All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

It's the penultimate weekend of the winter that wasn't, and Mother Nature is tossing a little chilliness our way, but nothing we can't handle. So bundle up and get a plan.

After the jump, a few items we thought might interest you. Other plans? Share please.

And whatever you're doing, have a fantastic weekend!

Music

Friday: A Night Of Movies & Music with Professor Louie & The Crowmatix at The Linda
Professor Louie & The Crowmatix play a soundtrack to the 1902 film A Trip To The Moon. Also: a doc about Professor Louie's trip through Siberia. And a concert afterward. 8 pm - $15

Friday: Expensive Looks at 51 3rd in Troy. This InYourSpeakers show also features Starscream and RPI-based Vulpixic. 8 pm - $10

Friday: Skeletons in the Piano at Putnam Den
9 pm

Saturday: Todd Snider at the Egg
Americana/alt-country. 8 pm - $24

Saturday: Grainbelt at Caffe Lena
A CD release show. (Grainbelt includes Howard Glassman from Valentine's, you know.) 8 pm - $12 ahead / $14 at door

Saturday: Nightmares for a Week at Hudson River Coffee House
With: Caleb Lionheart.

Saturday: Susan McKeown at The 8th Step at Proctors. Celtic singer/songwriter.7:30 pm - $23, $25

Saturday: Marco Calliari at The Sanctuary for Independent Media
Canadian vocalist/guitarist plays Italian-inspired music with nods to flamenco, klezmer, ska and more. 8 pm - $10

Saturday: Justin Townes Earle at MASS MoCA
Americana man, son of Steve. 8 pm - $22 advance/ $26 night of
(MASS MoCA galleries are open until 7:30 pm on Saturday)

Laughs

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

Theater

+ The regional premier of Black Pearl Sings is in previews tonight at Capital Rep. Friday 8 pm, Saturday 3pm & 8pm, Sunday 2pm - $20-$60

+ The touring company of the Broadway show Jersey Boys is in the middle of a two-and-a-half week run at Proctors. It's a musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Shows tonight at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets start at $20

+ Spotlight Players' free play reading series continues with You've Got Hate Mail, a comedy of errors about a love affair gone wrong, told entirely through email. Sunday at the East Greenbush Public Library. 2 pm - free

+ Tennessee Williams' Night of the Iguana is being performed at Hubbard Hall in Cambridge. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday afternoon at 2 pm - $25

Write Here
Saturday at the Arts Center of the Capital Region: Write Here!, "a mini conference for and about writers and writing in and around the Capital Region." The event's schedule includes panels and plenaries about the writing life, getting work published, and social networking for writers. 9 am - 5:15 pm - $15 (+ $10 for a box lunch from Nighthawk's Kitchen)

Oscar nominated short films
This year's Oscar nominated live-action and animated short films are being screened again at the The Spectrum this weekend. The animated shorts screen at noon and the live action shorts are at 1:45 pm and 9:35 pm.

The 385-million-year-old forest
The New York State Museum has a new exhibit about the Gilboa Forest in Schoharie County -- "the world's oldest forest." A research team that included scientists from the State Museum recently reported in Nature (on the cover, no less) that they had found evidence helping them describe the forest that stood there 385 million years ago. Results from that excavation, including new fossilized specimens, and illustrations are on display until March 20.

Lincoln's blood and other stuff in Troy
Saturday at 2 pm you can get a tour of the historic Hart-Cluett House in Troy. While you're there, ask if you can go next door and see Lincoln's blood.

Auto Show
More than 170 cars, trucks, SUVs, and minivans are on display at the Albany Auto Show at the TU Center. Friday Noon - 8 pm, Saturday 10 am - 8 pm, and Sunday 11 am - 5 pm - $7.50, under 12 Free with adult

Early St. Patrick's Day
No Kegs, no eggs. Just a few ideas to celebrate St. Patrick's Day a little early.

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

Ice cream
It is never too cold to eat ice cream. The Snowman opened last week, and Jack's Drive In in Wynantskill opened this week.

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.

The Arts Center advertises on AOA.

photo: Joshua Black Wilkins