Buffalo Croquet Club ~ Wicket Awesome

Buffalo Croquet Club Invitational / Delaware Park

The game can trace its origins back, in some accounts, to the early 1600's. Others note its predecessor's origins in Ireland via Brittany circa 1100. The game we recognize today as croquet became wildly popular in 1860's England. A wild time, indeed, for this most civilized form of lawn billiards. Some speculate that croquet may be the godfather of that other most civilized game Buffalonians hold so dear, hockey. That's a matter of debate, but there is no argument from out of town visitors to the Buffalo Croquet Club's Inaugural 6 Wicket Invitational, that the BCC

are excellent hosts. The lovely, fine grasses of the Delaware Park croquet field are hiding behind a hedge and wrought iron fence next to the Parkside Lodge. This observer noted many visiting players of the tournament,impressed with the well maintained lawn bowling fields and the Arts and Crafts lodge. The original lawns predate the lodge by two years, which were first played upon in 1912. What could be more stress relieving than this Victorian game played in our beautiful Olmsted Park?

What we once thought was a secret society playing on the bocce lawn under the lights at night, is really a bunch of very nice, fun loving folks looking for like minded ladies and gentlemen to join them. Interested players can Contact the Buffalo Croquet Club through the Olmsted Parks Conservancy site.

https://www.bfloparks.org/organizer/buffalo-croquet-club/

All that Jazz at the Colored Musician's Club

George Scott- President of the Colored Musician's Club

" She said;
'I do not understand
The words'. 

I said;
'There are
No words'.  "  - Langston Hughes

Words or no words, the Colored Musician's Jazz Festival bespeaks Buffalo' s rich jazz and musical legacy celebrating its 99th year. A staggering number of jazz musicians will grace the CMC inside and out on the street. On Broadway and the historic Michigan Avenue, people from all over will converge to listen to some brilliant musicians. As the president of The Colored Musician's Club George Scott will tell you,  it's (CMC) not just a museum but a thriving jazz center, keeping alive the tradition of open jam sessions on Sunday nights. Old timers and fresh students of the art doing what jazz does:  honoring the standards that teach and evolving in the improvisational synthesis of what one jazz lover referred to as "cerebral gymnastics". Celebrate one of America's great gifts to the world, our classical music. (Other jazz outings this weekend include the Pappy Martin- Masten Jazz Fest. and Jazz at the Albright Knox on Sunday.)

 A weekend like this gives people a chance to look at the often overlooked area referred to as the Michigan Avenue Corridor. Like so many areas of the city,  the history is profound. Michigan Avenue and Broadway are home to the site of the historic Michigan St. Baptist Church along with other buildings used in the Underground Railroad, as well as some of the oldest structures in Buffalo. This street should be a showcase street in the city all the way from Rosewell Park to the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Like our rich musical legacy, this once grand and ethnically diverse thoroughfare should be given its due and respect (Hello city leaders!). Let some of that Buffalo Billion flow right down the street from the medical corridor.

http://www.coloredmusiciansclub.org/
 http://www.michiganstreetbuffalo.org/#!historical-themes/c21kz

Thin Man

Balcony patio of Thin Man

Sun, umbrellas, 80 degrees. Staycation for these folks on the balcony at the freshly opened Thin Man Brewery on Elmwood Ave. Not one to let a great space go to waste, Mike Shatzel and company have reclaimed and  improved (balcony patio) this great spot on the strip, much to the delight of aficionados of draft beer and other fine libations. A great place to plot a weekend that has just too many options. For help with that, see Buffalo Vibe's link below. Enjoy.

 https://www.buffalovibe.com/

http://thinmanbrewery.com/

Connecticut Street Armory

Connecticut Street Armory 

The Connecticut Street Armory, also known as the 74th Regimental Headquarters of the National Guard. At its completion in 1899, it was the largest armory in the U.S. At over 280,00 square feet, the building takes up an entire city block. This turreted edificeis a captivating, if not imposing feature of this West Side neighborhood. One of nine Buffalo armories, this one is a stones throw from the Peace Bridge and our Neighbors to the North.

https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/armories/BuffaloConnecticutStreet.html

Caffe Society

Caffe Aroma - languid summer day 

We have a mission for you. Find a cafe, a bench, a blanket, someone's lap and sit yourself down. Take a moment to feel the sun upon your face, trade pleasantries with friends, watch a bead of condensation make its way down a cold glass, or just think. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty that is a Buffalo summer day. Because....Do you know what happens in six months? January. Shhhhhh.

Click here to Reply or Forward

Boardwalk Life

Canalside Boardwalk 

A slice of boardwalk life on a Tuesday night. Not only a great place to catch the sunset and a cool drink, but the people behind us were also catching an outdoor movie on Canalside's Great Lawn. Flags were billowing along the wooden planks of the boardwalk, complimented by the ever changing artwork of the illuminated Connecting Terminal grain elevators. The Buffalo River flows by several decommissioned Naval vessels including the USS Little Rock, part of the Naval and Military Park at the other end of Canalside. Great to see this once desolate space teaming with all kinds of Buffalonians and visitors.

https://www.canalsidebuffalo.com/things-to-do/tuesday-night-flicks-2015-06-16/2015-06-16/

Erie Basin Marina

View from the Observation Tower-Erie Basin Marina 

Win/ win. A nice cardio workout up the stairs of the observation tower leads you to a lovely view of downtown, the waterfront condos, the Erie Basin Marina slip, and the lake with Canada beyond. The Marina is a great place to experience Buffalo's waterfront and find temperatures a few degrees cooler than the rest of the city. The Marina has views, boats, food and ice cream. It is also adjacent to the Naval Museum and Canalside, accessible by road and footpath.


http://www.eriebasinmarina.org/
http://www.buffaloplace.com/PopupLeaf/ErieBasin/122

Lighthouse

Buffalo Main Light  

"...there were little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark; here was one." - Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse. The warning pyre that has steered ships away from disaster or to seek safe harbor has become an archetype of psychological and literary import. Our beacon is no less significant, indeed, being the very image we use on our city emblem. Lit in 1833 on the spot that had been a warning fire since 1818, the Buffalo Lighthouse promises to keep the fires burning. The deactivated lighthouse (1914) is a 60 foot octagonal historically registered site returned to public access in 2010. It is now part of a museum located at The U.S. Coast GuardStation.

http://www.us-lighthouses.com/displaypage.php?LightID=95
http://live.buffalonews.com/2016/07/10/120000-upgrade-brings-historically-acccurate-lens-buffalo-lighthouse/

90 Degrees and counting

Gone fish'n 

We're not going to pretend. We did not shoot a new photo today. We went to the beach. It was hot. 90 degrees and counting.

Of Ice Cream and Pokémon

 Another Ice Cream Dude, Pokémon and art

Pokémon Go? 'Nuf said. (Very apparently the Albright Knox is a Pokéstop). But people cannot stop talking about the Ice Ceamcycle ice cream vendors and their Pay it Forward idea. It's all over the news; good news for a change. From our local publications and sites, to the Huffington Post and ABC News, the story of James Karagiannis, a.k.a. "James the Ice Cream Cycle Dude" and his community campaign is a hot story (no pun intended) this week. Karagiannis' idea was  to give kids who don't have extra money, a free ice cream if they will write a thank you note to send to a donor. Simple, special and true to the rep. of the City of Good Neighbors. Check out the links below for more on the story and information on donating at The Ice Cream Dude's website.

http://www.icecreamdude.com
http://abcnews.go.com/US/city-kids-free-ice-cream-pay-forward-campaign/story?id=40664124

Radial symmetry

Reddy Bikes- Delaware Park at Nottingham

It was all over the news today. Buffalo has a bikeshare! And that got me thinking of other cities that have a bike share. They're blue Citibikes in New York. And that got me wondering if Buffalo was at all modeled after New York City during our first surge, as Buffalo grew into the 2nd most populous city alongside NYC. But, actually, and serendipitously, the plans for Buffalo were made to resemble those of the radial plan by L'Enfant for Washington, the nation's new capital. Buffalo is only one of three American cities that have a radial street pattern like the shape of bicycle spokes. The plan, created by Joseph Ellicott in 1804, the local Holland Land Company agent, was inspired when he helped his brother Andrew survey the plans for the new capital, to be known as Washington, D.C. Ellicott brought the radial design to the plan for Buffalo, then known as the village of New Amsterdam. 

But back to bikes! The new Reddy Bikeshare program was celebrated this morning, and several sites are ready for sharing. Not only does this add a real, big-city air to the Queen City, it promotes a well-being for us all, and a way to see more of Buffalo. The links below offer more information on locations and prices. Let's roll! 

https://reddybikeshare.socialbicycles.com/

http://live.buffalonews.com/2016/07/20/wont-buy-bike-travel-buffalo-new-sharing-program/

A Venture in Burgers and Brew

ABV

If 82 degrees wasn't warm enough for you today you could have headed indoors to sample one to twenty-four of local and international selections of draft at Allen Burger Venture. Taps are adorned with wrought iron sculpture and found objects. To compliment the draft, or visa versa, are some of the most über burgers in the city. Owner Mike Shatzel (Coles, Liberty Hound,Thin Man) has always been passionate about well crafted beer even before it became popular again. Enjoy the "classic rock", as in 80's punk rock in a coolly, rustic vibe nurtured by manager Johnny Chow. Before Prohibition brewing was one of Buffalo's biggest industries.

After Prohibition, big breweries stifled the return of local entities and by the 70's, there were only a couple left. Local draft artisans have brought about a rebirth of production in Buffalo, mirroring the nation's appreciation of quality gourmet drafts and Buffalo's brewing history. 

http://allenburgerventure.com/

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-buffalo-breweries-craft-beer

Then and Now

Grain League Federation elevator and silos in decline on Buffalo River/ Library of Congress

Spruced up silos/ dock at Tewksbury Lodge/ RiverWorks

Still down by the river. We found this photo of the GLF Silos off Granson Street taken somewhere between glory days and complete neglect. From Riverfest Park, you can see a Buffalo River reborn, in use and enjoyed. The effects on the Old First Ward are undeniably good. People that have never seen this side of Buffalo and those that haven't been back in years are down here and active. The spirit of people who never gave up in the old neighborhood and those that believed in the value of history preserved, will hopefully continue to spur on revitalizations around the city.

The River

Kayak Launch - RiverWorks

We're back where we started a month ago. This time we are on the other side of the Buffalo River at RiverWorks. The sprawling facility next to the grain elevators found groups of people enjoying another spectacular summer night listening to live music overlooking the river, kids playing lacrosse, and kayaks lined up waiting for their chance to hit the water. We've learned a lot these four weeks and hope it has encouraged some of you to explore  the city and capture some images to share. Thanks for checking us out. All photos are original and shot exclusively on iPhone 6.

http://buffaloriverworks.com/

Sunday Sanctuary

A View of the Japanese Garden - Mirror Lake

The sole occupant of the string of tiny islands in Mirror Lake is a white crane. The scene could be that of  a Buddhist meditative sanctuary, but it is just off the Scajaquada Expressway and Elmwood Avenue. Tucked in behind the Historical Society and Nottingham Terrace, you will find the Japanese Garden, quiet, understated and tranquil as it was intended to be. The walkway that passes through the garden, shadows the creek taking you from the lake at Delaware Park across the former Parkway, now the Scajaquada Expressway (Route 198 ), along Nottingham Terrace to the Garden, and all the way to Niagara Street. The garden is based on the design of a garden in our sister city of Kanazawa, Japan and installed by skilled Japanese artisans. The garden fits seamlessly into the Olmsted design, which itself was influenced by that country's nature-based architecture. The ancient quality of the garden does not belie its 1970s construction, and that is a good thing. In 2012 it was dedicated as an International Peace Garden commemorating our post War of 1812 peace, exemplified by the longest unprotected border in the world, that between the U.S. and Canada.

http://www.ipgf.org/gardens/go.asp?siteid=buffaloja1812
http://buffaloah.com/a/notting/25/jap/jap.html

The View from 716

View from the Greenway Nature Trail - Outer Harbor- #716

Take a look at the 716 area code and this is how it looks on 7/16. This particular view is from the Greenway Nature Trail on the stretch of waterfront land known generally as the Outer Harbor. The wide expanse of land between Furhman Blvd. and the water,  has been home to a few things over the years and often nothing at all. We like the idea of a big green space down here within the city limits, with possibly some year round indoor active space (i.e. Soccer field, tennis courts, rock climbing, basketball, etc.) People do feel the need to fill up space but I hope they proceed carefully down here, taking care not to encroach thoughtlessly on this windswept, blank canvas. By the way, all photos on the entire blog are shot with an iPhone 6, actually two iPhone 6s, and are original works. Leave us a comment or 29, as we approach our one month anniversary of Buffalo Daily Photo. 

http://outerharborbuffalo.com/

Third Fridays

Party on the Portico - The Buffalo Historical Society 

The gang at Travel and Leisure are at it again, picking on Buffalo. This time they have listed Buffalo number 6 on their list of Friendliest Cities in America. Travel and Leisure have a very rigorous and sophisticated rubric to come up with these things, so we'll take their word for it. I think they know what they're doing. After all they found Buffalo to be America's # 1 Favorite City.  In an age where rudeness rules, it's a tremendous accolade to be considered friendly. Speaking of friendly, we stopped by the Historical Society's Party on The Portico to watch a few hundred Buffalonians and plenty of tourists enjoy another wonderful summer evening above the museum's Japanese gardens .   

Let's face it. You can have all the physical trappings of a great city, but if you're miserable, there will always be something lacking. With all of these positive rankings, I'm asking that y'all sweeten your dispositions just a bit to get us to number one. Hey, we will never be the biggest city in New York, but we will hopefully, always be the nicest.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/americas-favorite-places/friendliest-cities#buffalo

http://buffalohistory.org/Visit/Event-Details.aspx?id=946&type=events

Bastille Day Buffalo

Real live accordian / Jeremy

We thought we would take a French holiday at Coco's on Main Street this evening. Relaxing and lovely, a warm summer breeze carried the bittersweet music of an accordion. Our neighbors across the pond celebrated their Independence Day, or at least they tried to. Bastille Day has turned into another day of national tragedy for the French. Of course, it is no accident that haters of democracy would choose this day to strike at the country that embodied the ideas of the Enlightenment in their revolution, and in turn, were incorporated into our own Constitution. These ideals flowered into a great many democracies throughout the world. As France and the United States are targets of obvious foes, so are they victims of lazy politicians and indifference. They have both seen themselves slipping on the Democracy Index. You should know we have dropped in our world-wide democracy ranking (The Economist) since 2008, putting us at number 20. A friendly reminder to all citizens: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity don't just happen. So don't be cheerleader to politicians, and please participate. Democracy, like life, is not a spectator sport.

http://www.eiumedia.com/index.php/latest-press-releases/item/2127-democracy-in-an-age-of-anxiety
http://www.cocobuffalo.com/

Warm Summer Days - Part 2

MLK Park Splash Pad 

That's not a mirage. It's the splash pad at MLK Park. City of Buffalo Residents can cool off with extended hours that keep the water shooting, squirting and splashing until 8:00 this evening,  due to day two of 90 degree plus temps. Come back and view this photo 6 months from now when you're dreaming of steamy, and remember spending warm summer days here or at any of the pools we posted about yesterday. Here's the link again, just in case you've decided it's getting too hot out there! The ice rinks are also listed, for future reference. 


https://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/Home/City_Departments/Public_Works_Parks_Streets/ParksDepartment/PoolsRinks

Warm Summer Days

Figure Under Water - M. Connolly 

Did you know that 20% of the world's fresh water flows by and around Buffalo via lake Erie and the Niagara River? That being the case, it  seems residents should be getting a dividend rather than getting a bill for water, not unlike Alaska and its oil, but that's another blog. It's going to be 90 degrees in the shade today and tomorrow. That's life in America's Summer Garden of Eden. So, go jump in to some of that water. Splash pads and wading pools are open late today around the city. You can also cool off in one of the eight public city pools, not to mention get closer to the afore mentioned bodies of water. Even if you don't enjoy getting wet, you can appreciate a cooler breeze along our miles of waterfront. Technically, the city is 11.9 square miles of water out of our total area of 52.5. Let that soak in.

https://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/Home/City_Departments/Public_Works_Parks_Streets/ParksDepartment/PoolsRinksj

Slow Roll

Riders passing Antioch Baptist Church - Fillmore Avenue

Over 35,000 riders have attended the Buffalo Slow Roll to date.Tonight they rolled out of Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to wind their way through the East Side of the city. A mission to explore the various neighborhoods of Buffalo, spreading community while having a great time started in 2014. Taking it slow allows riders to connect with the neighborhoods they stroll through, exchanging a greeting with fellow residents that might not otherwise have a chance to meet. Claiming streets, if only briefly, for the mass of bicycles, gives riders and observers pause to reflect on our citizens as flesh and blood people unsheathed from their horseless carriages and propelled by their own power. Slow Roll started in Detroit, but has gone global, inspiring humans worldwide to put their foot down or their kickstand up and take back the streets, at least for the evening. The roll has definitely been taken to heart by Buffalonians and will explore another neighborhood every Monday through October. 

http://slowrollbuffalo.org/

Forest Lawn

Pratt Family Plot 

There are few cemeteries as welcoming or as historically important as Forest Lawn. Montparnasse in Paris comes to mind in terms of individuals synonymous with their city that are buried there. Where Paris has Sartre and de Beauvoir, Buffalo has Millard Fillmore, Rick James, Frederick Cook, Kathleen Howard, Shirley Chisholm and The great Chief of the Senecas, Red Jacket, to name a few. Pick a street name in Buffalo and the person behind that name will be at rest in Forest Lawn. Countless leaders, inventors, industrialists who shaped not only Buffalo, but the nation itself, call this their final resting place. That history is what the cemetery keeps vibrant and therein lies its welcoming nature that invites us to explore that legacy.

Through its Sunday tours in the summer, lectures and concerts in the winter, they bring those residents and their contributions to life, truly becoming a place of remembrance and reflection. This history blends with the physical beauty of the 167 year old grounds. There is a hauntingly peaceful respite, attainable through its open, inviting gates that bids you pay respect to the past and find inspiration for the future.

http://www.forest-lawn.com/famous-residents

Old and New

Federal Courthouse and City Hall

1932 Art Deco meets 2007 Contemporary at Niagara Square and Delaware Avenue.

A tip of the hat, on a summer day, from the elder statesman to the new comer. One of them is on the National Register of Historic Places and is also one of the tallest municipal buildings in the United States. The other is as green as it gets, as in low energy use, recycled materials and water efficiency. Both deserve a close-up look. City Hall has an observation deck open to the public and the Courthouse is a design masterpiece in its own right. The entire U.S. Constitution is etched into the glass of its pavillion, reflecting on those that pass through.

http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/

www.kpf.com/projects/united-states-federal-courthouse-buffalo

Burchfield Penny

Second Friday / Rooftop Balcony

The Burchfield Penny Art Center has many artistic secrets to reveal. The flowing design of its interior carry you warmly to rounded rooms and smooth surfaces that humbly bow out from stealing the scene. Instead, your attention is guided to the wonderful works of this still young gallery. On the second Friday of  every month, the space is open to all,  fee of charge. There will be music, appetizers and a hidden balcony that offers a delightful view of The Albright-Knox Art Gallery and Buffalo State College. The Center has been on the Buff State campus since 1966 but the wonderful  84000 square foot space which Burchfield's work inspired, was opened In November 2008. Since its grand opening, the gallery has seen many important exhibits, especially featuring great artists from Western New York. Second Fridays are each month and are free with a musical interlude and happy hour beginning at 5:30 p.m. sponsored by M&T Bank. 

https://www.burchfieldpenney.org/

Bonsoir

France v. Germany

I promised my expatriate friend a shout out to France today. We're watching semifinals of Euro 2016. Sure Iceland and Wales would have been cool, but the usual suspects are at it again today.  Who will take on Portugal Sunday?  Breaking news. It's France! La Marseillaise is being sung at Més Que on Hertel Avenue. It was standing room only at Buffalo's favorite soccer bar. No hooligans in the City of Good Neighbors, only camaraderie, good food, libations and always, soccer on tap. To my friends in France, believe it or not, Jean Luc Goddard's "Band A Part" is playing down the street tonight. A screening brought to us by some cats called Cultivate Cinema Circle. Why am I writing this post in a French accent?

     http://mesque.com/

    cultivatecinemacircle.com

North Park

Cinema Paradise -io 

So, its 88 degrees and you think you're smart escaping to the movies. You're not just smart, you're brilliant because you are going to the North Park Theater. Cooler air and the splendor of the lovingly restored single screen theater of North Buffalo awaits. The theater has been a cinema since 1920. Through several machinations and periods of decline, the theater has hung on and been loved by cinema buffs near and far.   When last owners, Dipson Theaters, gave up on the theater,  things were not looking good. Local hero Mike Christiano (Left Bank) and attorney Tom Eoannou stepped in at the helm of an ownership group determined to save and restore the theater to its former glory. Mission accomplished. Treat yourself to a film and a vision of what cinema-going was intended to be when designed by Henry Spann. Think Cinema Paradiso with a happier ending. Independent film lives on here as well as the long lost tradition of weekend family matinees. North Park is a must visit and we will return with some pix of the fabulous restoration of one of America's great cinemas.

https://www.northparktheatre.org/
http://www.leftbankrestaurant.com/

Still Got It

Still Exhibit- Albright Knox 

The first time I went to the Albright Knox Art Gallery was also the first time I saw Clyfford Still. The experience left me with a love of both. Apparently, Mr. Still also liked the cut of the gallery's jib, as he gifted 31 of his canvases to the Albright Knox. Indeed the place has a reputation amongst art lovers worldwide, housing some spectacular examples of Modern European, American and Contemporary art, as well as Impressionism and Post-impressionism. From Gauguin, Van Gogh, Chagall, and Picasso to Lichtenstein, O'Keefe, Warhol and Bourgeois, the collection spans the artistic acheivement of the last century and beyond. The gallery posseses the largest publicly held collection of art by Clyfford Still, numbering thirty-three canvases. Twenty two of these masterpieces will be on display all through the summer in a special exhibit, along with the work of Mark Bradford, who has selected Still's work. This renowned American artist has created paintings especially for this exhibit celebrating Still's influence on art and abstract expressionism, specifically. Time for a summer love. Catch the Still/Bradford exhibit until October 9th.

www.albrightknox.org

Independence Day

Memorial Grave Marker - Delaware Park 

No picture of fireworks, hot dogs or billowing flags. Just an unassuming boulder in the middle of the park. 120 years ago today, this stone was dedicated to the 300 forgotten soldiers who are buried here in the middle of what is now a golf course in Delaware Park. These men, who sleep in nameless graves, fought in the War of 1812. Buffalo and the region were integral to this second war of independence. Francis Scott Key was so inspired by one of its battles, that he penned the words that would become the National Anthem. We tend to think we hit the ground running as a nation after our declaration, but the British were still burning our cities in 1812, Buffalo included.

As those who lay sleeping in the meadow knew, the Fourth was our republic but imagined. Its fruition would be realized in the many difficult years that followed. Many would say it's still fledgling, and indeed the "eternal vigilance" Jefferson spoke of still rings true. On this Independence Day, in these tumultuous times, keep in mind we have been through far worse. Remember our hard-fought liberties, those intended for all Americans, not just for those with whom we agree. So, unlike the golfers who unwittingly trudge over graves of the forgotten dead, let us recall and keep fresh the real principles of our nation. Now go eat some hot dogs.

Sunday

Cafe

Today reminded me of what Hemingway once said of Buffalo. "Summer in Buffalo is as good and fine a thing as one can know. It is finding your favorite cafe half empty. Buffalo is a fresh faced girl at a white linen table reading your book." Something like that, or at least I think he would have said that if he were sitting with me in my favorite cafe on this beautiful day. I know he did advise one not to disclose a favorite cafe lest it be overrun. Thus the abstract daily.

Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market / Bidwell Pkwy.

A beautiful morning and a beautiful farmer's market in full bloom on Bidwell Parkway. You have your fresh fruits and vegetables of course, but you can also find artisan breads, honey, wines, craft beer and organic meats, to list a few. My new friend Amy from Alpine Made was schooling me on her organic goat farm's line of soaps, salves, etc. Like many of the handpicked vendors, the care and artistry of their goods restores one's faith in craftsmanship. Not only is my new freind incredibly knowledgeable about goats, she also plays a mean ukulele. The Elmwood Village Framer's Market runs every Saturday until the end of November.
http://www.elmwoodmarket.org/

The Fountain

Gates Circle Fountain 

I was on my Vespa and passed through Gates Circle today. I decided to stop and reenact the scene from La Dolce Vita where they cool off in the Trevi Fountain. Very Fellini-esque. Our fountain has had a bit of a rough go. Too recently, a couple of jokers thought it was a drive through. The old boy has also lost a couple of companions as of late, with the removal of both the Park Lane Restaurant, (don't get me started), and Gates Hospital. Once again the original green space known as Chapin Place was brought to us by Olmsted, Vaux and Co. as part of the Buffalo Parkway System. Later, the well-heeled daughter of the Gates family paid E.B. Green to give the place a make-over, adding the fountain that still dodges traffic to this day. The lovely Chapin Parkway begins at the circle which connects with Bidwell, going west to the rotaries to Richmond Avenue and East to Lincoln Parkway, The Albright Knox and Delaware Park. You get the idea. Check it out on a map (link below) to appreciate the brilliance and extent of the design. As I was drying off on the granite bench that circles the fountain, now well over 100 years old, I could only hope that the powers that be care for the old boy and give it some fitting companions. It behooves all of us to guard these city gems. And only through holding our fearless leaders' feet to the fire, can we achieve the "sweet life" for all.

http://library.buffalo.edu/maps/buffalo-wnymaps/location/olmsted.html