All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

After the turkey, after the stuffing, after the cranberries and candied yams, after the pumpkin pie--after the gym--there is the weekend. If you're heading over the river, through the woods or anywhere else outside the Capital Region for the holiday weekend, here's what you're missing. Everyone else, pick your favorites and make a plan. Got some other ideas? You know how we love sharing?

Pre-Turkey Exercise!
Burn some calories before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner. The 92nd running of Troy's famous Turkey Trot gets underway at 8 o'clock Thanksgiving morning. Thousands of people from around the Capital Region will gather at The Atrium in Troy to walk, jog, run, or just cheer while others walk, jog or run. You can register at the trot or call the gobbler line (yep, that's really what they call it) for more information. If you live further north, Saratoga's Turkey Trot gets underway at 8:30 Thanksgiving morning at City Hall on Broadway.

For dogs, too!
If you're just looking to get some fresh air for both you and your pup on Thanksgiving, the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society is having a dog walk at Capital Hills golf course in Albany from 9 am to 11 am. Donations will be collected to support the shelter. As Otto will tell you, Capital Hills is a great place to walk your dog in the winter. (Thanks, chrisck!)

Night Out!
The Collar City is open late on Friday for holiday strolling and shopping. Check out the gifts made by local artists at the holiday shop at The Arts Center for The Capital Region.

Music
After Troy Night Out, you can catch Celtic rock band Hair of the Dog at Revolution Hall.
On Saturday night, Scientific Maps are at Valentines with Desolation Bells.

Non-mall movies
So you want to see a movie, but the thought of braving black Friday crowds make you want to toss your stuffing? Time for a visit to The Spectrum. Synecdoche, the new Charlie Kaufman flick with ties to Schenectady, opens there this weekend. And speaking of Schenectady, the Bow Tie Cinema's Movies and Mimosa series continues on Saturday morning. This week, get your doo-wop on with Grease. The movie's only 5 bucks. A mimosa will cost you $2.

Black Friday Shopping Alternatives
Get started on your holiday shopping. There are two craft fairs in Saratoga Springs. The Saratoga Center for Family Craft Show is at the Saratoga City Center on Saturday. A little further down Broadway, The Art's Center is holding a craft show both Saturday and Sunday.

Legally Blonde at Proctors
What's better than a flaxen haired sorority sister turned ass-kicking D. C. lawyer? A singing flaxen haired sorority sister turned ass-kicking D. C. lawyer! Legally Blonde--the musical is at Proctor's all weekend.

Strap on your skates
This goes in the cheap fun file. Swinburne Ice Rink in Albany opens for the season on Friday afternoon at 3. You can pick up their new schedule at the rink or give them a call at 438-2406. Admission is $1.00 if you're over 18. Under 18? It's only 50 cents! No skates? No worries. They rent them there.