No doubt First Thurday in Mount Vernon tonight (with open-air beer-drinking and live WTMD music) will be packed due to the holiday tomorrow, but you never know. With so many people headed out of town, it might be the quietest night ever.

Friday brings us rockets red glare. That's right, the Fourth of July is that time of year when grown men drive to faraway places to buy fireworks and set them off in their backyards. I don't really get it.

If you're in town, you'll likely be at a BBQ during the day then to see the works at night, right? The Harbor and Oregon Ridge are the usual suspects and do put on good displays. But I prefer the smaller ones where you can actually sit down and enjoy them without being trampled, which means doing something I rarely advocate: going further out of the city....dundundun (read: olde timey dramatic movie music).

Saturday is the Station North Arts Flea Market, plus afternoon free live music...a good time, I think, provided it's not stinking hot. Also on Saturday is a new Farmer's Market in Harbor East starting at 9 a.m. It's hard to top the one under 83 on Sundays, though (not to mention the Saturday one in the Chillage). Damn, yuppies just have to have their own new everything, don't they? ...guess it's cool though as long as it's local and they don't jack the price due to location.

Looking for something to do Saturday night? Rodney the Pie Guy will be performing at St. John's Church for like $5 if you're into some rockabilly-esque tunes. He does make great pies, though, even if you're not a fan of the music.

Sunday I'm trying to head to Cascade Lake for the very cool Joleen's wedding shower.

Well, Centralia, Pa., isn't all that we hoped for, but my friend Eric and I did meet some awesome woods people who fed us pork from their whole-pig roast and served us beer all night. Plus we went to Knobles, which is like the oldest, strangest amusement park I've seen in a long time.

Everyone getting ready for the long weekend ahead? Where's your favorite place to see the fireworks? I'm not sure where I'll be seeing them this year, maybe Va. 

Gearing up for Artscape? I heard a rumor that the donated Frank Zappa statue the city got is going to end up somewhere lame like Mount Washington where no one will ever see it really. But some hardcore Zappa fans are working over time to make sure that doesn't happen. North Avenue? Fells Point? Where do you want to see Zappa in Baltimore?   

Will I be able to give Whartscape a home at North Avenue Market during Artscape? This is the question. I'll be out of town, but neighbor and friend Russell from the Windup Space says he's going to run it...more power to you, my brother. Me, I'll be in hotter NOLA with his wife, hehe.

This weekend looks like a hot one...anyone have a favorite way to cool off in Mobtown? There's always the lazy afternoon at the pool or the Charles or Senator theaters. 

I'm headed to Centralia, Pa., to camp as nothing says fun like underground mine fires.

The Fourth Wall is gearing up. Check me out on Maryland Morning (88.1 FM) at 9:40 a.m. on Monday the 7th to hear more.

Now that Gay Pimp played the Gay Pride Festival over the weekend, I think we all have a new fave act. My friend even said she thought it would be great if he could play her wedding...with lyrics like, "I don't mean to be crass, but your man takes it in the ass," I don't see how anyone can blame her. Even without the Pimp, Pride was great for many reasons. Drinking in the street and drag queens not the least of these.

Thursday at Pocket to Penis (it's the tight pants) was pretty packed (it's the outdoor seating). Friday's Kitty Kat and Ottobar (despite Trixie Little and her Monkey downstairs) not so much, though it could've been the Dew Tour downtown or the related Sonar event.

Everyone looking forward to the week ahead's pop punk festival in town at the Recher and Sonar? Me neither, ha ha. I'm headed to the green pastures of Centralia, Pa., to see underground mine fires as opposed to sticking around in town to see what the cat drags in. You?

AFI is hosting a documentary film fest on Friday and honoring Spike Lee. I really want to watch "25th Hour" again because it rocks.

A bunch of straight friends of mine are getting together to watch the pride parade. Given recent CA events, I'm sure it's going to be a big one in Mobtown this year. I've actually never been, so I'm looking forward to it on Saturday.

Saturday and Sunday bring Baltimore the Dew Tour with motorcross, skateboarding and various other extreme sports at the O's Stadium. I'm thinking of hitting it Sunday.

You know, it's nearly tubing season, too. What a great sport. I know it's not really a sport per se. Perhaps anything you can do while drinking a beer isn't really a sport, but I wouldn't want to piss off bowlers, you know?

I spent all day and part of the night in Station North Arts on Friday. This is not such a bad thing, but you run into a lot of the same people who seem puzzled to see you again. After having lunch at Joe's, I headed over to the Windup to collect some art for the Fourth Wall show I'm getting together, then to Load of Fun to see Frank Hamilton and Josh Sisk's open studio, my friend Steve's work and the bands Degreaser booked. I also got to put a metal bucket on my head and pretend I thought that was someone's art. I did like the remote-control kaleidescope that went with it, though. Pretty ingenious. We grabbed dinner at the Zodiac after talking with Emily C-D about a new mural project on the front of the North Avenue Market. Eventually I had to go home, though, and I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Saturday was an exercise in more art show collection. Then to the rink to lay down the derby floor (poor Dirty Trixie was injured due to wood-carrying partner incompetance). After the Dolls and Mods kicked butt, thanks no doubt in part to Dolly Rocket and Joy Collision, we all headed over to the after-party in Canton for food and beer...and conversation. Lola, our old fave (aka. Loca Lola, aka. Lass Caress), was back in town from Madrid briefly, a tough life. She and her husband Seth (former owner of Read Street Tattoo) are moving to Portland, which in the last couple of years has been where people from Baltimore escape to instead of NY.

News Channel 11 did lots of Honfest coverage, complete with a big blue bar on the bottom of the screen that read "Hamden." If you don't know what's wrong with that, I don't think we should be friends:)

What's going on this weekend, my lovelies? How was everyone's Dad's Day?

Did anyone get a chance to see REM on Wednesday at Merriweather? How was it? Did they seem tired? I saw Death Cab for Cutie there on Monday night. Let's just say it's safe to say that Ben Gibbard has a glandular condition. I mean it was really hot out, and while I'm sure it was hotter on stage, he not only soaked through his shirt and pants, he sprayed sweat everywhere every time he moved. He kept saying how hot it was between songs and I was thinking...wow, is it that hot though, Jesus? Can't they afford towels at Merriweather for the talent? He looked like he was going to drop dead. Other than that the show was awesome (or as rocking as a Death Cab for Cutie show gets, you know?). I saw them in San Francisco at the Warfield about three years ago, and at the end of the show, he's always like "drive safe." I don't mean to be cold, but who died? It's got to be someone he neglected to follow into the dark, right?

This Friday you've got the Squaaks, Soul Cannon, Egg Babies Orchestra and Gary B and the Notions at the Ottobar. Plus it's Friday the 13th, so there's got to be a lot of creepy stuff going on, huh?

Speaking of creepy, Load of Fun is throwing a Big Art Show all weekend, featuring performances by the Thrushes, Stalking Horses, Gunwife Gone, Heroin UK, Sonadors and more.

Another all-weekend, daytime event is the irreplaceable Honfest. Still more popular than Hampdenfest always. Other Hampden news: Atomic Books is moving in with Atomic Pop next month and Squidfire's moving to the Avenue...strange, eh? But I love it all, so that's good shopping news.

Saturday, could it be our own little wonderful band Thank You playing with the huge act Battles at the 9:30 Club...is it the same Thank You? Anyone know? They are so cute and fun to dance to...

Plus, let's not forget Dad this weekend...take him out to see the Charm City Roller Girls knock each other out.

Dionysus is a chill place to stuff your face on a hot summer Friday, but if you get there after 8, you'll be stuck inside and kind of lonely. The sidewalk is deceptive because, like Friday, there's 100 people sitting at their outdoor tables noshing, whereas inside, it's a ghost town. A late dinner with Alex Fine and impromptu visit with Justin and Harry made the loneliness cozy...you thought I was going to say coziness, didn't you? Well, I'm not that lame, so don't you even think it.

Saturday was so hot. It was that kind of hot that no one could stop talking about the whole day no matter what you were doing. That is unless you were at the pool. Eureka, friends with pool memberships like Rosie the Rioter make my day, particularly after I found out that the Geek Squad should be shot for not being able to repair my computer. That's right, I'm illegally blogging on a borrowed laptop, friends. Who knows when I'll be able to get a new one that I actually like. Course, this is the perfect opportunity for the Mac-o-philes to harass you about how you need to spend $2,000 on a computer you barely know how to use because you've been PC your whole life.

After cooling off at the pool, a useless shower delivered me into the arms of a sweltering bar-b-que to celebrate Gilbert's birthday. I recently found out that many of the Last Friday night DJs spinning at Lithuanian Hall are gone, so Gilbert's filling in, which is rad because he's awesome. He'll also be DJ'ing the photography show I'm putting together at the Windup Space on July 11 (7/11, hehe) called Fourth Wall: Baltimore's Music Voyeurs. 

The Talking Head Saturday night was empty when I got there (too early) and there was a storm brewing by the time I left. So I hitched a ride with Roman and Joe to Ram's Head to see the amazing vocal feats of Jenny Lewis and her band Rilo Kiley. The music is a little boring for me, but they do sound great. So if you get a chance to see them live, do it.

Ok kiddies, I'll check back with you later this week...       

Time again for the firsts: First Thursday in Mt. Vernon Park, with live music and the novelty of drinking beer outside, First Friday dance party at Lithuanian Hall, am I missing another one?

Saturday you've got Rilo Kiley at Ram's Head and Starscape. I'm not proud to admit I've never been to Starscape, the all-night dance party at Fort Armistead Park. This year, Slick Rick is playing it, so it might be worth checking out.   

The Sunday farmer's market under the bridge is in full swing again. Check out Xani and Erin's kick-ass food blog for some unique ideas on where to eat and what to make. Go armed with a plan to the market this year instead of ambling around holding a bag with one tomato in it and sipping coffee like I do.

I'm in NYC this minute to see the live Diggnation taping...yes, it is awesome.

This weekend was unexpectedly crazy fun. I often have high expectations that are dashed, but this weekend, I didn’t expect anything. But it turned out to be wild fun, and as a hardcore cynic, I don’t throw that term around loosely.

Thursday I bartended at the Windup Space to a crowd that was made up of good conversationalists. What more could you ask for in a bar crowd really? 

Friday was dinner at the beyond-earthy Dogwood in Hampden with Amanda, which is like, “why are you in Hampden, anyhow?” 

Saturday, a Rock Band party gone wild…Rob didn't want to leave for his actual band’s show. Good news, no need to waste time learning how to use instruments. Rock Band is more fun and rewarding. The Sidebar was packed for Curfest, though. Too bad Curt had one or eight too many Curtinis (martinis with olive and pickle a la dick and small balls) to notice anyone was there much less there to see him play bass. He was, in fact, capable of passing his bass off to random crowd members to play during his sets…audience members lacking in bass-playing skills I might add. Though he did have to play with five bands that night, and he did well for at least the first three. We are only human.  

Somehow I made it the Chuck for last call in time to see Tom Browne’s rad T-shirt that he says is from an Esquire cover about the '60s. It melds Dylan's face with JFK's, Malcom X's and Castro's…amazingly they seem to look alike.    

Sunday Defekto invited me to his incredible boyfriend Jeremy's birthday party. I was hoping their house would be crazy, creative and fun. It didn't disappoint. With their art decorating anything that stood still, including their adorable Boston terriers, it wowed and inspired the less artistic among us.

I finally called it a weekend here, with I'm "talking to you" from the Ottobar where MC Chris is entertaining people unwilling to give up on their weekend. Upstairs there's graffiti artists making murals, blah, blah, blah.