Baratunde Thurston (Flickr/baratunde)

The Onion's Baratunde Thurston's new book, How to Be Black, is part memoir and part satire. "If they're reading my book in public, they're going to make instant friends or instant enemies," he says. Sidwell Friends School. 7 p.m. Free

FILMS & MUSIC

Garage-rock band Black Box Revelation at DC9 with The Jones. 9 p.m. $8.

2012 Environmental Film Fest Launch Party at Warner Building Atrium. A night of festivities with music by the Eric Wheeler Trio, art by Vestibule Guerrilla Gallery, a silent auction, and cocktails by mixologist Derek Brown. 6:30 p.m. $20.