All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

This time of year can fill you with the urge to hibernate.

There's nothing wrong with a little hibernation, but for those of you looking for something to do, we've compiled a list after the jump. Doing something you don't see listed here? Share it in the comments.

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

Roller Derby
Saturday: The Albany All Stars have their first bout of 2015 at the Washington Avenue Armory. Doors at 6 pm, bout at 7 pm - $10 ahead / $12 day of / kids under 12 $4.

Real Life: The Improv
Friday: In The Mop & Bucket Improv's latest format, Real Life: The Improv, improvisors create songs, and scenes based on the life of a Capital Region celebrity. This week's guest is local playwright/actor/director Jeremy Buchner. Underground at Proctors. Friday 8pm - $14

Waiting to Happen Cabaret
Friday/Saturday: Brandon Jones, Dashira Cortes and a cast of other very talented musicians perform Waiting to Happen, a cabaret to benefit St. Jude's Hospital, at Proctors. Friday and Saturday 7:30 pm - $10 donation at the door

Movies

The Throwaways
Saturday: Proctors is screeningThe Throwaways, local filmmaker Bhawin Suchak and local activist Ira McKinley's documentary about how people in many inner city communities, especially African-American men, have become marginalized by race, the criminal justice system, and economics -- and the challenges and frustrations that result. Saturday 7 pm - $10 / $7 students

New releases
It's prestige movie season. Into the Woods, Selma, and a host of other feature films are playing locally. Catch them before the Oscar nominees are announced next week.

"Why'd it have to be snakes"
The Bow Tie in Saratoga is screening Raiders of the Lost Arc on Friday and Saturday night at 11:30, and Saturday and Sunday mornings at 11:30.

Love is Strange
Friday/Sunday: The Saratoga Film Forum is screening Love is Strange. Alfred Molina and Jon Lithgow play a married gay couple forced to live apart. Friday 7:30 pm / Sunday 3 pm

Hop-A-Long Cassidy
Sunday: Proctors is screening the original Hop-A-Long Cassidy. Sunday at 2:30 pm - free.

Hockey
The Albany Devils are at home against Hershey on Friday at 7pm, and they take on Bridgeport Saturday at 5pm.

Hoops
Sunday: The Siena men's basketball team takes on Fairfield at the Times Union Center. Sunday 2 pm - $10 and up

Curling
Saturday/Sunday: The Albany Curling Club is hosting an open house this weekend. Learn to curl or just watch. Wear clean sneakers and warm, loose fitting clothes. Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday noon to 4pm

Music

Friday: David Wax Museum at Caffe Lena.
Mexo-Americana combo of Latin rhythms, infectious melodies, and call-and-response hollering. 8 pm - $22 ahead / $24 at door

Friday: The Luster Kings at Helsinki Hudson
Annual Elvis birthday bash. 9 pm - $15

Friday: Midnight Revival Band at Putnam Den.
With AM Bodega and Accents. 9:30 pm - $7

Friday: The Ameros at The Low Beat.
With Soulsky. 8 pm

Friday: Triumph at the Parish Public House
Disco Biscuits tribute band. 8 pm -

Sunday: Sound and Shape at The Madison Theater. Indie/prog rock trio from Tennessee. 7pm - $5

Sunday: The Schenectady Symphony Orchestra at Proctors
"A Festival of Strings." 3 pm - $12 and up

Trains and Toys at miSci
The holidays are over but the model trains and toy exhibit are still running at Museum of Science and Innovation in Schenectady. $6.50-$9.50

Fangirls Night Out
Friday: Earthworld Comics in Albany will be hosting Fangirls Night Out, "An evening for women who want to find out more about comics and for Fan-Girls who don't want boys getting in the way!" The night's featured guest is talented local illustrator and author Jess Fink. (Earlier: Jess Fink has created the best book about Victorian robot sex that we've ever read.) Friday 7-9 pm

Irish Storytelling
Friday: The Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany is hosting the first in a series of Irish storytelling concerts. Dan Berggren and Joe Doolittle tell stories of Irishtown and Adirondack Lore. Friday 7 pm - $10

Museums
It's good time to go museum exploring. The Albany Institute, the State Museum (check out the new Shaker exhibit), The Clark (new building!) MASS MoCA, The Arkell, The Hyde Collection, and the Baseball Hall of Fame are all open this weekend.

Ice skating

Empire State Place
Bundle up and take a spin around the ice skating rink at the Empire State Plaza. The rink is open 11 am-8 pm daily, though it will be closed for maintenance this Friday. Skating is free. Skate rentals are $4 / $3 for kids under 12.

Other options
The city of Albany rink at Swinburne Park is open for the season (see the link for hours). And here's a list of other ice skating spots -- it's a bit out of date, so check before heading out.

Farmers' markets
Winter farmers' markets continue 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 Schenectady Greenmarket will be inside Proctors on Sunday from 10 am-2 pm.
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market will be in Lincoln Baths Sunday from 10 am-3 pm.

The Mop & Bucket Company and miSci advertise on AOA. And AOA is a media sponsor of the ESP ice skating rink.

photo via David Wax Museum