All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

It's a great weekend to kick a few leaves around.

And just in time for the weekend -- cue the sun!

Looks like we've got a fabulous couple of days ahead of us, so grab some fall fun before the
holiday crazy sets in.

After the jump, a few things we thought might be fun. Tell us what you've got planned.

And have a fantastic weekend.

Art Night
It should be a nice night for Art Night in Schenectady. Proctor's has a sculpture exhibit by Renata Memole, photos by Gazette columnist Carl Strock and a concert by The Velma's. Rob Skane at The Parker Inn and Ambition on Jay Street is hosting an Altamont Winery tasting.

Comedy
Mop and Bucket have a Spontaneous Broadway show Underground at Proctors. $14

Art
+ EMPAC's Uncertain Spectator exhibition is now open.

+ Still time to catch the Courier exhibit at UAlbany. The collective show is inspired by the typewriter.

+ The current show at The Albany Institute of History and Art is inspired by fashion -- specifically, shoes.

+ Mass MoCA. Check out the Material World and Sol LeWitt exhibits and Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves show. If you're there on Saturday, you might want to check out the Two Men Talking show. The unscripted production is a conversation between two men who met as children in Johannesberg. You can get a better sense of it from their blog.

Dance
+ The Arts Center of the Capital Region is hosting a Holiday Hop with with Doc Scanlon's Rhythm Boys on Saturday night from 8-10.

+ Saratoga Savoy is holding its monthly Diamond Dance at Saratoga Music Hall (3rd floor of City Hall in Saratoga) on Saturday night at 7:30 with The Joey Thomas Big Band. $15 gets you music, food and a free lesson.

Music
+ Tonight at Valentine'syou can check out the Neighbors in Need benefit with Super 400, the Charlie Watts Riots, the Landlines, Around the World and Back, the Dance Cancer, Gracie's Paris, Tom McWatters and the Philo Beddoe Band

+ The Sanctuary for Independent Media hosts positive hip hoppers S.K.A.T.E (Stop Killing All The Entertainment). Can't get there in person? The show will be recorded and streamed live. Tonight at 7.

+ Fans of bluegrass may want to check out Dailey and Vincent at Troy Music Hall. They're one of the fastest rising groups on the bluegrass circuit and they're in Troy tonight at 8. $15- $38

+ Franklin MiCare is at Dale Miller tonight. They're fun to listen to and more fun to dance to.

SPAM
The Scooter Pie at Midnight Rock and Roll Burlesque show is back this Saturday night at Valentine's.

Listen to stories
Take a ride out to Great Barrington to hear Jane Curtin, David Strathairn and reading short stories at The Mahaiwe on Saturday Night at a live performance of the public radio show Selected Shorts. $25-$40.

Jaques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Brel's songs were written in the 50s and 60s and it's amazing how the nuggets of truth in them still hold up. The College of Saint Rose is doing a Brel review tonight and Saturday night at 8. $10 ($5 with St. Rose I.D.)

Daring
+ The Palace Theater is showing Wintervention, the newest winter "action" sports film by director Warren Miller. Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm. $22

+ Then on Sunday at the Palace, the Golden Dragon Acrobats will be performing their own feats of daring at 3 pm. $25 adults, $12.50 for kids

Happy Birthday Mummy
Take a kid to a birthday party for the mummies at for the Mummies at The Albany Institute of History and Art. They're 101. There will be cake. Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Behind the Dinosaur
Tomorrow morning at 9, Dinosaur BBQ creator John Stage will give a talk about the history of The Dinosaur. It's part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Free.

Swimming anyone?
Nope, not a misprint. The polar bears will be taking a dip at Shepard Park Beach in Lake George this weekend. It's their chilly way of raising money for Special Olympics. The plunge starts at 9, in case you want to watch.

Holiday Parade
Kick off the season on Saturday night at 5 with the Gazette Holiday Parade in Downtown Schenectady. Here's more about the route.

Taste of Russia
Russian music, food and gifts on Saturday from 10:30-3 at the Taste of Russia at the Albany Russian Orthodox Church. It's in Colonie, on Sand Creek Road. So close you can almost see it from your house. Free admission.

What's on your plate?
The Saratoga Film Forum is screening this documentary about two inner city kids exploring their place in the food chain. There's a discussion after the film with Michelle Owens, author of Grow the Good Life. Sunday night at 5. Tickets are $20, $10 for 15 and under.

Holiday Shopping
If the words Black Friday make you want to crawl under the covers, stop by The Arts Center of the Capital Region,
the Tight Knit Market at the Troy Farmer's Market or the Holiday Craft Fair at HVCC this weekend and get a jump on your holiday shopping

Take a walk!
It's seasonably warm -- and a great weekend for a walk. So find a friend and kick some leaves around. Here are a few of our favorite autumn walks.

Road Trip
Another gorgeous weekend for a road trip. Here are a few you might want to try:

+ Spend 12 hours in Columbia County .

+ You can also try Ulster or Schoharie county. Or head over to Bennington.

+ You could do a little shopping in Northampton or Woodstock.

Make some comfort food
Stop by the indoor farmers' markets at Saratoga, Troy or Schenectady and make something yummy. Then share it. Here are a whole bunch of ideas!

Have a donut
Cider donut season continues... There's still time to try Daniel B.'s Tour de Donut. Don't forget to pace yourself.

Or a burger
Craving a good burger? Here are some spots to try.

Or some pizza
Order from some of the highest scorers and have your own tournament of pizza taste-off.

Brunch
Assign a designated driver and find a boozy brunch spot.

Waterfall hunting
Before the snow comes and makes it harder, go hunting for some of the Capital Region Here are a few good ones to check out.

Rake leaves
Don't procrastinate -- snow is coming. Get some friends to help. Make a big giant pile. Then jump in. Follow up with some hot cider. Repeat if necessary.

Plan your Thanksgiving menu
Be sure to include some local delicacies.

The Albany Institute and the Palace both advertise on AOA. And EMPAC has recently.