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 (very July), to The Track, to the Saratoga County Fair, to theater, to words, to all sorts of music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Sunny and upper 80s.

Tuesday: Again.

Wednesday: Again, but warmer, near 90. Maybe a thunderstorm in the afternoon.

Thursday: Sun, maybe a shower. 80.

Friday: Sunny and 81.

Weekend: Sunny, mid 80s.

Very July.

The Track

It's the first full week of the season at the Saratoga Race Course. Among the things going on this week: Friday is College Day -- in years past, that's meant free grandstand admission with college ID. Also Friday: the first of a Friday series of craft beer and cider tastings. And Sunday's is a gate giveaway day, a Saratoga pilsner glass. (As you know, there is no racing on Tuesday.)

Saratoga County Fair

Tuesday: County fair season starts with the Saratoga County Fair at the fairgrounds in Ballston Spa. The fair runs through Sunday, and includes all the usual fair fare: rides, music, food, contests, agricultural displays, and so on. admission is $10 / free for those 52 inches and shorter / free for active military with ID / $40 for season pass

MOMIX

Tuesday: MOMIX, the company of dancers/illusionists, will be back at SPAC for one night. It will be performing its "reMIX" show. Tuesday 8 pm - $30

Theater

WTF
Wednesday: The Williamstown Theatre Festival production of Sam Shepard's Fool for Love opens. The production stars Sam Rockwell and Nina Arianda (who won a Tony for Venus in Fur). It runs through August 2.

Park Playhouse
This is the last week for Park Playhouse's production of Hands on a Hard Body.

Cap Rep
Capital Rep's production of Smokey Joe's Cafe continues this week.

Words

Writers Institute
The NYS Writers Institute summer public reading series concludes this week at Skidmore. Among the writers in the lineup this week: Rick Moody, Jamaica Kincaid, and Binnie Kirshenbaum. Monday-Friday 8 pm, Palamountain Hall - free

Front Parlor
Monday: The Front Parlor storytelling series returns to the Olde English in Albany. This month's theme: "Make Believe." Monday 7:30 pm

Pecha Kucha
Tuesday: The local PechaKucha series continues with a night at the CAC Woodside in Troy. Among the topics for the very quick presentations: art, The Dude, politics, and sleep. Tuesday 7 pm (potluck at 6:30 pm) - free

Duncan Campbell of the Black Watch
Thursday: Duncan Crary is holding "a spirited re-telling of North America's first international ghost story" -- that would be "The Legend of Major Duncan Campbell of the Black Watch" -- at the Malt Room in Troy. Duncan will be joined by bag pipes (of the indoor variety, we hear). And there will be a Scotch tasting and Scottish small plates. Thursday 6 pm

Music

Tuesday: Gogol Bordello at Upstate Concert Hall
Gypsy punk. With: Man Man. 8 pm - $27.50 ahead / $30 day of

Wednesday: Rockstar Mayhem Festival at SPAC
Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Asking Alexandria, and other assorted agents of mayhem. lineup starts at 1 pm - $40 and up

Wednesday: ZBTB at Rockin' on the River
Zach Brown Band tribute. With: Molly Durnin. 5 pm - free

Wednesday: The Baseball Project at Helsinki Hudson
Featuring members of R.E.M., Dream Syndicate, Hindu Love Gods, and Young Fresh Fellows. 8 pm - $15 ahead / $18 day of

Wednesday: Melvin Seals at Putnam Den
Hammond B-3 organist, formerly of Jerry Garcia Band. With: Acoustically Speaking, Gubbulidis. 9 pm - $20

Thursday: Dustin Lynch at Alive at Five
Country night. With: Jacob Powell. 5 pm - free

Thursday: Wussy at The Low Beat
They're back. With: Bloodshot Bill. 8 pm - $10

Thursday: Eric Lindell at Parish Public House (formerly Red Square)
Blues rock. 8 pm

Friday: Lionel Richie + CeeLo Green at SPAC
"All the hits all night long." 7:30 pm - $25 and up

Friday: Stephin Merritt at Helsinki Hudson
Of Magnetic Fields fame. With: Brian Dewan. 9 pm - $15 ahead / $18 day of

Friday: Consider the Source at The Hollow
"Sci-Fi Middle Eastern Fusion." With: Ampvene. 8 pm - $12 ahead / $15 day of

Friday: Great Mutations at The Low Beat
Debut album release show for Troy trio. Kind of Pavement-y. With: Hammerhawk, The Firs. 9 pm

Saturday: The Samples at Putnam Den
The 90s live. With: Rich Ortiz. 9 pm - $20 ahead / $25 day of

Saturday: The Subdudes at The Egg
Roots rock. 8 pm - $35

Saturday: Lil Durk at Upstate Concert Hall
Rapper from Chicago. 8 pm - $25 ahead / $30 day of

Saturday: Alex Torres and His Latin Orchestra at Freedom Park
In Scotia. 7 pm - free

Sunday: Cage the Elephant at Upstate Concert Hall
Alt rock. With: Bear Hands. 8 pm - $25 ahead / $28 day of

Sunday: Marc Cohn at Helsinki Hudson
Walking in Hudson? With: Amber Rubarth. 8 pm - $35

Sunday: James Cotton at Music Haven
Blues harmonic player. With: Matt Mirabile. 7 pm - free
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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!

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