Buffalo Rising Online

Hidden behind ad plastered doors, across from Jim's Steak Out, resides the Allendale Theater. Tonight I had the pleasure of entering through those doors to enjoy, Glass Garden, a production by Junko Hayashi. However, be advised that the event is sensory intensive and not recommended for the hypersensitive crowd. This combination of interpretive dance, narrative, film and experimental music creates an electric stimulation for around an hour.

This is not to say that the production was by any means vulgar or offensive, but I did witness a few senior men and women alarmed by the aggressiveness of the cross cultural portrayal. The intent behind the production was to express the alienation that comes with entering another culture after that culture has had a severe bought of technological advancement. Well, portray alienation they did.

In about ten chapters, the narrator delves into…

Neo announcing a move off of Allen Street is surprising. 46 Allen back on the market is not. Six months after purchasing the property last December for $73,000, Vito Pombano has the property listed at $275,000. Allentown property values are skyrocketing!

When purchased, the new owner was reportedly planning to restore the former rooming house into apartments. While a dumpster signaled some work was underway, the tired-looking exterior hasn’t changed much in the past six months.

Today, Hunt Commercial is advertising the building as a “2,704 SF completely renovated office building. Four offices available, 190 SF / 290 SF / 350 SF / 640 SF. All offices include kitchenettes. 700 SF vacant apartment. Perfect building for an owner-user.”

Last September when the property first came

Perhaps the best way to sum up College Street Art Gallery is this: Admirable. As I rounded the corner of College Street, onto Allen, I found myself smack in front of the gallery's open door. Mike Mulley, Gallery Owner, was seated behind a small desk in the middle of the room, ready to answer any questions or address any of my concerns. I wanted to know how a small gallery has survived in Allentown for ten years. "I opened in October 1997 in the teeny spot on College that, some may remember, used to be the barber shop. I had a really progressive, forward thinking landlord. He gave me an opportunity to be here. Also, it's perseverance. I'm just too stubborn to give up. And of course, I've had a lot of support from the community. It is one of the few for-profit galleries left," Mulley said.

As I browsed around the current exhibition, a group of paintings by Miercarski, Mike Mulley…

Gallery 141 is hoding a pecial event during the Allentown Art Festival's Anniversary. The gallery will be open with six featured artists, including Tammy Wetzel, Marie Wonch, Dan Mardana, Christopher McGee, Gene Witoski, and Jimi Beaudin. The artwork ranges from painting and mixed media to digital 3D artwork. there will also be several types of photography (high dynamic range included) displayed. Adding to the live flavor of the show will be working artists in the driveway, and a body painter.

Stop by and get to know your local galleries, bringing you art all year 'round!

Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10 Free Gallery 141B 141B Elmwood, (in the back), 14201

While the purpose of the Allentown Art Festival is, of course, art (as the group so adamantly declared this year), music has been, and always will be, an integral part of most large social gatherings. Walk west of Allen Street this weekend to fill that need -- you actually enter a separate festival, the aptly-named Allen West Fest, run by the Allentown Association, which "hosts a diverse group of street vendors, music, and local cuisine," according to their website. Look for more on that and more local music offerings this weekend in a later post.

Some of the offerings of the Allentown music scene during the Festival are the Allen Street Hardware Cafe, the College Street Gallery, and of course Nietzsche's, which has live music on two stages for twelve hours a day, changing on the hour, both Satur…

It was a busy and well-attended organizer's meeting tonight at Staples' of Allentown. Fresh on the heels of an Artie Award, Lead Scheduling Dude Kurt Schneiderman Publicity Dude Ron Ehmke and Treasury Dude Scott Kurchak met with a team of approximately 20 performers and organizers, and outlined upcoming meetings, events, and positions still needing to be filled. The festival itself will be held from July 26 through August 5, 2007 at various locations throughout Allentown. Roughly 110 performances, workshops, films, and other happenings are anticipated throughout the eleven-day celebration.

Not familiar with the Infringement? Well, if you liked Artists and Models, you're bound to have a great time at the Infringement Festival – eleven times as much, right?. As briefly described by puppeteer Michelle Costa, the proper response to "W…

The second annual Mamapalooza Festival, sponsored by the Just Buffalo Literary Center, will be taking place this month in conjunction with Mother’s Day (of course). This year’s event will feature one night of Mama Poetics, with many of the top female spoken word artists in the city, and another night featuring Mamas Makin’ Music.

To further the mission of the Mamapalooza Festival, local moms have also joined the Motherhood Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, to help them manage the festival and pursue other efforts. Annette Daniels-Taylor, Buffalo Event’s coordinator, explains “Last year, we gave all the raffle money raised to Haven House and The Langston…

As you may have already read in this morning's Buffalo News, the Music is Art Festival will be moving from its traditional roots at the former ChameleonWest Studios space on Franklin to Hamburg as a part of the America's Fair.

It's the end of a difficult relationship the Allentown Village Society, and the beginning of a bright one with America's Fair, who have been "incredibly accommodating from the beginning," said Takac. "On the one side, it's a bummer to have to move the festival from my neighborhood. At the same time, it's a great opportunity to combine our efforts to support Western New York." Danny Lang, CEO of the America's Fair, was also on hand for the announcement

The 5th Annual Music is Art Festival will take place on August 11, from 9 AM to closing, with 40 bands taking the stage. Included will be Amungu…

Beth Elkins and Brad Wales of Nimbus Dance stopped into the BRM office to talk about their new co-choreographed collaboration with Jennifer Golonka and Kerry Ann Ring, and with Theresa Baker dancing the role of Big Brother/Marlene Dietrich.

The piece is a fun and provocative cutting-edge look at pop culture against a backdrop of the uncertainty of government surveillance and clandestine communiqués.

Brad Wales, architect/designer, co-founder/director, and husband of Elkins has built set pieces that mimic the physical reality of cell towers with set pieces and an interactive 3-channel video backdrop with Brian Milbrand. Buffalo music stalwart and composer David Kane performs his hauntingly kitschy original score. Turn your ringers on at the door!

Always well received by the community, this show has an urban feel one would expect of inst…

With its iconic angel standing on the roof and clutching two flaming torches, Gabriel's Gate exudes a brooding, mysterious vibe from the onset. But enter through its wrought iron gates and you'll find this distinctly Allentown bar is every bit warm and friendly.

Gabe’s Gate has become a fixture on Allen St. for its great bar setting and reasonably priced food - the perfect marriage of liquor and chicken wings. The dark wood interior has detailed carved booths and several working fireplaces to keep warm beside in the winter. Above the bar itself, you can look up to its peaked ceiling, dimly lit by a chandelier and stained glass windows. The building was built as a row house in 1864 and still blends into the traditional neighborhood architecture.

The bar is centered in the midst of a long dining room area where two large TVs make it a great place to watch a Sabres' game. …

Staples of Allentown is now open. Located at the corner of Allen and Wadsworth, Staples is a chill looking hangout that has a ton of atmosphere. In around a month's time, the establishment will begin to serve a wide array of foods. I spoke with bartender Jean Claude, who told me to expect some sort of tapas fare, along with some BBQ. Then he kinda let the cat out of the bag. He mentioned that Sammy from Everything Special might have something to do with the cuisine... If that's true, then these guys might have a goldmine on their hands.

The Sammy thing is yet to be officially confirmed, but one thing for certain is that there will be some sort of a deli hut featured inside with smoked meats - the hut is already in place, and get this: The gu…