Fresh off the purchase of HSBC's local bank branches, First Niagara will soon be putting its name on the HSBC Arena.  The home of the Buffalo Sabres is now the First Niagara Center.  First Niagara is entering a marketing partnership with the National Hockey League team for the naming rights to the 18,690 seat downtown arena.

"We are excited to partner with the Pegula family and a team that not only shares our love for the Buffalo Niagara region, but our commitment to creating a winning franchise that attracts top talent and serves

The first event to take place in the 'new' Statler building is a big one.  The Buffalo Irish Festival is taking place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Niagara Square landmark being renovated by Mark Croce.  The fun begins on Friday with a parade of the 32 County flags of Ireland at 5:30 p.m.  The celebration will bring Irish musicians from across the country, as well as Canada and Ireland, to perform on three stages.  There will also be Irish dancers from six local

Buffalo River Fest Park wraps up the free Wednesday night concert series with a national touring act on Wednesday, August 24th at 6 p.m.  The Town Pants, a Vancouver, Canada based band combines aspects of Irish traditional, folk rock and routes Americana featuring their signature dual lead vocals to create their own unique brand of high energy "West Coast Celtic." 

 

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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

Mark your calendars:  Friday,  September 16 rings in the 30th Anniversary edition of Curtain Up!,  the gala opening of the theatre season. Presented by the Theatre District Association of Western New York and M&T Bank,  this celebration is a unique Buffalo creation and has expanded over

Queen City Prints' Grand Opening Celebration and Charity Event (artforms) benefiting the American Cancer Society, will be held at one of the premier residences in Uniland's showcase Avant Building. During artforms, original artwork from Queen City Prints' collection of local artists will be on display amongst the breathtaking views from the 16th floor of Avant.

In addition to the art exhibit, the event will feature delectable appetizers and an exquisite chocolate experience from Oh Pour L'Amour Du Chocolat. All proceeds from both ticket and art sales will go to benefit the American Cancer

Blue Monk | Thursday 8/18 | 9pm-1130pm

Terry Sullivan & I were both given brass and tested by the music Gods in the 5th grade. Terry was handed a tuba, I was given a trombone.  My enormous eleven year old ego wanted no part of the trombone.  I didn't want to get my ass beat on the bus, cared too much what the other kids thought, and ended my music career after 7 long weeks. Terry, on the other hand, is wired

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Meg Cheman:

If you've ever seen author Sarah Vowell on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," then you've experienced her wicked wit and no-nonsense historical perspective.  In Unfamiliar Fishes, Vowell takes on the history of our fiftieth state during a period in the nineteenth century, from the first New England missionaries to the "orgy of imperialism" when the United States took control of Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.  Impeccably researched and smartly presented, Unfamiliar Fishes

Fashion Maniac: Keeping tabs on Buffalo's fashion industry, including models, catwalks, retailers, designers, stylists, visual merchandisers and jewelers.

FASHION MANIAC TEAM:
Features Editor : Phillip Johnson
All Photography & Managing Editor : Cheryl Gorski
Copy Editor : Chris Alfiero
Stylists : Cassie Elsaesser
Make Up :  Dani Weiser
Hair Stylist : Whitney Curry
Casting Director : Kimberly Cohen
Prop Stylist  : Todd Warfield, Lucy Mancuso, Michael Merisola

By Phillip Johnson:

What's more refreshing

Please forgive me for keeping it light this week; I'll give you something heavy to think about next Thursday.  Today, I want you to lend a helping hand to some great people from Buffalo that are on the verge of finding a much larger audience, Brothers McClurg (formerly Relevant Worship).  This past week, they released their new EP "Alive," and the Western New York CD release show is tomorrow night at Evangel Church in Clarence.
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Buffalo & Erie County Public Library staff review by Patricia Covley:

It seems like every time you turn around there is another book about a cute dog and its owner.  Journalist Glenn Plaskin lives in downtown Manhattan opposite the World Trade Center.  After years of thinking about becoming a dog owner, Plaskin decides to adopt Katie, the runt of a litter of cocker spaniels.  Pearl, an elderly woman who lives down the hall from Plaskin and Katie becomes a sort of mentor to Plaskin.  She greatly misses her own cocker spaniel who died two years earlier.


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...

The Boys Want a Home!   Lex and Luther are brothers who came to Second Chance from another shelter when they became full.  These 12 week old kittens are sweet,

You're probably familiar with WGR550 - it's an AM radio station and yes people still listen to AM radio. WGR, the leading sports talk radio station in WNY, occasionally strays from sports - a completely understandable decision given how dismal the Buffalo sports scene can get. 
Today, WGR staff engaged in one of their much-talked about drafts. During Schopp and the Bulldog, Mike Schopp, Bulldog, Greg Bauch and Jeremy

How often does consensus happen?  Not too often.  And if Canalside and the Peace bridge have taught us anything, its that we can let disagreements waste a LOT of time.

With the clock ticking on our federal government's debate regarding the debt ceiling, now seems like the right time to ask: How do our beliefs affect our ability to compromise?

My propositions, for your discussion:

First, the presumption behind the question: Sometimes, compromise is necessary, and said ability is one worth having, especially in a pluralistic society.  The perfect really

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

Originally published in 1957 and now in a new, expanded edition published in 1995, the basis of an Oscar award-winning documentary short, and a perennial on school reading lists, Mrs. Klein's memoir of surviving the Holocaust is a worthy read for adults, too.

The former Buffalo area resident chronicles her teen years in Poland when Germany invaded in 1939.  Her idyllic childhood is lost as her family adjusts to living in their basement under the watchful eye of the Nazis.  Before being

Everybody's talking about money this week.  Federally, we need to borrow more of it, on a local level, Chris Collins is proud to have some left over.  How much money you have says a lot about what you believe, but not nearly as much as what you do with it.

That's why I am so encouraged by West Side Stories. 

Ok, Is this the saddest face you have ever seen?????  LOKI has been through the wringer and back again.  He was found as a stray by another agency who called us when they became full to take him.  This 2 year old grey/white tabby is bony and thin and needs to put some meat on his bones.  He loves to cuddle, play, chase balls and he is also cat friendly.  He will be a very handsome young man once he fills out and gets hugs and kisses every day. 

Loki is tested for feline leukhemia/FIV and is negative, neutered, had rabies/distemper vaccinations, dewormed,

In an effort to partner tourism related opportunities with the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in New York State, the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. (NTCC), unveiled plans Friday to hold a group wedding ceremony on July 25 in Niagara Falls as well as a new 'Rainbow Romance' package on the agency's Niagara-USA.com reservation system.

The event, which is aimed at highlighting the passage of the marriage equality act, is expected to be one of the first official LGBT group wedding ceremonies in New York State. This wedding ceremony, being held at Niagara Falls State Park, will

Kicking-off the official countdown to same-sex marriage - 7.24.11 - I LOVE NEW YORK launched its "Save the Date" campaign today, featuring online wedding and honeymoon packages designed to unite couples and businesses and establish New York as a premier destination location for same-sex weddings.

By visiting www.ILOVENY.com, couples looking to plan their dream wedding in New York State will have an array of world-renowned travel destinations to select - from Niagara Falls to Long Island - and inspiring wedding packages across all seasons. Additionally,

By Sara M. Zak

Painting for Preservation (P4P)'s most recent Art-In at Lyth Cottage, a Preservation Ready Sites (FB) location, attracted artists, residents, and intentioned observers to the Hamlin Park neighborhood on Buffalo's East Side. The historic home, ca.1886, was recently purchased as part of the City of Buffalo Homestead Program by a young East Aurora resident eager to add Lyth Cottage to the