All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

AOA is taking a little time off to celebrate the Fourth of July. But we wouldn't leave without stuff to do for this holiday weekend. From fireworks, parades and baseball games, to Phish and Sir Paul, there's a whole picnic table buffet of summer fun in the Capital Region his weekend, so go out and and get yourself a heaping helping of it -- with berries and fresh whipped cream on the side.

Doing something you don't see on our list? It's your patriotic duty to share it with your fellow Capital Region Americans in the comment section. (OK, duty is stretching it a little, but it'd be nice if you did.)

And whatever you're up to, have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

Fourth of July

Empire State Plaza 4th of July Celebration
The annual fireworks display is at the Empire State Plaza on July 4. The festival leading up to the display includes a string of musical acts headlined by Felix Cavaliere's Rascals. The fireworks go off at 9:15 pm.

Saratoga's All-American Celebration
Saratoga Spring's 4th of July Celebration runs from Thursday through Saturday and includes a race, a parade, a party in Congress Park, fireworks, music and activities all over the city. Here's the full schedule of events. Fireworks are Friday at about 9:30 pm.

Clifton Common July 4th Celebration
Clifton Park's 4th of July celebration at Clifton Commons includes a parade, music by Sirsy, food and fireworks at dusk.

Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site on Catherine Street in Albany is hosting a 4th of July Celebration with tours, 18th century style games and performances, and ice cream. 11am to 4pm. (tours from 1pm to 4pm) - $3 per person

More fireworks
Here's our list of some of the other fireworks displays this weekend.

USS Slater
The USS Slater has just returned to Albany after some recent repair work. The WWII destroyer escort opens for tours beginning July 4. (More about the Slater.) Tours are offered from 10am to 4pm.

Baseball

ValleyCats Baseball
The ValleyCats are at home this weekend with games on the 4th (6:30 pm) and 5th (7 pm) followed by fireworks. There's also a game on Sunday, July 6 (5 pm).

Vintage Baseball game
Bethlehem's annual Vintage Baseball Game is this weekend. The game will be played at Elm Avenue Park in Delmar under the 1864 rules with vintage uniforms. Friday 1 pm

Theater

Williamstown
The Williamstown Theatre Festival is underway with a production of the Ring Lardner and George S. Kaufman play June Moon, which stars Nate Corddry as Fred. Many of the WTF shows and events sell out, so if you're interested in going, it's probably better to get tickets sooner rather than later.

Berkshire Theater Festival
The Berkshire Theater Festival just opened productions of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music ("Send in the Clowns") and The Mystery of Irma Vep: A Penny Dreadful, a Gothic spoof in which two actors play eight characters.

Hands on a Hardbody
Park Playhouse presents "Hands on a Hardbody" in Albany's Washington Park. The musical, with a score by Trey Anastasio, revolves around a hands-on competition to win a pick up truck. The cast includes WNYT's Benita Zahn and Capital Region diva Molly McGrath, who played The Lady of the Lake in last season's Spamalot at Park Playhouse. Thursday through Sunday, 8pm.

42nd Street
A production of 42nd Street opens at the Mac Haydn this weekend. This dance-heavy musical based on the book and film tells a story of Broadway during the height of the Depression.

The Clark
Friday: The much-anticipated expansion of The Clark Art Institute makes its public debut on July 4. (The Clark is in Williamstown, about an hour's drive from Albany.)

Two Truths and a Lie
Saturday: A troupe of Brooklyn storytellers brings the old "Two Truths and a Lie" parlor game to the MASS MoCA stage for "an evening of American history-themed tall tales and torqued realities." Saturday 8 pm - $20

Film

Movie at the airport
Sunday: MASS MoCA is showing Apollo 13, under the stars tonight at the Harriman-West Airport in North Adams. (It had been planned for Thursday night but they changed it because of the weather forecast.) Sunday 8:30 pm - $14 per car / $7 adults / $3 kids 16 and under

Gene Hackman festival
The Madison Theater in Albany celebrates Gene Hackman this weekend with screenings of Hoosiers, Superman and The French Connection.

Bow tie
+ The Bow Tie Cine Classic in downtown Saratoga Springs this Saturday and Sunday morning at 11 is Butch Cassidy and & The Sundance Kid.

+ The Insomnia Theater selection at Saratoga Springs Bow Tie this Friday and Saturday night at 11 pm: The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Henry IV Part 2
Sunday: The Spectrum is screening the Shakespeare Global Cinema Series film of the Royal Shakespeare Company's recent stage production of Henry IV Part 2. Sunday at noon

Drive ins
+ Jericho: Transformers / 22 Jump Street
+ Hollywood: Transformers / 22 Jump Street
+ Malta: Screen 1 - Transformers / 22 Jump Street | Screen 2 - Tammy / Jersey boys

Phish
Thursday-Saturday: Phish will be at SPAC for three nights of shows. And, of course, that means big crowds in and around Saratoga Springs. 7:30 pm each night - $60 / $45 lawn

Music

Thursday: The Firs at The Low Beat
With: Attic Basement, Hand Habits. 8 pm

Thursday-Friday: The James Taylor shows at Tanglewood are sold out.

Friday: Built4BBQ's Star Spangled Bonanza at The Low Beat and Pauly's
One corner, two clubs, eight acts. 7 pm - $7

Saturday: Paul McCartney at the TU Center
It's been 50 years since The Beatles were on Ed Sullivan. 8 pm - $29.50 and up

Saturday: BSO opening night at Tanglewood
Featuring star soprano Renee Fleming. 8:30 pm - $21 and up

Saturday: Locos Por Juana at Helsinki Hudson
Grammy-winning Latin rock. 9 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

Saturday: Harpeth Rising at Caffe Lena
Americana string band. 8 pm - $16

Sunday: Yes at The Egg
An affirmative, a one-word answer, a band. With: Syd Arthur. 8 pm - $69.75 and up

Swimming
A bunch of Capital Region pools and beaches are open for the season. Here's a collection of public pools around the area.

4th of July Sculpture Contest
This could be fun: Grafton Lakes State Park is hosting a 4th of July sand sculpture contest at Long Pond Beach. Registration at noon, judging at 3pm.

Strawberries
Strawberry season won't be here for a whole lot longer. There are a bunch of places around the Capital Region to pick your own. (Or, buy them from the farm stand.)

World Cup
The World Cup continues this week on Friday and Saturday, without the US. (One last cheer for the USMNT.) Here are a few good places to catch the games.

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 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.

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