Laura’s Picks for the World’s Final Weekend

From Laura Herman of LauraLikesThis. Laura is also a contributor over at Brightest Young Things; you can find her on Twitter @Lmhhabs.

With just two days to go until the rapture/end of the world on Saturday, I really have high hopes for this weekend. Lots going on throughout the city and locally in Borderstan. Here are my top picks for where you should be eating, drinking, shopping, and dancing this weekend:

Thursday, May 19

The Capitol Deal is hosting a happy hour at Current Sushi (1215 Connecticut Avenue NW) from 5 to 6:30 pm featuring FREE Peroni and Svedka cocktails in addition to Current’s usual happy hour specials, including $4 sushi, from 5 to 7 pm. Run, don’t walk.

After you’ve happy hour-ed, walk across the street and check out the recently-opened Shake Shack at 1216 18th Street NW. Rumor has it the lines are still long, but everything I’m reading has my mouth watering. Check out some good coverage on Eater DC here.

Also, DC Yoga Week is in full swing, ending this Sunday, so make sure to check out a new studio at a discounted rate before then. The full schedule and more information are available here.

Friday, May 20

If you’ve seen a lot of activity near the 14th and U corridor recently, it’s the folks over at BYT getting ready for vitaminwater uncapped LIVE, a month-long extravaganza of art, music, CULTURE, and general good times housed out of a converted warehouse space at the corner of 14th and Florida NW (2213-2217 14th Street NW).

The festivities KICK OFF this Friday evening, with an opening reception for partner Art Whino‘s G40 exhibition beginning at 6 pm and a blow-out dance party featuring some of my favorite local acts and DJs, Fatback, Que Sera, and Tenderloin at 10. The event is free and there’s a cash bar with drink specials…’nuff said. Check out the promo video for more deets and to get pumped up.

Saturday May 21

Saturday is a big food day for Borderstan! Stop by Local 16 (1602 U Street NW) from noon to 4 pm to peruse the pop-up Grey Market, featuring locally-produced artisanal food vendors. Sign up to attend and get more information here. I’m very excited to get my hands on some “crunkcakes” and kiwi chutney pickles.

Then there’s more shopping to be had at the DC Craft Mafia‘s Spring Thing Show, this Saturday from 11am to 5 pm at the corner of 15th and Church Streets NW (in the parking lot of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church), featuring a range of vendors showing off 100% handmade, funky wares. This is not your mother’s craft fair.

Now that you’ve eaten and shopped to prepare for the end of the world, go out with a bang  and dance your face off at BYT’s vitaminwater uncapped LIVE “END OF THE WORLD PARTY” at the 2213-2217 14th Street space, featuring: Chris Burns, All Girls Squad DJs, House of Soul, Sam Burns, NavBox, Rosario, Roger Samuel, Mike Fisher and more. Doors open at 10 pm and there is a $1 cover.

Sunday May 22

Presuming the world hasn’t ended, laugh in the face of the crazies and head over to the Dupont Famers’ Market to celebrate. Word on the street is that spring strawberries will be making their debut at the markets this week.

Then, in case you haven’t had enough of vitaminwater uncapped LIVE, head BACK over to Florida and 14th for the “Plan B: Morning After” hangover party, complete with a clothing swap, music, art, and lots of local food trucks.

End your weekend at Sound Bites at the 9:30 club, a wonderful event featuring bands like Ra Ra Rasputin and Trouble Funk as well as samples from 25 local restaurants and five DC food trucks. Tickets are $40, available here, and proceeds benefit DC Central Kitchen. Great music + great food + great cause = does it get any better than that?

Enjoy your weekend, busy bees. As always, let me know what YOU’RE doing and what I missed below, at laura(AT)borderstan.com, or on Twitter @Lmhhabs. See you next week — I hope!