All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Christmas and Hanukkah are this weekend, so the list of stuff to do is slimmer than usual, but there are still a few things happening.

After the jump, a few things you might want to try. Our favorite thing to do this weekend: spending time with people we love.

Doing something you don't see here? Share it with the rest of us in the comments. And whatever you're up to we wish you a happy fun filled weekend spending time with loved ones.

Happy holidays!

Holiday events

It's a Wonderful Life
Friday: The Palace is screening It's a Wonderful Life. The theater is an old movie house, so catching the holiday classic there is kind of like seeing it when it was first released. Friday 7 pm -- $5<

Holiday movies at the Madison Theater
The Madison is screening some holiday classics this weekend, including Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, and a Rudolph/Frosty double feature. various times -- $5

MiSci trains
Friday-Sunday: miSci's annual Holiday Train Show continues with a 19x27-foot display of running Lionel model trains. Friday-Sunday -- free with museum admission

Capital Holiday Lights
Friday-Sunday: The Capital Holiday Lights display continues in Albany's Washington Park. Friday-Sunday starting at 5:30 pm -- $20 per car / $25 for 10-18 passenger vehicle

Santa's Magical Express
Friday: Santa's Magical Express returns to Yankee Trails. It's the annual holiday experience in which kids help Santa and Mrs. Claus save Christmas. Friday-Sunday -- various times and prices

The Polar Express
Friday: The Saratoga & North Creek Railway runs its annual Polar Express experience from the Saratoga rail station. Friday and Saturday various times and prices.

Stage

Camelot
Friday-Saturday: Capital Rep wraps up its production of Camelot. Friday-Saturday various times -- $25 and up

Out of Order
Friday: Curtain Call Theater presents the regional premiere of Ray Cooney's holiday comedy Out of Order .Friday 8 pm -- $24

Comedy

Richie Redding
Friday: The Funny Bone at Crossgates hosts Richie Redding, a stand-up artist whose comedy is based in true stories of leaving the Ivy League, corporate world to start a career in comedy. Friday 7:30 pm and 10 pm -- various prices

MopCo's Spontaneous Broadway
Friday: The Mop and Bucket Company presents Spontaneous Broadway. Act I : Experienced improvisors create songs on the spot based on audience suggestions. Act II: the audience selects their favorite song and in the second act, improvisors create a Broadway musical based on the winning song. Friday at 8pm -- $15, $6 for students and seniors

Skating

Empire State Plaza
The ice skating rink at the ESP is open on Friday, and is closing early (4 pm) on Saturday. It's free to skate. Skate rentals are $4 / $3 for kids / free on Fridays.

Swinburne
The city of Albany's Swinburne Skating Rink also recently opened for the season.

Museums/galleries

Museums and Galleries have holiday hours this weekend, so check ahead. Museums are closed on Christmas Day.

Albany Institute
The Albany Institute recently opened an exhibit of 1970s and 1980s rock and roll act photography by Capital Region resident Patrick Harbron. "The exhibition features many photographs that have never been published or exhibited. Harbron photographed artists such as Blondie, Rush, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Police, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and Elvis Costello early in their careers." (On display through February 12.)

Also at the Albany Institute: The Art of Seating. (On display through December 31.)

State Museum
The State Museum recently opened 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.)

Also at the State Museum: Hudson Valley Ruins. (On display through the end of 2017.)

The Hyde Collection
The 80th annual Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region is at The Hyde Collection. The show is open to artists living within 100 miles of Albany, and rotates among The Hyde, Albany Institute of History and Art, and the University Art Museum at UAlbany. This year's exhibit was curated by artist Michael Oatman and includes 126 works by 106 artists. (On display through December 31.)

MASS MoCA
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 Clark
In addition to its permanent collection, The Clark also has the exhibits Japanese Impressions: Color Woodblock Prints from the Rodbell Family Collection (on display through April 2) and Photography and Discovery (on display through February 5).

Norman Rockwell Museum
The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge has an exhibit of Rockwell's holiday cover illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post (on display through January 29), along with Hanna-Barbera: The Architects of Saturday Morning (on display through May 29).

The Arkell
The Arkell has The Wizards of Pop: Sabuda & Reinhart, an exhibit of pop-up book works, and Looking Backwards: The Politics and Art of Judge Magazine. (Both on display through December 30.) Also: The Arkell will be closed January and February for its annual winter break.

Fenimore Art Museum
The Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown has a handful of different exhibits on display through December 31. Like the Arkell, it will soon be closing for its multi-month winter break.

The Tang
The Tang has A More Perfect Union -- a new exhibit featuring Mel Ziegler's Multi-Year Project Flag Exchange. (Runs through December 30.) And Sixfold Symmetry: Pattern in Art and Science opened this fall. (Runs through March 12.)

Day trips
Explore New Paltz, head for The Berkshires, the Catskills, or Columbia County.

Farmers' markets

Farmers markets are indoors:
+ Troy Waterfront Farmers Market in the Atrium is open this weekend. Saturday 9 am-2 pm
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market is at the Lincoln Baths in Spa State Park. Saturday from 9 am-1 pm

The Madison, The Mop & Bucket Company, and NYS OGS advertise on AOA.