By Jessica Edwards:
What do Buffalonians love more than competition? More competition. There is a competition underway, and your vote will help to deliver a knock out punch to El Paso. Buffalo-Niagara is already leading in votes... let's keep it that way. 
In the spirit of March Madness, there is a bracket-style contest for cities to duke it out by competing for votes. The city that advances through each round, and eventually is deemed the winner will become

By Joshua Bauer (Football Nation):
For better or for worse, Buffalo is no longer the forgotten child in the NFL family. A joke... nay, a disappointment for far too long, the rest of the football-loving world had almost seemed to erase the Queen City and its Bills from their collective memories. Outside of the AFC East, many are often surprised when they see Buffalo's name on their schedule of games and can be heard remarking, "Wow, they

By Michael Hargrave:
Starting April 13, the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival will kick off its sixth year celebrating filmmakers and script writers. The festival, which runs through April 21, will be held in The Market Arcade Film and Arts Center at 639 Main Street in downtown Buffalo. An awards ceremony and final showings will be held in the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls on April 21.  Films being shown run the gamut from student films and shorts, to feature films and documentaries.

Submission by Eric Lander:
Last fall historic preservationists from around the country and beyond descended on Buffalo to marvel at our history and architectural treasures, and left with a new, more positive image of the city.  Did we not learn anything from their praises?  Our city's stock of historic buildings serves to create a sense of unique place not easily recreated.  Economic benefits include job creation, rising property values, stable tax base and an influx of cultural tourism.  
Unfortunately,

Fashion Maniac: Keeping tabs on Buffalo's fashion industry, including models, catwalks, retailers, designers, stylists, visual merchandisers and jewelers.
Article by: Phillip D. Johnson | Photographed by: Cheryl Gorski
In the realm of international fashion, we have seen the ebb and flow of many design trends. Africa is in. Sexy Secretary pencil skirts are out. Savile Row-style cuts and styling is in. "Bohemian" is

Where are you from originally?  
I am originally from West Seneca, where I still live today. I spent a few years in NYC and a few on the road, but love it back here in WNY.
What is your medium? 
I work in photography, video and theater.
How has Buffalo influenced your work? 
I have been very influenced by the beautiful acres and acres of farmland and natural habitats. Living in West Seneca, I was very influenced by the work

Erie County and the cities of Buffalo, Lackawanna and Tonawanda, with the support of the Association of Erie County Governments (AECG) have joined together to address the growing countywide abandoned property problem. 

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz was joined at an official signing ceremony late last week by representatives from Buffalo, Lackawanna and Tonawanda as well as from AECG and other officials, to announce an intermunicipal agreement and joint application seeking to be one of the first five communities in New York State to create a land bank.

"I look forward

It's been five years since Prish Moran purchased a couple of significant buildings at the corner of Lafayette and Grant Street (see story). One of those buildings was built as a tabernacle, and since its inception the building has played many a role in advancing the commercial cause of the neighborhood. Unfortunately, as the Grant Street area began to decline in years past, so did the use of the building. When I first met up with Prish five years ago I asked her what she had planned for the tabernacle building

In a bold move, TRICO Plant No. 1 decided to take matters into its own wiper blades and SAVE ITSELF! Last night TRICO called me on my preservation hotline and said that come morning it was going to leave Buffalo. So this morning I went downtown to bid adieu to a piece of Buffalo's future history. After a huge bear hug goodbye my friend "Trike" lifted itself off the ground with thousands of multi-colored balloons and a rocket booster engine just in case. What a sight! When asked why it needed a rocket booster engine TRICO said, "I am not sure if I

There are few places in Buffalo that can hold a candle to Linwood Avenue when it comes to architecture. It's one of the most eclectic array of homes around, and those who live in them consider themselves lucky to be graced with living amongst such fine craftsmanship. Each year, on one special Sunday, visitors have the opportunity to walk into a number of these houses. The event is $20 per person ($25 day of), and all of the money raised during the event goes toward streetscape and neighborhood beautification projects. 
If you're coming from outside of the area,

The sixth annual Buffalo Enviro-Fair will be celebrating Earth Day with booths from area eco-organizations in front of City Hall on Friday, April 20th, with their traditional offer to not-for-profits to exhibit at no charge.

"We strive for a great, diverse Fair and don't want any organization that legitimately is green and unable to pay for a booth to be left out of the Enviro-Fair," stated Paul D. Maurer, Chairman of the event.
 
The event started in 2007 as the area was planning their first volunteer tree plantings with a visit from Al Gore at the University of Buffalo. 

If you enjoyed the first Really, Really Free Market, or if you happened to miss it. but really really wanted to attend... whatever the case may be you're in luck. The second RRFM is coming up fast, thanks in part to the success of the first one. "The previous first winter Free Market was such a success," organizer Shea Akers wrote to me. "That we had to have another one to help kick off Free Market season. So many people came together to help out for this event. It was great knowing that a barely

Details Magazine's latest issue features a nice segment on Rust Belt cities, including Cleveland, Detriot and Buffalo. Giving kudos to a new breed of urban activists, the article highlights a number of People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH) initiatives starting with the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and leading up to an impressive foray into the world of sustainable building practices. 
Not to be outdone, Justin Booth of Green Options Buffalo shows what it takes to bring bike culture to the Buffalo masses, and even though Rusty Chain Beer

Can you imagine what it would be like to be blind? I think about these types of things every so often. A couple of years ago I stopped to chat with a blind gentleman who was standing at the corner of Summer and Delaware. When I first saw him I wondered how I would go about approaching him. After all, he couldn't see me and I didn't want to startle him. Eventually I walked nearer and said that I was sorry to bother him. I explained that I was curious about what sort of support system he had in place to help him with his daily routines. He happily answered that the Olmsted

Get ready to tweet. I mean the original tweet, not the social media tweet. On Friday, April 27, 2012 from 1:00pm until 6:00pm Gilda's Club will be hosting an event that is twofold. First and foremost it is designed to raise money for men, women, children and teens touched by cancer. It is also an event that capitalizes on the creativity of nature enthusiasts. After all, who doesn't love a beautiful birdhouse? 
We've all see the birdhouses that you can buy at the store, but history has shown that birdhouses can be as imaginative and beautiful as

Some new residential space is currently available downtown for people who want to be homeowners and have an income property.  Eran Epstein of E Square Capital LLC has wrapped up work on 504 Washington Street. The building has been transformed into three, two-family townhouses.

The three-story brick building was constructed in 1890 to house a tin shop, and later was a furniture store. By the 1930s, it was known as the Washington Building. A

The former North End Trattoria on Hertel is getting a new leash on life as two new friends, formerly from the neighborhood, have returned to create a concept based on traditional family recipes, late night pizzas and a lively bar. It's being considered a bar/restaurant that might resemble a big family reunion on any given night. Years ago, Scott Ross headed to Hamburg, while Lorie Pantano headed to Vegas. While they weren't living in North Buffalo any longer, they still kept up with neighborhood happenings through family and friends. Eventually the two connected and realized that they both had

It's crazy to think how far Dyngus Day has come over the last few years. There was a time when Dyngus Day was relatively unknown. Thanks to a herculean effort by festival organizers and a willingness from the public to support old world ethnic celebrations, Dyngus Day has managed to capture the imaginations of thousands of Buffalonians who now count down the days until they can grab their squirt guns and pussy willows and head to post-parade venues such as the Central Terminal. 
Visit Buffalo Niagara (VBN) has released yet another Buffalo.ForREalTV episode showcasing one

This giant old factory building is in a former industrial neighborhood just a bit north and west of downtown Chicago. The building appears similar in size and makeup to Buffalo's Trico Plant #1.  After mid 20th century the neighborhood around this former shoe factory declined quickly and eventually all the industry left.  Surrounding buildings, including this one, were mostly left to rot with little to no investment. Many were torn down. Sounds like the familiar rust belt America story.  Today this neighborhood has been rebuilt as a dense residential area.  The resurgence

There's a mini-boom underway in Allentown where eight multi-family residential projects are underway or planned.  The recent developer interest is happening for a number of reasons.  Allentown is a popular, established, "walkable" neighborhood with a variety of bars, restaurants, retail shops and services in place.  The neighborhood benefits by being adjacent to downtown where residential development is blossoming and growing outward.  It is also located at the edge of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus that is increasing the demand for nearby residences.  Lastly,