All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

This weekend looks like it could be Mother Nature's way of making up for the rain on last weekend's Tulip Festival. Lots of sunshine and spring-like temperatures.

Got plans yet? After the jump we've put together a list of a few things you might like to try. Doing something that's not on the list? Share it in the comment section.

And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

Greek Fest
This weekend St. Sophia's in Albany is holding its annual Greek Festival. Greek food, music, crafts, warrior re-enactments and activities for the kids. Friday 6-11 pm, Saturday noon-11 pm, Sunday noon-7 pm - admission $3 / under 12 free.

Penn and Teller
Friday: Magician/comedians/skeptics Penn and Teller will be at Proctors for a show. Penn is the one who talks. Friday 8 pm - $20 and up

Roller Derby
Saturday: The last Albany All Stars last bout of the season is at the Washington Ave Armory. The All Stars will be facing off with the New Jersey Roller Derby. Music from DJ Trumastr. first whistle 7 pm - $10 ahead / $12 day of / $4 kids under 12

Get Skool'd in Derby
If you've ever wanted to give the roller derby a shot, this may interest you. Get Skool'd is a full day of roller derby workshops, clinics and mixed scrimmagewith some of the world's best players. Sunday 11 am at the Washington Avenue Armory

Niska Day
The annual Niska Day festival in Niskayuna is Saturday. It includes a parade, kids stuff, food vendors, and fireworks. And, this year, Elvis. parade starts at 10 am

Bike Fest
The Troy Bike Rescue's annual Bike Fest is Saturday -- it's a fundraiser for the org's programs. A kids bike rodeo, cake auction, bike films, $10 burrito dinner, music from _11:34 and Oobleck. starts at 3 pm, events the rest of the day

24 Hour Theatre Project
The annual 24hr Berkshires/Capital Region Theatre Project is Saturday. The cast and crew from the Berkshires and Capital Region will be collaborating to write and produce five new works in 24 hours at the Black Box Theatre at Schenectady High School Saturday 8 pm - $20 / $15 students

More Theater

Red
Capital Rep's production of Red closes this weekend. (TU Review, Troy Record review.) Friday 8 pm, Saturday 3 pm and 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm - $20 and up

Of Mice and Men
The Local Actors Guild opens a production of Of Mice and Men, the show based on the John Steinbeck novel, this weekend at the Saratoga Arts Center. Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm - $15

Sweet Charity
Schenectady Light Opera's production of Sweet Charity, Neil Simon and Cy Coleman's classic musical closes this weekend. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm - $18 & $22.

The Oldest Profession
Albany Civic's production of The Oldest Profession closes this weekend. The author of How I Learned to Drive wrote this play about the lives of five aging prostitutes in the early 1980s. Friday and Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 3 pm - $15

Nobodies of Comedy
The Nobodies of Comedy are five stand-up acts you've never heard of -- that could be the next household names. Saturday at Proctors. 8 pm - $20, $24, $26 & $28

Music

Friday: Albany Spring Fest at the Palace
Old school hip hop: Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh. 8 pm - $32 and up

Friday: The Spampinato Brothers at Valentine's
Joey Spampinato was a founder of NRBQ. 8 pm - $12

Friday: The Feelies at Helsinki Hudson
Post-punk, reunited. 9 pm - $20 ahead / $22 at door

Friday: The Slide Brothers at Putnam Den
Pedal steel guitarists. Recently on World Cafe. With: Danielle Miraglia. 9:30 pm - $8 ahead / $10 at door

Saturday: The Darkness at Upstate Concert Hall
Glam rock. With: Airbourne. 8 pm - $20 ahead / $22 day of

Saturday: Richard Barone at Valentine's
Rock songwriter/producer/former frontman of the Bongos. With: Blue Factory. 8 pm - $9

Saturday: Project Percolator at The Egg
Featuring two former members of The Band: Jim Weider and Garth Hudson. 7:30 pm - $29.50

Saturday: Black Taxi at Bayou Albany
"[H]eavy on harmonies, spitfire guitar licks, body paint, and all manner of instrumentation." 8 pm - $10 ahead / $12 day of

Saturday and Sunday: Albany Symphony Orchestra and violinist Aisslinn Nosky at Troy Music Hall
Playing Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," along with a few other works. May 18 7:30 pm / May 19 3 pm - $19 and up

Saturday and Sunday: Melvin Seals at Putnam Den
Electric organist, longtime member of the Jerry Garcia Band. 9:30 pm - $23 (Saturday) $20 (Sunday) ahead / $25 (Saturday) $21 (Sunday) at door

Sunday: Eric Burdon at The Egg
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, formerly of the Animals. 8 pm - $34.50 and up

Sunday: James McCartney at Helsinki Hudson
Son of Paul and Linda. With: Jon Sandler. 8 pm - $15

Lupine Fest 2013: Living History
The Albany Pine Bush Preserve's annual Lupine Festival, a family friendly festival with music, storytelling, falconry and historic reenactments is Saturday. 10 am-4 pm - free admission

Baby animals
This is the last weekend to visit the baby animals at Indian Ladder Farms. Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm - $5 per child / free for accompanying adults

Art

Living Room
The new Living Room art gallery at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands opens Friday with a photography show from Neighborhood fave Chuck Miller. Friday 5 pm

Re-Place Kohonios
Artist Merritt Johnson will be at the Foundry in Cohoes for a reception to opening a show that honors Brookfield Renewable Energy's return of 100 acres of land at the Cohoes Falls back to the League of Iroquois. Saturday 6-9 pm

Gordon Parks
The exhibit of works by renowned photographer Gordon Parks -- "Gordon Parks 100 Moments" -- closes at the State Museum Sunday. If you haven't checked it out, it's worth a stop if you're near the museum this week. (The exhibit is in the back of the museum, near the mastodon).

Albany History Fair
This year the annual Albany History Fair focuses on how sacred spaces and religious life have helped shape the city. It includes open houses at five local churches and presentations by Jack McEneny, Susan Holland of Historic Albany, city historian Tony Opalka and others. Performances, displays and It begins at Westminster Presbyterian Church on State Street. Sunday from 1-5 pm - free

"The roads we love to hate"
Sunday: Skidmore professor Tom Lewis will be at the Albany Institute for History and Art for a talk about "the history of highway transportation in the Albany region and our love/hate relationship with the asphalt and concrete roads that are central to modern life in America." He's the author of the book Divided Highways: Building the Interstate Highways, Transforming American Life. Sunday 2 pm - free with museum admission

Film

Barbara
The Saratoga Film Forum is screening the 2012 Cold War thriller Barbara this weekend at the Saratoga Arts Center. (Skidmore College history professor Matthew Hockenos will lead a discussion after the Sunday screening.) Friday 7:30 pm, Sunday 7:30 pm - $7 / $5 students

Drive in
There should be great drive-in weather this weekend. Check out a double feature at The Malta, The Hollywood, or The Jericho

Plant sales
The weekend should be gorgeous and there are plant sales all around the Capital Region. Get some tulip bulbs in Washington Park, or head over to Capital District Community Gardens or the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Voorheesville.

Outdoor Farmers' Markets
Farmers' markets in the Capital Region are outdoors for the season.

Capital Rep and the Albany Institute advertise on AOA.