All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

You know those lazy weekends when there's not a lot to do? Yeahhh... this isn't one of them.

Our list of stuff you might want to try is after the jump. Unpack a fall sweater and pick one or two.

Got something planned that you don't see here? Drop it in the comment section so the rest of us can see.

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

1st Friday
Shops and galleries in Albany are open late for 1st Friday tonight. Here's something you'll want to catch -- either at tonight's 1st Friday opening or later this month: "An Armory Show" -- Ken Ragsdale and Michael Oatman at The Opalka Gallery at Sage:

Using salvaged materials from the New Scotland Avenue Armory for inspiration, the artists developed an installation/exhibition that pays homage to the International Exhibition of Modern Art, a.k.a. The 1913 Armory Show; the notorious exhibition held at the Lexington Avenue Armory in New York City that brought modern art to America.

Also tonight:
+ Albany Center Gallery's: Output Graphic Design Regional
+ Upstate Artists Guild's "Seven Year Kitsch" show with kitsch-inspired art.
+ Albany Barn's Stage One: annual Summer in the City youth show.

Afterward there's the Capital Swing Dance, and a multimedia performance at Upstate Artists Guild.

Restoration Festival
The Restoration Festival returns Friday and Saturday at a new location -- the Contemporary Artists Center at Woodside in Troy. The festival includes two days of music on two stages. The headliner this year is Man Man -- they play Saturday night. But don't sleep on Friday night, which includes a bunch of good locals.

Tickets are $32.50 for both days / $15 Friday only / $27.50 Saturday only.

Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival
Saturday: The annual Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival is lined up at Jennings Landing in the Corning Preserve. The slate includes six acts, including: Sensemaya, Arch Stanton Quartet, Charlie Hunter, Oleta Adams, and Foreworks. Music starts at 1 pm -- it's free.

Friday: The night before in downtown Albany jazz acts will be competing for a spot in the Saturday lineup. Ten acts will be playing at venues in the State/Pearl/Broadway part of the downtown from 5-9 pm.

Saratoga Food and Wine Festival
The annual Saratoga Food and Wine Festival is Friday-Sunday at SPAC. The headlining "personalities" this year: funny person/TV host Mo Rocca, chef Zak Pellacio (Food & Game in Hudson, and spots in NYC), wine expert Kevin Zraly. They'll be appearing at various events throughout the festival.

The festival includes a bunch of different events, some of which require different tickets. But the big event of the festival for most people is the grand tasting on Saturday -- tickets are $85. (And if you'd like to partake of the wine and not have to worry about driving, The Giddy Up will be offering rides between Albany/Clifton Park and Saratoga for $25.)

TugBoat Roundup
The tugboats will assemble along the Waterford waterfront this weekend for the annual Tugboat Roundup. The boats will be on display along with music, family-friendly fun like face painting and pony rides. Admission is free. (There will be some tour rides on boats for a fee.) It starts with a tugboat parade from Albany to Waterford on Friday at 2:45 pm. Friday festivities until 8 pm, Saturday starts at 9 am and ends with a fireworks show at dusk. Sunday 9 am to 4 pm.

Washington County Cheese Tour
The annual Washington County Cheese Tour is this Saturday and Sunday. The self-guided tour has stops at six active farms around the county, where cheese makers will be offering free samples and talking about the farms (there will also be cheese for sale). Tim checked out the tour a few years back (and found his "cheesy bliss). Saturday and Sunday 10 am - 4 pm.

Altamont Craft Beer Fest
The Altamont Craft Beer Fest is this Saturday at the Altamont Fairgrounds. Music, food and over 40 craft breweries represented. Saturday 2 pm to 8 pm - $45 at the door, $35 online pre-sale

Stockade Art Show
The annual Schenectady Stockade Art Show is this weekend, with over 100 artists from around the Northeast. You can take in the art, and the historic neighborhood. And it's right near St. George's Greek Festival (mentioned below) -- so, you know, lunch. Saturday 10 am to 4 pm

Festivals

Little Italy
Schenectady's annual Little Italy Street Festival is Saturday along North Jay Street in Little Italy. Italian bakeries, restaurants and shops will be set up for the day with pastry spumoni and all kinds of other deliciousness. Saturday noon to 9 pm

St. George Greek Festival
Also in Schenectady this weekend: the annual St George's Greek Festival -- three days of homemade Greek food and pastry, Greek music, folk dances, arts, crafts and raffles. Friday and Saturday 11 am to 11 pm, Sunday noon to 5pm

Taste of Hudson
Dozens of Hudson restaurants will be set up on Warren Street Saturday offering tastes of some of their specialties as part of Taste of Hudson. Some of the offerings start as low as $2 and $3. Saturday 11 am to 2 pm

ValleyCats post-season baseball
The Tri-City ValleyCats are in the playoffs. There's a home game on Saturday at 7 pm and, if they win, there will be a game on Sunday at 5 pm.

Soccer
The US Men's National Soccer Team is playing a qualifier for the World Cup Friday night at Costa Rica (kickoff 10 pm). Because it's an away game, the match will be shown on the beIN Sport -- a channel most people do not get. If you're looking for a place to catch the game, you can bet Wolff's will be jammed with fans -- including the Albany chapter of the American Outlaws.

Theater

One Slight Hitch
Curtain Call Theater opens a production of Lewis Black's One Slight Hitch this weekend. It's a comedy about a family and a wedding day gone wrong. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm - $23

Big Maggie
Albany Civic Theater this weekend continues its production of Big Maggie, the story of an Irish widow and her efforts to control the lives of her children. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 3 pm - $15, students and government employees can get two tickets for $15 with a valid ID

Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah
Barrington Stage is winding down its season with the world premiere of Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah: "In 1937, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, famous authors and frenemies, meet in Hollywood at the notorious Garden of Allah apartment complex. A humorous and heated exchange ensues about the cost of love, friendship and the price of being a writer." Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday 4pm & 7:30 pm, Sunday 3 pm - $40 and up.

Music

Friday: David Wax Museum at The Linda
On display at the David Wax Museum: "Mexo-Americana." With: Cuddle Magic. 8 pm - $18

Friday: Crystal Bowersox at Helsinki Hudson
American Idol runner up. With: Emily Elbert. 9 pm - $25 ahead / $30 day of

Friday: Anthony Fallacaro at The Hollow
Roots rock singer/songwriter. With: Holly and Evan. 8 pm - $10

Saturday: Mayer Hawthorne at the Empire State Plaza
Modern soul singer. Part of the New Music Festival that also includes: Graham Tichy, They Mysteios, Superhumanoids, Robert Randolph and the Family Band. music starts at 2 pm / Mayer Hawthorne at 7:45 pm - free

Saturday: Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion at Helsinki Hudson
Folk rock duo. (And they're married. And she's Arlo's daughter.) Their latest album was produced by Jeff Tweedy. They're also playing Sunday night at Caffe Lena. 9 pm - $15 ahead / $18 day of

Saturday: Steve Katz at The Linda
From Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Part of the American Roots and Branches series. Hosted by Michael Eck. 8 pm - $18

Animal Crackers
Skidmore's Animal Crackers is a family-friendly concert that combines music, visual art, spoken word and dance at the Zankel Music Center. Sunday 5-6:30 pm.

Back to School Expo
Robots, experiments and family friendly entertainment at the Empire State Plaza on Saturday at the Back to School Expo. Saturday 10 am to 4 pm - $7 general admission

Apples and cider donuts
Orchards around the Capital Region are starting pick your own season. Check the website of your favorite (or give 'em a call) -- there's a chance they'll be open this weekend (or will be soon).

And one upside to the cold snap: cider donuts! Put on a sweater, pick an orchard and get them while they're still warm. Perhaps the Tours de Cider Donut can inspire your choice.

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. And the corn maze at Samascott's Garden Market in Kinderhook is now open -- 11 am to 5 pm Saturday-Monday, $7 per person (kids under 4 free).

Water gardens
The Brookside Museum is hosting a Saratoga County Water Garden Tour with a look at private and public water gardens and rainwater harvesting, plus a post-tour barbecue. Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm. $12 advance, $15 day of, kids 6- 12 $6, Under 5 are free.

Museums
Three day weekends are the perfect time to take a day and hangout in a museum. Here's what you can see at some of the region's museums right now:

Georgia O'Keeffe
Now is the time to check out The Hyde Collection's exhibit of Georgia O'Keeffe's works from Lake George. It's open through September 15.

Winslow Homer
The Clark's Winslow Homer exhibit closes on Sunday.

Mass MoCA
Xu Bing's Phoenix -- a giant bird made of materials harvested from construction sites in China -- is still on display at
MASS MoCA (it closes near the end of October). You can also check out 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 (the exhibit closes near the end of this month). While you're there you can check out the planetarium and other exhibits.

Cooking competition class
Friday: Gio Culinary Studio in Vorheesville has a mystery basket cooking competition class lined up. The winners get a gift certificate for a free cooking class. Friday 6:15 pm - $75

Farmers' markets
It's the best time of year to take a trip to one of the local farmers' markets. 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).

Ice Cream
For those not yet ready to let go of summer, some of places on the Tour de Soft Serve and the Tour de Hard Ice Cream and the Tour de Gelato are still open.

Live Nation and the Downtown Albany BID advertise on AOA.

photos: David Wax Museum via David Wax Museum website | Mayer Hawthorne: Frankie Batista | Man Man via ANTI- Records