All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

You're looking out the window and thinking, "Great, another washout weekend."

But it gets better from here -- really. Lots of sunshine and all kinds of good stuff to do.

Here's our list for this weekend. Let us know what we missed.

And have fun.

Greek Fest
One word -- Baklava. OK, there are lots of other reasons to go to the Greek Festival at Saint Sophia's: music, crafts, art, dancing and all kinds of foods. But you'll want some baklava. Tonight from 6-11 PM; Saturday noon-11 PM; Sunday noon-7 PM $3 donation, kids under 12 are free.

Roller Derby
The Department of Public Hurts takes on the Elm City Derby Dames in Albany All Stars Roller Derby on Saturday night at The Washington Avenue Armory. Doors open at 6. bout starts at 7. $10 in advance, $12 at the door, $4 for kids under 12. *

Cool Cars
The Saratoga Auto Museum (Next to SPAC in the old bottling plant) is holding its Spring Auto Show and invitational on Saturday and Sunday. Artists, vendors, crafts, the 1st Euro Car and Bike Show and vintage race cars. $10 for a two day pass.

Music

Friday
The Putnam Den in Saratoga hosts Beware! The Other Head of Science, the Lanky Mofo's, William Hale, Dirty Paris tonight.

Singer/Songwriter Jack Harlan is at Bread & Jam tonight.

Captain Squeeze and the Zydeco Mosers are holding their CD release party tonight at The Midtown Tap and Tea Room. Free.

The 7th Squeeze is at Valentine's with The Dance Cancer, Take One Car and Next Station

Tony award winner Melba Moore is at Proctor's tonight to help raise money for the Hamilton Hill Arts Center.

Saturday
The Saratoga Winery is holding an open mic/tasting event on Saturday from 6-9. If you play, or just like to listen and taste -- check it out.

Amanda Rogers and The Pleasants are at Bread & Jam

Sumac is holding their CD release party at the Ale House in Troy.

Christine Lavin is at The Eighth Step at Proctor's on Saturday with Don White. They're both singer songwriters with a great sense of humor.

Timbre Coup is at Valentine's with Dirty Paris on Saturday.

Sunday
Erin Harkes, Charlie Watts Riots, Sirsy and the Fighting 86's are just a few of the Bands that will be at The Parting Glass in Saratoga on Sunday for the WildwoodStock benefit concert for Wildwood Programs. This all ages event goes from 1 -8. $5 pre-sale. $10 at the door.

Comedy
Friday night is improv night at Proctor's. Mop and Bucket Company do a weekly show Undgerground at Proctor's... and it's different every week. Check it out tonight at 8. $14

Saturday Night is Comedy on Edge at The Pearl Street Pub. Frank Vignola hosts a night of stand-up comedy; 9PM

Scooter Pie at Midnight
Burlesque maven Scooter Pie and friends are doing another rock n roll burlesque show on Saturday night at Valentine's -- at midnight of course.

Dance
Back in the day, all the big swing bands came to the ballroom at the Crooked Lake House in Averill Park. You can dance there tonight at the Ballroom, Swing and Latin Dance Party. There's a free lesson at 7:15 and dancing until 10:30 for $10.

This month's Saratoga Diamond Dance is Saturday night at The Saratoga Music Hall (upstairs at City Hall). Jump Daddies are headlining. $15 gets you music, dancing and snacks from 7:30 to 11:30

The Capital Region Salsa Social is Saturday evening at the Troy Masonic Hall (39
Brunswick Road). There are salsa workshops in West Coast Swing at 4 and Salsa On2 at 5. For $7 you can dance until 9.

Theater
This is your opportunity to see a former self-appointed Lt. Governor perform in The Importance of Being Earnest. You can catch Kevin Marshall and company at Confetti Stage at The Albany Masonic Hall tonight at 8 .

If you just want a good laugh, Schenectady Civic Players have pulled out a fun old chestnut, "You Can't Take it With You." We hear it's pretty funny. 8PM Friday and Saturday, 2:30 on Sunday. $15

If you like musicals, the folks at CR productions at Cohoes Music Hall are doing the classic, "Singing in Rain" tonight at 8. $25-$35.

Spring Spree
Music, entertainment, a trivia treasure hunt and free samples from local businesses on New Scotland Avenue will all be part of Saturday's Annual Helderberg and Woodlawn-New Scotland Neighborhood Spring Spree. 11 - 1:30. A free trolley will run continually between Quail and Allen streets.

Striped Bass Tournament & Block Party
Fishermen from around the world are heading to Troy for tomorrow's 5th Annual Striped Bass Tournament and Block Party. The event kicks off at 7am and the block party portion starts at 4. Details here.

Children's Book Festival
40 children's book authors from the Capital Region and beyond will be reading, signing and selling their work at Albany Academy for Girls annual Children's Book Festival on Saturday from 10-3. They'll also have workshops on writing and getting published for kids from elementary through high school. Kids can dress as their favorite character and participate in the story book parade. Admission is free.

Baby Animals
It's still Baby Animal Days at Indian Ladder farms. Yay, baby animals! Kids can see and pet lambs, goat kids and calves and learn about caring for animals. $5 per child.

Addicted to plastic
The Honest Weight Food Coop and the Capital District Community Gardens present a screening of "Addicted to Plastic" on Saturday night at 8 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media. Reps from Ecovative Designs and other plastic alternative groups will be there at 7 with tips on how to reduce your plastic use. **

Bike tour of Troy's Community Gardens
Bring your bike to the Troy Bike Rescue on Saturday at 11:30 and join a bike tour of Troy's community gardens. Free.

Buy Plants
The Capital District Community Gardens is holding it's annual plant sale from 9-1 on Saturday at the 8th Street community garden in Troy. They'll have a selection of perennials, vegetable plants, herbs and heirloom tomatoes. The Landis Arboretum in Esperance has its plant sale this weekend, too.

Take your dog on a scavenger hunt
The Dog Friendly Downtown folks in Saratoga are hosting a citywide scavenger hunt for dogs and their people on Saturday from 11-3. When you're through, there's a Doggie Yappy Hour at Putnam Den.

Appreciate the pond
Sunday is Appreciation Day for Albany's Buckingham Pond. Activities from 1-3 pm include general cleanup and a local ecology walk.

Drive-in
Iron Man 2 and Nightmare on Elm Street are on one screen at The Malta Drive in this weekend, Robin Hood and Date Night are on the other. The Hollywood Drive in has Iron Man 2 and Date Night.

Ice Cream
Try a stop on the AOA ice cream tour

Try some Horchata
Here's where you can get this sweet Mexican treat in the Capital District.

The secret garden in Slingerlands
Drop by the Pine Hollow Arboretum in Slingerlands. Here's what you'll see.

*The Albany All-Stars advertise with AOA.
**The Honest Weight Food Coop advertises with AOA

photo by Kim Dunham