All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

This weekend, expect a 100% chance of falling leaves mixed with a flurry of stuff to do.

AOA has harvested a whole bunch of fun stuff going on this weekend, and put it in a big pile for you. Check out the list after the jump and pick your favorites.

Got something planned that you don't see here? Share it with the crowd.

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

Beer
Beer lovers have plenty of options this weekend.

Oktoberfest at Brown's
Brown's annual Octoberfest celebration is this Saturday. German food, Pumpkin Ale, Oktoberfest Ale, and music. 2 pm to 10 pm - $7 admission benefits the Rensselaer Land Trust.

Hop Harvest
The City Beer Hall is hosting a Hops Harvest party featuring seasonal beers and a hops infusion station with freshly harvested hops. Friday starting at 5 pm

Preservation Pub Crawl
This pub crawl through Saratoga includes an architectural scavenger hunt. Benefits the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. Saturday from 3 p.m. to 8p.m., starting at The Olde Bryan Inn. $35 per person and $100 per group of 4.

Spooky stuff
Because it's the time of year people like to freak themselves out a bit.

Haunted Trolley
Take a haunted historic trolley tour of Albany. Tours leave from the Albany Visitors Center at Quackenbush Square. Arrive at 6:30 pm for a 7 pm tour - $25 per person.

Scare Fair
The Scare Fair at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds continues this weekend. Hay mazes and haunted houses for teens and adults. Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday through the end of October. Friday and Saturday from 6pm-10pm - $5

Haunted House and Haunted Hayrides
The Classic Theater Guild and Indian Ladder Farms are doing a haunted house and haunted hayrides on Friday and Saturday nights. 5-8 pm - $5

Theater

Next to Normal
Schenectady Light Opera's production of Next to Normal, the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical closes this weekend. The show has been getting fantastic reviews. Warning: this is not Oklahoma -- it's not appropriate for young kids. Next to Normal is the story of a family dealing with mental illness, and it's very well told in this production. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm. $18-$28. Following Saturday's performance there's a late night cabaret for an extra $10.

Pride@Prejudice
Pride@Prejudice continues this weekend at Capital Rep. In this adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the cast shifts from character to character -- both from the story and from outside it -- folding in context about the story and Austen's life. The production runs through October 28. various times - $20 and up

9-5:The Musical
Molly McGrath stars in Home Made Theater's production of 9-5: The Musical, this weekend at Saratoga's Spa Little Theater. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm - $26-$29

Blithe Spirit
Schenectady Civic continues its production of Noel Coward's classic comedy Blithe Spirit. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30. $15

Film Columbia
The annual film festival in Chatham continues through Sunday (as mentioned). The slate includes a bunch of films -- some small indies, other large studio films that will be in general release later this fall. If you don't already have tickets, be sure to check for them before heading out.

AKOUSMA @ EMPAC
Friday at EMPAC: a performance of acousmatic music from five composer/performers. "Using dozens of loudspeakers hung in a ring surrounding the listeners, composers and performers manipulate the pieces in real time for an all-encompassing experience as electronic sound is moved around the space." 8 pm - $18 / $13 students

MopCo TheaterSports
MopCo's improv comedy smackdown continues this week. Teams of improvisers play against each other, making up scenes based on audience suggestions in the Whose Line is it Anyway style. This week MopCo. is upstairs on the second floor at Proctors. Guest judge is WNYT's Phil Bayly. Friday night at 8 pm. $14, $6 for students and seniors.

Theater of Illusion
Rock concert meets magic show at Proctors in Spencers:Theater of Illusion. Friday at 8p.m. $20-$35

Music

Friday: Fiona Apple at The Palace
The new album's title is only 23 words long. 8 pm - $34.50 and up

Friday: Local Legends Live at the ESP
Rescheduled from its rain out in September. Mike Doughty headlines (at 9 pm). 5-10 pm - free

Friday: Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks at The Egg
Folk jazz, with humor. 7:30 pm - $29.50

Friday: Charlie Hunter at Helsinki Hudson
Jazz guitarist. In you case you missed him when he was in Albany. 9 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

Friday: Harmonious Wail at Caffe Lena
"Specializing in the style of Django Reinhardt..." With: The Stray Birds. 8 pm - $16 ahead / $18 at door

Friday:Pony in The Pancake at Valentines. Psychedelic surf rock with guests Christina Abbott, Atlatl and Party Boat. Downstairs at Valentines. 8p.m.

Saturday: Silversun Pickups at Upstate Concert Hall
Loud quiet loud, like the 90s. With: Cloud Nothings, Atlas Genius. 8 pm - $25 ahead / $27 day of

Saturday: Keb' Mo' at The Egg
Blues man. 8 pm - $34.50 and up

Saturday: The Loser's Lounge: Muppet Music Extravaganza at MASS MoCA
"A salute to the Muppet musical oeuvre." 3 pm - $12 adults / $8 children

Saturday: Golden Oldies Spectacular at Proctors
With: Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Duprees, The Brooklyn Bridge, David Somerville (from the Diamonds), and LaLa Brooks (from The Chrystals). 7 pm - $36.75 and up

Saturday: Otan Vargas at Helsinki Hudson
Guy with a guitar, in a grunge sort of way. 7 pm - $20

Saturday: M.R. Poulopoulos at More Bread & Jam in cohoes
Musicians from Alta Mira, Red Haired Strangers team up with Mike Poulopoulos on music from his upcoming album. 7 pm

Sunday: Schenectady Symphony Orchestra at Proctors
Playing Beethoven's 9th. 3 pm - $12 / $8 students

The Hunt for Purple October
The ASAP Daisies host their annual scavenger hunt for all things purple on Saturday afternoon. Teams of 2-4 people hunt for a list of purple items using their digital phones.Register from 3-4p.m. Hunt from 4-6p.m. Awards and prizes at Cafe Hollywood at 6p.m. $10 entry fee benefits Unity house in Troy.

Medieval Faire
The Cathedral of All Saints in Albany is hosting its annual Medieval Fair on Saturday with jugglers, knights, harpists, madrigal singers and other things Middle Ages. 10a.m. to 5p.m. $10, Seniors and students $8, children 4 -12 are $5, under 4- free.

Art for AIDS Sake
A benefit for the Albany Damien Center. Food, champagne, music, art and a silent auction. Saturday at 7pm at the First Unitarian-Universalist Society of Albany. $40 at the door.

The Northeast Fine Craft Festival
Over 50 exhibitors and crafters will be at Proctors on Saturday for the annual Northeast Fine Craft Festival. Saturday 10a.m. to 5p.m., Sunday 11a.m. to 5p.m. $7 admission.

StoryHarvest 2012
The Sanctuary for Independent Media, Collard City Growers, Troy Bike Rescue and other local groups join up for a communal cooking and storytelling event at The Sanctuary with Brazilian-American photojournalist Ellie Markovitch. The event starts at 11 am and includes workshops, theater music and a puppet parade.

Pasties, Pencils, and Pints
Friday: The Pasties, Pencils, and Pints night is back at 51 3rd Street in Troy. The "drink-n-draw meets open figure drawing session with a sassy alt-model and a load of good times" starts at 8:30 pm, $10 donation to cover costs. Bring your own supplies, or buy some there. (It's BYOB.) Here are pics from last month's night. Earlier: Figure model drawing meets burlesque

Cider donuts
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.

Farmers' markets
Farmers' markets are outdoors for just a few more weeks. 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 colors are changing and it doesn't last long. This is expected to be the peak weekend in the Adirondacks and the weather should be lovely on Saturday. Before you head out, check out some of our favorite autumn walks.

The Mop and Bucket Company and Capital Rep advertise on AOA.

photo via Fiona Apple Facebook