For those of you who shied away from the fireworks and the humidity, here's Bwogger Lydia DePillis' dispatch from Washington DC's 4th of July.

Washington DC on the fourth of July is the hothouse of American patriotism (in more ways than one). Having avoided it last year, this time around I thought I'd try immersing myself -- kind of like seeing how long you can hold your breath underwater.

I didn't actually end up doing the whole shebang. I only saw a section of the parade, and I skipped out on the Capitol Lawn extravaganza (complete with Taylor Hicks!). Perhaps that was why the whole thing never actually felt repellent: I hadn't stuck around long enough for it to really sink in.

The parade, however, had a different twist than I was expecting. Sure, it had the blaring brass bands, the self-declared country western stars, West Virginia dairy princesses (okay, there was only one of those). But a good chunk was actually composed of immigrant groups asserting their love of America.

This weekend, America is turning 232, making it just slightly older than the Columbia College website. Traditionally, Americans celebrate their country's birthday by cooking meat on grills outdoors and then watching fireworks. For this week's Guide to the Weekend, we've consolidated a few events that will give you the opportunity to do just that.

Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular; 9PM
Prime Viewing Spots: Manhattan: East River Park, South Street Seaport, FDR Drive between 14th and 42nd Streets; Brooklyn: Greenpoint, Empire Fulton Derry State Park (in DUMBO), Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Brooklyn Independence Day Parade; Between 66th and 86th Streets on 13th Ave in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn
Head to 66th Street in Dyker Height's for the 103rd Annual Independence Day Parade! Who knew Brooklyn had a 66th Street? Featuring classic parade staples like floats and veteran marching bands.

Tipster John Gardner sends photos our way of the Hindu Students Organization's Holi festival. The annual springtime celebration features 1500 lbs. of paint for throwing at your friends and promises (threats?) of supersoakers. There will also be a classical dance performance explaining the origins of the celebration. It's happening til around 2ish on the EC/IAB plaza.

More aerial photography by John Gardner after the jump.

April is not just Poetry Month, it's also Earth Awareness Month. W.M. Akers reports on NYU's valiant awareness-raising nude protest/celebration.

A civic-minded group of students took to the streets outside of the main NYU buildings today, exhibiting their bodies and their concern for the environment. Timing their small march to coincide with the gap in between the 11 AM and 12:30 PM classes, they made a circuit of six blocks several times, chanting and cheering in support of Earth Month.

They gathered at the east side of Washington Square a few minutes before noon to trade shirts, pants and brasseires for colorful war paint. Most of the men wore shorts and running shoes, while the women wore pants or athletic shorts and a bra or body paint. It was a few degrees too cold for comfortable nudity, and assorted nipples greeted the air cheerfully. Though they looked a bit silly, the participants had their message ready, as though they expected people to ask why they were running around topless.

More stuff you shouldn't have saved on a public computer.

We were able to get some take out Thai food, drag a couch left on a corner into an abandoned intersection and gaze at the wonder of New York's night time sky line. Oh, it's beautiful. The Chrysler Building and Empire State Building are familiar statues, monuments even, (nearly) immortal peaks, while many other modern buildings reached up with varying statures, and the older buildings, all decorated with lights, splashed the sky with orange and green. It was a celebration for me; it seemed as if the city was celebrating with me.

Sometimes, however, torture is not the only way to prevent an attack.