All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on this soggy pre-Christmas December weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach 57. Yep, 57. Because welcome to the great Northeast.

If you're not last-minute shopping and you're looking for something else to do this weekend, check out our list after the jump. There are plays, movies, bands, comedy shows, holiday events and a Ferris Bueller-themed burlesque show. Anyone? Anyone?

If we're missing something you're planning to do this weekend, drop it in the comments and let us know about it. It's the season for sharing.

And whatever you're up to, bring your Wellies and umbrella and have a fantastic weekend.

Holiday stuff

Friday: It's a Wonderful Life at The Palace
Seeing it at a big, old movie house like this is better than watching it on TV. 7 pm - $5 / $3 kids

If you miss it at The Palace on Friday, you can catch it on Saturday or Sunday morning at the Bow Tie Cinema in Saratoga as part of the Movies and Mimosa Series. 11 am - $5.50, $2 mimosa

A Christmas Carol
The Dickens classic closes this weekend at Capital Rep. A new adaptation in which five actors play 20 characters. Friday 8pm, Saturday 3pm & 8pm, Sunday 2pm - $20 and up

Friday: West Point Jazz Knights at The Linda
Annual big band holiday concert. 7 pm - free (reservation required, and it's filled up in years past)

Friday-Sunday: Christmas with The Rat Pack at Proctors
"Raise some holiday spirits with Frank, Sammy and Dean as they sing, dance and unwrap all of your seasonal favorites." various times - $20 and up

Saturday: The Nutcracker at The Egg
A production by the Albany Berkshire Ballet. 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm - $38 adults / $25 children

Saturday: 8th Step Sing Solstice! at Proctors
Concert celebrating "the Season of Light: Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hannukah, Las Posadas, Santa Lucia, Yule and many more around the world." 7:30 pm - $24 ahead / $26 day of

Sunday: Boston Camerata at Union College
"Noël, Noël: A French Christmas." 3 pm - $25 / $10 students

Ongoing:Capital Holiday Lights display in Washington Park
Continues through January 3. After the tour you can stop at the lake house for a visit with Santa. Fridays and Saturdays from 6-10 pm / Sundays through Thursdays from 6-9 pm - admission prices are $15.00 per car, $25.00 for 10-18 passenger vehicle

Ongoing: Toy and Train exhibition continues this weekend at MiSci.

Local holiday gift shopping
Not done shopping yet? Here are some places to try:

The Shop at The Arts Center
Saturday: The Arts Center of the Capital Region has opened it's annual holiday shop. You can shop gifts from local artists and crafters at The Arts Center. Saturday 11am - 3 pm

TightKnit
Saturday: The TightKnit handmade holiday market is in the Fear Building atrium on Saturdays through December. Saturday 9 am - 2 pm

Honest Weight's Holiday Craft Fair
Saturday: Honest Weight's holiday craft fair continues. Local artisans and crafters will be selling holiday gifts in the co-op's community room. "From decorative paper boxes to wooden bowls and cutting boards; from cards and prints to pottery and ceramics; from jewelry, aprons, and garden-inspired women's clothing." Saturdays 10 am-4 pm

Ice skating
The ESP ice skating rink has opened for the season. Weather permitting, the rink offers free skating every day from 11 am-8 pm. Skate rental is $4 adults / $3 kids (cash only) -- and free on Fridays. And this Friday is Holiday Rock 'n Skate from 6-8 pm.

Movies

Multiplex
There are a handful of decent options at the multiplexes, including the just-opened The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (this one has gotten better reviews than the first one -- maybe it doesn't have 35 minutes of Bilbo being upset about dwarves eating all his food). Arriving this weekend: David O. Russell's American Hustle, which has a really good cast and is getting very positive reviews.

Food

Great Balls of Cheese
Saturday: Troy native Michelle Buffardi -- she works at the Food Network -- will be at Market Block Books for a demo/book signing related to her new cookbook: Great Balls of Cheese, which is all about cheeseballs. (We flipped through this book the other day, it's cheesy and fun.) 1 pm

Handmade gifts
Saturday: Deanna Fox will be at Different Drummer's Kitchen for a hands-on class about making a range of holiday food gifts. 2 pm - $65

Comedy

Mop & Bucket Holiday show
Friday: Because it's time for a holiday chuckle. MopCo improvisers create songs and scenes in a short form holiday show based on audience suggestions. Underground at Proctors. Friday 8 pm - $14, $6 for students and seniors

Coffee and Comedy
Friday: Hudson River Coffee House hosts its last Coffee and Comedy show of the year. Vernon Payne is joined by four local comedians for a night of caffeinated stand-up. doors open at 8:30, show at 9pm

Comedy Works
Actor/comedian Steve Caouette performs his stand-up act at The Comedy Works this weekend.Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 - $15 advance, $20 day of

Burlesque

Ferris Bueller Takes it Off
Friday: C. Amanda Boutahorse's Cult Classics burlesque series is taking on Ferris Bueller's Day Off at the Hangar in Troy with a show called "Ferris Bueller Takes It Off." Friday 8pm - $10

Bing Bamboo Room
The Bing Bamboo Room brings its burlesque performance to Latham's Grape and Growler on Saturday night. doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm - $12

Music

Friday: The African Children's Choir at Proctors
They've performed all around the world. 7 pm - $30

Friday: The Figgs at Valentine's
It really must be the holidays. With: Kitty Little. 8 pm

Friday: Teddy Thompson at Helsinki Hudson
Folk rock. Son of Richard and Linda. 9 pm - $25 ahead / $30 day of

Saturday: The Figgs at Putnam Den
This time with the Charlie Watts Riots. 9 pm - $10

Saturday: Brothers Past at The Hollow
Indie electronica. 8 pm - $12 ahead / $15 at door

Saturday: Pony in the Pancake Holiday Show at Valentine's
With: Party Boat, Beaked Whale, Los Espejos. 8 pm

Sunday: Jewmongus at Caffe Lena
"Hilarious and irreverent acoustic rock songs about being Jewish." 7 pm - $16

Hoops
Friday: The UAlbany men's basketball team faces Yale at the SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes' Sam Rowley is coming off two 20+ point games. Friday 7 pm - $5 and up

The Human Condition + Communication-Technologies
Saturday: The Foundry for Art Design + Culture continues its visiting artist series with "The Human Condition + Communication-Technologies," featuring work from Nacy Daly and Elizabeth Kostojohn. The show "explores the paradigm shift that is happening with how we communicate, or don't." opening reception Saturday 6-9 pm - RSVP

Disney On Ice
The Times Union Center is hosting Disney on Ice: 100 years of magic. It's an ice show with Disney Characters. Friday 7pm, Saturday 11am, 3pm, pm, Sunday 1pm & 5 pm - $25-$58

Farmers' markets
Indoor 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).

Capital Rep, the Arts Center, and Honest Weight advertise on AOA.