"My parents are coming to town. Sweet! Free food! Shopping! Wait. What am I going to do with them?"

For one weekend, you need to not only pretend that you don't cry yourself to sleep on a regular basis, but also that you're out in DC loving life and the city.

Here's how:

Sights

Historic whatnot is great for progenitor pleasure. If you weren't fortunate enough to knock out the monuments as part of an ill-fated family trip, you must now. Also, check out the view from the top of the Old Post Office Pavilion. Lincoln's cottage (his Civil War Camp David) is chock full o' culture as well.

Museums

DC is a museum town. If they haven't done the Smithsonians, do. They're free, leaving more in the budget for them to spend on you. Be sure to check out the Great Hall of the Building Museum.

If you want to take advantage of mommy and daddy's money, a great use would be the recently relocated Newseum.

Outside

It's summer. You should be outside. The columns from the old Capitol building are a highlight at the arboretum. A walking tour (either guided or self-guided) will get you out in the sun. Another crowd-pleaser is Mount Vernon (get them to buy you an annual pass, so you can go back; it costs less than two trips).

Food and shopping

Free food and free stuff is usually the highlight of any parental jaunt. If they'll go big, swing for the fences and hit up Citronelle in Georgetown (the restaurant of the hour and even better after a long day of shopping). If they're steak people, Annie's in Dupont serves 'em up without a huge price tag. If the folks are more adventurous, take them to Etete, the gold standard of Ethiopian on 9th St. Ben's Chili Bowl on U St. gives you deliciousness AND history (it's one of the only business to survive the 1968 race riots); plus, it's near the U St. shops. Taqueria Distrito Federal in Columbia Heights is tasty and cheap (and close to the Target for toilet paper, a frying pan, an ottoman, etc.).

Night

So you've had a big day showing them the town, now what? You can't possibly stare are each other/the TV all night. Do you really have that much to talk about?

Take them to the Kennedy Center. FYI, there's free performances at the Millennium Stage every day at 6 p.m.

If the insufferable heat of day kept you inside, check out the monuments at night and don't miss FDR.