Tuesday, March 4: Ah, Mardi Gras. Be smart, and don't do anything (well, too many things) that will get you notoriety on DVDs sold on late-night television. The most adult event (and the one with the most cultural crossover) is at the pad thai-and-jazz joint Bangkok Blues, which will feature a live Dixieland band and a Cajun-meets-Asian menu. There are others, which mostly involve cheap alcohol, beads and bands, but the most ragin' will probably be the daylong Fat Tuesday party at Lulu's, with live broadcasts by DC101.

Thursday, Feb. 27
Soccer, beer and good causes -- these are a few of our favorite things. Tonight, from 5:30 to 8:30, players from the Washington Freedom are taking over R.F.D., the excellent new bar that boasts Washington's largest selection of draft beers. The Freedom will be serving the brews, and all tips you give them will be donated to the Kids Care Fund at Children's Hospital. (FYI: Last summer, the Freedom raised money in a similar fashion at Gordon Biersch; we were amazed to find the legendary Mia Hamm behind the taps.)

Friday, Feb. 28
There's the New Orleans way to celebrate Fat Tuesday or other ways, other places. Experience the more authentic way tonight, as the young professionals from the Meridian International Center and Euronet join forces for a black-tie-optional Brazilian Carnaval, with a live samba band, dancing, food and drink. Or there's another way: You could head to Carnival at MCCXXIII for a giant party with an early open bar, all night drink specials and (sigh) a bead contest. At the end of the night, the woman with the most beads wins a $500 gift certificate to Neiman Marcus.

If you're looking for something less risque, the First Ladies DJ Collective is again taking over the back room at the Black Cat for Girl Friday. This month's featured DJs are Christine Moritz (downtempo and funky breakbeats), the Pinstriped Rebel (Britpop, '80s, indie), Ladyplastik (electro and house) and Junebullet (soulful house). It's free and doors open at 10.

Feedback from our users invariably gets around to bemoaning the lack of havens for the city's b-boys, not just the kind that bust moves on the floor but in a broader sense all those that fiend for the essence of a beat, a mike or can of paint. The Tru-Skool crew have once again set up shop for their free weekly event -- this time at Capital City Records -- consisting of performances, open mike segments and battles. Headlining tonight's set will be the aAvantGOD vi_lence an aggressively unpredictable group that draws members from the clique responsible for Miscellaneous Flux, Dimentional Control and Deborah Bond.

Saturday, March 1
It's not quite Mardi Gras yet, but a number of promoters thoughtfully don't want to keep you out late on a school night. With that in mind, you can choose among the popular Mardi Gras Madness party, with live music and DJs at Lulu's; the Bourbon Street Bash in Clarendon; or the D.C. Society of Young Professionals' Mardi Gras Jam and Farewell to the Ritz. The multi-level club, so beloved by college folks for its dim lighting and 18-and-over nights, is being turned into an office building in the next few weeks. We think the building needs a plaque to mark the location of the reggae floor.

Don't want to deal with rowdy drunks chucking plastic beads? The Phillips Collection's young members group is hosting a formal Black and White Ball at the Embassy of Finland. Eric Felton's Jazz Orchestra provides the mood music, and the embassy provides food and drink. All money raised goes to the museum's Photography Acquisition Fund.

The powerhouse weeklies at Five continue to pull in the biggest names in the electronic dance music scene. Serious dancers and turntable trainspotters alike pack in to revel in the club's massive soundsystem and vibe along up close with their favorite icons of the decks. Mark Farina has built his rep around a tireless touring schedule, a signature deep underground house sound when spinning and his lounged-out, genre-hopping Mushroom Jazz series of compilations. Ever the gracious host in his DJ booth, Five resident Taha will no doubt thoroughly heat the decks to set up Farina and may even close out the night too.

Sunday, March 2
Since February, Washington bartenders have been competing for the title "D.C.'s Fastest Bartender." The weekly contests at Rumors include tests of speed and drink pouring skill, with proceeds benefiting local charities. There are only two contests left, tonight and tomorrow. Go support a bartender, or watch and laugh with the rest of the crowd. It's all in good fun.

Monday, March 3
Tax time is getting closer. Save some money and get yourself a half-price burger. If you're not hungry, go to Rumors and check out the last qualifier for the finals of D.C.'s Fastest Bartender (see Sunday's listing for more information).

Tuesday, March 4
Ah, the real Mardi Gras. Be smart, and don't do anything (well, too many things) that will get you notoriety on DVDs sold on late-night television. The most adult event (and the one with the most cultural crossover) is at the pad thai-and-jazz joint Bangkok Blues, which will feature a live Dixieland band and a Cajun-meets-Asian menu. The others, which mostly involve cheap alcohol, beads and bands, include the daylong DC101 Fat Tuesday party at Lulu's, the 12-hour multi-band bash at Basin Street and the ever-popular costume contest and drink specials at Tunnicliff's. You might get even closer to that New Orleans theme in Clarendon, where floats parade down Wilson Boulevard, followed by drinking at many of the neighborhood's watering holes. Not enough? You can find all our Mardi Gras listings here.

Wednesday, March 5
You won't find an old-school cutting contest at HR-57's weekly jazz jam sessions -- the competition is usually more friendly than my-chops-are-better-than-yours. That's cool, because everyone is welcome to sit in (although you might want to know a few standards). Even if you don't play, it's worth a visit to watch the creative process at work.

Fritz Hahn is the Bars and Clubs editor of washingtonpost.com and a Going Out Guru. Rhome Anderson is a Going Out Guru and performs around town under the name DJ Stylus.