Our neighborhood gardens offer us a support system that we just can't do without these days. Can you imagine what the West Side would be without all of the beautiful gardens that were once abandoned lots filled with debris and old building foundations? It's hard to travel down a West Side street without witnessing, first hand, the benefits that community gardens provide. Often times you can also see the further public and private investment that unfolds around a community garden. These efforts bring neighborhoods together, increase property values, curb crime, and bring visitors (and potential

The Western New York Book Arts Center (WNYBAC) is opening a new exhibit tonight, A Buffalo Alphabet: A-Z by Dana Jenkins. The opening reception takes place tonight from 6-9pm at the WNYBAC gallery, 468 Washington Street (at the corner of West Mohawk). In addition to the debut of this fantastic Buffalo alphabet collection, New Buffalo Brewing will hold their first public tasting for all to enjoy.

A Buffalo Alphabet: A-Z is an alphabetized watercolor

When is an injury not an injury in the NFL? Apparently, sometimes an injury is not an injury when it isn't put on the NFL injury report. 
Much of the focus on the Bills during the bye week related to defensive end Mario Williams and his left wrist.  Williams' performance has been disappointing thus far, and he partly attributed it to a wrist injury.  The manner in which Williams' injury was reported (or not reported)  has raised questions, especially since Williams is the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL (He signed a 6-year, $300 million

The Tralf is getting in on the act of promoting people to stay downtown after work on Fridays. The Tralf might be known for its ability to put on an awesome live music show, but even when the musicians aren't on stage, the venue is a very chill place to hang out in. Organizers are billing the First Friday ritual as a networking event with a twist (a lemon or lime twist that is). The Happy Hour in Buffalo's Entertainment District is hosted by Buffalo musicians Will Holton and Walter Kemp III, and is intended to bring the city's professionals together to mix and mingle from 5pm-7pm, with

Election Day Communion, a national movement of Christian Churches to reaffirm their unity in light of a bitterly contested presidential campaign, is coming to Buffalo at the Loretto Ministry Center, next Tuesday, election day.

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Empire Genomics, a growing cancer molecular diagnostics company founded in Buffalo in 2006, today unveiled the first ever multiple myeloma cancer test which determines therapeutic guidance. The new test will create more than 50 new jobs within the next five years at the company's 6,500 square foot headquarters located on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

The new jobs will include scientists, marketing, regulatory experts, sales, New York State clinically certified technologists, project managers and customer support positions. Empire Genomics

The holiday season is just around the corner, which means that a lot of people will soon have shopping on their minds. This season, instead of purchasing the cookie cutter gifts on-line, consider supporting a local artist in your community. Buffalo Arts Studio is making it easy to find the perfect work of art for someone on your list - on Saturday, November 17, 2012, there will be an opening reception for the exhibit, giving art-lovers a chance to see some truly exceptional works of art.
Opening Reception - FacebookSaturday,

"First comes thought, then organization of that thought into ideas and plans, then transformation of those plans into reality.  The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination."  ~ Napoleon Hill In Mark Goldman's imagination twenty four years ago was a plan to transform Chippewa Street in downtown Buffalo from what many people described as a red light district into an entertainment center of the city.  Goldman purchased the Calumet Building in 1988 and the rest is Buffalo history.

By Paul McDonnell AIA
Buffalonians are very familiar with its art deco masterpieces; City Hall and Central Terminal, but many take for granted the equally impressive Kensington High School. Designed in the 1930's during the Great Depression, Kensington was funded by the Federal Emergency Administration (FERA). FERA was one of President Roosevelt's first New Deal programs, whose main goal was to ease unemployment by creating new jobs for tradesmen, artisans and architects in local and state government. Despite the country's dire financial

The International Center for Excellence in Animation at Daemen College in the Tri-Main Building hosted a reception this evening for the unveiling of a first of its kind book in both Buffalo and the nation - "Letters To The Superintendent, A Community Responds."  The book is comprised of letters written by community stakeholders and presented to Dr. Pamela C. Brown, the new Superintendent of the Buffalo Public Schools. 

Letters were written and submitted by students, parents, teachers, refugee and immigrant families, former Board of Education members, community researchers,

There has been a UFO sighting in Greater Buffalo. I am all too aware that it is Halloween, and there is potential of this being a big hoax, but the sighting has been documented as occurring on October 25, 2012, and a testimony has been recorded with Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), a witness-reporting database. Examiner.com has the whole story of the account, reporting that the witness saw the cigar-shaped UFO hovering over University at Buffalo's swamp campus -

One of the best art events is coming up on Friday, November 9, 2012. 'Paint the Town' is a celebration of Buffalo and its artists, and we all know that the art community is the glue that helps to make this city strong. This year over 40 local artists will exhibit their works in both live and silent auctions, with proceeds from the sales benefitting both the artists and The Buffalo History Museum. Not only is the venue a draw in itself, the artwork is some of the best around. It's a chance to add to your collection, while strengthening the permanent collections at the museum. 
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Throughout the planning stages of The Witches Ball, to be held at The Hotel @ The Lafayette tonight (Facebook), there was one thing that I found bothersome. As much as the hotel looked amazing from the inside and the outside, there was a missed opportunity, because the sign sitting on top of the building remained dark. I spoke to developer Rocco Termini about the sign over a month ago, and he told me to have patience and that some day the sign would be relit, but that it was a real process. 
Then, about a week

There's an interesting story behind every food truck. For me, hearing these stories and how they unfold speaks to not only the food that is served, but the people behind each operation. Where are they coming from? What are they planning? Where did the truck come from? Who is building it out? 
We've told a lot of these stories on Buffalo Rising, and I'm sure that we'll be telling a lot more, starting with this next one. The Black Market Food Truck (Facebook), is not on the road quite yet, but it's on its way. And thanks to the

The 3rd annual Cross in the Park sponsored by Campus WheelWorks is cycling with a twist.

"When most people think of cycling they picture Tour de France," said Ethan Johnson, owner of Campus Wheelworks, event founder, promoter and participant "A ton of people riding up and down a road."

Cyclo-cross in this case however, is a unique style of cycling that involves a 1.8-mile USA-sanctioned closed course featuring mud, obstacles and barriers.

Combining slick conditions with a racer

A critical east-west corridor at the southern end of downtown could be getting a contextual makeover. The 'Cobblestone District Connector Initiative' has been formulated as a public/private effort to improve and enhance Perry Street between Main Street and Michigan Avenue and then south down Michigan Street to link up with the improvements in place at Michigan and Ohio Streets. It would help provide an important connection centered around Canalside - First Niagara Center, the Cobblestone District, the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, light rail, and the Sabres' planned HARBORcenter project - with

Over the past few weeks we have fielded a number of questions regarding the peculiar concrete planters that have appeared on Elmwood Avenue from Forest to Bird. Back in May we reported that rain gardens were coming to Elmwood (see here). 
As of now the green features have been installed, and plants are growing. The progressive green initiative might look a bit bizarre to someone who isn't familiar with the project, and since the plants inside the containers are small at this point, the

This unassuming east side building (see below) at 662 Fillmore holds an amazing treasure.  It was once the home of Schreiber Brewing and is an important and increasingly rare relic of Buffalo's brewing heyday.  Polish immigrant Anthony Schreiber opened the brewery in1899 and quickly built a reputation for crafting fine beer.  Their most famous brew, named Manru Lager (after a famous Polish Opera),  was sold from 1933 to 1950 when the company ceased production. 
The building has been empty for many years and is warn but still in decent condition.

There's more than one reason to check The The Black Light Effect show coming up in November. First, it's one of Code Blu Juice Bar's first artistic showings. Second, there will be black lights and live music. Indeed, the music will be out of sight and mind blowing with music contributions by Scantron - World Class beatbox multi-instrumentalist and musician, along with Mic Mechanic - hip hop artist and producer and winner of Buffalo Duel of the Iron Mic Competition. Then there's Rory McCormack - electronic/experimentalist composer and performer, with Mignant - a spoken word poet and keyboardist,

By Todd Mitchell:
Fifty years ago, Buffalo and Kanazawa, Japan entered into a sister city relationship. You are cordially invited to experience the rich culture of Kanazawa and Japan in general at the Japan Culture Day on Sunday, November 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. Admission is free.
This article about Kanazawa from September, 2009 is being reposted in conjunction with the 50th anniversary celebration:
Kanazawa, Japan, Buffalo's