Buffalo Rising Redesign - What Do You Want To See?

Whatever happened to the long-touted Dining Out guide? It seems it never materialized in this current version.

check out the layout at this events in philly blog/guide ::

http://www.thisweekinphilly.com/

they've managed to relay a ton of information and links without the site looking crowded, confusing, or just plain ugly.

could be helpful in giving you some ideas about your new layout.

Easier to navigate archives. I can't easily find old articles on the old site. Horizontally expand the page. It could just be my resolution but it only takes up the middle of the screen. Use the whole page. Don't change too much though like facebook does every other week.

I'd like to see a few additions:

1) National News Tabs - a place where users or BRO staff can post links to national news sources or blogs that highlight Buffalo/WNY issues, etc.

2) I'd still like to see a SPORTS tab - I know some folks are sensitive about a SPORTS tab on BRO covering Bills, Sabres and College sports. High school can be covered as well to attract a broader base but increased Bills/Sabre coverage would be nice.

3) A tab for expats - with sub-tabs for cities/regions: NYC/BOS/DC/ATL/LA/FL, etc. to provide an outlet for expats to get involved and find ways to support WNY. We could form local clubs, such as the "Buffalo Rising Club of Boston" as an example. The Bills have backer bars all over the world - http://www.buffalobills.com/fans/billsbackers/backer-locator-map.html - I hit up the Harp all the time here in Boston during Bills games and a lot of people that I speak with care about Buffalo, want to see it improve; and ultimately we'd like to return. Wish there were a way for us to tap into that enthusiasm. Its amazing how your pride and fondness of Buffalo increases once you leave.

I have more ideas... maybe I should just start my own website. ;)

NPR's redesign is super sharp/easy-to-read.
http://www.npr.org/

an iphone optimized version would be great too.

I've been on this site for years now and unless i've missed something I would love the ability to go back and edit my own posts should I find need to. I agree a searchable archive or the ability to navigate back to ones own comments from years back, from previous website versions, etc. would be of great assistance. I would lik the ability to see what I may have said 3 years back for instance.

Proper english.

I'd like to see ReginaldQ not on the site any longer. That would be pretty cool.

An option to receive e-mails when someone comments on a story or your post.

How about a message board. Not just a section to comment on articles, but for ordinary readers to initiate discussions of their own without having to compose an entire article and submit it for consideration. How about different sections for discussions on development, architecture, community events and ideas, questions.

Edit posts would be cool, I also liked the star ranking ability of posts.

Please add more specific sub-categories and PLEASE require that more high-res photos be attached to each post. The graphics range from "excellent" to "1995" without much consistency. Just makes it hard to look at.

More YouTube & Flikr

You promote events, places, and new things it would be great for some place for people to share video of the event and pictures. User generated content to add to the articles.

Ability to message other users perhaps? There have been times when I've wanted to ask someone something that doesn't really pertain to the article at hand, and I've always felt awkward posting a direct comment to them. Sub-categories would definitely be a great addition as well.

A small thing, but it would be nice if links in articles & comments opened in another window by default, rather than the same window. I'd prefer not to leave BRO when referencing article links...

A forum section would be great! I've wanted to start some topics of disccusion but it's pretty cumbersome to try to email a BR editor and then hope they report on it.

Don't make it too complex ! ! ! ! !

How about a harsh reality section?

I think it would be a good idea for Buffalo Rising to have "correspondents" in other cities, perhaps ex-pats regular commentary on the site.

For instance, Steele could be BR's Chicago Correspondent and let us know about new ideas on urban design, city culture, etc. that are happening in that city and how it can relate back to Buffalo.

We need new ideas and fresh perspectives and a "correspondent" approach could provide that and I think would be cool.

Agree with the comments as to Keep it simple stupid.

Should include a better way to search archives by topic, perhaps region of Buffalo/WNY, etc.

I like the restaurant and event guide ideas. Something really simple, but a quick reference to what to do organized perhaps both on a well done calendar and also organized by neighborhood/town.

Bring back the print version... (just kidding)

I'd love to see something on the right or left that told us what the most popular stories are- weekly, daily, something like that. It would also be a great plus to show a random (or featured) past article on the sidebar. Even if it is only the title and first sentence.

I don't know about everyone else but I miss articles and don't often go back in the history to look at them. I'm sure there are very interesting articles that I have not read yet that I'd like to catch up on. Just something that is new each time I load the page (even if the articles are not new, people will read the old ones).

>Keep it simple stupid.

Somebody called me?

Seriously, like STEEL and kapryt say, keep it simple. I had the first WNY website in my industry (1995), and it’s a constant challenge. Systems naturally evolve towards complexity. For everything you add, try taking away two of something.

Also, don’t let success go to your head. Don’t start looking bureaucratic like the stagnant big boys, or you will become that.

Needs a better food section, of course focused on within city limits but could be larger as well. Instead of the dining section to just be any story somehow related to food, like the cost of chicken wings?!?, there should be a section with reviews of restaurants. List of top restaurants by theme, like artvoice without the "Chef's for best Italian" angle. But best brunch, best Italian, etc. Plus you could have recipes from local chefs as well. So many times I come to BUffalo rising to expect to find this but it's never here. so sad.

Absolutely bring back the ability to message other users!

Keep posts on the first page for two days or so before they disappear to page two and are forgotten.

I want a way to subscribe to comments for specific stories (mostly mine, to be honest)

I'd like to see the ability to log-in and connect with Facebook.

Printing sucks! Do something!

assign numbers to comments so we can refer to them easier at those articles that generate a lot of debate.

bro often has stunning visuals. so give credit where it is due. make the source of a picture, whether it is bro staff or wikipedia or whatever, a required field and part of the caption. stop burying it at the bottom, if it appears at all. even better, if the picture comes from a 3rd party, make the image a clickable link back to the source.

a bro channel at youtube is a great idea.

stop burying the addresses of new ventures at the end of articles.

allow members to tag articles with simple one word or short phrase descriptors, like you can at flickr.

post an acceptable use policy (maybe you already have this and i overlooked it) so that it is clear up front what sorts of comments might be deleted.

add a "report this" button for when comments get out of line.

speaking of which, given how snotty some people can be, i for one am not interested in getting back channel nastygrams from anyone. so, please, no ability to contact other commenters directly.

This is great. Many of you are right in line with what we're thinking. It's almost eerie. Keep it coming!!

Fix log in problems:

Keep me logged in forever if I want to.

Let me search for posts by author-searches for an author's name currently yield no results.

If I sign in to reply to an article, bring me back to the article to write my comment.

Better password recovery-forgot password/forgot email/forgot username are all possibilities

Get rid of the buffalo tees ad with the guy punching someone-I so want to punch that guy

It may sound a tad cliché, but let’s face it: sex sells. I think an indiscreet, yet prominent symbol of a half erect male phallus would symbolize intent and convey direction. Maybe a figures of Kokopelli or Itzamna for the overall image?

Is there a way to spell check and edit a posting AFTER it's posted?

That would be nice...

A Buffalo slideshow banner would be cool...

oh, i almost forgot! for god's sake, start dating your articles! when old ones show up in google searches, like this one:

http://www.buffalorising.com/2009/01/community-activists-rally-around-a-cafe.html

there is no way of knowing when it was published.

I like the ideas mentioned so far. Private messaging, printing, links to other media (facebook, youtube, etc), etc.

I'd also like to see the channels at the top of the page changed to reflect some of the more pertinent issues typically discussed. Built environment, local history / architecture, city vs. suburbs, Local projects (canal side, Peace Bridge, AM&As, Statler, etc), entertainment, and local politics.

I like the forum idea as well.