All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Yes, we got a few flakes this week, but just a few. We're looking at a pretty typical autumn weekend.

AOA has raked a whole bunch of stuff to do this weekend into a great big pile. Go ahead, jump in.

Got something planned that you don't see in the mix? Share it with the crowd. Break out a warm sweater and have a great weekend.

Wicked
The touring company of the super popular Broadway show continues its run at Proctors this weekend. It is, of course, about the witches from The Wizard of Oz and the story casts the events of the original material in a very different light (that light is probably green). And, as you also know, the book was written by Albany native Gregory Maguire. Tickets range from $35 to $165. Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm, Sunday at 1 pm and 6:30 pm.

More theater

Hello Dolly
Jerry Herman's classic musical, Hello Dolly, closes this weekend at Cohoes Music Hall. Tonight at 8 pm, Saturday 3 pm and 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm - $25, $30

The Shape of Things
The Shape of Things continues this weekend at Albany Civic Theater. The Neil LaBute play examines how far someone might go for love, or art. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 3 pm - $15 / Student tickets (with a valid ID) $10 / Government workers (with a valid ID) can get 2 tickets for $15.

Albany Comic Con
Comic book artists, dealers, and fans will be at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road on Sunday for the Albany Comic Con, "the premier comic book, and collectibles show in the Capital District of upstate New York." Sunday 10 am to 4 pm - VIP tickets are sold out but general admission tickets are available for $5.

Alex Ross
Award-winning comic book artist Alex Ross will be at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge Saturday for the opening of an exhibit of his work. reception 6:30 pm-8:30 pm - $20

Comedy

Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby will be at the Palace Saturday night. The show is being touted as "an evening with the comedic legend," so we're guessing Cosby will be doing stand up. He's 74 years old now. But a review of a stand-up show from a year and a half a go reported that "he can still bring it." Maybe it's all the pudding pops and sweaters. 8 pm - $48 and up

Improv
The Whose Line is it Anyway-style TheaterSports final smackdown is tonight at Mop & Bucket Company with celeb judge WAMC's David Guistina. Underground at Proctors on Friday at 8 pm - $14, $6 students and seniors

Laughs for Loved Ones
Local stand-up comedians Kevin Marshall, Jaye McBride, Ethan Ullman and others perform at Waterworks Friday night as part of Laughs for Loved Ones, a benefit for the Alzheimer's Association of North Eastern New York. Friday at 9 pm

Emancipation Proclamation
The preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, written in Abraham Lincoln's own handwriting, will be on display this weekend at The New York State Museum. As part of the two-day celebration, Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer is giving a lecture at the New York State Museum Friday night at 8 pm. It's free. (And remember, the State Museum is open on Sunday again.)

Hellions of Troy Roller Derby
The Hot Rod Herculadies take on the Battery Brigade in the final Hellions of Troy Roller Derby bout of the season. Saturday at Rollarama in Schenectady. whistle at 7 pm - $12

Music

Friday: Nas at Upstate Concert Hall
Moved from the Washington Ave Armory. With: Jhene Aiko. 9 pm - $30 ahead / $35 day of

Friday: David Bromberg Big Band at The Egg
Multi-instrumentalist, multi-genre. With: Mike and Ruthy. 8 pm - $34.50 and up

Friday: Northeast Food Bank benefit at Valentine's
With: Charmboy, Henry's Rifle, New Red Scare, Jack Nemier & the Hobo Minstrels, Pistol Whips, Pick Your King, Ameros, Against the Grain. Presented by WEXT. 7 pm - $10 / $5 with a non-perishable food item

Friday: Big Sam's Funky Nation at Red Square
New Orleans funk. Hot. With: Oobleck. 8 pm - $10

Friday: Paranoid Social Club at Bayou Cafe Albany
With: Barons in the Attic. 8 pm - $10 ahead / $12 at door

The "Deconstructing The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper" talk at Proctors on Friday is sold out.

Saturday: Yeasayer at Upstate Concert Hall
Hard to describe. (Rescheduled from August.) 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

Saturday: Mulebone at Proctors
Roots/blues. An 8th Step show. 7:30 pm - $20 ahead / $22 at door

Saturday:Dangermuffin at Red Square
Roots to world to southern rock. With: Eastbound Jesus. 8 pm - $12

Film
The NYS Writers Institute is screening the 2011 Cannes Grand Prix winning film Once Upon a Time in Anatolia Friday night. 7:30 pm Page Hall, UAlbany downtown campus - free

Prom King
Artist and Illustrator Jeremy Fish is based in San Francisco these days, but he grew up in Saratoga Springs. Fish has exhibited his work across the country and internationally, created art for murals, skateboards, worked on a book with Aesop Rock, and Robin Williams owns a pair of sneakers he designed. The artist is back in his old stomping grounds this weekend (where, back in the day he held the titles of homecoming king and prom king) for a rare show and appearance at the Spring Street Gallery. The opening party for Jeremy's "Prom King" exhibit is this Saturday from 6 pm to 9 pm -- 20 percent of the proceeds from the sale of exhibit's artwork will benefit On Deck Saratoga.

College basketball
The season starts this week with the men's teams from both Siena and UAlbany in action Friday night. Siena takes on Vermont Friday night at the TU Center in its opener (7 pm). And UAlbany faces Duquesne at the SEFCU Center (6:30 pm). (Syracuse also opens its season this weekend, against San Diego State -- on a retired aircraft carrier. The game was moved to 4 pm Sunday because of rain. It will be on MSG/Fox Sports (ch 26).)

Holiday shopping
Sage College of Albany hosts a holiday art and craft show on Saturday from 10 am-4 pm.

Parade
The Menands Military Appreciation Parade steps off at noon on Saturday at the Riverview Center, heading down Broadway to the Farmers Market for a post-parade picnic with carnival games, food and music.

Take in fall
Grab a few cider donuts while there's still time. Kick up a pile of leaves on a an autumn walk or get a fall hike inbefore its too cold. Before you know it, snow and hot chocolate season will be here.

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.

MopCo advertises on AOA.

photo: Joan Marcus