Podcast: Chuck The Bubble Guy

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People ask when you can find him overlooking the street, and all I (or he) can tell you is that he's out there a few times a day seven days a week. The only period of time that he takes a break is when the temperature dips down into the single digits. Otherwise he's set up to operate his fun-lovin' operation whenever he feels like it. Occasionally Chuck comes down from his roost to refuel on coffee from Cafe Taza. It's there where people whisper and point to him and smile... "That's the bubble guy."
Even while conducting this podcast a random customer walked in and told a great story of how Chuck influenced the lives of a couple people waiting at the nearby bus stop. The next time you pass by the intersection of Allen and Elmwood, don't be surprised if you find yourself surrounded by hundreds of bubbles. Stop and wave, and if you're lucky Chuck will wave back. As if that corner wasn't interesting enough, we should be thankful to have the bubble guy take it to the next level.

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Lizliz
My daughter attends the Elmwood Village Charter School right down the block and we've enjoyed being amidst the bubbles many times. I'm glad to know who's behind the glass, brightening our day! I was just hoping the other day that someone would do a story on him. Thanks.
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al-alo
i used to do the bubble. its a cruel mistriss.
first it was just once in a while. then a few times a week. before i knew it, it was every day. then i started to bubble at work, and in the mornings. i just couldnt stop. id just blow and blow. my apt was filled with plastic neon-colored containers. my savings evaporated like a bubble in august.
then they stopped letting me into the toy store.
the low point was when my friends found me desperately mixing hand soap and water in the sink of the bus station bathroom. my eyes we bright red from all the bubbles that popped in my face. god i was so ashamed. . .
im much better now tho. i just drink a lot.
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Perry
I love seeing the bubbles fly out of that building. It's so odd - I luv it! Good story about a not-so-serious subject.
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halljd39
I love that Bubble Guy - that is awesome!
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Frankenberry
Live on bubble man, live on!!! Bubbles, Bubbles everywhere but not a drop to drink!!
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ElmwoodHeather
If the bubble-man gets a chance to read this: "thank you" :) You've brightened so many smiles on way-too-early monday mornings, lightened people's step on their way home during rush hour, and provided that much-needed jolt to feel extra-ordinary amongst so much that is mundane.
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KavanaghQC
Growing up on "The Prisoner", I have a distrust of bubbles, regardless of size, and particularly when in The Village! "WHO IS NUMBER ONE?"
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Andrew
I say them for the first time the other day and was like "what the ..." now i know the story. Cool hobby bubble man!
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Andrew
I say them for the first time the other day and was like "what the ..." now i know the story. Cool hobby bubble man!
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zimmermann
You're a pleasurable amazement, Chuck, and an amazing simple pleasure.
...Keep bubbling. It's road poetry, rather than road rage. Is that the idea? I love it. I look out for you and at you always doing your bubbles, when on my way to work every day...
Then at night, when I'm writing my own--On This Day in Buffalo-- history series, for BRO... I realize that we each of us have our own respective sort of bubbles we spew about the town. We do it for our own reasons, of course, but we hope the bubbles bring insight and pleasure to our friends and neighbors.
You sir, are a good one, an odd one, and a town keeper.
Cheers, then. Champagne anyone? A little Bubbly?
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11111inBlo
OK, I guess that I am the only person that this annoys? I live on this corner and I have to say I wish that the bubble guy would come wash the soap spots off of my car every day. I know that he means well, but seriously it is completely annoying to wash your car and the next day it is covered in spots from these bubbles. Also, Have you ever been standing in front of Jim's Steak out and had him spill some soap on your head? I have, two times. Not Fun.
PLEASE STOP THIS BUBBLE GUY!!
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TattooDan
As a good friend of the Bubble Man I just have to put in my 2cents worth.Seeing him up there sending bubbles out over Allentown always puts a smile on my face.I sometimes join him up there for an afternoon drink or two and while there enjoy looking out and seeing the faces of everyone looking up at the bubbles.Especially the children.They certainly are a pleasure.The smiles on their faces are priceless. I even included him on my own website so that everyone can see.You can all see more pics at http://mysite.verizon.net/tattoodan Chuck is one of the people that make Allentown a great place to live.
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Crazed_da_Loon
I tried doing the same thing several years back, substituting bubbles with marijuanna smoke. I noticed that the peddestrains were just as happy in my neighborhood as the ones in Allentown! It gave me a sense of pride, until I went broke. Right on Bubble Man!
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fill
What's the great story hinted at in the article ?
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Crazed_da_Loon
What's the great story hinted at in the article ?
The Bubble man has swithched from Prell to Pomolive, that's the scoop, "fill."
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TattooDan
to get the story you'll have to listen to audio download on this page..it contains the whole interview
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RisingDamp666
Thanx for explaining this mystery. I was about to contact Homeland Security about those "bubbles". It turns out my call would have been forwarded by their automated voicemail to "Rajiv" in Bangalore who would have instructed me to walk across the street to a 'safe location' and wait for the bubbles to clear before resuming my stroll to the ATM. Then, apparently, Rajiv would have instructed me to max out the cash withdrawal and send the money to an address in Egypt. We may never know what might have happened, but this remarkable little story could just possibly have saved the Peace Bridge from a horriffic terrorist attack!
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regurge
Hey 11111inBlo, you're right on. I think those damn bubbles are gonna kill someone some day. Very distracting on the tricky intersection of elmwood/allen especially as a cyclist. Lets just say I like throwing rocks at traffic, or spitting on passersby.
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