Randy's Guide CCIX (209)

Historic milestones: 4 years since the U.S. population hit 300 million; 19 years since the Oakland Hills fire (3,469 homes destroyed, 25 killed); 21 years since the Bay Area's Loma Prieta earthquake (63 killed; $6 billion in damages); 42 years since the first live telecast from a manned spacecraft; 44 years since the creation of the Black Panther Party; 85 years since the opening of the Grand Ole Opry; and 143 years since the U.S. took possession of Alaska.


Local News
Let's Go Giants! The triumvirate of Lincecum-Sanchez-Cain will start the first three games for the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Game 1 will be in Philly on Saturday evening. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/13/SPGJ1FS9OT.DTL


Giants Tickets
On a more personal note, I would be thrilled if one of my readers were to purchase two extra Standing Room Only tickets for Game 5, which is next Thursday at 4:57pm at AT&T Park. It looks like Craigslist and Stubhub are placing the value at $125 each. Of course, I'd be willing to discount. E-mail if interested.


Deal of the Week
Pet owners can get a free five-pound bag of Natura Advantage dog food. Type in your address to see the closest locations for this product. www.naturaadvantage.com


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
Record-setting heat, with San Francisco 88 on Monday and Oakland 91 on Tuesday, is coming to an end. Back to the usual morning clouds and afternoon breezes by Friday.

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

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

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


Movies {domestic revenues for October 8-10}
"The Social Network finished on top again," adding $15.5 million [2771 theatres; $5,576 per theatre; $46.0 million overall]. The Katherine Heigl-Josh Duhamel romantic comedy "Life as We Know It" took second with $14.5 million [3150 theatres; $4,605 per theatre]. Horse drama "Secretariat" took the show position with $12.7 million [3072 theatres; $4,132 per theatre]. Wes Craven's latest, "My Soul to Take," scared up a measly $6.8 million in fifth [2572 theatres; $2,660 per theatre]. "Waiting for 'Superman,'" a documentary about the education system, tallied the highest per-screen average in the top-30 [$0.7 million; 103 screens; $6,236 per theatre; $1.4 million overall].

Mainstream films:
-Jackass 3D (NR): comedy; co-starring Johnny Knoxville
-Red (PG-13): action comedy; co-starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren

Art-house films:
-Cropsey (NR): documentary
-Gerrymandering (NR): documentary; co-starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gray Davis, and Howard Dean
-Masquerades (NR): drama
-My Dog Tulip (NR): animation; co-starring Lynn Redgrave, Christopher Plummer, and Isabella Rosselini
-Nowhere Boy (R): biopic; co-starring Kristin Scott Thomas
-Tamara Drewe (R): drama
-Stone (R): thriller; co-starring Robert De Niro and Edward Norton

DVD Pick - Goodbye Solo (R): It's a quiet, little film set in North Carolina. The unlikely friendship between an immigrant cab driver and a crusty old man ushers in both laughter and tears. The sure hands of director Ramin Rahrani previously created "Man Push Cart" and "Chop Shop." Domestic box office: $0.9 million; foreign box office: $0.1 million.


Free Weekend Activities
* Author Dave Eggers [Thu 6p]: The San Francisco writer, known as much for his literary works as his charity 826 Valencia, will be hosting a discussion about his latest book, "Zeitoun." At the Main Library's Koret Auditorium (SF). www.sfpl.org

Dolores Park Movie Night [Thu 7:30p]: Featuring "Adaptation," with Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, and Chris Cooper. Winner of one Oscar (Chris Cooper) and nominated for three others. At Dolores Park (SF). www.doloresparkmovie.org

Jack London Square Movie Night [Thu 7:30p]: Featuring "Fame," an update on the 1980s musical. At Jack London Square (Oakland). www.jacklondonsquare.com

Menlo Park Festival [Fri-Sun 10a-5p]: 14th annual. Featuring 90+ artisans. Along Santa Cruz Ave (Menlo Park). www.menloparkchamber.com

* Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival [Sat-Sun 9a-5p]: 40th annual. Featuring three live-music stages, pumpkin-pie eating contest, and costume contest. Pumpkin pancakes, ice cream, smoothies, sausage, and churros to boot! Along Main St (Half Moon Bay). www.miramarevents.com/pumpkinfest

Oktoberfest - Campbell [Sat-Sun 10a-5p]: 16th annual. Featuring live German music, German bratwurst and pretzels, 120+ artisans, and of course lager! In downtown Campbell. www.campbellchamber.com

* Trolley Dances [Sat-Sun 11a-2:45p]: 7th annual. I attended part of year's trail from Dolores Park to Balboa Park... well-worth the visit. Featuring tour guides who take viewers to three different modern-dance locations, with six dance companies. Between Duboce Park and Golden Gate Park's Botanical Gardens (SF). www.epiphanydance.org

Potrero Hill Festival [Sat 11a-4p]: 20th annual. Benefits NABE, the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, which has served as a community center for over 100 years. Featuring a Cajun brunch catered by the California Culinary Academy ($10 tickets), two music stages, pony rides, Potrero Hill restaurants and artists, and more. Along 20th St, between Missouri and Wisconsin (SF). www.potrerofestival.com

Yerba Buena Festival [Sat 11a-3p]: Featuring KFOG DJs, free admission to SFMOMA and California Historical Society, guided gallery and neighborhood-history walks, and more. At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybcbd.org

Middle Eastern Food Festival [Sat-Sun 11a-8p]: Featuring Middle Eastern food, entertainment, games, and arts/crafts. At St. George Church (SF). www.sjorthodox.org

Venetia Carnival [Sat 11a-4p]: 3rd annual. It's a fundraiser for funds and school supplies for the school. Featuring cross-fit gymnastics, jump houses, raffle, cake walk, and more. At Venetia Valley School (San Rafael). www.vvef.org

Oktoberfest - Concord [Sat 11a-6p]: Featuring two live entertainment stages, recycled-fashion show, bike rodeo, and more. In Todos Santos Plaza (Concord). www.communityconcerts.com

JumpstART [Sat noon-10p]: Featuring live performances of dance, theatre, and music. At the new ODC Theater (SF). www.odctheater.org

Taste of Fillmore [Sat 1-6p]: 2nd annual. Featuring in-store fashion shows, food/wine pairings at boutiques and restaurants, and local-merchant raffles. Along Fillmore St, between Post and Jackson (SF). www.tasteoffillmore.com

Spice of Life Festival [Sun 10a-6p]: 8th annual. Featuring yoga demos, a farmers market, local artisan restaurants and food carts, live jazz music, and more. Along Shattuck in the Gourmet Ghetto (Berkeley). www.northshattuckassociation.org

Fiesta on the Hill [Sun 10a-6p]: 22nd annual. Featuring a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, two stages of music, and more. Along Cortland Ave (SF). www.sresproductions.com/fiestaonthehill.html

Golden Gate Park Band [Sun 1p]: 128th season. Final week's theme - Grand Finale, all-request program. At Golden Gate Park's Music Concourse (SF). www.goldengateparkband.org

California Academy of Sciences [Wed 9:30a-5p]: Free admission to the pricey, new sciences-themed museum. Arrive early for timed tickets to the Planetarium IMAX shows. In Golden Gate Park (SF). www.calacademy.org