Hey everyone! This week’s BEST WEEKEND BETS are, as always, hand selected from BYT ALL CITY and carefully calibrated for maximum fun and minimum stress, and will be punctuated with inspirational images from “EMPIRE RECORDS” because, fair men and gentle ladies-THIS SUNDAY IS NOT ONLY EASTER-IT IS REX! MANNING! DAY! And they say you can’t have it all?

A COUPLE OF PSAs before we start:

• As you may have heard through assorted grapevines  we will be doing a fun-and-frolicky expansion into New York City this early summer AND the very first thing we’re doing there is this awesome show with Federico Aubele, Ursula 1000 and Chico Mann @ Le Poisson Rouge TONIGHT. TELL ALL YOUR (NY) FRIENDS TO COME.
• so many DC BYT EVENT announcements coming your way too (no worries)

• Our SPRING/SUMMER Guides are live as we speak: CHECK OUT the very exhaustive/extensive: FILM+MUSIC+FOOD+THEATRE+ART+STYLE
• Read up on food here, our amazing movie reviews are here, STYLE Licks can be found here, and as always, GAY Best Weekend Bets are coming right up.

OK, ready for the weekend now? (no trying to kill yourself with a lady bic, ok?)

THURSDAY

• start the day out by promising yourself to watch more ballet this year. AND THIS IS WHY.
• the obligatory “feel good about kicking off your going out week” event is Phillips After 5, which in the spirit of the Cherry blossom season is “Journey to Japan” themed
• then…. Kevin Costner is at Strathmore. With his band. Which is actually pretty good. STILL-Main reason to go: hopes of a Kevin Costner afterparty where the soundtrack to “BODYGUARD” blares in the background. Well-one can dream.
• lots o’ good shows: School of Seven Bells and ExitMusic are @ Black Cat. Budos Band plays 930 Club.  Lightfoot is all yours for free @ Kennedy Center Millenium stage. And more.
• for dance party purposes: DFA inspired hot jams @ Velvet Lounge
• NYC BONUS: we+ESL are having a party at Le Poisson Rouge. Stop by.
• + other stuff

FRIDAY

• AS ALWAYS-plan your ticket purchasing needs for shows going on sale this weekend with this handy guide/playlist we do for you every week.
• then….frankly, the quality of offerings tonight is pretty intense:
• over @ Artisphere the 2 days CHICKFACTOR festival kicks off with performances by Stevie Jackson from Belle & Sebastian (read our interview with him here), Frankie Rose,  The Honey Bunch and more….pop heaven, we say.
• the almost-too-good-to-be-true Basil Twist festival continues with the one and only, the incomparable Joey Arias takes the stage for a month’s worth of perfromances of ARIAS WITH A TWIST @ Woolly Mammoth Theatre
• Cursive + Cymbals Eat Guitars are @ Black Cat AND Plants & Animals are @ Red Palace
• rage with WINDIAN Records @ Montserrat House
• sweat it our @ BODY JAM
• + other stuff

SATURDAY

• at sunset-head over to Hirshhorn if you haven’t still seen the SONG 1 installation. In fact-even if YOU HAVE seen it, maybe you should see it again.
• for those not into Easter weekend-swing by CASA NONNA for passover-Italian style
• THEN:
• A Silent Film is playing @ U Hall.
• CHICKFACTOR continues this week with Black Tambourine, Lorelei, Lilys and more…
• for theatre/inner monologue lovers-check out Strange Interlude @ Shakespeare Theatre CO.
• embrace some soul @ BIG BAD CITY at Velvet
• or check out BIG TROUBLE in LITTLE CHINA at midnight on the dot @ E Street. Kurt Russell is one of the rare men out there who should be allowed to wear a man tank ever.
• + other stuff

SUNDAY

• HAPPY EASTER! we have this  completely amazing/mouthwatering/heavy-on-the-salted-caramel-chocolate-bunnies Easter food guide so ENJOY THAT RIGHT HERE.
• HAPPY REX MANNING DAY! Wear some crushed velvet like you don’t  know any better and wear it proud.
• DAMN THE MAN.
• EAT BRUNCH-it tastes good.
• MOVIE DAY! whether you’re in the mood for sophomoric humor of AMERICAN REUNION or the moody intenseness THE HUNTER or both, we’re not going to judge-just check back in on Friday for full reviews.
• or go the free/art house route and see RASHOMON @ National Gallery of Art
• cant’t really decide between a movie OR Eater? Have the best of both worlds by catching EASTER PARADE @ AFI
• fall into a food coma
• + other stuff

REMEMBER: THERE ARE A BAJILLION OTHER THINGS TO DO LISTED IN BYT ALL CITY, so use it (to both post your events and search for them) and if you think we may have missed something, comment away–you know you want to.

and as a parting note: (say no more, mon amour)