Author: kaitmunro

While I understand the need to keep traffic flowing in a safe and orderly manner, I wonder about the wisdom of marking an Olmsted Circle with rather obtrusive amounts of paint. A friend of ours who operates a shop on Elmwood Avenue called to let us know what had been done at Colonial Circle. She was nearly apoplectic, sputtering words like “YELLOW, WHITE, HUGE,” and what she said was done didn’t make sense, so I went and had a look.After getting there and seeing the circle, it still didn’t make a lot of sense. This is an Olmsted Circle, and…

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Local businessman William Koessler of Park Lane fame submitted the winning bid for the purchase of the Statler Hotel this morning in an auction conducted by Cash Cunningham, as a result of a bankruptcy filing by former owner, Bashir al-Issa. The bidding took less time than Cunningham used to review the terms of sale prior to the start of the auction, in which he detailed the rules bidders would be held to. In the end, the most salient point becomes the fact that the new owner, Koessler, will not have to pay any debts attached to the building. “You get…

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Ex-Buffalonian, author and chef Alfred Portale, when asked to pick his favorite fast food places for Esquire Magazine, came up with Ted’s and Mighty Taco. These are two homegrown area favorites–and success stories–that seem to stick in the minds of anyone who ever lived in Buffalo and many who’ve only passed through. Remember when we used to call the Ted’s off of Porter Avenue “Theodore’s on the Lake”? As the executive chef and co-owner of Gotham Bar and Grill on East 12th Street in New York City, Portale’s words carry some weight, and it’s fitting that he recognizes both Ted’s…

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Come see beautiful and ridable pieces of art at “HOGS & Hubbard.” Recently, a photo was found (below) of Elbert Hubbard, a major proponent of the Arts & Crafts Movement and founder of the Roycroft, riding a 1913 Yale motorcycle. The discovery inspired the event, which will benefit the restoration of the famous artists’ community. On Tuesday, August 11th, admire the craftsmanship of custom motorcycles and hot rods at “HOGS & Hubbard” from 6 PM until 9 PM at the Historic Roycroft Campus (31 South Grove Street in East Aurora). The Roycroft Inn will serve Bar Bill Tavern chicken wings…

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Auctioneer Cash Cunningham has been very busy in the past few weeks, leading a number of interested parties through the Statler in preparation for this week’s auction that will take place at 11AM on Wednesday, August 12th in the hotel’s lobby.”I’ve taken a number of people through, and we certainly hope for a successful auction, though their interest doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll bid,” Cunningham said. For instance, this morning Cunningham took a group through from New York, tomorrow, he’ll host a group from Florida, and in the past he said he’s seen a lot of people from New York City along…

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We told you about a tour of Oxford Square this past week, and here is a slideshow that gives the mini version for those of you who couldn’t make it.Led by John Bry, the tour took place this past Tuesday, and a little more than 20 people walked with John, taking in quite a bit of information about a smallish community that was established, for the most part, in the mid to late 1800s. The tour began at what is now the Community Action Organization at 70 Harvard, but was originally established, according to Bry, as the Ingleside Home for…

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Impromptu quiz: What is most disturbing about last night’s burning of the Woodlawn Row Houses?A.) The fact that they were one of the last few sets of row houses left to Buffalo?B.) The fact that people, like David Torke of fixbuffalo.com, have been begging for years for something to be done before this happened?C.) The fact the historic structure is owned by the city?D.) The fact that the row houses have been on a landmark list since the early 80s?E.) All of the above. (We have a whole alphabet of reasons this is a damn shame, but we’ll quit here.)This…

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Check out Allentown’s art scene again this Friday.”Allentown First Fridays,” a monthly gallery romp, invites guests into various galleries and businesses in the greater Allentown district from 5 PM until 9 PM.On Friday, August 7th, art appreciators will visit the following:Betty’s (370 Virginia Street), featuring “Dog Days: Paintings by Jacqueline Welch.” Her works will be on display through Sunday, September 13th. B West Studio (148 Elmwood Avenue) to see works by The Lingering Infringement Artists from 5 PM to 8 PM.”Together” at C.G. Jung Center (408 Franklin Street) from 6 PM until 8 PM. This two-person exhibit will showcase watercolors by…

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33 acres of blight, an absentee landlord, and a neighborhood struggling to improve. Today in Judge Henry Nowak’s Housing Court, an attorney for Central Park Plaza owner of 25 years Samuel Kurz of Brooklyn, NY, stood in for his client as Nowak discussed the escrow account he wants set up so that all rent revenues go directly to making repairs and improvements on the property. When the attorney asked if Kurz could pay utilities from the account, Nowak answered, no. “I expect the money will be in and out quickly for the benefit of the neighborhood,” he explained. This would…

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We don’t like to taunt our readers with parties they may have missed, except when they’re a recurring event. Such is the case with this past week’s WAM celebration held at the Stillwater by Nomad Magazine. The brainchild of NOMAD Magazine Editor Erica Eichelkraut (below, in blue), WAM (Writers, Artists and Musicians) brought together those three components and a lot of people who were happy to celebrate the different art forms and artists involved. And all free of charge. There was spoken word (and comedy), great music by Free Henry!, artists works, and food specials. Note to public: they also…

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