All Over Albany

The week ahead

Here are a few things to keep in mind, look ahead to, or take care of this week -- from the weather (a rollercoaster), to Suzanne Vega, to Post Secret to indie pop rock...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast:

Monday: Frigid. Highs around 15. Yep, just 15.

Tuesday: Warmer -- but there will probably be snow in the morning, and the ever-popular wintry mix in the afternoon. There's not a lot accumulation expected, but with temps around freezing ice is a possibility.

Wednesday: Warmer still (highs in the upper 30s). Chance of snow in the morning and rain in the afternoon.

Thursday: Sunny, but cold again. Highs around 20.

Friday: More highs in the 20s, now with a chance of snow.

Weekend: Still cold. Some sun, some chance of snow.

Bundle up.

Martin Luther King, Jr Day

The holiday honoring the towering civil rights figure is Monday. The date of the holiday floats around Dr. King's birthday (January 15) -- he would have been 82 this year. Here's the video clip of his famous "I have a dream" speech:

Suzanne Vega, in progress

EMPAC has what could be an interesting work-in-progress performance Tuesday night: Carson McCullers Sings About Love, which is a collaboration by Suzanne Vega, Duncan Sheik and director Kay Matschullat. From the blurbage:

In Carson McCullers Sings About Love, Suzanne Vega, in the role of Southern writer Carson McCullers, presents her theory of love, divulging the secrets of the human heart. McCullers often repeated "Nothing human is alien to me" - a quote from the ancient Roman playwright Terence; her own story, as well as the stories of her characters, run the gamut from touching to terrifying. As she speaks and sings her way through this labyrinth of love, we experience the comedic Carson, the pained Carson and the provocateur she became. Accompanied by a guitarist and pianist who also take on characters, Vega moves seamlessly from spoken word to song and back again. She channels McCullers in a way that reveals the meeting of two souls through a work of art.

By the way: in case you only know Duncan Sheik as the "Barely Breathing" guy... Sheik also won a Tony for the music for much-lauded Broadway musical Spring Awakening.

Secrets

One of the traveling exhibits for Post Secret opens at UAlbany's performing arts center on Wednesday (it runs through February 11). Post Secret creator Frank Warren will be speaking there February 8.

Hudson River School

The Albany Institute of History and Art has put 25 of its Hudson River School works on display. Also now on display for a short time: a handful of works by painter and printmaker Bill Sullivan.

Music

+ There's a good night of indie pop rock lined up Thursday at Valentine's: Cloud Nothings, Scientific Maps and Better Pills (Brent Gorton).

+ Blues guitarist Rory Block is at Caffe Lena Thursday.

+ Looking ahead to the weekend: Friday at Valentine's: Sgt Dunbar, The Red Lions, Glenn Yoder, Littlefoot; Saturday at The Egg: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.

To-do list

1. Wear two pairs of socks (wool is a good choice).

2. Thinks warm thoughts.

These are a just a few things for this week. Know of something people should be looking forward to this week? Please share!

Look for our "Stuff to do this weekend" post on Friday.

EMPAC advertises on AOA.

photo via International Arts & Artists