We're now seeing the initial effects of a plan to beautify the perimeter of Canalside. Whereas this parcel of land was still a mud pit last week, it is finally being spruced up with fresh sod and grass. This is the first parcel of land that many people see when coming to Canalside, as it is located at the terminus of Main Street. The three City-owned harbor area lots are located under The Skyway.
What we are seeing here is an initiative by the Sabres organization to work with The City in

By Gregory Conley: 
Quite often we hear from people of a decreasing population, employment, and eroding tax base. We hear that Buffalo, NY is in the past and can't come back. We hear it is bleeding a wound that will never heal.
Well it's time to shut those people up.
Recently, I have been using two great tools to examine different geographic data sets. One is a great mapping system through the US Census online, called On The Map. This system allows users

By Rebecca Boone:
Buffalonians are no strangers to the Buffalo waterfront- a staple of summer in the city.  But it's likely you're a stranger to the huge painted dragons that stick their necks up high at the prow.  Fortunately you can get acquainted with them this Saturday, June 16th, as Buffalo hosts the inaugural Hope Chest Buffalo Niagara Dragon Boat Festival at Buffalo's Gallagher Beach, which is open to the public and free of charge.
Hope Chest provides free exercise and paddling programs for breast cancer survivors,

Get ready to put on your best vintage dress or suit and grab your dancing shoes, because Deco-Fest 2012 has arrived. The Buffalo Central Terminal will host this annual restoration fundraiser on June 16 with plenty of swing, blues, big band and rockabilly music from bands near and far that will keep guests out on the dance floor all night long. 
The event is designed to take you back to the era of the Central Terminal's origin and imagine what it was like to experience the art-deco building in 1929, when it first opened to the public. After an evening of being

As much as this past weekend's weather had its ups and downs, for the most part Allentown and Allen West Art Festivals didn't skip a beat. Each year the festivals draw thousands upon thousands of visitors to not only view the works by talented artists, but to partake in a vibrant atmosphere that tends to engross the public with its quirky bohemian nature. That's mostly because of Allentown and all of its unique character that can be seen throughout the year. 
While it doesn't take an art festival for Allentown to artistically shine, having one of the largest art festival

A productive relationship has been forged between the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy and the students from both McKinley High School and the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts (BAVPA). Thanks to a $5000 grant from the East Hill Foundation, the Olmsted Parks are in the process of receiving handmade-locally picnic tables (20) and Adirondack chairs (30) - to be dispersed throughout the park system.
The last time that Buffalo saw a partnership along these lines was in '11 when McKinley High School teamed up with Olmsted to create a 300' mural (see

Where are you from originally?
I grew up in the Town of Tonawanda, but lived out-of-town for many years in San Francisco, Manhattan, and Boulder/Denver before before returning in 2005. I now live in Buffalo at the Artspace Lofts. What or who first prompted you to venture into the art world?
Three things..I received an art history book written for children with Manet's "Flute Player" on the cover, attended a Van Gogh exhibit at Albright Knox, and signed up for a children's art class at UB. Have

Thanks to a generous grant awarded to Keep Western New York Beautiful by the John R. Oishei Foundation, Buffalo will be a thousand trees greener by autumn of this year. 
The grant, totaling $50,000, will be used by the Re-Tree WNY program to purchase and plant 1,000 trees along streets and in parks throughout the city. Re-Tree WNY made it their goal to replace 30,000 of the trees that were lost in the October storm of 2006. Currently, they need 6,000 more trees to reach their five-year target. 
"The volunteers of Re-Tree WNY will

After an exhausting five games away their first eight, including a two week road trip to the West coast, I've got Buffalo coming in to week 10 at 5-3 so far, with big wins over the Patriots week 3 and the Titans week 7 to this point of the season. However, the Bills road woes continue to start here, with a week 10 trip to Gillette stadium, as well as a short week before playing Miami on Thursday night at home, followed by two more games against the AFC South. Care to continue with me down the speculative road to find a Buffalo Wild Card berth and a 10-6 season? 
Week

By Giovanni Centurione: From the newly opened Hotel @ The Lafayette, continued progress at Canal Side, and many more, we are starting to see the return of retail in downtown. Let's start at the new Hotel @ Lafayette with, 'Anatomy' local women's store that just relocated from Elmwood Ave. Owned and operated by Ali Eagen, this is a unique boutique that specializes in custom, made-to-measure garments. If you are in need of a wedding dress or a suit for work, Ali, can custom make any piece to suit your style. Down the hall from

Where are you from originally? 
Buffalo, N.Y. Old First Ward Where are you living now, and when are you moving back to Buffalo? 
Currently living in Joplin, M.O. Moving back to Buffalo this coming spring. What is your medium? 
Mostly acrylics and spraypaint at the moment.   How has Buffalo influenced your work? 
The city made me who I am. Taught me to

This building, located at 161 Elmwood Avenue was once a car rental center, before it became used for storage and then sat empty. If I recall correctly, it was also used a few times by Cozumel for event purposes. Whatever has happened at the location, for the most part it has not played much of a role in the vitality of the street for as long as I can remember. It's always been a fairly unremarkable building. That's why I was so surprised to see a new business open up inside recently. The owners of Claiborne Liquor, who moved into a new space next door, have already expanded into this second location

As OTA's in Buffalo finish up their second week, the Bills are beginning to look deeper and healthier each week. While some, like running back Fred Jackson, are already healed and ready to build on last season's success (934 yards and six TDs in just 10 games), others still are looking to get back to 100% before they can contribute in 2012. Here's a quick rundown of Bills players still recuperating after the 2011 Season of the Walking Wounded in Buffalo.
Terrence McGee - Said the man himself, "Now the last time I had a healthy season... I can't even remember.

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Carol Ann Strahl:
Two esteemed Civil War historians have written an engrossing story detailing the Battle of Franklin fought in Tennessee on November 30, 1864.  What makes this saga even more poignant is that by late 1864, the outcome of the Civil War had been essentially decided, so the senselessness of the slaughter is overwhelming.
This battle between the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Lieut. General John Bell Hood and the Union forces commanded

While the Allentown Art Festival is currently in full swing, the folks down in the old First Ward are preparing for next weekend's mighty river festival appropriately called Buffalo River Fest. I've attended this festival for years now, and can honestly say that there is nothing else like it around. While the Riverfest Regatta is a big draw for both contestants and onlookers alike, there are so many other fun-filled events and activities taking place throughout the course of the weekend. 
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Yesterday, Byron Brown came out publicly to oppose the pending demolitions on Busti Avenue by sending a letter to Governor Cuomo asking for his intervention to halt the demolitions. Below is the letter that Brown's office issued as it was written to Governor Cuomo.
Dear Governor Cuomo:
I am writing to request that you join me in appealing to the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority (PBA) to delay the planned demolitions of properties on Busti Avenue in the City of Buffalo scheduled to occur later this month.
As

It came to pass at 6:45PM Buffalo Standard Time (B.S.T.) Thursday night that over 12,600 participants from over 400 companies walked and ran 3 1/2 miles at the 32nd annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge at Delaware Park here in North Buffalo. But after the cardio, in the summer-like day comes, the real challenge... getting to visit and network with your friends and people you want to connect with in the more than 300 hospitality tents set up right behind the Buffalo Zoo bordering Ring Rd.  

New to Larkin Square and scheduled to open as early as next week is Square 1 Sandwiches. Built in a beautiful old Airstream Trade Wind Land Yacht, the eatery looks as bold and bright as the elevated food court that seconds as a back drop and band stand. The mostly-stationary food truck (trailer) is also located next to the newly opened Filling Station restaurant with a sixteen seat patio for patrons to share. Either that or sit at one of the many colorful lawn seats, some of which are now shaded with gigantic patio umbrellas. 
Although I arrived just moments ago, and The

It was Rick Smith, owner of Rigidized Metals, who upon purchasing land at the grain elevators first came upon a massive bee colony lodged inside the boarded up window of one of the office buildings. Knowing that someday the building was going to be occupied and active, Rick felt that it would only be right to make sure that the bees were not exterminated. I have been lucky enough to visit the bees each year since they were first discovered, and have always admired Rick's desire to move the bee colony safely. Little did I know what an ambitious undertaking it would ultimately end up being. "Nobody

Representatives of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Foundation and Bank of America gathered in front of the Site's 641 Delaware Avenue location this afternoon to formalize the long-anticipated transfer of the bank's former mid-century glass and concrete branch and adjacent property.  The property gift will restore the property to its original 1901 boundaries.
Demolition of the building and landscape restoration will begin immediately, with an anticipated completion date of November.
The