You Honk We Drink: Part 2
The hardest part of the ‘interview’ was the constant interruption from horns (answered by shouts) that never ceased to honk. Avi, the game’s creator told me that this was their fourth year (I thought last year's event was) and Labor Day was chosen to kick off the collegiate season (though not many of the participants are in school anymore). “This year was our first Mac truck,” he told me. “Last year we had a Vespa gang honk, and we always get an ambulance, a cop, and a Metro Bus driver… though they can be tough. BMWs always honk and then there are the bikers and the walkers that shout ‘Honk, Honk’ as they go by. We don’t solicit the drivers other than displaying our sign.” As I was learning about the MO of each honker an El Camino form Massachusetts went by and laid on the horn. And then two young unicyclists rode by yelling ‘Honk, Honk!”
I was curious as to what the trick was to staying in the game the longest. Since the festivities start at 1pm and last until… actually there is no predetermined time, what’s the best strategy for endurance? The answer? Don’t drink in-between honks. That’s the kiss of death. Apparently as the day progresses (or digresses as the case may be) more and more people join in. This year I caught them early on, but Marcus clued me in, “Anyone can join in… we have our core group (see photo) and then there are guests that step in throughout the day.”
I asked Avi how the game originated and he explained, “We were looking for something to do and wanted to add to the collegiate feel of Elmwood. This group looks forward to Labor Day throughout the year.” It is unbelievable how many cars, buses, bikes, and walkers scream, shout and honk at these partiers. In order to fully appreciate it you really have to participate for at least a beer’s worth of honks… or a honk’s worth of beer… or just honk when you see them next Labor Day.
Each year the empties are donated to a homeless person by the core group of: Marcus, Avi, Jason, Calder, Heather and Renee.
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Comment Options
wheatenwalker
Honestly, I find it obnoxious. I was walking on Elmwood, trying to enjoy a nice summer evening, but all I heard were car horns honking. Not funny, very annoying and just plain dumb!!! In my opinion.
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Matthewjohnp
relx honey, stop n drink, toot, toot, toot, or be the old reck u is
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lizzyb
what time did they set up? I rode by on my scooter to take part in our Labor Day ride year two and the kids were not out yet. Noon . I was very saddened by it. So I am very pleased that it did occur. good for them. l love an event and I love the fact they have started a tradition. I hope you do it again next year. Train the youngsters well.
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LeftCoast
This might seem cool to people who merely drive by but don't live within earshot. For those of us who had to listen to an entire afternoon's worth of constant honking and cheering, it got old real fast. This inane little display of immaturity (or sorry, was I supposed to consider it "collegiate"?), actually yielded a perfect WNY anecdote that I'll remember long after I move away from here. After several hours, my housemate became convinced that we must be hearing the sounds of some passionate labor protest or strike - after all, who would devote so much time and energy toward something so stupid as a "you honk we drink" curbside display? But no, in true Buffalo fashion, it was just a bunch of folks doing something completely pointless. If anything, all this does is remind me how ridiculous this place is and why I'm moving away in a couple months.
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PrincetonElms
Cops in Manhattan would have shut this down in no time, at least in Giuliani days (can't say how they are right now)
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SHINER79
I thinks Its Great! I'll have to swing by next year. HONK!
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eyepharded
I have to agree that it's pretty lame and i would be pissed if I had to hear it all day, but it is had not to beep your horn when you drive by, I did.
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icecreamsub
How dare they interupt my quiet time of pointless blogging and pretending to do the New York Times crossword, ...damn Buffalo scoundrels!
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platt4
Hey Lefty- Let me know if you need any help packing. Any chance we can speed that move up?
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urbansoul
My grandmother would hate this....but she lives in 14221!!!!!!! Get a life all you haters, or atleast find the neighborhood that's right for you. Oh yea, need help packing?
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wheatenwalker
Get a life? How bout GROW UP!
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bcd
All right, instead of making a mountain out of an ant hill, why not move this to the campus area next year. A little respect for people's rights to peace and tranquility might be in order instead of fighting each other on this blog. That way everyone comes out a winner.
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Jay
god forbid somebody's peace and quiet is disturbed for a few hours one day.....reminder: you live in a city....quit complaining....left coast, you don't realize what you have until is gone, good luck with your expensive rent and not-so-friendly folks elsewhere.
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sbrof
I don't understand why this is so big, we all have to deal with sirens all day every day in every neighborhood, that doesn't annoy you more? Knowing that there is a fire set in someones home or some stupid crime happening somewhere else. If anything this is an event that happens on one afternoon a YEAR, if that is your death stroke to wanting to leave then by golly I don't think you will be happy anywhere.
This shows people having fun, enjoying where they live and making the best of who knows what their situation is. It is always so sad that America always tries to stomp out fun. Lets put laws against everything, sue we are unhappy about hot coffee and totally ruin any sense of community that is left here. This is fun, they were having fun, maybe something you do really annoys your neighbors, smoking? driving a gas guzzler car, BBQing, whatever. It was one day, one evening of people enjoying our city. Anything more than that and you are looking for excuses to be unhappy.
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Denizen
You old farts need to lighten up bit.
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Tesla
I found this insanely annoying.....and stupid.
And before you call me an Old Fart.....I'm 17.
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thechief
Ha, amazing how anyone could find this annoying. I spent my Labor Day weekend in NYC, and do you want to know what i heard all weekend long? HONKING! Not because people were doing something fun and interactive that makes you smile and feel part of a young and fun city, but because they were pissed off and hated the drivers around them. Incredible what people will find to bitch about in this city. Adios LeftCoast. I'll be honking as the door hits you in the ass.
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GoldenLark
I'm so sorry I missed this! I used to live next door, and it was a great way to liven up an otherwise boring day. Regarding the noise, it was no worse than the constant roaring of motorcycles from Merlin's.
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LeftCoast
To all the YHWD fans: Not to worry, I'm working on making my move happen as quickly as possible. Like many twenty-somthings around here, we're trying to GET THE HELL AWAY from the back water that is know as Buffalo. Once I'm back on the West Coast, I won't think twice about telling everyone that the negative litany of things you hear about WNY are all basically TRUE. That said, if any of you ruthless Buffalo defenders want to step into my shoes and take my place, just let me know. Here's what you'll get: A prime Elmwood apartment right by YHWD - you can booze and yell along right from your own deck! - a measely $18,000 annual salary (buy hey, it's Buffalo so that will go pretty far!), the opportunity to freeze during the six month long winter and swelter through the humid summer, $200 - $300 heating bills during the cold months, an ineffective, corrupt municipal government and substandard public services (you too can get placed on hold when you call 911!!!), lots of access to the resident schizophrenics and drunks (the psychiatric hospital is just up the street!), roads full of potholes and filthy sidewalks, a terrible public transportation system (but hey, maybe they'll improve that just as soon as they develop the waterfront and build a new bridge to Canada!), the chance to get lots and lots of parking tickets because the cops don't get paid enough, close proximity to the scenic, crack baggie strewn waterfront "park" at the foot of West Ferry, and the chance to listen to the endless soundtrack of "craddle Buffalonians" who can't stand to hear anything less than glowing about their lovely Queen City of the Lakes. So what do you say? A tailor made life in America's second most impoverished city awaits!
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wheatenwalker
What I fond most amazing about this entire discussion is how an opinion so quickly became an opportunity to attack.. lets ,see, age ( assumed) and entire zip code. When I stated my opinion, it was that, an opinon on a behavior. I didnt bring into that my opinion of people who feel the need to drink in public in a loud obnoxious way to have fun or prove that they are 'hip', nor did I voice my opinion on how pathetic it is that people hold on to collegiate behaviors once they are finished with college. I refrained from commenting on how instead of donating the empty bottles/cans to the homeless ( how noble!) it might be a bit kinder and more responsible to donate the money it cost to buy all that beer to a homeless shelter and donate the time spent standing on Elmwood in a drunken, woozy state as volunteers at a shelter. I was mistaken in thinking an opinion could be voiced here without it leading to attacks and assumptions. I agree with the comment "get a life"- right back at y'all!!
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buffalocat
My husband and I are 20-somethings that recently (voluntarily and eagerly) moved to Buffalo. I've been reading BRO for a few months now, and I'm always surprised by the negativity expressed by certain members, who can't seemed to be pleased by anything. This post and its responses are a great example. YHWD is the kind of strange, unique (and fine - annoying and immature) alcohol-fueled events that often spring up in cities and university towns around the country (I'm thinking of the shopping cart races through DC; drunk "runs" through Chapel Hill, NC; intoxicated frisbee in baton rouge, la). Many times, Buffalo-haters lament having the social "features" of the cooler cities around the country, but when something does happen that's along those lines, people find some other reason to complain! Horns honking all day on Labor Day - yeah, that's pretty annoying. But (as evidenced by all of the honking), many people think it's pretty funny and entertaining.
And LeftCoast, while I feel sorry that you are only making a measly $18k per year, I'm glad you recognize that it will go relatively far in Buffalo. Because, while we do have a larger percentage of the population living under the federally-defined poverty line, we also have a lower cost of living. So, while a family of four making $22,000 in southern California may feel very fortunate to NOT be considered living in poverty, I'd bet that they are not able to live as "well" as a family of 4 making $20,000 in the western New York area.
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chiknlil
LEFTCOAST - I support you and your decision. I left Buffalo for greener pastures when I turned 23, I was working for People Inc, making a measly $12,400 per year and sharing a house in University Heights with 2 other guys. At the time, people were flocking to Seattle, San Francisco, and Atlanta, and I followed them. It took me a few years to settle in and settle down, I changed jobs a few times and basically sold out and joined the corporate world. I moved 9 times in 10 years, the last move was back to Buffalo, making $81,000 a year. I am convinced that I would be earning half that if I stayed in Buffalo and tried to make my way through one of the 10 - 12 major companies here. In my experience, local hiring managers pay a premium for experience gained in other cities, they will pay you more if you are coming from NYC, LA, DC, Chicago, etc; then if you stay in Buffalo.
Don't get me wrong, Buffalo is a great place to be. Cost of living is reasonable, people are great, I know my neighbors and can join as a fourth in golf at almost any golf course. I like to think that people like me and other re-pats will incite change in Buffalo; although we know that it will take a few years. We are discontent with the status quo in Buffalo, and our lack of progress.
I hope you don't go away bitter because you are only making $18K a year, or because Buffalo hasn't given you everything that you ever wanted and dreamed of. You will need to find that on your own no matter where you are. Good luck! PM me if you would like to chat offline.
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hammerb44
What I can't believe is that people are wasting their time and energy getting upset over honking! I drove by this group multiple times throughout the day, because I live in the neighborhood, and had a smile on my face each time I honked and heard the "Yay". It is a fun, holiday activity that I wish I would have thought of myself! It does not happen on a consistent basis--it happens once a year. Let's focus our energies on complaining about corrupt politicians, criminals, and real injustice in the world. You complainers remind me of the guy who wrote into the Buffalo News sports page on Sunday complaining about JP Losman's hair. After all of the good he has done, you are going to complain about his HAIR??!! Come on people!!!
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UnionAMG
Left Coast... are you selling or did you rent? Because I know there's a bunch of people who would gladly step in on that living arrangement. I can't wait to finish grad school and look for a place around there.
Good luck out West, but I'm glad you're taking your negativity with you on your way out of town!
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impressingagent
yeah its a strange promotion, kind of like hit me I'm stupid. Though i wonder if as many people would have a problem if it were a coffee promotion?
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impressingagent
yeah that is a lot of negativity. it hurt my feelings that things are so awful.
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Andrew
**Sorry for spelling errors in andvance**All this haterid over some people having fun on a holiday. Like you wouldnt hear beeping and other commotion on any other day in any other city on a buisy street. Take a chill pill. And leftcoast have you visited other cities? I find that our quality of roads and clendlyness of our side walks is supurb compared to cities compareable to our size, especially down south where i've traveled quite a bit. Parking tickets happen in every city... park legaly and you wont get a ticket. And our mass transit isnt bad for a city of our size except on the weekends but i still manage to get arround. lighten up a little.
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dpbflo
What a cool way to spend the day. Im sure im not the only one that read part 1 last year and said damn why didnt I ever think of that? Looks like a blast. For all you haters get over it. Its Labor day get out of the house and do something if the honking is bothering you, because until 11 pm they can make all the noise they want.
PS adios leftcoast sorry your too consumed with everything wrong with buffalo instead of all the good it has to offer
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BuffaloCook
I love the sound of traffic. Honking, sirens, people, all of it. Thats why I live in the city. Its hard for me to sleep at night without the noise. I think its relaxing and comforting.
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icecreamsub
Mission accomplished....sucked the life out of another one.....farewell LeftCoast and the rest of your hippie clan
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LovintheBuff
Bwaaaaaa hahaha hahaa
Lefty you are one miserable SOB...That post was priceless!!
I hope u continue to be unhappy for the rest of your days
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tdimatteo
Sounds like fun ... I wish I was there .. or knew .. I would have joined them. I say Eat, Drink, Drink, Drink some more and be merry. It's harmless fun. HONK!
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Perry
LeftCoast...adios!!!
Wheatenwalker - so from your original post, you said that they were still honking in the evening??? Damn, these people have stamina...or maybe you didn't actually see those people...what was it?
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EricOak
No opinion here about a crude afternooon of getting blotto and having it covered by BuffaloRising as if it were interesting.... My beef is with LeftCoast and his misguided polemic about Buffalo...for every complaint he makes against the city (a few true, most distorted) there is something meaningful, beautiful, or unique about Buffalo. It's pretty clear that those things don't matter to this gentleman; I don't need to enumerate them. But everyone here who is dedicated to the city, who works hard to improve it, who enhances it in any way, should be holding the door wide and open for Left Coast. Crude and spiteful thinking like his defines "backwater." Buffalo is too good a place for him.
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PrincetonElms
So, is it legal now to drink in public? I'd guess it must be, judging by the rummies with 40oz bottles of rotgut wandering on Grant Street, or this display of guzzling beer on the Elmwood sidewalk.
One last thought: The neighbors who found this objectionable ought to have complained to the police until it was stopped.
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CleverGirl
i live practically next door, and while it did get a little annoying after a while, we couldn't help but laugh every time we heard a honk and a cheer. This is what it's like living in the city - bikes, sirens, people being loud at all kinds of hours, that tone-deaf singing guy who insists on blaring bad 80s tunes outside my building, and the crazy loud chatter from Cecilia's. If those things bother you, then maybe living on the busiest street in Buffalo wasn't the right choice for you. People are still allowed to have some fun last I checked.
As for LeftCoast, I just find it amusing that someone who just hates Buffalo so much still takes their time to keep up with this site, not to mention leave comments.
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wheatenwalker
"Wheatenwalker - so from your original post, you said that they were still honking in the evening??? Damn, these people have stamina...or maybe you didn't actually see those people...what was it? " Perry- I didnt realize what a HUGE event this is in the lives of those who participate or I would have checked the time-- but I didnt- I walked to Globe and got a cup of coffee (Mexican, freshly brewed) debated if I should get the last cranberry/raspberry tart, decided not to, Globe was getting ready to close since the outside chairs were being stacked.I then walked to the co op, dont know the time-- maybe 6pm??? Does it matter? Do you want a note from Kaitlin or Wendy that I was actually at the co op? Why would I say I saw the obnoxious twits if I hadnt?? Who cares??? I have wasted all the time I am going to on this idiotic, sophmoric, 'collegiate' discussion of childish drunken behavior.
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Chief_Psychic
THEY ARE SO FREAKING RUDE! How dare they have a drinking party that upsets the entire neighborhood without extending an invitation to BYOB and join! I would have trekked the three blocks with a couple cases or even a keg if I knew that there was a party. How about some advance notice for YHWD #3, so we can make an event of it!
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bcd
Well there were a few points made that need to be reiterated. Number one is the open container law that everyone wants to use when a bum is drinking on the street but seems elusive to this story. number two is that the demographics have changed drastically for the Elmwood Village since it seems there are no families with babies to be disrupted with the constant honking (vs occaisional honk or siren) or older people who deserve to enjoy a weekend or holiday in peace.
Yeah, it's decidedly a fun event and I even laugh at it all but then I get to thinking that there are other people and neighbors who could be disturbed and realize I need to grow up too. (me? age 31, employed, engaged, hoping to be more responsible in the future).
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mac1234
Oh please! to all you grinches, i only have this to say-If you want a quiet little neighborhood with no livelihood or fun and where everyone goes about their day not interacting with each other, move to the burbs! Living in this neighborhood my whole life, I wouldnt change anything about it..i love the quirkiness and the crazy scenery. Props to the gang who started this-you're welcome anytime!
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bcd
mac1234, now THAT'S the way to get people to move into the city! People can still have fun and interact without breaking laws we all complain about that are not enforced.
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AtwaterLouse
Wheatenwalker and bcd sound like people I'd much rather be around than the self-centered crowd in the picture.
I know, I know - that means I should move to 14221 and good riddance.
And of course as people have pointed out, nobody is saying not to have a drinking party, and yeah duh there's often some noise on city streets --- but the issue is all-day deliberate horn noise for no reason other than to call attention to themselves. Not cool. High school stuff.
How about this for a constructive suggestion next year:
Instead of having the sign face the street and say "honk", simply have it face the sidewalk to people *walking* by (promoting green behavior to boot) and have the sign say "smile"?
"You Smile - We Drink"
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bcd
Atwater - SWEET SUGGESTION!
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suzette
ha, I passed them on my bike and also thought it was hilarious. Thank god we have people in the city who still know how to have some fun!
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AtwaterLouse
They could do lots of stuff with sidewalk walkers... You Smile We Drink, You Flirt We Drink, You Dance We Drink, You Wink We Drink, ... many possible ways to have their game and drinking fun without their neighbors having to hear a barrage of hundreds of car horns their whole holiday.
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wheatenwalker
Love those suggestions! You smile, we contribute to AA, you wink, we donate to homeless shelter of your choice... the list goes on
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icecreamsub
ok, now the conversation is getting embarassingly dumb
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wheatenwalker
Actually, its been embarassingly dumb from comment #2 on..................
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icecreamsub
true dat
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AuburnAve
Fun on Labor Day... and the proceeds go to the homeless. What's wrong with that?
I think that if you live on Elmwood right near Merlin's (again, motorcycles) you should expect a bit of city noise.
Were the police called? Did anyone complain to the group? I dont think.
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