August 2009 Archives

It might sound strange to some, but the Buffalo Public School District has reason to celebrate.  The school system has been plagued with drastic problems for years; however, a major achievement was announced last week when the New York State Education Department took ten Buffalo public schools off the Department's watch list.  Four of those schools had been listed as SURR (Schools Under Registration Review).  Here is a list of the ten schools, all of which are now "Schools in Good Standing"

All the talk about neighborhoods (click here for map) prompted me to write down something that I do a lot of thinking about, the places, names, spaces, neighborhoods, communities in and around Buffalo. It has been kind of a hobby for me for years. What defines Buffalo, Kenmore, Tonawanda and Cheektowaga? Where are the walkable urban areas in the city or region? 

/2009/08/index.html

Update:  Please see this article on the Central Terminal by Brennen Jensen that appears in The Chronicle of Philanthropy.  In addition, this slideshow features Michael Miller and is a perfect testament to his devotion to the Buffalo Central Terminal Restoration Corporation.

Plans have been made for the wake

Some of Buffalo's most interesting and mysterious buildings were erected by the Free Masons for their meeting places.  We have featured two of them in the past.  This one is in South Buffalo and this one,/2009/08/index.html

Reader Commentary by Scott Krajeski

After writing an editorial for the Buffalo News, I decided to approach Buffalo Rising about the topic.  A lifelong Buffalonian, I've seen the city through many ups and downs.  As Buffalo loses its reputation as an industrial haven, we seek a new identity.  Through

If you happen to be on Elmwood for the Festival of the Arts today, make sure you move on down Elmwood for some Reggae fun.

Reggae greats Third World are

Delaware Avenue sports a few powder blue residential buildings and recently got a heavy dose of blue glass at Avant.  Not to be outdone, owner Righteous Babe Records has joined in with the building at 340 Delaware Avenue south of Tupper Street. 

There's not much to say here.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  The City and public generally have no say in paint schemes outside of preservation districts.  An irate emailer isn't pleased however:

Can you believe this??  This is the former Naples

Black Rock is one of Buffalo's most historic neighborhood names dating back to the city's very beginnings.  The name comes from an outcropping of black stone that was ironically removed when the Erie Canal was constructed, making its way to Buffalo. Many know Black Rock as Buffalo's Erie Canal terminus rival and probably have little or no visual image of what the neighborhood looks like, or where it actually is.  It is safe to say that most WNYers think of Black

This Saturday, August 29th, from Noon until 10 PM, Silent Exchange @ The Yard is the place to be!

="font-family:Arial;

The long-vacant Cloister restaurant is expected to have a new owner soon with plans to redevelop the site.  Business First reports that chiropractor Dr. Scott Croce, brother of restaurateur/developer Mark Croce, is in contract to purchase the property at 472 Delaware, corner of Virginia. 

Croce's plan is to construct a new two or three-story building on the prime Allentown Historic Preservation District site and relocate his practice from 369 Delaware.  Space will be available for

When we last spoke to Oishei Foundation Executive Director Robert Gioia, he had just issued

By Charlie Riley

="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: