All Over Albany

The week ahead

Here are a few things to keep in mind, look forward to, or keep busy with this week, from the weather (hello, winter), to lots of holiday stuff, to skating (let's hope), to Ann Patchett, to cookie decorating, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Wintry mix. Might be a bit messy. Upper 30s.

Tuesday: Cloudy, maybe some snow. Mid 30s.

Wednesday: Sunny. Breezy. Upper 20s..

Thursday: Sunny, low 20s.

Friday: Sunny, mid 20s.

Weekend: Cloudy, 20s.

Oh, hello there, winter.

Holiday stuff

Tuesday: "The Messiah" at the Cathedral of All Saints
The Cathedral of All Saints Choir of Men & Boys, and a period instrument orchestra. 7 pm - $25 / $20 seniors / $15 students / $10 kids under 10

Wednesday-Sunday: Schenectady Civic Players production of Santa Land Diaries
Based on the famous David Sedaris comic story of his time as a department store elf. "The Santaland Diaries is suggested for mature audiences." various times - $17

Through Sunday: Classic Theatre Guild production of White Christmas at Proctors
Based on the film. various times - $18.50 / $15.50 students and seniors

Thursday-Sunday: Melodies of Christmas at Proctors
Annual holiday concerts featuring the Empire State Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorale. various times - $15 and up

Friday: Mendelssohn Club Holiday Concert at The Egg
An all-male choir established in 1909 playing its annual holiday concert. 7:30 pm - $18

Saturday-Sunday: "The Messiah" at Troy Music Hall
The Albany Symphony will be playing "The Messiah" by Handel, as well as other "warm Baroque pieces." Saturday 7:30 pm / Sunday 3 pm - $19 and up

Saturday-Sunday: Mountain Snow and Mistletoe at The Egg
The annual bluegrass holiday show. Saturday 8 pm / Sunday 2 pm - $24

Sunday: 2013 Holiday Concert at EMPAC
Rensselaer Orchestra and the Rensselaer Concert Choir performing selections from Handel, Monteverdi, Haydn, Bruckner, Sibelius, Brahms and J. Strauss II. 3 pm - free

Sunday: Donny and Marie Christmas at the TU Center
As in, Osmond. 6:30 pm - $49.50 and up

Until December 22: A Christmas Carol at Capital Rep
A new adaptation in which five actors play 20 characters. various times - $20 and up

Ice skating

Postponed twice now, the ice skating rink at the Empire State Plaza is now scheduled to permanently open for the season on Friday, weather permitting (and it hasn't permitted much so far). Skating's free and there will be free skate rental on opening day (as there is every Friday). Also Friday: Rock 'n Skate with Hard Soul. Friday 11 am-8 pm / Rock 'n Skate 6-8 pm - free

Arts and sciences

Ann Patchett
Wednesday: Bestselling author Ann Patchett will be at the Saratoga Hilton for a conversation with Yaddo director Elaina Richardson, in an event organized by the Northshire Bookstore. They'll be discussing Patchett's This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage. Patchett was one of Time's "100 Most Influential People" in 2012. Wednesday 7 pm - $25 (one seat, no book) / $35 (one seat, one book) / $40 (two seats, one book)

The Secret Language of Color
Saturday: Arielle Eckstut and Joann Eckstut will be at the Saratoga Northshire to talk about their book The Secret Language of Color. (Previously mentioned, for a different event.) Saturday 7 pm - free

Antiques
Sunday: Antiques experts Leigh and Leslie Keno will be at the State Museum for a talk about "searching for masterpieces of American furniture." The brothers, who are originally from Herkimer County, have been on TV a bunch, most notably on Antiques Roadshow. Sunday 2 pm - free

Cooking

A few this cooking this week:

Monday: New World Holiday at Different Drummers
Ric Orlando demonstrating a "new twist to holiday classics." 6 pm - $69

Thursday: Pizza and mozzarella at Gio Culinary Studio
A hands-on class about making pizza from scratch at home. 6:15 pm - $60

Sunday Holiday cookie decorating at The Confectionery
The Confectionery's pastry chef, Starla Bradshaw, leads a holiday cookie decorating party (with mulled wine and sipping chocolate). 4 pm - $20 ahead / $25 at door

Comedy

Trailer Park Boys
Thursday: The Trailer Park Boys "Dear Santa Claus" Tour will be The Palace. Thursday 8 pm - $35 and up

Brian Regan
Friday: Comedian Brian Regan will be at The Palace for a stand-up show. Friday 8 pm - $39.75

Music

Monday: Bryan Adams at The Egg
(Everything he does) he does it for you. 8 pm - $49.50 and up

Monday: 20 Drummers Drumming at UAlbany
Percussion ensembles from UAlbany and RPI. 7 pm, UAlbany Performing Arts Center - $6 / $3 students

Tuesday: Skidmore College Orchestra: A Night in Old Vienna! at Zankel Center
"Overtures! Marches! Polkas! And of course Waltzes!" Featuring "world renowned harmonica virtuoso" JiaYi He. If ever you wondered if "Air on the G String" could be played on a harmonica, wonder no longer. 8 pm - $8 adults / $5 seniors / free for students and children

Wednesday: Matisyahu at Helsinki Hudson
Acoustic "Festival of Light" show. With: Levi Robin. 8 pm - $40 ahead / $45 day of

Wednesday: Conditions at Upstate Concert Hall
Alt-rock band on a farewell tour. With: Lions, The Orphan The Poet. 7 pm - $12 ahead / $14 day of

Friday: Shaggy at Upstate Concert Hall
With: Mack Wilds, 2 Pistols, DJTGIF, DJ iROC. 8 pm - $10 ahead / $15 day of

Friday: Rustic Overtones at Putnam Den
With: Los Elk. 9:30 pm - $10

Friday: Judith Hill at Helsinki Hudson
From The Voice. 9 pm - $28 ahead / $35 day of

Saturday: Kim Gordon + Bill Nace at MASS MoCA
As Body/Head -- "A Syd Barrett era--Pink Floyd-inspired, deeply improvisational duo, Body/Head, that pairs her propelling guitar and vocals with free-noise guitarist Bill Nace." 8 pm - $20 ahead / $25 day of

Saturday: Chris Webby at Upstate Concert Hall
Rapper straight outta Norwalk. Connecticut. With: Bizzy Crook, AMJ, Dutch Mxster, Third Eye Visions. 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

Saturday: Spuyten Duyvil at Caffe Lena
"A barn-burning romp through the last 100 years of American Roots music." 8 pm - $18

Sunday: The Wooten Brothers at The Egg
"The Wooten Brothers featuring Victor on bass, Regi on guitar, Joseph on keyboards and Roy 'Futureman' on percussion -- reunite to perform their funky blend of R&B, hip-hop, jazz, rock and blues." 7:30 pm - $34.50

Sunday: All That Remains at Upstate Concert Hall
Metal. With: Soil, Hollow Is Thy Heart, Sworn To Remember. 7:30 pm - $15 ahead / $18 day of

Sunday: The Sweetback Sisters at Helsinki Hudson
"The Sweetback Sisters stir up their twangy, retro-country magic in artisanal Brooklyn, N.Y. - the new Nashville." (Who knew?) 8 pm - $18
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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!

Capital Rep advertises on AOA. The Confectionery was a stop on the AOA Bad Boys tour.