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 (gray), to the shortest day, to holiday movies, to words, to Captain Hammer, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Cloudy, rainy. Highs in the mid 40s.

Tuesday: Cloudy, rainy -- could be a fair amount. Maybe a bit of snow overnight. Mid 40s.

Wednesday: Sunny, upper 40s.

Thursday: Cloudy, maybe some rain. Low 40s.

Friday: Cloudy, rainy, maybe some snow. Low 40s.

Weekend: Cloudy, colder. 30s.

You know, all that rain could be snow...

Words

Stories
The Front Parlor storytelling series is back at the Olde English in Albany Monday night. This month's theme: "Making Merry." 7:30 pm

Slam
The Nitty Gritty Poetry Slam is back at Valentine's Tuesday night. Poets will be competing to represent Nitty Gritty at the Women of the World Poetry Slam. 7 pm

Holiday movies

A Christmas Story
Bumpesses! The Palace's classic movie series is showing A Christmas Story Monday night. It's even funnier with a crowd. 7 pm - $5 / $3 kids

More Christmas Story
The Classic Theatre Guild's live production of A Christmas Story continues this week at Proctors, Thursday-Sunday.

It's a Wonderful Life
The Palace is also showing It's a Wonderful Life Friday night. If you've never seen the film on a big screen at a big old theater like the Palace, it's worth going. 7 pm - $5 / $3 kids

More Wonderful Life
The production of This Wonderful Life -- "All the pleasure of Frank Capra's classic movie - in only 70 minutes! -- continues this week at Capital Rep. It closes Saturday. various times - $20 and up

Dr. Horrible

The production of Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog continues at Caffe Lena Monday and Tuesday. Dr. Horrible is, of course, the creation of Joss Whedon and friends. (The original is on Netflix streaming, if you've never seen it, or want to see it again.) 7 pm both days - $10

The shortest daylight

The winter solstice is this Friday (at 6:12 am, technically). It marks the beginning of winter. And it also includes the smallest amount of daylight of any day this year. The Albany area will get just 9 hours, 2 minutes, and 29 seconds of daylight on Friday. Upside: the daylight starts getting longer again starting with Saturday.

Art in the Wild
Perhaps this most unusual celebration of the solstice this year: the sculpture "Peace Crane" will be on display outside -- with special lighting -- at the Yellow Brick Road in Albany. The crane -- with a 17-foot wingspan, and constructed from pulleys and giant wood erector set pieces -- is the creation of sculptor and craftsman Peter Leue. 4-9 pm - parking at Golder and Delaware (dentist's office)

Music

Monday: The Lumineers at Upstate Concert Hall
The indie folk pop band -- you know, the "Ho hey" band -- is playing a free show (thanks to EQX and a beer company, thus it's 21 and over). There is no pre-ticketing for this show, according to its promoter -- it will all be done at the door. (As mentioned.) We get the feeling it will be a full house. Openers for the show are Swear and Shake, and local faves The Parlor. doors at 7 pm, show at 8 pm

Monday: Matisyahu at Helsinki Hudson
"An acoustic evening with Matisyahu." 8 pm - $38

Thursday-Sunday: Melodies of Christmas at Proctors
Annual holiday concerts featuring the Empire State Orchestra & Youth Choral. various times - $25

Friday: The Figgs Annual Holiday Show at Valentine's
With: Guy Lyons. 8:30 pm

Friday: Everett Bradley's Holidelic: Snowglobe at Helsinki Hudson
"This holiday funk-tacular blends the influences of P-Funk, Sly Stone and other 1970's and '80's funk and soul bands into original songs that celebrate diversity, mild familial seasonal dysfunction and holiday booty shaking." 9 pm - $18

Friday: The Manhattan Project at Red Square
Electronic. 8 pm - $11

Friday: Conehead Buddha at Bayou Albany
An end of the world party. 9:30 - $10 ahead / $12 at door

Friday: Annual Holiday Folk Show at Caffe Lena
"Enjoy the region's (the world's??) only "Candlemas-Hanukkah-Ramadan-Solstice-Christmas-Kwanzaa-New Year-Boxing Day-Epiphany Event!" Well, OK. 8 pm - $15

Friday: West Point Jazz Knights at The Linda
Playing holiday music. It's a free show, but it sounds like it's already full -- it's now standing room only. 7 pm

Saturday: The Figgs at Putnam Den
Twice in one week. 9 pm - $10 / $15 under 21

Saturday: Annual Ghost of Hardcore Past Show at Valentine's
Local punk bands playing stuff from the Misfits, Green Day, and others. 8 pm

Saturday: Mistletoe Martinis with Musty at Helsinki Hudson
A "Christmas cabaret extravaganza" with Musty Chiffon, Melora Creager, and Michael Holland. 8 pm - $15

Saturday: Pony in the Pancake Holiday Show at Valentine's
With: The Black Fox River Project, Christina Abbott, The Mysteos, Mountain Sons. 8 pm

To do list

1. Christmas is a week from Tuesday. Shop/prepare accordingly. Here are a bunch of local ideas.

2. And two weeks from Monday: New Year's Eve. Make reservations accordingly.

3. Find your friends and family. Spend time with them.

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

Look for our "Stuff to do this weekend" post on Friday.

Capital Rep advertises on AOA.

Lumineers photo via The Lumineers website | Peace Crane photo: Peter Leue