5/20/10: Today’s Tips: Thursday

By Greg Haymes On May 20, 2010

MUSIC: Cabinet @ Red Square, Albany. They call their sound “progressive Rust Belt bluegrass.” Straight outta the wilds of Wilkes-Barre comes this funky, six-piece, folk-rock-bluegrass jam band. With Nippertown’s own dynamic acoustic duo Palatypus. 9pm.

FILM: “Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai” @ The Linda, Albany. The documentary concerns itself with the growth of a woman and the grassroots organization that she founded, the Green Belt Movement of Kenya, which has transformed their African nation and our understanding of the integral connections between sustainable development, ecological diversity, human rights and democracy. A discussion with director Lisa Merton follows the screening. 6pm reception; 7pm screening. $6.

ARTS WALK: Pittsfield 3rd Thursday @ Pittsfield. Back for its fourth season, Pittsfield 3rd Thursdays resumes in a big way with the theme “Celebrating Youth!” featuring music, drumming and dance performances by area youths. Shops and galleries are open late and the streets will be lined with sidewalk vendor. 5-8pm. Free. (Afterwards, The Beacon Cinema kicks off its 3rd Thursdays late night film series with the original “Little Shop of Horrors” at 9:30pm. $3.)

MUSIC: Ruha @ Jillian’s, Albany. Psychedelic roots-music from Charley Orlando and his bandmates. With Cris Noel. 9pm. Free.

ARTS WALK: Third Thursday @ Downtown Glens Falls. Art, music and shopping from 5-8pm, capped by an outdoor screening of Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” at 8pm. Free.

READING: Alix Dobkin @ the Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley. The legendary women’s music pioneer reads from her new autobiography, “My Red Blood: A Memoir of Growing Up Communist, Coming Onto the Greenwich Village Folk Scene, and Coming Out in the Feminist Movement.” 7pm. Free.

FILM: “True Romance” @ Revolution Hall, Troy. Written by Quentin Tarantino. Directed by Tony Scott. Starring Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette. But check out the supporting cast – Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, James Gandolfini, Dennis Hopper… Whoa! 8pm. $5.

MUSIC: “A Tribute to Streisand and Sinatra” @ Vapor, Saratoga Springs. Is it Babs and Ole Blue Eyes? Nope. 2 & 7pm. $20.