All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Well, goodbye summer, hello autumn.

Looks like the new season will start with kind of a soggy weekend, but don't let that stop you. Grab your Wellies and umbrella and pick a few things from our list of stuff to do this weekend. Doing something we missed? Share with the group.

And have a fabulous weekend!

PearlPalooza
The second PearlPalooza festival is this Saturday on Pearl Street in downtown Albany. Two stages, one for national acts and the other for locals. Main stage acts include Company of Thieves and MUTEMATH. Starts at noon, the last act is scheduled for 7:30 pm. free

Adirondack Balloon Festival
When the forecast calls for rain, it can be hit or miss at the Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival, but the festival is scheduled for this weekend in and around Glens Falls. Launches are planned today through Sunday at Crandall Park in Glens Falls and at Floyd Bennet Memorial Airport in Queensbury. Here's the schedule. Here are some things to check out while you're in Glens Falls.

Garlic Festival
If you like garlic (are there people who don't like garlic?) then a drive to Saugerties might be in order. The Hudson Valley Garlic Festival starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday at Cantine Field in Saugerties. There's music, dance performances, chef lectures and demonstrations and of course a whole bunch of garlicy goodness. $10, under 12 free.

Souvlakifest
The Annual Souvlakifest is this weekend at Saint Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church in Albany. Souvlaki, spinach and cheese pie and all kinds of other Greek delights tonight from 4-9 and Saturday from 11-8.

Roller Derby
+The Hellions of Troy take on the Maine Roller Derby on Saturday night at Rollerama in Schenectady. 7PM $10 in advance, $12 at the door, $3 kids

+The Albany All Stars B SQuad will face Roc City's B Sides at The Washington Ave Armory on Saturday, September 24th. Erin Harkes band will play before the bout and between periods. First whistle at 7. $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and $4 for children under 4.

The Foundry opening
Pepsi Refresh Grant winner The Foundry in Cohoes has its grand opening celebration tonight. The event is free but they're requesting an RSVP.

Comedy
There's a "comic relief" show at The Eggtonight, to benefit the victims of Hurricane Irene. Ten local comedians, including WNYT's Benita Zahn, will perform. 8 pm - $20.00

Mop and Bucket will be making things up with another Chortle Combat show Underground at Proctors tonight. 8 pm - $14, $6 for students and seniors

Film
+ The Woodstock Film Festival is already underway in locations around Woodstock. The festival runs through Sunday with screenings, panels, concerts and parties. A list of films and the schedule of events.

+ Sunday (and Monday) at Proctors there will be screenings of Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin with live organ accompaniment. $10 ahead / $12 at the door

30 Years 90 Notebooks
+ The "Michael Bierut 30 Years 90 Notebooks" exhibit opens at St. Rose's Massry Gallery on Sunday, and will run through January. (The designer will be giving a talk at the school on September 30.) free

Theater
+ Capital Rep presents Superior Donuts, a comedy/drama set in a donut shop in the uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Tonight at 8, Saturday at 3 & 8. Sunday at 2. $20-$60

+ War of the Worlds, a play based on the H.G. Wells novel and the Orson Wells radio play, continues this weekend at Shakespeare and Company.

+ Birthday Boy is at the Berkshire Theater Festival.

Antarctica
Tonight and Saturday EMPAC will have preview performances of 69ËšS by Phantom Limb. From the blurbage: "Inspired by Sir Ernest Shackleton's harrowing expedition to Antarctica in 1914, Phantom Limb unites puppetry, dance, film, history, and photography with contemporary music to create a stunning vision of the great arctic continent--past, present, and future." The performance includes a score recorded by the Kronos Quartet. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm - $18

Music

+ Maceo Parker at St. Rose's Massry Center tonight.
Seriously funky. He used to play with James Brown. 7:30 pm - $25

+ MIRK at Red Square tonight
With Erin Harkes Band, Jermaine Wells and the Ill Funk Ensemble, JB. 7:30 pm - $7

+ Saturday: Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp at The Egg
Back together, Renting again. 8 pm - $29.50 and $34.50

+ Saturday: Disposable Rocket Band plays a Hurricane Irene relief benefit show Oakwood Community Center with Mr. Owl and Walking X-Ray. $5 suggested donation

+ Sunday: Joy Kills Sorrow at Caffe Lena
A "bold" young bluegrass band from Boston. With: Rosary Beard (Matthew Carefully and Alta Mira's Hunter Sagehorn) 7 pm - $15 ahead / $17 at the door

+ Sunday: Fleet Foxes at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA
Harmonies! With The Walkmen. 7 pm - $32.50

Hot rods, bikes and brewfest
Chrysler and the Saratoga Polo Association are holding a fall hot rod and bike show and brew festival at the Saratoga Polo Fields on Saturday from 1-6. $10 per carload. $1 beer tastings.

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival
Sheep shearing and herding demos, weaving and knitting demonstrations, classes, kids stuff and 120 fiber vendors at the Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Saturday 10 - $5 (under 14 free)

Showcase of Homes
It's week two of the three weekend Showcase of Homes in Saratoga. You can tour some extravagant houses -- it's kind of like taking a walk through HGTV. The proceeds go to local charities including the area Habitat for Humanity. $20

Peace Fair
Kevin McKrell and other local musicians play a tribute to Pete Seeger on Sunday afternoon at the Saratoga Peace Fair at 24 Circular Street in Saratoga. Food, music and fair trade vendors. Noon to 4:00 PM. Free.

Harvest Festival
Also in Saratoga this Sunday, the Henry Street Harvest Festival. Henry Street will be closed off between Lake Avenue and Caroline street for a festival with music, food, vendors and performers. 11-4. $3, Adult $5, Family $20

Pick some apples
Yep, it's apple picking season. Here's a list of places where you can pick your own. It's also concord grape season.

Don't forget the cider donuts
One of our favorite things about autumn are the cider donuts. Looking for a good place to get them? Check out Daniel B.'s Tour de Donut.

Foliage
They may still be green here but the leaves are starting to turn in the Adirondacks. If the weather holds off you might want to try a drive or a train ride. If you're up for a trip to North Creek, you can take the 2 hour Ales on Rails ride. $45 gets you a train ride along the Hudson with appetizers and samples of Dogfish Head beers. Keep your glass and you'll get discounts at North Creek restaurants on a post-ride pub crawl.

Stockade Walkabout
The Schenectady County Historical Society is offering history walks through the Stockade on Saturday. The tours run from 11-5 and start in front of the SCHS building. $15.

Farmers' markets
The farmers' markets in Troy, Saratoga, Delmar and Schenectady will be open this weekend in their regular spaces, so stop in, support area farmers and get as much seasonal goodness as you can. The Capital District Farmers Market in Menands is having a Chili Cook Off on Saturday morning from 9-1. Get $1 chili samples and vote for your favorite.

Living Walls
Take a self guided tour of the new Living Walls murals. Here's a map of the mural locations.

Get rid of the old computer
Saratoga Bridges in Ballston Spa is hosting a Community Electronic Recycling Day. On Saturday from 8-noon they'll accept old electronics for free (there's a $5 fee for CRT computer monitors).

Ice Cream!
Take a trip to Chatham to try some Golden Organics ice cream, head over to The Snowman for a Boston Milkshake. If you're up for a challenge, take the AOA Ice Cream Tour or make a stop on Daniel's Tour de Soft Serve. Did we mention you're running out of summer?

Factory Tours
Take a trip to Burlington, Vermont and stop along the way to see how ice cream, teddy bears, and beer are made.

More road trips
Take a shopping trip to Northampton or spend 12 hours in Ulster County, Bennington, Vermont and Columbia County.

Brunch
One of the great things about the weekends are lazy mornings. over brunch or enjoy a great diner breakfast.

Capital Rep advertises on AOA

photo: Paul Gallo