All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Ah, spring. The temperatures are rising, the birds are chirping, and the tulips are realizing that it is finally safe for them to come out and play.

So, on our list of things to do this weekend: check on tulip progress, take a walk, have an ice cream cone. But also: all the stuff you'll find below.

Doing something that didn't make our list? Tell us about it in the comment section, so everyone can see.

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

First Friday
Friday: Shops and galleries are open late for Albany's 1st Friday. Here are a few things going on:
+ The Albany Institute of History and Art is open late and free of charge.
+ The University Club is hosting "Albany History - Lost and Found", a series of short talks. "Everyone who has studied local history has had the experience of finding a document, an artifact, a landmark, a recording, some piece of evidence that helps us see with new eyes the 400+-year-old city that surrounds us. The excitement of discovery is the focus of this program. We've invited six Albany historians to talk about their research finds and explain the significance." Friday 5:30 pm -- free admission (pre-registration requested)
+ The Moon Indigo Band headlines the 1st Friday Swing Dance at 25 South Allen: 7 pm -- $15, $10 for students and seniors

Capital Roots Spring Brunch
Sunday: The annual Capital Roots Spring Brunch returns to the Empire State Plaza. More than 700 guests will enjoy a buffet of 125 dishes from local restaurants around the region. Sunday 9 am-2 pm -- $25 (kids under 9 are free but still need a reservation)

This Is Your Life, William Kennedy
Friday: The NYS Writers Series will cap the spring season with a celebration of its founder. "This Is Your Life, William Kennedy" will include special guests and tributes. Friday 7 pm, downtown campus, Page Hall -- free

History days

Cherry Hill
Sunday: Historic Cherry Hill hosts its annual Albany History Fair with tours, presentations, exhibitions and food. This year the fair is focused on WWI. The events include an original play about one of the families who lived at Cherry Hill, a virtual reality experience, exhibits, and a show-and-tell about what people ate in Albany during WWI. Sunday noon-4 pm -- free

Ten Broeck Mansion
Sunday: The mansion in Arbor Hill will have its annual Living History Day, with tours, re-enactors, live music, animals, and hands-on activities. It's free and open to the public. Sunday noon-4 pm -- free

The mansion is also hosting a welcome-the-neighborhood barbecue with mayor Kathy Sheehan. Sunday 3:30-5:30 pm -- $10 (includes 1/2 chicken, potato, coleslaw, roll, cookie, and soft drink)

Hudson Children's Book Festival
Saturday: The Hudson Children's Book Festival returns at Hudson Jr/Sr High School (215 Harry Howard Ave in Hudson). There will be 75 children's and young adult authors and illustrators, along with exhibitors and entertainment. And this year's featured author is Newbery Medal winner Kwame Alexander. Saturday 10 am-3 pm -- free admission

Albany Empire arena football
Saturday: The Albany Empire takes on the Washington Valor in arena football at the Times Union Center. Saturday 7:30 pm -- $10-$75

Queen Size Swap
Sunday: The Queen Size Swap is back at The Hanger in Troy. It's a swap of clothing sizes 12 and up. Blurbage: "You drop off your clothes at the appropriate table then you can check out the other clothes. First come, first serve. Any new to you items you are interested in you take home. There is no limit to what you take home and you do not have to bring the same number of items you take. You take what you want! Nice and easy. There are also shoes, coats, accessories, etc." Sunday 11 am-2 pm -- $10

Stage

The King and I
Thursday-Sunday: The Broadway tour of Bartlett Sher's acclaimed production of the Rogers and Hammerstein classic The King and I continues its run at Proctors. Thursday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

Appropriate
Friday-Sunday: Albany Civic Theater presents the drama Appropriate. "After a disturbing discovery surfaces among their father's possessions, the children's reunion takes a turn for the explosive, unleashing a series of crackling surprises and confrontations." Friday and Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 3 pm -- $18 / $10 with valid student id.

The School for Lies
Saturday: Schenectady Civic opens a production of David Ives' The School for Lies. "Adapted from Molière's *The Misanthrope, the play borrows from Shakespeare, reality TV, and everything in between... an inspired entertainment as well as a pointed study in self-delusion, all rendered in sparkling couplets." Friday and Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm -- $20

And The World Goes Round
Friday-Sunday: Not So Common Players presents a beautiful production of the Kander and Ebb review And the World Goes Round at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library. Friday and Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm -- free

Sister Act
Friday-Sunday: Schenectady Light Opera opens a production of Sister Act, the musical based on the 1990s Whoopie Goldberg film. Friday and Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm -- $18-$28

King Lear
Friday-Sunday: Confetti Stage presents Shakespeare's King Lear. Friday and Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 2 pm -- $15

Blithe Spirit
Friday-Sunday: This is the last weekend for Capital Repertory Theatre's production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit. Friday 8 pm, Saturday 3 pm and 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm -- $20 and up

Arsenic and Old Lace
Friday-Sunday: Curtain Call Theater continues a production of the classic comedy Arsenic and Old Lace. Friday and Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 3 pm -- $25

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Saturday-Sunday: Home Made Theater in Saratoga Spa State Park presents Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Saturday 7:30 pm and Sunday 2 pm -- $26

Candice Guardino's Italian Bred Comedy
Saturday: The Egg hosts comedian Candice Guardino's Italian Bred. Saturday 8 pm -- $30

Comedy

Earl David Reed
Friday-Saturday: The Comedy Works in Saratoga presents Earl David Reed. Friday and Saturday, various times and prices

Dale Jones
Friday-Sunday: Dale Jones headlines at the Albany Funny Bone. Friday-Sunday, various times and prices

Ladies night at MopCo
Friday: MopCo presents Ladies Night, an evening of improv theater performed by a team of all-female improvisors and based entirely on audience suggestion. Friday 8 pm -- $15 / $6 kids, students, seniors

Mick Treadwell's 10 North Jay
Saturday: MopCo presents Mick Treadwell's 10 North Jay -- an improv variety show with games, songs and scenes based entirely on audience suggestion. Sunday 5 pm -- $10 / $5 kids, students, and seniors

Film

The Place Beyond the Pines
Saturday: Proctors is hosting an afternoon screening of The Place Beyond the Pines and the movie's director, Derek Cianfrance, will be there to talk about the experience of making the film in Schenectady. Saturday mixer at 1:30 pm, film at 3 pm -- $20 film / $50 VIP film and mixer

Drive-ins
Drive-in movie season has returned. Here's what's playing for opening weekend:
+ Malta: Screen 1: Avengers, Black Panther / Screen 2: Rampage, Ready Player One
+ Hollywood: Avengers, Black Panther
+ Jericho Drive-in: Avengers, Black Panther

Music

Friday: College Finale Concert & Afterparty at TU Center
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Don Q, Jacquees, Dave East, Saweetie, Rich the Kid, Blac Youngsta. 9 pm -- $35 and up

Friday: Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul at The Palace
Steven Van Zandt and company. 8 pm -- $29.50 and up

Friday: Ellis Hall at Caffe Lena
"The Ambassador of Soul." 8 pm -- $25

Friday: Eilen Jewell at Helsinki Hudson
"Queen of the minor key." 8 pm -- $20

Saturday: Wild Adriatic at Putnam Place
The band's 1000th show. With: After Funk. 9 pm -- $12 ahead / $15 day of

Saturday: Yarn at The Hangar
Americana. With: Straight Up. 8 pm -- $15

Saturday: The Heavy Pets + Goose at The Hollow
Jam. 8 pm -- $12

Saturday: Teddy Midnight at Parish Public House
Electronic. With: Bushicks. 9 pm -- $10

Sunday: Brandi Carlile at The Palace
Americana singer/songwriter. With: The Secret Sisters. 8 pm -- $35.50 and up

Sunday: Albany Pro Musica: Lux Aeterna at Troy Music Hall
"The Albany Pro Musica Masterworks Series presents Morten Lauridsen's exquisite Lux Aeterna and Michael Haydn's moving Requiem." 3 pm -- $35 and up

Sunday: Lonely Heartstring Band at Caffe Lena
Classic bluegrass. 7 pm -- $24

Sunday: Marbin at The Low Beat
Jazz rock. With: Redshift. 7:30 pm -- $11 ahead / $15 at door

Sunday: Human Host at Pauly's
Experimental harmonies & noise. 8 pm

Make & Take
Saturday: The Albany Barn hosts a Build your own Terrarium Make & Take. Saturday 10am-noon -- $35 (covers all supplies as well as a breakfast treat and an alcoholic beverage)

Baby animals
Time is running out to meet the baby animals at area farms.

Free Comic Book Day
Saturday: Comic book shops and libraries around the Capital Region are hosting events for Free Comic Book Day.
+ Here are some participating shops in the Capital Region. In addition to comic books you'll find artist signings, art projects, and more.
+ Some of the Albany Public Library branches have events for both kids and adults.
+ Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library will have a superhero pin and create-your-own comic opportunity.

GameFest
Saturday: RPI's annual GameFest will be held at the Troy Atrium and on campus. GameFest is "an annual celebration of creativity and innovation in digital games, with a student showcase and competition, music performances, and presentations from veteran game designers, critics, scholars, and indie developers." Saturday starting at 11 am -- free and open to the public

Museums/galleries/talks

State Museum
The State Museum opens the new exhibit "A small fort, which our people call Fort Orange."

Hyde Collection
The Hyde Collection recently a opened an exhibit of work by Rockwell Kent. (On display through July 22.)

Albany Institute
Well-Dressed, an exhibit of high fashion from the 19th century, continues at the Albany Institute of History and Art. Also at the Institute -- Along the Eastern Road: Hiroshige's Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido.

Wheels at Work
The Saratoga Auto Museum hosts a Wheels at Work exhibit featuring tractors, tow trucks, taxi cabs and other vehicles that went to work.

The Art of Childhood
The Rensselaer County Historical Society hosts The Art of Childhood, an exhibit of selected images of children from babies and toddlers to teenagers on the edge of adulthood selected from their collection. (Through August 21)

I Love My Park Day
Saturday: Join in cleanups at your favorite area park for I Love My Park Day. Events are being held at a number of parks around the Capital Region. Find one here.

Center Square Association & Hudson/Park Spring Cleanup and BBQ
Saturday: The Center Square and Hudson/Park neighborhood associations are combining to hold an annual spring cleanup day, followed by a Hudson/Jay Park barbecue. Saturday 9 am-2 pm

Galas

The Big Bang
Friday: miSci hosts its annual Big Bang gala at the museum with gourmet food, music, interactive activities and a silent auction. Friday 6 pm -- $125

Taste the World
Friday: The River Run Montesori School is hosting its Taste The World gala at Renaissance Hall at Historic St. Mary's in Schenectady. International foods from locally owned eateries, music, dancing and a silent auction. Friday 7 pm -- $55

Kentucky Derby
Saturday: The Kentucky Derby, the first race of the Triple Crown, will be held on Saturday, and there will be parties around the region to mark the occasional. The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will host a Derby-themed fundraiser featuring samples of local brews and spirits and Kentucky inspired dishes from local restaurants. Saturday 3:30 pm -- $30-$100

Farmers markets
+ The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market has moved outdoors to River Street. Saturday 9 am-2 pm
+ The Delmar Farmers Market opens its season at Bethlehem Central Middle School. Saturday 9 am-1 pm
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market moves outdoors to High Rock ParkSaturday 9 am-1 pm
+ The Schenectady Greenmarket moves outdoors around City Hall. Sunday 10 am-2 pm
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market is outside the Lincoln Baths. Sunday 10 am-2 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

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