Days after District B Chief Donna Berry was demoted to lieutenant, communities around the city continue to rally in support of her past efforts that helped to make the city a better place to live. As Facebook helps to gather people to her allegiance, there are still others who are organizing a community celebration one week from today at D'Arcy McGee's Irish Pub. The celebration is intended to be a 'Thank You' for her time of service as chief on the force, as well as a message of support (and concern) in response to

Check out these cool benches that were just installed at the 18th Street Community Park. As I tested them out I could not help but think how amazing these would look in other parts of the city. I bet that the cost would be close to what The City pays for park benches presently. If Buffalo were to install works of art that lend themselves to practical functionality, then a real statement would be made regarding our support of the local arts and business community.

Can you imagine if a few of

Situated a couple of blocks from Days Park and Allentown is Willie's Little Corner - an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant (with some everyday items thrown in) that has quickly become a favorite of the neighborhood. I've stopped in a couple of times now, and each time there are numerous people at the counter picking up their food or sitting at tables and enjoying it. Over the past few years there have been a couple of restaurant operators trying to make a go of it at the corner of Hudson and West, yet it was not until I tried Willie's that I felt any real measure of success.

What makes

For anyone wanting a real-life lesson in supply and demand, and the impacts of disinvestment and population loss, a visit to the East Side is a must.  Buffalo's expanding 'urban prairie' is an everyday reality for residents of Masten, Broadway/Fillmore, Cold Springs and other neighborhoods. 

The US Census counted 23,000 vacant housing units in 2000.  There are thousands more vacant lots, many of them City-owned.  It's enough to keep a blogger busy.  David Torke has been documenting Buffalo's expanding urban prairie on his blog Fix

A few of our local salons have gotten together to do something about the latest oil spill. It's a bit unusual, and it's not going to solve the environmental disaster, but it will hopefully play a small part in the ultimate recovery. I first learned about the effort to collect hair from James Hickey of Chez Ann Salon (photo). He told me that Amanda Robinson of The New Age Salon had contacted him regarding the unusual measure. "She asked me if I would be willing to collect the hair that was being swept away," said James. "I told her that it sounded like a great idea."

Amanda reached out

With the vast majority of votes counted (97% reporting), here are the current Buffalo School Board Election Results.  We've listed the current leader (in bold) and the second place candidate.   
Central Subdistrict:Mary Ruth Kapsiak - 557 votesBryon McIntyre - 298 votes
East Subdistrict:Vivian O. Evans - 264 votesTheresa Harris-Tigg - 251 votes
Ferry Subdistrict:Pamela Cahill - 658 votesKinzer Pointer - 613 votes
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After years of seeing bits and pieces of LaSalle Park getting the improvements that it needs to be a regular destination for the region, it's time to look at the big picture. Remember a few years ago when they installed the turnabout in the middle of the park to allow cars to turn around without going all the way to the end? That was a great idea because all of the parking is found towards the Colonel Ward Pumping Station.

In a perfect world, that would mean that the rest of the park would be closed to traffic. That would leave an excellent loop for cyclists, walkers, joggers, rollerbladers

Apparently on of the biggest questions regarding the school board elections is, "Where is my polling place?" That's a pretty good question, and a good start in creating change in Buffalo. Don't just sit there and assume that all is well and enough people will vote so that one more vote won't make a difference.

Erie County NY Board of Elections

If that's your attitude, call your friends and your family and tell them to get out there and vote. If you don't know where to go, this website will help you navigate polling

The Buffalo Hiking Group first led a very successful historic hike from the Inner Harbor along the Buffalo River this past February. It was at that time that they announced a second hike, which was to be scheduled in the spring. In keeping with the celebration theme, the club has decided to coincide the hike with one of my favorite festivals of the year - Buffalo Riverfest.

The coming June 18 expedition proves to be one of great interest for anyone who has heard about Riverfest

Allentown Hardware will once again do what it is known for doing best - bringing in out of town music talents to add to Buffalo's already rich mix. From the days back at the Calumet with a buzz of different acts coming from as far away as Cuba, to the more intimate Trinidadian Brownman shows at Hardware, Allentown will, Friday night, come alive with the sweet sounds of Torontonian Laura Hubert.

Mark Goldman fell in love with Laura Hubert two years ago in Toronto. "She's fabulous", he says, "at times channeling Edith Piaf at other times

Fashion Rocks... And so do Sue Morreale and Jeanne Mulkey.

Morreale and Mulkey are the co-founders of Fashion Rocks...For a Cure, an event dedicated to raising funds for Roswell Park Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Research & Education.

What started out, as a 'Sex in the City' themed mini-auction three years ago, has since become one of Buffalo's most anticipated social events. Rock-star local celebrities from Janet Snyder, Lydia Dominick to Ryan Miller all lend a hand to help support Morreale and Mulkey. 

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This ornate building, located at 87 Mariner Street in the heart of Allentown was built in 1896 for the Pan-American Exposition. 
Built as a residential hotel, it originally had a roof-top dining room.
I failed to stump our observant readers

Calling all runners, walkers and supporters of elementary athletics - The 2nd Annual Pinnacle 5K and one- mile run is set for Friday, May 14, 6 pm. Proceeds from the race will go to benefit the students of Pinnacle Charter School and their new athletic equipment including baseball mitts, yoga mats, basketballs, and other equipment. Without support, these students would not otherwise have access to or have the means to purchase this equipment.

While other area schools are cutting back on athletics and culturals, Pinnacle Charter School has doubled the size of their athletic programs

As construction continues on the redevelopment of the historic Alling and Cory paper warehouse into an 88-unit student loft complex, the building's model unit is ready for viewing. Located at the corner of N. Division and Elm streets downtown, Lofts @ 136 is on schedule for a fall opening.
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After my recent article on "Peg's Park" in the Old First Ward, commenter 'flyguy' remarked on the grain elevator in the background: "The old elevator in the back is a very powerful backdrop. Strong lines tall, bulky, and gritty."  I loved that comment, and think flyguy has a couple of good starting lines for a pulp novel or screenplay set in the Ward (perhaps the Buffalo Bushido team would be interested in a noir next?).  So flyguy, here's a story with

Another stumper for our regular attendants. 
Go ahead, you know what to do!!!

Periodically, we highlight one of the ads placed in the Classifieds section of Buffalo Rising.  Today, we're spotlighting a 3/3 double near Delaware Park offered at $249,000 by Gurney Becker & Bourne.  
From the listing: 
Charming 3/3 double with loads of natural woodwork, hardwood floors and garage in the Delaware District.  Gorgeous new kitchen upstairs with granite, new cabinetry and appliances.  Both apartments have renovated bathrooms and kitchens.  Front porches,

Spruce Street's First German Baptist Church faces an uncertain future.  Demolition of the circa-1869 structure was denied by the Buffalo Preservation Board last Thursday.  Owners of the near east side church want to demolish the structure after being cited by City inspectors.

David Torke at Fix Buffalo has been following the story:

The structure appears to be in good condition

Last fall, Extreme Makeover gave the biggest booster shot imaginable to ongoing revitalization efforts on the West Side, but even before the paint was dry and the special aired the discussion was in earnest about how to keep the momentum going.  If recent volunteer activities are any indication, the momentum remains rolling solidly forward.

Last week, on Grant Street I saw several clusters of college students and neighborhood folks working together on street cleanup (unfortunately, when I wasn't toting a camera). 

If you're anywhere in or near the University District this weekend, try to make a stopover to Prisinzano Academy and Institute of Fine and Contemporary Arts. I'm not going to tell you to drive across town to check out the goings-on here... but if you're already in the neighborhood and you want to see something a bit out of the ordinary, then it's worth a visit. The only reason that I discovered PAIFCA was the thrifty lawn sale that I passed by on my way back home yesterday afternoon. Two gentlemen were sitting at a table enjoying their lunch near the sidewalk, surrounded by all sorts of random