Thursday, May 31, 2012

Buffalo PRIDE


It's that time of year again, when the annual Buffalo PRIDE Parade and festivities come to downtown Buffalo! It's always a fun weekend full of events, parades and more, so some on down to PRIDE weekend in Bufflo, one of the bigger pride festivities in the United States!

This is an exert taken directly from the Pride Center of WNY's website : (http://www.pridecenterwny.org/)

Pride 2012: Transformation

This past year has been a time of Transformation with change and growth happening on many levels. We have experienced Transformation in our legislation, in our communities, in our identities, and in ourselves. We have had legal successes with achievements such as the passage of Marriage Equality and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The Pride Center experienced growth with unprecedented funding to work with people in the transgender and gender queer communities to improve access to testing, education, and treatment of HIV, STIs, and Hepatitis C in WNY. As a community, we have also felt the changes forced with great loss, and we pay tribute to those who have passed with our In Memoriam section in this year's Resource & Pride Guide. Even from loss, we find seeds of hope and change with greater recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender realities; increased time and resources being devoted to changing the behaviors such as bullying that wound one another; and we find strength to continue the fight where those who came before us left off. From the roots of marginalization, evolve new opportunities for health and equality. There are many areas where we conti nue to work for Transformation. People are joining together to work for the passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discriminati on Act (GENDA) to expand equal rights and working to create safe affordable housing options to end homelessness. Our communities are stronger and more vibrant than ever, and the power of Pride to Transform our society and improve the realities of people’s lives is reflected in all of us. It is with that sentiment that I invite all of you to celebrate this year’s Pride and continue your own Transformations.

Friday, June 1st, 2012
Pride Flag Raising Ceremony

Niagara Square, in front of City Hall

Saturday, June 2, 2012
Dyke March and Allen Street Festival

Line up at 4:00 p.m. at Kleinhans, step off at 5:00 p.m. east on North Street to Elmwood Avenue, South on Elmwood Avenue to Allen Street, east on Allen Street to Franklin Street, ending at the Allen Street Festival.

Sunday, June 3, 2012
Pride Parade and Festival

Line up at 11:00 a.m. on Elmwood Avenue starting at Lafayette, step off at 1:00 p.m. Festival at Canalside along the Historic Erie Canal Harbor 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Sports: NFL: A Return to the playoffs: Derek M

Is it September yet?
 I’m sure most of us are already thinking about the football season, about the entire week building up to a party at the Ralph.  Monday mornings spent talking with coworkers about the Bills game from the day before, asking friends where they’re sitting or where they are planning on parking for the pre-game festivities. 
Just a few more months Buffalo!
                For now, the “one-and-done” summer sporting events have already started and now we have a great concert season to go along with it.  For the summer, sports are not our focus like it will be again in the fall.  We can only take so much talk about the Lakers’ impending dismantling. (slow-down ESPN, the season isn’t even over yet.) Baseball has been fun, seeing teams like Baltimore and Tampa fight over the A.L. East lead while we watch the Yankees and Red Sox fight for last place.  This week the Yankees seem to have found their stride, and put their ducks in a row.  Now that the shock of losing the most consistent part of their game (Mariano Rivera) has settled in, it seems so has the rest of the “all-world” team.
                The Big story...

Monday, May 28, 2012

Events: Buffalo Marathon: First Person Perspective

QCLA and 5000 of our closest friends ran a half or full marathon yesterday: For those of you who have never run a half or whole marathon, there are two things to remember. 1) its more fun than you probably imagine, and 2) it's harder than you probably imagine! Yesterday your friendly neighborhood QCLA ran the half marathon under absolutely perfect conditions, high 60s and cloudy (remember running weather and beach weather are two totally different things!). Last year it hit sunny and 80 and was exceptionally hot and difficult.

  The course itself was changed this year too, and i have to say i think its a big improvement. It went from 4 overpasses down to one (that you used twice) and for someone like myself, who isn't an iron man, it was much better. It brought you close to the waterfront during several different portions, which is always a good thing. Plus all the spectators lined along the streets was super gratifying, with bands of people lined up at random street corners and roads. Nothing can lift your spirits like random people cheering you on...

Saturday, May 26, 2012

QCLA Gets a Makeover!

Do not adjust your TV sets. QCLA has had a makeover! There might be more fun stages in store soon, so don't be scared, change is good!

Friday, May 25, 2012

Local Music: Complete Thursday at the Harbor and Artpark Buffalo Concert Series

The lineups for both major concert series in Western New York are out, which means its the unofficial start of summer! I'll list them all below in chronological order, with some of what i consider are the highlights and definite recommendations.
TATH = Thursday at the Harbor (Canalside) Free Shows.
BPRTH = Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor. (Canalside) Paid Shows
Artpark F= Free Artpark shows
Artpark P= Paid Artpark Shows

June 7th - The Cult, Against Me! and The Icarus Line :TATH
                   Come on now, the Cult to kick off the summer fun? What could be better!

June 14th -Fitz and the Tantrums,Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds and ZZ Ward:  THAT
 June 19th – Kansas.  Artpark P
                    Carry on our wayward son, right into western new york!
June 20th- Ziggy Marley. Artpark F
                     Ziggy puts on a great show. Tons of energy. Check em' out for free!
June 21st - Built to Spill, Matthew Sweet and Hey Rosetta! TATH
June 26th- Foreigner. Artpark P
                    Be Honest with youself.  Isn't it a little unamerican to NOT want to see foreigner?
Come on down, belt out some of your secret favorites, and have a great time.
 June 27th- Tokyo Police Club. Artpark F
                   I am more excited for this show than any other on the lineup besides Andrew Bird. Saw them  at Soundlab a few years back and they are one of the most high energy shows you'll ever see. Great uptempo music and great vocals.
June 28th - Fountains of Wayne.TATH
June 29th: Sam Roberts Band and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals . BPRTH
               I saw Grace Potter and the Nocturnals at the Bonaroo Music Festival, and they put on a hell of a show. Sam Roberts Band comes to Buffalo fairly often and they also know how to put on a really good performance. Many people i know are most excited for this show.
June 30th: moe and Conspirator . BPRTH
               Hometown boys M.O.E. make thier yearly return to the thousands of fans down on the harbor front. Mainstays and big time players on the jam band scene, its always exciting when they come back to town. Expect this to be a sell out.
July 3rd: Huey Lewis and the NewsArtpark P.
              I am trying with all my might not to make a "hip to be square" pun right here.... whew, succeeded.
July 5th - Arrested Development. TATH.
                  Kick it oldschool!

July 10th: Sublime with Rome. Artpark P
                  Sublime, without Bradley of course, comes to Buffalo for the first time since a warped tour about 10 years ago.  Enjoy some neo raggae and heavy bass.
July 11th: Lowest of the low. Artpark F

July 12th – Seether. TATH
July 15th: Feist .BPRTH
                   Feist has been one of the most popular, and talented, artists of the past 5 years. With a great voice, harmonies and super catchy tunes, you can head on down and have them stuck in your head for a week.

July 16th: Andrew Bird. Artpart P
                  Far and away the show i personally am most excited for. This man plays every instrument himself, and beautifully so. Deep, layered song, with wonderful movement and melody. An absolute must.
July 19th: Young the Giant, Bahamas and The Ruby Spirit. TATH
July 24th: Heart. Artpark P
                 You know you want to go.....

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Restaurant Review: Well La-Tee-Da!

QCLA took a nice walk into Allentown from our humble abode on a beautiful Wednesday evening for a nice dinner at La Tee Da on Allen Street, next to Rustbelt Books, and it was absolutely perfect.

First off, the ambiance of the entire place is very inviting, nice and cozy in the main inside area, while feeling a little bit upscale, it's not stuffy at all, and they have a great semicircle bar right at the front. As you walk through, you realize what the main attraction really is, the patio in the back. It is absolutely gorgeous. A full bar, a live band that plays every Wednesday night (The Mick Hayes Band), playing great dinner tunes that you find yourself bobbing your head to. ("Superstition" gets me every time). Talk about being able to enjoy a nice summery evening in Buffalo.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Construction: MLK Park

MLK Park, next to the wonderful Buffalo Museum of science, is showing much improvement and activity with the large splashpad being restored.

The splashpad with be for swimming/activities in the summer time, a reflection pool in the spring and fall, and ice skating in the winter (future Sabres NHLer's, like Patrick Kaleta, maybe?) For this area of the city, the project couldn't have come soon enough, and hopefully this leads to more investments in the area, and more people going to see the great exhibits at the science museum and enjoying a day in the park.

Construction: Sunset Through the Donovan

Not the highest quality picture..... but with a camera phone while driving, what do you want! haha.
Progress on the Donovan Building ( One Canalside) from the 190. A Beautiful sunset in downtown Buffalo, and progress on one of the upcoming jewels of canalside, make for a nice night.


Bob Z-

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Sports: Summer Sporting in Buffalo: Derek M


We all have our addictions, and in Buffalo, our addiction is our sports teams.  So let me be the one who gives it too you, let me offer everyone a perspective on sports that is Buffalo from Buffalo.
We are in a unique time of the year, no playing Monday morning quarterback, no talking to the cashier at the corner store about who the Sabres should grab at the deadline.  We are about to start summer in the city that can actually enjoy all four seasons.  Our short and simple conversations about sports last about 30 seconds and end with “we’ll see”.

We’re all holding our breath for the fall, to see if the new front four of the Bills defense can actually put the hurt on Tom Brady and Mark Sanchez like we all hope they can.  Whether or not the Sabres can live up to the expectations they put on themselves last year remains to be seen.  But for now we get to enjoy the “one and done” sporting events and the long, grinding, unending and not too important baseball season, (which is very exciting come fall).

First and foremost,

Hat Tip: Buffalo Rising nails it again:

Buffalo rising has an excellent blog on the beautiful new University at Buffalo Medical Campus building thats going to be built downtown. This is exceptionally exciting, and $375 million dollars well invested by UB. This is one of the grandest projects to come downtwon in years (Which is saying something, with the recent Lafayette and Statler redo's being as beautiful as they are).

For more, please check out http://www.buffalorising.com/2012/05/ub-selects-hok-to-lead-design-of-new-medical-school.html for much more information.

What an exciting time to be a Buffalonian!!!
-Bob Z

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Events: Beerology at The Buffalo Museum of Science

What could possibly be better than science and beer put together? Well i would have a hard time finding an answer to that question. The annual "Beerology" happened last night at the Science Museum, and it was a sold out event as always.

There were a multitude of local and regional brewery's showing off their finest Lights and Mediums (we only spotted one truly dark beer), and their was a ton of deliciousness to go around. Some brewery's that attended were Great Lakes, Ommegang (one of my personal favorites), Flying Bison, Brooklyn Brewery, Southern Tier, Pearl Street, Community Beer Works and more.

My personal favorite was a

Friday, May 4, 2012

QCLA: Local Music : I Can See Mountains



2012 has been an incredible year for new bands and has been key in the growth of Panic Records. The Seattle, WA indie label is extremely excited to welcome yet another up and coming band to the Panic family, Buffalo, NY's, I Can See Mountains.

I Can See Mountains got its start in the summer of 2011 with the simple intention of doing whatever felt most natural. After months of writing, perfecting, and re-writing, they recorded their debut EP, Hope You Never Get It, in September 2011 at GCR Audio in Buffalo, NY with Jay Zubricky (Pentimento, Every Time I Die).

"We cannot predict the future, nor will we try, but what we will continue to do is pour every ounce of our hearts, souls, and minds into this band. This is what makes us happy. It’s our creative canvas. We want to take our band to the furthest and highest levels. And if that means the stars, then so be it."

Panic Records will be re-releasing I Can See Mountains’ debut EP, Hope You Never Get It, this summer on 12" Vinyl, CD and Digital formats.

Check out the song “Tournesol” on the band official Facebook page now, but rest assured you’ll find yourself humming it for the remainder of the week, month...year! SUNFLOWER!!!


-Brian Patrick

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Places: Botanical Gardens: A gem of Western New York

For those of those who have never visited the Erie County Botanical Gardens, you are missing a jewel of the WNY area. A few years ago the ownership switched over from the county, to a non profit group, and admission went from free to a minimal charge. Let me tell you, it's well worth every penny. They maintain the gardens so beautifully that its the perfect place to stop for warmth in the winter, and sunshine in the summer. It's also a great place for photographers, new and advanced, to hone your skills on some beautiful objects that, thankfully, don't move.

Located on South Park avenue in South Buffalo, near the Basillica (which is a beautiful building unto itself, i would recommend walking the half block down to it), and near the Sorento Cheese plant (considerably less beautiful... haha).

The Gardens have 6 different houses (1 used mostly for wedding and events) including a several story waterfall, and carved dinosaur shapes bushes (which the kids love), a huge koy pod, the worlds largest publically displayed Ivy Display, a great covered area for pictures next to a fountain, a hand carved several foot large checkers boards, a desert landscape, and much much more. Please make sure to enjoy every room, and be there a couple hours.

Here are some pictures from the gardens:


-Bob Z

Construction: Buffalo State College Technology Building

It looks like the new Technology Building on the Buffalo State Campus is slowly taking shape. They've been working on this for about a year and a half or so now, with about another year until completion. This, coupled with new dormatories, brings some excitement to the campus, with obvious signs of progress. This is also a big deal because Buffalo State is one of the only Colleges in the country to have an accredited Communications degree, and this building will provide even more hands on opportunities for the students in not just this, but all cirriculums.

Also condiering that education is one of the largest employers, and fields, in the WNY region, anything we can do to expand our footprint in this field (along with, of course , the medical cooridoor and the new regional tourism down at canalside). Buffalo State, along with the University at Buffalo, are practically mecca's now for downstate students looking for quality education at an affordable price (plus the opportunity to get away from thier parents for a few years!)

This is always my favorite phase of the construction on new buildings, you can see the exoskeleton taking shape, but you're still able to see inside and work being done all around. An exciting time indeed.




-Bob Z