For more than 35 years, Just Buffalo Literary Center has brought the world's greatest writers to Buffalo, hosted poetry events and readings, and supported the development of young writers through creative-writing based programs. Many people don't realize that we have one of the country's top literary centers--and literary scenes--right here in Buffalo. 
Leading the 2012/13 literary season is BABEL, Just Buffalo's series which will bring four of the world's most important--Nobel,

By Hannya Boulos:
On Monday, October 1st, Buffalo ReformED will host a community screening of the highly anticipated new education reform film "Won't Back Down", starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis. 
The screening will be held at the Elmwood Regal at 2001 Elmwood Avenue, at 5:15 PM. A panel event featuring local parents, students, and education reform activists will follow the screening.
The film, inspired by true events, tells the powerful story of determined parents, teachers, and community

By Joanna Gillespie:
It's the start of a beautiful autumn weekend in Buffalo, New York. 
I know what you're thinking. 
Where can I hit a giant unicorn piñata? Where can I watch a plastic-encased dancer? Where can I see 4,000 balloons form the world's largest balloon animal? Where can I Xerox my body parts and call it art? Where can I hang out with hundreds of Buffalo's most cool, creative, and fun people? 
Well, look no further, my friend. You can do all of this

The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will become the first professional school in three decades to move back to UB's South Campus and into the City of Buffalo when UB celebrates the grand opening of John and Editha Kapoor Hall today on UB's South Campus.  UB alumnus and donor John N. Kapoor, PhD '72, spoke at this morning's ceremony.  Kapoor is president of E. J. Financial Enterprises Inc., a venture capital firm located in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Kapoor Hall Facts:
• Building named for donors John N. Kapoor and his late wife, Editha
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Last Friday I ended up stopping into Mixology on Forest Avenue to grab a beer and chat with bar owner John McNeil about a possible expat/repat event series this winter. When I first walked into the bar I noticed that there were a bunch of girls in the corner, a few of which I knew. I walked over to them and they kinda looked at me like... ummm... what are you doing here? (not in an unfriendly way, but in a curious manner.) It was my friend Christina Holdsworth who then asked, "Are you covering this for Buffalo Rising?" I confessed that I didn't know what she was talking about. Then she said,

Batten down the hatches, Bills fans, 'cuz it's about to get stormy out there.
After back-to-back wins, the Buffalo Bills now go into the painful part of their 2012, a stretch of six games that will really tell the tale of where the team is at in their progress towards relevancy.
We're talking four of the next six away from Western New York, including a two week West Coast trip to face the 49ers and Cardinals, both of whom look strong this season.
There's also a visit to the powerhouse Houston Texans to visit Mario's

By Ann Marie Trietley, Music Columnist:
With the drum-n-bass and dubstep scenes becoming more ubiquitous by the day, the DJs who were at the forefront years ago may be tempted to sit back and soak it all in. Not Robert Matthews, also known as DJ Big Basha. The founder of Frosty Tone Entertainment (FB) is always evolving and growing along with the movement that he helped create. 
"I was one of the first people who started putting dubstep into my sets," said Matthews, long wisps

Hurricane Katrina. The Oklahoma City Bombing. The Gulf Oil Spill. All tragic stories. I could not imagine how difficult it must have been to cover all of those heartbreaking stories. But South Buffalonian Mary Lynn Ryan did it, and then some. Currently she is the Southeast Bureau Chief for the Cable News Network, CNN, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Mary Lynn attributed a lot of her success to her South Buffalo upbringing. Her mother is still doing amazing things in South Buffalo - she heads up South Buffalo Alive. What I also like about Mary Lynn is that she

The first week of October will be a busy one at Lafayette Church.

On, October 2, the church will screen, along with organizations, across the nation, in the premier of "The Line" a documentary about life below the poverty line, followed by a simulcast round table discussion with leading scholars, policy advisers, and religious experts.

On Friday, October 5, we continue our new /city/index.html

Buffalo's Young Preservationists are hosting their monthly happy hour tomorrow as a sort of continued closing ceremonies for the Preservation Plus conference that has been ongoing this week. The happy hour is Friday, September 28th from 5:30 to 8:30 at the Century Grill (318 Pearl Street).

As always, all are welcome to join for the festivities and the event is open to those who did and did not attend Preservation Plus. The event

By Steven Bales:
Tomorrow evening a spectacular fashion show and fundraiser will be held on the deck of Buffalo's own USS The Sullivans naval ship. That's right, it's a fashion show on a big old battleship - something that's a bit out of the ordinary and should be quite the production. 
According to www.buffalonavalpark.org, The Sullivans served with distinction in WWII, took part in intense combat in the Marshalls, Carolines, Mariannas, and Philippines, rescued many survivors from

Mercedes-Benz of Buffalo Fashion Week will wrap up tonight at Statler City at the main runway event. Four fashion designers from NYC have flown in to show their Spring 2013 collections; Prajje1983; Dowry Designs; Gwen Beloti Collection; and Elena V. Designs; who have been featured in publications such as Elle Magazine and Italian Vogue. These designers will show their collections in the VIP Golden Ballroom runway show.  Tickets are $100 and may be reserved by calling 716-222-0239.

Local designers Vania & David will also be showing

A preservationist's work is never done, even in the district that most would already describe as being one of Buffalo's great preservation successes: the Delaware Avenue Historic District.

Delaware Avenue is unquestionably a gem.  It even merited its own chapter in The Grand American Avenue while my hometown counterpart, East Avenue -- with its mansion district marred by 20th-Century demolitions and infill -- didn't.  While we

The renovated Hotel Lafayette opened to rave reviews locally.  Developer Rocco Termini and the design firm behind the effort, Carmina Wood Morris, are now getting well-deserved statewide recognition.  They will receive the President's Citation from the New York State Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIANYS) at the chapter's annual convention, held in Saratoga Springs today. 

The award presentation is set for 1 pm at the Saratoga Springs Convention Center. Carmina Wood Morris, a leader in local historic preservation efforts,

By Elexa Kopty:
Itching for fall festivities? Don't feel like driving all the way out to Ellicotville next weekend? Once again, the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation is bringing Oktoberfest to Buffalo. This Saturday September 29, the Buffalo Central Terminal will host Western New York's "largest and most authentic" Oktoberfest celebration.  "The Buffalo Central Terminal has always been a place of public gathering and we continue by combining that legacy of the Terminal with our 10th Annual Oktoberfest," said Marilyn Rodgers, Executive Director

Superintendent Pamela C. Brown, along with Principal Robert Clemens, Assistant Principal Denise Cobbs, and the Buffalo Board of Education, held a ribbon-cutting and flag-raising ceremony on Monday at newly reconstructed School #81 on Tacoma Avenue.
As part of Phase IV of the five-phase, $1.4 billion Joint Schools Reconstruction project, PS #81 received a 24,000 square foot addition with amenities that include a new science laboratory, clinic, and home and careers room. All classrooms are now outfitted with interactive smart boards. A new elevator, ramps and wheelchair

Yesterday was the first day that Butterwood Desserts and Butterwood Sweet and Savory, located in the Hotel @ The Lafayette, opened for dinner. I spoke with owner Claire Bacon who told me that the soft opening would soon lead to regular business hours as early as next week. In the meantime, starting at 5pm, customers and diners are welcome to check out the amazing transformation that has occurred in the restaurant. My favorite addition to the dining room is the sharp, white banquette seating (see before). The banquette

By Elexa Kopty:
Buffalo's staple Belgian spot has gone British... at least on Tuesdays. Two weeks ago Blue Monk introduced 'British (K)nights' and the theme is set to recur every Tuesday from now on. What does this mean? Don't worry, the famous (and dangerously good) Duck Frites aren't going anywhere. The normal menu will still be available, as will the extensive list of beers on tap. In addition, British Knights will feature a selection of English bottled beers, British pub-style cuisine and music. The special menu features a meat pie from Buffalo's English

TONIGHT! - Buffalo Niagara 360 (BN360), the Buffalo Niagara Partnership's young professionals program, will launch a new year of programming with its annual Kickoff Celebration at Pearl @ The Lafayette.
The Kickoff Celebration will feature the naming of ten Spotlight Professionals, a hand-selected group of young leaders who are anticipated to positively impact the community in the coming year and have been chosen as the "ones to watch." 
This year's Spotlight Professionals have all relocated to Buffalo Niagara to further their careers.

The historic images presented here, courtesy of a Facebook friend, show the east side of the block of Main Street between Genesee Street and Chippewa.  All of these buildings but one have been demolished.  The one remaining building, of course, is the former Buffalo Savings bank with its glorious classical style granite clad walls topped by a magnificent gold dome.  
During the early 80's the