We always like to hear about good stories where small business or architecture are concerned. We especially like it when the two are combined, such as the case with Avalon’s snow globe series that we have featured a number of times on Buffalo Rising (mostly when a new snow globe is released). “The coverage and interest created has led to two sellouts,” Co-owner Mark Nowak wrote to me. “Our Buffalo City Hall and Richardson Tower snow globes. We hope to continue the series by adding a snow globe each year, and are looking for new manufactures for next year’s delivery. The 3rd in our series of snow globes that celebrate Buffalo’s rich architectural heritage is soon to added to that list. It was not our intention to make these “limited editions”, but the people who bought them or received them as gifts can now consider them collectible. Our factory has closed and our molds disappeared. The snow globe’s featuring City hall and the Richardson Towers are sold out.”
“This year we shipped the 3rd in this series featuring the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens (a replica of the 67′ dome as the centerpiece of the gardens). The conservatory’s unique tri-domed glass, wood and steel design was based upon the famous Crystal Palace and Kew Gardens Palm House in England. When built (1897-1899) it was the third largest public greenhouse in the United States and ninth largest in the world. Today, the Buffalo’s Botanical Gardens is one of only two remaining Lord & Burnham conservatories incorporated into a park designed by Olmsted. The snow globe stands approx 6.5” tall and is nestled in the hand-painted lily pad base. The dome lights from within and includes 3 AA batteries. The globe retails for $49.95 and is available at The Floristry, Burchfield Penny Art Museum, The Gift Loft, & Village ARTisans. For on-line orders visit www.avalonscarves.com – we ship Fed-Ex.”
For those of you who have inquired as to when the first two editions will be re-released, and when new designs will be added, we will be in close contact with Avalon in the future, so stay tuned.