Events to Peep for the Month of January

On Wednesday, January 1st, tip off your New Year's Day cheering on the Washington Wizards in their first game of the year when they face off against the Orlando Magic. 6 p.m. Tickets: $10-$173. Capital One Arena. 601 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. www.capitolonearena.com

DC's own funnyman, Red Grant, kicks of a three-night set at the Improv on Friday, January 3rd, bringing all the funny you can stand. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $22. DC Improv. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $30. DC Improv. 1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036. www.dcimprov.com

Warm up the month with a ray of Avery Sunshine on Thursday, January 9th, when she commands the Birchmere stage bringing your all of her "soulspirational" tunes from "Blessin' Me" to "All in My Head." 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $65. The Birchmere. 3701 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305. www.birchmere.com

Settle in for the opening night production of Pipeline on Wednesday, January 15th. Written by Dominique Morisseau and directed by Awoye Timpo, the play takes a deep and compassionate look at the ferocity of one parent’s love as she struggles to fight for her son's success and survival within a broken education system. 8 p.m. Tickets: $20-$80. Studio Theatre. 1501 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. www.studiotheatre.org

Prepare for a hip hop "high" with the one and only Snoop Dogg hits the Fillmore stage for a stop on his "I Want to Thank Me" tour on Sunday, January 19th. 8 p.m. Tickets: $59. The Fillmore. 8656 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910. www.fillmoresilverspring.com

On Monday, January 20th, celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through song when The Kennedy Center and Georgetown University present Grammy-winning artist Chaka Khan with the Let Freedom Ring Choir in a musical tribute to the great Peacemaker. 6 p.m. Tickets: Free (up to two available per person). John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. www.kennedy-center.org

Incomparable singer and actor Luke James heads to Union Stage for the DC leg of his "To Feel Love/D" tour on Thursday, January 30th, bringing fans a catalog of soulful tunes from "These Arms" to "Stay With Me." 8 p.m. Tickets: $18-$78. Union Stage. 740 Water Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024. www.unionstage.com

Close out the month with the soulful sounds of balladeer Will Downing when he heads to the Birchmere on Friday, January 31st, to bring fans over three decades worth of hits from "A Million Ways" to "I Go Crazy." 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $79. The Birchmere. 3701 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305. www.birchmere.com

Restaurant of the Month: The long-awaited opening of the Imperial restaurant is finally over. The Adams Morgan, three-level complex from the owners of the Jack Rose whiskey bar offers customers an array of cocktails and vintage spirits, including a food menu delivering such eclectic dishes as sorghum risotto with black truffles, anchovy-bread crumb bucatini, and beef Wellington. Bon appetit. The Imperial. 2001 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. www.imperialdc.com. Opens daily 5 p.m.-11 p.m. 

Life's short. Be entertained...and Happy New Year!