This Weekend

Everyone is focused on the big holiday coming up next week, what they're going to do with days off, travel plans, etc. but there are a few things going on this weekend.

After a 2-year remodeling project, the American History Museum opens again with a bang (literally, as there will be a canon) on Friday. The formerly-disjointed space is supposedly now much more accessible and open, and the Star Spangled Banner is back on prominent display.

Friday's festivities will open with a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation by Colin Powell, and the special events continue all weekend. It's TBD as to whether the museum will continue to ask patrons to walk through the mags before entering, but if so be prepared for long lines. Even though its, like, the anti-tourist season around here (which we're thankful for), I'd expect the lines to be extreme this weekend.

Saturday (well, and Friday, too, but your life concierge is going Saturday) is the annual big bash - the Old Ebbitt Oyster Riot. There are a number of tickets on Craigslist as of now, but a quick check suggests you'd better be prepared to pay a significant upcharge from the original cost (the event sold out in 16 minutes back in early September). The event is 630-930, and you can stop by beforehand to pick up your bracelet starting at 4 if you so wish. Yeah, the Ebbitt has free valet, but don't use it. Come on people, all you can drink open bar. Hail a cab.

Sunday the Redskins play the Seahawks at 4:15pm. The skins desperately need this game. Desperately. Even though the Seahawks are only 2-8 on the season, Hasselback has returned and is getting some of his receivers back from injury - and we all saw how difficult it was for the Skins to beat the Lions. Add in the fact that Zorn came from Seattle and Holmgren knows his tricks, and this thing could get interesting