Nothing demonstrates the glaring difference between Toronto and Buffalo than the sad fate of one of Toronto’s most beloved discount stores – Honest Ed’s.   If anyone from Western New York has ever visited this Toronto institution, you’ll know it was a one-of-a-kind experience – from its kitschy sale signs to its corny slogans; from its Las Vegas-eque honky-tonk exterior, to its dizzying array of household products to its ridiculously cheap prices.  

Honest Ed’s was one of those rare landmarks that made Toronto unique since its founder Ed Mirvish, opened it in 1948 until its untimely and unfortunate closing in 2016. Over the decades it was the “go-to” store for thousands of Torontonians outfitting their first home, or students outfitting their dorm rooms.  But five years ago, it all came to an end, when Honest Ed’s was torn down to make room for what has become a symbol of Toronto’s out-of-control growth – a condo complex.    Today in place of this iconic emporium, stands another architecturally bland condo building amongst a sea of hundreds of other similarly uninspiring new condo buildings that have overtaken the city’s skyline and created condo canyons where once stood beautiful, tree-lined neighborhoods. And herein lies the difference between Toronto and Buffalo – how each city views its past with an eye towards to its future. Where Toronto tears down its history, Buffalo (now) embraces it. Hopefully that sentiment will continue as Buffalo begins to grow – preserving what is left is key.

In Toronto, the condo building frenzy has spun out of control.  I used to joke to myself that I would not be surprised if a condo developer knocked down an existing condo that was put up a mere five years ago.   But now, that’s no joke.   Only a few weeks ago did I read that a condo developer plans to remove a row of new townhouses that were built (as part of a larger condo project) only five years ago!  And those few elegant old buildings that have not been demolished completely, often survive by becoming the pedestals for 40 story condo towers – shadows of their former grace and function.  

Contrast this to Buffalo which honors its past by restoring and repurposing its older buildings, not tearing them down.  Granted, there are significant factors between both cities  that account for the difference in approaches to revitalizing neighborhoods.  Toronto’s continuing explosive growth means that new residential units have to be built to accommodate the influx of people arriving from across Canada and especially from overseas.   And with a significant expansion of the city’s light rail system along major thoroughfares,  scores of condo towers are going up along these new transit lines to create a needed density to prevent sprawl.  But the staggering number of condos that have been and continue to be constructed in Toronto, are in my opinion, destroying not only the history of the neighborhoods,  but their character too.   When sixty, seventy, eighty year old trees are bulldozed in a matter of minutes to clear space for a mega condo project, more than just a tree is lost – the soul of the neighborhood is lost too.    

In my old neighborhood in midtown Toronto near Yonge St. and Eglinton Avenue – a priority neighborhood for density development due to the new light rail line along Eglinton Avenue – so many trees and near century old homes have been torn down, replaced by 40, 50 story condos, that I decided to move away – not only because my street is no longer recognizable to me, but my old street and surrounding streets have ceased functioning as a human scaled place to live.    Front porches have been replaced by balconies half a mile high in the sky.   Once leafy backyards are now barbeque and leisure patios for the area’s new condo dwellers.  The condo canyons of Yonge and Eglinton are not neighborhoods. They are mere places for condo residents to live.  How can people living 50, 60 stories above ground level feel any sense of connection to the area they live in?  And in a building with thousands of residents, how can you feel that intimate sense of neighborliness?

Thankfully, Buffalo does not have to deal with the loss of neighborhood after neighborhood.   In fact, I surmise that the opposite is happening in Buffalo.  With the re-purposing of so many old factories and warehouses into human scaled dwellings, neighborhoods are actually being revived and coming back to life again, not being displaced as they are in Toronto. For this, one need not look further than downtown Buffalo, the Larkin District and now in Black Rock too, with a proposed redevelopment project that will bring new apartments to this historic neighborhood.

Which brings me back to Honest Ed’s.  It could have been salvaged.  There is a way to preserve historic buildings as part of a condo project.  Honest Ed’s could have remained intact with a condo tower perched on top of it – preserving the old but accommodating the new.  Tearing down Honest Ed’s obliterated a significant part of Toronto’s cultural and architectural history.  Fortunately, Buffalo’s approach to residential development is far more respectful of the city’s history – an approach that no longer erases its past (for the most part), but rather finds new ways to incorporate its past into the present and future needs of the city. Be careful what you wish for?

Lead image: Buffalo’s new Braymiller Market with the historic Hotel @ The Lafayette as a suiting backdrop. It’s important to have a mix of historic architecture, along with smart infill moving forward.

It’s all well and good to build striking new buildings on the Albright-Knox campus. At the same time, it’s just as important to maintain the park grounds that serve as the bucolic home for the gallery.

At long last, some critical historic restoration efforts are planned for Delaware Park, including the Grand Staircase restoration project. This is the staircase that leads from the Albright-Knox to Delaware Park and Gala Waters (Hoyt Lake). As the Buffalo Olmsted Conservancy wraps up capital fundraising for the preservation effort, it is anticipated that preparatory site work will get underway in the fall of 2021. The restoration project coincides with the 200^th birth year of Frederick Law Olmsted. A ribbon cutting for the iconic stairs will be held in late 2022.

“The Grand Staircase symbolizes a tangible connector in our historic park system and true to Olmsted’s design principles it serves as public access to valuable parkland.  The staircase is one of, if not the oldest original park feature,” said Stephanie Crockatt, Conservancy Executive Director.  “To celebrate this achievement as part of Olmsted’s 200^th year would be magnificently appropriate in tribute to this amazing man and Buffalo’s Olmsted park system. We are grateful for our dedicated partners, neighbors and donors and hope we can inspire anyone and everyone who uses these iconic stairs to help us reach our goal.”

From generation to generation, the staircase has played a pivotal role in celebrations, weddings, festivals, and simply day-to-day comings and goings of park visitors. Unfortunately, it has become clear that the central feature has deteriorated in ways that require immediate attention. From a crumbling foundation to sizable cracks in the stairs, periodic repairs are no longer enough to address the situation.

“From weddings to proms and graduations, numerous memories are enhanced and visually captured at the Grand Staircase year after year,” said Delaware District Councilmember Joel Feroleto. “I’m very supportive of this project for the community and especially applaud the Conservancy’s directive to clean and reuse as many of the historic granite stones as possible.”

Altogether, the construction project is anticipated to cost $700K. A private donor has “stepped up” to provide $100K, while the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is matching $300K toward the remainder. To date, The Conservancy has raised $55K from the community*, which means that $245K is required to hit the cost target goal.

“The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation is honored to be part of this project. The history and significance of this staircase is part of the Olmsted legacy in Delaware Park and represents a cultural and community connection we strongly encourage and support,” said JJ Tighe, Director of Parks & Trails Initiative for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.

To learn more about this project or its funding, please visit www.bfloparks.org/grandstaircase or reach out to Stephanie Crockatt, Executive Director, and Catie Stephenson, Director of Development & Communications, at 716-838-1249.  To learn more about the national Olmsted 200 initiative in 2022, visit www.Olmsted200.org.

*All donors will receive special recognition and any donor contributing $5,000 or more will receive a commemorative signifying paver at the Siegel Landing near the staircase.

I first met Sarah Griffin-DiVincenzo (lead image) in the winter of 2018 when I moved to Buffalo.

It just happened that I wanted to get a taste of the local scene, so I went to Remedy House in the Five Points neighborhood with my laptop to work, and enjoy what has come to be my regular order there: a nonfat vanilla latte and an egg on a roll. If you’re new to the city or want to try out a new funky neighborhood, Five Points on the West Side is just the ticket – eclectic, fun, and full of bars, restaurants, and shops such as Urban Roots and Blue Table Chocolates. These days, you can spend an entire day within the two-block radius and find plenty to see and do. 

As for Sarah, she runs Pilates Art Studio with her husband Mark, on the second floor above Remedy House. It turns out that while I was in line at the café one fateful day, Sarah was awaiting the arrival of her Americano. That’s when I complimented her on her leggings. The rest is history. She and I got to talking, and once she mentioned her Pilates studio I was all ears (I have done mat work and Pilates since 2008 but I was well out of practice.) In true Buffalo fashion, she invited me upstairs to get a private tour and lesson to test out the state-of-the-art reformer machines. I signed up that day. Aside from the tremendous workout, meeting someone as friendly and informative as Sarah made me feel like I was immediately part of the Buffalo community. And as a runner, starting upon an exercise regimen outside of cardio could only help my running. I was ready. 

Embarking upon any kind of exercise routine is daunting, but I will tell you this: Sarah is the most nurturing instructor I have ever come across – a poster child for “The City of Good Neighbors.”  When the pandemic shut down Buffalo, she went remote. I conducted Zoom mat classes with her and other participants for almost a year. It was a way to connect, stay strong and flexible, and feel confident that I could get back to reformer classes. Eventually I went to my first reformer class (since 2019!), as her studio was taking all necessary precautions, while still guaranteeing fun and informative hour-long Pilates workouts (see inset photo).

As I got to know Sarah, I wanted to hear more about my friend and instructor’s journey to opening this beautiful space in Five Points, so I sat down with her to ask her a few questions. I was very interested in how long she has been practicing the craft, and what inspired her to study it…

“In 2009 I moved home to Buffalo from San Diego and took a job as a personal trainer inside a Pilates/fitness studio.  I hadn’t known anything about Pilates before that. I watched, intimidated, as the instructors put the clients through workouts on this foreign equipment. When I started practicing Pilates, I was humbled.  I prided myself on my fitness level, but this was different. My mission is always to help people feel better in their bodies, so I just knew in my heart that this was the next step for me. I started studying Pilates manuals and practicing the exercises.  I was lucky enough to be surrounded by other teachers and I did a lot of research to find the right program to enroll in.  I wanted to be immersed, without the distractions of daily life.  So, my husband and I decided to go to Costa Rica for an extended amount of time to start my teacher training.   It was one of the best decisions I ever made.”

It was her background and the intense studies that inspired and propelled her to open her own studio on the West Side.

“I knew many years before I opened my studio that I was going to do this.  I remember telling my husband when we first met that it was my dream to have my own studio and that my studio would be surrounded by beautiful art. I think it was just meant to be.  Over the years I worked in and visited a lot of different gyms and fitness studios.  I love to visit other studios when I travel and see how other people provide their services, take care of their people, and design their environment.  I slowly collected my ideas and saved my money to purchase equipment.  Little by little everything fell into place, and now here I am.  I love coming to my studio every day, and I love that other my clients love it too.  Many people tell me that my studio is their ‘happy place’ and that is music to my ears.”

Much like my intense love for this area, Sarah saw no other spot in Buffalo to land and open up her own space.

“My husband and I have been living on the West Side for 10 years.  Living in this part of the city has been quite a different experience for me as I grew up in the suburbs.  Mark, my husband, being an artist needs to have an art studio, not just a little room to do art, he needs a big space with big walls to work on.  So we settled into a building on the West Side that has lots of space and natural light, a space that is made for an artist to live. 10 years ago, the 5 points neighborhood was not like it is now.  It was pretty beat up, and kind of scary to walk around.  After I had my son, I wanted to have everything close, I wanted my work to be close to home.  I also wanted a neighborhood, a community to be a part of.  Once I was clear on what I wanted, it just mystically happened that we ran into our friend, Frits Abell, one day and he told us we should come to see the building he renovated at the corner of W. Utica and Rhode Island. Once we saw it, I knew.  I know that a lot of my Williamsville friends and family thought I was nuts to move my business to the West Side of Buffalo, but I knew it would be great.  And the rest is history.”

A big part of the special feeling you get when you enter Pilates Art Studio is that it is a collaborative effort between Sarah and her husband Mark. Mark is an artist whose studio is located on the third floor of the building. Mark’s art adorns the Pilates studio walls (and gives me inspiration when I am taking a reformer class.) Sarah knew how important it was for both she and Mark to embark upon this journey together in the same building.

“Years back when I was starting my Pilates teacher training in Costa Rica,  we stayed there for 5 magical weeks. Our lives felt very open to all the possibilities and there we came up with our idea of Pilates Art Studio.  We talked about having a big space where we could combine our studios and make a unique experience for people.  There is something about being surrounded by art that is inspiring, soothing, and energizing.   We just had an idea, a vision.  We wanted to design the Pilates studio like an art gallery.  Always changing the art and having art for sale right off the walls.” 

Sarah’s dedication to Pilates, and the willingness she has to adapt to her clients’ needs, is one of the best parts of practicing with Sarah.

“My favorite part of being a Pilates instructor is the relationships I have with my clients.  My studio is a very positive environment and the people I attract into the studio are all working towards positive, healthy goals.  It is so rewarding to watch clients get stronger and more confident as they grow in their movement practice. We have fun, we laugh, we support each other, and lean on one another.  This business also gives me the flexibility to build my schedule in a way that allows me to be the kind of parent I want to be to my son.  It is important to me that I can pick him up from school each day and have enough quality time together.”   

Having her clients feel at home during Pilates classes is just part of the puzzle for Sarah. She loves to find new and exciting things to do in her neighborhood and the city she calls home. She loves where she lives – that passion is evident as we discuss the Five Points neighborhood, and the city of Buffalo. Summer is far and away her family’s favorite season around here, but she loves all 4 seasons and is gearing up for a fun fall and winter ahead with her family.

“As much as we are summer/beach people we love the snow season!  About now is the time we start to pray for snow.  We as a family love to spend time cross-country skiing.  Gianluca is 6 years old and this will be is 4th season on xc skis.  I fell in love with the sport 11 years ago and each year my love grows deeper, and my skill level goes up.  Last year, the highlight of the season was when I went skied Mt. Van Hoevenberg at the Lake Placid Olympic XC ski center.   There are few things that can compare to the feeling of being out on the xc ski trails, it is pure bliss.  In the fall, we love to hike and admire the beautiful colors.  As much as we can be outdoors we get out there!”

While Sarah and I share a firm love for all things Buffalo, we both realize how much still needs to be done in and around the city. It is my belief that loving a city also includes wanting it to change and grow. I asked if she had one wish from a “Genie in a bottle” for Buffalo, what she would use it for. A safe, sustainable place came to mind.

 “I know there are some big issues in the city.  For the last 10 years, I have lived in a neighborhood where there are some families who are very poor.  I see kids running around with no shoes on and no parental guidance.  It’s hard to see that and be in my busy life and not be able to do anything about it.  If I was a genie, I would make sure that everyone in our city had a nice, safe place to live.  All the kids would have the right shoes, and coats for the seasons and parents to really care for them.  We would all work together to pick up all the litter and make the city really beautiful.  It’s a level of consciousness that if I was a genie, I would bring everyone up to.  At this level of consciousness, we care about our environment, and the food we feed ourselves and our children.  If I was a genie, our city would radiate a vibe of health and vitality.”

Practicing what you preach is important for Sarah. She knows that to be the best instructor for her clients she must put the work in as well. It is no surprise that she loves to do Pilates regularly on her own. A good balance between work and family is extremely important to her.

“I do Pilates myself on most weekdays.  I usually squeeze in a quick workout whenever I can. The equipment is so fun to play on.  With my athletic and bodybuilding background, I love to find new ways to challenge myself and sculpt my body.  Every day is different and with Pilates, I can always execute a workout that fits my energy levels and goals for the day. 

“Outside of the studio, I try to get out and get my heart pumping in a fun way.  I like to rollerblade, skateboard, bike ride and cross-country ski with my family or by myself.  Our favorite places to go are the Outer Harbor and Delaware Park. Having a little boy has been the most fun way to squeeze in a workout.  We play soccer, or baseball, hide and seek, or wrestling.  It’s never-ending.  When we get home, we are beat.  We love to get lazy and snuggle, play video games and read.”

Equally important to her growth and development as an instructor is finding that balance in her life, and learning things along the way. She finds herself reflecting on her time since she opened the studio, and figuring out what has worked for her thus far.

“I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that I can do it and to believe in myself and my vision.  To trust the process.  I am surrounded by amazing people who emotionally support me as I grow.  But the reality is, it’s all up to me.  I have to take full responsibility for everything that happens here, in my business, and in my life. My biggest goal is to live up to my potential. I’m not sure exactly what that means, but every day I am studying and learning and applying what I learn into my daily life.”

Part of growing her business is allowing for time to be with her family. She does this by opening up her studio to other instructors that can fill in the gaps in her schedule. She has added another teacher to fit those needs. 

“Right now we have two teachers at Pilates Art Studio.  Myself and Mary Grace.  For the first few years it was just me.  I was praying to find the right person who I can trust and respect.  I wanted someone who takes their education seriously, and someone I just clicked with.  When I met Mary I knew she would be a great fit and as it turns out, I was right.  We offer private lessons, duets, and classes for up to 3 people.”  

It is no secret that Sarah loves what she does. It is immediately apparent when you speak to her about Pilates – how much she enjoys it. For her, she finds joy in getting to know people of all walks of life, in order to better understand their needs.

“Pilates is so wonderful because it really allows me to work with every type of body, from a professional athlete to a 90-year-old woman.  I can’t believe I can say that I’ve been working with clients for almost 20 years, first as a personal trainer, and now as a pilates instructor.  I have worked with all kinds of people, and each person has their own set of ‘issues’ they are dealing with and most of them stem from an imbalance in the body.  I learn about my clients’ bodies and can determine exactly what they need. The way the equipment is designed is brilliant.  The machines work on spring tension and the springs vary in resistance so it is very adaptable to different levels.  Also, the beauty of this system of exercise is that the machines and the springs can support you to get through an exercise that without the support you would find impossible.  That way you can slowly build strength,  flexibility, fluidity, and control.  Little by little your whole body improves, you sit and stand taller, and you have the strength and endurance to get through your day-to-day activities with ease.”  

Sarah feels the same sense of community in her studio that she does living and working on the West Side.

“What I love most about living in Buffalo is the people.  I love how it seems like everyone knows each other and it feels like everyone looks out for one another.   This city feels like one big family.  I love having my studio at 5 Points on the West Side because when I walk out of work each day I see friends sitting at the cafe downstairs, or walking down the street and we can smile and wave or stop and catch up.  All the small business owners in the neighborhood are wonderful, we have a tight group of like-minded people here who are committed to taking care of, and providing a top-notch experience for our clientele.”  

Getting to know Sarah, since I moved to Buffalo in 2018, has been an absolute pleasure. Her passion for Pilates, the city itself, and her family and friends is readily apparent. My personal Pilates journey has not always been easy: I have fought injuries and had to adapt my practice to best suit my needs. At the same time, I am proud to say that Sarah has become a good friend – I met her at a time when I knew next to no one in this town. That’s the thing about Buffalo: when you least expect it, the City of Good Neighbors has your back. 

If you are looking for something new to try or want to get back into Pilates shape, I highly recommend taking a class with Sarah or Mary Grace at Pilates Art Studio. You won’t be disappointed. If you see me in your class there, say hi! We can grab an Americano at Remedy House afterwards. The first cup is on me. 

For more on Sarah’s studio in Five Points, her pricing, and class availability, please visit her website: pilatesartstudio.com

Or sign up on the mindbody app: www.mindbodyonline.com

One of Buffalo’s finest musician exports – Dave Schulz, who still spends plenty of time visiting his hometown – has released a new song and video, with the help of a number of all-star vocalists and musicians who Schulz is calling “rock royalty.”

Schulz is touting his latest project “a remake of the feelgood anthem.”  The anthem? “You Get What You Give.”

The high energy and affable keyboardist and vocalist (Goo Goo Dolls, Berlin, Sweet, Wang Chung) was recently in Buffalo playing at Robby Takac’s Music is Art festival. Parts of the performance will be featured in the official music video, set to be released on Friday, September 24th.

“I’ve known Robby most of my life having grown up in Buffalo and of course from touring with the Goo Goo Dolls,” shared Schulz. “It was great to work with him on this.

“In addition to Robby, I specifically chose members of different bands that spanned a wide array of styles and decades to contribute to this project,” continued Schulz. “I really wanted to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. Not only is this one of my favorite songs, but the message couldn’t be more potent than it is today. It touches on music venues shutting down. It can also be re-interpreted as a hopeful meditation against the general turmoil and frustration stemming from health and political issues dominating the world. I believe we did the song justice. It’s the perfect song for these uncertain times – it’s a positive, uplifting song with a strong message.”

The production of the latest work is, in part, thanks to Schulz’s partnering with friend and collaborator Sammy Burke – the two came together just prior to the pandemic, to create Sam and Dave Productions. The effort resulted in the release of an “eclectic series of musical collaborations” called CoVideo Stars. 

“I first staggered into Dave a few years ago when I was in kind of a dark place and he helped me up off the ground,” said Burke. “We’ve been friends ever since. And I’m not saying that just because he paid me to. We began to collaborate on a few videos; some of these included us both performing, while on other projects I served as sound engineer and video editor. This brought forth Sam & Dave Productions and the concept for ‘CoVideo Stars.’ Working on this particular project has been a labor of love and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”

Featuring: Dave Schulz – Goo Goo Dolls, Berlin, Sweet, Wang Chung | Robby Takac – Goo Goo Dolls | Prairie Prince – Tubes, Todd Rundgren, XTC | Bumblefoot – Guns n Roses, Sons of Apollo | Angelo Moore – Fishbone | Cherie Currie – Runaways | Mitch Perry – Cher, Sweet, Edgar Winter | Jennifer Cella – Trans Siberian Orchestra | Georgia Napolitano – Trans Siberian Orchestra | Teddy ZigZag – Guns n Roses, Billy Bob Thornton | Joe Sumner – Fiction Plane (son of Sting) | Paulie Z – Sweet

Produced by Dave Schulz | Directed by Sammy Burke  | Audio mixed by Christian Hogan  | Additional video – Susan Moreau

I tend to beat up on Grant Street when it comes to litter. For years, I’ve harped about the street being a mess, despite numerous attempts to keep it clean. Many of my ‘This Week In Litter‘ posts have been spurred on by the litter and trash problems facing Grant Street and intersecting West Ferry.

To my unexpected surprise, three community activists have taken to the streets – Grant Street, that is – to tackle the issue of blight. These community volunteers – Bill Lindner, Marcia Panzarella, and Sharon Danna – have outdone themselves with their beautification initiatives that include cleaning up and planting numerous flower beds.

Formerly dingy flower and tree pits filled with debris, these forlorn and forgotten beds are now brimming with life thanks to a selfless herculean effort that saw the planting and ongoing maintenance of 32 flower gardens and ornamental grass parcels along Grant Street.

“A couple of friends and I decided that we wanted  to beautifying the 32 parcels of land on Grant Street that consisted of broken planters and massive weeds,” said Sharon Danna. “So we received donated dirt and split flowers from my personal flower bed. Thus began our passion to beautify Grant Street. We water and weed 7 days a week for a couple of hours a day and this year Henry Jackson (Department of Public Works) committed one of his employees named ‘Poppy’ to hand sweep from W Ferry to Auburn 5 days a week.”

Once again, it just goes to show that, more often than not, persistence pays off. When caring community members come together to chip in on cleanup and beautification efforts, the City is usually receptive to contributing towards the efforts. What is especially poignant about this latest effort is the magnitude of the project.

“No other street in Buffalo has this many flower beds on it,” said Danna. “They are perennials, so they bloom at different times – right now the ornamental grasses are in full bloom.”

If you’re wondering why three people would contribute their time and effort to such an undertaking, it’s actually quite simple.

“Because we saw litter and weeds and knew we could change the streetscape with flowers from my gardens at home,” said Danna.

Now if that isn’t the best response to addressing a problematic issue, I don’t know what is. All I can say is… thank you, from everyone who cares about a cleaner Buffalo. Perception is key. If you want more shoppers and business owners on the street, one of the most basic ways to do that is show that people care. Keeping a clean street is one thing. Planting flowers is another.

Ongoing maintenance is the icing on the cake, but how long can we expect that to last?

The City needs to come up with a plan to address the cleanliness of all of its commercial corridors. In the meantime, we can only hope and pray that caring community members come to the rescue, as we are now witnessing with this incredible display of dutiful dedication on Grant Street.

The former police headquarters at Franklin and Church streets is close to welcoming its first long-term residential tenants.  Douglas Development has begun pre-leasing for The Police Apartments with occupancy starting next month.  Under plans prepared by Antunovich Associates, 114 apartments occupy the historic building that Douglas Jemal purchased from the City for $3.05 million. Carmina Wood Morris assisted with project approvals and tax credit work.

Studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom plans are available.  Studios range in size from 400 to 957 square feet and are priced from $1,200 to $2,800.  One-bedroom plans are priced from $1,650 to $2,600 and have 567 to 1,224 square feet.  A two-bedroom unit includes 987 square feet of space and is priced at $2,700.

Apartments feature keyless entries, tiled showers, quartz countertops, tile backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, custom window shades and washers and dryers in each unit. Building amenities include a fitness center, clubroom and lounge, co-working space, and a green space for pets.

Parking for 84 cars is provided on the basement level and a portion of the first floor.

This is Douglas Development’s second completed downtown residential project.  The firm created 104 apartments in the annex buildings at One Seneca that leased quickly.  Many more are in the works.  Jemal is developing plans for approximately 600 apartments in the Statler, has approvals for a three-story addition to a plaza-level retail building at One Seneca that would include 33 apartments, and is planning an unknown number of residences on properties it is buying from Simon Electric along Ellicott Street.  The City is currently reviewing the firm’s plans for a nine-story building west of Seneca One that would include parking for 300 vehicles topped by 148 apartments and has submitted a proposal to redevelop the City’s Mohawk Ramp that would include 200 residences, parking and commercial space.

Buffalo RiverWorks is proving to be a driving force behind the resurgence of local wrestling in WNY. Helping to lead the way is a 35-year-old referee, promoter, and and wrestling enthusiast David Jarka. Jarka noted that Brett Stymus is currently promoting Empire State Wrestling‘s (ESW) return to RiverWorks, following a very successful inaugural showing back in July, with Brawlfest. I asked Jarka what his thoughts were pertaining to the buzz generated by the local wrestling scene.

“Since covid regulations were significantly relaxed over the summer, the wrestling scene in Buffalo has seen significant buzz,” said Jarka. “There was no wrestling locally for about 18 months and the area fans were super hungry to rekindle the magic you can only experience at a live indie wrestling event.”

As for the resurgence of wrestling in Buffalo, and the birth of ESW, Jarka said, “ESW started in the Tonawanda area and traditionally was focused in Niagara County. The product ESW showcases at its events has always been solid. But a few years ago, an extra emphasis began on supplementing the local talent with notable wrestlers from out of state and wrestling legends plus an extra push to publicize events more. After doing those things, we saw a major uptick in fan support that took us to a new level locally that no other area promotions have been able to reach. It also led to ESW outgrowing some of its traditional venues and provided to run at bigger places such as RiverWorks. And the response we received running there in July was great. I think focusing more on a centrally located venue like RiverWorks makes it easier for fans to attend ESW events and will lead for us to grow even more.”

The latest wrestling review is being billed as “4th and Gold,” which is set to take place on Sunday, October 10, 2021. General admission tickets are on sale now, although first and second row tickets are sold out. 

ESW is Western New York’s premier independent wrestling promotion.

Not only will the show include top independent talents hailing from the region, there will also be a number of national circuit wrestlers, including “a marquee matchup showcasing two of the best in-ring talents on the current independent wrestling scene.”

The matches taking place at “4th and Gold” include:

• Two major returns will occur in one match: 1) Fresh off being heavily featured on All-Elite Wrestling, ESW Heavyweight Champion “Red Death” Daniel Garcia will defend the title against former Impact Wrestling star Davey Richards 2) Ex-ESW Heavyweight Champion “Big Time” Bill Collier versus returning Impact Wrestling star Ace Romero
• In tag team action, the debuting Maine State Posse (Aiden Aggro and DangerKid) will face ESW staples To Infinity & Beyond (ex-Ring of Honor star Cheech and former World Wrestling Entertainment star Colin Delaney)
• Another tag team will make their ESW debut when The Mane Event (Duke Davis and Ganon Jones Jr.) takes on ESW regulars High Seas (former Ring of Honor star Cloudy and “Your Captain” Nick Ando)
• A special interpromotional match featuring the talent of New Jersey-based Northern Federation of Wrestling, when T.J. Crawford makes his ESW Buffalo debut versus the St. Louis, Mo.-based Everett Connors
• The first ever “Buffalo Tables Match” will showcase “Invincible” Vince Valor against Syracuse, N.Y.’s “The Moonlight Son” Mike Skyros
• A “12th Man Battle Royale” where the winner will earn a title shot against ESW Interstate Champion Frankie Feathers later in the night

Check ESW’s social media outlets for additional match announcements leading up to the day of the event. General Admission tickets are $20. Tickets can be purchased at ESWtix.com. The start time for “4th and Gold” will be earlier than typical ESW events as it will lead into the Buffalo Bills-Kansas City Chiefs game later in the evening. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. with a bell-time of 3:00 p.m.

If you thought that you would have to head to the outskirts of the city to enjoy some rough and tumble mountain biking, think again. Each year, Campus Wheelworks entertains the crowds with their highly anticipated annual cyclocross event that takes place right at Delaware Park.

“Cross in the Park is a cyclocross race that has been held for 11 years now in Delaware Park,” said Ethan Johnson, owner of Campus Wheelworks. “With a year hiatus due to Covid, we are excited to bring CX back to Delaware Park. Cyclocross is an interesting bike racing discipline where riders navigate a 2 mile taped off course over all surfaces. Within the course are obstacles that require riders to dismount their bikes, run and remount.

“This spectator-spectacular sport is as fun to watch as it is to participate in. For 2021 the course will vary slightly from the historic Olmsted Ivy Stone Bridge centered course. We will be riding around Hoyt Lake on the Delaware Avenue end of the lake.

“Registration is currently open on Bikereg.com there will also be day-of registration available on site. We will be having a free kids race at 1:15 with the kids course open all day to ride on (helmets mandatory).

“Music, cyclocross shenanigans, vegan food truck, warm weather: what else can you ask for…? Join us on Sunday!”

Cross in the Park 2021 will be taking place this Sunday, September 19, from 10:00am to 4:30pm.

As if Larkinville couldn’t get any better, there is exciting news of the opening of a craft beer bottle shop and tasting bar. Called Magic Bear Beer Cellar, the beer cellar will offer a curated selection of beverages, along with plenty of educational beer offerings, including classes, events, tastings, pairings, and opportunities to meet the brewers. Consider this officially “beer heaven” for beer geeks – a place where beer is king and queen, and court is always in session.

In his former life, owner, Craig Altobello dedicated himself to the hospitality industry, regionally as Director of Operations at Top Shelf Management overseeing (716) Food & Sport and The Draft Room. While he has worked in other markets, Altobello is especially excited about the WNY market, which he feels is prime for this sort of undertaking.

“One of the most exciting aspects of the hospitality industry in the past 10 years for me has been the recent craft beer boom,” said Altobello. “Trying new styles and learning about brewing and the history of beer is fascinating to me. I believe beer takes a back seat to no beverage and more people should experience and celebrate the fantastic new beer we are seeing as well as the traditional styles that provided their foundation. With Magic Bear Beer Cellar, I am returning to my roots in teaching, combining it with my passion for beer and hospitality to provide a sophisticated yet approachable experience to elevate and educate others on the amazing world of beer.”

Altobello noted that he felt that Larkinville was the perfect spot for his new venture, considering all of the recent advancements and opportunities at Millrace Commons, future home to Magic Bear Beer Cellar.

“We are so thrilled about the addition of Magic Bear Beer Cellar to our Millrace Commons building and to the growing entrepreneurial retail community in the Larkin District,” said Larkin Development Group’s Kayla Zemsky. “Magic Bear builds on the history of breweries in the Hydraulics District that has existed since the 1800s and adds a new neighborhood beer destination and welcoming hospitality experience for all those living, working and visiting Larkinville.”

Along with an ever-flowing supply of beer, Magic Bear Beer Cellar will also sell wine, ciders, seltzers, meads, and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as snacks that include shareable charcuterie and cheese boards.

This is another big win for Larkinville, which continues to impress with its developments, food and drink offerings, and unique placemaking aesthetics and social pastimes. Larkin Square has become an anchor, with a wide range of event offerings. That anchor has now afforded the district to moor plenty of ships, as the economic tides continue to rise.

Magic Bear Beer Cellar | Millrace Commons | 799 Seneca Street in Buffalo

Larkin Development Group is the developer of Millrace Commons working with Schneider Architectural Services, Taylor the Builder, and The Pike Company on design and construction. Pyramid Brokerage provided assistance with leasing the space.

Learn more at www.magicbearbeer.com, follow the business on Facebook and Instagram @magicbearbeer or visit them at the Millrace Commons in Larkinville – 799 Seneca Street, Buffalo NY in late 2021.

For more information about Larkin Development Group and Millrace Commons, visit www.larkindg.com.

The Make It On Main food truck battle was designed to showcase the talents of three restaurant concepts, all of which were vying for an incubator space at 808.5 Main Street (learn more). 

The developer’s hope was that by lowering the barrier of entry, new entrants to the market had a chance to get ahead. 

This was definitely one of the more interesting marketing and entrepreneurial concepts to come across our desks in recent years. It was ‘Character’ – a property company (affiliate of Legacy Development), that came up with the idea to have numerous business startups compete against one another for the brick and mortar space.

First, they had to present their business plans and concepts. From there, the contestants were whittled down, until three remained – Khoshmazeh, Dark Rose Deli and Knishery (Bloom & Rose), and Dimples. Those three would have to demonstrate their chops, by competing in a food truck battle (the trucks were donated by Lloyd, for the event). 

The future buildout will be suited for fast casual with a focus on to-go orders.

And the winner is… Dark Rose Deli and Knishery, which will be officially called Bloom & Rose Deli when they open up at 808.5 Main Street around this time next year. Leading up to that time, the super narrow building that currently exists will be razed to make room for a new custom build that will best suit the needs for the deli operators. 

“Currently, the team operates out of a commissary-kitchen and focuses on artisanal knish manufacturing. Bloom & Rose Deli was inspired by many of New York City’s Jewish delis, as well as those that they grew up hearing stories about along Hertel Ave. The team hopes to reignite this cuisine on the local market serving from-scratch traditional concepts with a unique, trendy twist.”

Revolution Gallery continues to impress, not only with its brilliant expansion, but also with its caliber of art exhibitions. Owner Craig LaRotonda and curator Maria Pabico LaRotonda have created a space that is conducive to art, while pairing the opening receptions with live music concerts, comedy shows, dj parties, burlesque shows, cultural events, paint nights, cheese and wine pairings, and fundraisers. Since originally coming onto the scene in 2016, the gallery has resulted in a livelier Hertel Avenue that acts as a hub of entertainment and cultural fanfare.

After a one-year hiatus, they ARE BACK! 32 top lumberjacks and lumberjills will be traveling to Buffalo to swing axes, saw wood, and rip fast cuts with dirt bike/snowmobile-powered chainsaws. 

I caught up with Alex Miller – elite competitor, and event organizer – a couple days ago and, needless to say, she is stoked for this year’s competition.

“I’m really excited to bring back a very extreme lumberjack/jill show to the fans of Buffalo. We have ramped up this year’s show and will be hosting the top athletes across the US. We have some big names coming to Buffalo.”

Some of the top competitors include*:

• Kate Witkowski – Finished 5^th, 2021 Women’s Stihl Series and is one of the top lumberjills
• Nancy Zalewski – Finished 2^nd, 2021 Women’s Stihl Series. She is a world record holder in Single Buck, and also a top lumberjill
• Alex Miller – Finished 8^th, 2021 Women’s Stihl Series. Another top lumberjill, she is performing well at the highest level for women
• Matt Cogar –  6 time Stihl US Champ, world record holder, 2nd at the 2018 World Championships in Liverpool, England Finished 2^nd, 2021 Stihl Series
• Mike Sullivan – FIRST US Stihl champ in 1985, arguably the best hot sawer in the world- definitely the US

*there will be many more top caliber competitors in attendance.

Alex is not only competing in the event, she is also hosting it, meaning that she is responsible for every facet.  I asked her a few questions:

What does it take to host a lumberjack/jill show?

We have to turn all the sawing/chopping wood on a lathe. This year we had to mill the new deck/stage for the stands to be secured to. We have to find sponsors to support the event. Get competitors to travel far and wide to put on a great show. Find volunteers, judges, scorekeepers, announcers to run the show on the day of. A lot goes into one event!

Why is this event so important to you?

This sport is my passion. I want to give back to the sport that has given so much to me. This sport gave me purpose during the hardest time of my life when my older sister passed away. Since then, I’ve been giving everything I have to help grow as an individual competitor and to help grow the appreciation for the oldest extreme sport. By partnering with Buffalo Riverworks, we are able to provide, by far, one of the best venues and atmosphere for one of the most unique sports and I am honored to be driving that.

Who built that killer chainsaw, can you tell me more about it?

My dad is the brains behind this 290cc Arctic Cat hot saw. Yes, it is built from a snowmobile motor. We had the cylinder cut in half and the crank balanced, other than that, my dad built everything. We have some trial and errors to go through yet before we run with the big dogs. One of the challenges especially for hot saw is making the saw light enough for a woman to run comfortably. We are at 54lbs currently and we are trying to make it even lighter.

We are very proud of “Alley Cat,” and I am proud to be one of the very few women who will be running hot saw. Also, shout out to my dad for channeling his expertise of 2-stroke engines and creating a hot saw, I’m very thankful I get to learn from someone like him.

Random, but – who is your favorite athlete?

Josh Allen – Go Bills!

Matt Cogar – 6x Stihl US Champ

What should an attendee expect to see / experience?

They will have fun, and experience one of the most challenging and oldest extreme sports LIVE. The Lake Effect Lumberjack Classic is a family friendly event.” Several of the competitors you’ll be seeing this weekend you can also watch every Monday evening on CBS Sports until December 20, 2021 as part of the US Stihl Timbersports Series. Come cheer on your favorite athlete.

Who would you like to thank?

I would not be able to run this event without the support of my good friend, Tracy Schmidt, who helps with everything involved. Bernie Schmieder for helping us mill all the wood for our new stage/deck. Thank you to those others who helped mill and cut the deck.

Our sponsors came up big especially after a difficult covid pandemic. We couldn’t have this event without their support. Finally, the volunteers who will be selling merchandise, working on the wood crew and helping keep score, THANK YOU!

Sponsors:

Metallico, Davey Resource Group, The Fish Family, The Murphy’s, New York State Arborist Association, Bradley Tree and Landscaping, LandPro, B & L, The Miller House

2021 Lake Effect Lumberjack Classic

Saturday, September 18, 2021

2pm-6pm

Buffalo Riverworks – 359 Ganson St, Buffalo, NY 14203

You can purchase VIP tickets which include floor level seating and access to an on-rink bar here. 

Blessed Sacrament Church, located at 1029 Delaware Avenue in the Elmwood Village is returning to the scene with the re-announcement of the previously planned 2020 lecture series known as “Church on Fire: Stay With Us!” featuring an expanded format of lectures, concerts, events and services that will provide ten months of programming, appealing to a variety of ages, genders, ethnicities, and spiritualities. The parish is opening its doors to all: long-time parishioners, new parishioners, curious non-parishioners, and community friends and neighbors.

Through parallels made between the literal burning of the Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris in April of 2019 and the metaphorical burning of the Catholic Church amidst sexual abuse scandals since the crisis’ beginning in 2002, event organizers hope that this event will emphasize the Church’s duty of running into the fire as opposed to standing aside as mindless bystanders.

In recognizing their responsibility to those who have suffered through this crisis, and giving their community a place to speak their thoughts, Blessed Sacrament Church began this series pre-pandemic but were forced to cancel the entirety of this event just two weeks in. After over a year, the Church is finally ready to re-kick off this event starting Sunday, September 19, for a Community Welcome Picnic and Bills Tailgate Party! The Parish is inviting parishioners, friends, neighbors and the community to this FREE event at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1029 Delaware Avenue and at 1069 Delaware Avenue, the parking lot of Catholic Academy of West Buffalo.

The celebrations will begin with a specially scheduled 11:00 am Mass followed by the Community Welcome Picnic which will be held in front of the church, on the lawns of the Parish and School at 12:00 pm. Picnic games and activities will be held for children. Free hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers and snack bags will be available. Come 1:00 pm, the Bills vs Dolphins game will stream on a 13’ LED video wall (weather proof). This is a BYOB event: you’re welcome to bring your own beverages, cooler/basket, food and chairs! Good-will donations appreciated. Reservations are required for this FREE event. To make reservations:

1. Scan the QR code used for this event
2. Go to the Parish’s website

Throughout the following months, the lecture series will feature five speakers concluding with Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Sr. Helen Prejean on May 9 (location TBD). Sr. Helen wrote the book Dead Man Walking for which she received the Pulitzer Prize. The book was later made into a film and was nominated for several Oscars. Susan Sarandon won Best Actress for her portrayal of Prejean. Known world-wide for her advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty, Sr. Helen will talk about her newest book, her memoir, River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey.

In concurrence with the lecture series, there will also be a concert series that is seeking to provide faith encouraging performances which will begin December 12th featuring Frank Scinta and Friends for the Advent Candlelight Recital.

The full schedule of lectures and concerts is listed below.

The Catherine M. and Paul W. Beltz Lecture Series

The Laity and Vatican II: “Go Forth and Announce the Gospel of the Lord”
Eileen T. Warner, Director of Parish Engagement and Member Renewal Team
Member: Diocese of Buffalo. Deacon William J. Hynes, Deacon for Blessed Sacrament Church
Sunday, September 26: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Blessed Sacrament Church

St. Francis of Assisi – Then and Today: Rebuild My Church
Rev. Ross Chamberland, O.F.M., Ed.D, Associate VP for Student Affair St. Bonaventure University
Thursday, January 20, 2022: 7:00 p.m.
Blessed Sacrament Church

St. Ignatius of Loyola – Then and Today: Ignatian Spirituality
Rev. Thomas Slon, S.J. Rector of the Jesuit Community of Buffalo
Thursday, February 24, 2022: 7:00 p.m.
Blessed Sacrament Church

Women in a Wounded Church
Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., STD President Emeritus of St. Bonaventure University
Sunday, March 20, 2022: 3:00 p.m.
Blessed Sacrament Church

River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey
Sr. Helen Prejean, C.S.J. Member of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph, Author and Social Advocate, Nobel Peace Prize nominee
Monday, May 9, 2022: 7:00 p.m.
Location To be Announced

The Deborah A. and Louis J. Cercone CONCERT SERIES

Advent Candlelight Recital
Frank Scinta and Friends
Sunday, December 12, 2021: 7:00 pm
Blessed Sacrament Church

The Seven Last Words of Christ
Ars Nova Musicians, Chamber Orchestra, Donna Lorenzo, Director
Sunday, April 3, 2022: 3:00 pm
Blessed Sacrament Church

Contemporary Voices : A Benefit Concert for Blessed Sacrament Church
Vocális Chamber Choir, James Burritt, Director
Sunday, June 12, 2022: 4:00 pm
Blessed Sacrament Church

*In addition, the church is also offering a number of education programs, spiritual services and service opportunities. To stay up-to-date, visit their website*

After a highly successful series of outdoor Bills-viewing block parties (coined “Playoffs On The Patios”) on Chippewa last NFL season, the decision has been made to do it again.

Chippewa businesses are working with the City of Buffalo to produce these once-a-month, game day viewing parties for a number of regular season Bills away games:

• Sunday, Sept 19^th VS Miami • Gates open 11:30am
• Sunday, Oct 10^th VS Kansas City • Gates open at 4pm
• Sunday, Nov 14^th VS New York Jets • Gates open at 11:30am
• Sunday, Dec 26^th  VS New England • Gates open at 11:30am

“Last year’s Playoffs On The Patios was a huge Success,” said Chris Ring, partner at Rec Room. “Hundreds of people came to Chippewa for a great game day experience. Now that everyone on the block has reopened we wanted to create some opportunities that can give all the businesses down here a little extra boost in business after being closed for so long and we couldn’t think of a better way to that off then by hosting these Bills Block parties.”

Business owners participating in the outdoor event series are Soho, 67 West, Rec Room, Local Kitchen & Bar, Buffalo Taphouse, and Bottoms UP. The owners decided that it was prudent to form a new event company – Chippewa Events Inc. – that will make it easier to host multiple collaborative functions throughout the year. 

Each game will feature 2 massive 15 foot LED video walls, live game sound, a DJ during commercial breaks, a halftime show, and great food and drink specials from Labatt, Redbull, and Bocce Pizza.

“Last season’s ‘Play-Offs on the Patio’ on Chippewa Street was a big hit with Bills fans and great for the businesses along Chippewa Street, so my Administration worked with the Chippewa Events, Inc. to approve special event permits for a series of four Buffalo Bills Block Parties,” Mayor Brown said.

“This is a terrific way to give fans a game day experience while giving a boost to our downtown businesses, and we’re hoping we will need to add additional block parties in January for the play-offs, added Brown.”

“Chippewa Events Inc. applied for a special events permit and went through our standard permitting process. They had great success last year with their outdoor street patios previously approved through the Small Business Social Distancing initiative and wanted to keep that concept going and incorporate it into a block party/special event,” said Danielle Rizzo, the City’s Special Events Coordinator.

For those that prefer to watch the games indoors, there is an option to go inside any and all of the participating bars for additional food and drink specials from Labatt, Patron, Crown Royal, Tanqueray and Red Bull. 

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Admission to the Block Parties is limited to those that are 21+ and is $10 for standing room/general admission ticktets or you can reserve a VIP table for $250 (which includes your entry fee) and can seat up-to 10 people per table.  There is no charge to go inside any of the bars and restaurants. 

Tickets are required for the parties and attendees must be at least 21 years old.

For tickets and more info you can visit Ticketweb.com.

Buffalo, for the score… and the win!

That’s exactly how I felt upon walking into Braymiller Market, which opened at noon on Wednesday. It was owner/operator Stuart Green who offered to show me around the impressive market, starting with the upstairs dining area (set up for an employee seminar during my visit).

It was easy to see that Green was not fooling around with his market, or skimping any corners. He pointed out all of the custom woodwork that supermarkets would have skimped on. Green mentioned that not only was all of the wood sourced locally, the artisan that handcrafted all of it – Chip Spitler – was also local. From the live edge staircase to the pine timbers (with wood pegs), the cherry floor, and the sycamore slab tables and counters, Green noted that the market is different than anything else customers will find in WNY.

The attention to detail transcends every aspect of the market. Green made sure that he supported local artisans, while at the same time aligned with local small businesses. Over and over, aisle by aisle, he pointed at products, as he talked about the quality of the food and his relationship with the makers. Whether it’s their famed rotisserie salad, the kettle corn, the case filled with Schneider’s Seafood and JHDodman cuts of meat, Gondola pasta, Perry’s ice cream, Keeping Traditions pierogi, Elmhurst plant-based milk, Sahlen’s hot dogs, Bison chip dip (the list goes on and on), Green’s commitment to keeping money flowing in the WNY economy is impressive.

“We treat them fairly, and in return we expect that they will do the same with us,” explained Green. “When I ask a wholesaler to give us the same prices as the bigger guys, some of them say they can’t. So I tell them to come back when they can. I’m not going to pass along more expensive goods to my customers, while I know that that money is helping the wholesaler to offset the prices that they are losing at bigger markets. It’s all about being fair. In the end, we treat the wholesalers with respect. We take pride in featuring their products and their labels. Eventually they realize that and want to work with us. 78% of our products are sourced regionally at the moment. We’re 75% stocked – we’re filling the shelves throughout the day, starting with the baked breads in the morning. Customers will actually see people working as they are shopping, because they won’t be working the typical overnight shifts – it’s important to get the products onto the shelves as they are made. There’s nothing better than smelling the bread as it’s being baked and rolled out onto the floor.”

Another way that Green can keep the prices down is by offering wholesale products to local restaurants. That will be a huge part of the formula. In order to do that, a significant section of the building is dedicated to a series of walk-in coolers, refrigerators, and freezers. It’s something that supermarkets can’t do – it means that the produce, meats, etc., will stay as fresh as humanly possible, whether it’s for a restaurant or someone shopping in the market. It’s a huge advantage actually – the produce can be stored in the 55 degree walk-in warehouse, while other products can be stored in the 37 degree walk-in fridge, or the minus-11 degree walk-in freezer.

Aside from the local artisans and products, Green is happy to say that 81% of his employees live in the city of Buffalo. It’s a commitment that he made to Mayor Brown early on.

“Everyone wants to work here,” said Green. “We have had 270 applicants. We are creating a nice and welcoming work environment for employees who are taking pride in the market. We try to be as sustainable as possible too. The stain used for the wood is not derived from chemicals… and we are a zero landfill business. We recycle, compost (with Farmer Pirates), and store waste oil for pickup by Buffalo Biodiesel. All of our departments work together to make sure that everything is used, so that nothing goes to waste. Everything that we are doing here is to create an environment that is healthy for the workers, the planet, the small businesses… we do this because we can – it’s what makes us different. Customers notice this, which is why they will want to shop here and support us.”

Honestly, I don’t think that Braymillers is going to have a problem mustering support. The market is a breath of fresh air in Downtown Buffalo. Being in the business for so long, Green was able to design “the optimal market.” He took a look at other markets around the world to glean valuable takeaways. It’s plain to see – the place is gorgeous, with nice wide isles, super organizes shelves and cases, non-abrasive LED lighting, sensational organic wood design accents, and some of the freshest produce around. Not to mention the prepared items that are perfect for taking back to the office, or back home. Then there are the soups, the gourmet sandwiches, the subs, the salads, the pitas, deli salads, deli meats, and the pizzas. As we toured the impressive kitchen, Green asked one of the employees to whip up a pizza. Incredibly, it took just two minutes to cook to perfection, thanks to the dual-stacked TurboChef oven. The cooking gadgets in the kitchen are beyond impressive.

As for the in-house dining aspect at Braymiller, there is seating for 36 customers upstairs and 12 customers downstairs. Green believes that the eat-in business will be brisk. He’s planning on selling a lot of custom made gourmet sandwiches and subs. He’s also banking on preparing 600 rotisserie chickens a week. The two soft serve custard machines are still being set up, but once they are, Green feels that they will be a big hit during the warmer months. To that end, there are two service windows, so that customers can be served right out on the sidewalk. A series of garage doors will be opened on select days, when there are festivals or pop-up markets outside. Otherwise, the doors will be kept closed to keep the air conditioning at a comfortable level.

During the tour, we bumped into Paul Ciminelli (Ciminelli Real Estate), the developer of the project that includes 201 Ellicott (next door). Ciminelli said that the only way that the market project would have worked was to get someone who was local to commit to the undertaking. Ciminelli had been traveling the country studying various successful markets, and when he and Green first came together to discuss the opportunity, he knew right away that it was the perfect fit. A lot of naysayers have spouted off about how a market of this nature would not work in downtown Buffalo. I feel that Braymiller will be a huge success story that will set the tone for what we can do within the city’s core. Not to mention the entire mobility hub concept that is being baked into the development. 

This Braymiller location is also ‘mother-in-law approved.’

“I’m a longtime Braymiller fan, often driving from the city to Hamburg to shop for fresh, local food and other seasonal items,” said Linda Schineller, my mother-in-law who accompanied me on my tour. “The new city location will allow me to enjoy that ‘country’ experience in the city on a more frequent basis. The beautifully designed building adds a welcome dimension to downtown life. An authentic market, rather than a supermarket, it tantalizes with an assortment of affordable choices — from produce to poultry, prepared foods and much more, while its sights and smells fill the senses. Whether shopping for the week or for a lunch hour, this urban market is warm and welcoming and sure to keep us coming back for an earthy and unpretentious shopping experience.”

Ciminelli, ARC Building Partners, Cannon Design, Green, the Braymiller team, and all of the rest of the design, development, and operational partners have done a splendid job with this fresh Buffalo offering. But don’t take my word for it. Go see for yourself – I think that everyone is going to be blown away by what they come across. This is a huge win for Buffalo – a real gamechanger.

“It’s a big city feel with a little Braymiller inside,” Green and Ciminelli agreed.

And so do I.

Thankfully everyone involved took a chance on Buffalo – a decision that is bound to pay off as the rest of the city continues to grow around this “little market that could.”

As the warm weather of summer wanes into the crisp weather of autumn, there are certain traditions that we all anticipate: the kids go back to school, The Bills start playing, we break out our favorite hoodie to wear, and get ready for Halloween.

Personally, I love the cooler weather. One tradition that we have started a couple years ago is a visit to The Great Pumpkin Farm. Celebrating their 26th year and opening September 18 and running through October 31st, The Great Pumpkin Farm has everything you need to celebrate your love of autumn and Halloween.

The Great Pumpkin Farm offers a HUGE variety of pumpkins to suit all of your fall needs. Whether you are looking for a pumpkin to carve, pie pumpkins or decorative pumpkins and gourds, you’ll find everything you need to celebrate the fall and Halloween! In addition to the HUGE variety of pumpkins you can get a lot of decorative items including corn stalks, hay bales, Indian corn and mums.

2020 Pricing:

• PUMPKINS – $.50 lb
• PIE PUMPKINS – Orange or White – $.60 lb / Minimum $1.00 each
• LG GOURDS, DECORATIVE & WHITE Pumpkins – $.60 lb
• Small GOURDS – 2 for $1.00
• CORN STALKS – $5.00 each
• HAY BALES – $8.50 each
• INDIAN CORN – $6.00 each
• MUMS – $7.99 each OR 4 for $30.00
• PUMPKINS – MINI – $1.00 each
• PUMPKINS – DECORATED Small – $4.25 each
• PUMPKINS – PAINTED Characters – $7.50 each

Tickets can be purchased online or in person. Weekdays offer free admission, except for Columbus Day and no ticket is necessary. Admission prices on weekends and Columbus Day are $12/person, $10 senior admission for 65 and over. Children 2 and under are free. Admission tickets include over $25 in free attractions, contests, entertainment and discounted coupons on other attractions.

Fun For The Whole Family

In addition to huge variety of pumpkins of all sizes, The Great Pumpkin Farm offers a bevy of activities for every age.

5 Acre Corn Maze – Every year The Great Pumpkin Farm creates a new corn maze that you can have fun getting lost in, while solving an exciting mystery! Monsters have taken Boots the dog and its your job to make your way through the maze and find out where the monsters have taken him.  This year’s design is a celebration of the Buffalo Bills. Admission is $8/person.

Zombie Paint Ball Train – Take ride through the woods as you use paintball guns to fend off a zombie invasion from taking over The Great Pumpkin Farm. Tickets are $9/per person, but you can save $1 with your admission ticket!

Jumping Pillows – Every weekend, you can get some great exercise and have a load of fun on their Jumping Pillows. There are 2 pillows to chose from, one for children and one for adults. The price is $6/person; save $1 with a coupon from your admission.

Apple Cannons – Have fun shooting at a variety of targets with their new apple cannons. Available on weekends, you get 4 shots for $6 or 10 shots for $11, saving $1 with your paid admission.

Panning for Gems – Every weekend, kids and adults alike can have fun panning for gems. It’s a great hands on activity that will not only be fun but educational! For $7 you get a bag of rough mix that you will pan as you look for some real gemstones; $1 off with your paid admission.

Boo Barn – Experience the thrills and chills of the newly expanded and updated Boo Barn! In addition, to haunted barn, you can experience a little vertigo as you traverse the Vortex Tunnel. Open every weekend, admission is $5/person, children under 2 are free and entry is FREE with your paid admission!

Tractor Drawn Hayride – Enjoy the crisp, fall air as you relax on a fun hayride through their enchanted forest. You get 1 free tractor ride with your paid admission!

In addition to these fun activities, there’s also a shooting gallery, petting zoo, children’s craft area, hay maze, playground, cow train, pumpkin cannon and midway attractions.

No visit to The Great Pumpkin Farm is complete without a visit The Pumpkin Palace! Inside you’ll find a Halloween Store, which has hundreds of handcrafted Halloween decorations, the Witches Brew Bar  & Cafe, serving a variety of draft and craft beer, wine, and specialty Halloween drinks, and the Bakery and Candy Store, which offers a variety of freshly baked pies, using seasonal fruit picked at their peak that are a great treat to enjoy when you get home or freeze and save for the upcoming holiday season!

As you explore The Great Pumpkin Farm don’t forget to grab some donuts and cider. The donuts are freshly made and delicious! There’s also adult and kids pie eating contests every weekend!

Festival Weekends

Every weekend, The Great Pumpkin Farm hosts a different festival, which guarantees to be fun for all ages.

Festival Weekend 1 – September 18 & 19
Opening weekend is Armed Forces Weekend. Honoring all those who serve in the military, police and fire fighters, you and one guest can enjoy free admission with Proper ID. In addition, on Saturday at 1pm the World Pumpkin Pie Eating Competition will take place! Watch as professional eaters try for a new world record eating pumpkin pie. Last year’s world record was 50 pieces in 10 minutes! The corn maze will have dinosaurs in it as well. Witches Brew Bar & Cafe will feature happy hour bands.

Festival Weekend 2 – September 25 & 26
This weekend will feature BBQ and Live music. This weekend Zombies will stalk the corn maze. All your favorite things to do will be available including the Corn maze, Boo Barn, Amusement Rides, I Got It Game, Cow Train, Jumping Pillows, Magic Show, Halloween Store, Bakery, Cider & Donuts and much more…and plenty of great food! With 2 locations now on the grounds you can enjoy craft beer and specialty Halloween drinks at The Witches Brew!

Festival Weekend 3 – October 2 & 3
The eyes of the World will be on Clarence Saturday, October 2nd as growers worldwide await news on the Great Pumpkin Farms 26th annual World Pumpkin Weigh-Off. The winners will be announced and cash prizes will be awarded to the growers who bring the largest Pumpkins to the Great Pumpkin Farm Weigh-Off. They will pay $5,000 for a world record pumpkin that is brought here for the Weigh-Off!! The Great Pumpkin Farm had the first 1000lb pumpkin right here at the 1996 Great Pumpkin Farm Fall Festival – 1,061 pounds and it went right into the Guinness Book of World records. 26 years later we have had lots more 1,000 pound pumpkins here and at other locations around the world, some over 2,000 pounds. Who knows, this might be the year that we have another world record.

Festival Weekend 4 – October 9, 10 & 11
This weekend features the Pumpkin Olympics and annual Pumpkin Drop. Running all weekend, kids and families will have a great time joining in on the fun at the Pumpkin Farm Olympic Games including Pumpkin relay, Pumpkin Guts, Pumpkin Dash, Skeleton Hunt & More. 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Olympic style medals awarded! Be sure not to miss the annual pumpkin drop on Monday, Columbus Day! Watch a 1000lb drop from 100 ft in the air … OR … be one of 97 entries to win prizes by signing up at www.97Rock.com!

Festival Weekend 5 – October 16 & 17
This weekend features the annual Trebuchet Competition. Watch as local high school technology teams compete with their life size catapults for cash prizes and trophies! Contest starts at 10am on October 17. Deadline to sign up is October 1st. If you want to sign up, check out the rules and sign-up info here.

Festival Weekend 6 – October 23 & 24
Zombies will be roaming the corn maze from Noon to 4pm. All your favorite things to do will be available including the Corn maze, Boo Barn, Amusement Rides, I Got It Game, Cow Train, Jumping Pillows, Magic Show, Halloween Store, Bakery, Cider & Donuts and much more…and plenty of great food! With 2 locations now on the grounds you can enjoy craft beer and specialty Halloween drinks at The Witches Brew!

Festival Weekend 7 – October 30 & 31
Come to the festival in your Halloween costume and enter in their costume contest! Prize $ for Costume contest both days. Children’s contest at 1:30 & Adults @4:00. This is the last weekend so be sure to come out and enjoy the fall festivities! There will still be a HUGE selection of pumpkins to choose from.

The Great Pumpkin Farm opens Saturday, September 18 and will be open through October 31. They are open daily from 10am until dusk. Be sure to visit The Great Pumpkin Farm this fall.  Each weekend offers something fun and different. Its a great way for families of all sizes and ages to make some lasting memories and enjoy everything The Great Pumpkin Farm has to offer!

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It’s the time of year for chocolate. It’s always the time of year for chocolate, for that matter. If you’re like me, then you relish any occasion that swirls around chocolate-laden treats. Fortunately, in Buffalo, there is an event that comes around once a year that spotlights some fantastic chocolate goodies, and the chocolatiers that make it all possible…

“… and make the world taste good.”

On Thursday, September 16, from 5:00 to 8:00pm, Family Promise of WNY will host the Sixth Annual Choctoberfest at Flying Bison Brewing Co. located at 840 Seneca Street. The indoor/outdoor event will benefit Family Promise of WNY – a community organization providing emergency shelter and support to families experiencing homelessness.

Tickets include:

• A local chocolate charcuterie board courtesy of Park Edge Sweet Shoppe
• A limited-edition Friar Jud Brown Robe ale
• A meal from Coyote Café food truck
• Live music from Dana Manzella
• A chance to play the Willy Wonka raffle and win one of over 50+ bottles of liquor, wine and beer 

“After the COVID pandemic forced us to cancel all our fundraisers last year, we are thrilled to be hosting our 6th annual Choctoberfest at Flying Bison this Thursday!  It looks like it will be a beautiful day for an indoor/outdoor celebration.  We are also so excited to be partnering with our local chocolatier, Park Edge Sweet Shoppe – can’t wait to see their giant chocolate charcuterie board!” – The organizers

Tickets are $35 pre-sale, $40 at the door.

Today marks the official opening of Blossom Buffalo boutique, located at 320 Grote Street inside The Button Factory. This multiverse experiential undertaking is also home to Buffalo’s first and only “augmented art gallery.”

The concept of creating the augmented art gallery was dreamed up by one of Buffalo’s most culturally enterprising minds, artist Mark Madden. Throughout the pandemic, Madden had been playing around with the potential of augmenting art, from framed works to murals.

Alongside Blossom Buffalo, Madden is launching this augmented experiences via an inaugural opening titled “Down The Rabbit Hole Augmented Art Experience.”

On Wednesday September 15, between the hours of 6 and 10pm, the public is invited to stop over to The Blossom Buffalo Boutique, to learn more about the potential of augmented art, and to try out the technology firsthand.

“Some of the creators you can look forward to seeing include Laurie Trueheart, a master carver in both the US and Canada,” said Madden. “Laurie has provided seminars and workshops across the US, and was even a judge in the Ward World Carving Competition in Ocean City, MD. Other artists to look forward to include Brock Rutherford, a visionary artist along the festival circuit. Z-land, a next generation visionary artist and character creator who brings a traditional technique to modern technology. And last but certainly not least, Alisha Lezama from Kaleyedascopize Arts and host of Puff n’ Paint at Blossom Buffalo.”

The works of Mark Madden will also be featured at the opening, of course.

Aside from some amazing augmented art, guests can enjoy some grilled cheese, and even infused snacks such as cookies and rice crispy treats.

Up to 12 people at a time will be able to tour the gallery. Those waiting their turn can enjoy outside smoking tents, grab a bite to eat, and even participate for door prizes and giveaways.

*Attendees should be sure to download the “Artivive” app in order to gain access to the augments provided by the gallery. The app is completely free and easy to use. 

Facebook event page

THE BASICS:  FROM HONKY TONK TO PROTEST: A WOMAN’S VIEW OF COUNTRY MUSIC runs through October 3, 2021 at the D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre 320 Porter Avenue (on the D’Youville College campus).  Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.  Tickets are $45 (call 716-829-7668 or visit kavinokytheatre.com).  Proof of vaccination or negative test within 48 hours required.  Masks must be worn regardless of vaccination status.  Snack bar and a full cocktail menu including spirits, wine & beer.  No programs handed out. Click here for playbill.  Runtime:  a little over 2 hours with one intermission.

THUMBNAIL SKETCH:  This is an original musical revue written by Kavinoky Artistic Director Loraine O’Donnell about the true stories and struggles of female country artists and how the women in country music have been more progressive than she (or most people who say “I don’t like Country Music”) thought or still think.

Nine musician/singers take turns covering 25 songs, including such pokes-in-the-eye as “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,” “The Pill,” “Harper Valley PTA,” and in the second act a number of topical or protest songs about the invasion of Iraq, racism, police violence, intolerance, and other ills which continue to bedevil us as a nation.  The arc of the musical truly is, as the title says, “from honky tonk to protest.”

THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION:  Narrated by O’Donnell who also sings several of the selections, the show begins as she explains on stage that growing up in Boonville, NY near the Adirondack Mountains she wanted nothing to do with country music as she saw it.  But driving back home to be with her father in his final months she discovered a vein of sass and protest on the part of women country artists that aligned with her core values.  She was hooked.

In her “Note From The Playwright” O’Donnell writes: “The show you are seeing is the result of my discoveries I found going home again, rediscovering the music of my childhood and facing the biases I have had throughout my life-not just about country music, but about the culture surrounding that music and my childhood hometown.”

So if you, dear reader of this review, have also had a bias and refused to listen to Country Music, it turns out that for decades women of Country Music have been sick and tired of not being listened to as a gender.  Not heard.  Not necessarily by you who turned off that radio dial, but by society at large.  And every once in a while, women in Country Music said “enough is enough.”  For example, in direct response to a popular song by Hank Thompson complaining about women’s behavior in his song “The Wild Side of Life,” Kitty Wells shot back in 1952 with “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels”

“It’s a shame that all the blame is on us women / It’s not true that only you men feel the same / From the start most every heart that’s ever broken / Was because there always was a man to blame.”  Maybe you weren’t listening, but millions of women were.  And that’s just the opening song of the show.

In addition to all the other problems plaguing us today, our political divisiveness is killing us, literally.  So the question is, how do we get back together?  The answers vary, but always come back to fixing our own individual biases first, not casting people with different points of view as “the other,” and one way to do that is to see others (and “other” genres of music) as more complex.

A recent NPR piece offered that one reason families are being torn apart is because “We’re flattening people out in terms of our view of them and we’re not really seeing the full complexity of people on the other side.”  This idea has been explored by the American Psychological Association here as well as The Scientific American here and it’s being explored right now on stage at the Kavinoky.  There is a complexity to Country Music that’s worth learning about.

So it turns out that this two-act review was much, much more than I anticipated.  Not only in terms of overall message, but in the delivery. Simply put, the band was kick-ass (“heavy-hitters” to use O’Donnell’s language) and the arrangements were very true to the originals.  I was impressed with the variety of instruments on stage and the way in which they were deployed.

The rhythm section was spot on, with Charlie Gannon on Bass and Electric Guitar, plus Elton Hough on Drums and John Martz on Lap Steel Guitar, Banjo, and Dobro plus Music Director Dee Adams who played Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, and, if that weren’t enough, was also a Vocalist.  Helen Butler-Ceppaglia was on a five-string electric Violin as well as Accordion; Kathryn Koch was a Vocalist who also played Acoustic Guitar and Harmonica; and Renee Landrigan sang, and played Keyboards and Melodica.  All the above are members of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 92.  Joining them on stage were Annette Daniels Taylor, Vocalist, and Loraine O’Donnell as Vocalist/Narrator.

I was particularly impressed by the five singers – Adams, Koch, Landrigan, Taylor, and O’Donnell.  Fine voices as soloists, good homages to the original artists, and excellent close harmony in both choral as well as “back up singers.”  And with each song came a different singer or singers and a different musical accompaniment.  As we say about the weather in Buffalo, if what’s happening at the moment isn’t your cup of tea, just wait five minutes.  Or variety is the spice of life.  Or something like that.  Anyway, you get a lot for your $45 ticket.

The show also had a “secret weapon” and that was Director and Choreographer Lynne Kurdziel Formato who knows how to do musicals.  Ever since Disney put her on their approved director list a few years ago, she’s been off working in Europe and South America.  Good for them, bad for us.  And then came the pandemic.  Thud.  Bad for them, good for us.  So while things are picking up again for Formato’s international career, the Kavinoky was able to grab this hometown hero for one additional gig.

In addition to the director, another key person in every musical is Musical Director, keeping the band tight, and, as mentioned above, that was Dee Adams who also took a few turns as vocalist and many as backup singer.  During the entire show, there were projections along the back wall using the Kav’s new system.  Sometimes they were scenes from Boonville, NY and sometimes shots of actual stars and a lot of the time a trio of interpretive dancers: Aurora Hastings, Christina Tribo, Evan Mathew Stuart.  Video Design was by Brian Milbrand and Sound Design by Geoffrey Tocin.

Lighting Design was by Brian Cavanagh; Costumes were by Andrea Letcher, most of the time variations of 1950s country singer fringed outfits, but every once in a while a knockout fashion statement.

I’m not thrilled that most theaters no longer hand out printed programs so let me encourage you to download this playbill to read the notes and check out the song list.

Not only was the show a hit, but the new seats and improved sightlines were appreciated and the sound was excellent.  As they might have said on “Hee-Haw” about the Kavinoky space, “the old gal was all gussied up.”

If you’re interested in Country Music, know that WNED-PBS in Buffalo is rolling out a repeat of Ken Burns’ multi-episode series KEN BURNS: COUNTRY MUSIC at 12:00 a.m. on Mondays.  So set your DVRs! Or (since/if) you’re a member of WNY Public Broadcasting (radio or television) you have access to “Passport” for anytime viewing of the large Ken Burns catalog.

Images Courtesy D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre

WHAT’S NEXT AT THE KAV

THE WOMAN IN BLACK, Oct. 29-Nov. 21: In one of London’s longest-running West End plays, a woman dressed in black haunts a city with tragic results.

THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT, Jan. 7-30: A famed essayist is put to the test in this topical comedy when a fact-checker finds most of a groundbreaking story is fabricated.

PRIDE & PREJUDICE, March 4 to 27: Compressing the iconic novel by Jane Austen into a two-act play, Kate Hamill breathes new life into the classic will they or won’t they love story.

PEOPLE, PLACES, & THINGS, April 29 to May 22: This dramatic play gives audiences a look at addiction and recovery from the inside, following Emma’s 12-step journey.

*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)

ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.

TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.

THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.

FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.

FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!