An extra-long weekend starts with DJs, cover bands and charity at night-before-Thanksgiving parties, then moves on to flashback '80s go-go, an event dedicated to hits of the '90s, the premiere of the D.C.'s first dueling piano bar and a chance to see some local bands you have have been neglecting.

Listen to jams from Boyz II Men, ABC, BBD and the rest of the East Coast Family at the Black Cat on Friday night. (File Photo)

Planning on getting lunch after the inauguration ceremony and parade? Don't count on it being easy.

You won't be watching the Inauguration from Charlie Palmer's rooftop. The restaurant is already booked for a private event. (Jay Premack for The Washington Post)

"It's just the busiest week ever," said Nick Selimos, the maitre d' at The Monocle since 1974. "They have started calling already. I anticipate we'll be booked for both shifts."

The Monocle is one of few in the vicinity of the festivities that is actually taking reservations for Jan. 20. At this point, D'Acqua, Elephant and Castle, Charlie Palmer Steak and Old Ebbitt Grill are already booked through lunch. Cafe du Parc and 701 are booked throughout the day. TenPenh, Art and Soul and Central are among those considering and/or nailing down details for potential private parties and buyouts. We'll keep you posted here if any of those restaurants decide to open to the public.

As of now, Johnny's Half Shell will be closed for a private party lunch on the 20th, but managers plan to open it for reservations in the evening. "For us, the biggest question right now is how much difficulty will people have getting to the area" because of security measures, said co-owner John Fulchino. As noted in this story, inauguration watchers trying to get anywhere on the big day should plan on walking and leaving themselves plenty of time. Nearby Taqueria Nacionale -- the well-reviewed carryout joint also owned by Fulchino and Ann Cashion -- will be open for both breakfast and lunch.

A few blocks away from Pennsylvania Avenue, Rasika, Bombay Club and Zola are currently taking reservations during the day, and Cafe Atlantico, Jaleo, Oyamel and Zaytinya will take a limited number of reservations through OpenTable. Harry's Restaurant and Saloon -- a divey joint on E Street that's reviled by some Gurus, adored by me -- will be open that day, but the small restaurant's tables will be first-come, first-serve. Ceiba is taking reservations, and, beginning at 9 a.m., it will offer a $10 to-go package consisting of a churro and hot chocolate for parade-watchers. Expect many marketing-savvy restaurants, street vendors and others to follow.

If I were trying to make reservations for any of the available places nearby, I'd call to nail down a table -- and I'd do it now. Some of the restaurants I called appeared to have availability through OpenTable, but turned out to be booked for private parties. Many restaurants -- Charlie Palmer, Art and Soul, etc. -- won't even take OpenTable reservations this far in advance. After the lunchtime buyout came through, Johnny's management had to call back one early reserver to cancel. Some restaurateurs are able to honor reservations made this far in advance (even if a private party comes through), but just to be on the safe side, I'd want to make sure I had a contact at the restaurant I chose, in case my table was going to get the boot. (I'd also probably plan to escape the crowds in a less-busy corner of the city or bring my own snacks for noshing).

For more inauguration news, check out Inauguration Watch.

-- Julia

For those tasked with coming up with a schedule of activities for friends and relatives visiting over Thanksgiving, we're here to help. After the jump, we've compiled some ideas for how to entertain houseguests with local exhibits and activities that don't include searching for a parking spot at Tysons Corner.

If you're not leaving town for Thanksgiving, you're going to want to grab a drink with friends who find themselves in a similar situation. And if your family lives in the area, you're probably going to want to get out Thursday night anyway, whether it's to catch up with old friends who are back in town or because a day with the family has left you needing a drink.

Breadsoda opens at 4 p.m. for pool, darts, shuffleboard, Wii and beers. (Jay Premark)

The big question, however, is where to go. The usual Thursday night options aren't in play. Lucky Bar? Closed. Front Page? Opening at noon for a Thanksgiving buffet, then closing at 7 without offering happy hour. McFadden's? Nope, the college students will have to go somewhere else.

Eighteenth Street Lounge? Clarendon Ballroom? Cafe Saint-Ex? Buffalo Billiards? Asylum? Nope. Looks like we're batting .000. What's a Thanksgiving Day barfly to do?

Every week, the Going Out Gurus suggest ways to enjoy Washington's cultural scene without spending any money. Have an idea for us? Send it to events@washingtonpost.com.

Buck Hill, who earned the nickname "The Swinging Mailman" in D.C. jazz clubs in the '50s and '60s, brings his sax to the Kennedy Center. (Tyler Mallory)

Monday
Bobby Felder's Capitol All-Stars at the Millennium Stage
A night of doo-wop, soul and girl-group sounds at the Kennedy Center honors the legacy of U Street's now-shuttered Howard Theatre. Legendary vocal groups the Orioles and the Jewels are featured, along with Bobby Felder, who was a regular on D.C.'s R&B circuit in the '50s and '60s.

Tuesday
D.C. Karaoke Showdown at the Rock and Roll Hotel
Sticky Rice's month-long karaoke contest comes to a head at the Rock and Roll Hotel, where the top singers from the last three weeks compete for big prizes. In between karaoke sessions, catch DJs and live music from local bands.

Wednesday
Rockers International at Eighteenth Street Lounge
Thankful you don't have to go to work on Thursday? You'll be extra thankful that Eighteenth Street Lounge waives its cover charge until 11 p.m., allowing you to catch live reggae by See-I and Rockers International, plus special guest DJ Rob Paine.

Thursday
Hard Bop Heaven at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage
Saxman Buck Hill, who was one of the giants of the local jazz scene in the '50s and '60s, is joined by the Larry Willis Trio, Jacques "The Saxman" Johnson and Friends, and Dr. Bill Clark to remember the hard-swinging bop performed at long-closed clubs like Abarts and The Hollywood.

Friday
National Harbor Tree Lighting Ceremony
Watch the lighting of a 65-foot tree followed by a fireworks display. The National Children's Museum, scheduled to open in 2012, sponsors family-friendly entertainment and activities.

Saturday
Scottish Heritage Preview at the Lyceum
The week before Alexandria's Scottish-themed holiday parade, head to the Lyceum for an afternoon of music, Highland dancing, food and Scottish dogs.

Sunday
'Herblock's Presidents: Puncturing Pomposity' at National Portrait Gallery
With election season over, this is your last chance to see 55 years of presidential character sketches from the pen of The Washington Post's Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist.

Monday
Frank Zappa Mini-Festival at the Library of Congress
A double bill of Zappa includes "The Amazing Mr. Bickford," a claymation tale of brawling monsters and aliens over a Zappa soundtrack, and the live concert film "Does Humor Belong in Music?" The latter will turn any non-believer into a Zappa fan.

-- Fritz