Buffalo Rising Online

This was my first year attending.

Good crowd. Affordable. Kinda Fun. They had a couple things for kids to do. I'd go again.

Pesci's had the best wings that I tried. I think they won a few awards. And who would've thought the girls would finish 1st and 2nd in the eating contest against 400 pound men.

I've heard nothing but raves about this year's Fest. In a few short years, this baby has gone from mild to medium to hot and now nuke-ya-lar. I was invited to volunteer this year, and it was muy agonizing to have previous obligations here keep me from being able to say yes. Am stocking up on the Maalox in anticipation of next year...

I discovered Legend Larry's mainly because of their long line. I figured a line like that had to mean something good was at the end of it. Their DOA wings were a thing of masochistic beauty. Really disappointing though was the Anchor Bar - worst wings I had at the festival. And how come no Duff's? Overall though, this was my first time and I really enjoyed the event and I'd certainly go again.

Also Truestar, it is supposed to be a charitable event and the web site for the Festival says that they donated $10,000 to charity this year.

Just created more fat people in Buffalo. They don't need anymore!

The beer fest was a flop, the wing fest was a success. Just a week apart. Maybe next year they can bring the two events closer together, and maybe they could add the hot dog eating contest to the venue as well. Why not make it a huge event for the entire business district, populate Dunn Tire Park, Main Street, and the Harbor Front?

I thought it was a really good event and a good year. It celebrates wings, buffalo and what a day to put on the TV for people outside the region to see. Talk about blue skies and sunny. Too hot for me personally but I made my rounds, ate some wings and had fun. I was in and out with two people for 30 dollars. Hardly an expensive outing to try wings from all over the country. 10 to get in, 10 on wings, 6 on drinks.

I also think the drinks, since they were cash only go to the ball park itself. They seem to have a different group of people selling the drinks vs the wings. Helps the bisons, helps a charity, helps the image of Buffalo and maybe my love handles a bit. You just need to think about it as a tasting event and don't expect to go there with completely empty stomachs for a whole family.

I do realllllllllllllllly wish they would open up some of the grass again for people to sit on and relax. The grass always helped keep people cool and refreshing. All that white plastic stuff (I know why its there) was too hot, and glaring after a while. It would be nice that if in the center of the outfield they could open it up, maybe with a tent or two and grass and leave the plastic stuff for the high traffic areas.

are you guys really complaining about the amount of money that was donated to charity! i guarantee the recipients werent complain that they only got a lousy couple grand each.

You can't simply multiply 78,000 by $5 and assume the promoters walked with $380,000 after throwing $10,000 to a few charities. Theres huge costs nvolved with an event of this magnitude including rent, power, trash removal, security, entertainment, sound/stage, licenses, promotion/marketing, etc.

if somebody did end up walking with $100,000 then thats great. Events like this require a full year of planning and i'm sure the promoter probably took a hit the first year or 2.

This is America, entreprenerialism should be applauded (especially in Buffalo) and not ridiculed based on misconceptions of what you think the profit may be and how it was used. Its a nice gesture for the promoter to give any donation he felt he could afford while still feeling like he was compensated accordingly for his time, effort, and hard work to throw an event that was enjoyed by many (not to mention the serious amount of positive national media attention Buffalo receives as a result of this)

I for one am "done tired" of a great city like Buffalo creating this image, a lughing stock, of the self proclaimed "home of the wing"

I am sorry but Buffalo has so much more to offer other than snow and greasy, grizzly chicken soaked in hot sauce.

I have had many friends from out of town who marvel at the architecture, arts and music Buffalo has to offer. They leave saying, "why does Buffalo stake it's legacy on a junk food? or "shut in weather reports?"

Sorry, but this is not the Buffalo I grew up in

you people will complain about anything. ANYTHING.

did not make it this year, but have always enjoyed this event. as to the cost...minimal, wings and beer at Gabriels will set you back 15 bucks for pete's sake and the $5 admission helps cover the expence of putting an event on. Better and cheaper than a night at the movies.

SO true, d_a_n. Sometimes I wish there were a BRO post completely devoted to just letting the 10 naysayers (you negative posters know who you are) outline for us exactly what they want out of Buffalo. But then again, they probably wouldn't have the maturity or civility to do so.

What never ceases to amaze me is that anytime someone does anything proactive around the city, there's always someone who finds a way to complain about it... and usually loudly. I think most people love living here and love the region's prospects for the future... but after what the region has endured for the past few decades, it's to be expected that it's hard to get much more than smiles. (In other words, what we need is even more enthusiasm... people yelling I LOVE BUFFALO NIAGARA and drowning out all the naysayers.)

I've long subscribed to BRO and I'll admit: As someone who wants to one day help develop a miniature Navy Pier (Chicago) on the waterfront, I'm expecting there to be tons of people giving there own two cents and telling me it can't/shouldn't/won't be done. Instead of lobbying government to help us, we sometimes end up fighting each other before anything gets off the ground. I sincerely hope that when I'm older, smarter, and ready to take some bigger steps to improve the area I love, that attitudes will improve. 'Til then, I'll keep shouting I LOVE BUFFALO NIAGARA as loud as I can and hope others will join in.

As for the Wing Fest, I only missed one year because I was dragged out of town. The festival is exactly what Buffalo needs and I commend so many people who work tirelessly to make it better each year. As for those who think the costs are too high, do what I did: volunteer at it and get your admission free! :-)

Auburner - you're absolutely right. We do have so much more. And, to an extent, much of of those great assets could be much better exploited.

But...what is wrong with having the Wing Fest too? Its one thing that no one else can claim like Buffalo, and there will be a certain number of people who do travel (even if its just within WNY) to attend.

Just because we have wingfest, that doesn't mean all the other tours of the city have been cancelled. Theres probably also better things to celebrate than Dyngus Day, Disco Floors, Beer, Art, Hertel..... so should we cancel all of those events too?

$3 for water and $5 for beer is pretty standard for any event with a captive audience and no competition i.e., bills games, sabres, bisons, darien lake, the casino, niagara falls state park, etc.

The wing fest never claimed to be a charity event. That point is moot tho considering beverages were cash items rather than tickets which obviously means the deal struck with Dunn Tire Park included a stipulation which allowed them to sell the beer/water.