All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

The weekend's here -- turn up the heat.

There are lots of ways to enjoy the sunshine or keep cool this weekend. After the jump, you'll find a few suggestions. Got something else planned? Tell us about it.

Don't forget your sunscreen, and whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

Troy Night Out
June is almost a memory. Tonight is the last Friday of the month, so shops and galleries in the Collar City will be open late for Troy Night Out. X's to O's Vegan Bakery is hosting a cupcake bar, Capital District Playwrights Workshop presents a series of short plays at 15 3rd street from 7:15-8:30. Kokopelli's is hosting a Troy Night Out Comedy Show featuring local stand up comics ($10 cover - $5 of that goes toward your first drink). As always, there's an after party at Daisy Baker's at 9 pm.

Windham Mountain Bike World Cup
Mountain bike racers from around the world compete this weekend at Windham Mountain in the Windham Mountain Bike World Cup Festival. In addition to the world class mountain bike racing, they'll also have lots of family-friendly activities: the Windham block party, a unicycle show, and bike stunt show. Here's the full schedule of events.

Swimming
The weekend is going to be hot. Most of the pools and beaches in the Capital Region are now open for the summer.

Baseball
The ValleyCats are at home Friday and Saturday. all games at 7 pm -$5.50 (and up) ahead / $6.50 (and up) same day

Pick some berries
Blueberry season is off to an early start in the Capital Region. Here are some places where you can pick your own.

Theater
Summer theater festivals are open. Williamstown just opened a 1940s gangster-style version of The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by David Hyde Pierce. The new musical Black Tie just opened at Adirondack Theater Festival. The Puppetmaster of Lodz is at Berkshire Theater Festival. Brigadoon is at the Mac-Haydn. Here's a look at what's playing and where.

MopCo. You Never Know
The Mop and Bucket Company is making things up tonight underground at Proctors. MopCo.'s weekly improv show is based on audience suggestions, so it's a different show every week. Friday 8 pm - $14, $6 for students and seniors.

Museums

2012 Artists of the Mohawk Hudson Region
Sixty-five works of art by 30 artists from the Hudson Mohawk Region are on on display in an exhibit that opened this week at the University at Albany Art Museum. Saturday 11 am-4 pm - free

Adirondacks
A exhibit of work from Adirondack photographer Seneca Ray Stoddard opens today at the State Museum.

MASS MoCA
MASS MoCA's Oh, Canada show opened recently and highlights art from our neighbors to the north.

Unearthed
Recently opened at The Clark: Unearthed: Recent Archaeological Discoveries from
Northern China, which includes "recent archaeological discoveries from the Shanxi and Gansu provinces never before seen outside of China." And while you're in Williamstown, you might stop by the Williams College Museum of Art.

Hunger Games
The Hunger Games is being shown on the main stage at Proctors on Friday, Saturday, Sunday. various times - $5

Billboard art
The Billboard Art Project's Albany display on Fuller Road starts July 2. This Friday, an exhibition of previous work from the project opens at Collar Works in Troy. Billboard Art Project director David Morrison will be at the reception for a short talk and Q&A. Friday 5-9 pm - free

Prairie Home
Saturday: The public radio show A Prairie Home Companion will be broadcasting live from Tanglewood. Arlo Guthrie is among the guests who will join Garrison Keillor. 5:45 pm - $21 and up

Jazz Festival
The annual Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival at SPAC is Saturday and Sunday. Among the many performers: Maceo Parker, Diana Krall, and Esperanza Spalding. $55 and up

Music

Friday: Aerosmith & Cheap Trick at the TU Center
Rocking to retirement. 7:30 pm - $63 and up

Friday: Brad Paisley at SPAC
Big country star. (Also a kids-in-free concert -- one kids ticket for every adult ticket bought.) 7:30 pm - $35 and up

Friday: Nick Zammuto at Helsinki Hudson
Formerly of The Books. 9 pm - $15

Friday: Dan Bern at Caffe Lena
"Folky troubadour." 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 at door

Saturday: The Skatalites at Red Square
Jamaican ska greats. With: The Big Takeover. 8 pm - $17 ahead / $20 at door

Saturday: Patrick Watson at MASS MoCA
A little like Andrew Bird. (NPR Tiny Desk video.) 8 pm - $12 ahead / $16 day of

Saturday: Sidi Touré at Helsinki Hudson
North African blues. 9 pm - $15

Saturday: Hammell on Trial at Valentine's
One-man acoustic punk. With: Blue Factory. 8 pm

Saturday: Madang & Sound at The Egg
Night of traditional Korean music and performing arts. 7 pm - $15 adults / $10 kids

Saturday: Emily's Army at Jillian's
Teen punk rock band, includes Bill Joe Armstrong's kid. 8 pm - $10

Sunday: Smart Cops at Valentine's
Italian punk rock. 7 pm

Drive-in
Sometimes a summer night calls for a drive-in movie. Check out a double feature at
Brave and The Avengers are at the Jericho Brave and Madagascar are at The Hollywood. The Malta is screening Rock of Ages and Ted.

Farmers' markets
The outdoor seasons for farmers' markets are in swing in Troy (Saturday), Delmar (Saturday), Saratoga (Saturday), and Schenectady (Sunday).

Troy Flea
Troy Flea, a new TightKnit Saturday market that includes "handmade, vintage and antique art and goods," has opened for the season. It's on the block of River Street in Troy south of the farmers' market, from 9 am-2 pm.

Pig Roast
The folks at City Beer Hall are celebrating their first anniversary with a pig roast on Saturday. "Free pork for everyone till the beast is gone." Saturday at 3 pm.

Ice Cream
The results of Daniel B's Tour de Hard Cream are in. Now you can try the winners out for yourself. Or check out one of these stops on the AOA Ice Cream Tour.

BBQ
It's BBQ weather. Stop by Rolf's on your way home today.

Wooden shoes
The new Sculpture in the Streets exhibit is made up of giant wooden shoes. Take a walk around downtown Albany and check them out.

Road trip
A lot of people have three days off this weekend, and an extra day is always a good excuse for a little road trip. A ride out to Columbia County to check out the field sculptures at Art Omi or a shopping trip to Northampton could be fun. Or maybe a visit to a brewery or cheese farm.

For the birds
The Berkshire Bird Paradise is open for the season. As long as you don't have any Tippi Hedren-like phobias, this place is really neat. There's clucking and squawking and colorful feathers. It's a fun diversion on a trip out to Grafton Lake.

Brunch
It's one of the best ways to spend a lazy weekend morning. Here are a few fun brunch options and some great diner breakfast stops.

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photo via Diana Krall Facebook