All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Updated

All you really need to have fun on a summer weekend like this is a few friends and some popsicles. Or maybe some of those cocktails with the little umbrellas in them.

That said, if you're looking for a something more to entertain you, you've got more than enough options.

After the jump, our list of things we thought you might want to try. Got other plans? Share, please. Especially if they include drinks with little umbrellas in them.

Whatever you're up to, we hope you have a fantastic weekend.

First Friday
Tonight is 1st Friday in Albany, so shops and galleries are open late all around the city. A few things you might want to check out: Steve Minichin's art from recycled bottles at Cafe Hollywood, Letterhead: Signs and Murals by Frank Smith at the Albany Barn's Stage 1, and paintings by Radical!, Caily Eliza and Yark at the Dead President's Lounge. Post-1st Friday happenings include: Capital Swing Dance at the Albany Elks Club (25 South Allen, $15), burlesque at Paradiso with Miss Roxxi Tart (21+, $12) at 10. Hudson Disco-Tek's All Mixed Up show, upstairs at 283 Hudson. Here's the full 1st Friday schedule.

Phish
Phish is back at SPAC this week for the first time since 2010 -- and they're playing three shows: Friday, Saturday, Sunday. There's a good chance all three will sell out. Also: there will be a ton of people in Saratoga this weekend. $55 and up

Steamboats
Saturday is the annual Steamboat Meet in Waterford. A bunch of working steamboats will assemble on the water by the promenade at the visitor center. And at dusk there are fireworks. 9 am - 9 pm - free

Baseball
The Valley Cats are at home at The Joe all weekend. Friday and Saturday games start at 7 pm. Sunday is Kids Club Day -- game starts at 5 pm. $5.50-$11.50

Polo
Saratoga Polo opens its season with match Friday evening, and another Sunday evening, at its field in Greenfield. 5:30 pm (gates at 4 pm) - opening weekend clubhouse admission $10/person

Laughs

Hooray for the USA
The 'Mericans of Comedy show includes stand up by host Kevin Marshall, Ethan Ullman, William Hughes, and Henry Phillips, plus a pot luck dinner. Friday night at 51 3rd Street in Troy. 7 pm - $5

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.

Countryfest
WGNA's Countryfest, a day-long country music festival, moves to the TU Center this year. Performances by Eric Church, Joe Nichols, Thompson Square & Josh Thompson. Saturday, starting at noon. $24-$55

There's a free outdoor component to the event this year, including concessions in a fair-style format on Pearl Street (which will be closed for the day), with an outdoor stage, music, and fair food.

Beat*Shot
The annual Beat*Shot Music Festival is at Red Square Friday and Saturday. It features a bunch of DJs, both local and from all over, including: Nate Da Great, J-Live, and Trumastr. Friday 7 pm / Saturday 4 pm - $10 each day / $15 both days

Music

Friday: Boston Symphony at Tanglewood
Opening night for the season there -- an all Beethoven slate. 8:30 pm - $20 and up

Friday: Scars on 45 at The Linda
English band, kind of sounds like Snow Patrol. A birthday show for WEXT. 8 pm - $18

Friday: Northern Faces and others at Valentine's
Northern Faces was Around the World and Back. Also on the slate: The City Never Sleeps, Olivia Quillio, The Slaughterhouse Chorus, Nate Danker. 7 pm - $8

Friday: Tesla at Upstate Concert Hall
Love will find a way in a power ballad. 8 pm - $25 ahead / $27 day of

Friday: Megan Jean & The KFB at Hudson River Coffeehouse
Charleston, South Caroline-based duo. "Hard-touring, foot-stompin', guitar beatin, upright lickin, washboard scratchin,' banjo pickin' madness with a voice like the devil herself. WithThe Lucky Jukebox Brigade. 9 pm - free

Saturday: Sean Rowe at Caffe Lena
He has a new album coming out in August. His recent shows in the area have sold out, so if you'd like to go, it's probably a good idea to get tickets ASAP. 8 pm - $14 ahead / $16 at door

Saturday: Joshua Bell at Tanglewood
Playing Barber, Tchaikovsky and Meyer. He'll also be playing with the Philadelphia Orchestra at SPAC August 15. 8:30 pm - $19 and up

Saturday: Alexis P. Suter at Helsinki Hudson
Blues singer. "A gale-force voice." 9 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

Saturday: Red, White and Rocky Mountain Blue Bash in Lake George
WEQX hosts a "concert crawl" through Lake George Village with a host of local bands, including Mirk, Eastbound Jesus, Headband Jack, Timbre Coup, and Anthony Fallacaro. 2 pm-9:30 pm - free

Saturday: The Parlor at 51 3rd Street
With: Sweet Street Symphony (they have a sort of modern ragtime sound). This sounds like a fun show. 8 pm - $5 suggested donation

Sunday: Wye Oak at Helsinki Hudson
Folky, dreamy indie rock. 8 pm - $15

Sunday: Bernadette Peters and the Boston Pops at Tanglewood
Sunday in the Park with George, Follies, Gypsy, Into the Woods -- all kinds of Broadway fabulous. 2:30 pm - $21 - $117

Theater
It's summer festival season and there's a ton of good stuff on Capital Region stages. Williamstown continues its run of a 1940s gangster-style version of The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by David Hyde Pierce. The new musical Black Tie is at Adirondack Theater Festival. The Puppetmaster of Lodz is at Berkshire Theater Festival. A Chorus Line opens this weekend at The Colonial Theater in Pittsfield.

Delaware Avenue Street Fair
Albany's Delaware Avenue neighborhood is hosting a street fair and community garage sale on Saturday. The Albany Public Library Delaware Ave branch will also be hosting a SummerFest party with a bounce house, performers, magic, games, and snow cones. Street fair 9 am-5 pm / SummerFest at the library 1 pm-3 pm - free

GE Kids Day At The Plaza
Saturday Sunday at the Empire State Plaza: Pony rides, a bounce house, performers, crafts, music and the GE Science Emporium. Saturday on the Empire State Plaza. Noon-5 pm - free

The Tempest
The Spectrum is screening the National Theater of London's new production of The Tempest, starring Christopher Plummer. Sunday at noon. $15, $12 under 12

Saratoga Secret Gardens Tour
The Secret Gardens Tour is a self-guided tour of a dozen private gardens in and around Saratoga. Sunday 11 am-5 pm, $18-$22

Karner Blues
About 600 Karner Blue butterflies are currently in the process of emerging from their cocoons at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. The Pine Bush is one of the few remaining habitats for the beautiful endangered butterflies, which are named after the now-gone hamlet of Karner, New York (and named by Vladimir Nabokov). The discovery center says it expects the butterflies to have all emerged by mid July. check the center for hours - free

Swimming
Pick a pool or a beach, grab a towel and a good book, and you're good to go. Don't forget your sunscreen.

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.

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 last 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 opened last week 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.

Drive-in
Sometimes a summer night calls for a drive-in movie.
+ Malta: The Amazing Spiderman and Brave / Ted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
+ the Jericho: Brave and The Amazing Spiderman
+ The Hollywood: The Amazing Spiderman and Prometheus.

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

This Sunday's Delmar Farmers Market will include an appearance by Alana Chernila, author of The Homemade Pantry, with samples a book signing.

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.

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.

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 extra days off this weekend, which 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.

SPAC and Live Nation advertise on AOA.

photo: Flickr user hlkljgk (cc)