Hi everyone – well, here we are. Somehow, it is week…ten? Eleven? And it has been A week.

DC is reopening (no matter how everyone feels about it, and there ARE feelings about it everywhere.). The word “survival” also feels loaded now (well, it feels loaded always but the past few weeks have made us REALLY feel it), so we have taken it out of this article’s title. It can just be a weekend we make it through together, without overt dramatization on our side.

As always, we have some great picks for you this weekend, with Pride on the horizon and everything, but before anything else, we want to take a moment to say that whatever you do this weekend, please take time to demand justice for George Floyd. Harpers Bazaar put together a list of actionable steps you can take, from donating funds to calling Minnesota representatives. (The ACLU has also provided a script for once you’ve gotten through on the phone. It may take a while to connect, but please keep at it.).

Also print this, laminate it, put it in your pocket as a life reminder (it will come in handy more often than not, these days):

In terms of our news, which are smaller but hopefully spark joy during this complicated time, we are EXTREMELY proud of this project to kick off Pride Month: don’t forget to tune into Smithsonian’s Project Pride: Virtual Concert & Time Capsule on Sunday night (8pm ET), now with 100% more Rufus Wainwright and Indigo Girls // YES. Digital RSVP here. Bookmark YouTube link here. All the gifs in this guide are from the wonderful people participating:

There are actually tons of good ways to get into the Pride spirit this weekend, and we’re gonna talk about all of them below.

Before we get into it, here’s some reading material from the BYT universe:

• Mental Health Awareness Month is coming to a close this weekend, but that doesn’t mean the conversation shouldn’t continue; here’s another Covid-19 mental health piece by the BYT staff that talks about coping with depression and anxiety in quarantine.
• If you’re a DC reader, you’re likely well aware that Phase One of reopening has begun. How are we feeling about that? How are YOU feeling about that? We kicked off an open dialogue yesterday, so feel free to join in on the conversation.
• Also, 9:30 Club is set to turn 40 this weekend, WHAT?!
• Summertime is HERE, let’s get this (stay-at-home) party STARTED! (Don’t forget the HOT JAMS!)
• If you’re looking for evergreen things to do ‘n stream in quarantine, here’s our weekly entertainment guide, plus an intro to British comedy panel game shows (which kick Jeopardy‘s ass) and a pocket guide to TikTok trends if that’s a train you’re trying to board.
• ISOS? (In Search Of Sandwiches?) Grab some from Columbia Room’s Get a Hero Be a Hero that are 1. delicious, 2. give back to the community on multiple levels, 3. are equipped with some p. dope song pairings, if we do say so ourselves! 
• And lastly, is PBR Stronger Seltzer the 8% ABV sweatpants of adult beverages? (It remains unclear.)

Friday, May 29th

• Let’s obviously begin with the kickoff of a 10-day global film festival! We Are One starts at 7am ET, and will feature over 100 festival-curated films, not to mention music, comedy and an impressive lineup of panel discussions. And it’s free. INSANE.
• Moving into SHOW-TUNES, if you missed its 2016 run, you can scope HAIRSPRAY! Live at 2pm ET on YouTube. The show is to benefit The Actors Fund: Covid-19 Emergency Relief.
• In terms of TUNES-tunes, we’ve got a fairly eclectic mix of artists (think: Kygo, Jimmy Buffett, Oh Wonder, etc.) participating in Golden Hour Festival as a fundraiser for WHO. Kicks off at 4pm ET.
• Meanwhile, the inimitable Sharon Van Etten will celebrate the anniversary of her debut album because i was in love to benefit NIVA: National Independent Venue Association. Tickets to access the virtual performance are $12-$15.
• PAUSE FOR BREAD. Yes, you can take a six-session virtual sourdough course from BK Brainery that starts TODAY. Tickets are $95.
• Or get the Pride feels going early by catching Smithsonian Project Pride performer (and incredible musician) Rufus Wainwright doing a live session for NPR’s World Cafe at 1pm ET.
• Speaking of early Pride vibes, you can CERTAINLY tune into the virtual Drag Race Season 12 finale. (Also, scope our predictions for who we think will snatch the crown slash PLEASE LET IT BE GIGI.)
• Or if queer literary vibes are more your scene, hit up Books Are Magic’s free Zoom event Queering the Hyphen: An LGBTQ+ Asian American Reading ft. Mary Jean Chan, Chen Chen, Arhm Choi Wild, Margaret Rhee and Yanyi.
• Brooklyn’s Loud Bitch comedy show is also headed online for a free virtual show highlighting queer/femme/POC comedians. Zoom sets from Jes Tom, Michael Nguyen, Shompa Kabir and more beginning at 8pm ET.
• Plus Wanda Sykes is one of the headlining acts for Laughter in Lockdown supporting The Actors Fund. Starts at 8pm ET.

Saturday, May 30th

• Good morning, do you love cats? Meow DC is going online to support the Humane Rescue Alliance; it’s an all-day affair ft. virtual yoga with your cat, trivia, giveaways, webinars and more. Participation info here.
• OR if you want your virtual yoga sans cats, register for free Zoom yoga from the United States Botanic Garden. Starts at 10:30am ET.
• In tunes territory, we’ve got Gus Dapperton going live on La Blogotheque’s Instagram at 1pm ET for a Stay Away Show.
• You can also join The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers, Dave Matthews and more during a benefit for the Colorado Music Relief Fund starting at 8pm ET.
• Or if d-d-d-d-dancin’ is your MO, pop on by Boiler Room’s livestreamed sets from Brame & Hamo and Sally C b2b Cromby in honor of what would’ve been their sixth AVA Festival starting at noon ET.
• Meanwhile, David Guetta is set to go live on YouTube for a fundraiser at 7pm ET.
• Shifting away from ye olde music and into the CULINARY ZONE (*said in a deep CULINARY ZONE voice*), you can learn how to make tempeh via a $25 virtual course from BK Brainery.
• More into Hollywood? If you’re a Dark Crystal franchise fan, tune into Moving Image’s livestreamed conversation with the producers, director, writers and designer of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Starts at 7pm ET, suggested donation of $10.

Sunday, May 31st

• For starters, CLEARLY set your alarms for Smithsonian’s Project Pride at 8pm ET on YouTube. Hosted by Ari Shapiro the lineup is BANANAS; in alphabetical order, we’ve got Alex the Astronaut, Big Freedia, Bright Light Bright Light, Cameron Esposito, CLAUD, Dorian Electra, Girl in Red, Indigo Girls, Jake Shears, Joy Oladokun, Kat Cunning, Madame Gandhi, mxmtoon, Nakhane, Pabllo Vittar, Pet Shop Boys, Roxane Gay, Rufus Wainwright, SOKO, Tig Notaro & Stephanie Allynne, Tunde Olaniran and VINCINT! The virtual concert and digital time capsule will celebrate LGBTQ+ Heritage, Culture and History, AND will highlight some incredible Smithsonian collections. HERE. FOR. IT. Smithsonian Zoo Pandas are too:

• But chronologically first today, BK Brainery is doing a virtual fermented ice cream and popsicles course for $16. Starts at 10am ET, so be prepared to RISE ‘N SHINE.
• Later, you can join Andrew Barth Feldman’s Virtual Celebration fundraiser to benefit the Barbra Barth Feldman Performing Arts Center at 7pm ET; there’ll be a mix of prerecorded and live music and skits, and guests will include Skylar Astin, Gaten Matarazzo, Erika Henningsen, Taylor Trensch and more. Suggested donation of $10-$30.
• Also happening at 7pm is a new round of Queer Therapy Live via Caveat’s livestreamed programming. Join Jake Cornell, Kate Sisk, Emily Evans, Dylan Adler and more as they talk about queer life in quarantine and perform new bits for the digital space. Tickets start at $5.
• And if you were paying attention to the must-reads earlier, you’ll know we recommended the premiere of Quiz after Killing Eve on AMC tonight. 92Y is celebrating with a livestreamed chat to Sian Clifford, Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Sheen at 6pm ET // YES.

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