Hey it’s Friday…Work’s wrapping up and you’re ready for some fun. Well good, because we’re all about it and we’ve got all kinds of ideas for you. 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 weekend beer pick for you too because we know you’ll be drinking!

So welcome to our awesome Weekend Picks…

And Yes, You’ll have Barrels of Fun (Chicago, IL) – The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild is presenting the 12^th annual Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer this weekend – and if you’ve never attended an event like this – now’s your chance. This year’s three-session, two-day event (Nov 15^th – 16^th) is taking place at the University of Illinois – Chicago Pavilion and will feature more than 300 barrel-aged beers from 90 of the region’s best breweries. There will also be a judged competition with medals awarded in 11 categories including “Best of Show.”

On The Big Screen – This weekend’s movie openings span the spectrum. On one hand, you’ve a movie that was met with raves when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival back in May. Foxcatcher stars an almost unrecognizable Steve Carrell, along with Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo, and tells the unsettling true story of a murder within the U.S. Men’s Olympic wrestling team in the 1990s. But if you’re in the mood for something lighter, there’s always the 20-year overdue sequel to theFarrelly Brother’s classic, Dumb and Dumber – which once again stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels – and promises to be Dumb and Dumber To.

Attack of the Big Beers (Charlotte, NC) – Attack of the Big Beers – Charlotte’s High Gravity Beer Festival – kicks off its inaugural event this Saturday, November 15^th down in the “Queen City.” This two-session beerganza invites you to sample more than 100+ enormous craft beers from the region’s most uncompromising brewers – but prepare to drink big – because that’s what this festival is all about. For ticket info and session details, check out: Big Beers

TV Time – If you’re in the mood for something thoughtful, provocative, and sexy, the Showtime network has a new drama series that more than fits that bill. The Affair explores an extramarital relationship between Noah Solloway and Alison Lockhart after the two meet in the resort town on Long Island. Noah (Dominic West) is a Brooklyn schoolteacher who’s had one novel published, and is struggling to write his second. He’s also a happily married father with four children, who resents his dependence on his wealthy father-in-law. Alison (Ruth Wilson) is a young waitress trying to piece her marriage back together after the death of her child. The Affair is told in a “he said/ she said-style” – and their memories of how things transpired couldn’t be more different. And, oh yeah, someone gets murdered.

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