Photo by i_like_biscuits

COMEDY: Hit up the Warehouse Theater tonight for the Family Hemerlein Variety Show, this time featuring The Smoke Fairies (in all their Britishness), sketch comedy troupe Brick Penguin (unofficially of the Washington Improv Theater), MC funny-man Seaton Smith, and host Matthew Hemerlein. The Warehouse will open at 8 p.m. for a happy hour with the artists and special punch from The Passenger’s Derek Brown. The 9 p.m. show is $15 and the 11 p.m. is $10. Tickets available online.

The Screw Loose Circus makes its way to the Palace of Wonders this evening for sideshow acts and corny comedy. $10, 9 p.m.

FOOD & DRINK: The Smithsonian Young Benefactors Happy Hour at the fancy-pants bar George (3251 Prospect St. NW) tonight doesn’t require any proof of benefactorship. The organizers are, however, asking for $10 donations at the door for the Culture4Kids Fund before you make your way to the $5 rail drinks and $4 domestic beers. Festivities start early at 6 p.m.

THEATER: Catch Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, which our critic called “as enjoyably corny as early Mel Brooks, as bizarrely hilarious as Monty Python, and as well choreographed as the Keystone Kops,” tonight at 8 p.m. during its brief run at the Warner Theatre. Tickets range from $30 to $50 and can be bought online or at the Warner Box Office.

MUSIC: Alicia Keys is at the Verizon Center at 7:30 p.m. tonight on “The Element of Freedom” tour. The tour includes two other R&B stars, Robin Thicke and Melanie Fiona. Tickets range from $55-$128.

CLASSICAL: For you classical music fans, cellist Daniel Müller-Schott plays Dvořák’s cello concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra tonight with guest conductor Jakub Hruša. Tickets are $20 – $85, 7 p.m.