Hey, New York State legislators are back at work! Now you can enjoy your weekend knowing that the people's business will be well taken care of-- or whatever.
Now your only problem is deciding what to do. There's no shortage of options this weekend. Here's our weekly list of stuff that looks like fun.
If we missed something good, let us know. And have a great weekend!
Music
There's a ton of good music in the region this weekend. Here's a sample:
Tonight The B3nson Family Band is upstairs at Valentine's with Hop Along, Jennie Arnau and PS Elliot. The B3nsonites have been reworking songs and are ready to try out fun new versions. Cheap fun alert--$5 gets you four bands!
Marcus Benoit and his band will be playing jazz and blues tonight at The Mid Town Tap and Tea Room. Have a glass of wine and contemplate the Warhol over the bar while you listen.
Australian art-rockers The church are at The Egg tonight. $28
On Saturday you can catch Sean Rowe at Brown's Brew Pub in Troy. You won't be sorry -- this guy can play.
Progressive rockers Umelt and jam band The Mclovins are at Rev. Hall tonight.
Brian Patneaude will be at Freedom Park in Scotia on Saturday night. 7- 8:30 Free!
The fabulous Katie Haverly and Scientific Maps team up on Sunday at Caffe Lena in Saratoga.
King Sunny Adé and his big band are the kings of Nigerian Juju Music. He's playing Sunday night at 7:00 in Schenectady Central Park. Here's a sample of what you'll hear.
NYCB at SPAC
We're right in the middle of New York City Ballet season at SPAC . Saturday night's show is the annual Gala. There are all kinds of picnics on the grounds before, so bring a basket or your caterer depending on how elaborate you want to go. Saturday's performance is followed by fireworks, bands and dancing.
Everybody dance
If you'd rather do the dancing yourself, The Crooked Lake House is holding another Ballroom, Swing and Latin Dance Party tonight. There's a free lesson at 7:15. Then for $10 you can dance until 10:30.
Kid Stuff
Musicians, music, crafts, circus workshops and the G.E. Science Emporium are on the Empire State Plaza for Kid's Day on Saturday from Noon-Five. Free.
Polo
Put on your polka dot Julia Roberts dress and get ready to turn over some divits --it's opening weekend at Saratoga Polo. Gates open at 4:00 for matches tonight and Sunday night. Clubhouse admission is $25 per person, but if you're not so fancy, you can go with a bunch of friends and pay $25 for the whole carload.
Photography Class
Got a digital camera you want to get better with? The Landis Arboretum in Esperance is offering a class in digital photography on Saturday from 10-1. And there's lots of great stuff to take pictures of there. Bring your camera and a brown bag lunch and dress for the outdoors. There are three 90 minute segments. Each one is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. While you're nearby, check out some of the other stuff there is to do in Schoharie County.
Learn a little something
Take a tour and pick up some fun new conversational currency to impress your friends with. Here are a few we found.
Take a morning stroll around Saratoga Springs with Dave Paterson and Chuck Kuenzel. Dave is one of the region's best history teachers. He'll share the history of the Spa City. Kuenzel will tell you about its geology. Tours leave at 11AM from the congress spring in Congress Park.
The Saratoga Battlefield has a Ranger guided Evening History Stroll every night during the summer. The hour long tour starts at 6:30 at the Battlefield Visitor Center parking lot and covers little known info about the people and the grounds of this revolutionary war turning point. Be sure and ask about Thaddeus Kosciusco.
Take a walking tour of Hudson. One hour tours leave at 2PM every Saturday and Sunday from the bottom of Warren Street. There's tons of other stuff to do while you're in town. Visit the gallery dog at Stair or stop by Swoon for a duck confit panino or have some flan at Mexican Radio.
Bollywood at The Madison
The Madison Theater is showing another Bollywood Flick this weekend. Kambakkht Ishq is the story of an unlikely romance. And apparently it has cameos by Sylvester Stallone and "governator" Arnold Schwarzenegger. Today- Sunday at 4PM. $7
Take your dog to lunch
There's another Yappy Hour this Sunday afternoon at The Backstretch on Caroline Street in Saratoga. Take your pooch to lunch and meet other dogs and their owners. If you dress according to the theme-- Christmas in July-- you could win prizes, but if dressing up your dog seems creepy, it's not required.
Degas and Music
This exhibit of Degas work is focused on the music that inspired him. You'll see some little known Degas images and some of his major works on loan from Europe. It opens on Saturday at The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls on Saturday. $5 members, $7.50 students and seniors, $10 general public.
Readings
If you love Selected Shorts on the radio, you can check it out in person on Saturday. Isaiah Sheffer and company will be at the Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington. 8PM. $30-$45.
Poets Mary Kathryn Jablonski and Randal Horton will be reading tomorrow night as part of this summer's Poet's in the Park series. 7PM at the Robert Burns Statue in Washington Park.
Check out someone else's yard
Check out 15 Saratoga Springs gardens on the Soroptimist's annual garden tour Sunday. $15 in advance, $20 day of. Proceeds benefit Domestic Violence Services of Saratoga County and other local organizations that support women and girls.
Baseball
The Tri City Valley Cats are at home this weekend with games on Friday night at 7 and Sunday at 5.
The Albany Dutchman play the Diamond Dogs on Sunday at 1:00 at Bleecker Stadium.
Take a swim
If it's warm enough, that is. Pools in Albany and Saratoga are open. So are the beaches at Grafton and Moreau. Don't forget the sunscreen.
Outdoor Adventure
Wander over to L.L. Bean in Colonie Center and join one of their walk-on adventures.
Ice Cream!!!
And if all else fails, there's always the AOA ice cream tour. Make it a double-- it's the weekend.
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?