Randy's Guide CCLXXXVIII (288)

National Reminder: Dining Out For Life (today)

It's an annual fundraiser for local HIV/AIDS organizations, when many restaurants donate 25% of your final bill. On April 26, you'll have a chance to participate by having a meal in one of the following metropolitan areas: San Francisco; San Jose; San Diego; Phoenix; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; Denver; Kansas City; Chicago; Minneapolis; Tulsa; Memphis; Birmingham; Indianapolis; Asheville; Charleston, S.C.; Detroit; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; and Boston (plus several others). www.diningoutforlife.com

Note: For San Francisco diners, you can currently find Opentable reservations for two around 7pm at the following recommended restaurants: Alamo Square Grill; Dosa on Valencia; Foreign Cinema; Mission Beach Cafe; and Radius. Help support San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Stop AIDS Project!

Local Food Pick

Sweet Maple

2101 Sutter St. (at Steiner St.)

San Francisco, CA 94115

(415) 655-9169

Sweet Maple

Yelp - Sweet Maple

Two words: Millionaire's Bacon. It's thick-cut with a peppery rub and sweet maple syrup glaze. The bacon turns out to be a great add-on to standard fare like omelettes, benedicts, and deep-fried french toast. You can even get your drink on with Drake's beer or champagne mimosas. 4 stars - 308 reviews

Previous San Francisco picks: Radius; Limon Rotisserie; Art's Cafe; Little Star Pizza; Yamo; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Humphry Slocombe; Tu Lan; Foreign Cinema; Zanze's Cheesecake; San Tung; Katana-Ya; A La Turca; Boxing Room; Frances; Saigon Sandwich; Brenda's French Soul Food; Park Tavern; Broken Record; Rosamunde Sausage Grill; Curry Up Now; Yasukochi's Sweet Stop; Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen; Firefly; Red Door Cafe; L'Ardoise Bistro; Pluto's; My Tofu House; Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous; Walzwerk; Good Luck Dim Sum; Amber India; Sotto Mare.

Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Curry Up Now (San Mateo); Little Lucca Sandwich Shop & Deli (Burlingame/South SF); Falafel's Drive In (San Jose); Sunny Bowl (Mountain View); Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (Menlo Park); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose); Ramen Dojo/Ramen Parlor (San Mateo); Amber India (Mountain View/San Jose/Palo Alto).

Previous East Bay picks: Little Star Pizza (Albany); Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen (Berkeley); Asmara (Oakland); Keanu's Island Kine Food (Vacaville); Tara's Organic Ice Cream (Berkeley/Oakland); Pluto's (Chico/Davis/Sacramento/Roseville); Bakesale Betty (Oakland); Zachary's Pizza (Oakland/Berkeley/San Ramon); Shoki Ramen House (Sacramento).

Previous North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery (Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael); Stumptown Brewery (Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg).

Local Bar Pick

El Rio

3158 Mission St. (at Precita Ave.)

San Francisco, CA 94110

(415) 282-3325

El Rio

Yelp - El Rio

Near the base of Bernal Hill sits the very lively El Rio. Its main draw is the immense back patio, which cooks up free BBQ (Fridays and Sundays) and oysters on the half shell (Fridays). As with any dive bar, the draft beer menu offers ample options, and the happy-hour specials - $3 draft or well drinks - bring in the crowds. 4 stars - 487 reviews

Previous San Francisco pick: Blackbird

Previous East Bay pick: The Trappist

Local History

Luther Burbank (1849-1926)

The 13th of 15 children, he stopped formal education after elementary school and used his inheritance at 21 to start a 17-acre farm. There, he developed and sold the rights to the Burbank potato for $150; today, a variant (the Russet Burbank) is the world's most cultivated potato. Mr. Burbank used his money to move from Massachusetts to Santa Rosa. Inspired by Charles Darwin's work, he experimented with crossbreeding to create hundreds of new varieties of fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals. The most successful include the Shasta daisy and Santa Rosa plum. Santa Rosa's Luther Burbank Home & Gardens and Luther Burbank Savings Bank, Sebastopol's Luther Burbank Farm, Stanford's Burbank House, and San Jose's Luther Burbank School District are examples of his legacy.

Previous San Francisco history: John Geary; Samuel Brannan; Michael O'Shaughnessy; Jasper O'Farrell; Frank McCoppin; Thomas Hayes; Francisco de Haro; Jose Bernal; David Broderick; Henry Haight; John Townsend; Cyril Magnin; Jose Arguello; Keiko Fukuda; John Le Conte; Eugene Schmitz; Theodore Judah

Previous Peninsula/South Bay history: Millbrae; Tanforan Racetrack; T. Jack Foster; Leland Stanford; Milpitas; Donald Tresidder; Josiah Belden

Previous East Bay history: Charles Tilden; William Hayward; John Fremont; Mariano Vallejo; Ygnacio Martinez; Henry Kaiser

Previous North Bay history: Cotati; Charles Fairfax

Bay Area Charity 

FabMo Creativity Center

Started in 1997, this Mountain View-based nonprofit is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization that diverts fabrics to Bay Area artisans and teachers. FabMo also hosts an annual art boutique and a variety of workshops. www.fabmo.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, SF Neighborhood Theater Foundation, La Cocina, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California, The Bike Kitchen, First Graduate, Lazarex Cancer Foundation (Amy C), and KQED (88.5 FM).

Bay Area Weekend Highs

Today's April showers will give way to sunshine and a warming trend over the next few days.

Coast: upper-50s (Thu-Fri); low-60s (Sat); mid-60s (Sun)

Downtown SF: low-60s (Thu); mid-60s (Fri); upper-60s (Sat); low-70s (Sun)

Bay: low-60s (Thu); upper-60s (Fri); low-70s (Sat); upper-70s (Sun)

South Bay: low-60s (Thu); upper-60s (Fri); low-70s (Sat); low-80s (Sun)

Inland East Bay: low-60s (Thu); low-70s (Fri); mid-70s (Sat); low-80s (Sun)

North Bay: low-60s (Thu); low-70s (Fri); mid-80s (Sat-Sun)

Bay Area Free Activities of the Week

1. Outer Richmond

- Dutch Queen's Day Festival: Saturday, 9:30am-5pm

- Lands End Center Opening: Saturday, 11am-2pm

Party with the Dutch! Meet at 9:30am for a bike ride from My Dutch Bike (near Montgomery Station) to Golden Gate Park. Or, nosh on some Dutch pastries, soak in live music by Dutch artists, and behold the opening of the Dutch Windmill and Millwrights Cottage. While you're in the Avenues, stop by the new Lands End Center, which celebrates its grand opening with live music and guided walks. www.sfdutch.com www.parksconservancy.com

2. Treasure Island

- Sailing Center: Saturday, 11am-4pm

- Flea Market: Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm

Free sailboat rides, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding are the highlights for the opening day festivities at the Treasure Island Sailing Center. Live music and games, along with BBQ for purchase, flesh out the event. The monthly flea market, located on the west-facing Great Lawn, is celebrating its one-year anniversary with live bands, art studio tours, and a BMX stunt show. RSVP at http://sf.funcheap.com/treasure-island-flea-free-admission-funcheap for free admission. www.tisailing.org www.treasureislandflea.com

3. Embarcadero

- Red Bull Bike Festival: Saturday, 11am-4pm

- Ferry Building Farmers Market: Saturday, 8am-2pm

Fixed-gear bikes will be competing in a velodrome, which is a steeply banked oval track with two straightaways and two 180-degree circular bends. Sounds intense! The top 15 riders from this year will compete against the top 10 riders from last year. Sponsors include Chrome Bags, Specialized Bicycles, and SF Bike Coalition. Stop by the weekly farmers' market at the Ferry Building, which promises a full presentation of prepared foods, artisan products, and local produce. www.redbullusa.com/rideNstyle www.cuesa.org

Bay Area Freebie of the Week

Many Bay Area museums are free next week. The listings are for San Francisco museums, unless otherwise noted.

- Tuesday: de Young; Legion of Honor; Conservatory of Flowers; Cartoon Art Museum; SFMOMA; Contemporary Jewish; YBCA

- Wednesday: Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito); SF Zoo; Exploratorium; GLBT History Museum

- Thursday: Pez Museum (Burlingame); Berkeley Art Museum; Chinese Historical Society

Randy's Guide CCLXXXVII (287)

Local Food Pick

Shoki Ramen House

1201 R St. (at 12th St.)

Sacramento, CA

(916) 441-0011

or

2675 24th St. (at Sloat Way)

Sacramento, CA 95818

(916) 454-2411

Yelp - Shoki Ramen House II

Yelp - Shoki Ramen House

On the return trip from Tahoe, I sought some comfort food. Found it! The second ramen house is open on Sundays near the edge of Sacramento's historic district. I ordered a regular size of medium-spicy tan tan men (excellent taste and a great value at $7.95). The soy milk ramen intrigued, and upon sipping the broth, you can clearly taste the homemade tofu from a nearby shop. We stopped in around 4:30pm and nabbed the final larger table. Be prepared for a wait (it seems)! 4 stars - 272 reviews (Shoki II); 4 stars - 540 reviews (Shoki)

Previous San Francisco picks: Radius; Limon Rotisserie; Art's Cafe; Little Star Pizza; Yamo; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Humphry Slocombe; Tu Lan; Foreign Cinema; Zanze's Cheesecake; San Tung; Katana-Ya; A La Turca; Boxing Room; Frances; Saigon Sandwich; Brenda's French Soul Food; Park Tavern; Broken Record; Rosamunde Sausage Grill; Curry Up Now; Yasukochi's Sweet Stop; Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen; Firefly; Red Door Cafe; L'Ardoise Bistro; Pluto's; My Tofu House; Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous; Walzwerk; Good Luck Dim Sum; Amber India; Sotto Mare.

Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Curry Up Now (San Mateo); Little Lucca Sandwich Shop & Deli (Burlingame/South SF); Falafel's Drive In (San Jose); Sunny Bowl (Mountain View); Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (Menlo Park); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose); Ramen Dojo/Ramen Parlor (San Mateo); Amber India (Mountain View/San Jose/Palo Alto).

Previous East Bay picks: Little Star Pizza (Albany); Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen (Berkeley); Asmara (Oakland); Keanu's Island Kine Food (Vacaville); Tara's Organic Ice Cream (Berkeley/Oakland); Pluto's (Chico/Davis/Sacramento/Roseville); Bakesale Betty (Oakland); Zachary's Pizza (Oakland/Berkeley/San Ramon).

Previous North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery (Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael); Stumptown Brewery (Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg).

Local Bar Pick

The Trappist

460 8th St. (at Broadway)

Oakland, CA 94607

(510) 238-8900

The Trappist

Yelp - The Trappist

I've stopped into here a couple of times now, as it's a great option near the 12th Street BART station. You'll find two separate bars with different menus (one holding 10 rotating taps, the other 15). Beer is expertly poured by Cicerone-certified servers into the proper glass. There's over 100 specialty bottles and a limited food menu too. 4-1/2 stars - 724 reviews

Previous San Francisco pick: Blackbird

Local History

Theodore Judah (1826-1863)

Born in Connecticut and a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Mr. Judah was hired as the chief engineer for the Sacramento Valley Railroad, which became the first railroad built west of the Mississippi River. His nickname became "Crazy Judah" for his desire to build a railroad through the Sierra Nevada. He signed up investors and successfully lobbied Congress for financing the transcontinental railroad. The "Big Four" investors marginalized him at this point, and he died of yellow fever while traveling through the Panama Canal to seek financing in New York to buy out the Big Four. Judah Street, which runs through the Sunset District between UCSF and the Pacific Ocean, and the N-Judah light rail line are named after him.

Bay Area Charity

FabMo Creativity Center

Started in 1997, this Mountain View-based nonprofit is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization that diverts fabrics to Bay Area artisans and teachers. FabMo also hosts an annual art boutique and a variety of workshops. www.fabmo.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, SF Neighborhood Theater Foundation, La Cocina, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California, The Bike Kitchen, First Graduate, Lazarex Cancer Foundation (Amy C), and KQED (88.5 FM).

Bay Area Weekend Highs

Last Thursday's thunderstorm was remarkable. Lightning strikes on the Bay Bridge, Transamerica Building, and Golden Gate Bridge are captured in photographic detail. Spring appears to be here, at last!

~ THURSDAY ~

Coast: mid-60s

SF: upper-60s

Bay: low-70s

South Bay: mid-70s

Inland East Bay: upper-70s

North Bay: low-80s

~ FRIDAY-SUNDAY ~

Coast: mid-60s

SF: low-70s

Bay: low-80s

South Bay: mid-80s

North Bay: upper-80s

Inland East Bay: upper-80s

Free Bay Area Activities of the Week

1. Earth Day - Thursday-Sunday

The official day is Sunday, but Bay Area communities will be offering events, park and beach clean-ups, and discussions throughout the weekend. San Jose holds an event on Thursday, Oakland and Berkeley host community activities on Saturday, while San Francisco's main gathering is on Sunday. Check out www.earthday.org for more details.

2. Cal Day - Saturday

A lecture by Robert Reich (former Secretary of Labor under President Clinton), an open practice of the Cal Football team, and a concert by Dr. Dog at 4pm are the highlights. Over 300 activities are listed. http://calday.berkeley.edu

3. Bay Area Dance Week - April 20-29

Take free ballet or clogging classes at ODC Dance Commons, check out performances of fire dance or Scottish country, or consider pole-dance lessons. Over 600 options. www.bayareandw.org

Bay Area Freebie of the Week

As part of Earth Day festivities on Sunday, Origins is once again offering free full-size moisturizer when you trade in an existing skin-care product of any brand (full or empty). Bay Area stores include San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Walnut Creek, Concord, Fairfield, Pleasanton, and Corte Madera. Simply print out the form at www.origins.com/cms/special_offers/in_store_trade_in_20120422.tmpl.

Randy's Guide CCLXXXVI (286)

Local Food Pick

Sotto Mare

552 Green St. (at Columbus Ave.)

San Francisco, CA 94133

(415) 398-3181

Sotto Mare

Yelp - Sotto Mare

While North Beach is normally a no-go area for me, this is one of the (few) shining stars. It's an old-school Italian seafood store and restaurant filled with memorabilia and tchotckes. You'll see multiple people come, shake hands with the owners, and buy their shellfish to go. The clam chowder and cioppino are spectacular. 4-1/2 stars - 927 reviews

Previous SF picks: Radius; Limon Rotisserie; Art's Cafe; Little Star Pizza; Yamo; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Humphry Slocombe; Tu Lan; Foreign Cinema; Zanze's Cheesecake; San Tung; Katana-Ya; A La Turca; Boxing Room; Frances; Saigon Sandwich; Brenda's French Soul Food; Park Tavern; Broken Record; Rosamunde Sausage Grill; Curry Up Now; Yasukochi's Sweet Stop; Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen; Firefly; Red Door Cafe; L'Ardoise Bistro; Pluto's; My Tofu House; Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous; Walzwerk; Good Luck Dim Sum; Amber India.

Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Curry Up Now (San Mateo); Little Lucca Sandwich Shop & Deli (Burlingame/South SF); Falafel's Drive In (San Jose); Sunny Bowl (Mountain View); Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (Menlo Park); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose); Ramen Dojo/Ramen Parlor (San Mateo); Amber India (Mountain View/San Jose/Palo Alto).

Previous East Bay picks: Little Star Pizza (Albany); Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen (Berkeley); Asmara (Oakland); Keanu's Island Kine Food (Vacaville); Tara's Organic Ice Cream (Berkeley/Oakland); Pluto's (Chico/Davis/Sacramento/Roseville); Bakesale Betty (Oakland); Zachary's Pizza (Oakland/Berkeley/San Ramon).

Previous North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery (Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael); Stumptown Brewery (Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg).

Local Bar Pick

Blackbird

2124 Market St. (at Church St.)

San Francisco, CA 94114

(415) 503-0630

Blackbird

Yelp - Blackbird

By far, Blackbird is my favorite overall watering hole in the Bay Area. It's family friendly, as my parents enjoyed it on their last SF trip. It's filled with urban professionals in their 20s and 30s, who seek a clean, convenient spot (right outside Church station) to meet with friends, first dates, and lovers. Happy hour, which runs weekdays from 5-8pm, is one of the best in town. I'll happily order a $4 whiskey sour and $3 Black Butte Porter... and be done for the night. The seasonal cocktails, written on parchment scrolls, are rotated quarterly; currently, I'm a fan of the Blackbird Toddy and Hop Scotch. The mood lighting, locally themed artwork, and mid-20th century aesthetic are perfect complements to the top-notch beverages. 4-1/2 stars - 347 reviews

Local History

Josiah Belden (1815-1892)

He overcame his orphan status and joined the first organized group to use the California Trail in 1841. After General Vallejo detained him at Mission San Jose, he became an Mexican citizen and later opened a store in San Jose. After San Jose became the first incorporated California city, Belden was elected its first mayor in 1850. One year, later, he served as a member of San Jose's Common Council.

Local Charity

FabMo Creativity Center

Started in 1997, this Mountain View-based nonprofit is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization that diverts fabrics to Bay Area artisans and teachers. FabMo also hosts an annual art boutique and a variety of workshops. www.fabmo.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, SF Neighborhood Theater Foundation, La Cocina, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California, The Bike Kitchen, First Graduate, Lazarex Cancer Foundation (Amy C), and KQED (88.5 FM).

Bay Area Weekend Highs

A tornado touched down in Stockton earlier today. Thunderstorms are forecast for this evening in the Bay Area. Skies should start to clear by Saturday afternoon.

~ THU-FRI ~

low-60s

~ SAT-SUN ~

Coast: upper-50s

SF: low-60s

Bay: mid-60s

South Bay: upper-60s

Inland East Bay: low-70s

North Bay: low-70s

Free San Francisco Activities of the Week

1. Cherry Blossom Festival

* Saturday-Sunday 10am-5pm, near Post and Buchanan

Cherry Blossom Festival

It's always one of the best street festivals in San Francisco. Indoors, you can learn about ikebana (scrolls), tea ceremony, bonsai, washi ningyo (paper dolls), origami, shishu (embroidery), calligraphy, swords, and mataro dolls. Outside along the streets are numerous vendors, taiko demonstration, fashion show, karate groups, judo, and free sake tastings.

2. Sunday Streets

* Sunday 11am-4pm, in Golden Gate Park and along Ocean Beach

Sunday Streets

The most scenic route of the Sunday Streets calendar. Free bike rentals and maintenance, open-air yoga classes, local neighborhood groups, and kids' activities.

3. DogFest 2012

* Saturday 11am-4pm, in Duboce Park

DogFest

How can you turn down a fundraiser for a local elementary school? Celebrity judges for a dog show include writer Dave Eggers, singer Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Go's), and writer Daniel Handler (pseudonym Lemony Snicket). There will also be a carnival, dog parade, and comedy dog show.

Randy's Guide CCLXXXV (285)

Local Food Pick

Zachary's Chicago Pizza

5801 College Ave. (at Birch Ct.)

Oakland, CA 94618

or

1853 Solano Ave. (at Fresno Ave.)

Berkeley, CA 94707

Zachary's Pizza

Zachary's (Oakland) - Yelp

Zachary's (Berkeley) - Yelp

Pizza proponents often cite Zachary's Pizza as the founder of deep dish here in the Bay Area. I'll let you decide how this one stacks up to Little Star, which fired a salvo at the Berkeley market by opening its third location along Solano Ave. Zachary's stuffed pizza, which focuses on a chunky tomato sauce, is best filled with a mixture of chicken and spinach. I have yet to try a third Zachary's location in San Ramon. 4-1/2 stars - 1867 reviews (Oakland); 4-1/2 stars - 1080 reviews (Berkeley); 4 stars - 471 reviews (San Ramon)

Previous SF picks: Radius; Limon Rotisserie; Art's Cafe; Little Star Pizza; Yamo; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Humphry Slocombe; Tu Lan; Foreign Cinema; Zanze's Cheesecake; San Tung; Katana-Ya; A La Turca; Boxing Room; Frances; Saigon Sandwich; Brenda's French Soul Food; Park Tavern; Broken Record; Rosamunde Sausage Grill; Curry Up Now; Yasukochi's Sweet Stop; Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen; Firefly; Red Door Cafe; L'Ardoise Bistro; Pluto's; My Tofu House; Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous; Walzwerk; Good Luck Dim Sum; Amber India.

Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Curry Up Now (San Mateo); Little Lucca Sandwich Shop & Deli (Burlingame/South SF); Falafel's Drive In (San Jose); Sunny Bowl (Mountain View); Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (Menlo Park); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose); Ramen Dojo/Ramen Parlor (San Mateo); Amber India (Mountain View/San Jose/Palo Alto).

Previous East Bay picks: Little Star Pizza (Albany); Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen (Berkeley); Asmara (Oakland); Keanu's Island Kine Food (Vacaville); Tara's Organic Ice Cream (Berkeley/Oakland); Pluto's (Chico/Davis/Sacramento/Roseville); Bakesale Betty (Oakland).

Previous North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery (Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael); Stumptown Brewery (Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg).

Local History

Eugene Schmitz (1864-1928)

The Irish-German San Franciscan became Mayor of San Francisco under the Union Labor Party ticket in 1902. After the 1906 earthquake struck, he imposed on police a "shoot-to-kill" order toward any looters or other criminals. The following year, Schmitz was convicted of extortion and sentenced to five years at San Quentin. On his appeal, the District Court and California Supreme Court nullified the conviction. He was acquitted during the follow-up bribery trial in 1912 when two key witnesses refused to testify. Though defeated in the two subsequent mayoral elections, Schmitz was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1921.

Local Charity

FabMo Creativity Center

Started in 1997, this Mountain View-based nonprofit is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization that diverts fabrics to Bay Area artisans and teachers. FabMo also hosts an annual art boutique and a variety of workshops. www.fabmo.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, SF Neighborhood Theater Foundation, La Cocina, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California, The Bike Kitchen, First Graduate, Lazarex Cancer Foundation (Amy C), and KQED (88.5 FM).

Bay Area Weekend Highs

It's dry? Forecasts show the return of rain next week.

~ THU-FRI ~

Coast: mid-50s

SF: upper-50s

Bay: low-60s

North Bay: low-60s

Inland East Bay: mid-60s

South Bay: mid-60s

~ SAT-SUN ~

Coast: low-60s

SF: mid-60s

Bay: upper-60s

North Bay: upper-60s

Inland East Bay: low-70s

South Bay: low-70s

Bay Area Free Activities of the Week

1. Easter Sunday: Dolores Park / Union Street

* Dolores Park: 11am-4pm; www.thesisters.org

* Union Street: 10am-5pm; www.sresproductions.com/union_street_easter.html

You have your choice... a Hunky Jesus contest in Dolores Park, hosted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence... or an Easter Bonnet contest and parade down Union Street. Skies should be clear and ready for you to celebrate the resurrection.

2. SF Bike Party

* Friday, 7:30-10:30pm

It's a safer, kinder version of Critical Mass. Meet near the playground and tennis courts in Golden Gate Park, then celebrate in Mothers' Meadow and SF Zoo. Theme for tonight is Wild Animal Kingdom.

3. Carnaval in the Park

* Saturday, 1-4pm

This Golden Gate Jubilee, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Bridge, will feature Ballet Folklorico Nicaragua Viva, SF Carnaval King & Queen, Samba do Coracao, and others. The performances will unfold at the Music Concourse Bandshell, nestled between the Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park.