The finest leader that America has ever produced, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered this speech on April 3, 1968. He was assassinated the following day outside his motel room in Memphis. This year, the Martin Luther King Holiday (always the third Monday in January) is celebrated on January 15, which is his actual date of birth.

It seems particularly important to me this year, when this country has shamed itself by electing (accidentally, it seems) the most ignorant man ever to hold the office of President, that we take the time to reflect on the quality of the leaders we have produced in the past, and ask ourselves if our current leaders are being held to a high enough standard when it comes to their intellect and vision.

So if you're in San Francisco on January 15, join the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration, which will include a march from the CalTrain station (at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero) to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (in the Civic Center, near City Hall) where there will be arts, crafts, and food.

If you aren't up for a full day's festivities, you may want to drop by the Martin Luther King Memorial Waterfall, at the south end of the circular esplanade in the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts sculpture gardens. Call (510) 268-3777 for more information on the celebration; if you are interested in learning more about Dr. King's life and work, check out the website for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project at Stanford University.

Dr. King would have been very pleased with the diversity here in San Francisco, and in January there are several events that highlight different cultures, giving us all a chance to explore the world without even leaving the City.

The Berlin and Beyond 2000 Film Festival at the Castro Theatre (on Castro near Market Street), is an opportunity to see some great films from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. If you believe that Hollywood is an evil empire producing empty, meaningless films as a sop for the unsuspecting masses, then this is the festival for you!

So slip on a black turtleneck and some shades, and enjoy the superior feeling of knowing that you are one of only several hundred people in the U.S. who are willing to actually read subtitles.

Festival dates are January 14-20; tickets are a mere $7, except opening and closing nights, and are available the day of the screening at the Castro Theater Box Office. Tickets are also available in advance at Café de la Presse, at 352 Grant Avenue (at Bush), or on ticketweb.com.

Additional documentaries are being shown at the Goethe-Institut January 28 - February 18; call (415) 263-8760 for more information. Visit the Berlin and Beyond website for a full listing of films, screening times, and other details.

If your film tastes run to the truly intense, you won't want to miss the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, which visits San Francisco on January 25, 26 & 27 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. This festival "...combines a stimulating mix of intriguing and sometimes controversial documentary and dramatic films that focus on human right issues around the world." Just the thing for the socially conscious traveler! Follow the link above for films and screening times (Tip: you have to click on the little dates in the orange area to see the info - took me 5 minutes to figure that out!).

OK, so now you've paid homage to our slain civil rights leader, immersed yourself in foreign films, caught up on the latest atrocities humans are committing against one another, and you're ready to lighten up and have some fun? Not a problem - Chinese New Year is upon us, and there are many fun and frivolous activities to keep you smiling.

First on the schedule is a sneak preview of the great Golden Dragon Parade on Saturday, January 20 at 10:30am at Grant Avenue and California Street. The big event won't actually happen until February 3, but you can beat the crowds and get a taste of the spectacle ahead of time, and for free!

While you're there, stroll down Grant, from Broadway to Clay, and Pacific Avenue between Columbus and Stockton, and take in the sights and scents of the Chinese New Year Flower Fair. The Flower Fair is going on both Saturday, January 20 (10:00am - 8:00pm) and Sunday, January 21 (9:00am - 6:00pm).

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Chinese New Year is Wednesday, January 24; though I couldn't find any specific events for this day, I expect you could welcome the Year of the Snake in fine firecracker-poppin' style if you stroll through Chinatown that evening, as I did recently.

Just a few blocks from Union Square, at the intersection of Grant and Bush, you will come to the Dragon's Gate, the "official" entrance to Chinatown. Grant Street is lined mostly with gift shops, crammed floor to ceiling with everything from typical dime store items like cable car souvenirs and novelty key chains to fine jade figurines and potted bamboo.

I plan to go into more detail about Chinatown's restaurants, shops, alleys, and temples in February's edition, since that is when the Chinatown Community Street Fair and Chinese New Year Parade take place. I hope to have a few photos, too, so check back next month!

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