On
Thursday, June 6th, kickoff three night of entertainment at the Kennedy Center courtesy of comedian/actress/singer and all around funnygirl, Amanda Seales, starting with Amanda Seales presents Mo' Betta Wu: Jazz from the 36 Chambers, then her Smart Funny & Black: Hip Hop Culture Edition on Friday, and wrapping with An Evening with Amanda Seales on Saturday for a trifecta you don't want to miss. 8 p.m. nightly. Tickets: $29-$49. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. www.kennedy-center.org
Prepare to have your soul stirred on
Saturday, June 8th, when you take in a performance of playwright Dennis Williams' "I've Cried the Blues: The Musical Story of a Lifetime. Starring singers Avery Sunshine and KeKe Wyatt, Blues tells the story of a family's struggles with racism and sexism during the blues era of 1945 in Little Rock, Arkansas. 8 p.m. Tickets: $60-$65. Warner Theatre. 8 p.m. Tickets: $33+ 513 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. www.warnertheatredc.com
You'll have a laughing good time when you hit the DC Improv on
Thursday, June 13th, for the kickoff of comedian Gary Owen's four-night set that's sure to be a raucous good time. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $45-$57. DC Improv. 1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036. www.dcimprov.com
Head back to the Kennedy Center on
Friday, June 14th, for a musical of a different variety when you witness Goldie Patrick's riveting play and a testimony to the role of women. Hip Hop, personified as a woman known as H.E.R (inspired by Common’s “I Used to Love H.E.R.”), is rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The world seems to care little until five women of unlikely, diverse, and often opposing views show up unexpectedly at the hospital. Each with her own agenda, the women represent all elements and eras of Hip Hop—the good and traumatic. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $25-$35. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. www.kennedy-center.org
Soulstress Conya Doss gives you something to pair with your Merlot when she brings her silky smooth vocals to the City Winery on
Saturday, June 22nd, delivering all of her hits from Don't Change to You Got Me. 8 p.m. Tickets: $28-$40. City Winery DC. 1350 Okie Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. citywinery.com/washingtondc
On
Tuesday, June 25th, award-winning musical Hamilton kicks off at Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre. Hamilton: An American Musical is a sung-and-rapped through musical about the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, with music, lyrics and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and inspired by the 2004 biography by historian Ron Chernow. 8 p.m. Tickets: Vary. Hippodrome Theatre. 12 N Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. www.france-merrickpac.com
Get your life fixed on
Wednesday, June 26th, when Iyanla Vanzant—celebrated spiritual teacher, New York Times best-selling author, speaker, and television personality—brings her Acts of Faith Remix Tour to the Strathmore for an evening that sure's to set your soul free. 8 p.m. Tickets: $38-$90. Strathmore. 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852. www.strathmore.org
It'll be no denying the Kennedy Center's June lineup was smokin' hot when it closes out the month on
Saturday, June 29th, with neosoul singing sensation Eric Roberson in his first solo concert appearance at the legendary arts center, where he'll perform over a decades worth of hits from The Moon to Music to Mark on Me. 8 p.m. Tickets: $59. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. www.kennedy-center.org
Restaurant of the Month: If your wallet won't let you jet off to Hawaii this summer, you can still soak up that Hawaiian vibe for far less at Union Market's new Coconut Club. The open air bar and restaurant features such Big Island-inspired dishes as Spam Fried Rice and an assortment of tropical cocktails like the Tuk Tuk Goose and the Maholo at You Later--a refreshing frozen rum, strawberry, chartreuse, lime delight. Aloha! Open 5-11 p.m. weekdays and 3-11 p.m. on weekends. Coconut Club. 540 Penn Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. www.hellococonutclub.com
Life's short. Be entertained.
