lifestyle
September 30, 2010 5:04 PM
by Thomas Dooney
Ruined is being given its regional premiere at TheaterLoft in an admirable production by Ujima Theatre Company. Artistic director Lorna Hill should be credited for securing Lynn Nottage's script to share with Buffalo audiences. She has also fostered an ensemble worthy of further encouragement in which there are several standout performances. This thought provoking and emotionally driven drama, lends proof to the international credo, "Rape its women and you rape a nation."
The title refers, most directly, to Sophie, an 18-year-old who is sent by her uncle to Mama Nadi. Mama runs a brothel in the depths of the war-torn Congo. Pretty as she might be, Mama first refuses Sophie because the girl is "ruined", having been raped by soldiers with a bayonet. Mama reluctantly accepts the girl in a two-for-one deal.
Ruin is the gist of this story. All the women at the brothel are ruined physically, spiritually or otherwise. But then so
City
September 30, 2010 3:42 PM
BRO submission by 'A Friend of the Arts':
On Wednesday it was reported that Erie County Executive Chris Collins is going to entirely eliminate cultural funding for all organizations except his "top ten". Much like other top ten lists, this is a joke, but unfortunately it's no laughing matter.
Here are some of the gruesome details of the Collins cuts:
- There will be NO funding for any organization that provides its programming primarily free of charge; this in the second poorest city in America;
- There will be NO funding for any theater,
City
September 30, 2010 8:29 AM
Recently, Buffalo's Mayor Byron Brown announced that the city would be launching a group of green pilot projects to address the problems with sewer overflow being experienced throughout the city. The success of these programs will determine whether they will eventually be expanded to citywide use.
"The Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA) will be launching a series of green rain water management pilot projects this fall as the first step of an emerging green sewer solution," said Mayor Brown. According to Brown, the BSA has been collaborating with the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
lifestyle
September 30, 2010 8:06 AM
I am captivated by storytelling. I am fascinated by the history of oral tradition and thoroughly entertained by audio books and good talk radio. It is not just the tale, but the act of telling it that I find so engaging. My imagination stays busy with both envisioning the story at hand and trying to visualize the actor or announcer who is speaking. I listen for clues that might disclose the reader's location, their personality, their story. Much of Buffalo's "local" talk radio is a serious drag, and it's really too bad. Buffalo is full of great stories and even greater storytellers, but
food
September 30, 2010 7:53 AM
The baseball season may be over, but the Buffalo Bisons will be continuing the fun at Coca-Cola Field by hosting their first annual Ballpark Brew Bash on Saturday, October 16 from 2-6 p.m.
The Brew Bash will feature craft beers from local breweries, as well as ones from breweries across the state of New York. There are currently 12 breweries to sample from, and more will be announced in the near future. The event is being sponsored by the Buffalo Bisons and Rich Products. The proceeds from the Brew Bash will go toward the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's goal of "adding
City
September 29, 2010 3:49 PM
Up to this point we've seen a lot of cycling criteriums and bike chases in and out of urban neighborhoods, but until now we have not seen any cyclocross (also known as Cross or CX) events. What's a cyclocross event? Well, that's a good question. I called Pete Canfield over at Campus Wheelworks (organizers of the event/s), to find out what people could expect from the upcoming November 7th race.
It turns out that this is the first year that this particular event is taking place, though there have been other cyclocross events in Delaware Park before... who knew? "Anybody is more than welcome
lifestyle
September 29, 2010 9:00 AM
On Friday, October 8, Bales Clothing will bring several area designers to the runway in the Buffalo Artspace for their second annual fashion show, titled "A Taste of Fashion."
In addition to Bales Clothing's most recent designs, the show will feature work from Yana Popova of Canada, Lashanika Whiggams of Niagara Falls, Bi-Polar Couture of Rochester, Dmattliano by Desiree Murphy of Buffalo, and B. Turner by Brittnay Turner of New York City. Guests should "dress to impress," as every attendee will have their picture taken on the red carpet for the blog. Awards will be given
lifestyle
September 29, 2010 8:37 AM
by Thomas Dooney
Could Western New York be on its way to becoming the wife swapping capital of the nation?
Not long ago, community consternation with a Grand Island motel renting rooms for a swinger's party made headlines. This week, another such party booked into a Lockport fire hall was canceled, again with a no-no from the neighbors.
Now we have Donna Hoke's play, the The Couple Next Door, performing through the coming weekend at Road Less Traveled Theatre in downtown Buffalo. In it, two husbands and their two wives exchange more than Christmas cards
City
September 28, 2010 2:08 PM
Walking around the less traveled parts of Allentown I stumbled on a hidden gem of a street. That street is Trinity Place named after Trinity Episcopal Church. It is two blocks long between Tupper and Delaware, forming part of the southern edge of Allentown. The portion starting at Elmwood is a cozy up and coming residential street. A sharp bend at about the street's 1/3 point marks the collision of the old villages of Black Rock and Buffalo as their respective street grids collide in messy urban beauty. This kink in the street is reminiscent of the extra charming
Regional
September 28, 2010 8:33 AM
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is a superb city-wide event taking place in Toronto this weekend, on October 2nd. It includes 20 city-produced exhibition projects and 93 community-produced independent projects.
The event divides the city into three areas, or focuses, called "zones". Zone A is Downtown North and works to explore the night through the use of light. Zone B is made of of two exhibitions Downtown West and Downtown East. The first will explore how art and popular music create cultural moments, while the latter will look at the night of "future past", addressing histories revisited,
City
September 27, 2010 5:01 PM
This is a long awaited event that will certainly attract an interesting range of fans. From history lovers to beer buffs, the Fireboat Bash is a celebration that is a mash up of party predecessors which have fallen along the wayside. First off, for anyone who has never taken a ride on the world's oldest operational fireboat, here is your chance. Then there's the all-day bash at the infamous Swannie House... there's trouble a brewin'! Throw in live music from the Steam Donkeys and this is sure to be a beer bash for the record books.
Honestly, it's going to be an intimate Octoberfest at
City
September 27, 2010 4:05 PM
"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way it treats its animals." - Mahatma Gandhi
Get ready to have your pets blessed on Sunday October 3rd (5pm-5:30pm) at the Lafayette Presbyterian Church. Big or small, Reverend Drew will bless them all. In recent years, the turnout for the pet blessing has been nothing short of fantastic - there have even been a few caged cats along for the ceremonies. This year's blessing will take place a bit later in the day so as to allow Bills fans to partake... it will also give Drew the ability to bless the team properly (something that
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