Stuff to do this weekend
Happy spring!
Somebody pinch us!
Spring starts this weekend, there's an extra hour of sunlight and Saturday should reach 67 degrees.
This, you would think, is as good as it gets for a late March weekend in the Capital Region.
But no -- there's also an impressive list of stuff to do.
After the jump, the stuff we thought might be fun. If you're doing something we missed, share with the group, please. And get out and have some fun.
Art Attack
Hundreds of artists from around the Capital Region descend on the Electric City this weekend for the first Schenectady Art Attack. Painters, writers, musicians, film makers photographers and others will perform at more than 20 venues around Schenectady from 10 -6 on Saturday and 11-5 on Sunday. You can pick up a map and schedule at City Hall.
Film
The Yes Men Fix the World opened last night at The Madison Theater in Albany. You can catch it all week at 7 and 9:30.
The Cannes Film Festival's Jury Prize winner "Fish Tank" is at the Saratoga Film Forum tonight at 8 and Sunday afternoon at 3. $5 members, $7 non- members.
The Writer's Institute is screening the Japanese film "After Life" at Page Hall tonight. It's made up of stories from a room where people are asked to pick one memory from their lifetime before entering heaven. 7:30. Free.
Albany Public Library is screening "Precious", this Sunday. Main Branch on Washington Avenue. 2PM Free.
Midnight Burlesque
Scooter Pie at midnight--the rock n' roll burlesque show, comes around to Valentine's again on Saturday night at.. yes.. midnight.
Music
Bryan Thomas and Julia Brown are at Bread and Jam Cafe tonight, starting at 8.
Choirs, chamber groups a jazz quintet and a Haitian drumming ensemble are part of tomorrow night's benefit concert for Haitian Relief at Center of Communications and Interactive Media building at The College of Saint Rose. 7:30. $10.
Jarrod Gorbel ( of The Honorary Title) is downstairs at Valentine's tonight at 8.
Matt Durfee is a Red Square tonight with The IronBar Collective, Rory McKiernan and Hijinx. Tomorrow night Alta Mira will be there with Crooked Toe. 8PM
Swingers Big Bad Voodoo Daddy are at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall tonight at 8 with a tribute to Cab Calloway. $42, $36, $29. Kids $20.
Mirk and the New Familiars are playing The Dublin Underground tonight at 10.
Jazz vocalist Jill Hughes is at the Van Dyck in Schenectady tomorrow night at 8. $10
Slick Fitty is at Daisy Baker's tonight at 10.
Theater
+*"To Kill a Mockingbird" continues at Capital Rep. You can see it tonight at 8, Saturday at 3 & 7:30, Sunday at 2:30. $15-$39
Home Made Theater's Shuster Play Reading Series presents a staged reading of "BFF (Best Friends Forever)" by Anna Ziegler.
Yes,Reading
Yes, Reading hosts poets Elena Georgiou, Christian Peet and Karl Gartung and Kate Greenstreet on Saturday night at 7:30 at the Social Justice Center on Central Avenue in Albany.
Festivals
Congregation Gates of Heaven in Schenectady is hosting a Jewish Food Festival on Sunday from noon to 4. There will be all kinds of food samples, cooking demonstrations, music and a children's carnival. $15 for adults, $9 under 18.
The First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany is holding an Iraqi Spring Festival on Sunday afternoon at 4.
Dance
The Joey Thomas Big Band is playing the Saratoga Savoy Diamond Dance is set for at the Saratoga Music Hall (top floor of City Hall) on Saturday night from 7:30-11:30. $15 gets you music, dancing, snacks and ice cream.
Art
"Make Art Not War," the new show at The Dead Presidents Lounge Custom Tattoo & Art Gallery on Madison Avenue opens with a reception on Saturday night at 8.
Upstate Figurative, a showcase for four Capital Region figurative painters Sean Calhoun, Michael Gwozdz, Jenny Hutchinson and Deborah Morris opens on Sunday at The Fulton Street Gallery in Troy.
Seeing Ourselves: Masterpieces of American Photography from George Eastman House Collection continues this weekend at the New York State Museum. There's a free, 40 minute guided tour that meets at the West Gallery Entrance on Saturday and Sunday.
EMPAC's "Dancing on the Ceiling" exhibit includes all kinds of art based on zero gravity, and offers visitors a chance to float in an isolation tank. Free.
Music and Politics
Composer and pianist Frederic Rzewski will play a concert of many of his own political compositions on Saturday night at the concert hall at EMPAC. Rzewski will talk about his work following the performance. 8PM. $15, $10 students/seniors/faculty, $5 for RPI students.
Knit-In
Artists will hold demos on knitting, felting, dyeing, weaving, and all kinds of other fiber arts at The Arts Center for the Capital Region's Knit In. Sunday from 1-4. Free.
Chocolate!
The 6th Annual Northeast Family Chocolate Festival will be at The Washington Avenue Armory on Saturday from 10-5. There'll be all kinds of kids stuff ,craft, music and chocolate vendors from all over the Capital Region. Admission benefits the Addictions Care Center of Albany.
Northeast Outdoors Show
Camping, fishing, biking, hiking and all kinds of other outdoor sports will be represented at the Northeast Outdoors Show at the Empire Plaza Convention Center today through Sunday. Today from 4-9, Saturday 9-6, Sunday 9-5. $8 for adults, kids 4-12 $4, kids under 4 are free.
Take a Hike
Take a guided hike through the Albany Pine Bush on the first day of spring. It's a 1.5 mile hike. $2 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Register at 518-456-0655 albanypinebush.org
Check out the stars
The weather should be great for star gazing tonight. You can check out the Star Watch at Grafton Lakes State Park in the Main lot at 7:30.
Tomorrow night from 8-10 the Hirsch Observatory at RPI is open to the public.
Ice Cream
Celebrate spring with the first cone of the season from one of the seasonal ice cream stands near you. Check here to find out which ones are open.
Just get out!
Find a park or a neighborhood you like and just take a walk. It's spring-- and it actually feels like it!
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Comments
Select Rhythms is at Quintessence this Saturday, at 10pm. Lounge @ Quintessence regulars Properly Chilled and Lazer & Blazer welcome guest DJ Luke Jonathan. No cover. More funky house music than you can shake your fanny at.
... said ethan on Mar 19, 2010 at 11:42 AM | link
It's not outside, but if you like hockey (specifically college), the ECAC championships are at the Pepsi Arena (yep, I said it) Friday evening and Saturday. The event will be moving to Atlantic City after this one, so here's your chance. Union is in it, the first time in 8 years a Cap Reg team has been.
It'll be better than a River Rats game (no fighting, though), I promise!
... said Alex on Mar 19, 2010 at 11:59 AM | link
There is a salsa social on sat too.
http://www.salsasocialny.com/SalsaSocialNY.com/Home.html
... said Camilo on Mar 19, 2010 at 12:06 PM | link
Singer-songwriter Phil Henry performs at Cafe Lena this Saturday!
DINNER and VAGINA!
Sun, Mon and Tues - performance of the Vagina Monologues at the 217 Cafe on Delaware. Tickets are $35 and include a 3 course dinner, then GUARANTEED VAGINA!
The cost is $35 and includes dinner, followed by GUARANTEED VAGINA!!!! Dinner option are Pasta Primavera, Chicken Cordon Bleu and Salmon with Dill Sauce. The meal also includes choice of soup or salad and a dessert. Dinner seating begins at 6:30pm, with the meal starting at 7pm. This production supports the Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.
To reserve a seat please email or call Mark Rennell 434-0416 for reservations. Sunday, March 21st is sold out but there are plenty of seats available for Monday and Tuesday!
... said Jessica R on Mar 19, 2010 at 1:58 PM | link
Yay hockey! Go Saints!
... said Slacker on Mar 19, 2010 at 2:00 PM | link
For families:
Family Jam with Helderberg Music Together.
Date: Sunday, March 21, 2010
Time:11:30am - 2:30pm
Location:Crowne Plaza Hotel
Street:State and Lodge Streets
http://small-bany.blogspot.com/2010/03/family-jam-with-heldeberg-music.html
... said Dawn on Mar 19, 2010 at 2:32 PM | link
Table Hopping/timesunion.com Mac-n-Cheese Bowl (benefiting the Regional Food Bank
When: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Italian American Community Center, 257 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany
Details: Tasting of macaroni-and-cheese preparations from 15 Capital Region restaurants (see below). Prizes to be decided by panel of judges as well as readers'-choice and kids'-choice awards. Proceeds will benefit the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.
Admission: $10 older than age 12, $5 for 5 to 12, free for younger than 5.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/ASPStories/Story.asp?StoryID=912720&LinkFrom=RSS&TextPage=2#ixzz0ieJdzUJm
Restaurants participating in Saturday's Mac-n-Cheese Bowl and the versions they'll be serving:
Albany Pump Station, Albany: Lobster and shrimp mac-n-cheese with garlic-Parmesan crunch; and "nacho ordinary mac-n-cheese" with chorizo, ground beef, chile peppers, olives, scallions, mini-shells, smoky habanero sauce, tortilla crisps, cilantro creme fraiche.
Angelo's 677 Prime/Mazzone Management, Albany/Schenectady/Saratoga: Lobster mac-n-cheese with cheddar and American cheeses and truffled breadcrumbs.
Brunswick Barbecue & Brew, Cropseyville: Five cheeses (romano, asiago, sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, Velveeta), prosciutto and Italian crust.
Chez Mike, East Greenbush: Charred tomato mac-n-cheese with oregano, basil and parsley crust.
The Century House, Latham: Andouille sausage, cheddar and grilled red onion mac-n-cheese with sherry-Ritz Cracker crust.
Cuisine Custom Catering, Albany: Mac-n-cheese with asiago, dill havarti, tomato and bacon.
The Cupcake Lab, Saratoga Springs: Traditional mac-n-cheese.
The Ginger Man, Albany: Cavatappi, lobster, four cheeses (cheddar, provolone, asiago, hint of bleu), herbed-breadcrumb crust.
Katie O'Byrne's, Schenectady: Irish Reuben mac-n-cheese.
Mallozzi Group, Albany/Schenectady: Truffled mac-n-cheese with orzo, mascarpone cheese and cheddar.
Mangia, Slingerlands: Rigatoni quattro formaggi; and pepperjack and chicken with elbow macaroni.
Provence, Guilderland: Lobster mac-n-cheese with applewood-smoked bacon.
Siver Hills Restaurant at Pinehaven Country Club, Guilderland: Traditional mac-n-cheese; and mac-n-cheese with pulled bison short ribs, caramelized onion, roasted tomato, garlic-Parmesan breadcrumbs, truffled creme fraiche.
Valente's, Watervliet: Maccheroni e formaggio alla tre maialetti (Italian for "three little pigs mac-n-cheese") with pancetta, prosciutto, sopressata, mascarpone, pecorino and aged provolone.
Wolff's Biergarten, Albany: German mac-n-cheese with Westphalian ham, extra-sharp cheddar, asiago, Monetery jack and light cheddar.
... said mirdreams on Mar 19, 2010 at 2:54 PM | link
"Spring starts this weekend, there's an extra hour of sunlight "
You do realize that there is not not more day light because of the time change. The amount of daylight is the same (minus a few seconds as the seasons change). There is only 24 hours in a day.
... said Joe on Mar 19, 2010 at 5:54 PM | link
Joe- for those of us who are employed and stuck in a set daily schedule it appears that there is an extra hour of sunlight in the evening.
... said Geriw on Mar 19, 2010 at 10:23 PM | link