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How Robin Williams and TheatreWorks put Jessica Chastain on path to stardom

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:25:57 GMT

Academy Award-winning Jessica Chastain recently acknowledged some game-changing moments in her life and career, including professional boosts she received from Robin Williams and from the Palo Alto-based TheaterWorks Silicon Valley.Chastain, who was born and reared in Sacramento, talked on a recent episode of Marc Maron’s WTF podcast about one of her first professional roles, playing Juliet in a 1998 TheatreWorks production of Romeo and Juliet. For reasons explained below, that role in Shakespeare’s classic, in turn, led Chastain to study drama at the prestigious Julliard School in New York City, where she received the Robin Williams Scholarship.These two events, involving one of the Bay Area’s most famous cultural figures and one of its cornerstone theater companies (albeit one that is undergoing a desperate fundraising campaign to keep from closing), helped affect the course of Chastain’s path to film stardom, as she explained in the interview, which was taped in...

Tough Mudder racers report rash, illness after Sonoma event

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:25:57 GMT

The muddy course at last weekend’s Tough Mudder race is a possible factor in participants’ reports of pain and illness, Sonoma County’s health department said.“Multiple reports” have been received of rash and other painful symptoms, the agency said in an advisory Wednesday, Aug. 23.Tough Mudder, which took place Aug. 19-20 at the Sonoma Raceway, put participants on an obstacle course of 3 to 9 miles that “involved extensive skin exposure to mud,” in the agency’s words.Symptoms reported as appearing 12 to 48 hours after the event included pustular rash, fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea and vomiting, the agency said. They could be caused by “swimmers’ itch” — an allergic reaction to microscopic parasites — but might also indicate infection by Staphylococcus or Aeromonas bacteria.The agency advised any participant who is having such symptoms to see a doctor or go to an emergency room.Related ArticlesHealt...

What to watch: ‘Bottoms’ is the bonkers comedy we need now

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:25:57 GMT

What looks good this week?Our engines rev up for “Bottoms,” a racy comedy costarring a hilarious Marshawn Lynch, and for “Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn,” a sharp, incisive docuseries about the uber-wealthy former head of Nissan and Renault who absconds from authorities. It drops on Apple TV+But you can pass on sales-pitchy “Gran Turismo,” and the well-intentioned by long and repetitive “The Hill.”As for East Bay-set “Fremont,” it’s so good we wrote a separate review on that.Here’s our roundup.“Bottoms”: If you thought the uncouth hard-R-rated “Strays” wore out its potty-mouth welcome halfway through — which it did — check out this irreverent bit of rambunctious from one of our most exciting new comedic filmmakers, Emma Seligman. On a par with the outrageous female-backed comedy “Joyride,” this one pins itself to a daring premise — two unpopular high school friends PJ (Rachel Sennott, who co wrote the screenplay) and Josie (Ayo Ede...

Man shot to death at homeless camp underneath Oakland freeway

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:25:57 GMT

OAKLAND — A man was shot to death early Thursday at a homeless encampment underneath an Oakland freeway, authorities said.Authorities are trying to confirm the man’s identity.The fatal shooting, which is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol, happened about 2:45 a.m. Thursday at an encampment on state property underneath Interstate 580 near the 3400 block of Telegraph Avenue.The man was pronounced dead at the camp.Oakland police initially responded to the shooting but the CHP later took over the investigation.Authorities have not said if the man lived at the camp or was visiting someone there.A motive for the killing is under investigation and no arrests have been made, the CHP said.Anyone with information about the killing is asked to call the CHP tip line at 707-917-4491.

Bay Area Brewery Tour: San Francisco’s Bernal Heights and Dogpatch neighborhoods

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:25:57 GMT

This month, my Bay Area brewery tour took me to three beer destinations in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights and Dogpatch neighborhoods: Hop Oast Pub & Brewery, Barebottle Brewing and Harmonic Brewing. Each is worth a visit – here’s why.Hop Oast Pub & BreweryVeteran Bay Area brewer Aron Deorsey founded Hop Oast Pub & Brewery five years ago. (Courtesy Jay R. Brooks.) Founded five years ago by veteran Bay Area brewer Aron Deorsey (Pyramid, Steelhead Brewing, Beach Chalet) and named after an “oast,” the kiln used to dry hops used for brewing, this brewery taproom is a small oasis. There’s an L-shaped bar and a few tables and a kitchen that serves up sausages,  grilled cheese sandwiches, housemade pretzels and beer-pickled veggies.Deorsey keeps about a dozen different beers on tap including his flagship Invicta IPA, a tasty West Coast IPA. Other popular beers include El Pachuco Mexican Lager, Bones Brigade Session IPA and, naturally, a Hazed & Confuse...

Betts has 5 hits and 2 RBIs as Dodgers beat Guardians 6-1 in suspended game

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:25:57 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Mookie Betts matched his career high with five hits and drove in two runs, sending the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday in the completion of a suspended game.Betts singled four times in the first six innings and had a two-run double in the eighth for the NL West-leading Dodgers, who are 18-3 in August. The seven-time All-Star, who also had five hits for Boston against Kansas City on Aug. 26, 2016, is batting .561 during an 11-game hitting streak and has a .456 average this month.The teams were to play their regularly scheduled game later Thursday, with the Guardians’ Gavin Williams to face Ryan Pepiot.Los Angeles led 3-1 after two innings Wednesday when heavy rain forced play to be suspended after a 1 hour, 37 minute stoppage. Another round of storms arrived after the bottom of the eighth Thursday, delaying the game for 72 minutes.Gus Varland (1-0) worked 1 1/3 innings for his first big league win as seven pitchers ...

Broncos top receiver Jerry Jeudy carted off field with right hamstring injury

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:25:57 GMT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — What started out as the Denver Broncos’ deepest position group ended up as their thinnest after wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was carted off the field with a hamstring injury Thursday.Jeudy was running an end-around in an 11-on-11 red zone drill in a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams when he pulled up, grabbing his right hamstring and crumpling to the grass near the sideline. He had to be helped to the cart, then was taken for an MRI.“Hopefully it’s not anything long term,” coach Sean Payton said.The Broncos started training camp with Tim Patrick injuring his left Achilles almost a year to the day after tearing his right ACL. He’ll miss his second straight season. The same day Patrick got hurt, the Broncos lost KJ Hamler to a heart condition and last week they lost Jalen Virgil to a season-ending knee injury. He got hurt at the end of a 50-yard pass play against San Francisco just before halftime.“I don’t believe in being snake-bitt...

Maui County sues Hawaiian Electric Co. over the fires that devastated Lahaina, saying it failed to shut off power

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:25:57 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Maui County sues Hawaiian Electric Co. over the fires that devastated Lahaina, saying it failed to shut off power.Source

Are Prince George’s Co. landlords ignoring 3% cap on rent hikes?

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:25:57 GMT

Last spring, the Prince George’s County Council passed emergency legislation capping rent hikes at 3%, in part moved by complaints from seniors and other residents that some apartment complexes were increasing rents by hundreds of dollars per month.In some cases, the rent hikes were increasing faster than Social Security and other forms of income. In the immediate aftermath, there were reports of some apartment complexes trying to impose other new fees that aimed to get around the actual rent, while others began looking for other loopholes.There are some exceptions that allow landlords to exceed the 3% cap hike. But there’s also suspicion that some are just ignoring the new law.One of those raising suspicions is Yvonne Corney, who lives in Marwood Senior Apartments in Upper Marlboro. Earlier this year, some of her neighbors in the building told WTOP they had to sign new leases that were hundreds of dollars more per month, but ultimately, those were allowed since those pa...

Femke Bol of the Netherlands cruises to gold in women’s 400 hurdles at worlds

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:25:57 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Femke Bol didn’t let pressure trip her up. Or the memories of a recent finish-line fall.The overwhelming favorite won in a runaway as the Dutch standout opened a wide lead and never looked back in the final of the women’s 400-meter hurdles Thursday night at world championships. Bol captured her first world title in a time of 51.70 seconds. With Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone skipping her title defense and former champion Dalilah Muhammad eliminated in the semifinals, this was Bol’s race to control.She did precisely that, too. The real race was for second place, where Shamier Little of the United States held off Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton by .01 seconds.“I feel as if the hard work has paid off,” Little said after the race. “This will really boost my confidence because I know that I am medal-worthy.”Bol’s win helped soothe the sting of a tumble she took in the mixed 4x-400 relay with the finish line steps away and a certain medal to go with it.Imme...