All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

If you haven't done it already, it might be time to break out your winter coat and mittens. Once you're all bundled up, you'll need someplace to go. We've got that part covered.

After the jump our weekly (weekendly?) list of stuff to do. Doing something you don't see here? Drop it in the comment section so everyone can see.

And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

Cesar Millan
Saturday: Dog "whisperer" and television host Cesar Millan will be at Proctors for a live show about "the secrets of happier, healthier relationships between humans and their canine companions." (Millan can be a polarizing figure among dog people -- some think he's a genius, others that he uses techniques that are cruel and ultimately not helpful.) Saturday 8 pm - $20-$85

Literary Legends
Saturday: Amy Biancolli, Paul Grondahl, and William Kennedy will be honored at at "Literary Legends" fundraiser for the Albany Public Library Foundation. The event at the Pine Hills branch of the APL includes a cocktail party with food by Café Capriccio, New World Bistro, Taste and Saati's, wine/beer/soda, a silent auction. Saturday 7pm - $75

Hockey

Union
Friday-Saturday: The #12 Union men's hockey team takes on #20 Quinnipiac Friday night at Messa Rink. And Saturday night it faces Princeton at home. both Friday and Saturday games 7 pm - $12

RPI
Friday-Saturday: The RPI men's hockey team facing the same opponents, just flipped -- the Engineers take on Princeton Friday night at Houston Field House, and then Quinnipiac Saturday night. both Friday and Saturday games at 7 pm - $12

Polar Plunge
Saturday: You can take the Polar Plunge into the chilly waters of Lake George at Shepard Park Beach as part of a fundraiser for Special Olympics -- or just watch others do it. Saturday at noon - online registration / free to observe or cheer on others

Albany Veg Fest
Saturday: Albany Veg Fest is at the Polish Community Center in Albany. The festival includes speakers, cooking demonstrations, food sampling, vendors, and presentations on vegetarian lifestyle. This year's keynote speaker is Will Potter, author of Green Is The New Red: An Insider's Account of a Social Movement Under Siege. Saturday 10 am-5 pm - $5 suggested donation

The Nutcracker Tea
Sunday: SPAC hosts a Nutcracker-themed tea party with excerpts from Northeast Ballet Company's upcoming production of The Nutcracker. (Tickets for the first two performances are "very limited.") Sunday at 10 am / 2:30 pm / 5:30 pm - $70 for adults, $30 for children

Theater

The 39 Steps
Friday-Saturday: Alfred Hitchcock meets Monty Python in this stage take on the mystery film The 39 Steps at Albany Civic Theater. Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 3pm

A Steady Rain
Friday-Saturday: Creative License and the Albany Barn present Keith Huff's play A Steady Rain -- a crime drama loosely based on the Jeffrey Dahmer incident -- this weekend at the Barn. Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm - $15

Comedy

Theater Sports
Friday: Improv comedy teams compete against each other creating scenes and songs from audience suggestions in the first round of the Mop & Bucket Company's annual Theater Sports competition Underground at Proctors. Friday 8 pm - $14

Make Me Laugh Albany Finals
Saturday: Stand-up comedians from around the Capital Region compete in the semi-finals of the Make Me Laugh competition at The Linda. The winner will be driven to Schenectady to perform at the Comedy's Best Kept Secret show at Proctors. Saturday 6 pm - $10

Comedy's Best Kept Secret
Saturday: Four nationally-known comedians road trippring through upstate New York make a stop at Proctors for the Comedy's Best Kept Secret show. Saturday 8:30 pm - $15

Music

Friday: The Weight + Sean Rowe at The Massry Center
Playing the music of The Band. 7:30 pm - $25 / $15 students

Friday: Gov't Mule at The Palace
Southern rock. 8 pm - $30 and up

Friday: Hiromi - The Trio Project at The Egg
Multi genre jazz pianist.

Friday: Chris Smither at Helsinki Hudson
Folk/blues. 9 pm - $30

Friday: Mallet Brothers Band at Putnam Den
Alt-country rock. With: The Hollows. 9:30 pm - $10

Friday: Maria Zemantauski's Alegria Quartet at Caffe Lena
Classical guitar. 8 pm - $18

Friday: Homeless and Hunger Outreach Show at The Low Beat and Pauly's
Long lineup of locals. 7 pm - $10 and a can of food

Saturday: Dark Star Orchestra at The Palace
Grateful Dead tribute. 7:30 pm - $33.50

Saturday: St. Lucia at The Hollow
The musician, not the island. 8 pm - $10.27 ahead / $12 day of

Saturday: Yarn/Wire at EMPAC
"Centered around two pianists and percussionists, Yarn/Wire uses a combination of thundering rhythms, unconventional sounds, and precision execution." 8 pm - $18

Sunday: Steve Miller Band at Proctors
Band is now 48 years old. 8 pm - $20 and up

Museums

Shakers
Saturday: The State Museum opens a new exhibit: "The Shakers: America's Quiet Revolutionaries." Blurbage:

The Shakers launched a revolution parallel to the American Colonies' struggle against British rule. As they sought religious freedom in America, their spiritual practices and community focus set them apart from greater society. Their devotional routines as well as their product innovations, marketing acumen and views towards gender equality seemed "revolutionary" to the outside world. Thematically divided into six areas, the exhibit will show how the Shakers' unique model of an equal society challenged the norms of the new nation.

The exhibit is a collaboration with the Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon, Hancock Shaker Village, and the Shaker Heritage Society (Albany), the State Library, and State Archives.

Raptor Rapture: Saturday is "Raptor Rapture" day at the State Museum -- "Visitors can view and enjoy live birds of prey, educational family activities and presentations throughout the museum." Saturday 11 am-4 pm

miSci free Sunday
This Sunday (and every Sunday through January 4) is a GE Kids Get in Free day at miSci.

Bottle show

Sunday: Something a little different that could be interesting: The 18th Annual Capital Region Antique Bottle Show and Sale at the Polish Community Center in Albany. It's organized by the Capital Region Antique Bottle and Insulator Club. Sunday 9 am-2:30 pm - $4

Film

Billy Elliot
Saturday: Regal Crossgates is screening a filmed version of the West End production of Billy Elliot: The Musical. Saturday 12:55 pm

The Big Sleep
Saturday-Sunday: The Bow Tie Cinema in Saratoga Springs continues its Lauren Bacall festival this month with screenings of The Big Sleep on Saturday and Sunday at 11am.

Great Expectations
Friday: The NYS Writers Institute's film series continues this Friday with David Lean's 1946 version of the Dickens classic Great Expectations. Friday 7:30 pm at Page Hall on the UAlbany Downtown Campus - free

Food

The Great Pumpkin
Saturday: Market Bistro is hosting a class on cooking with pumpkin at its teaching kitchen. Saturday 1 pm - $55 / wine and beer will be served

Farmers' Markets
Farmers' markets have moved indoors:
+ The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market will be in the Troy Atrium in downtown Troy Saturday from 9 am-2 pm.
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market will be at the Lincoln Baths on Saturday from 9 am-1 pm.
+ The Delmar Farmers Market will be inside at Bethlehem Central Middle School on Saturday.
+ The Schenectady Greenmarket will be inside Proctors on Sunday.
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market will be in Lincoln Baths Sunday.

Holiday Shopping
Yep, it's getting to be that time. The Holiday Shop at The Arts Center of the Capital Region is now open and some shop owners in Downtown Troy are keeping later hours for the season.

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