Hey it’s Friday, the weekend’s almost here, and now that Breaking Bad has come to its end, it’s time to get on with your life. Well good, because we’ve got some fun ideas for you. From the nation’s coolest beer festivals to movies, music, and cutting-edge TV – we’ve got your back big-time! And we’ve got another one of our weekend beer picks for you – so you’ll want to check that out too. So welcome to this week’s edition of our awesome Weekend Picks.
The Mother of All Oktoberfest Celebrations (Munich, Germany) – As we detailed in last week’s WEEKEND PICKS, it’s Oktoberfest time. And the festival that spawned them all is now in full swing over in Munich. This mammoth 16-day event (it actually started on September 21st and runs through Sunday) is the largest and most renowned Oktoberfest celebration on the planet. This is right up there with a visit to the Great Pyramids or a trip to the Great Wall of China – it’s something you’ve got to do before you die. So with life so uncertain, why take any chances? This is your shot! For more info on this legendary event, check out: Munich Oktoberfest
On The Big Screen – If you’re looking for a serious drama to fill that hole that’s been left by Breaking Bad’s conclusion, Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity, which opens this weekend, might be just what you need. This is a return to science fiction for Cuarón, who made a name for himself directing the brilliant Children of Men so he knows his way around the genre. It stars George Clooney (who we understand is only in it briefly) and Sandra Bullock (who’s evidently in nearly every scene) and tells the story of a cataclysmic accident that leaves a medical engineer and an astronaut adrift in space. The buzz on this picture has been overwhelmingly positive and the movie’s trailers look incredible, so we’re not going to miss this one – and maybe you shouldn’t either.
A Beer Festival that’s Closer to Home (Durham, NC) – If flying to Munich this weekend feels like a stretch and you’re looking for a beer festival that’s a little more doable, then you need to look no further than Durham, North Carolina, home to one of this weekend’s biggest events, the 2013 World Beer Festival. 110 of the nation’s best breweries will be showcasing more than 300 of their best beers this Saturday, October the 5th at Durham Athletic Park and you should join them for what promises to be a spectacular day. For more info on this two-session beerganza, check out: World Beer Festival 2013
TV Time – Showtime’s award-winning Homeland returns to television for its third season this Sunday, just in time to ease you through your Breaking Bad withdrawal. Claire Danes returns as the brilliant and troubled CIA operative Carrie Mathison, as does Damian Lewis who plays Nicholas Brody, a returned Marine prisoner of war (who may be working with Al-Qaeda) and is now on the run. If you’ve not as yet begun this series, it’s best to start at the beginning before wading into Sunday night’s return. And if you’re already on-board, you already know to expect the unexpected: Homeland
Our Awesome Weekend Beer Pick
The Boulder Beer Company has just announced a new year-round offering that’s shaking things up some. Shake Chocolate Porter is a twist on the classic that marries chocolate and coffee with a traditional American Porter. You can look for it now in 22 oz. bottles, 12 oz. six-packs, and draft wherever Boulder Beer is distributed.