Saturday, June 21, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Buffalo 3rd cleanest city
According to Readers Digest Buffalo is the 3rd cleanest city in America. Holy Moley
#3 Buffalo, New York
(Erie and Niagara counties)
Background: Long known as a Rust Belt city where steel was king, Buffalo was hit hard when that industry went into steep decline more than two decades ago. As steel plants shut down, Buffalo was forced to rebuild its economy from the ground up. But by leveraging its assets, including a low cost of living and cheap, clean hydroelectric energy generated by nearby Niagara Falls, Buffalo has begun luring new, nonmanufacturing businesses to the area.
Problems: After the shuttering of its steel plants and oil refineries, the region was left with the residue of its industrial past: A heavily polluted Buffalo River and acres of brownfields and Superfund sites, including the notorious Love Canal. By the 1990s, Buffalo's dwindling population, shrinking tax base and fiscal problems meant drastic cuts in city services -- including sanitation. As a result, huge trash piles often accumulated in front of homes, sometimes going uncollected for days on end. At the same time, Buffalo was struggling with a sizable rat infestation.
Solutions: With the help of environmental quality bonds and Superfund dollars, Buffalo has made great strides in containing and cleaning up brownfields and contaminated sites. Meanwhile, plans are underway to turn part of the former Bethlehem Steel site -- an 1,100-acre brownfield on the shores of Lake Erie -- into a wind farm that will generate clean power for businesses and residents. The state is also overseeing a Buffalo River cleanup, already successful enough to draw boaters and fishermen back to the waterway. As for the trash problems, Buffalo undertook an award-winning restructuring of its garbage collection system. A fleet of 13 high-tech street sweepers, deployed 24 hours a day during non-winter months, now helps keep the streets clear of debris. And the city has dramatically curbed the rat problem by distributing large, securely covered garbage bins to every residence in the city.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday at the Square week 1
Of course I went to the first Thursday at the Square downtown May 29th. It was great getting back down there with summer staring me in the face and drinking outside while people watching and dime watching. Then things went down hill, kinda.
First off prices have been jacked up. Instead of two beers for $5 it is now $3 a ticket which will get you either a draft Blue/Blue light or a slice of pizza or something. Not that I am actually wasting tickets on food, but I figured I would tell the whole story. So yea, $.50 increase in ticket prices, which isn't terrible it is less than ideal.
Secondly it was a lot colder than I thought it was going to be. In my driveway in the the 'burbs it was like 70 and kinda hot. Down in Laffeyette square it was something like 30 degrees and 80 mph winds. Well not that bad but it was jacket weather down there.
And lastly, there weren't that many people. Don't get me wrong when I first arrived it seemed pretty packed, but the crowd died down exponentially as the temperature dropped. This is probably due to a number of reasons much of which had to do with the temperature. However, other reasons have to do with the times change, it goes from 6-10 in stead of 5-9 now. This means it is later, it is darker, and there really isn't enough light to see what is going on in the pitch dark at 9:30 at night.
Whatever, it was still pretty fun and worth the 8 month wait, kind of. Hopefully in subsequent weeks more sets are flopping skirts short shorts balmier weather etc with commence. After the square of course the destination was Chippewa. Again not as many people out and it was cold there too unsurprisingly. Went to basically every where copped some free drinks didn't pay any covers. Visited Liars, no one there i think it was getting raided, Eddie Brady's, nice place before heading down the street, Level, free drink, Sub Zero, no idea but they did have a bubble machine, 67 west/Bottoms up, why not. Next week, skybar?
First off prices have been jacked up. Instead of two beers for $5 it is now $3 a ticket which will get you either a draft Blue/Blue light or a slice of pizza or something. Not that I am actually wasting tickets on food, but I figured I would tell the whole story. So yea, $.50 increase in ticket prices, which isn't terrible it is less than ideal.
Secondly it was a lot colder than I thought it was going to be. In my driveway in the the 'burbs it was like 70 and kinda hot. Down in Laffeyette square it was something like 30 degrees and 80 mph winds. Well not that bad but it was jacket weather down there.
And lastly, there weren't that many people. Don't get me wrong when I first arrived it seemed pretty packed, but the crowd died down exponentially as the temperature dropped. This is probably due to a number of reasons much of which had to do with the temperature. However, other reasons have to do with the times change, it goes from 6-10 in stead of 5-9 now. This means it is later, it is darker, and there really isn't enough light to see what is going on in the pitch dark at 9:30 at night.
Whatever, it was still pretty fun and worth the 8 month wait, kind of. Hopefully in subsequent weeks more sets are flopping skirts short shorts balmier weather etc with commence. After the square of course the destination was Chippewa. Again not as many people out and it was cold there too unsurprisingly. Went to basically every where copped some free drinks didn't pay any covers. Visited Liars, no one there i think it was getting raided, Eddie Brady's, nice place before heading down the street, Level, free drink, Sub Zero, no idea but they did have a bubble machine, 67 west/Bottoms up, why not. Next week, skybar?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
thursday at the square line up
The 2008 lineup includes:
- May 29 - Galactic with The New Deal
- June 5 - The Disco Biscuits
- June 12 - Yonder Mountain String Band
- June 19 - The David Sanborn Group with Gamalon
- June 26 - Martin Sexton and the Mike Doughty Duo
- July 3 - Jakob Dylan and the Gold Mountain Rebels
- July 10 - Jimmie Vaughan with JJ Grey and Mofro
- July 17 - The Mickey Hart Band with Tea Leaf Green
- July 24 - The Gin Blossoms with the Common Kings and Dan Erickson
- July 31 - Spirit of the West with Babik and Penny Whiskey
- Aug. 7 - Zappa plays Zappa and the Whigs
- Aug. 14 - Mike Gordon of Phish with Samantha Stollenwerck
- Aug. 21- Salvia with Klear
- Aug. 28 - Candlebox with Agent Me
- Sept. 4 - Big Head Todd and the Monsters with Indigenous
Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor schedule is:
- Aug. 15 - Great Big Sea
- Aug. 16 - The Robert Cray Band with Keb' Mo'
Whatever I'll still be there any sunny thursday drinking beers then walking to chippewa. The problem with music acts is casinos are able to pay better bands more money in smaller venues because of the gambling money they make up for the loss of paying bigger acts. This obviously hurts outfits like TATS. Oh well, but never really gets good bands any way. And when they do, Tokyo Police Club, it sells out before I can even get in. Damn Soundlab mother fuckers. Whatever, as long as the canadians come and spend their loot err loonie
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Happy 176th Birthday Buffalo
Holy mole-y who knew 4/20 was Buffalo's birthday. No wonder it is a party town. So today is the 176th birthday of the city of Buffalo. I wonder why there isn't something planned each year to celebrate the cities birthday. True we don't need another reason to drink and celebrate, but then again who couldn't I guess.
Here is hoping the next 176 years goes at least as good as the last 176 if not better. Maybe a renaissance of the city a Superbowl and a stanley cup? Or I guess I would just settle for a return to the growth and development that once stood at the foot of main street on the water front. Is that really too much to ask?
Here is hoping the next 176 years goes at least as good as the last 176 if not better. Maybe a renaissance of the city a Superbowl and a stanley cup? Or I guess I would just settle for a return to the growth and development that once stood at the foot of main street on the water front. Is that really too much to ask?
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Bisons home opener and the Dodos
Copped some free duckets to the Bison's home opener Friday night. It was beautiful weather all week, then Friday comes along and it rains the whole night wtf. Can't catch a break in this town jeepers. Then again starting lefty Jeremy Sowers couldn't either. While the Mud Hens and Jeremy Johnson made some nice plays in the outfield and scored 4 runs Sowers didn't get much help from the defense and no help from the offense. Three solo dingers were all Toledo needed to pull out the W.
On the bright side, I did get a foul ball minutes after I just let a ball slip right through my hands. It was either the beer in my left hand or the wet ball coming at me and I decided to have my cake and eat it too. I kept the beer, thank god, but the ball slipped right over to some punk kid. The worst part was some dude yelling "you're no athlete" to me after I missed the ball. Well at least I got my redemption on the next one.
After the game I went to see the band the Dodos at Mohawk place. Can't complain about $7 cover and $2 PBR and OV. Normally I don't like to see bands when not familiar with their music but I made an exception.
Of course the show started late, they didn't take stage till something like 12:30, but surprisingly they were pretty good. Almost, and I stress almost, like a poor man's version of Radiohead. They had no bassist, two drummers and a guitarist. They used electric and acoustic guitars.
The use of noise and echoing was also pretty interesting. If I do say so my self, check out their new album, The Dodos - Visiter out now. It is their second full length LP.
On the bright side, I did get a foul ball minutes after I just let a ball slip right through my hands. It was either the beer in my left hand or the wet ball coming at me and I decided to have my cake and eat it too. I kept the beer, thank god, but the ball slipped right over to some punk kid. The worst part was some dude yelling "you're no athlete" to me after I missed the ball. Well at least I got my redemption on the next one.
After the game I went to see the band the Dodos at Mohawk place. Can't complain about $7 cover and $2 PBR and OV. Normally I don't like to see bands when not familiar with their music but I made an exception.
Of course the show started late, they didn't take stage till something like 12:30, but surprisingly they were pretty good. Almost, and I stress almost, like a poor man's version of Radiohead. They had no bassist, two drummers and a guitarist. They used electric and acoustic guitars.
The use of noise and echoing was also pretty interesting. If I do say so my self, check out their new album, The Dodos - Visiter out now. It is their second full length LP.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Buffalo, #1 mid sized art city
I'm not big into art museums and such, but I do understand their potential for creating jobs helping neighborhoods and drawing visitors from outside the area. Good news has been found about Buffalo's art scene. According to AmericanStyle magazine, but was voted to be the #1 mid sized art city in the country.
With the expansion of the Burchfield Penny next to Buffalo State and a world renowned Modern Art museum in the Albright Knox, I think they could have a point. Now all the city needs to do is have our own South by Southwest music festival, then I'll realllly have a boner.
More renovation in the Larkin District. Great time to invest in what is truly a potential for growth unlike the pipe dreams that are the cobblestone district.
With the expansion of the Burchfield Penny next to Buffalo State and a world renowned Modern Art museum in the Albright Knox, I think they could have a point. Now all the city needs to do is have our own South by Southwest music festival, then I'll realllly have a boner.
More renovation in the Larkin District. Great time to invest in what is truly a potential for growth unlike the pipe dreams that are the cobblestone district.
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