All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Yep, it's a special day today -- a day for celebrating, cherishing your loved ones. Because... it's the start of President's Day weekend. (What? Is there some other significance to February 14?)

To celebrate, we're giving you a bouquet of things to do. Clip them, arrange them, put them in water. (OK, that might be taking things a little too far, but you get the idea.)

Got something planned this weekend that we haven't mentioned here? Drop it in the comments so the rest of us can see. And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

Flurry
The annual Flurry dance and music festival is going on all weekend in Saratoga Springs. Music, dancing, workshops and discussions at venues all around the city. Here's the full schedule. Friday-Sunday. Various prices.

Theater

Caroline or Change
Schenectady Light Opera presents the regional premier of Caroline or Change -- Tony Kushner's award-winning musical set in Louisiana in 1963. It's a fascinating story of an African-American maid working for a Jewish family, based on an incident in Kushner's own youth. We caught this show last week. In a word, it's fantastic. Here's a clip that will give you a little taste. Friday & Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2pm - $18/$22/$28

Boeing Boeing
Albany Civic presents the comedy Boeing Boeing, a farce about how an improved, faster Boeing jet interferes with the romantic life of a swinging 60s bachelor involved with three stewardesses. Friday & Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 3 pm - $15 / $10 students / government employees (with a valid ID) can get 2 tickets for $15

American Idiot
Friday: Green Day's American Idiot at The Palace. It's the stage musical based on Green Day's American Idiot album. 8 pm - $35 and up

Witness for the Prosecution
Agatha Christie's classic courtroom mystery Witness for the Prosecution continues this weekend at Home Made Theater in Saratoga. Friday & Saturday at 8 pm - $23 & $29

Lake George Winter Carnival
It's weekend three of the Lake George Winter Carnival. Events this weekend include ATV ice races, a scavenger hunt, giant kite flying on the ice, glacier golf, an ice diving demonstration, fireworks over the lake and a bonfire. The carnival runs every weekend in February. Here's the schedule of events.

Capital Region Wine Festival
Saturday: Proctors is hosting the Capital Region Wine Festival, with a blues brunch, a grand tasting, an auction, and more. 11 am to 4 pm - prices vary based on event package

Mac & Cheese
Saturday: The annual timesunion.com/Table Hopping Mac-n-Cheese Bowl at the Albany Marriott. Restaurants and home cooks will be competing to make the best mac-n'cheese. And, of course, there will be samples. It's a benefit for the Regional Food Bank. 11:30 am-2:30 pm - $20 adults / $5 kids, tickets available at Price Chopper

Film

Lovely to Look at
Friday: The NYS Writers Institute's classic film series presents Lovely to Look at, Mervyn LeRoy and Vincent Minelli's remake of the 1935 Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers musical. Friday 7:30 pm, UAlbany downtown campus, Page Hall - free

"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya..."
The Princess Bride is the Movies and Mimosa and the Insomnia Theater film this weekend at the Saratoga Bow Tie Cinema. You can also catch it for free at the Ballston Spa High School auditorium as part of the Ballston Spa Film Festival's monthly classic film series on Saturday night at 6:45.

Romeo and Juliet
The Spectrum is screening Orlando Bloom's Broadway debut as Romeo in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Sunday at noon

Original/remake
The Madison is screening Cape Fear and Scarface this weekend. The originals and the remakes. various times

Comedy

Theatersports
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.

Gender Defenders
The Gender Defenders are four comics -- two men and two women -- performing stand-up based on relationships, love and life. Friday at Proctors 8pm, Saturday at the Palace, 8pm - $25 advance/$30 day of

Burlesque
Saturday: The Bing Bamboo Room Burlesque is performing at Red Square. Saturday 8pm - $15

Music

Friday: Darius Rucker at TU Center
The guy from Hootie, gone country. With: Eli Young Band, David Nail. 7 pm - $50.50 and up

Friday: Super 400 at Putnam Den
Rock, returned. 9:30 pm - $8

Friday: Yarn at Red Square
Alt country. 8 pm - $10

Friday: ACJW at Zankel Center
Ensemble of rising classical professional musicians. 8 pm - $8

Friday: A Valentine's Day Concert of Beatles Love Songs at The Egg
Regional artists celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Beatle's arrival in the US. 7:30 pm - free, but ticket required

Saturday: Steve Earle at Helsinki Hudson
Alt country before the label. 9 pm - $55 ahead / $60 day of

Saturday: The Fab Faux at The Egg
Beatles tribute act. 7:30 pm - $35 and up

Saturday: Burning Spear at MASS MoCA
"Legendary reggae concert so hot you'll see smoke." 8 pm - $22 ahead / $27 day of / $18 students

Sunday: Jane Monheit + Frank Vignola at The Egg
Jazz vocalist and guitarist. 7:30 pm - $29.50

Black History Month Step Show
Sunday: The annual Black History Month Step Show is at The Palace. Event blurbage:

Stepping is truly something that needs to be seen to be fully appreciated, the quick moves and split second changes showcase just how much time and energy is put into the choreography. Beyond its entertainment value, the event is also highly educational as it relates to the concepts and themes of identity, culture, environment and society and their role in why these organizations came about and why they still exist today.

The step show features teams from UAlbany, Siena, and Saint Rose. 5 pm - $15

Annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show & Sale
The New York State Museum is hosting its annual annual James Campbell Memorial Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show & Sale this weekend. Guided tours of the museum's mineral gallery and more than 25 vendors selling gems, jewelry, minerals and fossils.Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5pm - $5 / under 12 free

Museums

Date Night at MASS MoCA
Friday: MASS MoCA is open late on Valentine's Day for "Date Night." You can tour the galleries, make a hand-made Valentine's Day gift, and have a candlelit dinner in the café. Friday 8pm to 10pm

Free admission at the Albany Institute
The Albany Institute of History and Art is waiving its admission fees on Monday in honor of the President's Day holiday.

Butterflies
The indoor butterfly house is open this weekend at MiSci.

Jewels of the Sea
The Jewels of the Sea exhibit is open this weekend at Discovery Hall in Troy. More than 800 species and 1000 variations of seashells. Saturday and Monday 10 am to 4pm, Sunday noon to 4pm

I Wrote You A Love Letter
Collerworks Gallery is opening a new exhibit called I Wrote You a Love Letter. It's a collection of love letters by artist Jordan Baker "exploring love and expectations." The exhibit consists of love letters Baker writes to people in her daily life: coworkers, acquaintances, friends, professors. opening reception Friday from 6pm to 10pm

Hikes

Full moon night hike
The Huyck Preserve is holding a full moon night hike on Saturday. hike starts at the Eldridge Research Center and goes from 8 pm to 9:30 pm - free admission

Moonlit Snowshoe
We got plenty of snow this week, just in time for Thacher State Park's moonlit snowshoe. Snowshoes are available to rent for $5. Saturday 6 pm - registration is required, (518) 872-0800

Hockey
The Albany Devils are at home at the TU Center on Friday night at 7 pm, and Saturday night at 5pm.

Albany Curling Club Open House
The Albany Curling Club is hosting an open house this weekend. Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from noon to 4pm - Free.

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

Skating Under the Lights
Every Friday night you can ice skate under the lights in Schodack Island State Park. Weather permitting, check before you go. 5 pm to 8 pm - free, skate rentals are available for $2

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).

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