All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Enter the Haggis --Saturday at Rev Hall

Yes, we're impatient for spring too. But you know, watched grass never grows. Well, actually, it does, but it's really, really boring to watch.

Here are some things to do this weekend that we thought would be more interesting than watching grass grow. That didn't come out quite right, but you know what we mean.

As always, if you've got another plan, we'd love to hear about it.

*Note: If you're planning something on Sunday, be sure you're on time. The clocks move forward this weekend. Yay, daylight savings!

1st Friday
It'll be a (relatively) warm night to hop between music and art venues for Albany's 1st Friday. If you stop by The Fuze Box you can catch Lorraine Murphy's new pin-up art exhibit. Also fun-- Ken Ragsdale's Edible Albany exhibit at Crisan. Your hot chocolate
days are running out, so have them make you one before you leave.

Post-1st Friday
After you've seen a little art and had a little nosh, you can dance if you want to. The First Friday Capital Swing Dance at the Albany Elks Club (25 S. Allen St.) gets going at 8:30, but if you want a lesson, get there at 7:30. $15 gets you the dance plus the lesson.

The 2009 Photography Regional
13 of the area's most renowned contemporary artists, including Ken Ragsdale are featured in this photography show at Sage Albany's Opalka Gallery. The show is curated by Amrose and Sable director Elizabeth Dubben. There's a reception tonight from 5-9. Free.

The Amplified orchestra of the future
That's how the Albany Symphony Orchestra refers to its contemporary music ensemble, The Dogs of Desire. Tonight you can check out this 18 piece orchestra under the direction of the ASO's David Alan Miller as they premier four new works celebrating the spirit of adventure in what they're billing as "The Great Explorers Concert." The show gets underway in the new Massry Center for the Arts at The College of Saint Rose at 8PM. $25, $10 for students.

Thinking about sound
Is listening to a recording of a bottle still listening to a bottle? What about a glacier?
Zeroth Channel is a series of concerts designed to make you think about sound. Tonight at 8 at EMPAC. $5-$15

Yes, Reading!
The newly formed group Yes, Reading! continues its poetry series tonight at 6:30 at
Townsend Park Bakery/Café. Featured poets are Anna Moschovakis and Charmaine Cadeau. Free.

Singing dancing presidential assassins
Well, not so much dancing but they do sing. Stephen Sondheim's Assassins open's tonight at Schenectady Light Opera. Yes, it's a musical about presidential Assassins -- sort of. But that's just the jumping off point. It examines the need for our 15 minutes of fame and the life of the outsider-- all with some pretty awesome music. You'll learn things, think about things and be ever so slightly disturbed. But you're sure to be entertained. Tonight and Saturday at 8, Sunday at 2. $12/$22.

It's theater. No, it's sports. It's theater AND sports
We had a blast last week judging the Mop and Bucket Company's Theater Sports competition at Proctors. There's still time to catch a show. They're upstairs at 440 at Proctor's tonight and Saturday at 8 and Sunday afternoon at 2. $15

The Vagina Monologues at Albany Law
Albany Law is holding a benefit show for their Family Violence Litigation Clinic, as well as Equinox, a Capital Region nonprofit that provides domestic violence services. Law students will present readings from Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues tonight and Saturday at 7 at the Dean Alexander Moot Courtroom (4th floor) at Albany Law
80 New Scotland Ave.

Come to the Cabaret
EBA, the Lark Street dance school and home of the Maude Baum Dance Company is holding it's 4th annual Benefit on Saturday night. There's a cabaret and silent auction. The auction gets underway at 7. Tickets run from $36 to $100.

Movie's and Mimosa
It's back! Movieland Cinema in Schenectady has started up a new season of Saturday morning classic films and mimosas. The movie is $5 and mimosas are $2. This weeks film is the Woody Allen, Diane Keaton romantic comedy classic, Annie Hall. The film starts at 11. Champagne starts flowing at 10:30.

Music at Rev Hall
Everything will be irie tonight at Revolution Hall for Albany based reggae band Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets 20th anniversary show. Doors open at 8. $10
Saturday things move from Rasta to Celtic rock with Enter the Haggis. Sarah Pedinotti's band Railbird is opening. $16 in advance/$18 on Saturday. And on Sunday Justin Nozuka and Missy Higgins team up at Rev. Hall. We've heard from our friends over at WEXT that this is going to be a great show. Doors open at 7. $17.50

March Madness
The first round of the MAAC tournament is underway at The T.U. Center. If you want to see a game, here's the schedule.

Eat something!
Not sure what? Look here.

Star gazing
Looks like Saturday might be a good night to see the stars from RPI's Hirsh Observatory. 8-10. Free.