. www.pier39.com


Free Activities
World Cup quarterfinals [Fri-Sat 7a/11:30a]: Netherlands-Brazil, Uruguay-Ghana, Argentina-Germany, and Paraguay-Spain are the four quarterfinal matches to be broadcast from Civic Center Plaza (SF). www.worldcupsf.com

Fillmore Jazz Festival [Sat-Sun 10a-6p]: 26th annual. Featuring five stages of live jazz, including Kim Nalley and the Marcus Shelby Orchestra. Along Fillmore, between Jackson and Eddy (SF). www.fillmorejazzfestival.com

Circus Bella [Sat noon/2:15p]: Featuring the San Francisco-based clown troupe performing various circus feats. In Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.circusbella.com

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Sat-Mon 2p]: Featuring the latest annual production, "Possibilidad, or Death of a Worker." At Dolores Park (SF). www.sfmt.org

Golden Gate Park Band [Sun 1p]: 128th annual. Weekly concert series. This week's theme: All-American Concert. At Golden Gate Park's Bandshell (SF). www.goldengateparkband.org

Stern Grove Festival [Sun 2p]: Featuring the San Francisco Opera, with all-American works by Bernstein, Copland, Sousa, Gershwin, and Sondheim. At Stern Grove (SF). www.sterngrove.org

Tango in the Park [Sun 2p]: Featuring free tango and milonga lessons, then a live Argentine tango band to practice those moves. In Union Square (SF). www.unionsquarepark.us

Free Art Museums [Sun / Tue / Wed]: The usual array of San Francisco museums, including the Asian Art and MOMA, will offer free admission on various days this coming week. Check out their websites for details!