Free and easy events

This week's free events include free improv lessons, Sandra Bullock's Oscar-winning performance and a concert with Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio.

Monday
Fringe Training Factory
The Capital Fringe Festival is about more than being a spectator. Join in the fun with two Training Factory events. At 6:30 p.m., Mark Whitney, star of "Fool for a Client," and Rick Hammerly of Factory 449 discuss how to turn a Fringe show into something bigger, and at 7 p.m., Ilana Silverstein will talk about the art of improv.

Tuesday
An American Playlist
Smokey Robinson, John Mayer and Branford Marsalis conclude the three-day program by performing a mix of classical works and popular songs. Free tickets are no longer available, but the performances will be shown on screens in the Grand Foyer.

Wednesday
'The Blind Side'
Catch Sandra Bullock's Oscar-winning turn as a mother who adopts a destitute teen and helps him find himself on the football field.

Thursday
Vocal Colors
Art and music collide in this program featuring Wolf Trap's Filene Young Artists performing music that responds to works in the Phillips Collection. The musicians will perform a wide variety of selections, from Irving Berlin to Joni Mitchell, which echo works by Mark Rothko, Paul Cézanne and Marsden Hartley, to name a few.

Friday
'1460 Wallmountables'
For D.C. Arts Center's next exhibition, an annual tradition since 1990, the gallery divides its walls into two-by-two squares and allows artists to hang their work (for $15 per square). The exhibit opens Wednesday, with an official opening Friday.

Saturday
Howl in the City
"'Howl' in the City" is a weekend of activities celebrating Allen Ginsberg's iconic poem; it concludes with a free performance by Kyp Malone, guitarist for acclaimed New York art-rock band TV on the Radio.

Sunday
Montgomery Farm Tour and Harvest Sale
More than a dozen MoCo farms celebrate the county's agricultural heritage by hosting open houses, petting zoos and offering fresh produce.

-- David Malitz, Stephanie Merry and Justin Rude