The downside to living in a metropolitan area run by Hill hounds and corporate fat cats is a high cost of living. The upside? Plenty of free ways to while away the weekend. Introducing a weekly round-up of the most promising free-vents the D.C. area has to offer. This weekend: pickpockets, Red Bull vodka cocktails, and Cannes-worthy Brazilian lovers.

Thursday

• Fort Reno w/ Imperial China, FFFever, The Key Blanks. 7:15 p.m. A D.C. institution, and one of the best ways to spend a summer evening. Especially with tonight's lineup.

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In this week's "What's Your Problem?" I spoke with performance artist Holly Bass, who challenges media stereotypes of black women by incorporating a humongous detachable butt into her routines. In order to mock-up this bigger booty, Bass invented what she calls "booty balls," a pair of basketballs that she straps on top of her own derrière. So, what's the problem? I don't want to give away the ending, but let's just say it involved some tightening up of some loose, err … okay, okay, some loose basketballs. Below: the evolution of Bass's booty.

"WNBA" at the Hip Hop Theater Festival, 2007

Learn more about Bass's work in "Fake Your Booty," Maura Judkis' feature about Bass's booty work.