Randy's Guide CCVII (207)

Historic milestones: 28 years since the introduction of Sony's first CD player; 39 years since the opening of Walt Disney World in Orlando; 45 years since the first U.S. visit by any Pope; 48 years since the founding of the United Farm Workers by Cesar Chavez; 53 years since the first "In God We Trust" on U.S. paper currency; 60 years since the first publication of the comic strip "Peanuts"; 75 years since the dedication of Hoover Dam; 83 years since the opening of the first major talking movie, "The Jazz Singer"; 89 years since the first radio broadcast of the World Series; and 119 years since the first classes at Stanford University.


Local News
At Robert Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda, a parasitic worm from an invasive Japanese snail has caused an outbreak of swimmer's itch over the past several years. This is a reaction to the flatworm parasite attempting to burrow into a host's skin. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/30/MNAT1FLPHC.DTL


Deal of the Week #1
TODAY from 5-8pm, Cold Stone Creamery is offering a free 3-ounce sample of Kate's Creation, which is caramel apple ice cream with chocolate shavings, graham cracker pie crust, and apple pie filling as part of the Make a Wish Foundation month. www.coldstonecreamery.com/promos/makeawish/index.html


Deal of the Week #2
Free museum admission in San Francisco! The Asian Art Museum (Sunday), SFMOMA (Tuesday), and the Conservatory of Flowers (Tuesday) are among the museums participating. http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/museums/ss/freemuseumdays.htm


Change for Change
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 Shanti.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
After LA hit 113 on Monday and the Bay Area broke numerous records from Sunday-Tuesday, including San Francisco's 93 and Santa Rosa's 104 on Monday, things are quickly going back to normal with coastal fog and afternoon breezes.

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


Movies {domestic revenues for September 24-26}
The long-awaited sequel from Oliver Stone, "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," cashed in a healthy $19.0 million [3565 theatres; $5,333 per theatre]. The animated "Legend of the Guardians" underperformed with $16.1 million [3575 theatres; $4,507 per theatre]. The comedy "You Again" did even worse, a fifth place slot with $8.4 million [2548 theatres; $3,300 per theatre]. In limited release, the online romance faux-documentary "Catfish" expanded gracefully into 17th place with $0.5 million [57 theatres; $7,940 per theatre; $0.8 million overall; 2nd weekend].

Mainstream films:
- Case 39 (R): Thriller; co-starring Renee Zellweger and Bradley Cooper
- Let Me In (R): Horror; co-starring Richard Jenkins
- The Social Network (PG-13): Drama; co-starring Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake

Art-house films:
- A Film Unfinished (NR): Documentary
- Freakonomics (PG-13): Documentary
- Fresh (NR): Documentary
- Goodbye, Someday (NR): Drama
- Hatchet II (NR): Horror sequel
- Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo (NR): Documentary
- Waiting for "Superman" (PG): Documentary
- You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (R): Comedy; co-starring Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, and Naomi Watts; directed by Woody Allen

DVD Pick - Let the Right One In (R): In honor of the ill-advised remake spreading into theatres this weekend, the original was a massive Swedish hit about vampires and such. Domestic box office: $2.1 million; foreign: $9.1 million.


Free Weekend Activities
* Hardly Strictly Bluegrass [Fri 10:30a-noon and 2-7p, Sat-Sun 11a-7p]: 10th annual. Featuring MC Hammer, T Bone Burnett, Joan Baez, Gillian Welch, Fountains of Wayne, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Indigo Girls, Emmylou Harris, Shelby Lynne, and many others. In Golden Gate Park's Speedway Meadow (SF). www.strictlybluegrass.com

LitQuake 2010 Kickoff [Fri 5p]: Featuring live music based on the work of authors such as Kurt Vonnegut. At 111 Minna Gallery (SF). www.litquake.org

World Vegetarian Festival [Sat-Sun 10a-6p]: Featuring vegan cooking demos, veggie speed dating, eco-fashion show, and more. At Golden Gate Park's County Fair Building (SF). Free before 10:30am for everyone, or anytime for students/seniors/minors. (otherwise $7) www.sfvs.org/wvd

Home Front Festival [Sat 11a-6p]: Featuring live jazz bands, a reunion photo for WWII veterans, self-guided tours, and more. At Craneway Pavilion and Kaiser Shipyard #3 (Richmond). www.homefrontfestival.com

Environmental Poetry Festival [Sat noon-4:30p]: Featuring poets and environmental writers, live music, green updates, and more. At Civic Center Park (Berkeley). www.poetryflash.org

Film in the Fog [Sat 7p]: Come early to picnic, then stay for 1957's "The Incredible Shrinking Man." Near Moraga and Arguello in the Presidio (SF). www.sffs.org

Mountain Biking for Families [Sun 9a-12:30p]: Featuring guided rides, bike maintenance, free Clif Bars, a photo booth, and more. At McLaren Park (SF). www.sfurbanriders.org

Sausage & Suds Festival [Sun 10a-6p]: Featuring fresh sausages, quality beers, live music, and more. Along Parrott St, between E 14th and Washington (San Leandro). www.sausageandsuds.com

* Castro Street Fair [Sun 11a-6p]: Featuring wacky costumes, live DJs, drag performances, country-western dancing, and more. Near Castro and Market (SF). www.castrostreetfair.org

Invitational Graffiti Battle [Sun 11a-5p]: Featuring live street painting, stencil workshops, artist signings, and more. At DeFremery Park (Oakland). www.estriabattle.com

Nature of Art [Sun noon-4p]: Featuring interactive installations with live performances in nature. At Redwood Regional Park (Oakland). www.artinnaturefestival.com

Golden Gate Park Band [Sun 1p]: 128th season. At Golden Gate Park's Music Concourse (SF). www.goldengateparkband.org

Latin Jazz finale [Sun 1-3p]: Featuring Poncho Sanchez and the Jesus Diaz Sextet. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org