All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

It's starting a little soggy, but it's going to be a lovely summer weekend -- and one of the last of the season. So go find something fun to do that you can look back on fondly in February.

After the jump, a few suggestions, from steampunk to baseball to the Travers to drive-ins and theater in the park. Pick your favorites and squeeze the most out of summer.

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

Troy Night Out
Friday: This month's Troy Night Out celebrates the city's bicentennial:
+ 1st Playable Productions has an interactive Pokemon themed exhibit
+ The Arts Center of the Capital Region hosts RPI's improv troupe, Sheer Idiocy, and RPI's a cappella group.
+ Print your own TNO poster or t-shirt at Troy Cloth and Paper

Friday 5-9 pm

Enchanted City Festival
Friday-Saturday: The Enchanted City -- a steampunk-themed festival -- returns to downtown Troy:
+ There's a Steampunk fashion show at the Troy Public Library. Friday 8 pm -- $25
+ Saturday the Tech Valley Center of Gravity hosts a Mini Maker Faire, Inventors Challenge, and power tool drag racing. Saturday starting at 11 am -- free to attend, registration is requested but not required
+ Saturday is the outdoor festival on River Street with steampunk clothing, a parade, music, sword fighting, and more. Saturday 11am to 5pm -- free admission
+ Saturday night The Hanger hosts the Queen Mab After Dark party with burlesque, cabaret, a screening of the film Metropolis with a live performance of an original score by the band Last Day Shinning. (The After Dark party is adults only.) Saturday 6:30 pm -- $25

The Travers
Racing season continues this weekend at the at the Saratoga Race Course. Saturday is the Travers Stakes -- the biggest race of the season. There's a good chance admission for the day will sell out.

Washington County Fair
Friday-Sunday: The Washington County Fair will be at the fairgrounds in Greenwich. It bills itself as "New York's #1 Agricultural County Fair." (Admission does not include carnival rides. Ride tickets are $1.25 each.) Friday-Sunday -- adults $10 / children 13 and under are free / all-week pass is $30 / free admission for all active military service members with military ID

Albany LatinFest
Saturday: The 21st annual Albany LatinFest celebrates the the Hispanic community with a family-oriented event at the Washington Park Parade Grounds. There will be arts and crafts, a variety of food, live music, activities for children, and more. Saturday 11 am-6 pm -- free admission

Mabee Farm Arts & Crafts Festival
Saturday: The 12th annual Mabee Farm Arts & Crafts Festival will feature handmade pottery, jewelry, candles, painted furniture, wood crafting, and more from the region. Saturday 10 am-3 pm -- $5 / children are free

Troy Flea
Sunday: Troy Flea returns to Troy's Riverfront Park with clothing, furniture, housewares, jewelry, comic books, and crafts and more. Sunday 9 am-2 pm

Baseball
Friday-Sunday: The Tri-City ValleyCats will take on the Lowell Spinners in a three-game series at The Joe this weekend. Friday is Presidential History Night, Saturday is Hockey Night, and Sunday is 50s themed with post-game fireworks. Friday and Saturday 7 pm / Sunday 5 pm -- $5-10 ahead / $7-12 day of

Comedy

Chris Coccia
Friday-Saturday: Comedy Central's Chris Coccia headlines at The Comedy Works in Saratoga Springs. Friday and Saturday 8 pm and 10 pm - $15 advance / $20 at the door / dinner package $40 advance / $45 at the door

Tony Rock
Friday-Sunday: Chris Rock's brother, Tony, headlines at The Funny Bone in Crossgates this weekend. Friday-Sunday various times -- $15-$17

Mad Laughs Comedy Show
Saturday: The Madison Theatre's Mad Laughs Comedy Show is back this weekend with improv and stand-up comedy. Rich Williams headlines and Mikael Gregg hosts. Saturday 8 pm -- $15

Stage

The Little Mermaid
Friday-Saturday: This is the last weekend for the The Park Playhouse's production of The Little Mermaid, adapted from the Disney film, in Albany's Washington Park. Friday-Saturday 7:30 pm -- free on the lawn / reserve tickets $16 and up

[title of show]
Friday-Sunday: At Proctors Family Players presents the Tony-nominated meta-musical [title of show] -- "a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical." Friday 7:30 pm / Saturday 2 pm and 7:30 pm / Sunday 2 pm -- $20

9 to 5: The Musical
Friday-Sunday: The Local Actors' Guild's production of 9 to 5: The Musical, based on the 1980 film, closes this weekend at the Saratoga Arts Center. Friday and Saturday 8 pm / Sunday 2 pm -- $20

The Addams Family
Friday-Sunday: The Mac-Hadyn Theatre's production of The Addams Family, a musical based on the 60's TV classic, opens this weekend. Friday-Sunday various times -- $14-$34

Music

Friday: Raiders of the Lost Ark with the Boston Pops at Tanglewood
The Boston Pops plays the score to Raiders of the Lost Ark live along with the film. 8 pm -- $22 and up

Friday: Mary Chapin Carpenter at The Egg
Singer/songwriter, five-time Grammy winner. 8 pm -- $34.50 and up

Friday: BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet at Helsinki Hudson
"For over 40 years, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet have blended the rich Cajun traditions of Louisiana with elements of zydeco, New Orleans Jazz, country and blues to become the most esteemed Cajun group in music." 9 pm -- $25 ahead / $30 day of

Friday: Random 33 at Upbeat on the Roof
Last Upbeat of the summer. 7 pm -- free

Friday: The Janet Jackson show scheduled for SPAC has been postponed.

Friday: The Tyler, The Creator show scheduled for Upstate Concert Hall has been cancelled.

Saturday: Rubblebucket at MASS MoCA
"With electronica flourishes slithering around organic grooves, huge horn parts, and surprising arrangements, Rubblebucket is one of the most experimental -- and fun -- dance bands to emerge in the last decade." 8 pm -- $25 ahead / $32 day of

Saturday: Yo-Yo Ma with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood
Playing works by Leonard Bernstein, John Williams, and Haydn. 8 pm -- $22 and up

Sunday: Florida Georgia Line at SPAC
Country stars. With: Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three, Kane Brown. 7 pm -- $30 and up

Film

Meet John Doe
Saturday-Sunday: The Madison Theater has two screenings of the Frank Capra classic Meet John Doe this weekend. Saturday and Sunday at 2pm -- .35

Dog Day Afternoon
Friday-Sunday: Also at The Madison this weekend: Dog Day Afternoon -- based on a bank robbery in Brooklyn. Friday-Sunday various times -- $5

The Merchant of Venice
Sunday: The Spectrum screens the 2016 Globe Theater production of The Merchant of Venice performed at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Sunday 11 am - $15

Drive-in
Here's what you can see this weekend:
+ Hollywood: Kubo and Nine Lives
+ Jericho Drive In: Sausage Party and Lights Out
+ Malta: Screen 1: Sausage Party, Bad Moms and The Shallows | Screen 2: Jason Bourne, Suicide Squad, and War Dogs

Museums/Galleries

Hudson Valley Ruins
Recently opened at the State Museum: Hudson Valley Ruins. It includes more than 80 photographs by Robert Yasinsac and Thomas Rinaldi of "forgotten historic sites and cultural treasures in the Hudson River Valley." It will be on display through the end of 2017.

Splendor, Myth, and Vision
Still on display at The Clark: Splendor, Myth, and Vision: Nudes from the Prado. Blurbage: "The exhibition explores the role of the nude in European painting in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and the collecting and display practices of the Spanish royalty. Twenty-four of the paintings have never before been shown in America." It's on display through October 10.

Alexander Hamilton
The Albany Institute of History and Art exhibit on the life of Alexander Hamilton and his time in Albany continues. Hamilton, who has experienced a resurgence in popularity due to Lin Manuel Miranda's award-winning musical based on his life, married Elizabeth Schuyler at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany and visited the city often after that. The exhibit highlights objects related to Hamilton, including a portrait from the permanent collection of Union College. (On display through December 31.)

A More Perfect Union
The Tang presents: A More Perfect Union -- a new exhibit featuring Mel Ziegler's Multi-Year Project Flag Exchange. The installation includes 50 American flags collected by Ziegler, who traveled the country trading new flags for tattered ones flying at homes and public locations. (Runs through January.) free admission (suggested donations of $2 - $5)

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

Circus
The Arkell Museum has an exhibit of circus-themed art and vintage circus marketing materials. On display through October 16.

MASS MoCA
+ Explode Every Day: An Inquiry into the Phenomena of Wonder
+ Alex Da Corte's Free Roses
+ Here Comes the Sun in the Kidspace

Fence Select
This the last weekend for the annual Fence Select show at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy. It'll be on display through August 27.

Sculpture parks
Maybe you'd like to explore some sculpture parks around the region.

Day trips
Explore some waterfalls, head for The Berkshires, The Catskills, or Columbia County. Or check out a state park.

Swimming
Swimming season is winding down in the Capital Region. Here's a list of local pools, beaches and spray pads, complete with dates, pricing and other important details. (The Lincoln Park Pool in Albany has been closed lately because because of water conservation measures related to the South Lake Ave sinkhole.)

Farmers' markets
+ Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is in Riverfront Park for the rest of the summer because of the planned construction on River Street. 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

The Madison, The Spectrum, and City of Albany Office of Special Events advertise on AOA.

photo: SlyerImage