Laura’s Weekend Picks in the Hood

From Laura Herman. Got a weekend tip for Laura? Send her an email. You can follow Laura on Twitter @Lmhhabs.

Assuming that we’re not all snowed in for D.C. Snowpocalypse 3.0 this weekend (and here’s to hoping), there’s lots going on in and out of Borderstan this weekend.

Got pics to share from last night’s snow? How about the Dupont Circle Snowball Fight? Share them in Borderstan’s Reader Pool on Flickr.

Tonight. If you find yourself with an OPM-granted snow day on Thursday, or if you want to blow off steam/resentment after working a full day, you may want to check out Asia Nine for happy hour because What’s The Deal (or WTD, to those of you in the know — sign up for their emails!) is hosting a FREE sake happy hour. Make sure to RSVP here, and you’ll get a free small sake just for showing up between 6 and 8 pm. I hear that sake bombs go well with thundersnow…

100 Very Best Restaurants. While last week was all about fine dining on the cheap during DC Winter Restaurant, this week is all about fine dining on the not-so-cheap because The Washingtonian just announced its picks for D.C.’s “100 Very Best Restaurants” for 2011. Not surprisingly, quite a few of the spots named are located in the area.

Many also happen to be very (often prohibitively, in my case) expensive but if you have a special occasion or cash to burn this weekend, the following neighborhood establishments just made Washingtonian’s 2011 list: Komi, Corduory, Estadio, Sushi Taro, Cork, Bar Pilar, Birch & Barley, Etete, Tabard Inn and Zentan. (See Alejandra’s profiles of Estadio, Bar Pilar and Birch & Barley.)

Concerts and Dance Parties. Per usual, there are also a host of concerts and dance parties happening on the 14th and U corridor this weekend. Check out Danny’s ongoing series of Borderstan columns for full reviews, but few shows/events this weekend caught my eye:

• If you’re feeling cooped up after all of the snow, go dance your face off at DC9’s weekly “Liberation Dance Party” on Friday night. Tickets are $7 and there is an open bar between 9pm and 10:30pm (not a bad idea to get there early because it gets CROWDED).
• Then head to BlackCat on Saturday Night for “The Saturday Night Dance Party,” featuring DJ Keenan. He promises new age jamz, pop, and “other oddities.” Doors open at 9:30 pm and tickets will be available the night of the snow.
• If you’re like me and you like to avoid the Sunday night depression that sets in right around 9 pm, go see Lissie at the 9:30 Club this Sunday evening. Doors open at 8 pm and tickets are $15. I got into her after hearing her cover of Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness” and haven’t looked back since. Based on the video alone (should give you a heads up that it contains some mature language), it looks like her live shows are pretty fun.

So what did I miss? What are you doing in the neighborhood this weekend? Anything that we need to know about for next week? Let me know via email, [email protected], or on Twitter @Lmhhabs.