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 snow), to movies, to cooking, to all sorts of holiday stuff, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Cloudy and rainy. Maybe a thunderstorm (?!) in the evening. Upper 50s.

Tuesday: Cloudy and rainy. Mid 50s.

Wednesday: Sunny and upper 40s..

Thursday: Cloudy, maybe some rain. Upper 40s.

Friday: Some sun, mid 40s.

Weekend: Some sun, mid 30s.

It's not snow.

Movies

A Christmas Story
Monday: The Palace movie series is screening A Christmas Story. Monday 7 pm - $5 / $3 kids

The Martian
Monday: Proctors is showing The Martian on in the GE Theater. It's a fun movie, and it should look great on the really big screen in that theater. (It also screen on Friday at 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm.) Monday 1 pm / 4 pm / 7 pm - $5

It's a Wonderful Life
Friday: The Palace is screening It's a Wonderful Life. If you're going to catch this film in a theater, big, old movie house like the Palace is a good place. Friday 7 pm - $5 / $3 kids

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Tuesday-Sunday: Capital Rep's production of A Christmas Story, The Musical continues this week. It's a stage adaptation of the movie. Tuesday-Sunday various times - $20 and up

License to Quill

Thursday: Albany-based writer Giacomo Calabria -- AKA, Jacopo della Quercia -- will be at the Albany Institute to read from and talk about his new book License to Quill, "a page-turning James Bond-esque spy thriller starring William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe during history's real life Gunpowder Plot." Thursday 6 pm - free admission

Earlier on AOA: Altering history with Jacopo Della Quercia

Holiday stuff

Some holiday-themed events this week...

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: Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) at The Linda
"Instead of performing Charles Dickens' beloved holiday classic for the umpteenth time, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told...plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to topical pop-culture, and every carol ever sung. A madcap romp through the holiday season!" A Confetti Stage production. 7:30 pm - $15

Friday: Be the Light: Songs for the Christmas Season with the Jamcrackers at Old Songs
Folk holiday concert. 8 pm - $20 / $5 12 and under

Saturday: West Point Jazz Knights at The Linda
Annual big band holiday concert. 7 pm - free (reservation required, and it's filled up in years past)

Saturday: The Puppet People present A Christmas Carol at Old Songs
"This puppet spectacular features beautiful handcrafted marionettes, shadow puppets, gorgeous masks, lavish costumes, vivid sets, a professional soundtrack that includes many holiday favorites, a giant 9-foot parade puppet and guaranteed smiles!" 2 pm - $15 / $10 12 and under

Saturday: Holiday Folk Show at Caffe Lena
"The time when festive folks across the region come to Caffe Lena to enjoy a 'Candlemas-Hanukkah-Ramadan-Solstice-Christmas-Kwanzaa-New Year-Boxing Day-Epiphany Event.'" 8 pm - $20 / $10 kids and students

Saturday: Magpie and Kim & Reggie Harris: Sing Solstice at Proctors
Eighth Step show of holiday music. 7:30 pm - $24 and up

Saturday: Albany Berkshire Ballet performance of The Nutcracker at The Egg
40th anniversary show. 1:30 pm / 5:30 pm - $25 and up

Saturday-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. December 19 at 2 pm and 7 pm / December 20 at 2 pm - $20 / free for kids 12 and under

Cooking

It can be fun to take a cooking class this time of year. A few this week:

Japanese soups
Monday: Yasuo and Kathy Saso are leading a demo class at Different Drummer's about making Japanese soups -- full moon clear soup, udon or soba noodle soup, miso soup. 6 pm - $65

Christmas breads
Tuesday: Gio Culinary Studio has a hands-on class about making Christmas breads, including panettone, stollen, chocolate babka, and potica. Tuesday 6:15 pm - $60

French classics
Wednesday: Deanna Fox will be at Different Drummer's for a demo class on French classics -- "Join us to make delights such as:soupe a l'oignon (onion soup), gourgeres (cheese puffs), quiche Lorraine (egg pie with ham and cheese), salade Nicoise (cold salad), boeuf bourguignon (beef stew), tarte tatin (apple tart), and creme brulee (a custardy dessert)." 6 pm - $65

Couples Christmas dinner
Friday: Gio Culinary Studio has a hands-on cooking class for couples about making Christmas dinner. "Students Couples will learn how to make a spectacular, complete Christmas dinner, using all scratch ingredients along with professional and traditional techniques that are easily duplicated at home." 6 pm - $120

Holiday classics
Friday: Deanna Fox will be at Different Drummers for a demo class about holiday classics. "Together, we'll learn to make buche de Noel, sticky buns, savory palmiers, citrus salad, roasted chestnuts, glazed ham, sweet potato souffle, and figgy pudding, plus a bit of history behind each dish." Friday 6 pm - $65

Music

Monday: A Wilhelm Scream at The Low Beat
Melodic hardcore. With: Pears, Nine Votes Short. 7:30 pm

Wednesday: Squeeze at Troy Music Hall
New wave veterans, acoustic. 8 pm - $35 and up

Thursday: Elise Testone at The Hollow
From American Idol. With: Brian Lapoint and the Joints. 9 pm - $12 ahead / $15 day of

Thursday: Fuel at Upstate Concert Hall
Alt rock. With: Red Sun Rising. 8 pm - $15 ahead / $18 day of

Friday: Old Dominion at Upstate Concert Hall
Country. 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

Friday: Heather Maloney at Caffe Lena
Singer/songwriter. 8 pm - $18

Friday: Gratefully Yours featuring Vinnie Amico from moe. at The Hollow
"[A] revolving All Star line up of Grateful Dead inspired musicians." 10 pm - $10 ahead / $12 day of

Saturday: The Matt and Kim show at Upstate Concert Hall is sold out.

Sunday: Club d'Elf with John Medeski at Helsinki Hudson
"[A] Moroccan-dosed dub-jazz collective featuring a constellation of top musicians." 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of
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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!

The Troy Music Hall, Helsinki Hudson, and Cap Rep on AOA.

photo: Capital Rep