Buffalo Rising Online

I had a great time at Brewfest a few years ago, but I didn't go last year once they instituted the token system. I understand it was due to state regulations. What a bummer.

bummer they moved, half of the excitement of the event is drawing that many people to the central terminal and knowing that at least some of they money from the event was going to go towards its stabilization. Now HSBC gets the rental fees.. lame.

Plus there was something about drinking in the Central Terminal setting that was inspiring. the great hall almost makes one think they were back in medieval times of castles or in a dwarven cave of fantasy. Who knows but it was darn cool (both aesthetically and temperature wise) Plus there was an added bonus of seeing the work done and improvements made to the terminal between the two years which was nice knowing that by going there and supporting this event you were also supporting the saving of such a great building.

I am sure I will still go but it certainly wont be as good of an event and it better impress otherwise I think the festival will falter. I could get people to come in to town for the event when it was on the water or at the central terminal.. not sure if people will spend the gas money to stand in a windowless semi-bland building. Don't get me wrong the HSBC is great for its purpose but I have my doubts about a drinking festival there. Half the point of drinking is to socialize and talk, the CT gave everyone something to talk about. I have this feeling that the in house security and rules that are going to come with the HSBC arena will make people feel like you are not allowed to have fun. I guess we shall see how it goes.

enrique.. I was skeptical about the tokens as well but there were plenty to go around and really didn't put a damper on anyone i knows time or ability to enjoy themselves. Most people don't drink that many samples so people were just giving them away at many points.

I was looking forward to going this year, but now that it's at HSBC I won't go.

Brewfest outgrew the 3,500 person capacity at the Central Terminal. We're having our own version though, called BBQ, Brews & Blues on August 9th:

http://buffalocentralterminal.org/event-schedule/

mmiller, how many kinds of beers are going to be at the CT event? Blues? Hopefully it is background music. Is the beer free once inside or do we pay per drink?

I agree that part of the charm was the access to the Central Terminal, but the event is worth it regardless of the venue. I do like the easier access to public transportation at the HSBC Arena and hope people use it. Any idea where in the HSBC Arena it will be? Hopefully in the Foyer with access to the 2nd floor patio.

There is now way in hell I want to spend a Saturday afternoon in August inside a hockey arena.

It was definitely a neat ambience to have it at the Central Terminal last year, but it did get really crowded, hot, and stuffy. As for the drink tokens, if the vendors are as lax as they were last year, everyone will be getting a whole lot more than the so-called 60 ounces. I had had so much beer last time that I ended up using part of my tokens for food and GIVING AWAY a few more. Let's put it this way... there's a line on the pint glass that shows where 3 oz. is supposed to be. My glass, no matter what vendor I went to, consistently went way above the line. (Good thing my wife doesn't like beer, and that she was driving that day.) I'm not trying to get anyone's hopes up this year--but I'm just saying what a value I got last year.

Perhaps the only redeeming grace about HSBC is that it's a chance for people to visit the nearby wharf afterwards.

Oh, and as for beer selections, there were PLENTY to choose from. Great event! And it's right before the Chicken Wing Festival this year. Late August this year is going to remind me of these next two weeks (Taste of Buffalo, Italian Fest) in terms of good food, fun, and socialization. Yeah, no Central Terminal is a bummer, but at least people can (presumably) enjoy the event this year with space. Again, I loved last year's ambience, but I admittedly was kind of freaked out about mass trampling if there were any sort of incident...

sbrof, ours is not a beer tasting, like Brewfest, but Flying Bison will have a couple different selections of their beers. There will be a few blues bands in concert:

-Jony James Band -Mick Hayes -Speedy Parker -Tommy Z

Tickets are $10 at the door and it's pay by the drink.

I was hoping to buy tickets online, but there is 11 dollars in service charges for 2 tickets. Oh well, I guess this is as good a reason as any to go to Niagara Traditions and pick up some more supplies.

oh the location won't stop me from going and I am glad to hear that it is in the Atrium space of the HSBC. I always through the terminal had plenty of room especially considering there is another whole hall next to the main one where the event was the last two years that would basically double the capacity. I was hoping that maybe this year it would be open enough for an expanded crowd.

How much bigger is the HSBC atrium able to hold versus last year at the CT? I didn't think last years crowd was too big for the place. You expect that sort of closeness at this event. If i wanted to drink with no one around i would drink at home or go to the country. This was fun because you would bump (both literally and figuratively) into people I knew and maybe didn't even know where going to be there.

Either way we shall see how it turns out and it is always good to get people close to the new developments happening in downtown. And the potential public access to the event means that I no longer need a DD :) Gotta love being able to walk to a from bus routes and the train. Just seems like the East Side and the CT are taking a hit from loosing this event. maybe in a couple years when the terminal is a bit more spruced up it can hold more people. Lets also hope that 'parking problems' don't plague this event now that it is in Downtown.

Sbrof: "Just seems like the East Side and the CT are taking a hit from loosing this event."

No, we're really not losing anything. Buffalo Hearing & Speech gets the most of the proceeds. We will probably make more on our own with BBQ, Brews & Blues. We're drawing tens of thousands of people a year to our events which is good news for the east side and for the terminal.

Jbeckwith: "What exactly has the CT preservation society been doing to make any drasitc improvements to the place?"

Sealed over 4,000 broken windows, fixed the roofs of the tower, removed over 150 tons of debris, installed electricity in the concourse, opened several peripheral rooms to the public, repaved the parking lot and approach, and installing toilets in the old waiting room area.

Current estimates for total restoration are as high as $160 million. We've managed to raise just over $2 million for our preservation efforts. I'd say that's pretty good for a small group of unpaid volunteers!

The Brewfest has been growing and changing into one of the premier summer events. With your support it can become one of the nations largest beer tasting events. The CT while a historic building, just does not fit the type of event this festival needs to be. It does not have the infastructure to pull off an event of this magnitude with ease for all of the attendees. I hope the CT someday is a restored beacon to the community. Reality is that it is nowhere near being that type of facility yet. So, we can romanticize about it all we like, but for anyone to say they are not attending the Brewfest because it is not being held at the CT is short sighted thinking- and you will miss out on a good time for a great cause. I would like to see 5000 people gather this year at HSBC much like the crowds that cheer on the Sabres. The venue will be incredible. It has space, light, bathrooms, free parking, public transportation, the ability to be held rain or shine, and indoor/outdoor Brewfest space that will enocurage walking around, socilaizing, finding your favorite brews and "talking proud" about being in downtown Buffalo. Food will be German themed fare and the tokens really will not impact upon any individuals ability to have a great time. So, let's do this. Let's get down to the arena on August 23rd and show the area what a good time Buffalo Summer Festival is all about. See you there!