Buffalo Rising: Buffalo Rising: February 2012 Archives

lifestyle February 29, 2012 2:54 PM

"Laughing in BuffaLOL"

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By Lani Churley:
During his youth, Dan Mahoney was kicked out of five different schools. His attempts at being funny to gain attention did not amuse school administration. It would appear they couldn't take a joke. During one of his regular trips to the principal's office, he was asked, "Mr. Mahoney, you're back here again? What do you think you're some kind of comedian?" The answer would turn out to be a resounding yes.
Dan Mahoney is in fact a comedian. His style has earned him industry acclaim and a loyal following. He has survived drinking, dating, corporate life and cancer - and reflects on these life experiences on stage through his unique brand of deliberate, steady-paced observations.
Originally from Buffalo, Dan has been performing stand-up comedy for over a decade, grinding out his craft in New York City for the last three years. But when

City February 28, 2012 1:02 PM

Regier Finds a Fit

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By: Kyle Gunn-Taylor
As Sabres GM Darcy Regier tossed and turned dreaming of getting a 1st round pick for Paul Gaustad and finding a Junior B team that might be willing to take on Brad Boyes' $4-million cap hit, myriad trade rumors swirled in the gusts that swept over Buffalo, Monday.
As the 3:00pm NHL trade deadline neared, it seemed as if Regier's alarm clock might have forgotten to arouse him from his daily nap. When the alarm finally went off around 2:55pm, a little earlier than usual, it was just in time for him to realize

City February 28, 2012 10:35 AM

Lloyd Taco Truck(s): You Can Help Get Another Lloyd Rolling

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Everyone knows Lloyd Taco Truck. And everyone loves Lloyd Taco truck.
They pioneered the food truck movement in Buffalo. They helped shape reasonable food truck laws which allow trucks to co-exist with brick-and-mortar restaurants.

The only problem with Lloyd - there's just one.
But we can all help solve that problem.
Lloyd has just announced a Kickstarter project to raise enough

City February 28, 2012 8:08 AM

Rock The 500 Block Party

Buffalo Rising 0

By Erica L. Eichelkraut:
This Friday, March 2 from 5-11pm, the 500 Block of Main Street will be rockin' as they host another Rock The 500 Block Party. The event was originally thought of while in a meeting with Councilmen Pridgen's office, Buffalo Place and multiple 500 block business & building owners, who wanted to think of a way to show off all of the great changes that have been happening in the area.
Join them this Friday night for a block-long open house celebrating local art, music & downtown Buffalo.
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lifestyle February 27, 2012 3:18 PM

Sabres Trade Zack Kassian to Vancouver for Cody Hodgson

Buffalo Rising 10

While fans were panicking and yelling for Sabres general manager Darcy Regier to "do something," the Sabres have done something.
First, they traded Paul Guastad and a fourth round draft pick to Nashville of a first round pick. Now, the Sabres have traded prospect Zack Kassian and Marc-Andre Gragnani to the Vancouver Canucks for Cody Hodgson and Alexander Sulzer.
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Regional February 27, 2012 2:30 PM

Sabres Trade Paul Gaustad to Nashville for a 1st Round Draft Pick

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According to multiple reports from USA Today, TSN and The Hockey News, the Sabres have traded Paul Gaustad and a fourth round draft pick to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a first round draft pick.
Guastad, who has played with the Sabres since the 2005-06 season, has racked up 71 goals in 479 NHL games. The centerman had 585 penalty minutes in his career with Buffalo. He was top 10 in the league in face-off percentage for the past 3 seasons.
To his credit, Gaustad was well-liked in the community. He lived in the City and was frequently

City February 27, 2012 2:30 PM

Seneca Gaming's Buffalo Waterfront Fund Application Process Set

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The Seneca Buffalo Creek Development Advisory Board today outlined a grant application process for $1 million in projects designed to boost infrastructure, landscaping, lighting and signage in areas around the downtown Buffalo casino.

The process announced today is the result of nine months of work and a series of board meetings that involved input and guidance from stakeholders such as the Seneca Nation Council; Erie County; the City of Buffalo; the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority; Seneca Gaming Corp.; the Seneca Nation Planning Department; the Old First Ward Community Association;

City February 26, 2012 11:37 AM

The President Is A Sick Man by Matthew Algeo

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Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Carol Ann Strahl:
In this day of persistent investigative journalism, the secrecy covering President Grover Cleveland's cancer surgery on a yacht in Summer 1893 would be an almost impossible task. This is just one of the many issues covered in this fact-filled expose.
Cleveland of course began his career in Buffalo as a young lawyer; eventually became Erie County Sheriff (the only U.S. President to ever have served as hangman), Mayor of Buffalo and New York Governor

City February 26, 2012 9:10 AM

High School Students Peddle Leaves for Trees

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$5 for a leaf may seem a little stiff, unless each one gets pinned on a likeness of a bare tree, hung in most Buffalo Public Schools as a fundraiser for Re-Tree WNY.

That's just what's taking place in South Park and McKinley High Schools as students compete for a $500 prize offered-up by a retired teacher. Mr. Juris Smiltins, who taught at Buffalo Public School Erie County Health Care Center for Children #84, has issued the challenge via Re-Tree WNY to coincide with the current fundraising the charity is doing to help meet their five-year

City February 25, 2012 10:47 AM

Buffalo: A History of Growth, Decline and Leftovers

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By Douglas Gibbons:
The following diagram (see below) illustrates a pattern of growth and decline that is commonplace within America's Rust Belt Cities. Overly dependent upon outdated and monopolized industries, the city of Buffalo now features an excess of structural and infrastructural waste. Unused housing stock, coupled with an excess of roads and highways, now comprise an urban shell of yesterday's economic might.
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City February 24, 2012 2:16 PM

Rally Against Friday and Saturday Specials!

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Posted by Members of Preservation-Ready Sites:
For those interested and committed to saving Buffalo's built environment, please consider coming to a now-scheduled rally, from 2pm-6pm today (rescheduled for 10am to 1pm on Saturday) to protest continued demolitions in Buffalo (particularly on the East Side). Located just blocks from the Medical Campus, there is no reason that the City should be destroying this valuable infrastructure when millions of dollars are being poured into medical facilities just down the street.

City February 23, 2012 7:41 PM

Vince gets a Gold Medal on Rhode Island

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By Michael Hargrave:
Vince Kuntz's building has been looking tired.
476 Rhode Island is a three story brick edifice, remarkably similar to the Left Bank just one block away. The rust colored brick walls stand straight and tall, a testament to their builders. The facade is beginning to show its age though, the soft sandstone having been worn down by time and weather. The faded remnants of an old Gold Medal painted sign still adorn the eastern wall. Painted over the bottom section of the mural is some graffiti, a reminder

City February 23, 2012 10:26 AM

Common Council Items of Interest 2-21-12

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MEETING SUMMARY for FEBRUARY 21, 2012
Meeting highlights include: Regulation or licensing of property managers who do business in the City of Buffalo must designate a property manager, grant City of Buffalo powers to sell properties at below fair market value so that residents will be more inclined to purchase and maintain them, notification of pending home foreclosures with City Clerk will allow Council Members to take a more active role in keeping people in their homes and ensuring that homes which become vacant are adequately

City February 23, 2012 9:53 AM

Buffalo CashMob Heads to Thin Ice

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Buffalo CashMob has a simple goal: to get as many people as possible to "flash mob" a local small business and spend $10-20 each. There is no discount, no coupon, freebie.
It's the anti-Groupon, really.
Chris Smith came up with the idea and, after launching in Buffalo, the idea spread to other cities and has received attention from the Wall Street Journal, MSNBC and other major

City February 22, 2012 10:08 AM

Tired of sitting on your hands regarding the Bills' future and TV blackouts, get involved.

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By Matt Sabuda Chairman Sports Fans Coalition Buffalo Chapter:
Last week, Alan Pergament wrote a well reasoned piece on WNYmedia.net regarding the risks for Western New York sports fans if the FCC decides to end their blackout policy (see post). Mr. Pergament's concerns focus around the fear that small market teams like Buffalo may have an increasingly difficult time selling tickets, putting the team in jeopardy of relocation.

City February 20, 2012 5:58 PM

Charles Rand Penney Collection Sale

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By Jessica Edwards:
Have you ever wondered what you'd have to do to get your name on the side of a building around town? In Charles Rand Penney's case it was his love of art and his collector's eye that landed him the prestigious honor. If you're already familiar with Charles Rand Penney and his storied life, then you might want to come out this week (Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25) for the last public sale of items from his personal collection. What may not sound like such a big deal actually is because Penney traveled the world collecting

City February 18, 2012 9:50 AM

Everybody's Talking Trash These Days, So Why Keep Quiet?

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By Rebekah Williams

We need your help getting Buffalo to recycle because our region needs the cash.

According to a policy brief by Partnership for the Public Good (PPG), the City of Buffalo pays every time people throw their garbage in a trash can. That means that when we toss stuff in the garbage, there is a cost to our community.

The problem: Buffalo residents recycle only 8% of curbside waste each year. Compare that to the national average of 27%, or compare that to other local municipalities that report a

City February 17, 2012 12:15 AM

Ryan Introduces Legislation to Make Buffalo River Eligible for State Funding

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On Wednesday, New York State Assemblyman Sean Ryan introduced a bill (A.09297) in the Assembly to amend state law to add the Buffalo River to the list that defines inland waterways. Currently, the list does not include the Buffalo River, which means it is not eligible for grants under the New York State Environmental Protection Fund's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. Important and well known waterways such as the Mohawk River, the Hudson River, and Chautauqua Lake, just to name a few, are currently on the New York State List of Designated Inland Waterways. The Buffalo River has somehow

City February 16, 2012 1:05 PM

Final weekend of NIGHT LIGHTS at The Gardens

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By Jeff Baines:
For one final weekend, the Buffalo & Erie Botanical Gardens will be illuminated with the creative "NIGHT LIGHTS at the Gardens." The show is definitely a way to see the gardens in a different light, as the plants and glass structures are bathed in colorful and interactive lighting. Don't wait too long to experience NIGHT LIGHTS, as it closes this weekend. It will be open tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday night from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The percussion group Gahu Drum Ensemble will give a performance on Friday

City February 16, 2012 8:53 AM

Addicted to Demolition, the Making of an Urban Prairie

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By Eric Lander:
Following 60 years of economic decline and the loss of nearly 319,00 residents the City of Buffalo is now in the unenviable position of owning thousands of vacant residential and commercial properties. The City's housing vacancy rate has climbed from 4.4 percent in 1970 to 17.2 percent by 2010. Much of the urban landscape is now in decay and once vibrant neighborhoods are approaching extinction and others are at risk to follow suit.
The likelihood over the next couple decades of Buffalo regaining its population