For our complete guide to events for the weekend, click here.

Thursday, August 21
• We bet Chris Isaak thanks his lucky stars every day for “Wicked Games.” The song, but more so the steamy video featuring Isaak and supermodel Helena Christensen frolicking half-naked on the beach, made the crooked-nosed singer a sex god among mortals. Nineteen years after, “Wicked Games” is still the hottest music video ever made, and Isaak’s sexy aura remains untouched. Tonight, he makes audiences swoon with a concert at the Wolf Trap at 8. Tickets are $25-$40.

• If you haven’t had a chance to check out Sticky Rice just yet, tonight’s the right time to venture to the Atlas district: The winner of tonight’s game of Blingo—the restaurant’s version of bingo—will be awarded a Nintendo Wii. Yes, you read  right, a freakin’ Nintendo Wii! Blingo starts at 10.

After being discovered on MySpace by a record-label intern, the pop/rock band Metro Station quickly grew to celebrity status with the release of its self-titled debut album and a catchy single, “Shake It.” The Los Angeles-based group, made up of four young guys (including Miley Cyrus’s brother), will perform at Sonar this Halloween, Friday, October 31. The $15 tickets ($18 at the door) also include performances by opening acts Shwayze, Tyga, and Cash Cash. Ticket sales begin Saturday, August 23, at 10 AM.

In addition to a show at the Black Cat on Thursday, October 2, the electronica duo Ratatat has lined up a show at Sonar for Sunday, October 5. Composed of producer Evan Mast and guitarist Mike Stroud, Ratatat just released a new album last month titled LP3. Tickets are $15 ($17 at the door) and go on sale Friday, August 22, at 10 AM.

Country and blues fans will appreciate this upcoming tour: An Acoustic Evening With Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt makes a stop at the Warner Theatre on Sunday, October 19. Tickets ($69.50) go on sale Friday at 10 AM.

Thursday, August 21: The good folks at Goodwill are holding a trunk show of vintage and vintage-inspired designs at Marimekko in Silver Spring from 5 to 7 PM. Marimekko and vintage together? It’s like a dream of ours, finally coming true.

Friday, August 22: Make sure to catch a film in the Made in Hong Kong Film Festival at the Freer before it wraps up this weekend. Today and Sunday, it’s Triangle, a classic Hong Kong crime thriller. The film is told in three 30-minute parts, each directed by a different Hong Kong filmmaker. 7 PM (2 PM on Sunday); free tickets required.

It’s a block party for all! To mark its 50th anniversary, Ben’s Chili Bowl is hosting a free block party outside its U Street location from 10:30 AM till 2 PM. Expect family-friendly fun, games, and music.

Standup comic Mike Birbiglia, who got his start at Georgetown University, will be back in town showing off his self-deprecating humor at the Improv through the weekend. 8 and 10:30 PM; $20.

“You are what you eat” is a common truism. What you put inside your mouth tells the world exactly the kind of person you are. In the same vein, you are what you drink. A Stella Artois tells the world you’re probably a snob, but more likely just effete. Likewise, nothing says cheap like a can of PBR—even if you’re trying to be ironic.

But what about what you make? Are you what you choose to make? The basil-watermelon cooler placed in front of me on the bar at Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert suggests so. Chosen and prepared for this Video Buzzed by bartender Jeremy Onesko, the summer drink is refreshing and simple, but with just enough of a kick to keep it from being bland. Likewise, Onesko is straightforward and energetic. In between takes, he joked that this video will launch his television career (not going to happen—sorry, Jeremy) and got a kick out of sharing his recipe with some customers. Onesko is equally forthcoming about his hobby: When not tending bar, you can find him  at a golf course.

You can order a Basil-Watermelon Cooler at Westend Bistro through the rest of the summer. You can also check below for the drink’s recipe and our video with Onesko.

Monday, August 18: Suzanne Vega
Ready for a trip down memory lane? Suzanne Vega, the folky singer/songwriter behind 80s super popular song "Tom's Diner," performs tonight at Birchmere Music Hall. Though Vega has released a number of records over the past years, she'll always be the "d,d, duh, dut, d, d, duh, dut" girl to us. The show starts at 7:30 with Christina Courtin as the opening act. Tickets are $35.


Tuesday, August 19: Navy Band Concert
Concerts on the Avenue is a free summertime series featuring performances from the United States Navy Band that runs every Tuesday through Labor Day. Tonight, the Cruisers, a specialty unit of the Navy Band, perform a variety of music, including classic rock and blues tunes, as well as contemporary top 40 hits. Performances are held at the U.S. Memorial Plaza.

Owning an Xbox and the Rock Band video game can turn a gamer into a rock star. The game’s most dedicated followers just might get their chance in the spotlight during the Rock Band Live concert at the Patriot Center this Halloween, Friday, October 31. Performers will include Panic at the Disco and Dashboard Confessional with openers Plain White T’s and the Cab (sans video-game guitars), and concertgoers will get a chance to compete in a Rock Band competition onstage, making it a truly interactive show. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon for $29.95 to $39.95.

Hip-hop and R&B queen Mary J. Blige is on tour with Robin Thicke this fall, and they’ll be at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore on Wednesday, October 8. They’re also performing at Nissan Pavilion on September 20; tickets for that went on sale earlier this month. Tickets for the Baltimore show ($57.75 to $97.75) go on sale Saturday, August 16 at 10 AM.

The wind in your hair and a smile on your face—nothing says summer like some time in a convertible. Rental agencies offer a fleet of top-down stunners for every occasion—whether a night on the town for two or a drive to the beach with the kids.

Take a spin in a two-passenger Ferrari 360 Spider (list price: $190,000) or a silver 380-horsepower Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster, a car the New York Times called “a Bond-worthy beauty.” Locally owned Capital Dream Cars (capitaldreamcars.com; 703-785-9357) offers both. Rates range from $895 for a 12-hour joyride in the Aston Martin up to $2,950 for a weekend with the Ferrari. The McLean company also offers to put you behind the wheel of one of these cars for a three-hour tour ($495 to $795) through the Blue Ridge–Piedmont area.