All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Do something fun with your peeps this weekend!

So for a holiday weekend there seems to be a lot more to do than eat chocolate bunnies and sip kosher Coke.

Not that that wouldn't make for a fun weekend in itself.

But if you're looking for a little something more, after the jump you'll find some stuff we thought might be fun.

Got something planned that we missed? Let us know about it!

And have a great weekend!

1st Friday
Looks like awesome weather for 1st Friday in Albany tonight. Some of the patios are open for cocktails or dinner and there's art and music all over town. Some things to check out: The "Recovery" show at Marketplace Gallery is showing Jake Scharbach's most new series of military jackets as a form and as a metaphor for the conditions of survival. They're also showing the tableaus of Robert Gullie. Albany Center Gallery has work by fiber artists Jennifer Hunold and Sierra Furtwangler. Afterward you can hit the Capital Swing Dance (8:30-11:30) at the elks club or head over to the University Club for jazz with Sonny and Perley(8-10 free). You'll find the full schedule with a map and details here.

Roller Derby
The Albany All Stars are back at the Washington Avenue Armory on Saturday night. This time the Empire Skate Troopers take on The Boston B Party. Doors open at 6 and the bout starts at 7. Half time music by Slick Fitty, plus a demonstration by Albany Dodgeball. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Under 12 $4.

Is it something I said?
The "Is It Something I Said?" series continues at Proctors tonight with a screening of "Do the Right Thing," and a performance by Hip-Hop artists Sime Gezus and Midas. They'll also have games, prizes and special guests. 7PM. $12

Sundance in North Adams
Yep, that Sundance. The Sundance Institute's Theater Lab is doing a residency at Mass MoCA . You can catch their performance of "The Escape Artist" Saturday at 8. It mixes music, theater and art, telling the story of a singer with the use of characters from Caravaggio paintings $16, $10 for students. While you're in town, here's some other stuff to do.

New Nothing
EMPAC's New Nothing series continues tonight with vocalist Josephine Foster and guitarist Victor Herrero. Foster has been called "a modern day Grace Slick." Tonight at the EMPAC concert hall, she'll transform the poems of Emily Dickinson into music. Herrero performs new songs for Spanish guitar.

Music
There's a bunch of great music in the Capital Region this weekend:

The Super 400 is back in town. You can welcome them home from a long tour tonight after 1st Friday at Tess Lark Tavern or tomorrow at The Ale House in Troy.

The fabulous Eric Margan and the Red Lions are at the equally fabulous Hudson Opera House tonight.

Valentine's hosts an LP release party tonight for Plastic Jesus, Turbo AC's, Spread 'Em, Point Blank and Deviant Loners will be playing. 8PM

Sean Rowe plays Gaffney's in Saratoga on Saturday.

J.T. Maple plays acoustic blues on Saturday at Brown's.

Joe Barna & Sketches of Influence are playing night one of their live CD recording at Bread and jam in Cohoes on Saturday night $10.

Sirsy plays The Dublin Underground in Albany on Saturday night at 9.

It's standing room only for The Hold Steady tomorrow tonight at The Linda -- and who knows how long those tickets will last. The Hold Steady is at The Linda on Wednesday. Still time to get your SRO tickets.

Pretty Lights is at Northern Lights in Clifton Park on Saturday ($17.50 in advance/22.50 day of) and if you haven't had enough, DJ Dave Washburn is hosting a totally unofficial Pretty Lights After Party at Quintessence late Saturday night.

Jam band Mazze, featuring members of The Deadbeats, Raisinhead and School Bus Yellow, is at Red Square on Saturday.

Beware! The Other Head of Science is at The Troy City Tavern tomorrow night with Planet Eater, Dryheave and Nephalum.

Erin Harkes is at Tess Lark Tavern with Filming Ohio on Saturday night.

Support Albany's bid for the Guinness Dodgeball Record
AOA interesting person Jasen Von Guinness will be slinging drinks at Broadway Joe's tonight to raise money for Albany Dodgeball's effort to break the Guinness world record for longest dodgeball game. Stop by for a cocktail and make a donation. Don't forget, the game is Monday at the Washington Avenue Armory.

Playland
Grab a kid (if it's not your own kid, be sure and ask their parents first) and head over to Hoffman's Playland on Route 9 in Latham. This 50's era amusement park is like a ride in the way back machine for adults, and the kids will have just as much fun as you did when you were little.

Ice Cream
Looks like ice cream weather. OK ... it's always ice cream weather, but you know what we mean. Time to head out to some of your favorite seasonal ice cream stands.

Drive-in
Yeah... it seems a little early for us too, but the Malta Drive-In opens this weekend, and The Hollywood has been open for a week.

For god's sake--- go outside!!!
If you believe the weather forecasters, it's going to be gorgeous all weekend. Take a walk, break out the baseball mitts, play in the garden. Drink in the sunshine. It's spring!

Chocolate Bunny Sales
The further into the weekend we get, the more likely you are to find a
half price dark chocolate bunny. "My what big ears you have..." Here's a look at where the Easter Bunny shops in the Capital Region.

Photo: flickr user Qfamily