All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Maybe you're prepping for a Super Bowl party this weekend, but if you're looking for something to do before the game, you have a long list of options.

After the jump, a few things going on this weekend that we thought you might enjoy. Got other plans? Share, please.

And whatever you're up to, have a great weekend.

1st Friday
Tonight is 1st Friday in Albany. There's music and art planned for locations all over the city. Here are a few things to check out: Christina Kincaid has an exhibit at Season's Skate Shop, The Shape of Things to Come exhibit at The Albany Barn focuses on sculpture in metal, stone and wood, and Albany Center Gallery presents its 7th annual membership show. Post-1st Friday events include Sonny and Perley's Jive Five at the Capital Swing Dance (25 South Allen Street $15). The Todd Nelson Quartet at The University Club and Estate Werks at the Hudson Disco-Tec (283 Hudson).

Chowderfest
Sample chowders from 50 local restaurants in Saratoga, then vote for your favorites. Saturday 11-4 - $1 per taste.

Winterfest
The Chowderfest in Saratoga is part of Winterfest -- which won't have a few of its usual events this year, like moonlight skiing and sledding -- because of the weather. But it will still have music, art, ice sculpture, and carriage rides on the lawn at Prestwick Chase (100 Saratoga Boulevard). Free.

On Friday night there's a Winterfest Wine Tasting at the Holiday Inn on Broadway. Sample wines and hors d'oeuvres for $10.

Comedy

+ MopCo.: You never know. The Mop and Bucket improv company has a new show Underground at Proctors. It's a mix of short-form scenes and improv games, and it's different every week. Friday at 8 - $14, $6.

+ Match Game/Make Me Laugh: Local comedians gather at Waterworks to host Match Game and Make Me Laugh games with audience contestants. 8:30-10:30 pm - free.

+ Eddie Murphy Raw: It came from Schenectady presents a screening of Eddie Murphy's uncensored, uncut, stand-up comedy film. In Proctors GE Theater. Friday at 7 pm - $9

Branford Marsalis
Master jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis will be playing Proctors Friday with his quartet, and pianist Joey Calderazzo. Marsalis will be playing as a part of a duo (with Calderazzo), and quartet. Marsalis and Calderazzo recently collaborated on an album, Songs of Mirth and Melancholy. 8 pm - $20 and up

Sean Rowe
Back from touring around the world -- and kind of famous now -- Sean Rowe is playing Friday night at Helsinki Hudson. If you're thinking about going, you might want to call ahead first (tickets were no longer available online this morning) -- his last show in this area sold out. Festina Lente is the opener. 9 pm - $15

Beats
Friday at Red Square: a tribute to J. Dilla featuring a bunch of DJs, including DJ Trumastr. 7 pm - 21+ $10

More Music

Friday: Knyghts of Fuzz downstairs at Valentine's
Happy hour garage rock with guest vocalist Erin Harkes. 6 pm

Friday: Thom LaFond at Hudson River Coffee House
Dirty Paris' Thom LaFond with Olivia Quillio and Meara McTeague. 8 pm - free.

Friday: New York Voices at Clayton A. Bouton High School
Shaker High School alum Kim Nazarian performs with her Grammy Award winning jazz vocal quartet in Voorheesville. 7:30 pm - $25

Saturday: Ernie Williams at The Linda
Local blues legend Ernie Williams has been playing the guitar since the 1930s. He celebrates his 80th birthday with a show at The Linda Saturday. 8 pm - $18

Saturday: Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole at Troy Music Hall
Cajun, Creole and Zydeco with singer/songwriter, fiddler, accordion player and four time Grammy nominee Cedric Watson. 8 pm - $15-$30

Slavery by another name
The new documentary Slavery By Another Name will screen at UAlbany Friday evening as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. UAlbany professor Sheila Curran wrote the script for the doc. She and Douglas Blackmon will be there to answer questions following the screening. 7 pm, Performing Arts Center uptown campus - free

Tethered
Saturday at EMPAC, the sort of performance you'd probably only see around here at EMPAC: Rodrigo Pardo + Bárbara Foulkes: Tethered: Vertical Performance. From the blurbage:

Two divergent artist-in-residence work in progress performances navigate vertical space through the tale of a man who slowly realizes he is living upside down, and a dance study of falling and floating that plays with perspective, time, and reality.

The first performance -- Rodrigo Pardo's FLAT, performed 40 feet in the air -- starts at 7 pm. The second -- Bárbara Foulkes' FLOTA, performed on free-standing walls -- starts at 8:30 pm. They're both free.

Theater

+ The Sisters Rosensweig continues this weekend at Capital Rep. Tonight at 8, Saturday at 3 and 8, Sunday at 2 and 7. Tickets start at $20.

+ Next Fall continues its run at Curtain Call Theater. Tonight and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm - $22.

Burlesque
Roxxi Tart hosts a 1920s burlesque revue at Ristorante Paradiso in Albany. Friday at 8 pm - $12.

Rocky Horror
Rocky Horror shadowcast The Whip It Outskirts perform along with the cult classic tonight at The Linda. 8 pm - $8

Roller Derby
The Albany All Stars Roller Derby is back in action Saturday at the Washington Ave Armory with a "Heartbreakers Ball" -- Darling Dames vs. Heartless Harlots. first whistle at 7 pm - $10 ahead / $12 day of

Hellions Night Out
Hellions of Troy are hosting their 2012 season fundraiser at Bogies in Albany. Silent raffle, photo booth, baked goods and other fun stuff. Friday at 8 pm - $5 donation

Lake George Winter Carnival
Yes, it's a little warm -- and some of the scheduled events have been canceled or pushed back a bit, but the Lake George Winter Carnival opens this weekend. Still planned for this weekend: a parade, a bonfire on the beach, outhouse races, a chili cook-off, and an ice castle. Opening ceremonies start at noon on Saturday.

Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are at the TU Center Sunday. 1 pm - tickets start at $22

Boxing. And a movie.
Saturday night at 7:30 is Star Boxing: KO at the TU Center. After the matches, spectators are invited to stay and play extras in the filming of the indie movie The Challenger. 7:30 pm - $27-$72

Watch the big game on the big screen
Proctors is showing the Super Bowl on the big screen at the GE Theater. free

Movies
It's Oscar season. Be decadent -- treat yourself to a double feature. Put extra butter on the popcorn.

Ice skating at the ESP
The ice skating rink at the Empire State Plaza is open 11 am - 8 pm every day. It's closed from 3-4 pm for maintenance. Skating is free. Need to get your skates sharpened first? Or you can rent skates there, $3 for children under 12 and $4 for adults.

Snow Train
Take the snow train out to North Creek to do some skiing,tubing, snowboarding, or just hanging out.

Farmers' markets
Winter farmers' markets are open this weekend : Saturday in Troy and Saratoga, and Sunday in Schenectady.

Brunch
It's one of the best ways to spend a lazy weekend morning. Here are a few fun brunch options and some great diner breakfast stops.

Proctors, Troy Music Hall and Taste advertise on AOA.
AOA is a media sponsor for The Albany All Stars and The Hellions of Troy

photo via Branford Marsalis Facebook