Communist-tinged art: not so popular among titans of capitalism. When Mexican painter Diego Rivera painted Vladimir Lenin into “Man at the Crossroads,” his 1930 mural commissioned for New York’s Rockefeller Center, the building’s managers banned Rivera from the mural site and his unfinished work was eventually destroyed, never to be displayed publicly. In a new exhibit, the Mexican Cultural Institute tells the mural’s story with images, documents, and letters—-fragments of a mural whose detractors probably did not foresee how significant it would become. Read more >>> The exhibit is on view Mondays to Fridays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays noon to 4 p.m. to March 15, 2014, at the Mexican Cultural Institute of Washington, 2829 16th St. NW. Free. (202) 728-1628. instituteofmexicodc.org. (Caroline Jones)

EAT THIS

You know what would really warm you up today? Bourbon. And bacon. And beer. Lucky for you, Washington City Paper is hosting a Bacon and Bourbon Festival (with beer and bluegrass) tonight at Long View Gallery. More than 20 distillers, including Catoctin Creek and Bulleit Bourbon, will offer pours. Restaurants ranging from GBD to Beuchert’s Saloon to Pearl Dive Oyster Palace will serve up hog-centric dishes. Best of all, though, is the mechanical bull. The all-you-can-eat-and-drink event goes from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. VIP admission gets you in the door an hour earlier for a cigar lounge featuring cocktails and a meet-and-greet with Catoctin Creek founder Scott Harris. General admission is $49 and VIP access is $75. Purchase tickets here. Bacon & Bourbon Festival at Longview Gallery, 1234 9th St. NW. 

OH AND ALSO

Mary Timony’s new group Ex Hex plays the 9:30 Club with The Hives. Check out Ex Hex in our One Track Mind column before heading to the show. 7 p.m. at 815 V St. NW. $35.

Moscow rock band Pompeya performs with Loveskills at Black Cat Backstage. 8 p.m. at 1811 14th St. NW. $12.

Austrian piano prodigy Ismaël Margain presents a program of Mozart, Ravel, and Schubert at the Embassy of Austria. 7:30 p.m. at 3542 International Court NW. $10–$15.

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