By Michael Hargrave:
UPDATED PHOTOS - People United for Sustainable Housing's (PUSH) Campaign Kickoff meeting last night covered myriad topics, from the housing projects that the organization is most well known for, to green housing initiatives and a campaign to get a better housing weatherization program from National Gas. 
New housing rehab plans were announced for 99 Chenango and 562 W. Utica (photos below), as well as PUSH's first

The implementation of "Complete Streets" creates opportunities for everyone, regardless of how we choose to get around - by car, bike, transit, or our own two feet and creates an inviting environment for residents, travelers and businesses alike.  How can we design streets to promote sustainability, economic development and improve health? 
That's the theme of the Buffalo Complete Streets Summit this evening from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at Asbury Hall (341 Delaware Ave). The event is free and open to the public. 
The event will explore

By Michelle Gigante - Director Shakti Yoga:
It seems that now-a-days art is created on the basis of earning potential. Musicians are preoccupied with how many youtube hits they may get, theatre producer are concerned with choosing plays that will sell the most seats and artists create with someone's living room decoration in mind.
What happened to art for art sake: art as a simple offering of expression that comes from someone's soul, subconscious or heart? Just like the yoga practice art is a way of releasing what is deep

The repolished crown jewel of downtown is almost ready for her close-up as workers finish up at the Hotel Lafayette. Over two hundred people are working throughout the building almost every day of the week to get the historic landmark ready its official debut in just a few weeks.

Chandeliers have been refurbished and returned to the Crystal Dining Room, the ornate plaster ceiling of the grand ballroom has been repaired, and the scagliola has been replicated along Peacock Alley. The transformation is nothing short of amazing

UB Law School's Regional Economic Development class is bringing fresh economic development ideas to neighborhoods that need a boost.  "Railroad Renaissance: An Urbane North Buffalo Community" was created by the student team of Michael Cimasi, Shervin Rismani and Jeffrey Tyrpak, with Teresa Bosch de Celis and Meng Yu. Below is an abbreviated version of their report.

This project seeks to blend certain notions of idyllic urbanity with a pre-existing North Buffalo Community by introducing a new mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly yet auto accessible, Boulevard across the now vacant Erie-Lackawanna

Where are you from originally? 
I have lived in Buffalo all my life. 
How has Buffalo influenced your work? 
It's impossible for me to determine how living here has influenced my art. But One of my sons refers to Buffalo as a gothic city because to him- no matter how bright the sun shines here it still looks grey. If that's true maybe unconsciously I am attracted to vibrant colors, like a piece of orange in the middle of blue and green. 
What

If there is something that I have learned about the jazz community throughout the world, it is generous when it comes to helping out for a good cause. That sentiment especially rings true where a local jazz master is concerned. Currently underway is an effort to rescue the house of legendary jazz great Elvin 'Shep' Shepherd. Shep's house was scheduled for demolition, but thanks to an amazing reversal of fate, the community has come together and is not only attempting to save the house, but would like to turn it into a museum called The Historic Shepherd House. After all, it was a young

Meeting highlights include: 1) Creation of a Medical Corridor Resident Advisory Committee 2) Designation of St. John Community Development Corporation ("CDC") as the developer of 50 City-owned parcels of land located in the Ellicott District. St. John CDC is proposing to construct 17 energy efficient townhomes on the sites as part of an overall project to build a total of 49 townhouses.
The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Delaware District Council Member Michael J. LoCurto and Majority Leader and Masten District Council Member Demone A.

Those who have been considering making a change to cleaner, more sustainable heating options for their homes or commercial spaces have probably tossed around the idea of geothermal heating. However, some of us are still in the dark about how these systems work and what the benefits and expenses will be. If you're considering pursuing this idea, or just want to learn more about how geothermal heating works, the next installment of the WNY Sustainable Energy Association's Reitan speaker series is a great place to start.
This evening, Wednesday, April 18, the organization

By Elizabeth Lamont:
Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper is recruiting volunteers to join the Spring Shoreline Cleanup on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 9am to noon.    
With the early spring weather we are experiencing in Western New York, many people are starting spring cleaning in their homes and yards.  Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, the environmental group whose mission is to protect and restore the quality and quantity of the waters of the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers, is seeking volunteers to help with "spring cleaning"

By Joshua Bauer (Football Nation):
You may be asking yourself, "Self, I've been hearing alot about the Bills switching to a 4-3 defense in 2012... Why are they doing this and what does this mean?".
Good question. With the sudden clamor surrounding the rebuilt Buffalo defensive line and Dave Wannstedt's ascension to defensive coach, perhaps some of the fans don't really know what all these numbers mean. Truth be told,

UB Law School's Regional Economic Development class is bringing fresh economic development ideas to neighborhoods that need a boost.  The course lets students attempt to identify a real need in the community, apply the theory learned in the classroom and then design a plan that would address this need.

The innovative cross-disciplinary course--"Regional Economic Development"-- is intended to give law students practical experience in the subject, with a distinctive emphasis: bringing visualization to the legal debate.

The Regional Economic Development course recently added

Where are you from originally?  
Buffalo, NY
What is your medium? 
Photography
How has Buffalo influenced your work? 
Our community has provided a supporting an encouraging environment which has allowed both me and my work to grow.
Where do you draw your inspiration from? 
Charioscuro and Renaissance painters
Name an artist (or

If you're into kayaks, canoes, what have you, and you think that the idea of a boat dance sounds interesting, then consider signing up for an event that really is like nothing else around. Due to the ongoing dredging of the Buffalo River, this year's boat dancing event has been relocated to Gala Waters (Hoyt Lake) in Delaware Park. The Great Niagara is teaming up with the Fluid Culture series in order to grow the event and stylize it. After all, this is not just an impromptu gathering of kayakers - it is an orchestrated effort of boating enthusiasts who take an interested in creating artistic

Buffalo's annual poetry marathon, featuring 100 local poets, is slated to take place on Sunday April 22. Already a buzz is brewing regarding the notoriety of this special event, as some of the area's most talented poets are preparing to convene upon Elmwood Avenue at the Unitarian Universalist Church, where the beautiful surroundings will pay tribute to our bountiful treasure. Each of the poets will have two minutes to wax poetic. The event will take place from 3pm to 7:30pm. 
Here is what some of our local poetry enthusiasts have to say:
Urban

Leaders from HomeFront, Inc. and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) joined federal, state and city officials last week to mark completion of the latest vacant home rehab project transforming a neighborhood on Buffalo's West Side.  The rehab of 113 19th Street is a component of HomeFront's three-year strategy to substantially rehabilitate vacant/abandoned/foreclosed houses in the 19th Street neighborhood and the 14213 zip code. 

Said HomeFront Inc. Executive Director John Murphy,

Preservation Buffalo Niagara is recognizing outstanding preservation projects and those contributing to preservation efforts at its annual awards ceremony May 30, 11:30 AM in the Statler's Golden Ballroom.  Award categories were established to acknowledge distinguished contributions to our community through preservation activity. Recipients will be recognized in several areas including: preservation craft; rehabilitation/adaptive use; stewardship; neighborhood conservation; planning/reconstruction; and

Join Buffalo's Young Preservationists for their monthly happy hour at Ulrich's Tavern on Wednesday, April 18th, 7pm-10pm to get your fill of three of the best things about Buffalo: beer, preservation, and dynamic folks organizing around a great cause.  There is plenty to talk about and drink to--preservation, development, and general community collaboration in Buffalo!

This is an especially important meeting to attend, as BYP will be discussing Common Council's upcoming

While on my way home today, it was a such a nice and unexpected surprise to see that an old painted sign was being restored at the corner of Main Street and West Ferry. As part of the HOME project, it was decided that rather than sandblast the paint off the brick wall, it would ultimately be cheaper and easier to repaint the old 'Touraine Paints' sign. In my opinion, I really like the look of these old signs, as they lend urban character to the buildings and historic fabric to the neighborhood. This building

Where are you from originally?  
Born and raised in Buffalo.
What is your medium? 
Mostly graphic arts, design, printmaking.... Mixed media, painting and collage.
How has Buffalo influenced your work? 
Literally and figuratively, Buffalo is the subject matter of much of my work. 
Where do you draw your inspiration from? 
Everyday life. Walking around the