Free and Easy Events

Every week, the Going Out Gurus suggest ways to enjoy Washington's cultural scene without spending any money. Have an idea for us? Send it to events@washingtonpost.com.

Tuesday
Bethesda Painting Awards at Fraser Gallery
Today marks the beginning of the last week that you can see the winners in the increasingly prestigious regional painting contest.

Wednesday
Max Hirshfeld: Looking at Looking at Hemphill Fine Arts
If you head to this exhibit, you'll be a person in a gallery watching a person in a gallery watching a work of art. Max Hirshfeld took over 100 photos of people in the National Gallery of Art and a handful are on display.

Thursday
Salsa Dancing With Eileen Torres at the Reynolds Center of American Art
A Latin jazz ensemble performs at this 5 p.m. dance party that continues past the museum's regular closing time.

Friday
A Capitol Fourth at the U.S. Capitol
The crowds are crazy; the Metro's packed on the way home; but the annual fest is one of the best ways to celebrate Independence Day in the nation's capitol. Been there, done that? Here are dozens of other patriotic ways to spend your time today.

Saturday
J Street Jumpers at Reston Town Center
The local band's dynamic '40s-style jump blues and '50s Chicago R&B is perfect for dancing and their repertoire includes classics by Buddy Johnson, Louis Jordan and Count Basie.

Sunday
Local Color: Washington Painting at Midcentury at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian will celebrate the members of the Washington Color School with over 25 brightly-colored abstract paintings dating from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Monday
'Jezebel' at the National Theatre
One year before "Gone With the Wind," Bette Davis played a capricious Southern belle -- this time, in antebellum Louisiana -- and won an Oscar for best actress. She stars with Henry Fonda in this screening of "Jezebel" at the opulent National Theatre.

These are just our picks for this week; check out more free events in the City Guide's calendar.