a couple of local happenings

Wednesday: What happens when the world's greatest literary characters are murdered one by one? Jasper Fforde’s fifth book in the Thursday Next series, First Among Sequels, has detective Thursday Next investigating the deaths of Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple, as well as all sorts of other screwy subplots we wouldn't be able to explain in the small space we're given. Fforde will be at Politics and Prose to talk about the series. 7 p.m. (from dcist)

The Washington Wine Academy sponsors a free wine tasting and advance screening of "Stardust" at the Arlington Cinema 'n' Drafthouse, August 1. The catch? (You knew there was one, right?) It's a "ladies night out" event and admission is for women only. As much fun as a free showing of "Stardust" and some wine sounds, I think I'll be passing on this one.