We're heading to North Buffalo for our next holiday gift item. This time we're taking a look at a product line from artisan Jessica Zyglis called Ziglets. Jessica's full product line is set up on Etsy, but she also showcases a number of items at Modern Nostalgia (see store) on Hertel Avenue. Jessica told me that, "Along with the items I produce for my etsy shop Ziglets, I also have my fabric button earrings and bow tie necklaces (made from both fabric and reused leather) at Modern Nostalgia on Hertel Avenue. I couldn't

By Sherri Wierzba:
The West Side Bazaar is up and running at their new location at 25 Grant Street just south of West Ferry. The bazaar features merchants from India, South Sudan, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Burma (Myanmar), Peru, and the U.S. It is a perfect place to find a unique gift or conversation piece for your own home.
All are encouraged to come check out the West Side Bazaar during the "Peace, Love, & Grant Street" event on Thursday, December 6th from 5 - 8pm. Peace,

Over the holidays we will be 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. Next up on our list is artist Betty J. Pitts-Foster:
Betty J. Pitts-Foster holds a BFA and an MA in Education from the University of Buffalo and has been fortunate to retire and

Back in April I posted a story on my blog about four properties in the Masten Neighborhood that were slated for rehabilitation rather than demolition. Belmont Shelter is rehabilitating a total of ten properties to the tune of $350,000 each. The funding for the rehabilitations

Who doesn't love seeing vintage pictures of Buffalo?  I love vintage images and not just as an exercise in nostalgia.  Seeing historic pictures of Buffalo can often be a painful reminder of how much is lost.  There are those who complain that Buffalo spends too much time looking backward.  Certainly looking back and pining for the past is not very productive.  But I love old pictures because they tell us how we got where we are now.  Too many people accept what exists for granted as if it just dropped from the sky, ready made.  When you know how something

Today, the Governor announced that New York will invest $50 million in state of the art biomedical research equipment and facilities, and has secured an agreement from a private company, Albany Molecular Research Inc. (AMRI), to locate in Western New York at Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BMNC) a new drug discovery research and development center. This investment, $35 million of which will go towards new equipment and $15 million of which will go towards improving existing lab space, will leverage $200 million in private investments and create 250 jobs.

Over the holidays we will be 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. Next up on our list is artist Dianne Baker:
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When shopping for your holiday gifts this season, what could be better than knowing that you're supporting a small local business and a deserving artist or artisan? 
Here on the BRO Gift Guide we're going to introduce you to some great options when it comes to shopping for the ultimate local gifts. Take Megan Carroll's hand-knitted scarves for example. "I have been making what I call Crochet Strand Scarves for two years now," Megan wrote to me. "And have been getting an excellent response from them. I sell tons at Thin Ice on Elmwood, as well at events

It was while I was visiting Buffalo Bottle Craft at The Foundry that I came across an interesting cooperative of sorts, of an entirely different artisan flavor. The Foundry has a set up a woodshop, where woodworkers can lease space to work on projects. 
Just think of the number of skilled people out there who don't have access to the machines and tools necessary to build. "To start a decently equipped woodshop we are talking tens of thousands of dollars, which is not

By GirlFriday:
While searching for a late night dinner recently, we happened upon Lenox Grill, in the Hotel Lenox. It was there that we were greeted by a much unexpected and very pleasant surprise.  Remiscient of an old world ratskeller, the bar and restaurant have been transformed into something that the hotel has been entirely lacking for quite some time.  The interior has been remodeled and cleaned up, as one would hope and expect with a new operator, giving the establishment a new lease on life.  
What was

Medaille College freshmen will present their Community 101 projects, which are multimedia poster presentations inspired by the history, ecology, technology and urban landscape of the City of Buffalo this Friday.  

More than 350 students will be showcasing the work they did over their first semester to highlight their hands-on collaboration with significant groups in Buffalo, such as Forest Lawn Cemetery, Irish Classical Theatre, The Buffalo Zoo, PUSH Buffalo, Buffalo Central Terminal, Darwin D. Martin House, and Vive, Inc., which

This Friday, December 7, Steak & Cake Records will be hosting its 2nd Annual Holiday Charity Fundraiser* at Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Allen Street. The event is designed to make sure that art programs not only get the proper awareness that they deserve, but get funded at the same time. Every initiative of this sort helps to pave

The Young Preservationists are celebrating Buffalo and preservation at the Pan American Brewery!
Join BYP on Tuesday, December 4th from 6-9pm at the Pan American Brewery (391 Washington St) inside the Hotel @ the Lafayette for the BYP Holiday Happy Hour. The event is free! Drink specials will be available. For more information, the event info can be found here.
Donate for a good cause! The happy hour's goal is to raise money to purchase "presents" for

Did you know that last year's inaugural Feed the City event raised enough money to purchase 200,000lbs of food for those in need? That's a significant milestone, that if duplicated each year goes far towards reaching the goals of its beneficiary - Food Bank of Western New York. 
Feed the City is a benefit concert with an impressive line-up of musicians being headlined by front man Ian Hunter of legendary band Mott the Hoople (All the Young Dudes, Once Bitten Twice Shy), along with Buffalo's The Pillagers, Canadian national recording artist Ruby Spirit and

Throughout the month of December, I will be posting a number of gift suggestions that will hopefully help readers in their search for the perfect holiday presents. There will be a cross section of price ranges, and shops in order to showcase the diverse array of stores and merchandise found in the city.
After years of being unavailable due to being dropped from the manufacturer's list, Buffalo-Opoly is back! The board game is similar to Monopoly, but features local landmarks. The game is completely up-to-date with cards highlighting the National Garden Festival, Olmsted Parks,

Over the holidays we will be 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. Next up on our list is artist Carol Case Siracuse:
Carol Case Siracuse Bio:
Carol

The monetary goal has been reached in order to bring home an original Central Terminal light fixture from an antique store in Toronto. The organization Broadway Fillmore Alive has posted on its Facebook page that the amount of $3696 was raised, which not only exceeded the initial $3100 needed, but did it in a record amount of time. 
The money was to be raised by December 24, 2012, in order to ensure that the fixture would come home. From what

The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation (CTRC) has come up with a unique way to raise money for replacing its worn out roof. As part of the largest adaptive reuse project in all of Upstate New York, the roof work needed to protect the terminal is a three phase project. The first phase will replace the areas of the roof that are in need of immediate repair. The second and third phases are not as urgent but are still of major concern in coming years. 
In order to come up with the money to replace the roof tiles, CTRC is promoting an /city/index.html

The Lyth Cottage on Harwood Place is undergoing an incredible transformation. What was once another beautiful Buffalo

Over the holidays we will be 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. Next up on our list is artist Rita Argen Auerbach:
Rita Argen Auerbach is a nationally recognized artist represented in numerous museum, corporate, and private collections throughout the United