Just the other day someone new to Buffalo asked me where the bars, cafes and restaurants with the fireplaces were. I thought about it for a hot minute and answered that surprisingly I only knew of a couple of places. The first restaurant to come to mind was Gabriel's Gate. The Gate has at least two operational fireplaces if memory serves. Other than that, as far as cafes go I could only think of The Lunch Box Cafe at the Parkside Lodge - the old fireplace is in the process of being restored to operational status.

I'm sure that there are more fireplaces out there, but where? Also, can

Note: The fundraiser originially scheduled for the 19th has been postponed.  We'll post details on the new date when it is finalized.

When I read the item in the Challenger last month that the Uncrowned Queens (now Uncrowned Community Builders) Institute would have to leave its home at the University at Buffalo, I was naturally concerned and contacted the director, Dr. Barbara Barbara Seals Nevergold.  "We're disappointed and saddened, but we've had the chance to digest this and

Every so often I run across a business that opens in a commercial district that creates a perfect match between the concept and the neighborhood. Such is the case with the Lagniappes French Quarter Cafe expansion into its new home at 220 Allen Street (across from the Old Pink). I've been there twice since they reopened their doors, and I've got to hand it to owner Chris Silverstein for pulling off a fantastic conversion from old house to cozy hot spot filled with aromatic smells, soothing colors, and comfortable seating options, perfect for a ravenous family or a lone vegan.

Lagniappes

The holidays are steadily approaching and The Floristry is once again featuring its ever-popular Buffalo-themed snow globes.

In previous years, the store has sold globes featuring some of Buffalo's finest architectural icons, including City Hall and the Richardson Complex.  The Richardson Complex snow globe was chosen last year thanks to input from you, the readers of Buffalo Rising. BRO readers gave 34% of the votes in favor of featuring the Richardson administrative tours in the snow globe.

On November 8, The Floristry released the first photograph and sample of the

If all goes according to plan, Hertel Avenue will have a new little sandwich shop on its hands as soon as this morning. Proprietor Dave Howard's breakfast and lunch concept is to keep it simple by sticking to the basics - selling a number of wraps, soups and salads. At the same time, he has a couple of culinary surprises that he's planning on unleashing, such as the 'buckeye chicken wrap' (chicken fingers, onion rings, barbecue sauce and ranch dressing), and the 'Fish all the way' (fish fry, French fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauces). There are traditional healthy options as well.

By

Does Buffalo need another downtown hotel?  This is the question many asked when Uniland announced their downtown mixed-use conversion project, Avant.  And Uniland Development Company answered not with just another "downtown hotel" but with the premier hospitality, residential and office space in Buffalo.

The Embassy Suites Buffalo at Avant has quickly become the choice

BRO submission by Ben Perrone:

Our current school system is broken and attempts to make it work have never been successful. We have a continual battle between the school board, parents and unions that produce small increments of change and improvement, and we accept the terrible results for graduation and test scores. It's like trying to keep the old car running when it has long past its usefulness. It's time for a 'sea' change that will bring many protests from all sides. I would like to propose a new system of public education that would bring more harmony and better results

Today, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Unitarian Universalist Church on Elmwood Avenue at West Ferry will be hosting Le Franco Festibal du Beau-Fleuve in celebration of Buffalo's French-speaking cultures.

The event will highlight music, dance, games and cuisine of various French-speaking lands, including parts of Africa, Haiti, Quebec, Louisiana and, of course, France.  At 1:30 p.m., Ron Davis will be performing Cajun accordion music.  At 2 p.m. Asakivle Buffalo will be presenting their work in Soukri, Haiti.  Afterward, Gypsy Jazz a la

Statler City LLC's phased approach to redeveloping the Statler has State backing- to the tune of $5 million.  That according to this morning's The Buffalo News.  Funding from the NYS Economic Development Corporation is contingent on the City contributing $500,000 to help stabilize the building and redevelop the building's bottom three levels.  The upper floors would be renovated in stages and would house a mix of uses under a plan unveiled Wednesday by Mark Croce and James Eagan.

From The Buffalo

With news and opinions furiously swirling around the potential future of the Buffalo Statler Hotel I thought I would resurrect this story first published by BRO in 2006.  That was several months before the Issa debacle and the current grim state of decay and abandonment. The story is more relevant now than it was back then.  Take a look.

The Statler Hotel Chain is long gone but many of its fine buildings still dominate downtowns of cities across the country. I am sure there are many younger people who do not equate the Statler name with travel and vacationing but, at

FASHION MANIAC TEAM:

Features Editor : Cassie Elsaesser  
All Photography & Managing Editor : Cheryl Gorski
Stylists : Cassie Elsaesser & Cameron Richard 
Make Up : Dani Weiser
Guest Hair Stylist : Whitney Curry
Prop Stylist : Todd Warfield, Lucy Mancuso, Michael Merisola
Executive Producer / Video Journalist : Richard Renda

Concrete Jungle By:  Cassie Elsaesser

Music has always played a part in the world of fashion. From country to rap, indie to

By Exchange:

It's a great time to be a planner - professional or amateur. As the once-theoretical notion of sustainability continues to take root in communities across the globe, we've begun to see innovative and very useful tools emerge into the mainstream. One of the latest such tools is Mapnificent.

Released just last week, Mapnificent is a free online mapping tool that shows users the area they can reach with public transportation from any point at any given time. It's available for 19 major cities in the U.S., including

By Mark Williams:

It is disheartening that I find myself writing to eulogize a building that has been unnecessarily allowed to become a victim of neglect; especially one in a much sought-after location such as Johnson Park. I am, of course, making reference to 102 Johnson Park (see back story) that has been coerced into playing the role of an unwanted child whose eventual fate will be urban vandalism.

David Torke, of Fix Buffalo,

Things are moving forward in the Larkin District on a daily basis and the official opening of the Larkin streetscape is a great example of progress. Five years ago Larkin Development Group approached the UB School of Architecture and Planning to create a master plan for the area and by partnering with First Niagara, part of that plan has come to fruition in the streetscape project.
 
The goal of the streetscape restoration was not only for aesthetic purposes, but to create "a vibrant, mixed-use, commercial, residential, and retail environment" says Larkin Development managing

Last night's Erie County budget hearing saw the largest outpouring of civic discontent seen in Buffalo since the days of the Red/Green budget crisis.  Folks from all over Erie County began to arrive at Old County Hall by 4:00 PM, and some were there until 9:30.  One by one, they approached the microphone to speak about the proposed cuts running the gamut from youth programs, auditors in the Comptroller's office, security guards, libraries, arts & culture, medical examiners, the cooperative extension, and so on.  Not one speaker spoke in favor of the budget.  Full

By Serina Richards:

Veterans Day - A bill for the holiday was pushed through Congress and President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954. This day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.
 
It was first proclaimed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919.
 
Today, there are nearly 25 million veterans living

It has been said time and time again that the Statler is a treasure that must be saved and that is exactly what Mark Croce and James Eagan are attempting to do. Statler City LLC has put together a phased approach for seeing the rehabilitation and reuse of the iconic Buffalo

On Wednesday, Statler City, LLC and Preservation Buffalo Niagara held an event at the historic building to present their proposal for the future of the property to an estimated 125 civic leaders, developers, and elected officials.  Statler City, LLC, headed by developer Mark Croce and businessman James Eagan, has been approved to purchase the building.

While the building is steeped in legal issues and many have called for its demolition, the group insists that saving would be the most sensible option.  Citing the Memorial Auditorium as an example, the presentation pointed out

Winter is around the corner, is your bike ready for the sleet, snow, ice and salt? If you answered no, then the place you need to be is the Green Options Buffalo Winter Bike Workshop!

For anyone who has wanted to bike in the snow, Green Options Buffalo has dreamed up a workshop that is geared towards the winter cyclist. Our awesome instructors will be available to help you refurbish a used bicycle and customize it for use during the winter. You can expect to gain hands-on experience in building and maintaining your winter bike, as well as a few safety tips from our veterans. It's also

By Larry Brooks:

Come and celebrate our 21st birthday with a party for clean water, this Friday, the 12th, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Pearl Street Grill and Brewery. There will be liquid refreshment, hors d-oeuvres, a silent auction and music by Neville Francis and the Riddim Posse. Tickets are $45 at the door or $30 if you're under 30.

Come have fun and benefit RIVERKEEPER, an organization that was founded in 1989 (as "Friends of the Buffalo River") by five citizens who wanted to clean up the Buffalo River. The organization has increased capacity and project responsibility