All the pretty music and some flowers and crap, too

It's a good weekend for live music in Mobtown...then again, when is it not? Check out all the Merge Records acts in town this week: Wye Oak and Spoon. Native Marylanders Wye Oak will be having their CD release party at the G-Spot in Hampden tonight. And Friday, Spoon's playing to an apparently sold out crowd for ridiculous ticket prices—yeah, I'm going anyway:) at Sonar. I long for the under $10 at the Ottobar days...those days are gone. But they'll be joined by the Walkmen and the White Rabbits, so it should be a good night the whole way around.  

OK, it may seem like old people activities, but you should think about seeing the cherry blossoms in D.C. this weekend. It's pretty awesome to see something the Japanese have brought to this country besides tentacle porn and tiny cars and electronics, you know? Last year's display was kind of a bust due to gale-force winds and some weird Christian goings on at the Jefferson Memorial. I was like, "Am I dead? I am really cold." No such luck, I'm still alive and kicking, bringing you the things you know you should be doing, but are too lazy to commit to. So just admit it Baltimore: live the Charmed life, but take advantage of all that free shit in D.C. It's not that far, you know? Most of us probably do go to N.Y.C. more than D.C., but that's lame now that gas is like $300 a gallon. Also, Nada Surf will be there Saturday at the 9:30 Club.

If you're sticking around town this weekend, go back in time with the fashion and music of Scream Club on Sunday at the Metro Gallery.