Photo by nzr242

FRIDAY

MONSTER TRUCKS: Monster Jam brings the engine-revving, giant wheel spinning awesomeness of monster trucks to the Verizon Center (601 F Street NW) tonight and this weekend. Shows at 7:30 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, and 2 p.m. shows tomorrow and Sunday. $20-$60.

FOOD & DRINK: Alliance Francaise (2142 Wyoming Avenue NW) is hosting a a Trappist and Abbey Beer Tasting tonight, led by Chuck Cook, author of 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die. This event is part of the larger Belgian Year of Gastronomy series. 7 p.m. $15 members, $25 nonmembers.

POETRY: DC Youth Slam is hosting a youth poetry slam at The Fridge (Rear Alley, 516 1/2 8th Street SE) tonight, featuring poets aged 18 and younger trying out to join the DC Youth Slam Team. There will also be special guests Patrick Washington (an HBO Def Poet), and the 2012 Miss DC (also a poet). 6:30-9:00 p.m. $5 to attend, $2 to compete.

DANCE: John Heginbotham of the Mark Morris Dance Group dances to the music of Daft Punk on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage (2700 F Street NW) Friday. 6 p.m. Free.

MUSIC: It’s been a nineties rock kind of week at the 9:30 Club (815 V Street NW). Yesterday, Cowboy Mouth took the stage and tonight it’s Big Head Todd and the Monsters performing. The Dig opens. 8 p.m. $25.

>> The Kids in America New Wave Dance Party is back at Dahlak (1771 U Street NW) tonight, spinning Altered Images, Human League, the Passions, and all your New Wave requests. 10 p.m. Free.

MOVIES: Prepare for the Academy Awards (airing February 26), by catching up on movies that made the 2011 list of Oscar nominees. Five nomniees, Albert Nobbs, The Artist, The Descendants, The Iron Lady, and Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy are playing at E Street Cinema (555 11th Street NW). Tomorrow, Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington VA) is showing The Ides of March and on Sunday it’s also showing Moneyball. And Regal Gallery Place is showing Hugo, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

SATURDAY

MARKET: Stock up on bourbon pecan cakes, sweet potato chocolate swirl pie, homemade bahn mi sandwiches, and more at the D.C. Grey Market this Saturday in Brightwood (1365 Kennedy Street NW). 1:00-4:00 p.m. $2 in person, $2.37 online.

BRR: Have a brisk morning at the 16th annual Polar Bear Plunge at Sandy Point State Park (110 E. College Parkway, Annapolis MD) this Saturday. It’s $50 to join in the fun and freezing event (free to just watch), and participants receive a commemorative sweatshirt, gift, and the good feeling of knowing they’re raising money for Special Olympics Maryland. 8 a.m.

CLASSICAL: Introduce kids to classical music through music from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban performed by the IBIS Chamber Ensemble at the the Mischief Managed event at Artisphere (1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington VA) this Saturday. There will also be a performance of the Mother Goose Suite, accompanied by a live narrator telling fairytales. Shows at 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. $10 adults, $8 children.

OUTDOORS: Team up with REI to help re-route a trail at Potomac Overlook Regional Park (2845 N Marcey Road Arlington, VA) this Saturday. Participants will help in “removal of vegetation along new trail route, trail grading, installation of steps and waterbars, application of wood chips and gravel,” and other work. Register to participate by calling Potomac Overlook Regional Park at 703-528-5406, or by e-mailing Potomac@nvrpa.org. 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

PARTY: Join A.M. Wine Shoppe (2122 18th Street NW) in celebrating its 2nd anniversary with a neighborhood party this Saturday from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. There will be free tastings and demos throughout the day, including sous chef Sarah Smith talking cheese from 1:00-2:30 p.m., Adam Bernbach of Proof & Estadio discussing cocktails from 2:00-3:00 p.m., El Ceibo Chocolate from 4:00-7:00 p.m., and more.

SUNDAY

PARADE: Celebrate the year of the dragon at the annual D.C. Chinese New Year Parade. The route begins in Chinatown at 6th and I Street NW. 2:00-5:00 p.m. Free.

FOOD & DRINK: D.C. Meat Week kicks off 6:00 p.m. this Sunday at Urban Bar-B-Q (5566 Norbeck Road Rockville, MD), where they’ll be offering free sides, happy hour prices, and a commemorative gift. Check the full schedule for events through February 5, including all-you-can eat brisket, pork ribs, barbecue chicken and sides for $20 at Hill Country (410 Seventh Street NW) this coming Monday.