2021 was a big year for discussing the Bills on Buffalo Rising. Not the team’s performance per se, but the location of the future stadium. In fact, 5 of the top 30 articles turned out to be related to the stadium location, which is not surprising considering that there is so much at stake. Therefore, we’re listing the top 5 most-viewed stadium articles that appeared on the site, as follows:

You might be familiar with the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor, but how familiar are you with its various components?

Thanks to the East Side Avenues initiative, we get an up close look at the historic Nash House. In the video, Terry Alford (Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission) and Sharon Holley (Michigan Street Preservation Corporation) do an excellent job of summing up the importance of the museum, but they also discuss the Nash House as one of the intertwined cultural anchors in the neighborhood.

The Nash House was the former home of Rev. J. Edward Nash Sr., who served as pastor at the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church from 1892 to 1953. It is one of the only homes of its nature on the East Side, that has not only been preserved and restored, it has been converted into a living museum in the neighborhood. 

For the first time in decades, there is tangible hope for the Michigan Street Corridor, which serves as a connector between Main Street (near Canisius College) and the Buffalo River. Some day, as more crucial infill and preservation measures are enacted, this Corridor will live up to its true potential.

East Side Avenues initiative: Investing in Buffalo’s East Side, thanks to $65 million from NYS for capital improvements, with over $8 million from private funders for organizational support. Investments occur along the following four corridors – Michigan, Jefferson, Fillmore, and Bailey.

Work continues at Neighborhood Health Center of WNY’s future Niagara Street location, called “Riverway.” The former warehouse/storage facility at 1569 Niagara Street is being renovated, added on to, and repurposed into a 26,000 sq.ft. healthcare facility. Outpatient services will include family and internal medicine, podiatry, OBGYN, dentistry, and various community health programs including behavioral health, dietary, and social work.

This is the medical practice’s fifth location. As a primary care safety-net provider for more than 30 years, the Center has become an indispensable medical facility for 25,000 Western New Yorkers.

The existing 12,000 sq.ft., two-story building will be doubling in size with parking provided south of the building and behind it off of West Avenue. Plans call for a vestibule along Niagara Street leading to a lobby on the north side of the building.

Paint has been removed from the existing façade which will be tuck pointed, repaired and sealed. The  addition will be composed of brick and metal panels to complement the existing brick building. The project team includes Kirst Construction, Colby Development and engineering and architecture firm LaBella Associates.

Brothers Restaurant and Bar is now fully operational in the former SeaBar Restaurant location at 475 Ellicott Street. After opening their take-out location on Hertel Avenue at the beginning of the pandemic, brothers Ronnie DuBose and Ramone Anderson knew that it wouldn’t be long before they would find their “perfect” dine-in restaurant.

(L-R) Ronnie and Ramone

“When we first saw the SeaBar space, we knew that it was the next step,” said Ronnie, who had been encouraging his brother to take the leap into restaurant ownership, since he moved back to Buffalo from NYC in 2019. “Ramone worked for The Cheesecake Factory for a decade before that, and was managing a location in NYC when he decided that he was going to come home. We wanted to get started, so we opened up that Hertel take-out location, but we always knew that the food was meant to be plated. After seeing the Ellicott Street location, we felt that it was the ideal spot for our American soul food concept.”

Ronnie, a self professed ‘entrepreneur by nature’ told me that he and his brother grew up on the city’s East Side, eating at places like Gigi’s, Dot’s Kitchen, and Mattie’s, all of which are closed now. So when he and Ramone decided that it was time to open their own restaurant, they knew that they wanted to pay tribute to the places that they loved. That meant that they would be whipping up plenty of southern soul food, but there would also be a concentration on serving up breakfast fare, which is why they open at 8am. From there, they transition to the lunch and dinner menu at 11:30am (until close).

“We were open seven days a week on Hertel,” said Ronnie. “Now that we’re downtown, we have reserved Sundays for special events, birthday parties, and the occasional select brunches. We just got our liquor license last week, so we’re really excited about that.”

Ramone’s prior experience cooking at larger restaurant operations such as Cheesecake Factory has allowed for the roll out of quite the menu, which includes an array of tantalizing dishes such as: Cajun salmon breakfast, seafood omelette, breakfast sandwich, sliders, over the top fried chicken, Buffalo chicken sandwich, stuffed meatloaf, oxtails over rice, mac & cheese, chicken & waffles, Cajun jambalaya pasta, salads, shrimp & grits, monte cristo, fried coconut shrimp, corned beef on rye, burgers, jerk chicken egg rolls, open face steak, fried lobster, and collard greens. Dessert items include: whole Hennessy pound cake and sweet potato pie. There’s also a kids menu, and plenty of side options.

“We’re creating a restaurant just like the places that we used to frequent when we were younger,” said Ronnie. “We found a restaurant that has provided us everything that we need to serve up this amazing food. And we’ve done it during a pandemic, which has not been easy, but I think when people find out what we’re cooking, they will understand why we’re so dedicated to the soul food restaurant concept, and to downtown Buffalo.”

Brothers Restaurant and Bar | 475 Ellicott Street | Buffalo NY | (716) 322-0084 | Facebook

The countdown is on. There’s only a few days left to solidify your New Year’s Eve plans. Guess that means the pressure is on, too. Your Instagram pics need to make it look like you had a WAY better time than anyone else on your friend’s list at 12:05 a.m. on January 1. So how do you accomplish that photo feat? Grab some family and friends, and plan on ringing in 2022 at one of these events.

Photo by Joe Cascio

First Night Buffalo

2022 marks the 34th anniversary of First Night Buffalo, and you can join them to celebrate!  Back by popular demand, this annual tradition is still offering family-friendly activities for all ages – the First Night team boxed it all up into a Party Pack that you can use to celebrate in your own living room!

Follow First Night online on December 31st to see videos of your favorite First Night performers – magicians, jugglers, exotic animal appearances and much more, there is certainly something for everyone. Purchase a party pack for an interactive experience – have your own disco party, learn how to make your own balloon animals, magic card tricks and so much more! 

WHEN: Dec. 31
WHERE: firstnightbuffalo.com

More info: First Night Buffalo

Ice Ball at Statler City

The 11th annual Ice Ball is taking place this New Years at the gorgeous Statler City in Downtown Buffalo. Ice Ball Ticket holders will receive four hours of premium open bar, plenty of excellent food (not just hors d’oeuvres!), a champagne toast, amazing live music, two rooms with sit-down dining, and more.

WHEN: Dec. 31 at 7PM
WHERE: Statler City, 107 Delaware Ave, Buffalo

More info: Ice Ball at Statler City

Aqueous on New Year’s Eve

Join the Buffalo boys in Aqueous for their jamming sets at Buffalo’s premier concert venue at Town Ballroom. Enjoy the huge front room bar and then head into the multi-tiered venue to get the perfect view as Aqueous rocks into the New Year.

WHEN: Dec. 31 at 7PM
WHERE: Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, Buffalo

More info: Aqueous on New Year’s Eve

Brew Year’s Eve

Buffalo RiverWorks host Brew Year’s Eve 2022 where you can choose from a five-hour cocktail party experience or a six-hour VIP balcony experience, each including open bar, massive dinner and dessert station, live entertainment by XOXO Pop Band, a champagne toast at midnight, and free parking.

WHEN: Dec. 31 at 7PM
WHERE: Buffalo RiverWorks, 359 Ganson St, Buffalo

More info: Brew Year’s Eve

Glitz & Glamour New Year’s Eve Party

The Glam Vamps’ New Year’s Eve music and burlesque party is on this weekend at Duende at Silo City. They will be performing burlesque to all live music from two spectacular bands – Ryan Kaminski Music and Spud Spudington.

There are three tiers of tickets to choose from for the event – general admission for $15, general admission and a bottle of champagne or food for $25, and VIP for $50 which includes general admission, a bottle of champagne, food, a 2022 Glam Vamps calendar, and 10 raffle tickets. The food provided will be hors d’oeuvres from The Black Sheep.

WHEN: Dec. 31 at 8PM
WHERE: Duende, 85 Silo City Row, Buffalo

More info: Glitz & Glamour New Year’s Eve Party

New Year’s Masquerade Ball

Choose your most alluring masquerade outfit for this grand evening compliments of Salvatore’s Hospitality. Enjoy an open bar with premium liquor, hors d’oeuvres, your choice of filet mignon or salmon dinner, live music from Steve Balesteri & The Uptown Sound, and a champagne toast with hats and horns.

WHEN: Dec. 31 at 6:30PM
WHERE: Italian Prime at Salvatore’s, 6461 Transit Rd, Depew

More info: New Year’s Masquerade Ball

Salvatore’s New Year’s Disco

Another event by Salvatore’s Hospitality, dance the night away at this disco extravaganza! Enjoy a six-hour open bar, hors d’oeuvres, dining stations including some of Salvatore’s finest foods, dessert, a champagne toast and, of course, the best tunes from the 1970s.

WHEN: Dec. 31 at 7:00PM
WHERE: Italian Prime at Salvatore’s, 6461 Transit Rd, Depew

More info: Salvatore’s New Year’s Disco

A Very Groovy New Year’s Eve at The Terrace

This event brings together some of your favorite WNY acts and roaming characters in a nod to the psychedelic era of spy films, romance, glamour, over indulgence, and a race for world domination. Dress for this action-packed evening is creative “spy” attire where guests are encouraged to sport anything from formal black tie to crushed velvet suits, hotel bathrobes, evening gowns, scuba gear, micro-minis, go-go boots, and everything in between.

Enjoy an open bar and food stations located throughout the two levels of The Terrace with music provided by Carina & the Six String Preacher and DJ Milk.

WHEN: Dec. 31 at 8:00PM
WHERE: The Terrace at Delaware Park, 199 Lincoln Pkwy, Buffalo

More info: A Very Groovy New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve at Bittersweet Piano Lounge

Come ring in 2022 with Bittersweet Piano Lounge within the Hotel at the Lafayette. Featuring the classiest music on the piano, this Gatsby-themed event also includes live entertainment, a champagne toast, charcuterie stations, and your very own party favors.

WHEN: Dec. 31 at 8:00PM
WHERE: Bittersweet Piano Lounge, 391 Washington St, Buffalo

More info: New Year’s Eve at Bittersweet Piano Lounge

Big Ditch New Year’s Eve Party

Ring in the new year at the brewery closest to the downtown ball drop – Big Ditch Brewing Co. Enjoy limited craft beer releases, great food, a DJ, and a stellar view of the Electric Tower ball drop and fireworks.

WHEN: Dec. 31 at 8:00PM
WHERE: Big Ditch Brewing, 55 E. Huron St, Buffalo

More info: Big Ditch New Year’s Eve Party

New Year’s Eve at Vue Rooftop Lounge

Enjoy an amazing evening of fun and amazing rooftop views at Vue’s Hollywood-themed New Year’s Eve event including passed hors d’oeuvres, live DJ, hats and noise makers with an opportunity to watch the Downtown ball drop and fireworks.

WHEN: Dec. 31 at 9:00PM
WHERE: Vue Rooftop Lounge at the Curtiss Hotel, 210 Franklin St, Buffalo

More info: New Year’s Eve at Vue Rooftop Lounge

NYE Masquerade Ball at Tappo/Thin Man

Dress to impress at Tappo/Thin Man’s masquerade ball. Enjoy live performances from UltraViolet featuring Amy Z. as Lady Gaga. The party includes a three-hour open bar, wood-fired pizza buffet, and champagne toast at midnight.

WHEN: Dec. 31 at 9:00PM
WHERE: Tappo Pizza and Thin Man, 166 Chandler St, Buffalo

More info: NYE Masquerade Ball at Tappo/Thin Man

The post Ways to Ring in 2022 Buffalo-Style appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

Then…

When I moved to East Aurora from New York City in 1985 — just married — it was a thrill to find an affordable old farmhouse with a barn, pond, and acres in the town of Aurora, four minutes from the Village. While I’d loved New York City, the crime rate there had become high, and my fiancé and I hoped to raise a child in a kinder, simpler place—in the Southtowns of Buffalo near my family’s home.

I came to love East Aurora, for many reasons, including several that were unexpected and different from my first impressions. Here is why it was and is a great place to live and visit — then and now.

Vidler’s 5 & 10 on Main Street

At first the differences were shocking — giant contrasts between big city and small town life — some great, some surprising, and some annoying. The multi-ethnic dining, stylish department stores, and public transportation complete with a soundtrack of many accents and languages of New York was replaced by many alternative pleasures — including Vidler’s 5&10, the Roycroft Inn, farmers’ markets, fields and woods, horse people, yard and estate sales, and the Cooperative Extension that taught me gardening.

The move produced an unexpected psychological change, too. City people learn street-smarts and self-protective ways: everything locked, purse clutched tightly, money tucked in two places just in case, and awareness of where to walk at what hours. In East Aurora one night, after about three weeks of settling in, I found myself walking alone in an alley next to the movie theater, in the dark, with my purse swinging loosely and my shoulders and chest at ease — and I realized, “Whew, not much to worry about around here!” It was decades before my family even bought locks for the doors.

The Roycroft Campus

The social interaction also took some adjustment. People think that New Yorkers are abrupt, clipped, and rude, but it is really something else: When you live at a fast pace with constant input — smells, noise, sights, impressions — you can’t afford to interact and relate to everybody along the way. In East Aurora, the banker, pharmacist, gas station guy, and horsefeed store owner — all know your name and much of your business. And they chat—how’s your mother, daughter, garden, new job, that dog you took in? (I am embarrassed to admit that at first I found it annoying! But I was the one going too fast.) And that very pace, with the underlying friendliness, is a great reason to spend time in a place like East Aurora.

Now…

East Aurora is mostly as I found it — the friendliness, easy pace, the proximity of natural spaces (although natural habitat is rapidly diminishing.) Vidler’s, the restored Roycroft Campus, Wallenwein’s, the Bar-Bill, the Globe, Riley Street Station, and a wealth of other services, boutiques, and eateries remain in character, providing comfort, welcome, and fun. Many business names have changed —Tantalus (where I met my husband Jack and was married) became the Griffon Gastro Pub. New places have emerged — 42 North, the Irishman, and 189 Burger. But the village has managed to own the same words: Charming, Warm —and a great place to raise children.

42 North Brewing Co.

Like most people, wherever they call home, I have my personal happy places:

The East Aurora Library: I took my daughter here every week from age two until some forgotten middle school year. Even on a sad day, I am always happy when I walk out of the library with books and CDs for the car, having enjoyed easy conversation with intelligent librarians.

The Elm Street Bakery: Healthy food from local sources, great coffee, stimulating talk, and lively courtyard events in winter and summer. (Across the street, the Kornerstone Juice Bar and Blue-Eyed Baker won’t disappoint, either.)

The Old Orchard Inn: Buffalonians have come here since 1931 for the chicken pot pie and lemon angel cake. Today my family and friends as well as romantic millennials find the highest quality cuisine and cocktails in the unchanged, idyllic setting. Other classics I number among my favorites are the Colden Country Inn and North Star Tavern.

The Bookworm: The independently-owned bookstore that every village needs, with owners and staff eager to help you find what you want.

The Aurora Theatre: Comfy restored seating, stunning wall murals, a popcorn shop, and first-run as well as vintage films. It’s a classic, deserving of your support. What a pleasure it was in my early Mommy days, with an infant at home, to go to a movie alone at 7 p.m., then rush home in five minutes so that my husband could hurry to town to catch the 9 p.m.— a great movie date with no sitter required!

The Roycroft Inn: Wine tastings, evenings on the portico, and jazz nights in one of the most beautiful rooms in America. Thank you, Elbert Hubbard and all the Roycrofters past and present, who have kept this monument to the Arts & Crafts Movement alive.

Aurora Players’ Theatre: Located in lovely in Hamlin Park, this company provides consistently excellent theater.

Gardens, woods, fields: These are my personal happiest places and spaces. Knox Farm State Park makes everyone — people and dogs — very happy. Another favorite is the incredible unobstructed view of hills and habitat on Mill Road preserved by the Western New York Land Conservancy.

Roycroft Inn

Wings from the Bar-Bill Tavern, Knox Farm State Park and Roycroft Inn

Proximity to everything else: in just thirty-five minutes you can travel from real countryside around East Aurora — with cows and forests! — and reach all the excitement and culture of Buffalo.

East Aurora works for me, even if I still sometimes miss the many pleasures of New York City. (But for those, I can travel!). I hope you visit and linger long. I may even see you in one of my happy places, or you might just find your own.

Discover more of East Aurora here: The Neighborhood of East Aurora

The post Why I Love East Aurora appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

We collectively stand on the brink of a new horizon: 2022.

How do you summarize a year like this one?

Our WNY community has experienced the highest highs and lowest of the lows, and just about everything in between.

If there is one thing the team at Buffalo Rising hopes to have inspired, it’s that local really does matter – You matter, Your stories matter.

As do the stories of your neighbors, small business owners, mailman, fitness instructor, favorite restaurant staff or bartender, and all the people that make our ordinary spaces feel like home.

We are incredibly grateful that we get to tell these stories, from theatre, music and arts to development and social issues — and we are just getting started! Big things are around the corner in the new year and we can’t wait to share them with you.

But before we look ahead, let’s take a moment to reflect on 2021!

This video was produced and edited by Zoe Oleshansky
Photography by Vincent Berbano and Devin Chavanne

WNY is a dog-lover’s paradise. From the dog parks to the dog-friendly patios, it’s good to be a dog in Buffalo.

That said, it can be tough being a homeless elderly dog. After spending a fulfilling life in a good home, with loving parents, some elderly dogs find their ‘end of days’ in troublesome scenarios. Whether an owner passes away, or vet bills become overly-burdensome, there are elderly dogs who are suddenly uprooted from their intended forever homes, only to be placed in shelters with cages and concrete floors.

Can you imagine going from a place of love to cold, unfamiliar surroundings, virtually overnight?

These were the thoughts of Polla Milligan, founder and president of White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary of WNY, one sleepless night. The year was 2019, and Polla, who was recently retired, decided that she wanted to do her part to give senior dogs, who were down on their luck, some hope. After spending her career at the Niagara SPCA, and the Food Bank before that, she figured that she had the wherewithal to create an elderly dog sanctuary in WNY.

“I’ve been giving back my whole life,” said Polla. “I knew that there were a lot of old dogs at the shelter, who were deteriorating rapidly. These dogs had come from good loving homes, only to find themselves in an unpleasant way, dealing with their (unexpected and unfamiliar) end of life. Some of the dogs were deaf, or blind… with special needs. I knew that I could help these dogs, to give them comfort in their final days/years.”

Bunny, age 11

Polla’s dream of creating a sanctuary for ageing dogs came true when she founded White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary of WNY. Since getting started in 2019, the sanctuary has already raised $250,000, which has enabled Polla and her Board of Directors to purchase a 5+ acre property in Wheatfield. In fact, if all goes according to plan, they will be closing on the property this Thursday.

Once operational, the Sanctuary will be a place for elderly dogs to live out their remaining days. There is an old farmhouse on the property, which will not only provide comfort and warmth for the dogs, it will also be a place where dog-lovers will convene to take care of the ageing canine community.

Polla told me that, to start, the Sanctuary will be home to around ten dogs. She wants to make sure that everything runs smoothly before she takes on any more. The dogs that are rescued will have big comfy couches, no cages, no concrete floors, and plenty of outdoor surroundings to roam.

Polla, with a beagle by the name of Henry Higgins, who was rescued from Niagara Falls, where he was intentionally starved

“There is such a need,” Polla told me. “We get emails and letters all day long, from people asking us to help their elderly dogs. It’s so sad and horrible. There are so many people that want to help – we get donations from as as far away as Canada and California. Everyone knows how important this is.”

Once the operation is running smoothly, Polla wants to embark upon some programming at the Sanctuary. “There’s so much that we want to do,” she said. “We want to have some emergency spaces for dogs – just think of what happens when there is a house fire… where do the elderly dogs go? It’s hard enough for people to find emergency lodgings. That would be a longer term goal. Shorter term, we want to have live music at the Sanctuary, and a memorial garden, grief sessions, and programs where the dogs can visit their former owners who might be in a nursing home. We will need a bus for that sort of thing – also to bring inner city children out to the sanctuary. It will be a place for everyone, including people with disabilities. Already we have 750 people who have signed up to volunteer.”

Lucy, age 18

Polla told me that there is a great need for these sanctuary services – not only for local dogs, but for rescues down south. Apparently, the elderly dogs are not placed, and there is little hope. As the White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary of WNY grows, it will be able to accommodate some of the elderly dogs from local rescues, who will then be able to rescue additional elderly dogs from further away.

As she patiently awaits news of approval for the Sanctuary’s ‘forever home,’ Polla (and her dedicated team) is busy operating a Senior Dog Adoptables page on Facebook, as well as a WNY Lost and Found Pets page. To date, these initiatives have helped to place 110 pets into loving homes… “and we don’t even have a permanent location yet,” said Polla.

Ultimately, there is one thing that just about everyone can agree upon – a common love for animals in need.

“For me, it’s wonderful to have a mission,” said Polla. “We’ve come so far without a place to call home. I can only imagine what we will be able to do when we are in possession of this new property.”

Hope is on the way for WNY’s uprooted elderly dogs that haven’t had much to look forward to in their final stage of life. Thankfully there are a number of dedicated dog lovers out there who are doing everything that they can to create this one-of-a kind Sanctuary, headed up by a singular dog lover who understands exactly what it takes to bring it all home.

White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary of WNY | Instagram | Facebook | Donate | Volunteer | FAQ

Lead image: Polla’s elderly dog named Bear

Pasteurized Tees is on the move… though not very far. Owner Michael Bowen is picking up his merchandise and moving next door, to the former TreeHouse Toy Store location (793 Elmwood Avenue). Bowen told me that he’s making the short-distance move for a number of reasons. First, he gets a nice high-profile corner location. Plus the storefront is actually a lot bigger – twice the size, in fact. There is also a full basement for expanded stock storage. And finally, Bowen gets a brand new location, once he’s finished with the build-out.

“We won’t be keeping our current space once the buildout is complete – will just transfer over to the corner once we are finished,” said Bowen. “[The new location] needs a 30 year update. We’re also going to redo and update the exterior once the weather breaks (March or April) along with having a centerpiece mural designed and painted along the Auburn side facade. Once we get to that phase, we want to include a few area businesses and residents to get their opinion on what would represent the area for the mural the best.”

Bowen told me that having twice as much floor space at the new location will allow him to carry a lot more apparel styles, which, in turn, will allow him to purchase more by volume, thus lowering his costs.

“I get addicted to redoing and redesigning spaces,” said Bowen [laughing].

For anyone interested, Bowen’s current space (795 Elmwood – approximately 850 sf) will be available sometime around April 2022.

In the meantime, the next time that you’re in the market for a custom t-shirt design, turned around on a dime, think Pasteurized Tees – there’s a reason that they’ve been in business on Elmwood Avenue since 2010.

The East Side Avenues video series continues with a look into the future of the Broadway Theatre (former Sattler Theater). The building, which closed as a theater in the 1960s, is showing much promise these days, thanks to a group of people that are determined to see it back up and operational as a community treasure.

This particular East Side Avenues video features Reggie Wallace (Broadway Theatre), Michael Quinniey (WNY Minority Media Professionals), and Jessie Fisher (Preservation Buffalo Niagara), who discuss the salvation of the significant building, thanks to a grant awarded from the East Side Commercial Building Stabilization Fund.

Aside from the finances allocated via the East Side Commercial Building Stabilization Fund, we are also seeing – yet again – the power of the East Side Avenues initiative, which continues to fortify key commercial streets, including Michigan, Jefferson, Fillmore, and Bailey.

For more background, view the comprehensive East Side Plan.