Randy's Guide CCIII (203)

Historic milestones: 12 years since the founding of Google; 53 years since Ford's introduction of the Edsel; 89 years since the first Miss America Pageant; and 109 years since President Theodore Roosevelt's "Speak Softly" speech.

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Local News
St. Mary's College in tony Moraga, Calif. hosted the first debate between Senator Barbara Boxer and former HP CEO Carly Fiorina. The two divided on issues of abortion, gun rights, the environment, and immigration. www.contracostatimes.com/ci_15968999


Deal of the Week
Soak in some culture if you're around town for Labor Day weekend! The Asian Art Museum and Oakland Museum are free on Sunday, while the Japanese Tea Garden is free on Monday before 10am. The popular Impressionist exhibit at the de Young Museum wraps up on Monday (free-$25). Lastly, the de Young, Legion of Honor, Conservatory of Flowers, and SFMOMA are all free on Tuesday.


Change for Change
Congrats to Shanti, the latest recipient of a Randy's Guide donation! A related note: New Leaf, which has been providing LGBT support services in the Bay Area since 1974, is closing its doors in October. Please keep giving to your favorite nonprofits (or those below!) to keep them afloat in your local communities! www.shanti.org

New Charity: Curry Without Worry. Since 2006, this San Francisco-based nonprofit has served over 23,000 warm vegetarian Nepalese meals on Tuesday evenings in San Francisco's Civic Center. www.currywithoutworry.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, The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, and now Shanti.


Bay Area Holiday Weekend Weather
After today's blast of heat, slightly cooler temperatures are on the horizon. Time for a road trip!

San Francisco: low-70s / mid-50s
Napa/Sonoma: mid-80s / low-50s
Santa Cruz: mid-80s / low-50s
Monterey: upper-60s / mid-50s
Lake Tahoe: upper-70s / upper-30s
Yosemite: low-90s / low-50s


Music
"Animal" by Neon Trees (Provo, Utah)

The band, a Provo favorite, derives its name from the lit trees outside of In-N-Out Burger restaurants. Finally the quartet is getting its due, with its first album hitting stores this year and its hit single gracing a Las Vegas advertisement. The current tour with 30 Seconds to Mars will take them through locales such as Indianapolis, Tampa, Austin, and Chicago. www.fameisdead.com


Movies {domestic revenues for August 27-29}
In a nailbiter, "Takers" took the top spot with $20.5 million [2206 theatres; $9,298 per theatre]. "The Last Exorcism," with about half its audience Latino, spooked up $20.4 million [2874 theatres; $7,087 per theatre]. The expanded 3D version of "Avatar" chalked up $4.0 million, to push its lifetime domestic gross over $750 million [812 theatres; $4,936 per theatre]. Will Ferrell's comedy "The Other Guys" has crossed the $100 million mark, while "Toy Story 3" became the seventh film (and first animated) to reach $1 billion worldwide.

Mainstream films:
-The American (R): thriller; co-starring George Clooney
-Going the Distance (R): romantic comedy; co-starring Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, and Christina Applegate
-Machete (R): action; co-starring Robert De Niro, Steven Seagal, and Jessica Alba; co-directed by Robert Rodriguez
-Winning Season (PG-13): sports drama; co-starring Sam Rockwell and Emma Roberts

Art-house films:
-Basquiat, The Radiant Child (NR): documentary
-Dogtooth (NR): drama
-Highwater (NR): documentary; co-starring Kelly Slater
-Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (NR): documentary re-release
-Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 (R): drama
-People I've Slept With (NR): comedy
-Soul Kitchen (NR): comedy
-Tillman Story (R): documentary

DVD Pick - The Class (PG-13): Wildly popular in France (more than $13 million gross), this gritty story about a high school in a Parisian suburb is methodical in its drama. It won awards at Cannes Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards, and was nominated at the Oscars for Best Foreign Film. Domestic box office: $3.8 million; foreign box office: $25.1 million.


Free Weekend Activities
Film Night [Fri-Sun 8p]: Featuring "16 Candles," "Up," and "Avatar" at Creek Park (San Anselmo). www.filmnight.org

Millbrae Art & Wine Festival [Sat-Sun 10a-5p]: 40th annual. Featuring a Mardi Gras theme, with nine bands, 250 artisans, specialty foods, a classic car show, and more. Along Broadway (Millbrae). www.miramarevents.com

Kings Mountain Art Fair [Sat-Mon 10a-5p]: 48th annual. Considered a top-five fine craft fair in California (Art Fair SourceBook). Benefits the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade, Kings Mountain Elementary School, and other community activities. At the Kings Mountain Community Center (Woodside). www.kingsmountainartfair.org

SF Zine Fest [Sat-Sun 11a-6p]: Featuring independent and underground publishers in comics, books, arts, and crafts. At Golden Gate Park's County Fair Building (SF). www.sfzinefest.com

Nice Guy Trio + Strings concert [Sat 1-2:30p]: Featuring global music. In Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

San Francisco Mime Troupe [Sat-Mon 2p]: Featuring the latest annual leftist production, "Possibilidad, or Death of a Worker." At Dolores Park (SF) on all three days. www.sfmt.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 7:30p, Sun-Mon 2:30p]: 28th annual. Featuring "Two Gentlemen of Verona." At Presidio's Main Lawn (SF). www.sfshakes.org

Golden Gate Park Band [Sun 1p]: 128th annual. Weekly concert series. Featuring El Grupo de Espana, in a tribute to Spanish music and dance. At Golden Gate Park's Bandshell (SF). www.goldengateparkband.org

Napa River Festival [Sun 2-9:30p]: 18th annual. Featuring live entertainment, a silent auction, fireworks show, free wine tasting, and more. In downtown Napa. www.friendsofthenapariver.org

Free Fishing Day [Mon all day]: No sport fishing license will be required at any California body of water (lake / ocean / river). Local options include Lake Merced, Fort Baker Pier, Temescal Lake, and Pier 7. www.dfg.ca.gov/news/news10/2010090102-Free-Fishing-Day.html