Photo by [F]oxymoron.

FRIDAY

BENEFIT: The Black Cat (1811 14th Street NW) is hosting a Literature Party, including readings, music, a “confessional booth” and more, to benefit 826DC, a non-profit that helps kids develop writing skills. 9 p.m. $10.

PARTY: The Kids in America new wave dance party is back tonight at Dahlak (1771 U Street NW) to pit OMD vs Depeche Mode. They’ll be taking requests, giving away some tickets to OMD’s March 10th show at the 9:30 Club to someone with a “sweet asymmetrical new wave haircut” and selling “fancy beer” for $4. 10 p.m. Free.

THEATER: Landless Theater’s Mashup Fest, featuring four parody plays, kicks off tonight at the D.C. Arts Center (2438 18th Street NW). At 7:30 p.m., catch Pii-Wii’s Big Poseidon Adventure and All that Jaws, or head over at 10 p.m. for Gleeam and Tarxxxanadu. $25 for either the 7:30 p.m. or 10 p.m. shows, or pay $40 and see all four plays.

MOVIES: In preparation for Valentine’s Day, AFI Silver Theatre (8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring) kicks off a line-up of Great Movie Romances from each decade. First up is Bringing Up Baby, with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, at 9:15 p.m. $11.

>> If you’re not into the mushy stuff, the AFI has two other film fests starting up tonight: Backwards and in High Heels, looking back at the films of Ginger Rogers, and Alfred Hitchcock Retrospective: Part I, featuring the films Hitch made in Britain between 1929 and 1939. Tonight’s selections include Flying Down to Rio at 5:10 p.m. and the 1929 film Blackmail at 7:20 p.m. $11 each.

MUSIC: Israel’s Monotonix hits Comet Ping Pong (5037 Connecticut Avenue NW) with Pujol and Federation X. 10:30 p.m. $12.

ART: The Fridge (Rear alley, 516 8th Street SE) kicks off its Fresh Produce Festival of Live Art with performances by Contradiction Dance, magician Francis Menott, Emma Jaster and Paco Fish, all set to live music from Bluebrain. 8 p.m. $15.