All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

The bad news first: It's Labor Day weekend -- the unofficial end to the summer season.

The good news? It's Labor Day weekend! And there's still time to do some of that stuff you've been trying to pack in all summer. So grab swimsuits, towels, picnic baskets, baseball hats, and whatever else you need for your good time. And don't forget the sunscreen, you'll need it.

After the jump, a handful of things we thought you might like to try. Planning something else? Drop it in the comment section. And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

Fork in the Road
Friday: The Fork in the Road food truck event returns to downtown Albany's Tricentennial Park. A variety of food trucks will be set up in the park in conjunction with September's 1st Friday. Friday 4-8 pm

1st Friday
Friday: Shops and galleries in Albany will be open late with art and events for 1st Friday. On the list of stuff to check out:
+ The Opalka Gallery at Sage Albany opens a new exhibition: From Concept to Console: Art and Aesthetics in Video Game Design. Opening reception from 6-8 pm.
+ Artist and fashion designer Jolene Button will be at The University Club in Albany.
+ Admission is free at the Albany Institute of History and Art from 5-8 pm.
+ Upstate Artists Guild is hosting a chalk drawing competition in front of its Lark Street gallery. You can come check out the drawings or register to make one yourself. $15 registration fee.
+ The 1st Friday swing dance at 25 South Allen featuring The Peter Davis Swing Band is from 8:30-11:30 pm. $15, includes a free lesson.

The Track
Friday-Monday: It's the last weekend of the season at the Saratoga Race Course. Saturday and Sunday is the Final Stretch Festival. Saturday is the Woodward Stakes, a Grade 1 stakes race. Sunday is a giveaway day (long sleeve t-shirt). And Monday is the last day of the season.

County fairs
County fair season wraps up this weekend with three fairs around the region:
+ Friday-Labor Day: The Fonda Fair at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. (It's the county fair for Fulton and Montgomery counties.)
+ Friday - Labor Day: The Columbia County Fair at the fairgrounds in Chatham
+ Friday-Labor Day: The Schaghticoke Fair at the fairgrounds in Schaghticoke. (It's the county fair for Rensselaer County.)

Vintage Beekman Street Fair
Friday: Saratoga Arts Fest presents the Vintage Beekman Street Fair, with music, storytelling, dancing, poetry, film, a vintage car festival and other events to celebrate the origins of Beekman Street. Friday 5pm to 8pm - free admission

Stage

Theatresports!
Friday: Think Whose Line is it Anyway? The Mop & Bucket Company returns to Proctors Underground to compete in improv games, creating scenes and songs based on audience suggestions. Friday 8 pm - $14 / $6 students and seniors

The Commons of Pensacola
Friday-Sunday: Curtain Call Theater presents The Commons of Pensacola. The play, by actress Amanda Peet, is based on the wife of notorious Wall Street scam artist Bernie Madoff. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm - $24

Angel Street
Friday-Sunday: Albany Civic Theater is opening a new production of Angel Street -- the Victorian thriller that was the basis for the film Gaslight. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 3 pm - $10 to $18

Movies

I feel the need, the need for speed
Top Gun is the Friday/Saturday late night Insomnia Theater feature at the Saratoga Springs Bow Tie Cinema. It's also the early morning Saturday/Sunday Movies & Mimosa flick.

Mrs. Robinson
The Madison is screening the 1967 classic The Graduate. Coo, coo, ca-choo.

Drive ins
+ Jericho: A holiday weekend triple feature -- Minions /Inside Out / Jurassic World
+ Hollywood: Minions / Jurassic World
+ Malta: Two holiday weekend quadruple features -- Screen 1: Minions / Jurassic World / Straight Outta Compton / Train Wreck | Screen 2: Shaun the Sheep /Inside Out / Avengers:Age of Ultron / American Ultra

Baseball
Saturday-Monday: It's the last weekend of the regular season for the Tri-City Valleycats. The Cats have games Saturday, Sunday and Monday against Connecticut. Fireworks after the final game on Monday. Saturday at 7pm, Sunday & Monday at 5pm.

Saratoga Polo
Friday/Sunday: The Saratoga Polo season wraps up this weekend with matches at Whitney Field, just outside of Saratoga Springs. Friday and Sunday, matches begin at 5:30 pm - $15 and up

Iroquois Indian Festival
The Iroquois Museum in Schoharie County hosts its annual Iroquois Indian Festival, featuring Iroquois music, storytelling, workshops and a Native American market with crafts. Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm - free with museum admission

Music

Friday: Harry Connick Jr. at Tanglewood
"An evening with..." 7 pm - $29 and up

Friday: The Doobie Brothers + Greg Allman
Pavilion only. With: Ruthie Collins. 7:30 pm - $45 and up

Friday: Rahkim Ali + Victory Soul Orchestra at The Low Beat
With: Sabali. 8 pm

Saturday: Kristin Chenoweth at Tanglewood
With the Boston Pops. 8:30 pm - $22 and up

Saturday: The Lake Street Dive show at Helsinki Hudson is sold out.

Saturday: Debbie Davies at Caffe Lena
Blues guitarist. 8 pm - $24

Sunday: Zac Brown Band at SPAC
With: Drake White. 7:30 pm - $32.50 and up

Sunday: MaryLeigh Roohan at Caffe Lena
Album release show. 7 pm - $20

Swim

Swimming pools
Municipal pools are wrapping up their season this weekend (Some have already closed for the season.) Here's a list.

Beach
The beaches at Moreau Lake State Park and Grafton Lakes State Park and Cherry Plain State Park will closed for the season after Monday.

Steal a summer day
Summer is waning. Steal a day outside, enjoying summer food, or just wandering.

You could also spend 12 hours in The Catskills or visit one of the many state parks in the Capital Region.

Museums

Seeing Double
The Albany Institute of History and Art has just opened a new exhibit called Seeing Double, with anaglyphs -- stereoscopic images that appear to be 3D when viewed through special glasses.

Van Gogh and Whistler
The Clark's very popular exhibit of Van Gogh nature paintings is closing in less than two weeks. The exhibit runs through September 13.

Also at The Clark: Whistler's Mother: Grey, Black, and White. It's on display through September 27.

MASS MoCA
MASS MoCA is exhibiting the large scale landscape paintings of Clifford Ross. The exhibit is open through Monday.

The Late Drawings of Andy Warhol
The Hyde Collection continues its exhibit featuring some of Andy 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. (On display through through September 27.)

Food

Friday night cookout
Friday: The Cheese Traveler in Albany has been hosting regular Friday night cookouts. This week's featured chef will be Josh Coletto (of Rock 'n Roll Brunch fame). Friday 5-8 pm - $4-$16

Troy Flea
Sunday: Troy Flea has a craft market every Sunday through October 4 in Riverfront Park. Sunday 11 am to 4 pm - free admission

Farmers' markets
It's one of the best times of year to visit the farmers' markets:
+ 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

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