Top 5 Weekend: Nerdy Troy, Art Night Schenectady & Winter Solstice

Happy Thursday, Capital Region! The pre-Christmas weekend is coming in hot—literally. With temps on the rise, Frosty’s sweating through his top hat, but it’s perfect weather for some last-minute shopping, ugly sweater flexing, and festive wandering. Hit up Art Night Schenectady or take a sleigh ride down to the Catskill Winter Solstice. Let the merry chaos begin!

🍾 Tuesday’s reader poll says that we’re mostly in the mood for an intimate New Year’s Eve w/ our fav folks(55%) rather than hitting the town (just 7%). A third of you said you’re planning to be snug in bed when the ball drops at midnight. Is this a recession indicator or what?

Victoria says she’s going to the Stranger Things 5 finale at the Crossgates Regal. Meanwhile, Liz says she’s “visiting friends in the ADKs and ice skating, snow shoeing, making a good dinner, and then topping off the night with karaoke!” That sounds like a fantastic way to close the curtain on 2025.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

⭐️ Thank you to our Americana/ble Pop-up Art Salon backers! Today, we want to send out a special thank you to Susan Appe, who pledged $35 in support. Come March, Susan will choose from a selection of artworks, and receive her 8×10 inch print. Did we mention that Karley is a pro printer?

💯 We’re fundraising because good shows cost money to produce. With 13 days left in our month of fundraising, we’re 51% funded. As we enter the homestretch, please consider joining Susan in pledging your support for this neighborly celebration of Capital Region creativity.

🎨 Pledge $35 and choose YOUR 8×10 print from from the exhibition 🍜 Pledge $100+ and we’ll invite you to join a special Patrons Dinner featuring Phat’s famous Vietnamese cooking—yum!

⭐️ 🤓 Nerdy Troy Wonderland Market | We heart this concept so much. This Saturday, get to downtown Troy for some holiday shopping, grab a map of local “nerdy” spots, and get entered into a raffle if you fill out your map. There’s a lot for a nerd to love in Troy, like Cromulent Comics, Bard & Baker Cafe, Paper Moon bookstore, just to name a few. Sat, 11a-3p, free.

⭐️ 🖼️ Art Night Schenectady | The weather is supposed to warm up to the 50s on Friday—holy climate change, Batman! At any rate, it makes for the perfect winter’s evening to stroll around downtown Schenectady, which has seen a resurgence because of efforts like the Art Night. At 4:30p, join a guided tour starting at the Museum of Prints & Printmaking. Fri, 4:30-8:30p, free.

⭐️ 🎄 Last Lap Holiday Market | We’ve seen a proliferation of these “alternative markets” in and around Albany, so why shouldn’t Saratoga get its own? Get to Putnam Place for the Last Lap’s holiday market, featuring oddities, vintage stuff, and handmade goods from local vendors. Sun, 11a-5p, free.

⭐️ 🐦‍🔥 Make merry in your ugliest sweater this weekend. On Friday 🎅 Pull out your cringiest winter wear for Brown’s Brewing Co.’s Fugly Sweater Party, or head to Philly Bar & Lounge in Latham. On Saturday, belly up to the Saratoga City Tavern Ugly Sweater Crawl, which begins at noon, and includes a complementary Uber ride home. Too early for ugly? Wait a spell, then check out live music by Tops of Trees at Wolf Hollow, or skip the sweater and get cozy at The Lagoon in Lake George with just your jammies on.

⭐️ ❄️ Catskill Winter Solstice | ChatGPT tells us that Catskill is technically NOT part of the Capital Region, but that it may be considered an “extended or cultural part of the Capital Region.” Haha, we didn’t need AI to tell us that. What we can tell you is that this winter festival looks dope. You’ve got fire performers, stilt walkers, a holiday magic show, costumed merrymakers, hot chocolate, a winter solstice parade, and more! Sun, 4-8p, free.

MORE NOTABLE EVENTS

⭐️ 🎇 Permanent Jewelry Popup at The Daisy | Permanent jewelry is a hot trend. Get #zapped tonight when Golden Spark Jewelry Company sets up at The Daisy Bar & Kitchen. Apparently, you can also get your picture printed on a pint of Guinness at this event as well. We’re not entirely sure how these things fit together, but let’s not ask too many questions. Thurs, 6p, free.

TONIGHT

⛵️Work in Progress: RAFT, by Yanira Castro at EMPAC invites you to help, as poet Kay Ryan so eloquently put it, “build the ship as we sail it”.

🎄Explore the lights and sights of downtown Schenectady at the Holiday Stockade Stroll, which includes a stop at the Festival of Trees. Today, Fri & Sat.

🌱Picture Lock One screens “Just Above the Surface of the Earth,” a poetic look at wildlife conservation by Marianna Milhorat, followed by a discussion with the Citizen Science Department at Pine Bush Nature Reserve. PL1 screenings take place in a real bank vault!

🎅 “CBS 6 Melodies of Christmas” at Proctors features performances by the Empire State Youth Orchestra, the Melodies Chorale, and special guests.

FRIDAY

⛄️ It’s the last weekend for A Very FAIRy Christmas at the Altamont Fairgrounds. Fri-Sat.

💀 Rage against the dying of the light at Dark Ballet: A Heavy Metal Christmas Eve at Putnum Place.

📚 Check into the Holiday Book Fair at Wolf Hollow Brewing Co.

❄️ Take the family for a free screening of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the gorgeous Palace Theatre. It’s a holiday classic for good reason.

SATURDAY

🐉 Calling all Pokemon fans, Poke-A-Con Christmas is taking over the Albany Armory.

🧣Do some good at the Crisis Isolation Holiday Food Drive benefiting Albany Food Not Bombs, at Hangar on the Hudson.

🎅 Greg Bell's Halliday Ball brings a jam fest to Lark Hall.

❄️ The Saratoga Farmers Market gets into the season with its Holiday Market Spectacular, featuring hot chocolate, a visit from Santa, and a screening of “The Polar Express.”

SUNDAY

🔔 Celebrate with bells on at JINGLE & JAMESON at Smith’s Public House, featuring a two-hour open bar and a live DJ set by DJ Trumastr.

🏳️‍🌈 Have a gay olde time (and some dam good food) with the Holi-Gay Drag Brunch at Stable Gate Winery.

🖤Join the other naughty boys and girls as Bad Heart Burlesque presents KramPUSS at No Fun.

🎸Shake off your holiday stress with a Rock 'n' Roll Christmas with The Tichy Boys at Hangar on the Hudson.

🎻 Albany Pro Musica’s beloved holiday concert, “The Many Moods of Christmas,” with chorus and full symphony orchestra brings the light of the season to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.

GET TIX

🪩 If you missed it, check out our roundup of the best New Year’s Eve parties around the Capital District.

🥚 The Egg, Albany’s beloved Brutalist performing arts center, is hatching from its historic $19.5 million makeover and celebrating with a free evening show and tours on Thursday, Jan. 8. RSVP now.

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

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