Category: PostEvents

The Rose Garden Early Childhood Center opened on Lafayette Avenue in the old Annunciation School building in September 2009. It was during an economic downturn, but childcare is a necessary business regardless of the state of the economy. According to a Cornell Study published in 2008, quality childcare located in dense areas near homes and places of employment was linked to economic renewal in Buffalo.

Although it was an autumn start-up, it was like springtime, a time of rebirth of a once vacant building and economic growth in Buffalo. The Rose Garden Early Childhood Center spent seasons refining the model and hosting teacher trainings and parent education programs while serving young families. The rooms filled and the model was implemented, elevating the work of early childhood education.

Children grew in the play-based program with a lot of outdoor time, healthy food, and respect for their development. In the loose parts playground, there were stumps and logs, sand and dirt, a playhouse with a green roof – enough to nurture the bodies and imaginations of the children. They learned to cooperate while playing together. It was a period of summertime for the Rose Garden.

In 2018, the business structure changed when the founder (which happened to be me) retired and sold the business to the employees. The worker-cooperative model aligned with the Early Childhood model called LifeWays based on children learning through imitation. Adult cooperative in the business realm added another layer of modeling ideals. There were trainings in worker-cooperatives and the business became a hybrid cooperative with both worker-owners and workers.

While in that period of transition, the pandemic hit and brought with it more regulations and procedures to an already labor-intensive industry. There were staff and children out sick or quarantining due to exposure. When there was not enough staff or a covid case within a group, there were times when rooms had to close creating a loss of income for the center, and  challenges for parents and children. 

In an industry where there was already a gap between income and what it costs to run a center, the gap widened. Traditionally, the work of caregiving is feminine work which has been undervalued. The Rose Garden was struggling to elevate it by encouraging employees to become owners. 

During the pandemic, one of every three childcare centers in the United States closed and parents who were working from home had to also care for their children. Childcare centers including the Rose Garden Early Childhood Center struggled to keep trained employees. It was a time of Autumn at the Rose Garden Early Childhood Center beginning in March 2020. 

They had to let go of the vision they held of a worker-cooperative where children, parents and staffs’ needs were met. With teachers and children in quarantine and rooms closing, a threadbare budget developed holes and became unsustainable. Rather than abandon the model, trainings and ideals, the Rose Garden chose to close in March 2022.

Through our passionate teachers and families, utilizing the LifeWays Model, and running as a co-op, The Rose Garden is a place for a child to grow in community.

Teacher Shea Akers

They entered a time of dormancy or winter at the Rose Garden. By suspending operations, they were able to deep clean and to excavate the operational systems to find out what worked and what they could change. By renewing their commitment to the early childhood model as well as the worker-cooperative model, they reimagined the business and created a plan.

In August 2022, they raised salaries, rehired, and trained staff who spent one week in Milwaukee and two weeks on site learning the philosophy and practices of the model. In September 2022, they reopened with one toddler and one preschool room. Employees are embracing the worker-cooperative model and are in the process of onboarding. 

In December 2022, when they add another room, they will hire and train more teachers. When they are ready, they will add a fourth room in the spring to serve more families. 

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing the Director, Shea Akers, in the community room. I heard sounds of children playing and smelled lunch cooking while enjoying a cup of tea and conversation. I saw a chart on the wall of tasks chosen by staff to tend common areas.

All signs of a strong recovery. It felt like a period of growth and renewal at the Rose Garden Early Childhood Center, like springtime in autumn. 

Visit www.therosegarden.us for more information or email hello@therosegarden.us to schedule a tour.

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43North – a business start-up accelerator program – has announced the winners of this year’s competition. Out of 700 start-ups competing, 5 winners were selected. Each innovative tech company has been awarded a $1,000,000 investment, as well as a suite of services including access to mentors, potential customers, business incentive programs, and 43North’s network of over 900 investors. In return, the companies will be relocating to Buffalo, where they will be headquartered at Seneca One Tower. As an added bonus, the companies will each be given one year of free space in the building’s innovative and collaborative Tech Hub.

Thursday evening, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the winners of the eighth annual 43North Finals, at an event held at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo. 

“New York has become a model for fostering innovative economic growth and job creation, and programs like 43North provide essential investment and support to the breakthrough companies of tomorrow,” said Governor Hochul. “I congratulate the five winning companies for capturing this unique opportunity and look forward to seeing them move to Buffalo, hire staff, raise private capital, and invest in property and equipment. Their work will add to a region that is fast becoming an entrepreneurial powerhouse.”   

The Winners of the 2022 43North Competition are:

Agape Wellness – Rochester, NY

Agape is a relationship wellness company that uses personalized questions to spark meaningful conversations.

AMPAworks – Santa Monica, CA

AMPAworks is a camera that uses computer vision A.I. in order to have full inventory visibility in pharmacies, medical device companies, surgery centers, clinics, and hospitals.

Mod Tech Labs – Austin, TX

MOD helps enterprise companies create universal 3D content at scale by digitizing the real world using photos.

Otrafy – Chicago, IL

Otrafy is an AI-powered SaaS supplier management platform with the ability to automate compliance and identify risks.

Phood – New York, NY

Phood integrates with universities’ card services to create a connection between students’ flex dollar accounts and the gig economy. 

43North’s winners were selected by the following Finals Judges:   

Mac Conwell II, Founder and Managing Partner, RareBreed Ventures   Sara Garson, Managing Director, Madison 25 and Co-founder and COO, Coterie   Gary Ginsberg, Author, First Friends, Buffalo native, experienced LP in NY funds   Taryn Jones Laében, President and Founder, IRL Ventures    Ben Lerer, Managing Partner, Lerer Hippeau   

“Every year, we are humbled by the talent, drive, and innovation of the entrepreneurs that come to our city to compete for a spot in the 43North portfolio,” said 43North Chairman Mike Wisler. “We are excited to welcome these new leaders to Buffalo and support them in achieving their entrepreneurial goals while building and scaling in our city.”    

43North President Colleen Heidinger said, “The word is out about Buffalo as a place to establish your business: We received over double the number of entries this year for this competition and we’re all witnessing firsthand the successes of the 43North portfolio. In turn, these high-growth companies are bringing new opportunities to our region for everyone. We’re excited to share this journey with our year 8 cohort and welcome them to the Buffalo community.” 

“ESD is very proud of the founding role it played since 43North’s inception,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said. “We knew there was a burgeoning community of entrepreneurs who dreamed of future success, but needed help to make it a reality. ESD’s funding has played a critical role lifting Buffalo’s national reputation as a hub for high-tech innovation by investing in 43North and every company that has won our startup competition.” 

The 43North competition is part of New York State’s Buffalo Billion initiative with funding supported by the New York Power Authority. Over the past seven years, 43North has invested in a diverse, industry agnostic portfolio of 59 companies, 44% of which have founders of color and 28% having female founders. Earlier this year, 43North reported that its portfolio companies had collectively created more than 1,000 jobs in Western New York. Over 60% of 43North’s portfolio maintains a material presence in Buffalo.    

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Lancaster Square, the former Gates Circle Hospital site, is getting a substantial addition.  TM Montante Development is proposing redevelopment of the southernmost portion of the Buffalo Homeopathic Hospital (HHC) structure that includes a seven-story addition that includes apartments and retail space.  TM Montante’s latest project on the campus is south of the 80-unit affordable housing component that Belmont Housing is undertaking in the Buffalo Homeopathic Hospital’s three northernmost buildings.

From the application to the Planning Board:

The HHC Project is a mixed-use adaptive reuse of the three southernmost HHC buildings into 143 new residential units and approximately 15,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. The approximately 114,000 square foot project will entail an exterior restoration and interior reconstruction of the 55,000 square feet of existing vacant structures, as well as new construction of a 55,000 square feet addition that is seven stories (83 feet) in height.

The adaptive reuse portion of the HHC Project, as well as floors three through seven in the new addition proposed for the interior of the site will contain market-rate, multifamily housing for lease. Seventy-two new residential units will be located in the existing buildings, while 71 new residential units will be located in the addition. These new apartments will be a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units.

Building amenities for the residential tenants will include a community room with a co[1]working and event space, kitchen area, bathrooms, and indoor bike storage /repair area. Residential tenants will also be able to purchase memberships for access to the commercial gym that will be located in the building. The first two floors of the new addition will contain approximately 15,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. The target market for the retail space on the ground floor will be retail and restaurant users. The retail spaces will comply with those thresholds included in the SEQR EIS and PUD governing development of the MFG Hospital site. They will serve residents and tenants of Lancaster Square as well as the surrounding neighborhood. The Developer has also proposed activating the central square through installation of outdoor seating areas for use by the retail tenants. The target market for the commercial space on the second floor will be professional office users.

Montante has sold portions of the Gates site to Canterbury Woods and People Inc. for development of market rate and affordable senior housing projects. The developer has most recently completed an adaptive reuse of the 50,000 square foot 1275 Delaware building into a mix of apartments and commercial space, as well as a renovation of the 750-space Lancaster Square Parking Ramp, which will provide parking for tenants and visitors to the Lancaster Square site.

The HHC project, designed by CJS Architects, is expected to cost $30 million and take 18 months to complete.

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$900,00 in funding is being allocated to commercial property owners in on Lovejoy commercial districts, via Buffalo Main Streets Initiative (BMSI). Up to $50,000 will be made available through this matching program, to eligible property owners in East Lovejoy and Kaisertown. The way that it works is that building owners can be reimbursed up to 50-75% of the total project cost for eligible activities, with a maximum $50,000 grant per building. We have seen in the past, just how instrumental these BMSI grants are, via completed projects on Allen Street and Grant Street, among others.

This new BMSI grant initiative (applications now available) was announced in August, by Lovejoy District Council Member Bryan J. Bollman along with Congressman Brian Higgins, State Senator Tim Kennedy, the Governor’s Office, Lovejoy Village Association, True CDC, the Western New York State Empire State Development team, and New York State Homes and Community Renewal team.

“I was beyond excited to announce these funds two months ago and now our community has the opportunity to apply for these grants,” said Lovejoy District Council Member Bryan J. Bollman. “My hope is these funds can transform the Lovejoy District into a more inviting, modern business corridor.” 

Congressman Higgins said, “Enhancements can make a big difference in improving the look and feel of a neighborhood. Through this exciting initiative, the $900,000 investment will be multiplied several times over by matching funds and by inspiring future investment. I commend Councilman Bollman for his leadership on this project and encourage businesses to apply.” 

GRANT FACTS: The BMSI program is intended to revitalize mixed-use commercial districts.  

BMSI is a matching program, where you can be reimbursed up to 50- 75% of the total project cost for eligible activities. (Max $50,000 grant per bldg.) The grant priority is for facade renovations and interior commercial rehabilitation. Upper floor residential renovations will be considered if part of larger project The funds are reimbursed when the project is complete. You must complete and pay for your project in full before reimbursement The grant must be made to a commercial property owner & you will be required to maintain the assisted improvements for (5) years, will execute a Property Maintenance Declaration to formalize this responsibility. Reimbursement can be up to $50,000 for building improvements. If the project includes rehabilitation of residential housing units, an additional $25,000 per unit is available (up to 2 units). The total grant cannot exceed $100,000 per property (for commercial & residential) 

All applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee. East Lovejoy applications will be due November 17th and Kaisertown applications will be due November 18th. Awards will be made by Mid-December and projects must be completed by June 2024. For any questions, please contact Alma Brown, grant administrator at hrllcab@gmail.com. Please find applications below.

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The annual East Side Community-Based Real Estate Development Training (CBREDT) program provides training, development, and funding opportunities to people who might not otherwise be passed by. This essential program is “designed to build a community of citizen developers on the East Side of Buffalo.” And when you stop to consider where many of the future development opportunities are situated, the East Side is the next frontier for rebuilding communities.

The free 25-week training program is available to East Side building owners and community members who are looking to embark upon commercial and mixed-use real estate development projects. The goal is to spur people on, while fortifying them with the tools that they require to succeed. Those tools include pre-development, construction management, property management, and financing the project from private and public sources. 

CBREDT is part of New York State’s $65 million East Side Corridor Economic Development Fund, funded in collaboration with private and philanthropic organizations who created a pooled $8 million East Side Collaborative Fund. The successes of this initiative are readily evident, as can be witnessed by reading a number of interviews with the graduating class of 2022. Interviews include:

Tony Borden is developing a mixed-use project on East Delevan AvenueDeborah Daniel, who is looking to renovate a storefront on Kensington with a four-bedroom apartment in the upperCharles Foreman owns a number of properties and is considering his next stepsDarold Fountain, wants to develop a mixed-use building at 500 LeroyKatrinna Martin-Bordeaux plans on opening MedSpa (3 locations), along with significant restaurant and retail space, with affordable housingMichael Quinniey, owner of the Broadway TheatreDarren Renford will convert his unsightly car storage lot into self-storage units

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 program. They are due Thursday, November 17, 2022 by 5 p.m. and are available on the East Side Avenues website at www.eastsideavenues.org/CBREDT-2023. There is no cost to apply; accepted students will only be charged a one-time, non-refundable $150 registration fee. Questions regarding this program should be directed to ap-CBREDT@buffalo.edu or (716) 878-2440.

This program will explore potential federal and state funding opportunities for commercial development in Buffalo and, in particular, for the East Side of Buffalo. Namely, Empire State Development (ESD), through the East Side Corridor Economic Development Fund, established a $5 million capital grant program available only to graduates of the program for implementing projects on the East Side of Buffalo. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be invited to apply for the East Side Community-Based Real Estate Development Training Program Capital Fund administered by ESD and its Local Program Administrator (LPA).

Learn more about East Side Avenues at www.eastsideavenues.org

Lead image: Photo of the 2022 class at the first-ever in-person graduation ceremony which took place at the Northland Workforce Training Center this past August.

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A New Community Gathering Space Featuring Custom Furniture Crafted by Buffalo Youth

The Central Terminal Restoration Corp. (CTRC) is preparing to unveil its Seat at the Table project on Tuesday, October 25 (4pm). At that time, a ribbon cutting will be held, as a way to introduce a new community gathering place on the Terminal Great Lawn. The various custom components of Seat at the Table have been made possible thanks in part to youth working with The Foundry’s workforce development program.

Seat at the Table is the culmination of plenty of input from the neighborhood, which has called for places to sit and gather along the sprawling Great Lawn of the Central Terminal. The project consists of two custom, extra-long tables with seating, as well as two additional sculptural seating elements. The endeavor was supported by Project for Public Spaces’ Community Placemaking Grants initiative that provided $40,000 in funding and technical assistance.

“I can’t wait to have a place to stop and sit at the Terminal on my walks around the neighborhood. I’ve lived in Broadway Fillmore for years and it’s really exciting to see the future of the Terminal taking shape,” said resident Richard Palmatier-Maynard.

Seat at the Table is just one component of a broader scope plant to transition the Central Terminal into a Civic Commons, which will help to anchor the neighborhood as a year-round, regional venue for public events and activities. This process begins with activating the Great Lawn, which bridges the neighborhood to the building complex. The Great Lawn will also be a draw for people from all over the region, who will engage with the grounds of the Central Terminal, and the building itself, in ways that they have hoped and imagined for decades.

The custom furniture designs for Seat at the Table were made possible via the nonprofit makerspace The Foundry, and fabricated by young people in their Making + Manufacturing Program, a certification-based workforce development program for ages 18 to 25.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity that FOUNDRYmade has given me. I started this project as a side job while working towards my education with The Foundry and Service Collaborative of WNY, and I’m so thankful for the chance to contribute towards building a piece of Buffalo’s history,” said Sheddrickk Straker, a student currently enrolled in The Foundry’s Making + Manufacturing Program.

Ultimately, the Making + Manufacturing Program is a training program for youth, that provides the education tools that they need to enter into the modern manufacturing workforce. Altogether, twelve students and seven shop supervisors were employed throughout the course of this project… a project that is considered the largest to date for FOUNDRYmade (dedicated to youth ages 16-24).

“Working with The Foundry on our placemaking project was a perfect fit for us. Through FOUNDRYmade we can spend our grant dollars here to bolster the skills of young people in Buffalo while making a fun and unique community space at the Terminal,” said Monica Pellegrino Faix, Executive Director of the CTRC.

The ribbon cutting for the Seat at the Table project will coincide with Matt Urban Center’s Trunk-or-Treat, an annual safe trick-or-treating event for the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood with resources from local organizations.

Get connected:

Community Placemaking Grants

Project for Public Spaces

Central Terminal Restoration Corp.

The Foundry

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National headlines have been celebrating that “New York Football is back!” It is true. The Giants haven’t made the playoffs in six years nor have the Jets in twelve. But, they’ve each risen from the bottom of their respective divisions to secure sole possession of 2nd place and are now breathing down the necks of the Eagles and Bills (whom we’ll get to in a moment). 

The Giants appear to have wholly bought into their new Head Coach and former Bills Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll. Fortunately for the Bills, Daboll’s departure has not been a zero-sum loss as their offense continues to hum without him.

Likewise, 2nd year Head Coach Robert Saleh has the Jets embracing his hard-nosed defensive style, a strong running game, and they may have found their future Quarterback in 2nd-year slinger, Zach Wilson. While they’ve likely earned more of the Bills’ attention, they don’t appear ready to threaten Buffalo’s reign on the AFC East just yet. 

If anyone thinks the Giants or Jets are a fluke, ask Aaron Rodgers whose Packers lost to each in consecutive games. Both teams are clearly improved. Maybe by a lot. It’s reasonable to concede this point during this Week Six snapshot of the 2022 NFL season.

My contention as a Buffalonian lies in the definition of ‘New York Football.’

My contention as a Buffalonian lies in the definition of “New York Football.” While both are surnamed, “New York,” the Jets are headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey and the Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The two teams share Met Life Stadium which is likewise, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With my startup company, I’ve been to both beautiful facilities where the New York City skyline is visible on the horizon, but the state lines determine that the tax revenue they generate is paid to…New Jersey. 

Let’s face it. The term “New York Football” refers to New York City. Most of the national media is located in or near Gotham. The League Office sits at 345 Park Avenue. Employees of both are professionals who draw the line between their fanships of their hometown team and their jobs which require impartiality. But they are human beings too who get a little more excited when their hometown teams are winning.

As a former member of the Bills Front Office for many years, I got to know several executives at the League Headquarters which included visits to their Park Avenue offices. They’d often say, “Hey, should be a good game this weekend between your Bills and my Jets or Giants.” This was speaking from their own personal, not professional, capacities. Never once during my career did I witness the slightest bias toward the New York teams or against the rest of the league when it came to official NFL business, including contract negotiation questions. However, when they took off their suits and ties on Friday evenings, they threw on their Jets or Giants jerseys to mow their lawns on Saturday (well, they don’t really have lawns, but you know what I mean).

For the record, I love NYC…at least to visit. Growing up with family in River Vale, New Jersey, I cherished attending Yankees and Knicks games. Later, I proudly took my own family to Radio City Music Hall, Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center, and the 9/11 Museum. All world-class.

Buffalonians who attended Super Bowl XXV vs. the Giants shared this same experience. Every establishment we went to in the evenings during the week of the game were bursting with Bills fans. We translated that into believing that the stadium on Super Bowl Sunday would feel the same in terms of fan support. At first, visually, given that both teams’ fans were wearing red, white, and blue, it seemed that way. However, when the Giants players were announced, the roar was considerably louder. Indeed, with so many corporate sponsors from NYC in attendance, we still felt significant and plenty loud, but nowhere near that of the thousands more Giant fans in attendance. 

A funny thing happened more than once regarding the Big Apple during my days at One Bills Drive. I was responsible for working with rookie players in their very first days in Buffalo. Inevitably, in a response to my asking what their weekend plans were, one would reply, “Not sure, was thinking of going to ‘the city’ one of these weekends. How far away is it?” When I told them that NYC was a seven-hour drive they were blown away (and rightfully a little embarrassed). But this is Buffalo, New York, right?

Yes, we are in the same state, but (for perspective) you could drive to Pittsburgh AND BACK, or Cleveland AND BACK in the same time you could drive one way to NYC. Heads just shook. “But the city of Buffalo, right there, has some good stuff going on there too and it won’t cost you over $100 in gas!” You also won’t get stuck on the George Washington Bridge for 90 minutes. 

It feels like to those who live in NYC, we in Buffalo may as well be Cleveland or Pittsburgh.

Maybe this reference goes to the crux of my head scratching over the “New York Football” term. It feels like to those who live in NYC, we in Buffalo may as well be Cleveland or Pittsburgh. Our Senate and Gubernatorial candidates are the same, but “upstate” to them is just up the road in Poughkeepsie. We aren’t even on their weather maps. 

If the term, “Florida Football” was adopted, one would not expect such a disparity in terms of association with the state. Perhaps Miami and Tampa would be thought of first with Jacksonville solidly behind, but with Jacksonville still “in the picture.” Likewise, “California Football” would likely include the Niners, Rams, and Chargers almost equally. 

None of this is to imply that the national media, including that based in NYC, has been anything but bullish about the Bills this year. Not since 1990 has the national hype, including the Vegas betting odds, been framed as Super Bowl or bust. So far, our Bills are living up to those expectations despite the number of injuries that they haven’t suffered in previous years, which, as a silver lining, has accelerated the growth of backups who will now provide the team even more depth. Personally, I’ve even embarked on a podcast, “If the Walls Could Talk in Buffalo,” dedicated primarily to the comparison of these (1990 and 2022) teams.

This is all mostly hyperbole, semantics, and admittedly not super important. All that Bills fans care about is that it’s settled on the field. And in 2022, there’s no doubt which fan base I’d rather be a part of – even if being left out of “New York Football.”

Don Purdy is a Former Bills Front Office Executive, Co-host of Podcast, “If the Walls Could Talk in Buffalo,” and Author of Thunder Snow of Buffalo: The October Surprise Storm

Lead image courtesy Therese Forton Barnes of the The Royal Order of the Buffalo Bills Water Buffalo Club (Lodge #716).

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Two kid-friendly musicals chock full of ghosts opened this mid-October, and while both are well produced, as a guy I found the yuck-filled THE ADDAMS FAMILY at O’Connell & Company’s new (for them) space on Bailey more to my taste while the tasteful THE SECRET GARDEN: SPRING EDITION at Shea’s Smith (downtown) wasn’t quite as much my cup of tea.  But, hey, let’s take them one at a time.  

THE BASICS:  THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL, by Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice, and composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa, directed by the Artie Award-winning Dewayne Barrett, with musical direction by Joe Isgar, presented by O’Connell & Company, stars Joey Bucheker as Gomez Addams and Anna Fernandez as his wife, Morticia Addams, with 18 others (see below). It runs through October 30 (the night before Hallowe’en!) Fridays – Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm with an additional matinee at 3:00 pm on Saturday 10/22.  NOTE NEW LOCATION! O’Connell & Company, 4110 Bailey Ave. at Oxford, Amherst, NY 14226 in the former Eggertsville Youth & Community Center (about 500 feet south of Bocce Pizza).  Ample off-street parking. 716-848-0800. www.oconnellandcompany.com

Runtime: 2 hours 15 minutes with one intermission

THUMBNAIL SKETCH:  Based more on characters from the TV series (which I didn’t watch) than the cartoons of Charles Addams in the “New Yorker” magazine (which my family did read), Wednesday Addams has grown up and fallen in love with a nice young man from a “respectable” family.  Problem #1: Her parents have never met him.  Problem #2: When Wednesday finally confides in her father that she’s engaged, she begs him not to tell her mother. Problem #3: Gomez Addams has never, ever kept a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia.  And now, the Addams are about to host the boy’s family for dinner.  A little like Cage aux Folles/The Bird Cage (trying to impress the “respectable” family) what could possibly go wrong?

THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION:  As is my wont, this interview is going to the pits … the excellent backstage “pit” orchestra led by Joe Isgar.  Using the former altar area of the church before it was a community center and before it was a stage, Isgar’s band was right on the money with Lucas Colon, Keyboard 2, Aneris Rivera-Wagner, percussion, Dawson Horey, Reeds, Yamilla Tate (real standup) bass, Daniel Isgar, trombone, and Lily Jones, trumpet.  I’m a big fan of honest instruments, not keyboard samples, and these folks were on fire.

While it’s obvious that the kooky spooky ADDAMS FAMILY is right for the month of Hallowe’en, it’s also right for October as Hispanic Heritage Month, where composer Andrew Lippa has worked in a wide variety of Spanish dance rhythms in honor of family patriarch “Gomez” Addams.  While the original cartoon patriarch had no name, the character created for TV by John Astin became “Gomez Addams,” a passionate Latin lover, ready to dance the seguidilla, a habanera, or a tango, just to name a few of the rhythms you hear in this musical.  

I haven’t always loved everything O’Connell & Co presents, but this one is a winner, folks.  And everybody came together.  Stage Manager Ann Perno (assisted by Marley Judd) was one busy bee, with the constantly changing, very cleverly designed set (Matt Myers) and lighting by Mattvey Kitchen.  Costumes by Timmy Goodman came together with Make-Up designed by Kris Bartolomeo.  I’m told by Executive/Artistic Director Mary Kate O’Connell that each actor handled their own wigs. 

I was particularly impressed by the fluid movement of personnel on the relatively small stage, so kudos to Director / Choreography Dewayne Barrett with Aimée Walker as Dance Captain.  That is saying something, with a cast of 20 (with 40 arms and 40 legs).  In addition to Joey Bucheker who seemed born for the role of Gomez, and the tall and lovely Anna Fernandez, marvelous as Morticia, were “the kooky, mysterious and spooky ‘Ancestors’”: Lizzie Arnold, Kris Bartolomeo  (looking very Marie Antoinette, but with head still attached), Corey Bieber, Timmy Goodman, Vincent Murphy, Daniel Pieffer, Leanna Pulinski, Emory Redfearn, Aimée Walker, Michael Wells.  Well done, all.

What makes an actor/actress fill their roles?  Is it casting, talent, desire, effort, or good direction?  Honestly, it’s all five.  Funny-man Michael J. Galante delighted the audience over and over as Uncle Fester; Madalyn Teal was charming as Wednesday Addams; Jared Eichel as friendly up-for-anything boyfriend Lucas Beineke; Sara Kovacsi as Grandma; young John Perno as Pugsley Addams; Dan Mink as suitably tall and lurchy Lurch; Kelliegh Murray in a wonderfully athletic role as the seemingly mousey Alice Beineke (just wait); and resident comedian with the dead-pan delivery, Michael Starzynski as Mal Beineke.

And when you go (and you should go) watch how each character (alive or dead) stays in character when on stage.  This might be a good musical to take a pre-teen or middle school boy to.  It’s very active, with lots of scene changes, and plenty of zombie-like characters.

There were some minor issues which time will take care of.  Several scene changes felt a little slow (but only by a second).  This is a brand new space for everyone, the stage was being constructed during rehearsals, and there aren’t big “wings” for actors to disappear in.  I’m sure that will settle down after a few performances once people get used to the space.  Also, unless you were in the front row, the sightlines were not good, as the seating is not yet tiered.  That seating problem, O’Connell assured me, will be fixed by the time you read this.  If not, my advice is to get there early and score a good seat right up front.

Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, and especially if you could bring a pre-teen boy and a friend of his along, I would make a real effort to attend.

But, THE ADDAMS FAMILY isn’t the only musical to feature a large cast of pale dead people, which brings us to…

THE BASICS:  THE SECRET GARDEN: SPRING VERSION adapted and shortened from the musical by Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon, which was based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, directed and choreographed by Michael Oliver-Walline with music direction by Allan Paglia, presented by Second Generation Theatre, runs through October 30, Thursdays – Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm at Shea’s Smith Theatre, 658 Main Street, Buffalo NY 14202. Tickets at (716)508-7480 or sheas.org/performances/the-secret-garden. Information and virtual playbill at secondgenerationtheatre.com.

Runtime: 1 hour, 40 minutes with one 15-minute intermission

THUMBNAIL SKETCH:  Mary Lennox (played by Ella Hinklin), a privileged English girl born in India and raised in the British Raj, is orphaned by a cholera outbreak when she is ten years old.  She is sent away from her home in tropical India to the chilly moors of Yorkshire, England, to live in the manor of her brooding uncle Archibald Craven (Louis Colaiacovo), whom she has never met.  Think “Downton Abbey” and you’ve got the decade and the zeitgeist.  Craven continues to mourn the loss of his beautiful wife Lily (Kelly Copps) who died giving birth to his son, Colin (Clark Garvey), a son he has never interacted with, as the boy is kept bed-ridden and isolated by his uncle, Dr. Neville Craven (John Panepinto).  Although scolded frequently by the dour housekeeper Mrs. Medlock (Anne DeFazio) about not venturing through the mansion nor into the garden, the curious Mary finds an ally in the servant Martha (Amy Jakiel), in the gardener Ben Weatherstaff (John Kreuzer), and a friendly local boy, Dickon (Joe Russi).  She discovers both Aunt Lily’s long-neglected secret garden and long-neglected Colin and with her trio of allies nurses both garden and boy back to health.

I never read the 1911 young person’s novel “The Secret Garden” nor did I see the movie version, but secrets and gardens and collusion with allies and mysteries are the very stuff of YA fiction.

THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION:  As with THE ADDAMS FAMILY there are some ghosts, although here they are attractive and elegant including Mary’s dead mother and father, Rose and Albert Lennox (Leah Berst and Bob Mazierski), and the unidentified barefoot white-suited actors/chorus Collin McKee, Anthony Lazzaro, Jenny Marie McCabe, and Charles McGregor.  Maria Pedro with a clever hand puppet plays a robin, the harbinger of spring and symbolic of both Lily and Mary’s virtues as good people.

Of special interest is Mrs. Winthrop, the strict schoolmarm, an unusually minor role played by a favorite Buffalo actor and four-time Artie Award-winner Jenn Stafford.  What’s going on here?  Stafford’s major real-life role is mother to the show’s star, Ella Hinklin, a student at Second Generation’s theatre education program since 2017.  Clark Garvey is also in that program, taking this company from “second generation” to “third generation.”  

Speaking of the second generation brings me to several standouts and those are daughters of Steve and Mary Jakiel: sisters Kelly Copps and Mary Jakiel.  Copps is outstanding as the graceful ghost of Lily and very impressive in her unblinking mannequin stillness and beautiful voice.  And once again, just as she did recently in Second Generation’s production of CABARET, Amy Jakiel uses that powerful voice to take the production to a whole other level.  Jakiel is simply outstanding as a comic actor, with grace and warmth and a sense of timing that I do not think can be taught.  You’ve either got it or you don’t.  Amy Jakiel’s got it. 

The other outstanding actor is Joe Russi, most recently seen as the sexually ambiguous emcee in CABARET.  Russi plays androgynous to a tee, the way he moves on stage is truly something magical, and here, as Dickon, a local boy, he uses that ability to keep his relationship with Mary very innocent. 

What didn’t I like?  Well, for starters the pit consisted of Alan Paglia, who is a great musician, at a keyboard which for the most part was set to sound “like” a piano, but the tone was harsh and after about ten minutes, really annoying.  The paucity of instrumentation was at odds with the lavish costumes by Jenna Damberger (any one of which could have been worn on “Downton Abbey”) and set/lighting/sound by Chris Cavanagh, full of backlit silhouettes, mysterious entrances, complete with a central fountain.

Also, the sequence of scenes at times felt rushed, as if getting this musical down to about 90 minutes required cutting bits that might have helped us get to know the characters better.  At times, to me, it had the feeling of a series of cleverly integrated skits.

Still, on a Sunday afternoon, I was gratified to see about twenty middle school-aged children scattered about the audience, so, if there is going to be a “second generation” (or third generation) of theatergoers, this is a good musical play to start developing that lifelong interest.  

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. And if you have a pre-teen in your life, I would absolutely take her. 

*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!

The post Ghosts galore! Two reviews: ADDAMS FAMILY and SECRET GARDEN  appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

German-born, Dara Friedman, is the latest artist brought to Western New York by the UB Arts Collaboratory.  Led by UB professor Maria S. Horne, the Collaboratory’s “Working Artist Lab” creates a space for UB students to learn and experience what it’s like to be a working artist while working together on a specific project.  Buffalo is the lucky recipient of these projects and this latest, a labyrinth entitled “River Hill,” is no exception, with collaborators including Josh Smith, director of ecology at Silo City.

Friedman is an acclaimed artist and filmmaker whose work is in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, The Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, to name but a few. The “River Hill” project is her second outdoor labyrinth. Designed to reflect the meander of the Buffalo River, the land on which it sits is located behind Rigidized Metals Corporation on Ohio Street, and for those familiar with the Silo City campus, not far from the popular Duende.  Friedman’s project shapes and sculpts the property into an active monument.

“The invitation to come and work on this project was an amazing opportunity to make work that is larger than myself, which as an artist is something I aim for,” Friedman said.

To commemorate the fall equinox, the various collaborators came together to plant spotted bee balm, mountain mint and giant purple hyssop throughout the labyrinth, which will also be seeded with chamomile and yarrow later in the spring.

“We’re planting with pollinators that have been proven to be too spicy for deer.  Some of the plants have been grown from seed gathered in the wild. There’s going to be about 3000 pollinator plants going in,” Friedman said. 

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to partner with Dara and the UB Arts Collaboratory to bring this vision to life. It will have a huge ecological impact in addition to enriching the human experience of the site,” Smith said. 

The labyrinth is one continual path (unlike a maze that has multiple paths) that takes on a looping pattern, which Friedman hopes will offer up a fresh perspective. 

“The point of the switch backs along the path is to allow the person walking to create a new muscle memory and to see their world, inner and outer, from a different point of view,” Friedman said. 

The opportunity to put the labyrinth in Silo City was made possible by Rigidized Metals owner Rick Smith, who has worked with UB on multiple projects. Silo City hosts both public and private events throughout the year and plans for a celebration of “River Hill” are in the works and will likely take place during the summer. 

“The labyrinth provides an ancient and living form that works together to help us bond with nature, the divine, and the nature of ourselves,” Friedman said. 

Horne adds, “We hope the community comes to Silo City and “River Hill” to experience serenity of the labyrinth and the beauty of the plantings throughout the changing seasons.”

To learn more about the Arts Collaboratory click here.

The post UB Arts Collaboratory’s Artist Creates Labyrinth at Silo City appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

It’s unfortunate that a second art auction is needed, but this is our current reality and I cannot sit back while Russia continues to invade and terrorize my ancestral homeland. 

Where our first Sunflowers of Solidarity Benefit Art Auction in April 2022 consisted of over 100 artworks connected to the deep symbolism of the sunflower, the scope of our current Call for Work is widened to accept all media/content/genre/dimension. While art connecting to the sunflower is still welcomed and encouraged,  the more art we can auction, the more humanitarian aid we can send to Ukraine.

The sunflower has long been Ukraine’s national flower. Since the start of the war, it has become a symbol of solidarity, resilience, and resistance. 

Our first SOS Benefit Auction raised $36,000 towards the manufacturing of Individual First Aid Kits  (IFAKs) for Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. 

SOS II will solely be online from December 5 – 10, 2022.

MAKE ART NOT WAR!! Slava Ukraini! Слава Україні! Геpоям Слава!

For those interested in learning about work created for our 1st SOS Benefit Art Auction in April 2022, here is the FB event page.

Artists can visit tinyurl.com/yzan36mv to donate works to the online art auction.

SOS II Benefit Online Art Auction will kick off online at 7pm CST on Monday, December 5th and end at 8pm CST on Saturday, December 10th on the platform Clickbid. 

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