Category: PostEvents

A Good Fit

As the latest entry in the field of mystery/thrillers, “The Outfit” defies most of that genre’s characteristics: there’s no sleuth to solve the mystery (no Colombo, no Sherlock Holmes); there’s a murder, but no doubt about who did it (no wondering if was Colonel Mustard in the Library with a candlestick); the characters talk, rather than shoot themselves out of jam after jam; and the action—such as it is—is contained (in three rooms in a bespoke “tailor” shop, in one of which is a dead body in a trunk, echoing Hitchcock’s “The Rope” [1948]).

The plot seems straightforward. Chicago 1956. A reserved, shy, meticulous cutter (“Don’t call me a tailor; they just hem trousers.”) makes suits for the mob. On one bitterly cold night, two of his clients rush into the shop to avoid the police, involving the English-born artisan in their dangerous world. Award-winning film and stage actor Mark Rylance is perfect as Leonard, or “English,” as his mob clients call him. Those two junior hitmen, Richie (Dylan O’Brien), the hot-headed son of the crime boss, and Francis (Johnny Flynn), Richie’s aggressive partner, proceed to exploit Leonard’s reserve and apparent weakness.

“English” and his chippy secretary Mable (Zoey Deutch) are presented as good, capable people who want only to live their lives: in the case of English, to make suits and keep his mouth shut; for Mable, to get out of Chicago and go, as she says, anywhere, anywhere being Paris. Mable, a surrogate daughter for Leonard (their limited relationship is touching), and Leonard, admirable in his fondness for his craft, are pawns, unwittingly caught up in the underworld. As such, they have our sympathy; we want to see them survive and even win at whatever game is being played.

As Richie and Francis argue over a tape made by the FBI through a bug planted somewhere, the question the mystery needs to have answered becomes clear: not who killed the dead guy, but who is the rat? As in all good mysteries, there are multiple candidates. Could it be English? Or Mable? Or Francis? Or Richie? When Leonard starts telling conflicting stories, pitting Francis and Richie against each other, his reliability as a narrator is put in question; but what other narrator can be trusted?

The metaphor of the cutter frames the plot, beginning with the title of the film: “The Outfit” is both the overarching mob family (descended from Al Capone, it’s said) and the suit that Leonard, in a voiceover that opens the film, painstakingly describes how to make. For Leonard, whose “tools” are his shears (“the only thing I brought with me”), making a suit is all about planning and precision. It’s about patterns and forms (“the only friends we have”), expectations and results that can be controlled and predicted. That seems to be the life Leonard proudly and contentedly inhabits.

Suspense builds when the crime boss (Simon Russell Beale) shows up. English and the boss present and discuss their “tools”—English his shears, the boss his gun—reinforcing the impression that Leonard is a quiet man with a trade, the boss a violent man with an organization of thugs. It’s not quite that simple. 

Leonard’s motivations are neither clear nor strong, and that may be a weakness in Moore’s otherwise engaging drama.

Leonard’s motivations are neither clear nor strong, and that may be a weakness in Moore’s otherwise engaging drama. The English cutter has more than one backstory—his history emerges late in the film, and it may suggest some guilt. But motivation may not be important, because it’s the process of the craft that entrances Leonard, and us, while enhancing his aura of innocence.

In the end, as Leonard is still waxing eloquent on how to make the suit, he explains that perfection can never be obtained, that something always goes wrong. Here, too, the script offers a metaphor. How does a careful planner like Leonard react when life in all its messiness gets in the way? The lesson may be simply that, even with all that care and planning, one cannot escape who one is. One can start over, but the past will have its way.  

First-time director Moore’s adherence to this metaphor (even when it seems overly clever, as in the film’s title) is part of the pleasure of his writing. At 35, he won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for 2014’s “The Imitation Game,” based on the book about British mathematician Alan Turing. The dark palette of cinematographer Dick Pope captures the claustrophobic interiority of the setting and gives the film its period look.

This unusual murder mystery has a few gunshots (nobody shoots first; they talk first, and keep talking), knifings, blood on the floor, and sewing—of human flesh. Still, it’s the mental antics that dominate. The result, mostly in the hands—or words—of a superb Rylance, is a riveting and suspenseful, tension-filled film.

Date: 2022

Stars: 3 (out of 4)

Director: Graham Moore

Starring: Mark Rylance, Zoey Deutch, Dylan O’Brien, Johnny Flynn, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Simon Russell Beale

Runtime: 105 minutes

Country: United Kingdom and United States

Languages: English and French (the latter not subtitled)

Other Awards: None to date

Availability: Streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Peacock, and multiple other sites; see JustWatch here.

Lead image: Two junior hitmen Francis (Johnny Flynn), left, and Richie (Dylan O’Brien), right, involve the cutter, Leonard (Mark Rylance), center, in their deadly game.

See all Five Cent Cine reviews by 2 Film Critics

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The company behind a number of West Village property rehabs purchased four additional properties yesterday.  Rand & Jones Enterprises purchased historic buildings at 42 and 44 Trinity Place and a vacant lot at 161 W. Tupper yesterday for $550,000.  It also purchased the Sammy’s Auto Repair building at 149 W. Tupper for $325,000. Sal Buscarino was the seller of all of them.

Rand & Jones, a full-service general construction firm and building materials supplier, is headquartered at 18 Tracy Street. Founded by Joan Yang in 1985, the company has purchased a number of properties immediately surrounding its offices on Tracy Street and on Johnson Park.  The firm has renovated them as rentals.

The new purchases are adjacent to 147 West Tupper Street, a mixed-use building Rand & Jones purchased in 2018 for $510,000 (above).  The two-story structure has six, one-bedroom apartments on the second floor along with 3,840 sq.ft. of ground floor commercial space and is begging for upgrades. 

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I first learned about Nickel City Nitro (NCN) when founders Jon Davis and Christopher Davis – two wandering baristas – rolled up to West Side Tilth Farm for a Saturday market. I was immediately impressed by the presentation of the product, which is toted around by bike. It’s called the Nitro Bike.

It wasn’t until a year later that I finally got to try their nitro-infused coffee products. I must say that being a hot, black coffee drinker, I was not expecting to like the nitro coffee as much as I did. But I ended up being an immediate convert. Not that I won’t still drink my regular coffee, it’s just that there’s something very exhilarating, refreshing, and gratifying about the NCN drink, which is poured via a tap system that is mounted onto the bike contraption.

Personally, I find that the draft latte is to my liking, made with oat milk. Man, there’s just something about it that gets me back on track if I’m feeling a little off kilter.

Nickel City Nitro steeps the coffee for 20 hours, and infuses the cold brew with nitrogen for a smooth, velvety finish.

Now that NCN is making appearances at The Stagecoach Market on Sundays, I figured that it would be a good time to catch up with the owners, per how they came to be in the driver’s seat of this unique operation.

“I was at Starbucks, just shy of a decade in retail operations,” Jon told me. “I found myself reevaluating my job, and wanted to know if I could do something that centered around more of my values. With a family in the near future, it was time to make a change. I saw the bike idea on the internet, and knew that there wasn’t one around here. It seemed like a good way to get away from working for a big company. The bike was meant to be a bridge, until I could figure out what I was going to do. I had trained Christopher as a store manager at Starbucks, and told him about the concept one day. He liked the idea and since there was a turnover of Starbucks management in the area, he decided to partner up with me. This was also around the time of the pandemic. It was a wild time – there were protests as well.”

The Nitro Bike is solar and human powered.

Now, with one year under their belts, Jon and Christopher have made some significant strides. With their electric (solar powered) bike, with a rustic-looking shipping box in front, and a tap system built in (made locally), the rolling café owners are not only attending festivals and markets, they have also embarked upon a “Coffee at the Office” program that sees them wholesale contracting with the likes of Undergrounds Coffee, Great Lakes Roastery, and Big Norwegian Kombucha. They recently signed a contract with Aloft Hotel at 500 Pearl. And newly minted is a deal with Fresh Catch, for an oat milk sesame latte! That means that in the off-season they still have retail outlets to attend to.

From being disenchanted with the Starbucks culture to having a big hit on his hands, Jon told me that it turned out to be the perfect time to get NCN on the road.

The coffee is a signature blend of Guatemalan and Kenyan beans expertly roasted Undergrounds Coffee.

“We like the storytelling aspect of it,” said Jon. “It’s a commentary on café culture – coffee is so ritualistic. People come together around coffee. And coming together is so important these days. The bike allows us to go to the customer. We also have a newsletter that allows us to tell our stories, and connect with the customers. It’s all about making those connections with people.”

It might be about the connections, but it’s also about the products, of course. Currently, there are three base products that Jon and Christopher are pedaling – the Nitro Cold Brew (on tap and in cans), the Oat Milk Draft Latte (on tap, with cans coming soon), and Blueberry Peach Nitro Tea (on tap, with cans coming soon).

Nickel City Nitro’s tagline is “To fuel adventure and human connection.”

“We care about the longterm positive sum of community building with our customers and the businesses that we work with,” said Jon.

That pretty much sums it up – a small startup with lofty goals that benefit the community. That’s a business model that we can all get behind. And it’s as easy as drinking some delicious café brews, served up on one of Buffalo’s most intriguing mobile café carts.

Nickel City Nitro | Instagram (for their schedule)

Catch them this Sunday, from 9am to 1pm at The Stagecoach Market, corner of Ashland and Bryant (at Trattoria Aroma). See market’s Instagram page for details.

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Last yer was the inaugural All-night Summer Solstice Party – an event that was so successful, the organizers have decided to do it all over again. Held on one of the shortest nights of the year, the “all night party” packs a lot in throughout the course of the evening.

Attendees to the Summer Solstice gathering will encounter a range of activities, including a sunset meditation and stretch, bike rides, fire, performances, a dance party and more at to-be-announced locations. People can choose to go the distance until the following morning, or they may tag along for an interval or two.

An all-night Summer Solstice celebration kicks off on the evening of June 18 and goes until the morning of June 19, one of the shortest nights of the year. Activities include a sunset meditation and stretch, bike rides, fire, performances, a dance party and more at to-be-announced locations. Participants are encouraged to come for portions of the event or for the entire night. Here’s the breakdown of the event:

After gathering for mindfulness and movement at sunset, participants toast to the occasion and ride bikes to a secret location to have a fire and enjoy a fire-spinning performance. There will be a solstice ritual, setting intentions and bringing good vibes for the night, the summer and beyond. Then there’s another bike ride to an underground lounge, where DJ U-lock and guests will be spinning tunes until the wee hours of the morning. If there is still energy and interest, the few people remaining will bike to a nearby location to enjoy a peaceful sunrise.

“I was truly blown away last year by how magical of an event we created,” says Henry Raess, a lead organizer. “People brought good vibes and open minds, and we had a legitimate, powerful ritual for the summer solstice. Spiritual but not religious. Intentions were set, friendships were forged, and I have no doubt the energy from that night carried through many lives throughout the summer.”

“Last year’s Solstice event was particularly special after the pandemic and isolation,” said Sam Baggs, aka DJ U-lock, who is looking forward to creating another cocktail to toast to said future, and letting loose behind the decks to add to the energy. “It was really empowering to bring people together with a shared goal to set intentions for our collective and individual futures.”

V, a transplant from New York City, said, “The Solstice party was the first Buffalo party I went to and one of my all-time favorite parties. I made so many friends there that I still have today. Such a great introduction to Buffalo. I’m excited to help this year because I want the behind-the-scenes experience of helping organize a very intentional party. I want to help cultivate the Solstice vibe.”

Organizers are still looking for volunteers if you’d like to help with this epic event. Reach out via Facebook or the website, listed below.

For anyone in need of a bike, consider using Reddy Bikeshare, which has locations near the areas where the solstice event is taking place. For anyone wanting to skip the bike ride and go to the dance party, the location will be announced on Facebook the night of the event.

More information is available on the website, pre-sale tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite for $15. Tickets will be available at the door for $20.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TICKETS

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This summer, there’s a lot to look forward to at the Seneca One Tower, including a visit to The Other Half Brewing Co., which opened in one of the new ancillary brick buildings on the concourse plaza.

Yesterday, I stopped in to the tasting room to see what it was all about. It’s certainly a dynamic space on the inside, but what’s really incredible is that the brewing company also has access to an impressive landscaped courtyard for outdoor seating, which is pretty cool. As more people discover The Other Half, this is going to become a happening place downtown, there is no doubt.

As for the interior of the building, it’s very spacious, with plenty of seating. There are also lots of games to play, from basketball toss to video and pinball games.

The tasting room will definitely attract many of the employees working in the tower, but it’s also going to be a great draw for others throughout the region. For far too long, the Tower’s concourse has been an underutilized resource, until now.

It’s reminiscent of a small public square, where people can congregate and sip a draught beer, a glass of wine, a cider, or even a ginger beer. Along with beer can singles and bottle pours, there’s to-go beer (4-packs and bottles-to-go).

The Other Half Brewing Co. is a great addition to the ever-morphing mix of businesses, events and activities at the Tower.

Future location – current (temporary) spot is seen to the left in the photo

Apparently, at some point down the road, the plan is for The Other Half to move into an even larger brick ancillary building on the plaza, even closer to the Tower, which still has direct access to the sprawling courtyard. At that time, it would be great to see the operation build out a full kitchen, the way they did with their Philadelphia location. Being able to grab a beer and some food – while sitting outside at one of Buffalo’s most impressive patios – sounds just about perfect.

Regardless of future food considerations, the opening of The Other Half, with a set schedule of operational days and hours (see website), bodes well for the Buffalo beer scene.

The Other Half Brewing Co. (Buffalo) | Seneca One Tower | 1 Seneca Street | Buffalo, New York 14203 | (716) 409-4379 | Take the Metro Rail

All Other Half Brewing locations have some light food options (i.e jerky, popcorn, nachos, nuts etc.)

Also see Seneca One Summer Jam Series

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As if having some of the hottest bars and restaurants in the Elmwood Village wasn’t enough, the unstoppable teams behind the Beer Keep, Jack Rabbit, and Breezy Burrito Bar are heating up the summer with the debut of Elmwood Summerfest. Experience the Elmwood Village like never before with this fun in the sun festival happening just weeks away on Sunday, June 26th 2022.

Elmwood Summerfest is a street festival dedicated to celebrating all things Summer in Buffalo – beer, food, community, and of course music! The festival will showcase 15+ bands & performers on a large outdoor stage located right in the middle of Elmwood Ave. Also featured will be the Buffalo Eats 1st Annual Hot Dog Eating Competition, a Live Art installation, and a Genesee Brewing beer tent slinging your favorite beers, ciders, seltzers. The music lineup spotlights acts from Buffalo as well as the Rochester area including Sideways, Witty Tarbox, Farrow, Grosh, American Nosebleed, Folkfaces, Well Worn Boot, Johnny Hart and the Mess, Kevin Sampson and the Night Shift, plus more.

Recently, the Bidwell Park area of Buffalo’s Elmwood Village has seen unparalleled rebirth and renewal as an entertainment and hospitality destination. Elmwood Summerfest is a product of the new neighborhood bars, restaurants, and venues coming together to put on a neighborhood focused street festival.

“One of the many wonderful things about the Elmwood Village is its overwhelming sense of surprise – surprise at what you see coming down the street or around a corner, something you missed on a previous visit,“ said Cory Muscato, Owner/Operator at The Beer Keep.

”It’s that sense of endless possibility that we invite people to come experience at the first Elmwood Summerfest.”

For a next-level festival experience, The Beer Keep, Jack Rabbit, and Breezy Burrito Bar will be opening their doors exclusively to VIP pass-holders. At all three locations, VIP pass holders can enjoy air conditioning, private bathrooms, fully stocked bars, patio access, and lounging areas.

“Music has been a cornerstone of Jack Rabbit since our initial idea phase. Expanding that outside of our walls has been top priority since day one,” says Josh Mullin, Owner/Operator of Jack Rabbit. “We’re super excited to be working with our best buds, and neighbors, to bring this amazing event directly to the street.”

Festival highlights include:

15+ bands and performancesThe Buffalo Eats 1st Annual Hot Dog Eating CompetitionLive Art Installation by local artistsFestival beer tent featuring Genesee Brewing beers, Clarksburg Cider, and seltzers.Exclusive VIP access to the interiors of The Beer Keep, Jack Rabbit, and Breezy Burrito Bar with air conditioning, fully stocked bars, private bathrooms, patio access, and lounging areasLocal food and festival vendors

Festival gates will open at 12:00pm on Sunday, June 26th with music and performances continuing all day. General admission festival passes will be $25 in advance with a limited number of VIP passses available for $50.

To purchase tickets please visit elmwoodsummerfest.com and for festival news and updates you can follow Elmwood Summerfest on the producing business’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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On Saturday, June 11, four-time Grammy award winning soprano Renée Fleming will join the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra on stage at Kleinhans Music Hall for its gala season finale. Fleming’s performance will be centered around four songs of a never completed five-song farewell series by Richard Strauss. The program will open with the BPO’s world premiere performance of The Winter That United Us by composer Wang Jie.

Fleming has performed in operas, concert halls and theaters worldwide, earning 17 Grammy nominations, as well as being awarded America’s highest honor for an individual artist, the National Medal of Arts. Fleming’s list of global distinguished appearances is vast, from performing at the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, to her groundbreaking 2008 performance as the first woman in the 125-year history of the Metropolitan Opera to solo headline its opening night gala, to her 2009 performance at the Inaugural Celebration for President Obama, to becoming the first classical artist to ever sing “The Star Spangled Banner” at the SuperBowl in 2014. Film lovers will recognize her voice from the soundtracks of Best Picture Oscar winners The Shape of Water and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Fleming’s stunning voice, star power, and diverse achievements have brought new audiences to the opera and classical world. 

Buffalo Rising did a Q&A with Fleming to learn more about her upcoming performance and her connections to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Can you share a little bit about your connection to the Western New York area?

I always feel at home in what New York City dwellers call “upstate,” but which encompasses pretty much everything north or northwest of that city. I think many people aren’t aware of how culturally rich the region is. For instance, I love modern art and visit museums everywhere I travel, but I have enjoyed some of the most fantastic exhibits I can recall at places like the Albright-Knox Museum in Buffalo. I also think Buffalo, as a city, has a pretty fascinating history.

You last performed with the BPO in 2014. What are you looking forward to about taking the stage with this orchestra again?

Coming out of the past two years, it’s a joy to be back singing for a live audience. But I’m especially excited to work with JoAnn Falletta again. She is a phenomenally gifted conductor, and has an extraordinary ensemble in the Buffalo Philharmonic. I think it says a lot about the artistic environment in Buffalo that it was here that the first woman was appointed to lead a major American orchestra.  

Can you share a little bit about Strauss’s “Four Last Songs” and why you enjoy performing this work? What can audiences look forward to?

Richard Strauss’s “Four Last Songs” is one of the great concert works for soprano and orchestra – maybe the greatest, at least for me. He wrote these songs at the end of his career– he was in his 80s– and they weren’t published as a cycle until after he had died. They are sublimely beautiful, both the poems themselves, by Hermann Hesse and Joseph von Eichendorff, and Strauss’s setting of them. He had an unsurpassed gift for writing for the soprano voice – perhaps because he was married to a soprano. It was the von Eichendorff poem “Im Abendrot” (At Sunset) that inspired Strauss to begin this work, and it’s a beautiful summation of a couple at twilight, still in love after a lifetime together. 

Any advice you would give to your young listeners, the emerging opera stars of tomorrow? 

I think it’s fantastic that audiences both young and old today have access, at the touch of a keyboard, to virtually every genre of music there is. So my only advice would be to explore everything, be adventurous, and find and support live performances of the music that speaks to you. There is nothing like the shared experience of music or art for building social cohesion, and I think we can all agree that this is an urgent need in our society. And we are learning more every day about the power of music to improve our health and well-being throughout our lives. This has become a real passion for me over the past few years, and I’m involved with a range of new initiatives. I’m working with major institutions like The Kennedy Center, the National Institutes of Health, Johns Hopkins University, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Aspen Institute to help explore and educate about the potential of music and arts to heal and strengthen our minds, bodies, and communities. 

What’s next on the horizon for your career? Any projects/performances that you’re looking forward to?

I’m excited to be singing in the world premiere staging of The Hours at the Metropolitan Opera this fall. It’s by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts, based on the best-selling novel and Oscar-winning film. We premiered the work in concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra in March, and it’s a gorgeous, powerful opera. I have a film project in the works, to launch soon, and in 2023 I’m looking forward to touring with the great pianist Evgeny Kissin, and returning to the Paris Opera to play Pat Nixon in John Adams’ Nixon in China, which will be a new role for me.

Fleming’s performance with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra takes place on Saturday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Kleinhans Music Hall. To purchase tickets for this weekend’s performance, visit www.bpo.org or call the box office at (716) 885-5000.

This content is part of a sponsored series in partnership with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

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We’ve been discussing the future of the DL&W Terminal (The Bush Train Shed) for decades. What seemingly should be considered “low hanging fruit” for downtown and waterfront development has turned into being an elusive quandary. Being situated right smack dab in the middle of a prime development opportunity – in the Cobblestone District, along the Buffalo River, and on the edge of Canalside – one would think that a project might have unfolded by now, in the general scheme of things. The sprawling building’s second floor has been considered prime for a market, a museum, a transportation hub, among other potential uses.

Now the future of the train shed is in Sam Savarino’s (President and CEO of Savarino Companies) hands. Savarino has been selected by the NFTA to develop 100,000 square feet of the double-deck train shed – a project that could reach the $30 million mark. Now, the idea is to create a multi-purpose venue that would also serve as a transportation hub.

It was Savarino who passed along a couple of historic images of the DL&W, along with some conceptual renderings that showcase the possibilities. What most people don’t realize about the structure is that there is a vast abundance of daylight thanks to numerous overhead industrial skylights. Not to mention the tremendous glass windows that envelope the building. This fact alone gets Savarino excited about the future outlook of the space. It’s very dynamic, not just in scale, but in appearance.

For anyone that has ever been the the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, the DL&W offers a similar sort of public market vibe. A couple of assets that bode well for the Buffalo landmark is that it can service both rail and water (the Buffalo River), and there is a 30,000 square foot outdoor concourse element that is the perfect setting for concerts, patio seating, vendors… it’s akin to a European piazza, except its elevated, with views onto the water and downtown skyline. The DL&W Terminal will one day be an epicenter of activity along the waterfront, unlike anything else in the region.

“The building has historic pedigree,” said Savarino. “It’s a great public space. The NFTA is completing the second part of the station construction at the moment, so it’s an active construction site. The next step for us is to get designing the following phase of improvements, to facilitate the redeveloped station. It’s all coming around – it’s important to put back in the skylights, and the windows that have been bricked up. Approximately 50 percent of the surface spaces are translucent – not many people are aware of that.”

Savarino also said that structural improvements are underway, as part of New York State’s $30 million commitment to preparing the historic space for its future use as a public amenity. That work includes constructing a tower that is being built at the Illinois entrance, which will address ADA compliant access. There will also be pedestrian access from Ohio Street, and from Canalside along the water, where there will hopefully be a dock one day. Savarino mentioned that he has about 6,000 square feet to play with on the first floor, which will interact with a boating community (water rights are still being sought for the dock space). There are still a number of question marks that need to be addressed, such as how to get goods up and down, as well as garbage, and even service vehicles. Since work is currently underway restoring the complex, many of these issues can not be tackled until Savarino and his team can get inside to start their own phases of work. There is also the question of connecting the train shed to the Arena, for access, parking, and so on. As much as the DL&W is an active construction site, it’s also a project in motion for Savarino, who continues to identify the best practical uses for the space.

Photo from Historic American Engineering Record, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, 1917. Historian Joan P. Schmidt | Architect Kenneth M. Murchison

Throughout the building, inside and out, there will be plenty of opportunities for small local vendors, who will find the complex to be approachable. The point being that if the shed is to become a premier public space, it’s got to perform akin to a European piazza, where all are welcome, and the mix of goods and services are the big attractions.

When there are not ticketed events and performances on the sprawling outdoor concourse, it will be open and available for people to hang out, sit down, sip a coffee, take in the sun, etc.

According to Savarino, the station won’t be done until 2024. While he will be working on the planning and execution leading up to that time, he really won’t be able to start his end of the project until he gets a green light to enter the building. Once he gets the green light, he will be primed for action. He told me that he is hoping to have his part of the project completed by 2025.

Currently, Savarino is hoping that all concerned entities understand the historic importance of this train shed – a significant (and rare) early example of the use of reinforced concrete thanks to DL&W Railroad’s chief engineer, Lincoln Bush* (hence its name – The Bush Train Shed). The structure was designed to accommodate train and steamer passengers. This project has got Buffalo written all over it. It’s going to change the face of the waterfront, virtually overnight. It’s also going to be a world class attraction that will showcase this city in the light that it deserves.

“There’s a lot of history there,” said Savarino. “We lost the terminal building next to it, but we still have this significant landmark to work with.”

*Historic American Engineering Record, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, 1917. Historian Joan P. Schmidt | Architect Kenneth M. Murchison

The post A Glass Act: DL&W Terminal appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

Republicans and Conservatives – at it again.

Just one week after Congressman Chris Jacobs issued a principled stance on gun control, Republicans and their allies in the Conservative Party have spoken.  There is no room in their parties for open opinions.  Guns are more important than the lives of innocent children and everyday citizens.  Get in line or get out.

These folks should understand the meaning of the word “target.”  The target that Jacobs supports, the target that Governor Kathy Hochul and others are aiming at, the target that overwhelming majorities of Americans (70 percent or more) are focusing on, is restricting or stopping the sale of military assault weapons and the gun paraphernalia that goes along with that.  No sales to anyone under the age of 21.  Enhanced background checks and waiting periods.  Meaningful red flag laws.  All commonsense attempts to get this madness under control.

Assault weapons are not for hunting, they are for killing, mass killings as quickly as possible. 

Assault weapons are not for hunting, they are for killing, mass killings as quickly as possible.  The Rs and Cs need to end the charade that they serve any other purpose.  They need to read about what bullets firing out of such weapons do to a body hit by them.

Stop the BS about someone coming to take away their guns.  Read the Constitution and see that the second amendment concerns a “well regulated Militia.”  The weapon the founders were protecting was their trusty one-shot-at-a-time musket.

There have been several iterations over the years of what will in January 2023 become New York’s 23rd congressional district.  Jack Kemp held a previous version of the seat for 18 years.  The district is not what it used to be.  The person assuming that seat in January will be the sixth person to hold it in just over 15 years.  Three Republicans stepped away from the seat amid scandal.

The district is heavily Republican, thanks to the judicial gerrymander that redrew the district lines for the next ten years. Donald Trump carried the district by 18 points two years ago. So much for the new competitive seats. Republicans in their August 23rd primary could be electing the next member of Congress. The choices are less than inspiring.

State Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy is a bright and hard-working party leader, but he seems to be looking at his shelf life for party leadership.  His interests in running for office appears to be a concession that his party has no chance for electing anyone to statewide office this year, so best look for the door.  Who cares how he elbows his way into the picture?  It was just two years ago that Langworthy’s wife, Erin Baker, was raising money for Jacobs’ campaign.

The old warhorse, Carl Paladino, also wants the seat.  His politics and personality would put him in line to be the Marjorie Taylor Greene of New York.

The old warhorse, Carl Paladino, also wants the seat.  His politics and personality would put him in line to be the Marjorie Taylor Greene of New York.

There are other, lesser lights who have an interest in the seat, but unless they have been busy the past few days gathering signatures on petitions, their efforts will flame out quickly.  Marc Cenedella, a businessman from New York City who recently re-planted himself in Fredonia, might make it through the process.  The filing deadline for petitions is Friday, June 10.

Maybe there won’t even be a primary if the R and C leaders can fend off the petitioners and simply use their powers as Jacobs’ Committee on Vacancies to fill the nomination by fiat.  Langworthy would have the best chance of pulling that off.

If you are thinking that you have seen this chaotic show before, you are correct.  In 2018 Republican candidates and party leaders spent weeks maneuvering around Chris Collins’ legal problems, finally giving up and running him for re-election.

It should always be remembered that this new member of Congress from the 23rd district bullied his (there are no female candidates) way into the office.  He will have the reputation for having put guns ahead of people’s lives.

But that characterization goes beyond the new congressman.  The Republican Party stands in lockstep with that approach.  Jacobs, in his speech declining the nomination, spoke about how all Republican officeholders and party leaders told him to get out.  So if you get a chance, ask the next Republican politician you come in contact with where he or she stands on the question of guns versus peoples’ lives.  Leave a little room for them.  They are going to be doing a lot of dancing around that issue.

Ken Kruly writes about politics and other stuff at politicsandstuff.com.

Follow on Twitter @kenkruly

The post Republican Chaos in the 23rd district – Part II (guns versus peoples’ lives) appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

Arts Services Inc. of Western New York (ASI), on behalf of Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera’s Office and the Elmwood Village Association (EVA), invites artists in all appropriate mediums (2-dimensional and 3-dimensional) from throughout Western New York to submit proposals for an outdoor public art project located at 902 Elmwood Ave in Buffalo, NY.

Project Background and Goals
902 Elmwood Ave is located in the Elmwood Village in Buffalo, NY. Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera’s Office is seeking an imaginative design for the south-facing wall of the building.

The chosen work should:

Proposed design should connect to the themes of gardens and the outdoors, music, and/or diversity and inclusion.Proposed design should embody the EVA’s goals of community and improving quality of life.Encompass section outlined in attached image – 20’ length and 12’ height on the second story of the building. Proposals using paint and/or outdoor wall wraps will be considered.Have an expected lifespan of three to five (3-5) years unprotected from the elements with repairs and maintenance to be completed by the artist at no expense to the building owner during this period.

Budget
A commission of up to $8,000 is available for the chosen artist to create and install their work. Artists are required to provide all supplies, materials, and insurance to complete the work, including a scissor lift, bucket truck and/or scaffolding, if needed. Building owner can arrange storage on site at the building, if needed. Artist should detail what assistance or materials are provided by his/her/theirself and what may be required or needed by building owners or others in their proposal (if applicable).

Timeline
Deadline to Submit: No later than 5 pm on Monday, June 27
End of June-early July 2022: Selection of Artist
July 2022: Public Announcement of Selection
August 2022: Mural implementation & planning meetings; completed and installed work (weather-dependent)

The timeline will adhere to building status and preparation (if needed) to execute a mural when appropriate; including factoring in proper weather conditions.

Proposals should include:

Sketches of the work;A description of the work including concept, materials, and dimensions;A budget breaking out artist fees, supplies and materials, and any other costs associated with the creation of the work;Links to examples of past work; andContact information (including email, phone, and address).

Proposals should be sent electronically (in PDF form) to info@asiwny.org with the subject line ‘902 Elmwood Ave Mural Proposal’, as can questions. Since the site is open and available to the public, a site visit can be done at any time necessary.

Proposals are due no later than 5 pm on Monday, June 27, 2022.

A panel of qualified arts and business professionals (including Assemblymember Rivera and members of the Elmwood Village Association) will review proposals for their eligibility and appropriateness for the project. Priority consideration will be given to artists representing marginalized communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ identifying individuals.

Building and Site Details:
– Mural will be placed on second story of the south-facing wall of the building.
– Dimensions of the building are 20’ in length x 12’ high.
– Sign currently installed on the wall will be taken down or lowered.
– Electrical wires will be lowered while work is being completed.
– Building is brick and may need to be primed or sealed prior to painting.
– Onsite storage will be provided to selected artist.
– Electricity and water access can be arranged for selected artist.

The post Call for Mural Artists in Elmwood Village appeared first on Buffalo Rising.