Hey everyone! This week’s, extra long, super independent 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 of Channing Tatum, mostly shirtless, because at this point in time, lets face it-Tatum’s pecs ARE America.

A COUPLE OF PSAs before we start:

• WE NOW PUBLISH NYC BEST WEEKEND BETS TOO-tell all your New York friends to subscribe to it + follow us over there on twitter @BYTNYC
• For a perfect summer: COMBINE OUR ULTIMATE DC FROZEN DRINKS Guide (yeah) with this weather we’re experiencing.

AND- we have some AMAZING BYT events coming your way soon:

• July 4th-our FAT CAMP Pool Party returns to Capitol Skyline (yes, on Wednesday-the proper 4th of July date). WE’RE PRESELLING SOME OF THE TICKETS HERE for your non-cash carrying convenience + start shopping for that American Flag swimwear now.
• + a very special BYT/Kennedy Center Addams Family Unhappy Hour on July 12th @ 1905. Event if free-JUST RSVP here.

OK, ready for the VERY LONG weekend now?

TUESDAY

• OUTLAWS – BYT’s all time favorite old-school country yet hipster night is back and this time around you actually DON’T have to work the next day. Marx Cafe. Tuesday July 3rd. $5 beer/whiskey. Willie Nelson is on the flyer.  4th of July at Midnight. Special Guest DJs Randy Price and Trey Pollard. Nothing not to like.
• TROPICAL BOOM – for those who prefer funk to country-Fort Knox recordings is back @ U Hall with their annual pre-independence day extravaganza.
• FREEDOM ROCK Couch Night @ Black Cat – A rare and special occasion to see Black Cat owner (and member of D.C. punk icons Grey Matter and Iron Cross) Dante Ferrando spin favorite tunes alongside bartender Matt Brown and “special guests.” Also featuring: specials on American booze.
• also, not particularly Independence day related but definitely “tomorrow I have a day off related:” Peach Pit @ DC9 and Air Sex Championships @ RNR Hotel.
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

WEDNESDAY-HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

• BYT POOL PARTY: Fat Camp (feat. Fatback) @ Capitol Skyline – I mean, I know this is our party, but objectively speaking, this is going to be super sweet: we have Fatback DJing, there is a Dangerously Delicious Pies eating contest where the winner gets A YEAR’S WORTH OF FREE PIE (!!!), our interns will be forced to wear hilarious costumes for your amusement, there is a pool to jump into, there are inflatables to molest while in the pool and it is all over by 7pm so you have plenty of time to go and watch the fireworks from wherever you wanted to watch the fireworks from. We’re doing limited presale this year too, so just grab your ticket now and don’t worry re: cash or anything.
• + CHECK OUT OUR COMPREHENSIVE 4TH OF JULY SPECIAL GUIDE RIGHT HERE FOR EVEN MORE IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS: the best picnic baskets in town, from pro-tips to assorted ragers to apply those pro-tips during, from night-before to the morning after-it is all here.
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

THURSDAY

• Chances are-you may need to chill and relax a little today. Hopefully you were smart and took today off work as well.
• During daytime-we recommend catching some movies: obviously MAGIC MIKE is an option, but so is the new SPIDERMAN, BRAVE, TO ROME WITH LOVE and more. Check out our movie section for full reviews, recommendations and more.
• Drinking some choice frozen drinks-check out our handy and super refreshing guide to the best of those DC has to offer.
• Also a great combo pack-see the Jasper Johns show @ The Phillips Collection, followed by a snack at the newly opened TRYST at the museum.
• take yourself out and play some mini golf INSIDE the National Building Museum.
• re-live your Lilith Fair fandom with Sarah MacLachlan @ Merriweather (or, alternatively-pretending like you never experienced Lilith Fair fandom and only care about Sarah MacLachlan because you care about puppies)
• or check out the DC power-duo Washerwoman @ Black Cat
• and swing by Velvet for beats of repeat, a DFA inspired dance partytime.
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

FRIDAY

• sick of patriotism and #beattheheat specials and just want a good glass of wine to enjoy before the 2nd part of weekend starts? This weekend, Proof will celebrate its fifth anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, Proof will offer special pricing on several wines from its birth year, 2007 at a  40% discount, and several 2007 wines will also be offered at special prices by the glass. Can’t make it today? This promotion runs throughout the month of July.
• then-walk over to National Gallery of Art for some Jazz in the Garden
• work off those 4th of July calories with a nice session of exercise/dancing @ BODY JAM at Looking Glass Lounge. Let me see your body work.
• over at U Hall, Red Fridays and Life join forces for a solid night feat. Lee Burridge and Mike Fisher on the decks.
• and The Great American Vaudeville Revue stops by Red Palace
• for theatre fans, we recommend a healthy balance of laughter (Merry Wives of Windsor @ Shakespeare) and tears (The Normal Heart @ Arena)
• or if you’re in the mood for something totally different:  check out the official CAP FRINGE FESTIVAL preview where 30 acts perform 4-minute previews of their Festival productions
• over @ Crack Rock Creek Church, a bunch of super fun local bands (Shark Week, Typefighter, paperhaus) celebrate America 2 days later.
• and @ COMET Ping Pong Civilian Art Projects & Sasha Lord Presents… Summer Scream Part 2 (w/ Video Love, Heavy Breathing & Janka Nabay)
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

• picnic show: Matisyahu is playing WOLF TRAP
• a great Sunday movies for different reasons: the Totally Awesome 80s movie series is in full swing @ AFI, and tonight you can catch the original FRIGHT NIGHT and/or dive into the bound to be super insane Peter Greenaway on Painting series @ National Gallery of Art.
• plus, show up early and catch ROBYN open for Coldplay.
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

AND 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, one for the road?