This year’s Buffalo Brewfest is quickly approaching, and it promises to be the biggest and best one yet. The final logistical details are currently being hammered out, including placement of the (greatly expanded) bathroom facilities, entertainment for the designated drivers, and crowd management. Russ Pawlak, President of the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation Board of Directors, says, “we expect a crowd of 4,000 people this year, up from the (roughly) 3,300 of last year.” He stresses the importance of the better bathroom facilities this year, as “last year the smoking area was right in front of the bathrooms, which made it…
Author: Gabrielle Bouliane
Despite the ominous shadow produced by a cluster of rainclouds creeping by, the annual barbecue hosted by Slow Food Buffalo and Flying Bison Brewery went off without a hitch. The threats of fun-spoiling rain didn’t dampen the mood, and as the afternoon progressed, the weather soon matched the spirits of the festival participants- bright and warm. Author’s note: the weather was not, however, drunk. The event took place this past Sunday, when roughly 150 people gathered next to Flying Bison Brewery to relax and enjoy great food and drinks. Almost everyone brought their own lawn chairs, tables, and even tents,…
For over 30 years, Ristorante Lombardo has been satisfying Buffalonians in search of refined Italian cuisine. The business has seen the many phases of development along Hertel Avenue, and owner Tom Lombardo believes the current renaissance taking place on the street is the best yet. “I think it’s great,” Lombardo said of the wave of establishments which have opened their doors along Hertel over the past few years, “when we started there were more coffee shops than anything else.” Now that there is a diverse mixture of retail shops, cafes, and fine dining, Lombardo is beginning to see more foot…
Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed – Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, ‘It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver. -Jack Handey Apparently, others are just as compassionate as Saturday Night Live’s Mr. Handey- craft beer is a growth…
Help catch a cure for Cystic Fibrosis by taking part in this year’s BassEye Celebrity Challenge. The two-day event, taking place tonight and tomorrow in the NFTA Boat Harbor, is sure to be a great time for all involved. Even if you’re not an angler, you can participate in the festivities. The event kicks off tonight with “Boats, Bait & Beer,” which is an evening event featuring fine cuisine and drinks. Prizes, ranging from gift baskets to trips all over North America, will be auctioned off, and live blues will help get the party started. Attendees will also get a…
If Elmwood Avenue has a face, Stache (men’s clothing shop) is becoming its goatee. Okay, maybe that doesn’t make a lot of sense. The point is, Stache is moving, and owner Joe Jordan is pretty excited about the possibilities that will be presented by his shop’s new location. In going from the current location (611 Elmwood) to the new one (830 Elmwood- the former Damsel in a Dress location between Lafayette and Auburn), Joe expects increased business. “Our current location is very isolated, and we’re not getting the walking traffic,” he says, “we’re doing well, but I’ve heard that (the…
Feeling adventurous? Or maybe just thirsty? Satisfy both urges tonight at Mr. Goodbar at 7:30, when Buffalonians will get a chance to try the best beers that the state of Michigan has to offer. Bill Metsger of Great Lakes Brewing News, the fantastic magazine profiling the best craft brews of the Mid-Atlantic region, will present, and attendees can sample a variety of beers. Tonight’s featured brews are: Michigan Wheatland Big Mac Celis Raspberry New Holland Lucid New Holland Zoomer Wheat New Holland Red Tulip New Holland Mad Hatter IPA Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Dark Information packets and score cards will be…
This little nook of the Elmwood Village neighborhood is both ordinary and special, and that is what makes it a great place in the city. This is Cleveburn, a short, one-block cut-through street between Cleveland and Auburn Avenues just East of Elmwood (hence its somewhat awkward sounding name). Its houses are densely built and pushed right up to the street with very small or non-existent front yards. The small yards are steeply sloped up from the narrow sidewalk with stairs pouring down to the street. This gives the street a very strong feeling of enclosure. The street has a variety…
This is one of my absolute favorite urban vistas anyplace. It is full of drama and mystery, with a perfect mix of architectural masterpieces all working together to create a very memorable sense of place. The place is Symphony Circle at the far south end of Richmond Avenue. Originally simply called The Circle it was designed in the late 1800’s by Frederick Law Olmsted as part of his innovative citywide Buffalo park and parkway system. As was hoped, prominent citizens and institutions built magnificent structures along these park spaces. The Circle attracted many mansions and eventually major public buildings. One…
Buffalo is a city of porches, big front porches, many extending across the entire front face of a house with lavish detail. Porches can be found on virtually every Buffalo street giving a distinctive architectural flavor to the city. The porch is a way to transition from public street to private interior. Porches also serve as shelter, extending a welcoming gesture to waiting visitors. Architecture has a language that we all understand on a subconscious level and porches, being part of the path of entry to buildings, are often used to communicate with this language. Buffalo’s porches come in a…