2/18/10: Today’s Tips: Thursday

FILM: “No Impact Man” @ The Linda, Albany. Sponsored by the Honest Weight Food Co-op, the monthly Food For Thought film series (also featuring food samples and an open panel discussion) screens the Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein documentary about Colin Beavan‘s attempts to eliminate his personal impact on the environment for a year – eat vegetarian, buy only local food and turn off the refrigerator. No elevators, television, cars, busses, airplanes, toxic cleaning products, electricity, material consumption or garbage. 6pm. $6.

BOOKS/READING: Norberto Fuentes @ UAlbany Campus Center’s Assembly Hall, Albany. The New York State Writers Institute hosts a reading by Fuentes, a Cuban journalist who was an early friend and confidante of Fidel Castro and later a sometime political prisoner of the Castro regime. He will read from his latest book, the satirical faux-memoir, “The Autobiography of Fidel Castro.” 8pm. Free.

MUSIC: Turbine @ Red Square, Albany. The NYC jamband quartet has strutted their stuff at Bonnaroo. They’ve jammed on stage with Del McCoury. And they know how to rock out, too, as they proved with their recent sophomore album, “Reward.” With Weerd Science, the Bay State and the Blue Pages. 9pm. $5.

MUSIC: Colleen Pratt & Friends @ the Van Dyck, Schenectady. Resident jazz vocalist and her band step back into the spotlight for their monthly third Thursday gig. 7pm. Free.