All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Hello summer! You're looking lovely this weekend. Sunshine mixed with a few clouds and temperatures approaching 80 are very becoming on you.

If you don't have plans for this first weekend of summer, you need to get some. After the jump is a good place to start. We've compiled a few things that might interest you -- from hot air balloons to soap box derbies to drive-in movies.

Doing something you don't see here? Drop it in the comments so the rest of us an see. And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend!

Saratoga Balloon & Craft Festival
Friday-Sunday: A weekend of hot air balloons, crafts, and kids activities at the Saratoga Balloon & Craft Festival. Friday Noon to 7pm, Saturday 5:30 am to 8pm, Sunday 5:30am to 4pm - $10 / 17 and under free

Soap Box Derby
Saturday-Sunday: The Capital District All American Soap Box Derby returns to Albany this weekend. Contestants between the ages of 7 and 19 will race soap box cars they designed and built. The derby will be held on Madison Avenue between S. Swan and Eagle Streets. The races are on Saturday and Sunday, and there will be some parking and traffic restrictions in place. Races start at 9 am.

Juneteenth
Sunday: Albany celebrates Juneteenth, a commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the United States, in Washington Park with music, street theater, puppet shows, kids activities, food and drink. Sunday 1-6 pm - free admission

World Cup
Looking for a place to watch the World Cup action this weekend? Here area few ideas. The US team plays Portugal at 6 pm Sunday.

Strawberries
Strawberry season has arrived in the Capital Region, here are some places to pick your own. (Then eat them.)

Burlesque

C. Amanda Boutahorse's Cult Classics
Friday: The burlesque series C. Amanda Boutahorse's Cult Classics will be celebrating its one-year anniversary at The Hangar in Troy with "SpinalTits" -- yep, a tribute to This is Spinal Tap. Friday 9 pm - $15

U.S.S. Corning Revue
Saturday: Roxi Tarts 1920's burlesque revue will be performing on the airship U.S.S. Corning (AKA, the Corning Tower observation deck). Food by Mazzone Hospitality and performances by local and NYC burlesque artists. Doors open at 7:30, showtime at 9 pm - $60 cash only at the door (21+), reservations required 471-1920

Music

Friday: Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers and Edie Brickell at The Palace
Martin -- yep, that Steve Martin -- and Brickell won a Grammy for best American roots song (and were nominated for best Americana album). 8 pm - $39.50 and up

Saturday: Phila Street Block Party
Phila Street, as in downtown Saratoga Springs. With a lineup of good locals: Bryan Thomas, Dan Johnson and the Expert Sidemen, Holly & Evan, and Rebel Darling. noon-5 pm - free admission

Saturday: Fishbone at Putnam Den
Alt rock from way back. With: Banooba, Eli Hargrave. 8:30 pm - $12 ahead / $15 day of

Sunday: Iron & Wine at MASS MoCA
AKA Sam Beam. With: The Secret Sisters. 6 pm - $29 ahead / $35 day of

Sunday: Snowmine at The Low Beat
Ambient rock. With: Titanics. 8 pm - $10

Carillon Concert Series
Sunday: If you're in downtown Albany on Sunday afternoon, you can catch a carillon concert in the parks near City Hall. Sunday from 1-2 pm - free

Comedy and theater

MopCo season finale
Friday: Alf Pacino, a long-form comedy improv group from The Mop & Bucket Company -- is playing the last improv show of the season tonight at Proctors. It's like good improvised jazz -- creating scene after scene of variations on a theme provided by the audience. And it's pretty funny stuff. Friday at 8pm - $14, $6 students

Improv Jam
Saturday: The Mop & Bucket Company is hosting an improv jam. For $5 you can watch some fun improv or play with the company. Saturday at 8 pm at MopCo World Headquarters, otherwise known as 309 Union Street in Schenectady

Fiddler on the Roof
The Mac Haydn Theater has opened its production of the nine-time Tony-winning musical, Fiddler on the Roof.

Film

Goonies
The Bow Tie in Saratoga Spring is showing Goonies this weekend for both the Saturday/Sunday morning Cine Classic feature (11 am) and the Friday and Saturday night Insomnia Theater feature (11:30 pm).

Drive-ins
Malta: Screen 1 - 22 Jump Street, A Million Ways to Die / Screen 2 - How to Train Your Dragon 2, The Fault in Our Stars
Hollywood: How to Train Your Dragon 2, The Fault in Our Stars
Jericho: How to Train Your Dragon 2, Blended

Under the Skin
Friday and Saturday: The Saratoga Film Forum is screening the sci/fi horror film Under the Skin, which stars Scarlett Johansson and is based on a book "about an alien hijacking a human body, traveling the Scottish countryside, and preying on hitchhikers." Friday and Sunday at 7:30pm

The Future
Saturday: The Saratoga Film Forum hosts another Town & Gown Movie night on Saturday at Skidmore College. This month's film is The Future. Written by one time Yaddo resident Miranda July, the film is the story of a couple whose lives change when they adopt an injured cat. Saturday 7:30 pm

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Sunday: The Spectrum is screening a filmed version of the theatrical adaptation of Mark Haddon's award winning novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. Sunday at noon

Controversial objects, controversial history
Saturday: The Rensselaer County Historical Society's Thomas Phelan Endowed Lecture Series this year takes up the topic of controversial historical objects. Saturday morning's talk will feature directors from the Mattatuck Museum in Connecticut and the Cooperstown Graduate Program (which trains museum professionals). Saturday 10 am, Sage campus, Bush Memorial - free

"I Am Having So Much Fun Without You"
Saturday: Courtney Maum -- author of the recently published novel I Am Having So Much Fun Without You (review)-- will be at the Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs. The book, a comedy about an artist trying to put his marriage back together in Paris, has been getting a bit of attention in summer book previews (example). Saturday 7 pm - free

Museums

Edward Hopper
The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls has just opened two new exhibits, Emerging from the Shadows: Edward Hopper and His Contemporaries and Larry Kagan: Lying Shadows. "Though separated by some nine decades, Edward Hopper (1882-1967) and Larry Kagan (b. 1946) engage in the aesthetic of shadows and their primacy in representation.

It's Only Human
The Mass MoCA Kidspace just opened It's Only Human, an exhibit that examines the human figure from the inside, using "an unexpected and often unfamiliar perspective apart from the medical and scientific world."

Small + Seductive
The Albany Institute of History and Art continues its Small + Seductive exhibit, featuring contemporary art from the Institute's collection.

Grossology
miSci's Grossology exhibit continues this weekend. Digestion, organs, and stinky gunk to play with, including interactive games and larger-than-life exhibits about the science of the human body. Saturday 9 am-5 pm and Sunday noon-5 pm

Canal Walking Tour
Take a one hour guided walking tour of the Waterford Canal. The tour meets at the Waterford Harbor Visitor Center on Sunday at the Waterford Farmer's Market.

Food

Cooking for Couples
Friday: Gio Culinary Studio is hosting a hands-on cooking basics class for couples. "Student couples will learn to prepare a full dinner while working together, using professional and classic techniques that are easily duplicated at home." Friday 6:15 pm - $110

Honest Weight anniversary celebration
Saturday: The Honest Weight Food Co-op celebrates the first anniversary of its new home with a day of entertainment, kids activities, grilling demonstrations, vendor samples and more. Saturday 10 am-4 pm

Victoria Pool
The lovely Victoria Pool at Spa State Park is open for the season. It will be open weekends 10 am to 6 pm until June 28 when it opens seven days a week for the rest of the summer. $8 adults / $4 kids and seniors / kids under 5 free

Beaches
The beaches at Moreau Lake State Park, Thompson's Lake at Thacher State Park, and Grafton Lakes State Park are open for the season.

Here's more on Moreau Lake.

Farmers' Markets
Outdoor farmers' markets are open for the season:
+ The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market will be on River Street in downtown Troy Saturday morning. The twilight market will also be open Friday from 6-9 pm at Broadway and 2nd.
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market is at the High Rock Park pavilions on Saturday.
+ The Delmar Farmers Market is at Bethlehem Central Middle School 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.

The Mop & Bucket Company, miSci, and Honest Weight advertise on AOA.

screengrab: Steve Martin YouTube