WHAT'S HAPPENING.

Check out the exhibit "Transatlantic Dialogue: Contemporary Art In and Out of Africa," at Washington, D.C.'s Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (950 Independence Ave. SW; 202-357-2700; www.si.edu/nmafa) before it closes September 3. On display are works by such African American artists as Jean-Michel Basquiat and John Biggers. African artists includeSokari Douglas Camp of Nigeria and Amir Nour of the Sudan. Admission is free. * Want to learn how to sail? Then sign up for the Third Annual Black Boaters' Summit (510-222-6308; www.blackboaterssummit.com), September 23 to 30 in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Some 240 boaters are expected to set sail on 30 yachts. A seven-day package costs $1,065 to $1,165. Novices are welcome.

* Through October 31 stay three nights at the Hyatt Regency St. Lucia in the West Indies (80055-HYATT; www.hyatt.com) and get the fourth night free. Aisc, children ages three to 12 will receive a free day at Camp Hyatt. * The Aruba Sonesta Resorts' (www.arubasonesta.com) annual Summer Nights promotion through December 22 offers rooms starting at $155 per night. The reservation includes a guaranteed room upgrade, daily buffet breakfast, and 1,000 American Airlines frequent flier miles. * Bill Cosby brings his comedy to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, California; 800-300-4345) on September 3. Tickets are $55 to $65. * Check out the recently released CD "Bee Note," a compilation of jams from three "super groups": Bee Note, H.A.R.T., and D. Connection. The groups include Kevin Johnson, formerly of the singing group Slave, Patrice Rushen, Philip Ingram (formerly of Motown's Switch), Billy Beck (formerly of Ohio Players), and more. To order, log on to www.cdbaby.com/beenote.