Picks Of The Week

Thursday

Imbolo Mbue writes about the hopes and dreams of immigrants who come to America seeking the American Dream in "Behold the Dreamers." The book, which Mbue began after losing her job in 2008 during the Great Recession, focuses on an immigrant couple from Cameroon and juxtaposes their thoughts with those of upper class, white employers. She succeeds in showing just how difficult it is for immigrants and other vulnerable groups to succeed. The book, published in 2016, was a New York Times bestseller, winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and an Oprah's Book Club selection. Mbue is set to speak and sign copies of her book this week at SUNY Schenectady. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Free. Taylor Auditorium, SUNY Schenectady, 78 Washington Ave., Schenectady. 518-388-4511; sunysccc.edu/Events/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/924/Imbolo-Mbue-New-York-Times-Best-Selling-Author-of-Behold-the-Dreamers

Saturday

It's LarkFest time. The Capital Region's premiere outdoor fall music and arts event is in its 38th year, and the street festival is expected to draw as many as 50,000 people to Albany's Lark Street. There's plenty of food, arts and crafts vendors, and kids' activity zones where kids can enjoy LarkFest their way. Fourteen bands and musicians are set to perform on two stages at LarkFest; Vundabar, an indie rock band from Boston will headline. Other groups include Albany "sonic adventure soundtrack" band Prince Daddy & The Hyena, The Clay People, Top Nachos, and Katani.

10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday. Free. Lark Street, Albany. albanylarkfest.com

Thursday

AkaBlas puts a brassy Oktoberfest twist on musicals, movie songs and even Bon Jovi. The 50-piece wind orchestra, from Braunschweig, Germany, is celebrating its 55th anniversary with a tour...