National Film Theater

The American Film Institute (formerly located in the Kennedy Center for the Arts, now moving to Silver Spring, MD) offers great old and interesting new/foreign movies, often preceded by lectures, or if a silent movie, accompanied by live music sometimes . I first encountered this venue on a trip in college (my sister Catherine took me to see two Gene Kelly flicks).

My first return trip, the restored version of Les Diaboliques: Through incredible luck, I was able to park right in front of the Saudi Embassy just down the hill, even though all the parking garages nearby were full.
The Pink Panther festival was fun to attend with friends.
The 1995 version (illiterate truck driver has passengers read the story to him) of Les Miserables. Good parts, but it just went on and on, and I ended up not liking anyone by the end.
I saw Wings (1927) on my last trip, with live piano accompaniment!

You can see what films will be playing at the AFI: National Film Theater once it re-opens in Silver Spring in 2003.