All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Sunday will likely be the best day of this Tulip Festival weekend. We're looking at some rainy but warm weather on Saturday. Tulips are still pretty in the rain.

After the jump, all kinds of things to do this weekend from tiptoeing through the tulips (don't really tiptoe through them -- it's frowned upon) to Canalfest, to theater, to films and outdoor farmers' markets.

Got something planned that doesn't show up here? Let us know about it. And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

Tulip Festival
Albany's annual Tulip Festival is this weekend, with events Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in/around/near Washington Park, including traditions such as street scrubbing and the crowning of the Tulip Queen. And, as usual, there will be music on two stages, both national and local acts.

Drawing Up Central: A Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest
In conjunction with Tulip Fest, the Central Avenue BID is hosting Drawing Up Central, a chalk drawing contest at the intersection of Central Avenue and Lexington Avenue, just around the corner from the tulips. Check out the drawings or enter yourself. Contestants can check in at Equinox, 95 Central Avenue. Saturday 10 am to 2 pm - it's free to enter

Waterford RiverSpark Canal Festival
Tulip Festival isn't the only festival in the Capital Region this weekend. Waterford's annual Canal Festival is going on all weekend with kids events, music, a bounce house, pony rides, vendors and fair food. Saturday 9 am to 6 pm . Free admission.

Hellions of Troy Roller Derby
Saturday: The Hellions first bout of the season is at Rollarama in Schenectady. Saturday 7 pm - $12 / $3 under 12

Mother's Day
Just a reminder: Mother's Day is Sunday.

Theater

The God Game
Friday-Sunday: Capital Rep's production of The God Game continues this weekend. The play by Suzanne Bradbeer is about a US Senator nominated for vice president: "There's just one little hitch: he needs to sound just a bit more Christian. Trouble is, Tom is an agnostic, who thinks religion is a private matter, not to be mingled with public life or politics. His devout Christian wife, Lisa, will stand by her man, as long as he doesn't lie on the campaign trail just to get the job." Cap Rep's production runs through May 25. Friday-Sunday various times - $20 and up

Flashdance
Friday-Sunday: The touring company for the musical stage version of Flashdance -- yep, based on the 80s movie -- will be at Proctors for a six-day run. "With electrifying dance at its core, Flashdance - The Musical tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer." Friday-Sunday various times - $20

Young Frankenstein
Schenectady Light Opera opens a production of Young Frankenstein ("That's Fronkensteen"), based on the film by Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder. Friday night there's an opening night party with food and desserts at no extra cost.Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm - $18, $22 & $28.

Room Service
Schenectady Civic's funny production of the comedy Room Service, based on the old Marx Brothers film, closes this weekend. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30 pm

All My Sons
Albany Civic presents Arthur Miller's All My Sons this weekend. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 3 pm

Of Mice and Men
Hubbard Hall presents Of Mice and Men this weekend -- based on the John Steinbeck novel. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm

Little Shop of Horrors
Cohoes Music Hall presents a kids production of the musical Little Shop of Horrors -- the story of a florist who raises a plant that feeds on human flesh. Last time the kids did Sweeney Todd. We're not drawing any conclusions here. Friday at 8 pm, Saturday 3 pm & 8 pm, Sunday 3 pm.

Pygmalion
Classic Theater Guild in Schenectady presents George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion at the Classic Theater Guild space at 137 State Street in Schenectady. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 2 pm.

Comedy

Maria Bamford
Friday: Comedian Maria Bamford will be at The Egg for a stand-up show. She's appeared on Arrested Development, Louie, and Kroll Show, among many other things. Friday 8pm - $25

Theatersports
Friday: Only two weeks left of Mop & Bucket Company's season of TheaterSports -- in which teams of improvisors compete based on audience suggestions. (Think Whose Line is it Anyway?) Friday at 8pm - $14 / $6 students and seniors.

A Comedy Show
Saturday: Jennifer McMullen, winner of the 2013 Capital Regions Best Comedy Contest, hosts an evening of stand-up by Capital Region and NYC comedians at The Linda. Saturday 8 pm - $15

Film

The Throwaways
Saturday: Filmmakers Bhawin Suchak and Ira McKinley will be at the Sanctuary for Independent Media on Saturday for a screening and discussion of their documentary The Throwaways, the story of McKinley's struggles as a homeless filmmaker in New York City. Saturday 7 pm - $10 suggested / $5 student/low income

Dinosaurs and giant reptiles
The Madison Theater is screening a whole bunch of films about giant reptile-like creatures that terrorize the earth: The original Japanese version of Godzilla, Mothra, Jurassic Park, and The Lost World.

No wire hangers
The Bow Tie in Saratoga celebrates Mother's Day with a screening of a movie that will make just about anyone's mother look good by comparison: Mommie Dearest. Saturday and Sunday 11 am

Fear and Loathing
The late night Insomnia Theater film at The Bow-Tie Saratoga is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. , Terry Gilliam's 1998 film based on the Hunter S. Thompson book. Friday and Saturday at 11:30 pm

Drive-ins
+ Hollywood: Heaven is for Real, The Amazing Spiderman 2
+ Jericho: Rio 2, The Amazing Spiderman 2
+ Malta: The Amazing Spiderman 2, The Other Woman; Neighbors, Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Music

Friday: Sharon Van Etten at Helsinki Hudson
Indie rock singer/songwriter. With: She Keeps Bees. 9 pm - $15 ahead / $20 day of

Friday: Big Data at The Hollow
"Paranoid electronic pop music from the Internet." 8 pm - $10.27 / $15

Friday: Against Me! at Upstate Concert Hall
Punk rock. This band has gotten attention over the last few years because of its singer's publicized struggle with gender dysphoria. With: Tony Molina, Big Eyes. 8 pm - $17.50 ahead / $20 day of

Friday: Terrapin Flyer at Putnam Den
Featuring organist Melvin Seals, "the only person who both performed at Jerry [Garcia]'s wedding and his funeral." 9 pm - $15 ahead / $20 day of

Friday: Steve Katz at Caffe Lena
From Blood, Sweat, and Tears; worked with Lou Reed; got his start on a 1960s Schenectady TV show called Teenage Barn. 8 pm - $20

Friday: John Gorka at Proctors
Folk singer/songwriter. An 8th Step show. With: Mustard's Retreat. 7:30 pm - $26 ahead / $30 day of

Friday: Charlie Watts Riots at The Low Beat
With: Blue Factory. 9 pm

Saturday: Kongos at The Hollow
Alt rock. 8 pm - $15

Saturday: 5 Alpha Beatdown at The Low Beat
John Brodeur's "fake-Icelandic doppelgänger." With: Kimono Dragos, The Pistolwhips. 8 pm

Saturday: Goosepimp Orchestra at Red Square
"It is now feeding time for the funk zombies." With: Squid Parade. 8 pm - $8

Saturday: Session Americana at Caffe Lena
"[R]ock band in a tea cup, or possibly a folk band in a whiskey bottle." 8 pm - $18

Saturday: Cult Rock Film Soundtracks Live at Proctors
"[A] vibrant exploration of the exciting movie music of the '60s, '70s and '80s." Followed by a screening of Suspiria. An It Came From Schenectady event. 7 pm - $9 adults / $6 students

Sunday: Jay Farrar at Helsinki Hudson
From Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt. With: Peter Bruntnell. 8 pm - $20

Sunday: Super Soul Fest Mother's Day R&B Celebration at The Egg
Soul and R&B. 7 pm - $45 and up

Andrew Dawson: The Russian Doctor
Friday: Performance artist Andrew Dawson teams up with a neuroscientist and a medical historian to explore Chekhov's journey across the frozen tundra and his contribution to the field of epidemiology in The Russian Doctor at MASS MoCA. Friday 8 pm - $15 / $10 students

Authors

Robert MacNeil
Friday: Journalist, author and former anchor of the MacNeil/Lehrer Report, Robert MacNeil will be at the Guilderland Public Library to talk about his latest novel. Friday 6:30 pm - free, but tickets are required

The Battle for the Fourteenth Colony
Friday: Author Mark Anderson will be at the Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga to discuss his book The Battle for the Fourteenth Colony, the story of the American colonies' campaign to bring Quebec into the Continental confederation. Friday 7 pm - free

Anne Northup
Saturday: David Fiske -- co-author of Solomon Northup: The Complete Story of the Author of Twelve Years a Slave -- will be at the Schenectady County Historical Society for a talk about Solomon Northup's wife, Anne. "What impact did Northup's kidnapping have on his wife and family? In Solomon's absence, the Northup family became a one-income household. This presentation will describe how his wife, Anne, carried on and saw to the needs of their children." Saturday 2 pm - $5

The Great Fire of Troy
Saturday: Authors Charles Porter and William Skerritt are giving a talk about their research for the book The Great Fire: Troy NY. This year marks the fire's 152nd anniversary. Saturday 11 am - free but reservations are required

Baby Animals
The baby animals at Indian Ladder Farms are now accepting audiences. Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm, $5 for adults, kids free when accompanied by an adult.

Honey & Mead Workshop
Saturday: The Carey Institute For Global Good is hosting another educational event in its Farm-to-Glass Classroom Series, a honey and mead workshop. Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm, $20 admission fee. Reservations are required.

Farmers' markets
It's finally here -- farmers' markets have moved outdoors for the season:
+ The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market will be on River Street in downtown Troy on Saturday.
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market is at the High Rock Park pavilions on Saturday.
+ The Schenectady Greenmarket is around Schenectady City on Sunday.
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market will be on the front lawn of the Lincoln Baths Sunday.

Capital Rep and Proctors advertise on AOA. And AOA is a media sponsor of Drawing Up Central and the Hellions.