All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

The tulips are in bloom, the bands are ready to play. and all around Washington Park the scent of funnel cake and fried Oreos pervades the air.

After the jump, a list of stuff to do this weekend from tulips and chalk drawings to music and drive-in movies.

Doing something you don't see on our list? Drop it in the comment section for everyone to see.

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

Tulip Festival
Friday-Sunday: It's Tulip Festival weekend in Albany, with events in/around/near Washington Park, including traditions such as street scrubbing and the crowning of the Tulip Queen.

And, as usual, there will be music on two stages, both national and local acts. The music headliner for this year is The Kooks.

Drawing Up Central: A Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest
Saturday: The Central Avenue Business Improvement District and Equinox are hosting their annual Drawing Up Central sidewalk chalk art contest along Central Avenue near Quail Street. Registration to participate is still open -- it's $10 to enter. (And, of course, it's free to walk along and browse the work.) Saturday 10 am to 2 pm

Comedy

Spontaneous Broadway
Friday: The Mop & Bucket Company opens a new season of Spontaneous Broadway Underground at Proctors. In the first act, performers improvise songs on the spot from audience suggestions. Then the audience selects one song and performers turn it into an entire improvised Broadway musical. Friday 8 pm - $14, $6 for students & seniors

Cameron Esposito
Saturday: Cameron Esposito will be at MASS MoCA for stand-up show. She's been on many of the late night shows, writes a column for the AV Club, and appeared in Buzzfeed's "Ask a Lesbian" video series. The opener is Rhea Butcher. Saturday 8 pm - $12 ahead / $18 day of / $8 students

Theater

Spamalot
Friday-Sunday: Schenectady Light Opera presents Monty Python's Spamalot. The musical version of the classic film features Molly Rose McGrath as The Lady of the Lake, and includes rabbits, French taunters, knights who say nee, and more. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm - $18, $22, $28

Becky's New Car
Friday-Sunday: Schenectady Civic Theater presents Becky's New Car, a comedy with serious overtones about what happens when a woman caught in middle age, middle management and in a middling marriage starts taking chances. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30 pm - $17

I Love Lucy Live On Stage
Saturday/Sunday: The I Love Lucy Live touring show comes to Proctors. "The date is 1952 and as the show begins, you are a studio audience member awaiting the filming of two of your favorite and hilarious I Love Lucy episodes. You have stepped back in time onto the Desilu Playhouse soundstage." Saturday at 2 pm & 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm - $20-$65

Hamlet
Friday-Sunday: Capital Rep's new production of Hamlet continues. The TU calls the production "Vivid, brisk, emotionally resonant and achingly tragic." Tuesday-Sunday various times - $20 and up

The Night of the Iguana
Friday-Sunday: Albany Civic Theater presents Tennessee Williams' The Night of the Iguana. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 3 pm - $15 / $10 with student ID.

Rapunzel
Friday: Rapunzel, a fun new musical twist on the classic fairy tale, comes to Proctors. Friday at 7 pm - $20, $10 for 17 and under

Music

Friday: Postmodern Jukebox at Upstate Concert Hall
New takes on covers. 8 pm - $25 ahead / $28 day of

Friday: Moonalice at The Linda
"A psychedelic, roots-rock band of seasoned musicians." With: Doobie Decibel System. 8 pm - $15

Friday: Heather Maloney at Helsinki Hudson
Singer/songwriter. With: Will Dailey. 8 pm - $15 ahead / $18 day of

Friday: Zuill Bailey at Troy Music Hall
"[A] stunning program from the cello repertoire." 8 pm - $25 and up

Saturday: Kopecky at The Hollow
Indie rock. With: Best Good Friends. 8 pm - $15 ahead / $20 at door

Saturday: John Pizzarelli + Jessica Molaskey at Helsinki Hudson
Jazz + Broadway. 9 pm - $75

Saturday: Peter Yarrow at Proctors
Of Peter, Paul, and Mary. 7:30 pm - $30 ahead / $35 day of

Saturday: Crown the Empire at Upstate Concert Hall
Metalcore. With: Volumes, Dark Matter, Adhara. 7:30 pm - $15 ahead / $17 day of

Saturday: Metrohead, Stranger At Home, Skippy Piper, Catherine Called The Cops at The Low Beat.
Make a Wish Benefit show. starting at noon - $20 (or what you can give) at the door.

Sunday: In Flames at Upstate Concert Hall
"[W]orld-renown as one of the forefathers of Melodic Death Metal." (It's obviously the spring migration for metal bands.) With: All That Remains, Periphery. 7:30 pm - $20 ahead / $23 day of

Film

This Island Earth
Saturday: Film historian Rob Edelman will be at Mabee Farm Historic Site for a presentation on Science Fiction, Hollywood, and the 1950s. Saturday 2 pm - $5

Drive ins
+ Jericho: Avengers/ Furious 7
+ Hollywood: Avengers / Cinderella
+ Malta: Screen 1 - Avengers/Furious 7 | Screen 2 - Hot Pursuit/Get Hard

Summer Lovin'
The Saratoga Bow Tie Cinema's Saturday and Sunday morning Movies and Mimosa flick is Grease. The Friday and Saturday night Insomnia Theater film at the Saratoga Bow Tie is Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Highland Games
Saturday: The 5th annual Albany Highland Games are scheduled for Lincoln Park.

Troy History Walk
Saturday: The Rensselaer County Historical Society's weekly walking tours get going again. Tours meet at the Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market. This week's walk: The Air Was Full Of Smoke And Cinders - Troy's Great Fire of 1862. Saturday 10:30 am - $5

Triple Play
The Triple Play baseball exhibit is still running at the Albany Institute of History and Art. It includes 450 historical objects and images celebrating our passion for the sport.

Farmers' markets
Capital Region farmers' markets have moved outdoors.
+ The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market will be on River Street on Saturday from 9 am-2 pm.
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market will be in High Rock Park. Saturday from 9am to 1pm
+ The Schenectady Greenmarket will be around Schenectady City Hall. Sunday from 10 am-2 pm.
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market will be outside the Lincoln Baths Sunday from 10 am-3 pm

Capital Rep, The Mop & Bucket Company, and Albany Institute and the advertise on AOA. And AOA is a media sponsor for Drawing Up Central

photo via The Kooks Facebook