All Over Albany

The week ahead

Here are a few things to keep in mind, look forward to, or keep busy with this week, from the weather (SUMMER), to filling the blank space, walking and talking, to the creative economy, to baseball, to all sorts of music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Sun, lots of heat, possibly strong thunderstorms later in the day. 93.

Tuesday: Sunny and 82.

Wednesday: Sunny and 84.

Thursday: Sunny and 82.

Friday: Sunny and 81.

SUMMMER.

1 Monument Square

Monday-Thursday: The latest round of public discussions about the future of 1 Monument Square in Troy is this week. The series starts with a public workshop and movie screening Monday at the Arts Center of the Capital Region. Monday 6 pm (movie at 4:30 pm)

Stories

Tuesday: Monday: The Front Parlor storytelling series is at the Olde English in Albany. This month's theme: "Fathers" Monday 7:30 pm

Stage and screen

Yerma
Tuesday: Proctors will be screening the National Theatre Live production of Yerma at the Young Vic. The production, starring Billie Piper, got strong reviews. Tuesday 2 pm and 7 pm -- $15

McKellen: Playing the Part
Wednesday: Proctors is screening McKellen: Playing the Part, a documentary about the career of Ian McKellen. "?[T]he story of ? McKellen's ?life and work are revealed ? from his upbringing during the war?...? ? ?through? his work in ?repertory and ? West End theatres, and ?- ultimately - to his becoming a pioneering stage star, ?his ?coming out (?and ?becoming a leader ?in the movement for ?equality) and his achieving? ?mainstream ?cinema success as ?both Gandalf and Magneto!" Wednesday 2 pm and 7 pm -- $9 / $6 students and seniors

Walk and talk

Historic Neighborhood Brew Tour: South End
Wednesday: Local beer historian Craig Gravina is starting up a series of neighborhood brewing history tours, and first up is Albany's South End. Wednesday 6 pm -- $10

Normanskill Farm
Wednesday: Historic Albany Foundation's "Walkabout Wednesday" series will be at the Normanskill Farm for a tour. The farm, which sits alongside the Normans Kill just off Delaware Ave, has a long history that dates back to the early 1800s (at least). Wednesday 5:30 pm -- $10

Hidden City House & Garden Tour
Thursday: The annual Hidden City House & Garden Tour returns to neighborhoods near Albany's Washington Park. This year's self-guided tour includes a look inside the "castle" at 10 Thurlow Terrace. The event is a collaboration of the Center Square Association, Hudson/Park Neighborhood Association, and Historic Albany Foundation. Thursday 5-8 pm -- $25

Creative Economy Symposium

Thursday-Friday: The Creative Economy Symposium will be at Proctors. It's a collaboration between the Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy and the Workforce Development Institute. Blurbage: "The symposium will engage the audience in a conversation about recognizing and overcoming obstacles, developing industry-specific educational curriculum, improving diversity hiring practices, and exploring the pathways to career opportunities that exist in our rural and urban communities within creative industries." Thursday-Friday various times -- $40 / $20 age 35 and under

Baseball

Thursday-Saturday: The ValleyCats return home for a three-game home stand at The Joe against Lowell. Thursday-Saturday 7 pm -- $6.50 and up

Wait Wait

Thursday: The NPR comedy quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me will be at Tanglewood to record for this week. Thursday 8 pm-- $24 and up

Swimming

Pool season is here. Some public pools and spray pads around the Capital Region are open for the season already, and more will be opening this week and next.

Strawberries

Local strawberry season has arrived in the Capital Region. Here are a bunch of farms around the area where you can pick your own.

Free summer concert series

Free summer concert season continues...

Rockin' on the River
Wednesday: The Rockin' on the River series in Troy's Riverfront Park has Super Doppler with Wurliday. Wednesday 5 pm -- free admission

Lunchtime at the Plaza
Wednesday: The Lunchtime at the Plaza series of lunchtime shows (thus the name) at the ESP has Annie in the Water. Wednesday at noon -- free

Alive at Five
Thursday: The Alive at Five series at Jennings Landing in Albany has Matisyahu with Mirk. Thursday 5 pm -- free admission

Music festivals

Looking ahead to the weekend and two music festivals...

Saratoga Jazz Festival
Friday-Sunday: The Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival is at SPAC and in Saratoga Springs. This year's headliners include Jon Baptiste with the Dap Kings, Chris Botti, and Herbie Hancock. Friday-Sunday -- various prices

Old Songs Festival

Friday-Sunday: The Old Songs Festival returns to the Altamont Fairgrounds. "Old Songs is a family-friendly festival of folk, traditional, Celtic and regional music and dance, known for its relaxed atmosphere, interactive sessions and workshops, hands-on experience and participatory nature. In addition to three concerts there are over 100 daytime workshops, dances or performances." Friday-Sunday -- various prices (all-festival adult ticket is $140)

Music

Tuesday: Alison Krauss at Tanglewood
She's won 27 Grammys. With: Steven Delopoulos. 7 pm -- $33 and up

Tuesday: Bad Bad Hats at The Linda
Indie rock. With: Future Teens, Luciano Ferrara. 8 pm -- $12

Wednesday: Bad Wolves at Upstate Concert Hall
Metal. With: From Ashes to New, Diamante, Between Now and Forever. 7:30 pm -- $18 ahead / $20 day of

Wednesday: Awakebutstillinbed at The Low Beat
Indie rock. With: The Backseat Bullets, Oh Bother. 6 pm -- $5

Wednesday: Des at Pauly's
Pop. With: The Maloy Brothers, Cold Hands. 8 pm -- $7

Thursday: Upstate Rubdown at The Hangar
"Upstate Rubdown is an acoustic septet drawing inspiration from every corner (and decade) of America's musical heritage." With: Billy Wylder, Blind Crow. 7 pm -- $12

Thursday: Goodnight Moonshine at Caffe Lena
Molly Venter from Red Molly and Eben Pariser of Roosevelt Dime. 7 pm -- $18

Friday: Ja Rule + Ashanti at The Palace
Together again. Featuring: Lloyd. 8 pm -- $38 and up

Friday: Andy Grammer at Tanglewood
Pop singer. 7 pm -- $26 and up

Friday: Houndmouth at Upstate Concert Hall
Alt rock. With: Liz Cooper & The Stampede. 8 pm -- $20 ahead / $25 day of

Friday: Mason Jennings at Helsinki Hudson
Folk pop. 9 pm -- $25

Friday: Gratefully Yours at The Hangar
Grateful Dead tribute. 8 pm -- $10

Saturday: Harry Connick Jr. at Tanglewood
"A New Orleans Tricentennial Celebration." 7 pm -- $33 and up

Saturday: The Neighbourhood at Upstate Concert Hall
Alt rock. With: Health, Field Medic. 8 pm -- $30 ahead / $33 day of

Saturday: Lindsey Webster
Contemporary jazz vocalist. 9 pm -- $20 ahead / $25 day of

Saturday: Tragedy : the All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees at The Hollow
As it says on the label. With: Hot Cousin. 8 pm -- $12

Saturday: Frank Wakefield's 84th Birthday Show at Caffe Lena
Bluegrass mandolin innovator. 8 pm -- $24

Sunday: Audra McDonald and Boston Pops at Tanglewood
An Oscar away from the EGOT. 2:30 pm -- $23 and up

Sunday: Sean Rowe at Caffe Lena
The one and only. With: Maxwell Putnam. 7 pm -- $25

Sunday: Electric Sensei + The Northway + A Delicate Motor
Experimental psych rock + math punk + Cincinnati indie. 8 pm -- $7
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These are a just a few things for this week, not a comprehensive list. Look for out "Stuff to do this weekend" list for the upcoming weekend on Friday.

Know of something people should be looking forward to this week? Please share!

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