Category — Music

We have just completed what I believe might have been the best weather weekend ever.   I mean:  gorgeous!

Less gorgeous was yesterday’s post, with a variety of humiliating typos.  I really was tired.   I think I fixed them all.  Anyway, it’s our last day of school this week, so we’re shifting into summer.   Here are some fun things going on:

Monday, June 21st:

• Take a Back Pond Hike at 10 am at Moreau Lake State Park.  Hey!  You could do go hike and then hit the beach!
• The Colonie Town Band is playing at William K. Sanford (Colonie) Library at 7 pm.
• At 7 pm, take a Flowers of the Solstice tour at Five Rivers.  The focus will be on the lore behind various flowers.

Tuesday, June 22nd:

• At 10 am there’s a free movie:  Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs at Bowtie Cinemas in Schenectady.
• At 10:15 am, there are Preschool Movies at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.  It’s recommended for ages 3-6, but siblings are welcome.  It’s a drop-in program.
• At 10:30 am, do a Nature Scavenger Hunt at Moreau Lake State Park.  Another beach opportunity. . . .
• Do some traditional nursery rhymes at 1:30 pm at the Bethlehem Public Library.
• There’s a concert in the park in Schodack from 6-8 pm.
• At 6:30 pm, The Accents are playing at the concert at the Crossings in Colonie.

Wednesday, June 23rd:

• At 9 am, Make a Splash with a Magic Trunk Show at the Duanesburg Community Center.  Contact the Quaker Branch Library for details.  Free and no registration required.
• At 10 am there’s a free movie:  Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs at Bowtie Cinemas in Schenectady.
• Take a Spring Overlook Hike at 10 am at Moreau Lake State Park.  Hey, I’m beginning to think that we should just spend the week there.
• From 2-4:30 pm, there’s a Babysitter Workshop for kids in 6th grade and up at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.  Registration is required.
• Rockin’ on the River kicks off in Troy with a U2 tribute band from 5-8:30 pm.
• At 7 pm, go to the Bethlehem Public Library to discuss Eclipse and get psyched for the upcoming film release.  6th grade and up.

Thursday, June 24th:

• At 9:45 am, there’s an informal group hike at Five Rivers.  See the Capital District Family-Friendly Hikes page for details.
• It’s a Lake Ann Hike, this time, at 10 am at Moreau Lake State Park.
• At 10:30 am, there’s a Teen Volunteer Orientation at Bethlehem Public Library.  Registration is required.
• At 1 pm at the Duane Branch Library, it’s the Summer Reading Program Kick-off Party.
• The Mac-Haydn Theatre opens The Secret Garden today.  This theatre is a bit of a drive (maybe 45 minutes for us), but we usually go a couple of times a year for the children’s season in the summer.
• It’s Alive at Five with Boys II Men with Soul Session at 5 pm at Albany Riverfront Park.
• From 5-8:30 pm, there’s a Classic Car Cruise-in in downtown Glens Falls.  Music, cars, & model trains.
• From 6-8 pm, The Lustre Kings play for Concerts in the Park in Ballston Spa.
• Enjoy at Beachy Keen Family Storytime at 6:30 pm at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.  It’s a drop-in program.

Friday, June 25th:

• It’s Troy Night Out from 5-9 pm.
• Today kicks off the Old Songs Festival at the Altamont Fairgrounds.

Hooray!  The sun’s finally coming out!  Good thing, because we’ve got a lot of outdoorsville happening at our house, and I was really beginning to freak out about it.

I am actively working on a restaurant post, so if you have suggestions for good places to take the whole family, I’d love to hear them.

Okay, I missed that tomorrow is Irish Day at the National Museum of Dance from 1-3:30 pm.

All Weekend:

• It’s a bit of a drive, but there’s a Firefighter’s Convention that will include parades on Friday night and Saturday afternoon in Lake George.  If you have a kid who’s a firefighting fanatic, it might be worth the trip.
• It’s Juneteenth, the celebration of the end of slavery, in Schenectady.  Most of the activities take place in Central Park.

Evening of Friday, June 18th:

• It’s Art Night Schenectady from 5-9 pm.
• Staging Youths’ Future presents Seussical the Musical as dinner theater.  At 6 pm there’s spaghetti dinner, and the show is at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $15 for dinner and the show.  This is for 6/17 & 6/18.
• There’s a Drop-in Chess Club at the  Guilderland Public Library at 6:30 pm.
• At 6:30 pm, the Saratoga Barnes & Noble will have their American Girl Book Club.
• The Altamont Free Library will have Chicken Barbecue followed by Contra Dancing led by Paul Rosenberg and friends from 6:45-7:45 pm at the Gazebo in Orsini Park.  If you plan to go, you should pre-order dinner to ensure it’s not sold out.
• They’re showing Bedknobs and Broomsticks at the  Guilderland Public Library at 7 pm.  Oh yes, there will be popcorn.
• Brookside Museum is having an outdoor Benefit Concert featuring Gravity at 7 pm.  $15/grown up, kids free, burgers and dogs will be available for purchase.
• Take a Nightwalk at Five Rivers and look for some birds.  It’s at 7 pm.
• Take an Almost Summer Solstice Sunset Hike from 7:30-9 pm at the Albany Pine Bush.  $2/person, $5/family.
• It’s Star Watch time at 9 pm at Grafton Lakes State Park.

Saturday, June 19th:

• It’s the Scottish Festival at Fort Ticonderoga all day.
• At 10 am, learn about Wildflower Identification at Five Rivers.
• From 10 am to 3 pm, it’s the Upper Union Street (Schenectady) Strawberry Festival.  Kids’ stuff includes pony rides and a petting zoo.
• From 10 am to 6 pm, it’s Troy’s River Street Festival.
• From 10-11:30 am, learn about Edible and Practical Uses of Plants at Wilton Wildlife Preserve.  It’s free and designed for all ages, but you need to pre-register.
• It’s Planting Day at 10:30 am at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.
• At 10:30 am it’s Little Wonders of Science:  Fancy Nancy Sees Stars at the Schenectady Museum.
• From 11 am to 12:30 pm, take a hike and learn about restoration at the Albany Pine Bush.  $2/person, $5/family, and pre-registration is required.
• At 11 am & 1 pm there are Planetarium Shows at the Henry Hudson Planetarium in Albany.
• From 11 am to 3 pm, there’s a World Refugee Day Picnic at Albany’s Washington Park.
• There’s a Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds.  Doors open at 11 am, and there’s a Demolition Derby in the evening.  $10/adult, $5/ kids 7 and up, kids 6 and under free.
• It’s Family Fun Weekend–Saturday only–from 1-4 pm at the New York State Museum.  The theme is Birds and Butterflies.
• At 1 pm learn about Slipperies & Slimies at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology in Troy.  Ages 4 +, pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• From 1-3 pm, you can play Outdoor Games at the Chapman Historical Museum.  It’s $3/child and reservations are required.
• At 2 pm, Rose Kent will be signing her book Rocky Road at the Book House at Stuyvesant Plaza, and they’ll have ice cream tastings, too.
• At 2 pm, go on a Salamander Search at Thacher Park.  It’s best for older kids–8 and up–and they ask you to call to register.
• At 2 pm, you can learn A Dozen Ways to Make Fire Without Matches at Grafton Lakes State Park.  Again, not the best toddler activity.
• At 2 pm, learn about The Green World with hands-on activities at Five Rivers.
• Take a Twilight Kayak from 7-9 pm at Moreau Lake State Park.  A limited number of kayaks are available for rent.

Sunday, June 20th:

• I am doing the 5k at the Crossings.  It will be my first-ever 5k, and I am a bit nervous.  When I first started out running a couple of months ago I was feeling pretty cocky, but my progress has absolutely slowed down.  At this point, 5k is  about as far as I am able to go, period, and the last time I took a serious run I hurt myself a teensy bit.  So send happy-healthy running karma my way, please.
• Eagle Mills Cider Mill & Family Fun Park in Broadalbin opens for the season with a Father’s Day breakfast.  I’d never heard of this place until I saw the notice about yummy pancakes. . . . Anyone been here?  Worth it?
• Get The Dirt on Dirt at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology in Troy.  Ages 3+, pre-register, $2/non-member.  Admission is free for dads and grandpas all day at the museum.
• From noon to 4 pm, it’s Sundae on the Farm at Arnoldhaven Farm in West Charlton.  For more information, check out the TU’s Parenting Blog.
• Take a Father-Daughter Hike from 1-2 pm at the Albany Pine Bush.

More free summer stuff!

But first, as a public service announcement, I’m issuing a parental advisory.

Moms, you must not, under any circumstances, take speaking children with you into the dressing room when trying on swimsuits.  I know:  it’s such an unpleasant task anyway that it’s tough to use precious “me time” for this. However, it’s important for your self-esteem that you do not bring anyone else into the room with you, especially, for example, a five-year-old who might offer all sorts of kindly-meant comments* such as:

• Oh!  Not that one!  Because did you look at the back?  It looks like your back is saying, “It’s too squishy in here!  I’m too tight!”
• Mommy?  Is that underwear comfortable?  Because it looks like it might be too small.
• Oh!  I like that one!  Except not this part. . . or here. . . or that. . . or the color.  Uh, never mind.
• That one is not a really good idea because your breasts look all flat and squashed down.
• I like this one better than all the other ones, but I still don’t think you should buy it because the other ones were really terrible and this one is mostly good but also a tiny bit terrible.

Ummmm, no.  I didn’t buy anything.

On to the  Summer Events:

At Canal Square in Cohoes, there are Friday night concerts in July and August from 6:30-8:30 pm.

In July and August, there’s the Music Haven Concert Series at Central Park, generally at 7 pm on Sundays.  There’s food there if you don’t have the chance to pack a picnic.

The Grand Street Kids Club is a free summer camp for inner-city Albany kids aged 4 to 12.

This week kicks off the Tuesday night concerts in Cook Park at 6:30 pm.  They run through July and August.

At Clifton Commons Park, there’s music or theater on Sunday evenings at 7 pm, and family-oriented entertainment on Wednesday evenings at 7 pm. (The link for this is a huge booklet, so for the concert info., check out pp. 26-27, aka “inside 24-25″)

*Yes, these were all actual comments, alas, and not hyperbole for the cheap laugh. Although I didn’t take notes right then and there, so the quotes  may not be exact.

Well, okay.  Maybe you can.

I got a little carried away at the Greenmarket today.  But, oh, the bountiful goodness!  It all looked so fabulous that I had to take a picture.  In fact, you can see M’s silly-banded wrist in the corner of the picture because I couldn’t get her to move any further from the food–she was hovering, waiting to take another apricot.

Yum.

As I rinsed and put food away, the girls conducted side-by-side comparisons of grocery-store apricots, cherries, broccoli, and lettuce vs. the farmers’ market stuff.  The farmers’ market won resoundingly in all four categories.  In fact, the girls were so enthusiastic in their approval of the market lettuce that for a moment, I was deluded into thinging that they might evolve into children who choose to eat greens.  Alas, that fluttery little hope was crushed quickly.  When I suggested that they might eat some later, they looked appalled.  No, they didn’t want to actually eat any more.  It was just fun to do the contest.

Hoping things dry out a bit this week.  Here’s some of what’s happening. . .

All week, you can pick up supplies to make a Father’s Day craft at the William K. Sanford Library‘s Youth Services Desk.

Monday, June 14th

• At 10:15 am, the 3-and-under set is invited to a Baby Playtime at Guilderland Public Library.  No registration is required.
• At 4:30 pm, kids in grades 6 and up will get together to watch Sydney White at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. No registration required.
• I wish that I’d caught this earlier:  at the Albany Public Library, there’s a program called Meet Your Newest Refugee Neighbors from 6-8 pm.  On Monday the guests will be folks from Burma, and on Tuesday, folks from Iraq.  Interesting for older kids and/or homeschoolers, right?  There’s a family-friendly event coming up this weekend.
• It’s Pajamarama at the Bethlehem Public Library at 7 pm.
• At 7 pm, there’s a program called Ready, Set, College! for students who’ll be entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grades at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.  Parents are welcome, too, and pre-registration is requested.
• There’s a Classical Music Concert at 7 pm by the Music Company Orchestra at the Crossings in Colonie.
• At 7 pm, the Colonie Town Band will be playing at the Pruyn House Barn.

Tuesday, June 15th

• From 6-8 pm there’s Music in the Park at Schodack.
• Meet Your Newest Refugee Neighbors from Iraq at the Albany Public Library from 6-8 pm.
• The Pipe Kings will be playing at Cook Park in Colonie at 6:30 pm.

Wednesday, June 16th

• From 9:15-10 am there’s Music and Movement for Little Ones at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.  It’s for kids 2-3 and their grown-ups, and there’s no registration.
• From 10-10:45 am, read about Dust Bunnies and make some of your own at the Bethlehem Public Library.  For pre-k and up.
• They’re doing Katie’s Kitchen from 11 am to noon and from 1-2 pm at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga again.  $15 for non-members includes a parent & a child admission.
• From 4-8 pm, get strawberries and ice cream at the Rexford Fire Station.  $4/grown-up, kids 10 and under free.  This was listed on the Saratoga Events Calendar.
• At 6:30 pm there’s a Voice Student Recital at the Guilderland Public Library.
• There’s a Concert at 7 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.

Thursday, June 17th

• 9:45 am hike at the Hannacroix Creek Preserve.  For more information, see the Capital District Family-Friendly Hikes page. This has been cancelled.
• From 10:30-11:30 am, the Little Wonders of Science at the Schenectady Museum today is based on Fancy Nancy Sees Stars.  This program’s designed for 3- to 5-year-olds.
• It’s Jazz on Jay from noon to 1:30 pm in downtown Schenectady.
• It’s Third Thursday Art Walk in Glens Falls from 5-8 pm, with an outdoor showing of Singin’ in the Rain at 8 pm.
• It’s Alive at Five with Gregg Rolie at Albany Riverfront Park at 5 pm.
• Staging Youths’ Future presents Seussical the Musical as dinner theater.  At 6 pm there’s spaghetti dinner, and the show is at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $15 for dinner and the show.  This is for 6/17 & 6/18.
• At 6:15 and at 7 pm it’s the Children’s Circle at the Bethlehem Public Library.  Please sign up–designed with special needs kids in mind.
• There’s a Ranger’s Apprentice Book Club at 7 pm at the Niskayuna Barnes & Noble.

Friday, June 18th

• Do some Stretching with Stuffee from 10-10:30 am at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.
• At 10:30 kids can Dig a Dino at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology.  For 4- to 7-year-olds.  Pre-registration’s required and it’s $2/non-member.
• Staging Youths’ Future presents Seussical the Musical as dinner theater.  At 6 pm there’s spaghetti dinner, and the show is at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $15 for dinner and the show.  This is for 6/17 & 6/18.
• There’s a Drop-in Chess Club at the  Guilderland Public Library at 6:30 pm.
• At 6:30 pm, the Saratoga Barnes & Noble will have their American Girl Book Club.
• They’re showing Bedknobs and Broomsticks at the  Guilderland Public Library at 7 pm.  Oh yes, there will be popcorn.
• Brookside Museum is having an outdoor Benefit Concert featuring Gravity at 7 pm.  $15/grown up, kids free, burgers and dogs will be available for purchase.
• Take a Nightwalk at Five Rivers and look for some birds.  It’s at 7 pm.
• Take an Almost Summer Solstice Sunset Hike from 7:30-9 pm at the Albany Pine Bush.  $2/person, $5/family.
• It’s Star Watch time at 9 pm at Grafton Lakes State Park.

I’m crabby.  The girls are harmoniously playing a game in which their doll named Kelly (acted out by M, and not to be confused with Barbie’s younger sister) is whining, complaining, and abusing the adorable kitten played by J.  Even though it’s pretend, the whining & complaining is so realistic that it is actually just as irritating as true whining & complaining.  But I can’t seem to get myself up off the couch.

Cute W’s had various obligations that have kept him away from us, we’re missing nursery school, and I haven’t had a decent run in days and days.   I swear: the girls smell weakness on me.  Earlier today I had a conversation with J.  It went like this:

J: Can I please watch some tv?
Me: Would you like me to help you make a sock puppet like M made?
J:  No thanks.  May I please watch some tv?
Me:  Would you like to play a game with me?
J:  No.  Can I watch tv?
Me:  Would you like to cuddle and read some books?
J:  No thank you.  May I please watch tv?
Me:  Would you like me to push you on the swing?
J:  No thank you! Please can I just watch some tv?
Me (sighing):  Okay.

Dude, I couldn’t bring myself to say no, because deep down I knew that it would be the easiest next hour of my day.  (And by hour, I really mean hour and a half.) But oooooh, the guilt.

So, we’ve got some gift cards burning holes in our pockets, and the girls and I are going to go out and seek some retail therapy.  I know it’s wrong.  But it’ll chew up some time, and some days that’s the best you can do, right?

Here’s the weekend–

All Weekend:

• It’s the Saratoga Arts Fest.  Festivities will be all over, including the Children’s Museum, an open house at the Waldorf School.
• It’s the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council has its June Art Festival on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.  There will be art, music, food, and kids’ activities–there’s not too much information on the main site, but their FB page is better.  There will also be craft vendors sponsored by Zonta nearby.
• At the Malta Community Center, you can watch Metaphasia, a show based on fairy tales and billed as entertainment for all ages.  $10 at the door, shows at 2 pm Saturday & Sunday, and 7 pm on Saturday.
• St. Peter’s is having their Annual Armenian Festival from 4-8 pm on Saturday and 12-4 pm on Sunday.  Middle Eastern food and music, amusement & pony rides.
• There’s a Rhythm on the Ridge music festival at Maple Ski Ridge.  Music starts at noon on Saturday, $12/adult, kids 12 and under free.  “Rough camping” available for $15/site.

Friday, June 11th:

• It’s Duck Day in Mechanicville from 5-9 pm.  I found this one at All Over Albany, too.  
  
• Staging Youths’ Future presents Seussical the Musical as dinner theater.  At 6 pm there’s spaghetti dinner, and the show is at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $15 for dinner and the show.  This is for 6/10, 6/11, 6/17, & 6/18.
• At 7 pm, the Guilderland Public Library will be showing Mary Poppins. With popcorn.

Saturday, June 12th:

• There’s a free walking tour along the West Towpath in Clifton Park at 9 am.
• Soapbox Derby on Madison Avenue in Albany at 9 am!  See details at All Over Albany.
• There’s a Family Hike to Bullfrog Pond at Thacher at 10 am.  Call to register.
• At 10 am at Five Rivers, there’s a Firefly Watch Training Program.  This is for folks who’d like to help them Five Rivers with their summer firefly programs.
• From 10-11:30 am, take a Natural History Walk at the Saratoga National Historic Park.
• It’s Family Diversity Day from 11 am to 4 pm at the New York State Museum.
• Take Time Out for Tales at the Bethlehem Public Library at 11 am.
• It’s the Old Glory Block Party from noon to 6 in Troy.  I found this at All Over Albany.
• On Jay Street in Schenectady, there’s a Celtic Faire from noon to 9 pm.
• Nippertown reports that there will be Nude Bike Riding at noon in Albany’s Washington Park.  Okay, perhaps you don’t want to bring the kids, but sounds like fun!
• There’s a Family Storytime on Trains at the Rensselaer Public Library at 1 pm.  It’s designed for kids 2-8, and no sign-up is required.
• Take a hike at 1 pm at Up Yonda Farm.  $4/non-member.
• It’s the Annual Family Fun Day at Cook Park in Colonie from 2-7 pm.
• At 3 pm, Coleen Paratore and Eric Luper will be signing their new books at The Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza.
• There’s some In Your Face Wrestling at 7 pm at the Ballston Area Community Center.  $12/adult, $8/kid.

Sunday, June 13th:

• It’s the Dancing Around the World Open House at the National Museum of
  
• ance from 11 am to 3 pm.
• It’s the Capital District Gay Pride Festival starting at noon in Washington Park in Albany.
• At 1 pm, older kids can learn about The Physics of Toys at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology.  It’s for ages 8+, pre-registration required, and it’s $2 for non-members.
• The Troy Flag Day Parade steps off at 1 pm.
• Discover the Pine Bush at 1 pm.

Phew!  Everyone exhausted from the weekend?  Weather’s looking great for much of this week–still sunny, not so hot.  Yay.  Here are some things going on:

Monday, June 7th:

• The local Sling Babies group is meeting at North Bethlehem Playground at 10:30 am.
• From 6:30-8 pm, the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library will have a training session for teen volunteers.  Participants must pre-register and be in grades 6-12.
• The Colonie Town Band will play at 7 pm at Canal Square in Cohoes.

Tuesday, June 8th:

• NYSTI is presenting Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. on the 8th, 9th, & 10th at 10 am.  One of our readers went and commented that it was “fabulous”.
• The Town of Schodack has Music in the Park from 6-8 pm.
• At 6 pm, it’s the Geronimo Stilton Book Club at the Saratoga Springs Barnes & Noble.

Wednesday, June 9th:

• NYSTI is presenting Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. on the 8th, 9th, & 10th at 10 am.  One of our readers went and commented that it was “fabulous”.
• Take a Teddy Bear Picnic:  Beachside! at 10 am at Bethlehem Public Library.  Sign-up is required.
• It’s Beads! Beads! Beads! from 1-3 pm at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.  Free with admission.
• From 7-8 pm at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library there’s an Introduction to Geocaching. It’s designed for teens and adults, and you can register online.

Thursday, June 10th:

• Starting today and through the weekend it’s the Saratoga Arts Fest.  The serious family good times are on the weekend, but beginning today you can purchase an Art Rally for Kids kit at the Children’s Museum to take an artistic walking tour through Saratoga.  Here’s where I’d love to hear from a reader who tries this out early so that all of the rest of us folks know if it’s worth doing!
• At 9:45 am, there’s a group of parents & young children hiking Hollyhock Hollow Sanctuary. See the Capital District Hikes page for more information.
• NYSTI is presenting Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. on the 8th, 9th, & 10th at 10 am.  One of our readers went and commented that it was “fabulous”.
• Drop in to the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library for Preschool Movies from 10:15-11 am.
• There’s free Jazz on Jay Street in Schenectady from noon to 1:30 pm.
• Chubby Checker’s performing at Alive at Five at the Albany Riverfront Park.
• Staging Youths’ Future presents Seussical the Musical as dinner theater.  At 6 pm there’s spaghetti dinner, and the show is at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $15 for dinner and the show.  This is for 6/10, 6/11, 6/17, & 6/18.
• At 6:30 pm, it’s American Girl Book Club at the Mohawk Commons Barnes & Noble.
• At 7 pm, there’s a Teen Reading Group at the Colonie Center Barnes & Noble.
• At 7 pm, there’s The Children’s Circle Storytime, designed for families with kids with special needs, at the Bethlehem Public Library.  Sign-up is required.

Friday, June 11th:

• Wiggle and Giggle from 10-11:30 am at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.
• At 2 pm, they’ll be doing Soil Prep for the garden project at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.
• At 3:30 pm it’s Teen Time at the Bethlehem Public Library.
• Staging Youths’ Future presents Seussical the Musical as dinner theater.  At 6 pm there’s spaghetti dinner, and the show is at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $15 for dinner and the show.  This is for 6/10, 6/11, 6/17, & 6/18.
• At 7 pm, the Guilderland Public Library will be showing Mary Poppins. With popcorn.

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.

Man, oh man, was that a gorgeous holiday weekend or what?   We went to Moreau Lake State Park today, which I’ll tell you about tomorrow.  But here are some things going on this week:

Tuesday, June 1st:

• At 11 am, there’s a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Jerry Burrell Park in Schenectady.  The playground was designed by community members and Union College Students–it’s called Project Skip.
• At 6 pm, there’s Music in the Park in the town of Schodack.
• It’s a 39 Clues Summer Reading Kick-off Party at 7 pm at the  Colonie Center or 6 pm at the Saratoga Springs Barnes & Noble.
• Curious George Live is at the Glens Falls Civic Center at 7 pm.  Tickets range from $15 to $55.
• It’s Pajamarama at 7 pm at the Bethlehem Public Library.

Wednesday, June 2nd:

• Curious George Live is at the Glens Falls Civic Center at 10:30 am and 7 pm.  Tickets range from $15 to $55.
• From 3:30-5 pm, 4th- through 8th-graders can participate in Books on Stage with staff from NYSTI at the Troy Public Library.

Thursday, June 3rd:

• The hiking group will be meeting at Christman Sanctuary in Duanesburg at 9:45 am.  See the local hikes list for more information.
• At 5 pm, it’s Alive at Five at the Albany Waterfront Park.
• It’s the 2nd Annual Taste of the Y at the Greenbush Area YMCA from 6-8 pm.  Restaurant samples, music, bounce house and other kids’ activities.  Free.
• Students from Schenectady’s John Sayles School of Fine Arts will be doing a Pops Concert at the Music Haven Stage in Central Park at 7 pm.   I’ve seen it listed elsewhere as 6:30 pm.  Free.
• It’s Lego Night at 7 pm at the Mohawk Commons Barnes & Noble.

Friday, June 4th:

• There’s Stretching with Stuffee at 10 am at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.
• At noon there’s a Spring Wildflower Hike at the Albany Pine Bush.
• At 1 pm, you can watch the Squeeze Play Accordian Band at Bethlehem Public Library.
• It’s First Friday in Albany from 5-9 pm.
• St. Basil’s in Troy is kicking off its Greek Festival at 5 pm tonight–it will last all weekend.
• 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.
• Steamer 10 Theatre opens The Good (& Bad) Faeries of Nottingham tonight at 7 pm.
• There’s an Alternative Prom from 7-11 pm for LGBT youth aged 13 to 19 at Revolution Hall in Troy.  It’s  $10.
• Okay, it’s about an hour northeast of us, but perhaps worth the trip?  The Cambridge Balloon Festival kicks off tonight with its first balloon launch and fireworks.  Anyone ever gone to this?

Sure, the conventional choice for a Memorial Day Weekend post might be an American flag, but instead I took a picture of what’s in front of me:  Isis the cat.  Lookin’ for some love while her human just wants to  finish the blog post.  It’s a little irritating, but not as irritating as sneaking rodents into the house.  But, you know, she never gets into the garbage or humps my leg, so that’s something, right?

She sticks out her tongue when she's particularly content.

Here’s what’s going on this weekend.  I moved the parade information & the Friday evening information into this post so you wouldn’t have to look hither, thither, and yon while pondering your options.  Remember, too, that if you’re looking at the regularly scheduled events on What about TODAY?, well–a lot of them may be off schedule for the holiday weekend.

All Weekend

• The National Scholastic Regatta is in Saratoga Springs on Saturday and Sunday.
• GottaGetGon is a big folk music festival in Ballston Spa all weekend.  $20 per day for grown-ups, kids 12 and under free.
• Swimming opens for the season at Grafton Lakes State Park!  Yeah, baby!  It’s open Friday through Tuesday, and it’s $8/car.  On Wednesday & Thursday, there’s no swimming, so entrance is $6/car.  And on Monday, it’s the Annual Memorial Day Sand Sculpture Contest.  Registration begins at noon at the Beach Nature Center, and families can work as a team (now that’s some wholesome fun).
• There’s a pre-sale for Yo Gabba Gabba tickets for September 2nd at the Times Union Center. The password is BROBEE.  Personally, just looking on the YGG website made me overstimulated.  In a bad way.  But we don’t get cable, so perhaps I’m just woefully out-of-touch.

Friday, May 28th

• It’s Troy Night Out from 5-9 pm.
• Parade at 6:30 pm in Stillwater.  From Hudson Avenue.
• Parade at 6:30 pm in Maplewood/Colonie. That’s all the information that I could find!
• There’s a Full Moon Hike at Moreau Lake State Park from 7-9 pm.
• There’s a Taiwanese Dance program at 7:30 pm at The Egg.  It’s free, but you need to obtain tickets by calling The Egg.

Saturday, May 29th

• Parade at 9 am in Ballston Spa.  From Milton Avenue to Front Street to Low Street.
• At 9 am, they’re teaching Family Birding Basics at Thacher Nature Center.  Bring binoculars.
• At Five Rivers, there’s a mostly-indoor program on bees at 10 am, and a program on bugs at 2 pm.  The 10 am includes a craft, with a $3 materials fee for non-members.
• There’s a Bennie Brook Kayak Trip from 11 am to 2 pm at Moreau Lake State Park.  Call for details, and plan on packing a lunch.
• Learn about Pond Life at Up Yonda Farm at 1 pm.
• At 2 pm, there’s a Wildlife Program including a look at injured wildlife who are being cared for at Thacher Nature Center.  Call for details.
• Do some Stargazing at Thacher at 8:30 pm.

Sunday, May 30th

• Do a Nature Scavenger Hunt at Moreau Lake State Park at 11 am.
• Memorial Day activities from 1-7 pm in Schuylerville  at the Old Stone Fort.
• Discover the Pine Bush at 1 pm.  $2/person, $5/family.
• It’s pretty quiet, actually.  Maybe you should throw a little barbecue in the afternoon?

Monday, May 31st

• Parade at 9 am in Schuylerville.  This is another one that I couldn’t find more info. on, although I did find stuff on 2009–super helpful, right?
• Parade at 9:30 am in Albany.  From Partridge Street & Central Avenue, east on Washington Ave. until North Hawk Street.
• On the USS Slater, they’re having a ceremony at 9:30 am and then the ship’s open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm.
• Parade at 10 am in Hoosick Falls. From Key Bank on Main to Memorial Park. More info here.
• Parade at 10 am in Watervliet.  East along 19th Street, then right on 2nd Avenue.
• Parade at 11 am in Bethlehem.  From the Elsmere firehouse along Elsmere, Kenwood, & Delaware to  Bethlehem Veterans Memorial Park.
• Parade at 11 am in Lansingburgh/Troy.  Follow the link–lots of information.
• Parade at 1 pm Parade in North Greenbush.  I could only find one listing for this one.

There are

Another big weekend, and it’s finally going to get warmer again–wooo, hooo!   I made the mistake of telling J that we’re going to the playground later to play with her friend, whom I’ll call Streppy McStrepGirl, and now she’s asking me approximately every 3 minutes if it’s time to go yet.  Which is making me nutty because if I could only focus on this for ten minutes, I would be done already.  Instead, I am getting up to give J an underdog or to check & see if the ladybug who appears to be dead still is, in fact, dead (yup) or to play a few minutes of tickle tag.  Seriously, if it were not so fabulous out I would have suggested a tv show by now, but I simply couldn’t it in good conscience with this weather.

Bouquet, Tree Swing, & J's Fabulous Poncho

So, here’s the new early (for me)  edition of the weekend:

All Weekend

• St. Sophia’s Greek Festival has food, entertainment, children’s rides. $3/grown up, kids 12 and under free.  We’re talking carnival rides, here.  Hey if anyone goes on Friday or early Saturday, will you let us know how it is so we can decide if we should go, too?  And if you notice what the carnival company is, I’d love to hear, in case they’ll be traveling to other local spots.
• RPI Young Actors Guild presents Once on this Island Friday & Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
• Saratoga City Ballet will be presenting Hansel and Gretel on Friday & Saturday at Skidmore College.  $18/adult, $12/kids 10 and under.
• It’s Family Fun Weekend at the New York State Museum from 1-4 pm.  The theme is dance, including performances by the Ellen Sinopoli Dancer Company, which I’ve recommended before.
• There’s a Monster Trucks Show at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Friday & Saturday nights.  $51 for a family four pack of tickets.  Just, you know, nobody try to make me go.
• The Saratoga Automobile Museum is having its Spring Auto Show this weekend.  $10/person.
• At Columbia High School, there’s free admission to Parade.  But this isn’t a jolly kids’ fest–it’s the story of Leo Frank and the beginning of the Anti-Defamation League.

Friday, May 14th

• From 4-7 pm, the Children’s Museum at Saratoga is having a Parents’ Night Out for kids 3 and older.  $15/child, and pre-registration and pre-payment are required.  The kids will get pizza and you. . . will not have to eat pizza.  You’ll go someplace more exciting for dinner.
• Author Emily Arnold McCully will be at the Guilderland Public Library with a program for families at 6:30 pm.  I was just saying the other day how much I love Mirette!
• At 7:30 pm, the Empire State Youth Orchestra is presenting a Jazz Ensemble Recital at the College of St. Rose.  $6/adult, $3/kid.
• They’re doing a Star Watch at 8:30 pm at Grafton Lakes State Park.

Saturday, May 15th

• In Troy, there’s a Striped Bass Tournament and Block Party.  It’s $60 to actually register for the tournament,  but might be fun to stop by and see the sights.
• At 8 am, take a Spring Bird Walk leaving from the Thacher Nature Center.  Please pre-register.  It’s a good idea to bring binoculars and keep in mind that there may be grown-ups who will be irritated if your children scare the birds away with their loud kid-ness.  I’ll always let you know if it’s a bird thing designed for kids.
• It’s the Albany Children’s Book Festival at The Albany Academies.  It’s free and it runs from 10 am to 3 pm, including a Storybook Parade at 10:15 am.
• From 10:30-11:30 am, there’s Little Wonders of Science program about zippers for 3- to 5-year-olds at the Schenectady Museum.  It’s free with admission, but you’re supposed to pre-register.    I should say that there are tons of kids’ projects on display right now as part of their Invention Convention.
• Any Arthur fans out there?  The real DW is visiting the Malta Branch of Round Lake Library at 11 am.  You must pre-register.
• Take a Wildflower Walk at 11 am at Thacher Park.  Call for meeting place.
• There are Star Shows at the Henry Hudson Planetarium in Albany at 11 am and 1 pm.
• From 11:30 am to 1:30 pm there’s a Sherman Island Kayak Trip at Moreau Lake State Park.  Call for details.
• The Albany Institute of History & Art is trying their First Annual Tulip Tea with seatings at 1 & 2:30 pm.  $22/non-member.
• At 2 pm, it’s Violin at the Young Musicians Forum at the Niskayuna Public Library.
• See the Real Story of Little Red Riding Hood at 3 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church in Albany.  $10/adult, $8/kids 10 and under.  You can also stay for dinner.

Sunday, May 16th

• Phil from Cooper’s Ark Farm will be bringing baby emus to the Schenectady Greenmarket today.  The farm offers educational family fun tours in the summer, so kids are welcome to interact and pet the emus–it’ll get them acclimated for the summer season.  The Greenmarket  runs from 10 am to 2 pm.
• At 1 pm, there’s a Kids’ Ballroom Competition at Schenectady High School run by Dance Crazy.  It’s a suggested donation of $10/adult.  This is why I love doing this blog!! I had no idea that we have our very own local Mad Hot Ballroom!
• From 1-4 pm, there’s a Teddy Bear Hospital at Albany Medical Center in the Choices Cafeteria.  Bring a stuffed friend for a check up along with plenty of kid-friendly activities, and health information for parents.  Their website isn’t updated, but I’ve seen fliers around as well as listings on various calendars.
• At 1 pm, there’s Nest Box Monitor Training at Thacher Nature Center.  This might be a good project for your older kid/budding naturalist.  You can train for your own backyard or to volunteer over the summer at Thacher.  Call for details/to register.
• Capital District Youth Chorale will hold a free concert at Union College at 3 pm.
• At 4 pm, see Fuego! Fuego at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs.  A world dance show designed for families.  $15/adult, $10/13 and under, 3 and under free.
• The Northeast String Orchestra will have a free concert at 6 pm in Clifton Park.

If you make it to a playground that we haven’t put on the playground list, I’d love to hear about it.  If you’re new to the blog, I’ll remind you that you can also check regularly scheduled events at What about TODAY?? and you can “like” me on Facebook–apparently the Facebook folks decided that “becoming a fan” was too much of a commitment for many people.  I have to admit–and I’m not proud of this–that I put way too much stock in the FB page.  Occasionally I’ll notice that I’ve gone down a number, and it’s hard not to take it personally when someone’s decided that they don’t like you, after all.  Or, at least it’s hard for me.  Not that you need to pretend to like me if you don’t, out of pity.  I mean, that would be pathetic.  Right?  On the other hand, I wouldn’t know that it was completely out of pity, would I? So maybe you should, and that could be your good deed for the day. . . . Shameless!!  We’d better move on!

I wanted to throw in a quick plug for the Youth Arts Blog at the Times Union because I found a few different events on this one today.  If you like to frequent kid culture, you should follow it.  They list many more items that I do–I tend to cherry pick only those items by older students (because, let’s face it, the high schoolers are going to perform better than the elementary school kids, generally) doing performing arts that seem to either have wide appeal for children’s entertainment or educational value.

Enjoy the weather, everybody!  Going to put J out of her “misery” and take her to the playground!