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...

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

Events: The Worlds (yes, WORLDS) Largest Dyngus Day Party!

Today is the big day, so roll yourself out of your Easter Food coma, put on your best Red and White clothes, practice your Polish Accent, grab the pussywillows and squirt guns and get on down to Downtown Buffalo!

But first, a little history on how this became an event that expects 100,000 people to participate in this years festivities! (Thank you to http://www.dyngusdaybuffalo.com/ for the following)

"HOW DID IT START? There are many stories that attempt to explain the origins of the day. Many Polish customs date back to pre-Christian practices of our Slavic ancestors. The custom of pouring water is an ancient spring rite of cleansing, purification, and fertility. The same is true of the complimentary practice of switching with pussy willow branches. Since 966 A.D., Dyngus Day has been associated with the baptism of Prince Mieszko I. Tradition states that Prince Mieszko I along with his court were baptized on Easter Monday. Thus, Dyngus Day and its rites of sprinkling with water have become a folk celebration in thanksgiving for the fact that the first king of Poland was baptized into Christianity, bringing Catholicism to Poland. In more modern times, the tradition continued when farm boys in Poland wanted to attract notice from the girls of their choice. It was custom to throw water and hit the girls on their legs with twigs or pussywillows. Cologne was used instead of water by the more gallant lads. The ladies would reciprocate by throwing dishes & crockery and Tuesday was their day of revenge, imitating the same tactics."

MODERN DYNGUS DAY IN BUFFALO

Although Dyngus Day was always celebrated in traditional Polish neighborhoods dated back to the 1870s, modern Dyngus Day in Buffalo had its start with the Chopin Singing Society in 1961. Judge Ann T. Mikoll and her late husband Theodore V. Mikoll held the first party at the Society's clubrooms on Kosciuszko Street on Buffalo's Eastside. The success of the Chopins' Dyngus Parties during the 1960s led to other Dyngus dances on the Eastside including those at the Broadway Grill, the Warsaw Inn, the Polish Singing Circle and at the New York Central Terminal. Chopins left the Eastside in the 1980s and moved out to new clubrooms in Cheektowaga where the festival attracted a new generation. The Chopins tradition continues with party's taking place at the Heathstone Mannor in Depew." (End quotes)

With the main parade starting at 5pm, games, facepainting, historic tours, and lots, and lots, of drinking. Weather is supposed to be in the high 50's with no rain in sight. What i perfect Polish Holiday!!!

And we'll finish it off with this great pictures from the early 60's and video of food and the parade! Mr. Dyngus and his Court at Chopins on Buffalo's Eastside. (Thanks again to the Dyngus Day Buffalo Website!)

-bob z

Buffalo Niagara Film Festival

There is a lot of excitement over the Bills and Sabres recently (and i'll be doing a blog on both shortly), but i don't want the excitement to overshadow the wonderful Buffalo Niagara Film Festival (http://thebnff.com/) April 12th -22nd.

Featuring 88 films this year, including fascinating documentaries like "Seeking the Current", in which 2 men paddle 500 kilometers of pristine quebec waters before the goverment builds 4 new hydro electric dams, forever changing the landscape. Or if comedies are more your speed, try to get to the showing of " The F Bomb" and comedy about a couple married for 50 years which looks quite fun.

There are also drama's, sci-fi's and much much more. Really, there is genuinly something for everyone.

The awards ceremony will also be held April 21st at the beautiful Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls, making this a truly regional film festival. The ceremony is centered around war veterans and people who have lost thier lives in combat, featuring two films that are extremely moving. So if nothing else, come out, support a great cause, and see some truly great independent film work.

I hope to see you at one of the showing, and since its over the course of 10 days, there's no reason not to go!

-bob z

Light up the night

Looks as though the City of Buffalo is looking into lighting up the grain elevators on the outskirts of the city to showcase the city of Buffalo. I think this is an excellent idea. Look how much improved the peace bridge being lit up is. It's amazing what a few small things can do to improve the look of the area.

Plus, i think it would make the overall skyline more interesting. Anything like this near the waterfront s an absolute improvement.

Also talked about was 3 proposals for the Memorial auditorium site. A childs interactive museum, a firefighters museum, and a great lakes interactive experience. If i only could choose one of these, i would pick the childrens museum for sure, maybe even lure the science museum down to the waterfront and create a fully interactive science/childrens museum that would bring familes and mass to the area. With concerts, restaraunts, the erie canal, and more down there, its becoming quite a family friendly destination!

-bob z

Come one Come all to the Erie County Fair

It's that time of year again, time for the nations second largest county fair, the Erie County Fair! Held at the hamburg raceway and fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY, it has a little bit of everything. TONS of food, games, rides, but also a huge amount of exhibits, animals, and gambling at the casino on the grounds.

You'll find me parked at the "I Got It" games with fried dough and curly-q fry stains on my shirt, while people watching in between games and trying to win a knock of set of Ginsu Knives.

Photos by Bob Z Photography (click to enlarge)




I will be attending next Saturday and no doubt have a ton to talk about!

Buffalo Garden Walk

This past weekend was the 16th annual Buffalo Garden walk, and what a gorgeous weekend for it. Unfortunately due to some family matters i was unable to attend, but i did go for a run thru parts of the city this morning which participated, and the gardens are absolutely stunning. The Buffalo News has a great article about it here.
Some quotables:

"In his own garden, Charlier spoke to people from Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Nebraska and Washington, D. C., as well as a woman who lives “150 miles north of Toronto.”"

"Garden Walk Buffalo was founded in 1995 by Marvin Lunenfeld and Gail McCarthy with 29 gardens around the Norwood-West Utica area. This year, more than 350 Buffalo gardens within a five-mile radius are included. "

(Hat Tip to the Buffalo News)

THE BUFFALO INFRINGEMENT FESTIVAL

Once again i am proud to be a part of the Buffalo Infringement Festival (www.infringebuffalo.org ). With 5 cities in North America taking part in the Infringement, Buffalo is far and away the largest, with over 1200 performances ranging from music to dance, poetry to audio/video. Not to be too self promotional, but i have the pleasure of playing Tonight at the Essex Street Pub, Wednesday at Buffalo Barfly, and next Saturday at Space 224. It's a wonderful festival with hundreds of performers over 11 days throughout the city.

Great article at the Buffalo News, click here

Bright Eyes at Artpark

Beautiful night for some beautiful music. Bright Eyes played a free show at what is fast becoming one of my favorite venues in Western New York. They played 3 out of my 4 favorite songs ( Poison Oak, Landlocked Blues, At the bottom of everything). the crowd was great and the weather was beautiful. Everyone seemed to have a great time, including Hillary B, who i interviewed after the show:

"it was a good show, i liked sitting on the hill to people watch and listen to the band play. i have been to art park before and sat near the stage, i actually like sitting on the hill better ... I think art park is a great place to have a outdoors concert...you have the great scenery behind the stage and the village on the main street is really nice too, a lot of little shops and restaurants."

That sums it up nicely, except i like sitting closer, but to each their own!!!


(camera phone picture)


(camera phone pic by Liz Jenney)

Star lights = Great Night

Had an absolute blast at Star Lights Saturday night at the Buffalo Museum of Science. Unfortunately the weather didn't entirely cooperate, with it being cloudy, but the big telescopes on the roof were pointed towards downtown and we could see landmark building up close and personal.

The rooftop view was gorgeous, and seeing the museum up close at night was equally as awesome.They had a live DJ spinning on the second floor, tables of local wines and handcrafted beers available with admission. The 4th floor science floor looked even cooler at night. Overall, with tunes spinning, really good beers (and wines) flowing, gorgeous views of the city, it was one of the best night of the year so far.

Buffalo Italian Festival

This weekend is the 2nd largest Italian Festival in the United States, in North Buffalo along Hertel Ave. There are tons of rides, games, and plenty, and i mean plenty, of Italian food. Should be a great time, and i encourage all to stop on down!

Official Italian Festival Website

America's Birthday in the Queen City.

Anyone who is familiar with the Buffalo area knows how frustrating waterfront development has been for the past couple decades. Well this story is slowly becoming a success story. We rode our bikes to the beautiful new canalside/harborfront last night for the fireworks show and live music, and boy Buffalo, you've come a long way. From a fully redesigned commercial slip, to unearthing of the original Erie Canal, to beautiful new greenspace and docks, they have done a great job so far. Only a stones throw from the HSBC arena, things are very much so starting to happen on the inner and outer harbors. Want some proof?(click for larger pictures, the last one is from Angola On the Lake festivities the night before)

Bidwell Farmers Market

One of the great things about saturdays in summer in downtown Buffalo, is the Elmwood/Bidwell Farmers Market. Its great to take a stroll, or a bike, down and pick up some fresh produce, flowers, wines, and much more. On beautiful days we ride down and get some coffee and pastries at one of several coffee spots within in couple blocks. Highly recommended if your in the western new york area in the summer time!Some of the Market (camera phone)

Liz holding our farm fresh eggs!

Umphree's Part II

Jeff Simon, The Buffalo News music editor, agrees about that magic that was the Umphree's show Wednesday night.
http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/article473021.ece

Umphree's Mcgee @ Artpark

One of the greatest things about summertime in the Buffalo area is the abundance of free outdoor live shows. It's an embarassment of riches to be able to go see Peter Frampton one night (Free, Tuesday http://www.artpark.net/) and the next night Umphree's Mcgee (free Wednesday) and then Lowest of the low (free, thursday http://www.buffaloplace.com/thursday-at-the-square). This is just one week, and pretty much every week during the summer is like this. Well last night i went to see Chicago based Umphree's, and boy, it was worth every second of being there. They put on an absolute clinic in guitar and drum work, and had the crowd unable to even catch our breaths. Highly recommended.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Just a reminder that at Thursday At the Square tonight is a free Grace Potter and the Nocturnals show. I was able to see them at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tenn a couple weeks ago and the band played excellent music, and Grace has a wonderful voice. I have a couple issues with the lyrics to her originals, but throw back a couple drinks and that'll fade into the background.

Gotta love Thursday At the Square in downtown Buffalo!

Grace Potter covering "white Rabbit", this cover alone is worth going downtown!

4th Annual 0.5K Stiletto Run to benefit the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

What a wonderful summer evening for the 0.5k Stiletto run this year. Warm weather, great crowds, and lots of money raised for a great cause tonight! If you couldn't make it this year, i would highly recommend making a special trip out next year. Whether its guys trying to fix broken heels on the fly (how often do i get to type that?) or entire groups remembering thier lost loved ones, its one of the best events of the summer.

Spiderman reveals herself!

One of the leaders!

Katie M (far left) and family afterwards. When i asked her "does it hurt to run in stiletto's?" she responded like a trooper, "Not if you're used to it!"

So make sure you check out this great event next year! check out http://www.stilettorun.org for more details!