Written by Expat Rob

I am really not trying to copy Paul’s last post.  He just reminded me of what I have been meaning to ask all of you. 

Anyway, my girlfriend and I will be in Buffalo in about 3 weeks for a friend’s wedding.  We are coming up a couple days early, so we will have a little time to spend playing tourist.  Niagara Falls is already number one on the list, and we do plan to get a beer at Sidebar, or Sterling Place Tavern, or both.  Now, if you were showing someone around town for about 24-36 hours, where else would you take them?  I am giving you all a chance to brag about Buffalo.  Tell me the cool, “must-see” places, whether everyone knows about them or not.

Thank you all in advance for your suggestions.  Maybe we’ll get to meet you out somewhere when we are in town.

Written by Pauldub

I do not have a clue. That’s why I am asking you. I drove through the other week to see the street where my mother grew up (Altruria) and got lost. Not an uncommon occurrence for me. I’m not familiar with South Buffalo, or the nightllife. I have heard good good things, and I figure if I want to find the best spots, why not ask the pros?

Where do I go for good food, good drink, good music (or at least a good juke box) and friendly patrons? A place where I can walk in wearing a tie, or bowling shirt, or maybe even both, and still not feel out of place.

Let me know so I can broaden my horizons…

Written by Pauldub

Bad Credit? Let us help you!
No, this isn’t a predatory lending pitch, It’s the I hate Giambra Erie County Control Board. Since they can basically loot take money from the County’s sales tax revenue, they have a much better rating than County Hall.

So far, Giambra and Poloncarz have been reluctant to let the control board borrow. Poloncarz reasons that any savings the control board predicts must be balanced against the taxpayer cost of having to maintain the state authority years into the future because it must remain in existence to repay the debt.

In other words, we have to pay the “Vig” in the form of control board expenses.
I would rather have the county get the bare minimum of a loan, and pay it back, than have the control board hanging around our neck for eternity. Sort of like creating another level of government, only we can’t vote them out.

Nice way to ensure job security. Take out a loan for someone, stick around til they pay it off.

How does the song go? “Nice work if you can get it”

Written by Pauldub

I am sure 99% of you went here at least once with your parents when you were little. Sitting in the back of the family station wagon, wearing your pajamas, eating popcorn. And I am equally sure that many of you spent an evening here with a significant other, steaming up the windows of your parent’s car. Did any of you have a memorable (good OR bad) date here?

The demise of this drive in is definitely a benefit for the neighborhood. Jobs, a more productive use for the property, and I am sure that the medical building will pay more in property taxes. The neighbors didn’t seem too upset at the change of ownership either.

So, after this summer, if you want to “Watch the stars under the stars”, you will have to head out to Lockport to the Transit Drive In.

Mr. Orsini thinks so. But I would love to hear how people in West Seneca, or anyone else who knows this guy, rate him. Obviously he had enough support to get elected to the supervisor position. But I would like to make an informed decision when I vote, and you can help. I could just accept Mr. Orsini’s endorsement, but his reputation is not the greatest. I honestly cannot remember the last time he was mentioned in the news in a positive light.
So let me know what you think of Paul Clark. Also, based on Orsini’s reputation, do you think his endorsement might be a “kiss of Death”?
pd

Buffalo, NY - Join Christina Abt, as she welcomes Arlene White, Executive Director of the Binational Tourism Alliance (BTA).

The BTA is the first tourism development organization of its kind in all of North America. Incorporated in 2004 as a not-for-profit, membership-based tourism industry trade organization, the purpose of the BTA is to support tourism destination development in cross-border regions shared by Canada and the United States.

However, don’t let the legalese description bore you. The BTA’s Arlene White is a dynamo with big dreams and even bigger tourism goals for the WNY/Southern Ontario Region… and she is recruiting the best and brightest women in WNY to help make it all happen.

Tune in to hear what she has to say and e-mail ( buffalostyle@wnymedia.net ) or call in (886-9696) to chat with Arlene and share your thoughts and ideas.

The place: Listen Live Button on The WNYMedia.net homepage

The time: 3-4pm

The contact info: Buffalostyle@wnymedia.net or 886-9696.

In honor of the news that the United States House of Representatives finally grew a spine and passed a binding resolution on withdrawal of US Troops from Iraq….

I’d like to present a satire on the inevitable response from President Bush

Breast Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in women. It is estimated tha 40,000 women died from breast cancer last year.
The Tonawandas USBC will be holding a benefit this Sunday at Island Lanes, 1887 Whitehaven, Grand Island, from 12 noon until 3 PM. Come join us for bowling, food and fun! there will be a chinese auction and other raffles.
There will also be educational opportunities concerning cancer awareness.
100% of the proceeds will go to the Susan B Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Team Cure.

This man

Is actually soliciting interns for his Washington, Greece, and Williamsville offices.

Now I don’t know about you, but I would be a tad leery sending my daughter, or son, running for an application for this one. I think they would be better off working at Ted’s. or Crapplebees.
Think there will be a lot of applicants?
pd

Buffalo, NY - Michele Johnson debuts her new WNYM radio show, Radio From A Broad, today at 1PM.

Michele is a local housing activist who has been instrumental in revitalization efforts on Buffalo’s East Side. She was the producer of the documentary “Flipped”, which documents the agressive tactic of predatory house flipping which has led to a steep decline in the quality of life in many Buffalo neighborhoods. Michele is also a housing court liasion in the Fillmore District, works with Mayor Byron Brown’s Anti-Flipping Task Force, and currently sits on the board of Buffalo ReUse.

Her first in studio guest will be Housing Court Judge Henry Nowak.

To listen to the show, click the listen live icon at the top left of the WNYMedia.net homepage.

To join the conversation, call in at 716.886.WNYM

Last night, a group of local activists and interested citizens attended a special session of the Buffalo Common Council’s Community Development Committee, chaired by Councilman Joe Golombek.

This meeting was an opportunity for Buffalonians to speak their minds on issues of waterfront development, city planning, Skyway demolition, casinos, and everything in between.

Former Buffalo Mayor and South District Councilman Jimmy Griffin made an appearance to discuss a study conducted during his administration that dealt with demolition of the Skyway and the construction of a tunnel underneath the Buffalo River as a replacement for the bridge.

It’s about friggin’ time that someone stepped up with a new Sabres anthem. After all, we have been tortured for years with various reincarnations of the “We’re Gonna Win That Cup” song each time the Sabres geared up to make a deep playoff run.

Local Hip Hop artist Eddie Haskill has created the first Sabres Anthem that does not suck. It’s been stuck in m head all day and now I share it with you…

Why? Because it’s a hip hop song and it will never see the light of day on any radio station in Buffalo aside from Kiss 98.5, home of the most irritating DJ alive, Nicholas Picholas. Lord knows, none of my readers listen to that dreck.

Written by pauldub

Spring starts tomorrow around 8p.m. How do I know?

1. Saw my first Robin today.
2. Tomorrow is my sister’s birthday (Happy Birthday Sharon Murphy!)
3. They said it on the news last night.
4. This place opens next week. Check out the line up for April 6th. I will be there with my large coffee.

Be there. Aloha…

I stumbled upon this story earlier today and it left me absolutely befuddled.

Chili’s Grill & Bar in Swatara Twp. had been open only three days, but already the word is out.

On this rainy Saturday night, cars circle the parking lot, and inside, diners crowd the bar waiting for tables to open in the dining room.

In the foyer, a hostess announces the estimated wait: 85 minutes.

An hour and a half wait to eat at a friggin’ Chili’s? What the hell is wrong with these tasteless automatons?

My brother lives in the suburbs of Savannah, GA, where neither independent restaurants nor actual character can be found. Each time I visit, we’ll head out to the newest chain in town (Texas Roadhouse, Carrabba’s, Olive Garden, etc.), grab a vibrating pager and sit in the foyer until a table is ready. It is a mind numbing exercise in irritating futility.

To me, the ridiculous wait for mediocre food is one of the “features” of living in the suburban sprawl of the “new south”. The “new south” also features poorly constructed wood frame houses thrown together in 60 days by underpaid illegal labor and a distinct lack of any local retail options, so they also have that going for them, which is nice.

Aside from the fact that articles like this force me to question the sanity of those who choose to live such a banal existence, it also brings me to the Buffalo Geek Rule of Life #64:

“There is nothing worth eating, buying or doing that is worth waiting more than 60 minutes”

This includes restaurant wait times, movie lines, roller coaster lines at amusement parks, retail shopping lines, and an innumerable list of other things.

Life is too short and time is too precious to spend more than an hour waiting to do anything. I generally distrust the wisdom of crowds and if something requires that much queue time, it’s probably something I wouldn’t enjoy anyhow.

I’m often left to wonder if I’m alone in setting arbitrary laws/rules that serve as guideposts for a better and happier life. I also wonder whether or not my readers are willing to queue up for more than 60 minutes for an event or a meal.

Of course, some of you might enjoy a 90 minute wait time for a shot at a mediocre plate of riblets at Crapplebee’s or a deep fried something or other at TGI Outback, PF’s Roadhouse, Red Robin McHoulihan’s, Joe’s Crab Shack Pizza Kitchen and Wild Wings, or Buca Di Ruby Tuesdays.

I really don’t know…educate me.

Buffalo, NY - Join us today, Monday March 19th, as WNYMedia.net launches another front in the new media revolution.

Buffalo Sports Radio with hosts Matty K and Nick Queeno, makes it debut on the WNYM airwaves.

Matty and Nick will be live for an hour talking Sabres hockey, NCAA Hoops, and the latest NFL news.

Join Matty and Nick as they talk NCAA Hoops, Sabres, and the Buffalo Sports scene.

Tune in here (Best for Windows Media Player)

or Tune in here (Best for Winamp, iTunes, etc.)

You can join the conversation by calling (716) 886-WNYM

Here’s the podcast link for those who were unable to tune in live.