When we think of the Garden Walk, we tend to think about the gardens. But there's a lot more that takes place behind the scenes that benefits the city. For example, the Garden Walk Buffalo Beautification Grants, which are awarded to worthy causes each year - causes that desperately need money in order to fulfill the missions that they set out to achieve. 
The 2013 Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grants are are awarded to block clubs, non-profits and neighborhood associations, and are generally beautification

Students in the Undergraduate Academies at the University at Buffalo are working towards identifying solutions to the problems that have plagued The Heights neighborhoods for years, thanks to a grassroots effort that has been orchestrated by members of surrounding community. The students are looking at ways to achieve economic stabilization through neighborhood revitalization, which will ultimately help to create healthier and more prosperous business districts. 
The initiative that is now underway is called "PULL", which is a multiyear Pop-Up Living Laboratories

On April 26th & 27th, the Artists in Buffalo and Burchfield Penney Art Center (BPAC) will be showcasing a series of local artists in an event that is being called "A Spring Show Event". BPAC has invited 30 local artists and artisans to participate in the event, with proceeds benefitting both the artists and the venue. Available for purchase will be original artwork, textiles, pottery, jewelry, handmade journals, wreaths, glassware, purses, art prints, bath & body products, photography, and note cards.
The collaborative artist event is

What is the name of your group(s)? The Theresa Quinn Duo, Trio, Quartet, and Quintet - I sometimes work with a drummer, guitarist and two fabulous harmony singers, Stephanie Bax and Annie Deck Miller. No one can sing the American songbook like these women.  For bigger R&B gigs, we add Phil Sims, trombone and Jim Bohm, trumpet. I also am in the 'all-girl' band Girls Gone Mild with the famous Alison Pipitone, Mary Ramsey and Sue Rozler.  I play occasional gigs with The

Starting on Wednesday April 10, there will be a free live jazz music series kicking off at the Pan American Grill and Brewery inside The Hotel @ The Lafayette. Each Wednesday, for the foreseeable future, the establishment will dedicate its Wednesday post work happy hour (from 6-9pm) to some of the best live jazz performance from the region and beyond. The Pan Am has a built-in stage area, and with the help of sound and lighting guru, Elias Benavides, the venue will once again come to life with the sounds of sweet jazz.
This Wednesday the Pan Am will feature the

One of the newest entrepreneurs to set up shop at The Foundry is probably also its youngest resident yet. Twelve year-old Zandra Azariah Cunningham started her very own business specializing in homemade, all-natural bath and body products in early 2010. With the help of her mother and right-hand woman, Tamara Lewis-Cunningham, she has expanded her business and now has a production space to call her own at The Foundry. 
Zandra's business, Azariah's Innocence, sprouted when she joined the KidzBiz training program

By Suzanne Jaszcz: A new trend is emerging for film makers as more and more of them look for new ways to raise money for their productions.  What is being called Crowdfunding is gaining popularity with both large and small films alike.  Whereas in the past a filmmaker would reach out to one or two investors with deep pockets, now they are reaching out to the masses that can help to collectively fund a project.  
Filmmakers large and small are able to leverage

[ Here's a rarity. It's one from the archives that I wrote way back in 1997. There are a lot of anachronisms in it, but it is still very relevant. Also, this should not be considered overly specific to Indianapolis, because the thinking is pervasive, though thankfully improving in a lot of places - Aaron. ]
It is almost considered a truism in Indianapolis that one of the biggest obstacles to getting people to come downtown to shop, see the sights, etc. is a lack of free, convenient parking. People driving in from the suburbs are forced to either park on the

If you've yet to stop into the brand new CooCooU retro furniture and mid-century design warehouse, also being referred to as Projekt 27 (learn more), this weekend couldn't be a better time to pay a visit. Friday through Sunday, select pieces will be on sale, with prices being slashed anywhere from 25% to 50%. 
Even if you're not in the market for new furniture, a visit to Projekt 27 is an experience unto itself. It's time to Bring in Spring at the warehouse, which means that they need

This post originally appeared on Views of Buffalo
As the population of Buffalo continues to shrink we are often left with an increasing catalogue of vacant homes, many of which become the property of the City of Buffalo. Ownership falls to the city for a wide variety of different reasons like failure to pay taxes or a

By GirlFriday:
As spring continues to unfold all around us, our social calendars of lively outdoor events serve to welcome and celebrate our vernal rebirth. But really, what better way to say goodbye to the winter season, and usher in the resulting warmth and sunshine, than with a party in the beautiful Olmsted Park System, surrounded by all of the lush infilling flora?
The historic Marcy Casino, along with The Good Neighborhood, will host the inaugural Springfest celebration, Cinco de Marcy, which is sure to be the Cinco

I must admit that The Bash is one of my favorite parties of the year. I've racked up so many dog tags (one given per event) that they are starting to weigh me down at the party. I've also amassed quite the collection of military gear thanks to the fine folks at Buffalo's Uncle Sam's Army Navy, located in the Larkin District (learn more). Each year revelers party under the big tent, dressed like their favorite characters from the hit TV show M*A*S*H. From the signature martinis to

Developments at the Medical Campus continue to roll out, showcasing the city as a place for ever expanding innovation. What better place to show off the people and the businesses that are contributing to the growth of the campus and the city than the Innovation Center? On April 11, from 4-7pm, the Innovation Center will be opening its doors and allowing members of the public to take a look inside. "The goal of this event is to showcase the entrepreneurial spirit here in the Innovation Center," said Kari Root Bonaro, Director of Communications for the Buffalo Niagara Medical

One of the things that I love about the Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) is their desire to bring the community into the fold. What I mean is that the organization is able to empower people to join in on the organization's successes, and that only leads to further successes down the road. By offering up hands on learning opportunities, Buffalo's youth is able to participate in practical, philosophical, and experiential opportunities. 
On Friday, April 19th through Sunday, April 21st, 2013, MAP staff will be hosting a weekend-long training

Preservation Buffalo Niagara is recognizing outstanding preservation projects and those contributing to preservation efforts at its annual awards ceremony May 31, 11:30 AM at Kleinhans Music Hall.  Buffalo Rising is profiling this year's winners leading up to the event.  The Days Park Block Club along with the Allentown Association and the Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy are being recognized for their stewardship of Days Park.

Since 1987, the Days Park Block Club has transformed the park and the community from a barren, almost treeless field surrounded by dilapidated, vacant

It is by now well-known that Upstate New York's tallest office tower will become nearly vacant by the end of the year. After decades of high tenant capacity, the 1.2 million sq. ft. giant will lose more than 90 percent of its current occupants. The biggest movers, HSBC Bank and Phillips Lytle law firm, have opted out of a renewed lease at the tower and already have plans to move into their own respective buildings upon lease expiration.  The tower when completed in 1972 brought new hope in downtown Buffalo. Today it is drab on the outside and in need of new

What is the name of your group?
Davey O.
Where are you from originally?
Buffalo, NY
When and why did you start playing?
I started playing bass when I was13, at the prompting of a guitar playing classmate who promised if I got my hands on a bass, he'd teach me some songs and we'd put a band together. That never happened.
What was the first tune(s) you learned?
As a bass

On Sunday, April 14 from 4-8pm at the WNY Book Arts Center (WNYBAC), guests are invited to come view and taste some of the most whimsical and sweet-tasting book creations around. These readable edible books are part artistic flare and part sugary treat, designed by a mix of foodies who have a penchant for promoting the traditional art of paper bound books in a not-so-traditional way. 
After the public has had a chance to observe and taste the edible creations, local celebrity judges and artist/chefs get down to the business of choosing the winners.

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Anne Conable:
This brand new book by local publisher Prometheus Books is a must read by anyone interested in Mark Twain and his life in literature, or Buffalo during the booming post-Civil War era. Tom Reigstad, long-time Buffalo State College professor, now retired, is Buffalo's definitive "Twain expert" and this very readable history of Twain's time living in Buffalo (1869-71) early in his career is a capstone on Reigstad's many years of careful research on and clear passion for Twain's association

As you may have guessed, the Buffalo Mustache Hall of Fame, the Mount Stachemore mural and the accompanying Flying Bison ale were all part of April Fools Day stunt (see here). I know... you're all disappointed, right?
To soften the blow, it should be noted that the Silo City Rocks project is moving full steam ahead, and was not part of the hoax. In fact, partners on the project, Kevin Cullen, Andy Minier and Jason Schwinger, in conjunction with Silo