TRACING LACE Textile historian Anita Jones gives a talk about the enormous lace collection of sisters Etta and Claribel Cone. They gathered the pieces as they traveled through Europe during the early 20th century, where they also amassed a collection of paintings by Matisse and Picasso. Ms. Jones highlights selections including “peasant” lace, Chantilly lace, and Point de France. The program is a review of the exhibit “A Legacy of Lace: Selections from the Cone Collection,” on view at the Baltimore Museum of Art through September 18, 2005. Tonight, 6:15-7:30 p.m., Bard Graduate Center, 38 W. 86th St., between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, 212-501-3011, $17 general, $12 seniors and students.

GAINED IN TRANSLATION A discussion about the decrease in American publication of foreign books in translation features Chad Post and John O’Brien of the Dalkey Archive Press, which often publishes translated books. Joining them are critic Michael Orthofer and the buyer for St. Mark’s Bookstore, Margarrita Shalina. Dennis Loy Johnson moderates. He is the publisher of Melville House Books, which has published the works of Bernard-Henri Levy and Dominique de Villepin. Tonight, 7 p.m., Housing Works Used Book Cafe, 126 Crosby St., between Houston and Prince streets, 212-334-3324, free, used book donations encouraged.

DRAMATIC CHAT The Association of Hispanic Arts presents a conversation between Latina filmmaker Elisha Miranda and playwright Carmen Rivera.The discussion, which focuses on the differences between writing for stage and screen, is moderated by playwright and filmmaker Janis Astor del Valle.It is part of the “Latinas in Literature” series. Wednesday, 7 p.m., PR Dream/Medianoche Digital Film Studio, 161 E. 106th St., between Third and Lexington avenues, 718-409-1265, free.

To submit an event for consideration for the Calendar, please wire the particulars to calendar@nysun.com, placing the date of the event in the subject line.