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 (steamy), to the track, to bobblehead night, to writers, to history, to beer, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Showers and thunderstorms. Low 80s.

Tuesday: Some sun, maybe some rain. Upper 80s.

Wednesday: Cloudy, probably rain. Mid 80s.

Thursday: Rain and maybe a thunderstorm. Low 80s.

Friday: Some sun, maybe rain and a thunderstorm. Mid 80s.

Steamy.

Saratoga Race Course

This the first full week of the new season at the Saratoga Race Course. There's horse racing every day except for Tuesday. Wednesday is Military Appreciation Day -- all veterans and active-duty military members get free grandstand admission with military ID.

ValleyCats

Tuesday: The ValleyCats open a six-game home stand at The Joe with a series against Auburn. Tuesday is Jose Altuve bobblehead night. And Wednesday is Christmas in July night with fireworks following. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $6.50 and up

Saratoga County Fair

Tuesday-Sunday: County fair season starts off in the region with the Saratoga County Fair at the fairgrounds in Ballston Spa. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- admission $12 / season ticket $30 / kids 52 inches and smaller free / unlimited ride wristband $20

Movies

Bites Camera Action RESCHEDULED TO AUGUST 20
Monday: The Bites Camera Action outdoor movie series in downtown Albany will be showing Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. The movie will be on the big video screens outside the TU Center. South Pearl will be closed from Beaver to Hudson starting at 6:30 pm. And Youth FX films will be screened at 7 pm. Monday 7:30 pm -- free

Summer in the City: Coco
Tuesday: The Palace's Summer in the City series of free kid-friendly screenings will be screening the most recent The Lego Batman Movie. Tuesday activities at noon / movie at 1 pm -- free

Bolshoi Ballet
Thursday: Proctors is showing a filmed version of the Bolshoi Ballet's production of Coppélia in the GE Theater. Thursday 2 pm and 7 pm -- $15

Summer Writers Institute

This is the last week of the NYS Summer Writers Institute's open-to-the-public readings by authors at Skidmore. This week's schedule:
+ Monday: Novelist William Kennedy (Ironweed, Roscoe) and Non-Fictionist Jim Miller (author Democracy Is In The Streets, Flowers in the Dustbin)
+ Tuesday: Novelist Ann Beattie (Walks With Men, The New Yorker Stories) and Novelist Jonathan Dee (The Locals, The Privileges, A Thousand Pardons)
+ Wednesday: Novelist Joyce Carol Oates (Zombie, Blonde, Carthage) -- in Gannett Auditorium
+ Thursday: Novelist-Memoirist Jamaica Kincaid (See Now Then, Autobiography Of My Mother, Lucy) and Poet Henri Cole (Nothing To Declare, Touch)
+ Friday: Novelist-memoirist Howard Norman (Next Life Might Be Kinder, The Bird Artist, The Museum Guard) and Novelist-Poet Victoria Redel (Loverboy, The Border Of Truth)

The events are in Palamountain Hall at Skidmore. Monday-Friday 8 pm -- free

Stage

Ring of Fire
Tuesday-Sunday: Capital Repertory Theatre continues its production of the Johnny Cash musical Ring of Fire. (It was in previews this past weekend.) Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $25 and up

WTF
Tuesday-Sunday: The Williamstown Theatre Festival continues this week with the musical Lempicka, starring Carmen Cusack and Eden Espinosa. And on Wednesday a production starts of Seared, a new comedy by Theresa Rebeck. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- various prices

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

Arts and sciences

Science on Tap
Tuesday: The Saratoga chapter of the Science on Tap series will be at Artisanal Brew Works for a talk by Kyle Nichols of Skidmore's Department of Geosciences about the "Origin and Evolution of The Grand Canyon." Tuesday 6 pm -- free, but registration required because of space limitations

Art for Lunch
Wednesday: There's another "Art for Lunch" midday tour of the Empire State Plaza's art collection. Wednesday 12-12:30 pm -- free

South End: Past and Future - The Journey to Rapp Road and Beyond
Wednesday: Members of the Rapp Road Historical Association will be at the Albany Public Library's Howe Branch for talk about the Great Migration, and the path people followed from Mississippi to the South End and then to the Pine Bush. And there will be a display photos using augmented reality. "They will also share new opportunities for studying and sharing your own family histories." Wednesday 6 pm -- free, registration requested

Historic brew tour of Center Square
Wednesday: Local beer historian Craig Gravina of the Albany Ale Project leads a walking tour of the brewing history of Albany's Center Square neighborhood. Wednesday 6 pm -- $10

Lincoln in Albany
Thursday: Mr. Albany Archives -- Matt Malette -- leads a Historic Albany Foundation walking tour tracing Abraham Lincoln's visit to Albany in 1861. "Learn about the buildings and the people Lincoln encountered during his visit, and how this one day in Albany history is tied to events that led to his assassination." Thursday 5:30 pm -- $10

Swimming

Here's a big list of public pools and spray pads around the Capital Region now open for the season.

Free summer concert series

Free summer concert season continues...

Rockin' on the River
The Rockin' on the River series in Troy's Riverfront Park has Almost Queen, with The Troy Music Academy All-Stars. 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 Olde Time Dance Band. Wednesday at noon -- free

At The Plaza
Wednesday: The At The Plaza series of events at the ESP has Blue Oyster Cult in concert, with Kristen Capolino. Wednesday 5:30 pm -- free

Alive at Five
Thursday: The Alive at Five series at Jennings Landing in Albany has Yonder Mountain String Band, with Blind Crow. Thursday 5 pm -- free admission

Upbeat on the Roof
Thursday: The Upbeat on the Roof series at the Tang Museum on the Skidmore campus has Golfstrom. Thursday 7 pm -- free

Freedom Park
+ Wednesday: The concert series in Scotia's Freedom Park has Swamp Drivers. Wednesday 7 pm -- free
+ Saturday: Rattail Jimmy. Saturday 7 pm -- free
+ Sunday: Maria Z Ensemble. Sunday 7 pm -- free

Harbor Jam
Saturday: The Harbor Jam series at Mohawk Harbor has Lords of 52nd Street, a Billy Joel tribute. Saturday 6 pm -- free

Music Haven
Sunday: The Music Haven series in Schenectady's Central Park has Lakou Mizik, with Bonga & the Vodou Drums of Haiti. 7 pm -- free

Music

Tuesday: A$AP Ferg at Upstate Concert Hall
Hip hop. With: IDK direct, Buddy 1/3. 8 pm -- $30 ahead / $33 day of

Tuesday: JD McPherson at Helsinki Hudson
Rockabilly/blues. With: Sam Lewis. 8 pm -- $25

Wednesday: Wiz Khalifa + Rae Sremmurd at SPAC
The "Dazed and Blazed Summer Tour." With: Lil Skies and O.T. Genasis. 6 pm -- $25 and up

Wednesday: Amanda Shires at The Egg
Singer/songwriter/violinist. With: Sean Rowe. 8 pm -- $29.50 and up

Wednesday: Terrapin Flyer featuring Scott Guberman at Parish Public House
"Terrapin Flyer is a premier nationally touring Grateful Dead band featuring the best musicians in the Grateful Dead extended family." 9 pm -- $12 ahead / $15 at door

Thursday: Janet Jackson at SPAC
Miss Jackson, if you're... well, you know. 8 pm -- $30 and up

Thursday: The Blind Spots at Parish Public House
Indie pop rock. 9 pm -- $10

Friday: Kenny Wayne Shepherd + Beth Hart at The Palace
Each playing a full set. 7:30 pm -- $34.75 and up

Friday: The Brothers Four at Caffe Lena
"Yes, it's the Brothers Four that you remember from the hey-day of the folk revival!" 7 pm and 9 pm -- $50

Friday: Devon Allman Project at The Egg
With: Duane Betts. 8 pm -- $35

Saturday: Lindsey Stirling + Evanescence at SPAC
With full orchestra. 7 pm -- $25 and up

Saturday: Bang on a Can Marathon 2018 at MASS MoCA
"More than 60 performers in more than 20 performances make up 6 hours of magical music and mayhem." 4-10 pm -- $12 ahead / $22 day of

Saturday: Mary Fahl at Caffe Lena
From October Project. 8 pm -- $30

Saturday: Mirk Ice Cream Social at The Hollow
Mirk, Front Business, The Age. 9 pm

Sunday: John Fogerty at SPAC
Pavilion-only show. 7:30 pm -- $39.50 and up

Sunday: Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan at Caffe Lena
As it says on the label. 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm -- $65

Sunday: The Bacon Brothers at The Egg
Kevin and Michael. 8 pm -- $34.50 and up

Sunday: A Joyful Noise! Gospel Brunch at Caffe Lena
Gospel music + brunch from Hattie's. 1 pm -- $35

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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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