Photo by Ben Crosbie

MUSIC: Head to DC9 tonight to dance to a blend of Chicago and West Africa sound from the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International. The show starts at 9:30 p.m.; tickets are $10 at the door.

ART: Hear live jazz/ragtime music from the Dave Tucker Trio while you roam around the diverse exhibits at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC) tonight in Alexandria. TFAC is free and open until 9 p.m.

MOVIE: The Landmark E Street Cinema hosts five films collected by the Genetic Alliance, for their Gene Screen: A Night of Film on Health and Genetics. The films start at 6:30 p.m. and cover a range of topics and film styles, from an animated basic introduction to basic genetics, to a documentary about a family learning to incorporate a disabled child into their daily routines. Q&A sessions follow the screenings. Free, but donations welcome.

ACTIVITIES: Every Thursday night through October 8, the Sailing Club of Washington hosts a social sail for free starting at 6 p.m. at the Washington Sailing Marina (Sailing Marina, 1 Marina Dr., Alexandria). While it’s free to sail, the club hosts a BBQ that asks for a $5 donation to cover the cost of food. No experience is necessary.

MUSIC: The Pixies’ Frank Black comes to town with his wife and their latest side-project, Grand Duchy. Bunnies open. At the Black Cat, $15, 8 p.m. Tickets are still available.