All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Welcome to the first weekend of autumn and a fall bounty of stuff to do.

It's a busy weekend, with Larkfest, Balloon Fest, the Collar City Ramble and all kinds of other good stuff. After the jump, a few things we thought might interest you.

Doing something you don't see here? Drop it in the comments so we an all see.

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

LarkFest
Saturday: LarkFest returns in Albany. Lark Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between Madison and Washington for the street fair. Here's the full lineup of music acts. Saturday 10 am-6 pm -- free admission

Collar City Ramble
Saturday: The Collar City Ramble is a one day celebration of alternative forms of transportation, including bike tours, kayak rides, a geocaching expedition, and more. Saturday starting at 9 am

Adirondack Balloon Festival
Friday-Sunday: Three days of hot air balloons and festivities at the annual Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival this weekend. Balloon launches from Floyd Bennet Airport in Queensbury and Crandall Park in Glens Falls throughout the weekend. Here's the full schedule.Friday-Sunday various times

The Albany History Race
Saturday: The Albany History Race returns. Meet at the Albany Public library's main branch on Washington Avenue to get clues that send you and your team to historic Albany locations. Document your stops with photos and meet up at McGeary's Pub for an awards ceremony. Saturday 1-4pm -- free

Giant Pumpkinfest
Saturday: Sunnyside Gardens in Saratoga Springs hosts New York's Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off. Giant pumpkin growers from around New York State will weigh their pumpkins for more than $7,500 in prizes. Hayrides, music, cider donuts, and more. Saturday noon to 5 pm -- free admission

Mabee Farm to Fork
Saturday: The Schenectady County Historical Society and the Electric City Food Co-op host Mabee Farm to Fork, an evening of local food tastings and music at the Mabee Farm Dutch barn. Saturday 5-8 pm -- $25

Beats & Eats
Saturday: Albany Center Gallery hosts a sneak preview party for the first episode of Beats + Eats, a web video series about the food and music scene in the Capital Region. Saturday 6 pm -- $10

Stage

Annie Get Your Gun
Friday-Sunday: Schenectady Light Opera Company opens the Irving Berlin classic Annie Get Your Gun. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm -- $22-$28

Intimate Apparel
Friday-Sunday: Soul Rebel Performance Troupe presents Intimate Apparel , the story of an African-American seamstress who makes lingerie -- and the variety of people she meets. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 2:30 pm -- $15 / $8 under 17

Time Stands Still
Friday-Sunday: Curtain Call Theater continues its run of Time Stands Still, Donald Margulies's play about a photojournalist who comes home from Iraq torn between her career and a quiet domestic life. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm -- $24

Burlesque
Saturday: Roxxi Tart's 1920's Burlesque Revue comes to the Hudson Harbor House. "A night of fun filled hi-jinx and bathtub gin infused Burlesque from the golden age of jazz." Saturday 7 pm -- $20

Music

Friday: Vaud and the Villains at Troy Music Hall
A "19 piece 1930s New Orleans orchestra and cabaret show." 8 pm -- $27

Friday: Martin Barre at The Egg
From Jethro Tull. 8 pm -- $34

Friday: The Bumper Jacksons at The Massry Center
"Folding sounds of jazz, early blues, old-time music, and country swing into an exhilarating repertoire of modern American roots music..." With: Bryan Brundige and The Piggly Wigglies. 7:30 pm -- $20 / $5 students

Friday: Dryer at The Low Beat
Got a new EP set for release this fall. With: Asa Morris and The Mess, Hill Haints. 8 pm

Friday: Units / Fear of Strangers at The Hollow
"The original line-up of Fear of Strangers/The Units comes back around to Albany like the re-appearance of a rare comet, with special guest Mike Kelley rounding out the band." 8 pm -- $15

Friday: George Wilson & David Kaynor at Old Songs
Traditional music ranging from rollicking Celtic, French Canadian, and New England reels, jigs, and waltzes. 7:30 pm -- $15

Friday: The Big Takeover at Parish Public House
"The Big Takeover take their cues from Desmond Dekker and the first wave of Jamaican pop music as well as from the soulful energy and sophistication of Motown." 8 pm --

Friday-Saturday: Eastbound Throwdown in Salem
A festival featuring Eastbound Jesus and a bunch of acts. $50

Saturday and Sunday: JD McPherson at The Hangar
Rock 'n roll/rockabilly. 8 pm both nights -- $20

Saturday: Albany Symphony opening gala at The Palace
Playing a selection of works that include Ravel and Sibelius. 7 pm -- $19 and up

Saturday: Revival Revival at River Street Pub
"Revival Revival is 'A classic rock revue' featuring songs by CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL and other favorites by members of Walking X-Ray, Beargrass Kitty Little, Rechorduroys and Juuls, with opening act and fun covers by Pony in the Pancake." 8 pm

Sunday: Trixie Whitley at Helsinki Hudson
"Whitley is an eclectic performer, stylistically ranging from folk to rock, pop to R&B, punk to electronica." With: Indigo Street. 8 pm -- $25 and up

Sunday: Mariachi El Bronx at The Hollow
"Born out of a desire to challenge themselves musically, Mariachi El Bronx is the alter ego of Los Angeles punk band the Bronx." 9 pm -- $18 ahead / $20 day of

Comedy

Gerald Kelly
Friday-Sunday: Gerald Kelly headlines at The Funny Bone all weekend. Kelley has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central and HBO's Def Comedy Jam, and he's headlined at Caroline's on Broadway. Friday-Sunday, various times and prices

Film

L'Inhumaine
Friday: The NYS Writers Institute's Classic Film Series is screening the 1924 silent film L'Inhumaine -- a science fiction drama about a what happens to a beautiful opera singer when a suitor she rejects takes his own life. Friday 7:30 pm in Page Hall on UAlbany's downtown campus -- free

Capital Cinema Cultural Exchange
Friday-Sunday: The Capital Cinema Cultural Exchange includes five film screenings, workshops, VIP mixers, an after hours filmmakers lounge, and more. Friday-Sunday, various times and prices

Music and movies
Friday-Sunday: The Madison Theater is screening three musical movies this weekend: Once, Oliver and Annie. Friday-Sunday -- various times and prices

A View From the Bridge
Sunday: The Spectrum is screening the National Theater Live production of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. Sunday 11 am -- $15

Drive-in
Here's what you can see this weekend:
+ Hollywood: Storks and Sully
+ Jericho Drive In: Storks and Sully
+ Malta: Screen 1: Magnificent 7, and Don't Breathe | Screen 2: Storks and Sully

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)

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

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.

Troy Flea
Sunday: Troy Flea returns to Riverfront Park with jewelry, antiques,furniture and more. Sunday, 9am-2pm -- free admission

Farmers' markets
This is a great time of year to visit the farmers markets in the Capital Region.
+ 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 Albany Institute of History and Art, The Spectrum, Troy Music Hall and the Madison Theater advertise on AOA. And AOA is a media sponsor for Troy Flea and the Capital Cinema Cultural Exchange.

photo: Jessica Verma Photography