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 (theme week), to Capital Pride, to the Saratoga Arts Festival, to people habitat, to Alive at Five, to the first pitch, to the River Street Festival, to all sorts of music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Cloudy, maybe a thunderstorm. High 70s.

Tuesday: Repeat.

Wednesday: And again.

Thursday: And so on, with a bit more chance of rain.

Friday: The same, but showers and thunderstorms are "likely."

Weekend: Sunny and low 80s.

It's like there's a theme week.

Capital Pride

Monday-Saturday: Capital Pride week continues with events all this week. The big pride parade and festival in Washington park are this Saturday.

Saratoga Arts Festival

Wednesday-Sunday: The annual Saratoga Arts Festival returns with a bunch of events at venues all around Saratoga Springs. Just a few of the highlights:
+ The Martha Graham Dance Company will be performing at SPAC on Thursday.
+ Duncan Sheik will be playing a show at the Zankel Center at Skidmore on Friday.
+ Russell Banks will be doing an author talk at Northshire Bookstore on Saturday.

Some events are free, others required the festival pass ($40), and other require tickets (the festival pass gets you a discount).

Arts and sciences

"People habitat"
Wednesday: Kaid Benfield -- special counsel for urban solutions at the Natural Resources Defense Council, author of People Habitat -- will be at the University Club in Albany to talk about ways to think about "greener, healthier cities." The event is the annual meeting of the Albany Roundtable, and will also involve a cocktail hour and the presentation of the Good Patroon Award to Jack McEneny.

The creative process
Wednesday: A handful of people from the the arts, science, technology, and business will be at the Arts Center of the Capital Region for a discussion about the creative process. On the panel: Michael Eck (musician, artist, and writer), Marion Roach Smith (writer, teacher), Chet Opalka (scientist, inventor), David Alan Miller (music director, Albany Symphony Orchestra), Bob Bownes (vice president Tech Valley Center of Gravity, entrepreneur, inventor), Mary Simoni (dean, School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, RPI). Wednesday 7 pm - free

Play Me I'm Yours
Friday: This year's Sculpture in the Streets display in downtown Albany -- "Play Me I'm Yours" -- officially opens. The exhibit, in which local artists decorate pianos, is part of an ongoing international series. The Albany Downtown BID is hosting a garden party downtown Friday to celebrate the new display -- 5:30 pm Federal Plaza, $60 / $40 under 30.

Alive at Five

Thursday: Albany's Alive at Five series starts with indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums, and openers The Features. As usual, the shows are at Jennings Landing at the Corning Preserve. (The rain location is the Corning Preserve boat launch.) Thursday 5 pm - free

Play ball!

Friday: The Tri-City ValleyCats minor league baseball team open its season at The Joe with a game against the Connecticut Tigers. And there will be fireworks after the game. Friday 7 pm - $5.50 and up

Looking ahead to the weekend...

The River Street Festival returns to downtown Troy on Saturday.

Music

Monday: Glen David Andrews at Bootlegger's on Broadway
"[J]azzy, horn-laced New Orleans funk and soul." 7:30 pm - $15

Tuesday: Ringo Starr at The Palace
And his All Starr Band. 8 pm - $62 and up

Wednesday: Kellie Pickler at the Empire State Plaza
Country singer, American Idol alum. With: Skeeter Creek, Sam Grow. 5 pm - free

Wednesday: Patty Griffin at The Egg
Grammy-winning folk rock singer/songwriter. With: Parker Millsap 7:30 pm - $35

Thursday: The Features at The Hollow
After appearing at Alive at Five. 7 pm - $10 ahead / $12 day of

Thursday: Diane Schuur at The Egg
Grammy-winning Jazz singer and pianist. 7:30 pm - $28

Thursday: Max Creek at Putnam Den
Longtime rock band. With: Black Mountain Symphony, HP Trio. 9 pm - $15 ahead / $18 day of

Thursday: Bell's Roar at The Low Beat
Songwriter and vocalist Sean Desiree. With: Paleman, Wildecrest, Dancealisadance. 7 pm

Thursday: Turkuaz at Helsinki Hudson
"Nine-piece power-funk group." 8 pm - $12 ahead / $15 day of

Friday: The Chronicles at the Tang Museum
The first Upbeat on the Roof show of the season. 7 pm - free

Friday: Wild Adriatic at The Hollow
With: Waylon Speed, Rival Galaxies. 8 pm

Friday: Grainbelt at Caffe Lena
Local "Beer Battered Twang & Roll." 8 pm - $14

Saturday: Journey and Steve Miller Band at SPAC
Don't stop believin' that they're touring together. With: Tower of Power. 6:45 pm - $36 and up

Saturday: Melissa Etheridge at The Egg
A solo acoustic show. 8 pm - $59.50 and up

Saturday: Million Dollar Quartet at The Palace
Musical based on a recording session with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. 8 pm - $35 and up

Saturday: Wreckless Eric at The Low Beat
New wave original. With: Erin Powers. 8 pm - $10

Saturday: Eric Andersen at Caffe Lena
Folk singer/songwriter. 7 pm - $28

Sunday: Goo Goo Dolls and Daughtry at SPAC
A boy named Daughtry? With: Plain White T's. 6:45 pm - $27 and up

To do list

1. Father's Day is this Sunday.

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These are a just a few things for this week, not a comprehensive list. Know of something people should be looking forward to this week? Please share!

Live Nation, NYS OGS, the City of Albany Office of Special Events, and the Arts Center advertise on AOA.

photo: Fitz and The Tantrums via Elektra Records