All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

The good news, we're pushing 51 degrees this weekend. The bad news -- gray and rainy. But hey, it's not snow.

After the jump, a few thoughts on how to enjoy the weekend. Doing something that's missing from our list? Add it in the comments for everyone to see. And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

Troy Night Out
It's the 1st Troy Night Out of the season. Here are a few of the things you might want to check out in the Collar City on Friday night:
+ 1st Playable is giving a tour of its game studio located in an 1800s ballroom. You can try the latest games and check out the interactive Minecraft exhibit.
+ Tours and kids workshops at the Tech Valley Center of Gravity.
+ Circus skills demonstration in Monument Square.
+ A scavenger hunt at the Rensselaer County Historical Society
+ Collar Works on River Street is opening Robin Arnold's Botany / 808. "Inspired by botanical phenomena, from the hidden dynamics of a tiny seed to larger ecosystems."

And here's the complete schedule of events.

Food

Night at the Brewseum
Friday: The Friends of the NYS Military Museum in Saratoga are hosting a Night at the Brewseum with samples of beer, wine and food from local vendors. Friday 6 pm to 9:30 pm - $35

Moveable Feast
Historic Albany's Moveable Feast is this Saturday night. It's a dinner party where guests are taken to the homes of surprise hosts for a gourmet meal with other unknown dinner guests. The dinners are all sold out, but tickets to the pre and post event receptions at Albany Law School (5 pm to 6:30 pm / 8:30 pm to 10 pm) are still available for $50.

Jewish Food Festival
Sunday: Congregation Gates of Heaven in Schenectady is hosting a Jewish Food Festival with traditional and modern gourmet foods. Sunday noon to 3 pm

Outstanding in the Arcade
Sunday: Proctors and the Schenectady Greenmarket are hosting Outstanding in the Arcade, a dinner created by local chefs and food producers. Chefs from Cafe NOLA, Mazzone, and the Chefs Consortium will create hors d'oeuvres, entrees cocktails and dessert using products from local producers. Dinner will be at one long table set up in Proctors arcade. Sunday starting at 3 pm - $65

Film

"Uh-oh the summer nights..."
This week's Movies and Mimosa film at the Bowtie in Saratoga: John Travolta, Olivia Newton John and Stockard Channing in Grease. Saturday and Sunday at 11am - $5 movie and $2 mimosa

Philip Seymour Hoffman Tribute
The Madison is screening four films with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman this weekend: Boogie Nights, Capote, Moneyball and The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Theater

Gypsy
The Sondheim/Arthur Laurents musical based on the life of Gypsy Rose Lee continues this weekend at Capital Rep. The show features Broadway veterans and a number of talented actors from the Capital Region, including Benita Zahn and George Franklin. Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 3 pm and 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Schenectady Light Opera Company continues its production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, about a middle school spelling bee. Here's a trailer and a review. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2 pm - $18-$28 (Saturday's show is followed by a cabaret.)

The Understudy
Schenectady Civic continues its production of The Understudy, a comedy about a movie star and her ex-fiancee who are trying to move into legitimate theater. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2:30

Comedy

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

Music

Friday: Experience Hendrix 2014 at The Palace
"[A] diverse group of musical greats paying homage to the abiding genius of Jimi Hendrix." Including: Dweezil Zappa, Buddy Guy, Bootsy Collins and others. 8 pm - $39.75 and up SOLD OUT

Friday: Moscow Festival Ballet at Proctors
Ballet company formed by a former Bolshoi principal performing Giselle. 8 pm - $20 and up

Friday: Cris Williamson at Proctors
Singer/songwriter/activist. An 8th Step show. 7:30 pm - $26 ahead / $28 day of

Friday: The Lucky Jukebox Brigade at The Low Beat
With: Oobleck. 9 pm

Friday: Joshua Black Wilkins at The Linda
Alt-country/roots. 8 pm - $12

Friday: 80s Dance Party with the Albany All Stars at McGeary's
A dance party fundraiser with the roller derby and DJ Nate Da Great. 9 pm to midnight - $5

Saturday: Action Bronson at Upstate Concert Hall
Rapper/chef. 8 pm - $20 ahead / $22 day of

Saturday: Regina Carter at The Egg
"A violinist with unbridled artistry and imagination." 8 pm - $29.50

Saturday: Sixties Spectacular at Proctors
The Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley, Gary Puckett, The Vogues, The 1910 Fruitgum Company. 7 pm - $39.75 and up

Saturday: Super Sized Sirsy at Putnam Den
Sirsy as a four piece. With: Citizen's Treasure. 9:30 pm - $7

Saturday: Hot Club of Saratoga at Caffe Lena
Gypsy jazz. 8 pm - $15

Saturday: Saint Rose Camerata at The Massry Center
"[C]ontemporary chamber music featuring amplified instruments and works with electronics..." 7:30 pm - free (donations accepted)

Sunday: Luísa Maita at The Sanctuary for Independent Media. Samba and swing. "The new voice of Brazil."7 pm $15.

Sunday: Trio Solisti at Troy Music Hall
"[H]ailed as 'the most exciting piano trio in America'." A Troy Chromatics concert. 3 pm - $25 and up

Sunday: Jake Shimabukuro at The Egg
"[R]egarded as the world's foremost ukulele player." 7:30 pm - $34

Sunday: The Devil Wears Prada at Upstate Concert Hall
Melodic metalcore. With: The Ghost Inside, I Killed The Prom Queen, Dangerkids. 7 pm - $20 ahead / $23 day of

The Loudest Voice in the Room
Saturday: Journalist Gabriel Sherman will be at Northshire Saratoga to talk about his book The Loudest Voice in the Room: How the Brilliant Bombastic Roger Ailes Built Fox News - and Divided a Country (New York Review of Books review). Saturday 7 pm - free

Empire Golf Expo
The links are still frozen, but if you're getting itchy for golf season you can check out the Empire State Golf Expo at the ESP Convention Center this weekend. Reps from golf clubs, courses and resorts, equipment vendors, panels and seminars. $6 Friday noon to 6pm / $8 Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm / under 12 free

Hockey
The Albany Devils are at home this weekend with games Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 3 pm.

Museums and Galleries

MASS MoCA
Saturday is the opening reception for the new spring exhibitions at MASS MoCA: Darren Waterston: Uncertain Beauty,The Dying of the Light: Film as Medium and Metaphor, and In Transit: Between Image and Object. (If you have to RSVP if you'd like to attend the reception itself.)

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

Ice Cream
An easy way to make it feel more like spring: take your umbrella and head to one of the seasonal ice cream stands. Here's the updated list of what's open.

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).

Troy Music Hall, miSci, Saint Rose, Capital Rep and MopCo advertise on AOA. AOA is a media sponsor for the Albany All Stars.

photo: Shawn Morgan