Monday, October 13
Peter W. Galbraith, ambassador to Croatia under President Clinton, discusses his new book, Unintended Consequences, at Politics & Prose at 7. In the book, Galbraith critiques the Bush administration for the invasion of Iraq and details the fanaticism and terrorism that subsequently developed in the Middle East.

Tuesday, October 14
The Smithsonian American Art Museum presents a lecture by photographer Barbara Bosworth in the McEvoy Auditorium at 7. Her exhibition, “Earth and Sky,” depicting both the power and fragility of nature, runs through November 9.

Wednesday, October 15
The Corcoran’s Wednesday Jazz series presents the Joe Natale Trio at 12:30 in the Frances and Armand Hammer Auditorium.

The National Portrait Gallery screens the Marlon Brando classic On The Waterfront in the McEvoy Auditorium at 7. Winner of eight Academy Awards in 1955, including best picture, best director, and best actor, the film—set on the docks of Hoboken, New Jersey—is a gripping tale of political corruption and one man’s resulting heroism. Brando’s character, Terry Malloy, boasts the famous line “I coulda been a contenda.”

Thursday, October 16
The Washington Post’s Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Stephen Hunter returns with his fifth Bob Lee Swagger installment, Night of Thunder. Hunter, whose Swagger character was recently portrayed by Mark Whalberg in the film Shooter, discusses his novel at Rockville Pike’s Barnes & Noble at 7.

Friday, October 17
Leslie Chang, former Beijing correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, brings Factory Girls to Politics & Prose at 7. In her book, Chang depicts the difficult conditions under which Chinese migrant workers toil to produce inexpensive goods for the West.

Saturday, October 18
For the opening of the exhibition “Garden and Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur,” the Freer and Sackler Galleries are hosting a two-day festival celebrating India. Starting at 10:30 both days, the event features dancing, music, storytelling, and more. For additional information, visit www.asia.si.edu/events.

Sunday, October 19
The National Geographic Society’s resident explorer and marine biologist Sylvia Earle presents a lecture on findings from her 60-plus expeditions and 6,000 hours under water. The presentation takes place at the Museum of Natural History’s Baird Auditorium at 11. Stick around afterward to get copies of Earle’s book, Ocean, signed and to see the museum’s newest permanent exhibit, the Sant Ocean Hall.

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