By Joe Cascio:
On the cusp of the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's break through album "Nevermind" Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters stormed into the First Niagara Center on Sunday night.  The stage was big with a runway separating the masses of general admission moshers on the floor.  A cool component for those above stage level was that the stage was interactive displaying all kinds of cool graphics as well as a great light and projection show, but that all took a back seat to the music and the showman Dave Grohl.  
They came out

Submission by Peter Caruso

On July 23rd, I was deeply moved when I heard Amy Winehouse had died. I felt as if one of my own family member had passed. I had been an admirer and fan of her brillant music and haunting voice since 2005 but I could not understand why I felt such deep sorrow. As I played her music over and over again I realized her original lyrics and music were her personal diary and we all had been reading it from cover to cover. Miss Winehouse's whole life was documented in song, from her first album Frank

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Dawn Stanton:
Most families have some "skeletons in the closet" and the Mickelson family in Baker's 2007 novel Keeping the House is no exception. The reader gets to be the proverbial fly on the wall as the story unfolds over 6 decades and 3 generations of this American family.
Baker uses the House as a symbol of family and all that family life entails - the good, the bad, and the ups and downs. The marriage advice excerpts from the 40's and 50's that kick off some

Second Chance Sheltering Network, Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit animal rescue group serving the Western New York area.  Their goal is to help place homeless animals while simultaneously helping interested individuals find a new furry companion.  Every Sunday, we run a homeless pet spotlight to help these animals find a good home with a loving family. Please consider adopting an animal...
Special Needs Kitty!
Cold, sick and on the verge of death, Ava was taken to another shelter who immediately called Second Chance for help.

In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play, by Sarah Ruhl opened at the New Pheonix Theatre, and it is a wonderful confection of a play.  Ms. Ruhl is understandably the recipient of a MacArtuhr "Genius Award". Nicely directed by Robert Waterhouse this exploration of sex and the sexes in the 1880's America is an eye opening tour of the confinements and inhibitions suffered by Victorian women, and the curious (and electrifying) medical treatments which arose in the postbellum era to alleviate the maladies which such social restrictions

A truly heavy hitting show at Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar (DBGBs) on Allen Street. TONIGHT, Friday September 23rd.  PUSH Buffalo and The Good Neighborhood present to you 'PUSHin the Envelope' featuring hometown hero Alan Evans, groove-drilling drummer from the internationally acclaimed 'Soulive', the genre-crossing DJ Cutler and praised jam-rock quartet Free Henry!
The event starts at 7pm, beginning with a mixer from 7-8pm that will include open bar and appetizers from DBGB's new menu - local trio the Square Circle will be performing on DBGB's recently renovated

This Saturday (Sept. 24) Allentown's DBGB is hosting a trio of female DJs who are looking to bring the club's 'pink' roof down. Lady Atram tells me that the night is going to be filled with non-stop house beats from 10pm - 4-pm. What's it really all about? Lady Atram has the details:
"3" from 10pm-12am: aka Jillie Wags (photo - bottom left) This female DJ has worked under Factory Nightlife and has made her mark on the Buffalo electronic scene with her musical stylings. A true house head, "3" will open the night up with a pulse pounding set that will set the

PROCESSION, written and directed by Dan Shanahan for Torn Space Theatre, is billed as an exploration of ritual, spirituality and the transcendental nature of street culture. 
This extravaganza of light and sound opened in the Theosophical Society's building on Military Road in Black Rock. Formerly a German Evangelical Church, the gothic structure is all but stripped of its Christian relics, save the stained glass windows, which are beautiful (and beautifully lit for this production). Even the windows are bereft

Reposted by friends at The Good Neighborhood:
"Miracle Tomato," a traveling story of love, bioengineering and the search for home, created and performed by Jessica Cerullo, will be performed at The New Alt Theatre Performance Group in Buffalo, in conjunction with B.A.L.L. (Buffalo Artists' Learning Lab) tonight Monday, September 19th, at 8:00 pm, to benefit Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo.
This humorous, often moving play is presented by the character Angelina, a waitress-explorer whose road trip takes her to Buffalo, where she will impart

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Michelle Snyder:
One may not think that the social impact of a fish would lead to an interesting story, but then they've never experienced the writing of James Prosek.  Like other misunderstood creatures, the eel is a remarkable animal whose importance is only beginning to be appreciated at the very moment that its populations are declining. Prosek keeps you captivated as he leads you into Maori culture where the eel is considered a crucial part of their spiritual customs, to Japan where the

Second Chance Sheltering Network, Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit animal rescue group serving the Western New York area.  Their goal is to help place homeless animals while simultaneously helping interested individuals find a new furry companion.  Every Sunday, we run a homeless pet spotlight to help these animals find a good home with a loving family. Please consider adopting an animal...
This handsome 4.5 month old, bi color tiger male is not only

If you haven't heard of Minus the Bear yet, then you have surely been missing out. The Indie/ Prog rock band is celebrating their ten year anniversary with a very special tour, and one of their stops is at the Town Ballroom Oct 13. To celebrate a decade as a band, MTB's new live set offers fans something unique by integrating their 2002 debut release Highly refined Pirates in its entirety into their full set.

The fivesome that is Minus the Bear began their journey in 2002 with Highly

Buffalo Architecture Foundation, Inc. (BAF), a non-profit, 501(c)(3) public charity, announces the anticipated celebration of the organization's first event and fundraiser, Fall for Architecture, on October 8.

The event will be held at the Tri-Main Center (2495 Main Street) from 7:00-10:00 pm with live music, great food, and drinks.  The evening will also highlight submissions to their Building Stories program featuring personal WNY architecture stories.  All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Buffalo Architecture Foundation.

"We are so excited about this

THE BASICS: This period comedy in verse, by David Hirson was a huge flop on Broadway in 1992. It has a legion of admirers, however, and was revived successfully both on Broadway and in the West End in 2010. This ICTC production, the WNY premiere, was directed by Fortunato Pezzimenti, and plays weekends through October 2nd at the Andrews Theatre. LA BETE clocks in at about 2 ½ hours, with its ten minute intermission.

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Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Michelle Snyder:
A novel narrated by nostalgia as much as words, Ready Player One is a trip back in time, into the pop culture of the 80's. Continual references to the music, movies, and games of that decade almost make you want to put the book down and dig out your old Rush tapes, re-watch War Games, and find some quarters for a game of Pac-Man. 
Set in 2044, in an impoverished, dystopian America, the only escape is a vast virtual-reality simulation

As university life kicks into high gear, the community is invited onto UB's South Campus to enjoy three live music performances out on The Green. The shows take place on three consecutive Wednesdays in September, starting this week with Critt's Juke Joint. The setting for these shows allows for visitors to bring blankets, lawn chairs and and picnics - just remember that the concert series is family-friendly and no alcohol is allowed. Light refreshments will be available. 
Field schedule: Sept. 7 on Hayes Hall lawn, Sept. 14 on Rotary Field along Bailey Avenue and Sept.

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Patricia Covley:
Renegade cop Cody Hoyt is called to investigate the death of his friend and AA sponsor Hank Winters.  Hank has been found burned to death in his remote cabin.  The evidence says that it was an accident; that Winters fell asleep after an evening of drinking and left the door open on his wood burning stove.  
Hoyt doesn't believe it and begins to investigate.  Hoyt's investigation points to outdoorsman Jed McCarthy.  McCarthy is

Second Chance Sheltering Network, Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit animal rescue group serving the Western New York area.  Their goal is to help place homeless animals while simultaneously helping interested individuals find a new furry companion.  Every Sunday, we run a homeless pet spotlight to help these animals find a good home with a loving family. Please consider adopting an animal...
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By Tim Fenster:

Alice Cooper is not a legend because of his songwriting, or his pioneering use of scary stage props. His knack for bringing horror-themed hits to life on stage is why he's a timeless success. Many hard rock artists have released songs heavier and darker than Cooper's.  Yet his genius isn't for writing such songs as "Welcome to My Nightmare," but for perfectly

Fashion Maniac: Keeping tabs on Buffalo's fashion industry, including models, catwalks, retailers, designers, stylists, visual merchandisers and jewelers. 
Androgyny in Fashion By Phillip Johnson: 
Every so often, in the been-there-done-that