Randy's Guide CCXXIX (229)

Historic milestones: 25 years since the People Power Revolution (Philippines); 28 years since the first CDs in the U.S.; 50 years since the establishment of the Peace Corps (JFK); 69 years since the WWII Battle of Los Angeles (with 3 civilian deaths); 71 years since the discovery of carbon-14; 92 years since the first U.S. gasoline tax (Oregon); 139 years since the world's first national park (Yellowstone); 142 years since the first African-American congressman (Hiram Revels, R-MS); and 208 years since the landmark Marbury v. Madison.


Deal of the Week
Free Museum Day! The Conservatory of Flowers, YBCA, de Young, Cartoon Art Museum, Legion of Honor, and SFMOMA are all free on Tuesday. The Exploratorium, SF Zoo (residents only), and Sausalito's Bay Area Discovery Museum are free on Wednesday.


Local News
Bernal Heights' preservationists are trying to prevent the City from dismantling a vintage Coca-Cola sign likely painted in the 1930s. The City of San Francisco strongly believes that this ad violates strict anti-billboard laws. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/24/BA1Q1HT7KS.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
Tahoe must be thrilled after a dry January. With snow level at 400 feet, San Francisco may get its 6th snowfall in 120 years tonight or Friday. The storm should blow out by Saturday afternoon.

Highs: near 50
Lows: low-30s (inland); mid-30s (coast-bay); upper-30s (SF)


Music
"In the Sun" by She & Him (Portland, Ore.)

Zooey Deschanel is the "She," and M. Ward is the "Him." And with two tours and two acclaimed albums under their belts, look for the indie-pop group to re-emerge later this year.


Movies {domestic revenues for February 18-20}
With the help of adults over 24 years old (89% of audience), Liam Neeson took another thriller, "Unknown," to first spot with $21.9 million [3043 theatres; $7,183 per theatre]. The sci-fi "I Am Number Four" came in second with $19.4 million [3154 theatres; $6,167 per theatre]. "Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son" debuted in fifth with $16.3 million [2821 theatres; $5,778 per theatre]. And in the final weekend before the Oscars on Sunday, "The King's Speech" and "Black Swan" both topped the $100 million mark.

Mainstream films:
- Drive Angry (R): Action; co-starring Nicolas Cage
- Hall Pass (R): Comedy; co-starring Owen Wilson and Christina Applegate; directed by the Farrelly Brothers

Art-house films:
- How I Ended This Summer (NR): Drama
- Nora's Will (NR): Thriller
- Shelter (NR): Horror; co-starring Julianne Moore and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
- Vanishing on Seventh Street (R): Thriller; co-starring Hayden Christensen and John Leguizamo
- We Were Here (NR): Documentary

Thomas' DVD Pick. All About Eve (1950): This classic tale of behind-the-scenes Broadway backstabbing is full of quotable lines and sparkling performances. Bette Davis leads the outstanding cast as an aging diva whose biggest fan (Anne Baxter's Eve) might lead to her demise. Winner of six Oscars, including Best Picture and Director. Domestic box office: approx. $4 million.


Free Weekend Activities
Noise Pop Happy Hour Shows [Thu-Fri 5pm, Sat 4pm]: Featuring Shannon and the Clams, Felsen, The Frail, Dirty Ghosts, and others. At Benders Bar (SF). www.noisepop.com

Celebrity Crab Cracking [Sat noon-3pm]: Featuring the San Francisco 49ers and local chefs for a crab demo and a crab cracking and cleaning contest. In Union Square Plaza (SF). www.49erswebzone.com

Park Library celebration [Sat 1pm]: The latest reopening as part of the SF Public Library's renovation schedule. At the Park Branch Library (SF). www.sfpl.org

Pop & Shop [Sun noon-7pm]: Featuring two live DJs, 30+ craft vendors, DIY presentations, and more. At Public Works (SF). www.noisepop.com

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

Randy's Guide CCXXVIII (228)

Historic milestones: 43 years since the opening of the Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield, Mass.); 48 years since the publication of The Feminine Mystique; 58 years since the discovery of DNA's structure; 69 years since FDR's signing of Executive Order 9066, the Japanese-American internment camp measure; 107 years since the premiere of Madama Butterfly; 132 years since the first Woolworth store (Utica, N.Y.); and 133 years since the first issued telephone book (New Haven, Conn.).


Local News
Fascinating! Five snowfall days have been recorded in San Francisco over the past 130 years. The archived photos are truly remarkable. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/parenting/detail?entry_id=83256


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
It's rain, rain, rain! Snow could dust Bay Area mountaintops during storm #3 today. A short drying-out period should start sometime on Saturday until Monday.

Highs: upper-40s (coast); low-50s (SF); mid-50s (bay-inland)
Lows: mid-30s (inland); upper-30s (coast-bay); low-40s (SF)


Movies {domestic revenues for February 11-13}
"Just Go With It," Adam Sandler's romantic comedy, topped the charts with $30.5 million [3548 theatres; $8,601 per theatre]. Tweens pushed "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" to $29.5 million [3105 theatres; $9,505 per theatre]. "Gnomeo and Juliet" had the highest animated film opening in February, with $25.4 million [2994 theatres; $8,469 per theatre]. Action-packed "The Eagle" opened weakly in fourth with $8.7 million [2296 theatres; $3,782 per theatre].

Mainstream films:
- Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (PG-13): Comedy; co-starring Martin Lawrence
- I Am Number Four (PG-13): Action; co-starring Alex Pettyfer
- Unknown (PG-13): Thriller; co-starring Liam Neeson and Aidan Quinn

Art-house films:
- And Everything Is Going Fine (NR): Documentary; directed by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's Eleven, Traffic)
- Even the Rain (NR): Documentary; co-starring Gael Garcia Bernal
- Kaboom (NR): Drama; directed by Gregg Araki (Mysterious Skin)

Sameer's DVD Pick: The Stoning of Soraya M. (R). This graphic account of the true-life tale of Soraya M. is alternatingly heart-wrenching and eye-opening. The events leading to her death in Iran illuminate a practice dating back centuries but still existing during modern times. It's no surprise that the novel, the basis for the movie, is banned in Iran. Domestic box office: $0.6 million; foreign: $0.5 million.


Free Weekend Activities
Chamber Orchestra concerts [Thu 5:30pm, Fri 8pm, Sun 7pm]: Featuring a melding of Stravinsky's Octet with the silent 1921 film Now or Never. At the Contemporary Jewish Museum (SF) on Thursday, Herbst Theatre (SF) on Friday, and the First Congregational (Berkeley) on Saturday. www.sfchamberorchestra.org

Chinatown Community Fair [Sat 10am-4:30pm, Sun 9am-5pm]: Featuring calligraphy artists, acrobats, live entertainment, and more. www.chineseparade.com

Museum of the African Diaspora [Sat 11am-6pm]: It's Family Day and Black History Month. Featuring the Oaktown Jazz Ensemble, a quilting art activity, and genealogy workshop. At MoAD (SF). www.moadsf.org

TechShop opening [Sat noon-5pm]: Featuring DIY workshops, equipment demos, MythBusters co-host Adam Savage, and Off the Grid food trucks outside. At TechShop (SF). www.techshop.ws

From Produce to Production talk [Sat 1pm]: A discussion on new practices for growing, preparing, and purchasing food. At YBCA (SF). www.ybca.org

Chinese New Year Parade [Sat 5-8pm]: Featuring firecrackers, Miss Chinatown USA, the lengthy Golden Dragon, and more. Starts on Market St. in the Financial District, then proceeds to Geary, Post, and Kearny. www.chineseparade.com

Vietnamese Spring Festival [Sun 10am-5pm]: Featuring Vietnamese music, food, and more. Along Market St. in downtown San Jose. http://vietnameseparade.eventbrite.com

Noise Pop Happy Hour Shows [Tue-Fri 5pm, Sat 4pm]: Featuring Shannon and the Clams, Felsen, The Frail, Dirty Ghosts, and others. At Benders Bar (SF). www.noisepop.com

Underground Food Politics [Wed 7:30pm]: Featuring speaks from ForageSF, Underground Market, Urban Agriculture Alliance, and the Permaculture Guild. At CounterPULSE (SF0. www.counterpulse.org

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

Randy's Guide CCXXVII (227)

Historic milestones: 6 years since the launch of YouTube; 21 years since the release of Nelson Mandela from prison; 43 years since the first 9-1-1 system (Haleyville, Ala.); 73 years since the first sci-fi TV program; and 78 years since the first singing telegram.


Deal of the Week
The California Academy of Sciences is opening its doors on Wednesday, 9:30am-5pm. This saves about $25 on adult admission! Make sure you get your timed tickets for the Planetarium, and enjoy the indoor snow flurries. www.calacademy.org


Local News
Nudists in the Castro insist they're helping parents with kids. Freshman Supervisor Scott Weiner has faced some angry complaints from constituents. What to do? www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/10/BA2L1HKRE7.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
Nice again, although the hint of rain exists for Monday.

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


Movies {domestic revenues for February 4-6}
Attendance remains low, as the Super Bowl weekend had the fewest moviegoers in 16 years. Suspense-laden "The Roommate" tallied $15.0 million [2534 theatres; $5,921 per theatre]. Anthony Hopkins could only muster $9.4 million for "Sanctum" in second place [2787 theatres; $3,390 per theatre].

Mainstream films:
- Cedar Rapids (R): Comedy; co-starring John C. Reilly, Sigourney Weaver, and Anne Heche
- The Eagle (PG-13): Action; co-starring Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, and Donald Sutherland
- Gnomeo and Julie
- Just Go with It (PG-13): Romantic comedy; co-starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston
- Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (G): Documentary

Art-house films:
- Come Undone (NR): Drama
- Oscar-Nominated Shorts Films 2011 (NR)
- Outside the Law (NR): Drama

Wes' DVD pick: The Town (R): This crime drama comes recommended in the vein of "The Departed." Ben Affleck directs Jeremy Renner to an Oscar nomination. Domestic box office: $92.2 million; foreign: $52.4 million.


Free Weekend Activities
Food from the Heart [Fri 5-8pm]: Featuring tango dancing, classical music, and season tastings for purchase. At the Ferry Building (SF). www.slowfoodsanfrancisco.com

"Love Your Local Artist" party [Fri 7-10pm]: Featuring free drinks, hors d'ouevres, coffee, and valentine-making activities. At Urban bazaar (SF). www.urbanbazaarsf.com

Corazon del Barrio [Sat 11am-4pm]: Featuring open rehearsal performance, refreshments, Valentine's card workshop, Latin American folkloric music, and more. At the Mission Cultural Center (SF). www.missionculturalcenter.org

SF History Expo [Sat-Sun 11am-4pm]: Featuring 20+ neighborhood associations to discuss local history using photos, videos, artwork, and stories. At the Old Mint (SF). www.sfhistory.org

Lunar New Year Celebration [Sat noon-4pm]: Featuring Korean drums, tai chi demos, Mongolian dance, Philippine crafts, Japanese paper dolls, and more. At Asian Cultural Center (Oakland). www.oacc.cc

Sweetie Pie and Art Fest [Sat 5-10pm]: Featuring various local artisans, musical guest Saint Anarchy, and free pie! At 111 Minna (SF). www.111minnagallery.com

Valen-tiny Night [Sat 8pm-midnight]: Featuring elevator peepshows, live music, and more love-based entertainment. At YBCA (SF). RSVP at www.ybca.org

A History of SF's Mission Bay [Wed 7:30pm]: Featuring two Mission Creek Conservancy historians to discuss the Mission Bay area. At CounterPULSE (SF). www.counterpulse.org

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

Randy's Guide CCXXVI (226)

Historic milestones: 40 years since the opening of NASDAQ; 71 years since the premiere of Pinocchio; 93 years since the opening of San Francisco's Twin Peaks Tunnel; 98 years since the ratification of the 16th Amendment (income tax); 168 years since the first U.S. minstrel show (NYC); and 321 years since the first paper money in North America (Massachusetts).


Deal of the Week
San Francisco's Asian Art Museum has a a special Year of the Rabbit Celebration on Sunday. Watch lion dancers, participate in hands-on activities, try out yoga, and tour the museum's exhibits. Pair this outing with a Saigon Sandwich or Brenda's grillades, and you've got a fine way to spend Super Bowl Sunday. www.asianart.org


Local News
The Claremont Hotel, a venerable spa resort in the Berkeley Hills, filed for bankruptcy. It was one of five luxury properties seized by lenders from Morgan Stanley's real estate funds. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/02/BU9K1HHEPP.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
Continued good fortune - maybe it will be an early spring around here.

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


Movies {domestic revenues for January 28-30}
Anthony Hopkins' supernatural tale "The Rite" topped the charts with $14.8 million [2985 theatres; $4,955 per theatre]. Action-packed "The Mechanic" opened in third with $11.4 million [2703 theatres; $4,226 per theatre]. "The King's Speech" expanded on the heels of its 12 Oscar nominations, and picked up $11.1 million [2557 theatres; $4,327 per theatre; $72.2 million overall]. "True Grit" tallied 10 Oscar nominations and saw its business increase to $7.5 million [3120 theatres; $2,410 per theatre; $148.3 million overall].

Mainstream films:
- The Roommate (PG-13): Thriller
- Sanctum (R): Action

Art-house films:
- Dogtooth (NR): Drama
- The Housemaid (NR): Romance
- The Time That Remains (NR): Drama

DVD pick: The Social Network (PG-13). A thoroughly compelling and invasive look into the early stages of Facebook, this semi-real drama features a scary-real performance by Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg. It's timely and poetic, with a great score (probably its best chance for an award, due to "The King's Speech"). And it reconfirms why I never wanted to support the Facebook empire. Domestic box office: $96.1 million (and growing); foreign: $117.7 million.


Free Weekend Activities
Berkeley Art Museum [Thu 11am-5pm]: There's time! At the UC Berkeley Art Museum. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu

First Thursday Art [Thu 5:30-7:30pm]: Featuring multiple Union Square art galleries along Geary, Post, and Sutter. www.firstthursdayart.com

White Crane Lion Dancing [Fri noon]: As part of the Rotunda Dance Series. At City Hall (SF). www.dancersgroup.org

A Sensory Feast [Fri 6pm]: Featuring 10 emerging Asian artists who test the five senses for this art opening. At SOMArts Cultural Center (SF). www.kearnystreet.org

Oakland Art Murmur [Fri 7-10pm]: Featuring multiple downtown art galleries between the MacArthur and 19th St. BART stations. Along Broadway and San Pablo (Oakland). www.oaklandartmurmur.com

SF Bike Party [Fri 7:30pm]: A kinder, gentler version of Critical Mass. www.sfbikeparty.wordpress.com

Oakland Standard Launch Party [Fri 8pm-1am]: Featuring local author talks, group performances, live DJ, and more. At the Oakland Museum of CA. www.museumca.org

Giants FanFest [Sat 10am-3pm]: 18th annual. Featuring stadium tours, autograph sessions, and photograph opportunities. At AT&T Park (SF). www.knbr.com

Lunar New Year Festival [Sat 11am-3pm]: Featuring acrobats, martial artists, Chinese lion dancers, and good food. In Courthouse Square (Redwood City). www.redwoodcity.org

Bus Stop Derby Block Party [Sat 3:30pm]: The winning neighborhood is North Beach. Featuring a concert with OK Go, several street-food vendors, and games. Concert is limited to the first 800 people. At the SF Art Institute. www.busstopderby.com

Lunar New Year Festival [Sun 10am-1pm]: Featuring a parade, lion dancers, martial artists, and schoolkid music groups. At the Albany Twin Theater. www.solanoavenueassn.org

Oakland Museum of CA {Sun 11am-5pm]: Free admission! www.museumca.org

Silent Happening [Mon 7pm]: Featuring a preview of the silent film "Replikaaa," a silent cocktail party, and local artist performances. At Z Space (SF). www.replikaaathemovie.com

Eric Drooker discussion [Wed 7:30pm]: Featuring the animation designer behind "Howl," a recent film and graphic novel. At CounterPULSE (SF). www.counterpulse.org

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