Category — Music

So, perhaps a bit more academic than pure fun, but I’ve put together a list of places that rent musical instruments in our area. It’s below, and it’s also included, now, in the Big Ol’ List of Links as well.

I’m adding the section because I ran into troubles with my own attempts at renting M’s cello. Our school handed out a paper with a list of different businesses, but they didn’t offer any editorial comments. They’re Switzerland. They’re neutral. So if, like me, you happen to be clueless about this sort of thing, they were not conveniently handing out clues. So. I made a random guess that, since the businesses were not alphabetized on the sheet, the order in which they appeared might provide secret hints about their quality. That information remains uncertain.  I tried calling Cellos 2 Go a couple of times, and no one ever got back to me.

I ended up renting from John Keal Music. Over the course of a couple of months, I found them irritating. I didn’t like that they told me that I needed to bring my daughter with me when I rented, and then when I schlepped my children there, no one looked at her or spoke with her, anyway. I didn’t like that they had unfriendly “Watch Your Children!” signs in their store. Believe me, I am in favor of adults watching their children. I just prefer it when we’re all offered the benefit of the doubt before being admonished, because a sign like that makes me super-tense about my children’s and my own behavior. It’s just unwelcoming. Once home, we found that the bridge may or may not have been put in incorrectly (this was a matter of debate: long story), and then it fell off for no apparent reason, and then one of the strings was so frayed that M’s cello teacher sent a snippy email requesting a replacement. Also, as I recounted these misadventures to People Who Knew About Cellos, they all rolled their eyes about John Keal and said that they were absolutely fine for other instruments, but not for cellos. So I gave up. In their favor, I will say that they were quite polite when we decided to cancel after the trial period, they picked up the cello at M’s school, so I didn’t have to schlep there, and any of these little issues, I was told, might potentially happen with any cello. I asked those eye-rolling People Who Knew where I should get my cello, and they suggested Francis Morris.

So, we met up with Francis Morris, who is based in Great Barrington but generally treks to his Colonie office once a week. Turns out that the rental cost was lower, and he spent quite a bit of time chatting M up, adjusting things to ensure that she could hold her cello comfortably, and praising her successful rendition of Mary Had a Little Lamb after only 3 months of school lessons. We went home and ran into one little issue, which was that her end pin was so spiky that it was gouging our hardwood floor, and when I called to leave a message requesting guidance, Francis jumped on the phone to ponder with me the relative merits of a spiky end pin, a rubber stopper thingy, or a strap to hold the cello in place as if she were a concert pianist. In the end, he popped a rubber stopper in the mail to me right away: problem solved. M and her teacher both think that this cello’s working better for her than the one she had before.  Phew.

Anyway, that’s my own very limited experience in the world of Musical Instrument Rentals. If any of you have had experience with any of these places–good or bad–or if you know of other places that I should add to the list, I’d love to hear it, and I’m sure it will help anyone who’s Googled up this post.

Places in the Capital District to Rent Musical Instruments:

A Violin Shop (Schenectady: violins, violas, and cellos)
Blue Sky Recording (Delmar: strings, wind, drums, & bells)
Burnt Hills Music Store
Cellos 2 Go (Schenectady)
Drome Sound (Schenectady: sound, lighting, & DJ equipment, percussion, wind, & string instruments)
Francis Morris Violins (Colonie: violins, violas, and cellos)
Hermie’s Music Store (Schenectady: band instrument rental)
John Keal Music (Albany:  strings, wind, & drums)
Kniskern Music House (Clifton Park)
Rock Bottom Guitars (Scotia)

Don’t forget about the Trendy Tots discount this week. Scroll to the next post for more info.

Omigosh, omigosh!

I am super-excited because I have yet another giveaway, and it’s an excellent prize for somebody: a family 4-pack of tickets to see The Laurie Berkner Band!

They’re playing at Proctors on Saturday, January 7th at 11 am, and tickets are $25 to $35.

If you don’t know Laurie Berkner already, well: she’s awesome. She’s my favorite kid-friendly musician by far. I’ve even mentioned her in passing a few times, like when I talked about a favorite lullabye with J.  Maybe you’ve seen her on Nick, Jr. We haven’t: we don’t have cable.

But I totally agreed when People Magazine called her “The queen of kids’ music” and when Time Magazine said she was “a kind of sippy-cup Sheryl Crow.” Okay, I actually didn’t read either of those things at the time, but if I’d seen the articles in the magazines, I totally would have read them, because I am a fan.  So when I read these lovely quotes from the nice lady who was kind enough to pass along the tickets, I said, “Heck, yeah!” And I’ll add my own endorsement: I have been known to listen and sing along to Laurie Berkner when absolutely no children are present! I think she’s awesome.

So, here’s the deal: this time, we’re sharing the giveaway with KidsOutAndAbout.com, which means that we’ll take entries from both sites, pool them together, and randomly pick one winner of the 4-pack of tickets.

To enter, comment below and tell me your favorite song to sing with kids and why. It doesn’t have to be a Laurie Berkner song, just any song and why (so your fellow readers might get ideas for new music). You’ll need to comment by Saturday, December 17th at 11:59 pm. I’ll announce the winner on Monday the 19th.

You can double your chances of winning by entering over at KidsOutAndAbout.com as well. Follow the instructions there (she always asks for contact info. in case she needs to mail a prize, but she won’t use it for anything else).  There’s also a spot on that page where you can enter your email address for the free weekly newsletter that I help write, if you haven’t done so already.

Hooray! I know we’re just coming off of the Disney on Ice Giveaway, but this one was too good to pass up.

Good luck everyone!

Here’s another guest post, this from my Big Sister B! I was completely surprised and grateful when she sent it to me. Our mutual niece is the one who inspired my daughters’ devotion to Taylor Swift, and I’ve mentioned that I’m a fan, too. You can tell that my sister works in the apparel industry because she casually uses the word paillettes. And if you’re wondering, Taylor’s not touring anywhere near us for now, but I’ll let you know if she plans a trip to the Capital District.

In case you didn’t know (I didn’t), Taylor Swift is doing a big U.S. tour this summer called “Speak NOW.” I only know this because my sister and her daughter, my ten-year old niece, invited me to come with them to her Pittsburgh concert. It would mean a fourteen hour round trip drive for them and another hour either way for me. An overnight stay. On my birthday, which would leave my empty nest husband alone on Father’s Day.  I said yes, yes, yes  without hesitation. Not that I am a great big Taylor fan. But you have to practically be living in a cave not to be aware of who she is, even if, like me, you have no little girls or teens in your immediate universe. She’s pretty and sparkly, she plays a number of instruments and writes her own songs, she  seems very respectful of her fans and her Mom and unlike so many pop star girls lately, she hasn’t been caught in any embarrassing situations, sued her parents, gotten pregnant, been arrested or shown us her tender bits getting out of an SUV.  And my niece was SO EXCITED! I was honored to be asked to  come along.

Our Taylor calendar, hanging in the playroom

It was GREAT! There were 52,000 screaming but well-behaved fans at Heinz Stadium. The ratio of female to men was at least 20 to one – the outnumbered men for the most part either the coolest dads ever or sheepish boyfriends. Many of the girls and their moms, and even the toddlers, were dressed in their version of Taylor Swiftness – red lips, cut off denim shorts or flouncy sundresses with short cowboy boots and straw cowboy hats. Some times this worked for them. Sometimes not so much but we tried not to judge. We did not dress up like Taylor but  we did enjoy eating greasy pizza for dinner and watching the costumed fans swirl around us as they queued for souvenirs or overpriced junk food. Two of our favorite fans were little girls – maybe seven and eight, both in matching dresses totally covered in spangly paillettes – one in silver and one in gold, with black calf length boots and curly long blonde hair and red lips  – JUST like Taylor – if Taylor shopped at Target.

Well, Taylor did not disappoint! Even though we were up in the nose bleed seats and Taylor looked like an itty bitty sparkly nymph skipping around way far below us if we weren’t watching the big screens they thoughtfully mount on either side of the stage –we were engulfed and carried away by the world of Taylor. She sang her heart out and there were aerialists and ballet dancers and tap dancers and beautiful costumes and fireworks and love love love all around. Taylor gave it her all without a trace of irony or a hint of cynicism. Twice, she took long walks through the pitt of the stadium, wading through the ecstatic crowd. As a grown up old enough to be her mom, I worried for her safety.  And her guilelessness  and openness was paid back by her fans.  Even the most blasé looking clusters of teenage girls, who effected studied sullenness or boredom during the three (THREE!) warm up acts  sang along soulfully and sincerely to Taylor’s songs. The eight year old standing swaying  in the row below us  reached over at one point to hug her mom sitting next to her – she was overcome with the joy of Taylor. So were we.

Our niece and Taylor

My niece was totally transfixed. My sister and I were so happy to be there with her.  We all had a fantastic time and a great adventure. Overnight in Pittsburgh for Taylor Swift has to  be one of my favorite birthdays ever. Who’d have thunk it?

If you have a chance to go see Taylor, you should definitely  go. Here are a few hints:

• Bring a great deal of money – you will have to buy a number of souvenirs and they aren’t cheap. We  thought the commemorative book for $30, which was printed on really nice paper, came with a poster, had 3D photos and glasses, gave you the play list and some coupons to get MORE STUFF LATER – was really a good deal. My niece spent all the money she had saved since Christmas (I was impressed with that!) and more that she borrowed from her mom.
• Buy your stuff early. By the end of the show, most everything was sold out.
• Don’t forget your binoculars. Wherever you sit won’t be close enough.
• Bring your cell phone so you can text Taylor  (yes, you can!) and also all your friends moment by moment action along with photos of you THERE!

And if you go and decide to wear a dress with metallic paillettes, pink cowboy boots and a sequined cowboy hat and top it off with really RED LIPS (even if you are six) don’t worry, you won’t be overdressed or alone.

I’ve been looking into free events this summer. There’s all sorts of stuff available, but there are tons of concerts. I think I’m going to compile them into a page that you can click onto on the right. For those of you who are new to the blog, I’ll plan on adding these concerts into the weekly/weekend listings to remind you, but it’s nice to know about stuff ahead of time, too, right?

I’m sure that I’m forgetting some series, so feel free to leave me a comment or send me an email, okay?

Here’s my pep talk from last year: Pack yourself a picnic dinner and enjoy the great outdoors.  Even when the music doesn’t captivate them, there’s likely to be other kids and dogs to make things more interesting.  You can always bring along a ball or bubbles to guarantee some playmates on the sidelines.  If you’ve got big kids, pick a nearby concert and bike there–a nice little destination.  Get some friends to meet you and let them create their own little camp separate from the adults.  Or if the kids are extra little, run them around, wipey the dirtiest limbs, and pop them into pajamas before the car ride home—you’re golden!  Take the rest of the night off!

And here are a bunch of concerts:

• Freedom Park in Scotia has tons of concerts, often several days during the week. Concerts begin June 22nd.
• The Colonie Town Band will be playing at a variety of parks and libraries through the spring and summer.
• The Town of North Greenbush has on Sundays at 6 pm from July 10th to August 14th.
• At Cook Park in Colonie, there are concerts on Tuesday at 6:30 pm
• The Town of Halfmoon has concerts, usually at 6 pm on Wednesdays (but not every Wednesday), from June 8th to August 24th.
• On the other side of the river in Troy, it’s Rockin’ on the River Wednesdays at 5-8 pm.  It’s starting June 22nd and ending August 24th.  I haven’t seen who’s playing when listed anywhere yet, but I’ll update it when I do.
• The Town of Niskayuna has concerts at the gazebo on Wednesday at 7 pm from June 15th to August 10th.
• The Jazz on Jayseries of concerts in Schenectady runs on Thursdays from noon to 1:30 pm from June 2 to August 25th.
• Ballston Spa does Concerts in the Park from 6-8 pm on Thursdays from June 23rd to August 25th.
• The Alive at Five concert series is Thursday nights at 5 pm at Albany Riverfront Park.  It runs from June 2nd to August 4th.
• There are concerts at the Crossings in Colonie on Thursdays at 6:30 pm from July 7th to August 25th.
• Guilderland has a series of concerts that are usually on Thursdays at 7:30 pm. Family-oriented concerts from June 23rd to August 25th.
• Troy has a Powers Park concert series.  Concerts are generally 6-8:30 pm on Saturdays  starting July 9th. They haven’t listed the specifics yet.
• Argh, Central Park in Schenectady generally has its Sunday night Music Haven series, but the website isn’t updated.
• At the Commons in Clifton Park, they have concerts on Sundays and a Performing Arts Family Series on Wednesdays. Concerts run from June 26th to August 21st.

Welcome to the splendor of auto-post!  Hopefully you won’t miss me a bit this week while I am attempting to connect to nature instead of cyberspace.  My Facebook links might be a little tardy, and if you’ve never commented here before and try to do so this week, your comments might not appear until I’m able to connect and approve them.  Besides that, I’ve got plenty of stuff from me (and a couple of readers!) to share this week.

I’ve done a bunch of posts on free summer events, and I keep learning about more.

• Most Sundays from 6-8 pm there are concerts at the North Greenbush gazebo.
• Most Fridays there are free concerts at Canal Square in Cohoes from 6:30-8:30 pm.
• The Town of Brunswick has concerts on Tuesday night from 7-9 pm.
• Schenectady County is hosting Family Movie Nights on several Tuesday and Thursday nights in August–they start at 7 and it’s either Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs or Monsters vs. Aliens.

For previous posts on free summer events, click here.

I have a couple of items that I missed back when I did the week’s post.

First, the Nisky Dixie Cats will be playing at the Niskayuna Town Gazebo tonight (Tuesday) at 7 pm, and The Rogues will be playing rock and roll on Thursday at 7 pm at the gazebo.

The Homespun Occasions folks will be doing a Family Dance Concert at 11 am this Thursday in Congress Park in Saratoga Springs.   They are absolutely super-fun for all ages.

Speaking of music, Ruth Pelham’s Music Mobile will be at Schenectady’s Central Park at 10 am on Thursday.  I wouldn’t click if I were you:  there’s the Music Mobile theme song, and I couldn’t find the information on the website, but I promise that I saw a flyer.  This is a good event for younger kids:  songs, usually a simple craft that involves some music participation.  Alas, Tiny Tot Land remains closed.

I also should have mentioned that Friday afternoon kicks off the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.  This is a bit of a drive, but it’s quite a family-friendly event.  Part of me wishes that I could bring J to play some more tambourine, but we’re in desperate need of a quiet weekend at home.

Also on Friday, Hamilton Hill Arts Center is hosting Gospelfest at 6 pm at Jerry Burrell Park in Schenectady.  (another musical link!  hope you’re not reading this at work!)

Finally, and I’ve said it before, if you are a music junkie, you should really be following Nippertown.  They’ve got links to tons of free music series.  They’ll do a post when they hear about something, but then at the bottom they’ll link to all of their “Real Good for Free” posts, so it’s worth it to take a look to make sure that you’re not missing out.

I do my best to keep up with as many as I can, but I’ve got to tell you:  this summer has not been as relaxing as I’d anticipated.  There’s so much going, both around the Capital District and at our house, that lately I’ve been finding myself posting not when I run out of things to list, as I would in the past, but just because I’ve run out of energy and can’t possibly list everything out there.  So if there’s a library or museum that you particularly enjoy visiting, you might want to get on their email lists as well ask checking the blog.  This site is, of course, a work in progress, so hopefully I’ll be able to come up with ways to keep you up-to-date without going nutty myself!

Phew!  So much is going on this week.  Here’s what I’ve found:

All Week:

• Don’t forget that there’s plenty more going on at William K. Sanford (Colonie) Library and Albany Public Library.
• The Clifton Park Not-So-Common Players are performing Once Upon a Mattress in Clifton Commons at 7:30 pm from 7/22-7/25.
• It’s the Saratoga County Fair in Ballston Spa from July 20-25.
• The Schenectady County Library has a puppet show version of Rumpelstiltskin showing at various branches throughout the week.

Monday, July 19th:

• Take a Nature Trail Hike at 10 am at Moreau Lake State Park.  Or Learn How to Cast at 10:30 am.
• From noon to 4 pm it’s Dino Day at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.
• At 1 pm, it’s Library Tots, a drop-in program for 0-24 months at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.
• At 1:30 pm, kids can choose a building project to do with the Home Depot at the main Albany Public Library.  Call to register.  If this appeals to you but you can’t make it, remember that both Home Depot and Lowe’s offer occasional Saturday workshops in-store.
• At 2 pm at the Delaware Branch Library, kids 6 and up can learn about buying healthy foods, and they’ll decorate their own cloth bag and make a healthy trail mix snack.  Sponsored by Honest Weight Food Co-op.
• At 2 pm, there are programs for elementary-school kids at the Mont Pleasant, Glenville and Rotterdam branches of the Schenectady Public Library.
• The Colonie Town Band will be playing at 7 pm at the Crossings in Colonie.

Tuesday, July 20th:

• At 9:30 am, take a Luzerne Mountain Trail Hike at Moreau Lake State Park.
• Regal Cinemas’ free movies at 10 am.  For this week, it’s Arctic Tale and Shrek the Third at Crossgates and Wallace and Gromit and Bee Movie at Clifton Park.
• At Bowtie Cinemas in Schenectady, this week’s free 10 am movie is Hotel for Dogs.
• From 10 am to noon it’s Summertime Tots at the Children’s Museum of Saratoga.  This is an outdoor, drop-in program geared toward younger visitors.
• Do a Scavenger Hunt at noon at Moreau Lake State Park.
• At 1:30 pm at the Albany Public Library, kids can do a craft with folks from the Tang Museum.  Call to register.
• There are crafts for ages 6 and up at 2 pm at the Pine Hills Branch and the North Albany Branch of the Albany Public Library.
• At 2 pm, kids can participate in a songwriting workshop with River Jack Z (as in Zucchini) at the Guilderland Public Library.  Tickets are required.
• At 2 pm, it’s Dazzle Dogs at the Niskayuna Public Library.
• At 3 pm, it’s Twinkle, Twinkle, What’s That Star? at the Children’s Museum of Technology.  For ages 4 and up, pre-registration required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• From 3-4:30 pm, kids in grades 3-6 can participate in Guess What I Collect? at the Crandall Public Library.  Pre-registration required.
• There’s a Friends of Guilderland Athletics Family Fun Night from 4-10 pm.  I found this on Fit Albany.  $2/person.
• At 7 pm, The Tichy Boys are playing at the Town of Brunswick Community Center.

Wednesday, July 21st:

• Regal Cinemas’ free movies at 10 am.  For this week, it’s Arctic Tale and Shrek the Third at Crossgates and Wallace and Gromit and Bee Movie at Clifton Park.
• At Bowtie Cinemas in Schenectady, this week’s free 10 am movie is Hotel for Dogs.
• At 2 pm, kids can get crafty at the new Bach Branch of the Albany Public Library on New Scotland Avenue.
• From 2-4 pm, it’s an Ice Cream Extravaganza at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.  Pre-registration is required, and it’s $4/person.
• At 2:30 pm, Matthew McElligott, author of the Blackbeard the Pirate series, will be talking and signing books at the Bethlehem Public Library.  Sign-up is required.
• At 6 pm, kids in grades 6 and up can do a little Teen Tokyo at the new Bach Branch of the Albany Public Library with Japanese animation and yummy Pocky.
• The Audiostars will be playing at 7 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.
• Cavanaugh and Kavanaugh are playing at 7 pm at the Green at Bethlehem Public Library.
• The Zucchini Brothers are playing at 7 pm at Clifton Commons Park in Clifton Park.

Thursday, July 22nd:

• Take a Walk in the Woods at 9 am at Thacher Park.
• Regal Cinemas’ free movies at 10 am.  For this week, it’s Arctic Tale and Shrek the Third at Crossgates.
• At 10:30 am, it’s Color Fun! for kids 3 to 5 at the Children’s Museum of Technology.  Pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• At 11 am, kids K-3 can Make Music with Lisa at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.  You must pre-register.
• At 1 pm, there’s a free event for kids 5 and up at Schuyler House–they can dress up in Colonial clothing.  I heard about this on the New York History blog.
• It’s Craft Day at 1 pm at Moreau Lake State Park.
• At 2 pm, get Artrageous! at Children’s Museum at Saratoga.  It’s free, and recommended for kids in K-4.
• At 2 pm, Domino the Great will be performing at Crandall Public Library.  Registration is required.
• 3rd to 5th graders can make Neon Tees and Visors from 2-4 pm at the Guilderland Public Library.  Registration is required.
• Eddie Money is playing at Alive at Five at Albany Riverfront Park.
• Kyle Miller is playing at 5 pm as part of the Acoustic Sidewalk Series in front of Arbor Hill Library.
• Dan Berggren is playing at 6 pm in Wiswall Park in Ballston Spa.
• At 6:30 pm, there’s A Beach Bag Full of Stories at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.  It’s a drop-in program for young elementary school kids.
• Keith Pray is playing at 6:30 pm at the Crossings in Colonie.
• At 6:30 pm, Hair of the Dog will be playing at the  Schaghticoke Town Hall Gazebo.
• Marty Wendell is performing on the lawn of the Malta Community Center at 6:30 pm (it’s on page 9 of this link).
• From 7-8:30, 4th- to 7th-grade Percy Jackson enthusiasts can participate in Half Blood Camp at the Guilderland Public Library.  Registration required.
• The Scotia-Glenville Community Band will be playing at 7 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.

Friday, July 23rd:

• At 10:30 am, there are Stories for Families at the Scotia Branch Library.
• At 11 am, kids can design their own water wheel at the Guilderland Public Library.  Registration is required.
• There’s a Game-a-thon at the Bethlehem Public Library at 11 am.
• At 11 am, Something Fishy’s Going On for 4- to 6-year-olds at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.
• From 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, the Milk Mustache tour is at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.
• At 2 pm, kids in grades 2 and up can just show up for Pop Art Experience at the Scotia Branch Library.
• At 2 pm, 1st- and 2nd-graders can see Troll Attack!, a story told in Lego pieces, at the Guilderland Public Library.  Registration is required.
• At 2:30 pm, they’re showing Alice in Wonderland at Bethlehem Public Library, with popcorn.  This one’s PG and I’ve heard it’s a little creepy.
• At 4 pm, kids in grades 1 to 5 can just show up for Pop Art Experience at the Duane Branch Library.
• It’s Parents’ Night Out at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga from 4-7 pm.  For $15 per child, you can drop them off and go have yourself a date!  Pre-registration and pre-payment is required.
• The Ron Cremisio Band is playing at Canal Square in Cohoes at 6:30 pm.

Holy crap! Just when you were saying, please, somebody deliver me from this heat and rescue me from my sweaty, messy house, and just give me something besides the pool to do so that I can give the kids a break before their eyes turn permanently bloodshot and their hair turns green due to overchlorination, guess what’s happening this weekend?

Proctors is having their (first annual) Animation Festival!  With a huge range of child-friendly features, and $3 tickets! Or $15 if you just want to spend the whole time (from the 10th to the 16th) there!  Which I’m tempted to do!  And on Monday & Wednesday night they have Oscar-Nominated Shorts, which I always want to see in a theater, and so I think I might have to see if I can drum up a babysitter.

Or just stay home & run the sprinkler. Done.

Here’s what else is going on this weekend:

All Weekend:

• From July 7th to 11th, the Family Players of North-Eastern New York are showing Seussical the Musical at 7:30 pm at Tawasentha Park in Guilderland.  If anyone goes, will you fill us all in?
• Annie Get Your Gun continues at the Park Playhouse on Tuesday the 6th at 8 pm.
• The Tioga County Fair continues through the 10th.
• Keep in mind that we’re now into the super-short Ballet Season at SPAC.  I desperately want to go when it’s not so freakin’ hot, but we have such a packed calendar that I don’t know if we’re going to make it. . . .

Friday evening, July 9th:

• From 5-10 pm, it’s Schenectady County SummerNight in Downtown Schenectady:  music, activities, and fireworks.
• It’s Family Night at SPAC.  Before the NYC Ballet’s performance there will be activities for kids beginning at 6 pm.
• At 6:30 pm, there’s a drop-in Chess Club at Guilderland Public Library.
• At 7 pm, they’re showing Pollyanna at Guilderland Public Library.   And yes, there will be popcorn.
• Take a Ghost Walk through Saratoga. $10/adult, $5 kids 7-11,  This is every Friday through the summer.
• They’ll be showing Monsters vs. Aliens at Tawasentha Park in Guilderland at 8 pm.

Saturday, July 10th:

• From 10 am to 6 pm there’s a Wags and Whiskers Family Fun Fair at Maple Ski Ridge.  It’s a free fundraiser for the SPCA, and pets are invited, too.
• Fossils Rock! at 10 am at Thacher Nature Center.
• It’s Countryfest at the Altamont Fairgrounds.  $40 at the door, kids 10 and under free.
• From 10 am to 5 pm, there’s Art in the Park in Congress Park in Saratoga.
• The Town of Wilton is having a Community Day from 11 am to 9 pm.  Food, music, rides, ponies, fireworks.
• Learn about Karner Blue Butterflies at 11 am at Albany Pine Bush.  This park gets really very hot.  I’ve got to recommend against this one for today.  Cal to register; $2/person, $5/family.
• The Delaware Branch Library is having a free Summer Splash Party from 1-4 pm–they promise wet and wild fun outside, including a free bounce house, misting tent, and water slide.
• At 1 pm the Schenectady Museum is doing a preschool-oriented planetarium show.  $4 in addition to museum admission.
• At 2 pm Andy the Music Man will be playing at Henry Hudson Town Park in Bethlehem.  Free, with a bounce house, too.
• At 3 pm & 7 pm you can see Steps to Suffrage: Musical Youth Drama at Boght Arts Center in Cohoes.  $6/adults, $5/students.
• The Powers Park Concert Series in Troy kicks off with a Cryin’ Out Loud Dance Party from 6-8:30 pm.
• Ernie Williams will be playing blues at Freedom Park in Scotia at 7 pm.
• There are Poets in the Park from 7-9 pm in Washington Park on Saturdays in July.

Sunday, July 11th

• Take a Native Plant Tour at noon at Thacher Park.
• There’s a Kids’ Puppet Show from The Puppet People at Freedom Park in Scotia at 7 pm.
• Running the River is playing at 7 pm at Clifton Common Park.
• Alex Torres and His Latin Orchestra are playing at Music Haven at Schenectady’s Central Park at 7 pm.

Hey!  We’re all exhausted from excessive cousin fun and sporting crispy noses in spite of 4 or 5 (or more) sunscreen applications today.  The week for us:  more of the same.  The week for you?  Actually, there’s quite a bit happening:

Monday, June 28th

• From 10 am to 4:30 pm, it’s a Kickoff for Summer Party at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.
• From 10 am to 11 am, Sylvan Learning Centers in Clifton Park is hosting a free Kids Can Cook Seminar.  Register online.
• At 1 pm, Andy the Music Man will be performing at the Ballston Spa Town Hall.
• At 2 pm at the Glenville or Mont Pleasant Branch Libraries, kids in grades 1-5 are invited drop in to the summer kick-off program Make a Splash.
• At 6 pm, the Glens Falls High School Band will be performing at the Crandall Park Band Shell.
• At 7 pm, the Colonie Town Band is playing outside at Beltrone Living Center, 6 Winners Circle, Albany.

Tuesday, June 29th

• 10 am free movies!  At Bowtie this week it’s Alvin & the Chipmunks:  The Squeaquel, for Regal Cinemas today it’s Charlotte’s Web at Crossgates and Madagascar 2 at Clifton Park.
• At 10:30 am, Andy the Music Man will be performing at the main  Schenectady Public Library.  It’s a drop-in program.
• There are a ton of afternoon kick-off celebrations of various branches of the Schenectady Library for elementary school kids, including events at Niskayuna, Duane, Rotterdam, & Hamilton Hill.
• At 2 pm, they’re kicking off the Teen Summer Reading Club for grades 6-11 at the Duane Branch Library.  Today’s theme is Zombie Fest.
• There’s a Family Story Time at 6:30 pm at the Niskayuna Branch Library.  It’s a drop-in, and pajamas are welcome.
• At 7 pm at the Guilderland Public Library, they’re kicking off summer reading with an Uncle Brother concert.  Tickets required.
• At 7:30 pm, go on a Firefly Watch at Five Rivers.

Wednesday, June 30th

• At 10 am, kids in grades 1-5 are invited drop in to the summer kick-off program Make a Splash at the Quaker Street Branch.
• 10 am free movies!  At Bowtie this week it’s Alvin & the Chipmunks:  The Squeaquel, for Regal Cinemas today it’s Spirit:  Stallion of the Cimarron at Crossgates and Planet 51 at Clifton Park.
• At 11 am, the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library is hosting Bubble Trouble, a program for kids who’ll be entering kindergarten in the fall.  No registration is required.
• From 1-5 pm, there are games for teens at the Guilderland Public Library.
• At 2 pm, they’re kicking off the Teen Summer Reading Club for grades 6-11 at the Quaker Street Branch.  Today’s theme is Game Day.
• It’s gospel music for Rockin’ on the River in Troy at 5 pm.
• At 7 pm, there will be a Drum & Bugle Corps competition at East Field in Glens Falls.

Thursday, July 1st

• There’s an all-day Red Cross Babysitting Course that starts at 9:30 am at Schenectady Central Library.  Ages 11 and up, and you must pre-register.
• 10 am free movie!  I meant to double check this–it appears that the Crossgates Regal Cinemas has an additional movie today, but I’m not calling them from vacation–if someone does and wants to fill us all in via comments, that would be a nice favor.
• From 10 am to noon, kids 2 to 10 can learn about Bountiful Bugs at Dyken Pond.  $3/child or $6/family.
• At 10:15 am, they’re showing Preschool Movies at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.
• From 2-3 pm it’s Artrageous at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.  For kids in grades K-4.
• At 2 pm, elementary-school kids can study Pond Organisms at the Duane Branch Library.
• At 3 pm, drop in for crafts for all ages at the Hamilton Hill Branch Library.
• The Gin Blossoms are playing for Alive at Five in Albany.
• The Sand Lake Kiwanis Summerfest kicks off tonight with amusement park rides opening in the evening (this was on their tentative schedule; you might want to double check).
• The Ballston Spa Community Band is playing at 6 pm at Wiswall Park as part of their Summer Concerts in the Park series.
• It’s Lego Night at 7 pm at the Mohawk Commons Barnes & Noble.

Friday, July 2nd

• Local residents will be admitted free to the Albany Institute of History & Art on Fridays all through July and August.
• There’s Stretching with Stuffee at 10 am at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.
• At 10:30 am, there are Wiggly Water Wonders at the Scotia Public Library–suitable for families.
• At 10:30 am, the Mac-Haydn Theatre will be showing Cinderella.  This is a bit of a drive, but we’ve gone several times.  There’s a school with playground nearby, so we usually bring a picnic lunch for afterwards.
• The Sand Lake Kiwanis Summerfest continues with amusement park rides opening at 11 am and continuing into the evening.
• At noon there’s a concert in front of the Albany Public Library as part of the Acoustic Sidewalk Concert Series.
• At noon, take a hike at Albany Pine Bush and look for Blue Karner butterflies.
• It’s First Friday in Albany from 5-9 pm.
• It’s First Friday in Ballston Spa from 6-9 pm.

First, I had to laugh at this Onion article–how perfect that it actually says it’s from Niskayuna, NY!  Between this and that news brief they did on period movies, it’s as if they can peer into my Very Soul.

Here’s what’s going on this weekend:

All Weekend

• The Old Songs Festival is at the Altamont Fairgrounds.
• It’s Jazz Fest at SPAC.
• It’s St. Anthony’s Festa in Schenectady:  food, activities, & a rock wall.
• It’s the DEC’s Free Fishing Weekend. You can fish without a license on Saturday and Sunday at Grafton Lakes or Cherry Plain State Park.
• The Secret Garden continues at the Mac-Haydn Theatre.  This theatre is a bit of a drive away.

Evening of Friday, June 25th

• It’s Troy Night Out from 5-9 pm.
• Rob Jonas is playing outside the Pine Hills Branch Library at 5 pm.

Saturday, June 26th

• 10 am to noon Junior Naturalist program on Frogs and Salamanders at Dyken Pond for kids ages 2-10. $3/child or $6/family, pre-registration encouraged
• It’s Art on Lark from 10 am to 5 pm.
• There’s a Native Plant Sale at Thacher from 10 am to 3 pm.
• 10-11 am to noon, they’re kicking off a  Summer Book Club for Kids aged 10 to 12 at East Line Books in Clifton Park.  Actually, they’ve also got writing classes for kids from 2nd grade to teenagers, if you want to check them out.
• 11 am to noon Summer Book Club for Teenagers 13 to 15 at East Line Books in Clifton Park.  Actually, they’ve also got writing classes for kids from 2nd grade to teenagers, if you want to check them out.
• From 11 am to 3 pm, the Sand Lake Town Library is having a Family Fair.  A doll parade, a clown, & a bouncy bounce are among the activities.
• From 12-2 pm, there’s an Intro to Fishing for Families at Grafton Lakes State Park.
• 2:30 pm:  US Soccer vs. Ghana.  Wherever we happen to be on the road, we will be locating the nearest bar/BBQ place with a tv.  But if you’re staying local, Wolff’s Biergarten is turning it into a block party.
• You can tie dye at the Albany Art Room from 12-4 pm.  $5 per item to tie dye.  Bring your own or purchase items there.
• From 3-7 pm, Little Caesar’s in Guilderland is having a fundraiser for the Westmere Fire Department–kids can tour the firetruck, get goody bags, and more.
• At 6:30 pm, bring a dish to the Full Moon Solstice Hike and Potluck at Dyken Pond.
• Captain Squeeze & Zydeco Moshers are playing at Freedom Park in Scotia at 7 pm.
• They’ll be playing bluegrass in the barn at Mabee Farm from 7-9 pm.
• From 7-9 pm, take a Full Moon Hike at Moreau Lake State Park.
• It’s the Great American Backyard Campout.

Sunday, June 27th

• At 11 am, you can do a Scavenger Hunt at Moreau Lake State Park.
• The Niskayuna JCC is having a Family Park Summerfest from 12-4 pm.  Pool, bouncy bounce, and more free.
• It’s Family Fun Day at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds from 3-9 pm.  Free admission.
• The Music Company Orchestra will be playing at Freedom Park in Scotia at 7 pm.
• At 7 pm, the Clifton Park Community Chorus is playing at Clifton Commons Park.
• At 7 pm, Nona Hendryx will be singing in concert at Schenectady’s Central Park.