There is one thing about summer that I'll really miss - besides short skirts and hot dresses - the BBQ's. Last night kicked off with a brief hang with Tropical Storm before we packed it in and rolled out to Carol Gardens. The evening was a farewell celebration for Simon and Scott who are heading onto life in higher education. It was a gathering of old friends. Jeff held the grill down while we funneled beers and passed some bubbley. Karl and Jane Anne returned from their summer in the Northeast and if for only a brief minute, it felt like the good old days. The evening turned to night so I decided to hop a ride with Erin and Sascha who were heading back uptown. After trying to track down some people, I threw in the towel and watched more Arrested Development with Builder and Herman.

This weekend I'll be DJ'ing a buddy's wedding in Bedford, NY so you'll have to get on without me Saturday night. Tonight is a different story. My plan is to bounce around hoping to catch Oxford Collaspe, Wilderness and Les Savy Fav - unless something even crazier comes across my desk. For now, here is my best of the best for the weekend:

** New York **

- Friday: Wilderness w/ Oxford Collapse @ Mercury; Les Savy Fav @ Bowery (Sold Out); Ted Leo @ South Street Seaport.
- Saturday: Levy @ Mercury Lounge; Of Montreal @ Northsix; The Perceptionists @ Southpaw.
- Sunday: Lou Reed @ Joe's Pub; Make Believe @ Northsix.

** Austin **

- Friday: Wrens w/ Jim Yoshii Pile-Up @ Emo's (outside).
- Saturday: Knitters @ The Parish.
- Sunday: Float the River.

** Chicago **

- Friday: Heiroglyphics @ Abbey Pub; DEVO @ House Of Blues; Suicide Machines @ Bottom Lounge.
- Saturday: Puffy AmiYumi @ Vic Theatre.
- Sunday: Head to Wrigley for the Cubs vs. Marlins.

** Los Angeles **

- Friday: Murs @ Knitting Factory (Main); Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings @ The Echo.
- Saturday: Sunset Junction Festival @ 3600 – 4400 Sunset Boulevard, (Foreign Born, Rilo Kiley, The Walkmen, Black Mountain & More).
- Sunday: Desmond Dekker w/ Hepcat @ Hollywood Bowl; Sunset Junction Festival @ 3600 – 4400 Sunset Boulevard, (Gossip, The Weirdos, NY Dolls, The Eagles of Death Metal & More).

** Portland **

- Friday: Shellac @ Berbati's Pan.
- Saturday: (smog) @ Doug Fir Lounge; Rufus Wainwright w/ Ben Folds & Ben Lee @ Roseland Theatre.
- Sunday: Hella @ Holocene.

** San Francisco **

- Friday: Eat burritos in the Mission.
- Saturday: Vinyl @ The Great American; The Matches @ Slim's.
- Sunday: Magik Markers @ Bottom of the Hill; Black Mountain @ The Independent.