Laura’s Weekend Picks: Nothing To Do With The Royal Wedding

From Laura Herman. Follow her on Twitter @lmhhabs.

Spring is in the air. Whether you’re caught up in the Royal Wedding craze, trying to stake out a prime outdoor drinking location, or staying inside until the pollen disappears, get excited because the weekennnnnd is almost here. And per usual, no need to even leave the neighborhood!  Here are my picks to keep you nice and busy this weekend in and around Borderstan.

Friday

Well, wake up early to watch the Royal Wedding, if you’re into that. (Can you tell I couldn’t care less?) Then spend the morning at work checking out some excellent Wedding-related interwebs items.

DANCE at Miss Pixie’s! Fast forward to the evening…by now you’ve realized that I have a little thing for dance parties, so why not extend that to a dance performance? Go check out “DANCE, DANCE, DANCE” this Friday at Miss Pixie’s from 6:30 to 8 pm.

Local artists have planned a unique performance piece, set inside Miss Pixies, looping around the furniture and window display. The event is free, though the dancers request a door donation of $5 to $10. Something a little different? Totally. Check out Uprooted Dance and pro ekoh dance for more information.

Balkan Beat Box at 9:30 Club. Afterward, grab a coffee upstairs at Mid City Caffe to fuel you through the rest of the evening. If I wasn’t going out of town this weekend I would, hands down, be jammin’ at the Balkan Beat Box show at 9:30 Club this Friday evening. Doors open at 11 pm and tickets are $22. Someone please go and report back. I’ll be super jealous.

Saturday

Annual Georgetown French Market. Get outside and enjoy the weather at the annual open-air Georgetown French Market. Wander the streets munching on a croissant and peruse the items for sale, ranging from housewares to clothing. Did I mention there will be French food vendors and music? Berets optional.

Touchdown Watch Party for Ultimate Fighting Championship. And now for something completely different. If you are a UFC fan (and that’s Ultimate Fighting Championship, sort of a mixed martial arts fighting thing, to save you the googling) or just looking to push the envelope with your sports fandom, you may be watching UFC 129 this Saturday.

I’m told that it’s going to be one of the best match ups in history with “American Jiu-Jitsu” expert Jake Shields pitted against UFC legend and Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre. If this is your jam, Touchdown is hosting a special watch party beginning at 9 pm with $3 Budweisers, Bud Lights and pitchers. Cover is $10.

Sunday

Student Show at Hinckley Pottery. On Sunday, wake up and head over to Hinckley Pottery for their 20th Annual Student Show from 11 am to 5 pm. More than two dozen potters will be selling their stoneware and porcelain work, including platters, bowls, mugs, vases, teapots, and more. Reminder: Mothers Day is next Sunday May 8. What perfect timing to pick up a gift!

Half-Smoke Challenge. Finally,  did someone say hot dogs? Get into the barbeque season groove at the first annual Top Dog Half-Smoke Challenge, a charity fundraiser in which 11 area chefs will showcase their interpretations of DC’s iconic local dish, at Domaso in Arlington (near the Rosslyn Metro),  this Sunday from 3 to 5 pm.

Admission is $20 per person, and includes samples of all half-smokes, a cocktail, tax and gratuity. 100% of the event’s proceeds will benefit Brainfood, the D.C.-based non-profit youth development organization, so you can feel good about your delish, gluttonous afternoon. More information and tickets for the Half-Smoke Challenge are available online.

Well that should keep yopu pretty busy, folks. What are you doing this weekend? Let me know–and tell me what I missed — at Laura(AT)borderstan.com or on Twitter @Lmhhabs. Happy weekend-ing!