All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Woosh-- hear that? It's winter blowing away. OK, maybe it's more like winter's melting away, but drip-drip didn't sound as much fun as woosh.

Maybe we should just get down to business here and tell you what there is to do this weekend, huh? OK, lets do that.

After the jump, a few things that looked promising to us.

Got something else in mind? Share, please.

And whatever you do, have fun!

1st Friday
The final 1st Friday of the winter! Bundle up and check out the art, music and parties. If you're in the Center Square area, drop in at Dovecote Art Space for artist/musician Patrick Porter's solo show "Hoolahoop Bloo" featuring artworks inspired by Schenectady and Albany winter blue (frost windows, red lights on electrical poles, rust green train bridges, & more). The show will be up through Saturday night, but Porter is performing some of his music tonight. Marketplace Gallery opens its Fountain avant-garde art show with art by Radical!, Cake and others. If you've been meaning to get a look at The Albany Barn Tony Iadicicco and Michael Weidrich have a one night show there tonight. Here's the full 1st Friday Map After taking in the art and music you can check out the Capital Swing Dance at 25 South Allen or the post-party at Marketplace Gallery.

Music
+ Railbird is playing Putnam Den tonight .

+Valentine's hosts Slender Shoulders, Platypus, Holly and Evan, and others tonight.

+ Wye Oak is at Falstaff's at Skidmore tonight. We hear that space is limited.

+Acoustic guitar virtuoso Leo Kottke is doing two shows at The Egg this weekend. You can catch him tonight and tomorrow night at 8. $34.50

+Songwriter Susan Werner performs at The 8th Step at Proctors on Saturday night at 7:30. $22.

Roller Derby
The Hellions of Troy face off against the Kilah Bees of Providence RI this Saturday night at Rollarama in Schenectady. $10 in advance, $12 at the door, $3 Kids under 12. 7PM

Comedy
+MopCo is making things up again. The improvisational comedy troupe performs tonight at 8, underground at Proctors

+Paula Poundstone is doing two shows at Proctors tonight -- 7:30 and 930. $32.

Come to the Cabaret
EBA's annual cabaret is Saturday night from 7-11. The Lark Street based dance company works with schools, holds camps for kids and classes for all ages throughout the year, and the annual cabaret helps them do all that. Tickets start at a $50 donation but the event includes wine, hors d'oeuvres, desserts, a silent auction plus the show.

Hockey
+The Albany Devils face off against the Norfolk Admirals tonight at 7 at the TU Center
+Sunday the Devils meet the Adirondack Phantoms at the TU Center.

Beer, burgers and classic cars
The Saratoga Auto Museum is open late on Saturday night with Burgers, and regional micro-brews. The Albany All Stars will also make an appearance. $35.

Taste of the world
Sample foods from all over the world at Albany Academy's Taste of the World on Saturday afternoon from 3-5:30

Kid Stuff
The Hannaford Kidz Expo is Saturday from 10-5 at the Empire State Plaza. Video games from Vicarious Visions, a roaming railroad, clowns, music, a pinewood derby and more. Free.

Hakuna Matata
The Lion King continues its month long run this weekend at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets start at $20 and go up from there, but buy them before you head out to the theater -- there's a high probability of being shut-out.

Nerd Alert
The Egg seems the oddly appropriate venue for Star Trek Live. The show includes audience participation and special effects. Sunday at 3. $16

King Lear
Last weekend the screening of the National Theater/Donmar Warehouse production of King Lear sold out at The Spectrum. Sunday at noon is the final showing.

Play with the MindBox
MindBox is described as a "viewer-driven dance video and music triptych." Created by a media artist and a choreographer, it's a modified one-armed bandit slot machine that lets viewers use levers and buttons to remix the moves of a beatboxing character. It'll be at EMPAC through April 4th.

Resolution time-out
Here are some delicious ways to sideline those healthy resolutions.

Brunch
Linger over a boozy brunch with friends or start your weekend with a great diner breakfast.

Do something crafty
Here are some places where you can get help, crafting space and supplies.

Get outdoors
Give snowshoeing or cross country skiing a shot. You're almost out of winter.

The HEllions of Troy advertise on AOA. EMPAC does as well