All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Psst. Hey, you. Yes... you. Guess what? It's the weekend.

Yep, at long last your weekend is here, and it's filled with potential. After the jump, a few thoughts on how to fulfill that potential.

Planning something you don't see here? Drop it in the comments so the rest of us can see.

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

Albany Wordfest
Friday/Saturday: The 2015 Albany Word Fest wraps up on Saturday. There's an open mic on Friday at UAG with readings from 7 pm to midnight. Saturday is theWordfest Invitation Slam, in which six teams from all over the Northeast will compete at Steamer 10 in Albany. Saturday 7 pm - $13 in advance / $15 at the door.

Downtown Albany restaurant week
Downtown Albany Restaurant Week wraps up on Friday. Fifteen restaurants will be offering three-course menus for $20.15. (Reservations are a good idea.)

Hudson Valley Hops
Saturday: The Albany Institute of History and Art hosts the 4th annual Hudson Valley Hops event, celebrating the history of brewing and spirit making in the Hudson Valley. Craft beverage and food samples, museum gallery tours. Proceeds benefit the Albany Institute of History and Art. Saturday 4-7 pm - $35 advance / $40 at the door

Albany Games Fest
Friday/Saturday: UAlbany will host a games festival in the uptown campus ballroom this weekend. The event will include board gaming, video games, cosplay, and game vendors. Friday 5 pm to midnight / Saturday 10 am to midnight - $5 for a 1-day pass, $10 for a 2-day pass (RSVP is requested)

Circus
Saturday/Sunday: The Washington Avenue Armory hosts the Garden Brothers Circus this weekend. Saturday and Sunday various times - $8-$28

Tour of the Battenkill
Saturday-Sunday: The Tour of the Battenkill cycling event returns to Washington County. It's the country's largest one-day pro/am cycling race, and there are events both days. Saturday and Sunday various times

Theater

Hamlet
Friday-Sunday: Capital Rep's new production of Hamlet opens in previews this weekend. Friday-Sunday various times -

Beauty and the Beast
Friday-Sunday: A touring production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast continues its four-day run at Proctors. Friday-Sunday various times - $20 and up

The Man Who Came to Dinner
Friday-Saturday: Home Made Theater in Saratoga opens a production of the Kauffman and Hart classic The Man Who Came to Dinner. Friday and Saturday 8 pm - $24-$27

Little Women: The Musical
Friday-Sunday: Not So Common Players presents Little Women: The Musical, based on the classic novel, at the Clifton Park Halfmoon Library. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm - free

Dancing at Lughnasa
Friday-Sunday: Troy Civic presents Dancing at Lughnasa, the award winning memory play about a family of sisters growing up in pre-WWII Ireland. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm - $15

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Sunday: The Adirondack Shakespeare Company presents A Midsummer Night's Dream at the National Museum of Dance. Sunday afternoon at 3 pm - $20 / $17 for students, seniors and veterans / under 12 free

Burlesque

Empire Bosoms
Friday: C. Amanda Boutahorse's Cult Classics is presenting "Empire Bosoms," a burlesque send up of the 90s movie Empire Records, at the The Hangar in Troy. Performers include Persephone Pomme, Noelle Reign, Corkscrew LaTease, C. Amanda Boutahorse, Georgia O'Peach, Tony Stark-Naked, Baby Dead Girl, and Titus Androgynous. Friday 9 pm - $15

Bing Bamboo Room Burlesque
Saturday: The Bing Bamboo Room Burlesque show returns to The Low Beat for two shows (21+) Saturday, doors open at 7pm - $15

Comedy

Paula Poundstone
Saturday: Paula Poundstone brings her stand-up act to Troy Music Hall. Saturday 8 pm - $22

Improvapalooza
Friday: MopCo'sImprovapalooza continues with songs, skits, and games all created in the moment from audience suggestions. Friday 8 pm - $14 / $6 for students and seniors

Improv Jam
Saturday: Mop & Bucket regulars lead an improv jam at which you can come watch others play improv games or give them a try for yourself. Saturday at MopCo World Headquarters (309 Union Street, Schenectady) - $5

Music

Friday: Neutral Milk Hotel at MASS MoCA
The Neutral Milk Hotel. With: Dot Wiggin Band. 8 pm - $36 ahead / $45 day of

Friday: Over the Rhine at Helsinki Hudson
Folk/indie duo, named after a Cincinnati neighborhood. 9 pm - $20 ahead / $25 day of

Friday: Caroline Rose at The Linda
"[R]oots in rockabilly, vintage country, and blues." With: Henry's Rifle. 8 pm - $15

Friday: Northern Faces at The Hollow
Album release show. With: Stellar Young, Royal Tongues. 9 pm - $15

Saturday: ASO + Time for Three at The Palace
"[G]enre-crossing, dynamic classical string trio." 7:30 pm - $19 and up

Saturday: Seth Glier at The Linda
Folk pop. 8 pm - $15

Saturday: Brooks Williams at Proctors
Acoustic guitar. With: Beacoup Blue. 7:30 pm - $22 ahead / $24 day of

Sunday: Waka Flocka Flame at Upstate Concert Hall
Rap. With: King Flee, AMJ, Austin Watts. 8 pm - $20 ahead / $23 day of

Sunday: Engelbert Humperdinck at The Palace
He was born Arnold George Dorsey. 3 pm - $36 and up

Film

Super Troopers
Saturday: It Came from Schenectady presents a screening of Super Troopers , Broken Lizard's breakout film about a group of wacky Vermont State Troopers. As with all ICFS flicks, there will be prizes, drink specials and big comfy couches. Saturday, 8 pm - $9 / $6 students

North by Northwest
Saturday: The Ballston Spa Film Festival monthly classic this weekend is North by Northwest, the Hitchcock classic starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. The film is being shown at the Ballston Spa High School auditorium. Saturday 6:45 pm - free

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuce
Friday-Sunday: The Bow Tie Cinema in Saratoga springs is screening Beetlejuce for its Friday and Saturday night Insomnia Classic and its Saturday and Sunday morning Movies and Mimosa film.

Nobody Knows
Friday: The NYS Writers' Institute's classic film series presents the Japanese film Nobody Knows, about a young boy who raises his siblings in a Tokyo apartment after their mother abandons them. Friday at 7:30 pm at Page Hall on the UAlbany downtown campus - free

A View from the Bridge
Sunday: The Spectrum is screening a recording of the National Theater Live stage production of Arthur Miller's A View From The Bridge. Sunday at noon - $15 / $12 for kids

"Life is like a box of chocolates..."
The Madison Theater is screening the Tom Hanks classic Forest Gump this weekend.

Drive-ins
The drive-in theaters start to open this weekend. Here's what's playing:

+ Hollywood: Paul Blart Mall Cop 2, Insurgent

+ Malta: Screen 1 - Furious 7 and Unfriended /Screen 2 - Home and Paul Blart 2

Underground Railroad Conference
Friday-Sunday: This weekend the Sage Troy campus will host the 14th annual Underground Railroad Conference. "Breaking Free: Civil War, Emancipation and Beyond" features a a teachers workshop, a bus tour of Albany's Underground Railroad locations, and talks by nationally-renowned speakers. Friday through Sunday

Sunday Soiree for Earth Day
Sunday: Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs is hosting an Earth Day celebration with music. Sunday 2-5 pm - $25 in advance / $30 at the door / kids are free

Toy Show
Sunday: The Holiday Inn on Wolf Road hosts the Capital District Toy Show. Toys, comic books, and collectibles of all kinds. Sunday 10am to 5pm - $5-$10

Am I On?
Sunday: Partners for Albany Stories (PASt) is hosting a first-come, first-tell open mic event at the Shaker Heritage Society to share your Albany stories. Stories can be up to ten minutes long and will be recorded for preservation at the Albany Public Library. Sunday 2 pm - free

Hockey
Saturday: The Albany Devils take on Hartford at the TU Center in their last regular some home game. Saturday 5 pm - $14 to $27

Museums

Butterflies
This is the final weekend to check out miSci's butterfly exhibit. It's an indoor butterfly house with brilliantly colored native butterflies. free with museum admission

Babe Ruth in Albany
Sunday: Baseball author and historian Frank M. Keetz will be at the Albany Institute of History and art to discuss Babe Ruth. While you are there you can check out the Triple Play exhibit. Sunday 2 pm - free with museum admission.

Earlier:
+ Day trip: Glens Falls and the Hyde Collection
+ Day trip: Williamstown and the Clark

Spring wildflower walk
Sunday: The Huyck Preserve and Biological Field Station is hosting its first wildflower walk of the season with naturalist Chris Schiralli. Sunday 10 am - $5 suggested donation

Food

My Big Fat Greek Dinner
Friday: Market Bistro is offering a class in Greek cuisine influenced by season and geography. Friday at 6pm - $55

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 College of Saint Rose, The Mop & Bucket Company, Troy Music Hall and miSci advertise on AOA.

photo: Matthew Murphy