Buffalo Pride

Best Buffalo Festival

The Allentown Art Festival is approaching its 54th year next June. Every year, tens of thousands of art patrons from Western New York and beyond gather in the Allentown Historic Preservation District in Buffalo.

Over 450 juried exhibits line Elmwood Avenue and Allen Street during a weekend in June. Since its beginning as a small art show in 1958, the festival has become an important aspect of Buffalo's cultural and social life.

The festival has persevered for over 40 years due to the dedication of the Allentown Village Society. Official crowd estimates have grown to over 400,000 in past years. Proceeds of the festival have been put back into the local community and used toward donations such as the Allentown Village Society Visual Art Scholarships.

Best Event in Buffalo That Should Be A Festival

The St. Patrick's Day Parade on Delaware Avenue is, hands down, the best excuse for Buffalonians to be publicly intoxicated before 10 a.m. in the downtown streets. There is no other day of the year when the NFTA Metro is packed to the brim, and people actually buy day passes for fear of Buffalo Police at the Allen Street station.

Although it's not technically considered one of Buffalo's annual festivals, it might as well be.

By noon, the majority of Buffalo gathers in the Arby's parking lot with flasks and Guinness in hand, dancing along to bagpipes and Irish dancers with mops on their heads. The day of mayhem deserves national recognition that may, however, further Buffalo's reputation as a drinking town. But then again, why is being a drinking town a problem?

Best Building to Save

Buffalo is no stranger to vacant and abandoned properties, but with its towering structure and extensive history, The Statler Towers on Delaware Avenue is one historical building in the city that should be rejuvenated.

In January of 2010, the Statler was officially "mothballed" and its first floor was boarded up and overshadowed by the $130 million federal courthouse project right across the street.

Local businessmen Mark D. Croce and James J. Eagan have begun to negotiate a $700,000 sale agreement to purchase the 18-story, 800,000-square-foot 1923 structure on the northeast corner of Niagara Square.

This once elegant property that boasted 1,100 guest rooms ended its stint as a hotel in 1983. Most recently, the Statler housed the Park Lane Catering business that catered events in the Grand Ballroom, Terrace Room and Rendezvous Lounge.

Best Local Blog

Since its launch in 2004, Buffalo Rising has become more than a local blog. Its goal to break the news of "New Buffalo" online has inspired contributing writers to add to its original focus on economic progress and events within the City of Buffalo.

The blog strives to provide readers with information on development in Buffalo, neighborhood improvement, grassroots initiatives, cultural and community events, the city's restaurant scene, and food reviews.

Buffalo Rising Online grew out of a quarterly magazine that highlighted local businesses mostly on Elmwood Avenue. The blog strives to remind people why they live in Buffalo. In 2009, Buffalo Rising garnered over two million hits and served over five million pages.

Buffalo Rising has expanded to include media from outside the City of Buffalo in other areas of Western New York and has even created college guides for surrounding campuses, including UB.

Co-founder and co-president Newell Nussbaumer has also co-founded the Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts and Buffalo Old Home Week, an event that promotes living and visiting the city. Nussbaumer founded Thunder Bay Trading retail stores in 1993, which sparked his passion for urban activism.

Best Local Journalist

Affectionately known as "Sully," Jerry Sullivan has covered seven Super Bowls, six Olympic Games, 18 Final Fours and 10 World Series championships in his career.

Sullivan, a Rhode Island native, attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism. After graduating, Sullivan pursued his writing at the Binghamton Sun-Bulletin and the Syracuse Herald-Journal. After covering the National Basketball Association for Newsday, Sullivan was offered other positions in New York City but chose to move to Buffalo instead.

Sullivan joined The Buffalo News in 1989 as a sports columnist and moved to the position of senior sports columnist in 2001. His columns have captured the attention of the City of Buffalo for years, regardless of your opinion on Buffalo sports in general.

The connection to the community is what makes Sullivan feel at home in Buffalo.

"I want people to remember me as a Buffalonian," Sullivan said. "I want people to think of me like I grew up here and that I captured the essence of Buffalo through the Bills."

Best People who Served Buffalo

Millard Fillmore: Not only did Fillmore serve as the president of the United States from 1850 to 1853, but he is also the reason why UB exists. Among other accomplishments, Fillmore served in the New York militia, and while serving as Comptroller, he reformed the New York State banking system.

Grover Cleveland: While Cleveland wasn't a native-born Buffalonian, his contributions to both this city and New York as a whole are innumerable. After his law partner passed away, Cleveland, who served as Buffalo's mayor in 1882, nobly took it upon himself to look after his late friend's teenage daughter because she no longer had a father figure. He raised her, sent her to school, cared for her, and even married her once she was of age. What a guy! Also, he served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, the only president in the history of our country to serve two non-consecutive terms.

Wolf Blitzer: The face of CNN since the early ′90s, Blitzer was raised right here in the Queen City. Covering many important events in the Middle East, Blitzer has changed the face of journalism on the CNN mainstay, The Situation Room.

O.J. Simpson: This pro football Hall of Fame superstar played for the Bills from 1969 to 1977, winning numerous awards along the way. Sadly, he would later get caught up in one of the country's most watched trials of all time for the alleged murder of his wife. And another trial two years ago where he was found guilty of robbery and kidnapping…

Tim Russert: Award-winning television journalist Tim Russert got his humble beginning in the City of Good Neighbors. Hosting on Meet the Press for 16 consecutive years, Russert played a vital role in the success of MSNBC for the past two decades until his death in 2008. Russert's book, Big Russ and Me, chronicled his childhood growing up in Buffalo.

Rick James: Born, James Johnson Jr., he sang on street corners around the city in his youth before making it big in the ′80s. His most famous hit, "Super Freak," can still be heard in blockbuster movies made today.

William Fargo: Fargo's name has been mentioned more in the past three years than in the entire history of his election as Mayor of Buffalo in 1862. The president of American Express and co-founder of Wells Fargo & Company, his legacy in American banking is legendary, leaving behind a financial powerhouse that is one of the Big Four banks of America.

Jim Kelly: Bringing a team like the Buffalo Bills to a Super Bowl is a miracle in it of itself, but Kelly managed to do it in four consecutive years. Though Kelly was born in Pennsylvania, his lasting contributions to the Buffalo Bills franchise cannot be overlooked.

Goo Goo Dolls: Formed in 1986, the Goo Goo Dolls have always held a fond place in this city's heart. Producing 14 Top-10 singles, the boys from Buffalo have achieved a level of superstardom beyond their wildest dreams. Selling over nine million albums in the U.S. alone, the Goo Goo Dolls continue to make the area proud.

Lucille Ball: Star of the incredibly successful sitcom I Love Lucy, Lucille is known the world over as "The First Lady of Television." Winning four Emmy Awards, this Jamestown native has paved the way for women everywhere to achieve the unachievable.

Best Radio Personalities

Ted Shredd and Tom Ragan, hosts of The Shredd and Ragan Show on 103.3 The Edge (WEDG), have been a mainstay of Buffalo radio since March of 1994.

The show is broadcasted to Buffalo, Toronto and Southern Ontario on weekday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The four-hour comedy talk radio show covers politics, sports, music, movies, and other happenings in Western New York.

Shredd and Ragan made a name for themselves after airing bits of the O.J. Simpson trial that ended in the "O.J. Bronco Chase Parade" on Buffalo's Kensington Expressway.

The show has aired segments such as Moo at the Canadians, where callers would ring a Canadian and moo at them, the Niagara Falls Police Blotter, Mikey Mike At The Movies and the Sammy Van Halen segments of a Buffalonian born in Love Canal who still lives with his mother.

Best Neighborhood to Reside

Between stabbings and muggings, it doesn't take much to realize that University Heights isn't exactly the ideal location for many college students. Have hope; there is another neighborhood, and it is affordable, safe and within close proximity to bars and restaurants.

The Elmwood Village, although slightly further from campus, is a neighborhood that's relatively untapped by UB students. Many homes can be rented for reasonable rates and most agencies have extremely responsive landlords. Additionally, many of the homes are decorated in an old, classic fashion with original woodwork and wide windows.

Furthermore, the restaurant and party scene around Elmwood Village is thriving. Not only are there bars and restaurants up and down Elmwood and Delaware Avenues, but Allen and Chippewa Streets, known for the nightlife they support, are five to 10 minutes away.

Best TV Personality

Rick Jeanneret is the TV and radio personality for the Buffalo Sabres, and he is not only the best broadcaster in Buffalo, but quite possibly in all of sports.

If you've ever watched a Sabres game, you've heard him. He's the one that yells into the microphone more passionately than any other announcer in the business.

He started with the Sabres during the 1971-72 season on the radio, and he has announced every season in Sabres history except for one – the inaugural season. He is the longest-tenured broadcaster in the NHL. Over his 39-year career, he has only missed two games due to illness – pretty remarkable for a guy that relies on his voice to fulfill his job's expectations.

Jeanneret started doing the TV broadcast in the 1995-96 season, and he has been a Sabres staple ever since.

He is famous for his goal calls – ESPN will constantly play them during highlights because he is so exciting with his voice. And Sabres fans will never complain about going into overtime because it means that Jeanneret will inevitably say, "And the Sabres are going to Ooooooooooooovertime!"

Best Politician: Congressman Brian Higgins

Though he now works in Washington at the U.S. House of Representatives, Brian Higgins remains a true Buffalonian through and through. Born and raised in South Buffalo, Higgins received his bachelor's degree in political science from Buffalo State College.

From 1988 to 1993, Higgins, a Democrat, represented South Buffalo on the Buffalo Common Council and was named "Buffalo's Best Lawmaker" by The Buffalo News in 1993.

After going back to school for a master's degree at Harvard, Higgins served as a New York State Assemblyman from 1999 to 2004, representing the 145th district. It was then that he made the jump to the national scene, winning New York's 27th district for the House of Representatives.

Among his most important accomplishments is his role in saving St. Joseph's Hospital from closure in 2007. That same year, the Drum Major Institute gave Higgins an "A+" on his Congressional Scorecard.

Though he is a lifelong Democrat, Higgins describes himself as a moderate politician. He has proven throughout the years that helping his home city thrive is at the top of his agenda in a world where party politics dominates those of other politicians.

Worst Politician: State Senator Antoine Thompson

Notoriously known as simply "Antoine," the Democratic Thompson has been engulfed by scandal lately, and he is now in imminent danger of losing his position, which was thought to be an impossibility.

In the recent midterm elections, the incumbent Thompson was up against Democrat Mark Grisanti, who ran on the Republican line, for the 60th district of New York State. Thompson's district is overwhelmingly Democratic, so nobody thought Grisanti had a chance, even despite Thompson's corruption.

However, Grisanti appears to be leading Thompson, and the two candidates are currently undergoing a recount.

Among Thompson's questionable antics are his trip to Jamaica when he was supposed to be at a Senate session, his tendency to not remember which way he voted on key issues, and his printing and mass distribution of a 105-page, full-color book during his campaign, which he paid for with taxpayer dollars.

And that's just to name a few.

If Grisanti pulls out the victory against Thompson, many would call it a miracle. Though those who blindly voted for Thompson may not know it, a Grisanti victory will be beneficial for them.

Best of Buffalo Architecture

Though Buffalo may not be the economic hotspot that it once was, striking architectural remnants are still peppered throughout the city.

City Hall, a familiar sight to most Buffalo natives, is a stunning introduction to Buffalo. Located at 65 Niagara Square, this 32-story municipal building dominates Buffalo's skyline. The building was designed with a natural air conditioning system that takes in cold wind coming off of the lake and circulates it throughout the floors. Dietel, Wade & Jones completed it in the Art Deco style, a design largely characterized by geometric designs and bold colors, in 1931.

The original Buffalo Savings Bank is an eye-catching structure. Opened in 1901, the "Goldome" is now host to an M&T Bank. The most striking feature of the building is its 24-karat golden roof; the work was done through a technique called gold leafing, where gold is beaten into extremely thin sheets and laid over a surface. The building played a key role in Buffalo's financial history and was one of the largest savings banks in the world until its dissolution in 1991.

The Buffalo City Court Building, located at 50 Delaware Ave. and completed in 1974, boasts large concrete panels and few windows. It is one of the city's few examples of Brutalist architecture, which flourished in the mid-20th century and is typically characterized by massive poured concrete structures without exterior decoration.

Architecturally, Buffalo has a few significant "firsts" in its history.

The Ellicott Square Building, built in 1896, stills stands today as an impressive landmark. Upon completion, the Ellicott Square Building stood as the largest office building in the world for 16 years. Much of the interior of the building can be seen in famous scenes from the 1984 movie, The Natural.

In 2006, New Era moved its world headquarters from Derby to the former Federal Reserve Building in downtown Buffalo.

"[It was] one of the first times in Buffalo's recent history that a company moved into the city center from the [suburbs]. When they moved in, Mayor Byron Brown called it ‘New Era day' in Buffalo. [It was] very symbolic," said Andrew Carducci, 22, of Holland, N.Y., a Buffalo native and longtime student of its architecture and history.

The construction of The Avant in downtown Buffalo is a hopeful sign of new life in the city. It is a 16-story "vertical community" that serves as a hotel, as an office building, and even as a residential home for those lucky enough to land one of its condos. Created by Steiglitz Snyder Architecture, it displays some of the most progressive architectural styles in Buffalo.

"[The Avant] was the former Dulski federal building. [It is] a huge example of Buffalo's architecture moving into the 21st century… ‘Avant' is French for move forward … and it is very symbolic of downtown's transformation," Carducci said.

All of these buildings are considered landmarks in Buffalo and help to capture the eclectic essence of the city.

Least Eligible Buffalo Bachelor

A local legend, Derek Roy, who takes his position as a forward for the Buffalo Sabres just as seriously off the ice as he does in hockey rink, has a reputation as a Buffalo Casanova of sorts.

Frequently spotted at local cultural hotspots like Pure Nightclub and Bayou, Mr. Roy has a penchant for girls of all shapes, sizes and ages.

Any girl lucky enough to snag a date with this prize should be warned: even if Derek Roy likes it he may not put a ring on it, Stanley Cup ring included.

Least Eligible Buffalo Bachelorette

Often seen tripping up and down the Chippewa Strip, these sassy ladies only sport the finest sequined and spandexed threads from the Forever21 clearance ranks.

Chippewa's Trash's vision is not impaired by one too many vodka cranberries, they have their eyes peeled for fresh-looking gentlemen like local sports superstar Derek Roy.

Most Eligible Buffalo Bachelor

Name:

Steve Mesler

Age:

32

Sign:

Virgo, Aug. 27

What he looks for in a partner:

"Intelligence is number one, and actually number two…and being able to make me laugh."

Dream Date:

"Dinner and then some place where we can just talk where it's not too loud and we can get to know each other. I don't like going to movies on a date because then you can't focus on the other person."

Celebrity Crush:

Rachel McAdams

Worst date:

"Probably when I went out with a girl a few years ago and we had to go to the movies after dinner because we had nothing to talk about. It made me realize I was at the age when going on a date based on looks was not enough for a good date. That's when intelligence skyrocketed on my list. As you date more and you get older, you realize how important the conversational part and intelligence is."

Turn-ons:

"Confidence, independence. Athletes. I like to see a girl who likes to watch football on Sundays; that's attractive in and of itself."

Turn-offs:

"I have a hard time with girls who don't like beer. I feel like not liking beer is a red flag, because I find that maybe girls who don't drink beer maybe do not like watching football on Sundays. But I generally am really open to most people's personalities, and I don't really set people aside because of one or two little things."

What he does on the weekends:

"Since I've moved to Canada, fly-fishing, poker, and I've started writing."

Favorite TV shows:

The Event and Family Guy

Most Eligible Buffalo Bachelorette

Name:

Erin Habes

Age:

30

Relationship Status:

Single

Sign:

Virgo, Sept. 19

What she looks for in a partner:

"I am drawn to people that are very involved in the arts and the community and are out there. Obviously someone who is intelligent who has their own kind of passion; it doesn't have to focus on fashion but they have to have their own love for something."

Dream Date:

"I love going to the theater. Go to Sea Bar or Trattoria Aroma, just going out to dinner and then to see a show. I love supporting local theater houses."

Celebrity Crush:

Jeff Goldblum from Jurassic Park

Worst date:

"When I was in college in my freshman year I went on a date and the food wasn't good and he came on way too strong. And when I denied him a goodnight kiss, he got all pissed off."

Turn-ons:

"Someone that has confidence within themselves and the awareness of who he is, what he does and what he likes. I like type-A personalities that have their own thing going on."

Turn-offs:

"There is a fine line between being too arrogant and asshole. Every girl likes a little cockiness to a point where a guy knows who he is and what he likes, but if he oversteps that boundary and keeps up, that would be a turn-off."

What she does on the weekends:

"When I have a free weekend, I go to art shows, the theater. I try to do as many community-wide events as I can. I like to hang out with friends, enjoy life and shop on Elmwood and Hertel. I may be a fashion girl, but I also like to do crazy hikes and be out there in the woods.

Favorite TV shows:

True Blood, Mad Men, Dexter, Weeds and Modern Family.