Randy's Guide CCXXXIX (239)

Historic milestones: 19 years since the passage of the 27th Amendment; 51 years since the first televised royal wedding; 65 years since the founding of Sony; 120 years since the opening of Carnegie Hall (Tchaikovsky as conductor); 142 years since the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad; 149 years since the Cinco de Mayo Battle of Puebla; 165 years since the first publication of the oldest surviving newspaper (Cambridge Chronicle).

Local Restaurant Pick

Art's Cafe

747 Irving St. (at 8th Ave.)

www.artscafesf.com

The six-dollar hash-brown sandwiches are ingenious: a thin, crispy hash brown rectangle is stuffed with goodies such as chicken teriyaki or spinach, then folded over and served with two eggs and toast. The Korean couple who runs the small diner also serves kim chee, bulgogi, and bi bim bap on the menu. www.yelp.com/biz/arts-cafe-san-francisco (513 reviews; 4-star average)

Change for Change
Charity: Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California. Founded in 1973, the JCCCNC typically offers programs, sports leagues, events, and community services for over 80 different national non-profits. The March earthquake and tsunami has led the JCCCNC to start the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, which will donate 100% of proceeds to a three-prong approach of immediate relief, mid-term recovery, and long-term rebuilding. The goal is $1 million; to date, the cause has raised over $390,000. www.causes.com/campaigns/97128?cause_id=590211

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, SF Neighborhood Theater Foundation, and La Cocina.


Bay Area Weekend Highs

Much cooler after Wednesday's heat, with a chance of rain on Sunday.

Coast: upper-50s

SF: low-60s

Bay: mid-60s

South Bay: upper-60s

Inland East Bay: low-70s

North Bay: low-70s

Music

"Sydney, I'll Come Running" by Brett Dennen (Oakdale, Calif.)

The 31-year-old from the Modesto suburb has toured with Jason Mraz, John Mayer, and Dave Matthews Band. He's now the headliner with Dawes (a cool Americana band), including a stop at Oakland's Fox Theatre (June 25), Denver, Austin, NYC, Chicago, Portland, and L.A. www.brettdennen.net

Movies {domestic revenues for April 29-May 1}

1. Fast Five. $86.2 million (3644 theatres; $23.655 per theatre)

5. Prom. $4.7 million (2730 theatres; $1,726 per theatre)

6. Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil. $4.1 million (2505 theatres; $1,640 per theatre)

18. Dylan Dog: Dead of Night. $0.8 million (875 theatres; $863 per theatre)

Mainstream films:

- Something Borrowed (PG-13): Romantic comedy; co-starring Kate Hudson and John Krasinski

- Thor (PG-13): Sci-fi; co-starring Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman

Art-house films:

- The Beaver (PG-13): Drama; co-starring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster

- Cave of Forgotten Dreams (G): Documentary

- Inciendies (R): Drama

- Jumping the Broom (PG-13): Comedy; co-starring Loretta Devine and Angela Bassett

- Last Night (R): Drama; co-starring Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington

- Meek's Cutoff (PG): Western; co-starring Michelle Williams and Paul Dano

- Queen to Play (NR): Drama

- There Be Dragons (PG-13): Drama; co-starring Wes Bentley

- These Amazing Shadows (NR): Documentary

Free Activities

Free Cab Rides [Thu 3pm - Fri 3am]: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo, then go home safely! Use either Luxor Cab (SF 415.282.4141) or Veterans Cab (Alameda-Oakland-Berkeley 800.281.4488), and mention Berg Injury Lawyers.

Stanford Powwow [Fri 5-11pm, Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-6pm]: 40th annual. At Stanford's Eucalyptus Grove. www.stanfordpowwow.org

Cinco de Mayo fiesta [Sat 10am-6pm]: Featuring live salsa, Latin jazz, folklorico ballet, mariachi, Aztec dance, and more. At Dolores Park (SF). www.sfcincodemayo.com

Pagan Festival and Parade [Sat 10am-5:30pm]: 10th annual. With a parade, live music, dance, and costumes. At Civic Center Park (Berkeley). www.thepaganalliance.org

Access to Adventure [Sat noon-3pm]: Fun and games for children with disabilities. At Golden Gate Park's Music Concourse Bandshell (SF). www.supportforfamilies.org

Adam Werbach talk [Sat 1-4pm]: Engaging a billion people, the birth of a new green. Listen to the former President of Sierra Club engage with artists and the audience about the modern environmentalism movement. At YBCA Forum (SF).

www.ybca.org/content/ban6-conversations-environment

YBCA - Ricardo Lemvo [Sat 1-2:30pm]: Afro-Latino concert, the first in the summer YBCA series. In Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybca.org

Kara's Cupcakes demo [Sat 2pm]: Kara Lind will showcase how to make regular and gluten-free cupcakes. At Macy's Union Square (SF). www.macys.com/store/event/index.ognc?action=search&storeId=212

Opera in the Park [Sat 3pm]: Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Bizet. At Dimond Park (Oakland). www.openopera.net

Sunday Streets [Sun 11am-4pm]: Free bike rentals, yoga, live music, Mike's Bikes tune-ups, interactive mural painting, and more. Along Valencia (Duboce to 24th St.) and 24th St. (Valencia to Hampshire). www.sundaystreetssf.com

Bike to Work Day [Thu]: Join 150,000+ bicycle commuters, and stop off at various energizer relief stations around the Bay Area. www.youcanbikethere.com