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 (WTF), from Presidents Day, to words, to beer, to talks, to film, to all sorts of music...

Weather

Here's the paraphrased forecast for this week:

Monday: Cloudy, probably rain. Mid 40s.

Tuesday: Cloudy, maybe rain. Low 60s.

Wednesday: Some sun, maybe some showers. Highs near... 71.

Thursday: Cloudy, mid 40s.

Friday: Some sun, maybe some rain. Mid 40s.

Wednesday, WTF?

Presidents Day

It's Monday, of course. It's a federal holiday, so things like banks and the post office will be closed. By the way: Presidents Day is pegged to the birthday of George Washington, which is February 22. It's one of the reasons you'll sometimes see the holiday referred to as "Washington's Birthday."

Words

Front Parlor
Monday: The Front Parlor storytelling series is back at the Olde English in Albany. This month's theme: "Power." 7:30 pm pm

Nitty Gritty
Tuesday: The Nitty Gritty poetry series is back at The Low Beat. Tuesday 7 pm

Saratoga Beer Week

Monday-Saturday: Saratoga Beer Week returns with tastings, dinners, and other events around Saratoga Springs. The cap to the week is the Saratoga Beer Summit at the Saratoga City Center on Saturday. There's also a Whiskey Night and Cider Night this year. Monday-Saturday various times -- various prices

Les Misérables

Tuesday-Sunday: A touring production of Les Misérables is at Proctors. "With its glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, this breathtaking new production has left both audiences and critics awestruck ..." Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $30 and up

Siena basketball

Wednesday: The Siena men's basketball team faces Fairfield at the TU Center in its last regular-season home game. 7 pm -- $10 and up

Arts and sciences

Brainfood for the Curious
Tuesday: The Brainfood for the Curious series of short lunchtime talks at the State Museum continues with ecologist Denise Mayer talking about freshwater mussels in New York. Tuesday 12:10-12:30 pm, Huxley Theater -- free

Sarah Jaffe
Wednesday: Journalist Sarah Jaffe will be at Sage for a talk about her book, Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt. Wednesday 1 pm, Bush Memorial -- free

Randy Cohen
Wednesday: Randy Cohen -- host of the Person Place Thing podcast -- will be interviewing William Kennedy at UAlbany as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. Wednesday 7 pm, Performing Arts Center, uptown campus -- free

Old-Timey Trivia
Wednesday: The Schenectady County Historical Society has an "old-timey" trivia night at the Mabee Farm. "You might be asking "what exactly does 'old-timey' mean?" Well, Webster's states that the first use of the term was in 1850, so we'll consider anything from 1850 to 1930 as "old-timey." Be prepared for a special Schenectady round!" Wednesday 7 pm -- $5

Punk Rock Sketch and Sip
Wednesday: 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..." Wednesday 6 pm -- $12 / $8 students

Nature sketching
Wednesday: The Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center has a nature sketching evening for adults. "During this indoor, evening program we will focus on improving our drawing skills while we spend time appreciating living and once-living objects and photographs of the Pine Bush Preserve. Participants are welcome to bring their own materials, purchase sketchbooks at the start of the program, or create their own sketchbooks out of materials we will provide." Wednesday 6:30 pm -- $3

Alicia Ross
Thursday: Artist Alicia Ross will be at the Opalka Gallery on the Sage Albany campus or a talk about her work. "Most recently noted for her large-scale embroidery work, her work embodies a unique hybridization between hand and machine." Thursday 6:30 pm -- free

Screening of documentary Very Young Girls
Thursday: Albany Law is hosting a screening of the documentary Very Young Girls with a panel discussion headlined by Rachel Lloyd, the founder and president of Girls Educational & Mentoring Services. "The documentary uncovers the commercial sex industry in New York City and through direct interviews with adolescent victims provides an intimate perspective of the complexities of commercial sexual exploitation, street prostitution, and human trafficking that is happening in every community throughout New York State." Thursday 6 pm -- free (registration required)

Film

Frozen - Family Fun Day
Wednesday: The Palace has a "Family Fun Day" for winter break with a screening of Frozen. There will be pre-film games and activities. Wednesday 1 pm (doors open at noon) -- $5

Oscar-nominated shorts
+ The Spectrum is showing the Oscar-nominated shorts -- live action and animated -- this week.
+ Proctors is showing the Oscar-nominated short documentaries in the The Addy on Wednesday and Thursday (different slates).

National Theatre: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Thursday: Proctors is showing the National Theatre production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in the GE Theater. The production stars Sienna Miller, Jack O'Connell, and Colm Meaney.

Ice skating

We're starting to run out of winter (probably), so there's not a lot of days left at some of the ice skating spots around the Capital Region.

Music

Tuesday: Marc Cohn at Massry Center
Rescheduled from last October. 8 pm -- $35 / $10 students

Wednesday: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at The Egg
Swing revival. 7:30 pm -- $36

Thursday: Tom Paxton & the DonJuans
Folk icon. 7 pm -- $55

Thursday: Big Galut(e) at UAlbany Performing Arts Center
Klezmer. 7:30 pm -- $15 / $10 students and seniors

Friday-Saturday: moe. at The Palace
Friday with Aqueous, Saturday "All moe., All Night." Friday 7:30 pm / Saturday 8 pm -- $35 ahead / $40 day of / $65 two-show pass ahead

Friday: Deer Tick at Lucky Strike Jupiter Hall
"Deer Tick will play music from all their albums." 9 pm -- $25

Friday: Fetty Wap at Upstate Concert Hall
Rap. With: Jedi and Shumpo, Nemisis of Mind over Matter, AMJ. 8 pm -- $30 ahead / $35 day of

Friday: Upstate Winter Fest featuring Don Q & Friends at Putnam Place
Hip hop. 9 pm -- $25 ahead / $40 day of

Friday: Empire State Fest 2k18 featuring Jay Critch and Blak Ryno at Albany Capital Center
Hip hop. 9 pm -- $25

Friday: Shemekia Copeland at Helsinki Hudson
Grammy Award-nominated blues vocalist. 9 pm -- $25

Friday: Jaimoe's Jasssz Band at The Egg
"Legendary drummer and founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, Jaimoe and his Jasssz Band combine elements of Jazz, Blues, Rock-n-Roll, and R&B into a unique blend that captures the spirit and stirs the soul." 8 pm -- $29.50

Friday: Idan Raichel at Troy Music Hall
"A global music icon who creates inspiring and soul-stirring music." 8 pm -- $29 and up

Friday: Mile Twelve at Caffe Lena
Contemporary bluegrass band. 8 pm -- $16

Saturday: The Declan McKenna show at The Hollow is sold out.

Saturday: Shelby Lynne at The Egg
"Shelby Lynne's original songs and selected cover tunes range through country, blues, Southern soul, roots rock, swing, jazz, and adult contemporary pop, all accentuated by her stunning vocals and tasteful arrangements." With: Teddy Thompson. 8 pm -- $34.50

Saturday: American Rhapsody: The Gershwin Songbook at Troy Music Hall
"American Rhapsody: The Gershwin Songbook is an evening of iconic American music by one of the most indelible ­composers of the twentieth century, George Gershwin." 7:30 pm -- $25 and up

Saturday: Sinkane at MASS MoCA
"Ahmed Gallab makes music that is joyful and generous, with a razor-sharp message about community and social justice." 8 pm -- $14 ahead / $20 day of

Saturday: Joseph Keckler at Helsinki Hudson
"Joseph Keckler is a widely acclaimed singer, writer, songwriter, and artist, with a rich, versatile three-plus octave voice and sharp wit." With: Dane Terry, Carol Lipnik. 9 pm -- $25

Saturday: Ric the Chef & Associates at The Low Beat
Ric Orlando and company. With: Hot Cousin. 8 pm

Saturday: Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys at Caffe Lena
With: Sara Milonovich. 8 pm -- $20

Sunday: Dropkick Murphys at Albany Capital Center
Celtic punk. 6:30 pm -- $35

Sunday: Valerie June at The Egg
Rescheduled from February 7. 7:30 pm -- $25 and up

Sunday: Luke Combs at Upstate Concert Hall
WGNA's 2nd Annual Heartstrings For Hope Show to benefit St. Jude's. With: Vinnie Michaels. 8 pm -- $15
____

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!

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.