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 (summery), to the Track, to ballet, to pencil sharpening, to theater, to beer, to all sorts of music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Mid 80s, maybe thunderstorms later in the day.

Tuesday: Cloudy, mid 80s. Probably a thunderstorm.

Wednesday: Repeat, somewhat less chance of thunderstorms.

Thursday: And so on, highs around 80.

Friday: Sunny, low 80s.

Weekend: Sunny, scattered showers, low 80s.

Summery.

The Track

It's the first full week of the season at the Saratoga Race Course, with racing every day except Tuesday. Among the events this week: Thursday is College Day (free grandstand admission with valid college ID), and on Sunday the gate giveaway is a t-shirt.

Ballet

The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is at SPAC Wednesday and Thursday performing both classic and more recent works. The Thursday evening performance is part of the "date night" series at SPAC, with photobooths and wine and food tastings. Wednesday 8 pm / Thursday 2 pm and 8 pm - $24 and up

MOMIX: Next week the "dancer illusionists" troupe MOMIX will be at SPAC on Thursday (August 1) for a performance of "Botanica." Tickets for that show are already "limited." So if you'd like to go, you might want to get tickets sooner rather than later.

Arts and sciences

Writers Institute
The NYS Summer Writers Institute visiting writers reading series wraps up this week with readings from: Mary Gaitskill and Jane Shore (Monday), Jamaica Kincaid and Henri Cole (Tuesday), Charles Simic and Linda Spalding (Wednesday), Michael Ondaatje and Howard Norman (Thursday), Richard Howard and Jim Miller (Friday). all readings at 8 pm in Skidmore's Palamountain Hall - free

David Rees
Thursday: Cartoonist/humorist David Rees will be at Valentine's. Rees created the strip Get Your War On. More recently he wrote a book about artisanal pencil sharpening -- a New Yorker review called it "powerfully funny." He'll presumably be reading or talking or something at Valentine's. Or maybe sharpening pencils (or not).

Capital Distruct
Thursday: The Spring Street Gallery in Saratoga Springs is hosting a free screening of Capital Distruct -- a new skate film from Albany's Seasons Skate Shop. Thursday 8 pm

More skating: Saturday is the Saratoga Skate Jam at the Saratoga Skatepark at the city's East Side Recreation Field from 4-8 pm.. The event includes free food and drinks, raffles, and the "worst trick demo." (Suggested donation $5.)

Bullets, Belles, And Bloated Bodies
Saturday: Hobart And William Smith Colleges historian Laura will free will be giving a talk at the State Museum about the Civil War in American pop culture. Blurbage: "Why don't Americans decorate with battle streamers from the War of 1812 or re-enact battles from the Spanish-American war? Why is the Civil War still so compelling to Americans that many of us care passionately about its symbols, moments and legacies?" Saturday 1 pm, Huxley Theater - free

Theater

WTF
This is the last week for Pygmalion, starring Robert Sean Leonard and Heather Lind (TU review). Opening this week: Johnny Baseball, about the Red Sox and the Curse of the Bambino.

Monday: Lewis Black will be doing a stand-up show to benefit WTF. 7:30 pm - $40 and up

In Albany...
+ This is the last week for the very funny production of Spamalot at the Park Playhouse.
+ The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers continues at Cap Rep.

Movies

A few notable releases this Friday: Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine in The Wolverine (now with definite article), and the Aubrey Plaza comedy The To Do List, at multiplexes. And the highly praised Fruitvale Station opens at the Spectrum.

Capital Region Craft Brewer's Festival

The annual Capital Region Craft Brewer's Festival is back at The Joe on Saturday. More than 25 breweries are slated to be represented, offering samples to attendees. (A ticket gets you 10 samples.) Saturday 2:30 pm - $25 advance ($32 at gate) and up ($10 designated driver ticket)

Sunshine Fair

County fair season continues Saturday with the start of the Schoharie County Sunshine Fair, which runs through August 3 at the fairgrounds in Cobleskill. The grand marshals for this year's fair parade on July 31 are the Fabulous Beekman Boys.

Music

Monday: Bon Jovi at SPAC
Sold 135 million records -- all with really great hair. 7:30 pm - $35 and up

Monday: OBN IIS / Ex-Cult at Valentine's
Noise rock/punk rock. With: Eternal Crimes. 7 pm - $8

Tuesday: Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five, Guster at Tanglewood
It's like a mix tape from 1997. 7 pm - $27.50 and up

Wednesday: Bret Michaels at Empire State Plaza
With: Hair Band Riot, Stellar Young. 5 pm - free

Wednesday: Exiles on River Street at Rockin' on the River
Rolling Stones tribute band. 5 pm - free

Wednesday: Pentatonix at The Egg
Five-member pop a capella group. Winners of the TV show The Sing Off. 8 pm - $27 ahead / $30 day of

Thursday: Local Blues Night at Alive at Five
With: The Tom Healey Band, Blues Sanctuary. 5 pm - free

Thursday: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals at Brewery Ommegang
Outside at the brewery in Cooperstown. With: JD McPherson, Alpenglow. 6:30 pm - $35 ahead / $40 day of

Friday: Caravan for Peace at Sanctuary for Independent Media
Two musical groups from Mali. 5 pm Freedom Square - free

Friday: Annie and the Hedonists at Upbeat on the Roof
Acoustic blues/vintage jazz. 7 pm - free

Friday: WEXT Birthday Bash at Valentine's: Sgt. Dunbar and the Hobo Banned
First of two nights. With: Ray Murray and the Bomb Squad.

Friday: P.O.D. + Flyleaf at Upstate Concert Hall
Still so alive, presumably. With: Stars in Stereo, Manafest. 7:30 pm - $21.70

Friday: Paranoid Social Club at Putnam Den
With: Wild Adriatic, The Hornitz. 9 pm - $10

Saturday: WEXT Birthday Bash at Valentine's: Pete Donnelly
Night two. With: Bear Grass, Olivia Quillio.

Saturday: Bang On A Can All-Stars at MASS MoCA
As part of the annual Bang on a Can festival, a performance of Julia Wolfe's Steel Hammer. 8 pm - $24 concert / $35 concert and museum admission / $15 students

Saturday: Michael Powers Frequency at Helsinki Hudson
Blues. 9 pm - $18

Saturday: Banjo Masters in the Round at Caffe Lena
"Five strings, five pickers." 8 pm - $18

Sunday: O.A.R. at SPAC
O.A.R. = Of A Revolution. With: Andrew McMahon, Allen Stone. 6:30 pm - $31 and up

Sunday: Saratoga Choral Festival at Spa Little Theater
This year's show features the choral music of Dave Brubeck. 3 pm - $30

Sunday: Maria Muldaur & The Campbell Brothers at Music Haven
Folk singer paired with "high-energy gospel soul." 7 pm - free

Sunday: Christine Ebersole at Helsinki Hudson
Two-time Tony winner. Singing classics from composers such as Cole Porter. Part of the Helsinki on Broadway series, playing with jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein's trio. 7 pm -

To do list

1. We are now into blueberry season. Those berries aren't going to pick themselves.

2. August is next week. You know all those summer things you said you were going to do? You should do them.

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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: Phil Andelman