#buffalo blogs

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Real. Buffalo. People. Yoga & Hoop Dance Instructor - Kristin Damstetter

Buffalo City Life has started a series called Real. Buffalo. People. over the last few months highlighting interesting people around Buffalo including a tattoo artist and a billiards hall-of-famer. In this episode they feature Kristin Damstetter who talks about the increased popularity in hoola-hooping and yoga around Buffalo and what she loves about the city.

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Keisertown: Buffalo's Most Accessible Neighborhood?

In Buffalo's revitalization conversation Kaisertown, a far-eastern neighborhood of the city neighboring the suburbs, is rarely mentioned. But this Buffalo Rising article makes the case that it's about time to look again for its walkability and accessibility- both on destinations within Kaisertown as well as nearby out-of-town destinations such as the Walden Galleria, Larkinville, Downtown, and Ralph Wilson Stadium. 

Kaisertown is Buffalo's historic German neighborhood, an ethnicity that now comprises the majority of Western New York. While Kaisertown has suffered along with the rest of the East Side during the previous decades a historic community with a distinctive mid-century feel still exists here. Many local destinations provide all your needs in Kaisertown including Hector's, Valu, Wiechec's, Lucky's, Guzzo's Hot Spot, Desi's, the Clinton-Bailey Farmer's Market, and The Edge Bowling Center - just to name a few. To see more of Kaisertown check out the ktownbuffalo blog, a site dedicated to life in Kaisertown.

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Glowing River Mouth

Photograph © Jason Pawlak

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Spring Cleaning Show How

Communify: Buffalo has organized an entire evening of D.I.Y. home improvement and repair demonstrations beginning at 6PM this Saturday, April 26th at the 9th Ward at Babeville. Tickets are $7 before the event or $10 at the door. A wide variety of demonstrations will be taking place including carpentry, electrical, painting, and creating environmentally safe cleaning products in addition to strategies for more efficient organization and raising your property value.

Why is it important to contribute to a Do-It-Yourself community? Because people who learn to do it themselves can take care of themselves as well as those around them. It fosters a sense of independence and competence in addition to providing a spring of knowledge and wealth where otherwise there would be none. D.I.Y. is one of the most practical and direct ways that anyone can better themselves as well as maintain and repair the things around them.

[whatsnewbuffalo]

LED Lighting Buffalo

The Electric Tower, One M&T Plaza, the Peace Bridge, and to an extent buildings such as Buffalo City Hall and Main Place Tower all still give credence to one of Buffalo's many nicknames - The City of Light. Recently, One Canalside, formerly the Donovan Building, has joined the other Buffalo towers with its own display of lighting that immediately draws attention to those driving down the Niagara Expressway. Future lighting projects have been announced around the city including a massive $5 million illumination project that includes 18 locations around the city.

[whatsnewbuffalo]

McKinley's Shadow

Photograph by Robert Thuerck

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Ohio Street and Inner Harbor Improvement Project

One of the most anticipated projects by the city for 2014 has broken ground - the $11.3 million revamp of Ohio Street. The Inner Harbor and the Outer Harbor are separated only by the mouth of the lazy Buffalo River, yet cannot be easily connected due to the freighters that can't fit under a bridge smaller than the Skyway.

Enter Ohio Street: Currently a derelict road with little appeal that crosses the river more inland, by the end of the year it will turn into a fully landscaped, tree-lined parkway with walking and bike paths. The street is critical for a connection between the galvanized Canalside and Cobblestone District with the historic Old First Ward and the increasingly popular Outer Harbor. Once the project is complete people will comfortably be able to walk, bike, or ride between Canalside, HarborCenter, Cobblestone businesses, Silo City, Riverworks, Wilkeson Pointe, Tifft Nature Preserve, Times Beach, Gallagher Pier, the historic Buffalo lighthouse and much more.

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Buffalo’s Lower East Side Boom

Buffalo’s lower East Side is one of the city’s strongest examples of revitalization happening on a big scale. Stretching from the Inner Harbor, past the Cobblestone District, and into the Larkin District this historic corridor is in the midst of becoming a big attraction for the city. Each of the three city districts that comprise this section of the city are finally creating a cohesive draw:

Larkin District- Many credit Howard Zemsky as the man who brought this forgotten city corner back to life. He drew First Niagara to the old Larkin building and is responsible for creating Larkinville; a public space that has garnered national attention. The Zemskys will soon be opening a pizzeria that will serve craft beer from Community Beer Works and Flying Bison has broken ground for their new facility.

Cobblestone District - Located between the Inner Harbor and the Larkin District is the Cobblestone District- the realm of Sam Savarino. Responsible for the $32 million project at 500 Seneca St., the $11 million Buffalo River Lofts, the Cobblestone District Connector Initiative, and most recently the $5 million apartment project at 550 Seneca St. Savarino has business interests that extend into both the neighboring districts. The Buffalo Iron Works, Helium Comedy Club, The Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, and $14 million Arctic Freezer project are also clear signs of this districts rebirth.

Inner Harbor - Home to the First Niagara Center, the Buffalo Sabres, and the $172 million HARBORcenter Terry Pegula is the most powerful man along the harbor. With continued waterfront development the recent completion of One Canalside, and the Explore & More Children’s Museum this entire southeastern stretch of the city is beginning to draw attention from people from across North America.