Buffalo, Home of the Arts

AmericanStyle Magazine has launched its annual readers’ poll to find the Top 25 Arts Destinations in the country. Buffalo has once again been nominated within the mid-size cities category for contemporary art. In 2008, Buffalo won 1st place. In 2006, Buffalo also won the award for No. 1 Arts Destination within mid-sized cities.

To vote, click here and fill out the survey. Let's go for a three-peat!

Big Events at the Historical Society

From BuffaloHistory.org:

American History Girls' Club
Saturday, January 17 from 10 a.m. - noon

Take part in crafts, activities and a lesson surrounding the "Felicity" American Girl® doll and the year 1774 in America's history. Make quill pens and berry and walnut ink, and tour the museum's Pioneer Gallery exhibit. Enjoy apple butter, Johnny Cakes, apple cider and fruit juice. Admission is $20, which includes all craft materials; call (716) 873-9644 ext. 311 to register.


Martin Luther King, Jr. Event
Sunday, January 18 at 3 p.m.

Join the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier for this 3rd annual event, which is free and open to the public. Reggie Witherspoon, head coach of the University at Buffalo men's basketball team, will be the guest speaker.


Inauguration Day - Free Admission
Tuesday, January 20; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Bring your friends and family members to see our Shaking Hands & Kissing Babies presidential campaign exhibit for free, as we celebrate Barack Obama's historic inauguration!


Rail Barons Model Train Display
Every Saturday and Sunday through March 1, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Rail Barons Model Trains
See 200 feet of HO-gauge track, 100 model buildings from around WNY and a scale Erie Canal lock. Included in museum admission.

MLK, Jr. Day of Service

Visit here for more information

Buffalo Reuse and PUSH Buffalo are uniting to clean up some houses on the West Side. Volunteers can E0mail volunteer@buffaloreuse.org or call 885-4131. They are meeting on Monday at 9am to begin working on 397 Massachusetts Avenue, boarding up buildings and putting up murals.

Our Shared Waters Anniversary

The year 2009 marks the 100th anniversary of the Boundary Waters Treaty between the U.S. and Canada, practically ending border disputes between both countries and ensuring that the two countries would continue to share the longest peaceful border in the world. To celebrate, venues in the United States and Canada will hold special events throughout the year. The kick-off event is a film presentation on January 22 at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. For more information, check out the official website.

Would you like to be a tour guide?

Fill out our online application here

Beginning February 14th, Buffalo Tours will host its docent training program for those interested in sharing Buffalo Niagara’s architectural, environmental, cultural, and historical heritage. During ten Saturday sessions from 9:30am to 12:30pm, trainees will learn an overview of Buffalo’s architectural and waterfront history, increase their knowledge of our cultural heritage, and learn docenting and public speaking skills.

This year Buffalo Tours partners with Roycroft Campus Corporation, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, and Forest Lawn Cemetery to train volunteers who are passionate about leading tours in the Buffalo Niagara region. This year's Buffalo Tour is called Queen City Downtown. The Roycroft Campus tours provide visitors a glimpse into the 1900’s arts and crafts community located in East Aurora, NY and Forest Lawn tours bring the biographies of famous Buffalonians to life. Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper EcoTours give participants the opportunity to paddle around Strawberry Island and Cayuga Creek, hike the Niagara Gorge and Scajaquada Creek, and lead programs with Buffalo Audubon.

Each Saturday class includes a training session and related lecture or field trip around Western New York which is led by one of 70 experienced volunteer docents. On field trips, trainees deepen their understanding of local history and current events and the influence of world famous architects like Wright, Green, Wicks, Richardson, and Olmsted while exploring places like the Roycroft Campus, the Larkin Building on Exchange Street, Scajaquada Creek, the Darwin Martin House and Forest Lawn.

At the end of ten weeks, newly trained docents will have learned basic guide skills, increased their confidence in public speaking, and grasped the necessary information to give architectural and waterfront tours.

The first four joint classes run from February 14th to March 7th at different locations. Volunteers choose to continue training with individual organizations for the remaining sessions. A one time fee of $75 will cover the cost of docent training materials and meeting space. To register, please call 716-852-3300 or send an email to info@BuffaloTours.org before February 6th, 2009.

Landmark Historical Markers Online

You can now view, enlarge, and download all twelve panels of Downtown Buffalo's historical marker series, here. These were also featured in our 2008 calendar. How many plaques can you find around town?

Credits:

Dennis Galucki
Chair

Louise McClive
Coordinator

Ramona Pando Whitaker
Researcher/Editor

Matthew Steinberg
Designer

Accident on Court Street

Thanks to the fifty people who took Rich's City Hall tour on Monday! Visitors are perfectly safe on the 28th floor of the Observation Deck, but down on the the ground it was a different story. A police car crashed into a minivan on Court Street, closing off several blocks of traffic. Here was the view from 350 feet up. Hopefully everyone involved is all right.