MUSIC: Remember the Smoking Popes? The Chicago act was one of the raft of poppy punk bands that rode the Green Day wave back in the mid-90s, but actually managed to keep a cultish following throughout much of that decade with their distinctive Morrissey-meets-The Ramones style. We had no idea they were back in action as of a couple of years ago, but here they are at DC9 this week, with Baltimore's Oranges Band. $12, 9 p.m.

BOOKS: What does it take to survive a plane crash? A hotel fire? A hostage situation? Journalist Amanda Ripley’s series of interviews with survivors of these and other shattering experiences has resulted in what appears to be a quite useful book, The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—and Why. She discusses and signs copies of it at Politics and Prose, guaranteed to be the safest place in the city should disaster strike this evening. 7 p.m.

JAZZ: Stickman, a local jazz-fusion outfit that made a name for itself through the 1990s reunites tonight at Blues Alley for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. The band features Peter Fraize, head of GW's jazz program, on saxophone, drummer and Ellington School faculty member Francis Thompson, guitarist Matt Rinker, and other local heavyweights. Tickets are $18 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

FESTIVAL: If you can get down to the Mall by 5 p.m., talk to some real life rocket scientists at the NASA part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, or learn some El Paso style Mexican cooking over at the Texas section. Free.

MUSIC: Entering the home stretch of their tour, Three Stars alum Flex Mathews and Kosha Dillz will take the stage at Chief Ike's for a show. $5, 9 p.m.

TRIVIA: Stop by the Wednesday trivia night at Solly's U Street Tavern; this week bar proceeds go to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 8 p.m.

Photo by mosley.brian