All Over Albany

This week was brought to you by

This week in AOA was brought to you by things that grow on trees -- like blossoms. And houses. Well...ok... the house didn't grow in the tree, but you get what we're going for, right?

This week was also brought to you by the upcoming Drawing Up Central sidewalk chalk competition --part of this year's Tulip Festival on May 11th from 10am to 2pm. Artists from all over the region will compete for cash prizes in a sidewalk chalk art contest. When you're out viewing the tulips, you can check out their art on Central Avenue's sidewalks, and cast a vote for your favorite.

This week in AOA was made possible by the sponsors below, so please visit them when you can.

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.

+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.

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
The patio is open at The Wine Bar and Bistro on Lark. Check their Facebook page for this week's specials

+The City Beer Hall, did a fantastic job hosting AOA's 5th birthday party last week week. The food is great, the building is gorgeous, the beer list is extensive, the rooftop deck is open.

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.

+All Good Bakers, Albany's farm to bakery cafe. Now serving croissants and pain au chocolat every day, made with our own fresh, grass-fed, cultured butter and NY stoneground flour from North Country Farms.

+The tulips are well on their way to full bloom-time to make your Mother's Day plans! Celebrate with the family atNew World Bistro Bar's We'll be offering up our wildly popular brunch buffet on Mother's Day as well as for graduation weekend this year. Menu's to be posted on our website soon, but for now-pricing and times are as follows;
MOTHER'S DAY: Sunday, May 12th. Brunch from 11-3PM, $28 adults & $15 children twelve and under.
GRADUATION WEEKEND: Sunday, May 19th. Brunch from 11-4PM, $28 adults & $15 children twelve and under.
Call to make reservations 518.694.0520

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

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

Helpful stuff

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