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 (scorching), to pools, to July 4th, to the stage, to baseball, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Sunny and scorching. High near 101.

Tuesday: Sunny, maybe a thunderstorm. Upper 90s.

Wednesday: Sunny, maybe thunderstorms. Mid 90s.

Thursday: Sunny, maybe thunderstorms. Mid 90s.

Friday: Some sun, probably some rain and thunderstorms. Upper 80s.

Hot. Hot. Hot.

Fourth of July

It's Wednesday, of course. We'll have our roundup of places to watch fireworks on Monday.

The biggest display will be at the Empire State Plaza's annual celebration. This year's music lineup includes Moriah Formica (5:30 pm) and Smash Mouth (7:45 pm). The fireworks start at 9:15 pm.

Swimming

It's a good week for being at the pool. Most of the public pools and spray pads around the Capital Region are now open for the season, including those in the city of Albany.

Stage

WTF
The Williamstown Theatre Festival continues its new season this week with productions of The Closet (starring Matthew Broderick) and The Sound Inside (starring Mary-Louise Parker). Tuesday-Sunday various times -- various prices

Park Playhouse
Tuesday-Saturday: The Park Playhouse's first production of the summer season in Washington Park is Damn Yankees. Tuesday-Saturday 8 pm -- lawn seats free / reserved seats $14 and up

Baseball

Thursday-Monday: The ValleyCats have a six-game home stand at The Joe starting with a three-game series against Vermont. Wednesday-Monday various times -- $6.50 and up

Ballet on screen

Proctors is screening the filmed versions of two ballets this week:
+ Tuesday: Bolshoi Ballet - "Coppélia." 2 pm and 6:30 pm -- $15
+ Thursday: The Royal Ballet - "Swan Lake." 2 pm and 6:30 pm -- $15

Strawberries

Local strawberry season has been in progress around Capital Region for a few weeks, and it might be starting to fade at some farms. Here are a bunch of farms around the area where you can pick your own.

Cherries
But cherry season just started and it only lasts a couple of weeks or so. There aren't a bunch of places that offer pick your own, but a few that do: Samascott in Kinderhook and Fix Bros. near Hudson.

Free summer concert series

July 4th break
Rockin' on the River, Alive at Five, and Lunchtime at the Plaza are all off this week because of July 4th.

Freedom Park
+ Saturday: The concert series in Scotia's Freedom Park has Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra. Saturday 7 pm -- free
+ Sunday: The Lustre Kings are at Freedom Park. Sunday 7 pm -- free

Harbor Jam
Saturday: The Harbor Jam series at Mohawk Harbor has Pure Prairie League. Saturday 6 pm -- free

Music Haven
Sunday: The Music Haven series in Schenectady's Central Park opens its season with Bombino. 7 pm -- free

Music

Monday: Steve Miller Band + Peter Frampton at Tanglewood
In the Koussevitzky Music Shed. 7 pm -- $33

Tuesday: Tedeschi Trucks Band at SPAC
With: The Drive-by Truckers and the Marcus King Band. 7 pm -- $19.50 and up

Tuesday-Wednesday: The James Taylor shows at Tanglewood are sold out. (Because they always are.)

Wednesday: Ray LaMontagne + Neko Case at Ommegang
Outside at the brewery in Cooperstown. 7 pm -- $55

Thursday: Blind Crow at Caffe Lena
Progressive bluegrass. 7 pm -- $16

Friday: Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood
Opening night for the BSO season at Tanglewood featuring star pianist Lang Lang. 8 pm -- $23 and up

Friday: Opera Saratoga: "Rocking Horse Winner" + "Vinkensport, or The Finch Opera" at SPAC
American premiere for the The Rocking Horse Winner. 2 pm -- $50 and up

Friday: Sami Stevens + Kazemde George at Parish Public House
Jazz/R&B. With: The Age. 9 pm -- $10

Saturday: WGNA Countryfest at SPAC
Lineup includes Rascal Flatts, Dan + Shay, Carly Pearce. 4 pm -- $28 and up

Saturday: Bernstein's On the Town at Tanglewood
"Keith Lockhart leads the Boston Pops in a complete, semi-staged performance of Bernstein's hit musical..." 8 pm -- $23 and up

Saturday: Jonatha Brooke
Folk pop singer/songwriter. 6 pm and 8 pm -- $60

Saturday: The Nels Cline 4 at Helsinki Hudson
From Wilco. 9 pm -- $25

Saturday: LADAMA at MASS MoCA
"An ensemble of women who hail from every corner of the Americas, LADAMA performs a Pan-Latin blend of original music and traditional songs." 8:30 pm -- $12 ahead / $22 day of

Saturday: Opera Saratoga: "The Consul" at SPAC
"It is torn out of the life of the present-day world, and poses an issue which mercilessly confronts humanity today.". 7:30 pm -- $50 and up

Saturday: Aaron Rhoades at The Hollow
EP release show. With: Aaron Rizzo, The Forever Orchestra. 8 pm -- $9.50

Sunday: Opera Saratoga: "The Merry Widow" at SPAC
"One of the most popular operettas across the globe, The Merry Widow, returns to Opera Saratoga for the first time in thirty years." 2 pm -- $50 and up

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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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