On
Friday, June 1st, kickoff of the 26th Annual Capital Jazz Fest with Ledisi, Earth, Wind, & Fire, and new artist Butterscotch. The 3-day festival features performances by Diana Krall, Rachelle Ferrell, Keiko Matsui, Fantasia, After 7, Brandy, and Moonchild. Sunday's headliner will feature Anita Baker's farewell tour performance. Friday - 7:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday - Noon to 10 p.m. Tickets: $70-$495. Merriweather Post Pavilion. 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044. www.capitaljazz.com
Head to Jiffy Lube Live stadium on
Friday, June 1st, and bear witness to hip hop greatness as rapper Kendrick Lamar takes to the stage on his Top Dawg Entertainment: The Championship Tour performing all of his hits from Swimming Pools to HUMBLE. Additoinal featured acts include SZA, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab Soul, SiR, and Lance Skiiiwalker. 7:30 p.m. Jiffy Lube Live. 7800 Cellar Door Drive, Bristow, VA 20136. $44-$200. www.ticketmaster.com
The artist: Khalid. His location: MECU Pavilion (formerly Pier Six Pavilion). Check him out on
Monday, June 4th, for his Baltimore debut along with opening act PRETTYMUCH. 8 p.m. Tickets: $59-$89. MECU Pavillion. www.ticketmaster.com
R&B singing sensation Brian McKnight takes his fans "Back to One" on
Saturday, June 9th, when he commands the Birchmere stage to bring his fans over two decades worth of slow jams and smooth grooves. 8 p.m. Tickets: $43-$73. The Warner Theatre. 513 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. www.birchmere.com
Get turnt up on a night full of laughter on
Saturday, June 9th, for the DC leg of the the Lit AF Comedy Tour hosted by Martin Lawrence and featuring DeRay Davis, Rickey Smiley, Bruce Bruce, and Adele Givens. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $49-$125. Capital One Arena. 601 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. www.ticketmaster.com
Hip hop legend KRS-One will continue to "reign supreme" when he takes to the stage on
Thursday, June 14th, to perform all of his iconic hits from "MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know" to "Sound of da Police." Opening acts include Ashley Sierra, Soul Cannon, and Eva Rhymes. 9 p.m. Tickets: $28. Baltimore Soundstage. 124 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202. www.baltimoresoundstage.com
What's there not to love about beer, BBQ, and bourbon? If you've answered "nothing," then head to the National Harbor on
Saturday, June 16th, for the annual Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival featuring 60+ beer, 40+ bourbons, and lots of BBQ to sample and enjoy! 2-6 p.m. Tickets: $45. The Plateau at National Harbor. 204 Waterfront Street, Oxon Hill, MD 20745. www.beerandbourbon.com
You may know the hit songs of one of the greatest R&B groups of all time, but do you know their story? If not, head to the Kennedy Center on
Tuesday, June 19th, for the opening night performance of Ain't Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations, featuring such iconic hits as "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." 8 p.m. Tickets: $59-$129. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. www.kennedy-center.org
Prefer a little butt-kicking action instead? Also on
Tuesday, June 19th, the Kennedy Center along with Spotify and Netflix will celebrate Juneteenth by presenting an advanced screening of the first two episodes of Marvel’s Luke Cage Season 2 with a special performance by KRS-One. Ticket purchase includes an exclusive after party featuring The Midnight Hour—plus a surprise musical guest you won’t want to miss! 7 p.m. Tickets: $59. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. www.kennedy-center.org
Ironman Mike Tyson trades in the ring for the stage on
Thursday, June 21st, when he heads to The Theater at MGM to bring audiences round 2 of his knockout performance, "Undisputed Truth," chronicling his life story. 8 p.m. Tickets: $60-$155+. The Theater at MGM National Harbor. 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD 20745. www.ticketmaster.com
On
Wednesday, June 27th, head back to the Kennedy Center for a smooth groove as jazz and R&B singer, songwriter, and Grammy Award winner Gregory Porter is accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra to perform the many hits he's loved for from "Hey Laura" to "Be Good." 8 p.m. Tickets: $39-$79. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. www.kennedy-center.org
The month closes out with laughter as actor and comedian Craig Robinson from "The Office" and "Hot Tub Time Machine" fame lands on the Improv stage on
Thursday, June 28th, to kickoff his four-night set. 7 p.m. Tickets: $35. DC Improv. 1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036. www.dcimprov.com.
NOTE: This show has been rescheduled to September 27-30. All tickets purchased for June will be honored.
Restaurant of the Month: Nothing signals rooftop brunches like warm June weekends. But if you prefer something a little more low key and cool (literally and figuratively) head to the Crimson Whiskey Bar, located downstairs from the lobby of the Pod Hotel for its Barrelhouse Brunch, served every Sunday from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Chefs Lawrence DiJoseph and Erick Morales sling an array of Southern-inspired, hangover-friendly entrees, like their Bayou Benedict, Creole Strata, or the Gold Plate Special–savory country fried chicken and melted cheese sandwiched between to halves of a sliced-and-grilled vanilla-bean-glazed doughnut. Crimson Whiskey Bar/Pod Hotel. 627 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. www.crimson-dc.com
Life's short. Be entertained.
