All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

It's the first weekend of the new year! And... it will probably the be coldest of the entire year.

So, layer up, and find some fun. We'll pull together a handful of ideas below.

And if you just want to hibernate -- that's not a bad idea, either.

Whatever you do, have a great weekend.

1st Friday
It's 1st Friday. Participating shops and galleries in Albany are open late with art, performances and special events. Things to check out:
+ The African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region has an exhibit of African American Santas
+ The Albany Institute of History and Art is open until 8 pm with free admission
+ The 1st Friday Swing Dance at 25 South Allen (The Albany Elks Club) features Sonny and Perley's Jive Five

Stage

Chicago
Friday-Sunday: Proctors presents the national tour of Kander and Ebb's Chicago. Friday-Sunday various times and prices

Burlesque
Saturday: Roxxi Tart's 1920s Burlesque review is at Hudson Harbor Steak and Seafood. Saturday 8 pm -- $20

Comedy

Josh Gondelman
Friday-Saturday: Stand-up comedian and Last Week Tonight writer Josh Gondelman is at The Comedy Works in Saratoga this weekend. Friday-Saturday various times and prices

Donnell Rawlings
Friday-Saturday: Actor/comedian Donnell Rawlings (Law & Order, The Wire, DEF Comedy Jam) is at the Albany Funny Bone. Friday-Sunday various times and prices

Improv Ladies Night
Friday: MopCo presents Improv Ladies Night -- an all-female team of improvisors creating stories, games and songs from audience suggestions. Friday 8 pm -- $10 / $6 for students and seniors

TheaterSports
Saturday: The Mop & Bucket Company opens its season of TheaterSports at the MopCo Improv Theater. Teams of improvisors compete by creating games, stories and songs based on audience suggestion. Saturday 8 pm -- $10 / $6 for students and seniors

Hoops

Albany Patroons
Saturday: The new-again Albany Patroons open their home season at the Washington Avenue Armory in a game against the Rochester Razorbacks. Saturday 7 pm -- $10 and up

Siena
+ Friday: The Siena men's basketball takes on Niagara at the Times Union Center. Friday 7 pm -- $10 and up
+ Sunday: The Saints are back at the TU Center to face Canisius. Sunday 3 pm -- $10 and up

Music

Friday: Memories of Elvis at Proctors
Three Elvis tribute artists in the GE Theater. 7:30 pm -- $35

Friday: Slambovian Circus of Dreams at Caffe Lena
Classic rock, folks and psychedelia. 8 pm -- $25

Saturday-Sunday: Albany Symphony Orchestra at Troy Music Hall
Performing Beethoven's Fifth. Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 3 pm -- $19 and up

Saturday: Elvis Birthday Bash at The Hangar
Johnny Rabb's Big Band featuring the Tichy Boys, Mark Gamsjager, and guests. 8 pm -- $10

Sunday: Hot Club of Saratoga at Caffe Lena
Gypsy jazz. 7 pm -- $20

Twelfth Night

Crailo
Saturday: The Crailo Historic Site in Rensselaer is hosting a celebration with music, games, re-enactors, and cooking demos. Saturday 4-7 pm -- $6 adults / $5 seniors and students / $1 children

Schuyler Mansion
Saturday: The Schuyler Mansion in Albany is hosting a "Salutations of the Season!" event with music, bonfires, food, and a wassail toast. Saturday 4-7 pm -- $6 / $5 for students and seniors / $1 for kids under 12

Classes
Two woodworking classes at the Tech Valley Center of Gravity in Troy...
+ Saturday: TVCOG is hosting a workshop about using a lathe.Participants will learn how to turn a pen on made from wood. Saturday 10 am-noon -- $75
+ Sunday: The COG has a general wood shop workshop -- learn how to use a bandsaw, jointer, planer. and table saw and create a mini keepsake box. Sunday 1-5 pm -- $50 for non members

Skating

Empire State Plaza
The skating rink at the Empire State Plaza is closed Saturday because of the weather, but is scheduled to be open Sunday. The rink is usually open seven days a week from 11 am to 8 pm (closed 3-4 pm for maintenance), weather permitting. And it's free to skate. Skate rental is $4 for adults / $3 for kids 12 and under / and free on Fridays. (A photo ID is required for skate rental.)

Swinburne Park
The skating rink at Albany's Swinburne Park is open for the season. (See the link for the schedule.) It's $1 to skate / 50 cents for under 18 / 25 cents for seniors / skate rental is $3.

Museums/galleries

State Museum
The State Museum recently opened Votes for Women -- its new exhibit about the women's suffrage movement. It also recently opened the first phase of its new Enterprising Waters: New York's Erie Canal exhibit.

Albany Institute
Well-Dressed, an exhibit of high fashion from the 19th century, continues at the Albany Institute of History and Art, along with an exhibit about the the anti-suffrage movement in Albany. Also almost its entire collection of Hudson River School works is on display.

Hyde Collection
The Hyde Collection recently opened a a touring exhibit of folk art (on display through the end of 2017). The new Feibes & Schmitt Gallery is also now open. And it's pay-what-you-wish admission during December.

MASS MoCA
MASS MoCA has a bunch of exhibits on display that make use of its huge gallery expansion.

The Clark
The Clark has a good permanent collection. And it's the last weekend for its The Impressionist Line: From Degas to Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit.

Rockwell
The Norman Rockwell Museum is just over the Massachusetts border in Stockbridge.

Baseball Hall of Fame
Baseball fans could probably spend most of the day at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Farmers' markets

+ Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is indoors at the atrium. Saturday 9 am-2 pm
+ The Delmar Farmers Market is at Bethlehem Central Middle School (332 Kenwood Ave). Saturday 9 am-1 pm
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market is indoors at the Lincoln Bathhouse Saturday 9 am-1 pm
+ The Schenectady Greenmarket will not be held on Christmas Eve.
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market will not be held on Christmas Eve.

Troy Makers Market
Saturday: Local craft vendors will display and sell wares at the Troy Makers Market in conjunction with the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market. Saturday 9 am to noon

The Albany Institute and the Mop & Bucket Company advertise on AOA. And AOA is a sponsor of the ESP ice rink.