All Over Albany

The week ahead

Here are a few things to keep in mind, look forward to, or keep busy with this week, from the weather (more the same), to the Fourth, to WTF, to museums, to swimming, to Phish, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Probably some thunderstorms in the afternoon, highs near 80.

Tuesday: Cloudy, probably some thunderstorms. Mid 80s.

Wednesday: And so on.

Thursday: And so forth.

Friday: Less chance or rain, sunnier. Mid 80s.

Weekend: Sunny, mid 80s.

More of the same.

Fourth of July

As you know, the Fourth of the July is this Thursday. So this is sort of a short week as a probably not small number of people and organizations will be taking Friday off for a four day weekend.

There will, of course, be fireworks displays in a bunch of places. The biggest display will be the annual celebrations at the Empire State Plaza. Live music starts at 4:30 pm and carries through headline Johnny Rivers at 8 pm. The fireworks display is scheduled to start at 9:25 pm. And just a heads up: no outside alcoholic beverages, coolers, glass containers, or pets are allowed at the plaza during the event.

We'll have a round up of this week's fireworks displays around the area on Monday.

Williamstown Theatre Festival

This summer's Williamstown Theatre Festival has started. The two current shows:

+ American Hero, a new comedy by Bess Wohl set in a sandwich shop. As it was described in the Boston Globe, "It's subs, but it's also Sartre." The cast includes Ari Graynor, whose name you might not recognize, but she's probably made you laugh in a movie. Runs through July 7.

+ Animal Crackers, a new interpretation of the Marx Brothers film. Runs through July 13.

Swimming

What is July without swimming? Local pools are now open. Jump in.

Museums

If you have an extra day or two off this week, it could be a good opportunity to hit up one of the museums around the region, especially two recently opened exhibits:

+ An exhibition of Georgie O'Keeffe's work from her time in Lake George recently opened at the Hyde Collection in Glens Falls.
+ Also recently opened: an exhibition of work by Winslow Homer at the Clark in Williamtown.

What's currently on display at other regional museums: Albany Institute, NYS Museum, MASS MoCA, the Fenimore, the Arkell.

Movies

We're right in the thick of the summer movies-with-big-explosions blockbuster season. Man of Steel, World War Z, White House Down, Star Trek Into Darkness are all playing -- and The Lone Ranger opens Thursday. The Melissa McCarthy/Sandra Bullock buddy cop comedy The Heat opened last weekend, and Despicable Me 2 opens Thursday.

But there are also a few well-regarded non-blockbusters out now: Joss Whedon's take on Much Ado About Nothing; and Richard Linklater's Before Midnight, the third Before film with the characters played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. And the Spectrum is still showing The Place Beyond the Pines.

Strawberries

The local strawberry season will be coming to an end during the next few weeks, so pick 'em while they've got 'em. Here are a bunch of places to pick.

Baseball

The ValleyCats open a six-game home stand at the Joe on the Fourth of July. There will be post-game fireworks Thursday and Friday.

Phish

Phish is back at SPAC for a three-day run starting Friday. So that means not only big crowds at the venue, but also around Saratoga Springs all this weekend as the phaithful gather. 7:30 pm each night - $45 (lawn) and $60 (pavillion)

Tanglewood

Friday: The Boston Symphony Orchestra season at Tanglewood opens with an all-Tchaikovsky program featuring star violinist Joshua Bell. 8:30 pm - $20 and up

Music

Monday: Future Bible Heroes at Helsinki Hudson
One of Stephin Merritt's bands. (Merritt will not be performing.) 8 pm - $12 ahead / $15 at door

Tuesday: The Unlikely Candidates at Hollow Bar
Rock from Texas. 8 pm - $8

Wednesday: Jimmy Eat World at Upstate Concert Hall
Popular alt-rock band. With: Balance & Composure. 8 pm - $27 ahead / $30 day of

Wednesday: Ben Taylor at Helsinki Hudson
Singer/songwriter. With: Zachary Cole. 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

Wednesday: Separate Ways at Rockin' on the River
Journey tribute. 5 pm - free

Thursday: Jackson Browne at Tanglewood
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. With: Sara Watkins. 7 pm - $23.50 and up

There is no Alive at Five this week because of the Fourth of July.

Friday: Lyle Lovett at The Egg
Playing with his acoustic group. 8 pm - $58

Friday: Railbird at Upbeat on the Roof
Back in town for a free show on the roof of the Tang. 7 pm - free

Friday: The Holmes Brothers at Helsinki Hudson
Blues/soul/gospel. 9 pm - $25 ahead / $28 day of

Friday: Gabriel Alegria Afro Peruvian Sextet at Red Square
Jazz. With: Taina Asili. 8 pm - $15 ahead / $20 day of

Friday: Eastbound Jesus at Caffe Lena
Americana/northern rock. 8 pm - $15

Saturday: Bettye LaVette at MASS MoCA
Soul singer. 8 pm - $32 ahead / $39 day of

Saturday: Beatshot Music Festival at Red Square
Fifth annual festival featuring a ton of DJs. starts at noon - $10 before 6 pm / $15 after

Saturday: Lake Street Dive at Helsinki Hudson
"Once jazz-schooled, DIY-motivated, and classically pop obsessed." 9 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

Saturday: Stellar Young at Hollow Bar
With: The Slaughterhouse Chorus, Davenport Cabinet, and Carl Daniels. 8 pm - $8

Saturday: Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo at Caffe Lena
Vignola is a renowned jazz guitarist. 8 pm - $25

Sunday: Vieux Farka Touré at Music Haven in Schenectady
"The Hendrix of the Sahara." The first Music Have show of the summer in Schenectady's Central Park. 7 pm - free

Sunday: Darryl Tonemah at Caffe Lena
"Native Americana." 7 pm - $15

To do list

1. You know all those things you've saying you were going to do this summer. It's already July. You should start doing those things.
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These are a just a few things for this week. Know of something people should be looking forward to this week? Please share!

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photo: Michael Wilson