Stuff to do this weekend
Keep dreaming.
We're finding ourselves spending a lot of time daydreaming about cookouts, ball games and swimming pools.
But there's 56 days until spring. And even then it'll probably still be cold.
So here's what we're thinking--maybe if we're having fun, we won't notice so much.
Here's this weekends round-up of stuff to do. Find a few things you like and get off the couch.
Don't forget your scarf and mittens.
Oh, and if we missed something good, let us know!
Haiti Relief Concerts
Haitian-American Violinist DBR mixes European classical with funk. Here's what he gets. He's is performing a benefit show for Haiti tonight at 8 at The Egg. $24, $12 for students and children.
James Taylor has added a second Haiti relief concert to his schedule at The Mahaiwe on Saturday. Tickets start at $100, but all the proceeds goes to support Partners in Health.
More Music
Bent Rail Blues Band is at The Midtown Tap and Tea Room Tonight. Free.
Maaze plays Valentine's tonight. The band features members of the The Deadbeats, Raisenhead and Half Step.
Slick Fitty will be at The Lark Tavern tonight.
Erin Harkes & the Rebound are playing Positively Fourth Street in Troy tonight. Museum Guards will be there too.
Margot Malia, Honeycreeper and Society High will be at positively 4th Street on Saturday night. The Hellions of Troy are hosting this benefit concert for injured skater Chicken Mole. 8PM. $5
Sean Rowe is at Brown's on Saturday night.
Matt Durfee & Mike Poulopoulos team up as Platypus on Saturday at Bread & Jam Cafe, $5
U2 tribute band Unforgettable Fire plays Revolution Hall on Saturday night at 8. $10 in advance. $15 day on Saturday.
Seven bands are lined up for a Hannah's Hope Fund benefit at Northern Lights in Clifton Park Saturday. Random Axcess, Whiskey Tango, Yellow Dog, Byrds of Prey, Phil Barrett, Louis and Anthony Gargiula, and Ten Year Vamp will be playing. The show starts at 2PM. $15 or 2 for $25.
Psylab is four guys from Massachusetts that improvise Electronic Dance all with live instruments -- no sequencers. You can check them out here. They're at Red Square on Saturday night at 8.
Dance
DJ's Lazer & Blazer and Properly Chilled will be rockin' Quintessence on Saturday night from 10-3. Free.
Bone up on your Oscar nominees
No, they haven't announced the nominees yet, but you kind of have an idea by now. And the movie theaters are warm and smell like popcorn.
"I see dead people"
If there's someone on the "other side" you've been wanting to talk to, you might catch them in Schenectady tonight. Medium Lisa Williams will be contacting spirits at Proctor'sat 8. Tickets run from $20 to $66.50 for the living. Great, great Uncle Herbert gets in for free.
Spontaneous Broadway
Mop and Bucket have another weekend of Spontaneous Broadway planned. The audience shouts out song titles and the group makes up a full length Broadway musical on the spot. Upstairs at 440 at Proctors tonight and Saturday at 8 and Sunday at 2. $15.
Theater
Harold Pinter's, "Betrayal" is at Capital Rep this weekend.
Burlesque
The Hudson Valley's Alpha Psi Ecdysia burlesque troupe will be at The Fuze Box tonight at 10. $7
Ice Skating
No, you can't do it on the Empire Plaza. But Swinburne ice rink is still open and there's outdoor skating near the Victoria Pool in Saratoga's Spa State Park.
Frost Faire
If you can't beat winter, embrace it. The Saratoga National Historical Park is holding its 15th annual Frost Faire on Saturday from 10:30 to 3. They'll have tube rides on the hillside, nature treks, games, exhibits, stories and cookies and coco by the campfire. Free.
Eat stuff
You know... food that keeps you warm. Hattie's macaroni and cheese, soup at the Wine Bar and Bistro, hot chocolate. Yum.
Brunch
Yes, we realize this is kind of like, "eat more stuff." But lingering over brunch with Bloody Marys or mimosas kind of deserves its own category. We're fans of Cafe Madison and Quintessence. What's your favorite brunch spot?
Winter markets
Remember the spring and summer weekends wandering the farmers' markets? You can get meats, root vegetables, breads and all kinds of other yummy stuff at the indoor winter markets in Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga.
Say Something!
We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.
Comments
damn i love that photo
... said Jalarson on Jan 22, 2010 at 11:15 AM | link
What I don't get is the benefit for the injured skater - now... I'm all about benefits. But, benefiting someone that puts themselves out there in a dangerous sport and then gets injured?
Don't worry folks, when my liver goes south from drinking too much I will not force you into having a benefit for me, nope.
... said Lola on Jan 22, 2010 at 11:18 AM | link
According to the Quintessence website, tomorrow night is the John Morse Band. Pretty sure the next time Properly Chilled and Lazer & Blazer play Quintessence is February 6 (with Mazi from Chicago). Editors: Thanks Ethan, you are correct.
... said ethan on Jan 22, 2010 at 11:43 AM | link
Huh, it was my understanding that these skaters were registered with the WFTDA (women's flat track derby aasoc.) which provides a basic level of accident insurance, not to mention the league is a business which should also have its own liability insurance, and if someone is playing roller derby without their own health insurance, I dunno, is there a shorter word for "bad idea"?
Sure it sucks that someone got hurt playing an obviously dangerous sport, and I wish her a speedy recovery. I also think people are free to spend their money on this if they wish, and I support socialized health care, but this doesn't seem to be the right way.
... said B on Jan 22, 2010 at 11:54 AM | link
super bull @ the TU!
... said miles on Jan 22, 2010 at 12:12 PM | link
Looking forward to playing tonight at the Midtown! Hope to see you there!
... said Drew on Jan 22, 2010 at 12:44 PM | link
Albany Symphony is playing Mahler 5 at The Palace tomorrow night. See the ASO website for more info.
... said Tom on Jan 22, 2010 at 1:14 PM | link
Tubing on the hills could be interesting without snow, but I can't believe they're having CoCo by the campfire so soon after his exit from NBC.
... said StanfordSteph on Jan 22, 2010 at 2:31 PM | link
We had a great time at the Frost Faire last year. Looking forward to going tomorrow.
... said Roon on Jan 22, 2010 at 7:53 PM | link
quintessence is legit--and a conveniently short walk from hudson/park. when i feel like taking the bus though--grandmas is where its at. now that i think of it--i havent been there since august--sounds like i know what im doing sunday before 11:30 AM.
... said ryan on Jan 22, 2010 at 10:47 PM | link
@B and @Lola:
I wonder if you feel the same way about roller derby skater Tequila Mockingbird. Tequila Mockingbird has been a roller girl since 2004 and is known for always hustling and pushing herself, being a role model for all skaters, and helping her team win 2 championships. On August 25, 2007, Tequila Mockingbird, a veteran Windy City Rollergirl, a WFTDA league, fell and seriously injured her spinal cord during a bout. That night her team huddled in the hospital and vowed to support her throughout her recovery. Since that day, Tequila has returned home and works daily in therapy to regain her strength and physical abilities. She has regained some movement in all of her limbs and due to sheer perseverance and hard work.
The roller derby community has come together and raised thousands of dollars for her. For more information about Tequila's recovery or to make a donation please visit: http://www.helptequila.com/
Roller derby communities come together and support each other when a skater is hurt or in need. This is very common practice. Regardless of USAR, WFTDA, or private insurance coverage.
Would you feel the same way about a benefit for someone who was injured in a skiing accident? Or riding a motorcycle? Or maybe your issue with this event is because she doesn't skate for your prefer league?
... said Roller Derby Skater on Jan 23, 2010 at 10:57 AM | link
I look forward to the benefit tonight for Chicken Mole. It never ceases to amaze me how friends can really come together to rally around an injured individual, in an effort to help them out in anyway they can. I am sure that whatever is raised tonight will help out this mother of two, who has been out of work during her injury...and she will surely appreciate everyone who helps.
Thanks AOA for the list of things to do this weekend. For those with a philanthropic spirit, looks like you got a busy weekend to enjoy! For all others, enjoy your weekend safely.
... said Eloda on Jan 23, 2010 at 11:46 AM | link
its not for an injured skater, its for funding for the team- should be called a fundraiser I guess. worse things get support. (joe bruno).
... said meat head on Jan 23, 2010 at 4:09 PM | link
Roller Derby Skater, I would feel the same way about someone involved in a motorcycle accident. Several years ago my uncle was seriously hurt while on his bike in a collision with a semi. Now, let's get one thing up front, a bike can be recreational, but it's also something practical; he uses it as a primary form of transportation. The fact that derby is purely recreational doesn't exactly make that a fair comparison.
Anyway, the combination of insurance from the semi driver's company, hmy uncle's personal insurance, and the fact that he knew the risks he was taking and prepared for such an event (though not as severe as being, in a witness' description what "looked like one of the tires of the truck flying through the air") covered him. Because, you know, that's how you're supposed to do it.
If someone were to hold a fundraiser for someone injured in some other recreational activity which a high chance of just such an injury, yes, my reaction would be the same. People are free to put their money toward it, I just don't see why, doesn't make a lot of sense. But I do hope she makes a quick and full recovery, I have a tiny bit of compassion down in the bottom of my shriveled, icy heart.
meat head brings up another interesting point. The derby leagues -- and no, this has nothing to do with any preference of my own, both local leagues do this -- hold a lot of fundraisers. Which is interesting, seeing as it's my understanding they are LLC's. Businesses. Businesses who collect dues from members, who charge for tickets to their bouts, and who charge other local businesses to be sponsors. And while sometimes these fundraisers are held to collect money for charities, that's not the case all the time; they're also used to collect money to fund the operations of the business. I don't think a lot of people giving their money to the leagues get that, so excuse me if I'm a little cynical about yet more derby fundraising.
... said B on Jan 25, 2010 at 9:51 AM | link
I'd like to add on B's comment, although there really isn't much to add. He worded it perfectly.
I have an issue with any group doing something similar. There is a difference between having a fundraiser, and making money for someone in particular that knowingly put themselves at risk without proper coverage.
Are derby leagues actually LLCs? If they're for-profit ventures that makes it even worse.
... said Lola on Jan 25, 2010 at 10:39 AM | link
Happy to say that over $700 was raised for the injured skater at the benefit for her on Saturday night. The suggested donation at the door, the raffle money and bake sale money will all be going to her.
Thanks to everyone who came out and showed support! Hope the other benefits fared just as well!
... said Eloda on Jan 25, 2010 at 4:19 PM | link
WFTDA sponsored leagues and most other roller derby leagues are non-profit. We need to pay for practice space and even to put on bouts--tickets don't cover the cost to play the sport we love.
We practice our asses off and then fundraise our asses off just to be able to play. Bet the same criticisms wouldn't be had for people playing more mainstream sports like football, baseball, etc. In sports there are risks, and our sport accident insurance doesn't kick in til $2000 and taps out at $50000.
... said avashia2 on Feb 2, 2010 at 4:42 PM | link