Randy's Guide CCXII (212)

GO GIANTS!

Historic milestones: 36 years since the "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match; 41 years since the first computer-to-computer link (via ARPANET); 45 years since the completion of the St. Louis Arch; 63 years since the flight of the Spruce Goose; 65 years since Jackie Robinson's contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers; 97 years since the introduction of U.S. income tax; and 124 years since the dedication of the Statue of Liberty.


Local News
22,000 Bay Area members of Gold's Gym International will find a new moniker after September 2012. The four locations - two in San Francisco, one in Oakland, and one in Corte Madera - have decided not to renew the corporate contract due to the CEO's $2 million donation to an anti-gay Karl Rove group. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/27/BU7G1G1RDF.DTL


Deal of the Week
Free Tom's of Maine toothpaste. www.startsampling.com/sm/toms101470


Change for Change
Congratulations to Curry Without Worry for the latest Randy's Guide donation! www.currywithoutworry.org

New Charity: San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation. I attended an informative discussion about the history of San Francisco's theaters, including the Castro, Vogue, and Alexandria. The group started in 2002 to preserve neighborhood movie theaters and to initiate the popular Film Night in the Park outdoor series. www.sfneighborhoodtheater.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, Shanti, and now Curry Without Worry.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Chance of rain through Sunday. Have your umbrellas handy for Halloween!

Highs: between 60 and 65
Lows: low-50s


Movies {domestic revenues for October 22-24}
"Paranormal Activity 2" and its $3 million budget delivered the highest-grossing weekend ever for a supernatural horror film, with $40.7 million [3216 theatres; $12,649 per theatre]. "Hereafter" had a down-to-earth $12.0 million in its expansion [2181 theatres; $5,510 per theatre; $12.3 million overall]. The education documentary "Waiting for 'Superman'" continued to roll out, with $0.8 million [290 theatres; $2,671 per theatre, $3.7 million overall].

Mainstream films:
-Saw 3D (R): horror sequel

Art-house films:
-The Freebie (R): drama
-The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (R): thriller
-Leaving (NR): drama; co-starring Kristen Scott Thomas

DVD Pick - Brothers (R): The Afghanistan war drama, directed by Jim Sheridan ("In America"), loves deep family dramas. This one centers on Tobey Maguire in his Golden Globe-nominated role as a soldier presumed dead, Natalie Portman as his wife, and Jake Gyllenhaal as his hooligan brother. Domestic box office: $28.5 million; foreign: $14.6 million.


Free Weekend Activities
Persephone's Roots [Thu-Sun 5:30p]: A journey following Persephone's journey through the underworld, with giant puppets and masked creatures. At Cordonices Park (Berkeley). www.raggedwing.org

Waterfront Flicks [Thu 7:30p]: Featuring "Twilight." At Jack London Square's Market Green (Oakland). www.jacklondonsquare.com

Halloween Beer [Fri 4-9p]: Featuring live bluegrass, new porters flavored with pumpkin or vanilla, and a costume contest. At Speakeasy Brewery (SF). www.goodbeer.com

Halloween in the Tenderloin [Fri 4-7p]: Featuring face painting, a pie-eating contest, pumpkin carving, and trick-or-treating, with Notre Dame de Namur University's Streetwise Sociology class. At the Children's Playground, 570 Ellis (SF). www.facebook.com/NDNUBelmont

Critical Mass [Fri 6p]: Drivers, be forewarned. Starts at Justin Herman Plaza (SF). www.sfcriticalmass.org

City Hall Ghost Walk [Fri 6:30p]: Featuring tour guide Rob Spoor on an annual walk through City Hall's spooky past. At City Hall's South Light Court (SF). www.sfcityguides.org

Rally to Restore Sanity [Sat 9a-3p]: Featuring guest speakers, comedy, poetry, costume contest, the SF Mime Troupe, and a dance flash mob. At Civic Center Plaza (SF). www.sfsanityrally.com

Family Halloween Day [Sat 10a-2p]: Featuring live entertainment, fun games, and arts/crafts. At Randall Museum (SF). www.randallmuseum.org

Paxton Gate Halloween Party [Sat 11a-1p]: Featuring a costume parade, games, prizes, and a hands-on workshop. At Paxton's Gate Curiosities for Kids (SF). www.paxtongate.com

Midnight Movie Marathon [Sat noon-Sun 11a]: Nearly 24 hours of Halloween-themed cinema, including John Carpenter's "The Thing" and David Lynch's "Eraserhead." At CellSpace (SF). www.sfindie.com

Journey to the End of the Night [Sat 7p]: Featuring hundreds of costumed people competing to solve puzzles. Starts at Justin Herman Plaza (SF). www.totheendofthenight.com

Halloween Costume Walk [Sun noon-1:30p]: At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

Palace Hotel Ghost Walk [Sun 6:30p]: Special annual tour. At the Palace Hotel (SF). www.sfcityguides.org

Vote [Tue 7a-8p]: Vote once at any precinct or at the county offices, or drop off your absentee ballot. www.sfgov.org/elections

Free Museum Day [Tue 9a-6p]: At the SFMOMA (11a-5:45p, Cartoon Art Museum (11a-5p), de Young Museum (9:30a-5:15p), YBCA Gallery (noon-8p), Museum of Craft and Folk Art (11a-6p), and Conservatory of Flowers (9a-5p). In SF.

Dia de los Muertos [Tue 6-9p]: Featuring a sidewalk candle processional and a mobile diorama. Near Shattuck and Cedar (Berkeley). www.anotherbullwinkleshow.com

Day of the Dead [Tue 4:30-11:30p]: Featuring a community altar, processional, and festival. From 22nd St. and Bryant to Garfield Park (SF). www.dayofthedeadsf.org

Armistead Maupin event [Wed 7p]: The popular "Tales of the City" series author will present his latest novel. At Books Inc. Opera Plaza (SF). www.booksinc.net