All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Hey, no matter how you slice it, there's six more weeks of winter. So really, you might as well just suck it up and have a little fun. Here are a few options we thought might make for a good time on a cold February weekend.

Got something else in mind? Share with the rest of the crowd.

Wander around Albany in the cold
It's 1st Friday in A-town, so bundle up and head down to Lark Street. Stop into Crisan and warm up with some drinking chocolate , grab dinner or a drink and head over to the First Friday Capital Swing Dance at the Albany Elks Lodge. Sonny and Perley's Jive Five are playing. There's a lesson at 7:30. The dance starts at 8:30. $15 includes the lesson. It's only $10 for students and seniors. Check the 1st Friday website for a map and other events.

Is it live or is it Memorex
Choreographer Cathy Weiss brings a company of dancers together to perform works commissioned by EMPAC. The pieces incorporate technology and explore the boundaries between recorded and live, electronic and human, real and imagined. Friday and Saturday Night at EMPAC. Tickets range from $5-$15.

Jazz at CSR
Here's your chance to hear some great jazz and check out the cool new music hall at St Rose. Tenor saxophonist Brian Patenaude and his jazz quartet are playing the Massry Center for the Arts on Saturday night at 8. $10. CSR students are free.

U-Melt
This NYC based jam band is like a box of chocolates. You never know what your gonna get. U-Melt is a little bit rock, a little bit jazz, a little bit funk and a little bit trance. It depends on their mood. They've been playing to packed houses in the city. Tonight you can check them out at Revolution Hall for $16. Show starts at 8.

Phish Phans
On Saturday night Rev Hall will be phull of Phish Phans. There's a publishing party for the new book, "Phan Art: The Art of the Fans of Phish." Sadly, Phish won't be there, but The Flow will (they're a Phish tribute band) and so will The McLovins. Tickets are $12. All proceeds benefit The Mockingbird Foundation for music education.

See a play
Capital Rep's Biggest Little International Play Festival continues this weekend with "No Child."
Curtain Call Theater in Latham presents "The Dining Room" again this weekend. This A.R. Gurney play is actually a series of vingettes that revolve around the same dining room table.

Classical Troy
There are two interesting-looking classical concerts in Troy this weekend. The 15 piece Canadian ensemble, Les Violons du Roy perform at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Saturday night at 8. $30.
On Sunday the Tokyo String Quartet plays the music of Beethoven, Bartók and Mendelssohn at Emma Willard

Beautiful Junk
Explore our relationship with our stuff and the idea of wastefulness at the Live with Less Exhibit at UAlbany's art gallery. Free admission. On campus parking is $5.

Horses
If you like horses -- and really, who doesn't -- you may want to take a drive to Hudson and check out the Equus exhibit at Carrie Haddad Gallery.

And Clarkson still sucks
The RPI Engineers are at home tonight. The game starts at 7. Say hi to Puckman and don't forget the rules.

So many films, so little time
Only two weeks left of Oscar season. Most of the major contenders are in local theaters. Don't forget the popcorn.

My crafty valentine
Stimulate the local economy at The Arts Center of Saratoga on Saturday. Jewelers and crafters from across upstate New York will be on-hand for a pre-valentines day craft fair. Doors open at 10 am.

Cooking with Chocolate
Take a cooking class at Saratoga Restaurant Equipment Sales. Saturday's menu is a chocoholics dream: Baked Scallops in a white chocolate chipolte crust cocoa marinated roasted chicken breast with a red wine smoked chocolate sauce, orzo pilaf, death by chocolate trifle. $50.00

Winter Markets
Pick up some root veggies, cheese or a torte (yum, torte) at the winter farmers markets in Saratoga, Schenectady or Troy.

See the Stars
RPI has opened the Hirsh Observatory to the public for star gazing again. Starting this weekend, public stargazing hours are on Saturday nights from 8-10pm

Home made valentines
Home made valentines are the best kind. Make one yourself with all of the cool stuff at The Albany Art Room.

Macaroni and Cheese
It's the perfect weather for a nice hot bowl of macaroni and cheese at Hattie's. Heads up though, they don't take reservations and things can get pretty crowded on a weekend, so go early or be prepared to wait a bit. Trust us, it's worth it. If Mac and cheese doesn't do it for you, maybe you'll find something else that suits you better here.