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.Wednesday, August 29: Take some time this week to catch a few worthwhile exhibits closing soon. At the National Gallery of Art’s West Building (Sixth St. and Constitution Ave., NW), “Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945” closes September 3. “Private Treasures: Four Centuries of European Master Drawings” and “Fabulous Journeys and Faraway Places: Travels on Paper, 1450-1700” both close September 16.
At the National Portrait Gallery (Eighth and F sts., NW), “Harry Benson: Being There” closes this weekend, as does “Great Britons: Treasures From the National Portrait Gallery, London.”
Need a postmuseum drink spot? Try Proof, right next to the Portrait Gallery. Our Best Bites Blog recently stopped folks on the street to chat about their first impressions of this buzz-worthy wine spot.
Thursday, August 30: A department store and an art museum joining forces? It may seem out of place, but it works for Freestyle Fashion Fall, a shopping event sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. There will be drinks, appetizers, a fall runway show, and more. 6 to 9 PM; $15. 5555 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase. Register here.
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.
For more ways to plan your week, see our easy-to-use Events Finder and our Happy Hour Finder.
