Thursday, August 30: Catherine Zeta-Jones stars in the new film No Reservations, a take on a kitchen romance between two chefs. But you should really catch the original German film, Mostly Martha, which is twice as lovely. The Goethe-Institut (814 Seventh St., NW; 202-289-1200) hosts a screening tonight at 6:30. $6; students and seniors $4.

Friday, August 31: It’s the summer’s last Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art (Seventh St. and Constitution Ave., NW). From 5 to 8:30 PM, enjoy the Sculpture Garden’s surroundings while listening to pianist Johnny O’Neal. Free.

Wind down the season with the Ritz-Carlton’s last Chilled Chocolate ice-cream social. The hotel’s lounge puts forth a wide array of delicious chocolate-ice-cream treats created by its pastry chef. But after this Friday, the event will be no more, so sample while you can. Get details here.

Page-to-Stage New Play Festival
Saturday, September 1, through Monday, September 3
Kennedy Center, 2700 F St., NW
2 to 10 PM each day; free (except for parking)
800-444-1324
kennedy-center.org
The Kennedy Center welcomes more than 40 local theaters to its stages in an effort to promote new plays and musicals by local, regional, and national playwrights and composers. Visitors will experience readings, open rehearsals, panel discussions, and previews of upcoming Washington premieres. Limited seating on a first-come, first-served basis.

Maryland Renaissance Festival
Saturday, September 1, through Monday, September 3 (and into October)
Off Route 50, near Annapolis
10 AM to 7 PM
rennfest.com
800-296-7304
The Jolly Jester, a.k.a. magician Bob Sheets, presents a special Labor Day magic and comedy act. The festival also features jousting, pony rides, knife throwing, and more.

Moisés Kaufman, founder of the Tectonic Theater Project in New York City, author of Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde and The Laramie Project, and director of the original production of I Am My Own Wife, has written a new play. The world premiere of 33 Variations, which Kaufman also directs, is August 24 through September 30 at Arena Stage. Arts editor Susan Davidson spoke with him about the play.

33 Variations?

It’s a play about a piece of music Beethoven wrote toward the end of his life that has baffled musicologists for centuries. . . . Four years ago I went to Tower Records in New York at 11:45 at night. The salesperson asked if I knew the story of how Anton Diabelli invited composers to write variations on a waltz he had composed. Beethoven declined—but then wrote 33 variations on Diabelli’s theme. I said, “I have to go home and write a play about this.”

You’re obviously attracted to subjects based on real events involving real people.

I am interested in history and historical characters because I find great truth in their plights. This play is like a detective novel in which we try to go into the genius mind of this complicated man.

What is your theory about Beethoven’s 33 variations on a theme by Diabelli?

Come see the play.

What’s your next project?

Funny—that’s like asking a pregnant woman when she’s going to have her next baby. I have four projects in the oven, but I don’t know what’s going to happen next.

For more details and ticket information for 33 Variations, click here.

Monday, August 27: Dale Watson specializes in simple honky-tonk done right. The Alabama native plays twangy tunes about heartbreak, beer, and America. Catch him this evening at Iota (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-522-8340). 8:30 PM, $15.

When you leave a salon after a great haircut, you can feel on top of the world. But some places want you to feel that way from the moment you walk in—so they serve a glass of Pinot Grigio with your haircut or a give back massage with your shampoo. Need a haircut (and a drink) this week? Check out our guide to salons that offer the best of both.

Tuesday, August 28: It’s the 50th anniversary of one of musical theater’s great love stories, and Wolf Trap is presenting it over the next few days. A touring production of West Side Story opens tonight and runs through September 2. 8 PM; purchase tickets ($18 to $50) here.

The Mary Pickford Theater at the Library of Congress (101 Independence Ave., SE) continues its free summer screenings with the 1999 film version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, starring Calista Flockhart, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, and other familiar faces. This production moves Shakespeare’s story to 1890s Tuscany. 7 PM; free. Call 202-707-5677 to reserve a seat.

Heads up, shoppers: It's time to start seriously thinking about your fall wardrobe, because the District Sample Sale is back and taking place on Wednesday, September 12. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, August 23 at 10 AM. $40 buys a general admission ticket before the event (you'll need to show up to get in the line early); $55 gets you in the evening of the event; and $100 secures you a VIP pass that lets you and 99 other shoppers into the sale an hour early—plus you get a couture goodie bag and limited-edition tee. Tickets will be available for purchase at this link.

Not sure what the District Sample Sale is? Essentially, it's one big old free-for-all shopping event. Boutiques and designers set up booths in a big warehouse space, offering insane deals on everything from shoes to coats to lovely dresses and jewelry. Bonus: There's plenty of food, drinks, and proceeds go to the charity Miriam's House.

You can ready yourself by reading our report (with loads of photos) from the spring District Sample Sale, and our handy tips on how to best maximize the experience. Then it'll be ready, set, shop!

It wasn’t your typical orchestra performance at the Kennedy Center Tuesday evening. A stageful of uniformed musicians sat with accordions of all shapes, colors, and sizes resting on their laps. That was the scene at Millennium Stage, where a portion of the 2007 Coupe Mondiale—the world accordion championships—is going on this week.

Last night’s performance was by Germany’s Akkordeonorchester Hof and the Jerosh Accordion Ochestra from Calgary, Canada. Maureen Jerosh led the Canadian orchestra, which gave an energetic performance—at one point, the musicians began slapping the outside of their accordions, adding a percussion to “Liber Tango.” The group also played an original ragtime composition called “The Graceful Ghost” and a piece from Romeo and Juliet.

The Monday-night crowd at JR.’s Bar & Grill (1519 17th St., NW; 202-328-0090) is unusually welcoming. “Popcorn?” a man waiting for his drink asks me. But there’s no time to eat: John Travolta has just taken the floor—or rather, the ten or so TV screens scattered around the Dupont Circle bar. The crowd—mostly gay men—merrily sings along to “Greased Lightning” from Grease. No one does the hand motions, but then again, it is only 9:30. Give it time.