Mosley: Fun filled weekend for me!  One of my photographs (above) was selected as a semi-finalists for the DC State Fair Photo Contest.  I could win a blue ribbon.  A ribbon!  And it could be blue!  Tough competition though, so keep your fingers crossed for me.  And since I’m going to be waiting with bated breath in Columbia Heights, I might as well enjoy Columbia Heights Day and the DC State Fair.  I’m sure I will be eating many fried foods I shouldn’t be eating.  And the night will be caped by seeing Highlander at the AFI in Silver Spring (You know it won the Academy Award? For “Best Movie Ever Made”!).  As for Sunday, assuming Irene doesn’t change things up, I’m planning on braving the crowds to see the dedication of the King Memorial on the Tidal Basin.  Assuming security isn’t crazy, I’m eyeing a spot by the Jefferson, hoping it stays open to the public.  If we do get sweep up by the hurricane, I plan on holding out, with lots of beer, in my apartment in Thomas Circle.  It’s a good back up plan.

Tom: This weekend could go a bunch of different ways thanks to the storm that’s heading up the Eastern Seaboard. We have a friend coming down from Pittsburgh Friday, so I figure there’s a good chance we’ll take him out and show him a good time. I suspect that we’ll likely see the new MLK Memorial on the mall, but also hit up some highlights of DC Food & Fun. Saturday we’re headed out to Leesburg to congregate with a few other talented sysadmin types and enjoy some great beer at Fireworks. Columbia Heights Day is also on my radar, and there may well be a Hurricane party on Sunday at a friend’s in Fairfax, which means I need to find some glassware and passionfruit juice in a hurry.

‘DC United vs FC Dallas – Washington’s Colors – 05-07-11’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Moses:  Either/or options.  One option if the weather cooperates/another option if Ms. Irene decides to join the rest of the summer tourists in DC!  A rainy Friday night will likely include checking out the spanking new Ping Pong Dupont Circle, followed by downloading as many TV programs as possible on DirecTV, expecting satellite interruptions over the weekend.  Saturday night pits local heroes DC United (rain or shine) vs. the Portland Timbers at RFK; undoubtedly many a food truck will help us tailgate and I’ll have my red and black rain ponchos which might get worn out this weekend. While I should spend more time at the gym, deep down I know I’ll likely show support for my Nats who will be in Cincinnati for JZimm’s final start of the season this Sunday; Cincinnati means chili, so I’m skipping Ben’s Chili Bowl for Hard Times Cafe‘s in the cinnamon-y, molasses-y Cincinnati style.

Rebecca: Friday evening I’m catching the Sydney Theatre Company’s Uncle Vanya, starring Cate Blanchett, Richard Roxburgh, Jacki Weaver, and Hugo Weaving. Unfortunately, the show is sold out, so if you don’t already have tickets, you’re out of luck. Saturday the Red Hook Lobster Truck returns to the Glover Park-Burleith Farmers Market, which has become my go-to Saturday brunch place, so I’ll continue the tradition with a delicious Lobster Roll (MOR BUTTER PLZ!!!) In the afternoon, I’ll be battening down the hatches in my garden and apartment for Hurricane Irene. Sunday I expect a fair amount of rain and wind, so I’ll finish up watching the HBO John Adams series, which if you haven’t seen, is amazing, inspiring and, of course, features many historical characters relevant to DC and American history. I think my next book purchase will definitely be on our nation’s founding fathers.

‘Chantal Tseng and Derek Brown’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

Jenn: Why not start the weekend tonight, using post-traumatic stress disorder as an excuse to take off post-earthquake pre-hurricane and learn how to make cocktail ingredients from your garden? Now that’s relaxing. The Museum of the American Cocktail is hosting a Fruits of the Harvest seminar tonight from 6:30-8pm at Charlie Palmer Steak, $40 in advance or $50 at the door. Gina Chersevani of PS7 and Elli Benchimol of Chef Geoff’s will rustle up four cocktails for you to sample, while you also get hands-on experience learning how to transform fresh ingredients from your garden (or ok, the farmer’s market) into elements for cocktails, including how to preserve for future use. As both ladies are experts at fanciful flavor combinations, my bet is this will be a delicious evening.

Pour over ice and repeat as necessary.

Fedward: The Aristocrats!. That’s all I need for my weekend to be complete. Well, I might also follow Addison’s lead and mix up a Hurricane or two. And go to brunch. But that’s all I need! And maybe this paddle game. But that’s all I need!

Katie: I’m moving this weekend. Moving trucks and hurricanes don’t mix, so I’m a little stressed. For stress relief I’ll likely turn to the $2 beer + slice special at We The Pizza, or drown my sorrows in a watermelon mint slushie from Pound the Hill. If I wasn’t moving, I’d be setting myself up for a staycation and using the time to cook some recipies that take a lot of time, like these slow cooked short ribs from Westend Bistro.

Don: On Saturday we’re going to go pick out some granite or marble for some new bathroom vanities. Where, exactly, we have no idea – we’ve got one place in mind but if you have a suggestion please sing out. This represents some serious optimism on our part since it’s very possible that come Sunday afternoon we  won’t have a livable house to put it in – the photo above is what our roof looked like at 10am this morning. So a more accurate description of what we’ll be doing this weekend is “praying.” We’ll do our best to suppress our fears with some Saturday afternoon cocktails at the Passenger before catching the 8:30 of The Aristocrats! On Sunday we’re scheduled to pick out some landscaping at a local garden center but we might just go set up downhill and see what floats by.

Don Whiteside

Well I used to say something in my profile about not quite being a “tinker, tailor, soldier, or spy” but Tom stole that for our about us page, so I guess I’ll have to find another way to express that I am a man of many interests.

Hmm, guess I just did.

My tastes run the gamut from sophomoric to Shakespeare and in my “professional” life I’ve sold things, served beer, written software, and carried heavy objects… sometimes at the same place. It’s that range of loves and activities that makes it so easy for me to love DC – we’ve got it all.