This week, the free concerts are at the top of my classical music picks, because everyone loves to hear music for free, especially when it promises to be of such high quality as most of these concerts. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: >> It is finally time to go hear excellent chamber music at the Library of Congress again. This Wednesday (October 11, 8 p.m.), one of the finest chamber groups around, the Beaux Arts Trio, will…

Let’s try an experiment. Have a look at Abbott Handerson Thayer’s oil painting, Head (1888-1889), pictured on the right. Free associate, writing down the first ten words that come to mind. Ready? Go! Let’s compare notes. I got: depressed, gloomy, cold, dark, sad, scared, shadowy, lurk, dreary, and black. If one or more of your ten words was beautiful, pretty, cheery, sunny, or ecstatic, it is probably worth applying for an internship at the Freer…

Forget the heat – DCist is ready for fall so we’ll be able to see lots of new exhibits at area galleries. In the meantime, we’ve pulled together some highlights from the dreadfully slow month of August. >> Fine art photographer Tom Wolff and four of his former students are the focus of a new show at Spectrum Gallery in Georgetown. Wolff has taught at Glen Echo for 30 years and has picked some of…