All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to the the weekend. Here in the weekend, everything is beautiful. Even the weather is beautiful. Well... the weather is OK, but it's still the weekend.

After the jump, more than 34 flavors of stuff to do awaits you -- from comedy, music and theater, to roller derby and a polar plunge.

Plan your itinerary, pick some traveling companions and enjoy your stay. Just make sure you're back onboard by Monday morning.

Got something planned that you don't see here? Drop it in the comment section and share with the rest of the crowd.

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

Writing the Place Beyond the Pines
Friday: Ben Coccio -- the co-writer of the The Place Beyond the Pines, and a Niskayuna native -- will be at UAlbany as part of the NYS Writers Institute film series. There will be a screening of Pines followed by discussion with Coccio. Friday 7 pm, downtown campus, Page Hall - free

Roller Derby
The Albany All Stars take on NCKO on Saturday night at the Washington Avenue Armory. Half time music from the El Dorados. Part of the proceeds go to The Damian Center. Door open at 6pm, first whistle at 7pm - $12, $4 under 12.

Polar plunge
Saturday: Watch 400 participants plunge into the frigid waters of Lake George -- or plunge yourself -- to raise money for Special Olympics. The plunge is at Shepard Park Beach at noon. Check in at Duffy's Tavern in Lake George at 9 am.

The Beatles
Saturday: Scott Freiman is back at Proctors for another multimedia presentation about the Beatles. This one -- "Tomorrow Never Knows" -- is about the album Revolver. Freiman's previous appearance at Proctors was very popular. This one will probably sell out, too. Saturday 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm - $20 and $25

Comedy

+ Friday: Comedian Jim Breuer is at the Troy Music Hall for a standup show. 8 pm - $27

+ Friday: Spontaneous Broadway. The Mop and Bucket Company make up a Broadway show, complete with music, props and costumes, based on audience suggestions. Underground at Proctors on Friday at 8 pm. $14, $6 for students and seniors.

+ Saturday: Comedian Colin Quinn will be at The Egg for a standup show. Saturday 8 pm - $37.50

Improv Jam
Ever want to give improv a try? Come watch and/or play with the improvisors at The Mop and Bucket Company's Improv Jam on Saturday night at 8 at MopCo. World Headquarters 309 Union Street, Schenectady.$5

More Film

Warren Miller
Friday: The latest Warren Miller ski film is at the Palace -- crazy mountain skiing in exotic locales. Friday 8 pm - $23

Breakfast at Tiffany's
This weekend's Movies and Mimosa film at the Bowtie Cinema in Saratoga Springs is Breakfast at Tiffany's. Saturday and Sunday mornings at 11 - $5.50 tickets, and $2 mimosas

The Yellow Ticket
Saturday at MASS MoCA: The Yellow Ticket -- "a forgotten gem from the silent film era" -- is resurrected with a new score by Klezmatics co-founder and klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals. Saturday 8 pm - $12 advance / $16 day of / $10 students

Ain't Them Bodies Saints
The Saratoga Film Forum is screening David Lowery's Aint Them Bodies Saints, the story of three characters on various sides of the law. Friday at 7:30 pm, Sunday 3 pm - $7/$5

Theater

Inspecting Carol
Our Own Productions presents Inspecting Carol, a very funny holiday spoof about a community theater group's effort to put on a Christmas play. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm - $15, $13

Night, Mother
Marsha Norman's powerful, award-winning play Night, Mother continues at Albany Civic Theater. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 3 pm

Abigail 1702
Abigail 1702 closes at Curtain Call Theater this weekend. The play is a look at what happened to Abigail Williams ten years after The Crucible. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm - $23

Small Narration
Saturday: Visual artist Wojtek Ziemilski will be at EMPAC for a "lecture-performance" about a painful episode in his family's history. "Theater intermingles with reality, private narration with historical commentary--all to cope with the painful problem of memory and the manipulations it undergoes." Saturday 7 pm - $18

Music

Friday: Diego Garcia at The Linda
Back in town with a new album. With: Ashley Sofia. 8 pm - $15

Friday: Soulful Praise at Proctors
Gospel show featuring J. Moss. With: Joshua Rogers, Tiffany Woodside. 7 pm - $29 and up

Friday: Allison Moorer at Helsinki Hudson
Country/folk singer. With: David Jacobs Strain. 9 pm - $30

Friday: New York Funk Exchange at Red Square
Funky. With: Oobleck. 8 pm

Friday: Mulebone at Proctors
Blues. An 8th Step show. 7:30 pm - $26

Friday: Trapt at Upstate Concert Hall
Hard rock. With: Devour The Day, Righteous Vendetta, This Renaissance, Above The Flood, No Resolve. 7 pm - $13 ahead / $15 day of

Saturday: The Sean Rowe show at Helsinki Hudson has cancelled -- the website says it will be rescheduled.

Saturday: Dark Star Orchestra at The Palace
Grateful Dead tribute. 7:30 pm - $33.50

Saturday: Chris Botti at Proctors
Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter. 8 pm - $20 and up

Saturday: PitchBlak Brass Band at
10-piece hip hop brass. With: The Moho Collective. 8 pm

Sunday: Sleigh Bells at Upstate Concert Hall postponed
Noise pop duo, once a 'fork fave. With: Doldrums. 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

Sunday: David Righeschi at The Palace
Italian tenor. 3 pm - $35 and up

Author appearances

Mitch Albom
Friday: Sportswriter turned novelist Mitch Albom, author of Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, will be at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs for a book signing and conversation about his newest book, The First Phone Call From Heaven. The appearance is an "Off the Shelf" event collaboration between Northshire Bookstore and WAMC. Friday at 7:30pm - one seat and a copy of the book, $32.50 / two seats and one copy of the book, $40 (tickets available at the Northshire in Saratoga Springs)

Sparrow
Friday: Writer/editor/teacher/"literary provocateur extraordinaire" Sparrow will be at Saint Rose as part of the Frequency North visiting writers series. Friday 7:30 pm, Huether School of Business (994 Madison Ave) - free

OPP - Other People's Poetry (or Prose)
Sunday: Daniel Nester reads from The Incredible Sestina Anthology in this new poetry series at the Albany Social Justice Center featuring a poet (or prose writer) reading the work of their favorite poet(s). Sunday 6 pm

Annette Nielsen
Sunday: Food writer and cook Annette Nielsen, author of Northern Bounty and Northern Comfort cookbooks will host a food demo and share samples at Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs. Sunday 3 PM

Museums/Exhibits

Jewels of the Sea
Discovery Hall in Troy celebrates the first anniversary of Jewels of the Sea, an exhibit of over 1,000 seashells.

Shadow of the Sphinx
Dr. Anna Tobin D'Ambrosio, director of the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, gives a talk on Ancient Egypt and its influence at the Albany Institute of History and Art. Sunday 2 pm. Free with museum admission.

Weather Event
One of the more recent exhibits to drop in at the New York State Museum, Weather Event is a series of painter Charles E. Burchfield's depictions of the weather south of Lake Erie. "Burchfield's representations of weather, wind, skies and sounds are unique historical records of the environment near Lake Erie."

Also at the NYS Museum , you've got a few weeks left to check out The Nature of Design exhibit, a look at the work and philosophy of renowned industrial designer Russel Wright.

VegFest
This year's Albany VegFest includes cooking demonstrations, info on environmental awareness, healthy food, compassion for animals and more. Saturday at the Polish American Center on Washington Avenue Extension. 10 am to 6pm - Free admission, but a $5 donation is requested

Full Moon Night Hike
Saturday: The Huyck Preserve is hosting a guided Full Moon hike. 8 pm - free

Holiday shopping
It's getting to be that time. Here are a few places you can shop with local artists and vendors:

+ The First Unitarian Universalist Society on Washington Ave in Albany is holding a Holiday Craft Fair and Bazaar. Handcrafted items, collectibles and gently used books. Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm - free admission

+ Sunday: There's a holiday craft and book fair at Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany. Sunday 9 am to 3pm

Farmers' markets
The farmers markets are a good place to find something interesting to make or bring to Thanksgiving. Markets are open in Troy (Saturday at the Atrium), Saratoga (Saturday at the Lincoln Baths in Spa State Park), Schenectady (Sunday at Proctors), and the Spa City Farmers Market -- at the Lincoln Baths in Saratoga Springs (Sunday at the Lincoln Baths).

Order stuff for Thanksgiving
If you want to bring some fun local delicacies to the Thanksgiving table, this weekend is a great time to get them ordered. A few years ago we compiled this list of some good local items to add to your Thanksgiving feast.

Troy Music Hall and The Mop and Bucket Company advertise on AOA. AOA is a media sponsor for The Albany All Stars Roller Derby.

Sleigh Bells photo via the band's FB page