Randy's Guide CCII (202)

Historic milestones: 5 years since Hurricane Katrina; 43 years since the first African-American Supreme Court Justice (Thurgood Marshall); 47 years since the "I Have a Dream" speech; 49 years since the release of Motown's first #1 single ("Please Mr. Postman"); 71 years since the first baseball telecast (Reds vs. Dodgers); 90 years since the 19th Amendment took effect (women's suffrage); and 132 years since the first female telephone operator (Emma Nutt).


Local News
UC Berkeley is flying high. Students returned to campus this week, a recent survey ranked the school second in the world (behind only Harvard), and increased private donations have resulted in expanded class options and more faculty. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/27/BALO1F3V5T.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
After hitting a record 98 in San Francisco on Tuesday (with an unofficial reading of 106), it's time for another cool down.

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


Music
"Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap (Melbourne, Australia)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN7HQrgakZU
The quartet met at a college in Melbourne, and their 2009 debut album got its first big spread at SXSW. This particular tune, with millions of views, has been used in a Chrysler commercial, the "(500) Days of Summer" film, a Diet Coke ad, and an "Eat Pray Love" trailer. Look for them at a free show near DC next month, as well as spots in New York City, Milwaukee, Austin, and Pomona (Calif.). www.thetempertrap.com


Movies {domestic revenues for August 20-22}
Five new mainstream films opened, though none had stunning openings. "Vampires Suck" parodied the "Twilight" series and earned $12.2 million in second place [3233 theatres; $3,774 per theatre]. The "Lottery Ticket" audience was 88% black and brought in $10.7 million for fourth place [1973 theatres; $5,399 per theatre]. "Piranha 3D" reaped 95% of its revenues on 3D screens, with a total of $10.1 million for sixth [2470 theatres; $4,092 per theatre]. In seventh was "The Switch," which was dominated by couples and scored $8.4 million [2012 theatres; $4,193 per theatre]. Finally, Emma Thompson's sequel "Nanny McPhee Returns" tallied $8.4 million [2784 theatres; $3,020 per theatre].

Mainstream films:
-Avatar: Special Edition (PG-13): sci-fi action; co-starring Sam Worthington and Sigourney Weaver; directed by James Cameron
-Flipped (PG): romantic drama; directed by Rob Reiner
-Last Exorcism (PG-13): horror
-Takers (PG-13): suspense; co-starring Jay Hernandez, Paul Walker, Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, and Matt Dillon

Art-house films:
-Cairo Time (PG): romantic drama; co-starring Patricia Clarkson
-Centurion (R): action; co-starring Dominic West
-Mesrine (R): drama
-Two Escobars (NR): documentary

DVD Pick - Public Enemies (R): The dark gangster tale from director Michael Mann ("The Insider" / "Collateral") rolls along about as expected. The main difference is the acting talent, specifically Johnny Depp as John Dillinger and Christian Bale as a sheriff. Carey Mulligan, in a minor role, would later shine in last weekend's pick, "An Education." Domestic box office: $97.1 million; foreign box office: $117 million.


Free Weekend Activities
*Oakland Street Food [Fri 2-9p, Sat 10:30a-9p, Sun 10:30a-5p]: Featuring the hottest street-food carts [e.g. Chairman Bao, Hapa SF, Kung Fu Tacos, Senor Sisig, Creme Brulee Cart]; breweries [e.g. Drakes, Eel River, Rubicon, Iron Springs, Linden Street]; live music; and urban homesteading workshops. Arrive early! In Jack London Square (Oakland). http://eatrealfest.com/entertainment

Critical Mass [Fri 6:15p]: Drivers beware. Starts at Justin Herman Plaza (SF).

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Fri 7p, Sat 4p, Sun 2p]: Featuring the latest annual leftist production, "Possibilidad, or Death of a Worker." At Mitchell Park (Palo Alto) on Fri-Sat, Mosswood Park (Oakland) on Sun. www.sfmt.org

Oakland Chinatown Streetfest [Sat 10a-5:30p]: Featuring Chinese lion dancers, Japanese taiko drummers, Tahitian groups, carnival rides, and more. In Oakland's Chinatown, near 9th and Broadway. www.oaklandchinatownstreetfest.com

Family Festa [Sat-Sun 11a-6p]: Featuring Italian specialty foods, children's activities, live music, and more. In Guadalupe Park (San Jose). http://festa.iahfsj.org

Block 18 Foodie Party [Sat noon-5p]: Featuring edibles from La Cocina, Pizzeria Delfina, Bi-Rite Creamery, Tartine Bakery, Kasa, and others. Along 18th St, between Dolores and Guerrero (SF). www.partyblock18.com

Much Ado About Nothing [Sat-Sun 1p]: Closing weekend. Featuring Woman's Will, the Bay Area's all-female Shakespeare company. At McLaren Park (SF) on both days. www.womanswill.org

Chinatown Night Market [Sat 6-11p]: Featuring lion dancers, martial arts, cheap DVDs, fresh produce and meat, and more. In Chinatown (SF). www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/events/nightmarket.html

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

Film Night [Sat 8p]: Featuring "Rear Window" in Union Square (SF). www.filmnight.org

Last Sundays Street Music Festival [Sun noon-7p]: Featuring Amoeba prizes, a bounce house, and two music stages. Along Telegraph Ave (Berkeley). www.lastsundaysfest.com

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

Japantown Lantern Festival and Parade [Sun 4:30-10p]: Featuring Japanese folk dancing and a parade. Along Post St. in Japantown (SF). www.jasummitsf2010.org