Hey it’s Friday and 2014 is definitely on. You’re ready to play this weekend and you want to keep things fun. Well good, because we’re all about it and we’ve got all kinds of ideas. From the nation’s coolest beer festivals to movies, music, and cutting-edge TV – we’ve got your back big-time. Plus we’ve a serious Weekend Beer Pick that you’ll want to get your hands on.

So welcome to our awesome Weekend Picks…

Strange Days (Port Townsend, WA) – The 10^th annual Strange Brewfest returns to the American Legion Hall in downtown Port Townsend this weekend, and if you’ve never attended, you’ve been missing a good one. This year’s two-day event (Jan 24^th-25^th) will feature incredibly “strange” brews from some of the region’s best brewers and some serious Funk music as well. For more info on what promises to be a “long strange trip,” check out: Drink Strange

On the Big Screen – There’s only one movie opening this weekend and we’re not sure that it even warrants recommending. I, Frankenstein looks more like an Underworld spin-off – reimagining the monster as more of a misunderstood super-hero battling evil forces – rather than anything even close to Mary Shelly’s classic creation. Aaron Eckhart stars as Frankenstein, a monster who has survived into modern times due to a genetic anomaly, who now finds himself caught in an all-out, centuries-old war between two immortal clans, gargoyle and demons. On the stupid scale, we’re giving this movie a 9 – but sometimes stupid can be a good thing!

Drink New Jersey (Asbury Park, NJ) – The 2^nd annual Asbury Park BeerFest returns to the Jersey Shore this Sunday, Jan 25^th, and as there’s no football this weekend, why wouldn’t you want to be there? The 2014 edition will take place at Convention Hall in Asbury Park. There will be two sessions, one from noon to 4 pm and another from 6 to 10 pm. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster and The Stone Pony box office. There will be craft beers, ciders, retro beers, classic boardwalk food, and music. For more info on a brilliant alternative to shoveling snow, check out: Asbury Park BeerFest

TV Time – With half of the nation snow-bound and many parts of the country experiencing single-digit temperatures, we can’t think of a better time to hunker down on the home front and spend your weekend binge-watching some of the great TV shows we’ve been recommending. If you’ve never watched Breaking Bad, we’re pissed at you and you’re no longer welcome here (Exit ACB). But there’s also Mad Men, House of Cards, True Detective, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Masters of Sex, Homeland, and The Returned (just to name a few). C’mon, do we have to do everything for you? Just start watching any one of these (starting with season 1) – and we promise you, you’ll be hooked!

Our Awesome Weekend Beer Pick

Redmond, Washington’s Black Raven Brewing Company brought back a legend for a brief run last Tuesday. Black Raven Coco Jones is their award-winning coconut porter and it’s available now at their taproom (til it’s not) on draft and in 22 oz. bombers.