Randy's Guide CXCVI (196)

Historic milestones: 7 years since the establishment of the Mozilla Foundation; 34 years since Hank Aaron's final home run; 41 years since Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong walked on the moon; 42 years since the founding of Intel Corporation; 55 years since the opening of Disneyland; 59 years since the publication of The Catcher in the Rye; and 75 years since the world's first parking meter (Oklahoma City).


Local News
31-year-old Stanford graduate student Christina Chan plunged to her death while descending from Yosemite's Eichorn Pinnacle without ropes. Chan, who was co-president of the Stanford Alpine Club, had been in the midst of obtaining a PhD in political science after finishing undergraduate work in biochemical sciences at Harvard and her master's degree in civil and environmental engineering at Stanford. Her service will be at Stanford Memorial Church on Sunday at 1pm. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/15/BARC1EE95P.DTL


Deal of the Week
On Tuesday at 7pm at San Francisco's Embarcadero Cinema, check out a free movie screening of "Life During Wartime," along with a post-film Q&A session with director Todd Solondz. Solondz has previously directed the art-circuit hits "Happiness" and "Welcome to the Dollhouse." http://sfntf.org/images/wartime.pdf


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.


Weekend Weather
Limited fog will keep things cool coastside, but it'll be hot inland.

Highs: low-60s (coast); upper-60s (SF); upper-70s (bay); low-90s (inland)
Lows: low-50s (coast); mid-50s (SF); upper-50s (bay); low-60s (inland)


Movies {domestic revenues for July 7-9}
"Despicable Me" premiered strongly with money-toting families to draw $56.4 million [3476 theatres; $16,225 per theatre]. "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" held for second place with $31.7 million [4468 theatres; $7,097 per theatre; $235.4 million overall]. Adrien Brody led the "Predators" charge with a decent $24.8 million [2669 theatres; $9,277 per theatre]. "Toy Story 3" took the lead as the top-grossing film so far in 2010, while "Grown Ups" and "The Last Airbender" have both crossed the $100 million mark.

Mainstream films:
-Inception (PG-13): Sci-fi thriller; co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, and Ellen Page; directed by Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight")
-The Sorcerer's Apprentice (PG): Action comedy; co-starring Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, and Alfred Molina

Art-house films:
-Let It Rain (NR): Comedy-drama
-[Rec] 2 (R): Horror sequel
-South of the Border (NR): Documentary; directed by Oliver Stone
-Spring Fever (NR): Drama
-Standing Ovation (PG): Musical comedy

DVD Pick - Moon (R): In honor of the 41st anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing, this moody drama centers on a single astronaut who manages an energy-resource site on the Earth's moon. Sam Rockwell does an admirable job of acting in a film that essentially only has one other character, the omnipresent robot computer, which is voiced by Kevin Spacey. Domestic box office: $5.0 million; foreign box office: $4.0 million. Winner of a BAFTA award and a National Board of Review award.


Free Weekend Activities
De Young Museum Family Celebration [Fri 5-8:45p]: Featuring a live ballet performance (in honor of Degas exhibit), live music, art lectures, and free general admission. Extra surcharge for the Impressionism exhibit. At the de Young Museum (SF). www.deyoungmuseum.org

Reception for Dave Eggers/David Byrne Exhibit [Fri 6p]: I'm not sure if the artists will be there, but the works from the local San Francisco writer (his first solo exhibit) and the former Talking Heads' lead musician will be showcased through August 14. At Electric Works (SF). www.sfelectricworks.com

Asian Art Museum Family Celebration [Sat 10a-5p]: Featuring Korean and Vietnamese dance workshops, hands-on art making, family storytelling, and free general admission. Extra surcharge for the Shanghai exhibit. At the Asian Art Museum (SF). www.asianart.org

San Anselmo Festival [Sat-Sun 10a-6p]: 27th annual. Featuring cover bands of The Beatles, The Who, Tom Petty, and more... along with the usual food and arts/crafts vendors and a first-time magic show. Along San Anselmo Ave. www.sananselmochamber.org

Connoisseur's Marketplace [Sat-Sun 10a-6p]: 24th annual. Featuring a collector car show, organic/green products showcase, chefs' demos, specialty foods, live music, and more. Along Santa Cruz Ave. (Menlo Park). www.miramarevents.com

Art Walk SF [Sat noon-5p]: With a dozen art galleries featuring artist talks, performance art, refreshments, live music, film screenings, and more. Along Post and Sutter St. in Union Square (SF). www.artwalksf.com

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Sat-Sun 2p, Wed 7p]: Featuring the latest annual leftist production, "Possibilidad, or Death of a Worker." At Cedar Rose Park (Berkeley) and Veterans Memorial Park (Napa). www.sfmt.org

Peruvian Festival [Sun 10a-5p]: Featuring local Peruvian chefs and bands. In Civic Center Plaza (SF). www.festivaldecomidaperuana.com

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Celebration [Sun 11a-4p]: Featuring hands-on art activities and free admission to the museum. At SFMOMA. www.sfmoma.org

Contemporary Jewish Museum Celebration [Sun 11a-4p]: Featuring acrobats, storytelling, hands-on art activities, and free admission to the museum. At the CJM (SF). www.thecjm.org

Zeum Celebration [Sun 11a-4p]: Featuring free carousel rides, interactive arts and crafts, and free admission to the museum. At the Zeum Children's Museum (SF). www.zeum.org

Museum of African Diaspora Celebration [Sun 11a-5p]: Featuring dances of Haiti, Brazil, Cuba, and the Carolina Islands, as well as hands-on art activities and free admission to the museum. At MoAD (SF). www.moadsf.org

Sugartown Festival [Sun 11a-6p]: Featuring a live music stage, a karaoke sing-off, and more in a small-town atmosphere (pop: 3,200). In downtown Crockett. www.communityconcerts.com

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival [Sun noon-3p]: Brazilian carnaval celebration with live music. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

Golden Gate Park Band [Sun 1p]: 128th annual. Weekly concert series. At Golden Gate Park's Bandshell (SF). www.goldengateparkband.org

Stern Grove Festival [Sun 2p]: Featuring the French electro-swing band Caravan Palace, with Spanish solo guitarist DePedro opening. At Stern Grove (SF). www.sterngrove.org

Salsa in Union Square [Wed 6p]: Get free salsa lessons, then dance to the tunes of the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble. In Union Square (SF). www.unionsquarepark.us