FASHION MANIAC TEAM:
Features Editor: Cassie Elsaesser   

All Photography & Managing Editor: Cheryl Gorski

Hair Stylist: Whitney Curry
Makeup: Vanessa Vaz


Bones, Feathers, Fur & Sunglasses: Fashion Accessories Designed by Marilyn Hammer & Yadira Maldonado

Interviewed by: Cassie Elsaesser  

The local creative and artistic talent here in Buffalo is impressive, to say the least. Fashion Maniac had the opportunity to sit down and chat with two such talents.

Local Argentine Tango instructor Travis Widrick is offering a holiday gift package for both the beginning or advanced dancer.

Widrick heads Buffalo Tango X. He has studied with Tango Instructors from all over the world, including many from Argentina.
 
The Argentine Tango is a dance that originated in Argentina in the late 19th century, combining  elements of  African, European and Latin American cultures in a very romantic and sensual expression.

The Argentine Tango Gift Package includes:

- 4 Private OR Semi-private One-hour

All the snow in Buffalo would not keep me away from seeing the touring production of Dreamgirls now being hosted at Shea's Performing Arts Center. The original Broadway production of this high energy, exciting show is one of my fondest theatergoing experiences. The original production is on the same list of personal favorites as Broadway productions of Follies, Seesaw, Company and Promises, Promises, coincidentally or not, all shows staged or choreographed by our lantzman Michael Bennett.

With each successive show he helmed, Bennett demanded

The posted details of Crispin Glover's visit to the Market Arcade seemed simple enough. He was to narrate a slide show of pages from books and his 2007 fantasy drama It is Fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE would be screened followed by a Q&A with a signing in the main lobby. I was aware that Glover had a knack for dabbling in the unorthodox and unconventional. Yet nothing could have prepared me for the content I was to see that night on December 15th.

The slide show had altered pages of books

By Jennifer Westerholt:

Country music legend Willie Nelson's daughter Paula, who has been named one of Great American Country's (GAC) top ten video artists, is scheduled to headline a special night of performances to benefit Mercy Flight Western New York this Saturday, December 18th, at Babeville Asbury Hall, the home of Folk sensation and national recording artist Ani Difranco and her record label, Righteous Babe Records.

Patriot Energy Services LLC will help sponsor the concert that is the finale of several shows Nelson will perform in Western New York this week.

Recently, the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens opened "The Arcangel Gallery" in memory of local resident Brent D. Arcangel.

Arcangel was a very motivated individual whose life was cut short in a tragic car accident involving a driver who fell asleep at the wheel. This man was known for his belief in "giving life your best every day" and was very proud of being a Western New Yorker.  He was an undergraduate and graduate student at the University at Buffalo with a passion for living life to its fullest.  His parents, Wayne

Friday Dec 17 & Saturday Dec 18.
In the spirit of community and conspicuous consumerism, a great way to buy thoughtful obligatory gifts and support your own community is by shopping locally and buying locally made items. This is nothing new, but always worth remembering when the thought of your shopping dollars going out of town could in fact stay here and support local artisans. Of the many holiday shopping opportunities this year, the "Last Minute Panic Holiday Marketplace" at the WNY

By Julia Foy:

Factory Nightlife is bringing yet another big name to Buffalo this Friday night at PURE Nightclub.  Markus Schulz, the #8 DJ in the world, will be headlining the Factory Nightlife Holiday Party for an extended three hour set.  Best known for fusing progressive house and trance into a unique hybrid sound, Markus Schulz has wowed fans for the past ten years. Schulz has proven himself as one of the most talented DJs with his instinctive track selection and flawless

Most people have differing opinions on someone as distinctive as Crispin Glover. One may view him as a burnout from the 80's, struggling to maintain some sort of relevancy in contemporary culture. Others may see him as a bit of an enigma, even if he's playing it up as a facade much like Andy Kaufman or Tommy Wiseau. I just see him as a sorely underrated talent with great, standout performances including, but not limited to, Back to the Future, Charlie's Angels, Alice in Wonderland, Beowulf, and The Doors.
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The gist of every play with a Christmas theme or a yuletide setting is finding the real meaning of Christmas. This is true whether the central character is saintly or suicidal. This is true even if there is a grinchy, scroogey villain intent on breaking hearts and stealing presents. This is true whether the tone of the play is sincere or sarcastic. No matter where the show starts, or how long it takes, by the time we leave the warmth of the theater for the cold of the street, we are imbued with the real meaning of Christmas.
 
This is certainly the case with Theatre Of Youth's holiday

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Book Review by Suzanne Colligan:

If you've watched a serious news program only to hear a phone call that sounds a little off and is punctuated with a "baba booey", you've heard a Howard Stern radio show fan make reference to his long-time producer Gary Dell'Abate. Dell'Abate's autobiography lightly grazes his involvement with the Stern Show. It's really about how Gary, nicknamed "Baba Booey" after a gaff while referencing the cartoon character Baba Looey, became the man who runs the show and is often the butt of jokes.

Dell'Abate

As luck would have it, the BRO holiday gift selection #11 arrived in time for a holiday kick-off this evening. It just so happens that two of Buffalo's most bitchinest fashionistas are hosting a one-month (select weekends) Allentown open house trunk show, featuring some rather unusual gift items for the more adventurous people on your gift list. Leave it to Morgen Love and Marilyn Hammer to bring to the street a mix of belts, feather earrings, hair adornments, leather goods, cuffs, exotic beads, artwork, charms and customized clothing.

Rarely have you ever seen a collection of adornments

I'm bringing my one-man holiday show to Buffalo. It's called "Ebenezer: Do You Believe a Man Can Change?" I know, we've all seen "A Christmas Carol" a thousand times. But please, bear with me while I tell you the story behind the story.

I am a 50 year old, balding, morbidly obese man riddled with phobias, insecurity and low self-esteem. Sound like fun, yet? This difficulty, coupled with my disappointment in an ever-increasingly fearful and cynical society, bipartisan political dead ends, and lost innocence, has found me stuck. Saddened that the integrity, joy, and magic of my youth

Three local designers have decided to represent their home town in the best way they know how--by starting their very own studio in its name.

Queen City Studio is the product of Rob Hopkins, Nick Haas and Emily Kowzan, three visionaries whose goal as a new studio is to "Reinstate Buffalo as a manufacturer of quality through the practice of good design."  They have worked extensively in the design industry, producing work that has been featured in Graphis, Logo Lounge and on various blogs with an international audience. QCS also recently designed a t-shirt for grammy-winning recording

There are many interpretations to the word "home." For most people born and bred in Buffalo, this city will always be home no matter where they lay their head, and many musicians have sought other scenes to realize their dreams, often finding that these pastures are as green as they need and returning to bolster our bountiful scene. Others have migrated here from other towns having found comfort in our community.
              
There is another segment of our community for which the comforts of home and hopes of living

Today's holiday selection comes from the same boutique that I covered in yesterday's pick. As I mentioned previously, Anatomy Design embodies all that is Buffalo. It was a big surprise however, to find that the shop's stylish fashion maven had picked up a delicious-smelling line of locally-made soy candles. "They smell incredible," Ali Eagen told me. "And they have a long burn time." I picked up one of the orange candles and held it to my nose. The overwhelming smell of orangesicles filled my head, and I was

By : Alexandrea Ozoria
 
KissMas Bash was nothing short of explosive and was a definite a must see! Popular artists, new and old came to perform at HSBC Arena for one of the most deserving causes in Buffalo this time of year. For 2010, Kiss 98.5 sold blinking snowflake hats, striving to support the Roswell Cancer Institute's cause - an endeavor well made. Entire sections twinkled like pink and blue stars in the night, as if beacons of hope for the future.

Performances from Charice and Maroon 5 really got the crowd excited... and of course, Kevin Rudolph can

Despite the denials by its authors and creators, many insist Dreamgirls is a microscopic career examination of Motown singers, or the tatty machinations behind morphing The Supremes to Diana Ross And The Supremes (billing is everything).  Surely there is some Supreme truth that sticks to the plot of Dreamgirls. It also trails threads of the lives of Berry Gordy, Jackie Wilson, Cindy Birdsong, James Brown, Mary Wilson, Ike Turner and many other whose names are dimmed by or lost to passing time.
 
The story introduces us to Effie, Deena and Lorell, a Chicago

"Positioning the NFL Brand" will be the topic of a talk to be presented at Monday's meeting of the Monday Quarterback Club. The luncheon will be held at the Harbour Club at HSBC Arena on December 13th. Doors open at 11:15 am for a buffet lunch, and the program follows at 12:00 pm.
 
MQB, the business group that backs the Buffalo Bills, is bringing in Peter O'Reilly, Vice President for Fan Strategy and Marketing for the National Football League, as its the featured speaker. O'Reilly's talk will delve into strategies for reaching out to the younger as well as mature markets, as well

FASHION MANIAC TEAM:
Features Editor : Cassie Elsaesser   
All Photography & Managing Editor : Cheryl Gorski
Stylists : Casssie Elsaesser & Cameron Richard  
Guest Makeup : Salley Thomas
Hair Stylist : James Hickey
Prop Stylist  : Todd Warfield, Lucy Mancuso, Michael Merisola
Executive Producer / Video Journalist : Richard Renda

Hay Fever by Cassie Elsaesser:
     
With winter weather here, its time to bundle up in this seasons key