Author: Katie Krawczyk

On Thursday, May 31, officials from Buffalo First!, Buffalo State College, Visit Buffalo Niagara, and the City of Buffalo and Erie County are holding a press conference at 10:00 a.m. at Bidwell Park to announce the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies’ (BALLE) annual conference for 2013 will be held at Buffalo State College, the 4-day conference is tentatively scheduled for June 12-14, 2013.The BALLE Conference is an annual gathering of economists, small business owners, investors, and supporters who promote, advocate, and educate about local living and community-driven economic development.Some of you may have seen posts on social media talking about BALLE a…

The term “Communications,” when applied to one’s work, is so broad that it likely touches everyone in some way. All of us, some more than others, must communicate to push our mission forward. It’s one of those broad generalizations that touch all of us, but so few of us really know how to do it effectively and efficiently.Whether you work in a field directly tied to communications such as media, public relations or marketing, or you work in fields such as human resources, education, business, or health care that require you to communicate to various audiences, internally or externally, then…

While the conditions at the Erie Basin Marina may not have been suitable for pond hockey, Labatt Blue was able to pull off a successful street hockey tournament this past weekend. The lead photo (seen here) ran in the picture page of the Washington Post on February 11, showing the determination of organizers and participants alike. “There is nothing predictable about the Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament,” said Brett Carlsen, associate brand manager, Labatt Blue. No matter what form we play – pond or street, we’re always going to be at the mercy of Buffalo’s winter weather. First, the temps weren’t nearly…

Monthly social organization Ladies of the Vine Wine Club is going global for January’s gathering, in the second of a series of dining experiences where members will be given the chance to sip, sample and savor cuisine and wines from around the world. On the heels of “Visiting India” in November, which was the first “Ladies of the Vine Goes Global” event, the club received several requests to add more ethnic dinners to their monthly rotation. Thanks to the popularity of the last event, the club is offering “Ladies of the Vine Goes Global” every other month, discounting the usual ticket…

So rare these days do people go for elegance, class, and sophistication in their personal style. And that’s probably because common clothing stores don’t readily offer fine-made apparel that are both appealing and accessible to consumers. As a result, fine clothiers have become somewhat of a lost art form. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, these boutiques became scant, as more people turned to “throwaway” clothes, that sacrificed quality for affordability. The irony of this notion is you end up spending more money on inexpensive, lesser quality items than spending more upfront for items that will last you…

In the spirit of giving and showing those we love how much we care for them, we would be remiss if we didn’t offer gift ideas for our four-legged friends. Animal Outfitters is a pet specialty store that has been around in the Elmwood Village for about six years now. Originally located on Bryant off of Elmwood, Animal Outfitters moved to their current spot on Elmwood at Potomac about a year ago (see post), and doubled their size, as well as their offerings. The store is spacious, yet still encompasses the same warm and inviting vibe it had when it…

Seeing the steady progression on Buffalo’s West Side, particularly the Grant-Ferry commercial district, is such a great thing for the city, and has been a long-time coming. On the corners of Grant and Lafayette alone, you have Sweet_ness 7 Café, Grant Street Gallery, Krudmart, Shakti Yoga, Guercio and Sons, 257 Lafayette Center–a conversion of an old historic school building into a mixed-use center–along with a few other businesses popping up. There is a lot to see and experience that points to the much-needed revitalization of this neighborhood, and it should make any Buffalonian proud to know this positive upswing is…

Buffalo Rising readers may recall a few posts written about Blue Sky Design Supply, Buffalo’s showroom and consulting business that specializes in environmentally and socially sustainable products for home design and décor (read my original post and Newell’s follow-up piece). For those looking for unique ideas for the home, goods that are made from sustainable and green materials, or products that make you take a double look and say, “wow, that’s pretty cool,” then search no further than Blue Sky. And, if you ever want an excuse to spend some time down in the Cobblestone District apart from Sabres games,…

Some of the most cherished memories from childhood come from those bright, shiny new toys that behold a certain amount of wonder and mystery to them. The excitement shown through a child’s expression when first discovering something they’ve never seen or knew existed is unmatched. Each of us can remember that one thing that, to this day, brightens up our faces as we remember the look, feel, and sound of it. And each of us who have experienced that type of wonderment in our lives want to make sure every other child out there can experience that same feeling: sheer,…

Wild Things has been on Lexington Avenue at the corner of Ashland for over 20 years, and is a staple in the community for one-of-a-kind artisan jewelry and other fine crafts, including wraps, scarves, hats, bags, and even pottery. Owners Stephanie Robb and Karol Kirberger have on display their own handmade jewelry designs, as well as a wide selection of other local artisan-made jewelry, ranging from kiln fired enamel jewelry, gemstone jewelry, and jewelry made from recycled glass. Local artists the store carries include Roycroft Renaissance Master Artisan Dayna Banka-Slon, Einat Agmon, Ed Reily, Donna Sturges and Amanda Beaulieu.Best Seller: In a word:…