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 (gets better), to the homestretch, to animation, to fairs, to Wait Wait, to Scotland, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Cloudy, thunderstorms later in the day. Highs in the low 80s.

Tuesday: Cloudy then sunny, mid 80s.

Wednesday: Cloudy, maybe thunderstorms in the evening, low 80s.

Thursday: Sunny and 82.

Friday: Sunny and 81.

Weekend: Sunny and low 80s.

Gets better as it goes along.

The end of summer

This is it. Labor Day is next Monday. Summer is almost over. So don't hold back on all those things you've been planning: go for the swim, shop the farmers' market, eat the tomatoes and the corn on the cob, duck out of the office early, watch the sunset.

Because before you know it, the leaves will be changing. And fall's a great time around this area -- but it's not summer.

School's back in session

UAlbany, St. Rose, RPI, the Sage Colleges, and HVCC start their fall semesters on Monday. (Siena and Skidmore start September 3, Union on September 11.)

Down the stretch they come

This is the last week of the season at the Saratoga Race Course. And if you've been holding out because of the crowds (or whatever), it's not a bad time to go -- the last week tends to be a bit more low key.

There's racing every day this week through Labor Day (except Tuesday, of course). Wednesday is Veterans Day -- free grandstand admission for all United States active duty military and veterans with military ID. Sunday is gate giveaway day: a Saratoga Race Course beer stein.

Animation Festival

The annual animation festival at Proctors runs Monday-Saturday in the GE Theater. The festival slate includes more than 20 animated films. There's a broad range of material -- from old-school kids stuff (Lady and the Tramp) to new-school kids stuff (Frankenweenie) to adult fare (Cowboy Bebop) to modern classics (WALL-E).

And the festival really packs in the screenings -- films will be shown pretty much all day throughout the week, so each film gets multiple showings. Individual-screening tickets are $5 (17 and under $3). A festival pass is $25.

Fairs

County fair season wraps up this week with three fairs around the area:

+ The Fonda Fair at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Tuesday through Labor Day.

+ The Columbia County Fair in Chatham, Wednesday through Labor Day. (There's a cupcake competition on Labor Day -- open to professionals and home bakers -- and the Food Network is apparently going to be there to film.)

+ The Schaghticoke Fair in (surprise) Schaghticoke, Wednesday through Labor Day.

Open air cinema

Wednesday: There's another outdoor movie lined up for the Empire State Plaza -- the animated Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. State Museum end of the plaza, 8 pm - free

Wait, Wait...

The NPR quiz show Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me will be recording at Tanglewood Thursday evening.

The idea of an "NPR quiz show" might sound something less than thrilling, like someone trying to argue that a bowl of oatmeal is entertaining (maybe steel cut...). But Wait, Wait is actually funny and entertaining. The host Peter Sagal is quick, the panelists are usually good, and the show has a way of turning up unexpectedly funny moments. (We still smile when thinking about the time a listener contestant picked the word "spork" instead of "fork" in a limerick challenge. Yep, it sounds unbearably public radio -- but it was really funny.)

show's at 8 pm - tickets start at $21 (we suspect this will be popular)

Scotland!

The Capital District Scottish Games are back at the Altamont Fairgrounds this weekend. You know you want to see some cabers tossed. tickets are $22 Saturday ($18 ahead) / $12 Sunday ($10 ahead) (save a buck on both by buying ahead at Price Chopper)

Music

Wednesday: Allman Brothers Band with Steve Winwood at SPAC
Pretty much the definition of classic rock. 6:30 pm - $29.50 and up

Wednesday: Jim Kweskin Jug Band at The Egg
Folk act from the 60s, celebrating its 50th anniversary. (Though one member apparently disappeared after running a commune.) 7:30 pm - $34.50

Wednesday: Almost Queen at Rockin' on the River
Can you guess to which act this is a tribute? Last Rockin' of the season. 5 pm - free

Friday: John Mayer at SPAC
From NY Mag: "How to unhate John Mayer." With: Philip Phillips (the guy from American Idol). 7:30 pm - $48.50 and up

Friday: Lyle and Phil Divinsky at Upbeat on the Roof
Soul/R&B. Last Upbeat of the season. 7 pm - free

Saturday: Zac Brown Band at SPAC
Popular country act. 7 pm - $40 and up

Saturday: Harry Connick, Jr at Tanglewood
Promoting a new album of original songs. 7 pm - $29.50 and up

Saturday: Sandra Bernhard at Helsinki Hudson
Doing her thing -- comedy, singing, and so on. With: Musty Chiffon. 9 pm - $55

Saturday: Hamell on Trial at Valentine's
One man storytelling, comedy, punk music show. 7 pm

Saturday: Miss Tess and the Talkbacks at Caffe Lena
Americana through a '40s and '50s aesthetic. With: Thomas Bryan Eaton. 8 pm - $16

Sunday: Boston Pops at Tanglewood
Season-ending matinee concert featuring vocalist Patti Austin in a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. 2:30 pm - $21 and up
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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!

The Saratoga Race Course and Live Nation advertise on AOA.

photo: Tony Nagelmann / NPR