FRIDAY:

>> Painter Laurel Hausler’s solo show, Rackets and Remedies at the Atheneum in Alexandria, opens with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Inspired by old patent medicine advertising, Hausler’s current drawings use coffee-stained paper, line drawing and oil paint-stained plexi. Be sure to check out DCist’s studio visit with Hausler.

>> Tickets are still available to see it-band The Kills at the Black Cat. $15, 9 p.m., with Telepathe.

>> Guitar legend Pat Martino begins a three night stand at Blues Alley on Friday. Martino suffered brain aneurysms in the 1970s that caused him to lose almost all of his memory, including his knowledge of the guitar. Through extensive rehabilitation, he came back to form and resumed his career in 1987 and continues to produce first class work to this day. Tickets to the 8 and 10 p.m. sets are $27.50 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

>> It's First Friday in Dupont Circle, and we recommend stopping by Hillyer Art Space for new paintings by Anna U. Davis, displaying the complicated reasoning and emotions behind feminism. Foundry Gallery will be showing multimedia works by Stephen Nordlinger in The Figure is Central. Artist Roberta Thole will have her cryptic paintings, using many natural elements, at Studio Gallery. First Friday receptions are from 6 to 8 p.m.; see map of participating galleries here.

>> First gaining popular notoriety for his work with artists such as Musiq Soulchild, Osunlade is now better known for his extensive catalog as a producer and DJ of house music. He’ll be in town for a DJ set along with DJs Mandrill, Stylus and Chris Burns, among others, at the Warehouse Loft Studio (411 New York Ave NE). $20, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY:

>> Fantastic line-up of local talent at the Black Cat. The XYZ Affair (who played Unbuckled last year), Jukebox the Ghost and Travis Morrison Hellfighters will all take the mainstage for only $12. 9 p.m.

>> As 40-something singer from Belize, Andy Palacio was receiving accolades for his 2007 album, and preparing for a U.S. tour, when he suddenly passed away in January. In his honor a “Tribute to Andy Palacio” will occur for free at 8 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium featuring The Garifuna Collective, all women group Umalali, and others. Palacio’s sweet Garifuna pop drew from the Caribbean coast of Central America, combining West African, Arawak Indian and European influences.

>> Brightest Young Things is relaunching their web site (again), and doing what they do best to celebrate: throwing an enormous party. They're taking over the space where Artomatic will soon open and throwing a photography show at 6 p.m., featuring the work of their contributors, with a DJ set by Geologist of Animal Collective, then a concert starts at 8, with Video Hippos, Apes, Food for Animals and the Dance Party, followed by DJ sets from Chris Burns and DJ Cale. A $10 "donation" is requested at the door, and you have to RSVP to RSVP@brightestyoungthings.com in advance.

>> Passport DC, a giant new annual event from Cultural Tourism DC, is designed to encourage locals to venture inside dozens of the city's embassies. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 26 European embassies will kick off the two-week long festival with the EU Open House, where each embassy will be open to the public and offering up cultural delights from their countries. The Passport DC event runs through May 17.

>> Today is the Kentucky Derby! There's some overpriced fancy dress party going on at the Willard Hotel, but last year we had a great time drinking mint juleps at Bourbon, so we'd suggest heading over there. Coverage of the race begins on NBC at 5 p.m., with post time at 6:04 p.m.

SUNDAY:

>> It's the 45th annual Eastern Market Day festival today, which roughly coincides with the one year anniversary of the fire that nearly destroyed the building. The festival gets going at about 10:30 a.m.

>> Over at the National Postal Museum, the Smithsonian Family Day event presents workshops on origami, letter writing, stamp designing, and storybook making. Free and open to the public, no reservations required. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

>> Mark Olson, of the Jayhawks, will bring his solo take on alt country to Jammin' Java this weekend. Reviewers are salivating over his latest release, The Salvation Blues, so jump on the Orange line and see what you think.

>> Spanish Harlem Orchestra, a busy New York City-based ensemble with vocals, piano, plus plenty of horns and percussion, has since 2000 brought its take on classic Latin salsa to audiences worldwide through plenty of touring and several CDs. They’ll be at the University of Maryland Clarice Smith Center at 7:30 p.m.

Photo by M.V. Jantzen