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History

Efforts to excavate prehistoric and Colonial artifacts near Lake George's Million Dollar Beach will be the topic for the next Science Café. Sponsored by the New York State Museum, the cafés are held at bars or restaurants and feature lectures by museum curators, archaeologists and others with interesting experiences to share. Archaeologists Barry Dale, Aaron Gore, and Steve Moragne, from the museum's cultural resource survey program, led the excavations. They will present their findings and answer questions about the projects. 6 p.m. Thursday. Free. Hollow Bar + Kitchen, 79 N. Pearl St., Albany. 518-474-0575; nysm.nysed.gov/programs

Music

Blues guitarist Lonnie Shields has gotten some breaks during his successful career, including opportunities to record seven albums and tour the U.S., Canada and Europe. But he's been paying it forward since 2011, when he invited 13-year-old guitar prodigy Jesse Loewy on stage. Shields was thinking about retiring, but mentoring Loewy made him reconsider. Now 20, Loewy is Shield's musical arranger and co-manager. For his part, Shields is still rocking. The guitarist, whose 1992 debut album "Portrait" topped the Living Blues critics poll for best new blues album, is working on a new CD. He's also on the road; he's set to come to Albany this week. 8 p.m. Saturday. $22. The Linda: WAMC's Performing Arts Studio, 339 Central Ave., Albany. 518-465-5233; thelinda.org