All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

The forecast for this weekend may have you breaking out the sunscreen and Bermuda shorts -- but resist the urge. Sure, 40 seems warm when it's been snot freezing cold, but unless you're up for a polar plunge, it's not swimsuit weather.

After the jump, a few things to do on this lovely winter weekend. Got plans you don't see here? You know what to do. Drop them in the comment section so we can all see.

Also: Don't forget to set the clocks forward an hour for daylight savings time before you go to bed on Saturday. (Yes, already.)

And have a fantastic weekend.

1st Friday
It's the last 1st Friday of the winter! Shops and galleries are open late with exhibits and performances. A few things to check out:
+ RADICAL and friends' Coup D'Art exhibit at Upstate Artists Guild.
+ The Albany Institute of History and Art is open late with free admission.
+ The Albany Barn's Stage 1 Gallery is exhibiting works from its youth art contest.
+ The El Dorados are headlining at the Capital Swing Dance at 25 South Allen.
+ Jeff Strange's countdown to Saint Patrick's Day concert starts at 8pm at The University Club.

Theater

Man of La Mancha
When someone says they don't like musicals, and you want to change their mind, you take them to Man of La Mancha. The touring company of La Mancha-- the story of Don Quixote's quest for the impossible dream is making a stop at Proctors this weekend. Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm. $20 - $70.

King Lear
Hubbard Hall in Cambridge presents Shakespeare's King Lear this weekend. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm - $25

Spring Awakening
UAlbany's Theater Department continues its production of Spring Awakening this weekend at the Performing Arts Center on the uptown campus. Friday 7 pm, Saturday 2 pm, Sunday 2 pm - $20 / $18 students and seniors

Figaro
Curtain Call Theater presents Figaro, an adaptation of the sequel to The Barber of Seville. Friday & Saturday 8 pm

The Trojan Women
Classic Theater Guild presents a production of Euripides' The Trojan Women. One of the most popular of the Greek tragedies, it tells the story of the aftermath of the Trojan War. Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2 pm and 7:30 pm

Comedy

Theatersports
The Mop & Bucket Company is back at Proctors Underground on Friday night with its TheaterSports competition -- in which teams of improvisors compete based on audience suggestions. (Think Whose Line is it Anyway?) Friday at 8pm - $14 / $6 students and seniors.

The Irish Comedy Tour
Proctors hosts four Irish American stand-up comedians on the Irish American Comedy Tour. Saturday 7:30 pm - $35

Film

Godzilla and Kaiju
Friday: It Came From Schenectady presents its annual Godzilla double feature at Proctors. This year it's Godzilla Vs. Spacegodzilla and Godzilla Vs. Megaguirus. 7 pm - $9 / $6 students

12 Years a Slave
The Oscar winner for best picture -- 12 Years a Slave, based on the story of Solomon Northup, a man from Saratoga Springs -- is back in some local theaters, including The Spectrum, the Saratoga Springs Bow Tie, the Crossgates Regal, and the Scotia Cinema.

The Spectrum is also screening the Oscar-nominated live action and animated short films this weekend.

Up in the Air
The Writers Institute Classic Film Series is screening Up in the Air, the 2009 Jason Reitman film starring George Clooney as a corporate downsizing expert. (Up in the Air is based on a Walter Kirn novel, and Kirn will be at UAlbany later this month.) Friday at 7:30 pm in Page Hall, on UAlbany's downtown campus - free

The Great Race
The Ballston Spa Film Festival's Classic Film Series continues this weekend with a screening of the 1960 film The Great Race, starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood and Peter Falk. Saturday 6:15 pm in the Ballston Spa High School auditorium - free

Saratoga Trunk
This week's Movies and Mimosa film at the Bow Tie in Saratoga is Saratoga Trunk. A few scenes from this 1945 Gary Cooper/Ingrid Bergman film were filmed in the Spa City. Saturday and Sunday at 11 am - $5.50 tickets / $2 mimosa

"Bring out your dead..."
This weekend's Insomnia Theater flick at the Saratoga Springs Bow Tie -- Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Friday and Saturday night at 11:30 pm

Raiders of the Lost Ark/ Temple of Doom
It's Indiana Jones weekend at The Madison, with screenings of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

It's also Jan Thozomas weekend (the Travoltified name for John Travolta) at the Madison with screenings of Grease and Saturday Night Fever. Various times.

And all that Jazz
The Regal at Crossgates is screening the 2002 film version of the musical Chicago. Sunday 2 pm

Frozen sing-along
If you like Sing-alongs, be advised that the Scotia Cinema is holding Frozen sing-alongs on Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. If you don't like sing-alongs, be advised that the Scotia Cinema is holding Frozen sing-alongs on Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm.

Music

Friday: Deer Tick at The Hollow
Indie rock, back again. With: Toy Soldiers. 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

Friday: Sarah Jarosz at The Egg
Bluegrass singer/songwriter/instrumentalist. 8 pm - $24

Friday: Alexis P. Suter Band at The Linda
Blues vocalist/guitarist. With: Tas Cru. 8 pm - $18

Friday: Session Americana at The Low Beat
Folk/roots rock. 8 pm - $15

Friday: Oliver Mtukduzi at Helsinki Hudson
"A gifted guitarist and soulful vocalist, Oliver Mtukduzi is so renowned in his native land and throughout Southern Africa for his fusion of traditional Zimbabwean music and African funk that his nickname, "Tuku," has been applied to an entire genre of music." 9 pm - $20 ahead / $22 day of

Saturday: Mike Doughty at Helsinki Hudson
Another stop for his "Question Jar Show," if you missed it at The Linda, or want to see him again. 9 pm - $22 ahead / $25 day of

Saturday: Hammer of the Gods at The Egg
"The Led Zeppelin Experience." 8 pm - $34.50 and up

Saturday: Chicha Libre at The Linda
"[M]ade up of French, American, Venezuelan and Mexican musicians who mix up covers of Peruvian Chicha with original songs in French, Spanish and English." 8 pm - $15

Saturday: Conehead Buddha at The Hollow
Still kicking. 8 pm - $10 ahead / $12 day of

Sunday: Schenectady Symphony Orchestra at Proctors
A "Beloved Fables" program. 3 pm - $12 and up / 18 and under free

Hoops

Friday-Monday: The America East conference basketball tournament for both men's and women's teams is at the SEFCU Arena at UAlbany. The winners of the tournament will play in the NCAA tournament. On the women's side, the #1 seed Great Danes play Binghamton Friday at 6 pm. On the men's side, UAlbany plays UMBC Saturday at 2:15 pm. (They'll both play again Sunday if they win.) Note: The men's conference championship game isn't until Saturday, March 14 (because of TV).

Games Fest
The Guild -- UAlbany's gaming club -- hosts its annual Games Fest this weekend, with board games, video games, laser tag, tournaments and cosplay contests. Saturday and Sunday, noon to 9 pm - $5 per day

Russian Winter Festival
Saturday: Russian art, music, crafts and food -- including pancakes and caviar -- at the final day of the annual Russian Winter Festival at Proctors. Noon to 5pm - $6

Adirondack Sports & Fitness Summer Expo
Here's something to get you excited for the warmer weather (if you're not excited enough for warmer weather already): The Adirondack Sports & Fitness Summer Expo at the Saratoga City Center. Over 100 exhibitors with equipment for hiking, travel, running, cycling, paddling and more. Seminars, clinics and a 25-foot rock climbing wall. Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 10 am to 4 pm - free admission

Museums

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

60 from the 60s
The State Museum's 60 from the 60s exhibit, featuring 60 prints from the 1960s by 10 of the most significant photographers of the decade, closes on Sunday. And heads-up -- the NYS Museum will be closed this Saturday.

Kids Expo
The annual Hannaford Kidz Expo is this Saturday at the ESP. Kids activities including theater, tumbling, judo, a Ringling Brothers show, reptile show and more. Saturday 10 am to 5 pm - free admission

Auto Show
Over 160 new cars, trucks and minivans will be on display at the 2014 Albany Auto Show at the TU Center this weekend. Friday 11am to 7pm, Saturday 10 am to 7 pm, Sunday 10 am to 5 pm - $8 / kids 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult

Ice skating

Empire State Plaza
This weekend is your last chance to skate at the ice skating rink on the ESP this season. It's open all weekend from 11 am to 8 pm (closed from 3pm to 4pm) weather permitting -- be sure to check before heading out. Free to skate, skate rental is $4 adults / $3 kids / free on Friday

Schodack Island State Park
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

Soda Bread Competition
Saturday: The Irish American Heritage Museum is hosting its second annual Irish soda bread competition. Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm

Ice cream!
Wait -- ice cream? Yep. It's a harbinger of spring. The Snowman opens on Friday in Troy.

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).

The Mop & Bucket Company, Albany Institute, The Spectrum, and miSci advertise on AOA.