It's about to get real sloooow in the arts world as summer moves heavily upon us. You could throw down a grand on a trip to the Louvre, but everyone knows you can only love Paris in the springtime. Luckily for us, our nation's capital provides us with more museums than you can shake a Mona Lisa at. Not only will museums around town be open all summer (unlike many private galleries), but they're usually open seven days a week and will rarely charge you a cent to see some of the greatest artwork in the world (centainly not as much as lodging on the Left Bank). Our advice: As residents, you've got the upper hand, so try to go during the week when the tourist-mania wanes a little, and wear some comfy shoes — you'll want to stay awhile.

>>Smithsonian American Art Museum: Even if you didn't make it to the biggest Smithsonian opening ever, you can still be one of the first people in the world to experience the beautifully renovated Reynolds Center. Be sure to check out William Wegman's traveling exhibition Funney/Strange. This popular photographer, painter, drawer, videographer (et cetera, et cetera) likes to play with the balance between the light and dark sides of comedy, which seems to require lots of dogs sitting on boxes. Reading Two Books (pictured), covering an entire wall, disturbingly welcomes you into the exhibit. His creepy eyes will follow you as you move on to his more quaint works, such as his drawings and collages that expand on idyllic postcards. (Through September 24, 2006)

>>National Portrait Gallery: Sharing the Reynolds Center with the Smithsonian, the National Portrait Gallery is a phenomenal treasure dedicated to our historical need to capture and frame America's movers and shakers. Eye Contact: Modern American Portrait Drawing follows the art of potraiture from the 1880s to the 1980s, as it rides a cresting and falling wave of styles, media, and intent. The exhibit explores the movement from the bold, striking poses of Edward Hopper and Don Bachardy to the more abstract, inward-looking portraits of Alice B. Toklas. Pop and celebrity culture, the integration of photography, and themes of gender and race are just a few points of focus in this comprehensive collection. (Through October 9, 2006)

>>Arthur M. Sackler Gallery: We already know photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto withstands the test of time, so Sackler's ongoing exhibit History of History seems the perfect companion piece. The viewer sees "time exposed" as Japanese artifacts are juxtaposed with Sugimoto's seascapes and fossils, allowing us to find the present in ancient objects and history in his contemporary photos. The exhibition takes you on a time-traveling experience like none other, but you only have a short time left to sign up for this trip. (Through July 30, 2006)

>>National Gallery of Art: The Poetry of Light: Venetian Drawings features a massive collection of over one hundred artworks. Starting with the Italian Renaissance, the exhibit includes the richly detailed work of Andrea Mantegna and Vittore Carpaccio, then travels up to the second burst from the Venetian school, with Canaletto's and Marco Ricci's landscapes. Finishing with more modern works, the Gallery seeks to highlight the far-reaching significance of these European masters. (Through October 1, 2006)

>>The Phillips Collection: "Color has taken possession of me...I am a painter," said Paul Klee in 1914. The artist, who often worked in mixed media, is featured in the current exhibit Klee and America. His exploration of expressionism, cubism and surrealism evolved into extrordinary works that play with line and color in abstract and often complex ways. (Through September 10, 2006)

Don't forget the other ongoing shows at the National Museum of African Art, National Gallery of Art, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.