All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

According to recent reports from icy snowy apocalypse meter it's going to be clear, but snot freezing cold this weekend. Now, that's cold.

But if a pot of soup and the DVR are not what you had in mind for the weekend, there's plenty going on to keep you busy.

After the jump you'll find a list of things that sounded promising to us. Mix them, match them, share them with your friends, suit up for the cold and get out there and have a little fun.

Oh, and if we missed anything good, let us know!

TNO
Tonight is Troy night out, so put your long johns on and head for the Collar City. Go bowling at Uncle Sam Lanes when it's over. It's $10 to bowl from 9 to midnight and if you show a student ID they'll donate $2 to Red Cross fund for Haiti relief. Jericho Joe is at Brown's Brewing Company. There's also a Broadway sing along at the First United Presbyterian Church for those who like to get their diva on. This month the official/unofficial TNO after party is at Daisy Bakers with the Goodship DJs.

What are you doing now?
The Martinez Gallery in Troy posed this question to 18 artists. Their "status updates" come in the forms of paintings, prints and sculptures at the gallery on Friday night (one piece was made with an iphone. The exhibit opens as part of Troy night out, but it will stay open through early April. You can catch it Wednesdays-Saturdays from 2-5 pm.

Andrew Nemr and CPD
Choreographer Andrew Nemr and his ensemble recreate the history of tap and jazz with works by Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Bubba Gaines, Jimmy Slyde and Gregory Hines. The show at The Egg is a benefit for the people of Haiti. $24, $20 for seniors and $12 for kids.

Inside Hello Kitty
Tonight at EMPAC, performance artist Jeremy Wade peeks beneath the slick, silly surface of Japanese Kawaii (cute) culture to reveal the insidious subtext beneath Hello Kitty and and other cute anime icons. In "There is No End to More," Wade uses dance, stories, video and anime to make you laugh, make you think and freak you out a little. Here's a little look inside the show.

Albany All StarsRoller Derby
The Department of Public Hurts take on the Green Mountain Derby Dames at the Washington Avenue Armory on Saturday night. Doors open at 6, bout starts at 7. $10 in advance, $12 at the door, $4 for kids.

Graffiti art
Nate Freeman's new art show, "The Struggle Not To Struggle" opens on Saturday night at 8 with a reception at The Dead Presidents Lounge on Madison Avenue in Albany. The exhibit runs through March 15 and uses a mixed media approach to blur the line between fine art and traditional graffiti.

Not Yo Mamma's Mac N Cheese
If ever there was a weekend for mac n cheese, this is it. Saratoga Restaurant Equipment is teaching a class in mac n cheese. And not just any old mac n cheese --Baked Penne with 4 Cheeses, Parmesan, Romano, Fontina, Mozzarella, Baked Stuffed Mac N Cheese Loaf, and Truffled Mac N Cheese on the menu. At $65, it's not the cheapest mac and cheese you've ever made, but it could make you a lot of friends in the cold winter days to come. This is their last class for a while, so if you've been wanting to try one -- you know.

More Mac n Cheese
If you can't make it to the class, go to your favorite place and have them make you some Mac n cheese. We're partial to Hattie's.

Garden Bowl
Uncle Sam Lanes is holding a fund raiser for The Capital District Community Gardens from 2-5PM Saturday. Raise at least $25 in donations and you can bowl 3 games for $6 (including shoes).

Music
There's a ton of music in the CR this weekend. Here's a smattering of what looked interesting:

Ben Karis-Nix , Brooklyn's Brian Bonz and John Broduer are downstairs at Valentine's Saturday night at 8.

Fresh from their vegetable-oil fueled van Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad performs roots, reggae and experimental dub tonight at Red Square. $10 (21+) / $15 (18-20)

If you like Jazz/Funk & Fusion, check out The Chronicles at Bread and Jam tonight from 5 - 11. Tomorrow they've got Celtic Night with St. James Gate.

Captain Squeeze & the Zydeco Moshers are at the Midtown Tap & Tea Room on Saturday night. The party gets going at 8.

Sonny & Perley perform Jazz, swing and standards at 74 State Saturday night, starting at 8:30.

Keith Pray's Big Soul Ensemble is holding a CD release party Sunday at Tess' Lark Tavern

Syracuse Symphony String Quartet
The Syracuse Symphony String Quartet performs works by Mozart and Bach at the Boght Arts Center in Cohoes on Sunday afternoon at 4. $20.

Sunday Cinema at APL
Albany Public Library is screening the 2009 documentary, "Michael Jackson's This Is It" at the main branch of the library on Sunday. 2 p.m. Free.

More Film
The Saratoga Film Forum hosts the Capital Region premiere of "Me and Orson Wells" tonight at 8 and Sunday at 3. The coming of age story about a young mans brush with Wells has gotten some pretty good reviews. On Saturday they're hosting "Lunafest," ten films in a variety of styles that tell the stories of women. Shows at 3 and 7PM . $12 for members/$15 for non members.

Theater
Harold Pinter's, "Betrayal" this weekend at Capital Rep. This story of a love triangle among friends is told backwards. Here's a bit more about the show including info about a weird homage from "Seinfeld."

Blue Hawaiian Tropical Party
Pretend it's not 18 degrees outside at The Saratoga Savoy's Blue Hawaiian Tropical Party at Tiznow in Saratoga. Grass skirts, tropical shirts, latin dancing and DJ El Gato Negro. There's a lesson at 7:30 and party starts tonight at 8:30. Free.

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.

The Great Northeast Home Show
The Empire Plaza goes all HGTV this weekend with The Great Northeast Home Show. An $8 admission ticket ($6 with this coupon) gets you in to check out all kinds of home improvement ideas. HGTV's Vern Yip will be there on Saturday. Tonight until 9, Saturday 10-7 and Sunday 10-5.

Drink warm things
Grab some coffee, hot chocolate or tea and hang out with a friend or a good book at a local coffee shop. There are plenty of good spots to choose from.
Winter markets
Get meats, root vegetables, breads and all kinds of other yummy stuff at the indoor winter markets in Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga.