Photo by [F]oxymoron

FOOD: Pho U, a pop-up Vietnamese restaurant, opens tonight at Montserrat House. The one-off venture was delayed after Thang Le, a Toki Underground chef who was to take part, died in February. Marvin chefs James Claudio and Brendan L’Etoile will be serving up menu items including crispy pork and shrimp spring rolls, rice vermicelli salads and several varieties of pho made with beef eye of round, handmade meatballs and brisket. Brian Liu of the DJ group Yellow Fever spins tonight, a karaoke band moves in Friday and Saturday.

Begins 7 p.m. at Montserrat House, 2016 Ninth Street NW.

ART and DRINK: Toss back an intricately designed cocktail with the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s Artini series. Tonight’s party is one of a series of tuneups before the Corcoran’s annual Artini benefit March 31. Throughout the month, the museum is recruiting bartenders from various establishments to concoct a quaff with an artistic twist. Rachel Sergi of Jack Rose Dining Saloon is up tonight.

At 6:30 p.m. at Jack Rose Dining Saloon, 2007 18th Street NW. (202) 588-7388.

MUSIC: Washer Woman, the ear-splitting duo of Angela Morrish and Nathan Jurgenson, will try to crumble the floorboards at Velvet Lounge with their brand of noise rock. Joining Washer Woman are Fan-Tan, Sansyou and the Nabokov-tinged New York post-rockers Dead Leaf Echo.

At 8 p.m. at Velvet Lounge, 915 U Street NW. $10. (202) 462-3213

FUNNY PEOPLE: Comedian and actor Michael Ian Black reads from his memoir You’re Not Doing It Right tonight at Sixth and I Historic Synagogue. In the book, the Wet Hot American Summer star and repertory player on The State confronts childhood, marriage, raising a family and his career.

At 7 p.m. at Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, 600 I Street NW. Tickets $12 to $28. (202) 408-3100.

>> D.C. native Baratunde Thurston, who is now the digital director for The Onion, returns to his alma mater to read from his memoir How to Be Black.

At 7 p.m. at Sidwell Friends School, 3825 Wisconsin Avenue NW. Free, but RSVP recommended.

NAVEL GAZING: Can’t get enough insight on the local music scene? See a panel of six critics dissect their views of local musicians for the organization Listen Local First. Panelists include DCist Music Editor Valerie Paschall, Jonathan L. Fischer of the Washington City Paper, Philip Runco of Brightest Young Things, Gio Russonello of Capital Bop, Jon Meyers of The Vinyl District and freelance writer Marcus K. Dowling. Brandon Wetherbee of the talk show and podcast You, Me, Them, Everybody moderates.

At 8 p.m. at Mellow Mushroom, 2436 18th Street NW. Free.