All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

So. Much. Stuff. To. Do!

We're looking at a busy weekend in the Capital Region -- comedy, beer, science, music, theater and a grown-up egg hunt to name a few.

Our weekend picks can be found after the jump. Doing something you don't see on our list? Drop it in the comments so the rest of us can take a look. And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend!

Albany Craft Beer Festival
Saturday: The Washington Avenue Armory hosts the first Albany Craft Beer Festival. The inaugural theme of the festival is focused on high-end and limited release beers. Food vendors include City Beer Hall, Albany Ale and Oyster, Druthers, New World Bistro, and Stacks Espresso Bar. Saturday 1 pm -- $65 includes unlimited tasting and four tokens for limited quantity beers / $20 designated driver ticket includes a $10 food voucher and one free Stacks Espresso coffee

Capital Region Grown Up Egg Hunt
Sunday: The Capital Region Grown Up Egg Hunt returns, this year at Jennings Landing in Corning Riverfront Park. Participants hunt for 5,000 eggs stuffed with prizes, from candy to vouchers for local businesses. There are also "downtown hunts" this year, one along Lark Street in Albany and the other in downtown Troy. Sunday 1-3 pm -- $13

Albany Improv Festival
Saturday: Improv comedy groups from around the country will assemble at the Pearl Street Pub for the annual Albany Improv Festival. Saturday, noon to 10pm -- $10 for 1 hour / $15 for two hours / $20 for a full day

Pinkster
Saturday: Crailo State Historic Site hosts a Pinkster Celebration. "Once a Dutch holiday commemorating Pentecost, Pinkster became a distinctly African American holiday in the Hudson River Valley during the colonial era. During the 17th and 18th centuries, enslaved and free African Americans transformed Pinkster from a Dutch religious observance into a spring festival and a celebration of African cultural traditions." An afternoon of performances, storytelling, food, music, dancing, and history. Saturday 11 am to 4 pm -- free admission

Hockey
The Albany Devils take on the Toronto Marlies at the TU Center in the second game of round one series in Calder Cup play. Saturday 5 pm -- $17 to $34

UAlbany Spring Stomp
Saturday: UAlbany's annual Spring Stomp is a chance to catch a preview of the football season, track and field events, and watch the #5-ranked UAlbany men's lacrosse team take on #12 Yale. There's a tailgate party in between and fireworks after the lacrosse match. Track and field starts at 10 am, spring football game at 3 pm, lacrosse at 7 pm. Saturday various times -- track and field and football are free / lacrosse tickets are $10 and $15 ($7 for kids)

Stage

The Foreigner
Saturday-Sunday: Home Made Theater presents The Foreigner, Larry Shue's smart comedy about a painfully shy Englishman so terrified of conversation that when he lands in a new place, he pretends that he can't speak or understand English -- a situation that allows him to overhear much more than he should. Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 2 pm -- $24/$27

​The Normal Heart ​
Friday-Sunday: Curtain Call Theater opens a production of The Normal Heart, the story of a gay activist who loses his lover to AIDS. Friday and Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 3 pm -- $24​

Bing Bamboo Room Burlesque
Sunday: The Low BeatThe Bing Bamboo Room's Disco Inferno Burlesque review. Sunday at 8pm -- $12 advance /$15 at the door

Comedy

The Amazing Kreskin
Friday: Mentalist and author The Amazing Kreskin will be performing at The Comedy Works. Friday 7:30 -- various prices

Alf Pacino
Friday: Longform improv troupe Alf Pacino performs songs and stories inspired by audience suggestions at the MopCo Improv Theater. This week they're joined by improvisors Dollars to Donuts for a double bill. Friday 8 pm -- $10 / $6 for students and seniors

Michael Blackson
Friday-Saturday: Michael Blackson will be performing at The Funny Bone at Crossgates. Friday-Saturday various times and prices

Sommore: "The Queen of Comedy" and Friends
Saturday: Comedians Sommore, Chris Thomas, Rayzor, and Mark Viera will be performing at the Egg for as part of Super Soul Fest LOL. Saturday 8 pm -- $39 and up

Pretty Much the Best Comedy Show: Mike Lebovitz
Saturday: Mike Lebovitz headlines Pretty Much The Best Comedy Show at Proctors. Lebovitz was the "New Face" of the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. Saturday 8 pm -- $15 ahead / $20 at the door

Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Saturday: The Comedy Works brings wrestling legend Hacksaw Jim Duggan will be at Cohoes Music Hall. Saturday 8 pm -- $25

Chortle Kombat
Saturday: Chortle Kombat returns to the Mop & Bucket Company. Teams of improvisors compete against each other creating scenes and songs based audience suggestions. Saturday 8 pm -- $15 / $6 for students and seniors.

Film

Drive-ins
Turn up the heat in the car, drive-in season has arrived.
+ Malta: Screen 1:The Fate of the Furious and Kong: Skull Island | Screen 2: The Boss Baby and Beauty and the Beast
+ Jericho:: The Fate of the Furious and Get Out
+ Hollywood: Boss Baby and Fate of the Furious

Tabu
Friday: The New York State Writers Institute presents a screening of the Portuguese film Tabu at Page Hall on the UAlbany downtown campus. It's the story of a retired woman who helps to find a man with a secret connection to her recently deceased neighbor. Friday 7:30 pm -- free

FCI International Film Festival
Saturday-Sunday: Proctors hosts the annual FCI International Film Festival. The festival features documentaries, animated, and shorts films from Persian-speaking countries around the world Saturday 10 am-9 pm, Sunday 10 am-7 pm -- $40 for a full pass / $25 for a one-day pass / $10 for per screening session

Scorsese-fest
The Madison Theater is screening four films by director Martin Scorsese: Taxi Driver, Cape Fear, Hugo, and Silence. If you're really excited about this, here's your pre-game Scorsese-fest jam.

Saint Joan
Sunday: The Spectrum is screening the National Theater Live acclaimed 2017 production of Saint Joan. Sunday 11 am -- $15

Music

Friday: The Chainsmokers at TU Center
Pop stars. With: Kiiara & Emily Warren. 7 pm -- $39.50 and up

Friday: Citizen Cope at Troy Music Hall
Singer/songwriter. 8 pm -- $36 and up

Friday: John Pizzarelli Quartet at the Massry Center
Jazz. 7:30 pm -- $30 / $20 students

Friday: Sixth Annual Gospel Jubilee at Proctors
Lineup includes Yvette C. Williams featuring the Capital Region Jubilee Mass Choir. 7 pm -- $25

Friday: Willie Nile at The Linda
Rock singer/songwriter. 8 pm -- $20

Friday: Sofia Talvik at Caffe Lena
Pop folk from Sweden. 8 pm -- $18

Friday: The Nile Project at the Sanctuary for Independent Media
Cross-cultural collaborations from countries along the Nile, vocals in six languages. Friday 7 pm -- $15

Friday: Maple "Sugaring Off" Party at First Congregational Church of Albany
"The evening starts with a short concert by Set Americain, followed by some yummy maple snacks and then a Quebecois-style dance." 7 pm -- $8 / $5 students / $2 under 12

Friday: The Barenaked Ladies show at The Egg is sold out.

Saturday: Robert Randolph and The Family Band at Upstate Concert Hall
Funk/soul. 8 pm -- $25 ahead / $28 day of

Saturday: Sixties Spectacular at Proctors
Lineup includes six acts. 7 pm -- $39.75 and up

Saturday: Bumper Jacksons at The Linda
"[H]ot and sweet, painting America's story from New Orleans' brothels to Appalachian hollers." 8 pm -- $15

Saturday: Spiritual Rez at Putnam Den
Reggae/funk. With: Gang of Thieves. 9:30 pm -- $10 ahead / $15 day of

Saturday: Chandler Travis Three-O at Caffe Lena
"The Chandler Travis Three-O is a delicious little ensemble..." With: Rabasi Joss. 8 pm -- $20

Saturday: Low Lily at Old Songs
"The vocal and string band Low Lily explores the roots and branches of American folk music with traditional influences and modern inspiration that weaves together a unique brand of acoustic music." 7:30 pm -- $23

Sunday: Melissa Etheridge at Troy Music Hall
The one and only. 7:30 pm -- $59 and up

Sunday: Home Free at The Egg
Country a cappella. 7:30 pm -- $22.50 and up

Sunday: Sabaton at Upstate Concert Hall
Swedish metal. With: Leaves Eyes, Battle Beast, DJ Alex Kane. 7 pm -- $25 ahead / $30 day of

Sunday: Willy Porter & Carmen Nickerson at Caffe Lena
With: Ryanhood. 7 pm -- $22

Dance-A-Thon
Saturday: Mission Accomplished Transition Services -- an organization dedicated to helping young professionals prepare for leadership -- is hosting a fundraising dance-a-thon at the Albany Elks Club at 25 South Allen Street. Eight hours of dancing -- the last dancer standing wins $300. Saturday noon to 8 pm -- $25 admission

Museums/galleries

A Spirit of Sacrifice: New York State in the First World War
Saturday: The New York State Museum recently opened A Spirit of Sacrifice: New York State in the First World War -- an exhibit focused on the contributions of New Yorkers to WWI, both on and off the battlefield. (On display through June 3, 2018)

Also at the State Museum: The People's Art: Selections from the Empire State Plaza Art Collection, with works by artists such as Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, Franz Kline, David Smith, and Alexander Calder. (On display through September 3.)

Branding The AfroFuture
Schaffer Library at Union College presents Branding The AfroFuture, an installation by Stacey Robinson. It includes posters, comics, and other multimedia/graphic works that shed light on how black people used music, religion, and art to express their resistance to black oppression. (On display until March 2018.)

Africa Pop Studio
This is the final weekend for the Africa Pop Studio exhibit at Skidmore's Tang Museum. The exhibition is set in a portraiture studio and uses live models, exploring the rich traditions and variations within African studio portraiture and its impact. (Closes on Sunday)

Wampum World/Captured Moments
The Albany Institute recently opened Wampum World, a multimedia exhibit that sheds light on the Dutch and Native American cultures. (On display through June 18.) (And the new Captured Moments, an exhibit of photos from its large photography collection continues at the Albany Institute. (On display through May 21.)

Nick Cave Until
MASS MoCA is exhibiting Until, a new immersive installation by artist Nick Cave. Blurbage: "Through exuberant, politically charged materials, Cave probes issues relating to gun violence, race, and gender inequality. Wrapped in bright glitter, the work is sharp and also painfully beautiful." (On display through August 2017.)

Norman Rockwell Museum
The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge Hanna-Barbera: The Architects of Saturday Morning. (On display through May 29.)

Together Until the End: Schenectady in the First World War
The Schenectady County Historical Society recently openedTogether Until the End: Schenectady in the First World War, an exhibit on Schenectady during WWI. (It's at 32 Washington Ave in Schenectady.)

Octagon Barn Star Party & Lecture
Friday: The Knox Octagon Barn hosts an astronomy lesson with dark sky observing. A talk by astronomy experts followed by night sky observation (weather permitting). Friday 8 pm

Food classes

Croissants
Saturday: Different Drummer's Kitchen hosts a hands-on class about making croissants. Saturday 11 am to 1:30pm -- $65

Markets

Troy Makers Market
Saturday: Local craft vendors will display and sell wares at the Troy Makers Market in conjunction with the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market at the Troy Atrium. Saturday 9 am to noon

Farmers' markets
+ Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is in the Atrium for the season. Saturday 9 am-2 pm
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market is at the Lincoln Baths Saturday from 9 am-1 pm
+ The Schenectady Greenmarket is indoors at Proctors. Sunday from 10 am-2 pm.
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market is indoors at the Lincoln Baths. Sunday from 10 am-3 .

Ice cream season has started
It's spring, it's local ice cream stand season.

Day trips
Explore New Paltz, head for The Berkshires, the Catskills, or Columbia County.

Photo: Capital Region Grown Up Easter Egg Hunt FB page

The Madison, The Mop & Bucket Company, The Albany Institute, Troy Music Hall, and The Spectrum advertise on AOA.