A Day in the Life of Buffalo
Looks like Buffalo Old Home Week is going to get a bit of last minute press. Dave Staba, stringer for the New York Times, has been attending many of the events so far and told us that we can expect an article at the beginning of next week. He caught up with Mayor Brown at Thursday at the Square – a night that was filled with all sorts of BOHW activities.
The mayor told us that we can expect another story in the times detailing activities on the Buffalo Waterfront. That should be interesting... I guess the gist of the story is about recent positive developments on the inner harbor - the Erie Canal Terminus, casino activities, etc. And (ducking) supposedly (ducking) there will be a Bass Pro announcement later this week (still ducking)... yes a 'breakthrough' in the Bass Pro development is the talk of certain circles. You will notice that we have never signaled Bass Pro rumors in the past, but the air is so thick with speculations of 'progress' (let the wise-cracks roll, I can take it). Anyways, back to The Times - Dave Staba tells me that he has never seen the paper take such an interest in Buffalo before. I think our city has received more national press recently than it has seen for years. And now back to Thursday:
Thursday was the day that the mayor announced that the BOHW event was officially acknowledged by the City of Buffalo. Chris Smith handed over a City of Buffalo flag to The Mayor (I wonder where that came from Mr. Cox), and before we knew it Bill Zimmerman was singing the BOHW theme song while accompanied by banjo and guitar (we’ll have a video clip of that later).
The evening started off with a groundbreaking at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center where nineteen people who contributed to the success of the project dug their shovels in the ground and tossed piles of dirt in the air. The affair started off with a commencement and ended with a party.
It has been unexpected activities like the groundbreaking and the Pierogi Festival that have added to the magic of the BOHW long weekend. Make sure that you get out there and enjoy the rest of the festivities today. The Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts is just kicking off, and the Loft Tours are getting going as well. A ride on the Cotter Fireboat is already sold out, and the Blue Mirage looks like it will be a blast tonight. Then we’ll see you all tomorrow for brunch at The Casino on Hoyt Lake!
I can feel the energy in Buffalo growing. Alot seems to be on the verge of happening. I am hoping to see substantial tangibile results. Will this mark the weekend of Buffalo's rebirth?
BCB, I think you're right. This could be it. For a few years now we were feeling the enegery grow, but now with all of these events taking place all at once, we could grow soon! And think, Issa will be announcing his total plans for the Statler and his new tower soon! Buffalo is truly rising!
Getting pressin the wall street journal and new york times is HUGE - and its about time. This town needs a whole new marketing campaign - thanks to the boys at BRO - I think we may finally found it
I'm loving Buffalo even more now that even the press is talking positive about us. Wait a go Buffalo!
Great publicity for Buffalo!
I hate to be a Debbie Downer but I couldn't help but notice that under today's top stories on Buffalo.com The News first lists "Reasons to come back Home" then below that "City Records 50th, 51st homicide of year". It almost seems like there are two Buffalos. I like the good press in the NYTimes but we cannot split Buffalo into two cities.
thank you for weaving in the blurb about the BPAC to the rest of your Thurs coverage - I sent it to out to everyone, as it's exactly the kind of perspective we all need, being in the middle of it.
mmm! listen to the sizzle...... :)
and I love the Buffalo Bob outfit! (that's his name, right? ;)
Bass Pro, Hmmmm... Sounds like a 'fish' story. Alright, just one 'barb' . It would be great to 'hook' them into the city. Could be a great beginning to help 'line' up the water front area. 'Reel' nice if it 'lands'here soon. One less business to have to 'tackle' and 'spin' with. Once they are 'set' up, they may 'lure' others here and we won't have a 'red herring' for the 'flounder'ing lake front. I'll be there on 'opening day' if I'm not in 'school' and 'fish' through their 'stock'. Have seen their 'pilot whale' of a store in Missouri, back in the early eighties, and it was 'sole'ly wonderous. On a 'scale' it was a ten. I am really reaching now, if you 'catch' my 'drift' . Time to 'clam' up and go get 'pike'd.
Bass Pro is just another in a loooong series of failed "big bang" magic bullets proposed by the local government wherein a few privledged someones will make out like bandits while the rest of us get something we don't want and don't need which will close its doors in a year tops leaving another empty structure empty once again. None of Buffalo's successes - Elmwood, Chippewa, The Central Terminal Restoration are the result of anything any of our government reps (sic) did - it was all grassroots efforts by true Buffaloians who love this city and realized if they didn't do it, nobody would. We need more of that and less magic bangs.