Who wouldn’t love Ben Folds? Whether it’s his lyrics or his interviews, Folds is one of those individuals who uses words to their maximum level, adroitly. His music is the happy platform on which his words rest, though Folds’ piano-playing has sometimes been likened to a contact sport.Acerbic and ironic, Folds, who is a classically trained percussionist, has performed with orchestras across the world, from Australia to Boston. We’ll have the pleasure of hosting him with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, at Kleinhans Music Hall on October 8th, at 8PM. See Folds perform here.Selections from his latest release, University A Cappella!, will…
Author: Hobin73
Another week, another Buffalo Rising Roundtable Podcast on WBFO. This one with some hardy arguments here and there.WBFO News Director Mark Scott was eager to take the opposite view concerning our reader submission from Jared Pristach, in which he suggests that a Bills stadium be built in Buffalo. This was a post that brought over 2,000 hits and brought about a lively discussion. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me when readers throw ideas like this out there for public reaction; I wish more of you would do it. It’s brave, and I felt Jared had some good points. Still,…
In a meeting held by the City of Buffalo last week concerning the proposed Marine Drive parking garage, the Erie County Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) met with some opposition from residents of the Marine Drive Apartments that, according to spokesman Matthew Divison, came as a bit of a surprise.”There were mixed reactions,” Davison says, “and more staunch opposition from a small but more active and vocal group.” Not everyone was displeased with the plans, according to Davison.”They’ll have 375 parking spaces, free of charge and covered,” Davison says referring to residents of the apartment building. “And Marine Drive will be…
Penzeys Spices spokeswoman Margie Gibbons says that the new Elmwood Avenue location is coming, but probably not until after the holidays. All of the shelving for their stores is a formulaic look that has the look of open wooden crates, and is manufactured in Wisconsin, home of Penzeys headquarters.Slated to open at 783 Elmwood, Gibbons says that the inside of their space needs more work than expected at first, but that it’s going to be “a great fit in the neighborhood.” In the meanwhile, Penzey aficionados are going to have to rely on the website for their spices, as they…
Last week, I had the pleasure of dining with friends at Ristorante Lombardo. These particular friends, given a choice, always choose Lombardo’s. And I’m always quick to agree.After a dinner of gnocchi with wild mushrooms that was preceded by stuffed hot peppers and calamari, I had no intention of having dessert. But when our waiter said there was concord grape crisp on the menu, something I made him repeat twice, there was no way I was going to turn it down. (I had it with my usual glass of after-dinner Chinato, in a grape-themed orgy of sorts.)Growing up in Jamestown,…
Being an NPR junkie, I first discovered David Sedaris there, reading his “Santaland Diaries”. Next, I found his essays published in The New Yorker. After that, I bought and digested every novel of his compiled writings that I could find. I would include some of my underlined exerpts here, but happily, my essayist daughter has stolen every Sedaris book I had; it was required reading in my house.Luckily, Sedaris has a new book out, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, centered around his love/hate relationship with smoking cigarettes. He will be reading from the book this Thursday night, October 1st,…
Fear not, he’ll be back with the spring, but this may be the last week you’ll see Ice Cream James pedaling around Buffalo until then. I ran into him a few nights ago (without my camera, so upfront apology for the cell phone pic in which his head looks suspiciously like a creamsicle) while he was cruising down Allen Street, enjoying a raspberry fruit bar. He said he had a hitch on his truck and was getting ready to head out, but he wasn’t sure where to.”I was going to go to Arizona,” James said, “but people are telling me…
Yesterday we received an email from a local artist who said he was distraught with the closing of the AKAG’s Collectors Gallery, a volunteer run gallery that showcased local artists, allowing for viewing, rental and purchase of the works there. It started out as The Picture Lending Library in 1933.It was here that many local collectors began their acquisition of important works, and the artists involved were grateful, to say the least, at having their art exposed and bought in the prestigious gallery. Featuring artists from everywhere, it was especially a boon to locals. Today, the Albright issued the following…
The Board of Directors for the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation (CTRC) recently announced some changes following the sudden death of the board’s president, Michael Miller. Mark Lewandowski was elected board president and chairman, while Anthony Bylewski will serve as first vice chairman. They, along with other Board members including Yuri Hreshchyshyn, Hank Olejniczak, Paul Lang, and Jeff Ingersoll, elected Sara Etten as Secretary and Derek Punaro as Treasurer. Lewandowski has been instrumental in the CTRC since 1997, and is well acquainted with the mission and direction of the board through past President Russ Pawlak, and then Michael Miller. “Michael’s sudden…
This week’s cool piece of real estate is a duo of mixed-use buildings featured by Hastings + Cohn. Taking up nearly a half block of Hertel Avenue, 1201 – 1215, holds limitless possibilities. Considering you get 10 apartments, 8 storefronts, a warehouse and off street parking for your money, with a current occupancy of 50 percent, having your name on the lease of this 2-story building may take care of your mortgage, taxes, and then some (a lot of “then some,” if you play it right).Surrounded by an established neighborhood and some of the best restaurants we know, such as Restaurant 1207…