March 2009 Archives

By Mark Weber

If you're like me, you've lived in Western New York most of your life, and you've been to the Buffalo Zoo before, but it's been a while since you've been back.

I can't even remember the last time I actually went to the Buffalo Zoo, though I do remember they used to have prairie dogs in a big circular outdoor pit,

We're just guessing on the nomenclature here.
What we do know is that Operation Kaiser Roll was designed to get guns, gangs and drugs off of the streets of Buffalo, which they did to the tune of rounding up 11 more suspects over the weekend in South Buffalo and "Kaiser"town areas.
Focused primarily on the sale and distribution of cocaine and crack, BPD members were able to identify and make a buy from the suspects on several occasions during the 6-month investigation.  This past weekend, 9 search warrants netted 11 arrests, 5 of which resulted in

After the Sabres beat the Leafs, the media conducted the usual post-game interviews in the Sabres locker room.  During an interview with Ryan Miller, Rob Ray is standing in the background and apparently something or someone catches his eye.  And whatever it is, it seems to startle him. A lot. (video after the jump)

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We live in one of the most unique regions in the world- on the shores of Lake Erie a stones throw away from our good neighbors in Canada. 2009 has been named "The Year of Our Shared Waters" to mark 100 years of the United States and Canada working collaboratively to protect the freshwaters that cross the international boundary. These unique shared waters can be found from the West Coast to the Great Lakes, and the Niagara River region is hosting the party! We will be reporting soon on the long list of activities being scheduled to celebrate "Boundary Waters

On Friday, March 27, Fisher-Price® kicked off a year-long celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Little People® brand, one of the longest running and most beloved toy brands in the world, in its Western New York hometown of East Aurora.           

Festivities included the final dress rehearsal of the first-ever Little People Live traveling musical for children

The wave of positive publicity for Buffalo continues to roll in with New York Magazine touting the Queen City in an article titled "The Under-400-Mile Escape".  

In the article that showcases "Seven cheap, exciting, nearby spring

Roaming Buffaloes Adventure Club hosted a Kickoff Happy Hour at Flying Bison Brewing Company on Ontario Street in Buffalo, last Friday, March 27 at 6:00 pm.

Kevin McCarthy provided the soundtrack to the evening during which members and guests got to sample such beers as Flying Bison's "Aviator Red," "Barnstormer Pale Ale," and" Blackbird Oatmeal Stout," among other delicious microbrews.

Jeff Empric, founder of Roaming Buffaloes Adventure Club, was very pleased with the overall success

A screening of She's a Boy I Knew, a 70-minute award-winning documentary, will be shown at 8PM on Friday, April 3rd at Hallwalls (341 Delaware Avenue) in continuation of its celebration of the 20th anniversary of Ways in Being Gay: Ways In/Between Gender.

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Members of the freshman class of the New York Foundation of the Arts (NYFA) MARK Buffalo program will hold an exhibit of their artwork at Artspace, 1219 Main Street in Buffalo, with the opening to be held from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, April 4.

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Mark Croce has expanded his downtown property portfolio.   The restaurateur and property owner purchased the two-story building that was home to The Continental nightclub and an adjacent parking lot at 212-216 Franklin Street yesterday.  Croce's Baja Beach Club Inc. purchased the sites from FAC Downtown LLC for $375,000.  The properties are adjacent to the Curtiss Building where Croce's plans for a 72-room boutique

Buffalo Rising has just learned that Patrick Paladino, 29, son of developer Carl Paladino has died from injuries sustained in a one-car collision early Saturday morning.
Much of the community has been offering prayers since hearing of the accident that left Patrick fighting for his life.  
Patrick was a bright young man with a sunny disposition, who embodied the best of what each of his parents infused in him.
We ask for your prayers to

In light of Buffalo residents Blair Woods and Monique Watts having their hens declared illegal in the City of Buffalo, Corporation Council, Alisa Lukasiewicz has given herself a crash course in urban chicken farming, and not just as it relates to Buffalo.  "[Keeping hens] is a huge movement across the nation and in many cities," Lukasiewicz said.="mso-spacerun:

Another in a series of monthly presentations in the 2008-2009 Life Sciences Commercialization Lecture Series at the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences. Month after month this area seems to be the fastest expanding economic growth area of Buffalo and Western New York. I hope to spread the word about what is sometimes a complex topic.  

If you're a fan of Dan Aykroyd then you're probably well aware of his fascination and love for the supernatural, as evident in his work in writing and starring in the Ghostbusters movies. 

Not too long ago, Aykroyd began promoting a paranormal-themed vodka called Crystal Head, a liquor whose unique bottle is influenced by the existence of mysterious quartz skulls located on our planet, most of which can be found in museums.  Many people claim that these skulls hold special powers (the ones in the museums, not the bottles.) 

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I was always one of those kids who was constantly talking in a British accent, thinking that I sounded just Divine saying, "Cheerio!" and "Pip, pip!" Turns out I wasn't, but maybe your child, or someone you know is just oozing with stage energy and a love for performance.

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Last Thursday, the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau and Erie County Executive Chris Collins announced that it has begun the implementation of its five-year strategic plan. Drafted in partnership with the hospitality industry, County of Erie and an array of community volunteers, the plan will serve as a blueprint for successfully marketing Buffalo and Erie County as a compelling visitor destination.

"The

So says CEPA Gallery of their upcoming photography exhibit and auction on April 25th.  The photos have been shot by Buffalo VIPs who have donated the work to CEPA for this fundraiser to benefit exhibition and education programs.
For a few weeks now, CEPA has been sending out "clues" of the "Visions of Greater Buffalo" photographers' identities to see if people can guess their work.  Below are this week's examples:

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On May 2nd, Shea's will be hosting "An Evening with Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin," when LuPone and Patinkin bring their critically acclaimed concert to Shea's in conjunction with the Annual Gala.

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Recently, news broke detailing plans for renovation of the Alling and Cory Building into student housing.  This is one of Buffalo's most architecturally significant industrial buildings, so the news of new investment in this structure was heartening.  Then came Internet rumors that an adjacent