All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Is it? Already? Yep -- it's the weekend.

Things should dry up a bit after today, leaving us with relatively good weather for apple buying, pumpkin picking, cider donut eating, foliage watching and other autumnal fun.

If you don't have plans yet, check the list we've got going after the jump. If you're up to something that isn't on the list, share it with the group.

And whatever you're doing -- have a fantastic weekend.

Troy Night Out
Tonight is the first Troy Night Out of the season. Shops and galleries are open late throughout the Collar City with music, performances, receptions and other fun stuff. A few things you might want to check out:

+ The Arts Center for the Capital Region has receptions to open its four new exhibits and performances on screens as part of the Wired Kingdom electronic art exhibit.
+ Some Girls is throwing a party in their new 225 River Street location with DJ Trumastr, live mannequins, cupcakes and champagne.
+ The Daily Grind's Chords and Comedy showcase features Olivia Quillio and comedy from William Hughes and Vernon Payne. It's hosted by Kevin Marshall.
+ The Midnight Society and Amanda Rogers will be at Design it Together.
+ The Capital District Playwright's Workshop is holding a reception and reading of the new play Blue Smoke
+ And the six piece instrumental horn funk band, Oobleck will performing at Monument Square.

As always, there's a post-party at Daisy Baker's. Here's the full lineup with details. Note: The previously scheduled TNO Zombie night events have been postponed until October's night out.

Tweet, tweet, Mr. Darcy
The new Capital Rep production of Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice has a 21st century twist -- the characters google, tweet with the audience, and otherwise break the fourth wall. The show is in previews this weekend. Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 3pm and 8pm, Sunday at 2pm. $20-$60.

Comedy

TheaterSports on the main stage at Proctors
MopCo's improv comedy smackdown is underway. Teams of improvisers play against each other, making up scenes based on audience suggestions in the "Whose Line is it Anyway" style. This week the show is on the main stage at Proctors on Friday night at 8PM. $14, $6 for students and seniors.

Gabriel Iglesias
Standup comedian Gabriel Iglesias is at The Palace on Friday. He's fluffy. 8 pm - $42

Pub Crawl
Saturday is the Be a Fan of Lark Pub Crawl to benefit Special Olympics. Registration starts at 3:30 pm at Elda's on Lark. The crawl makes its way toward Madison and ends at The Lionheart Pub at 8:30 pm. Advance tickets are $20 and are available here while they last.

Showcase of Homes
It's the final weekend of Saratoga's Showcase of Homes, where builders show off some gorgeous homes in Saratoga County. Tours are self guided and are offered on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5pm - $20.

An Irrepressible Conflict
Now open at the State Museum: An Irrepressible Conflict: The Empire State in the Civil War. From the blurbage for the new exhibit:

The pivotal role New York State played in the war is the focus of this 7,000-square-foot exhibition. As the wealthiest and most populous state, the Empire State led all others in supplying men, money, and materiel to the causes of unity and freedom. New York's experience provides significant insight into the reasons why the war was fought and the meaning that the Civil War holds today.

Here's the online component of the exhibit. It opened this past Saturday and will run for the next year.

Remember: The State Museum is now open on Sundays (and is closed on Mondays).

Film

Sleepwalk with Me
Mike Birbiglia's new film Sleepwalk with Me, produced by Ira Glass, continues its run at The Spectrum.

Kinyarwanda
The New York State Writers Institute is screening the 2011 Sundance World Cinema Award winner Kinyarwanda at Page Hall on the downtown UAlbany campus. The film follows the stories of a Tutsi woman and Hutu man who fall in love, and others living in the horror of the Rwandan genocide. The film's producer Darren Dean and leading Rwandan actress Hadidja Zaninka will answer questions after the screening. Tonight at 7:30. Free.

Music

Friday: Tim Hecker at EMPAC
Electronic music and sound artist out of Montreal. A 'fork fave. 8 pm - $18 / $13 students

Friday: Brothers Past at Valentine's
Indie electronica. With: Timbre Coup. 8 pm - $12

Friday: Langhorne Slim at Helsinki Hudson
Alt country. With: River City Extension. 9 pm - $15

Friday: Eric Andersen at Caffe Lena
Long history in folk. 8 pm - $28 ahead / $30 at door

Friday: Nate Danker at The Linda
Album release show. With: Charlie Phillips, Nightmares For a Week. 8 pm - $8 ahead / $10

Friday: "World's Largest Foam Party" at Washington Ave Armory
DJs, lasers, acrobats, and foam. Lots of foam. 7 pm - $25

Saturday: Rusted Root at Pinhead Susan's blockparty.
The headliner for this year's Fall Block Party. Also performing, Conhead Buddha and Lucy Stone. Gates open at 5pm. $15 in advance. $20 day of show.

Saturday: North Mississippi Allstars at Upstate Concert Hall
Blues/southern rock. Also: Missing Cats (JoJo Herman from Widespread Panic and Sherman Ewing). With: Eastbound Jesus. 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of show

Saturday: Consider the Source at Red Square
"Sci-Fi Middle Eastern funk" (tastes rather jammy). With: The McLovins, Flux Capacitor. 8 pm - $12 ahead / $15 day of show

Sunday: Punch Brothers at The Egg
"Progressive bluegrass." 7:30 pm - $29.50

Sunday: Kim Richey at Caffe Lena
Country, written for a lot of high profile acts. 7 pm - $16 ahead / $18 at door

Saratoga Native American Festival
Native American dance, storytelling, crafts, music and more on the grounds at SPAC this weekend at the Saratoga Native American Festival Saturday & Sunday 9:30am to 7:30pm. $12 Adults, $10 Seniors, $5 Children 6-12. Children under 5 are free.

Bike!Bike! Northeast 2012
This weekend Troy Bike Rescue is Bike! Bike! Northeast at The Sanctuary for Independent Media. Bicycle organizers and volunteers from around the Northeast will converge for skill sharing sessions, discussions, training and bicycle fun. Saturday from 9am to 7pm followed by a concert by Rupa & The April Fishes at 8pm.

Banned Books Read Out
There are few public readings for National Banned Books Week this weekend: Friday at 6:30 pm at The University Club in Albany (free), and readout on Saturday morning at 10 am at Market Block Books in Troy (also free).

Tour de Cider Donut
The 2012 FUSSYlittleBLOG Tour de Cider Donut has come and gone. But now that you have the results, you can go check them out for yourself.

Apples
This year's weird weather resulted in large crop losses at many orchards, so some of them don't have pick-your-own this year. But most of those orchards say they'll have apples available for sale in their farm store.

Corn Mazes
The giant corn maze at Liberty Ridge Farm in Schaghticoke opens this Saturday. Admission $10.50.

Wander the corn maze at Fort Ticonderoga. It's a six-acre maze with clues and a scavenger hunt. Open 9:30-4:30. $17.50 for adults, Seniors $14, kids $8. Under 5 free.

Farmers' markets
The abundance of great farmers' markets is one of the best things about living in the Capital Region, and this is the best time of year to check them out. Among the markets open this weekend: Troy (Saturday), Delmar (Saturday), Saratoga (Saturday), and Schenectady (Sunday).

Road trip
Fall is a great time of year for a road trip. Try a shopping trip to Northampton . But who needs new clothes when you have good beer and cheese -- maybe a visit to a brewery or cheese farm. And there's still time to take in a few flowers at the Berkshire Botanical Garden.

Take a walk
The leaves are just starting to turn and the weather should be just right for a nice walk. Before you head out, check out some of our favorite autumn walks.

Capital Rep advertises on AOA. AOA is a media sponsor of Sleepwalk with Me at The Spectrum

Tim Hecker photo courtesy of the artist / via EMPAC