All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Trick or treat!

It's the weekend before Halloween and we've collected a pillow case full of stuff to do. And it's all fun size. Actual fun size -- not tiny stuff masquerading as fun size.

Pick out your favorites and share them with your friends. Doing something you don't see here? Drop it in the comments below.

And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

Troy Night Out -- Zombie Invasion
Troy Night Out celebrates Halloween a little early with a "Zombie Invasion." Dress like a zombie and you can get discounts and zombie specials at participating locations. There's also trick-or-treating at participating businesses.
Things to check out:
+ The new Grocery at Lucas Confectionary is open for tours.
+ There's a twilight market in Riverfront Park.
+ The Arts Center of the Capital Region is screening This is Troy, Emily Armstrong's new documentary about the Collar City at 5:15 pm. And the second Revisionaries screening -- Exploitation Nation -- starts at 7 pm. "Curated by 99 Hooker and Bro. Russell Scholl, October's screening highlights those low budget and low taste films that nail America's troubles right on the head."

You can see the full schedule of events here or check them out on the Troy Night Out app.

Halloween Parties

Halloween Party Cruise on the Hudson
Friday: Dutch Apple Cruises is hosting its Annual Halloween Party Cruise -- a DJ, a costume contest, a raffle, prizes and a cash bar. Friday 8-11 pm - $20

Washington Park Lakehouse
Saturday: The annual Halloween costume party (for adults) is at Washington Park lakehouse. The party is open bar (as well as 21+) and "costumes mandatory." 9 pm - $25 ahead / $50 at door

Monster Mash and Bash
Saturday and Sunday: The New York State Museum hosts a Halloween "Monster Mash and Bash" in the terrace gallery for kids toddler age to 10 years old. "Activities include arts and crafts projects, a mini Monster maze, face painting, bust a move on the "Boo-gie" dance floor, a children's costume parade." Saturday and Sunday 11 am-4 pm

Kids Halloween Party
Sunday: The Albany Public Library is hosting a free Halloween Carnival for kids ages 5 to 11 at the main branch on Washington Avenue. Music, crafts, face painting, a magic show, carnival games and more. Sunday 1-3 pm

Fall stuff

Saratoga Fall Festival
Saratoga Springs hosts a fall festival on Saturday with music, magicians, clowns a stilt juggler, games, a costume parade, trick or treating and a pumpkin roll down Caroline Street. 10 am to 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 There's a "Corn Maze Candy Quest" at Fort Ticonderoga on Saturday. And there's a corn maze at Samascott's Garden Market in Kinderhook.

Apples
Pick-your-own season is nearing its end at a number of orchards around the Capital Region. Check the website of your favorite (or give 'em a call). Don't forget the cider donuts. Here are the results of the latest Tour de Donut. Pick a pumpkin while you're out -- it's almost jack o'lantern time.

Spooky Stuff

Haunted history tours
The annual haunted history tours of Albany's Center Square and Hudson/Park neighborhoods led by Tim Varney return on Friday, with additional dates next week. They're very popular and fill up fast. 6 pm - $15 (proceeds benefit Historic Albany Foundation)

Harvest Haunt
Five haunted attractions including a Farmer's Haunted House, Forest of Fear, and Field of Screams will be at at the Harvest Haunt at Liberty Ridge Farm Friday through Sunday. 6:30 pm-11 pm - $19

Albany Ghost Tour
Harmony House Tours is is running its Albany Ghost Tour again this weekend. Friday through Sunday night, 7 pm - $30

Double M Haunted Hayride
The Double M in Ballston Spa has haunted hayrides, an asylum full of zombies, a haunted house and more ("not recommended for children under the age of 8"). various times and prices

Albany Festival of Nations
The 42nd Annual Albany Festival of Nations represents 23 countries and celebrates culture with food crafts, performances and a pageant. Sunday noon to 5 pm - $5, $2 children

Phoenix
It's the last weekend for Xu Bing's "Phoenix" installation at MASS MoCA. Saturday night the the sculpture will be lit by thousands of internal lights. Saturday 9:30 pm - $15

Downtown Albany restaurant week
Downtown Albany restaurant week wraps up on Friday night. More than 15 restaurants downtown will be offering three-course dinners for $20.13. (Reservations are a good idea during restaurant week.)

Film Columbia

The annual film festival in Chatham -- Film Columbia -- continues through Sunday. The festival screens a bunch of films that have gotten praise at the big festivals and/or are the subject of much anticipation during the winter film season. (Here are a handful of screenings that caught our eye.) Screenings fill up quickly, so getting tickets ahead is a good idea.

More movies

Rocky Horror Picture Show
Friday: The Linda is screening Rocky Horror with shadowcast The Whip It Outskirts. 8 pm and midnight - $10 ahead / $12 at the door

The Phantom of The Opera
Saint Pius X in Loudonville is screening the 1925 silent film version of The Phantom of the Opera , starring Lon Cheney, with live organ accompaniment. Friday 7:30 pm

Stig Dagerman
Friday: The NYS Writers' Institute is hosting a reading and film screening of the work of Stig Dagerman -- considered to be one of the most prominent Swedish journalists and authors of the 1940s and early 50s. Dagerman's work is in the midst of a revival. His daughter will be on hand for a reading and discussion of his work, and a screening of two films based on his short stories. Friday at 7:30 pm, Page Hall, UAlbany downtown campus - free

Who ya gonna call?
The Bow Tie Cinema in Saratoga Springs is screening Ghostbusters on Saturday and Sunday at 11 am as part of its Movies and Mimosa series.

Comedy

Spooky, Ooky, Pooky
Mop & Bucket Company's annual Halloween-themed Spooky, Oooky, Pooky show is Friday at Proctors. Spooky scenes and songs based on audience suggestions. Friday at 8pm - $14 for adults, $6 students/seniors.

Doug Stanhope
Friday: Comedian Doug Stanhope will be at Valentine's. Question once asked about Stanhope: "Is this America's most depraved man?" Friday 8 pm - $25

Bo Burnham
Sunday: Comedian/musician Bo Burnham is at The Egg Sunday 8 pm - $28.50

Theater

The Drowsy Chaperone
It's the last weekend of Home Made Theater's production of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone. Metroland calls it a "prescription for happiness." and The Saratogian calls it "delightful musical comedy." Friday and Saturday at 8pm / Sunday 2 pm - $23-$29

Confetti Fest 9: A Short Play Festival
Confetti Stage's 9th annual short play festival continues this weekend. Playwrights, actors, and technical artists from around the region collaborate on eight original short plays. Friday and Saturday 7:30 pm - $15 per show, four show punch card $50

Morning's at Seven
Schenectady Civic Players presents Morning's at Seven -- the story of four aging sisters in a small midwestern town. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2:30 pm - $17

Polaroid Stories
A visceral blend of classical mythology and real life stories told by street kids, Naomi Iizuka's, Polaroid Stories. An adaptation of Ovid's Metamorphoses, the show weaves mythology into the stories of homeless youth. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2 pm - $12

The Secret Garden
Not So Common Players Present The Secret Garden this weekend in the little theater at Shenendahowa High School East. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm. Sunday at 2 pm. Free

Music

Friday: Thomas Dolby at The Egg
Playing a live score to his film The Invisible Lighthouse. (Invisible because he was blinded by science?) Also: an encore of his greatest hits." 8 pm - $25

Friday: Boney James at Troy Music Hall
Jazz saxophonist. 8 pm - $30 and up

Friday: The Winery Dogs at Upstate Concert Hall
Rock. With: The Sixxis. 8 pm - $20 ahead / $22 day of

Friday: Otan Vargas at Helsinki Hudson
Singer/guitarist in the vein of Staind and Pearl Jam. 9 pm - $20

Friday: The Chronicles at Red Square
Album release show for local jazz/funk band. With: Richard James & The Name Changers. 8 pm

Friday: Built4BBQ Halloween Spectacular at Valentine's
Featuring 10 bands -- a bunch of locals and a few out-of-towners. 5 pm - $10

Saturday: William Basinski at EMPAC
Classically trained musician and tape looper. Playing his new work Nocturnes. 8 pm - $18

Saturday: Chandler Travis Philharmonic at Valentine's
With: Sgt. Dunbar and the Hobo Banned and The Parlor, both separately and together. 8 pm

Saturday: The Fab Four at The Egg
Beatles tribute. 8 pm - $35 and up

Saturday: Golden Oldies Spectacular at Proctors
Featuring acts from the 1960s. 7 pm - $36.75 and up

Saturday: A Night of Murder Ballads at Caffe Lena
Michael Eck with Kim Kilby, Rich Bala, Charlie Morris, Matt Durfee, members of The Lucky Jukebox Brigade, and Ryder & Hazel, Dust Bowl Faeries. A benefit for Caffe Lena. 8 pm - $15

Saturday: Holly & Evan at The Hollow
With: Shadowland. 7 pm - $10

Saturday: Hot Cousin at Valentine's
10-year anniversary show. 9 pm

Sunday: Chris Thile at The Massry Center
Mandolin virtuoso, MacArthur "genius," Punch Brothers founder. 7:30 pm - $30 / $15 students

Sunday: Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys at Caffe Lena
Bluegrass. 7 pm - $16

Richard Russo
The Richard Russo event at Skidmore on Saturday is sold out.

Hockey
The Albany Devils take on the Hartford on Friday at 7 pm and the Portland Pirates,Saturday 5:00 pm.

Bacon
Sunday: Makin' Bacon at the Arts Center. Erika Tebbens returns with her popular class about how to home-cure bacon. 12:30 pm - $65

Farmers' markets
In just a few weeks the farmers' markets move indoors. 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, Mop and Bucket Company, the Downtown Albany BID, and the Arts Center of the Capital Region advertise on AOA