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  the miracle that is Kelly Bundy. Hope you're (not) a fan of subtlety:

A COUPLE OF PSAs before we start:

• OUR WINTER GUIDES ARE UP. Enjoy: FILM + MUSIC + THEATRE + FOOD+ STYLE . YES
• Read up on food here, our amazing movie reviews are here, STYLE Licks can be found here, and as always, GAY Best Weekend Bets are coming right up.

OK, ready for the weekend now?

THURSDAY

• you all know I am a fan of starting this whole thing off with some culture. well, tonight @ 7PM, Nick Cave (the artist, not the musician) who is responsible for the AMAZING music suit installations in 30 Americans is making a live and in person appearance @ The Corcoran. If there is one man in DC inside whose brain you want to be today - this is him.
• the big mamma jamma of a party tonight is the H Street Karaoke Championships @ RNR Hotel. Trust us, people are surprisingly good/creative/fearless at these. + BYGays are on the judging panel. And as we know-their approval is really all that matters.
• just down the street, the ultimate freakshow (in the form of Lizardman and his friends) descends upon Red Palace for an evening you'll never forget (even if you want to)
• on the opposite end of the spectrum: if general adorableness is your cup of tea, then there is really only TWO show in town for you, and that is: a.) Family Hemerlein @ Gibson Guitar Showroom and b.) Family Hemerlein alum Carsie Blanton @ Black Cat
• and dancing wise-Maya Jane Coles starts her residency @ U Street Music Hall
• later on-the official FELA! afterparty with Antibalas LIVE! takes over @ Montserrat House. Not to be missed.
• + other stuff

FRIDAY

• kick things off by planning ahead: all sorts of amazing shows go on sale today (from the Portlandia LATE SHOW to Sleigh Bells opening for Red Hot Chilli Peppers to Youth Lagoon+Death Cab) and we have our weekly "shows on sale" guide + handy Spotify playlist to help you map out how to spend your entertainment $$$ just right. You're welcome.
• leave work early and go have yourself a fancy drink-you deserve it. Bourbon Steak just launched their winter drink menu and having tasted every single thing on it (hey, it's research!) I can attest that they are ALL delicious.
• swing by Hemphill for a  promising looking DC Realism opening.
• NEXT: theatre.  Elephant Room just opened @ Arena stage and trust us-IT IS AMAZING. Sort of like if Tim & Eric decided to do a magic cabaret and had David Lynch direct it. Can't miss. or-for a skateboards and dc brau take on the Bard (plus some Beyonce thrown in)- check out 2 Gentlemen of Verona @ The Lansburgh.
• local music love for the day: last Loose Lips show ever (+ a new EP release by Lightfoot) is @ Black Cat
• more in the mood for pretty Russian girls with a way with the piano and an almost un-earthy voice: beeline for Elizaveta.
• and make sure to stop by Comet for a benefit for Jonathan Toubin. Deal? Deal.
• for dancing (or not dancing): rage & relax @ ZEBA with lxsx frxnk and starks & nacey.
• + other stuff

SATURDAY

• there are 2 kinds of people in DC today: those that got those Jeff Mangum tickets, and those that didn't. If you did-well, I guess you know what you're doing. If you didn't-lets see what we can do to make it better:
• early on: Christylez Bacon is at the Washington Sound Museum premiering new songs.
• later on: the annual SOCKETS records showcase is @ Black Cat. Nothing but great people making good music involved with this. GO. No, seriously, go.
• even later on: Sunwolf + Suns of Guns crush down Montserrat.
• another great dance party celebrates their anniversary @ Liv: AXEL F.  (alternative dancing option to this: BLISS)
• have George Hamilton inspire you to be tan forever in La Cage aux Folles.
• + other stuff

SUNDAY

• as always-a great day for movies: PINA, Wim Wenders' amazing 3D (now Oscar nominated) documentary opens today, so keep and eye out for our review. Plus, A Separation has everyone (and the Academy) talking, and you should go see it (read our interview with writer/director Asgar Farhadi here)
• if you'd rather stay in- "Restless" and "50/50" are both out on DVD, + other home entertainment options are neatly lined out here in our weekly DVD/instant netflix release guide.
• alternatively: catch The Religion Thing @ Theater J before it closes
• hear Aaron Thompson live @ Blackbyrd
• or start early and end up late (and deep) @ Sunday's workshop presented by Deep Secrets, Nomad and Stranger than Paradise with Sven Weissman, Anthony Collins, Navbox and Jubilee (this is all long hand for quality house music, btw)
• + other stuff

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 a parting note:

Previously in best weekend bets:

• 2/16: BEST WEEKEND BETS
• 2/9: Best Weekend Bets
• 2/2: Best Weekend Bets
• 1/19: Best Weekend Bets
• 1/12: Best Weekend Bets
• 1/5: Best Weekend Bets
• 12/29: Best NYE Weekend Bets
• 12/22: Best Xmas Weekend Bets
• 12/15: Best Weekend Bets
• 12/8: Best Weekend Bets