All Over Albany

The week ahead

Here are a few things to keep in mind, look forward to, or keep busy with this week, from the weather (not bad), to ongoing holiday-ing, to Hanukkah, to words, to cooking, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Sunny, upper 30s.

Tuesday: Cloudy, maybe some rain in the afternoon, changing to snow in the evening. 40.

Wednesday: Maybe rain and snow to start, then switching to rain. Low 40s.

Thursday: Cloudy, mid 30s.

Friday: Sunny, mid 30s.

Weekend: Sunny to start, maybe some snow to end. Mid 30s.

Not bad for December.

Hanukkah

The Jewish holiday Hanukkah begins at sunset on Tuesday and runs through sundown on December 24. Hanukkah commemorates the re-dedication of the temple in Jerusalem in 165 BCE, and a miracle in which a supply of oil only large enough to burn for one night lasted for eight -- thus the eight nights of Hanukkah. Another tradition that comes out of the miracle of the oil: Hanukkah foods often includes things that are fried (and delicious) -- jelly-filled donuts and latkes. More Hanukkah fun: spinning the dreidel.

Holiday stuff

Onward it goes.

Monday: Cirque Dreams Holidaze at The Palace
"[I]t's a cirque show...Broadway musical...holiday spectacular...and family show all in one." 7 pm - $28 and up

Tuesday: Scrooged screening at The Palace
The 1988 take on A Christmas Carol starring Bill Murray. 7 pm - $5 / $3 kids

Thursday-Sunday: Melodies of Christmas at Proctors
Annual holiday concerts featuring the Empire State Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorale. various times - $15 and up

Friday: It's a Wonderful Life screening at The Palace
The classic film screened in the old movie palace. 3 pm / 7 pm - $5 / $3 kids

Friday: Nick Lowe's Quality Holiday Revue at The Egg
"[T]he show will feature a few brand-new Christmas Classics from 2013's "Quality Street" as well as careful selections from his back catalog of hits and near misses." 8 pm - $35

Saturday: Albany Berkshire Ballet performance of The Nutcracker
40th anniversary show. 1:30 pm / 5:30 pm - $38 / $25 12 and under

Sunday: Production of A Charlie Brown Christmas at The Palace
"The classic animated television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas comes to life in this faithful stage adaptation where Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the other Peanuts grapple with the real meaning of Christmas." Presented by the Park Playhouse. 7 pm - $20 / $10 kids

Words

Front Parlor
Monday: The Front Parlor storytelling series is back at the Olde English in Albany. This month's theme: cash money. Monday 7:30 pm

Nitty Gritty
Tuesday: The Nitty Gritty Poetry Slam will be at The Low Beat for its annual Dead Poet Slam. "For this special edition of NGS, you HAVE to read another poets work. And that poet has to be dead. In the past couple of years that we have held this special slam, we have seen some incredible performances from local spoken word artists channeling deceased poets and writers." Tuesday 8 pm (sign up at 7 pm, open mic at 7:30 pm) - $5

The Secret Garden

This is the last week for Capita Rep's production of Tony Award-winning musical The Secret Garden. Reviews have called the production "intimate and immediate" and "appealing." various times - $20 and up

Cooking classes

It's cold outside, so it's a good time of year to stay warm in the kitchen. A few classes this week:

Seed catalogs
Monday: OK, not a cooking class, but we'll tuck it in here -- Honest Weight is hosting a class with farmer Rebeka Rice about seed catalogs. "If you love looking through seed catalogs and planning your garden, but can't tell which seeds or seed companies offer the best value, this class is for you. Farmer Rebekah Rice will lead you through a basic tutorial on deciphering your best choices." Monday 6 pm - free (registration required)

Holiday classics
Tuesday: The one and only Deanna Fox will be at Different Drummer's Kitchen leading a hands-on class about holiday classics: Buche de Noel, sticky buns, savory palmiers, citrus salad, roasted chesnuts, glazed ham, sweet potato souffle, and figgy pudding. Tuesday 6 pm - $65

Sweet Christmas breads
Tuesday: Gio Culinary Studio has a hands-on class about making Christmas breads from a different cultures: panetone, stolen, chocolate babka, potica. Tuesday 6:15 pm - $65

Feast of the Seven Fishes
Wednesday: Market Bistro has a class about the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional Christmas Eve meal: Salt Cod Fritters, Clams Casino. Steamed Mussels in Saffron Vermouth Broth, Four Fish Stew with Leeks and Pancetta. Wednesday 6 pm - $65

Christmas cookies
Thursday: Gio Culinary Studio has a hands-on class about making Italian Christmas cookies: snow balls, anginetti (lemon drop cookies), spiced chocolate biscotti, amaretti. Thursday 6:15 pm - $65

Music

Tuesday: Buckcherry at Upstate Concert Hall
Rock. With: Charm City Devils, Frank Palangi, One Day Waiting. 7:30 pm - $20 ahead / $23 day of

Thursday: Matisyahu at Upstate Concert Hall
Annual Hanukkah tour. With: Judith Hill. 8 pm - $20 ahead / $22 day of

Thursday: Midnight Society at The Low Beat
With: Olivia Quillio, Crescente. 8 pm - $5

Friday: Robert DeLong at Putnam Den
EQX holiday show. 9 pm - $17 ahead / $20 day of

Friday: The Figgs at The Low Beat
Holiday tradition. With: Blockhouses. 8 pm - $10

Saturday: The Figgs at Putnam Den
Another holiday tradition. With: Blockhouses. 9 pm - $10

Saturday: Marco Benevento at Parish Public House
Multi-instrumentalist. 8 pm - $12 ahead / $15

Saturday: Driftwood at Caffe Lena
Folk rock. 8 pm - $18

Sunday: Jewmongous at Caffe Lena
"[Sean] Altman, who writes hilarious and irreverent acoustic rock songs about being Jewish, founded Rockapella and led that group through its heyday years on the Emmy-winning PBS-TV series "Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?", for which Altman co-wrote the famous theme song." 7 pm - $18

To do list

1. Holiday stuff.

2. Try to make some time for family and friends.

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These are a just a few things for this week, not a comprehensive list. Know of something people should be looking forward to this week? Please share!

Cap Rep and HWFC advertise AOA.

photo via Cirque Dreams Holidaze