Randy's Guide CCXIV (214)

Historic milestones: 22 years since the launch of the first major fair-trade label (Netherlands' Max Havelaar); 28 years since the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.; 37 years since President Nixon's "I am not a crook" interview; 54 years since the end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott; 74 years since the opening of the Bay Bridge; 84 years since the establishment of Route 66; and 121 years since Washington's admission as the 42nd U.S. state.


Local News
San Francisco has opened its first health clinic entirely run by volunteers, mainly retired medical professionals. Clinic by the Bay is affiliated with Volunteers in Medicine, which has 82 clinics nationwide. This clinic is open to uninsured residents in 94112 (Excelsior/ Outer Mission) and 94014 (Daly City), who are at or below 250% of the federal poverty line and have some income. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/09/MNB31G3J39.DTL


Deal of the Week #1
Gap Inc. is having its semi-annual Give & Get Program, with 30% off all in-store purchases at its Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy parent and outlet stores. My designated charity is Teach for America, which will receive 5% of all purchases. Sale ends Sunday 11/14 at 11:59pm. Feel free to print out the discount page for in-store purchases. http://gap.m.delivery.net/w/webView?cid=18261100324&mid=1856354299&pid=860672&vid=13665&ee=cHJpdmF0ZXJ5YW43OEBob3RtYWlsLmNvbQ__&si=&mv=H&bv=H&oc=H&sc=&k=1kfRVx


Deal of the Week #2
Grab your free small Seattle's Best coffee at any participating Burger King on Friday mornings in November. www.bk.com


Change for Change
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 Curry Without Worry.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Crisp mornings and bright sunshine afternoons... sure beats 31 and snowy in Denver, or rainy 50 in Seattle.

THU-FRI
Highs: upper-50s (coast); low-60s (SF); mid-60s (bay); upper-60s (inland)
Lows: low-40s (inland); mid-40s (coast-bay); upper-40s (SF)

SAT-SUN
Highs: mid-60s (coast); upper-60s (SF); low-70s (bay); mid-70s (inland)
Lows: mid-40s (inland); upper-40s (coast-bay); low-50s (SF)


Movies {domestic revenues for November 5-7}
"Megamind" debuted strongly, with $46.0 million [3944 theatres; $11,668 per theatre]. The raunchy comedy "Due Date" picked up $32.7 million [3355 theatres; $9,743 per theatre]. Tyler Perry's adaptation "For Colored Girls" tallied $19.5 million [2127 theatres; $9,167 per theatre]. The latest Bollywood comedy, "Golmaal 3," brought in $0.6 million in limited release [86 theatres; $7,284 per theatre].

Mainstream films:
-Morning Glory (PG-13): comedy; co-starring Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, and Jeff Goldblum
-Skyline (PG-13): sci-fi
-Unstoppable (PG-13): action; co-starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine; directed by Roger Scott

Art-house films:
-Cool It (PG): documentary
-Four Lions (R): comedy
-127 Hours (R): drama; co-starring James Franco; directed by Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting)
-Vision (NR): biopic

DVD Pick - The Proposal (PG-13): Light and airy, this rom-com was Oscar winner Sandra Bullock's other hit in 2009. She plays a Canadian hard-nosed editor who hatches a plan to marry her assistant (Ryan Reynolds) in order to remain legally in the U.S. Domestic box office: $164.0 million; foreign: $153.4 million.


Free Weekend Activities
Meryl Pataky exhibit [Thu 6-8p]: Opening reception for the modern artist. At Muse Art Gallery (SF). www.yourmusegallery.com

DJ Irene @ Ruby Skye [Thu 8p-2a]: 18+ night with no cover at the popular Union Square nightclub. At Ruby Skye (SF). www.rubyskye.com

Pigeon Point Light Station Celebration [Sat 10a-8p]: 138th anniversary event, with grounds tours, historic exhibits, fresnel lens lighting, and more. At Pigeon Point Light Station (Pescadero). www.parks.ca.gov/pages/533/files/2010PPLH%20Annivposter.pdf

Petaluma Holiday Faire [Sat-Sun 10a-5p]: Featuring 55 Sonoma County artisans, along with gourmet food items. At the Petaluma Community Center. www.holidaygiftfaire.org

Armenian Festival [Sat noon-9p, Sun 12:30-3p]: 29th annual. Featuring traditional Armenian food, music, and crafts. At Calvary Church (SF). www.cacc-sf.org

First Thanksgiving cooking demo [Sat 2p]: Featuring Chef John Farais of Indigenous Edibles, with two preparations of First Thanksgiving dishes. At Macy's Union Square Cellar (SF). www.macys.com/store/event/index.ognc?action=search&storeId=212

Arms and the Man production [Fri 7:30p, Sat-Sun 3p]: Free staging by the 16th Street Players for George Bernard Shaw's romantic comedy set during the Serbo-Bulgarian War. At Notre Dame Senior Plaza, near Mission Dolores (SF). www.missiondolores.org/events/upcoming_events.html

Jimmy Ernst exhibit [Sat 6-9p]: Opening reception for the abstract-surrealist artist, the son of painter Max Ernst. At Weinstein Gallery (SF). www.weinstein.com

Outdoor Film Screening - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi [Sat 7p]: Featuring the Bollywood classic about a middle-aged man seeking a fresh start to life. At Japantown's Peace Plaza (SF). www.japancentersf.com

Academy of Sciences [Wed 9:30a-5p]: Free admission (adult retail: $29.95) to the wildly popular science museum. Reserve timed tickets for the IMAX planetarium shows when you first arrive. In Golden Gate Park (SF). www.calacademy.org