‘Cooling off’
courtesy of ‘(afm)’

John: I’ll be playing two shows this weekend. Friday at Ri-Ra in Arlington with my cover band and Saturday at Tarara Winery north of Leesburg with Juniper Lane. Tarara has a “Saturday night summer series” with different bands playing from 6-9pm almost every weekend. Saturday afternoon I’ll be digging in the garden and fighting off groundhogs in a true Caddyshack approach to pest control. If I wasn’t so engaged with nature, I’d spend my afternoon down at Biergarten Haus on H Street enjoying a slice of Bavaria in my own proverbial backyard.

Rachel: I’m headed to Nashville for the weekend to audition for the 10th season of American Idol. Is the show a joke now that Simon and Paula’s gone plus the fact it’s the show’s tenth season? Maybe. Sure. But I’m doing it anyway. If I wasn’t, you better believe I’d spend the whole weekends watching Nats away games on TV or online. Wish me luck? Here’s to hoping I can put DC on the map via a Fox reality television show going into its first decade? Why not? Someone has to, right?

Rebecca: Friday I’m hoofing it up to Baltimore for a little breather from DC land. For some dinner eats I’m stop in at Sam’s Kid for pad thai, sushi and chicken skewers done tapas style. After that it will be on to the Cat’s Eye Pub for some quality live music. Saturday will start with a belated celebration of Bastille day at Bonaparte Breads. Along with an amazing strong Americano, I recommend you try the swirly raisin thingy. I don’t know it’s real name but you get the picture. After that it’s on to Baltimore’s infamous Artscape, the largest free arts festival featuring concerts, fashion, film, crafts, art cars, kids-friendly activities, amazing foods and beverages, etc. Definitely worth the trip north if your Saturday is open. Sunday, I’m long overdue for a haircut, so I’ll let a B-more stylist take on the mane. Salon is TBD. Then it’s back to DC to stock the pantry at the Social Safeway for the week.  If you haven’t been, go! It’s size and staffing is impressive.

‘Day 263/365 – International Gentleman of Leisure’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

Michael: My weekend begins tonight at FUR nightclub when I take to the DJ booth to spin some awesome Industrial dance tracks at REVOLUTION. Tomorrow, I am going to see INCEPTION with the high hope that it can salvage at least one weekend out of this abysmal 2010 Summer Blockbuster season. If it is as good as it looks, I will probably see it more than once this weekend. I am a movie junkie and have been seriously hard-up for some good shit out of Hollywood for months. Hook me up Nolan!

Paulo: I’ll be checking out Yuungnaqpiallerput, an exhibit on Yup’ik life and craft at Smithsonian Natural History. Afterward, a walk up 7th street to see the Norman Rockwell exhibit at the American Art Museum, with paintings from the collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. With this generous loan of art to the Smithsonian I may even forgive Lucas a bit for Jar Jar Binks. Just a bit.

Jenn: The weekend starts early for me with tonight’s double feature of One Man Lord of the Rings at Woolly Mammoth (all three movies condensed into little over an hour by Charless Ross, one crazy dude!) and then dancing over at Revolution, DJed by WLDC’s very own Michael Darpino. Friday I’m off to the sticks, but if I stayed in DC I would head back over to the Baldacchino Gypsy Tent Bar and hit a few more Fringe shows. Sunday I’ll return to my beloved city for brunch and relaxing riverside walks. That is, if I don’t melt or get drenched by a monsoon. Ah, summer.

‘Washington Monument view from Hains Point’
courtesy of ‘Joe in DC’

Shannon: Friday night I’m heading over to the H Street neighborhood to check out the new Biergarten Haus, which I’ve heard great things about.  Saturday I’m heading to Hains Point to do a brick, which is triathlon talk for a bike/run combination, in preparation for the Nation’s Tri in less than two months!  And Saturday night I’ll be over at the Verizon Center for Star Wars in Concert for a nerd fest of epic proportions.

Ben: The weekend kicks off for me with a visit to the Capital’s final scrimmage at their Development Camp, followed by some fun and food at their Fan Fest – both located at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston. Then dinner with my cousin and her husband in downtown DC – probably Zaytinya, Jaleo, or the Old Ebbitt Grill – followed up with a very lazy Sunday catching up on rest in our newly redesigned backyard, courtesy of Campbell-Ferrara’s capable landscaping crew.

Dave: I’ll be starting my weekend on the patio of the Exchange, as my band brings some acoustic rock to the raucous Friday night crowd. After that, the partying slows down a little, but we’ll still be having a good time. Saturday evening will involve some Paella at La Tasca in Clarendon for a friend’s birthday, and Sunday will be brunch at the usual spot: Ragtime.

Shannon grew up in the greater DC area/Maryland suburbs, went to Virginia for college and grad school (go Hoos!), and settled in DC in 2006. She’s an urban planner who loves transit (why yes, that is her dressed as a Metro pylon for Halloween), cities, and all things DC. Email her at Shannon (at) WeLoveDC.com!