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 (cold), to Christmas, to movies, to museums, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Cloudy, warm, probably some rain. Upper 40s.

Tuesday: Sunny, colder, maybe a bit of snow. Upper 20s.

Wednesday: Sunny. Low 20s.

Thursday: Sunny. Upper 30s.

Friday: About the same.

Weekend: And so on.

Cold for Christmas.

Christmas

As you might have heard, Christmas is Wednesday. Christians will be celebrating the birth of Jesus. But many of the related aspects of the holiday have roots that stretch back to traditions that pre-date Christianity, to the Romans and groups in northern Europe. And a lot of those celebrations centered in part on this fact: The shortest daylight of the year just happened, and the days get longer from here. Hooray.

Because of the holiday Wednesday, many things will be closed, of course -- and many places will close early on Tuesday.

Movies

It's a good week to catch a movie, classic or new.

The hills are alive...
Monday: Proctors is showing The Sound of Music on its main stage as part of the AFI 100 series. And lest there be any doubt: Julie Andrews >>>>> Carrie Underwood. Monday 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 7:30 pm - $5

It's time to start the music it's time to light the lights...
Thursday: The Palace is showing The Muppet Movie in a kid-friendly, day-after-Christmas screening. Thursday 3 pm - $5

Hey, that's Schenectady...
Saturday: Proctors is showing The Place Beyond the Pines on its main stage screen. It is, of course, the film shot in Schenectady, starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, and many others. Saturday 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 7:30 pm - $5

Multiplexes
Christmas is always a big season for big movies. Opening on Christmas at local multiplexes: Leo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street, the new Ben Stiller version of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Idris Elba in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, and Keanu Reeves in 47 Ronin. And just recently released in local 'plexes: American Hustle, Anchorman 2, and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Museums

Got people in town and need to take them somewhere? You might hit up a museum. The Albany Institute (see the mummies), miSci (the train exhibit is still up), the State Museum, MASS MoCA, the Arkell, and the Baseball Hall of Fame are all after Christmas and into the weekend. (A few are also open ahead of Christmas this week -- check before heading out.)

Hoops

The Siena men's basketball team is back at home at the TU Center after a bunch of games on the road (it's been more than a month since their last home game) -- the Saints face Hofstra Monday evening. 7 pm - $12 and up

Ice skating

The ice skating rink on the ESP has a very high fun:cost ratio -- and it's you could take a bunch of out-of-town people to do. It will be open after Christmas 11 am-8 pm (and maybe Christmas Eve until 5 pm) -- if the weather is cooperative (which is hasn't been lately, prompting the closure this past weekend). Skating is free, and rentals are $4 adults / $3 kids / free on Friday.

This Friday: Olympic silver medalist Paul Wylie is scheduled to be there for a skating demonstration and meet and greet at 4 pm.

4th Street Funnies

Friday: The new 4th Street Funnies series -- a successor to Laughs on Lark -- debuts at Kokopellis in Troy. Hosted by Jaye McBride and Ethan Ullman, the lineup this time around includes: TV's Kyle (Dr. Demento Show), the return of Kevin Marshall (WWE, SpikeTV), Jason Smith, Joshua Vincent, and "special appearance by FANTA CLAUS." Friday 7 pm

Music

Thursday: Better Pills at Valentine's
AKA, Brent Gorton. With: Lincoln Money Shot, Small Axe, Gay Tastee. 8 pm

Friday: John Pizzarelli Quartet at The Egg
Jazz guitarist. 8 pm - $38

Saturday: Heather Maloney at Caffe Lena
Folk pop. 8 pm - $16

Sunday: Titus Andronicus at Valentine's
Indie punk rock. They put on a good show at Rest Fest a few years back. With: If Madrid, Summer People, Slowshine. 7:30 pm - $10 ahead / $13 day of

Looking ahead: December 30 and 31: moe. at The Palace
Jam in the new year. 7:30 pm / 8 pm - $35 / $45
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To do list

1. Spend time with family and friends.

2. If you're thinking about going out for New Year's Eve, it's time to nail down those plans.

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!

image: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment