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 (not bad), to baseball, to the fair, to stories, to outdoor movies, to kayaking, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Sun and low 80s.

Tuesday: Some sun, small chance of afternoon showers. Upper 70s.

Wednesday: Cloudy, probably rain, maybe thunderstorms. Upper 70s.

Thursday: Sunny and 77..

Friday: Sunny and 80.

Not bad at all.

ValleyCats

Monday-Wednesday: The ValleyCats have a a three-game home stand at The Joe against Brooklyn. Wednesday has post-game fireworks. Monday-Wednesday -- $6.50 and up

Saratoga Race Course

The season at the Saratoga Race Course. There's horse racing every day except for Tuesday. The highlight this week is the 149th running of the Travers on Saturday. It's the biggest race of the season.

Washington County Fair

Monday-Sunday: The Washington County Fair is at the fairgrounds in Greenwich. It touts itself as the "New York's #1 Agricultural County Fair." Admission is $12 / children 13 and under are free. An all-week pass is $36. Free admission for all active military service members with military ID. Admission does not include carnival rides. During the fair, ride tickets are 20 for $20.

Movies

Bites Camera Action
Monday: The Bites Camera Action outdoor movie series in downtown Albany continues Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (rescheduled from July) 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: The Lion King
Tuesday: The Palace's Summer in the City series of free kid-friendly screenings will be screening The Lion King. Tuesday activities at noon / movie at 1 pm -- free

Capitol Park After Dark
Wednesday: The Capitol Park After Dark series is in West Capitol Park in Albany is showing the Hitchcock classic Vertigo. Wednesday 8 pm -- free

Arts and sciences

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

Naomi Novik
Tuesday: Nebula Award-winning author Naomi Novik will be at Northshire Saratoga to talk about her new novel Spinning Silver. Tuesday 7 pm

Warehouse District brewing history tour
Wednesday: Craig Gravina will be leading a walking tour of the brewing history of Albany's Warehouse District. "The Warehouse District is the heart of our local craft beverage industry and Craig will highlight the brewers of the neighborhood's past and present." Wednesday 6 pm -- $10

Kayak through Schenectady history
Wednesday: The Schenectady County Historical Society has a kayak our of Schenectady history led by Audrey Egleston of Amsterdam's Down by the River Tours. Wednesday 6 pm -- $20 / $10 bring your own boat

Poestenkill Community Forest walk
Thursday: The Rensselaer Land Trust's After Work Walks series has a "Poestenkill Community Forest - Where is the water in the woods?" walk. Thursday 6 pm -- free

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...

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

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

Freedom Park
+ Wednesday: The concert series in Scotia's Freedom Park has SIRSY. Wednesday 7 pm -- free
+ Saturday: Hot Club of Saratoga. Saturday 7 pm -- free
+ Sunday: Annie & The Hedonists. Sunday 7 pm -- free

Music

Monday: The Black Violin show at SPAC is sold out.

Tuesday: Godsmack + Shinedown at SPAC
Rock/metal. 7 pm -- $25 and up

Wednesday: Pentatonix at SPAC
A cappella. 8 pm -- $25 and up

Wednesday: Big Sam's Funky Nation at Parish Public House
"It's high-energy music that mixes funk, rock & roll, hip-hop, and jazz into the same pot, glueing everything together with the brassy influence -- and heavy grooves -- of New Orleans." 9 pm -- $18

Wednesday: Dave Mason & Steve Cropper "Rock & Soul Revue" at The Egg
"Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Dave Mason and Steve Cropper join and play together for the first time on one stage to deliver a night of timeless music and endless hits." 7:30 pm -- $39.50 and up

Thursday: Chris Stapleton at SPAC
Country singer/songwriter/guitarist. With: Marty Stuart, Brent Cobb. 7 pm -- $35 and up

Friday: Roomful of Teeth at MASS MoCA
Grammy-winning vocal ensemble. 8 pm -- $16 ahead / $26 day of

Friday: John Hiatt and The Goners featuring Sonny Landreth at The Egg
"John Hiatt reunites with the Goners featuring slide guitar virtuoso Sonny Landreth to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the release of their classic album, 'Slow Turning'." 8 pm -- $39.50 and up

Friday-Saturday: Livingston Taylor at Caffe Lena
Folk singer/songwriter royalty. 8 pm -- $60

Friday: Souly Had at Lucky Strike Jupiter Hall
R&B. With: Austin Awake, Johnny 2 Phones, D3V, P.A. Soul. 7 pm -- $15 ahead / $20 day of

Friday: The Blasters at The Hangar
"Blasters shows have been described as a cross between Creedence and the Clash, with a display of passion and energy only deepened by decades of experience." 8 pm -- $25

Friday: Front Business + NXNES x Pink Nois at The Hollow
Funk rock + neo soul. 8 pm

Friday: Donnybrook Fair at The Egg
Irish folk. 7:30 pm -- $29.50

Sunday: The Wailin' Jennys at The Egg
Folk/bluegrass. 7:30 pm -- $39.50 and up

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

Sunday: The David Bromberg show at Caffe Lena is sold out.

To do list

1. All the summer things. This is it, we're into the second half of August. All those summer things you've been wanting to do? The time to do them is now!

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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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photo via Chris Stapleton website