All Over Albany

The week ahead

Here are a few things to keep in mind, look forward to, or keep busy with this week, from the weather (as expected), to River Street, to Juneteenth, to strawberries, Old is New, to grilling, to soccer, to all sorts of music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast:

Monday: Sunny. Low 80s.

Tuesday: Cloudy, rain -- maybe a thunderstorm -- in the afternoon. 75.

Wednesday: Repeat.

Thursday: Repeat.

Friday: Sunny, upper 70s.

Weekend: Sunny and 80.

June-ish.

River Street Festival

The annual Troy River Street Festival is Saturday in downtown Troy. River Street is closed off for arts, activities, music, and food. The festival also includes one of favorite events: the Street Painting Competition, in which people chalk designs on the sidewalk along River Street. Saturday 10 am-5 pm

Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a celebration commemorating the abolition of slavery. A few local events on Saturday:

Troy
A handful of orgs -- including the Sanctuary for Independent Media, Missing Link Street Ministry, and Troy Bike Rescue -- have organized a celebration at Freedom Square in Troy from 3-7 pm. Music, food, activities.

Albany
There's a festival in Washington Park from 11 am-4 pm with music, food, and activities. (It also looks like Nanny's Double Dutch Team might be there.)

Strawberries

Pick them
Strawberry season has started at farms around the Capital Region. Here are a bunch of places where you can pick your own. The next week or two will be the prime time for picking. The season doesn't last long, so don't wait.

Festival them
The Upper Union Street Strawberry Fest and Art Show is Saturday in Schenectady. There will be strawberry everything (from the blurbage): strawberry gelato, bagels and Strawberry Cream Cheese, strawberry lemonade and daiquiris, strawberry Salsa, strawberry shaped dog biscuits, strawberry colored hair extensions - feathers and tinsel, strawberry Tarts, strawberry Shortcake, strawberry cupcakes, and wines that pair with strawberries. Music and other activities, too. Saturday 10 am-3 pm

Old is New

The first Old is New consignment sale is this weekend at the Albany Academy field house. Old is New is based on the very popular Pass it On sale for kids stuff. From the blurbage:

Items you'll find at our sale include an amazing selection of home decor items, purses, jewelry, shoes, dresses, prom dresses, suits, shirts, shorts, skirts, capris, jeans, plus size clothing, men's attire and more!

The sale opens to the public Friday noon and runs through Saturday. If it's anything like Pass it On, you'll want to go earlier rather than later.

Food

Gardening
Wednesday at the Albany Public Library's Pine Hills branch: an intro class on organic gardening practices from Capital District Community Gardens. 6 pm - $5 (advance registration required)

Wild game dinner
Thursday at City Beer Hall: a wild game dinner paired with beer from Sixpoint Brewery. (As mentioned -- we gave away tickets last week.) 6 pm - $60

Grilling
Saturday at Gio Culinary Studio: a cooking class on grilling. The class will be making: London broil, grilled wild boar, and grilled vegetable pizza, as well as marinades, rubs, and barbecue sauce. 3 pm - $65

Soccer

The US Men's National Team is playing a World Cup qualifier at Guatemala Tuesday. The game is pay per view -- and Wolff's will be showing it. It looks like you can also expect the local chapter of the American Outlaws USMNT boosters. 10 pm

(And, of course, Euro 2012 is ongoing. Wolff's is showing those matches, too.)

Out and about

All hands on deck party
The Rensselaer County Historical Association has a new exhibit about the Great Fire of Troy in 1862 -- it will be open during a deck party this Thursday evening with music and food. "Extinguish your thirst with a cold drink." 5-8 pm - $20

Trivia at Rev Hall
The Planned Parenthood Young Leaders org has a trivia night lined up Thursday at Revolution Hall in Troy. Teams will be competing for a range of prizes from Troy businesses. It's $20 per person -- which includes unlimited hot and cold snacks, and a beer or soda. 6-8 pm

Music

Tuesday: Yanni at SPAC
If you feel the need to pledge to public television during the concert, it's understandable. 7:30 pm - $50 and up

Wednesday: Grass Widow at Valentine's
Kind-of-retro indie pop. ('Forked.) With: Better Pills (Brent Gorton). 6 pm

Thursday: Drake at SPAC
Taking time out from his Twitter exchanges with oil billionaires. 7 pm - $45 and up

Thursday: Bootsy Collins at Alive at Five
Funky legend. With: Soul Session. 5 pm - free

Thursday: Sugarland at the TU Center
Popular country duo. 7:30 pm - $29.50 and up

Friday: Cake at Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown)
Outside, lawn chairs allowed. 8 pm - $42.50

Friday: Alejandro Escovedo at The Egg
Austin's eclectic icon. 8 pm - $29.50

Friday: Levon Helm Tribute at Valentine's
A big slate of performers from local bands. 8 pm

Friday: Sweetback Sisters at The Linda
"Recall the best of country music from the Everlys to The Judds..." 8 pm - $15

Saturday: Flogging Molly at The Palace
Celtic punk. 8 pm - $24.50 and up

Saturday: Civil Twilight at Jillian's
They're from South Africa. 8 pm - $12 ahead / $15 at door

Sunday: Sunday Night Baseball Punk Show at Valentine's
With: hot dogs, peanuts, and Cracker Jack. 8 pm

These are a just a few things for this week. Know of something people should be looking forward to this week? Please share!

Look for our "Stuff to do this weekend" post on Friday.

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