All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

One of the images from onedotzero at EMPAC this weekend.

So remember back in February when you were dying for a little taste of spring? It's here! Sunshine and temperatures over 60 are reason enough to celebrate when you live in the great northeast. Get out and have some fun.

Here's a look at some of the stuff we thought might be fun to try this weekend. Got any other ideas? Let us know.

Wander Schenectady
This could be more fun than it sounds. It's Art Night in the Electric City and the perfect weather should bring out a crowd. Shops will be open late with music art and performances. Here's a list of the venues and events.

Wordfest
April is National Poetry Month and the folks at Albany Poets are celebrating with a weekend of poetry and music. The Albany Wordfest kicks off with a cocktail party at Tess' Lark Tavern tonight at 5:00. Then a 12 hour poetry open mic marathon gets underway at 7:00.at UAG on Lark Street. And Saturday night at 7:00 it's their annual Psycho Cluster F*#k. From the description on the website, it's not quite so scary as it sounds. It's a performance featuring music and spoken word from The Rambling Jug Stompers, Mother Judge, Margot Malia Lynch, Daniel Nester, Murrow, and others. $5.00. It's open to all ages, but good luck explaining the title to your six year old.

A long strange trip
Yes, you already know the Grateful Dead are at The T.U. Center tonight. If you're going to the show, here's something to stop at on your way. Author Peter Conners will be at Amrose & Sable Gallery reading from his book "Growing Up Dead." It's Conners' journey from straight laced suburban kid to deadhead. The reading starts at 6 and it's a quick walk down the street to the show.

Adventures in Motion
This weekend EMPAC is hosting the US premiere of Onedotzero_Adventures in Motion Festival. It's a weekend of screenings, installations, live cinematic performances, vj/dj events and presentations. Here's the full schedule. Prices depend on what you attend, but you can get a 3 day screening pass for $10.

Spontaneous Broadway
Whether you like show tunes or you like to make fun of show tunes, you could have some fun here. The folks at The Mop and Bucket Company are making it up as they go along once again. Audience members invent song titles for Broadway musicals on the fly and performers improvise an entire Broadway musical on the spot. Upstairs at 440 at Proctors. Tonight and Saturday at 8 and Sunday at two. If you miss it, they'll be there next weekend too.

Movies and Mimosa
The Bowtie Cinema in Schenectady has picked another great classic for this Sunday's Movies and Mimosa, Alfred Hitchock's Rear Window with Jimmy Stewart. $5 for the movie. $2 mimosas.

Roller Derby
The Albany All Stars are back at the Washington Avenue Armory this weekend. Albany's Department of Public Hurts takes on Manch Vegas on Saturday night. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the bout starts at 7:00 PM. Musical guest is Johnny Biz. $10 in advance, $12 dollars at the door, $4 for kids.

Music
This is like getting the real Oreos at the Hydrox price. Two really good bands for $5. Scientific Maps will be at Tess Lark Tavern tonight with the new band Cave Weddings. Sure, it's their first show, but you can preview them here. We did and we liked what we heard. The music starts at 9.

Demetri Martin
Comedian Demetri Martin is at The Egg tonight. They've added a second show at 10:30. $35

Historic Re-enactments
The front lawn of Siena College will be one big battlefield and military encampment on Saturday. Three eras in American military history will be represented: The Revolutionary War, The Civil War and the modern military. There will be parades, battle reenactments and a look at camp life for soldiers in each time period. 9AM-5PM. Free

Dance
Doc Scanlon's Rhythm Boys are the featured band at this month's Saratoga Savoy Diamond Dance at the Saratoga Music Hall (top floor of City Hall on Broadway). $15 gets you music and dancing from 7:30 to 11:30, food, a beginner lesson and Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

If it's not Scottish..
The Oran Mor Pipe band celebrates Scottish music and highland dancing this weekend. Tonight there's a concert at The Saratoga Abundant Life Church with bagpipes and dancing. $15 per person or $35 for a family. Saturday Oran Mor and Kevin McKrell perform at The Holiday Inn Ballroom in Saratoga $10 per person gets you the show and appetizers. The weekend is a fund raiser for the bands summer competition trip to Glasgow.

Earth Day Fair
Yep, earth day is coming up this week (Wednesday). A few local groups will be celebrating early at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Washington Avenue. About a dozen local exhibitors will be set up there on Saturday from 10-4 with displays, info and free saplings. The event is free and Honest Weight is providing lunch for a "modest price."

Walk in the Woods
Skidmore professor Robert Jones is leading a walk through the North Woods of the campus. Sounds like it will be a little bit nature and a little bit history.Sunday from 1-4 .

Go tulip hunting
The first tulips of the season are up. Take a walk and see how many colors you can spot.

Barbeque!
It's BBQ weather. Fire up the grill-- orr, better yet, let someone else do the cooking for you. PJ's Bar-B-Q in Saratoga opens Saturday morning at 11!

Ice Cream!
We know we've mentioned this before, but the weather is just right for a trip to your favorite ice cream joint. Or one of ours.

Disclosure: EMPAC is an AOA advertiser.