So you think that you're a good bubble hockey player? Maybe you've been playing the Buffalo-based game for years, and you've figured out all the trick shots and the angles... did I say Buffalo-based game? Yes, I did.
It all started a couple years after Team USA brought home the Olympic Hockey Gold Medal in the Miracle on Ice® at Lake Placid.  Following that epic sports tale a small group of table hockey fanatics in Buffalo, NY designed and created the greatest competitive sports game of its time, CHEXX, the original USA vs USSR coin-operated bubble hockey

Encompass Coffee Bar and Café has opened just off Hertel Avenue, and with it has come a super quaint, specialty cafe and baked goods shop. Owner April Ersing (formerly of Caz Coffee Café in South Buffalo) told me that she wanted to create an atmosphere that was comfortable and relaxing, where customers could sit back and enjoy the experience. Even though customers can still come in and grab a coffee to go, April feels that the café surroundings and the offerings are better enjoyed in-house. 
While the Encompass facade does not face Hertel, the business is visible

If you want to know how each and every one of us can get the Buffalo message out, then take a page out of the figurative book that Peter Burakowski is writing. Peter is the the Communications manager for Visit Buffalo Niagara (and the Historical Society before that). Peter also plays in a rock band. He's got a fun-loving, down-to-earth personality and is constantly attending Buffalo's myriad events, while supporting Buffalo businesses whenever he can. Peter loves Buffalo - for him Visit Buffalo Niagara

There's an old fashioned caroling event taking place this evening on Amherst Street in Black Rock. Carolers are meeting in front of Sportsmen Tavern at 5:30pm before embarking upon a Christmas carol stroll that will lead them to a number of residential and commercial front doors. 
All together, the route is approximately an hour long, and carolers will be provided with lyric song books. Dress appropriately for the walk, and consider bringing a thermos of something hot with you. The caroling crusade will end up Rohall's Corner where free hot chocolate will be

Transformation of Buffalo's historic Fruit Belt neighborhood continued on Dec. 14 when federal, state and local government officials joined religious leaders in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new townhome project.  The event was held at 145 Maple Street, where a three-bedroom, fully handicapped accessible unit is now under construction. St. John Fruit Belt Community Development Corp. is developing 49 new townhomes on properties near the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. 

The $15.3 million project will include 17 buildings, with two, three and four-bedroom townhomes that will

I say potentially because this building is currently not a certified historic structure. However, there has been a positive indication that it could potentially be certified as historic. That of course, means the potential of utilizing historic tax credits for qualified rehabilitation work. 
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By Robert Franke:
Jane Jacobs once said that "cities contain the seeds of their own regeneration" and I was reminded of that notion when walking down Grant Street last week and seeing the many relatively new businesses that have opened on the street. The vast majority of these new businesses express cultural elements of the many ethnicities that comprise our region's most diverse area and together they are forging a new identity, energy and optimism for the district.
The newest of those businesses, Vineeta International Foods, opens Friday,

This evening, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation invites you to come down to Canalside to enjoy holiday festivities at the Central Wharf. This is a also a celebration of winter and the waterfront. There will be holiday music, kettle corn, free horse drawn carriage rides, kids' activities, a tree lighting ceremony, and Santa will arrive on the Cotter fireboat! 
Also look for the chili cook-off at Liberty Hound and a special fire performance by Buffalo's own Pyromancy. The fun starts at 4pm, so grab some friends and head on down to catch the festivities.

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While searching for an image of the Metro Rail, I came across a post on Forgotten Buffalo that paints a picture of the futuristic rapid transit system that was originally dreamed up for Buffalo. It was a revolutionary vision that some thought would help to reverse the trends of a declining city. With permission from Forgotten Buffalo, here is the post in its entirety:
From the 1973 Metro report: The third element of the Transit Development Program would be the backbone of the

By Gladys Gifford: President of Citizens for Regional Transit:
At its September 24, 2012 meeting, the NFTA Board of Commissioners gave the public a prime example of big boys behaving badly, laying blame for delays in getting an essential piece of work done and thereby delaying the work even more and hurting the NFTA's customers in the process.  Later that week, under the guidance of the chairman, they gave the green light to the work-- the long-delayed replacement of an escalator at the

Chason Affinity Companies and the University District Community Development Association (UDCDA) have completed collaborative project aimed at improving the neighborhood and attracting homeownership within the Kensington-Bailey area. 
"We're here today to commemorate a unique private/community partnership that has turned a neighborhood liability into an attractive residential asset," said Chason Affinity Companies President Mark Chason on Thursday. "By coordinating the purchase of this troubled property with the capable community

The Statler City Annual Ice Ball is back. The New Year's extravaganza will once again fill the lower three floors of Statler City to ring in 2013 in style. Responding to concerns about last year's event, a number of important changes have been made.
This year's event will be limited to no more than 1,500 revelers, less than half of last years' total where overcrowding and lack of table seating was a common complaint. There will also be a larger and improved coat check area, no special VIP tickets (everyone will be a VIP), and plans for plenty of ice.
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Over the holidays we have been highlighting a number of members of Buffalo Society of Artists (BSA), so that you might support them by purchasing original works of art. Thanks to Paul Rybarczyk at BSA for helping me put these together. Visit the BSA website to learn more about the institution - one of the oldest continually operating arts organizations in the country. The last artist on our list is the man who helped me to put together this series on Buffalo Rising, Paul Rybarczyk:
Paul Rybarczyk is a painter

A salon/spa has popped up in one of the most unexpected of places. While road work has begun to change the face of Main Street in Downtown Buffalo, Hair and Body has opened its doors, showcasing a remarkable transformation into what looks to be a modern, vibrant full service hair, skin care and massage destination. The orchestrator behind Mind and Body is none other than Brian Wantuch, creator and owner of Wasteland Studios (learn more about Brian). The great thing about Brian, is that he's investing his time and money into

Legislation to raise New York State's historic preservation tax credit cap is expected to be vetoed by Governor Cuomo.  Increasing the tax credit to $12 million was seen as providing a greater incentive for developers that would lead to revitalization of larger and more expensive structures. 
Capped at $5 million per project, the State's tax credit program has been used successfully

With the year winding down, many of us here in the Queen City begin to slow our pace and prepare to settle in for winter. For the organizers of Artfarms, however, there is plenty of work to be done between now and the coming spring. In order to get the project off and running, they could use a little help from a handful of local design-savvy individuals. 
Earlier this year, BR sat down with Artfarms director David Lagé to get the details on his plan to breathe a little creative life into the city's East Side (see

Join Elmwood Village retailers and restaurants this Friday for a special "Buy Local" shopping stroll that kicks off the last ten days of shopping for the Holidays. Each year a number of Elmwood business owners decorate the trees between West Ferry and Lafayette with sparkling white lights in order to showcase the heart of Elmwood as a densely populated winter shopping destination. On Friday, December 14 the businesses on the 700 and 800 blocks of Elmwood will be offering all sorts of goodies to indulge shoppers, from hot drinks to delectable treats. 
In past years, these

Over the holidays we have been highlighting a number of members of Buffalo Society of Artists (BSA), so that you might support them by purchasing original works of art. Thanks to Paul Rybarczyk at BSA for helping me put these together. Visit the BSA website to learn more about the institution - one of the oldest continually operating arts organizations in the country. The second to last artist on our list is Ingrid Luongo:
Ingrid Luongo is an Associate Member of the Buffalo Society of Artists. Associate Members

If you're looking for a chance to celebrate the Winter Solstice, with a lot of other people, listening to Dragon Ritual Drummers while holding hands and being led into the depths of a swirling sea of dancers, then you should consider attending a Spiral Dance. It's a spiritual ritual and celebration that connects you with others, while celebrating the transition into lengthening of days and shortening of nights. According to WNY Spiral Dance website, "The Spiral dance is an ancient Celtic tradition danced

The Council adopted a resolution, sponsored by South District Council Member Christopher P. Scanlon, requesting that the New York State Department of Transportation ("NYSDOT") immediately conduct a Skyway plausibility review in order to evaluate the economic impact of continuing to maintain the Skyway on Buffalo's waterfront. According to the NYSDOT's "Skyway Management Study," released in 2008, the cost of preserving the Skyway for the next 20 years was projected to exceed $100 million. In addition to being aged and in need of extensive and costly repairs, the Skyway's design provides