All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Yes, your calendar says it is the first weekend of autumn, but it's going to feel more like summer. It's a little reprieve for those who haven't gotten enough flip flop wearing and sweater-free visits to the ice cream stand in 2014. After the jump, a list of things you may be interested in doing with your lovely, warm weekend.

Got something planned you don't see here? Be sure to drop it in the comment section so we can all see.

And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

Troy Night Out
Friday is Troy Night Out and the weather should be great for strolling around the Collar City. A few things on the agenda:
+ The Rensselaer County Historical Society is hosting a family-friendly scavenger hunt.
+ The official launch of the steampunk-themed "Queen Mab's Enchanted City" festival. (The actual festival is October 4.)
+ Lucas Confectionery is hosting a sparkling wine & oyster night with $1.50 oysters.
+ RPI's dance team and improv groups are giving free performances at The Arts Center of the Capital Region.
+ 1stPlayable Productions is offering tours of its studio, and you can participate in an interactive Minecraft exhibit and try their latest games.
+ O'Brien's Public House hosts the return of the TNO after party with a lineup of DJs and dancing starting at 9pm. A $10 donation at the door benefits Margination.

Oktoberfest
Saturday is the annual Oktoberfest block party on Broadway in Albany outside Wolff's Biergarten. Food, music, beer, a tug of war and dachshund "Weiner Dog" races. Festival opens at 11 am, and there's a ceremonial keg tapping at 1 pm. Saturday 11 am-7 pm - $10 (presale tickets include a stein and quick entry to the festival) / there are also $25 VIP tickets (also available as presale)

Food Fight: Meatball Edition
Sunday is the Downtown Albany BID Food Fight to determine the city's best Meatball. Taste meatballs from 20 different businesses from 11 am to 4pm at the Times Union Center. Sunday 11 am-4 pm - $1 per tasting (cash only)

Also Sunday: In keeping with the meatball theme The Palace is screening Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Bill Murray's comedy Meatballs that day.

Early Albany Hudson River Festival
Sunday: The replica of Henry Hudson ship The Halfmoon will be at the Corning Preserve for the Early Hudson River Fest. The family-friendly festival will commemorate early trade and commerce at what is now Albany, and will highlight technology and the daily lives of the Native American and European inhabitants of the area at the time. Reenactors, demonstrations, and activities including early toys and games. Sunday 11 am to 4 pm - free

Rensselaerville Cycling Festival
Saturday-Sunday: The first Rensselaerville Cycling Festival is this weekend in Rensselaerville and at the Carey Institute for Global Good. Group rides (sold out), cycling clinics, a barbecue, brewery tours, music and kids activities.

Authors

James Howard Kunstler
Friday: Author/cultural critic James Howard Kunstler will be at the Northshire Bookstore Saratoga to talk about his new A History of the Future, the third book in his World Made By Hand series. Friday 7 pm - free

Gregory Maguire
Saturday: Gregory Maguire -- Wicked author and Albany native -- will be at the Northshire Bookstore Saratoga to talk about his new book Egg and Spoon. Saturday 6 pm - free

Kirsten Gillibrand
Saturday: Kirsten Gillibrand will be at UAlbany to talk about her new memoir, Off the Sidelines, as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. Saturday 4 pm, uptown campus, Campus Center Ballroom - $27 (includes the book), available from the Book House and Market Block

Albany ISpy
The Albany I Spy history scavenger hunt continues this weekend. This year the hunt is focused on Albany's Center Square Neighborhood.

Theater

Other Desert Cities
Capital Rep's production of Other Desert Cities is in previews this weekend. The show is a comedy/drama about a prodigal daughter who returns to her Palm Springs desert home to celebrate the holidays and announce plans to publish her childhood memoir - complete with revelations of deep family secrets. Friday through Sunday. Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 3pm & 8pm, Sunday at 2pm - $20 and up

Family Furniture
Curtain Call Theater presents A.R. Gurney's Family Furniture, a coming of age tale of parents and children in the 1950s.

Pokegama Hotel
Our Own Productions presents Pokegama Hotel, an original musical set in a small town tavern in Minnesota.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Debuts Theater Company -- in the Westgate Plaza in Albany -- presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Twelve Angry Men
Classic Theater Guild presents a stage version of the film classic Twelve Angry Men this weekend at Proctors.

Laughs

MopCo
Friday: The Mop & Bucket Company is back at Proctors Underground with Chortal Combat, a short form improv comedy show in which improvisers compete to create scenes and songs using audience suggestions. Friday 8pm - $14 / $6 for students and seniors.

Sunday: MopCo. improvisors will be at The Low Beat on Sunday night with a new improv show. Sunday 7 pm - $6

Film

Double Indemnity
Saturday: The Saratoga Film Forum is screening the noir classic Double Indemnity, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray, Spring Street Gallery. Saturday 7:30 pm - $7

"Stellllllaaaa"
Friday: The NYS Writers Institute Film Series is screening A Streetcar Named Desire at Page Hall on the UAlbany downtown campus. Friday 7:30 pm - free

"Frankly, my dear..."
Sunday: Regal Crossgates is taking part in a TCM 75th anniversary celebration of Gone With the Wind with a screening of the remastered film. Sunday 2 pm

Drive-ins
Because it may be fall, but it still feels like summer, here's what's playing at local drive-ins:
+ Malta: Screen 1: The Equalizer/No Good Deed | Screen 2: The Maze Runner/ Dolphin Tale 2
+ Hollywood: Box Trolls/ Ninja Turtles
+ Jericho: Box Trolls/ Dolphin Tale 2

Music

Friday: Kip Moore at The Palace
Country. With: Charlie Worsham, Sam Hunt. 8 pm - $27 and up

Friday: Eric Harland with Voyager at the Zankel Center
Jazz. 8 pm - $8 / $5 students and seniors

Friday: Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Helsinki Hudson
Rockabilly. 9 pm - $15 ahead / $18 day of

Friday: Zoe Lewis at Caffe Lena
"one-woman, worldbeat, vaudeville extravaganza." With: Connor Garvey. 8 pm - $18

Friday: Rival Galaxies at The Low Beat
With: Kimono Dragons, Secret Release. 9 pm - $5

Saturday: Five Finger Death Punch at TU Center Not this Saturday, next Saturday.
Metal. With: Volbeat, Hellyeah, Nothing More. 6:20 pm - $25 and up

Saturday: John Pizzarelli Quartet at the Massry Center
Jazz. 7:30 pm - $30 / $15 students

Saturday: Anais Mitchell at Caffe Lena
Folk. With: Dietrich Strause. 8 pm - $22

Saturday: BritishMania at The Egg
Beatles tribute. 8 pm - $29.50 and up

Saturday: Who Are You at The Linda
The Who tribute playing Tommy. 8 pm - $15

Sunday: Vintage Trouble at The Hollow
Blues rock. 7 pm - $12 ahead / $15 day of

Sunday: Garrick Ohlsson at Troy Music Hall
Classical pianist. 3 pm - $35 and up

Saratoga Showcase Of Homes Weekend 2
Friday-Sunday: This is opening weekend for the Saratoga Showcase of Homes, with tours of fourteen new upscale homes around Saratoga County. Friday's event, from 5pm to 10pm, is $25. Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm - $20

Tail of the Fish Regatta
Saturday: Watch the boat races on Saratoga Lake at the annual Tail of the Fish Regatta. Saturday 7 am-5 pm - free for spectators

The Great American Pet Festival
Saturday: The annual Great American Pet Festival is this at the Methodist Church Grounds on Route 148 in Clifton Park. Pony rides, alpacas, a bounce house and other kid-friendly activities. Saturday 10 am to 3pm - $5 adults, kids get in free.

Lakeside Farm Antique Show
Sunday: Lakeside Farms' annual antique show is at the Lakeside Cider Mill. Over 60 dealers will be set up indoors and outdoors. Sunday 9 am-4 pm - free admission

Pick apples
Apple season is in full swing at orchards around the region. Here's a list of local spots to pick apples. (The list is from last year, but much of the info should still be good).

Bake Sale Favorites Class
Saturday: Deanna Fox is offering a class about brownies, danish, lemon squares, bacon chocolate chip cookies and other bake sale favorites at Different Drummer's Kitchen. Saturday at noon - $65.

Corn maze
A walk through a corn maze is a sure sign that autumn is arriving soon. Fort Ticonderoga's Corn Maze Adventure is now open. You can wander through the maize maze looking for history and clues. 10 am-5 pm daily

Check out a state park
Visit a local state park, like Schodack Island, Cherry Plain, Moreau, Grafton Lakes or Peebles Island.

Farmers' Markets
Farmers markets will be moving indoors in a few weeks-- but right now they're out in the sunshine and flush with produce. Enjoy now -- it'll be fading out soon.
+ 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.

Capital Rep, MopCo, Wolff's Oktoberfest, Downtown Albany BID, and The City of Albany's Early Hudson River Festival advertise on AOA.