All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Well, if you like cold winter weekends, you're in for a treat, with snow showers and highs in the 20s. If that news makes you want to hibernate, we won't judge. But if you're looking to get out and do something, our list of things to do this weekend is after the jump. Everything from hockey to burlesque to a one-man Lord of the Rings.

Doing something you don't see on our list? Drop it in the comment section. And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend!

One actor to rule them all
Friday-Sunday: Charles Ross -- of the One Man Star Wars Trilogy -- will be back at Proctors with... One Man Lord of the Rings. From a 2012 San Jose Mercury review: "Watching the affable actor bop from hobbits to elves is a bit like watching an over-caffeinated toddler re-enact his favorite cartoon. You don't get all of the details, but you get the gist, and it's all terribly endearing." Friday-Sunday various times - $25

Theater

The Mountaintop
The Mountaintop, Katori Hall's fictional play about the last night in the life of Martin Luther King Jr, continues this weekend at Capital Rep. Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 3pm & 8pm, Sunday at 2pm - $20-$60

Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure
Schenectady Civic presents the last great case of Sherlock Holmes and Watson this weekend. Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2:30pm. $15

Good People
Curtain Call Theater presents David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm - $23

Film

Grant, Stewart, Hepburn -- you betcha
The Movies and Mimosa film at the Bow Tie in Saratoga this week is The Philadelphia Story, starring Carey Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn. Saturday and Sunday morning at 11am - $5.50 tickets, $2 mimosa

The Saratoga Bow Tie's Insomnia Theater Series continues this week with Fargo. Friday and Saturday at 11:30 pm

"That rug really tied the room together..."
The Madison is screening The Big Lebowski this weekend. Friday through Sunday at 9:30 pm

Oscar season
A number of the Best Picture nominees are playing locally, in case you want to see them before the Oscars and decide for yourself.

Comedy

Theater Sports
The Mop & Bucket Company is back at Proctors Underground on Friday night with their TheaterSports competition -- where teams of improvisors compete based on audience suggestions. Think, Whose Line is it Anyway? Friday at 8pm - $14, $6 students and seniors

David Shine Presents: Laughs By The Pound
David Shine started out doing stand-up in Albany and has since taken his act to New York City, where he's opened for comedians such as Amy Schumer and Judah Freidlander. He brings his act back to Albany Saturday. 8 pm - $12.

Improv for everyone
MopCo is holding a master class on using improv to boost creativity with award-winning Broadway performer/director Michael Rock. Saturday morning from 10am to noon. $30.

Union vs. RPI
Saturday: The men's hockey teams for #6 Union and RPI face off at the TU Center for Mayor's Cup. Saturday 7:30 pm - $15 / $10 students and kids

Devils Hockey
The Albany Devils take on the Adirondack Phantoms on Saturday at 2 pm at the TU Center and Binghamton on Sunday at 3pm.

Music

Friday: Garland Jeffreys at The Linda
Veteran rock singer/songwriter. 8 pm - $18

Friday: Black Mountain Symphony at The Hollow
With: The Lucky Jukebox Brigade, Accents.

Saturday: The J Roddy Watson show at The Hollow is sold out.

Saturday: The Stepkids at MASS MoCA
Psychedelic. 8 pm - $12 ahead / $16 day of / $10 students

Saturday: Vance Gilbert at Caffe Lena
Folk/soul singer/songwriter. With: Kayla Ringelheim. 8 pm - $18

Saturday: Old Songs Sampler Concert
Acts playing bluegrass, traditional Irish, reel and jug, and other styles of music. A benefit for the 2014 Old Songs Festival. 8 pm - $20 / $5 for kids 12 and under

Sunday: Zach Deputy at Helsinki Hudson
"Island-infused drum n' bass gospel ninja soul." 8 pm - $18

Burlesque

Bing Bamboo Room
The Bing Bamboo Room brings its burlesque show to Red Square on Friday night. doors open at 8pm, show at 9pm - $15

Roxxi Tart's 1920s Speakeasy Revue
Roxxi Tart's 1920s speakeasy-style burlesque and comedy troupe performs on Saturday night at Franklin's Tower. 8pm

Museums

Grand Central
Sunday: The New York Times' Sam Roberts will be at the State Museum to talk about Grand Central Station, including the "conception, amazing history, and the far-reaching cultural effects of the station that continues to amaze tourists and shuttle busy commuters." Roberts is the author of Grand Central: How a Train Station Transformed America. Sunday 2 pm, Huxley Theater - free

The Wandering Veil
MASS MoCA just opened an exhibit of the works of Izhar Patkin. The mural-sized paintings on tulle fabric were inspired by Kashmiri-American poet Agha Shahid Ali's writings on memory, love, loss and exile. Here's more on the exhibit from the Boston Globe.

Pyramids, mummies and magic
The Albany Institute of History and Art has a lecture on Sunday afternoon by Egyptology professor Lanny Bell, of the University of Chicago. The lecture is part of The Mystery of the Albany Mummies exhibition. Bell will discuss how the Egyptians dealt with life and with death. Sunday 2pm - free with museum admission

Winter Festival and Ice Fishing Contest
Saturday: Grafton Lake State Park hosts its annual Winter Festival and Ice Fishing Contest. Snow sculpture and snowball-throwing contests for the kids, horse-drawn sleigh rides, animal exhibits and recreational workshops. There's also an ice fishing contest and a polar plunge. Saturday 10 am to 4pm

Chili Bowl Fundraiser
The annual Chili Bowl Fundraiser is this Saturday at the Saratoga Clay Arts Center. Chefs will serve up over 1,000 bowls of chili. Buy a bowl and sample. (The 11-noon time slot is already sold out. You can reserve a spot and a bowl on the website.) 11 am to 4pm - $15

Wurstfest
Saturday: The German-American Club of Albany is hosting Wurstfest -- the "Wurst Night of the Year" -- a night of German food, music and dancing. doors open at 4pm, dinner starts at 5pm - $20

Coffee
The Capital Region Coffee Collective is hosting a "Coffee Brew Method Exploration" session at Healthy Living Market in Wilton to show how different brewing methods can change the flavor of coffee. noon to 2 pm

Pond Hockey Tournament
It's too late to sign up to play in the Saratoga Frozen Classic Pond Hockey Tournament, but you can fill up a thermos with hot chocolate and go watch. Friday through Sunday in Saratoga Spa State Park

Ice skating
The ice skating rink on the ESP has a very high fun:cost ratio. It's open all weekend from 11 am to 8 pm, weather permitting -- be sure to check before heading out. $4 adults / $3 kids / free on Friday

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 and MopCo advertise on AOA.

photo: One Man LOTR