All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

This is October, right?

The leaves are turning color, but it still feels like summer. (OK, late summer.) And this weekend is forecasted to be more or less the same, though cloudier and bit rainy.

We've raked up a bunch of stuff to do and put it in a big, well-organized pile after the jump.

Pick your favorites, and if you're planning something you don't see there, drop it in the comments.

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

1st Friday
Shops and galleries are open late in Albany for 1st Friday. A few things you might want to try:

+ There's a talk and walk through An Armory Show with Michael Oatman and Ken Ragsdale at the Opalka Gallery on the Sage College Albany campus.

+ Overit Media is hosting an Art by Musicians show, with artwork by local artists who are better known as musicians. Among the artists in the show: Kevin McKrell, Rick Bedrosian of Hair of the Dog, and Mike Hayes.

+ The Grand St. Community Artshas a kickoff party for the Indiegogo fundraiser to restore its building.

+ Play readings and improv at the Confetti Stage open house.

Post-1st Friday events include the monthly Capital Swing Dance at the Albany Elks Club and the TN Trio at the University Club.

Oktoberfest Block Party
Saturday: Broadway in North Albany will be closed off for Wolff's annual Oktoberfest Block Party. Beer, food, music, dirndls, lederhosen, wiener dog races. Saturday 11 am-7 pm - $7 admission / kids 12 and under free

Ghost tour
SOLD OUT
Friday: Proctors has multiple ghost tours of its theater lined up. Blurbage: "The tour takes you on a spine-tingling journey through places in the historic theatre that few dare to go. Explore creaky backstage hallways, haunted dressing rooms and eerie balcony boxes while hearing firsthand accounts and tales of ghostly haunting." Also: "a paranormal investigation." Friday various times - $15 / $30 ghost tour and paranormal investigation The Proctors Ghost Tours are now sold out.

Local Harvest Festival
Sunday: Dozens of local food producers, food vendors, craters, local music, kids activities and more at the Honest Weight Food Co-op's 5th Annual Local Harvest Festival near the lakehouse in Washington Park. Sunday from noon to 4 pm - free admission

Albany All Stars
Saturday: The Albany All Stars Roller Derby starts its home 2013-2014 season at the Washington Ave Armory against the Beast of the East. 7 pm - $10 ahead / $12 at the door / $4 kids under 12

Piccadilly Circus
"Cossak Warriors on horseback, Motorcycle Nitro Cowboys in the globe of Death. Camels, clowns and comedy acts," are all part of the Piccadilly Circus show this Sunday at the Washington Avenue Armory. Shows at 1 pm, 3:30 pm & 6 pm. Free children's tickets at sponsoring businesses. Adult tickets $9.75.

Bill Bryson
Saturday: Nonfiction author Bill Bryson will be at the State Museum as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. Bryson is famous for his books on travel and science. His new book is One Summer: America, 1927. Saturday 7:30 pm, State Museum, Clark Auditorium - free

Festival of Meats
Three words: deep fried sausage. OK, more than three words: whole pig, Korean-style beef ribs, pork chops, steak, clams and bacon, bacon, bacon at ASAP's 5th Annual Festival of Meats and Celebration of Bacon at the Albany Elks Club. Saturday from 4-10 pm - $25

Comedy

Jerry Seinfeld
This show is now sold out Friday: Jerry Seinfeld will be at the Palace for a stand-up show (as mentioned). In addition to sleeping on what is surely an enormous bed of money from his sitcom, Seinfeld lately has been doing an online video series: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. The one with Alec Baldwin is a good place to start. Friday 7 pm - $48 and up

Paula Poundstone
Saturday: Paula Poundstone will be at the Troy Music Hall for a stand-up show. (Our all-star Wait, Wait includes her.) Saturday 8 pm - $26 and up

Gilbert Gottfried
Gilbert Gottfried -- yep,from 1980s SNL, Beverly Hills Cop II and The Cosby Show -- is doing stand-up this weekend at The Comedy Works . Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 9:30 - $25, $30

Festival of Laughs
Five comedy headliners from Comedy Central, HBO and Showtime make up the Festival of Laughs at The Palace Theater. Saturday at 8 pm

Chortal Combat
Mop & Bucket Company's official opening night for its Proctors season is Friday, with Chortal Combat. Teams of improvisors compete by creating scenes and songs using audience suggestions. Post show opening night party at MopCo's Union Street headquarters. Friday at 8pm - $14 for adults, $6 students/seniors. *This week, MopCo performs a free post-show cabaret at its Union Street headquarters after the show. Thing-a-long is part improv, part cabaret and part sing-a-long.

Theater

Venus in Fur
This is opening week for Capital Rep's production of Venus in Fur, David Ives' comedy about power and eroticism. Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 3 pm and 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm - $20 and up

One Slight Hitch
The Curtain Call Theatre production of Lewis Black's One Slight Hitch closes this weekend. It's a comedy about a family and a wedding day gone wrong. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm - $23

Les Mis-es
+ The Theater Institute at Sage presents the musical Les Miserable at the Schacht Fine Arts Center. Saturday night at 7 pm, Sunday at 2 pm - $15

+ Less than 20 minutes away, Cohoes Music hall also has a production of Les Miserable. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm - $30 and up

Little Shop of Horrors
The Ashman and Menken cult musical Little Shop of Horrors closes this weekend at the Glove Theater. Molly Rose McGrath stars. Friday 8 pm, Saturday 8 pm - $15 / $12 students and seniors

Film

Gravity
Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity opens this weekend local multiplexes. It has been getting tremendous reviews.

The Haunting
The New York State Writers Institute screens Robert Wise's 1963 horror film, "The Haunting," the movie Steven Spielberg calls "the scariest film ever made." Friday at 7 pm, Page Hall, downtown UAlbany campus - free

Music

Friday: Danny Brown, Action Bronson at Skidmore
Two hip hop characters for the Fall Big Show. From Grantland: "A week with Action Bronson." 8 pm - $20

Friday: Jeremy Denk at Union College
Pianist and newly tabbed MacArthur "genius." (As mentioned.) 8 pm - $25 / $10 students

Friday: Northern Faces + Stellar Young + Titanics at Valentine's
Trio of local indie/alt rock. 8 pm

Friday: Maria Zemantauski at Caffe Lena
Flamenco guitarist and composer. 8 pm - $15

Saturday: Bayside + Motion City Soundtrack at Upstate Concert Hall
Punk and emo rock. With: Whats Eating Gilbert, State Champs. 7:30 pm - $17 ahead / $20 at door

Saturday: Syd Straw at The Linda
Frequent 80s and 90s alterna-rock collaborator. 8 pm - $18

Sunday: Gramatik at Upstate Concert Hall
DJ/remixer originally from Slovenia. On the Pretty Lights label. With: EXMAG. 8 pm - $20

Sunday: The Battlefield Band at Sanctuary for Independent Media
Modern interpretations of Celtic music. 7 pm - $10

Sunday: Claire Lynch Band at Caffe Lena
Bluegrass/country singer. 7 pm - $28

Tour de Cider Donut
Cider donuts. Lots of cider donuts. Stanford Steph will be running the annual Fussy Little Blog Tour de Donut in Daniel B's absence. The tour starts at 8:30 Saturday morning outside Lindsey's Country Store in Clifton Park. Here's how it works.

And if you're just looking to score a donut or two (or 12), perhaps previous Tours de Cider Donut can inspire your choice.

Showcase of Homes
The Saratoga Showcase of Homes ends this weekend with house tours on Saturday and Sunday. High quality home gawking at 14 homes in and near Saratoga Springs. Proceeds benefit Northern Saratoga Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together Saratoga County.11 am-5 pm - tickets $20

Curling Open House
The Schenectady Curling Club in Niskayuna is hosting an open house on Friday where you can watch, or learn how to play. 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. More about curling.

Out of the Ashes
A Cabaret Benefit at Rocks to Rebuild the Damien Center. Sunday from 5 pm to 8 pm.

Save a Bull
Olde English Pub hosts a Save a Bull fundraiser on Friday with Animal Planet "Pit Boss" star Shorty Rossi. Hors d'oeuvres, drink specials and hand rolled cigars on the deck of the Olde English. Friday 7 pm to 9 pm. $25/$40

Fall stuff

Apples
Pick your own season is well underway at a number of orchards around the Capital Region Check the website of your favorite (or give 'em a call).

Schodack Island State Park Fall Festival
Vendors, crafts, a pumpkin patch, face painting, cider donuts and more fun fall stuff at the Schodack Island State Park Fall Festival. Saturday noon-5 pm - free admission

Liberty Ridge Farm's Fall Festival
Liberty Ridge Farm is hosting its ongoing fall festival with a corn maze, rides, animals, trolley rides and a pumpkin cannon. $12.50

Corn Mazes
The giant maze at Fort Ticonderoga is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm -- free with admission to the fort. And the corn maze at Samascott's Garden Market in Kinderhook is now open -- 11 am to 5 pm Saturday-Monday, $7 per person (kids under 4 free).

Farmers' markets
It's the best time of year to take a trip to one of the local farmers' markets. Markets are open in Troy (Saturday), Delmar (Saturday), Saratoga (Saturday), Schenectady (Sunday), and the new Spa City Farmers Market -- at the Lincoln Baths in Saratoga Springs (Sunday).

Take a walk
It's our favorite season for strolling. Here are some of our favorite autumn walks.

The Troy Music Hall, Capital Rep, and Proctors advertise on AOA. AOA is a media sponsor for the Honest Weight Local Harvest Festival, ASAP's Festival of Meats, and The Albany All Stars Roller Derby.