Author: chao li

“In our performances we try to demystify Classical chamber music, presenting great music, expertly played, in a very accessible, informal setting that people don’t usually associate with Classical music,” Janz Castelo wrote in an email to me, explaining the mission of his venture, the Buffalo Chamber Players (BCP). Castelo, a violist, and a number of other musicians from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, formed the BCP in 2007 as a way to feature the lesser-heard masterworks of the chamber music repertoire.This Wednesday, the Buffalo Chamber Players will perform “If it Ain’t Baroque”, a program designed to highlight the Baroque era, which…

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I was happy to find fiddleheads on sale last weekend at Guercio’s. They weren’t the freshest fiddleheads I’ve ever had, but they were still delicious. Fiddleheads are in season right now, and experienced foragers are probably out looking for morels in our region as we speak. Look for both on menus at local restaurants, and if you’re very lucky, you may find a wise farmer or two who has brought some along to the farmers market this weekend. They aren’t inexpensive, foraged items generally sell for premium prices, but their short season and lack of availability make them a prized…

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Since closing in November, Specialty Restaurants, which owns 23 restaurants in locations all over the country, has worked diligently to re-imagine the waterfront restaurant formerly known as Shanghai Red’s, and before that, Crawdaddy’s.”We’re here to stay,” said Bill Tallichet, the corporate representative who provided me with a tour when I stopped in yesterday afternoon for a preview of the newly christened Templeton Landing. Modern decor with an appropriate theme for the waterfront strives to provide customers with a contemporary experience. The fantastic view of the water is augmented by the shapes, colors and finishes selected for the remodel. Rest assured,…

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Join us for this week’s podcast of BuffaloRising’s Roundtable on WBFO with Mark Scott. It’s the last time we’ll be taping for a little while–we won’t be returning to the studio until June 4th (airs June 7th). We talked a little about Obama’s visit and where he chose to visit, including his stop at Duff’s. We spend a little time exploring the recent unveiling of the innovative food and farm-friendly plans for the Horsefeathers restoration, Newell’s SeaBar sneak peek and the recent announcement of TEDxBuffalo.0517-Rising(2).MP3

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Since I posted the very exciting news of a TEDx event in the works for Buffalo, I have received numerous emails and on-the-street responses from enthusiasts and naysayers. Granted some TEDx events are more successful than others–being granted the permission to host a TEDx event doesn’t automatically ensure that the event will be profound or well-executed. And in Buffalo–a city I love and would never consider leaving–it is doubtful that anyone could announce the erection of a lemonade stand without encountering some kind of negative feedback, unasked for advice or unknown permitting process. So it is with a solid tablespoon…

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Welcome to Guilty Pleasures, a new series which highlights a special, wonderfully handmade item prepared by a locally-owned city-based bakery. Items featured in this series will be singularly spectacular, well worth the effort of a special trip.Baking seems to be nearly as hot as the Twilight series these days, with cake decorating at the helm. It’s encouraging to see so many people–especially children–taking on the cupcake, the quick bread, the cookie. But there’s an invisible line in the sand, and on one side are the toes of your typical homebaker, while on the other is an unassuming packet (or block)…

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Others have reported on architect Karl Frizlen’s bid to purchase the West Side’s remarkable Horsefeathers building on Connecticut Street. His plan for a green restoration and conversion project would turn the top four floors of the space into large apartments with two and three bedrooms, while the basement and the first floor would function as a food market.I have heard much hypothesizing both on the street and in publications about what this food market will look and smell like, and who it will cater to. As a co-founder of the Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market, Frizlen understands the value that access to…

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TED (an acronym for Technology, Entertainment and Design) has been producing thought-provoking conferences all over the world since the mid-80s. Always at the center of TED’s events are changemakers, theorists, experts and innovators who speak to eager conference attendees. The vision of each conference is to set change and growth into motion through the sharing of information in perfectly-packaged 18-minute tidbits. Panel discussions, breakout groups and other old-school conference methods are abandoned, instead speakers are expected to inspire with simple and intentional presentations, to make their point and then step aside for the next speaker. Many of the presentations made…

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Nickel City Chef takes place in one of the city’s best kept secrets–a fully restored turn-of-the-century warehouse on Buffalo’s West Side, the home of Artisan Kitchens & Baths.Completely outfitted with two competition-worthy kitchens, this unique setting is the ideallocation for this exciting hyper-local cooking competition.At each event, a Nickel City Chef and his or her challenger (each representing a locally-ownedindependent business) must complete three dishes in under an hour with each dish showcasing a secret ingredient. The chefs employ classic and modern techniques in order to demonstrate their skills and personal cooking philosophy. All of Nickel City Chef’s secret ingredients always come…

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Montreal’s Plants and Animals will play tomorrow night at The Ninth Ward (located inside Babeville.) Made up of Warren C. Spicer, Matthew Woodley, and Nicolas Basque, Plants and Animals’ music is considered “instantly familiar, as though it could have been made in 1972, while also somehow feeling undeniably recent and raw.” Others claim the band has the freshest indie sound since The Decemberists. We figure, no matter how you slice it, it’s probably worth the $11.They are currently out promoting their new album, La La Land. We’ve included a video after the jump for anyone unfamiliar with the band. The Mama…

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