monday may 12th 2008
Project Update: 95 Perry Street
West Coast Perspective
Renovation work at the former Benlin Warehouse, 95 Perry at the corner of Mississippi Street, is on track for completion this autumn. Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) will be the anchor tenant in the building taking two floors of space. ESDC will be relocating and expanding from space in the Liberty Building.
Savarino Companies and Avalon Development are teaming up on the $8 million make-over of the 1930’s warehouse building in the Cobblestone District. Plans by the Erie County Industrial Development Agency to take space in the building have been put on hold for the time being.
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sunday may 11th 2008
The Little Rock Sleeps 250 Every Weekend
queenseyes
Here's something pretty interesting - did you know that the USS Little Rock Guided Missile Light Cruiser has an average of 250 people stay on it each weekend? That's right, whether it's ROTC, Army cadets, or American and Canadian Boy and Girl Scouts boarding the Little Rock for the night, these groups arrive to navigate the cruiser and learn about the water (and man's place on it). Just ask AMCS John Branning, USN (Ret) Chief Engineer about the weekend occurrence. He waits for each and every group to board before organizing the evening, the night and the following morning for events, discussions, programs, etc., including dinners and breakfasts.
As I spoke to John I inquired about what groups were already on board and what groups he was still expecting. He told me that he was still expecting the 33rd Scout from Saint Catherines, (Ontario). It was not long after that when I spott…
queenseyes
These days, if you head down to the Inner Harbor, you are sure to find something of interest... like finding the doors to 'The Barn' cranked open. The Barn is situated next to the Super 'Dangerous' Yard - a place where many of the missiles and jets are found. The kids that take the tour of this yard call it 'dangerous' because of the artillery found there, while the employees that work at The Barn say that it is dangerous [joking] because the kids pick up the pebbles and throw them at the aircrafts.
When I peered into The Barn this past Friday, I was surprised to see something that looked like a shuttle ship from the original show, Star Trek. Whether it was intentionally designed to look that way or not, it was the last thing that I expected to see there. It turns out that the shuttle is actually a working Venturer simulator where visitors can pay a couple bucks to find out how…
Corinne Eberwine
Remember when you were in grade school and your teacher helped you make gifts out of Popsicle sticks and construction paper? Any parent is genuinely touched by the sentiment behind these lovely creations... but if you're a little too old to be making noodle necklaces, it might be time to leave the handcrafting to professional artists and get Mom something original that she'll be sure to love. A shopping trip for local handcrafted goodies at Buffalo's only monthly independent artists' market would be a real treat for anyone—and a great place to get Mom that special something she’ll really appreciate.
If the opening of Buffalo Indie Market this past April was any indication, there will be plenty to please everyone—not just moms. Last month I had to restrain myself by buying only 3 bars of all-natural handmade soap, wild berry lip balm and bath salts, a beautiful plum colore…
Elena Cala Buscarino
We all got here in the same way, and we all have a woman to thank for her part in it. My mother, Nelle, was the last of a family of nine, whose parents came from Tortorici, Sicily.
Lately, at the urging of my cousins, she's become somewhat of the family historian because at the age of 82, she is the only one of her immediate family to have a computer, and she knows how to use it. The questions flood in, and she does her best to answer, while my cousin Joanne has diligently scanned every old family photo she can get her hands on.
My mother tells stories of the old days in Jamestown, NY, filling in missing facts, whether about people or buildings that once stood and are now gone. Sure, there's a longing for the ghosts of the past, whether they involve relatives or the old homestead that was razed to make way for a modern medical building. Guests were invited into the parlor…
BlueDevil
Warren Buffett enjoys near universal praise for everything he does. Popularly known as the Oracle of Omaha, Mr. Buffett is widely considered the greatest investor of all time as his holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, has generated eye-popping annualized returns of 25%+ over the past 30 years. Mr. Buffett has shrewdly purchased large interests in blue-chip American companies when other investors were fleeing. He owns huge stakes in Coca Cola, American Express, Wells Fargo, Fruit of the Loom and The Washington Post. Buffett also seems to have a fondness for Buffalo - he is a large shareholder of M&T Bank, his Geico opened a new $40M operations center in Amherst in 2004 and, of course, he owns The Buffalo News and serves as the paper's Chairman.
The Berkshire Hathaway operating model is quite simple - acquire safe, boring businesses that generate excess cash, send the cash to…
Eli George
The Parkside Community Association (PCA) is celebrating its 10th annual Tour of Homes this year. According to Kathleen Peterson, executive director of the PCA, “We’re hoping to have ten [homes]. There aren’t any from last year.”
Currently the PCA has secured nine homes for the tour, five of which are completely new, and none of which were on last years tour, but there is a few that have been on previous year’s tours. Though usually the Darwin Martin House is included on the tour, this year it is not. However, the Gardener’s Cottage as well as the Barton House will be.
The tour starts at the Church of the Good Shepard on the corner of Jewett Parkway and Summit Avenue. Information, tickets, and maps will be available there. Tickets the day of are $15, however, you can purchase tickets in advance. They are available at the PCA’s office at 2318 Main Street during regu…
saturday may 10th 2008
First Glimpse of the Beach
queenseyes
It may not be open yet, but there's a beach down at the Erie Basin Marina. The entranceway (yes there is one) was taped off this afternoon, which prevented anyone from walking down to the water's edge. The closure was Ok though - just looking down upon the sand was enough to get our group excited. No, this isn't a sprawling beach where you can walk for miles... it is a start though. And the potential is there to expand upon Tower Outlook Beach if it becomes a success.
At the edge of the water are two signs warning people the swimming is prohibited. I talked to a security person at the marina who told me that people were very curious about the beach, though he had seen no one walk past the tape yet. The entrance to the beach is not very elaborate, which is good. It looks like an entranceway that you would …
queenseyes
We can thank Labatt US headquarters (located in Buffalo) for hosting another fun event at the Erie Basin Marina (see first event). At first we though that the schooner was going to be the coolest part of the event, but it turned out to be the parade that people really gravitated to. The parade, led by bagpipers, started over at the Outlook Tower and made its way down Erie Boulevard to The Hatch. Following the bagpipers was Labatt USA President Glen Walter, who helped to carry the ‘first’ keg of Alexander Keith’s Traditional Lager to the party site. Labatt is currently launching the beer in the USA, and Buffalo just happens to be the initial beneficiary (
Eli George
Not many people may know it, but the Olympia Boxing Club at 300 Pearl Street has a champion working in it. Jimmy Ralston has been working there for two years and back in the 1960s was seventh in the world as a light heavyweight contender. Using his expertise from the world of boxing, he organizes a champion amateur boxing event.
The Battle At The Post is the next upcoming fight he organized and it takes place at the VFW Leonard Post at 2450 Walden Avenue in Cheektowaga. It features around 12 boxers: about 4 heavyweights, several middleweights, 2 champion women boxers, and 2 juniors who are 16 years old or under. All of the boxers involved belong to USA Boxing and the event is officially sanctioned by the organization.
Everyone involved is licensed from the judges to the participants and the event even has professional announcers, not to mention beautiful ring girls to announce …
