One of my best friends here in DC moves across the country later today. After an exciting and wonderful week where we spent lots of valuable time together, I know I’m going to need a good rest this weekend. If you’re caught inside over the next few days, this edition of The Weekender has some good photos, video, and links to keep you occupied.

Photos for the weekend.

White Space: a wonderful gallery of paintings by Silke Schöner that leaves large parts of the landscape bathed in white for us to fill in.

Links for the weekend.

Like Mother, Like Son
Most little boys grow up emulating their fathers. Not me: my role model from the first day I have been alive has been my mother, and I couldn’t ask for a better person to serve as my inspiration and love of my life.

Best Patios in Toronto
DC has some great patios, but I have to admit that Toronto has one of the best patio cultures I’ve witnessed in North America. It’s really fantastic, and this is a good starter list to explore some of the best patios in the city.

How to Challenge Google (And Win)
I’d argue that Umair Haque is one of the greatest business thinkers of our time. Here, he demonstrates why he’s so great: he looks at what made Google successful, and offers ways that we can all adopt similar thinking.

The Optimist Conspectus
Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the bad news around us and forget the wonderful things in our life. I love this site because it helps remind me that there’s always sunshine around the corner.

La Vache Qui Rit and Another Cow Altogether
Because love isn’t really like they make it seem in the movies. Well, maybe sometimes.

Don’t! The secret of self-control.
An article in the New Yorker about teaching ourselves how to think so that we can outsmart our desires. Yeah, I need to work on that.

Videos for the weekend.

Absolutely gorgeous shots of nature and wildlife as the sun sets in the horizon by Ray Paunovich. Peaceful, calming, serene, and beautiful.

Cute, fun, and really well executed. A short video by Nelson Boles that will bring a smile to your face.

That’s it for this weekend. If you want to keep on top of what else I’m reading or enjoying on the web during the week, check out my tumblelog Squandrous, my Google Reader shared items, or my Times People profile.