All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Things will warm up a bit this weekend, but the cool days are a reminder of how fleeting summer really is. Enjoy it while you can.

After the jump, we've put together a few options we thought you might like. As always, if you're planning something we missed, let us know about it.

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

Altamont Fair
The Altamont Fair -- the county fair for Albany, Schenectady, and Greene counties -- runs through Sunday at the fairgrounds in (you guessed it) Altamont. All the usual fair attractions: rides, ag demonstrations, food, music, racing pigs. Tickets -- which include rides -- are $17 Friday-Sunday (or $15 if you buy ahead) / under 36 inches in free.

Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra continues its annual season at SPAC (it runs through August 24). This weekend:

+ Friday's concert features violinist Sarah Chang.

+ Saturday's slate includes Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring."

The Track
It's weekend #5 at Saratoga Race Course. Sunday is a giveaway day: a Saratoga baseball hat.

Cirque Eloize
The contemporary circus troupe Cirque Eloize continues its three-week run of "Cirkopolis" at Proctors.

Rensselaerville Festival of Writers
Friday-Sunday: The annual Rensselaerville Festival of Writers includes with a schedule that includes Joan Walsh (Salon), Lizz Winstead (co-creator of the Daily Show), David Rees (humorist/cartoonist), Jan Libby (multimedia storyteller) and others. various times and prices

Inspiration Week
The first Albany Inspiration Week -- "a weeklong celebration featuring local creators of art and film" -- continues this weekend with a "History of Fashion" show on Saturday, and a Capital District Film Fest on Sunday.

$2 Bettors Ball
On Saturday the Saratoga City Center is hosting a "$2 Bettors Ball." The party is open to everyone (everyone over 21) and they'll have dance bands and low priced food and beverages in three ballrooms. The event is a fundraiser for backstretch charities. No formal attire required. Tickets are $10. Saturday 7:30 p.m.

Tour de Coop
The Troy Coalition for Sustainable Urban Living is hosting a Tour de Coop -- a self-guided city-wide tour of backyard chicken coops in Troy -- on Sunday. There are seven locations. It's free, but you have to register when picking up a map at either 384 2nd Street or 63 Mellon Ave (between Hoosick and South Lake Ave). 1-4 pm - free

Theater

Shrek
The Park Playhouse production of Shrek closes this weekend in Albany's Washington Park. It's a kid's production but the performances are terrific and it's lots of fun. It's free if you sit on the hill -- but get there really early (like, four hours early) if you want a good space. Seats up front range from $13 to $22, and would be totally worth the price. Friday-Sunday 8 pm

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

+ Blood Play, Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen's post-war comic thriller, also closes this weekend at WTF.

Berkshire Theater Festival
BTF's production of the Comden and Green musical Peter Pan closes this weekend at The Colonial Theater. Friday 7p.m., Saturday 2p.m. & 7p.m., Sunday 2p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $30

Much Ado About Nothing
Barrington Stage presents a new production of Shakespeare's "merry war," Much Ado About Nothing, this weekend. Friday & Saturday 8p.m., Sunday 5p.m. - $15,$20.

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

Mucca Pazza

Friday-Sunday: The "circus punk marching band" Mucca Pazza will be playing a string of shows at MASS MoCA over the weekend:

When these thirty (30!) ex-band geeks joined forces in 2004, Mucca Pazza began a trip to the outrageous. Adorned with rainbow-colored pom-poms, and protected by hockey helmet-amplifiers, they torment and delight every community bold enough to welcome them in. Combining the spirit of punk rock with the fun of a fireman's parade, Mucca Pazza's impressive musical troupe takes over MASS MoCA's campus, if not the whole town, for a long weekend.

There's a show Friday night, two on Saturday, and two on Sunday. $14 / $8 kids

Music

Friday: Boston Pops, Michael Feinstein and Friends at Tanglewood
"The evening will feature some of the most beloved tunes in the American songbook repertoire." 8:30 pm - $21 and up

Friday: Johnny Rabb & The Tichy Boys at Upbeat on the Roof
Music of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper. 7 pm - free

Friday: Gangstagrass at Helsinki Hudson
Bluegrass hip hop from (where else) Brooklyn. (Really.) One of their songs is the theme song for the TV show Justified. With: Star & Micey. 9 pm - $15

Friday: Aztec Two Step at Caffe Lena
Veteran folk rock band. With: Ernest Troost. 8 pm - $27

Friday:Boxer Brown and New Red Scare at the Albany Public Library
Part of the Garage Bands in the Garage Series at the APL main library on Washington Ave. (The concerts are around back in the garage off Elk Street.) 6-8 pm - free.

Friday: Chelsea Cavanaugh at The Hollow
Teen pop country singer/songwriter from Latham. 8 pm - $10

Saturday: Glen David Andrews at Helsinki Hudson
"A voice and stage presence worthy of Louis Armstrong, updated for the hip-hop era." 9 pm - $22 ahead / $25 day of

Sunday: The Parlor at Valentine's
With: DRGN KING, Hand Habits.

Sunday: Terri White at Helsinki Hudson
Part of the continuing Helsinki on Broadway series. (White has quite a recent backstory.) 7 pm

Sunday: Georgie Wonders Orchestra at Clifton Commons in Clifton Park
Local 18-piece big band playing an outdoor show, music from "Sinatra to Santana." 7 pm - free

Burlesque
Charmed and Dangerous presents nn evening of burlesque and cabaret Saturday night at McGeary's in Albany. Saturday 8 pm - $10 cover

Hudson River School
This is the last week for the Albany Institute's The Making of the Hudson River School exhibit:

The exhibition More than the Eye Beholds examines the American landscape and the making of the Hudson River School through selected topics that bring together significant paintings and drawings from such well-known artists as Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, Asher B. Durand, and others. The works of engravers and photographers, printers and publishers, surveyors and scientists will accompany the Hudson River School paintings and drawings to broaden the historical narrative of America's first school of art.

More than the Eye Beholds includes works from the Albany Institute's collection of Hudson River School paintings and drawings along with works from several private collections that have not been shown before in a public exhibition.

It closes on Sunday.

More museums
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 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.

+ There are only a few weeks left to see the giant robotic dinosaurs at MiSci in Schenectady. While you're there you can check out the planetarium and other exhibits.

+ Art Omi in Ghent has an augmented reality tour of its Fields sculpture park Saturday evening (as mentioned). You'll need an iPhone/iPad or Android device to take part. 5:30 pm - free

Wurst
The German-American Club of Albany is holding its last summer picnic of the year in its Schuetzenpark Biergarten ("the last outdoor Biergarten in the Capital District"), which is just off Fuller Road. German food and drink will be available for purchase. Also: kids activities. Sunday from 1-7 pm - admission $3 per adult, children under 12 free.

Swimming
It should warm up enough for a little swimming this weekend. Here's a list of public pools and beaches.

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
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.

The Saratoga Race Course, Albany Institute, MiSci, and APL advertise on AOA.