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 (winter-like), to drama, to LGBT rights, to video games, to startups, to hoops, to Bollywood, to music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Some sun. Upper 20s.

Tuesday: Cloudy, maybe some snow. Around 30.

Wednesday: Cloudy, mid 30s.

Thursday: Sun, low 30s.

Friday: Sun, mid 20s.

Actual winter-like temps.

Assisted Loving

Tuesday-Sunday: Capital Rep opens its new production of Assisted Loving (it was in previews this past weekend). Show blurbage:

What would you do if your 80-year-old father dragged you into his search for new romance after 50 years of marriage? David, a resolute bachelor learns more about love than he bargained for and as his father's wingman and screener, sees some things he'd like to forget. Based on the author's award winning memoir Assisted Loving: True Tales of Double Dating With My Dad, this is a heartfelt and hilarious true tale of a year of dating dangerously.

It runs through February 19. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

Arts and sciences

The State of LGBT Rights
Monday: The LGBT Law Series at Albany Law is hosting a panel discussion titled "The State of LGBT Rights" with Albany Law professor Joe Buffington (moderator); Albany Law professor Stephen Clark; Hon. Elizabeth Garry, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department; Martha Harvey, Pride Center of the Capital Region; and Tandra LaGrone, In Our Own Voices. Monday 6 pm -- free

Robert Coover
Tuesday: The NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series opens its season with fiction writer Robert Coover at UAlbany talking about his Huckleberry Finn sequel Huck Out West. Tuesday 8 pm, uptown campus performing arts center -- free

Your Worst Deeds Do Not Define You
Wednesday: Author and criminal justice reform activist Shaka Senghor will be at UAlbany for talk titled "Your Worst Deeds Do Not Define You." It's the keynote for the university's Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. He also be discussing his recent memoir Writing my Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison. Wednesday 7 pm, uptown campus, campus center ballroom -- free

Kill the Overseer!
Wednesday: EMPAC will be hosting a video game demo and talk titled "Kill the Overseer! Playing the Rebel Slave in Videogames." "Sarah Juliet Lauro will discuss how resistance to slavery is represented in video and computer games. Lauro will profile many games that feature this narrative and will demo an art game being developed by students at the University of Southern California called Thralled, which focuses on a runaway slave in Brazil." Wednesday 7 pm -- free

Punk Rock Sketch and Sip

Tuesday: The Punk Rock Sketch and Sip is back at The Low Beat. "Learn or practice figure drawing with live, alternative figure models, with local artist and educator Robert B. Eaton. Enjoy a complimentary drink while you sketch. All skill levels welcome, attendees are encouraged to bring their own materials but limited materials will be provided to get you started." Tuesday 7 pm -- $15 / $8 with valid student ID

Startup Tech Valley

Wednesday: The Startup Tech Valley series returns from its mid-winter break to Revolution Hall with presentations from four startups (and updates from two others) -- three focused on analytics, and another on solar panels built directly into roofing. Wednesday 5:30 pm -- free (registration required)

Hoops

Wednesday: The UAlbany men's basketball team takes on UMass Lowell at SEFCU Arena. Wednesday 7 pm -- $12 and up

Taj Express

Thursday: The touring show Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical will be on the Proctors main stage. Show blurbage: "The Internationally acclaimed musical is a dazzling theatrical spectacular wrapped into 120 minutes of swirling colours, sparkle, shimmer and electrifying energy, which weaves its magic to mesmerise and captivate audiences all over the world." Thursday 8 pm -- $20 and up

Film

Oscar-nominated
A bunch of films nominated for best picture at this year's Oscars are at The Spectrum right now -- including Moolight, which returned to the schedule this past Friday.

Persepolis
Thursday: The Opalka Gallery on the Sage Albany campus is showing Persepolis, based on Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical graphic novel about growing up during the Iranian Revolution. (It had a chance to win the Oscar for best animated feature in 2008, but that was the same year as Ratatouille.) Thursday 6:30 pm -- free

Music

Tuesday: Greensky Bluegrass at The Egg
"[T]heir own version of bluegrass music, mixing the acoustic stomp of a string band with the rule-breaking spirit of rock & roll." 7 pm -- $25

Thursday: The Last Waltz 40 at The Palace
Tribute to The Band featuring Warren Haynes, Michael McDonald, Jamey Johnson, John Medeski, Don Was, Terence Higgins, Bob Margolin, Dave Malone, Ivan Neville, Mark Mullins, and others. 8 pm -- $49.50 and up

Friday: The Wood Brothers show at the Massry Center is sold out.

Friday: Marco Benevento at The Hollow
Composer, organist, electric pianist. With: Maybird, Band of Ghosts. 8 pm -- $17

Friday: Molsky's Mountain Drifters at Old Songs
"Grammy-nominated artist on fiddle, banjo, guitar and song..." 7:30 pm -- $23

Friday: Alash at Caffe Lena
Tuvan throat singers (they've played with Bela Fleck). 8 pm -- $20

Saturday: Wild Adriatic at Putnam Den
Album release show for the local rock band. With: Let's Be Leonard, Bathrobe Robots. 9 pm -- $10 ahead / $15 day of

Saturday: Cecilia Zabala + Philippe Baden Powell at The Linda
Argentine singer-songwriter + Brazilian pianist. 8 pm -- $20

Saturday: Formula 5 at The Hollow
Prog rock. With: Ampvene. 8 pm -- $12
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These are a just a few things for this week, not a comprehensive list. Look for out "Stuff to do this weekend" list for the upcoming weekend on Friday.

Know of something people should be looking forward to this week? Please share!

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