Randy's Guide CCXX (220)

Historic milestones: 42 years since the first lunar orbit by humans during the Christmas Eve Broadcast of Apollo 8; 44 years since the first celebration of Kwanzaa; 69 years since the establishment of Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November (FDR); 187 years since the anonymous publication of A Visit from St. Nicholas (or The Night Before Christmas); 192 years since the first performance of "Silent Night" (Oberndorf, Austria); and 233 years since the discovery of Christmas Island by Captain James Cook.


Local News
Stanford women's basketball coach Tara VanDerveer picked her 800th victory, as the Cardinal walloped the USF Dons 100-45. She is now the sixth women's coach at the college level to achieve the milestone. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/23/SPP31GUFLP.DTL


Deals of the Week
* Free small coffee or tea at Border's bookstores through December 25. http://i53.tinypic.com/358uck6.jpg

* Free coffee or tea from Peet's on December 24. www.peets.com


Change for Change
Congrats to San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation as the latest Randy's Guide donation recipient. www.sfneighorhoodtheater.org

New Charity: Gay-Straight Alliance. Reader Michael K. wrote a compelling message regarding the difficulties that LGBT youths face during the holiday season. Please consider a special donation to Michael's cause! http://wishes.causes.com/wishes/157861

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, Curry Without Worry, and now SF Neighborhood Theater Foundation.


Holiday Bay Area Weekend Weather
It'll be a wet Christmas, with rain and thunder forecast for Saturday through Sunday morning.

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


Movies {domestic revenues for December 17-19}
"Tron Legacy" more than made up for the original's disappointing numbers, as it ushered in young adult males in droves to tally $44.0 million [3451 theatres; $12,758 per theatre]. "Yogi Bear," meanwhile, piqued the interest of young boys to open in second with $16.4 million [3515 theatres; $4,669 per theatre]. "The Fighter" went into nationwide release and brought in $12.1 million [2503 theatres; $4,848 per theatre; $12.6 million overall]. "How Do You Know" had a disappointing opening, considering the star power, as older women pushed its revenues to $7.5 million [2483 theatres; $3,014 per theatre].

Mainstream films:
- Gulliver's Travels (PG): Adventure; co-starring Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, and Amanda Peet
- Little Fockers (PG-13): Comedy sequel; co-starring Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Dustin Hoffman, and Barbra Streisand

Art-house films:
- Casino Jack (R): Biopic; co-starring Kevin Spacey
- Rabbit Hole (PG-13): Drama; co-starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, and Dianne Wiest; directed by John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch)
- Somewhere (R): Drama; directed by Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation)
- Summer Wars (PG): Anime
- True Grit (PG-13): Western; co-starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin; directed by the Coen Brothers (No Country for Old Men)

DVD Pick - It's Complicated (R): Opening last Christmas, this romantic comedy targets older relationships, as Meryl Streep has to decide between her architect (Steve Martin) and her ex-husband (Alec Baldwin). It picked up 3 Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress. Domestic box office: $112.7 million; foreign: $106.4 million.


Free Weekend Activities
Telegraph Holiday Street Fair [Thu-Fri 11a-6p]: 27th annual. Featuring 200+ local artisans. Along Telegraph Ave. (Berkeley). www.telegraphfair.com

Contemporary Jewish Museum Day [Fri 11a-4p]: You can buy Yank Sing dim sum or Ritual Roasters coffee as you take in special Curious George-themed performances. At the CJM (SF). www.thecjm.org

Kwanzaa 2010 [Sunday 12/26 - Saturday 1/1]: Various discussions and events in celebration of Kwanzaa. At Yoshi's, Marcus Books, Buchanan YMCA, and other locations (SF). www.kwanzaasanfrancisco.com

TCHO Gourmet Chocolate Factory Tour [10am/2pm daily through 1/31]: It's like Whole Foods meets Willy Wonka. At Pier 17 (SF). www.brownpapertickets.com/event/141024