5 things you need to know this weekend
Memorial Day weekend marks unofficial start of summer
Americans will observe Memorial Day this weekend with everything from somber ceremonies to beach trips and barbecues. Hundreds of thousands of motorcycles will parade through Washington, D.C., on Sunday for the annual Rolling Thunder ride, which brings attention to prisoners of war and servicemembers missing in action. Sunday evening, catch the broadcast of the annual Memorial Day concert at 8 ET from the grounds of the Capitol, hosted by Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna. We'd be remiss not to mention that Saturday is National Burger Day. Here's our guide to eight great food and beer happenings this weekend.
100th Indy 500 is Sunday — and now Hoosiers can watch on TV, too
The milestone 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 is Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. James Hinchcliffe will start on the pole for the 200-lap race on the oval-shaped track, and defending champion Juan Pablo Montoya will start at position 17. For the first time in 65 years, the sold-out IndyCar race will not be blacked out for the local TV audience. "Drivers Start Your Engines" is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. ET. The Indy 500 can be viewed on ABC or live streamed on WatchESPN.
More travelers hitting the road (for less) this Memorial Day weekend
Cheap gas is fueling a rush of travel this Memorial Day weekend. AAA is projecting 35 million people will travel — about 700,000 more than last year. GasBuddy is projecting a 2.2% increase in road-trippers this summer, with national prices averaging $2.29 per gallon on Memorial Day and $2.15 per gallon from June through August. Cheaper fuel is also contributing to lower airfares. Travel booking site Orbitz says the average plane ticket to its top 10 destinations costs 10% less this summer than it did last year.
You can now spend the night in Princess Diana's old bedroom
Earl Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, is allowing the public to spend a weekend at the noble family's ancestral estate — for charity, and for a pretty penny. Christened "Heir BNB" by NBC News, the venture is a fundraiser for Countess Karen Spencer's orphan charity, Whole Child. It marks the first time outsiders will be permitted to stay overnight, but it doesn't come cheap: Prices start at $25,000 for a private bedroom or $40,000 for a premium bedroom. The Spencers detail the announcement and give an intimate tour of the 500-year-old mansion to NBC News in a special segment for Dateline spinoff On Assignment, which airs Sunday at 7 ET/PT.
NBA's best regular-season team ever could miss Finals
After finishing the regular season 73-9 with an NBA record for most wins in a single regular season, the Golden State Warriors were expected to cruise to The Finals. Instead, they are just hanging on. They kept their season alive by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-111 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals and cut the series deficit to 3-2. The Warriors face another win-or-go-home situation Saturday night. The winner will play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals. Watch live on TNT at 9 p.m. ET.
And the essentials:
Be inspired: Girl Scouts devote hours to placing American flags on veterans' graves.
Weekend TV: Wondering what to watch this weekend? TCM is offering up a full weekend marathon of war movies, and Sunday marks the annual Memorial Day concert at 8 ET from the grounds of the Capitol. Here's a great list of what to binge-watch, too.
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