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 (October?), to hauntings, to novelists, to red hair, to all sorts of music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Sunny and almost 70.

Tuesday: Sun and 72.

Wednesday: Sun and low 80s.

Thursday: Sun, maybe some afternoon showers, upper 70s.

Friday: Sun, maybe a shower, 70.

Is this really October?

Capitol Hauntings

Monday-Saturday: The very popular Capitol Hauntings tours of the state Capitol begin a new season this week. Many of the spots for the tours are already claimed, but at last check there were still a few available for the evening sessions, and a bunch for the day tours. (Keep an eye on the registration page -- sometimes spots open as people cancel.) Monday-Friday 1 pm and 5:30 pm, Saturday at noon -- free (must pre-register)

Sex With Strangers

Tuesday-Sunday: Capital Rep continues its production, Sex With Strangers. Blurbage:

When Ethan, a strapping twenty-something blogger ends up snowbound at a Bed and Breakfast with his literary idol, forty-ish novelist Olivia, sparks fly! One thing leads to another, as these two savvy writers give in to their mutual attraction -- but oh, in the morning....things are not quite what they seemed to be the night before. Soon it becomes clear that this passionate weekend will turn into a life-altering experience - all just a click or a tweet away.

The production runs through October 15. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

Nitty Gritty

Tuesday: The Nitty Gritty poetry slam series is back at The Low Beat. Tuesday 7 pm -- free admission

Arts and sciences

Madeline Thien and Peter Ho Davies
Tuesday: Novelists Madeline Thien and Peter Ho Davies will be at the State Museum as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. They'll be reading from, and talking about, their work. Tuesday 8 pm, Huxley Theater -- free

Claire Messud
Tuesday: Novelist Claire Messud will be at Skidmore to talk about her work and answer questions. Tuesday 8 pm, Palamountain Hall -- free

Other Uses
Thursday: The Other Uses series at EMPAC continues with a handful of films. "The films and videos presented in the second program of the Other Uses series complicate the relationship between still and moving images. They foreground how images are produced in order to reveal obscured narratives and the way that photographic representations are captured and circulated." Thursday 7 pm -- $6

Nina Buxenbaum
Thursday: Painter Nina Buxenbaum will be at the Opalka Gallery on the Sage Albany campus as part of the gallery's series of artist talks. "Nina Buxenbaum works in a traditional figurative painting style, while dealing with issues of the public versus private persona, and identity." Thursday 6:30 pm -- free

We Animals
Thursday: We Animals founder Jo-Anne McArthur will be at HVCC for a talk and photo presentation. "WE ANIMALS uses photography to show that the animals we use for food, clothing, research, work, entertainment and companionship are sentient beings. Just like us, animals are able to perceive and feel. WE ANIMALS aims to break down the barriers humans have built that allow us to treat non-human animals as objects or property." Thursday 7 pm, Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium -- free

Illustrating the brain
Friday: Neuroscientist/cartoonist Matteo Farinella will be at UAlbany as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. "Matteo Farinella uses comics and illustrations to make the science of the brain accessible to the non-scientific audience." Friday 3 pm, Life Sciences Building -- free

Night of the Walking Red

Wednesday: The League of Extraordinary Red Heads has its annual "Night of the Walking Red" event at Ryan's Wake in Troy. The league, founded by Duncan Crary, is about fostering ginger fellowship and solidarity -- and a good time for everyone. Wednesday 5-8:30 pm -- free admission

Music

Wednesday: Vetiver at The Linda
Freak folk, live broadcast. 8 pm -- $15

Wednesday: Issues at Upstate Concert Hall
Metalcore. With: Volumes, Too Close to Touch, Sylar. 7 pm -- $20 ahead / $23 day of

Thursday: YES at The Palace
Still prog rockin'. 8 pm -- $49.75 and up

Thursday: Wye Oak at Helsinki Hudson
Indie rock. 8 pm -- $20

Thursday: Gojira at Upstate Concert Hall
Metal. With: Code Orange, Torche. 7:30 pm -- $30 ahead / $35 day of

Thursday: Tannahill Weavers at Caffe Lena
"[O]ne of Scotland's premier traditional bands." 7 pm -- $25

Friday: Black Uhuru at Helsinki Hudson
Reggae. 9 pm -- $25 and up

Friday: Todd Sheaffer at The Hollow
From Railroad Earth. With: Adam Brockway. 7 pm -- $20

Friday: Walter Salas-Humara at The Low Beat
From The Silos. With: Coal Palace Kings. 8 pm -- $10

Friday: Coco Montoya at The Upper Room
Blues guitarist. 8 pm -- $20 and up

Friday: Tessa Lark at Troy Music Hall
Violinist. 7:30 pm -- $25 and up

Friday: Alash Ensemble at Caffe Lena
Tuvan throat singers. 8 pm -- $22

Saturday: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at Troy Music Hall
Jazz royalty. 8 pm -- $49.50 and up

Saturday: Upstate's Alright at Low Beat/Pauly's
13 bands, punk flea market, vegan hot wings eating contest. Saturday 3 pm -- $15

Saturday: Ani Cordero at MASS MoCA
Puerto Rican singer/songwriter. With: Jota Sete Duo. 8 pm -- $12 ahead / $18 day of

Sunday: The Psychedelic Furs at Upstate Concert Hall
A John Hughes movie might break out. 8 pm -

Sunday: Stephen Stills and Judy Collins at The Egg
Folk. 7 pm -- $59 and up

Sunday: Spafford at Lucky Strike
Jam. 8 pm -- $15 ahead / $18 day of

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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!

Capital Rep and Troy Music Hall advertise on AOA. And AOA is a sponsor of Night of the Walking Red.

photo: Joe Martinez