The Olympics don’t seem to be attracting much attention, but the process of redrawing legislative districts is. It’s a sporting event for the political crowd, with winners and losers.

Redistricting is about numbers.  Your start with the federal census, determine how many people live in each block or tract and then start putting those blocks and tracts together until you have a legislative district – federal, state, local – that approximates the average number of residents in the state, county or city divided by the number of legislators that someone back in time decided would be sent to Congress, the State Legislature, the County Legislature or the City Council.  Ideally the districts should be relatively compact with contiguous geography while avoiding creating districts that favor one party or demographic group over another one.

Those ideal criteria, of course, are generally ignored over the long history of legislative districting in the United States.  Instead, we read about and become conditioned to expect the creation of legislative districts that are anything but compact, contiguous, non-partisan or blind to the demographics of the state or locality.  There is a word for that – gerrymandering.

Many county legislatures in New York State, including Erie and Niagara, have already settled on their districts for the next ten years with hardly a whimper of difficulty.  City councils in the area are taking their time about approving their districts, but it is likely that you will not read much about that process once it occurs.  The action now concerns federal and state redistricting which has been in the hands of the members of the State Legislature, or more accurately, the Democratic majorities in the Assembly and Senate.

City councils in the area are taking their time about approving their districts, but it is likely that you will not read much about that process once it occurs.

It was not supposed to be this way, but it has mostly been this way going back a couple of centuries.  More recent experience has led to an experiment that in 2022 is proving to be unworkable.  Hey, this is New York State.

In 2012 Republicans still had some influence on the redistricting process through the State Senate but with Democrats firmly in charge of the Assembly there was no agreement to be found on congressional redistricting.  A federal court got involved and districts were subsequently drawn by a master appointed by the court.

That action led in 2014 to a state constitutional amendment that created an Independent Redistricting Commission that on a bi-partisan basis was charged with drawing new district lines.  The change also stated that districts would need to be as compact and contiguous as possible while avoiding obvious party enrollment shenanigans.

The Commission set about its work in 2021 but could not come to an agreement on one map, so each party submitted its own version.  The recommendations were submitted to the Legislature and rejected by two-thirds votes, thus freeing the Legislature to draw its own lines.  Last week the Legislature approved the congressional and state legislative districts.

As one might expect in a situation where one party dominated, the approved re-districting suited Democrats and angered Republicans.  Court action from the Republicans began on February 3rd.

Republican objections, while anticipated, are basically following the traditional Redistricting 101 Guidebook for parties out of power.  Redistricting is going on in every state and none of the New York Republicans now complaining had anything negative to say about Republican gerrymandering in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, or other Republican-controlled states.  New York Republicans in decades past did their own gerrymandering.  Their legacy lives on.  The reason we now have sixty-three senators instead of sixty is that Republicans simply added Senate seats over previous cycles to maintain their control of the Senate.

As things stand now, here are some observations about certain federal and state districts in Western New York:

Brian Higgins must be very happy.  His 26th district is overwhelming Democratic and simply adds the Town of Niagara and more of Wheatfield to his current district.
Chris Jacobs wasted little time planting his flag in the new 24thdistrict, which skirts along Lake Ontario from Lewiston to Watertown, which by calculations of Buffalo News reporter Jerry Zremski is 256 miles long.  Jacobs will move his residence to get into the new district.  The district is overwhelming Republican, which probably explains why Jacobs has not been joining in the Republican chorus of complainers.
And then there is the new 23rd district, also heavily Republican and also stretching a long way from Lake Erie to Broome County, including towns in the southern part of Erie County.  Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, whose current district is based in central New York, is planning to move into the 23rd.  Tenney is one of the Trumpiest of Trumpkin members of Congress, so Erie County is in for a treat.
The new State Senate 63rd district places incumbent Democrat Tim Kennedy and Republican Ed Rath in the same district.  Rath is a good campaigner but the district is overwhelmingly Democratic by registration and Kennedy has about $2 million in his campaign account so a Kennedy versus Rath campaign is unlikely.  The neighboring district to Rath’s current district is occupied by fellow Republican Senator Pat Gallivan.  Given Rath’s long-time connections to the Town of Amherst a race for the 146th Assembly District against Karen McMahon might be tempting for Rath.  Historic note:  prior to his 28 year congressional career John LaFalce started his elected history with a term in the Senate followed by a term in the Assembly.
Gallivan’s new 61st senate district includes Cheektowaga, which could encourage a stronger Democratic challenge than Gallivan has been used to.
Sean Ryan’s new 60th District, like the 149th Assembly District he formally represented, continues to bind together territory north and south with a narrow strip of land along Lake Erie.
A major change in district boundaries comes in the 143rd District which is represented by Democrat Monica Wallace.  Wallace survived with a narrow victory in 2020 over an unknown and underfunded Republican.  The new 143rd District loses a portion of the Town of Lancaster but gains substantial Democratic territory in Buffalo, which should make her re-election prospects considerably better.
Assemblymember Pat Burke’s 142nd District splits off a portion of the Town of Orchard Park.  In redistricting scenarios gone by a “Town Rule” applied, meaning that unless a town was larger than the population of an average Assembly district, towns were never subdivided.

What comes next?

The legal challenges have begun.  The political calendar for 2022 that has been published follows a schedule necessary for a June 28th primary.  That means that petitions for congressional and state legislative districts will be circulated starting on March 1.  If a court finds that the challenge may have merit it could re-set the calendar.  August primary anyone?

In the words of the immortal Yogi Berra, “it ain’t over till it’s over.”  Sounds about right for New York 2022 redistricting.

Jeff Wice, a senior fellow at New York Law School’s Census and Redistricting Institute who has had decades of experience with New York State redistricting, is quoted in Politico saying “[t]he state courts in New York have been very reticent to reject any plans enacted by the state Legislature.  The courts don’t see it as their role.”

If you’re looking for actual reform, a national solution is really required.

If you’re looking for actual reform, a national solution is really required. It would be unrealistic to expect Democrats in New York to unilaterally disarm and give up gerrymandering congressional seats if Republicans in other states persist in such shenanigans. Unfortunately, the logical arbiter, the U.S. Supreme Court, recently washed its hands of the matter, saying it would not review partisan gerrymandering disputes: another erosion of our democratic republic and any semblance of “one man, one vote”.

A footnote

The Republican National Committee, at its meeting last week, unanimously pronounced the January 6th insurrection at the United States Capitol to be “legitimate political discourse.” It was in fact a riot that led to several deaths and dozens injured. Wondering: who represented the New York State Republican Party at that meeting and voted in favor of declaring the riot “legitimate political discourse?”

Ken Kruly writes about politics and other stuff at politicsandstuff.com. You can visit his site to leave a comment pertaining to this post.

Follow Ken on Twitter @kenkruly

Sometimes the squeaky wheel does get the grease. In the case of Buffalo’s abominable snow removal tactics (or lack thereof), a lot of people are fed up. They’re tired of being trapped at street corners, while attempting to navigate piles of ice and snow left behind, in the wake of the City’s snowplows. They’re tired of lazy, frugal, and absentee landlords (and businesses) that don’t shovel after snowfalls. And they’re tired of the lack of response from the people at the top, who should be leading the charge to solve this nagging problem. After all, this is a quality of life issue that everyone must deal with, year after year.

John T., from North Park Avenue recently wrote, in response to this article, “I hope it leads to some serious improvements in municipal snow removal. My personal problem is that I’m elderly. My landlord does get a plow service to do my driveway (I have a small Honda Civic that hates snow). Then the City plow comes by my side street and delivers a foot and a half of icy snow rocks to the foot of the driveway making it almost impassable. Impossible to shovel, it only yields to thawing, of which we’ve had precious little this winter.”

A typical snow covered sidewalk/street corner

John is by no means alone in his sentiments. People from all across the city have been up in arms per the City’s laissez faire attitude towards snow clearing on city sidewalks (and streets). We’ve seen that other cities such as Rochester (read this) and Syracuse have figured out a way to enact municipal snow clearing… so why not Buffalo?

Well, here’s your chance to speak up, finally.

The Buffalo Common Council will be holding a special Finance Committee meeting to hear resident concerns, ideas, and feedback for the recent snow removal efforts at the following date and time:

Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2021

5:30 PM

Virtual on Zoom

Streaming live on Facebook

This virtual meeting is open to the public and City residents are encouraged to join and speak on the topic of snow removal. If a City resident would like to join the meeting via Zoom, please email councilstaff@buffalony.gov.

There are plenty of people in Buffalo’s storied history that make me proud to be a Buffalonian; many are household names – Mary Talbert, Louise Bethune, Ani DiFranco. In my opinion, Shirley Kassman is up there too. Kassman shattered glass ceilings before the term glass ceiling was even coined.

Shirley Kassman is known just as much for her art and as she is for her activism, which makes the latest exhibition of her work aptly titled, Shirley Kassman Artist/Activist.

Here’s a little background on this groundbreaking woman:

(1929-1991) | American | Born: Hamburg, New York, USA | Image courtesy Burchfield Penney Art Center

Shirley was hired at Buffalo State College in 1958 to teach art. For years, she faced blatant sex discrimination and constant disparaging by male staff. Yet she didn’t stop teaching or creating art. Her persistence paid off. She retired from Buff State in 1989 after having served as a full professor and Design Department Chair.

And her career as an artist? Well it speaks for itself. She had numerous one-person shows in addition to group shows and regional and national juried shows. Notably, she had a solo show at the Albright Knox Member’s Gallery in 1981. The Burchfield Penney put on a 15-year retrospective of her work in 1987. Honestly, the list of her awards is too lengthy to include here.

She used her art to challenge the role of women in American society and the definition of womanhood.

She used her art to challenge the role of women in American society and the definition of womanhood.  As an activist for women’s rights, and especially for promoting women in art, she notably was a founding member of Buffalo State’s Woman’s Studies Academy and also the WNY Women’s Art Registry.

Invisibility/Shrouded, 1986; oil paint and oil pastel on paper, 72 x 41 5/8 inches; Gift of Tracey Kassman, 2017 | Image courtesy Burchfield Penney Art Center

Shirley lived in the Elmwood Village and maintained a studio just a short walk down the block. Tragically, she died in 1991 at the age of 62 of breast cancer. The sex discrimination, her battle with cancer, all of it is depicted in her art. Her creativity helping her to process and cope with all that life flung at her.

It would be wonderful to sit down with Shirley and listen to her stories; stories about creating art, stories about women’s liberation during the 60s and 70s, stories about not giving up. In a way, experiencing her art is like hearing her stories. We should all be proud to be from the same city as Shirley Kassman.

Donald Siuta, gallery director of Western New York Artists Group, knew Kassman personally. When you are at the gallery taking in her work, do ask Donald for his insights into the pieces and her life. Her art and life were very much intertwined and he can help tease out some of her stories.

Shirley Kassman Artist/Activist is at Art Dialogue Gallery now through March 4, 2022.

Art Dialogue Gallery

5 Linwood Avenue, Buffalo NY

Gallery Hours:

Tuesday through Friday 11am to 5pm

Saturday 11am to 3pm

All images in this article – examples of Kassman’s works – courtesy Burchfield Penney Art Center

Lead image (L-R): Invisible/Divisible, 1986; oil paint and oil pastel on paper, 72 x 41 5/8 inches; Gift of Tracey Kassman, 2017 | A Time Built on Sand, undated; mixed media on canvas, 40 x 36 inches; Estate of Dr. Edna M. Lindemann, 2007 | Untitled (from the Metallic Series), 1981; metallic color pencil on paper, paper: 20 x 14 3/4 inches; Purchased with the funds from John and Carol Kociela, 2017

Once again, as in “There Will Be Blood” (2007) and “Boogie Nights” (1997), director Paul Thomas Anderson pushes the envelope with “Licorice Pizza.” But it’s not the envelope he relishes, the one that will contain the name of the Academy’s Best Picture, despite the considerable attention the film has received in Oscar circles. Instead, Anderson pushes the envelope of the rom-com genre, offering up a version of the “odd couple” that makes Felix and Oscar look normal. 

Most rom-coms have a simple plot and ask a single question—will the guy and the girl, despite their differences, get together?—invariably answered in the affirmative. You’ll have to hold your breath for 2 hours and 13 minutes to find out if the mismatched “Licorice Pizza” duo will discover mutual bliss. 

Anderson offers up a version of the “odd couple” (Alana Haim as Alana and Cooper Hoffman as Gary) that makes Felix and Oscar look normal.

Gary (Cooper Hoffman, the son of Philip Seymour Hoffman) is an overweight, round-faced, somewhat schleppy, self-confident, driven 15-year-old, with a past as a child actor and a future that’s open to any venture that strikes him. Alana (Alana Haim, of the rock band Haim, in her debut acting role), is 25, rail-thin, Modigliani-faced, and unmotivated, lacking not only confidence (except in her body) but any sense of identity, with a lowly job as assistant to a photographer of school children and, as the film makes explicit, with what is more than once described as a “Jewish nose.” About all they share, besides a plot designed to make them a couple, are that they live at home and have imperfect complexions. Hence the title, an obvious reference to two things not usually consumed at the same time.

In many rom-coms (“Pretty Woman,” 1990), both the protagonists find the other inadequate, and both must find a path to a relationship. Not here. For Gary it’s love at first sight (his last name is Valentine), and it’s only Alana who must commit. To keep us interested in Gary, Anderson offers up what might be described as a series of comedy sketches, most of them illustrating Gary’s entrepreneurial side—the opening of, first, a waterbed business (the film is set in 1973 in the suburbs of the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles), and then a pinball parlor; a teen fair; a couple of wildly stereotypical takes on gay men; an awkward Jewish Shabbat family dinner (with the real Haim family); and two scenes featuring a white man mimicking the Japanese accent of each of his two wives—funny, except maybe if you’re Japanese. Gary is the 1970s equivalent of today’s social media influencer, a non-stop presence whose one constant is his interest in Alana.  

Cooper Hoffman as Gary Valentine, in his immediately hot pinball parlor.

Although Alana learns to appreciate Gary’s business acumen, she comes into her own only in the film’s second half, in which Anderson revels in his fondness for “Hollywood” and Hollywood stars. The cast list goes on forever, full of cameos of current stars and references to old ones—from Lucille Ball to Fred Gwynne—as well as a host of minor characters (family members, school buddies, hangers-on), about whom we care not one whit. As in all good rom-coms, there are no consequences to any of the threats posed by people or vehicles (of which there are many: bicycles, trucks, motorcycles). Anderson adds more than a few scenes of improbable running, even though the last way one can get from Point A to Point B in Southern California is on foot.

The Hollywood scenes have an overall place in the script: Alana must come to appreciate Gary’s authenticity, his sense of purpose and his comfort in his way of being in the world, and she must show something of her own inner strength. But the lessons are delivered with a heavy hand.

Anderson revels in his fondness
for “Hollywood” and Hollywood
stars. Bradley Cooper is a sex-addicted, Elvis-like “star.”​

Enter the star-studded cast, mostly just having fun with their outsized roles: Bradley Cooper, overacting to a fault, as an Elvis-like, womanizing ego of a man (“I’m addicted to tail”), blustering and threatening—and putting the make on Alana; Tom Waits (more overacting) as a shouting restaurateur/master of ceremonies lighting fires on a golf course; and Sean Penn (yes, more overacting), as a motorcycle riding actor and drunk daredevil, whose smooth talk temporarily mesmerizes Alana (drunk herself, she asks him if he’s being truthful or just “acting”), suggesting that she hasn’t yet made the transition to a “real” man (or real teenager), Gary. Other recent films—“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019) and “La La Land” (2016)—fetishized Hollywood, but with more subtlety and purpose than Anderson musters here.

Even so, the Hollywood segment contains one of the best scenes in the film, featuring Alana, driving a truck, backwards, down a long, steep, narrow, curvy, dark road in the Santa Monica mountains that rim LA. It’s both funny and—if you’ve ever driven a vehicle backwards at high speed—frightening. It’s a coming out moment for Alana, a revelation that she can be gritty and determined and rise to the occasion, that she has a tough side. She can’t ride a horse or speak Portuguese, as she claims, but she can drive a truck in reverse. And so, she’s a match for Gary.

Except she’s not. She’s 10 years older, and it matters only a little that Gary turns 16 late in the film (an attempt to avoid the problematic image of statutory rape). He’s affable, and she’s got a great smile, but otherwise they’re just too different to imagine as a couple. The age disparity (and Gary’s youth) has another effect , too: most of the film is scrubbed of erotic content. There’s no sexual contact between the two, and even the closing kiss is filmed from mid-distance, and in the shadows, as if Anderson knew his audience would not want to see more.

Aided by excellent performances from two ingénues, the film is moderately entertaining. In the end, you’ve still got “Licorice” and “Pizza.” It’ll be a while before you see that combination at Papa John’s.

Date: 2021

Stars: 2.5 (out of 4)

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring: Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim, John C. Reilly, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, Haim family members

Runtime: 133 minutes

Other Awards: 50 wins, including American Film Institute’s Movie of the Year, and 159 nominations to date—many for Haim and Bradley Cooper

Country: Canada, United States

Language: English

Availability: In theaters now; streaming date not yet set; see JustWatch here for updates.

Lead image: Gary (Cooper Hoffman) and Alana (Alana Haim) in one of their many running scenes.

See all Five Cent Cine reviews by 2 Film Critics

Buffalo has always been home big bands. Of course there was a time when they were all the rage, but as with most things, the decline of Buffalo saw the decline of the big bands. While they never fizzled out, they certainly weren’t top of mind, until more recent times. Today, the big band scene in Buffalo includes acts such as Pete Ciraolo All Star Big Band, Bob Meier and the Hitmen horns, WNY Big Band, The George Scott Big Band, Carol McLaughlin Big Band, WNY Big Band, and Joe Baudo’s Big Band.

I spoke Denise Beehag, singer for Joe Baudo’s Big Band, who told me that she was amazed that there are so many big bands in Buffalo.

“There must be something in the water,” said Denise. “I am aware of at least 7. There are little big bands, and big big bands. In Europe, traditional big bands are still very popular. People get dressed up to attend the performances. In the US, Michael Buble sort of put the style of music back on the map. Big bands can be very diverse – they can play everything from Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower of Power, to the classics. When I was young, I would listen to the old songs by these bands in my grandparents’ basement. Nothing else sounds like a big band – listening to a live performance gives me chills.”

Joe Baudo started his band in 1972 – he had a love for the music and was arranging for the school ensemble where he taught.

I asked Denise how she came to sing for Joe Baudo’s Big Band, and what she told me struck me as very funny.

“It was shortly before covid hit that I wound up at The Sportsmens Tavern for a Leadership Buffalo lunch,” she said. “There was a jazz quartet playing, led by Joe Baudo. During the intermission, I was joking around, telling one of the musicians that I was a singer. When Joe got back from the break, the musician said that I was a singer, and Joe asked me up on stage during the second act. Before I knew it I was singing for a 17-piece band [laughing].”

Denise told me that she always dreamed of having an opportunity of this nature, but just kept on putting it off. “I hadn’t been singing since high school,” she said. “When I turned 50 I thought to myself, ‘What am I waiting for?’ I had no intention of asking to get up on stage on that day. It was an ‘in the moment’ lesson. Take the opportunities, and risk being embarrassed, or you will never know what happens. I’ve been with the band for three years now (2 during covid), and I’m in a duo with Joe (on keyboards) as well.”

Denise first got the bug for the classics when she 12 years old – she happened to see Frank Sinatra perform. “I waited in line for 7 hours with my family. I didn’t want to be there. I was miserable,” laughed Denise. “But when I saw the concert, I knew that Sinatra was something special. This is timeless music. It’s also a dying art for the most part, which is why we’re so lucky to have so much of it in Buffalo. When I see the eyes light up from the older generation, they are reliving their heyday. And when young people hear it, they love it. We’re talking about major Buffalo musicians who have played with some of the best in the business. Joe has played with Louis Prima, Dizzy Gillespie, Smokey Robinson, Wayne Newton, and Frankie Avalon. Currently, he plays keyboards in two other big bands – a lot of the musicians go from band to band. Most of Joe’s players in the Big Band have been with him for 40 years!”

When I think of big bands, my mind wanders back to the golden days of Buffalo, when their were supper clubs and concert halls left and right. I suppose I wasn’t aware that Buffalo still has, to this day, such a prolific big band culture.

“That’s why we need to support them,” Denise told me. “They aren’t just musicians, they’re teachers of the next generation of Buffalo musicians. They are carrying on the legacy of the standards and the classics.”

Supporting the big bands? Well, that’s easy. One way to do that is to head out to see a show. And guess what? You’re in luck!

Joe Baudo’s Big Band plays Valentine’s Day Dance and Music

Old romance and love songs, with some twists

Tunes like… At Last, songs by Sinatra, Sway (made popular by Buble), How Sweet It Is…, Almost Like Being In Love, Blue Moon… and fun tunes like Come Fly With Me!

Monday, February 14, 2022 | 7pm – 9:30pm

$10 at the door

@ The Cave | 71 Military Road (Owned by The Sportsmens Tavern) | 71 Military, Buffalo, NY 14207 | (716) 310-2020

Get connected: www.facebook.com/JoeBaudosbigband

With the arrival of spring comes Maple Weekend, brought to us by the New York State Maple Producers’ Association. This acclaimed event is a way to get an inside look into the world of maple products in ways that we never dreamed possible.

Maple Weekend not only showcases all of the delicious maple products that are made in New York State, it’s also the best time to visit the various sugar shacks (sugar houses) that dot our rural landscape. Some of the maple sugar stops that are found closest to home include Weber’s Maple, Kwilos Farms, Smith’s Maple Farm, Kist Maple Syrup, Gabel’s Maple Syrup, Maple Glen Sugar House, and Benz’s Sugar Shanty & Maple Products. You can visit this map to locate all of the participating NYS Maple Weekend farms, producers, sellers, and sugar shacks.

Located at over 180 farms and museums across New York State, Maple Weekend offers a delicious, fun-filled outing that has a little something for all maple-lovers to taste and experience. Join us this year for sugar shack tours, samples, activities and much more.

Maple producers tend to begin tapping trees in January or February in anticipation of the upcoming maple season. When Mother Nature starts to give us cold nights and warm days, the sap will start to flow.
Some producers use buckets to collect the sap… while others have a network of tubing for the sap to flow through.
Sap to Syrup: In order to reach the finished product of delicious maple syrup, the sap must be boiled to remove the excess water. This is done in an evaporator.
Finished Product: There are multiple grades of maple syrup, which is why you see a spectrum of colors: Golden Color – Delicate Taste; Amber Color – Rich Taste; Dark Color – Robust Taste; Very Dark color – Strong Taste

Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School (BAS) is seeking to open in the former WNY Maritime Charter School location at 266 Genesee Street. Maritime has the 82,000 sq.ft. property under contract and needs a special use permit from the City to operate a school there under the Green Code.

Maritime Charter School operated at the site from 2010 to 2020. Buffalo Academy of Science has an elementary school on Clare Street, a middle school on Poplar Avenue, and a high school downtown at 190 Franklin Street.  The school’s application does not specify the grades envisioned for the Genesee Street location other that “primary/secondary school.”

Buffalo Academy of Science is a tuition-free, college preparatory charter school using an integrated curriculum that includes broad training in the humanities with a particular emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The school also offers a variety of extracurricular activities which include sports, competitive academic clubs (like robotics) and other academic, artistic and cultural clubs (like art and poetry).

Kenmore Kitchens is awaiting your arrival.

Kenmore Kitchens is bursting with flavor with Buffalo’s first large scale ghost kitchen set up, and SZN had just joined in on the party.  Alongside Caribbean Cuisine, Venus Greek, and Mediterranean, Jack’s, and Sticky Wangs, SZN moved into kitchen 25, and is making their way back to Buffalo to offer true fusion in some of the most comforting forms.  

SZN is owned and operated by Head Chef Josey and wife Lena – Josey is a Buffalo native who moved to Atlanta when she was nine. Growing up in a kitchen with her family, seasoning was in her blood.  After working in the tech field, and even coding for Apple when she was only 23, Josey loved the job that she was doing but knew it was not her.  Coding can seem boring and still – and that is the exact opposite of what Chef Josey embodies.  A larger than life personality, paired with out of the box concepts is what this chef is bringing to Buffalo. 

“What you’re seeing me do is going for what I want to go for and doing what I want to do,” said Chef Josey.   An envelope to push is what she needed, and the outlet for her was in the kitchen.  “I have nieces and nephews who I am constantly telling ‘go for it’ and ‘be what you want to be,’ so when I talk to them in that way, that is how I have to be as well.  That is what this is to me. Showing up everyday, being accountable for what you want.” 

SZN opened in Atlanta, out of Josey and Lena’s apartment, in 2019.  With so much encouragement, and oddly enough a chain letter on Facebook, Josey took a leap and landed on MasterChef on FOX.  

“’You’re doing it,’ that’s just what I kept telling her. ‘You’re doing it…’” said Lena. 

On the final day of admission for contestants, Josey entered.  Covid brought a new spin to the show, however. The contestants had to present a dish that could sit at room temperature for three hours before tasting.  

“This was a challenge for sure,” said Josey. 

Without overthinking things, she headed to the fridge and put together a ‘SoulRitto,’ as if second nature, using homemade leftovers.  That combination of mac and cheese, collard greens, and chicken, wound Josey on the show side-by-side with Gordon Ramsay.  

Fast forward to today, Josey and Lena are preparing for the hard launch of SZN Buffalo out of Kenmore Kitchens.  On the menu are some of the most creative and flavorful combinations you can think of.  True munchie bliss, a foodie haven.  

We were lucky enough to share an experience with Josey at Kenmore Kitchens, where she gave us a feel of what the menu is going to offer, and what she brings to the table.  We were greeted with a delicious and not-too-sweet strawberry lemonade that set the tone for what was to come.  It was cool, refreshing, and different – a perfect foray into SZN. 

Josey then whipped up crab cake egg rolls that were absolutely filled with fresh crab meat.  There was no filler of bread, but in replace were colorful and fresh peppers.  These crispy rolls were served with a signature creole sauce and they were everything someone could want out of a crab cake, but in a hand held, crunchy roll.  

We then rolled on (pun intended) into the 716 – a Buffalo chicken style egg roll with three imported cheeses. The staple flavors were all there.  The buttery hot sauce, fresh grilled chicken, and creamy cheese blended together to bring it all home.  

Touchy Feely was next in the experience, which is a ground turkey soft shell taco.  The toppings were insanely bright and fresh.  To conclude the experience?  Fresh baked cinnamon rolls… in an egg roll.  With creamed cheese frosting…. drooling just writing this. 

Tech savvy in-house ordering 

Along with an extreme emphasis on fresh and flavor, SZN is a green business.  The lemonade was served out of mason jars, rolls can be served in paper containers, and no utensils are needed for dining.  

It is all fusion, all the time at SZN.  From the birria pizza, to the lasagna egg rolls, not to mention the out of this world lemonade.  Oh, by the way, the egg rolls are six inches long.  Check out some of their menu offerings at www.sznbflo.com.

“Kenmore Kitchens offers a way for chefs like myself to make an impression,” Josey said. “This gives affordability, and gives us a chance to grow into ourselves.”

Chef Craig at Caribbean Cuisine

In the building, you can find a world full of flavor.  Chef Craig at Caribbean Cuisine has a technique for the jerk chicken that makes the entire building smell beyond delicious.  The rice and peas pack so much flavor, and there are so many vegetarian options to choose from as well.  You can tell the passion that he has for his kitchen and cuisine.  This Queens native brings true Caribbean flavor, and has plenty of tricks in the kitchen to make sure the flavor is authentic.  

Along with passion, comes extreme comradery.  We were originally there to experience Chef Josey and her SZN cuisine, but she took us through Kenmore Kitchens and shared the family she has made there.  Concluding her long day of preparation for opening, and working with BFS that morning on a special delivery, Chef Josey sat alongside Chef Craig and ordered her dinner for the day a bit after 10 pm. “I’ve had his jerk chicken every day this week,” Josey said about one of Chef Craig’s signatures. “It speaks to my soul.” 

We were also welcomed by Venus Mediterranean with their new Souvlaki bowl and signature Greek fries.  The garlic sauce is what dreams are made of, but be careful with their homemade hot sauce!  It brings the heat for sure.   

These ghost kitchen set ups offer such a foot in the door for chefs like Craig and Josey.  One day SZN may have a new home that is a brick and mortar all of their own, but until then they are holding it down in Kenmore, offering the best of what they do. 

www.sznbflo.com @ Kenmore Kitchens (1516 Military Rd, Buffalo, NY 14217)

 

I’m not sure where the connection between Valentine’s Day and chocolate came from (The Aztecs? Mr. Cadbury? Whoever makes heart shaped boxes?), but I’m not the least bit upset about there being one. I’m usually on the receiving end of the tradition and it’s exactly where I, and my sweet tooth, want to be. Over the years a variety of Valentine’s Day chocolates have passed by my lips, all from an entire box of milk chocolate cream centers to a 5 lb. chocolate heart with my name on it to a bag of individually-wrapped dark chocolate truffles from a national retailer. I know my chocolate.

So if you’re looking for some sweets for your sweetie this Valentine’s Day, here’s my chocolate checklist:

The Human Heart

Nothing says “Our Hearts Beat As One” like giving your Valentine an anatomically-correct 3-D heart. Nothing.
WHERE – Sweet Jenny’s, 5732 Main Street, Williamsville; (716) 631-2424
PRICE – $5 for a sucker and $15.99 for life-sized – available as dark or milk chocolate

Truffles

While a 5 lb. chocolate heart can be appealing, a decadent truffle is proof that size doesn’t always matter. Pick up a 6-pack of truffles and your sweetheart will appreciate your attention to quality over quantity. Some of Blue Table’s sweets feature the Dark Collection (Mexican Hot Chocolate, Coconut Earl Gray, Coffee-Pecan, Sacre Torte, Apricot-Almond, and Cherry Black Sesame), the Light Collection (Passion-Banana-Mango, Lemon-Pistachio, Kettle Corn, Orange Blossom Cheesecake, Peanut Butter Caramel, and Orange Walnut) as well as several vegan and nut-free options.
WHERE – Blue Table Chocolates, 44 Brayton Street, Buffalo; (716) 866-3725
PRICE – Starting at $10.00

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

It’s the chocolate treat that comes to everyone’s mind for Valentine’s Day. Antoinette’s dips fresh, juicy strawberries in their homemade chocolate. Antoinette’s strawberries are only available for order Feb. 12-Feb. 14 to ensure ultimate freshness. Delicious AND romantic!
WHERE – Antoinette’s Sweets, 5981 Transit Rd, Depew; (716) 684-2376
PRICE – Call ahead to order and for pricing

Chocolate Smooches

How do you measure love? How about with a little smooch? Give more than a “kiss” this Valentine’s Day with these solid chocolate smooches.
WHERE – Alethea’s Chocolates, 8301 Main Street, Clarence; (716) 633-8620
PRICE – $3.95 for an 1.5 oz. “Smooch”

Geometric Hearts

For the person who deserves your heart, this chocolate sampler includes sweets in fun geometric shapes flavored deliciously with salted caramel, dark chocolate, strawberry caramel, raspberry caramel heart bonbons. Better yet, they’re vegan and gluten free! Visit them at their space on Chandler Street.
WHERE – The Sweet Whisk, 27 Chandler Street, Buffalo; (716) 342-2011
PRICE – Available for custom orders – priced to order

Bean-to-Dark Chocolate Bars

If you or your S/O are dark chocolate lovers, these extremely pure, ultra-fresh high-quality organic cacao beans bars use only all-natural ingredients.
WHERE – Dark Forest Chocolate, 11 West Main Street, Lancaster; (716) 288-9167
PRICE – $8.40 / bar

Sponge Candy

Buffalo’s signature confection is tried and true. Its longevity in the Buffalo area should be what all of our loving relationships strive for. You give the gift of sponge candy, you give the gift of long-lasting love.
WHERE – Watson’s Chocolates, Fowler’s Chocolates, Antoinette’s Sweets, Wahl’s Candies, Parkside Candies, Bella Mia Candies, The Family Chocolate Shoppe, Ko-Ed Candies, Mike’s Homemade Candies and all shops mentioned above.
PRICE – You can’t put a price tag on love. Just buy it.

The post Treats for Your Buffalo Chocolate Checklist appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.