Stuff to do this weekend
The NYC Ballet is at SPAC this weekend, and the annual ballet gala is Saturday.
Updated
And cue the weekend. And with it the summer weather.
There is so much great stuff going on this weekend -- from music festivals and ballet to street festivals and drive-in movies. All you have to do is choose. To help you out, we've assembled a weekend tasting menu after the jump.
Doing something you don't see on the list? Share it in the comment section so everyone
can see.
And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend!
Troy Pig Out
Saturday: The Troy Pig Out -- the Collar City's annual barbecue festival and competition -- returns to Riverfront Park, this year in a one-day format. Music, chefs' demonstrations, and a chance to taste and vote for your favorite BBQ. Buy tickets to sample. There are also apple pie and hot dog-eating contests, music, vendors. Saturday from 10 am to 9:30 pm - tickets go on sale at 3 pm / sampling starts at 5 pm
New York City Ballet
Friday/Saturday: The New York City Ballet continues its two-week run at SPAC with performances on Friday and Saturday. Saturday night is the ballet gala. This year the gala has a 1930s Art Deco theme. (The 2015 New York City Ballet Gala Lawn Party, hosted by SPAC's Junior Committee, will be presented with a 1930's Art Deco theme to complement The Ballet Gala: 21st Century Choreographers.)
Speaking of dance: Julianne Hough and Derek Hough will be at the Palace Friday night with Move Live on Tour. Friday 8 pm - $49.50 and up
Schenectady County SummerNight 2015
Friday: Kids activities, music, street performers and fireworks at the Schenectady County SummerNight in downtown Schenectady. The music lineup includes Bernie Williams (yep, the former Yankees center fielder). Friday 5-10 pm - free admission
GE Kids Day At The Plaza
Saturday: Music, theater, dance, face painting, puppet shows and other kid friendly events at the north end of the Empire State Plaza for GE Kids Day. (There's no seating because of construction on the State Museum steps, so bring a lawn chair.) Saturday noon to 5pm - free admission.
Delaware Ave Street Fair
Saturday: Music, art, vendors and kids activities at the annual Delaware Avenue Street Fair in Albany. Saturday 9 am-5 pm - free admission
Library Fest
Saturday: Along with the Delaware Avenue Street Fest, the APL's Delaware Avenue branch is hosting its annual SummerFest with a bounce house, toddler zone, obstacle course, music, and prizes. Saturday 1-3 pm - free admission
Electric City Comic Con
Saturday: The Schenectady County Public Library hosts the Electric City Comic Con, its first comic convention. Chris Giarusso, creator and artist of G-Man and Mini Marvels will be there, along with other guests. Panels and workshops for kids and adults. Saturday 10 am to 4 pm - free admission
Stage
WTF
Friday-Sunday: The Williamstown Theatre Festival continues 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. Friday-Sunday various times - $35 and up
Park Playhouse
Friday-Sunday: The Park Playhouse in Albany continues its 2015 season with a production of Singin' in the Rain. Friday-Sunday 7:30 pm - reserved seats $16 and up / lawn seats are free
Rejection Project
Friday-Saturday: The Albany Barn is hosting a production of the The Rejection Project. Blurbage:
We asked you, our friends and neighbors of the 518 area, to share your stories and experiences, thoughts and opinions. We asked you 'how has rejection influenced your life?' 'How have you been rejected (by people, communities, society)?' We asked you to delve a little bit deeper. 'How have you rejected (people, ideas, societal norms?)' You responded with stories about racism, sexism, protest, heartbreak, love, self-empowerment, discrimination of disabilities, friendship, family, transphobia, homophobia, and claiming your identities.
You shared these with us, and we compiled them into a play that we hope is representative of a diverse and complex community, often excluded from the traditional theatrical stage.
Friday and Saturday 8 pm - $8
Helen of Troy New York
Friday & Sunday: In 1923, acclaimed playwright George S. Kaufman wrote a play call Helen of Troy New York, which satirized the the Arrow Shirt Company of Troy. The play ran on Broadway for 191 performances in 1923, but it has never been performed in Troy -- until now. Local historian/author Don Rittner and European theater director Justyna Kostek have teamed up to present the show in Troy for the first time. The show will be staged this weekend at Fellowship Hall next to Christ Church at 35 State Street in Troy. Friday 7 pm and Sunday 2 pm - tickets are available online for $15, $10 for students and seniors / $20 at the door
Murder for Two
Friday-Sunday: Capital Rep's production of Murder for Two opens in previews this weekend. Friday-Sunday various times - $20 and up
Clever Little Lies
Friday-Sunday: Curtain Call Theaterpresents the opening of Clever Little Lies, Joe DiPietro's comedy about marriage, family, love and divorce. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm - $24
Sorry, Not Sorry!
Saturday: Capital Region improvisational theater groups Sorry, Not Sorry will perform with Dollars to Donuts at The Low Beat. Saturday 2 pm
Beat*Shot
Friday-Saturday: The annual Beat*Shot Music Festival returns to The Hollow in Albany. "This two day celebration of Hip-Hop, DJs, beat boxers, vocalists, film, dance, and poetry features some of the most talented performance artists from around the country. We've even collaborated with Iron Bar Collective to coordinated a tournament style elimination Beat Box Battle for good measure. " two-day pass $17 ahead, $25 at the door / day pass $10 ahead, $15 at door
Music
Friday: The Figgs at The Low Beat
Album release show. 9 pm - $10
Friday: The Lone Bellow at The Egg
Alt country. 8 pm - $28
Friday: Alejandro Escovedo at Helsinki Hudson
Austin icon. 9 pm - $25
Saturday: Weird Al at The Palace
Can't stop the accordion. 8 pm - $29.50 and up
Saturday: WGNA Countryfest at Schaghticoke Fairgrounds
Featuring Dierks Bentley, Easton Corbin, Craig Campbell, A Thousand Horses, and The Cadillac Three. gates at 11 am - $45
Saturday: Eilen Jewell at Helsinki Hudson
Queen of the Minor Key. With: Seth Adams. 9 pm - $20 ahead / $22 day of
Saturday: Toshi Reagon Love Sessions: Michael Jackson Vs. Prince at MASS MoCA
"[D]iving into the repertoires of Michael Jackson and Prince for an all-out musical smack down where the King of Pop comes face-to-face with the Prince." 8 pm - $20 ahead / $26 day of
Sunday: Jake Miller at Upstate Concert Hall
Pop rap. With: Jasmine V, Alex Angelo. 7 pm - $20 ahead / $22 day of
Sunday: Charlie Parr at Caffe Lena
Folk. 7 pm - $18
Sunday: Red Baraat at Music Haven
"[I]rresistible vibe, juxtaposing the Punjabi rhythms of Indian Bhangra with the exuberant second-line funk of New Orleans parade music." With: Hot Tamale Brass Band. 7 pm - free
Film
"You're gonna need a bigger boat."
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... this weekend's Movies and Mimosa and Insomnia Theater at the Saratoga Springs Bow Tie is the 1976 classic that kept lots of people off the beach when it was originally released: Jaws.
Madison
To Kill a Mockingbird opens on Friday at The Madison Theater.
Drive ins
+ Jericho: Minions / Terminator Genisys
+ Hollywood:Minions / Terminator Genisys
+ Malta: Screen 1 - Minions/Inside Out Terminator Genisys/Ted 2
Off the Page
Saturday: Random House's
Puppet festival
Friday/Saturday: The Schoharie County town of West Fulton hosts a puppet festival this weekend. The festival is a collaboration between local youth and local/international professional puppet artists. Performances and workshops with renowned puppeteers will be held in area barns. Friday 5-7 pm and Saturday from 10 am into the eveing -
History of Schenectady Faith: A Walking Tour
Saturday: The Schenectady County Historical Society hosts a walking tour on the historic importance of religion in Schenectady's Stockade neighborhood. Saturday 10am - $5
Swim
Swimming pools
Many municipal pools are now open for the season. Here's a list.
Beach
The beaches at Moreau Lake State Park and Grafton Lakes State Park are open for the season.
Art
Van Gogh and Whistler
The Clark recently opened a Van Gogh exhibit focused on his paintings of nature. The exhibit runs through September 13.
Also at The Clark: Whistler's Mother: Grey, Black, and White. "The painting serves as the centerpiece of the exhibition Whistler's Mother: Grey, Black, and White, which also features a selection of Whistler's prints and drawings, Japanese woodblock prints that inspired the artist, and ephemera that explore the image's role in popular culture." It's on display through September 27.
(Also that Bierstadt work The Clark "won" as part of its Super Bowl bet is on display through July 19.)
The Late Drawings of Andy Warhol
The Hyde Collection presents an exhibit featuring some of Any Warhol's drawings created between 1973 to 1987, one of Warhol's most prolific periods. Many of the drawings are on view to the public for the first time. Through September 27 as part of regular museum admission. Closed on July 4th
Farmers' markets
Capital Region farmers' markets are outdoors:
+ The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market will be on River Street Saturday from 9 am-2 pm.
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market will be in High Rock Park. Saturday from 9 am-1 pm
+ The Delmar Farmers Market is open for the season at Bethlehem Central Middle School. Saturday 9 am-1 pm
+ The Colonie Farmers Market is at the Crossings. Saturday from 9 am-1 pm
+ 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
The Troy Downtown BID, NYS OGS, and Capital Rep advertise on AOA.
photo: Paul Kolnik
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Comments
Just to clarify, the Troy Pig Out is until around 9pm on Saturday with a fireworks finale.
Also, the pie eating contest is at 12:45pm - thought I'd share that because I was wondering about the times of the eating contests and was glad Lauren Halligan asked. :)
Editors: Yep, that was mangled. Thanks for the heads up. Fixed.
... said Danielle Sanzone on Jul 10, 2015 at 11:25 AM | link
I'll be at the ice cream social at the Valatie Farmer's Market on Sunday. Should be a sweet ending to a weekend of awesome adventures including the AOA Rail, River, Hudson tour!
... said Beth on Jul 11, 2015 at 7:23 AM | link