wednesday september 14th 2005
If All of Buffalo Read the Same Book
queenseyes
Please consider joining us for the fifth year of If All of Buffalo Read the Same Book. This program, developed as part of our 30-year mission to strengthen communities through the literary arts, provides a common point of referenceoa single bookoto inspire connections and conversations among the diverse residents of Western New York. This yearis selection, Paul Austeris The Invention of Solitude, is part elegy, part intellectual self-discovery, and part family tree. In his mediation on his father, and fatherhood in general, Mr. Auster touches readersi experiences of connection to others and to the stories that link us across distance and time. If All of Buffalo Read the Same Book began in 2000 with A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines. The event had a significant impact, drawing audiences from throu…
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queenseyes
"In 1996, Makoto Kawabata banded together with a bunch of communal friends, musicians, farmers, dancers and fisherman from the Acid Mothers 'soul collective' to create what he thought would be a non-continuing outlet for his musical freak-outs. Dubbing the group Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. (Underground Freak Out), Kawabata decided to unveil his astrophysical clatter with a 1997 self-titled release on PSF. Although the first release was basically a Kawabata solo record replete with overdubbed group jams, it garnered plenty of international press and paved the way for a full-blown group tour in 1998 and more albums for PSF. Since then, what began as a one-off trip has turned into a full-scale lysergic ride into the noise cosmos.
"From the beginning, there were alwa…
queenseyes
Mmmmm. Blue Mountain Coffee. You know how good this place is the second you walk through their door. The aroma of all the different types of beans is captivating. And did you know that they serve up a variety of these coffees to go? Yup, you can pick up the whole beans, or have Jim (photo) grind them for you. Plus you can grab a cup while you are waiting. All the dark roasts are amazing. Inside sources say that they are just as good (if not better) than Peet's. Now that's saying something. These guys also have a wide selection of hard-to-find magazines and papers. Fashion, business, architecture, arts, they really have it all. The store dog is named Rocky. Rocky's pretty old, but chimes in on conversations every ten minutes. The new store cat is hysterical. He bounces around the place (e…
queenseyes
Message to the Co-op: Thanks for the bike racks. Thanks for tuning into the local biking community. Not only do the new racks accomodate a plethora of bikes, the ability to see your bike through Co-op window offers riders and Co-op staff the ability to check on the rides. Biking has recently taken off in the city for a variety of reasons including the outrageous price of gas. This summer we saw a number of bike rallys, along with a new bike taxi, and the addition of the Blue Bike Project. Brad Wales' bike racks in Allentown and the ability to transport bikes on the Metro Rail have fostered an additional pro-bike attitude in Buffalo. There are a number of bike shops throughout the city and recent new businesses like Sunday Skate/BMX Shop and Xtreme Wheels (indoor bike ramps) really help t…
tuesday september 13th 2005
Block Parties in Buffalo
queenseyes
There was a block party on Auburn Ave. this past weekend. You can't see the kids in the photo but there must have been a couple dozen present. They covered the street in chalk drawings, blew bubbles, and had a great time playing while the adults talked, ate, and listened to music. The evening ended with an outdoor showing of Monster's Inc complete with popcorn from an old fashioned popcorn machine.
I was surprised at how many of my neighbors I didn't know. Thankfully that's no longer the case. If your block has never held an event like this I suggest grabbing a couple of neighbors and starting one up. It is a lot of fun, not too hard to plan, and gives your neighborhood a chance to reaffirm one of the things that makes Buffalo great...our sense of community.
Story by A. Cuellar
queenseyes
There was a block party on Auburn Ave. this past weekend. You can't see the kids in the photo but there must have been a couple dozen present. They covered the street in chalk drawings, blew bubbles, and had a great time playing while the adults talked, ate, and listened to music. The evening ended with an outdoor showing of Monster's Inc complete with popcorn from an old fashioned popcorn machine.
I was surprised at how many of my neighbors I didn't know. Thankfully that's no longer the case. If your block has never held an event like this I suggest grabbing a couple of neighbors and starting one up. It is a lot of fun, not too hard to plan, and gives your neighborhood a chance to reaffirm one of the things that makes Buffalo great...our sense of community.
Story by A. Cuellar
queenseyes
If there was ever a better time to publish a book... Author Mike Rizzo brings you the 'what to dos' and the 'what not to dos'... basically the ups and downs of Buffalo's mayoral history throughout the years. Yikes! Through The Mayors' Eyes documents the exciting (and not so exciting) history of Buffalo, its politics, and its political leaders through the biographies of the 54 men who governed our city. Chock full of facts and statistics, including vote breakdown for every election since 1840. The soft cover (coffee table) book includes over 100 photos, including mayoral grave sites, and the official mayor portraits, never before published.
Michael Rizzo owns Zippy Delivery Bicycle Messengers and has documented the tales of old house…
queenseyes
For those of you that did not make it to the new Town Ballroom last night for the Artvoice 'Best Of' awards, not only was the new venue stellar, the crowd rocked as well. Restaurants from around the city donated spectacular culinary delights as local poets, musicians and performers entertained the spectators. The Town Ballroom will open to the public this Friday for Curtains Up!. The old Sphere has been transformed into a local heavy hitter for theater groups, concerts, and a variety of other performance groups in the area. The original art deco lamps remain in tact, as do the theater's original architectural details. If you have not booked your tix for Curtains Up! this weekend, I suggest you seriously consider a show at the newly renovated Town Ballroom.
Photo: Artvoice'…
monday september 12th 2005
Organizing the Organizations
queenseyes
Hereis an idea (in the form of a website) thatis sole purpose is to connect potential volunteers with non-profits in search of help.
Volunteer Buffalois goal is to raise the profile of volunteering and help people get more out of life by making it easy for them to give time to our local communities. The site is designed to use web-based technology to match the skills, interests and availability of volunteers with a range of opportunities. It is also a system, which builds strategic alliances to help meet the needs of volunteers and the voluntary sector.
queenseyes
Hereis an idea (in the form of a website) thatis sole purpose is to connect potential volunteers with non-profits in search of help.
Volunteer Buffalois goal is to raise the profile of volunteering and help people get more out of life by making it easy for them to give time to our local communities. The site is designed to use web-based technology to match the skills, interests and availability of volunteers with a range of opportunities. It is also a system, which builds strategic alliances to help meet the needs of volunteers and the voluntary sector.
