Lately, my husband’s been saying that perhaps a blog intervention would be in order.  It’s true:  I get carried away.  Trying to find upcoming events, for me, is a little bit like going raspberry picking.  In the summertime, I’ll take the kids berry picking and I always have a very difficult time stopping.  I know that I’ve got plenty, and then I see a beautiful clump of them, so I have to just pause one more time.  Meanwhile my children are sweating profusely and sucking on their water bottles for the last precious drops.  And I’m saying, “Yes, girls, I know–but wait!  Look at that one!  And those!  I promise–2 more minutes.”  It’s the same with these events.  Just when I think I’m done, I get an email which reminds me of a scrap of paper and next thing you know, more time has passed.  So, yeah: it’s a problem.  But it’s also fun, because every time I start to gather up events, I begin by thinking that this time, I just don’t have too much.  And every time, I’m surprised by how much is out there.

Okay, first, please don’t forget that Elmo, Grease, and Charlotte’s Web are still in town. If you need details, check out my old theater post. Which reminds me, for the love of God, did any of you go see Hairspray!?!  How was it?

Tonight is Troy Night Out from 5-9 pm.

Saratoga Children’s Theatre is showing You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! at Lake Avenue Elementary School in Saratoga Springs at 7 pm on Friday and at 3 pm and 7 pm on Saturday.

And we’re just getting started.  Here’s more:

Saturday, January 30^th

• The City of Cohoes is hosting its Winter Carnival at Van Schaick Island Park from 12-4 pm. Want to play outside, but that’s too far east?  See the next one.
• The Village of Cobleskill is hosting Cabin Fever Day from 1-4 pm. Cobleskill is about half an hour west of Schenectady.
• At the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology in Troy, they’ll have a Color Fun Lab at 1 pm. It’s designed for kids 6 and up, pre-registration is required, and it’s $2 for non-members.
• It’s Art for All day at the Albany Institute of History & Art from 1-4 pm. Activities are free with museum admission.
• At Troy’s Main Public Library, there’s a program called Russian Food, Folktales, and Fun! (scroll down after the link—it’s on that main page) that begins at 2 pm. It’s designed for families with school-aged children, and you’re supposed to call ahead in order to reserve a spot.
• At Five Rivers, there’s a Water Animals in Winter program at 10 am and a Winter Tracking program at 2 pm. Both are free.
• If you still haven’t made it to see the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company’s Celtic Footprints, you’ve got another chance at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy at 2 pm. $12/adults, $8/kids.
• Northern Lights is hosting a Haiti benefit concert from 3-9 pm. It’s $10/adults and kids 10 and under are free.  Although, perhaps you could cough up some more cash for the Haitian orphans?
• Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center in Northville, NY, is hosting nighttime activities, like tubing, ice skating, and skiing, open to the general public from 4:30-9 pm. This is a drive and tickets will cost $6-$16, but if you’ve seen the ads for this resort (which are everywhere) and you’ve wondered if it’s worth the investment, this might be a good opportunity for a recon mission.
• If anyone was getting excited about the Moonlight Ski/Snowshoe at Wilton Wildlife Preserve, it’s been rescheduled since the weather’s not cooperating.

Sunday, January 31

• At the Schenectady Greenmarket, a master gardener will be answering gardening questions and teaching about winter composting, featuring a vermicomposting bin to show how worms break down kitchen scraps.
• There’s a Family Discovery program at 1 pm at the Albany Pine Bush. You’re supposed to pre-register, and the maximum fee is $5/family.
• The Albany Public Library is showing This Is It at 2 pm. They’re raffling off a DVD, and they’re also encouraging people to dress like Michael Jackson.  Hmmm, sounds fun or possibly creepy.
• There’s a free brass concert at the main branch of the Schenectady County Library at 2:30 pm.