Category — Art

Okay, really?  This weekend is ridiculous.  There’s so much going on.  About ten different fair/festival-type events, along with so much more.  This is when I wish that organizers would get together somehow and coordinate a little bit better, because there’s just way too much to choose from.   Anyone have recommendations about what’s worth doing?  Here’s what I’ve collected:

All Weekend:

• Steamer 10 Theatre will be showing The Good (& Bad) Faeries of Nottingham.
• Okay, it’s about an hour northeast of us, but perhaps worth the trip?  The Cambridge Balloon Festival is all weekend, starting Friday with its first balloon launch and fireworks.  Anyone ever gone to this?
• It’s Charlton Founders’ Weekend.  Celebrated on Saturday and Sunday with a variety of events including a run, a parade, and free ice cream.
• NYSTI is presenting Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. beginning on Saturday through June 18th.
• Kingston is holding Timefest, its city-wide celebration of history, from 11 am to 5 pm on Saturday & Sunday.  This is about an hour south of here, so not necessarily convenient unless you happen to be down there picking organic strawberries.
• St. Basil’s in Troy has a Greek Festival all weekend.
• Saturday’s National Learn to Row Day (yeah, who knew, right?).  Celebrate in Niskayuna from 10 am to 2 pm, or on Sunday with Schenectady-Guilderland-Scotia-Glenville Crew.   This is an activity for middle-school-aged kids and up.

Friday evening, June 4th:

• It’s First Friday in Albany from 5-9 pm.
• It’s Ballston Spa First Friday from 6-9 pm.  During the summer, this will include a family-oriented film at 9 pm in Wiswall Park.  Tonight’s is Coraline.  Personally, those crazy button-eyes creeped me out way too much in the preview, but maybe  some of you can handle it. . . .
• At 7 pm, the Guilderland Public Library will be showing Swiss Family Robinson.  I’ve got to say:  I love the Guilderland Public Library.  It’s one of my favorites, and since I’ve been to programs at at least 6 or 8 different local libraries (because I am a wanton library whore), that’s saying something.  But when I first heard that they were doing Friday night Disney movies, I kind of rolled my eyes.  Like, we don’t have enough of the freakin’ Disney movies, right?  So I was ever so pleased that they are kickin’ it old school with this one, Mary Poppins, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, and Treasure Island.  Yeah, baby!  And there will be popcorn.
• There’s an Alternative Prom from 7-11 pm for LGBT youth aged 13 to 19 at Revolution Hall in Troy.  It’s  $10.

Saturday, June 5th

• Celebrate National Trails Day by spending the morning doing trail work at Grafton Lakes State Park or Thacher State Park or Dyken Pond.  Sorry–if I had processed this sooner I would have told y’all to register a few days ago to get some free barbecue out of the deal, but maybe you can pack a lunch?
• It’s Art Gone Wild at Five Rivers from 9 am to 4 pm.  Some art, some nature, with music thrown in.  Some projects might include a nominal fee.
• It’s the Freihofer’s Run for Women at 10 in downtown Albany.  This is a big deal–world-class runners and regular folks.  There’s a kids’ run at 11 am, and Andy the Music Man will be playing at 10 am by the kids’ registration table in the concourse.
• From 10 am to 2 pm, the Schenectady County Historical Society is celebrating Heritage Weekend with walking tours of the Stockade, crafts, and tours of the museum.  Check out the Schenectady County site for a list of various activities.   They’ll also be teaching how to use a drop spindle from 9 am to noon at Mabee Farm.
• There’s a Town of Niskayuna Arts Fair from 10 am to 4 pm.  Free.
• There’s a Sheep and Wool Gathering from 10 am to 4 pm at the Thacher Nature Center.  Learn about traditional wool crafts like spinning, felting, and knitting. They’ve canceled this due to a bad weather forecast–hoping to reschedule later this summer.
• It’s the Lupine Festival from 10 am to 4 pm at the Albany Pine Bush.  Two random handy facts about lupines:  Miss Rumphius is a lovely picture book about lupines and it’s pronounced loo-pin, not loo-pine, which is the adjective meaning wolf-like.  I don’t know why, but I always get those confused.  Or not, you know, always, but when I’m thinking about blue wildflowers native to this area.  Which is more often than you’d expect.  Free.
• At 10:30 am, there’s a Family History Walk by the Rensselaer County Historical Society leaving from the market table at the Troy Waterfront Farmer’s Market.  Free for members, $10/non-member family.  Suggested for families with kids ages 5 and up–find clues about Troy’s history.
• Take Time Out for Tales at the Bethlehem Public Library at 11 am.
• Friendly’s is serving free ice cream from noon to 5 pm.  Don’t ask why.  Just say, “yes, please.”
• From 12-6 pm, the Albany Riverfront Park will have a Say It Loud!  Black and Latino Gay Pride celebration.  There are free activities for kids 5-12, music & performances, and free food.
• Schenectady is having its annual Kids Art Festival from noon to 4 pm.  This event is geared toward preschool and young school-aged children.  We’ve gone and had fun.  Come to think of it, I believe that it was at this festival that we took the now-famous (sort of) business card photo of J.
• From 1-2:30 pm, Peter McCarty will be signing two of his recent picture books at the Open Door Bookstore.
• At 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology, there’s a program for the 5-and-over crowd called Up in the Air in which, among other things, they’ll make mini hot-air balloons to take home.  $2/non-member and pre-registration is required.  A perfect complement to the Cambridge Balloon Festival, right?
• Join Clifford the Big Red Dog at the Lansingburgh Branch Library to explore the new Raising Readers Library Corner from 1-3 pm.
• It’s the NY Shout Out:  Youth Media Festival:  there’s a workshop for teenagers starting at 1 pm, and a showcase of youth media from 7-10 pm.  Suggested donation for the evening event is $10/person, the workshop is a sliding scale, $20 to $40.
• At 3 pm, the gates open at Schaghticoke Fairgrounds for the Western Festival and Championship Rodeo, which will start at 7 pm.  Bouncy-bounce and pony rides.  $12/adult, $7/kids 6 and over, and kids 5 and under free.

Sunday, June 6th

• At 9 am in Saratoga Springs, it’s the Cantina Fun Run for families.
• From 11 am to 12:30 pm, Shannon Hayes, author of Radical Homemakers:  Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture, will be signing books at the Open Door Bookstore in Schenectady.
• At 1 pm, the Town of Clifton Park is hosting their annual Family Bike Ride–it’s a casual bike ride with commentary and stops for refreshments.  Free, and no pre-registration required.
• In Saratoga Springs, the Caroline Street Arts & Blues Fest and Chili Cookoff will be from 1-7 pm.  The Children’s Museum will be running kids’ activities.
• At 3:30 pm, there’s a Community Concert at Algonquin Middle School.  It’s free, but donations are accepted.

Once again, plenty to do for kids and families in the beautiful, sunshiny, tulip-strewn Capital District!
Here’s the weekend list, but as always, you can also check the Big Ol’ List for regularly scheduled events.  Headed outside?  Don’t forget that the farmers’ markets are all outside now; or take a hike or visit a playground (and then tell me about it, pretty please).
All Weekend:

• Tulip Festival in Albany
• Baby Animal Daze begin at Indian Ladder Farm from on May 8th.  Do you think that there’s any chance that if you go on the first day, you’ll beat the rush?  Alas, probably not.  $5/child, adults are free.

Friday evening, May 7:

• It’s First Friday Albany from 5-9 pm.  The Albany Art Room will be open late, too.
• It’s First Friday in Ballston Spa from 6-9 pm.
• From 6-8:30 pm tonight, Globally Minded Teens and Tweens are invited to the Ballston Spa Location of the Capital Region Language Center to meet representatives of various fair trade & social justice activists as well as exchange students and other youth.
• There’s a parade tonight in honor of Ballston Spa native and Olympian Trevor Marsicano.  It steps off at 6:30 pm–see the TU’s Ballston Spa Blog for details.
• It’s Tween Night Out from 7-9 pm at William K. Sanford Library.  Snacks, videogames, pizza–plan to bring $2.  For kids in grades 5-8.
• Go on a Frog Watch at Five Rivers at 7 pm.
• The Brown School is performing Singin’ in the Rain at 7:30 tonight and Saturday night, $5/person.
• At 7:30 pm, there’s a free Trumpet and Organ Concert at the Saratoga Spring United Methodist Church.  It’s free.
• The movie Babies premieres tonight!  I so want to see this–anybody else?  I think that the only place locally that it’s showing is at the Spectrum.

Saturday, May 8:

• From 7:30 to 9:30 am, take a Bird Walk at Albany Pine Bush.  $2/person, $5/family; please pre-register.
• They’re planning a free bird walk at Wilton Wildlife Preserve for today, but the time hadn’t been set.  Follow the link for a phone number to call (I didn’t call, this time, out of a paranoid fear that it was the cell phone of a volunteer–it’s late).  Pre-registration is required.
• From 9 am to 4 pm there’s a Car and Truck Show at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta.  $10 per carload, and it goes to charity.  Rain date’s Sunday.
• There are two Birding outings at Five Rivers today–one at 9 am, and a more kid-friendly version at 2 pm.  Call to register.
• The Town of Sand Lake will have a morning parade of Things That Go. . . It didn’t list the time, but vehicles will be meeting at Butler Park at 9 am.
• It’s March for Parks starting at 9 amat Grafton Lakes State Park.  5k or 10k walk and a picnic.
• Starting at 9:30 am, it’s the Waterford Riverspark Canal Festival.  It’s free, and Malta Mama’s got more information.
• At 10:30 am at the Bethlehem Public Library, there’s a session of Bring your Mom to Balletone.  Bring your child in grade 2-12 with you and get a workout.
• At 11 am, there’s a Scents Sense activity for kids 3 and up to do with an adult’s help at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology.  You’ll learn about smells and make Mom some perfume.  $2/non-member, and you need to pre-register.  Also, moms and grandmas get into the museum for free today.
• From 11 am to 2 pm, it’s the Busy Bone 500 at the Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa.  Dog walk, pet tricks, and more.  See the TU’s Ballston Spa Blog (wow!  twice in one post) for more information.
• At 1 pm, the Puppet People will be presenting a puppet show followed by a puppet-making craft at the Lansingburgh Branch Library.  For ages 3 and over; call to register; space is limited.
• Learn about Pond Life at Up Yonda Farm at 1 pm.  $4/person.
• At 2 pm, there’s a Sitar and Vocal Concert at William K. Sanford (Colonie) Library.
• Members of the Empire State Youth Orchestra will present a concert at 3 pm at SUNY Albany.  It’s $10/adult, $6/student.
• At 6 pm at The Linda, there’s a Youth FX Benefit Screening of teen filmakers’ works.  Suggested donation is $5-10.

Sunday, May 9:

• Starting today and continuing for one week, Clifton Park-Halfmoon parents or grandparent of a newborn up to 6 months can stop into the library for a special Books for Babies gift.
• From 10 am to 4 pm, Scoharie Valley Farms will have a Mother’s Day Celebration.
• From 1-4 pm, there’s Art for All at the Albany Institute of History & Art–they’ll be making Fabric Collage Tulips.  Speaking of the museum, they’re selling tickets to a special Tulip Tea for next weekend–tickets might be a nice Mother’s Day gift for someone.
• At the Arts Center of the Capital District in Troy, it’s Family Day Sunday from 1-2:30 pm.  Today’s is Mother’s Day Story Play.  It’s $5/child.
• Go For a Walk with Mom at the Albany Pine Bush at 1 pm. $2/person, $5/family; please pre-register.

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone!  And let me know about other weekend events via email or comments!

I’m having one of those weeks when every time I go to the grocery store I forget something essential.  So yesterday I had to run to the store for olives for a meal, and I forgot that we were almost out of milk.  Today I thought that we could just stop at Stewarts on our bike ride for milk.  Umm, you can’t actually take two kids on a bike ride to Stewarts on a beautiful day and only buy milk.  Or maybe someone tougher than I could.

And now I am procrastinating, with a dirty bathroom and dinner to cook.  At least I’m not going to be hunched over the computer at 11:30 tonight (knock on wood).

April is poetry month. When I look for various events, I keep stumbling on poetry, so I thought that I’d corral them here in a single post for you.

• This weekend, Albany Poets kick off the 2010 Albany Word Fest with a Youth Open Mic on Friday the 16th at 5 pm at UAG Gallery.
• At Guilderland Public Library, they’re growing a Poet Tree.  Kids and youth can write a poem anytime this month and it will be displayed.
• Bethlehem Public Library has a Go Green! poetry contest.  You can register online, and then winners will be announced at their Poetry Slam on May 1st at 2:30 pm.
• On Sunday, April 18th, they’ll be doing Nature Journaling at Albany Pine Bush including poetry.  This activity is for kids 8 and up.
• The East Greenbush Library is running a Haiku Contest for teens.  The due date is April 22nd.
• At Schenectady Library‘s Family Literacy Day, get Pumped Up for Poetry.  It’s from 2-3 pm on April 25th.
• On April 24th, the Saratoga Springs Barnes & Noble has a storytime devoted to Fancy Nancy: Poet Extraordinaire at 11 am.

If your child is not fond of speaking or writing in verse, here are some other creative outlets:

• The National Museum of Dance is opening a new gallery devoted to k-12 student art, and they’re looking for artists.The Guilderland Public Library is running an “A Day in the Life of. . .” photo contest for grades 4 to 10.  Submission deadline is April 30th.  See details.
• Teens will be interviewing senior citizens in May & June in order to write a book of their favorite stories as part of a program with the East Greenbush Library. Contact the library for details.
• There’s a children’s Picture Book Writing Contest for the upcoming Children’s Book Festival.  It’s for grades 4 to 12, and entries must be postmarked by April 23rd.
• Okay, this one doesn’t quite fit the topic, but I think it’s a good idea.  The Guilderland Public Library has a Tween Advisory Board for tweens who want to be involved in the library, and new members are welcome, although you’re supposed to register for meeings.  The next one is May 27th at 4 pm.

Perhaps you all think that I’ve been Slacky-McSlackster because it has been the longest stretch ever that I’ve gone without a post.  Au contraire!  I am systematically going through all of those links I put together to try to get on everyone’s email lists and RSS feeds to serve you better!  And it all takes more time than I expected, of course.  So I was sitting here working on this and it occurred to me that perhaps you didn’t pore over the entire link page (like I did).  Therefore, may I please call your attention to some items that I am excited about?

Albany Art Room As soon as I found this I started hearing about it everywhere, like on NPR and linked hither, thither, and yon.   But before that I’d never heard of it.  A bunch of art supplies, do what you want.  Also clay and pottery classes for kids.  It sounds like the kind of thing that’s more about passion for art than making money, so I just want to support it and go.  It’s on our list, can’t wait to try it.

Hyde Collection I’d heard of this museum, and in all fairness, I used to work in an historic house, so it’s my cup o’ tea.  But poking around their website made me excited, because I have a feeling that they’ve got an attitude that I like.  First, suggested donation!  I love it!  And not just because I’m cheap (although you know I am), but philosophically, I think that luring people in, making them love you, and then asking for money is the way to go, if it’s at all economically feasible.  And then, they have a regular weekly free after-school art program.  I like that. I wish more places would do that sort of thing, especially because as a former museum educator, I know how grateful people are.  I could rant about this for several paragraphs, but I’ll save it for another day.

Treepaad Fun Center Okay, I was torn on this one.  When I stumbled on the website, I was all [insert celestial sounding, "AAAAHHHH!" here], wow, looks so fabulous.  And then I was looking at prices and the fact that it was in Malta and I was pondering, hmm, is it worth it, I wonder?  And then I came to post, and what was in the comments from my lovely friend Hollow Squirrel?

Katie, we just returned from a most fantastic 5th birthday party up in Malta at TreePaad. You must bring the girls up to check it out. I’m not sure the cost (since it was covered for the party), but it’s a GREAT outing. We didn’t play LaserTag, but we played games in the arcade (takes tokens and all the games worked, unlike some arcades around here). They have a huge 2 story climbing/sliding/shooting balls area that was great fun for adults and kids. My 20 month old enjoyed all the areas, even the kiddie area with lots of cool, clean climbing/tumbling mats and a train table. The place also serves food (the pizza was actually nummy– I even asked where they got it) and the toys that you can score with the tickets were pretty decent comparatively! They also feature a build-a-friend station and many side rooms for birthday parties. I promise it’s worth the drive up to Malta. Oh, and did I mention they will even do adult parties with alcohol?

So, there you have it–gushing!  And I noticed that during February break, they’re doing a 2 hours for $20 unlimited activities deal.  Uhh, it’s still some cash, but for a couple of times a year (particularly during the fearsomely cold week of February) maybe worth it?  Although perhaps it will be a mob scene?  Well, I’m up for a trip sometime. . . who’s coming?

If anyone wants to weigh in on one of these, I’d love to hear about what you thought.

Finally, one item for tomorrow is that there are free Music Together classes in Loudonville: check out Heidi’s Place for more info.

Okay, every single summer, I say to myself that this is the year that I’m going to catch the New York City ballet at SPAC, and every year the beginning of summer flies by and I realize that I’ve missed it again.  I don’t want that kind of heartache to befall you, gentle reader, so allow me to call your attention to the Albany Institute of History & Art’s Hudson River Panorama exhibition, which is closing on January 3rd.  It feels like it’s been there forever, and I still haven’t made it, but by golly I’m going to try.  I even have a free pass!   I figure that if I hit that one and make it to 1609 at the New York State Museum, I’ll be able to give a symposium on the Dutch exploration of North America, or at least make sure my kid’s learning fair display kicks all the other kids’ butts.  No, actually, I’m a history chick, so I love that stuff, and I’ve even walked through 1609, but I had my girls with me, so I was not able to devote the attention it so richly deserved.  I was being dragged to the subway car, again.