Jerusalem is fully ensconced in the doldrums of summer. All day siestas are looking like good ideas, many tourists and visiting groups are holding off until the August busy season, kids not in summer camp are decamping the city for the cool waters of the coast and the city has reached those mid summer haze days where everything seems to go in slow motion. But look closer and you'll see the heart of the city is still beating strong. Whether confining themselves to the air conditioning, only coming out at night or even braving the cruel solar mistress, Jerusalemites and visitors alike are discovering a ton to do in the capital city, much of it without spending a shekel. (OK, maybe one.) Here's a list of the best of the best this week.

• Uncle Sam wants you to don the red white and blue and head down to Off the Wall Comedy Basement for a Fourth of July extravaganza tonight (yes, we know the fourth is not until Saturday). Even if you don't celebrate American Independence Day, chances are you enjoy a good laugh at the expense of the U.S. of A.. Nothing says freedom like standup comedy.
  

• If free is all your budget can handle, try out the Mamilla Mall's Thursday night happening with all kinds of street performances, bazars and flea markets. If you don't catch it this week, it will be going on all through the summer.

• Keep the free vibe going Friday afternoon with a gratis concert on Dorot Rishonim featuring Avi Vaknin, a Guns 'N' Roses tribute band, the oh-so popular Giraffes and Astral Projection.

• Now that it's actually the Fourth of July, celebrate American freedom from tea time and Wallace and Gromit with a special show at Beit Shmuel linking up Las Vegas and Tel Aviv, in Jerusalem! Tzahi Siton and his band will bring the heyday of the Strip alive with musical covers of the Rat Pack and all the other Vegas favorites. It seems what happens in Vegas does not actually stay there. Another Fourth of July-themed celebration tonight involves all-you-can-eat cheese accompanying all-you-can-listen-to country at the Bible Lands.

• The beach may be a journey away, but the Bloomfield Science Museum tries to bring the water a little closer with a new Touching Water exhibit. Check it out Sunday or any day until the exhibit closes at the end of the summer.

• On Monday the Festival Beshekel comes to town. For the symbolic fee of 1 NIS, concert-goers will be treated to the best local and national bands, including Harel Moyal, Idan Yaniv and Alma Zohar. Who said a shekel couldn't buy you anything anymore?

• Those acts may be good, but can they dare to dream a dream? Have they ever been haunted by the Phantom of the Opera, or realized that in fact the farmer and the cowman can be friends? If you're hankering for some show tune treats, check out Broadway Showstoppers Tuesday night at the Gerard Bechar Center.

• It's not quite a food fight, but a Wednesday shuk party to protest the upcoming state budget may certainly come close. Those fruits and veggies that line the Machane Yehuda market may go up a tad in price if a law to raise the tax on them passes.

• Even if the shuk party doesn't jibe with your politics, surely the Tower of David Museum, where over 60 political cartoonists are having their work displayed as part of a new exhibit, will have something for you. The show will be igniting debate through the summer.

If, like us, you like to steer clear of politics all together, you can check out all of our fair and balanced event listings here. Oh, and wear sunscreen.