All Over Albany

This week was brought to you by

This week was brought to you by the return of sunshine, crocuses in bloom, birds at the window and the sugar rush that comes from half price Easter candy in the post season discount aisle.

It was also brought to you by AOA advertisers like The Cheese Traveler, a purveyor of fine, hand-crafted domestic and imported cheeses mad by small producers by cheesemakers using Old World traditions. The Cheese Traveler offers a broad selection of artisan cheeses of all styles from the three major milks - cow, goat, and sheep - to compose a perfectly balanced cheese plate or to select a choice few for delightful snacking. All cheeses can be tasted before purchase and are cut to order by knowledgeable cheesemongers.

Please take a moment to peruse the list of our other advertisers, and keep them in mind. Thanks!

If there's something you want to pass along to the AOA Crowd, we can help get you started. It's easy and affordable. Just send us a note at advertising@alloveralbany.com.

Stuff to do

Mop and Bucket Improv Company, where making stuff up isn't lying - it's a gift for fiction. You can catch their shows every Friday at 8pm Underground at Proctors, every Saturday at The Comedy Works. They also teach drop-in classes every Saturday morning at Proctors.

+Troy Savings Bank Music Hall presenting Jake Shimabukuro -- a ukulele player who has been compared to Hendrix and Miles Davis and is entirely redefining the instrument. Saturday, April 27th.

+ The Hellions of Troy Roller Derby.

+ The Albany All Stars Roller Derby has a bout this Saturday night, April 6, at Washington Avenue Armory.

The Albany Institute of History and Art's exhibit of Currier and Ives prints continues this weekend.

Stuff to learn

Arts Center for the Capital Region. They're now registering for creative summer camps for kids, pre-teens, and teens. And on April 27th and 28th they're hosting a Fine Arts and Crafts Show, with locally-made handmade works in metal, wood, fiber, leather, paper, and more.

+The College of Saint Rose, offering 52 Graduate Programs with a purpose. Programs include: MFA in Creative writing, MBA, Computer Information Systems and more.

+The Weekend MBA program at UAlbany. Get your MBA in 22 months, while you work.

+The Breathing Room yoga space, classes in yoga, dance, pilates and more 399 Kenwood Ave Delmar.

Stuff to Try

+Albany Public Library's mobile app --find locations and hours, check your library card account, learn about upcoming events, download eBooks, audiobooks, music and more. Check ISBN bar codes on books, DVDs and CDs to see if the library owns what you're looking for.

+ Get a FREE MONTH of Wink High Speed Internet Service from Tech Valley Communications. Enter this code when you sign up for service at: www.winkinternet.com: w1n87k0

Food and Drink

+All Good Bakers, Albany's farm to bakery cafe.

+Spring has arrived in Albany! Along with the crocuses and tulipsNew World Bistro Bar's spring menu has sprung! Quail Porchetta, Cockles and Morels and Eggplant 'Meatballs' are new additions to their appetizers. And for entrees they are offering up Fish-n-Bread Stew, "Jaunty Fez" Lamb Shank and Mustard Fried Rabbit. Reservations suggested, call 518.694.0520. Also-mark your calenders.....NWBB will be hosting 'Dining Out For Life' to benefit the AIDS Council, Thursday, April 25th. Come join them and dine for this great event

+ The Schenectady Greenmarket is indoors at Proctors for the winter season. Sundays from 10am to 2pm.

+The folks at City Beer Hall are now doing Saturday and Sunday brunch starting at 11AM.

+Our Daily Eats -- serving up fresh basil pesto, roasted nuts and seeds. They also have four granolas. Available at the Delmar Farmers Market, Schenectady Greenmarket and the Empire State Plaza Wednesday Farmers Market. Local retailers are listed on their website.

+Mingledonating 100 percent of their sales to The Aids Council's Dining Out For Life on April 25.

+ Honest Weight Food Coop has all the best flavors of the season.

Helpful stuff

+Start planning your healthy resolutions for the new year with an affordable personal trainer from Healthy Concepts for Life.

+Capital District Physicians Health Plan, offering Cafe Well, a social network to help you get well and stay well.