All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Wow. Is it the weekend already?

You must be looking for the list of stuff to do.

It's after the jump.

As always, feel free to add the stuff we missed.

Have fun!

See Salt
Angelina's summer blockbuster featuring our fair city is now showing. Go with friends this weekend and no one will get mad at you for talking during the chase scenes. The one who finds the most Albany landmarks wins.

Heavy
The three day Heavy Festival, produced by Historic Albany Foundation and Samson Contomposis, is an art, music and performance festival that will bring national and international artists to St. Joseph's Church on Ten Broeck St. in Albany. You'll see large scale and street installations, dancers and performance art and hear music from favorites like Matthew Carefully and Disposable Rocket Band. The event is a fund-raiser to help restore St. Joe's. Things kick off tonight at 4:30.

Hats Off
If you're looking for a party this weekend, it's a safe bet that you'll find one in Saratoga (get it...bet. Hey, it's the weekend). Downtown Saratoga will be filled with music, art and people on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Hang out and people watch or stop in at The Adelphi for a cocktail.

Racing pigs and cotton candy
The Saratoga County Fair is continues into this weekend. Check it out at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa.

Blueberry Festival
Old Austerlitz is holding it's 11th Annual Blueberry Festival on Sunday. Do we smell pie?
It starts with a blueberry pancake breakfast at 9:30. All day long they'll have artisans and demonstrations of 19th century crafts and other fun stuff. $6, $3 for kids under 12.

Music
Friday
The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is already underway at Dodds farm in Hillsdale. This years performers include Eliza Gilkyson, Nerissa & Katryna Nields and We're About 9.

Brown Bird draws on country/blues/and eastern European influences. They're bringing their miniature orchestra of harmonized voices and instruments to Red Square tonight. Palatypus, Ashley Pond and The Landlines will be there too. $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

Jazz sax great Ralph Lalama plays Bread & Jam tonight and Saturday.

Dennis Most and the Instigators play Valentine's tonight.

Upbeat on the Roof continues tonight on the roof of The Tang Museum at Skidmore with Black Mountain Symphony

Saturday
+Red square hosts Timbre Coup's CD release party with Kung Fu.

+MASS MoCA's Bang on a Can festival of contemporary music continues this weekend with concerts at 3, 4:30 and 8 featuring the music of George Crumb.

+The Felice Brothers, Krisco Fist, Animal Pants are just a few of the bands playing on Saturday at (best part) Brewery Ommegang. Yum!

Sunday
+Sean Rowe performs with Railbird are at Caffe Lena

+Nona Hendryx and Bryan Thomas are giving a free concert in Schenectady's Central Park on Sunday night.

And they're off..
It seemed like it was touch and go there for a while, but opening weekend at the Saratoga Race Course arrived and the Saratoga Race Course is open. Put a little pocket change down on the ponies, or just go to visit the Shake Shack.

Breakfast at the track
Probably our favorite time of day at The Saratoga Race Course. It's quiet, it's pretty and it's not crowded. Skip the scrambled eggs -- bring some bagels and coffee instead and grab a seat in a clubhouse box to watch the workouts. There's a free tour of the backstretch that leaves from the Nelson Avenue entrance every 10 or 15 minutes.

Hellions on wheels
The Hellions of Troy Roller Derby kicks off their season at Rollerama in Schenectady on Saturday night at 7. Doors open at six. $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and $3 for kids under 12. Advance tickets can be purchased for $10 or from your favorite roller girl.

Brewfest
Craft beer, food and great music at "The Joe" this weekend at The Capital Region Craft Brewer's Fest. Saturday from 2:30- 6:30. $10-$40

Comedy
Mop and Bucket is making up funny stuff Underground at Proctor's tonight at 8.$14, $6 for student and seniors.

Poetry in the Park
Saturday night at 7, meet up by the Robert Burns statue in Washington Park and listen to poetry readings.

Theater
Summer theater season continues. Here's a little of what you can see locally:

+Annie Get your Gun continues for free in Washington Park tonight through Sunday. Bring a picnic dinner and claim a spot early. Free

+Saratoga Shakespeare presents "Hamlet" in Congress Park. Free.

+Also free this weekend, "Once upon a Mattress" in Clifton Park's Clifton Common. 7:30 tonight through Sunday

+Adirondack Theater Festival in Glens falls performs "Murder for Two: A Killer Musical" on Friday night and the new musical, "Loving Leo" on Sunday at 8

+"Damn Yankees" is at the Mac-Haydn Theater

+Barrington Stage Company presents "Art"

+And "Imagining Madoff," the imagined conversation between Bernie Madoff and Eli Wiesel, continues this weekend at Stageworks/Hudson

Detour
Salt isn't the only premiere in Albany this week. First time Indie filmmaker Patty Richardson's new film "Detour" premieres tonight at 7 at the GE Theater at Proctor's.

Give peace a chance
Noam Chomsky will give the keynote speech (via video) at this weekend's National Peace Conference at Albany's Crowne Plaza this weekend. The conference includes over 30 workshops, lectures and discussions on leadership, peace and social justice. $80 for the entire three day conference. $40 for students, low-income or unemployed. $25 for a single event.

Art and Language
Albany International's Airport Gallery opens a new show tonight. The pieces in For The Imaged Word is inspired by language and literature. You'll find new work from Albany's Ken Ragsdale as well as Amy Podmore, Barbara Todd and Paul Katz.
There's a reception tonight at 5:30.

Remembering Grant
He's on our money, and he spent the end of his life in the Capital Region. Grant's Cottage, where U.S. Grant lived his last days, is holding a 125th anniversary celebration on Saturday afternoon at 1. There will be an interpretation of his son's farewell and a performance by the 77th Balladeers, but the real reason to go to Grant's Cottage is to check out the cottage itself and the view from Mount McGregor. $5, $4 seniors, students. Military folks and kids under 5 are free.

Swim
Cool off at a pool, beach or sprinkler near you.

Scenic Railroad
Hop an Adirondack Scenic Railroad train and take a ride through the Adirondacks.

Stay-cation
These folks have lots of great tips on how to get the most out of summer in the Capital Region.

Dine Al Fresco
Find a nice patio and soak in a little sunshine. Check the map before you go.

Ice Cream!
Take the Capital Region Ice Cream Tour or hit up a seasonal stand near you!

Road Trip
Spend 12 hours here, here or here. Or take a shopping trip to Northampton or Woodstock.