The Weekend

Phew!  Tons of stuff to do this weekend again!  And beautiful weather!  Woo, hoo!

If you like to use the Tulip Festival for photo ops with your adorable children, All Over Albany says to go now.  The tulips are ready early.  Maybe I’ll get a new header photo?

It’s also Pottery Fest at the Shaker Heritage Society on Saturday & Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.  Lots of art, pottery demonstrations, tours, and music.  $5/person, kids 12 and under free.

And don’t forget that the farmers’ markets are moving outside this weekend!

Saturday, May 1st

• It’s Free Comic Day!
• There’s a free Children’s Fishing Tournament in Ballston Spa from 7-11 am.  There’s also a 4H breakfast.  Check out the TU Blog for details.
• If you’re up for a drive, admission is free to the Hudson Children’s Book Festival in Hudson, NY.  It’s from 10 am to 4 pm.  The website’s got a list of authors scheduled to appear, including Emily Arnold McCully, author of one of my favorites:  Mirette on the High Wire.
• At Cook Park in Colonie, there’s an American Cancer Society Bark for Life dog-and-their-humans walk.  Even if you don’t register for an event, if you’ve got a dog-lovin’ little kid, what a beautiful day to check out the dogs and play at the playground there.
• Kmart‘s doing a Family Fun Fair including games and a bounce house from 10 am to 4 pm.  It’s at the Clifton Park Kmart today.
• At 11 am, take Time Out for Tales at the Bethlehem Public Library.  It’s for kids under 6 with their families.
• From noon to 4 pm, it’s Living History Day, the annual season-opening  event at Ten Broeck Mansion.  Tours, music, food, pony rides, petting zoo, and, they say, MORE!  Cost isn’t stated, but admission is generally $5/adult, $3/kid 12 and under.
• Do some flower crafts between 1 and 2:30 pm at the Albany Pine Bush.  $2/person, $5/family, children under 5 free.  Pre-registration required.
• Take a Tree Hike from 1-3 pm at Moreau Lake State Park.
• It’s Art for All at the Albany Institute of History & Art.  From 1-4 pm, free with admission.
• One of our readers suggested a May Day political rally at the State Capitol from 1-4 pm.  It’s for those who lean left, but you can check the link for details.  Hey, it’s an easy walk over from the art museum, right?
• Elementary-school kids and their families are invited to a Poetry Slam at the Bethlehem Public Library that starts at 2:30 pm.
• Clinton’s Ditch is still playing at Steamer 10 Theatre at 3 and 7 pm today.
• There’s a Teen Anime Convention from 5-10 pm at William K. Sanford (Colonie) Library.  It’s free, but you must have a ticket.  There’s also a Japanese meal for $12.
• At 7 pm, it’s Jammie Time with Cookie Mouse at the Saratoga Springs Barnes & Noble.  That’s right:  a costumed character who will share some cookies and milk with you.  The rational part of me realizes that this is a pleasant, easy little event for you if you’re nearby and have little kids.  Yet somehow I think that if I actually attended this event I might feel like throwing myself off a bridge because it’s such a world away from a hip, fun, pre-kids Saturday night I used to enjoy.  Maybe the solution is to bring a flask of something to mix into your Starbucks?

Sunday, May 2nd

• Kmart‘s doing a Family Fun Fair including games and a bounce house from 10 am to 4 pm.  It’s at the Albany  Kmart today.
• EMPAC at RPI is having a weekend-long animation festival called onedotzero. They particularly recommend the noon screening of sprites, and it’s free for kids and their adult escorts.  Maybe you could stick around for the concert at 2 (see below)?
• From 12-4 pm, there’s an Albany History Fair at Historic Cherry Hill (yeah, I know that their website doesn’t mention it, but I’ve got my sources).  In addition to tours and an historic game, there will be music and Paul Rosenberg of Homespun will be calling dances when there are willing dancers.
• It’s Sheep to Shawl Family Day at the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa.  $2/person or $5/family.
• It’s India Day from 1-3:30 pm at the National Museum of Dance.  Food, music, sari-wrapping demonstrations, and dancing, including a Bollywood demonstration.  They want you to RSVP via internet, and it’s $5/grown-up, kids free.  Have I mentioned that J and I love-love-love to do the Bollywood Dance Workout together?  So fun!
• At 2 pm, the Albany Institute of History & Art has a family program called Point of Contact: An Interactive Look at Native American Culture.  Historical re-enactors will explain about all sorts of artifacts, which kids will be able to touch stuff, including weapons.  Which, they helpfully explain, will be “rendered inert for safety”.  Umm, good!
• At 2 pm, there’s a free Symphonic Band and Percussion Ensemble Concert at EMPAC at RPI 2 pm.  (Maybe go to the movie at noon first, listed above?)
• At 2 pm, there’s a Spring Nature Walk at Landis Arboretum.  It’s $25/non-member families.
• From 2-4:30 pm, it’s Fair Trade Chocolate Day at Delmar Reformed Church.  Free and designed for families, it will have samples as well as games and hands-on activities.
• The Spencers Theatre of Illusion is performing at 3 pm at The Palace Theatre in Albany as part of its International Family Series.
• The Saratoga Springs Youth Orchestra will be performing at the Troy Savings Bank at 3 pm.  $10/adult and $5/student.  There’s more information on the Youth Arts TU blog.