Rehabilitation of the Hotel Graystone at 24 Johnson Park is well underway and should be wrapped up and ready for residents this summer. The inside of the Graystone is buzzing with activity as workers create the 42 market-rate apartments, restoring original features, including over 320 original windows. In addition to the apartments, commercial space will be available in the basement.
The Graystone was built between 1894 and 1897 and was originally planned to extend all the way to Delaware Avenue. Unfortunately,

By Jason Zwara - Buffalo ReformED:
The Buffalo Board of Education is comprised of 9 members: 6 district representatives elected in specific geographic districts and 3 at large representatives elected by the entire city. This year all 6 district seats are up for election on Tuesday May 7th, 2013.
There has been heightened interest, both from the media and the public in the candidates running and the issues at stake. This is especially significant, given voter turnout is historically low in school board elections-typically below

After a couple of lousy Saturdays, weather-wise, The Peddler flea market will finally be launching for the summer season tomorrow at the corner of Elmwood and West Ferry (Parish Commons parking lot). With the temperature approaching 70 degrees, sellers are preparing for a great day of sales.
This year the flea market has longer hours (8am-4pm) and has also secured Sundays for rain dates, which should go a long way towards growing the market. If there are sellers who are interested in learning more about the retro, vintage antique market, send

Preservation Buffalo Niagara is recognizing outstanding preservation projects and those contributing to regional preservation efforts at its annual awards ceremony May 31, 11:30 AM at Kleinhans Music Hall. Buffalo Rising has been profiling this year's winners leading up to the May event.  Peter and Susie (Genevieve) Flickinger are receiving a lifetime service-in-preservation honor award.
From improving the skyline of Buffalo to the importance of boiler efficiency of a National Landmark, this couple has quietly - unrecognized or celebrated - invested and re-invested

Singer-songwriter Caroline Jones, from New York City, has trained with Andy Anselmo, and has been managed by Tommy Mottola. Caroline returned to Buffalo and spoke recently at the Community Music School right here in midtown Buffalo. I'd like to tell you about some of her insights that she shared with a mostly under-21 Buffalo crowd. I love that she is already giving back to the community by encouraging young adults to take a musical path. I believe it is so important to encourage music and arts at as early an age as possible. 
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Ryan Miller will start his 500th game for the Sabres tomorrow night at First Niagara Center as the Sabres host the Islanders. Based on a number of reports, it's likely to be his last game in a Sabres uniform. 
And there's this tidbit: Ryan Miller has listed his Elmwood Village townhouse for sale. The price? $659,900. 
Miller

Let's... get... ready... to... rumba! This time in the Elmwood Village. Epic is now hosting a Friday night salsa dance series, complete with lessons at 10pm. Then, be ready to "let loose" on the dance floor until the wee hours of the morning. These salsa dance Fridays are hosted by Baila Salsa Dance Co (FB), the leader in salsa dancing here in Greater Buffalo. Not only will the dancing be hot, the DJ music is designed to get the blood flowing, while the bar does the same in the drink department. Epic attracts some of the best dancers

As a different kind of marketing move, local textbook buyback company Bucks4Books is giving away $5000 to anyone who wants to take the time to scavenge. The cash is being hidden in increments of $1000 chips. 
The first chip has been deposited somewhere in Delaware Park today, meaning that if you're out for a stroll then you may want to walk a bit off the beaten path - no digging, climbing or jumping necessary. Once the chip is discovered, another chip will be hidden somewhere in Western New York, and a location clue will be given out to the public. Chip hunters

This post originally appeared on Views of Buffalo.
This handsome commercial building at 363 Genesee Street (google map)has a lot of its original integrity, but it has certainly seen better days. The next few weeks

If you missed it the first time around, Body Worlds is back (May 31, 2013) to give an real insider's perspective on the inner body in a way that only a glimpse of a real body can provide. 
The controversial and completely eye-opening experience, created by world renowned Dr. Gunther von Hagens, features real, donated human specimens allowing visitors to explore the internal world of anatomy, physiology and health through a process called Plastination - it's a rare chance to see what's under our skin and it's only at The Museum of Science. "We're

After a successful first season, Buffalo Bites Food Tours is back to lead people around the city in search of sights and tastes that make Buffalo a wonderful food destination. The touring group is the brainchild of local foodie and Buffalo native, Laura Reed. Last summer, Laura led groups throughout the Elmwood Village, showing people the different gems that comprise the neighborhood. "Elmwood Village was my first choice because of its rich history, inspiring architecture, unique shops and incredible eateries," Laura said. "It really gives the true flavor of what Buffalo is all about."
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TEDxBuffalo is currently holding an open "audition" period in which the organizers are accepting two minute pitches for talks for this year's event and we are looking to reach as broad an audience as we can. The theme of the conference is "Renaissance Citizens". "TEDxBuffalo is a gathering of remarkable minds," said Chaz Adams, TEDxBuffalo Organizer. "Each with a unique and inspiring message to share. While the speakers, volunteers, and organizers may come from all walks of

When did Whiskey Reverb form?  
We formed in September of 2009.  We write and perform original music of many genres.
Where are you from originally? 
We are all originally born and raised in Buffalo
How did you start playing together?  
We all came from different musical backgrounds and had met one another in the local music scene.  Through a sort of serendipity, we all met up while between projects.  We

The 7th Annual Buffalo Enviro-Fair in Niagara Square will be held this Friday from 11 am until 2 pm.  This year it falls on Arbor Day.   Many local organizations will interact with the public about ways to steward their planet.

Exhibits will include: Reinstein Woods, Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Re-Tree WNY, Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, The Great Green Store, Hazman, Inc., Rubberform Recycled Products, Viridian Energy, CIR Electrical, Dig Safely NY, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Buffalo Central Terminal

Members of the Hellenic Orthodox Church (corner of Utica and Delaware) aka the Greek Festival Church, are organizing a first ever community backgammon tournament. The effort behind the tournament was a culmination of zeal from a select number of backgammon fans, and a way to roll out the welcome mat for the church. "This year at the Hellenic Festival (May 30 - June 2), we are going to be holding our 1st ever community backgammon Tournament," said church member Dean Mellas.  "We are really hoping to get people outside of our own parish to play. It will be an NCAA Bracket style, best

Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN) is exploring a cooperative agreement with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) regarding the Trico Plant #1 Building. The objective of this agreement will be to identify an economically feasible, historic preservation appropriate, adaptive reuse proposal for the property. This cooperative agreement marks a milestone in the pursuit to rehabilitate the historic Trico Plant #1 Building. For over a year, Preservation Buffalo Niagara has been working in a limited advisory capacity with the BNMC to find a historic preservation reuse alternative for the property.

Last week we heard about an inspirational Earth Day project that saw the community come together to clean up Allentown. This week there is news that another Allentown cleanup initiative has been founded, and this time it's an ongoing grassroots meet-up that is being called Allentown Litter Mob. Members of the mob meet at 6:30pm at Fat Bob's Smokehouse, 41 Virginia Place, and this will be repeated every 3rd Thursday. Hopefully this guerrilla mob will have some longevity,

Artfarms and its partner, Polish Community Center of Buffalo, have been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Art Works grant. They are one of 817 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive funding through the NEA grants. A grant of $35,000 has been recommended for the construction of artistic sculptures that will supplement agricultural activity on vacant east side lots.

The focus of Artfarms is

The Buffalo Architecture Foundation is inviting everyone to attend an event on Thursday at 6:00pm called "6 Minute Building Stories". Guests will be treated to a series of six minute stories about planning, architecture and landscape, as seen through the eyes of co-presenters who, through use of photos, will paint a picture of our built environment and the effect that it has on different people. 
Building Stories will

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) will hold the second of three public information meetings regarding the reconstruction of Ohio Street. The meeting, scheduled from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9th at the First Ward Community Center, will describe the key elements of the proposed roadway and provide updates on the design and construction schedules. There will also be a break-out session at the end of the presentation to gather additional input from residents, commuters and area businesses.
The reconstruction of Ohio Street as a landscaped