Category — Theater

Here’s a guest post from Danielle, a mom of 2 in Schenectady. She writes on Examiner.com as the Albany Acting Examiner.  Thanks, Danielle!

Recently on Facebook, I read a comment on a friend’s thread asking if his current show, Spotlight Players’ The Producers, is okay to bring kids to. After discussing tap dancing Nazis, the seduction of little old ladies and gay stereotypes, the mom decided that her 12 year old could handle it.
I was glad to hear a parent ask that question. As a mother of two kids under the age of 7, I ask the question “Can my kids handle it?” almost every time we go out. But live theater can be tricky with kids.

Start small and free or inexpensive. The capital region boasts a wide array of opportunities to introduce kids to live performances. Community theater, outdoor performances, library special events, middle school, high school and church productions tend to be more kid friendly venues. Gailsez.org lists everything produced by theaters- and has a page devoted to free or pay what you will listings in our area. Local papers cover almost everything else.

My biggest reason for free or inexpensive shows is that you have to be willing to leave. Potty emergencies, meltdowns, boredom, and fidgeting all happen at some time or other. My son started feeling feverish when we saw a show at Sand Lake middle school, and we had to leave shortly after intermission because he threw up. If you have kids, you probably have a story like that. And it’s a lot harder to walk out of a show in which you’ve invested fifty or a hundred dollars.

See shows they would like. Action, bright colors and music are always a hit. My daughter, at age two, sat through the entire Nutcracker at Proctors this December. I had planned an exit strategy, anticipating her behavior would be the same as it is in the movies or church where she gets up, walks around, and talks to everyone. But she stayed still with her little eyes glued to the stage, mesmerized by the movement and costumes.  Shows that kids might like, including Park Playhouse’s High School Musical and Seussical Jr. are great choices. It’s outdoor, and lawn seats are free.

Know your kids, and ask questions. The box office of almost any theater will happily let you know whether a show has adult language or situations. You can check their websites or just look up the show itself on the internet. Wikipedia has plot summaries of most shows, or you can find another company that produced the same show in Idaho or South Carolina if you just type the title into a search engine.

Don’t be afraid of the classics. They are a lot more accesible on stage than they are when reading in English class. I’m sure most parents have never seen a Greek tragedy or Shakespeare play live. When the kids are ready, you’d be surprised how much they grasp from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which can be seen for free in various venues around the capital region this month, produced by Hubbard Hall.

My developmental psychology teacher always stressed modeling behavior to the very young. If a child grows up seeing you respecting the theater, making it a big deal, dressing appropriately, sitting quietly and clapping when the time is right, they will learn to do the same. My kids made me so proud when we went to see Titanic this summer. They were mostly quiet, paid attention (especially my six year old) and had such joy on their faces whenever there was an opportunity to clap. They looked to the adults around them for cues on how to behave.

Remember, if it doesn’t work the first time, don’t give up. There is value in live theater that can not be gained through film or television. Don’t let your kids miss out on the experience.

First, three pieces of business:

Some of you are fans of my friend Pam’s Friday morning story times at the Mohawk Commons Barnes & Noble.  Pam’s left and, as far as I know, they’re stopping story time there, but beginning in mid-September, Pam will be doing Story Time at The Open Door Bookstore on Fridays at 9:30 am. Yay.

Tickets to shows from The Egg’s Family Wonders Series are going on sale tomorrow, Tuesday, August 23rd.  They include Eric Carle stories in puppetry, Dan Zanes, the Golden Dragon Acrobats, and a Zucchini Brothers holiday show.

I’ve gone through the entire What About TODAY? page, eliminating old stuff and double-checking current events. I feel so much better now that I can cross this annoying task off my To Do list. I did not go on a crazy hunt to locate new regularly-scheduled events, so if you know about something that isn’t listed, it would be a favor to all of us if you’d tell me about it, either in the comments for via email. Thank you!

We had a fairly hilarious dinner tonight. Cute W has a quirky sense of humor. He goes with a lot of sarcasm and yanking of people’s chains. He’s well-known for making babies and small children cry, largely because he jokes with them as if they’re adults. He also occasionally drives me crazy. After twenty years, you’d think that I’d be immune, yet I’m not. There are times when I’ll say to him, “I know that you’re just doing this to bug me, but it’s still really bugging me.” And I’ve tried to fight fire with fire and yank his chain right back, but somehow it never works. I’m just too sincere, apparently, to pull it off.  So my attempts to drive him crazy only end up making him chuckle with an equal measure of affection and condescension. And then I get even angrier. I’m resigned to live with this situation for a long time.

But lately I’ve discovered secret weapon. M has it. She’s got the same sense of humor and tonight she battled Cute W like a champ. He’d launched into a long explanation. He often does this, especially at dinner. Out of nowhere there will be discourse on, say, how an electric circuit works or the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. Tonight it was explaining the difference between a free market and fixed pricing (this because of the $1 Wal-Mart watermelon that we were eating–don’t judge me!).  At some point, he tried to use M as an example of one of many consumers and the products that these consumers may or may not crave, and the conversation went something like this:

Cute W: So, say you want American Girl dolls. . .

M (interrupting): I don’t want American Girl dolls!

Cute W: What are you talking about? You love American Girl dolls!

M: But I don’t want them.

Cute W: You’ve got them lined up on your shelf. . .

M (interrupting): Exactly. I don’t need any more.

K (trying to help, not realizing, yet, that M is yanking Cute W’s chain):  So, I think you’re saying that you’d rather have clothes and accessories at this point, right?

M: Yes.

Cute W: Okay, so, but that’s a perfect example, because there was a demand for the dolls, and suddenly that demand has dropped off, and if I’m producing the dolls, I don’t know when you’re going to stop wanting them, so I. . .

M (interrupting again): Of course you know. I just told you.

At which point Cute W began to sputter and I high-fived M, because it was so wonderful to see my husband get smacked down with his own weapon. He created this monster.

Shortly after, we turned to some new entertainment: staring down my throat with a flashlight. I’ve had a sore throat for a couple of days, and when I mentioned it again, Cute W fetched a flashlight and was appalled to see my hideous throat. It was so revolting that the girls gleefully took turns look down everyone’s perfectly normal throats, then looking down into my red-veined, white-spotted monstrosity. I tried to put the camera into my mouth to record it for your entertainment, but my skills do not extend to medical-textbook level photography. You’ll just have to use your imagination.

Among the many things to enjoy about fall–occurring somewhere between the return to school and jumping into leaf piles–is all of the glossy brochures with the upcoming theater for the new season.  I get so excited, as if I’m going to go to these shows.  Which I generally don’t, because I’m cheap.  But I start putting together my birthday and Christmas wish list, at least.  Anyway, I thought that I’d look through some of the theater offerings and give you a little preview of some family-friendly stuff that will be happening this season.  I’m ignoring the holiday fare because I simply can’t wrap my mind around holidays when I still don’t know what we’re doing for Halloween.  Or, for that matter, J’s birthday (although I did buy one gift today!).

If you’re not a theater-goer with the kids, I’m not going to rant about that right now–please refer to this earlier post.  But then, come back, okay?

Here are some family-friendly theater highlights:

The Egg will have a puppet show based on Leo Lionni’s books on October  16th and the   Zucchini Brothers in a holiday concert on December 18th.  In the spring, much more, including Star Trek Live among others–look here.

Schenectady Light Opera will be performing The Pirates of Penzance in mid-October.

The Schenectady Civic Players are doing Peter Pan at the beginning of December.

Proctors has a cool Literature to Life series for high school students, with dramatizations of three terrific books–worth a look if you teach or parent anybody in high school.  Really, Proctors has a ton of cool stuff.  Do you remember how last year, they kept Wicked around for so long that it got to the point where it felt like pretty much everyone you knew had seen (and loved) Wicked?  And, even if you had had absolutely no previous desire to see Wicked (like me:  I read the book and wasn’t crazy about it), suddenly you felt like absolutely must go see it?  I’m sorry:  was I the only one who felt that way?  I still didn’t go because, as you recall, I am cheap, but by the end of their run I was truly wishing to go.   It was such a great strategy that this year they’re doing it with The Lion King.  Which is, of course, child-friendly.  Running February 22 to March 20, baby, so you might as well just give in and buy the dang tickets or you and your children will be missing the party.  Or put them on the wish list.  Really, I’ve actually seen the Lion King, so I’ll be okay without it.  But seriously?  I’m starting to think that the  Proctors programmer is psychically connected to me.  So many events seem to call to me specifically.  I would love to take the kids to see Merchants of Bollywood and Fiddler on the Roof, in particular.  And then there’s family favorite, Blue Man Group.  Or how about a date night to see David Sedaris?

So, what do you guys think?  Any theater that you’re dying to see?  And with or without the kids?

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.

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.

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.

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!