All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

It'll come out, tomorrow.

Well, look at it this way, at least Mother Nature's looking out for our weekends.

It looks as if things will dry up a bit for Saturday and Sunday and get soggy again just in time to go back to work. Take advantage of that big orange ball in the sky while you can.

If you need a plan, here are a few outdoor (and indoor) activities this weekend that looked like fun to us. If you've got other plans, let us in on them. It's more fun if you share.

Troy Night Out
Grab your umbrella and rain boots and splash around Troy tonight. Shops and galleries are open late for Troy Night Out! Don't forget to check out the TNO Official Unofficial After-Party at Browns . thepelham123 will be there. So will White Lotus and the jerks (back from japan + jenks - )

Yes, Reading!
The Yes Reading! folks have a new home. Tonight's poetry reading will be held at The Social Justice Center at 33 Central Avenue in Albany. Featured poets will be Sarah Lariviere from Beacon and UAlbany poet and professor Eric Keenaghan. 7PM. Free

Lupines!
Lupines always remind us of Monty Python Sketches, so we'd be chuckling all through Saturday's Lupine Festival at The Albany Pine Bush Preserve. It's a free day of activities that includes an early bird hike, workshops, butterfly tours , a CSI Pine Bush Hike (no, nobody dies), music and a bunch of other activities. Sounds like a great thing to do with kids, but it might be fun without too. Free.

"I said I would go to the opera wit you. Dat's all."
This weeks Movies and Mimosa feature at The Bow Tie Cinema -- Nicholas Cage and Cher in "Moonstruck." Doors open at 10:30 and the film starts at 11. The movie is $5. Mimosa's are $2.

Henry Hudson's Sky
The New York State Museum's Huxley theater takes a look at the night sky the way it would have looked to Henry Hudson and his crew back in 1609. Experts will talk about about navigational techniques used by European explorers and 17th century astronomy. Saturday afternoon 2PM. Tickets at the main lobby desk in the museum. Free.

Premier at The Palace
The local premier of So Right,So Smart, the award winning documentary about businesses that going green for the good of the environment and their bottom line premiers Saturday night at The Palace. The trailer looks pretty interesting. The filmmakers will be on-hand for a discussion after the screening and Sirsy is playing too.

Music!
The Hold Steady, Derek Trucks, Gene Ween Band, Gov't Mule and Umphrey's McGee are just a few of the performers lined up for Hunter Mountain's weekend long Mountain Jam music festival. Here's the whole line-up, complete with schedule and pricing. Bring your frisbee.

Saturday night at Valentine's. Katie Haverly with Vox Celeste (see Katie's note) We are Jeneric and El Duke. Also the Rochester band Auld Lang Syne. 9PM.

They're not common in these parts, but there's a house concert on Saturday Night for Mike and Ruthy Meranda -- formerly of The Mammals. Address and directions are available via email at reichj@alum.rpi.edu. Bring a dish to share for a reception at 7. The concert starts at 8. $10.

Vocal Art
Performance artist Yvon Bonenfant is at EMPAC for two shows this weekend. Bonenfant uses the voice as a starting point and creates cutting edge performances using video, installation and video dance. Tonight and Saturday at 8. Both shows are free.

Yard Sale
It's a great time of year for yard sales, but if you don't want to go hunting for them, check out the 3rd annual yard sale at The Women's Club of Albany today and Saturday. There's no charge to attend and the building is historic and kind of cool. Proceeds from sales benefit the building's renovation Open 9AM-4PM

Cooking class
The folks at Saratoga Restaurant Equipment Sales are holding another cooking class on Saturday. This one will teach you how to make simple, everyday seafood. On the menu: potato encrusted cod, tea poached salmon, tortilla encrusted tilapia and grilled Jamaican jerk swordfish. 10AM-12PM $65.00

Elvisfest
Multitudes of Elvis', wandering Lake George. There'll be Elvis impersonators, concerts, memorabilia a classic car show and more Elvis Impersonators at the annual Elvis Festival this weekend in Lake George. And we're fairly sure you'll be able to pick up a good peanut butter and banana sandwich. Today through Sunday.

Eat Outside
Quick, before it rains again! Find a patio, dry off a chair and soak in the sun, a cocktail and a good meal.

Celebrate Himself
Walt Whitman fans can celebrate his birthday on Sunday at the Robert Burns Statute in Washington Park. Starting at 6PM, Whitman fans will be reading "Song of Myself." You can sign up to read or just listen. Free.

Photo: Flickr user jalalspages