First, we were presented with the surreal floating bed in the Erie Canal terminus. Not knowing at the time exactly how the installation came to pass, I took the sight at face value figuring that sometimes it's best to just let sleeping art lie. It didn't take long for the mastermind behind the project to contact me via email. "It is part of the "Fluid Culture" series I am organizing for the UB Humanities Institute," Justin Read* wrote. "The project is running through April 2012. You can also find more

By Bernice Radle:
WNYSEA is bringing BRO readers a daily article about green buildings in Buffalo. Each green building will be available for you to see for FREE on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the WNY Solar Homes and Green Buildings Tour from 10am - 4pm. While this tour is not limited to the city itself, it is very important to give a HUGE cheer to the city of Buffalo because there are so many great projects within the city limits. For

Interim Superintendent Amber M. Dixon, along with Principal Elizabeth Giangreco and the Buffalo Board of Education, officially re-opened School #3, D'Youville Porter Campus School on Thursday.  Located at 255 Porter Avenue, it is the first school to be fully air conditioned.

As part of Phase IV of the five-phase, $1.4 billion Joint School's Reconstruction Project, D'Youville Porter is one of three schools that reopened their doors to students this fall.  Southside Elementary had a reopening ceremony last week, and Lorraine Elementary will celebrate their new building next Thursday,

More than 60 young professionals from the local real estate industry gathered earlier this month to attend a free walking tour hosted by the Urban Land Institute Western New York's Young Leaders Group (YLG). The tour was focused on Rocco Termini's Hotel Lafayette redevelopment project, Ellicott Commons, the Washington Market, and Oak School Lofts. The walking tour was organized to satisfy a growing demand of interest to see new developments in the downtown Buffalo corridor.

"The Urban Land Institute was very pleased to offer this tour of Signature Development's downtown projects,"

By Bernice Radle:
WNYSEA is bringing BRO readers a daily article about green buildings in Buffalo. Each green building will be available for you to see for FREE on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the WNY Solar Homes and Green Buildings Tour from 10am - 4pm. While this tour is not limited to the city itself, it is very important to give a HUGE cheer to the city of Buffalo because there are so many great projects within the city limits. For a full list of tour sites go to ="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom:

Like hot sauce? Love chili? Are you a fan of Allentown? And live music? How 'bout supporting local farmers? This Sunday, right after the Bills game, you can do all of these things just by attending the second annual Chili Challenge hosted by a newly launched hot sauce brand called HeadStone Heat. The spicy sauce got its start thanks to a bit of trial by fire in bohemian Allentown, with inspiration from the hot local music scene and the neighborhood's unique fiery character. Befittingly, the contest is being held at Nietszche's - 248 Allen Street.
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I remember when we first blitzed Elmwood Avenue with holiday decorations - Thunder Bay, Urban Threads, TreeHouse... each year we would head out with lights and poles and wrap the trees with white sparkling lights. That tradition started about fifteen years ago and today there is a broader base of businesses that continue to decorate the Elmwood district. 
This year the Elmwood Village Association is promoting a holiday decoration fundraiser that will help to procure large street ornaments. We all love to walk down Elmwood during the festive season - the sparkling lights

I was thinking of Coca Cola field while I was writing this recent story about the failure of the sprawl-based way of building a baseball stadium.  I was also thinking of this story posted a while back about the failure of silver bullet thinking that has plagued WNY for decades.  Here is the first paragraph from that story:
Recent posts on BRO and at Fix Buffalo

Filmmaker Peter McGennis is looking for some extras for an upcoming shoot for his next film, Queen City. Finding extras for the film's big disco scene should be an easy lift for Buffalonians since the city is home to the World's Largest Disco. From Peter:
"We're looking to get the word out regarding our Queen City 70's filming with Average White Band next Thursday (September 29) at The Tralf. This is where it all began a couple years ago and, as fate will have it, we are wrapping there. We're looking for some folks who might dig coming in 70's attire and being

The Buffalo Pond Hockey Committee is getting off to an early start this season. Last evening some of the committee members met up at The Eights Bistro to discuss a plan of action before the snow flies. The committee has reached out to Councilman LoCurto to discuss the potential of getting ice skating on Gala Waters (Hoyt Lake) this winter. Unfortunately by the time the committee was formed last season, there was not much of a season left. The group is looking to pinpoint the proper officials who will be able (and willing) to the test ice conditions on an ongoing basis. In the meantime, the committee

By Bernice Radle:
WNYSEA is bringing BRO readers a daily article about green buildings in Buffalo. Each green building will be available for you to see for FREE on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the WNY Solar Homes and Green Buildings Tour from 10am - 4pm. While this tour is not limited to the city itself, it is very important to give a HUGE cheer to the city of Buffalo because there are so many great projects within the city limits. For a full list of tour sites go to ="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px;

What I love most about public art is that it takes on so many different forms and everyone experiences it differently. Bernice Radle tuned me into this very simple art 'installation' located on Summer Street between Elmwood and Delaware. It actually took me a while to locate the "Get your dance on!" dance steps due to the subtleness of the interactive artwork. If you happen to walk this route, then you may be aware of the painted dance steps... I've passed by this spot a thousand times and never noticed the number.
When I first happened upon the plotted foot placement

By Bernice Radle:
WNYSEA is bringing BRO readers a daily article about green buildings in Buffalo. Each green building will be available for you to see for FREE on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the WNY Solar Homes and Green Buildings Tour from 10am - 4pm. While this tour is not limited to the city itself, it is very important to give a HUGE cheer to the city of Buffalo because there are so many great projects within the city limits. For a full list of tour sites go to www.wnysea.com.
Today

A doctor who received his medical degree from the University at Buffalo during World War II and spent his career investing with the intent of giving back to his alma mater has made an historic gift to the university.  The gift of $40 million is the largest-ever donation from an individual to UB.

The donor, who is deceased, is remembered as someone who from an early age knew that he wanted to be a physician.

"The day I received the letter of acceptance to the UB medical school was the happiest day of my life," he told friends. "Becoming a doctor was my lifelong dream."

MEETING SUMMARY for SEPTEMBER 20, 2011: 
Meeting highlights include: request for info on covering Route 33, resolution adopted allowing police to remove and impound offensive car stereo systems, permits granted for outdoor patios for Essex Pub and Black Rock Kitchen and Bar, feasibility study to restore the aquatic habitat to the Scajaquada Creek Watershed, Delaware Park Lake Pump Rehabilitation and Shoreline Improvement Project, permit for to expand an existing restaurant (M. Concialdi, agent of the property located at 561

Thanks to the Buffalo Expat Network for passing along this link to a Washington Post blog, which points to this Brookings Report that recently mapped out Gross Metropolitan Product Change in the Largest 100 metropolitan areas. Buffalo was listed as number two in strongest metros - Suzy Khimm @ Washington Post picked it up and ran

Before I announce the winner of the Naval Museum's restaurant naming contest (yeah, I know it's in the headline), I must say that I am overwhelmed with the number of responses that were submitted, as were Jason and Mike - hence the two-day delay in the announcement. There were hundreds of suggestions and personal notes that went along with the emails, which showed just how endeared people are becoming to the waterfront. I must also add that the heartfelt hopes to win were not taken lightly - your enthusiasm

The next UB School of Architecture and Planning lecture is already upon us.  Tonight, September 21st, the school invites you to see speaker Michael Conrad who will give a presentation titled "Redesigning our Food System for Health and Sustainability".  This lecture is presented in connection with the Buffalo Food Policy Summit September 20-21. Conrad is senior principal in the design firm Design+Urbanism Architectural LLC. He also teaches the International Urban Design Studio at the graduate School of Architecture and Public Planning, Columbia

Canisius College and the Sabres organization are discussing the possibility of constructing a one or two rink hockey facility at the corner of Main and E. Delevan Avenue.  The complex would be used by the college and as a practice facility for the Sabres.  It would replace an elevated parking lot at the prominent corner.

Nick Veronica of Canisius' The Griffin has

Belmont Housing Resources for WNY has received a $360,000 grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation for the acquisition, rehabilitation and resale of a minimum of 10 single-family homes in the Buffalo Promise Neighborhood (BPN).  

The agency's activities began in July and will be