William Stolzenburg’s case for predator protection. Thom Hayden of the Christian Science Monitor describes William Stolzenburg’s new book, where the Wild Things Were: Life, Death, and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of Vanishing Predators. as “A refreshing blend of scientific rigor and personal observation” and “An absorbing and delightful work of natural history.” In this impassioned debut, wildlife journalist Stolzenburg examines predation’s crucial role in the preservation of ecological diversity, painting nightmarish pictures of what happens when top carnivores are exterminated from ecosystems. Without sea otters to keep ravenous sea urchins in check, some ocean floors in the North Pacific…
Author: Joseph DiDomizio
Simply put, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society’s Party on the Portico series is a bargain. For only $10 ($5 for BECHS members), guests receive beer from Flying Bison, wine, hors d’oeuvres, live music, and great views of Mirror Lake and the Japanese Garden. The next Party on the Portico will be this Friday, June 20 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Local folk-rock favorites Brian Wheat and Groggy Darlin’ will perform. Admission also includes free 10-minute mini-tours of the Historical Society’s new Shaking Hands and Kissing Babies exhibit, so you can brush up on your presidential campaign trivia…
In an email conversation with Dan Dwyer, a former Buffalonian who now lives in Manhattan and manages the Dublin band Stand, I came across a quote from Hunter S. Thompson: “The Music Business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.” As colorful as Thompson is with his description of an industry that is trying to re-imagine itself for the 21st century (gee, that sounds familiar…), the quote wasn’t surprising to find amidst the rest of our conversation. Formed by…
Fresh off their powerful performance at this year’s Artists & Models, Stephen Goss (Vocals), Nick Gordon (Guitar/Vocals) Tim Staszak (Drums) and Dan Ratel (Bass), better known as Buffalo’s preeminent punk outfit London Vs New York, will be opening for the Black Lips on Friday night at Mohawk Place. The Black Lips are Joe Bradley (vocals & drums), Jared Swilley (vocals & bass), Ian St. Pe (guitar) and Cole Alexander (vocals & guitar), out of Atlanta, Georgia. They’ll be bringing a number of albums and a lingering reputation for raucous and wild live shows onto Mohawk Place’s stage. Packing their energy…
By Eric Crittenden This morning my heart fluttered. I was watching WGRZ’s Day Break, as I so often do by default because my wife likes it, and I realized that those public organizations that perpetuate segregation need to be exposed and held accountable. For a while now, every time I watched that program, this tension would build in me; the kind of tension that feels almost like you wished Grand Theft Auto was real; and you were the main. And it would usually happen during Kevin O’Neil’s segment, “Celebrating Western New York”. First of all, he’s not funny…not in the…
I’m not real up on blogging – but I have a story that I think is worth talking about. I’ve noticed that the city is horrible at composting. Even when people do take the time to put leaves or grass clippings in clear bags, the city will pick them up with the trash and land fill them. My understanding (and I have talked to the people at the mayor’s hotline several times), is that the only official composting effort that is made is in the fall. My observation is that the trucks go around once and that there is no…
Last week was a big week in film for Buffalo, with the 2nd Annual Buffalo Niagara Film Festival (BNFF) bringing a number of films in from abroad to watch alongside our locally made productions. Fresh off an interview with The Shredd and Ragan show on 103.3 The Edge, producers Jerry and Beth MacKay screened their film Release The Funny at the festival, on Saturday afternoon. In case you missed Release The Funny at the festival (or even during its premier last November), Littleflick Productions is presenting the Buffalo region with another chance to catch the film tonight. On Friday April…
Last month, the then-unnamed art space project led by Aimee Buyea was reported in these very pages, with talk of an upcoming benefit show and a search for space and a name for this burgeoning endeavor. During the last few weeks, while Buffalo was attending the BNFF and Trimania, Buyea with a group of like-minded do-it-together volunteers have been busy setting the stage, quite literally, for their project. Meeting on Sunday nights, they’ve been sorting through the logistics required for this type of organization, such as permits, incorporating, insurance, and most importantly a name: “Sugar City.” “While still in its…
The 2nd Annual Buffalo Niagara Film Festival closed out, Saturday night in the Adam’s Mark Hotel Grand Ballroom. After screening over 80 films, hosting numerous events, panels and performances, Bill Cowell and the Festival Committee were joined by filmmakers, photographers, and friends to celebrate the success of the 2008 festival. It is commonly held that if a festival can make it into a third year, it is an overall success. The progress made between the first and second annual BNFF was astounding. More participation came from not only the business community, but the filmmaking community at large, in and out…
On Friday night, Buffalonians were treated to a spectacular performance last night at the 2nd Annual Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, by the first lady of Rock & Roll, Wanda Jackson. Immediately after screening the documentary “The Sweet Lady With The Nasty Voice”, Jackson answered questions from the audience ranging from her recording days, to her religious conversion to song requests. Funny, reflective and always smiling, Jackson was a magnificent performer, and packaged her entire set of country, rockabilly, and gospel songs into a timeline of her life. Modern day musicians could learn a bit from performers like Jackson—leaving the crowded…