Stuff to do this weekend

speeding Santas.jpg

Run Santas, run!

He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. Does that creep anyone else out?

Here's something to get your mind off it -- this weekends rundown of fun stuff to do in the Capital Region.

Pick your favorites, call your friends and have some fun.

Anything we're missing? 'Tis the season to share. Ahem.

Santas in Speedos
If you see a bunch of scantily clad folks in Santa hats running up and down Lark Street on Saturday, it's not because you've had to much nog. It's the 4th annual ASAP Santa Speedo Sprint--a fund-raiser for the Albany Damien Center. Registration for runners starts at noon at Oh Bar and Lark Tavern and the Santas step off at 2PM on Saturday. You'll also find plenty of half naked Santas "warming up" in Lark Street establishments before the race.

Winter Wonderlark
The Speedo Sprint is part of the larger Winter Wonderlark festival on Lark Street. There's also an Art Bazaar at Trinity Church, dramatizations and Christmas carols and a gingerbread fun shop at Upstate Artists Guild. We're really not sure what that last part is all about, but gingerbread and fun -- how could you go wrong?

Don't make me get the flying monkies
"Wicked,"the back story on the wicked witch of the west, is at Proctor's through January. You can catch the show tonight at 8, Saturday at 2 and 8 and Sunday at 2 and 7:30.

Scrooge
You've heard the story, but it never really gets old. This concert version of A Christmas Carol by The New York Stage Originals premiered Off-Broadway eleven years ago. It's touring again and you can see it at The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall tonight at 8. Tickets are $25 to $42. Children and Students (w/id) are $15.

My Fair Lady
The Learner and Lowe classic continues at Capital Repertory Theater. On Sunday 12/13, 1:30 PM: "How did Shaw's Pygmalion Evolve into My Fair Lady?" Pres-show discussion with Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill and UAlbany professor, Martha Rozett. Light brunch included. Call for reservations, availability, prices.

Enter the Haggis
Toronto's Celtic rock band Enter The Haggis play Revolution Hall tonight at 8. $20

Figg release party
The Figgs are back in town tonight for Valentine's annual holiday show. It's also a release party for their new CD "Casino Hayes." They'll be downstairs at Valentine's tonight with Scientific Maps and Kitty Little.

Concert/Toy Drive
The Red Lions and Mirk and The New Familiars are among 9 bands slated to play Red Square tonight. The show is also a toy drive for Kevin G. Langan Scool of The Albany Center for Disability Services. Admission is $10 and they're encouraging patrons to bring a toy that would be suitable for the schools students (ages 5-21).

Live at The Sanctuary
The Heavenly Echoes Gospel Singers will record live in front of a studio audience this weekend at The Sanctuary for Independent Media. They'll be joined by the men's chorus of Lansingburgh's Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Saturday night at 8. Suggested donation of $10/ $5 for students and low income.

Premiere
Albany filmmaker Karen Christina Jones' latest short, "Shot Through The Heart" premieres tonight at Pinto and Hobbs at the corner of State and Dove.

Laughs
+You'll recognize Jim Gaffigan when you see him. He's been in "That 70's Show," "Ed," "Sex in the City" and a whole bunch of other TV shows and movies. He's bringing his stand up act to The Palace in Albany on Saturday night at 8. $35.75 & $42.75

+Local comedians get a shot at the mic on Sunday night at 8 when Greg Aidala hosts Comedy on the Park at Tess Lark Tavern.

Dobro Master
Jerry Douglas, the world's foremost dobro player, teams up with Celtic singer Maura O'Connell and John Oates (yep, from Hall and Oates) tonight at The Egg.

Tight Knit
There's still time to shop the Tight Knit market for the holidays. You'll find cool locally made crafts at the Troy Farmers Market in The Atrium on Saturday morning.

Kids Stuff
The model train display is up at The Schenectady Museum and Planetarium. Free with museum admission ($4 kids, $6.50 adults).

Santa arrives by air at the Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Glenville on Saturday. Kids can tour the museum, learn to build model rockets and visit with Santa. They're also planning a reenactment of the Berlin "Candy Bomber."

Photo by Flickr user: Albany Tim

Comments

Confetti Stage brings its 5th Anniversary Season to a close with Little Women, directed by Steve Suriano.

INTENDED FOR ALL AUDIENCES
Little Women features: Lucy Breyer, Mandy Clemente, Bill Douglas, Linda Fasano, Rebecca Frazier, Stephen Henel, Charles Owens, Michael Rivest, Sara Rivest, Lynn Scott, and Amanda Symons.

All performances will be take place at The Albany Masonic Hall 4th Floor Theater, 69 Corning Place, Downtown Albany, New York.

Friday, December 11, 2009 at 8:00pm.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 8:00pm
Sunday, December 13, 2009 2:00pm

Thursday, December 17, 2009 8:00pm
Friday, December 18, 2009 8:00pm
Saturday, December 19, 2009 8:00pm
Sunday, December 20, 2009 2:00pm

General Admission Tickets are $15.
FlexTix (5 tickets) - $50.
Group Discounts Available for groups of 10 or more.
Tickets are available at www.confettistage.com or may be reserved by calling the Confetti Stage Box Office at 518-242-8015.

Additionally we will hold a drawing at the intermission of the Sunday, Dec 20 performance of Confetti Stage's Little Women. The winner of the drawing will receive a $100 Proctor's Gift Certificate.

TO ENTER:
Purchase 2 tickets to Confetti Stage's Little Women, by visiting our website, www.confettistage.com prior to 8:00pm tomorrow night, Friday, December 11, 2009.
You will be entered once into the drawing for every 2 tickets you purchase before the deadline.
Only purchases made through www.confettistage.com are eligible for this particular promotion. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT TO WIN. If not present, the winner will be notified and prize delivered by December 31, 2009.

I resent the fact that model trains are listed under "Kids Stuff".

Ellsass: Point taken. Of course we meant kids in the "from 1 to 92" sense of the word ;-)

Also - The awesome local band Okemah is opening for Enter the Haggis at Rev Hall tonight.
http://www.okemahmusic.com/

The Pride of NY Harvest Fest is Saturday and Sunday at the Desmond.

"New York State’s orchards, gardens, farms and food production industries are represented by 50 purveyors at a smorgasbord of exceptional edibles, and premier vintages from more than 40 New York State wineries are poured for guests," sez the website. Sounds like a cavalcade of food. Could be a good place to pick up some easy Christmas gifts for foodies, too.

There is a contra dance at the Hibernian Hall on Ontario St tonight, 7:30-10:30 pm. $10 admission, $5 for students - or come free with a bring a dancer coupon from the Dance Flurry Org web site www.danceflurry.org. Very informal, live music, lots of fun - no partner or experience necessary, all dances walked through and called. And VERY good for burning off holiday cookies! More info on the web site.

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