The week ahead
Here are a few things to keep in mind, look forward to, or keep busy with this week, from the weather (fantastic), classic movies about groups, columnists, the Dutch, a Fifty Shades parody, burlesque, the circus, food trucks, music...
Weather
Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:Monday: Cloudy, upper 60s.
Tuesday: Some sun, low 60s.
Wednesday: Sunny and 70.
Thursday: Repeat.
Friday: Again.
Weekend: And so on.
Could be the nicest weather of the year.
Movies
12 Angry Men
Monday: Proctors' AFI 100 series is showing Sidney Lumet's classic 12 Angry Men, about the proceedings in a jury room. Monday various times - $5
The Magnificent Seven
Monday: The Palace's classic movie series is showing the star-packed 1960 Western The Magnificent Seven (which is a re-make of Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai). Monday 7 pm - $5
Stage
The six-day run of the Broadway-style production of Les Misérables is at Proctors this week is sold out.
Red
Capital Rep's production of Red continues this week. (TU Review, Troy Record review.)
Arts and sciences
Gail Collins
Tuesday: NYT columnist -- and former editorial page editor -- Gail Collins will be at UAlbany as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. Her most recent books is As Texas Goes...: How the Lone Star State Hijacked the American Agenda (excerpt). Tuesday 8 pm, Page Hall, downtown campus - free
Eugene Robinson
Wednesday: Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson will be at Union for a talk titled "We're Someplace We've Never Been: Race, Diversity and the New World." Wednesday 5:30 pm, Nott Memorial - free
Software archaeology
Wednesday: Artist and "media archaeologist" David Link will be at EMPAC for a talk about about resurrecting software for the first commercially available electronic computer, The Ferranti Mark 1. Part of the continuously-interesting Observer Effects series. Wednesday 6 pm - free
The New Middle East
Thursday: Middle East analyst and negotiator Aaron David Miller -- who worked with the US State Department for two decades -- will be at Union for a talk titled "Gulliver's Troubles: Obama and the New Middle East." Thursday 7:30 pm, Nott Memorial - free
Taking a Chance on God
Thursday: Filmmaker Brendan Fay will be at the Sanctuary for Independent Media for a screening of his documentary Taking a Chance on God, about John McNeill -- a WWII POW, onetime Jesuit priest, and gay community leader and activist. 7 pm - $10 / $5 students
The Dutch
Friday: Historian and journalist Russell Shorto will be at the State Museum to talk about his upcoming book Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City, as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. (Here's a short NYT Mag bit he wrote contrasting Dutch and American attitudes about bikes.) Shorto also wrote The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America. Friday 7 pm, State Museum, Clark Auditorium - free
Burlesque
Wednesday: After five months and a bit of city-related drama, Marie ReMoan's Foxy Trot Burlesque
debuts at the Lark Tavern. "[T]empt your senses with our tantalizing entertainment and scintillating variety acts." Wednesday 7 pm (seating begins at 6:30 pm) - $15 (21 and over only
Laurie Anderson
Thursday: Renowned performance artist Laurie Anderson has two back-to-back presentations about her film work lined up at EMPAC. The second presentation will include a silent film along with which Anderson and Pauline Oliveros will play. Thursday 5 pm and 8 pm - $6 (separate tickets required for each presentation)
Comedy
Stephen Lynch
Thursday: Comedian/musician Stephen Lynch is at The Egg Thursday. 8 pm - $30
Spank!
Thursday-Friday: Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody is at The Egg. It's what it sounds like -- a stage musical parodying the Fifty Shades of Grey books. (Chicago Sun-Times review, SF Chronicle review). The Friday show is sold out, but the there are still tickets for the Thursday show. 8 pm - $29.50 and up
Circus
The Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus is at the TU Center Thursday through Sunday. This particular circus crew is the "Dragons" tour. Tickets are $27 and up ($17 on opening night).
Ladyfest
The first Ladyfest Upstate Festival, "a community based, not-for-profit global music and arts festival for women identified, trans, genderqueer and gender nonconforming artists," starts Friday and runs through Sunday at venues in Albany and Troy. The schedule includes "educational workshops, informational skill shares, music, visual art, poetry, performance art, and films." Friday-Sunday various times - all access pass starts at $20
Food truck festival
The first Food Truck Festival of NY is Saturday in Troy's Riverfront Park. Twelve trucks are currently listed for the lineup, and there will also be live music. Saturday noon-7 pm - free admission
Music
Wednesday: David Lindley at the Van Dyck
Guitarist -- played with Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, James Taylor, Bob Dylan and a bunch other notables. 7:30 pm - $20 ahead / $24 day of
Wednesday: Josephine Foster at Helsinki Hudson
Folk. "Although her soprano may be a little unusual, it's arresting." With: Stephen Bluhm. 8 pm - $10
Friday: The Babies at Valentine's
Indie rock. With: Birthdays, Party Boat. 7 pm
Friday: Leroy Justice at Bayou Albany/Hollow Bar
Roots rock. 8 pm - $10 ahead / $12 day of
Friday: The Howlin' Brothers at The Linda
String band. New album is produced by Brendan Benson. 8 pm - $10
Friday: Bear Grass at Valentine's
Album release show. With: Two Tree, Hand Habits. 9 pm - $5
Friday: Jimkata at Red Square
Electro rock. With: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong (sadly, not literal). 8 pm - $12
Friday: Oobleck at Helsinki Hudson
"Funked-out-afro-grunge-rock-alt-dub-whatever." 9 pm - $10 ahead / $12 at door
Friday: Tony Trischka at Caffe Lena
"Perhaps the most influential banjo player in the roots music world." 8 pm - $24
Saturday: The Tenors at the Palace
Formerly The Canadian Tenors. They've both had a PBS special and performed with... Justin Bieber. 8 pm - $39.50
Saturday: Michael Powers at Helsinki Hudson
Blues singer/guitar player. 9 pm - $15 ahead / $18 at door
Sunday: Golem at Helsinki Hudson
Klezmer rock. 8 pm - $15 ahead / $18 at door
____
These are a just a few things for this week. Know of something people should be looking forward to this week? Please share!
Capital Rep and Proctors advertise on AOA.
photos: Spank! via Spank! website | circus photo: Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus | Russell Shorto via Russell Shorto Twitter | Gail Collins: Earl Wilson/The New York Times
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Comments
"The Oldest Profession" opens at Albany Civic Theater (235 Second Ave)
Preview 5/2/13 (pay what you will)
Show dates 5/3-5/5/13, 5/10-5/12/13, 5/17-5/19/13
"As Ronald Reagan enters the White House, five aging practitioners of the oldest profession are faced with a diminishing clientele, increased competition for their niche market, and aching joints. With wit, compassion, and humor, they struggle to find and learn new tricks as they fight to stay in the Life."
... said chrisck on Apr 29, 2013 at 10:20 AM | link
May the 4th Be With you at Albany All Stars Roller Derby this Saturday at the Washington Avenue Armory!
Come to the Armory next Saturday dressed as your favorite Star Wars character. At half time, we will pick the best dressed to win ticket to our final home bout of the season on May 18th. Winner will be chosen by audience applause, so be sure to bring your friends to cheer you on!
... said MurderMuffin on Apr 29, 2013 at 11:32 AM | link
We're providing a ton of Slider Rolls for Slidin' Dirty for the Food Truck Fest!
... said Britin @ All Good Bakers on Apr 29, 2013 at 12:04 PM | link
Please don't give your money to the circus!
In the Ringling Bros. circus, elephants are beaten, hit, poked, prodded, and jabbed with sharp hooks, sometimes until bloody. Ringling breaks the spirit of elephants when they're vulnerable babies who should still be with their mothers.
http://www.peta.org/about/faq/How-do-circuses-train-animals.aspx
AOA, please take down your ad.
... said Liz on Apr 29, 2013 at 12:32 PM | link
This Thursday (May 2)--A Taste of Albany at the NYS Museum! A benefit for Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless; more than 30 restaurants and hidden gems from Albany's culinary scene; complimentary wine and beer from Brown's Brewing Co. and Upstate Wine & Liquors; free photobooth and caricature pictures; live and silent auctions and more!
Get your tickets in advance--this event has sold out the last two years running: www.atasteofalbany.com.
And one last piece of advice: wear loose-fitting clothing. Trust me, waistbands are the enemy at Taste of Albany!
... said SiobhanGK on Apr 29, 2013 at 1:07 PM | link
In Your Face Wrestling presents May The Fourth Be With You at the Ballston Area Community Center. The first 100 fans through the door on May 4th will get an exclusive Star Wars trading card variant print by Christian N. St. Pierre. Come to the show in your Star Wars costumes (costume contest at intermission), bring your lightsabers, and see who can truly pull off the Jedi Mind Trick.
... said Lisa on Apr 30, 2013 at 11:00 PM | link