All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Winter makes a return appearance this weekend as temperatures drop from the 40s today to the teens on Sunday. But you're tough. You can handle it.

Dress in layers, grab a hat and get out and do something this weekend. After the jump is our list of stuff we thought might appeal to you. Got plans of your own? Share them with the rest of the crowd.

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

Capital Region Wine Festival
The Capital Region Wine Festival is at Proctors this weekend. It opens with a dinner featuring "The Singing Chef" Friday night ($75), continues with two free seminars on Saturday, and concludes with the grand tasting Saturday afternoon ($55 / $25 for designated drivers).

Valentine's Speakeasy
The Arts Center of the Capital Region is throwing a Valentine's Day-themed speakeasy party Saturday night. There are dance lessons at 7 pm. Music from Doc Scanlon's Deja VooDoo Boys starts at 8 pm. It includes a costume and dance contests. Cash bar, as well as desserts and coffee available from the Sunspot Cafe. 7 pm - $15

Comedy

+ The National College Comedy Festival is this weekend at Skidmore. The annual festival is a showcase for up-and-coming comedy writers, performers, and improv troupes -- and many past performers have gone on to great success (example: the festival's founder, David Miner, is a producer for 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation). Here's a good piece on the festival and its history over at Splitsider.

There are performances Friday and Saturday night featuring college (7 pm) and professional (10 pm) groups. $5 for college performances, $7 for professional, $20 for the whole weekend

+ Comedian John Pinette will be at The Egg Saturday night. The 7 pm show is sold out, but you can still get tickets for the 9:30 pm set. Noted: Pinette played the guy who was carjacked in the final episode of Seinfeld. 7 pm and 9:30 pm - $35.75

+ 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 pm - $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

Teju Cole
Author and street photographer Teju Cole will be at UAlbany Friday evening as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. Cole's debut novel, 2011's Open City, was much praised. 8 pm, Performing Arts Center uptown campus - free

Frederick Douglass
Author Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrator James Ransome will be at the State Museum Saturday afternoon to talk about their new children's book Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass. The couple lives in the Hudson Valley and create books that highlight the stories of African-American champions and other historical figures. 1 pm - free

Music

Friday: Peter Frampton at the Palace
Playing Frampton Comes Alive! in its entirety. 7:30 pm - $39.50 and up

Friday: American Babies at Valentine's
Roots rock. With: Eastbound Jesus, The Red Lions. 8 pm - $9

Friday: Rustic Overtones at Jillian's
With: My Pet Dragon. 8 pm - $15

Friday: MIRK at Red Square
With: King Dreams, Iron Bar Collective. 8 pm - free

Saturday: Hyperion Quartet at the Massry Center
Playing works by Dvorak, Boccherini, and Mozart with the Saint Rose Camerata . 7:30 pm - free

Saturday: Peter Wolf, lead singer of the J. Geils Band plays The Egg Saturday night, but the show is sold out.

Saturday: Rusko at Washington Ave Armory
Dubstep. With: Savoy 8:30 pm - $40

Saturday: Life Among the Trees & Lucky Jukebox Brigade at Hudson River
With: Rosary Beard, Friends of Yours. 8 pm

Theater

+ Baby opens tonight at Schenectady Light Opera Company. The Maltby and Shire musical is a sweet, rarely-performed show from the 1980s about three couples in various stages of expecting a baby. There's a post-show cabaret on Saturday night with music, drinks and snacks. Tonight and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm. $22 & $28. Cabaret, $10.

+ Molly McGrath and Nick Abounader star in The Last Five Years at Caffe Lena. The musical revue tells the story of a five-year relationship, from beginning to end -- and end to beginning. Saturday, Sunday at 2 pm - $15

+ 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 closes its run at Curtain Call Theater this weekend. Tonight and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm - $22.

+ Pirates of Penzance, Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta opens this weekend at Cohoes Music Hall. Tonight at 8, Saturday at 3 & 8 Sunday at 3. $25-$35

+ Neil Simon's mystery/farce, Rumors opens tonight at Albany Civic Theater. Friday and Saturday at 8. Sunday at 3. $15. $10 for students.

+ Schenectady Civic's free play reading series continues on Sunday with a reading of the comedy Becky's New Car.

Learn to make truffles or bake
There are a handful of spaces left for the truffle making class at Different Drummer's Kitchen on Saturday. Noon - 2:30 pm, $75. Sunday they're offering a baking class at 1 pm for $40.

Lake George Winter Carnival
At least it feels more like Winter Carnival weather. 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 BBQ cook-off in Shephard's Cove, a bonfire on the beach and fireworks over the lake.

Great Northeast Home Show
If you've been thinking about a home improvement project -- or you just like to get home improvement ideas -- the Great Northeast Home Show might be a good stop for you this weekend. They'll have home improvement exhibitors and seminars on home improvement, repair, renovating and redecorating. It's a pretty big expo. This year it will take up two buildings -- the Empire State Plaza and the TU Center. Today 3-9, Saturday 10-7, Sunday 10-5. $8, under 14 free.

Marriage for All
A wedding expo geared toward all couples. Food, drink, vendors, raffles and music this weekend at The Franklin Plaza in Troy. Sunday, noon - 4. $5

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

Oscar nominated shorts
This year's Oscar nominated live action and animated short films are playing tonight and through Sunday at TSL in Hudson. The live action shorts can be seen tonight at 7:30 and Sunday at 5:30. The animated shorts will be screened today at 5:30 and Saturday & Sunday at 7:30. $7, $5 for Students and members.

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.

Photo: Peter Frampton, Facebook.