Photo by M.V. Jantzen

MUSIC: Rising stars Ra Ra Rasputin headline a line-up of local acts at DC9. FFFever, The Spiritual Machine, and Exactly also play. 8:30 p.m., $8.

LECTURE: African Grey Parrots Toby and Pepper are at the National Zoo for Parrot Talk: When Being a Birdbrain Is a Compliment (also speaking will be human-parrot communication expert Irene Pepperberg and neuroscientist Richard Restak). Call (202) 633-3030 for more details. $20, 6:45 p.m.

MUSIC: The Velvet Lounge hosts a trio of loud, punk-influenced acts, including locals The Points (who we just interviewed last week) and The Electrocutions, and Detroit’s Terrible Twos. 9 p.m., $8.

LECTURE: Interested in the conflict between Georgia and Russia? Association of South Ossetian Women for Democracy and Human Rights founder Lira Tskhovrebova will be at the K Street Busboys at 6 p.m. Tskhovrebova will be joined by journalist Lana Parastaeva, and they will be discussing their “first-hand account of the [Russian-Georgian] war and its implications for the future of the Caucasus.”

FOOD & DRINK: The Brickskeller is hosting its annual Holidaze Extravanganvee seasonal beer tasting event tonight. For $35, host Bob Tupper will introduce you to the latest winter ales from a long list of regional breweries that includes Vintage 50 and Franklin’s. 7:30 p.m.