Hey everyone! This week’s BEST WEEKEND BETS are, as always, hand selected from our awesome AGENDA HOMEPAGE (which btw is super easy to post your own events to) and carefully calibrated for maximum fun and minimum stress, and will be punctuated with inspirational images of GRAMMY nominated artists AND your host for the evening, Mr. LL COOL J (btw, if you don’t feel like watching it on TV, and we can’t blame you-we WILL be live tweeting this at @BYT and it will be hopefully hilarious, so follow us)

Before we start-a few PSAs…

UPCOMING BYT EVENTS:

• Over in NYC, we just announced our new monthly series with AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. The first one is on February 15th (NEXT WEEK!) and features Foster the People (DJ Set), JAVELIN, Dopeshoes and hanging out at their space center. Tell all your New York Friends. You can find the details + enter for a chance to win tickets here.
• Plus, a lot more exciting stuff to be announced in both cities, we promise.

MUST READS ON BYT THIS WEEK

• our date guide series continues with this week’s SEAL THE DEAL/SPECIAL OCCASION DATE help book (add to that the non date + the blind date + and the first date guides and we have you mostly covered)
• This very classy, very funny, very dirty NAOMI WOLF interview
• Sweetlife festival announced their line-up! And it is awesome (and also surprisingly on point with some of our speculations about it)
• the all important cold weather guides to the BEST PHO IN DC and the BEST RAMEN IN DC
• this scathing yet hilarious look at MEAT MARKETING targeted at women
• and this DUMPLING tutorial video we made with The Source’s very own dumpling wizard Scott Drewno
• And as always-a gentle reminder we now how BYT NYC homepage too and publish a NYC Best Weekend Bets. So….tell yourself/ friends to subscribe to it + follow us over there on twitter @BYTNYC.
• And you can stay forever in the loop and follow us on facebook & twitter & pinterest too

OK-ready for the weekend now?

THURSDAY

• I guess it is all about art and carnivale this week so take your picks in these two categories:
• Phillips After 5 manages to combine the 2, edging out the competition for that early slot in our agenda, but also:
• there is a NOLA FUNK Mardi Gras Ball @ The Howard
• a Fasching Winter Carnivale @ Doner Bistro
• The boys of Mission South will play their first major headlining gig at DC9, and will be accompanied by The Fishermen Band.
• and the Georgetown Arts Opening @ House of Sweden if you’d like to combine some of these into one glossy, art carnivale evening
• for party times:
• Hinge, BYT’s favorite dating site since it seamlessly combines facebook stalking and hanging out in one shiny, fun package, is launching their iphone app with a super sweet party feat. Viceroy, an open bar and most of BYT staff being present there.
• and get super deep with Future Times DJs @ Tropicalia
• The GAP flagship store opens in Georgetown today, stop by this evening to enjoy food, alcohol, music, 30% off all denim, and professional stylists on hand to do makeovers/makeunders and offer advice in store.
• for shows:
• our very crucial “SHOWS TO GET PUMPED FOR THIS WEEK” listicle/playlist indicated there is any number of shows to be excited for tonight, including the amazing double bill of MAN MAN w/ Murder By Death @ Black Cat, and Matt Kearney @ Lisner (click here for a chance to win some last min tickets to that one)
• plus, Moonshine Cabaret hits the Bier Baron for a night of weird, old school vaudeville
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

FRIDAY

• Need dinner plans? Well, RESTAURANT WEEK is still in session, so check out our pro tips guide to making the most of it. Alternatively, dive head first into some of BEST PHO IN DC and/or the BEST RAMEN IN DC (we won’t judge if you decide to do both)
• after that-maybe some theatre is in order? SO MUCH great stuff in playing in DC right now (bonus: our “SEAL THE DEAL” date guide has some hot tips for making theatre more affordable for you and yours) but this week, the new kids on the block are FELA! at Sidney Harman Hall, “The Motherfucker With The Hat!” @ Studio Theatre, and Signature Theatre’s R&J (which you can win tickets for here)
• afterwards, maybe some more carnivale-ing? well, there is the BYT & Listen Local DC recommended The Mardi Gras Carnivale @ Black Cat (full details in our SHOWS TO GET PUMPED FOR THIS WEEK post)
• or if you’re NOT in the mood for more mardi gras check out:
• Jocie Adams of the Low Anthem @ DC9 or Ariana Delawari @ Millenium Stage, or Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds @ The Hamilton
• and Lower Dens are DJing @ Cafe NoLa
• for purely dancing purposes: Lee Foss stops by Red Fridays
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

SATURDAY

• DURING THE DAY: need some style inspiration in anticipation of Valentine’s day? Stop by Buffalo Exchange for a “LOVE YOUR STYLE” tutorial by the ladies of Pandahead Mag OR alternatively, eschew clothing entirely and observe half naked people running for a good cause during CUPID’s UNDIE RUN
• in the mood to get romantical in pretty settings, surrounded by pretty people, pretty art and, in some cases, pretty animals? 2 OPTIONS:
• there is WOO AT THE ZOO, which, as the title suggest takes place at the National Zoo and involves all manner of adorableness and free hors d’oeuvres
• and there is the 10th annual SOME JR Gala @ The Corcoran, which somehow features an open bar for a bargain price of $30.
• in the mood to get romantical with some movies? Check out the SCREEN VALENTINE’s @ AFI which this weekend features SUMMER WITH MONIKA and the ultimate tear-jerker LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
• in the mood to get more BROMANTICAL than romantical? check out WAR CHILD + SHARK WEEK @ The Pinch , for a totally face melting good time.
• still not sick of the mardi gras madness? JEEZ. May we point you in the direction of this MARDI GRAS MASQUERADE then.
• Shows wise: Eternal Summers are @ RNR Hotel, TAJ Mahal is @ State Theatre and the Nighttime Adventure Society is @ IOTA
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

SUNDAY

• in the mood to check out a new/old bar? Eastern Market’s historical Beuchert Saloon re-opened their doors this weekend (We have some great photos and a complete first look)
• looking for movies (whether in theatres or to sit on your couch to?) – check out our FILM SECTION for reviews, recommendations etc
• at night: WE KNOW that TORO Y MOI 930 Club show is sold out (bahambag) but there are other options:
• A bound-to-be-rousing Aretha Franklin tribute @ Howard Theatre
• John Bon Jovi (!!!) is @ Verizon Center
• and that once upon a time canceled Joy Orbison/Red Bull Academy show is finally back @ U Hall
• plus, if you’re in the mood to discover something new and adorable music wise-head to Galaxy Hut for Onward Chariots
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

PLUS: THERE ARE A BAJILLION OTHER THINGS TO DO LISTED IN THE BYT AGENDA PAGES, 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.

• TILL NEXT TIME,KEEP AT IT: