Randy's Guide CCXVIII (218)

Historic milestones: 38 years since the last astronaut lunar walk; 71 years since the Gone with the Wind premiere; 104 years since the first American Nobel Prize recipient (Theodore Roosevelt); and 159 years since the first YMCA in North America (Montreal).


Local News
On a day of sobering news that California's dropout rate moved above 20 percent, San Francisco's percentage has dropped to below 10 percent. School officials credit vocational programs, college-focused coursework, and truancy reduction for the success. www.sfexaminer.com/local/education/2010/12/city-s-student-dropout-rate-decreasing


Deal of the Week #1
Parking has gotten a little bit more reasonable in San Francisco for carpools through Dec. 26. Seven garages (Ellis-O'Farrell; Fifth-Mission; Sutter-Stockton; Geary-Stockton; Lombard-Marina; Vallejo-Chinatown; 21st-Bartlett) are offering one hour of free parking with three occupants, and two hours for 4+ occupants per vehicle. The Civic Center garage is offering free parking on weekends only. Cars must enter between 10am and 6pm. www.sfmta.com/cms/pnews/HolidayCarpoolParkingValidation.htm


Deal of the Week #2
Free Wendy's natural-cut fries with sea salt. www.mrcheapstuff.com/coupon-go/wendy_free


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
Blue skies, at last. Time to hit the fresh powder!

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


Movies {domestic revenues for December 3-5}
We've just closed out the weakest December in 15 years, in terms of attendance. "Tangled" assumed the first spot with $21.6 million [3603 theatres; $5,997 per theatre; $96.6 million overall]. "The Warrior's Way" stumbled into ninth with $3.0 million [1622 theatres; $1,880 per theatre]. Natalie Portman's ballet drama "Black Swan" played to sold-out crowds for $1.4 million [18 theatres; $80,212 per theatre].

Mainstream films:
-Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG): Fantasy sequel; co-starring Tilda Swinton
-The Tempest (PG-13): Drama; co-starring Helen Mirren, Russell Brand, and Chris Cooper; directed by Julie Taymor ("Across the Universe")
-The Tourist (PG-13): Thriller; co-starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie

Art-house films:
-King's Speech (R): Historical drama; co-starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush
-Legend of Pale Male (NR): Documentary
-Night Catches Us (R): Drama
-Queen of the Lot (R): Romance
-Tiny Furniture (NR): Comedy

DVD Pick - The Last Station (R): The historical drama about the closing years of writer Leo Tolstoy lends more insight than expected. Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren are the top-billed and Oscar-nominated Tolstoyan couple, while Paul Giamatti and James McAvoy have juicy supporting roles. Domestic box office: $6.6 million; foreign: $6.3 million.


Free Weekend Activities
Market Street Art [Thu 5-7p]: Featuring three art installation launches, fire jugglers, Filipino lantern displays, and a community procession. Near ACT Costume Shop, 7th and Market (SF). www.sfartscommission.org

Golden Gate Park Holiday Lighting [Thu 5p]: 81st annual. At McLaren Lodge (SF). www.sfrecpark.org

Hometown Holiday Stroll [Thu 5-8p]: Featuring holiday carolers and special discounts. In downtown Walnut Creek. www.walnutcreekdowntown.com

Holiday Party for Hellraisers [Thu 6p]: First 120 drinks on the house. With the staffs of Rainforest Action Network, Greenpeace, the Ruckust Society, Amazonwatch, Corporate Ethics International, and Forest Ethics. At Brunos (SF). www.ran.org

Believer Magazine Art Issue Release Party [Thu 7:30p]: Featuring local artists by the San Francisco-published magazine. At Electric Works Gallery (SF). www.sfelectricworks.com

* Mission Block Party [Fri 5-10p]: 3rd annual. Featuring holiday refreshments and special discounts at shops. Between Mission and Dolores, 14th and 24th St. (SF). www.getlocalsf.com/events

Boom! Reception [Fri 6-9p]: Featuring Carnegie Mellon's Miller Gallery Director Astria Suparak and her juried exhibition on Northern California artists interpreting the word "Boom." At Southern Exposure (SF). www.soex.org

Alternative Press Festival [Sat 10a-4p]: Featuring self-publishers from the Bay Area. At Berkeley City College. http://EastBayAlternativePressBookFair.blogspot.com

Telegraph Avenue Holiday Fair [Sat-Sun 11a-6p]: Featuring 200+ holiday artists, festive lights, and gourmet food. Along Telegraph Ave (Berkeley). www.telegraphfair.com

* Bazaar Bizarre [Sat-Sun noon-5p]: Featuring 150 selected local artists and designers with goods ranging from handbags to silk-screen t-shirts and body products. With Off the Grid gourmet food carts. At Fort Mason (SF). www.bazaarbizarre.org

Under the Holiday Lights [Sat-Sun noon-5p]: Featuring Santa photos. Along Fourth St. (Berkeley). www.fourthstreet.com

Winterfest [Sun 11a-6p]: 16th annual. Featuring snow sledding, Santa photos, and live carols. In Depot Plaza (Mill Valley). www.millvalley.org