Stuff to do this weekend
Proctors Charlie Chaplin Film Festival opens Sunday with "Limelight."
Yes, it might be a bit soggy, but it's a weekend, and there's a lot going on.
After the jump you'll find our list of things to check out.
If you've got other plans, let us know about them.
And whatever you're up to, have a great weekend!
Greek Fest
The St. Sophia's Greek Festival starts tonight at 6 and continues throughout the weekend at St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox church on Whitehall Road in Albany. Greek food and pastries, music and dancing, rides, a marketplace and more. Tonight 6-11, Saturday Noon-11, Sunday Noon-7. $3, kids under 12 are free.
Chefs Consortium Spring Deliverance
You'll want to move quickly on reservations for this one. The Chefs Consortium's "Spring Deliverance," a "celebration of local food, wine and song" is this Saturday in Albany. Local chefs, including Ric Orlando, lots of tasty things to eat and local music to hear. 6pm - $20 (reservations required)
Beer
It goes well with weekends. The Albany Craft Beer Festival is at Washington Avenue Armory on Saturday from 4-8 p.m. $35 in advance, $40 on Saturday. The price of the tickets includes 20 tasting tickets and a commemorative beer glass. Designated driver tickets are $5.00 and available at the door.
Music
+ Friday at Valentine's: an album release party for Bear Grass (Katie Hammon from Slender Shoulders). Also playing: Matthew Carefully and Ashley Pond. 6 pm - $5
+The Lucky Jukebox Brigade is at the the Hudson River Coffee House, tonight at 7 with Life Among the Trees and Leather Jewels. Free.
+ Singer/ Songwriter Beth Woodbrings her tour to The University Club in Albany tonight. $25.
+ Shemekia Copland sings the blues tonight at Helsinki Hudson. 9 pm - $25.
+ Saturday at Putnam Den: Rustic Overtones, with MIRK. 9 pm - $10
+ The Disposable Rocket Band's CD release party is Saturday night at Troy Bike Rescue. Ghoul Poon and Thy Burden will be there too.
+ Council Fire and the McLovins are at Jillian's on Saturday 8 pm.
Designer Showhouse
The Vanguard Designer Showhouse is open for tours this weekend. Tickets are $18 and benefit The Albany Symphony Orchestra.
Comedy
+ MopCo's weekly improv show is different every Friday. You can catch it tonight at 8, underground at Proctors. $14, $6 students and seniors
+ The Nobodies of Comedy bill their tour as "some of the funniest comics you've never heard of." They'll be at Proctors Saturday night at 8. $20-$28
Buy some plants
+ The Capital District Community Gardens is having a spring plant sale on Saturday from 9-1 at the ‎8th Street Community Garden in Troy.
+The Fort Orange Garden Club holds its Annual Plant Sale on Saturday from 9-4 in the Buhrmaster Barn at the Pruyn House Complex.
Chaplin Festival
Proctors begins a week long Charlie Chaplin Film Festival on Sunday with a screening of his controversial and semi-autobiographical Limelight. $6
Theater
+ The folks at Hubbard Hall out in Cambridge do excellent work, and this weekend they're opening the first production of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Alongin the Capital Region in many, many years. The show -- a look at life, success, friendship and how we get "there from here" -- is told backwards. Tonight and Saturday at 8, Sunday at 2. $25.
+ Schenectady Light Opera opens its new production of Carousel this weekend. Tonight and Saturday at 8, Sunday at 2. $18-$28.
+ Albany Civic Theater presents Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream tonight and Saturday at 8 and Sunday at 3. $15, $10 with student ID, 2 for $15 with government worker id.
Spring Festival
The Grand Street Community Arts folks are hosting a street festival on Sunday afternoon. From 1-5 they're taking over Grand Street from Madison to Ashgrove with music, food, dancing, races and other events.
Classic Cars
The Saratoga Auto Museum's Spring Invitational show is this weekend near the reflecting pool off the Avenue of Pines in Spa State Park. Today-Sunday 10-4. $10
Heritage Weekend
There are events and free museum entry at participating organizations around the Capital Region on Saturday and Sunday in honor of NYS Heritage Weekend. Local events include a living history day at Ten Broeck Mansion, The Albany history fair at the on Sunday at the Albany Visitors Center, and half price tours of the USS Slater.
RPI Electronic Arts Graduate Studio Show
Graduate students from the iEAR studios at RPI present video, performace, mixed media and other electronic arts presentations on Sunday from 5:00- 8:00 at West Hall.
Baby Animals
Check out the baby animals at Indian Ladder Farms ($5).
Dog-friendly Downtown
+ Bring your dog to downtown Saratoga on Saturday. Dog-friendly downtown businesses are holding a celebration for dogs and their owners. 11-5 Free.
Flower festival at the Peace Pagoda
The Grafton Peace Pagoda is hosting a Flower Festival with a traditional Buddhist Ceremony, speakers, a Tae Kwon Do exhibition and a pot luck lunch on Sunday morning at 11. Free.
Farmers' Markets
Outoor markets are open! On Saturday you can visit the markets in Saratoga and Troy. The Schenectady Greenmarket is open on Sunday. If you're in Troy, the Rensselaer County Historical Soceity has started up its history walks again.
Hang out on a patio
Who knows, we could be wrong about the weather. If we are, check out the AOA outdoor dining map, pick a patio and have cocktails or dinner al fresco.
Brunch
Here are some places where you can get her a good mimosa and here are some spots for a great diner breakfast.
Ice Cream
Take Daniel B.'s Tour de Soft Serve, make a stop on AOA's Ice Cream Tour, or stop in to your favorite seasonal ice cream stand.
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Comments
Great stuff as always. Patio map could use updating though. I only bring it up cause seeing Lark Tavern totally bummed me out.
... said Jackers on May 13, 2011 at 10:50 AM | link
The Albany Bicycle Coalition continues to celebrate Bike Month with the second “Historic Mansions Bike Tour.â€
Sunday May 15th at 10:30 AM, meet us at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center on Broadway across from the Palace Theater. Our group is friendly and our pace is casual. One rider on last year’s inaugural Sunday morning tour, exclaimed, “I never would have thought about riding my bicycle in downtown Albany before today,†and another, “I never knew these old mansions were right here in Albany.â€
... said ethan on May 13, 2011 at 10:52 AM | link
@Jackers: Erp. You're right. We need to go through the list and update for this year.
... said Greg on May 13, 2011 at 11:09 AM | link
Thank you for mentioning Albany Civic Theater! We've gotten two great reviews and the audiences have been very appreciative - it's a fun show!
I also have to mention Class Act's "Side Show" opening this weekend at the Hilton Center for the Performing Arts at Westgate Plaza - it's a musical about conjoined twins and a sideshow, how can you go wrong? See both - it's going to be a rainy weekend, perfect for a lot of theater-going!
... said Amy on May 13, 2011 at 12:02 PM | link
@Greg If updating the list is in the future, you can add Holmes and Watson's in Troy and The VanDyck and Union Inn in Schenectady!
... said Jessica R on May 13, 2011 at 12:09 PM | link
The Dublin Underground is having a Halfway 2 Halloween party tonight starting at 9pm. Loads of Costume Prizes and the whole party will be streaming with a 3D VJ!
... said Jen on May 13, 2011 at 1:37 PM | link
Tom McWatters & the Philo Beddoe Band @ Valentine's Saturday night, 8PM. W/ Holly & Evan, and the Lazy Suns. Roots and Roll night!
... said Bobbo on May 13, 2011 at 1:44 PM | link
Maude Baum & Company at eba theater on Saturday and Sunday 7:30--spring salon concert (it may be their last performance in this space :-( )
... said CAD on May 13, 2011 at 1:56 PM | link
There's a Revolutionary War Reenactment this weekend at the Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction:
MABEE FARM’S REVOLUTIONARY WAR RE-ENACTMENT & VOORJAAR FESTIVAL
Relive the 18th Century with the Mabee Farm’s Revolutionary War Re-enactment & Voorjaar (Spring) Festival, hosted by the 2nd Albany County Militia and supported by the Burning of the Valleys Military Association (BVMA). Over 200 people in period dress will turn the site into a military encampment with Colonial Militia, British Loyalists, Indians and local settlers. The weekend will be full of action with amphibious battles in period boats. Also taking place: cannon battles, camp tours, camp fire cooking, historic house tours, children’s musket drill, a Punch & Judy Show on Sunday, fun barn dance on Saturday night with a live band and a Church Service on Sunday morning. (Adults $3.00, children & seniors $2.00 OR $10 a carload!).
For more information, visit http://www.mabeefarm.org or call 518-887-5073.
... said Wendy Voelker on May 13, 2011 at 2:42 PM | link
And Ramblin Jug Stompers ramble into Caffe Lena in Saratoga at 8pm on Saturday...
... said greg@nippertown.com on May 13, 2011 at 3:51 PM | link
19th Annual CHERRY BLOSSOM CRAFTS FESTIVAL and
5K RACE FOR ALS
Congregation Gates of Heaven
Sunday May 15, 2011
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Everyone Welcome, Rain or Shine, Great Refreshments,
50 crafters, Free Admission, Games for the Kids.
852 Ashmore Avenue
Schenectady, NY 12309
... said Rachel on May 13, 2011 at 4:09 PM | link