All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Like sand through our flip flops, so go the weekends of our summer.

Except, weekends don't get stuck between your toes. And they're not just laying around on a beach. And they don't have shells or little critters living in them. Well, not usually. OK, so they're not really much like sand at all. But that doesn't matter so much. Forget that part.

What we're really trying to say is "Stuff to do. Weekend. Summer. Wow. After the jump."

Pick your favorites, share with your friends. And, as aways, if you've got something planned that you don't see here, drop it in the comments.

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

1st Friday
It's 1st Friday. Already. Shops and galleries are open late in Albany tonight. On the agenda:
+ Albany Center Gallery's Whimsicality exhibit, showcasing whimsical work by 20 local artists.
+ The Albany Institute of History and Art will have photographers from its current Contemporary Photography show available to discuss their work.
+ The Capital Swing Dance returns to 25 South Allen Street with headliners Reggie's Red Hot Feet Warmers.

Floral Fete & Ice Cream Social
Friday: Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson are hosting a floral fete and ice cream social in Congress Park. It's a parade of carriages, bicycles and wagons decked out with flowers, followed by a party with free Stewart's ice cream, free carousel rides, music, street performers and old-time photos. The event is inspired by floral fetes that date back to the 19th century. In 1899, 100,000 people reportedly lined the streets of Saratoga Springs -- it "resembled a vast garden, radiant and gorgeous in the extreme" -- for a floral fete, according to a New York Times article from the time. Friday 7:30-9:30 pm - free

The Track
It's weekend number three at the Saratoga Race Course. Saturday is the track's official anniversary party for its 150th season. It's also the day of this year's Whitney.

Sunshine Fair
The the Schoharie County Sunshine Fair continues through Saturday at the fairgrounds in Cobleskill.

Ballston Spa Film Festival
The Ballston Spa Film Festival gets underway Friday with local, national, and international films, family-friendly activities, post-screening parties and conversations with filmmakers and film fans. Films range from 1-11 minutes in length. Here's the slate. Friday and Saturday, 7-10 pm in Iron Spring Park and Ballston Spa High School - free

Polo
The Whitney Cup Polo tournament is this weekend at Saratoga Polo. There are matches on Friday and Sunday. 5:30 pm both days - $20 and up

Acro-cats
The Amazing Acro-Cats, one of only four acrobatic cat troupes in the country, are at Proctors on Friday performing "remarkable feats of agility pushing carts, riding skateboards, rolling barrels, ringing bells, turning on lights, walking tight ropes, jumping through hoops, knockabout acts" with a band made up of cats and a chicken named Gregory Peck. Really -- we couldn't make that up. Friday 7pm - $21.50 / $17.50 for kids.

Theater

Williamstown
+ The Bridges of Madison County opened at WTF this week. It's a musical version of the film version of the book.

+ Johnny Baseball -- a musical revolving around the infamous curse of the Boston Red Sox, closes this weekend.

+ Pitching to the Star: Robert Sean Leonard and Lewis Black star in this one night only reading of Donald Margulies one act play Pitching to a Star. Leonard and Black recreate the roles they originated 25 years ago for a fundraiser at the Williamstown Main Stage. Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. $35 and $75. The reading will be followed by a panel discussion about perfect and not-so-perfect Hollywood pitches.

Berkshire Theater Festival
Same Time, Next Year continues this weekend at Berkshire Theater Festival. It's the story of a love affair between a couple who meet just once a year. Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm - $38 to $58

Avenue Q
Adirondack Theater Festival presents Avenue Q, the musical with full frontal puppet nudity, this weekend at the Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls. Friday 7:30 pm, Saturday 2 pm and 7:30 pm

Little Women
Class Act Productions presents the musical version of Little Women at the James L. Meader Little Theater at Russell Sage College in Troy. Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m.$20.

Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers
+ It's closing weekend for The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers at Cap Rep.

African American Family Day
Saturday is African-American Family Day at the Empire State Plaza from noon-7 pm -- arts, crafts, kids stuff. The musical lineup is headed by Heatwave ("'Cause boogie nights are always the the best in town..."). Saturday noon-7 pm - free admission

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
The annual Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is underway on Dodd's Farm in Hillsdale. Dozens of performers will play throughout the weekend, including Dar Williams, Ellis Paul, Eliza Gilkyson, the Kennedys, and Nerissa & Katryna Nields. Today through Sunday - daily passes $40-$50

Music

Friday: Lucius at MASS MoCA
Indie pop group playing "movable, pop-up concerts" through the galleries at the museum. 3 pm and 6 pm - free with museum admission

Friday: Markellis, Haskell, Maul at Upbeat on the Roof
American roots/blues/swamp rock/country swing. 7 pm - free

Friday: Jes Hudak at Caffe Lena
Singer/songwriter, toured with big acts, been on TV, has a hit in Australia -- and now performing back where she started, at Caffe Lena. 8 pm - $16

Saturday: Bang on a Can Marathon at MASS MoCA
Six hours of non-stop music to close the annual festival. 4-10 pm - $24 concert only / $35 day pass (concert + admission) / $15 students

Saturday: Bend the Bars with Beats at Freedom Square in Troy
All ages hip hop show outside featuring Rebel Diaz, Baam Bada, S.K.A.T.E., and DJ Trumastr with DJ Cold Cut. 5 pm - free

Saturday: Lil Wayne at SPAC
With T.I. and Future. 7 pm - $29.75 and up

Saturday: The London Souls at Putnam Den
Rock band, from NYC. With: Murali Coryell. 9:30 pm - $8 ahead / $10

Saturday: Mary Fahl at Caffe Lena
Folk singer/songwriter. With: P.J. Pacifico. 8 pm - $22

Saturday: Blues Band Showdown at The Linda
Four-six local blues bands competing for a chance play in Memphis. 7 pm - $12

Sunday: Yo-Yo Ma at Tanglewood.
The world-famous cellist plays Stravinsky and Dvorak at the Koussevitzky Music Shed. 2:30 pm - $20 and up

Sunday: Esperanza Spalding at Tanglewood
Star jazz bassist/vocalist/composer. 8 pm - $20 and up

Sunday: Doña Oxford at Music Haven
"Goddess of soul." 7 pm - free

Comedy

Improv
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

Roy Blount, Jr.
Sunday: Author/humorist/Wait, Wait panelist Roy Blount, Jr. will be at Helsinki Hudson for a brunch to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Sunday 11:30 am - $40

Summer Brunch
Saturday: Deanna Fox is leading a class on making delicious summer brunch foods at Different Drummer's Kitchen. Saturday 11 am-1:30 pm - $65

Burlesque
Saturday: Roxxi Tart's 1920s Burlesque Revue is at Red Square, with guest NYC performers. Saturday 8 pm - $15 (it's 21 and over)

Big Truck Day
The Saratoga Children's Museum is hosting a festival of big trucks. Kids can check out the trucks and meet the people who drive them. Saturday 10 am-2 pm - $5 kids, $1 per adult

Turning Point Weekend
Schuylerville celebrates the turning point of the Revolutionary War with a festival on Saturday and a parade on Sunday.

Swimming
Looking for a place to go for a swim, or just lie by a lake or pool? Here's a list of public pools and beaches.

Berkshire Botanical Gardens
The Berkshire Botanical Gardens are a lovely place to to wander or have a picnic. Combine it with a dinner in Stockbridge or a trip to the Berkshire Theater Festival.

Museums & Galleries
Wait out a rainstorm in a museum. Here are a few things you can see right now in area museums:

+ The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls has an exhibit of Georgia O'Keeffe's works from Lake George.

+ The Clark is featuring a Winslow Homer exhibit this summer.

+ The Albany Institute of History and Art's Hudson River School exhibit runs through August 18.

+ The New York State Museum is still featuring its Civil War exhibit.

+ MASS MoCA has a number of exhibits going right now, including Five Sets Five Reps, a solo exhibit by painter Joseph Montgomery.

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.

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.

Blueberries
We're right in the middle of blueberry season in this area. And those berries aren't going to pick themselves. (Here's a list of places to maybe check out for PYO -- note: it's from 2012.)

The Saratoga Race Course, Capital Rep and MopCo advertise on AOA.

photo via Saratoga 150