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 (not exactly July), to authors, to actors, to baseball players, to the Fourth of July, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Cloudy and 74.

Tuesday: Some sun, maybe a thunderstorm. Low 80s.

Wednesday: Cloudy, maybe some rain. Upper 70s.

Thursday: Sunny and 76.

Friday: Sunny and 78.

Weekend: Some sun, and 70s.

Slow start for July.

NYS Writers Institute

Monday-Friday: The New York State Summer Writers Institute opens its series of public readings at Skidmore this week with appearances by Phillip Lopate, Linda Spalding, Francine Prose, Caryl Phillips, Michael Ondaatje, Campbell McGrath, Charles Simic, Howard Norman, Claire Messud, and Elizabeth Benedict. (That link has the day-by-day schedule.) Monday-Friday 8 pm, Davis Auditorium (Palamountain Hall) - free

Film

How to Unmake a Bully
Monday: How to UnMake Cyberbullying, the latest film in the locally-produced series How to Unmake a Bully, premieres at the Madison Theater. The screening will also include How to UnMake Mean Girls. Monday 6:30 pm - $3

The Godfather Part II
Monday: The AFI 100 series at Proctors will be screening The Godfather Part II in the GE Theater. Monday various times - $5

Yes Men
Tuesday-Wednesday: Proctors will be screening The Yes Men Are Revolting, the latest film from activist pranksters The Yes Men. Tuesday-Wednesday various times - $5

Stage

WTF
The Williamstown Theatre Festival starts its 2015 season this week with productions of two shows:

+ Off the Main Road: Kyra Sedgwick stars in the world premiere of a play by Pulitzer Prize-winner William Inge.

+ Legacy: Jessica Hect and Eric Bogosian star in the world premiere of a play by Daniel Goldfarb.

Many of the shows at WTF sell out, so it's better to get tickets sooner rather than later.

Park Playhouse
Wednesday: The Park Playhouse in Albany starts its 2015 season with a production of Singin' in the Rain. Wednesday includes a season kickoff celebration with a pre-show cocktail reception and intermission dessert ($75 / $40 for age 40 and under). Wednesday-Sunday 7:30 pm - reserved seats $16 and up / lawn seats are free

World Cup

Tuesday: The US Women's National Team faces Germany in the semifinals of the World Cup in Montreal. You can bet there will be a good crowd at Wolff's in Albany (it's where the Albany chapter of the American Outlaws gather) to watch the game (and probably at the Schenectady location, too). Tuesday 7 pm

Baseball

Wednesday: The Tri-City ValleyCats open a six-game homestand at The Joe with three games against Vermont, and then three games against Lowell. (Wednesday is also 50-cent hot dog night.) various times - $5.75 and up

Swimming pools

Many municipal pools are now open for the season, or will be opening this week. Here's a list.

Fourth of July

It's on Saturday this year, so things could be a little slow on Friday. Of course, there will be fireworks at many spots around the area, but the big one will be the annual display at the Empire State Plaza, which has a different configuration this year.

DMB

Looking at head to the weekend: The Dave Matthews Band will be back at SPAC Friday and Saturday nights. Add in the fact that it's also July 4 on Saturday, and Saratoga Springs will be busy this weekend.

Music

Monday: Mormon Tabernacle Choir at SPAC
Choir includes 360 members. 7:30 pm - $35 and up

Tuesday: The David Crosby show at The Egg is sold out.

Wednesday: Almost Queen at Rockin' on the River
Queen tribute. With: Yellowdog. 5 pm - free

Thursday: Kid Rock at SPAC
With: Foreigner. 6:45 pm - $24

Thursday: The Wiyos at Helsinki Hudson
Folk/swing/old-time blues. (Also playing a free Made in the Shade show outside The Egg Wednesday at noon.) With: Pat Linnan. 8 pm - $15 ahead / $18 day of

There is no Alive at Five this week because of the holiday.

Friday: Eastbound Jesus at Troy Riverfront Park
And fireworks. With: The Hawbuckees. 5 pm - free

Saturday: Built4BBQ's Star Spangled Bonanza at The Low Beat and Pauly's
The End Men, Party Boat, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Kimono Dragons, The Slaughterhouse Chorus, Charmboy, Henry's Rifle, The Radicals, and The Savage Randys at both venues. 6 pm - $6

Sunday: Darlingside at Caffe Lena
Folk/chamber rock. With: Kyle Morgan. 7 pm - $18

There is no Music Haven show this week because of the holiday.

To do list

1. July starts on Wednesday. Summer is really happening. Do all the summer things.

2. Local strawberry season continues -- pick 'em before they're gone. And cherries are also now in -- their season is very short, so don't wait.
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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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photo: Danny Clinch