Author: Laura Duquette

Through The Expat Buffalo Network (BEN) Facebook page I was directed to Rustwire.com which is a Cleveland based Midwest -rustbelt city centric blog. They put out a call for entries called “The Big Urban Photography Project”. The text from their invite is as follows:Rustwire is recruiting photographers across the Midwest to take part in a photo project attempting to capture the unique essence of individual Rust Belt cities. We want shots of Cleveland, when the fog rolls in from the lake and blankets downtown. We want the vacant storefront in the old Polish neighborhood in Buffalo. We want children playing…

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Beyond/In is a biennial event that started some fifty years ago as a juried event to showcase leading Western New York artists. It then transitioned to an invitational exhibition featuring artists selected by a curatorial panel before finally becoming a regional showing in 2005. This year, the event has transformed once again into a showing of international art combined with local and regional work. On Thursday, world renowned artist and high-wire walker Didier Pasquette will walk between the statues of liberty that sit atop one of the city’s historic gems, the Liberty Building as an opening reception. The high-wire walker is…

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On the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, a monument honoring those who have served – and given their lives – in our nation’s most recent military conflicts. The monument was unveiled in Forest Lawn Cemetery’s Field of Valor, a beautiful site just north of Scajaquada Creek’s Serenity Falls, and within view of Canisius College.The monument was made possible by a $25,000 grant secured by Assemblyman Sam Hoyt. “This new memorial will become a part of our collective heritage, and will ensure those Western New Yorkers who took part in these operations will always have a spiritual home…

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Although I’m a big fan of Buffalo’s annual Labor Day parade, in the heart of historic South Buffalo, right now the two parades at the top of my list in terms of color, enthusiasm, sense of place, and sheer ethnic intensity are the “Old Neighborhood” St. Patrick’s Day parade in the Old First Ward and the Valley, and the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Buffalo’s lower west side.Saturday I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with this year’s Puerto Rican Day Parade, and came away with some great pix, great memories–and some sore vocal cords. An awesome…

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On a recent tour of the Larkin District (stay tuned for more), we stopped in to check out the former bank building being converted to the offices of Young + Wright Architecture. The history of this fine building, and its present rehab, have been well-covered by Chris Hawley at his Hydraulics Press blog, and by BRO’s own West Coast Perspective.We toured all three floors of the building, and as the upper two floors are still empty (to be converted to living space) it provided a great opportunity to capture some of the building’s interior spaces……and also some great views of…

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One of the cool things about living in Buffalo is not just all the things that make Our Fair City cool, but our connections to cool things and places nearby. Buffalo denizens are in the catbird seat when it comes to day trips as close as Niagara Falls and East Aurora, to Chautauqua, and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Even New York City can be done as a day trip.One of the coolest day trips you can take this time of year couldn’t be easier and more unique: the New York State Fair by rail. Throw fixins for a picnic lunch in a backpack,…

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With mixed feelings, I say that Buffalo is catching on to the Rockabilly craze. For years, rockabilly bobs and babes have enjoyed private garage parties, low-key hot rod shows held in fields and the stares of conservative neighbors admiring their tattoos and slicked hair. The underground style is a three-way marriage of rock’n’roll, country and punk; it’s markers are flames, cherries and pinstripes. Here in Buffalo, local legend and rockabilly hottie Dungaree Dolly has been running a successful business, filling the Rockabilly accessory niche since 2005. Hot rodder Erich created a film about the custom car culture, and Mark Miremont…

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On Friday we taped our regular show with the delightful Mark Scott at the WBFO studios. There was a lot to talk about, we could have filled at least an hour. But, as usual, Mark touched on some timely and interesting topics, a few of which aired Monday on the Buffalo Rising Roundtable.Our Bass Pro discussion is prefaced with the caveat that it was taped before Bass Pro made their big announcement on Friday. Scott cajoled me a little for my excitement over the two new street vendors that have been given permission to sell fresh and high-quality street food…

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–Refire is restaurant lingo used to describe food that is returned to the kitchen. Here on Buffalo Rising, it will define an occasional Saturday post that revisits an interesting food story from the Buffalo Rising archives. This story originally appeared on Buffalo Rising in April of 2007.Chefs from all over Buffalo read Bill’s site. And customers do, too. Whether you’re trying to figure out if there’s an Indian restaurant in South Buffalo, or you’re looking to read (or write) a review of one, Bill Rapaport’s Buffalo Restaurant Guide is one of the best resources available. And, it was the only…

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Mark your calendars, people. Today is a day that will go down in Buffalo food history! Next year, we will all wax nostalgic in memory of today–the day when Buffalo finally effing got around to offering REAL street food!Excuse my excitement, those of you who have been constant Buffalo Rising readers know that this is a subject near and dear to our hearts. Now, nothing says summer to me like a charbroiled hot dog, slathered in yellow mustard and eaten street side on the first mild day of spring, so I don’t want to hurt the feelings of our brave…

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