All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Remember on Monday, when you thought the weekend would never get here? Well, it's here. Now, what are you going to do with it?

After the jump, a plethora or options. Mix them, match them, share them with your friends. Doing something you don't see on our list? Drop it in the comments so we can all see.

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

Niska Day
Saturday:Niska Day -- Niskayuna's annual community day -- will be celebrated with a parade, race, fireworks and a fiesta, with a food court, craft vendors, clowns, pony rides, a petting zoo, kids activities and more. Saturday starting at 8:30 am -- free admission

Plant sales

CCE Albany County Garden Education Day & Plant Sale
Saturday: The Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County's annual Garden Education Day & Plant Sale is at the cooperative extension facility in Voorheesville. Master gardeners will be there for tours and advice, but the big draw is the plant sale. We've been in past years and it's popular. There are a bunch of high-quality garden plants -- including both vegetables and flowers -- for low prices. And people start lining up before it starts in order to get their pick of the offerings. So, get there early and have in mind what you're looking for. Saturday 9 am-1 pm

Thacher Park Native Plant Sale
Saturday-Sunday: The Friends of Thacher State Park organizes the annual Native Plant Sale at the park's overlook. "Provide food and habitat for birds and insects by adding 'Biodiversity All-stars' to your garden! These choice native plants are easy to grow and highly valuable to wildlife. We have a selection of species adaptable to a full range of garden conditions, and some cold tolerant, drought tolerant, and deer resistant. Our preselected kits make planning easy, and make thoughtful and unique gifts." Saturday and Sunday 10 am-3 pm

Amy Goodman
Saturday: Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman will be at the Sanctuary for Independent Media for a talk about her new book and the importance of independent media. (Goodman will also be the guest of honor at a dinner at 6:30 pm -- tickets are $105.30 and benefit WOOC 105.3 FM.) Saturday 7:30pm -- $10 suggested donation

Reinventing Radio: Ira Glass
Sunday: Ira Glass, host and creator of This American Life, will be at Troy Music Hall with his "Reinventing Radio" show. Blurbage:

In Reinventing Radio, Ira will return to the Hall to once again talk about how they put together This American Life: what makes a compelling story and where they find these amazing tales. He mixes stories from the show, live onstage, recreating the sound of the show. And he plays funny and memorable moments from the show and talks about what was behind their creation.

Sunday 3 pm -- $35 and up

Stage

Lonely, I'm Not
Friday-Sunday: Creative License theater company presents Lonely I'm Not at The Albany Barn. The play is by Paul Weitz, and the New York Times said the "damaged-boy-meets-defensive-girl story has the sweet suspense, elliptical construction and off-kilter charm of an ideal Hollywood rom-com." Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm -- $15

One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest
Friday-Sunday: Local Actors Guild of Saratoga presents One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest -- the play that became the film starring Jack Nicholson. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm / Sunday at 2 pm -- $20

Laughter on the 23rd Floor
Friday-Sunday: Albany Civic Theater presents a production of Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor, inspired by Simon's time in the writer's room at Your Show of Shows. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 3 pm -- $18 / $10 students

Comedy

Carly Aquilino
Friday-Saturday: Carly Aquilino will be at the Funny Bone at Crossgates for a stand-up show. She's appeared regularly on the MTV show Girl Code. Friday-Saturday various times -- $20

Ray Harrington
Friday-Saturday: Comedian Ray Harrington brings his stand-up act to The Comedy Works in Saratoga Springs. Seen on Comedy Central's Up Next Showcase, "Harrington has turned his awkward and un-led stumble into manhood into hilariously irreverent material and marvelous improvisational riffing that embraces the uncomfortable and the absurd with a smile." Friday at 8pm / Saturday at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm -- $15 ahead / $20 day of (there are also dinner tickets available)

Improvapalooza
Friday: The Mop & Bucket Company continues its Improvapalooza season at Proctors. The teams will play short-form improv games and create songs and scenes based on audience suggestion. Friday 8 pm -- $16

Film

The Room
Friday: It Came From Schenectady is screening The Room, "Tommy Wiseaus's ode to bridges, spoons and flower shop doggies." As with all ICFS films there will be prizes, contests, surprises and comfy couches. (It's an 18+ event.) Friday 7 pm -- $9 / $6 for students.

Spirited Away
Saturday: The Madison Theater is doing a 35-cent family screening of the the Hayao Miyazaki animated film Spirited Away. Satuday 1 pm - 35 cents

Drive-in
Here's what you can see this week:
+ Hollywood: Jungle Book and Captain America: Civil War
+ Jericho Drive In: Captain America: Civil War and The Huntsman: Winter's War
+ Malta: Screen 1: The Angry Birds Movie and Ratchet & Clank | Screen 2: Captain America: Civil War and Keanu

Bing Bamboo Room Burlesque
Sunday: The Low Beat hosts The Bing Bamboo Room's "Dark Entries" show celebrating World Goth Day. (It's an 18+ show.) Sunday 7 pm -- $12 online / $15 at the door

Music
Friday-Sunday: Rock'n Derby at Schaghticoke Fairgrounds
Lineup includes Five Finger Death Punch, A Day to Remember, Halestorm, Shinedown, Coheed and Cambria, and many others. Friday-Sunday -- day passes from $56

Friday: The Figgs + The Upper Crust at Helsinki Hudson
Power pop + guitar-heavy rock. 9 pm -- $18 ahead / $22 day of

Friday: Sultans of String at Proctors
"Acoustic strings meet with electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound..." An 8th Step show. 7:30 pm -- $24 and up

Friday: Hammer Hawk at The Low Beat
Album release show. With: Victory Soul Orchestra, Veneer, Slaughterhouse Chorus. 8 pm

Friday: Jim Gaudet and The Railroad Boys at The Linda
Album release show. 8 pm -- $15

Friday: Jimkata at The Hollow
Electro rock. With: The Hornitz. 9:30 pm -- $12 ahead / $15 day of

Saturday: Caffe Lena Anniversary Concert at the Zankel Center
Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, Sean Rowe, Anna & Elizabeth, The Suitcase Junket. 7 pm -- $25 and up / students $15

Saturday: Golden Oldies Spectacular at Proctors
Charlie Thomas' Drifters, Shirley Alston Reeves' Shirelles, The Coasters, and others. 7 pm -- $35.75 and up

Saturday: Empire State Youth Orchestra at The Palace
The youth orchestra, wind orchestra, and CHIME. 7:30 pm -- $23 / $13 students and seniors

Saturday: Commander Cody at The Hangar
With: The Lustre Kings. 8 pm -- $20

Saturday: Phil Ochs Song Night at The Linda
Annual event, hosted by Sonny Ochs and Wanda Fischer. 8 pm -- $18

Sunday: Joywave at The Hollow
Indie rock. With: Cheerleader. 8 pm -- $15 ahead / $18 day of

Schenectady Armory tour
Saturday: The Schenectady County Historical Society is hosting a behind-the-scenes tour at the Schenectady Armory. See the historic building and hear secrets and stories of the Armory. Saturday at 10am -- $12

Touch a Truck
Saturday: There's a Touch-a-Truck to raise money for veterans at Zappone Chrysler in Clifton Park. Kids and adults will get up-close access to a variety of big trucks and emergency vehicles. Saturday 9 am-2 pm -- $5 per person/ $15 per family

Work Party at the Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence
Saturday: The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence in Albany is holding a work party for volunteers interested in planting, mowing and helping with other work on the property. Saturday 10 am to 2 pm

Pride Kick-Off Celebration
Sunday: A Capital Pride Celebration kickoff event is at the Washington Park Lake House. An afternoon of music, food, prizes and information about upcoming events and pride festival. (The big pride festival and parade is June 11 this year.) Sunday 2 pm -- $5 suggested donation

Museums
Wander through one of the Capital Region's museums:

Masterworks Paper
In honor of its 225th anniversary, the Albany Institute of History and Art is showing some rarely-seen paper items including manuscripts, letters, architectural plans, photographs, ephemera, silhouettes, and maps spanning three centuries in its newly opened Masterworks Paper exhibit. Many of these items can't be exhibited often or for extended periods due to their sensitivity to light. On display through October 16.

Imaging the American West
The exhibit Imaging the American West: Selections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art continues the State Museum. It includes works by artists such as Albert Bierstadt, Paul Manship, Georgia O'Keeffe, Frederic Remington, and Charles M. Russell. It will be on display through July 17.

Ansel Adams
The Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown has an exhibit of early works by Ansel Adams on display through September 18.

MASS MoCA
Alex Da Corte's Free Roses is on display at MASS MoCA. "Provocative, puzzling, and visually seductive, in his first museum survey Alex Da Corte's neon-bright, exuberant works merge the languages of abstraction and modern design with banal, off-brand items, ranging from shampoo to soda to tchotchkes and household cleaning supplies."

Arkell
The Arkell Museum has has exhibitions about Rembrandt's influence on printmakers and the work of Edward Buyck.

Alma Thomas
The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College has its exhibit of the bright, colorful paintings of Alma Thomas. It's on display until June 5.

Sculpture parks
With the nice spring weather, maybe you'd like to explore some sculpture parks around the region.

Ice cream stand season
Seasonal ice cream stands around the Capital Region are open.

Farmers' markets
Farmers Markets are outdoors...
+ Troy Waterfront Farmers Market will be on River Street and around Monument Square Saturday 9 am-2 pm
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market is outdoors at High Rock Park. Saturday from 9 am-1 pm
+ The Delmar Farmers Market is at Bethlehem Central Middle School. Saturday 9 am-1 pm
+ The Schenectady Greenmarket is at its outdoor location around City Hall. Sunday from 10 am-2 pm.
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market is outdoors to the lawn at the Lincoln Baths. Sunday from 10 am-3 pm

MopCo, Troy Music Hall, Creative License, and The Madison Theater advertise on AOA.

photo: Jesse Michener