Buffalo Tours - Audio, Boat and Walking Tours

Buffalo Youth Media Institute event

2009-11-05T14:13:00.004-05:00

SPECIAL AFTERNOON SCREENING FOR THE
BUFFALO YOUTH MEDIA INSTITUTE

Sunday, November 15, 3pm
Market Arcade Film & Arts Center, 639 Main Street

$10 Admission
$25 Supporter (will get a free t-shirt or dvd)
$50 Patron (will get free t-shirt and dvd)

Reception and gift raffle will follow the screening.

Please join us to help make this year's BYMI a reality!

We will screen an hour long program of some of the highlights from the past 4 years of the Buffalo Youth Media Institute. Expect a wonderful kaleidoscope of what Buffalo has to offer as seen through the eyes of Buffalo’s next generation of film makers: a magical portrait of Forest Lawn cemetery, a poem about graffiti, an insightful interview with recently deceased community activist Rosa Gibson, an ode to the beauty of grain elevators, a close look at the local food movement, a loving portrayal of St. Luke’s on the East Side, a passionate appeal on behalf of bees, and a thoughtful essay about the proposed downtown casino. Please help us so we can continue to offer this truly unique program to Buffalo’s youths!

The Buffalo Youth Media Institute is a collaboration with Preservation Buffalo Niagara and Squeaky Wheel and has been supported in part by the NEA, the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, the Baird Foundation, the Laura Jane Musser Fund, and individual contributions.

Please RSVP at 884-7172 if you wish to attend. As an example, here is another short film created by a BYMI student:

The Infected District

Buffalo Youth Media Institute | MySpace Video

New Book About Parkside

2009-11-04T10:47:00.002-05:00

After nearly two years of work, Steve Cichon is now taking pre-orders for The Complete History of Parkside, a 172-page book, filled with 135 historic photos.

You can read about the Frederick Law Olmsted designed neighborhood, from its place in the history of the Seneca Nation, to its role in the War of 1812, to Olmsted's design and the turn of the century building out of the area, and the neighborhood's 20th century evolutions. Included are discussions of the area's earliest colorful settlers, Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin Martin House, Delaware Park, The Buffalo Zoo, and the stories and anecdotes of many more struggles, individuals, and institutions that have made Parkside one of Buffalo's premier historic neighborhoods today. More on the book and what's inside can be found at http://www.staffannouncer.com/parksidebook.htm

Sales of the book will benefit several non-profit groups and churches in the Parkside area. Steve Cichon is one of several Parkside Community Association members who give our monthly Parkside Neighborhood tours in the summer.

Looking Forward: The National Preservation Conference Comes to Buffalo

2009-11-03T13:28:00.002-05:00

Edward Healy, Vice President of Marketing for the Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau, explains why Buffalo is the perfect choice for the 2011 National Preservation Conference. Visitors to this year's annual conference in Nashville were already buzzing about Buffalo.

Source: the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Seeds of the New Commons

2009-10-31T16:56:00.002-04:00

Seeds of the New Commons: Building the Future in the Present
Chris Carlsson in conversation with Justin Booth and Kirk Laubenstein
November, 6th 7:00 pm
Sugar City (19 Wadsworth - near Elmwwod and Allen)

Join Chris Carlsson (San Francisco-based activist, author and historian), Justin Booth (Green Options Buffalo, Buffalo Blue Bicycle) and Kirk Laubenstein(Grassroots Gardens) for a discussion on how the future is being built today, in Buffalo and beyond.

Chris Carlsson is a writer, publisher, editor, and community organizer. He is the executive director of the multimedia history project Shaping San Francisco,
and has edited four collections of political and historical essays. He helped launch the monthly bike-ins known as Critical Mass, and was the longtime editor of Processed World magazine.

In his current book Nowtopia: How Pirate Programmers, Outlaw Bicyclists, and Vacant-Lot Gardeners are Inventing the Future Today, San Francisco-based activist and historian Chris Carlsson profiles practices that embody a deep challenge to the basic underpinnings of modern life, as a new ecologically driven politics emerges from below, reshaping our assumptions about science, technology, and human potential.

Justin Booth is the director and founder of Green Options Buffalo which has launched programs including Recycle-A-Bicycle, Blue Bicycle and the Commercial District Bicycle Parking Program. His focus has been on developing interventions focused upon enhancing quality of life through healthier built and natural environments.

Kirk Laubenstein is president of Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo, a community gardening program working with public and private sectors to revitalize neighborhoods and build quality of life through the reuse and beautification of vacant land.

This event is free and open to all ages

http://www.nowtopians.com
http://www.greenoptionsbuffalo.org
http://www.grassrootsgardens.org

Carlsson interviewed on KEXP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_pfDjnbWuQ

[Thanks to Kirk Laubenstein and Cynthia Van Ness for the information]

Photos from our Annual Meeting

2009-10-27T11:31:00.004-04:00

Preservation Buffalo Niagara celebrated its 1st anniversary with a meeting at the historic Delaware Avenue Baptist Church. Built from 1894-5, the interior has remained virtually unchanged throughout its history. After brief speeches about the year's successes and challenges, membership was invited to enjoy some birthday cake and cider. More pictures will be posted later. If you are interested in becoming a member, which includes discounts and coupons for many Buffalo Tours events, please call us at (716) 852-3300.

Richardson Olmsted Complex Declared 2009 Landslide Site

2009-10-23T12:13:00.003-04:00

From the Richardson Center Corporation:

The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) announced the 2009 Landslide theme – Shaping the American Landscape – and the sixteen 2009 Landslide sites, including the Richardson Olmsted Complex.

Landslide, established in 2002, examines threatened landscapes (listed thematically, e.g., working landscapes, designed landscapes), and is designed to educate the public about and rally support for these sites.

The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF), established in 1998, is the only not-for-profit foundation in America dedicated to increasing the public’s awareness of the important legacy of cultural landscapes and the need to help save them for future generations.

Previous Landslides have been accompanied by traveling exhibitions organized in cooperation with and curated by George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, which commissioned original photography of the endangered places.

The sixteen 2009 Landslide sites, culled from nearly 100 nominations, feature the work of master landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted, Beatrix Farrand, George Kessler and Hideo Sasaki, along with architects I.M. Pei and H.H. Richardson.

Erie Canal Harbor Model Photos

2009-10-22T14:23:00.005-04:00

Several hundred citizens attended a public comment session about the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Study (DGEIS) for the Erie Canal Harbor. More details about the meeting can be found on Buffalo Rising. Models were also on display, of which some photos can be seen below.

Pedestrian ramp and recreation area outside Bass Pro.

Looking south down Main Street

Looking east from the Cobblestone District

Looking north from the water. In front, a proposed boutique hotel.

Construction of a parking ramp near the Marine Drive Apartments generated the most controversy.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Buffalo Venture

2009-09-25T10:28:00.002-04:00

From the UB Reporter:

“Frank Lloyd Wright’s Buffalo Venture: From the Larkin Building to Broadacre City,” an exhibition focused on the context in which Buffalo became a locus for Wright’s architectural activities in the first decades of the 20th century, will be presented by the UB Anderson Gallery Oct. 2 through Dec. 30.

The exhibition will be free of charge and open to the public in the gallery, One Martha Jackson Place—off Englewood Avenue between Main Street and Kenmore Avenue. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. For information, call 829-3754.

The exhibition will present more than 130 objects, including those related to 22 buildings and projects—11 built works and 11 unrealized projects—that resulted from Wright’s 32-year association with the forward-thinking executives of the Larkin Company, a once-prominent soap-and-mail-order business based in Buffalo.

Click here to see the rest of the article.

Historic Preservation Rehabilitation Tax Credit Workshop with Sam Hoyt

2009-09-22T20:13:00.001-04:00

Attention Historic Preservationists, Housing Activists, Commercial Developers, and all who love Buffalo:

Please join Assemblymember Sam Hoyt at the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit workshops on Wednesday, September 30th from 1-3pm (commercial tax credit workshop) and 5:30-7:30pm (residential tax credit workshop) at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.

As you may know, Sam Hoyt and others worked very hard over this past few years to see this legislation signed by Governor Paterson in Buffalo in July. Within hours of its signing, a multi-million dollar project on the East Side of Buffalo was announced by Business First. Without your help this past spring, including the critical letters of support that you sent to Governor Paterson, we would not be here. These workshops are an opportunity to educate our community about the benefits of this program and prove that investing in our historic cities and neighborhoods is concrete, sustainable economic development that means both jobs and revitalized urban communities.

Both historic rehabilitation tax credit workshops will be held at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and will have officials from the New York State Office of Historic Preservation, as well as other local and state preservation experts. Event partners include the NYS Office of Historic Preservation, the Preservation League of New York, Preservation Buffalo Niagara, the Campaign for Greater Buffalo, the Allentown Association, and Black Rock Riverside GNPA Historic Preservation Committee.

Please RSVP for either of these workshops (commercial or residential) to Preservation Buffalo Niagara at 716-852-3300.

Learn more about the Historic rehabilitation tax Credit program and see if your property is eligible!

Host: Citizens for Sam Hoyt
Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 1:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society
25 Nottingham Court, Buffalo, NY

Sam Hoyt Hosting Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Workshop

2009-09-10T14:39:00.002-04:00

NEWS FROM ASSEMBLYMEMBER SAM HOYT
144th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Contact: Sam Hoyt (716) 885-9630
E-mail

Hoyt Hosting Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Workshop
September 30 Event Designed To Educate Homeowners and Businesses

Assemblymember Sam Hoyt (D-Buffalo) is hosting a Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Workshop on Wednesday, September 30 at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. Two separate seminars, one for commercial real estate and one for residential properties, will be held. The State Historic Preservation Office, Preservation Buffalo Niagara, the Preservation League of New York State, and several local block clubs in historic neighborhoods are working with Hoyt to coordinate this event.

This workshop will offer guidance for people interesting in using the new Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit authored by Assemblymember Hoyt. There is tremendous potential for economic growth through restoration of historically significant buildings. This tax credit was created to assist homeowners and businesses by making restoration more affordable to create renewal without sacrificing the unique architectural heritage that is a hallmark of Buffalo.

WHO: Assemblymember Hoyt and preservation experts.

WHEN: 1-3pm for the Commercial Historic Preservation Tax Credit
5:30-7:30pm for the Residential Historic Preservation Tax Credit

WHERE: Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society
25 Nottingham Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14222

RSVP: Please Call Preservation Buffalo Niagara at 716-852-3300.

Assemblymember Sam Hoyt represents the 144th Assembly District.

Teresa Glanowski
Director of Communications and Special Projects
Assemblymember Sam Hoyt
936 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo,
NY 14209
716.885.9630
716.885.9636 fax

Louis Sullivan and H. H. Richardson in Buffalo

2009-09-09T16:01:00.004-04:00

Here is the trailer for the film produced by the guys who came to Buffalo last year. The producer is Mike Kwielford and you can also check out the film's website. (Thanks to Harry Meyer of Hodgson Russ for this link.)

Plans continue to unfold at the Richardson-Olmsted Complex as well. You can read a recent Buffalo News editorial about the plans and get a video look inside the building by clicking here. (Thanks to Monica Pellegrino Faix of the Richardson Center Corporation for this link.)

“Elbert Hubbard and the Roycrofters”

2009-09-03T15:37:00.002-04:00

Special Preview of New Documentary, November 5th at 7:30pm

The RCC welcomes guests to join them for the first public viewing of the new, educational one hour documentary about the Roycroft community and its influential founder, Elbert Hubbard. The show was produced by Buffalo’s WNED-TV with the help of a substantial grant from The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation. Special pricing to purchase videos will be available that night only!

Call (716) 655-0261 or visit The Roycroft Campus Corporation for more information.

Expression of Sympathy

2009-08-28T21:48:00.004-04:00

Preservation Buffalo Niagara Sadly Announces
the Death of Our Executive Director, Michael Miller

Preservation Buffalo Niagara is sad to announce the untimely death of its recently appointed Executive Director, Michael Miller, 51, of Wheatfield, NY. Michael was previously employed by M&T Bank for over 17 years and was an active volunteer and leader for the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation. Michael recently made the decision to join Preservation Buffalo Niagara to fulfill a life-long passion to work full-time in the area of historic preservation, where he devoted so much of his free time.

Catherine Schweitzer, Board Chair of PBN said "We are all deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Michael's passing. Michael was so happy with his decision to join PBN as our first full time executive director; he brought significant professional skills, a wonderful spirit and enthusiasm to the organization as well as an extensive network of friends. Through his dedicated service to the Central Terminal and Broadway-Fillmore area, Michael earned the trust and respect of the preservation community. He was genuinely excited about the opportunities ahead for himself, the preservation movement, and the entire Buffalo/Niagara region. Michael will be sorely missed. We all extend our heartfelt condolences to Michael's family and many friends."

Plans are underway for a remembrance of Michael's life at the Central Terminal. Information will be forthcoming.

Preservation Buffalo Niagara is a recently re-constituted organization representing the combination of the former Preservation Coalition and the former Landmark Society and is devoted to education and advocacy for Historic Preservation principles, practices, and related issues. In addition to hiring Michael as its Executive Director, PBN was in the process of searching for a "Preservation Specialist", which is expected to continue. PBN successfully secured significant philanthropic funding and will play a lead role when Buffalo hosts the National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conference in 2011.

MILLER - Michael J. August 27, 2009, of Wheatfield, NY, Executive Director Preservation Buffalo Niagara, son of Rita (Schwendler) Miller and the late Earl; loving brother of Karen (Robert) Smith of Tonawanda, NY, Katie (Chuck) Travis of North Tonawanda, NY, and the beloved uncle to Corey and Sara. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 2-7 PM at the Buffalo Central Terminal, 495 Paderewski Drive, where a Memorial Service will he held at 7 PM, with the Rev. Robert J. Fink, officiating. Should friends desire, memorials in Mike's memory may be made to the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, PO Box 468, Buffalo, NY 14212. Visit www.rhoneyfuneralhome.com, for guest register.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/buffalonews/obituary.aspx?n=michael-j-miller&pid=132066018

Happy Hour Tour: The West Village

2009-08-20T15:56:00.002-04:00

Buffalo's own West Village was recently the highlight of a Preservation Magazine photo essay. To view the essay, click here!

Our Happy Hour Tour of the West Village begins at 6pm, Friday, October 21 and ends at a local pub. Explore the neighborhood pioneered by Buffalo’s first mayor, Ebenezer Johnson, in 1824. Excellent examples of Italianate, French Second Empire, Victorian Gothic, and Richardsonian buildings survive. Visit the finest red brick architecture in Buffalo, one of the city’s first public parks, early mansions and apartment houses. Meet us at Johnson Park & South Elmwood Avenue, next to the big rock--you can't miss it!

View Larger Map
Special encore tour Sunday, September 27 at 2pm

Happy Hour Tour this Friday at 6pm

2009-07-12T23:08:00.004-04:00

We asked a few people on the first happy hour tour what they thought. To hear what they said, click "play" below. The next Happy Hour tour on July 17 in the Theatre District.

Pictures are from Happy Hour and other recent tours. Thanks to Jane for the audio!

FREE City Hall Tours at Taste of Buffalo

2009-07-08T20:03:00.001-04:00

Sunday 11 - 5

Catch the New Courthouse on Queen City Tours

2009-07-07T21:06:00.004-04:00

Here's one persons view.

Buffalo Tails - Dog Walking Tours

2009-07-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

Buffalo Tours docents Cindy & Paul teamed up with The Puppy Playpen on Ellicott Street for the first ever dog walking tour of downtown Buffalo. What a great idea! And from the looks of it, the tour was a rousing success.

Thanks again to Atsuko Mitchell for her photos.

Join our Facebook group

2009-07-03T07:13:00.002-04:00

Our facebook group just passed 600 members. Joseph Ellicott has 882 friends. Can you help us surpass Joseph? Give it a try.

War of 1812 sites in Buffalo & Black Rock

2009-06-30T00:53:00.003-04:00

Historian Richard Feltoe came in from Toronto and met some community activists to research possible sites for a War of 1812 memorial in Buffalo. See three video clips below! Books, tours, movies, and many more projects are in the works. Buffalo Tours also gives architecture and history tours of the Black Rock area on July 4th, August 1st, September 5th, and October 3rd at 10am.

Free Roycroft Raffle and Free Tours

2009-06-29T07:50:00.006-04:00

When you complete the sign-in sheet at the start of any tour you will be entered into our end-of-season raffle. A free dinner and overnight stay at the historic Roycroft Inn will be awarded to the lucky raffle winner.

In addition, you can take the tour for free and get $20 in Tour Bucks for future tours! Just select the option on the sign-sheet to join Preservation Buffalo Niagara ($40/individual or $50/family). We accept cash, check, Visa or Mastercard.

Unanswered Tour Questions

2009-06-28T15:36:00.003-04:00

Tour patrons sometimes ask questions for which the docent doesn't have an answer. With this in mind I've created a public place to display those questions and answers .

Buffalo Tours now has a Flickr group

2009-06-28T15:21:00.002-04:00

If you give or take tours, you take pictures along the way, and you have a Flickr account, we'd love to have you join & share your pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/buffalotours/

Buffalo Tails: Dog Walk and Historical Downtown Tour

2009-06-21T22:22:00.003-04:00

When: Fri, June 26, 6pm – 8pm
Where: 431 Ellicott Street, Buffalo NY 14203
Call (716) 602-7169 for reservations.

Bring your pooch to a special edition of the Queen City Downtown tour! Co-sponsored by Companion Animal Network and Buffalo Tours, this 1 1/2 hour, fido-friendly family walk will visit some of the our beautiful downtown landmarks. Along the way you’ll hear the stories of Buffalo’s beginning, the Erie Canal and several master architects like Sullivan, Burnham, Upjohn and our own E.B. Green. This fun event will provide water and treats for our 4 legged companions. Some buildings will be open for the tour and dog sitters will be provided for your dog so that you may visit the inside of some of these fabulous buildings. The tour will begin from the Puppy Playpen on 431 Ellicott Street at Genesee Street. Hot dogs will be served from 6:15 to 7:00pm. The tour starts promptly at 7:00pm. Refreshments, desserts and dog treats will be served at the Puppy Playpen after the tour. ThetTour will cost $25 for a family or $20 dollars and a pet food contribution to the Pet Food Pantry in advance or $30 dollars at the door. Your dog must be leashed and we ask that you bring materials to clean up after your dog.

Buffalo Tours: Queen City Downtown

2009-06-17T22:31:00.003-04:00

Over 1500 people have taken a tour with us in the past month, including over 75 people who braved the rain at a Queen City Downtown tour just a couple of weeks ago.

Our Queen City tours are held on Saturdays from June through October, Monday through Friday in July and August, and Tuesdays all year long.

To see tour times and meeting locations, check out the tour description online.