HOLIDAY IN ALBANY If you’ve lived in Albany long enough, you probably remember fondly the annual Festival of Trees at the Albany Institute of History & Art (125 Washington Ave., Albany). That fest isn’t back, but there will be decorated holiday trees to enjoy at this weekend’s Home for the Holidays (Nov. 28-30). It’s a holiday gift from the AIHA to all of us, with free admission all weekend. There will be make-your-own-ornament workshops, a quilt wall-hanging challenge, artisan-made gifts, kids fun, special demonstrations, Dutch cookies and treats, photos with Saint Nick (Friday) and (also Friday) real reindeer on the lawn. For a complete schedule of events, please visit www.albanyinstitute.org or call 463-4478.
HOLIDAY IN SCHENECTADY Meanwhile, out where the West begins in Schenectady, it’s time for the 8th Annual Festival of Trees at the Schenectady County Historical Society (32 Washington Ave., Schenectady). The fest begins Friday (Nov. 28) and runs through Dec. 14. Admission is $5 adults, $3 kids. For more info, visit www.schenectadyhistorical.org.
THE BEAST AT THE FEAST As @docforbin reminded me on Twitter a few days ago, King Kong and Thanksgiving used to go together like turkey and cranberry sauce. If you live in the New York City area in the early 1980s—or if your upstate cable provider carried WOR-TV—you were treated to a triple feature of the original 1933 King Kong, Son of Kong and Mighty Joe Young on Thanksgiving Day. (Sometimes the last was swapped out for King Kong vs. Godzilla.) So it seems weirdly appropriate that the AFI 100 series has got around to King Kong only a few days after Thanksgiving this year. The film is still a staggering achievement in special effects, Fay Wray screamed like no other, and Robert Armstrong gives my all time favorite ham performance as impresario Carl Denham. And it’s appropriate that it will be shown on the giant GE Theatre screen.
King Kong will be screened Monday (Dec. 1) at 2:30, 5 and 7:30 PM in the GE Theatre at Proctors (432 State St., Schenectady) as part of the AFI 100 series. For more info, call 346-6204.
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