All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Welcome to summer.

Have a lemonade and some freshly-picked stuff to do. There's baseball, strawberries, jazz, wine ... all kinds of fun things to make your weekend delicious.

Doing something that didn't make our list? Drop it in the comments so we can all see.

And whatever you're doing, have a fantastic weekend.

Food/drink

Proost
Friday: The Underground Railroad History Project hosts Proost! A Brewed and Boozy Sampling of Mid-19th Century Albany at the Myers Residence in Albany.

Moderated by culinary writer and historian Deanna Fox, 'Proost' celebrates the beer and spirits culture. Distiller Johnny Curtain, beer historian Craig Gravina, and C.H. Evan's brewer Sam Pagano will take you back in time with samples inspired by the beverages that early Americans in Albany drank. Learn how these types of alcohol were produced and how they influenced the city's culture and history.

There will be tours and an unveiling of new art in the Myers residence. Friday 6 pm -- $25

Adirondack Wine and Food Festival
Saturday-Sunday: The Adirondack Wine and Food Festival will be at the Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in Lake George Village. The family-friendly wine and food tasting event will include more than 85 New York State wine and craft beverage producers, along with artisans, food vendors, beverage and food sampling, kids activity tent, playground, skateboarding, and more. Saturday 11 am-6 pm , Sunday 11 am-5 pm -- day tickets $30 and $35 / two-day tickets $47 / $15 designated Driver tickets / kids under 15 free.

Saratoga Balloon & BBQ Festival
Friday-Sunday: The Saratoga County Fairgrounds hosts the annual Saratoga Balloon and BBQ Festival. Food, entertainment, craft vendors, and hot air balloons. Balloon rides available. Friday-Sunday, various times -- $10 adults / $15 adults weekend pass / $5 kids

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

Round Lake Antiques Festival
Saturday-Sunday: The village of Round Lake hosts its 45th annual Antiques Festival. More than 100 vendors will sell and display antiques in the parks and village greens near the center of the of Round Lake. Saturday and Sunday 9 am-5 pm -- free admission

Great Race
Sunday: An event called The Great Race will be making a stop in downtown Troy. It's a classic car road rally that, this year, stretches from Buffalo to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The rally/race includes cars up through the 1972 model year -- the rules give older cars an advantage. Previous races have include vehicles that date back as far as 1907. Troy is the stopover point for the race on Sunday. That afternoon there will be a free event downtown on River Street starting at 2 pm with activities, an extended Troy Flea, and a Brown's Brewing beer garden. The race participants will be arriving around 5 pm.

Baseball

ValleyCats
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

Albany Dutchmen
Saturday-Sunday: The Albany Dutchmen have two games this weekend at Siena. Saturday they'll take on the Mohawks and Sunday they play the Outlaws. Saturday 5 pm, Sunday 4 pm -- $5 / $4 students and seniors / $3 youth

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 concerts

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

Freedom Park
Freedom Park in Scotia hosts two free summer concerts this weekend:
+ Saturday: Funk Evolution plays a show at 7 pm
+ Sunday: There's a classical concert by The Music Company Orchestra at 7 pm

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

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

Stage

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

Chess Match No. 5
Friday: SITI Company of New York City presents Chess Match, No. 5 at Skidmore's Bernhard Theater. The play is based on texts from cooper, writer, artist and philosopher John Cage. "SITI actors Will Bond and Ellen Lauren create a unique live art performance, part chess game and part music happening, which explores the words and ideas of a visionary artist." Friday, 7:30 pm -- free

Cabaret
Friday-Sunday: The MacHaydn presents Kander and Ebb's Cabaret. Friday-Sunday -- various times and prices

Barrington Stage
Friday-Sunday: Barrington Stage presents productions of The Royal Family of Broadway and Typhoid Mary. Friday-Sunday -- various times and prices

Comedy

Maestro
Friday: Maestro, the improv elimination tournament, returns to the MopCo Improv Theater. Improvisors compete by creating scenes songs and games. Friday 8 pm -- $10 / $6 for students and 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

Johnny Lampert/Marty Caproni
Friday-Saturday: The Comedy Works presents a double bill of Johnny Lampert & Mary Caproni Friday and Saturday -- various times and prices

Pete Correale
Friday-Sunday: The Albany Funny Bone presents Pete Correale. Friday-Sunday, various times and prices

Film

Movies Under The Stars: The Lion King
Friday: Movies Under the Stars presents The Lion King on the College of Saint Rose campus. The event, presented by Christ Church Albany, includes pre-show music, activities, and free snacks and drinks. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Friday 7:30 pm -- free

RBG
The documentary RBG -- about Ruth Bader Ginsburg -- is playing at The Spectrum. It's gotten good reviews.

Drive-ins
Drive-in movie season has returned. Here's what's playing:
+ Malta: Screen 1: Incredibles 2, Solo / Screen 2: Deadpool 2, Oceans 8
+ Hollywood: Solo, Deadpool 2
+ Jericho Drive-in: Incredibles 2, Oceans 8

Find Your Way Home
Sunday: The Palace screens a filmed version of a Broadway performance of the original Irish musical Find Your Way Home, written by Albany's Jeff Strange and Jimmy Kelly. Sunday 4 pm -- $20

Museums/galleries/talks/walks

GlassBarge
Thursday-Friday: The Corning Museum of Glass Barge tour stops in Troy and Waterford. The floating glassmaking studio will be open for tours and glassblowing demonstrations.
+ Thursday and Friday in Troy from 11 am to 6 pm
+ Saturday and Sunday in Waterford from 11 am to 6 pm

Foraging & Feasting: Plant Walk, Cooking Demo & Tasting
Saturday: The Berkshire Botanical Garden is open and hosting a program on how to forage for culinary treasures in local wild foods. "Using basic sensory skills, we will survey the wild plants and herbs of the Berkshire Botanical Garden. Inside we will prep and taste a few of the delicious, nutrient-dense recipes from the instructor's book Foraging & Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook." Saturday 11 am-2 pm -- $55

The Fields Sculpture Park
Saturday is opening day for new exhibits at the Art Omi Fields Sculpture Garden. It's a fun exhibit of outdoor sculptures, and it's free and open to the public.

The Clark
The Clark's two new summer exhibitions Women Artists in Paris, 1850-1900 and The Art of Iron: Objects from the Musée Le Secq des Tournelles, Rouen, Normandy have opened.

Saratoga Auto Museum
The Saratoga Auto Museum in Spa State Park recently opened a new cars of the 1950s exhibit.

USS Slater
The USS Slater is open for the season.

State Museum
The State Museum has a few new exhibits: "A small fort, which our people call Fort Orange" and Art of the Erie Canal.

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

Albany Institute
The Albany Institute of History and Art has mummies and Hudson River School paintings.

Russian beer dance party
Saturday: The New Russia cultural Center hosts a Russian beer lovers' summer dance party. Russian beer and vintage old world music from Buenos Aires tango to Ukrainian Klezmer. Saturday 6:30 pm -- $15, cash bar

Strawberry Festival
Sunday: Harmony Hall in Charlton hosts a Strawberry Festival with music, fresh-picked strawberries, ice cream, and more. Sunday 1-3 pm -- admission $5 / $2 for kids 12 and under accompanied by an adult

Tech and Electronics flea market
Sunday: The Tech Valley Center of Gravity is hosting a technology and electronics flea market. Blurbage:

There will be a wide range of tech and electronics supplies: everything from PVC fittings and 3D printer components to model rocket parts and engines, all offered at steep discounts. Take a break from the crowds, peruse the market, and take a tour of our makerspace while you're here!

Tables are also available if you'd like to be a vendor -- they're $20. (See that link above for details.) Sunday 11 am-5 pm -- free admission

Giant Garage Sale
Saturday-Monday: Congregation Beth Emeth's giant estate and garage sale is this weekend at 100 Academy Road in Albany. Sales are cash only. (Sunday at 2 pm and Monday are bag sales.) Saturday 7- 9 pm --admission is $10 | Sunday 9 am-2 pm -- admission is free

Farmers markets
+ The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is outdoors on River Street. Saturday 9 am-2 pm
+ The Delmar Farmers Market is outside at Bethlehem Central Middle School. Saturday 9 am-1 pm
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market is outside at High Rock Park. Saturday 9 am-1 pm
+The Colonie Farmers' Market is at The Crossings. Saturday 9 am-1 pm
+ The Schenectady Greenmarket is outdoors around City Hall. Sunday 10 am-2 pm
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market is outside at 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

Albany Institute, Historic Albany, and the Mop & Bucket Company advertise on AOA.

photo: Douglas Kirkland