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 midweek hit), neuroscience, pork science, Late Night, squab, comedy, and the tango.

Weather

We'd like to direct your attention to Wednesday. Here's the paraphrased forecast:

Monday: Cold and windy. Highs around 20. Chance of snow in the evening.

Tuesday: Cold and snowy. Highs in the low 20s.

Wednesday: More snow, this time with bonus sleet. A "significant" winter storm will be arriving from the Midwest, with "the potential to bring significant amounts of wintry precipitation." So, shovels and scrapers at the ready. Highs in the mid-to-upper 20s.

Thursday: Sunny and colder. Highs in the upper teens.

Friday: Sunny and warmer. Highs in the mid-20s.

Weekend: Temps around 30.

February starts Tuesday. There's only another month or two of winter.

Brainy

Neuroscientist and author V.S. Ramachandran will giving a talk at UAlbany Monday as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. He'll be discussing his book The Tell-Tale Brain: A Neuroscientist's Quest for What Makes Us Human. This a high-quality nerding opportunity. Richard Dawkins described Ramachandran as "a latterday Marco Polo, journeying the Silk Road of science to strange and exotic Cathays of the mind." More: Ramachandran on Charlie Rose in 2009. The talk starts at 4:15 pm in the recital hall at UAlbany's performing arts center (uptown campus). free

Science + bacon = delicious

The Cooking the Tree of Life series is back at the New York State Museum this Tuesday with an evening titled "Swine and Dine." free

Late Night with... Phantogram

Phantogram will be the musical guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this Wednesday. We had a chance to hear them play in person this past weekend at the WEXT benefit, and all that touring has paid off -- they were really great. And who knows what surprises could be in store on Jimmy Fallon...

Winter game

The Thursday night cooking class at Different Drummer's Kitchen at Stuyvesant Plaza is "New England Winter Game Dinner," taught by Kurt Schmidt from Adventure in Food. The menu: winter chestnut soup, cold rosemary smoked squab, roasted brussel sprouts, white corn indian pudding. $69

Hot

An Argentinean dance company called "Tango Fire" is at The Egg Friday night. Sadly, the show does not appear to involve actual fire -- but it does look like there's some heat (video above). From the blurbage: "Tango Fire follows ten passionate dancers, a quartet of musicians, and one of Argentina's finest singers on a journey from the red light district of Buenos Aires, to the glamour of the Roaring Twenties, into the world of ballroom dance." $28

On bears and other topics

Comedian Rory Scovel is at MASS MoCA Saturday night. Embedded above are his thoughts on how to be roommates with a bear. $12 before/ $16 day of/ $10 students

Music

Looking ahead to the weekend:
+ Todd Snider is at Club Helsinki Hudson on Friday
+ bluesman Ernie Williams is at The Linda on Saturday
+ Yarn is at Putnam Den on Saturday (Yarn's song about Schenectady).

To-do list

1. Valentine's Day dinner reservations! If you're hoping to score them, act now or prepare your apology.

2. Bring an extra bit of patience for Wednesday. The weather may require it. (Well, that and a shovel.)

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.

photo: Doron Gild