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 of Ron Burgundy et al in Anchorman because: a.) can you even believe that we’ve never had an Anchorman Best Weekend Bets before? and b.) it just so happens that this is the dive-in movie @ Cap Skyline this week. You’re welcome.

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

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

• On July 21st (THIS SATURDAY) come to  our SUMMER PICNIC SPECTACULAR @ the soon-to-be-opened Union Market. It features 20+ of our favorite chefs and food trucks, an 85-ft long obstacle course, some awesome DJs, a photo booth, misting tents, and a sneak peek inside the awesome new market. DO IT. Details + tickets here.
• + we’re about to announce our August Summer Camp pool party and more

OK, ready for the weekend now?

THURSDAY

• first thing’s first! Did you buy your The Dark Knight Rises tickets yet? Our (all important) review can be found here.
• second thing’s second! Happy National Daiquiri Day! Celebrate by having one of these amazing frozen drinks all around town.
• so-as we mentioned, going to see Anchorman, by a pool, seems like a pretty great early option.
• if you prefer live hilarity to on-screen, check out the still ongoing, still over-all-tops FRINGE FESTIVAL. Our survival guide (you’ll need it) is here.
• then, sure the CHROMATICS are sold out (and rightfully so) but there are some other solid music options:
• the bound-to-be hilarious/amazing combo of B-52s and Squeeze are @ Wolf Trap
• Tittsworth DJs in the church of his own making (aka U Hall)
• and we can all be jazzed about yet another Que Sera @ Napoleon and the opportunity to wake up regretting most of it. In a good way.
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

FRIDAY

• looking for some dinner ideas? Eat Local First’s Farm-to-Table Restaurant Week is in full swing – so check out some options that are both local and awesome.
• looking for some cocktail ideas? July is official Rickey Month in DC, celebrating the District’s official cocktail. We taste tested 16 different, craft options around town. Just for you.
• THEN:  maybe some theatre? Two great (if very different) musicals are playing in DC–”Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” @ Studio (reviewed right over here) and “Addams Family” @ Kennedy Center (reviewed here )
• PLUS: “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs,” one of the most talked about, most contraversial plays of this decade opens this weekend @ Woolly. You’re spoiled for choice here, really.
• shows-wise: LOWER DENS @ RNR Hotel are a solid option.
• and for late night dancing get deep either with DEEP SECRETS and CASSY @ 411 Warehouse loft or at the 930 Back Bar with Deep Sessions (there is a theme here emerging)
• + Mount Tushy: The Prequel @ 1905
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

SATURDAY

• the weather on Saturday is going to be, against all odds, in the high 70s and sunny. Which means it will be a perfect day for our SUMMER PICNIC SPECTACULAR @ the soon-to-be-opened Union Market, which features 20+ of our favorite restaurants in pop-up form, 85-foot moon bounces, a water slide, misting tents and more. Details and a mouth-watering preview can be found here. DO IT.
• if you’re looking around for some art immersion-the Charlotte Dumas Show is opening @ Corcoran and is free every Saturday (alongside the rest of the Corcoran) through Labor Day
• or in the early evening check out the opening of Exhange @ Project 4 Gallery
• additional daytime activities:
• a benefit for Girls Rock!
• more Eat Local First
• Belgian Restaurant Week (what are YOU putting on YOUR waffles today?)
• and at night:
• The Drive soundtrack tour feat. Anoraak, College and Electric Youth hits DC9 (we are so excited that we did a special post on nothing but our most favorite soundtracks and scores–check out it out here for the full run down). Afterwards: Autorock is DJing upstairs. Everyone wins.
• Brandon Wetherbee brings his game show night back to Artisphere. Everyone wins there too.
• Justin Jones is playing and recording for broadcast @ 930 club
• Deleted Scenes are @ Red Palace
• Nicki Minaj is @ DAR
• plus, you know-FATBACK
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

SUNDAY

• it has been a great week for James Murphy/LCD Soundsystem fans. “Shut Up and Play the Hits” happened, and then-today James is DJing the bound-to-be-amazing Hot Chip/Sleigh Bells show @ Merriweather.  (need a ride? hop on a bus to it organized by those nice boys at CTRL)
• We, for one are pretty jazzersized for it.
• Do some mental prep by listening to our extensive BYT-LOVES-LCD-SOUNDSYSTEM essay/walk-down-memory-lane by some super lovable music nerds on our staff.
• for those more in the mood to stay in-peruse our weekly at-home entertainment guide or venture out to a movie theatre (we have lots of reviews to help guide you right here)
• also that night: Fang Island @ U Hall.
• the Karma Cabaret benefit.
• + ALL SORTS OF other stuff

MONDAY BONUS:

• Arena Stage is hosting a great HIV/AIDS benefit event (in conjunction with their terrific production of “The Normal Heart”). There is an open bar, food, and said play involved. Do the right thing and go.

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…