254 Search Results

• Wedding Glossary - C Wedding Glossary - C

  • From: BuffaloBrides
  • Description:

    Cake Server - A cake knife used in the tradition of cutting the wedding cake.
    
    Cake Shapes - The Most Common Cake Shapes are Round, Oval, Square, Rectangular, Architectural, such as a pyramid or a Cinderella carriage, Petaled (like a flower in full bloom), Hexagonal (six-sized), Octagonal (eight-sided), Whimsical – such as tilted layers and rounded cupcake-looking toppings, very artistic and creative, Heart-shaped, Monogram-shaped – a big cake in the letter M, for your shared married name, or even sculpted into your monogrammed initials.
    
    Cake Top - Usually a statue or other collectable used to adorn the top of a wedding cake.
    
    Calligraphy - This is an ornate highly stylized form of handwriting seen on expensive wedding invitations.
    
    Canapes - Class of hors d'oeuvre that are always served on small pieces of bread.
    
    Candelabra - A centerpiece created at the base, neck, or top of a multi-armed candelabra for candles and decorated with flowers.
    
    Candle Lighters - Members of the wedding party, often older children or young adults, who walk up the aisle with lit candles to light candles for the ceremony.
    
    Capacity Charts - View square footage and seating configurations of the selected rooms within a hotel or resort.
    
    Cap-Dolman Sleeve - The armhole begins in full fabric at the ribcage or waist, covering the arm, also called the ‘batwing.’
    
    Cap Sleeves - The shortest sleeve style, it usually covers only the shoulder, though off-shoulder dresses sometimes also have small cap sleeves.  A ‘pouf’ at shoulder, gathering under or against the very top of the arm.
    
    Carat - The standard unit of weight for diamonds and most other gems.
    
    Cardstock - A type of paper commonly used for wedding invitations. Thicker than normal printing paper and comes in varying colors and textures.
    
    Carving Station - Area manned by catering staff who carve slices of meat, such as prime rib or chicken, in a buffet setting at the request of guests.
    
    Cascade Bouquet - A style of bridal bouquet, a waterfall of flowers and greenery anchored to a hand-held base.
    
    Cash Bar - A beverage-service system where wedding guests pay for their drinks.
    
    Cathedral - Large church for a couple to marry.
    
    Cathedral Veil - The most formal veil, it's usually three and a half yards long. Also known as the ‘royal veil.'
    
    Cathedral Train - Extends 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 feet from the waist.
    
    Centerpiece - Used as the decoration for the center of the table at a wedding.
    
    Centerpiece Cake - A specialty cake that takes the place of flowers as your table decorations.
    
    CEO/BEO - "Catering Event Order" or "Banquet Event Order". Your caterer uses this document to carefully detail all the requirements of your function, including menu, audio/visual provisions, table setup, staffing requirements, etc.
    
    Certified Diamond - Diamond that has been graded based on an internationally accepted system for color, clarity, cut and carat weight. The grading is performed by an independent gemmological organization, and the certificate details all of the characteristics that the diamond possesses, including and estimated retail replacement value for insurance purposes.
    
    Chantilly - A web-like floral pattern on a lace background outlined with silk threads; soft to the touch.
    
    Chapel Train - The most popular train for formal weddings, it extends 3-4 feet behind the gown.
    
    Chapel Veil - This is the name for a length of bridal veil that will reach the floor, extending two and a half yards from the headpiece.
    
    Charger Plate - A large decorative plate, almost platter-sized, placed under the entree and salad plate to add color to your reception tables. A beautiful gold or silver leaf charger can add formality and flare to a simple table. It can also be a further way to incorporate your wedding color palette into your reception table.
    
    Charmeuse - A lightweight, semi-lustrous fabric, much like satin.
    
    Chiffon - Made from silk or rayon, is sheer and transparent, so it's often layered. A popular fabric for the overskirts, sheer sleeves and wraps of wedding gowns.
    
    Chocolate Ganache - A thick wedding cake icing made of chocolate and heavy cream.
    
    Choker Necklace - A single strand of pearls worn around the collar; the most classic style of pearl necklace, it looks good with a jewel or bateau neckline.
    
    Chossen V’Kallah - The Hebrew words for groom (chossen) and bride (kallah). The wedding couple is likened to a King and Queen and are to be treated with great honor and fanfare on the day of their wedding and the week following.
    
    Chuppah (choo-PAH) - The Chuppah, or wedding canopy, is a covering, often cloth, held aloft on four poles. The chuppah is symbolic of the first roof the bride and groom share together, representing their new home.
    
    Circular Skirt - The hem on this skirt forms a circle and is not gathered at the waist.
    
    Clarity - A stones relative position on a flawless to imperfect scale, and one of the four Cs of diamonds. Clarity characteristics are classified as inclusions (internal) or blemishes (external). The size, number, position, nature, and color or relief of characteristics determine the clarity grade. Very few diamonds are flawless. 
    
    Classic Hand-Tied Bouquet - A handmade collection of blooms, usually tied with ribbon.
    
    Cocktail Hour - A festive gathering where guests mingle as cocktails and hors d'oeuvres are served, typically preceding dinner.
    
    Comb - A decorative hairpiece attached to a comb that slides into the hair.
    
    Common Law Marriage - When two people live together as if they are man and wife without going through the formality of marriage.
    
    Composite Bouquet - A handmade bouquet in which different petals or buds are wired together on a single stem, creating the illusion of one giant flower.
    
    Conflict-Free Diamonds - A diamond that comes from an ethical source. A certification of origin guarantees that child labor, human labor abuse, violence and environmentally unsound methods were not part of the diamond's history.
    
    Cornelli - An elaborate piping technique for icing that yields a lace-like pattern on a wedding cake.
    
    Corsage - from the French 'bust'. A corsage is an arrangement of flowers pinned to the bodice of a woman's dress. Corsages come in pin-on, wrist and hand-held styles. Corsages are typically worn by mothers and grandmothers.
    
    Corset - A form-fitting, strapless or spaghetti-strap bodice with boning and lace-up or snap closures.
    
    Cotton Fiber (invitations) - 100% cotton paper, considered the most formal and elegant paper stock for wedding invitations.
    
    Court Train - The train extends 1-2 feet behind the gown.
    
    Crepe - a lightly thin fabric with a crinkled effect.
    
    Croquenbouche - A wedding cake formed with cream puffs.
     
    Crosswyck - This collar style crosses in front and is fastened with a shiny button.
    
    Crown - similar to a tiara, but is a full circle rather than a half-circle. It sits on your head and is usually decorated with rhinestones, beads or pearls. Looks especially good with short hairstyles.
    
    Crudite - A pre-dinner snack, often a raw seasonal vegetable with a dipping sauce.
    
    Cuban Cigars - A popular cigar for celebrations, rolled from Cuban tobacco leaves.
    
    Cuff Links - Decorative jewelry used to close cuffs.
    
    Culet - The smallest facet at the bottom of the diamond.
    
    Cummerbund - This is a broad sash worn around a man's waist on top of his shirt but under the jacket.
    
    Cutaway Jacket - Jacket which tapers from the front waist button to a long, wide back tail; accessories include a wing-collar shirt with an ascot and a coordinating vest. Worn by the groom for formal daytime weddings, they're usually gray or black and come with matching striped trousers.
    
    Cut (diamond) - The proportions and finish of a polished diamond (also called make). Cut can also mean shape, as in emerald cut or marquise cut. Proportions are the size and angle relationships between the facets and different parts of the stone. Finish includes polish and details of facet shape and placement. One of the four C´s of diamonds.
    
    Cut-outs - See-through effect created by lace appliqué with the fabric cut out beneath.

     

    Are there any more that you can add to the list?

    For more tips and wedding information, visit BuffaloBrides.com!

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• "Fair Fever" at the Erie Count "Fair Fever" at the Erie County Fair

  • From: schumeea1
  • Description:

    Saccharine-sweet scents waft through the air, intermingling with the grit of dust on your tongue and the tinny scream of a rollercoaster ride rounding the bend. The sharp scent of animals tickles your nose hairs and your eyes overload with acid-trip bright colors, the blinding white of a brand new barn and so many textures your brain strains to remember them all. Where are you? The Erie County Fair, of course! 

    I went to the Fair this past Sunday mostly to see the animals. One walk down the midway does it for me. The screeching children, overstimulated by too much cotton candy coursing through their little bodies, the flashing lights so bright they continue through every blink, the slick smell of oil and the glorious brain-cell murdering gasoline. . . no thanks. It's the animal barns for me.

    There's just something about the saucer eyes of a cow that cuts right to the core. The way a piglet wriggles its way up to its mother's teat makes me mist over with what little maternal instinct I possess. And those goats? The three stooges could learn a thing or two. This year, I pet a chick, patted a pig, cuddled the velvet nose of a fresh calf and got my wrist licked by a cow so big it could swallow me whole. I consider it a success when I get up close and personal with as many farm fellers as possible, suburban girl that I am. This year, I certainly met that criteria. 

    As for fair food, I'm content with the smells. Have you ever closed your eyes on what my family has always called "Food Aisle?" You know the one: where those crazy piles of ribbon fries cozy up to the gyro stand, where you can sink your teeth into a fair sausage with a side of fried pickles, cauliflower, eggplant or chicken fingers with oreos, snickers, twinkies or even mallowmars for dessert? How about ice cream? You've got your choice of dippin' dots, Charlaps, 4H, Perry's, or even Hershey. And if you don't rinse your fries with vinegar, you're probably not a Buffalonian. Speaking of vinegar, the scent of chiavetta's is reason enough to pay the admission fee, in my mind. That smell could tempt me for miles, and the price is a fair bargain. Next time you're at the fair, try my trick: shut your eyes for a second (and make sure you step aside first), and let your olfactory sense take over. Your lungs will feast on the flavors of the fair, guaranteed.

    A native Hamburg-er, I've loved the fair since childhood. With its free concerts, demolition derby, arts and crafts exhibition (which I often entered, but never won), and variety of shows throughout the day, it's an easy entertainment for days on end. This year, the addition of a trick dog show to the standard pot bellied pigs, tigers in the kiddie corner, and even an exotic animals booth, the fair seems to have more to offer than ever. I don't know whether Sunday will be my last trip of the year or not, but I enjoyed my hours there immensely. And the price? We've all got our gripes, but that's not one of mine. With the average movie and popcorn tipping toward the twenty-dollar mark, I think fair admission is plenty "fair" for a day of family fun. So my advice? Stop on by for some of the best sights, smells, sounds and experience around this August. You'll catch "fair fever" for sure. 

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• WNY: A Hotbed of Talent for Me WNY: A Hotbed of Talent for Men’s Volleyball

  • From: EricCity
  • Description:

     

    Over the past few years, Western New York has produced a number of men’s collegiate volleyball players, some of whom have earned national awards and titles. 

     

    “For 20-plus years, I and many of my WNY friends, coaches and players have been very aware of the wealth of talent that we have produced from the WNY area,” said Robert Pierce, director of the Eden volleyball club.  “We have as many boys playing club and looking to play in college as we have ever had.”

     

    Men’s Division I (DI) collegiate volleyball is made up of three conferences: the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA), Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA), and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). Making up these three DI conferences are 23 colleges and universities, which seems minuscule compared to the 317 DI women’s programs.

     

    Volleyball has historically been associated with women.  However, in recent years the sport has been gaining popularity with men, as well. It might be a Title IX issue, but each year a few men’s programs are being added throughout the country.

     

    Despite the lack of availability of men’s programs, Wester New York has found great success for its athletes. During the 2010 collegiate season, 13 men at eight different colleges and universities from the WNY area played D1 intercollegiate volleyball. These 13 men include:

    • John Klanac (Ohio State University, Orchard Park High School)
    • Pat Schwagler (Princeton University, Orchard Park High School)
    • Dale Freier (Ohio State University, Lancaster High School)
    • Jared Pincoski (Loyola (Chicago) University, Orchard Park High School)
    • Derek Jansma (Harvard University, Lancaster High School)
    • Jonathan Meyer (Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne, Eden High School)
    • Tom Comfort (Penn State University, Orchard Park High School)
    • Mike Stefani (Ohio State University, Orchard Park High School)
    • Pete Freyer (Saint Francis University Pa., Orchard Park High School)
    • Phil Peterson (Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne, Frontier High School)
    • Joe Norton (George Mason University, Eden High School)
    • Max Lipsitz (Penn State University, Williamsville North High School)
    • Eric Syty (Saint Francis University (Pa.), Clarence High School)

     

     

    One standout among the 13 men is Max Lipsitz—a native of Williamsville. Lipsitz was named to the First Team All-EIVA during each of his four years at Penn State.  He also earned American Volleyball Coaches Association Second Team All-American honors in 2008, was named an AVCA First Team All-American in 2009 and 2010, and was selected to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team in 2008 and 2010. If that is not enough, Lipsitz was also the 2010 EIVA Uvaldo Acosta Player of the Year.

     

    Lipsitz was even a part of the men’s U.S. Junior National Team during the summer of 2007.

     

    Although the majority of his honors have come on the court, Lipsitz claimed a spot on ESPN The Magazine’s Second Team Academic All-American list in 2008.

     

    Lipsitz was not the only athlete from WNY who took a title at the end of the 2010 season; Pat Schwagler earned one as well. Although he may not have the same resume as Lipsitz, Schwagler still has three years left in his college career at Princeton.  Schwagler, an Orchard Park native, received the EIVA Newcomer of the Year award for his efforts with the Tigers.

     

    “Being EIVA Newcomer of the Year has been an awesome experience. When I first heard about it I couldn't believe it – there were some pretty good freshman in the league this year, so this was an honor,” Schwagler said.

     

    WNY has even produced a National Player of the Year. Matt Anderson (West Seneca) who left Penn State University after his 2008 season, was part of the NCAA National Championship team and played his first professional years overseas in Korea.

     

    Anderson who now plays in Italy is also a member of the U.S. national team and is hoping to guide them to a successful 2012 Olympic campaign. 

     

    One factor that may lead to such great talent coming out of WNY is the combination of year-round play and great club teams. Unlike most states, New York’s high school volleyball season takes place during the fall. This allows players to play all fall, then in the winter; club season begins and runs through most of summer.

     

    In other states, such as Pennsylvania, men’s volleyball is a spring sport in high school, leaving fall as an off-season because the club season still takes place during the winter and summer months.

     

    “I think that the single biggest factor in the increase of talent in WNY is the existence of outstanding club programs in our area - Panther, Southtowns, Power Station, and especially Eden give kids a chance to play year-round and compete with other great players from around the country,” said Kevin Starr coach of the Clarence High School men’s varsity team.  “Guys like Walt Stefani, Robert Pierce, and Tom Weislo deserve the most credit for all that they've done to help WNY kids grow as players.”

     

    So with all this talent coming out of WNY, why isn’t there a local university where these players can play? Pierce, Schwagler, and Starr all agree that the University at Buffalo would benefit greatly by having a D1 men’s volleyball team. Pierce says that UB has the right “administrative direction” and thinks that a men’s team would also benefit the women’s program.

     

    By adding a men’s team UB would be in the spotlight nationally, drawing more attention to both the school and its athletics programs – including women’s volleyball.

     

    Another benefit from a player standpoint is that playing close to home allows family and friends to see the athletes in action more than once or twice a year.

     

     Just beyond D1 is D3, which is nothing short of another exciting WNY-filled division.

     

    With local schools like Medaille College, whose 2010 roster was made up of 13 Western New Yorkers out of 14 players; and D’Youville College who had 6 of its 12 players representing WNY, it is clear that the local high schools are continuing to produce a wide range of talent.

     

    Then there are the D3 schools outside the WNY area that host one or more Western New Yorker(s) like: New York University, Juniata College (Huntingdon, Pa.), Springfield College (Springfield, Mass.), Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, NJ) and Nazareth College (Rochester, NY).

     

    Helping the Violets of NYU is Jeffrey Lewis, a native of Hamburg who has been with the team for two seasons now.

     

    Flying with the Eagles at Juniata College is Charlie Gomez, who joined the team in 2009 after graduating from Amherst Central high school.

     

    Representing WNY for the 2010 D3 National Champion Springfield College is Jeff Gutmann (Maryvale) who plays outside hitter.

     

    Heading into his senior year, Tim Karl (Clarence)  is looking forward to playing a big role for Stevens Tech in the upcoming 2011 season.

     

    Rounding out the list is Nazareth College, who may not be as big as the other schools, but is gaining more and more recognition every year. The Western New Yorkers making up the Golden Flyers' roster are: Chris Mendez (Canisius), Will Siwy (Lake Shore), Dan Miranda (Sweet Home) and Hans Schroeder (Kenmore West).

     

    Among those four individuals is one in particular. Schroeder, who has been a big asset the past three years was recently deemed a “player to watch in 2011” by Volleyball Magazine.

     

    Rounding out the success of volleyball in WNY is a look at the recent 2010 Empire State Games, where both the “open” and “scholastic” men’s team took home the gold medal. This proves to the state that WNY really is a hotbed for men’s volleyball.

     

    It’s clear that WNY has the resources to become a collegiate volleyball powerhouse, but by funneling the big names away, the players are soon forgotten and volleyball remains in the high schools and clubs.

     

    Although men’s volleyball may not be big in many parts of the country, there is no doubt that in WNY it is a sport on the rise. 

    
    

     

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• Seven Bands, One Great Show. Seven Bands, One Great Show.

  • From: EricCity
  • Description:

    The majority of the bands at Club Infinity this past Friday were young and hip, which was reflected by a largely teenage crowd. Young fans, however, only made for a louder and more energetic environment.

    Before the first band opened its set, it was clear that each act was going to have its own clique of teen supporters, as one could tell from the surrounding conversations. Inside Club Infinity, it was almost high school dance-like with clumps of teens scattered like spots on a Dalmatian.

    Then the music started and each clique faded as they met down in the pit.

     

    While it is not easy to be the opening act—Larrabe did their job. Although it took two or three songs to break the ice, they got the audience moving, clapping and even singing.

    Taking the stage after Larrabe was The Call Out, a group from New Jersey. Being a small, relatively unknown band did not deter them. Their cover of Michelle Branch’s “Everywhere” sounded like a song from the album series Rockin’ Romance and was enough to make the crowd both laugh and sing-a-long.

    The third act to rock the stage was Standard of Living, who announced that this would be their last show under that name. The local band said they were not breaking up, simply working on new things and will be known as Keeping Quiet (Keepingquietmusic.com).

    Having played at Club Infinity before—Standard of Living knew what to expect and it seemed like a majority of the people in attendance knew them. They played two of their most popular songs, “Autumn in Amherst” and “The Drive,” giving the crowd a nice homey feeling.

    As each new act took the stage, the crowd grew both in quantity and age range, helping to make the venue more concert-like. Now, there were a handful of adults and people in their twenties amidst the cornucopia of teens.

    Next on stage was Crush, The Everlasting who debuted their song “Beautiful Monster.” While no one knew the song, it did not stop them from enjoying what was flying out of the speakers.

    With the big hand nearing nine, The Boy and His Machine began to set-up. While slightly older than those who had played before them—The Boy and His Machine took the stage with pride and power. Their set included a few new songs in order to get ready for an up-coming East Coast tour.

    In groups of three to four minutes the night wore on with the bands getting bigger and more popular.

    Letterset—who took the stage second to last played like they were at Madison Square Garden in front of thousands of people. They were loud and had incredible stage presence. At the same time they got the crowd involved with a “who can be the loudest contest.”

    Letterset even announced that they were back in the studio re-recording a song because the public will soon be allowed to buy it for the hit game Rock Band.

    Just because it was 10:30 and dark outside did not mean it had to be like that inside. When the feature act The Mixtape stood before the mass of people that had accumulated over the hours—lights, lasers and fog filled the stage.

    The Mixtape had everything that made up a real band. In fact, they had recently been signed to a record label. But nothing says real quite like having the crowd on your side. There were hands in the air, heads bobbing, and feet tapping.

    Everyone loved them and that was evident from the demand for “one more song” even once the band had left the stage. Turing around, they grabbed microphones and instruments and gave everyone what they came for so that all could leave happy.

     

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• Brad Paisley's 2010 H2O Tour Brad Paisley's 2010 H2O Tour

  • From: billfixit1
  • Description:

                   Brad Paisley's H2O Tour flows thru Darien Lake

         Just a couple days before the official start of summer, you couldn't have asked for a better evening of country music. The weather and the entertainment were as hot as could be as the Brad Paisley H2O Tour took over Darien Lake.

         The main event got under way with Clay Moden from WYRK introducing Justin Moore, as he came to the stage. Moore was sporting a bright white cowboy hat, sunglasses, jeans and a huge belt buckle. He dedicated a song called "Grandpa," to his deceased grandfather and to all deceased grandparents. He said it was his favorite song off his album. During his #1 hit, "Small Town USA," he changed the words of one line to " A little Brad Paisley and a six pack of lite" which got a huge roar from the crowd. Moore wrapped up his entertaining set with a ZZ Top favorite, "Gimme All Your Lovin'."

            Darius Rucker came out next after only about a fifteen minute break. Rucker was wearing a John Lennon t-shirt, jeans and a Nike baseball cap. Rucker is making the transition from his former position as the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish to country. Judging by the fans' reaction, I thinkhe made the right move. He sent a shout out to his friend, former Buffalo Bill, Jim Kelly, who was apparently in the crowd. Rucker played his popular country hits and mixed in some Hootie and the Blowfish hits. He sent out a "huge thank you to Brad Paisley." Keeping with the H2O Tour theme he ended his set with a Prince favorite "Purple Rain." Rucker pulled out a sharpie, signed his cap, and handed it to a fan.

           Finally, Brad Paisley took the stage, opening with his hot new single "Water." Paisley came out wearing a black t-shirt, jeans and a white cowbooy hat. It took about nine songs before anyone took their seats. Paisley always puts on a high energy, high entertainment value show. He is constantly running back and forth across the stage. There was a stage in front of the main stage that was closer to the fans, and he spent a lot of time on that stage. During most of Paisley's songs, there was a video playing in the background. Many of the videos were very funny and kept the crowd laughing. At least two of them referenced the Buffalo Bills, which got a great reaction from the crowd.

         Paisley added a new twist to his show as he exited the stage, walked thru the crowd, and sang from a platform at the back of the seating area facing the lawn. There, he talked about being an awkward teenager. He said " I'm living proof that no matter what anybody tells you, high school is not the best years of your life.....now college?" The audience on the lawn cheered in agreement.

         When Paisley left the stage the crowd applauded and beat on the seats pleading for an encore. It was the loudest I have ever heard. He came back out singing his big hit "Ticks" and followed with "Alcohol." During "Alcohol" all the artists that played that day came out on stage. They accompanied Paisley in the song, and signed autographs for some lucky front row fans. Paisley was sure to have Rucker sing the line " Teach white people to dance." There was even a seal and its trainer on stage. The seal had a cowboy hat on and danced with its trainer. As usual, Paisley gave his cowboy hat to a lucky fan.

     

          This was only the beginning of a great season of hot concerts at Darien Lake. Be sure to get your tickets and see a live show.

     

     

     

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• The Bunny The Bear: Ferocious The Bunny The Bear: Ferocious Live

  • From: MikeKamo
  • Description:

    “So what genre would you put yourself into?” I asked The Bunny, one-of-two lead singers of local band The Bunny The Bear. “Reverse-cowgirl-core,” he fired back at me, seemingly annoyed by the question.

    But while he took my question as a joke, he was actually being truthful in a way: it’s really impossible to stick TBTB in a genre. They’re metal. They’re hardcore. They’re rock. They’re a bit emo, and everything else in between.

    The Bunny and The Bear, who get their names from the masks they wear on stage, are responsible for the vocals of the band, with The Bunny screaming and The Bear singing; they each play their parts well. One of the draws of TBTB is that the majority of its songs include screaming, an essential part to hardcore and metal music, and singing, which can draw the rocker crowd. And believe me when I say it, The Bunny can SCREAM and The Bear can SING.

    The rest of the group consists of Brian Dietz on drums, Chris “Chiggs” Cole on rhythm guitar, Derek Anthony on bass guitar, and Erik Kogut on lead guitar; The Bunny does all of the keyboard and piano arrangement on the songs.

    I caught the band at a recent show at The Moose Lodge in North Tonawanda, a relatively small and sweltering venue for a rock show. The headline act of the show, TBTB was joined by Noah’s Ark, Weapon X, and Dead by Dawn, all local metal and rock bands. The crowd was into the other groups, but it was clear who they all came to see.

    “We haven’t played in two months,” explained Dietz on the June 26 show. “This is the first show that will start our mini-tour, which is going through Pennsylvania and down to Virginia Beach.” “This is our first show back, so I’m excited to just get up there and start playing again,” added Chiggs.

    To make clear why the group is so appealing, I went to the TBTB fans. “They have such a refreshing sound, breaking the mold for what popular music is in America today,” commented rock-music buff Nick Wisniewski. “Everyone is sick of these cookie cutter rock groups with no talent - you can really tell that TBTB is full of talented guys that love what they’re doing. People can get into that no matter what they listen to.”

    The talent of the group is unquestionable if you’ve heard its music- seeing the band live boosts its image ten-fold.

    I can’t really explain the show in words. I left absolutely drenched in sweat and amazed at how good a band can be in person. The energy of the group was so high, it was almost scary. The Bunny was on the stage for a total of maybe ten seconds - he was manic, spending the rest of the time jumping every which way, sprawling across the floor, and running out in to the crowd in an attempt to get the fans fired up, all the while making them a part of the show.

    “They have a high energy sound, but where they really explode is in person,” explained TBTB junkie Tom Pearce. “They put on one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen; full of energy and they always seem to take it up a notch on stage.”

    If you have the chance, head to the next TBTB show on July 30th at Positive Approach on Elmwood- a talented group like this won’t stay local for long.

    For more The Bunny The Bear, checkout their myspace page right here

    The video below is for the TBTB single April 11

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• Moe. At THe Harbour Moe. At THe Harbour

  • From: JoeG211
  • Description:

    Coming out to raucous applause and the heat of an usually warm Buffalo night, Moe. electrified the Erie Canal Harbor. They have been around for a while though and the crowd knew what it was in for. The fans make the show more exciting than other shows just because of the feel these people bring to the concert; they enjoy the music and appreciate this band’s wonderful gift.

    Moe.’s set featured a style that consisted of rock, jam, progressive rock, and psychedelic rock delivered by two lead guitars that preferred to hit the free-formed jam out of the universe than resort to lyrically traditional commercial rock. Most of the people in attendance didn’t have a problem as this style lured them to the concert in the first place. Some of Moe.’s newer songs sound like the band has begun to conform to a more mainstream feel, but the jam rock still lingers over its sound.

    All around me, I sensed a feeling of happiness and understanding between concert-goers. Jam band shows are like nothing else. People in the audience become more of a family than just a crowd of fans. I could turn to the person next to me at any time during the show and start dancing with her. People don't judge you and certainly won't hassle you about anything. They just want you to enjoy the music as much as they do.

    The twenty minute jams Moe. performs on stage are only a small sampling of the group’s ability. I think they could jam out for hours if they wanted to. All you would want to do is dance and enjoy the music. You can't help it. Even though some complain that Moe. is a cheapened version of Phish or Grateful Dead, I tend to disagree with that. Don’t get me wrong, Moe. does sound like these bands, but all great jam bands sound alike in some way. Moe. does a good job of adding its own twist to the music with a wide variety of instruments that really deepen? Expand? Enhance? its sound. The music makes you want to wiggle your body to the rhythm throughout the whole show. If you ever get a chance to see this band, please do. Let yourself get lost in the music and dance.

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• Sabres Draft Party Sabres Draft Party

  • From: JoeG211
  • Description:

    Hockey season is over, and there wasn’t a concert in sight, but HSBC Arena was still buzzing all night.

    HSBC Arena came back to life Friday night when the Sabres hosted their annual NHL Draft Party. Starting at 7:00pm, HSBC had the draft televised throughout the arena for the fans. Up in the Harbour Club on the 200 level, normal Sabres’ television and play-by-play hosts Kevin Sylvester, Harry Neale, and Mike Robitaille anchored the coverage of the draft, giving fans analysis and a breakdown of what was going on in the draft. The Sabres had the 23rd pick in the first round, so it was a while before their name came up on the draft board.  During the wait, however, there was plenty to do in the arena.

    Even though the announcers did a great job of chewing up time, wandering all over the arena free from restriction was something that had to be taken advantage of. Fans were allowed to walk down into the locker room and see the inside of a real NHL dressing room. Getting to go down and see where these players prepare themselves before the game and cool down after is a great thing for fans to be a part of.

    Besides the draft coverage, though, the locker room tours were the only thing really geared towards the older crowd; most of the activities and entertainment were geared for the younger kids.  Kids were allowed to bring sticks and skates to play hockey on two different basketball court floors - a fun experience even though it wasn’t really on the ice. There were other areas set up that allowed the kids to play different games and even test their skills in a skill competition. To me though, the best part of the activities for the kids was an arts and crafts center that allowed them to make their own Sabres’ gear like pennants and jerseys. I have never seen anything like this set up before and it seemed to go over really well.  It made me wish I was a little kid again so I could get in on the action.

    After wandering around the stadium and taking it all in, finally the Sabres’ pick came up and they drafted defensemen Mark Pysyk from the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. I found it interesting that Buffalo would pick up another defensemen when they have a need at forward considering none of the players who were supposed to be stars – like Jason Pominville and Drew Stafford.

    All in all though, it was a great event and brought everyone together with entertainment for all ages. No fan base compares to Buffalo, and with these kind of events the fans are rewarded for their in-season support. Now only if we can get a Stanley Cup to even further build the fan base.

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• Roaming Buffaloes Bar Crawl Roaming Buffaloes Bar Crawl

  • From: JoeG211
  • Description:

    Another wonderful event to bring out the best in Buffalo took place this weekend.
    
        The Roaming Buffaloes, a group that organizes social events, put on an Elmwood Street Bar Crawl. The bar crawl was a great event that really brought out the people of Bbuffalo. Participantspeople were walking from one side of the city to another just to take partparticipate in this wonderful event.
    
        With all the bars that participated in the crawl it wasn’t hard to get people to come out. From the laidbacka regular bar scene inlike Coles to thea more upscale ambiance in place like Trattoria Aroma, you could get whatever kind of atmosphere you were looking for. It was nice that all these different places took part and offered specials on different drinks.
    
    The crawl was sponsored by Labbatt Blue so all the places had specials on those drinks which came out to about a dollar off drafts and bottles of Blue, Blue Light and Blue Light Lime. Some places did there own drink specials by offering discounts on well drinks and mixed drinks. Bistro Europa not only gave discount prices on drinks, but also offered food as well to the participants of the crawl.
    
        Speaking of food, Just Pizza had a great offer going where you could buy any 2 slices of pizza for only 4 dollars. When most people are drinking they get hungry and want some food so what better way to capitalize on some business than offer that deal.
    
         It was a beautiful night for the bar crawl. Tthe temperature was perfect outside and there was not a cloud in the sky e even though it was predicted that we would have thunderstorms. , Yyou couldn’t have asked for a better night. Even though Although the bus was there running people up and down the street and dropping them off at certain locations, there were a lot of people who decided to take advantage of the nice weather and walk. Take an edge off to the drinking and enjoy the night with a nice walk I mean why not especially since all the bars were either next to each other or all just straight down Elmwood.
    
    
        Organizing the brawl crawl on the Elmwood strip The Elmwood strip for the bar crawl was a great idea and everyone had a lot of fun. The streets were bustling and great time it was full of people and everybodyparticipants  wereas out mingling with other people and relaxed having a good time. The bar crawls on the Chippewa most times seem a little hectic and crazy especially because all the bars are on top of each other. Using the spacious area along but with the spacing out and using the whole the Elmwood strip really gave the bar crawlit a nice free flowing feel.

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• The National Raises The Bar The National Raises The Bar

  • From: dmodica
  • Description:

    Completing their US tour in Buffalo on Friday night, The National kicked the Rockin’ at the Knox show up a notch with their stirring set.  The Alternative rockers put on an outstanding show and definitely attracted numerous new fans to their music.
    
    It was obvious that many members of the audience were familiar with The National’s music as they sang and danced along throughout the show. However, the brilliant band definitely won over the rest of the crowd with a fantastic incorporation of violin, trombone and trumpet into their songs.
    
    Lead singer Matt Berninger came to the stage amid cheers from the crowd and started off the show strong with “Start A War” and “Conversation 16.” His baritone voice is distinctive and he sang with so much emotion that it was difficult not to get into the band’s performance.
    
    Supporting their most recent album “High Violet,” The National played a wide variety of songs off of the album including “Anyone’s Ghost,” “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” and “England.” Although many of the songs had a somber and serious tone, the positive atmosphere outside the Albright-Knox did not change with the mood of the music.
    
    Introducing their song titled “Sorrow,” Berninger joked that he thought the song would be perfect for a nice sunny evening in the park and lightheartedly commented that the band has “a whole record called bummer.” Clapping along and heartily cheering after the conclusion of each song, the energetic fans of The National did not seem to mind the “bummer” theme of their music.
    
    The National sensed how much the crowd was enjoying their performance and treated everyone to a few extra songs. Berninger concluded the hard rocking set with “Terrible Love,” triumphantly walking into the crowd and sharing his microphone with a lucky fan as everyone flocked towards him.
    
    Together for over 10 years, The National proved on Friday night that they are not slowing down anytime soon. An excellent addition to the list of performers at Rockin' at the Knox, it is safe to say that the next time the talented group of musicians returns to Buffalo they will be on an even bigger stage.
    
    To find out more about The National visit their site at http://www.americanmary.com/  
    
    Photos from the show were taken by Ben Kirst and the full set can be viewed here.

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• Michaelson Storms the Square Michaelson Storms the Square

  • From: schumeea1
  • Description:

     The second Thursday at the Square starred folk hit Ingrid Michaelson, best known for her sweater-selling single, “Way I Am.”  Fans may have come expecting her signature bluesy, Regina Spector-esque sound, but her eclectic set was anything but predictable.

    She started off a little late, around 8pm, after two somewhat pedestrian but certainly pleasant openers. Taking the stage with hometown drummer Elliot Jacobson and the rest of a versatile, talented band, her belated arrival was heralded with beery cheers. And what a show! Michaelson is best known for somewhat bubbly folk-pop songs, many of which have not met radio play, perhaps because of their alternative, indie thread. Last night however, she chose to go a different route: covering classics and pop favorites with her own whimsical twist.

     Ever heard a folk singer do “Poker Face?” How about “Fresh Prince of Bel Air?” “Toxic?” Michaelson hit them all. She engaged the crowd with infectious energy and welcoming spirit seldom seen onstage, even pitting Duff’s wings lovers against Anchor Bar eaters in a sing-off. If there’s one thing Michaelson hit on the head, it’s the wings lovers inside us all, combined with the competitive spirit that makes Buffalo such a sports town. Not a bad way to rev up a crowd.

    Michaelson shied away from her better-known hits, choosing instead to introduce the audience to newer favorites like “Die Alone,” “Soldier” and the effervescent “Parachute.” Her songs often combine artistically intricate melodies with soul-thumping lyrics, a delightful folk-pop formula that goes down easily and leaves you singing.

     

     She did that, as she always does, and audience members went away happy. Ingrid Michaelson brought just what the Square needs: relatable songs, old favorites in a new way, including a deliciously punky version of “Way I Am” and an upbeat spirit to carry you home. If this is the last we’re seeing of Ingrid, we’ll all be very surprised and certainly disappointed. 

     

    Check out the main page slideshow for photos and Buffalo.com's video featuring Gabrielle Farrah for more on the Square experience!  

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• Peter Wolf Crier Gives Captiva Peter Wolf Crier Gives Captivating Performance

  • From: dmodica
  • Description:

    Always on the lookout for up-and-coming musicians, I was delighted to find out about Peter Wolf Crier’s appearance at the Ninth Ward in Babeville on Sunday night.  Making a stop in Buffalo during their first major tour, the talented duo from Minnesota definitely attracted some new fans thanks to their enthralling performance in Ani Difranco’s respected venue.

    Interestingly enough, Peter Pisano and Brian Moen, both previously involved with other indie bands, created their debut album Inter-Be when they barely knew each other.  Forming a professional relationship through mutual friends, the musicians successfully crafted the record with Pisano’s lyrics and Moen’s instrumentation in 2009.

    Overcome by a rush of creativity, Pisano sat down one night and wrote six songs without even planning on it. After listening to them compulsively, the middle school science teacher knew he had to make a record and brought his unfinished tracks to Moen. Recording the drums and some occasional backup vocals, Moen expertly complemented Pisano’s high baritone voice with his additions and Inter-Be was created.

    I was fortunate enough to sit down with the duo before their set to discuss the important things in life, like fried bologna sandwiches. Piscano had to deal with the aftermath of eating a fried bologna sandwich at the Allentown Art Festival and humorously admitted that eating it “was a good decision at the time.” 

    Luckily Pisano and Moen got to experience more than our “fine” cuisine during their time in Buffalo.  They were both quite impressed with the Art Festival and the hospitality they received. Pisano shared that he felt “kind of spoiled” by the accommodating staff at Babeville and could not believe that they were playing in DiFranco’s illustrious venue.

    Kicking off their “first real tour” across the country about a week ago, Pisano and Moen expressed how thrilled they are that they can share their music with a whole new audience. Moen shared “Our goal each show is to convince people to give us a shot and to totally get surprised by something great.” Pisano added “We know that every city we go to is hearing us live for the first time and we are genuinely excited to share our album and the sort of euphoria that comes from discovery. “

    As I got to know the musicians, it became obvious that the musical partnership they have formed has started to flourish into a lasting friendship. After spending endless time together traveling and performing, the duo has grown closer. This became even more evident in their live performance as the musicians skillfully played off of each other’s sounds.

    Moen expressed how different their album is to me when it is performed live and I couldn’t agree more after experiencing it for myself. Both musicians impressively demonstrated their passion for their craft as they treated the crowd to all of the songs from Inter-Be.

    I personally enjoyed their live rendition of “Lion” and the strong instrumental build-up in “Hard as Nails.” The intensity and skill with which both Pisano and Moen played their instruments and sang was inspiring and audience members noticed. Many were tapping along with the melodies and obviously enjoying the pleasurable set.

    Still appreciative for the chance to play at the Ninth Ward, Pisano ended the show by sharing “I’m not going to forget this anytime soon…I hope you guys don’t either.” After such an outstanding live performance, I know I won’t and am positive that the other members of the crowd won’t either.

    To learn more about Peter Wolf Crier go to http://peterwolfcrier.com/

     

     

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• Shifting Stevens Shifting Stevens

  • From: Tsuj10
  • Description:

     

    Versatility is a valuable trait, particularly when it works toward the betterment of others.  I’m not talking about versatility in the sense of an artist that excels at both painting and sculpture; that benefits no one but the artist.  A better example would be a pastor who, in addition to delivering stirring Sunday sermons, is equally effective visiting the elderly or comforting the sick.

     

    While FC Buffalo’s Dan Stevens' move from a wing position to central midfield isn’t exactly philanthropic, his ability to adjust quickly to a new position has not only drawn attention to his skill-set, but also galvanized the Blitzer offense.

     

    As the quarterback of the Buffalo attack in the team’s first ever NPSL win, Stevens dictated the pace against New Jersey by running down loose balls or receiving passes from fullbacks, then quickly spreading the ball out wide or finding a striker up-field.  The former University at Buffalo standout earned ‘Man of the Match’ honors in the 2-0 win, and he did so without scoring a goal. 

     

    Head Coach Jim Hesch elaborated on his decision to change Stevens’ role.  “I talked to Dan in training because I wanted him to get a lot more involved,” Hesch said.  “In college he played as a wide player, but with his technical abilities, I wanted him to become a focal point of our offense in the middle, and [his skills] showed today.”

     

    “It’s a big transition [moving from outside to the middle],” Stevens admitted.  “In the center, a lot of the time your back is to the goal, there’s pressure coming from all angles, and there’s more responsibility.”

     

    One of the greatest difficulties Stevens has faced, in addition to learning the tendencies of new teammates, has been adjusting to the Robert E. Rich All-High Stadium turf.  The pitch, set on a crowned football field, plays extremely fast.

     

    “Every through ball has to be perfect, or else it gets legs and keeps going [out of play].  On a field like this, we try to keep possession and play [the ball to] feet as much as we can,” the former 1^st team All-Mid-American Conference selection said.

     

    While Stevens’ dribbling ability and vision have eased his transition, he remains an electric flank option if necessary.

     

    University at Buffalo Head Coach John Astudillo praised his former player, stating, “[Stevens] is probably one of the best 1-v-1 players that we have ever had, and we have had some very good ones."

     

    Stevens will serve as an assistant soccer coach at Niagara University this fall.  He spent the winter coaching the Syracuse Blitz, one of the area’s top club teams.  The Philadelphia KiXX, a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise, drafted Stevens in the fourth round of the 2008 draft, but he has yet to appear for the squad.

     

    As FC Buffalo (one win, one tie, and two losses) heads into a weekend of back-to-back contests against Allentown and Pocono, the versatile midfielder maintains his team-oriented approach.  “Whatever I can do to help the team win is what I’m going to do; I’ll play wherever [Coach Hesch] wants me to play.”

     

    The two matches will be on Saturday and Sunday at 3pm at Robert E. Rich All-High Stadium (Mercer Rd., right behind Bennett High School.)

     

    (Photos by Steve Woolsey and Jared Mobarak)

     

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• Roaming Buffaloes: Brunch on t Roaming Buffaloes: Brunch on the 37th floor

  • From: EricCity
  • Description:

     

    On Saturday, the Roaming Buffaloes group gathered on the 37^th floor of One HSBC Center in downtown Buffalo for a brunch with some of its members.

    “Roaming Buffaloes is a social networking club focusing on outdoor activities, day and weekend trips, and social events” (roamingbuffaloes.com). Some of the events include: wine tastings, bar crawls, canoeing, hiking and small cruises.

    As the guests walked into the room where brunch was held, the majority went directly to the windows to check out the view. Armed with cameras and cell phones, many began to click away at the harbor, HSBC Arena, and everything else the view offered up.

    For those not attracted to the windows right away, it was the familiar faces that helped to start off their event.

    Then - when it seemed as though everyone had arrived - the food was brought out, drinks were poured, and the real chatter began.

    Plates topped with French toast, ham, bacon, quiche and fruit helped to fill the stomachs before the next part of the day.

    Cups filled with Bloody Marys, mimosas, orange juice, and coffee added to the joy in the room. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and having a good time. Even those who had come alone had found some one to sit with.

     “Roaming Buffaloes is a great way to experience many new things that you might never try, the events are very well planned and there is always a wide variety of choices” Janice Wiegley said.

    She then went on to mention that one reason this group works is because the events cater to people of all ages and to many different interests.

    The tower brunch was the prime example of the different age groups that Roaming Buffaloes brings together. There were people in their twenties and some that could pass as their grandparents. There were adventure seekers, and those who appreciated relaxation.

    At 11:15 am, two guards entered the room and the talking ceased. Jeff Empric, the founder of Roaming Buffaloes, made the announcement that the second portion of the day was about to begin. The brunchers split into two groups, and the first half gathered at the door.  They buzzed with excitement when the guards led them up a narrow staircase to the roof of the 40-story tower.   A little over 30 minutes later, the first group arrived back with happiness and messy, wind-blown hair.

    Climbing three flights of stairs, the second group made its way out onto the rooftop of the tower. After a few minor dos and don’ts from the guards who doubled as the tour guide, the group set out on an experience that may be once in a lifetime.

    Taking that first step out from behind the wall, each person was met with a clash of wind.

    With hair, dresses and shirts flying everywhere, the group made its way to the edge as the guide pointed out the obvious and the not-so-obvious landmarks from around the city.

    From the rooftop one could see the top of just about every other building downtown, all the boats in the marina, the mills and about a mile or two in each direction. It was like being in an airplane frozen in mid flight.

    Making their way around the roof, everyone was snapping pictures. The whole time the guard continued to talk and explain what they were looking at. Even though it seemed like no one was listening, the laughter at a joke proved other wise.

    Each person seemed to be in their own world, soaking up the view and the opportunity. That was until a group photo was requested, but the excitement was still shining.

    Rounding the fourth corner of the roof, the guard announced that the conclusion of the tour had arrived and the group was led back into the building.

    When asked what he thought about being on the roof, Jim Schaefer paused and said, “It was an amazing experience.”

    When all was said and done, Mr. Empric was pleased with his group’s event.

    “I think it went great. Couldn't have been better. The food and beverages were amazing and the view was remarkable,” Empric said. “As word and photos spread through our 400 plus members, I'm sure we will have no problem selling out another brunch. But as I've mentioned we have some even more creative events in the works for that amazing bird's eye view.”

     

    For more information and opportunities, please visit www.roamingbuffaloes.com.  

     

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• Thursday at the Square 2010 ha Thursday at the Square 2010 has Begun! by Carla Pesono

  • From: CPesono
  • Description:
     

    Thursday at the Square kicked off its 24th annual Summer Concert Series on June 10 with performances from Alejandro Escovedo and The Sensitive Boys and Tift Merritt at Lafayette Square in downtown Buffalo.

    The concert went from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and a sea of people came to enjoy the beautiful night downtown. It was presented by M&T Bank with featured act sponsor Labatt Blue Light.

    Thursday at the Square, as it does every summer, supplied food, beer, and fun for all. "Everybody gets together and has fun," said Steve Spina, 18, of West Seneca. "It's a good tradition that Buffalo has."

    Jennifer Klemp, 29, said, "To bring people to the city and keep them down here after work is a good thing."

    The atmosphere was pretty mellow but once Escovedo got on stage many surrounded the stage with excitement to watch him and his band perform. Though most people didn’t know who the bands were, people were dancing and enjoyed watching the hip, rock performances.

    Brian Torzon, 23, from Buffalo said he comes down to the square for the beer and the people. "It brings in money for Buffalo and it's something to do,” Torzon said. “It’s great to meet your friends here and listen to good bands."

    Alejandro Escovedo is a rock/alternative country artist born in San Antonio, Texas and has a new album coming out on June 29 called, “Street Songs of Love.” Escovedo has won an American Music Awards (AMA) Lifetime Achievement Award for performing in 2006.

                Tift Merritt, who opened up for Escovedo, is an American singer-songwriter from North Carolina. Her last album was released in 2009 called, “Buckingham Solo.”

          The drummer for Tift Merritt, Zeke Hutchins, said they were asked to perform while they were on tour and since they had a night off, they were able to come. "It’s our first time in Buffalo and we feel great about it...It was a great night," Hutchins said. "I think this is a great thing for buffalo and we were very happy to come here to perform. We will be back."

             Thursday at the Square will continue its Summer Concert Series on June 17, with performances by Ingrid Michaelson and A.A. Bondy.

           To check out the lineup of the artists who will be performing, go to www.buffaloplace.com. Thursday at the Square is free of cost and will be held at Lafayette Square every Thursday up until August 12. Come down and check it out!

     

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• Allentown Art Festival: Someth Allentown Art Festival: Something for Everyone

  • From: schumeea1
  • Description:

    Rain or shine, the Allentown Art Festival is hard to beat. Over 400 juried exhibitors, plus a packed Allen Street block of “unofficial” adjunct  exhibitors makes for quite the spread, no matter your taste. Ironworks? Check. Candle holders made out of liquor bottles, old tin cans, pottery or soda cans? Got it. Wooden cutting boards, enamel turtles, and painting from every style and subject imaginable? Only at Allentown. 

     

     The great thing about the Allentown Art Festival, celebrating its 53^rd birthday this year, is the incredible variety. Whether your taste tends toward the modern or the traditional, Allentown can offer you something to take home. And take home they did. Although some vendors complained of lower sales this year, many art enthusiasts could be seen toting everything from wine bottle wind chimes to ten-foot paintings, some with more dexterity than others. Price points ranged from dirt cheap six-dollar Merona glass jewelry to the thousands for some of the larger sculpture, proving that art indeed spans the economic chasm as well as anything.

     

     Allentown Art Festival always proves to be more than just an art show with price tags. The addition of “fair food” including lobster rolls, boiled crawfish, bison burgers, alligator roasts, and of course the traditional hot dogs and hamburgers and ribbon fries all made an appearance. Saturday’s warm weather called for bucket-sized snow cones and ice cold drinks, some grabbed from an entrepreneurial young boy with a Pepsi cart.

     

    Who doesn’t love the people watching potential of Buffalo festivals? Allentown Art Festival may provide some of the best. Grandmothers and their kin, “artsy” hipster teenagers, goth kids, and middle-aged suburban art enthusiasts intermingled happily as they shopped eclectic wares side by side. Musicians perched on some street corners, and the bubble man at the corner of Allen and Elmwood was going full tilt most of the festival, creating a whimsical atmosphere for children and adults alike.

     

     That’s the thing about festivals in Buffalo: it’s more than just the art. It’s more than just the food. It’s even more than just the people. It’s an atmosphere composed of all of these: a tapestry woven of many elements to create an intricate, colorful spread. Allentown is all of these, and one of the most popular Buffalo festivals for it. Welcome to Festival Season, Buffalo. Enjoy it while it lasts; September is already on its way.

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• NARCh Tourney Attracts Region’ NARCh Tourney Attracts Region’s Best

  • From: MikeKamo
  • Description:

    As any area native can tell you, the Western New York and southern Ontario region is a hotbed for hockey. With the big league connection with the Sabres, all of the OHL teams from WNY to Toronto, and the high school and college level competition, we should be vying for the “Hockeytown USA” title.

    But now we can also add another branch of the sport to our resume: roller hockey.

    The North American Roller Hockey Championships (NARCh), which has been a staple of the roller hockey world for more than a decade, held a qualifying tournament for the 2010 final, set to take place later this summer in sunny San Jose, at the Amherst Pepsi Center this weekend. “NARCh was established in 1994 and has grown significantly over the years,” explained NARCh representative Doug Jones. “We had over 400 teams at the last final held in San Jose [in 2008], and this year should be no different.”

    To anyone unfamiliar with the sport (which is most likely you!), this land-based take on hockey is fairly simple. Standard roller hockey games pit two teams against each other for varying lengths of time per game; some leagues have three periods of 15 minutes, while the weekend tournament had two periods of 17 minutes. Five players from each team, four skaters and a goalie, are on the rink at a time. “4-on-4 lets the play open up,” explains Eric Haak, President and CEO of the Buffalo Wings, the WNY connection to the roller hockey world. “There’s no offside rule and no icing. This gives players a big advantage to score some goals.”

    Roller hockey is light on the hitting, but high on the scoring. “I have two sons who play, and they enjoy it more than ice hockey,” said Gina Smith, Youth League Director for the Buffalo Wings. Roller is more fast-paced than ice hockey, which means prime opportunities for goals. In the few games I was able to catch this weekend, 6-2 and 6-6 were the final tallies, a standard finish in the sport.

    The weekend tournament brought players from all over the east coast to the region for one of the NARCh Northeast qualifiers. “The teams that place at the end of the weekend will be playing in the NARCh finals, which this year take place back in San Jose,” said Jones.  Among the teams in the tournament were the Mississauga Mission Rattlers, the Hamilton Power Bladers, the Toronto Thunderhawks and several (and I do mean several) line-ups of the Buffalo Wings.

    “The tournament goes from 14 and under teams all the way to adult, and the [Buffalo] Wings have teams in almost every category,” said Haak. Luckily, our hometown Wings were able to dominate at the tourney, winning the Bantam Gold, Squirt Gold, and most notably, the Jr./Men’s Platinum categories.

    A vastly popular sport in the hockey community (local boy and Detroit Red Wings goaltender Tom McCollum is an ex-Buffalo Wing), tournaments like this one will only help the sport grow in popularity.

    So if you're tired of freezing your butt off in an ice hockey rink or frozen pond, strap on your inline skates and give roller hockey a shot.

    More information on NARCh at www.narch.com

    More information on the Buffalo Wings at www.buffalowingshockey.com

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• Richard Lewis at Seneca Niagar Richard Lewis at Seneca Niagara Casino

  • From: JoeG211
  • Description:

    He’s the funniest neurotic you will ever come across.

                That is the best way to describe comedian Richard Lewis. His over-the-top attitude still hasn’t changed, even though he’s been doing this for over thirty years. Why change what has made you so memorable over the years anyway? He trots onto the stage and paces continuously up and down the platform with bottled up nervous energy,y and still cracks the audience up with the same attitude.  It’s not like he’s acting like some character; he’s just being himself, which makes it even funnier.  If you have ever seen him on the hit HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, that’s the way he acts in real life and during his performances.

                While most comics talk about funny things that have happened to them or what’s going on in the world around us, Lewis doesn’t take that approach. Instead he chooses to poke fun at himself and explain what it’s like to live in his head. His show is one self-loathing act were he just rips into himself nonstop. Besides Woody Allen, no comedian has really put themselves out there the way Richard does. He continues to say on stage that he has no act and doesn’t know why he is even up on stage even though he flows non-stop and has everybody rolling.

                He’s been sober now for many years after various stints in rehab for drug and alcohol abuse, which is another whole set of jokes about himself he exploits. He explains what it’s like to be sober all this time and how much he hates being this way. He also talked about how in the past three weeks he’s scared off five shrinks; they can’t handle what’s in his head. The show continued that way for the whole time with Richard ribbing himself and how weird it is to be Jewish and why he has to be nice to people he hates.

                Richard Lewis had the crowd rolling his entire performance, and there was not a dry eye in the house. If you’re ever given the chance to see this nervous little man, take it, he will make your life seem like easy street.

     

     

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  • 3 months ago
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• Bills Summer Practice Bills Summer Practice

  • From: JoeG211
  • Description:

    As the summer months approach, one of Buffalo’s biggest loves and heartaches gets underway: Bills football.

                It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and Ralph Wilson Stadium was packed with people there just to watch the team practice. Even though this was their eighth session, some players still have yet to make an appearance. Granted these are voluntary workouts, players should still show up and get a feel for the new coaching staff and teammates. One of the team’s best and most controversial players, running back Marshawn Lynch, has yet to participate even though he was at the team facility weight training. It’s sad, but you can’t control who’s there and who isn’t. The team that was practicing though looked pretty solid.

                The defense as usual was on the field and looked like it was ready to kickoff week one. Picking up right were he left off, Jairus Byrd had a nice interception off Trent Edwards during practice. As fans though our defense is the one constant we don’t need to worry about even though their in a transition phase with their new coaching staff. The team responded well to the switch to a 3-4 defensive formation. Positions are still being fought for, but it looks as if it’s all slowly coming together.

                The offense, though, is an entirely different story. Even though Lynch was missed, it still didn’t matter to the overall offensive practice picture. The team still isn’t committed to one quarterback; new head coach Chan Gailey allowed all four QBs the chance to lead the first string offense. Interestingly, Brian Brohm was the first quarterback up, followed by Trent Edwards. That may not mean much now but for a team who has no clear-cut starting QB the Bills may be latching onto something. Their biggest problem though is still their suspect offensive line, which took another hit when rookie offensive tackle Ed Wang left with a significant injury to his left leg. This is not a good sign considering how light their O-line is to begin with.

                A nice plus for the offense though was receiver Roscoe Parrish, who made a couple of dazzling catches. Sure it’s only practice, but with the loss of Terrell Owens and Josh Reed, a new star needs to rise up. Lee Evans has had no help in the Bills system and deserves an opportunity to shine. With the help of Parrish’s lightning quick speed and soft hands, he should help complement the star who hasn’t truly shined yet. It will come down to how the coaching staff uses Roscoe, and hopefully they put him in the right schemes as a slot receiver.

                Speaking of coaching, the team doesn’t seem to have many problems changing over to the new staff. Of course fans remember the firing of Dick Jauron midway through the season and then the rest of the coaching staff at the conclusion of the season. It didn’t seem like there were any ill effects and the squad flowed well with its new direction. Of course it’s still early and practice has only begun, but all the more time to work out the kinks.

                Even though the Bills seemed like a well-oiled machine on the practice field, only time will tell what can really happen. With the other teams in the division continuing to step up and get better, the Bills have no choice but to grind out. Hopefully it’s not another heartbreak season in Buffalo.

     

     

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  • 3 months ago
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• Buffalo Spotlights Gifted Guit Buffalo Spotlights Gifted Guitarists

  • From: blaisones
  • Description:

    

     

    When the average person hears “guitar solo,” images of big-haired rock-n-roll musicians screaming from electric axes come to mind---or smoke-filled jazz clubs where Faustian blues-men play for their souls. Few imagine the classical guitarist’s long fingernails plucking beautiful phrases with an orchestral backdrop.

    

     

    Buffalo’s attention to the guitar concerto exceeds any other American city in number of performances and variety. For this reason, along with support from dedicated patrons and passion from the Classical music community, our city hosted the world’s most prestigious competition.

    

     

    The 2010 Joann Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition’s exciting conclusion kicked-off Friday, June 4^th. Musicians from across the globe tried out for the competition, but only nine qualified. The finalist included three competitors from France, Serbia, and Russia.

     

     

    Mambosa, a world premiere composed by Michael Dalmau Colina, a member of the esteemed judges panel, opened the evening. The composition reflected integration of Colina’s Latin interests and his love for the Classical genre. Conductor Joann Falletta, the competition’s name sake, rocked her hips and clapped out the Latin rhythm with the orchestra before commencing the fun and lively number.

     

     

    

     

    Before each finalist’s performance, a brief biography was presented by the Master of Ceremonies, Peter Hall of WNED Classical 94.5, on a projection screen. One-by-one, the young men mounted the platform chair center stage for their turn in the intense finale.

    

    The audience reacted enthusiastically after every routine---failing to hold applause after movements. However, the booming response after Russian Artyom Dervoed foreshadowed his victory.

    

    

     

    “The concerto Ostojic (Serbia, right) performed seemed very skillful and difficult to play,” said patron Sylvia Jenker, “and I was impressed with his talent, but Artyom sucked me in.”

     

     

    Commenting on his emotionally absorbed style, Dervoed said, “Sometimes when you are performing, if it is a good performance, you start to feel something, and you give that to the audience. And, in return, the audience gives something back.”

     

     

    

    Dervoed (left) held his guitar in his lap, shut his eyes, and strummed the instrument passionately---at times resting his cheek against its body as if whispering the sounds he wanted her to make. When a crescendo reached its peak, Dervoed threw his head back and released the guitar as the orchestra absorbed the melody.

     

     

    “Classical music has never been so hot,” laughed audience member and bassist Sara Helman who enjoyed watching Devoed but thought Thomas Viloteau of France (right) had the best dynamic with the orchestra. In fact, later, Viloteau won the BPO Musicians Choice Award.

     

     

    The award ceremony was filled with touching thanks and dedications, and this event will be read about in newspapers’ arts sections around the world. Friday was a very proud night for Buffalo.

     

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  • 3 months ago
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