All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

August is waning. Only two weekends left. Make it count!

After the jump, our list of stuff we thought might be interesting this weekend.

Now it's your turn.

If you're doing something that's not on the list, drop it in the comments so the rest of us can check it out.

And whatever your up to, have a fantastic weekend!

Travers
Saturday is the Travers Stakes, the the biggest race of the season (it was first run at Saratoga in 1864). The Track will be packed with what could be its biggest crowd of the season.

Friday evening there's a Travers eve party on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs.

Orchestra
This is the last weekend of the Philadelphia Orchestra's run at SPAC this season:
+ Friday: The orchestra will be playing music from Fantasia along with selected clips from the film.
+ Saturday: The Tchaikovsky Spectacular

Fairs

Washington County
County fair season continues with the the Washington County Fair at the fairgrounds in Greenwich -- today through Sunday. It includes the usual fair fare: rides, music, ag demonstrations, pig races, a demolition derby.

Dutchess
Also this weekend: The Dutchess County Fair, Friday-Sunday, at the fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. It's a bit farther away, but we hear it's worth the drive.

Theater

Gypsy
Gypsy is at the Mac Haydn this weekend. Sing out, Louise. Friday at 8p.m, Saturday at 4 pm and 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm and 7 pm - $12-$30.

Young Frankenstein
The Theater Barn in New Lebanon presents the musical version of Mel Brooks' classic comedy Young Frankenstein. Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 4 pm and 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm $22/$24.

Spring Awakening
The Troy Acting Guild presents Spring Awakening. Friday-Sunday 7 pm

Much Ado About Nothing
The Barrington Stage production of Much Ado About Nothing closes this weekend. Friday & Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 5 pm - $15,$20.

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

Coffee and comedy
The Hudson River Coffee House presents six of the best local stand up comics. Hosted by Vernon Payne. Friday 8:30 pm - $5

Cirque
The contemporary circus troup Cirque Éloize closes its "Cirkopolis" show Saturday at Proctors.

Cult classic
Friday: C. Amanda Boutahorse's Cult Classics burlesque series returns to the Hangar in Troy with a tribute to Monty Python & The Holy Grail. 9 pm - $10

Movies

Space Beyond the Pines
Saturday at Proctors: Space Beyond the Pines, an all-day sci-fi movie marathon organized by It Came From Schenectady. The lineup includes some cheese (Starcrash), but also some solid old-school stuff (Brazil) and newer under-the-radar offerings (Serenity, Attack the Block). There will also be games and prizes. The films are being shown in two blocks -- it's $15 per block, or $25 for the whole slate.

And don't call me Shirley...
Saturday: MASS MoCA is screening the 1980s comedy Airplane -- at the North Adams' Harriman-West airport. Gates will open at 6:30, food and beverages will be available. $14 per car or $7 adults / $3 kids under 12.

Frankly, my dear...
The Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls is screening Gone With The Wind with trivia and raffles. Sunday at 2 pm - $5

Music

Friday: Caravan of Thieves at Caffe Lena
"If Django Reinhardt, the cast of Stomp and the Beatles all had a party at Tim Burton's house." With: Clarence Bucaro. 8 pm - $18

Friday: The Blind Owl Band at The Hollow
"Adirondack freight train music." 8 pm - $10

Friday: Nancy Walker Trio at Upbeat on the Roof
Folk. 7 pm - free

Saturday: Film Night at Tanglewood
Annual tradition: John Williams and the Boston Pops playing music from film scores. 8:30 pm - $21 and up

Saturday: Eastbound Jesus at Putnam Den
Northern rock. With: Jamie Kent. 9:30 pm - $10

Saturday: Roosevelt Dime and Darlingside at Caffe Lena
A "see the future" sampler of "steamboat soul" and "string rock." 8 pm - $15

Sunday: Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood
The BSO closes its season at Tanglewood with Beethoven's symphony No. 9. (You know it -- it's that symphony.) 2:30 pm - $20 and up

Sunday: The Luke Bryan show at SPAC is sold out.

ValleyCats baseball
The Tri-City ValleyCats are at home all weekend, with games against the Staten Island Yankees. Friday and Saturday night at 7 pm, and Sunday at 5 pm

Corn Maze
Yep, corn maze season has started. The giant maze at Fort Ticonderoga is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Free with admission to the fort.

International Iron Pour
The Salem Art Works is inviting the public to an iron pour where you can watch artists from around the world work in cast iron using the SAW furnace. You'll also have a chance to cast a piece of your own. Saturday 10 am to 10 pm - free

Museums
Here are a few things you can see right now in area museums:

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

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

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

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

Robotic Dinosaurs
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
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

Jewels of the Sea
Maybe you can't make it to the sea this summer, but Discovery Hall in Troy has an exhibit of "more than 1000 seashells and creatures of the sea." Saturday 10 am-4 pm, Sunday noon-4 pm - $2 adults / kids 12 and older $1 / 11 and under free

Open Cockpit Day
Every Saturday and Sunday in August is open cockpit day at the Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Glenville -- visitors can sit at the controls of military aircraft.

Arts & Crafts Festival
Saturday: The Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction hosts its 10th annual Arts and Crafts Fair on the banks of the Mohawk River. 10 am to 4 pm - $4, $3. Seniors & children, $10.00 a carload.

Hike
The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy is hosting a public hike on Saturday at the Normans Kill West Preserve -- with free ice cream. Meet at the traffic light across from the Delaware Plaza in Delmar, turn north onto Normans Kill Blvd. Preserve is at the end of the road. Saturday 10 am-noon - free

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

Farmers' markets
It's the best time of year to take a trip to one of the local farmers' markets. Now is the time to get your tomatoes and a whole bunch of other great veggies. Markets are open 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, Mop & Bucket Company, MiSci, and Live Nation advertise on AOA. AOA is a media sponsor for The ValleyCats.

photo courtesy of NYRA