All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

We're shocked -- shocked we say -- to hear that there is rain in the Capital Region weekend weather forecast. But we're more shocked that it looks like there's even more sunshine expected.

Not surprising at all? The fact that there's a whole bunch of stuff to do -- from pigging out to Bisco to Spamalot. Mix, match, plan.

Got something in mind that you don't see here? Drop it in the comment section for everyone to see.

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

Troy Pig Out
The annual Troy Pig Out is this Saturday and Sunday in Riverfront Park. The event is a two-day competition for more than 30 makers of barbecue -- a people's choice St. Louis-style rib competition on Saturday, and the Official New York State BBQ Championship on Sunday.

Tickets for the rib competition go on sale at 5 pm Saturday -- they're $1 for one rib. And in years past, they've sold out very quickly. Barbecue vendors will be offering samplers ($1-$5) to the public. And a bunch of other food vendors will also be there.

Also new to the Pig Out this year: BaconFest NY has joined up with the festival, adding a "Bacon Alley" section featuring vendors selling "bacon-y treats."

Both days also include chef demos and music.

Hop Chef Albany
Top chefs from around the Capital Region compete on Friday night in Brewery Ommegang's Hop Chef series, and you can sample what they're cooking at the Hilton Albany. Tickets here. 5:30p.m. to 8p.m. $55 (portion of the proceeds go to Schoharie Area Long Term)

Ballet
The New York City Ballet's one-week residency at SPAC wraps up on Sunday. The slate for this year's run includes works by Tchaikovsky/Balanchine, Bernstein/Robbins, as well as Stevens/Peck (as in Sufjan Stevens and Justin Peck). Saturday night is the gala, with a pre-show lawn party and post-show dancing and fireworks.

Saratoga Race Course Open House
This Sunday the Saratoga Race Course hosts its annual open house. There won't be wagering, but there will be exhibition races, music, carnival games, pony rides, face painting and a family-friendly concert by Zendaya. 11 am to 4 pm - fee admission.

Circus Collective
Friday and Saturday: The circus company Frequently Asked Questions is at the Schacht Fine Arts Center at Sage College. Blurbage: "The show combines acrobatics, aerials, juggling, and clowning to tell the story of friends doing what they love to do best." Friday noon and 7 pm / Saturday 1 pm and 7 pm - $10 / $8 students and seniors

Theater

Lion in Winter
This is closing weekend for the Berkshire Theater Festival's fantastic production of The Lion in Winter, starring Jayne Atkinson and Treat Williams. The comedy is a look at Christmas with the family of Henry II that will make your family seem a whole lot less dysfunctional. Very worth seeing. Here's the Boston Globe review. Friday 8 pm, Saturday 2 pm & 8 pm - $38-$58

On the Town
The very well-reviewed Barrington Stage production of On the Town closes this weekend. The rarely-performed Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, Comden & Green musical about three sailors on a 24-hour leave in New York City in 1944. Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 8 pm , Sunday at 5 pm - various prices from $15.

Spamalot
Killer rabbits, catapulting cows and the search for the Holy Grail in Albany's Washington Park as Park Playhouse continues its summer production of Monty Python's Spamalot. The show runs every Tuesday through Sunday at 8 pm and includes Molly McGrath as The Lady of the Lake. Seats on the hillside are free, but bring your picnic blankets and chairs and come early. Reserved Seats are $14-16. Premium Table Seats are $22.

Spring Awakening
Opening Friday at The Egg: a production of Spring Awakening by Our Own Productions. The musical -- about angsty teens and their sexual awakening as they make the transition to adulthood -- won multiple Tonys on Broadway. (This is not a show for young kids.) The production runs through July 20. $26 adults / $21 students and seniors

Anything Goes
Roundabout Theatre Company's productions of Cole Porter's Anything Goes continues through Sunday at Proctors. $20 and up

The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers
The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers, a new work by country singer-songwriter Lori Fischer continues at Capital Rep. Blurbage:

What's a girl to do? Daughter Junie inherits the job of taking over the family dry cleaning business, tending to Dad --who's having a hard time remembering things -- and keeping an eye on younger sister Lashley - who's fresh from rehab.

Junie's dream of being a country singer takes a hiatus until the town Pastor asks the sisters to write and perform personal send-offs for the dearly departed.

The production runs through August 4. Tickets start at $20.

WTF
This weekend at the Williamstown Theatre Festival: a production of Tom Stoppard's Hapgood, starring Kate Burton. It runs through July 21.

Also at WTF: it's the last week for Animal Crackers.

Singin' in the Rain
The Mac-Hayden Theater in Chatham opens its production of Singin' in the Rain on Friday. Friday 8 pm, Saturday 4 pm & 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm & 7 pm - $28-$30 / under 12 $12 with adult

Delaware Avenue Street Fair/ APL Summerfest
Delaware Avenue in Albany is holding its annual street fair on Saturday. A mile of art, music, garage sales and food. The Albany Public Library Summer Fest is also going on at the Delaware Avenue branch. The street fair runs from 9 am-5 pm / the APL Summer Fest is from 1-3 pm - free admission to both

Comedy
Saturday night, weekly short form improv comedy show MopCo is back at The Comedy Works on Northern Blvd in Albany. Think Whose Line is it Anyway. 8 pm - $15-$20

Camp Bisco
The big Camp Bisco music festival is in progress in Mariaville, just west of Schenectady. Among the headliners still set to play: Bassnectar, Passion Pit, Baauer, Toro y Moi, and The Disco Biscuits (of course). Animal Collective cancelled because of illness. It looks there are still Saturday-only passes available, $90

Music

Friday: Brian Patneaude Quartet at Upbeat on the Roof
Modern jazz on the roof of the Tang Museum at Skidmore. 7 pm - free

Friday: Blind Owl Band at Putnam Den
Album release show for the bluegrass band. With: Lucky Jukebox Brigade. 9 pm - $7

Saturday: WGNA Countryfest at Schaghticoke Fairgrounds is sold out.

Sunday: Lorraine Klaasen & African Connexion at Music Haven in Schenectady
Daughter of "the Ella Fitzgerald of South Africa." 7 pm - free

Sunday: Sing a Song for Me: Bob Dylan's Legacy at Caffe Lena
Several local songwriters playing Dylan songs that have "particular personal meaning" and original songs inspired by his style. A fundraiser for Caffe Lena 7 pm - $15

Art OMI Open Studio Weekend
If you've been wanting to check out Art Omi in Columbia County, this would be a great weekend to visit. The international art center is offering open studio tours on Saturday and Sunday. There's also dinner and dancing on Saturday night and a Sunday brunch. Tours are $10 (free for members), the dinner is $75, and the brunch starts at $40 ($20 for kids).

Art In The Park
Saratoga's Congress Park will host 70 artists and crafters on Saturday for the 15th annual Art in the Park celebration. 10 am - 5 pm

Film

Three chances to see classic films with the scores performed live:

Night of the Living Dead with The Andrew Alden Ensemble

Friday: The Sanctuary for Independent Media will be showing Romero's Night of the Living Dead with a live score performed by the Andrew Alden Ensemble, a contemporary chamber music group from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. The group is touring the country this summer playing scores for classic films. Friday 9 pm - free

The Black Pirate with Alloy Orchestra

Saturday: MASS MoCA is screening the Douglas Fairbanks silent film The Black Pirate with live score by the Alloy Orchestra, a three-person group from the Boston area that's write and performed music to accompany a bunch of silent films. Saturday 8:30 pm - $15 ahead / $19 day of

West Side Story with the BSO

Saturday: The Boston Symphony Orchestra will be performing the score for West Side Story at Tanglewood while a recently re-mastered version of the film screens in high definition. (The original vocals and dialogue will be intact -- the BSO will be filling in the rest with a performance of Leonard Bernstein's score.) Saturday 8:30 pm - $20 and up

Renoir
The Saratoga Film Forum is screening Renoir, the story of the last model of the famous French painter, who was also the muse of his filmmaker son Jean Renoir. Friday and Sunday at 7:30 pm

Saturday night, the Film Forum is screening Jean Renoir's The Rules of the Game. Saturday 7:30 pm at Spring Street Gallery - free

Polo
Polo season begins on Friday at Saratoga Polo. There are matches on Friday and Sunday with a post-match concert on Friday and a hat contest on Sunday. Tickets start at $20.

World Team Tennis
Friday is GE Kids Get in Free night at the World Team Tennis matches at UAlbany's SEFCU Arena. One free kids ticket with each adult ticket. 7:30 pm - $15

Butterfly watching
The Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center has endangered Karner blue butterflies that are about ready to emerge from their cocoons. They're on view at the Discovery Center. 10 am-4 pm - free admission

Pick something seasonal
Cherry season has started. Columbia County has a handful of orchards where you can pick your own.

Swimming
Swimming pools, beaches, and spray pads in the Capital Region are open, should we get a stretch of sunshine this weekend. Here's where you can find them.

Playland
Take your favorite kid on a retro-visit to Hoffman's Playland while you can.

Ice Cream
Check out the Tour de Soft Serve and the Tour de Hard Ice Cream and the Tour de Gelato before you make up your mind. There's also Moxie's vanilla tour.

Farmers' markets
The outdoor season for farmers' markets are in swing in Troy (Saturday), Delmar (Saturday), Saratoga (Saturday), Schenectady (Sunday), and the new Spa City Farmers Market -- at the Lincoln Baths in Saratoga Springs (Sunday).

Summering
The season won't last forever. Throw a summer barbecue, mix a cool cocktail, go camping, buy a bike. Looking for other ways to enjoy summer in the Capital Region? Here are a few ideas.

Capital Rep, the Albany Public Library and The Mop & Bucket Company advertise on AOA. And AOA is a media sponsor of Our Own Productions.