All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

So have you feeling the holiday spirit yet? According to the forecast and the list of things to do, this weekend could help get you in the mood.

After the jump, a few things we thought could be fun.

Got other plans? It is the season for sharing.

Have a holly jolly weekend!

1st Friday
Tonight is 1st Friday in A-town. Check out the art and pick up some holiday gifts. After parties include the Capital Swing Dance at the Albany Elks Lodge ( 25 South Allen) and Marketplace Gallery's party with Dj TrueMastr. Free.

Roller Derby
The Hellions of Troy's "Slay Belles: Naughty vs. Nice" derby bout is Saturday night at Rollarama in Schenectady. Doors open at 7, whistle at 8. $12 at the door. $3 for kids.

Music
+ Brooklyn's Cuddle Magic meets Boston's Joy Kills Sorrow tonight at the Hudson Club Helsinki at 9. Yes, it's a bit of a drive, but it should be a good show.

+ Like Moths to Flames is upstairs at Valentine's tonight. Downstairs you can catch Pony in the Pancake with Intelligent Television and The Landlines.

+ Crash Test Dummies are at The Linda on Saturday night.

+ Erin Harkes plays the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Saturday night at 10.

Go strollin'
Troy's Victorian Stroll is one of the things we look forward to every year. It's a great chance to pick up some unique holiday gifts or just wander around and take in the architecture. Snow flurries are expected, which always adds to the ambiance. Sunday 11-5. Free

More Holiday stuff

Tree lightings
+ Sunday is the Tree Lighting festival on the Empire Plaza. The festivities start at 1 and end with the tree lighting and fireworks at 6. Free

+ The Schenectady Stockade Christmas Tree lighting is Sunday at 5. Free

Tree Festivals
+ Schenectady County Historical Society's Festival of Trees continues this weekend. Tomorrow from 10-5 and Sunday from noon-5 at the Schenectady YWCA. $5 adults, $2 6-12, 5 and under Free.

+ The 15th Annual Saratoga Festival of Trees continues tomorrow at the Saratoga City Center.

Holiday lights
The Capital Holiday Lights are on in Washington Park.

Holiday performances
+ Northeast Ballet present's their annual performance of The Nutcracker at Proctors this weekend. They'll be joined by New York City Ballet principals Wendy Whelan and Charles Askegard. Shows are Saturday at 7 and Sunday at 2.

+ ASO is doing two Melodies of Christmas shows this weekend at The Palace.

Trains
Check out the model railroad displays and build your own model railroad clinics at the Great Train Extravaganza at the Empire State Plaza this Sunday from 10-4. $5, Free for kids under 12.

Chocolate Expo
Before you check out the tree festival you can wander over to the NYS Museum and grab a little nosh at The Chocolate Expo. 11-4

Take a candlelight house tour
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is holding a candlelight house tour of some of the Circular Street Mansions -- including the Batcheller Mansion (we've seen this place, and it is pretty fabulous). at $50 ($40 for preservation society members), the price is a little steep, but it helps fund the preservation foundation and it's a great opportunity to see some of the mansions all decorated for the holidays. Tonight from 5:30-9

Hockey
TheAlbany Devils play the Hershey Bears tonight at 7 at the TU Center.

Spontaneous Broadway
Mop and Bucket makes up a Broadway show based on audience suggestions Upstairs at 440 at Proctor's. Friday at 8.

Sean Griffin: Cold Spring
EMPAC's last big show of the semester sounds pretty interesting and thought provoking. Cold Spring combines music, dance and actors in a "Collision of charged musical and theatrical particles" to examine subjects from cheerleading to the Eugenics Archive in Cold Spring Harbor NY. Tonight and Saturday at 8. $5 - $15.

Theater
+ A Christmas Story -- Capital Rep presents Ralphie's quest for a Red Rider BB gun.
+ A Christmas Carol -- The Classic Theater Guild presents the traditional tale of Scrooge tonight and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday afternoon at 2.
+ A Christmas Carol: The Musical" -- Cohoes Music Hall's musical twist on the same tale. Tonight at 8, Saturday at 3 & 8, Sunday at 3.
+ No Exit - Because nothing says Happy Holidays like a Sartre play about eternal suffering. Tonight at 8, Saturday at 2 & 8 at The Arts Center of the Capital Region.

Documentary Boot Camp
This Sunday at The Sanctuary for Independent Media filmmaker Jim de Seve is teaching a one day bootcamp style class that teaches students how to plan, shoot, edit and market a documentary. 1-5 $40. If you're interested in this one, you should get on it asap. You need to pre-register.

Six and Eleven
Our favorite Capital Region news anchor, Ed Dague, will be signing his new book, Six and Eleven, at The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza on Saturday afternoon at 2.

Shopping
In addition to 1st Friday and The Victorian Stroll, there are lots of other places to shop for handmade local gifts in the CR at this time of year. Here are a few we've found this weekend.

+ Shaker Christmas Craft Fair at the Shaker Meeting House

+ The Arts Center of the Capital Region's Handmade for the Holidays will be open on Saturday from 11-3 and Sunday for the Troy Victorian Stroll.

+ The Women's Building in Albany is holding an Artisans' Market for 1st Friday tonight.

+ The Tight Knit market will be at the Troy Farmer's Market this Saturday morning.

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.

Road Trips
Pack the family or a few friends in the car and take a day trip:

+ 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.

Brunch
If you haven't already eaten enough for the weekend,find a boozy brunch spot and indulge. Bring a designated driver, of course.

The Albany Institute and Capital Rep advertise on AOA. EMPAC has advertised with us in the past.

photo courtesy of Sean Griffin, via EMPAC