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