All Over Albany

The week ahead

Here are a few things to keep in mind, look forward to, or keep busy with this week, from the weather (March-like), to leaping, to John Sayles, to Office Space, to cooking classes, to Go, Dog. Go!, to Godzilla, to a lot of music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast:

Monday: Some sun. Maybe some rain. Highs in the upper 40s.

Tuesday: Sunny and 40.

Wednesday: Probably some snow and rain. Highs in the mid 30s.

Thursday: Cloudy. Chance of rain and snow. Highs in the mid 30s.

Friday: Some sun, highs near 40.

Weekend: Maybe some snow and rain. Warmer. Highs in the 40s.

Actually kind of March-like.

Leap day

It's a leap year, so there's a February 29 this year -- and it's Wednesday. Why the need for the extra day? Because the calendar year (365 days) is about six hours shorter than a solar year. So every four years we add a day to the calendar to make up for it. (It's actually more complicated than that -- for example, 2100 will not be a leap year. Such is the universe.)

John Sayles

Much-admired writer and director John Sayles will be at UAlbany Monday as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. His latest work is A Moment in the Sun, a novel about America at the beginning of the 20th century (review). And if you didn't know: Sayles is from Schenectady. 8 pm uptown campus recital hall - free

Red Swingline

The Palace's movie series is showing Office Space Monday evening. As part of the screening, there will also be chances to win a red Swingline or an office equipment beatdown. 7 pm - $5

Jersey Boys

The touring company of the Broadway show Jersey Boys starts a two-and-a-half week run at Proctors on Tuesday. It's jukebox musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. various show times - tickets start at $20

Cooking classes

A few potentially interesting/fun cooking classes this week:

Monday: Larry's Southwest at Different Drummer's
A class on classic Mexican sauces, taught by Larry Sombke. He's been jarring his sauces to be sold in the supermarkets. We've had the chipotle sauce it -- was good. 6 pm - $65

Wednesday: Korean BBQ at Different Drummer's
677 Prime chef Jaime Ortiz on how to make various Korean-style barbecued meats, and kimchi. 6 pm - $69 (it looks like just a few spots remain)

Arts and Sciences

A close reading of Go, Dog. Go!
Shakespeare scholar Stephen Booth will give a talk at Union Monday evening about the classic children's book Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman -- specifically, we're guessing, about the words used by Eastman and how those choices could be compared to Shakespeare. For what it's worth, a former student says the Go, Dog. Go! lecture was the highlight of a class taught by Booth. (Also: this is not from The Onion.) 5:15 pm at the Nott - free

Shalom Auslander
Novelist/humorist/This American Life contributor Shalom Auslander will be at UAlbany Thursday as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. He has a new novel, Hope: A Tragedy, in which a man living in the Catskills finds a woman claiming to be Anne Frank hiding in his attic (review). 8 pm uptown campus, science library - free

Gaga Feminism
University of Southern California professor Judith Halberstam will be at Skidmore Thursday for a talk titled "Gaga Feminism: Sex, Gender, and the End of Normal." From the blurbage: "Halberstam is a professor of English, gender studies, and American studies and ethnicity at USC who researches and writes on popular culture, subcultures, and queer theory." 5:30 pm Gannett Auditorium - free

Re: Walden
Saturday at EMPAC: a work by Jean-François Peyret "using voice and movement, the performer influences, triggers, and interacts with the complex web of sonic and visual elements at play to create a multi-layered interpretation of Thoreau's revolutionary musings of Walden Pond." 8 pm - $18

adventures in motion

The onedotzero_adventures in motion series at EMPAC has two screenings lined up Thursday: wow + flutter 11 ("forecasting the future of moving image") and wavelength 11 ("radical new takes in music video"). 7 and 8:30 pm - $6 each

Godzilla

The It Came from Schenectady series at Proctors is showing two Godzilla movies Friday night: Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla and Godzilla vs. Destroyah. 7 pm - $9 / $6 students

WCDB music festival

The UAlbany student radio station is celebrating its 34th anniversary with a two-day concert at Valentine's, Friday and Saturday, featuring locals (such as Sgt. Dunbar) and national acts (such as Titus Andronicus). Tickets are $25 for a two-day pass -- $10 for Friday only ($12 day of), $17 for Saturday only ($18 day of).

Music

Monday: RANGDA at Valentine's
Psychedelic guitar jam -- "the kind of group that clued-in music snobs can only dream of forming." 7:30 pm - $10

Wednesday: Steve Aoki at Northern Lights
DJ/producer/remixer/music label head/designer/son of the guy who founded Benihana. 9 pm - $25 ahead / $30 day of

Wednesday: Langhorne Slim at Valentine's
Alt country. With: Babe City (Meagan Duffy, Olivia Quillio, MaryLeigh Roohan, Caroline Corrigan) 8 pm - $10

Thursday Teitur at The Linda
He's from the Faroe Islands, an export of which is apparently mopey guys with guitars. 8 pm - $17

Thursday: Dash Rip Rock at Valentine's
Southern rock from New Orleans. 8 pm - $10

Friday: Jane's Addiction at The Palace
They've overcome drug addiction, Lollapoolza, and Carmen Electra to make it this far. 8:30 pm - $29.50 and up

Friday: Great Elk at Red Square
Indie folk. 8 pm -

Saturday: moe. at The Palace
Don't forget the period. 8 pm - $30 ahead / $35 day of

Sunday: Albany Symphony Orchestra "Super Orchestra Man" at The Palace
"Join the greatest Superhero Orchestra and its Superheroic Conductor to find the perfect Superhero music for you." Also: an "instrument petting zoo." 3 pm - $12 adults / $6 kids

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

screengrab from Office Space
Go, Dog. Go! cover via Wikipedia