Events to Peep for the Month of March

Saturday Night Live funny lady, Sasheer Zamata, kicks off her weekend gig at DC's Drafthouse Comedy on Friday, March 1st, for the first of four shows full of laughs and impressions of numerous female icons from Michelle Obama to Beyonce. 7 & 9 p.m. Tickets: $20. Drafthouse Comedy. 1100 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. www.drafthousecomedy.com

Raunchy, hilarious, and thought provoking are just a few words to sum up Aziza Barnes' stage play, Blks, focusing on one craze-filled night in the life of three, African-American female millennials struggling with the highs and lows of love and life. Grab a ticket for its closing night on Sunday, March 3rd, and prepare to be amused. 2 & 7 p.m. Tickets: $46-64. Woolly Mammoth Theatre.  641 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. www.woollymammoth.net

You know him from the screen and the stage, and he's hilarious on both! Head to Charm City for some laughs on Thursday, March 7th, when comedian and actor Bill Bellamy kicks off his three-night engagement at the Baltimore Comedy Factory. 8 p.m. Tickets: $27-$37. Baltimore Comedy Factory. 5625 O'Donnell Street, Baltimore MD 21224. www.baltimorecomedy.com

Get ready to rock on wit yo bad self AND some bad ladies starting on Friday, March 8th, for Black Girls Rock weekend at the Kennedy Center featuring a free kick off party with MC Lyte, a book discussion with Black Girls Rock founder Beverly Bond, and a closing concert featuring Jazmine Sullivan and Mumu Fresh. Times vary. Tickets: $35+. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. www.kennedy-center.org

On Saturday, March 9th, Grammy nominated and four-octave range chanteuse, Alice Smith, heads to DC's famed Lincoln Theater for a one-night only show fans are sure to not want to miss. The Lincoln Theatre. 8 p.m. Tickets: $35. 1215 U Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20009. www.thelincolndc.com

Find your way to the City Winery on Saturday, March 9th, when Motor City's own, Dwele, hits the stage for two shows on his "Ivory & Cream Tour" to bring fans all of his soulful jams from "I Think I Love You" to "Weekend Love."  6:30 & 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $45-$65. City Winery DC. 1350 Okie Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002.

Put a little jazz in your midweek on Wednesday, March 13th, for Samuel Prather & Groove Orchestra's new album release concert and party. 8 & 10 p.m. Tickets: $22. Blues Alley. 1073 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007. www.bluesalley.com

Head back to Charm City on Saturday, March 16th, when 10 Summers Presents: The Debut Tour with Ella Mai featuring Kiana Lede and Lucky Daye. 8 p.m. Tickets: $121+. Baltimore Soundstage. 124 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202. www.baltimoresoundstage.com

Behold. Soul icon, Gladys Knight, will command the MGM Theater stage on Saturday, March 23rd, bringing fans over four decades worth of hits from "Heard it Through the Grapevine" to "Love Overboard." 8 p.m. Tickets: $92+. The Theatre and MGM. 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD 20745. www.ticketmaster.com

Close out the month on a hilarious note when comedian JB Smoove heads into town on Friday, March 29th, to bring the crazy as only he can. Warner Theatre. 8 p.m. Tickets: $33+ 513 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. www.warnertheatredc.com

Restaurant of the Month: "It was all a dream...." until black-owned Brooklyn on U became the newest club/restaurant to take the Shaw area to new heights. With two decked out levels--one for dining; one for lounging--patrons can enjoy a live DJ seven nights a week while dining on braised short ribs, fried chicken, mac & cheese, and an assortment of flatbread pizzas, or cool out with such cocktails as The Wingate or the Meet Me At Cardoza. Spread love...it's the Brooklyn on U way. Brooklyn. 1212 U Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. www.knowbrooklyn.com

Life's short. Be entertained.

Events to Peep for the Month of February

On Tuesday, February 5th, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater kicks off its 60th anniversary at the Kennedy Center, performing such classic numbers as "Revelations" and introducing new numbers such as "Kairos," "The Call," and "Juba." Times vary. Tickets: $59-$219. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. www.kennedy-center.org

Get ready to laugh on Thursday, February 7th, when funnyman and Saturday Night Live veteran Finesse Mitchell, kicks off a four-night set at the DC Improv. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Tickets: $22.  DC Improv. 1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036. www.dcimprov.com

World renown and five-time Grammy winning singing group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, heads to the Strathmore on Friday, February 8th. With an infectious sense of joy, Mambazo, spreads a message of peace, hope, and love at every concert through melody and dance. 8 p.m. Tickets: $29-$69. Strathmore. 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852. www.strathmore.org

Calling all lovers: Put some "gumbo" in your musical mix on Thursday, February 14th, when New Orleans native, singer, songwriter, and record producer PJ Morton commands the Kennedy Center stage for a Valentine's night concert that's sure to inspire eternal love. 8 p.m. Tickets: $59-$69. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. www.kennedy-center.org

Singer, songwriter, and actor Gregory Porter, will deliver his musical goods on Friday, February 15th, for a one-night-only show featuring all of his Grammy-award winning album hits from "Hey Laura" to "More Than a Woman." 8 p.m. Tickets: $59-$108. Strathmore. 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852. www.strathmore.org

The long-awaited DC return of original neosoul singer, Rahsaan Patterson, goes down on Saturday, February 16th, for two shows at the elegant City Winery. Enjoy a night of choice wines and all of Patterson's hits from "Stop By" to "Spend the Night." 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $50-$68. City Winery DC. 1350 Okie Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. citywinery.com/washingtondc

Songbird and Floetry veteran Marsha Ambrosius brings her style, flava, and dope vocals to Charm City courtesy of her NYLA Tour on Thursday, February 21st, for a one-night only show that's guaranteed to be "so good." 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $39. Baltimore Soundstage. 124 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202. www.baltimoresoundstage.com

Close out the last weekend in the month with some hip hop flow when you head to the Howard Theatre on Saturday, February 23rd, to witness rapper and record producer, Jay Electronica, bring down the house doing what he does best. 9 p.m. Tickets: $35-$60. The Howard Theatre. 620 T Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. www.thehowardtheatre.com

Restaurant of the Month: In celebration of Black History Month, head to the Wharf and devour Chef Kwane Onwuachi, of Top Chef fame's, bold Afro-Caribbean take on goat, oxtail, and seafood, while enjoying beautiful views courtesy of the southwest waterfront. Kith & Kin. 801 Wharf Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024. www.kithandkindc.com


Life's short. Be entertained.