A little free publicity for a local artist

This guy is a buddy of my old boss. If you want to go to this exhibit to take photos or write a story, that is great - but maybe you just want to check it out as a civilian. It looks pretty interesting.

I am setting up an exhibit of my artwork (mostly Buffalo items, Frank Lloyd Wright, grain elevator, fireboat, etc.) August 1 at Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau in the Market Arcade, 617 Main St.

The exhibit will run through the month of August. I will be there August 1 between 10 am and at least 1:oo pm, primarily to make sure everything is properly displayed.

If you can't be there (I'd like to visit again) try to drop in sometime during the month and let me know what you think about it, good or bad.

Karl E. Kipp

Weekend events

Buffalo.com photo by bellasadie.

I sent this via email, too, but wanted to make sure everyone sees it...so here it goes...

There are a few events this weekend that are currently unselected and I wanted to toss them back out there again for everyone to consider...if you're interested, let me know!

Thursday - Sunday: Buffalo Italian Heritage Festival.
We could definitely use writers/photographers for the Buffalo Italian Heritage Festival, which runs from Thursday through Sunday in the city's Little Italy section (Hertel Ave. between Elmwood and Parkside). Good food, good people, and a lot of fun. An easy shoot for photographers and lots of angles for writers. I think I am going out on Thursday and Saturday to shoot some video/photos, but the more the merrier for this major summer event.

Sunday: Buffalo News Summer Jazz Series with The Buffalo Brass. I am not going to pretend that I know a lot about jazz, but I have heard that this is considered one of the top "gigs" in town (is that what the jazz fellows call a performance?). This is a very relaxed shoot - literally the entire crowd is laying around on blankets and lawn chairs. If you're writing a story, we are looking for a review - and it would be interesting to try your hand at something a little out of the ordinary like a jazz concert. Anyhow, this is one of those events that make summer in Buffalo unique, and there are only three of these shows, and one is already done - so it would be excellent to get a person or two out here. It's on the lawn facing Delaware Park behind the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and it starts at 2 PM.

Sunday: Wilco. One of the top American rock bands recording and touring today. I can't make this show on Sunday or I would snatch it up myself. Seriously, Wilco is a great band - it would be a shame if we didn't get a little photo or review of this one. It's an Artpark show - expect a big crowd - and the opener, Conor Oberst, is also an outstanding young artist. Dammit, why can't I go to this one! Anyhow, let me know if you are interested and I will see about getting a pass. Show starts at 8 PM out at Artpark in Lewiston.

Events list: 7-14 to 7-19

Buffalo.com photo by Marc Wierzbowski.


Tuesday

· Drums Along The Waterfront preview: Rhythm at the Rapids. World class drum and bugle corps will showcase the power and precision of their musical athleticism with one of the word’s natural wonders serving as a backdrop. This “Rhythm at the Rapids” event is a kick-off to the main competition, Drums Along the Waterfront on August 2 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Each corps features 150 musical athletes. 2 PM to 3 PM, Terrapin Point (located in front of the Top of the Falls Restaurant), Goat Island, Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls.

· Fairgrounds Concert Series: Chubby Checker and The Wildcats. The original “Twist” king comes to the Fairgrounds! 7 PM, Erie County Fairgrounds, Hamburg.

Wednesday

· Gateway Park Concert Series: Exit and Joyryde. Enjoy hard rock from a pair of outstanding local cover bands. A relaxed event, lots of people, and a good way to get through the middle of the week. 6 PM and 8 PM, Gateway Harbor Park, Sweeney Street, North Tonawanda.

· Wednesdays at the Gorge: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Ever see the movie Swingers with Vince Vaughn? Then you are familiar with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the swingin’ band featured in that cult classic. Check them out live at a great venue on a summer night. 6:30 PM, Artpark, S. 3rd St., Lewiston.


Thursday


· Buffalo Italian Heritage Festival. The famous Italian Festival! Always lots of people and a great time. Thursday highlights: Opening ceremonies, 5:30 PM; Cheese Building Contest, 6:20 PM; Boys of Summer, 8:40 PM. Hertel Avenue, Buffalo.

· Thursday at the Square: George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic. If you don’t like P-Funk, well…I don’t know what to tell you. Enjoy a performance by one of the most famous acts in rock ‘n’ roll history and hang out with the Buffalo.com crew as we do our usual photo/video/review business. Be at The Square by 6 PM and meet us at the merchandise tent, located to the immediate right of the stage.


Friday

· Buffalo Italian Heritage Festival. The famous Italian Festival! Always lots of people and a great time. Friday highlights: The Diva Show, 8:30 PM (and about 10,000 people during the course of the day).

· Subaru Buffalo 4-Mile Chase. Considered the social race of the summer, thousands of people will gather in Bidwell Park for this popular run and big-time party. 5 PM to 10 PM, Bidwell Park, Elmwood Village, Buffalo.

· Molson Canal Concert Series: Kim Mitchell. The legendary Canadian rocker and 107.1-FM DJ fires up the Lock City with some of his greatest hits. Check him out! Gates open at 5 PM, Ulrich City Centre, main Street, Lockport.

· Leann Rimes. The Grammy and CMA-winning country star performs live. Being a nationally known singer since the tender age of 11, LeAnn has matured in her vocal talent and also her songwriting. LeAnn is responsible for hits such as “Blue,” ” How Do I Live,” and “Can’t Fight the Moonlight.” NEED A WRITER ONLY. MUST MAKE REQUEST BEFORE TUESDAY AT 3 PM. 8 PM, Seneca Allegany Events Center, Seneca Allegany Casino, Salamanca.

Saturday

· Buffalo Italian Heritage Festival. The famous Italian Festival! Always lots of people and a great time. Saturday highlights: Italian Idol, 2 PM; Dancing with the Stars, 4 PM; The Mick Hayes Band, 6:30 PM; Beatle Magic, 8:30 PM.

· BurgerFest/Taste of Hamburg. A celebration of our good friend the Hamburger in the village of Hamburg – a carnival atmosphere, bands, people and of course lots of meat. Noon, Main Street, Hamburg.

· Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor: Robert Cray. The legendary blues guitarist performs live in Buffalo in what promises to be a show to remember. This guy is supposed to be dynamite live – don’t miss a chance to see a truly magnificent guitarist shred the blues in your own backyard. Gates open at 5 PM, Erie Canal Harbor, Buffalo.

· Buffalo Bisons: v. Toledo. Check out the Bisons as they play host to the rival MudHens. 7 PM, Coca-Cola Field, Buffalo.

· The Handsome Furs. One of the hottest indie rock acts in the country performs live in Buffalo - and here’s a good description of the duo: “Handsome Furs is compact and transportable; it allows us to travel to places a lot of fully-manned rock bands with a drum kit never make it to. And bring them to others, whether anyone notices or not. We believe good music helps you broaden your perspective without ramming things ham-fistedly down your throat.” Check it out! 9 PM, Soundlab, 110 Pearl St., Buffalo.

Sunday

· Buffalo News Summer Jazz Series: The Buffalo Brass. Get ready for a brass explosion! Always a good time when these guys perform. 2 PM, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo.

· Buffalo Italian Heritage Festival. The famous Italian Festival! Always lots of people and a great time. Sunday highlights: Italian Idol, 2 PM; Bella Buscarino with The Infinity School and special guests Mick Hayes and Bobby Jones, 7 PM.

· Canal Fest 2009. The start of the weeklong celebration that draws thousands of people to the excellent carnival atmosphere along the banks of the Erie Canal in Tonawanda and North Tonawanda. Sunday highlights: Lee Ron Zydeco and The Hot Tamales at 4 PM; Smooth…Sounds of Santana (North America’s #1 Santana tribute band!), 8 PM. Sweeney Street – Gateway Park area, Tonawanda/North Tonawanda.
· Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor: The Black Crowes. One of the most enduring rock bands of the past 20 years will perform live in Buffalo – and who knows, the Robinson brothers may get into a fistfight onstage! It’s happened before – ah, brotherly love. Should be a great show. Let me know if you want to photo or review. Gates open at 5 PM, Erie Canal Harbor, Buffalo.

Ani DiFranco tonight - any takers?

Our photographer for the Ani DiFranco concert tonight had to cancel due to an injury. If you want to photograph the concert - or write a review - I need to know by 2 PM and no later.

The show is at Artpark and is scheduled to start at 8 PM. You'd probably want to get there relatively early, like...6 PM...in order to park, pick up your pass, and work the grounds a bit for photos (if you're going as a photog).

Let me know ASAP if you want to go, I need to know FAST!

Thanks!

Weekend stuff for photographers

There are three relatively big events that we would love to see photographed this weekend...if you are available, please let me or Deanna know ASAP.

Here's the list:

• Buffalo Place Rocks The Harbor concerts. Friday: Umphrey's McGee. Saturday: Yonder Mt. String Band and Joan Osborne. These are going to be big concerts - and we can definitely help you out with some extra tickets if you want to bring a friend or two. It would be fantastic to get photographers out to these concerts. I'd do it myself but a.) I'm playing Gus Macker on Friday and b.) I've been promising my wife I'd paint the apartment since February...guess when I finally said I would do it. The gates open at 5 PM for these shows at Erie Canal Harbor in Buffalo.

• Citybration Parade. I'll let the Citybration folks explain this one...
  
  "Come alone, bring the family. or gather as a team or organization. Walk, ride your bike, jazz up your stroller, wear a costume, decorate your car, or build a crazy make-shift float. Just come and join the parade and have a truly memorable Sunday morning as we strut our love for this great city, and celebrate the many Buffalonians who are making a difference to our community. Come one, come all!
  
  Citybration invites all community organizations, residents, and visitors to march in celebration of all that's good in Buffalo. The "We Are Buffalo Parade" will start at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 28 at Delaware Park's Meadow ring road near the corner of Parkside Avenue and the Scajaquada Expressway. We will march to the Buffalo Zoo and enter to enjoy the Buffalo Ambassadors Luncheon at Noon."
  

This would be a pretty easy event to shoot...and it looks like you may be able to wrangle a lunch out of the deal, too (I'll get the details if you're interested). Another event where you would be welcome to bring along a friend or well-wisher.

Anyhow, let me or Deanna know if you can pick up any of these events - we can use the assistance!

Get your motor running...if you so choose

Who claimed what when?

Buffalo.com photo by Darleen Stry.

I like to promote my image as the omnipotent guru of all things Buffalo.com, but I have to sheepishly admit that I made a bit of a mistake recently...I (ahem) erased the "claimed events" list and replaced it with a slightly older copy. In my defense, my computer crashed and I was slightly confused by the "Recover" options in Word. Blame Microsoft!

Anyhow, I know that stuff is missing off the list...I am just not sure what.

Please check out the list below and let me know if there is anything missing for the month of June...

Thanks!

Marc Wierzbowski Tragically Hip June 2

Gabrielle Farah Kiss the Summer Hello June 3

Darleen Stry Olympia Dukakis June 3

Tom Kuenzi Kenny Chesney June 4

Darleen Stry Tragically Hip June 5

Darleen Stry Music of Queen (BPO) June 6

Marc Wierzbowski Tour de Cure June 6

Jeff Poole Bisons June 11

Darleen Stry/Matt Brown Biggest 80s Bash June 13

Jeff Poole Bisons June 18

Darleen Stry Taste of Country June 19

Tom Kuenzi No Doubt June 19

Darleen Stry Starry Night in the Garden June 24

Galina Tolmacheva Stiletto Run June 24

Tom Kuenzi Def Leppard June 26

Sean Rudyk Gus Macker June 27-28

Jeff Poole Bisons June 27

Erica Morano Ruben’s Run June 28

Darleen Stry Blue Rodeo June 30

Burn, baby, burn!

Buffalo.com photo by Sean Rudyk.

Into local history? Are you a pyromaniac? If the answer to either question is "yes," you may really enjoy writing a story or taking photos of this excellent event at Niagara Falls this weekend...let me know!

RECREATED FRENCH FORT TO BE SET ABLAZE NEAR THE BRINK OF NIAGARA FALLS

Event kicks off Old Fort Niagara’s 250th anniversary commemoration

WHAT: As part of Old Fort Niagara’s 250th anniversary of the French & Indian War, the Fort will reenact the burning of Fort du Portage (also known as Fort Little Niagara) at the brink of Niagara Falls.

A stockade of the former fort will be constructed and a small encampment of French soldiers and Native traders will be established, interpreting military and commercial life along the Niagara frontier in the early 1700s. Fort du Portage was established by the French in 1751 along the upper Niagara River. During the French & Indian War, it was burned to the ground to resist attack by the British.

WHEN: Saturday, May 30 at 4:00 p.m. ** Encampment will be established from 12 noon – 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Along the Niagara River near the unused eastbound section of the Robert Moses Parkway and Niagara Falls State Park in Niagara Falls, NY This summer, Old Fort Niagara will commemorate the 250th anniversary of one of the French & Indian War, including one of the war’s most dramatic episodes – the siege and capture for Fort Niagara.

This War played a pivotal role in shaping the United States and Canada as the outcome was British control of North America, including Fort Niagara. A schedule of living history and battle reenactment events are scheduled throughout the summer.

Those high-flying dogs and their magnificent owners

Buffalo.com photo by Ray Milkowski.

Hey - if you love dogs and want to support a good cause, these folks would love to have you at their event...just got this in my email today. A chance to check out some high-flyin' dogs and support a good cause...let me or Deanna know if you are interested in photos or a story.

Here's a note of explanation from one of the organizers:

"It is a fundraiser for the Hope Chest Dragon Boat Team here in Buffalo. The Hope Chest consists a group of women who have survived breast cancer and formed a crew to race dragon boats, which is pretty neat in it of itself. "

Anyhow...let us know. Thanks!

Agility Fun Match for Dogs
Canine Sports Complex
355 Orchard Drive, Buffalo

Sunday,May31st,2009
*Doors open at 8:30 am and agility run-throughs will begin at 9:00am.*

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
9 AM Ring1--Nested, Novice, and Advance Agility Courses.
Ring2--Modified Euipment Starters Agility Course.
Ring 3 and outdoors (weather permitting)--Vendors all day.

12:00pm
Ring2--Introduction of The Hope Chest Girls and their dogs.
Ring 2--Flyball and Disc Dog Demo.

1:30pm
Ring2--Obedience match immediately followed by Rally match.

Buffalo Bills players, cheerleaders, mascot, etc. out in Black Rock

Buffalo.com photo by Bill Parker.

A cool little event featuring our local football team that you may be interested in for Wednesday...supposed to be a nice day out tomorrow, too. Let me know if you want to do this one!

NFL GRASSROOTS GRANT FOR RIVERSIDE PARK FOOTBALL FIELD

WHO: Buffalo Bills player(s), Buffalo Jills cheerleaders, Billy Buffalo, Black Rock Riverside Little League Football players and cheerleaders, Representatives of LISC, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

WHAT: The Buffalo Bills, Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC) and Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy will make an exciting announcement regarding a NFL/LISC Grassroots grant for the football field in Riverside Park. $50,000 will be given to the Buffalo Olmstead Parks Conservancy for the renovation of the Riverside Park Football Field. Buffalo is one of 17 grants being awarded.

WHERE: Buffalo’s Riverside Park football field (Enter Park at Tonawanda St. & Hotaling Drive) 2607 Niagara Street Buffalo, NY 14207

WHEN: Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 4:00 p.m.

WHY: The National Football League Grassroots Program is supporting the development and renovation of community fields across the country.

Out at the yard sale

Buffalo.com photo by NL Valler.

There's a new event this weekend that may interest you - and Buffalo.com was just invited:

WORLD’S LARGEST YARD SALE
SATURDAY, MAY 9TH
HAMBURG FAIRGROUNDS

8:30 AM – 4PM Over 300 Booths…Great Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Graduations The Best Day of Shopping in WNY….6,000 Shoppers!

Inside the Agri Center & Outside along 42nd Street behind the Ag Ctr.

For more info, go to: www.theworldslargestyardsale.com

If this looks fun to you, let me know - we can definitely get a photographer and a writer out to this one...

Photographers: shoot Sunday event, get $25 gift certificate

Spotted photographers -

Our promotions department at Buffalo.com would love to have a Spotted photographer at the Decorator Show House reception on Sunday at 7 PM (the house is located at 697 LeBrun in Eggertsville).

Since this is last-minute and kind of a weird time, I would normally do this myself - but I will be in Syracuse on Sunday.

Therefore - if anyone can pick up this event - not only will you have my gratitude but also a $25 gift certificate to Pizza Plant (the pizza there is good, I just had it at a meeting last week).

If you can make it, please let me know ASAP!

UPDATE: A photographer has been found, so this is all set...thank you to everyone who replied!

Playing the ponies

Buffalo.com photo by Tom Kuenzi.

Hey, Buffalo Raceway is looking for some coverage of their events on Saturday - the day of the Kentucky Derby and some serious harness racing at their own track...looks like it could be fun.

If you want to take photos or do a story, let me or Deanna know. More info below.

BUFFALO RACEWAY HOSTS DERBY PARTY

WHERE: Buffalo Raceway Clubhouse located on The Fairgrounds in Hamburg; use South Park Avenue Entrance.

WHEN: Saturday, May 2, 10 am – 11 pm, Kentucky Derby post time 6:20 pm; live harness racing approximately 6:40 pm

DETAILS: Nothing says spring like the Kentucky Derby, and the Run for the Roses. Buffalo Raceway is hosting WNY’s largest Kentucky Derby Party.

With great racing, delicious food and hot gaming Buffalo Raceway and Fairgrounds Gaming is where the action is. The Clubhouse will be packed with fans wearing Derby Hats and Mint Juleps in hand cheering on their favorite horses for the biggest day in horse racing.

Buffalo Raceway located on The Fairgrounds in Hamburg hosts live harness racing Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Simulcast wagering is available Wednesday through Sunday from North America’s top tracks.

For more information visit www.buffaloraceway.com or call 716-646-1280.

Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser in Lewiston on Wednesday

Buffalo.com photo by Sheila Denos.

Tomorrow - Wednesday, April 29 - there will be a fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis at 6 PM at the Barton Hotel and Spa in Lewiston. The organizer of the event, Anne DeMunda, is a big Spotted enthusiast and would love to have a photographer out at this event.

If you have any interest and can make it out to Lewiston, Anne would be really grateful. She's expecting a crowd of approximately 200 people, so it should be a nice event on a beautiful spring evening in one of the real gems of Western New York.

Let me or Deanna know if you are interested!

Variety is the spice of life

Buffalo.com photo by Sean Rudyk.

I had a talk with one of my managers yesterday and we agreed that there is some staleness settling into some of our content recently. Not that the work is stale - it's just that we seem to be going to the same places and covering the same things over and over again.

In the interest of jazzing things up a bit, I am challenging everyone to try picking some events that they may not normally cover - something that maybe you've never been too, or someplace you've wanted to visit but have not.

Also, we will not be booking events for some of the "same old, same old"-type places, unless you can pitch a fresh angle on it...so keep that in mind, too.

Here's to creativity!

And now, a note from Deanna: more events coming up this weekend

Buffalo.com has received requests to cover these events this weekend:

High School Musical 2: Tonight - 7:30, tomorrow - 7:30, Saturday 2pm, 7:30 and next weekend – same times, Riviera Theatre

1st Annual Keyboard Pops Concert: Sunday - 2pm, Riviera Theatre

Irish Spring Fling @ St.Francis Parish Social Center, Athol Springs featuring the Irish band “The Leftovers”, tomorrow 7-11pm

Earth Day: Medaille College has asked for Buffalo.com interns to attend a visit from SUNY ESF President Neil Murphy as part of their annual Earth Day activities. Friday, 3:30 pm, Medaille College's Buffalo Campus (Rt. 198 and Parkside), Main Building Lecture Hall.

I’m still looking for more volunteers for Kids Day – we’ll be selling papers at Southwestern and Lake View Roads in Hamburg. Remember all the proceeds go to kids at Women & Children’s Hospital!

Buffalo.com intern request - Earth Day at Medaille

Buffalo.com photo by Ben Kirst.

If anyone is interested - Medaille College has asked for Buffalo.com interns to attend a visit from SUNY ESF President Neil Murphy as part of their annual Earth Day activities.

The event starts at 3:30 p.m. on April 17 at Medaille College's Buffalo Campus (Rt. 198 and Parkside), Main Building Lecture Hall. Could be a neat networking opportunity.

Let me or Deanna know if you want to go!

Some open stuff this weekend

Buffalo.com photo by Bill Parker.

Event sign-ups are a little slow this week for the second week in a row. That is completely understandable, given the fact that this is, for many, a solemn week followed by a holiday on the weekend, so no worries.

However, if anyone is interested, there are still some pretty decent events that are available for the taking. These events include:

TONIGHT

• Scotty Bowman Hockey Showcase. Two all-star hockey games between high school players from Buffalo and Rochester, as well as a “Battle of the Bands” between games. 6 PM, HSBC Arena, Buffalo.

Friday

• UB softball: v. Akron. Doubleheader begins at 1 PM. Nan Harvey Field, UB North Campus, Amherst.
• UB baseball: v. Western Michigan. 3 PM, Amherst Audubon Field, Amherst Pepsi Center, Millersport Highway, Amherst.

Saturday

• 4th Annual Bunny Hop 5K Race. More rabbits, more racing. 10:30 AM, East Aurora American Legion Post, Center Road near Beech Road, East Aurora.
• Buffalo Rugby: v. Albany Knicks. 1 PM, Delaware Park (near The Zoo), Parkside Ave., Buffalo.
• Hog Farm 40th Celebration Motorcycle Show and Swap. Tons of motorcycle enthusiasts, memorabilia, costume contests with Easy Rider and go-go themes and more. 3 PM to 9 PM, Hamburg Agri-Center, Erie County Fairgrounds, Hamburg.

Sunday

• 17th Annual Pre-Dyngus Day celebration. Music by Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push, and Jeff Mleczko & the Dyna Brass, Polish traditions & festivities. 7 PM, Leonard Post #6251, 2450 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga.

…and we can always use more hands on deck for Dyngus Day, but we do have some people going out on Monday. More are always welcome!

If you’re interested in any of these things, please let me know.

Want to go? Dyngus Day 2009 events...

Buffalo.com photo by Ben Kirst.

We have permission from Dyngus Day organizers to send photographers and writers out to their events. You will need to have your Buffalo.com ID.

It would be great to get as many photographers and writers out to these events...Dyngus Day is like the Mardi Gras or St. Patrick's Day of the Buffalo Polish community. Chronicling these events is great for the site in terms of traffic, of course, but it also performs a unique service in the sense that we are capturing what the city will look like during the course of the 2009 Dyngus Day celebration. I think that's actually something kind of special, corny as that may sound.

If you want to cover any of these Dyngus Day events, please let me know. A full schedule is here.

Let me know!

An event for Monday: Take Back the Night @ Medaille

Buffalo.com photo by Deborah Kreiger.

This looks like a nice event. It's on Monday, so if you are interested, please contact Deanna or me today or (early) Monday. Feel free to give me a call at 390-2715 over the weekend if you're interested...this should be no problem for a writer and/or a photographer.

Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity: Medaille College Takes Back the Night

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Medaille College’s Take Back the Night event will take place on Monday, April 6 at 7 p.m. at its Buffalo Campus, Rte. 198 and Parkside Ave., in the Main Building Lecture Hall.

The event will begin with comments by Christopher Spicer, an inspirational speaker on the roles of men in changing the culture of violence. A candlelight vigil will follow, and Crisis Services of Buffalo will be in attendance.

What: Medaille College Take Back the Night. Students, faculty, staff and community participants will gather for an indoor lecture and outdoor activity.

When: Monday, April 6, 2009, 7 p.m.

Where: Medaille College Buffalo Campus, 18 Agassiz Circle, Buffalo, NY 14214.