All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

It's Memorial Day weekend. Time to fire up the barbecue grill and kick off the unofficial start of summer by doing fun stuff. This week our list includes beaches, parades, art, comedy and other fun stuff.

Doing something that didn't make our list? Add it to the comments so everyone can see.
And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

Troy Night Out
Friday: Troy Night Out returns to the Collar City. Shops and galleries are open late with art and performances. A few things to look for:
+ The Arts Center for the Capital Region hosts an opening reception for the Fence salon show
+ There are some family-friendly activities planned for Monument Square hosted by the YMCA, Troy Boys and Girls Club, Healthy Neighborhoods, and Bash Birthday Parties.

Here's the full listing of events.

Beaches
Weather permitting, beaches open this weekend at Grafton, Moreau, and Cherry Plain state parks. Beaches are open for swimming weekends only through June 27, then they open 7 days for the rest of the season.

Memorial Day Parades
Municipalities all around the Capital Region will be hosting Memorial Day parades this weekend. Albany's Memorial Day Parade starts at 10 am Monday at Central Avenue and Partridge and then heads toward the State Education Building.

Memorial Day at Saratoga Battlefield
Monday: The Saratoga Battlefield will observe Memorial Day with musket firing demonstrations and living-history activities to show

USS Slater
The USS Slater, the destroyer escort historical museum in Albany, is open for tours this weekend, including Memorial Day. Friday-Monday 10 am-4 pm -- $9 / $8 for seniors / $7 for kids 6 to 14 / free for kids 5 and under

Farm Day in the City
Saturday: Schuyler Mansion is hosting Farm Day in the City, with animals, farming demonstrations, sheep shearing, herding dogs, kids crafts, music, and food. Saturday 11 am-4 pm -- free admission

Collard City Growers Annual Plant Sale
Saturday: Collard City Growers hosts its annual plant sale at the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy. Saturday 1-4 pm

Stage

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Friday-Saturday: The Mac Haydn kicks off its season with a performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Friday and Saturday 8 pm -- various prices

Steel Magnolias
Friday-Sunday: Curtain Call Theater presents Steel Magnolias. Friday and Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 3 pm -- $24

Some People Hear Thunder
Friday-Sunday: The production of Some People Hear Thunder at Capital Rep wraps up this weekend after an extended run. Friday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

Comedy

Maestro: One Improviser to Rule Them All!
Friday: MopCo presents Maestro, a comedy elimination showdown where improvisors compete with songs, scenes and improv games. Friday at 8pm -- $10 / $6 for students and seniors

TheaterSports
Saturday: MopCo presents TheaterSports. Teams of Improvisors compete against each other to create songs and scenes based on audience suggestion (think Whose Line is It Anyway) Saturday 8 pm -- $15 / $6 for students and seniors.

Film

It Came From Schenectady Viewers Choice Movie Marathon
Saturday: It Came From Schenectady presents the Viewers Choice Movie Marathon -- 13 hours of films chosen by viewers plus live entertainment. Films include Mad Max: Fury Road, Paperbacks from Hell, the director's cut of Donnie Darko, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Saturday 11 am-midnight -- $20

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
The Madison is screening Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone this weekend. Also showing: Mothra, Kong: Skull Island and Cloverfield.

Drive-ins
Drive-in season has arrived:
+ Malta: Screen 1: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead MenTell No Tales and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 | Screen 2: Baywatch and Alien Covenant
+ Jericho:: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Snatched
+ Hollywood: Three movies for the price of onePirates of the Caribbean, Guardians of the Galaxy and Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Music

Friday-Sunday: The Sawyer Fredericks shows at Caffe Lena are sold out.

Friday: Cake at Brewery Ommegang
Outside at the brewery. 8 pm -- $45

Friday: The Reunion Concert featuring Ma$e at The Palace
Also: 112, Carl Thomas, Total and Black Rob. 8 pm -- $55 and up

Friday-Saturday: The Figgs at The Low Beat
Back again, for two nights. 8 pm both nights-- $10

Friday: David Wax Museum at The Linda
Folk pop. 8 pm -- $20

Friday: Maybird at The Hollow
Indie rock. With: Sun Parade, Cannon the Brave. 8 pm -- $15

Friday: Elysia Crampton at EMPAC
"Elysia Crampton has described her style as "severo," a word suggestive of the raw textures and violent juxtapositions she creates with source material ranging from American pop to cumbia, hip-hop, ratchet, and South American metal." 9 pm -- $18

Friday-Sunday: Gotta Get Gone at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds
Three day informal folk festival with music onstage and off. Friday-Sunday, various times and prices

Saturday: The Big Takeover at The Linda
Recording a live album. 8 pm -- $18

Saturday: King Washington at Parish Public House
Alt rock. With: Belle-Skinner, Matt Durfee and The Rattling Baddies. 8 pm

Sunday: Cake at MASS MoCA
It has a melody both happy and sad, built on victorious known triads. 8 pm -- $35 ahead / $45 day of

Sunday: The 1975 at Glens Falls Civic Center
Pop rock. With: Colouring. 8 pm -- $32 and up

Museums

MASS MoCA
MASS MoCA opens its new B6 space this weekend, adding 106,000 square feet to the already massive museum. And Nick Cave's Until is still on display until the end of August.

Fields Sculpture Park
The Fields Sculpture Park at Omi opens its new summer exhibition this Saturday. (Omi is in Ghent in Columbia County.)

Berkshire Botanical Garden
The Berkshire Botanical Gardens in Stockbridge are now open for the season. every day from 9 am-4 pm -- $15 / $14 seniors / $12 students / kids under 12 are admitted free

Albany Institute
There are just a few weeks left to see the Wampum World exhibit at the Albany Institute. (On display through June 18.)

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.)

Norman Rockwell Museum
This is the final weekend to catch the Norman Rockwell Museum's Hanna-Barbera: The Architects of Saturday Morning exhibit.

Karner Blue Butterfly Walk
Saturday and Monday: The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is hosting two guided Karner Blue Butterfly Walks. Saturday at 11am and Monday 1pm -- $3 (registration required)

Farmers' markets
It's May, and the area farmers' markets are outdoors for the season.
+ Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is on River Street around Monument Square. Saturday 9 am-2 pm
+ The Delmar Farmers Market is Bethlehem Central Middle School (332 Kenwood Ave). Saturday 9 am-1 pm
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market is outdoors at High Rock Park Saturday 9 am-1 pm
+ The Schenectady Greenmarket is at its outdoor location around city hall. Sunday 10 am-2 pm
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market is on the lawn of the the Lincoln Baths. Sunday 10 am-3 pm.

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. Saturday 9 am to noon

Ice cream season has started
It's spring, and local ice cream stands are beckoning.

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

The Mop & Bucket Company, Downtown Troy BID, and The Albany Institute advertise on AOA.