Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.
EAT
Mar. 6: First Friday in Hampden
Hampden, W. 36th St. between Kewsick East and Falls West. 6-9 p.m. facebook.com
Thrillist just named Hampden one of America’s coolest neighborhoods, but we’ve known that for a while. One of the hood’s best features takes place tonight, with the monthly First Friday festivities. Scramble along the Avenue and swing through some of the shops, which stay open late and feature booze, beats, and special sales on local goods. Whatever you do, work up an appetite because, as we also already know, the area is ripe with exciting eats. Try BYOB newbies like the 28-seat, farm-to-table Aromes, or the equally tiny, paella-peddling Spanish spot, Café Cito. Slurp back some dollar shucks from The Local Oyster at Corner Charcuterie Bar. Forget the winter weather with homemade pasta at Grano or the “lobster fingers” at The Food Market. Before you head home, grab a growler to go at Le Garage or Birroteca. And hell, while you’re there, you might as well stay for a pint.
DRINK
Mar. 7: Canton Irish Stroll
Looney’s Pub, 2900 O’Donnell St. 1-9 p.m. $20. 301-652-7712. lindypromo.com
If you’re eager to start celebrating St. Paddy’s Day or just itching to get out of the house so you don’t go all Shining on your roommates, the 14th-annual Canton bar crawl will be slushing around the Square this Saturday. The weather is going to be perfect—for our standards, at least—with a current forecast of mostly sunny and a high of 40 degrees—which is basically Boca Raton. Throw on some green garb, brave the pickled masses, grab a Guinness (and a Jameson, you’re going to need it), and say slainte at some 17-plus pubs around the neighborhood, including Claddagh, El Bufalo, Portside, Tavern on the Square, and, best of all, Walt’s Inn. You might not be a fresh young 21 anymore, but you’re never too old for some good old-fashioned craic.
SEE
Mar. 6-8: Chicago
Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. 1 & 6:30 p.m. $25-110. 410-837-7400. france-merrickpac.com
Did you ever watch Seinfeld—some episode where Elaine finds herself in the midst of some Larry David dilemma, when her boss, J. Peterman, comes into the office and drops a ridiculous gem of wisdom from some yesteryear safari—and find yourself thinking: Man, that Mr. Peterman. He sure has a set of pipes on him. Who hasn’t, which is why my mind was blown when he sidled out onto the Hippodrome stage on Tuesday night and started belting out classic Chicago tunes. In the smash-hit Broadway musical, he plays the top-notch lawyer who comes to save a young, naive starlet who just murdered her sidepiece in a jealous rage. That actress will wow you, too, and the rest of the show is pure entertainment and snarky, LOL comedy, full of razzle-dazzle costumes, burlesque dance, and catchy numbers like “All That Jazz” and “Cell Block Tango.” Set in Prohibition-era Chi-town, it tells the racy, roaring-’20s tale of fortune, fame, corruption, crime, and revenge that’s a definite don’t-miss this month, even if only to see J. Peterman shine.
HEAR
Mar. 7: Bosley with M. H. & His Orchestra
The 8×10, 10 E. Cross St. 8 p.m. $10. 410-625-2000. the8x10.com
We give a lot of love to local soul sensation, Bosley, for his high-energy stage antics, funky, R&B dance parties, and spin on a classic soulful sound. This weekend, we’re also giving it up to the evening’s other act, as the musician will be joined by D.C.’s orchestral pop group, M. H. & His Orchestra. They might be the perfecting pairing, as the nine-person band blends Elvisian crooning with a medley of instruments—string, brass, drums, keys, accordion, to name a few—into punchy, powerful sound that pays homage to a mix of muses, like old-school R&B, Latin music, Calypso, and Old Westerns.
DO
Mar. 6-9: CAA Men’s Basketball Championships
Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. Fri. 6 & 8:30 p.m., Sat. 12, 2:30, 6 & 8:30 p.m., Sun. 2:30 p.m., Mon. 7 p.m. $13-45. 410-347-2020. royalfarmsarena.com
Even though we’re currently more interested in the Terps Top 10 status, the Colonial Athletic Association men’s b-ball tournament tips off tonight, with the first round of the four-day, nine-game, 10-team championship games in Charm City. Watch the Northeast take on the South as No. 9 seed Towson takes on No. 8 seed Elon and No. 7 seed Drexel dukes it out against No. 10 seed College of Charleston. Tomorrow, catch those winners take on William & Mary Tribe and NC-Wilmington, respectfully, as well as JMU vs. Hofstra and Northeastern vs. the reigning champs, the UD Blue Hens. The top four will head to the semifinals on Sunday, followed by the championship crowning on Monday night.