‘A step back in time’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

We asked on Twitter last week if you wanted to see a weekend feature, and the response was overwhelmingly and unequivocally YES! We wanted, though, to differentiate ourselves from all the other blogs by actually telling you what we’re doing this weekend. This isn’t us combing through all the event listings looking for stuff, this is us doing what we love to do on the weekends. Think we’re missing something? Tell us what you’re up to in the comments.

Katie: I do believe that this weekend calls for the pool. I could be seen at a number of area pools, but most likely, I’ll be hanging out at the Capitol Skyline Hotel rocking out at the space-camp themed Brightest Young Things Saturday pool party. I hear there will be astronaut ice cream and a moon bounce. Jasmine and I are hoping to hold down the “hot girl” contingency at space camp, sans fanny packs and tevas plus bathing suit and fabulous sunglasses. If that’s a little much for me, I could be spotted downing dippin’ dots and going down the slide at the Upton Hill public pool in Arlington.

Ben S.: Screw DC. I’m heading to the big city with a DC-envy problem in the great old state of New York. The weekend is all about sight-seeing and touristy stuff: a show on Broadway perhaps, a visit to Ellis Island, a stroll through Central Park. But the real reason I’m heading north is to be there Monday and Tuesday for the Personal
Democracy Forum.

Tom: Friday night I’ll be singing the Bach B Minor Mass at Schlesinger Hall in Alexandria with Choralis. It’s a phenomenal piece of music, especially with full orchestra and a choir of nearly 90 voices. Saturday, after I take my tux back, I’ll be hitting the Courthouse Farmer’s Market for some produce & cheese, and then it’s off to Bluemont to Great Country Farms for pea-picking and grabbing our share of produce. Sunday, though, I think will be hitting the neighborhood pools after brunch, or perhaps a trip out for Gelato in Clarendon, and cooking with fire at the hacienda.

‘day206 :: year two’
courtesy of ‘erin*carly’

Tiffany: There are two things I’m excited about this weekend. Both are great opportunities to get out and enjoy the beginning of summer (yay, humidity!) and for shutterbugs to give their cameras a workout. First is the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. I try to get out and catch this every year. Second is the grand re-opening of Eastern Market. Being a farmers’ market nut, I’ve been looking forward to the return of the granddaddy of them all. You’ll see me there with my reusable bags and ear-to-ear grin.

Acacia: What’s better than a cold glass of Locally-Brewed Kölsch on a hot summer saturday? How about many tiny tasting glasses of Kölsch and every other imaginable type of Microbrew? Add in free admittance and you’ve found your recipe for Nirvana — with extra hops of course. This weekend is the Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest in Leesburg, VA, and my friends and I will be volunteering for the second year in a row. As a volunteer you get entry, a t-shirt, an adorable NOVA tasting glass and 4 beer tickets which, if you’re a judicious shopper, is indeed enough tickets to get you sufficiently sauced. Last year we camped in Manassas so that no one needed to DD, but unfortunately the same opportunity isn’t available around Morven Park. Purchase entrance tickets for either Saturday or Sunday online for $20 ($15 for DDs). It’s still a great deal, as you get 4 drink tickets and then additional tickets are just $1 each. And there’s food and music too!

Shannon: I’ll be taking advantage of the summer weather by heading out to the National Capital BBQ Battle on Saturday. Other than that, I’m training for a triathlon that is coming up next month, so I’ll be biking around the W&OD Trail and going for a swim at one of DC’s free public swimming pools.

Jenn: Every year something manages to keep me from seeing the fantastical costumes and the hot vibe of the DC Caribbean Carnival. This year I am determined not to miss it. Kicking off at 11am at Georgia & Missouri Avenues on Saturday, this DC tradition is not going to pass me by (well, it will pass me by, as it’s a parade, but – oh, you know what I mean!). Incredible costumes, mayhem, and music. Party at the concert in Banneker Park following the spectacle. Ooo, love that beat.

‘dc is hawt’
courtesy of ‘j6 photo’

Jasmine: There’s a lot of great stuff going on this weekend, but I’m in the mood for a drink. Someplace fun. Possibly with board games. Sure, I could stay at home and do that, but then who would be there to witness the humiliation of my opponent when I kick his butt at Connect Four? My pick this weekend is Atomic Billiards in Cleveland Park. It’s got lots of pool tables, darts, and you can check out pretty much any board game you can think of at the bar. Sweet!

Donna: Like Acacia, I plan to hit the Northern Virginia Brewfest this weekend, and get a little exercise in the process. My man and I are going to get there by biking up the W&OD to Leesburg , then cutting over to Morven Park on the streets.

Liam: Know what rocks? Pigs. Especially when they are chopped up, grilled, covered in BBQ sauce, and sandwiched in between a soft bun. Their ribs are pretty good too. Were I in town this weekend, I’d be feeding my pig addiction at the Safeway 17th Annual National Barbecue Battle. Nothing like a day in the sun on Pennsylvania Avenue, sampling some of the best BBQ from all around the country. There’s plenty to do for the kiddies (not that I have any….that I know of….), and plenty of good music, including the legendary Chuck Brown on Saturday evening. I went to this last year and was disappointed with just how many people were there because it made sampling/getting food a chore, but once you bite into that deliciousness that is BBQ pig, you pretty much forget about how long you waited for it, and just enjoy the smokey goodness.

Max: If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past year, it’s that anything going on in Blagden Alley associated with The Pinkline Project is bound to be a blast. Lucky for us, Love Thy Neighbor kicks off at 6pm on Friday featuring DC inspired clothing by Policy Brand, music by DJ Obeyah and DJ Small Axe, and food by Chix. I can’t think of a better way to kick off the weekend (other than say, jumping on a private jet to Paris).

Kirk: I’m going to be visiting with my family to celebrate my sister’s birthday. In an effort to build a penchant for ethnic foods in my loved ones, I’m taking them out for some Salvadorian food at Los Tios Grill in Alexandria. Salvadorian is not too adventurous, I know, but we’re keeping things tame. And, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m going to see Megan Fo… I mean, “Transformers 2” at some point this weekend.

‘In the good old summertime. [canoe] (LOC)’
courtesy of ‘The Library of Congress’

Nathan: I plan on laziness this weekend. Well, not really laziness, but when it comes to actually leaving the house and getting “out on the town,” I will be the last of outgoing role models. But, Friday, I’m screening “It Might Get Loud,” (which may be the last movie trailer since “Where the Wild Things Are” to give me chills down my spine), playing softball on Saturday and then probably joining Kirk in an appreciation of Michael Bay’s cinematic talent, special effects budget and casting expertise. Oh, but I’d go see Patterson Hood at the Black Cat Thursday night if I wasn’t so dead. This is the lead singer of Drive By Truckers and it’s a cheap way to see an incredibly talented guy who has released a brilliant new album.

Rebecca: I’ll keep it “tranquilo” during the day by hitting up Cantina Marina for some on the waterfront margaritas and a fried catfish sandwich. The dockside restaurant is the perfect place to meet up with friends, soak up good the weather and enjoy the view. In the evening, what’s more low key then taking in Riverdance, the Irish song and dance show, playing at Wolf Trap. Mexican food and Irish music go together like tunafish and meatballs.

Don: Capital Weather projects the heat to return to more typical June levels, I commit myself to the indoors. I’ve been meaning to catch Woolly Mammoths’ FEVER/DREAM since Jen gave it such a positive review and the heat plus Wooley’s $25 ticket deals – not to mention it closing on Sunday – is all the reason I need to sit in Woolly’s air conditioned theater this weekend. My other climate-controlled fun is going to involve finally making it to Artomatic. It won’t close for another week but I suspect I’m not going to make it through that many floors of art in a single visit.

Carl: I’m going to spend my weekend digging the underground bunker “Li’l Kim” Jung Il has assured me I will need soon. After that, I will work in the garden and photograph then pickle my hot peppers, which are growing oh so well.

Ben R.: My wife and I will be heading out Saturday to Mason Neck State Park, attending their geocaching talk and then doing the Majestic Eagles walk with our cameras. I’m hoping we can get to an afternoon showing of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on Sunday, followed with a nice dinner at either the Carlyle in Shirlington or Szechuan Star in Springfield, where we’ll debate the NHL draft results and be gracious Penguins fans to everyone around us.

Tom Bridge

I live and work in the District of Columbia. I write at We Love DC, a blog I helped start, I work at Technolutionary, a company I helped start, and I’m happy doing both. I enjoy watching baseball, cooking, and gardening. I grow a mean pepper, keep a clean scorebook, and wash the dishes when I’m done. Read Why I Love DC.