The Buffalo Museum of Science recently received an award from John R. Oishei foundation to support their master plan of two Science Studios and a new model of interactive science exhibition, one that combines the Museum's collections with the engagement of hands-on interactive elements.


"We are so thankful to The John R. Oishei Foundation for their show of confidence in our plan. This grant will allow us to focus on the science currently happening in Western New York," said Mark Mortenson, the museum's president and CEO.


According

On Friday, April 22, local artist Chuck Tingley will be returning to his "first home" at 464 Gallery for the opening of his latest show entitled "Art is Dead."  

The show will feature a series of paintings on display at 464 and a wall-to-wall installation at Blink Gallery. The paintings will feature representations of fallen political leaders, elements of popular culture and societal expectations.  Tingley incorporates text from various articles written on the subject matter in order

When Noel Morreale first opened up Fiamma Steak House on Hertel Avenue, he pretty much nailed it. With his guidance, the restaurant has become a popular North Buffalo establishment and remains a dynamic culinary institution on the street. Now Noel is setting his sights on a restaurant in downtown Buffalo - the former Duo location will soon be home to Bambino Bar and Kitchen. Noel is looking to attract the business crowd during the day, while appealing to a 'hip' crowd at night. After all, when Duo was open it was one of the swankier restaurant settings in the city.

One glance

Last fall, the organizations that together make up the Partnership for the Public Good voted to adopt the Peace Bridge/Truck Plaza expansion as an issue to focus on for the coming year.  As part of that effort, the Partnership will be hosting a forum this afternoon to exchange views among an invited panel and the community (details below).

Alert Western New Yorkers know that there has been a lot of recent news on this issue, including the apparent "final, official" death and burial of Shared Border Management, calls for merger of the Niagara

With the bicentennial of the War of 1812 nearly upon us, fresh hostilities broke out across our long-peaceful border this spring.  In a fusillade of paper and streaky faxes, the Town of Ft. Erie volubly and vociferously made it clear that they're not talkin' to us -- because, they say, we're not talkin' to them, first.  And sparking this cross-border undiplomatic incident?  None other than the notoriously undiplomatic Peace Bridge Authority General Manager, Ron Rienas.

Clearly demonstrating why elected officials on our side of the border have taken to calling him "Ron

I part ways with many urbanists in that I don't hate suburbs. In fact, I think we need to start with a basic acknowledgment of the fact that most people like owning single family homes and like living in the suburbs. I might live in the city and not own a car, but that doesn't mean other people necessarily do. Did subsidies and public policy contribute to sprawl? Of course, as we've recently been examining here. But I do believe there's a legitimate consumer preference for the suburbs.

I do think we

This morning, community leaders, elected officials and local residents gathered outside the Verizon Building at the corner of Swan and Franklin Streets to launch a campaign to address the digital divide in Buffalo.

Verizon has been offering its FiOS service to many of Buffalo's suburbs, including Amherst, Tonawanda, Kenmore, Orchard Park, Hamburg, West Seneca and Lackawanna, but it has left the City of Buffalo out.  This service provides faster Internet and better video programming over fiber optic cables that run directly into consumers' houses. The "Don't Bypass Buffalo" campaign

Hockey is no joking matter in this city, and Mayor Byron Brown is doing his best to show some pride in Buffalo's team this year.

With the series making its way to Buffalo for games three and four, Brown has established a "No Orange (Flyers) Zone" in the lobby of City Hall.  A banner featuring the message "This is a NO Orange (Flyers) Zone. Go Sabres!" with the mayor's signature printed beneath it was hung in the lobby today.

Brown also claimed that he refused to wear or eat anything orange while the series was going on. He has made his official prediction for the final

Preservation Buffalo Niagara and the City of Buffalo are sponsoring two workshops later this week explaining the NYS Historic Homeowner Tax Credit program.  These workshops are free and open to the public. Advance registration is strongly encouraged as seating is limited.  People may attend more than one workshop, but registration is required for each.  Refreshments will be served. 

The Federal Historic Preservation Commercial Tax Credit and NYS Historic Commercial Tax Credit programs can be combined to cover 40% of qualified rehabilitation expenditures.

The

If you ever intend on opening an Italian restaurant in North Buffalo, then you better be prepared to take on some serious competition. After all, some of the best Italian restaurants have set up shop in and around Hertel, and more are always on the way. When I first heard that Andriaccio's North was opening in the former Filippo's location, I was happy to see the space being occupied, but at the same time I wondered if the owners could cut the mustard in the city's Land of Italian. After speaking to Co-owner Debbie Andriaccio for just a couple of minutes, not only was I assured that the restaurant

At least once a month I read that something is "Buffalo's Best-Kept Secret."  

Although many organizations, shops, venues (even people!) have been labeled "Buffalo's Best-Kept Secret," I think that title should legitimately go to that outstanding yet little-heralded organization, the Matt Urban Center.  And if you know anything about their work, you would likely agree with me.  Yet it's a title they are eagerly and actively looking to shed.  Not the "best" part, of course -- the "secret" part.

As Executive Director Marlies Wesolowski told me on a recent

Yesterday marked the grand opening of the West Side Bazaar on Grant Street. So often we are not able to experience the beauty of an event of this nature due to the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. That's why I'm happy to say that local photographer Lukia Costello was on-hand to capture some of the people who gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion.

While many Buffalonians geared up for the Sabres game, others headed to Grant Street to sample ethnic foods, purchase foreign crafts, listen to diverse music and meet the people who are introducing these culturally significant

The Emerging Leaders in the Arts Buffalo (ELAB) will be welcoming artists, arts professionals and arts supporters to Eddie Brady's Tavern on Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. to participate in a little "artworking."

This networking event is held on a quarterly basis and is meant to bring together the members of the local arts community to meet, mingle, and promote their ideas. ELAB will also be giving out more information about their organization and the events they will be hosting in the near future.  Those interested can also sign up to become a member

Following up on the successful "Paint-In" at the Blacksmith Shop last month, Sara Zak, the Plein Air Painters and other independent artists, working with different media, will assemble to capture and bring awareness to another building on the Preservation-Ready List: 169 East Ferry, also known as the Harris Hardware building. The building, owned by Glenn Banks, has a leaky roof that has resulted in major water damage to upper floors and interior walls.  Artists will begin their work at the site at 9:30

It was back in 2008 when a storm blew across the city's waterfront, whipping up the waves and manhandling sections of the Times Beach boardwalk (see post). It was an unfortunate turn of events that left some people wondering if and when repairs would commence. It looks as if that time has finally come. If the weather cooperates tomorrow, The County plans on initiating the effort, while aiming for a completion date sometime this spring.

The effort coincides with a volunteer cleanup at the site being led by Buffalo

Easter Season is well underway at the Broadway Market and they will be keeping the fun going this afternoon with the Third Annual Peep Eating Contest.  

The contest will start at 1 p.m. and will last for 60 seconds, with whoever eats the most of these marshmallow peeps being crowned champion.  The contest is free to participate in, but they ask that interested individuals sign up by logging into www.broadwaymarket.org and filling out the online form. One can also register at the Broadway Market Information Table today starting at 9 a.m.

Young Citizens for ECC, a regional advocacy group for Erie Community College, announced the organization's establishment this week. Composed of about 50 young professionals and growing, Young Citizens for ECC intends to introduce "adult supervision" to the debate about the future of Erie Community College. 

The organization announced its mission: To grow ECC's neglected City Campus into the regional hub for ECC's three-campus system.

"We believe the future of Erie Community College is in downtown Buffalo," said Bernice Radle, the chair of Young Citizens for ECC. "ECC must

Tonight, Blink Gallery will experience "A Loss of Gravity" with the opening of Marissa Lehner's interactive art installation.  

"This installation will deal with the inevitability of death and the personal toll it can take on a loved one," said Lehner. "With memory loss comes a nostalgia for the past, like trying to catch smoke in the air; with death comes an appreciation for life, and those who nurture it."

Lehner's exhibit will take elements from her last installation, "Ripe," and will develop a new focus.  She has

The Buffalo Expat Network, Emerging Leaders in the Arts in Buffalo, HandsOn Greater Buffalo and Hallwalls are excited to announce a new, first-of-its kind art event in Buffalo: echo: Art Fair. The one day event will take place at the Central Terminal on Saturday, July 9th, 2011.

The mission of echo is to connect experienced collectors and first-time buyers with emerging local, regional and international artists

It looks as if there is some congestion on the Buffalo River these days, so if you're trying to get to work on time (and you're captain of a freighter), you may want to leave port a few minutes early. At the same time, if you're a rower trying to get from Dead Man's Creek (BSRA Rowing Boathouse) to the Inner Harbor, keep your head up as you go around each bend - and when you run head to head with the Herbert C. Jackson freighter, you may just want to pull over for a couple of minutes