Category: PostEvents

Large as life animals and fantastic creatures – including dinosaur succulent topiaries, a coleus peacock, moss-made dinosaurs, a giant buffalo, a dragonfly, and a shark – can now be found at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.

These living plant creatures are made from live plants, which allows them to come life in ways that are hard to imagine. Typically, when we imagine a triceratops, brachiosaurus, wooly mammoth, or a giant raptor skull, we tend to think of reconstructed fossilized bones. But not in this case.

The Coleus and Creatures exhibition at the Botanical Gardens not only teaches us about the fascinating plants that have been painstakingly fashioned into a series of creatures, the exhibition also teaches visitors about the pre-historic animals themselves.

Creatures After Dark will highlight the Coleus and Creatures Exhibit under spectacular lights just in time for the spooky fall season for a magical, Jurassic-like adventure. 

Director of Horticulture at the Botanical Gardens, Joe Mannion, comments, “The Horticulture team is extremely pleased with how the Coleus and Creatures exhibit turned out. Back in May, we started planting up a stegosaurus, and we had so much fun that we started working on a tyrannosaurus rex, pterodactyl, buffalo, a globe, and we just kept finding more and more creatures to create. We also grew 1,000 coleus plants (known for colorful foliage) to give us lots of vibrant colors throughout the greenhouses for the exhibit. It is amazing what our team created to make our creatures come alive and make visitors feel like they are walking through a pre historic world. I really encourage people to visit and get lost in this wonderful experience.” 

Coleus and Creatures will be on display daily through October 31 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. This exhibit is included with regular admission to the Botanical Gardens. Ticket prices are $14.00 for adults, $12.50 for seniors (62+) and students (13+ with ID), $7.50 for kids 3-12 and kids 2 and under and Garden Members are free. Tickets are available online now at buffalogardens.com.  

Coleus and Creatures (running now through October 31) coincides with the upcoming and historic Chrysanthemum (Mum) Exhibit. The Mum Exhibit is the Botanical Gardens’ oldest exhibit that brings many Western New Yorkers back each year to see the beautiful colors in the fall. The Mum Exhibit will be taking place daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm from October 1 through October 31. Both exhibits are included with regular admission to the Botanical Gardens.  

Visitors will be able to make the most of this new experience with Creatures After Dark. Creatures After Dark will be the newest exhibit in the Gardens After Dark series happening on October 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 23, 28, 29, and 30 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Creatures After Dark will highlight the Coleus and Creatures Exhibit and the Mum Exhibit under spectacular lights just in time for the spooky fall season for a magical, Jurassic-like adventure. 

Pre-purchased tickets are required for Creatures After Dark. Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $13.50 for seniors (62+), $13.50 for students (13+), $7.50 for kids 3-12. Tickets for Garden Members are $13.00 for adults, $11.50 for seniors (62+), $11.00 for students (13+), $7.50 for kids 3-12. Guest passes, coupons and Arts Access passes are not valid at Creatures After Dark. 

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Bitwise Industries has selected Douglas Jemal’s 368 Sycamore Street as its Buffalo location according to Buffalo Business First.  The Fresno-based company works with primarily marginalized communities to obtain the skills and resources o to access opportunities in the tech industry. The company was heavily lobbied to open a facility in Buffalo by the region’s business community.

Bitwise Industries provides paid apprenticeships to students to learn tech skills. It has a proven model of providing pathways into the technology industry for people coming from stories of poverty and/or exclusion. It has ten locations across the country and due to Covid, has been holding locally classes virtually while it searched for a permanent location.

Jemal paid $615,000 for the three-story, 32,698 sq.ft. warehouse in March.  The circa-1949 building was most recently occupied by Concept Logistics. Bitwise is currently refining its plans for the building which will include classrooms, space for its own business, a daycare center, and additional space for other companies to co-locate there. An completion and opening date have not been set.

Bitwise Industries uses its unique two-sided marketplace approach to drive outcomes and growth. The company teaches people the skills they need to access opportunities in the tech economy–ranging from Salesforce administration to web development–and hires many of those trainees to build enterprise technology solutions for customers as a part of Bitwise Technology Consulting. 

In each of the ten cities that it serves, Bitwise seeks to renovate a blighted historical building, creating a technology hub and houses its operations at the city’s urban core to bring back life to the area. The company has already transformed a combined total of nearly a million square feet of downtown commercial space throughout the country.

Bitwise Industries is supported by a broad range of investors that includes: Kapor Capital, Motley Fool Ventures, JP Morgan, ZOMA Capital, Candide Group, Gingerbread Capital, Promedica, M&T Bank, 43North Foundation, the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Acumen America, and the New Voices Fund. 

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If you’re thinking that you’ve got to drive to Vermont to view the fall foliage this year, you might want to consider an easier trip. Leaf peepers in the know, are already booking their tickets for the Autumn Adventure Train Ride that is organized by the Medina Railroad Museum.

The two-hour round-trip train ride is also for train lovers who will be thrilled to be aboard a vintage rail car. And what better time of year to climb aboard, than during the fall season? Not only will sightseers travel through woodlands, they will also travel along the Erie Canal, for added epic scenery. This old-fashioned railroad experience is the perfect day trip for anyone looking for something completely different. Not only will the kiddos love it, the adults will be just as enthusiastic.

Trains departure at 10am and 1pm.

Choose from first class or coach seating.

Museum admission is include in train fare.

For more information, visit: www.medinarailroadmuseum.org

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Festival season is still in high gear. As the summer winds dow, one festival/parade to look forward to is Buffalo’s Pulaski Festival & 84th Pulaski Parade. The multi-cultural event takes place on Saturday, September 10 at Niagara Square.

This year marks the 84th year that the festival/parade that honors the life of General Casimir Pulaski (“The Father of the American Cavalry,” the 7th honorary citizen of the United States, and the man who is credited for savings George Washington’s life).

The first 2500 people at the dessert tent receive a free Buffalo Polish reusable tote bag!

Many people will be familiar with the General Pulaski statue at Main and N. Division in downtown Buffalo, but relatively few people are aware of the annual celebrations that take place honoring the brave freedom fighter (learn more).

Details:

The Parade will begin at 11AM from Edward St and Delaware Ave and head south on Delaware Ave towards Niagara Square. Annual Buffalo’s Pulaski Festival with 2 stages and 5 bands performing 4 Time Grammy Nominated Polka Family (Polish), Der Haus Band (German), Penny Whiskey (Irish), Formula Band ( Italian), All Star Band (w/ members of Rick James band) – at Niagara SquareCultural food, WNY’s Largest Dessert Tent, Huge Basket Raffle with $500 Door Prize, Cultural Tent with presentations, lots of activities for kids, Tatra Sheepdogs, and some surprises! – at Niagara Square

Organizers: General Pulaski Association of WNY

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The Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration, now in its sixth year, will draw about 2,000 people as it unfolds Sunday, August 28, 2pm to 9pm, at the old Central Terminal Station grounds at 495 Paderewski Drive in Buffalo, NY. Buy $22 tickets at beaufleuvemusicarts.com. The day’s lineup on three stages includes 25 live music performances – from rhythm and blues to jazz, hip hop, country, gospel, rock n’ roll, brass and neo soul.

Founder Lindsey L. Taylor created the festival to raise funds to support arts education in Buffalo schools, showcase a diverse range of local artists and build connections between people throughout the community.

“What we aim to do, every single year, is make our community better,” Taylor said. “If we continue to do that, then we did our job. If we can inspire somebody to create something, if we can inspire somebody to get involved with the community, if we can inspire artists to be activated, we did our job. Every single year, that’s what we look forward to.”

This year’s program emphasizes the interactive with a time slot for meditation and yoga, an inflatable igloo tent for lounging and an all-white bounce house for great Instagram shots. Look for the “silent disco” with music playing on individual headphones. At the Buffalo love exhibit, people can add flags from 192 countries to a sculpted wooden buffalo.

Taylor hopes festivalgoers will leave with a keepsake: Buy art from the exhibiting artists. Make a memory from an experience like the live painting sponsored by the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Or some of each.

“We just want people to come out and enjoy the experience and the culture of Western New York,” Taylor said.

Photos courtesy of Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration (Facebook)

The post Building Bridges at the Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

When it comes to supporting the arts, it’s a challenge that must be supported by all people, organizations, and sectors. The arts is the glue that helps to keep WNY as strong as it has become. It’s the creative bond that ties so many of us together.

As a way to expand and extend funding to more cultural organizations in WNY, the Cullen Foundation has joined with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to award 65 ‘Expanding Access to Arts Funding’ grants to nonprofits throughout the WNY community.

“The arts are crucial to the health and wellness of all New Yorkers, and our creative communities are a fundamental driver of our state’s recovery,” stated NYSCA Executive Director, Mara Manus.  “Regrant programs like this one, in which we partner with a local organization to facilitate the grant selection and distribution process, make it possible for NYSCA dollars to reach all 62 NYS counties. We are excited to have worked with the Cullen Foundation this year, and grateful for their stewardship of these funding opportunities that will ensure greater access to arts programming throughout Western New York and serve as a catalyst for positive change.”

The grants have been allocated to a diverse group of awardees throughout NYS, in order to sustain their artistic efforts, while fueling their creative ambitions.

“The expanded eligibility of this special arts funding allowed us to seek a broader group of nonprofit applicants who thought creatively about new, arts-focused programs that will enrich the lives of their clients,”  stated Cullen Foundation President, Florine Luhr. “We’re optimistic that a longer-range outcome of this program will be partnership-driven arts programming targeting new and diverse audiences from the neighborhood level to a larger, regional scale.” 

WSCS Executive Director, Crystal Selk, defines the impact of the grant in helping them achieve their vision of, “… fostering the well-being of the West Buffalo Community by engaging, connecting, and generating possibilities for all people in the community, at every stage and from every walk of life. “

“We are grateful to the Cullen Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts for their support of our Arts for All program,” Selk stated. “This funding will allow us to bring professional teaching artists from Young Audiences of Western New York into our after-school and teen programs to help our kids explore artistic expression in the areas of fashion, hip hop, dance, and recycled materials art. We strongly believe that all people, and especially young people, benefit from hands-on, long-term art education and we can’t wait to see their creativity flourish.”  

One of the grant recipients, Jetaun Jones – Executive Director/Operations Director of Friends, Inc. at The Dorothy J Collier Community Center – has been immersed in the world of fashion for years. She once owned and operated a fashion boutique on Elmwood Avenue. Now she uses that knowledge to teach Buffalo youth the ins and outs of the fashion industry. These types of grants are instrumental in ensuring that knowledge of this nature flourishes in the WNY community.

 “This grant from NYSCA and the Cullen Foundation allows Friends, Inc. @ Dorothy J Collier Community Center to offer a unique arts program to East Buffalo youth, introducing them to the discipline of fashion and enabling them to discover how art influences fashion,” said Jones. “Our ‘Fashion Camp for Kids’ program will provide participants with a head start in the fashion industry, hone their entrepreneurial skills, and more.” 

The “Expanding Access to Arts Funding” Grant Program is supported by NYS Senator Sean M. Ryan (D-60,) and NYS Assembly Members Jonathan D. Rivera (D-149) and William Conrad (D-140), all of whom attended the grant award event. A full list of the 65 grant winners follows. For more information on NYSCA grants and their regrant programs go to: arts.ny.gov

Expanding Access to Arts Funding in WNY Grant Recipients 

Accessible Academics USA, Inc.– Williamsville, Erie County Alfred Farmers Market– Alfred Station, Allegany County Allegany County Area Foundation– Belmont, Allegany County Amherst Chamber Ensembles Inc– Buffalo, Erie CountyBlack Rock Historical Society– Buffalo, Erie CountyBoys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo, Inc. – Buffalo, Erie CountyBuffalo Niagara Waterkeeper– Buffalo, Erie CountyCattaraugus Free Library– Cattaraugus, Cattaraugus County Central Terminal Restoration Corp.– Buffalo, Erie CountyCentro Culturale Italiano di Buffalo– Buffalo, Erie CountyChautauqua Regional Youth Symphony– Jamestown, Chautauqua County ChildCare Network of the Niagara Frontier, Inc– Williamsville, Erie County Chinese Club of Western New York– Getzville, Erie County City Year, Inc.– Buffalo, Erie County Community Canvases– Tonawanda, Erie County Community Missions of Niagara– Niagara Falls, Niagara County Cradle Beach– Angola, Erie County Crossborder Tourism and Recreation Alliance– Lockport, Niagara County Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Inc. – Orchard Park, Erie CountyFamily Promise of Western New York– Buffalo, Erie CountyFillmore Forward– Buffalo, Erie CountyFriends Inc.– Buffalo, Erie CountyGenesis House of Olean, Inc.– Olean, Cattaraugus County GiGi’s Playhouse– Buffalo, Erie CountyGirls on the Run of Buffalo, Inc.– Buffalo, Erie CountyGObike Buffalo– Buffalo, Erie CountyGrassroots Gardens of Western New York– Buffalo, Erie CountyGreen Springville, Inc– Springville, Erie County Highland Clubhouse– Niagara Falls, Niagara County Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York, Inc.– Buffalo, Erie CountyHistoric Palace Theatre-Lockport, Erie County Hull House Foundation-Lancaster, Erie County India Association of Buffalo– Williamsville, Erie County Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo– Getzville, Erie County  Journey’s End Refugee Services– Buffalo, Erie CountyKaren Society of Buffalo– Buffalo, Erie CountyKnights Creek Evangelical Methodist Church– Scio, Allegany County Lakewood Memorial Library– Lakewood, Chautauqua County Music To Remember WNY, Inc.– Silver Creek, Chautauqua County Neto Hatinakwe Onkwehowe, Inc.– Buffalo, Erie CountyNiagara Falls Junior Youth Organization- Niagara Falls, Niagara County Niagara Falls Public Library- Niagara Falls, Niagara County Omega Mentoring Program– Buffalo, Erie CountyPerry Public Library– Perry, Wyoming County POWER OF SONG, INC– West Falls, Erie County Providence Farm Collective Corp– Orchard Park, Erie County Response to Love Center– Buffalo, Erie CountyRIVER ROCK COMMUNITY COALITION INC– Buffalo, Erie CountyRural Outreach Center– East Aurora, Erie County  Salamanca Public Library– Salamanca, Cattaraugus County Self Advocacy Association of NYS– Schenectady, Erie County Sensational Fun Inc– Orchard Park, Erie CountySpringville Youth Incorporated– Springville, Erie County St. Mary’s High School– Lancaster, Erie County St. Paul’s Episcopal Church– Angelica, Allegany County The Challenger Learning Center of Orleans, Niagara/ Erie Counties– Lockport/Niagara Co.   The Concordia Foundation, Inc. – Buffalo, Erie CountyThe General Pulaski Association Inc– Cheektowaga, Erie CountyThe King Urban Life Center– Buffalo, Erie CountyThe Summit Center– Getzville, Erie CountyThe Western New York Network of English Teachers– Buffalo, Erie CountyVilla Maria College– Buffalo, Erie CountyWEDI Buffalo– Buffalo, Erie CountyWest Side Community Services, Inc.– Buffalo, Erie CountyWestern New York Artists Group– Buffalo, Erie County

The post Sixty-Five WNY Nonprofits Receive “Expanding Access to Arts Funding” Grants appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

Buffalo’s first cooperatively owned pizza shop and wine bar is now open. Extra Extra officially opened for business at noon today, bringing with it a vibrant atmosphere, serving pizzas, soft serve ice cream (coming soon), and beer-wine-cocktails. Not only is Extra Extra worker owned, it is considered the first full service, tipless restaurant in Buffalo.

If today was any indication of the pending successes of the pizza and ice cream shop, then the future looks bright for the business, and its worker-owners. Customers were happily enjoying themselves in the bright, cheerful atmosphere. Most of the seats were filled, and there were a number of people placing orders for take-out.

I ran into a few people from the neighborhood, who were seated at tables, and along the bar, perfectly content with their pizza selections. I must say that the size of the large 20″ pizza is impressive. The general consensus was that the 14″ medium pizzas are ample, but for anyone going for the gusto, or looking to take some slices home, the large is the way to go.

There are plenty of toppings to choose from, including hot maple and white anchovies. There’s also a vegan cheese, white or red sauce option, and a gluten free crust for those who have dietary restrictions. For something totally different, try the Sicilian style (“thick sponge” in Italian), which is served rectangular, instead of round.

I posted on the formations of Extra Extra back in January of 2021. I also wrote on the architectural angle shortly thereafter. Walking through the the restaurant, there’s a nice flow. There are also some practical design details that make the place pop. Once of my favorite designs was the front “entry mat,” where people will stomp their feet this winter. There is a water trap under the bright pink mat that will help to keep the floors from getting slippery. It’s attention to detail like that which will make this place extra special. Not to mention the brightly-lit, vaulted kitchen that is designed to keep the staff – I mean the worker-owners – happy.

For those who don’t want pizza, there’s a salad, a meatball dish, and bread and butter. There’s also an impressive selection of liqueurs and apéritifs, including Cynar, Italicus, and Lockhouse Coffee.

Extra Extra is not your everyday pizza place. Then again, the Five Points neighborhood is not your everyday neighborhood. As if Five Points couldn’t get any better, it just did. Extra Extra is definitely helping to tip the scales.

Extra Extra | 549 W Utica St, Buffalo, NY 14213 | (716) 248-2994 | Instagram

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A start-up business is leasing space downtown for its new headquarters and Douglas Jemal has bought another building on the 500 block.

Image by Iskalo Development

Top Seedz, last year’s 43North grand prize winner, is leasing 35,000 sq.ft. of space at 101 Oak Street from Iskalo Development according to Buffalo Business First. The company will join Big Ditch Brewing which recently opened a production space in the building. Top Seedz currently has a leased facility in Cheektowaga that it may retain as it grows.  The company makes organic seed crackers and roasted seeds that are sold online and in specialty and grocery stores. The move to downtown is expected in March.

On Main Street, Douglas Jemal purchased 525 Main Street for $774,000 under the Jemal’s Heiney LLC.  The seller, Vendome Theater Lofts LLC, purchased the property in 2018 for $486,000.  The three-story building has 7,800 sq.ft. of space.  Last year Jemal bought 529 Main Street and earlier this year bought 515 and 521 Main Street.  He plans to add apartments to the buildings’ upper floors.

He also purchased the Century Theater Lot at the northwest corner of Washington and E. Mohawk Street and sources say he is eyeing the former Burger King property at 495 to create an assemblage for a mixed-use development.  The 500 block properties are located between three other Jemal projects that include the Hyatt which is undergoing renovations, the expansion of the Mohawk Ramp to include additional parking topped by apartments, and the multi-phased redevelopment of the Simon Electric properties.

The post Done Deals: Jemal Buys on 500 Block, Top Seedz Leases on Oak appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

Many of our readers may know her as a former contributor to Buffalo Rising or a community advocate who worked diligently on the West Village since the 1990’s. However, Marilyn Rodgers has been and still is a DJ, formerly working in a number of clubs here and on WBLK and 1077 FM and she’s now playing her sets on an international music company with online radio station, record label, events and DJ management that boasts DJs from around the globe. And, that’s where our story takes us.

4TheMusic, founded by Chris Haines from the UK, now brings a few of their DJs across the pond just for September 10 this year during Music is Art at RiverWorks. As we all know the MIA Festival is celebrating its 20th year and Robby Takac has always promoted all art forms and plans to make this anniversary celebration the biggest yet. So, why not continue bringing in talent from all over the world?

The 4 The Music International DJ Stage will be located on the balcony level right next to the Labatt’s Silos this year. DJs who have performed globally as well as throughout the States will be part of their showcase. Countries represented include the UK, The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands and, of course, the US. Their format includes all genres of House and Techno, from a 118 BPM Broken Beat and Lounge to 140 BPM.

And, that’s not all. Both Chris (UK) and Dmix, another 4TheMusic founder (The Netherlands) will also give you a taste of what’s to come the evening before at Fresh Catch Poke Company, 500 Franklin Street, from 5 – 8pm on Friday, September 9th. So, get your dancing shoes on and check them out along with other DJs at the 4 The Music stage on Saturday. 

DJs on the 4TM Stage Saturday include Chris Haines and Dmix, DJ Hector, John Ceglia, The Odessa Project, SIKE!, Paul Foxe, Christopher “Xotec” Moody, and Marilyn Rodgers with an incredible sound system and lighting by legendary DJ  Tony Spencer and Powerhouse Pro Systems.

It’s your chance to be part of the European Music Scene in your own backyard both on Friday, September 9th from 5-8pm at Fresh Catch Poke and from 11am – 11pm at Music is Art on September 10th.

You can also check out all the DJ bios on their Facebook Event Page which will also provide a map to the stage and the DJ Schedule for Music is Art.

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A Buffalo summer just wouldn’t be complete without some time spent on the water. Boats and kayaks are nice, but if you’re feeling venturesome than a water bike may be in your future.

Water Bikes of Buffalo are conveniently located on the boardwalk at Canalside and allow you to explore one of Buffalo’s most treasured waterways from a new perspective. Owners Lisa and Peter Florczak opened this aquatic bicycle company back in 2013 and have had nothing but positive feedback since. The strongest indication of this unique activity’s success is the expansion of their fleet, more than doubling from seven to about two dozen water bikes in a few short years.

Photo by Water Bikes of Buffalo (Facebook)

The couple also owns the popular Ice Bikes of Buffalo, paddle boats and their and made-for-kids pedal boards.

“The water bikes and the pedal boards are for people who are a little more adventurous,” Lisa said. “The paddle boats are great for families, and we have small ones just for children too. They love it because the wheel is open and they can see the water move around in it.”

You can rent a water bike seven days a week from 11am-7pm until Labor Day. Once you get set up with your bike, strap on your vest and start pedaling, the wheel is — well, handlebars are — in your hands. You can choose to travel as far down the river as the majestic Buffalo Lighthouse and as far up the river as your purchased time will get you. Moving up the river you’ll pass the likes of Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo River Fest Park, the historic grain elevators and the always fragrant General Mills factory. The water bikes work just like bicycles; operating them is as simple as pedaling and steering – you don’t even have to worry about balance they’re so sturdy. The only rules involved with riding the water bikes are no jumping or doing tricks (what tricks those may be, we’re not sure, but rules are made for a reason…) and staying close to the shore.

Rentals are $18/hour for a single bike and $36/hour for a tandem (side-by-side) bike.

When you’re out there and you have a spare thought aside from how spectacular the views are, you’ll likely ask yourself the same question Lisa asked me: “Do you smell the Cheerios?”

• • •

Water Bikes of Buffalo, near 44 Prime St, Buffalo, NY
waterbikesofbuffalo.com | 716-681-4643 | Facebook | Instagram

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