Hotel 1000 pairs wine, appetizers and art lectures

You don't have to shell out $5,000 for the Grand Suite at Hotel 1000 to enjoy the complimentary wine, hors d'oeuvres and art lectures at this downtown hotel. Heck, you don't even have to be a friend of a hotel guest.

The hotel hosts a free monthly "In the Studio" series, where a Seattle Art Museum curator talks about a current or new exhibit. BOKA KITCHEN + BAR provides free food and wine.

Seating is limited. The hotel "strongly suggests" that nonhotel guests RSVP to 206-357-9455; however, walk-ins are welcome on a space-available basis.

Today at 5 p.m., Sandra Jackson-Dumont of SAM discusses the work of contemporary artist Titus Kaphar, who makes oil-on-canvas copies of historic European and American paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Other tentative dates for the "In the Studio" series: May 6 and July 15. Hotel 1000, 1000 First Ave., Seattle; (206-957-1000 or www.hotel1000seattle.com).