All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

"The sun would not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house all that cold, cold wet... "

Ummm... nooooo.

There's a bunch of stuff going on this weekend that will help take away the cold and damp. Well, they'll still be there and all-- but you might not mind them as much.

Anyway, here's the list for this week. As always, let us know what we missed. And have a great weekend!

TNO
Yep, the shortest month of the year is just about done already. Troy Night Out is here! Shops and galleries in The Collar City are open late with music, performances, art shows and all kinds of other stuff. Here's the map for this month. The official unofficial TNO Afterparty starts at 9PM with djs Scooby, Brad Lee, McGillicuddy, and Back from Japan

Laughs Out Loud
RPI grad and former hockey player Erick James got a BS in Engineering and a management degree from Cambridge. After which he took the natural path into stand-up comedy. Erick is the co-author of the new book, "How Not to Suck at Communication." He's doing his stand up tonight at Revolution Hall along with teacher Mike Speirs, whose act focuses on transitions and turning 30. $15, $10 for students.

Music
Sgt. Dunbar and the Hobo Banned will be heading out to SXSW soon, and Scientific Maps will be taking some time off to record. Catch them while you can at Tess Lark Tavern on Saturday night . The show starts at 9:30. $5

Beware!The Other Head of Science is at Valentine's tonight at 8 with Pablo Dinero and Barons in the Attic. Tomorrow night at 9 at Valentine's it's Severe Severe with Patrons of Sweet and Problem with Dragons.

Tequila Mockingbirds are at Bread and Jam in Cohoes tonight at 8

The Van Dyck in Schenectady is hosting a Johnny Cash Birthday Bash on Saturday at 8. The Ramblin Jug Stompers, Mother Judge and other local performers pay tribute to "The Man in Black."

Also, Rosanne Cash is at The Egg Saturday night at 8. $34.50

The Knickerbocker Film Festival
Seven locally made films are competing in the Knickerbocker Film Festival, and you can see them this weekend at The Madison Theater in Albany. $5.00 for single seats, $20.00 for family four packs. A portion of the proceeds go toward the Aurora Foundation of Northeast.

More Film
The Spectrum is screening the Oscar nominated live action and animated short films.

The New York State Writer's Institute's classic film series at UAlbany's Page Hall continues tonight with CAMP DE THIAROYE. The semi-autobiographical film is about a group of African soldiers who fought for France during WWII only to be detained at a prison camp by the French at the wars end. 7:30. Free.

Pryorfest
The, "It Came From Schenectady" folks are doing a tribute to Richard Pryor at Proctor's tonight. "Is it something I said" features a screening of Pryor's 1977 classic "Which Way Is UP," live comedy performances and screenings of Pryor inspired short films by local video artists. They've also got prizes and other fun stuff planned. $12

Random Dance
Wayne McGregor and Random Dance are winding up a two week residency at EMPAC with a performance tonight and Saturday. Set to sound from Massive Attack, Coldplay collaborator Jon Hopkin's and Joby Talbot of The Divine Comedy and White Stripes, Entity combines science and art, examining how the mind and body work together. The New York Times called says Wayne McGregor is producing "some of he most exciting work in ballet on the planet." and The Sunday Times calls Entity "a great sexy beast of a piece." Here's a look. You can catch a panel discussion with McGregor about dance, neuroscience, biology and technology tonight at 6 at EMPAC.

Theater
"To Kill a Mockingbird" opens tonight at Capital Rep. With a cast of regional actor's you may see someone you know in this adaptation of the classic book/film. Tonight at 8, Saturday at 3 and 7:30, Sunday at 2:30.

"The Mikado" continues this weekend at Cohoes Music Hall

V-Days
A few productions of Eve Ensler's play The Vagina Monologues are scheduled for this weekend. UAlbany is staging the show tonight from 6-10 in the Campus Center Ballroom. Free

Hudson Valley Community College's is doing it in the Maureen Stapleton Theater tonight and Saturday. There's a $10 admission here and all proceeds benefit Unity House of Troy.

Eastman Photo Tour
The New York State Museum is holding guided tours of the George Eastman House photo exhibit "Seeing Ourselves: Masterpieces of American Photography." The tours are followed by discussion periods led by museum educators. Tours start and 1 and 2 PM on Saturday and Sunday at the West Gallery entrence. Free. While you're there, check out "This Great Nation Will Endure," an exhibit of photos from the Farm Security Administration.

Hot chocolate
It looks like a good weekend to sit in the window at Mrs. London's or Crisan and sip some of the best hot chocolate in the Capital Region.

Photo: Laurent Philippe