Image courtesy of the National Gallery of Art.

DCist’s guide to lectures and discussions in the D.C. area

It’s another slow week for lectures and speaking events, while everyone gets ready to party in the new year, but there are a couple of things going on if you really need your lecture fix.

Weekend Lectures:

>> At 12:30 p.m. on Friday, the Hirshhorn has scheduled their weekly mid-Friday gallery talk. This week, hear art critic Glenn Dixon and Curatorial Research Associate Ryan Hill speak about the museum’s Panza Collection.

>> The Newseum hosts another Inside Media lecture on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in their Knight TV Studio. Revolution and Rum. Author and NPR correspondent Tom Gjelten will be giving “an inside look at the Cuba’s turbulent political history and uncertain future” and will sign his book, Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba: The Biography of a Cause.

>> This Sunday’s weekend lecture at the National Gallery of Art features a discussion and book signing with Margaret Leslie Davis, author of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and the 1963 Exhibition of the “Mona Lisa”, at 2 p.m. in the East Building Auditorium.

Poetry Open Mics:
>> The Shirlington Busboys has poetry open mic Monday at 8 p.m.

>> Or head to the 14th Street Busboys Tuesday at 9 p.m. for the same event, different location.

>> And open mic poetry is at the K Street Busboys Wednesday at 8 p.m., followed by their New Year’s bash.