Looking for something “cultural” to do this upcoming Valentine’s Day weekend? The Heiress, a play written in 1947 by Ruth and Augustus Goetz (originally from Buffalo), will be performed February 12th-14th. The event is co-presented by the Playhouse of American Classics (PAC) and the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.The play is said to be based on the 1880 novella Washington Square by Henry James. It tells the tale of forbidden love between a timid girl and a confident young man. In it, Catherine Sloper, the daughter of Dr. Austin Sloper, has always conformed to the strict rules of her…
Author: Drew
For working parents, child care is a necessity. Vincennes Academy at 90 Pearl Street, in the Webb Building, is a special daycare center. It provides a comfortable learning environment and unique experiences for children, plus the secure and centrally located setting that parents need. Located in the Webb Building, which was renovated by Rocco Termini in 2007, children have ample space to play, learn and develop. The daycare center includes eight rooms, all of which possess a universal design so that each child can utilize their classroom to the fullest extent. The interior of Vincennes boasts brightly colored walls, whimsical decorations…
Yes, this is a fund-raiser.But it’s also a deal.After all, a Valentine’s dinner for $25 is, in and of itself, a deal.But a three course meal? With drinks? And entertainment? And it raises money for a church that is generously striving to make a difference in our neighborhood? And free child care is included? If it sounds like a no-brainer, you need to be at “A Romantic Valentine” on Saturday, February 13th, at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church.The event is being catered by Jerry Burgin, former owner of Ivy’s Restaurant, and features delicious hors d’oeuvres, prime rib or stuffed chicken, green…
Yoga is a popular form of exercise for many people. In many forms of yoga, repetitive breathing and chanting is used as a form of meditation, which allows yoga practitioners to relax and refresh their minds and bodies. Several yoga studios can be found throughout Buffalo. One of the most impressive is Shakti Yoga, in its new location on Grant Street. Opened by Director Michelle Gigante on 220 Lexington Avenue two years ago, Shakti Yoga will be celebrating its grand opening this Saturday, January 30th, at the new location at 133 Grant Street. Beginning at 7 PM, the night will feature…
Though I am happy for the positive change on the West Side, and for the Powell family, there are a number of assumptions behind the show that should not remained unchallenged.Of course, the show said little about God, so to say that it is sharing a theology might not be the most precise of language, but it does have a specific and identifiable worldview that touches on the great faiths. It also promotes theologies that are both helpful and harmful.My favorite theologian, Bono, has said: “”…the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.…
A recent New York Times column raises some very hard questions about Haiti and our response to the tragedy there. David Brooks points out–correctly–that “This is not a natural disaster story. This is a poverty story.”Brooks, however, treads where few thoughtful columnists fear to tread, and suggests that the problem in Haiti might be theological.He writes, “Haiti, like most of the world’s poorest nations, suffers from a complex web of progress-resistant cultural influences. There is the influence of the voodoo religion, which spreads the message that life is capricious and planning futile. There are high levels of social mistrust. Responsibility is…
Dr. King, would not be happy with us.This is not to say that we haven’t made gains. Opportunity for African Americans now includes the nation’s highest office. The laws of segregation have been defeated, even if the practice of segregation remains in odd ways. Today, we observe a holiday of a man committed to non-violence. Things have changed.But in this city, we are still “conforming to the ways of this world,” a scripture Dr. King might choose as his text if he preached to us. We still see our success coming in the defeat of others. We still meet hate…
Today’s Theological Thursday column will be written in two parts. This, the first part, begins a conversation that will be revisited on Monday, Martin Luther King Day.Martin Luther King Day is among the most unlikely of American holidays. It is the only federal holiday to recognize an ordained minister, the only one to recognize an African-American, and (as far as I can tell) the only federal holiday celebrating a person investigated by the federal government. Dr. King visited Buffalo twice in his life, in 1956 and 1960, but did not address the particular concerns of Buffalo either time. So the task I propose…
You are invited to join me in a reception at Lafayette Church this Sunday from 11:30-1:30, where we will give a presentation outlining our efforts to preserve our building through creative re-use.Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church was added to the national register of historic places this year, and if we are successful in our plans for re-use, the building will continue to be an integral part of the Elmwood Village for years to come. We will accomplish this by converting part of our building to market-rate apartments.Currently, the congregation is struggling to use the building at a level that meets the…
A woman was stabbed outside of Roxy’s as 2009 was ending, and it appears that her sexual orientation was a motive in the attack.This, like all of the violence in our city, is a moral issue.Walter Wink, a Christian Theologian is best known for coining the phrase, “The myth of redemptive violence.”Although the phrase is recent, the concept of redemptive violence is ancient. In short, good must confront evil, and defeat it. “If god is what you turn to when all else fails,” Wink writes, “violence certainly functions as a god.” Wink argues that the myth of redemptive violence is…