All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Beware! The Other Head of Science -- tonight at Valentines.

Hey, guess what -- it's the weekend again. Time to kick back and have a little fun.

Here's this weekend's list of stuff to do in the Capital Region. Select your favorites and enjoy. And, as always, if we're missing something important, let us know.

Yummmm. Baklava
Greek food, music, crafts and...umm...food this weekend at the St. Sophia Greek Festival at 440 Whitehall Road in Albany. Tonight from 6-11 PM; Saturday noon-11 PM; Sunday noon-7 PM $2 donation, kids under 12 are free.

Art Night in Schenectady
The Electric City is open late tonight with music, art and other fun stuff. Here's the full schedule.

Dancing
The Saratoga Savoy folks are hosting another Diamond Dance on Saturday night at Saratoga Music Hall (Upstairs at City Hall-- Broadway and Lake Avenue) with music from The Lustre Kings.There's a beginner lesson at 7:30 and dancing from 8-11:30, food and Ben and Jerry's ice cream. $15

There's also Underground Ballroom on Saturday night at The Fuze Box in Albany. Newcomers and experienced ballroom dancers are welcome. There's a beginner lesson at 7:40. and the dancing starts at 8. $2.

Twice the geek!
Yes, we saw Star Trek on opening weekend. Yes we're going again. Yes, we are massive geeks. For those of you who really want to get your geek on this weekend, The Malta Drive-In has a geek twin bill: Star Trek and Wolverine. $8 gets you two movies. Kids under 12 get in for $3.

Springtime for Hitler
CR productions in the Cohoes Music Hall opens the Mel Brooks musical The Producers this weekend. CR is a professional company run out of the awesome old Cohoes Music Hall. The show is lots of fun, the place is really worth seeing and at $23 - $32, the tickets are a pretty good value.

More theater
This weekend is your last chance to see David Mamet's "Boston Marriage" at Capital Rep. Tickets range from $15- $44 depending on when you want to see it and where you sit.

Also, The Local Actor's Guild of Saratoga opens a production of "Alway's Patsy Cline" this weekend at the Arts Center at the Corner of Broadway and Spring Street in the Spa City. If you like Patsy Cline's music it's going to be worth the price of admission to hear Molly McGrath sing it. Saturday at 2 and 8. Sunday 2.

Leave the gun, take the cannoli
If you love The Godfather movies, but have only seen them on the small screen, check out The Bow Tie Cinema in Schenectady on Saturday Morning. This week's Movies and Mimosa flick is The Godfather Part I (Part II is next Saturday). Doors open at 10:30 and the movie starts at 11. $5 for the movie and $2 mimosa.

Plant Sale
Go plant shopping for a good cause. The Capital District Community Gardens is holding a plant sale on Saturday from 9-1 at 8th and Eagle Street in Troy. They'll have Perennials, herbs, Tomatoes, veggies, shrubs and all kinds of good stuff.

Spring Spree
Wander over to New Scotland Avenue from noon to 3 on Saturday for the neighborhood Spring Spree. In spots along New Scotland Ave from Academy to Manning there will be have music, kids activities, sidewalk chalk drawings and free trolley rides.

Music
This week's live music selections from our friends over at WEXT:
Tonight:
Revolution Hall - Blue Hand Luke - $10.
The Egg - David Bromberg Big Band$29.50

Saturday:
The Egg - Natalie McMaster$28
Arts Center of the Capital Region Ramblin' Jug Stompers $12

More Music
The Franklin MiCare Duo are at The Backstretch Tap Room and Terrace (38 Caroline St. in Saratoga) for happy hour tonight. Ask them to play "I Want Candy" or their version of the "I Love Lucy" theme. They're just plain fun.

Also, downstairs at Valentines tonight you can catch Kittie Little with BEWARE! The Other Head of Science No Connection, White Problem and Columbia. All this for only $6.

Funny people you've never heard of
They have credits from network television, the club circuit and Comedy Central, but chances are you haven't heard of them yet. Proctor's is hosting The Nobodies of Comedy on Saturday night at 8. If comedy is your thing, it might be a chance to say " Isaw them when." $20-$28.

Take a Hike
The Pine Bush Discovery Center is leading a two hour hike on Saturday morning from 10 AM-noon. The Leapers, Peepers and Creepers hike is focused on identify local amphibians. $2, $5 per family, kids under 5 are free.

Niskayuna Bicentennial Blast
Niskayuna is celebrating its bicentennial with a full day of events. There's a run at 8, a parade at 10, a full day of music, food and crafts and a fireworks display. Check here for all the details on how to get there, where to park and what's happening.

Young People's Chorus of New York City
Last month these young musicians were singing at Carnegie Hall. This Sunday you can catch them at The First United Methodist Church in Schenectady -- for free. They'll perform music from contemporary composers and what's being billed as "songs of faith." The concert starts at 3.

Hudson Children's Book Festival
More than 50 children's book authors will be at the Hudson Middle School on Saturday from 10-4 to meet and greet, sign books, read to kids and host presentations and run workshops. Here's the full schedule. Free.

Teddy Bear Hospital Day
Kids can take their teddy bears to the cafeteria at Albany Medical Center for a check up this Sunday afternoon from 1 to 4. While checking out Teddy, medical students will teach kids about good nutrition, basic medical procedures and how to dial 911. They'll also have face painting and other fun kids activities.

Visit the tulips
Now that the crowds are gone and Washington Park is cleaned up, you can take a quiet walk among the tulips there, or go looking for them in other parts of the city.