All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Four days later and here we are looking at another weekend. This one is filled with festivals, movies, music, and all kinds of other good stuff. After the jump, a few things we thought you might enjoy.

Doing something that didn't make our list? Tell us about it.

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

1st Friday
Friday: It's 1st Friday in Albany. Shops and galleries will be open late with art and performances. A few things happening:
+ The Albany Barn hosts a live painting showdown from 7-11 pm
+ The University is hosting a Pinkster Celebration with a talk on New York City architecture by author John Freeman Gill ($40)

Albany Tea Festival
Friday: Overit Media hosts the annual Albany Tea Festival. Sample, purchase, and learn about teas from tea vendors and experts. Raffles, a Chinese tea ceremony, and more. Friday 5:30-9 pm -- free admission

Freihofer's Run for Women
Saturday: The 39th annual Freihofer's Run for Women returns to downtown Albany and the Washington Park area. There will be road closures and security measures. There's a 5K, a kids run, and a Junior 3K. Last chance registration is Friday at the armory on the Sage Albany campus. Saturday starting at 9 am

Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival
Friday-Sunday: It's Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival weekend in Washington County. Hot air balloons, fireworks, family friendly activities and a Taste of Cambridge, featuring local foods and restaurants. Friday-Sunday -- various times

PolishFest
Friday-Sunday: The Blessed Virgin Mary of Czestochowa Church hosts in Latham its annual
PolishFest, a celebration of Polish-American art, music, culture, history, and food. Friday 4-9 pm, Saturday noon-9 pm, Sunday noon-6 pm -- $5 per day / kids under 12 admitted free

Armenian Festival
Saturday-Sunday: St. Peter's Armenian Church in Watervliet hosts its annual Armenian Festival, with Armenian music, culture, food, cooking demonstrations, and crafts. Saturday noon to 8 pm, Sunday noon to 5 pm -- free admission

Freedom Festival
Saturday: The annual Freedom Festival is back at Freedom Square in Troy. Art activities, food, and music from a lineup headlined by Taina Asili y la Banda Rebelde and Katani. Saturday 3-6 pm

Kids' Arts Festival
Saturday: Schenectady's annual Kids' Arts Festival returns to Jay and Franklin Streets around Schenectady City Hall. Nearly 50 groups will offer activities. Saturday noon-4 pm -- free admission

Capital Region Parade of Homes
Saturday-Sunday: This is the first weekend of the annual Capital Region Parade of Homes, a showcase of 16 homes from builders in the region. Saturday-Sunday 11 am-5 pm -- $20

GE Realty Plot House & Garden Tour
Saturday-Sunday: Tour six homes in the historic GE Realty Plot, including a home featured in The Place Beyond the Pines. Saturday-Sunday noon-4 pm -- $25

American Music Festival
Friday-Sunday: The Albany Symphony's annual American Music Festival continues with multiple events in Troy. Blurbage for the festival, the theme of which this year is inspired by the Erie Canal

+ Five days of concerts, recitals, interactive experiences, special events, and artistic happenings across Troy including performances by the renowned Albany Symphony and their raucous, progressive Dogs of Desire ensemble.

+ More than 30 new and recent works by 24 American composers, including 14 stunning world premieres.

+ Experiencing Troy as a unique cultural destination through performances at the legendary Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, the Tiffany glass adorned St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and the state-of-the-art Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC.)

+ Exploring the intimate relationship between music, technology, humankind's deep dependence on water, and Troy's rich heritage as a canal community.

Friday-Sunday various times -- festival passes $99

Music

Friday: Portugal The Man at The Palace
Alt rock. With: Electric Guest. 8 pm -- $29.50 and up

Friday: The Avett Brothers at Ommegang
Outside at the brewery. 7 pm -- $50

Friday: Only In Dreams : A Tribute To Weezer at The Hollow
"Members of Jimkata, Aqueous and John Brown's Body are teaming up to form Only In Dreams: A Tribute to Weezer..." 8 pm -- $12

Friday: Sgt. Pepper 50th Anniversary at Caffe Lena
Annual Beatles tribute show. 8 pm -- $22

Saturday: Fly 92 Summer Jame 2017 at SPAC
Flo Rida, Sabrina Carpenter, Bebe Rexha, Daniel Skye. 3:30 pm -- $20 and up

Saturday: Ray Wylie Hubbard at The Hangar
Texas singer/songwriter. 8 pm -- $20

Saturday: The Suitcase Junket at Helsinki Hudson
One-man band. With: Caroline Rose. 9 pm -- $15

Saturday: Phil Ochs Song Night at The Linda
Annual live broadcast. 8 pm -- $18

Saturday: Roosevelt Dime at Parish Public House
Americana. 8 pm

Sunday: Terrapin Flyer featuring Melvin Seals at Parish Public House
"Terrapin Flyer bring their own style of the Grateful Dead and JGB with the legendary Hammond B-3 wizard, Melvin Seals." With: Skeleton Keys, Rick Redington and the Luv. 8 pm -- $20

Sunday: Ellis Paul at Caffe Lena
Singer/songwriter. With: Zion Rodman. 7 pm -- $24

Stage

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)
Friday-Sunday: Albany Civic Theater presents a special production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Three actors turn the Bard's cannon into a 90-minute show. Friday and Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 3 pm -- suggested donation $10i

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Friday-Saturday: The Mac Haydn continues its season with 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

The Trojan Women
Friday-Saturday: The Suzuki Company of Toga Japan presents a Kabuki interpretation of The Trojan Women, transforming Euripides into a contemporary Japanese author. Friday and Saturday 7:30 pm -- $15 / $7 for students and seniors

Freckleface Strawberry
Saturday-Sunday: The Theatre Institute at Sage presents Freckleface Strawberry, a new musical based on actress Julianne Moore's best-selling book. Saturday and Sunday 2 pm -- free admission

Roxxi Tart's 1920s Burlesque Review
Saturday: Hudson Harbor hosts Roxxi Tart's 1920s Burlesque Review. Saturday 8 pm -- $20

Comedy

Sinbad
Sunday: Sinbad brings his stand-up show to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. Sunday 8 pm -- $29 and up

What Could Go Wrong?
Friday: MopCo presents What Could Go Wrong -- a show so spontaneous even the performers have no idea what to expect. Songs, scenes, stories, and games based entirely on audience suggestion. Friday 8 pm -- $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

Empire State Queens
Saturday: The Madison is screening Empire State Queens, a documentary about the Albany drag scene. Saturday 7 pm -- $8

Also screening at The Madison this weekend: Kill Bill, Tron, Logan, and Pokemon.

National Theatre Live: Obsession
Friday: Proctors screens the National Theater Live production of Obsession, starring Jude Law. Friday 7 pm -- $15

Moana in Wiswall Park
Friday: There's a free, outdoor screening of Disney's Moana in Ballston Spa's Wiswall Park. (Rain date is Saturday.) Friday 8:30 pm -- free admission

Drive-ins
Drive-in season has arrived:
+ Malta: Screen 1: Wonder Woman and Baywatch | Screen 2: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead MenTell No Tales and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2
+ Jericho:: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Snatched
+ Hollywood: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead MenTell No Tales, and Kong: Skull Island

Pride
Friday-Sunday: The annual Capital Pride celebration is underway. Events this weekend include a Pride brunch at Savoy Tap Room, Sing Out Louis Remix, a performance by RuPaul's Drag Race performer Victoria "Porkchop" Parker, and the screening mentioned above of Empire State Queens, a film about Albany's drag scene. (The big pride parade and festival is June 11.)

Spring/summer fashion show
Saturday: Local clothing designs, models, and dance teams will be featured in a spring/summer fashion show at the Albany Elks Lodge. Saturday 7 pm -- $15 and up

Saratoga Antique Bottle Show & Sale
Sunday: The National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa hosts its annual Antique Bottle Show and Sale. Sunday 9 am-2:30 pm -- $4 / $1 for kids under 12

BUSK!
Sunday: Putnam Den hosts Busk a family-friendly event featuring musicians, circus, stunt performers, and other street performers. Sunday noon-6 pm -- free admission

Albany Comic Con
Sunday: The Albany Comic Con returns to the Radisson Hotel on Wolf Road with comics, collectibles, panelists and more. Sunday 10 am-5 pm -- $8

Elvis Festival
Friday-Sunday: Lake George hosts its annual Elvis Festival with a weekend of performances by a variety of Elvis tribute artists. Most events will be held at the Lake George Forum. Friday-Saturday, various times and prices

Laser Tag on the farm
Saturday: Blind Buck Valley Farmstead in Salem is hosting a summer festival to benefit Call of Duty, an endowment that helps employ veterans. Laser tag, skeet shooting, music, food, and more. Saturday 11 am-midnight -- $10 / kids under 12 free

Foraging Dinner
Saturday: Hancock Shaker Village hosts a foraging dinner featuring wild edibles, hosted by Mary Eveyn Tucker, Emmy-award-winning documentarian, activist, and ecologist. Saturday 6 pm -- $100

Museums/Galleries

The Clark
The Clark opens a new Picasso exhibit this weekend, Picasso: Encounters.

MASS MoCA
MASS MoCA recently opened 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.

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

Fields Sculpture Park
The Fields Sculpture Park at Omi in Ghent recently opened its new summer exhibition.

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 A Spirit of Sacrifice: New York State in the First World War exhibit focused, on the contributions of New Yorkers to WWI, both on and off the battlefield closes on Saturday.

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.)

Beaches
Weather permitting, beaches are open this weekend 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.

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, Troy Music Hall, Sage, and The Albany Institute advertise on AOA.