All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Welcome to the weekend. We're so glad you could make it.

After the jump you'll find a fall bounty of stuff to do -- from music and theater to farmers markets and fall festivals.

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

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

Stage

Next Act! New Play Summit 5
Friday-Monday: Capital Rep and Proctors present the annual Next Act! Summit new play festival with readings of new plays. Friday-Monday various times -- $10 day pass / $5 students

An American In Paris
Friday: The national tour of the Broadway musical An American in Paris plays its last performance at Proctors. Friday 8 pm -- $20 and up

Heathers: The Musical
Friday-Sunday: The Local Actors Guild of Saratoga presents Heathers: The Musical -- based on the 1989 film -- at The Saratoga Arts Center. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm -- $20

Sweet Smell of Success
Friday-Sunday: The Not So Common Players present the musical The Sweet Smell of Success, based on the 1957 movie of the same name. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm -- free

Lysistrata
Friday-Sunday: Steamer 10 theater presents Lysistrata, the bawdy Aristophanes comedy about gender relations and anti-war sentiment that was first performed in 411 BC and still resonates today. Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm -- $20 / $10 for seniors

Shrek The Musical
Friday-Sunday: Saratoga's Home Made Theater presents Shrek: The Musical. The show stars some of the region's best talents including Marc Christopher, Brittany Leigh Glenn, and Michael Bellotti. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm -- $26 and $29

Rapture, Blister, Burn
Friday-Sunday: Schenectady Civic Playhouse presents Rapture, Blister, Burn. Friday and Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 2:30 pm -- $20

Peter and the Starcatcher
Saturday-Sunday: Hubbard Hall in Cambridge presents Peter and the Starcatcher, the beautifully-written backstory to Peter Pan. Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 2 pm -- $25 / $10 students

Roxxi Tart's 1920's Burlesque Revue
Saturday: Roxxi Tart's 1920s Burlesque Revue comes to Hudson Harbor House in Albany. Saturday, doors at 7pm, show at 8pm -- $20

Comedy

MopCo's opening night
Saturday: The improv group Mop and Bucket Company hosts its inaugural performance in its brand new theater at 10 North Jay Street in Schenectady. Saturday 8 pm -- $15 / $6 for students and seniors

Eric McMahon
Friday-Saturday: The Comedy Works presents comedian Eric McMahon. Friday and Saturday 8 pm and 10 pm -- various prices

Faizon Love
Friday-Sunday: The Funny Bone at Crossgates presents actor/comedian Faizon Love. Friday-Sunday various times -- $20

Music

Friday: The Suitcase Junket at Helsinki Hudson
One-man band. With: Dupont Brothers. 9 pm -- $15 ahead / $18 day of

Friday: David Scheel in: Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player at Proctors
"With David Scheel's speciality of having fun at the expense of classical music, you'll laugh yourself silly while enjoying beautiful piano music." 7:30 pm -- $27.50

Saturday: Rufus Wainwright at Basilica Hudson
A fundraiser for the venue. 8 pm -- $50 and up

Saturday: Eric Johnson at Cohoes Music Hall
Texas blues. 8 pm -- $42 and up

Saturday: Dirty Heads at Upstate Concert Hall
Reggae. With: New Beat Fund, RDGLDGRN. 8 pm -- $23 ahead / $25 day of

Saturday: Shana Falana at The Hollow
Shoegaze. With: Black Ships, Jouska. 9 pm -- $8

Saturday: Aztec Two-Step at Caffe Lena at The Grove
Folk rock. 7 pm -- $27

Saturday: George Winston at The Egg
"[S]easonal favorites performed in his melodic folk style, as well as some New Orleans R&B, stride piano, and more." 8 pm -- $34.50

Saturday: Harry White, Around the World in 80 Minutes at Massry Center
Saxophonist. 7:30 pm -- free

Sunday: The Lonely Heartstring Band at Universal Preservation Hall
Bluegrass. 7 pm -- $22

Film

Snowpiercer
Friday: The NYS Writers Institute's Classic Film Series is screening Snowpiercer, the 2013 Bong Joon-ho film starring Chris Evans, Ed Harris, John Hur,t Song Kang-ho, and Tilda Swinton. "Based on the French graphic novel, Le Transperceneige, SNOWPIERCER is widely hailed as a classic of the new climate fiction genre ("cli-fi"). Survivors of a future Ice Age live out their lives on a train as it travels in a continuous loop around the globe." The film's screenwriter, Kelly Masterson, will be there for a talk. Friday 7 pm in Page Hall on UAlbany's downtown campus -- free

Threepenny Opera
Sunday: The Spectrum is screening the National Theater's new darkly comic production of Brecht and Weill's Threepenny Opera (the one with Mack the Knife ). Sunday 11 am -- $15

Ghostbusters
Friday-Sunday: The Madison Theater is screening the original Ghostbusters. various times and prices (matinees are .35)

Raina Telgemeier "Ghosts"
Friday: Eisner-winning graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier will be Bethesda Episcopal Church in Saratoga Springs for a Northshire author event. She'll be talking about her new YA book Ghosts. Friday 6 pm -- $17 for one seat and one book / $22 for two seats and one book / $27 for three seats and one book

Hockey

Union
Friday-Saturday: The Union men's hockey team opens its home season Friday with a game against RIT. and then it faces off with Niagara at Messa Rink on Saturday. Friday 7 pm and Saturday 4 pm -- $12

RPI
Friday-Saturday: The RPI men's hockey team is also at home this weekend with the inverse schedule of Union -- against Niagara at Houston Field House Friday, and then a game against RIT on Saturday. Friday 7 pm and Saturday 7 pm -- $12 / $9 kids and seniors

Albany Devils Hockey
Friday-Saturday: The Albany Devils take on Binghamton and Utica in home games this weekend at the TU Center. Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 5 pm -- $19 and up

Fall Festivals

Altamont Fall Festival
Saturday: Altamont's second annual Fall Festival returns to Orsini Park with vendors, crafts, food, music, kids activities and more. Saturday 10 am to 3 pm -- free admission

Heather Ridge Harvest Fair
Saturday: Heather Ridge Farm hosts its second annual Harvest Fair on Saturday with local farmers, artisans, musicians, crafters, a birds of prey exhibit and more. Saturday 11 am to 3 pm -- free admission

Falling Leaves Festival
Saturday: Ballston Spa's annual Falling Leaves Festival is this Saturday in Kelley Park. The family-friendly afternoon includes kids activities, a costume parade, rock climbing wall, pumpkin catapult, bonfire, and fireworks. Saturday 3-7:30pm -- free admission

rUNDEAD 5K
Sunday: Zombies run through Spa State Park on Sunday in annual rUNDEAD 5K to benefit Special Olympics. -- Sunday, 8:30am

Albany Festival of Nations
Sunday: The annual Albany Festival of Nations returns to the Empire State Plaza. The event celebrates the culture of nations with food, crafts and performances. Sunday 11 am -- $5 / $2 for kids

Boo!

Schenectady candlelight walking tours
Friday: Candlelight walking tours of Schenectady's historic Stockade neighborhood. Choose the Colonial or Victorian tour. (Check for availability. Fridays through October 28.) Friday 7 pm and 7:30 pm -- $12

Saratoga Scare Fair
Friday-Saturday: The Saratoga County Fairgrounds transform into a teen/adult haunted house for the Saratoga Scare Fair. Friday and Saturday 6:30 pm to 10 pm -- $10 (every weekend in October)

Field of Horrors
Saturday: The Field of Horrors returns to Brunswick. There's a Trail of Terror Hayride, a paint ball gallery, and other haunted attractions. Saturday 6:30-11 pm -- $25

Ghosts of Albany Walking Tour
Friday-Saturday: Ghosts of Albany is a historic walking tour of Albany with a paranormal twist. Tour meets at 40 Lodge Street, outside the Hilton Albany. Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm -- $20

Double M Haunted Hayride
Friday-Sunday: The Double M Haunted Hayrides in Ballston Spa are back for the fall. Attractions include the Haunted Hayride, a Museum of Horrors, and a Schadenfreude Circus. various times and prices

The Spirits of Rensselaer: RPI's Historic Ghost Tour
Friday: RPI's Spirits of Rensselaer Historic Ghost Tour leaves from the Rensselaer Union Patio on 15th Street. Friday at 7 pm -- $5, free with RPI ID

Ghosts in the Yaddo Garden Tours
Friday: Take a ghostly tour of the Yaddo Gardens in Saratoga Springs. Friday from 5-6 pm -- $10 / under 12 free

Ghost Tours at Fort William Henry
Friday-Sunday: Fort William Henry in Lake George is holding ghost tours of the fort. Friday-Sunday at 7:30pm and 9pm -- $17 / $8 kids 15 and under

Paranormal Investigation at Menands Mansion
Saturday: A paranormal investigation presented by The Shadow Seekers Paranormal Investigations Team and nationally certified psychic medium Tracy Fluty in the Civil War-era former infirmary. Refreshments to be served after the investigation and a basket raffle will be available to support Menands Mansion programming. Bring your own flashlight. Reservations required by October 21. Saturday 7 pm -- $49

Fort Ticonderoga's corn maze
Saturday-Sunday: Fort Ticonderoga's annual corn maze is in the shape of a fort. Try to find your way out while looking for history. Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5pm -- $20 / $9 kids ages 5-12 (4 and under free)

Museums/galleries

Breathing Lights
Friday: The Breathing Lights exhibit continues this weekend. The public art project is illuminating windows in hundreds of vacant homes in Albany, Schenectady and Troy (the slowly pulsing lights will be active from 6-10 pm each night).

Nick Cave Until
Saturday: MASS MoCA recently opened Until, a new immersive installation by artist Nick Cave. Blurbage: "Through exuberant, politically charged materials, Cave probes issues relating to gun violence, race, and gender inequality. Wrapped in bright glitter, the work is sharp and also painfully beautiful."

The People's Art
This weekend the State Museum opens The People's Art: Selections from the Empire State Plaza Art Collection, which includes works by artists such as Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, Franz Kline, David Smith, and Alexander Calder. (On display through September 3, 2017.)
Hudson Valley Ruins

Also recently opened at the State Museum: Hudson Valley Ruins. It includes more than 80 photographs by Robert Yasinsac and Thomas Rinaldi of "forgotten historic sites and cultural treasures in the Hudson River Valley." (On display through the end of 2017.)

The Art of Seating
The Albany Institute of History and Art recently opened The Art of Seating: Two Hundred Years of American Design. Blurbage: "The chair is experienced not only as a functional item, but as sculptural in view--the chair as art. Each of the more than forty chairs in the exhibition was chosen for its beauty and historical context with important social, economic, political, and cultural influences." (On display through December 31.)

Alexander Hamilton
The Albany Institute of History and Art exhibit on the life of Alexander Hamilton and his time in Albany continues. Hamilton, who has experienced a resurgence in popularity due to Lin Manuel Miranda's award-winning musical based on his life, married Elizabeth Schuyler at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany and visited the city often after that. The exhibit highlights objects related to Hamilton, including a portrait from the permanent collection of Union College. (On display through December 31.)

A More Perfect Union
The Tang presents: A More Perfect Union -- a new exhibit featuring Mel Ziegler's Multi-Year Project Flag Exchange. The installation includes 50 American flags collected by Ziegler, who traveled the country trading new flags for tattered ones flying at homes and public locations. (Runs through January.) free admission (suggested donations of $2-$5)

Sculpture parks
Maybe you'd like to explore some sculpture parks around the region.

Day trips
Explore some waterfalls, head for The Berkshires, The Catskills, or Columbia County. Or check out a state park.

Collard City Tour, ThinkTank, and Potluck
Saturday: The Collard City Tour, Think Tank and Potluck at Collard City Growers in Troy. There's a tour of Troy's first permaculture food forest project. After the tour there will be a discussion on the future of the project and a potluck meal. Saturday 1:15 pm -- free admission, bring a dish to the potluck

Markets

Farmers markets
This is a great time of year to visit the farmers markets in the Capital Region.
+ Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is in Riverfront Park. Saturday 9 am-2 pm
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market is outdoors at High Rock Park. Saturday from 9 am-1 pm
+ The Delmar Farmers Market is at Bethlehem Central Middle School. Saturday 9 am-1 pm
+ The Schenectady Greenmarket is at its outdoor location around City Hall. Sunday from 10 am-2 pm.
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market is outdoors to the lawn at the Lincoln Baths. Sunday from 10 am-3 pm

Troy Flea
Sunday: Troy Flea craft and antique market returns to Troy's Riverfront Park. Sunday, 9am to 2pm -- free admission

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