MUSIC: Locals Aerialist and Statehood play the Black Cat‘s back stage for a solid night of rock. $8, 9 p.m., with Brooklyn’s The Big Sleep.

ART: The Katzen Arts Center hosts the Washington Project for the Arts‘ annual auction preview. They hold their 2008 Gala next Friday (RSVP here), which includes tons of artwork for sale, with each group of artists selected by a handful of curators. Buyers can start bidding on works online today, but we recommend checking out the works in person at the free preview tonight from 6 to 8:30 p.m. RSVP to info [at] wpadc.org or 202-234-7103.

READING: Former White House Press Secretary and MSNBC political commentator Dee Dee Myers will be at Politics and Prose to read from and sign copies of her new book, Why Women Should Rule the World. 7 p.m.

PERFORMANCE: The Palace of Wonders celebrates what they claim is the first ever International Sword Swallowers Day, which hilariously coincides with February being ‘National Swallowing Disorders Month’. Check out the special live show by sword swallowing couple Tyler Fyre & Thrill Kill Jill, along with a full explanation and demonstration of how sword swallowing is done. Also promised: “Sword Swallower drink specials.” We’re not even going to venture a guess. 9 p.m., $5.

READING: The Modernist Society hosts Simon Jacobsen, the former drummer of defunct D.C. hardcore band State of Alert who later followed in the footsteps of his dad, Hugh Newell Jacobsen, and became a prominent architect. At Bourbon in Adams Morgan, drink specials and dancing afterward with DJs Neville C., Triscuit and D-Mac. 9 p.m.

Photo by *Toshio*

The listed events were chosen by the editors of DCist and brought to you by the 2009 Toyota Corolla.