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Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The independent student publication of The University at Buffalo, since 1950

Features

Daily Planet Coffee Company on Hertel Avenue.
FEATURES

Buffalo’s best cafes to hang out, do work

By VINDHYA BURUGUPALLI | Oct. 6, 2019

Getting out of the house –– and your sweatpants –– can do wonders for productivity. While Capen and Lockwood can get boring, and so can hanging out in your dorm, or anywhere on campus, Buffalo has some great spots to relax on a study break.  We’ve compiled some of Buffalo’s best cafes (in no particular order) you can go to for studying, meetings or just hanging out with your friends. 

Jay's Pizzeria's mouth-watering margherita pizza pie.
FEATURES

Buffalo’s best New York-style pizza

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Oct. 6, 2019

A true New Yorker knows what good pizza is: hand tossed until it’s stretched to give perfectly wide slices, foldable yet crispy crust, zesty tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese thicc enough to make your girlfriend jealous.  Buffalo may be in New York State, but the pizza often doesn’t live up to the city’s standards. We compiled a list of Buffalo’s pizzerias that come closest to offering true New York-style pizza.

Savers on Eggert Road is a great stop for cheap clothes and Halloween costumes.
FEATURES

Buffalo’s best thrift shops

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET and VINDHYA BURUGUPALLI | Oct. 6, 2019

There’s two types of thrift shopping. There’s “vintage” shopping, which essentially consists of going to high-end antique stores, spending Depop money on a worn-out denim jacket and running home to share your “gnarly experience” with your friends who aren’t cool or trendy enough to ever understand.

Tifft Nature Preserve is a five-minute drive from downtown Buffalo and located on the Outer Harbor.
FEATURES

Hella hidden hikes

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Oct. 6, 2019

Fall is underway and while it’s been surprisingly warm, we can’t expect the good luck to last in Buffalo.  Although the Buffalo area doesn’t boast tall, impressive mountain ranges, there are still a number of interesting hikes in the area to enjoy while the weather still permits. From rock cities and outdoor art exhibits to natural fireplaces under waterfalls, the area has many unique places to explore. 

Anthony Vargas smiles in front of the Student Union.
FEATURES

‘A light at the end of the tunnel’

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Oct. 2, 2019

At just 17 years old, Anthony Vargas didn’t know who was watching when he spoke in front of the United Nations on the International Day of Peace in 2014. His speech was internationally televised. He may have even been in the same room as President Barack Obama. He wasn’t sure.

Insomnia Cookies has opened a new location across from North Campus in the University Place Plaza on Sweet Home Road, and students can't get enough.
FEATURES

Cookie craze catches on at UB

By ASHLEY GUGLIELMO | Sep. 25, 2019

Teeshan Udayakumar is a night owl. He likes staying up –– and eating –– late. But he didn’t expect to change his eating habits to accommodate UB’s meal hours when he arrived on campus this semester. “Having nothing to eat after 12 [a.m. some days] does not cut it for me,” Udayakumar, a freshman computer science major, said.

The Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence is a classic addition to the fall-season roster. The farm has hundreds of pre-picked gourds for patrons to choose.
FEATURES

Around town: Fall-ing in love with Buffalo

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Sep. 25, 2019

Starbucks employees knew it was coming. They’ve been training for this battle since they were handed their first green apron. They knew what they signed up for, but they were not ready for Aug. 27.  They weren’t ready for the return of pumpkin spice, but UB students were.

‘Boombox Guy’ in front of the SU Bull.
FEATURES

DJ AJ: The man behind the music

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Sep. 22, 2019

It’s mid-day, and the Student Union is swarming with students. Lines are long and tables are full. The building is noisy with chatter.  Suddenly, a deep bass riff starts to resonate throughout the building. The light buzz intensifies as its source leaves The Commons and heads toward SU. 

UB alum John Hannibal moves to Los Angeles this year to try to “make it big” as a pop musician.
FEATURES

HVNNIBVL takes LA

By AMAL ELHELW | Sep. 22, 2019

John Hannibal remembers when he was 12 years old and the other kids would be playing video games, while he was home learning how to produce music.  He wanted to do something "cool" and "different." Music was his avenue to do that.

Jordan Nicholson discusses his unique tactics that set him apart from other DJs and where he hopes they will take him.
FEATURES

Running it back: Student DJ looks to expand business

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Sep. 22, 2019

Jordan Nicholson began DJing when he was 15 years old. But he had to “retire” for three years while he was a running back on Monroe College’s undefeated football team. Although an undefeated season is usually exciting, Nicholson and his teammates were bored. So Nicholson decided to borrow the baseball team’s speakers and change that.

FEATURES

Self-care through skincare

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Sep. 19, 2019

Disclaimer: I’m not a dermatologist. Make sure to patch test any new products to avoid skin irritation. (And check in with a professional.) Gone are the days of Proactiv and St. Ives apricot scrubs. Skincare has taken over in this new age of self-care and self-preservation. But as new companies and formulas continue to advance, approaching the world of skincare becomes more intimidating with each new buzzword-filled article. Acids? Retinoids? I’m getting an English degree! 

Jasmine To poses with her paintings.
FEATURES

Passion over profession

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Sep. 18, 2019

Jasmine To –– a junior psychology major –– left her paints at home to take classes for two years. She wanted to pave her way toward a practical, financially responsible career. Now, she realizes she’s been working toward a future she didn’t choose for herself. 

UB alum Eugene Kennedy - G Premacy - performs at Music is Art on Saturday. He recently signed a deal with Equity Distribution, a branch of Jay-Z's label Roc Nation.
FEATURES

The rise of G Premacy

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Sep. 8, 2019

G Premacy remembers his first concert in Brooklyn. At the time, he was still a UB student.  Unlike Buffalo venues where the crowds were dominated by supportive friends, the rapper –– an ’11 alum born Eugene Kennedy –– looked out onto a crowd of unfamiliar faces. 

Florence Ayeni, senior health and human services major and BSU president, is a full-time entrepreneur and student leader who dedicates her time to helping others.
FEATURES

Florence Ayeni: a student entrepreneur with a desire to help others

By BRITTANY GORNY | Sep. 8, 2019

Florence Ayeni’s father taught her that helping people can, in turn, allow people to help themselves.   When Ayeni was young, her father, a pastor, selflessly brought a homeless man into their home. He told her the man was her uncle from Nigeria who came to live with the family. And when Ayeni’s father was deported for four years and nine months in 2008, the man who she believed to be her uncle took care of Ayeni and the rest of her family.

“Lip gloss fanatic” and entrepreneur, Monique Nembhard talks about the experience of starting her business, Bad Gyal Cosmetics, and her plans to go bigger.
FEATURES

Gloss boss

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Sep. 4, 2019

Then, as a freshman, Nembhard started Bad Gyal Cosmetics in May, selling lip products to people across the world.

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