All Over Albany

The week ahead

Here are a few things to keep in mind, look forward to, or keep busy with this short week, from the weather (August redux), to primary day, to stories, to authors, to drink 'n draw, to zombies, to all kinds of music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Sunny and 72.

Tuesday: Some sun, maybe some rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s.

Wednesday: Repeat.

Thursday: Cloudy, thunderstorms. 80.

Friday: Sunny and highs in the upper... 60s.

Weekend: Sunny and mid-to-upper 60s.

It's like a few days of early August in the middle.

Primary day

Tuesday is party primary day for this fall's political elections. And in Albany, because of the overwhelming Democratic enrollment, it's the de facto election for mayor and other city offices. Don't know where to vote? Check with your county board of election.

Stories

Tuesday: The Front Parlor storytelling series returns to the Ale House in Troy. This month's theme: "out of control." 7:30 pm

NYS Writers Institute: Jonathan Lethem

Wednesday: The New York State Writers Institute visiting writers series starts its fall season with an appearance by best-selling author Jonathan Lethem (Motherless Brooklyn, Fortress of Solitude) on UAlbany's uptown campus. He has a new novel out this week: Dissident Gardens (NYT review). Wednesday 8 pm, Performing Arts Center, UAlbany uptown campus - free

Arts and sciences

David Souter on the humanities
Thursday: former Supreme Court justice David Souter will be at the State Museum for a talk about the role of the humanities in 21st century democracy. Souter was commissioner of an effort that produced a report on the topic: "The Heart of the Matter: The Humanities and Social Sciences for a vibrant, competitive, and secure nation." Thursday 4 pm - free (register)

The constitution and human rights
Thursday: Princeton scholar and constitutional historian Stanley Katz will be at St. Rose for a talk titled "Constitutionalism and Human Rights: The Dilemma of the United States." Talk blurbage: "In his lecture, Katz will examine how the nation's constitutional tradition has made it difficult for the U.S. to participate fully in the international human rights system. Rather than solely blame foreign policy isolationism, xenophobia and imperial hubris, Katz will argue that U.S. reluctance to embrace the international human rights regime can be traced to a historic unwavering support of constitutional sovereignty." Thursday 8 pm, Saint Joseph Hall Auditorium - free

Frequency North start
Thursday: The Frequency North series at St. Rose begins its 2013-2014 season with a group of St. Rose creative writing faculty reading from their most recent works -- Kenneth Krauss, Daniel Nester, Hollis Seamon, Rone Shavers and Barbara Ungar. Thursday 7:30 pm, Events and Athletics Center - free

EMPAC

EMPAC's fall season cranks up this week with two events:

The Beautiful Violent Futures of JG Ballard
Wednesday: UCLA English professor Ursula Heise will give a talk on the use and depiction of violence in the work of author J.G. Ballard. Wednesday 6 pm - free

Oneohtrix Point Never
Thursday: Electronic music composer Oneohtrix Point Never -- Daniel Lopatin -- will be performing new music from an upcoming album in EMPAC's concert hall, accompanied by visuals. Lopatin has worked with Tim Hecker, been chosen by Animal Collective, best-of listed by Pitchfork, and more recently collaborated on the score for Sofia Coppola's last film, The Bling Ring. Thursday 8 pm - $18

Pasties, Pencils & Pints

Thursday: The sassy figure drawing drink 'n draw Pasties, Pencils & Pints returns to 51 3rd Street in Troy. It is both BYOB and BYODS (bring your own drawing supplies). "If you've never drawn before or if you draw all the time, join us for a ridiculous good time." The night also includes music, contests, and prizes. Thursday 8:30 pm - $10 donation to cover model fees

Lisa Lampanelli

Friday-Sunday: Comedian Lisa Lampanelli will be at Proctors for a "developmental production" of her new one-woman show Skinny Bitch: NOT A Stand-Up Comedy Show. Blurbage:

The production, which is written by Ms. Lampanelli and 700 Sundays writer Alan Zweibel, will be helmed by Tony Award-winning® director John Rando. In her first theatrical production, Lisa will reveal the woman behind the comic, and her struggle with food, men and body image. In turns hilariously funny, surprisingly touching and totally relatable, Skinny Bitch: NOT a Stand-Up Comedy Show will show a side to Comedy's Lovable Queen of Mean that few would guess exists.

Lampanelli played two shows in one night at The Egg earlier this year, and at least one of them sold out. various times - $25 and up

FANTACON

The horror/comic books/special effects convention FANTACON will be at Marriott on Wolf Road this Saturday and Sunday. It includes appearances by a bunch of artists, actors, and practitioners of the gory. The convention also includes a series of films at the Palace Theatre in Albany:
+ Thursday: the original Night of the Living Dead
+ Friday: the original Friday the 13th
+ Saturday: Zombie Fest, featuring three zombie films

Basilica SoundScape

Friday-Saturday: The Basilica in Hudson has lined up Basilica SoundScape, "a carefully curated weekend program featuring a wide range of music, visual art, and literature that aims for specific connections and overlaps instead of 'festival'-style overload." It's presented in collaboration with Pitchfork. The two-day music lineup will finish with "a large-scale sound piece" produced through a collaboration between Pitchfork editor Brandon Stosuy, artist Matthew Barney, and composer Jonathan Bepler. 7 pm both days - $60 weekend pass / $35 each day

Football

Saturday: UAlbany will be opening Bob Ford Field, its new 8,500-seat football stadium on the uptown campus with a game versus Rhode Island (it will also be UAlbany's first game in their new conference). Fireworks follow the game. 7 pm - $5 and up

Yom Kippur

The holiest day of the year for Jews -- Yom Kippur, the day of atonement -- begins at sunset Friday and continues until nightfall on Saturday. The holiday is marked by reflection, fasting, and prayer.

Music

Monday: Matisyahu at Upstate Concert Hall
Be sure to wish him a good new year. With: Magic!. 8 pm - $20 ahead / $23 day of

Wednesday: Robert DeLong at Upstate Concert Hall
Alt rock/electronic, EQX fave. With Ghost Beach, Mister F. 9 pm - $12 ahead / $15 day of

Thursday: Goldspot at The Linda
Laid-back indie alt rock. With: Jon Brodeur. 8 pm - $15

Thursday: Aaron Carter at The Hollow
Is he famous for being famous at this point? With: Justin Levinson, Alexis Babini. 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

Thursday: Lucky Jukebox Brigade at Valentine's
With: Castle, Vermont Joy Parade.

Friday: The Guggenheim Grotto at the Linda
Folk pop from Ireland. With: M.R. Poulopoulos. 8 pm - $17

Friday: Tim Eriksen and the Trio de Pumpkintown at Caffe Lena
Pumpkintown is "a fictional village where the soundscape is 18th and 19th century sea ballads, fiddle tunes and afro/celtic gospel." 8 pm - $16

Friday: North & South Dakotas at Putnam Den
Nee Headband Jack. 10 pm

Friday: Big Malk & Sime Gezus at Red Square
Album release show for the hip hop duo. 8 pm - $10

Saturday: Hispanic Heritage Celebration at the ESP
Music lineup headlined by Grammy-winning merengue musician Toño Rosario. music starts at 3 pm - free

Saturday: Stellar Young at Putnam Den
With: This Renaissance, Premier, Beaked Whale. 8 pm - $7

Sunday: The John Scofield Ãœberjam Band at the Massry Center
Jazz. Featuring Andy Hess, Avi Bortnick, Tony Mason. 7:30 pm - $30 / $15 students

Sunday: Fancytramp at Valentine's
Grungy pop rock from Nashville. With: Boxer Brown, Mutarortot.
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These are a just a few things for this week, not a comprehensive list. Know of something people should be looking forward to this week? Please share!

Lethem photo: David Shankbone via Wikipedia (cc)

Oneohtrix Point Never photo: Timothy Saccenti