Randy's Guide CXCVII (197)

Historic milestones: 32 years since the birth of the first test tube baby; 57 years since the Korean War armistice; and 114 years since the incorporation of Miami, Fla.


Local News
Ocean Avenue, a major economic center during the 1890s, has fallen into disrepair over the past several years. Two major redevelopment projects will usher in a supermarket, affordable housing, public space, and underground parking. And the Ocean Avenue Revitalization Collaborative is planning a September street festival and neighborhood art walks to encourage the support of local businesses. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/22/BUT21EHS2B.DTL



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
San Francisco froze in record-cold temperatures on Wednesday, hitting just 56 degrees. The persistent coastal fog should continue, with below-normal weather for most Bay Area communities.

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


Movies {domestic revenues for July 14-16}
"Inception" proved Leonardo DiCaprio's largest opening ever and continued director Christopher Nolan's hot streak with an excellent $62.8 million [3792 theatres; $16,557 per theatre]. "Despicable Me" held decently with $32.8 million, good for second [3501 theatres; $9,370 per theatre; $118.4 million overall]. Nicolas Cage couldn't lift "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" beyond $17.6 million [3504 theatres; $5,028 per theatre]. And the Marisa Tomei-Jonah Hill comedy/drama picked up another $1.1 million in its fifth weekend [446 theatres; $2,451 per theatre; $5.1 million overall].

Mainstream films:
-Ramona and Beezus (G): comedy
-Salt (PG-13): thriller; co-starring Angelina Jolie and Liev Schreiber

Art-house films:
-Agora (NR): action; co-starring Rachel Weisz
-Anton Chekhov's The Duel (NR): drama
-Great Directors (NR): documentary; co-starring David Lynch and John Sayles
-The Lottery (NR): documentary

DVD Pick - State of Play (PG-13): This underperforming thriller starred Russell Crowe as a persistent police detective in hot pursuit of the murderer of a congressman's wife. The congressman is none other than Ben Affleck, and other smaller roles are well-done by Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels, and Robin Wright Penn. Domestic box office: $37,0 million; foreign box office: $50.8 million.


Free Weekend Activities
Dancing under the Stars [Fri 7:30-11p]: Featuring American tango lessons, followed by a live band and open dance floor. In Jack London Square (Oakland). www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125811787436180&index=1

Film Night in the Park [Fri-Sat 8p]: Featuring "The Blob" (1958) and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" at Creek Park (San Anselmo). www.filmnight.org

San Jose Thai Festival [Sat-Sun 10a-7p]: 1st annual. Featuring Thai kickboxing demos, regional dance and music performances, a Buddhist ceremony, authentic Thai food, a parade, and more. At Discovery Meadow (San Jose). www.thaidecorusa.com/Festival/SJT.htm

Benicia Fine Art & Jazz Festival [Sat 11a-8p; Sun 11a-6p]: 3rd annual. Featuring live jazz on the main stage, gourmet foods, artisan wines and beers, and juried vendors including local glass artists. At First Street Green (Benicia). www.beniciamainstreet.org

Urban Youth Arts Festival [Sat 1-6p]: 14th annual. Featuring 2,000 square feet of artist wall space for free expression, live musicians, performance artists, break dancers, and refreshments. At Precita Park (SF). www.precitaeyes.org

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Sat-Sun 2p; Wed 7p]: Featuring the latest annual leftist production, "Possibilidad, or Death of a Worker." At Ho Chi Minh Park (Berkeley); Todd Grove Park (Ukiah). www.sfmt.org

Free Shakespeare in the Park [Sat-Sun 7:30p]: 28th annual. Featuring "Two Gentlemen of Verona." At Bernal Park (Pleasanton). www.sfshakes.org

Up Your Alley Fair [Sun 11a-6p]: A celebration for those in the leather, bondage, and fetish communities. Along Dore Alley, near 9th St. and Folsom (SF). www.folsomstreetfair.com/alley

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

Merola Opera [Sun 2p]: Semi-staged opera excerpts al fresco. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

San Francisco Symphony [Sun 2p]: In honor of Mexico's Bicentennial, featuring conductor de la Parra. At Dolores Park (SF). www.sfsymphony.org

Stern Grove Festival [Sun 2p]: Featuring Italian hip-hop fusion artist Jovanotti, with Columbian cumbia band Bomba Estereo opening. At Stern Grove (SF). www.sterngrove.org

Much Ado About Nothing [Sun 5p]: Featuring Woman's Will, the Bay Area's all-female Shakespeare company. At Civic Park Community Center (Walnut Creek). www.womanswill.org

Lindy in the Square [Wed 6-8p]: Featuring swing dance lessons and an open dance floor with a live band. At Union Square Plaza (SF). www.unionsquarepark.us/JewelsJuly.html