Tonight at dinner we mentioned to the kids that we’re going on a date on Wednesday. We’re going to see The Airborne Toxic Event at Northern Lights. “A concert!” M protested. “Why don’t we ever go to a concert?!?” Oh, you have, I assured them. “When?” J demanded. “When have we ever gone to a concert?” At this I hedge. They actually haven’t been to a concert recently. The most recent performance was the ballet. But I swear, we used to be at all the Jazz on Jays when they were little. We were as ubiquitous at live music as the old lady who’s always dancing in Schenectady. Oh, crap. Just typing this has made me realize the last concert that they saw, which was the Zucchini Brothers at Kids Art Day in Schenectady. Dang. But the girls are asleep. At the time, our comebacks were:

W: “You can always check the Thursday paper for concert listings, then save your allowance and buy a ticket to a concert.”

–and–

K: “When I asked in June what you wanted to do this summer, you said Adirondacks, camping, and seeing cousins. You’ve done all that. Nobody’s mentioned concerts until this minute, but there are plenty of free concerts if you want to go.”

Basically, we were all pretty grouchy from having had waaaay too much fun with the relatives all weekend. So I’m looking forward to our Wednesday grown-ups-only date. And meanwhile, I’ll see if the girls want to go to one of the many free concerts this week.

All Week:

• This is the last week for William K. Sanford-Colonie Library‘s many summer programs.
• Tuesday through Friday (and through the weekend/week, there’s Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. at the Park Playhouse in Albany’s Washington Park at 5:30 pm).

Monday, August 1st:

• Starting today at 9:30 am, there’s a 5-session series on Creative Stitches for ages 9 and up at the Bethlehem Public Library. It’s every morning from 9:30 am until noon this week, and attendance at all sessions is required.
  
• The Tri-City Valleycats have an 11 am game today.
• Go on a Scavenger Hunt at 11 am at Moreau Lake today.
• Experience Starlab in a portable planetarium at Up Yonda Farm at 1 pm. It’s $5/person.This program is available on Tuesday and Thursday, too.
• At 2 pm, kids 5 and up can enjoy some Summer Science learning about Moving Pictures at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga. $2/child.
• Kids ages 3 and up can Travel to South America with a variety of crafts at the Bethlehem Public Library.
• The Colonie Town Band is playing at 7 pm at Cook Park in Colonie.
• Try some Family Tai Chi at 7 pm on the green at the Bethlehem Public Library. Sign-up is required.

Tuesday, August 2nd:

• Take a Mud Pond Hike from 9-11 am today at Moreau Lake.
• Bowtie Cinemas in Schenectady is showing Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader for free today and tomorrow. Doors open at 9:30 am, movies are at 10 am.
• Regal Cinemas in Crossgates is showing Cats and Dogs: Revenge and the Legend of the Guardians  today and tomorrow at 10 am. Tickets are $1.
• At 10:30 am, learn about water wildlife at a Pond Series program at Wilton Wildlife Preserve.
  
• Experience Starlab in a portable planetarium at Up Yonda Farm at 1 pm. It’s $5/person.This program is available on  Thursday, too.
• At 1:30 pm it’s Kindergarten Boot Camp at the Bethlehem Public Library.
• There’s a Magic Treehouse Party from 2-3 pm at the East Greenbush Public Library. Register online.
• At 2 pm at the Guilderland Public Library, there’s World Music and Dance with Homespun Occasions.
• Peg Delaney is performing at 6:30 pm at Cook Park in Colonie.
• It’s a Schenectady County Movie Night, showing Despicable Me at Vale Park in Schenectady at 7 pm.
• Go on a Firefly Watch at 8 pm at Five Rivers. Call to register.

Wednesday, August 3rd:

• Bowtie Cinemas in Schenectady is showing Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader for free today. Doors open at 9:30 am, movies are at 10 am.
• egal Cinemas in Crossgates is showing Cats and Dogs: Revenge and the Legend of the Guardians  today at 10 am. Tickets are $1.
• It’s Music Mobile, a free music program for children, at Central Park in Schenectady at 10 am.
• Take a Family Nature Hike at 10 am at Thacher.
• From 10-11:30 am, it’s ‘Tute for Tots at the Albany Institute of History & Art.  Preschoolers can do Watercolor Resist art for $7/non-member.
• Take a Guided Fishing Trip from 10 am to noon on Moreau Lake. Spaces are limited.
• At 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm, the Puppet People will be presenting The Firebird at Saratoga Springs Public Library. They’ll be distributing free tickets at the library.
• Do an art Project with Peggy from 1-3 pm at the New York State Museum.
• Ages 12-15 can participate in Summer in the City Workshops from 1-4 pm at the Albany Institute of History & Art. Tuition is $20/non-member, and you can register online. Today’s theme is Pattern.
• At 5 pm, Start Making Sense, a Talking Heads Tribute Band, is playing at Rockin’ on the River in Troy.
• From 6-8 pm, there’s Family Folk Dancing at Albany’s Pine Hill Branch Library.
• The Joey Thomas Big Band is playing at Freedom Park in Scotia at 7 pm.
• The Rogues is playing rock music at the Town of Niskayuna Gazebo at 7 pm.
• Andy the Music Man will be performing at 7 pm at Clifton Park Common (it’s on page 12 of the booklet linked).

Thursday, August 4th:

• The Albany Institute of History & Art has Thursday Art Workshops. Ages 6 to 8 meet from 9 am to noon, and ages 9 to 11 meet from 1-4 pm. The cost is $20/non-member, and you can register online. Today’s theme is Silvery Vessels.
• At 11 am, Ruth Pelham and the Music Mobile will be at Congress Park in Saratoga Springs.
• It’s Jazz on Jay in downtown Schenectady at noon.
  
• Experience Starlab in a portable planetarium at Up Yonda Farm at 1 pm. It’s $5/person.
• Live’s Ed Kowalcyzk with Mission Hill are playing at Alive at Five in downtown Albany.
• It’s the Annual Ice Cream Social at 6 pm at Wiswall Park in Ballston Spa.
• At 6:30 pm, Two Broads with Alotta Sound are performing at the Crossings in Colonie.
• At the East Greenbush Public Library, it’s Family Movie Night at 6:30 pm–tonight’s show is Rango.
• It’s Children’s Circle at 6:30 pm at the Bethlehem Public Library. This program is created with special-needs children in mind.
• At 7 pm, it’s Ruth Pelham and the Music Mobile at Music Haven in Schenectady’s Central Park.
• Take a Twilight Paddle from 7-9 pm at Moreau Lake. Bring your own canoe or kayak or rent one for $15.
• Boptitude is playing jazz at Freedom Park in Scotia at 7 pm.
• Guilderland Town Band will be playing at 7:30 pm at Guilderland Performing Arts Center at Tawasentha Park.

Friday, August 5th:

• Ages 3 and up are invited to Trickster Tales at the East Greenbush Public Library. Puppet show and craft. Register online.
• At 2:30 pm it’s Summer Cinema at the Bethlehem Public Library. Today’s selection is Jumanji.
• Classic Theater Guild presents the free Helderberg Theater Festival’s Alice in Wonderland at Indian Ladder Farm tonight at 6 pm and through the weekend.
• Enjoy Campfire Stores at 8 pm  at Up Yonda Farm. It’s $5/person.
• The Tri-City Valleycats have a home game tonight.