Randy's Guide CCXXIV (224)

Historic milestones: 2 years since the inauguration of President Barack Obama; 14 years since the first female U.S. Secretary of State (Madeleine Albright); 17 years since Apple's infamous Super Bowl commercial "1984"; 38 years since the Roe v. Wade decision; 63 years since the first television station west of the Mississippi River (KTLA in Hollywood); 91 years since the founding of the ACLU; 96 years since the first U.S. transcontinental phone conversation (Alexander Bell-Thomas Watson); and 153 years since the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill.


Local News
KDFC, the Bay Area's only classical music station, is moving to 89.9 and 90.3 FM. The University of Southern California is purchasing the station and converting it into a nonprofit. Meanwhile, KUSF ended 24 years of broadcasting from the San Francisco university and promised to return as an online-only station. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/19/MNV71H9VL2.DTL


Change for Change
Charity: La Cocina. Low-income food entrepreneurs, particularly female minorities or immigrants, now have an outlet for their talents. Some products you may have seen at local farmers' markets or Rainbow Grocery include Kika's Treats or Clairesquares. www.lacocinasf.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, Curry Without Worry, and SF Neighborhood Theater Foundation.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Gorgeous sunshine, with afternoons feeling more like April than January.

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


Movies {domestic revenues for January 14-16}
"The Green Hornet" swooped into first with $33.5 million [3584 theatres; $9,355 per theatre]. "The Dilemma" had a decent opening with $17.8 million [2940 theatres; $6,060 per theatre]. "The King's Speech" doubled its theatre count and tallied $9.2 million for fourth place [1543 theatres; $5,953 per theatres; $44.7 million overall].

Mainstream films:
- The Company Men (R): Drama; co-starring Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, and Kevin Costner
- No Strings Attached (R): Romantic comedy; co-starring Ashton Kutcher, Natalie Portman, and Kevin Kline; directed by Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters)
- The Way Back (PG-13): Adventure; co-starring Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Saoirse Ronan, and Colin Farrell; directed by Peter Weir (Master and Commander)

Art-house films:
- Barney's Version (R): Comedy; co-starring Paul Giamatti, Dustin Hoffman, and Minnie Driver
- Nuremberg (NR): Documentary
- Two in the Wave (NR): Documentary


Free Weekend Activities
Isn't It Obvious? opening reception [Fri 6p]: Featuring several local artists portraying the art in the mundane. At the SF Arts Commission Gallery. www.sfacgallery.org

Edwardian Ball Vendor Bazaar [Sat noon-6p]: Featuring a croquet garden, neo-Victorian goods, and entertainment. At the Regency Ballroom (SF). www.edwardianball.com

John Jung talk [Sat 2:30p]: Featuring the Chinese writer of "Sweet and Sour: Life in Chinese Family Restaurants." At the Chinatown Library (SF). www.sfpl.org

Science & Engineering Festival [Sun 11a-3p]: Featuring talks by UC Berkeley professors, exhibits by local museums, and hands-on activities by campus groups. At Sutardja Dai Hall (Berkeley). http://scienceatcal.berkeley.edu/festival

Vietnamese Tet Festival [Sun noon-8p]: Featuring Vietnamese food, cultural dances, karaoke, lion dance, and more. At the Veterans Memorial Building (Santa Rosa). www.sonomavietnamese.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

Our Soldiers' Stories exhibit [through April 22]: Featuring a photo exhibition by Maria Hohn and Martin Klimke focused on African-American GIs during the WWII era. At the African American Art & Culture Complex (SF). www.aaacc.org