All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Yes, we know there is still plenty of actual summer left, but if, like ours, your brain still runs on the academic calendar -- you're scrambling to pack as much fun as you can into the next couple of weekends.

This weekend is overflowing with options.

After the jump, you'll find a few things we thought might be fun. Got something else in mind? Shout it from the rooftops. Or, you know -- just leave it in the comments. Yeah, on second thought, that would be better.

Have a great weekend!

TNO
Kick off your weekend with a stroll through Troy Night Out. Check out Angela Baggenstoss' light paintings at J.K. Bloom, check out the Fence exhibit at The Arts Center for the Capital Region (it closes next week) and get a free belly dancing lesson from Habiba. Afterwards head over to Daisy Baker's for the official- unofficial after party with The Goodship D.J.s.

Improvise
Mopco's improv comedy show is different every week. You can catch them tonight at 8 Underground at Proctors.

Restoration Festival
16 great local bands in 2 days! Check out some of your favorite local bands and try some new music at Restoration Festival at St. Joseph's Church. Margan and the Red Lions, Scientific Maps, We are Jeneric, The Mathematicians, Sargent Dunbar and the Hobo Banned, Matthew Carefully and Beware! the Other Head of Science are just a few of the groups performing. Proceeds will help restore the building and turn it into an arts center. $20 gets you a whole weekend of music. Things get going on Saturday and Sunday at around noon.

Fairs
The Washington County Fair opens tonight at 5.

Sean Rowe
Get a good seat, order your favorite micro brew and catch Sean Rowe's show at Brown's on Saturday night.

Upbeat on the Roof
Tonight on the roof of Skidmore's Tang museum-- a free concert by Doc Scanlon's Hot Four.

3D Documentary
Yes, the weather is going to be gorgeous and most folks will want to be outdoors, but we couldn't resist the pull of this one. Regal Crossgates is showing IMAX Hubble 3D -- a 3 D IMAX documentary about the efforts of 7 astronauts on the Space Shuttle Atlantis to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. Yes, we're a little nerdy. 11:30 and 12:50

Dancing in The Fields
If you're up for a ride out to Omi International Arts Center on Sunday, you can catch a dance performance among sculpture in the outdoor Fields park.

Travers Weekend
If you don't mind crowds, it's Travers weekend at the Saratoga Racecourse. Downtown Saratoga will basically be one big party tonight for the Travers Eve Celebration. The big race is Saturday. If you win, you might want to celebrate with a $7 sloppy track shake. If you lose, you might want commiserate with one. In addition to the big race, there's a Battle of the Brews festival. For $25 you can sample beers from more than 30 breweries. Proceeds benefit the American Red Cross. On Sunday at Saratoga, Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra competes in the Personal Ensign stakes race.

Latin Festival
Washington Park will be filled with Latin food, crafts and music on Saturday from 11 to 6 at the annual Latin Festival.

Mountain Biking's "Tour De France"
No, there are no yellow jerseys, but mountain bikers from all over the world will compete for the World Cup title at Windham Mountain this weekend. In addition to the races, there will be parties, demos an amateur race and other events. $10 for parking -- the events are free.

Crafts Festival
Artists, Crafters and fair food at Mabee farm in Rotterdam Junction on Saturday from 10 to 5. $4 adults; $3 kids and seniors.

Group ride
The Critical Mass Bike Ride kicks off tonight at 5:30 at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, in Washington Park.

Next to last weekend for swimming
Only two more weekends to hit the pools and beaches. Here's the list.

Stargazing
The Hirsch Observatory at RPI is open to the public on Saturday nights from 8-10PM

Stay-cation
This will be fabulous weekend for a summer stay-cation. And these folks have lots of ideas about what to do.

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.